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2012-2014英语四级阅读理解经典模拟试卷(1)
It’s no secret that many children would be healthier and happier with adoptive parents than with the parents that nature dealt them. That’s especially true of children who remain in abusive homes because the law blindly favors biological parents. It’s also true of children who suffer for years in foster homes (收养孩子的家庭) because of parents who can’t or won’t care for them but refuse to give up custody (监护) rights.
Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Mays fits neither description, but her recent court victory could eventually help children who do. Kimberly has been the object of an angry custody baffle between the man who raised her and her biological parents, with whom she has never lived. A Florida judge ruled that the teenager can remain with the only father she’s ever known and that her biological parents have “no legal claim” on her.
The ruling, though it may yet be reversed, sets aside the principle that biology is the primary determinant of parentage. That’s an important development, one that’s long overdue.
Shortly after birth in December 1978, Kimberly Mays and another infant were mistakenly switched and sent home with the wrong parents. Kimberly’s biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, received a child who died of a heart disease in 1988. Medical tests showed that the child wasn’t the Twiggs’ own daughter, but Kimt only was, thus sparking a custody battle with Robert Mays. In 1989, the two families agreed that Mr. Mays would maintain custody with the Twiggs getting visiting fights. Those rights were ended when Mr. Mays decided that Kimberly was being harmed.
The decision to leave Kimberly with Mr. Mays rendered her suit debated. But the judge made clear that Kimberly did have standing to sue (起诉) on her own behalf. Thus he made clear that she was more than just property to be handled as adults saw fit.
Certainly, the biological link between parent and child is fundamental. But biological parents aren’t always preferable to adoptive ones, and biological parentage does not convey an absolute ownership that cancels all the rights of children.
1. What was the primary consideration in the Florida judge’s ruling?
A) The biological link.
B) The child’s benefits.
C) The traditional practice.
D) The parents’ feelings.
2. We can learn from the Kimberly case that ________.
A) children are more than just personal possessions of their parents
B) the biological link between parent and child should be emphasized
C) foster homes bring children more pain and suffering than care
D) biological parents shouldn’t claim custody rights after their child is adopted
3. The Twiggs claimed custody rights to Kimberly because ________.
A) they found her unhappy in Mr. Mays’ custody
B) they regarded her as their property
C) they were her biological parents
D) they felt guilty about their past mistake
4. Kimberly had been given to Mr. Mays ________.
A) by sheer accident
B) out of charity
C) at his request
D) for better care
5. The author’s attitude towards the judge’s ruling could be described as ________.
A) doubtful
B) critical
C) cautious
D) supportive
答案：1. B 2. A 3. C 4.A 5. D
2012-2014英语四级阅读理解经典模拟试卷(2)
I’m usually fairly skeptical about any research that concludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago. While any of these statements might be true, they are practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, I was struck by a report which concluded that today’s children are significantly more anxious than children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children ages 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago.
Why are America’s kids so stressed? The report cites two main causes: increasing physical isolation—brought on by high divorce rates and less involvement in community, among other things—and a growing perception that the world is a more dangerous place.
Given that we can’t turn the clock back, adults can still do plenty to help the next generation cope.
At the top of the list is nurturing (培育) a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress.
To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can pull the plug on TVs and computers. Your family will thank you later. They will have more time for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep.
Limit the amount of virtual (虚拟的) violence your children are exposed to. It’s not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on the local news.
Keep your expectations for your children reasonable. Many highly successful people never attended Harvard or Yale.
Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you cope with your own anxieties and provide a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable. But it doesn’t have to ruin your life.
1. The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people’s state of mind are ________.
A) surprising B) confusing C) illogical D) questionable
2. What does the author mean when he says, “we can’t turn the clock back” (Line 1, Para. 3)?
A) It’s impossible to slow down the pace of change.
B) The social reality children are facing cannot be changed.
C) Lessons learned from the past should not be forgotten.
D) It’s impossible to forget the past.
3. According to an analysis, compared with normal children today, children treated as mentally ill 50 years ago ________.
A) were less isolated physically
B) were probably less self-centered
C) probably suffered less from anxiety
D) were considered less individualistic
4. The first and most important thing parents should do to help their children is ________.
A) to provide them with a safer environment
B) to lower their expectations for them
C) to get them more involved socially
D) to set a good model for them to follow
5. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?
A) Anxiety, though unavoidable, can be coped with.
B) Children’s anxiety has been enormously exaggerated.
C) Children’s anxiety can be eliminated with more parental care.
D) Anxiety, if properly controlled, may help children become mature.
