专家解析大学英语四级考试历年阅读真题试题(九)

　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

　　Just five one-hundredths of an inch thick, light golden in color and with a perfect saddle curl, the Lays potato chip seems an unlikely weapon for global domination. But its maker. Frito-Lay. Thinks otherwise. Potato chips are a snack food for the world, said Salman Amin, the companys head of global marketing. Amin believes there is no corner of the world that can resist the charms of a Frito-Lay potato chip.

　　Frito-Lay is the biggest snack maker in America, owned by PepsiCo. And accounts for over half of the parent companys $3 billion annual profits. But the U.S. snack food market is largely saturated, and to grow, the company has to look overseas.

　　Its strategy rests on two beliefs: first a global product offers economies of scale with which local brands cannot compete. And second, consumers in the 21st century are drawn to global as a concept. Global does not mean products that are consciously identified as American, but ones than consumes-especially young people-see as part of a modem, innovative world in which people are linked across cultures by shared beliefs and tastes. Potato chips are an American invention, but most Chinese, for instance, do not know than Frito-Lay is an American company. Instead, Riskey, the companys research and development head, would hope they associate the brand with the new world of global communications and business.

　　With brand perception a crucial factor, Riskey ordered a redesign of the Frito-Lay logo . The logo, along with the companys long-held marketing image of the irresistibility of its chips, would help facilitate the companys global expansion.

　　The executives acknowledge that they try to swing national eating habits to a food created in America, but they deny that amounts to economic imperialism. Rater, they see Frito-Lay as spreading the benefits of free enterprise across the world. Were making products in those countries, were adapting them to the tastes of those countries, building businesses and employing people and changing lives, said Steve Reinemund, PepsiCos chief executive.

　　21. It is the belief of Frito-Lays head of global marking that ________.

　　A) potato chips can hardly be used as a weapon to dominate the world market

　　B) their company must find new ways to promote domestic sales

　　C) the light golden color enhances the charm of their companys potato chips

　　D) people the world over enjoy eating their companys potato chips

　　22. What do we learn about Frito-Lay from Paragraph 2?

　　A) Its products use to be popular among overseas consumers.

　　B) Its expansion has caused fierce competition in the snack marker.

　　C) It gives half of its annual profits to its parent company.

　　D) It needs to turn to the word market for development.

　　23. One of the assumptions on which Frito-Lay bases its development strategy is that ________.

　　A) consumers worldwide today are attracted by global brands

　　B) local brands cannot compete successfully with American brands

　　C) products suiting Chinese consumers needs bring more profits

　　D) products identified as American will have promising market value

　　24. Why did Riskey have the Frito-Lay logo redesigned?

　　A) To suit changing tastes of young consumers.

　　B) To promote the companys strategy of globalization.

　　C) To change the companys long-held marketing image.

　　D) To compete with other American chip producers.

　　25. Frito-Lays executives claim that the promoting of American food in the international market ________.

　　A) wont affect the eating habits of the local people

　　B) will lead to economic imperialism

　　C) will be in the interest of the local people

　　D) wont spoil the taste of their chips

　　这是一篇介绍某薯片公司海外发展战略的短文。文章开头以新颖的方式引出中心论题：先是对Lay公司出品的薯片本身做以描述，而后自然发出对这种食品能否风行全球的疑问，最后推出厂商代表对此疑问进行反驳，实现一种对比反差效果，使人对该公司印象深刻，同时也引起人们对公司代表因何如此信心十足的探究，为下文详加叙述铺平了道路。

　　第一段透露出几点信息，首先是文章内容范畴限定在薯片，第二是对薯片制造公司的介绍仅限于Lay公司。可见这是一篇商业推广性质的文章，目的是给Lay做广告宣传。第三是该公司的目标是征服全球。

　　为了回应第一段内容所引起的读者们的疑问，第二段马上对Lay公司进行了介绍：百事子公司，美国最大零食企业，百事公司一半以上的年利润由它带来。这最后一种说法具有震撼效果，因为谁都知道百事是做碳酸饮料的企业，很少人能够想到其超过一半的利润竟然是薯片带来的。之后，文章对第一段中关于该企业把目标定在全球市场这一信息做出回应：原因是国内市场饱和，需要开拓海外市场。

