英语专业四级阅读理解模拟题

英语专业四级阅读理解模拟题A simple piece of rope hangs between some environmentally friendly Americans and their neighbors. On one side stand those who have begun to see clothes dryers as wasteful consumers of energy (up to 6% of total electricity) and powerful emitters of carbon dioxide (up to a ton of CO2 per household every year). As an alternative, they are turning to clotheslines as part of what Alexander Lee, an environmentalist, calls what-I-can- do environmentalism.But on the other side are people who oppose air-drying laundry outside on aesthetic grounds. Increasingly, they have persuaded community and homeowners associations(HOAs) across the U.S. to ban outdoor clotheslines, which they say not only look unsightly but also lower surrounding property values. Those actions, in turn, have sparked a right-to-dry movement that is pressing for legislation to protect the choice to use clotheslines. Only three states-Florida, Hawaii and Utah-have laws written broadly enough to protect clotheslines. Right-to-dry advocates argue that there should be more.Matt Reck is the kind of eco-conscious guy who feeds his trees with bathwater and recycles condensation drops from his air conditioners to water plants. His family also uses a clothesline. But Otto Hagen, president of Recks HOA in Wake Forest, N.C., notified him that a neighbor h, ad complained about his line. The Recks ignored the warning and still dry their clothes on a rope in the yard. Many people claim to be environmentally friendly but dont take matters into their own hands, says Reck. HOAs Hagen has decided to hold off taking action. Im not going to go crazy, he says. But if Matt keeps his line and more neighbors complain, Ill have to address it again.North Carolina lawmakers tried and failed earlier this year to insert language into an energy bill that would expressly prevent HOAs from regulating clotheslines. But the issue remains a touchy one with HOAs and real estate agents. Most aesthetic restrictions are rooted, to a degree, in the belief that homogenous (统一协调的 ) exteriors are supportive of property value, says Sara Stubbins, executive director of the Community Association Institutes North Carolina chapter. In other words, associations worry that housing prices will fall if prospective buyers think their would-be neighbors are too poor to afford dryers.Alexander Lee dismisses the notion that clotheslines devalue property assets, advocating that the idea needs to change in light of global warming. We all have to do at least something to decrease our carbon footprint, Alexander Lee says.1. What is NOT mentioned as a disadvantage of using clothes dryers?A. Electricity consumption.B. Air pollution.C. Waste of energy.D. Ugly looking.2. Which of the following is INCORRECT?A. Opposers think air-drying laundry would devalue surrounding assets.B. Opposers consider the outdoor clothesline as an eyesore to the scenery.C. Right-to-dry movements led to the pass of written laws to protect clotheslines.D. Most of states in the US have no written laws to protect clotheslines.3. What is the HOAs attitude towards the regulation of outdoor clotheslines?A. Concerned.B. Impartial.C. Supportive.D. Unclear.4. In the last paragraph Alexander Lee recommends thatA. clotheslines should be banned in the community.B. clotheslines wouldnt lessen the property values.C. the globe would become warmer and warmer.D. we should protect the environment in the community.5. An appropriate title for the passage might beA. Opinions on Environmental Protection.B. Opinions on Air-drying Laundry.C. What-I-Can-Do Environmentalism.D. Restrictions on Clotheslines.参考答案与解析： 文章概要：本文探讨是否该用晾衣绳在室外晾晒衣服。第l段指出干衣机不利环保，由此引出用晾衣绳晾衣服的话题；第2段介绍对用晾衰绳晒衣服的两种对立观点；第3段 描述环保主义者Matt Reck用晾衣绳在室外晒衣服，并指出他的行为引发邻居的不满及业主委员会成员Otto Hagen的注意；第4段指出北卡罗来纳州立法者试图修订法律规定业主委员会对住户是否在室外晾衣无权干涉，法案却没有通过的原因；最后一 段：Alexander Lee认为人们应该改变观念，为减少碳排放量贡献力量。答案解析：1D细节判断题。考查使用干衣机的弊端，文章第1段第2句话对此有叙述：有些人认为干衣机浪费能源从而造成电的损耗释放的二氧化碳污染空气，A、B、C选项分别列举了这些弊端，本题是逆向选择题，要求选出不是干衣机弊端的一项，故选D2C细节判断题。第2段提到，户外晾衣绳不仅破坏优美的风景还降低房产价值，A、B都对。D与本段最后一句表述也相符。C无法从文中推断出来，故选C。3C观点态度题。考查HOAs协会的成员对限制使用晾衣绳的态度。第3段最后几旬提到，如果Matt继续使用晾衣绳，HOAs的成员Hagen就要直接出面说Matt了，这间接表明了HOAs协会的态度；另外，从第4段前两句，也可推知C正确。4D段落细节题。在最后一段，Alexander Lee提出，鉴于全球变暖我们的观念需要改变，至少要做到尽可能减少碳物质的排放。因此选项D符合题意。A与原文意思相反；B虽然是Alexander Lee的观点，却不是他要提倡的，故不选。C并不是Alexander Lee的观点。5.B全文主旨题。本文就是否应该限制使用晾衣绳进行了探讨分析，文章最后呼吁人类改变观念，每个人都应为保护环境尽一份力。选项B符合题意。A太宽泛；C明显不对；D只体现了文中一些人的观点，过于片面。