歷年專四閱讀題目真題匯總

歷年專四閱讀題匯總1996年[25MIN]TEXTAInthepastthirtyyearsmanysocialchangesbaretakenplaceinBritain.Thegreatestofthesehaveprobablybeenintheeconomiclivesofwomen.Thechangeshavebeensignificant,butbecausetraditionandprejudicecanstillhandicapwomenintheirworkingcareersandpersonallives,majorlegislationtohelppromoteequalityofopportunityandpaywaspassedduringthe1970s.Attheheartofwomen'schangedroleinsocietyhasbeentheriseinthenumberofwomenatwork,particularlymarriedwomen.Astechnologyandsocietypermithighlyeffectiveandgenerallyacceptablemethodsoffamilyplanningtherehasbeenadeclineinfamilysize.Womenasaresultareinvolvedinchild-rearingforamuchshortertimeandrelatedtothis,therehasbeenarapidincreaseinthenumberofwomenwithyoungchildrenwhoreturntoworkwhenthechildrenareoldenoughnottoneedconstantcareandattention.Since1951theproportionofmarriedwomenwhoworkhasgrownfromjustoverafifthtoahaft.ComparedwiththeircounterpartselsewhereontheContinent,Britishwomencomprisearelativelyhighproportionoftheworkforce,abouttwo-fifths,butonaveragetheyworkfewerhours,about31aweekThereisstillasignificantdifferencebetweenwomen'saverageearningsandmen's,buttheequalpaylegislationwhichcameintoforceattheendof1975appearstohavehelpedtonarrowthegapbetweenwomen'sandmen'sbasicrates.Asmoreandmorewomenjoinedtheworkforceinthe1960sandearly1970stherewasanincreaseinthecollectiveincomesofwomenasawholeandamajorchangeintheeconomicroleoflargenumbersofhousewives.Familieshavecometorelyonmarriedwomen'searningsasanessentialpartoftheirincomeratherthanas"pocketmoney".Atthesametimesocialroleswithinthefamilyaremorelikelytobeshared,exchangedoraltered.Thegeneralideaofthepassageisabout__socialtrendsincontemporaryBritainchangesinwomen'seconomicstaresequalopportunityandpayinBritain]women'sroleswithinthefamilyAccordingtotheauthor,anincreasingnumberofmarriedwomenareabletoworkbecause__theirchildrennolongerrequiretheircaretherearemorejobsavailablenowadaystechnologyhasenabledthemtofindacceptablejobstheyspendfarlesstimeonchildcarethanbefore.TEXTBNATURE'SGIGANTICSNOWPLOUGHOnJanuary10,1962,anenormouspieceofglacierbrokeawayandtumbleddownthesideofamountaininPeru.Ameresevenminuteslater,whencascadingicefinallycametoastoptenmilesdownthemountain,ithadtakenthelivesof4,000people.Thisdisasterisoneofthemostdevastatingexamplesofaverycommonevent:anavalancheofsnoworice.Becauseitisextremelycoldatveryhighaltitudes,snowrarelymelts.Itjustkeepspilinguphigherandhigher.Glaciersareeventuallycreatedwhentheweightofthesnowissogreatthatthelowerlayersarepressedintosolidice.Butmostavalanchesoccurlong

beforethishappens.Assnowaccumulatesonasteepslope,itreachesacriticalpointatwhichtheslightestvibrationwillsenditslidingintothevalleybelow.Evenanavalancheoflightpowercanbedangerous,butthePeruviancatastrophewasparticularlyterriblebecauseitwascausedbyaheavylayerofice.Itisestimatedthattheicethatbrokeoffweighedthreemilliontons.Asitcrasheddownthesteepmountainsidelikeagiganticsnowplough,itsweptuptrees,bouldersandtonsoftopsoil,andcompletelycrushedanddestroyedthesixvillagesthatlayinitspath.Atpresentthereisnowaytopredictoravoidsuchenormousavalanches,but,lucidly,theyareveryrare.Scientistsareconstantlystudyingthesmaller,morecommonavalanches,totrytounderstandwhatcausesthem.Inthefuture,perhapsdangerousmassesofsnowandicecanbefoundandremovedbeforetheytakehumanlives.