1、国家公共英语（四级）笔试模拟试卷 159及答案与解析 一、 Section II Use of English (15 minutes) Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. 0 The United States has historically had higher rates of marriage than those of other industrialized countri
2、es. The current annual marriage【 21】 in the United States about 9 new marriages for every 1,000 people is【 22】 higher than it is in other industrialized countries. However, marriage is【 23】 as widespread as it was several decades ago.【 24】 of American adults who are married【 25】 from 72 percent in 1
3、970 to 60 percent in 2002. This does not mean that large numbers of people will remain unmarried【 26】their lives. Throughout the 20th century, about 90 percent of Americans married at some【 27】 in their lives. Experts【 28】 that about the same proportion of todays young adults will eventually marry.
4、The timing of marriage has varied【 29】 over the past century. In 1995 the average age of women in the United States at the【 30】 of their first marriage was 25. The average age of men was about 27. Men and women in the United States marry【 31】 the first time at an average of five years later than peo
5、ple【 32】 in the 1950s.【 33】 , young adults of the 1950s married younger than did any previous【 34】 in U. S. history. Todays later age of marriage is【 35】 the age of marriage between 1890 and 1940.【 36】 , a greater proportion of the population was married (95 percent) during the 1950s than at any tim
6、e before【 37】 . Experts do not agree on【 38】 the “marriage rush“ of the late 1940s and 1950s occurred, but most social scientists believe it represented a【 39】 to the return of peaceful life and prosperity after 15 years of severe economic【 40】 and war. （ A） ratio （ B） rate （ C） percentage （ D） poll
7、 （ A） potentially （ B） intentionally （ C） substantially （ D） randomly （ A） not any longer （ B） no more （ C） not any more （ D） no longer （ A） The proportion （ B） A proportion （ C） The number （ D） A number （ A） deteriorated （ B） declined （ C） deduced （ D） demolished （ A） past （ B） passing （ C） through
8、out （ D） through （ A） period （ B） level （ C） point （ D） respect （ A） project （ B） plan （ C） promise （ D） propose （ A） unexpectedly （ B） irregularly （ C） flexibly （ D） consistently （ A） time （ B） year （ C） stage （ D） age （ A） at （ B） in （ C） of （ D） for （ A） do （ B） did （ C） marry （ D） married （ A） B
9、esides （ B） However （ C） Whereas （ D） Nevertheless （ A） descendants （ B） ascendants （ C） generation （ D） population （ A） in line with （ B） according to （ C） based on （ D） caused by （ A） Moreover （ B） Likewise （ C） Similarly （ D） Therefore （ A） and after （ B） or after （ C） ever since （ D） or since （
10、A） why （ B） how （ C） when （ D） what （ A） refusal （ B） realization （ C） reality （ D） response （ A） repression （ B） aggression （ C） depression （ D） restriction Part B Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D . Mark your answers on ANSWER
11、SHEET 1. 20 If the various advocates of the conflicting options are all smart, experienced, and well-informed, why do they disagree so completely? Wouldnt they all have thought the issue through carefully and come to approximately the same “best“ conclusion? The answer to that crucial question lies
12、in the structure of the human brain and the way it processes information. Most human beings actually decide before they think. When any human being executive, specialized expert, or person in the street encounters a complex issue and forms an opinion, often within a matter of seconds, how thoroughly
13、 has he or she explored the implications of the various courses of action? Answer: not very thoroughly. Very few people, no matter how intelligent or experienced, can take inventory of the many branching possibilities, possible outcomes, side effects, and undesired consequences of a policy or a cour
14、se of action in a matter of seconds. Yet, those who pride themselves on being decisive often try to do just that. And once their brains lock onto an opinion, most of their thinking thereafter consists of finding support for it. A very serious side effect of argumentative decision making can be a lac
15、k of support for the chosen course of action on the part of the “losing“ faction. When one faction wins the meeting and the others see themselves as losing, the battle often doesnt end when the meeting ends. Anger, resentment, and jealousy may lead them to sabotage the decision later, or to reopen t
16、he debate at later meetings. There is a better way. As philosopher Aldous Huxley said, “It isnt who is right, but what is right, that counts. “ The structured-inquiry method offers a better alternative to argumentative decision making by debate. With the help of the Internet and wireless computer te
17、chnology, the gap between experts and executives is now being dramatically closed. By actually putting the brakes on the thinking process, slowing it down, and organizing the flow of logic, its possible to create a level of clarity that sheer argumentation can never match. The structured-inquiry pro
