专四英语阅读理解

Text A /   509 Words /   Time for reading: 3.5 minutes /

The European Commission said on Thursday it would toughen the regulation of medical devices as a result of concerns raised by breast implants produced by the defunct French company PIP, even as a scientifi c expert review it ordered concluded there was currently “insuffi cient evidence” that women using its products faced greater health risks than others.

John Dalli, health and consumer policy commissioner, pledged to examine surveillance and operation of the “notifi ed bodies” that scrutinise medical devices across the EU in a current review of legislation, stressing: “The capacity to detect and minimise the risk of fraud must be increased.”

His comments followed an offi cial report released on Wednesday in France that called for national and EU-wide co-operation including random inspections and sampling of medical devices to prevent a repeat of the fraudulent use of substandard non-medical-grade silicone by PIP in implants sold to up to 400,000 women around the world.

Xavier Bertrand, France’s minister of health, called for enhanced action in France and across Europe in the wake of the study, which highlighted that Afssaps, the French medical regulator, did not inspect PIP from 2001 until a tip-off led offi cials to inspect and close down the company in 2010. Jean-Claude Mas, its founder, is under police investigation for manslaughter.

Mr. Bertrand has pledged to hire more health inspectors and undertake random checks on medical device companies following growing concerns over its regulatory system highlighted by the widespread use of PIP’s substandard breast implants.

A French decision at the end of last year to offer all women free removal of PIP implants triggered similar proposals in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic and has helped spark a fresh debate over tougher EU regulation of medical devices, which are subject to far less scrutiny than pharmaceuticals.

However, a review released on Thursday by the EU’s own Scientifi c Committee on Emerging and Newly Identifi ed Health Risks concluded: “Breast implants can fail, regardless of manufacturer, and the probability of failure increases with time since implantation. In most cases, breast implant failure appears to be without identifi able health consequences for the patient with the exception of possible local complications.”

It stressed that limited data meant that while there was no link between breast implants and cancer, there was a need for further work to understand the specifi c risks from the PIP products.

Mr. Bertrand has endorsed calls for a parliamentary inquiry in France as well as a report from the country’s social affairs inspectorate, mirroring similar moves that led to tough new requirements for the pharmaceutical industry introduced last year in the wake of concerns about Servier’s drug Mediator.

Medical device manufacturers have called for reforms to ensure that the national “notifi ed bodies” which audit the quality of their products across Europe are of a consistently high standard, while cautioning that tough new regulatory requirements could harm the EU’s competitive advantage.

The French study showed that Afssaps had received multiple warnings over the relatively high failure rate of PIP implants compared with those made by other companies, even though the overall proportion remained modest.

From Financial Times, February 2, 2012

1. _______ is the manufacturer of the breast implants under scrutiny.
A. European Commission B. PIP C. Afssaps

2. According to the passage, “notifi ed bodies” in Paragraph 2 are responsible for _______.
A. proposing legislation, implementing decisions in European Union
B. producing and marketing the medical devices across the EU
C. providing some scientifi c advice to the European Commission
D. assessing whether a product meets certain preordained standards

3. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the passage?
A. Women using the breast implants faced greater health risks.
B. The capacity to detect the risk of fraud should be increased.
C. An offi cial report called for cooperation in France and in other parts of EU.
D. France’s minister of health has pledged to hire more health inspectors.

4. Which of the following countries have not all proposed to offer women free removal of PIP implants?
A. France, Germany, UK B. Germany, UK, Czech C. US, Germany, Czech D. Germany, France, Czech

5. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. There is a consensus on the EU regulation of medical devices in the European Union.
B. All breast implant failure appears to be without identifi able health consequences.
C. Tough new regulatory requirements could harm the EU’s competitive advantage.
D. The overall proportion of the implant failure is relatively high compared with others.

答案解析：

答案：1. B试题分析：本题为细节题。根据第一段“...breast implants produced by the defunct French company PIP”可知B正确。

答案：2. D试题分析：本题为语义题。根据第二段“...‘notified bodies’ that scrutinise medical devices...”和倒数第二段“‘notified bodies’ which audit the quality of their products...”可知D正确；A是European Commission的职责；B是制药公司的职责；C是Scientifi c Committee on Emerging and Newly Identifi ed Health Risks的职责。

答案：3. A试题分析：本题为概括题。根据第一段“there was currently ‘insuffi cient evidence’ that women using its products faced greater health risks than others”可知A错误；根据第二段“The capacity to detect and minimise the risk of fraud must be increased”可知B正确；根据第三段“...an offi cial report ... that called for national and EUwide co-operation...”可知C正确；根据第五段“Mr. Bertrand has pledged to hire more health inspectors and...”可知D正确。

答案：4. C试题分析：本题为细节题。根据第六段“A French decision at the end of last year to offer Germany and the Czech Republic”可知提出这项建议的国家为France, UK, Germany and Czech。全文都在讲EU，没有提到US。故C错误。

答案：5. C试题分析：本题为概括题。根据第六段“spark a fresh debate over tougher EU regulation of medical devices”可知A错误；根据第七段“breast implant failure appears to be without identifi able health consequences for the patient with the exception of possible local complications”可知B错误；根据倒数第二段“while cautioning that tough new regulatory requirements could harm the EU’s competitive advantage”可知C正确；根据最后一段“even though the overall proportion remained modest”可知D错误。

Text B /   555 Words /   Time for reading: 4 minutes /

Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s latest proposal that patients be allocated to doctors on a list basis is straight out of the playbook of Britain’s National Health Service.

Let’s think about this from the patient’s point of view. Some doctors are better than others, the same as some plumbers are better than others. The reason may be a better bedside manner; it may be they are more competent; it may be just that there is a simple personality clash—it may just be that, at times, the patient wants a second opinion. Or it might be that the patient has a potentially embarrassing problem that he or she does not want to discuss with his or her regular general practitioner.

Some people who are ill-suited to their career choice are always going to slip through the system. In other words, if you are allocated a doctor you don’t like or who is a dud, you are likely to be stuck with him. Of course, the government will make some noises about “freedom of choice"; but in the end, a doctor who hangs up his shingle and succeeds or fails according to the quality of service he offers is going to provide a better quality of service than a public employee.

