历年英语专四阅读真题

2010真题

PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION[25MIN]

Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,

eachwithfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyou

thinkisthebestanswer.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEETTWO.

TEXTA

Whatisthenatureofthescientificattitude,theattitudeofthemanorwoman

whostudiesandappliesphysics,biology,chemistry,geology,engineering,

medicineoranyotherscience?Weallknowthatscienceplaysanimportantrole

inthesocietiesinwhichwelive.Manypeoplebelieve,however,thatourprogress

dependsontwodifferentaspectsofscience.Thefirstoftheseistheapplicationofthe

machines,productsandsystemsofappliedknowledgethatscientistsand

technologistsdevelop.Throughtechnology,scienceimprovesthestructureofsociety

andhelpsmantogainincreasingcontroloverhisenvironment.

Thesecondaspectistheapplicationbyallmembersofsocietyofthespecial

methodsofthoughtandactionthatscientistsuseintheirwork.

Whatarethesespecialmethodsofthinkingandacting?Firstofall,itseemsthat

asuccessfulscientistisfullofcuriosity-hewantstofindouthowandwhythe

universeworks.Heusuallydirectshisattentiontowardsproblemswhichhenotices

havenosatisfactoryexplanation,andhiscuriositymakeshimlookforunderlying

relationshipsevenifthedataavailableseemtobeunconnected.Moreover,hethinks

hecanimprovetheexistingconditionsandenjoystryingtosolvetheproblemswhich

thisinvolves.

Heisagoodobserver,accurate,patientandobjectiveandapplieslogical

thoughttotheobservationshemakes.Heutilizesthefactsheobservestothefullest

extent.Forexample,trainedobserversobtainaverylargeamoun

tofinformationaboutastarmainlyfromtheaccurateanalysisofthesimplelinesthat

appearinaspectrum.

Heisskeptical-hedoesnotacceptstatementswhicharenotbasedonthemost

completeevidenceavailable-andthereforerejectsauthorityasthesolebasisfortruth.

Scientistsalwayscheckstatementsandmakeexperimentscarefullyandobjectivelyto

verifythem.

Furthermore,heisnotonlycriticaloftheworkofothers,butalsoofhisown,

sinceheknowsthatmanistheleastreliableofscientificinstrumentsandthata

numberoffactorstendtodisturbobjectiveinvestigation.

Lastly,heishighlyimaginativesinceheoftenhastolookforrelationshipsin

datawhicharenotonlycomplexbutalsofrequentlyincomplete.Furthermore,he

needsimaginationifhewantstomakehypothesesofhowprocessesworkandhow

eventstakeplace.

Theseseemtobesomeofthewaysinwhichasuccessful

scientistortechnologistthinksandacts.

81.Manypeoplebelievethatsciencehelpssocietytoprogressthrough

A.appliedknowledge.

B.morethanoneaspect.

C.technologyonly.

D.theuseofmachines.

82.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECTaboutcuriosity?

A.Itgivesthescientistconfidenceandpleasureinwork.

B.Itgivesrisetointerestinproblemsthatareunexplained.

C.Itleadstoeffortstoinvestigatepotentialconnections.

D.Itencouragesthescientisttolookfornewwaysofacting.

83.Accordingtothepassage,asuccessfulscientistwouldnot

A.easilybelieveinuncheckedstatements.

B.easilycriticizeothers*researchwork.

C.alwaysusehisimaginationinwork.

D.alwaysuseevidencefromobservation.

84.Whatdoesthepassagemainlydiscuss?

A.Applicationoftechnology.

B.Progressinmodemsociety.

C.Scientists1waysofthinkingandacting.

D.Howtobecomeasuccessfulscientist.

85.Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardsthetopic?

A.Critical.B.Objective.

C.Biased.D.Unclear.

TEXTB

Overthepastseveraldecades,theU.S.,Canada,andEuropehavereceiveda

greatdealofmediaandevenresearchattentionoverunusualphenomenaand

unsolvedmysteries.TheseincludeUFOsaswellassightingsandencounterswith

"nonhumancreatures'*suchasBigfbotandtheLochNessmonster.Onlyrecentlyhas

LatinAmericabeguntoreceivesomeattentionaswell.Althoughthemysteriesofthe

Aztec,Mayan,andIncacivilizationshavebeenknownforcenturies,nowthepublicis

alsobecomingawareofunusual,paranormalphenomenaincountriessuchasPeru.

