2015最新英语四级阅读练习及答案

本材料由超级课程表和智课网联合整理提供2015年英语四级阅读练习及答案(38)1. Three Kinds of FatigueFatigue is one of the most common complaints brought to doctors, friends, and relatives. You#39;d think in this era of labor-saving devices and convenient transportation that few people would have reason to be so tired. But probably more people complain of fatigue today than in the days when hay was baled by hand and laundry scrubbed on a washboard.The causes of modern-day fatigue are diverse and only rarely related to excessive physical exertion. The relatively few people who do heavy labor all day long almost never complain about being tired, perhaps because they expect to be. Today, physicians report, tiredness is more likely a consequence of under-exertion than of wearing yourself down with over-activity. In fact, increased physical activity is often prescribed as a cure for lowering energy.Physical. This is the well-known result of overworking your muscles to the point where metabolic (新成代谢的) waste productscarbon dioxide and lactic acid (乳酸)accumulate in our blood and reduce your strength. Your muscles can#39;t continue to work efficiently in a bath of these chemicals. Physical fatigue is usually a pleasant tiredness, such as that which you might experience after playing a hard set of tennis, chopping wood, or climbing a mountain. The cure is simple and fast: You rest, giving your body a chance to get rid of accumulated wastes and restore muscle fuel.Pathological (病理的). Here fatigue is a warning sign or consequence of some underlying physical disorder, perhaps the common cold or flu or something more serious like diabetes or cancer. Usually other symptoms besides fatigue are present that suggest the true cause.Even after an illness has passed, you#39;re likely to feel dragged out for a week or more. Take your fatigue as a signal to go slow while your body has a chance to recover fully even if all you had was a cold. Pushing yourself to resume full activity too soon could lead to a relapse (旧病复发) and almost certainly will prolong our period of fatigue.Even though illness is not frequent cause of prolonged fatigue, it#39;s very important that it not be overlooked. Therefore, anyone who feels drained of energy for weeks on end should have a thorough physical check-up. But even if nothing shows up as a result of the various medical tests, that doesn#39;t mean there#39;s nothing wrong with you.Psychological. Emotional problems and conflicts, especially depression and anxiety, are by far the most common causes of prolonged fatigue. Fatigue may represent a defence mechanism that prevents you from having to face the true cause of your depression, such as the fact that you hate your job. It is also your body#39;s safety mechanism for expressing repressed emotional conflicts, such as feeling trapped in an ungrateful role or an unhappy marriage. When such feelings are not expressed openly, they often come out as physical symptoms, with fatigue as one of the most common manifestations. Many people who are extremely fatigued don#39;t even know they#39;re depressed, Dr. Bulette says. They#39;re so busy distracting themselves or just worrying about being tired that they don#39;t recognize their depression. There is a great deal you can do on your own to deal with both severe prolonged fatigue and those periodic washed-out feelings. Vitamins and tranquilizers (镇静剂 ) are almost never the right answer, sleeping pills and alcohol are counterproductive, and caffeine is at best a temporary solution that can backfire with abuse and cause life-disrupting symptoms of anxiety. Instead, you might try: DietIf you eat a small breakfast or none at all, you#39;re likely to experience mid-morning fatigue, the result of a drop in blood sugar, which your body and brain depend on for energy. For peak energy in the morning, be sure to eat a proper breakfast, low in sugar and fairly high in protein, which will provide a steady supply of blood sugar throughout the morning. Coffee and a doughnut are almost worse than nothing, providing a brief boost and then letting you down with a thud.ExerciseContrary to what you may think, exercise enhances, rather than saps, energy. Regular conditioning exercises, such as jogging, cycling, or swimming, help you to resist fatigue by increasing your body#39;s ability to handle more of a work load. You get tired less quickly because your capability is greater.Exercise also has a well-recognized tranquilizing effect, which helps you work in a more relaxed fashion and be less dragged down by the tensions of your day. At the end of a day exercise can relieve accumulated tensions, give you more energy in the evening, and help you sleep more restfully.SleepIf you know you#39;re tired because you haven#39;t been getting enough sleep, the solution is simple: Get to bed earlier. There#39;s no right amount of sleep for everyone, and generally sleep requirements decline with age. Find the amount that suits you best, and aim for it. Insomnia(失眠) and other sleep disorders should not be treated with sleeping pills, alcohol, or tranquilizers, which can actually make the problem worse. Know yourselfTry to schedule your most difficult jobs for the time of day when you#39;re at your peak. Some are morning people who tire by mid-afternoon; others do their best work in the evening. Don#39;t overextend yourself, trying to climb the ladder of success at a record pace or to