大学英语阅读精选25篇

Passage 1No one prior to World War II more trenchantly analyzed the philosophical differences between utopians and realists than did E.H.Carr in his celebrated work, which, although published in 1939, did not have its impact in America until after World War II. Carr used the term utopians for idealists who placed emphasis on international law and organization and on the influence of morality and public opinion in the affairs of nations. He probably did not intend the more pejorative connotation that attached to the term utopians after World War II as naïve opponents of power politics expounded by realists. Indeed, since the end of the Cold War, the idealist concept of the harmony of national interests in peace has received new attention in a more recent neoliberal-neorealist debate.The failures of the League of Nations in the 1930s cast doubt on the harmony of interest in peace, which appeared to accord with the interests of satisfied, status-quo powers with democratic governments, but not with the perceived needs of revisionists, totalitarians, authoritarian states seeking boundary changes, enhanced status, greater power, and, especially in the case of Nazi Germany, revenge for the humiliation of the post-World War I settlement imposed by the Versailles treaty. Contrary to the utopian assumption, national self-determination did not always produce representative governments. Instead, the overthrow of the old monarchical order gave rise in many places, including Russia, to a more pervasive and oppressive totalitarian states. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany set the stage for Adolph Hitler’s invasion of Poland, the outbreak of World War II, the partition of Poland, and the absorption of Baltic states into the Soviet Union, all in flagrant contravention of the standards of international conduct set forth in utopian theory.1.Who took a strong analysis of the philosophical differences between utopians and realists?A.Adolph Hitler didB. E.H.Carr didC.Neorealist didD.Molotov did2.What did utopian mean in Carr’s opinion?A.Idealists who placed emphasis on international law and organization and on the influenceof morality and public opinion in the affairs of nations.B.Naïve opponents of power politics.C.Status-quo powersD.Revisionists.3.What is the consequence of national self-determination?A.Producing representative governments.B.Giving rise to a more pervasive and oppressive totalitarian states.C.Both A and BD.Sometimes A, sometimes B.4.What was the influence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939?A.to set the stage for Adolph Hitler’s invasion of PolandB.leading to the outbreak of World War IIC. a cause of the partition of PolandD.all of A,B and C5.Which one can serve as the title of this passage?A.Post-World War II RealismB.Post-World War II UtopiansC. E.H.Carr and the Crisis of World PoliticsD.The Influence of Versailles Treatypassage 2Beyond marking the seasons, the chief interests that actuated the Babylonian astronomer in his observations were astrological. After quoting Diodorus to the effect that the Babylonian priests observed the position of certain stars in order to cast horoscopes, Thompson tells us that from a very early day the very name Chaldean became synonymous with magician. He adds that "from Mesopotamia, by way of Greece and Rome, a certain amount of Babylonian astrology made its way among the nations of the west, and it is quite probable that many superstitions which we commonly record as the peculiar product of western civilization took their origin from those of the early dwellers on the alluvial lands of Mesopotamia. One Assurbanipal, king of Assyria B.C. 668-626, added to the royal library at Nineveh his contribution of tablets, which included many series of documents which related exclusively to the astrology of the ancient Babylonians, who in turn had borrowed it with modifications from the Sumerian invaders of the country. Among these must be mentioned the series which was commonly called 'the Day of Bel,' and which was decreed by the learned to have been written in the time of the great Sargon I., king of Agade, 3800 B.C. With such ancient works as these to guide them, the profession of deducing omens from daily events reached such a pitch of importance in the last Assyrian Empire that a system of making periodical reports came into being. By these the king was informed of all the occurrences in the heavens and on earth, and the results of astrological studies in respect to after events. The heads of the astrological profession were men of high rank and position, and their office was hereditary. The variety of information contained in these reports is best gathered from the fact that they were sent from cities as far removed from each other as Assur in the north and Erech in the south, and it can only be assumed that they were despatched by runners, or men mounted on swift horses. As reports also came from Dilbat, Kutba, Nippur, and Bursippa, all cities of ancient foundation, the king was probably well acquainted with the general course of events in his empire."1.What actuated the Babylonian astronomer?A.Marking the seasonsB.AstrologyC.Both A and BD.Neither of A and B2.Where, according to Thompson , did many superstitions of western civilization originatefrom?A.NinevehB.BabyloniaC.AssurD.Erech3.How was the social status of an astrologer at that time?A.Of high social statusB.Of middle social statusC.Of low social statusD.It wasn’t mentioned in the passage.4.How was the king acquainted with the general course of events in his empire?A.By periodical reports of astrology from the cities of the empire.B.By scientific reports from specialists.C.By rumorsD.By making a tour in disguise5.What does the author mainly talk about in this passage?A.astronomyB.physicsC.meteorologyD.astrologypassage 3Mr Malthus very correctly defines, "the rent of land to be that portion of the value of the whole produce which remains to the owner, after all the outgoings belonging to its