英语四级考试仔细阅读练习题

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Part I Reading Comprehension

(35 minutes)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.

The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.

Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.

The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.

There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.

If FIFA, football’s international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.

He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.

21. The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to ________.

A) review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup

B) analyse the causes of errors made by football referees

C) set a standard for football refereeing

D) reexamine the rules for football refereeing

22. The number of refereeing errors in the experimental matches was ________.

A) slightly above average

B) higher than in the 1998 World Cup

C) quite unexpected

D) as high as in a standard match

23. The findings of the experiment show that ________.

A) errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball

B) the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors

C) the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur

D) errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot

24. The word “officials” (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to ________.

A) the researchers involved in the experiment

B) the inspectors of the football tournament

C) the referees of the football tournament

D) the observers at the site of the experiment

25. What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?

A) The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.

B) Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.

C) A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.

D) An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition. Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states—at least in getting people off welfare. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people have left the rolls since 1994.

In the past four years, welfare rolls in Athens Country have been cut in half. But 70 percent of the people who left in the past tow years took jobs that paid less than $6 an hour. The result: The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent—twice the national average.

For advocates (代言人) for the poor, that’s an indication much more needs to be done.

“More people are getting jobs, but it’s not making their lives any better,” says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.

A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed households were earning money on their own, but that average income for these households actually went down.

But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory.

“Welfare was a poison. It was a toxin (毒素) that was poisoning the family,” says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst. “The reform in changing the moral climate in low-income communities. It’s beginning to rebuild the work ethic (道德观), which is much more important.”

Mr. Rector and others argued that once “the habit of dependency is cracked,” then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards.

26. From the passage, it can be seen that the author ________.

A) believes the reform has reduced the government’s burden

B) insists that welfare reform is doing little good for the poor

C) is overenthusiastic about the success of welfare reform

D) considers welfare reform to be fundamentally successful

27. Why aren’t people enjoying better lives when they have jobs?

A) Because many families are divorced.

B) Because government aid is now rare.

C) Because their wages are low.

D) Because the cost of living is rising.

28. What is worth noting from the example of Athens County is that ________.

A) greater efforts should be made to improve people’s living standards

B) 70 percent of the people there have been employed for two years

C) 50 percent of the population no longer relies on welfare

D) the living standards of most people are going down

29. From the passage we know that welfare reform aims at ________.

A) saving welfare funds

B) rebuilding the work ethic

C) providing more jobs

D) cutting government expenses

30. According to the passage before the welfare reform was carried out, ________.

A) the poverty rate was lover

B) average living standards were higher

C) the average worker was paid higher wages

D) the poor used to rely on government aid

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

Americans are pound of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity (身份) than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible (可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

31. It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality ________.

A) still judge a man by his clothes

B) hold the uniform in such high regard

C) enjoy having a professional identity

D) will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

32. People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ________.

A) suggests quality work

B) discards his social identity

C) appears to be more practical

D) looks superior to a person in civilian clothes

33. The chief function of a uniform is to ________.

A) provide practical benefits to the wearer

B) make the wearer catch the pubic eye

C) inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself

D) provide the wearer with a professional identity

34. According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ________.

A) are usually helpful

B) have little or no individual freedom

C) tend to lose their individuality

D) enjoy greater popularity

35. The best title for this passage would be ________.

A) Uniforms and Society

B) The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

C) Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

D) Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances. Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to cope with major life changes and daily hassles (困难).

People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, reveal that the presence of social support helps people fend off (挡开) illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.

Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives, and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Engaging in leisure-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting (转移„注意力) us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support—financial aid, material resources, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us resolve and cope with our problems.

36. Interpersonal relationships are important because ________.

A) they are indispensable to people’s social well-being

B) they awaken people’s desire to exchange resources

C) they help people to cope with life in the information era

D) they can cure a range of illnesses such as heart disease, etc

37. Research shows that people’s physical and mental health ________.

A) relies on the social welfare systems which support them

B) has much to do with the amount of support they get from others

C) depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles

D) is closely related to their strength for coping with major changes in their lives

38. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “cushions” (Line 1, Para. 2)?

