英语四级选词填空理解练习

英语四级选词填空专项练习

Passage 1

What is it about Americans and food? We love to eat, but we feel 1 about it afterward. We say we want only the best, but we strangely enjoy junk food. We’re 2 with health and weight loss but face an unprecedented epidemic of obesity(肥胖). Perhaps the 3 to this ambivalence(矛盾情结) lies in our history. The first Europeans came to this continent searching for new spices but went in vain. The first cash crop(经济作物) wasn’t eaten but smoked. Then there was Prohibition, intended to prohibit drinking but actually encouraging more 4 ways of doing it.

The immigrant experience, too, has been one of inharmony. Do as Romans do means eating what “real Americans”eat, but our nation’s food has come to be 5 by imports—pizza, say, or hot dogs. And some of the country’s most treasured cooking comes from people who arrived here in shackles.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that food has been a medium for the nation’s defining struggles, whether at the Boston Tea Party or the sit ins at southern lunch counters. It is integral to our concepts of health and even morality whether one refrains from alcohol for religious reasons or evades meat for political 6

But strong opinions have not brought 7 . Americans are ambivalent about what they put in their mouths. We have become 8 of our foods, especially as we learn more about what they contain.

The 9 in food is still prosperous in the American consciousness. It’s no coincidence, then, that the first Thanksgiving holds the American imagination in such bondage(束缚). It’s what we eat—and how we 10 it with friends, family, and strangers—that help define America as a community today.

A. answer

B. result

C. share

D. guilty

E. constant

F. defined

G. vanish

H. adapted I. creative J. belief

K. suspicious L. certainty M. obsessed N. identify O. ideals

Passage 2

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll(死亡人数) could have been much worse. More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, and earthquake of similar __1__ that shook America in 1998 claimed 25,000 victims.

Injuries and deaths were __2__ less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. On a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highway. In addition,

__3__ made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more __4__ to quakes.

In the past, making structures quake-resist-ant meant firm yet __5__ materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to __6__ the impact of ground vibrations. The most __7__ designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake’s vibrations. When ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would __8__ the building to shift in the opposite direction. The new designs should offer even greater __9__ to cities where earthquakes ofen take place.

The new smart structures could be very __10__ to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

[A]changes

[B]flexible

[C]decrease

[D]recent

[E]push

[F]reduce

[G]relatively [H]safety

[I]resistant [J]expensive [K]force [L]accordingly [M]intensity [N]security

[O]opposed

Passage 3

Wise buying is a positive way in which you can make your money go further. The way you go about purchasing an article or a service can actually 1 you money or can add to the cost. Take the 2 example of a hairdryer. If you are buying a hairdryer, you might think that you are making the 3 buy if you choose one whose look you like and which is also the cheapest 4 price. But when you get it home you may find that it takes twice as long as a more expensive 5 to dry your hair.The cost of the electricity plus the cost of your time could well make your hairdryer the most expensive one of all.

So what principles should you 6 when you go out shopping? If you keep your home, your car or any valuable 7 in excellent condition, you’ll be saving money in the long run. Before you buy a new 8 , talk to someone who owns one .If you can, use it or borrow it to check it suits your particular purpose. Before you buy an expensive 9 , or a service, do check the price and what is on offer. If possible, choose 10 three items or three estimates.

［A］possession ［B］save ［C］best ［D］appliance ［E］material ［F］from ［G］simple ［H］with

［I］in ［J］element ［K］model ［L］item ［M］easy ［N］adopt ［O］reasonable

Passage 4

There’s no question that the Earth is getting hotter. The real questions are: How much of the warming is our fault, and are we 1 to slow the devastation by controlling our insatiable 2 for fossil fuels?

Global warming can seem too 3 to worry about, or too uncertain-something projected by the same computer 4 that often can’t get next week’s weather right. On a raw winter day you might think that a few degrees of warming wouldn’t be such a bad thing anyway. And no doubt about it: Warnings about 5 change can sound like an environmentalist scare tactic, meant to force us out of our cars and restrict our lifestyles.

Comforting thoughts, perhaps. Unfortunately, however, the Earth has some discomforting news. From Alaska to the snowy peaks of the Andes the world is heating up right now, and fast. Globally, the 6 is up 1°F over the past century, but some of the coldest, most remote spots have warmed much more. The results aren’t pretty. Ice is 7 , rivers are running dry, and coasts are 8 , threatening communities.

