大学英语四级真题阅读练习10套(附参考答案)

大学英语4级真题

Passage1

Theendlessdebateabout"work-lifebalance''oftencontainsahopefulfootnoteaboutstay-at-

homedads.IfAmericansocietyandbusinesswon5tmakeiteasieronfuturefemaleleaderswho

choosetohavechildren,thereisstilltherayofhopethatincreasingnumbersoffull-timefathers

will.Butbasedontoday'ssocioeconomictrends,thishopeis,unfortunately,misguided.

It'struethatthenumberofmenwhohaveleftworktodotheirthingasfull-timeparentshas

doubledinadecade,butifsstillverysmall：only0.8%ofmarriedcoupleswherethe

stay-at-homefatherwasoutofthelaborforceforayear.Eventhatpercentageislikelyinflatedby

menthrustintotheircaretakerrolebyadownsizing.Thisissimplynotalargeenoughgroupto

reducethesocialstigma(污名)andforceotheradjustmentsnecessarytosupportingmeninthis

decision,evenifonlyforarelativelyshorttime.

Evenshortertimesawayfromworkforworkingfathersarealreadydifficult.Astudyfound

that85%ofnewfatherstakesometimeoffafterthebirthofachild—butforallbutafew,it'sa

weekortwoatmost.Meanwhile,theaverageforwomenwhotakeleaveismorethan10weeks.

Suchchoicesimpactwhomovesupintheorganization.Whileyou'reaway,someoneelseisdoing

yourwork,makingyoursales,takingcareofyourcustomers.Thatcan'thelpyouatwork.Itcan

onlyhurtyou.Women,ofcourse,facethesameissuesofreturningafteralongabsence.Butwith

manymorewomenthanmenchoosingtoleavetheworkforceentirelytoraisefamilies,returning

fromanextendedparentalleavedoesn'traiseasmanyeyebrowsasitdoesformen.

Womenwouldmakemoreiftheydidn'tbreaktheirearningtrajectory(轨迹）byleavingthe

workforce,orifhigher-payingprofessionsweremorefamily-friendly.Intheforeseeablefuture,

stay-at-homefathersmaymakeallthedifferenceforindividualfamilies,buttheirpresencewon't

reducethenumbersofhigh-potentialwomenwhoareforcedtochoosebetweenfamilyandcareer.

56.Whatgiveswomenarayofhopetoachievework-lifebalance?

A)Morementakinganextendedparentalleave.

B)Peopledchangingattitudestowardsfamily.

C)Morewomenenteringbusinessmanagement.

D)Theimprovementoftheirsocioeconomicstatus.

57.Whydoestheauthorsaythehopeformorefull-timefathersismisguided?

A)Womenarebetterattakingcareofchildren.

B)Manymenvalueworkmorethantheirfamily.

C)Theirnumberistoosmalltomakeadifference.

D)Notmanymenhavethechancetostayathome.

58.Whydofewmentakealongparentalleave?

A)Alongleavewillhaveanegativeimpactontheircareer.

B)Theyjusthavetoomanyresponsibilitiestofulfillatwork.

C)Theeconomiclosswillbetoomuchfortheirfamilytobear.

D)Theyarelikelytogetfiredifabsentfromworkfortoolong.

59.Whatisthemostlikelyreactiontomenreturningfromanextendedparentalleave?

A)Jealousy.

C)Admiration.

B)Surprise.

D)Sympathy.

60.Whatdoestheauthorsayabouthigh-potentialwomeninthenot-too-distantfuture?

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A)Theywillbenefitfromthetrendofmorefathersstayingathome.

B)Theywillfindhigh-payingprofessionsabitmorefamily-friendly.

C)Theyareunlikelytobreaktheircareertrajectorytoraiseafamily.

D)Theywillstillfacethedifficultchoicebetweencareerandchildren.

答案：BCABD

Passage2

Someoftheworld'smostsignificantproblemsneverhitheadlines.Oneexamplecomesfrom

agriculture.Foodriotsandhungermakenews.Butthetrendlyingbehindthesemattersisrarely

talkedabout.Thisisthedeclineinthegrowthinyieldsofsomeoftheworld'smajorcrops.Anew

studybytheUniversityofMinnesotaandMcGillUniversityinMontreallooksatwhere,andhow

far,thisdeclineisoccurring.

