精读四级阅读试题译文99.1-03.6
(完整版)大学英语四级阅读理解试题及答案(三)
大学英语四级阅读理解试题及答案（三）十一What is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow , orange ,red? If you do ,you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer greys and blues? Then you are probably quiet,shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend to be a pessimist. At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know,because they have been seriouslystudying the meaning of colours preference, as well as the effect that colours have on human beings. They tells us, among other facts,that we do not choose ourfavourite clour as we grow up we are born with our preference.If you happen to love brown, you did so, assoon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.Colours do influence our moods -- t here is no doubt about it .A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand ,black is depressing. A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides than any other bridge in the area ------- until it was repainter green.The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply ;perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.Light and bright colours make people not only hppier but more active. It is an established fact that factory workers work better,harder ,and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.1. ____________________________________ "You would rather follow than red" means _________________________________________ .a.you don't like to follow othersb.you would be a member rather than a leaderc.you would be afraid of following othersd.you would like to be a leader rather than a follower2.If one enjoys life, one is sure to prefer .a.red to yellowb.blue to orangec.red to greyd.blue to yellow3. ________________________________ "They tell us, among other facts,that we don't choose our favourite colours as we grow up." "Among other facts" means .a.besides other factsb.in regard to other factsc.not considering other factsd.according to other facts4.Which of the following is facts?a.People's preference of one colour to another is instinctb.People's preference of one colour to another is acquired as they grow up.c.More people happen to love brown because they saw something brown when they were bornd.Colours have little influence on our moods5. ____________________ Those who committed suicide preferred the bridge over the Thames River near london to others because of .a.its shapeb.its structurec.its colourd.its building materials答案：bcaac十二Social customs and ways of behaving change. Things which were considered impolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was considered impolite behaviour for a man to smoke on street. No man who thought of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room.Customs also differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should leave one in your lap,or on the table?The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a wonmano r offer their seat to a woman, and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is , if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock , the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay.The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable - e specially if they are your guests. When the food was served , one of the guests strated to eat his peas with a knife . The other guests were amused or shocked , but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable.1.If one has accepted a dinner invitation ,what should he do if he is tobe late for the dinner?a.He should find an excuseb.He should adk for excuse.c.He should say sorryd.He should telephone to explain his being late.2. ______________________________ "It would have been bad manners to make his guests feel foolish or uncomfortable." "Bad manners " means .a.uglyb.dishonestc.impolited.shameful3.which of the following do you think is the best tiltle for this passage?a.Social Customs and Customsb.Social Lifec.American and British Customsd.Promptness Is Important4. ______________________________ According to the text, the best host .a.tries his best to make his guests feel comfortableb.makes his guests feel excitedc.tries to avoid being naughty to his guestsd.tries to avoid being foolish5.The author of this article may agree with which of the following?a.The guest who ate his peas with a knifeb.The other guests who were amused or shockedc.The host who picked up his knife and began eating in the same wayd.None of the above答案：dcaac十三New Orleans, Louisiana, was established as part of the French Empire in 1718.Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the American hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It wastransferred from France to Spain, returned to France,and finally sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle fought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it , and the Americans under General And rew Jackson.The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting and the river is now actually higher than the city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are usedto move water from the city into the river.Although New Orleans haas beena part of the United States for almost two centuries, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still retains parts of the Code Napoleon which,form many years,was its only law.New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and its native Dixieland Jazz. The jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting facade of yesteryear, is a busy industrial a nd port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreigh cargoes are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town -but it's still fun to visit.1.What accounts for the levees and pumps in New Orleans?a.The Mississippi frequently floods the city.b.The riverbed has raised inthe past 200 years.c.The torrential rains flood the city frequently.d.The high humidity cannot otherwise be comtrolled.2. ______________________________________________ The battle of New Orleans was fought by jackson against ____________________________ .a.Franceb.Britainc.Spaind.The North3. _______________________ The Code Napoleon was .a.an agreement to sell Louisianab. a body of lawsc. a city pland. a military code for the army4.Which of the following elements does not apply to the attiude of the inhabitants of New Orleans?a.Pride in their French heritage.b. A desire to retain picturesque colonial buildings.c. A refusal to engage in trade and commerced. A praising of Dixieland Jazz.5. _____________________________________________ Tourists visiting New Orleans are surprised to encounter ______________________ .a.Creole foodb.Dixieland jazzc.bustling cityd.authentic colonial homes答案：bbbcc十四The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's technology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engineers.Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engineering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly.Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.candidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education,find the attraction of industry irresistible.1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably becausea.the number of PH.D. degree holders is decliningb.the number of scientists and engineers is decreasingc.the number of 22-year-ilds is decliningd.scientists and engineers are not employed2. ___________________________________________________________________ The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from _________________a.technologyb.foreign nationalsc.such fields as law, medicine and businessd.postgraduates3. _______________________________ Large-scale enterprises now need .a.bright graduates and postgraduatesb.new inventionsc.advanced technologyd.engineers4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree becausea.they are not encouraged to be engaged in scienceb.industry does not require PH.D. holdersc.they have financial difficultiesd.they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means thata.they find industry is attracting more and more college studentsb.they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industryc.they cannot resist any attraction from all sidesd.they cannot work for industry any longer答案：bcadb十五Newdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effectivenesswill remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without itsmilitary the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard of opwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the Department of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutionalforces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will.But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.1.Now a nation's political influence depends on .a.the strength of its military forcesb.its ability to compete in industryc.economic marketsd.both a and b2.The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because ofa.its powerful military forcesb.its vast landc.its industrial competitivenessd.its contributions to world peace3.The author indicates that is threatening American political power.a.other countriesb.the declining U.S. industrial basec.a new standard for measuring powerd.less advanced technology4.America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably because of _________ .a.its ability to adapt technologyb.its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its peoplec.its ability to compete in the world marketsd.both a and b5.The purpose of writing this article is .a.to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring powerb.to demonstrate American political influence in the worldc.to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial based.to show American industrial prowess答案：dabdc。
