2011年專業(yè)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)考試真題及答案

2011年專業(yè)英語(yǔ)四級(jí)考試真題及答案TIMELIMIT:135MINPARTⅠDICTATION[15MIN]Listentothefollowingpassage.Altogetherthepassagewillbereadtoyoufourtimes.Duringthefirstreading,whichwillbedoneatnormalspeed,listenandtrytounderstandthemeaning.Forthesecondandthirdreadings,thepassagewillbereadsentencebysentence,orphrasebyphrase,withintervalsof15seconds.Thelastreadingwillbedoneatnormalspeedagainandduringthistimeyoushouldcheckyourwork.Youwillthenbegiven2minutestocheckthroughyourworkoncemore.PleasewritethewholepassageonANSWERSHEETONE.PARTIILISTENINGCOMPREHENSION[20MIN]InSectionsA,BandCyouwillheareverythingONCEONLYListencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.MarkthebestanswertoeachquestiononAnswerSheetTwo.SECTIONACONVERSATIONSInthissectionyouwillhearseveralconversations.Listentotheconversationscarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Questions1to3arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.1.WhichofthestatementsabouttheautoshowisINCORRECT?A.Theshowwillhavemorestandsthisyear.B.Theshowwillhavemorevisitorsthisyear.C.Thenumberofoverseasvisitorswillbethesamethisyear.D.Thenumberofexhibitiondayswillbethesamethisyear.2.Accordingtotheconversation,thepriceforastandwouldinclude_____.A.acatalogueB.aposterC.twodesksD.fourchairs3.Duringtheconversation,themanseemstobemoreinterestedin_____.A.thesizeoftheshowB.thecostofthestandC.thebasicfurnitureD.thevisitornumberQuestions4to7arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.4.WhatisJiminterestedin?A.Investinginthecompany'sproduct.B.Buyinganeweducationalcomputer.C.Joiningthecomputercompany.D.Readingthecampaignplan.5.TheadvertisementswillbeplacedinallthefollowingEXCEPT_____.A.familymagazinesC.morningtelevisionB.SundaynewspapersD.teenagemagazines6.Theadvertisementsareintendedtobeseenby_____.

A.parentsonlyB.childrenonly7.Lindasounds_____aboutthesuccessofthecampaignplan.A.confidentB.hesitantC.uncertainD.delightedC.schoolteachersD.wholefamiliesQuestions8to10arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.8.JohnhasworkedinallthefollowingplacesEXCEPT_____.A.abookshopB.apaperfactoryC.aschoolD.afast-foodrestaurant9.Fromtheconversation,welearnthatJohn_____.A.hasnointerestB.hasonlyoneinterestC.hastwointerestsD.hasquiteafewinterests10.SueGreenseemstobemoreinterestedinJohn'sexperienceof____.A.workinginapaperfactoryB.workinginayouthclubC.lookingafterhisbrotherandsisterD.lookingafterhisyoungfriendsSECTIONBPASSAGESInthissection,youwillhearseveralpassages.Listentothepassagescarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Questions11to13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Attheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.11.Accordingtothepassage,theaverageageofthefleetofDelta/Northwestis_____.A.10yearsB.14yearsC.16yearsD.20years.12.Itcanbelearnedfromthepassagethat_____.A.airjourneysarequiteoftenfarfromcomfortableB.airtravellersusuallyenjoyluxuryduringflightC.airtravellersusuallyenjoyupgradedconditionsD.airlinesalwaysprovidegoodin-flightentertainment13.Olderplanescanstaysafeformorethan25yearsbecauseofthefollowingEXCEPT_____.A.newenginesB.strongmaterialsC.propermaintenanceD.newinteriorQuestions14to17arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Attheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.14.Whichjobwillinvolvesupervisingworkersusingdangerousequipment?A.Assistantsitemanager.C.Assemblysupervisor.B.Carpentersupervisor.D.Automobileservicestationmanager.15.Whowillalsodecideonthepricesofproductsandservices?A.Airlines'flightservicemanager.B.Automobileservicestationmanager.C.Assistantsitemanager.D.Carpentersupervisor.16.Whomayalsodosomeoftheworkhesupervises?A.Assistantsitemanager.B.Airlines'flightservicemanager.2C.Assemblysupervisor.D.Carpentersupervisor.17.Whichjoboffersthehighestsalary?A.Assistantsitemanager.C.Carpentersupervisor.B.Automobileservicestationmanager.D.Airlines'flightservicemanager.Questions18to20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Attheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.18.Wherewerethetwomenfilmed?A.Inthejewelryshop.B.IntheCityMall.C.Nearthelorry.D.Intheparkinglot.19.Witnessessawthetwomen_____.A.leavethelorrytogether.C.runbacktothelorryseparately.hoods.B.leavethelorrywithouthoods.D.runbacktothelorrywithout20.WhichofthefollowingdetailsisCORRECT?A.Thelorrywasoriginallypaintedwhite.B.Thelorryhadnoregistrationplates.C.Theshortermanwasthepassenger.SECTIONCNEWSBROADCASTD.Thetallermanwasthedriver.Inthissection,youwillhearseveralnewsitems.Listentothemcarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Questions21and22arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothenews.21.WhatdidNASA'sConstellationProgrammeoriginallyplantodo?A.Tosetupamooncolonyby2020.B.Tosendastronautsagaintothemoonby2020.C.Tocontinuethecurrentshuttlemissionstill2020.D.TocreatemorejobsforNASAtill2020.22.NASA'sConstellationProgrammewouldbecancelledmainlybecause_____.A.thereweremoreimportantspacemissions.B.thespaceagencylackedfundingfortheprogramme.C.thecurrentshuttlemissionswouldcontinue.D.CongressfailedtopassPresidentObama'sbudget.Questions23and24arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothenews.23.TheRussiancargoshipwassinking.Whatwasthedirectcause?A.Noexplanationoftheproblem.B.Longdistanceawayfromland.C.Slowrescueefforts.D.Severeweather.24.WhichofthefollowingwasNOTmentionedasapossiblemeansofrescue?A.Aircraft.B.Tugboat.C.Nearbycargoship.D.Vesselsattheoilrig.Questions25and26arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,3youwillbegiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothenews.25.WhydidthesingersmeetinHollywood?A.ToraisemoneyforAfricanhumanitarianefforts.B.ToraisemoneyforHaitianearthquakevictims.C.TosinginmemoryofMichaelJackson.D.Tomakearecordingoftheoriginalversionofthesong.26.WhichofthefollowingdetailsaboutthenewsisINCORRECT?A.Theorganizerisoneoftheco-writersofthefirstsongB.Singerswillusethesamerecordingstudioasin1985.C.Therecordingsessionisexpectedtolastlong.D.Starsfromtheoriginalversionwilltakepart.Questions27and28arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothenews.27.Theadditional2billiondollarswillmainlybeusedto_____.A.upgradeitsnetworkcapacityB.improvecustomerservicesC.developnewproductsD.marketmoreiPhones28.WheredoesAT&Tfacedifficultiesinparticular?A.Nationwide.B.Overseas.C.Inlargecities.D.Inremotetowns.Questions29and30arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothenews.29.Whereisthepresenceofsecuritypatrolsmostevident?A.Wherematchestakeplace.C.IndowntownVancouver.B.Whereprotestsmaytakeplace.D.Aroundtheathletes'village.30.Whatisthisnewsitemmainlyabout?A.PoliticalprotestsduringtheOlympics.B.SecurityoperationsduringtheOlympics.C.Olympics'securityforces.D.Securitymeasuresinbuildings.PARTIIICLOZE（20個(gè)空）[15MIN]Decidewhichofthechoicesgivenbelowwouldbestcompletethepassageifinsertedinthecorrespondingblanks.MarkthebestchoiceforeachblankonAnswerSheetTwo."Congratulations,Mr.Cooper.It'sagirl."Fatherhoodisgoingtohaveadifferentmeaningand(31)_____adifferentresponsefromeverymanwhohearsthesewords.Somefeel(32)_____whentheyreceivethenews,(33)_____othersworry,wonderingwhethertheywillbegoodfathers.