　　第三段详细介绍了该公司开拓海外市场的战略思想。共有两点，一是全球产品的经济总量是当地企业无法比拟的，意即该公司的资金量巨大，当地企业无法与其竞争。二是21世纪的消费者们认同一种全球化概念，意即公司可以打全球牌，使消费者认为Lay薯片是一种全球共享的产品。之后文章对这一概念做了详细解释。先是对global做出定义：一个现代的、创新的、超越文化的世界，而后以中国为例，证明人们对全球化概念的认同程度。

　　接下来的一段说到Lay公司的具体行动采用新的公司标示，并称该标示将与难以抗拒的诱惑这一公司形象一起，共同促进其全球策略开展。

　　最后一段，为了不使全球化战略显得过于霸道、势利，否认经济帝国主义的存在，文章搬出公司高管的名言对占领全球市场这一野心进行粉饰：在当地制造，以当地人口味为准改造产品，在当地建立公司，雇用当地人，改变当地人的生活。

　　21. It is the belief of Frito-Lays head of global marking that ________.

　　A) potato chips can hardly be used as a weapon to dominate the world market

　　B) their company must find new ways to promote domestic sales

　　C) the light golden color enhances the charm of their companys potato chips

　　D) people the world over enjoy eating their companys potato chips

　　本题问Frito-Lay公司全球市场总监相信什么。

　　A,马铃薯片很难成为统治世界市场的武器。

　　B,他们公司必须发现更多办法来提升国内销售。

　　C，金黄的颜色使得他们公司的薯片更具魅力。

　　D，全世界的人们喜欢他们公司的薯片。

　　全文中提到全球市场总监的地方只有一处，就是第一段后半部分。而至于他的观点如何，文中有两处可供分析，一是引号内的原话，二是最后一句Amin believes。前面一句话是Potato chips are a snack food for the world，马铃薯片是全世界的零食。后一句是there is no corner of the world that can resist the charms of a Frito-Lay potato chip，第二句是世界上没有哪个角落能够抗拒Lay公司的马铃薯片。

　　从这两句话可以看出，这位总监对公司的薯片能否征服全球市场是持肯定态度的，而四个答案中只有D表达了这个意思。

　　A的说法与总监的想法恰好相反，文中也已经显而易见地指出了这一点：But its maker Frito-Lay thinks otherwise。B的内容来源于第二段，snack food market is largely saturated, and to grow, the company has to look overseas，但这里只是说零食市场在国内已经饱和，需要开拓海外市场以图发展，暗含的意思就是再努力提高国内销售也是徒然，与B的说法相反。C的说法来源于文中对对该公司马铃薯片外形的描述，不过文中没有提到颜色对其魅力的影响，说总监有此想法就更加牵强了。

　　22. What do we learn about Frito-Lay from Paragraph 2?

　　A) Its products used to be popular among overseas consumers.

　　B) Its expansion has caused fierce competition in the snack marker.

　　C) It gives half of its annual profits to its parent company.

　　D) It needs to turn to the world market for development.

　　题目问从第二段我们可以得知Frito-Lay的什么情况。

　　既然已经指明考查的是第二段，我们就可以把全部注意力放在对第二段的理解上。Frito-Lay is the biggest snack maker in America, owned by PepsiCo. And accounts for over half of the parent companys $3 billion annual profits. But the U.S. snack food market is largely saturated, and to grow, the company has to look overseas。第二段只有两句话，也非常好理解，第一句是该公司是美国最大的零食制造商，归百事所有，母公司30亿美元的年利润中有一半多是它贡献的。这里存在的唯一难点是account for这个词组的意义，这个词组有两个含义，一个是构成决定性的或主要的因素，如Bad weather accounted for the long delay，长期的延迟是坏天气导致的;另一个意思是做出解释，提出理由，那么在句中的意思应该是第一个，即这个公司是百事公司一半多利润的决定因素。第二句是美国零食市场已经很大程度上饱和了，为了发展，公司必须瞄准海外市场。

　　A，它的产品过去在海外消费者中非常受欢迎。Used to是过去常如何如何的意思，从文意可知该公司正准备抢占国际市场，说它过去即受到海外消费者的欢迎是无中生有的。

　　B，它的扩张已经引起零食制造商们的激烈竞争。B的推断很可能来自于the U.S. snack food market is largely saturated这句话，因为市场的饱和说明竞争推广销售非常到位，已经把潜在需求发掘殆尽。不过仅从这句话也很难推断出是否发生过激烈竞争，该公司完全可以一头独大，把国内市场发掘完毕。另外expasion一词在第二段更可能指的是海外扩张，而从第二段的信息可知，公司只是在look overseas，还没有真正参与海外竞争。