Now, all doctors, including general practitioners, must be members of the appropriate professional body, which accredits them as qualifi ed practitioners. This means they must first finish medical school and then qualify as surgeons, physicians, ophthalmologists or psychiatrists.

This postgraduate training is arduous and expensive, and practitioners naturally expect a return on their investment of time, energy and money—the average medical graduate is left with tens of thousands of dollars in university fees.

Much is made of the top professionals who make millions, but the average GP is running a practice that gives him a barely adequate return on his investment in professional development. Indeed, many GPs complain they are virtually government employees relying on Medicare to pay their bills, but the “virtually” is important. They remain independent professionals who succeed or fail according to the service they provide.

The recent moves to widen the scope of nurse practitioners concern many GPs. While nurse practitioners may have a role in isolated areas, a nurse is not a substitute for a general practitioner, who has years of undergraduate and postgraduate training in family medicine. Expanding the role of nurse practitioners may simply be an axe to wield again the ancient enemy, the family GP. Many nurses have specialist training, which makes them indispensable in the medical system; but a nurse is not a substitute for professionally-trained general practitioners with years’ more education behind them.

Minister Roxon’s move to cut Medicare payments for cataract surgery again fl ies in the face of reality. On the face of it, it may seem plausible—better technology equals cheaper prices. If the Fred Hollows Foundation can do cataract surgery for $25, why can’t an Australian ophthalmologist? The reason is that an Australian eye-doctor is running a practice. He has to pay a receptionist, an accountant, rent for his rooms and so on—in other words, he has fixed costs, which means the money goes into a lot of pockets apart from his own. In fact, he can’t absorb the cost cuts that the government is asking him to accept. From News Weekly, November 28, 2009

1. What did the Health Minister propose?
A. to cut the medical profession all over the country B. to allocate the patients to doctors on a list basis
C. to increase the incentives of the medical workers D. to revise the policy on the medical profession

2. The patient may think some doctors are better than others NOT because ________.
A. some doctors are more competent B. there is a simple personality clash
C. they have more diffi cult problems D. they sometimes want a second opinion

3. When doctors fi nish medical school, they may not qualify as ________.
A. surgeons B. physicians C. opticians D. psychiatrists

4. Which of the following statements about nurse practitioners is NOT true?
A. They may have a role in some isolated areas. B. They are not a substitute for general practitioners.
C. They have less education background than GP. D. They are the same as family general practitioners.

5. According to the passage, which of the following statements is correct?
A. People not well-suited to their career choice are going to slip through the system.
B. Average GP is given abundant return on his investment in professional development.
C. Most of the general practitioners are working for the government-controlled service.
D. Australian ophthalmologists have fi xed costs so they cannot do cataract surgery.

答案与解析：

答案：1. B试题分析：本题为细节题。根据全文第一句“Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s latest proposal that patients be allocated to doctors on a list basis is...”可知应当选B。

答案：2. C试题分析：本题为概括题。根据第二段可知原因可能是“some doctors have a better bedside manner”，“they are more competent”，或者病人“there is a simple personality clash”，“wants a second opinion”，“has a potentially embarrassing problem that he or she does not want to discuss with his or her regular general practitioner”。只有C没有提到。

答案：3. C试题分析：本题为细节题。根据第四段“This means they must first finish medical school and then qualify as surgeons, physicians, ophthalmologists or psychiatrists.”可知只有C选项opticians（眼镜商）没有提到。

答案：4. D试题分析：本题为概括题。根据第七段“nurse practitioners may have a role in isolated areas”，“a nurse is not a substitute for a general practitioner”，“a nurse is not a substitute for...general practitioners with years’ more education behind them”可知
A、B、C都正确，而根据本段内容nurse practitioner又不同于family GP（家庭全科医师），故选D。

答案：5. A试题分析：本题为概括题。根据第三段“Some people who are ill-suited to their career choice are always going to slip through the system”可知A正确；根据第六段“the average GP...that gives him a barely adequate return on his investment in professional development”可知B错误；根据第六段“They remain independent professionals”可知C错误；根据最后一段“If the Fred Hollows Foundation can do cataract surgery for $25, why can’t an Australian ophthalmologist?”无法判断澳大利亚眼科医生无法做白内障手术，可知D错误。

2012 年英语专业四级阅读理解 Text A

Saying “thank you” is probably the fi rst thing most of us learn to do in a foreign language. After all, we’re brought up to be polite, and it is important to make a good impression upon other people—especially across national divides. So, what exactly are you supposed to say when “thank you” is only the 20th most popular way to express gratitude? According to a recent survey, 19 other ways of expressing appreciation finished ahead of “thank you” in a poll of 3,000 people.

Pollsters found almost half of those asked preferred the more informal“cheers”, while others liked to use such expressions as“ta”,“great” and“nice one”.

So. just what is the appropriate form of words to express your thanks?

Fortunately, the clue is in the language itself. “Cheers”, despite its popularity, is considered an informal way to say thank you—and this is a defi nite clue as to when you can best use it.

For instance, when going for a drink with friends, a smile and a“cheers”by way of thanks is not only appropriate to the situation, it is also culturally accurate.

“Ta”, originated from the Danish word“tak”, was the second-most popular expression of thanks, and is also commonly used in informal situations, along with phrases such as“nice one”, and“brilliant”. Interestingly, one word that didn’t make it into the top 20 was“thanks”. Thank you’s shorter, more informal cousin.

“Thanks”can be useful, as it is able to bridge the divide between the formality of “thank you” and the downright relaxed“cheers”.

Certain words can double as an expression of thanks as well as delight. Again, the words themselves offer the clue as to when best to use them.

For example, words like“awesome”, “brilliant” and“you star” featured highly in the new poll and they can hint at both your pleasure at someone’s action, as well as serving to express your thanks. If you are on the receiving end of a“new”thank you, you can respond with a simple“no problem”, or“sure”.

