1、专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 119及答案与解析 一、 SECTION A In this section there are several passages followed by ten multiple-choice questions. For each question, there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. 0 There must be few questions on which responsible o
2、pinion is so utterly divided as on that of how much sleep we ought to have. There are some who think we can leave the body to regulate these matters for itself. “The answer is easy,“ says Dr. A. Burton. “With the right amount of sleep you should wake up fresh and alert five minutes before the alarm
3、rings.“ If he is right many people must be undersleeping, including myself. But we must remember that some people have a greater inertia than others. This is not meant rudely. They switch on slowly, and they are reluctant to switch off. They are alert at bedtime and sleepy when it is time to get up,
4、 and this may have nothing to do with how fatigued their bodies are, or how much sleep they must take to lose their fatigue. Other people feel sure that the present trend is towards too little sleep. To quote one medical opinion, “Thousands of people drift through life suffering from the effects of
5、too little sleep; the reason is not that they cant sleep.“ Like advancing colonists, we do seem to be grasping ever more of the land of sleep for our waking needs, pushing the boundary back and reaching, apparently, for a point in our evolution where we will sleep no more. This in itself, of course,
6、 need not be a bad thing. What could be disastrous, however, is that we should press too quickly towards this goal, sacrificing sleep only to gain more time in which to jeopardize our civilization by actions and decisions made weak by fatigue. Then, to complete the picture, there are those who belie
7、ve that most people are persuaded to sleep too much. Dr H. Roberts, writing in Every Man in Health, asserts:“It may safely be stated that, just as the majority eat too much, so the majority sleep too much.“ One can see the point of this also. It would be a pity to retard our development by holding b
8、ack those people who are gifted enough to work and play well with less than the average amount of sleep, if indeed it does them no harm. If one of the trends of evolution is that more of the life span is to be spent in gainful waking activity, then surely these people are in the van of this advance.
9、 1 The author seems to indicate that _. （ A） there are many controversial issues like the right amount of sleep （ B） among many issues the right amount of sleep is the least controversial （ C） people are now moving towards solving many controversial issues （ D） the right amount of sleep is a topic o
10、f much controversy among doctors 2 The author disagrees with Dr. Burton because _. （ A） few people can wake up feeling fresh and alert （ B） some people still feel tired with enough sleep （ C） some people still feel sleepy with enough sleep （ D） some people go to bed very late at night 3 In the last
11、paragraph the author points out that _. （ A） sleeping less is good for human development （ B） people ought to be persuaded to sleep less than before （ C） it is incorrect to say that people sleep too little （ D） those who can sleep less should be encouraged 3 In its first month orbiting Saturn, the C
12、assini spacecraft has detected a new radiation belt in an unexpected place, its invisible swarm of trapped high-energy particles circling the planet inside the inner edge of Saturns signature disk of luminous rings. Scientists who reported the discovery said yesterday that they were surprised to fin
13、d a relatively small radiation belt completely isolated from a planets main radiation belts, which lie at much greater distances. They had not expected that such a concentration of energetic particles could be sustained inside the famous Saturnian rings. The phenomenon of a single isolated belt, the
14、 scientists said, has never been observed at any other planet in the solar system. By contrast, the Van Allen belts of Earth consist of two related regions of intense radiation trapped by the planets magnetic field. In a NASA conference call with reporters, Dr. Donald G. Mitchell, a Cassini mission
15、scientist from Johns Hopkins University, said the newly discovered radiation belt was detected as the spacecraft made its closest approach to Saturn immediately after rocketing into its orbit on July 1. No previous spacecraft visiting Saturn had been in the proper position to make such a discovery.
16、Dr. Mitchell said it was the spacecrafts imaging magnetometer that had observed the radiation belt, which extended around Saturn from about 15,000 miles above the planets cloud tops to the inner edge of the innermost of its spectacular rings. The belt is much smaller, and the energies of its particl
17、es are less intense, than Saturns main radiation belts. With its discovery, Dr. Mitchell said, “we have seen something that we did not expect: that radiation belt particles can hop over obstructions like Saturns rings.“ Other Cassini mission scientists reported puzzling patterns of lightning and thu
18、nderstorms on Saturn and observations of a striking glow emanating day and night from the planets largest moon, Titan. 4 What is special about the belt discovered latest? （ A） It is an insular belt which unexpectedly pierces through Saturnian rings. （ B） It is much smaller and less intense than the
19、formerly-discovered belts. （ C） It is different from the Van Allen belts of Earth. （ D） It is the outermost belt of Saturn. 5 Why couldnt the radiation belt be found earlier? （ A） Because visual angles are different. （ B） Because spacecrafts didnt approach Saturn close enough in the past. （ C） Becau
20、se viewing spot matters. （ D） Because the spacecraft had no imaging magnetometer advanced enough in the past. 6 In the last paragraph, “emanating“could be replaced by _. （ A） changing （ B） emitting （ C） disappearing （ D） transporting 6 Scientists have determined that Archaeopteryx, the earliest know
21、n bird, was definitely birdbrained, meaning no disrespect. Indeed, they consider the fossils brain size decisive evidence that Archaeopteryx had what it took to fly. The new research suggests, moreover, that birds probably started flying millions of years earlier than scientists previously thought.
