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英语四级阅读题库含答案解析
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 mitments to avoid it. But the more dramatic and meaningful these mitments 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 bee 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. it. B) It is an issue requiring world wide mitments. D) Very little will be done to bring it under control. C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop
58. According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming? 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 C) wasteful use of energy B) the widening gap between the rich and poor D) the rapid advances of science and technology 60. The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, ________. A) politicians have started to do something to better the situation
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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 forts to stop global warming. Passage Two
Someday a stranger will read your 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 pany, 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?
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A) Friends should open their hearts to each other. friends. B) Friends should always be faithful to each other. D) There should be fewer disputes between C) There should be a distance even between friends.
64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simple cannot keep a secret” (Line 5, Para.3)?
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. 66. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that ________. A) people will make every effort to keep it
to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for
B) its importance is rarely understood C) it is something that can easily be lost men in Australia, you will die on average five years D) people don’t cherish it until they lose it
before a woman.
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
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
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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, pared 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 e 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 monly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups.
Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says.”
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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 pletes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him…’
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(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
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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 plain 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 plaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their petitors, 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 plain 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
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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 mon plaints 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
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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 plaints to the retailer, instead of plaining 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 plaints?
A Most customers won’t bother to plain 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
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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 plaining 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
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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 parisons between stores
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3. The January fashion show, called Future Fashion , exemplified how far green design has e. Organized by the New York-based nonprofit Earth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organic fabrics in their lines.
The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate, which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials can still be tough to fine . “Most designers with existing labels are finding there aren’t parable fabrics that can just replace what you’re doing and shat your customers are used to,” he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, still have few eco-friendly equivalents. Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support. Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs(企业家) who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gave special recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewer than a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce a major initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buy transitional(过渡型的) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand the supply of a key sustainable material . “Mainstream is about to occur,” says Hahn.
Some analysts(分析师) are less sure . Among consumers, only 18%are even
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aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago. Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied: “Not that I’m aware of.” Like most consumers, she finds little time to shop, and when she does, she’s on the hunt for “cute stuff that isn’t too expensive.” By her own admission, green just isn’t yet on her mind. But –thanks to the bined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers –one day it will be. 57. What is said about Future Fashion?
A) It inspired many leading designers to start going green. B) It showed that designers using organic fabrics would go far. C) It served as an example of how fashion shows should be organized. D) It convinced the public that fashionable clothes should be made durable. 58. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will go organic is that. A) much more time is needed to finish a dress using sustainable materials . B) they have to create new brands for clothes made of organic materials . C) customers have difficulty telling organic from non-organic materials . D) quality organic replacements for synthetics are not readily available . 59. We learn from Paragraph 3 that designers who undertake green fashion. A) can attend various trade shows free . B) are readily recognized by the fashion world
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C) can buy organic cotton at favorable prices . D) are gaining more and more support .
60. What is Natalie Hormilla’s attitude toward ecofashion?
A) She doesn’t seem to care about it. C) She is doubtful of its practical value. B) She doesn’t think it is sustainable D) She is very much opposed to the idea 61. What does the author think of green fashion? A) Green products will soon go mainstream. B) It has a very promising future. C) Consumers have the final say. D) It will appeal more to young people. Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand(缕) of hair , a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims .
The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people’s hair.
“You’re what you eat and drink, and that’s recorded in you hair,” said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah.
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While U.S diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical position of rainfall changes slightly as raid clouds move.
Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable , but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes (同位素) . The heaviest raid falls first .As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah.
Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand of hair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months.
Cerling’s team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a mop of the regional differences. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops.
They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regions roughly corresponding to the movement of raid systems.
“It’s not good for pinpointing (精确定位),” Cerling said . “It’s good for eliminating many possibilities.”
Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learn more about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake.
The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair.
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When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before her death, she moved about every two months.
She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be more specific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming.
“It’s still a substantial area,” Park said “But it narrows it way down for me.” 62. What is the scientists’ new discovery?
A) One’s hair growth has to do with the amount of water they drink. B) A person’s hair may reveal where they have lived. C) Hair analysis accurately identifies criminal suspects. D) The chemical position of hair varies from person to person.
63. What does the author mean by “You’re what you eat and drink” (Line 1, Para.3)?
A) Food and drink affect one’s personality development. B) Food and drink preferences vary with individuals. C) Food and drink leave traces in one’s body tissues. D) Food and drink are indispensable to one’s existence. 64. What is said about the rainfall in America’s West?