Of course, in certain circumstances, a simple wave, nod or smile may be appropriate, For instance, if a car driver slows down to let you cross the road, simply raising your hand in acknowledgement is enough to show that you appreciate the driver’s consideration.

Sometimes, formality is necessary, and“thank you”is still the best choice in such situations.

But students should not worry about when exactly to use certain expressions.

Many people in Western countries are worried that good manners are in decline. People are tired of seeing their acts of kindness and service pass without comment. So don’t think that your “thank you”was clumsy or awkwardly formal. The chances are, if you said “thank you”, you made someone’s day. You star.

81. We can tell from the results of the poll that _____.
A. people are unconcerned about politeness nowadays.
B. “thank you”remains the best expression of gratitude.
C. there is a variety of expressions of appreciation.
D. there are more formal expressions than informal ones.

82. Which word/phrase does NOT appear in the top 20?
A. Cheers. B.Thanks. C.Brilliant. D.You star.

83. According to the passage.which is an appropriate response to“awesome”or“brilliant”?
A. Thanks. B.Cheers. C.Nice one. D.Sure.

84. According to the passage. the way in which we express our gratitude depends on all the following EXCEPT _____.
A. gender. B.formality. C.culture. D.circumstance.

85. In the last paragraph the author encourages people to _____.
A. continue their acts of kindness. B. behave themselves well.
C. show their gratitude to others. D. stop worrying about bad manners.

答案及解析：

81. C。细节类。文章第二段 “According to a recent survey, 19 other ways of expressing appreciation finished ahead of ‘thank you’ in a poll of 3000 people.” 根据调查结果，除了 “thank you” 还有其他表达感谢的方式。

82. B。细节类。“Interestingly, one word that didn’t make it into the top 20 was ‘thanks’”

83. D。推理类。在回答 “awesome” “brilliant”时，可以回答 “no problem” “sure”.

84. A。推理类。在选择表达感谢的方式时，要考虑是否正式，还要考虑文化和环境因素。

85. C。推理类。最后一段作者鼓励人们要及时表达感谢。

Text B

From 2007 to 2010, American households lost $l1 trillion in real estate, savings, and stocks. More than half of all U.S.workers either lost their jobs or were forced to take cuts in hours or pay during the recession. The worst may be behind them now, but the shocking losses of the past few years have reshaped nearly every facet of their lives—how they live, work, and spend—even the way they think about the future.

For Cindy, the recession began when her husband was relocated to Rhinelander, Wisconsin. by his company forcing the family to move in a hurry. The couple bought a new house but were unable to sell their two-bedroom home in Big Lake, Minnesota. With two mortgages(抵押借款) and two young children to care for, Cindy couldn’t imagine how to stretch her husband’s paycheck to keep her family fed．

Then she stumbled upon an online community called Blotanical, a forum for gardeners, many with an interest in sustainability. “The more I read and discussed these practices, the more I realized this would help not only our budget but also our health, ”she says.

Cindy admits that before the recession, she was a city girl with no interest in growing her own dinner．“I grew fl owers mostly—I didn’t think about plants that weren’t visually interesting”.

But to stretch her budget, she began putting in vegetables and fruit—everything from strawberry beds to apple trees—and as her fi rst seedlings grew，her spirits lifted．She no longer thinks of gardening and making her own jams as just a money saver；they’re a genuine pleasure．“It’s brought us closer together as a family, too.”she says．Her kids voluntarily pitch in with(主动帮助)the garden work，and the family cooks together instead of eating out．The food tastes better—it’s fresher and organic —and the garden handily fulfi lls its original purpose：cost cutting．

Now she spends about $200 to $300 a month on groceries, less than half of the $650 a month that she used to lay out．

After discovering how resourceful she can be in tough times, Cindy is no longer easily discouraged.“It makes me feel proud to be able to say I made it myself,”she says.“I feel accomplished, and I’m more confi dent about attempting things I’ve never done before.”Now she avoids convenience stores and has begun learning to knit，quilt，and make her own soap.“I don’t think I would have ever begun this journey if it weren’t for the recession，”she says.“I have a feeling that from now on, it will affect my family’s health and happiness for the better.”

86．We learn from the fi rst paragraph that the recession _____.
A．affected Americans in certain occupations． B．had great impact on Americans’work and life．
C．had only brought huge losses in savings and stocks．D．is over with some of the losses recovered.

87．What made the family’s fi nancial situation even worse was that they _____.
A．moved to Rhinelander in a hurry． B．had two children to raise．
C．didn’t know anyone in Rhinelander． D．couldn’t sell their home in Big Lake．

88．Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A．Cindy had seen the benefi ts of gardening in a different way．
B．Cindy had developed a hobby of gardening before the recession．
C．Cindy had already had a keen interest in sustainability．
D．Cindy had already planned to meet the gardeners．

89．In addition, Cindy views gardening as a genuine pleasure because gardening _____.
A．helped her cut living costs almost by half． B．enabled her to make her own jams．
C．built up family ties and kids’enthusiasm． D．enabled her to know more about plants．

90．What does Cindy think of the diffi cult times she has gone through?
A．It gave the couple and their kids a tough lesson． B．It gave her confi dence and optimism．

C．It would come again and affect the family．D．It left a lasting psychological impact on the family．

答案与解析：

86. B。主旨类。文章第一段描述了经济衰退对美国人的工作和生活的巨大影响。

87. D。推理类。从第二段中我们知道Cindy家庭因为工作，新买了一套房子，但是不能把自己住的房子卖掉，所以要还两套房子的贷款。因此家庭经济困难。

88. A。推理类。从文章第三段我们知道Cindy从园艺工作中收获颇多。

89. C。细节类。从文章第四段我们得知，耕种使得家庭联系更紧密，孩子们也更有热情参与其中。

90. B。推理类。文章最后一段中 “I feel accomplished and I’m more confident attempting things I’ve never done before.”, 我们可以推理出困难时期的经历让Cindy更加自信和乐观。