　　C，它把年利润的一半上交给母公司。从the parent companys $3 billion annual profits这句话中的s可知年利润是指百事的年利润，而half of the parent company中的of则表明这里的一半是指母公司的一半。连起来就是母公司年利润的一半，是说这个公司的利润占到百事总利润的一半多，而不是把自己的一半多上交到百事。

　　D，为了发展，它需要转向世界市场。这个说法是to grow, the company has to look overseas的翻版，完全正确。

　　23. One of the assumptions on which Frito-Lay bases its development strategy is that ________.

　　A) consumers worldwide today are attracted by global brands

　　B) local brands cannot compete successfully with American brands

　　C) products suiting Chinese consumers needs bring more profits

　　D) products identified as American will have promising market value

　　题目的句式较难理解，which引导的是定语从句，如果which前面有介词，则可把介词放入定语从句中与谓语连接起来理解。这个句子可变为Frito-Lay bases its development strategy on one of the assumptions，谓语是base，句意是该公司以某一设想为其发展战略的基础，这一设想是什么。

　　根据第三段的叙述，Lay公司的发展战略基于两个设想，一个是经济总量是当地企业无法比拟的，二是21世纪的消费者们认同一种全球化概念。题支的说法只要符合二者其一就是正确的。

　　A，如今全球的消费者都被全球性品牌吸引。与文中consumers in the 21st century are drawn to global as a concept意义一致，是对的。

　　B，当地品牌与美国品牌竞争不会成功。文中是说全球性品牌可以offers economies of scale with which local brands cannot compete，全球性品牌可以是美国的，但美国品牌不都是全球性的，其中的弱小品牌参与国际竞争不会有多大优势。

　　C，满足中国消费者需求的产品会带来更高的利润。这个题支考查对Potato chips are an American invention, but most Chinese, for instance, do not know that Frito-Lay is an American company一句的理解。这句原文的意思是说大多数中国人不知道Lay是一家美国公司，结合后面的论述可知，文章在这里要表达的意思是中国消费者只会把Lay理解成全球化的品牌加以接受。这里没有提到利润问题，只提到中国人对其产品是接受的，那么相信其利润不会比美国高多少。

　　D，美国产的产品市场价值前景更佳。这个说法与B的说法犯了同样的错误，把美国产品等同于全球化产品。

　　24. Why did Riskey have the Frito-Lay logo redesigned?

　　A) To suit changing tastes of young consumers.

　　B) To promote the companys strategy of globalization.

　　C) To change the companys long-held marketing image.

　　D) To compete with other American chip producers.

　　题目问Riskey为什么要重新设计公司标示。

　　A，为了迎合不断变化的年轻消费者口味。

　　B，为了推广公司的全球化战略。

　　C，为了改变公司保持了很长时间的市场形象。

　　D，为了与其他美国薯片制造商竞争。

　　文章说到改变公司标示一事是在第四段，关键要理解The logo, along with the companys long-held marketing image of the irresistibility of its chips, would help facilitate the companys global expansion这句话。为了更好地理解这个长句，可以去掉中间的状语成分，句子就成了The logo would help facilitate the companys global expansion，意思是标示可以帮助促进公司的全球化扩张。显然，四个答案中B含有这个意思。A和D的描述都是无中生有，C的内容与文章有所关联，与它相关的即是上面去掉的状语成分along with the companys long-held marketing image of the irresistibility of its chips。Along with是与一起的意思，也就是说would help facilitate这个谓语同时也是image的谓语，image公司形象也是促进海外扩张的因素之一，那么image显然是不能变的。

　　25. Frito-Lays executives claim that the promoting of American food in the international market ________.

　　A) wont affect the eating habits of the local people

　　B) will lead to economic imperialism

　　C) will be in the interest of the local people

　　D) wont spoil the taste of their chips

　　题目问Lay公司的高管们宣称美国食品在国际市场的推广如何如何。

　　结合四个答案的意义，可以判断出本题是在考查对最后一段的理解。最后一段旨在解释全球化战略不会带来经济霸权，而是为了spreading the benefits of free enterprise across the world，即让全世界分享自由企业带来的福利。而后用高管们的话具体说明他们这一公司理想。

