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英語四級閱讀理解練習題:美國人的睡眠欠債
American society is not nap (午睡) friendly. In fact, says David Dinges, a sleep specialist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "There's even a prohibition against admitting we need sleep". Nobody wants to be caught napping or found asleep at work. To quote a proverb: "Some sleep five hours, nature requires seven, laziness nine and wickedness eleven. " Wrong. The way not to fall asleep at work is to take naps when you need them. " We have to totally change our attitude toward napping", says Dr. William Dement of Stanford University, the godfather of sleep research. ? Last year a national commission led by Dement identified an "American sleep debt" which one member said was as important as the national debt, The commission was concerned about the dangers of sleepiness: people causing industrial accidents or falling asleep while driving. This may be why we have a new sleep policy in the White House. According to recent reports, president Clinton is trying to take a half?hour snooze (打瞌睡) every afternoon. ? About 60 percent of American adults nap when given the opportunity. We seem to have "a midafternoon quiet phase"also called"a secondary sleep gate. "Sleeping 15 minutes to two hours in the early afternoon can reduce stress and make us refreshed. Clearly, we were born to nap. ? We Superstars of Snooze don't nap to replace lost shut?eye or to prepare for a night shift. Rather, we"snack"on sleep, whenever, wherever and at whatever time we feel like it. I myself have napped in buses, cars, planes and on boats; on floors and beds; and in libraries, offices and museums.
這是一篇說明文,討論了nap(小睡,打盹)及睡眠充足的積極意義。這是一個被人們忽視或誤解已久的問題,作者試圖在文中糾正人們的錯誤觀點。
1. It is commonly accepted in American society that too much sleep is ______ .
A) unreasonable B) criminal C) harmful D) costly
2. The research done by the Dement commission shows that Americans ______ .
A) don't like to take naps
B) are terribly worried about their national debt
C) sleep less than is good for them
D) have caused many industrial and traffic accidents
3. The purpose of this article is to ______ .
A) warn us of the wickedness of napping
B) explain the danger of sleepiness
C) discuss the side effects of napping
D) convince the reader of the necessity of napping
4. The "American sleep debt"( Line 1, Para. 3) is the result of ______ .
A) the traditional misconception the Americans have about sleep
B) the new sleep policy of the Clinton Administration
C) the rapid development of American industry
D) the Americans' worry about the danger of sleepiness
5. The second sentence of the last paragraph tells us that it is ______ .
A) preferable to have a sound sleep before a night shift
B) good practice to eat something light before we go to bed
C) essential to make up for cost sleep
D) natural to take a nap whenever we feel the need for it
參考答案及解析
1、[答案及分析]:[A]事實辨認題。美國社會中被普遍接受的觀點是過多的睡眠具有下列哪個特征。A項意為“不合理的”,B項意為“有罪的”,C項意為“有害的”,D項意為“代價高的”。根據(jù)第一段第一句和最后一句可知A恰當。因為美國人認為“nature requires seven”(生物本能需要7個小時)。
2、 [答案及分析]:[C]事實辨認題。問Dement Commission所做的研究表明了下列哪項事實。第三段說:去年,一個由Dement領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的國際委員會認為存在“美國人的睡眠欠債”,其中一個委員會成員認為該欠債跟國債一樣重大。委員會很關(guān)注睡眠不足的危險……。顯而易見C項正確。
3、[答案及分析]:[D]主旨題。問這篇文章的目的是什么。本文的主要內(nèi)容是闡述napping的重要性,必要性。
4、[答案及分析]:[A]歸納事實題。問“美國人的睡眠欠債”是由下列何種原因造成的。文章在第一段開頭就回答了這個問題:美國社會對napping持反對態(tài)度。第二段直接明了地對此作出評價:wrong.所以,毫無疑問正確答案為A。
5、[答案及分析]:[D]歸納事實題。問最后一段第二句話告訴了我們什么。最后一段第二句的意思是:不論是什么時候,什么地方,只要我們覺得有必要,就可以小寐片刻。D意為:當我們覺得需要小睡片刻是很自然的事。與文章原意吻合,所以D項正確。
英語四級考試閱讀練習題:幽默與魅力
Leaders Who Use Humour and Charm to Reach the Top
Humour and charm are a surprisingly powerful combination as a means of ascent in life.