Theauthorstakeavastnumberofdatapointsforthefourmostimportantcrops:rice,wheat,

comandsoyabeans(大豆).Theyfindthatonbetween24%and39%ofallharvestedareas,the

improvementinyieldsthattookplacebeforethe1980ssloweddowninthe1990sand2000s.

Therearetwoworryingfeaturesoftheslowdown.Oneisthatithasbeenparticularlysharpinthe

world'smost(人口多的）

countries,IndiaandChina.Theirabilitytofeedthemselveshasbeenan

importantsourceofrelativestabilitybothwithinthecountriesandonworldfoodmarkets.That

self-sufficiencycannotbetakenforgrantedifyieldscontinuetoslowdownorreverse.

Second,yieldgrowthhasbeenlowerinwheatandricethanincomandsoyabeans.Thisis

problematicbecausewheatandricearemoreimportantasfoods,accountingforaroundhalfofall

caloriesconsumed.Comandsoyabeansaremoreimportantasfeedgrains.Theauthorsnotethat

"wehavepreferentiallyfocusedourcropimprovementeffortsonfeedinganimalsandcarsrather

thanoncropsthatfeedpeopleandarethebasisoffoodsecurityinmuchoftheworld.",

Thereportqualifiesthemoreoptimisticfindingsofanothernewpaperwhichsuggeststhat

theworldwillnothavetodigupalotmorelandforfarminginordertofeed9billionpeoplein

2050,astheFoodandAgricultureOrganisationhasargued.

Instead,itsays,thankstoslowingpopulationgrowth,landcurrentlyploughedupforcrops

mightbeabletorevert(回返）toforestorwilderness.Thiscouldhappen.Thetroubleisthatthe

forecastassumescontinuedimprovementsinyields,whichmaynotactuallyhappen.

61.Whatdoestheauthortrytodrawattentionto?

A)Foodriotsandhungerintheworld.C)Thedeclineofthegrainyieldgrowth.

B)Newsheadlinesintheleadingmedia.

D)Thefoodsupplyinpopulouscountries.

62.WhydoestheauthormentionIndiaandChinainparticular?

A)Theirself-sufficiencyisvitaltothestabilityofworldfoodmarkets.

B)Theirfoodyieldshavebeguntodecreasesharplyinrecentyears.

C)Theirbigpopulationsarecausingworldwideconcerns.

D)Theirfoodself-sufficiencyhasbeentakenforgranted.

63.Whatdoesthenewstudybythetwouniversitiessayaboutrecentcropimprovementefforts?

A)Theyfailtoproducethesameremarkableresultsasbeforethe1980s.

B)Theycontributealottotheimprovementofhumanfoodproduction.

C)Theyplayamajorroleinguaranteeingthefoodsecurityoftheworld.

D)Theyfocusmoreontheincreaseofanimalfeedthanhumanfoodgrains.

64.WhatdoestheFoodandAgricultureOrganisationsayaboutworldfoodproductioninthe

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comingdecades?

A)Thegrowingpopulationwillgreatlyincreasethepressureonworldfoodsupplies.

B)Theoptimisticpredictionaboutfoodproductionshouldbeviewedwithcaution.

C)The"slowdownofthegrowthinyieldsofmajorfoodcropswillbereversed.

D)Theworldwillbeabletofeeditspopulationwithoutincreasingfarmland.

65.HowdoestheauthorviewtheargumentoftheFoodandAgricultureOrganisation?

A)Itisbuiltonthefindingsofanewstudy.

B)Itisbasedonadoubtfulassumption.

C)Itisbackedbystrongevidence.

D)Itisopentofurtherdiscussion.

答案：CADDB

Passage3

Junkfoodiseverywhere.We'reeatingwaytoomuchofit.Mostofusknowwhatwe're

doingandyetwedoitanyway.

Sohere'sasuggestionofferedbytworesearchersattheRandCorporation:Whynottakea

lessonfromalcoholcontrolpoliciesandapplythemtowherefoodissoldandhowit'sdisplayed?

"Manypolicymeasurestocontrolobesity(肥胖症）assumethatpeopleconsciouslyandrationally

choosewhatandhowmuchtheyeatandthereforefocusonprovidinginformationandmore

accesstohealthierfoods,"notethetworesearchers.