Text D

No matter how many times you have seen images of the golden mask of boyking Tutankhamen, come face to face with it in Egypt’s Cairo museum，and you will suck in your breath．It was on Nov 4, 1923, that British archaeologist Howard Carter stumbled on a stone at the base of the tomb of another pharaoh(法老)in Luxor that eventually led to a sealed doorway．

Then, on Nov 23，Carter found a second door and when he stuck his head through it, what he saw was to stun the world．Inside lay the great stone coffi n，enclosing three chests of gilded wood．
A few months later, when a crane lifted its granite cover and one coffi n after another was removed, Carter found a solid block of gold weighing 110kg．In it was the mummy(木乃伊) of the 19-year-old Tutankhamen，covered in gold with that splendid funeral mask．And all this lay buried for more than 3,000 years．

Months after my trip to Egypt, I can relive the rush of emotion I felt and sense the hush that descended on the crammed Cairo museum’s Tutankhamen gallery．

Cairo, a dusty city of 20 million people, is a place where time seems to both stand still and rush into utter chaos．It is a place where the ancient and contemporary happily go along on parallel tracks．

Take the Great Pyramids of Giza, sitting on the western edge of the city．Even as the setting sun silhouettes these gigantic structures against the great desert expanse, a call for prayer floats over semi-finished apartment blocks fi lled with the activity of city life．

While careful planning for the afterlife may lie buried underground in Cairo, it is noise and confusion on the streets．Donkey carts battle for space with pedestrians and the only operative road rule is“might is right．”But it is a city that is full of life—from the small roadside restaurants to the coffee shops where men and women smoke the shisha(水烟壶)．

Donkey carts piled high with fl at-breads magically fi nd their way in and out the maddening traffic; young women in long skirts and headscarves hold hands with young men in open collar shirts, while conversations dwell on Kuwait’s chances at the soccer World Cup．

96．According to the context,“suck in your breath”means“feel a sense of ____”．
A．awe B．horror C．doubt D．delight

97．Which of the following statements about the discovery of the mummy is INCORRECT?
A．The mummy was fi rst discovered by a British archaeologist．
B．The discovery of the mummy came as a surprise．
C．The mummy was found lying right inside the stone coffi n．
D．The masked mummy was covered in gold．

98．Which word CANNOT be used to describe the city of Cairo?
A．Crowdedness． B．Quiet． C．Noise． D．Confusion．

99．Which pair of words/phrases indicates contrast?
A．Gigantic structure; great desert expanse B．A call for prayer; men and women with the shisha
C．Chaos; maddening D．Coffee shops; pyramids

100．What is the author’s attitude towards Cairo?
A．Positive． B．Objective． C．Negative． D. Not clear

答案与解析：

96. A。词汇类。当人们看到法老的纯金面具，都会无比惊叹。

97. C。细节类。文章第三段 “Inside lay the great stone coffin, enclosing three chests of gilded wood”. 在巨大的石棺内，里面套着三个黄金棺材，木乃伊在最里面。

98. B。细节类。文章倒数第二段，作者描述开罗 “it is noise and confusion on the street”. 开罗很嘈杂，混乱。

99. A。细节类。文章倒数第三段 “Even as the setting sun silhouettes these gigantic structures against the great desert expanse.”巨大的建筑和广袤的沙漠形成鲜明的对比。

100. B。态度类。作者对开罗的描述是比较客观的。

2011 年英语专业四级阅读理解 Text A

We have a crisis on our hands. You mean global warming? The world economy? No, the decline of reading. People are just not doing it anymore, especially the young. Who’s responsible?

Actually, it’s more like, what is responsible? The Internet, of course, and everything that comes with it – Facebook, Twitter (微博). You can write your own list.

There’s been a warning about the imminent death of literate civilization for a long time. In the 20th century, fi rst it was the movies, then radio, then television that seemed to spell doom for the written world. None did. Reading survived; in fact it not only survived, it has fl ourished. The world is more literate than ever before – there are more and more readers, and more and more books.

The fact that we often get our reading material online today is not something we should worry over. The electronic and digital revolution of the last two decades has arguably shown the way forward for reading and for writing. Take the arrival of e-book readers as an example.

Devices like Kindle make reading more convenient and are a lot more environmentally friendly than the traditional paper book.

As technology makes new ways of writing possible, new ways of reading are possible. Interconnectivity allows for the possibility of a reading experience that was barely imaginable before. Where traditional books had to make do with photographs and illustrations, an e-book can provide readers with an unlimited number of links: to texts, pictures, and videos. In the future, the way people write novels, history, and philosophy will resemble nothing seen in the past.

On the other hand, there is the danger of trivialization. One Twitter group is offering its followers single-sentence-long “digests” of the great novels. War and Peace in a sentence? You must be joking. We should fear the fragmentation of reading. There is the danger that the highspeed connectivity of the Internet will reduce our attention span—that we will be incapable of reading anything of length or which requires deep concentration.

In such a fast-changing world, in which reality seems to be remade each day, we need the ability to focus and understand what is happening to us. This has always been the function of literature and we should be careful not to let it disappear. Our society needs to be able to imagine the possibility of someone utterly in tune with modern technology but able to make sense of a dynamic, confusing world.

In the 15th century, Johannes Guttenberg’s invention of the printing press in Europe had a huge impact on civilization. Once upon a time the physical book was a challenging thing. We should remember this before we assume that technology is out to destroy traditional culture.

81. Which of the following paragraphs briefl y reviews the historical challenges for reading?
A. Paragraph One. B. Paragraph Two. C. Paragraph Three. D. Paragraph Four.

82. The following are all cited as advantages of e-books EXCEPT _____.
A. multimodal content B. environmental friendliness
C. convenience for readers D. imaginative design

83. Which of the following can best describe how the author feels toward single-sentence-long novels?
A. Ironic B. Worried. C. Sarcastic. D. Doubtful.