[B]dramaticdescription[D]vividwordpicturespectacularyinteresting[D]unpleasantPeru[D]mountainsThefirstparagraphcatchesthe[B]dramaticdescription[D]vividwordpicturespectacularyinteresting[D]unpleasantPeru[D]mountains[A]first-handreport[C]talltaleInthispassagedevastatingmeans[A]violentlyruinous[C]stunningThepassageismostlyabout__[A]avalanches[B]glaciersTEXTCIwasborninTuckahoe,TalbotCounty,Maryland.Ihavenoaccurateknowledgeofmyage,neverhavingseenanyauthenticrecordcontainingit.Byfarthelargerpartoftheslavesknowaslittleoftheirageashorsesknowoftheir,anditisthewishofmostmasterswithinmyknowledgetokeeptheirslavesthusignorant.Idonotrememberhavingevermetaslavewhocouldtellofhisbirthday.Theyseldomcomenearertoitthanplanting-time,harvesting,springtime,orfalltime.Alackofinformationconcerningmyownwasasourceofunhappinesstomeevenduringchildhood.Thewhitechildrencouldtelltheirages,IcouldnottellwhyIoughttobedeprivedofthesameprivilege.Iwasnotallowedtomakeanyinquiresofmymasterconcerningit.Heconsideredallsuchinquiriesonthepartofaslaveimproperandimpertinent.ThenearestestimateIcangivemakesmenowbetweentwenty-sevenandtwenty-eightyearsofage.Icometothis,fromheatingmymastersay,sometimeduring1835,Iwasaboutseventeenyearsold.MymotherwasnamedHarrietBailey.ShewasthedaughterofIssacandBetseyBailey,bothcolored,andquitedark.Mymotherwasofadarkercomplexionthaneithermygrandmotherorgrandfather.Myfatherwasawhiteman.HewasadmittedtobesuchbyallIeverheardspeakofmyparentage.Theopinionwasalsowhisperedthatmymaserwasmyfather,butofthecorrectnessofthisopinion,Iknownothing;themeansofknowingwaswithheldfromme.MymotherandIwereseparatedwhenIwasaninfantbeforeIknewherasmymother.Itisacommoncustom,inthepartofMarylandfromwhichIranaway,topartchildrenfromtheirmothersataveryearlyage.Frequently,beforethechildhasreacheditstwelfthmonth,itsmotheristakenfromit,andhiredoutonsomefaintaconsiderabledistanceoff,andthechildisplacedunderthecareofanolderwoman,toooldforfieldlabor.Forwhatthisseparationisdone,Idonotknow,unlessitbetohinderthedevelopmentofthechild'saffectiontowardsitsmother.Theauthordidnotknowexactlywhenhewasbornbecause__hedidnotknowwhohismotherwastherewasnowrittenevidenceofithismasterdidnottellhisfathernobodyonhisfarmknewanythingaboutit72.Inthemid-nineteenthcentury,slavesoftenmarkedtheirbirthdaysbytheseasondidnotreallycarehowoldtheywereforgottheexacttimewhentheywerebornpretendednottoknoweachother'sbirthdays73.Theauthor'smothertoldhim[A]hisfatherwasblack[B]hisfatherwaswhite[C]nothingabouthisfather[D]hismasterwashisfatherAccordingtothepassage,whentheauthorwasveryyounghismother[A]runaway[B]waslightskinned[C]hadseveralchildren[D]wassenttoworkelsewhereTheauthorbadnotspentmuchtimewithhis[A]mother[B]master[C]grandfather[D]grandmotherTheauthorwasmostprobablyraised[A]byhisgrandparents[B]byanoldwomanslave[D]togetherwithotherchildren[C]withhismaster'ssupportTEXTDPLEASERECYCLETHATBOBSLEDRUN（大雪橇滑道）Forthe1992WinterGames,Frenchorganizersconstructedanewmotorway,parkinglotsandrunsforskiingintheAlps.Environmentalistsscreamed"Disaster!".Thuswarned,theNorwegianshaveadopted"green"adviceandavoidedgreatblotsonthelandscape.Thespeed-skatingwasbuilttolooklikeanoverturnedship,andplacedsoasnottodisturbabirdsanctuary.Dugintoamountainside,thehockeyarenaiswellconcealedandenergyefficient.Thebobsledrunisbuiltoutofwoodnotmetalandhiddenamongtrees.NowonderthepresidentoftheInternationalOlympicCommitteehascalledthesethefirst"GreenGames".Lillehammer'sopeningceremoniesfeaturedagiantOlympicTorchburningbiogasproducedbyrottingvegetation.Duringconstruction,builderswerethreatenedwith$7,500finesforfellingtreesunnecessarily.Ratetreeswerecarefullytransplantedfromhillsides.Foodisbeingservedonpotato-basedplatesthatwillbefed,inturn,topigs.Smokinghasbeenbannedoutdoorsaswellasin,withenforcementbypoliterequests.Environmentalistshavedeclaredpartialvictory,thoughCoca-Cola'splantodecoratethetownwithBannershasbeenscaledback,therearestilltoomanybillboardsforstrictgreentastes.Perhaps,butaftertheGames,athletehousingwillbeconvertedintovacationhomeorshippedtothenorthlandsforstudentdormitories.Bulletswillbepluckedfrombiathlontargetsandrecycledtokeeptheleadfrompoisoninggroundwater.Andthesetrickswon'tbeforgotten.Embarrassedbyenvironmentalprotests,theI.O.C.claimsthatgreenawarenessisnowentrenched-alongwithsportandculture-asapermanentdimensionoftheOlympicCharter.Indeed,Sydneywassuccessfulinbecominghostforthe2000SummerGamesinpartonthestrengthofitsendorsementfromGreenpeace.Aspiringhostcitiesarepickingupthecode.SaltLakeCity,biddingforthe2002Games,mayopttousethebobsledrunthatCalgarybuiltforthe88Games.Afterthat,whocoulddenythatrecyclingisanOlympicmovement?Whichofthefollowingcountrieshasnotpaidenoughattentiontothe"green"issues?[A]Norway.[B]France.[C]Arnica.[D]Australia.InwhichareadidtheenvironmentalistsfailinLillehammer?[A]Energy.[B]Smoking.[B]Housing.[D]Advertising.WhichofthefollowingdescribestheI.O.C.'sattitudetowardstheenvironmentalists'protests?[A]Tryingtocommitthemselves.[B]Showingindifferenceandcontempt.[C]Arguingforpracticaldifficulties.[D]Negotiatingforgradualchanges.The2002Gamesmightbeheldin__[A]Oslo[B]Calgary[C]Sydney[D]SaltLakeCity1997年[25MIN]TEXTAUniversityteachingintheUnitedKingdomisverydifferentatbothundergraduateandgraduatelevelsfromthatofmanyoverseascountries.Anundergraduatecourseconsistsofaseriesoflectures,seminarsandtutorialsand,inscienceandengineering,laboratoryclasses,whichintotalaccountsforabout15hoursperweek.Artsstudentsmaywellfindthattheirofficialcontactwithteachersislessthanthisaverage,whilescienceandengineeringstudentsmayexpecttobetimetabledforupto20hoursperweek.Studentsstudyingforaparticulardegreewilltakeaseriesoflecturecourseswhichruninparallelatafixedtimeineachweekandmaylastoneacademictermorthewholeyear.Associatedwitheachlecturecourseareseminars,tutorialsandlaboratoryclasseswhichdrawupon,analyze,illustrateoramplifythetopicspresentedinthelectures.Lectureclassescanvaryinsizefrom20to200althoughlargersizelecturestendtodecreaseasstudentsprogressintothesecondandthirdyearandmoreoptionsbecomeavailable.Seminarsandtutorialsareonthewholemuchsmallerthanlectureclassesandinsomedepartmentscanbeonaone-to-onebasis(thatisonememberofstafftoonestudent).Studentsarenormallyexpectedtoprepareworkinadvanceforseminarsandtutorialsandthiscantaketheformofresearchingatopicfordiscussion,bywritingessaysorbysolvingproblems.Lectures,seminarsandtutorialsareallonehourinlength,whilelaboratoryclassesusuallylasteither2or3hours.Muchemphasisisputonhowtospendasmuchtimeifnotmorestudyingbythemselvesasbeingtaught.IntheUKitisstillcommonforpeopletosaythattheyare"reading"foradegree!Eachstudenthasatutorwhomtheycanconsultonanymatterwhetheracademicorpersonal.Althoughthetutorwillhelp,motivationforstudyisexpectedtocomefromthestudent.Accordingtothepassage,scienceandengineeringcoursesseemtobemore__thanartscourses.[A]motivating[B]varied[C]demanding[D]interestingWhichofthefollowingisthelengthoflecturesorseminarsortutorials?