英语四级阅读练习题

PAGEPAGE92009/9PassageOneQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Throughoutthislong,tenseelection,everyonehasfocusedonthepresidentialcandidatesandhowthey’llchangeAmerica.Rightlyso.Butselfishly.I’mmorefascinatedbyMichelleObamaandwhatshemightbeabletodo,notjustforthiscountry,butformeasanAfircan-Americanwoman.AsthepotentialFirstLady,shewouldhavetheworld’sattention.AndthatmeansthatforthefirsttimepeoplewillhaveachancetogetupcloseandpersonalwiththetypeofAfrican-Americanwomantheysorarelysee.Usually,thelivesofblackwomengolargelyunexamined.Theprevailingtheoryseemstobethatwe’reallhot-temperedsinglemotherswhocan’tkeepaman.Evenintheworldofmake-believe,blackwomenstillcan’tescapethestereotypeofbeingeye-roling,oversexedfemalesraisedbyournever-married,alcoholic（酗酒的）mothers.Theseimageshavehelpeddefinethewayallblackwomenareviewed,includingMichelleObama.Beforesheevergetsthechancetocommittoacause,charityorfoundationasFirstLady,hermosturgentandperhapsmostcomplicateddutymaybesimplytobeherself.Itwon’tbeeasy.Becausefewmainstreampublicationshavedonein-depthfeaturesonregularAfrican-Americanwomen,littleisknownaboutwhoweare,whatwethinkandwhatwefaceonaregularbasis.Forbetterorworse,Michellewillrepresentusall.Justasshewillhavehercritics,shewillalsohavemillionsoffanswhousuallyhavelittleinterestintheFirstLady.ManyAfrican-Ameircanblogshavewrittenaboutwhatthey’dliketoseeMichellebringtotheWhiteHouse—mainlyshowingtheworldthatablackwomancansupporthermanandraiseastrongblackfamily.Michellewillhavetoworktopleaseeveryone—animpossibletask.ButformanyAfrican-Americanwomenlikeme,justalittleofherpoise(沉着),confidenceandintelligencewillgoalongwayinchanginganimagethat’sbeenaroundforfartoolong.57. WhydoesMichelleObamaholdastrongfascinationfortheauthor?A)SheservesasarolemodelforAfrican-Americanwomen.B)ShepossessesmanyadmirablequalitiesbecomingaFirstLady.C)ShewillpresenttotheworldanewimageofAfrican-Americanwomen.D)ShewillpaycloserattentiontotheinterestsofAfrican-Americanwomen.58. WhatisthecommonstereotypeofAfrican-Americanwomenaccordingtotheauthor?A)Theyarevictimsoffamilyviolence.B)Theyareofaninferiorsocialgroup.C)Theyusequitealotofbodylanguage.D)Theyliveoncharityandsocialwelfare.59. WhatdomanyAfrican-Americanswriteaboutintheirblogs.A)WhetherMichellecanliveuptothehighexpectationsofherfans.B)HowMichelleshouldbehaveasapublicfigure.C)HowproudtheyaretohaveablackwomanintheWhiteHouse.D)WhatMichelleshoulddoaswifeandmotherintheWhiteHouse.60. WhatdoestheauthorsayaboutMichelleObamaasaFirstLady?A)Howevermanyfansshehas,sheshouldremainmodest.B)Sheshouldn’tdisappointtheAfircan-Americancommunity.C)Howeverhardshetries,shecan’texpecttopleaseeverybody.D)ShewillgiveprioritytoAfrican-Americanwomen’sconcerns.61. WhatdomanyAfrican-AmericanwomenhopeMichelleObamawilldo?A)Helpchangetheprevailingviewaboutblackwomen.B)HelpherhusbandinthetaskofchangingAmerica.C)OutshinepreviousFirstLadies.D)Fullydisplayherfinequalities.PassageTwoQuestions62to66arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Whennextyear’scropofhigh-schoolgraduatesarriveatOxfordUniversityinthefallof2009,they’llbejoinedbyanewface:AndrewHamilton,the55-year-oldprovost(教务长)ofYale,who’llbecomeOxford’svice-chancellor—apositionequivalenttouniversitypresidentinAmerica.Hamiltonisn’ttheonlyeducatorcrossingtheAtlantic.SchoolsinFrance,Egypt,Singapore,etc.havealsorecentlymadetop-levelhiresfromabroad.Highereducationhasbecomeabigandcompetitivebusinessnowadays,andlikesomanybusinesses,it’sgoneglobal.Yetthetalentflowisn’tuniversal.High-levelpersonneltendtoheadinonlyonedirection:outwardfromAmerica.ThechiefreasonisthatAmericanschoolsdon’ttendtoseriouslyconsiderlookingabroad.Forexample,whentheboardoftheUniversityofColoradosearchedforanewpresident,itwantedaleaderfamiliarwiththestategovernment,amajorsourceoftheuniversity’sbudget.“Wedidn’tdoanyglobalconsideration,”saysPatriciaHays,theboard’schair.TheboardultimatelypickedBruceBenson,a69-year-oldColoradobusinessmanandpoliticalactivist(活动家)whoislikelytodowellinthemaintaskofmodernuniversitypresident:fund-raising.Fund-raisingisadistinctivelyAmericanthing,sinceU.S.ManyEuropeanuniversities,meanwhile,arestillmostlydependentongovernmentfunding.Butgovernmentsupporthasfailedtokeeppacewithrisingstudentnumbers.Thedeclineingovernmentsupporthasmadefund-raisinganincreasinglynecessaryabilityamongadministrators,andhashiringcommitteeshungryforAmericans.Inthepastfewyears,prominentschoolsaroundtheworldhavejoinedthetrend.In2003,whenCambridgeUniversityappointedAlisonRichard,anotherformerYaleprovost,asitsvice-chancellor,theuniversitypubliclystressedthatinherpreviousjobshehadoverseen(监督)“amajorstrengtheningofYale’sfinancialposition.”Ofcourse,fund-raisingisn’ttheonlyskilloutsidersoffer.Theglobalizationofeducationmeansmoreuniversitieswillbeseekingheadswithinternationalexperienceofsomekindtopromoteinternationalprogramsandattractaglobalstudentbody.Foreignerscanofferafreshperspectiveonestablishedpractices.62. Whatisthecurrenttrendinhighereducationdiscussedinthepassage?A)InstitutionsworldwidearehiringadministratorsfromtheU.S.B)Alotofpoliticalactivistsarebeingrecruitedasadministrators.C)Americanuniversitiesareenrollingmoreinternationalstudents.D)Universitypresidentsarepayingmoreattentiontofund-raising.63. WhatisthechiefconsiderationofAmericanuniversitieswhenhiringtop-leveladministrators?A)Theirpoliticalcorrectness.B)Theirabilitytoraisefunds.C)Theirfameinacademiccircles.D)Theiradministrativeexperience.64. WhatdowelearnaboutEuropeanuniversitiesfromthepassage?A)Thetuitionstheychargehavebeenrisingconsiderably.B)Theiroperationisunderstrictgovernmentsupervision.C)Theyarestrengtheningtheirpositionbyglobalization.D)Mostoftheirrevenuescomefromthegovernment.65. CambridgeA)shewasknowntobegoodatraisingmoneyB)shecouldhelpstrengthenitstieswithYaleC)sheknewhowtoattractstudentsoverseasD)shehadboostedYale’sacademicstatus66. Inwhatwaydotop-leveladministratorsfromabroadcontributetouniversitydevelopment?A)Theycanenhancetheuniversity’simage.B)Theywillbringwiththemmoreinternationalfaculty.C)Theywillviewalotofthingsfromanewperspective.D)Theycansetupnewacademicdisciplines.答案57.C58.B59.D60.C61.A62.A63.B64.D65.A66.C2009/6PassageoneQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.TheJanuaryfashionshow,calledFutureFashion,exemplifiedhowfargreendesignhascome.OrganizedbytheNewYork-basednonprofitEarthPledge,theshowinspiredmanytopdesignerstoworkwithsustainablefabricsforthefirsttime.Severalhavesincemadepledgestoincludeorganicfabricsintheirlines.Thedesignerswhoundertakegreenfashionstillfacemanychallenges.ScottHahn,cofounderwithGregoryofRoganandLoomstate,whichusesall-organiccotton,sayshigh-qualitysustainablematerialscanstillbetoughtofind.