英语四级阅读理解习题.pdf

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1、Unit oneElementary Schools in early AmericaWhat accounts for the great outburst of major inventions in earlyAmerica-breakthroughs such as the telegraph,the steamboatand the weaving machine?Among the many shaping factors,I would single out the country*sexcellent elementary schools;a labor force that

2、welcomed the newtechnology;the practice of giving prem iu m s to inventors;andabove all the American genius for nonverbal,spatial*thinkingabout things technological.Why mention the elementary schools?Because thanks to theseschools our early mechanics,especially in the New England andMiddle Atlantic

3、states,were generally literate and at home inarithmetic and in some aspects of geometry and trigonometry.Acute foreign observers related american adaptiveness andinventiveness to this educational advantaae.As a member of aBritish commission visiting here in 1 853 reported,With a mindprepared by thor

4、ough school discipline,the American boy developsrapidly into the skilled workman/*A further stim ulus to invention came from the premium system,which preceded our patent system and for years ran parallel withit.This approach,originated abroad,offered inventors medals,cash prizes and other incentives

5、.I n the United States,m altitudes of premiums for new devices wereawarded at country fairs and at the industrial fairs in major cities.Americans flocked to these fairs to admire the new machines andthus to renew their faith in the beneficence of technological advance.Given this optimistic approach

6、to technological innovation,theAmerican worker took readily to that special kind of nonverbalthinking required in mechanical technology.As Eugene Fergusonhas pointed out,*A technologist thinks about objects that cannot bereduced to unam biguous verbal descriptions;they are dealt within his mind by a

7、 visual,nonverbal process.The designer and theinventor are able to assemble and manipulate in their mindsdevices that as yet do not exist.This nonverbal spatial*thinking can be just as creative as paintingand writing.robert fulton once wrote,The mechanic should sitdown among levers,screws,wedges,whe

8、els,etc.,like a poetamong the letters of the alphabet,considering them as an exhibitionof his thoughts,in which a new arrangement transmits a new idea.,When all these shaping forces-schools,open attitudes,thepremium system,a genius for spatial thinking-interacted withone another on the rich U.S.main

9、land,they produced that americancharacteristic,em ulation.Today that word implies mere im itation.But in earlier times it meant a friendly but competitive striving forfame and excellence.invention n.1.发明，发 明 物2.捏造，虚构inventor n.发明家，发明者 联想词inventory n.1.详 细 目 录2.存货清单breakthhrough n.1.突围，突 破2.重大成就，惊人发现

10、 联想词breakdown n.1.垮台，破 裂2.衰竭，衰 弱3.损坏，故 障4.分类premium n.1.保 险 金2.额外费用3.奖品，赠品，额外津贴a.1.高级的，优 质 的2.售价高的 联想司subsidy n.津贴，补贴verbal a.1.口 头 的2.用言辞的，用文字的 联想词vocal a.发声的，嗓音的spatial a.空间的，与空间有关的literacy n.识字,有文化，读写能力literate a.1.有读写能力的2.有文化修养的stimulus n.1.促进 2.刺激 联想词provocation n.1.挑衅，挑 拨2.刺激，激怒provocative a.1

11、.挑衅的，煽 动 的2.刺激的precede v t.在 之前，先于precedent n.1.先例，范例，判 例2.惯例patent n.专利,专利权a.专利（权）的,受专利保护的vt.得到 的专利权originate v i.起源于，来自，产生vt.创造，创始，开创 联想诃commence v.开始incentive n.刺激，鼓励multitude n.1.大量，许 多2.大众，民众ambiguous a.引起歧义的,模式棱两可的，含糊不清的 联想词indefinite a.1.不明确的,含糊的2.无限期的exdplicit a.1.明确的，明晰的;详述的2.直言的，毫不隐瞒的，露骨的m

12、anipulate vt.1.操纵，控制，影 响2.操作，使用lever n.1.杠 杆2.途径，工具，手段v t.撬动，撬起wedge n.楔（子）v t.把楔入，塞入 联想词groove n.沟，槽hinge n.较链interact v i.相互作用，相互影响emulation n.1.竞赛，竞 争2.仿效，仿真imitation n.1.模 仿2.仿制，仿 制 品3便品strive v i.努力，奋斗，力求sculpture n.1.雕刻，雕 塑2.雕刻作品,雕塑品 联想词carve vt.1.切，把 切 碎2.雕刻，刻engrave vt.1.在 上 雕 刻2.使铭记,使牢记stat

