英语四级最新模拟试题及答案（四）

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Directions:There are four reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions. For each question there are four suggested answers marked A,B,C and D. You should choose the One best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET with a pencil.

Passage 1

It was once thought that air pollution affected only the area immediately around large cities with factories and/or heavy automobile traffic. Today, we know that although these are the areas with the worst air pollution, the problem is literally worldwide. On several occasions over the past decade, a heavy cloud of of air pollution has covered the entire eastern half of the United States and led to health warnings even in rural areas away from any major concentration of manufacturing and automobile traffic. In fact, the very climate of the entire earth may be affected by air pollution. Some scientists feel that the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the air resulting from the burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) is creating a “greenhouse effect" - holding in heat reflected from the earth and raising the world's average temperature. If this view is correct and the world's temperature is raised only a few degrees, much of the polar ice cap will melt and cities such as New York, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans will be under water.

Another view, less widely held, is that increasing particulate matter in the atmosphere is blocking sumlight and lowering the earth's temperature-a result that would be equally disastrous. A drop of just a few degrees could create something close to new ice age and would make agriculture difficult or impossible in many of our top farming areas. At present we do not know for sure that either of these conditions will hapen (though one recent government report prepared by experts in the field concluded that the greenhouse effect is very likely). Perhaps, if we are very lucky, the two tendencies will offset each other and the world's temperature will stay about the same as it is now.

1. As pointed out at the beginning of the passage, people used to think that air pollution .
A. caused widespread damage in the countryside
B. affected the entire eastern half of the United States
C. had damaging effects on health
D. existed merely in urban and industrial areas

2. As far as the greenhouse effect is concerned, the author
A. shares the same view with the scientists
B. is uncertain of its occurrence
C. rejects it as being ungrounded
D. thinks that it will destroy the world soon

3. The word “offset"(Line 6, Para. 2) could best be replaced by .
A. slip into
B. make up for
C. set up
D. catch up with

4. It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. raising the world's temperature only a few degrees would not do much harm to life on earth
B. lowering the world's temperature merely a few degrees would lead many major farming areas to disaster
C. almost no temperature variations have occurred over the past decade
D. the world's temperature will remain constant in the years to come

5. This passage is primarily concerned with .
A. the greenhouse effect
B. the burning of fossil fuels
C. the potential effect of air pollution
D. the likelihood of a new ice age

Passage 2

In previous generations, young people were under their parents' control; now the teenage children of the West's richest generation were ready for something to get excited about. The Beatles simply put a spark to a fuse (导火线) that was waiting to be lit.

Everything changed, and what changed for the Beatles was their lives and their working habits, in the midst of the hysterical (歇斯底里的) following the band attracted. Because of the demand of the fans to see them perform, they played bigger and bigger venues (meetingplaces), especially in America.

But John, Paul, George and Ringo became increasingly unhappy that, because of the screaming of their fans, neither the band nor the audience could hear the music. Creatively frustrated and tired of the pressures of life under siege (围攻) from their fans, they retired from playing concerts in 1966 and decided to concentrate on recording.

It was from this point that the brilliance of the Beatles really began to reveal itself: they would record over their career some 200 songs. Never before nor since has any recording and writing group even developed and yet remained the same in the way the Beatles did.

Their songs never lost their universal appealthanks to the warmth and timelessness of their melodies and lyrics.
John and Paul were powerful singers with distinctive styles. It became apparent that, despite the fact that the songwriting credits were always equally attributed to them, Paul and John wrote and sang their own songs. George also contributed two or three of his own compositions to each of the Beatles eleven albums. Even Ringo wrote and sang the occasional song.

6. Which of the following is NOT true about the Beatles according to the passage?
A. They made the young people of their time very excited.
B. They attracted a large following wherever they played.
C. They were always pleased with their popularity.
D. No other pop music group had ever played to bigger audience than they did.

7. It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. John and Paul were more talented and made greater contribution to the success of the band
B. John and Paul sang their won songs because they didn't like each other's style
C. George and Ringo never composed or sang their own songs
D. The Beatles maintained so much popularity with their works that no other recording or writing group could compare

8. It is implied in the third paragraph that .
A. the Beatles had no appetite for fame
B. the audience were unhappy about the sound effect
C. pop musicians get easily tired as they are under great pressures of life
D. the screaming of the fans prevented the Beatles from performing happily and creatively

9. The Beatles' outstanding qualities were really shown when .
A. they concentrated on recording and composition
B. they played on the American continent
C. they played their own lyrics and melodies on the stage
D. they sang on the stage pop songs they wrote themselves

10. What can we learn about the Beatles' music?
A. It was fine example of music for simple singalong songs.
B. Its appeal was not limited to any particular time or group of people.
C. It was simple in form but rich in meaning.
D. It reached a height which other pop music groups had never reached for their lyrics and melodies.

