2024年6月大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題
在學習、工作生活中，我們都離不開試題，試題有助于被考核者了解自己的真實水平。你知道什么樣的試題才算得上好試題嗎？以下是小編為大家整理的2024年6月大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題，歡迎閱讀與收藏。
大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題 1
Section A
Directions:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Contrary to popular belief, older people generally do not want to live with their children. the case in the “good old days”, and most older people do not feel About 80% of people 65years and older have living children, and about 90% of themhave out 75% of elderly parents who don’t go to nursing homes live within 30 minutes of at least one of their children.
having contact with children does not guarantee happiness in old age. In fact, some research has found that people who are most involved with their families have the ,however, as ill health often makes older people more spirits.
Increasingly, researchers have begun to look at the quality of relationships, rather than at the frequency of contact, between the elderly and their children. If parents and children share interests and values and agree on childrearing practices and religious , they are likely to enjoy each other’s company. Disagreements on such matters can cause problems. If parents are agreed by their daughter’s divorce, dislike her new husband, and disapprove of how she is raising are that they are not going to enjoy her visits.
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph ismarked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?
[A] For many years I have studied global agricultural, population, environmental and economic
trends and their interactions. The combined effects of those trends and the political tensions they generate point to the breakdown of governments and societies. Yet I, too, have resisted the idea that food shortages could bring down not only individual governments but also our global civilization.
[B] I can no longer ignore that risk. Our continuing failure to deal with the environmental declines that are undermining the world food economy forces me to conclude that such a collapse is possible.
[C] As demand for food rises faster than supplies are growing, the resulting food-price inflation
puts severe stress on the governments of many countries. Unable to buy grain or grow their own, hungry people take to the streets. Indeed, even before the steep climb in grain prices in 2008, the number of failing states was expanding. If the food situation continues to worsen, entire nations will break down at an ever increasing rate. In the 20th century the main threat to international security was superpower conflict; today it is failing states.
[D] States fail when national governments can no longer provide personal security, food security
and basic social services such as education and health care. When governments lose their control on power, law and order begin to disintegrate. After a point, countries can become so dangerous that food relief workers are no longer safe and their programs are halted. Failing states are of international concern because they are a source of terrorists, drugs, weapons and refugees(難民), threatening political stability everywhere.
[E]The surge in world grain prices in 2007 and 2008—and the threat they pose to food
security——has a different, more troubling quality than the increases of the past. During the second half of the 20th century, grain prices rose dramatically several times. In 1972, for instance, the Soviets, recognizing their poor harvest early, quietly cornered the world wheat market. As a result, wheat prices elsewhere more than doubled, pulling rice and corn prices up with them. But this and other price shocks were event-driven——drought in the Soviet Union, crop-shrinking heat in the U.S. Corn Belt. And the rises were short-lived: prices typically returned to normal with the next harvest.
[F]In contrast, the recent surge in world grain prices is trend-driven, making it unlikely to reverse
without a reversal in the trends themselves. On the demand side, those trends include the ongoing addition of more than 70 million people a year, a growing number of people wanting to move up the food chain to consume highly grain-intensive meat products, and the massive diversion(轉向)of U.S. grain to the production of bio-fuel.
[G]As incomes rise among low-income consumers, the potential for further grain consumption is
huge. But that potential pales beside the never-ending demand for crop-based fuels. A fourth of this year’s U.S. grain harvest will go to fuel cars.
[H]What about supply? The three environmental trends——the shortage of fresh water, the loss of
topsoil and the rising temperatures——are making it increasingly hard to expand the world’s grain supply fast enough to keep up with demand. Of all those trends, however, the spread of water shortages poses the most immediate threat. The biggest challenge here is irrigation, which consumes 70% the world’s fresh water. Millions of irrigation wells in many countries are now pumping water out of underground sources faster than rainfall can refill them. The result is falling water tables(地下水位)in countries with half the world’s people, including the three big grain producers——China, India and the U.S.
[I]As water tables have fallen and irrigation wells have gone dry, China’s wheat crop, the world’s
largest, has declined by 8% since it peaked at 123 million tons in 1997. But water shortages are even more worrying in India. Millions of irrigation wells have significantly lowered water tables in almost every state.
[J]As the world’s food security falls to pieces, individual countries acting in their own self-interest
are actually worsening the troubles of many. The trend began in 2007, when leading wheat-exporting countries such as Russia and Argentina limited or banned their exports, in hopes of increasing local food supplies and thereby bringing down domestic food prices. Vietnam banned its exports for several months for the same reason. Such moves may eliminate the fears of those living in the exporting countries, but they are creating panic in importing countries that must rely on what is then left for export.
[K]In response to those restrictions, grain-importing countries are trying to nail down long-term
trade agreements that would lock up future grain supplies. Food-import anxiety is even leading to new efforts by food-importing countries to buy or lease farmland in other countries. In spite of such temporary measures, soaring food prices and spreading hunger in many other countries are beginning to break down the social order.
