专业四级考前恶补--阅读完型(1)_TEM4指导
1. a. although b. since c. because d. therefore
2. a. stable b. splendid c. smooth d. complicated
3. a. little b. few c. much d. many
4. a. terrible b. possible c. enjoyable d. profitable
5. a. to b. into c. over d. by
6. a. lead b. connect c. collect d. communicate
7. a. large b. fast c. high d. heavy
8. a. when b. for c. but d. that
9. a. unless b. if c. as d. since
10. a. relatively b. regularly c. respectively d. reasonably
11. a. and b. less c. more d. or
12. a. all b. several c. lots d. some
13. a. rocks b. cliffs c. roads d. paths
14. a. lying b. laying c. laid d. lied
15. a. there b. when c. which d. whereお
part Ⅱ
section a reading comprehension［25 min.］
in this section there are four passages followed by fifteen questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked a, b, c and d. choose the one that you think is the correct answer.
mark your choice on your answer sheet.
text a
before the mid1860’s, the impact of the railroads in the united states was limited, in the sense that the tracks ended at this missouri river, approximately the center of the country. at the point the trains turned their freight,
mail, and passengers over to steamboats, wagons, and stagecoaches. this meant that wagon freighting, stagecoaching, and steamboating did not come to an end when the first train appeared; rather they became supplements or feeders. each new
“end瞣f瞭rack” became a center for animal瞕rawn or waterborne transportation. the major effect of the railroad was to shorten the distance that had to be covered by the older, slower, and more costly means. wagon freighters continued operating throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s and into the 1890’s. although over constantly shrinking routes, and coaches and wagons continued to crisscross the west wherever the rails had not yet been laid. the beginning of a major change was foreshadowed in the later 1860’s, when the union pacific railroad at last began
to build westward from the central plains city of omaha to meet the central pacific railroad advancing eastward from california through the formidable barrier of the sierra nevada. although president abraham lincoln signed the original pacific railroad bill in 1862 and a revised, financially much more generous version in 1864, little construction was completed until 1865 on the central pacific and 1866 on the union pacific. the primary reason was skepticism that a railroad built through so challenging and thinly settled a stretch of desert, mountain, and semiarid plain could pay a profit. in the words of an economist, this was a case of “premature enterprise”, where not only the cost of construction but also the very high risk deterred private investment. in discussing the pacific railroad bill, the chair of the congressional committee bluntly stated that without government subsidy no one would undertake so unpromising a venture; yet it was a national necessity to link east and west together.
16. the author refers to the impact of railroads before the late 1860’s as “limited” because ____
a. the track did not take the direct route from one city to the next
b. passengers and freight had to transfer to other modes of transportation to reach western destinations
c. passengers preferred stagecoaches
d. railroad travel was quite expensive
17. what can be inferred about coaches and wagon freighters as the railroad expanded?
a. they developed competing routes.
b. their drivers refused to work for the railroads.
c. they began to specialize in private investment.
d. there were insufficient numbers of trained people to operate them.
18. why does the author mention the sierra nevada in line 17?
a. to argue that a more direct route to the west could have been ﹖aken.
b. to identify a historically significant mountain range in the west.
c. to point out the location of a serious train accident.
d. to give an example of an obstacle faced by the central pacific.
19. the word “subsidy” in line 27 is closest in meaning to _____.
a. persuasion b. financing c. explanation d. penalty
text b
certainly no creature in the sea is odder than the common sea cucumber. all living creature, especially human beings, have their peculiarities, but everything about the little sea cucumber seems unusual. what else can be said about a bizarre animal that, among other eccentricities, eats mud, feeds almost continuously day and night but can live without eating for long periods, and can be poisonous but is considered supremely edible by gourmets?for some fifty million years, despite all its eccentricities, the sea cucumber has subsisted on its diet of mud. it is adaptable enough to live attached to rocks by its tube feet, under rocks in shallow water, or on the surface of mud flats. common in cool water on both atlantic and pacific shores, it has the ability to suck up mud or sand and digest whatever nutrients are present.sea cucumbers come in a variety of colors, ranging from black to reddish瞓rown to sand瞔olor and nearly white. one form even has vivid purple tentacles. usually the creatures are cucumber瞫haped—hence their name—and because they are typically rock inhabitants, this shape, combined with flexibility, enables them to squeeze into crevices where they are safe from predators and ocean currents.
