專(zhuān)家解析大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)考試歷年閱讀真題試題
Passage One
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.
A is for always getting to work on time.
B is for being extremely busy.
C is for the conscientious 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 doesnt 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 politicsa better job, a raise, praisemany people are still unableor unwillingto play the game.
People assume that office politics involves some manipulative 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 ones own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form Of Socializing within the office environmentnot 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. Its 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 , 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.
11. Office politics 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
12. 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
13. Why are many people unwilling to play the game ?
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.
14. 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
... 下一頁(yè)
15. It is the authors 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 ones promotion
D) many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery
這篇材料的主要內(nèi)容是辦公室政治,從介紹辦公室政治的含義、好處開(kāi)始,講到現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中人們不愿進(jìn)行辦公室政治的現(xiàn)象及其原因,最后給出了改變這種情況的建議。
前面的幾段主要是介紹辦公室政治的含義及其所能帶來(lái)的好處。前三個(gè)句子以A、B、C打頭列出了辦公室生存的基本原則,而后把辦公室政治作為它們的補(bǔ)充自然地提了出來(lái)。作者引用Carnegie的話對(duì)辦公室政治做了初步的定義,也就是be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes,無(wú)論公開(kāi)非公開(kāi)場(chǎng)合,都要能夠推銷(xiāo)你自己和你自己的想法。后面緊接著的一句話一箭雙雕,既說(shuō)出了辦公室政治的好處,也指出人們不愿搞辦公室政治的事實(shí),為下文分析原因、提出建議鋪好了道路。
后面的幾段主要是來(lái)分析辦公室政治在一些人那里不受歡迎的原因。首先人們把它看做是工于心計(jì)的行為,而后作者對(duì)這一原因做了評(píng)析,指出辦公室政治實(shí)際上并不如此。下一段介紹專(zhuān)家的觀點(diǎn),進(jìn)一步解釋辦公室政治的含義和應(yīng)用的正當(dāng)性,而后引用Neil P Lewis的話對(duì)此做了強(qiáng)調(diào)。
最后一段簡(jiǎn)單地給出了建議:承認(rèn)自我的推銷(xiāo)的需要。
Passage Two
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
As soon as it was revealed that a reporter for Progressive magazine had discovered how to make a hydrogen bomb, a group of firearm fans formed the National Hydrogen Bomb Association, and they are now lobbying against any legislation to stop Americans from owning one.
The Constitution, said the associations spokesman, gives everyone the right to own arms. It doesnt spell out what kind of arms. But since anyone can now make a hydrogen bomb, the public should be able to buy it to protect themselves.
Dont you think its dangerous to have one in the house, particularly where there are children around?
The National Hydrogen Bomb Association hopes to educate people in the safe handling of this type of weapon. We are instructing owners to keep the bomb in a locked cabinet and the fuse separately in a drawer.
Some people consider the hydrogen bomb a very fatal weapon which could kill somebody.
The spokesman said, Hydrogen bombs dont kill peoplepeople kill people. The bomb is for self-protection and it also has a deterrent effect. If somebody knows you have a nuclear weapon in your house, theyre going to think twice about breaking in.
But those who want to ban the bomb for American citizens claim that if you have one locked in the cabinet, with the fuse in a drawer, you would never be able to assemble it in time to stop an intruder .
Another argument against allowing people to own a bomb is that at the moment it is very expensive to build one. So what your association is backing is a program which would allow the middle and upper classes to acquire a bomb while poor people will be left defenseless with just handguns.
