大学英语四级阅读文章
不知不觉大学里必考的英语四级即将到来了，对于初次考试的考生难免出现畏惧困难的情绪，为帮助广大考生提升学习效率，以下是小编为大家准备了大学英语四级阅读文章范文，欢迎参阅。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇1
Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television? How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn't been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never fond it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilized pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the goggle box. We rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do anything, providing it doesn't interfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.
Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn't matter that the children will watch rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence so long as they are quiet.
There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in preliterate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.
Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy, we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be s splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilization. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.
1. What is the biggest harm of TV?
[A] It deprives people of communication with the real world.
[B] People become lazy.
[C] People become dependent on second-hand experience.
[D] TV consumes a large part of one's life.
2. In what way can people forget TV?
[A] Far away from civilization.
[B] To a mountain.
[C] By the sea.
[D] In quiet natural surroundings.
3. What does a mother usually do to keep her children quiet?
[A] Let them watch the set.
[B] Put them in the living room.
[C] Let them watch the rubbish.
[D] Let them alone.
4. What does the first sentence in the first paragraph mean?
[A] We found it difficult to occupy our spare time.
[B] We become addicted to TV.
[C] What we used to do is different from now.
[D] We used to enjoy civilized pleasures.
Vocabulary
1. goggle 转动眼珠，瞪眼
goggle box (英俚)电视机
2. gulp 狼吞虎咽
3. telly 电视机
4. pacifier 平息者，抚慰者。这里指平静人，使人不吱声的东西。
5. rubbishy 垃圾的，无价值的
6. sadism 施__虐
7. glue 胶(水);粘牢
glue to the sets 和电视机粘在一起，指成了电视迷
8. hypnotic 催眠的
难句译注
1. There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world.
【参考译文】世界上可以获得的创造性才能的数量是有限的。
写作方法与文章大意
这是一篇论说“电视有害”的文章。采用对比分析手法。先提出问题，对比过去和现在“过去在业余时间，我们享受文明的欢乐，有各种嗜好，招待朋友，访友，外出娱乐，在家读书听音乐……现在一切受电视支配。匆忙赶回家，狼吞虎咽地吃完饭为的是准时看某个电视节目。只要不干扰节目，吃什么都可以!一块三明治，一杯啤酒就行。看时，谁都不许说话，完全没有了过去的那种悠闲，坐在一起吃晚饭，相互交谈白天的一切。”
然后列出电视种种恶果：整个几代人成了电视迷，连孩子也不能幸免，电视消耗了大量的创造性工作，人们成为以来电视生存的人，被动娱乐，制止我们和真实世界交流。
最后结论：到大自然去，忘掉电视。
答案详解
1. A 它剥夺了人们和真实世界的联系。文章多次提到现在我们不能探亲访友，一家人互不交流，而一旦离开电视就进入了真是世界。B. 人变懒。C. 人们变得依赖二手经验。D. 电视浪费了人生的大量时间。这三项只是危害重具体一个组成部分。
2. D 在安宁的大自然的怀抱中。答案在最后一段最后一句“在安详宁静的大自然环境中，我们很快发现我们对催眠的电视暴君连想都不怎么想!”A. 远离文明。B.去山上。C.在海边。
3. A 叫他们看电视。这在第二段第三句起“电视是一个万能安静器。母亲为使孩子们安静，就把他们放在起居室内，打开电视看。这是现在最权威的一招。至于孩子们看的使垃圾般的商业广告，还是施__虐或暴力片都无关紧要，只要他们安静不闹。”B.把他们搁在起居室。C.让他们看垃圾片。都是其中的具体一部分。D.让他们呆着。没有提到。
4. B 我们都成了电视迷。第一句“是的，可是没有电视之前，我们常干些什么?”这说明人们已经习惯于电视，以来电视，到了没有电视怎么办的境地。不知道没有电视前的情况。第二段“整个几代人越来越迷上了电视，饭不吃，家务不干，不睡觉。”可以说整篇文章都描写了人们对电视迷恋，依赖。第一句话是引言。所以B对。A. 难以消遣。只是人们的一种感受。C.过去和现在不同。是一种对比，并没有点出这句话的真正内涵。D.享受文明欢乐。是过去所作的一个具体例子。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇2
President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement on China’s entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet and Whit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furious over the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord. And when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a renewed effort at negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop.
