1、大学英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 14及答案与解析 Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. 0 If the salinity (含盐量 ) of ocean waters is ana
2、lyzed, it is found to vary only slightly from place to place. Nevertheless, some of these small changes are important. There are three basic processes that cause a change in oceanic salinity. One of these is the subtraction of water from the ocean by means of evaporation conversion of liquid water t
3、o water vapor. In this manner, the salinity is increased, since the salts stay behind. If this is carried to the extreme, of course, white crystals of salt would be left behind. The opposite of evaporation is precipitation (降水 ), such as rain, by which water is added to the ocean. Here the ocean is
4、being diluted(稀释 ) so that the salinity is decreased. This may occur in areas of high rainfall or in coastal regions where rivers flow into the ocean. Thus salinity may be increased by the subtraction of water by evaporation, or decreased by the addition of fresh water by precipitation or runoff (形成
5、地表水部分的降雨 ). Normally, in tropical regions where the sun is very strong, the ocean salinity is somewhat higher than it is in other parts of the world where there is not as much evaporation. Similarly, in coastal regions where rivers dilute the sea, salinity is somewhat lower than in other oceanic are
6、as. A third process by which salinity may be altered is associated with the formation and melting of sea ice. When seawater is frozen, the dissolved materials are left behind. In this manner, seawater directly beneath freshly-formed sea ice has a higher salinity than it did before the ice appeared.
7、Of course, when this ice melts, it will tend to decrease the salinity of the surrounding water. In the Weddell Sea, off Antarctica, the densest water in the oceans is formed as a result of this freezing process, which increases the salinity of cold water. This heavy water sinks and is found in the d
8、eeper portions of the oceans of the world. 1 The best title of the passage can be “_“. （ A） Typical Oceans and Their Respective Features （ B） The Causes of the Changes in Salinity of Ocean Water （ C） Different Oceans Have Different Salinity （ D） The Precipitation and Evaporation of Oceans 2 Which of
9、 the following processes will increase salinity of ocean waters? （ A） Evaporation. （ B） Precipitation. （ C） Melting. （ D） Dilution. 3 According to this passage, the sea_is likely to have the lowest salinity. （ A） in tropical areas （ B） off Antarctica （ C） of high rainfall （ D） with abundant sunshine
10、 4 The Weddell Sea_. （ A） is a good example of increased salinity in freezing sea water （ B） is much larger in area than the Arctic oceans （ C） has a much lower salinity now than ever （ D） has the denser water in its upper parts 5 Coastal regions are mentioned as cases where _. （ A） sea water is les
11、s salty because fresh water joins in （ B） rivers carry industrial exhaust into sea （ C） sea ice tends to melt more quickly than in the center of oceans （ D） heavy water sinks to the deeper portions of the oceans 5 Although many of us may feel air-conditioners bring relief from hot, humid or polluted
12、 outside air, they pose many potential health hazards. Much research has looked at how the movement of air inside a closed environment such as an office buildingcan spread disease or expose people in the building to harmful chemicals. One of the more widely publicized dangers is that of Legionnaires
13、 disease, which was first recognized in the 1970s. This was found to have affected people in buildings with air-conditioning systems in which warm air pumped out of the systems cooling towers was somehow sucked back into the air intake (通风口 ), in most cases due to poor design. The warm air, filled w
14、ith bacteria, was combined with cooled, conditioned air and was then circulated around various parts of the building. Studies showed that even people outside such buildings were at risk if they walked past air exhaust pipes. Large air-conditioning systems add water to the air they circulate by means
15、 of humidifiers (湿度调节器 ). In older systems, the water used for this process is kept in special reservoirs, the bottoms of which provide breeding grounds for bacteria which can find their way into the ventilation (通风 ) system. The risk to human health from this situation has been highlighted by the f
16、act that the immune systems (免疫系统 ) of approximately half of workers in air-conditioned office buildings have developed the ability to fight off the organisms found at the bottom of system reservoirs. But chemicals called “biocides“ are added to reservoirs to make them germ-free, and they are danger
17、ous in their own right in sufficient quantities, as they often contain compounds strongly linked to cancers. Finally, it should be pointed out that the artificial climatic environment created by air-conditioners can also affect us. In a natural environment, whether indoor or outdoor, there are small