"Incontrast,"theresearcherscontinue,"manyregulationsthatdon'tassumepeoplemake

rationalchoiceshavebeensuccessfullyappliedtocontrolalcohol,asubstance—likefood—of

whichimmoderateconsumptionleadstoserioushealthproblems.''

Theresearchreferencesstudiesofpeopledbehaviorwithfoodandalcoholandresultsof

alcoholrestrictions,andthenlistsfiveregulationsthattheresearchersthinkmightbepromisingif

appliedtojunkfoods.Amongthem:

Densityrestrictions：licensestosellalcoholaren'thandedoutunplannedtoallcomersbut

areallotted(分配)basedonthenumberofplacesinanareathatalreadysellalcohol.Thesemake

alcohollesseasytogetandreducethenumberofpsychologicalcuestodrink.

Similarly,theresearcherssay,beingpresentedwithjunkfoodstimulatesourdesiretoeatit.

Sowhynotlimitthedensityoffoodoutlets,particularlyonesthatsellfoodrichinemptycalories?

Andwhynotlimitsaleoffoodinplacesthataren5tprimarilyfoodstores?

Displayandsalesrestrictions:Californiahasaruleprohibitingalcoholdisplaysnearthecash

registersingasstations,andinmostplacesyoucan'tbuyalcoholatdrive-throughfacilities.At

supermarkets,foodcompaniespaytohavetheirwaresinplaceswherethey'reeasilyseen.One

couldremovejunkfoodtothebackofthestoreandbanthemfromtheshelvesatcheckoutlines.

Theothermeasuresincluderestrictingportionsizes,taxingandprohibitingspecialpricedealsfor

junkfoods,andplacingwarninglabelsontheproducts.

56.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutjunkfood?

A)Peopleshouldbeeducatednottoeattoomuch.

B)Itiswidelyconsumeddespiteitsillreputation.

C)Itstemptationistoostrongforpeopletoresist.

D)Itcausesmoreharmthanisgenerallyrealized.

57.WhatdotheRandresearchersthinkofmanyofthepolicymeasurestocontrolobesity?

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A)Theyshouldbeimplementedeffectively.C)Theyarebasedonwrongassumptions.

B)Theyprovidemisleadinginformation.D)Theyhelppeoplemakerationalchoices.

58.Whydopolicymakersofalcoholcontrolplacedensityrestrictions?

A)Fewpeopleareabletoresistalcohol'stemptations.

B)Therearealreadytoomanystoressellingalcohol.

C)Drinkingstrongalcoholcancausesocialproblems.

D)Easyaccessleadstocustomers'over-consumption.

59.WhatisthepurposeofCalifornia'sruleaboutalcoholdisplayingasstations?

A)Toeffectivelylimitthedensityofalcoholoutlets.

B)Tohelpdriverstogiveupthehabitofdrinking.

C)Topreventpossibletrafficjamsinnearbyareas.

D)Togetalcoholoutofdrivers'immediatesight.

60.WhatisthegeneralguidelinetheRandresearcherssuggestaboutjunkfoodcontrol?

A)Guidingpeopletomakerationalchoicesaboutfood.

B)Enhancingpeople'sawarenessoftheirownhealth.

C)Borrowingideasfromalcoholcontrolmeasures.

D)Resortingtoeconomic,legalandpsychologicalmeans.

答案：CCDDC

Passage4

Kodak'sdecisiontofileforbankruptcy(破产）protectionisasad,thoughnotunexpected,

turningpointforaleadingAmericancorporationthatpioneeredconsumerphotographyand

dominatedthefilmmarketfordecades,butultimatelyfailedtoadapttothedigitalrevolution.

AlthoughmanyattributeKodak'sdownfallto"complacency(自满)"thatexplanation

doesn'tacknowledgethelengthstowhichthecompanywenttoreinventitself.Decadesago,

Kodakanticipatedthatdigitalphotographywouldovertakefilm—andinfact,Kodakinventedthe

firstdigitalcamerain1975—butinafatefuldecision,thecompanychosetoshelfitsnew

discoverytofocusonitstraditionalfilmbusiness.

