英语四级阅读理解模拟练习及答案详解
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, although it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.
“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right.
There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.
Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”, was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview.
There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.
57. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns .
A) informs job hunters of the opportunities available
B) promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employment
C) divides available jobs into various types
D) informs employers of the people available for work
58. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because .
A) there is a lack of jobs available for artistic people
B) there are so many top?level jobs available
C) there are so many people out of work
D) the job history is considered to be a work of art
59. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would .
A) write an initial letter giving their life history
B) pass some exams before applying for a job
C) have no qualifications other than being able to read and write
D) keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview
60. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter .
A) something that would distinguish one from other applicants
B) hinted information about the personality of the applicant
C) one’s advantages over others in applying for the job
D) an occasional trick with the aggressive approach
61. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because .
A) there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertised
B) there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees
C) jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadays
D) the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicated
Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low—paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.
62. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may .
A) cause a shortage of apartments
B) worry those who rent apartments as homes
C) increase the profits of landlords
D) encourage landlords to invest in building apartment
63. According to the critics, rent control .
A) will always benefit those who rent apartments
B) is unnecessary
C) will bring negative effects in the long run
D) is necessary under all circumstances
64. The problem of unemployment will arise .
A) if the minimum wage is set too highB) if the minimum wage is set too low
C) if the workers are unskilledD) if the maximum wage is set
65. The passage tells us .
A) the relationship between supply and demand
B) the possible results of government controls
C) the necessity of government control
D) the urgency of getting rid of government controls
66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A) The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.
B) Minimum wage can not always protect employees.
C) Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.
D) Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.
答案详解：
57. B细节理解题。该题有一定难度。根据题干，解答该题应定位在第一段。第一段第二行说“它有时放在‘situations vacant?(招聘)栏目…，”其中招聘加了引号，再加上随后的让步从句明确否定了给人提供工作，所以A项应排除。第三行说“它有时放在‘situations wanted’(求职)栏目…，”随后的让步从句也明确否定了D项。而选择正确答案应根据最后一句话“What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.”B项正确。C项“把现有的工作分成各种类型”文章没有提及，也应排除。
58. C细节理解题。解答该题只需正确理解第二段第二行“The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment.”(这种特别服务的出现和成功反映了当今的高失业率。)这正是C项的内容。该题属倒着考题型。
59. D细节理解题。最关键的提示句应该是第三段第三句“The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview.”言外之意，在信中不必写得太详细，应该在得到面试机会时再透露更多细节。D项为正确选项。
60. A细节理解题。文章第四段第一行中的“as you moved up the ladder”对应了题干中的“as one went on to apply for more important jobs”。因此，随后的内容即为答案:“Something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest.”A项正确。B项说“有关申请人个性的隐含信息”，C项说“申请人申请工作时相对于其他人的优势”，这两项均不正确，D)项表示“用主动积极的方法偶尔玩点花招”只是引人关注的其中一种方法，不如A具有概括性。
61. B单句理解题。本题问个人履历为什么重要。学生只要正确理解最后一段，就可做出正确选择，最后一句实际上是一强调句型:“…it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.”明确讲明是越来越多的具有大学教育背景的求职者使得个人履历更显重要。“it is”后的内容也即是B项的内容，所以B项正确。A、C、D项文中都没有涉及，均应排除。
62. A细节理解题。本题问规定最高租金可能会导致什么结果。文章第一段明确指出，landlords(房东)收取租户的租金有了最高限额，他们的利润会受到影响，也可能导致他们投资其他行业，鉴于此，C、D两项都是错误的。B项“使租房为家的人担忧”文中没有涉及，也不对。依据第一段最后一句话“…, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.”可知A项为惟一选项。
63. C细节理解题。依据第一段第四句“However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects.”可断定C项正确。A、B、D诸项都含绝对意味，都不符合文中意思。
64. A细节理解题。解答该题只要准确理解第二段的含义，尤其从第三行开始“However, if the minimum is high,…Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment.”此题较简单。
65. B主旨题。本文从rent control和最低工资控制两方面讨论了政府控制可能造成的后果。进一步说，许多政府行为可能保护某些利益，但从长远看，也会带来许多问题。B项正确。A项说(文章叙述了)供需关系;C项说(文章叙述了)政府控制的必要性;D项说(文章叙述了)摆脱政府控制的紧迫性。文章并没有深入谈及这三项内容，显然不能成为文章主旨。
66. D细节判断题。依据第四段第二行“The predictions may be correct only if ‘other things are equal’.”可得知A项是对的。从第二段可得知规定最低工资会使得雇主雇用更少的工人，会考虑用机器替代工人，也就会导致更多的人失业，所以B项应该是可以成立的说法。C项的内容实际上就是A项的另一种说法，也可成立。依据第四段内容，可得知D项不正确。经济理论应该有相当的参考价值，只是还需考虑方方面面的因素。