although they have voracious appetites, eating day and night, sea cucumbers have the capacity to become quiescent and live at a low metabolic rate—feeding sparingly or not at all for long periods, so that the marine organisms that provid their food have a chance to multiply. if it were not for this faculty, they would devour all the food available in a short time and would probably starve themselves out of existence.
but the most spectacular thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself. its major enemies are fish and crabs, when attacked, it squirts all its internal organs into water. it also casts off attached structures such as tentacles. the sea cucumber will eviscerate and regenerate itself if it is attacked or even touched; it will do the same if the surrounding water temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted.
20. according to the passage, why is the shape of sea cucumbers important?
a. it helps them to digest their food.
b. it helps them to protect themselves from danger.
c. it makes it easier for them to move through the mud.
d. it makes them attractive to fish.
21. the fourth paragraph of the passage primarily discusses ____.
a. the reproduction of sea cucumbers
b. the food sources of sea cucumbers
c. the eating habits of sea cucumbers
d. threats to sea cucumbers’ existence
22. what can be inferred about the defence mechanisms of the sea cucumber?
a. they are very sensitive to surrounding stimuli.
b. they are almost useless.
c. they require group cooperation.
d. they are similar to those of most sea creatures.
23. which of the following would not cause a sea cucumber to release its internal organs into the water?
a. a touch. b. food.
c. unusually warm water. d. pollution.
text c
human beings have used tools for a very long time. in some parts of the world you can still find tools that people used more than two million years ago. they made these tools by hitting one stone against another. in this way, they broke off pieces from one of the stones. these chips of stone were usually sharp on one side. people used them for cutting meat and skin from dead animals, and also for making other tools
out of wood. human beings needed to use tools because they did not have sharp teeth like other meateating animals, such as lions and tigers. tools helped people to get food more easily.
working with tools also helped to develop human intelligence. the human brain grew bigger, and human beings began to invent more and more tools and machines. the stone chip was one of the first tools that people used, and perhaps it is
the most important. some scientists say that it was the key to success of mankind.
since 1960 a new kind of tool has appeared. this is the silicon chip—a little chip of silicon crystal. it is smaller than a finger瞡ail, but it can store more than a million “bits” of information. it is an electronic brain.every year these chips get cleverer, but their size gets smaller, and their cost gets less. they are used in watches, calculators and intelligent machines that we can use in many ways.
in the future we will not need to work with tools in the old way. machines will do everything for us. they will even talk and play games with us. people will have plenty of spare time. but what will they do with it?
human beings used stone chips for more than two million years, but human life changed very little in that time. we have used silicon chips for only a few years, but life is changing faster every day. what will life be like twenty years from now? what will the world be like two million years from now?
24. the stone chip is thought to be the most important tool because it ______.お
a. was one of the first tools
b. developed human capabilities
c. led to the invention of machines
d. was crucial to the development of mankind
25. at the end of the passage the author seems to suggest that life in future is ______.
a. disastrous b. unpredictable
c. exciting d. colorful
california is a land of variety and contrast. almost every type of physical land feature, sort of arctic ice fields and tropical jungles can be found within its borders. sharply contrasting types of land often lie very close to one another.
people living in bakersfield, for instance, can visit the pacific ocean and the coastal plain, the fertile san joaquin valley, the arid mojave desert, and the high sierra nevada, all within a radius of about 100 miles. in other areas it
is possible to go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the evening of the same day, without having to travel long distance.
contrast abounds in california. the highest point in the united states (outside alaska ) is in california, and so is the lowest point (including alaska). mount whitney, 14,494 feet above sea level, is separated from death valley, 282 feet below sea level, by a distance of only 100 miles. the two areas have a difference in altitude of almost three miles.
california has deep, clear mountain lakes like lake tahoe, the deepest in the country, but it also has shallow, salty desert lakes. it has lake tulainyo, 12,020 feet above sea level, and the lowest lake in the country, the salton sea, 236 feet below sea level. some of its lakes, like owens lake in death valley, are not lakes at all: they are dried瞮p lake beds.in addition to mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts, and plateaus, california has its pacific coastline, stretching longer than the coastlines of oregon and washington combined.