TheNazca"lines"ofPeruwerediscoveredinthe1930s.Theselinesaredeeply

carvedintoaflat,stonyplain,andformabout300intricatepicturesofanimalssuchas

birds,amonkey,andalizard.Seenatgroundlevel,thedesignsareajumbled

senselessmess.Theimagesaresolargethattheycanonlybeviewedataheightof

1,000feet-meaningfromanaircraft.Yettherewerenoaircraftin300B.C.,whenit

isjudgedthedesignsweremade.Norweretherethen,oraretherenow,anynearby

mountainrangesfromwhichtoviewthem.Sohowandwhydidthenativepeopleof

Nazcacreatethesemarvelousdesigns?Oneanswerappearedin1969,whenthe

GermanresearcherandwriterErichvonDanikenproposedthatthelinesweredrawn

byextraterrestrialsasrunwaysfortheiraircraft.Thescientificcommunitydidnottake

longtoscoffatandabandonvonDaniken^theory.Overtheyearsseveralother

theorieshavebeenputforth,butnonehasbeenacceptedbythescientificcommunity.

TodaythereisanewandheightenedinterestintheNazcalines.Itisadirect

resultofthecreationoftheInternet.Currentlytherea

reover60sitesdedicatedtothismysteryfromLatinAmerica'spast,andeven

respectedscientistshavejoinedthediscussionthroughe-mailandchatrooms.

WilltheInternethelpexplaintheseunsolvedmysteries?Perhapsitisastepin

therightdirection.

86.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECT?

A.LatinAmericahaslongreceivedattentionforunusualphenomena.

B.PublicattentionisnowdirectedtowardscountrieslikePeru.

C.PublicinterestusuallyfocusesonNorthAmericaandEurope.

D.Someancientcivilizationshaveunsolvedmysteries.

87.Accordingtothepassage,theNazcalineswerefound

A.inmountains.B.instones.C.onanimals.D.onaplain.

88.Wecaninferfromthepassagethatthehigherthelinesareseen,thethe

imagestheypresent.

A.smallerB.largerC.clearerD.brighter

89.TherehasbeenincreasinginterestintheNazcalinesmainlybecauseof

A.theparticipationofscientists.B.theemergenceoftheInternet.

C.thebirthofnewtheories.D.theinterestintheInternet.

90.TheauthorisabouttheroleoftheInternetinsolvingmysteries.

A.cautiousB.pessimisticC.uncertainD.optimistic

TEXTC

Graduationspeechesareabitlikeweddingtoasts.Afewarememorable.The

resttendtotriggersuchthoughtsas,"WhydidIwearsuchuncomfortableshoes?"

Butgraduationspeechesarelessaboutthemessagethanthemessenger.Every

yearafewcollegesanduniversitiesintheUSattractattentionbecausethey*ve

managedtobookhigh-profilespeakers.And,everyyear,themediareportsomeof

thesespeakers*wiseremarks.

Lastmonth,thefollowingwordsofwisdomwerespread:

"Youreallyhaven'tcompletedthecircleofsuccessunlessyoucanhelp

somebodyelsemoveforward."(OprahWinfrey,DukeUniversity).

"Thereisnowaytostopchange;changewillcome.Gooutandgiveusa

futureworthyoftheworldweallwishtocreatetogether."(HillaryClinton,NewYork

University).

"Thisreallyisyourmoment.Historyisyourstobend.0(JoeBiden,Wake

ForestUniversity).

Ofcourse,thereal"get”ofthegraduationseasonwasfirstladyMichelle

Obama'sappearanceattheUniversityofCalifornia,Merced.nRememberthatyouare

blessed,0shetoldtheclassof2009,"Rememberthatinexchangeforthoseblessings,

youmustgivesomethingback...AsadvocateandactivistMarianWrightEdelman

says,'Serviceistherentwepayforliving...itisthetruemeasure,theonlymeasure

ofsuccess1."

