最新大学英语四级考试精品阅读120篇txt下载

最新大学英语四级考试精品阅读120篇
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第一篇　人文篇passage 1
Passage 1建议用时：8分钟From:To:
When one looks back upon the fifteen hundred years that are the life span of the English language, he should be able to notice a number of significant truths. The history of our language has always been a history of constant change—at times a slow, almost imperceptible change, at other times a violent collision between two languages. Our language has always been a living growing organism, it has never been static. Another significant truth that emerges from such a study is that language at all times has been the possession not of one class or group but of many. 『At one extreme it has been the property of the common, ignorant folk, who have used it in the daily business of their living, much as they have used their animals or the kitchen pots and pans.』① At the other extreme it has been the treasure of those who have respected it as an instrument and a sign of civilization, and who have struggled by writing it down to give it some permanence, order, dignity, and if possible, a little beauty.
As we consider our changing language, we should note here two developments that are of special and immediate importance to us. One is that since the time of the Anglo-Saxons there has been an almost complete reversal of the different devices for showing the relationship of words in a sentence. Anglo-Saxon (old English) was a language of many inflections. Modern English has few inflections. We must now depend largely on word order and function words to convey the meanings that the older language did by means of changes in the forms of words. Function words, you should understand, are words such as prepositions, conjunctions, and a few others that are used primarily to show relationships among other words. A few inflections, however, have survived. And when some word inflections come into conflict with word order, there may be trouble for the users of the language, as we shall see later when we turn our attention to such maters as WHO or WHOM and ME or I. The second fact we must consider is that as language itself changes, our attitudes toward language forms change also. 『The eighteenth century, for example, produced from various sources a tendency to fix the language into patterns not always set in and grew, until at the present time there is a strong tendency to restudy and re-evaluate language practices in terms of the ways in which people speak and write.』②
1.In contrast to the earlier linguists, modern linguists tend to .
A. attempt to continue the standardization of the language
B. evaluate language practices in terms of current speech rather than standards or proper patterns
C. be more concerned about the improvement of the language than its analysis or history
D. be more aware of the

rules of the language usage
2.Choose the appropriate meaning for the word “inflection” used in line 4 of paragraph 2.
A. Changes in the forms of words.
B. Changes in sentence structures.
C. Changes in spelling rules.
D. Words that have similar meanings.
3.Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the passage?
A. It is generally believed that the year 1500 can be set as the beginning of the modern English language.
B. Some other languages had great influence on the English language at some stages of its development.
C. The English language has been and still in a state of relatively constant change.
D. Many classes or groups have contributed to the development of the English language.
4. The author of these paragraphs is probably a(an) .
A. historianB. philosopher
C. anthropologistD. linguist
5.Which of the following can be best used as the title of the passage?
A. The history of the English language.
B. Our changing attitude towards the English language.
C. Our changing language.
D. Some characteristics of modern English.
Vocabulary
1.span n. 跨度，范围，一段时间，期间
2.imperceptible adj. 感觉不到的，觉察不到的，极细微的
anism n. 生物体，有机体
4.possession n. 拥有，占有，领土，领地
5.ignorant adj. 无知的
6.folk n. 人们，民族
7.permanence n. 永久，持久
8.Anglo-Saxons n. 盎格鲁—撒克逊语，盎格鲁—撒克逊人，地道的英国人
9.reversal n. 颠倒，反向，逆转
10.inflection n. 词尾变化
11.preposition n. 前置词，介词
12.conjunction n. 联合，关联，连接词
13.in terms of 根据，按照，用……的话，在……方面
长难句解析
①【解析】“who”引导非限制性定语从句，修饰“the common, ignorant folk”。“much as”引导状语从句。“kitchen pots and pans”意为“锅碗瓢盆”。
【译文】一方面它是那些普通人甚至无知民众的财产，他们每天都像使唤他们的牲畜和锅碗瓢盆一样用着语言。
②【解析】 此句为一个复合倒装句。“until”引导一个并列句，前一句的主语是“a tendency”，“to fix the language into patterns not always set in and grew”作“tendency”的定语，第二句的主语也是“a tendency”，“to”后面的句子作“tendency”的定语，“in which”引导的定语从句修饰“ways”。
【译文】例如在18世纪一种产生于各种来源的趋势把语言固定在一个不常使

用和不利于语言发展的模式中，而到了当今，主流是要反复研究、评价人们说话、写作中的语言实践。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述英语演变过程的一些特点，指出了古英语与现代英语的不同，以及语言学家对待语言形式的态度的变化。
1.B细节题。根据题干回原文中定位，阅读文章时注意首末段及各段开头的句子，这往往都是考点所在。这篇文章讲的主要是英语语言演变的一些特点，指出了古英语与现代英语的不同，以及语言学家态度的转变。本题问的正是现代语言学家与早期语言学家不同的倾向。根据文章末尾The eighteenth century, for example, produced from various sources a tendency to fix the language into patterns not always set in and grew, until at the present time there is a strong tendency to restudy and re-evaluate language practices in terms of the ways in which people speak and write. 现代语言学家倾向于根据人们说和写的方式评价语言实践，而不是像早期的语言学家根据一定的模式评价语言。选项B符合文章的意思。
2.A词汇题。要根据上下文的信息判断单词的意思。文章在第二段中间再次提到inflection时说，A few inflections, however, have survived. 后面文章又举了WHO/WHOM和ME/I为例说明inflection，这是一篇关于语言学的文章，从例子可以看出inflection的意思应该是“单词的变形”，选项A正确。
3.A细节题。根据文章的内容，选项A“普遍认为1500年是现代英语的起点”在文章中没有提及，故为正确答案。文章第二句说The history of our language has always been a history of constant change - at times a slow, almost imperceptible change, at other times a violent collision between two languages. 我们语言的历史是一个不断变化的历史——在一些时间里缓慢得几乎难以察觉，在另一些时间里则是两种语言的激烈碰撞。由此可以推断一些其他的语言对英语的发展有重大影响，选项B符合文章的意思。
4.D词汇题。此题考查考生的推测能力和词汇量，文章讲述的是英国语言演进的具体细节，最适当的答案应该是D。作者很可能是一位语言学家。A答案(历史学家)和C答案(人类学家)也可以有点迷惑性。B答案(哲学家)是最不符合的。
5.C主旨题。本文从各个方面谈及英语作为一种语言的发展变化，但并不是讲述英语的历史。所以选项A不对，选项C作为文章的题目最为贴切。选项B只是文章阐述的一个方面，不够全面。文章是在谈到英语的不断变化的时候谈到了现代英语的一些特点，所以选项D也失之于片面。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 2
Passage 2建议用时：6.5分钟Fro

