2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解》考前强化训练(第1-10篇)及答案

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2014年12月大学英语四级阅读练习题及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级阅读练习题及答案

Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage. Until recently,I had liale idea what palm oil(棕榈油)is and why some people consider it one of the most controversial ingredients found in nearly half of our supermarket products.But when I found out why people were upset,1 was moved to take action. The Southeast Asian country of Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of palm oil,which has been both a blessing and a curse.It's a massive industry,providing income for thousands of workers,but palm oilis also the largest driver of the mass destruction of Indonesia’s rain forests.The consequences of this destruction are significant:the loss of biodiversity,conflicts with communities who depend on the forest for their own livelihoods,and increasing emissions of greerthouse gases that cause climate change. Forests are home to countless species.There are as few as 400 Sumatran tigers left in Indonesia,and their time on earth is running out.Greenpeace has released research showing that the expansion of oil palm and pulpwood plantations was responsible for nearly two-thirds of the destruction of Sumatran tiger habitat from 2009 to 20 11.Sumatrantigers,forced to flee from the destruction of their homes,also find themselves in direct contact with humans.Many are killed or maimed as local residents try to protect themselves from the scared animals. The decline of Sumatlan tigers is a measure of the loss of rain forest,biodiversity and also climate stability.If the tigers disappear,then we are facing all environmentA. tragedy. If you eat chocolate,wash your hair or your clothes,there’s a good chance you are being made a part of this cycle of destruction.And not by choice.Palm oil can and must make a genuine contribution to Indonesia and its people.And part of the solution rests with global brands that make the products we consume daily.Palm oil that results from forest destruction is traded around the world.But together we can say enough is enough.It’s time big brands guarantee you and me that forest destruction is not a part of their products.We are all a part of the future,and together we can ensure these magnificent animals are.too.56.Why is the great export of palm oil both a blessing and a curse?A.Because every coin has two sides,without the exception of export of palm oil.B.Because it is both a stimulation of economy increase and climate warming.C.Because it both makes contribution to climate improvement and economy decline.D.Because it is both the driver of large income and huge destruction of forests.57.Which one is not included in the negative consequences of rain forests destruction?A.The dramatic decrease of biological diversity in rain forests.B.Huge profits benefit from the great exportation of palm oil.C.Frequent clashes with people who live on those rain forests.D. Increasing release of a great deal of greenhouse gases.58.What is responsible for the destruction of Sumatlan tiger habitat?A. People who killed or maimed those scared animals.B.People who cut down the rain forests in abundance.C.The extension of oil palm and pulpwood cultivation.D. The loss of lain forests owing to palm plantations.59.What advice does the author give to the productive process of global brands?A.Global brands should not be at cost of forest destruction.B.They should guarantee the protection of lain forests.C.They should pay attention to law materials of products.D、They should not demand anything from rain forests.60.What is the attitude of author to plentiful palm oil production?A.Critical.B.Positive.C.Partial.D.Negative. Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage Room for all,for now. But there are signs that the sharing site(住房分享站)is starting to threaten budget hotels.Even as they lobby regulators to crack down on residential sharing services,hoteliers play down the threat such companies pose to their industry.The top brass at the Four Seasons and Hilton chains have all said that these firms do not compete for their core market;a vice-president of The Ritz-Carlton group recently claimed she had not even heard of Airbnb.And Airbnb itself agrees,arguing that it does not displace existing lodging but is creating new demand.“I’m optimistic that there isn’t going to be a war”with hotels.Brian Chesky,its boss,said in January. A recent study seems to confirm that,for now at least,Airbnb is only nibbling at influence from Airbnb on business and luxury hotels.But in places where it has established a presence,it cut the revenues of budget hotels by 5%in the two years to December 2013. If Airbnb were to keep growing at its current rate,the Texas study suggests that by 20 1 6 the dent in budgethotels’takings will be 10%.Wim their high fixed costs,that could push many ofthem into the red.of course.Airbnb may hit me limits of either supply or demand before then,but smaller hotels are already blaming it for their woes.“I see a directcorrelation between our revenues going down and Airbnb’s going up,”says Vijay Dandapani,the president of Apple Core Hotels in New York.“We had continued growth until Airbnb.”The financing round that Airbnb has iust closed,valuing it at more than all but the four largest global hotel groups,suggests that investors agree. Concur,a travel-and expense-management firm.has seen its corporate clients’Airbnb bookings grow from a rounding error at the start of 2012 to more than lmillion so far this year.If Airbnb can integrate with online travel agencies such as Expedia and increase the share of its hosts that provide instant booking coniirmation.business hotels may find themselves with a surprisingly unignorable competitor.61.What is the reaction of other competitors to the appearance of Airbnb?A. They highlight the threat it poses to their industries.B.They never pay attention to this unworthy competitor.C.They did not obviously worry about the appearance of Airbnb.D.TheY are optimistic about their close cooperation in future.62.What does the Texas study show about the future ofAirbnb in Para.47A.Airbnb will never swallow the whole of hotel industry’s lunch.B. Airbnb may threaten the status of luxury and business hotels.C.Airbnb had cut a great deal of the revenues of budget hotels.D. Airbnb probably has a bright future among its competitors.63.What can we infer from the statements ofPara.57A. Airbnb will become a powerful competitor in the future market.B. Airbnb should be responsible for the woe of smA.ler hotels.C.Airbnb’s going up correlates with others’going down.D.Airbnb would capture 10%takings ofbudget hotels by 2016.64.What can Airbnb do to be a surprisingly unignorable competitor?A.Willingly collaborating with the four largest global hotel groups.B. Cooperating with online travel agencies and increasing the share of its hosts.C.Beating against all the potential rivals to gain its market shares.D.Expanding its online bookings by the help of online travel agencies.65.What’s the meaning of“Room for all.for now.”?A. Everyone will have a private room as soon as possible.B. The online travel agencies will offer us a room quickly.C.It is quite convenient for people to book rooms on sharing site.D. The information on sharing site is useful for us to book rooms.56.Why is the great export ofpalm oil both a blessing and a curse?为什么说棕榈油的出⼝既是福⾳⼜是诅咒?A.Because every coin has two sides,without the exception ofexport ofpalm oil.因为事物都具有两⾯性,棕榈油也不例外。

2014年12月四级深度阅读真题详解

2014年12月四级深度阅读真题详解

2014年12月大学英语四级深度阅读真题答案解析第一套Passage OneQuestion 56 to 60 are based on the following passage. 56-60 ACBDBChildren are a delight(=hapiness/joy). They are our future. (56)But sadly, hiring someone to take care of them while you go to work is getting more expensive by the year.Earlier this month, it was reported that the cost of enrolling an infant or small kid at a childcare center rose 3% in 2012, faster than the overall cost of living. There are now large strip s(狭长地带) of the country where daycare for an infant costs more than a tenth of the average married couple's income.(57)This is not necessarily a new trend,but it is a somewhat puzzling one. The price of professional childcare has been rising since the 1980s. Yet during that time, pay for professional childcare workers has stood still. Actually(=in fact) caregivers make less today, in real terms(扣除物价因素;按实质计算), than they did in 1990. Considering that labor costs are responsible for up to 80% of a daycare center's expenses, one would expect flat wages to have meant flat prices.So who's to blame for higher childcare costs?Childcare is a carefully regulated industry. States lay down rules about how many children each employee is allowed to watch over, the space care centers need per child, and other minute details. (58)And the stricter the regulation s, the higher the costs. If it(保育中心) has to hire a caregiver for every two children, it can't really achieve any economics of scale on labor to save money (通过压缩劳动力成本来省钱)when other expenses go up. (59) In Massachusetts, where childcare centers must hire one teacher for every three infant s, the price of care averaged more than $16,000 per year. In Mississippi, where centers must hire one teacher for every five infant s, the price of care averaged less than $5,000.Unfortunately, I don't have all the daycare-center regulations handy. (60)But I wouldn't be surprised if as the rules have become more elaborate, prices have risen. The trade off(交换)might be worth it in some cases; after all, the health and safety of children should probably come before cheap service. (60)But certainly, it doesn't seem to be an accident that some of the cheapest daycare available is in the least regulate d(=rule/manage) South.56. What problem do parents of small kids have to face?A) The ever-rising childcare prices. B) The budgeting of family expenses.C) The balance between work and family. D) The selection of a good daycare center.57. What does the author feel puzzled about?A) Why the prices of childcare vary greatly from state to state.B) Why increased childcare prices have not led to better service.C) Why childcare workers' pay has not increased with the rising childcare costs.D) Why there is a severe shortage of childcare professionals in a number of states.58. What prevents childcare centers from saving money?A) Steady increase in labor costs. B) Strict government regulations.C) Lack of support from the state. D) High administrative expenses.【解析】infant['?nf?nt]n.baby/child 婴/幼儿;未成年人59. Why is the average cost of childcare in Mississippi much lower than in Massachusetts?A) The overall quality of service is not as good. B) Payments for caregivers there are not as high.C) Living expenses there are comparatively low. D) Each teacher is allowed to care for more kids.view on daycare service?60. What is the author’sA)Caregivers should receive regular professional training. B) Less elaborate rules about children might lower costs.C) It is crucial to strike a balance between quality and costs. D) It is better for different states to learn from each other.【解析】elaborate[?'l?b?r?t]adj. complicated/complex/detailed/full精心制作/复杂/详尽/煞费苦心的Passage TwoQuestions 61-65 are based on the following passage. 61-65DDCBC(61)Alex Pang's amusing new book The Distraction Addiction (分心成瘾)addresses(v.向…讲话) those of us who feel panic without a cellphone or computer. And that, he claims, is pretty much all of us. When we're not online, where we spendthe dangers of our computing overdose(过度使用) and a historical overview(历史性概述) of how technologicaladvances(科技进步) change consciousness(意识). A “professional futurist”, Pang urges an approach which he calls “contemplative (沉思的) comput ing.” He asks that you pay full attention to “how your mind and body interact wit computers and how your attention and creativity are influenced by technology.”(63)Pang's first job is to free you from the common misconception(常见的错误认识) that doing two things at onceallows you to get more done(同时做两件事效率更高). What is commonly called multitasking(多重任务) is, in fact,switch-tasking, and its harmful effects on productivity are well documented(有据可查的). Pang doesn't advocate returning生态的) view of your relationships withto a pre-Internet world. Instead, he asks you to “take a more ecological (technologies and look for ways devices or media may be making specific tasks easier or faster but at the same time makingyour work and life harder.”The Distraction Addiction is particularly fascinating on how technologies have changed certain fields of labor—oftenfor the worse. (64)For architects, computer-aided design has become essential but in some ways has cheapened the design process. As one architect puts it, “Architecture is first and foremost about thinking...and drawing is a more productive way-aided design. Somewhat less amusing are Pang's solutions for kicking the Internet habit. (65)Heof thinking” than computerrecommends the usual behavior-modification approaches(常见的行为矫正法), familiar to anyone who has completed aquit-smoking program. Keep logs to(记录下上网日志) study your online profile(上网概况) and decide what you canknock out(剔除), download a program like Freedom that locks you out of your browser, or take a “digitabath (安息-department doctor, you'll discover that your world doesn't fall apart when you日)”: “Unless you're a reporter or emergencygo offline.”61. Alex Pang's new book is aimed for readers who________.A) find their work online too stressful B) go online mainly for entertainmentC) are fearful about using the cellphone or computerD) can hardly tear themselves away from the Internet(很难让自己远离互联网)【解析】tear oneself away from: reluctant to leave ([r?'l?kt?nt])舍不得离开,爱不释手62. What does Alex Pang try to do in his new book?A) Offer advice on how to use the Internet effectively. B) Warn people of the possible dangers of internet use.C) Predict the trend of future technological development. D) Examine the influence of technology on the human mind.63. What is the common view on multitasking?A) It enables people to work more efficiently. B) It is a way quite similar to switch-tasking.C) It makes people's work and life even harder. D) It distracts people's attention from useful work.64. What does the author think of computer-aided design?A) It considerably cuts down the cost of building design. B) It somewhat restrains architects' productive thinking.C) It is indispensable in architects' work process. D) It can free architects from laborious drawing.【解析】restrain /r??stre?n/vt. restrict/control/stop/prevent抑/控制;约束;制止first and foremost/?f???m??s t/首先;首要地/的是productive thinking有成效的思维方式65. What is Ales Pang's recommendation for Internet users?A) They use the Internet as little as possible. B) They keep a record of their computer use time.C) They exercise self-control over their time online. D) They entertain themselves online on off-days only.【解析】keep logs to保存日志/聊天记录第二套Passage oneQuestions 56 to 60are based on the following passage.(1)New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling (骑车) passengers on those blazing blue Citi Bikes. Butwhat about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up(increase) riders at their expense(在损害他们的利益/情况下)?(2)At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager W. Ben said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales(总销售额)due to(=as a result of) the bike-share program. "It's getting more people on the road" he said. (5)James Ryan, anemployee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy also said Citi Bike is a good option(=choice) for people to ease into biking in a city famed for its traffic jams and and aggressive(好斗的) drivers. "They can try out a bike without committing to buying one," he said.Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles.(3) But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said his rental business has decreased by 90% since the Citi Bikes were rolled out(=come out) last month. Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.However,(5) Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop. "People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.(5) Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. just north of Christopher St., said initially(=at first) he was concerned about(=worried about)bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes. "(5) Farrell's early concerns were echoed (随声附和,认同) by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYC Velo, at 64 SecondAve.(4)"It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to implement," Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about (be concerned about)inexperienced riders' lack of awareness(知道,认识) of biking rules and backlash(强烈反对) from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell if his business has been impact ed(=influence).While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks allowed that the idea is a positive step forward forNew York City.56 . What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?A How non-cyclists will respond to it.B Whether local bike shops will suffer.C Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.D How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.57 . What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of (due to)the bike-share program?A It found its bike sales unaffected.B It shifted its business to rentals.C It saw its bike sales on the rise.D It rented more bikes to tourists.58 . Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?A It cannot meet the demand of the bike—share program.B Its customers have been drawn away by (被吸引走了)CitiBikes.C Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.D It has to compete with the city's bike rental shops.59. Why did Andrew Crooks think that the bike—share program would be difficult to execute(=implement)?A inexperienced riders might break biking rules.B Conflicts might arise among bike rental shops.C Traffic conditions might worsen in the downtown area.D There are not enough lanes to accommodate the bikes.【解析】execute vt. carry out/put into practice/implement实/执行;处死/决60 . What is the general attitude(总体态度) of local bike shops towards Citi Bike?A Wait-and-see(等待并观望).B Negative(消极否定的).C Indifferent(漠不关心的).D Approving(认可的). Passage TwoQuestions 61to 65 are based on the following passage. 61-65 CBCAD(61)Various studies have shown that increased spending on education has not led to measurable improvements(带来显著提高) in learning. Between 1980 and 2008,staff and teachers at U.S. public schools grew roughly twice as fast as students. Yet students showed no additional learning in achievement tests.Universities show similar trends of increased administration personnel and costs without greater learning, as documented in Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's recent book Academically Adrift Limited Learning on College Campuses.A survey shows that 63% of employers say that recent college graduates don't have the skills they need to succeed and 25% of employers say that entry-level writing skills are lacking.(62)Some simplistically attribute the decline in our public education system to the drain of the skilled students by private schools, but far more significant events were at work.Public schools worked well until about the 1970s. In fact, until that time, public schools provided far better education than private ones. It was the under performing students who were threw out of public schools and went to private ones.(63)A prominent reason public schools did well was that many highly qualified women had few options for working outside the house other than being teachers or nurses. They accepted relatively low pay, difficult working conditions, and gave their very best.Having such a large supply of talented women teachers meant that society could pay less for their services. (64) Women's liberation opened up new professional(职业/专门的) opportunities for women, and, over time, some of the best left teaching as a career option, bringing about a gradual decline(逐渐下降) in the quality of schooling.(65)Also around that time, regulations, government, and unions came to dictate pay(规定工资), prevent adjustments, and introduce bureaucratic( /?bj??r??kr?t?k/官僚的) standard for advancement. Large education bureaucracies and unions came to dominate(=rule/control) the landscape, confusing activity with achievement. Bureaucrats regularly rewrite curriculums,talk nonsense about the theories of education, and require ever more administrators. The end result had been that, after all the spending, students have worse math and reading skills than both their foreign peer s(同龄人) and earlier generations spending far less on education—as all the accumulating evidence now documents.61. What do we learn from various studies on America's public education?A Achievement tests have failed to truly reflect the quality of teaching.B Public schools lack the resources to compete with private schools.C Little improvement in education has resulted from increased spending.D The number of students has increased much faster than that of teachers62. How do some people explain the decline in public education?A Government investment does not meet schools' needs.B Skilled students are moving to private schoolsC Qualified teachers are far from adequately paidD Training of students' basic skills is neglected.【解析】attribute … to…([?'tr?bju?t]=due to) 把……归因于……drain/dre?n/ n. flow out/consume/use up(资源/资金的) 外流; 消耗63. What was a significant contributor(重大的贡献/重要因素) to the past glory of public schools?A Well-behaved students.B Efficient administration.C Talented women teachers.D Generous pay for teachers.【解析】prominent['pr?m?n?nt]adj. obvious/excellent /remarkable /brilliant/outstanding/marked突出/显著/杰出/卓越的64. Why did some of the best women teachers leave teaching?A New career opportunities were made available to them by women's liberation.B Higher academic requirements made it difficult for them to stay in their jobs.C They were unhappy with the bureaucratic administration in their schools.D The heavy teaching loads left them little time and energy for family life.65. What does the author think is one of the results of government involvement in education?A Increasing emphasis on theories of education.B Highly standardized teaching methods.C Students' improved academic performance.D An ever-growing number of administration(管理,监管).【解析】dictate vt.rule/set;order/command/instruct规定,命令;指示;口述;听写第三套56—60BBCAD 61—65 BCBADPassage one56. The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable inimpact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwide now have access tovastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connectedmobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet’s tremendous impacts has only just begun.“Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciti ng social, cultural, and political transformations inhistory, 57. and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,” Schmidt and Cohen write in theirnew book. The New Digital Age.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internetaccess get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. 58. But i f the book has one major shortcoming, it’s that authors do spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes — and more importantlypredicts — how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, 59.and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.” By using point, 60.the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对立观点)that hascharacterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In aninterview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects ofut the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online,the Internet,they’re also realistic aboparticularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视).56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A.It transforms human history.B.It facilitates daily communication.C.It is adopted by all humanity.D.It revolutionizes people's thinking.【解析】transformative developments[tr?ns'f?:m?tiv]革命性的发展57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet?A.They are immeasurable.B.They are worldwide.C.They are unpredictable.D.They are contaminating.58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C.It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.D.It does not address the technical aspects of Internet communication.59、What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A.People will be living in two different realities.B.People will have equal access to information.to see the world.C.People don’t have to travelD.People don’t have to communicate face to face.60、What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A.They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet.B.They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution.C.They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world.D.They don’t take sides in analyzing the effects of the Internet.Passage two61. In 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly earnings.be less inclined to tried the present for the past. His62. Other members of the autoworker’s family, however mightretired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then. Through-out much of the 1960s,more than a quarter of men and women and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percentin 2010.In most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.63. Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working –class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past.64. Some people may long for an era when divorce was still hard to come by. The spread of no -fault divorce has reduced the bargaining power of whichever spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.65. The growing diversity of family life comes with new possibilities as well as new challenges. According to arecent poll, more than 80 percent of Americans believe that their current family is as close as the one in which they grew up, or closer. Finding ways to imaginary golden age.61、What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A.They had less job security than they do today.B.It was not too difficult for them to buy a house.C.Their earnings were worth twice as much as today.D.They were better off than workers in other industries.62、What does the author about retired people today?A.They invariably long to return to the golden past.B.They do not depend so much on social welfare.C.They feel more secure economically than in the past.D.They are usually unwilling to live with their children.【解析】be less inclined to不倾向于,就不会那么想,更不想however might be less inclined to tried the present for the past.但是可能更倾向于尝试现在而不是过去。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺及答案练习1Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section B(原快速阅读理解调整为长篇阅读理解,篇章长度和难度不变。

