1、大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷 43及答案与解析 Section C 0 The newspaper must provide for the reader the facts, pure, objective facts. But in these days of complex news it must provide more; it must supply interpretation, the meaning of the facts. This is the most important assignment confronting American journalism t
2、o make clear to the reader the problems of the day, to make international news as understandable as community news, to recognize that there is no longer any such thing as “local“ news, because any event in the international area has a local reaction in manpower floating, in economic pressure, in ter
3、ms, indeed, of our very way of life. There is in journalism a widespread view that when you embark on interpretation, you are entering dangerous waters, the swirling tides of opinion. This is nonsense. The opponents of interpretation insist that the writer and the editor shall confine himself to the
4、 “facts“. This insistence raises two questions: What are the facts? And are the bare facts enough? As to the first question, consider how a so-called “factual“ story comes about. The reporter collects, say, fifty facts; out of these fifty, his space being necessarily restricted, he selects the ten w
5、hich he considers most important. This is Judgment Number One. Then he or his editor decides which of these ten facts shall constitute the lead of the piece.(This is important because many readers do not proceed beyond the first paragraph.)This is Judgments Number Two. Then the editor determines whe
6、ther the article shall be presented on page one, where it has larger impact, or on page twenty-four, where it has little. Judgment Number Three. Thus, in the presentation of a so-called “factual“ or “objective“ story, at least three judgments are involved. And they are judgments not at all unlike th
7、ose involved interpretation, in which reporter and editor, calling upon their research resources, their general background, and their “news neutralism,“ arrive at a conclusion as to the significance of the news. The two areas of judgment, presentation of the news and its interpretation, are both obj
8、ective rather than subjective processes as objective, that is, as any human being can be.(Even though complete objectivity can never be achieved, nevertheless the ideal must always be ultimate goal.)If an editor is intent on slanting the news, he can do it in other ways and more effectively than by
9、interpretation. He can do it by the selection of those facts that prop up his particular plea. Or he can do it by the play he gives a story-promoting it to page one or dragging it to page thirty. 1 Why does the author say the interpretation is the most important assignment confronting American journ
10、alism? （ A） Because the interpretation tells the reader that they are reading international news. （ B） Because with the help of the interpretation, readers can have better understanding of the news. （ C） Because good interpretations can arouse more reaction from the readers. （ D） Because without int
11、erpretation, local news wont exist any more. 2 The reason why some people oppose the interpretation of news is that_. （ A） they believe the interpretation will be too subjective （ B） they are afraid that the interpretation will bring danger （ C） they are confined to the facts and cant see anything e
12、lse （ D） they say the interpretation is total nonsense 3 Basically, why does the reporter discard some of the facts? （ A） Because he wants to make the reports simple. （ B） Because those facts are not worth writing. （ C） Because the space in the newspaper is limited. （ D） Because his editor asks him
13、to do so. 4 What can we learn about the lead of the piece? （ A） It s the only part many readers read in the piece. （ B） It should mention all the facts covered in the piece. （ C） It is written by the editor rather than the reporter. （ D） It will lure the readers into further reading. 5 The author s
14、attitude toward the interpretation of news is_. （ A） He thinks the interpretation of news is absolutely nonsense （ B） He believes the interpretation is as objective as the human beings can be （ C） He doubts whether the reporters are capable of making it objective （ D） He holds the opinion that total
15、ly objective interpretation can not be achieved 5 The increasing Americanization of Japanese life is evident in many ways. One such way is the growing popularity of credit cards. Traditionally, in Japan, cash was the preferred form of payment in all daily purchases. Buying things on credit was seen
16、as something to be avoided at all costs. This was especially true among the older generation who were not accustomed to the buy-now-pay-later ethic. On the other hand, Americans are well used to this form of paying for goods and services. Credit cards, along with checks, are relatively safe and easy
17、 to use. They are also now considered as a common form of identification, the other form of ID being a driver s license. In fact, when renting a car in America, a credit card is required as an ID and, in addition, is the preferred form of payment. Many companies will not even accept cash on car rent