meet everyone#39;s demands or expectations. Decide what you want to do and what you can handle comfortably, and learn to say no to additional requests. Recognize your energy cycles and plan accordingly. Many women have a low point premenstrually, during which time extra sleep may be needed and demanding activities are particularly exhausting. , Take breaksNo matter how interesting or demanding you work, you#39;ll be able to do it with more vigor if now and again you stop, stretch, and change the scenery. Instead of coffee and a sweet roll on your break, try meditation, yoga, callisthenics(健美操) , or a brisk walk. Even running up and down the staircase can provide refreshment from a sedentary(久坐的) job. If your job is physically demanding, relax in a quiet place for a while. The do-something-different rule also applies to vacation; getting away from it all for a week or two or longer can be highly revitalizing, helping you to put things in perspective and enabling you to take your job more in stride upon your return.1. According to the passage, it is hard for people to find causes of tiredness when they are leading a comfortable and convenient life.2. Causes of certain types of fatigue are discussed and some suggestions are put forward in the passage.3. Most people don#39;t want to talk about their unhappy feelings with others.4. Physical fatigue is good because it brings us a lot of pleasure.5. Psychological fatigue is the likely response of our body to emotional problems and conflicts.6. Coffee and a doughnut make the satisfying breakfast as they provide people with the desired energy.7. When you have a prolonged fatigue, it is necessary to have a thorough physical check-up even if there is nothing wrong with you.8. No matter how interesting or demanding your work, you need to_.9. From the passage, it can be seen that the author#39;s attitudes towards the approach to dealing with modern-fatigue is_.10. According to physicians#39; report, tiredness more probably results from_.答案：1. N 2. Y 3. NG 4. N 5. Y 6. N 7. N 8. take breaks 9. positive 10. under-exertion2.In the United States, it is not 11 to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11: 00 p. m. . If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he 12 its a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call 13 its importance.In 14 life, time plays a very important part. In the U. S. A. , guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the 15 to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in 16 because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings 17 between people from cultures that treat time differently.Promptness is valued 18 in American life, for example. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U. S. no one would think of keeping a business 19 waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is 20 to make a short apology. If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.A. highlyB.engagementC.customaryD.socialE. informF.invitationG.advanceH.absenceI.heavilyJ.associateK.expectedL.assumesM. habitualN.ariseO.communicates答案：11. C 12. L 13. O 14. D 15. F 16. G 17. N 18. A 19. J 20. KHow to Deal With Difficult PeopleIn New York City one day, a businesswoman got into a taxi. Because it was rush hour and she was hurrying for a train, she suggested a route. I#39;ve been a cabby(车夫) for 15 years! the driver yelled. You think I don#39;t know the best way to go?The woman tried to explain that she hadn#39;t meant to offend him, but the driver kept yelling. She finally realized he was too upset to be reasonable. So she did the unexpected. You know, you#39;re right, she told him. It must seem dumb for me to assume you don#39;t know the best way through the city. Taken aback, the driver flashed his rider a confused look in the rear-view mirror, turned down the street she wanted and got her to the train on time. He didn#39;t say another word the rest of the ride, she said, until I got out and paid him. Then he thanked me. When you encounter people like this cab driver, there#39;s an irresistible urge to dig in your heels. This can lead to prolonged arguments, soured friendships, lost career opportunities and broken marriages. As a clinical psychiatrist, I#39;ve discovered one simple but extremely unlikely principle that can prevent virtually any conflict or other difficult situation from becoming a recipe for disaster.The key is to put yourself in the other person#39;s shoes and look for the truth in what that person is saying. Find a way to agree. The result may surprise you.Sulkers Steve#39;s 14-year-old son, Adam, had been irritable for several days. When Steve asked why, Adam snapped, Nothing#39;s wrong! Leave me alone! and stalked off to his room.We all know people like this. When there#39;s problem, they may sulk(生闷气) or act angry and refuse to talk.So what#39;s the solution? First, Steve needs to ask himself why Adam won#39;t talk. Maybe the boy is worried about something that happened at school. Or he might be angry at his dad but afraid to bring it up because Steve gets defensive whenever he is criticized. Steve can pursue these possibilities the next time they talk by saying, I noticed you#39;re upset, and I think it would help to get the problem out in the open. It may be hard because I haven#39;t always listened very 58 well. If so, I feel bad because I love you and don#39;t want to let you down. If Adam still