大学英语四级模拟四级专项—快速阅读 (1)
四级快速阅读练习题-7篇
四级快速阅读练习题1 (08,06)Passage 1Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A）, B）, C）and D）. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Media Selection for AdvertisementsAfter determining the target audience for a product or service, advertising agencies must select the appropriate media for the advertisement. We discuss here the major types of media used in advertising. We focus our attention on seven types of advertising: television, newspapers, radio, magazines, out-of-home. Internet, and direct mail.TelevisionTelevision is an attractive medium for advertising because it delivers mass audiences to advertisers. When you consider that nearly three out of four Americans have seen the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? you can understand the power of television to communicate with a large audience. When advertisers create a brand, for example, they want to impress consumers with the brand and its image. Television provides an ideal vehicle for this type of communication.But television is an expensive medium, and not all advertisers can afford to use it. Television's influence on advertising is fourfold. First, narrowcasting means that television channels are seen by an increasingly narrow segment of the audience. The Golf Channel, for instance, is watched by people who play golf. Home and Garden Television is seen by those interested in household improvement projects. Thus, audiences are smaller and more homogeneous(具有共同特点的) than they have been in the past. Second, there is an increase in the number of television channels available to viewers, and thus, advertisers. This has also resulted in an increase in the sheer number of advertisements to which audiences are exposed. Third, digital recording devices allow audience members more control over which commercials they watch. Fourth, control over programming is being passed from the networks to local cable operators and satellite programmers.NewspaperAfter television, the medium attracting the next largest annual ad revenue is newspapers. The New York Times, which reaches a national audience, accounts for $1 billion in ad revenue annually, ii m increased its national circulation (发行量) by 40% and is now available for home delivery in ion ciues. Locally, newspapers are the largest advertising medium.Newspapers are a less expensive advertising medium than television and provide a way foradvertisers to communicate a longer, more detailed message to their audience than they can through 48 hours, meaning newspapers are also a quick way of getting the massage out.Newspapers are ofen the most important form of news for a local community, and they develop a high degree of loyalty from local reader.RadioAdvertising on radio continues to grow Radio is often used in conjunction with outdoor bill-boards (广告牌) and the Internet to reach even more customers than television. Advertisers are likely to use radio because it is a less expensive medium than television, which means advertisers can afford to repeal their ads often. Internet companies are also turning 10 radio advertising. Radio provides a way for advertisers to communicate with audience members at all times of the day.Consumers listen to radio on their way to school or work, at work, on the way home, and in the evening hours.Two major changes—satellite and Internet radio—will force radio advertisers to adapt their methods. Both of these radio forms allow listeners to tune in stations that are more distant than the local stations they could receive in the past. As a result, radio will increasingly attract target audiences who live many miles apart.MagazinesNewsweeklies, women‘s titles, and business magazines have all seen increases in advertising because they attract the high-end market, magazines are popular with advertisers because of the narrow market that they deliver. A broadcast medium such as network television attracts all types of audience members, but magazine audiences are more homogeneous, if you read sports illustrated, for example, you have much in common with the magazine‘s other reade rs. Advertisers see magazines as an efficient way of reaching target audience members.Advertiser using the print media-magazines and newspapers-will need to adapt to two main changes. First, the internet will bring larger audiences to local newspapers, these second. Advertisers will have to understand how to use an increasing number of magazines for their target audiences. Although some magazines will maintain national audiences, a large number of magazines will entertain narrower audiences.Out-of-home advertisingout-of-home advertising, also called place-based advertising, has become an increasingly effective way of reaching consumers, who are more active than ever before. Many consumers today do not sit at home and watch television. Using billboards, newsstands, and bus shelters for advertising is an effective way of reaching these on-the-go consumers. More consumers travel longer distances to and from work, which also makes out-of-home advertising effective, technology has changed the nature of the billboard business, making it a more effective medium than in the past.Using digital printing, billboard companies can print a billboard in 2 hours, compared with 6 days previously. This allows advertisers more variety in the types of messages they create because they, can change their messages more quickly.InternetAs consumers become more comfortable with online shopping, advertisers will seek to reach this market As consumers get more of their news and information from the Internet, the ability of television and radio to get the word out to consumers will decrease. The challenge to Internet advertisers Is to create ads that audience members remember.Internet advertising will play a more prominent role in organizations' advertising in the near ftuture. Internet audiences tend to be quite homogeneous, but small. Advertisers will have to adjust their methods to reach these audiences and will have to adapt their persuasive strategies to the online medium as well.Direct mailA final advertising medium is direct mail, which uses mailings to consumers to communicate a client's message Direct mail includes newsletters，postcards and special promotions. Direct mail is an effective way to build relationships with consumers. For many businesses，direct mail is the most effective from of advertising.1. Television is an attractive advertising medium in that_____________.A) it has large audiences B) it appeals to housewivesC) it helps build up a company's reputation D) it is affordable to most advertisers2. With the increase in the number of TV channels_________.A) the cost of TV advertising has decreasedB) the number of TV viewers has increasedC) advertisers' interest in other media has decreasedD) the number of TV ads people can see has increasedpared with television, newspapers as an advertising medium_________________.A) earn a larger annual ad revenue B) convey more detailed messagesC) use more production techniques D) get messages out more effectively4.Advertising on radio continues to grow because ___________.A) more local radio stations have been set upB) modern technology makes it more entertainingC) it provides easy access to consumersD) it has been revolutionized by Internet radio.5.Magazines are seen by advertisers as an efficient way to___________.A) reach target audiences B) modern technology makes it more entertainingC) appeal to educated people. D) convey all kinds of messages6.Oui-of-home advertising has become more effective because_______A) billboards can be replaced within two hoursB) consumers travel more now ever beforeC) such ads have been made much more attractiveD) the pace of urban life is much faster nowadays7. The challenge to Internet advertisers is to create ads that are___________.A) quick to update B) pleasant to look atC) easy to remember D) convenient to access8. Internet advertisers will have to adjust their methods to reach audiences that tend to be_____________9.Directmail is an effective form of advertising for business to develop____________________10.This passage discusses how advertisers select________________for advertisements.