18、 variations in temperature and humidity. Indeed, the human body has long been accustomed to these normal changes. In an air-conditioned living or work environment, however, body temperatures remain well under 37t, our normal temperature. This leads to a weakened immune system and thus greater exposu
19、re to diseases such as colds and flu. 6 What do we know about Legionnaires disease from the passage? （ A） It was the most widely concerned office hazard. （ B） It can affect people both inside and outside the building. （ C） It happens only in air-conditioned office buildings. （ D） It does not develop
20、 in well-designed buildings. 7 In the old air-conditioned systems, bacteria first develop _. （ A） in the reservoirs （ B） in the ventilation system （ C） in the humidifiers （ D） in the air intake 8 The fact that about half of workers developed the ability to fight off the bacteria may_. （ A） relieve p
21、eoples worry about the danger caused by the bacteria （ B） help people find an effective way to get rid of the bacteria （ C） reflect the serious danger brought by the bacteria （ D） cause serious disease such as cancers to people 9 The author most probably wants the readers to treat biocides with an a
22、ttitude of _. （ A） caution （ B） trust （ C） enthusiasm （ D） criticism 10 The last paragraph implies that our immune system can be weakened when_. （ A） we live in an artificial climatic environment （ B） there are variations in temperature and humidity （ C） our body temperatures often remain not high e
23、nough （ D） we are often exposed to diseases such as colds and flu 10 For centuries, in the countries of south and Southeast Asia the elephant has been an intimate part of the culture, economy and religion. And nowhere more so than in Thailand. Unlike its African cousin, the Asian elephant is easily
24、domesticated (驯化 ). The rare so-called white elephants have actually lent the authority of kingship to its rulers and until the 1920s the national flag was a white elephant on a red background. To the early Western visitors the countrys romantic name was “Land of the White Elephant“. Today, however,
25、 the story is very different. Out of work and out of land, the Thai elephant struggles for survival in a nation that no longer needs it. The elephant has found itself more or less abandoned by previous owners who have moved on to a different economic world and a westernized society. And while the el
26、ephants problems began many years ago, now it rates a very low national priority. How this reversal from national icon (圣像 ) to neglected animal came about is a tale of worsening environmental and the changing lives of the Thais themselves. According to Richard Lair, Thailands expert on the Asian el
27、ephant and author of the report Gone Astray, at the turn of the century there may well have been as many as 100,000 domestic elephants in the country. In the north of Thailand alone it was estimated that more than 20,000 elephants were employed in transport, 1,000 of them alone on the road between t
28、he cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen. This was at a time when 90 per cent of Thailand was still forest a habitat (栖息地 ) that not only supported the animals but also made them necessary to carry goods and people. Nothing ploughs through dense forest better than a massive but sure-footed elephant.
29、By 1950 the elephant population had dropped to a still substantial 13,397, but today there are probably no more man 3,800, with another 1,350 roaming free in the national parks. But now, Thailands forest covers only 20 per cent of the land. This deforestation (采伐森林 ) is the central point of the elep
30、hants difficult situation, for it has effectively put the animals out of work. This century, as the road network grew, so the elephants role as a beast of burden declined. 11 What can we know about African elephants from the passage? （ A） It is easy to tame them. （ B） It is hard to tame them. （ C） T
31、hey are living a better life than Asian elephants. （ D） Their fate is quite similar to that of Asian elephants. 12 Thailand was once called “Land of the White Elephant“ because _. （ A） white elephant is rarely seen and thus very special （ B） white elephant was a national symbol until the 1920s （ C）
32、white elephant has helped kings to gain the ruling authority （ D） this name was so romantic that it was popular among visitors 13 Why is the Thai elephant “out of work“, according to the author? （ A） Because the elephants are no longer useful to their owners. （ B） Because their owners are westernize
33、d and neglect them. （ C） Because the government pays little attention to the problem. （ D） Because there are too many elephants and too few jobs. 14 Which of the following statements is true about the elephant population at various times? （ A） There were 100,000 tamed elephants at the turn of the ce
34、ntury. （ B） 20,000 elephants were employed in transport in Thailand at the turn of the century. （ C） By 1950 the elephant population in Thailand has been quite small. （ D） Today the elephant population is estimated at 5,150. 15 The passage is most probably from _. （ A） a travel magazine （ B） a histo