篇章后附有10个句子,每句一题。

每句所含的信息出自篇章的某一段落,要求考生找出与每句所含信息相匹配的段落。

)Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Caring for elderly parents catches many unprepared[A ] Last July, Julie Baldocchi,s mother had a massive stroke and was paralyzed. Baldocchi suddenly had to become a family caregiver, something that she wasn"t prepared for. “I was flying by the seat of my pants,” says Baldocchi, an employment specialist in San Francisco. Both of her parents are 83, and she knew her father couldn’t handle her mother’s care. The hospital recommended putting her mother in a nursing home. Baldocchi wasn’t willing to do that. But moving her back into her parents’ home created other problems. Baldocchi, 48, is married and lives about a mile away from her parents. She has a full-time job and has back problems that make it difficult for her to lift her mother. “I couldn’t do it all,” she says. “But I didn’t even know how to find help.”[B] With help from the Family Caregiver Alliance, she eventually hired a live-in caregiver. “But even if you plan intellectually and legally, you’renever ready for the emotional impact,” Baldocchi says. In the first two months after her mother’s stroke, she lost about 30 pounds as stress mounted. More than 42 million Americans provide family caregiving for an adult who needs help with daily activities, according to a 2009 survey by the AARP. An additional 61.6 million provided at least some care during the year. And many are unprepared.[C] While many parents lack an advance care directive, it’s the most basic and important step they can take. The directive includes several parts, including: a durable power of attorney, which gives someone legal authority to make financial decisions on another’s behalf; a health care proxy, which is similar to the power of attorney, except it allows someone to make decisions regarding medical treatment; and a living will that outlines instructions for end-of-life care. (For example, parents can say if they want to be kept alive by artificial measures.) “It’s invaluable for the kids, because it’s hard to make those decisions for a parent,” says Jennifer Cona, an elder- law attorney at Genser Dubow Genser & Cona in Melville, N.Y. An advance care directive is the first line of defense if a situation arises, says Kathleen Kelly, executive director of the Family Caregiver Alliance, which supports and educates caregivers. Without an advance directive, the family will have to petition the court to be appointed th e parent’s legal guardian, says .[D] It’s important for families to talk about long-term care so the adult children know their parents,preferences, wishes and goals, says Lynn Feinberg, a caregiving expert at AARP. But it’s not an easy conversation. Elderly parents are sometimes suspici ous of their children’s financial motives, says Susan John, a financial planner at Financial Focus in Wolfeboro, N.H. One client asked John to hold a family meeting because they needed an intermediary to talk about financial issues, she says. And when there are many siblings, the family decisions can become a three-ring circus with much acrimony, says Ann-Margaret Carrozza, an elder-law attorney in Glen Cove, N.Y. Families who need informationand help sorting out disagreements can call on elder-law attorneys, financial planners, geriatric care managers and caregiver support groups. In February, AARP said it will offer its members a new caregiving support service through financial services firm Genworth.[E] Many families are unprepared for quick decisions, especially when they find out that Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care, Feinberg says. The median cost of a year in a private room at a nursing home in 2011 was $77,745, according to Genworth. And only those who have spent most of their assets can qualify for Medicaid to pay for the nursing home.[ F] Assisted living is another option. Residents can have their own apartment to maintain some independence. But the facilities generally provide personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and assistance with activities. Still, it’s not cheap: The national median cost in 2011 was $39,135, according to Genworth. Assisted living isn’t covered by Medicaid.[G ] If they have a choice, at least 90% of elderly parents prefer to stay at home as long as they can, according toAARP research. But if the parents can no longer safely live at home, it can be hard for children to move them into an adult care facility. There may be another option. Sometimes the home can be modified so a parent can stay there. For example, Baldocchi put in a chair lift for her mother. She also arranged for a home caregiver.[H] Family caregivers take over many responsibilities. One might manage a parent’s finances, while another sibling will take the parent to doctors" appointments and shopping. Those who move in with a parent take on a significant and sustained burden of care. Jan Walker moved into her mother’s home in Leesburg, Fla. After her mother, who is 83, had fallen, she wasn’t able to get around as well. Walker, 55, has three brothers. But she is the only daughter, is divorcedand has no children. “I always knew that this was the role that I would have, and I guess my mind was prepared for it,” says Walker, who now is a full-time caregiver and works from home as a tutorial instructor for a digital scrapbooking website. “When you get into the trenches, it’s literally baptism by fire,” she says. “New things come up. It’s not just about advance planning for finances or medical care. It’s everything,” she says.[I ] Caregi vers need to also watch their own health. “There is such a thing as caregiver burnout, ” Cona says. Among female caregivers 50 and older, 20% reported symptoms of depression, according to a 2010 study on working caregivers by MetLife. “It’s a hard job,” Walker says. “But most worthwhile things are hard. She was always there for me when I needed a helping hand. It’s only natural that I be here for her now.”46. When elderly parents cannot live at home safely, their children can change their home instead of sending them to an adult care facility.47. To talk about long-term care is not easy because sometimes aged parents are suspicious of their children’s financial motives.48. Besides advance planning for finances or medical care, family caregivers take over many other responsibilities.49. The difference between a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy is that the latter allows someone to make decisions regarding medical treatment.50. Baldocchi did not want to send her mother to a nursing home, but she had difficulty taking care of her.51. Over 42 million caregivers helped an adult with everyday activities in the USA in 2009.52. If a family needs information or help to sort out disagreements, there are many people they can call on.53. Caregivers should pay attention to their own health, or they may burn out or become depressed.54. One will have to petition the court to be the parent’s legal guardian, if there is no advance directive.55. The national median cost of assisted living in 2011 was $39,135 and it is not covered by Medicaid.46. [G]47. [D]48. [H]49. [C]50. [A]51. [B]52. [D]53. [I]54. [C]55. [F]练习2Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section B(原快速阅读理解调整为长篇阅读理解,篇章长度和难度不变。

大学英语四级仔细阅读专项强化真题试卷10(题后含答案及解析)

大学英语四级仔细阅读专项强化真题试卷10(题后含答案及解析)

大学英语四级仔细阅读专项强化真题试卷10(题后含答案及解析) 题型有:1.The phrase almost completes itself; midlife crisis. It’s the stage in the middle of the journey when people feel youth vanishing, their prospects narrowing and death approaching. There’s only one problem with the cliche (套话). It isn’t true. “In fact, there is almost no hard evidence for midlife crisis other than a few small pilot studies conducted decades ago,” Barbara Hagerty writes in her new book, Life Reimagined. The bulk of the research shows that there may be a pause, or a shifting of gears in the 40 s or 50 s, but this shift “can be exciting, rather than terrifying”. Barbara Hagerty looks at some of the features of people who turn midlife into a rebirth. They break routines, because “autopilot is death”. They choose purpose over happiness—having a clear sense of purpose even reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. They give priority to relationships, as careers often recede (逐渐淡化). Life Reimagined paints a picture of middle age that is far from gloomy. Midlife seems like the second big phase of decision-making. Your identity has been formed; you’ve built up your resources; and now you have the chance to take the big risks precisely because your foundation is already secure. Karl Barth described midlife precisely this way. At middle age, he wrote, “the sowing is behind; now is the time to reap. The run has been taken; now is the time to leap. Preparation has been made; now is the time for the venture of the work itself.”The middle-aged person, Barth continued, can see death in the distance, but moves with a “measured haste” to get big new things done while there is still time. What Barth wrote decades ago is even truer today. People are healthy and energetic longer. We have presidential candidates running for their first term in office at age 68, 69 and 74. A longer lifespan is changing the narrative structure of life itself. What could have been considered the beginning of a descent is now a potential turning point—the turning point you are most equipped to take full advantage of.1.What does the author think of the phrase “midlife crisis”?A.It has led to a lot of debate.B.It is widely acknowledged.C.It is no longer fashionable.D.It misrepresents real life.正确答案:B解析:推理题。

CET-4历年真题阅读译文

CET-4历年真题阅读译文

考拉进阶CET-4历年真题阅读译文(2014.12—2010.06)2014年12月四级真题(第一套)Passage One纽约人渐渐习惯了更多的人骑着闪亮的蓝色花旗自行车。

