xx专四阅读真题及答案.doc

xx专四阅读真题及答案 引导语：为了帮助大家更好地准备XX专四考试以下是百分网小编为大家整理的xx专四阅读真题及答案欢迎阅读 真题 SECTIONAMULTIPLECHOICEQUESTIONS Inthissectiontherearethreepassagesfollowedbytenmultiplechoicequestions.Foreachmultiplechoicequestion,therearefoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.ChoosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswerandmarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEETTWO.PASSAGEONE (1)WhenIwastwentysevenyearsold,IwasaminingbrokersclerkinSanFrancisco,andanexpertinallthedetailsofstocktraffic.Iwasaloneintheworld,andhadnothingtodependuponbutmywitsandacleanreputation;buttheseweresettingmyfeetintheroadtoeventualfortune,andIwascontentwiththeprospect.Mytimewasmyownaftertheafternoonboard,Saturdays,andIwasaccustomedtoputtingitinonalittlesailboatonthebay.OnedayIventuredtoofar,andwascarriedouttosea.Justatnightfall,whenhopewasaboutgone,IwaspickedupbyasmallshipwhichwasboundforLondon.Itwasalongandstormyvoyage,andtheymademeworkmypassagewithoutpay,asamonsailor.WhenIsteppedashoreinLondonmyclotheswereraggedandshabby,andIhadonlyadollarinmypocket.Thismoneyfedandshelteredmetwentyfourhours.DuringthenexttwentyfourIwentwithoutfoodandshelter. (2)Abouttenoclockonthefollowingmorning,dirtyandhungry,IwasdraggingmyselfalongPortlandPlace,whenachildthatwaspassing,towedbyanursemaid,tossedabigpearminusonebiteintothegutter.Istopped,ofcourse,andfastenedmydesiringeyeonthatmuddytreasure.Mymouthwateredforit,mystomachcravedit,mywholebeing,beggedforit.ButeverytimeImadeamovetogetitsomepassingeyedetectedmypurpose,andofcourseIstraightenedupthen,andlookedindifferentandpretendedthatIhadntbeenthinkingaboutthepearatall.Thissamethingkepthappeningandhappening,andIcouldntgetthepear. (3)Iwasjustgettingdesperateenoughtobravealltheshame,andtoseizeit,whenawindowbehindmewasraised,andagentlemanspokeoutofit,saying:Stepinhere,please. (4)Iwasadmittedbyamanservant,andshownintoasumptuousroomwhereacoupleofelderlygentlemenweresitting.Theysentawaytheservant,andmademesitdown.Theyhadjustfinishedtheirbreakfast,andthesightoftheremainsofitalmostoverpoweredme.Icouldhardlykeepmywitstogetherinthepresenceofthatfood,butasIwasnotaskedtosampleit,IhadtobearmytroubleasbestasIcould. (5)Now,somethinghadbeenhappeningtherealittlebefore,whichIdidnotknowanythingaboutuntilagoodmanydaysafterwards,butIwilltellyouaboutitnow.Thosetwooldbrothershadbeenhavingaprettyhotargumentacoupleofdaysbefore,andhadendedbyagreeingtodecideitbyabet,whichistheEnglishwayofsettlingeverything. (6)YouwillrememberthattheBankofEnglandonceissuedtwonotesofamillionpoundseach,tobeusedforaspecialpurposeconnectedwithsomepublictransactionwithaforeigncountry.Forsomereasonorotheronlyoneofthesehadbeenusedandcanceled;theotherstilllayinthevaultsoftheBank.Well,thebrothers,chattingalong,happenedtogettowonderingwhatmightbethefateofaperfectlyhonestandintelligentstrangerwhoshouldbeturnedadriftinLondonwithoutafriend,andwithnomoneybutthatmillionpoundbanknote,andnowaytoaccountforhisbeinginpossessionofit.BrotherAsaidhewouldstarvetodeath;BrotherBsaidhewouldnt.BrotherAsaidhecouldntofferitatabankoranywhereelse,becausehewouldbearrestedonthespot.SotheywentondisputingtillBrotherBsaidhewouldbettwentythousandpoundsthatthemanwouldlivethirtydays,anyway,onthatmillion,andkeepoutofjail,too.BrotherAtookhimup.BrotherBwentdowntotheBankandboughtthatnote.Thenhedictatedaletter,whichoneofhisclerkswroteoutinabeautifulroundhand,andthenthetwobrotherssatatthewindowawholedaywatchingfortherightmantogiveitto.(7)Ifinallybecamethepickofthem. 