1、大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷 267 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：5，分数：100.00)1.Part III Reading Comprehension（分数：20.00）_2.Section B（分数：20.00）_Astrology A) Astrology is the study of how the sun, the moon, planets, and stars are supposedly related to life and events on the earth. It is bas
2、ed on the belief that the heavenly bodies form patterns that can reveal a persons character or future. Many people throughout the world believe in astrology. These people base important decisions on the advice of an astrologer (a person who tells fortunes by studying the stars). Other people declare
3、 there is no scientific basis for astrology, and they consider it a form of entertainment. B) Astrology differs from astronomy. Astrology developed from a set of principles that originated more than 2,000 years ago. At that time, astronomy was also based on those same principles. But during the 1500
4、s and 1600s, several astronomers, including Nicolaus Copernicus of Poland and Tycho Bra-he of Denmark, made discoveries about the heavenly bodies that conflicted with the principles of astrology. As a result, astrology and astronomy became widely different in their methods and purposes. Today, astro
5、logers observe the heavenly bodies to understand things that happen on the earth. Astronomers seek scientific knowledge about the various objects in space. C) The basic principle of astrology is that the heavenly bodies influence what happens on the earth. Astrologers learn about this influence by c
6、asting (drawing) a circular chart called a horoscope or birth chart A horoscope shows the position of the planets in relation to both the earth and the stars at a certain time. In most cases, it shows the position of these bodies at the time of a persons birth. The system used by astrologers to cast
7、 a horoscope is based on a special view of the universe. This view involves four elements: the earth, the planets, the zodiac (黄道), and the houses. D) In casting a horoscope, astrologers place the earth at the center of the solar system. Therefore, all heavenly bodies revolve around the earth rather
8、 than around the sun. Astrologers use this arrangement to determine the positions of the heavenly bodies in relation to the earth. They believe that the study of the positions of the heavenly bodies can reveal a persons character and future. In astrology, the moon and the sun are considered planets,
9、 along with Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus. Each planet supposedly represents a force that affects people in a certain way. Astrologers believe the planets influence a person more than any other heavenly bodies do. E) The zodiac is a band of stars that appear to encircle th
10、e earth. It is divided into 12 equal parts, called signs. Each sign of the zodiac has certain characteristics, which are determined by a particular planet and other factors. Astrologers believe the signs determine how the planets affect a persons character. The houses. Like the zodiac, the earths su
11、rface is divided into 12 parts. Each of these parts, called houses, represents certain characteristics of an individuals life. Astrologers believe the houses determine how the planets and the signs influence a persons daily life. F) Astrology began sometime before 2000 B.C. in Babylonia (now southea
12、stern Iraq). Astrologers of that time knew of five planetsJupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. They believed that the sun, the moon, and planets sent out different forces, which had certain characteristics. For example, one of the planetsnow known as Marsappeared to be red. Astrologers linked i
13、t with anger, aggression and war. G) The zodiac was probably developed in ancient Egypt, and the Babylonians adopted it sometime after 1000 B.C. Astrologers gradually developed a system that linked seasonal changes with specific group of stars called constellations (星座). At that time, for example, h
14、eavy rainfall occurred in Babylonia when the sun was in a certain constellation. As a result, astrologers named the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer. H) At first, astrologers studied the heavenly bodies in making general predictions about the future. But between 600 B.C. and 200 B.C., they d
15、eveloped the system of casting individual horoscopes (以占星术算命 ).The ancient Greeks and Romans practiced astrology and greatly influenced its development. The Roman names for the planets and the signs of the zodiac are still used today. I) Interest in astrology declined in Europe with the coming of Ch
16、ristianity as people sought guidance from religious leaders rather than from astrologers. Astrology regained popularity during the A.D. 1100s. By the 1600s, it was particularly strong in England. Several astrological (历书) were published, and many other books either defended or attacked astrology. Th
17、e number of followers of astrology fell in England during the 1700s, but the subjects popularity returned again in the early 1800s. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, interest in astrology had spread to many other nations. Newspapers in England began publishing horoscope columns during the 1930s. Su
18、ch columns soon appeared in newspapers throughout the world, and people became increasingly interested in astrology. Today, astrology is followed more widely than ever before. J) Many people believe astrology is simply a superstition, and scientists declare that its whole basis is unscientific. Scie
19、ntists point out that the earths position has changed in space since ancient times. As a result, the signs of the zodiac used by astrologers no longer match the constellations for which they were named. Some people who believe in astrology support it in terms of magnetic fields, solar storms and oth
20、er natural occurrences. Others, though they also believe in astrology, claim that it cannot be supported scientifically. They consider it a set of powerful symbols that can provide a deep understanding of human beings. They defend astrology by pointing out that, in many cases, it works.（分数：20.00）(1)
21、.Astrologers hold the belief that the planets exert more influence on a person than other heavenly bodies do.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(2).Publishing horoscope columns in newspapers helped to make astrology spread across the world widely.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(3).Whenever the sun was in the constellation Aquarius,
22、it rained heavily in Babylonia.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(4).The discoveries of heavenly bodies that were against the principles of astrology led to great differences between astrology and astronomy in their methods and purposes.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(5).Astrology is based on the conviction that the patterns the he
23、avenly bodies form can tell a persons character or future.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(6).Some people still believe in astrology, though they know it is unscientific, by claiming that it works in many cases.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(7).During the 1700s in England, astrology gained less popularity than before.（分数：2.00）填空
24、项 1:_(8).In astrology, the earth is regarded as the center of the solar system.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(9).Since Mars appeared to be red, astrologers believed that it represented anger, aggression and war.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(10).Its believed by the astrologers that the houses determine how the planets and the
