2014年12月英语四级仔细阅读真题(总三套题)及答案

欢迎下载PAGE\*MERGEFORMAT#2014年12月四级真题（第1套）第一套：PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.TheriseoftheInternethasbeenoneofthemosttransformativedevelopmentsinhumanhistory,comparableinimpacttotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph.Overtwobillionpeopleworldwidenowhaveaccesstovastlymoreinformationthaneverbefore,andcancommunicatewitheachotherinstantly,oftenusingWeb-connectedmobiledevicestheycarryeverywhere.ButtheInternet'stremendousimpacthasonlyjustbegun."MassadoptionoftheInternetisdrivingoneofthemostexcitingsocial,cultural,andpoliticaltransformationsinhistory,andunlikeearlierperiodsofchange,thistimetheeffectsarefullyglobal,"SchmidtandCohenwriteintheirnewbook,TheNewDigitalAge.PerhapsthemostprofoundchangeswillcomewhenthefivebillionpeopleworldwidewhocurrentlylackInternetaccessgetonline.TheauthorsdoanexcellentjobofexaminingtheimplicationsoftheInternetrevolutionforindividuals,governments,andinstitutionslikethenewsmedia.Butffthebookhasonemajorshortcoming,it'sthattheauthorsdon'tspendenoughtimeapplyingacriticaleyetotheroleofInternetbusinessesinthesesweepingchanges.Intheirbook,theauthorsprovidethemostauthoritativevolumetodatethatdescribes--andmoreimportantlypredicts--howtheInternetwillshapeourlivesinthecomingdecades.Theypaintapictureofaworldinwhichindividuals,companies,institutions,andgovernmentsmustdealwithtworealities,onephysical,andonevirtual.Atthecoreofthebookistheideathat"technologyisneutral,butpeoplearen't."Byusingthisconceptasastartingpoint,theauthorsaimtomovebeyondthenowfamiliaroptimistvs.pessimistdichotomy（对立观点）thathascharacterizedmanyrecentdebatesaboutwhethertheriseoftheInternetwillultimatelybegoodorbadforsociety.InaninterviewwithTIMEearlierthisweek,Cohensaidalthoughheandhisco-authorareoptimisticaboutmanyaspectsoftheInternet,they'realsorealisticabouttherisksanddangersthatlieaheadwhenthenextfivebillionpeoplecomeonline,particularlywithrespecttopersonalprivacyandstatesurveillanee（监视）.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。InwhatwayistheriseoftheInternetsimilartotheinventionoftheprintingpressandthetelegraph?Ittransformshumanhistory.Itfacilitatesdailycommunication.Itisadoptedbyallhumanity.Itrevolutionizespeople'sthinking.HowdoSchmidtandCohendescribetheeffectsoftheInternet?Theyareimmeasurable.Theyareworldwide.C.Theyareunpredictable.D.Theyarecontaminating.InwhatrespectisthebookTheNewDigitalAgeconsideredinadequate?ItfailstorecognizetheimpactoftheInternettechnology.ItfailstolookintothesocialimplicationsoftheInternet.ItlacksanobjectiveevaluationoftheroleofInternetbusinesses.ItdoesnotaddressthetechnicalaspectsofInternetcommunication.Whatwillthefuturebelikewheneverybodygetsonline?Peoplewillbelivingintwodifferentrealities.Peoplewillhaveequalaccesstoinformation.C.Peopledon'thavetotraveltoseetheworld.D.Peopledon'thavetocommunicatefacetoface.WhatdoesthepassagesayabouttheauthorsofTheNewDigitalAge?A.TheyleavemanyquestionsunansweredconcerningtheInternet.B.TheyareoptimisticaboutthefutureoftheInternetrevolution.C.Theyhaveexploredtheunknownterritoriesofthevirtualworld.D.Theydon'ttakesidesinanalyzingtheeffectsoftheInternet.