41.InPara.1,thephrasesetmyfeetprobablymeans.A.putmeasideB.startmyjourneyC.preparemeD.letmewalk 42.ItcanbeconcludedfromPara.2that. A.themanwantedtomaintaindignitythoughstarvedB.themancouldnotgetaproperchancetoeatthepearC.themandidnotreallywantthepearsinceitwasdirtyD.itwasverydifficultforthemantogetthepear 43.ComparedwithBrotherA,BrotherBwasmoretowardstheeffectoftheonemillionpoundbanknoteonatotalstranger.A.neutralB.negativeC.reservedD.positive PASSAGETWO (1)Theconceptofpeaceisaveryimportantoneinculturesallovertheworld.Thinkabouthowwegreetpeople.Insomelanguages,thephrasesforgreetingscontainthewordforpeace.Insomecultureswegreetpeoplebyshakinghandsorwithanothergesturetoshowthatwearenotcarryingweaponsthatweeinpeace.Andtherearecertainsymbolswhichpeopleinverydifferentculturesrecognizeasrepresentingpeace.Letslookatafewofthem. Thedove (2)Thedovehasbeenasymbolofpeaceandinnocenceforthousandsofyearsinmanydifferentcultures.InancientGreekmythologyitwasasymbolofloveandtherenewaloflife.InancientJapanadovecarryingaswordsymbolizedtheendofwar. (3)TherewasatraditioninEuropethatifadoveflewaroundahousewheresomeonewasdyingthentheirsoulwouldbeatpeace.Andtherearelegendswhichsaythatthedevilcanturnhimselfintoanybirdexceptforadove.InChristianart,thedovewasusedtosymbolizetheHolyGhostandwasoftenpaintedaboveChristshead. (4)ButitwasPabloPicassowhomadethedoveamodernsymbolofpeacewhenheuseditonaposterfortheWorldPeaceCongressin1949. Therainbow (5)Therainbowisanotherancientanduniversalsymbol,oftenrepresentingtheconnectionbetweenhumanbeingsandtheirgods.InGreekmythologyitwasassociatedwithIris,thegoddesswhobroughtmessagesfromthegodsonMountOlympus.InScandinavianmythologytherainbowwasabridgebetweenthegodsandtheearth.IntheBiblearainbowshowedNoahthattheBiblicalfloodwasfinallyover,andthatGodhadforgivenhispeople.IntheChinesetradition,therainbowisamonsymbolformarriagebecausethecoloursrepresenttheunionofyinandyang.Nowadaystherainbowisusedbymanypopularmovementsforpeaceandtheenvironment,representingthepossibilityofabetterworldinthefutureandpromisingsunshineaftertherain. Mistletoe (6)Thisplantwassacredinmanycultures,generallyrepresentingpeaceandlove.MostpeopleknowofthetraditionofkissingunderthemistletoeatChristmastime,whichprobablyesfromScandinavianmythology.ThegoddessFreyassonwaskilledbyanarrowmadeofmistletoe,so,inhonourofhim,shedeclaredthatitwouldalwaysbeasymbolofpeace.Itwasoftenhungindoorwaysasasignoffriendship. (7)TheancientDruidsbelievedthathangingmistletoeinyourdoorwayprotectedyoufromevilspirits.Tribeswouldstopfightingforaperiodoftimeiftheyfoundatreewithmistletoe.ButyouwillneverseemistletoeinaChristianchurchitisbannedbecauseofitsassociationswithpaganreligionandsuperstition. Theolivebranch (8)Theolivetreehasalwaysbeenavaluablesourceoffoodandoil.InGreekmythology,thegoddessAthenagavetheolivetreetothepeopleofAthens,whoshowedtheirgratitudebynamingthecityafterher.Butnooneknowsforsurewhenorwhyitbegantosymbolizepeace.ThereisprobablyaconnectionwithancientGreece.WarsbetweenstatesweresuspendedduringtheOlympicGames,andthewinnersweregivencrownsofolivebranches.Thesymbolismmayefromthefactthattheolivetreetakesalongtimetoproducefruit,soolivescouldonlybecultivatedsuccessfullyinlongperiodsofpeace.Whateverthehistory,theolivebranchisapartofmanymodernflagssymbolizingpeaceandunity.OnewellknownexampleistheUnitedNationssymbol. Theankh (9)Theankhisanancientsymbolwhichwasadoptedbythehippiemovementinthe1960storepresentpeaceandlove.ItwasfoundinmanyAsiancultures,butisgenerallyassociatedwithancientEgypt.Itrepresentedlifeandimmortality.Egyptianswereburiedwithanankh,sothattheycouldcontinuetoliveintheafterworld.ThesymbolwasalsofoundalongthesidesoftheNile,whichgavelifetothepeople.Theybelievedthattheankhcouldcontroltheflowoftheriverandmakesurethattherewasalwaysenoughwater. 44.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthepassage?A.ConceptofPeace.B.OriginofPeaceSymbols.C.PopularPeaceSymbols.D.CulturalDifferenceofPeace. 