1、专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 36及答案与解析 0 A century ago in the United States, when an individual brought suit against a company, public opinion tended to protect that company. But perhaps this phenomenon was most striking in the case of the railroads. Nearly half of all negligence(过失 )cases decided through 1896 inv
2、olved railroads. And the railroads usually won. Most of the cases were decided in state courts, when the railroads had the climate of the times on their sides. Government supported the railroad industry; the progress railroads represented was not to be slowed down by requiring them often to pay dama
3、ges to those unlucky enough to be hurt working for them. Court decisions always went against railroad workers. A Mr. Farwell, an engineer, lost his right hand when a switchmans negligence ran his engine off the track. The court reasoned, that since Farwell had taken the job of an engineer voluntaril
4、y at good pay, he had accepted the risk. Therefore the accident, though avoidable had the switchmen acted carefully, was a “pure accident“. In effect a railroad could never be held responsible for injury to one employee caused by the mistake of another. In one case where a Pennsylvania Railroad work
5、er had started a fire at a warehouse and the fire had spread several blocks, causing widespread damage, a jury found the company responsible for all the damage. But the court overturned the jurys decision because it argued that the railroads negligence was the immediate cause of damage only to the n
6、earest buildings. Beyond them the connection was too remote to consider. As the century wore on, public sentiment began to turn against the railroads against their economic and political power and high fares as well as against their callousness(无情 )toward individuals. 1 Which of the following is NOT
7、 true in Farwells case? （ A） Farwell was injured because he negligently ran his engine off the track. （ B） Farwell would not have been injured if the switchman had been more careful. （ C） The court argued that the victim had accepted the risk since he had willingly taken his job. （ D） The court deci
8、ded that the railroad should not be held responsible. 2 What must have happened after the fire case was settled in court? （ A） The railroad compensated for the damage to the immediate buildings. （ B） The railroad compensated for all the damage by the fire. （ C） The railroad paid nothing for the dama
9、ged building. （ D） The railroad worker paid for the property damage himself. 3 The following aroused public resentment EXCEPT （ A） political power. （ B） high fares. （ C） economic loss. （ D） indifference. 4 What does the passage mainly discuss? （ A） Railroad oppressing individuals in the US. （ B） His
10、tory of the US railroads. （ C） Railroad workers working rights. （ D） Law cases concerning the railroads. 4 Information is the primary commodity in more and more industries today. By 2005, 83% of American management personnel will be knowledge workers. Europe and Japan are not far behind. By 2005, ha
11、lf of all knowledge workers(22% of the labour force)will choose “flextime, flexplace“ arrangements, which allow them to work at home, communicating with the office via computer networks. In the United States, the so-called “digital divide“ seems to be disappearing. In early 2000, a poll found, that,
12、 where half of white households owned computers, so did fully 43% of African-American households, and their numbers were growing rapidly. Hispanic households continued to lag behind, but their rate of computer ownership was expanding as well. Company-owned and industry-wide television networks are b
13、ringing programming to thousands of locations. Business TV is becoming big business. Computer competence will approach 100% in US urban areas by the year 2005, with Europe and Japan not far behind. 80% of US homes will have computers in 2005, compared with roughly 50% now. In the United States, 5 of
14、 the 10 fastest-growing careers between now and 2005 will be computer related. Demand for programmers and systems analysts will grow by 70%. The same trend is accelerating in Europe, Japan, and India. By 2005, nearly all college texts and many high school and junior high books will be tied to Intern
15、et sites that provide source material, study exercises, and relevant news articles to aid in learning. Others will come with CD-ROMs that offer similar resources. Internet links will provide access to the card catalogues of all the major libraries in the world by 2005. It will be possible to call up
16、 on a PC screen millions of volumes from distant libraries. Web sites enhance books by providing pictures, sound, film clips, and flexible indexing and search utilities. Implications: Anyone with access to the Internet will be able to achieve the education needed to build a productive life in an inc
17、reasingly high-tech world. Computer learning may even reduce the growing American prison population. Knowledge workers are generally better paid than less-skilled workers. Their wealth is raising overall prosperity. Even entry-level workers and those in formerly unskilled positions require a growing