但当地的自行车商店怎么看呢?花旗自行车是不是在使它们受损的情况下来增加骑行的人呢?在翠贝卡区的Gotham Bikes,经理W. Ben说,该店的整体销量因自行车共享计划而上升。

“它让更多的人上路,”他说。

格拉姆西区Danny’s Cycles的雇员James Ryan也说花旗自行车是一个不错的选择,它让人们逐步适应在一个以交通堵塞和野蛮司机闻名的城市里骑车。

“他们不用买自行车就可以试骑,”他说。

租赁既不是Gotham Bikes也不是Danny’s Cycles的主营业务。

但对Frank’s Bike Shop ——电商网站Grand St.上的一个小店——来说,自行车共享计划却是坏消息。

店主Frank Arroyo说,自从上个月花旗自行车正式推出,他的租赁业务下降了90%。

Arroyo的主要租客是欧洲游客,他们从此就被花旗自行车吸引走了。

然而Ben说,自行车共享对他的店铺的自行车销售来说却是有益的。

“人们用了自行车共享并意识到在城市里骑自行车有多棒,然后决定为自己买更好的自行车,”他指出。

Waterfront Bicycle Shop位于克里斯多福街以北的西街,该店的Christian Farrell 说,他最初很担忧自行车共享,但他承认,“我很高兴看到人们骑自行车。

”Andrew Crooks有着和Farrell早期一样的担忧。

他是位于第二大街64号的NYC Velo 的店主。

“它看起来是一个好主意,但却很难实施,”Crooks这样评价花旗自行车。

他说他很担忧经验不足的骑行者缺乏对骑行规定的认识以及来自不骑车的人的强烈反对。

然而,他说,现在说他的生意受到影响还为时尚早。

虽然自行车共享很可能会造成生意下滑,但Crooks承认,这种想法对纽约市来说是向前迈出了积极的一步。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-词汇理解(选词填空)》考前练习题及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-词汇理解(选词填空)》考前练习题及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解-词汇理解(选词填空)》考前练习题及答案第一篇关于减肥Section ADirections: 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 bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Perhaps like most Americans you have some extra pounds to 47 . You may even have tried a fad diet or two, but found yourself right back where you started. The key to weight loss is regular 48 activity. And surprisingly, you don't have to give up eating or make the gym your second home to see long-term, 49 effects.You body needs a certain amount of energy to maintain basic 50 such as breathing, blood circulation and digestion. The energy required to keep your organs functioning is referred to as the resting or basal metabolic rate.Any time you are active, 51 energy is required. It is obtained from glycogen and fat stored in the blood, liver, and muscles. The key to losing weight is to draw on the fat rather than on the carbohydrate reserves.Which of the two energy sources you use depends on the intensity and 52 of your activity. The higher the intensity, the more your body will pull from the stored carbohydrates. The lower the intensity, the more your body will 53 on fat as its fuel.Aerobic exercise is most 54 for weight loss. When you perform aerobic activities you 55 contract large muscle groups such as your legs and arms. Walking, running, rollerblading, swimming, dancing, and jumping jacks are all forms of aerobicactivity.Surprisingly, if your aerobic activity is low to moderately intense and of long duration, you will burn more fat than if you had 56 in a short burst ofhigh-intensity exercise. In short, a brisk 30-minute walk will burn fat while a100-yard sprint will burn glycogen.[A] positive[B] additional[C] duration[D] effectivee[E] shed [F] physical[G] food [H] functions [I] participated [J] rely [K] cut [L] repeatedly[M] uses [N] little [O] obvious47. E48. F49. A50. H51. B52. C53. J54. D55. L56. I第二篇关于太阳花A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you 47 the two to do something for your local 48 ?It may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to 49 it in the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower.50 , a biodegradable (生物可降解的)mobile phone was introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage 51 to recycle.Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other 52 and can be hard or soft. and able to change shape. Overtime it can alsobreak down into the soil without giving out any toxic 53 . British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of cover turns into waste, it 54 nitrates(硝酸盐). These feed the seed and help the flower grow.Engineers have designed a small 55 window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is thrown away."We've only put sunflower seeds into the covers so far. But we are working with plant 56 to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time," said one scientist.[A] Recently [B] consumer [C] chemical [D] environment [E] combine[F] transparent [G] buy [H] companion [I] experts [J] forms [K] bury[L] paper [M] paper [N] plastic [O] Usually47. E48. D49. K50. A51. B52. N53. C54. J55. F56. I第三篇关于外教Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.In recent years, more and more foreigners are involved in the teaching programs of the United States. Both the advantages and the disadvantages47 using foreign faculty in teaching positions have to be48 , of course. It can be said that the foreign background that makes the faculty member from abroad an asset also49 problems of adjustment, both for the university and for the individual. The foreign researchscholar usually isolates himself in the laboratory as a means of protection; 50 , what he needs is to be fitted to a highly organized university system quite different from51 at home. He is faced in his daily work with differences in philosophy, arrangements of courses and methods of teaching. Both the visiting professor and his students52 a common ground in each other’s cultures, some concept of what is already in the minds of American students is53 for the foreign professor. While helping him to adapt himself to his new environment, the university must also 54 certain adjustments in order to take full advantage of what the newcomer can55 . It isn’t always known how to make creative use of foreign faculty, especially at smaller colleges. This is thought to be a56 where further study is called for. The findings of such a study will be of value to colleges and universities with foreign faculty.A)field B)possess C)considered D)express E)offer F)create G)requiredH)of I)emerge J)make K)lack L)however M)scope N)cause O)that47. H48. C)49. F)50. L)51. O)52. K)53. G)54. J)55. E)56. A)第四篇关于摇滚Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its 47 lie mainly in blues, rhythm and blues, country, folk, gospel, and jazz. The style subsequently spread to the rest of the world and developed further, leading ultimately to 48 rock music.The term “rock and roll”now covers at least two different meanings, both in common usage. The American Heritage Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary both 49 rock and roll as synonymous with rock music.50 , defines the term as referring specifically to the music of the 1950s.Classic rock and roll is 51 played with one or two electric guitars, a string bass or an electric bass guitar, and a drum kit. In the 52 rock and roll styles of the late 1940s, either the piano or saxophone was often the lead instrument, but these were generally 53 or supplemented by the guitar in the middle to late 1950s.The massive popularity and eventual worldwide view of rock and roll gave it a 54 social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll, as seen in movies and in the new medium of television, 55 lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. It went on to spawn various sub-genres, often without the initially 56 backbeat, that are now more commonly called simply “rock music”or “rock”.A) define I) followed B) characteristic J) modernC) unique K) explanation D) roots L) ConverselyE) usually M) replaced F) Basically N) prepareG) earliest O) seldoH) influencedSection A47. D)。

2014年12月英语四级仔细阅读真题(总三套题)及问题详解

2014年12月英语四级仔细阅读真题(总三套题)及问题详解

2014年12月四级真题(第1套)第一套:Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history,comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet's tremendous impact has only just begun."Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,"Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book, The New Digital Age.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But ff the book has one major shortcoming, it's that the authors don't spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these sweeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes--and more importantly predicts--how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities,one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the idea that"technology is neutral, but people aren't." By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy (对立观点) that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they're also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance (监视).注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2014年12月英语四级真题答案及解析(长篇阅读)

2014年12月英语四级真题答案及解析(长篇阅读)

2014年12月英语四级真题答案及解析(长篇阅读)紧张的考试已经落下帷幕,为大家准备了2014年12月英语四级长篇阅读真题及答案,供大家参考!原文:Bike store owners put their spin on new bikeNew Yorkers, albeit many of them grudgingly, aregradually getting used to more pedaling passengers on those blazingblue Citi Bikes.But what about local bike shops? Is Citi Bike rolling up riders attheir expense?At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager who gave his name as “Ben W.”said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to thebike-share program.“It’s getting more people on the road, more people learning aboutthe sport and getting involved,” he said.An employee at Danny’s Cycles in Gramercy said Citi Bike is a goodoption for people to ease into biking in a city famed for itsvehicular congestion and aggressive drivers.“They can try out a bike without committing to buying one,” JamesRyan said. “It makes a more comfortable biking environment in thecity because there are a lot more bikes, too.”Busi ness at Danny’s Cycles has increased as well since the adventof bike-share.“A lot of people come in for bike gear, and we’ve sold a lot ofhelmets,” he noted.Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikesor Danny’s Cycles. But for Frank’s Bike Shop, a small business thathas been at its current Lower East Side location on Grand St. since1976, the bike-share program has been bad news.Owner Frank Arroyosaid that his rental business has decreased by 90 percent since theCiti Bikes were rolled out last month.Arroyo’s main rental customers are European tourists, a demographicthat has since been drawn away by Citi Bikes. Initially, abike-share station was sited a few doors away from Frank’s BikeShop on the corner of Grand and Henry Sts. But a petition to relocate the bike station gatheredmore than 1,000 signatures. The Citi Bike dock was eventuallyremoved — but only temporarily, according to the Citi Bike Twitteraccount, for utility construction in the street.“I was grateful, and i t was quite an honor to see how many peopleresponded on my behalf,” Arroyo said of the petition effort. “Itwas really nice to see that people care. But they have flooded theplace with them,” he said of the Department of Transportation,which installs the bike racks.Removing one station does little since the area is overloaded withCiti Bike stations, said Arroyo.“If you put it in front of a hotel, customers are going to walk ofthe hotel and use it,” he said.However, Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at hisshop.“People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is tobike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer forthemselves,” he noted.Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. justnorth of Christopher St., said initially he was concerned aboutbike-share, though, he admitted, “I was happy to see people onbikes.”Consisting of equal parts tourists and locals, his customers get abetter rental deal at his shop because, despite charging only$10for a daily rental, the bike-share program requires cyclists tocheck their bikes in at a bike station every half hour. His store,on the other hand, charges $10 for the first hour, $5 for thesecond, and $2.50 per hour after that.“Six hours with Waterfront Bicycle Shop will costa customer $25,” he said. “With Citi Bike, a six-hour rental willcost $126 [if the rider doesn’t re-dock his or her bike at astation every half hour]. Our rentals always include a helmet, abasket and a lock.”Several dozen rental bikes were lined up on Weehawken St. lastSunday behind the store. Benny, who was watching over them, saidanother advantage over the Citi Bikes is that Waterfront’s bikesare all in good working order.Farrell’s early concerns were echoed by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYCVelo, at 64 Second Ave.“It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult toimplement,” Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried aboutinexperienced riders’ lack of awareness of biking rules andbacklash from non-cyclists. However, he said, it’s st ill too earlyto tell if his business has been impacted.The actual Citi Bikes themselves have been criticized as “heavy,”“clunky,” even “ugly.” In comparison, Crooks said NYC Velo hasbikes that are “lighter, faster and tend to bemore comfortable.” Farrell of Waterfront also said his bikes are of“better quality” than the bike-share two-wheelers.While it’s possible bike-share will cause a drop in business in thelong run, Crooks allowed that the idea, as a whole, is good for thecity.“I believe that the progr am is a positive step forward for New YorkCity,” he said, “and will prove to benefit New York City cyclingconditions —in terms of greater acceptance, safetyandaccessibility.”。

英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案(2014年12月)

英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案(2014年12月)

英语四级仔细阅读真题及答案(2014年12月)2014年12月英语四级考试在今天上午结束了,小伙伴们考的如何呢?接下来带大家回顾本次英语仔细阅读真题及答案,同时为大家提供2014年12月英语四级真题仔细阅读真题及答案,即使考完了也要记得温故知新哦,希望能帮助到大家!【第一篇:the cost of childcare】真题:答案:56. A The ever-rising children prices57. C Why children workers' pay has not increased with the rising childcare costs58. B Strict government regulations59 D Each teacher is allowed to care for more kids60 B Less elaborate rules about childcare might lower costs【第二篇:Alex Pang‘s new book】真题:答案:61. D can hardly tear themselves away from the Internet62. D Examine the influence of technology on the human mind63. A It enables people to work more efficiently64. B It somewhat restrains architects' productive thinking65. C They exercise self-control over their time online。