[A]1hour.[B]2hours.[C]3hours.[D]15hours.InBritishuniversitiesteachingandlearningarecarriedonin__[A]avarietyofways[B]laboratoryclasses[C]seminarssandtutorials[D]lecturesandtutorialsTEXTBWhosaidtheonlywaytolearnaboutacountryyoucan'tvisitisbyreadingabook?DanEckberg'stelevisionstudentsatHopkinsHighSchoolknowbetter.They'reseeingcountriesandlearningaboutcultureswiththeaidofelectroniccommunications.Usingcomputers,satellitehookups,andtelephonehotlines,Eckberg'sstudentshavealreadyfollowedateamofcyclists11,500milesacrossthecontinentofAfrica,satonatopMountKillmanjaro,andswelteredIntheSaharaDesert.Thiswinterthey'11interactwithanexpeditionexploringCentralAmericainsearchoftheclassicMayaculture.Youcanjointhem.How?.ByfollowingEckbergandhisclassastheytracktheadventuresofDanandSteveBuettner,twoworld-classbicyclistsfromtheU.S..Startinglastmonththesetwobicyclists,joinedbyarchaeologistsandatechnicalsupportteam,areinteractingwithstudentsviatheInternet,theworldwidecomputernetwork.Fromclassroomorhomecomputer,studentscanmakeresearchproposalstotheBuettnersorthearchaeologistsatthevariousCentralAmericanlocationsthey'vebeenexploringaspartoftheirMayaQuestexpedition."Wehopethatsomeonewillaskaquestionthatcan'treadilybeanswered,"saysHopkinsHighSchoolstudentBarryAnderson,"andthroughtheonlineactivities,ananswerwillbefound--adiscovery!"Havingstudents"discover"whyacivilizationasadvancedastheMayacollapsedinthe9thcenturyisonekeygoalfortheleadersoftheMayaQuestexpedition.Themoreimportantgoalisusinginteractivelearningtodiscoverthecauseofthedeclineandcompareittoissueswefacetoday--naturaldisasters,environmentalproblems,andwar.Tenlessonplans--ontopicsrangingfromtheMayalanguagetotheMayacreationmyth---havebeendevelopedfortheinteractiveexpedition."Throughacombinationoflivecall--intelevisionandtheInternet,saysEckberg,"we'rehopingtobuildexcitementandengagementinlearninginourschool."DanEckbergandhisstudentslearnaboutAfricaby__[A]readingbooks[B]watchingvideotapes[C]interactingviatheInternet[D]cycling11,500milesWhichofthefollowingactivitiesisNOTinvolvedinDanEckbergandIrisstudents'expedition?GoingtovisitvariousCentralAmericanlocations.Gettinginformationthroughelectroniccommunications.DiscussingdifferenttopicsontheMayacivilization.Formingresearchproposalsanddiscoveringtheanswers.TEXTCMostearthquakesoccurwithintheupper15milesoftheearth'ssurface.Butearthquakescananddooccuratalldepthstoabout460miles.Theirnumberdecreasesasthedepthincreases.Atabout460milesoneearthquakeoccursonlyeveryfewyears.Nearthesurfaceearthquakesmayrunashighas100inamonth,buttheyearlyaveragedoesnotvarymuch.Incomparisonwiththetotalnumberofearthquakeseachyear,thenumberofdisastrousearthquakesisverysmall.Theextentofthedisasterinanearthquakedependsonmanyfactors.IfyoucarefullybuildatoyhousewithanErectorset,itwillstillstandnomatterhowmuchyoushakethetable.Butifyoubuildatoyhousewithapackofcards,aslightshakeofthetablewillmakeitfall.AnearthquakeinAgadir,Morocco,wasnotstrongenoughtoberecordedondistantinstruments,but

