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第一章阅读理解

一.阅读理解概述

大学英语四级考试阅读部分共有四篇短文,考试时间为35分钟。每篇文章长度在

250~300词左右,共有20题。考试形式为多项选择题,要求考生根据文章内容从中选出最

佳答案。阅读理解占总分的40%,几乎达到总分的半。因此,考生对阅理解这一部分应

有足够的重视。

阅读理解中的文章所涉及的题材十分广泛,但大致可分为两大类。一类是人文社会方面

的,诸如政治、经济、法律、历史、地理、文化、教育、人物、家庭、婚姻、伦理、犯罪以

及交通、能源、环境等社会问题。另一类是自然科学方面的,如动植物、生物、医学、地质、

海洋、天文、空间技术及其它最新科技发展及其成果。就文体而言,包括记叙文、说明文、

议论文等。记叙文记叙过去发生的事件和经历,包括传记、游记、报导、回忆录和故事等。

说明文说明客观事物和现象的特点和性能。议论文是采用摆事实讲道理的方式来论说某一观

点是否正确,由论点、论据与结论构成。从历届四级考题来看,虽然各类题材和文体都有,

但主要还是与科技内容有关的说明文与议论文。

阅读理解部分主要测试考生以下几方面的能力:

1.掌握所读文章的主旨和中心大意;

2.了解说明中心大意的事实和有关细节;

3.根据上下文判断词汇和短语的具体含义;

4.既能理解单个句子的意思,又能判断句与句之间存在的逻辑关系;

5.既能理解字面的意思,也能根据所读材料进行一定的分析、判断和推论;

6.领会作者的观点和态度。

由此可见,要想在阅读理解这一部分取得较佳成绩,考生除了要有一定的词汇短语及语

法知识作基础外,还必须具有一定的快速阅读能力和分析、理解、判断以及推理的能力。这

些能力是可以通过大量的阅读实践和一定的方法指导,逐步得到提高的。

二阅读理解题目的类型及解题方法

很多同学在做阅读理解题时都有这样的经验,即使在能读懂文章的情况下,有时也难免

选错答案,其中一个重要原因,是没有把握住阅读理解题的一些基本特征。四级考试阅读部

分的题型主要有以下四种类型,各有其出题的目的与解题方法,现分别介绍如下:

1.主旨题

主旨题是阅读理解中每次必考的问题类型之一,其目的在于考查考生是否能把握所读文

章的主旨和中心大意。

四级考试中,常见的主旨题有:

*Thebesttitleofthispassageis.

*Themostappropriatetitleforthispassageis.

*Themainpurposeofthepassageis.

*Theauther'spurposeofwritingthispassageisto.

*Themaintheme/topic/pointofthepassageis.

*Themain/central/principle/ideaofthispassageis.

*Thepassageismainlyabout.

*Thepassagecouldbetitled.

*Thepassageillustrates.

*Theauthor'sattitudetowardis.

*Thetoneofthepassagecanbedescribedas.

*Whatisthemainsubject/topicofthepassage?

*Whatdoesthepassagemainlydiscuss/dealwith?

*Whatisthemainideaexpressedinthispassage?

*Whatistheauthor'smainpoint?

*Whichofthefollowingstatementsbestexpressesthemainideaofthepassage?

*Withwhattopic/subjectisthepassagemainly/primarilyconcerned?

主旨题是有关整篇文章内容的问题,只要抓住了文章的中心思想,就能答好这类问题。

文章的中心思想往往可以通过主题句(TopicSentence)而得以确认。主题句是作者为了简

明扼要地表达其文章内容而使用的一个句子或者若干个句子,作者用主题句作引导来展开其

论述或对文章进行总结。文章中的其它句子则围绕着主题句展开,对主题句进行解释、补充

和说明。主题句一般多出现在文章的开头部分,但也有出现在文章中段部分或末尾的情况。

有时作者为了强调,甚至句首句末都用了主题句。考生应有较强的主题句意识,阅读和回答

主旨题时,留心细察,注意可以发现说明中心思想的主题句。

例文:

Howcanyoufindoutwhatisgoingoninsideaperson'sbody?--withoutopeningthepatient

up?RegularX-rayscanshowalot.CATscanscanshowevenmore.Theycangivethree

dimensionalviewofbodyorgans.