m:To:
Culture is one of the most challenging elements of the international marketplace. 『This system of learned behavior patterns characteristic of the members of a given society is constantly shaped by a set of dynamic variables: language, religion, values and attitudes, manners and customs, aesthetics, technology, education, and social institutions.』① To cope with this system, an international manager needs both factual and interpretive knowledge of culture. To some extent, the factual knowledge can be learned; its interpretation comes only through experience.
The most complicated problems in dealing with the cultural environment stem from the fact that one cannot learn culture—one has to live it. Two schools of thought exist in the business world on how to deal with cultural diversity. One is that business is business the world around, following the model of Pepsi and McDonald’s. In some cases, globalization is a fact of life; however, cultural differences are still far from converging.
The other school proposes that companies must tailor business approaches to individual cultures. Setting up policies and procedures in each country has been compared to an organ transplant; the critical question centers around acceptance or rejection. The major challenge to the international manager is to make sure that rejection is not a result of cultural myopia or even blindness.
Fortune examined the international performance of a dozen large companies that earn 20 percent or more of their revenue overseas. The internationally successful companies all share an important quality: patience. They have not rushed into situations but rather built their operations carefully by following the most basic business principles. These principles are to know your adversary, know your audience, and know your customer.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. All international managers can learn culture.
B. Business diversity is not necessary.
C. Views differ on how to treat culture in business world.
Ｄ. Most people do not know foreign culture well.
2. According to the author, the model of Pepsi .
Ａ. is in line with the theories of the school advocating the business is business the world around
Ｂ. is different from the model of McDonald’s
Ｃ. shows the reverse of globalization
Ｄ. has converged cultural differences
3. The two schools of thought .
Ａ. both propose that companies should tailor business approaches to individual cultures
Ｂ. both advocate that different policies be set up in different countries
Ｃ. admit the existence of cultural diversity in business world
Ｄ. Both Ａ and Ｂ
4. This article is supposed to be most useful for those .

A. who are interested in researching the topic of cultural diversity
B. who have connections to more than one type of culture
C. who want to travel abroad
D. who want to run business on International Scale
5. According to Fortune, successful international companies .
Ａ. earn 20 percent or more of their revenue overseas
Ｂ. all have the quality of patience
Ｃ. will follow the overseas local cultures
Ｄ. adopt the policy of internationalization
Vocabulary
1. dynamic adj. 动态的
2. variable n. 变量
3. aesthetics n. 美学
4. factual adj. 事实的
5. interpretative adj. 解释的
6. converge v. 聚合
7. transplant v. 移植
8. myopia n. 近视
9. adversary n. 对手
长难句解析
①【解析】此句虽然很长，但考生只要认清它的主干，就很容易了解本句的意思。这个句子为一个简单句，主语为：“this system”，谓语为“is shaped”。
【译文】特定社会成员特点构成的行为方式体系不断地被一系列动态变量所左右：如语言、信仰、价值与态度、礼仪与风俗、审美、技术、教育及社会体制。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述文化背景对商业运作的影响，文中列举了商界中存在的对于文化多样性的两种观点。
1. C推断题。意为“对在商业中怎样对待文化有着不同意见”。 文化在商业中是一个很具挑战性的因素。不同的国家与地区可能会有不同的文化体系。在商业中，应该怎样对待不同的文化，商业界存在着不同的看法。
2. Ａ细节题。意为“……与同意世界商业一体化的派别的主张是一致的”。 Pepsi采纳的是国际化的商业风格，这与那些主张国际化的派别的意见是相一致的。
3. C推断题。意为“承认商业世界中文化的多元性”。两个派别都承认商业世界中文化的多元性。他们的不同在于，应该对待不同的文化，应该搞国际化还是对不同的文化采取不同的策略。
4. D主旨题。由文中的例子可以知道，作者主要关心的并不是研究多种文化形态，而是文化背景对商业运作的影响。所以D是正确答案。
5. Ｂ细节题。意为“都具有耐心这一素质”。并非所有成功的国际公司的海外收入都占总收入的20%或以上。它们也不一定全都接纳海外的当地文化，或是采纳国际化策略。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 3
Passage 3建议用时：7.5分钟From:To:
As regards social conventions, we must say a word about the

