1、大学英语四级考试15 选10专项训练Unit OneDirections: In this passage there are ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a
2、letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 1 to 10 are based on the following passage.Looking back on years of living in a working-class home in the North o
3、f England, I should say that a good living room must 11 three principal things: homeliness, warmth and plenty of good food. The living-room is the warm heart of the family and 12 often slightly stuffy to a middle-class visitor. It is not a social centre but a family center; little entertaining goes
4、on there or in the front room, if there 13 to be one; you do not entertain in anything approaching the middle-class 14 The wifes social life outside her 15 family is found over the washing-line, at the little shop on the corner, visiting relatives at a moderate 16 occasionally, and perhaps now and a
5、gain a visit with her husband to his pub or club. Apart from these two places, he has just his work and his football matches. They will have, each of them, friends at all these places, who may well not know what the inside of their house is like, having never “stepped across the threshold,“ as the o
6、ld 17 phrase has it. The family hearth is 18 for the family itself, and those who are “something to us“(another favorite formula) and who look in for a talk or just to sit. Much of the free time of a man and his wife will 19 be passed at that hearth. Just staying in is still one of the most common l
7、eisure-time 20 A. happens B. professions C. sense D. neverthelessE. fashioned F. distance G. immediate H. usuallyI. occupations J. preserved K. imitate L. provideM. therefore N reserved 0. contributeUnit TwoPassage 2Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained ey
8、es at trees and bushes. After an hours 11 one of the scientists wrote in his book, “Look here for 12 metal. “ Scientists in another airplane, flying over a mountain region, sent a 13 to other scientists on the ground, “Gold possible. “ Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported, “This gro
9、und should be searched for metals. “ From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word, “Uranium. “None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no 14 powers for looking down below the earths surface. They were 15 putting to use one of the newest methods of 16 mineral
10、s in the groundusing trees and plants as 17 that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees andplants are growing.This newest method of searching for minerals is 18 on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may 19 the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface.At Watson
11、Bar Creek, a brook six thousand feet high in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was 20 marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of
12、 the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested. Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it.A. signs B. sufficiently C. locating D. affectE. merely F. magic G. hints H. carefullyI. finding J. message K. flight L. probableM. revealing N. based O. informationUnit Three.P
13、assage 2Americas most famous woman is the Goddess of Liberty, i. e. the Statue of Liberty. It was first thought of in 1865 by Edouard de Laboulaye and designed by another Frenchman, Frederic Bartoldi. They wanted to 11 liberty and friendship.It was hoped that the monument would be completed by 1876
14、when America 12 its centennial. Fund raising and the 13 of the statue in France went slowly. It was 1885 when the 214 crates containing the statue reached New York.Americans were initially 14 for they had not raised the money to pay for the erection of the base. Fund raising by popular subscription
15、was behind 15 . One fund raising method used was to have popular Americans write letters which were then sold in public.The base and statue, 16 272 feet tall, were completed in 1886. From a 17 standpoint, the statue is a marvel. The inner structure was designed by the French engineer, Alexandre Eiff
16、el. His design for the stressed copper skin of the statue anticipated many of the 18 utilized in modern aircraft.After a century, the monument began to show signs of getting worse in 19 . Just as Frenchmen had created the Statue, so it was with restoration.A Frenchman noted the decay and French and
17、American craftsmen and contributions brought about the renewal of the Statue in time for its centennial.Liberty is still 20 in France and the United States.A. completely B. measures C. popular D. togetherE. honor F. manufacture G. schedule H. rewardI. celebrated J. principles K. embarrassed L. techn
18、icalM. voluntary N conditions 0. discouragedUnit FourPassage 2Sophy Brent came to visit me nearly every day. She made me feel uneasy most of the time. She smoked 11 and never used an ashtray. She followed me into the kitchen while I made tea or coffee or supper and 12 herself to the childrens orange
19、 juice. She made a great hit with my two-year-old daughter Flora, who would 13 about her for hours and refer to her lovingly as “sofa“, and she was always talking about my husband and asking me where he was.I could not decide why she chose my 14 , although I realized that nobody else paid her very m
20、uch attention. Her situation was very difficult in that she was 15 out of drama school and only nineteen, but being 16 to play a leading part in a company of fairly 17 and experienced actors. They would not have liked her much even if she had been good, and as, from all accounts, she was not good so
21、 they took every 18 to run her down. I think she thought that I was the only person around who was both unconnected with the theatre and tolerably 19 . To associate with me was not, at any rate, to step down the scale. And for my part, although I felt troubled by her I did not dislike her. There was
22、 something genuinely outstanding in her personality, and she had such physical 20 that with me she could get away with anything. She was nice to have around, like flowers or a bowl of fruit.A. helped B. smart B. constantly D. treatedE. required F. supreme G. hang H. charmI. continually J. company K.
