2006-2010_大学英语四级真题阅读_免费!!!

2006-2010_大学英语四级真题阅读_免费!!! 2010年6月英语四级考试真题 Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage. When we think of green buildings, we tend to think of new ones – the kind of high-tech, solar-paneled masterpieces that make the covers of architecture magazines. But the U.S. has more than 100 million existing homes, and it would be __47__ wasteful to tear them all down and __48__ them with greener versions. An enormous amount of energy and resources went into the construction of those houses. And it would take an average of 65 years for the __49__ carbon emissions from a new energy-efficient home to make up for the resources lost by destroying an old one. So in the broadest __50__, the greenest home is the one that has already been built. But at the same time, nearly half of U. S. carbon emissions come from heating, cooling and __51__ our homes, offices and other buildings. "You can't deal with climate change without dealing with existing buildings," says Richard Moe, the president of the National Trust. With some __52__, the oldest homes tend to be the least energy-efficient. Houses built before 1939 use about 50% more energy per square foot than those built after 2000, mainly due to the tiny cracks and gaps that __53__ over time and let in more outside air. Fortunately, there are a __54__ number of relatively simple changes that can green older homes, from __55__ ones like Lincoln's Cottage to your own postwar home. And efficiency upgrades (升级) can save more than just the earth; they can help __56__ property owners from rising power costs. A) accommodations B) clumsy C) doubtful D) exceptions E) expand F) historic G) incredibly H) powering I) protect J) reduced K) replace L) sense M) shifted N) supplying O) vast Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. Passage One Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage. You never see him, but they're with you every time you fly. They record where you are going,how fast you're traveling and whether everything on your airplane is functioning normally. Their ability to withstand almost any disaster makes them seem like something out of a comic book.They're known as the black box. When planes fall from the sky, as a Yemeni airliner did on its way to Comoros Islands in the India ocean June 30, 2009, the black box is the best bet for identifying what went wrong. So when a French submarine (潜水艇) detected the device's homing signal five days later, the discovery marked a huge step toward determining the cause of a tragedy in which 152 passengers were killed. In 1958, Australian scientist David Warren developed a flight-memory recorder that would track basic information like altitude and direction. That was the first mode for a black box, which became a requirement on all U.S. commercial flights by 1960. Early models often failed to withstand crashes, however, so in 1965 the device was completely redesigned and moved to the rear of the plane – the area least subject to impact – from its original position in the landing wells (起落架舱). The same year, the Federal Aviation Authority required that the boxes, which were never 1 actually black, be painted orange or yellow to aid visibility. Modern airplanes have two black boxes: a voice recorder, which tracks pilots' conversations,and a flight-data recorder, which monitors fuel levels, engine noises and other operating functions that help investigators reconstruct the aircraft's final moments. Placed in an insulated (隔绝的) case and surrounded by a quarter-inch-thick panels of stainless steel, the boxes can withstand massive force and temperatures up to 2,000?. When submerged, they're also able to emit signals from depths of 20,000 ft. Experts believe the boxes from Air France Flight 447, which crashed near Brazil on June 1,2009, are in water nearly that deep, but statistics say they're still likely to turn up. In the approximately 20 deep-sea crashes over the past 30 years, only one plane's black boxes were never recovered. 57. What does the author say about the black box? A) It ensures the normal functioning of an airplane. B) The idea for its design comes from a comic book. C) Its ability to ward off disasters is incredible. D) It is an indispensable device on an airplane. 58. What information could be found from the black box on the Yemeni airliner? A) Data for analyzing the cause of the crash. B) The total number of passengers on board. C) The scene of the crash and extent of the damage. D) Homing signals sent by the pilot before the crash. 59. Why was the black box redesigned in 1965? A) New materials became available by that time. B) Too much space was needed for its installation. C) The early models often got damaged in the crash. D) The early models didn't provide the needed data. 60. Why did the Federal Aviation Authority require the black boxes be painted orange or yellow? A) To distinguish them from the colour of the plane. B) To caution people to handle them with care. C) To make them easily identifiable. D) To conform to international standards. 61. What do we know about the black boxes from Air France Flight 447? A) There is still a good chance of their being recovered. B) There is an urgent need for them to be reconstructed. C) They have stopped sending homing signals. D) They were destroyed somewhere near Brazil. Passage Two Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage. The $11 billion self-help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like "I never do anything right" into positive ones like "I can succeed." But was positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking? Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are. The study's authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your dim friend that he has the potential of an Einstein, you're just underlining his faults. In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of 2 Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written. In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students' self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, "I am lovable." Those with low self-esteem didn't feel better after the forced self-affirmation. In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren't urged to think positive thoughts. The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy (心理治疗) that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation (静思) techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortcomings into a larger, more realistic perspective. Call it the power of negative thinking. 62. What do we learn from the first paragraph about the self-help industry? A) It is a highly profitable industry. B) It is based on the concept of positive thinking. C) It was established by Norman Vincent Peale. D) It has yielded positive results. 63. What is the finding of the Canadian researchers? A) Encouraging positive thinking many do more harm than good. B) There can be no simple therapy for psychological problems. C) Unhappy people cannot think positively. D) The power of positive thinking is limited. 