1、大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷 161及答案与解析 Section C 0 Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the c
2、ar will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future. The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollut
3、ion-free than present types. Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (拥挤 ). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system. When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可 伸缩的 ) arm will drop f
4、rom the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the cars mo
5、vements. The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer (蜂鸣器 ) that w
6、ill warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway. 1 One significant improvement in the future car will probably be _. （ A） its power sourc
7、e （ B） its driving system （ C） its monitoring system （ D） its seating capacity 2 What is the authors main concern? （ A） How to render automobiles pollution-free. （ B） How to make smaller and safer automobiles. （ C） How to solve the problem of traffic jams. （ D） How to develop an automated subway sys
8、tem. 3 What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system? （ A） A rail. （ B） An engine. （ C） A retractable arm. （ D） A computer controller. 4 In an automated highway system, all the driver needs to do is_. （ A） keep in the right lane （ B） wait to arrive at his destination （ C） ke
9、ep in constant touch with the computer center （ D） inform the system of his destination by phone 5 What is the authors attitude toward the future of autos? （ A） Enthusiastic. （ B） Pessimistic. （ C） Optimistic. （ D） Cautious. 5 New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk. It
10、s now a “global village“ where countries are only seconds away by fax or phone or satellite link. And, of course, our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment is greatly enhanced by foreign language skills. Deeply involved with this new technology is a breed of modern business
11、people who have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad. In modern markets, success overseas often helps support domestic business efforts. Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks. The executive stationed in another cou
12、ntry no longer need fear being “out of sight and out of mind.“ He or she can be sure that the overseas effort is central to the companys plan for success, and that promotions often follow or accompany an assignment abroad. If an employee can succeed in a difficult assignment overseas, superiors will
13、 have greater confidence in his or her ability to cope back in the United States where cross-cultural considerations and foreign language issues are becoming more and more prevalent (普遍的 ). Thanks to a variety of relatively inexpensive communications devices with business applications, even small bu
14、sinesses in the United States are able to get into international markets. English is still the international language of business. But there is an ever-growing need for people who can speak another language. A second language isnt generally required to get a job in business, but having language skil
15、ls gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal. The employee posted abroad who speaks the countrys principal language has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations, and can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly. The employee at
16、the home office who can communicate well with foreign clients over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm. 6 What is the authors attitude toward high-tech communications equipment? （ A） Critical. （ B） Indifferent. （ C） Prejudiced. （ D） Positive. 7 With the increased use of h
17、igh-tech communications equipment, business people _. （ A） have to get familiar with modern technology （ B） are gaining more economic benefits from domestic operations （ C） are attaching more importance to their overseas business （ D） are eager to work overseas 8 In this passage, “out of sight and o
18、ut of mind“ (Line 2, Para 3) probably means _. （ A） being unable to think properly for lack of insight （ B） being totally out of touch with business at home （ C） missing opportunities for promotion when abroad （ D） leaving all care and worry behind 9 According to the passage, what is an important co
19、nsideration of international corporations in employing people today? （ A） Connections with businesses overseas. （ B） Ability to speak the clients language. （ C） Technical know-how. （ D） Business experience. 10 The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can _. （ A） better
20、control the whole negotiation process （ B） easily find new approaches to meet market needs （ C） fast-forward their proposals to headquarters （ D） easily make friends with businesspeople abroad 10 Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house
21、won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects. Located on the shore of Sullivans Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane (飓风 ) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck So
22、uth Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state. Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolinas shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasnt strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach h
23、ouse. In Hugos wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivans Island should be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour. At first sight, the house on Sullivans Island looks anythi
24、ng but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern (灯笼 ) “ at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The houses wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength. To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff r
25、aised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges to run under the ho
26、use instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,“ said Huff. Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed by the houses ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the hous
27、e doesnt look like its standing with its pant legs pulled up,“ said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained. 11 After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolinas shore line are
28、required_. （ A） to be easily reinforced （ B） to look smarter in design （ C） to meet stricter building standards （ D） to be designed in the shape of cubes 12 The award-winning beach house is quite strong because _. （ A） it is strengthened by steel rods （ B） it is made of redwood （ C） it is in the sha
29、pe of a shell （ D） it is built with timber and concrete 13 Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to _. （ A） withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr （ B） anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand （ C） break huge sea waves into smaller ones （ D） prevent water from r
30、ushing into the house 14 The main function of the shell is _. （ A） to strengthen the pilings of the house （ B） to give the house a better appearance （ C） to protect the wooden frame of the house （ D） to slow down the speed of the swelling water 15 It can be inferred from the passage that the shell s
31、hould be _. （ A） fancy-looking （ B） waterproof （ C） easily breakable （ D） extremely strong 15 Sleep is very ancient. In the electroencephalographic (脑电图仪的 ) sense we share it with all the primates (灵长类动物 ) and almost all the other mammals and birds: it may extend back as far as the reptiles (爬行动物 ).