WhatisaCATscan?CATstandsforComputerizedAxialTomography(层面X线照相术).

ItisaspecialX-raymachinethatobtainsa360-degreepictureofasmallareaofapatient'sbody.

DoctorsuseX-raystostudyanddiagnosediseasesandinjurieswithinthebody.X-rayscan

locateforeignobjectsinsidethebodyortakepicturesofsomeinternalorgansifspecial

substancesaredyedorspecialliquidsareaddedtotheorganstobeX-rayed.

ACATscanner,however,usesabeamofX-raystogiveacross-sectionalviewofaspecific

partofthebody.AfinebeamofX-raysisscannedacrossthebodyandrotatedaroundthepatient

frommanydifferentangles.Acomputeranalyzestheinformationfromeachangleandproducesa

clearcross-sectionalimageonascreen.Thisimageisthenphotographedforlateruse.Several

cross-sections,takenoneafteranother,cangiveclear“photo“oftheentirebodyorofanybody

organs.ThenewestCATsacnnerscanevengiveclearimagesofactive,movingorgansjustasa

fast-actioncameracan“sloptheaction^^givingclearimagesofwhatappearsonlymisitlytothe

eye.Andbecauseofthe360-degreepictures,CATscansshow3-dimensionalviewsoforgansina

mannerthatwasonceonlyrevealedduringsurgeryoroutopsy(examiningadeadpatient).

ToomuchexposuretoX-rayscancauseskinbums,cancerorotherdamagetothebody.Yet

CATscansactuallydon'texposethepatienttomoreradiationthanconventionalX-raysdo.CAT

scanscanalsobedonewithoutinjectingdyesintothepatient,sotheyarelessriskythanregular

X-tayprocedures.

CATscansprovideaccurate,detailedinformation.Theycandetectsuchathingbleeding

insidethebrain.Theyarehelpingtosavelives.

Thepassageismainlyabout.

A)howtoavoidexposuretoX-rays

B)thenewestmedicalinvention

C)anewtypeofX-raymachinetosavelives

D)advantagesanddisadvantagesofCATscanners

本文的主题句出现在第二段的第二句"ItisaspecialX-raymachinethatobtainsa

360-degreepictureofasmallareaofapatient'sbody^^以及全文的末一句“Theyarehelpingto

savelives",因此,正确答案应为C)。而A)、B)、D)项均与内容不符。

当然,并非所有的文章都有明确的主题句。在这种情况下,考生应在通读原文并正确理

解所有细节的基础上,运用自己的逻辑分析能力、推理和概括的能力,找出文章的中心思想。

上述主旨题中,有一部分是有关作者写作目的、态度、立场以及文章风格的,这要求考

生在了解文章大意的基础匕运用各种分析和推理的方法来解答。

2.细节题

细节题在四级统考试题中占有较大的比例,也是难度相对较易的题目。主要测试考生正

确理解字面意义和把握文章细节的能力,同时也需要考生运用综合和判断能力。通常是针对

文章中一些具体的信息,如事实、例证、原因、特点、过程、论述等进行提问。常见的提问

形式有:

*Whichofthefollowingstatement/sentenceistrue/NOTtrue?

*WhichofthefollowingisNOTmentioned?

*WhichofthefollowingistrueEXCEPT?

*WhichofthefollowingismentionedEXCEPT?

*WhichofthefollowingisNOTansweredby?

*WhichofthefollowingisNOTconsideredas?

*WhichofthefollowingisNOTincludedinthepassage?

*Whichofthefollowingiscorrectaccordingtothepassage?

*Accordingtothepassage,what/who/when/where/why/how...?