18、 level of education. For a good career in almost any field, computer competence is a must. This is one major trend raising the level of education required for a productive role in todays work force. For many workers, the opportunity for training is becoming one of the most desirable benefits any job
19、 can offer. 5 Information technology is expected to have impact on all the following EXCEPT （ A） American management personnel. （ B） European management personnel. （ C） American peoples choice of career. （ D） traditional practice at work. 6 “Digital divide“ in the 4th paragraph refers to （ A） the ga
20、p in terms of computer ownership. （ B） the tendency of computer ownership. （ C） the dividing line based on digits. （ D） the ethnic distinction among American household. 7 Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the passage? （ A） By 2005 all college and school study materials will
21、 turn electronic. （ B） By 2005 printed college and school study materials will be supplemented with electronic material. （ C） By 2005 some college and school study materials will be accompanied by CD-ROMs. （ D） By 2005 Internet links make worldwide library search a possibility. 8 Which of the follow
22、ing areas is NOT discussed in the passage? （ A） Future careers. （ B） Nature of future work. （ C） Ethnic differences. （ D） Schools and libraries. 9 At the end of the passage, the author seems to emphasize_in an increasingly high-tech world. （ A） the variety of education （ B） the content of education
23、（ C） the need for education （ D） the function of education 9 Rich Americans are willing to take conspicuous consumption to new heights by spending big bucks to fly into space, including paying 100,000 for a 15-minute trip into the heavens, according to a poll released on Monday. Possibly bored by th
24、e banal baubles(老套的小玩意 )of mundane Mother Earth or inspired by the dashing derring-do of such pioneers as first American in space Alan Shepard and first millionaire in space Dennis Tito, the poll says 7 percent of rich Americans would pay 20 million for a two-week orbital flight and 19 percent would
25、 pay 100,000 for 15-minute sub-orbital flight. The poll by Zogby International was commissioned by Futron Corp., a Maryland aerospace consulting group which has a 1.8 million contract with NASA to explore the commercial applications of space travel, including what space tourism could look like in th
26、e next 20 years. Zogby International conducted telephone interviews with 450 Americans whose yearly incomes exceed 250,000 or whose net worth exceeds 1 million. The polls, conducted in January but only released Monday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent. Futrons NASA project program
27、manager Derek Webber said, “We commissioned this survey in order to get an idea of what rich people think and not the man in the street who loves the idea of going into space but cant afford it.“ He added, “We are saying these trips will cost a minimum of 100,000 for a 15-minute trip, which was the
28、amount of time the first American in space, Alan Shepard, had and for that you get to feel space weightlessness and see the world from up there.“ That trip would take a tourist 50 miles(80 km)into space. Webber said a surprising 7 percent of the wealthy polled said they would be willing to take a tw
29、o-week flight to an orbiting space station, paying the 20 million that the Russians charged the two pioneering space tourists who have already made the trip, South African Mark Shuttleworth and American Dennis Tito. If the price dropped to $50,000, 16 percent of those surveyed would be interested. S
30、pace tourists would have to meet medical standards and only be able to go to the International Space Station. N Sync singer Lance Bass is currently undergoing tests to see if he could become the third space tourist. He wants to become the first entertainer in space. 10 Which of the following is a mo
31、tive for the rich people to have space travel? （ A） Such travel gives them a chance to show off their wealth. （ B） Such travel is more exciting than any games they ever had. （ C） They want to have a more relaxing holiday by such travel. （ D） They want to prove they are as brave as any other people.
32、11 What does the Futron Corp want to find out by the poll? （ A） Whether space travel will be profitable. （ B） Whether space travel is technically practicable. （ C） What the public think about space travel. （ D） What cost people would pay for space travel. 12 Who is most likely to be chosen as the su
33、bject of Zogbys survey? （ A） Those who are conducting prosperous businesses. （ B） Those who are fascinated by thrilling extreme games. （ C） Those who admire the heroic deeds of Alan Shepard. （ D） Those who are healthy enough for the space travel. 13 It was expected by Futron Corp that （ A） not all t
34、he rich people would be willing to take the survey. （ B） many rich people would be interested in space travel. （ C） very few rich people would prefer the longer flight. （ D） some rich people would suggest a price cut for the flight. 14 What can we learn about the space tourists from the passage? （ A