18、cess introduces a level of conceptual clarity by organizing the contributions of the experts, then brings the experts and the decision makers closer together. Although it isnt possible or necessary for a president or prime minister to listen in on every intelligence analysis meeting, its possible to
19、 organize the experts information to give the decision maker much greater insight as to its meaning. This process may somewhat resemble a marketing focus group; its a simple, remarkably clever way to bring decision makers closer to the source of the expert information and opinions on which they must
20、 base their decisions. 21 From the first 3 paragraphs we can learn that _. （ A） executive, specialized expert, are no more clever than person in the street. （ B） very few people decide before they think. （ C） those who pride themselves on being decisive often fail to do so （ D） people tend to consid
21、er carefully before making decisions 22 Judging from the context, what does the word “them“ (Line 4, Paragraph 4) refer to? （ A） Decision makers. （ B） The “losing“ faction. （ C） Anger, resentment, and jealousy. （ D） Other people. 23 Aldous Huxleys remark (Para. 5) implies that _. （ A） there is a sub
22、tle difference between right and wrong （ B） we cannot tell who is right and what is wrong （ C） what is right is more important than who is right （ D） what is right accounts for the question who is right 24 According to the author, the function of the structured-inquiry method is _. （ A） to make deci
23、sions by debate （ B） to apply the Internet and wireless computer technology （ C） to brake on the thinking process, slowing it down （ D） to create a level of conceptual clarity 25 The structured-inquiry process can be useful for _. （ A） decision makers （ B） intelligence analysis meeting （ C） the expe
24、rts information （ D） marketing focus groups 25 Every spring migrating salmon return to British Columbias rivers to spawn. And every spring new reports detail fresh disasters that befall them. This year is no different. The fisheries committee of Canada s House of Commons and a former chief justice o
25、f British Columbia, Bryan Williams, have just examined separately why 1. 3 m sockeye salmon mysteriously “disappeared“ from the famed Fraser river fishery in 2004. Their conclusions point to a politically explosive conflict between the survival of salmon and the rights of First Nations, as Canadians
26、 call Indians. In 2004, only about 524,000 salmon are thought to have returned to the spawning grounds, barely more than a quarter the number who made it four years earlier. High water temperatures may have killed many. The House of Commons also lambasted the federal Department of Fisheries and Ocea
27、ns (DFO) for poor scientific data, and for failing to enforce catch levels. Four similar reports since 1992 have called for the departments reform. In vain. its senior officials are “in denial“ about its failings, said the committee. Mr Williams report added a more shocking twist. He concluded that
28、illegal fishing on the Fraser river is “rampant and out of control“, with “no-go“ zones where fisheries of ricers are told not to confront Indian poachers for fear of violence. The judge complained that the DFO withheld a report by one of its investigators which detailed extensive poaching and sale
29、of salmon by members of the Cheam First Nation, some of whom were armed. Some First Nations claim an unrestricted right to fish and sell their catch. Canadas constitution acknowledges the aboriginal right to fish for food and for social and ceremonial needs, but not a general commercial right. On th
30、e Fraser, however, the DFO has granted Indians a special commercial fishery. To some Indians, even that is not enough. Both reports called for more funds for the DFO, to improve data collection and enforcement. They also recommended returning to a single legal regime for commercial fishing applying
31、to all Canadians. On April 14th, Geoff Regan, the federal fisheries minister, responded to two previous reports from a year ago. One, from a First Nations group, suggested giving natives a rising share of the catch. The other proposed a new quota system for fishing licenses, and the conclusion of lo
32、ng-standing talks on treaties, including fishing rights, with First Nations. Mr Regan said his department would spend this year consulting “stakeholders“ (natives, commercial and sport fishermen). It will also launch pilot projects aimed at improving conservation, enforcement and First Nations acces
33、s to fisheries. 26 The “explosive conflict“ in Para 1 refers to _. （ A） salmons return to spawn and its survival （ B） The fisheries committee of Canadas House of Commons and Bryan Williams （ C） the struggle between sockeye salmon and human beings （ D） the collision between salmons survival and human