84. According to the passage, people need knowledge of modern technology and _____ to
survive in the fast-changing society.
A. good judgment B. high sensitivity C. good imagination D. the ability to focus

85. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Technology pushes the way forward for reading and writing.
B. Interconnectivity is a feature of new reading experience.
C. Technology is an opportunity and a challenge for traditional reading.
D. Technology offers a greater variety of reading practice. 答案与解析：81. B 。主旨类。问的是段落大意，答题时应先看选项，只涉及前四段，故只关注这几段。问题给出大意是有关“historical challenges for reading（历史挑战）”，第二段中“a long time”，“doom”，“survive”是解题关键词。

82. D 。细节类。要注意题干中的EXCEPT，问的是不是电子书优点的一项。答题时应先寻找有关电子书的部分。第三段涉及了B、C两个优点，第四段介绍了A的优点，排除A，B，C，故选D。

83. B 。态度类。抓住题干关键词single-sentence-long novels，文中此处两次出现“danger”和一次“fear”，表明作者担忧的态度。

84. A 。细节类。需在原文中找到具体的信息出处，在倒数第二段，“make sense”是答题关键词。

85. C 。主旨类。此处问全文大意，要确保不以偏概全，A、B、D都犯了这个错误，所以选C。

Text B

I know when the snow melts and the first robins (知更鸟) come to call, when the laughter of children returns to the parks and playgrounds, something wonderful is about to happen. Spring cleaning.

I’ll admit spring cleaning is a difficult notion for modern families to grasp. Today’s busy families hardly have time to load the dishwasher, much less clean the doormat. Asking the family to spend the weekend collecting winter dog piles from the melting snow in the backyard is like announcing there will be no more Wi-Fi. It interrupts the natural order.

“Honey, what say we spend the weekend beating the rugs, sorting through the boxes in the basement and painting our bedroom a nice lemony yellow?” I say.“Can we at least wait until the NBA matches are over?” my husband answers.

But I tell my family, spring cleaning can’t wait. The temperature has risen just enough to melt snow but not enough for Little League practice to start. Some flowers are peeking out of the thawing ground, but there is no lawn to seed, nor garden to tend. Newly wakened from our winter’s hibernation(冬眠), yet still needing extra blankets at night, we open our windows to the first fresh air floating on the breeze and all of the natural world demanding “Awake and be clean!”

Biologists offer a theory about this primal impulse to clean out every drawer and closet in the house at spring’s first light, which has to do with melatonin, the sleepytime hormone (激素) our bodies produce when it’s dark. When spring’s light comes, the melatonin diminishes, and suddenly we are awakened to the dusty, virus-filled house we’ve been hibernating in for four months.
I tell my family about the science and psychology of a good healthy cleaning at spring’s arrival. I speak to them about life’s greatest rewards waiting in the removal of soap scum from the bathtub, which hasn’t been properly cleaned since the fi rst snowfall.“I’ll do it,” says the eldest child, a 21-year-old college student who lives at home.“You will? Wow!” I exclaim.

Maybe after all these years, he’s finally grasped the concept. Maybe he’s expressing his rightful position as eldest child and role model. Or maybe he’s going to Florida for a break in a couple of weeks and he’s being nice to me who is the fi nancial-aid officer.

No matter. Seeing my adult son willingly cleaning that dirty bathtub gives me hope for the future of his 12-year-old brother who, instead of working, is found to be sleeping in the seat of the window he is supposed to be cleaning.“Awake and be clean!” I say.

86. According to the passage, “...spring cleaning is a difficult notion for modern families to grasp” means that spring cleaning _____.
A. is no longer an easy practice to understand. B. is no longer part of modern family life.
C. requires more family members to be involved. D. calls for more complicated skills and knowledge.

87. Which of the following is LEAST likely to be included in family spring cleaning?
A. Beating the rugs.              B. Cleaning the window.
C. Restoring Wi-Fi services.   D. Cleaning the backyard.

88. Why does the author say “spring cleaning can’t wait”?
A. Because there will be more activities when it gets warmer.
B. Because the air is fresher and the breeze is lighter.
C. Because the whole family is full of energy at spring time.
D. Because the snow is melting and the ground is thawing.

89. Which of the following interpretations of the biologists’ theory about melatonin is INCORRECT?
A. The production of melatonin in our bodies varies at different times.
B. Melatonin is more likely to cause sleepiness in our bodies.
C. The reduction of melatonin will cause wakefulness in our bodies.
D. The amount of melatonin remains constant in our bodies.

90. Which of the following can best sum up the author’s overall reaction to her adult son’s positive response to spring cleaning?
A. Surprised and skeptical. B. Elated and hesitant.
C. Relieved and optimistic. D. Optimistic and hesitant.

答案与解析：

86. B。细节类。题干直接引用原文，故答题时先锁定引文位置。“It interrupts the natural order”是答题线索，既然是打乱了自然顺序，说明现在已经没有多少家庭保留这个传统做法了。

87. C。细节类。此题与上题出自同一段，要注意题干中的EXCEPT，并理解作者所说的反话，wi-fi只是作者打的比方，而不是春季大扫除的内容。

88. A。推理类。从作者列出的各种活动可以看出她意在说明有很多活动暂时还不会发生，所以是进行春季大扫除的好机会。

89. D。推理类。注意题中出现的“biologist”是定位关键词，另外EXCEPT问的是非正确选项，需用排除法。A和D语义相反，所以也可以通过逻辑判断直接选定错误理解是D。

90. B。态度类。“Wow”和“exclaim”表明了这个高兴的态度，“You will?”表明了犹豫疑惑的态度。

Text C

These days lots of young Japanese doomiai, literally, “meet and look.” Many of them do so willingly. In today’s prosperous and increasingly conservative Japan, the traditional omiai kekkon, or arranged marriage, is thriving.

But there is a difference. In the original omiai, the young Japanese couldn’t reject the partner chosen by his parents and their middleman. After World War II, many Japanese abandoned the
arranged marriage as part of their rush to adopt the more democratic ways of their American conquerors. The Western ren’ai kekkon, or love marriage, became popular; Japanese began picking their own mates by dating and falling in love.

But the Western way was often found wanting in an important respect: it didn’t necessarily produce a partner of the right economic, social, and educational qualifi cations. “Today’s young people are quite calculating,” says Chieko Akiyama, a social commentator.

