1993年6月大学英语四级考试阅读附试题和答案_第2页

　　Passage Three
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

When a consumer finds that an item she or he bought is faulty or in some way does not live up to the manufacturer’s claim for it, the first step is to present the warranty (保单), or any other records which might help, at the store of purchase. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction.

A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager. In general, the “higher up” the consumer takes his or her complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled. In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer’s favor, assuming he or she has a just claim.

Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of purchase, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter.

Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly, and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in questions. If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements. For example, “The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear” is better than “This stereo (立体声音响) does not work.”

The store manager may advise the consumer to write to the manufacturer. If so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and as firmly as possible. But if a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result, the consumer can go a step further. She or he can threaten to take the seller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumers’ rights.

31. When a consumer finds that his purchase has a fault in it, the first thing he should do is to ________.
A) complain personally to the manager
B) threaten to take the matter to court
C) write a firm letter of complaint to the store or purchase
D) show some written proof of the purchase to the store（D）

32. If a consumer wants a quick settlement of his problem, it’s better to complain to ________.
A) a shop assistant
B) the store manager
C) the manufacturer
D) a public organization（B）

33. The most effective complaint can be made by ________.
A) showing the faulty item to the manufacturer
B) explaining exactly what is wrong with the item
C) saying firmly that the item of poor quality
D) asking politely to change the item（B）

34. The phrase “live up” (Para. 1, Line 2) in the context means ________.
A) meet the standard of
B) realize the purpose of
C) fulfill the demands of
D) keep the promise of（A）

35. The passage tells us ________.
A) how to settle a consumer’s complaint about a faulty item
B) how to make an effective complaint about a faulty item
C) how to avoid buying a faulty item
D) how to deal with complaints from customers（B）

　　Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

If women are mercilessly exploited (剥削) year after year, they have only themselves to blame. Because they tremble at the thought of being seem in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion. When you come to think of it, only a woman is capable of standing in front of a wardrobe (衣柜) packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.

Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time altering the dresses they have. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; neck-lines are lowered or raised, and so on.

No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with vital things like warmth, comfort and durability (耐用). They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn’t at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or delicately picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.

When comparing men and men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women’s clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers. Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability? That is for you to decide.

36. Designers and big stores always make money ________.
A) by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry
B) because they are capable of predicting new fashions
C) by constantly changing the fashions in women’s clothing
D) because they attach great importance to quality in women’s clothing（C）

37. To the writer, the fact that women alter their old-fashioned dresses is seen as ________.
A) a waste of money
B) a waste of time
C) an expression of taste
D) an expression of creativity（B）

38. The writer would be less critical if fashion designers placed more stress on the ________ of clothing.
A) cost
B) appearance
C) comfort
D) suitability（C）

39. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? ________.
A) New fashions in clothing are created for the commercial exploitation of women.
B) The constant changes in women’s clothing reflect their strength of character.
C) The fashion industry makes an important contribution to society.
D) Fashion designs should not be encouraged since they are only welcomed by women.（A）

40. By saying “the conclusion to be drawn are obvious” (Para. 4, Line 1-2), the writer means that ________.
A) women’s inconstancy in their choice of clothing is often laughed at
B) women are better able to put up with discomfort
C) men are also exploited greatly by fashion designers
D) men are more reasonable in the matter of fashion（D）