1、大学英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 42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 From Our Darkest Day, Our Brightest Hope That
2、 awful September morning, when jet-liners rained from the sky, and the worst anyone could imagine seemed possible, the Welch sisters had more reason than most to panic. Rumors of violent death swirled around their schools near Alexandria, Va., and Aubrey, Alyssa, Alana and Ashley knew for certain th
3、at their father had headed to work early that morning at the Pentagon (五角大楼 ). “I was scared,“ says Alyssa, 10, the youngest “I thought, Oh, no! My dad works in the west ring, where theyre saying the plane hit! “ Lt. Col. Tracy L. Welch survived that day because he was walking to a meeting when Righ
4、t 77 hit the Pentagon. But it was hours before his daughters learned that their father was alive. The familys brush with disaster made the girls sensitive to the suffering of those who werent so lucky. Then something important started, as it often does, with a simple idea. A Flood of Support On Sept
5、ember 12, the girls decided to hold a car wash and donate the proceeds to the American Red Cross. They called their effort “Wash America: Help Wash Away the Hurt“ and contacted local radio stations to get the word out. Then the sisters set to work with buckets and water. They raised $10,000 the firs
6、t day, before the idea shot cross-country like water from a fire hose (水管 ). Last fall, people in 31 states scrubbed cars clean for Wash America. And when the suds (肥皂泡 ) were dry, theyd raised more than $85,000 for the families of the victims. “I never thought kids could change the world,“ says Aub
7、rey, 15. “But now I know that when people come together, even average kids like us, you can do something.“ Stories like the Welch sisters are proof that, though Sept. 11 was one of our nations darkest days, Americans response to the tragedy has been one of the brightest chapters in our history. Afte
8、r the attacks, people everywhere asked instinctively, “What can I do?“ And perhaps no group has been more anxious to help with the healing process than young people. Today, encouraged by President Bushs call to service and the newly formed USA Freedom Corps, record numbers of young volunteers are co
9、mforting victims of the terrorist attacks and tackling ongoing problems such as hunger and homelessness. And as National Volunteer Week begins today, communities across the country will honor those who are healing the world. The Greatest Generation In January, millions of youths took up the Do Somet
10、hing organizations “Kindness & Justice Challenge“, dedicating two weeks to good deeds, like gathering supplies for schools in need. By April, through a 4-H program, youth and adults had pledged a staggering 3.4 million hours to community service. Beginning this Friday on National Youth Service Day,
11、organizers expect to shatter turnout records. PARADE is a sponsor of this annual event, which celebrates the year-round efforts of young volunteers. “People ask whether this generation is up for the challenges we face.“ says Steve Culbertson, president of Youth Service America, the organizer of the
12、event. “But we have the greatest generation of young Americans right under our noses. Youths today are volunteering more than any other generation in history. The challenge is making enough room for the amazing energy they bring to the problem-solving table.“ The Time to Help Is Now The energy of 18
13、-year-old Marquise McGraw could light up an entire New York City neighborhood. Marquise, a gifted, college-bound student, tutors young kids in science and, as part of his 4-H program, delivers computer presentations on the importance of staying in school. “I live in the projects,“ Marquise says, “an
14、d kids here dont always have the right role models. I wanted to encourage kids to follow in my footsteps.“ The attacks on his city made Marquise even more dedicated to service. Since September, hes been tutoring five days a week. “Sep. 11 made me reconsider myself as a New Yorker and an American,“ M
15、arquise says, “I realized you cant just say youll help people later. It made me get to work.“ Lately, Don Floyd, president and CEO of the National 4-H Council, has noticed many reactions like Marquises. “Before Sept. 11, we took our volunteer spirit for granted, like we took so many things for grant
16、ed,“ he says. “But volunteerism has become more important since Sept. 11. I think its because helping others knits us together. It makes us stronger.“ Inside the “Hate-Free Zone“ Like many young volunteers, Gerardo Jerry Jimenez, 19, from Salem, Ore., was inspired by Sept. 11 to fight harder against
17、 forces that were pulling his community apart. For years, Jerry had helped children threatened with domestic violence to find shelter. But in late September, fearing Muslims would face a blood of intolerance, Jerry and his youth group invited Muslim teens to a town hall meeting to offer their suppor