What seems to be happening now is a repetition of a familiar process in the country’s history, the “Japanization” of an adopted foreign practice. The Western ideal of marrying for love is accommodated in a new omiai in which both parties are free to reject the match. “Omiai is evolving into a sort of stylized introduction,” Mrs. Akiyama says.

Many young Japanese now date in their early twenties, but with no thought of marriage. When they reach the age—in the middle twenties for women, the late twenties for men—they increasingly turn to omiai. Some studies suggest that as many as 40 % of marriages each year are omiai kekkon. It’s hard to be sure, say those who study the matter, because many Japanese couples, when polled, describe their marriage as a love match even if it was arranged.

These days, doing omiai often means going to a computer matching service rather than to a nakodo. The nakodo of tradition was an old woman who knew all the kids in the neighbourhood and went around trying to pair them off by speaking to their parents; a successful match would bring her a wedding invitation and a gift of money. But Japanese today find it’s less awkward to reject a proposed partner if the nakodo is a computer.

Japan has about five hundred computer matching services. Some big companies, including Mitsubishi, run one for their employees. At a typical commercial service, an applicant pays $80 to $125 to have his or her personal data stored in the computer for two years and $200 or so more if a marriage results. The stored information includes some obvious items, like education and hobbies, and some not-so-obvious ones, like whether a person is the oldest child. (First sons, and to some extent fi rst daughters, face an obligation of caring for elderly parents.)

91. According to the passage, today’s young Japanese prefer _____.
A. a traditional arranged marriage.    B. a new type of arranged marriage.
C. a Western love marriage.             D. a more Westernized love marriage.

92. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A. A Western love marriage tends to miss some Japanese values.
B. Less attention is paid to the partner’s qualifi cation in arranged marriages.
C. Young Japanese would often calculate their partner’s wealth.
D. A new arranged marriage is a repetition of the older type.

93. According to the passage, the fi gure 40% (Paragraph Five) is uncertain because _____.
A. there has been a big increase in the number of arranged marriages.
B. Western love marriage still remains popular among young Japanese.
C. young Japanese start dating very early in their life in a Western tradition.
D. the tendency for arranged marriages could be stronger than is indicated.

94. One of the big differences between a traditional nakodo and its contemporary version lies in the way _____.
A. wedding gifts are presented.   B. a proposed partner is refused.
C. formalities are arranged.         D. the middleman/woman is chosen.

95. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?
A. To tell the differences between an old and modern nakodo.
B. To provide some examples for the traditional nakodo.
C. To offer more details of the computerized nakodo.
D. To sum up the main ideas and provide a conclusion.

答案与解析：91. B。主旨题。第一段已经将大意讲出，通读全文后可以判断虽然采用传统的方式，但在做选择上，今日的年轻人有更多自由，所以选B。

92. A。推理题。根据文章所给信息，判断每一句的对错。B和D与原文含义完全相反，C没有明确提到。

93. D。细节题。直接到指向的第五段，最后一句说明该数据可能比真实数据偏少。

94. B。细节题。文中指出两种婚姻形式最大的不同就在于现在被介绍双方都可以选择拒绝对方。D是最具迷惑的选项，文中的确谈到现在的中间人多数是电脑充当，但是中间人并非二者的根本差别，所以不对。

95. C。主旨题。最后一段列出不少实例来具体说明电脑媒介所起的作用。

Text D

Cordia Harrington was tired of standing up all day and smelling like French fries at night. She owned and operated three McDonald’s shops in Illinois, but as a divorced mother of three boys, she yearned for a business that would provide for her children and let her spend more time with them.

Her lucky moment came, strangely enough, after she was nominated in 1992 to be on the McDonald’s bun committee. “The company picked me up in a corporate jet to see bakeries around the world,” she recalls. “Every time I went to a meeting, I loved it. This was global!”

The experience opened her eyes to business possibilities. When McDonald’s decided it wanted a new bun supplier, Harrington became determined to win the contract, even though she had no experience running a bakery.

Harrington studied the bakery business and made sure she was never off executives’ radar. “If you have a dream, you can’t wait for people to call you,” she says. “So I’d visit a mill and send them photos of myself in a baker’s hat and jacket, holding a sign that says ‘I want to be your baker.’” After four years and 32 interviews, her persistence paid off.

Harrington sealed the deal with a handshake, sold her shops, and borrowed $13.5 million. She was ready to build the fastest, most automated bakery in the world.

The Tennessee Bun Company opened ahead of schedule in 1997, in time for a slump in U.S. fast-food sales for McDonald’s. Before Harrington knew it, she was down to her last $20,000, not enough to cover payroll. And her agreement with McDonald’s required that she sell exclusively to the company. “I cried myself to sleep many nights,” she recalls. “I really did think, I am going to go bankrupt.”

But Harrington worked out an agreement to supply Pepperidge Farm as well. “McDonald’s could see a benefi t if our production went up and prices went down, and no benefi t if we went outof business,” she says. “That deal saved us.”Over the next eight years, Harrington branched out even more: She started her own trucking business, added a cold-storage company, and now has three bakeries producing fresh buns and frozen dough—all now known as the Bun Companies. Speed is still a priority: It takes 11 people at the main bakery to turn out 60,000 buns an hour for clients across 40 states, South America,and the Caribbean.Grateful for the breaks she’s had, Harrington is passionate about providing opportunities to all 230 employees. “Financial success is the most fun when you can give it away,” she says.The current economy is challenging. Some of her clients’ sales have declined, but she’s found new clients and improved effi ciencies to help sustain the company’s double-digit growth. Cordia Harrington doesn’t have to stand on her feet all day anymore. Two of her three sons now work for her. And she’s remarried—her husband, Tom, is now her CFO.“This is more than a job,” says Harrington. “It’s a mission. I’m always thinking, how can we best serve our employees? If we support them, they’ll do their best to look after our clients.That’s how it works here.”

96. According to the passage, which of the following was most signifi cant in her early career?
A. Her nomination on the McDonald’s bun committee.
B. Her travel and the visits to bakeries around the world.
C. A business contract with local bun suppliers. D. The interviews and experience in running a bakery.