25、signs influence a persons daily life.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_The US Congress A) The US congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is a bicameral (两院制的) law-making body of more than 500 members. Its two chambers are respectively called the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Am
26、erican two-house legislature, a product of the compromise between big states and small ones, embodies the American principle of balances and checks. All bills must carry both houses before becoming laws. B) The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Congress. The membership of
27、the House is distributed among the states according to their different populations. Since 1910, the House has had a permanent membership of 435, with each Representative representing about half a million Americans. Under the principle that each state is guaranteed at least one representative, Nevada
28、, a state with a small population, sends only one Representative to the House. California has more than 40 Representatives in the House because of its large population. C) The election of Representatives is organized by the state legislature which divides the state into a number of districts known a
29、s Congressional districts. Each district, with a population of nearly half a million, elects one Representative to the House. A Representatives term of office is set at two years, but there is no limit to the number of his terms. A new Representative can hardly feel easy about his position. Hardly h
30、as he begun his work in the Congress when he finds its time for him to seek re-election. D) The Senate is the upper house of the US Congress. Representation in the Senate is based on the principle of state equality. The Senate is comprised of 100 Senators, two from each of the fifty states. Senators
31、 have been directly elected by voters of their respective states since 1913. Their term of office is six years. With one-third of the Senate seats up for election every two years. A Senator must be at least thirty years old and a citizen for nine years. E) Generally speaking, Senators are accorded g
32、reater prestige than their colleagues in the lower house. Many Representatives aspire to win the election to the Senate. Senators derive their prestige from the following facts. They are less numerous, for there are fewer than one fourth as many Senators as Representatives, or Congressmen. Elected b
33、y the whole state instead of a single congressional district, most Senators represent more constituents (选民) than do House members. They are less worried by the problem of seeking re-electives. Whats more, the Senate has special powers which it does not share with the House. It has the power to appr
34、ove or deny proposed treaties, nominations proposed by the President. In line with the tradition of “senatorial courtesy (礼貌)“, the Senate always rejects a nominee who is objected to by a Senator of the state from which he comes. F) It wont do to neglect the importance of the Senate in foreign affai
35、rs. Without its cooperation and support, the President can hardly take any significant action in foreign relations. A Secretary of State on good terms with the Senators is always important for the President. Foreign countries must try to establish good relations with the US Senate if they intend to
36、make a bargain with the United States. G) The presiding (主持的) officer of the Senate is the Vice President who functions as a kind chairman when the Senate is in session (开会). The chief spokesman of the House is known as the Speaker who is the leader of the majority party in the House. The Speaker is
37、 the most influential figure in the House because he directs his partys forces in legislative battles. H) The Congress is a legislative body, but it relies on its various committees to do preparatory work. The Senate and the House have several dozen standing and special committees to deal with probl
38、ems of different natures. The seats of the committees are divided between the two parties in proportion to their respective membership in the Congress. But the committee chairman is always a member of the majority party who has been in the Senate or the House without interruption for longer than any
39、body else on the committee. The custom is known as “seniority rule“. I) Most proposed laws in the Congress are known as bills. All bills introduced during a two-year congressional term are designated “HR“ in the House and “S“ in the Senate, with consecutive (连续的) numbers assigned in order in which t
40、hey are introduced in each house. After this, the bills are referred to the relevant committees for further study. J) To assess the bill at its true worth, the relevant committee usually organizes its sub-committee to conduct detailed study. There is no doubt that the sub-committee will study the li
41、teral sense of the bill. But it also holds meetings with the citizens who want to state their opinions about the bill. These meetings are commonly known as hearings. The purpose of the sub-committee in holding these hearings is to obtain information on the bill before it. The sub-committee may summo
42、n people to appear at the hearings and to testify. After finishing study of the bill, the sub-committee will report the result to the full committee. The committee chairman then has a choice between two things. He can send the bill to the house for further consideration. He can also postpone, or kil
43、l it by putting it aside and not reporting it. For this reason, a committee chairman is regarded as an important person in the Congress. It wont do to neglect them.（分数：20.00）(1).The Vice President plays a role as a kind chairman and the presiding officer in the Senate meetings.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(2).Th
44、e seats of the committees are distributed between the two parties based on their respective membership in the Congress.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(3).Since 1910, the House has had a permanent membership of four hundred and thirty-five.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(4).In order to obtain information on the potential bills be
45、fore implementation, the sub-committee holds hearings.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(5).A new Representative can hardly feel easy about his position in that he has to prepare for re-election at the start of his new job.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(6).If the President wants to take significant action in foreign relations, it
46、is necessary to gain the Senates cooperation and support.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(7).As the Senators are elected by the whole state instead of a single congressional district, they are accorded greater prestige than Representatives.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(8).The American two-house legislature reflects the American
47、 principle of balances and checks.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(9).According to the principle of state equality, each state is represented by two Senators in the Senate.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(10).Nominations proposed by the President may be disapproved by the Senate.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_Pub-talk A) Pub-talk, the most popul
48、ar activity in all pubs, is a native dialect with its own distinctive grammar. There are very few restrictions on what you can talk about in pubs: pub etiquette (礼节) is concerned mainly with the form of your conversation, not the content When a regular enters the pub, you will often hear friendly greetings from other regulars, the publican and bar