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.In1950,ayoungmanwouldhavefounditmucheasierthanitistodaytogetandkeepajobintheautoindustry.Andinthatyeartheaverageautoworkercouldmeetmonthlymortgage（抵押贷款）paymentsonanaveragehomewithjust13.4percentofhistake-homepay.Todayasimilarmortgagewouldclaimmorethantwicethatshareofhismonthlyearnings.Othermembersoftheautoworker'sfamily,however,mightbelessinclinedtotradethepresentforthepast.Hisretiredparentswouldcertainlyhavehadlesseconomicsecuritybackthen.Throughoutmuchofthe1960s,morethanaquarterofmenandwomenage65andolderlivedbelowthepovertylevel,comparedtolessthan10percentin2010.Inmoststates,hiswifecouldnothavetakenoutaloanoracreditcardinherownname.In42states,ahomemakerhadnolegalclaimontheearningsofherhusband.Andnowheredidawifehavelegalprotectionagainstfamilyviolenee.Mostblackworkerswouldnotwanttoreturntoatimewhen,onaverage,theyearned40percentlessthantheirwhitecounterparts（职位相对的人）,whileraciallyrestrictiveagreementslargelypreventedthemfrombuyingintothesuburbanneighborhoodsbeingbuiltforwhiteworking-classfamilies.Today,newproblemshaveemergedintheprocessofresolvingoldones,butthesolutionisnottogobacktothepast.Somepeoplemaylongforanerawhendivorcewasstillhardtocomeby.Thespreadofno-faultdivorcehasreducedthebargainingpowerofwhicheverspouseismoreinterestedincontinuingtherelationship.Andthebreakupofsuchmarriageshascausedpainformanyfamilies.Thegrowingdiversityoffamilylifecomeswithnewpossibilitiesaswellasnewchallenges.Accord-ingtoarecentpoll,morethan80percentofAmericansbelievethattheircurrentfamilyisascloseastheoneinwhichtheygrewup,orcloser.Findingwaystoimprovethelivesoftheremaining20percentseemsmorerealisticthantryingtorestoreanimaginarygoldenage.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答WhatdowelearnaboutAmericanautoworkersin1950?Theyhadlessjobsecuritythantheydotoday.Itwasnottoodifficultforthemtobuyahouse.|Theirearningswereworthtwiceasmuchastoday.Theywerebetteroffthanworkersinotherindustries.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutretiredpeopletoday?Theyinvariablylongtoreturntothegoldenpast.Theydonotdependsomuchonsocialwelfare.C.Theyfeelmoresecureeconomicallythaninthepast.D.Theyareusuallyunwillingtolivewiththeirchildren.Whycouldn'tblackworkersbuyahouseinawhitesuburbanneighborhood?A.Theylackedthemeansoftransportation.B.Theyweresubjectedtoracialinequality.C.Theywereafraidtobreakthelaw.D.Theyweretoopoortoaffordit.Whatistheresultofno-faultdivorce?A.Divorceiseasiertoobtain.B.Domesticvioleneeislessened.C.Itcauseslittlepaintoeitherside.D.Itcontributestosocialunrest.Whatdoestheauthorsuggestsocietydo?A.Getpreparedtofaceanynewchallenges.B.Trytobetterthecurrentsocialsecuritynet.C.Narrowthegapbetweenblacksandwhites.D.Improvethelivesoffamilieswithproblems.第二套：PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.NewYorkersaregraduallygettingusedtomorepedaling（骑车的）passengersonthoseshiningblueCitiBikes.Butwhataboutlocalbikeshops?IsCitiBikerollingupridersattheirexpense?AtGothamBikesinTribeca,managerW.Bensaidtheshophasseenanincreaseinitsoverallsalesduetothebike-shareprogram."It'sgettingmorepeopleontheroad,"hesaid.JamesRyan,anemployeeatDanny'sCyclesinGramercyalsosaidCitiBikeisagoodoptionforpeopletoeaseintobikinginacityfamedforitstrafficjamsandaggressivedrivers."Theycantryoutabikewithoutcommittingtobuyingone,"hesaid.RentalsarenotabigpartofthebusinessateitherGothamBikesorDanny'sCycles.ButforFrank'sBikeShop,asmallbusinessonGrandSt.,thebike-shareprogramhasbeenbadnews.OwnerFrankArroyosaidhisrentalbusinesshasdecreasedby90%sinceCitiBikewasrolledoutlastmonth.Arroyo'smainrentalcustomersareEuropeantourists,whohavesincebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.However,Bensaidthebike-shareisgoodforbikesalesathisshop."Peoplehaveusedthebike-shareandrealizedhowgreatitistobikeinthecity,thendecidethattheywantsomethingnicerforthemselves,"henoted.ChristianFarrellofWaterfrontBicycleShop,onWestSt.justnorthofChristopherSt.,saidinitiallyhewasconcernedaboutbike-share,though,headmitted,"Iwashappytoseepeopleonbikes."Farrell'searlyconcernswereechoedbyAndrewCrooks,ownerofNYCVelo,at64SecondAve."Itseemedlikeagreatidea,butonethatwouldbedifficulttoimplement,"CrookssaidofCitiBike.Hesaidheworriedaboutinexperieneedriders'lackofawarenessofbildngrulesandstrongnegativereactionfromnon-cyclists.However,hesaid,it'sstilltooearlytotellffhisbusinesshasbeenimpacted.Whileit'spossiblebike-sharewillcauseadropinbusiness,CrooksallowedthattheideaisapositivestepforwardforNewYorkCity.