A) There is much more rainfall in California than in Utah.
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B) The water it delivers bees lighter when it moves inland. C) Its chemical position is less stable than in other areas. D) It gathers more light isotopes as it moves eastward. 65. What did Cerling’s team produce in their research?
A) A map showing the regional differences of tap water. B) A collection of hair samples from various barber shops. C) A method to measure the amount of water in human hair. D) A chart illustrating the movement of the rain system. 66. What is the practical value of Cerling’s research?
A) It helps analyze the quality of water in different regions. B) It helps the police determine where a crime is mitted. C) It helps the police narrow down possibilities in detective work. D) It helps identify the drinking habits of the person under investigation. 4.
Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she
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would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.
Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.
These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to mit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most plicated duty may be simple to be herself. It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.
Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.
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57. Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author? A) She serves as a role model for African women.
B) She possesses many admirable qualities being a First Lady.
C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women. D) She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women. 58. What is the mon stereotype of African-American women according to the author?
A) They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.
C) They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity and social welfare.
59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs? A) Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans. B) How Michelle should behave as a public figure.
C) How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House. D) What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House. 60. What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady? A) However many fans she has, she should remain modest, B) She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American munity. C) However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody. D) She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns. 61. What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do? A) Help change the prevailing view about black women.
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B) Help her husband in the task of changing America. C) Outshine previous First Lady. D) Fully display her fine qualities. Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they’ll be joined by a new face; Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who’ll bee Oxford’s vice-chancellor—a position equivalent to university president in America.
Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has bee a big and petitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one direction: outward from America.
The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,” says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a
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product of experience and necessity.
Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support has made funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring mittees hungry for Americans.
In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position.”
Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.
62. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage? A) Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S. B) A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators. C) American universities are enrolling more international students. D) University presidents are paying more attention to funding-raising.
63. What is the chief consideration of American universities when hiring top-level administrators?
A) The political correctness. B) Their ability to raise funds.
C) Their fame in academic circles. D) Their administrative experience.
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64. What do we learn about European universities from the passage? A) The tuitions they charge have been rising considerably. B) Their operation is under strict government supervision. C) They are strengthening their position by globalization. D) Most of their revenues e from the government.
65. Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard as its vice-chancellor chiefly because _____.
A) she was known to be good at raising money B) she could help strengthen its ties with Yale C) she knew how to attract students overseas D) she had boosted Yale’s academic status
66. In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development?
A) They can enhance the university’s image. B) They will bring with them more international faculty. C) They will view a lot of things from a new perspective. D) They can set up new academic disciplines. 5.
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
You never see him, but they're with you every time you fly. They record where you are going,how fast you're traveling and whether everything on your airplane is functioning normally. Their ability to withstand almost any disaster makes them seem
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like something out of a ic book.They're known as the black box.
When planes fall from the sky, as a Yemeni airliner did on its way to oros Islands in the India ocean June 30, 2009, the black box is the best bet for identifying what went wrong. So when a French submarine (潜水艇) detected the device's homing signal five days later, the discovery marked a huge step toward determining the cause of a tragedy in which 152 passengers were killed.
In 1958, Australian scientist David Warren developed a flight-memory recorder that would track basic information like altitude and direction. That was the first mode for a black box, which became a requirement on all U.S. mercial flights by 1960. Early models often failed to withstand crashes, however, so in 1965 the device was pletely redesigned and moved to the rear of the plane – the area least subject to impact – from its original position in the landing wells (起落架舱). The same year, the Federal Aviation Authority required that the boxes, which were never actually black, be painted orange or yellow to aid visibility.
Modern airplanes have two black boxes: a voice recorder, which tracks pilots' conversations,and a flight-data recorder, which monitors fuel levels, engine noises and other operating functions that help investigators reconstruct the aircraft's final moments. Placed in an insulated (隔绝的) case and surrounded by a quarter-inch-thick panels of stainless steel, the boxes can withstand massive force and temperatures up to 2,000℉. When submerged, they're also able to emit signals from depths of 20,000 ft. Experts believe the boxes from Air France Flight 447, which crashed near Brazil on June 1,2009, are in water nearly that deep, but statistics say
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they're still likely to turn up. In the approximately 20 deep-sea crashes over the past 30 years, only one plane's black boxes were never recovered. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 57. What does the author say about the black box? A) It ensures the normal functioning of an airplane. B) The idea for its design es from a ic book. C) Its ability to ward off disasters is incredible. D) It is an indispensable device on an airplane.