Callstoservicehavealong,richtraditioninthesespeeches.However,itis

possibleforagraduationspeechtogobeyondclicheandsaysomethingtruly

compelling.ThelatewriterDavidFosterWallace's2005graduationspeechatKenyon

CollegeinOhiotalkedabouthowtotrulycareaboutotherpeople.Itgained

somethingofacultafteritwaswidelycirculatedontheInternet.AppleComputer

CEOSteveJobs*addressatStanfordUniversitythatyear,inwhichhetalkedabout

death,isalsoconsideredoneofthebestinrecentmemory.

Butwhenyou'resittinginthehotsun,fidgetyandfreakedout,doyoureally

wanttobelecturedabout

thebigstuff?.Isn'tthatliketryingtomaintainasmileatyourweddingreception

whilesomerelativegivesatoastthatamountstonmarriageishardwork"？Youknow

he'sright;youjustdon'twanttothinkaboutitatthatparticularmoment.Infact,asis

thecaseinmanymajorlifemoments,youcan'treallymanagetothinkbeyondthe

blistersyournewshoesarecausing.

Thatmayseemanticlimactic.Butitalsogetstotheheartofoneoflife's

greatest,saddesttruths:thatourmost"memorable"occasionsmayelicitthefewest

memories.It'sprobablynotsomethingmostgraduationspeakerswouldsay,butit's

oneofthefirstlessonsofgrowingup.

91.Accordingtothepassage,mostgraduationspeechestendtorecallmemories.

A.greatB.trivialC.unforgettableD.unimaginative

92."Butgraduationspeechesarelessaboutthemessagethanthemessenger*1is

explained

A.inthefinalparagraph.B.inthelastbutoneparagraph.

C.inthefirstparagraph.D.inthesameparagraph.

93.Thegraduationspeechesmentionedinthepassagearerelatedtothefollowing

themesEXCEPT

A.death.B.success.C.service.D.generosity.

94.Itisimpliedinthepassagethatatgreatmomentspeoplefailto

A.remainclear-headed.B.keepgoodmanners.

C.rememberothers'words.D.recollectspecificdetails.

95.Whatis"oneofthefirstlessonsofgrowingup"?

A.Attendingagraduationceremony.

B.Listeningtograduationspeeches.

C.Forgettingdetailsofmemorableevents.

D.Meetinghigh-profilegraduationspeakers.

TEXTD

Culturalrulesdetermineeveryaspectoffoodconsumption.Whoeatstogether

definessocialunits.Forexample,insomesocieties,thenuclearfamilyistheunitthat

regularlyeatstogether.TheanthropologistMaryDouglashaspointedoutthat,forthe

English,thekindofmealandthekindoffoodthatisservedrelatetothekindsof

sociallinksbetweenpeoplewhoareeatingtogether.Shedistinguishesbetween

regularmeals,Sundaymealswhenrelativesmaycome,andcocktailpartiesfor

acquaintances.Thefoodservedsymbolizestheoccasionandreflectswhoispresent.

Forexample,onlysnacksareservedatacocktailparty.Itwouldbeinappropriateto

serveasteakorhamburgers.Thedistinctionsamongcocktails,regularmeals,and

specialdinnersmarkthesocialboundariesbetweenthoseguestswhoareinvitedfor

drinks,thosewhoareinvitedtodinner,andthosewhocometoafamilymeal.Inthis

example,thetypeoffoodsymbolizesthecategoryofguestandwithwhomitiseaten.

InsomeNewGuineasocieties,thenuclearfamilyisnottheunitthateats

together.Thementaketheirmealsinamen'shouse,separatelyfromtheirwivesand

children.Womenprepareandeattheirfoodintheirownhousesandtakethe

husband*sportiontothemen'shouse.Thewomeneatwiththeirchildrenintheirown

houses.ThispatternisalsowidespreadamongNearEasternsocieties.