cultivation, of whatever kind, have been paid, including the profits of the capital employed, estimated according to the usual and ordinary rate of the profits of agricultural stock at the time being."Whenever, then, the usual and ordinary rate of the profits of agricultural stock, and all the outgoings belonging to the cultivation of land, are together equal to the value of the whole produce, there can be no rent.And when the whole produce is only equal in value to the outgoings necessary to cultivation, there can neither be rent nor profit.In the first settling of a country rich in fertile land, and which may be had by any one who chooses to take it, the whole produce, after deducting the outgoings belonging to cultivation, will be the profits of capital, and will belong to the owner of such capital, without any deduction whatever for rent.Thus, if the capital employed by an individual on such land were of the value of two hundred quarters of wheat, of which half consisted of fixed capital, such as buildings, implements, &c. and the other half of circulating capital, -- if, after replacing the fixed and circulating capital, the value of the remaining produce were one hundred quarters of wheat, or of equal value with one hundred quarters of wheat, the neat profit to the owner of capital would be fifty per cent or one hundred profit on two hundred capital.For a period of some duration, the profits of agricultural stock might continue at the same rate, because land equally fertile, and equally well situated, might be abundant, and therefore, might be cultivated on the same advantageous terms, in proportion as the capital of the first, and subsequent settlers augmented.1.In Mr Malthus’ opinion, the rent of land and profits of the capital employed in cultivation__________________?A.have not been paid.B.have been paid.C.have been partially paidD.ought to be paid.2.What, according to Mr Malthus, is the correlation between the four parties: rent of land,outgoings necessary to cultivation, profit of capital and value of the whole produceA.outgoings necessary to cultivation = rent of land + profit of capital +value of thewhole produceB.profit of capital = value of the whole produce – rent of land – outgoings necessary tocultivationC.value of the whole produce = land of the rent + outgoings necessary to cultivation –profit of capitalD.profit of capital = value of the whole produce + rent of land – outgoings necessary tocultivation3.When does a cultivator have no profit under the following circumstances?A.The usual and ordinary rate of the profits of agricultural stock is together equal to thevalue of the whole produce.B.The whole produce is only equal in value to the outgoings necessary to cultivation.C. A cultivator takes first settling of a country rich in fertile landD.The land is not free.4.In the fifth paragraph, if, after replacing the fixed and circulating capital, the value of theremaining produce were fifty quarters of wheat, the neat profit to the owner of capital would be___?A.50%B.100%C.75%D.25%5.The author believes the profits of agricultural stock are ____?A.unsustainableB.sustainableC.sometimes sustainableD.depending on the weatherpassage 4While the laborer is confined to the culture of the soil on his own -account, because it is in that manner alone that he can obtain access to the wages on which he is to subsist, the form and amount of the Rents he pays are determined by a direct contract between himself and the proprietor. The provisions of these contracts are influenced sometimes by the laws, and almost always by the long established usages, of the countries in which they are made. The main object in all is, to secure a revenue to the proprietors with the least practicable amount of trouble or risk on their part.Though governed in common by some important principles, the variety in the minuter details of this class of Rents is of course almost infinite. But men will be driven in similar situations to very similar expedients, and the general mass of peasant rents may be separated into four great divisions, comprising 1st, Labor Rents, 2dly, Metayer Rents, 3dly, Ryot Rents (borrowing the last term from the country in which we are most familiar with them, India).These three will be found occupying in contiguous masses the breadth of the old world, from the Canary Islands to the shores of China and the Pacific, and deciding, each in its own sphere, not merely the economical relations of the landlords and tenants, but the political and social conditionof the mass of the people.To these must be added a fourth division, that of Cottier Rents, or Rents paid by a laborer extracting his own wages from the land, but paying his rent in money, as in Ireland and part of Scotland. This class is small, but peculiarly interesting to Englishmen, from the fact of its prevalence in the sister island, and from the influence it has exercised, and seems likely for some time yet to exercise, over the progress and circumstances of the Irish people.1.Why is the laborer confined to the culture of the soil?A.Only by that can he/she obtain access to wages for survival.B.Only by that can he/she obtain control over the proprietor.C.Only by that can he/she obtain profits of agricultural stock.D.Only by that can he/she get freedom.2. Which factors will influence the form and amount of the Rents a laborer pays?ws, long established usages and personal viewsws and long established usagesC.long established usages, personal views and advices from othersD.None of the above is correct.3. Why, according to the author, may the general mass of peasant rents be separated into four great divisions?A.Men will be driven in similar situations to very similar expedients.B.Men will be driven in similar situations to very different expedients.C.The general mass of peasant rents is not of one mind.D.The author likes to do so.4.Which of the four divisions is the smallest?A.Class of Labor RentsB.Class of Metayer RentsC.Class of Ryot RentsD.Class of Cottier Rents5.How do laborers