英语四级阅读练习及答案(1)

英语四级阅读练习及答案Passage One:As the horizons of science have expended, two main groups of scientists have emerged. One is the pure scientist, the other, applied scientist.The pure or theoretical scientist does original research in order to understand the basic laws of the nature that govern our world. The applied scientist adapts this knowledge to practice problems. Neither is more important than the others, however, for the groups are very much related.Sometimes, however, the applied scientist finds the “problems” for the theoretical scientist to work on. Let’s take a particular problem of the aircraft industry:heat-resistant metals. Many of the metals and alloys that perform satisfactorily in car cannot be used in a jet-propelled (喷气推进式) plane, New alloys must be used, because the jet engine operates at a much higher temperature than an automobile engine. The turbine wheel (涡轮) in a turbojet (涡轮喷气发动机) must withstand temperatures as high as 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, so air craft designers have to turn to the researchmetallurgist for the development of metals and alloys that would do the job in jet-propelled planes.Diving scientists into two groups-pure and applied-is only one broad way of classifying them, however. When scientific knowledge was very limited, there was no need for men to specialize. Today, with the great body of scientific knowledge, scientists specialize in many different fields. Within each field, there is even further subdivision. And, with finer and finer subdivisions, the various sciences have become more and more interrelated until no branch is entirely independent of the others. Many new specialties-geophysics and biochemistry, for example-have resulted from combining the knowledge of two or more science.applied scientistA) does original research to the basic laws of natureB) applied the result of research to practical problemsC) provides the basic knowledge for the pure scientistD) is not interested in practical problems2. The example given in the third paragraph illustrates howA) pure science operates independently of applied scienceB) the applied scientist discover the basic laws of natureC) applied science defines all the areas in which basic research is doneD) applied science suggests problems for the basic scientist3. Finer and finer subdivision in the field of science has resulted inA) the loss of the need for specialistsB) greater interdependence of each scienceC) greater dependence of each scienceD) the need for only one classification if scientists4. Geophysics and biochemistry are .A) examples of new specialties resulting from combing sciencesB) totally dependent sciencesC) among the oldest sciences known to manD) both B)and C)5. “The horizons of science have expanded,”(para 1) meansthatA) scientists can see further out into spaceB) science has developed more field of human endeavorC) the horizon changes size from year to yearD) scientists have made a machine for enlarging the horizonPassage Two:Friends play an important part in our lives, and although we may take the friendship for granted, we often don’t clearly understand how we make friends. While we get on well with only a number of people, we are usually friends with only a very few. For example, the average among students is about 6 per person. In all the cases of friendly relationship, two people like one another and enjoy being together, but beyond that, the degree of intimacy between them and the reasons for their shared interest vary enormously .As we get to know people we take into account things like ages ,race, economic condition, social position, and intelligence. Although these factors are not of prime importance, it is more difficult to get on withpeople when there is a marked difference in age and background.Some friendly relationships can be kept on argument and discussion, but it is usually for close friends to have similar ideas and beliefs, to have attitude and interests in common—they often talk about “being on the same wavelength”. It generally takes time to reach this point. And the more intimately involved people become, the more they rely on one another. People want to do friends favors and hate to break an promise. Equally, friends have to learn to put up with annoying habits and to tolerant differences of opinion.In contrast with marriage, there are no friendship ceremonies to strengthen the association between two people. But the supporting and understanding of each other that results from shared experiences and emotions does seem to create a powerful bond, which can overcome differences in background and break down of age, class and race.to the author, .A) all those who get on well with each other are friendsB) friends are closer than people who just get on well with each otherC) everyone understand clearly how to makefriendsD) every students has 6 friends7. When we make friends, we consider such things as age, race and background becauseA) it is not easy to have a friendly relationship with people when there is a marked difference in age and background B) the degreed of friendship between people and the reason for their shared interests can vary greatlyC) friends need to know all these thingsD) these are the most important factors to make friends8. In paragraph 2 , “being on the same wavelength”means .A) using the same frequency while talkingB) keeping the same friendly relationship as other people doC) having similar ideas, beliefs, attitudes and interestsD) having the same background9. Which of the following is not implied or directly stated in the passageA) Even friends may have differences of opinionsB) Friends never argue with each otherC) It generally takes time for people to become close friends.D) Someone’s habits may annoy his friends.10. To strengthen friendly relationship, peopleA) must hold friendship ceremoniesB) have to eliminate differences in backgroundC) should make friends with those who are of the same age and the same raceD) should support and understand each other through shared experiences and emotionsPassage Three:The movement toward centralization of authority in state departments of education has in some cases created friction with communities, which regard this modern policy as usurpation(篡夺,夺取)of their rights. Constitutionally, there can