16. According to the passage, some people started a national association so as to ________.
A) block any legislation to ban the private possession of the bomb
B) coordinate the mass production of the destructive weapon
C) instruct people how to keep the bomb safe at home
D) promote the large-scale sale of this newly invented weapon
17. Some people oppose the ownership of H-bombs by individuals on the grounds that ________.
A) the size of the bomb makes it difficult to keep in a drawer
B) most people dont know how to handle the weapon
C) peoples lives will be threatened by the weapon
D) they may fall into the hands of criminals
18. By saying that the bomb also has a deterrent effect the spokesman means that it ________.
A) will frighten away any possible intruders
B) can show the special status of its owners
C) will threaten the safety of the owners as well
D) can kill those entering others houses by force
19. According to the passage, opponents of the private ownership of H-bombs are very much worried that ________.
A) the influence of the association is too powerful for the less privileged to overcome
B) poorly-educated Americans will find it difficult to make use of the weapon
C) the wide use of the weapon will push up living expenses tremendously
D) the cost of the weapon will put citizens on an unequal basis
20. From the tone of the passage we know that the author is ________.
A) doubtful about the necessity of keeping H-bombs at home for safety
B) unhappy with those who vote against the ownership of H-bombs
C) not serious about the private ownership of H-bombs
D) concerned about the spread of nuclear weapons
這篇文章講的是全國(guó)氫彈協(xié)會(huì)的成立及相關(guān)的爭(zhēng)論。第一段主要介紹事件的發(fā)生:全國(guó)氫彈協(xié)會(huì)的成立以及該協(xié)會(huì)目前著手的活動(dòng):游說(shuō)不要立法禁止普通人擁有氫彈。第二段,協(xié)會(huì)發(fā)言人搬出了憲法作為如此游說(shuō)的理由。
后面的幾段用問(wèn)答的形式,繼續(xù)討論人們是否應(yīng)該擁有氫彈。首先是問(wèn)在家中藏有這樣的武器是否太危險(xiǎn)了,回答是該協(xié)會(huì)可以指導(dǎo)人們?nèi)绾问褂眠@種武器,并提出人們可以把氫彈彈體和導(dǎo)火索分開(kāi)放置的方案。
之后懷疑人們?cè)趺纯梢該碛袣鋸椷@種非常致命的武器。回答是氫彈制造的目的是用于自我保護(hù),并舉例說(shuō)若家中藏有氫彈,則會(huì)嚇阻非法闖入者。
接下來(lái)的一段對(duì)上述理由提出了反駁:若有人侵入,則根本來(lái)不及把氫彈組裝起來(lái)。
最后一段是另一條反對(duì)意見(jiàn):因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)在的氫彈價(jià)格昂貴,實(shí)際上它保護(hù)的對(duì)象只有富人。
16. According to the passage, some people started a national association so as to ________.
A) block any legislation to ban the private possession of the bomb
B) coordinate the mass production of the destructive weapon
C) instruct people how to keep the bomb safe at home
D) promote the large-scale sale of this newly invented weapon
本題問(wèn)從文中可以得知,一些人組織了一個(gè)國(guó)家協(xié)會(huì),目的是什么。
A,阻止任何禁止私人擁有氫彈的立法。
B,配合這種破壞性武器的大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)。
C,指導(dǎo)人們?nèi)绾伟踩匕褮鋸棽赜诩抑小?/p>
D,推廣銷(xiāo)售這種新發(fā)明的武器。
觀察第一段,是一個(gè)很長(zhǎng)的句子,可以判斷以第一段的內(nèi)容出一道題非常可能。這樣這道題的答案只要到第一段中尋找就可以了。第一段前半部分講的是該協(xié)會(huì)成立的緣由,與目的應(yīng)該無(wú)關(guān),那么就應(yīng)該關(guān)注后半句。后半句講的是該協(xié)會(huì)正在lobbying against any legislation to stop Americans from owning one,lobby是游說(shuō)的意思,lobby against就是游說(shuō)反對(duì)某事物,后面是任何阻止美國(guó)人擁有氫彈的立法。游說(shuō)反對(duì)任何阻止美國(guó)人擁有氫彈的立法,意思與A一致,可以選A。