2014年12月大学英语六级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺题及答案

2014年12月大学英语六级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺题及答案

2014年12月大学英语六级考试备考资料《阅读理解-长篇阅读(匹配)》考前冲刺题及答案(二)A: Pizza Hut was started in 1958, by two brothers in Wichita, Kansas. Frank and Dan Carney had the idea to open a pizza parlor. They borrowed $600 from their mother, and opened the very first Pizza Hut. In 1959, the first franchise unit opened in Topeka, Kansas. Almost a decade later, Pizza Hut would be serving one million customers a week in their 310 locations. In 1970, Pizza Hut was put on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PIZ.B: In 1986, Pizza Hut introduced delivery service, something no other restaurant was doing. By the 1990's Pizza Hut sales had reached $4 billion worldwide. In 1998, Pizza Hut celebrated their 40th anniversary, and launched their famous campaign "The Best Pizzas Under One Roof." In 1996, Pizza Hut sales in the United States were over $5 million. Out of all the existing pizza chains, Pizza Hut had the largest market share, 46.4%. However, Pizza Hut's market share has slowly eroded because of intense competition from their rivals Domino's, Little Caesar's and newcomer Papa John's. Home delivery was a driving force for success, especially for Pizza Hut and Domino's.C: However, this forced competitors to look for new methods of increasing their customer bases. Many pizza chains decided to diversify and offer new non-pizza items such as buffalo wings, and Italian cheese bread. The current trend in pizza chains today is the same. They all try to come up with some newer, bigger, better, pizza for a low price. Offering special promotions and new pizza variations are popular today as well. For example, chicken is now a common topping found on pizzas.D: In the past, Pizza Hut has always had the first mover advantage. Their marketing strategy in the past has always been to be first. One of their main strategies that they still follow today is the diversification of the products they offer. Pizza Hut is always adding something new to their menu, trying to reach new markets. For example, in 1992 the famous buffet was launched in Pizza Hut restaurants worldwide. They were trying to offer many different food items for customers who didn't necessarily want pizza.E: Another strategy they used in the past and are still using is the diversification of their pizzas. Pizza Hut is always trying to come up with some innovative way to make a pizza into something slightly different - different enough that customers will think it’s a whole new product. For example, let's lo ok at some of the pizzas Pizza Hut has marketed in the past. In 1983, Pizza Hut introduced their Pan Pizza, which had a guarantee of being ready to eat in 5 minutes when dining at Pizza Hut restaurants. In 1993, they introduced the "BigFoot," which was two square feet of pizza cut into 21 slices. In 1995, they introduced "Stuffed Crust Pizza," where the crust would be filled with cheese. In 1997, they marketed "The Edge," which had cheese and toppings all the way to the edge of the pizza. Currently, they are marketing "The Big NewYorker," trying to bring the famous New York style pizza to the whole country.F: Another opportunity that Pizza Hut has is their new ordering online system. Anyone with Internet access can order whatever they wish and get it delivered to their house without even speaking to someone. This program has just been started, so we do not have any numbers to support whether or not it will be a success.G: Lastly, Pizza Hut has always valued customer service and satisfaction. In 1995, Pizza Hut began two customer satisfaction programs: a 1-800 number customer hotline, and a customer call-back program. These were implemented to make sure their customers were happy, and always wanted to return. In our plan, we will first give a situation analysis of current and relevant environmental conditions that affect our plan. Next, we will give a brief analysis of the current fast food industry, and any trends or changes that might occur in the future.H: However, the fact that Pizza Hut does have a restaurant to run is also a weakness. Pizza Hut has higher overhead costs, due to the restaurant that other competitors don't have to deal with. Another result of higher overhead costs is higher prices Pizza Hut must charge. Obviously, Pizza Hut is not the low cost producer. They rely on their quality pizza and good service to account for their higher prices.I: An indirect weakness that Pizza Hut has is that they have lost a lot of their customers and market share due to such intense competition with competitors. Pizza Hut's opportunities are almost endless. They can increase revenue with their new innovative pizzas, and increase brand loyalty with good customer service.J: Pizza Hut's number one threats are from their competitors. Currently, their closest competitor is Domino's Pizza. Domino's main competitive advantage over Pizza Hut is their price. It is generally lower than Pizza Hut. Also, Domino's was very profitable when they ran the promotional deal of delivering a pizza within 30 minutes. However, many lawsuits have been filed against Domino's in the past for reckless driving by their drivers, so Domino's withdrew the promotion. Little Caesar's is another one of Pizza Hut's competitors, right behind Domino's in market share. Little Caesar's is famous for offering large quantities of pizza for less money. Other competitors include Papa John's, Sbarro, and Pizza Inn.K: A problem facing all of the pizza chains is that each of their individual competitive advantages are pretty much everyone's competitive advantages. Most if not all the top pizza chains offer free delivery, and always have some sort of promotional deal offering large pizzas at reduced prices. Other competitors to take into consideration are frozen pizzas and make-it-yourself pizzas that are purchased in grocery stores. Some examples of these are Tombstone Pizzas, Boboli, and Di'Gornio pizzas.1. Pizza Hut expanded its business into many parts of the country by the time of 1969.2. Pizza Hut has not always dominated the market.3. buffalo wings, and Italian cheese bread are now commonly served at pizza restaurants.4. The diversification strategy is not to be the first mover.5. In Pizza Hut, a Pan Pizza was guaranteed to serve in 5 minutes.6. If you want a pizza from Pizza Hut delivered directly to your house, you have to have Internet access in the first place.7. In order to make sure their customers were happy, Pizza Hut introduced two customer satisfaction programs.8. The higher overhead costs of Pizza Hut obviously accounted for higher prices of their pizzas.9. The reason why Domino’s withdrew their promotion was that they suffered legally from reckl ess driving by their drivers.10. Major pizza makers have to face the problem that their competitive advantages are the same.答案1. A2. B3. C4. D5. E6. F7. G8. H9. J 10. K(三)How to Make Attractive and Effective PowerPoint PresentationsA) Microsoft PowerPoint has dramatically changed the way in which academic and business presentations are made. This article outlines few tips on making more effective and attractive PowerPoint presentations.The TextB) Keep the wording clear and simple. Use active, visual language. Cut unnecessary words—a good rule of thumb is to cut paragraphs down to sentences, sentences into phrases, and phrases into key words.Limit the number of words and lines per slide. Try the Rule of Five-five words per line, five lines per slide. If too much text appears on one slide, use the AutoFit feature to split it between two slides. Click within the placeholder to display the AutoFit Options button (its symbol is two horizontal lines with arrows above and below), then click on the button and choose Split Text between Two Slides from the submenu.C) Font size for titles should be at least 36 to 40, while the text body should not be smaller than e only two font styles per slide—one for the title and the other for the text. Choose two fonts that visually contrast with each other. Garamond Medium Condensed and Impact are good for titles, while Garamond or Tempus Sans can be used for the text body.D) Embed the fonts in your presentation, if you are not sure whether the fonts used in the presentation are present in the computer that will be used for the presentation. To embed the fonts: (1) On the File menu, click Save As. (2) On the toolbar, click Tools, click Save Options, select the Embed TrueType Fonts check box, and then select Embed characters in use only.E) Use colors sparingly; two to three at most. You may use one color for all the titles and another for the text body. Be consistent from slide to slide. Choose a font color that contrasts well with the background.F) Capitalizing the first letter of each word is good for the title of slides and suggests a more formal situation than having just thefirst letter of the first word capitalized. In bullet point lines, capitalize the first word and no other words unless they normally appear capped. Upper and lower case lettering is more readable than all capital letters. Moreover, current styles indicate that using all capital letters means you are shouting. If you have text that is in the wrong case, select the text, and then click Shift+F3 until it changes to the case style that you like. Clicking Shift+F3 toggles the text case between ALL CAPS, lower case, and Initial Capital styles.G) Use bold or italic typeface for emphasis. Avoid underlining, it clutters up the presentation.Don’t c enter bulleted lists or text. It is confusing to read. Left align unless you have a good reason not to. Run “spell check” on your show when finished.The BackgroundH) Keep the background consistent. Simple, light textured backgrounds work well. Complicated textures make the content hard to read. If you are planning to use many clips in your slides, select a white background. If the venue of your presentation is not adequately light-proof, select a dark-colored background and use any light color for text.M inimize the use of “bells and whistles” such as sound effects, “flying words” and multiple transitions. Don’t use red in any fonts or backgrounds. It is an emotionally overwhelming color that is difficult to see and read.The ClipsI) Animations are best used subtly; too much flash and motion can distract and annoy viewers. Do not rely too heavily on those images that were originally loaded on your computer with the rest of Office. You can easily find appropriate clips on any topic through Google Images. While searching for images, do not use long search phrases as is usually done while searching the web-use specific words.J) When importing pictures, make sure that they are smaller than two megabytes and are in a .jpg format. Larger files can slow down your show. Keep graphs, charts and diagrams simple, if possible. Use bar graphs and pie charts instead of tables of data. The audience can then immediately pick up the relationships.The PresentationK) If you want your presentation to directly open in the slide show view, save it as a slide show file using the following steps. Open the presentation you want to save as a slide show. On the File menu, click Save As. In the Save as type list, click PowerPoint Show. Your slide show file will be saved with a ppt file extension. When youdouble-click on this file, it will automatically start your presentation in slide show view. When you’re done, PowerPoint automatically closes and you return to the desktop. If you want to edit the slide show file, you can always open it from PowerPoint by clicking Open on the File menu.L) Look at the audience, not at the slides, whenever possible. If using a laser pointer, don’t move it too fast. For example, if circling a number on the slide, do it slowly. Never point the laser at the audience. Black out the screen (use “B” on the keyboard) after the point has been made, to put the focus on you. Press the key again to continue your presentation.M) You can use the shortcut command [Ctrl]P to access the Pen tool during a slide show. Click with your mouse and drag to use the Pen tool to draw during your slide show. To erase everything you’ve drawn, press the E key. To turnoff the Pen tool, press [Esc] once.MiscellaneousN) Master Slide Set-Up: The “master slide” will allow you to make changes that are reflected on every slide in your presentation. You can change fonts, colors, backgrounds, headers, and footers at the “master slide” level. First, go to the “View” menu. Pull down the “Master” menu. Select the “slide master” menu. You may now make changes at this level that meet your presentation needs.1. The ways in which academic and business presentations are made have been changed by Microsoft PowerPoint.2. When making the PowerPoint, the wording of the text should not be complicated.3. In each slide, the font styles for the title and the text should contrast with each other.4. A more formal situation is capitalizing the first letter of the first word.5. Centering bulleted lists or text can not help to read.6. Sound effects should be used as less frequently as possible.7. When importing pictures, make sure that they are smaller than two megabytes.8. When making the presentation, you should look at the audience as possible as you can.9. Pressing the E key can help you to erase everything you've drawn.10. In order to meet your presentation needs, you can make changes at the “slide master” level.1.A A段讲到了微软的PowerPoint对学术及商业陈述形式的改变,可以直接定位到文章的首段。

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解》考前强化训练(第11-20篇)及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解》考前强化训练(第11-20篇)及答案

