文档内容
大学英语四级阅读
Passage
Violin prodigies (神童), I learned, have come indistinct waves from distinct regions.
Most of thegreat performers if the late 19th and early 20thcenturies were born and
brought up in Russia andEastern Europe.I asked Isaac Stern, one of theworld’s
greatest violinists the reason for thisphenomenon. It is very clear, he told me.
Theywere all Jews(犹太人) and Jews at the time wereseverely oppressed and ill
treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into theprofessional fields, but
they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage. As aresult, every Jewish
parent’s dream was to have a child in the music school because it was apassport to the
West.
Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values
excellencein a certain field to nurture (培育) talent. Nowadays, the most nurturing
societies seem to bein the Far East. “In Japan, a most competitive society, with
stronger discipline than ours. ”says Isaac Stem, children are ready to test their limits
every day in many fields, includingmusic. When Western music came to Japan after
World WarⅡ, that music not only became partof their daily lives, but it became a
discipline as well. The Koreans and Chinese as we know,are just as highly motivated
as the Japanese.
That’s a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard. Next to hard
work,biologicalinheritance plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S.
Bach, for example, wasthe top of several generations of musicians, and four of his
sons had significant careers inmusic.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.Jewish parents in Eastern Europe longed for their children to attend music school
because ______ .
A. it would allow them access to a better life in the West
B. Jewish children are born with excellent musical talent
C. they wanted their children to enter into the professional field
D. it would enable the family to get better treatment in their own country
2.Nurturing societies as mentioned in the passage refer to societies that ______ .
A. enforce strong discipline on students who want to achieve excellenceB. treasure talent and provide opportunities for its full development
C. encourage people to compete with each other
D. promise talented children high positions
3.Japan is described in the passage as a country that attaches importance to ______ .
A. all-round development.
B. the learning of Western music
C. strict training of children
D. variety in academic studies
4.Which of the following contributes to the emergence of musical prodigies according
to the passage?
A. A natural gift.
B. Extensive knowledge of music.
C. Very early training.
D. A prejudice-free society.
5.Which of the following titles best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
A. Jewish Contribution to Music.
B. Training of Musicians in the World
C. Music and Society
D. The Making of Prodigies
参考答案
1.[A] 原文首段最后一句提到，所有犹太人父母的梦想就是让孩子上音乐学
校，由because引导的从句解释了原因，即因为这是通往西方世界的通行证。A
项为原文的同义改写，故选A。B、D在文中没有提及，原文中说进入
professional field是不被允许的,故C不符合。2.[B] nurturing societies出现在文中第 2段第 2 句，很显然nurturing society指的
是前一句说的“重视在某一特定领域中的优异表现，能培养才能的社会”,B与原
文相符。
3.[C] 日本在文中作为典型的nurturing society的例子，之后提到日本社会竟争
激烈，注重规范和纪律，结合这两点可知，C 正确。
4.[A] 最后一段第2句提到，遗传在天才的产生上也起很重要的作用，即天
赋，故选A。其他三项在文中并未提及。
5.[D] 本文中，prodigies是一个关键词，四个选项中只有D包含了这一关键
词。其他三个选项都只是文中的局部信息，不是文章主旨，均排除。
Passage
Taste is such a subjective matter that we don't usually conduct preference tests for
food. The most you can say about anyone's preference, is that it's one person's
opinion. But because the two big cola(可乐) companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola are
marketed aggressively, we've wondered how big a role taste preference actually plays
in brand loyalty. We set up a taste test that challenged people who identified
themselves as either C0ca-Cola or Pepsi fans: Find your brand in a blind tasting.
We invited staff volunteers who had a strong liking for either Coca-Cola Classic (传
统型)or Pepsi, Diet (低糖的)Coke, or Diet Pepsi-These were people who thought
they'd have no trouble telling their brand from the other brand. We eventually located
19 regular cola drinkers and 27 diet cola drinkers.
We eventually located 19regular cola drinkers and 27diet cola drinkers. Then we fed
them four unidentifiedsamples of cola one at a time, regular colas for the one group,
diet versions for the other. We asked themto tell us whether each sample was Coke or
Pepsi; then we analyzed the records statistically to compare the participants 'choices
with what mere gum-work would have accomplished.
Getting all four samples right was a tough test, but not too tough, we thought, for
people who believed they could recognize their brand. In the end, only 7out
of19regular cola drinkers correctly identified theirbrand of choice in all four trials.
The diet-cola drinkers did a little worse -only 7of27identified all four samples
correctly.
While both groups did better than chance would predict, nearly half the participants in
each group made the wrong choice two or more times. Two people got all four
samples wrong. Overall, half the participants did about as well on the last round of
tasting as on the first, so fatigue, or taste burn out, was not a factor. Our preference
test results suggest that only a few Pepsi participants and Coke fans may really be
able to tell their favorite brand by taste and price.Choose correct answers to the question:
1. According to the passage the preference test was conducted in order to _____.
A. find out the role taste preference plays in a person's drinking
B. reveal which cola is more to the liking of the drinkers
C. show that a person's opinion about taste is mere guess-work
D. compare the ability of the participants in choosing their drinks
2. The statistics recorded in the preference tests show _____.
A. Coca-Cola and Pepsi are people's two most favorite drinks
B. there is not much difference in taste between Coca-Cola and Pepsi
C. few people had trouble telling Coca-Cola from Pepsi
D. people's tastes differ from one another
3. It is implied in the first paragraph that _____.
A. the purpose of taste tests b to promote the sale of colas
B. the improvement of quality is the chief concern of the two cola companies
C. the competition between the two colas is very strong
D. blind tasting is necessary for identifying fans
4. The word "burnout"(Line4,Para.5) here refers to the state of _____.
A. being seriously burnt in the skin
B. being unable to burn for lack of fuel
C. being badly damaged by fire
D. being unable to function because of excessive use
5. The author's purpose in writing this passage is to _____.A. show that taste preference is highly subjective
B. argue that taste testing is an important marketing strategy
C. emphasize that taste and price are closely related to each other
D. recommend that blind tasting be introduced in the quality control of colas
参考答案
1.[A] 第1段第3句提到，由于两大可乐公司的营销如此具有攻击性，我们不
由想知道对味道的偏好在品牌忠诚度上起多大的作用，A与之相符。
2.[B] 第4段第2、3句表明可口可乐和百事可乐在味道方面并无多大差异，B
与之相符。A、D不是实验数据所表明的事情，故排除;C与原文的意思不相
符，也排除。
3.[C] 由第1段第3句中Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola are marketed so aggressively可
知两大公司竞争极为激烈，故选C。
4.[D] 文章最后一段第3句中，fatigue与taste bum out之间用or连接，表明两
者语义比较接近，对比四个选项，D符合，表示味觉疲劳、麻木。
5.[A] 文章第1句Taste is such... food表明味觉偏好是十分主观的，且下文讲到
的实验结果也更进一步印证了该观点，故选A。
Passage
In the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a
checklist of stressful events.They appreciated the tricky point that any major change
can be stressful. Negative events like “serious illness of a family member” were high
on the list, but so were some positive life-changing events, like marriage. When you
take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you
dealwith stress—it only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know
that the way you handle these events dramatically affects your chances of staying
healthy.
By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And
millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports.
Somehow, the research got boiled down to a memorable message. Women’s
magazines ran headlines like “Stress causes illness!” If you want to stay physicallyand
mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events.