“Mostdesignerswithexistinglabelsarefindingtherearen’tcomparablefabricsthatcanjustreplacewhatyou’redoingandwhatyourcustomersareusedto,”hesays.Forexample,organiccottonandnon-organiccottonarevirtuallyindistinguishableoncewovenintoadress.Butsomepopularsynthetics,likestretchnylon,stillhavefeweco-friendlyequivalents.Thosewhodomaketheswitcharefindingtheyhavemoresupport.LastyeartheinfluentialtradeshowDesigners&Agentsstoppedchargingitsparticipationfeeforyounggreenentrepreneurs(企业家)whoattenditstwospringtimeshowsinLosAngelesandNewYorkandgavespecialrecognitiontodesignerswhosecollectionsareatleast25%sustainable.Itnowcountsmorethan50greendesigners,upfromfewerthanadozentwoyearsago.ThisweekWal-Martissettoannounceamajorinitiativeaimedathelpingcottonfarmersgoorganic:itwillbuytransitional(过渡型的)cottonathigherprices,thushelpingtoexpandthesupplyofakeysustainablematerial.“Mainstreamisabouttooccur,”saysHahn.Someanalysts(分析师)arelesssure.Amongconsumers,only18%areevenawarethatecofashionexists,upfrom6%fouryearsago.NatalieHormilla,afashionwriter,isanexampleoftheunconvertedconsumer,whenaskedifsheownedanysustainableclothes,shereplied:“NotthatI’mawareof.”Likemostconsumers,shefindslittletimetoshop,andwhenshedoes,she’sonthehuntfor“cutestuffthatisn’ttooexpensive.”Byherownadmission,greenjustisn’tyetonhermind.But–thankstothecombinedeffortsofdesigners,retailersandsuppliers–onedayitwillbe.57.WhatissaidaboutFutureFashion?A)Itinspiredmanyleadingdesignerstostartgoinggreen.B)Itshowedthatdesignersusingorganicfabricswouldgofar.C)Itservedasanexampleofhowfashionshowsshouldbeorganized.D)Itconvincedthepublicthatfashionableclothesshouldbemadedurable.58.AccordingtoScottHahn,onebigchallengetodesignerswhowillgoorganicisthat.A)muchmoretimeisneededtofinishadressusingsustainablematerials.B)theyhavetocreatenewbrandsforclothesmadeoforganicmaterials.C)customershavedifficultytellingorganicfromnon-organicmaterials.D)qualityorganicreplacementsforsyntheticsarenotreadilyavailable.59.WelearnfromParagraph3thatdesignerswhoundertakegreenfashion.A)canattendvarioustradeshowsfree.B)arereadilyrecognizedbythefashionworldC)canbuyorganiccottonatfavorableprices.D)aregainingmoreandmoresupport.60.WhatisNatalieHormilla’sattitudetowardecofashion?A)Shedoesn’tseemtocareaboutit.C)Sheisdoubtfulofitspracticalvalue.B)Shedoesn’tthinkitissustainableD)Sheisverymuchopposedtotheidea61.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofgreenfashion?A)Greenproductswillsoongomainstream.B)Ithasaverypromisingfuture.C)Consumershavethefinalsay.D)Itwillappealmoretoyoungpeople.PassageTwoQuestions62to66arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Scientistshavedevisedawaytodetermineroughlywhereapersonhaslivedusingastrand(缕)ofhair,atechniquethatcouldhelptrackthemovementsofcriminalsuspectsorunidentifiedmurdervictims.Themethodreliesonmeasuringhowchemicalvariationsindrinkingwatershowupinpeople’shair.