26. which of the following is the lowest point in the united states?
a. lake tulainyo.b. mojave desert.
c. death valley.d. the salton sea.
27. where is the highest point in the united states located?
a. lake tahoe.b. sierra nevada.
c. mount whitney.d. alaska.
28. how far away is death valley from mount whitney?
a. about 3 miles.b. only 100 miles.
c. 282 feet.d. 14,494 feet.
29. which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as being within a radius of about 100 miles of bakersfield?
a. the pacific ocean.
b. san joaquin valley.
c. mojave desert.
d. oregon and washington.
30. which statement best demonstrates that california is a land of variety and
contrast
a. the highest lake in california is lake tulainyo.
b. it is possible to go surfing and snow skiing in some parts of california without having to travel long distance.
c. sierra nevada, san joaquin valley, mojave desert and the pacific ocean
all lie within a radius of about 100 miles.
d. owens lake, in death valley, is not really a lake at all.
skimming and scanning ［5 min.］
in this section there are five passages followed by ten questions or unfinished statements. skim or scan them as required and then mark your answers on your answer sheet.
text e
first read the following question.
31. the purpose of the passage is to _____.
a. describe ways of eliminating mosquito larvae
b. demonstrate the great differences among kinds of mosquitoes
c. show reasons for the high survival rate of mosquitoes
d. give a general description of mosquito development
now read text e quickly and mark your answer on your answer sheet.
each variety of mosquito has its favored kind of water accumulation for
breeding, and almost every imaginable type of still water has been used by at least one kind of mosquito to lay its eggs. after the eggs hatch, the larvae continue to be closely associated with water’s surface at the tail ends of their bodies. because the larvae develop this way, they are never found in the open water of lakes where they would merely serve as fish food, or in places where they would be damaged by wave action or water currents.
text f
first read the following questions.
32. the main idea of the passage is _____.
a. how to play tennis
b. how to win a tennis match
c. the general introduction of the game
d. what is a game in tennis
33. the author drives his point home by _____.
a. giving the details
b. explaining step by step
c. offering strong proofs
d. making vivid descriptions
now read text f quickly and mark your answers on your answer sheet.
let’s talk about tennis between just two players. you know that the two players hit a ball across the net. one side must hit the ball so that the other player cannot hit it back over the net. the ball must stay within the lines. if the
first player can’t do this, the opponent gets a point.
the players always stop when one wins a point. to start play again, one player will serve. he or she throws the ball into the air and hits it. the ball must cross the net without hitting it. the other player must hit the ball back across the net before it hits the ground twice. if the ball doesn’t hit the net or the ground twice, the players keep hitting it over the net. this goes on until someone misses.
a player needs four points to win a game. if both players have three points,
then one must get two more points together to win. when one player wins six games, it is called a set. if each side wins five games, then one must win two more games together to win the set. if each player wins six games, they play one more game of seven points. a match usually has three or five sets.おお
text g
first read the following question.
34. while at london airports, you have to present your passport at _____.
a. the carousel
b. the immigration hall
c. the customs
d. the arrivals hall
now read text g quickly and mark your answer on your answer sheet.
arriving at london airports
just follow these simple steps for a trouble瞗ree arrival.
follow the arrivals sign if you are ending your journey in london or
transferring to a uk domestic flight.
this will take you to the immigration hall where you must present your
passport and any necessary v
isa/health documentation.
at heathrow airport proceed downstairs to claim your baggage from the
carousel indicating your flight number. at gatewick airport proceed
downstairs in the north terminal to claim your baggage from the carousel
indicating your flight number. free trolleys are available for your bags.
to clear customs take the red channel if you have goods to declare or the
green channel if you have no goods to declare.
you will then be in the arrivals hall. from here you can obtain transport in
to central london; transfer between gatewick and heathrow airports and
transfer to uk domestic flights.
text h
first read the following questions.
35. the total amount of cooking time for each vegetable is ______.
a. 4 minutes for the potatoes and 10 minutes for the cucumber
b. 10 minutes for the potatoes and 4 minutes for the cucumber
c. 4 minutes for the cucumber and 14 minutes for the potatoes
d. 14 minutes for the cucumber and 4 minutes for the potatoes
36. which of the following statements agrees with the menu directions?
a. the dish is enough to go round.
b. four serving spoons are needed.
c. the dish is to be shared by four persons.
d. four guests can help themselves to the dish.