But such simplistic advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events aredangerous, many—like thedeath of a loved one—are impossible to avoid. Moreover,
any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription (处方) for staying away
from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful, a person who
wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job
or move.
The notion that all stress makes you sick also ignores a lot of what we know about
people. It assumes we’re all vulnerable (脆弱的) and passive in the face of adversity
(逆境). But what about human initiative and creativity? Many come through periods
of stress with more physical and mental vigor than they had before.We also know that
a long time without change or challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and metal
strain.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. The result of Holmes-Rahe’s medical research tells us ________.
A. the way you handle major events may cause stress
B. what should be done to avoid stress
C. what kind of event would cause stress
D. how to cope with sudden changes in life
2. The studies on stress in the early 1970’s led to ________.
A. widespread concern over its harmful effects
B. great panic over the mental disorder it could cause
C. an intensive research into stress-related illnesses
D. popular avoidance of stressful jobs
3. The score of the Holmes-Rahe test shows ________.
A. how much pressure you are under
B. how positive events can change your life
C. how stressful a major event can be
D. how you can deal with life-changing events4. Why is “such simplistic advice” (Line 1, Para. 3) impossible to follow?
A. No one can stay on the same job for long.
B. No prescription is effective in relieving stress.
C. People have to get married someday.
D. You could be missing opportunities as well.
5. According to the passage people who have experienced ups and downs may
become ____.
A. nervous when faced with difficulties
B. physically and mentally strained
C. more capable of coping with adversity
D. indifferent toward what happens to them
参考答案
1.[C] 事实细节题。根据文章的第1句话可知，这两位科学家对造成人们压力的
事件列了一个清单,故C与此相符,为正确答案。
2.[A] 事实细节题。根据文章第2段第2句“…millions of Americans... worried
over the reports.”可见此研究报告引起了 widespread concern,故选A。
3.[A] 事实细节题。根据第1段第4句中的does not reflect..., it only shows...可知
本题答案应为破折号后的内容，其中how much指的是how much stress,故可知
A为正确答案。
4.[D] 推理判断题。这里的建议是指第2段末尾提出的“避免带来压力的事”。根
据第3段第 3句“而且，警告人们远离压力，这个处方不仅使人避免麻烦，同时
也使人放弃了机会”,故选D。
5.[C] 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第2句“很多人经历一段时间的压力后，无论
是身体还是精神都比原来更有活力”，故选C。
Passage
It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in
the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of adowry (彩礼). Admittedly, the purposeof this was to protect her against the risk of
desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much
more important. The dowry was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s
property. The wife had the right to with hold consent, in all transactions the husband
wouldmake, and more than just a right; the documents show that she enjoyed a real
power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case do the documents indicate
any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.
The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the
opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own
inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they
showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria Vivas. Having agreed
with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household,
she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her
husband to the scribe(法学家) to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece
of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to
agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or
through being hot-tempered, the wife knew how to win herself, with the context of the
family, a powerful economic position.ric illnesses including depression often do not
manifest themselves until the late teens or early 20s.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. A decimum was ________.
A. the wifes inheritance from her father
B. a gift of money to the new husband
C.a protection of the wife’s right
D. a written contract
2. In the 10th and11th centuries in southern European, women’s social position was
______.
A. higher than men’s
B. as high as men’s
C. lower than men’s
D.never recognized3.The purpose of mentioning the case of Maria Vivas_____
A.to show women had the same rights as,if not more than,their husband
B.to prove hot-tempered woman held a powerful economic position
C.to tell the readers the real situations in some countries
D.to show the fight spirits of woman
4.Could a husband sell his wifes inheritance?
A. Yes, if she agreed.
B. No, under no circumstances.
C. Yes, whenever he wished to.
D, Yes, if his father-in-law agreed.
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an effect of the dowry system?
A. The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage.
B. The wife could manage her husband’s personal property.
C. The wife gained a powerful economic position.
D. The wife would not be deserted by her husband.
参考答案
1.[C] 词义推断题。第1段第2句指出了 decimum的作用，即与“彩礼”相当，
作为保护妇女的工具。第4句以 “The decimum was...”的句式指出其定义，综合
这两句，可断定选项C正确。
2.[B] 推理判断题。文章第1句就表明妇女当时的地位很高，第1段最后两句表
明妇女与其丈夫的地位并无不同，是平等的，因此可以推断本题答案应为B。
3.[A] 推理判断题。本题考查例子与观点的关系。该例子是为了证明其前面，
即第2段开头两句的观点,选项A是对这两句话的总结。
4.[A]推理判断题。本题考査从例子的推断。根据Maria Vivas的例子可确定答
案，而且从第2段第 4句中的Having agreed with her husband可推断售卖妻子继承的财产必须先征得妻子的同意，因此选项A 正确。
5.[D] 事实细节题。可用排除法找出答案。第1段倒数第2句可证明选项 A正
确，第2段首句可证明选项 B正确，第2段末句可表明选项C正确，只有选项
D太绝 对。
Passage
Thoughts of suicide haunted Anita Rutnam long before she arrived at Syracuse
University. She had a historyof mental illness and had even attempted to kill herself.
During her junior year of college, she tried again. On a February morning in 1998,
just days after a campus counselor recommended she be hospitalized for her suicidal
tendencies, Rutnam threw herself off the eighth floor of a Syracuse dormitory.
Miraculously, she survived. But three years later, Rutnam still feels the effects of that
day. She has notbeen able to finish college and is suing her former school for
malpractice. Her suit asserts that, given the campus counselor's advice, school
officials should have done more to prevent her suicide attempt.
This incident and others have thrown a spotlight on an issue that is causing growing
concern in dorm roomsand students center. Are colleges providing adequate care for
students who may be struggling with a range of mental illnesses? In the Syracuse
cases, a spokesman for the school contends, "The University tried repeatedly to help
Anita, and we felt that they acted appropriately." But lawyers are busy there and
elsewhere.
After accidents, suicide is the second biggest killer of kids in college. And while the
number of studentswho kill themselves on campus is no higher than that of 18-to-24-
year-olds in the general population, a series of sensational incidents has raised the
question of whether troubled students are getting proper attention.
So what are the schools' responsibilities to at-risk students, particularly those who
may be genetically predisposed (易患……病的)to mental illness? College can be a
breeding ground for Psychiatric problems. Poor eating habits and irregular sleeping
patterns-especially combined with the academic stress of college life -may all play
roles in triggering mental problems. Additionally, many of the major psychiatric
illnesses including depression often do not manifest themselves until the late teens or
early 20s.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. Anita Rutnam couldn't finish college most probably because_____
A. she couldn't get enough concern from Syracuse UniversityB. she wasn't physically healthy enough to continue schooling
C. she still kept thinking about killing herself whenever at school
D. she has been troubled by the memory of the incident very often
2. What does the author want us to know through Anita Rutnam's story?
A. The universities are not responsible for their students.
B. Suicides are popular on college campus and should be handled properly.
C. Why Anita committed suicide is still a mystery.
D. Universities should get prepared in case their students sue them.
3. What does Anita accuse her former school of?
A. Ignorance of her abnormal behaviors.
B. Lack of safeguard against her suicidal intention.
C. Failure to give her proper academic instructions.
D. Indifference to her physical disease.
4. How does Syracuse University defend itself against Anita's suit?
A. It has given her due attention as well as help.
B. Adult students should be able to control their own behavior.
C. It is more than the school's responsibility to supervise the students.
D. Colleges can be a breeding ground for psychiatric problems.
5. All the following problems are implied as possible causes of campus suicide
incidents EXCEPT _____.