　　A，不会对当地人的饮食习惯造成影响。第四段里有一句话：they try to swing national eating habits to a food created in America，高管们承认全球化会把一个国家的饮食口味转向这种美国食品，这与A的说法相反。虽然后面还有一句：were adapting them to the tastes of those countries,不过这句话的意思是对薯片的口味稍作改动，而饮食习惯本身的改变指的是让人们都去吃薯片，少吃原来的食品，而不是在薯片成为主流食品时把其口味改动一下。

　　B，将会走向经济帝国主义。高管们恰好反对经济帝国主义。

　　C，将会代表当地人的利益。与spreading the benefits of free enterprise across the world所表达的意思一致，同时，building businesses 和employing people这些都是对当地人的贡献，可以说是给当地人带来了利益。

　　D,不会破坏他们的薯片的口味。这与were adapting them to the tastes of those countries的意思相左。

　　In communities north of Denver, residents are pitching in to help teachers and administrators as the Vrain school District tries to solve a $13.8 million budget shortage blamed on mismanagement. Were worried about our teachers and principals, and we really dont want to lose them because of this, one parent sail. If we can help ease their financial burden, we will.

　　Teachers are grateful, but know it may be years before the district is solvent . They feel really good about the parent support, but they realize its impossible for then to solve this problem.

　　The 22,000-student district discovered the shortage last month. Its extraordinary. Nobody would have imagined something happening like this at this level, said State Treasurer Mike Coffman.

　　Coffman and district officials last week agreed on a state emergency plan freeing yp a $9.8 million loan that enabled the payroll to be met for 2,700 teachers and staff in time for the holidays.

　　District officials also took $1.7 million from student-activity accounts its 38 schools.

　　At Coffmans request, the District Attorney has begun investigating the districts finances. Coffman says he wants to know whether district officials hid the budget shortage until after the November election, when voters approved a $212 million bond issue for schools.

　　In Frederick, students parents are buying classroom supplies and offering to pay for groceries and utilities to keep first-year teachers and principals in their jobs.

　　Some $36,000 has been raised in donations from Safeway. A Chevrolet dealership donated $10,000 and forgave the districts $10,750 bill for renting the driver educating cars. IBM contributed 4,500 packs of paper.

　　We employ thousands of people in this community, said Mitch Carson, a hospital chief executive, who helped raise funds. We have children in the school, and we see how they could be affected.

　　At Creek High School, three students started a website that displays newspaper articles, district information and an email forum 。 Rumors about whats happening to the district are moving at lighting speed, said a student. We wanted to know the truth, and spread that around instead.

　　26. What has happened to the Vrain School District?

　　A) A huge financial problem has arisen.

　　B) Many schools there are mismanaged.

　　C) Lots of teachers in the district are planning to quit.

　　D) Many administrative personnel have been laid off.

　　27. How did the residents in the Vrain School District respond to the budget shortage?

　　A) They felt somewhat helpless about it.

　　B) They accused those responsible for it.

　　C) They pooled their efforts to help solve it.

　　D) They demanded a through investigation.

　　28. In the view of State Treasurer Mike Coffman, the educational budget shortage is ________.

　　A) unavoidable

　　B) unthinkable

　　C) insolvable

　　D) irreversible

　　29. Why did Coffman request an investigation?

　　A) To see if there was a deliberate cover-up of the problem.

　　B) To find out the extent of the consequences of the case.

　　C) To make sure that the school principals were innocent.

　　D) To stop the voters approving the $212 million bong issue.

　　30. Three high school students started a website in order to ________.

　　A) attract greater public attention to their needs

　　B) appeal to the public for contributions and donations

　　C) expose officials who neglected their duties

　　D) keep people properly informed of the crisis

　　这篇短文讲述的是学校资金短缺事件。全文共十个小段，第一段从丹佛某社区发起运动说起，交代了事件基本信息：1380万美元的预算短缺，而后引用某位学生父母对学校表示物质支持的原话。这个段落有这样一个特点，即事件本身只是在句中附带提到，叙述的重点在于社区对与此事相关的学校、教师的支持。这也暗示了后文的叙述方向不会是对资金短缺事件的原委的叙述，而是各方对此事的反应。从全文来看，包括社区、教师、官方、企业以及学生的反应。

　　接下来的第二段叙述了教师们对社区支持的反应，而后用教师们的想法传达出资金短缺事件的解决难度。

　　下一段进一步透露出事件的其他信息：发现时间，并交代了州官员的反应：惊诧。下三小段继续叙述官方的进一步行动：为教师工资提供贷款，从学生活动资金帐户中提出170万美元，调查该地区财务。

　　最后的四段分别交代了学生父母、企业和学生们的反应。父母们为学校购买日常教学器具，企业捐助，如一家雪佛兰经销商捐助一万美元，同时免除校车租金，IBM捐助了实物。之后的一段简单解释了募捐的原因。最后一段是学生们的行动：建立网站随时发布该事件的进展情况。

　　26. What has happened to the Vrain School District?

　　A) A huge financial problem has arisen.

