四级阅读：英语词汇阅读练习（4）

（16）

Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his book, 'Look here for probable metal' Scientists in another airplane, flying over a mountain region,sent a message to other scientists on the ground,'Gold possible.' Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported,'This ground should be searched for metals.' From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word,'Uranium'.
None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of location minerals in the ground---using trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees and plants are growing.
This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface.
At Watson Bar Creek, a brook six thousand feet high in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada,a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxed were filled with small banches from te trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested .Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it.
Study of the roots , branches,and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amounts of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growing on the ends of the branches.
If the trees had not indicated that there was gold in the ground, the scientists would not have spent money to pay for digging into the deeper. They did dig and found more fold below. They dug deeper. They found large quantities of gold.

1.Scientists were flying over a desert or hilly wasteland or a mountain region in order to search for _____ in the ground.
a.gold
b.silver
c.metals
d.minerals
2.The study of trees,branches and roots indicates that_______.

a.there were larger amounts of gold in the branches than in the seeds.
b.there were small amounts of gold in the roots than in the branches
c.there were larger amounts of gold in the seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk than seeds growing on the ends of branches.
d.there were more gold in the branches than in the roots

3.Which is the best title ?
a.Scientists searching for metals with sepcial power
b.New methods of searching for minerals
c.Gold could be found by trees and plants
d.A new method of searching for minerals---using trees and plants

4.Which of the following is not mentioned as part of a tree that can help find minerals?
a.leaves
b.roots
c.branches
d.seeds

5.The scientists were searching for minerals by using ______.
a.X-ray
b.magic power
c.a special instrument
d.trained eyes

答案：D C D A D

（17）

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 don't 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 don't 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.People's preference of one colour to another is instinct
b.People's 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：B C A A C

（18）

If the population of the earth goes on increasing at its present rate, there will eventually not be enough resources left to sustain life on the planet.By the middle of the 21st century,if present trends continue, we will have used up all the oil that drives our cars,for example.Even if scientists develop new ways of feeding the human race,the crowded conditions on earth will make it necessary for lus to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the other planets in our solar system are capable of supporting life at present. One possible solution to the problem, however,has recently been suggested by American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan.
　　Sagan believes that before the earth's resources are compleetely exhausted it will be possible to change the atmophere of Venus and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself. The difficult is that Venus is much hotter than the earth and there is only a tiny amount of water there.
　　Sagan proposes that algae organisms that can live in extremely hot or cold atmospheres and at the same time produce oxygen,should be bred in condition similar to those on Venus.As soon as this has been done, the algae will be placed in small rockets. Spaceship will then fly to Venus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere .In a fairly short time, the alge will break down the carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon.
　　When the algae have done theri work, the atmosphere will become cooler,but befor man can set foot on Venus it will be neccessary for the oxygen to produce rain. The surface of the planet will still be too hot for man to land on it but the rain will eventually fall and in a few years something like earth will be reproduced on Venus.

1.Inte long run, the most insoluble problem caused by population growth on earth will probably be the lack of ______.
a.food
b.oil
c.space
d.resources

2.Carl Sagan believes that Venus might be colonized from earth because _____
a.it might be possible to change its atmosphere
b.its atmosphere is the same as the earth's
c.there is a good supply of water on Venus
d.the days on Venus are long enough

3.On Venus there is a lot of ________.
a.water
b.carbon dioxide
c.carbon monoxide
d.oxygen

4.Algae are plants that can____.
a.live in very hot temperatures
b.live in very cold temperatures
c.manufacture oxygen
d.all of the above

5. Man can land on Venus only when_______.
a.the algae have done their work
b.the atmosphere becomes cooler
c.thereis oxygen
d.it rains there

答案：C A B D D

（19）

The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's technology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engineers.
　　Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engineering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly.
　　Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.candidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education,find the attraction of industry irresistible.

1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ________.
a. the number of PH.D. degree holders is declining
b. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasing
c. the number of 22-year-ilds is declining
d. scientists and engineers are not employed

2.The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from ________ .
a. technology
b. foreign nationals
c. such fields as law, medicine and business
d. postgraduates

3.Large-scale enterprises now need _______.
a. bright graduates and postgraduates
b. new inventions
c. advanced technology
d. engineers

4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree because _________.
a. they are not encouraged to be engaged in science
b. industry does not require PH.D. holders
c. they have financial difficulties

d. they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.
5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means that _________.
a. they find industry is attracting more and more college students
b. they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industry
c. they cannot resist any attraction from all sides
d. they cannot work for industry any longer

答案：B C A D B

（20）

Newdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effectiveness will remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard of opwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.
　　America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.
　　The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the Department of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutional forces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.

1. Now a nation's political influence depends on _________.
a. the strength of its military forces
b. its ability to compete in industry
c. economic markets
d. both a and b

2. The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because of _________.
a. its powerful military forces
b. its vast land
c. its industrial competitiveness
d. its contributions to world peace

3. The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power.
a. other countries
b. the declining U.S. industrial base
c. a new standard for measuring power
d. less advanced technology

4. America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably because of ___________.
a. its ability to adapt technology
b. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its people
c. its ability to compete in the world markets
d. both a and b

5. The purpose of writing this article is __________.
a. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring power
b. to demonstrate American political influence in the world
c. to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial base
d. to show American industrial prowess

答案：D A B D C

（21）

New Orleans, Louisiana, was established as part of the French Empire in 1718.
　　Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the American hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It was transferred from France to Spain, returned to France,and finally sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle fought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it , and the Americans under General And rew Jackson.
　　The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting and the river is now actually higher than the city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are used to move water from the city into the river.
　　Although New Orleans haas beena part of the United States for almost two centuries, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still retains parts of the Code Napoleon which,form many years,was its only law.
　　New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and its native Dixieland Jazz. The jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting facade of yesteryear, is a busy industrial and port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreigh cargoes are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town----but it's still fun to visit.

1.What accounts for the levees and pumps in New Orleans?
a.The Mississippi frequently floods the city.
b.The riverbed has raised inthe past 200 years.
c.The torrential rains flood the city frequently.
d.The high humidity cannot otherwise be comtrolled.

2.The battle of New Orleans was fought by jackson against______.
a.France
b.Britain
c.Spain
d.The North

3.The Code Napoleon was _______.
a.an agreement to sell Louisiana
b.a body of laws
c.a city plan
d.a military code for the army

4.Which of the following elements does not apply to the attiude of the inhabitants of New Orleans?
a.Pride in their French heritage.
b.A desire to retain picturesque colonial buildings.
c.A refusal to engage in trade and commerce
d.A praising of Dixieland Jazz.

5.Tourists visiting New Orleans are surprised to encounter_____.
a.Creole food
b.Dixieland jazz
c.bustling city
d.authentic colonial homes

答案： B B B C C