pay their rents in class of Cottier Rents?A.in cerealsB.in moneyC.in laborD.All of the above mentioned.Passage 5Tea drinking was common in China for nearly one thousand years before anyone in Europe had ever heard about tea. People in Britain were much slower in finding out what tea was like, mainly because tea was very expensive. It could not be bought in shops and even those people who could afford to have it sent from Holland did so only because it was a fashionable curiosity. Some of them were not sure how to use it. They thought it was a vegetable and tried cooking the leaves. Then they served them mixed with butter and salt. They soon discovered their mistake but many people used to spread the used tea leaves on bread and give them to their children as sandwiches.Tea remained scarce and very expensive in England until the ships of the East India Company began to bring it direct from China early in the seventeenth century. During thenext few years so much tea came into the country that the price fell and many people could afford to buy it.At the same time people on the Continent were becoming more and more fond of tea. Until then tea had been drunk without milk in it, but one day a famous French lady named Madame de Sevigne decided to see what tea tasted like when milk was added. She found it so pleasant that she would never again drink it without milk. Because she was such a great lady her friends thought they must copy everything she did, so they also drank their tea with milk in it. Slowly this habit spread until it reached England and today only very few Britons drink tea without milk.At first, tea was usually drunk after dinner in the evening No one ever thought of drinking tea in the afternoon until a duchess found that a cup of tea and a piece of cake at three or four o’clock stopped her getting“a sinking feeling” as she called it. She invited her friends to have this new meal with her, so tea-time was born.1. Which of the following introductions of tea into Britain is true?A) The Britons got expensive tea from India.B) Tea reached Britain from Holland.C) The Britons were the first people in Europe who drank tea.D) It was not until the 17th century that the Britons had tea.2. This passage mainly discusses.A)the history of tea drinking in BritainB) how tea became a popular drink in BritainC)how the Britons got the habit of drinking teaD)how tea-time was born3. Tea became a popular drink in Britain.A) in eighteenth centuryB) in sixteenth centuryC) in seventeenth centuryD) in the late seventeenth century4. People in Europe began to drink tea with milk becauseA)it tasted like milkB) it tasted more pleasantC)it became a popular drinkD)Madame de Sevinge was such a lady with great social influence that people tried to copy the way she drank tea5. We may infer from the passage that the habit of drinking tea in Britain was mostly due to the influence of.A)a famous French lady named Madame de SevigneB)the ancient ChineseC)the upper social classD)people in HollandPassage 6In a family where the roles of men and women are not sharply separated and where many household tasks are shared to a greater or lesser extent, notions of male superiority arehard to maintain. The pattern of sharing in tasks and in decisions makes for equality, and this in turn leads to further sharing. In such a home, the growing boy and girl learn to accept that equality more easily than did their parents and to prepare more fully for participation in a world characterized by cooperation rather than by the “battle of the sexes”.If the process goes too far and man’s role is regarded as less important - and that has happened in some cases–we are as badly of as before, only in reverse.It is time to reassess the role of the man in the American family. We are getting a little tired of “momism”, - but we don’t want to exchange it for a“neo-popism ”. What we need, rather, is the recognition that bringing up children involves a partnership of equals.There are signs that psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and specialists on the family are becoming more aware of the part men play and that they have decided that women should not receive all the credit–not all the blame. We have almost given up saying that a woman’s place is the home. We are beginning, however, to analyze men’s place in the home and to insist that he does have a place in it. Nor is that place irrelevant to the healthy development of the child.The family is a cooperative enterprise for which it is difficult to lay down rules, because each family needs to work out its own ways for solving its own problems.Excessive authoritarianism has unhappy consequences, whether it wears skirts or trousers, and the ideal of equal rights and equal responsibilities is connected not only with a healthy democracy, but also with a healthy family.1. From the passage we know that the author is very concerned with the role that.A)parents play in bringing up their childrenB)men play in a familyC)women play in a familyD)equality plays in a family2. The author means to tell us that.A)a man’s place is in the homeB)a woman’s place is in the homeC)a woman should be equal to a manD)a man should have an equal share in family matters3. According to the author, a healthy family should be based on.A) cooperationC) momismB)authoritarianismD) neo-popism4. Who will benefit most from a family pattern of sharing in tasks and decisions?A)The children.C) The man.B)The woman D) The psychologist.5. We may safely conclude from the passage that.A)male superiority maintains a healthy familyB)equal rights and equal responsibilities are very essential to a healthy familyC)authoritarianism does no good to a healthy familyD)women should be equal to men.Passage 7As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.Stress is a natural part of everyday lift and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress is, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it.1.People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.a. they do not know how to enjoy themselvesb. they do not believe that relaxation is important for healthc. they are traveling 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 following statements is true?a. We can find some ways to avoid stressb. Stress is always harmful to peoplec. It is easy to change the habit 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 of 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"Passage 8Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically nonexistent. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her.This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves `First come, first served', while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child stands? Yet this is all too often seen.Older people, tired and irritable from a day's work, are not angels, either far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. One cannot commend this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse.If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistants won't bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductors pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration.1.From what you have read, who are expected to improve their manners?A) who are physically weak or crippledB) who once lived in a prison-camp during the WarC) who live in big modern citiesD) who live only in small towns2.What is the writer's opinion concerning courteous manners towards women?A) Now that women have claimed equality, they no longer need to be treated differently from men.B) It is generally considered old-fashioned for young men to give up their seats to young women.C) "Lady First" should be universally practiced.D) Special consideration ought to be shown to them.3.On tubes or buses, according to the author, older people___ .A) often offer their seats to othersB) are treated better than younger people areC) are no more considerate to each otherD) from the Continent are more irritablemunication between human beings would be smoother if __.A) people were more considerate to each otherB) people were not so tired and irritableC) women were treated with more courtesyD) public transport could be improved.5.What is the possible meaning of the word "deterioration" in the last paragraph?A) Worsening of general situation.B) Lowering of moral standards.C) Declining of physical constitution.D) Spreading of evil conduct.Passage 9A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on polities, economies, and war, but art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions, and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors-or of people very different from our own-can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented; that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya was perhaps the first truly "political" artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May 1080, he criticized the Spanish government for its misuse of power over people. Over a hundred years later, symbolic images were used in Pablo Picasso's Guernica to express the horror of war. Meanwhile, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros-as well as the works of Alfredo Ramos Martinze-depicted these Mexican artists' deep anger and sadness about social problems.In the same way, art can reflect a culture's religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn't read, they could still understand biblical stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic (伊斯兰教的) belief that statues are unholy. 1.More can be learned about a culture from a study of art history than from general history classes because art history_______ .A) shows us the religious and emotions of a people in addition to political valuesB) provides us with information about the daily activities of people in the pastC) gives us an insight into the essential qualities of a time and a placeD) all of the above2.Art is subjective in that__________ .A) a personal and emotional view of history is presented through itB) it can easily arouse our anger or sadness about social problemsC) it will find a ready echo in our heartsD) both B and C3.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A) Unlike Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and several Mexican artists expressed their political opinions in their paintings.B) History books often reveal the compilers' political views.C) Religious art remained in Europe for centuries the only type of art because most people regarded the Bible as the Holy Book.D) In the Middle East even today you can hardly find any human and animal images on church walls or religious buildings.4.The passage is mainly discussing __________.A) the difference between general history and art historyB) the making of art historyC) what we can learn from artD) the influence of artists on art history5.It may be concluded from this passage that_______ .A) Islamic artists had to create architectural decoration with images of flowers or geometric formsB) history teachers are more objective than artistsC) it is more difficult to study art history than general historyD) people and stories from the Bible were painted on churches and other buildings in order to popularize the BiblePassage 10If women are mercilessly exploited year-round, they have only themselves to blame. Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion. When you come to think of it, only a woman is capable of standing in front of a wardrobe packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time altering the dresses they have. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; necklines are lowered or raised, and so on.No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with vital things like warmth, comfort and durability. They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn’t at some time in his life smile at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or delicately picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women’s clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by。