成都理工大学大学英语四阅读材料精简答案

Passage 1

Exchange a glance with someone, then look away. Do you realize that you have made a statement?

This type of stare often produces hostile feelings.

1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that___.

A) every glance has its significance

2. If you want to be left alone on an elevator, the best thing to do is___.

B) to avoid eye contact with other passengers

3. By "a dimming of the lights" (Line 13,Para.1 )Erving Goffman means___.

C) ceasing to glance at others

4. If one is looked at by a stranger for too long, he tends to

feel___.

B) uneasy

5. The passage mainly discusses___.

D) the role of eye contact in interpersonal communication. Passage 2

Geraldo Rivera is well known for his compassionate investigative reports on WABC-TV Eyewitness News.

But I’m not just in the business of making people cry. I’m in the business of chang e.”

6. Geraldo Rivera is working as a(n)______.

B. investigative reporter for a special TV program

7. How many awards did Rivera receive for his work?

D. Five

8. Rivera’s inves tigation and expose on the conditions at

WillowbrookStateSchool led to _____.

D. all of the above

9. The term “One-to-One” in the 3rd paragraph refers to ______.

A. an organization in the community that helps take

better care of the mentally disabled

10. The author suggests in this passage that_____.

B. Rivera never tries to conceal his own compassion in his

reporting

Passage 3

In the old days, children were familiar with birth and death as part of life. This is perhaps the first generation of American youngsters (年轻人) who have never been close by during the birth of a baby and have never experienced the death of a family member.

11. The elders of contemporary Americans___.

C) usually witnessed the birth or death of a family member

12. Children in America today are denied the chance___.

A) to learn how to face death

13. Five hundred critically ill patients were investigated with the main purpose of___.

D) learning how to best help them and their families

14. The need of a dying patient for company shows___.

A) his desire for communication with other people

15. It may be concluded from the passage that___.

C) dying patients should be truthfully informed of their condition

Passage4

The oldest and simplest method, then, of describing differences in personality was to classify people according to types. Such a system is called a Typology.

A famous example of this method was set forth in Greece about the year 400 B.C. A physician named Hippocrates theorized that

there were four fluids, or humors, in the body. Corresponding to each humor, he believed, there existed a definite type of personality.

16. This passage focuses on________.

C. personality theory and classification

17. According to Hippocrates’ fluid theory, a person with a perfect balance of all the four humors in him_________.

B. had a pleasant and agreeable temperament

18. Which of the following is NOT true?

C. people with an oversupply of blood would easily get

excited

19. Modern personality theories and classifications______.

A. are often very different because personality itself is

rather complicated

20. In the forth-coming paragraphs, the author is most probably going to talk about____.

B. different opinions of psychologists about the factors in

determining personality

Passage 5

Space is a dangerous place, not only because of meteors (流星) but also because of rays from the sun and other stars.

21. According to the first paragraph, the atmosphere is essential to man in that___.

A) it protects him against the harmful rays from space

22. We know from the passage that___.

B) the effect of exposure to radiation is slow in coming

23. The harm radiation has done to the Apollo crew members___.

D) remains unknown

24. It can be inferred from the passage that___.

B) protection from space radiation is no easy job

25. The best title for this passage would be___.

C) Effects of Space Radiation

Passage 6

Although the United Kingdom covers only a small area of the earth’s surface, it represents people of many different origins and cultures.

26. In this passage the author intends to tell the origin of ____.

A. the British

27. From the passage we know that_______.

D. almost every British citizen had his or her family origin

from somewhere else

28. According to the passage, the earliest inhabitants in Britain were______.

C. Stone Age hunters and gatherers

29. Thanks to ______ we can learn about the earliest inhabitants in Britain.

D. The Romans occupying the Celtic Kingdoms in Britain

30. According to the passage which of the following is NOT true?

D. There were blacksmiths in Britain before 700 BC. Passage 7

The concept of "environment" is certainly difficult and may even be misunderstood; but we have no handy substitute.

versa (反之亦然).

31. Which of the following words can best describe the popular understanding of "environment" as the author sees it?

D) Oversimplified.