A) Adds up to.

B) Does away with.

C) Lessens the effect of.

D) Lays the foundation for.

39. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work is an example of ________.

A) instrumental support

B) informational support

C) social companionship

D) the strengthening of self-respect

40. Social companionship is beneficial in that ________.

A) it helps strengthen our ties with relatives

B) it enables us to eliminate our faults and mistakes

C) it makes our leisure-time activities more enjoyable

D) it draws our attention away from our worries and troubles

Unit 3

21. B 22. C 23. A 24.C 25. B

26. D 27. C 28. A 29.B 30. D

31. B 32. A 33. D 34.C 35. D

36. A 37. B 38. C 39.A 40. D

Part II Reading Comprehension

(35 minutes)

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.

Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids (流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.

Buy $50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we’ll have a way to change its course.

Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn’t be cheap.

Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk re: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare—but if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we don’t take care of these big asteroids, they’ll take care of us,” says one scientist. “It’s that simple.”

The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday (毁灭性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them,” said a New York Times article.

21. What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?

A) They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

B) They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C) There are more asteroids than meteoroids.

D) Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

22. What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?

A) It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B) Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C) Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

D) It’s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

23. What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the courses of asteroids?

A) It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B) It may create more problems than it might solve.

C) It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D) Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

24. We can conclude from the passage that ________.

A) while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world

B) asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future

C) the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime

D) workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth

25. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in this passage?

A) Optimistic. B) Critical. C) Objective. D) Arbitrary.

Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Believe it or not, optical illusion (错觉) can cut highway crashes.

Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent stripes, called chevrons (人字形), painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.

Now the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.

Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest—curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.

Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.

Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway sped and the number of traffic accidents.

26. The passage mainly discusses ________.

A) a new way of highway speed control

B) a new pattern for painting highways

C) a new approach to training drivers

D) a new type of optical illusion考试大论坛

27. On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that ________.

A) they should avoid speed-related hazards

B) they are driving in the wrong lane

C) they should slow down their speed

D) they are approaching the speed limit

28. The advantage of chevrons over straight, horizontal bars is that the former ________.

A) can keep drivers awake

B) can cut road accidents in half

C) will have a longer effect on drivers

D) will look more attractive

29. The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to ________.

A) try out the Japanese method in certain areas

B) change the road signs across the country

C) replace straight, horizontal bars with chevrons

D) repeat the Japanese road patterns

30. What does the author say about straight, horizontal bars painted across roads?

A) They are falling out of use in the United States.

B) They tend to be ignored by drivers in a short period of time.

C) They are applicable only on broad roads.

D) They cannot be applied successfully to traffic circles.

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

Amtrak (美国铁路客运公司) was experiencing a downswing in ridership (客运量) along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.] At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America’s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.

Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliers—those concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-lovers—those viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.

Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented

TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.

31. What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A) To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.

B) To stress the influence of the automobile on America’s standard of convenience.

C) To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.

D) To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.

32. It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that ________.

A) trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportation

B) trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportation

C) trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to be

D) trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience

33. To encourage consumers to travel by train, DDB Needham emphasized ________.

A) the freedom and convenience provided on trains

B) the practical aspects of train travel

C) the adventurous aspects of train trips

D) the safety and cleanliness of train trips

34. The train ads were placed among family-oriented TV programs involving nature and America because ________.

A) they could focus on meaningful travel experiences

B) they could increase the effectiveness of the TV programs

C) their profits could be increased by some 15 percent

D) most travel-lovers and nervous fliers were believed to be among the audiences

35. According to the passage, the Empire Builder enjoyed an increase in ridership and profits because ________.

A) the attractiveness of its name and route was effectively advertised

B) it provided an exciting travel experience

C) its passengers could enjoy the great western outdoors

D) it was widely advertised in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and Seattle Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

Why does cram go bad faster than butter? Some researchers think they have the answer, and it comes down to the structure of the food, not its chemical composition—a finding

that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives.

Cream and butter contain pretty much the same substances, so why cream should sour much faster has been a mystery. Both are emulsions—tiny globules (小球体) of one liquid evenly distributed throughout another. The difference lies in what’s in the globules and what’s in the surrounding liquid, says Brocklehurst, who led the investigation.