四六级阅读翻译
英语四六级阅读难点100句翻译之一发布日期：2006-04-17 发表评论信息来源：竞学学习现在离今年6月份的英语四六级考试还有不到2个月的时间，为帮助各位网友更好准备四六级考试，特别是阅读理解这一部分，在此专门为大家提供100个英语阅读难句、长句供大家练习，希望对大家备考有所帮助。
注：由于内容太多，现把这100个阅读难句、长句分成5个部分上传，大家可以在本论坛进行在线翻译练习，也可以打印出来进行阅读！1. Wearing a seat belt saves lives; it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than half.2. But it will be the driver’s responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind.3. However, you do not have to wear a seat belt if you are reversing your vehicle; or you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle; or if you have a valid medical certificate which excuses you from wearing it.4. Remember you may be taken to court for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove to the court that you have been excused from wearing it.5. Professor Taiju Matsuzawa wanted to find out why otherwise healthy farmers in northern Japan appeared to be losing their ability to think and reason at a relatively early age, and how the process of ageing could he slowed down.6. With a team of colleagues at Tokyo National University, he set about measuring brain volumes of a thousand people of different ages and varying occupations.7. Computer technology enabled the researchers to obtain precise measurements of the volume of the front and side sections of the brain, which relate to intellect (智能) and emotion, and determine the human character.8. Contraction of front and side parts as cells die off was observed in some subjects in their thirties, but it was still not evident in some sixty and seventy-year-olds.9. The findings show in general terms that contraction of the brain begins sooner in people in the country than in the towns.10. White collar workers doing routine work in government offices are, however, as likely to have shrinking brains as the farm worker, bus driver and shop assistant.11. We know that you have a high opinion of the kind of learning taught in your colleges, and that the costs of living of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you.12. But you must know that different nations have different ways of looking at things, and you will therefore not be offended if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same as yours.13. We are, however, not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we refuse to accept it; and, toshow our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of V irginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take care of their education, teach them in all we know , and make men of them.14. In what now seems like the prehistoric times of computer history, the earth’s postwar era, there was quite a wide-spread concern that computers would take over the world from man one day. 15. Already today, less than forty years later, as computers are relieving us of more and more of the routine tasks in business and in our personal lives. We are faced with a less dramatic but also less foreseen problem.16. Obviously, there would be no point in investing in a computer if you had to check all its answers, but people should also rely on their own internal computers and check the machine when they have the feeling that something has gone wrong.17. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.18. For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travellers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it , let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface.19. The first time that the question “ What is at the bottom of the oceans?” had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed.20. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.【参考译文】第一部分（1-20句译文）1、系好安全带能够挽救性命，它能将丧生和重伤的概率减少一半以上。
四级仔细阅读理解逐句翻译
2006年6月一、Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth.通讯技术在传递真相的时候并不是简单地和真相本身一致。
The first study to compare honesty across a range of communication media has found that people are twice as likely to tell li es in phone conversations as they are in emails.从第一项对使用不同通讯媒介时的诚实程度的比较重可以看出，人们在使用电话时的说谎几率是使用电子邮件时的两倍。
The fact that emails are automatically recorded-and can come back to haunt (困扰) you-appears to be the key to the finding.因为电子邮件内容会被自动记录下来----并可能对你造成困扰----这就是这项研究的关键所在。
Jeff Hancock of Cor'nell University in Ithaca ['iθəkə] , New York, asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week. Jeff Hancock在位于纽约州伊萨卡的康奈尔大学执教，他曾要求30个学生记录一周中每天的通讯情况。
In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes, and confessed to how many lies they told.参与其中的人需要记录超过10分钟的对话或者电子邮件通讯的数量，并且要坦诚自己说了多少谎话。
大学英语四级考试精读荟萃100篇
大学英语四级考试精读荟萃100篇(44):露天演出的服装Pageants are usually conceived on a fairly large scale, often under the auspices of some local or civic authority or at any rate in connection with local groups of some kind. This sometimes means that there is an allocation of funds available for the purpose of mounting the production, though unfortunately this will usually be found to be on the meager side and much ingenuity will have to be used to stretch it so that all performers can be adequately clothed.Most pageants have a historical flavour as they usually come about through the celebration of the anniversary of some event of historic importance, or the life or death of some local worthy. Research among archives and books in the public library will probably prove very useful and produce some workable ideas which will give the production an especially local flavour. From the first economy will have to be practiced because there are usually a great number of people to dress. Leading characters can be considered individually in the same way as when designing for a play; but the main body of the performers will need to be planned in groups and the massed effect must be always borne in mind.Many pageants take place in daylight in the open air. This is an entirely different problem from designing costumes which are going to be looked at under artificial lighting; for one thing, scenes viewed in the daylight are subject to many more distractions. No longer is everything around cut out by the surrounding darkness, but instead it is very easy to be aware of disturbing movement in the audience of behind the performers. Very theatrically conceived clothes do not always look their best when seen in a daylight setting of trees, verdant lawns and old ivy-covered walls; the same goes for costumes being worn in front of the mellow colors of stately homes. The location needs to be studied and then a decision can be made as to what kinds of colors and textures will harmonize best with the surroundings and conditions and then to carry this out as far as possible on the funds available.If money is available to dress the performers without recourse to their own help in the provision of items, it is best to arrange for all the cutting and pinning together of the costumes to be done by one or two experienced people than to be given out to the groups and individuals for completion. When there is little or no money at all, the garments need to be reduced to the basic necessities. Cloaks and shawls become invaluable, sheets and large bath towels and bath sheets are admirable for draping. Unwanted curtains and bed spreads can be cut to make tunics, robes and skirts. These are particularly valuable if they are of heavy fabrics such as velvet or chenille.Colors should be massed together so that there are contrasting groups of dark and light, this will be found to help the visual result substantially. Crowds of people gathered together in a jumble of colors will be ground to look quite purposeless and will lack dramatic impact.The use of numbers of identical head-dresses, however simply made, are always effective when working with groups. If these are made of cardboard and painted boldly the cost can be almost negligible. Helmets, hats and plumes will all make quite a show even if the costumes are only blandest or sheets cleverly draped. The same can be said of theuse of banners, shields and poles with stiff pennants and garlands—anything which will help to have a unifying effect. Any kind of eye-catching device will always go with a flourish and add excitement to the scenes.1. The main idea of this passage is[A]. Pageants. [B]. Costumes on the stage.[C]. Costumes for pageants. [D]. How to arrange a pageant.2. It can be inferred that the most important factor in costume design is[A]. money. [B]. color. [C]. harmony [D]. texture3. Why will much ingenuity have to be required in costume design?[A]. Because pageants take place in daylight in the open air.[B]. Because different characters require different costumes.[C]. Because the colors and textures must be in harmony with the setting.[D]. Because an allocation of the funds available is usually rather small.4. Why do most pageants have a historical flavour?[A]. Because most pageants take place for celebration.[B]. Many pageants take place for amusement.[C]. A lot of pageants take place for religion.[D]. Because pageants usually take place for competition.Vocabulary1. conceive 设想，想象to be conceived 设想好的，构思好的2. under the auspices of 在……的主办下3. meager 贫乏的，不足的4. mount 登上，制作，上演5. flavour 风味，风格，情趣6. archive(s) 档案(馆)7. distraction 使人分心的事8. ivy 常春藤9. mellow 柔和的10. recourse (to) 依赖，求助于11. drape 覆盖，披上12. invaluable 无价的，非常贵重的13. tunic (古时)长达膝盖的外衣，穿在盔甲上的战袍14. chenille 绳绒绒(织品)15. jumble 混乱，搞乱16. pennant 细长三角旗17. garland 花环，花冠难句译注1. This sometimes means that there is an allocation of funds available for the purpose of mounting the production, though unfortunately this will usually be found to be on the meager side and much ingenuity will have to be used to stretch it so that all performers can be adequately clothed.[结构简析] 复合结构。