64. What does the author mean by "… you're just underlining his faults" (Line 4, Para. 3)? A) You are not taking his mistakes seriously enough. B) You are pointing out the errors he has committed. C) You are emphasizing the fact that he is not intelligent. D) You are trying to make him feel better about his faults. 65. What do we learn from the experiment of Wood, Lee and Perunovic? A) It is important for people to continually boost their self-esteem. B) Self-affirmation can bring a positive change to one's mood. C) Forcing a person to think positive thoughts may lower their self-esteem. D) People with low self-esteem seldom write down their true feelings. 66. What do we learn from the last paragraph? A) The effects of positive thinking vary from person to person. B) Meditation may prove to be a good form of psychotherapy. C) Different people tend to have different ways of thinking. D) People can avoid making mistakes through meditation. 2010年6月大学英语四级 答案 八年级地理上册填图题岩土工程勘察试题省略号的作用及举例应急救援安全知识车间5s试题及答案 Section A 47. G 48. K 49. J 50. L 51. H 52. D 53. E 54. O 55. F 56. I protect Section B Passage 1 57. C) 58. A) 59. C) 60. C) 61. A) Passage 2 62. B) 63. A) 64. B) 65. C) 66. B) 3 2009年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案 Part ? Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A In families with two working parents, fathers may have more impact on a child’s language development than mothers, a new study suggests. Researchers 47 92 families form 11 child care centers before their children were a year old, interviewing each to establish income, level of education and child care arrangements. Overall, it was a group of well-class families, with married parents both living in the home. When the children were 2, researchers videotaped them at home in free-play sessions with both parents, 48 all of their speech. The study will appear in the November issue of The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. The scientists measured the 49 number of utterance (话语) of the parents, the number of different words they used, the complexity of their sentences and other 50 of their speech. On average, fathers spoke less than mothers did, but they did not differ in the length of utterances or proportion of questions asked. Finally, the researchers 51 the children’s speech at age 3, using a standardized language test. The only predictors of high scores on the test were the mother’s level of education, the 52 of child care and the number of different words the father used. The researchers are 53 why the father’s speech, and not the mother’s, had an effect. “It’s well 54 that the mother’s language does have an impact,” said Nadya Pancsofar, the lead author of the study. It could be that the high-functioning mothers in the study had 55 had a strong influence on their children’s speech development, Ms. Pancsofar said, ―or it may be that mothers are 56 in a way we didn’t measure in the study.‖ A) already B) analyzed C) aspects D) characters E) contributing F) describing G) established H) quality I) quoted J) recording K) recruited L) total M) unconscious N) unsure O) yet Section B 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 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 4 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 Two 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 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 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 5 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 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? A) The tuitions they charge have been rising considerably. B) Their operation is under strict government supervision. C) They are strengthening their position by globalization. D) Most of their revenues come from the government. 65. Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard as its vice-chancellor chiefly because _____. A) she was known to be good at raising money B) she could help strengthen its ties with Yale C) she knew how to attract students overseas D) she had boosted Yale’s academic status 66. In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development? A) They can enhance the university’s image. B) They will bring with them more international faculty. C) They will view a lot of things from a new perspective. D) They can set up new academic disciplines. 2009年12月大学英语四级考试答案详解 Part IV Reading Comprehension Section A 47. K 48. J 49. L 50. C 51. B 52. H 53. N 54. G 55. A 56. E 60.C 61.A 62. A 63. B 64. D 65. A 66. C 2009年6月英语四级考试真题与答案 Part IV Reading Comprehension (reading in depth) (25 minutes) Section A Every year in the first week of my English class, some students inform me that writhing is too hard. They never write, unless assignments 47 it . They fine the writing process 48 and difficult. How awful to be able to speak in a language but not to write in it- 49 English , with its rich vocabulary . Being able to speak but not write is like living in an 50 mansion(豪宅) and never leaving one small room . When I meet students who think they can’t write, I know as a teacher my 51 is to show them the rest of the rooms . My task is to build fluency while providing the opportunity inherent in any writing activity to 52 the moral and emotional development of my students . One great way to do this is by having students write in a journal in class every day. Writing ability is like strength training. Writing needs to be done 53 , just like exercise ; just as muscles grow stronger with exercise , writing skills improve quickly with writing practice. I often see a rise in student confidence and 6 54 after only a few weeks of journal writing . Expressing oneself in writing is one of the most important skills I teach to strengthen the whole student. When my students practice journal writing, they are practicing for their future academic, political, and 55 lives . They build skills so that some day they might write a great novel, a piece of sorely needed legislation, or the perfect love letter. Every day that they write in their journals puts them a step 56 to fluency , eloquence (雄辩), and command of language . A) closer B) daily C) emotional D) enhance E) enormous F) especially G) hinder H) mission I) painful J) performance K) profession L) remarkably M) require L) remarkably M) require O) urge Section B Passage One The January fashion show, called FutureFashion , 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 定性数据统计分析pdf销售业绩分析模板建筑结构震害分析销售进度分析表京东商城竞争战略分析 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 FutureFashion? 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 is that . 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 . 7 B) are readily recognized by the fashion world C) 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 idea 61. 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 Two Questions 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 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 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 U.S. 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, Para.3)? 8 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. 