大学英语四级篇章词汇理解

大学英语四级篇章词汇理解

二、篇章词汇理解

1. 篇章词汇理解题型的特点

作为近几年出现在阅读理解中的新题型———篇章词汇理解，实际上是介于阅读理解和完形填空之间的一种新题型，而篇章词汇理解的英语名称为“Blanked Cloze”，属于较高层次的“完形填空”。四级考试中涉及的文章长度大约在200-250词之间，题材多为社会生活、文化、教育、等方面。该题主要测试考生对篇章语境中词汇的理解和运用能力，要求考生阅读一篇删去若干个（一般为10个词）词语的短文，然后从所给的选项（一般为15个）中选择适当的词语填充，使原文复原。另外，篇章选词填空不考虚词，只考实词（名词、动词、形容词、副词等）。空中所缺词的词性分配情况一般为：3个左右名词，3个左右动词，3个左右形容词，一个左右副词。而备选答案的15个词中，一般有4～5个名词，4～5个动词，4～5个形容词，2个左右的副词。简言之，这个题型最主要的还是集中考查了考生的英语基本功，比如说词性的辨别，常用搭配的掌握，以及上下文的衔接等等。

由于完形填空本身就是综合性的测试，而篇章词汇理解作为较高层次的“完形填空”，无疑是一种综合性的测试，因此，该试题的测试特点便是对考生从理解文章的宏观结构，把握文章语篇、语段整体特征诸如连贯性、一致性、逻辑关系等，以及对每一个单词在语篇中具体应用的一种综合考查方式。所以和以往的阅读理解部分仅有的多项选择相比，现在测试的难度有所增加，对学生的要求也有所提高。

2. 学生对篇章词汇理解的作答情况

对于篇章词汇理解这类新型的阅读理解学生的作答情况如何呢？首先我们来看一组数据，目前四级考试总分为710，阅读理解占35%，而考试题型较之前增加了快速阅读、篇章词汇和仔细阅读。换句话说，就是四级阅读难度有所增加，四、六级考试委员会一项内部阅卷统计也印证了这一点：阅读部分标准得分平均不到150（阅读总分249分）。虽然阅读理解部分包括了快速阅读、传统的多项选择及篇章词汇几个部分，但是从近年来在四级考试学生现场的答题状况，以及平时的教学交流中，学生均反映在这几种阅读理解中，难度最大、最畏惧的就是篇章词汇理解，所以有的学生选择放弃，有的草草填补几个空白。总的来说，目前学生对这种新型阅读理解题型的作答状况不太理想。

3. 应试策略

如上所叙，篇章词汇阅读主要测试考生在语篇、段落层次上对词汇的运用，考生要时刻牢记不能孤立地看待每一个空格，要注意联系上下文进行综合分析。考生可以按照以下几步巧做篇章词汇阅读。

1）快速阅读选项，进行词性分类。

2）分析空格所在句子结构，判断所填词的词性和形式。

3）根据空格所在句含义及上下文，推测所填词含义和色彩。

4）将筛选出的选项带入空格，联系上下文确定答案。

5）复读原文，谨慎调整。

专项训练

Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully

before making your choices.

1

In recent years, more and more foreigners are involved in the teaching programs of the United States. Both the advantages and the disadvantages 1 using foreign faculty in teaching positions have to be 2, of course. It can be said that the foreign background that makes the faculty member from abroad an asset also 3 problems of adjustment, both for the university and for the individual. The foreign research scholar usually isolates himself in the laboratory as a means of protection; 4, what he needs is to be fitted to a highly organized university system quite different from 5 at home. He is faced in his daily work with differences in philosophy, arrangements of courses and methods of teaching. Both the visiting professor and his students 6 a common ground in each other’s cultures, some concept of what is already in the minds of American students is 7 for the foreign professor. While helping him to adapt himself to his new environment, the university must also 8 certain adjustments in order to take full advantage of what the newcomer can 9. It isn’t always known how to make creative use of foreign faculty, especially at smaller colleges. This is thought to be a 10 where further study is called for. The findings of such a study will be of value to colleges and universities with foreign faculty.

