2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第1篇
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
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 age 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, ad 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 murders and crimes on the local news.
Keep you 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.
21. The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people’s state of mind are ____.
A) surprising
B) confusing
C) illogical
D) questionable
22. What does the author means when he says, “we cant’ 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.
23. 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
24. 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
25. 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.
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第1篇
【参考译文】
我经常怀疑任何研究的结论说人们比50年前更快乐或更不快乐和更相信自己或更不相信自己。即使这些研究结论是正确的，也无法得到科学的验证。同时我对一份报告感到很震惊，其中提到今天的孩子比50年代的孩子有明显的焦虑感。实际上，有分析表明，现在9到11岁的正常孩子表现出的焦虑程度比50年前接受精神病治疗的孩子还要高。
为什么美国的孩子们如此焦虑呢？报告中引证了两个原因：由于较高的离婚率和较少的参与社会和其它事情而造成的与世隔绝；还有对世界是一个更加危险的环境的认知。
尽管我们不能使时钟逆转，成年人还是可以为下一代做许多事情的。
首先要培养孩子们更好地领会个人主义的局限性。任何一个孩子都不是一座与世隔绝的孤岛。加强社会联系能帮助他们更多地参与社交活动，使他们免受压力的困扰。
帮助孩子们与他人建立更多的联系。你可以毁掉电视和计算机，不久之后你的家庭会感谢你的。他们可以有更多的时间建立一种面对面的关系并且睡得更香。
限制你的孩子们接触到一些虚拟的暴力。不仅录像和电影中有暴力场面，孩子们也从当地的报纸上读到了大量关于谋杀和犯罪的消息。
对你的孩子要有合理的期望。很多功成名就的人士也从未上过哈佛或耶鲁。
使锻炼成为你日常生活的一部分。这可以帮助你很好地解决你的焦虑并且为你的孩子提供一种好的榜样。有时候焦虑是不可避免的，但它还不至于会毁了你的生活。
21. 作者认为，关于人们精神状态的任何研究结论是 ____。
A)令人吃惊的
B)迷惑的
C)不合逻辑的
D)质疑的
22. 作者说“我们不能使时钟逆转”（第3段第1行）是什么意思？
A)不能减缓变化的速度。
B)孩子们面对的社会现状是不能改变的。
C)过去的教训不能遗忘。
D)不可能忘记过去。
23. 根据分析，与今天正常的孩子相比，50年前接受精神病治疗的孩子 ____。
A)更少与世隔绝
B)也许更少以自我为中心
C)也许遭遇的焦虑更少
D)被认为具有更少的个人主义
24. 为帮助孩子们，父母首要该做的是 ____。
A)给孩子们提供一个更加安全的环境
B)降低对孩子们的期望
C)让孩子们更多的参与社会
D)为孩子们树立一个学习的好榜样
25. 我们可以从文章中得出什么结论？
A)焦虑，尽管不可避免，但能够被恰当处理。
B)孩子们的焦虑被极度夸大了。
C)如果有更多的父母关爱，孩子们的焦虑可以被消除。
D)如果恰当的控制焦虑，可以帮助孩子们变得成熟。
【答案】
【注释】
本文属于果因分析性的文章，即“提出问题——分析问题——解决问题”型。中心议题是孩子的焦虑(anxious)问题，作者开篇以一个研究的结果导出中心：对比50年前，现在的孩子比以前更感到有压力和焦虑。第2自然段分析造成孩子感到焦虑的原因，第3自然段至第8自然段阐述解决方法：父母应该如何帮助孩子减少压力和焦虑。
【答案解析】
21. (D)。本题考点出自第1自然段第1句。“I’m usually fairly skeptical about any research that concludes that…”其中，“skeptical”的意思是“怀疑的，有疑问的”，也就是“questionable有问题的”的意思。
22. (B)。本题考点出自第3自然段。根据上下文，“we can’t turn the clock back”意思是“我们无法把时针反调回去”，也就是说，目前孩子有焦虑的这个现实已经无法改变了。
23. (C)。本题考点出自第1自然段。“In fact, …, normal children age 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years age.对比50年前的有精神病的孩子，正常的孩子比他们更忧虑。”反过来说，有精神病的孩子比正常的孩子遭受的忧虑少。
24. (C)。本题考点出自第4、5自然段。第4自然段“At the top of the list is nurturing a better appreciation of individualism.父母首先要做的是让孩子更好地、更多地与人交往、沟通。”第5自然段“stronger connections with others与他人更多地接触”，也就是，父母首先要做的是让孩子更多地融入到社会当中。
25. (A)。综合全文，作者开篇提出问题——现在的孩子比以前的孩子更加忧虑，接着分析原因，最后阐述解决的方法——父母可以帮助孩子减少压力和忧虑。所以根据文章我们可以得到“虽然忧虑是不可避免的，但可以通过各种方式来解决、对付。”
【难句分析】
1. 【句型分析】I’m usually fairly skeptical about any research that（that引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的research）concludes that（that引导conclude的宾语从句）people are either happier or（连词or连接happier和unhappier，表示选择）unhappier or（连词or连接happier or unhappier和more or less certain，与前面的either构成搭配，表示选择）more or（连词or连接more和less，表示选择）less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago.