32. According to the author the concept of "environment" is difficult to explain because___.

C) the organism and the environment influence each other

33. In analyzing the environmental forces acting on man the author suggests that___.

C) man is modified by the cultural environment as well as by the natural environment

34. As for culture, the author points out that___.

B) it is also affected by environmental factors

35. In this passage, the author is primarily concerned with___.

A) the interpretation of the term "environment"

Passage 8

Together with earthquakes, volcanoes are phenomena which both delight and terrify the human mind at the same time.

36. V olcanoes______.

D. delight people and, on the other hand, terrify them

37. The first paragraph implies that in classical times____.

A. there were a lot of volcanic eruptions on the islandof

Vulcano

38. The word vent(Para. 2, Line 1)means_______.

A. something like a chimney in the volcano

39. According to this passage, most of the world’s volcanic eruptions_____.

C. are neither extremely destructive nor extremely

nondestructive

40. According to _____, the Pelean type is the most explosive type of V olcano.

B. the nature of the explosion

Passage 9

If you want to stay young, sit down and have a good think. This is the research finding of a team of Japanese doctors, who say that

most of our brains are not getting enough exercise--and as a result, we are ageing unnecessarily soon.

41. The team of doctors wanted to find out___.

A) why certain people age sooner than others

42. On what are their research findings based?

C) The study of brain volumes of different people.

43. The doctor's tests show that___.

D) some people's brains have contracted more than other

44. The word "subjects" in Paragraph 5 means___.

C) persons chosen to be studied in an experiment

45. According to the passage, which people seem to age slower than the others?

A) Lawyers

Passage 10

It is difficult to imagine what life would be like without memory. The meanings of thousands of everyday perceptions, the bases for the decisions we make, and the roots of our habits and skills are to be found in our past experiences, which are brought into the present by memory.

46. According to the passage, memory is considered to be _____.

B. an ability to store experiences for future use

47. The comparison made between the memory capacity of a large computer and that of human being shows that______.

C. the computer’s memory capacity is much smaller even

than a teenager’s

48. The whole passage implies that____.

C. animals are able to solve only very simple problems

49. The phrase “in terms of” in the last sentence can best be replaced by______.

B. expressed by

50. The topic of the passage is:

B. Memory is of vital importance to life.

Passage11

In what now seems like the prehistoric times of computer history, the earth's postwar era, there was quite a wide-spread concern that computers would take over the world from man one day. (失误).

51. What is the main purpose of this passage?

D) To warn against a mentally lazy attitude towards computers.

52. According to the passage, the initial concern about computers was that they might___.

B) take control of the world

53. The passage recommends those dealing with computers to___.

A) be reasonably doubtful about them

54. The passage suggests that the present-day problem with regard to computers is___.

D) fundamental

55. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would disapprove of___.

B) the use of one's internal computer

Passage 12

A new enemy is threatening Japanese traditions: leisure. As part of its attempt to increase imports, the government is trying to get people to work less and spend more. The workers are disgusted.

56. The purpose of getting the Japanese to have more spare time is

that______.

B. the government needs to get more goods from abroad

57. The group of people who welcome the shorter-hour system in Japan is_____.

B. the industrialists

58. The unions think that ______.

C. the shorter hours they work, the less pay they can have

59. What is the result of the younger Japanese’s reaction to the leisure industry?

C. It becomes more and more flourishing

60. The best title for this passage can be_____.

B. Leisure: the Greatest Threat!

Passage 13

In the 196Os,medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful.

61. The result of Holmes-Rahe's medical research tells us____.

C) what kind of event would cause stress

62. The studies on stress in the early 1970's led to___.

B) great panic over the mental disorder it could cause

63. The score of the Holmes-Rahe test shows___.

A) how much pressure you are under

64. Why is "such simplistic advice" (Line 1,Para.3) impossible to follow?

D) You could be missing opportunities as well.

65. According to the passage people who have experienced ups and downs may become___.

C) more capable of coping with adversity

Passage 14

Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all

autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.

66. One significant improvement in the future car will probably be___.

C) its power source

67. What is the author's main concern?

D) How to solve the problem of traffic jams.