参考答案:1. A2.D3.B4.C5.A6.B7.C8. quite homogeneous 9.relationships with consumers 10.the appropriate media2 (07,06)Protect Y our Privacy When Job-hunting OnlineIdentity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person‘s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.The numbers associated with identity theft are beginning to add up fast these days. A recent General Accounting Office report estimates that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year. And that number may be low, as many people choose not to report the crime even if they know they have been victimized.Ident ity theft is ―an absolute epidemic,‖ states Robert Ellis Smith, a respected author and advocate of privacy. ―It‘s certainly picked up in the last four or five years. It‘s worldwide. It affects everybody, and there‘s very little you can do to prevent it and, worst of all, you can‘t detect it until it‘s probably too late.‖Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, you personal data, especially your social security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data, can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense. In the United States and Canada, for example, many people have reported that unauthorized persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up vast debts and committing crimes while using the victims‘ names. In many cases, a victim‘s losses may includ ed not only out-of-pocket financial losses, but substantial additional financial costs associated with trying to restore his reputation in the community and correcting erroneous information for which the criminal is responsible.According to the FBI, identity theft is the number one fraud committed on the Internet. So how do job seekers protect themselves while continuing to circulate their resumes online? The key to a successful online job search is learning to manager the risks. Here are some tips for staying safe while conducting a job search on the Internet.1. Check for a privacy policy.If you are considering posting your resume online, make sure the job search site your are considering has a privacy policy, like . The policy should spell out how your information will be used, stored and whether or not it will be shared. You may want to think twice about posting your resume on a site that automatically shares your information with others. You could be opening yourself up to unwanted calls from solicitors (推销员).When reviewing the site‘s privacy policy, you‘ll be able to delete your resume just as easilyas you posted it. You won‘t necessarily want your resume to remain out there on the Internet once you land a job. Remember, the longer your resume remains posted on a job board, the more exposure, both positive and not-so-positive, it will receive.2. Take advantage of site features.Lawful job search sites offer levels of privacy protection. Before posting your resume, carefully consider your job search objective and the level of risk you are willing to assume., for example, offers three levels of privacy from which job seekers can choose. The first is standard posting. This option gives job seekers who post their resumes the most visibility to the broadest employer audience possible.The second is anonymous (匿名的) posting. This allows job seekers the same visibility as those in the standard posting category without any of their contact information being displayed. Job seekers who wish to remain anonymous but want to share some other information may choose which pieces of contact information to display.The third is private posting. This option allows a job seeker to post a resume without having it searched by employers. Private posting allows job seekers to quickly and easily apply for jobs that appear on without retyping their information.3. Safeguard your identity.Career experts say that one of the ways job seekers can stay safe while using the Internet to search out jobs is to conceal their identities. Replace your name on your resume with a generic (泛指的) identifier, such as ―Intranet Developer Candidate,‖ or ―Experienced Marketing Representative.‖You should also consider eliminating the name and location of your current employer. Depending on your title, it may not be all that difficult to determine who you are once the name of your company is provided. Use a general description of the company such as ―Major auto manufacturer,‖ or―International packaged goods supplier.‖If your job title is unique, consider using the generic equivalent instead of the exact title assigned by your employer.4. Establish and email address for your search.Another way to protect your privacy while seeking employment online is to open up an email account specifically for your online job search. This will safeguard your existing email box in the event someone you don‘t know gets hold of your email address and shares it with others.Using an email address specifically for you job search also eliminates the possibility that you will receive unwelcome emails in your primary mailbox. When naming your new email address, be sure that it doesn‘t contain references to your name or other information that w ill give away your identity. The best solution is an email address that is relevant to the job you are seeking such as Salesmgr2004@5. Protect your reference.If your resume contains a section with the names and contact information of your references, take it out. There‘s no sense in safeguarding your information while sharing private contact information of your references.6. Keep confidential (机密的) information confidential.Do not, under any circumstances, share your social security, driver‘s license, and bank account numbers or other personal information, such as race or eye color. Honest employers do not need this information with an initial application. Don‘t provide this even if they say they needit in order to conduct a background check. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book –don‘t fall for it.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
大学英语四级考试专项讲解(阅读部分)
（4）表示对比关系的词或词组：contrary to, unlike, like等
解题技巧三：题文同序
大学英语四级考试的快速阅读部分，问题顺序与原文顺序一致（有时判断题和填空题交汇处顺序不一致），这就要求应该按照题目的顺序依次做题。对于所有的四级快速阅读文章这个技巧都适用，在此就不做特别举例
-sion confusion, decision, revision, discussion
-ure exposure, pleasure, failure, pressure, future
1)-or/er/ess/crat/cis:做某件事情或职业的人或物：worker, debtor
2)-acy,表示"性质，状态，境遇" democracy, accuracy, diplomacy
大学英语四级考试专项讲解（阅读部分）
二．快速阅读(Skimming & Scanning)专项
(Skimming & Scanning)是什么？
Skimming（略读）是一个只见森林不见树木的过程，这个过程是要识别句子中的mainpoints，段落中的important sentences，以及organization of the paragraph。所以，在略读时，是要理解重要词汇的意思的。
解题技巧二：显性信息
查读的信息通常是显性信息，只要将问题在原文中进行准确定位就能得到正确答案，一般不需要做推理。
特别提示：考生对于以下一些显性信息也应注意
（1）表示因果关系的词或词组：because, reason, due to, since, so that, therefore等
英语四级阅读理解模拟题
英语四级阅读理解模拟题阅读理解模拟题(一)Back in the old days, when I was a child, we sat around the family roundtable at dinnertime and exchanged our daily experiences. It wasnt very organized and all the news that had to be told was told by each family member.We listened to each other and the interest was not put-on; it was real. Our family was a unit and we supported each other, and nurtured each other, and liked each other, and—we were even willing to admit—we loved each other.Today, the family roundtable has moved to the local fast-food restaurant and talk is not easy, much less encouraged.Grandma, who used to live upstairs, is now. the voice on long distance, and the working parent is far too beaten down each day to spend evening relaxation time listening to the sandbox experience of an eagerfour-year-old.So family conversation is as extinct as my old toys and parental questions such as "What have you been doing, Bobby?" have been replaced by "Im busy, go watch television. "And watch TV they do; count them by the millions.But its usually not childrens television that children watch. Saturday morning, the childrens hour, amounts to only about 8 percent of their weekly viewing.Where are they to be found? Watching adult television, of course, from the Match Game in the morning, to the afternoon at General Hospital, from the muggings and battles on the evening news right through the family hour and past into Starsky and Hutch. Thats where you find our kids, over five million of them, at 10 p. m. , not fewer than a million until after midnight! All of this is done with parental permission.Television, used