专四阅读真题及答案

专四阅读真题及答案Inthissectiontherearethreepassagesfollowedbytenmultiplechoicequestions.Foreachmultiplechoicequestion,therearefoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.ChoosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswerandmarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEETTWO.PASSAGEONE(1)WhenIwastwenty-sevenyearsold,Iwasamining-broker'sclerkinSanFrancisco,andanexpertinallthedetailsofstocktraffic.Iwasaloneintheworld,andhadnothingtodependuponbutmywitsandacleanreputation;buttheseweresettingmyfeetintheroadtoeventualfortune,andIwascontentwiththeprospect.Mytimewasmyownaftertheafternoonboard,Saturdays,andIwasaccustomedtoputtingitinonalittlesail-boatonthebay.OnedayIventuredtoofar,andwascarriedouttosea.Justatnightfall,whenhopewasaboutgone,IwaspickedupbyasmallshipwhichwasboundforLondon.Itwasalongandstormyvoyage,andtheymademeworkmypassagewithoutpay,asacommonsailor.WhenIsteppedashoreinLondonmyclotheswereraggedandshabby,andIhadonlyadollarinmypocket.Thismoneyfedandshelteredmetwenty-fourhours.Duringthenexttwenty-fourIwentwithoutfoodandshelter.(2)Aboutteno'clockonthefollowingmorning,dirtyandhungry,IwasdraggingmyselfalongPortlandPlace,whenachildthatwaspassing,towedbyanurse-maid,tossedabigpear-minusonebite-intothegutter.Istopped,ofcourse,andfastenedmydesiringeyeonthatmuddytreasure.Mymouthwateredforit,mystomachcravedit,mywholebeing,beggedforit.ButeverytimeImadeamovetogetitsomepassingeyedetectedmypurpose,andofcourseIstraightenedupthen,andlookedindifferentandpretendedthatIhadn'tbeenthinkingaboutthepearatall.Thissamethingkepthappeningandhappening,andIcouldn'tgetthepear.(3)Iwasjustgettingdesperateenoughtobravealltheshame,andtoseizeit,whenawindowbehindmewasraised,andagentlemanspokeoutofit,saying:"Stepinhere,please."(4)Iwasadmittedbyamanservant,andshownintoasumptuousroomwhereacoupleofelderlygentlemenweresitting.Theysentawaytheservant,andmademesitdown.Theyhadjustfinishedtheirbreakfast,andthesightoftheremainsofitalmostoverpoweredme.Icouldhardlykeepmywitstogetherinthepresenceofthatfood,butasIwasnotaskedtosampleit,IhadtobearmytroubleasbestasIcould.(5)Now,somethinghadbeenhappeningtherealittlebefore,whichIdidnotknowanythingaboutuntilagoodmanydaysafterwards,butIwilltellyouaboutitnow.Thosetwooldbrothershadbeenhavingaprettyhotargumentacoupleofdaysbefore,andhadendedbyagreeingtodecideitbyabet,whichistheEnglishwayofsettlingeverything.(6)YouwillrememberthattheBankofEnglandonceissuedtwonotesofamillionpoundseach,tobeusedforaspecialpurposeconnectedwithsomepublictransactionwithaforeigncountry.Forsomereasonorotheronlyoneofthesehadbeenusedandcanceled;theotherstilllayinthevaultsoftheBank.Well,thebrothers,chattingalong,happenedtogettowonderingwhatmightbethefateofaperfectlyhonestandintelligentstrangerwhoshouldbeturnedadriftinLondonwithoutafriend,andwithnomoneybutthatmillion-poundbank-note,andnowaytoaccountforhisbeinginpossessionofit.BrotherAsaidhewouldstarvetodeath;BrotherBsaidhewouldn't.BrotherAsaidhecouldn'tofferitatabankoranywhereelse,becausehewouldbearrestedonthespot.SotheywentondisputingtillBrotherBsaidhewouldbettwentythousandpoundsthatthemanwouldlivethirtydays,anyway,onthatmillion,andkeepoutofjail,too.BrotherAtookhimup.BrotherBwentdowntotheBankandboughtthatnote.Thenhedictatedaletter,whichoneofhisclerkswroteoutinabeautifulroundhand,andthenthetwobrotherssatatthewindowawholedaywatchingfortherightmantogiveitto.(7)Ifinallybecamethepickofthem.41.InPara.1,thephrase"setmyfeet"probablymeans___________.A.putmeasideB.startmyjourneyC.preparemeD.letmewalk42.ItcanbeconcludedfromPara.2that___________.A.themanwantedtomaintaindignitythoughstarvedB.themancouldnotgetaproperchancetoeatthepearC.themandidnotreallywantthepearsinceitwasdirtyD.itwasverydifficultforthemantogetthepear43.ComparedwithBrotherA,BrotherBwasmore___________towardstheeffectoftheone-million-poundbank-noteonatotalstranger.A.neutralB.negativeC.reservedD.positivePASSAGETWO(1)Theconceptofpeaceisaveryimportantoneinculturesallovertheworld.Thinkabouthowwegreetpeople.Insomelanguages,thephrasesforgreetingscontainthewordforpeace.Insomecultureswegreetpeoplebyshakinghandsorwithanothergesturetoshowthatwearenotcarryingweapons—thatwecomeinpeace.Andtherearecertainsymbolswhichpeopleinverydifferentculturesrecognizeasrepresentingpeace.Let'slookatafewofthem.Thedove(2)Thedovehasbeenasymbolofpeaceandinnocenceforthousandsofyearsinmanydifferentcultures.InancientGreekmythologyitwasasymbolofloveandtherenewaloflife.InancientJapanadovecarryingaswordsymbolizedtheendofwar.