23、 opportunity L. distinguishedM. straight N. partner O. disappointedUnit FivePassage 2Many people often enjoy eating out either before or after a visit to the theatre. However, most of us would rather keep the two 11 separate. One man who thinks that they can be successfully combined has not only exp
24、ressed his ideas in a recent book, but also set up an establishment where the theory is put very 12 into practice. The man is Paul Thornton, and the place is the Hollics, an old farmhouse.Whenever I visit a new restaurant, I feel the same excitement that keen theatre-goers must experience on opening
25、 night. I had this feeling last Friday evening at dusk, as my wife and I were taking a walk in the beautiful gardens of the restaurant 13 after we had arrived. Dinner was as excellent as we had been 14 . There is no menu, for Mr. Thornton creates his meals rather as a director produces a play. Never
26、theless, the various combinations of 15 at each course are always 16 as if they were done by magic. He and his team of highly skilled helpers serve, cut and cook the food, moving about the “stage“ as confidently as 17 actors. The meal is as different from what one finds in ordinary restaurants as a
27、18 performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream would be from a second-rate television production.May I offer a few words of advice in case you are thinking of paying him a visit. Try not to arrive just after noon, as Mr. Thornton does not serve a normal lunch. His “brunch“ which 19 the best 20 of a trad
28、itional English breakfast, is served around eleven oclock and is so plentiful that lunch is unnecessary. A. features B. shortly C. potential D. definitely E. perfect F. promoted G. live H. professional I. characters J. promised K. choices L. includes M. pleasures N. vigorously O. substitutionsUnit S
29、ixPassage 2Student expeditions do a great deal of good work on the Arctic islands but from time to time cause trouble in the huts, probably because students are not familiar with the 11 of the little wooden huts dotted all over the islands of the Spizbergen group.Each hut 12 has an inner and an oute
30、r door, shutters over the windows, a store of wood 13 up outside, dry chopped wood inside, utensils and cutlery, and above all, a small store of food. All these things must be completely in 14 whenever the hut is left.It makes no 15 if it is only the middle of July. That 16 hut may not be visited ag
31、ain before the winter. A door left open can lead either to snow filling up the hut to the ceiling, or 17 still, wind blowing the roof off. Unfastened shutters leave the windows an easy prey for polar bears 18 for food and the result is again snow in the hut. The ready-chopped wood is also very impor
32、tant.A traveler visiting the hut in the middle of the dark time and perhaps in bad weather, his feet, hands and face bitten by the frost, will have his difficulties doubled if the wood he left has been used up by others and he had nothing with which to 19 a fire.Ten or more years ago there were enou
33、gh hunters to look after most of the huts, but now many buildings have become useless because there is no one to repair them and because of 20A. worse B. peculiar C. laid D. lightE. generally F. order G. particular H. conventionsI. carelessness J difference K. built L. fashionsM. searching N. ordina
34、rily O. resultUnit SevenPassage 2Most of us trade money for entertainment. Movies, concerts and shows are enjoyable but 11 .If you think that you cant have a good time without spending a lot of money, read on. A little resourcefulness and a few minutes of newspaper-scanning should give you some plea
35、sant surprises.People may be the most interesting show in a large city. 12 through busy streets and see what everybody else is doing. You will probably see people from all over the world; you will 13 see people of every age, size, and shape, and youll get a free fashion show, too. Window-shopping is
36、 also a 14 sport if the stores are closed.Check the listings in your neighborhood paper. Local colleges or schools often 15 the public to hear an interesting speaker or a good 16 . The film or concert series at the local public library probably wont cost you a penny. Be sure to check commercial adve
37、rtisements too. A flea market can provide hours of pleasant looking round. Perhaps you can find a free cooking or crafts 17 in a department store.Plan ahead for some activities. It is always more pleasant not to have people in front of you in a museum or at a zoo. You may save some money, too, since
38、 these places often 18 aside one or two free 19 days at slow times during the week. Make sure that you are including the indispensable 20 that people travel miles to see. If you feel like taking an interesting walk, find a free walking tour, or plan one yourself.Unit EightPassage 2When a person feel
39、s low, blue, or down in the clumps, it usually means he has been hurt, disappointed, or saddened by something that causes a confused and listless feeling. There is 11 a type of music called “the blue“, a low, mournful, sad sound to 12 these universal human feelings.Depression is another name for thi
40、s mood. Feeling depressed is a normal and natural 13 to experiences of loss, failure, and undeserved bad luck. Indeed, it has been pointed out that without depression, we would 14 much of the worlds great tragic literature, music, and art.In some cases, however, depression becomes something more tha
41、n just 15 feelings of blues or letdown. A large number of people suffer from what psychiatrists call “depressive illness. “ Depressive illness is more 16 and lasts longer than common listless feelings. Sometimes a serious 17 of depression can begin with the loss of a loved one or a change of job. Ma
42、ny times, in very 18 cases, there doesnt seem to be any circumstance serious enough to have caused the depression.Some psychiatrists suggest that the key feature in depression is change. The person becomes different from the way before the onset of his depression. He may even become the opposite of
43、his usual self. There are many examples: the A. expensive B. Wonder C.debate D. admissionE. set F. Wander G.safe H. additionI. valuable J. dispute K.welcome L. confidentlyM. sights N. demonstration O.certainlybusinessman who becomes a wanderer, the mother who wants to 19 her children and herself. In
44、stead of seeking satisfaction and pleasure, the depressed person 20 it.A. ever B. escape C. intense D. responseE. avoids F. even G. express H. realizationI. severe J. lessen K. dense L. periodM. harm N. lack O. normalUnit NineA growing world population and the discoveries of science may 11 this patt
45、ern of distribution in the future. As men slowly learn to master diseases, control floods, prevent famines, and stop wars, fewer people die every year; and in 12 the population of the world is 13 increasing. In 1925 there were about 2,000 million people in the world; by the end of the century there
46、may well be over 4,000 million.When numbers rise the 14 mouths must be fed. New lands must be I bought under cultivation, or land already farmed made to 15 larger crops. In some areas the accessible land is largely so intensively 16 that it will be difficult to make it provide more food. In some are
47、as the population is so dense that the land is parceled out in units too 17 to allow for much improvement in farming methods. Were a larger part of this farming population drawn off into industrial occupations, the land might be farmed much more productively by modern methods.There is now a race for
48、 science, technology, and industry to keep the 18 of food rising faster than the number of people to be fed. New strains of crops are being developed which will thrive in 19 climates; irrigation and dry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough, dams hold back the waters of great rivers to 20 water for the fields in all seasons and to provide electric power for new industries; industrial chemistry provides fertilizer