2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解》考前强化训练及答案(第11-20篇)第十一篇Social customs and ways of behaving change. Things which were considered i mpolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was cons idered impolite behaviour for a man to smoke on street. No man who thought of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room.Customs also differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? Should you use b oth hands when you are eating? Should leave one in your lap,or on the table? The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also shar e a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and Englan d people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a wonman or offer their seat to a woman , and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is , if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock , the dinner guest ei ther arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay.The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything t hat might make other people feel uncomfortable-----especially if they are your guests. When the food was served , one of the guests strated to eat his peas with a knife . The other guests were amused or shocked , but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been b ad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable.1.If one has accepted a dinner invitation ,what should he do if he is tobe late for the dinner?a.He should find an excuseb.He should adk for excuse.c.He should say sorryd.He should telephone to explain his being late.2."It would have been bad manners to make his guests feel foolish or uncomf ortable." "Bad manners " means ________.a.uglyb.dishonestc.impolited.shameful3.which of the following do you think is the best tiltle for this passage?a.Social Customs and Customsb.Social Lifec.American and British Customsd.Promptness Is Important4.According to the text, the best host_______.a.tries his best to make his guests feel comfortableb.makes his guests feel excitedc.tries to avoid being naughty to his guestsd.tries to avoid being foolish5.The author of this article may agree with which of the following?a.The guest who ate his peas with a knifeb.The other guests who were amused or shockedc.The host who picked up his knife and began eating in the same wayd.None of the above答案:dcaac第十二篇New Orleans, Louisiana, was established as part of the French Empire in 171 8.Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the A merican hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It wa s transferred from France to Spain, returned to France,and finally sold by Nap oleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle f ought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it , and the America ns under General And rew Jackson.The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting and the river is now actual ly higher than the city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are used t o move water from the city into the river.Although New Orleans haas beena part of the United States for almost two ce nturies, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still re tains parts of the Code Napoleon which,form many years,was its only law. New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and it s native Dixieland Jazz. The jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting facade of yesteryear, is a busy in dustrial and port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreigh carg oes are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town----bu t it's still fun to visit.1.What accounts for the levees and pumps in New Orleans?a.The Mississippi frequently floods the city.b.The riverbed has raised inthe past 200 years.c.The torrential rains flood the city frequently.d.The high humidity cannot otherwise be comtrolled.2.The battle of New Orleans was fought by jackson against______.a.Franceb.Britainc.Spaind.The North3.The Code Napoleon was _______.a.an agreement to sell Louisianab.a body of lawsc.a city pland.a military code for the army4.Which of the following elements does not apply to the attiude of the inhabit ants of New Orleans?a.Pride in their French heritage.b.A desire to retain picturesque colonial buildings.c.A refusal to engage in trade and commerced.A praising of Dixieland Jazz.5.Tourists visiting New Orleans are surprised to encounter_____.a.Creole foodb.Dixieland jazzc.bustling cityd.authentic colonial homes答案:bbbcc第十三篇The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's te chnology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engine ers.Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year -olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engin eering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly. Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has f or bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.ca ndidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education, find the attraction of industry irresistible.1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ________.a. the number of PH.D. degree holders is decliningb. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasingc. the number of 22-year-ilds is decliningd. scientists and engineers are not employed2.The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from ________ .a. technologyb. foreign nationalsc. such fields as law, medicine and businessd. postgraduatesrge-scale enterprises now need _______.a. bright graduates and postgraduatesb. new inventionsc. advanced technologyd. engineers4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree because _________.a. they are not encouraged to be engaged in scienceb. industry does not require PH.D. holdersc. they have financial difficultiesd. they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means that ____ _____.a. they find industry is attracting more and more college studentsb. they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industryc. they cannot resist any attraction from all sidesd. they cannot work for industry any longer答案:bcadb第十四篇Newdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effect iveness will remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without it s military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new sta ndard of opwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on t he ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping wo rld events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to a dapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled oth er countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the D epartment of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutio nal forces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.1. Now a nation's political influence depends on _________.a. the strength of its military forcesb. its ability to compete in industryc. economic marketsd. both a and b2. The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because of __ _______.a. its powerful military forcesb. its vast landc. its industrial competitivenessd. its contributions to world peace3. The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power.a. other countriesb. the declining U.S. industrial basec. a new standard for measuring powerd. less advanced technology4. America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably bec ause of ___________.a. its ability to adapt technologyb. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its peoplec. its ability to compete in the world marketsd. both a and b5. The purpose of writing this article is __________.a. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring powerb. to demonstrate American political influence in the worldc. to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. ind ustrial based. to show American industrial prowess答案:dabdc第十五篇Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , fortunately,the number of such reasons is small. Pruning involves the cutting away of obergrown and unwanted branches, and the inexperienced gard ener can be encouraged by the thought that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way.First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have a desired shape or si ze. The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches which will thicken its appearance o r give it a special shape. Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree hea lthier. You may cut diseaed or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing agains t each other and thus cause wounds. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the centre and so preventing the fr ee movement of air.One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provi des an easy entry for disease, but itis a wound that will heal. Often there is a race between the healing and the desease as to whether the tree will live or die, so that there is a period when the tree is at risk. It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce which has been pruned smooth and clean, for healin g will be slowed down by roughness. You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hurs and then paint it with one of the substances available from ga rden shops produced especially for this purpose. Pruning is usually without inte rference from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts yu make wil l bleed. If this does happen,it is, of course,impossible to paint them properly.1.Pruning should be done to ______.a.make the tree grow tallerb.improve the shape of the treec.get rid of the small branchesd.make the small branches thicker2.Trees become unhealthy if the gardener ______.a.allows too many branches to grow in the middleb.does not protect them from windc.forces them to grow too quicklyd.damages some of the small side branches3.Why is a special substance painted on the tree?a.To make a wound smoothb.To prevent disease entering a woundc.To cover a rough surfaced.To help a wound to dry4.A good gardener prunes a tree______.a.at intervals throughout the yearb.as quickly as possiblec.occasionally when necessaryd.regular every winter5.What was the author's purpose when writing this passage?a.To give pratical instruction for pruning a tree.b.To give a general description of pruningc.To explain how trees develop diseasesd.To discuss different methods of pruning.答案:babca第十六篇On Thursday afternoon Mrs. Carke, dressed for going out, took her handbag w ith her money and her key in it, pulled the door behind her to lock it and we nt to the over 60s Club. She always went there on Thursdays. It was a nice o uting for an old woman who lived alone.At six o'clock she cane home, let herself in and at once smelt cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke in her house? How? How? Had someone got in? She checked the back door and the windows. All were locked or fastened, as usual. There was no sign of forced entry.Over a cup of tea she wondered whether someone might have a key that fitte d her front door-"a master key"perhaps. So she stayed at home the following Thursday. Nothing happened. Was anyone watching her movements? On the Th ursday after that she went out at her usual time,dressed as usual, but she didn' t go to the club. Instead she took a short cut home again, letting herself in th rough her garden and the back door. She settled down to wait.It was just after four o'clock when the front door bell rang.Mrs. Clarke was m aking a cup of tea at the time. The bell rang again, and then she heard her le tter-box being pushed open. With the kettle of boiling water in her hand, she moved quietly towards the front door. A long piece of wire appeared through the letter-box, and then a hand. The wire turned and caught around the knob on the door-lock. Mrs. Clarke raised the kettle and poured the water over the hand. There was a shout outside, and the skin seemed to drop off the fingers like a glove. The wire fell to the floor, the hand was pulled back, and Mrs. C larke heard the sound of running feet.1.Mrs. Clarke looded forward to Thursday because_______.a.she worked at a club on the dayb.she said visitors on Thursdaysc.she visited a club on Thursdayd.a special visitor came on Thursday2.If someone had made a forced entery,_______.a.Mrs.Clarke would have found a broken door or windowb.he or she was still in the housec.things would have been thown aboutd.he or she would have needed a master key3.On the third Thursday Mrs. Clarke went out_______.a.because she didn't want to miss the club againb.to see if the thief was hnging about outsidec.to the club but then changed her mindd.in an attempt to trick the thief4.The lock on the front door was one which_______.a.needed a piece of wire to open itb.could he opened from inside without a keyc.could't be opened without a keyed a knob instead of a key5.The wire feel to the floor_______.a.because Mrs.Clarke refused to open the doorb.when the man's glove dropped offc.because it was too hot to holdd.because the man justwanted to get away答案:cadbd第十七篇Many people believe the glare from snow causes snowblindnenss. Yet, dark gla sses or not , they find themselves suffering from headaches and watering eyes, and even snowblindness,when exposed to several hours of "snow light" .The United States Army has now determined that glare from snow does not ca use snowblindness in troops in a snow-covered country.Rather, a man's eyes fr equently find nothing to foucs on in a broad expanse of barren snow-covered t errain. So his gaze continually shifts and jumps back and forth over the entire landscape in search of tsomething to look at. Finding nothing, hour after hour, the eyes never sotp searching and the eyeballs become sore and the eye musc les ache. Nature offsets this irritation by producing more and fluid which cove rs the eyeball. The fluid coversthe eyeball in increasing quantity until vision blurs, then is obsured,and the result is total, even though temporary,snowblindnes s.Experiments led the Army to a simple method of overcoming this problem. Sc outs ahead of a main body of troops are trained to shake snow from evergree n bushes, creating a dotted line as they cross completely snow-covered landsca pe,Even the scouts themselves throw lightweight , dark colored objects ahead o n which they too can focus . The men following can then see something.Their gaze is arrested. Their eyes focus on a bush and having found something to see,stop scouring the snow-blanketed lanscape. By focusing their attention on o ne object at a time,the men can cross the snow without becoming hopelessly s nowblind or lost. In this way the problem of crossing a solid white terrain is overcome.1.To prevent headaches, watering eyes and blindness caused by the glare from snow, dark glasses are_____.a.indispensibleefulc.ineffectived.available2.When the eyes are sore tears are produced to ________.a.clear the visionb.remedy snowblindnessc.ease the irritationd.loosen the muscles3.Snowblindness may be avoided by_______.a.concentrating to the solid white terrainb.searching for something to look at in snow-covered terrainc.providing the eyes with something to foucs ond.covering the eyeballs with fluid4.The scouts shake snow from evergreen bushes in order to _______.a.bive the men behind something to seeb.beautify the landscapec.warm themselves in the coldd.prevent the men behind from losing their way5.A suitable title for this passage would be _______.a.snowblindness and how to overcome itb.natrue's cure for snowblindnessc.soldiers in the snowd.snow vision答案:CCCAA第十八篇Water problems in the future will become nore intense and more complex. Our increasing population will tremendously increase urban wastes,primarily sewage. On the other hand, increasing demands for water will decease substantialy the amount of water available for diluting wastes. Rapidly expanding industries w hich involve more and more complex chemical processes will produce large vo lumes of liquid wastes, and many of these will contain chemicals which are n oxious. To feed our rapidly expanding population, agriculture will have to be i ntensified. This will involve ever-increasingquantities of agricultural chemicals, From this , it is apparent that drastic steps must be taken immediately to deve lop corrective measures for the pollution problem.There are two ways by which this pollution problem can be dwindled. The fir st relates to the treatment of wastes to decrease their pollution hazard. This in volves the processing of solid wastes "prior to " disposal and the treatment ofliquid wastes, or efflunets,to permit the reuse of the water or minimize polluti on upon final disposal.A second approach is to develop an economic use for all or a part of the was tes. Farm manure is spread in fields as a nutrient or organic supplement . Effl uents from sewage disposal plants are used in some areas both for irrigation a nd for the nutrients contained. Efflunets from other processing plants may also be used as a supplemental source of water. Many industries, such as meat an d poultry processing plants, are currently converting former waste products into marketable byproducts. Other industries are potential eonomic uses for waste products.1.The purpose of this passage is ______.a.to alert the reader to the dwindling water supplyb.to explain industrial uses of waterc.to acquaint the reader with water pollution problemsd.to demostrate various measures to solve the pollution problem2.Which of the following points is NOT INCLUDED in the passage?a.In dustrial development incudes the simplification of complex chemical proces ses.b.Diluting wastes needs certain amount of waterc.Demands for water will go up along with the expanding populationd.Intensive cultivation of land requires more and more chemicals3.The reader can conclued that________.a.countries of the world will work together on polution problemsb.byproducts from wastes lead to a more prosperous marketplacec.science is making great progress on increasing water suppliesd.some industries are now ,aking economic use of wastes4.The author gives substance to the passage through the use of _______.a.interviews with authorities in the field of water controlsb.opinions and personal observationsc.definitions which clarify important termsd.strong arguments and persuasions5.The words "prior to "(para.2) probably mean______.a.afterb.duringc.befored.beyond答案:cadbc第十九篇One of the qualities that most people admire in others is the willingness to ad mit one's mistakes. It is extremely hard sometimes to say a simple thing like "I was wrong about that," and it is even harder to say, "I was wrong , and y ou were right about that."I had an experience recently with someone admitting to me that he had madea mistake fifteen years ago. He told me he had been the manager of a certain grocery store in the neighbourhood where I grew up, and he asked me if I r emembered the egg cartons. Then he related an incident and Ibegan to rememb er vaguely the incident he was describing.I was about eight years old at the time, and I had gome into the store with may mother to do the weekly grocery shopping. On that particular day, I must have found my way to the dairy food department where the incident tood pla ce.There must have been a special sale on eggs that day because there was an i mpressive display of eggs indozen and half-dozen cartons. The cartons were st acked three or four feet high. I must have stopped in front of a display to ad mire the stacks. Just then a woman came by pushing her grocery cart and kno cked off the stacks of cartons. For some reason, I decided it was up to me to put the display back together, so I want to work.The manager heard the moise and came rushing over to see what had happene d. When he appeared, I was on my knees inspecting some of the cartons to s ee if any of the eggs were broken, but to him it looked as though I was the culprit. He severely reprimanded me and wanted me to pay for any broken eg gs. I protested my innocence and tried to explain, but it did no good. Even th ough I quickly forgot all about the incident, apparently the manager did not.1.How old was the author when he wrote this article?a.about 8b.about 18c.about 23d.about 152.Who was to blame for knocking off the stacks of cartons?a.The authorb.The managerc.A womand.The author's mother3.Which of the following statements is not true?a.The woman who knocked off the stacks of cartons was seriously criticized b y the manangerb.The author was severely critizized by the manager.c.A woman carelessly knocked off the stacks of cartonsd.It was the author who put the display back together4.Which of the following can serve as the best title for the passage?a.Its Harder to Admit One's Mistakeb.I was once the culpritc.I remember an incidentd.A case of mistaken identity5.The tone of the article expresses the author's_______.a.admiration for the manager's willingness to admit mistakesb.anger to the manager for his wrong accusationc.indignation against the woman who knocked off the stacks of cartonsd.reget for the mistake the made in the store答案:ccada第二十篇Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with train ed eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote i n his book, 'Look here for probable metal' Scientists in another airplane, flying over a mountain region,sent a message to other scientists on the ground,'Gold possible.' Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported,'This ground sh ould be searched for metals.' From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scienti st sent back by radio one word,'Uranium'.None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the n ewest methods of location minerals in the ground---using trees and plants as si gns that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees and p lants are growing.This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that mineral s deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface.At Watson Bar Creek, a brook six thousand feet high in the mountains of Brit ish Columbia, Canada,a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Box ed were filled with small banches from te trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the p arts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested .Each small part was e xamined to learn whether there were minerals in it.Study of the roots , branches,and seeds showed no silver. But there were smal l amounts of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growin g on the ends of the branches.If the trees had not indicated that there was gold in the ground, the scientists would not have spent money to pay for digging into the deeper. They did dig and found more fold below. They dug deeper. They found large quantities of gold.1.Scientists were flying over a desert or hilly wasteland or a mountain region i n order to search for _____ in the ground.a.goldb.silverc.metalsd.minerals2.The study of trees,branches and roots indicates that_______.a.there were larger amounts of gold in the branches than in the seeds.b.there were small amounts of gold in the roots than in the branchesc.there were larger amounts of gold in the seeds growing nearest to the tree tr unk than seeds growing on the ends of branches.d.there were more gold in the branches than in the roots3.Which is the best title ?a.Scientists searching for metals with sepcial powerb.New methods of searching for mineralsc.Gold could be found by trees and plantsd.A new method of searching for minerals---using trees and plants4.Which of the following is not mentioned as part of a tree that can help find minerals?a.leavesb.rootsc.branchesd.seeds5.The scientists were searching for minerals by using ______.a.X-rayb.magic powerc.a special instrumentd.trained eyes答案:dcdad。

2014年英语四级阅读真题及答案解析(12月)

2014年英语四级阅读真题及答案解析(12月)