In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal. A lot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reached. And without the Administration’s goal of a “bullet-proof agreement” that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.
THE HARD PART. Many business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be had. And Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, “we’re not there yet,” according to senior officials.
Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy part. Although Clinton can signal U.S. approval for China’s entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accord. And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelming. Zhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. And Senators Jesse A. Helms (R-N.C.) and Emest F. Hollings (D-S. C.) promised to introduce a bill requiring congressional approval of any deal.
The hidden message from these three textile-state Southerners: Get more protection for the U. S. clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on “cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet financing.
BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what they’ve heard so far isn’t encouraging. Republicans, including Lott, say that “the time just isn’t right” for the deal. Translation: We’re determined to make it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoring human, religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology; and the sale of missile parts to America’s enemies. Beijing’s fierce critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, won’t help, either.
Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear on Apr. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline their Republican allies. With business and the White House still trading charges over who is responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade negotiating legislation in 1997, working together won’t be easy.
And Republicans—with a wink—say that they’ll eventually embrace China’s entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate America. Though not long before they torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege. Business must make this much dear to both its GOP allies and the Whit House: This historic deal is too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling
1. The main idea of this passage is
[A]. The Contradiction between the DemocraticParty and the Republican Party.
[B]. On China’s entry into WTO.
[C]. Clinton was right.
[D]. Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.
2. What does the sentence “Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, Detroit” convey?
[A]. Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.
[B]. The three places overdid criticism.
[C]. They wanted more protection.
[D]. They are in trouble.
3. What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward China’s entry into the WTO?
[A]. Contradictory. [B].Appreciative.
[C]. Disapproving. [D]. Detestful.
4. Who plays the leading part in the deal in America?
[A]. White House . [B]. Republicans.
[C]. The Democratic Party. [D]. Businessmen.
5. It can be inferred from the passage that
[A]. America will make concessions.
[B]. America will hold out for a better WTO
[C]. Clinton has the right to signal U. S. approval for China’s entry.
[D]. Democratic party approve China’s entry into the WTO.
词汇解释：
1. drubbing 痛打
get/take a drabbing 遭人痛打
2. flip-flop=great change suddenly 游说，突然改变，突然反方向。人字拖鞋，趾拖鞋
3. hold out 维持，保持
hold out for sth. 故意拖延达成协议以谋求……
4. horse –trading 精明的讨价还价
5. bullet-proof 防弹的
6. lobby 收买，暗中活动
7. lobbyist 院外活动集团成员
8. partisan 党人，帮派，是党派强硬支持者
9. acrimony 语言/态度的刻薄
10. sell to 说服(某人)接受或采用
11. meddle 干预
12. Capitol Hill 美国国会
13. budge 使稍微移动，改变
14. lucrative 有利可图的，赚钱的
15. block 制止
16. fleet 舰队，船队，车队，机队
17. blanket 覆盖，妨碍扫兴，扑灭
18. Capitulate 投降，停止抵抗
19. fast track 快速行程(轻车熟路)
20. with a wink 眼睛一眨，很快的
21. out on a limb 孤立无援(尤指争论和意见上)
22. renege 违约
23. squabble 争吵
难句解析：
1. President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to sendChinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without anagreement…
[结构分析] send one packing 打发人走。
[参考译文] 克林顿于4月8日决定不达成中国加入世贸组织的协议便打发中国总理朱 容基走人。
2. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported thata deal was in the bag.
[结构简析] in the bag 倒手，囊中之物。
[参考译文] 总统遭到许多报界舆论的抨击，它们曾报道过这桩买卖(入世贸)已是囊中之物。
3. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord.
[参考译文] 朱指责克林顿缺乏达成协议的勇气。
4. the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flo
[参考译文] 普遍认为总统的姿态来了一个一百八十度的转弯。
5. Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal.
[参考译文] 总统故意拖延协议以谋取一笔更好的入世贸组织交易的决定完全正确。
6. And without the Administration’s goal of a “bullet-proof agreement” that business lobbyistscan enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisanacrimony that could harm relations with China for years.