17. Some people oppose the ownership of H-bombs by individuals on the grounds that ________.
A) the size of the bomb makes it difficult to keep in a drawer
B) most people dont know how to handle the weapon
C) peoples lives will be threatened by the weapon
D) they may fall into the hands of criminals
題目問(wèn)一些人反對(duì)個(gè)人擁有氫彈,其理由的基礎(chǔ)在于
看這道題的題目,似乎較為空泛,其答案好像要結(jié)合較多文章內(nèi)容才能得出。但觀察幾個(gè)備選項(xiàng),可知它們基本與文章里的第一個(gè)問(wèn)答有關(guān),可以判斷答案就在第一個(gè)問(wèn)答中。結(jié)合這個(gè)問(wèn)答的內(nèi)容對(duì)錯(cuò)誤選項(xiàng)進(jìn)行排除,最終就可找到正確的答案。
A,氫彈的大小使其很難放入抽屜中。提到drawer的是這一句:keep the bomb in a locked cabinet and the fuse separately in a drawer,這里講的是如何保存氫彈:將彈體放在柜子里鎖起來(lái),把導(dǎo)火索放在抽屜里。理解了這個(gè)意思,就可知道A的說(shuō)法是不正確的。
B,大多數(shù)人不知道如何操作這種武器。文章提到handle是這一句:educate people in the safe handling of this type of weapon,意思是協(xié)會(huì)希望指導(dǎo)人們?nèi)绾伟踩夭僮鬟@種武器。這是一句答語(yǔ),回答的問(wèn)題是把氫彈放在家里是否太危險(xiǎn)了,可見(jiàn)武器的危險(xiǎn)性是反對(duì)擁有它的理由,而指導(dǎo)如何操作只是應(yīng)對(duì)這種質(zhì)疑的對(duì)策而已。所以B也不對(duì)。
C,人們的生活會(huì)受到這種武器的威脅。根據(jù)對(duì)C的分析可知,人們反對(duì)個(gè)人擁有氫彈是因?yàn)檫@種武器太過(guò)危險(xiǎn),可能會(huì)威脅自身,與C的意思一致。
D,他們可能會(huì)落入犯罪分子的手中。這一點(diǎn)文中沒(méi)有提到,可以直接排除。
18. By saying that the bomb also has a deterrent effect the spokesman means that it ________.
A) will frighten away any possible intruders
B) can show the special status of its owners
C) will threaten the safety of the owners as well
D) can kill those entering others houses by force
題目問(wèn)發(fā)言人所說(shuō)的氫彈可以起到威懾效果是指氫彈
文章提到deterrent effect是在第二個(gè)問(wèn)答中。問(wèn)話者對(duì)氫彈的致命性表示了擔(dān)憂,而發(fā)言人認(rèn)為氫彈本身不會(huì)殺人,人才會(huì)殺人,并指出氫彈是自衛(wèi)武器,同時(shí)具有威懾效果。在此之后的句子是發(fā)言人舉出的一個(gè)例子,用來(lái)說(shuō)明什么是威懾效果。If somebody knows you have a nuclear weapon in your house, theyre going to think twice about breaking in前半句很好理解:如果有人知道你的房子里有一件核武器。Think twice,思考兩次,與漢語(yǔ)里的思考再三類(lèi)似,表示人猶豫不決,考慮再三無(wú)法下定決心,在這里就是指闖入者猶豫不決,始終不敢進(jìn)入有核武器的房子。這的確可以說(shuō)是一種威懾效果。
19. According to the passage, opponents of the private ownership of H-bombs are very much worried that ________.
A) the influence of the association is too powerful for the less privileged to overcome
B) poorly-educated Americans will find it difficult to make use of the weapon
C) the wide use of the weapon will push up living expenses tremendously
D) the cost of the weapon will put citizens on an unequal basis
本題問(wèn)根據(jù)文意,反對(duì)私人擁有氫彈的人士非常擔(dān)心什么。
反對(duì)私人擁有氫彈的人士所擔(dān)心的東西很多,但考慮到本題是本篇的倒數(shù)第二道題,而且前面兩個(gè)問(wèn)答中提到的擔(dān)憂均已經(jīng)出過(guò)題目,所以這道題的答案肯定會(huì)在第二個(gè)問(wèn)答以后的內(nèi)容中。后面還有兩種擔(dān)憂的問(wèn)題,第一個(gè)是來(lái)不及組裝氫彈,結(jié)合題支可知與本題無(wú)關(guān)。第二個(gè)是窮人買(mǎi)不起氫彈,與題支所述的內(nèi)容相關(guān)。最后一段共2個(gè)句子,第一句指出制造氫彈非常昂貴,第二句以第一句為前提,進(jìn)一步說(shuō)明只有富人才買(mǎi)得起氫彈,窮人只能用手槍自衛(wèi)。
A, 這一協(xié)會(huì)的影響過(guò)大,使特權(quán)較少的人無(wú)法抗拒。
B, 缺少教育的每個(gè)人將會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)使用這種武器非常困難。
C, 這種武器的廣泛使用將會(huì)大幅度增加生活支出。
D, 這種武器的價(jià)格使公民站在了不平等的基礎(chǔ)上。
可以看到A、B、C的說(shuō)法在最后一段找不到任何類(lèi)似內(nèi)容。D所說(shuō)的價(jià)格使公民站在了不平等的基礎(chǔ)上中,價(jià)格應(yīng)該就是指的氫彈的昂貴,使不平等應(yīng)該是說(shuō)富人買(mǎi)得起而窮人買(mǎi)不起,這符合上面的分析。應(yīng)該選D。