18、als. Credit cards offer Japanese consumers a number of conveniences. Customers can get discounts on certain items. Their names may be entered in lotteries where they can win cash prizes. Perhaps most importantly, though, easy credit is offered to borrowers. Those needing a loan, especially if they a
19、re young, can borrow money easily. These advantages have made credit cards increasingly popular and some of the traditional bias against them is being dispelled, especially among young people, who often have a number of different cards. However, there are definite disadvantages to using credit cards
20、. The availability of easy credit may be one thing, but the high interest rates charged by card companies is quite another. In 2000, there were about 230 million credit cards in use in Japan; there were also about 140,000 bankruptcies. Many people were unable to control their credit card spending, a
21、nd as a result, they went into debt. Young people are especially vulnerable to the temptations of having a credit card. They often cannot resist spending money on expensive brand-name clothes, high-tech audio and video equipment, and luxurious trips abroad. It s easier in stores, restaurants, gas st
22、ations almost anywhere to pay with a simple piece of plastic rather than carrying cash. We thus lose all sense of the value of money and easily fall into debt. Once this happens it may cost us more than money. Excessive debt due to uncontrolled spending has led to the breakup of families, divorce, a
23、nd in some cases even suicide. 6 In Japan, buying things on credit was seen as something to be avoided by_. （ A） those who were in debt or bankrupt （ B） people who wished to save for retirement （ C） young people who are vulnerable to the temptations of having a credit card （ D） the older generation
24、who were not accustomed to the buy-now-pay-later ethic 7 The bad part about having a credit card is that_. （ A） there are no discounts （ B） the interest rates are higher if the card is new （ C） those who use credit cards are often regarded as poor （ D） uncontrolled spending often leads to debt and b
25、ankruptcy 8 The most important service credit card companies offer is_. （ A） easy credit to borrowers （ B） discounts on certain items （ C） lotteries and cash prizes （ D） ease in obtaining additional cards 9 Why do young people want to have a credit card? （ A） Because their parents want them to have
26、one. （ B） Because they often cannot resist spending on many kinds of things. （ C） Because they have no cash. （ D） Because they have excessive debt. 10 One way to avoid debt and bankruptcy is to_. （ A） have a few different kinds of credit cards （ B） win cash prizes on lotteries （ C） kick the uncontro
27、lled spending habits （ D） use all the special benefits offered by the card 10 Paper money is used every day but people do not often think of money as just paper. This is because people agree that it has value, and paper money is supported by the government. People have used paper money for only a fe
28、w hundred years, but what did people do before printed money was invented? In Medieval England, a stick was the official representation of money. The common system that was used involved counting debt on a piece of wood called a “tally stick“. The tally stick was marked with a knife. Each mark, or t
29、ally, indicated an amount of money. The tally stick acted as a contract. No one really knows who invented the tally stick, but King Henry I of England is credited as the first to use the stick in a widespread fashion. In England, the tally stick was used from 1100 to 1826. Marks were made on a tally
30、 stick to represent the amount of service or goods that were exchanged. The tally stick was cut in half lengthwise into two parts, and one stick was longer than the other. The person giving services or goods received the longer end of the stick, called the “stock“, and the person paying for the serv
31、ice or goods received the shorter end. Once the stick was cut, it could not be altered. When put together, the two halves fit perfectly together. Medieval England was not the only country to use the tally stick system. In 1960, Belgian scientist Jean de Heinzelin de Braucourt discovered an extremely
32、 old tally stick made of baboon bone in Africa. At first, he determined the stick to be between about 8,000 to 10,000 years old. This surprised many people because it proved that the tally stick system had been in use for much longer than everyone had previously thought. Further research has shown t
33、hat this stick is actually much older: now, scientists believe it is 20,000 years old. The tally stick system may no longer be in use today, but its influence is still apparent. People still make contracts and people still borrow and lend money. People still trust that “things“ whether they are stic
34、ks, paper, or coins have value. The next time paper money is used, just remember: it is only paper! 11 According to the passage, what makes money valuable? （ A） People who use it. （ B） Gold that people find. （ C） Inventions. （ D） Agreement. 12 Who was responsible for making the tally stick system so