Itwasn'tthatKodakwasblindtothefuture,saidRebeccaHenderson,aprofessoratHarvard

BusinessSchool,butratherthatitfailedtoexecuteonastrategytoconfrontit.Bythetimethe

companyrealizeditsmistake,itwastoolate.

Kodakisanexampleofafirmthatwasverymuchawarethattheyhadtoadapt,andspenta

lotofmoneytryingtodoso,butultimatelyfailed.Largecompanieshaveadifficulttime

switchingtonewmarketsbecausethereisatemptationtoputexistingassetsintothenew

businesses.

AlthoughKodakanticipatedtheinevitableriseofdigitalphotography,itscorporate(企业的）

culturewastoorootedinthesuccessesofthepastforittomakethecleanbreaknecessarytofully

embracethefuture.Theywereacompanystuckintime.Theirhistorywassoimportanttothem.

Nowtheirhistoryhasbecomealiability.

Kodak'sdownfalloverthelastseveraldecadeswasdramatic.In1976,thecompany

commanded90%ofthemarketforphotographicfilmand85%ofthemarketforcameras.Butthe

1980sbroughtnewcompetitionfromJapanesefilmcompanyFujiPhoto,whichundermined

Kodakbyofferinglowerpricesforfilmandphotosupplies.Kodak'sdecisionnottopursuethe

roleofofficialfilmforthe1984LosAngelesOlympicswasamajormiscalculation.Thebidwent

insteadtoFuji,whichexploiteditssponsorshiptowinapermanentfootholdinthemarketplace.

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61.WhatdowelearnaboutKodak?

A)Itwentbankruptallofasudden.

B)Itisapproachingitsdownfall.

C)Itinitiatedthedigitalrevolutioninthefilmindustry.

D)Itisplayingthedominantroleinthefilmmarket.

62.WhydoestheauthormentionKodak'sinventionofthefirstdigitalcamera?

A)Toshowitsearlyattempttoreinventitself.

B)Toshowitsefforttoovercomecomplacency.

C)Toshowitsquickadaptationtothedigitalrevolution.

D)ToshowitswilltocompetewithJapan'sFujiPhoto.

63.Whydolargecompanieshavedifficultyswitchingtonewmarkets?

A)Theyfinditcostlytogiveuptheirexistingassets.

B)Theytendtobeslowinconfrontingnewchallenges.

C)Theyareunwillingtoinvestinnewtechnology.

D)Theyaredeeplystuckintheirgloriouspast.

64.WhatdoestheauthorsayKodak'shistoryhasbecome?

A)Aburden.B)Amirror.C)Ajoke.

D)Achallenge.

65.WhatwasKodak'sfatalmistake?

A)Itsblindfaithintraditionalphotography.C)Itsrefusaltosponsorthe1984Olympics.

B)ItsfailuretoseeFujiPhoto'semergence.D)Itsoverconfidenceinitscorporateculture.

答案：BADAC

Passage5

Whenit'sfiveo'clock,peopleleavetheiroffice.Thelengthoftheworkday,formany

workers,isdefinedbytime.Theyleavewhentheclocktellsthemthey'redone.

Thesedays,thetimeiseverywhere:notjustonclocksorwatches,butoncell-phonesand

computers.Thatmaybeabadthing,particularlyatwork.Newresearchshowsthatclock-based

workscheduleshindermorale(士气)andcreativity.

Clock-timersorganizetheirdaybyblocksofminutesandhours.Forexample：ameeting

from9a.m.to10a.m.,researchfrom10a.m.tonoon,etc.Ontheotherhand,task-timershave

alistofthingstheywanttoaccomplish.Theyworkdownthelist,eachtaskstartswhenthe

previoustaskiscompleted.Itissaidthatallofusemployamixofboththesetypesofplanning.

What,then,aretheeffectsofthinkingabouttimeinthesedifferentways?Doesonemakeus

moreproductive?Betteratthetasksathand?Happier?InexperimentsconductedbyTamarAvnet

andAnne-LaureSellier,theyhadparticipantsorganizedifferentactivities—fromprojectplanning,

holidayshopping,toyoga—bytimeorto-dolisttomeasurehowtheyperformedunder"clock

timevs"tasktime."Theyfoundclocktimerstobemoreefficientbutlesshappybecausetheyfelt

littlecontrolovertheirlives.Tasktimersarehappierandmorecreative,butlessproductive.They

tendtoenjoythemomentwhensomethinggoodishappening,andseizeopportunitiesthatcome

up.