45.Therainbowrepresentstheconnectionbetweenhumanbeingsandtheirgodsinallthefollowingcountries EXCEPT.A.SwedenB.GreeceC.FinlandD.China 46.InNorthEuropemistletoewasoftenhungindoorwaystoindicate.A.friendshipB.loveC.kinshipD.honour 47.Theoriginoftheankhcandatebackto.A.theNileB.theafterworldC.thehippiemovementD.ancientEgypt PASSAGETHREE (1)Twosidesalmostneverchange:Thatyoucanmanipulatepeopleintoselfsufficiencyandthatyoucanpunishthemintogoodcitizenship. (2)Thefirstmanifestsitselfinourtirelesssearchforthemagicallevelatwhichwelfaregrantsarebigenoughtomeetbasicneedsbutsmallenoughtomakelowpaidworkattractive.Thesecondhasuslookingtothecriminaljusticesystemtocurebehaviorthatisasmuchasanythingtheresultofdespair. (7)Notonlycanweneverfindtheperfectpunishment,oursearchforoptimumpenaltiesisplicatedbyourdesireforfairness:toletthepunishmentfitthecrime.Theproblemisthatalmostanypunishmenteventhedisgraceofbeingchargedwithacrimeissufficienttodeterthemiddleclass,whileformembersoftheunderclass,probationmaybetranslatedasIbeatit. (8)Sohowcanyouusethesystemwelfareorcriminaljusticetoproducethebehaviorwewant?Theanswer,Isuspectis:Youcant. (9)Wekeeptryingtousewelfareandprisontochangepeopletomakethemthinkandbehavethewaywedowhenthetruthistheincentivesworkonlyforthosewhoalreadythinkthewaywedo:whoviewtodaysactionwithaneyeonthefuture. (10)Wewilltakelowlywork(ifthatisallthatsavailable)becausewebelievewecanmakebadjobsworkforus.Weavoidcrimenotbecausewearebetterpeoplebutbecauseweseegettingcaughtasafuturewreckingdisaster.Weareguidedbyabeliefthatgoodthingswillhappenforusinthefutureifwetakepropercareofthepresent.Evenundertheworstofcircumstances,webelieveweareincontrolofourlives. (11)Andwehavetroubleunderstandingthatnoteverybodybelievesaswebelieve.Thewelfarerolls,theprisonsandthemeanstreetsofourcitiesarefullofpeoplewhohavegivenupontheir (3)Thewelfareexampleiswellknown.Wedontwantpoorpeopletoliveinsqualorortheirchildrentobemalnourished.Butwealsodontwanttosubsidizetheindolenceofpeoplewhoaretoolazytowork.Thefirstimpulseleadsustoprovidehousing,foodstamps,medicalcareandacashstipendforfamiliesinneed.Thesecondgetsustothinkaboutworkforce. (4)Wevebeenthinkingaboutitfortworeasons:thenannyproblemsoftwohighrankinggovernmentofficials(whohiredundocumentedforeignersashouseholdhelpers,presumablybecausetheycouldntfindAmericanstodothework)andPresidentClintonsproposaltoputatwoyearlimitonwelfare. (5)MaybesomethingusefulwilleofClintonsidea,butImnotallthathopeful.Itlookstomelikeonemoreexampleoftryingtomanipulatepeopleintotakingcareofthemselves. (6)Onthecriminaljusticeside,wehopetomakepunishmenttoughenoughtodiscouragecrimebutnotsotoughastoclogourprisonswithrelativelyminoroffenders.Tooshortasentence,wefear,willcreatecontemptforthelaw.Toolongasentencewilltakeupcostlyspacebetterusedfortheviolentandunremorseful. (7)Notonlycanweneverfindtheperfectpunishment,oursearchforoptimumpenaltiesisplicatedbyourdesireforfairness:toletthepunishmentfitthecrime.Theproblemisthatalmostanypunishmenteventhedisgraceofbeingchargedwithacrimeissufficienttodeterthemiddleclass,whileformembersoftheunderclass,probationmaybetranslatedasIbeatit. (8)Sohowcanyouusethesystemwelfareorcriminaljusticetoproducethebehaviorwewant?Theanswer,Isuspectis:Youcant. (9)Wekeeptryingtousewelfareandprisontochangepeopletomakethemthinkandbehavethewaywedowhenthetruthistheincentivesworkonlyforthosewhoalreadythinkthewaywedo:whoviewtodaysactionwithaneyeonthefuture. (10)Wewilltakelowlywork(ifthatisallthatsavailable)becausewebelievewecanmakebadjobsworkforus.Weavoidcrimenotbecausewearebetterpeoplebutbecauseweseegettingcaughtasafuturewreckingdisaster.Weareguidedbyabeliefthatgoodthingswillhappenforusinthefutureifwetakepropercareofthepresent.Evenundertheworstofcircumstances,webelieveweareincontrolofourlives. (11)Andwehavetroubleunderstandingthatnoteverybodybelievesaswebelieve.Thewelfarerolls,theprisonsandthemeanstreetsofourcitiesarefullofpeoplewhohavegivenupontheirfuture.Withouthopeforthefuture,hardworkatalowpaidjobmakesnosense.Workinghardinschool,orpleasingaboss,oravoidingpregnancymakesnosense.Thedeadlydiseaseishopelessness.Thelawlessnessandpovertyareonlytheobvioussymptoms. (12)Imnotadvocatingthatwestoplookingforincentivestomovepoorpeopletowardselfsufficiencyorthatwestoppunishingpeopleforcriminalbehavior.Therewillalwaysbesomepeoplewhoneedhelpandsomewhodeservetobeinjail. (13)AllImsayingisthatthelongtermanswerbothtowelfareandthecrimethatplaguesourmunitiesisnottofinetunethewelfareandcriminaljusticesystemsbuttopreventourchildrenfromgettingthediseaseofdespair. (14