In cream, fatty globules drift about in a sea of water. In butter, globules of a watery solution are locked away in a sea of fat. The bacteria which make the food go bad prefer to live in the watery regions of the mixture. “This means that in cream, the bacteria are free to grow throughout the mixture,” he says.

When the situation is reversed, the bacteria are locked away in compartments (隔仓室) buried deep in the sea of fat. Trapped in this way, individual colonies cannot spread and rapidly run out of nutrients (养料). They also slowly poison themselves with their waste products. “In butter, you get a self-limiting system which stops the bacteria growing,” says Brocklehurst.

The researchers are already working with food companies keen to see if their products can be made resistant to bacterial attack through alterations to the food’s structure. Brocklehurst believes it will be possible to make the emulsions used in salad cream, for instance, more like that in butter. The key will be to do this while keeping the salad cream liquid and not turning it into a solid lump.

36. The significance of Brocklehurst’s research is that ________.

A) it suggested a way to keep some foods fresh without preservatives

B) it discovered tiny globules in both cream and butter

C) it revealed the secret of how bacteria multiply in cream and butter

D) it found that cream and butter share the same chemical composition

37. According to the researchers, cream sours fast than butter because bacteria ________.

A) are more evenly distributed in cream

B) multiply more easily in cream than in butter

C) live on less fat in cream than in butter

D) produce less waste in cream than in butter

38. According to Brocklehurst, we can keep cream fresh by ________.

A) removing its fat

B) killing the bacteria

C) reducing its water content

D) altering its structure

39. The word “colonies” (Line 2, Para. 4) refers to ________.

A) tiny globules

B) watery regions

C) bacteria communities

D) little compartments

40. Commercial application of the research finding will be possible if salad cream can be made resistant to bacterial attack ________.

A) by varying its chemical composition

B) by turning it into a solid lump

C) while keeping its structure unchanged

D) while retaining its liquid form

Unit 2

21. B 22. A 23. B 24.D 25. C

26. A 27. C 28. C 29.A 30. B

31. D 32. B 33.C 34. D 35. A

36. A 37. B 38. D 39.C 40. D

Part III Reading Comprehension

(35 minutes)

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like wild animals. They will soil your house, destroy your belongings, bark excessively, fight other dogs and even bite you. Nearly all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities that occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing. The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect its normal behavior to outlets that are acceptable in the domestic setting.

One of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself is to obedience train it. Obedience training doesn’t solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Training pens up a line of communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want it to do.

Training is also an easy way to establish the social rank order. When your dog obeys a simple request of “come here, sit,” it is showing obedience and respect for you. It is not necessary to establish yourself as top dog or leader of the pack (群) by using extreme measure. You can teach your dog its subordinate (从属的) role by teaching it to show submission to you. Most dogs love performing tricks for you to pleasantly accept that you are in charge.

Training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog. It can enrich your relationship and make living together more enjoyable. A well-trained dog is more confident and can more safely be allowed a greater amount of freedom than an untrained animal.

21. Behavior problems of dogs are believe to ________.

A) be just part of their nature

B) worsen in modern society

C) occur when they go wild

D) present a threat to the community

22. The primary purpose of obedience training is to ________.

A) teach the dog to perform clever tricks

B) make the dog aware of its owner’s authority

C) provide the dog with outlets for its wild behavior

D) enable the dog to regain its normal behavior

23. Effective communication between a dog and its owner is ________.

A) essential to solving the dog’s behavior problems

B) the foundation for dogs to perform tasks

C) a good way to teach the dog new tricks

D) an extreme measure in obedience training

24. Why do pet dogs love performing tricks for their masters?

A) To avoid being punished.

B) To show their affection for their masters.

C) To win leadership of the dog pack.

D) To show their willingness to obey.

25. When a dog has received effective obedience training, its owner ________.

A) can give the dog more rewards

B) will enjoy a better family life

C) can give the dog more freedom

D) will have more confidence in himself Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality, but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, of course, any sensible student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, famous reputation and lots of good labs and research equipment. But that’s not what I did.