Eatingisametaphorthatissometimesusedtosignifymarriage.InmanyNew

Guineasocieties,likethatoftheLesuontheislandofNewIrelandinthePacificand

thatoftheTrobriandIslanders,marriageissymbolizedbythecouple'seatingtogether

fbrthefirsttime.Eatingsymbolizestheirnewstatusasamarriedcouple.InU.S.

society,itisjustthereverse.Acouplemaygoouttodinneronafirstdate.

Otherculturalruleshavetodowithtaboosagainsteatingcertainthings.Insome

societies,membersofaclan,atypeofkin(family)group,arenotallowedtoeatthe

animalorbirdthatistheirtotemicancestor.Sincetheybelievethemselvestobe

descendedfromthatancestor,itwouldbelikeeatingthatancestororeating

themselves.

Thereisalsoanassociationbetweenfoodprohibitionsandrank,whichisfound

initsmostextremeforminthecastesystemofIndia.Acastesystemconsistsof

rankedgroups,eachwithadifferenteconomicspecialization.InIndia,thereisan

associationbetweencasteandtheideaofpollution.Membersofhighlyrankedgroups

canbepollutedbycomingintocontactwiththebodilysecretions,particularlysaliva,

ofindividualsoflower-rankedcastes.Becauseofthefearofpollution,Brahmansand

otherhigh-rankedindividualswillnotsharefoodwith,no

96.Accordingtothepassage,theEnglishmakecleardistinctionsbetween

A.peoplewhoeattogether.

B.thekindsoffoodserved.

C.snacksandhamburgers.

D.familymembersandguests.

97.Accordingtothepassage,whowillNOTeattogether?

A.TheEnglish.

B.Americansontheirfirstdate.

C.MenandwomeninNearEasternsocieties.

D.Newly-wedsontheislandofNewIreland.

98.Accordingtothepassage,eatingtogetherindicatesallthefollowingEXCEPT

A.thetypeoffood.B.socialrelations.

C.maritalstatus.D.familyties.

99.ThelastparagraphsuggeststhatinIndiadecideshowpeopleeat.

A.pollutionB.foodC.cultureD.socialstatus

100.Whichofthefollowingcanbestserveasthetopicofthepassage?

A.Differentkindsoffoodintheworld.

B.Relationsbetweenfoodandsocialunits.

C.Symbolicmeaningsoffoodconsumption.

D.Cultureandmannersofeating.

2009真题

PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION[25MINI

Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,

eachwithfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyou

thinkisthebestanswer.MarkyouranswersonAnswerSheetTwo.

TEXTA

Doyourealizethateverytimeyoutakeastep,thebonesinyourhiparesubjectedto

forcesbetweenfourandfivetimesyourbodyweight?Whenyouarerunning,this

forceisincreasedfurtherstill.Whathappensifthroughdiseaseahip-jointceasesto

beabletoresistsuchforces?Formanyyearship-jointsandotherbodyjointshave

beenreplaceableeitherpartiallyorcompletely.Itisafterallasimpleballandsocket

joint;ithascertainloadsimposedonit;itneedsreliabilityoveradefinedlife;itmust

containmaterialssuitablefortheworkingenvironment.Anyengineerwillrecognize

theseascharacteristicofatypicalengineeringproblem,whichdoctorsandengineers

haveworkedtogethertosolve,inordertobringafreshleaseoflifetopeoplewho

wouldotherwisebedisabled.

Thistypifiesthewayinwhichengineersworktohelppeopleandcreateabetter

qualityoflife.Thefactthatthiscountryhasthemostefficientagriculturalindustryin

theworldisanothergoodexample.Mechanicalengineershaveworkedwithfarmers

andbiologiststoproducefertilizers,machineryandharvestingsystems.Thisteam

efforthasnowproducedcropsuniformlywaisthighorlesssothattheyarebetter

suitedtomechanicalharvesting.Similaradvanceswithothercropshavereleased

peoplefromhardandboringjobsformorecreativework,whilstmachinesharvest

cropsmoreefficientlywithlesswaste.Providingmorefoodfortherapidlyincreasing

populationisyetanotherroleforthemechanicalengineer.

81.Accordingtothepassage,whenwouldmostweightbeimposedonhip-joints?

A.Whenoneiswalking.B.Whenoneisrunning.