35、） The first space tourist had a fifteen-minute flight into space. （ B） The only two millionaire space tourists are both from the United States. （ C） Both the millionaire space tourists visited an orbiting space station. （ D） A singer, but not a millionaire, is going to be the third space tourist. 14
36、 If youre finding it tough to land a job, try expanding your job-hunting plan to include the following strategies: Set your target. While you should always keep your options open to compromise, you should also be sure to target exactly what you want in a job. A specific job hunt will be more efficie
37、nt than a random one. Schedule ample interviews. Use every possible method to get interviews answering ads, using search firms, contacting companies directly, surfing the Web, and networking. Even if a job is not perfect for you, every interview can make you learn from it. Follow up. Even if someone
38、 does not hire you, write them a thank-you note for the interview. Then, some weeks later, send another brief letter to explain that you still have not found the perfect position and that you will be available to interview again if the original position you applied for or any other position, for tha
39、t matter is open. Do this with every position you interview for, and you may just catch a break. Make it your full-time job. You cant find a job by looking infrequently. You have to make time for it. If youre unemployed and looking for a job, devote as much time as you would to a full-time job. If y
40、ou have a job while youre looking, figure out an organized schedule to maximize your searching time. Network vertically. In the research phase of your job-hunt, talk to people who are on a level above you in your desired industry. Theyll have some insights that people at your own level wont have, an
41、d will be in a good position to hire you or recommend you to be hired. Keep your spirits up. Looking for a job is one of the toughest things you will ever have to do. Maintain your confidence, stay persistent, and think positively, and eventually you will get a job that suits you. 15 According to th
42、e author, your job-hunting plan had better be as_as possible. （ A） random （ B） clear （ C） fixed （ D） complex 16 The “search firms“ are most probably （ A） companies that have vacant posts available. （ B） companies that supply website-search service. （ C） companies that provide job-hunting service. （
43、D） companies that study job market and employment rate. 17 When hunting a job, youd better communicate with people on a level above you because （ A） they will hire you soon. （ B） they will ask someone to hire you. （ C） you will benefit from their fame. （ D） you can learn from them. 18 As indicated i
44、n the passage, in order to get a suitable job, you should （ A） always keep an optimistic spirit. （ B） mainly focus on a full-time job. （ C） apply for one job at one time. （ D） follow other peoples footsteps. 19 Whats the best title for this passage? （ A） Interview Strategies. （ B） Interview Ceremony
45、. （ C） Job-hunting Experience. （ D） Job-hunting Strategies. 专业英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 36答案与解析 【知识模块】 阅读 1 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 文章第 3段第 2句在介绍 Farwell受伤时的情况时说，由于扳道工人的疏忽，他的引 擎偏离了轨道才使得 Farwell失去了右手，这并不是由于Farwell本人的疏忽造成的，因此应选 A。 【知识模块】 阅读 2 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 原文第 4段倒数第 2句说 “法庭推翻了陪审团要求全部赔偿的裁决，因为法庭认为铁路仅仅是造成就近建筑损坏的直接原因 ”。由此可以
46、推断，铁路公司只对毗邻建筑的损失进行了赔偿，因此 A符合题意。 【知识模块】 阅读 3 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的相关信息在最后一段。 A、 B、 D都被提到，只有 C的内容未被提及。 【知识 模块】 阅读 4 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本文主要介绍的是美国法院在铁路公司伤害案中的裁决，因此 D是最佳答案。 【知识模块】 阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 5 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 第 2段讲到在信息技术的影响下， 83的美国管理人员将变成knowledge worker，欧洲也紧跟其后，因此 A、 B均符合。根据第 8段可知信息技术对美国的职业发展也产生影响，排除 C。只有
47、 D未涉及，是正确答案。 【知识模块】 阅读 6 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 文 章第 4段以种族划分，分别讲到美国的白人群体、黑人群体、拉美群体对电脑的家庭占有差异在日益缩小，进一步印证和说明了该段中心句中所指的 “数字鸿沟 ”的消失，所以 A为正确选项。 digital divide指的是拥有计算机的人和没有计算机的人在各个方面的差别，也可指美国不同种族拥有电脑的差别，B、 C、 D均不符题意。 【知识模块】 阅读 7 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 根据第 9段可知，几乎所有学校的教材都可以和因特网相连，有的带有 CD-ROMS，而 A的意思是 “到了 2005年所有学校的学习材料都
48、将实现 电子化 ”，说得过于绝对，故 A符合题意。 【知识模块】 阅读 8 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 根据第 3、 4段可以排除 A、 B。根据 9、 10段可以排除 D。只有C“种族差异 ”并未被提及，文章所提到的与种族相关的陈述其目的并不是阐明种族之间的由于族群差异产生的不同，而只是要说明曾经存在的 “数字鸿沟 ”已不复存在，恰好是 “种族大同 ”的一个例证。 【知识模块】 阅读 9 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 从文章的最后两句话可以看出，随着社会科技含量的提高，对工作者受技术教育的程度的要求相应 提高，这使工作者将更为看中工作所提供的受教育的机会，由此可见人们对教育的需要也愈发
49、强烈，因而 C是正确的。 C中的 the need for education是对原文该段第 1句中的 require a growing level ofeducation的同义转换。 【知识模块】 阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 10 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 第 2段提到了富人们进行太空旅行的两个原因， B与该段开头提到的第一个原因内容相同，为本题答案。 A在原文并未提及； C中的 relaxing holiday没有 原文依据；原文该段只提及他们想象太空先驱那么英勇，因此 D中的any other people范围过宽了。 【知识模块】 阅读 11 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 第 3段中的 to explore表明 Futron公司的民意调查的目的，结合该段末的 space tourism可以推断 A为本题答案。原文没有从技术上讨论space travel的可能性，因此 B不正确；第 5段表明该民意调查的受试者是有钱人，因此 C中的 the public范围过宽；虽然原文提到了多组数字，但文中并无显示民意调查在这方 面做了调查，因此 D没有原文依据。 【知识模块】 阅读 12 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 第 5段中的 rich people明确表示 A为民意调查的对象。 B