22、It is just that fossils of those first flying birds predecessors of Archaeopteryx have never been found. The researchers, at the Natural History Museum in London, based their findings on the first X-ray examination and reconstruction of the braincase and inner ear of a 147-million-year-old Archaeopt
23、eryx specimen. They found that in size, shape and volume, its brain was similar to that of the modern eagle or sparrow. Measurements of the semicircular canals, the mechanism for balance inside the ear, showed that Archaeopteryx had the “neurological and structural adaptations necessary for flight,“
24、 the scientists concluded. Their research, involving an X-ray computed tomography scan, or C.T., of the fossils braincase and inner ear, is described today in the journal Nature. Previous studies of the feathered wing and tail of Archaeopteryx and its birdlike anatomy, including a pronounced wishbon
25、e, supported the prevailing view of experts that it was capable of some degree of powered flight. Archaeopteryx is considered a prime transitional species in the evolution of some reptiles, probably dinosaurs, into todays birds. But the research team, led by Dr. Angela Milner, a paleontologist at th
26、e British museum, wrote that until their investigation of Archaeopteryx, “little was understood about the extent to which its brain and special senses were adapted for flight.“ Dr. Milner said the new study not only established that Archaeopteryx was capable of “controlling the complex business of f
27、lying,“ but also showed “how much there is still to discover about when and how bird flight began.“ In a statement issued by the museum, Dr. Milner said, “If flight was this advanced by the time Archaeopteryx was around, then were birds actually flying millions of years earlier than wed previously t
28、hought?“ 7 what does “birdbrained“ mean here in the first paragraph? （ A） Naive. （ B） Violent. （ C） Narrow-minded. （ D） Adapted for flight. 8 The reason why there still needs improvement in the past view of Archaeopteryx is that_. （ A） fossils of those earliest birds havent been discovered yet （ B）
29、the wishbone they studied is just so-called wishbone （ C） there was no study of the role of its brain and some faculties in flight （ D） Archaeopteryx is regarded as the earliest known bird 9 The authors attitude towards the new research is_. （ A） supporting （ B） neutral （ C） negative （ D） critical 9
30、 Womens minds work differently from mens. At least, that is what most men are convinced of. Psychologists view the subject either as a matter of frustration or a joke. Now the biologists have moved into this minefield, and some of them have found that there are real differences between the brains of
31、 men and women. But being different, they point out hurriedly, is not the same as being better or worse. There is, however, a definite structural variation between the male and female brain. The difference is in a part of the brain that is used in the most complex intellectual processes the link bet
32、ween the two halves of the brain. The two halves are linked by a trunkline of between 200 and 300 million nerves, the corpus callosum. Scientists have found quite recently that the corpus callosum in women is always larger and probably richer in nerve fibres than it is in men. This is the first time
33、 that a structural difference has been found between the brains of women and men and it must have some significance. The question is “What?“, and if this difference exists, are there others? Research shows that present-day women think differently and behave differently from men. Are some of these di
34、fferences biological and inborn, a result of evolution? We tend to think that it is the influence of society that produces these differences. But could we be wrong? Research showed that these two halves of the brain had different functions, and that the corpus callosum enabled them to work together.
35、 For most people, the left half is used for word handling, analytical and logical activities; the right half works on pictures, patterns and forms. We need both halves working together. And the better the connections, the more harmoniously the two halves work. And, according to research findings, wo
36、men have the better connections. But it isnt all that easy to explain the actual differences between skills of men and women on this basis. In schools throughout the world girls tend to be better than boys at “language subjects“ and boys better at maths and physics. If these differences correspond w