C.Whenoneisstanding.D.Whenoneislyingdown.

82.Engineersregardthereplacementofhip-jointsasa(n)Problem.

A.mechanicalB.medicalC.healthD.agricultural

83.Accordingtothepassage,howdoengineerscontributetoincreasingefficiencyof

the

agriculturalindustry?

A.Byworkingwithfarmers.

B.Byworkinginteams.

C.Bygrowingcropsofthesameheight.

D.Bymakingagriculturalmachinery.

84.Accordingtothecontext,"Thisteameffort"'inParagraphTworefersto

A.mechanicalengineers.

B.doctorsandengineers.

C.biologists,doctorsandfarmers.

D.farmers,biologistsandengineers.

TEXTB

Nowadays,acellphoneserviceisavailabletoeveryone,everywhere.Probably

thousandsofpeoplehavealreadybeenusingit,butIjustdiscoveredit,soI'mgoing

toclaimitandalsonameit:FakeFoning.

Thetechnologyhasbeenworkingwellformeattheoffice,butthereareinfinite

applications.Virtuallyinanypublicspace.

Sayyouworkatabiguniversitywithlotsoftalkyfacultymembersbuzzingabout.

Now,sayyouneedtousetherestroom.Thetripdownthehallwilltakeapproximately

onehour,becauseapersoncan*twalkintothosetalkypeoplewithoutgettingpulled

asideforaquestion,abitofgossip,anewreadonacertainlineofParadiseLost.

So,acellphone.Anycellphone.Justpickitup.Don*tdial.Justholdthatphonetoyour

faceandstarttalking.Walkconfidentlydownthehallengagedinfakeconversation,

makingsuretotailorboththetopicandcontenttothepersonstandingbeforeyou

whomyouaretryingtoevade.

Forstandardcolleagueavoidance,Isuggestfakechattingaboutfakebusiness:

"Yes,I'mgladyoucalled,becausewereallyneedtohammeroutthedetails.What's

that?Yes,IreadPage12,butifyoulookatthebottomof4,1thinkyoucanseethe

problembeginsrightthere."

Beanimated.Beengagedinyourfakefbneconversation.Makeeyecontactwiththe

peoplepassing,nodtothem,gesturekeeninterestintalkingtothematalatertime,

pointtoyourphone,shrugandmoveon.

Shoppersshouldconsiderfakefbninganytimetheyspotatalkyneighborinthe

producedepartmentpinching（用手捏）unripepeaches.Withoutyourphoneatyour

face,you'dbeinfora20-minutespeechonhowterribletheworldis.

Oneimportantcautionaboutfakefoning.TheotherdayIwasfakefoningmyway

pastacolleague,andhewasactuallyfollowingmetogetmyattention.Iknewhe

wantedtoaskaboutaprojectIhadnotyetfinished.Iwastryingtobuymyselfsome

time,soIcontinuedfakefoningwithmydoctor."SoIdon'tneedtheoperation?Oh,

doctor,thatisthebestnews.'1

Andthen:Bririrrng!Brrrrnng!Brrrrrmg!Myphonestartedringing,righttherewhile

itwasplantedonmyface.Mycolleaguelookedatme,andIathim,andnaturallyI

gasped."Whatisthematterwiththisthing?"Isaid,pullingthephoneawaytolookat

it,andthenputtingitbacktomyear.

"Hello?Areyoustillthere?"

Oops.

85.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECT?

A.Cellphoneserviceispopularamongpeople.

B.Cellphonehasmuchuseinoffice.

C.Fakefoningisanewcellphoneservice.

D.Fakefbningisanewdiscovery.

86.Whatisfakefoning?

A.Astrategytoavoidpeople.

B.Adevicenewlyproduced.

C.Aserviceprovidedeverywhere.

D.Askillofcommunication.

87.Intheauthor'sopinion,inordertomakefakefoninglookrealonehasto

A.talkaboutinterestingmatters.

B.behavepolitelytopeoplepassingby.

C.holdthephonewhilewalking.

D.appearabsorbedinconversation.

88.Whatdoesthelastexampleshow?