【参考译文】我经常怀疑任何研究的结论说人们比50年前更快乐或更不快乐和更相信自己或更不相信自己。（注意连词or的用法以及that的用法。）
2. 【句型分析】Still, I was struck by a report which（which引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的report）concluded that （that引导conclude的宾语从句）today’s children are significantly more anxious than children in the 1950s.
【参考译文】同时我对一份报告感到很震惊，其中提到今天的孩子比50年代的孩子有明显的焦虑感。（注意定语从句的用法和翻译以及that引导的宾语从句的用法。）
3. 【句型分析】The report cites two main causes: increasing physical isolation –（破折号引出插入语）brought on by high divorce rates and（连词and连接high divorce rates和less involvement）less involvement in community, among other things – and a growing perception that（that引导 perception的同位语从句）the world is a more dangerous place.
【参考译文】报告中引证了两个原因：由于较高的离婚率和较少的参与社会和其它事情而造成的与世隔绝；还有对世界是一个更加危险的环境的认知。（注意冒号的用法，表示一般特殊型，并注意同位从句的识别和翻译。）
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第2篇
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
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 cubicle 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 uses 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.
26. According to the passage, before taking a job, a person should ____.
A) demonstrate his capability
B) give his boss a god impression
C) ask for as much money as he can
D) ask for the salary he hopes to get
27. 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.
28. 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
29. 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
30. 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
2004年1月大学英语四级真题第2篇注释
【参考译文】
在进入一家公司之前就谈妥你的工资要求要容易些，原因是你一旦工作了，公司组织的约束会影响你的加薪。然而有一点是确定的：如果你不主动要求，那么你觉得你有资格加薪的机会实际要少得多。人们主动要求想得到更多就会得到更多。这一点对于其它回报也同样适用，而并不只针对加薪。让我们看一下Beth的例子。
我没有主动要求就得不到我想要的。公司有小隔间的办公间和单个带窗户的办公室。我和很多男同事一起做在小隔间里。当我还留在小隔间时，他们一个接一个甚至比我晚到公司的都搬入了单间的办公室。他们其中一个告诉我，他在谈工作的时候就主动要求有一个办公室。既然我没有用任何方式表达我的想法，我就像他们认为的一样满足于呆在小隔间。
如果能够根据表现好而主动加薪那就好了，但多数公司没有这样的好心。如果你觉得你的表现应得到加薪，就要主动提出来。
表现业绩是你要求加薪的最好筹码。你必须表现出你值得加薪。同样时间也是一个好筹码。在公司要根据雇员业绩做出加薪的决定之前，你如果能给老板他想要的某个东西——譬如说一个新客户或是一个数额可观的合同，你就更有可能得到你想要的加薪。
信息也可以作为一种筹码。在开放的市场中找出你的价值。别人将为你的服务提供什么样的回报？
与老板进行谈判要准备好在适当时机把筹码放在谈判桌上，运用一定的交流方法引导谈判的发展方向。
26. 根据文章，一个人得到工作之前首先应该 ____。
A)展示他的能力
B)给他的老板一个好印象
C)尽可能索要更多的钱
D)要求他希望得到的薪水
27. 我们可以从Bath的例子得出什么结论？
A)对女性的偏见在一些公司中仍然存在。
B)人们想得到什么就要主动要求。
C)人们不应满足于已有的一切。
D)人们商谈一项工作时应仔细。
28. 我们可以从文章推理出 ____。
A)加薪中存在不公正
B)多数人工作过度劳累而报酬甚少
C)不应夸大自己的表现
D)多数公司自动给员工加薪
29. 为了得到加薪，应该 ____。
A)在劳务市场自我推销
B)劝说老板签一份长期合同
C)设法获得有关公司的内部情报
D)在根据业务做出加薪决定之前做些事加深老板对你的印象
30. 为了在谈判中成功，应该 ____。
A)在恰当的时间与老板见面
B)准时到谈判桌
C)擅长影响谈判的结果
D)熟悉老板的好恶
【答案】
【注释】