[参考译文] 没有商界院外活动集团成员热情的劝说共和党国会采纳政府目标中的防弹性(保护性)协议，那么整个过程将会以党派之间的尖刻的争吵而结束，这会影响以后多年和中国的关系。
7. the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles.
[参考译文] 美国政府希望(为纺织业)铺平道路，试图使朱在纺织品上让步，结果失败。
8. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit.
[结构简析] 这句句子连接上文而说。
Leave sb. In the lurch 固定用法，义：置某人于困难之中弃之不顾，遗弃某人。完整句型应该是：WallStreet, Hollywood and Detrait are also left in the lurch.
[参考译文] 同样也陷于困境的有华尔街，好莱坞和底特律。
9. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on“cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. automakers to provide fleet financing.
[参考译文] 朱 容基总理不允许开放金融股票市场，坚持对美国电影和音乐作文化方面的限制规定，不让美国汽车商染指投资汽车。
10. Translation. 翻译。这是作者为共和党的“The time isn’t right”做注解/解释。
答案详解：
1. C. 总统是对的。这篇文章摘自Business Weekly. 文章是从商人的角度来看待中国加入WTO，他们希望从谈判中获得更多的利益，而克林顿的同意不同意的目的和他们相符——争取更多利益。这篇就是从四方利益最终趋向一致“同意中国加入世贸”来证明“总统结论正确”的中心思想。
第一段指出Clinton由打发朱总理回国，不同意中国入世到一百八十度大转弯，在电话中愤怒的朱总理表示再次努力协商。内阁和白宫官员意见分歧，商人对失去机会火冒三丈。
第二段点出克林顿故意拖延以谋取更多的利益的决定是正确的——文章的主旨句。商人院外活动集团成员要以“政府完美无缺的协议的目标来说服共和党赞成/接受。以免整个过程以党争而告终。
第三，四段是商业方面的高级官员的代表纷纷却说Clinton“当中国作出许多优惠让步时，美国不在那里。”(意：美国吃亏了现在不要再吃亏了。)克林顿有权签署赞成中国加入世贸组织，可他需要国会批准北京永久性最惠国作为扩大贸易协定的组成部分。再说对国会的干预的诱 惑力相当大：就在朱踏上美国本土时，参议院多数派领袖Trent Lott宣布他对中国是该不该入世持怀疑态度，而参议院Tesse A Helms… 提出一项要求国会批准任何交易的提案。
第五段讲了朱总理的强硬立场。第六段又是共和党的反对声，使民主党内站在北京以便的批评家也无能为力。
最后一段指出：尽管困难重重，这一历史事件太重要了，不能因党争而冒失失去机会的危险。
A. 民主党和共和党的矛盾。两党之争见上文译注，最终还是一致。 B. 论中国加入世贸组织。文章不是论中国加入而是论美国环绕中国入世贸的种种。 D. 商人院外活动集团成员控制国会。这在第五段中提到商人院外活动集团成员阻挠美国国会事先接受最终协议，但不是主题思想。
2. A. 朱总理拒绝了他们的要求。见难句译注9。B. 这三个地方批评过头。 C. 他们要求更多的保护。 D. 他们陷入困境。
3. A. 矛盾。共和党一开始就反对。什么对中国该不该加入世贸组织持怀疑态度。第六段说得更露骨，时间不对。意思是他们想把整个事件看起来好象克林顿屈从于中国，忽视了“中国违反人权，宗教权，劳动权，偷窃核武器技术，把导弹组成部件买给美国的敌人”等事实。最后一段共和党一下子又所他们最终将会接受中国加入世贸组织以表示对整体美国的好感。不管是商人院外活动集团的作用，还是明确指出重开谈判的重要性。这一历史事件太重要绝不能因党争而失去机会。共和党纵然心中不愿，也不得不接受现实。心情是矛盾的。B. 赞赏。C. 不赞成。 D. 厌恶。
4. D. 商界。第一段中就点出：商界领袖对失去这次机会火冒三丈。第二段中提到商界院外活动成员要以实实在在的协议来说服共和党国会，免得以党争告终。第三段明确指出：许多商界院外人士一方面对协议未签定表示失望，另方面又同意，还会更好的条件。各种和商界直接关系的高级官员对克林顿劝说。
第五段：纺织，金融股票，汽车以至电影等都是商界的要求。朱总理拒绝的就是商界要求。
第六段提及商界院外活动的成员制止国会事先接受最终协定。
最后一段又是商界使共和党联盟和白宫懂得此事的重要性。
5. A. 美国将会作出让步，见上面注释。商人是绝对不会放弃中国市场的。
B. 美国会故意拖延以求取得更好的条件。这一点恐怕不会，见上文注释。朱总理的强硬立场，商人的见解。C. 克林顿有签署批准中国入世之权。 D. 民主党赞成中国加入世贸，这两项都是事实。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇3
It’s very interesting to note where the debate about diversity(多样化) is taking place. It is taking place primarily in political circles. Here at the College Fund, we have a lot of contact with top corporate(公司的) leaders; none of them is talking about getting rid of those instruments that produce diversity. In fact, they say that if their companies are to compete in the global village and in the global market place,diversity. In fact, they say that if their companies are to compete in the global village and in the global market place, diversity is an imperative. They also say that the need for talented, skilled Americans means we have to expand the pool of potential employees. And in looking at where birth rates are growing andat where the population is shifting, corporate America understands that expanding the pool means promotingpolicies that help provide skills to more minorities, more women and more immigrants. Corporate leaders know that if that does not occur in our society, they will not have the engineers, the scientists, the lawyers, or the business managers they will need.