I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts (文科) university that doesn’t even offer a major in electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my career. I wanted to open my eyes and expand my vision by interacting with people who weren’t studying science or engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a sensible choice. They told me I was wise and mature beyond my 18 years, and I believed them.

I headed off to college sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big engineering “factories” where they didn’t care if you have values or were flexible. I was going to be a complete engineer: technical genius and sensitive humanist (人文学者) all in one.

Now I’m not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideals crashed into reality, as all noble ideals eventually do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile (协调) engineering with liberal-arts courses in college.

The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply don’t’ mix as easily as I assumed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways; together they threaten to confuse. The struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult.

26. The author chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university because he ________.

A) wanted to be an example of practicality and rationality

B) intended to be a combination of engineer and humanist

C) wanted to coordinate engineering with liberal-arts courses in college

D) intended to be a sensible student with noble ideals

27. According to the author, by interacting with people who study liberal arts, engineering students can ________.

A) balance engineering and the liberal arts

B) receive guidance in their careers

C) become noble idealists

D) broaden their horizons

28. In the eyes of the author, a successful engineering student is expected ________.

A) to have an excellent academic record

B) to be wise and mature

C) to be imaginative with a value system to guide him

D) to be a technical genius with a wide vision

29. The author’s experience shows that he was ________.

A) creative

B) ambitious

C) unrealistic

D) irrational

30. The word “they” in “...together they threaten to confuse.” (Line 3, Para. 5) refers to ________.

A) engineering and the liberal arts

B) reality and noble ideals

C) flexibility and a value system

D) practicality and rationality

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

Priscilla Ouchida’s “energy-efficient” house turned out to be a horrible dream. When she and her engineer husband married a few years ago, they built a $100,000, three-bedroom home in California. Tightly sealed to prevent air leaks, the house was equipped with small double-paned (双层玻璃的) windows and several other energy-saving features. Problems began as soon as the couple moved in, however. Priscilla’s eyes burned. Her throat was constantly dry. She suffered from headaches and could hardly sleep. It was as though she had suddenly developed a strange illness.

Experts finally traced the cause of her illness. The level of formaldehyde (甲醛) gas in her kitchen was twice the maximum allowed by federal standards for chemical workers. The source of the gas? Her new kitchen cabinets and wall-to-wall carpeting.

The Ouchidas are victims of indoor air pollution, which is not given sufficient attention partly because of the nation’s drive to save energy. The problem itself isn’t new. “The indoor environment was dirty long before energy conservation came along,” says Moschandreas, a pollution scientist at Geomet Technologies in Maryland. “Energy conservation has tended to accentuate the situation in some cases.”

The problem appears to be more troublesome in newly constructed homes rather than old ones. Back in the days when energy was cheap, home builders didn’t worry much about unsealed cracks. Because of such leaks, the air in an average home was replaced by fresh outdoor air about once an hour. As a result, the pollutants generated in most households seldom build up to dangerous levels.

31. It can be learned from the passage that the Ouchidas’ house ________.

A) is well worth the money spent on its construction

B) is almost faultless from the point of energy conservation

C) failed to meet energy conservation standards

D) was designed and constructed in a scientific way

32. What made the Ouchidas’ new house a horrible dream?

A) Lack of fresh air.

B) Poor quality of building materials.

C) Gas leakage in the kitchen.

D) The newly painted walls.

33. The word “accentuate” (Line 4, Para. 3) most probably means “________”.

A) relieve

B) accelerate

C) worsen

D) improve

34. Why were cracks in old houses not a big concern?

A) Because indoor cleanliness was not emphasized.

B) Because energy used to be inexpensive.

C) Because environmental protection was given top priority.

D) Because they were technically unavoidable.

35. This passage is most probably taken from an article entitled “________”.

A) Energy Conservation

B) Houses Building Crisis

C) Air Pollution Indoors

D) Traps in Building Construction Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

In 1993. New York State ordered stores to charge a deposit on beverage (饮料) containers. Within a year. Consumers had returned millions of aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles. Plenty of companies were eager to accept the aluminum and glass as raw materials for new products. But because few could figure out what to do with the plastic, much of it wound up buried in landfills (垃圾填埋场). The problem was not limited to New York. Unfortunately, there were too few uses for second-hand plastic.