18、t. Then Jerry helped post “hate-free zone“ signs in places where Muslims might face discrimination. “Learning that I could help others gave me more hope than I ever had,“ he explains, “Community service changed my life.“ The honor roll of young people whove changed others lives is endless. Prudentia
19、l Spirit of Community award-winner Rebecca Hill, 17, of Littleton, Colo., organized a concert called “United We Sing“ and raised $24,000 for the American Red Cross. And theres Kristen Hargis, 10, of Charlotte, N.C., who collected teddy bears and distributed them to New York City children traumatized
20、 (使受精神创伤 ) by the attacks. For the many Americans still shocked from the attack on our country, and for millions of others whose problems require urgent attention, there is the promise that a newly-mobilized army of young volunteers is on the march to make a difference. “So often since Sept. 11, wev
21、e heard people say that America changed forever,“ says Steve Culbertson. “With young people like these leading the way, we have changed forever. Were better than before.“ 1 Lt Col. Tracy L. Welch survived Sept. 11 because _. （ A） he did not go to work that morning （ B） he was heading for a meeting a
22、t that time （ C） he was with his daughters at school （ D） he just got serious injuries 2 What did the Welch sisters do after the terrorist attacks? （ A） They persuaded their father to hold a car wash. （ B） They donated the money directly to the victims. （ C） They raised $85,000 the first day. （ D） T
23、hey started a campaign called “Wash America“. 3 According to the passage, the USA Freedom Corps was an organization _. （ A） established by President Bush （ B） with lots of young volunteers （ C） tackling hunger problem worldwide （ D） preventing terrorist attack 4 Steve Culbertson consider current you
24、ng generation in America _. （ A） not as hardworking as the previous one （ B） as the greatest one in history （ C） not strong enough for the challenges （ D） more critical than the previous one 5 What is the purpose of Marquise McGraws presentation in 4-H program? （ A） To teach kids to use computer. （
25、B） To encourage the kids to study science. （ C） To popularize the importance of science. （ D） To emphasize the importance of staying in school. 6 For years, Gerardo Jerry Jimenez has been helping the kids _. （ A） from Muslim countries （ B） suffered from domestic violence （ C） facing discrimination （
26、 D） staying in the town hall 7 Rebecca Hill won title of Prudential Spirit of Community because _. （ A） she changed the Community service （ B） she sang in a concert called “United We Sing“ （ C） she raised $24,000 for the American Red Cross （ D） she collected teddy bears for children 8 After the atta
27、cks, the group which is the most anxious to help with the healing process is _ 9 National Youth Service Day is organized in the hope of_. 10 Jerry Jimenez was worried that, after Sept 11,_ would be discriminated. 10 When you have to meet someone from a different culture, be prepared. If you understa
28、nd cultural differences, youll be a better【 11】 even before you open your mouth! In many Western cultures, men stand up before they are introduced to someone【 12】 . Standing up shows politeness and respect. After that, someone will usually “offer to shake hands. But in the East,【 13】 introductions o
29、ften begin and end with bowing rather than shaking hands. Now, lets look at the simple introduction of shaking hands. Americans like a【 14】handshake. But the French【 15】 a light, short handshake. If you shake a Frenchmans hand the American way, he may think youre【 16】 . People in Eastern European co
30、untries and some Latino cultures prefer shorter handshakes, too. Hugging after shaking hands is also a common introduction. Dont be scared or【 17】 if you meet someone in Brazil and he gives you a hug. If you【 18】 this gesture, your friendship may not start well! The proper customs for eye contact va
31、ry between cultures, too. Westerners appreciate regular eye contact during conversations. Refusing to look a Westerner in the eye may be understood as lack of trust, or maybe【 19】 . But in some African countries, too much eye contact can offend or sometimes have romantic meanings. Some people in Mid
32、dle Eastern countries may appear to have their eyes half-closed while talking to you. Although it might seem like theyre tired or bored, such behavior is normal and should not be taken【 20】 . A. therapy B. uncultured C. boredom D. thereby E. prefer F. firm G. misinterpret H. personally I. insignific
33、ant J. communicator K. important L. illustrate M. offended N. typical O. image 11 【 11】 12 【 12】 13 【 13】 14 【 14】 15 【 15】 16 【 16】 17 【 17】 18 【 18】 19 【 19】 20 【 20】 20 What makes Americans spend nearly half their food dollars on meals away from home? The answers lie in the way Americans live tod