13、ue n.雕像，塑像bust n.1.胸像，半 身 像2.胸部，胸围marble n.1.大理石diploma n.毕业文凭，毕业证书，资格证书 联想词diplomat n.1.外交官，外 交 家2.有交际手段的人，圆滑的人perpetual a.1.永久的，永恒的,长期的2,无休止的，没完没了的Unit TwoFight Again Youth Sm okingThree years ago,appalled by how many children werebecoming addicted to cigarettes every year,the Vice President andI

14、committed this administration to stopping the sale and marketingof cigarettes to children.Today,thanks to these efforts and thepersistence of state attorneys general,the public healthcommunity,and leaders in Congress,we have the best opportunityever to pass comprehensive anti-smoking legislation tha

15、t wellsave millions of our children from a prem atu re,painful,and verypreventable death.This week,in a historic and resounding 1 9 to 1 vote,a keySenate committee gave its stamp of approval to comprehensivelegislation sponsored by Senator John McCain,a Republican,andSenator Fritz Hollings,a Democra

16、t,that would cut youth smoking byhalf over the next decade.This bill represents a dramatic stepforward.It would raise the price of cigarettes,give the FDA fullauthority to regulate tobacco products,ban advertising aimed atchildren,and protect tobacco farmers.We still have work to do in this legislat

17、ion.Above all,wn need toput in place touqh penalties that will cost the tobacco industry if itcontinues to sell ciaarettes to vouna people.Just this week theCenters for Disease Control released a disturbing report that morethan a third of teenagers in the United States now smoke,eventhough its illeg

18、al.It is time to hold tobacco companies accountable.Reducidngyouth smoking must be veerybodys bottom line.Lets remember-this is not about politics or money,or seeking revenge against thetobacco industry for past practices.Were not trying to put thetobacco com panies out of business;we want to put th

19、em out of thebusiness of selling cigarattes to kids.This weeks progress in theSenate shows we have real momentum in both parties to do justthat.Therere still maly issues to be worked out and many long nightsahead.But we have within our grasp one of the most importantpublic health victories our natio

20、n has ever achieved.Finally,lit me just pause a moment to observe the 30thanniversary of the death of one of Americas greatest heroes,Dr.Martin Luther King.His dream,deeply rooted in the AmericanDream,is a dream for all Americans.Let us here at home alwaysstrive to heed Dr.Kings words and live UD to

21、 his legacy.Bill Clintonappall vt.使惊骇，使大吃-惊 联想词terrify vt.使害怕，使惊吓outrage vt.激起 的义愤，激怒n.1.义愤，愤 慨2.暴行，骇人听闻的事件addict n.1.有瘾的人2.入迷的人vt.使成瘾，使入迷 联想词cocaine n.可卡因toxic a.有毒的，中毒引起的persistent a.1.坚持不懈的，执 意 的2.持续的persistence n.1.坚持不懈，执 意2.持续性，持续状态 联想词stubborn a.1.顽固的，执拗的,倔强的2.难对付的，难于克服的legislation n.1.法律，法 规2

22、,立法的，法律的制定 联想词legitimate a.1.合情合理的2.合法的，法律认可的judicial a.1.司法的，法庭的,审判的2.明断的,公正的sue vi.1.控告，起 诉2.要求，请 求vt.控告，起诉prosecute vt.1.对提起公诉，告发，检 举2.继续从事vi.起诉，告发defendant n.被告invalid a.1.无效的，作 废 的2.无可靠依据的n.病弱者，残疾者testify vi.1.作证，证 明2.表明，说 明vt.作证，证明testimony n.1.证 词2.见证，证明premature a.1.比预期时间早是2.不成熟的,仓促的authorit

23、y n.1.权力,管辖权2.官方，当 局3.当权者,行政管理机构4.权威,专家authoritative a.1.权威性的,可信的2.专断的，命令式的authorize vt,授权，批准 联想词definitive a.1.最可靠的，权威性的2.决定性的accountable a.负起责任的revenge n甘艮复，报仇momentum n.1.动力，冲力，势 力2.动量 联想词impetus n.1.推动，促进，刺 激2.推动力strive vi.努力，奋斗，力求heed vt.留心，注意，听从legency n.遗赠的财物，遗产deadly a.1.致死的，致 命 的2,不共戴天的，殊 死

24、 的3.极度的,十足的ad.非常，极度地 联想词drastic a.1.极端的，严 厉 的2激烈的,迅猛的epidemic n.1.流 行 病2.流传，流 行a.流行性的，流传极广的lure vt.吸引，引诱，诱惑Unit ThreeBeauty Is MeaninglessA young man sees a sunset and,unable to understand or toexpress the emotion that it rouses in him,concludes that it must bethe gateway to a world that lies beyond