58. What information could be found from the black box on the Yemeni airliner? A) Data for analyzing the cause of the crash. B) The total number of passengers on board. C) The scene of the crash and extent of the damage. D) Homing signals sent by the pilot before the crash. 59. Why was the black box redesigned in 1965? A) New materials became available by that time. B) Too much space was needed for its installation. C) The early models often got damaged in the crash. D) The early models didn't provide the needed data.
60. Why did the Federal Aviation Authority require the black boxes be painted orange or yellow?
A) To distinguish them from the colour of the plane. B) To caution people to handle them with care.
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C) To make them easily identifiable. D) To conform to international standards.
61. What do we know about the black boxes from Air France Flight 447? A) There is still a good chance of their being recovered. B) There is an urgent need for them to be reconstructed. C) They have stopped sending homing signals. D) They were destroyed somewhere near Brazil. Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
The $11 billion self-help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like \positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking?
Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are.
The study's authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your dim friend that he has the potential of an Einstein, you're just underlining his faults. In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing
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funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written.
In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students' self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, \
Those with low self-esteem didn't feel better after the forced self-affirmation. In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren't urged to think positive thoughts.
The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy (心理治疗) that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation (静思) techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortings into a larger, more realistic perspective. Call it the power of negative thinking. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2 上作答。
62. What do we learn from the first paragraph about the self-help industry? A) It is a highly profitable industry.
B) It is based on the concept of positive thinking. C) It was established by Norman Vincent Peale. D) It has yielded positive results.
63. What is the finding of the Canadian researchers?
A) Encouraging positive thinking many do more harm than good.
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B) There can be no simple therapy for psychological problems. C) Unhappy people cannot think positively. D) The power of positive thinking is limited.
64. What does the author mean by \… you're just underlining his faults\Para. 3)?
A) You are not taking his mistakes seriously enough. B) You are pointing out the errors he has mitted. C) You are emphasizing the fact that he is not intelligent. D) You are trying to make him feel better about his faults.
65. What do we learn from the experiment of Wood, Lee and Perunovic? A) It is important for people to continually boost their self-esteem. B) Self-affirmation can bring a positive change to one's mood.
C) Forcing a person to think positive thoughts may lower their self-esteem. D) People with low self-esteem seldom write down their true feelings. 66. What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A) The effects of positive thinking vary from person to person. B) Meditation may prove to be a good form of psychotherapy. C) Different people tend to have different ways of thinking. D) People can avoid making mistakes through meditation. 6.
It is pretty much a one-way street. While it may be mon for university researchers to try their luck in the mercial world, there is very little traffic in the
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opposite direction. Pay has always been the biggest deterrent, as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to a university job. For some industrial scientists, however, the attractions of academia (学术界) outweigh any financial considerations.
Helen Lee took a 70% cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department at the University of Cambridge. Her main reason for returning to academia mid-career was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions. Some areas of inquiry have few prospects of a mercial return, and Lee’s is one of them.
The impact of a salary cut is probably less severe for a scientist in the early stages of a career. Guy Grant, now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of Cambridge, spent two years working for a pharmaceutical (制药的) pany before returning to university as a post-doctoral researcher. He took a 30% salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities.
Higher up the ladder, where a pay cut is usually more significant, the demand for scientists with a wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition (转换) to academia more attractive, according to Lee. Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not, such as how to build a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and negotiate contracts. They are also well placed to bring something extra to the teaching side of an academic role that will help students get a job when they graduate, says Lee, perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or
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product development. “Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic career. So someone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who has spent all their time on a narrow research project.”
注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
57. By “a one-way street” (Line 1, Para. 1), the author means ________. ［A］ university researchers know little about the mercial world ［B］ there is little exchange between industry and academia ［C］ few industrial scientists would quit to work in a university ［D］ few university professors are willing to do industrial research
58. The word “deterrent” (Line 2, Para. 1) most probably refers to something that ________.
［A］ keeps someone from taking action ［C］ attracts people’s attention ［B］ helps to move the traffic ［D］ brings someone a financial burden
59. What was Helen Lee’s major consideration when she changed her job in the middle of her career?
［A］ Flexible work hours. ［C］ Her preference for the lifestyle on campus. ［B］ Her research interests. ［D］ Prospects of academic acplishments. 60. Guy Grant chose to work as a researcher at Cambridge in order to ________. ［A］ do financially more rewarding work ［B］ raise his status in the academic world
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［C］ enrich his experience in medical research ［D］ exploit better intellectual opportunities