(34)_____therearesomemenwholikechildrenandmayhavehad(35)experiencewiththem,othersdonotparticularly(36)_____childrenandspendlittletimewiththem.Manyfathersandmothershavebeenplanningandlookingforwardtochildrenforsometime.(37)_____othercouples,pregnancywasanaccidentthatbothhusbandandwifehave(38)_____willinglyorunwillingly.4Whateverthe(39)_____tothebirthofachild,itisobvioustheshiftfromtheroleofhusbandto(40)_____ofafatherisadifficulttask.(41)_____,unfortunately,fewattemptshavebeenmadeto(42)_____fathersinthisresocialization(43)_____.Althoughnumerousbookshavebeenwrittenaboutmothers,(44)_____recentlyhasliteraturefocusedonthe(45)_____ofafather.Itisarguedthatthetransitiontothefather'srole,althoughdifficult,isnot(46)_____asgreatasthetransitionthewifemust(47)_____tothemother'srole.Themother'sroleseemstorequireacomplete(48)_____indailyroutine.(49)_____,thefather'sroleislessdemandingand(50)_____.31.A.bringdownB.bringforthC.bringoffD.bringin32.A.emotional33.A.while34.A.WhenB.sentimentalC.bewilderedD.proudB.whenB.IfC.ifD.asC.AlthoughD.Yet35.A.considerateB.considerableC.consideringD.considered36.A.careaboutB.careofC.carewithD.carefor37.A.ForB.OfC.FromD.Upon38.A.receivedB.takenC.acceptedD.obtainedD.reality39.A.replyB.reactionC.readiness40.A.whatB.this41.A.AsaresultB.ForexampleC.Yet42.A.educateB.cultivateC.informD.convert43.A.stepB.processC.pointC.oneD.thatD.AlsoD.time44.A./B.justC.quiteD.onlyC.careerD.positionC.nearlyD.almost45.A.roleB.work46.A.alittleB.just47.A.takeB.makeC.carryD.accept48.A.transformationB.realizationC.socializationreceptionD.49.A.InadditionB.Aboveall50.A.currentB.immediateC.GenerallyD.HoweverC.presentD.quickPARTIVGRAMMAR&VOCABULARY（30道選擇題）[15MIN]Therearethirtysentencesinthissection.BeneatheachsentencetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Chooseonewordorphrasethatbestcompletesthesentence.MarkyouranswersonAnswerSheetTwo.51.Myuncleisquitewornoutfromyearsofhardwork.Heisnolongertheman_____hewasfifteenyearsago.A.whichB.whomC.whoD.that52.WhichofthefollowingsentencesisaCOMMAND?A.Begyourpardon.B.Haveagoodtime.C.Neverdothatagain!D.Whatnoiseyouaremaking!53.Whichofthefollowingitalicizedphrasesindicatespurpose?5A.Shesaiditforfun,butotherstookherseriously.B.Forallitseffort,theteamdidn'twinthematch.C.Lindahasworkedforthefirmfortwentyyears.D.HesetoutforBeijingyesterday.54.Whenyouhavefinishedwiththebook,don'tforgettoreturnittoTim,_____?A.doyouB.willyouC.don'tyouD.won'tyou55.Inphraseslikefreezingcold,burninghot,orsoakingwet,the-INGparticipleisused_____.A.asacommandB.asaconditionC.forconcessionD.foremphasis56.WhichofthefollowingitalicizedphrasesisINCORRECT?A.Thecityisnowtentimesitsoriginalsize.B.IwishIhadtwotimeshisstrength.C.Theselleraskedfordoubletheusualprice.D.Theycomeherefourtimeseveryyear.57.Itisnotsomuchthelanguage_____theculturalbackgroundthatmakesthebookdifficulttounderstand.A.asB.norC.butD.like58.Whichofthefollowingitalicizedpartsisusedasanobject?A.Whatdoyouthinkhashappenedtoher?B.Whodoyouthinkthevisitingprofessoris?C.Howmuchdoyouthinkheearnseverymonth?D.Howquicklywouldyousayhewouldcome?59.Theadditionalworkwilltake_____weeks.A.theotherB.anothertwoC.othertwoD.themore60.Whichofthefollowingitalicizedpartsisasubjectclause(主語(yǔ)從句)?A.Wearequitecertainthatwewillgetthereintime.B.Hehastofacethefactthattherewillbenopayrisethisyear.C.Shesaidthatshehadseenthemanearlierthatmorning.D.Itissheerluckthattheminersarestillaliveaftertendays.61.It'sgettinglate.I'dratheryou_____now.A.leftB.leaveC.areleavingD.willleave62.Inthesentence"ThemanagerinterviewedJimhimselfinthemorning",theitalicizedwordisusedtomodify_____.A.theobjectphraseB.theverbC.thesubjectD.theprepositional63.Thereisnodoubt_____thecoupledidtherightthingincomingbackhomeearlierthanplanned.A.whetherB.thatC.whyD.when64.ThesentencethatexpressesOFFERis_____.A.I'llgetsomedrinks.What'llyouhave?B.Doessheneedtobookaticketnow?C.MayIknowyourname?D.Canyoureturnthebooknextweek?65.Whichofthefollowingitalicizedphrasesindicatesasubject-predicaterelation(主謂關(guān)系)?A.Mr.Smith'spassporthasbeenissued.6B.Thevisitor'sarrivalwasreportedinthenews.C.John'straveldetailshavenotbeenfinalized.D.Thenewbookstoresellschildren'sstories.66.Ourofficehasrecently_____toanewcomputersystem.A.alteredB.convertedC.transformedD.modified67.Thecrowdwent_____assoonasthesingersteppedontothestage.A.wildB.emotionalC.uncontrolledD.unrestricted68.Ourschoollibraryis_____closedforrepairs.A.ShortlyB.quicklyC.temporarilyD.rapidly69.Johnisuptohisevesinworkatthemoment.Theunderlinedpartmeans_____.A.veryexcitedB.verybusyC.verytiredD.veryefficient70.Victoriabumpedintoherbrotherquitebychanceinthesupermarket.Theunderlinedwordmeans_____.A.riskB.opportunityC.possibilityD.luck71."Lookatthoseprettygirls'skirts"is_____,becauseitisnotclearwhetherthegirlsortheskirtsare"pretty".A.ambiguousB.hiddenC.indirectD.indistinct72.Houserepairs,holidays,schoolfeesandother_____havereducedhisbankbalancetoalmostnothing.A.amountB.paymentC.expensesD.figures73.Itwasreally_____ofyoutoremembermybirthday.A.gratefulB.thoughtfulC.considerableD.generous74.Youcangotoatravelagencyandaskforaholiday_____.A.introductionB.advertisementC.bookD.brochure75.Thecitygovernmentisbuildingmoreroadsto_____.A.accommodateB.receiveC.acceptD.hold76.They'veliftedatwo-year-longeconomic_____onthecountry.A.enclosureB.restrictionC.blockadeD.prohibition77.Everyoneissurprisedthatshehasfallenoutwithherboyfriend.Theunderlinedpartmeans_____.A.leftB.quarreledC.attackedD.defeated78.Hisplaniscarefullypreparedandfullofdetails,soitisavery_____one.A.elaborateB.refinedC.ambitiousD.complex79.Thegirl'svoicewassolowthatwecould______hearher.A.seldomB.almostC.onlyD.barely80.Shemusthavebeenpretty_____tofallforsuchanoldtrick.A.interestedB.gullibleC.enthusiasticD.shrewdPARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION(20道選擇題)[25MIN]Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,eachwithfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswer.MarkyouranswersonAnswerSheetTwo.7TEXTAWehaveacrisisonourhands.Youmeanglobalwarming?Theworldeconomy?No,thedeclineofreading.Peoplearejustnotdoingitanymore,especiallytheyoung.Who'sresponsible?Actually,it'smorelike,Whatisresponsible?TheInternet,ofcourse,andeverythingthatcomeswithit–Facebook,Twitter(微博).Youcanwriteyourownlist.There'sbeenawarningabouttheimminentdeathofliteratecivilizationforalongtime.Inthe20thcentury,firstitwasthemovies,thenradio,thentelevisionthatseemedtospelldoomforthewrittenworld.Nonedid.Readingsurvived;infactitnotonlysurvived,ithasflourished.Theworldismoreliteratethaneverbefore–therearemoreandmorereaders,andmoreandmorebooks.Thefactthatweoftengetourreadingmaterialonlinetodayisnotsomethingweshouldworryover.Theelectronicanddigitalrevolutionofthelasttwodecadeshasarguablyshownthewayforwardforreadingandforwriting.Takethearrivalofe-bookreadersasanexample.DeviceslikeKindlemakereadingmoreconvenientandarealotmoreenvironmentallyfriendlythanthetraditionalpaperbook.Astechnologymakesnewwaysofwritingpossible,newwaysofreadingarepossible.Interconnectivityallowsforthepossibilityofareadingexperiencethatwasbarelyimaginablebefore.Wheretraditionalbookshadtomakedowithphotographsandillustrations,ane-bookcanprovidereaderswithanunlimitednumberoflinks:totexts,pictures,andvideos.Inthefuture,thewaypeoplewritenovels,history,andphilosophywillresemblenothingseeninthepast.Ontheotherhand,thereisthedangeroftrivialization.OneTwittergroupisofferingitsfollowerssingle-sentence-long"digests"ofthegreatnovels.WarandPeaceinasentence?Youmustbejoking.Weshouldfearthefragmentationofreading.Thereisthedangerthatthehigh-speedconnectivityoftheInternetwillreduceourattentionspan-thatwewillbeincapableofreadinganythingoflengthorwhichrequiresdeepconcentration.Insuchafast-changingworld,inwhichrealityseemstoberemadeeachday,weneedtheabilitytofocusandunderstandwhatishappeningtous.Thishasalwaysbeenthefunctionofliteratureandweshouldbecarefulnottoletitdisappear.Oursocietyneedstobeabletoimaginethepossibilityofsomeoneutterlyintunewithmoderntechnologybutabletomakesenseofadynamic,confusingworld.Inthe15thcentury,JohannesGuttenberg'sinventionoftheprintingpressinEuropehadahugeimpactoncivilization.Onceuponatimethephysicalbookwasachallengingthing.Weshouldrememberthisbeforeweassumethattechnologyisouttodestroytraditionalculture.81.Whichofthefollowingparagraphsbrieflyreviewsthehistoricalchallengesforreading?A.ParagraphOne.B.ParagraphTwo.C.ParagraphThree.D.ParagraphFour.82.Thefollowingareallcitedasadvantagesofe-booksEXCEPT_____.A.multimodalcontentB.environmentalfriendlinessD.imaginativedesignC.convenienceforreaders83.Whichofthefollowingcanbestdescribehowtheauthorfeelstoward8single-sentence-longnovels?A.IronicB.Worried.C.Sarcastic.D.Doubtful.84.Accordingtothepassage,peopleneedknowledgeofmoderntechnologyand_____tosurviveinthefast-changingsociety.A.goodjudgmentB.highsensitivityC.goodimaginationD.theabilitytofocus85.Whatisthemainideaofthepassage?A.Technologypushesthewayforwardforreadingandwriting.B.Interconnectivityisafeatureofnewreadingexperience.C.Technologyisanopportunityandachallengefortraditionalreading.D.Technologyoffersagreatervarietyofreadingpractice.TEXTBIknowwhenthesnowmeltsandthefirstrobins(知更鳥)cometocall,whenthelaughterofchildrenreturnstotheparksandplaygrounds,somethingwonderfulisabouttohappen.Springcleaning.I'lladmitspringcleaningisadifficultnotionformodernfamiliestograsp.Today'sbusyfamilieshardlyhavetimetoloadthedishwasher,muchlesscleanthedoormat.AskingthefamilytospendtheweekendcollectingwinterdogpilesfromthemeltingsnowinthebackyardislikeannouncingtherewillbenomoreWi-Fi.Itinterruptsthenaturalorder."Honey,whatsaywespendtheweekendbeatingtherugs,sortingthroughtheboxesinthebasementandpaintingourbedroomanicelemonyyellow?"Isay."CanweatleastwaituntiltheNBAmatchesareover?"myhusbandanswers.ButItellmyfamily,springcleaningcan'twait.ThetemperaturehasrisenjustenoughtomeltsnowbutnotenoughforLittleLeaguepracticetostart.Someflowersarepeekingoutofthethawingground,butthereisnolawntoseed,norgardentotend.Newlywakenedfromourwinter'shibernation(冬眠),yetstillneedingextrablanketsatnight,weopenourwindowstothefirstfreshairfloatingonthebreezeandallofthenaturalworlddemanding"Awakeandbeclean!"Biologistsofferatheoryaboutthisprimalimpulsetocleanouteverydrawerandclosetinthehouseatspring'sfirstlight,whichhastodowithmelatonin,thesleepytimehormone(激素)ourbodiesproducewhenit'sdark.Whenspring'slightcomes,themelatonindiminishes,andsuddenlyweareawakenedtothedusty,virus-filledhousewe'vebeenhibernatinginforfourmonths.Itellmyfamilyaboutthescienceandpsychologyofagoodhealthycleaningatspring'sarrival.Ispeaktothemaboutlife'sgreatestrewardswaitingintheremovalofsoapscumfromthebathtub,whichhasn'tbeenproperlycleanedsincethefirstsnowfall."I'lldoit,"saystheeldestchild,a21-year-oldcollegestudentwholivesathome."Youwill?Wow!"Iexclaim.Maybeafteralltheseyears,he'sfinallygraspedtheconcept.Maybehe'sexpressinghisrightfulpositionaseldestchildandrolemodel.Ormaybehe'sgoingtoFlorida9forabreakinacoupleofweeksandhe'sbeingnicetomewhoisthefinancial-aidofficer.Nomatter.Seeingmyadultsonwillinglycleaningthatdirtybathtubgivesmehopeforthefutureofhis12-year-oldbrotherwho,insteadofworking,isfoundtobesleepingintheseatofthewindowheissupposedtobecleaning."Awakeandbeclean!"Isay.86.Accordingtothepassage,"...springcleaningisadifficultnotionformodernfamiliestograsp"meansthatspringcleaning_____.A.isnolongeraneasypracticetounderstand.B.isnolongerpartofmodernfamilylife.C.requiresmorefamilymemberstobeinvolved.D.callsformorecomplicatedskillsandknowledge.87.WhichofthefollowingisLEASTlikelytobeincludedinfamilyspringcleaning?A.Beatingtherugs.B.Cleaningthewindow.D.Cleaningthebackyard.C.RestoringWi-Fiservices.88.Whydoestheauthorsay“springcleaningcan'twait”?A.Becausetherewillbemoreactivitieswhenitgetswarmer.B.Becausetheairisfresherandthebreezeislighter.C.Becausethewholefamilyisfullofenergyatspringtime.D.Becausethesnowismeltingandthegroundisthawing.89.Whichofthefollowinginterpretationsofthebiologists'theoryaboutmelatoninisINCORRECT?A.Theproductionofmelatonininourbodiesvariesatdifferenttimes.B.Melatoninismorelikelytocausesleepinessinourbodies.C.Thereductionofmelatoninwillcausewakefulnessinourbodies.D.Theamountofmelatoninremainsconstantinourbodies.90.Whichofthefollowingcanbestsumuptheauthor'soverallreactiontoheradultson'spositiveresponsetospringcleaning?A.Surprisedandskeptical.C.Relievedandoptimistic.B.Elatedandhesitant.D.Optimisticandhesitant.TEXTCThesedayslotsofyoungJapanesedoomiai,literally,"meetandlook."Manyofthemdosowillingly.Intoday'sprosperousandincreasinglyconservativeJapan,thetraditionalomiaikekkon,orarrangedmarriage,isthriving.Butthereisadifference.Intheoriginalomiai,theyoungJapanesecouldn'trejectthepartnerchosenbyhisparentsandtheirmiddleman.AfterWorldWarII,manyJapaneseabandonedthearrangedmarriageaspartoftheirrushtoadoptthemoredemocraticwaysoftheirAmericanconquerors.TheWesternren'aikekkon,orlovemarriage,becamepopular;Japanesebeganpickingtheirownmatesbydatingandfallinginlove.ButtheWesternwaywasoftenfoundwantinginanimportantrespect:itdidn'tnecessarilyproduceapartneroftherighteconomic,social,andeducationalqualifications."Today'syoungpeoplearequitecalculating,"saysChiekoAkiyama,10asocialcommentator.Whatseemstobehappeningnowisarepetitionofafamiliarprocessinthecountry'shistory,the"Japanization"ofanadoptedforeignpractice.TheWesternidealofmarryingforloveisaccommodatedinanewomiaiinwhichbothpartiesarefreetorejectthematch."Omiaiisevolvingintoasortofstylizedintroduction,"Mrs.Akiyamasays.ManyyoungJapanesenowdateintheirearlytwenties,butwithnothoughtofmarriage.Whentheyreachtheage-inthemiddletwentiesforwomen,thelatetwentiesformen-theyincreasinglyturntoomiai.Somestudiessuggestthatasmanyas40%ofmarriageseachyearareomiaikekkon.It'shardtobesure,saythosewhostudythematter,becausemanyJapanesecouples,whenpolled,describetheirmarriageasalovematchevenifitwasarranged.Thesedays,doingomiaioftenmeansgoingtoacomputermatchingserviceratherthantoanakodo.Thenakodooftraditionwasanoldwomanwhoknewallthekidsintheneighbourhoodandwentaroundtryingtopairthemoffbyspeakingtotheirparents;asuccessfulmatchwouldbringheraweddinginvitationandagiftofmoney.ButJapanesetodayfindit'slessawkwardtorejectaproposedpartnerifthenakodoisacomputer.Japanhasaboutfivehundredcomputermatchingservices.Somebigcompanies,includingMitsubishi,runonefortheiremployees.Atatypicalcommercialservice,anapplicantpays$80to$125tohavehisorherpersonaldatastoredinthecomputerfortwoyearsand$200orsomoreifamarriageresults.Thestoredinformationincludessome