【篇一】2021年下半年大学英语四级阅读理解汇编
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。
【篇二】2021年下半年大学英语四级阅读理解汇编
(Clinton Is Right)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.
【篇三】2021年下半年大学英语四级阅读理解汇编
In some countries where racial prejudice is acute, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are countries where the white man imposes his rule by brute force; there are countries where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more acute. The sheer horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us.The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and herder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the slums and ghettos, at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is sapped by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law.
Before we can even begin to contemplate peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other’s problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchanging information."Talk, talk, talk," the advocates of violence say, "all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser." It's rather like the story of the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wiser. ‘Possible, my lord,’ the barrister replied, "none the wiser, but surely far better informed." Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
[A] Advocating Violence.
[B] Violence Can Do Nothing to Diminish Race Prejudice.
[C] Important People on Both Sides See Violence As a Legitimate Solution.
[D] The Instincts of Human Race Are Thirsty for Violence.
2. Recorded history has taught us
[A] violence never solves anything.
[B] nothing.
[C] the bloodshed means nothing.
[D] everything.
3. It can be inferred that truly reasonable men
[A] can't get a hearing.
[B] are looked down upon.
[C] are persecuted.
[D] Have difficulty in advocating law enforcement.
4. "He was none the wiser" means
[A] he was not at all wise in listening.
[B] He was not at all wiser than nothing before.
[C] He gains nothing after listening.
[D] He makes no sense of the argument.
5. According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is
[A] law enforcement.
[B] knowledge.
[C] nonviolence.
[D] Mopping up the violent mess.
【篇四】2021年下半年大学英语四级阅读理解汇编
The Norwegian Government is doing its best to keep the oil industry under control. A new law limits exploration to an area south of the southern end of the long coastline; production limits have been laid down (though these have already been raised); and oil companies have not been allowed to employ more than a limited number of foreign workers. But the oil industry has a way of getting over such problems, and few people believe that the Government will be able to hold things back for long. As on Norwegian politician said last week: “We will soon be changed beyond all recognition.”Ever since the war, the Government has been carrying out a programme of development in the area north of the Arctic Circle. During the past few years this programme has had a great deal of success: Tromso has been built up into a local capital with a university, a large hospital and a healthy industry. But the oil industry has already started to draw people south, and within a few years the whole northern policy could be in ruins.
The effects of the oil industry would not be limited to the north, however. With nearly 100 percent employment, everyone can see a situation developing in which the service industries and the tourist industry will lose more of their workers to the oil industry. Some smaller industries might even disappear altogether when it becomes cheaper to buy goods from abroad.
The real argument over oil is its threat to the Norwegian way of life. Farmers and fishermen do not make up most of the population, but they are an important part of it, because Norwegians see in them many of the qualities that they regard with pride as essentially Norwegian. And it is the farmers and the fishermen who are most critical of the oil industry because of the damage that it might cause to the countryside and to the sea.
1. The Norwegian Government would prefer the oil industry to
[A] provide more jobs for foreign workers.
[B] slow down the rate of its development.
[C] sell the oil it is producing abroad.
[D] develop more quickly than at present.
2. The Norwegian Government has tried to
[A] encourage the oil companies to discover new oil sources.
[B] prevent oil companies employing people from northern Norway.
[C] help the oil companies solve many of their problems.
[D] keep the oil industry to something near its present size.
3. According to the passage, the oil industry might lead northern Norway to
[A] the development of industry.
[B] a growth in population.
[C] the failure of the development programme.
[D] the development of new towns.
4. In the south, one effect to the development of the oil industry might be
[A] a large reduction on unemployment.
[B] a growth in the tourist industry.
[C] a reduction in the number of existing industries.
[D] the development of a number of service industries.
5. Norwegian farmers and fishermen have an important influence because
[A] they form such a large part of Norwegian ideal.
[B] their lives and values represent the Norwegian ideal.
[C] their work is so useful to the rest of Norwegian society.
[D] they regard oil as a threat to the Norwegian way of life.
Vocabulary
1. Norwegian 挪威的;挪威人
2. coastline 海岸线
3. recognition 承认;认识;赞赏
4. countryside 乡下;乡民
难句译注
1. A new law limits exploration to an area south of the southern end of the long coastline; production limits have been laid down (though these have already been raised); and oil companies have not been allowed to employ more than a limited number of foreign workers.
【结构简析】用两个分号连接三句句子。
【参考译文】一条新的法律限制人们仅在长长的海岸线南端以南地区进行勘探考察;规定了石油生产限量(虽然已提高);石油公司雇佣外国工人不许超出限定额。
2. With nearly 100 percent employment, everyone can see a situation developing in which the service industries and the tourist industry will lose more of their workers to the oil industry.
【参考译文】由于将近百分之一百就业率，每个人都能看出形式发展中服务行业和旅游 行业的大部分工人会跑到石油工业方面去。
3. Farmers and fishermen do not make up most of the population, but they are an important part of it, because Norwegians see in them many of the qualities that they regard with pride as essentially Norwegian.
【结构简析】复合句。在because状语从句中that是定语从句修饰qualities。
【参考译文】虽然农民和渔民并不占人口的绝大多数，可是他们都是人口的重要组成不分，因为挪威人在他们身上看到许多他们自豪地认为是挪威人的基本品质。
写作方法与文章大意
文章论述“挪威政府意欲控制石油工业”。采用对比写法。先提出政府新政策的种种限制。但石油工业有办法对付。人们都认为限制难以长久。其次讲述，从战时起，挪威政府一直执行开发北极圈北部地区的发展规划，也取得成功。但石油工业已经开始向南方进军，北方政策可能会失败。石油工业之影响超出北方，有些企业缩小，减少。最后一段是讲争论的焦点：石油对挪威生活方式构成了威胁，具体表现在对挪威理想的代表――渔民和农民的威胁。
答案详解
1. B 减慢发展速率。文章开始就阐明挪威政府正竭尽全力把石油工业控制起来，制定新法律来限制勘探开采，限制产量，限制雇佣外国工人人数。A. 为外国工人提供更多的工作。C.卖掉正在国外生产的石油。D.比现在发展更快。
2. D 使石油工业保持在接近现在的规模。A. 鼓励石油公司去发现新石油资源。B.制止石油公司雇佣来自挪威北方的人。C.帮助石油公司解决许多问题。
3. C 发展规划的失败。这在第二段最后一句：“可是石油工业已经开始把人们吸引到南方去，所以不出几年，整个北方政策可能成泡影。”A.工业发展。B.人口增长。D.新城市的发展。文内没有涉及。
4. C 现存工业数的减少。第三段开始“可是石油工业的影响并不仅仅限于北方。近百分之一百的就业率，使每个人都见到发展的势头，服务业和旅游业的好多工人转向石油工业。某些较小的工业，在从国外购进货物更便宜的情况下，很可能会全部消失。”这说明工业数减少。A.大大减少失业。B.旅游 行业增长。D.许多服务公司发展。文内没有提。
5. B 他们的生活和价值代表了挪威人的理想。A.他们组成了那么大一部分挪威理想。C.他们的工作对挪威社会的其他方面非常有用。D.他们认为石油是对挪威生活方式的威胁。最后一段第一句话：“对石油真正的争论点是它对挪威生活方式的一种威胁。”并不是他们认为威胁。