be no doubt that the state has a right to prescribe(指示)to the local districts in any degree which it will. Legislatures(立法机构)have been given power by State Constitutions which make them the most important policy-makingagent for education in a state. Legislatures establish the framework(机构)for education; they make direct appropriations for education; they create educational institutions; and they determine whether of not certain educational programs are to be authorized, expanded, decreased, or eliminated(废除). The Legislature usually authorizes a State education department to administer its policies. It may, however, provide for a state board of education to advise it regarding policy and to administer the educational program. The central agency may define the extent of the local district and may determine in detail what shall be done within this district. While this is the constitutional right of the state, the practical fact is that the local district conducts its schools in very large measure according to its own desires, and local officers often talk upon state supervision as indefensible interference11. About the centralization of authority in state department of education, some communities feel that .A) their rights are improvedB) their rights are ignoredC) their rights are violatedD) their rights are protected12. According to the article, which of the following rights are NOT belong to the stateA) The right to administer entrance examination.B) The right to expand or decrease educational programs.C) The right to budget school programsD) The right to created educational institutions.13. What does the Legislature usually do in administering PoliciesA) It administers policies by itself.B) It authorizes a State education department administer its policies.C) It is authorized by a State education department to administer its policies.D) It authorizes a state board of education to administer the educational program.14. Which of the following is NOT true about actual educational situationA) The local district has a lot of control over its schoolsB) The central agency may extend the extent of the local districtsC) State supervision is not always welcome to local districts.D) Local officers forbid State supervision if they think it is a kind of interference15. which of the following titles can best summarize the articleA) The Legislature Administers its PoliciesB) The Centralization of Authority in State Department of EducationC) The Role of the State in EducationD) The Rights of the Local DistrictsPassage Four:Some people believed that international sport creates goodwill between the nations and that if countries play games together they will learn to live together. Others say that the opposite is true: those international contests encourage false national pride and lead to misunderstanding and hatred. There is probably some truth in both arguments, but in recent years the Olympic Games have done little to support the view thatsports encourage international brotherhood. Not only was the recent incident of tragedy involving murder of athletes, but the Games were also ruined by lesser incidents caused principally by mi-nor national contests.One country received its second-place medals with visible anger after the hockey(曲棍球)dinal, There had been noisy scenes at the end of the hockey match, the loser objecting to the final decisions. They were convinced that one of their goals should not have been disallowed and their oppon ents’ victory was unfair. The president of the Federation(联合会)said later that such behavior could result in the suspension of the team for at least three years.The American basketball team announced that they would not yield first place to Russia, after a disputable end to their contest. The game had ended in disorder. It was thought at first that the United States had won by a single point, but it was announced that there were three seconds still to play. A Russian player then threw the ball from one end of the court to the other, and another player plopped it into the basket. It was the first time the US had ever lost an Olympic basketball match. An appeal jury debated the matter for four and a half hours before announcing that the result would stand. TheAmerican players then voted not to receive the silver medals. Incidents of this kind will continue as long as sport is played competitively rather than for the love of the game. The suggestion that athletes should compete as individuals, or in non-national teams, might be too much to hope for. But in the present organization of Olympics there is far too much that encourages aggressive(行为过分的)patriotism(爱国心).16. The author thinks that in recent years Olympic games have .A) showed little international friendshipB) greatly encouraged international brotherhoodC) created goodwill between the nationsD) created only misunderstanding and hatred17. What did the manager mean by saying “This isn’t hockey. Hockey and the International Hockey Fed eration are finished”A) This is not a standard hockey matchB) The Federation would not exist any longer after this match was overC) His team would not enter the game in three yearsD) The unfair decisions ruined both hockey and the Federation.18. The basketball match showed thatA) the Russian team should not have taken advantageof the last three seconds.B) aggressive patriotism was displayed in the incident.C) The appeal jury was too ineffective in making a decisionD) the American team should have taken the first place.19. The author gives 2 examples in the 2nd and the 3rd paragraphs is in order to show thatA) contests often end in disorderB) no contest is fair in Olympic GamesC) competition discourages international friendshipD) unfair decisions are common in sports20. Which statement best summarizes this passageA) Athletes should compete as individualsB) The organization of the Olympic Games must be improved.C) Any team that has disrespectful behavior should be suspended.D) Different teams often have disputes when fighting for the first place.Passage Five:Urban life has always involved a balancing of opportunities and rewards against dangers and stress; its motivating force is, in the broadest sense, money. Opportunities to make money mean competition and competition is stressful; it is often at its most intense in the