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。Whatistheauthor'schiefconcernabouttheincreasinguseofCitiBikesinNewYork?Hownon-cyclistswillrespondtoit.Whetherlocalbikeshopswillsuffer.Whetherlocalbikebusinesseswillopposeit.Howthesafetyofbikeriderscanbeensured.WhathappenedtoGothamBikesasaresultofthebike-shareprogram?Itfounditsbikesalesunaffected.Itshifteditsbusinesstorentals.C.Itsawitsbikesalesontherise.D.Itrentedmorebikestotourists.Whyisthebike-shareprogrambadnewsforFrank'sBikeShop?A.Itcannotmeetthedemandofthebike-shareprogram.B.ItscustomershavebeendrawnawaybyCitiBikes.C.Itsbikepriceshavetobeloweredagainandagain.D.Ithastocompetewiththecity'sbikerentalshops.WhydidAndrewCrooksthinkthatthebike-shareprogramwouldbedifficulttoexecute?A.Inexperieneedridersmightbreakbikingrules.B.Conflictsmightariseamongbikerentalshops.C.Trafficconditionsmightworseninthedowntownarea.D.Therearenotenoughlanestoaccommodatethebikes.WhatisthegeneralattitudeoflocalbikeshopstowardsCitiBike?A.Wait-and-see.B.Negative.C.Indifferent.D.Approving.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Variousstudieshaveshownthatincreasedspendingoneducationhasnotledtomeasurableimprovementsinlearning.Between1980and2008,staffandteachersatU.S.publicschoolsgrewroughlytwiceasfastasstudents.Yetstudentsshowednoadditionallearninginachievementtests.Universitiesshowsimilartrendsofincreasedadministrationpersonnelandcostswithoutgreaterlearning,asdocumentedinRichardArumandJosipaRoksa'srecentbookAcademicallyAdrift:LimitedLearningonCollegeCampuses.Asurveyshowsthat63%ofemployerssaythatrecentcollegegraduatesdon'thavethesldllstheyneedtosucceedand25%ofemployerssaythatentry-levelwritingskillsarelacking.Somesimplisticallyattributethedeclineinourpubliceducationsystemtothedrainofskilledstudentsbyprivateschools,butfarmoresignificanteventswereatwork.Publicschoolsworkedwelluntilaboutthe1970s.Infact,untilthattime,publicschoolsprovidedfarbettereducationthanprivateones.Itwastheunderperformingstudentswhowerethrownoutofpublicschoolsandwenttoprivateones.Aprominentreasonpublicschoolsdidwellwasthatmanyhighlyqualifiedwomenhadfewoptionsforworldngoutsidethehouseotherthanbeingteachersornurses.Theyacceptedrelativelylowpay,difficultworkingconditions,andgavetheirverybest.Havingsuchalargesupplyoftalentedwomenteachersmeantthatsocietycouldpaylessfortheirservices.Women'sliberationopenedupnewprofessionalopportunitiesforwomen,and,overtime,someofthebestleftteachingasacareeroption,bringingaboutagradualdeclineinthequalityofschooling.Alsoaroundthattime,regulations,government,andunionscametodictatepay,preventac~ustments,andintroducebureaucratic（官僚的）standardforadvancement.LargeeducationbureaucraciesandunionscametodominatetheIandscape,confusingactivitywithachievement.Bureaucratsregularlyrewritecurriculums,talknonsenseabouttheoriesofeducation,andrequireevermoreadmires"trators.Theendresulthasbeenthat,afterallthespending,studentshaveworsemathandreadingskillsthanboththeirforeignpeersandearliergenerationsspendingfarlessoneducation--asalltheaccumulatingevideneenowdocuments.