35、ry book （ C） a research report （ D） an official announcement 15 Japan is getting tough about recycling and not in the paper and plastic kind of way. Recently, the country requires that all electronic goods TVs, VCRs, stereos, and more be recycled. But recycling will not be left to consumers, instead
36、, the devices will be sent to the original manufacturer for proper disposal. The new law poses a few challenges to manufacturers who are now rushing to set up collection networks and perfecting techniques to disassemble and recycle older products. With an eye toward the future, they are also integra
37、ting easily recycled materials into new products. Plastics, a major component of most electronic products, pose a particular obstacle because their quality becomes worse and worse with age, losing strength and flexibility even if reprocessed. NEC Corp. overcomes this problem by creating a plastics s
38、andwich, in which the filling is 100 percent recycled plastic and the outer layers a mixture of 14 percent recycled material. The resulting plastic has sufficient strength and toughness for use as a case for desktop PCs. The company, in cooperation with plastic maker Sumitomo Dow, has also developed
39、 a new plastic, which engineers claim retains its mechanical properties through repeated recycling. NEC uses the plastic, which is also flame-retardant (阻燃的 ) in battery cases for notebook PCs. Meanwhile, Matsushita Electric, maker of the Panasonic brand, is avoiding plastic in favor of magnesium (镁
40、 ). Magnesium, says the company, is ideal for recycling because it retains its original strength through repeated reprocessing. Matsushita has developed molding techniques to form magnesium into the case for a 21-inch TV. Unfortunately, the magnesium case and energy-saving features make the TV about
41、 twice as expensive as an ordinary model. The company hopes, however, that increased use of magnesium will eventually bring prices down. 16 According to the present regulations of Japan, the recycling of paper and plastic will be the responsibility of_. （ A） the government （ B） the manufacturers （ C
42、） the consumers （ D） the sellers 17 Which of the following is NOT the character of plastics? （ A） Most electronic products contain plastics. （ B） It retains its original strength through reprocessing. （ C） Recycled plastics can be integrated into new products. （ D） Plastics will lose flexibility aft
43、er a certain period of time. 18 According to the passage, the term “plastic sandwich“ refers to _. （ A） a kind of sandwich-shaped toy made of plastics （ B） a kind of plastics with different integration in each layer （ C） a kind of plastics with maximum strength and flexibility （ D） a kind of plastic
44、s made of 100% recycled materials 19 In the passage, it is implied but NOT stated that_. （ A） disposing the plastics is one of NEC Corps businesses （ B） magnesium is an ideal material for the case of TV （ C） 21-inch TV with magnesium case isnt very popular so far （ D） magnesium must be better than t
45、he plastics 20 The author writes this passage in order to _. （ A） inform （ B） instruct （ C） predict （ D） persuade 大学英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 14答案与解析 Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four ch
46、oices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. 【知识模块】 阅读 1 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 主旨大意题。本文第 1段第 3句是全文的主题句，告诉读者有三种原因致使海洋盐分变化，并逐一介绍这三种原因，选项 B比较全面地归纳了本文的主题。选项 A和 C中心词为 oceans，不妥，选项 D只提及了前面两种原因，不全面。 【知识模块】 阅读 2 【正确答案】 A 【试题 解析】 事实细节题。只要明白第 1段第 5句中的 in this manner是指第 4句中的 evaporation，不难做出正确选择
47、。选项 B、 C会使含盐量减少，很容易排除。具体的反证分别出现在第 2段首句、第 3段尾句和第 4段首句。 【知识模块】 阅读 3 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 推理判断题。综合 3种情况，造成海洋含盐量低的原因有：降雨多、日晒少、远离热带和海冰融化，由此可推断选项 C最符合。 A和 D是使海水含盐量增加的，因此可排除。 B是否一定海水含盐低，文中并未提到。 【知识模块】 阅读 4 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 推理判断题。选项 A是对最后一段第 1句的同义改写。同一句可知选项 C错。选项 B根本没有提及。文章最后一句表明 D正好与事实相反。 【知识模块】 阅读 5 【正确答案】 A 【试
48、题解析】 推理判断题。 coastal regions字眼在文章中提到两遍，分别在第 2段第 3句及第 3段最后一句。只要能够迅速查找到任何一处均可做出正确判断为A。 B和 C无原文支持： D张冠李戴，原文提及 D内容涉及的是 WeddellSea，而非 coastal regions。 【知 识模块】 阅读 【知识模块】 阅读 6 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 事实细节题。本题主要考查复合句的理解。第 2段最后一句表明 B是正确选项。选项 A中的 most和 C中的 only都太绝对了，文中并未对选项 A和C中的相关说法加以这样的限定。选项 D也太绝对了，第 2段第 3句只是说到 “大多数
49、情况下是冈为空调设计欠佳所致 ”，并不是说所有设计良好的大厦就不会发生这种情况。 【知识模块】 阅读 7 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 事实细节题。本题考查复合句的理解。只要明白第 3段第 2句这个非限 制性定语从句中的 the bottoms ofwhich中的 which是指上文的 reservoirs，问题就不难解决了。 【知识模块】 阅读 8 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 事实细节题。本题考查被动语态长句的理解。在第 3段第 3句中，关键词是 highlight，选项 C是对原句主谓部分的近义替换。选项 A和 B在文中皆无提及选项 D是过度使用生物杀灭剂的后果，与本题干的情况无关。 【知识模块】 阅读 9 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 观点态度题。第 3段最后两句讨论生物杀灭剂的用处 ，其中最后一句中的 but， dangerous和 cancers等词说明作者认为要慎用这种杀灭剂。作者并没对杀灭剂全盘否定，只是说过量使用会引发危险，因此选项 D不对。 【知识模块】 阅读 10 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 推理判断题。本题考查代词的理解。解题的关键在于理解最后一句中的 T
