大学英语四级阅读

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1、If you are a male and you are reading this ,congratulations: you are a survivor .According to statistics .you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman ,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in A

2、ustralia, you will die on average five years before a woman.There are many reasons for this-typically, men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke but perhaps more importantly, men dont go to the doctor.“Men arent seeing doctors as often as they should,” says Dr. Gullotta,

3、“This is particularly so for the over-40s, when diseases tend to strike.” Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year. Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old ma who had delayed doing anything about his smokers cough fo

4、r a year.“When I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer” he says, “Earlier detection and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have prolonged this life”According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, com

5、pared to 70% of men in the same age group. “A lot of men think they are invincible (不可战胜的)”Gullotta says “They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think” Geez, if it could happen to him. Then there is the ostrich approach,” some men are scared of what might be there and

6、 would rather not know, ” says Dr. Ross Cartmill.“Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,” Cartmill says .He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-upsRegular check-ups for men would inevitably place strain on th

7、e public purse, Cartmill says.” But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the ultimate cost is far greater: it is called premature death.”57.Why does the author congratulate his male readers at the beginning of the passage?A. They are more likely to surviv

8、e serious diseases today.B. Their average life span has been considerably extended.C. They have lived long enough to read this article.D. They are sure to enjoy a longer and happier live.58。What does the author state is the most important reason men die five years earlier on average than women?A. me

9、n drink and smoke much more than women B. men dont seek medical care as often as womenC. men arent as cautions as women in face of danger D. men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases59. Which of the following best completes the sentence “Geez, if it could happen to him,(line2,para,8)?A. it c

10、ould happen to me, too B. I should avoid playing golfC. I should consider myself lucky D. it would be a big misfortune60what does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by “the ostrich approach”(line q para.9)A. a casual attitude towards ones health conditionsB. a new therapy for certain psychological problemsC. re

11、fusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involvedD. unwillingness to find out about ones disease because of fear61. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?A.They may increase public expenses B.They will save money in the long runC.They may cause psychological strains on me

12、n D.They will enable men to live as long as womenPassage twoHigh-quality customer service is preached(宣扬) by many ,but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than doneShoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store, but instead will alert their friends, relatives, co-work

13、ers, strangers-and anyone who will listen.Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide t frequent their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde group and Wharton school“Storytelling hurts retailers and entertai

14、ns consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group.” the store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four other, and will no longer visit the specific store for every dissatisfied customer, a store

15、 will lose up to three more due to negative reviews. The resulting “snowball effect” can be disastrous to retailers.According to the research, shoppers who purchased clothing encountered the most problems. ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers.The most common complaints incl

16、ude filled parking lots, cluttered (塞满了的) shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople.During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to dir

17、ect customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance climinated the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided confrontation between those eyeing the same parking space.Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy

18、and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions.Most importantly, salespeople should be diplomatic and polite with angry customers.“Retailers whore responsive and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who arent so friendly.” said Professor S

19、tephen Hoch. “Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wr

20、ong.62. Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?A Most customers wont bother to complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.B Customers would rather relate their unhappy experiences to people around them.C Few customers believe the service will be improved.D Customers have no

21、 easy access to store managers.63. What does Paula Courtney imply by saying “ the shopper must also find a replacement” (Line 2, Para. 4)?A New customers are bound to replace old ones.B It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.C Most stores provide the sameD Not compla

22、ining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.64. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers_A can stay longer browsing in the store B wont have trouble parking their carsC wont have any worries about security D can find their cars easily after shopp

23、ing65. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?A Manners of the salespeople B Hiring of efficient employeesC Huge supply of goods for sale D Design of the store layout.66. To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to _.A exert pressure on stores to improve t

24、heir serviceB settle their disputes with stores in a diplomatic wayC voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directlyD shop around and make comparisons between storesPassage threeIf you want to teach your children how to say sorry, you must be good at saying it yourself, especially to your own

25、 children. But how you say it can be quite tricky. If you say to your children “Im sorry I got angry with you, but .” what follows that “but” can render the apology ineffective: “I had a bad day” or “your noise was giving me a headache” leaves the person who has been injured feeling that he should b

26、e apologizing for his bad behavior in expecting an apology. Another method by which people appear to apologize without actually doing so is to say “Im sorry youre upset”; this suggests that you are somehow at fault for allowing yourself to get upset by what the other person has done. Then there is t

27、he general, all covering apology, which avoids the necessity of identifying a specific act that was particularly hurtful or insulting, and which the person who is apologizing should promise never to do again. Saying “Im useless as a parent” does not commit a person to any specific improvement. These

28、 pseudo-apologies are used by people who believe saying sorry shows weakness, Parents who wish to teach their children to apologize should see it as a sign of strength, and therefore not resort to these pseudo-apologies. But even when presented with examples of genuine contrition, children still nee