A. poor academic results
B. failing to get proper sleep
C. lack of family concernD. family history of mental illness
参考答案
1.[D] 事实细节题。根据题干定位第2段第2、3句。这两句之间存在隐含的因
果关系，第2句是因，第 3句是果。只有选项 D在第 2句提到其他选项均未提
及。
2.[B] 推理判断题。本文开头的例子所支持的现点在第3段第 1句，同时结合
suicide，此题答案为B。选项A、D的观点有误,选项C与本文的写作目的无
关。
3.[B] 事实细节题。第2段第3句中的malpractice和第 4句中的虚拟语气说
明，她认为学校没有对她的自杀企图采取足够的防范措施，故选B。选项 A最
具干扰性，但第3句说明学校关注过她的问题，只是关注不够，因此选项A过
于绝 对。选项C中的academic instructions和 D中的physical disease属于与文
章无关的信息。
4.[A] 事实细节题。第4段倒数第2句引文是该校发言人的辩护词，与选项A
的意思一致。选项B、C为无关信息。选项 D 是原文最后一段的原句照搬，与
此题不相关。
5.[C] 事实细节题。最后一段提到造成精神疾病的多种原因。第1句中的
generally predisposed为先天具有之意,与选项D 的内容吻合。选项B 和A分别
对应文中破折号前后的内容。
Passage
Congratulations, Mr. Jones, it's a girl."
Fatherhood is going to have a different meaning and bring forth a different response
from every man who hears these words. Some feel pride when they receive the news,
while others worry, wondering whether they will be good fathers. Although there are
some men who like children and may have had considerable experiencewith them,
others do not particularly care for children and spend little time with them. Many
fathers and mothers have been planning and looking forward to children for some
time. For other couples, pregnancy wasan accident that both husband and wife have
accepted willingly or unwillingly.
Whatever the reaction to the birth of a child, it is obvious that the shift from the role
of husband to that of father is a difficult task. Yet, unfortunately, few attempts have
been made to educate fathers in this reconciliation (协调) process. Although
numerous books have been written about American mothers, only recently has
literature focused on the role of fathers.It is argued by some writers that the change to the father's role, although difficult, is
not nearly as great as the change the wife must take to the mother's role. The mother's
role seems to require a complete transformation in daily routine and highly
innovative(创新的) adaptation. On the other hand, the father's role is less demanding
and immediate. However, even though we mentioned the fact that growing numbers
of women are working outside the home, the father is still thought by many as the
breadwinner in the household.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.What can we know about fatherhood from the passage?
A.It brings a feeling of excitement to most man
B.It make some man feel proud and others uneasy
C.It has a different meaning for men who have daughters
D.It means a responsibility that men accept unwillingly
2.What does the passage say about the shift from the role of husband to that of father?
A. Numerous books have been written about it.
B. Not enough attention has been paid to it.
C. The shift is harder for men than for women.
D. The shift is a difficult but incomplete one.
3.What can we know about mothers from the passage?
A.Mothers get more attention and recognition from society
B.Mothers are innovative and demanding according to some writers
C.Mothers generally stay at home to take care of the children
D.Mothers should help fathers in their reconciliation process
4.Which of the following will the author most probably disagree with?
A. It's as difficult to be a father as it is to be a mother.B. More books should focus on the role of fathers.
C. The father is still the breadwinner in the household.
D. Fathers are as important to children as mothers.
5.The author's purpose in writing this passage is to
A. explain why there are few books on the role of fathers.
B. praise mothers for their great contributions to the home.
C. criticize fathers for not taking enough responsibility in bringing up the children.
D. complain about the lack of social programs to help fathers in their role shift.
参考答案
1.[B] 事实细节题。由第2段第2句中的pride 和worry可以判断选项 B是对该
句的近义替换。选项A原文未提到。选项 C曲解了原文第2段第 1句的意思，
该句中的“Fatherhood is going to have a different meaning”表示对于每个男人来说
当上父亲具有不同的意义，而不是就琼斯先生而言。第2段最后一句表明只有
部分人不情愿接受责任，因此在D选项men前面加上some才正确。
2.[B] 推理判断题。根据第3段最后两句可以推断选项B正确。选项A与第3
段最后一句陈述的相反。最后一段第1句虽有提及向父亲角色的转变很困难,但
并未像选项C那样对比。选项D错在incomplete一词,文中并未提及与该词相关
的内容。
3.[A] 推理判断题。本题可用排除法。选项B曲解了最后一段第2、3句对母亲
角色的描述。选项C与原文最后一句不符。选项D原文未提及。只有选项A
概括了全文关于母亲的论述，而且第2段最后一句也暗示母亲受到的关注更
多。
4.[C] 推理判断题。最后一句提到很多人仍然认为父亲应该负担家计,但从本句
的用词如even though和 still可以看出作者对这种看法并不认同，由此可以判断
只有选项C作者可能不赞成。
5.[D] 主旨大意题。原文第1、2段讲到父亲们对将为人父的不同反应;第3段指
出很少有人尝试帮助父亲完成角色的转换;最后一段是一些作家对此做出的不太
符合事实的解释，因此，只有选项D能概括文章的写作目的。选项A只是文中
第2段中的某个细节;选项 B的重点是mother,与本文的论题不符;作者并无批评
父亲之意，因此选项C不正确。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) thanto 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, theytend 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.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.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
2. People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ________.
A. suggests quality workB. discards his social identity
C. appears to be more practical
D. looks superior to a person in civilian clothes
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
参考答案
1.[B] 事实细节题。根据文章首句转折词yet后面的信息“尽管美国人很为他们
的多样性和个性自豪，但是没有什么比制服更让他们喜爱与尊敬的了”结合核心
词uniform及同义表达(hold…in high regard即respect),故选B。
2.[A] 推理判断题。根据第2段第2句“人们习惯性地期望穿制服的人有较高的
专业素质”，故选A。选项 D错在用 superior来比较人了，文中用的是superiorquality。
3.[D] 主旨大意题。根据第 2 段首句“they look more professional than civilian
clothes”及尾句的反问“What easier way is there…to lose professional identity than
to step out of uniform? ”选含有高频词汇 professional的D。
4.[C] 推理判断题。根据第4段首句中的“loss of individuality”进行同义替换,选
C。
5.[D] 主旨大意题。根据第2至4段首句的对比,对于文章最 好的概括为选项
D“制服的优缺点”。
Passage
A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of
life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even
meant to be fair?” Her question was agood one. It reminded me of something I was
taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One
of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others,
thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.
One of the nice things about surrendering to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps
us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with
what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job”to make everything perfect: it’s our own
challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because
we are reminded that everyone is dealt a different hand; everyone has unique strengths
and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions;
and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.
The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to
improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we
should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for
others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing
for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do
recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel compassion for others and for
ourselves. And compassion is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to
everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of
the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. Youmay be surprised that it
can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.The author thought of his friends question as a good one, because _______.
A. he also wanted to know who held such an opinionB. it made him recall something during his childhood
C. like his friend, he also thought life was unfair
D. he learned something from the question as a youngster
2.Surrendering to the fact that life isnt fair will ________.