25、.It is difficult for any of us inmoments of intense aesthetic experience to resist the suggestionthat we are catching a glimpse of a light that shires down to us froma different realm of existence,different and,because the experienceis intensely moving,insome wav higher.And,though the gleam sblind a

26、nd dazzle,yet they do convey a hint of beauty and serenitygreater than we have known or imagined.Greater too than we candescribe,for language,which was invented to convey the meaningsof this world,cannot readily be fitted to the uses of another.That all great art has this power of suggesting a world

27、 beyond isundeniable.In some moods,Nature shares it.There is no sky inJune so blue that it does not point forward to a bluer,no sunset sobeautiful that it does not waken the vision of a greater beauty,awision which passes before it is fully glimpsed,and in passing leavesan indefinable linging and re

28、gret.But,if this world is not merely abad joke,life a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance of the stars,and existence an empty laugh braying across the mysteries,if theseintimations of a something behind and beyond are not evil humourborn of indigestion,or whimsies sent by the devil to m ock andmadde

29、n us,if,in a word,beauty means something,yet we mustnot seek to interpret the meaning.If we glimpse the unutterable,itis unwise to try to utter it,ror should we seek to invest withsignificance that which we cannot grasp.Beautv in terms of ourhuman meanings is meaningless.intense a.1.强烈的，剧烈的,紧张的2.认真的

30、,专注的3.热情的,热切的intensify v.（使）增强,（使）加剧aesthetic a.1.美学的，审 美 的2.悦目的,雅致的gleam vi.1.闪亮，闪 烁2.闪现，流 露n.1.闪光，闪 亮2.闪现，流露 联想词sparkle vi.1.发光，闪耀，闪 烁2.活跃，焕 发n.1.发光，闪耀，闪 烁2.活力，生气glitter v i.闪闪发光，闪 耀n.闪光，灿烂的光辉2.耀眼，辉煌dazzle v t.使 眩 目n.1.耀眼的光2.令人赞叹的东西serenity n.1.平静，安 详2.晴朗，明朗denial n.1.否 认2.拒绝undeniable a.不可否认的vulg

31、ar a.1.粗野的，下 流 的2.庸俗的,粗俗的 联想词boscene a.1.淫秽的，下 流 的2.可憎的,可恶的flare vi.1.（火焰）闪 耀2.突发，突然发怒n.闪光信号,照明弹 联想词erupt vi.1.（火山等）喷 发2.（战争等）爆发，突然发生ignite v t.点燃，引发radiant a.1.容光焕发的，喜形于色的2.光芒四射的，光辉灿烂的3.辐射的 联想词radiate v.1.发出（光或热），辐 射2.流露，显示radioactive a.放射性的，有辐射的bray vi.1.（驴）叫2.以响而粗的声音说（或笑）whimsy n.1.怪念头，离奇的想法2.稀奇古

32、怪 联想词bizare a.怪诞的，奇形怪状的weird a.1.古怪的，离奇的2.怪诞的，神秘可怕的mock vt.1.嘲笑，嘲 弄2.（为了取笑）模 仿vi.嘲笑，嘲弄a.1.模拟的，学 习 的2.假的，假装的Unit FourWaiting in LineThe British queue up and the Americans wait in line,except forNew Yorkers,who wait on line.No one seems to know the reason forthis local idiom.It issomething to ponder w

33、hile waiting in/on line.Another thing to ponder:It is estimated that Americans spedndup to five years of their lives in that tedious,w eary but unavoidableprocess known as waiting.Studies show that otherwise rationalpeople act irrationally when forced to stand in line or wait in crowds,even becoming

34、 violent.Queues are agrim reality of city life.Whilethere seems to be noconsensus onthe citys worst line,the ones mentioned most oftenin talks here and there were lunchtime lines at banks and postoffices and,among younger people,movie lines andcollege-registration lines.“Bank lines/said Mark Sloane,

35、an investor.nNo matter whattime of day you bank,the number of tellers is inadequate to thenumber of patrons.Even when the bank is open you see long linesinfront of the money machines outside.*Supermarkets,said Ed Frantz,a graphic artist,who onceabandoned a full shopping cart in the middle of a long

36、checkout line.It was not a political act.MThe line was filled with coupon clippersand check writers,*he recalled.And suddenly I had to walk away.Food no longer mattered.1In any line the fundamental rule is first come,first served,orwhat dsocial scientists call distributive justice.*Exceptions may be

37、made,say,in fancy restaurants where the headwaiters have theirfavorites,but,in aeneral,the rule prevails.If m isery loves company,so do sports fans.Dr.Leon Manndocumented this several years ago when,as a Harvard professor,he studied the long overnight queues for tickets to ball games in hisnative Au