61. What contribution can industrial scientists make when they e to teach in a university?
［A］ Increase its graduates’ petitiveness in the job market ［B］ Develop its students’ potential in research. ［C］ Help it to obtain financial support from industry. ［D］ Gear its research towards practical applications. Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
Being sociable looks like a good way to add years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbours, even pets, will all do the trick, but the biggest longevity (长寿) boost seems to e from marriage or an equivalent relationship. The effect was first noted in 1858 by William Farr, who wrote that widows and widowers (鳏夫) were at a much higher risk of dying than their married peers. Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to a man’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect holds for all causes of death, whether illness, accident or self-harm.
Even if the odds are stacked against you, marriage can more than pensate. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago has found that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearly four years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Likewise, a married man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as a divorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as
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partners are more likely to bee ill or die in the couple of years following their spouse’s death, and caring for a spouse with mental disorder can leave you with some of the same severe problems. Even so, the odds favour marriage. In a 30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.
So how does it work? The effects are plex, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision, emotional support and other more physiological (生理的) mechanisms. For example, social contact can boost development of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and less chance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships may handle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportive partner.
A life partner, children and good friends are all remended if you aim to live to 100. The ultimate social network is still being mapped out, but Christakis says: “People are interconnected, so their health is interconnected.”
62. William Farr’s study and other studies show that _________.
［A］ social life provides an effective cure for illness ［B］ being sociable helps improve one’s quality of life ［C］ women benefit more than men from marriage
［D］ marriage contributes a great deal to longevity 63. Linda Waite’s studies support the idea that _________.
［A］ older men should quit smoking to stay healthy ［B］ marriage can help make up for ill health
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［C］ the married are happier than the unmarried ［D］ unmarried people are likely to suffer in later life
64. It can be inferred from the context that the “flip side” (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _________.
［A］ the disadvantages of being married
［B］ the emotional problems arising from marriage
［C］ the responsibility of taking care of one’s family ［D］ the consequence of a broken marriage 65. What does the author say about social networks?
［A］ They have effects similar to those of a marriage. ［B］ They help develop people’s munity spirit. ［C］ They provide timely support for those in need. ［D］ They help relieve people of their life’s burdens. 66. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
［A］ It’s important that we develop a social network when young. ［B］ To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network. ［C］ Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span. ［D］ We should share our social networks with each other. 7.
Several recent studies have found that being randomly (随机地) assigned to a roommate of another race can lead to increased tolerance but also to a greater
likelihood (可能性)of conflict.
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Recent reports found that lodging with a student of a different race may decrease prejudice and pel students to engage in more ethnically diverse friendships.
An Ohio State University study also found that black students living with a white roommate saw higher academic success throughout their college careers. Researchers believe this may be caused by social pressure.
In a New York Times article, Sam Boakye – the only black student on his freshman year floor -said that \prove.\
Researchers also observed problems resulting from pairing interracial students in residences.
According to two recent studies, randomly assigned roommates of different races are more likely to experience conflicts so strained that one roommate will move out. An Indiana University study found that interracial roommates were three times as likely as two white roommates to no longer live together by the end of the semester. Grace Kao, a professor at Penn said she was not surprised by the findings. \may be the first time that some of these students have interacted, and lived, with someone of a different race,\
At Penn, students are not asked to indicate race when applying for housing.
\process throws you together randomly,\Webley. \
\experienced roommate conflicts between interracial students that have both
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broken down stereotypes and reinforced stereotypes,\(RA). The RA of two years added that while some conflicts \more multicultural acceptance and melding (融合),\there were also \cultural confrontations.\
The RA said that these conflicts have also occurred among roommates of the same race.
Kao said she cautions against forming any generalizations based on any one of the studies, noting that more background characteristics of the students need to be studied and explained.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 57. What can we learn from some recent studies? A) B) C) D)
Conflicts between students of different races are unavoidable. Students of different races are prejudiced against each other. Interracial lodging does more harm than good. Interracial lodging may have diverse outes.
58. What does Sam Boakye's remark mean?
A) White students tend to look down upon their black peers. B) Black students can pete with their white peers academically.
C) Black students feel somewhat embarrassed among white peers during the freshman year.
D) Being surrounded by white peers motivates a black student to work harder to succeed.