68. What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system?

B) A rail.

69. In an automated highway system, all the driver needs to do

is___.

C) inform the system of his destination by phone

70. What is the author's attitude toward the future of autos?

A) Optimistic.

Passage 15

It is hard to track the blue whale, the ocean's largest creature, which has almost been killed off by commercial whaling and is now listed as an endangered species. Attaching radio devices to it is difficult, and visual sightings are too unreliable to give real insight into its behavior.

71. The passage is chiefly about___.

B) the civilian use of a military detection system

72. The underwater listening system was originally designed___.

A) to trace and locate enemy vessels

73. The deep-sea listening system makes use of____.

C) the unique property of layers of ocean water in transmitting sound

74. It can be inferred from the passage that___.

D) military technology has great potential in civilian use

75. Which of the following is true about the U. S. Navy underwater listening network?

A) It is now partly accessible to civilian scientists.

Passage 16

In Britain arrangement for inviting and entertaining guests at a wedding is usually the responsibility of the bride’s family. (牧师)

76. It is the bride’s parents who normally have to ______ .

A) make all the arrangements for the wedding

77. According to the passage some guests may be invited because

______ .

c) their presence could provide future benefits

78. Why are the arrangements for a church wedding usually made some

time before?

d) To ensur e a thorough investigation of the couple’s existing

marital status.

79. What possible difference is suggested between a church and a civil

wedding?

c) Guests at civil weddings are less formally dressed.

80. The reception normally takes place in the bride’s home if ______ .

b) there is enough room to entertain the people invited Passage 17

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 overgrown and unwanted branches.

81. Pruning should be done to ______ .

B) improve the shape of the tree

82. Tree becomes unhealthy if the gardener ______ .

A) allows too many branches to grow in the middle

83. Why is a special substance painted on the tree?

B) To prevent disease entering a wound.

84. A good gardener prunes a tree _____ .

C) occasionally when necessary

85. What was the author’s purpose when writing this passage?

B) To give a general description of pruning.

Passage 18

The long years of food shortage in this country have suddenly given way to apparent abundance. Shops are choked with food. Rationing（定量供应） undance

86. Why is there “wide-spread uneasiness and confusion” about the

food situation in Britain?

C) Despite the abundance, food prices keep rising.

87. The main reason for the rise in food prices is that ______ .

B) the government is providing less support for agriculture

88.Why didn’t the government’s expansion programme work very well?

B) Because the farmers were uncertain about the benefits of

expanding production.

89. The decrease in world food prices was a result of ______ .

D) the overproduction on the part of the main food-exporting

countries

90. What did the future look like for Britain’s food production at the

time this article was written?

D) It looks depressing despite government guarantees. Passage 19

It is all very well to blame traffic jams, the cost of petrol and the quick pace of modern life, but manners on the roads are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men become monsters behind the wheel.. Perhaps the situation calls for “Be Kind to Other Drivers” campaign, otherwise it may get completely out of hand.

91. According to this passage, troubles on the road are primarily caused

by ________.

C) the behavior of the driver

92. The sentence “ You might tolerate the odd road-hog … the rule.”

( para. 1) implies that ________.

D) nowadays impolite drivers constitute the majority of

motorists

93. By “good sense”, the writer means ________.

A) the driver’s ability to unde rstand and react reasonably

94. Experts have long pointed out that in the face of car-ownership

explosion, ________.

B) drivers should be ready to yield to each other

95. In the writer’s opinion ________.

B) drivers should apply road politeness properly

Passage 20

There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved from ritual…. As time passed some rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided material for art and drama.

96. The passage mainly discusses ________.

A) the origin of theater

97. In the first paragraph, the author discusses ________.

C) the connection between myths and dramatic plots

98. The word “enactment” in Line 15 is closest in meaning to

________.

B) performance

99. The main difference between ritual and drama is that ________.

D) ritual has a religious purpose and drama does not

100. The passage supports ________.

A) no one really knows how the theatre began

Passage 21

For years the prevailing wisdom on how immigrants fare in the labor market in the United States has been based on the notion that assimilation is the key, even determining factor. Drawing

mainly on 1970 Census data,……. The positive effect of

assimilation is so small that there is little chance the average

immigrant will ever catch up with the native workers.