32、 There is some evidence that the two types of sleep, dreaming and dreamless, depend on the life style of the animal, and that predators (食肉动物 ) are statistically much more likely to dream than prey, which are in turn much more likely to experience dreamless sleep. In dream sleep, the animal is power
33、fully immobilized (使固定不动 ) and remarkably unresponsive to external stimuli. Dreamless sleep is much shallower, and we have all witnessed cats or dogs cocking their ears to a sound when apparently fast asleep. The fact that deep dream sleep is rare among prey today seems clearly to be a product of na
34、tural selection, and it makes sense that today, when sleep is highly evolved, the stupid animals are less frequently immobilized by deep sleep than the smart ones. But why should they sleep deeply at all? Why should a state of such deep immobilization ever have evolved? Perhaps one useful hint about
35、 the original function of sleep is to be found in the fact that dolphins and whales and aquatic mammals in general seem to sleep very little. There is, by and large, no place to hide in the ocean. Could it be that, rather than increasing an animals vulnerability, Ray Meddis of London University has
36、suggested this to be the case. It is conceivable that animals that are too stupid to be quite on their own initiative are, during periods of high risk, immobilized by the implacable arm of sleep. The point seems particularly clear for the young of predatory animals. This is an interesting notion and
37、 probably at least partly true. 16 Which of the following might be the best title for this passage? （ A） Evolution of Animals Sleep. （ B） Two Types of Sleep. （ C） The Original Function of Animals Sleep. （ D） Animals and Sleep. 17 Predators are _. （ A） able to prey even when they are in deep dream sl
38、eep （ B） more likely to experience dream sleep （ C） incapable of preying when immobilized by dreamless sleep （ D） good at preying on stupid animals 18 The example of dogs and cats in the second paragraph is intended to _. （ A） explain which animals are mammals （ B） show the differences between mamma
39、ls （ C） illustrate how shallow dreamless sleep is （ D） reveal how smart they are 19 Compare with dreamless sleep, deep dream sleep is _. （ A） not the result of natural selection （ B） less likely to appear to primates （ C） more protective to the animals （ D） at a higher stage of evolution 20 Accordin
40、g to some scientists research findings, dolphins seldom sleep because _. （ A） of their stupidity （ B） of their vulnerability （ C） there are possible dangers in the ocean （ D） aquatic mammals do not need sleep 大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷 161答案与解析 Section C 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 1 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 推断题。从第 2段首句可以看出第 2段主要讲未
41、来汽车的变化方向，该段第 2、 3句说，它将变得更小巧、安全、节能，给它提供动力的将不再是汽油发动机。而第 3段也着重展望了未来汽车动力系统的新模式，故未来汽车一个最重要的改进就在于它的能量来源，故答案为 A。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 2 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 事实细节题。第 3段首句提到，未来的汽车仍将是令城市交通拥挤的主要问题，而 这也是作者最为关心的问题， C之相符。其他各项在文章中都提到过，但并非 the main problem，故排除。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 3 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 事实细节题。文章第 4段第 1、 2句提到，当汽车进入高速公路系统后，一只自