Today, one out of five plastic soda bottles is recycled (回收利用) in the United States. The reason for the change is that now there are dozens of companies across the country buying discarded plastic soda bottles and turning them into fence posts, paint brushes, etc.

As the New York experience shows, recycling involves more than simply separating valuable materials from the rest of the rubbish. A discard remains a discard until somebody figures out how to give it a second life-and until economic arrangements exist to give that second life value. Without adequate markets to absorb materials collected for recycling,

throwaways actually depress prices for used materials.

Shrinking landfill space, and rising costs for burying and burning rubbish are forcing local governments to look more closely at recycling. In many areas, the East Coast especially, recycling is already the least expensive waste-management option. For every ton of waste recycled, a city avoids paying for its disposal, which, in parts of New York, amounts to saving of more than $100 per ton. Recycling also stimulates the local economy by creating jobs and trims the pollution control and energy costs of industries that make recycled products by giving them a more refined raw material.

36. What regulation was issued by New York State concerning beverage containers?

A) Beverage companies should be responsible for collecting and reusing discarded plastic soda bottles.

B) Throwaways should be collected by the state for recycling.

C) A fee should be charged on used containers for recycling.

D) Consumers had to pay for beverage containers and could get their money back on returning them.

37. The returned plastic bottles in New York used to ________.

A) end up somewhere underground

B) be turned into raw materials

C) have a second-life value

D) be separated from other rubbish

38. The key problem in dealing with returned plastic beverage containers is ________.

A) to sell them at a profitable price

B) how to turn them into useful things

C) how to reduce their recycling costs

D) to lower the prices for used materials

39. Recycling ahs become the first choice for the disposal of rubbish because ________.

A) local governments find it easy to manage

B) recycling ahs great appeal for the jobless

C) recycling causes little pollution

D) other methods are more expensive

40. It can be concluded from the passage that ________.

A) rubbish is a potential remedy for the shortage of raw materials

B) local governments in the U.S. can expect big profits from recycling

C) recycling is to be recommended both economically and environmentally

D) landfills will still be widely used for waste disposal 参

21. A 22. C 23. B 24. D 25. C 26. B 27. D 28. D 29. C 30. A

31. B 32. A 33. C 34. B 35. C 36. D 37. A 38. B 39. D 40. C

Part IV Reading Comprehension

(35 minutes)

Passage one

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.

The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.

Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (拥挤). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.

When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可伸缩的) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.

The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer(蜂鸣器) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.

21. One significant improvement in the future car will probably be ________.

A) its power source

B) its driving system

C) its monitoring system

D) its seating capacity

22. What is the author’s main concern?

A) How to render automobiles pollution-free.

B) How to make smaller and safer automobiles.

C) How to solve the problem of traffic jams.

D) How to develop an automated subway system.

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

A) A rail.

B) An engine.

C) A retractable arm.

D) A computer controller.

24. In an automated highway system, all the driver needs to do is ________.

A) keep in the right lane

B) wait to arrive at his destination

C) keep in constant touch with the computer center

D) inform the system of his destination by phone

25. What is the author’s attitude toward the future of autos?

A) Enthusiastic.

B) Pessimistic.

C) Optimistic.

D) Cautious.

Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Foxes and farmers have never got on well. These small dog-like animals have long been accused of killing farm animals. They are officially classified as harmful and farmers try to keep their numbers down by shooting or poisoning them.

Farmers can also call on the services of their local hunt to control the fox population. Hunting consists of pursuing a fox across the countryside, with a group of specially trained dogs, followed by men and women riding horses. When the dogs eventually catch the fox they kill it or a hunter shoots it.

People who take part in hunting think of as a sport; they wear a special uniform of red

coats and white trousers, and follow strict codes of behavior. But owning a horse and hunting regularly is expensive, so most hunters are wealthy.