97. “Harrington...made sure she was never off executives’ radar” (Paragraph Four) means that she _____.
A. herself wanted to be a company executive B. meant to hire executives to run the business
C. meant to keep her management knowledge and skills
D. focused on the management of the bakery business

98. How did she survive the crisis at the start of her bakery business?
A. By supplying buns for another company. B. By opening her bun company ahead of schedule.
C. By keeping supplies up for McDonald’s. D. By making a new agreement with McDonald’s.

99. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT in describing her current business?
A. It is fast growing.   B. It is diversified. C. Its clients are all local.   D. It is more effi cient.

100. According to the passage, which of the following is fundamental to Harrington’s success?
A. Efficiency and love for the family. B. Perseverance and concern for employees.
C. Business expansion and family support. D. Opportunities and speed.

答案与解析：

96. B。细节题。选项A在第一段就被否决，D与文中内容正好相反，她没有任何开烘烤面包公司的经验。C也不对，因为题干里明确强调的是对她早期职业规划最有影响的一件事。

97. C。细节题。题干指向文中第四段，可以看出虽然开始想创业时并非一帆风顺，但她始终在为追寻这个梦想不停地学习和积累经验，所以当机会到来时她已经准备好了。

98. A。细节题。“But Harrington worked out an agreement to supply Pepperidge Farm as well”此句是答题关键，从中可以看出除了麦当劳外，她还为其他快餐店提供服务。

99. C。细节题。通篇可以看出她的事业是蒸蒸日上的，所以与此氛围不符的C应该是正确答案，注意题干是否定表述。还有在前面几段，她透露说“This was global”与C选项正好完全相反，可据此直接选择正确答案。

100. B。主旨题。文章前半部分讲了她如何没有放弃梦想，始终朝同一方向努力的事情，后半部分讲了她的管理理念就是关注并资助员工，B最全面地概括了两者，故是最佳答案。

2010 年英语专业四级阅读理解 Text A

What is the nature of the scientifi c attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, chemistry, geology, engineering, medical or any other science? We all know that science plays an important role in the societies in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The fi rst of these is the application of the machines and products that scientists and technologists develop. New drugs, faster and safer means of transport, new systems of applied knowledge are some examples of this aspect of science.

The second aspect is the application of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work. What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity — he wants to fi nd out how and why the universe works. He usually directs his attention towards problems which he notices have nosatisfactory explanation, and his curiosity makes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions, whether of pure or applied knowledge, and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.

He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and applies persistent and logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts he observes to the full extent. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum.

He is skeptical — he does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available — and therefore rejects authority as the sole basis for truth. Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own. Since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientifi c instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.

Lastly, he is highly imaginative since he often has to look for relationships in data, which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses of how processes work and how events take place.

These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.

81. Many people believe that science helps society to progress through .
A. applied knowledge   B. more than one aspect C. technology only   D. the use of machines

82. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about curiosity?
A. It gives the scientist confi dence and pleasure in work.
B. It gives rise to interest in problem that are unexplained.
C. It leads to efforts to investigate potential connections.
D. It encourages the scientists to look for new ways of acting.

83. According to the passage, a successful scientist would not .
A. easily believe in unchecked statements B. easily criticize others’ research work
C. always use his imagination in work D. always use evidence from observation

84. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Application of technology. B. Progress in modern society.
C. Scientists’ way of thinking and acting. D. How to become a successful scientist.

85. What is the author’s attitude towards the topic?
A. Critical. B. Objective. C. Biased. D. Unclear.

答案与解析：

81. B。细节类。第一段第四行：“Many people believe, however, that our progress depends on two different aspects of science.”，社会的进步依靠于科学的两个不同方面。所以选B。

82. A。细节类。第三段作者阐述了什么是科学家必须具备的好奇心，可用排除法。

83. A。细节类。第五段“He is skeptical — he does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available.”，科学家常常对于没有建立在充分证据上的论断持怀疑态度。

84. C。主旨类。文章第三段“What are these special methods of thinking and acting?”是全文的主题句。文章解释了科学家的思考和行为方式。

85. B。态度类。文章客观描述了科学家的思考和行为方式，没有加入个人的主观评价。

Text C

Graduation speeches are a bit like wedding toasts. A few are memorable. The rest tend to trigger such thoughts as, “Why did I wear such uncomfortable shoes?”

But graduation speeches are less about the message than the messenger. Every year a few colleges and universities in the US attract attention because they’ve managed to book high-profile speakers. And, every year, the media report some of these speakers’ wise remarks. Last month, the following words of wisdom were spread:

“You really haven’t completed the circle of success unless you can help somebody else move forward.” (Oprah Winfrey, Duke University).

“There is no way to stop change; change will come. Go out and give us a future worthy of the world we all wish to create together.” (Hillary Clinton, New York University).

“This really is your moment. History is yours to bend.” (Joe Biden, Wake Forest University). Of course, the real “get” of the graduation season was first lady Michelle Obama’s appearance at the University of California, Merced. “Remember that you are blessed,” she told the class of 2009, “Remember that in exchange for those blessings, you must give something back... As advocate and activist Marian Wright Edelman says, ’Service is the rent we pay for living ... it is the true measure, the only measure of success’.”

Calls to service have a long, rich tradition in these speeches. However, it is possible for a graduation speech to go beyond cliche and say something truly compelling. The late writer David Foster Wallace’s 2005 graduation speech at Kenyon College in Ohio talked about how to truly care about other people. It gained something of a cult after it was widely circulated on the Internet. Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs’ address at Stanford University that year, in which he talked about death, is also considered one of the best in recent memory.

But when you’re sitting in the hot sun, fi dgety and freaked out, do you really want to be lectured about the big stuff ? Isn’t that like trying to maintain a smile at your wedding reception while some relative gives a toast that amounts to “marriage is hard work”? You know he’s right; you just don’t want to think about it at that particular moment. In fact, as is the case in many major life moments, you can’t really manage to think beyond the blisters your new shoes are causing.