2020年大学英语四级阅读题文章精读(2)
2020年大学英语四级阅读题文章精读(2) Passage TwoEurope's Gypsies, Are They a Nation?The striving of countries in Central Europe to enter the European Union may offer an unprecedented chance to the continent's Gypsies （or Roman） to be recognized as a nation, albeit one without a defined territory. And if they were to achieve that they might even seek some kind of formal place—at least a total population outnumbers that of many of the Union's present and future countries. Some experts put the figure at 4m-plus; some proponents of Gypsy rights go as high as 15m.Unlike Jews, Gypsies have had no known ancestral land to hark back to. Though their language is related to Hindi,their territorial origins are misty. Romanian peasants held them to be born on the moon. Other Europeans （wrongly）thought them migrant Egyptians, hence the derivative Gypsy. Most probably they were itinerant metal workers and entertainers who drifted west from India in the 7th century.However, since communism in Central Europe collapsed a decade ago, the notion of Romanestan as a landless nation founded on Gypsy culture has gained ground. The International Romany Union, which says it stands for 10m Gypsies in morethan 30 countries, is fostering the idea of “self-rallying”. It is trying to promote a standard and written form of the language; it waves a Gypsy flag （green with a wheel） whenit lobbies in such places as the United Bations; and in Julyit held a congress in Prague, The Czech capital. WherePresident Vaclav Havel said that Gypsies in his own country and elsewhere should have a better deal.At the congress a Slovak-born lawyer, Emil Scuka, was elected president of the International Tomany Union. Laterthis month a group of elected Gypsy politicians, including members of parliament, mayors and local councilors from all over Europe （OSCE）, to discuss how to persuade more Gypsies to get involved in politics.The International Romany Union is probably the most representative of the outfits that speak for Gypsies, butthat is not saying a lot. Of the several hundred delegateswho gathered at its congress, few were democratically elected; oddly, none came from Hungary, whose Gypsies are perhaps the world's best organized, with some 450 Gypsy bodies advising local councils there. The union did, however, announce its ambition to set up a parliament, but how it would actually be elected was left undecided.So far, the European Commission is wary of encouraging Gypsies to present themselves as a nation. The might, it is feared, open a Pandora's box already containing Basques, Corsicans and other awkward peoples. Besides, acknowledging Gypsies as a nation might backfire, just when several countries, particularly Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, are beginning to treat them better, in order to qualify for EU membership. “The EU's whole premise is to overcome di fferences, not to highlight them,” says a nervous Eurocrat.But the idea that the Gypsies should win some kind of special recognition as Europe's largest continent wideminority, and one with a terrible history of persecution, is catching on . Gypsies have suffered many pogroms over the centuries. In Romania, the country that still has the largest number of them （more than 1m）, in the 19th century theywere actually enslaved. Hitler tried to wipe them out, along with the Jews.“Gypsies deserve some space within European structures,” says Jan Marinus Wiersma, a Dutchman in the EuropeanParliament who suggests that one of the current commissioners should be responsible for Gypsy affairs. Some prominentGypsies say they should be more directly represented, perhaps with a quota in the European Parliament. That, they argue,might give them a boost. There are moves afoot to help themto get money for, among other things, a Gypsy university.One big snag is that Europe's Gypsies are, in fact, extremely heterogeneous. They belong to many different, and often antagonistic, clans and tribes, with no common languageor religion, Their self-proclaimed leaders have often proved quarrelsome and corrupt. Still, says, Dimitrina Petrova, headof the European Roma Rights Center in Budapest, Gypsies'shared experience of suffering entitles them to talk of one nation; their potential unity, she says, stems from “being regarded as sub-human by most majorities in Europe.”And they have begun to be a bit more pragmatic. InSlovakia and Bulgaria, for instance, Gypsy political partiesare trying to form electoral blocks that could win seats in parliament. In Macedonia, a Gypsy party already has some—and even runs a municipality. Nicholas Gheorge, an expert onGypsy affairs at the OSCE, reckons that, spread over CentralEurope, there are now about 20 Gypsy MPS and mayors, 400-odd local councilors, and a growing number of businessmen and intellectuals.That is far from saying that they have the people or the cash to forge a nation. But, with the Gypsy question on the EU's agenda in Central Europe, they are making ground.1. The Best Title of this passage is[A]. Gypsies Want to Form a Nation. [B]. Are They a Nation.[C]. EU Is Afraid of Their Growth. [C]. They Are a Tribe2. Where are the most probable Gypsy territory origins?[A]. Most probably they drifted west from India in the7th century.[B]. They are scattered everywhere in the world.[C]. Probably, they stemmed from Central Europe.[D]. They probably came from the International Romany Union.3. What does the International Romany lobby for?[A]. It lobbies for a demand to be accepted by such international organizations as EU and UN.[B]. It lobbies for a post in any international Romany Union.[C]. It lobbies for the right as a nation.[D]. It lobbies for a place in such international organizations as the EU or UN.4. Why is the Europe Commission wary of encouraging Gypsies to present themselves as a nation?[A]. It may open a Pandora's Box.[B]. Encouragement may lead to some unexpected results.[C]. It fears that the Basgnes, Corsicans and other nations seeking separation may raise the same demand.[D]. Gyspsies' demand may highlight the difference in the EU.5. The big problem lies in the fact that[A]. Gypsies belong to different and antagonistic clans and tribes without a common language or religion.[B]. Their leaders prove corrupt.[C]. Their potential unity stems from “being regarded as sub-human”.[D]. They are a bit more pragmatic.Vocabulary1. albeit 即使，虽然2. outnumber 数字上超过3. ethnic 少数民族的成员，种族集团的成员4. Hindi 印地语5. misty 模糊不清的，朦胧的6. derivative 衍生的，派生的7. itinerant 逻辑的8. Romanesten 说吉普塞语的地方Romanes 吉普塞语Stan 地方9. outfit （口）组织，（协同工作）的集体10. local 地方（市，镇，县）政务委员会11. wary 谨慎的，机警的12. backfire 产生出乎意料或事与愿违的结果13. highlight 强调14. persecution 迫害15. catch on 了解，风行=to become popular16. pogrom 大屠杀，集体迫害17. commissioner 委员，调查团团员18. quota 定量，配额，限额19. snag （尖利突出物，抽丝）潜在的困难20. heterogeneous 由不同种类组成的21. antagonistic 有效对抗性的，对抗性的22. clan 氏族23. tribe 部落24. pragmatic 务实的，讲究实效的25. municipality 城市，镇，区属政府，自治区26. Rom 罗姆，即吉普塞人难句译注1. Central Europe 中欧，如本文提及捷克，匈牙利，罗马尼亚等。
(完整版)英语四级阅读题库含答案解析
