1、专业英语四级（阅读理解）模拟试卷 1及答案与解析 0 The girls in this sixth grade class in East Palo Alto, California, all have the same access to computers as boys. But researchers say, by the time they get to high school, they are victims of what the researchers call a major new gender gap in technology. Janice Weinman of
2、 the American Association of University Women says, “Girls tend to be less comfortable than boys with the computer. They use it more for word processing rather than for problem solving, rather than to discover new ways in which to understand information.“ After re-examining a thousand studies, the A
3、merican Association of University Women researchers found that girls make up only a small percentage of students in computer science classes. Girls consistently rate themselves significantly lower than boys in their ability and confidence in using computers. And they use computers less often than bo
4、ys outside the classroom. The instructor of this computer lab says hes already noticed some differences. Charles Cheadle of Cesar Chavez School says, “Boys are not so afraid they might do something that will harm the computer, whereas girls are afraid they might break it somehow.“ Six years ago, the
5、 software company Purple Moon noticed that girls computer usage was falling behind boys. Karen Gould says, “The number one reason girls told us they dont like computer games is not because theyre too violent, or too competitive. Girls just said theyre incredibly boring.“ Purple Moon says it found wh
6、at girls want, characters they can relate to and story lines relative to whats going on in their own lives. Karen Gould of Purple Moon Software says, “What we definitely found from girls is there is no intrinsic reason why they wouldnt want to play on a computer; it was just a content thing.“ The sp
7、onsor of the study says it all boils down to this, the technology gender gap that separates the girls from the boys must be closed if women are to compete effectively with men in the 21st century. 1 What can you infer from the passage about Janice Weinman? （ A） She is a computer scientist. （ B） She
8、works for the American Association of University Women. （ C） She is the sponsor of the study. （ D） She is a teacher. 2 Whats the tone of the author? （ A） Subjective. （ B） Critical. （ C） Sarcastic. （ D） Objective. 3 Whats the main idea of the passage? （ A） It discusses the difference in using compute
9、rs between girls and boys. （ B） It criticizes the lack of access to computers among school girls. （ C） It argues for a more balanced educational program for boys and girls. （ D） It explains why it is important to include computer games into classroom education. 4 According to Paragraph 5, why dont g
10、irls like computer games? （ A） Computer games are competitive. （ B） Computer games are violent. （ C） Computer games are boring. （ D） Computer games are for boys. 5 Which of the following word can replace “intrinsic“ in Paragraph 6? （ A） Complex （ B） Logical （ C） Inherent （ D） Obvious 5 A cassette de
11、ck plays an audio tape from the woman who died Tuesday and she is asked, “How do you feel about dying?“ “Im looking forward to it.“ Two days before her death, an 80 year old cancer patient made this audio tape. She said she was suffering, and no longer able to do things she enjoyed, such as gardenin
12、g in her back yard. The unidentified woman says, “Somebody saying that I to sit in a chair, waiting to die thats not right, because I was always able to get around and do things and now suddenly Im in a position I cant even walk very good and I have trouble breathing.“ Tuesday evening, in the presen
13、ce of family members in her home, the still unid-entified woman swallowed a lethal dose of drugs. Barbara Coombs Lee says, “She took some medication that prevented any nausea and vomiting. She took her dose, the lethal dose of medication. She followed it with a shot of brandy and she fell asleep alm
14、ost immediately.“ The killing dose of barbiturates was legally prescribed by a doctor. Under Oregons law, first in the nation, doctors may assist a patient to kill him or herself if that patient makes it clear thats what they want and if they have less than six months to live. The woman talked with
15、three physicians before finding one to help her die. Barbara Coombs Lee says, “Her original attending physician said he was not interested in participating and so she went to another attending physician. She actually went to a third attending physician because the second person, although was not opp
16、osed, he was not actually willing to meet her needs as she saw them.“ Coombs did not attend the suicide. But she has been a leading advocate for Oregons death with dignity act, passed by voters in 1994, and overwhelmingly reaffirmed in a ballot measure last November. Oregons Roman Catholic church fo
17、ught the law. Archbishop John Vlazny says, “We are very fearful more people are going to feel that what we are trying to tell them its better to die than to burden us with your weak-ened life. Thats a great fear I personally have.“ Its been five months since Oregons Death with Dignity law took effec
