四级改革后到15年12月阅读真题及答案1.Passage One
Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but regardless of whether it is or isn’t –we won’t do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely they are to be observed.
Al Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth,” as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don’t know enough to relieve global warming, and –without major technological breakthroughs—we can’t do much about it.
From 2003 to 2050, the world’s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billion to 9.1 billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. but that’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economic growth unless we condemn the world’s poor to their present poverty and freeze everyone else‘s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050.
No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they’re “doing something.” Consider the Kyoto Protocol (京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn’t. But it hasn’t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories (签字国) didn’t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets.
The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster, the only solution is new technology. Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.
The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem when it’s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don’t solve the engineering problem, we’re helpless. 57. What is said about global warming in the first paragraph? A) It may not prove an environmental crisis at all. B) It is an issue requiring world wide commitments. A) It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of. B) It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences. C) It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized. D) It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.
59. Green house emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _______. A) economic growth
B) the widening gap between the rich and poor
C) wasteful use of energy
D) the rapid advances of science and technology C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop it. D) Very little will be done to bring it under control.
58. According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming?
60. The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________. A) politicians have started to do something to better the situation B) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy use C) reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warming D) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems 61. What is the message the author intends to convey?
A) Global warming is more of a moral issue than a practical one. B) The ultimate solution to global warming lies in new technology
C) The debate over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs. D) People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.
Passage Two
Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Websites you’ve visited. Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchase or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.
In fact, it’s likely some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen — the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked.
Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it’s important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs (碎屑) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret.
The key question is: Does that matter?
When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. A survey found an overwhelming pessimism about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying they feel their privacy is “slipping away, and that bothers me.”
But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny fraction of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths (收费站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrender personal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-off coupon (优惠券).
But privacy does matter – at least sometimes. It’s like health: When you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it.
62. What does the author mean by saying “the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked ”(Lines 3-4, Para.2)? A) People’s personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge. B) In the 21st century people try every means to look into others’ secrets. C) People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age. D) Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology. 63. What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends? A) Friends should open their hearts to each other. B) Friends should always be faithful to each other.
A) Modern society has finally evolved into an open society. B) People leave traces around when using modern technology. C) There are always people who are curious about others’ affairs. D) Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities. 65. What do most Americans do with regard to privacy protection? A) They change behaviors that might disclose their identity. B) They use various loyalty cards for business transactions. C) They rely more and more on electronic devices.
D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it. C) There should be a distance even between friends. D) There should be fewer disputes between friends.
64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret” (Line 5, Para.3)?
66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________. A) people will make every effort to keep it B) its importance is rarely understood C) it is something that can easily be lost D) people don’t cherish it until they lose it
2.Passage One
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
If you are a male and you are reading this
,congratulations:
you
are
a
survivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.
There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men don’t go to the doctor. “Men aren’t seeing doctors as often as they should, ” says Dr. Gullotta, “This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike.”
Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.
Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smoker’s cough for a year.
“When I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer” he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have prolonged this life”
According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.
“A lot of men think they are invincible （不可战胜的）”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think” Geez, if it could happen to him.
Then there is the ostrich approach,” some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.
“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,” Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.
Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.” But
prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”
57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?
A. They are more likely to survive serious diseases today. B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.
C. They have lived long enough to read this article. D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live. 58.What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?
A. men drink and smoke much more than women B. men don’t seek medical care as often as women C. men aren’t as cautions as women in face of danger D. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases 59. Which of the following best completes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…’(line2,para,8)? A. it could happen to me, too B. I should avoid playing golf C. I should consider myself lucky D. it would be a big misfortune
60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line q para.9)
A. a casual attitude towards one’s health conditions B. a new therapy for certain psychological problems C. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involved
D. unwillingness to find out about one’s disease
because of fear
61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?
A.They may increase public expenses B.They will save money in the long run
C.They may cause psychological strains on men D.They will enable men to live as long as women Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
High-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done
Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.
Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school
“Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.” the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”
On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.
According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.
The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.
During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting（业余兼职的）local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance eliminated the need for customers
to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.
Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and
experienced cashiers,
and
having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.
Most
importantly,
salespeople
should
be
diplomatic and polite with angry customers.
“Retailers who’re responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren’t so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”
Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答
62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?
A Most customers won’t bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.
B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.
C Few customers believe the service will be improved. D Customers have no easy access to store managers. 63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “ … the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)? A New customers are bound to replace old ones. B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.
C Most stores provide the same
D Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.
64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_____ A can stay longer browsing in the store B won’t have trouble parking their cars C won’t have any worries about security D can find their cars easily after shopping
65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?
A Manners of the salespeople B Hiring of efficient employees C Huge supply of goods for sale D Design of the store layout.
66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _________.
A exert pressure on stores to improve their service B settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic way C voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly D shop around and make comparisons between stores
英语四级改革后到15年12月阅读真题及答案.