答案：1. D 2. B 3. C 4.C 5. A
2012-2014英语四级阅读理解经典模拟试卷(3)
It is easier to negotiate initial salary requirement because once you are inside, the organizational constraints (约束) influence wage increases. One thing, however, is certain: your chances of getting the raise you feel you deserve are less if you don’t at least ask for it. Men tend to ask for more, and they get more, and this holds true with other resources, not just pay increases. Consider Beth’s story:
I did not get what I wanted when I did not ask for it. We had cubicle (小隔间) offices
and window offices. I sat in the cubicles with several male colleagues. One by one they were moved into window offices, while I remained in the cubicles, several males who were hired after me also went to offices. One in particular told me he was next in line for an office and that it had been part of his negotiations for the job. I guess they thought me content to stay in the cubicles since I did not voice my opinion either way.
It would be nice if we all received automatic pay increases equal to our merit, but “nice” isn’t a quality attributed to most organizations. If you feel you deserve a significant raise in pay, you’ll probably have to ask for it.
Performance is your best bargaining chip (筹码) when you are seeking a raise. You must be able to demonstrate that you deserve a raise. Timing is also a good bargaining chip. If you can give your boss something he or she needs (a new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before merit pay decisions are being made, you are more likely to get the raise you want.
Use information as a bargaining chip too. Find out what you are worth on the open market. What will someone else pay for your services?
Go into the negotiations prepared to place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.
1. According to the passage, before taking a job, a person should ________.
A) demonstrate his capability
B) give his boss a good impression
C) ask for as much money as he can
D) ask for the salary he hopes to get
2. What can be inferred from Beth’s story?
A) Prejudice against women still exists in some organizations.
B) If people want what they deserve, they have to ask for it.
C) People should not be content with what they have got.
D) People should be careful when negotiating for a job.
3. We can learn from the passage that ________.
A) unfairness exists in salary increases
B) most people are overworked and underpaid
C) one should avoid overstating one’s performance
D) most organizations give their staff automatic pay raises
4. To get a pay raise, a person should ________.
A) advertise himself on the job market
B) persuade his boss to sign a long-term contract
C) try to get inside information about the organization
D) do something to impress his boss just before merit pay decisions
5. To be successful in negotiations, one must ________.
A) meet his boss at the appropriate time
B) arrive at the negotiation table punctually
C) be good at influencing the outcome of the interaction
D) be familiar with what the boss likes and dislikes
答案：1. D 2. B 3. A 4.D 5. C
2012-2014英语四级阅读理解经典模拟试卷(4)
Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.
Located on the shore of Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane (飓风) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.
Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo’s wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.
At first sight, the house on Sullivan’s Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern (灯笼)” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced with long
steel rods to give it extra strength.
To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings—long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.
Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed by the house’s ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.
1. After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina’s shore line are required ________.
A) to be easily reinforced
B) to look smarter in design
C) to meet stricter building standards
D) to be designed in the shape of cubes
2. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because ________.
A) it is strengthened by steel rods
B) it is made of redwood
C) it is in the shape of a shell
D) it is built with timber and concrete
3. Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to ________.
A) withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr
B) anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand
C) break huge sea waves into smaller ones
D) prevent water from rushing into the house
4. The main function of the shell is ________.
A) to strengthen the pilings of the house
B) to give the house a better appearance
C) to protect the wooden frame of the house
D) to slow down the speed of the swelling water
5. It can be inferred from the passage that the shell should be ________.
A) fancy-looking
B) waterproofwww.
C) easily breakable
D) extremely strong
答案：1. C 2. A 3. D 4.B 5. C
2012-2014英语四级阅读理解经典模拟试卷(5)
A is for always getting to work on time.
B is for being extremely busy.
C is for the conscientious (勤勤恳恳的) way you do your job.
You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.
Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics—a better job, a raise, praise—many people are still unable—or unwilling—to “play the game.”
“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative (工于心计的) behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University. “But politics derives from the word ‘polite’. It can mean lobbying and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying to please your superior, and then expecting something in return.”
In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behavior used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form Of Socializing within the office environment—not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.
“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,’” says Neil P Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It’s simple human nature.”
Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery (奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.
Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.
1. “Office politics” (Line 2, Para. 4) is used in the passage to refer to ________.
A) the code of behavior for company staff
B) the political views and beliefs of office workers
C) the interpersonal relationships within a company
D) the various qualities required for a successful career
2. To get promoted, one must not only be competent but ________.
A) give his boss a good impression
B) honest and loyal to his company
C) get along well with his colleagues
D) avoid being too outstanding
3. Why are many people unwilling to “play the game” (Line 4, Para. 5)?
A) They believe that doing so is impractical.
B) They feel that such behavior is unprincipled.
C) They are not good at manipulating colleagues.
D) They think the effort will get them nowhere.
4. The author considers office politics to be ________.
A) unwelcome at the workplace
B) bad for interpersonal relationships
C) indispensable to the development of company culture
D) an important factor for personal advancement
5. It is the author’s view that ________.
A) speaking up for oneself is part of human nature
B) self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery
C) hard work contributes very little to one’s promotion
D) many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery
答案：1. C 2. A 3. B 4.D 5. B
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