I have met a number of entrepreneurs who have built fortunes on the back of their wit and general popularity -and not much else. They disarm us with self-deprecation, we enjoy their company-so why wouldn't we want to do business with them? Of course, it all has to be done well; sycophancy and flat jokes do not weave the same spell.
The British feel that some light relief amid the drudgery is essential for existence to be tolerable. It seems to be a cornerstone of our psychology and culture. In London, to say someone has no sense of humour is to condemn them utterly. Many important meetings I attend start with a little friendly banter to break the ice, a ritual to remind us that we are all human-rather than simply robots of commerce.
I am sure foreigners must think our levity is baffling. My defence is that Brits subscribe to Horace's view: "A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness."
Some years ago, a partner of mine practised what I called "management by laughter". He motivated and inspired by making the atmosphere at work fun, rather than the bullying and intimidation common in many workplaces.
But the 21st-century office can be a minefield for the amateur who enjoys a giggle. I was recently warned about a trap being sprung by a professional gang from eastern Europe. They plant an attractive female staff member in an organisation. At roughly the same time, a male co-conspirator also gets a job; the connection between them is unknown to the employer. After a little while, he sends a series of highly suggestive internet jokes to the pretty female. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.
In these litigious, politically correct times, the perils of making cheap gags can be considerable. Recently, I attended a dinner at a trade conference. The speaker was a well-known executive who told a number of jokes in poor taste, some at the expense of influential figures in the room. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.
Some one once said: "Brains, integrity and force may be all very well, but what you need today is charm." This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom, and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality. Perhaps it is their reputation, perhaps their smile, perhaps their brilliance with words-or possibly their rapt attention.
I am often struck how often young children utter the phrase "Look at me!" They want appreciation, and fundamentally not much changes, even when we are 50. Genuine approval from the boss can taste better than anything-even a pay rise.
Are charm and a sense of humour acquired traits? They certainly improve with effort and practice. Ronald Reagan used his years in showbiz to hone his performance skills before succeeding in politics.