The 9 are happening largely out of sight. But they shouldn’t be out of mind, because they are omens of what’s in store for the 10 of the planet.

[A]remote

[B]techniques

[C]consisting

[D]rest

[E]willing

[F]climate

[G]skill

[H]appetite [I]melting [J]vanishing [K]eroding [L]temperature [M]curiosity [N]changes [O]skillful

Passage 5

It seems you always forget—your reading glasses when you are rushing to work, your coat when you are going to the cleaners, your credit card when you are shopping...

Such absent-mindedness may be 1 to you; now British and German scientists are developing memory glasses that record everything the 2 sees.

The glasses can play back memories later to help the wearer remember things they have forgotten such as where they left their keys. And the glasses also 3 the user to "label" items so that information can be used later on. The wearer could walk around an office or a factory identifying certain 4 by pointing at them. Objects indicated are then given a 5 label on a screen inside the glasses that the user then fills in.

It could be used in 6 plants by mechanics looking to identify machine parts or

by electricians wiring a 7 device.

A spokesman for the project said: "A car mechanic for 8 could find at a glance where a part on a certain car model is so that it can be identified and repaired. For the motorist the system could 9 accident black spots or dangers on the road."

In other cases the glasses could be worn by people going on a guided tour, 10 points of interest or by people looking at panoramas where all the sites could be identified.

[A] allow

[B] instance

[C] blank

[D] industrial

[E] frustrating

[F] items

[G] indicating

[H] highlight [I] user

[J] complicated [K] white [L] annoying [M] successful [N] articles [O] simple

Passage 6

For many environmentalists, the world seems to be getting worse. They have developed a hitlist of our main fears: natural resources are 1 out? the population is ever growing, leaving less and less to eat? species are becoming 2 in vast numbers, and the planet’s air and water are becoming ever more polluted.

But a quick look at the facts shows a different picture. First, energy and other natural resources have become more 3 not less so, since the book ‘The Limits to Growth’was published in 1972 by a group of scientists. Second, more food is now produced per 4 of the world’s population than at any time in history. Fewer people are 5 . Third, although species are indeed becoming extinct, only about 0.7% of them are expected to disappear in the next 50 years, not 25~50%, as has so often been 6 . And finally, most forms of environmental pollution either appear to have been 7 , or are transient –associated with the early stages of industrialization and therefore best cured not by restricting economic growth, but by 8 it. One form of pollution –the release of greenhouse gases that causes global warming –does appear to be a phenomenon that is going to extend well into our future, but its total impact is unlikely to 9 a devastating (令人心神不安的) problem. A bigger problem may well turn out to be an inappropriate response to it.

Yet opinion polls suggest that many people nurture the belief that environmental standards are declining and some factors seem to cause this disjunction between 10 and reality.

A) pose

B) exaggerated

C) accelerating

D) extinct

E) exist

F) perception G) wealthy

H) magnified

I) starving J) head

K) running L) predicted

M) abundant

O) reducing

N) conception

Passage 7

EI NIno is name given to the masterious and often unpredictable change in the climate of the world.This strange ___1_____happens every five to eight years.It starts in the PAacific Ocean and is thought to be caused by a failure in the trade winds(信风)，which affects the ocean currents driven by these winds. As the trade winds lessen in ____2____,the ocean comperatures rise causing the Peru current flowing in form the east to warm up by as much as 5`C.

The warming of the ocean has far-reaching effects.The hot,humid(潮湿的)air over the ocean causes severe ___3___thunderstorms.The rainfall is increased acrossAounth American ____4____floods to Peru.In the West pacific,there are droughts affecting Australia and Indonesia.So while some parts of the world perpare for heavy rains and floods,other parts face drought,poor crops and____5____.

EI Nino usually lasts for about 18 months The 1982-83 EI Nino brough the most___6____weather in mordern history .Its effect was worldwide and it left more than 2,000 people dead and caused over eight billion pounds ____7___of damage.The 1990 EI Nino will ____9___,but they are still not __10___sure what leads to it or what affects how strong it will be.