(A)field (B)possess (C)considered (D)express (E)offer (F)create (G)required (H)of (I)emerge (J)make (K)lack (L)however (M)scope (N)cause (O)that

2

Nowadays, is it possible to tell a person’s class just by looking at him? Physical details __1__ tell us about health, diet and type of work done. A hundred years ago the working class very often lookd unhealthy, small and were either too thin or too fat. The upper classes were often __2__, sporting types who were used to a good diet and looked healthy. Today living and working conditions have improved, and such __3__ would no longer be so true.The clothes people choose to wear, however, do provide information about their __4__. The most obvious way in which is for the amount of money spent on them. Expensive clothes look expensive and show their wearer had money. Clothes can provide other __5__ as well. The upper classes __6__ to be less interested in fashion and wear good quality clothes in non-bright colours, made of natural material like wool, leather or cotton. Lower working class people often choose clothes in bright colours, made of man-made material. A sociological explanation for this would be that color and interest are mssing from their lives, and therefore any opportunity to introduce this is __7__.Clothes are __8__ at a price within most people’s reach. New clothes make the wearer feel good, and show some __9__ of wealth to the outside world. Today some new fashions are started by the lower working class people who want to look __10__ and feel important. They want people to look at them.

(A) available (B) background (C) different (D) tall

(E) totally

(F) taken (G) descriptions (H) degree (I) clues (J) alone (K) appear (L) consider (M) full (N) hobby (O)fetched

3

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll(死亡人数) could have been much worse. More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, and earthquake of similar __1__ that shook America in 1998 claimed 25,000 victims.

Injuries and deaths were __2__ less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred a t 4:31 a.m. On a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highway. In addition, __3__ made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more __4__ to quakes.

In the past, making structures quake-resist-ant meant firm yet __5__ materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to __6__ the impact of ground vibrations. The most __7__ designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake’s vibrations. When ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would __8__ the building to shift in the opposite direction. The new designs should offer even greater __9__ to cities where earthquakes ofen take place.

The new smart structures could be very __10__ to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

[A]changes [B]flexible [C]decrease [D]recent [E]push [F]reduce [G]relatively [H]safety [I]resistant

[J]expensive

[K]force [L]accordingly [M]intensity [N]security [O]opposed

4

Americans are proud of their variety and individualty, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform. Why are uniforms so __1__ in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more __2__ than civilian(百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to __3__ superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to __4__ more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the __5__ of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What an easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to __6__ professional identity(身份) than to step out of uniform? Uniforms also have many __7__ benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They

are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of __8__ experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without __9__, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act __10__, on the job at least.

[A]skill [B]popular [C]get [D]change

[E]similarly

[F]professional [G]character [H]individuality [I]inspire

[J]differently

[K]expect [L]practical [M]recall [N]lose [O]ordinary

5

As is known to all, the organization and management of wages and salaries are very complex. Generally speaking, the Accounts Department is __1__ for calculations of pay, while the Personnel Department is interested in discussions with the employees about pay.

If a firm wants to __2__ a new wage and salary structure, it is essential that the firm should decide on a __3__ of job evaluation and ways of measuring the performance of its employees. In order to be __4__, that new pay structure will need agreement between Trade Unions and employers. In job evaluation, all of the requirements of each job are defined in a detailed job description. Each of thsoe requirements is given a value, usually in "points", which are __5__ together to give a total value for the job. For middle and higher management, a special method is used to evaluate managers on their knowledge of the job, their responsibility, and their __6__ to solve problems. Because of the difficulty in measuring management work, however, job grades for managers are often decided without __7__ to an evaluation system based on points.

In attempting to design a pay system, the Personnel Department should __8__ the value of each job with these in the job market. __9__, payment for a job should vary with any differences in the way that the job is performed. Where it is simple to measure the work done, as in the works done with hands, monetary encouragement schemes are often chosen, for __10__ workers, where measurement is difficult, methods of additional payments are employed.

[A]compare [B]responsible [C]useful [D]added [E]find

[F]reference [G]indirect [H]method [I]successful

[J]combined

[K]Necessarily [L]capacity [M]ability [N]Basically [O]adopt

6

As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. But relaxation is __1__ for a healthy mind and body.

Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to __2__ it. In fact, it is not the bad thing as it is often supposed to be. A certain

amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of __3__ that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.

The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some peoplw are not afraid of stress, and such __4__ are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first sight of __5__ difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both physically and __6__. In fact we make choice between "flight or fight" and in more __7__ days the choices made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress, it involves the same __8__. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued __9__ to stress, that health becomes endangered. Since we cannot __10__ stress from our lives it would be unwise to do so even if we could, we need to find ways to deal with it.