[L]Since the current world food shortage is trend-driven, the environmental trends that cause it
must be reversed. We must cut carbon emissions by 80% from their 2006 levels by 2020, stabilize the world’s population at eight billion by 2040, completely remove poverty, and restore forests and soils. There is nothing new about the four objectives. Indeed, we have made substantial progress in some parts of the world on at least one of these——the distribution of family-planning services and the associated shift to smaller families.
[M]For many in the development community, the four objectives were seen as positive, promoting
development as long as they did not cost too much. Others saw them as politically correct and morally appropriate. Now a third and far more significant motivation presents itself: meeting these goals may be necessary to prevent the collapse of our civilization. Yet the cost we project for saving civilization would amount to less than $200 billion a year, 1/6 of current global military spending. In effect, our plan is the new security budget.
36.The more recent steep climb in grain prices partly results from the fact that more and morepeople want to consume meat products.
37. Social order is breaking down in many countries because of food shortages.
38. Rather than superpower conflict, countries unable to cope with food shortages now constitutethe main threat to world security.
39. Some parts of the world have seen successful implementation of family planning.
40. The author has come to agree that food shortages could ultimately lead to the collapse of worldcivilization.
41. Increasing water shortages prove to be the biggest obstacle to boosting the world’s grainproduction.
42. The cost for saving our civilization would be considerably less than the world’s currentmilitary spending.
43. To lower domestic food prices, some countries limited or stopped their grain exports.
44. Environmental problems must be solved to ease the current global food shortage.
45. A quarter of this year’s American grain harvest will be used to produce bio-fuel for cars.
Section C
Directions:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age,but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, a new study suggests.
The study, which followed more than 2,000 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 60, found that certain mental functions—including measures of abstract reasoning, mental speed and puzzle-solving—started to dull as early as age 27.
Dips in memory, meanwhile, generally became apparent around age 37.
On the other hand, indicators of a person’s accumulated knowledge—like performance on tests of vocabulary and general knowledge—kept improving with age, according to findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
The results do not mean that young adults need to start worrying about their memories. Most people’s minds function at a high level even in their later years, according to researcher Timothy Salthouse.
“These patterns suggest that some types of mental flexibility decrease relatively early in adulthood, but that the amount of knowledge one has, and the effectiveness of integrating it with one’s abilities,may increase throughout all of adulthood if there are no diseases,” Salthouse said in a news release.
The study included healthy, educated adults who took standard tests of memory, reasoning and perception at the outset and at some point over the next seven years.
The tests are designed to detect subtle (細微的)changes in mental function, and involve solving puzzles, recalling words and details from stories, and identifying patterns in collections of letters and symbols.
In general, Salthouse and his colleagues found, certain aspects of cognition (認知能力)generally started to decline in the late 20s to 30s.
The findings shed light on normal age-related changes in mental function, which could aid in understanding the process of dementia(癡呆),according to the researchers.
“By following individuals over time,” Salthouse said, “we gain insight in cognition changes, and may possibly discover ways to slow the rate of decline.”
The researchers are currently analyzing the study participants’ health and lifestyle to see which factors might influence age-related cognitive changes.
46. What is the common view of mental function?
A)It varies from person to person. B)It weakens in one’s later years.
C)It gradually expands with age. D)It indicates one’s health condition.
47. What does the new study find about mental functions?
A)Some diseases inevitably lead to their decline.
B)They reach a peak at the age of 20 for most people.
C)They are closely related to physicaland mental exercise.
D)Some of them begin to decline when people are still young.
48. What does Timothy Salthouse say about people’s minds in most cases?
A)They tend to decline in people’s later years.
B)Their flexibility determines one’s abilities.
C)They function quite well even in old age.
D)Their functioning is still a puzzle to be solved.
49. Although people’s minds may function less flexibly as they age, they_____.
A)may be better at solving puzzles
B)can memorize things with more ease
C)may have greater facility in abstract reasoning
D)can put what they have learnt into more effective use
50. According to Salthouse, their study may help us_____.
A)find ways to slow down our mental decline
B)find ways to boost our memories
C)understand the complex process of mental functioning
D)understand the relation between physical and mental health
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The most important thing in the news last week was the rising discussion in Nashville about the educational needs of children. The shorthand(簡寫)educators use for this is “pre-K”—meaning instruction before kindergarten—and the big idea is to prepare 4-year-olds and even younger kids to be ready to succeed on their K-12 journey.
But it gets complicated. The concept has multiple forms, and scholars and policymakers argue about the shape, scope and cost of the ideal program.
The federal Head Start program, launched 50 years ago, has served more than 30 million children. It was based on concepts developed at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College by Susan Gray, the legendary pioneer in early childhood education research.
A new Peabody study of the Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K program reports that pre-K works, but the gains are not sustained through the third grade. It seems to me this highlights quality issues in elementary schools more than pre-K, and indicates longer-term success must connect pre-K with all the other issues related to educating a child.