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59. What does the Indiana University study show? A) Interracial roommates are more likely to fall out. B) Few white students like sharing a room with a black peer. C) Roommates of different races just don't get along. D) Assigning students' lodging randomly is not a good policy. 60. What does Alec Webley consider to be the \A) Students of different races are required to share a room. B) Interracial lodging is arranged by the school for freshmen.
C) Lodging is assigned to students of different races without exception. D) The school randomly assigns roommates without regard to race. 61. What does Grace Kao say about interracial lodging?
A) It is unscientific to make generalizations about it without further study. B) Schools should be cautious when making decisions about student lodging. C) Students' racial background should be considered before lodging is assigned. D) Experienced resident advisors should be assigned to handle the problems.
Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
Global warming is causing more than 300,000 deaths and about $125 billion in economic losses each year, according to a report by the Global Humanitarian Forum, an organization led by Annan, the former United Nations secretary general.
The report, to be released Friday, analyzed data and existing studies of health,
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disaster, population and economic trends. It found that human-influenced climate change was raising the global death rates from illnesses including malnutrition (营养不良)and heat-related health problems.
But even before its release, the report drew criticism from some experts on climate and risk, who questioned its methods and conclusions.
Along with the deaths, the report said that the lives of 325 million people, primarily in poor countries, were being seriously affected by climate change. It projected that the number would double by 2030.
Roger Pielke Jr., a political scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who studies disaster trends, said the Forum's report was \methodological embarrassment\related to human-driven global warming amid the much larger losses resulting from the growth in populations and economic development in vulnerable (易受伤害的) regions. Dr. Pielke said that “climate change is an important problem requiring our utmost attention.” But the report, he said, \harm the cause for action on both climate change and disasters because it is so deeply flawed (有瑕疵的).\
However, Soren Andreasen, a social scientist at Dalberg Global Development Partners who supervised the writing of the report, defended it, saying that it was clear that the numbers were rough estimates. He said the report was aimed at world leaders, who will meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a new international climate treaty. In a press release describing the report, Mr. Annan stressed the need for the negotiations to focus on increasing the flow of money from rich to poor regions to help
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reduce their vulnerability to climate hazards while still curbing the emissions of the heat-trapping gases. More than 90% of the human and economic losses from climate change are occurring in poor countries, according to the report. 62.What is the finding of the Global Humanitarian Forum? A) Global temperatures affect the rate of economic development. B) Rates of death from illnesses have risen due to global warming. C) Malnutrition has caused serious health problems in poor countries. D)
Economic trends have to do with population and natural disasters.
63.What do we learn about the Forum's report from the passage? A) It was challenged by some climate and risk experts. B) It aroused a lot of interest in the scientific circles. C) It was warmly received by environmentalists. D)
It caused a big stir in developing countries.
64.What does Dr. Pielke say about the Forum's report? A) Its statistics look embarrassing.C) It deserves our closest attention.
B)
It is invalid in terms of methodology. D) Its conclusion is exaggerated.
65.What is Soren Andreasen's view of the report? A) Its conclusions are based on carefully collected data.
B) It is vulnerable to criticism if the statistics are closely examined. C) It will give rise to heated discussions at the Copenhagen conference. D)
Its rough estimates are meant to draw the attention of world leaders.
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purposely
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66.What does Kofi Annan say should be the focus of the Copenhagen conference? A) B) C) D) 8.
Passage One
Boys' schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and are more likely to get involved in activities such as art, dance and music, according to research released today.
Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity in which students either sink or swim, the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to conform to a stereotype, the US study says.
Boys at single sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the \ The findings of the study go against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.
Tony Little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had bee too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.
The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they
How rich and poor regions can share responsibility in curbing global warming. How human and economic losses from climate change can be reduced. How emissions of heat-trapping gases can be reduced on a global scale. How rich countries can better help poor regions reduce climate hazards.
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bee discouraged when their female peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills. But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boys' learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to pete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.
Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with specifically \boys generally have more acute vision, learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given \around. \genre in which violence and sexism are major themes,\
Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to conform to a stereotype that men should be \\well enough to know what that means,\
57. The author believes that a single-sex school would _____________________. A force boys to hide their emotions to be “real man” B help to cultivate masculine aggressiveness in boys
C encourage boys to express their emotions more freely D naturally reinforce in boys that traditional image of a man
58. It is monly believed that in a mixed schools boys ____________________.
A perform relatively better
B grow up more healthily
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C behave more responsibly D receive a better education
59. What does Tony Little say about the British education system?
A It fails more boys than girls academically B It focuses more on mixed school education
C It fails to give boys the attention they need D It places more pressure on boys than on girls
60. According to Abigail James, one of the advantages of single-sex schools is ______________.
A teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boys
B boys can focus on their lessons without being distracted C boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested in D teaching can be designed to promote boys’ team spirit
61. Which of the following is characteristic of boys according to Abigail James’ report?
A They enjoy being in charge
C They have sharper vision
B They conform to stereotypes
D They are violent and sexist
Passage Two
It's an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday? My partner says no because the boiler could go, or the roof fall off, and we have no savings to save us. I say that you only live once and we work hard and what's the point if you can't go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year – we just won't go.
Since money is known to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to
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its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday. A YouGov poll of 2,000 people found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. What's less clear is whether divorce and separation rates rise in a recession – financial pressures mean couples argue more but make splitting up less affordable. A recent research shows arguments about money were especially damaging to couples. Disputes were characterized by intense verbal aggression, tended to be repeated and not resolved, and made men, more than women, extremely angry.
Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money is such a big deal because of what it symbolizes, which may be different things to men and women. \is for,\say it's to save, to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them\buying status and of showing their parents that they've achieved something.
\with their finances, but they don't. There seems to be more of a taboo about talking about money than talking about death. But you both need to know what you are doing, who is paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship you don't have to agree about money, but you have to talk about it.\
62. What does the author say about vacationing?
A People enjoy it all the more during a recession
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B Few people can afford it without working hard C It makes all the hard work worthwhile D It is the chief cause of family disputes
63. What does the author mean by saying “money is known… to bring a relationship to its knees” (Line1 Para. 2)？
A Money is considered to be the root of all evils
B Some people sacrifice their dignity for money C Few people can resist the temptation of money D Disputes over money may ruin a relationship
64. The YouGov poll of 2000 people indicates that in a recession _________________.
A conflicts between couples tend to rise
B it is more expensive for couples to split up C couples show more concern for each other D divorce and separation rates increase
65. What does Kim Stephenson believe?
A Money is often a symbol of a person’s status
B Money means a great deal to both men and women C Men and women spend money on different things D Men and women view money in different ways
66. The author suggests at the end of the passage that couples should ________________
A put their money together instead of keeping it separately
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9.
B make efforts to reach agreement on their family budgets C discuss money matters to maintain a healthy relationship D avoid arguing about money matters to remain romantic
I’ve worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer since I graduated from high school, but making the transition (转变) between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o’clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I’m so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation. There’re few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine I ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.
The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like downsizing (裁员) and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the until I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents and hour.
After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have bee only too clear. When I’m back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes
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seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.
These lessons I’m learning, however valuable, are always tinged (带有) with sense of guilt. Many people pass their lives in the places I briefly work, spending 30 years where I spend only two months at a time. “This job pays well, but it’s hell on the body,” said one co-worker. “Study hard and keep reading,” she added.
My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.
57. How did the author look back on his summer days while at college? [A] They brought him nothing but torture. [B] They were no holiday for him at all.
[C] They were a relief from his hard work at school. [D] They offered him a chance to know more people. 58. What does the author say about college students? [A] They expect too much from the real world. [B] They have little interest in blue-collar life. [C] They think too highly of themselves. [D] They are confident of their future.
59. What, according to the author, is most frustrating for blue-collar workers? [A] They do not get decent pay. [B] They do not have job security.
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[C] They have to work 12-hour shifts. [D] They have to move from place to place.
60. In what important way has the author’s work experience changed him? [A] He learned to be more practical. [B] He acquired a sense of urgency. [C] He came to respect blue-collar workers. [D] He came to appreciate his college education. 61. Why does the author feel somewhat guilty?
[A] He realizes there is a great divide between his life and that of blue-collar workers.
[B] He looks down upon the mechanical work at the assembly life. [C] He has not done much to help his co-workers at the factory.
[D] He has stayed at school just for the purpose of escaping from the real world.
Are people suffering formgadget (小器具) overload? Are they exhausted by the consumer equivalent of the brain fatigue — information overload — that is caused by constant updates of devices and online media?
Underwriters Laboratories issued a report last week that found 48% of consumers “feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them.”
There are two possible explanations. The first, obvious one is that the pace of innovation (创新) is too fast for consumers. The second, less obvious one is that,
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innovation is too slow. That is the new offerings panies are pushing out the door every six months or so are me-too products or ones with just a couple of new features. Marketing schedules, not product innovation, are driving the corporate (公司的) train. Manufacturers in American valued “spend to market” more than in other countries, the report found.