2014年英语四级阅读真题及答案解析(12月)Part I WritingDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a shor t essay on the following topic. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.作文题一:印象最深的活动AA campus activity that has benefited most.作文题二:印象最深的课程A course that has impressed you most in college.作文题三:印象最深的同学A classmate of yours who has influenced you most in college.Part II ListeningSection ADirections: In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A) , B) , C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.Question 1A.The man is not good at balancing his budget.B.She will go purchase the gift herself.C.The gift should not be too expensive.D.They are gonging to Jane's house-warming party.Question 2A.He is quite willing to give the woman a hand.B.It takes patience to go through the statistics.C.He has prepared the statistics for the woman.D.The woman should take a course in statistics.Question 3A.Page 55 is missing from the woman's scripts.B.They cannot begin their recording right away.C.The woman does not take the recording seriously.D.The man wants to make some changes in the scripts.Question 4A.The date of Carl's wedding.B.The birthday of Carl's bride.C.A significant event in July.D.Preparation for a wedding.Question 5A.The woman forgot to tell the man in advance.B.The man was absent from the weekly meeting.C.The woman was annoyed at the man's excuse.D.The man was in charge of scheduling meetings.Question 6A.The woman is a marvelous cook.B.The woman has just bought an oven.C.The man has to leave in half an hour.D.The man cannot want for his meal.Question 7A.How she can best help the man.B.Where the man got the bad news.C.What items sell well in the store.D.Whether the man can keep his job.Question 8A.The woman can sign up for a swimming class.B.He works in the physical education department.C.The woman has the potential to swim like a fish.D.He would like to teach the woman how to swim.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 9A.He teaches in a law school.B.He loves classical music.C.He is a diplomat.D.He is a wonderful lecturer.Question 10A.Went to see a play.B.Watched a soccer game.C.Took some photos.D.Attended a dance.Question 11A.She decided to get married in three years.B.Her mother objected to Eric’s flying lessons.C.She insisted that Eric pursue graduate studies.D.Her father said she could marry Eric right away.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Question 12A.Editor.B.Teacher.C.JournalistD.Typist.Question 13A.The beautiful Amazon rainforests.B.A new railway under construction.C.Big changes in the Amazon valley.D.Some newly discovered scenic spot.Question 14A.In news weeklies.B.In newspapers' Sunday editions.C.In a local evening paper.D.In overseas editions of U.S. magazines.Question 15A.To be employed by a newspaper.B.To become a professional writer.C.To sell her articles to a news service.D.To get her life story published soon.Section BDirections:In this section,you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage,you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question,you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 16A.Nodding one's head.B.Waving one's hand.C.Holding up the forefinger.D.Turning the right thumb down.Question 17A.Looking away from them.B.Forming a circle with fingers.C.Bowing one's head them.D.Waving or pointing to them.Question 18A.Looking one's superior in the eye.B.Keeping one's arms folded while talking.C.Showing the sole of one's foot to a guest.ing a lot of gestures during a conversation.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 19A.They had to beg for foot after the harvest.B.They grew wheat and corn on a small farm.C.They shared a small flat with their relatives.D.The children walked to school on dirt roads.Question 20A.Tour Ecuador's Andes Mountains.B.Earn an annual income of $2800.C.Purchase a plot to build a home on.D.Send their children to school.Question 21A.The achievements of the Trickle Up Program.B.A new worldwide economic revolution.C.Different forms of assistance to the needy.D.The life of poor people in developing countries.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 22A.They are highly sensitive to cold.B.They are vitally important to our life.C.They are a living part of our body.D.They are a chief source of our pain.Question 23A.It has to be removed in time by a dentist.B.It is a rare oral disease among old people.C.It contains many nerves and blood vessels.D.It is sticky and colorless film on the teeth.Question 24A.It can change into acids causing damage to their outer covering.B.It greatly reduces their resistance to the attacks of bacteria.C.It makes their nerves and blood vessels more sensitive to acid food.D.It combines with food particles to form a film on their surface.Question 25A.Food particles.B.Gum disease.C.Unhealthy living habits.D.Chemical crosion.Section CStunt people(替身演员) are not movie stars, but they are the hidden heroes of many movies.They were around long before films. Even Shakespeare may have used them in fight scenes. To be good, a fight scene has to look real. Punches must (26)______ enemies' jaws. Sword fights must be fought with(27)______ swords. Several actors are usually in a fight scene. Their moves must be set up so that no one gets hurt. It is almost like planning a dance performance.If a movie scene is dangerous, stun people usually(28)______the stars. You may think you see Tom Cruise running along the top of a train. But it is(29)______ his stunt double. Stunt people must(30)______ the stars they stand in for. Their height and build should be about the same. But when close-ups are needed, the film(31)______ the star.Some stunt people(32)______ in certain kinds of scenes. For instance, a stunt woman named Jan Davis does all kinds of jumps. She has leapt from planes and even off the top of a waterfall. Each jump required careful planning and expert(33)______.Yakima Canutt was a famous cowboy stunt man. Among other stunts, he could jump from a second story window onto a horse's back. He(34)______ the famous trick of sliding under a moving stagecoach. Canuttalso(35)______ a new way to make a punch look real. He was the only stunt man ever to get an Oscar.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: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.For decades, Americans have taken for granted the XXXX development of new technologies. The innovations(创新)XXXX opment during World War II and afterwards were(36)_____ to the prosperity of the nation in the second half of the 20th century. Those innovations, upon which virtually all aspects of(37)_____ society now depend, were possible because the United States then(38)_____ the world in mathematics and science education. Today, however, despite increasing demand for workers with strong skills in mathematics and science, the(39)_____ of degrees awarded in science, math, and engineering are decreasing.The deeling in degree production in what are called the STEM disciplines(science, technology, engineering, and math.)seems tobe(40)_____related to the comparatively weak performance by U.S. schoolchildren on international assessments of math and science. Manystudents entering college have weak skills in mathematics. According to the 2005 report of the Business Higher Education Forum, 22 percent of college freshmen must take remediat(补习的)math(41)_____, and less than half of the students who plan to major in science orengineering(42)_____complete a major in those fields.The result has been a decrease in the number of American college graduates who have the skills, (43)_____ in mathematics, to power a workforce that can keep the country at the forefront(前言)of innovation and maintain its standard of living. With the(44)_____ performance of American students in math and science has come increased competition from students from other countries that have strongly supported education in these areas. Many more students earn(45)_____ in the STEM disciplines in developing countries than in the United States.A.acceleratingB.actuallyC.closelyD.contemporaryE.coursesF.criticalG.decliningH.degreesI.especiallyJ.futureK.ledL.metM.proceduresN.proportionsO.sphetesSection BDirections:In this section,you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Ban sugary drinks that will add fuel to the obesity war[A] On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. He was pale and disfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity(肥胖的)leads to many nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him,including a couple of fatty children with swollen checks pressing against their eyes. These people are part of what is without exaggeration an epidemic(流行病)of obesity.[B] But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea- far from new- that could spare millions of such people a lifetime of chronic(长期的)ill health, and at the same time save the National Health Service(NHS)at least £14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, be considerable public interest in it. This simple idea is that sugar is as good- or as bad- as poison and should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 years ago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us.[C] In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), to hormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic(新陈代谢的)malfunctions and obesity and from there to type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)and its many horrible complication. If people really grasped that, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the “ fat man of Europe” . They might even feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadly stuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance.[D] It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests(既得利益集团)lined up against any sugar control- all the food and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easy pickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normally side, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in our lives.[E]That is true, but people should realize that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家), to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another’s health insurance, through socialized medicine, then we are all closely involved in one another’s health, including everyone’s eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yet to be admitted with overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and that number is predicted to double by the year 2050.Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripple the NHS.[F]Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the alarm. Last month the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges(AMRC)published a report saying that obesity is the greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something.[G]The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of 20 percent on sugary drinks for at least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. As Professor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are “the ultimate bad food. You are just consuming neat sugar. Your body didn’t evolve to handle this kind of thing.”[H]Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different)pale into insignificant compared with the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere.[I]It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, f ish or vegetables, that doesn’t have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailing scientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as the really serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity.[J]The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not very appetizing, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavor enhancer, often in the forms of syrups(糖浆)that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into most prepared foods and soft drinks.[K]This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body’s metabolism, possibly via the activity of anappetite-controlling hormone. There’s plenty of evidence for this, for those who will accept the truth.[L]Theoretically, people ought to make “healthy choices” and avoid overeating. But sugar additives are not easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinking and over eating that makes people fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done to them. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it.[M]Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all the poisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They are poisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving small children sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse.[N]Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation. But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools and banning vending machines(自动售货机)here and there — as suggested try the AMRC report —is not going to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning high levels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks.[O]In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the food industry and had not ruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However, nothing has happened yet. Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it.46、Avoiding over-consumption of sugar can improve people’s health aswell as save medical expenses.47、Laws should be passed to make it illegal to produce overly sweet foodsor drinks.48、Giving small children sweet juices to drink all the time is equal tochild abuse.59、Looking around, the author found obesity quite widespread. 50、The number of obese people is expected to increase quickly in the nextfew decades.51、 If people really understood the horrible consequences of sugary foodsand drinks, they would support government measures against sugarconsumption.52、It would be a very good beginning wo improve an additional tax on sugarydrinks.53、 The government has not yet taken any action to regulate sugar consumption although it indicated its intention to do so some time ago.54、Sugar is far more harmful to health than fat and salt.55、Consumers of sweet foods are not really to blame because they cannottell what food is sugary.Section CDirections: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 oneThe rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwidenow have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet’s tremendous impacts has only just begun.“Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,” Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book. The New Digital Age.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortco ming, it’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes —and more importantly predicts —how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual.At the core of the book is the ide a that “technology is neutral, but people aren’t.” By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对立观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they’re also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视).56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph?A.It transforms human history.B.It facilitates daily communication.C.It is adopted by all humanity.D.It revolutionizes people's thinking.57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet?A.They are immeasurable.B.They are worldwide.C.They are unpredictable.D.They are contaminating.58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate?A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology.B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet.C.It lacks an objective evaluation of the role of Internet businesses.D.It does not address the technical aspects of Internet communication.59、What will the future be like when everybody gets online?A.People will be living in two different realities.B.People will have equal access to information.C.People don’t have to travel to see the world.D.People don’t have to communicate face to face.60、What does the passage say about the authors of The New Digital Age?A.They leave many questions unanswered concerning the Internet.B.They are optimistic about the future of the Internet revolution.C.They have explored the unknown territories of the virtual world.D.They don’t take sides in analyzing the effects of the Interne t.Passage twoIn 1950, a young man would have found it much easier than it is today to get and keep a job in the auto industry. And in that year the average autoworker could meet monthly mortgage(抵押贷款)payments on an average home with just 13.4 percent of his take-home pay. Today a similar mortgage would claim more than twice that share of his monthly eamings.Other members of the autoworker’s family, however might be less inclined to tried the present for the past. His retired parents would certainly have had less economic security back then. Through-out much of the 1960s,more than a quarter of men and women and women age 65 and older lived below the poverty level, compared to less than 10 percent in 2010.In most stales, his wife could not have taken out a loan or a card in her own name. In 42 states, a homemaker had no legal claim on the earnings of her husband. And nowhere did a wife have legal protection against family violence.Most black workers would not want to return to a time when, on average they earned 40 percent less than their white counterparts(职位相当的人),white racially restrictive agreements largely prevented them from buying into the suburban neighborhoods being built for white working–class families.Today, new problems have emerged in the process of resolving old ones, but the solution is not to go back to the past. Some people may long for an era when divorce was still hard to come by. The spread of no -fault divorce has reduced the bargaining power of whichever spouse is more interested in continuing the relationship. And the breakup of such marriages has caused pain for many families.The growing diversity of family life comes with new possibilities as well as new challenges. According to a recent poll, more than 80 percentof Americans believe that their current family is as close as the one in which they grew up, or closer. Finding ways to imaginary golden age.61、What do we learn about American autoworkers in 1950?A.They had less job security than they do today.B.It was not too difficult for them to buy a house.C.Their earnings were worth twice as much as today.D.They were better off than workers in other industries.62、What does the author about retired people today?A.They invariably long to return to the golden past.B.They do not depend so much on social welfare.C.They feel more secure economically than in the past.D.They are usually unwilling to live with their children.63、Why couldn’t black workers buy a house in a whitc suburba n neighborhood ?A.They lacked the means of transportation.B.They were subjected to racial inequality.C.They were afraid to break the law.D.They were too poor to afford it.64、What is the result of no-fault divorce ?A.Divorce is easier to obtain.B.Domestic violence is lessened.C.It causes little pain to either side.D.It contributes to social unrest.65 、What does the author suggest society do?A.Get prepared to face any new challenges.B.Try to better the current social security.C.Narrow the gap between blacks and whites.D.Improve the lives of families with problemsPart IV TranslationDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.翻译题一:大熊猫是一种温顺的动物,长着独特的黑白皮毛。

2014年大学英语四级阅读考试试题(阅读理解专项训练)

2014年大学英语四级阅读考试试题(阅读理解专项训练)

大学英语四级阅读考试试题(阅读理解专项训练)一、Reading Comprehension(共40小题,共80.0分)There are several 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.第1题Only special plants can survive the terrible climate of a desert, for these are regions where the annual range of the soil temperature can be over 75℃. Furthermore, during the summer there are few clouds in the sky to protect plants from the sun's ray. Another problem is the fact that there are frequently strong winds which drive small sharp particles of sand into the plants, tearing and damaging them. The most difficult problem for all forms of plant life, however, is the fact that the entire annual rainfall occurs during a few days or weeks in spring.Grasses and flowers in desert survive from one year to the next by existing through the long, hot, dry season in the form of seeds. These seeds remain inactive unless the right mount of rain falls, If no rain falls, or if insufficient rain falls, they wait until the next year. or even still the next. Another factor that helps these plants to survive is the fact that their life cycles are short. By the time that the water from the spring rains disappears--just a few weeks after it fall--such plants no longer need ally.The perennials(多年生植物) have special features which enable them to survive as plants for several years. Thus, nearly all desert perennials have extensive root systems below ground and a small shoot system above ground. The large root network enables the plant to absorb as much water as possible in a short time. The small shoot system, on the other hand, considerably limits water loss by evaporation(蒸发).Another feature of many desert perennials is that after the rainy season they lose their leaves in preparation for the long, dry season, just as trees in wetter climates lose theirs in preparation for the winter. This reduces their water loss by evaporation during the dry season. Then, in the next rainy season, they come fully alive once more, and grow new branches, leaves and flowers, just as the grasses and flowers in desert do.Ordinary plants cannot survive the desert weather as a result of the following EXCEPT for ______.A the strong windsB the long summer daysC the strong sun's rayD the high soil temperature【正确答案】:C【本题分数】:2.0分【答案解析】细节题。