Likewise, I don’t hear people in the academy saying.”Let’s go backward. Let’s go back to the good old days, when we had a meritocracy(不拘一格选人才)” (which was never true-we never had a meritocracy, although we’ve come closer to it in the last 30 years.) I recently visited a great little college in New York where the campus has doubled its minority population in the last six years. I talked with an African American who has been a professor there for a long time, and she remembers that when she first joined the community, there were fewer than a handful of minorities on campus. Now, all of us feel the university is betterbecause corporate board rooms or on college campuses.
练习题：
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.The word”imperative”(Line5,Para.1) most probably refers to something _____
A.Superficial
B.remarkable
C.debatable
D.essential
2.Which of the following groups of people still differ in their views on diversity?
A. Minorities.
B. Politicians.
C. Professors.
D. Managers.
3.High corporate leaders seem to be in favor of promoting diversity so as to ______
A. lower the rate of unemployment
B. win equal political rights for minorities
C. be competitive in the world market
D. satisfy the demands of a growing population
4.It can be inferred from the passage that _____
A. meritocracy can never be realized without diversity
B. American political circles will not accept diversity
C. it is unlikely that diversity will occur in the U.S. Media
D. minorities can only enter the fields were no debate is heard about diversity
5.According to the passage diversity can be achieved in American society by ____
A. expanding the pool of potential employees
B. promoting policies that provide skills to employees
C. training more engineers, scientists lawyers and business managers
D. providing education for all regardless of race or sex
1.[D] 词义理解题。本句说到公司要在地球村和全球市场上竞争，多样性是imperative，由前文“没有取消引起多样性的手段”和下文提到的公司对各种各样有技能的美国人的需求可知，多样性对于企业来说应该“必需的”故D正确。
2.[B] 事实细节题。第2段末句指出这种辩论主要存在于政治圈和媒体中，结合上句内容，可知其中的this debate指的就是关于多样性的辩论，故B正确。
3.[C] 事实细节题。由第1段第4句可知，公司高层领导人促进多样化的原因是想要在全球市场上更具竞争力，C与此相符。
4.[A] 推理判断题。第2段中提到有些人认为在没有多样性的过去照样能做到不拘—格选人才，但作者马上which was never true否定此观点，故A正确。第2段只提到多样性的辩论存在于政治圈和媒体，但并不代 表在这两个圈子里不能接受或从未出现多样性，故排除B、C;D说法过于绝对,且在文中找不到依据，也可排除。
5.[D] 推理判断埋。由第1段倒数第2句可知企业expand the pool就意味着向more minorities，more women 和 more immigrants提供技能培训，而expand the pool对应的就是题干中的说的多样性的形成，D中的race 和sex分别对文中minorities和women，故正确。A泛泛而谈，没有说到点子上，不如D具体、准确;B与多样性没有关系，C是利用文中的有关职业的词拼凑而成的干扰项。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇4
There is no denying that students should learn something about how computers work, just as we expect them at least to understand that the internal-combustion engine(内燃机)has something to do with burning fuel, expanding gases and pistons (活塞)being driven. For people should have some basic idea of how the things that they use do what they do. Further, students might be helped by a course that considers the computer’s impact on society. But that is not what is meant by computer literacy. For computer literacy is not a formof literacy (读写能力);it is a trade skill that should not be taught as a liberal art.