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答WhatdowelearnfromvariousstudiesonAmerica'spubliceducation?Achievementtestshavefailedtotrulyreflectthequalityofteaching.Publicschools-lacktheresourcestocompetewithprivateschools.Littleimprovementineducationhasresultedfromincreasedspending.Thenumberofstudentshasincreasedmuchfasterthanthatofteachers.Howdosomepeopleexplainthedeclineinpubliceducation?Governmentinvestmentdoesnotmeetschools'needs.Skilledstudentsaremovingtoprivateschools.C.Qualifiedteachersarefarfromadequatelypaid.D.Trainingofstudents'basicskillsisneglected.Whatwasasignificantcontributortothepastgloryofpublicschools?A.Well-behavedstudents.B.Efficientadmirestration.C.Talentedwomenteachers.D.Generouspayforteachers.Whydidsomeofthebestwomenteachersleaveteaching?A.Newcareeropportunitiesweremadeavailabletothembywomen'sliberation.Higheracademicrequirementsmadeitdifficultforthemtostayintheirjobs.Theywereunhappywiththebureaucraticadministrationintheirschools.Theheavyteachingloadsleftthemlittletimeandenergyforfamilylife.Whatdoestheauthorthinkisoneoftheresultsofgovernmentinvolvementineducation?Increasingemphasisontheoriesofeducation.Highlystandardizedteachingmethods.Students'improvedacademicperformanee.D.Anever-growingnumberofadministrators.第三套：PassageOneQuestions56to60arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Childrenareadelight.Theyareourfuture.Butsadly,hiringsomeonetotakecareofthemwhileyougotoworkisgettingmoreexpensivebytheyear.Earlierthismonth,itwasreportedthatthecostofenrollinganinfantorsmallkidatachildcarecenterrose3%in2012,fasterthantheoverallcostofliving.Therearenowlargestripsofthecountrywheredaycareforaninfantcostsmorethanatenthoftheaveragemarriedcouple'sincome.Thisisnotnecessarilyanewtrend,butitisasomewhatpuzzlingone.Thepriceofprofessionalchildcarehasbeenrisingsincethe1980s.Yetduringthattime,payforprofessionalchildcareworkershasstoodstill.Actuallycaregiversmakelesstoday,inrealterms,thantheydidin1990.Consideringthatlaborcostsareresponsibleforupto80%ofadaycarecenter'sexpenses,onewouldexpectflatwagestohavemeantflatprices.Sowho'stoblameforhigherchildcarecosts?Childcareisacarefullyregulatedindustry.Stateslaydownrulesabouthowmanychildreneachemployeeisallowedtowatchover,thespacecarecentersneedperchild,andotherminutedetails.Andthestrictertheregulations,thehigherthecosts.Ifithastohireacaregiverforeverytwochildren,itcan'treallyachieveanyeconomiesofscaleonlabortosavemoneywhenotherexpensesgoup.InMassachusetts,wherechildcarecentersmusthireoneteacherforeverythreeinfants,thepriceofcareaveragedmorethan$16,000peryear.InMississippi,wherecentersmusthireoneteacherforeveryfiveinfants,thepriceofcareaveragedlessthan$5,000.Unfortunately,Idon'thaveallthedaycare-centerregulationshandy.ButIwouldn'tbesurprisedifastheruleshavebecomemoreelaborate,priceshaverisen.Thetradeoff（交换）mightbeworthitinsomecases;afterall,thehealthandsafetyofchildrenshouldprobablycomebeforecheapservice.Butcertainiy,itdoesn'tseemtobeanaccidentthatsomeofthecheapestdaycareavailableisintheleastregulatedSouth.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。Whatproblemdoparentsofsmallkidshavetoface?Theever-risingchildcareprices.Thebudgetingoffamilyexpenses.Thebalancebetweenworkandfamily.Theselectionofagooddaycarecenter.Whatdoestheauthorfeelpuzzledabout?Whythepricesofchildcarevarygreatlyfromstatetostate.Whyincreasedchildcarepriceshavenotledtobetterservice.Whychildcareworkers'payhasnotincreasedwiththerisingchildcarecosts.Whythereisasevereshortageofchildcareprofessionalsinanumberofstates.Whatpreventschildcarecentersfromsavingmoney?Steadyincreaseinlaborcosts.Strictgovernmentregulations.