英语四级阅读题库含答案解析1.Passage OneGlobal warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but regardless of whether it is or isn’t –we won’t do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoidit. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely theyare to be observed.Al Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth,”as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don’t know enough to relieve global warming, and –without major technological breakthroughs—we can’t do much about it.From 2003 to 2050, the world’s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billion to 9.1 billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, totalenergy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. butthat’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economicgrowth unless we condemn the world’s poor to their present poverty and freeze everyone else‘s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they’re “doing something.”Consider the Kyoto Protocol (京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn’t. But it hasn’t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories (签字国) didn’t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets.The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster, the only solution is new technology. Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem whenit’s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don’t solve the engineering problem, we’re helpless.57. What is said about global warming in the first paragraph?A) It may not prove an environmental crisis at all. B) It is an issue requiring world wide commitments.C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop it. D) Very little will be done to bring it under control.58. According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming?A) It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of.B) It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences.C) It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized.D) It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.59. Green house emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _______.A) economic growthB) the widening gap between the rich and poor C) wasteful use of energyD) the rapid advances of science and technology60. The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________.A) politicians have started to do something to better the situationB) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy useC) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warmingD) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems61. What is the message the author intends to convey?A) Global warming is more of a moral issue than a practical one.B) The ultimate solution to global warming lies in new technologyC) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs.D) People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.Passage TwoSomeday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Websites you’ve visited. Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your creditcard purchase or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.In fact, it’s likely some of these things have already happened to you. Who wouldwatch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you neverintended to be seen —the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked.Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it’s important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. Thedigital bread crumbs(碎屑) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simpleGoogle search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a worldwhere you simple cannot keep a secret.The key question is: Does that matter?When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned aboutlosing it. A survey found an overwhelming pessimism about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying they feel their privacy is “slipping away, and that bothers me.”But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny fraction of Americans changeany behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount attollbooths(收费站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrender personalinformation like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-offcoupon (优惠券).But privacy does matter –at least sometimes. It’s like health: When you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.62. What does the author mean by saying “the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked ”(Lines 3-4, Para.2)?A) People’s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.B) In the 21st century people try every means to look into others’secrets.C) People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.D) Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.63. What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?A) Friends should open their hearts to each other.B) Friends should always be faithful to each other. C) There should be a distance even between friends.D) There should be fewer disputes between friends.64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret”(Line 5, Para.3)?A) Modern society has finally evolved into an open society.B) People leave traces around when using modern technology.C) There are always people who are curious about others’affairs.D) Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities.65. What do most Americans do with regard to privacy protection?A) They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.B) They use various loyalty cards for business transactions.C) They rely more and more on electronic devices. D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________.A) people will make every effort to keep itB) its importance is rarely understoodC) it is something that can easily be lostD) people don’t cherish it until they lose it2.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.If you are a male and you are readingthis ,congratulations: you are a survivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming youmake it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don’t go to the doctor.“Men aren’t seeing doctors as oftenas they should, ”says Dr. Gullotta, “This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike.”Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smoker’s cough for a year.“When I finally saw him it had alreadyspread and he has since died from lung cancer”he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but itwould have prolonged this life”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they are invincible（不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on thegolf course and they think”Geez, if it could happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach,”some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ”says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,”Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men couldbe addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.”But prevention is cheaperin the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more than womenB. men don’t seek medical care as oftenas womenC. men aren’t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59. Which of the following best completesthe sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…’(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself luckyD. it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towards one’s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fearof the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about one’s disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regularcheck-ups for men?A.They may increase public expensesB.They will save money in the long runC.They may cause psychological strains on menD.They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last tohear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to astudy jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school“Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,”said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.”the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every unhappy customerwill complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect”can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered themost problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople shouldbe diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“Retailers who’re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’t so friendly.”said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaintsto the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they haveno idea what is wrong.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答62. Why are store managers often the lastto hear complaints?A Most customers won’t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “…the shopper must also find a replacement”(Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find thesame products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causesthe shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlightingpolice as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won’t have trouble parking their carsC won’t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeopleB Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between stores3. The January fashion show, called Future Fashion , exemplified howfar green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofitEarth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges toinclude organic fabrics in their lines.The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate,which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials canstill be tough to fine . “Most designers with existing labels are findingthere aren’t comparable fabrics that can just replace what you’re doing and shat your customers are used to,”he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, stillhave few eco-friendly equivalents.Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support.Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs(企业家) who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gavespecial recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewerthan a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce amajor initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buytransitional(过渡型的) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand thesupply of a key sustainable material . “Mainstream is about to occur,”says Hahn.Some analysts(分析师) are less sure . Among consumers, only 18%are even aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago.Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied:“Not that I’m aware of.”Like most consumers, she finds little time to shop, and when she does, she’s on the hunt for “cute stuff that isn’t too expensive.”By her own admission, green just isn’t yet on her mind. But–thanks to the combined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers –one day it will be.57. What is said about Future Fashion?A) It inspired many leading designers to start going green.B) It showed that designers using organic fabrics would go far.C) It served as an example of how fashion shows should be organized.D) It convinced the public that fashionable clothes should be madedurable.58. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will goorganic is that .A) much more time is needed to finish a dress using sustainablematerials .B) they have to create new brands for clothes made of organicmaterials .C) customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organicmaterials .D) quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readilyavailable .59. We learn from Paragraph 3 that designers who undertake greenfashion .A) can attend various trade shows free .B) are readily recognized by the fashion worldC) can buy organic cotton at favorable prices .D) are gaining more and more support .60. What is Natalie Hormilla’s attitude toward ecofashion?A) She doesn’t seem to care about it. C) She is doubtful of itspractical value.B) She doesn’t think it is sustainable D) She is very muchopposed to the idea61. What does the author think of green fashion?A) Green products will soon go mainstream.B) It has a very promising future.C) Consumers have the final say.D) It will appeal more to young people.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a personhas lived using a strand(缕) of hair , a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims .The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinkingwater show up in people’s hair.“You’re what you eat and drink, and that’s recorded in you hair,”said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah.While U.S diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as raid clouds move.Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable , but traces ofboth elements are also present as heavier isotopes (同位素) . The heaviest raid falls first .As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavierwater to California than to Utah.Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand ofhair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months.Cerling’s team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a mop of the regional differences. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops.They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regionsroughly corresponding to the movement of raid systems.“It’s not good for pinpointing (精确定位),”Cerling said . “It’s good for eliminating many possibilities.”Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learnmore about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake.The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt andseveral strands of hair.When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before herdeath, she moved about every two months.She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be morespecific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming.“It’s still a substantial area,”Park said “But it narrows it way down for me.”62. What is the scientists’new discovery?A) One’s hair growth has to do with the amount of water they drink.B) A person’s hair may reveal where they have lived.C) Hair analysis accurately identifies criminal suspects.D) The chemical composition of hair varies from person to person.63. What does the author mean by “You’re what you eat and drink”(Line 1, Para.3)?A) Food and drink affect one’s personality development.B) Food and drink preferences vary with individuals.C) Food and drink leave traces in one’s body tissues.D) Food and drink are indispensable to one’s existence.64. What is said about the rainfall in America’s West?A) There is much more rainfall in California than in Utah.B) The water it delivers becomes lighter when it moves inland.C) Its chemical composition is less stable than in other areas.D) It gathers more light isotopes as it moves eastward.65. What did Cerling’s team produce in their research?A) A map showing the regional differences of tap water.B) A collection of hair samples from various barber shops.C) A method to measure the amount of water in human hair.D) A chart illustrating the movement of the rain system.66. What is the practical value of Cerling’s research?A) It helps analyze the quality of water in different regions.B) It helps the police determine where a crime is committed.C) It helps the police narrow down possibilities in detective work.D) It helps identify the drinking habits of the person under investigation.4.Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might beable to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-Americanwoman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get upclose and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit toa cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhapsmost complicated duty may be simple to be herself.It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have donein-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis.For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogshave written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support herman and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will goa long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.57. Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?A) She serves as a role model for African women.B) She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.D) She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-Americanwomen.58. What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?A) They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.C) They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity andsocial welfare.59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?A) Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.B) How Michelle should behave as a public figure.C) How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.D) What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.60. What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?A) However many fans she has, she should remain modest,B) She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.C) However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.D) She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.61. What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obamawill do?A) Help change the prevailing view about black women.B) Help her husband in the task of changing America.C) Outshine previous First Lady.D) Fully display her fine qualities.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they’ll be joined by a new face; Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who’ll become Oxford’s vice-chancellor—a position equivalent to university presidentin America.Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in onlyone direction: outward from America.The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the Universityof Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,”says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependenton government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support hasmade funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed AlisonRichard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the universitypublicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position.”Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking headswith international experience of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.62. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage?A) Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S.B) A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators.C) American universities are enrolling more international students.D) University presidents are paying more attention to funding-raising.63. What is the chief consideration of American universities when hiring top-level administrators?A) The political correctness. B) Their ability to raise funds.C) Their fame in academic circles. D) Their administrative experience.64. What do we learn about European universities from the passage?。