well-known English class system. 『This is an embarrassing subject for English people, and one they tend to be ashamed of, though during the present century class-consciousness has grown less and less, and the class system less rigid.』① But it still exists below the surface. Broadly speaking, it means there are two classes, the “middle class” and the “working class”. (We shall ignore for a moment the old “upper class”, including the hereditary aristocracy, since it is extremely small in numbers; but some of its members have the right to sit in the House of Lords, and some newspapers take a surprising interest in their private life.) The middle class consists chiefly of well-to-do businessmen and professional people of all kinds. The working class consists chiefly of manual and unskilled workers.
The most obvious difference between them is in their accent. Middle-class people use slightly varying kinds of “received pronunciation” which is the kind of English spoken by BBC announcers and taught to overseas pupils. Typical working-class people speak in many different local accents which are generally felt to be rather ugly and uneducated. One of the biggest barriers of social equality in England is the two-class education system. To have been to a so-called “public school” immediately marks you out as one of the middle class. The middle classes tend to live a more formal life than working-class people, and are usually more cultured. Their midday meal is “lunch” and they have a rather formal evening meal called “dinner”, whereas the working man’s dinner, if his working hours permit, is at midday, and his smaller, late-evening meal is called supper.
As we have said, however, the class system is much less rigid than it was, and for a long time it has been government policy to reduce class distinctions. 『Working-class students very commonly receive a university education and enter the professions, and working-class incomes have grown so much recently that the distinctions between the two classes are becoming less and less clear. 』②However, regardless of one’s social status, certain standards of politeness are expected of everybody, and a well-bred person is polite to everyone he meets, and treats a labourer with the same respect he gives an important businessman. Servility inspires both embarrassment and dislike. Even the word “sir”, except in school and in certain occupations (e.g. commerce, the army etc.) sounds too servile to be commonly used.
1. The middle class mainly refers to people .
A. who were born as aristocrat
B. who have the right to sit in the House of Lords
C. who speak in many different local accents
D. who are prosperous businessmen or who work in some professions
2. The most obvious difference between the working class and the middle class in English is their .
A.

dressB. work
C. accentD. meal
3. Why isn’t the word “sir” commonly used in Britain?
A. Because it sounds too servile and is likely to cause embarrassment.
B. Because it can only be used in some certain occupations.
C. Because it is an impolite word.
D. Because it shows that the speaker is not a well-bred person.
4. The “upper class” in England today .
A. are extremely small in number so that media pays no attention to them
B. still uses old words like “Sir” in their everyday life
C. includes the hereditary aristocracy
D. refers only to the royal family
5. Which of the following is not true about the English class system?
A. It is an embarrassing subject for English people.
B. Working-class students cannot receive a university education.
C. The class system is much less rigid than it was.
D. The class system still exists below the surface.
Vocabulary
1. convention n. 习俗
2. embarrass v. 使困窘
3. rigid adj. 严格
4. hereditary adj. 世袭的
5. manual adj. 体力的
6. accent n. 口音
7. received pronunciation adj. (英语的)标准发音
8. well-bred adj. 有教养的
9. servility n. 卑屈
10. occupation n. 职业
长难句解析
①【解析】这是一个复合句，主句由“and”引导的两个并列句组成，“though”引导的让步状语从句，也是由两个并列的句子组成。
【译文】尽管本世纪等级意识越来越淡，等级制度也越来越不严格，但对于英国人来说它仍是一个尴尬的话题，仍旧引以为耻。
②【解析】这是一个复合句，由“and”引导的两个并列句组成，“so…that”作“grown”的状语。
【译文】劳工家庭中的孩子上大学成为非常平常的事情，此后他们也加入各种专业行当。劳工阶层的工资近来也快速增长，使得两个阶层间的界线越来越模糊。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述英国等级意识虽然越来越淡，但在表层下，等级仍然存在。而“阶层”的最大区别是他们的口音。
1. D细节题。意为“那些比较富裕的生意人或有一定的职业的人”。见第一段的倒数第二句：中产阶级主要包括富裕的生意人和有一定的职业的人。所以正确答案应该是 D。
2. C细节题。意为“口音”。见第二段的第一句：他们之间最明显的区别是他们的口音。所以正确答案应该是 C。
3. Ａ推断题。意为“因为它听起来太过谦卑，很可能会引

起尴尬”。见文章的最后两句：谦卑会引起尴尬和不悦。甚至像“先生”这样的词，除了在特定的职业中（如商业、军队）外，也不太常用，因为它听起来太过谦卑。所以正确答案应该是 A。
4. C细节题。A选项前半是对的。上流社会人数很少，后半是错的，媒体还在关注他们，注意一定要看清楚再选。B选项相关内容在文末。D没有提到。B在第一段中间出现，是正确答案。
5. B细节题。意为“来自工人阶级家庭的学生不能接受大学教育”。见第三段第二句的前半句：来自工人阶级家庭的学生接受大学教育并且某种职业的情况已十分普遍。所以选项 B的答案与文章不相符，是正确答案。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 4
Passage 4建议用时：6分钟From:To:
There are people in Italy who can’t stand soccer. Not all Canadians love hockey. A similar situation exists in America, where there are those individuals you may be one of them who yawn or even frown when somebody mentions baseball. 『Baseball to them means boring hours watching grown men in funny tight outfits standing around in a field staring away while very little of anything happens.』① They tell you it’s a game better suited to the 19th century, slow, quiet, gentlemanly. These are the same people you may be one of them who love football because there’s the sport that glorifies “the hit”.
By contrast, baseball seems abstract, cool, silent, still.
On TV the game is fractured into a dozen perspectives, replays, closeups. The geometry of the game, however, is essential to understanding it. You will contemplate the game from one point as a painter does his subject; you may, of course, project yourself into the game. It is in this projection that the game affords so much space and time for involvement. The TV won’t do it for you.
Take, for example, the third baseman. You sit behind the third base dugout and you watch him watching home plate. His legs are apart, knees flexed. His arms hang loose. He does a lot of this. The skeptic still cannot think of any other sports so still, so passive. 『But watch what happens every time the pitcher throws: the third baseman goes up on his toes, flexes his arms or bring the glove to a point in front of him, takes a step right or left, backward or forward, perhaps he glances across the field to check his first baseman’s position.』② Suppose the pitch is a ball. “Nothing happened,” you say. “I could have had my eyes closed.”
The skeptic and the innocent must play the game. And this involvement in the stands is no more intellectual than listening to music is. Watch the third baseman. Smooth the dirt in front of you with one foot; smooth the pocket in your glove; watch the eyes of the batter, the speed of the bat, the so