largest cities, where opportunities are greatest. The presence of huge numbers of people inevitably involves more conflict, more traveling, the overloading of public services and exposure to those deviants and criminals who are drawn to the rich pickings of great cities. Crime has always flourished in the relative anonymity of urban life, but today’s ease of movement makes its control more difficult than ever; there is much evidence that its extent has a direct relationship to the size of communities. City dwellers may become trapped in their homes by the tear of crime around them. As a defence against these developments, city dwellers tend to use various strategies to try and reduce the pressures upon themselves: contacts with other people are generally made brief and impersonal; doors are kept locked; telephone numbers may be ex-directory; journeys outside the home are usuallyhurried, rather than a source of pleasure of pleasure. There are other are other strategies, too, which are positively harmful to the individual, for example, reducing awareness through drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, all these defensive forms of behavior are harmful to society in general; they cause widespread loneliness and destroy the community’s concern for its members. Lack of informal social contact and indifference to the misfortunes of others, if they are not personally known to oneself, are amongst the major causes of urban crime. Inner areas of cities tend to be abandoned by the more successful and left to those who have done badly in the competitive struggle or who belong to minority groups; these people are then geographically trapped because so much economic activity has migrated to the suburbs and beyond. Present-day architecture and planning have enormously worsened the human problems of urban life. Old established neighborhoods have been ruthlessly swept away, by both public and private organizations, usually to be replaced by huge, ugly, impersonal structures, People have been forced to leave their familiar homes, usually to be rehoused in tower blocks which are drab(单调乏味的), inconvenient, and fail to provide any setting for human interaction or support. This destructionof established social structures is the worst possible approach to the difficulties of living in a town or city. Instead, every effort should be made to conserve the human scale of the environment, and to retain familiar landmarks.21. According to the author, living in a city causes stress because there are so many people whoare .A) In need of helpB) naturally aggressiveC) likely to commit crimeD) anxious to succeed22. The author thinks that crime is increasing cities because .A) criminals are difficult to trace in large populationsB) people do not communicate with their neighborsC) people feel anonymous thereD) the trappings of success are attractive to criminals23. According to the article, what is the worst problem facing people living in citiesA) Crime.B) Finding somewhere to live.C) Social isolation.D) Drugs and alcoholism.24. The majority of people who live in inner cities do so because they .A) have been forced by circumstances to do soB) have turned against societyC) dislike having to travel far to workD) don’t like the idea of living in the suburbs25. Architectural changes have affected city lifeby .A) forcing people to live on top of each otherB) making people move to the suburbsC) giving the individual a say in planningD) dispersing long-established communitiesPassage Six:People do not travel for pleasure on the roads and trains leading into cities on weekday mornings; they are commuting. Commuters represent the exact opposite of Robert Louis Stevenson’s view of traveling that “For my part, I travelnot to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake.” Commuters travel because they have to; the destination is the only thing that matters.Commuting is modern. Up until the 1950’s most workers lived in the shadow of their workplace and within earshot of its whistle or hooter; people walked or cycled to work, even going home for their lunch. As cities grow and as the pressure on city center property increases, so ever more people have had to move further away from their place of work. The suburbs grow and this results in the awful rush hours, many of which tail back to the suburbs themselves, To ease the commuter congestion city governments build new roads, especially ring roads, but these generate more traffic, adding to the traffic jams and bad health. San Francisco introduced BART (the Bay Area Rapid Transit) to take the pressure off its roads, but after an initial positive response the scheme was overtaken by the sheer magnitude of commuter growth.Trains and subway systems are little better. In Tokyo “pushers” are employed to squeeze commuters into carriages, in London and New York the underground systems are near capacity and unpleasant to ride. In Paris petty crime on the Metro (地铁) is widespread. In Soweto the trains are so crowdedthat commuters hang on the outside of the “back only” trains. The associated health hazards are rivaled by those caused by traffic accidents and the stress-related diseases created by the tension in all forms of commuting.The bigger the city, the larger the daily commuting public and the longer the distances traveled. Many commuters see neither their house nor their children in daylight for almost six months of the year. In a large city like London the average daily time spent commuting to and from work is almost two hours. As a working day is eight hours or less, this means that the average commuter really “works” in excess of a six day week. Cities which try to alleviate the lot of the commuter are those which are most worth living in, but it is a hard and uphill task to do anything constructive. Special “Kiss and Ride” metro stations surround Washington, but are as little used as the “Ride-On” buses. People appear to prefer the traffic jams on the Beltway.Although most people dislike the unpleasant “dead time” of commuting, some people turn it to their advantage. J. M. Keynes wrote his General Theory en route from London to Cambridge, and there are classes in French, business studies, bridge and chess (among other topics) on commuter trains into the Londonmain-line stations. Other