专四真题.docx

1、专四真题PART V READING COMPREHENSION 25 MINIn this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.TEXT A What is the nature of t

2、he scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science? We all know that science plays an important role in the societies in which we live. Many people believe, however, that our progress depen

3、ds on two different aspects of science. The first of these is the application of the machines, products and systems of applied knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. Through technology, science improves the structure of society and helps man to gain increasing control over his environm

4、ent.The second aspect is the application by all members of society of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity - he wants to find out how

5、and why the universe works. He usually directs his attention towards problems which he notices have no satisfactory explanation, and his curiosity makes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions

6、 and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves. He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and applies logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts he observes to the fullest extent. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of informa

7、tion about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum.He is skeptical - he does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available - and therefore rejects authority as the sole basis for truth. Scientists always check stateme

8、nts and make experiments carefully and objectively to verify them.Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.Lastly, he i

9、s highly imaginative since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses of how processes work and how events take place.These seem to be some of the ways in which a successfu

10、l scientist or technologist thinks and acts.81. Many people believe that science helps society to progress through A. applied knowledge. B. more than one aspect. C. technology only. D. the use of machines.82. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about curiosity? A. It gives the scientist c

11、onfidence and pleasure in work. B. It gives rise to interest in problems that are unexplained. C. It leads to efforts to investigate potential connections. D. It encourages the scientist to look for new ways of acting.83. According to the passage, a successful scientist would not A. easily believe i

12、n unchecked statements. B. easily criticize others research work. C. always use his imagination in work. D. always use evidence from observation.84. What does the passage mainly discuss? A. Application of technology. B. Progress in modem society. C. Scientists ways of thinking and acting. D. How to

13、become a successful scientist.85. What is the authors attitude towards the topic? A. Critical. B. Objective. C. Biased. D. Unclear.81. B more than one aspect82. A it gives the scientist confidence and pleasure in work83. A easily believe in unchecked statements84. C scientistss way of thinking and a

14、cting85. B objective From: TEXT BOver the past several decades, the U.S., Canada, and Europe have received a great deal of media and even research attention over unusual phenomena and unsolved mysteries. These include UFOs as well as sightings and encounters with nonhuman creatures such as Bigfoot a

15、nd the Loch Ness monster. Only recently has Latin America begun to receive some attention as well. Although the mysteries of the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations have been known for centuries, now the public is also becoming aware of unusual, paranormal phenomena in countries such as Peru.The Na

16、zca lines of Peru were discovered in the 1930s. These lines are deeply carved into a flat, stony plain, and form about 300 intricate pictures of animals such as birds, a monkey, and a lizard. Seen at ground level, the designs are a jumbled senseless mess. The images are so large that they can only b

17、e viewed at a height of 1,000 feet - meaning from an aircraft. Yet there were no aircraft in 300 B.C., when it is judged the designs were made. Nor were there then, or are there now, any nearby mountain ranges from which to view them. So how and why did the native people of Nazca create these marvel

18、ous designs? One answer appeared in 1969, when the German researcher and writer Erich von Daniken proposed that the lines were drawn by extraterrestrials as runways for their aircraft. The scientific community did not take long to scoffat and abandon von Danikens theory. Over the years several other

19、 theories have been put forth, but none has been accepted by the scientific community.Today there is a new and heightened interest in the Nazca lines. It is a direct result of the creation of the Internet. Currently there are over 60 sites dedicated to this mystery from Latin Americas past, and even

20、 respected scientists have joined the discussion through e-mail and chat rooms.Will the Internet help explain these unsolved mysteries? Perhaps it is a step in the right direction.86. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT? A. Latin America has long received attention for unusual phenomena.

21、B. Public attention is now directed towards countries like Peru. C. Public interest usually focuses on North America and Europe. D. Some ancient civilizations have unsolved mysteries.87. According to the passage, the Nazca lines were found A. in mountains. B. in stones. C. on animals. D. on a plain.

22、88. We can infer from the passage that the higher the lines are seen, the _ the images they present. A. smaller B. larger C. clearer D. brighter89. There has been increasing interest in the Nazca lines mainly because of A. the participation of scientists. B. the emergence of the lnternet. C. the bir

23、th of new theories. D. the interest in the Internet.90. The author is _ about the role of the lnternet in solving mysteries. A. cautious B. pessimistic C. uncertain D. optimisticTEXT C Graduation speeches are a bit like wedding toasts. A few are memorable. The rest tend to trigger such thoughts as,

24、Why did I wear such uncomfortable shoes? But graduation speeches are less about the message than the messenger. Every year a few colleges and universities in the US attract attention because theyve managed to book high-profile speakers. And, every year, the media report some of these speakers wise r

25、emarks.Last month, the following words of wisdom were spread:You really havent completed the circle of success unless you can help somebody else move forward. (Oprah Winfrey, Duke University). There is no way to stop change; change will come. Go out and give us a future worthy of the world we all wi

26、sh to create together. (Hillary Clinton, New York University).This really is your moment. History is yours to bend. (Joe Biden, Wake Forest University).Of course, the real get of the graduation season was first lady Michelle Obamas appearance at the University of California, Merced. Remember that yo

27、u are blessed, she told the class of 2009, Remember that in exchange for those blessings, you must give something back. As advocate and activist Marian Wright Edelman says, Service is the rent we pay for living . it is the true measure, the only measure of success.Calls to service have a long, rich

28、tradition in these speeches. However, it is possible for a graduation speech to go beyond cliche and say something truly compelling. The late writer David Foster Wallaces 2005 graduation speech at Kenyon College in Ohio talked about how to truly care about other people. It gained something of a cult

29、 after it was widely circulated on the Internet. Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs address at Stanford University that year, in which he talked about death, is also considered one of the best in recent memory. But when youre sitting in the hot sun, fidgety and freaked out, do you really want to be lectu

30、red aboutthe big stuff?. Isnt that like trying to maintain a smile at your wedding reception while some relative gives a toast that amounts to marriage is hard work? You know hes right; you just dont want to think about it at that particular moment. In fact, as is the case in many major life moments

31、, you cant really manage to think beyond the blisters your new shoes are causing. That may seem anticlimactic. But it also gets to the heart of one of lifes greatest, saddest truths: that our most memorable occasions may elicit the fewest memories. Its probably not something most graduation speakers

32、 would say, but its one of the first lessons of growing up.91. According to the passage, most graduation speeches tend to recall _ memories. A. great B. trivial C. unforgettable D. unimaginative92. But graduation speeches are less about the message than the messenger is explained A. in the final paragraph. B. in the last but one paragraph. C. in the first paragraph. D. in