I have sat with stand-up comics before they go on stage. The most brilliant appear almost nonchalant, rather than rehearsed or anxious, and their acts are mostly learnt word-perfect yet appear spontaneous.
So it is with outstanding business leaders who persuade their teams to laugh and try harder: they apply themselves assiduously to the task. Most world-class chief executives possess charisma-really a captivating blend of charm and wit. And, believe me, they graft at it far more than they admit.
領(lǐng)導(dǎo)靠幽默與魅力發(fā)跡
作為人生發(fā)跡的手段之一,幽默和魅力是一對效力驚人的組合。
我遇見過許多憑借風趣機智和好人緣白手起家的企業(yè)家。他們謙和自斂,讓我們生不起氣來。我們與他們相處愉快一一所以我們?yōu)槭裁床慌c他們做生意呢?當然,這里面必須講求技巧。一味溜頸拍馬,開一些干巴巴的玩笑,不會產(chǎn)生同樣的魔力。
英國人認為,人生在世,就得苦中作樂。這似乎是我們心理學(xué)和文化的一條基本原則。在倫敦,說一個人缺乏幽默感,等于是說他一無是處。我出席的許多重要會議,都以一些善意的玩笑開場,以此打破沉默。這種慣例提醒我們,我們都是凡人,而不完全是商業(yè)機器。
外國人肯定認為我們的輕浮舉止不可理喻。要讓我說,我們英國人是贊同賀拉斯的觀點:“遇到大事,比起一本正經(jīng)的態(tài)度,開開玩笑固能夠更有效、也更開心地解決問題?!?BR> 幾年前,我的一位合伙人實行我所說的“歡笑管理”。他鼓舞和激勵士氣的方法,是營造充滿樂趣的工作氛圍,不同于許多工作場所常見的威逼和脅迫的氛圍。
然而,對于喜歡逗笑取樂的人來說,21世紀的職場可能會是個雷區(qū)。我最近聽到警告,說一個來自東歐的專業(yè)犯罪團伙會設(shè)下這樣的圈套:在一家機構(gòu)安插一名漂亮迷人的女員工,再讓一名男同伙也混進去。兩人前后腳進入這家公司,他們的關(guān)系不為人所知。不久后,他就向那位美女發(fā)送了一堆黃色網(wǎng)絡(luò)笑話。于是她投訴遭到騷擾,并威脅要以性別歧視為由,告到讓人頭大的就業(yè)法庭。而一旦她透露出已聘請了專業(yè)法律顧問和公關(guān)代理,受害企業(yè)就會趕緊花錢了事。
在這種動輒法庭上見、政治上正確的時代,講低級笑話可能會相當危險。我最近出席了一個貿(mào)易會議舉辦的晚宴,席間一位頗有名氣的高管發(fā)表了演講。他講了許多低級趣味的笑話,有些還是取笑在座的顯要人物。演講后我們在閑聊時,我感覺到,他的那些話不會被很快忘記,這與婚禮上伴郎講話粗俗不合時宜一樣。
曾有人說:“擁有才智、誠實和力量固然不錯,但當今你需要的是魅力。” 這是一個名人的時代,即使在董事會也是如此。那些鼎鼎大名的人物一旦全力展現(xiàn)他們迷人的個性或者是名聲、或者是微笑、或者是口才,又或者是專注的神情,投入能夠抵御。
小孩子常常會說“看我的!”,對此我常常感到驚訝。他們想要得到贊賞。這一點在長大后基本上也不會改變,即使到了50歲。老板真心的稱贊比什么——甚至加薪,都更讓人覺得受用。
魅力和幽默感能夠后天培養(yǎng)嗎?努力練習肯定會有作用。羅納德·里根早年在演藝界干過,練得一身表演才能,后來才進入政界,成就了一番事業(yè)。
我曾經(jīng)在一些笑星登臺前與他們坐在一起。最出色的笑星出場前幾乎都顯得若無其事,既沒有背臺詞,也沒有焦慮不安。他們表演的內(nèi)容基本上都是事先背下來的,但卻顯得像是即興發(fā)揮。
杰出的企業(yè)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能夠讓他的團隊既開心又賣力工作:他們自己會勤于工作。世界級的首席執(zhí)行官大多魅力非凡——這實際上是吸引力和風趣機智的迷人組合。另外,請相信我,他們花費在這上面的心力,遠遠超過他們所承認的。
句型講解:
1. She complains of harassment and threatens to bring an embarrassing employment tribunal involving sexual discrimination-and, once she reveals that she has hired expert legal advisers and PR agents, the victim business settles quickly.
本句是一個復(fù)合句,主句是由and連接的兩個并列的句子。第一個句子中, and連接兩個并列的謂語, involving sexual discrimination現(xiàn)在分詞短語作后置定語,修飾employment tribunal.第二個句子中,once引導(dǎo)時間狀語從句,其中that引導(dǎo)賓語從句,作reveal的賓語。
語法重點:并列結(jié)構(gòu),分詞短語作定語,時間狀語從句,賓語從句
2. Just as a vulgar best man's speech at a wedding can strike the wrong note, so I sensed as we chatted after the speech that the jibes would not be swiftly forgotten.
本句是一個復(fù)合句。第一個as引導(dǎo)方式狀語從句,意為"正如"。第二個as引導(dǎo)時間狀語從句。that引導(dǎo)賓語從句,作sense的賓語。
語法重點:方式狀語從句,時間狀語從句,賓語從句
3. This is the age of celebrity, even in the boardroom. and none of us is impervious to the presence of those legendary characters when they switch on the full blast of their glittering personality.
本句是一個復(fù)合句。主句是由and連接的兩個并列的句子This is...and... legendary characters. When引導(dǎo)時間狀語從句。
語法重點:時間狀語從句