A)estimate B)strength

C)deliberately

D)notify

E)tropical

F)phenomenon

G)stable

H)attraction

I)completely J)destructive K)starvation L)bringing M)exhaustion N)worth O)strike

Passage 8

Have you ever known anyone famous? If so, you may have found that they are remarkably similar to the rest of us. You may have even heard them __1__ to people saying there is anything different about them. “I’m really just a normal guy,”__2__ an actor who has recently rocketed into the spotlight. There is, of course, usually a brief period when they actually start to believe they are as great as their __3__ fans suggest. They start to wear __4__ clothes and talk as if everyone should hear what they have to say. This period, however, does not often last long. They fall back to reality as fast as they had __5__ risen above it all. What will it feel like to soar to such __6__ and look down like an eagle from up high on everyone else? And what will it feel like to have flown so high only to __7__ from your dream and realize you; are only human? Some only see the __8__ in losing something they had gained. They often make __9__ attempts to regain what they lost. Often these efforts result in even greater pain. Some become __10__ financially and emotionally. The only real winners are those who are happy to be back on the ground with the

rest of us.

A) desperate

B) disappointing

C) cruelty

D) bankrupt

E) fancy

F) protects

G) altitude

H) similarly I) wake

J) contest

K) object

L) worshipping M) dignity N) originally O) protests

Passage 9

When Roberto Feliz came to the USA from the Dominican Republic, he knew only a few words of English .Education soon became a __1__. “I couldn’t understand anything,”he said. He __2__ from his teachers, came home in tears , and thought about dropping out.

Then Mrs. Malave , a bilingual educator, began to work with him while teaching him math and science in his __3__Spanish.“She helped me stay smart while teaching me English ,”he said .Given the chance to demonstrate his ability, he __4__ confidence and began to succeed in school.

Today, he is a __5__ doctor, runs his own clinic ,and works with several hospitals .Every day ,he uses the language and academic skills he __6__ through

bilingual education to treat his patients.

Roberto’s story is just one of __7__ success stories. Research has shown that bilingual education is the most __8__ way both to teach children English and ensure that they succeed academically. In Arizona and Texas, bilingual students __9__ outperform their peers in monolingual programs. Calexico, Calif. , implemented bilingual education, and now has dropout rates that are less than half the state average and college __10__ rates of more than 90%.In E1 Paso ,bilingual education programs have helped raise student scores from the lowest in Texas to among the highest in the nation.

A) wonder

B) acquired

C) consistently

D) regained

E) nightmare

F) native

G) acceptance

H) effective I) hid

J) prominent K) decent

L) countless M) recalled

N) breakthrough O) automatically

Passage 10

As war spreads to many corners of the globe, children sadly have been drawn into the center of conflicts. In Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Colombia, however, groups of children have been taking part in peace education __1__. The children, after

learning to resolve conflicts, took on the __2__ of peacemakers. The Children’s Movement for Peace in Colombia was even nominated (提名) for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998. groups of children __3__ as peacemakers studied human rights and poverty issues in Colombia, eventually forming a group with five other schools in Bogota known as The Schools of Peace.

The classroom __4__ opportunities for children to replace angry, violent behaviors with __5__, peaceful ones. It is in the classroom that caring and respect for each person empowers children to take a step __6__toward becoming peacemakers. Fortunately, educators have access to many online resources that are __7__ useful when helping children along the path

to peace. The Young Peacemakers Club, started in 1992, provides a Website with resources for teachers and __8__ on starting a Kindness Campaign. The World Centers of Compassion for Children International call attention to children’s rights and how to help the __9__ of war. Starting a Peacemakers’Club is a praiseworthy venture for a class and one that could spread to other classrooms and ideally affect the culture of the __10__ school.

A) victims

B) technology

C) role

D) respectively E) projects

F) offers

G) information

H) images

I) forward J) especially K) entire

L) cooperative

M) comprehensive

N) assuming

O) acting

【答案及详解】

Passage 1

【全文翻译】

美国人如何看待食物呢?我们爱吃，但是过后会觉得内疚。我们说我们只要最好的，但是却热衷于享受垃圾食品;我们很重视健康和减肥，但是肥胖却又空前地在蔓延。也许，这种矛盾源于我们的历史。首批来到这个大陆的欧洲人是为了寻找新的香料，但却一无所获;首种经济作物不是用来吃的，而是用来吸得。那时，旨在禁止酗酒的禁酒令，实际上却激发了更多新奇的方法来酗酒。

移民的经历也与此有内在的关系。入乡随俗意味着要吃“典型的美国人”的饮食，但是美国的食物已经被诸如比萨或者热狗这样的舶来品所诠释了。美国最珍贵的一些烹饪来自于戴着镣铐而来的人们。