本文属于一般阐述性的文章。中心议题是提薪（wages increases），作者借Beth的经历说明想要加薪或升职，就应该明确地提出要求。作者开篇提出中心wages increases，接着第2自然段以Beth的经历说明中心。第3自然段阐述自动提薪。第4、5、6自然段阐述如果你要求提薪或升职，就应该做好可以被加薪的准备。
【答案解析】
26. (D)。本题考点出自第1自然段。“It is easier to negotiable salary requirement…在工作之前应该对自己期望的薪金提出要求。”
27. (B)。本题考点出自第2、3自然段。第2自然段阐述了Beth 要求提薪的经历，他没有说出自己的要求。而第3自然段针对Beth 的例子说明了“想要加薪或升职，就应该明确地提出要求。”即原文中的“you’ll probably have to ask for it.你应该提出要求。”
28. (A)。本题考点出自第2、3自然段。根据第2自然段的具体阐述以及第3自然段的“It would be nice if we all received automatic pay increases equal to our merit。如果我们都能得到等同于我们的价值的自动提薪，那当然是好事。”作者使用了虚拟语气，暗示了只有我们自己要求提薪，老板是不会主动给你提薪的，也就是“在提薪方面存在着不公平的现象”。
29. (D)。本题考点出自第4自然段。本段阐述了如果你要求提薪或升职，就应该做好准备，也就是“Performance is your best bargaining chip when you are seeking a raise.好的表现是你要求提薪或晋升的最好的谈判砝码。”所以要求提薪或升职，就应该“在你的价值被认定以前做一些让老板印象深刻的事情”。
30. (C)。本题考点出自第6自然段。“…place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.在适当是时间把你的‘砝码’摆出来，而且准备好运用交流方式去引导互动谈话的方向，（使得其往你所期待的结果发展。）”所以，要想谈判成功，必须很好地影响（谈话）互动的结果。
【难句分析】
1. 【句型分析】One by one they were moved into window offices, while（表示前后的对比，比较）I remained in the cubicles, several males who（who引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的several males）were hired after me also went to offices.
【参考译文】当我还留在小隔间时，他们一个接一个甚至比我晚到公司的都搬入了单间的办公室。他们其中一个告诉我，他在谈工作的时候就主动要求有一个办公室。（对比和比较是英语中作者常常使用的写作方法，在理解时需要注意作者对比的目的是为了强调哪一个方面，对比的目的是为了说明什么问题。）
2. 【句型分析】If（if引导条件状语从句）you can give your boss something（省略了that，引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的something）he or she needs (a new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before（before引导时间状语从句）merit pay decisions are being made, you are more likely to get the raise（省略了that，引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的raise）you want.
【参考译文】在公司要根据雇员业绩做出加薪的决定之前，你如果能给老板他想要的某个东西——譬如说一个新客户或是一个数额可观的合同，你就更有可能得到你想要的加薪。（注意省略了that的定语从句的识别和翻译方法。）
3. 【句型分析】Go into the negotiations prepared（过去分词作后置定语，修饰前面的negotiations）to place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and（连词and连接prepared和prepared）prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.
【参考译文】与老板进行谈判要准备好在适当时机把筹码放在谈判桌上，运用一定的交流方法引导谈判的发展方向。（注意分词作后置定语的用法和翻译。）
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第3篇
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to Grandma’s generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday – best.
But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶)-and-stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times
Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs – one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.
Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company “has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend” toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television.
Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it’s better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a “real” dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine – patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time?
Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.
31. The trend toward casual dining has resulted in ____.
A) bankruptcy of fine china manufacturers
B) shrinking of the pottery industry
C) restructuring of large enterprises
D) economic recession in Great Britain
32. Which of the following may be the best reason for casual dining?
A) Family members need more time to relax.
B) Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.
C) People want to practice economy in times of scarcity.
D) Young people won’t follow the etiquette of the older generation.
33. It can be learned from the passage that Royal Doulton is ____.
A) a retailer of stainless steel tableware
B) a dealer in stoneware
C) a pottery chain store
D) a producer of fine china
34. The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is ____.
A) the increased value of the pound
B) the economic recession in Asia
C) the change in people’s way of life
D) the fierce competition at home and abroad
35. Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life ____.
A) are still a must on certain occasions
B) are bound to return sooner or later
C) are still being taught by parents at home
D) can help improve personal relationships
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第3篇注释
【参考译文】
圣诞晚餐时家人聚在一起，一些家庭依然保持源于祖母那一代的传统。他们用上好的器皿和银器布置餐桌，穿上节日里最好的礼服。
但是在很多家庭，优雅的瓷器和银器已被粗陶和无瑕疵的非正式器皿所取代，衣服也穿得很随意。这种变化对于主人和客人来说都意味着简单和舒服。对于英国的精瓷器制造商来说，它意味着经济困难时期的到来。
上星期，Royal Doulton, 特伦河畔斯托克城的最大工厂，宣布将取消1,000个职位——占整个工厂职位总数的五分之一，从而使得陶瓷行业在18个月中总共损失了4,000多个职位。韦吉渥陶和其它制陶业之前也受到影响解雇了一些雇员。
尽管英镑坚挺，亚洲市场低迷是带来工厂裁员的主要原因，但裁员的根本原因是由于社会发生了惊天动地的变化。Royal Doulton的一个发言人承认公司对于平常的用餐“已经有点赶不上这种变化的趋势。”他解释说，家人很少聚在一起吃饭，更多的人是单独吃饭。这是因为独身或喜欢在电视机前吃东西。
现在即使是有宴会也变得不那么正式了。如今，人们工作时间长，家庭日程安排得很紧凑。很自然，忙碌的主人会让客人们一起吃用纸盘装的外买比萨饼，而不是等待一个决佳的机会或举办一个“真正”的宴会。经常都不会有决佳的机会。熨平一块精美的桌布？忘了它吧！擦亮银器？谁有那个时间呢！
但是失去正式的宴会也有其坏处。孩子们以前通过观察和指导从长辈处学的礼节（“咀嚼的时候把嘴巴闭上。” “不要把手肘放在桌上。” ）必须重新学习。现在一些公司也为专业优秀但缺乏社交礼仪的员工提供礼节课程。
31. 随意宴会的趋势造成 ____。
A)精瓷器制造业的破产
B)陶瓷工业的萎缩
C)大企业的结构调整
D)英国的经济衰退
32. 下面那一项可能是形成非正式宴会最主要的原因？
A)家庭成员需要更多的时间消遣。
B)繁忙的日程安排使得人们没有时间顾及礼仪。
C)人们在匮乏时代想厉行节俭。
D)年轻人不愿遵循老一代人的礼节