在做此类问题时,考生应首先注意看清题干中是否有“NOT”和“EXCEPT”等词。经

常有的考生做题心切或细心不够,没有看清问题就去做题,只是想当然地把正确的、符合事

实的一-项选出,结果当然出错。

此类题型的四个选择项所涉及的信息有时集中在一、二个句子里,有时也集中在某一个

段落里,这时候只要返回文章,在文中找到相关的句子,稍作考量和比较,就不难确定正确

选项。但有时候四个选择项所涉及的信息分散在不同的句子,甚至是不同的段落之中,遇到

这种情况,考生须把四个选项逐一与文中有关信息加以对照,并运用排除法,这样可节省时

间,增加找出正确答案的机会。

例文:(同上)

WhatisNOTtrueofaCATscanner?

A)Itcanshow3-dimensionalviewsofbodyorgans.

B)Itutilizescomputertechniques.

C)Itmaycauseskinbumsorcancertothepatient'sbody.

D)ItissaferthanregularX-rayprocedures.

A)、B)、D)三项内容在文中都分别谈及,A)项可在第四段末句找到:“CATscansshow

3-dimensionalviewsoforgans"。B)项可在第四段第三句找到:"Acomputeranalyzesthe

informationfromeachangleandproducesaclearcross-sectionalimageonascreen."D)项可在

第五段末句找到:“CATscanscanalsobedonewithoutinjectingdyesintothepatient,sotheyare

lessriskythanregularX-tayprocedures.,,C)项的有关内容可在第五段第一、二句找到,但可

以看到,C)项所谈情况不是CATscanner所造成,故答案应选C)。

3.词汇题

阅读理解中的词汇题,主要是为了测试考生考生根据上下文推测词义的能力。它不同于

词汇测试部分的词汇题。后者所考的词汇,基本上是教学大纲所要求掌握的,而前者所考的

词汇,常常是超纲词或熟词新用。考生要回答的往往不是这个词的大概意思,也不是它的基

本意思,而是该词在一定的上下文中特定而确切的含义。阅读理解中的词汇题,通常有以下

提问方式:

*Theword"..…”inLine6/inthe5thparagraphprobablymeans.

*Theword".….”inthepassagemeans.

*Theword".….”roughlyrefersto.

*Theexpression"..…"isclosestto.

*Thewriterusedtheword"..…”toindicatethat.

*Theworld”…"inthecontextmeans.

*Bysayingthatu”theauthormeans.

*Fromthepassageweknowthatu”isatermreferringto.

*Theword"..…standsfor.

在做阅读理解中的词汇题的时候,考生应注意从上下文中找到推断词义的线索,而且也

应该能够找到。须要注意的倒应该是不要望文生义,而应该根据上下文来确定其具体含义。

例文:(同上)

Thewords“foreignobject“inParagraph.3mostprobablymeans.

A)astrangeorganthathasgrowninthebody

B)anewthingthatisunknowntothedoctor

C)aseverelyinjuredpartinsidethebody

D)asubstancethatgetsinsidethebodybychance

根据上下文,我们可以判断,“foreignobject”应指长在体中的“异物”,对照四个选

项,D)项最接近“异物”的意思。

4.推理题

在阅读理解的各类题目中,推理性的题目应该说是最困难的一类。考生之所以普遍感到

比较棘手,就在于这类题目的答案无法直接从文章中找到,它要求考生在理解原文的基础上,

运用自己的思维判断能力和头脑中已有的常识,领悟作者的弦外之音,对有关的内容进行符

合逻辑的推理,从而得出作者的真实意图或观点。常见的推理型题目主要有:

*Whichofthefollowingcanbe/cannotbeinferredfromthepassage?

*Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat.

*By...theauthorimplies/indicates/suggeststhat.

*Wecanlearnfromthepassagethat.

*Theauthorseemstobeinfavorof/against.

*Itcanbeconcludedthat.

*Thepassageisintendedto.

*Thetoneofthepassage/theauthormaybe.

