四级阅读理解真题练习

　There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is, therefore, necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. This was covertly taught to rulers by ancient writers, who related how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable of this semi?animal, semi?human teacher is meant to indicate that a prince must know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other is not durable.?

　　A prince, being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast, must imitate the fox, and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Those that wish to be only lions do not understand this. Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be good ; but

　　as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them. Nor have legitimate grounds ever failed a prince who wished to show colorable excuse for the nonfulfilment of his promise. Of this one could furnish an infinite number of examples, and show how many times peace has been broken, and how many promises rendered worthless, by the faithlessness of princes, and those that have best been able to imitate the fox have succeeded best. But it is necessary to be able to disguise this character well, and to be a great feigner and dissembler, and men are so simple and so ready to obey present necessities, that the one who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.?

　　1.The author of the passage does not believe that ?____.?

　　A) people can protect themselves?

　　B) the truth makes men free?

　　C) leaders have to be consistent?

　　D) princes are human?

　　2.The lion represents those who are ?____?.?

　　A) too trusting B) strong and careful?

　　C) reliant on force D) lacking in intelligence?

　　3.The fox, in this passage, is ?____.

　　A) admired for his trickery B) no match for the lion?

　　C) pitied for his trick D) considered worthless?

　　4.The writer suggests that a successful leader must ?____.?

　　A) be prudent and faithful?

　　B) cheat and lie?

　　C) have principle to guide his actions

　　D) tell the people the truth about his opponent?

　　5.The writer would approve an unsuccessful political candidate ____.

　　A) gave up all his opportunities?

　　B) promised to try again next time?

　　C) overthrew the government by force?

　　D) told the people the truth about his opponent?

　　答案与解析：

　　1.D。

　　本文作者并不认为王子们属于人这一类。本题考察对作者意图的理解。因为作者认为 by law是人类所用的斗争方式;by force是动物采用的斗争方式。而这些王子们只会the method of fighting by force，故D)是正确答案。

　　2.C。

　　狮子代表那些力量型的人。本题考察学生对明喻和隐喻的理解能力。在这篇文章的第二段的开头，在狮子与狐狸之间有一个鲜明的对比，狮子不能躲过陷阱，而狐狸逃脱不了被狼袭击的命运，故我们能看出狮子是靠自己的力量。

　　3.A。

　　在本文中，狐狸的狡猾受到称赞。本题考察对作者的意图的理解能力。第二段的开头，作者也提到了狐狸能躲过陷阱和圈套，故狐狸在这篇文章中因为有计谋而受到称赞。

　　4.B。

　　作者提出，一个成功的领导人必须学会欺骗和说谎。本题为推理判断题，需从上下文的含义中找答案。从这篇文章的第二段的后半部分我们能够推断出 B)乃此题之答 案。因为一个成功的领导人必须具备两手：欺骗与说谎。

　　5.C。

　　作者会赞成一个不成功的政治候选人会用武力推翻政府。本题为推理判断题，需根据作者意图去推断出答案。从这篇文章的主题来看，是文斗或是武斗，对一个落选的政治家来说，文斗已经失败，而只能退而求其次，采取 the struggling method by force也就是要推翻政府，故选C)。

2014年12月20日英语四级真题答案汇总