Pre-K is controversial. Some critics say it is a luxury and shouldn’t be free to families able to pay. Pre-K advocates insist it is proven and will succeed if integrated with the rest of the child’s schooling. I lean toward the latter view.
This is, in any case, the right conversation to be having now as Mayor Megan Barry takes office. She was the first candidate to speak out for strong pre-K programming. The important thing is for all of us to keep in mind the real goal and the longer, bigger picture.
The weight of the evidence is on the side of pre-K that early intervention (干預)works. What government has not yet found is the political will to put that understanding into full practice with a sequence of smart schooling that provides the early foundation.
For this purpose, our schools need both the talent and the organization to educate each child who arrives at the schoolhouse door. Some show up ready, but many do not at this critical time when young brains are developing rapidly.
51.What does the author say about pre-kindergarten education?
A)It should cater to the needs of individual children.
B)It is essential to a person’s future academic success.
C)Scholars and policymakers have different opinions about it.
D)Parents regard it as the first phase of children’s development.
52.What does the new Peabody study find?
A)Pre-K achievements usually do not last long.
B)The third grade marks a new phase of learning.
C)The third grade is critical to children’s development. D)Quality has not been the top concern of pre-K programs. 53.When does the author think pre-K works the best? A)When it is accessible to kids of all families. B)When it is made part of kids’ education. C)When it is no longer considered a luxury. D)When it is made fun and enjoyable to kids. 54.What do we learn about Mayor Megan Barry? A)She knows the real goal of education. B)She is a mayor of insight and vision. C)She has once run a pre-K program. D)She is a firm supporter of pre-K. 55.What does the author think is critical to kids’ education? A)Teaching method. B)Kids’ interest. C)Early intervention. D)Parents’ involvement.
大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題 2
As she walked round the huge department store,Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father.She wish that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always delighted with perfume -
Besides,shoppong at this time of the year was a most disgreeable experience :people trod on your toes,poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you overin their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.
Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where some attracive ties were on display. "They are real silk," the assistant assured her, trying to tempt her. "Worth double the price." But edit knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.
She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance, stopped where a small crowd of man had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale-----and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate for long : although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally, she knew that this was a present which was bund to please him.
When she got home,with her small well-chosen present concealed in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especially cheerful mood, "Your father has at last to decided to stop smoking." She informed her daughter.
1.Ediths father _______.
a.did not like present
b.never got present c.preferred ties d.was difficult to choose a present for -
2.The assistant spoke to Edith because she seemed_______. a.attractive
b.interested in ties c.tired
d.in need of comfort
3.Edith stopped at the next counter_________. a.purosely
b.suddenly
c.unwillingly
d.accidentally
4.Ediths father smoked a pipe_______. a.when he was obliged
b.on social occasions
c.from time to time
d.when he was delighted
5.Shopping was very disagreeable at that time of the year because_______. a.coustomers trod on each others toes b.coustomers poked each other with their elbows c.customers knocked each other -
d.customers were doing their shopping in a great hurry
答案：dbdcd
大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題 3
The economy of the United states after 1952 was the econnomy of a well-fed,almost fully employed people. Despit occasional alarms, the country escaped any postwar depression and lived in a state of boom. A n economic survey of the year 1955, a typical year of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the rapid economic growth of the decade. The national output was value at 10 percent above that of 1954 (1955 output was estimated at 392 billion dollars). The production of manufacturers was about 40 percent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War 2. The country’s business spent about 30billion dollars for new factories and machinery. National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been it had been in 1950. Consumers spent about 256 billion dollars; that is about 700 million dollars a day ,or about twenty-five million dollars every hour , all round the clock. Sixty-five million people held jobs and only a little more than two million wanted jobs but could not find them . Only agriculture complained that it was not sharing in the room. To some observers this was an ominous echo of the mid-1920’s . As farmer’s shre of their products declined , marketing costs rose. But there were , among the observers of the national economy, a few who were not as confident as the majority . Those few seemed to fear that the boom could not last and would eventually lead to the oppsite-depression.
1. What is the best title of the passage?
a. The Agriculatural Trends of 1950’s
b. The Unemployment Rate of 1950’s
c. Economy in the 50’s
d. The Federal Budget of 1952
2. In Line 3, the word “boom” could best be replaced by______.
a. nearby explosion
b. thunderous noise
c. general public support
d. rapid economic growth
3. It can be inferred the national from the passage that most people in the United States in 1955 viewed the national economy with an air of _________.
a. confidence b. confusion c. disappointment d. suspicion
4. Which of the following were LEAST satisfied with the national economy in the 1950’s?
a. Economists b. Frmaers c. Politicians d. Steelworkers
5. The passage states that incom available for spending in the . was greater in 1955 than in 1950 . How much was it________.
a. 60％ b. 50％ c. 33％ d. 90％
答案：cdabc
大學英語四級第二套閱讀理解真題 4
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 dont 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 dont 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.Peoples preference of one colour to another is instinct b.Peoples 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
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