18、t. This is the first suicide to be reported under the law. The report led to disclosure of still another, doctor-assisted death. A woman told the Portland newspaper, The Oregonian, that a family member suffering from cancer killed herself prior to Tuesdays suicide. 6 Why did the woman mentioned at t
19、he beginning of the report want to die?_. （ A） She wanted the law to pass after she died. （ B） She was very ill with cancer and did not want to live. （ C） She wanted to threaten her doctor. （ D） She had an accident. 7 The woman committed suicide_after the law took effect. （ A） five years （ B） five m
20、onths （ C） five years （ D） five days 8 People who want help to die need to_. （ A） make it clear that they want to die （ B） have less than six months to live （ C） both A and B above （ D） neither A nor B above 9 One group that fought the assisted suicide law was_. （ A） death with Dignity Act （ B） oreg
21、on doctors （ C） oregon lawmakers （ D） the Roman Catholic Church 10 The Death with Dignity Act has been passed in_. （ A） every state of the U.S.A （ B） many states of the U.S.A. （ C） Oregon only. （ D） None of the above. 10 In North Beach in San Francisco, where some pretty super food gets served every
22、 night “Absolutely very super food!“ “I really like the taste“ are comments by two diners. But were not just talking about taste. Research now shows some foods, including tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil are among the superfoods. Superfoods are packed with powerful chemicals that may offer yo
23、ur body great protection against chronic disease.“Including cancer, obesity, and heart disease. Vibrantly colored red yellow orange and green all giving you different types of phytochemicals!“ Natalie Ledesma is a registered dietician at U.C.S.F. She says compounds found in superfoods called phytoch
24、emicals can reduce the risk of cancer, boost the immune system, and even protect the heart. She showed us what everyone should try to eat each week for optimal health. On her shopping list? Herbs! “Dark green ones (herbs), like rosemary and thyme, and any intensely colored spice, like tumeric or red
25、 pepper. “Both of those have antiinflammatory properties.“ Tumeric may reduce the risk of leukemia, skin, and liver cancers. Hot peppers may reduce the risk of colon, stomach, and rectal cancers. Also on the list: green veggies, but not just any green veggies. “Brussel sprouts are part of the crucif
26、erous (十字花科植物 ) vegetable family that has significant anti-cancer properties,“ said Ledesma. “That family also has a very favorable effect on hormone metabolism.“ Other cruciferous veggies include cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. And dont forget the tomato. “It is probably the best source of lyco
27、pene, which is one of the phy-tochemicals that has shown significant anticancer properties, especially with prostate and potentially lung and breast cancer as well,“ said Ledesma. As for fruit, citrus contains Vitamin C, limonoids, and phenols, which inactivate cancer cells and strengthen the immune
28、 system. Cantaloupes, mangos, and carrots contain cancer-fighting carotenoids. And berries are bursting with flavonoids and ellagic acid antioxidants that protect against cancer, ulcers, and viruses. Natalie recommends organic. “Organic fruits and veggies have shown not only to have lower pesticide
29、toxicities and lower pesticide levels, but also now have been shown to have higher phytochemical content,“ she said. Dont forget the fatty fish or flaxseed both are excellent sources of Omega Three fatty acids that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and boost the immune system, olive oil, which may
30、reduce breast, prostate, or colon cancer, and soy. “Soy has prot-ective effects for heart disease as well as osteoporosis, potentially,“ Ledesma said. And finally onions, garlic, and shallots. They may protect the heart, fight cancer, and help with asthma. 11 According to the passage, Natalie Ledesm
31、a would most likely buy the following foods EXCEPT_. （ A） Rosemary （ B） Brussel sprouts （ C） Red apples （ D） Onions 12 What is the meaning of “registered“ in Paragraph 1? （ A） honored （ B） certified （ C） respectful （ D） renowned 13 How do Vitamin C, limonoids and phenols help cancer patients? （ A） I
32、t changes the cancerous cells into something harmless. （ B） It kills the cancerous cells. （ C） It makes the cancerous cells lose vitality. （ D） It can combat against cancerous cells. 14 Tomato is especially good for patients with_. （ A） colon cancer （ B） breast cancer （ C） stomach cancer （ D） rectal
33、 cancer 15 Whats the main idea of the passage? （ A） Its an advertisement for superfoods. （ B） It describes a womans shopping list of foods. （ C） It questions whether some foods are safe to eat. （ D） It explains what are the benefits of superfoods. 15 Every second, 1 hectare of the worlds rainforest