101. It can be inferred from the passage that previously it was thought the earnings of the immigrants were low because ______.

C)they had poor language and work skills

102. According to the passage the role of assimilation in determining the earnings of the immigrants is ______.

B) a controversial factor

103. Mexican immigrants have higher employment rates because ______.

D)many illegal foreigners would rather accept low-paying jobs

104. It can be inferred from the passage that “assimilation” means

______.

A) merging

105. The main topic of the passage is ______.

D)cause of immigrants’ different employment situations in the

U.S.

Passage 22

The Security Council is the most powerful body in the UN. It is responsible for maintaining international peace, and for restoring peace when conflicts arise. 一致同意）

106. Which is TRUE in the following statements according to the passage?

B) All UN members should abide by the decisions adopted by the

Security Council.

107. The Security Council is effective only when its permanent members can

reach a consensus because ____.

A) every permanent member has the veto right of great

powers

108. One motion（提议）is adopted by the Security Council only if ____.

C) 9 members agree on it and all the permanent members

approve of it

109. The passage introduces all things about the Security Council EXCEPT____.

D) history

110. The last paragraph of this passage may be concluded with the statement

that ____.

A) UN gives priority to peaceful settlement of the conflicts among countries

Passage 23

Antarctica has actually become a kind of space station—a unique observation post for detecting important changes in the world’s environment. Remote from major sources of pollution and the complex geological and ecological systems that prevail elsewhere, Antarctica makes possible scientific measurements that are often sharper and easier to interpret than those made in other parts of the world.(草木繁茂的)

111. Antarctica is scientifically important in that ____.

D) it can help people detect global environmental changes

112. The reason for the disappearance of glaciers in the dry valley is ____.

C) the global warming trend ever since the ice age

113. When the author calls Antarctica “distant early warning sensor”, he

actually means that ____.

C) potential global changes can be seen on Antarctica first 114. Which of the following statements is true according to the article?

D) All the countries on earth should be concerned about the health of the

West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

115 The word “spotted”(2nd paragraph) can best be replaced

by____.

B) noticed

Passage 24

There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns.

116. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns .

B) promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employment

117) Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because .

C) there are so many people out of work

118. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would .

D) keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview

119. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter .

A) something that would distinguish one from other applicants 120. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because .

B) there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees

Passage 25

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments…. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

121. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may .

A) cause a shortage of apartments

122. According to the critics, rent control .

C) will bring negative effects in the long run

123. The problem of unemployment will arise .

A) if the minimum wage is set too high

124. The passage tells us .

B) the possible results of government controls

125. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

D) Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory. Answers to the Questions:

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.B

5.D

6.B

7.D

8.D

9.A 10.B 11.C 12.A 13.D 14.A 15.C 16.C 17.B 18.C 19.A 20.B 21.A 22.B 23.D 24.B 25.C 26.A 27.D 28.C 29.D 30.D 31.D 32.C 33.C 34.B 35.A 36.D 37.A 38.A 39.C 40.B 41.A 42.C 43.D 44.C 45.A 46.B 47.C 48.C 49.B 50.B 51.D 52.B 53.A 54.B 55.D 56.B 57.B 58.C 59.C 60.B 61.C 62.B 63.A 64.D 65.C 66.C 67.D 68.B 69.C 70.A 71.B 72.A 73.C 74.D 75.A

Passage 16: ( 76 – 80 ) A C D C B Passage 17: ( 81 – 85 ) B A B C B Passage 18: ( 86 – 90) C B B D D Passage 19: ( 91 – 95 ) C D A B B Passage 20: ( 96 –100 ) A C B D A Passage 21: ( 101 –105 ) C B D A D

Passage 22: ( 106 –110 ) B A C D A Passage 23: ( 111 – 115) D C C D B

Passage 24: (116 – 120 ) B C D A B Passage 25: (121 – 125 ) A C A B D