　　B) Many schools there are mismanaged.

　　C) Lots of teachers in the district are planning to quit.

　　D) Many administrative personnel have been laid off.

　　题目问Vrain校区发生了什么事情。从第一段可知，Vrain校区发生了资金短缺，而通读全篇后可知，这一难题的影响非常严重。

　　A，发生了严重的财务困难。资金短缺也就是财务困难，可以选A。

　　B，那里许多学校管理不善。此选项考查对the Vrain school District tries to solve a $13.8 million budget shortage blamed on mismanagement一句的理解。前半句的理解应该不成问题，意思是该校区力图解决一个1380万的预算缺口。后面的blamed on mismanagement是理解的关键，blamed是个被动语态，这里省略了is，而这个句子的完整形式应该是个which引导的从句：shortage which is blamed on mismanagement。Blamed sth on sth 是把某事物的错误归因于另一事物，在句中就是预算短缺的原因被归咎于管理不善。这样的话，管理不善的对象就是预算而不是学校。

　　C，该校区的许多教师计划离职。文中引用了一位学生家长的话：we really dont want to lose them because of this，表达了人们对预算短缺可能导致教师离去的后果。但文中没有指出教师是否计划离职，或者是否有很多教师有此想法。

　　D，许多管理人员遭到解雇。文中没有相关叙述。

　　27. How did the residents in the Vrain School District respond to the budget shortage?

　　A) They felt somewhat helpless about it.

　　B) They accused those responsible for it.

　　C) They pooled their efforts to help solve it.

　　D) They demanded a through investigation.

　　题目问这个校区的居民对预算短缺如何反应。

　　A，他们对此事有些爱莫能助。

　　B，他们谴责此事的罪魁祸首们。

　　C，他们为解决此事共同出力。

　　D，他们要求彻查此事。

　　文章开头一句话即是叙述居民们如何努力帮助教师与学校官员们：residents are pitching in to help teachers and administrators。Pitch in词组是努力投入的意思，可见居民们对此事十分重视，力争帮助学校走出难关。C的叙述符合这个意思，而A的叙述与C的意思恰好相反，可以排除。至于B，从全篇来看，对居民们的描写均为始终是如何帮助学校，没有提到谴责谁的问题，也没有要求彻查此事要求调查此事的是Coffman，而他是一位官员，不是该地居民。

　　28. In the view of State Treasurer Mike Coffman, the educational budget shortage is ________.

　　A) unavoidable

　　B) unthinkable

　　C) insolvable

　　D) irreversible

　　题目问在Mike Coffman看来，教育预算短缺是

　　A，不可避免的。

　　B，不可想象的。

　　C，无法解决的。

　　D，不能取消的。

　　文章讲到Coffman的地方一共三处，第一次是引用了他对预算短缺事件的评论：Its extraordinary. Nobody would have imagined something happening like this at this level。意思是这太不寻常了。谁也想不到会发生这样的事，这种程度的事。第二次是他拟定了一份紧急贷款方案，第三次是他要求调查地区财政。

　　从本题的题意及四个选项来看，应该考查的是对第一处也就是他的发言的理解。Coffman的发言首先指出此事的extraordinary，不同寻常;而后表示了惊讶谁也想不到会发生这样的事，这种程度的事。他对此事的态度大体上是不可思议。这样A和D明显不对，B的说法正确，至于C，引言中无法体现出来，而结合后面二处的描写，也没有发现无法解决的迹象，反倒是紧急贷款和调查财政等雷厉风行的行事态度显示出解决此事的决心。因为C的说法也不正确。

　　29. Why did Coffman request an investigation?

　　A) To see if there was a deliberate cover-up of the problem.

　　B) To find out the extent of the consequences of the case.

　　C) To make sure that the school principals were innocent.

　　D) To stop the voters approving the $212 million bong issue.

　　题目问Coffman为什么要求展开调查。

　　文中讲述Coffman要求调查此案是在第六段，除此外再无段落出现相关叙述，因此只要完全理解这一段的意思就可以做出正确的解答。

　　At Coffmans request, the District Attorney has begun investigating the districts finances. Coffman says he wants to know whether district officials hid the budget shortage until after the November election, when voters approved a $212 million bond issue for schools.