itcompletelydestroyedthecity.Manystrongerearthquakeshavedonecomparativelylittledamage.Ifabuildingiswellconstructedandbuiltonsolidground,itwillresistanearthquake.Mostdeathsinearthquakeshavebeenduetofaultybuildingconstructionorpoorbuildingsites.Athirdandveryseriousfactorispanic.Whenpeoplerushoutintonarrowstreets,moredeathswillresult.TheUnitedNationshasplayedanimportantpartinreducingthedamagedonebyearthquakes.Ithassentateamofexpertstoallcountriesknowntobeaffectedbyearthquakes.Workingwithlocalgeologistsandengineers,theexpertshavestudiedthenatureofthegroundandthetypeofmostpracticalbuildingcodeforthelocalarea.Iffollowed,thesesuggestionswillmakedisastrousearthquakesalmostathingofthepast.Thereisonetypeofearthquakedisasterthatlittlecanbedoneabout.Thisisthedisastercausedbyseismicseawaves,ortsunamis.(Theseareoftencalledtidalwaves,butthenameisincorrect.Theyhavenothingtodowithtides.)Incertainareas,earthquakestakeplacebeneaththesea.Thesesubmarineearthquakessometimesgiverisetoseismicseawaves.Thewavesarenotnoticeableoutatseabecauseoftheirlongwavelength.Butwhentheyrollintoharbors,theypileupintowallsofwater6to60feethigh.TheJapanesecallthem"tsunamis",meaning"harborwaves",becausetheyreachasizableheightonlyinharbors.Tsunamistravelfairlyslowly,atspeedsupto500milesanhour.Anadequatewarningsystemisinusetowarnallshoreslikelytobereachedbythewaves.Butthisonlyenablespeopletoleavethethreatenedshoresforhigherground.Thereisnowaytostoptheoncomingwave.WhichofthefollowingCANNOTbeconcludedfromthepassage?Thenumberofearthquakesiscloselyrelatedtodepth.Roughlythesamenumberofearthquakesoccureachyear.Earthquakesareimpossibleatdepthsover460miles.Earthquakesaremostlikelytooccurnearthesurface.[B]anearthquake'sstrength

[D]ineffectiveinstrumentsThedestructionofAgadirisanexample[B]anearthquake'sstrength

[D]ineffectiveinstruments[A]faultybuildingconstruction[C]widespreadpanicinearthquakesTheUnitedNations'expertsaresupposedto__[A]constructstrongbuildings[B]putforwardproposals[C]detectdisastrousearthquakes[D]monitorearthquakesThesignificanceoftheslowspeedoftsunamisisthatpeoplemay__[A]noticethemoutatsea[B]findwaystostopthem[C]bewarnedearlyenough[D]developwarningsystemTEXTDOneofthegoodthingsformeninwomen'sliberationisthatmennolongerhavetopaywomentheold-fashionedcourtesies.Inanarticleonthenewmanners,Ms.Holmessaysthataperfectlyablewomannolongerhastoacthelplesslyinpublicasifshewereamodel.Forexample,shedoesn'tneedhelpgettinginandoutofcars."Womengetinandoutofcarstwentytimesadaywithbabiesanddogs.Surelytheycangetoutbythemselvesatnightjustaseasily."Shealsosaysthereisnoreasonwhyamanshouldwalkontheoutsideofawomanonthesidewalk."Historically,themanwalkedontheinsidesohecaughtthegarbagethrownoutofawindow.Todayamanissupposedtowalkontheoutside.Amanshouldwalkwherehewantsto.Soshouldawoman.If,outofloveandrespect,heactuallywantstotaketheblows,heshouldwalkontheinside-becausethat'swhereattackersareallhidingthesedays."Asfarasmannersareconcerned,IsupposeIhavealwaysasupporterofwomen'sliberation.Overtheyears,outofasenseofrespect,Iimagine,Ihaverefusedtotroublewomenwithoutdatedcourtesies.Itisusuallyeasiertofollowrulesofsocialbehaviorthantodependonone'sowntaste.Butrulesmaybesafelybroken,ofcourse,bythoseofuswiththegiftofnaturalgrace.Forexample,whenamanandawomanareledtotheirtableinarestaurantandthewaiterpullsoutachair,thewomanisexpectedtositinthechair.ThatisaccordingtoMs.AnnClark.Ihavealwaysdoneittheotherway,accordingtomywife.Itcameuponlytheothernight.Ifollowedthehostesstothetable,andwhenshepulledthechairoutIsatonit,quitenaturally,sinceithappenedtobethechairIwantedtositin."Well",mywifesaid,whenthehostesshadgone,"youdiditagain.""Didwhat?"Iasked,utterlyconfused."Tookthechair."Actually,sinceI'dwalkedthroughtherestaurantaheadofmywife,itwouldhavebeenawkward,Ishouldthink,nottohavetakenthechair.Ibadgottherefirst,afterall.Also,ithasalwaysbeenmycustomtogetinacarfirst,andletthewomangetinbyherself.ThisisacourtesyIinsistonasthestrongersex,outofloveandrespect.Intimeslikethese,theremightbeattackershiddenabout.Iwouldbeunsuitabletoputawomaninacarandthenshutthedooronher,leavingheratthemercyofsomebadfellowwhomightbehidinginthebackseat.Itcanbeconcludedfromthepassagethat__menshouldwalkontheinsideofasidewalkwomenarebecomingmorecapablethanbeforeinwomen'sliberationmenarealsoliberatedit'ssafetobreakrolesofsocialbehaviorTheauthorwas"utterlyconfused"becausehe[A]tookthechairoutofhabit[B]wastryingtobepolite[C]wasslowinunderstanding[D]hadforgottenwhathedidHe"tookthechair"forallthefollowingreasonsEXCEPTthat__[A]hegotothechairfirst[B]hehappenedtoliketheseat[C]hiswifeorderedhimtodoso[D]he'dwalkedaheadofhiswifeTheauthoralwaysgetsinacarbeforeawomanbecausehe__[A]wantstoprotecther[B]doesn'tneedtohelpher[C]choosestobeimpolitetoher[D]fearsattacksonhimTheauthoris__aboutthewholequestionofmannersandwomen'sliberation.[A]joking[B]satirical[C]serious[D]criticalWhichofthefollowingbeststatesthemainideaofthepassage?Mannersoughttobethrownawayaltogether.Inmannersoneshouldfollowhisownjudgement.Womennolongerneedtobehelpedinpublic.Menarenotexpectedtobecourteoustowomen.1998年SECTIONAREADINGCOMPREHENSION[25MIN]TEXTAPeoplehavebeenpaintingpicturesforatleast30,000years.Theearliestpictureswerepaintedbypeoplewhohuntedanimals.Theyusedtopaintpicturesoftheanimalstheywantedtocatchandkill.PicturesofthiskindhavebeenfoundonthewallsofcavesinFranceandSpain.Nooneknowswhytheywerepaintedthere.Perhapsthepainterthoughtthattheirpictureswouldhelpthemtocatchtheseanimals.Orperhapshumanbeingshavealwayswantedtotellstoriesinpictures.About5,000yearsagotheEgyptiansandotherpeopleintheNearEastbegantousepicturesasakindofwriting.Theydrewsimplepicturesorsignstorepresentthingsandideas,andalsotorepresentthesoundsoftheirlanguage.Thesignsthesepeopleusedbecameakindofalphabet.TheEgyptiansusedtorecordinformationandtotellstoriesbyputtingpicture-writingandpicturestogether.Whenanimportantpersondied,scenesandstoriesfromhislifewerepaintedandcarvedonthewallsoftheplacewherehewasburied.Someofthesepicturesarelikemodemcomic-strip（連環(huán)漫畫）stories.IthasbeensaidthatEgyptisthehomeofthecomicstrip.But,fortheEgyptians,picturesstillhadmagicpower.Sotheydidnottrytomaketheirwayofwritingsimple.Theordinarypeoplecouldnotunderstandit.Bytheyear1,000BC,peoplewholivedintheareaaroundtheMediterraneanSeabaddevelopedasimplersystemofwriting.Thesignstheyusedwereveryeasytowrite,andtherewerefewerofthemthanintheEgyptiansystem.Thiswasbecauseeachsign,orletter,representedonlyonesoundintheirlanguage.TheGreeksdevelopedthissystemandformedtheletteroftheGreekalphabet.TheRonmanscopiedtheidea,andtheRomanalphabetisnowusedallovertheworld.Thesedays,wecanwritedownastory,orrecordinformation,withoutusingpictures.Butwestillneedpicturesofallkinds,drawings,photographs,signsanddiagrams.Wefindthemeverywhere:inbooksandnewspapers,inthestreet,andonthewallsoftheplaceswhereweliveandwork.Pictureshelpustounderstandandrememberthingsmoreeasily,andtheycanmakeastorymuchmoreinteresting.PicturesofanimalswerepaintedonthewallsofcavesinFranceandSpainbecausethehunterswantedtoseethepicturesthepainterswereanimalloverthepainterswantedtoshowimaginationthepictureswerethoughttobehelpfulTheGreekalphabetwassimplerthantheEgyptiansystemforallthefollowingreasonsEXCEPT[A]theformerwaseasytowrite[B]therewerefewersignsintheformer[C]theformerwaseasytopronounce[D]eachsignstoodforonlyonesoundWhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUE?TheEgyptiansignslaterbecameaparticularalphabet.TheEgyptianslikedtowritecomic-stripstories.TheRomanalphabetwasdevelopedfromtheEgyptianone.TheGreekscopiedtheirwritingsystemfromtheEgyptians.Intheparagraph,theauthorthinksthatpictures__[A]shouldbemadecomprehensible[B]shouldbemadeinteresting[C]areofmuchuseinourlife[D]aredisappearingfromourlifeTEXTBHumanbeingshaveusedtoolsforaverylongtime.Insomepartsoftheworldyoucanstillfindtoolsthatpeopleusedmoretitantwomillionyearsago.Theymadethesetoolsbyhittingonestoneagainstanother.Inthiswaytheybrokeoffpiecesfromoneofthestones.Thesechipsofstonewereusuallysharpononeside.Peopleusedthemforcuttingmeatandskinfromdeadanimalsandalsoformaltingothertoolsoutofwood.Humanbeingsneededtousetoolsbecausetheydidnothavesharpteethlikeothermeat--eatinganimals,suchaslionsandtigers.Toolshelpedpeopletogetfoodmoreeasily.Workingwithtoolsalsohelpedtodevelophumanintelligence.Thehumanbraingrewbigger,andhumanbeingsbegantoinventmoreandmoretoolsandmachines.Thestonechipwasoneoftheflinttoolsthatpeopleused,andperhapsitisthemostimportant.Somescientistssaythatitwasthekeytothesuccessofmankind.Since1960anewkindoftooltinsappeared.Thisisthesiliconchip--alittlechipofsiliconcrystal（硅晶體）.Itissmallerthanafinger-nail,butitcanstoremorethanamillion"bits"ofinformation.Itisanelectronicbrain.Everyyearthesechipsgetcleverer,buttheirsizegetssmaller,andtheircostgetsless.Theyareusedinwatches,calculatorsandintelligentmachinesthatwecanuseinmanyways.Inthefuturewewillnotneedtoworkwithtoolsintheoldway.Machineswilldoeverythingforus.Theywilleventalkandplaygameswithus.Peoplewillhaveplentyofsparetime.Butwhatwilltheydowithit?Humanbeingsusedstonechipsformorethantwomillionyearn,buthumanlifechangedverylittleinthattime.Wehaveusedsiliconchipsforonlyafewyears,butlifeischangingfastereveryday.Whatwilllifebeliketwentyyearsfromnow?Whatwilltheworldbeliketwomillionyearsfromnow?70.Thestonechipisthoughttobethemostimportanttoolbecauseit__[A]wasoneofthefirsttools[B]developedhumancapabilities[C]ledtotheinventionofmachines[D]wascrucialtothedevelopmentofmankindAttheendofthepassagetheauthorseemstosuggestthatlifeinfutureis__[A]disastrous[B]unpredictable[C]exciting[D]colorfulTEXTCAcenturyagointheUnitedStates,whenanindividualbroughtsuitagainstacompany,publicopiniontendedtoprotectthatcompany.Butperhapsthisphenomenonwasmoststrikinginthecaseoftherailroads.Neatlyhaftofallnegligence（過失）casesdecidedthrough1896involvedrailroads.Andtherailroadsusuallywon.Mostofthecaseswerederidedinstatecourts,whentherailroadshadtheclimateofthetimesontheirsides.Governmentsupportedtherailroadindustry;theprogressrailroadsrepresentedwasnottobesloweddownbyrequiringthemoftentopaydamagestothoseunluckyenoughtobehurtworkingforthem.Courtdecisionsalwayswentagainstrailroadworkers.AMr.Farwell,anengineer,losthisrighthandwhenaswitchman'snegligenceranhisengineoffthetrack.Thecourtreasoned,thatsinceFarwellhadtakenthejobofanengineervoluntarilyatgoodpay,hehadacceptedtherisk.Thereforetheaccident,thoughavoidablehadtheswitchmenactedcarefully,wasa"pureaccident".Ineffectarailroadcouldneverbeheldresponsibleforinjurytooneemployeecausedbythemistakeofanother.InonecasewhereaPennsylvaniaRailroadworkerhadstartedafireatawarehouseandthefirehadspreadseveralblocks,causingwidespreaddamage,ajuryfoundthecompanyresponsibleforallthedamage.Butthecourtoverturnedthejury'sdecisionbecauseitarguedthattherailroad'snegligencewastheimmediatecauseofdamageonlytothenearestbuildings.Beyondthemtheconnectionwastooremotetoconsider.Asthecenturywereon,publicsentimentbegantoturnagainsttherailroads--againsttheireconomicandpoliticalpowerandhighfaresaswellasagainsttheircallousness（無情）towardindividuals.