well, can provide enriching experiences for our young people, but we must use it with some sense. When the carpet is clean, we turn off the vacuum cleaner. When the dishes are clean, the dishwasher turns itself off.Not so the television, which is on from the sun in the morning to the moon at night and beyond!Parents must exercise some control and show some concern about the cultural influence on the child when a program not intended for that child is viewed. Parents need to intervene (干涉). Nonintervention may be a wise policy in international affairs, but the results of parental nonintervention will not be wise at all.1. From the first two paragraphs one may infer that the writers a attitude towards "the old days" is______.A. preferringB. hatingC. being tired ofD. disappointing2. The working parent is not willing to listen to her (his) four-year-old child talking about his sandbox games because she (he) is______.A. boringB. very tiredC. busyD. angry3. According to the writer, the responsibility for the kids watching adult television and watching it for a long time should be undertaken by______.A. the television stationsB. the societyC. TV programsD. their parents4. If we use television with some ______television can provide our young people withmuch knowledge.A. instruction of expertsB. judgment of our ownC. direction of engineersD. indication of teachers5. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?A. Parental nonintervention will not be praised.B. Nonintervention may be a good policy in international affairs.C. Parents must exercise some control and show some concern about the cultural influence on the children.D. Parents need to intervene.参考答案：DCDDB阅读理解模拟题(二)Most of us trade money for entertainment. Movies, concerts and shows are enjoyable but 11 .If you think that you cant have a good time without spending a lot of money, read on. A little resourcefulness and a few minutes of newspaper-scanning should give you some pleasant surprises.People may be the most interesting show in a large city. 12 through busy streets and see what everybody else is doing. You will probably see people from all over the world; you will 13 see people of every age, size, and shape, and youll get a free fashion show, too. Window-shopping is also a 14 sport if the stores are closed.Check the listings in your neighborhood paper. Local colleges or schools often 15 the public to hear an interesting speaker or a good 16 . The film or concert series at the local public library probably wont cost you a penny. Be sure to check commercial advertisements too. A flea market can provide hours of pleasant looking round. Perhaps you can find a free cooking or crafts 17 in a department store.Plan ahead for some activities. It is always more pleasant not to have people in front of you in a museum or at a zoo. You may save some money, too, since these places often 18 aside one or two free 19 days at slow times during the week. Make sure that you are including the indispensable 20 that people travel miles to see. If you feel like taking an interesting walk, find a free walking tour, or plan one yourself.A. expensiveB. WonderC.debateD. admissionE. setF. WanderG.safeH. additionI. valuable J. dispute K.welcome L. confidentlyM. sights N. demonstration O.certainly参考答案：1. A2. F3. O4. G5. K6. C7. N8. E9. D 10. M阅读理解模拟题(三)Women are also underrepresented in the administration and this is because there are so few women full professors. In 1985,Regent Beryl Milburn produced a report blasting the University of Texas System adminitration for not encouraging University was rated among the lowest for the 1987 ,Milburn commended the progress that was made and called for even more improvement.One of the positive results from her study was a System-wide program to inform women of available administrative jobs.College of Communication Associate Dean Patrica Witherspoon,said it is important that woman be flexible when it comesto relocating if they want to rise in the ranks.Although a woman may face a chilly climate on campus , many times in order for her to succeed , she must rise above the problems around her and concentrate on her work.Until women make up a greater percentage of the senior positions in the University and all academia,inequities will exist."Women need to spend their energies and time doing scholarly activities that are important here at the University." Spirduso said. "If they do that will be successful in this they spend their time in little groups mourning the sexual discrimination that they think exists here, they are wasting valuable study time."1.to Spirduso,women need to ____.a.a report on sexual discriminationb.for further improvement in their working conditionsc.their energies and time fighting against sexual discriminationd.more time and energy doing scholarly activities2.this passage ,we know that _____.a.are many women full professors in the University of Texasb.play an important part in adminitrating the Universityc.weather on the campus is chillyd.make up a small percentage of the senior positions in the University3.of the following statements is true?a.number of women professors in the University in 1987 was greater than that of 1985b.number of women professors in the University in 1987 was smaller than that of 1985c.number of women professors was the same as that of 1985d.and more women professors thought that sexual discrimination did exit in the University4.of the positive results from Milburns study was that _____.a.were told to con centrate on teir workb.were given information about available administrative jobsc.were encouraged to take on all the administrative jobs in the Unversityd.were encouraged to do more scholarly activities5. The title for this passage should be _______.a.University of Texasb.s Reportc.Professorsd.Discrimination in Academia答案：ddabd阅读理解模拟题(四)In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. epual. Some of them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies . They formed utopian communities , whichthey called "communes," where they could follow their philosophy of "do your own thing." A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City." Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller they built domeshaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Keseys Merry Pranksters, the followers fo San Francisco poet Steve Gakin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school huses and traveled around the United States. The Hog Farm become famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskins followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the gruop were arrested for growing marijuana. Not all communes believed in the philosophy of "do you own thing," however . Twin Oaks , a -commune founded in Virgiania in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinners "conditioning" techniques to do things that were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an "archology" Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one.1.Why did some young Americans decide to "drop out" of scoiety during the 1960s? a.They were not satisfied with American society.b.They wanted to grow marijuana.c.They wanted to go to the Vietnam War.d.They did not want all people to be equal.2.Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live?a.In dome-shaped houseb.In old school husesc.On a farm inTennesseed.In an archology in Arizona3.Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to bulid dome-shaped house?a.Paolo Solerib.B.G.Skinnerc.Steve Gaskin -d.Buckminster Fuller4.What was the Twin Oaks commune base on ?a.The philosophy of "do your own thing"b.Virginaia in the late 1960sc.The ideas of psychologistd.The belief that people must live closely togerher.5.What is an "archology"? a.A person who studies archaeologyb.A large building where people live closely togetherc.A city in A rizonad.A technique to contorl people答案：abdcb阅读理解模拟题(五)The food we eat seems to have profound effects on our health.Although science has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat ,it has, at the same time,made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps eighty percent of all human illnesses are related to diet and forty percent of cancer is related to the diet as well,especially cancer of the colon. Different cultures are more likely to cause certain different illnesses because of the food that is characteristic in these cultures. That food is related to illness is nto a new discovery. In 1945, about 35 years ago, government researchers realized that nitrates, commonly used to preserve color in meats,and other food additivies,caused cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it becomes more difficult all the time to know which things on the packaging labels of processed food are helpful or harmful. The additives which we eat are not all so direct. Farmers often give penicillin to beef and living animals, and because of this ,penicillin has been found in the milk of treated cow. Sometimes similar drugs are given to animals not for medical purposes,but for financial reasons. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a higher price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has tried repeatedly to control these procedures, the practices continue. 1.What is the best possible title of the passage? -a.Drug and Foodb.Cancer and Healthc.Food and Healthd.Health and Drug2.Which of the following statements is NOT ture? a.Drugs are always given to animals for medical reasonsb.Some of the additives in our food are added to the food itself and some are given to the living animalsc.Researchers have known about the potential dangers of food additives for over thirty-five years.d.Food may cause forty percent of cancer in world. 3.How has science done something harmful to mankind?a.Because of science , diseases caused by polluted food haven been virtually eliminated.b.It has caused a lack of information concerning the value of food.c.Because of the application of science,some potentially harmful substances have been added to food. d.The scientists have preserved the color of meats,but not of vegetables.4.What are nitrates used for? a.They preserve flavor in packaged foods.b.They preserve the color of meats.c.They are the objects of research.d.They cause the animals to become fatter. -5.The word carcinogenic most nearly means _____.a.trouble-makingb.color-retainingc.money-makingd.cancer-causing答案：cacbd阅读理解模拟题(六)As the pace of life continues to increase ,we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift,being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body. Stress is an natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it. In fact ,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation adn give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.Since we cannot remove stress from our -lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.1.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____. a.they do not know how to enjoy themselves b.they do not believe that relaxation is important for health c.they are travelling fast all the timed.they are becoming busier with their work2.According to the writer ,the most important character for a good manager is his ________. a.not fearing stress b.knowing the art of relaxationc.high sense of responsibilityd.having control over performance3.Which of the follwing statements is ture?a.We can find some ways to avoid stressb.Stress is always harmful to peoplec.It is easy to change the hagit of keeping oneself busy with work.d.Different people can withstand different amounts of stress4.In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______. a."makinga choice between flight or fight" b."reaction to stress both chemically and physically" -c."responding to crises quickly"d."losing heart at the signs difficulties"5.In the last sentence of the passage,"do so " refers to ______.a."expose ourselves to stress"b."find ways to deal with stress"c."remove stress from our lives"d."established links between diseases and stress"答案：dadbc阅读理解模拟题(七)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 seriously studying 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 our favourite clour as we grow up----we are born with our preference.If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly. Colours do influence our moods----there 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 dont 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 dont 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 facts 4.Which of the following is facts? a.Peoples preference of one colour to another is instinct b.Peoples 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 moods 5.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。
大学英语四级考试快速阅读练习集锦
Passage 1 Beauty and Body Image in the MediaImages of female bodies are everywhere. Women—and their body parts—sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women‟s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they‟ll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career. Why are standards of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger and more mature than any of the models? The roots, some analysts say, are economic. By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. l women And it‟s no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as an essential criterion of beauty. If not alneed to lose weight, for sure they‟re all aging, says the Quebec Action Network for Women‟s He alth in its 2001 report. And, according to the industry, age is a disaster that needs to be dealt with. The stakes are huge. On the one hand, women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids. It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth anywhere between 40 to 100 billion (U.S.) a year selling temporary weight loss (90 to 95% of dieters regain the lost weight).On the other hand, research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls. The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that one out of every four college-aged —including fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative (women uses unhealthy methods of weight control泻药) abuse, and self-induced vomiting. The pressure to be thin is also affecting young girls: the Canadian Women‟s Health Network warns that weight control measures are now being taken by girls as young as 5 and 6. American statistics are similar.Several studies, such as one conducted by Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark in 2006 titled “Appearance Culture in Nine- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and and as a result have Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction,” indicate that nearly half of all preadolescent girls wish to be thinner,engaged in a diet or are aware of the concept of dieting. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 per cent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 per cent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight. Overall research indicates that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way. Media activist Jean Kilbourne concludes that, “Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the televisio n programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight.”Unattainable BeautyPerhaps most disturbing is the fact that media images of female beauty are unattainable for all but a very small number of women. Researchers generating a computer model of a woman with Barbie-doll proportions, for example, found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea ( 慢性腹泻) and eventually die from malnutrition. Jill Barad, President of Mattel (which manufactures Barbie), estimated that 99% of girls aged 3 to 10 years old own at least one Barbie doll. Still, the number of real life women and girls who seek a similarly underweight body is epidemic, and they can suffer equally devastating health consequences. In 2006 it was estimated that up to 450, 000 Canadian women were affected by an eating disorder. The Culture of Thinnesshalf times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men‟s Researchers report that women‟s magazines have ten and one-h alf magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women‟s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman‟s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery. uts Television and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of a woman‟s worth. Canadian researcher Gregory Fo reports that over three-quarters of the female characters in TV situation