　　这一段共2句话。第一句指出Coffman要求调查地区财务。第二句是一个长句，主结构是Coffman says 这样一个主谓宾结构。宾语从句中依然嵌套一个宾语从句he wants to know whether后面内容的意思是是否地区官员掩盖了预算短缺问题，直到十一月投票发生以后后半句是一个非限制性定语从句，when指代的是十一月投票，意思是在十一月投票中，投票者通过了二亿一千二百万美元的学校公债事项。这样，Coffman所怀疑的就是地区官员有可能在十一月投票中掩盖了预算短缺问题，以使公债事项得以通过。

　　A，看是否有故意掩盖问题的行为。这一说法与文意一致。

　　B，看一看此事的后果严重到什么程度。这个说法没有着落点。

　　C，确定学校官员是无辜的。文章没有提到类似的内容。

　　D，阻止选民通过二亿一千二百万美元的公债事项。理解文意可知，这一公债事项早在十一月投票就已经通过，现在不可能再去阻止。

　　30. Three high school students started a website in order to ________.

　　A) attract greater public attention to their needs

　　B) appeal to the public for contributions and donations

　　C) expose officials who neglected their duties

　　D) keep people properly informed of the crisis

　　题目问三家高中的学生开设了一家网站，其目的是什么。

　　A， 吸引更多的公共关注，以为己用。

　　B， 呼吁公众捐献物资。

　　C， 揭露玩忽职守的官员们。

　　D， 使人们随时得知此次危机事件的真实进展。

　　文章提到学生建设网站之事是在最后一段。At Creek High School, three students started a website that displays newspaper articles, district information and an email forum 。 Rumors about whats happening to the district are moving at lighting speed, said a student. We wanted to know the truth, and spread that around instead.

　　第一句叙述了学生们建设网站的事实，第二句引用了学生们的原话，解释了建设网站的原因。前一句意思是关于这个地区发生了什么的谣言传得向闪电一样快，后一句的意思是我们想去了解真相，然后把真相传播出去。注意后一句里面使用的时态：wanted用的是一般过去时，表示这一想法是建设网站之初的想法，而不是现在的想法，这样就可推断出这一想法就是建站的目的。四个选项中只有D符合这个意思。

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

　　Humans should not try to avoid stress any more than they would shun food, love or exercise. Said Dr. Hans Selye, the first physician to document the effects of stress on the body. While heres on question that continuous stress is harmful, several studies suggest that challenging situations in which youre able to rise to the occasion can be good for you.

　　In a 2001 study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but coped with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health than those who felt they stress that you can manage also boost immune function. In a study at the Academic Center for Dentistry in Amsterdam, researchers put volunteers through two stressful experiences. In the first, a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test, subjects through a gory video on surgical procedures. Those who did well on the memory test had an increase in levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody thats the bodys first line of defense against germs. The video-watchers experienced a downturn in the antibody.

　　Stress prompts the body to produce certain stress hormones. In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect, including improved memory function. They can help nerve cells handle information and put it into storage, says Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University in New York. But in the long run these hormones can have a harmful effect on the body and brain.

　　Sustained stress is not good for you, says Richard Morimoto, a researcher at Northwestern University in Illinois studying the effects of stress on longevity, Its the occasional burst of stress or brief exposure to stress that could be protective.

　　31. The passage is mainly about ________.

　　A) the benefits of manageable stress

　　B) stay away from

　　C) run out of

　　D) put up with

　　32. The word shun most probably means ________.

　　A) cut down on

　　B) stay away from

　　C) run out of

　　D) put up with

　　33. We can conclude from the study of the 158 nurses in 2001 that ________.

　　A) people under stress tend to have a poor memory

　　B) people who cant get their job done experience more stress

　　C) doing challenging work may be good for ones health

　　D) stress will weaken the bodys defense against germs

　　34. In the experiment described in Paragraph 3, the video-watchers experienced a downturn in the antibody because ________.

　　A) the video was not enjoyable at all

　　B) the outcome was beyond their control

　　C) they knew little about surgical procedures

　　D) they felt no pressure while watching the video

　　35. Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University believes that ________.