33. 从文中可知，Royal Doulton 是 ____。
A)一家精致钢制餐具的零售商
B)一家粗陶器商
C)一家陶器连锁店
D)一家精瓷器制造商
34. 陶瓷行业解雇员工的主要原因是 ____。
A)英镑的日益升值
B)亚洲经济衰退
C)人们生活方式的改变
D)国内外的激烈竞争
35. 优雅的餐桌礼仪，在当今社会尽管不如以前流行 ____。
A)在某些场合还是必要的
B)注定迟早要回归
C)仍然由家中父母传授
D)能够帮助改善人际关系
【答案】
【注释】
本文属于记实性的文章。中心议题是由于越来越多的非正式宴会替代了正式的宴会，结果导致了用于正式宴会的陶瓷用品行业生产的萎缩。第1、2自然段作者阐述的是非正式宴会替代了正式的宴会，宴会变得随意了（casual）。第3自然段阐述陶瓷公司裁员，第4自然段阐述这种改变是社会的趋势，第5自然段再次阐述宴会的casual（随意性），第6自然段阐述某些礼节（formality）渐渐地不大被人们所提倡了。
【答案解析】
31. (B)。本题考点出自第2、3自然段。第2自然段作者阐述了非正式宴会取代了正式宴会，第3自然段阐述由于用于正式宴会的用品数量的减少，陶瓷公司不得不裁员。可见两段之间是因果关系。所以非正式宴会出现的趋势导致了“陶瓷业的萎缩”。
32. (B)。本题考点出自第1、2自然段。“For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort.对于主人和客人，这种改变意味着更加朴实和舒适。”暗示了以前他们的时间很紧，没有更多的时间去在意礼节。所以导致非正式宴会的出现的原因是“紧张的时间安排计划让人们没有多余的时间去在意礼节。”
33. (D)。本题考点出自第3自然段。根据上下文，上文提到由于用于正式宴会的用品数量的减少了，下文提到公司裁员，可以推理得出Royal Doulton是陶瓷制造商。
34. (C)。本题考点出自第4自然段。本段阐述了礼节的改变是社会的趋势，所以陶瓷业的裁员是由于“人们的生活方式改变了。”
35. (A)。本题考点出自第6自然段。“The fine points of etiquette that…must be picked up elsewhere.有一些礼节孩子们是必须学会的。”也就是说，一些文雅的餐桌礼节对于现在来说在某些特定场合还是必须的。
【难句分析】
1. 【句型分析】Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer（作Royal Doulton的同位语）in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that（that引导announce的宾语从句）it is eliminating 1,000 jobs – one-fifth of its total workforce.
【参考译文】上星期，Royal Doulton, 特伦河畔斯托克城的最大工厂，宣布将取消1,000个职位——占整个工厂职位总数的五分之一。（注意同位语的识别和翻译方法。）
2. 【句型分析】In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that（that引导insist的宾语从句）it（it为形式主语，真正的主语为后面的不定式短语）’s better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or（连词or连接the perfect moment和a “real” dinner party，表示选择）a “real” dinner party.
【参考译文】如今，人们工作时间长，家庭日程安排得很紧凑。很自然，忙碌的主人会让客人们一起吃用纸盘装的外买比萨饼，而不是等待一个决佳的机会或举办一个“真正”的宴会。（注意it为形式主语的辨别和翻译方法。）
3. 【句型分析】The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that（that引导限制性定语从句，修饰前面的the fine points of etiquette）children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere.
【参考译文】孩子们以前通过观察和指导从长辈处学的礼节（“咀嚼的时候把嘴巴闭上。” “不要把手肘放在桌上。” ）必须重新学习。（注意定语从句的用法和翻译。）
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第4篇
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
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 of 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.
36. 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
37. 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
38. Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to ____.
A) withstand peak winds of abut 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
39. 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 e wooden frame of the house