und of horsehide on wood. If football is a symphony of movement and theatre, baseball is chamber music, a spacious interlocking of notes, chores and responses.
1. The passage is mainly concerned with .
A. the different tastes of people for sports
B. the different characteristics of sports
C. the attraction of football
D. the attraction of baseball
2. Those who don’t like baseball may complain that .
A. it is only to the taste of the old
B. it involves fewer players than football
C. it is not exciting enough
D. it is pretentious and looks funny
3. The author admits that .
A. baseball is too peaceful for the young
B. baseball may seem boring when watched on TV
C. football is more attracting than baseball
D. baseball is more interesting than football
4. By stating “I could have had my eyes closed. ” the author means (4th paragraph last sentence):
A. The third baseman would rather sleep than play the game.
B. Even if the third baseman closed his eyes a moment ago, it could make no different to the result.
C. The third baseman is so good at baseball that he could finish the game with eyes closed all the time and do his work well.
D. The consequent was too bad he could not bear to see it.
5. We can safely conclude that the author .
A. likes footballB. hates football
C. hates baseballD. likes baseball
Vocabulary
1. dugout n.　棒球场边供球员休息的地方
2. pitcher n.　投手
3. symphony n.　交响乐
4. chamber n.　室内
5. contemplate vt.沉思，注视
长难句解析
①【解析】此句的主干是“Baseball…means…watching…”，其中“in funny tight outfits”用来修饰“grown men”,“standing…”和“staring”用来做“grown men”的定语。
【译文】对于他们来说，棒球就是在无聊的几个小时中几个身着紧身衣的大人伫立在场地周围没事可做地东张西望。
②【解析】这是一个复合句，“goes up…”，“flexes…”“takes…”，“glances…”做“the third baseman”的并列谓语。
【译文】但每当投球手掷出球的那一瞬间，你再看吧，三垒运动员脚尖点地，屈臂或把接球手套直指前方，左右移动步伐，或前或后，或许他还要越过场地盯着一垒球手的动作。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述垒球的特征及欣赏。
1. D主旨题。文章第一段简述了人们对垒球所持的偏见——认为它毫无活力、从容和缓，不像橄榄球那样(禁止)迭起

、令人激动。文章的第二、三、四、五段探讨了垒球的根本特征及欣赏角度，文章的最后一句话用一个比喻概括了垒球的魅力：“如果橄榄球是一曲交响乐的话，那么，垒球中所表现出来的运动恰似一曲优美的室内乐。”可见，本文主要探讨的是垒球的特点及其欣赏。 A不对，第一段也确实提到了不同观众对不同运动形式的偏好，但这只是用以引出对垒球的特征及欣赏的讨论。
2. C细节题。文章第一段指出：许多人不喜欢垒球，一提起垒球这些人就打哈欠甚至皱眉头。对他们来说，看垒球意味着眼巴巴地观望着身着运动装(outfit)的人呆立在球场上，东瞧瞧西望望，很少有什么(激动人心的)事发生——没意思透了。他们认为这样的运动更适合上个世纪的人的口味，不像橄榄球那样充满活力。 A意为：“它只适合老年人的口味。”注意：原文说的是适合上个世纪的人的口味，二者意味不一样。 D意为：“它矫揉造作、滑稽可笑。”这与说它gentlemanly(具有绅士风度，矜持，即：没有冲撞或拼抢)不一样。
3. B推断题。第三段指出，在电视上，垒球运动被切换成不同角度的画面，而且不断地使用重放、特写等电视制作技术，这破坏了该运动的整体运动感，使观众无法将自己投入(project)到运动中去，以体会到这种寓动于静的运动之美。电视做不到这一点(The TV won’t do it for you)，因此，电视上的垒球比赛看上去(seems)孤孤单单、冷冷清清、沉沉静静、慢慢腾腾。C、D不对，作者仅指出了不同运动有不同运动的特征，并未说哪种运动优于哪种。参阅文章最后一句。
4. B推断题。第四段整个都在描述垒球场上的一个场景：拿三垒的运动员假设对方全投出好球，作好了一切准备，但是对方投出的并不是好球。所以在那时候他的准备做不做都不会影响比赛结果。他说本来可以闭上眼睛，意思就是B项所写的。A、C、D都不符合作者的意图。这道题需要完整地了解第四段内容才能作好选择。
5. D推断题。在本文中，作者主要探讨了垒球的特征及欣赏，作者着重指出的是：只有根据垒球的特征来欣赏它，才能体会到它的魅力。在他看来，观察到垒球比赛中运动员的各种动作、垒球位之间的关系等是欣赏它的关键(第三段第二句)。只有从整体来把握它，才能看到每一个小的动作、每一个眼神乃至于“静止”的意义，也只有这样，才能全身心地投入比赛中，欣赏到它的魅力。可见，作者对垒球有很深的理解而且非常喜爱垒球。主要参考第三、四、五段。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 5
Passage 5建议用时：7.5分钟From:T