comedies are underweight, and only one in twenty are above ing a average in size. Heavier actresses tend to receive negative comments from male characters about their bodies (“How about weared by canned audience laughter. sack?”), and 80 per cent of these negative comments are followThere have been efforts in the magazine industry to buck ( 抵制，反抗) the trend. For several years the Quebec magazine Coup de Pouce has consistently included full-sized women in their fashion pages and Châtelaine has pledged not to touch up photos and not to -thin models were banned from include model s less than 25 years of age. In Madrid, one of the world‟s biggest fashion capitals, ultras less than 25 years of age. In Madrid, one of the world‟s biggest fashion capitals, ultrathe runway in 2006. Furthermore Spain has recently undergone a project with the aim to standardize clothing sizes through using a most true to life measurement. unique process in which a laser beam is used to measure real life women‟s bodies in order to find theEthicsAnother issue is the representation of ethnically diverse women in the media. A 2008 study conducted by Juanita Covert and Travis Dixon titled “A Changing View: Representation and Effects of the Portrayal of Women of Color in Mainstream Women‟s Magazines” found that although there was an increase in the representation of women of colour, overall white women were -Improvement or Self-Destruction? overrepresent ed in mainstream women‟s magazines from 1999 to 2004. Selfand The barrage of messages about thinness, dieting and beauty tells “ordinary” women that they are always in need of adjustment—that the female body is an object to be perfected. Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real women‟s bodies have become invisible in the mass media. The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize these stereotypes, h and judge themselves by the beauty industry‟s standards. Women learn to compare themselves to other women, and to compete wit them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability “effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate.”注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答。
大学英语四级新题型模拟训练（快速阅读）
⼀、快速阅读 If it weren’t for nicotine, people wouldn’t smoke tobacco. Why? Because of the more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, nicotine is the primary one that acts on the brain, altering people’s moods, appetites and alertness in ways they find pleasant and beneficial. Unfortunately, as it is widely known, nicotine has a dark side: it is highly addictive. Once smokers become hooked on it, they must get their fix of it regularly, sometimes several dozen times a day. Cigarette smoke contains 43 known carcinogens, which means that long-term smoking can amount to a death sentence. In the US alone, 420,000 Americans die every year from tobacco-related illnesses.Breaking nicotine addiction is not easy. Each year, nearly 35 million people make a concerted effort to quit smoking. Sadly, less than 7 percent succeed in abstaining for more than a year; most start smoking again within days. So what is nicotine and how does it insinuate itself into the smoker’s brain and very being?The nicotine found in tobacco is a potent drug and smokers, and even some scientists, say it offers certain benefits. One is enhance performance. One study found that non-smokers given doses of nicotine typed about 5 percent faster than they did without it. To greater or lesser degrees, users also say nicotine helps them to maintain concentration, reduce anxiety, relieve pain, and even dampen their appetites (thus helping in weight control). Unfortunately, nicotine can also produce deleterious effects beyond addiction. At high doses, as are achieved from tobacco products, it can cause high blood pressure, distress in the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and an increase in susceptibility to seizures and hypothermia. First isolated as a compound in 1828, in its pure form nicotine is a clear liquid that turns brown when burned and smells like tobacco when exposed to air. It is found in several species of plants, including tobacco and, perhaps surprisingly, in tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant (though in extremely low quantities that are pharmacologically insignificant for humans). As simple as it looks, the cigarette is highly engineered nicotine delivery device. For instance, when tobacco researchers found that much of the nicotine in a cigarette wasn’t released when burned but rather remained chemically bound within the tobacco leaf, they began adding substances such as ammonia to cigarette tobacco to release more nicotine. Ammonia helps keep nicotine in its basic form, which is more readily vaporised by the intense heat of the burning cigarette than the acidic form. Most cigarettes forsale in the US today contain 10 milligrams or more of nicotine. By inhaling smoke from a lighted cigarette, the average smoker takes 1 or 2 milligrams of vaporised nicotine per cigarette. Today we know that only a miniscule amount of nicotine is needed to fuel addiction. Research shows that manufacturers would have to cut nicotine levels in a typical cigarette by 95% to forestall its power to addict. When asmoker puffs on a lighted cigarette, smoke, including vaporised nicotine, is drawn into the mouth. The skin and lining of the mouth immediately absorb some nicotine, but the remainder flows straight down into the lungs, where it easily diffuses into the blood vessels lining the lung walls. The blood vessels carry the nicotine to the heart, which then pumps it directly to the brain. While most of the effects a smoker seeks occur in the brain, the heart takes a hit as well. Studies have shown that a smoker’s first cigarette of the day can increase his or her heart rate by 10 to 20 beats a minute. Scientists have found that a smoked substance reaches the brain more quickly than one swallowed, snorted (such as cocaine powder) or even injected. Indeed, a nicotine molecule inhaled in smoke will reach the brain within 10seconds. The nicotine travels through blood vessels, which branch out into capillaries within the brain.Capillaries normally carry nutrients but they readily accommodate nicotine molecules as well. Once inside the brain, nicotine, like most addictive drugs, triggers the release of chemicals associated with euphoria and pleasure. Just as it moves rapidly from the lungs into the bloodstream, nicotine also easily diffuses through capillary walls. It then migrates to the spaces surrounding neurones – ganglion cells that transmit nerve impulses throughout the nervous system. These impulses are the basis for our thoughts, feelings, and moods. To transmit nerve impulses to its neighbour, a neurone releases chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. Like nicotine molecules, the neurotransmitters drift into the so-called synaptic spacebetween neurones, ready to latch onto the receiving neurone and thus deliver a chemical “message” that triggers an electrical impulse. The neurotransmitters bind onto receptors on the surface of the recipient neurone. This opens channels in the cell surface through which enter ions, or charged atoms, of sodium. This generates a current across the membrane of the receiving cell, which completes delivery of the “message”. An accomplished mimic, nicotine competes with the neurotransmitters to bind to the receptors. It wins and, like the vanquished chemical, opens ion channels that let sodium ions into the cell. But there’s a lot more nicotine aroundthan the original transmitter, so a much larger current spreads across the membrane. This bigger current causes increased electrical impulses to travel along certain neurones. With repeated smoking, the neurones adapt to this increased electrical activity, and the smoker becomes dependent on the nicotine.Questions 1 – 71. Although nicotine is probably the well-known chemical in cigarettes, it is not necessarily the one that changes the psyche of the smoker when cigarettes are smoked.2. In spite of the difficulties, according to the text more than thirty-five million people a year give up smoking.3. It has been shown that nicotine in cigarettes can improve people’s abilities to perform some actions more quickly.4. Added ammonia in cigarettes allows smokers to inhale more nicotine.5. Snorted substances reach the brain faster than injected substances.6. Nicotine dilates the blood vessels that carry it around the body.7. Nicotine molecules allow greater electrical charges to pass between neurones.1. N2. N3. Y4. Y5. N6. N7. YQuestions 8 - 108. Cigarette companies would have to cut the nicotine content in cigarettes by _________ to prevent them from being addictive.9. According to the passage, a cigarette can raise a smoker’s heart rate by _________ a minute.10. In order to transmit nerve impulses to its neighbour, a neurone sends _________ known as neurotransmitters. 8. 95%9. 10-20 beats 10. chemical messengers。