37. according to this recipe, _____.
a. parsley, salt and pepper are to be added by a sprinkler
b. the dish has to be properly seasoned with salt and pepper
c. parsley is used for decoration
d. the dish must be tossed to everybody’s taste
now read text h quickly and mark your answers on your answer sheet.
recipe
potatoes and cucumber with parsley
2 potatoes, about 3/4 pound
1 cucumber, about 3/4 pound
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
peel the potatoes. split them in half lengthwise, then cut into quarters.
put the potatoes in a small skillet with water to cover. bring to the boil and cook about 10 minutes.
meanwhile scrape the cucumber. cut it into 11/2瞚nch lengths. cut each length in half.
when the potatoes have cooked 10 minutes, add the cucumbers. cook about four minutes. drain.
add the butter to the vegetables and toss. sprinkle with parsley, salt and pepper to taste and serve.
yielding: 4 servings.
text i
first read the following questions.
38. how does a student know what the homework assignments are?
a. prof. klammer announces them in class.
b. the student reads the list on the next page.
c. prof. klammer gives a list every week in class.
d. the student goes to the professor’s office and asks.
39. if a freshman thinks that he might major in history, what is the maximum length his paper can be?
a. fifteen pages. b. twenty瞗ive pages.
c. ten pages. d. no maximum.
40. if a student cannot see prof. klammer during her office hours, what should he do?
a. see her after class.
b. call her at home.
c. ask another student.
d. make an appointment with her.
now read text i quickly and mark your answers on your answer sheet.
course outline for history 101,
dr. jane klammer
course: history 101 instructor: dr. jane klammer
“introduction to american office: 305 marshall hall
history” office hours: 11.15～12.30 m w f
class: 363 marshall hall 3.35～5.00 t th
10:10～11:00 m w f other tim
es by appointment
telephone: 255-4786
textbook: green, robert p., the american tradition: a history of the united states, charles e. merrill publishing co. columbus, ohio 1984(available at the college bookstore) お
course requirements:
mid瞭erm exam: october 10 20% of the final grade
final exam: december 10 40% of the final grade
term paper due: december 15 40% of the final grade
attendance is not required, but you are responsible for all the information
given in the class lectures. in the lectures i will talk about the chapters in the textbook and other material that i choose to supplement the course. the exams will cover all this information. therefore, i advise you to come to the class as much as possible. if you have to miss a class, be sure to get the class notes from another student.
your homework assignments are listed on the next page. you are supposed to read the chapter about which i will be lecturing before you come to class. this is to make sure that you understand as much as possible while taking notes in my lectures. be prepared when you come to class. if there are any changes in the assigned homework readings, i will announce them in class.
the term paper is 40 percent of your final grade. it should not exceed fifteen pages. (anyone thinking of majoring in history may write twenty瞗ive pages.)
before the midterm exam you will choose the topic for your paper.
have a good semester!
bluntly:坦率地；率直地
unpromising: 无前途的
sea cucumber: 海参
bizarre: 奇异的
eccentricity: 古怪；怪癖；す殴值男形
edible: 可食用的
gourmet: 美食家
subsist: 生存，存在
tentacle: 触须；触角
crevice: 裂缝
predator: 掠夺者；食肉动物
voracious:狼吞虎咽的；贪婪的
metabolic: 变化的；新陈代谢的
quiescent:静止的；不动的
rate瞗eeding: 供给饲料的
multiply: 繁殖
squirt: 喷出，溅出
silicon crystal: 硅晶体
eviscerate: 取出内脏；取出精华部分
surf: 冲浪
altitude: 高度
abound：大量存在；充满
accumulation: 累计；聚集物
hatch:孵化
larvae:幼虫
serve: 发球
proceed: 开始；进行下去
claim: 认领；主张
carousel: (机场中的)行李传送带；马术比赛
to clear customs: 通关
declare:申报
parsley:西芹
skillet: 长柄浅锅
scrape: 刮，擦
toss: 颠炒
sprinkle:洒
yielding:产出
supplement: 增补