34、is destroyed. Thats equivalent to two football fields. An area the size of New York City is lost every day. In a year, that adds up to 31 million hectares more than the land area of Poland. This alarming rate of destruction has serious consequences for the environment; scientists estimate, for examp
35、le, that 137 species of plant, insect or animal become extinct every day due to logging. In British Columbia, where, since 1990, thirteen rainforest valleys have been clearcut, 142 species of salmon have already become extinct, and the habitats of grizzly bears, wolves and many other creatures are t
36、hreatened. Logging, however, provides jobs, profits, taxes for the government and cheap products of all kinds for consumers, so the government is reluctant to restrict or control it. Much of Canadas forestry production goes towards making pulp and paper. According to the Canadian Pulp and Paper Asso
37、ciation, Canada supplies 34% of the worlds wood pulp and 49% of its newsprint paper. If these paper products could be produced in some other way, Canadian forests could be preserved. Recently, a possible alternative way of producing paper has been suggested by agriculturalists and environmentalists:
38、 a plant called hemp. Hemp has been cultivated by many cultures for thousands of years. It produces fiber which can be made into paper, fuel, oils, textiles, food, and rope. According to its proponents, four times as much paper can be produced from land using hemp rather than trees, and many environ
39、mentalists believe that the large-scale cultivation of hemp could reduce the pressure on Canadas forests. However, there is a problem: hemp is illegal in many countries of the world. This plant, so useful for fibre, rope, oil, fuel and textiles, is a species of cannabis, related to the plant from wh
40、ich marijuana is produced. In the late 1930s, a movement to ban the drug marijuana began to gather force, resulting in the eventual banning of the cultivation not only of the plant used to produce the drug, but also of the commercial fiber-producing hemp plant. Although both George Washington and Th
41、omas Jefferson grew hemp in large quantities on their own land, any American growing the plant today would soon find himself in prison despite the fact that marijuana cannot be produced from the hemp plant, since it contains almost no THC (the active ingredient in the drug). In recent years, two maj
42、or movements for legalization have been gathering strength. One group of activists believes that ALL cannabis should be legal both the hemp plant and the marijuana plant and that the use of the drug marijuana should not be an offense. They argue that marijuana is not dangerous or addictive, and that
43、 it is used by large numbers of people who are not criminals but productive members of society. They also point out that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol or tobacco. The other legalization movement is concerned only with the hemp plant used to produce fibre; this group wants to make it legal to
44、cultivate the plant and sell the fiber for paper and pulp production. This second group has had a major triumph recently: in 1997, Canada legalized the farming of hemp for fiber. For the first time since 1938, hundreds of farmers are planting this crop, and soon we can expect to see pulp and paper p
45、rod-uced from this new source. 16 How long does it take for 100 hectares of rainforest to be destroyed? （ A） Less than two minutes （ B） About an hour （ C） Two hours （ D） A day 17 Who is suggesting that pulp and paper could be produced without cutting down trees? （ A） The logging industry （ B） The go
46、vernment （ C） The environmental lobby （ D） The drug addicts 18 Why do agriculturalists think that hemp would be better for paper production than trees? （ A） It is cheaper to grow hemp than to cut down trees. （ B） More paper can be produced from the same area of land. （ C） Hemp produces higher qualit
47、y paper. （ D） Paper made of hemp is more expensive. 19 When was hemp production banned in Canada? （ A） In 1930 （ B） In 1960 （ C） In 1996 （ D） In 1938 20 Why was hemp banned? （ A） It is related to the marijuana plant. （ B） It can be used to produce marijuana. （ C） It was no longer a useful crop. （ D）
48、 It was destructive to the land. 20 Worldwide, the equivalent of almost 270,000 trees is either flushed or dumped in landfills every day and roughly 10 percent of that total is attributable to toilet paper, according to the latest issue of World Watch magazine. “Meanwhile, growing populations, adopt
49、ion of Western lifestyles, and sanitation improvements in developing countries are driving the increased use of toilet paper,“ the magazine added. “The result is that forests in both the global North and South are under assault by paper companies competing to fill consumer demand.“ “Steadily increasing demand for toilet paper in developing countries is a critical factor in the impact that toilet paper manufacturer has on forests around the world,“ says author Noelle Robbins in a WorldWatch In