38、stralia.Outside the stadium something of a camival atmosphereprevails,*he wrote in The American Journal of Sociology.Thedevotees sing,sip warm drinks,play cards and huddle together.,Like the teams they had come to watch,the fans in line tooktimeouts.Some worked in shifts,with certain members leaving

39、 totake naps or eat meals,while others saved their places in line.Somestaked claims in line with items of personal property such assleeping bags and folding chairs.During the early hours ofwaiting,Dr.Mann noted,Mthe queues often consisted of one partpeople to two parts inanim ate objects.,Nobody has

40、 ever seriously studied Helen Quinns Saturdaymorning line for Met ropolitan Opera tickets,but perhaps someoneshould-Miss Quinn is not an official at the Met.For 15 years standees at the opera have been doing just that,thanks to Miss Quins ticketing system.She makes,dates andnumbers her tickets-one f

41、or each of the 175 standing room spotsavailable-and dispenses them to early birds.Assured of a place,ticket holders then leave and return shortly before 8 A.M.to line upfor the real tickets.idiom n.1 .习语，成 语2.风格，特色ponder v.思索，考虑，沉思 联想词contemplate vt.1.盘算，计 议2.思量，周 密 考 虑3.注视，凝视weary a.1.疲劳的，疲 倦 的2,使疲

42、劳的，令 人 厌 倦 的vi,厌倦的，不耐烦 联想词tiresome a.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的grim a.1.讨厌的，糟 糕 的2.严 厉 的3.严酷的,无情的consensus n.单（意见等）一致,一致同意patron n.1.资助人，赞 助 人2.老主顾，顾客resent v t.对 表示忿恨，怨恨graphic a.1.生动的，形 象 的2.绘画的，文字的,图表的coupon n.1.礼券,优惠券2.配券，票证clip n.1.夹子，回形针，别 针2.弹夹，弹 仓3.剪，修 剪4.剪报，电影片断vt.（clipped;clipping）1.夹住，扣 住2.剪，修 剪3.削减，缩短

43、联想词clamp n.夹头，夹具，夹 钳vt.（用夹具等）夹紧，固定prevail vi.1.流行，盛 行2.获胜，占 优 势3.说明，劝说，诱使prevalent a.流秆的，普遍的misery n.1.痛苦，苦恼，苦 难2.悲惨的境遇，贫苦carnival n.1.表 演 会2.庆祝，欢 宴3.狂欢节 联想词feast n.1.盛宴，筵 席2.节日sociology n.社会学sip v.（sipped,sippig）小口地喝，抿，呷 n.小口喝huddle vi.1.聚集在 一 起2.把身子蜷成一团vt.使聚集在一起n.挤在一起的人，一堆杂乱的东西metropolitan a.大城市的，

44、大都会的dispense vt.1.分配，分 发2.配（药），发（药）3.实施，执行 联想词disperse vi.1.分散，散 开2.消散，消 失vt.1.使分散，赶 散2.使消散，驱散inanimate a.1.无生命的，非 动 物 的2.无生气的,单调的Unit FiveAggressive Patriotism in SportsSome people believe that international sport creates goodwillbetween the nations.Others say that the opposite is true:thatinternat

45、ional contests encourage false national pride and lead tomisunderstanding and hatred.There is probably some truth in botharguments,but in recent years the Olympic games have done littleto support the view that sports encourages internationalbrotherhood.Not only,was there the tragic incident involvin

46、g themurder of athletes,but the games were also ruined by lesserincidents caused Drincipally bv minor national contests.One country received its second-place medals with visibleindignation after the hockey final.There had been noisy scenes atthe end of the hockey match,the users objecting to the fin

47、aldecisions.They were convinced that one of their goals should nothave been disallowed and that their opponents victory was unfair.Their manager was in a rage when he said:This wasnt hockey.Hockey and the I nternational Hockey Federation are finished.Thepresident of the Federation said later that su

48、ch behavior could resultin the suspension of the team for at least three years.The American basketball team announced that they would notyield first place to Russia,after a disputable end to their contest.The game had ended in disturbance.It was thought at first thatthe United States had won,by a si

49、ngle point,but it was announcedthat there were three seconds still to play.A Russian player thenthrew the ball from one end of the court to the other,and anotherplayer popped it into the basket.It was the first time the USA hadever lost an Olympic basketball match.The American players thenvoted not

50、to receive the silver medals.I ncidents of this kind well continue as long as sport is playedcompetitively rather than for the love of the game.In the presentorganization of the Olympics there is far too much that encouragesaggressive patriotism.tragic a.1.悲惨的，可 悲 的2.悲剧（性）的 联想词dreadful a.1 .糟透了的，极不合