That may seem anticlimactic. But it also gets to the heart of one of life’s greatest, saddest truths: that our most “memorable” occasions may elicit the fewest memories. It’s probably not something most graduation speakers would say, but it’s one of the fi rst lessons of growing up.

91. According to the passage, most graduation speeches tend to recall ______ memories.
A. great B. trivial C. unforgettable D. unimaginative

92. “But graduation speeches are less about the message than the messenger” is explained ______.
A. in the fi nal paragraph. B. in the last but one paragraph.
C. in the fi rst paragraph. D. in the same paragraph.

93. The graduation speeches mentioned in the passage are related to the following themes EXCEPT ______.
A. death. B. success. C. service. D. generosity.

94. It is implied in the passage that at great moments people fail to ______.
A. remain clear-headed.           B. keep good manners.
C. remember others’ words.    D. recollect specifi c details.

95. What is “one of the first lessons of growing up”?
A. Attending a graduation ceremony. B. Listening to graduation speeches.
C. Forgetting details of memorable events. D. Meeting high-profile graduation speakers.

答案与解析：91. B。推理类。第一段“Graduation speeches are a bit like wedding toasts. A few are memorable. The rest tend to trigger such thoughts as, ‘Why did I wear such uncomfortable shoes?’”，毕业演讲有点像婚礼上的致辞，有些片段是难忘的，但是其余的时刻总让我们回想起当时的细节，比如我为什么要穿这双不舒服的鞋呢。

92. D。推理类。“Every year a few colleges and universities in the US attract attentionbecause they’ve managed to book high-profile speakers. And, every year, the media report some of these speakers’ wise remarks.”，在毕业演讲上，演讲者比演讲内容还要重要。每年都有些大学请来高调的演讲者。

93. D。细节类。文章中举了几个有名的毕业演讲，关于死亡、成功、为社会服务。可用排除法。

94. C。推理类。倒数第二段“You know he’s right; you just don’t want to think about it at that particular moment.”，在重要的时刻，当大人物演讲时，你知道他说的是正确的，但往往记不住他到底说了些什么。

95. C。细节类。最后一段“our most‘memorable’occasions may elicit the fewest memories.”，成长中的第一课包括，我们往往会遗忘重要时刻的细节。

Text D

Cultural rules determine every aspect of food consumption. Who eats together defi nes social units. For example, in some societies, the nuclear family is the unit that regularly eats together.

The anthropologist Mary Douglas has pointed out that, for the English, the kind of meal and the kind of food that is served relate to the kinds of social links between people who are eating together. She distinguishes between regular meals, Sunday meals when relatives may come, and cocktail parties for acquaintances. The food served symbolizes the occasion and reflects who is present. For example, only snacks are served at a cocktail party. It would be inappropriate to serve a steak or hamburgers. The distinctions among cocktails, regular meals, and special dinners mark the social boundaries between those guests who are invited for drinks, those who are invited to dinner, and those who come to a family meal. In this example, the type of food symbolizes the category of guest and with whom it is eaten.

In some New Guinea societies, the nuclear family is not the unit that eats together. The men take their meals in a men’s house, separately from their wives and children. Women prepare and eat their food in their own houses and take the husband’s portion to the men’s house. The women eat with their children in their own houses. This pattern is also widespread among Near Eastern societies.

Eating is a metaphor that is sometimes used to signify marriage. In many New Guinea societies, like that of the Lesu on the island of New Ireland in the Pacific and that of the Trobriand Islanders, marriage is symbolized by the couple’s eating together for the first time.

Eating symbolizes their new status as a married couple. In U.S. society, it is just the reverse. A couple may go out to dinner on a first date.

Other cultural rules have to do with taboos against eating certain things. In some societies, members of a clan, a type of kin (family) group, are not allowed to eat the animal or bird that is their totemic ancestor. Since they believe themselves to be descended from that ancestor, it would be like eating that ancestor or eating themselves.

There is also an association between food prohibitions and rank, which is found in its most extreme form in the caste system of India. A caste system consists of ranked groups, each with a different economic specialization. In India, there is an association between caste and the idea of pollution. Members of highly ranked groups can be polluted by coming into contact with the bodily secretions, particularly saliva, of individuals of lower-ranked castes. Because of the fear of pollution, Brahmans and other high-ranked individuals will not share food with, not eat from the same plate as, not even accept food from an individual from a low-ranking caste.

96. According to the passage, the English make clear distinctions between ______.
A. people who eat together.   B. the kinds of food served.
C. snacks and hamburgers.   D. family members and guests.

97. According to the passage, who will NOT eat together?
A. The English. B. Americans on their fi rst date.
C. Men and women in Near Eastern societies. D. Newly-weds on the island of New Ireland.

98. According to the passage, eating together indicates all the following EXCEPT ______.
A. the type of food.   B. social relations. C. marital status.      D. family ties.

99. The last paragraph suggests that in India ______ decides how people eat.
A. pollution B. food C. culture D. social status

100. Which of the following can best serve as the topic of the passage?
A. Different kinds of food in the world. B. Relations between food and social units.
C. Symbolic meanings of food consumption. D. Culture and manners of eating.

答案与解析：

96. D。推理类。第一段“for the English, the kind of meal and the kind of food that is served relate to the kinds of social links between people who are eating together.”，对于英国人来说，食物的品种和内容是由一起吃饭的人的关系来决定的。

97. C。细节类。第二段作者描述了在近东国家的吃饭习俗，丈夫和妻儿分开来吃饭。

98. A。推理类。可用排除法。在一起进餐可反映出进餐者的社会关系、婚姻状况和家庭关系。

99. D。推理类。最后一段作者讲述了印度人的饮食文化和社会阶层紧密相关。

100. D。主旨类。文章讨论了中西方国家饮食习俗和文化之间的关系。

This year, like lots of other people, I'm going to try to make my own Christmas presents. It's not the first time that I've promised myself this. Being a milliner, and an all-round crafty type, I've often thought I should put my money where my mouth is. But this year I'm really going to stick to it. It's partly that I'm short of cash, but also that I've recently returned from an inspiring trip around Britain, looking into "make do and mend" for BBC2's Newsnight.

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