A. keep us from making everything perfect
B. keep us from doing everything in our power
C. make us face challenges in the life bravely
D. make us know its our duty to perfect things
3.The second paragraph of the passage mainly discusses _______.
A. its nice to accept the injustice of life
B. its nice to surrender to the life
C. we should not surrender to the life
D. we should not feel sorry for ourselves
4.In the last paragraph, “this very basic fact” refers to the fact that ________.
A. you should not pity for others
B. life isnt and wont be fair
C. sympathy is a heartfelt emotion
D. pity is a self-defeating emotion
5.From the passage, we can learn that the authors attitude to life is ________.
A. positive
B. negative
C. Self-pityD. indifferent
参考答案
1.[C] 推理判断题。本题考查隐含的因果关系。第1段破折号后面的内容为隐含
的原因，由此可见C为本题正确选项A没有原文依据，选项B与结论并无合理
的因果关系，选项D对原文有曲解，原文是说这个问题使作者想起了年轻时候
的往事，而并不是选项D中说的leam from the question。
2.[D] 事实细节题。本题考查复合句的理解。第2段首句中 do the very best we
can 与第2 句We know…it’s our challenge表明选项D为本题正确答案。本题最
具干扰性的是选项C，其中的challenge在第2 句明确提到，但是此处的
challenge不是指挑战生活，而是指本句第 一个分句中提到的“让所有事情完
美”。
3.[A] 主旨大意题。本段第1句是主题句，理解这个同位语从句是关键，只有
选项A表达了这一句的意思。要注意其中 surrender的宾语是the fact that life
isn’t fair，而不是life，这样就可以否定最 具干扰性的B选项了。
4.[B] 词义推断题。本题考查this所指的理解。最后一段倒数第2句中，this
very basic fact指的是本句的从句中的the injustices of the world，另外，短语the
fact that life isn’t fair在文中反复出现，是本文的主题，因此结合上下文可以推
出答案。其余三项虽然在文中均有提及，但只是个别细节，并非作者反复强调
的中心话题。
5.[A] 观点态度题。作者批评了自怜的情绪,提出对他人要有同情心，强调承认
生活不公平并不是向生活妥协，而是将我们从自我怜悯中摆脱出来，采取一些
有积极意义的行动，由此可见，作者对生活的态度是积极的，即选项A。
Passage
Moreover, insofar as any interpretation of its author can be made from the five or six
More surprising, perhaps, than the current difficulties of traditional marriage is the
fact that marriage itself is alive and thriving. As Skolnick notes, Americans are a
marrying people: relative to Europeans, more of us marry and we marry at a younger
age. Moreover, after a decline in the early 1970s, the rate of marriage in the United
States is now increasing. Even the divorce rate needs to be taken in this pro- marriage
context: some 80 percent of divorced individuals remarry. Thus, marriage remains by
far the preferred way of life for the vast majority of the people in our society.
What has changed more than marriage is the nuclear family. Twenty- five years ago,
the typical American family consisted of the husband, the wife, and two or three
children. Now, there are many marriages in whichcouples have decided not to have
any children, and there are many marriages where at least some of the children arefrom the wife’s previous marriage, or the husband’s, or both. Sometimes these
children spend all of their time with one parent from the former marriage; sometimes
they are shared between the two former spouses .
Thus, one can find every type of tamely arrangement. There are marriages without
children; marriages with children from only the present marriages; marriages
with“full - time”children from both the present and former marriages; marriages
with“full- time”children from the present marriage and“part- time”childrenfrom
former marriages. There are stepfathers, stepmothers, half- brothers and half-sisters. It
is not all that unusual for a child to have four parents and eight grandparents! These
are enormous changes from the traditional nuclear family. But even so, even in the
midst of all this, there remains one constant: most Americans spend most of their
adult lives married.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.By calling Americans a marrying people the writer means that ________.
A.Americans are more traditional than Europeans
B More Americans prefer marriage and at a younger age than European
C.most divorced individuals remarry
D.marriage is the most important part of American life
2.From the first paragraph we can know that ____
A.traditional marriage now runs into difficulty
B.marriage rate has been rising since the 1970
C.marriage rate in Europe is rather low
D.European marry when they are quite old
3.Which of the following can be presented as the picture of today’s American
families?
A. There are no nuclear families any more.
B. A family usually consists of only a husband ,a wife and two or three children
C. a child usually has four grandparentsD. Many types of family rearrangements have become socially acceptable.
4. “Part-time ”children ____
A.do part-time job to earn their living
B.spend all of their time with one parent from the previous marriage
C.are shared between the two former spouses
D.are quite unusual even in the U.S.A
5.Even though great changes have taken place in the structure of American families,
________ .
A. the functions of marriage remain unchanged
B. most Americans prefer a second marriage
C. the vast majority of Americans still have faith in marriage
D. nuclear family is alive and thriving
参考答案
1.[B] 事实细节题。本题考查特殊符号处。作者在第1段第 2句很清楚地在
Americans are a marrying people后面用冒号引出对这一说法的解释。对比选项A
与选项B，就可发现选项 A不够完整。
2.[A] 推理判断题。第1段第1句的主语揭示了答案应为选项A。选项 B与原
文第1段第 3句的陈述不符，选项 C 和D均无原文依据。
3.[D] 推理判断题。本题涉及第2段的理解，该段第1句是一个主语从句，也
可视为该段的主题句，点出了本段的主题是nuclear family，该段其他句子描述
了什么是nuclear family。本题其实考査哪个选项是对nuclearfamily的正确描
述，明白了第2段的结构后，找出正确答案就不难了。
4.[C] 推理判断题。在最后一段第1句中，通过对比full-time和part-time的本
义，以及联系上下文讲到的家庭现象，可以推断出part-time children应是指时
不时和父亲或母亲生活的小孩，由此可见，选项C是正确答案。 选项A毫无
原文依据，B明显错误，题干中问的是part-time children，故显然不可能spend
all of theirtime，否则修饰语就应该是full-time，选项D与“It is not all that
unusual…”相悖。5.[C] 推理判断题。文章结尾处暗示了答案。原文并未讨论婚姻的功能，故选项
A不对，选项 B并无依据，选项 D有悖第 2段第1句的意思。
Passage
Teenage boys, regardless of race,are more likely to die from gunshot wounds than
from all natural causes combined.
By the time the average American child leaves primary school, he or she will witness
8,000 murders and more than 100,000 acts of violence on television.
Youth are becoming involved in violence at an alarming rate. In fact, the young arrest
rate for murder doubled, from 6 arrests per 100,000 youth aged from 10 to 17 to over
12 per 100,000.
The American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth
reported on a study of first and second graders in Washington DC:45% said they had
witnessed muggings (行凶抢劫),31 % said they had witnessed shootings, and 39%
said they had seen dead bodies.
For the many youth who have not been directly exposed to violence in their own
communities, the entertainment media (television, movies, music and video games)
provides many opportunities for children to see and hear violent exchanges. Research
shows that there are about 5-6 violent acts per hour on prime time and 20-25 violent
acts on Saturday morning children’s programming. In its report, the American
Psychological Association (APA) reported that viewing violence on television hurts
children in many ways. In particular, the APA concludes that children may become
less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others,be more fearful of the world around
them,be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others, and
gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems. The American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also cautions that children may imitate the violence
they observe on television.
