四级阅读讲义 Reading For Band 4 Unit 5 Reading Comprehension Directions: There are 3 passages in this unit. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements For each of them there are four choices marked A ), B ), C )and D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. Passage One Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage: Even the fairest and most impartial newspaper is a medium of propaganda. Every daily newspaper has an editorial page. The opinion is expressed on events and personalities in the news. But editorial judgment is so persuasively presented that many people accept these opinions as facts. Good journalists uphold a code of ethics that distinguishes between news and editorial opinion. This code holds that in an editorial column the publisher is entitled to advocate any cause he chooses. It is understood that there he is speaking as a partisan (坚决支持者) and may express any view he desires. Because a modem newspaper is so expensive to produce and so costly to establish, newspapers have increasingly become big business organizations. Although there are exceptions, these large newspapers tend to reflect the views of their owners in their editorials on economic and political matters. In the news columns, however, the complete and unbiased facts should be reported. The better metropolitan newspapers and the great press associations usually can be relied on to keep their news impartial. But the less ethical publications often deliberately "color" the news to favor or oppose certain groups or movements. 1. The author states that no modem newspaper _______________. A) is free of propaganda B) is controlled by big business interests C) separates fact and opinion D) operates according to a code of ethics 2. According to the journalistic code of ethics, a newspaper must _____________. A) accept only responsible advertisers B) separate editorials from news C) interpret news according to its editorial viewpoint D) determine what the reader should know about the news 3. According to the passage, a newspaper publisher may use the editorial page to support _____________. A) only the cause which is most popular B) any cause supported by the advertisers C) any cause he believes in D) only the cause of the owners 4.Newspapers have entered the category of large business organizations because of _____________. A) their influence on the reading public B) their reports of stock market activity C) the millions of papers sold daily D) the tremendous costs of production 5. When only one side of the news is regularly presented in newspaper, the reader may assume that _____________. A) the paper is a member of a large press association B) the paper's ethical standards are suspected C) the paper is in financial trouble D) the paper upholds a journalistic code of ethics Passage Two Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage: The American Revolution was not a revolution in the sense of a radical or total change. It was not a sudden and violent overturning of the political and social framework, such as later occurred in France and Russia, when both were already independent nations. Significant changes were ushered in, but they were not breathtaking. What happened was accelerated evolution rather than outright revolution. During the conflict itself people went on working and praying, marrying and playing. Most of them were not seriously disturbed by the actual fighting, and many of the many isolated communities scarcely knew that a war was on. 　　America's War of Independence heralded the birth of three modern nations. One was Canada, which received its first large influx of English-speaking population from the thousand of loyalists who fled there from the United States. Another was Australia, which became a penal colony now that America was no longer available for prisoners and debtors. The third newcomer the United States -based itself squarely on republican principles. 　　The political overturn was not so revolutionary as one might suppose. In some states, notably Connecticut and Rhode Island, the war largely ratified a colonial self-rule already existing. British officials, everywhere ousted, were replaced by a home-grown governing class, which promptly sought a local substitute for king and Parliament. 1.The author argues that the American Revolution was not really a revolution because ____________. A) it involved no violence B) not all American people took part in the fighting C) America was not an independent state like France or Russia D) it didn't change the political and social framework tremendously 2. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A) The American Revolution broke out when America was not yet an independent nation. B) The American Revolution took place after the Great Revolution occurred in France. C) Canada used to be a place for criminals. D) The working people accelerated the American evolution. 3. According to the author, America after the American Revolution ________________. A) didn't comprehend Connecticut and Rhode Island in the central government B) executed power on its neighbors C) observed republican principles D) drove the British officials to Canada 4. The word "herald" in the second paragraph means ___________. A) foretoken B) determine C) underscore D) prescribe 5. America's War of Independence heralded the birth of Australia because _____________. 　A) Australia was a penal colony 　B) Britain could no longer send its prisoners and debtors to America C) the Australians were also persecuted by the British government 　D) America rejected British loyalists Passage Three Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage: 　　Moods, say the experts, are emotions that tend to become fixed, influencing one's outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That's great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely. 　　Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology (药物学) offers an abundance of tranquilizers (镇静剂) , anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs. What many people don't realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug approaches to make you loose from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you feel out of sorts, don't head for the drug-store but try the following approach. 　　Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, aerobic(增氧健身) exercise seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. "If you could keep the exercise, you'd be in high spirits." says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty. 　　Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise compare favorably to drugs as a mood raiser. Physical exertion such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise-running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive and sustained activities that boost the heart rate, increase circulation and improve the body's utilization of oxygen. Do them for at least 20 minutes a session three to five times a week. 1. What is the main subject of the passage? A) How to beat a bad mood. B) How to do physical exercises. C) How to talk bad moods out. D) How to be involved in aerobic exercise. 2. It can be inferred from the passage that _____________. A) the best way to overcome a bad mood is to talk to oneself. B) when one is in a bad mood, he or she may not work very efficiently. C) some drugs are more effective than physical exercises. D) a person can make a big profit if he is in a good mood. 3. "Feel out of sorts", as it is used in the second paragraph could best be replaced by“___________”. A) put things in order B) are in a bad mood C) search for tranquilizers D) want a mood-raiser 4. According to the passage, all of the following are true except_________________. A) moods can have a bad influence on people's emotions B) aerobic exercise can help people get rid of bad mood C) swimming, walking, or running is an efficient cure for a bad mood D) scientists have provided people with many tranquilizers 5.Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage? A)A procedure is explained and its significance is emphasized. B)A problem is examined and solutions are given. C)Two contrasting views of a problem are presented. D)Recent pharmacological advancements are in order of importance.