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtreeinFarwell'scase?Farwellwasinjuredbecausehenegligentlyranhisengineoffthetrack.Farwellwouldnothavebeeninjuredfftheswitchmanhadbeenmorecareful.Thecourtarguedthatthevictimhadacceptedtherisksincehehadwillinglytakenhisjob.Thecourtdecidedthattherailroadshouldnotbeheldresponsible.Whatmusthavehappenedafterthefirecasewassettledincourt?Therailroadcompensatedforthedamagetotheimmediatebuildings.Therailroadcompensatedforallthedamagebythefire.Therailroadpaidnothingforthedamagedbuilding.Therailroadworkerpaidforthepropertydamagehimself.ThefollowingarousedpublicresentmentEXCEPT[A]politicalpower[B]highfares[C]economicloss[D]indifferenceWhatdoesthepassagemainlydiscuss?[A]RailroadoppressingindividualsintheUS.[B]HistoryoftheUSrailroads.[C]Railroadworkers'workingrights.[D]Lawcasesconcerningtherailroads.TEXTDHawaii'snativeminorityisdemandingagreaterdegreeofsovereigntyoveritsownaffairs.Butmuchofthearchipelago'spoliticalestablishment,whichincludestheWhiteAmericanswhodominateduntilthesecondworldwarandpeopleofJapanese,ChinesemintFilipinoorigin,isopposedtotheidea.TheislandswereannexedbytheUSin1898andsincethenHawaii'snativepeoplehavefaredworsethananyofitsotherethnicgroups.Theymakeupover60percentofthestate'shomeless,sufferhigherlevelsofunemploymentandtheirlifespanisfiveyearslessthantheaverageHawaiians.TheyaretheonlymajorUSnativegroupwithoutsomedegreeofautonomy.ButasovereigntyadvisorycommitteesetupbyHawaii'sfirstnativegovernor,JohnWaihee,hasgiventhenatives'causeamajorboostbyrecommendingthattheHawaiiannativesdecidebythemselveswhethertore-establishasovereignHawaiiannation.However,theHawaiiannativesarenotunitedintheirdemands.Somejustwantgreaterautonomywithinthestate--asenjoyedbymanyAmericanIndiannativesovermatterssuchaseducation.ThisisapositionsupportedbytheOfficeofHawaiianAffairs(OHA),astateagencysetupin1978torepresentthenatives'interestsandwhichhasnowbecomethemoderatefaceofthenativesovereigntymovement.MoreambitiousistheKaLahuigroup,whichdeclareditselfanewnationin1987andwantsfull,officialindependencefromtheUS.ButifHawaiiannativesaregivengreaterautonomy,itisfarfromdearhowmanypeoplethiswillapplyto.Thestateauthoritiesonlycountasnativethosepeoplewithmorethan50percentHawaiianblood.Nativedemandsarenotjustbasedonpoliticalgrievances,though.Theyalsowanttheirclaimon660,000hectaresofHawaiiancrownlandtobeaccepted.Itisonthisissuethatnativegroupsarefacingmostoppositionfromthestateauthorities.In1993,thestategovernmentpaidtheOHAUS$136millioninbackrentonthecrownlandandmanyofficialssaythatbyacceptingthispaymenttheagencyhasgivenupitsclaimstolegallyowntheland.TheOHAhasvigorouslydisputedthis.Hawaii'snativeminorityrefersto[A]Hawaii'sethnicgroups[B]peopleofFilipinoorigin[C]theKaLahuigroup[D]peoplewith50%HawaiianbloodWhichofthefollowingstatementsistreeoftheHawaiiannatives?Sixtypercentofthemarehomelessorunemployed.Theirlifespanis5yearsshorterthanaverageAmericans.Theirlifeisworsethanthatofotherethnicgroup