35、 popular? （ A） Henry I. （ B） No one really knows. （ C） Money borrowers. （ D） Jean de Heinzelin de Braucourt. 13 In England, the tally stick was useful for_. （ A） deciding debt and credit （ B） cutting goods in half （ C） discovering the origins of African tally sticks （ D） designing tally sticks made
36、of baboon bone 14 Why were many people surprised about the tally stick in Africa? （ A） The material it was made from had never been seen before. （ B） It was much older than previously thought. （ C） It was cut sideways instead of lengthwise. （ D） Money did not exist in Africa then. 15 Which of the fo
37、llowing statements is true? （ A） English tally sticks have more marks than African ones. （ B） Tally sticks are a practical tool in use today. （ C） The current representation of money is in the form of paper. （ D） Many models for money have been cut short. 15 Abby Subark is a mother of two kids from
38、Boston. “For my kids, Im nervous. I dont know if theyll be able to achieve their American dream.“ She may be right. More than hard work or education, the best way to get rich in America is to be born rich. It is the case that somebody who is in the upper third of income, with poor scores, at the bot
39、tom on tests when they are in eighth grade, is more likely to go to college and finish college than a poor kid with the top scores. Thats what the working persons children are up against. The Economic Policy Institute finds it would take a poor couple with 2 children 9 or 10 generations to achieve m
40、iddle class status. Thats about 200 years. The typical feature of American opportunity has always been the ability to do better than your parents. But compared with similar developed countries, the United States ranks fifth out of six for so-called intergenerational mobility(变动 ). If you look at the
41、 mechanisms(机制 )for upward mobility that were so readily available 50 years ago, they are becoming out of reach, like plentiful factory jobs with good wages and affordable education and health care. White families are twice as likely as blacks to be upwardly mobile. For most people in America today,
42、 where you end up depends on where you start. If you started in the middle-income class, about 40 to 45 percent of what you are making right now is due to the fact that your parents were in the middle-income class. The rest is up to you. But for the millions of people who find themselves below the p
43、overty line and the millions more who are the working poor, their starting point for the American dream leaves them painfully far away from the middle class. 16 Why is Abby Subark nervous? （ A） Her kids dont want to catch up with other kids in achievements. （ B） Her kids dont want to achieve success
44、 at all. （ C） Her kids can only achieve success through hard work and education. （ D） Her family is not rich enough to help her kids achieve their goals. 17 Which of the statements is NOT true according to the passage? （ A） People used to have more opportunities for upward mobility. （ B） A great man
45、y poor people can hardly realize their American dream. （ C） You can make all your dreams come true in America if born rich. （ D） Rich kids are more likely to go to college than poor kids. 18 The sentence “where you end up depends on where you start“(Line2, Para.5)most probably means_. （ A） your star
46、ting point cannot determine your destination （ B） only a high goal can ensure success （ C） your birth has nothing to do with your fate （ D） your family lays solid foundation for your future achievement 19 What can we infer from the last passage? （ A） Poverty causes people much pain. （ B） People belo
47、w the poverty line can never be in the middle class. （ C） Lower starting point makes it hard for people to realize their dream. （ D） Poor people s starting point is too low. 20 The writer of the passage is trying to tell us that_. （ A） how the middle class came about in the U.S. （ B） it s hard for p
48、oor Americans to realize their American dream （ C） wealth and social status have little to do with family background （ D） upward mobility in America is never easy 大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷 43答案与解析 Section C 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 1 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 细节题。作者在第一段第三句指出 This is the most important assignmentconfronting Ameri
49、can journalism-to make clear to the reader the problems of the day，即这是现在美国新闻工作者面对的最重 要的任务 让读者清楚地知道现在的问题。故选 B。 【知识模块】 仔细阅读 2 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 推断题。文章第三段指出 The opponents of interpretation insist that thewriter and the editor shall confine himself to the“facts”即反对新闻解读的人认为新闻作者和编辑应该只报道事实。由此可推断，反对者认为新闻解读有很多主观性，从而影响新闻的客观性。故答案为 A。 【知识模块】 仔 细阅读 3 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 细节题。根据短文第四段中 out of these fifty， his space being necessarilyrestricted， he selects the ten which he considers most important可知由于空间有限记者需要选出他认为是最重要的，故正确答案为 C。 【知识模块】 仔