people, especially those who can afford the comfort of first-class tickets, catch up on their reading, do the preparation for the day’s work, use their computers or the train telephones, or listen to music Others take the view that commuting should make you fit. They walk, run, cycle, row, sail, skate and skate-board into work.26. San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transitscheme .A) took a long time to become successfulB) was eagerly awaitedC) could not cope with the numbers of passengersD) has been a big success27. As a solution to the rise in the number of commuters, trains and subways are .A) more effective than new roadsB) not as effective as new roadsC) rather more effective than new roadsD) scarcely any more effective than new roabs28. It is more pleasant to live in citieswhich .A) are small enough for people not to need to commuteB) encourage commutingC) have efficient public transport systemsD) improve conditions for commuters29. Washington’s metro trains are .A) less popular than its busesB) more popular than its busesC) as popular as its busesD) as unpopular as its buses30. The majority of travelers .A) don’t enjoy wasting their time commutingB) make the most of the time they spend commutingC) keep fit while commutingD) exercise their minds while commutingPassage Seven:One phase of the business cycle is the expansion phase. This phase is two-fold one, including recovery and prosperity. During the recovery period there is ever-growing expansion of existing facilities, and new facilities for production are created. More businesses are created and older ones expanded.Improvements of various kinds are made. There is an ever increasing optimism about the future of economic growth. Much capital is invested in machinery or "heavy" industry. More labor is employed. More raw materials are required. As one part of the economyDevelops, other parts are affected. For example, a great expansion in automobiles results in an expansion of the steel, glass and rubber industries. Roads are required, thus the cement and machinery industries are stimulatedDemand for labor and materials results in greater prosperity for workers and supplest of raw materials, including the various segments of the population. This prosperity period may continue to rise and rise without an apparent end. However, a time comes when this phase reaches a peak and stops spiraling upwards. This is the end of the expansion phase.31. We may assume that in the next paragraph the author will discuss____.A. cyclicalindustriesdemandsC. the higher cost ofliving decline period32. The title below that best expresses the idea of this passage is _____A The RecoveryStage B. Attain prosperityExpandingsociety D. the Period of Good Times33. Prosperity in one industry_____A. reflects itself in many otherindustries B. will spiral upwardsC. will end abruptlyD. will help all segments of society except the farm34 Which of the fooling industries will probably be a good indicator of the period of expansionA.Foodstuffs. tools D Farming35. During the period of prosperity, people regard the future _____.A. cautiouslyB. in a confidentmanner D in a happy moodPassage Eight:On average, American kids ages 3 to 12 spent 29 hours a week in school, eight hours more than they did in 1981. They also did more household work and participated in more such organized activities as soccer and ballet (芭蕾舞). Involvement in sports, in particular, rose almost 50% from 1981 to 1997: boys now spend an average of four a week playing sports; girls log half that time. All in all, howe ver, children’s leisure time dropped from 40% of the day in 1981 to 25%.“Children are affected by the same time crunch (危机) that affects their parents,” says Sandra Hofferth, who headed the recent study of children’s timetable. A chief reason, she says, is that more mothers are working outside the home. (Nevertheless, children in both double-income and “male breadwinner” households spent comparable amounts of time interacting with their parents, 19 hours and 22 hours respectively. In contrast, children spent only 9 hours with their single mothers.)All work and no play could make for some very messed-up kids. “Play is the most powerful way a child explores the world and learns about himself,” says T. Berry Brazelton, professor at Harvard Medical school. Unstructured play encourages independent thinking and allows the young to negotiate their relationships with their peers, but kids ages 3 to 12 spent only 12 hours a week engaged in it.The children sampled spent a quarter of their rapidly decreasing “free time” watching television. But that, believe it or not, was one of the findings parents might regard as good news. If they’re spending less time in front of the TV set, however, kids aren’t replacing it with reading. Despite efforts to get kids more interested in books, the children spent just over an hour a week reading. Let’s face it, who’s got the time36. By mentioning “the same time crunch” (Line 1, Sandra Hofferth means .A) children have little time to play with their parentsB) both parents and children suffer from lack of leisure timeC) both parents and children have trouble managing their timeD) children are not taken good care of by their working parents37. According to the author, the reason given by Sandra Hofferth for the timecrunch is .A) partially true B) quite convincingC) rather confusing D) totally groundless38. According to the author a child develops betterif .A) he has plenty of time reading and studyingB) he is free to interact with his working parentsC) he is left to play with his peers in his own wayD) he has more time participating in school activities39. The author is concerned about the fact that American kids .A) are involved less and less in household workB) are spending more and more time watching TVC) are engaged in more and more structured activitiesD) are increasingly neglected by their working mothers40. We can infer from the passage that .A) most parents believe reading to be beneficial to childrenB) efforts to get kids interested in reading have beenfruitfulC) most children will turn to reading with TV sets switched offD) extracurricular activities promote children’s intelligenceKey:1-5. BDBAB 6-10 BACBD 11-15. CABDC 16-20 ADBCB21-25 DACAD 26-30CDDDA 31-35 DDABB 36-40BACCA。