“You’rewhatyoueatanddrink,andthat’srecordedinyouhair,”saidThureCerling,ageologistattheUniversityofWhileU.Sdietisrelativelyidentical,watersuppliesvary.Thedifferencesresultfromweatherpatterns.Thechemicalcompositionofrainfallchangesslightlyasraincloudsmove.Mosthydrogenandoxygenatomsinwaterarestable,buttracesofbothelementsarealsopresentasheavierisotopes(同位素).Theheaviestrainfallsfirst.Asaresult,stormsthatformoverthePacificdeliverheavierwatertoCaliforniathantoUtah.SimilarpatternsexistthroughouttheU.S.Bymeasuringtheproportionofheavierhydrogenandoxygenisotopesalongastrandofhair,scientistscanconstructageographictimeline.Eachinchofhaircorrespondstoabouttwomonths.Cerling’steamcollectedtapwatersamplesfrom600citiesandconstructedamapoftheregionaldifferences.Theycheckedtheaccuracyofthemapbytesting200hairsamplescollectedfrom65barbershops.Theywereabletoaccuratelyplacethehairsamplesinbroadregionsroughlycorrespondingtothemovementofrainsystems.“It’snotgoodforpinpointing(精确定位),”Cerlingsaid.“It’sgoodforeliminatingmanypossibilities.”ToddPark,alocaldetective,saidthemethodhashelpedhimlearnmoreaboutanunidentifiedwomanwhoseskeletonwasfoundnearGreatSaltLake.Thewomanwas5feettall.Policerecovered26bones,aT-shirtandseveralstrandsofhair.WhenParkheardabouttheresearch,hegavethehairsamplestotheresearchers.Chemicaltestingshowedthatoverthetwoyearsbeforeherdeath,shemovedabouteverytwomonths.ShestayedintheNorthwest,althoughthetestcouldnotbemorespecificthansomewherebetweeneasternOregonandwesternWyoming.“It’sstillasubstantialarea,”Parksaid“Butitnarrowsitwaydownforme.”62.Whatisthescientists’newdiscovery?A)One’shairgrowthhastodowiththeamountofwatertheydrink.B)Aperson’shairmayrevealwheretheyhavelived.C)Hairanalysisaccuratelyidentifiescriminalsuspects.D)Thechemicalcompositionofhairvariesfrompersontoperson.63.Whatdoestheauthormeanby“You’rewhatyoueatanddrink”(Line1,Para.3)?A)Foodanddrinkaffectone’spersonalitydevelopment.B)Foodanddrinkpreferencesvarywithindividuals.C)Foodanddrinkleavetracesinone’sbodytissues.D)Foodanddrinkareindispensabletoone’sexistence.64.WhatissaidabouttherainfallinAmerica’sWest?A)ThereismuchmorerainfallinCaliforniathaninUtah.B)Thewateritdeliversbecomeslighterwhenitmovesinland.C)Itschemicalcompositionislessstablethaninotherareas.D)Itgathersmorelightisotopesasitmoveseastward.65.WhatdidCerling’steamproduceintheirresearch?A)Amapshowingtheregionaldifferencesoftapwater.B)Acollectionofhairsamplesfromvariousbarbershops.C)Amethodtomeasuretheamountofwaterinhumanhair.D)Achartillustratingthemovementoftherainsystem.66.WhatisthepracticalvalueofCerling’sresearch?A)Ithelpsanalyzethequalityofwaterindifferentregions.B)Ithelpsthepolicedeterminewhereacrimeiscommitted.C)Ithelpsthepolicenarrowdownpossibilitiesindetectivework.D)Ithelpsidentifythedrinkinghabitsofthepersonunderinvestigation.答案57A58D59D60A61B62B63C64B65A66C2010/6PassageOneQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Youneverseehim,butthey'rewithyoueverytimeyoufly.Theyrecordwhereyouaregoing,howfastyou'retravelingandwhethereverythingonyourairplaneisfunctioningnormally.Theirabilitytowithstandalmostanydisastermakesthemseemlikesomethingoutofacomicbook.They’reknownastheblackbox.Whenplanesfallfromthesky,asaYemeniairlinerdidonitswaytoComorosIslandsintheIndiaoceanJune30,2009,theblackboxisthebestbetforidentifyingwhatwentwrong.SowhenaFrenchsubmarine(潜水艇)detectedthedevice'shomingsignalfivedayslater,thediscoverymarkedahugesteptowarddeterminingthecauseofatragedyinwhich152passengerswerekilled.In1958,AustralianscientistDavidWarrendevelopedaflight-memoryrecorderthatwouldtrackbasicinformationlikealtitudeanddirection.Thatwasthefirstmodeforablackbox,whichbecamearequirementonallU.S.commercialflightsby1960.Earlymodelsoftenfailedtowithstandcrashes,however,soin1965thedevicewascompletelyredesignedandmovedtotherearoftheplane–thearealeastsubjecttoimpact–fromitsoriginalpositioninthelandingwells(起落架舱).Thesameyear,theFederalAviationAuthorityrequiredthattheboxes,whichwereneveractuallyblack,bepaintedorangeoryellowtoaidvisibility.Modernairplaneshavetwoblackboxes:avoicerecorder,whichtrackspilots'conversations,andaflight-datarecorder,whichmonitorsfuellevels,enginenoisesandotheroperatingfunctionsthathelpinvestigatorsreconstructtheaircraft'sfinalmoments.Placedinaninsulated(隔绝的)caseandsurroundedbyaquarter-inch-thickpanelsofstainlesssteel,theboxescanwithstandmassiveforceandtemperaturesupto2,000℉.Whensubmerged,they'realsoabletoemitsignalsfromdepthsof20,000ft.ExpertsbelievetheboxesfromAirFranceFlight447,whichcrashednearBrazilonJune1,2009,arein57.Whatdoestheauthorsayabouttheblackbox?A)Itensuresthenormalfunctioningofanairplane.B)Theideaforitsdesigncomesfromacomicbook.C)Itsabilitytowardoffdisastersisincredible.D)Itisanindispensabledeviceonanairplane.58.WhatinformationcouldbefoundfromtheblackboxontheYemeniairliner?A)Dataforanalyzingthecauseofthecrash.B)Thetotalnumberofpassengersonboard.C)Thesceneofthecrashandextentofthedamage.D)Homingsignalssentbythepilotbeforethecrash.59.Whywastheblackboxredesignedin1965?A)Newmaterialsbecameavailablebythattime.B)Toomuchspacewasneededforitsinstallation.C)Theearlymodelsoftengotdamagedinthecrash.D)Theearlymodelsdidn'tprovidetheneededdata.60.WhydidtheFederalAviationAuthorityrequiretheblackboxesbepaintedorangeoryellow?A)Todistinguishthemfromthecoloroftheplane.B)Tocautionpeopletohandlethemwithcare.C)Tomakethemeasilyidentifiable.D)Toconformtointernationalstandards.61.WhatdoweknowabouttheblackboxesfromAirFranceFlight447?A)Thereisstillagoodchanceoftheirbeingrecovered.B)Thereisanurgentneedforthemtobereconstructed.C)Theyhavestoppedsendinghomingsignals.D)TheyweredestroyedsomewherenearBrazil.PassageTwoQuestions62to66arebasedonthefollowingpassage.The$11billionself-helpindustryisbuiltontheideathatyoushouldturnnegativethoughtslike"Ineverdoanythingright"intopositiveoneslike"Icansucceed."ButwaspositivethinkingadvocateNormanVincentPealeright?Istherepowerinpositivethinking?ResearchersinCanadajustpublishedastudyinthejournalPsychologicalSciencethatsaystryingtogetpeopletothinkmorepositivelycanactuallyhavetheoppositeeffect:itcansimplyhighlighthowunhappytheyare.Thestudy'sauthors,JoanneWoodandJohnLeeoftheUniversityofWaterlooandElainePerunovicoftheUniversityofNewBrunswick,beginbycitingolderresearchshowingthatwhenpeoplegetfeedbackwhichtheybelieveisoverlypositive,theyactuallyfeelworse,notbetter.IfyoutellyourdimfriendthathehasthepotentialofanEinstein,you'rejustunderlininghisfaults.Inone1990sexperiment,ateamincludingpsychologistJoelCooperofInthisexperiment,Wood,LeeandPerunovicmeasured68students'self-esteem.Theparticipantswerethenaskedtowritedowntheirthoughtsandfeelingsforfourminutes.Every15seconds,onegroupofstudentsheardabell.Whenitrang,theyweresupposedtotellthemselves,"Iamlovable."Thosewithlowself-esteemdidn'tfeelbetteraftertheforceds