o:
Among the more colorful characters of Leadville’s golden age were H.A.W.Tabor and his second wife,Elizabeth McCourt,better known as “Baby Doe”.Their history is fast becoming one of the legends of the Old West.Horace Austin Warner Tabor was a school teacher in Vermont.With his first wife and two children he left Vermont by covered wagon in 1855 to homestead in Kansas.Perhaps he did not find farming to his liking,or perhaps he was lured by rumors of fortunes to be made in Colorado mines.At any rate,a few years later he moved west to the small Colorado mining camp known as California Gulch,which he later renamed Leadville when he became its leading citizen. “Great deposits of lead are sure to be found here.”he said.
As it turned out,it was silver,not lead,that was to make Leadville’s fortune and wealth. Tabor knew little about mining himself,so he opened a general store,which sold everything from boots to salt,flour,and tobacco.『It was his custom to “grubstake” prospective miners,in other words,to supply them with food and supplies,or “grub”, while they looked for ore,in return for which he would get a share in the mine if one was discovered.』①He did this for a number of years,but no one that he aided ever found anything of value.
Finally one day in the year 1878,so the story goes,two miners came in and asked for “grub”. Tabor had decided to quit supplying it because he had lost too much money that way.These were persistent, however,and Tabor was too busy to argue with them. “Oh help yourself.One more time won’t make any difference,” He said and went on selling shoes and hats to other customers.the two miners took $17 worth of supplies,in return for which they gave Tabor a one-third interest in their findings.They picked a barren place on the mountainside and began to dig.After nine days they struck a rich vein of silver.Tabor bought the shares of the other two men,and so the mine belonged to him alone.This mine,known as the “Pittsburgh Mine,” made 1 300 000 for Tabor in return for his $17 investment.
Later Tabor bought the Matchless Mine on another barren hillside just outside the town for $117 000.This turned out to be even more fabulous than the Pittsburgh,yielding $35 000 worth of silver per day at one time.Leadville grew.Tabor became its first mayor,and later became lieutenant governor of the state.
1.Leadville got its name for the following reasons EXCEPT.
A.because Tabor became its leading citizen
B.because great deposits of lead is expected to be found there
C.because it could bring good fortune to Tabor
D.because it was renamed
2.The word “grubstake” in paragraph 2 means.
A.to supply miners with food and supplies
B.to open a general store
C.to do one’s contribution to the development of the mine
D

.to supply miners with food and supplies and in return get a share in the mine,if one was discovered
3.Tabor made his first fortune.
A.by supplying two prospective miners and getting in return a one-third interest in the findings
B.because he was persuaded by the two miners to quit supplying
C.by buying the shares of the other
D.as a land speculator
4. The underlying reason for Tabor’s life career is.
A. purely accidental
B. based on the analysis of miner’s being very poor and their possibility of discovering profitable mining site
C. through the help from his second wife
D. he planned well and accomplished targets step by step
5.If this passage is the first part of an article,who might be introduced in the following part?
A.Tabor’s life.
B.Tabor’s second wife,Elizabeth McCourt.
C.Other colorful characters.
D.Tabor’s other careers.
Vocabulary
1.barren adj. 贫瘠的
2.fabulous adj. 神话般的，难以置信的
3.lure vt.诱惑，引诱
4.deposit n.沉淀，储蓄
5.grubstake v.下注
长难句解析
①【解析】“It”是形式主语，真正的主语是“to”后面的句子，“while”引导时间状语从句。
【译文】他的通常做法是对来采矿的人“下注”，说得更明确一点就是泰勃供给这些人食品、用品等物品，作为回报，当他们采到矿后就会分给他一部分股份。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述霍塞斯·奥斯汀·沃纳·泰勃发家的故事。
1. C细节题。因为Leadville可以为Tabor带来巨富。这一点不是Leadville得名的原因，因为在文章第二段中，讲到这一点时，提及三个原因：A.因为Tabor成为当地的居民代表人物，B.因为在Leadville有丰富的铅的储藏量。D.因为Leadville是因为Tabor重要而起的名，唯独C没有，因为到后来发现是银矿才给他带来巨富。
2. D词汇题。第二段中grubstake的词义与D所述内容是相同的，即“供给探矿者资金，衣物，食品以及其他物品”。(可参阅英华大辞典修订第二版64页)但此处还补充地讲，作为回报，供给者可以获得矿中资源一定份额。(见文章第二段第4行)
3. A细节题。Tabor第一次真正发财是他为两名矿工提供资助，为此他获得他们矿资源三分之一的股份。见文章第三段4-9行内容：两名开矿者从Tabor那儿借走价值17美元的物品，作为回报，Tabor获得他们矿资源三分之一股份。于是两位开矿者在一座山旁的不毛之地开始挖掘，九天之后，发现了银的富矿，于是Tabor又将两人的