37、ith the differences in the hemispheric trunkline, there is an unalterable distinction between the sexes. We shant know for a while, partly because we dont know of any precise relationship between abilities in school subjects and the functioning of the two halves of the brain, and we cannot understan
38、d how the two halves interact via the corpus callosum. But this striking difference must have some effect and, because the difference is in the parts of the brain. involved in intellect, we should be looking for differences in intellectual processing. 10 According to the passage it is commonly belie
39、ved that brain differences are caused by _ factors. （ A） biological （ B） psychological （ C） physical （ D） social 11 At the end of the passage the author proposes more work on _. （ A） the brain structure as a whole （ B） the functioning of part of the brain （ C） the distinction between the sexes （ D）
40、the effects of the corpus callosum 12 What is the main purpose of the passage? （ A） To outline the research findings on the brain structure. （ B） To explain the link between sex and brain structure. （ C） To discuss the various factors that cause brain differences. （ D） To suggest new areas in brain
41、research. 二、 SECTION B In this section there are five short answer questions based on the passages in Section A. Answer the questions with No more than TEN words in the space provided. 13 How many different opinions about the issue of sleep does the author comment on? 14 The discoveries in which par
42、agraph are not about the newly-discovered radiation belt? 15 What do birds elove from, considering Archaeopteryx a transitional species? 16 What does “These differences“ in Paragraph 5 refer to? 专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 119答案与解析 一、 SECTION A In this section there are several passages followed by ten multiple-
43、choice questions. For each question, there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. 【知识模块】 阅读 1 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题考查读者对文章首句的理解。这句话的意思是：适当的睡眠时间究竟为多少，人们对此各持己见；而其他的话题很少会引起如此大的分歧。在四个选项中，只有 D与原文意思相符。注意选 A(存在许多像适当的睡眠是多少这样的充满争议的问题 )，与原文含义并不相同。 【知识模块
44、】 阅读 2 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的答案在第 1段最后两句。 Burton博士认为人的身体会自我调节。但作者用 if引导的从句从侧面否定了博士的观点。作者说如果博士的 观点是正确的话，那么许多人都属于睡眠不足。但实际上有些人睡眠的惯性比较大，他们早上起来还是觉得睡意朦胧，这种现象与身体是否疲倦没有关系。 C是正确地表达了作者的观点。 【知识模块】 阅读 3 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题答案在本文最后一段最后两句，大意是：如果有些人在睡眠很少的情况下也能很好地工作和娱乐，并且这对他们的身体无害的话，就不应该阻止他们这样做，他们正是人类进步的先锋。故选 D。 【知识模块】
45、阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 4 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 原文第 5段说： “发光带要小一些，粒子能量也不如土星主要发光带强。 ”故正确答案为 B。 A称该辐射带是孤立的，它出人意料地穿透了土星环；原文说到，辐射带的颗粒可以穿透土星环，二者并不一致，故不选 A。 C本身没错，但说它与地球上的范 艾伦辐带不同，并未揭示该辐射带的特点，与题意不符。 D错误，该辐射带在土星环内侧，远比土星的主要辐射带低。 【知识模块】 阅读 5 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 第 4段中 “先前探测土星的飞船没有到达适当的位置而没有作出如此发现。 ”说明先前飞船都没有如此的发现是由于 position不适当。
46、C中的 spot正是此义。注意理解 viewing spot matters是 “观察位置问题 ”之义。 【知识模块】 阅读 6 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 考点单词 emanating前的 glow(红光 )和后的 from 应该表明科学家发现了有红光从土星的卫星 Titan不断地 “发出 ”，故本题答案应为 B。其他选项的词义放到原文中都说不通。 【知识模块】 阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 7 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 birdbrained原指 “愚蠢的 ”意思，但在本 文中却是指具有适应飞行的能力。第 1段最后一句表明始祖鸟拥有使其飞翔的东西，结合第 4段 “科学家总结，耳内控制
47、平衡的半规管的测量显示始祖鸟拥有为了飞翔所必需的神经的和结构的相应改造 ”，我们可以得知， D为正确答案。 【知识模块】 阅读 8 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 根据文章第 7段可知过去并没有对始祖鸟的脑及其他一些感觉功能进行研究，所以，在这些方面还有待进一步的提高。因此， C为正确选项。 【知识模块】 阅读 9 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 纵观全文，作者都在客观地陈述事实，没有添加任何个人感情色彩。所以，正确答案为 B“中立的 ”。 【知识模块】 阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 10 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 第 3段倒数第 2句说 “我们往往认为社会影响产生了这些差异。 ”故D正确。
48、 【知识模块】 阅读 11 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 文章最后一句说： “这种显著的差异 (男女性之间大脑中连接两个半球的胼胝体的差异 )是一定会有些影响的；因为这些不同之处正位于大脑中涉及智力活动的区域，我们应当寻求 男女间智力活动过程的差异。 D“胼胝体的影响 ”暗含有这种差异。故为答案。 【知识模块】 阅读 12 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 文章第 1、 2段谈到男女大脑存在差异，该差异就在联结左右半脑的由 2-3亿神经构成的胼胝体上。女性的胼胝体比男性大，但这种差异有何意义，目前则尚不能确证。文章以主体部分说明性别差异可能与大脑之间的差异有关系，但均不能确定二者有必然联系。文
49、章最后认定，这种显著差异必然会有些作用的并指出我们应当寻找智力过程中的不同之处。因此看来， D与文章末尾内容 (即主旨所在处 )一致。为 正确选项。 【知识模块】 阅读 二、 SECTION B In this section there are five short answer questions based on the passages in Section A. Answer the questions with No more than TEN words in the space provided. 13 【正确答案】 Three 【试题解析】 第 2段开头的 other people feel表明第 2段是和第 1段 不同的两种看法。第 3段开头的 Then， to complete the picture表明接下来还有一点看法需要补充，综合来看，本文作者提到了三种关于睡眠的不同看法，因此答案是 three。 【知识模块】 阅读 14 【正确答案】 The last paragraph 【试题解析】 最后一段提到的是有关土星和土星的卫星 Titan的发现，而上文全部段落都与新近发现