Sara Greenstein, Underwriters Laboratories’ chief strategy officer, offered her interpretation of the survey results, “Innovation is too fast only if corners are cut.” For the high-tech sector, there are a few other interesting finding. Consumers are less concerned about safety in high-tech products than categories like fresh and processed food. But their top safety concerns are emissions and wireless radio waves. Many people, it seems, are uneasy living in a thickening cloud of radio waves from mobile phone towers and the gadgets they municate with.
A finding that was a bit surprising is that to consumers, the inner parts of high-tech devices do apparently matter. Some 55% of consumers, according to the report, said they are “more” concerned about high-tech ponents e from than where the product was assembled.”
The report doesn’t really say how that information would affect consumer buying decisions. It could be plicated. Manufacturing panies on average rely on more than 35 contract suppliers around the world to create a single product. That number would be higher for a smartphone or laptop.
But maybe some sort of supply-chain labeling showing where parts e from in a product? “We’re working on it,” Ms. Greenstein said.
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62. What is the finding in Underwriters Laboratories’ report about many consumers? [A] They are exhausted by the information overload. [B] They are tired of the constant updating of devices. [C] They feel products are updated faster than needed. [D] They have difficulty following high-tech innovations. 63. What does the author mean by “me-too products”?
[A] Products with on substantial difference. [B] Products tailored to individual users.
[C] Products everyone is eager to possess. [D] Products panies pete a make. 64. What do American businesses give priority to when marketing their products? [A] The constant updating of their technology. [B] The speed of putting them on the market. [C] The quality of their new products. [D] The pace of product innovation.
65. What is the consumers’ chief concern about high-tech products? [A] User-friendliness. [B] Product quality. [C] Place of assembly. [D] Radio emissions. 66. Why does the author suggest supply-chain labeling? [A] It guarantees the safe shipping of products. [B] It promotes the petitiveness of the supplier. [C] Consumers care about where ponents are made.
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[D] Consumers tend to buy products they are familiar with. 10.
As you are probably aware, the latest job markets news isn’t good: Unemployment is still more than 9 percent, and new job growth has fallen close to zero. That’s bad for the economy, of course. And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now. But it actually shouldn’t matter to you nearly as much as you think.
That’s because job growth numbers don’t matter to job hunters as much as job
turnover (人员更替) data. After all, existing jobs open up every day due to promotions, resignations, terminations (解雇), and retirements. (Yes, people are retiring even in this economy.) In both good times and bad, turnover creates more openings than economic growth does. Even in June of 2007, when the economy was still moving ahead, job growth was only 132,000, while turnover was 4.7 million!
And as it turns out, even today — with job growth near zero — over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.
I don’t mean to imply that overall job growth doesn’t have an impact on one’s ability to land a job. It’s true that if total employment were higher, it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from (and pete for). And it’s true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening, regardless of whether it’s a new one or not.
But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don’t is their ability to stay motivated. They’re willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable
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skills; be creative about where and how to look; learn how to present themselves to potential employers; and keep going, even after repeated rejections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn’t looked within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.
So don’t let the headlines fool you into giving up. Four million people get hired every month in the U.S. You can be one of them.
57. The author tends to believe that high unemployment rate . [A] deprives many people of job opportunities [B] prevents many people from changing careers [C] should not stop people from looking for a job [D] does not mean the U.S. economy is worsening 58. Where do most job openings e from?
[A] Job growth. [B] Job turnover. [C] Improved economy. [D] Business expansion.
59. What does the author say about overall job growth? [A] It doesn’t have much effect on individual job seekers. [B] It increases people’s confidence in the economy. [C] It gives a ray of hope to the unemployed.
[D] It doesn’t mean greater job security for the employed. 60. What is the key to landing a job according to the author?
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[A] Education. [B] Intelligence. [C] Persistence. [D] Experience. 61. What do we learn from the passage about the unemployment figures in the U.S.? [A] They clearly indicate how healthy the economy is. [B] They provide the public with the latest information. [C] They warn of the structural problems in the economy. [D] They exclude those who have stopped looking for a job.
Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors — or doesn’t it?
While such vigilant (警觉的) tracking of cancer is a good thing in general, researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly. With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050, it’s important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing.
