2013年四級考前練習(xí)題.doc

詞匯篇章閱讀訓(xùn)練題7Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always _1_ such people, but I also explain that theresa big difference between being a writer and writing. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of _2_ and fame, notthe long hours alone at a typewriter. Youve got to want to write, I say to them, not want to be a writer.The reality is that writing is a _3_, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there arethousands more whose longing is never _4_. When I left a 20-year career in the US. Coast Guard to become a freelancewriter(自由撰稿人), I had no _5_ at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didnt even matter that it was _6_and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used manual typewriter and feltlike a _7_ writer.After a year or so, however, I still hadnt gotten a break and began to _8_ myself. It was so hard to sell a storythat _9_ made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasnt going to be one ofthose people who die wondering, what if? I would keeo putting my dream to the test-even though it meant living with _10_and fear of failure. This is the Shadow land of hope, and anyone with a dream learn to live there.(A) barely(B) genuine(C) rewarded(D) doubt(E) lonely(F) poverty(G) persuade(H) prospects(I)uncertainty(J)impossibly(K) encourage(L)awarded(M) alone(N)wealth(O)cold8Its never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often youve judged roughly, said _1_ things, pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and _2_ that you were sorry. A bit frightening, isnt it? Frightening because some deePwisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is _3_, and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and _4_ is expressed.I remember a doctor friend, telling me about a man who came to him with a variety of signs: headaches, insomnia and stomach trouble. No _5_ cause could be found. Finally my friend said to the man, Unless you tell me whats worrying you, I cant helPyou.After some hesitation, the man _6_ that, as executor of his fahers will, he had been cheating his brother, who lived abroad, of his _7_. Then and there the wise old doctor made the man write to his brother asking _8_ and enclosing a cheque as the first stePin restoring their good relation. He then went with him to mail box in the corridor. As the letter disappeared, the man burst into tears. Thank you, He said, I think Im _9_. And he was. A heartfelt apology can not only _10_ a damaged relationshiPbut also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or just neglected, do something about it right now.(A)heal(B)mental(C)unkind(D)regret(E)accurately(F)confessed(G)inheritance(H)physical(I)cured(J)treat(K)truly(L)unfaithful(M)forgiveness(N)disturbed(O)excuse9Videoconferencing is nothing more than a television set or PC monitor with a camera Through the videocenferencing, not only your voice but also your face, the surroundings and any other graphic and phisical _1_ can be captured and transmitted through the communication system with or without wires. Of course, when you go into the details, the technology involved is very _2_ and the subject matter littered with jargon. Such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) or the _3_ behind bandwidth, latency and isochrony which are used to explain how videoconferencing works.Good people communication is _4_ in any business, and the more interaction you can achieve, the more likely it is that your _5_ will be the right ones. Videoconferencing not only allows you to speak to people in different locations, but also note _6_ expressions and gestures that let you know what the other person is really thinking. Meetings are made more _7_ by sharing documents and computer applications that a simple telephone cannot _8_._9_, organizations are discovering the competitive advantages and the power of videoconferencing. With advances in performance, economical pricing, the ability to _10_ essential meeting tools and connectivity to global telephone networks and standardized videoconferencing protocols, videoconferencing is now a practical reality for any organization.(A) fortunately(B) effective(C) images(D) articulate(E) facial(F) manage(G) decisions(H) connect(I) advanced(J) integrate(K) progressive(L) concepts(M)pictures(N) increasingly(O) important10The typical pre-industrial family not only had a good many children, but numerous other dependents as well-grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousions. Such extended families were suited for survival in slow paced _1_ societies. But such families are hard to _2_. They are immobile.Industrialism demanded masses of workers ready and able to move off the land in pursuit of jobs, and to move again whenever necessary. Thus the extended family _3_ shed its excess weight and the so-called nuclear family emerged-a stripped-down, portable family unit _4_ only of parents and a small set of children. This new style family, far more _5_ than the traditional extended family, became the standard model in all the industrial counties. Super-industrialism, however, the next stage of eco-technological development, _6_ even higher mobility. Thus we may expect many among the people of the future to carry the streamlinling process, a stePfurther by remaining children, cutting the family down to its more _7_ components, aman and a woman. Two people, perhaps with matched careers, will prove more efficient at navigating through education and social status, through job changes and geographic relocations, than teh ordinarily child-cluttered family.A _8_ may be the postponement of children, rather than childlessness. Men and women today are often torn in _9_ between a commitment to career and a commitment to children. In the future, many _10_ will sidestePthis problem by deferring the entire task of raising children until after retirement.(A)transplant (B)solution (C)gadually (D)transport(E)elemental (F)conflict (G)continually (H)mobile (I)couples (J)agricultural (K)including (L)compromise(M)requires (N)primary (O)consisting閱讀理解專項訓(xùn)練5For an increasing number of students at American universities, Old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs, coupled with the aging of the baby-boom (生育高峰) generation, a longer life span means that the nations elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change poses profound questions for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions, and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, were going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern Californias (USC) School of Gerontology (老年學(xué)). Lawyers can specialize in “elder law,” which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination (歧視). Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says. Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria.” So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she lied it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.” 1. “. Old is suddenly in” (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means “_”. A) America has suddenly become a nation of old people B) gerontology has suddenly become popular C) more elderly professors are found on American campuses D) American colleges have realized the need of enrolling older students2. With the aging of America, lawyers can benefit _. A) from the adoption of the “elder law” B) from rendering special services to the elderly C) by enriching their professional knowledge D) by winning the trust of the elderly to promote their own interests 3. Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market? A) Retirees are more generous in spending money. B) They can employ more gerontologists. C) The elderly possess an enormous purchasing power. D) There are more elderly people working than before. 4. Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage? A) Retirees who are business-minded. B) The volunteer workers in retirement homes. C) College graduates with an MBA or law degree. D) Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology. 5. It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of Americas elderly population _. A) will provide good job opportunities in many areas B) will impose an unbearable burden on society C) may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination D) will create new fields of study in universities閱讀理解專項訓(xùn)練6The decline in moral standardswhich has long concerned social analystshas at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one, is glad. The fact the ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nations moral climate, says this ethics (倫理學(xué)) professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it. But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and individualism in American society are the biggest obstacles. “The thought that Im in it for me has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness,” Ms. Elshtain says. Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she says. With todays greater mobility and with so many couples working, those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self. In a 1996 poll of Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U.S. and Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: Data show that Americans are struggling with problems unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers. The desire for a higher moral standard is not a lament (挽歌) for some nonexistent “golden age,” Elshtain says, nor is it a wishful (一廂情愿的) longing for a time that denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice. Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society, she says. “Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that cant be bought.” 1. Professor Elshtain is pleased to see that Americans _. A) have adapted to a new set of moral standards B) are longing for the return of the good old days C) have realized the importance of material things D) are awakening to the lowering of their moral standards 2. The moral decline of American society is caused manly by _. A) its growing wealth B) the self-centeredness of individuals C) underestimating the impact of social changes D) the prejudice against women and minorities 3. Which of the following characterizes the traditional communities? A) Great mobility. B) Concern for ones neighbors. C) Emphasis on individual effort. D) Ever-weakening social bonds. 4. In the 1950s, classroom violence _. A) was something unheard of B) was by no means a rare occurrence C) attracted a lot of pubic attention D) began to appear in analysts data 5. According to Elshtain, the current moral decline may be reversed _. A) if people can return to the “golden age” B) when women and mean enjoy equal rights C) when people rid themselves of prejudice D) if less emphasis is laid on material things閱讀理解專項訓(xùn)練7In the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful. Negative events like “serious illness of a family member” were high on the list, but so were some positive life-changing events, like marriage. When you take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you deal with stressit only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know that the way you handle these events dramatically affects your chances of staying healthy. By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports. Somehow, the research got boiled down to a memorable message. Womens magazines ran headlines like “Stress causes illness!” If you want to stay physically and mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events. But such simplistic advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events are dangerous, manylike the death of a loved oneare impossible to avoid. Moreover, any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription (處方) for staying away from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful, a person who wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job or move. The notion that all stress makes you sick also ignores a lot of what we know about people. It assumes were all vulnerable (脆弱的) and passive in the face of adversity (逆境). But what about human initiative and creativity? Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental vigor than they had before. We also know that a long time without change or challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and metal strain. 1. The result of Holmes-Rahes medical research tells us _. A) the way you handle major events may cause stress B) what should be done to avoid stress C) what kind of event would cause stress D) how to cope with sudden changes in life 2. The studies on stress in the early 1970s led to _. A) widespread concern over its harmful effects B) great panic over the mental disorder it could cause C) an intensive research into stress-related illnesses D) popular avoidance of stressful jobs3. The score of the Holmes-Rahe test shows _. A) how much pressure you are under B) how positive events can change your life C) how stressful a major event can be D) how you can deal with life-changing events 4. Why is “such simplistic advice” (Line 1, Para. 3) impossible to follow? A) No one can stay on the same job for long. B) No prescription is effective in relieving stress. C) People have to get married someday. D) You could be missing opportunities as well.5. According to the passage people who have experienced ups and downs may become _. A) nervous when faced with difficulties B) physically and mentally strained C) more capable of coping with adversity D) indifferent toward what happens to them 閱讀理解專項訓(xùn)練8Most episodes of absent-mindednessforgetting where you left something or wondering why you just entered a roomare caused by a simple lack of attention, says Schacter. “Youre supposed to remember something, but you havent encoded it deeply.” Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later. Failure to encode properly can create annoying situations. If you put your mobile phone in a pocket, for example, and dont pay attention to what you did because youre involved in a conversation, youll probably forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in you wardrobe (衣柜). “Your memory itself isnt failing you,” says Schacter. “Rather, you didnt give your memory system the information it needed.” Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness. “A man who can recite sports statistics from 30 years ago,” says Zelinski, “may not remember to drop a letter in the mailbox.” Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay more attention to their environment, and memory relies on just that. Visual cues can help prevent absent-mindedness, says Schacter. “But be sure the cue is clear and available,” he cautions. If you want to remember to take a medication (藥物) with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen tabledont leave it in the medicine chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket. Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering why youre there. Most likely, you were thinking about something else. “Everyone does this from time to time,” says Zelinski. The best thing to do is to return to where you were before entering the room, and youll likely remember. 1. Why does the author think that encoding properly is very important? A) It helps us understand our memory system better. B) It enables us to recall something form our memory. C) It expands our memory capacity considerably. D) It slows down the process of losing our memory. 2. One possible reason why women have better memories than men is that _. A) they have a wider range of interests B) they are more reliant o