英语四级快速阅读专项练习(含答案解析)_0
---------------------------------------------------------------最新资料推荐------------------------------------------------------ 英语四级快速阅读专项练习(含答案解析) 英语四级快速阅读专项练习(含答案解析) （一） Skimming and Scanning Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. For question 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Animals on the Move It looked like a scene from Jaws but without the dramatic music. A huge shark was slowly swimming through the water, its tail swinging back and forth like the pendulum of a clock. Suddenly sensitive nerve ending in the sharks skin picked up vibrations of a struggling fish. The shark was immediately transformed into a deadly, efficient machine of death. With muscles taut, the shark knifed through the water at a rapid speed. In a flash the shark caught its victim, a large fish, in its powerful jaws. Then, jerking its head back and forth, the shark tore huge chunks of flesh from its victim and swallowed them. Soon the action was over. Moving to Survive In pursuing its prey, the shark demonstrated in a dramatic way the important role of movement, or locomotion, in animals. Like the shark, most animals use movement to find food. They1 / 2also use locomotion to escape enemies, find a mate, and explore new territories. The methods of locomotion include crawling, hopping, slithering, flying, swimming, or walking. Humans have the added advantage of using their various inventions to move about in just about any kind of environment. Automobiles, rockets, and submarines transport humans from deep oceans to as far away as the moon. However, for other animals movement came about naturally through millions of years of evolution. One of the most successful examples of animal locomotion is that of the shark. Its ability to quickly zero in on its prey has always impressed scientists. But it took a detailed study by Duke University marine biologists S. A. Wainwright, F. Vosburgh, and J. H. Hebrank to find out how the sharks did it. ...。
大学英语四级快速阅读测试题及答案
Directions:In this part,you will have15minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet1.For questions1-7,choose the best answer from the four choices marked[A],[B],[C]and[D].For questions8-10,complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.How to Visualize Your SuccessHave you ever heard of visualization(可视化)?Of course you have.Everybody’s heard of visualization and everybody partakes in it whether they realize it or not.How it works though is an altogether different matter.I want to take a closer look today at the mechanics of why visualizing works without necessarily delving into concepts and theories that cannot be proven.The brain has great difficulty in distinguishing between what’s true and what’s imagined.There is an off-cited(经常被引用的)example of an experiment conducted by Austrahan Psychologist,Alan Richardson.He took some basketball players and split them into3 equal groups.One group was told to practice their free throw technique twenty minutes per day. The next group was told to spend twenty minutes per day visualizing,but not attempting free throws,and the final group wasn’t allowed to either practice or visualize.At the end of the test period the group that had done nothing remained as they were,but both the other groups showed similar degrees of improvement,The people who only visualized playing basketball were able to perform almost as well as the ones who had actually practiced."How can that be so?"Firstly,the people practicing would miss some shots.Each time they missed they had in effect,practiced how to miss.The people that were visualizing would be hitting every basket so they were building up the feelings and memory of how to be successful.Forging a Path through a MeadowImagine walking home from a new job.You suddenly realize that there is a meadow of long grass that will cut20minutes off your walk.If you live in New York you’re going to need a great imagination for this one.The first few times you can barely see which way you had walked the previous day. However,after10or20times you can clearly see a pathway starting to form,and after100times all the grass is worn away and there’s a farmer with a shotgunand large dog waiting for you at the end.Let’s presume our gun-toting friend is a big softie and he allows you to use that route as long as you want.What are the odds that next time you try a slightly different direction?Slim to none would be my guess.After all,you know this way works and you have a lovely easy path.On the other hand,if Farmer Giles starts taking pot shotsat you and sportingly lets the dog try and shoot you too,before releasing it to sink its gnashers into your rear end,then you’ll probably find a new way home once you’re released fromhospital.The next time you’re walking home you opt against reacquainting yourself with Fido and spot another meadow further along the road.The same process then begins to take place only this time the original path you made has started to grow back.How We Create a Path in Our Mind That is what happens when we form thoughts in our mind.The first time we have a new thought it is a weakling(虚弱者)of a thought that has sand kicked in its face by stronger thoughts and beliefs.Each time you re-think it though it grows instrength as the physical pathway becomes more and more well-defined.Not only that,but if it is a belief that contradicts one you already hold,the older belief starts to atrophy and die.This also explains why we have the same thoughts over and over again and why people have difficulty snapping negative loops(循环)of thinking.The pathway has been established and it’s just easier to continue following it than trying to thinkabout something new and form a new connection in the brain.Making Visualization Work for YouVisualization is an incredibly successful and simple way of speeding up the process by fooling the unconscious into believing that you have already done something before you have. That’s what the basketball visualizers were doing,fooling their own unconscious into thinking they know how to hit basket after basket.Of course this in and of itself will not turn you into an NBA star,you do actually have to practice as well,but it will help you succeed more quickly.All you need to do to be successful at this is to visualize yourself doing something,as you would like to do it.Profound stuff,huh?Seriously though,that is all there is to it.How long you do it each day will affect the speed of change and it’s reallynot advisable visualizing your success for20minutes per day and then spending10 hours worrying about failing and replaying negative stuff in your head.It kind of defeats the object.You can also incorporate the"fake it till you make it"method in with your visualization to help speed up the process.This is simply a matter of pretending you are already proficient at something before you really are.Again,it’s simply a way of tricking your unconscious and getting it to do what you want it to do.Some people have difficulty with this process and tell me it’s being unrealistic.Well yeh,maybe they’re right,but who cares?If you want to be shackled by the chains of realism then go ahead,knock yourself out,but let me tell you this.There are few highly successful people out there that haven’t used this method or visualization at one time or another.In fact,successful people don’t care too much for reality;it just gets in the way and slows them down.What about you?注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答；8-10题在答题卡1上。
英语四级快速阅读专项训练(真题版附答案和详解)