It is estimated that up to 100,000 people watch or take part in fox hunting. But over the last couple of decades the number of people opposed to fox hunting, because they think it is brutal (残酷的), has risen sharply. Nowadays it is rare for a hunt to pass off without some kind of confrontation (冲突) between hunters and hunt saboteurs (阻拦者). Sometimes these incidents lead to violence, but mostly saboteurs interfere with the hunt by misleading riders and disturbing the trail of the fox’s smell, which the dogs follow.

Noisy confrontations between hunters and saboteurs have become so common that they are almost as much a part of hunting as the pursuit of foxes itself. But this year supporters of fox hunting face a much bigger threat to their sport. A Labour Party Member of the Parliament, Mike Foster, is trying to get Parliament to approve a new law which will make the hunting of wild animals with dogs illegal. If the law is passed, wild animals like foxes will be protected under the ban in Britain.

26. Rich people in Britain have been hunting foxes ________.

A) for recreation

B) in the interests of the farmers

C) to limit the fox population

D) to show off their wealth

27. What is special about fox hunting in Britain?

A) It involves the use of a deadly poison.

B) It is a costly event which rarely occurs.

C) The hunters have set rules to follow.

D) The hunters have to go through strict training.

28. Fox hunting opponents often interfere in the game ________.

A) by resorting to violence

B) by confusing the fox hunters

C) by taking legal action

D) by demonstrating on the scene

29. A new law may be passed by the British Parliament to ________.

A) prohibit farmers from hunting foxes

B) forbid hunting foxes with dogs

C) stop hunting wild animals in the countryside

D) prevent large-scale fox hunting

30. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A) killing foxes with poison is illegal

B) limiting the fox population is unnecessary

C) hunting foxes with dogs is considered cruel and violent

D) fox-hunting often leads to confrontation between the poor and the rich

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

For an increasing number of students at American universities, Old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs, coupled with the aging of the baby-boom (生育高峰) generation, a longer life span means that the nation’s elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change poses profound questions for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions, and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, we’re going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology (老年学).

Lawyers can specialize in “elder law,” which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination (歧视). Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says.

Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria.” So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she lied it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”

31. “...Old is suddenly in” (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means “________”.

A) America has suddenly become a nation of old people

B) gerontology has suddenly become popular

C) more elderly professors are found on American campuses

D) American colleges have realized the need of enrolling older students

32. With the aging of America, lawyers can benefit ________.

A) from the adoption of the “elder law”

B) from rendering special services to the elderly

C) by enriching their professional knowledge

D) by winning the trust of the elderly to promote their own interests

33. Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market?

A) Retirees are more generous in spending money.

B) They can employ more gerontologists.

C) The elderly possess an enormous purchasing power.

D) There are more elderly people working than before.

34. Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?

A) Retirees who are business-minded.

B) The volunteer workers in retirement homes.

C) College graduates with an MBA or law degree.

D) Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology.

35. It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of America’s elderly population ________.

A) will provide good job opportunities in many areas

B) will impose an unbearable burden on society

C) may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination

D) will create new fields of study in universities Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

The decline in moral standards—which has long concerned social analysts—has at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one, is glad.

The fact the ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nation’s moral climate, says this ethics (伦理学) professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it.

But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and individualism in American society are the biggest obstacles. “The thought that ‘I’m in it for me’ has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness,” Ms. Elshtain says.

Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she says. With today’s greater mobility and with so many

couples working, those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self.

In a 1996 poll of Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U.S. and Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: Data show that Americans are struggling with problems unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers.

The desire for a higher moral standard is not a lament (挽歌) for some nonexistent “golden age,” Elshtain says, nor is it a wishful (一厢情愿的) longing for a time that denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice.

Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society, she says. “Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that cant’ be bought.”

36. Professor Elshtain is pleased to see that Americans ________.

A) have adapted to a new set of moral standards

B) are longing for the return of the good old days

C) have realized the importance of material things

D) are awakening to the lowering of their moral standards

37. The moral decline of American society is caused manly by ________.

A) its growing wealth

B) the self-centeredness of individuals

C) underestimating the impact of social changes

D) the prejudice against women and minorities

38. Which of the following characterizes the traditional communities?

A) Great mobility.