2014年下半年大学英语四级预测模拟试卷(七)_第2页

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

　　Oceanography has been defined as “The application of all sciences to the study of the sea”. Before the nineteenth century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between.

　　Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.

　　For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that the question “what is at the bottom of the oceans? ”had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.

　　It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea.

　　The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.

　　Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition, which lasted four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.

　　31. The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographic studies take on _______.

　　A) an academic aspect B) a military aspect

　　C) a business aspect D) an international aspect

　　32. It was _______ that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.

　　A) the American Navy

　　B) some early intercontinental travelers

　　C) those who earned a living from the sea

　　D) the company which proposed to lay an undersea cable

　　33. The aim of the voyages Maury was responsible for in the 1840 was _______.

　　A) to make some sounding experiments in the oceans

　　B) to collect sample of sea plants and animals

　　C) to estimate the length of cable that was needed

　　D) to measure the depths of the two oceans

　　34. “defied” in the 5th paragraph probably means “_______”.

　　A) supported B) gave proof to C) challenged D) agreed to

　　35. This passage is mainly about _______.

　　A) the beginnings of oceanography

　　B) the laying of the first undersea cable

　　C) the investigation of ocean depths

　　D) the early intercontinental communications

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40are based on the following passage.

　　People tend to be more impressed by evidence that seems to confirm some relationship. Thus many are convinced their dreams are prophetic(预言的)because a few have come true; they neglect of fail to notice the many that have not.

　　Consider also the belief that “the phone always rings when I’m in the shower.” If it does ring while you are in the shower, the event will stand out and be remembered. If it doesn’t ring while you are in the shower, that nonevent probably won’t even register(留下印象).

　　People want to see order, pattern and meaning in the world. Consider, for example, the common belief that things like personal misfortunes, plane crashes, and deaths “happen in threes.” Such beliefs stem from the tendency of people to allow the third event to define the time that counts as their “happening together” is one month; if three crashes occur in a year, the period of time is stretched. Flexible end points reinforce such beliefs.

　　We also tend to believe what we want to believe. A majority of people thinks they are more intelligent, more fair-minded and more skilled behind the wheel of an automobile than the average person. Part of the reason we view ourselves so favorably is that we use criteria that work to our advantage. As economist Thomas Schelling explains, “Everybody ranks himself high in qualities he values: careful drivers give weight to care, skilled drivers give weight to skill, and those who are polite give weight to courtesy.” This way everyone ranks high on his own scale.

　　Perhaps the most important mental habit we can learn is to be cautious(谨慎的)in drawing conclusions. The “evidence” of every day life is sometimes misleading.

　　36. In the first paragraph the author states that _______.

　　A) dreams cannot be said to be prophetic even though a few have come true

　　B) dreams are prophetic because some of them did come true

　　C) dreams may come true if clearly remembered

　　D) dreams and reality are closely related

　　37. By “things like…” “happen in threes” (Para.3,Line2), the author indicates that people believe _______.

　　A) personal misfortunes tend to happen every now and then

　　B) personal misfortunes, plane crashes, and deaths usually happen together

　　C) misfortunes tend to occur according to certain patterns

　　D) misfortunes will never occur more than three times to a person in his lifetime

　　38. The word “courtesy” (Para.4,Line 6) probably means _______.

　　A) good manners B) friendly relations

　　C) appropriate speech D) satisfactory service

　　39. What can be inferred from the passage?

　　A) Happenings that go unnoticed deserve more attention.

　　B) In a series of misfortunes the third one is usually the most serious.

　　C) People tend to make use of evidence that supports their own beliefs.

　　D) Believers of misfortunes happening in threes are cautious in interpreting events.

　　40. It can be concluded from the passage that _______.

　　A) there is some truth even in the wildest dreams

　　B) one should take notice of other people’s merits

　　C) there is no order or pattern in world events

　　D) we should not base our conclusions on accidental evidence

　　Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)

　　Directions There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the one answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.

　　41. Glass may _______ at high temperature.

　　A) dissolve B) disappear C) soften D) melt

　　42. Everyone is encouraged to _______ food or clothing for those who suffered a great deal in the flood.

　　A) attribute B) distribute C) contribute D) drift

　　43. White teeth are a sharp _______ to black skin.

　　A) content B) contract C) contrast D) contain

　　44. It is kind of you to ________ my children when I am away.

　　A) look after B) take after C) look in D) take in?