　　A) a persons memory is determined by the level of hormones in his body

　　B) stress hormones have lasting positive effects on the brain

　　C) short bursts of stress hormones enhance memory function

　　D) a persons memory improves with continued experience of stress

　　首先需要指出的是，这篇文章因真题试卷排版问题出现了许多错漏句的情况，给文意的理解带来了很大的困难，有些题目是根本无法作答的，这一点比较遗憾，我们也只能就能够通畅理解的部分提出一些看法。

　　这是一篇学术论文性质的文章，主要介绍压力对人体的影响。全篇材料一共四段，第一段开头即引用了一位医生对压力的观点，暗示出本文讨论的是学术级别的论题。之后，文章用一个长句对医生的观点进行了解释。这个长句总体结构比较简单，while引导的从句打头，后面是一个主句。While在这里是虽然的意思，表明while引导的内容不是论述的重点，重点在主句当中。主句的意思是几项研究表明，如果能够成功应对挑战性环境，那么这种环境对人也是有益的。可以看到，这里的最终观点是挑战性环境可以对人有益，但前提是能够成功应对压力。

　　第二段描述了上文提到了several studies，一共两项研究，第一项是2001年对158家医院护士的调查，文章没有详述研究过程，直接给出了研究结果。第二个是阿姆斯特丹一家牙科研究中心所做的实验：记忆力测试。

　　第三段对实验结果进行了理论上的分析：短期内荷尔蒙的爆发会产生积极影响，如使神经细胞更好地分析、记忆信息。段末指出长期的荷尔蒙影响则会有害于身体健康。最后一段继续引用研究人员的话强调长短期压力对身体的不同影响。

　　31. The passage is mainly about ________.

　　A) the benefits of manageable stress

　　B) stay away from

　　C) run out of

　　D) put up with

　　题目问这篇短文主要写的是什么。

　　在四级阅读考试中，第一道题即考查对全篇理解的情况比较少见，这种题多数是在最后一道中出现，需要在通读全篇后，综合各种信息再作解答。

　　本题在试卷印刷方面出了问题，B、C、D三个答案选项错印成了32题的选项，致使本题无法作答。至于本文的中心思想，可以参考前面的分析。

　　32. The word shun most probably means ________.

　　A) cut down on

　　B) stay away from

　　C) run out of

　　D) put up with

　　题目问单词shun最可能是什么意思。

　　这个单词出现在Humans should not try to avoid stress any more than they would shun food, love or exercise一句中，该句作为全文开篇句，有提示文章中心论题的作用。文章的中心论题是成功应对压力对人有益，要正确理解这句话必须结合这一中心论题。

　　Shun前面的半句意思是人类不应设法回避压力，后面是一个比较级more than，它与前面的not构成not more than，表示大体相当于、只是的意思，那么后半句的句意就必须能与前半句形成对比。可以想象food、love、exercise应该充当前面stress的角色，而shun应该起的avoid的作用，大体意思也应是回避。前后意思联系起来就是：人类不应设法回避压力，就像不应回避食物、爱和锻炼一样。这里暗含的意思是压力并非有害，而是像食物、爱和锻炼一样对人是有益的，这个意思与文章的中心论题一致，可以认为shun的意义类似于回避。

　　A，减少

　　B，远离

　　C，用完

　　D，忍受

　　四个选项中含义回避意义的只有B，因为stay away from可以指远离，在具体语境中也可以指回避。

　　33. We can conclude from the study of the 158 nurses in 2001 that ________.

　　A) people under stress tend to have a poor memory

　　B) people who cant get their job done experience more stress

　　C) doing challenging work may be good for ones health

　　D) stress will weaken the bodys defense against germs

　　题目问我们能从2001年对158名护士的研究中得出什么结论。

　　文章对2001年这项研究的描述仅限于一个长句，本题考查的就是对这个长句的理解。遗憾的是，这里再次出现了排版错误，致使句子结构混乱，意义不清，不过，从大体结构上还是能把握本句的大意。

　　In a 2001 study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but coped with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health than those who felt they stress that you can manage also boost immune function。

　　可以看出本句的主语应该是those, 而who faced considerable work demands but coped with the challenge是those的定语从句，修饰those，意思是那些面对相当大的工作要求却能应对挑战的人。谓语是由were引导的比较级，意思是更可能会说他们的健康状况良好。比谁更有可能说这句话呢?than后面给出了答案：those who felt they，那些感觉自己如何如何的人。在they后面出现了排版错误，据推断应该是漏掉了感觉的内容，而后面的stress that you can manage also boost immune function应该是另外一个新句子，在stress前面可以补上this showed that the，与后面的句子连成this showed that the stress you can manage also boost immune function，意思是这一实验说明，压力，如果能够成功应对，同样可以提高免疫功能。