Learning how to use a computer and learning how to program one are two distinct activities. A case might be made that the competent citizens of tomorrow should free themselves from their fear of computers. But this is quite different from saying that all ought to know how to program one. Leave that to people who havechosen programming as a career. While programming can be lots of fun, and while our society needs some people who are experts at it, the same is true of auto repair and violin-making.
Learning how to use a computer is not that difficult, and it gets easier all the time as programs become more “user-friendly”. Let us assume that in the future everyone is going to have to know how to use a computer to be a competent citizen. What does the phrase learning to use a computer mean? It sounds like “learning to drive a car", that is, it sounds as if there is some set of definite skills that, once acquired,enable one to use a computer.
In fact, "learning to use a computer" is much more like “learning to play a game”,but learning the rulesof one game may not help you play a second game, whose rules may not be the same. There is no such a thingas teaching someone how to use a computer. One can only teach people to use this or that program and generally that is easily accomplished.
练习题：
Choose correct answers to the question:
1.To be the competent citizens of tomorrow, people should _______.
A. try to lay a solid foundation in computer science
B. be aware of how the things that they use do what they do
C. learn to use a computer by acquiring a certain set of skills
D. understand that programming a computer is more essential than repairing a car
2. In the second paragraph“auto repair”and“violin-making”are mentioned to show that _______ .
A. programming a computer is as interesting as making a violin
B. our society needs experts in different fields
C. violin making requires as much skill as computer programming
D. people who can use a computer don't necessarily have to know computer programming
3. Learning to use a computer is getting easier all the time because _______ .
A. programs are becoming less complicated
B. programs are designed to be convenient to users
C. programming is becoming easier and easier
D. programs are becoming readily available to computer users
4. According to the author,the phrase“learning to use a computer”(Lines3,4,Para.3) means learning _______.
A. a set of rules B. the fundamentals of computer science
C. specific programs D. general principles of programming
5. The author's purpose in writing this passage is _______.
A. to stress the impact of the computer on society
B. to explain the concept of computer literacy
C. to illustrate the requirements for being competent citizens of tomorrow
D. to emphasize that computer programming is an interesting and challenging job
1.[C] 推理判断题。第2段提到未来有能力的人应该从恐惧中解脱出来，第3段则提到学习计算机则就像是“学开车”一样，只要掌握某套技能即可，故可知有能力的人只需要通过掌握技能学习计算机即可，而不必学习编程，故C正确。
2.[D] 词义理解题。在第2段中，作者强调一般人只需学会使用计算机，而不必学会编程，最后指出这与“汽车修理”和“小提琴制作”一样，可见作者提到“汽车修理”(类似一般人使用计算机)和“小提琴创作”(数似于电 脑专业人员编程)还是为了说明上文的观点，故D正确。
3.[B] 事实细节题。第3段首句提到学习使用计算机越来越容易的原因是计算机编程变得更user-friendly, B中的convenient to users与此相符，故正确。
4.[C] 句意理解题。第4段指出教人学习使用计算机就是教人use this or that program，故C与此相符。
5.[B] 主旨大意题。本文围绕学生应如何学习计算机，阐述计算机能力(computer literacy)的概念;它只是一种技能,故B正确。A、C、D均只是利用文中的片言只语拼凑而成的干扰项，不足以概括文章大意。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇5
Like fine food, good writing is something we approach with pleasure and enjoy from the first taste to the last. And good writers, like good cooks, do not suddenly appear full-blown. Quite the opposite, just as the cook has to undergo a particular training, mastering the skills of his trade, the writer must sit at hisdesk and devote long hours to achieving a style in his writing, whatever its purpose is—schoolwork, matters of business, or purely social communication.