英语四级阅读题库含答案解析
英语四级阅读题库含答案解析(总46页)--本页仅作为文档封面，使用时请直接删除即可----内页可以根据需求调整合适字体及大小--英语四级阅读题库含答案解析OneGlobal warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but regardless of whether it is or isn’t –we won’t do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely they are to be observed.Al Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth,” as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don’t know enough to relieve global warming, and –without major technological breakthroughs—we can’t do much about it.From 2003 to 2050, the world’s population is projected to grow from billion to billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. but that’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economic growth unless we condemn the world’s poor to their present povertyand freeze everyone else‘s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they’re “doing something.” Consider the Kyoto Protocol (京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn’t. But it hasn’t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories (签字国) didn’t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets.The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster, the only solution is new technology. Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem when it’s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don’t solve the engineering problem, we’re helpless.57. What is said about global warming in the first paragraph?A) It may not prove an environmental crisis at all.B) It is an issue requiring world wide commitments.C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop it.D) Very little will be done to bring it under control.58. According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming?A) It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of.B) It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences.C) It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized.D) It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.59. Green house emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _______.A) economic growthB) the widening gap between the rich and poor C) wasteful use of energyD) the rapid advances of science and technology60. The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________.A) politicians have started to do something to better the situationB) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy useC) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warmingD) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems61. What is the message the author intends to convey?A) Global warming is more of a moral issue than a practical one.B) The ultimate solution to global warming lies in new technologyC) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs.D) People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.Passage TwoSomeday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Websites you’ve visited. Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchase or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.In fact, it’s likely some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permissionIt might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen — the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked.Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it’s important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs (碎屑) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret.The key question is: Does that matter?When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. A survey found an overwhelming pessimism about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying they feel their privacy is “slipping away, and that bothers me.”But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny fraction of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths (收费站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrender personal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-off coupon (优惠券).But privacy does matter – at least sometimes. It’s like health: When you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.62. What does the author mean by saying “the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked ”(Lines 3-4,A) People’s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.B) In the 21st century people try every means to look into others’ secrets.C) People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.D) Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.63. What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?A) Friends should open their hearts to each other.B) Friends should always be faithful to each other.C) There should be a distance even between friends.D) There should be fewer disputes between friends.64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret” (Line 5,A) Modern society has finally evolved into an open society.B) People leave traces around when using modern technology.C) There are always people who are curious about others’ affairs.D) Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities.65. What do most Americans do with regard to privacy protection?A) They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.B) They use various loyalty cards for business transactions.C) They rely more and more on electronicdevices.D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________.A) people will make every effort to keep itB) its importance is rarely understoodC) it is something that can easily be lostD) people don’t cherish it until they lose itOneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.If you are a male and you are readingthis ,congratulations: you are asurvivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don’t go to the doctor.“Men aren’t seeing doctors as often as they should, ” says Dr. Gullotta, “This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike.”Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smoker’s cough for a year.“When I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer”he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have prolonged this life”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they are invincible （不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think” Geez, if it could happen to him.Then there is the ostrich approach,” some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,”Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.”But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, theultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. men drink and smoke much more than womenB. men don’t seek medical care as often as womenC. men aren’t as cautions as women in face of dangerD. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59. Which of the following best completes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…’(line2,para,8)A. it could happen to me, tooB. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself luckyD. it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line qA. a casual attitude towards one’s health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about one’s disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?may increase public expenseswill save money in the long run may cause psychological strains on menwill enable men to live as long as women Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school “Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.” the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, andavoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“Retailers who’re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’t so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?A Most customers won’t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “… the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_____A can stay longer browsing in the storeB won’t have trouble parking their carsC won’t have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeopleB Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for saleD Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________.A exert pressure on stores to improve their serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between stores3. The January fashion show, called Future Fashion , exemplified how far green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofit Earth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organic fabrics in their lines.The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate, which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials can still be tough to fine . “Most designers with existing labels are finding there aren’t comparable fabrics that can just replace what you’re doing and shat your customers are used to,” he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, still have few eco-friendly equivalents.Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support. Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs(企业家) who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gave special recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewer than a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce a major initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buy transitional(过渡型的) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand the supply of a key sustainable material . “Mainstream is about to occur,” says Hahn.Some analysts(分析师) are less sure . Among consumers, only 18%are even aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago. Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied: “Not that I’m aware of.” Like most consumers, she finds little time to shop, and when she does, she’s on the hunt for “cute stuff that isn’t too expensive.” By her own admission, green just isn’t yet on her mind. But –thanks to the combined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers –one day it will be.57. What is said about Future Fashion?A) It inspired many leading designers to start going green.B) It showed that designers using organic fabrics would go far.C) It served as an example of how fashion shows should be organized.D) It convinced the public that fashionable clothes should be made durable.58. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will go organic isthat .A) much more time is needed to finish a dress using sustainable materials .B) they have to create new brands for clothes made of organic materials .C) customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organic materials .D) quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readily available .59. We learn from Paragraph 3 that designers who undertake green fashion .A) can attend various trade shows free .B) are readily recognized by the fashion worldC) can buy organic cotton at favorable prices .D) are gaining more and more support .60. What is Natalie Hormilla’s attitude toward ecofashion?A) She doesn’t seem to care about it. C) She is doubtful of its practical value.B) She doesn’t think it is sustainable D) She is very much opposed to the idea61. What does the author think of green fashion?A) Green products will soon go mainstream.B) It has a very promising future.C) Consumers have the final say.D) It will appeal more to young people.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand(缕) of hair , a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims .The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people’s hair.“You’re what you eat and drink, and that’s recorded in you hair,”said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah.While diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as raid cloudsmove.Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable , but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes(同位素) . The heaviest raid falls first .As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah.Similar patterns exist throughout the . By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand of hair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months.Cerling’s team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a mop of the regional differences. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops.They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regions roughly corresponding to the movement of raid systems.“It’s not good for pinpointing (精确定位),” Cerling said . “It’s good for eliminating many possibilities.”Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learn more about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake.The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair.When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before her death, she moved about every two months.She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be more specific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming.“It’s still a substantial area,”Park said “But it narrows it way down for me.”62. What is the scientists’ new discovery?A) One’s hair growth has to do with the amount of water they drink.B) A person’s hair may reveal where they have lived.C) Hair analysis accurately identifies criminal suspects.D) The chemical composition of hair varies from person to person.63. What does the author mean by “You’re what you eat and drink” (Line 1,A) Food and drink affect one’s personality development.B) Food and drink preferences vary with individuals.C) Food and drink leave traces in one’s body tissues.D) Food and drink are indispensable to one’s existence.64. What is said about the rainfall in America’s West?A) There is much more rainfall in California than in Utah.B) The water it delivers becomes lighter when it moves inland.C) Its chemical composition is less stable than in other areas.D) It gathers more light isotopes as it moves eastward.65. What did Cerling’s team produce in their research?A) A map showing the regional differences of tap water.B) A collection of hair samples from various barber shops.C) A method to measure the amount of water in human hair.D) A chart illustrating the movement of the rain system.66. What is the practical value of Cerling’s research?A) It helps analyze the quality of water in different regions.B) It helps the police determine where a crime is committed.C) It helps the police narrow down possibilities in detective work.D) It helps identify the drinking habits of the person under investigation.4.Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m morefascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.57. Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?A) She serves as a role model for African women.B) She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.D) She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.58. What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?A) They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.C) They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity and social welfare.59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?A) Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.B) How Michelle should behave as a public figure.C) How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.D) What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.60. What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?A) However many fans she has, she should remain modest,B) She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.C) However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.D) She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.61. What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?A) Help change the prevailing view about black women.B) Help her husband in the task of changing America.C) Outshine previous First Lady.D) Fully display her fine qualities.Passage TwoQuestions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they’ll be joined by a new face; Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who’ll become Oxford’s vice-chancellor—a position equivalent to university president in America.Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one direction: outward from America.The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,”says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing, since . schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support has made funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position.”Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.62. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage?A) Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the .B) A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators.。
英语四级阅读练习+答案精讲+译文word版本