Theresearchersarguethattask-basedorganizingtendstobeundervaluedand

under-supportedinbusinessculture.Smartcompanies,theybelieve,willtrytobakemore

task-basedplanningintotheirstrategies.

Thismightbeasmallchangetothewayweviewworkandtheoffice,buttheresearchers

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arguethatitchallengesawidespreadcharacteristicoftheeconomy:workorganizedbydocktime.

Whilemostpeoplewillstillprobablyneed,andbe,tosomeextent,clock-timers,task-based

timingshouldbeusedwhenperfomingajobthatrequiresmorecreativity.It'llmakethosetasks

easier,aridthetask-doerswillbehappier.

56.Whatdoestheauthorthinkoftimedisplayedeverywhere?

A)Itmakeseverybodytime-conscious.

B)Itisaconvenienceforworkandlife.

C)Itmayhaveanegativeeffectoncreativework.

D)Itclearlyindicatesthefastpaceofmodemlife.

57.Howdopeopleusuallygoabouttheirworkaccordingtotheauthor?

A)Theycombineclock-basedandtask-basedplanning.

B)Theygiveprioritytothemosturgenttaskonhand.

C)Theysetatimelimitforeachspecifictask.

D)Theyaccomplishtheirtasksonebyone.

58.WhatdidTamarAvnetandAnneLaureSellierfindintheirexperimentsaboutclockstimers?

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A)Theyseizeopportunitiesastheycomeup.C)Theyhavemorecontrolovertheirlives.

B)Theyalwaysgettheirworkdoneintime.D)Theytendtobemoreproductive.

59.Whatdotheresearcherssayabouttoday'sbusinessculture?

A)Itdoesnotsupportthestrategiesadoptedbysmartcompanies.

B)Itdoesnotattachenoughimportancetotask-basedpractice.

C)Itplacesmoreemphasisonworkefficiencythanonworkers5lives.

D)Itaimstobringemployees,potentialandcreativityintofullplay.

60.Whatdotheresearcherssuggest?

A)Task-basedtimingispreferredfordoingcreativework.

B)Itisimportanttokeepabalance

betweenworkandlife.

C)Performingcreativejobstendstomakeworkershappier.

D)Ascientificstandardshouldbe

adoptedinjobevaluation.

答案：CADAA

Passage6

MarthaStewartwascharged,triedandcompetedofacrimein2004.Asshenearedtheendof

herprisonsentence,awell-knowncolumnistwrotethatshewas"payingherdues,"andthat

"thereissimplynoreasonforanyonetoattempttodenyherrighttostartanew."

Surely,theAmericanidealofsecondchancesshouldnotbereservedonlyfortherichand

powerful.Unfortunately,manyfederalandstatelawsimposepost-convictionrestrictionsona

shockinglylargenumberofAmericans,whoarepreventedfromeverfullypayingtheirdebtto

society.

Atleast65millionpeopleintheUnitedStateshaveacriminalrecord.Thiscanresultin

severepenaltiesthatcontinuelongafterpunishmentiscompleted.

Manyofthesepenaltiesareimposedregardlessoftheseriousnessoftheoffenseorthe

person'sindividualcircumstances.Lawscanrestrictorbanvoting,accesstopublichousing,and

professionalandbusinesslicensing.Theycanaffectaperson'sabilitytogetajoband

qualificationforbenefits.

Inall,morethan45,000lawsandrulesservetoexcludevastnumbersofpeoplefromfully

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participatinginAmericanlife.

Somelawsmakesense.Nooneadvocateslettingsomeoneconvictedofpedophilia（恋童癖）

workinaschool.Buttoooftencollateral(附随的）consequencesbearnorelationtopublicsafety.

Shouldawomanwhopossessedasmallamountofdrugsyearsagobepermanentlyunabletobe

licensedasanurse?

Theselawsarealsocounterproductive,sincetheymakeitharderforpeoplewithcriminal

recordstofindhousingorlandajob,twokeyfactorsthatreducebacksliding.