~|Lackofsupportfromthestate.Highadministrativeexpenses.WhyistheaveragecostofchildcareinMississippimuchlowerthaninMassachusetts?Theoverallqualityofserviceisnotasgood.Paymentsforcaregiverstherearenotashigh.Livingexpensestherearecomparativelylow.Eachteacherisallowedtocareformorekids.Whatistheauthor'sviewondaycareservice?Caregiversshouldreceiveregularprofessionaltraining.Lesselaboraterulesaboutchildcaremightlowercosts.Itiscrucialtostrikeabalancebetweenqualityandcosts.Itisbetterfordifferentstatestolearnfromeachother.PassageTwoQuestions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.AlexPang'samusingnewbookTheDistractionAddictionaddressesthoseofuswhofeelpanicwithoutacellphoneorcomputer.Andthat,heclaims,isprettymuchallofus.Whenwe'renotonline,wherewespendfourmonthsannually,we'reengagedinthestressfulworkoftryingtogetonline."howTheDistractionAddictionisnotframedasaself-helpbook.It'sathoughtfulexaminationofthedangersofourcomputingoverdoseandahistoricaloverviewofhowtechnologicaladvanceschangeconsciousness.A"professionalfuturist",Pangurgesanapproachwhichhecalls"contemplative（沉思的）computing."Heasksthatyoupayfullattentiontoyourmindandbodyinteractwithcomputersandhowyourattentionandcreativityareinflueneedbytechnology."Pang'sfirstjobistofreeyoufromthecommonmisconceptionthatdoingtwothingsatonceallowsyoutogetmoredone.Whatiscommonlycalledmultitaskingis,infact,switch-tasking,anditsharmfuleffectsonproductivityarewelldocumented.Pangdoesn'tadvocatereturningtoapre-Internetworld.Instead,heasksyouto"takeamoreecological（生态的）viewofyourrelationshipswithtechnologiesandlookforwaysdevicesormediamaybemakingspecifictaskseasierorfasterbutatthesametimemakingyourworkandlifeharder."TheDistractionAddictionisparticularlyfascinatingonhowtechnologieshavechangedcertainfieldsoflabor-oftenfortheworse.Forarchitects,computer-aideddesignhasbecomeessentialbutinsomewayshascheapenedthedesignprocess.Asonearchitectputsit,"Architectureisfirstandforemostaboutthinking..,anddrawingisamoreproductivewayofthinking"thancomputer-aideddesign.SomewhatlessamusingarePang'ssolutionsforkickingtheInternethabit.Herecommendstheusualbehavior-modificationapproaches,familiartoanyonewhohascompletedanotsmokingprogram.Keeplogstostudyyouronlineprofileanddecidewhatyoucanknockout,downloadaprogramlikeFreedomthatlocksyououtofyourbrowser,ortakea"digitalSabbath（安息日）":"Uniessyou'reareporteroremergency-departmentdoctor,you'lldiscoverthatyourworlddoesn'tfallapartwhenyougooffline."注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答.AlexPang'snewbookisaimedforreaderswhofindtheirworkonlinetoostressfulgoonlinemainlyforentertainmentarefearfulaboutusingthecellphoneorcomputercanhardlytearthemselvesawayfromtheInternetWhatdoesAlexPangtrytodoinhisnewbook?OfferadviceonhowtousetheInterueteffectively.WarnpeopleofthepossibledangersofInternetuse.Predictthetrendoffuturetechnologicaldevelopment.Examinetheinflueneeoftechnologyonthehumanmind.Whatisthecommonviewonmultitasking?Itenablespeopletoworkmoreeffectively.|Itisinawayquitesimilartoswitch-tasking.Itmakespeople'sworkandlifeevenharder.Itdistractspeople'sattentionfromusefulwork.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofcomputer-aideddesign?Itconsiderablycutsdownthecostofbuildingdesign.Itsomewhatrestrainsarchitects'productivethinking.Itisindispensableinarchitects'workprocess.Itcanfreearchitectsfromlaboriousdrawing.WhatisAlexPang'srecommendationforInternetusers?TheyusetheInternetaslittleaspossible.Theykeeparecordoftheircomputerusetime.Theyexerciseself-controlovertheirtimeonline.Theyentertainthemselvesonlineonoff-daysonly.