42、动伸缩臂就会从车上伸下来，搭上一根铁轨，这根铁轨类似于为地铁列车提供电能的那些铁轨，一旦汽车连接到 rail上，它就可以从中获得电能。因此 A正确。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 4 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 事实细节题。最后一段首句提到，司 机将通过电话发出指令，把目的地输入系统。由此可见，司机可以使用电话来告知系统他的目的地，故选 D。A、 B、 C在文中没有提及。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 5 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 推断题。根据第 2段和最后一段 (特别是最后一句 )不难看出作者对于汽车发展的前景持乐观态度，故选 C。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 6 【正确答
43、案】 D 【试题解析】 事实辨认题。题目询问的是作者对于高科技通讯设备的态度是什么。根据文章的第 1段特别是最后一句中的 benefit，可推断作者是持肯定态度的，即答案为 D。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 7 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 事实辨认题。根据第 2段第 1句中的 who have a growing respectabroad 可看出，随着高科技通讯设备的广泛使用，商人们越来越重视海外商务的经济价值， C与之一致。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 8 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 语义推断题。根据第 3段第 2、 3句中说的 “他确信国外的事务对公司的成功计划至关重要，派往国外时或之后
44、常能得到升迁。 ”可知，在海外的管理人员不再会担心被遗忘而错过升职机会，因此 “眼不见，心不念 ”即为 C“在国外时错过国内升职机会 ”。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 9 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 事实辨认题。题目询问的是根据短文，当今在雇佣雇员时，国际化的公司应该着重考虑什么。这是第 5段的话题，其中核心词是 language，只有B“会说顾客的语言 ”符合。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 10 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 事实辨认题。题目询问的是具有外语能力的雇员的优势究竟是什么。根据最后一段第 1句可知， “派往国外的雇员 若能讲该国的主要语言，就有机会加快谈判进程，而且能知道什么时候最
45、好放慢节拍。 ”A“(具有外语能力的雇员的优势就是他们可以 )更好地控制整个谈判的过程 ”与之一致，故为答案。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 11 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 根据题目中的专有名词 Hugo查找到文中第 3段第 2句。句中的 In Hugos wake相当于题目中的 after Hugo，由该句是的 stricter， better-enforced codes可知 C正确。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 12 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 第 4段开始具体介绍 the house，根据该段最后一句可知，这幢房子的木制结构用长钢筋加固了，因而特别结实，故选 A
46、。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 13 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 根据题干的数字可迅速定位至第 5段首，第 2、 3句阐述这样做的目的是 “将房屋抬高到暴风雨巨浪之上，及让巨浪能在屋下流过 ”。其中 running into it与 D中的 rushing into the house同义，故 D正确。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 14 【正 确答案】 B 【试题解析】 最后一段第 2句提出，外壳可以把木桩遮盖住，所以它主要起 “粉饰 ”作用。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 15 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 根据最后一句可知，如果暴风雨巨浪涌来，外壳就会裂开，让巨浪在房屋下面奔涌而过，因此外壳应该是
47、 “易碎的 ”。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 16 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本文三段虽然讨论的内容各有侧重，但是都谈到了睡眠在各种动物中的差异以及发展的历史，具体用词如下：第 1段第 1句中的 ancient，最后一句中的 extend back；第 2段最后一句中的 evolved；第 3段第 1句中的 original function。 A比较准确地归纳了本文大意。 B只是概括了第 2段的内容； C只提及第 3段的论述内容； D似乎涵盖了三段内容，但是过于宽泛，不够具体。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 17 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 根据第 2段第 1句第 4
48、个分句可知应选 B。 A的内容与该段第 2句相悖； C中 dreamless sleep应为 dream sleep。 D的内容文中没有涉及。 【知识模块】 仔 细阅读 18 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 这个例子是为了证明无梦睡眠比较浅，即第 2第 3句的前半句，所以选 C比较合适。所有例子都是为之前或之后的话提供例证，因此，作者使用例子的目的可以从该例子之前或之后的一句话找到。本题中，猫和狗的例子是为了说明其前面的一句话，其他选项与此无关，均可排除。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 19 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 根据第 2段倒数第 3句及末句，可以推断与无梦睡眠相比，深睡不动处于更高的进
49、化阶段。文中虽有提及无梦睡眠对于被捕食动物来说是一种自然选 择，但并不意味着深睡不动不是自然选择。因此 A不正确；该句也提到 “笨拙的动物与敏捷的动物相比，更少有深睡不动的时候 ”， primates属于 smart ones，因此更有可能深睡不动， B与此相悖；文中暗示无梦睡眠使低级动物更警觉，从而起到一定的保护作用， C正好与这种理解相反，因此也不正确。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 20 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 最后一段第 2句解释了第 1句中所说的 “海豚等睡眠少 ”的原因， C比较确切地反映了文章内容。 A、 B、 D三项都与最后一段开头两句表达的意思无关。 【 知识模块】 仔细阅读