Arecentreportmakesseveralrecommendations,includingtheabolitionofmost

post-convictionpenalties,exceptforthosespecificallyneededtoprotectpublicsafety.Wherethe

penaltiesarenotamust,theyshouldbeimposedonlyifthefactsofacasesupportit.

Thepointisnottoexcuseorforgetthecrime.Rather,itistorecognizethatinAmerica'svast

criminaljusticesystem,secondchancesarecrucial.Itisinnoone'sinteresttokeepalarge

segmentofthepopulationonthemarginsofsociety.

61.Whatdoesthewell-knowncolumnist'sremarkaboutMarthaStewartsuggest?

A)Herpastrecordmightstandinherwaytoanewlife.

B)Herbusinesswentbankruptwhileshewasinprison.

C)Herreleasefromprisonhasdrawnlittleattention.

D)Herprisonsentencemighthavebeenextended.

62.WhatdowelearnfromthesecondparagraphaboutmanycriminalsinAmerica?

A)Theybackslideafterservingtheirtermsinprison.

B)Theyaredeprivedofchancestoturnoveranewleaf.

C)Theyreceiveseverepenaltiesforcommittingminoroffenses.

D)Theyareconvictedregardlessoftheirindividualcircumstances.

63.WhataretheconsequencesformanyAmericanswithacriminalrecord?

A)Theyremainpoorfortherestoftheirlives.C)Theyaremarginalizedinsociety.

B)Theyaredeprivedofallsocialbenefits.D)Theyaredesertedbytheirfamily.

64.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofthepost-convictionlawsandrules?

A)Theyhelptomaintainsocialstability.

B)Someofthemhavelongbeenoutdated.

C)Theyarehardlyunderstoodbythepublic.

D)Alotofthemhavenegativeeffectsonsociety.

65.Whatistheauthor'smainpurposeinwritingthepassage?

A)Tocreateopportunitiesforcriminalstoreformthemselves.

B)ToappealforchangesinAmerica'scriminaljusticesystem.

C)Toensurethatpeoplewithacriminalrecordliveadecentlife.

D)Tocallpeople'sattentiontoprisoners'conditionsinAmerica.

答案：ABCDB

Passage7

Thewalletisheadingforextinction.Asaday-to-dayessential，itwilldieoffwiththe

generationwhoreadprintnewspapers.Thekindofshopping—whereyouhandovernotesand

countoutchangeinreturn—nowhappensonlyinthemostminorofourretailencounters,like

buyingabarofchocolateorapintofmilkfromacomershop.Attheshopswhereyouspendany

realmoney,thatmoneyisincreasinglyabstracted.Andthisismoreandmoretrue,thehigherup

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thescaleyougo.Atthemostcutting-edgeretailstores—VictoriaBeckhamonDoverStreet,for

instance—youdon'tgoandstandatanykindofcashregisterwhenyoudecidetopay.Thestaff

areequippedwithiPadstotakeyourpaymentwhileyourelaxonasofa.

Whichisnothingmoreorlessthanexcellentservice,ifyouhavethemoney.Butacross

society,theabstractionoftheideaofcashmakesmeuneasy.MaybeI'mjustold-fashioned.But

earningmoneyisn'tquickoreasyformostofus.Isn'titabitweirdthatspendingitshouldhappen

inhalfablink(眨眼）ofaneye?Doesn'tawallet—thattime-honouredFriday-nightfeelingof

pleasing,promisingfatness—representsomethingthatmatters?

ButI'llleavetheeconomicstotheexperts.Whatbothersmeaboutthedeathofthewalletis

thechangeitrepresentsinourphysicalenvironment.Everythingaboutthelookandfeelofa

wallet—thewaythefasteningsandmaterialswearandtearandloosenwithage,theplasticand

paperandgoldandsilver,andhandwrittenphonenumbersandprintedcinematickets—isthevery

oppositeofwhatourworldisbecoming.TheoppositeofawalletisasmartphoneoraniPad.The

roundededges,coolglass，smoothandunknowableasapebble(鹅卵石）.Insteadofdigging

throughpiecesofpaperandpeeringintocomers,wemoveourfingersleftandright.Nomore

countingoutcoins.Showyourwallet,ifyoustillhaveone.Itmaynotbeheremuchlonger.

56.Whatishappeningtothewallet?

A)Itisdisappearing.