Another form of violence involving youth is physical punishment in the schools. This
form of discipline still remains legally supported in 23 nations in America. The Office
for Civil Rights in the Department of Education reported that 555，000 students were
physically punished in the schools during this school year. Although such punishment
has been regarded as an effective method of discipline by those who apply it, the
findings are obvious that physical punishment does not work and that children who
are victims of physical punishment are subject to potential long-term physical and
emotional damage.
Choose correct answers to the question:1.According to the passage, the American teenage boys，lives are most threatened by
______
A.gun murders
B.natural diseases
C.TV violence
D. physical punishment
2.The author tends to use the fourth paragraph to support the idea that _____
A.many youth have watched much violence on TV
B.youth violence in Washington D.C.is very serious
C.fights may be the most widely-seen youth violence
D.American youth have been exposed to much violence
3.The APA indicates that too much TV violence may change children ______
A.to become separated from the world
B.to remain indifferent to others’ pain
C.to solve problems only by violence
D.to be fearful of aggressive behaviors
4.The passage does NOT discus that many youth become victim of ______
A.murders
B.family violence
C. TV violence
D.school violence
5.The author may most probably agree that physical punishment is _________
A. acceptable, though ineffectiveB. illegal，though effective
C. harmful, though legal
D. reasonable, though illegal
参考答案
1. [A] 事实细节题。本题考查对比处。根据第1段中的more likely…than可知
选项A正确，选项B可由此排除。选项 C和 D虽在文中有提到，但作者并无
讨论它们是否危及孩子的生命。
2. [D] 主旨大意题。文章第1和第2段提出话题:小孩接触太多暴力。第3段和
第4段讨论小孩遇到的严重暴力，如murder, muggings等，为主题服务，因此
本段应支持文章开头提出的话题。本段说明的是现实生活中的暴力，而非电视
上的，故选项A不对,选项 B和 C都只是对本段中某个现象的描述。
3. [B] 推理判断题。本题考査列举处。选项B是对第5段倒数第 2句中become
less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others的近义替换，因此正确。选项A中
的isolated并不等同于文中的fearful，也不是因为害怕世界必然带来的结果。选
项C中的only过于绝 对，文中只说a way。选项D拼凑了原句中的某些词
语，但文中并无此意。
4. [B] 主旨大意题。本文结构可分为四部分：第1段和第 2段总起，指出论题;
第二部分讨论murder等严重暴力;第三部分即第5段讨论TV violence;第四部分
即最后一段讨论学校里的体罚，也就是school violence。因此只有选项 B没有
在文中讨论。
5. [C] 观点态度题。根据最后一段,特别是最后一句，可以推断作者认为体罚不
起作用，并对学生身心产生有害的影响，由此可见，作者不认同体罚，因此选
项A 和D不正确。选项B中的illegal与文中说法相反，因此也不正确。
Passage
Learning how to write is like taking a course in public speaking. I'd ask whether
anyone in class had evertaken such a course. Always a few hands would go up.
"What did you learn in that course?" I'd ask.
"Well, the main thing was learning how to face an audience: not to be inhibited (拘
谨)... not to be nervous. "
Exactly, when you take a course in public speaking nowadays, you don't hear much
about grammar and vocabulary. Instead. you're taught how not to be afraid orembarrassed, how to speak without a prepared script. how to read out to the live
audience before you. Public speaking is a matter of overcoming your long-standing
nervous inhibitions.
The same is true of writing. The point of the whole thing is to overcome your nervous
inhibitions, to break through the invisible barrier that separates you from the person
who’ll read what you wrote. You must learn to sit in front of your typewriter of
dictating machine and read out to the person at the other end of the line.
Of course, in public speaking with the audience right in front of you, the problem is
easier. You can lookat them and talk to them directly. In writing, you 're alone. It
needs an effort of your experience or imagination to take hold of that other person and
talk to him or her. But that effort is necessary or at least it' s necessary until you've
reached the point when you quite naturally and unconsciously "talk on paper".
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.The main task of a public speech course is to __________.
A. teach grammar and vocabulary
B. teach how to write a script
C. teach how to overcome nervousness
D. teach live spoken-language expressions
2.Learning how to write is similar to learning how to speak in public in that writer
should _____.
A. overcome his or her nervousness in the first place
B. take hold of a reader and talk to him or her before writing
C. learn to use a typewriter or dictating machine
D. talk to himself on paper
3.what does the author compare writing and public speaking?
A.Writhing needs more experience and imagination than public speaking
B.Both writing and public speaking require great effortC.Writhing is just as imagination as public speaking
D.Writhing is not as natural as public speaking
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Few students feel the need to learn public speaking
B.Training is necessary before you can speak with a script
C.In public speaking, the audience are more nervous than the speaker
D.Writing is just like making a public speech on paper
5.This selection is mainly about ___________.
A.the effort involved in writing
B.the similarities between writing and public speaking
C.learning how to make a public speech
D.learning how to talk on paper
参考答案
1.[C] 事实细节题。原文第4段,特别是第4段的最后一句表明c为正确选项。
本题稍具干扰性的是D，该选项中的live一词在第4段第 2句末尾也有出现，
但事实上D与该句的意思不相同。
2.[A] 事实细节题。本题考查对比处。第5段第1句表明下一句就是演讲和写
作的相似之处，而A就是对该句的同义替换。其他选项并未按照题目的要求对
比演讲与写作，只是说明了写作必须做的，因此都不正确。
3.[A] 推理判断题。本题考查对比处。结尾段对比了演讲和写作的不同之处，
第1、2句和第3、4句形成了内在的对比关系，由此可推断写作比演讲更需要
经验和努力，因此可确定A正确，而 C不正确。虽然在这一段可找到effort和
naturally等词，但原文并没有从是否要付出同样多的努力(B)或是否自然(D)等方
面对比演讲与写作，因此B 和D也不正确。
4.[D] 推理判断题。根据最后一句中的“在纸上说话”,可推断作者认为写作如在
纸上作演讲一样，因此D正确。A中的Few students与事实不符;B中的 speak
with a script在文中未有提及;C中的separated by a barrier错误。5.[D] 主旨大意题。文章的开头句就是全文的主题句，作者在前四段说明如何
演讲，从第5段开始，作者转向说明如何写作,文章的结尾句对开头句做出了呼
应。作者之所以将演讲和写作过程做比较是为了让自己的观点更容易、更生动
地被读者明白和接受，因此本文的中心内容是围绕写作，而不是演讲。其余选
项虽然文中都有提及，但只是各个具体的侧面内容，不能概括全文大意。
Passage
Sign has become a scientific hot button. Only in thepast 20 years have specialists in
language studyrealized that signed languages are unique—a speechof the hand. They
offer a new way to probe how thebrain generates and understands language, andthrow
new light on an old scientific controversy:whether language,complete with grammar,
issomething that we are born With, or whether it is alearned behavior. The current
interest in sign language has roots in the pioneering work of onerebel teacher at
Gallaudet University in Washington, D. C., the world’s only liberal artsuniversity for
deaf people.
When Bill Stokoe went to Gallaudet to teach English, the school enrolled him in a
course insigning. But Stokoe noticed something odd: among themselves, students
signed differentlyfrom his classroom teacher.
Stokoe had been taught a sort of gestural code, each movement of the hands
representing aword in English.At the time, American Sign Language (ASL) was
thought to be no more than aform of pidgin English (混杂英语). But Stokoe believed
the “hand talk”his students used lookedricher. He wondered: Might deaf people
actually: have a genuine language? And could thatlanguage be unlike any other on
Earth? It was 1955, wheneven deaf people dismissed theirsigning as“substandard”.
Stokoe’s idea was academic heresy (异端邪说).
It is 37 years later. Stokoe—now devoting his time to writing and editing books and
journalsand to producing video materials on ASL and the deaf culture—is having
lunch at a cafe nearthe Gallaudet campus and explaining how he started a revolution.
For decades educatorsfought his idea that signed languages are natural languages like
English, French and Japanese.They assumed language must be based on speech, the
modulation (调节) of sound. But signlanguage is based on the movement of hands,
the modulation of space. “What I said,” Stokoeexplains, “is that language is not
mouth stuff—it’s brain stuff.”
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. The study of sign language is thought to be ________.
A. a new way to look at the learning of language
B. a challenge to traditional, views on the nature of languageC. an approach: to simplifying the grammatical structure of a language
D. an attempt to clarify misunderstanding about the origin of language
2. The present growing interest in sign language was stimulated by _______.
A. a famous scholar in the study of the human brain
B. a leading specialist in the study of liberal arts
C. an English teacher in a university for the deaf
D. some senior experts in American Sign Language
3. According to Stokoe, sign language is ________.
A. a Substandard language
B. a genuine language
C. an artificial language
D. an international language
4. Most educators objected to Stokoe’s idea because they thought ________.
A. sign language was not extensively used even by deaf people
B. sign language was too artificial to be widely accepted
C. a language should be easy to use and understand
D. a language could only exist in the form of speech sounds
5. Stokoe’s argument is based on his belief that ________.
A. sign language is as efficient as any other language
B. sign language is derived from natural language
C. language is a system of meaningful codes
D. language is a product of the brain参考答案
1.[B] 从文章第3句“手语提供了一种新方法，用以探索大脑如何产生和理解语
言，并为一个长期以来的科学争端——语言(连同语法)究竟是我们与生俱来
的，还是一种我们后天学会的行为——提出了新的解释”可以看出，这是对语言
的性质的传统观点的挑战，即B 。A错在learning,文章并不是在讨论语言的学
习，而是语言的产生和理解;C为简单原词干扰 D;中的an attempt to clarify
misunderstanding是对throw new light on an old scientific controversy的曲解，因
为controversy不等于misunderstanding。另外，第1段最后一句中的rebel“反
叛”一词也与B中的“挑战”一致。
2.[C] 根据第1段最后一句可知，选C。题干中的was stimulated相当于原文中
的has roots in。
3.[B] 根据第3段第2—4句以及最后一段第 3 句，可知B为答案。前者提出猜
想(Might deaf people actually have a genuine language?)，后者含有一个同位语
his idea that signed languages are natural languages。
4.[D] 根据最后一段第4句，可知D正确。D 中的only exist in the form of
speech sounds是对原文中be based on speech的同义表达。
5.[D] 根据文章最后一句，可知D正确。D中的a product of the brain是对原文
中brain stuff的同义表达。B中的derived from错误，因为Stokoe认为 sign
language就是一种natural language。
Passage
The National Trust in Britain plays an increasingly important part in the preservation
for public enjoyment of the best that is left unspoiled of the British countryside.
Although the Trust has received practicaland moral support from the Government, it
is not rich Government department. It is a charity which dependsfor its existence on
voluntary support from members of the public.
The attention of the public was first drawn to the dangers threatening the great old
houses and castles ofBritain by the death of Lord Lothian, who left his great
seventeenth-century house to the Trust together with the 4, 500-acre park and estate
surrounding it. This gift attracted wide publicity and started the Trust's "Country
House Scheme". Under this scheme, with the help of the Government and the general
public, the Trust has been able to save and open to the public about one hundred and
fifty of these old houses. Lastyear about one and three quarters of a million people
paid to visit these historic houses, usually at a very small charge.
In addition to country houses and open spaces the Trust now owns some examples of
ancient wind and water mills, nature reserves, five hundred and forty farms and nearlytwo thousand five hundred cottages or smallvillage houses, as well as some complete
villages. In these villages no one is allowed to build, develop or disturb the old village
environment in any way and all the houses are maintained in their original sixteenth-
century style. Over four hundred thousand acres of coastline, woodland, and hill
country are protected by the Trust and no development or disturbance of any kind are
permitted. The public has free access to these areas and is only asked to respect the
peace, beauty and wildlife.
So it is that over the past eighty years the Trust has become a big important
organization and an essential and respected part of national life, preserving all that is
of great natural beauty and of historical significance not only for future generations of
Britons but also for the millions of tourists who each year invade Britain in search of a
great historical and cultural heritage.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.The National Trust is ______.
A.a rich government department
B.a charity supported mainly by the public
C.a group of areas of great natural beauty
D.an organization supported by public taxes
2. The "Country House Scheme" was started _______________.
A. with the founding of the National Trust
B. as the first project of the National Trust
C. after Lord Lothian's donation
D. to protect Lord Lothian's house
3. Land protected by the National Trust ______________.
A. can be developed and modernized
B. includes naturally and historically valuable sites
C. consists of country houses and nature reservesD. is primarily for tourists to Britain
4. The word "invade" in the last paragraph is used to emphasize that _____________.
A. the British do not like tourists
B. tourists to Britain are unfriendly
C. tourists come to Britain in large numbers
D. Britain is attacked by masses of tourists
5. The main purpose of this passage is to ______________.
A. inform the readers about the National Trust
B. promote the National Trust's membership
C. make people aware of the natural beauty of Britain
D. let the general public share the views of the National Trust
参考答案
1.[B] 事实细节题。从文章第1段末句可找到答案。选项A显然与原文意思相
反，选项C 和D则无原文依据。
2.[C] 推理判断题。第2段第2句表明洛锡安勋爵捐赠了他的房产后，这个计划
才启动起来，因此选项C正确，也由此可以否定选项A。根据第 2段最后两句
可知这个计划是为了保护具有历史价值的房子,而不仅仅是为了保护洛锡安勋爵
的房子，因此选项D不对。
3.[B] 事实细节题。最后一段从preserving开始的部分指出了本题的答案。第3
段倒数第2句所说的“no development or disturbances of any kind are permitted”可
帮助排除选项A;选项 C内容不完整;选项 D中的限制词primarily使用不妥,无原
文依据。
4.[C] 词义推断题。由invade 所在的句子“for the millions of tourists who each
year invade.。”可知这是托管会保护自然美景和历史胜地的原因所在。从而可以
推断出invade强调来英国游玩的游客之多，因此选项C为正确答案。
5.[A] 主旨大意题。纵观全文可发现the National Trust和the Trust在文章开头以
及文中反复出现,文章是一篇说明文，主要目的是介绍the National Trust的机构
性质及其功能，因此选项A正确。文章未讨论托管会的成员问题，因此选项B不正确。最后两段虽然提到英国的自然景色很美，但这并非文章的主题思想，
因此选项C不对。本题最 具干扰性的是选项 D，但是本文并不是一篇议论
文，其目的不是让读者认同其中的观点，文章更多的是用说明性的语言来说明
托管会的一些做法。
Passage
Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality，
but when it comes to mycollege 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
orengineering. 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.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. The author chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university because he
________.
A. intended to be a combination of engineer and humanist
B. wanted to be an example of practicality and rationalityC. intended to be a sensible student with noble ideals
D. wanted to coordinate engineering with liberal-arts courses in college
2. According to the author，by interacting with people who study liberal arts，
engineering students can ________.