参考答案 47. M 48. I 49.F 50. E 51.H 52. D 53. B 54.J 55. K 56. A 57. A 58 .D 59 .D 60. A 61. B 62. B 63. C 64. B 65.D 66.C 2008年12月大学英语四级考试真题 Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) Section A Question 47-56 A bookless life is an incomplete life. Books influence the depth and breadth of life. They meet the natural______47_____for freedom, for expression, for creativity and beauty of life. Learners, therefore, must have books, and the right type of book, for the satisfaction of their need. Readers turn______48_____ to books because their curiosity concerning all manners of things, their eagerness to share in the experiences of others and their need to ____49 _____ from their own limited environment lead them to find in books food for the mind and the spirit. Through their reading they find a deeper significance to life as books acquaint them with life in the world as it was and it is now. They are presented with a __50 _____ of human experiences and come to ___51 ____ other ways of thought and living. And while ____52 ____ their own relationships and responses to life , the readers often find that the ___53__ in their stories are going through similar adjustments, which help to clarify and give significance to their own. Books provide ___54 ____ material for readers’ imagination to grow. Imagination is a valuable quality and a motivating power, and stimulates achievement. While enriching their imagination, books __55 ____their outlook, develop a fact-finding attitude and train them to use leisure ___56 ___. The social and educational significance of the readers’ books cannot be overestimated in an academic library. A. Abundant B. Characters C. Communicating D. Completely E. Derive F. Desire G. Diversity H. EscapeI. Establishing J. Narrow K. Naturally L. Personnel M. Properly N. Respect O. Widen Section B Passage One If you are a male and you are reading this ,congratulations: you are a survivor .According to statistics .you are 9 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, 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 women B. men don’t seek medical care as often as women C. men aren’t as cautions as women in face of danger D. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases 59. Which of the following best completes the sentence ―Geez, if it could happen to him…’(line2,para,8)? A. it could happen to me, too B. I should avoid playing golf C. I should consider myself lucky D. it would be a big misfortune 60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by ―the ostrich approach‖(line q para.9) A. a casual attitude towards one’s health conditions B. a new therapy for certain psychological problems C. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involved D. unwillingness to find out about one’s disease because of fear 10 61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men? A.They may increase public expenses B.They will save money in the long run C.They may cause psychological strains on men D.They will enable men to live as long as women Passage Two High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done Shoppers 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, 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 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. 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 same D 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 store 11 B won’t have trouble parking their cars C won’t have any worries about security D can find their cars easily after shopping 65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers? A Manners of the salespeople B Hiring of efficient employees C Huge supply of goods for sale D Design of the store layout. 66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________. A exert pressure on stores to improve their service B settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic way C voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly D shop around and make comparisons between stores 答案 47. F 48. K 49. H 50. G 51. N 52. I 53. B 54. A 55. O 56. M 57. A 58 .B 59. A 60 .D 61. B 62. B 63. C 64 .B 65. A 66. C 2008年6月大学英语四级考试真题 Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) Section A Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe. I had been abroad a couple of times, but I could hardly _47_ to know my way around the continent. Moreover, my knowledge of foreign languages was _48_ to a little college French. I hesitated. How would I, unable to speak the language, _49_ unfamiliar with local geography or transportation systems, set up _50_ and do research? It seemed impossible, and with considerable _51_ I sat down to write a letter begging off. Halfway through, a thought can through my mind: you can learn if you don’t try. So I accepted the assignment. There were some bad _52_. But by the time I had finished the trip I was an experienced traveler. And ever since, I have never hesitated to head for even the most remote of places, without guiders or even _53_ bookings, confident that somehow I will manage. The point is that the new, the different, is almost by definition _54_. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you. I’ve learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a _55_. And I know I’ll go on doing such things. It’s not because I’m braver or more daring than others. I’m not. But I’ll accept anxiety as another name for challenge and I believe I can _56_ wonders. A)accomplishB)advanceE) constantly F) declare I) manufacture J) L) reduced M) regret N) dC) balloon D) claim G) interviews H)limited moments K) news scary O) totally Section B Passage One stGlobal warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21 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 6.4 billion to 9.1 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 poverty and freeze everyone else’s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050. 12 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. C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop it. B) It is an issue requiring world wide commitments. 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 growth C) wasteful use of energy B) the widening gap between the rich and poor D) the rapid advances of science and technology 60. The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________. A) politicians have started to do something to better the situation B) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy use C) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warming D) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems 61. 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 technology C) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs. D) People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming. Passage Two Someday 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 permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they stwill see you in a way you never intended to be seen — the 21 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. st62. What does the author mean by saying ―the 21 century equivalent of being caught naked ‖(Lines 3-4, Para.2)? A) People’s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge. stB) In the 21 century people try every means to look into others’ secrets. C) People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age. 13 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. C) There should be a distance even between friends. B) Friends should always be faithful to each other. 