(3)TherewasatraditioninEuropethatifadoveflewaroundahousewheresomeonewasdyingthentheirsoulwouldbeatpeace.Andtherearelegendswhichsaythatthedevilcanturnhimselfintoanybirdexceptforadove.InChristianart,thedovewasusedtosymbolizetheHolyGhostandwasoftenpaintedaboveChrist'shead.(4)ButitwasPabloPicassowhomadethedoveamodernsymbolofpeacewhenheuseditonaposterfortheWorldPeaceCongressin1949.Therainbow(5)Therainbowisanotherancientanduniversalsymbol,oftenrepresentingtheconnectionbetweenhumanbeingsandtheirgods.InGreekmythologyitwasassociatedwithIris,thegoddesswhobroughtmessagesfromthegodsonMountOlympus.InScandinavianmythologytherainbowwasabridgebetweenthegodsandtheearth.IntheBiblearainbowshowedNoahthattheBiblicalfloodwasfinallyover,andthatGodhadforgivenhispeople.IntheChinesetradition,therainbowisacommonsymbolformarriagebecausethecoloursrepresenttheunionofyinandyang.Nowadaystherainbowisusedbymanypopularmovementsforpeaceandtheenvironment,representingthepossibilityofabetterworldinthefutureandpromisingsunshineaftertherain.Mistletoe(6)Thisplantwassacredinmanycultures,generallyrepresentingpeaceandlove.MostpeopleknowofthetraditionofkissingunderthemistletoeatChristmastime,whichprobablycomesfromScandinavianmythology.ThegoddessFreya'ssonwaskilledbyanarrowmadeofmistletoe,so,inhonourofhim,shedeclaredthatitwouldalwaysbeasymbolofpeace.Itwasoftenhungindoorwaysasasignoffriendship.(7)TheancientDruidsbelievedthathangingmistletoeinyourdoorwayprotectedyoufromevilspirits.Tribeswouldstopfightingforaperiodoftimeiftheyfoundatreewithmistletoe.ButyouwillneverseemistletoeinaChristianchurch-itisbannedbecauseofitsassociationswithpaganreligionandsuperstition.Theolivebranch(8)Theolivetreehasalwaysbeenavaluablesourceoffoodandoil.InGreekmythology,thegoddessAthenagavetheolivetreetothepeopleofAthens,whoshowedtheirgratitudebynamingthecityafterher.Butnooneknowsforsurewhenorwhyitbegantosymbolizepeace.ThereisprobablyaconnectionwithancientGreece.WarsbetweenstatesweresuspendedduringtheOlympicGames,andthewinnersweregivencrownsofolivebranches.Thesymbolismmaycomefromthefactthattheolivetreetakesalongtimetoproducefruit,soolivescouldonlybecultivatedsuccessfullyinlongperiodsofpeace.Whateverthehistory,theolivebranchisapartofmanymodernflagssymbolizingpeaceandunity.Onewell-knownexampleistheUnitedNationssymbol.Theankh(9)Theankhisanancientsymbolwhichwasadoptedbythehippiemovementinthe1960storepresentpeaceandlove.ItwasfoundinmanyAsiancultures,butisgenerallyassociatedwithancientEgypt.Itrepresentedlifeandimmortality.Egyptianswereburiedwithanankh,sothattheycouldcontinuetoliveinthe"afterworld".ThesymbolwasalsofoundalongthesidesoftheNile,whichgavelifetothepeople.Theybelievedthattheankhcouldcontroltheflowoftheriverandmakesurethattherewasalwaysenoughwater.44.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthepassage?A.ConceptofPeace.B.OriginofPeaceSymbols.C.PopularPeaceSymbols.D.CulturalDifferenceofPeace.45.TherainbowrepresentstheconnectionbetweenhumanbeingsandtheirgodsinallthefollowingcountriesEXCEPT___________.A.SwedenB.GreeceC.FinlandD.China46.InNorthEuropemistletoewasoftenhungindoorwaystoindicate___________.A.friendshipB.loveC.kinshipD.honour47.Theoriginoftheankhcandatebackto___________.A.theNileB.the"afterworld"C.thehippiemovementD.ancientEgyptPASSAGETHREE(1)Twosidesalmostneverchange:Thatyoucanmanipulatepeopleintoself-sufficiencyandthatyoucanpunishthemintogoodcitizenship.