股份全买下，这样，银矿属于Tabor一个人所有，这个矿就是后来著名的“匹兹堡”矿。Tabor用17美元的投资换来了130万美元的收获。
4. B推断题。由原文可知泰勃的财产来源是有一定偶然性的，但是毕竟也是基于他开创的“grubstake”模式，因为A、D都不对，C更是没有根据，因为他还没有娶第二位夫人这一切就发生了。分析泰勃的做法，会得出B选项所示的结论。
5. B推断题。如果本文是一篇文章的第一部分，那么在文章的第二部分将介绍谁呢?key可以从文章第一句分析出来，在Leadville的黄金年代，其多彩的特点当中，Tabor及其第二任妻子Elizabeth McCourt是值得大书特书的，接着，文章都在讲述有关H.A.W.Tabor发家致富的历史，如先买下匹兹堡矿，后又买下Matchless矿，最后成为市长，代理州长，等等，所以涉及到的全是男主人公，因此下边再讲的话，应成为女主人公即Elizabeth McCourt的天地了，她是Tabor的第二任妻子。这是顺理成章的事。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 6
Passage 6建议用时：6分钟From:To:
While the cities of China have undergone modernization evident in the rising towers and bright lights that have awakened the sleeping country, the countryside remains largely the same.
『Rectangular rows of rice fields litter the landscape separated by long lanes of water designed to provide the constant supply of water that is vital to producing the crop.』① The experience is not unlike driving through the American Midwest, only rice not corn dominates the landscape.
Four years ago, when I last took this trip, the roads were dust and telephone wires did not run parallel to the highway. Bare roads have been replaced by sleek, newly paved highways running from Shanghai to Nanking, to my smaller, home city, Wuhu. Unlike the changes I had heard of and expected in Shanghai, Wuhu was much more of a surprise. The small city where I was born had grown up as I have. There are large high-rise buildings, each ringed with smaller buildings around it, many of these apartment complexes. Little seemed familiar and I wonder what my grandparent’s flat built of brick and mortar had become.
『Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to find out that their home had been demolished and rebuilt as a six story apartment complex as well. 』②Walking up to the second floor I saw my grandfather’s face peering out of the screen door. He began to smile as he saw me, and so did I. Their home is now no different from a western apartment. Equipped with the modern amenities of a gas stove, a toilet, a showerthis was indeed different from four years ago.
1. According to the author, dramatic changes took place in.
A. cities but not countryside of China
B.

both cities and countryside of China
C. countryside but not in large cities
D. everywhere
2. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that .
A. peasants lead similar life all over the world
B. Chinese irrigating system is more impressing than that in America
C. peasants in Midwest America raise more corns while Chinese peasants raise more rice
D. peasants in Midwest America raise more rice while Chinese peasants raise more corn
3. The author was traveling to Wuhu.
A. in order to take a stop during the trip from Shanghai to Nanking
B. in order to find some place similar to his hometown
C. in order to visit his grand parents
D. in order to find out changes in small cities
4. The author’s grand parents.
A. live in their house of brick and mortar
B. live in an apartment similar to westerners
C. led a totally westernized life
D. was poor as they always were
5. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. Flash back to China
B. From Shanghai to Nanking
C. Wuhu Today
D. Back With My Grand Parents
Vocabulary
1. mortar n. 灰泥
2. amenity n. 便利设施
3. rectangular adj.长方形的
4. litter n.乱七八糟的东西
5. lane n.小路
6. demolish vt.拆除
长难句解析
①【解析】句子的主干是“…landscape separated by…”，“that”引导的定语从句，修饰“water”。
【译文】长方形的稻田杂乱地分布在田野上，田野被一些长长的水槽所隔开，这些水槽是为了提供这些作物生长所必需的水。
②【解析】“as well”作“也，又”讲，一般放在句末，而“as well as”作“也，又”讲放在句中。
【译文】也许，对于他们家已被拆除，重新盖起了六层的公寓，我不应该感到惊奇。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述作者回家乡所看到的家乡的巨大变化。
1. A细节题。这道题很简单, 就是考察对第一段那个长句的理解。作者说虽然大城市有巨大的变化, 但是农村还是老样子。
2. C推断题。美国中西部的农民种植玉米较多而中国农民种植大米较多。根据第二段最后一句: 眼前的景象很容易让人想起美国的中西部地区, 只不过那里到处是玉米, 这儿到处是大米。
3. C推断题。芜湖是作者的家乡， 他回去是要看望自己的祖父母。
4. B细节题。作者的祖父母住在一个类似于西方人的房子里面。
5. A主旨

题。芜湖，祖父母，旅途都只是文章涉及的一个方面， 做标题最适合的还是A选项。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 7
Passage 7建议用时：8.5分钟From:To:
Today, there are many avenues open to those who wish to continue their education. However, nearly all require some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time.
『Part time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people. 』①Additionally, such programs require a fixed time commitment which can also impact negatively on one’s career and family time.
Of the many approaches to teaching and learning, however, perhaps the most flexible and accommodating is that called distance learning. Distance learning is an educational method which allows the students the flexibility to study at his or her own pace to achieve the academic goals which are so necessary in today’s world. The time required to study may be set aside at the student’s convenience with due regard to all life’s other requirements. Additionally, the student may enroll in distance learning courses from virtually any place in the world, while continuing to pursue their chosen career. 『Tutorial assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet.』②
Good distance learning programs are characterized by the inclusion of a subject evaluation tool with every subject. This precludes the requirement for a student to travel away from home to take a test. Another characteristic of a good distance learning program is the equivalence of the distance learning course with the same subject materials as those students taking the course on the home campus. The resultant diploma or degree should also be the same whether distance learning or on-campus study is employed. The individuality of the professor/student relationship is another characteristic of a good distance learning program. In the final analysis, a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organization. Sponsoring distance learning programs for their employees gives the business the advantage of retaining career-minded people while contributing to their personal and professional growth through education.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of part time education?
A. It requires some break in one’s career.
B. It tends to last too long for many people to complete a degree program.
C. It affects one’s career.
D. It gives the student