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 it B) its importance is rarely understood C) it is something that can easily be lost D) people don’t cherish it until they lose it 答案 47. D) 48. H) 49. O) 50. G) 51. M) 52. J) 53. B) 54. N) 55. C) 56. A) 57. D) 58. C) 59. A) 60. B) 61. B) 62. A) 63. C) 64. B) 65. D) 66. D 14 2007年12月四级考试真题 Part ? Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A As war spreads to many comers of the globe, Children sadly have been drawn into the center of conflicts. In Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Colombia, however, groups of children have been taking part in peace education 47 .The children, after learning to resolve conflicts, took on the 48 of peacemakers. The Children’s Movement for peacemakers was even nominated(提名) or the Nobel peace prize in 1998. Groups of children 49 is peacemakers studied human rights an poverty issues in Colombia, eventually forming a group with five other schools in Bogota known a The Schools of Peace. The classroom 50 opportunities for children to replace angry, violent behaviors with 51 ,peaceful ones. It is in the classroom that caring and respect for each person empowers children to take a step 52 toward becoming peacemakers. Fortunately, educators have access to many online resources that are 53 useful when helping children along the path to peace. The Young Peacemakers Club, started in 1992, provides a Website with resources for teachers and 54 on staring a Kindness Campaign. The World Centers of Compassion for Children International call attention to children’s rights and how to help the 55 of war. Starting a Peacemakers’ Club is a praiseworthy venture for a class an one that could spread to other classrooms an ideally affect the culture of the 56 school. A) acting B) assuming C) comprehensive D) cooperative E) entire F) especially G) forward H) images I) information J) offersK) projectsL) respectivelyM) roleN) technologyO) victims Section B Passage One By almost any measure , there is a boom in Internet-based instruction . In just a few years , 34 percent of American universities have begun offering some form of distance learning (DL), and among the larger schools , it’s closer to 90 percent . If you doubt the popularity of the trend, you probably haven’t . It enrolls 90,000 student , a statistic used to support its claim to be the largest private university in the country. While the kinds of instruction offered in these programs will differ, DL usually signifies a course in which the instructions post syllabi(课程大纲), reading assignments , and schedules on Websites , and students send in their assignments by e-mail . Generally speaking , face-to-face communication with an instructor is minimized or eliminated altogether. The attraction for students might at first seem obvious . Primarily , there’s the convenience promised by courses on the Net: you can do the work, as they say , in your pajamas(睡衣). But figures indicate that the reduced effort results in a reduced commitment to the course . While dropout rates for all freshmen at American universities is around 20 percent , the rate for online students is 35 percent . Students themselves seem to understand the weaknesses inherent in the setup . In a survey conducted for eCornell , the DL division of Cornell University , less than a third of the respondents expected the quality of the online course to be as good as the classroom course. Cleary form the schools perspective , there’s a lot of money to be saved . Although some of the more ambitious programs require new investments in servers and networks to support collaborative software , most DL courses )systems . The more students who enroll in a course but don’t can run on existing or minimally upgraded(升级 come to campus , the more the school saves on keeping the lights on in the classrooms , paying doorkeepers , and maintaining parking lots , And there’s evindence that instructors must work harder to run a DL course for a variety of reasons , won’t be paid any more , and might well be paid less. 57. What is the most striking feature of the University of Phoenix? A) All its courses are offered online. B) Its online courses are of the best quality. C) It boasts the largest number of students on campus D) Anyone taking its online courses is sure to get a degree. 58(According to the passage , distance learning is basically characterized by_____ A) A considerable flexibility in its academic requirements B) The great diversity of students’ academic backgrounds C) A minimum or total absence of face-to-face instruction D) t the casual relationship between students and professors 59. Many students take Internet -based courses mainly because they can_____ A) Earn their academic degrees with much less effort B) Save a great deal on traveling and boarding expenses C) Select courses from various colleges and universities D) Work on the required courses whenever and wherever 60. What accounts for the high drop-out rates for online students? A) There is no strict control over the academic standards of the courses. B) The evaluation system used by online universities is inherently weak. C) There is no mechanism to ensure that they make the required effort. D) Lack of classroom interaction reduces the effectiveness of instruction. 61. According to the passage, universities show great enthusiasm for DL programs for the purpose of_____ A) building up their reputation C) upgrading their teaching facilities B) cutting down on their expenses D) providing convenience for students Passage Two In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last yes. As a writer I know about winning contest, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface. A revelation(启示)came last week when I asked her, ―Don’t you want to win again?‖ ―No,‖ she replied, ―I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.‖ I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously(自由地)told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first trade was quickly ―guided‖ by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her fist music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it. Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I konw very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting(借用)my daughter’s experence. While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices. 62. What do we learn from the first paragraph? A) Children do find lots of fun in many mindless activites. B) Rebecca is much too occupied to enjoy her leisure time. C) Rebecca draws on a lot of online materials for her writing. D) A lot of distractions compete for children’s time nowadays. 63. What did the author say about her own writing experience? A) She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer. B) Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations. C) She was constantly under pressure of writing more. D) Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers. 64. Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest? A) She believed she possessed real talent for writing. B) She was sure of winning with her mother’s help. C) She wanted to share her stories with readers. D) She had won a prize in the previous contest. 