2016年下半年英语四级模拟试卷及答案（二）_第3页

　　Passage 4

　　Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

　　Successful innovations have driven many older technologies to extinction and have resulted in higher productivity, greater consumption of energy, increased demand of raw materials, accelerated flow of materials through the economy and increased quantities of metals and other substances in use each person. The history of industrial development abounds with examples.

　　In 1870, horses and mules were the prime source of power on U.S. farms. One horse or mule was required to support four human beings a ratio that remained almost constant for many decades. At that time, had a national commission been asked to forecast the population for 1970, its answer probably would have depended on whether its consultants were of an economic or technological turn of mind. Had they been “economists”, they would probably have projected the 1970 horses or mule population to be more than 50 million. Had they been “technologists”, they would have recognized that the power of steam had already been harnessed to industry and to learn and ocean transport. They would have recognized further that it would be the prime source of power on the farm. It would have been difficult for them to avoid the conclusion that the horse and mule population would decline rapidly.

　　16. According to the passage, what supplied most of the power on U.S. farms in 1870?

　　A. Animals B. Humans C. Engines D. Water

　　17. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the author as a consequence of new technological developments?

　　A. Older technologies die away. B. The quality of life is Improved.

　　C. Overall productivity increase. D. More raw materials become necessary.

　　18. It can be inferred from the passage that by 1870 .

　　A. technology began to be more economical

　　B. the steam engine had been invented

　　C. the U.S. horse population was about 10 million

　　D. a national commission was about 10 million

　　19. In the second paragraph, the author suggests that “economists” would .

　　A. plan the economy through yearly forecasts

　　B. fail to consider the influence of technological innovation

　　C. value the economic contribution of farm animals

　　D. consult the national commission on the economy

　　20. What is the author’s attitude toward changes brought on by technological innovations?

　　A. He is excited about them. B. He accept them as natural.

　　C. He is disturbed by them. D. He questions their usefulness.

　　Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

　　This semester I began to have a series of teacher nightmares, something that had not happened to me for years, not since my first year of teaching when I was in a perpetual state of dread. I would be rushing to get to class on time, trying to gather up notes from a maelstrom of papers on my desk, not certain what subject we were covering today, indeed not even certain what course I was teaching. My heart was pounding. I was late. I would not find my notes. A hundred people were waiting for me in the classroom, their pens poised to take down my every syllable, and I had nothing to say. Them Mr. Winthrop’s big blonde face with those dark eyes would loom at the door of my office, and with that mocking grin, he would say, “Professor, the class is waiting for you,” and I would faint dead onto the floor. Or sometimes in my dream I would make it to the podium (讲台), start to lecture on some aspect of criminal law or causation, only to have Mr. Winthrop raise his hand, and without even waiting to be called upon, presumably ask a question. Presumably because I could not make out his words. I could see his mouth moving underneath his baseball cap, and muffled sounds resounded in my ears, but I could not understand him. All eyes in the classroom were on me, and my students began to laugh, but not Mr. Winthrop. He continued to move his mouth, and I felt as if I was watching TV with the sound off except that my head was all a buzz with the laughter and the shuffling of feet as my students exited in disgust. Again, I ended the nightmare by fainting dead away onto the floor, and then I would wake up, my sheets damp from desperation. It was enough to make a man get out of bed and mix a drink at four in the morning even if he had the eight o’clock class.

　　16. From this passage, it is indicated that .

　　A. the first year of teaching is unforgettable and frightening for me forever

　　B. nightmares have happened to me more often than not since my first year of teaching

　　C. in my first year of teaching, I was always full of fears

　　D. as a teacher, I feel uneasy all the time

　　17. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

　　A. I was quite clear about the subject I was to deal with before class.

　　B. I would give the lectures on time.

　　C. I prepared the notes carefully before class. However, I forgot to take them with me to the classroom.

　　D. My heart was beating faster and faster before class.

　　18. Mr. Winthrop is .

　　A. a presumable student

　　B. a baseball lover

　　C. the student who often teases the teacher

　　D. the student who answers the teacher’s question in a humorous way

　　19. In my nightmare, it would happen to me except that .

　　A. I sometimes was very calm to see that my students were in disguise

　　B. when I gave the lecture, Mr. Minthrop was the only student to ask a question

　　C. I often fall down to the floor losing my consciousness before I woke up

　　D. I would rather wake up to have a good drink in the early morning than have the nightmare

　　20. The tone of this passage is .

　　A. provoking B. sensational C. desperate D. profound