C)Itisbecomingcostly,

B)Itisbeingfattened.D)Itischanginginstyle.

57.Howarebusinesstransactionsdoneinbigmodemstores?

A)Individually.

C)Intheabstract.

B)Electronically.D)Viaacashregister.

58.Whatmakestheauthorfeeluncomfortablenowadays?

A)Savingmoneyisbecomingathingofthepast.

B)ThepleasingFriday-nightfeelingisfading.

C)Earningmoneyisgettingmoredifficult.

D)Spendingmoneyissofastandeasy.

59.Whydoestheauthorchoosetowriteaboutwhat'shappeningtothewallet?

A)Itrepresentsachangeinthemodemworld.

B)Ithassomethingtodowitheverybody'slife.

C)Itmarkstheendofatime-honouredtradition.

D)Itistheconcernofcontemporaryeconomists.

60.Whatcanweinferfromthepassageabouttheauthor?

A)Heisresistanttosocialchanges.

B)Heisagainsttechnologicalprogress.

C)Hefeelsreluctanttopartwiththetraditionalwallet.

D)Hefeelsinsecureintheever-changingmodemworld.

答案：ABDAD

Passage8

Everybodysleeps,butwhatpeoplestayuplatetocatch—orwakeupearlyinordernotto

miss—variesbyculture.

Fromdatacollected,itseemsthethingsthatcauseustolosethemostsleep,onaverage,are

sportingevents,timechanges,andholidays.

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Aroundtheworld,peoplechangedsleeppatternsthankstothestartorendofdaylightsavings

time,Russians,forexample,begantowakeupaboutahalf-hourlatereachdayafterPresident

VladimirPutinshiftedthecountrypermanentlyto"wintertime"startingonOctober26.

Russia'sotherlatenightsandearlymorningsgenerallycorrespondtopublicholidays.On

NewYear'sEve,Russianshavetheworld'slatestbedtime，hittingthehayataround3:30a.m.

、RussiansalsogetupanhourlateronInternationalWomen'sDay,thedayfortreatingand

celebratingfemalerelatives.

Similarly,Americans,latenights,latemornings,andlongestsleepsfallonthree-day

weekends.CanadagottheleastsleepoftheyearthenightitbeatSwedenintheOlympichockey

（冰球）.TheWorldCupisalsochieflyresponsibleforsleepdeprivation(剥夺）.Theworstnight

forsleepintheU.KwasthenightoftheEngland-ItalymatchonJune14.Britsstayedupa

half-hourlatertowatchit,andthentheywokeupearlierthanusualthenextmorningthanksto

summernights,thephenomenoninwhichthesunbarelysetsinnortherncountriesinthe

summertime.Thatwasnothing,though,comparedtoGermans,Italians,andtheFrench,who

stayeduparoundanhourandahalflateronvariousdaysthroughoutthesummer

towatchthe

Cup.

Itshouldbemadeclearthatnoteveryonehasadevicetorecordtheirsleeppatterns;insome

ofthesenations,it'slikelythatonlytherichestpeopledo.Andpeoplewhoelecttotracktheir

sleepmaytrytogetmoresleepthantheaverageperson.Evenifthat'sthecase,though,theabove

findingsarestillstriking.Ifthemosthealth-consciousamongushavesuchdeepswingsinour

shut-eyelevelsthroughouttheyear,howmuchsleeparetherestofuslosing?

61.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutpeopledsleepinghabits?

A)Theyareculture-related.C)Theychangewiththeseasons.

B)Theyaffectpeopledhealth.

D)Theyvaryfrompersontoperson.

62.WhatdowelearnabouttheRussiansregardingsleep?

A)Theydon'tfallasleepuntilverylate.

C)Theygetlesssleeponpublicholidays.

B)Theydon'tsleepmuchonweekends.

D)Theysleeplongerthanpeopleelsewhere.

63.WhatisthemajorcauseforEuropeans'lossofsleep?

A)Thedaylightsavingstime.C)TheWorldCup.

B)Thecolorfulnightlife.

D)Thesummertime.

64.Whatisthemostprobablereasonforsomerichpeopletouseadevicetorecordtheirsleep

patterns?

A)Theyhavetroublefallingasleep.C)Theyareinvolvedinasleepresearch.

B)Theywanttogetsufficientsleep.D)Theyw