2023年新版大学英语四级考试

Lookingbackonyearsoflivinginaworking-classhomeintheNorthofEngland,Ishouldsaythatagoodlivingroommust11threeprincipalthings:homeliness,warmthandplentyofgoodfood.Theliving-roomisthewarmheartofthefamilyand12oftenslightlystuffytoamiddle-classvisitor.Itisnotasocialcentrebutafamilycenter;littleentertaininggoesonthereorinthefrontroom,ifthere13tobeone;youdonotentertaininanythingapproachingthemiddle-class14Thewife'ssociallifeoutsideher15familyisfoundoverthewashing-line,atthelittleshoponthecorner,visitingrelativesatamoderate16occasionally,andperhapsnowandagainavisitwithherhusbandtohispuborclub.Apartfromthesetwoplaces,hehasjusthisworkandhisfootballmatches.Theywillhave,eachofthem,friendsatalltheseplaces,whomaywellnotknowwhattheinsideoftheirhouseislike,havingnever"steppedacrossthethreshold,"astheold17phrasehasit.Thefamilyhearthis18forthefamilyitself,andthosewhoare"somethingtous"(anotherfavoriteformula)andwholookinforatalkorjusttosit.Muchofthefreetimeofamanandhiswifewill19bepassedatthathearth.Juststayinginisstilloneofthemostcommonleisure-time20A.happensB.professionsC.senseD.neverthelessE.fashionedF.distanceG.immediateH.usuallyI.occupationsJ.preservedK.imitateL.provideM.thereforeNreserved0.contributeUnitTwoPassage2Flyingoveradesertareainanairplane,twoscientistslookeddownwithtrainedeyesattreesandbushes.Afteranhour's11oneofthescientistswroteinhisbook,"Lookherefor12metal."Scientistsinanotherairplane,flyingoveramountainregion,senta13tootherscientistsontheground,"Goldpossible."Walkingacrosshillyground,fourscientistsreported,"Thisgroundshouldbesearchedformetals."Fromanairplaneoverahillywastelandascientistsentbackbyradiooneword,"Uranium."NoneofthescientistshadX-rayeyes:theyhadno14powersforlookingdownbelowtheearth'ssurface.Theywere15puttingtouseoneofthenewestmethodsof16mineralsintheground—usingtreesandplantsas17thatcertainmineralsmayliebeneaththegroundonwhichthetreesandplantsaregrowing.Thisnewestmethodofsearchingformineralsis18onthefactthatmineralsdeepintheearthmay19thekindofbushesandtreesthatgrowonthesurface.AtWatsonBarCreek,abrooksixthousandfeethighinthemountainsofBritishColumbia,Canada,amineralsearchgroupgatheredbagsoftreeseeds.Boxeswerefilledwithsmallbranchesfromthetrees.Rootsweredugandputintoboxes.Eachbagandboxwas20marked.Inascientificlaboratorythepartsoftheforesttreeswereburnedtoashesandtested.Eachsmallpartwasexaminedtolearnwhetherthereweremineralsinit.A.signsB.sufficientlyC.locatingD.affectE.merelyF.magicG.hintsH.carefullyI.findingJ.messageK.flightL.probableM.revealingN.basedO.informationUnitThree.Passage2America'smostfamouswomanistheGoddessofLiberty,i.e.theStatueofLiberty.Itwasfirstthoughtofin1865byEdouarddeLaboulayeanddesignedbyanotherFrenchman,FredericBartoldi.Theywantedto11libertyandfriendship.Itwashopedthatthemonumentwouldbecompletedby1876whenAmerica12itscentennial.Fundraisingandthe13ofthestatueinFrancewentslowly.Itwas1885whenthe214cratescontainingthestatuereachedNewYork.Americanswereinitially14fortheyhadnotraisedthemoneytopayfortheerectionofthebase.Fundraisingbypopularsubscriptionwasbehind15.OnefundraisingmethodusedwastohavepopularAmericanswriteletterswhichwerethensoldinpublic.Thebaseandstatue,16272feettall,werecompletedin1886.Froma17standpoint,thestatueisamarvel.TheinnerstructurewasdesignedbytheFrenchengineer,AlexandreEiffel.Hisdesignforthestressedcopperskinofthestatueanticipatedmanyofthe18utilizedinmodernaircraft.Afteracentury,themonumentbegantoshowsignsofgettingworsein19.JustasFrenchmenhadcreatedtheStatue,soitwaswithrestoration.AFrenchmannotedthedecayandFrenchandAmericancraftsmenandcontributionsbroughtabouttherenewaloftheStatueintimeforitscentennial.Libertyisstill20inFranceandtheUnitedStatesA.completelyB.measuresC.popularD.togetherE.honorF.manufactureG.scheduleH.rewardI.celebratedJ.principlesK.embarrassedL.technicalM.voluntaryNconditions0.discouragedUnitFourPassage2SophyBrentcametovisitmenearlyeveryday.Shemademefeeluneasymostofthetime.Shesmoked11andneverusedanashtray.ShefollowedmeintothekitchenwhileImadeteaorcoffeeorsupperand12herselftothechildren'sorangejuice.Shemadeagreathitwithmytwo-year-olddaughterFlora,whowould13aboutherforhoursandrefertoherlovinglyas"sofa",andshewasalwaystalkingaboutmyhusbandandaskingmewherehewas.Icouldnotdecidewhyshechosemy14,althoughIrealizedthatnobodyelsepaidherverymuchattention.Hersituationwasverydifficultinthatshewas15outofdramaschoolandonlynineteen,butbeing16toplayaleadingpartinacompanyoffairly17andexperiencedactors.Theywouldnothavelikedhermuchevenifshehadbeengood,andas,fromallaccounts,shewasnotgoodsotheytookevery18torunherdown.IthinkshethoughtthatIwastheonlypersonaroundwhowasbothunconnectedwiththetheatreandtolerably19.Toassociatewithmewasnot,atanyrate,tostepdownthescale.Andformypart,althoughIfelttroubledbyherIdidnotdislikeher.Therewassomethinggenuinelyoutstandinginherpersonality,andshehadsuchphysical20thatwithmeshecouldgetawaywithanything.Shewasnicetohavearound,likeflowersorabowloffruit.A.helpedB.smartB.constantlyD.treatedE.requiredF.supremeG.hangH.charmI.continuallyJ.companyK.opportunityL.distinguishedM.straightN.partnerO.disappointedUnitFivePassage2Manypeopleoftenenjoyeatingouteitherbeforeorafteravisittothetheatre.However,mostofuswouldratherkeepthetwo11separate.Onemanwhothinksthattheycanbesuccessfullycombinedhasnotonlyexpressedhisideasinarecentbook,butalsosetupanestablishmentwherethetheoryisputvery12intopractice.ThemanisPaulThornton,andtheplaceistheHollics,anoldfarmhouse.WheneverIvisitanewrestaurant,Ifeelthesameexcitementthatkeentheatre-goersmustexperienceonopeningnight.IhadthisfeelinglastFridayeveningatdusk,asmywifeandIweretakingawalkinthebeautifulgardensoftherestaurant13afterwehadarrived.Dinnerwasasexcellentaswehadbeen14.Thereisnomenu,forMr.Thorntoncreateshismealsratherasadirectorproducesaplay.Nevertheless,thevariouscombinationsof15ateachcoursearealways16asiftheyweredonebymagic.Heandhisteamofhighlyskilledhelpersserve,cutandcookthefood,movingaboutthe"stage"asconfidentlyas17actors.Themealisasdifferentfromwhatonefindsinordinaryrestaurantsasa18performanceofAMidsummerNight'sDreamwouldbefromasecond-ratetelevisionproduction.MayIofferafewwordsofadviceincaseyouarethinkingofpayinghimavisit.Trynottoarrivejustafternoon,asMr.Thorntondoesnotserveanormallunch.His"brunch"which19thebest20ofatraditionalEnglishbreakfast,isservedaroundeleveno'clockandissoplentifulthatlunchisunnecessary.A.featuresB.shortlyC.potentialD.definitelyE.perfectF.promotedG.liveH.professionalI.charactersJ.promisedK.choicesL.includesM.pleasuresN.vigorouslyO.substitutionsUnitSixPassage2StudentexpeditionsdoagreatdealofgoodworkontheArcticislandsbutfromtimetotimecausetroubleinthehuts,probablybecausestudentsarenotfamiliarwiththe11ofthelittlewoodenhutsdottedallovertheislandsoftheSpizbergengroup.Eachhut12hasaninnerandanouterdoor,shuttersoverthewindows,astoreofwood13upoutside,drychoppedwoodinside,utensilsandcutlery,andaboveall,asmallstoreoffood.Allthesethingsmustbecompletelyin14wheneverthehutisleft.Itmakesno15ifitisonlythemiddleofJuly.That16hutmaynotbevisitedagainbeforethewinter.Adoorleftopencanleadeithertosnowfillingupthehuttotheceiling,or17still,windblowingtheroofoff.Unfastenedshuttersleavethewindowsaneasypreyforpolarbears18forfoodandtheresultisagainsnowinthehut.Theready-choppedwoodisalsoveryimportant.Atravelervisitingthehutinthemiddleofthedarktimeandperhapsinbadweather,hisfeet,handsandfacebittenbythefrost,willhavehisdifficultiesdoubledifthewoodhelefthasbeenusedupbyothersandhehadnothingwithwhichto19afire.Tenormoreyearsagotherewereenoughhunterstolookaftermostofthehuts,butnowmanybuildingshavebecomeuselessbecausethereisnoonetorepairthemandbecauseof20A.worseB.peculiarC.laidD.lightE.generallyF.orderG.particularH.conventionsI.carelessnessJ．differenceK.builtL.fashionsM.searchingN.ordinarilyO.resultUnitSevenPassage2Mostofustrademoneyforentertainment.Movies,concertsandshowsareenjoyablebut11.Ifyouthinkthatyoucan'thaveagoodtimewithoutspendingalotofmoney,readon.Alittleresourcefulnessandafewminutesofnewspaper-scanningshouldgiveyousomepleasantsurprises.Peoplemaybethemostinterestingshowinalargecity.12throughbusystreetsandseewhateverybodyelseisdoing.Youwillprobablyseepeoplefromallovertheworld;youwill13seepeopleofeveryage,size,andshape,andyou'llgetafreefashionshow,too.Window-shoppingisalsoa14sportifthestoresareclosed.Checkthelistingsinyourneighborhoodpaper.Localcollegesorschoolsoften15thepublictohearaninterestingspeakeroragood16.Thefilmorconcertseriesatthelocalpubliclibraryprobablywon'tcostyouapenny.Besuretocheckcommercialadvertisementstoo.Afleamarketcanprovidehoursofpleasantlookinground.Perhapsyoucanfindafreecookingorcrafts17inPlanaheadforsomeactivities.Itisalwaysmorepleasantnottohavepeopleinfrontofyouinamuseumoratazoo.Youmaysavesomemoney,too,sincetheseplacesoften18asideoneortwofree19daysatslowtimesduringtheweek.Makesurethatyouareincludingtheindispensable20thatpeopletravelmilestosee.Ifyoufeelliketakinganinterestingwalk,findafreewalkingtour,orplanoneyourself.A.expensiveB.WonderC.debateD.admissionE.setF.WanderG.safeH.additionI.valuableJ.disputeK.welcomeL.confidentlyM.sightsN.demonstrationO.certainlyUnitEightPassage2Whenapersonfeelslow,blue,ordownintheclumps,itusuallymeanshehasbeenhurt,disappointed,orsaddenedbysomethingthatcausesaconfusedandlistlessfeeling.Thereis11atypeofmusiccalled"theblue",alow,mournful,sadsoundto12theseuniversalhumanfeelings.Depressionisanothernameforthismood.Feelingdepressedisanormalandnatural13toexperiencesofloss,failure,andundeservedbadluck.Indeed,ithasbeenpointedoutthatwithoutdepression,wewould14muchoftheworld'sgreattragicliterature,music,andart.Insomecases,however,depressionbecomessomethingmorethanjust15feelingsofbluesorletdown.Alargenumberofpeoplesufferfromwhatpsychiatristscall"depressiveillness."Depressiveillnessismore16andlastslongerthancommonlistlessfeelings.Sometimesaserious17ofdepressioncanbeginwiththelossofalovedoneorachangeofjob.Manytimes,invery18cases,theredoesn'tseemtobeanycircumstanceseriousenoughtohavecausedthedepression.Somepsychiatristssuggestthatthekeyfeatureindepressionischange.Thepersonbecomesdifferentfromthewaybeforetheonsetofhisdepression.Hemayevenbecometheoppositeofhisusualself.Therearemanyexamples:thebusinessmanwhobecomesawanderer,themotherwhowantsto19herchildrenandherself.Insteadofseekingsatisfactionandpleasure,thedepressedperson20it.A.everB.escapeC.intenseD.responseE.avoidsF.evenG.expressH.realizationI.severeJ.lessenK.denseL.periodM.harmN.lackO.normalUnitNineAgrowingworldpopulationandthediscoveriesofsciencemay11thispatternofdistributioninthefuture.Asmenslowlylearntomasterdiseases,controlfloods,preventfamines,andstopwars,fewerpeopledieeveryyear;andin12thepopulationoftheworldis13increasing.In1925therewereabout2,000millionpeopleintheworld;bytheendofthecenturytheremaywellbeover4,000million.Whennumbersrisethe14mouthsmustbefed.NewlandsmustbeIboughtundercultivation,orlandalreadyfarmedmadeto15largercrops.Insomeareastheaccessiblelandislargelysointensively16thatitwillbedifficulttomakeitprovidemorefood.Insomeareasthepopulationissodensethatthelandisparceledoutinunitstoo17toallowformuchimprovementinfarmingmethods.Werealargerpartofthisfarmingpopulationdrawnoffintoindustrialoccupations,thelandmightbefarmedmuchmoreproductivelybymodernmethods.Thereisnowaraceforscience,technology,andindustrytokeepthe18offoodrisingfasterthanthenumberofpeopletobefed.Newstrainsofcropsarebeingdevelopedwhichwillthrivein19climates;irrigationanddry-farmingmethodsbringpoorlandsundertheplough,damsholdbackthewatersofgreatriversto20waterforthefieldsinallseasonsandtoprovideelectricpowerfornewindustries;industrialchemistryprovidesfertilizerstosuitparticularsoils;aeroplanesspraycropstodestroyinsectsandmanyplantdiseases.A.ensureB.violentlyC.alterD.harmfulE.cultivatedF.uniqueG.transplantedH.yieldI.consequenceJ.outputK.extraL.steadilyM.tinyN.unfavorableO.produceUnitTenPassage2IntheUnitedStates,itisnot11totelephonesomeoneveryearlyinthemorning.Ifyoutelephonehimearlyintheday,whileheisshavingorhavingbreakfast,thetimeofthecallshowsthatthematterisveryimportantandrequiresimmediateattention.Thesamemeaningisattachedtotelephonecallsmadeafter11:00p.m..Ifsomeonereceivesacallduringsleepinghours,he12it'samatteroflifeanddeath.Thetimechosenforthecall13itsimportance.In14life,timeplaysaveryimportantpart.IntheU.S.A.,gueststendtofeeltheyarenothighlyregardedifthe15toadinnerpartyisextendedonlythreeorfourdaysbeforethepartydate.Butitisnottrueinallcountries.Inotherareasoftheworld,itmaybeconsideredfoolishtomakeanappointmenttoofarin16becauseplanswhicharemadeforadatemorethanaweekawaytendtobeforgotten.Themeaningoftimediffersindifferentpartsoftheworld.Thus,misunderstandings17betweenpeoplefromculturesthattreattimedifferently.Promptnessisvalued18inAmericanlife,forexample.Ifpeoplearenotprompt,theymayberegardedasimpoliteornotfullyresponsible.IntheU.S.noonewouldthinkofkeepingabusiness19waitingforanhour,itwouldbetooimpolite.Apersonwhois5minuteslateis20tomakeashortapology.Ifheislessthan5minuteslate,hewillsayafewwordsofexplanation,thoughperhapshewillnotcompletethesentence.A.highlyB.engagementC.customaryD.socialE.informF.invitationG.advanceH.absenceI.heavilyJ.associateK.expectedL.assumesM.habitualN.ariseO.communicatesUnitElevenPassage2Personalityis,toalargeextent,inherent—A-typeparents,usuallybringaboutA-typechildren.Buttheenvironmentmustalsohavea11effect,winceifcompetitionisimportanttotheparentsitislikelytobecomeamajor12inthelivesoftheirchildren.OneplacewherechildrensoakupAcharacteristicsisschool,whichis,byitsverynature,ahighlycompetitiveinstitution.Toomanyschools13the"winatallcosts"moralstandardandmeasuretheirsuccessbysportingachievements.Thecurrent14formakingchildrencompeteagainsttheirclassmatesoragainsttheclockproducesatwo-layersystem,inwhichcompetitiveAtypesseeminsomewaybetterthantheirB-typefellows.Being15keentowincanhavedangerousconsequences:rememberthatPheidippides,thefirstmarathonrunner,droppeddeadsecondsaftersaying;"cheers,weconquer!"Byfartheworstformofcompetitioninschoolsistheextreme16onexaminations.Itisarareschoolthatallowspupilsto17onthosethingstheydowell.Themeritsofcompetitionbyexaminationaresomewhat18,butcompetitioninthecertainknowledgeoffailureispositivelyharmful.Obviously,itisneither19nordesirablethatallAyoungsterschangeintoB's.Theworldneedstypes,andschoolshaveanimportantdutytotryto20achild'spersonalitytohispossiblefutureemployment.Itistopmanagement.A.enoughB.fitC.emphasisD.practicalE.innumerableF.concentrateG.adoptH.questionableI.profoundJ.factorK.tooL.substanceM.passionN.emotionO.fixUNIT12Passage2Asthe11oflifecontinuestoincrease,wearefastlosingtheartofrelaxation.Onceyouareinhabitofrushingthroughlife,beingonthegofrommorningtillnight,itishardtoslowdown.Butrelaxationisessentialforahealthymindandbody.Stressisanaturalpartofeverydaylifeandthereisnowaytoavoidit.Infact,itisnotthebadthingitisoften12tobe.Acertainamountofstressis13toprovidemotivationandgivepurposetolife.Itisonlywhenthestressgetsoutofcontrolthatitcanleadtopoor14andillhealth.Theamountofstressapersoncan15dependsverymuchontheindividual.Somepeoplearenotafraidofstress,andsuchcharactersare16primematerialformanagerialresponsibilities.Othersloseheartatthefirstsignsof17difficulties.Whenexposedtostress,inwhateverform,wereactbothchemicallyandphysically.Infactwemakechoicebetween"fight"or"flight"andinmoreprimitivedaysthechoicesmadethedifferencebetweenlifeordeath.Thecriseswemeettodayareunlikelytobeso18,buthoweverlittlethestress,itinvolvesthesameresponse.Itiswhensuchareactionlastslong,throughcontinued19tostress,thathealthbecomesendangered.Suchseriousconditionsashighbloodpressureandheartdiseasehaveestablishedlinkswithstress.Sincewecannot20stressfromourlives(itwouldbeunwisetodosoevenifwecould),weneedtofindwaystodealwithit.A.cancelB.paceC.extremeD.