A. broaden their horizons
B. become noble idealists
C. receive guidance in their careers
D. balance engineering and the liberal arts
3. In the eyes of the author，a successful engineering student is expected ________.
A. to be imaginative with a value system to guide him
B. to be a technical genius with a wide vision
C. to have an excellent academic record
D. to be wise and mature
4. The author‘s experience shows that he was ________.
A. creative
B. irrational
C. ambitious
D. Unrealistic
5. The word“they”in“together they threaten to confuse.”(Line 3，Para. 5) refers to
________.
A. practicality and rationality
B. engineering and the liberal arts
C. reality and noble idealsD. flexibility and a value system
参考答案
1.[C] 事实细节题。根据文中第2段第3、4句的具体说明以及第3段末句的概
括说明“我将成为一个完整的工程师：集理性的技术天才和感性的人文学者于一
体。”可知C正确。
2.[A] 事实推理题。由文章第2段第4句“我想通过与非理工科的同学的相互交
往来开阔我的视野”，可推断出A正确。其他均无原文依据或断章取义。
3.[B] 事实推理题。第3段最后一句说，“我将成为一个完整的工程师：集技术
天才和人文学者于一体”，B“成为视野宽阔的技术天才”与原文相符，故选B。
A、C、D均无原文支持或断章取义。
4.[D] 事实推理题。根据第4段第2句“我的崇髙理想与现实发生了冲突”，以及
下文对于作者在协调文理科之间的困难可知，原文的想法是不现实的，故可推
断D正确。
5.[B] 词义理解题。they—般指代前一句话中的复数名词,根据最后一段的第1、
2句“…engineering and the liberal arts simply don’t mix as easily…together they
threaten to confuse”可以推断，they指的是engineering and the liberal arts。
Passage
Like fine food, good writing is something we approach with pleasure and enjoy from
the first taste to the last. And good writers, like good cooks, do not suddenly appear
full-blown. Quite the opposite, just as the cook has to undergo a particular training,
mastering the skills of his trade, the writer must sit at hisdesk and devote long hours
to achieving a style in his writing, whatever its purpose is—schoolwork, matters of
business, or purely social communication.
You may be sure that the more painstaking the effort, the more effective the writing,
and the more rewarding.
There are still some faraway places in the world where you might find a public scribe
to do your business or social writing for you, for money. There are a few managers
who are lucky enough to have the service ofthat rare kind of secretary who can take
care of all sorts of letter writing with no more than a quick note to work from. But for
most of us, if there is any writing to be done, we have to do it ourselves.
We have to write school papers, business papers or home papers. We are constantly
called on to put words to papers. It would be difficult to count the number of such
words, messages, letters, and reports put intomails or delivered by hand, but the dailyfigures must be extremely large. What is more, everyone who writes expects, or at
least hopes whatever he writes will be read, from first word to last, not just thrown
into some “letters-to-be-read” files or into a wastepaper basket. This is the reason we
bend our efforts toward learning and practicing the skills of interesting, effective
writing.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. In this passage, good writing is compared to fine food in that _______.
A. both writers and cooks have to work a long time every day
B. both are essential to life
C. both are writers and cooks can earn a good living
D. both are enjoyable
2. A public scribe (Para 2, Line 1) is _____.
A.a secretary who does your business or social writing
B. a machine that does writing for you
C. a public school where writing is taught
D. a person who ears a living by writing for others
3. According to the passage, some managers dont have to do any letter writing
because _____.
A. they rely on quick notes
C. they have a computer to do it
B. they have excellent secretaries
D. they prefer making phone calls
4. According to the author, if your letter is thrown into some letter-to-be-read file,
______.
A. it will receive immediate attentionB. it will be dealt with by the secretary
C. it is likely to be neglected
D. it is meant to be delivered soon
5. The purpose of the author in writing this passage is _____.
A. to explain and persuade
B. to comment and criticize
C. to interest and entertain
D. to argue and demonstrate
参考答案
1.[D] 文章首句提到，如同美味的食物,我们可以从好的作品中获得乐趣和享
受，D与之相符，故为答案。
2.[D] 原文第2段首句提到，这种public scribe 会帮你写商业文件或社会交流文
章，但他们也会收费的，D与之相符 A中的 secretary应该是不收贵的，故排
除;D中的machine与文中的remote places不相符，故也可排除。
3.[B] 文章第2段第2句提到，个别幸运的经理只需写下简便的笔记,其秘书就
会写好所有的信件，因此B为答案。
4.[C] 文章第3段倒数第2句的大意是：我们希望自己写的东西能被人从头到尾
地读，能不被扔进“letters-to-be read” file,且根据下文的a wastepaper basket可推
测这里说的是希望自己写的东西不被忽视，故本题应选C。
5.[A] 由文章的结尾的this is the reason，知道作者有“解释”的目的，同时他说
“我们要尽最 大的努力学习和练习有趣、有效地写作的技巧”，可知有
persuade(说服)的目的,故选A。
Passage
Most episodes of absent-mindedness forgetting where you left something or
wondering why you just entered aroom-are caused by a simple lack of attention,says
Schacter. “You’re supposed to remember something, butyou haven’t encoded it
deeply.”
Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has
a major impact on recalling it later. Failure to encode properly can create annoyingsituations. If you put your mobile phonein a pocket, for example, and don’t pay
attention to what you did because you’re involved in a conversation, you’ll probably
forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in you wardrobe (衣柜). “Your
memory itself isn’t failing you,” says Schacter. “Rather, you didn’t give your memory
system the information it needed.”
Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness. “A man who can recite sports
statistics from 30 years ago,” says Zelinski, “may not remember to drop a letter in the
mailbox.” Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay
more attention to their environment, and memory relies on justthat.
Visual cues can help prevent absent-mindedness, says Schacter. “But be sure the cue
is clear and available,” he cautions. If you want to remember to take a medication (药
物) with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen table—don’t leave it in the medicine
chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket.
Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering
why you’re there. Most likely, you were thinking about something else. “Everyone
does this from time to time,” says Zelinski. The best thing to do is to return to where
you were before entering the room, and you’ll likely remember.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. Why does the author think that encoding properly is very important?
A. It helps us understand our memory system better.
B. It enables us to recall something form our memory.
C. It expands our memory capacity considerably.
D. It slows down the process of losing our memory.
2. One possible reason why women have better memories than men is that ________.
A. they have a wider range of interests
B. they are more reliant on the environment
C. they have an unusual power of focusing their attention
D. they are more interested in what’s happening around them
3. A note in the pocket can hardly serve as a reminder because ________.A. it will easily get lost
B. it’s not clear enough for you to read
C. it’s out of your sight
D. it might get mixed up with other things
4. What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A. If we focus our attention on one thing, we might forget another.
B. Memory depends to a certain extent on the environment.
C. Repetition helps improve our memory.
D. If we keep forgetting things, we’d better return to where we were.
5. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The process of gradual memory loss.