2014年12月英语四级考试阅读真题及答案

2014年12月英语四级考试阅读真题及答案

2014年12⽉英语四级考试阅读真题及答案 Part III Reading Comprehension (40 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. For decades, Americans have taken for granted the XXXX development of new technologies. The innovations(创新)XXXX opment during World War II and afterwards were(36)_____ to the prosperity of the nation in the second half of the 20th century. Those innovations, upon which virtually all aspects of(37)_____ society now depend, were possible because the United States then(38)_____ the world in mathematics and science education. Today, however, despite increasing demand for workers with strong skills in mathematics and science, the(39)_____ of degrees awarded in science, math, and engineering are decreasing. The deeling in degree production in what are called the STEM disciplines(science, technology, engineering, and math.)seems to be(40)_____related to the comparatively weak performance by U.S. schoolchildren on international assessments of math and science. Many students entering college have weak skills in mathematics. According to the 2005 report of the Business Higher Education Forum, 22 percent of college freshmen must take remediat(补习的)math(41)_____, and less than half of the students who plan to major in science or engineering(42)_____complete a major in those fields. The result has been a decrease in the number of American college graduates who have the skills, (43)_____ in mathematics, to power a workforce that can keep the country at the forefront(前⾔)of innovation and maintain its standard of living. With the(44)_____ performance of American students in math and science has come increased competition from students from other countries that have strongly supported education in these areas. Many more students earn(45)_____ in the STEM disciplines in developing countries than in the United States. A.accelerating B.actually C.closely D.contemporary E.courses F.critical G.declining H.degrees I.especially J.future K.led L.met M.procedures N.proportions O.sphetes Section B Directions:In this section,you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. Ban sugary drinks that will add fuel to the obesity war [A] On a train last Thursday, I sat opposite a man who was so fat he filled more than one seat. He was pale and disfigured and looked sick to death, which he probably was: obesity(肥胖的)leads to many nasty ways of dying. Looking around the carriage, I saw quite a few people like him, including a couple of fatty children with swollen checks pressingagainst their eyes. These people are part of what is without exaggeration an epidemic(流⾏病)of obesity. [B] But it is quite unnecessary: there is a simple idea- far from new- that could spare millions of such people a lifetime of chronic(长期的)ill health, and at the same time save the National Health Service(NHS)at least £14 billion a year in England and Wales. There would, you might think, be considerable public interest in it. This simple idea is that sugar is as good- or as bad- as poison and should be avoided. It is pure, white and deadly, as Professor John Yudkin described it 40 years ago in a revolutionary book of that name. The subtitle was How Sugar Is Killing Us. [C] In its countless hidden forms, in ready meals, junk food and sweet drinks, sugar leads to addiction(瘾), to hormonal upsets to the appetite, to metabolic(新陈代谢的)malfunctions and obesity and from there to type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)and its many horrible complication. If people really grasped that, they would try to kick the habit, particularly as Britain is the ― fat man of Europe‖ . They might even feel driven to support government measures to prevent people from consuming this deadly stuff. Yet so far this idea has met little but resistance. [D] It is not difficult to imagine the vested interests(既得利益集团)lined up against any sugar control- all the food and drink manufacturers, processors, promoters and retailers who make such easy pickings out of the magic powers of sugar. Then there are the liberals, with whom I would normally side, who protest that government regulation would be yet another instance of interference in our lives. [E]That is true, but people should realize that you cannot have a welfare state without a nanny state(保姆国家), to some degree. If we are all to be responsible for one another’s health insurance, through socialized medicine, then we are all closely involved in one another’s health, including everyone’s eating and drinking. That has already been admitted, finally, with smoking. But it has yet to be admitted with overeating, even though one in four adults in this country is obese and that number is predicted to double by the year 2050.Quite apart from anything else, obesity will cripple the NHS. [F]Recently, though, there have been signs that the medical establishment is trying to sound the alarm. Last month the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges(AMRC)published a report saying that obesity is the greatest public health issue affecting the UK and urging government to do something. [G]The report offers 10 recommendations, of which the first is imposing a tax of 20 percent on sugary drinks for at least a year, on top of the existing 20 percent value-added tax. That at least would be an excellent start. The amounts of sugar in soft drinks are horrifying, and turn straight to fat. As Professor Terence Stephenson, head of the AMRC, has said, sugary soft drinks are ―the ultimate bad food. You are just consuming neat sugar. Your body didn’t evolve to handle this kind of thing.‖ [H]Precisely. The risks of eating too much fat or salt(which are very different)pale into insignificant compared with the harm done by sugar. And it is everywhere. [I]It is difficult to buy anything in a supermarket, other than plain, unprepared meat, fish or vegetables, that doesn’t have a large amount of sugar in it. This has come about because the prevailing scientific views of the 1960s and 1970s ignored the evidence about sugar, and instead saw fat as the really serious risk, both to the heart and other organs, as well as the cause of obesity. [J]The fashion was to avoid fat. But finding that food with much of its fat removed is not very appetizing, food producers turned to sugar as a magic alternative flavor enhancer, often in the forms of syrups(糖浆)that had recently been developed from corn, and put it generously into most prepared foods and soft drinks. [K]This stuff is not just fattening. It is addictive. It interferes with the body’s metabolism, possibly via the activity of an appetite-controlling hormone. There’s plenty of evidence for this, for those who will accept the truth. [L]Theoretically, people ought to make ―healthy choices‖ and avoid overeating. But sugar additives are not easy to identify and are hard to avoid. So the snacking, over-drinking and over eating that makes people fat is not really their own fault: obesity is in large part something that is being done to them. It should be stopped, or rather the government should stop it. [M]Going round my local supermarket, I am constantly astonished that it is still legal to sell all the poisons stacked high on the shelves. The problem is that they are worse than useless. They are poisonous. They are known to be addictive. They are known to make people obese. And giving small children sweet drinks or bottles of fake juice all day long is nothing less than child abuse. [N]Clearly, the sale of such stuff ought to be illegal. I hate to think of yet more government regulation. But a bit of tax on sweet soda and a little more health education, a bit of cooking in schools and banning vending machines(⾃动售货机)here and there — as suggested try the AMRC report — is not going to achieve very much. Labelling is quite inadequate. What is needed is legislation banning high levels of sugary syrups used in foods and drinks. [O]In June 2012, the then minister for public health said the government was not scared of the food industry and had notruled out legislation, because of the costs of obesity to the NHS. However, nothing has happened yet. Why not have another Jammie Dodger biscuit and forget about it. 46、Avoiding over-consumption of sugar can improve people’s health as well as save medical expenses. 47、Laws should be passed to make it illegal to produce overly sweet foods or drinks. 48、Giving small children sweet juices to drink all the time is equal to child abuse. 59、Looking around, the author found obesity quite widespread. 50、The number of obese people is expected to increase quickly in the next few decades. 51、If people really understood the horrible consequences of sugary foods and drinks, they would support government measures against sugar consumption. 52、It would be a very good beginning wo improve an additional tax on sugary drinks. 53、The government has not yet taken any action to regulate sugar consumption although it indicated its intention to do so some time ago. 54、Sugar is far more harmful to health than fat and salt. 55、Consumers of sweet foods are not really to blame because they cannot tell what food is sugary.Section C 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. The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history, comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet’s tremendous impacts has only just begun. ―Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,‖ Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book. The New Digital Age. Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But if the book has one major shortcoming, it’s that authors don’t spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these weeping changes. In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes — and more importantly predicts — how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities, one physical, and one virtual. At the core of the book is the idea that ―technology is neutral, but people aren’t.‖ By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy(对⽴观点)that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they’re also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance(监视). 56、In what way is the rise of the Internet similar to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph? A.It transforms human history. B.It facilitates daily communication. C.It is adopted by all humanity. D.It revolutionizes people's thinking. 57、How do Schmidt and Cohen describe the effects of the Internet? A.They are immeasurable. B.They are worldwide. C.They are unpredictable. D.They are contaminating 58、In what respect is the book The New Digital Age considered inadequate? A.It fails to recognize the impact of the Internet technology. B.It fails to look into the social implications of the Internet. / p > p > 0 0 C . I t l a c k s a n o b j e c t i v e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f I n t e r n e t b u s i n e s s e s . / p > p > 0 0 D . I t d o e s n o t a d d r e s s t h e t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f I n t e r n e t c o m m u n i c a t i o n . / p > p > 0 0 5 9 0 W h a t w i l l t h e f u t u r e b e l i k e w h e n e v e r y b o d y g e t s o n l i n e ? / p > p > 0 0 A . P e o p l e w i l l b e l i v i n g i n t w o d i f f e r e n t r e a l i t i e s . / p > p > 0 0 B . P e o p l e w i l l h a v e e q u a l a c c e s s t o i n f o r m a t i o n . / p > p > 0 0 C . P e o p l e d o n t h a v e t o t r a v e l t o s e e t h e w o r l d . / p > p > 00 D . P e o p l e d o n t h a v e t o c o m m u n i c a t e f a c e t o f a c e . / p > p > 0 0 6 0 0 W h a t d o e s t h e p a s s a g e s a ya b o u t t h e a u t h o r s o f T h e N e w D i g i t a l A g e ? / p > p > 0 0 A . T h e y l e a v e m a n y q u e s t i o n s u n a n s w e r e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e I n t e r n e t . / p > p > 0 0 B . T h e y a r e o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t t h e f u t u r e o f t h e I n t e r n e t r e v o l u t i o n . / p > p > 0 0 C . T h e y h a v e e x p l o r e d t h e u n k n o w n t e r r i t o r i e s o f t h e v i r t u a l w o r l d . / p > p > 0 0 D . T h e y d o n t t a k e s i d e s i n a n a l y z i n g t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e I n t e r n e t . / p >。

2014年大学英语四级考前强化试题及答案解析(一)

2014年大学英语四级考前强化试题及答案解析(一)

How can such an unhealthy phenomenon be eliminated? In my opinion, there are two ways we can adopt. First of all, a severe punishment should be put into effect to prevent students from cheating. In addition, we shouldre form our examination system to make it a real effective tool to measure students' abilities. [本题分数]: 106.0 分
【答案解析】
模考吧
第1题
For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay entitled Cheating on Campus. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given be案解析(一)
一、Writing (本大题1小题.每题106.0分,共106.0分。 For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition . You should write at least 100 words, and base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below: )
1.在大学里存在着考试作弊的现象;
2.你是怎么看待这一现象的;

2014年12月英语四级仔细阅读真题(总三套题)及答案

2014年12月英语四级仔细阅读真题(总三套题)及答案

2014年12月四级真题(第1套)第一套:Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.The rise of the Internet has been one of the most transformative developments in human history,comparable in impact to the invention of the printing press and the telegraph. Over two billion people worldwide now have access to vastly more information than ever before, and can communicate with each other instantly, often using Web-connected mobile devices they carry everywhere. But the Internet's tremendous impact has only just begun. "Mass adoption of the Internet is driving one of the most exciting social, cultural, and political transformations in history, and unlike earlier periods of change, this time the effects are fully global,"Schmidt and Cohen write in their new book, The New Digital Age.Perhaps the most profound changes will come when the five billion people worldwide who currently lack Internet access get online. The authors do an excellent job of examining the implications of the Internet revolution for individuals, governments, and institutions like the news media. But ff the book has one major shortcoming, it's that the authors don't spend enough time applying a critical eye to the role of Internet businesses in these sweeping changes.In their book, the authors provide the most authoritative volume to date that describes--and more importantly predicts--how the Internet will shape our lives in the coming decades. They paint a picture of a world in which individuals, companies, institutions, and governments must deal with two realities,one physical, and one virtual. At the core of the book is the idea that"technology is neutral, but people aren't." By using this concept as a starting point, the authors aim to move beyond the now familiar optimist vs. pessimist dichotomy (对立观点) that has characterized many recent debates about whether the rise of the Internet will ultimately be good or bad for society. In an interview with TIME earlier this week, Cohen said although he and his co-author are optimistic about many aspects of the Internet, they're also realistic about the risks and dangers that lie ahead when the next five billion people come online, particularly with respect to personal privacy and state surveillance (监视).注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2014年12月英语四级阅读练习及答案

2014年12月英语四级阅读练习及答案

2014年12月英语四级阅读练习及答案第一篇:2014年12月英语四级阅读练习及答案Passage OneQuestions 56 t0 60 are based on the following passage.It was once thought that air pollution affected only the area immediately around large cities with factories and heavy automobile traffic.Today, we know that although these are the areas with the worst air pollution,the problem is literally worldwide.On several occasions over the past decade,a heavy cloud of air pollution has covered the entire eastern half of the United States and led to health warnings even in rural areas away from any major concentration of manufacturing and automobile traffic.In fact,the very climate of the entire earth may be affected by air pollution.Some scientists feel that the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the air resulting from the burning of fossil fuels(coal and oil)is creating a“greenhouse effect”-holding in heat reflected from the earth and raising the world’s average temperature.If this view is correct and the world’s temperature is raised only a few degrees。

最新 2014年12月英语四级阅读冲刺练习及答案(1)-精品

最新 2014年12月英语四级阅读冲刺练习及答案(1)-精品

2014年12月英语四级阅读冲刺练习及答案(1)点击查看:There are three kinds of goals: short-term,medium-range and long-term goals. Short-range goals are those that usually deal with current activities,which we can apply on a daily basis.Such goals can be achieved in a week or less,or two weeks,or possible months.It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation ,out long-term goals cannot amount to very munch without the achievement of solid short-term goals.Upon completing our short-term goals,we should date the occasion and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed.The intermediate goals bukld on the foundation of the short-range goals.They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school year,or they could even extend for several years.Any time you move a step at a time,you should never allow yourself to become discouraged or overwhelmed. As you complete each step,you will enforce the belief in your ability to grow adn succeed.And as yourlist of completion dates grow,your motivation and desire will increase.Long-range goals may be related to our dreams of the future. They might cover five years or more. Life is not a static thing.We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action.1.Our long-term goals mean a lot______.A.if we complete our short-range goalsB.if we cannot reach solid short-term goalsC.if we write down the datesD.if we put forward some plans2.New short-term goals are bulid upon______.A.two yearsB.long-term goalsC.current activitiesD.the goals that have been completed。