　　45. Tom is _______ about photography. He spends nearly all his money on it.

　　A) justice B) innocent C) fierce D) crazy

　　46. Careful planning and hard work will _______ our final success.

　　A) enclose B) ensure C) discharge D) deny

　　47. There are _______ approaches to English teaching. But not all of them are equally efficient for our Chinese students.

　　A) double B) joint C) original D) diverse

　　48. I could have _______ such a situation but I didn’t.

　　A) forecast B) overcome C) shed D) urged

　　49. I prefer a _______ typewriter to an automatic one.

　　A) mechanic B) manual C) merchant D) mental

　　50. Professor Smith _______the most important part in his paper.

　　A) omitted B) disputed C) designed D) chased

　　51. Physically we feel comfortable. But _______, we suffer a lot.

　　A) psychologically B) moderately C) naturally D) precisely

　　52. When he retired, his son _______ the business.

　　A) took over B) took off? C) took in D) took up

　　53. They _______ our house at $10,000.

　　A) count B) estimate C) value D) assess

　　54. When he studied at college, Jack was supported by a _______.

　　A) treatment B) assistance C) scholarship D) award

　　55. You are very _______ to take the trouble to help me. I can not thank you enough.

　　A) reasonable B) essential C) thoughtful D) considerable

　　56. He wants to _______ his appointment from Monday to Wednesday.

　　A) transfer B) decay C) advance D) postpone

　　57. This is what I could do. There is no other _______ for me.

　　A) change B) shift C) alternate D) alternative

　　58. Please be _______. Your question is too general.

　　A) limited B) narrow C) specific D) thorough

　　59. ____ to meet anybody, he went in from the back door.

　　A) Not wishing B) Wishing C) Not wished D) No wishing

　　60. _____ right now, she would get there on Sunday.

　　A) Would she leave B) Were she to leave C) If she leaves D) If she had left

　　61. She was eager to persuade him to go with her but met with flat _______.

　　A) disapproval B) rejection C) refusal D) decline

　　62. He has two sons, _____ work as chemists.

　　A) two of whom B) both of whom C) both of which D) all of whom

　　63. When you buy the spare parts for your car, try to get the _______ ones from the authorized dealer.

　　A) genuine B) generous C) genius D) gentle

　　64. Great Britain and France will hold a _______ regarding some European economic problems.

　　A) conference B) reference C) conversion D) cooperation

　　65. They ______ in writing a book on radioactive substance.

　　A) cooperated B) collaborated C) collapsed D) operated

　　66. A man makes ______ for his old age by putting aside enough money to live on when he is old.

　　A) foundation B) discipline C) deposit D) provision

　　67. It is free for the ________ citizens to visit the museums in this city.

　　A) senior B) resemble C) guilty D) gravity

　　68. The _______ of the population in this city has become a heavy burden for the local government.

　　A) frame B) density C) average D) extend

　　69. Our teacher has a _______ against popular music.

　　A) interruption B) doubt C) prejudice D) presume

　　70. Crude ores are mined and shipped overseas or _______ long distances by land to refineries and mills.

　　A) transported B) transformed C) transferred D) transmitted

　　Part IV Translation

　　Directions: The five sentences below are chosen from the Reading Comprehension. Translate these sentences into Chinese according to the texts.

　　1. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what these energy cycles mean, and which cycle each member of the family has.

　　2. Responsible public health officials have pointed out that the biological effects of chemicals are cumulative over long periods of time, and that the danger to the individual may depend on the sum of the exposures received throughout his lifetime.

　　3. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.

　　4. Thus many are convinced their dreams are prophetic(预言的)because a few have come true; they neglect of fail to notice the many that have not.

　　5. A majority of people thinks they are more intelligent, more fair-minded and more skilled behind the wheel of an automobile than the average person.

　　Part V Writing (30 minutes)

　　Directions: The summer vacation is drawing near. You want to find a part-time job. Write an application letter of about 120-150 words within 30 minutes. You may use the following outline in Chinese.

　　Outline：1.介绍自己的情况和求职目标;

　　2.介绍自己的资历;

　　3.争取面试机会并表示感谢。