B. The causes of absent-mindedness.
C. The impact of the environment on memory.
D. A way if encoding and recalling.
参考答案
1.[B] 事实细节题。根据第2段第1句可知，encoding是关注某事的一种特殊方
式，这影响到以后是否能回忆起这件事来，因此B正确。
2.[D] 事实细节题。根据第3段第3句，“女性比男性的记忆力稍强，这也许是
因为她们对周围的环境更加注意，而记忆正是依靠这个”，故选D “她们对于周
围发生的事更感兴趣”。
3.[C] 事实细节题。根据第4段首句中说到的“视觉线索可以防止遗忘某事”可知
破折号之后的警告“不要把药瓶放在药箱里，然后写一张纸条装进口袋”正是为
了防止药瓶、提示性信条离开了视线，故选C。
4.[A] 推断题。根据最后一段的前两句“心不在焉的另一个常见的情景是:走进房
间,却不知为什么要进来。你很有可能是在想别的事”,可知本题答案为A。5.[B] 主旨题。根据第1、3、5段的首句可以得出，本文主要讲的是精神不集中
的原因，故选B。
Passage
Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and
each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a
degree,In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six
courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per
week for fifteen weeks;while attending a university a student will probably attend four
or five courses during each semester. Normally a student. Would expect to take four
years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for
the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one
university and another during his degree course,though this is not in fact done as a
regular practice.
For very course that the follows a student is given a grade,which is recorded, and the
record is availablefor the student to show to prospective employers.All this imposes a
constant pressure and strain of work,but in spite of this some students still find time
for great activity in student affairs.Elections to positions in student organizations
arouse much enthusiasm.The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually
performed by students who advise the academic authorities.Any student who is
thought to have broken therules,for example,by cheating his to appear before a student
court.With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does
involve a certain amount of activity.A student who has held one of these positions of
authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.Normally a student would at least attend ______ classes each week.
A. 36
B. 20
C. 12
D. 15
2.According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed ______.
A. to live in a different university
B. to live at home and drive to classesC. to take a particular course in a different university
D. to get two degrees from two different universities
3.America university students are usually under pressure of work because__________
A. they have to observe university discipline
B. they are heavily involved in student affairs
C. their academic performance will affect their future careers
D. they want to run for positions of authority
4.Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably
because______
A. such positions help them get better jobs
B. they hate the constant pressure and strain of their study
C. they will then be able to stay longer in the university
D. such positions are usually well paid
5.The student organizations seem to be effective in ___________
A. ensuring that the students observe university regulations
B. dealing with the academic affairs of the university
C. evaluating students’ performance by bringing them before a court
D. keeping up the students’ enthusiasm for social activities
参考答案
1.[C] 由文章第1段可知，每个学生每学期要上4到 5门课，每门课每周有3
节，由此可知学生每周要上12-15节课，因此一个学生每个星期至少要上12节
课,故选C。
2.[C] 文章首段最后一句提到，学生在攻读学位期间可以在两所不同的学校上
课，C与之相符。A、B在原文中未提及，D 错在two degrees，原文只是说在不同的学校上课，并非在不同的学校获得学位。
3.[C] 文章第2段第2句的all this指的是前一句提到的学生所修的每一门课的
成绩都会记录下来给未来的雇主看，即这将影响他们将来的就业，C与之相
符。A“遵守校方纪律”文中有提及，但跟所问的问题无关;B说的对象是有些学
生，且也跟问题无关;D文中并未提及。
4.[A] 文章最后一段末句明确指出，担任过领导职位的学生很受人尊敬，对他
将来的事业也很有利，A与之相符。
5.[A] 本题的解题关键是第2段第4句，该句中的the effective work of
maintaining discipline可知A正确。A中的observe university regulations与文中
的maintain discipline对应，故正确。
Passage
People become quite illogical when they try to decidewhat can be eaten and what
cannot be eaten. If youlived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you wouldconsider
octopus a great delicacy. You would not beable to understand why some people find
itrepulsive. On the other hand, your stomach wouldturn at the idea of frying potatoes
in animal fat --the normally accepted practice in many northerncountries. The sad
truth is that most of us have been brought up to eat certain foods and westick to them
all our lives.
No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail.
Cooked inwine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world. There are
countless people who,ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with
food. My friend, Robert, livesin a country where snails are despised. As his flat is in a
large town, he has no garden of hisown. For years he has been asking me to
collectsnails from my garden and take them to him.The idea never appealed to me
very much, but one day, after heavy shower, I happened to bewalking in my garden
when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of myprize plants.
Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paperbag,and
took them to Robert. Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my
littlegift. I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we
talked for acouple of hours. I had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly
said that I must stayto dinner. Snails would, of course, be the main dish. I did not
fancy the idea and I reluctantlyfollowed Robert out of the room. To our dismay, we
saw that there were snails everywhere:they had escaped from the paper bag and had
taken complete possession of the hall! I havenever been able to look at a snail since
then.
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.The underlined word “repulsive” in Paragraph 1 most probably means“_____”.A.disgusting B. pleasant C. acceptable D. delicious
2.We can infer from Paragraph 3 that when collecting the snails, the author____ .
A.was glad that he could share them with his friend
B.was angry because they might damage his beloved plants
C.was excited about being able to give his friend a surprise
D.was depressed because it was hard to catch them all
3.The author finds that snails _______ .
A. are as delicious as octopus
B. are disliked in his hometown
C.are the most controversial food
D. are as popular as fried potatoes
4.The best title for the passage might be “______”?
A.One Man’s Meat is Another Man’s Poison
B.Foods and Cultures
C.Snail and Octopus
D.People Are Illogical in Front of Delicacies
5.As indicated in the passage,people love different foods mainly because____
A.they live in different places.
B.they learn to eat certain foods in their families
C.they have different understanding of delicacy
D.they are too illogical to explain
参考答案1.[A] 词义推断题。解答本题的关键首先要理解repulsive前面的it是指上一句
的octopus，由 On the other hand可知第2句和第3句描述的是人们对章鱼作为
食物的两种相反的反应，而与a great delicacy 相反的是A，故 A为正确答案。
2.[B] 推理判断题。在第2段中查找到作者有一天在阵雨后散步发现蜗牛爬在他
那些prize plants上面，所以才突然有了去抓蜗牛的冲动。理解prize在此意为
“一流的，珍视的”，便可知作者当时很生气，由此可确定答案为B。
3.[C] 事实细节题。本题考査复合句的理解。第2段第 1句“No
creature...more...than snails”表达的是最 高级概念，即：Snails have received most
praise and abuse由此可知，蜗牛是最 具争议性的食物，因此C就是该句的近义
替换。作者没有把蜗牛与章鱼或炸土豆作比较，因此A 和D不对；文中提到在
朋友的居住地，蜗牛是没人瞧得上的，但没有提到在作者的家乡是否受欢迎，
因此B也不对。
4.[A] 主旨大意题。文章第1句话其实是全文的主题句，说明人们对于选择吃
什么、不吃什么是没有什么章法的，暗示了人们在饮食方面有大相径庭的喜
好，接着用了数个具体例子说明，并着重以蜗牛为例，阐明这种差异。英语习
语“One man’s meat is another man’s poison”形象地表达了这一观点。本题最 具干
扰性的是B，文章在第 1段谈到饮食有差异，这涉及到了culture,但作者并没花
太多笔墨描述各国不同的文化，因此，culture并非本文的中心。另外，D的表
达与文章第1句很相似，但是 D说的是人们在美食面前会丧失理智，与第1句
的意思其实相差甚远，且并非文章要阐明的主题。
5.[B] 推理判断题。本题考查表语从句的理解。从第1段的最后一句中“most of
us have been brought up to eat certain foods”可推断B为不同的人喜好不同食物的
最主要原因。A最 具干扰性,它也是原因之一，但住在同一个地方的人也会有
不同的饮食差异，所以还是因为家庭的原因所造成的。
