中石油英语复习资料

2013春《大学英语4》综合复习资料

I. Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

For ages, sailors have said that it is good luck to see dolphins swimming alongside boats. Their presence meant that land was near, which would be vital information if a boat and her crew were in danger. Some dolphins have even protected shipwrecked sailors from sharks. It is no wonder that these unique and fascinating creatures have long been known as our friends.

You may think dolphins are fish, but they are actually mammals. They are related to whales and porpoises, and they evolved around 10 million years ago. Dolphins breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed them milk. They are social animals, living together in groups ranging in size of up to 12.In places rich in food, many schools can combine together to form schools of up to 1,000 dolphins.

Dolphins are thought to be intelligent animals because of their playfulness, curiosity, and quick ability to learn. They seem to communicate with each other through a combination of squeaks, whistles, and clicks. While scientists don't know what they are going on about, it is thought that dolphins are telling each other that food is nearby, or warning each other of approaching danger. Dolphins use sonar to discover an object's size, shape, and location. By sending out a series of clicks and receiving the echo that bounces off the object, they can differentiate between a shark and a boat.

Unfortunately, dolphins have faced increasing danger in recent years. Fishermen in pursuit of profitable tuna may accidentally trap dolphins in their nets, killing them in the process. These intelligent mammals of the sea deserve our protection and respect.

1. Dolphins have been human's friends because of ____________.

A. sailors may know that the land is not far away

B. some dolphins protect sailors from shark attacks

C. sailors can communicate with them

D. both A and B

2. Which of the following statement about dolphin is not true?

A. Dolphins lay eggs under the sea.

B. Dolphins can communicate with each other by sending out sounds.

C. Dolphins have abilities to learn.

D. Dolphins prefer to live in groups up to hundreds.

3. How do dolphins communicate with one another?

A. Through radio waves. B. By sending out gases.

C. By clapping their fins together. D. Through various noises.

4. According to the article, what makes a threat to dolphins?

A. Whales. B. Tuna. C. Sailors. D. Fishermen.

5. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. Fishermen accidentally trap dolphins.

B. We should take some actions to stop killing dolphins.

C. Dolphins often live with tunas.

D. More and more dolphins are in danger in the recent years.

Passage 2

The city has always been an engine of intellectual life, from the 18th-century cafes of London, where citizens gathered to discuss chemistry and politics, to the Left Bank bars of modern Paris, where Picasso talked about modem art. Without the metropolis, we might not have had the great art of Shakespeare.

And yet, city life isn’t easy. Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are depressing. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs (损害) our basic mental processes. After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street, the brain is less able to hold things in memory, and suffers from reduced self-control. While it’s long been recognized that city life is exhausting, this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking, sometimes dramatically so.

One of the main forces at work is a complete lack of nature, which is surprisingly beneficial for the brain. Studies have demonstrated, for instance, that hospital patients recover more quickly when they can see trees from their windows, and that women living in public housing are better able to focus when their apartments overlook a lawn. Even these glimpses of nature improve brain performance, it seems, because they provide a mental break from the urban life.

This research arrives just as humans cross an important milestone (里程碑). For the first time in history, the majority of people live in cities. Instead of inhabiting wide-open spaces, we’re crowded into concrete jungles, surrounded by traffic and millions of strangers. In recent years, it’s become clear that such unnatural surroundings have important implications for our mental and physical health, and can powerfully alter how we think.

6. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?

A. The city inspires talented people. B. The city hurts your brain.

C. The city has many pleasures and benefits. D. The city seriously affects the natural balance.

7. The word “metropolis” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to_______.

A. citizen B. nature C. city D. stress

8. People have just come to realize that_______.

A. human attention is a scarce resource

B. city life can make people very tired

C. the city is an engine of intellectual life

D. an urban environment is damaging to the brain

9. What is the factor mentioned in the third paragraph that helps the hospital patients recover more quickly?

A. Nature. B. Better treatment.

C. Experienced doctors. D. Good medicine.

10. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Different aspects (方面) of an urban environment, such as the crowded streets, can lead to an increase in self-control.

B. Small changes in urban design cannot reduce the negative side effects of city life.

C. For the first time in history, the earth’s population is more urban than rural.

D. A walk down a busy city street will improve brain performance.

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