英语四级快速阅读专项训练（真题版附答案和详解）Part ⅡReading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7 choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentence with the information given in the passage.1.Why Integrity MattersWhat Is Integrity?The key to integrity is consistency- not only setting high personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living up to those standards each and every day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical (道德上的) standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation.What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse (缺失) of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus integrity must be one of our most important goals.Risky BusinessWe are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision, making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future.Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules a about plagiarism (剽窃) may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct, Ignorance is not a defense."But Everybody Does It"Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it." "I'm not hurting anyone", or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm look at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I’m just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions and avoid excuses, if we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making - and that leads to bad decisions.To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask howyou would feel if your actions were public and anyone could be watching over yore shoulder. If you'd rather hide your actions, that's an indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.Evaluating RisksTo decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immolate benefits and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious and may include a "O" on a test or assignment, an "F" in the class, suspension (暂令停学) or dismissal from school and a ruined reputation. In fact, when you break a role or law, you lose control over your life and give others the power to impose punishment that you have no control over. This is an extremely vulnerable (脆弱的) position. There may be some matters of life and death or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.Getting Away with it - Or NotThose who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, which deprives (剥夺) him her of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-respect and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty and afraid of getting caught.Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences.Cheating Hurts Other, TooCheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have an intense cumulative (累积的) effect. Cheating can spread like a disease. Recent statistics suggest 30％or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. ("If I don't cheat I can't compete with those who do") Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of goof teaching is seeing students learn. But a cheater says. "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach, all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the university and harm those who worked hard for their degree.Why Integrity MartenIf cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others, if not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate,have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education.In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.1. A person of integrity not only sets high moral and ethical standards but also _______.A) sticks to them in their daily lifeB) makes them known to othersC) understands their true valuesD) sees that others also follow them2. What role does integrity play in personal and professional relationships?A) It helps to create team spiritB) It facilitates communicationC) It is the basis of mutual trustD) It inspires mutual respect3. why must we learn to identify the risks we are going to take？A. To ensure we make responsible choices.B. To avoid being overwhelmed by stress.C. so that we don’t break any rules.D. so that we don’t run into trouble.4. Violation of a rule is misconduct even if _______?A. it has caused no harm.B. it is claimed to be unintentional.C. it has gone unnoticed.D. it is committed with good intentions.5. What should one do if he doesn’t wish to fool himself?A. Avoid making excuses.B. Listen to other people’s advice.C. Make his intensions public.D. Have others watch over his shoulder.6. Those who take risks they regret later on _______.A. will often become more cautiousB. are usually very aggressiveC. value immediate benefits most.D. may lose everything in the end7. According to the author, a cheater who doesn’t get caught right away will _______.A) pay more dearlyB) become more confidentC) be widely admiredD) feel somewhat lucky8. Cheaters at exam don’t care about their education, all they care about is how to _____________________________.9. Integrity matters in that all social activities rely on people’s _________________________.10. Many Americans lost faith in the integrity of their political leaders as a result of ________________________________.2.British Cuisine: the Best of Old and NewBritish cuisine (烹饪) has come of age in recent years as chefs (厨师) combine the best of old and new.Why does British food have a reputation for being so bad? Because it is bad! Those are not the most encouraging words to hear just before eating lunch at one of Hong Kong's smartest British restaurants, Alfie's by KEE, but head chef Neil Tomes has more to say."The past 15 years or so have been a noticeable period of improvement for food in England," the English chef says, citing the trend in British cuisine for better ingredients, preparation and cooking methods, and more appealing presentation. Chefs such as Delia Smith, Nigel Slater, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay made the public realise that cooking - and eating - didn't have to be a boring thing. And now, most of the British public is familiar even with the extremes of Heston BlumenthaPs molecular gastronomy, a form of cooking that employs scientific methods to create the perfect dish."It's no longer the case that the common man in England is embarrassed to show he knows about food," Tomes says.There was plenty of room for improvement. The problems with the nation's cuisine can be traced back to the Second World War. Before the War, much of Britain's food was imported and when German U-boats began attacking ships bringing food to the country, Britain went on rations (配给)."As rationing came to an end in the 1950s, technology picked up and was used to mass-produce food," Tomes says. "And by then people were just happy to have a decent quantity of food in their kitchens."They weren't looking for cured meats, organic produce or beautiful presentation; they were looking for whatever they could get their hands on, and this prioritisation of quantity over quality prevailed for decades, meaning a generation was brought up with food that couldn't compete with neighbouring France, Italy, Belgium or Spain. Before star chefs such as Oliver began making cooking fashionable, it was hard to find a restaurant in London that was open after 9pm. But in recent years the capital's culinary (烹饪的) scene has developed to the point that it is now confident of its ability to please the tastes of any international visitor.With the opening of Alfie's in April, and others such as The Pawn, two years ago, modern British food has made its way to Hong Kong. "With British food, I think that Hong Kong restaurants are keeping up," says David Tamlyn, the Welsh executive chef at The Pawn in Wan Chai. "Hong Kong diners are extremely responsive to new ideasor presentations, which is good news for new dishes."Chefs agree that diners in Hong Kong are embracing the modern British trend. Some restaurants are modifying the recipes (菜谱) of British dishes to breathe new life into the classics, while others are using better quality ingredients but remaining true to British traditions and tastes.Tamlyn is in the second camp. "We select our food very particularly. We use US beef, New Zealand lamb and for our custards (牛奶蛋糊)we use Bird's Custard Powder," Tamlyn says. "Some restaurants go for custard made fresh with eggs, sugar and cream, but British custard