1、大学英语四级-阅读 5及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：0，分数：0.00)三、Passage(总题数：5，分数：100.00)The standardized educational or psychological tests, which are widely used to aid in selecting, assigning or promoting students, employees and military personnel, have been the target of recent attac
2、ks in books, magazines, the dally press, and even in Congress. The target is wrong, for, in attacking the tests, critics divert attention from the fault that lies with ill-informed or incompetent users. The tests themselves are merely tools. Whether the results will be valuable, meaningless, or even
3、 misleading depends partly upon the tool itself but largely upon the user. All informed predictions of future performance are based upon some knowledge of relevant past performance. How well the predictions will be validated by later performance depends upon the amount, reliability and appropriatene
4、ss of the information used and on the skill and wisdom with which it is interpreted. Anyone who keeps careful score knows that the information available is always incomplete and that the predictions are always subject to error. Standardized tests should be considered in this context: they provide a
5、quick, objective method of getting some kind of information about what a person has learned, the skills he has developed, or the kind of person he is. The information so obtained has, qualitatively, the same advantages and shortcomings as other kinds of information. Whether to use tests, other kinds
6、 of information, or both in a particular situation depends, therefore, upon the empirical evidence concerning comparative validity and upon such factors as cost and availability. In general, the tests work most effectively when the traits or qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined (fo
7、r example, ability to do well in a particular course of training program) and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted cannot be well defined, for example, personality or creativity. Properly used, they provide a rapid means of getting comparable information about many people. Some
8、times they identify students whose high potential has not been previously recognized.（分数：20.00）(1).According to the passage, the present standardized educational tests are _.（分数：4.00）A.ill-informed and incompetentB.challenged by some peopleC.misleading to a certain degreeD.popular but with many shor
9、tcomings(2).The author“s attitude toward the present test is that _.（分数：4.00）A.it is informative and valuableB.it has lots of disadvantages yet to be improvedC.the result of the test depends more on the users than on the test itselfD.the result of the test cannot be predicted(3).Which of the followi
10、ng statement is not true according to the passage?（分数：4.00）A.There is no perfect standard for a test.B.Every test is open to criticize.C.A perfect test should consider lots of factors, including the validity of information and the testees.D.Standardized test is supposed to be objective.(4).It can be
11、 inferred from the passage that（分数：4.00）A.the present standardized tests should be canceledB.the result of the present test cannot accurately reflect the testees“ abilitiesC.the value of standardized tests lies in their proper interpretationD.special methods must be applied to the result of standard
12、ized tests(5).According to the passage, standardized tests work most effectively when _.（分数：4.00）A.the user knows how to interpret the results in advanceB.the objectives are most clearly definedC.the persons who take the test are intelligent or skillfulD.they measure the traits or qualities of the t
13、estsScientists say they have discovered hints of alien life on the Saturn“s moon. The discovery of a sort of life was announced after researchers at the US space agency, NASA, analyzed data from spacecraft Cassini, which pointed to, the existence of methane-based form of life on Saturn“s biggest moo
14、n. Scientists have reportedly discovered clues showing primitive alien beings are “breathing“ in Titan“s dense atmosphere filled with hydrogen. They argue that hydrogen gets absorbed before hitting Titan“s planet-like surface covered with methane lakes and rivers. This, they say, points to the exist
15、ence of some “bugs“ consuming the hydrogen at the surface of the moon less than half the size of the Earth. “We suggested hydrogen consumption because it“s the obvious gas for life to consume on Titan, similar to the way we consume oxygen on Earth,“ says NASA scientist Chris McKay. “If these signs d
16、o turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.“ To date, scientists have not yet detected this form of life anywhere, though there are liquid water based microorganisms on Earth that grow well
17、on methane or produce it as a waste product. On Titan, where temperatures are around 90 Kelvin (minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit), a methane based organism would have to use a substance that is liquid as its medium for living processes, but not water itself. Water is frozen solid on Titan“s surface and
18、much too cold to support life as we know it. Scientists had expected the Sun“s interactions with chemicals in the atmosphere to produce a coating of acetylene on Titan“s surface. But Cassini detected no acetylene on the surface. The absence of detectable acetylene on the Titan“s surface can very wel
19、l have a non-biological explanation, said Mark Alien, a principal investigator of the NASA Titan team. “Scientific conservatism suggests that a biological explanation should be the last choice after all non-biological explanations are addressed,“ Alien said, “We have a lot of work to do to rule out
20、possible non-biological explanations. It is more likely that a chemical process, without biology, can explain these results.“（分数：20.00）(1).What can we learn about Saturn from the passage?（分数：4.00）A.There“s a new moon orbiting Saturn.B.There are methane based life forms on Saturn.C.There are methane
21、based life forms on Titan.D.There are earthlike life forms on a Saturn“s moon.(2).Which of the following statement about Titan is true?（分数：4.00）A.It is a moon of the Sun.B.Biological forms live on liquid methane there.C.“Bugs“ is found there breathing hydrogen.D.Rivers and lakes there contain life f
22、orms.(3).What is “Cassini“ in Paragragh 5?（分数：4.00）A.A scientist.B.A life form on Titan.C.A spacecraft.D.A liquid substance on Titan.(4).What can we learn from what Allen said?（分数：4.00）A.Whether there is life on Titan is controversial.B.Scientists believe that there is life on Titan.C.A reasonable b
23、iological explanation is suggested.D.A non-biological chemical reaction is a possible explanation about Titan.(5).Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?（分数：4.00）A.Earthlike Living Beings Found on Titan.B.Finding of One More Moon of Saturn.C.Titan, a New Satellite Found.D.A Dif
24、ferent Life Form, a Possibility.Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and, fortunately, the number of such reasons is small. Pruning involves the cutting away of overgrown and unwanted branches, and the inexperienced gardener can be encouraged by the thought
25、that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way. First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have a desired shape or size. The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches
