大学英语四级阅读理解试题及答案（三） 十一
What is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow , orange ,red? If you do ,you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer greys and blues? Then you are probably quiet,shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend to be a pessimist. At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know,because they have been seriously studying the meaning of colours preference, as well as the effect that colours have on human beings. They tells us, among other facts,that we do not choose our favourite clour as we grow up----we are born with our preference.If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly. Colours do influence our moods----there is no doubt about it .A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand ,black is depressing. A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides than any other bridge in the area ----until it was repainter green.The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply ;perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.
Light and bright colours make people not only hppier but more active. It is an established fact that factory workers work better,harder ,and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.
1."You would rather follow than red" means_______.
a.you don't like to follow others
b.you would be a member rather than a leader
c.you would be afraid of following others
d.you would like to be a leader rather than a follower
2.If one enjoys life, one is sure to prefer________.
a.red to yellow
b.blue to orange
c.red to grey
d.blue to yellow
3."They tell us, among other facts,that we don't choose our favourite colours as we grow up." "Among other facts" means______.
a.besides other facts
b.in regard to other facts
c.not considering other facts
d.according to other facts
4.Which of the following is facts?
a.People's preference of one colour to another is instinct
b.People's preference of one colour to another is acquired as they grow up. c.More people happen to love brown because they saw something brown when they were born
d.Colours have little influence on our moods
5.Those who committed suicide preferred the bridge over the Thames River near london to others because of _______.
a.its shape
b.its structure
c.its colour
d.its building materials
答案：bcaac
十二
Social customs and ways of behaving change. Things which were considered impolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was considered impolite behaviour for a man to smoke on street. No man who thought of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room.
Customs also differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should leave one in your lap,or on the table?
The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a wonman or offer their seat to a woman , and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is , if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock , the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay.
The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable-----especially if they are your guests. When the food was served , one of the guests strated to eat his peas with a knife . The other guests were amused or shocked , but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable.
1.If one has accepted a dinner invitation ,what should he do if he is tobe late for the dinner?
a.He should find an excuse
b.He should adk for excuse.
c.He should say sorry
d.He should telephone to explain his being late.
2."It would have been bad manners to make his guests feel foolish or uncomfortable." "Bad manners " means ________.
a.ugly
b.dishonest
c.impolite
d.shameful
3.which of the following do you think is the best tiltle for this passage? a.Social Customs and Customs
b.Social Life
c.American and British Customs
d.Promptness Is Important
4.According to the text, the best host_______.
a.tries his best to make his guests feel comfortable
b.makes his guests feel excited
c.tries to avoid being naughty to his guests
d.tries to avoid being foolish
5.The author of this article may agree with which of the following? a.The guest who ate his peas with a knife
b.The other guests who were amused or shocked
c.The host who picked up his knife and began eating in the same way d.None of the above
答案：dcaac
十三
New Orleans, Louisiana, was established as part of the French Empire in 1718.
Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the American hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It was transferred from France to Spain, returned to France,and finally sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle fought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it , and the Americans under General And rew Jackson.
The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting and the river is now actually higher than the city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are used to move water from the city into the river.
Although New Orleans haas beena part of the United States for almost two centuries, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still retains parts of the Code Napoleon which,form many years,was its only law.
New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and its native Dixieland Jazz. The jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting facade of yesteryear, is a busy industrial and port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreigh cargoes are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town----but it's still fun to visit.
1.What accounts for the levees and pumps in New Orleans?
a.The Mississippi frequently floods the city.
b.The riverbed has raised inthe past 200 years.
c.The torrential rains flood the city frequently.
d.The high humidity cannot otherwise be comtrolled.
2.The battle of New Orleans was fought by jackson against______.
a.France
b.Britain
c.Spain
d.The North
3.The Code Napoleon was _______.
a.an agreement to sell Louisiana
b.a body of laws
c.a city plan
d.a military code for the army
4.Which of the following elements does not apply to the attiude of the inhabitants of New Orleans?
a.Pride in their French heritage.
b.A desire to retain picturesque colonial buildings.
c.A refusal to engage in trade and commerce
d.A praising of Dixieland Jazz.
5.Tourists visiting New Orleans are surprised to encounter_____.
a.Creole food
b.Dixieland jazz
c.bustling city
d.authentic colonial homes
答案： bbbcc
十四
The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's technology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engineers.
Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of
22-year-olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other
fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engineering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly. Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.candidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education,find the attraction of industry irresistible.
1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ________.
a. the number of PH.D. degree holders is declining
b. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasing
c. the number of 22-year-ilds is declining
d. scientists and engineers are not employed
2.The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from ________ . a. technology
b. foreign nationals
c. such fields as law, medicine and business
d. postgraduates
3.Large-scale enterprises now need _______.
a. bright graduates and postgraduates
b. new inventions
c. advanced technology
d. engineers
4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree because _________.
a. they are not encouraged to be engaged in science
b. industry does not require PH.D. holders
c. they have financial difficulties
d. they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.
5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means that _________.
a. they find industry is attracting more and more college students
b. they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industry c. they cannot resist any attraction from all sides
d. they cannot work for industry any longer
答案：bcadb
十五
Newdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effectiveness will remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard of opwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.
America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose
of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was
unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.
The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the Department of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutional forces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.
1. Now a nation's political influence depends on _________.
a. the strength of its military forces
b. its ability to compete in industry
c. economic markets
d. both a and b
2. The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because of _________.
a. its powerful military forces
b. its vast land
c. its industrial competitiveness
d. its contributions to world peace
3. The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power. a. other countries
b. the declining U.S. industrial base
c. a new standard for measuring power
d. less advanced technology
4. America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably because of ___________.
a. its ability to adapt technology
b. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its people c. its ability to compete in the world markets
d. both a and b
5. The purpose of writing this article is __________.
a. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring power b. to demonstrate American political influence in the world
c. to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial base
d. to show American industrial prowess
答案：dabdc