is different, and we stay true to that."Matthew Hill, senior manager at the two-year-old SoHo restaurant Yorkshire Pudding, also uses better ingredients as a means of improving dishes. "There are a lot of existing perceptions about British food and so we can't alter these too much. We're a traditional British restaurant so there are some staples (主菜) that will remain essentially unchanged."These traditional dishes include fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and large pieces of roasted meats. At Alfie's, the newest of the British restaurants in town and perhaps the most gentlemen's club-like in design, Neil Tomes explains his passion for provenance (原产地)."Britain has started to become really proud of the food it's producing. It has excellent organic farms, beautifully crafted cheeses, high-quality meats."However, the British don't have a history of exporting their foodstuffs, which makes it difficult for restaurants in Hong Kong to source authentic ingredients."We can get a lot of our ingredients once a week from the UK," Tamlyn explains. "But there is also pressure to buy local and save on food miles, which means we take our vegetables from the local markets, and there are a lot that work well with British staples."The Phoenix, in Mid-Levels, offers the widest interpretation of "British cuisine", while still trying to maintain its soul. The gastro-pub has existed in various locations in Hong Kong since 2002. Singaporean head chef Tommy Teh Kum Chai offers daily specials on a blackboard, rather than sticking to a menu. This enables him to reinterpret British cuisine depending on what is available in the local markets."We use a lot of ingredients that people wouldn't perhaps associate as British, but are presented in a British way. Bell peppers stuffed with couscous, alongside ratatouille, is a very popular dish."Although the ingredients may not strike diners as being traditional, they can be found in dishes across Britain.Even the traditional chefs are aware of the need to adapt to local tastes and customs, while maintaining the Britishness of their cuisine.At Yorkshire Pudding, Hill says that his staff asks diners whether they would like to share their meals. Small dishes, shared meals and "mixing it up" is not something commonly done in Britain, but Yorkshire Pudding will bring full dishes to the table and offer individual plates for each diner. "That way, people still get the presentation of the dishes as they were designed, but can carve them up however they like," Hill says.This practice is also popular at The Pawn, although largely for rotisseries (烤肉馆), Tamlyn says. "Some tables will arrive on a Sunday, order a whole chicken and a shoulder of lamb or a baby pig, and just stay for hours enjoying everything we bring out for them."Some British traditions are too sacred (神圣的)to mess with, however, Tomes says. "I'd never change a full English breakfast."注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
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Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stressFinding work-life balance in today’s frenetically (疯狂) paced world is no simple task.Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult.Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress — along with its harmful effects — is the result.The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance — and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance.How work invades your personal lifeThere was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to- nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Here’s why:●Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs.●International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.●Advanced communi cation technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere — from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this.●Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than they’re scheduled. Ofte n, overtime is mandatory (强制性的). If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.●Changes in family roles. Today’s married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.Married to your workIt can be tempting to rack up the hours at work —especially if you’re trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a child’s education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.But if you’re spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance:●Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired. This means you’re less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation.●Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your child’s first bike ride, your father’s 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones.●Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if you’re spending time at the office instead of with them, you’ll find it difficult to nurture those friendships.●Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be g iven more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you won’t be able to avoid it, bu t you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when you’re too tired, when it’s affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.Striking the best work-life balanceFor most people, juggling (巧妙处理) the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time —from overtime to family obligations — it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you.Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that’s best for you:●Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead (充当先锋) an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.●Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.●Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.●Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially d angerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.●Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.●Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.●Set aside one night each week for recre ation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate (使年轻) you.Remember, striking a work-life balance isn’t a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.1. What will happen if your work life and personal life feel out of balance?A) You will have little time to finish your work.B) You may feel stress, which will affect you negatively.C) You will have a lot of time to share with your family.D) You will never balance the combination of life and work.2. The boundaries between work and home have blurred for the following reasons, EXCEPT _______.A) global economyB) changes in family rolesC) advanced communication technologyD) high divorce rate3. What will happen if you’re spending most of your time at work?A) You will lose both health and wealth.B) You will be hated by your loved ones.C) You will lose all your friends.D) You may be given more responsibility.4. According to the passage, you’d better say no to mandatory overtime when _______________.A) you get bored with the workB) you are not interested in the workC) you can’t get additional allowanceD) you have crucial family obligations5. What does the underlined sentence mean?A) You should do the things people ask you to do without feeling guilty.B) You shouldn’t do the things people ask you to do if you don’t want to.C) To do things people ask you to do can bring you a lot of joy.D) To do things for yourself is more meaningful than to do things for others.6. What will NOT happen if you don’t get enough sleep?A) You will feel stressed while working.B) You will have no sense of exhaustion.C) You can make costly mistakes.D) You will have low productivity.7. What does the real balance mean according to the author?A) Examining priorities and deciding what is the most important to you.B) Doing everything you want to do whether you can do it or not.C) Saying yes to everybody in order to maintain good relationships.D) Being firm that working overtime will strike a work-life balance.8. Spend more time at work than at home, and you won’t have enough time toenjoy your _______________.9. You have slow responses and your eye-hand coordination decreases when you’re ________.10. You can save a lot of time and avoid misunderstandings if you communicate clearly and ____________.参考答案1. B)。