refuses to talk, Steve can take a different tack: I#39;m concerned about what#39;s going on with you, but we can talk things over later, when you#39;re more in the mood. This strategy allows both sides to win: Steve doesn#39;t have to compromise on the principle that ultimately the problem needs to be talked out and resolved. Adam saves face by being allowed to withdraw for a while.Noisy critics. Recently, I was counselling a businessman named Frank who lends to be overbearing(专横的) when he#39;s upset. Frank told me that I was too absent-minded with money and that he shouldn#39;t have to pay at each of our sessions. He wanted to be billed monthly.I felt annoyed because it seemed Frank always had to have things his way. I explained that I had tried monthly billing, but it hadn#39;t worked because some patients didn#39;t pay. Frank argued that he had impeccable (无可挑剔的 ) credit and knew much more about credit and billing than I did.Suddenly I realized I was missing Frank#39;s point. You are right, I said. I#39;m being defensive. We should focus on the problems in your life and not worry so much about money. Frank immediately softened and began talking about what was really bothering him, which were some personal problems. The next time we met, he handed me a check for 20 sessions in advance!There are times, of course, when people are unreasonably abusive and you may need to just walk away from the situation. But if the problem is one that you want solved, it#39;s important to allow the other person to keep some self-esteem. There#39;s nearly always a grain of truth in the other person#39;s point of view. If you acknowledge this, he or she will be less defensive and more likely to listen to you.Complainers. Brad is a 32-year-old Detroit chiropractor (按摩师) who recently described his frustration with a patient of his: I ask Mr. Barry, #39;How are you doing?#39; and he dumps out his whole life story-his family problems and his financial difficulties. I give him advice, but he ignores everything I tell him. Brad needs to recognize that habitual complainers usually don#39;t want advice. They just want someone to listen and understand. So Brad might simply say : sounds like a rough week, It#39;s no fun to have unpaid bills, people nagging you, and this pain besides. The complainer will usually run out of gas and stop complaining. The secret is not to give advice. Just agreeing and validating a person#39;s point of view will make that person feel better.Demanding friends. Difficult people aren#39;t always -, angry or just complaining. Sometimes they are difficult because of the demands they place upon us. Maybe a friend puts you on the spot with a request to run an errand for him while he#39;s out of town. If you have a crowded schedule, you may agree but end up angry and resentful. Or if you say no in the wrong way, your friend may feel hurt and unhappy. The problem is that, caught off guard, you don#39;t know how to deal with the situation in a way that avoids bad feelings.One method I#39;ve found helpful is punting. You#39;re punting when you tell the person you need to think about the request and that you#39;ll get back about it. Say a colleague calls and pressures me to give a lecture at his university. I#39;ve learned to say, I#39;m flattered that you thought of me. Let me check my schedule, and I#39;ll call you back. This gives me time to deal with any feelings of guilt if I have to say no. Suppose I decide it is better to decline; punting allow me to plan what I will say when I call back, I appreciate being asked, I might indicate, but I find I#39;m over-committed right now. However, I hope you#39;ll think of me in the future. Responding to difficult people with patience and empathy can be tough, especially when you feel upset. But the moment you give up your need to control or be right, the other person will begin relaxing and start listening to you. The Greek philosopher Epictetus understood this when he said nearly 2, 000 years ago, If someone criticizes you, agree at once. Mention that if only the other person knew you well, there would be more to criticize than that !Real communication results from a spirit of respect for yourself and for the other person. The benefits can be amazing.1. The principle the writer has discovered to stop any conflict from going worse is to find a way to agree.2. The taxi driver thanked the businesswoman because she was very polite to him.3. Difficult people mentioned in the passage include those who give occasional complaints.4. One way to deal with the person who is unreasonably abusive is to walk away from the situation.5. If Mr. Barry had followed Brad#39;s advice, he would have solved all his personal problems.6. What habitual complainers need is a good listener.7. It will end up in unhappiness whether you have satisfied your friend#39;s request or not.8. You will be rewarded with a real communication if you_for others.9. A difficult person can become a relaxing and good conversational partner if you_your control.10. According to the author, one effective way to deal with a demanding friend is_.答案：1. Y 2. N 3. N 4. Y 5. NG 6. Y 7. N 8. show respect 9. give up 10. puntingReading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Directions: 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 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 of 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.