英语四级阅读练习+答案精讲+译文Aldous Huxley was a most unfortunate man.When he died in 1963 he must have expired in the confident belief that the event would be given wide coverage in the press the next day.After all,his career had not been without distinction.Where he made his big mistake was in dying on the same day that John F.Kennedy was assassinated.As a result Huxley got about three column inches at the bottom of page 27.In the same way the death of Victor Farris has gone widely unnoticed because he foolishly shuffled off this mortal coil at the same time as Mr.Konstantin Chernenko.Now,as you all know,Victor Farris was the chap who invented the paper clip.The paper milk carton too.And paper clips and milk cartons will be in use long after everyone has forgotten the name of the comrade who came between Andropov and whatever this new bloke is called.『The same goes for the inventor of the supermarket trolley who died in Switzerland a few months ago.』①Fell off his trolley,so to speak.『For all I know,he may be a household name in his own canton and they are putting up a statue of home wheeling his trolley,and are going to commemorate him on one of those ever-so-tasteful Swiss postage stamps we used to collect when we were younger and wiser,』②but I doubt if his name will be remembered outside the borders of his small country.Personally I forgot it within minutes of reading of his decease.Not that it matters.Somehow it is hard to imagine things like paper clips and supermarket trolleys having had a n amed inventor.It’s like discovering that at a particular moment of history a particular person invented the spoon,or the chair, or socks.One assumes that these everyday objects just happened,or evolved through natural selection.It isn’t necessarily so.I read only the other day that Richard Ⅱ invented the handkerchief.Almost everything else was invented either by Leonardo daVinci(scissors,bicycles,helicopters,and probably spoons,socks and the Rubik cube aswell)or by Benjamin Franklin(lightning-conductor,rocking-chair,bifocals)or else by Joseph Stalin(television).It’s quite possible that Leonardo or Benjamin Franklin or Stalin also invented the supermarket trolley.Certainly it has been invented more than once.Hardly was Herr Edelweiss(or whatever the Swiss chap was called)in his grave,than news came of the death of Sylvan N.Goodman at the age of 86.Sylvan also invented the supermarket trolley or,as the Los Angeles Times report calls it,the shopping cart.Be that as it may,Herr Edelweiss or Sylvan Goodman,or both,did a grand job and made supermarket shopping far less hellish than it would otherwise be.The next step will be to get the trolleys out of the shops and into the streets.You could put an engine in the front and call it a car.Or give it big wheels and a canopy and call it a pram.The possibilities are endless.1.It can be inferred from the passage that Herr Edelweiss.A.was remembered by the people all over worldB.made a lot of money from his inventionC.was not very famousD.was a business partner of Sylvan Goodman2.The author writes this article in order to illustrate that.A.the names of the people who invented the most useful things are usually forgottenB.everyday objects are invented and evolve through natural selectionC.many everyday objects are invented more than onceD.many famous people have passed away without being noticed3.Who probably invented spoons?A.Leonardo da Vinci.B.Benjamin Franklin.C.Victor Farris.D.A person unknown.4. By stating that Leonardo da Vinci invented helicopters, the author means .A. he really did itB. he is a military scientistC. he painted in one of his masterpieces a helicoptersD. people turn to ascribe inventions to him but they are wrong5.What can be inferred about Aldous Huxley?A.His death was not reported by the press.B.He was a famous inventor.C.He made a very big mistake in his late years.D.He died on the same day as John F.Kenneddy.Vocabulary1.canopy n. 天篷2.pram n. 婴儿车长难句解析①【解析】“the same goes”解析为同样的事情也发生，例:The same goes for our classmates.同样的事情也发生在我的同学身上。
CET-4历年真题阅读译文
考拉进阶CET-4历年真题阅读译文（2014.12—2010.06）2014年12月四级真题（第一套）Passage One纽约人渐渐习惯了更多的人骑着闪亮的蓝色花旗自行车。
但当地的自行车商店怎么看呢？花旗自行车是不是在使它们受损的情况下来增加骑行的人呢？在翠贝卡区的Gotham Bikes，经理W. Ben说，该店的整体销量因自行车共享计划而上升。
“它让更多的人上路，”他说。
格拉姆西区Danny’s Cycles的雇员James Ryan也说花旗自行车是一个不错的选择，它让人们逐步适应在一个以交通堵塞和野蛮司机闻名的城市里骑车。
“他们不用买自行车就可以试骑，”他说。
租赁既不是Gotham Bikes也不是Danny’s Cycles的主营业务。
但对Frank’s Bike Shop ——电商网站Grand St.上的一个小店——来说，自行车共享计划却是坏消息。
店主Frank Arroyo说，自从上个月花旗自行车正式推出，他的租赁业务下降了90%。
Arroyo的主要租客是欧洲游客，他们从此就被花旗自行车吸引走了。
然而Ben说，自行车共享对他的店铺的自行车销售来说却是有益的。
“人们用了自行车共享并意识到在城市里骑自行车有多棒，然后决定为自己买更好的自行车，”他指出。
Waterfront Bicycle Shop位于克里斯多福街以北的西街，该店的Christian Farrell 说，他最初很担忧自行车共享，但他承认，“我很高兴看到人们骑自行车。
”Andrew Crooks有着和Farrell早期一样的担忧。
他是位于第二大街64号的NYC Velo 的店主。
“它看起来是一个好主意，但却很难实施，”Crooks这样评价花旗自行车。
他说他很担忧经验不足的骑行者缺乏对骑行规定的认识以及来自不骑车的人的强烈反对。
然而，他说，现在说他的生意受到影响还为时尚早。
虽然自行车共享很可能会造成生意下滑，但Crooks承认，这种想法对纽约市来说是向前迈出了积极的一步。
大学英语四级阅读真题详解（99-04）
大学英语四级阅读真题详解（99-04）大学英语四级阅读真题详解（99-04）1999年1月大学英语四级考试Part II Reading ComprehensionPassage One这一篇介绍英国乡村一景——茅草屋顶的村舍——的说明文。
短文第一段以描景的方式引出主题：茅草屋顶的村舍仍是英国乡村迷人的一景。
而后于第二段介绍草屋建筑的历史。
第三段介绍草屋工艺的今天和草屋的特点。
最后一段通过与发展中国草屋的对比进一步突出英国草屋的寿命和优势。
21.（C）要点理解判断。
由题干a unique feature of the English countryside 确定答案依据在第一段，由该段第一句的描写及第二句中“the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of t he English countryside”可知答案为C。
22.（D）要点定位理解。
由题干中的craft 定位至第三段，理解第一句即可确定答案。
23.（A）要点定位理解。
题干中的prefer 与第三段最后一句中的choose 相对应，其中not only for itsbeauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter 与选项A 一致。
24.（B）要点定位归纳。
本题问及developing countries 住草屋的情况，涉及第三段前三句的要点：①第三世界半数以上人口住草屋；②他们不愿用传统的茅草做建筑材料，而宁愿住现代化楼房；③但他们没有钱进口建材。
概括要点可知他们住草屋与经济条件有关，故B为答案。
25.（C）主题推断。
根据上述语篇分析，作为发达国家的英国，乡村茅舍的存在成为迷人一景，他们由于其美丽的风格和冬暖夏凉的性能而对之情有独钟。
注意选项A中的thatched cottage 是不可能从古代保存下来的，因为根据短文最后部分的内容，茅草屋顶的建筑一般寿命为20~60年。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
历年四级阅读试题译文1999年1月四级试题译文Passage One译文山谷中一个小巧玲珑的村庄，村庄中一座茅草屋顶的小房子围绕着教堂；一条穿过两旁漆成粉色或白色的茅草屋顶村舍的狭窄小道，起伏的山丘上的一排排美丽的茅草屋顶农场建筑——这些仍是英格兰一些地区的常见的景观。
大多数人会同意茅草屋顶的英国乡村所具魅力的最重要的一部分。
实际上盖茅草屋顶是英伦诸岛建筑工艺中最古老的一种。
虽然茅草一直用于盖村舍和农场建筑物，也曾一度用于建筑城堡和教堂。
盖茅草屋顶是一项独特的工艺，常常是家庭世代相传的。
像现在我们所使用的茅草屋顶工艺从中世纪以来几乎就没有什么变化。
现在英格兰、威尔士有800多名专职盖茅草屋顶的工人，他们不但维修和更换老屋顶，还盖新屋顶。
许多房主选择茅草屋顶不仅是为了美观，而且还因为他们知道茅草能使他们冬暖夏凉。
事实上如果我们看看发展国家，世界半数以上的人口居住在茅草屋顶下，但他们的做法则不同。
发展中国家的人经常不愿意用传统材料，而更喜欢现代建筑。
然而，他们可能没有钱进口必需的材料。
临时搭建的野草屋顶的土屋常常只能维持半年。
用英国工艺制做的茅草屋顶能维修20年到60年之久，而且能有效地防暑。
Passage Two译文柯立芝总统说，“美国的事业就是工商业”，今天这句话仍然指出了一个很重要的真理：工商业机构在美国社会比任何其他组织，包括美国政府，威望更高。
为什么商机机构有这么大的威望呢？一个原因就是美国人把工商业视为比社会任何其他机构都更坚定地以竞争目标为基础。
既然竞争被美国人看作是进步和繁荣的主要源泉，竞争的工商业机构就受人尊敬。
不仅竞争本身是好的，它还是保护美国其他价值观念，如个人自由、机会平等、勤奋工作等的手段。
竞争通过保证没有权力垄断而保护个人自由。
与全能的政府不同，许多工商机构为了利润而互相竞争。
从理论上讲，如果一个工商企业想不公平地占顾客的便宜，那它就会输给较公平地对待顾客的竞争对手。
凡是有许多工商企业为嫌顾客的钱而竞争的地方，它们都不敢像对待下级或奴隶那样来对待顾客。
竞争的工商企业与垄断的政府经常形成鲜明对照。
因为工商业是竞争的，所以许多美国人认为它比政府更支持自由，虽然政府领导人是人民选举的，而工商企业界领袖不是。
因此，很多美国人认为竞争对保护自由和民主一样重要，甚至比民主更重要。
工商业竞争也被认为能增强机会均等的理念。
竞争被看作是一个公平、公平的竞赛，胜利总是归于跑得最快的人，而不管他的社会阶级背景。
竞争胜利在美国通常被看作取代了“根据家庭背景决定社会地位”。
因此工商业被看作是机会均等思想的表达，而不是继承特权的贵族思想的表达。
Passage Three译文广告对购买动机的诱惑力既有正面效果，又有反面效果。
顾客可能听信广告买一件劣质或高价的产品。
例如，某些广告商为提高汽油行驶里程的汽车产品打广告，煽起人们节油的欲望。
有些产品有用，有些产品没有用，完全是浪费顾客的钱。
有时广告是故意误导。
几年前，一种品牌的面包向节食者推荐，说每片面包里的卡路里量少。
结果这种面包不是适合节食的食品，只是一般面包。
卡路里量少的是因为面包切得很薄，但每条面包的卡路里量是一样的。
从积极的方面来看，广告可以对消费者真正关心的事动之以情。
想一想火险的情况。
火险可能是通过唤起对损失的恐惧而售出的。
不过害怕损失是投保火险的真正原因。
对大多数人来说，知道财产得到保险的安全感使购买火险是很合算的投资。
如果消费者考广告宣传以及保险计划，他们会从广告中获益。
每位消费者必须权衡自己的情况。
产品的好处是否重要到足以证明值得购买？做广告的意图是吸引消费者，但并没有强迫消费者购买产品。
消费者依然掌握着最后的购买权。
Passage Four译文只要教师区分不了教与学，他们就会继续为孩子做那些只有孩子自己才能做的事情。
教孩子阅读不是把阅读交给他们。
肯定不是把无数时间花在阅读上。
道格拉斯坚持说：“阅读不能直接教，学校应当停止企图做这种不可能的事。
”教与学是两个完全不同的过程。
它们种类不同、功能不同。
教的作用就是创造出一种使孩子们有可能发明一套教会自己阅读的最有效方法的条件和气氛。
教学也是公开的活动，可以看到、可以监视。
学习阅读包括每个人为使书面语言有意义而做的一切。
几乎所有这一切都是非公开的，因为学习是脑力劳动，且不受公众检查。
如果教者与学者的角色不能互相转换，那么通过帮助孩子探索知识的“教”又能做什么呢？史密斯对所有讲授都有一个重要的规则。
“使学会阅读变得容易，这就意味着要使阅读成为孩子的一种有意义、有趣、经常的经历。
”当发现教与学的角色是他们应该做的那样，当教与学双方都恰当地扮演起这些角色时，双方大部分压力和失败的感觉就会消除。
如果教师创造出学生通过阅读来解决学会阅读问题的机会，学习阅读就变得更容易了。
Part IV Short Questions译文无论在什么地方，想成为语言教师的人都有一个共同点：希望他们的专业地位和技能得到某种肯定，并能得到工作。
前一个要求对个人来说显然是重要的，但是如果你要想找到工作的话，那就更加不可缺少了。
十年前的情况并非如此。
实际上在每一个发展中国家里，在许多发达国家里也同样，只有你的母语是英语，这就足以使你有资格被聘为英语教师。
而现在，招聘者只看教师是否具有能教好英语的知识、技能和工作态度。
这样做的结果就是把母语为非英语的英语教师提升到了和母语为英语的教师同等的地位。
这是他们早该享受却很少享受到待遇。
母语为非英语的英语教师现在很高兴，因为语言上的歧视已成为过去。
一项正在进行的由剑桥大学资助的研究项目，抽样调查了40多个国家的教师、教育工作者及聘用教学者，向他们询问母语为英语的教师和母语为非英语的教师的差别是否重要，回答是否定的。
应聘者只要能教，并具备所要求的英语水平，他们是何人、来自何方并不重要。
这样，一种新的歧视（这种歧视是合理的，因为它将不合格的人区别出来了）解放了语言上受歧视的人。
然而，剑桥大学研究英的成果还不限于此：它确认了对英语为母语的教师和英语为非母语的教师的要求是极为相似的。
1999年6月四级试题译文Passage One译文现在航空公司面临的安全威胁可能已经不是持枪的恐怖分子，而是商务舱中带便携式电脑的人。
过去十五年里飞行员报告了一百多起可能由电磁干扰而引发的事故。
这种干扰源尚未最后确定，但是专家们越来越多的指责便携式电脑、收音机、录音机、移动电话等电子设备。
一家航空业顾问机构RTCA建议：所有航空公司禁止在飞行“关键”阶段，特别是起飞和降落阶段使用这些电子设备。
某些专家甚至要求在整个飞行期间全部禁止使用。
现在，使用这些装置的规则由各航空公司自己制订。
虽然某些航空公司禁止乘客在起飞、着陆时使用这样的设备，考虑到许多乘客在飞行期间要工作，大多数航空公司不愿意全部禁止。
难题是预计电磁场会怎样影响飞机上的电脑。
专家知道便携式电子设备发出辐射能影响飞机导航和通讯所用的波长。
但因为不能在实验室内再现这些影响，他们就没有办法知道这些干扰是否危险。
飞机易受干扰的损害增加了恐怖分子为破坏导航设备而可能使用无线电设备的危险。
然而，因为音乐声音太响而听不到关闭收音机指令的乘客也同样担心。
Passage Two译文跨国公司、全球市场、新的通讯技术的兴起和文化差异的缩小导致全球公关（PR）空前的增长。
令人吃惊的是，虽然现代公关主要是美国的发明，美国公关的领导地位正受到其他国家公关努力的威胁。
例如，十年前世界前五名公关事务所归美国所有。
1991年仅剩一所。
特别是美国人变得越来越老练和有创造性。
最近一项调查发现，与美国的三分之一相比，有一半以上的英国公司把公关作为它们公司策划的活动的一部分。
可能不久伦敦就会取代纽约成为公关（PR）的首都。
为什么在全球公关竞赛中美国落后了？首先，美国人总体上相当趋于土气，对地方事务更感兴趣。
譬如，美国人世界地理的知识一向很弱。
其次，在第二语言方面美国人落后于欧洲和亚洲同行。
不到5%的Burson-Mar shall 美国雇员懂两种语言。
Ogilvy 和Marther 的百分比数也相同。
相反，某些欧洲公司有半数以上的雇员能流利地讲一种第二语言。
最后，从事国外公关工作的人往往都留心国际事务。
譬如在金融公关领域大多数美国人阅读《华尔街杂志》。
在国外，他们的同行不仅读《华尔街杂志》，而且还读伦敦《金融时报》、《经济学家》杂志，这些出版物美国人不常读。
美国公关行业可能应该向有线新闻网（CNN）的特德·特纳学习。
特纳最近宣布：CNN新闻广播不再用“外国的”这个词。
据特纳说：全球通讯已经使世界各国如此互相依赖，不再有“外国的”这种东西。
Passage Three译文巴西已成为发展中世界在降低人口增长率方面最成功的国家之一——但与其说这是计划性的，倒不如说是偶然的。
“像印度这样的国家齐心合力地降低出生率时，巴西没有真正努力却取得了较好的结果。
”哈佛大学的乔治·马蒂尼这样说。
巴西人口的年增长率已经从1951~1960年的2.99%降低到1981~1990年的1.93%，而且现在巴西妇女平均仅2.7个孩子。
马蒂尼说1990年以来这个数字可能又进一步下降了，这一成就使得许多第三世界国家妒忌。
除其他因素之外，马蒂尼把它归因于70年代引进的肥皂泡电视剧和分期付款。
两者在降低出生率中起到了虽然间接、但却是重要的作用。
巴西是世界上最大的肥皂剧制作国之一。
巴西最受欢迎的电视网Globo 每周用六天晚上播映三个小时的肥皂泡剧，而另外三家网每天晚上至少播映一个小时。
大多数肥皂剧都以大城市中过着高档生活富人为蓝本。
马蒂尼说：“虽然它们从未真正想要把针对生育问题的信息安排进去，它们叙述中上层阶级的价值观念——不要很多孩子、对性的不同态度、妇女工作等问题”。
“它们把这种形象发送到巴西各地，使人们意识到还有其他的行为模式、其他的价值观，这些都进行了很吸引人的包装。
”同时，分期付款计划也尽量鼓励穷人成为消费者。
马蒂尼说：“这就导致了消费模式的巨大变化，而消费者与无限制生育水火不容。
”Passage Four译文似乎从来就没有一种没有玩具的文明，但是不知道玩具是什么时候、怎样出现的。
玩具的出现很可能是给孩子一点事情做。
古代世界和今天一样，大多数男孩子玩某种玩具，而女孩另外一种。
在社会角色严格规定的社会里，男孩的游戏模仿父亲的活动，而女孩子模仿母亲。
这是真的，因为男孩和女孩即使在游戏时都在准备进入成人世界的角色和职责。
玩具史上最值得注意的与其说是几个世纪以来发生了怎样的变化，还不如说是它们还保持着多少原样。
变化主要是在工艺结构和技术方面。
最使人惊奇的是玩具在世界各地发展的普遍性及其坚持到现在的持久性。
在埃及、美洲、中国、日本和在北极的民族中出现了种类基本相同的玩具。