(2)Thefirstmanifestsitselfinourtirelesssearchforthemagicallevelatwhichwelfaregrantsarebigenoughtomeetbasicneedsbutsmallenoughtomakelow-paidworkattractive.Thesecondhasuslookingtothecriminaljusticesystemtocurebehaviorthatisasmuchasanythingtheresultofdespair.(7)Notonlycanweneverfindthe"perfect"punishment,oursearchforoptimumpenaltiesiscomplicatedbyourdesireforfairness:toletthepunishmentfitthecrime.Theproblemisthatalmostanypunishment-eventhedisgraceofbeingchargedwithacrime-issufficienttodeterthemiddleclass,whileformembersoftheunderclass,probationmaybetranslatedas"Ibeatit."(8)Sohowcanyouusethesystem-welfareorcriminaljustice-toproducethebehaviorwewant?Theanswer,Isuspectis:Youcan't.(9)Wekeeptryingtousewelfareandprisontochangepeople-tomakethemthinkandbehavethewaywedo-whenthetruthistheincentivesworkonlyforthosewhoalreadythinkthewaywedo:whoviewtoday'sactionwithaneyeonthefuture.(10)Wewilltakelowlywork(ifthatisallthat'savailable)becausewebelievewecanmakebadjobsworkforus.Weavoidcrimenotbecausewearebetterpeoplebutbecauseweseegettingcaughtasafuture-wreckingdisaster.Weareguidedbyabeliefthatgoodthingswillhappenforusinthefutureifwetakepropercareofthepresent.Evenundertheworstofcircumstances,webelieveweareincontrolofourlives.(11)Andwehavetroubleunderstandingthatnoteverybodybelievesaswebelieve.Thewelfarerolls,theprisonsandthemeanstreetsofourcitiesarefullofpeoplewhohavegivenupontheir(3)Thewelfareexampleiswellknown.Wedon'twantpoorpeopletoliveinsqualorortheirchildrentobemalnourished.Butwealsodon'twanttosubsidizetheindolenceofpeoplewhoaretoolazytowork.Thefirstimpulseleadsustoprovidehousing,foodstamps,medicalcareandacashstipendforfamiliesinneed.Thesecondgetsustothinkabout"workforce".(4)We'vebeenthinkingaboutitfortworeasons:the"nanny"problemsoftwohigh-rankinggovernmentofficials(whohiredundocumentedforeignersashouseholdhelpers,presumablybecausetheycouldn'tfindAmericanstodothework)andPresidentClinton'sproposaltoputatwo-yearlimitonwelfare.(5)MaybesomethingusefulwillcomeofClinton'sidea,butI'mnotallthathopeful.Itlookstomelikeonemoreexampleoftryingtomanipulatepeopleintotakingcareofthemselves.(6)Onthecriminaljusticeside,wehopetomakepunishmenttoughenoughtodiscouragecrimebutnotsotoughastoclogourprisonswithrelativelyminoroffenders.Tooshortasentence,wefear,willcreatecontemptforthelaw.Toolongasentencewilltakeupcostlyspacebetterusedfortheviolentandunremorseful.(7)Notonlycanweneverfindthe"perfect"punishment,oursearchforoptimumpenaltiesiscomplicatedbyourdesireforfairness:toletthepunishmentfitthecrime.Theproblemisthatalmostanypunishment-eventhedisgraceofbeingchargedwithacrime-issufficienttodeterthemiddleclass,whileformembersoftheunderclass,probationmaybetranslatedas"Ibeatit."(8)Sohowcanyouusethesystem-welfareorcriminaljustice-toproducethebehaviorwewant?Theanswer,Isuspectis:Youcan't.(9)Wekeeptryingtousewelfareandprisontochangepeople-tomakethemthinkandbehavethewaywedo-whenthetruthistheincentivesworkonlyforthosewhoalreadythinkthewaywedo:whoviewtoday'sactionwithaneyeonthefuture.(10)Wewilltakelowlywork(ifthatisallthat'savailable)becausewebelievewecanmakebadjobsworkforus.Weavoidcrimenotbecausewearebetterpeoplebutbecauseweseegettingcaughtasafuture-wreckingdisaster.Weareguidedbyabeliefthatgoodthingswillhappenforusinthefutureifwetakepropercareofthepresent.Evenundertheworstofcircumstances,webelieveweareincontrolofourlives.(11)Andwehavetroubleunderstandingthatnoteverybodybelievesaswebelieve.Thewelfarerolls,theprisonsandthemeanstreetsofourcitiesarefullofpeoplewhohavegivenupontheirfuture.Withouthopeforthefuture,hardworkatalow-paidjobmakesnosense.Workinghardinschool,orpleasingaboss,oravoidingpregnancymakesnosense.Thedeadlydiseaseishopelessness.Thelawlessnessandpovertyareonlytheobvioussymptoms.(12)I'mnotadvocatingthatwestoplookingforincentivestomovepoorpeopletowardself-sufficiencyorthatwestoppunishingpeopleforcriminalbehavior.Therewillalwaysbesomepeoplewhoneedhelpandsomewhodeservetobeinjail.(13)AllI'msayingisthatthelong-termanswerbothtowelfareandthecrimethatplaguesourcommunitiesisnottofinetunethewelfareandcriminaljusticesystemsbuttopreventourchildrenfromgettingthediseaseofdesp