In many cases, screening can lead to surgeries to remove cancer, while the cancers themselves may be slow-growing and may not pose serious health problems in patients’ remaining years. But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has bee so deep-rooted that when health care experts remended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer, it caused a riotous reaction among doctors, patients and advocacy groups.
It’s hard to uproot deeply held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data. Certainly, there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine
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screening, and gained several extra years of life because of treatment. And clearly, people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer, such as a family history or prior personal experience with the disease, should continue to get screened regularly. But for the remainder, the risk of cancer, while increased at the end of life, must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy (预期寿命).
A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening- especially considering the explosion of the elderly that will soon swell our population.
It’s not an easy calculation to make, but one that makes sense for all patients. Dr. Otis Brawley said, “Many doctors are ordering screening tests purely to cover themselves. We need to think about the rational use of health care.”
That means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients, and going against the misguided belief that when it es to health care, more is always better.
62. Why do doctors remend routine cancer screening for elderly people? [A] It is believed to contribute to long life. [B] It is part of their health care package.
[C] The elderly are more sensitive about their health. [D] The elderly are in greater danger of tumor growth.
63. How do some researchers now look at routine cancer screening for the elderly? [A] It adds too much to their medical bills. [B] It helps increase their life expectancy.
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[C] They are doubtful about its necessity. [D] They think it does more harm than good.
64. What is the conventional view about women screening for breast cancer? [A] It applies to women over 50. [B] It is a must for adult women. [C] It is optional for young women. [D] It doesn’t apply to women over 74.
65. Why do many doctors prescribe routine screening for cancer? [A] They want to protect themselves against medical disputes. [B] They want to take advantage of the medical care system. [C] They want data for medical research. [D] They want their patients to suffer less.
66. What does the author say is the general view about health care?
[A] The more, the better. [B] Prevention is better than cure. [C] Better early than late. [D] Better care, longer life. 11.
It’s no secret that some of the resolutions that many of us vowed to pursue in the new year— eat healthy, lose weight, quit smoking, save more money — have already fallen by the wayside.
Many of them are likely the same resolutions that we abandoned last January. And it’s a good thing for whose who sell health club memberships, quit-smoking programs and other products that help us think we can improve our lives.
Many gyms see new memberships double in January, making up for the third of
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their members who do not renew each year.
And many who sign up in January will be no-shows by February.
“If I try one quick fix and it doesn’t work, I may be more likely to try the next quick fix,” Lisa Lahey, who coaches executives how to sustain behavior change, told The Times.
The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge doesn’t offer any quick fixes, just a 12-hour schedule full of exercise, a 1,200-calories-a-day diet and a fee of $2,000 a week. The resort teaches its clients that “weight management” is a bination of fitness, diet and emotional health.
“Given my recent weight gain, and the fact that I was turning 50,” Jennifer Conlin wrote in The Time, “ I wanted to start a program that would make 2012 the year I finally got in shape.”
“For years, the advice to eh overweight people has been that we simply need to eat less ad exercise more,” Tara Parker-Pope wrote. “While there is truth to this guidance, it fails to take into account that the human body continues to fight against weight loss long after dieting has stopped. This translates into a sobering (令人清醒的) reality: once we bee fat, most of us, despite out best efforts, will probably stay fat.”
Of course this revelation (揭示), if proven true by further study, is not good news for the weight-loss industry. But chances are it won’t have much impact on the human tendency to resolve to get to the gym more and avoid chocolate cake when the clock strikes midnight on December 31.
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57. What do we learn from the first paragraph about new year resolutions? [A] They are hard to sustain. [B] They test one’s strength. [C] They help shed bad habits. [D] They promise a good year. 58. Who do new year resolutions eventually benefit?
[A] Society in general. [B] Business executives. [C] Health club members. [D] Health industries.
59. What is special about the Biggest Loser Resort’s weight management program? [A] It gives top priority to emotional health. [B] It does not resort to any quick fixes.
[C] It focuses on one’s behavior change. [D] It is not cheap but extremely effective.
60. What happens when people stop dieting?
[A] They regain their appetite. [B] They usually stay in shape. [C] They weight bounces back. [D] Their health is likely to fail. 61. What do people tend to do about new year resolutions? [A] They keep making them year after year. [B] They abandon them once progress is made. [C] They keep trying until they finally succeed. [D] They make them for the sake of making them.
When University of California-Berkeley released a study this month showing alarmingly high teacher turnover (人员流动) rates at Los Angeles charter schools, I
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英语四级阅读试题库含答案解析 - 图文