*Accordingtotheauthor,whatdoesthesentencesuggest?

*Howdoestheauthorfeelabout?

*Intheauthor'sopinion,.

考生在做这类题目时,应当注意,既然是推理题,那这个答案就不应当是原文中直接提

到的内容,而应当是通过表面文字信息推理出来的。如果选项中的问题在文中有直接表述,

那这个选项就一定不是正确答案。做这类题目时,可以利用排除法,将不正确的选项一一排

除,最后得到正确答案。

例文:(同上)

Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat.

A)thepatientcanbeexposedtoaslightamountradiationsafely

B)CATscannerscantakephotosofbodyorgans

C)CATscannersneedcomputerstoanalyzetheinformation

D)CATscannersaremoreexpensivethanregularX-raymachines

B)、C)选项在文中都有直接而明确的描述,不是推论,故应排出在外。D)项意思在文

中虽未提及,但其推论缺乏依据。而A)项意思则可根据第五段内容推论出来,即,人体可

以承受微量的X线辐射而不致使身体受到损害。

做阅读理解题时.,一般来讲,要避免这样一种心态,即,总是想把文章中每一个词或每

一句话的意义都弄清楚,每一个细节都掌握,否则就心里不踏实,就无法作题。其实并没有

那个必要。一篇文章二三百字,只有五个问题,不可能覆盖文中所有细节或每一个句子。只

要抓住文章大意和主要细节,就可以试着做题了。事实上,在做题时,有时候还需回过头去

看原文,查找所需信息,把问题与原文加以对照比较,才能得出正确答案。因此,考生平时

在做阅读理解题时,应注意培养自己快速阅读理解和抓文章大意的能力。

在做阅读理解题时.,是先读文章后看题呢,还是先看题后读文章呢?对这个问题,历来

看法各异,而且,在不同情况下,也确实各有千秋。但总的说来,我们主张考生还是应首先

以较快速度通读全文,力求对文章大意和主要细节有所了解,然后才做题。在阅读文章时,

应注意用笔标出文章的主题词或主题句、逻辑关联词、有关时间和地点的词句、人名、数字

等。在做题的过程中,如有不明确的地方,再回过头在原文中查找相关信息。这种阅读方式

和习惯,考生在平时就应当培养,这样考试时才会感到得心应手一点。

三.阅读理解短文(80篇)

Passage1

Researchershaveestablishedthatwhenpeoplearementallyengaged,biochemicalchanges

occurinthebrainthatallowittoactmoreeffectivelyincognitive(认知的)areassuchasattention

andmemory.Thisistrueregardlessofage.

Peoplewillbealert(警觉的)andreceptive(接受能力强的)iftheyarefacedwith

informationthatgetsthemtothinkaboutthingstheyareinterestedin.Andsomeonewithahistory

ofdoingmoreratherthanlesswillgointooldagemorecognitivelysoundthansomeonewhohas

nothadanactivemind.

Manyexpertsaresoconvincedofthebenefitsofchallengingthebrainthattheyareputting

thetheorytoworkintheirownlives.叮heideaisnotnecessarilytolearntomemorizeenormous

amountsofinformation,saysJamesFozard,associatedirectoroftheNationalInstituteonAging.

“Mostofusdon'tneedthatkindofskill.Suchspecifictrainingisoflessinterestthanbeingableto

maintainmentalaiertness.^^Fozardandotherssaytheychallengetheirbrainswithdifferentmental

skills,bothbecausetheyenjoythemandbecausetheyaresurethattheirrangeofactivitieswill

helpthewaytheirbrainswork.

GeneCohen,actingdirectorofthesameinstitute,suggeststhatpeopleintheiroldageshould

engageinmentalandphysicalactivitiesindividuallyaswellasingroups.Cohensaysthatweare

frequentlyadvisedtokeepphysicallyactiveasweage,butolderpeopleneedtokeepmentally

activeaswell.Thosewhodoaremorelikelytomaintaintheirintellectualabilitiesandtobe

generallyhappierandbetteradjusted."Thepointis,youneedtodoboth,"Cohensays,

^intellectualactivityactuallyinfluencesbrain-cellhealthandsize.”

1.Peoplewhoarecognitivelyhealthyarethose.

A)whocanrememberlargeamountsofinformation

B)whoarehighlyintelligent

C)whosemindsarealertandreceptive

D)whoaregoodatrecognizingdifferentsounds

2.AccordingtoFozard5sargument,peoplecanmaketheirbrainsworkmoreefficientlyby

A)constantlydoingmemorywork

B)takingpartinvariousmentalactivities

C)goingthroughspecifictraining

D)makingfrequentadjustments

3.ThefindingsofJamesandotherscientistsintheirwork.

A)remainatheorytobefurtherproved

B)havebeenchallengedbymanyotherexperts

C)havebeengenerallyaccepted

D)arepractisedbytheresearchersthemselves

4.Olderpeoplearegenerallyadvisedto.

A)keepfitbygoinginfbrphysicalactivities

B)keepmentallyactivebychallengingtheirbrains

C)maintainmentalalertnessthroughspecifictraining

D)maintainabalancebetweenindividualandgroupactivities

5.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?

A)Howbiochemicalchangesoccurinthehumanbrain.

B)Whypeopleshouldkeepactivenotonlyphysicallybutalsomentally.

C)Howintellectualactivitiesinfluencebrain-cel)health.

D)Whypeopleshouldreceivespecialmentaltrainingastheyage.

Passage2

Peoplecanbeaddictedtodifferentthings-e.g.,alcohol,dings,certainfoods,oreven

television.Peoplewhohavesuchanaddiction(癖好;瘾)arecompulsive(难以抑制的);ie,

theyhaveaverypowerfulpsychologicalneedthattheyfeeltheymustsatisfy.Accordingto

psychologists,manypeoplearecompulsivespenders.Theyfeelthattheymustspendmoney.This

compulsion,likemostothers,isirrational—impossibletoexplainreasonably.Forcompulsive

spenderswhobuyoncredit(赊购),chargeaccounts(赊贝勾帐户)areevenmoreexcitingthan

money.Inotherwords,compulsivespendersfeelthatwithcredit,theycandoanything.Their

pleasureinspendingenormousamountsisactuallygreaterthanthepleasurethattheygetfromthe

thingstheybuy.

Thereisevenaspecialpsychologyofbargainhunting.Tosavemoney,ofcourse,most

peoplelookfbrsales,lowprices,anddiscounts.Compulsivebargainhunters,however,oftenbuy

thingsthattheydon'tneedjustbecausetheyarecheap.Theywanttobelievethattheyarehelping

theirbudgets,buttheyarereallyplayinganexcitinggame.Whentheycanbuysomethingforless

thanotherpeople,theyfieelthattheyarewinning.Mostpeople,expertsclaim,havetworeasons

fortheirbehavior:agoodreasonforthethingsthattheydoandtherealreason.

Itisnotonlyscientists,ofcourse,whounderstandthepsychologyofspendinghabits,but

alsobusinesspeople.Stores,companies,andadvertisersusepsychologytoincreasebusiness:They

considerpeople'sneedsforlove,power,orinfluence,theirbasicvalues,theirbeliefsandopinions,

andsoonintheiradvertisingandsalesmethods.

Psychologistsoftenuseamethodcalled"behaviortherapy(疗法)"tohelpindividualssolve

theirpersonalityproblems.Inthesameway,theycanhelppeoplewhofeelthattheyhave

problemswithmoney.

1.Accordingtothepsychologists,acompulsivespenderisonewhospendslargeamountsof

money.

A)andtakesgreatpleasurefromwhatheorshebuys

B)inordertosatisfyhisorherbasicneedsinlife

C)justtomeethisorherstrongpsychologicalneed

D)entirelywithanirrationaleagerness

2.Accordingtothewriter,compulsivebargainhuntersareinconstantsearchofthelowest

possibleprices______.