65. What’s the author’s advice for parents? A) A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue. B) Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience. C) Parents should keep an eye on the activities their opinions. 答案: 47. K. 48. M. 49. A. 50. J. 51. D. 52. G. 53. F. 54. I. 55. O. 56. E. 57. A. 58. C. 59. D. 60. C. 61. B. 62. A. 63. B. 64. C. 65. C. 66. B. 2007年6月23日大学英语四级真题试卷及答案 Part IV Reading Comprehension (reading in depth) Section A Years ago, doctors often said that pain was a normal part of life. In particular, when older patients __47__ of pain, they were told it was a natural part of aging and they would have to learn to live with it. Times have changed. Today, we take pain __48__. Indeed, pain is now considered the fifth vital sign, as important as blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate and pulse in __49__ a person’s well-being. We know that chronic (慢性的) pain can disrupt (扰乱) a person’s life, causing problems that __50__ from missed work to depression. That’s why a growing number of hospitals now depend upon physicians who __51__ in pain medicine. Not only do we evaluate the cause of the pain, which can help us treat the pain better, but we also help provide comprehensive therapy for depression and other psychological and social __52__ related to chronic pain. Such comprehensive therapy often __53__ the work of social workers, psychiatrists (心理医生) and psychologists, as well as specialists in pain medicine. This modern __54__ for pain management has led to a wealth of innovative treatments which are more effective and with fewer side effects than ever before. Decades ago, there were only a __55__ number of drugs available, and many of them caused __56__ side effects in older people, including dizziness and fatigue. This created a double-edged sword: the medications helped relieve the pain but caused other problems that could be worse than the pain itself. A) result B) involves C) significant D) range E) relieved F) issues G) seriously H) magnificent I) determining J) limited K) gravely L) complained M) respect N) prompting O) specialize Section B Passage One I’ve been writing for most of my life. The book Writing Without Teachers introduced me to one distinction and one practice that has helped my writing processes tremendously. The distinction is between the creative mind and the critical mind. While you need to employ both to get to a finished result, they cannot work in parallel no matter how much we might like to think so. Trying to criticize writing on the fly is possibly the single greatest barrier to writing that most of us encounter. If you are listening to that 5th grade English teacher correct your grammar while you are trying to capture a fleeting thought, the thought will die. If you capture the fleeting thought and simply share it with the world in raw form, no one is likely to understand. You must learn to create first and then criticize if you want to make writing the tool for thinking that it is. The practice that can help you past your learned bad habits of trying to edit as you write is what Elbow calls ―free writing.‖ In free writing, the objective is to get words down on paper non-stop, usually for 15-20 minutes. No stopping, no going back, no criticizing. The goal is to get the words flowing. As the words begin to flow, the ideas will come from the shadows and let themselves be captured on your notepad or your screen. Now you have raw materials that you can begin to work with using the critical mind that you’ve persuaded to sit on the side and watch quietly. Most likely, you will believe that this will take more time than you actually have and you will end up staring blankly at the pages as the deadline draws near. Instead of staring at a blank start filling it with words no matter how bad. Halfway through you available time, stop and rework your raw writing into something closer to finished product. Move back and forth until you run out of time and the final result will most likely be far better than your current practices. 57. When the author says the creative mind and the critical mind ―cannot work in parallel‖ (Line 4, Para. 1) in the writing process, he means ________. A) no one can be both creative and critical B) they cannot be regarded as equally important C) they are in constant conflict with each other D) one cannot use them at the same time 58. What prevents people from writing on is ________. A) putting their ideas in raw form B) attempting to edit as they write C) ignoring grammatical soundness D) trying to capture fleeting thoughts 59. What is the chief objective of the first stage of writing? A) To organize one’s thoughts logically. B) To choose an appropriate topic. C) To get one’s ideas down. D) To collect raw materials. 60. One common concern of writers about ―free writing‖ is that ________. A) it overstresses the role of the creative mind B) it takes too much time to edit afterwards C) it may bring about too much criticism D) it does not help them to think clearly 61. In what way does the critical mind help the writer in the writing process? A) It refines his writing into better shape. B) It helps him to come up with new ideas. C) It saves the writing time available to him. D) It allows him to sit on the side and observe. Passage Two I don’t ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it’s like to work in a field dominated by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-time and the nature of black holes. At 19, when I began studying astrophysics, it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers, awards—was viewed through the lens of gender (性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus (相对于) right brain, or nature versus nurture (培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind. Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations: I don’t talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn’t want to deal with gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don’t study sociology or political theory. Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women’s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how may of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don’t dismiss those concerns. Still, I don’t tell them ―war‖ stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that’s a sight worth talking about. 62. Why doesn’t the author want to talk about being a woman scientist again? A) She feels unhappy working in male-dominated fields. B) She is fed up with the issue of gender discrimination. C) She is not good at telling stories of the kind. D) She finds space research more important. 63. From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would attribute the author’s failures to ________. A) the very fact that she is a woman B) her involvement in gender politics C) her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist D) the burden she bears in a male-dominated society 64. What did the author constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D. and post-doctoral research? A) Lack of confidence in succeeding in space science. B) Unfair accusations from both inside and outside her circle. C) People’s stereotyped attitude toward female scientists. D) Widespread misconceptions about nature and nurtured. 65. Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class? A) Female students no longer have to bother about gender issues. ) Her students’ performance has brought back her confidence. B C) Her female students can do just as well as male students. D) More female students are pursuing science than before 66. What does the image the author presents to her students suggest? A) Women students needn’t have the concerns of her generation. B) Women have more barriers on their way to academic success. C) Women can balance a career in science and having a family. D) Women now have fewer problems pursuing a science career 2007年6月23日四级参考答案 47. L 48. G 49. I 50. D 51. O 52. F 53. B 54. M 55. J 56. C 57. D 58. B 59. C 60. B 61. A 62. B 63. A 64. C 65. D 66. C 2006年12月23日四级考试真题(最新整理版) Part IVReading Comprehension (reading in depth ) Section A The flood of women into the job market boosted economic growth and changed U.S. society in many ways. Many in-home jobs that used to be done 47 by women----ranging from family shopping to preparing meals to doing 48 work——still need to be done by someone .Husbands and children now do some of these jobs, a 49 that has changed the target market for many products. Or a working woman may face a crushing ―poverty of time ―and look for help elsewhere, creating opportunities for producers of frozen meals, child care centers, dry cleaners, financial services, and the like. Although there is still a big wage 50 between men and women, the income working women 51 gives them new independence and buying power. For example, women now 52 about half of all cars. Not long ago, many cars dealers 53 women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands. Now car companies have realized that women are 54 customers. It’s interesting that some leading Japanese car dealers were the first to 55 pay attention to women customers. In Japan, fewer women have jobs or buy cars — the Japanese society is still very much male—oriented. Perhaps it was the 56 contrast with Japanese society that prompted American firms to pay more attention to women buyers. A)scale B)retailed C)generate D)extreme E)technically F)affordable G)situation H)really I)potential J)gapK)voluntaryL)excessive M)insulted N)purchase O)primarily Section B Passage One Reading new peaks of popularity in North America is Iceberg Water which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Arthur von Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, Where bottled water is consumed daily. Even then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. ―My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water.‖ He says. But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact, New York’s municipal water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity. Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive. Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share-this despite the fact that over 25 percent of bottled water comes from tap water: PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani are both purified tap water rather than spring water. As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs salivate (垂涎) over the profits. A restaurant’s typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it’s often 300 to 500 percent. But since water is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren’t available in stores, most dines don’t notice or care. As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the dinners if they want it. Regardless of how it’s sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for lost purity. 57. What do we know about Iceberg Water from the passage? A. It is a kind of iced water. B. It is just plain tap water. C. It is a kind of bottled water. D. It is a kind of mineral water. 58. By saying ― My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water‖ (Line 4, Para 2), von Wiesenberg wants to convey the message that ________. A. plain tap water is certainly unfit for drinking B. bottled water is clearly superior to tap water C. bottled water often appeals more to dogs taste D. dogs can usually detect a fine difference in taste 59. The ―fancier brands‖ (Line 3 Para 5) refers to ________. A. tap water from the Thames River B. famous wines not sold in ordinary stores C. PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani D. expensive bottled water with impressive names 60. Why are some restaurants turning up the pressure to sell bottled water? A. Bottled water brings in huge profits. B. Competition from the wine industry is intense. C. Most diners find bottled water affordable. D. Bottled water satisfied diners’ desire to fashionable. 61. According to passage, why is bottled water so popular? A. It is much cheaper than wine. B. It is considered healthier. C. It appeals to more cultivated people. D. It is more widely promoted in the market. Passage Two As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease – especially in terms of changing our many unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift can be pursued further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight , but does not eat very nutritious (有营养的) foods, who feels OK but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not drive while drunk , and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could be a lot healthier. The field of medicine has not traditionally distinguished between someone who is merely ― not ill‖ and someone who is in excellent health and pays attention to the body’s special needs. Both types have simply been called ―well‖. In recent years, however, some health specialists have begun to apply the terms ―well‖ and ―wellness‖ only to those who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are well are concerned with nutrition and exercise and they make a point of monitoring their body’s condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people who have a physical disease or handicap (缺陷) may be "well," in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible health they can in the face of their physical limitations. "Wellness" may perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal that people can strive for. People who are well are likely to be better able to resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life. 62.Today medical care is placing more stress on ________. A. keeping people in a healthy physical condition B. monitoring patients’ body functions C. removing people’s bad living habits D. ensuring people’s psychological well-being 63. In the first paragraph, people are reminded that ________. A. good health is more than not being ill B. drinking, even if not to excess, could be harmful C. regular health checks are essential to keeping fit D. prevention is more difficult than cure 64.Traditionally, a person is considered "well" if he ________. A. does not have any unhealthy living habits B. does not have any physical handicaps C. is able to handle his daily routines D. is free from any kind of disease 