Passage 3

The classic Neanderthals(尼安德特人), who lived between about 70,000 and 30,000 years ago, shared a number of special characteristics. Like any biological population, Neanderthals also showed variation in the degree to which those characteristics were powerfully built, short and stocky, with the lower parts of their arms and legs short in relation to the upper parts, as in modern peoples who live in cold environments. Neanderthal skulls were distinctive, housing brains even larger on average than those of modern humans, a feature that may have had more to do with their large, heavy bodies than with superior intelligence. Seen from behind, Neanderthal skulls look almost spherical, but from the side they are long and flattened, often with a bulging back.

The Neanderthal face, dominated by a projecting and full nose, differed clearly from the faces of other hominids, the middle parts appear to be pulled forward (or the sides pulled back), resulting in a rather streamlined face shape. This peculiarity may have been related to the greater importance (in cultural activities as well as food processing) of the front teeth, which are large and part of a row of teeth that lies well forward in the head; it may reflect a reduction in importance of certain jaw muscles operating at the sides of the face, or it may reflect an adaptation to cold. Whether it results from any or all of these three factors or from other, undiscovered causes, this midfacial projection is so characteristic that it unfailingly identifies a Neanderthal to the trained eye.

Neanderthal teeth are much more difficult to characterize: the front teeth are large, with strong roots, but the back teeth may be relatively small. This feature may have been an adaptation to cope with heavy tooth wear.

11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The eating habits of the Neanderthals
B. A comparison of various prehistoric populations
C. The physical characteristics of the Neanderthals
D. The effect of climate on human development

12. The author describes the Neanderthal as being all of the following EXCEPT
A. short
B. swift
C. strong
D. stocky

13. Where in the passage does the author specifically stress the contrast between the Neanderthal face and that of other biologically related populations?
A. Lines 1―4
B. Lines 6―10
C. Lines 11―12
D. Lines 20―23

14. Which of the following explanations is NOT cited as a possible explanation of the Neanderthal's streamlined face shape?
A. Some jaw muscles had limited use.
B. The facial features were well adapted to the cold.
C. The front teeth were particularly important.
D. The nose was set far back in the skull.

15. In line 23, the author uses the expression “heavy tooth wear” to imply that the Neanderthals
A. had unusually heavy teeth
B. used their teeth extensively
C. regularly pulled out their teeth
D. used teeth for ornamentation

Passage 4

Much attention is presently being given to what is termed “functional illiteracy”. This should not be confused with the problem of illiteracy, that is, the inability to read and write. Current United Nations (UNESCO) figures indicate that 99 percent of all Americans are literate, the same figure assigned to nations such as Britain, Germany. Functional illiteracy, by contrast, is concerned with how much difficulty people have in actually using and writing skills in everyday situations. This might be interpreted, for example, as the relative ability to understand federal income tax forms, or printed instructions, or how well someone can write a letter of complaint, or apply in writing for a job.

There are no agreedupon definitions of what functional illiteracy is and, in practice, definitions vary widely. For many years, reading tests have been used throughout the country which define reading ability by grade level. “Tenthgrade reading level” for instance, would be the average reading score of all pupils who have completed ten years of school. There are, of course, many different reading tests and types of tests. One definition of functional illiteracy holds that anyone is “illiterate” who reads at less that an eighthgrade level. Another common definition uses a twelfthgrade level (the last year of high school in the U.S.).

There seems to be general agreement that at least onetenth of all Americans are functionally illiterate in English to some degree. It is also hardly surprising that those nations which (like the U.S.) have paid most attention to this concept, and which have nationwide testing, have found the greatest problems. As one educator humorously put it, “Reading tests cause illiteracy”. Canada, for example, which also has a large nonEnglishspeaking immigrant population, has recently found that many of her citizens, too, are functionally illiterate. The attention given to this problem, therefore, reflects the fact that in North America schools as well as pupils are continually tested.

16. What does “illiteracy” mean?
A. Ability to read and write.
B. Ability to appreciate literature.
C. Lack of interest in literature.
D. Inability to read and write.

17. Which of the following is most probably functionally illiterate?
A. One who reaches tenth grade reading level.
B. One who reaches eighth grade reading level.
C. One who reaches twelfth grade reading level.
D. Not known yet.

18. It can be learned from the passage that .
A. Canada and the U.S. have functionally illiterate population because they hardly paid any attention to the problem
B. functional illiteracy may have been caused at least in part by unsuccessful design of reading tests
C. nonEnglishspeaking immigrant population constitute the majority of all the functionally illiterate
D. it is impractical to determine what functional illiteracy really is as different situations set different requirements

19. It can be inferred that .
A. over onetenth of American population have difficulty in using and writing skills in everyday situations
B. in North America nationwide tests are given to test pupils' functional literacy
C. Canadians are generally at a higher level of functional literacy than Americans are
D. teaching of English reading and writing has turned out to be a failure in Canada and the U.S.