A)becausetheywanttosavemoneytohelptheirbudgets

B)becausetheycanopenlyboastoftheirtriumphoverothersingettingthingsforless

C)andwillnothavemoneyproblemsiftheycankeeptotheirbudgets

D)buttheyseldomadmittheyfeelsatisfiediftheycangetthingsforlessthanothers

3.Whichofthefollowingistrue?

A)Allpeoplespendmoneyforexactlythesamereasonthattheyneedtobuythings.

B)Businesspeopleandadvertiserscanusethepsychologyofmoneytoincreasesales.

C)Businesspeopleunderstandthepsychologyofcompulsivebuyingbetterthanscientists

do.

D)compulsivebargainhuntersdonothaveproblemswithmoney.

4.Thearticleismainlyabout.

A)thepsychologyofmoney-spendinghabits

B)thepurchasinghabitsofcompulsivespenders

C)aspecialpsychologyofbargainhunting

D)theuseofthepsychologyofspendinghabitsinbusiness

5.Fromthepassagewemaysafelyconcludethatcompulsivespendersorcompulsivebargain

hunters.

A)arereallyunreasonable

B)needspecialtreatment

C)arereallybeyondremedies

D)cannevergetanyhelptosolvetheirproblemswithmoney

Passage3

Thereisnodoubtthatacommonlanguageusedthroughouttheworldwoulddomuchto

bringcountriesclosertoeachother.Thoughitisbecomingincreasinglyeasytomovefromplace

toplace,ourinabilitytocommunicatewithoneanothergivesrisetonumerousmisunderstandings

andmakesrealcontactbetweenpeopleofdifferingnationalitiesimpossible.Manyattemptshave

beenmadetoovercomethisproblemandtheyhaveallfailed.Thefearofforeigninfluenceand

dominationrulesouttheuniversalacceptanceofanyoneoftheexistingmajorlanguages.Aware

ofthisdifficulty,manylinguistshaveconstructedartificiallanguageswhichcouldhaveno

possiblepoliticalovertones.Theyhavearguedthatalanguageofthissortwouldperformmuch

thesameserviceasLatindidintheMiddleAges.

Althoughlinguistssucceededinmakingtheirartificiallanguagesextremelysimplesothat

theywouldbeeasytolearn,theireffortsseemeddoomedfromthestart.Thereasonforthisisthat

thereisnorealincentivetolearnanartificiallanguage.Thereisnothingtoguaranteethat

everybodyiswillingtomaketheeffort;thereisnoassurancethatthelearnerwillhaveany

adequatereturnforhistoil.Whenpeopletodayundertaketolearnaforeignlanguage,theyarenot

interestedonlyinspeakingit.Masteryofalanguagemakesavailabletothelearneragreatdealof

worthwhileliteratureandmanycurrentpublications.Thisisthebiggeststumbling-blockofallfor

theartificially-constructedtongue.Havingnoliteratureofitsown,allitcanofferisalimitedof

translations,whicharevaluelessinthemselves.Norcanitacquireanyliterature;foritwouldhave

tobeusedforagreatmanygenerationsbeforethiscouldbecomepossible.Moreover,constantuse

overalongperiodwouldbringintobeingmany'national'dialectsandthelanguagewouldthus

defeatitsownpurpose.

Anotherseriousobjectionisthefactthatalanguageisshapedbyuseandnotbydesign.It

isalivingthingwhichisforevergrowingandchanging.Ittakeshundredsofyearsbeforeitcan

acquirerichnessanddepth.Inanartificiallanguage,however,themeaningsofwordsarerigidly

defined.Inflexibilitymakesforanabsenceofsubtlety,sothatnoreallyfinemeaningcanbe

conveyed.Thoughthisqualitymightbeadmirableforscientificpublications,itgreatlyimpedes

theformationofanysignificantliterature.Latinwasidealinthisrespect,foritwasa'dead'

languagewithaliterature;anartificialoneis'dead'fromthestart.Thismakesitlikelythat

existinglanguagebarrierswillremainwithusforaverylongtime.