　　A，压力下的人往往记忆力差。这个实验没有提到压力与记忆力的关系，也许在漏掉的内容中有相关的叙述，但现有情况下无从知晓。

　　B，无法完成工作的人体验到更大的压力。这个说法同样涉及漏掉的内容。不过前半句已经有那些面对相当大的工作要求却能应对挑战的人，那么与此对应的很有可能是面对工作却无法应对挑战即无法完成的人。所以说B的说法有可能是正确的。

　　C，进行挑战性的工作对人的健康有益。这个说法可以排除，因为只有那些进行并能成功完成挑战性工作的人才会更为健康，C的说法缺少条件。

　　D，压力会减弱人体对细菌的抵抗力。这是另外一个实验的内容。

　　这样看来，可以确定排除的选项是C和D，而A提到的记忆力与第二个实验的关系比较大，很有可能是迷惑选项，这样最好是选择B。

　　34. In the experiment described in Paragraph 3, the video-watchers experienced a downturn in the antibody because ________.

　　A) the video was not enjoyable at all

　　B) the outcome was beyond their control

　　C) they knew little about surgical procedures

　　D) they felt no pressure while watching the video

　　题目问在第三段所描述的实验中，观看视频的人经历了抗体的减少，原因是什么。

　　文章第三段提到阿姆斯特丹的这所研究中心进行了一项研究，研究分为两组，不过文中只描述了其中观看视频的一组，另一组的具体情形没有描述。而从全段来看，这缺失的一组对本题的回答是有帮助的。因此，可以猜测这里在排版时很可能又漏掉了一些内容。另外，对第一组实验的描述也存在问题。In the first, a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test, subjects through a gory video on surgical procedures，分析这个句子可知它没有谓语，可以把a timed task看作是主语，that required memorizing a list是主语的定语从句。而followed by a short test是个省略了which的定语从句，所以follow不是谓语。对follow不是谓语的判断源于by这个词，既然有by，就表示followed是被动语态，那么一定要接在was后面，但这里was省略了，可以就此判断这是个定语从句。这样的话，前半句没有出现谓语，那么后半句呢?后半句中没有一个动词，所以根本不可能存在谓语;subject可以作为动词使用，表示隶属于，但文章使用的过去时态，subjects是一般现在时，不符合语法，所以subject不是动词。

　　这样只能认为这又是一个错句。如此多的错误出现在关键部位，文章的理解尚成问题，也就谈不上正确回答问题了。

　　A，因为视频一点也不好看。

　　B，这一结果是他们无法控制的。

　　C，他们对外科手术过程知之甚少。

　　D，观看视频时他们感觉不到压力。

　　35. Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University believes that ________.

　　A) a persons memory is determined by the level of hormones in his body

　　B) stress hormones have lasting positive effects on the brain

　　C) short bursts of stress hormones enhance memory function

　　D) a persons memory improves with continued experience of stress

　　题目问Bruce McEwen医生认为什么。

　　可以看出本题考查的是对最后两小段的理解。这两段不难理解，其核心意思是短期压力对人有益，长期压力对人无益。

　　A， 人的记忆力是被身体里的荷尔蒙水平决定的。根据文意，荷尔蒙对人的记忆力产生了一定影响，但称其决定了记忆力水平就太夸张了。

　　B， 压力荷尔蒙对大脑有持续的积极影响。文中谈到长期的压力荷尔蒙对人有害，与本选项正好相反。

　　C，压力荷尔蒙的短期爆发会加强记忆功能。In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect, including improved memory function，这一句与C的说法完全一致。

　　D， 随着人不断感受到压力，人的记忆力也随之改善。continued experience of stress可以理解为长期的压力，而根据文意，这种压力对人体是有害的。

　　C的说法正确。

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

　　If you want to teach your children how to say sorry, you must be good at saying it yourself, especially to your own children. But how you say it can be quite tricky.

　　If you say to your children Im sorry I got angry with you, but ... what follows that but can render the apology ineffective: I had a bad day or your noise was giving me a headache leaves the person who has been injured feeling that he should be apologizing for his bad behavior in expecting an apology.

　　Another method by which people appear to apologize without actually doing so is to say Im sorry youre upset this suggests that you are somehow at fault for allowing yourself to get upset by what the other person has done.