(A)exposure (B)characters (C)answer (D)chemically (E)avoid (F)psychologically (G)primitive (H)transfer (I)unusual

(J)control

(K)remove (L)escape (M)response (N)backward (O)essential

7

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always __1__ such people, but I also explain that there’sa big difference between "being a writer" and writing. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of __2__ and fame, notthe long hours alone at a typewriter. "You’ve got to want to write," I say to them, "not want to be a writer."The reality is that writing is a __3__, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there arethousands more whose longing is never __4__. When I left a 20-year career in the US. Coast Guard to become a freelancewriter(自由撰稿人), I had no __5__ at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was __6__and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used manual typewriter and feltlike a __7__ writer.After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t gotten a break and began to __8__ myself. It was so hard to sell a storythat __9__ made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn’t going to be one ofthose people who die wondering, what if? I would keeo putting my dream to the test----even though it meant living with __10__and fear of failure. This is the Shadow land of hope, and anyone with a dream learn to live there.

(A) barely (B) genuine (C) rewarded (D) doubt (E) lonely (F) poverty (G) persuade (H) prospects (I)uncertainty

(J)impossibly

(K) encourage (L)awarded (M) alone (N)wealth (O)cold

8

It’s never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how

often you’ve judged roughly, said __1__ things, pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and __2__ that you were sorry. A bit frightening, isn’t it? Frightening because some deePwisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is __3__, and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and __4__ is expressed.I remember a doctor friend, telling me about a man who came to him with a variety of signs: headaches, insomnia and stomach trouble. No __5__ cause could be found. Finally my friend said to the man, "Unless you tell me what’s worrying you, I can’t helPyou."After some hesitation, the man __6__ that, as executor of his faher’s will, he had been cheating his brother, who lived abroad, of his __7__. Then and there the wise old doctor made the man write to his brother asking __8__ and enclosing a cheque as the first stePin restoring their good relation. He then went with him to mail box in the corridor. As the letter disappeared, the man burst into tears. "Thank you," He said, "I think I’m __9__." And he was. A heartfelt apology can not only __10__ a damaged relationshiPbut also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or just neglected, do something about it right now.

(A)heal (B)mental (C)unkind (D)regret (E)accurately (F)confessed (G)inheritance (H)physical (I)cured

(J)treat

(K)truly (L)unfaithful (M)forgiveness (N)disturbed (O)excuse

9

Videoconferencing is nothing more than a television set or PC monitor with a camera Through the videocenferencing, not only your voice but also your face, the surroundings and any other graphic and phisical __1__ can be captured and transmitted through the communication system with or without wires. Of course, when you go into the details, the technology involved is very __2__ and the subject matter littered with jargon. Such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) or the __3__ behind bandwidth, latency and isochrony which are used to explain how videoconferencing works.Good people communication is __4__ in any business, and the more interaction you can achieve, the more likely it is that your __5__ will be the right ones. Videoconferencing not only allows you to speak to people in different locations, but also note __6__ expressions and gestures that let you know what the other person is really thinking. Meetings are made more __7__ by sharing documents and computer applications that a simple telephone cannot __8__.__9__, organizations are discovering the competitive advantages and the power of videoconferencing. With advances in performance, economical pricing, the ability to __10__ essential meeting tools and connectivity to global telephone networks and standardized videoconferencing protocols, videoconferencing is now a practical reality for any organization.

(A) fortunately (B) effective (C) images (D) articulate (E) facial

(F) manage (G) decisions (H) connect (I) advanced (J) integrate

(K) progressive (L) concepts (M)pictures (N) increasingly (O) important

10

The typical pre-industrial family not only had a good many children, but numerous other dependents as well---grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousions. Such "extended" families were suited for survival in slow paced __1__ societies. But such families are hard to __2__. They are immobile.Industrialism demanded masses of workers ready and able to move off the land in pursuit of jobs, and to move again whenever necessary. Thus the extended family __3__ shed its excess weight and the so-called "nuclear" family emerged---a stripped-down, portable family unit __4__ only of parents and a small set of children. This new style family, far more __5__ than the traditional extended family, became the standard model in all the industrial counties. Super-industrialism, however, the next stage of eco-technological development, __6__ even higher mobility. Thus we may expect many among the people of the future to carry the streamlinling process, a stePfurther by remaining children, cutting the family down to its more __7__ components, aman and a woman. Two people, perhaps with matched careers, will prove more efficient at navigating through education and social status, through job changes and geographic relocations, than teh ordinarily child-cluttered family.A __8__ may be the postponement of children, rather than childlessness. Men and women today are often torn in __9__ between a commitment to career and a commitment to children. In the future, many __10__ will sidestePthis problem by deferring the entire task of raising children until after retirement.

(A)transplant (B)solution (C)gadually (D)transport

(E)elemental

(F)conflict (G)continually (H)mobile (I)couples

(J)agricultural

(K)including (L)compromise (M)requires (N)primary

(O)consisting