1.Whatwouldbethebesttitleforthispassage?

A)LanguageBarriersInCommunication

B)Latin,ADeadButIdealLanguage

C)ArtificialLanguage,ASolutiontoLanguageBarrier

D)ProblemsWithArtificialLanguages

2.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingstatementsisnottrue?

A)Althoughitiseasytotravelaroundtheworldnow,realcontactisimpossibleasaresult

ofourinabilitytocommunicate.

B)Toovercomethelanguagebarrier,peopleallovertheworldwelcomeoneofthemajor

languagestobeuniversal.

C)Peopleareafraidoflosingtheirownlanguagesasaresultofthedominationofmajorforeign

languages.

D)Therearenumerousmisunderstandingsinpeople'scontacts.

3.Theword"doomed"(Para2,Line2)inthispassagemeans.

A)welcomedB)acclaimed

C)dislikedD)defeated

4.Accordingtothepassage,artificiallanguageshaven'tsucceededinovercominglanguage

barriersmainlybecause.

A)theyaredesignedbutnotshapedinuse.

B)theylackincentivestolearners.

C)theywillbemixedwithnationaldialects.

D)theyhavenoliteratureoftheirown.

5.Accordingtothepassage,theauthor'sattitudetowardsartificiallanguagescanbebest

describedas.

A)optimisticB)sarcastic

C)negativeD)positive

Passage4

In1838thepolicaleconomistMalthouspredictedthatintimemankindwouldfacestarvation,

havingoutgrowntheavailablefoodsupplies.Today,acenturyandahalflater,therearestill

expertswhoforecastthesameglobaldisaster-unlessurgentmeasuresaretakentopreventit.

Bytheendofthepresentcenturytheremaywellbeoverfivethousandmillionpeopleliving

onthisglobe,anincreaseofoverfiftypercentoftoday,5figure.Inordertokeeppacewiththis

increaseinmankindthefarmersoftheworldwouldhavetostepuptheirproductionoffoodbyat

leasttwopercenteveryyear.Sucharateofincreasehasneverbeenmaintainedinanycountryby

conventionalmethodsofagriculture,despitemodernmechanizationandthewidespreaduseof

fertilizer.Therearenolargeworthwhilereservesofpotentialfarmlandremaining,andgoodfertile

landiscontinuallybeingdivertedtoindustrialuse.Moreover,erosionofthesoiltakesaconstant

toll.

Intensiveresearch,carriedoutovermanyyearsinallmannersofclimaticconditions,has

producedarevolutionarymethodofgrowingcropswithoutusinganysoilatall.Hydroponics,as

thistechniqueiscalled,maywellbetheanswertoallourfoodworries.Alreadyithas

accomplishedwondersinproducinghugecrops.Hydroponicswasonceacomplicatiedand

expensivebusiness;nowitiswelloutoftheexperimentalstage.Labourcostsarefarlowerthan

whenmethodsofagricultureareemployed.Infact,itisacompletelyautomaticsystem.Thereis

nohardmanualwork,nodiggingorploughing,andnoweedingtospeakof.Yieldscanbefar

higherthantheyareinsoil.

1.Whichofthefollowingbestsumsupthewholepassage*?

A)Malthus*predictionhasbeenprovedtobecorrectbymodemexperts.

B)Hydroponicsmaybetheanswertotheworldfoodshortageinthefuture.

C)Hydroponicsisanewdevelopmentinagriculture.

D)Conventionalmethodsofagricultureshouldbeimprovedsoastostepupfoodproductionby

twopercenteveryyear.

2.Thephrase"havingoutgrowntheavailablefoodsupplies"inthefirstparagraphimplies

that.

A)theavailablefoodsupplieswillbeenoughtofeedworldpopulation

B)theearthistooexhaustedtosupportitsincreasingpopulation

C)worldpopulationwillgrowataratefasterthanfoodproduction

D)foodsupplieswillbetoomuchavailableforwouldpopulation.

