1、93十三、历年大学英语四级阅读理解试题2008 年 6 月英语四级考试阅读理解Part IV Reading Comprehension (reading in depth) Section BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide
2、on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but- regardless of whether it is or isnt
3、- we wont do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely they are to be observed.A1 Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth,“ as if mere
4、ly recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we dont know enough to relieve global warming, and - without major technological breakthroughs - we cant do much about it.From 2003 to 2050, the world s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billon to 9.1 billion,
5、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 thats too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economic growth unless we condemn the worlds poor to their pr
6、esent poverty and freeze everyone elses living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more then 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 w
7、arming. Still, politicians want to show theyre “doing something “Consider the Kyoto Protoco (京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didnt. But it hasnt reduced CO2 emissions(up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories(签字国) didnt adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008
8、-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 our dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it.The trouble with the global warming debate
9、is that it has become a moral problem when its really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we dont solve the engineering problem, were helpless.57.What is said about global warming in the first paragraph?A) It may not prove an environmental crisis at all.B) It is an issue requiring
10、worldwide commitments.C) Serious steps have been taken to avoid or stop it.D) Very little will be done to bring it under control.58.According to the authors understanding, what is A1 Gores view on global warming?A) It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of.B) It is a phenomenon that
11、 causes us many inconveniences.94C) It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized.D) It is an area we actually have little knowledge about.59.Greenhouse emissions will more than double by 2050 because of _.A) economic growthB) wasteful use of energyC) the widening gap between the rich and
12、 poorD) the rapid advances of science and technology60.The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol,_.A) politicians have started to do something to better the situationB) few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy useC) reductions in energy consumption have gr
13、eatly cut back global warmingD) international cooperation has contributed to solving environmental problems61.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 deba
14、te over global warming will lead to technological breakthroughs.D) People have to give up certain material comforts to stop global warming.Passage TwoQuestion 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Website youve visite
15、d，Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.In fact, its likely some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girl fr
16、iend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen - the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked.Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that its important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in sta
17、ges, 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 w
18、orld where you simply cannot keep a secret.The key question is: Does that matter?For many Americans, the answer apparently is “no.“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 r
19、espondents 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 syst
20、em that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acauisti 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(优惠卷) 。But
21、privacy does matter - at least sometimes. Its like health: When you have it, you dont notice it. Only when its gone do you wish youd done more to protect it.9562. What does the author mean by saying “the 21st century equivalent of being caught naked“ (Lines 3-4,Para.2)?A) Peoples personal informatio
22、n 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
23、relationships between friends?A) Friends should open their hearts to each other.B) Friends should always be faithful to each other.C) There should be a distance even between friends.D) There should be fewer disputes between friends.64. Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simply can
24、not keep a secret“ (Line5,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 peoples identities.65. What do most Americ
25、ans 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 most and more on electronic devices.D) They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.66.According to the passage, privacy is
26、 like health in that _.A) people will make every effort to keep it.B) its importance is rarely understoodC) it is something that can easily be lostD) people dont cherish it until they lose it2008 年 12 月英语四级考试阅读（Multiple Choice）真题Part IV Reading Comprehension (reading in depth) Section BDirections: T
27、here are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.P
28、assage OneQuestions 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
29、 it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke - but perhaps more importantly, men dont go to the doctor.96“Me
30、n arent 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-y
31、ear-old man who had delayed doing anything about his smokers 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
32、%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.“A lot of men think they are invincible (不可战胜的),” Gullotta says. “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think , Geez, if it could happen to him, ” Then ther
33、e is the ostrich approach,” some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,” Cartmill says. He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by prevent
34、ive check-ups.Regular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on the public purse, Cartmill says. “But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”57. Why does the author congratulate his ma
35、le 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 life.58. What does the author state is the
36、 most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. Men drink and smoke much more than women.B. Men dont seek medical care as often as women.C. Men arent as cautions as women in face of danger.D. Men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases.59. Which of the following best
37、 completes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him,(line2,para,8)?A. it could happen to me, tooB. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself luckyD. it would be a big misfortune60. What does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line 1, Para.9)A. a casual attitude toward
38、s ones health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about ones disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?97A. They may increase public expenses
39、B. They will save money in the long runC. They may cause psychological strains on menD. They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage twoQuestion 62 to 66 are based on the following passageHigh-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier sa
40、id than done.Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide to freq
41、uent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school.“Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.” The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every
42、unhappy customer will complain to at least four others, and will no longer visit the specific store. For every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who pur
43、chased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours,
44、 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 be
45、tween those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite wit
46、h angry customers.“Retailers whore responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who arent 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
47、complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?A Most customers wont bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Cu
48、stomers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “ the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)?98A New custom
49、ers 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 kind of serviceD Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_A can stay longer browsing in the storeB wont have trouble parking their carsC wont have any worries about securityD can find their cars easily after shopping65. What contribut