2014年12月英语四级阅读理解模拟题及答案

2014年12月英语四级阅读理解模拟题及答案

Americans Looking To Chinese CultureTo Enrich Their Life The latest Chinese cultural icon to make its impact there is feng shui1, China's ancient art of placement. In my recent trip to California, virtually all leading book stores and public libraries were well-stocked with plenty of publications on this highly esoteric subject.Why do Americans take to feng shui like fish to water? It owed its early success to the dogged efforts of a handful of Chinese feng shui experts. But from around 1990 onwards, numerous feng shui schools have sprung up in large American cities including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Boston and Houston.Their enrolments have risen by leaps and bounds.Its adherents find its commonsensible approach to daily living an effective counterweight to materialism, and helps them to reduce the intrusion of technology into their lives. With its emphasis on achieving balance and harmony and peace and tranquillity at home and at work, this time-honoured art relaxes their minds and helps them overcome stresses and strains of modern living. They firmly believe that once their mental and physical well-being are in equilibrium2, then good health, work efficiency and prosperity will come their way naturally.A conspicuous manifestation of feng shui is through the proliferation of miniature fountains strategically placed in the homes, offices, shops, restaurants and at other public places. This is because water attracts the all-important life -sustaining qi, or energy. The soothing rhythm of running water gently beating down on pebbles or bamboos can uplift one's spirits as it symbolises a vital source of life.Underpinning the growing popularity of Chinese things is the emergence of China as a potential world political and economic superpower. This coincided with its reopening up to the outside world which has enabled an increasing number of Americans to travel there in order to experience at first hand3 the splendours of this venerable civilisation.Added to this, the thriving Chinese communities in many American urban centres and their reputation as a model minority have aroused further their interests in this distant land, which is so vastly different from theirs.One of the palpable strengths of the United States is that it is truly an open society. This makes it easier for it to absorb cultural values and practices from other countries and to nurture them so that they become part of the social fabric of its own multiethnic and multicultural community.练习题:Ⅰ. Choose the be st words to fill the blanks:1. Hitler, the enemy of Poland and the rest of European world , became more and more warlike.A. publicB. potentialC. ancientD. effective2. People who enjoy a good are respected by many.A. balanceB. harmonyC. tranquilityD. reputation3. The growing of Internet makes the parents worry about its negative side over their kids.A. equilibriumB. popularityC. iconD. emergence4. The main of feng shui is to reconsider man's relationship with nature .A. proliferationB. valueC. practiceD. fabricⅡ. Question :Which reason below Can Not explain why feng shui is so popular in US?A. The United States is truly an open society.B. The emergence of China as a potential world political and economic superpower.C. Feng shui as an effective counterweight to materialism.D. The dogged efforts of a handful of Chinese feng shui experts.E. Feng shui's theory and practice becoming easy.Ⅰ. 1. B 2. D 3. B 4. BⅡ. E1. 很多英美⼈⼠都会说⼀句“ long time no see ( 很久不见) ”, 这种逐字将汉语变成英语的句⼦在英语中不多。

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2014年12月大学英语四级考试备考资料《阅读理解》考前强化训练及答案(第1-10篇)第一篇The economy of the United states after 1952 was the econnomy of a well-fed, almost fully employed people. Despit occasional alarms, the country escaped an y postwar depression and lived in a state of boom. A n economic survey of t he year 1955, a typical year of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the r apid economic growth of the decade. The national output was value at 10 perc ent above that of 1954 (1955 output was estimated at 392 billion dollars). The production of manufacturers was about 40 percent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War 2. The country’s business spent about 30billion dollars for new factories and machinery. National income avail able for spending was almost a third greater than it had been it had been in 1 950. Consumers spent about 256 billion dollars; that is about 700 million dolla rs a day ,or about twenty-five million dollars every hour , all round the clock. Sixty-five million people held jobs and only a little more than two million w anted jobs but could not find them . Only agriculture complained that it was n ot sharing in the room. To some observers this was an ominous echo of the mid-1920’s . As farmer’s shre of their products declined , marketin g costs rose. But there were , among the observers of the national economy, a few who w ere not as confident as the majority . Those few seemed to fear that the boom could not last and would eventually lead to the oppsite-depression.1. What is the best title of the passage?a. The Agriculatural Trends of 1950’sb. The Unemployment Rate of 1950’sc. U.S. Economy in the 50’sd. The Federal Budget of 19522. In Line 4 , the word “boom” could best be replaced by______.a. nearby explosionb. thunderous noisec. general public supportd. rapid economic growth3. It can be inferred the national from the passage that most people in the Un ited States in 1955 viewed the national economy with an air of _________.a. confidenceb. confusionc. disappointmentd. suspicion4. Which of the following were LEAST satisfied with the national economy in the 1950’s?a. Economistsb. Frmaersc. Politiciansd. Steelworkers5. The passage states that incom available for spending in the U.S. was greate r in 1955 than in 1950 . How much was it ?a. 60%b. 50%c. 33%d. 90%答案:cdabc第二篇Women are also underrepresented in the administration and this is because ther e are so few women full professors. In 1985,Regent Beryl Milburn produced a report blasting the University of Texas System adminitration for not encouragi ng women.The University was rated among the lowest for the system.In a 198 7 update ,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 info rm women of available administrative jobs.College of Communication Associate Dean Patrica Witherspoon,said it is import ant 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 orde r for her to succeed , she must rise above the problems around her and conce ntrate on her work.Until women make up a greater percentage of the senior positions in the Univ ersity and all academia,inequities will exist."Women need to spend their energies and time doing scholarly activities that a re important here at the University." Spirduso said. "If they do that will be su ccessful in this system.If they spend their time in little groups mourning the se xual discrimination that they think exists here, they are wasting valuable study time."1.According to Spirduso,women need to ____.a.produce a report on sexual discriminationb.call for further improvement in their working conditionsc.spend their energies and time fighting against sexual discriminationd.spend more time and energy doing scholarly activities2.From this passage ,we know that _____.a.there are many women full professors in the University of Texasb.women play an important part in adminitrating the Universityc.the weather on the campus is chillyd.women make up a small percentage of the senior positions in the University3.Which of the following statements is true?a.the number of women professors in the University in 1987 was greater than that of 1985b.the number of women professors in the University in 1987 was smaller than that of 1985c.the number of women professors was the same as that of 1985d.more and more women professors thought that sexual discrimination did exit in the University4.One of the positive results from Milburn's study was that _____.a.women were told to con centrate on teir workb.women were given information about available administrative jobsc.women were encouraged to take on all the administrative jobs in the Unversi tyd.women were encouraged to do more scholarly activities5. The title for this passage should be _______.a.The University of Texasburn's Reportc.Women Professorsd.Sexual Discrimination in Academia答案:ddabd第三篇Today ,as in every other day of the year ,more than 3000 U.S. adlescents will smoke their first cigarette on their way to becoming regular smokers as adults. During their lifetime,it can be expected that of these 3000 about 23 will be murdered,30 will die in traffic accidents, and nearly 750 will be killed by a s moking-related disease. The number of deaths attributed to cigarette smoking o utweithts all other factors, whether voluntary or involuntary, as a cause of deat h.Since the late 1970s, when daily smoking among high school seniors reached 30 precent , smoking rates among youth have declined . While the decline is i mpressive ,several important issues must be raised.First, in the past several years,smoking rates among youth have declined very l ittle. Second,in the late 1970s ,smoking among male high school seniors excee ded that among female by nearly 10 percent . The statistic is reversing.Third , several recent studies have indicate high school dropouts have excessively high smoking rates, as much as 75 percent .Finally, thouth significant declines in adolescent smoking have occurred in the past decade,no definite reasons for the decline exist. Within this context,the Na ional Cancer Instiute (NCI) began its current effort to determine the most effec ive measures to reduce smoking levesl among youth.1.According to the author, the deaths among youth are mainly caused by ____ _.a.traffic accidentsb.smoking-related deseasec.murderd.all of these2.Every day there are over_____high school strdents who will become regular smoker.a.75b.23c.30d.30003.By "dropout" the author means______.a.students who failed the examinationb.students who left schoolc.students who lost their wayd.students who were driven out of school4.The reason for declining adolescent smoking is that ________.a.NCI has taken effective measuresb.smoking is prevented among high school seniorsc.there are many smokers who have died of cancerd.none of these5.What is implied but not stated by the author is that ________.a.smoking rates among youth have declined very littleb.there are now more female than male smokers among high school seniorsc.high smoking rates are due to the incease in wealthd.smoking at high school are from low socio-economic backgrounds答案:bdbdb第四篇The food we eat seems to have profound effects on our health.Although scienc e has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat ,it has, at the sam e time,made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps ei ghty percent of all human illnesses are related to diet and forty percent of can cer 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 ni trates, commonly used to preserve color in meats,and other food additivies,caus ed cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it become s 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 simil ar drugs are given to animals not for medical purposes,but for financial reason s. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a hig her price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) ha s 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 ove r 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 el iminated.b.It has caused a lack of information concerning the value of food.c.Because of the application of science,some potentially harmful substances hav e 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第五篇As the pace of life continues to increase ,we are fast losing the art of relaxati on. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift,being on the go from mo rning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healt hy mind and body.Stress is an natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it. In f act ,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .A certain amount of str ess 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 indivi dual. Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously pr ime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react bothchemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or dea th. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little t he stress,it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long,th rough continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links wit h stress.Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to d o 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 themselvesb.they do not believe that relaxation is important for healthc.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 stressb.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."making a 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第六篇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 t heir own societies . They formed utopian communities , which they called "co mmunes," 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 Ke n Kesey's 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 tra veled around the United States. The Hog Farm become famous when they help ed organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskin's followers tri ed 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 basedon the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner's "conditioning" techniques to do things t hat were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closel y together in one large building called an "archology" Soleri believes that peop le 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 Gaskind.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第七篇There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably, some bein g more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportu nities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sor t of environment in which he is reared. If an individual is handicapped envion mentally ,it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attai n the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intellingence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark X. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth proce sses were the same. When the twins were three months old , their parents die d, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was reated by parents of low intelligence in an isolatedcommunity with poor educational pooprtunities. Mark was reared inthe home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. H e was read to as a child , sent to good schools, and given every opportunity t o be stimulated intellectually.This enviromental difference continued until the t wins were in their late teens, when they were giben tesets to measure their int elligence. Mark's I.Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average andfully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities , the twins , having identical brains,would have tested at roughly the same level.1.This selection can best be titled_________.a.Measuring Your Intelligenceb.Intelligence and Environmentc.The Case of Peter and Markd.How the brain Influences Intelligence2.The beststatement of the main idea of this passage is that _____.a.human brains differ considerablyb.the brain a person is born with is improtant in determining his intelligencec.environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenced. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence3.According to the passage , the average I.Q.is _____.a.85b.100c.110d.1254.The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that ______ _.a.individual with identical brains seldom test at same levelb.an individual's intelligence is determined only by his enviromentck of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenced.changes of enviroment produce changes in the structure of the brain5.This passage suggests that an individual 's I.Q.______.a.can be predicted at birthb.stays the same throuthout his lifec.can be increased by educationd.is determined by his childhood答案:bcbcc第八篇As she walked round the huge department store,Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father.She wish that he w as as easy to please as her mother, who was always delighted with perfumeBesides,shoppong at this time of the year was a most disgreeable experience :p eople trod on your toes,poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you overin their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where some attracive ties were on display. "They are real silk," the assistant assured her, trying to tempt her. "Worth double the price." But edit knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance, stopped where a small cr owd of man had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale-----and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate for lon g : although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally, she knew that this w as a present which was bund to please him.When she got home,with her small well-chosen present concealed in her handb ag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especia lly cheerful mood, "Your father has at last to decided to stop smoking." She i nformed her daughter.1.Edith's father _______.a.did not like presentb.never got presentc.preferred tiesd.was difficult to choose a present for2.The assistant spoke to Edith because she seemed_______.a.attractiveb.interested in tiesc.tiredd.in need of comfort3.Edith stopped at the next counter_________.a.puroselyb.suddenlyc.unwillinglyd.accidentally4.Edith's father smoked a pipe_______.a.when he was obligedb.on social occasionsc.from time to timed.when he was delighted5.Shopping was very disagreeable at that time of the year because_______.a.coustomers trod on each other's toesb.coustomers poked each other with their elbowsc.customers knocked each otherd.customers were doing their shopping in a great hurry答案:dbdcd第九篇If the population of the earth goes on increasing at its present rate, there will eventually not be enough resources left to sustain life on the planet.By the mi ddle of the 21st century,if present trends continue, we will have used up all th e oil that drives our cars,for example.Even if scientists develop new ways of f eeding the human race,the crowded conditions on earth will make it necessary for lus to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the other planets in our solar system are capable of supporting life at present. One possible solu tion to the problem, however,has recently been suggested by American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan.Sagan believes that before the earth's resources are compleetely exhausted it wi ll be possible to change the atmophere of Venus and so create a new world al most as large as earth itself. The difficult is that Venus is much hotter than th e earth and there is only a tiny amount of water there.Sagan proposes that algae organisms that can live in extremely hot or cold at mospheres and at the same time produce oxygen,should be bred in condition si milar to those on Venus.As soon as this has been done, the algae will be plac ed in small rockets. Spaceship will then fly to Venus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere .In a fairly short time, the alge will break down the carbon d ioxide into oxygen and carbon.When the algae have done theri work, the atmosphere will become cooler,but befor man can set foot on Venus it will be neccessary for the oxygen to prod uce rain. The surface of the planet will still be too hot for man to land on it but the rain will eventually fall and in a few years something like earth will be reproduced on Venus.1.Inte long run, the most insoluble problem caused by population growth on ea rth will probably be the lack of ______.a.foodb.oilc.spaced.resources2.Carl Sagan believes that Venus might be colonized from earth because _____a.it might be possible to change its atmosphereb.its atmosphere is the same as the earth'sc.there is a good supply of water on Venusd.the days on Venus are long enough3.On Venus there is a lot of ________.a.waterb.carbon dioxidec.carbon monoxided.oxygen4.Algae are plants that can____.a.live in very hot temperaturesb.live in very cold temperaturesc.manufacture oxygend.all of the above5. Man can land on Venus only when_______.a.the algae have done their workb.the atmosphere becomes coolerc.thereis oxygend.it rains there答案:cabdd第十篇What is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow , orange ,red? If you do ,y ou 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 be en seriously studying the meaning of colours preference, as well as the effect t hat 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 prefere nce.If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eye s, 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 o ther hand ,black is depressing. A black bridge over the Thames River, near Lo ndon, 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 fel l 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 accide nts when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.1."You would rather follow than red" means_______.a.you don't like to follow othersb.you would be a member rather than a leaderc.you would be afraid of following othersd.you would like to be a leader rather than a follower2.If one enjoys life, one is sure to prefer________.a.red to yellowb.blue to orangec.red to greyd.blue to yellow3."They tell us, among other facts,that we don't choose our favourite colours a s we grow up." "Among other facts" means______.a.besides other factsb.in regard to other factsc.not considering other factsd.according to other facts4.Which of the following is facts?a.People's preference of one colour to another is instinctb.People's preference of one colour to another is acquired as they grow up.c.More people happen to love brown because they saw something brown when they were bornd.Colours have little influence on our moods5.Those who committed suicide preferred the bridge over the Thames River ne ar london to others because of _______.a.its shapeb.its structurec.its colourd.its building materials答案:bcaac。

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