Within that exclusive group of literary characters who have survived through the centuries-from Hamlet to Huckleberry Finn-few can rival the cultural impact of Sherlock Holmes. Since his first public appearance 20 years ago, the gentleman with the curved pipe and a taste for cocaine, the master of deductive reasoning and elaborate disguise, has left his mark everywhere-in crime literature, film and television, cartoons and comic books.At Holmes side, of course, was his trusted friend Dr. Watson. Looming even larger, however, was another doctor, one whose medical practice was so slow it allowed him plenty of time to pursue his literary ambition. His name: Arthur Conan Doyle. As the creator of these fictional icons, Conan Doyle has himself become something of a cult figure, the object of countless critical studies, biographies and fan clubs.Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in 1859, in a respectable middle-class Catholic family. Still, it was far from an easy life. There was never enough money; they moved frequently in search of lower rents; and his father, a civil servant and illustrator was an alcoholic who had to be institutionalized. Yet the early letters he wrote to his mother are surprisingly optimistic, concerned mainly with food, clothes, allowances and schoolwork. At 14 came his first unforgettable visit to London, including Madame Tussauds, where he was delighted with the room of Horrors, and the images of the murderers.A superb student, Conan Doyle went on to medical school, where he was attracted by Dr. Joseph Bell, a professor with an uncanny ability to diagnose patients even before they opened their mouths. For a time he worked as Bells outpatient clerk and would watch, amazed, at how the location of a callus could reveal a mans profession, or how a quick look at a skin rash told Bell that the patient had once lived in Bermuda. In 1886, Conan Doyle outlined his first novel, A Study in Scarlet, which he described as a simple tale of mystery to make a little extra money. Its main character, initially called Sherringford Hope and later called Sherlock Holmes, was based largely on Bell. But Holmes first appearance went almost unnoticed, and the struggling doctor devoted nearly all of his spare time to writing long historical novels in the style of Sir Walter Scottnovels that he was convinced would make his reputation. It wasnt to be. In 1888, Holmes reappeared in A Scandal in Bohemia, a short story in Strand Magazine. And this time, its hero took an immediate hit and Conan Doyles life would never be the same.1. The typical features of Sherlock Holmes were all EXCEPTA. rational.B. sociable.C. intelligent.D. cunning.2. Which of the following is NOT true about Conan Doyle and his family?A. He came from a middle-class family.B. They led a hard life in Edinburgh.C. His father was addicted to drinking.D. His mother had received little education.3. How did Conan Doyle feel about his first visit to London?A. It was horrible.B. It was pleasant.C. It was awful.D. It was memorable.4. We can infer from the last paragraph thatA. the more calluses a person has, the more professional he would be.B. writers often base their writing on personal experiences.C. Conan Doyle has gone through a period of hardship on his way to success.D. inspiration was very important for a person to create something.5. Conan Doyles short story A Scandai in Bohemia has proved to be _ at last.A. successfulB. powerfulC. ridiculousD. frustrating参考答案与解析： 1B细节判断题。考查福尔摩斯的人物性格特征，定位到第l段。第1段描写福尔摩斯是一个总是拿着卷曲烟斗、嗜好古柯碱、善于推理和伪装的一个 人，因此A、C、D选项都是对福尔摩斯这一人物特征的描绘，而选项B (社交广的)并未在文中提及，本题是逆向选择题，因此选项B是答案。2D细节判断题。考查柯南道尔的家庭背景，定位到第3段。本段提到柯南道尔出生在一个中产阶级家庭但是生活很不容易，也对他的父亲进行了介绍。但是对于他的母亲文章只提到柯南道尔给其母亲写信并未提及其母受教育情况，因此选项D是答案。3D细节判断题。考查柯南道尔对伦敦的印象，定位到第3段。根据第3段末句可知，第一次伦敦之旅给柯南道尔留下难以磨灭的记忆，故答案D符合题意，同时排除其他三项。4C细节推断题。从最后一段的描述可知，柯南道尔在经历了失败和挫折之后最终才取得了成功，故选项C符合题意。Bell能够从手上老茧的位置来判断一个人的职业，A误读了原文。柯南道尔的小说A Study in Scarlet以Bell为原型，但不能以此说明作者总是根据亲身经历来创作。5A细节判断题。考查柯南道尔的小说最后的结果，定位到最后一段。根据末段末句可知，柯南道尔发表在Strand Magazine上的短篇小说A Scandal in Bohemia中的男主角风靡一时，柯南道尔的人生也将由此发生改变因此A选项符合题意。It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.My dear Mr. Bennet, said his lady to him one day, have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last? Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.But it is, returned she; for Mrs. Long has just been here, and shetold me all about it.Mr. Bennet made no answer.Do you not want to know who has taken it? cried his wife impatiently.You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.This was invitation enough.Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.What is his name?Bingley.Is he married or single?Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls! How so? How can it affect them?My dear Mr. Bennet, replied his wife, how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.Is that his design in settling here?Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.1. The sentence . a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife means thatA. a single man who is financially stable needs a wife.B. a single man without money neednt a wife.C. women want to get married to financial stable men.D. once man becomes rich, he must want to get a wife.2. According to the passage, the young man, Mr. Bingley, is believed to have all the following characteristics EXCEPTA. rich.B. gentle.C. single.D. generous.3. From the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, we can conclude that Mrs. BennetA. wanted to tell her husband something about their new neighbor.B. wanted to get acquainted with their new neighbor.C. wanted to persuade her husband to see the young man.D. asked her husbands permission to visit the new neighbor.4. At the end of the passage, Mr. Bennet sounded _ toward his wifes proposal.A. hostileB. indifferentC. delightedD. annoyed5. What is the tone of the passage?A. Satirical.B. Humorous.C. Critical.D. Unclear.参考答案与解析： 1A句意理解题。文章首句提到，一个有钱的单身汉，总需要一位妻子，故选项A符合题意。2B细节判断题。考查MrBingley的性格特征，从MrsBennet与MrBennet的对话中可以得知，MrBingley是 个富有、大方的单身汉。选项A、C、D都是对这些特征的描述，本题为逆向选择题，要求选出不符合MrBingley性格特征的一项，故答案为8。3C细节判断题。文中MrsBennet与MrBennet谈话目的就是希望丈夫能去拜访新的邻居从而为她的某个女儿创造机会。故选C。4B观点态度题。根据文章最后一段可知，MrBennet对太太的提议无动于衷并打趣说让她自己带着女儿去，或许MrBingley在晚会上最喜欢她。因此选项B符合题意。5A全文基调问题。本文的作者用讽刺的语言，向我们描绘了一幅母亲试图为自己女儿创造一段姻缘的场景。因此选项A符合题意。The Internet, E-commerce and globalization are making a new economic era possible. In the future, capitalist markets will largely be replaced by a new kind of economic system based on networked relationships, contractual arrangements and access rights.Has the quality of our lives at work, at home and in our communities increased in direct proportion to all the new Internet and business-to-business Internet services being introduced into our lives? I have asked this question of hundreds of CEOS and corporate executives in Europe and the United States. Surprisingly, virtually everyone has said,No, quite contrary. The very people responsible for ushering in what some have called a technological renaissance say they are working longer hours, feel more stressed, are more impatient, and are even less civil in their dealings with colleagues and friends-not to mention strangers. And whats more revealing, they place much of the blame on the very same technologies they are so aggressively championing.The techno gurus (领袖) promised us that access would make life more convenient and give us more time. Instead, the very technological wonders that were supposed to liberate us have begun to enslave us in a web of connections from which there seems to be no easy escape.If an earlier generation was preoccupied with the quest to enclose a vast geographic frontier, the .com generation, it seems, is more caught up in the colonization of time. Every spare moment of our time is being filled with some form of commercial connection, making time itself the most scarce of all resources. Our e-mail, voice mail and cell phones, our 24-hour Interact news and entertainment all seize for our attention.And while we have created every kind of labor-and time-saving device to service our needs, we are beginning to feel like we have less time available to us than any other humans in history. That is because the great proliferation of labor-and-time-saving services only increases the diversity, pace and flow of commodified activity around us. For example, e-mail is a great convenience. However, we now find ourselves spending much of our day frantically responding to each others electronic messages. The cell phone is a great time-saver,Except now we are always potentially in reach of someone else who wants our attention.Social conservatives talk about the decline in civility and blame it on the loss of a moral compass and religious values. Has anyone bothered to ask whether the hyper speed culture is making all of us less patient and less willing to listen and defer, consider and reflect?Maybe we need to ask what kinds of connections really count and what types of access really matter in the e-economy era. ff this new technology revolution is only about hyper efficiency, then we risk losing something even precious than time-our sense of what it means to be a caring human being.1. According to the passage, corporate executives think that A. technology renaissance should be pushed forward. B. technology has a profound impact on their lives. C.