automaticallyE.removeF.vitalG.performanceH.supposedI.rateJ.exposureK.achievementL.unusualMobviouslyNwithstandOharshUnitThirteenPassage2Whatisyourfavoritecolor?Doyoulikeyellow,orange,red?Ifyoudo,youmustbeanoptimist,aleader,anactivepersonwho11life,peopleandexcitement.Doyouprefergreysandblues?Thenyouareprobablyquiet,shy,andyouwouldratherfollowthanlead.You12tobeapessimist.Atleast,thisiswhatpsychologiststellus,andtheyshouldknow,becausetheyhavebeenseriouslystudyingthemeaningofcolorpreference,aswellastheeffectthatcolorshaveonhumanbeings.Theytellus,amongother13,thatwedonotchooseourfavoritecoloraswegrowup—wearebornwithourpreference.Ifyouhappentolovebrown,youdidso,assoonasyouopenedyoureyes,oratleastassoonasyoucouldseeclearly.Colorsdo14ourmoods—thereisnodoubtaboutit.Ayellowroommakesmostpeoplefeelmorecheerfulandmorerelaxedthanadarkgreenone;andareddressbringswarmthandcheertothesaddestwinterday.Ontheotherhand,blackis15.AblackbridgeovertheThamesRiver,nearLondon,usedtobethe16ofmoresuicidesthananyotherbridgeinthearea—untilitwasrepaintedgreen.Thenumberofsuicideattemptsimmediatelyfell17;perhapsitwouldhavefallenevenmoreifthebridgehadbeendoneinpinkorbabyblue.Lightand18colorsmakepeoplenotonlyhappierbutmoreactive.Itisan19factthatfactoryworkersworkbetter,harder,andhavefewer20whentheirmachinesarepaintedorangeratherthanblackorgrey.A.brightB.sceneC.whollyD.favorE.factsF.depressingG.accidentsH.interfereI.establishedJ.incidentsK.disgustingL.sharplyM.enjoysN.tendO.influenceUnitFourteenPassage2Womenarealsounderrepresentedintheadministrationandthisisbecausetherearesofewwomen11professors.In1985,RegentBerylMilburnproducedareportblastingtheUniversityofOneofthepositiveresultsfromherstudywasasystem-wideprogramtoinformwomenofavailableadministrativejobs.CollegeofCommunicationAssociateDean,PatriciaWitherspoon,saiditisimportantthatwomanbe15whenitcomestorelocatingiftheywanttoAlthoughawomanmayfaceachilly17oncampus,manytimesinorderforhertosucceed,shemustriseabovetheproblemsaroundherandconcentrateonherwork.Untilwomenmakeupagreater18oftheseniorpositionsintheUniversityandallacademia,inequalitieswillexist."WomenneedtospendtheirenergiesandtimedoingscholarlyactivitiesthatareimportanthereattheUniversity."Spirdusosaid."Iftheydothattheywillbe19inthissystem.Iftheyspendtheirtimeinlittlegroupsmourningthesexualdiscriminationthattheythinkexistshere,theyare20wastingvaluablestudytime."A.fullB.recalledC.improvementD.riseE.encouragingF.flexibleG.recognizedH.idlyI.ratioJ.persuadingK.movableL.possiblyM.successfulN.climateO.percentageUnitFifteenPassage2InOctober1987,theNationalBoardforProfessionalTeachingStandardsbeganitsworktosetnewstandardsofaccomplishmentfortheteachingprofessionandtoimprovethe11ofeducationavailabletoallchildrenintheUnitedStates.Teachersare12tostudentsandtheirlearning.Theymustactonthebeliefthatallstudentscanlearn.Theymustrecognize13differencesintheirstudentsandadjusttheirpractice14.Theymustknowthattheirmissionextendsbeyonddevelopingthecognitivecapacityoftheirstudents.Theymustbe15withtheirstudents'self-concept,withtheirmotivation,andwiththedevelopmentofcharacter.Teachersmustknowthesubjectstheyteachandhowtoteachthem.Theymust16specializedknowledgeofhowtoconveyasubjecttostudents.Teachersareresponsibleformanagingandmonitoringstudentlearning.Theymustcallon17methodstomeettheirgoals,knowingandbeingableto18avarietyofinstructionalskills.Teachersmustthinksystematicallyabouttheirpracticeandlearnfromexperience,seekingthe19ofothersanddrawingoneducationresearchandscholarshiptoimprovetheirpractice.Asmembersoflearningcommunities,teacherscontributetoschooleffectivenessbycollaboratingwithotherprofessionals.Theytake___20ofcommunityresources,cultivatingknowledgeoftheirschool'scommunityasapowerfulresourceforlearning.A.employB.adviceC.quantityD.committedE.commandF.consultedG.manualH.approximatelyI.concernedJ.advantageK.multipleL.accordinglyM.individualN.embraceO.qualityUnitSixteenPassage2Ifyouarelookingforinformation,libraryshelvesareagoodplacetostart.Butifyouneedup-to-the-minutedataorhavespecializedneeds,youmayfindacomputerizeddatabasemoreuseful,lessexpensive,andlesstime11.Adatabase,afileofinformationononesubjectorfamilyofsubjects,canbestoredand12inacomputer'smemory.Thespeedofthecomputerthen13youtorecallanyiteminthisfilealmost14Thethreemaintypesofdatabasesarestatistical,bibliographic,andfulltext.Statisticaldatabasesstore15amountsofnumericaldata,suchaswageandpriceindexes,censusinformation,foreign16ratesandbondprices.Bibliographicdatabasesstorereferencestoandsummariesofarticlesinperiodicalsandnewspapers.Full-textdatabasesofferthecomplextextsofsuch17asnewspaper,magazine,andjournalarticles.Thousandsofdatabasesexisttoday,andtheirnumbersaregrowing.Manycompanieshavetheirin-housedatabase,whichis18toemployeesthroughcomputerterminalsormicrocomputers.Inaddition,severalhundredcommercialdatabasesarenowavailabletothe19,withliterallymillionsofitemsofinformationreadilyobtainable.Thesedatabases20specificfields,suchaslawandfinancialforecasting,orgeneralinformation,suchassportsandweatherdata.A.exchangeB.publicC.instantlyD.coverE.enablesF.consumingG.remainedH.materialsI.hideJ.intensivelyK.vastL.communicationsM.exhaustingN.accessible0.maintainedUnitSeventeenPassage2Nooneknowsexactlyhowmanydisabledpeoplethereareintheworld,but11suggestthefigureisover450million.ThenumberofdisabledpeopleinIndia12isprobablymorethandoublethetotalpopulationofCanada.IntheUnitedKingdom,aboutoneintenpeoplehavesomedisability.Disabilityisnotjustsomethingthathappenstootherpeople:aswegetolder,manyofuswillbecomeless13,hardofhearingorhavefailingeyesight.Disablementcantakemanyformsandoccuratanytimeoflife.Somepeoplearebornwithdisabilities.Manyothersbecomedisabledastheygetolder.Therearemany14disablingdiseases.Thelongertimegoeson,theworsetheybecome.Somepeoplearedisabledinaccidents.Manyothersmayhaveaperiodofdisabilityintheformofamentalillness.Allareaffectedbypeople'sattitudetowardsthem.Disabledpeoplefacemany15barriers.Nexttimeyougoshoppingortoworkortovisitfriends,imaginehowyouwould16ifyoucouldnotgetupsteps,orontobusesandtrains.Howwouldyoucopeifyoucouldnotseewhereyouweregoingorcouldnothearthetraffic?Butthereareotherbarriers;17canbeevenhardertobreakdownandignorance18representsbyfarthegreatestbarrierofall.Itisalmostimpossiblefortheable-bodiedtofullyappreciatewhatt