26、 which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape. Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier. You may cut diseased or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are bloc
27、king up the centre and so preventing the free movement of air. One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease, but it is a wound that will heal. Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or
28、die, so that there is a period when the tree is at risk. It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce which has been pruned smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness. You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the substances availab
29、le from garden shops produced especially for this purpose. Pruning is usually without interference from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed. If this does happen, it is, of course, impossible to paint them properly.（分数：20.00）(1).For an inexperienced gardener, whi
30、ch of the following could cause more damage to a tree?（分数：4.00）A.Cutting away overgrown branches.B.Cutting away unnecessary branches.C.Leaving the tree to grow on its own.D.Pruning the tree without good reasons.(2).Pruning should be done to _.（分数：4.00）A.make the tree grow tallerB.improve the shape o
31、f the treeC.get rid of the small branchesD.make the small branches thicker(3).Trees become unhealthy if the gardener _.（分数：4.00）A.allows too many branches to grow in the middleB.does not protect them from windC.forces them to grow too quicklyD.damages some of the small side branches(4).Why is a spec
32、ial substance painted on the tree?（分数：4.00）A.To make a wound smooth.B.To prevent disease entering a wound.C.To cover a rough surface.D.To help a wound to dry.(5).What was the author“s purpose when writing this passage?（分数：4.00）A.To give practical instruction for pruning a tree.B.To give a general de
33、scription of pruning.C.To explain how trees develop diseases.D.To discuss different methods of pruning.Deception and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous. If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be cheated, life, to compare it with s
34、uch things as we know, would be like a fairy tale and the Arabian Nights“ Entertainments. If we respect only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets. When we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent an
35、d absolute existence, and that petty fears and petty pleasure are but the shadow of reality. This is always exciting and great. By closing the eyes and falling asleep, by allowing to be deceived by shows, men establish and confirm their daily life of routine and habit everywhere, which still is buil
36、t on purely false foundation. Children, who play life, differentiate its true law and relations more clearly than men, who fail to live worthily, but who think that they are wiser by experience, that is, by failure. If a man should give us an account of the realities he saw, we should not recognize
37、the place in his description. Look at a meeting-house, or a court-house, or a jail, or a shop. Or a dwelling-house and say what that thing really is before a true gaze, and they would all go to pieces in your account of them. Men esteem truth remote, in the outskirts of the system, behind the farthe
38、st star, before Adam and after the last man. In eternity there is indeed something true and great. But all these times and places and occasions are now and here. God himself culminates in the present moment, and will never be more divine in the lapse of all ages. And we are enabled to understand at
39、all what is great and noble only by the continuing understanding and immersing of the reality that surrounds us. The universe constantly and obediently answers to our conceptions; whether we travel fast or slow, the track is laid for us. Let us spend our lives in conceiving then. The poet or the art
40、ist never yet had as fair and noble a design but some of his posterity at least could accomplish it.（分数：20.00）(1).What does the word “fabulous“ (in the first sentence of Paragragh 1) mean?（分数：4.00）A.Extremely pleasing.B.Barely credible.C.Extremely wonderful.D.Disgusting.(2).According to the passage,
41、 the art is _.（分数：4.00）A.only the artists“ businessB.something to admireC.something suspicious and unsteadyD.something unreal and deceptive(3).The author thinks that the grown-ups are _.（分数：4.00）A.wiser than children because of their life experienceB.ever knowing their true originC.capable of apprec
42、iating the real artsD.turning a blind eye to true life(4).The author is primarily urging the readers to _.（分数：4.00）A.look to the future for enlightenmentB.appraise the present for its true valueC.honor the wisdom of the past agesD.spend more time in leisure activities(5).The passage is primarily foc
43、used on _.（分数：4.00）A.history and economicsB.society and populationC.biology and physicsD.theology and philosophyWhy the inductive and mathematical sciences, after their first rapid development at the culmination of Greek civilization, advanced so slowly for two thousand yearsand why in the following
44、 two hundred years a knowledge of natural and mathematical science has accumulated, which so vastly exceeds all that was previously known that these sciences may be justly regarded as the products of our own timesare questions which have interested the modern philosopher not less than the objects wi
45、th which these sciences are more immediately familiar. The explanation which has become commonplace, that the ancients employed deduction chiefly in their scientific inquiries, while the modems employ induction, proves to be too narrow. For all knowledge is founded on observation, and proceeds from
46、this by analysis, by induction and deduction, and if possible by verification, or by steps which are indeed parts of one method. A failure to employ adequately any one of these partial methods, an imperfection in the arts and resources of observation and experiment, carelessness in observation, negl
47、ect of relevant factsthese are the faults which cause all failures to ascertain truth; but this statement does not explain why the modem is possessed of a greater virtue, and by what means he attained his superiority. Much less does it explain the sudden growth of science in recent time. The attempt
48、 to discover the explanation of this phenomenon in the antithesis (对立面；对照；对仗) of “facts“ and “theories“in the neglect among the ancients of the former, and their too exclusive attention to the latterproves also to be too narrow, as well as open to the charge of vagueness. Theories, if true, are fact
49、sa particular class of facts indeed, generally complex, and if a logical connection subsists between their constituents, have all the positive attributes of theories. Nevertheless, this distinction, however inadequate it may be to explain the source of true method in science, is well founded, and suggests an important character in true method. A theory, on the other hand, if true has all the characteristics of a fact, except that its verification is possible only by indirect, remote, and difficult means. To convert theories into facts is to ad