D) to slow down the speed of the swelling water
40. It can be inferred from the passage that the shell should be ____.
A) fancy-looking
B) waterproof
C) easily breakable
D) extremely strong
2004年1月大学英语四级阅读理解第4篇注释
【参考译文】
一些房子设计得很精巧，而另外一些则有精妙的设计。第二种类型的一个房屋设计赢得了美国建筑协会的优秀奖。
位于南卡罗来纳海岸线的沙利文岛的海边，获奖的立方体形状的房屋取代了十年前在雨果飓风中被刮成碎片的海边建筑。1989年9月，雨果飓风侵袭了南卡罗来纳，18人丧生并且这个地区的36,000所房屋被摧毁。
发明这种精妙海边房屋设计的建筑师Ray Huff说，雨果飓风之前，沿南卡罗来纳海岸线建的很多新房屋结构很差，建筑标准的加强也很不严格。在雨果飓风侵袭之后，要求所有新建于海岸线旁的房屋达到严格执行建筑法规的要求。沙利文岛上新建的房屋应该能够抵抗三种类型的飓风，它的风速每小时达到179米到209米。
沙利文岛上的房屋第一眼看起来就像是防飓风的。一个观察者描述说这些房屋的红木框架结构在晚上看起来像“一个巨大的灯笼”。但外表是不可靠的。这种房子的木框架经长铁条加固，格外牢固。
为了长远的保护房屋不受飓风损坏。Huff用长的木支架，深埋在沙里细长的木柱把房屋支撑起离地面2.7米。支架可能不是那么牢固，但足以支撑房屋的重量。这些木桩还能提升房屋，使得海浪在屋下流过，而不是涌进屋里。Huff说“这些海浪以极快的速度涌向岸边并对海岸线旁的建筑造成最大的破坏。”
Huff设计的木桩被房屋的整个外壳掩盖了一部分。他说“用外壳掩盖木桩是为了使房子看起来不至于像一个人提着裤腿。”建筑师解释说：海浪涌来时，外壳可以分开，让海浪在房子下面奔涌。
36. 雨果飓风之后，沿南卡罗来纳海岸线新建的房屋要求 ____。
A)容易被加强
B)设计看上去更精妙
C)满足更严格的建筑标准
D)被设计成立方体的形状
37. 获奖的海边房屋很结实是因为 ____。
A)有铁条的加固
B)由红木制成
C)形状像壳
D)由木材和混凝土建成
38. Huff用木柱把房屋支撑起离地面2.7米是为了 ____。
A)抵御每小时200公里的最强风
B)把更坚固的桩深深地固定在沙里
C)把大海浪分解成教小的海浪
D)阻止水涌进屋
39. 外壳的主要功能是____。
A)加强房屋的支撑
B)使房屋的外观更好
C)保护房屋的木制结构
D)降低海浪的速度
40. 从文中可知，外壳应该____。
A)花里呼哨
B)防水
C)容易破裂
D)特别牢固
【答案】
【注释】
本文属于一般阐述性的文章。中心议题是美国的建筑在沙滩上的房屋，作者详细叙述了这座在美国建筑研究院获奖的房屋的特殊结构。
【答案解析】
36. (C)。本题考点出自第3自然段的“…,all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes.所有在海滩上的房屋都要求达到严格的标准，更好地执行规定章程。”也就是说，这些海滩上的房屋必须达到严格的建筑标准。
37. (A)。本题考点出自第5自然段。第4自然段最后一句描述了“The house’s wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.房屋的木架结构是由长的钢杆加强的，以便其相当的牢固。”所以，获奖的海滩房屋之所以牢固是因为它是用钢杆固定的。
38. (D)。本题考点出自第5自然段。本段详细描述了海滩房屋相当牢固的特性，所以，Huff用木桩把房屋从地面上提升了2.7米目的是为了“防止水冲袭房屋”，以使得房屋更加牢固。
39. (B)。本题考点出自第1自然段和第6自然段。根据第1自然段的阐述以及第6自然段的“the shell masks the piling so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up.”可见，这种外壳的作用是使得海滩房屋的外表看起来更漂亮些。
40. (C)。本题考点出自第4自然段和第6自然段。第4自然段描述了“Its redwood shell makes it resemble‘a large party lantern’at night.它的红木外表使它看起来像一个用于晚会的大灯笼。”而且第6自然段提到“the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house.这个外壳应该拆卸下来以使得海浪可以从房屋下冲过。”所以，这种外壳应该是很容易拆除的。
【难句分析】
1. 【句型分析】Before Hugo, many new houses built（过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰前面的houses）along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and（连词and连接前后两个独立的分句）enforcement of building codes wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who（who引导非限制性定语从句，修饰前面的Ray Huff）created the cleverly-designed beach house.
【参考译文】位于南卡罗来纳海岸线的沙利文岛的海边，获奖的立方体形状的房屋取代了十年前在雨果飓风中被刮成碎片的海边建筑。（注意分词短语作后置定语的用法和翻译。）
2. 【句型分析】“The shell masks the pilings so that（so that引导结果状语从句）the house doesn’t look like（省略了that，引导look like的表语从句）it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff.
【参考译文】Huff说“用外壳掩盖木桩是为了使房子看起来不至于像一个人提着裤腿。”（注意that的用法以及that所引导的从句的翻译。）
大学英语四级考试预测试题第一套|2004年1月大学英语四级试题 2阅读理解 及注释 (1)
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