34、 fishery 27 The number of salmon every spring in British Columbias rivers four years earlier is _. （ A） 1.3 million （ B） about 524,000 （ C） about 1,824,000 （ D） above 2,000,000 28 Which of the following is NOT the reason for the decrease of salmon according to Mr Williams? （ A） High water temperatur
35、es. （ B） Shocking twist. （ C） Illegal fishing. （ D） Officials failings. 29 Geoff Regan, the federal fisheries minister is most probably going to _. （ A） responding to two previous reports （ B） proposing a new quota system for fishing licenses （ C） consulting natives, commercial and sport fishermen （
36、 D） keeping a balance between conservation, enforcement and fisheries 30 The best title for the passage may be _. （ A） Where have the salmon gone （ B） How to protect the salmon （ C） Environment and fishery （ D） The survival of salmon and the rights of First Nations 30 People in business can use fore
37、sight to identify new products and services, as well as markets for those products and services. An increase in minority populations in a neighborhood would prompt a grocer with foresight to stock more foods linked to ethnic tastes. An art museum director with foresight might follow trends in comput
38、er graphics to make exhibits more appealing to younger visitors. Foresight may reveal potential threats that we can prepare to deal with before they become crises. For instance, a corporate manager with foresight might see an alarming rise in local housing prices that could affect the availability o
39、f skilled workers in the region. The publics changing values and priorities, as well as emerging technologies, demographic shifts, economic constraints (or opportunities), and environmental and resource concerns are all parts of the increasingly complex world system in which leaders must lead. Peopl
40、e in government also need foresight to keep systems running smoothly, to plan budgets, and to prevent wars. Government leaders today must deal with a host of new problems emerging from rapid advances in technology. Even at the community level, foresight is critical: School officials, for example, ne
41、ed foresight to assess numbers of students to accommodate, numbers of teachers to hire, new educational technologies to deploy, and new skills for students (and their teachers) to develop. Many of the best-known techniques for foresight were developed by government planners, especially in the milita
42、ry, when the post-World War atomic age made it critical to “think about the unthinkable“ and prepare for it. Pioneering futurists at the RAND Corporation (the first “think tank“) began seriously considering what new technologies might emerge in the future and how these might affect U.S. security. Th
43、ese pioneering futurists at RAND, along with others elsewhere, refined a variety of new ways for thinking about the future. The futurists recognized that the future world is continuous with the present world, so we can learn a great deal about what may happen in the future by looking systematically
44、at what is happening now. The key thing to watch is not events (sudden developments or one-day occurrences) but trends (long-term ongoing shifts in such things as population. land use, technology, and governmental systems). Using these techniques and many others, futurists now can tell us many thing
45、s that may happen in the future. Some are nearly certain to happen, such as the continuing expansion in the worlds population. Other events are viewed as far less likely, but could be extremely important if they do occur, such as an asteroid colliding with the planet. 31 Correctly exercising foresig
46、ht is shown in the case of _. （ A） new products and services （ B） an increase in minority populations （ C） stocking more foods with ethnic tastes （ D） the appealing art museum director 32 Which of the following may be regarded as potential crises? （ A） An alarming rise in local housing prices （ B） T
47、he availability of skilled workers in the region （ C） The lack of skilled workers in the region （ D） The publics changing values and priorities 33 All the following are cited as examples of the importance of exercising foresight EXCEPT _. （ A） government administrators （ B） school officials （ C） sch
48、ool students and teachers （ D） government planners 34 According to the text, the most important for the futurists to grasp is _. （ A） the future world （ B） the present world （ C） what is happening now （ D） the world trends 35 The best title for the passage may be _. （ A） The Use of Foresight （ B） Ho
49、w to exercise Foresight （ C） Foresight in Business and Government （ D） The best-known techniques for foresight 35 When they were children, Terri Schiavos brother Bobby accidentally locked her in a suitcase. She tried so hard to get out of the suitcase that she jumped up and down and screamed. The scene predicted, horribly, how she would end, though by that stage she had neither walked nor talked for more than 15 years. By the time she finally died on March 31st, her body had become a box out of whi