less time to share with the family.
2. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of distance learning?
A. The student may choose his or her own pace.
B. The student may study at any time to his or her convenience.
C. They can pursue their chosen career while studying.
D. Their tutorial assistance comes through regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, etc.
3. What benefit will distance learning program bring to a business?
A. Recruitment of more talented people.
B. Good image of the business.
C. Better cooperation with universities.
D. Further training of employees and business growth.
4. Good distance learning program have the following characteristic EXCEPT .
A. distance learning course is the same as students taking courses in campus
B. the result diploma or degree should be same as on campus study
C. professor-student relationship is strictly one to one all through the course
D. includes subject evaluation tool
5. What benefit will distance learning bring to an employee of a business?
A. Professional growth.
B. Good relationship with the employer.
C. Good impression on the employer.
D. Higher salary.
Vocabulary
1.avenue n. 林荫道，大街，方法，途径，路
2.accommodating adj. 乐于助人的，随和的，善于适应新环境的
3.due adj. 应得的，应付的，正当的，预期的
4.facsimile machine 传真机
5.teleconferencing n. 电信会议
6.preclude v. 排除，使避免
7.equivalence n. 同等，等价，等效性
8.resultant adj. 作为结果而发生的，合成的
9.individuality n. 个性，个人的特性，个人的嗜好
10.sponsor v. 发起，主办，赞助
长难句解析
①【解析】这个句子由两部分组成，主语都是“part time education”，第一部分的“that is…”做主语的同位语。第二部分的谓语由两部分组成，即“tends to…”和“…puts…”。
【译文】函授教育就是在晚间或者一个月的每个周末去学校上课，这种教育倾向于把时间拖得很长，并且很多人难于完成这种学位。
②【解析】此句结构比较简单，主要要求考生掌握一些常用词，如“airmail”，“facsimile machine”，“teleconferencing”等。
【译文】教师的辅导可以通过定期的航空邮件、电话、传真和电话会议以及因特网等方式进行。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要通过函授教育和远程教育的比较，来说明远程教育的优点。

1.A推断题。问题问及选项中哪个不是业余教育的缺点。依据文章第一段中nearly all require some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time可以看出，参加全日制学习需要中断自己的事业，在第二段中作者又说Part time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people. 业余教育，只需要晚上和周末学习，因此需要中断自己的事业不是部分时间教育的缺点。而其他选项都是文章提及的part time education的不利条件。
2.D细节题。文章提到的优缺点是几种教育方式之间的比较，问题问及哪个选项的内容不是远程教育的优点。前三个选项，A.“学生可以选择自己的进度”，B.“学生可以在他（或她）方便的时候学习”，C.“在学习的同时还可以追求自己的事业”都是文章中提及的与另两种方式比较的优点。在文章第二段最后，作者指出Tutorial assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet. 辅导可以通过定期的航空邮件、电话、传真和电话会议以及因特网等方式进行，作者只是提出了一种可能，实际上是弥补distance education的不足的一个建议，并不是远程教育（函授）的优点。因此选项D符合题意。
3.D细节题。选项A、B、C在文章中都没有提及，依据文章最后一段，a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business 一个良好的远程教育计划不仅对个人有好处，而且对那些公司或者商业机构来说也是意义重大。选项D说的也正是这个意思，故为正确选项。
4.C细节题。意为：教授和学生之间的关系是严格地“一对一的”，而这不符合作者意图，参见原文末段，individuality 并不是意指严格地“一对一”。
5.A细节题。注意本题与上题的区别，上一题问及远程教育对公司的好处，本题则是远程教育对职工，也就是个人的好处。同样依据文章最后一段，a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organization. 远程教育可以帮助雇员提高教育素质和职业技能从而促使事业的发展，正确选项为A。
参考译文
现在，那些想继续接受教育的人，都面临着许多选择。然而，几乎所有的人都会中断事业去参加学校的全日制课程。
函授教育是晚间或一个月的每个周末去学校上课，这种教育倾向于把

时间拖得很长，并且很多人难于完成这种学位。而且，这种课程有固定的时间，这也对参加者的工作和生活带来一定的负面影响。
在关于教学的众多方法中，远程教育或许是最方便，最具灵活性的了。远程教育允许学生根据自己的进度灵活变通地进行学习，直到达到教学要求的目标。这种教育方法在现代世界中是十分必要的，课程要求的学习时间可以根据个人生活中的其它需要而暂时搁置或另作安排。此外，学生在工作的同时就可以在世界上的任何地方学习远程教育的课程。教师的辅导可以通过定期的航空邮件、电话、传真和电话会议以及因特网等方式进行。
良好的远程教育计划以每一科目都具有课程评估方法为特征。
这样就省去了学生必须从家跑到学校参加考试的麻烦。另一个特征是远程教育课程所采用的学习资料与在校生的学习资料是一样的。无论参加的是远程教育还是学校教育，学生所取得的文凭与学位都是一样的。还有一个特征是，教授与学生的关系是一对一的。从最后的分析中可以看到，一个良好的远程教育计划不仅对学生个人有好处，而且对公司或商业机构来说也是意义重大，它可以帮助雇员提高教育素质，职业技能从而促进事业发展。因此，支持雇员参加远程教育课程会使公司具备一种优势，那就是拥有一批有职业头脑并为个人和职业发展不断进步的员工。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 8
Passage 8建议用时：6.5分钟From:To:
One of the most interesting paradoxes in America today is that Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, is now engaged in a serious debate about what a university should be, and whether it is measuring up.
Like the Roman Catholic Church and other ancient institutions, it is asking - still in private rather than in public - whether its past assumptions about faculty, authority, admissions, courses of study, are really relevant to the problems of the 1990’s.
『Should Harvard or any other university be an intellectual sanctuary, apart from the political and social revolution of the age, or should it be a laboratory for experimentation with these political and social revolutions; or even an engine of the revolution? 』①This is what is being discussed privately in the big clapboard houses of faculty members around the Harvard Yard.
The issue was defined by Waiter Lippmann, a distinguished Harvard graduate, several years ago. “If the universities are to do their work,” he said, “they must be independent and they must be disinterested… They are places to which men can turn for judgements which are unbiased by partisanship and special interest.