29、d help to become a ware of the complexities of saying sorry. A three-year-old might need help in understanding that other children feel pain just as he does, and that hitting a playmate over the head with a heavy toy requires an apology. A six-year-old might need reminding that spoiling other childr

30、ens expectations can require an apology. A 12-year-old might need to be shown that raiding the biscuit tin without asking permission is acceptable, but that borrowing a parents clothes without permission is not. 36. If a mother adds “but” to an apology, _. A) she doesnt feel that she should have apo

31、logized 【外B) she does not realize that the child has been hurt C) the child may find the apology easier to accept D) the child may feel that he owes her an apology37. According to the author, saying “Im sorry youre upset” most probably means “_”. A) You have good reason to get upset B) Im aware your

32、e upset, but Im not to blame C) I apologize for hurting your feelings D) Im at fault for making you upset 38. It is not advisable to use the general, all-covering apology because _. A) it gets one into the habit of making empty promises B) it may make the other person feel guilty C) it is vague and

33、ineffective D) it is hurtful and insulting39. We learn from the last paragraph that in teaching children to say sorry _. A) the complexities involved should be ignored B) their ages should be taken into account C) parents need to set them a good example D) parents should be patient and tolerant 40.

34、It can be inferred from the passage that apologizing properly is _. A) a social issue calling for immediate attention B) not necessary among family members C) a sign of social progress D) not as simple as it seemsPassage FourThroughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the president

35、ial candidates and how theyll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, Im more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the worlds attention. And that means that fo

36、r the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that were all hot-tempered single mothers who cant keep a man. Even in the wor

37、ld of make-believe, black women still cant escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause,

38、charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.It wont be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a

39、 regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what theyd like to see Michelle bring to the White Housemainly

40、 showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyonean impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an imag

41、e thats been around for far too long.57. Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?A) She serves as a role model for African women.B) She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.C) She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.D) She will

42、 pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.58. What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?A) They are victims of violence. B) They are of an inferior violence.C) They use quite a lot of body language. D) They live on charity and social welfa

43、re.59. What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?A) Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.B) How Michelle should behave as a public figure.C) How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.D) What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the W

44、hite House.60. What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?A) However many fans she has, she should remain modest,B) She shouldnt disappoint the African-American community.C) However hard she tries, she cant expect to please everybody.D) She will give priority to African-American w

45、omens concerns.61. What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?A) Help change the prevailing view about black women. B) Help her husband in the task of changing America.C) Outshine previous First Lady. D) Fully display her fine qualities.Passage FIveWhen next years crop of high-s

46、chool graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, theyll be joined by a new face; Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, wholl become Oxfords vice-chancellora position equivalent to university president in America.Hamilton isnt the only educator crossing the Atlantic.

47、 Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, its gone global. Yet the talent flow isnt universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one directi

48、on: outward from America.The chief reason is that American schools dont tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the universitys budget.

49、“We didnt do any global consideration,” says Patricia Hayes, the boards chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinct

50、ively American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student nu

51、mber. The decline in government support has made funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Ri

52、chard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yales financial position.”Of course, fund-raising isnt the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universiti

53、es will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.62. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage?A) Institutions worldw

54、ide are hiring administrators from the U.S.B) A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators.C) American universities are enrolling more international students.D) University presidents are paying more attention to funding-raising.63. What is the chief consideration of American un

55、iversities when hiring top-level administrators?A) The political correctness. B) Their ability to raise funds.C) Their fame in academic circles. D) Their administrative experience.64. What do we learn about European universities from the passage?A) The tuitions they charge have been rising considera

56、bly.B) Their operation is under strict government supervision.C) They are strengthening their position by globalization.D) Most of their revenues come from the government.65. Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard as its vice-chancellor chiefly because _.A) she was known to be good at raising

57、 money B) she could help strengthen its ties with YaleC) she knew how to attract students overseas D) she had boosted Yales academic status66. In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development?A) They can enhance the universitys image. B) They will bring with t

58、hem more international faculty.C) They will view a lot of things from a new perspective. D) They can set up new academic disciplines. Passage SixThe January fashion show, called FutureFashion , exemplified how far green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofit Earth Pledge, the sho

59、w inspired many top designers to work with sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organic fabrics in their lines. The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate, which uses al

60、l-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials can still be tough to fine . “Most designers with existing labels are finding there arent comparable fabrics that can just replace what youre doing and shat your customers are used to,” he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cot

61、ton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, still have few eco-friendly equivalents. Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support. Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its partici

62、pation fee for young green entrepreneurs(企业家) who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gave special recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable . It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewer than a dozen two years ago. This week Wal

63、-Mart is set to announce a major initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buy transitional(过渡型的) cotton at higher prices , thus helping to expand the supply of a key sustainable material . “Mainstream is about to occur,” says Hahn. Some analysts(分析师) are less sure . Among consumers, only 18%are even aware that ecofashion exists, up from 6% four years ago. Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer, when asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied: “Not that I