65. According to the author, the true meaning of "wellness" is for people ________. A. to best satisfy their body’s special needs B. to strive to maintain the best possible health C. to meet the strictest standards of bodily health D. to keep a proper balance between work and leisure 66. According to what the author advocates, which of the following groups of people would be considered healthy? A. People who have strong muscles as well as slim figures. B. People who are not presently experiencing any symptoms of disease. C. People who try to be as possible, regardless of their limitations. D. People who can recover from illness even without seeking medical care. 47. O) 48. K) 49. G) 50. J) 51. C) 52. N) 53. M) 54. I) 55. H) 56. D) 57. C) 58. B) 59. D) 60. A) 61. B) 62. C) 63. A) 64. D) 65. B) 66. C) 2006年6月四级试题 Part IIReading Comprehension Passage One Educating girls quite possibly yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world. Women’s education may be unusual territory for economists, but enhancing women’s contribution to development is actually as much an economic as a social issue. And economics, with its emphasis on incentives (激励), provides guideposts that point to an explanation for why so many girls are deprived of an education. Parents in low-income countries fail to invest in their daughters because they do not expect them to make an economic contribution to the family: girls grow up only to marry into somebody else’s family and bear children. Girls are thus seen as less valuable than boys and are kept at home to do housework while their brothers are sent to school-the prophecy (预言) becomes self-fulfilling, trapping women in a vicious circle (恶性循环) of neglect. An educated mother, on the other hand, has greater earning abilities outside the home and faces an entirely different set of choices. She is likely to have fewer but healthier children and can insist on the development of all her children, ensuring that her daughters are given a fair chance. The education of her daughters then makes it much more likely that the next generation of girls, as well as of boys, will be educated and healthy. The vicious circle is thus transformed into a virtuous circle. Few will dispute that educating women has great social benefits. But it has enormous economic advantages as well. Most obviously, there is the direct effect of education on the wages of female workers. Wages rise by 10 to 20 per cent for each additional year of schooling. Such big returns are impressive by the standard of other available investments, but they are just the beginning. Educating women also has a significant impact on health practices, including family planning. 21. The author argues that educating girls in developing countries is _________. A) rewarding B) troublesome C) expensive D) labor-saving 22. By saying ―…the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling…‖ (Lines 4-5, Para. 2), the author means that __________. A) girls will eventually find their goals in life beyond reach B) girls will be increasingly discontented with their life at home C) girls will be capable of realizing their own dreams D) girls will turn out to be less valuable than boys 23. The author believes that a vicious circle can turn into a virtuous circle when ________ A) women care more about education B) parents can afford their daughters’ education C) girls can gain equal access to education D) a family has fewer but healthier children 24. What does the author say about women’s education? A) It has aroused the interest of a growing number of economists. B) It will yield greater returns than other known investments. C) It is now given top priority in many developing countries. D) It deserves greater attention than other social issues. 25. The passage mainly discusses __________. A) unequal treatment of boys and girls in developing countries B) the major contributions of educated women to society C) the economic and social benefits of educating women D) the potential earning power of well-educated women Passage Two Psychiatrists (精神病专家) who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset in child rearing ---- older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with their children. But raising kids takes money and energy. Many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, declining energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child. Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents’ biggest, and often unspoken, fear. Having late-life children, says an economics professor, often means parents, particularly fathers, ―end up retiring much later.‖ For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream. Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. But he’s also worried that his energy will give out first. Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he’s learned that young at heart doesn’t mean young. Lately he’s been taking afternoon naps (午睡) to keep up his energy. ―My body is aging,‖ says Metcalf, ―You can’t get away from that.‖ Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. Therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. ―They worry they’ll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they’ll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school,‖ says Joann Galst, a New York psychologist. But at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one: ―that they won’t be alive long enough to support and protect their child,‖ she says. Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. After marrying late and undergoing years of fertility (受孕) treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband, Randy, had twins. ―We both wanted children,‖ says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. The twins have given the couple what they desired for years, ―a sense of family.‖ Kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. ―The dads are older, more mature,‖ says Dr. Silber, ―and more ready to focus on parenting.‖ 26. Why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child rearing? A) Older parents can better balance their resources against children’s demands. B) Older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children. C) Older parents are often better prepared financially. D) Older parents can take better care of their children. 27. What does the author mean by saying ―For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream‖ (Lines 7-8, Para. 1)? A) They have to go on working beyond their retirement age. B) They can’t get full pension unless they work some extra years. C) They can’t obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of. D) They are reluctant to retire when they reach their retirement age. 28. The author gives the example of Henry Metcalf to show that _________. A) many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age B) taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy C) older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies D) older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children. 29. What’s the biggest fear of older parents according to New York psychologist Joann Galst? A) Being laughed at by other people. B) Slowing down of their pace of life. C) Being mistaken for grandparents. D) Approaching of death. 