You may be sure that the more painstaking the effort, the more effective the writing, and the more rewarding.
There are still some faraway places in the world where you might find a public scribe to do your business or social writing for you, for money. There are a few managers who are lucky enough to have the service ofthat rare kind of secretary who can take care of all sorts of letter writing with no more than a quick note to work from. But for most of us, if there is any writing to be done, we have to do it ourselves.
We have to write school papers, business papers or home papers. We are constantly called on to put words to papers. It would be difficult to count the number of such words, messages, letters, and reports put intomails or delivered by hand, but the daily figures must be extremely large. What is more, everyone who writes expects, or at least hopes whatever he writes will be read, from first word to last, not just thrown into some “letters-to-be-read” files or into a wastepaper basket. This is the reason we bend our efforts toward learning and practicing the skills of interesting, effective writing.
练习题：
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. In this passage, good writing is compared to fine food in that _______.
A. both writers and cooks have to work a long time every day
B. both are essential to life
C. both are writers and cooks can earn a good living
D. both are enjoyable
2. A public "scribe" (Para 2, Line 1) is _____.
A.a secretary who does your business or social writing
B. a machine that does writing for you
C. a public school where writing is taught
D. a person who ears a living by writing for others
3. According to the passage, some managers don't have to do any letter writing because _____.
A. they rely on quick notes C. they have a computer to do it
B. they have excellent secretaries D. they prefer making phone calls
4. According to the author, if your letter is thrown into some "letter-to-be-read" file, ______.
A. it will receive immediate attention
B. it will be dealt with by the secretary
C. it is likely to be neglected
D. it is meant to be delivered soon
40. The purpose of the author in writing this passage is _____.
A. to explain and persuade
B. to comment and criticize
C. to interest and entertain
D. to argue and demonstrate
1.[D] 文章首句提到，如同美味的食物,我们可以从好的作品中获得乐趣和享受，D与之相符，故为答案。
2.[D] 原文第2段首句提到，这种public scribe会帮你写商业文件或社会交流文章，但他们也会收费的，D与之相符A中的secretary应该是不收贵的，故排除;D中的machine与文中的remote places不相符，故也可排除。
3.[B] 文章第2段第2句提到，个别幸运的经理只需写下简便的笔记,其秘书就会写好所有的信件，因此B为答案。
4.[C] 文章第3段倒数第2句的大意是：我们希望自己写的东西能被人从头到尾地读，能不被扔进“letters-to-be read” file,且根据下文的a wastepaper basket可推测这里说的是希望自己写的东西不被忽视，故本题应选C。
5.[A] 由文章的结尾的this is the reason，知道作者有“解释”的目的，同时他说“我们要尽的努力学习和练习有趣、有效地写作的技巧”，可知有persuade(说服)的目的,故选A。
大学英语四级阅读文章篇6
President Arling has put his long awaited economic restructuring program before the Congress. It provides a coordinated program of investment credits, research grants, education reforms, and tax changes designed to make American industry more competitive. This is necessary to reverse the economic slide into unemployment, lack of growth, and trade deficits that have plagued the economy for the past six years.
The most liberal wing of the President's party has called for stronger and more direct action. They want an incomes policy to check inflation while federal financing helps rebuild industry behind a wall of protective tariffs.
The Republicans, however, decry even the modest, graduated tax increases in the President’s program. They want tax cuts and more open market. They say if federal money has to be injected into the economy, let it through defence spending.
Both these alternatives ignore the unique nature of the economic problem before us. It is not simply a matter of markets or financing. The new technology allows vastly increased production for those able to master it. But it also threatens those who fail to adopt it with permanent second-class citizenship in the world economy. If an industry cannot lever itself up to the leading stage of technological advances, then it will not be able to compete effectively. If it cannot do this, no amount of government protectionism or access to foreign markets can keep it profitable for long. Without the profits and experience of technological excellence to reinvest, that industry can only fall still further behind its foreign competitors.