A.Oneeffectivewayistofakefoneone'sdoctor.

B.Onehastobecarefulwhilefakefbning.

C.Fakefoningmaynotdeceivepeople.

D.Fakefbningisalwaysquitesuccessful.

89.Afterhisphonesuddenlybeganringing,theauthor

A.immediatelystartedtalkingtothecaller.

B.immediatelystartedtalkingtohiscolleague.

C.putthephoneawayandstoppedtalking.

D.continuedwithhisfakeconversation.

90.Whatisthetoneofthepassage?

A.Critical.B.Humorous.C.Serious.D.Unclear.

TEXTC

Itwaslateintheafternoon,andIwasputtingthefinaltouchonapieceofwritingthat

Iwasfeelingprettygoodabout.Iwantedtosaveit,butmycursorhadfrozen.Itried

toshutthecomputerdown,anditseizedupaltogether.Unsureofwhatelsetodo,I

yanked（用力猛拉）thebatteryout.

Unfortunately,Windowshadbeeninthemidstofadelicateandcrucialundertaking.

Thenextmorning,whenIturnedmycomputerbackon,itinformedmethatafilehad

beencorruptedandWindowswouldnotload.Then,itofferedtorepairitselfbyusing

theWindowsSetupCD.

IopenedthespecialdrawerwhereIkeepCDs.ButnoWindowsCDinthere.Iwas

forcedtocallthecomputercompany'sGlobalSupportCentre.Mycallwasanswered

byawomaninsomeunnamed,far-offland.Ifinditannoyingtomakesmalltalkwith

someonewhenIdon'tknowwhatcontinentthey'restandingon.SupposeIwereto

commentonthebeautifulweatherwe'vebeenhavingwhentherewasamonsoonat

theotherendofthephone?SoIgotrighttothepoint.

"Mycomputeristellingmeafileiscorruptedanditwantstofixitself,butIdon't

havetheWindowsSetupCD.”

"Soyou'rehavingaproblemwithyourWindowsSetupCD."Shehasapparentlybeen

dozingand,havingcometojustasthesentenceended,wasattemptingtocoverfor

herinattention.

Itquicklybecameclearthatthewomanwasnotacomputertechnician.Herjobwasto

serveasagatekeeper,ahumanshieldforthetechnicians.Hersoleduty,asfarasI

couldtell,wastoraiseglobalstresslevels.

Tomakemedisappear,thewomangavemethephonenumberforWindows1creator,

Microsoft.Thisislikegivingsomeonethephonenumberfbr,Idon*tknow,North

America.Besides,theCDworked;Ijustdidn'thaveit.NomatterhowmanytimesI

repeatedmystory,wecamebacktothesameplace.Shewascalmandresolutely

polite.

Whenmyvoicehitacertaindecibel（分贝），Iwaspassedalong,likeahot,irritable

potato,toatechnician.

“Youdon'thavetheWindowsSetupCD,ma*am,becauseyoudon'tneedit,"he

explainedcheerfully.

"Windowscamepreinstalledonyourcomputer!u

“ButIdoneedit.”

"Yes,butyoudon*thaveit."Wewentonlikethisforawhile.Finally,heofferedto

walkmethroughtheuseofadifferentCD,onethatwoulderasemyentiresystem.

"Ofcourse,you'dloseallyoure-mail,yourdocuments,yourphotos."Itwaslike

offeringtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache."Youmightbeableto

recoverthem,butitwouldbeexpensive/Hesoundeddelighted.HAndit'snotcovered

bythewarranty（产品保证书）!”Thesafebegantoseemlikeagoodidea,providedit

wasfull.

Ihungupthephoneanddrovemycomputertoasmall,friendlyrepairplaceI'dheard

about.Asmart,helpfulmandugoutaWindowsCDandtoldmeitwouldn'tbea

problem.Anhourlater,hecalledtoletmeknowitwasready.Ithankedhim,andwe

chattedabouttheweather,whichwasthesameoutsidemywindowasitwasoutside

his.

91.Whydidtheauthorshutdownhercomputerabruptly?

A.Shehadsavedwhatshehadwritten.