34、ay. During the first few decades of the twentieth century, canned and other convenience foods freed the family cook from full-time duty at the kitchen range. Then, in the 1940s, work in the wartime defense plants took more women out of the home than ever before, setting the pattern of the working wi
35、fe and mother. Today about half of the countrys married women are employed outside the home. But, unless family members pitch in with food preparation, women are not fully liberated from that chore. Instead, many have become, in a sense, prisoners of the completely cooked convenience meals. It is ea
36、sier to pick up a bucket of fried chicken on the way home from work or take the family out for pizzas or burgers than to start opening cans or heating up frozen dinners after a long, hard day. Also, the rising divorce rate means that there are more single working parents with children to feed. And m
37、any young adults and elderly people, as well as unmarried and divorced mature people, have been alone rather than as part of a family unit and dont want to bother cooking for one. Fast food is appealing because it is fast, it doesnt require any dressing up, it offers a “fun“ break in the daily routi
38、ne, and the expense of money seems small. It can be eaten in the car sometimes picked up at a drive-in window without even getting out or on the run. Even if it is brought home to eat, there will never be any dirty dishes to wash because of the handy disposable wrappings. Children, especially, love
39、fast food because it is finger food, no struggling with knives and forks, no annoying instructions from adults about table manners. 21 Americans enjoy fast food now mainly because_. （ A） women are busy with their work （ B） there are more single-parent families （ C） it can be eaten in the car or on t
40、he run （ D） it is time-saving and convenient 22 It can be inferred that children_. （ A） want to have more freedom at table （ B） never wash dishes after meal （ C） like using forks and knives while eating （ D） take eating time as a fun break 23 People who live alone prefer not to cook at home on the g
41、round that _. （ A） they are too busy working to think of cooking （ B） they consider cooking for one person is too troublesome （ C） they think eating outside from time to time is enjoyable （ D） they want to share every meal with the friends 24 According to the passage, a drive-in window is_. （ A） a c
42、ar window from which you can see the driver （ B） a window in the restaurant from which you get your takeout in the car （ C） a place where you can buy unprepared food back home to cook （ D） an entrance where you return the used plates after eating 25 The expression “pitch in with“ (Line Para. 2) prob
43、ably means _. （ A） complain （ B） enjoy （ C） help （ D） deny 25 Argentina (land of silver) was given its name by 16th-century explorers who believed the country was rich in silver mines. The hopes of the explorers soon vanished when they discovered that the beautiful silver ornaments (装饰品 ) worn by th
44、e Indians came from distant Peru. Though rich in many resources, the so-called land of silver proved relatively poor in minerals of any kind, but its descriptive name has endured. When people think of Argentina, the image that comes at once to mind is that of the Gaucho on his horse, riding across t
45、he treeless Pampa. The ability of the Gaucho to survive in a hostile land and his skill in mastering the horse and using the animal for his own purposes were extraordinary. Notable, too, were the Gauchos special features of character indifference to material possessions combined with a natural warmt
46、h and friendliness. The skull of a cow often served him as a chair, but his strong instinct for hospitality led him to offer a stranger his hut with all the expansiveness of a great gentleman opening his manor (庄园 ) house. Mounted on his horse, the Gaucho felt himself lord of the world, free to go i
47、n any direction he pleased without being subjected to the will of any other person. The Gaucho became characteristic of the Argentine people. If at first his name conveyed the idea of a tramp (流浪汉 ) or wild rustic (乡巴佬 ), it soon came to indicate his positive qualities his cleverness, fine horsemans
48、hip, bravery, loyalty, and generosity. The phrase “to be a gaucho“ or “to be very gaucho“ soon became phrases of good sense. Today the expression “to make a gauchada“ means that one does a favor through friendship, with no thought of personal gain. The influence of the Gaucho and the impact of his w
49、ay of life on the habits of future generations of Argentines cannot be overlooked. Many Argentine customs and traditions stem from the way of life of the people of the Pampa. 26 What can we know about the origin of Argentina from the first paragraph? （ A） The name was given because the land was rich in silver mines. （ B） The explorers gave the land this name by mistake. （ C） The explorers were disappointed with the poor resources in Argentina. （ D） When the land was discovered,