So the crux is the technology and that is where the President’s program focused. The danger is not that a plan will not be passed, it is that the ideologues of right and left will distort the bill with amendments that will blur its focus on technology. The economic restructuring plan should be passed intact. If we fail to restructure our economy now, we may not get a second chance.
1. The focus of the President's program is on
[A] investment.
[B] economy.
[C] technology.
[D] tax.
2. What is the requirement of the most liberal wing of the Democratic-party?
[A] They want a more direct action.
[B] They want an incomes policy to check inflation.
[C] They want to rebuild industry.
[D] They want a wall of protective tariffs.
3. What is the editor's attitude?
[A] support.
[B] distaste.
[C] Disapproval.
[D] Compromise.
4. The danger to the plan lies in
[A] the two parties' objection.
[B] different idea of the two parties about the plan.
[C] its passage.
[D] distortion.
5. The passage is
[A] a review.
[B] a preface.
[C] a advertisement.
[D] an editorial.
Vocabulary
1. reverse 逆转
2. slide 滑坡
3. plague 瘟疫;折磨，困扰
4. tariff 关税
5. decry 谴责，诋毁
6. lever 杠杆;用杠杆撬动
7. crux 症结
8. ideologue 空想家，思想家
9. intact 原封不动的，完整无损的
10. investment credit 投资信贷
11. research grant 研究基金
难句译注
1. This is necessary to reverse the economic slide into unemployment, lack of growth, and trade deficits that have plagued the economy for the past six years.
【参考译文】这对扭转经济滑坡;滑到失业高，增长少和已经困扰经济达6年之久贸易赤字来说是必要的。
写作方法与文章大意
这是一则有关总统向国会提交的经济计划评论。作者采用对比手法来突出其计划之正确性，第一段就讲了计划的涉及面：投资、研究、教育、税收等，目的是制止经济滑坡，提高美国工业竞争力。
第二、三两段叙述了计划遭两方面的反对，总统党内的右翼要求更强硬，更直接的行动，而共和党对即使逐渐稍稍提高一点税收都予以谴责。
第四段提出两者都忽略我们面临经济问题的独特性质。它不是市场或财政问题。掌握新技术的人大量增产，而不能采用新技术的人面临在世界经济中成为二等公民的危险。工业不能达到先进水平，就不能有效地竞争，那么任何保护主义或进入外国市场都不能长期奏效。没有技术优势的经验和利润的再投资，工业经济只能依然落后于外国竞争对手。
最后一段点出总统计划的要点就是工艺技术。作者提出：要求全面通过这一重新建设计划。如果我们不能重建经济，我们可能不会有第二次机会。
答案详解
1. C 工艺技术。最后一段第一句“问题的症结就在于工艺技术，这就是总统计划的要点所在。”第四段：“对掌握新技术的人来说，新技术使他们大大增产，而新技术对不能掌握它的人来说，在世界经济中他们面临沦为永久性的二等公民的危险。如果不能做到这一点，那么任何政府保护主义，进入国际市场都不能有效地竞争。如果不能有技术优势的利润和经验再投资，工业只能进一步落后于国外竞争对手。”这些都说明总统计划的重点再工艺技术。A.投资。D.税收。只是总统计划的涉及面。B.经济。太笼统了。
2. A 更直接行动。第二段“总统的党内几段自由翼要求更强硬、更直接行动。他们要求用收入(税收)政策来制止通货膨胀;联邦财政在关税保护下，帮助重建工业。”B.他们需要制止通货膨胀。C.重建工业。D.保护关税墙。都只是他们要求中的不分内容，不完整。
3. A支持。第四、五段集中了评论者的观点，支持的理由和论点。B.厌恶。C.不赞成。D.调和妥协。
4. D歪曲。最后一段第二句：“其危险不在于计划将不被通过，而在于左和右的思想理论家们用修正案来歪曲提案，使计划要点蒙尘模糊不清，经济重建计划应原封不动地通过。”这是作者的态度，也是他所担心之处。A.两党的反对。B.两党对计划的不同看法。C.它的通过。
5. D 社论。A.评论。社论也是评论的一种，但它是报纸主编所撰，常常是有关国内外大事评论。B.前言。C.广告。