B.Shecouldn'tmovethecursor.

C.Thecomputerrefusedtowork.

D.Thecomputerofferedtorepairitself.

92.Whichofthefollowingistheauthor'sopinionaboutthewomanattheGlobal

SupportCentre?

A.Shesoundedhelpfulandknowledgeable.

B.Shewastheretomakecallersfrustrated.

C.Shewasabletosolvehercomputerproblem.

D.Shewasquicktopassheralongtoatechnician.

93.Accordingtothepassage,thesolutionofferedbythetechnicianwas

A.effective.B.economical.C.unpractical.D.unacceptable.

94."Itwaslikeofferingtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache11inthelast

butoneparagraphmeansthat

A.thetechnician'sproposalwouldmakethingsevenworse.

B.thetechnician'sproposalcouldeventuallysolvetheproblem.

C.filesstoredonhercomputerwerelikeasafe.

D.erasingtheentiresystemwaslikecuringaheadache.

95.ItcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatthedifferencesbetweentheGlobal

SupportCentreandthelocalrepairshoplieinallthefollowingEXCEPT

A.efficiency.B.location.C.setupCDs.D.attitude.TEXTD

Notlongago,amysteriousChristmascarddroppedthroughourmailslot.The

envelopewasaddressedtoamannamedRaoul,who,Iwasrelativelycertain,didnot

livewithus.Theenvelopewasn'tsealed,soIopenedit.Theinsideofthecardwas

blank.Ed,myhusband,explainedthatthecardwasbothfromandtothenewspaper

deliveryman.HisnamewasapparentlyRaoul,andRaoulwantedaholidaytip.We

weremeanttoputacheckinsidethecardandthendroptheenvelopeinthemail.

Whenyourservicesarerenderedat4a.m.,youcan'tsimplyhangaround,likeahotel

bellboyexpectingatip.Youhavetobedirect.

SoIwroteaniceholidaygreetingtothismanwho,inmyimagination,firesTheNew

YorkTimesfromhisbikeaimedatourfrontdoor,causingmorenoisewithmere

newsprintthanmostpeoplemanagewithsophisticatedblackmarketfireworks.

Withastart,Irealizedthatperhapsthereasonforthe4a.m.wake-upnoisewasnot

ordinaryrudenessbutcarefullyexecutedspite:IhadnottippedRaoulinChristmases

past.Ihonestlyhadn*trealizedIwassupposedto.Thiswasthefirsttimehe'dusedthe

cardtactic.SoIgotoutmycheckbook.Somewherealongtheline,holidaytipping

wentfromanoptionalthank-youfbrayearofservicestoaMafia-styleprotection

racket（收取保护费的黑社会组织）.

Severaldayslater,IwasbringingourgarbagebinsbackfromthecurbwhenInoticed

anenvelopetapedtooneofthelids.TheoutsideoftheenvelopesaidMICKEY.Ithad

tobeanothertiprequest,thistimefromourgarbagecollector.UnlikeRaoul,Mickey

hadn*tenclosedhisownChristmascardfromme.Inaway,Iappreciatedthe

directness.nIknowyoudon*tcarehowmerrymyChristmasis,andthat'sfine,"the

gesturesaid.UIwant$30,orPH'forget'toemptyyourgarbagebinsomehotsummer

day.',

Iputacheckintheenvelopeandtapeditbacktothebin.Thenextmorning,Ed

noticedthattheenvelopewasgone,thoughthetrashhadn'tyetbeenpickedup:

"SomeonestoleMickey'stip!"Edwasquitecertain.Hemademecallthebankand

cancelthecheck.

ButEdhadbeenwrong.Twoweekslater,Mickeyleftaletterfromthebankonour

steps.TheletterinformedMickeythatthecheck,whichhehadtriedtocash,hadbeen

cancelled.ThefollowingTuesdaymorning,whenEdsawatruckoutside,heranout

withhiswallet.nAreyouMickey?*,

Themanlookedathimwithscorn."Mickeyisthegarbageman.Iamtherecycling/

NotonlyhadEdinsultedthismanbyhintingthathewasagarbageman,buthehad

obviouslyneglecte