20. This passage was written mainly to .
A. analyze different definitions of functional illiteracy
B. discuss the reasons for functional illiteracy
C. compare ways to get rid of illiteracy
D. introduce the problem of functional illiteracy

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)

Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A., B., C. and D.. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

21. It is amazing that the Leaning Tower of Pisa for so long.
A. have stood
B. stands
C. has been standing
D. should have stood

22. The police were tracking the criminal who was said in a nearby wood.
A. to have hidden
B. to be hiding
C. to hiding
D. to hide

23. I didn't mean anyone but somehow I succeeded in annoying them all.
A. having offended
B. to be offending
C. to offend
D. offending

24. Just as they must put aside their prejudices, we must be prepared to accept their good faith.
A. thus
B. so
C. as
D. like

25. It is highly necessary that the rocket until all the preparations have been made.
A. is not to be launched
B. not be launched
C. were not launched
D. is not to be launched

26. It is up to whether to leave or to stay.
A. you decide
B. you to decide
C. you deciding
D. your deciding

27. In two years' time he his master's degree in chemistry.
A. has completed
B. will be completing
C. will have completed
D. will have been completing

28. Skimming also differs from scanning it is an effort to get general information rather than specific facts.
A. in which
B. for that
C. in that
D. on that

29. He was to to a foreign university but the war prevented.
A. have gone
B. go
C. be going
D. have been going

30. You can hardly imagine Bell a meal.
A. to be cooking
B. cooking
C. to cook
D. cook

31. To such a extent his empty speech that some of us began to doze.
A. did he go on with
B. he would go on with
C. he wen on with
D. he did go on with

32. Today's weather is an improvement yesterday's.
A. for
B. to
C. on
D. in

33. what has been said, it is unlikely that population growth will be halted, either in the developed or in the underdeveloped world.
A. For the sake of
B. On behalf of
C. With the exception of
D. In view of

34. He had to drive fast yesterday; otherwise he his plane.
A. had missed
B. would be missing
C. would have missed
D. would miss

35. The hostess, dressed in her finest costume, together with the guests, comfortably in the living room.
A. was seated
B. was seating
C. were seated
D. seated

36. I'll leave some bread in the fridge in case you hungry.
A. were
B. are
C. would be
D. will be

37. The police called off their search for the survivors of the air crash because of .
A. such bad weather
B. so bad weather
C. such a bad weather
D. too bad a weather

38. The customs inspector was for smugglers.
A. on alert
B. on watch
C. on the watch

38. The customs inspector was for smugglers.
A. on alert
B. on watch
C. on the watch
D. on the guard

39. The effect of the drug will after four hours or so.
A. fall through
B. end up
C. wind up
D. wear off

40. , many families are victims of bad housing.
A. Previously
B. Undoubtedly
C. Enormously
D. Extremely

41. Language is ; its patterns and vocabulary are accepted by a social group.
A. conditional
B. conservative
C. convenient
D. conventional

42. Some of the most important concepts in physics their success to these mathematical systems.
A. owe
B. oblige
C. attribute
D. contribute

43. Rotifers are microscopic animals that in quiet waters and live on algae.
A. dwell
B. feed
C. rest
D. mature

44. It is well-known that the retired workers in our country are free medical care.
A. involved in
B. associated with
C. entitled to
D. assigned to

45. When traffic is heavy it often happens that an inexperienced driver causes a traffic .
A. jaw
B. jar
C. jet
D. jam

46. A good friend is one who will you when you are in trouble.
A. stand up with
B. stand up to
C. stand by
D. stand for

47. Margaret made a lot of effort to persuade her father into to her going to the United States to study business administration in Harvard University.
A. contacting
B. contending
C. consenting
D. contenting

48. The two countries will restore full diplomatic relations now that they have their long-standing border disputes.
A. solved
B. settled
C. concluded
D. dissolved

49. The winter is already here, and to be a most severe one.
A. promises
B. shows
C. assumes
D. expects

50. Bob thought he had all the right for the job, so he went bravely to the manager.
A. diplomats
B. qualifications
C. identification
D. artificates

答案：

1.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
2.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
3.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
4.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
5.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
6.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
7.分析与解答：正确答案为D
8.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
9.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
10.分析与解答：正确答案为B
11.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
12.分析与解答：正确答案为B
13.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
14.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
15.分析与解答：正确答案为B
16.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
17.分析与解答：正确答案为D
18.分析与解答：正确答案为D
19.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
20.分析与解答：正确答案为D
21.分析与解答：正确答案为C
22.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
23.分析与解答：正确答案为C
24.分析与解答：正确答案为B
25.分析与解答：正确答案为D
26.分析与解答：正确答案为B
27.分析与解答：正确答案为C
28.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
29.分析与解答：正确答案为B
30.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
31.分析与解答：正确答案为A
32.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
33.分析与解答：正确答案为D
34.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
35.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
36.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
37.分析与解答：正确答案为A
38.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
39.分析与解答：正确答案为D
40.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
41.分析与解答：正确答案为D
42.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
43.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
44.分析与解答：正确答案为C
45.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
46.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
47.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
48.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
49.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
50.分析与解答：正确答案为B。