30. What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen? A) They thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment. B) Not until they had the twins did they feel they had formed a family. C) They believed that children born of older parents would be smarter. D) Not until they reached middle age did they think of having children. Passage Three Interest in pursuing international careers has soared in recent years, enhanced by chronic (长 久的) personnel shortages that are causing companies to search beyond their home borders for talent. Professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. They may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. They may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity and initiative. Or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language. When applying for a job, one usually has to submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). The two terms generally mean the same thing: a one-or two-page document describing one’s educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the corporate (公司的) culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The challenge will be to embrace two or more cultures in one document. The following list is a good place to start. , Educational requirements differ from country to country. In almost every case of ―cross-border‖ job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not be an adequate description. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience. , Pay attention to the resume format you use---chronological or reverse-chronological order. Chronological order means listing your ―oldest‖ work experience first. Reverse-chronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. Most countries have preferences about which format is most acceptable. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format. , If you are submitting your resume in English, find out if the recipient (收件人) uses British English or American English because there are variations between the two versions. For example, university education is often referred to as ―tertiary education‖ in the United Kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the United States. A reader who is unfamiliar with these variations may assume that your resume contains errors. 31. Companies are hiring more foreign employees because___________. A) they have difficulty finding qualified personnel at home. B) they find foreign employees are usually more talented C) the need original ideas from employees hired overseas D) they want to expand their business beyond home borders 32. The author believes that an individual who applies to work overseas ___________. A) is usually creative and full of initiative B) aims to improve his foreign language skills C) seeks either his own or his children’s development D) is dissatisfied with his own life at home 33. When it comes to resume writing, it is best to __________ A) know the employer’s personal likes and dislikes B) follow appropriate guidelines for job hunting C) learn about the company’s hiring process D) take cultural factors into consideration 34. When writing about qualifications, applicants are advised to ________. A) provide a detailed description of their study and work experiences B) give the title of the university degree they have earned at home C) highlight their keen interest in pursuing a ―cross-border‖ career D) stress their academic potential to impress the decision maker 35. According to the author’s last piece of advice, the applicants should be aware of ________ A) the recipient’s preference with regard to the format B) the different educational systems in the US and the UK C) the differences between the varieties of English D) the distinctive features of American and British cultures Passage Four Speeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. But he is in for an unwelcome surprise. The car is fitted with a remote immobiliser (锁止器), and a radio signal from a control centre miles away will ensure that once the thief switches the engine off, he will not be able to start it again. The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the car contains a mini-cellphone, a microprocessor and memory, and a GPS (全球定位系统) satellite positioning receiver. If the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell the control centre to block the vehicle’s engine management system and prevent the engine being restarted. In the UK a set of technical fixes is already making life harder for car thieves. ―The pattern of vehicle crime has changed,‖ says Martyn Randall, a security expert. He says it would only take him a few minutes to teach a person how to steal a car, using a bare minimum of tools. But only if the car is more than 10 years old. Modern cars are far tougher to steal, as their engine management computer won’t allow them to start unless they receive a unique ID code beamed out by the ignition (点火) key. In the UK, technologies like this have helped achieve a 31% drop in vehicle-related crime since 1997. But determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars, often by getting hold of the owner’s keys. And key theft is responsible for 40% of the thefts of vehicles fitted with a tracking system. If the car travels 100 metres without the driver confirming their ID, the system will send a signal to an operations centre that it has been stolen. The hundred metres minimum avoids false alarms due to inaccuracies in the GPS signal. Staff at the centre will then contact the owner to confirm that the car really is missing, and keep police informed of the vehicle’s movements via the car’s GPS unit. 36. What’s the function of the remote immobiliser fitted to a car? A) To allow the car to lock automatically when stolen. B) To prevent the car thief from restarting it once it stops. C) To help the police make a surprise attack on the car thief. D) To prevent car theft by sending a radio signal to the car owner. 37. By saying ―The pattern of vehicle crime has changed‖ (Lines 1-2, Para.3), Martyn Randall suggests that _________. A) self-prepared tools are no longer enough for car theft B) the thief has to make use of computer technology C) it takes a longer time for the car thief to do the stealing D) the thief has lost interest in stealing cars over 10 years old 38. What is essential in making a modern car tougher to steal? A) A GPS satellite positioning receiver B) A unique ID card C) A special cellphone signal D) A coded ignition key 39. Why does the tracking system set a 100-metre minimum before sending an alarm to the operations centre? A) To give the driver time to contact the operations centre B) To allow for possible errors in the GPS system C) To keep police informed of the car’s movements D) To leave time for the operations centre to give an alarm 40. What will the operations centre do first after receiving an alarm? A) Start the tracking system. B) Locate the missing car. C) Contact the car owner. D) Block the car engine. 2006年6月四级试题详解 21. A 22. A 23. C 24. B 25. C 26. D 27. A 28. C29. D 30. B 31. A 32. C 33. D 34. A 35. C 36. B37. A 38. B 39. B 40. C