3Accordingtotheauthor,whatisthemainreasonwhyanincreaseintheproductionoffoodis

notbeachieved?

A)Conventionalmethodsofagriculturearestillprevailingallovertheworld.

B)Modernmechanizationandtheuseoffertilizersarenotwellpopularizedintheworld.

C)Therearenotenoughpotentialfarmalandreservesleft.

D)Landisbeinglostthrougherosionandindustrialization.

4.Whichofthefollwoingstatementsisnottrueofhydroponics?

A)Hydroponicsisconsideredarevolutionarymethodofagriculture.

B)Hydroponicsisstilltoocomplicatedandexpensiveforpracticaluse.

C)Hydroponicshadcreatedwondersinagriculture.

D)Hydroponicshadalreadybeenemployedinfoodproduction.

5.Judgingfromthepassage,themostimportantadvantageofhydroponicsshouldbe

A)higheryieldB)lowerlabourcosts

C)moreautomationD)lesshardmanualwork

Passage5

Inwhatseemsliketheprehistorictimesofcomputerhistory,theearth'spostwarera,there

wasquiteawide-spreadconcernthatcomputerswouldtakeovertheworldfrommanoneday.

Alreadytoday,lessthanfortyyearslater,ascomputersarerelievingusofmoreandmoreofthe

routinetasksinbusinessandinourpersonallives,wearefacedwithalessdramaticbutalsoless

foreseenproblem.Peopletendtobeover-trustingofcomputersandarereluctanttochallengetheir

authority.Indeed,theybehaveasiftheywerehardlyawarethatwrongbuttonsmaybepushed,or

thatacomputermaysimplymalfunction

Obviously,therewouldbenopointininvestinginacomputerifyouhadtocheckallits

answers,butpeopleshouldalsorelyontheirowninternalcomputersandcheckthemachinewhen

theyhavethefeelingthatsomethinghasgonewrong.

Questioningandroutinedouble-checksmustcontinuetobeasmuchapartofgoodbusiness

astheywereinpre-computerdays.Maybeeachcomputershouldcomewiththewarning:fbrall

thehelpthiscomputermayprovide,itshouldnotbeseenasasubstituteforfundamentalthinking

andreasoningskills.

1.Whatisthemainpurposeofthispassage?

A)Tolookbacktotheearlydaysofcomputers.

B)Toexplainwhattechnicalproblemsmayoccurwithcomputers.

C)Todiscourageunnecessaryinvestmentincomputers.

D)Towarnagainstamentallylazyattitudetowardscomputers.

2.Accordingtothepassage,theinitialconcernaboutcomputerswasthattheymight.

A)changeourpersonallives

B)takecontroloftheworld

C)createunforeseenproblems

D)affectourbusinesses

3.Thepassagerecommendsthosedealingwithcomputersto.

A)bereasonablydoubtfulaboutthem

B)checkalltheiranswers

C)substitutethemforbasicthinking

D)usethemforbusinesspurposesonly

4.Thepassagesuggeststhatthepresent-dayproblemwithregardtocomputersis.

A)challengingB)psychological

C)dramaticD)fundamental

5.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethattheauthorwoulddisapproveof.

A)investmentincomputers

B)theuseofone'sinternalcomputer

C)double-checkoncomputers

D)completedependenceoncomputersfordecision-making

Passage6

Attentiontodetailissomethingeveryonecanandshoulddo-especiallyinatightjobmarket.

BobCrossley,ahuman-resourcesexpertnoticesthisinthejobapplicationsthatcomecrosshis

deskeveryday."It'samazinghowmanycandidateseliminatethemselves,vhesays.

Resumes(简历)arrivewithstains.Somecandidatesdon'tbothertospellthecompany's

namecorrectly.OnceIseeamistake,Ieliminatethecandidate,"Crossleyconcludes."Ifthey

cannottakecareofthesedetails,why

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