『Obviously, the moment the universities fall under political control, or under the control of private interests, or the moment they themselves take a hand in politics and the leadership of government, their value as independent and disinterested sources of judgement is impaired.”』②
This is part of the argument that is going on at Harvard today. Another part is the argument of the militant and even many moderate students: that a university is the keeper of our ideals and morals, and should not be “disinterested” but activist in bringing the nation’s ideals and actions together.
Harvard’s men of today seem more troubled and less sure about personal, political and academic purpose than they did at the beginning. 『They are not even clear about how they should debate and resolve their problems, but they are struggling with them privately, and how they come out is bound to influence American university and political life in the 1990’s.』③
1. The issues in the debate on Harvard’s goals are whether the universities should remain independent of our society and its problems, and whether they should .
A. fight militarism
B. overcome the widespread drug dependency
C. take an active part in solving society’s ills
D. support our old and established institutions
2. In regard to their goals and purposes in life, the author believes that Harvard men are becoming .
A. more sure about them
B. less sure about them
C. more hopeful of reaching a satisfactory answer
D. completely disillusioned about ever
3. The word “paradox” in paragraph 1 is .
A. a parenthetical expression
B. a difficult puzzle
C. an abnormal condition
D. a self-contradiction
4. The word “sanctuary”in paragraph 3 is.
A. a holy place dedicated to a certain god
B. a temple or nunnery of middle age
C. a certain place you can hide in and avoid mishaps
D. an academy for intelligent people
5. In the author’s judgement, the ferment going on at Harvard .
A. is a sad symbol of our general bewilderment
B. will soon be over, because times are bound to change
C. is of interest mostly to Harvard men and their friends
D. will influence future life in America
Vocabulary
1.paradox n. 似非而是的论点；似非而可能是的隽语；自相矛盾的话
2.sanctuary n. 避难所
3.clapboard n. 隔板，墙板，桶板
4.distinguished adj. 卓著的，著名的，高贵的
5.partisanship n. 党派性，党派偏见
6.disinterested adj. 无私的
7.impair v. 削弱，伤害
itant ad

j. 好战的，战斗性的
9.be bound to 一定要……
长难句解析
①【解析】此句由两个并列的句子组成，“apart from…”做第一个句子“sanctuary”的补语。
【译文】哈佛或其它一些大学应当是一个智力的避难所，远离当今的政治和社会变革；还应当是政治和社会变革的一块实验基地，或者甚至是革命的一部发动机呢？
②【解析】两个“the moment”引导的句子做此句的时间状语从句。
【译文】显然，当大学处于政治和私有企业的控制下，或者他们自己从事政治和政府的领导时，他们作为独立和公正判断的价值观将会收到伤害。
③【解析】这个长句由三个句子组成，“but”引导了一个转折句，“and”引导了一个并列句。be bound to“肯定会，必定”。
【译文】他们甚至不清楚应当怎样讨论和解决他们的问题，但是他们每个人正在奋斗，并且哈佛大学议论的结果必定影响20世纪90年代美国的大学和政治生活。
答案与详解
【短文大意】本文主要讲述哈佛大学正面临的一个重要的争论，即一所大学应当是什么样的，现在的大学是否是符合标准的，哈佛大学应当远离政治和社会，还是作为政治和社会的一块实验田。
1.C细节题。文章第三段实际上已经告诉我们本文要讨论的议题。选项C提到的观点是“大学应该保持独立”这一论点的对立面，属议题范围之内。
2.B细节题。根据文章末段，Harvard’s men of today seem more troubled and less sure about personal, political and academic purpose than they did at the beginning. 可知正确选项为B。
3.D词汇题。从第四段我们可以猜出paradox是“自相矛盾”的意思。因此选项D正确。
4.C词汇题。意为：“Sanctuary”就是你可躲起来避过灾祸的地方。在中世纪一般是某些教堂或者修道院可以充当躲避任何政府惩罚的避难所，所以A、B两项也是与它词义有一点关联的，D关系最小。
5.D观点题。根据文章末尾，and how they come out is bound to influence American university and political life in the 1990’s. 作者认为在哈佛的争论的结果一定会影响美国的大学和政治生活。本题中的ferment意为“骚动，纷扰”，指的就是文章所说的争论。因此D符合作者的观点。


第一篇　人文篇Passage 9
Passage 9建议用时：7分钟From:To:
Sex prejudices are based on and justified by the ideology that biology is destiny. According to this ideology, basic biological and psychological differences exist between the sexes. These differences require each sex to play a separate role