无论是在波士顿倾茶事件中，还是在南部午餐柜台前的静坐中，食物都曾被用来作为界定斗争的一种手段，这也许是不足为奇的。无论是出于宗教原因而戒酒，还是由于政治避难而戒肉，这都与我们的健康甚至是道德的观念相一致。

但是，这些坚定的观点并不是确定不变的。美国人对他们所吃的食物的态度是矛盾的。我们怀疑我们的食物，特别是当我们更清楚地了解了它们的成分时。

对食物的信仰一直存在于美国人的意识之中。第一个感恩节就把美国人的想象力束缚在食物之中，束缚在我们与朋友对它的分享之中，这并不是偶然的。

1. D feel是一个系动词，可以判断此处应填入一个形容词，通过上下文意思，以及后面介词about, 可以确定选项为D项guilty, 短语feel guilty about sth. “对……感到有愧”。全句的意思为“我们很爱吃，但是往往在吃完之后又有负罪感”。

2.M be obsessed with 为固定搭配，原意为“被……附上/缠住/迷住心窍”，放在本句表示“十分重视”。全句的意思为“我们很关心健康和减肥，但肥胖却又空前地在蔓延”。

3. A 本句缺一个名词作主语，并且根据和介词to的搭配，可以推断出正确选项answer.

4. I本句根据more和ways可以判断出需要填入一个形容词构成比较级，根据上下文，表示“旨在禁止酗酒的禁酒令，却激发了更多新奇的方法来酗酒”，可以确定I为正确选项。

5. F 本题较难。根据be 和by 确定应填入一个过去分词。再根据上下文，上文表示“应该吃典型的美国人吃的食物”，下文通过but 转折，表示实际上“美国的食物已经被诸如比萨和热狗这样的舶来品所诠释了”，因此可以确定F为正确选项。

6.B政治结果，可根据宗教原因religious reasons来推断此处填政治结果。

7. L由于横线后面没有宾语，可以确定不是形成bring的短语，这样本句所缺的为一名词，做bring的宾语。根据下文解释，“美国人对他们所吃的食物的态度是矛盾的”，可以推出本句意义为“坚定的观点也不是确定不变的”。因此可以确定L为正确选项。

8. K系动词become后应填入一个形容词，和后面介词of形成短语be/become suspicious of “对……感到怀疑”。

9. J本句缺一个名词作主语，并且根据和介词in的搭配，可以推断出正确选项belief，(have)belief in sth.“相信……”。

10. C本句是一般现在时，缺一个动词，且和with 搭配，确定选项为share, share sth.

with sb., “与某人分享某事”。

Passage 2

【全文翻译】

1994年洛杉矶发生强烈大地震后，地震学家报告了一个好消息：地震所造成的伤亡和损害并不大。此次地震有60多人丧生。相较而言，美国1998年发生的相似强度的地震造成的伤亡多达25，000人。

洛杉矶地震伤亡人数相对较少，是因为地震发生在凌晨4：31，而当天是个假日。当时城市公路上的车辆稀少。此外，在过去的20年中洛杉矶市对建筑法规所做的修订使城市的建筑和道路系统更加坚固，增强了抗震能力。

在过去，防震建材指的是坚固并且有弹性的材料，如钢材和木材，它们即使弯曲也不会折断。后来，人们尝试着将建筑物从地基上提起来，然后在建筑物和地基之间填充橡胶和钢材，从而减少地面震动对建筑物的影响。最新的建筑设计不仅为建筑提供水泥和钢筋支撑，而且还赋予它智能，从而成为智能建筑，让建筑物能像生命有机体那样对地震做出反应。当地面震动而导致建筑物顶部向前倾斜时，计算机将会迫使建筑物向相反方向移动。这种新的建筑设计能够使处于地震多发区的城市更为安全。

这种新型的智能型建筑造价高昂。然而，它可以挽救许多人的生命，而且在地震中不大可能受到损害。1.选M)。此处应填名词，作介词of的宾语，作为后置定语修饰earthquake，说明该名词是“地震”的自然属性。选项中的名词有changes，safety，intensity 和security，只有intensity可以表示地震的强度，故选M)。

2.选G)。此处应填副词，用来修饰形容词less。选项中的副词有relatively“相对的”和accordingly“相应的”，第一段说这次地震和1998年的那次地震程度一样，但造成的损失却小很多，再从后句中“高速路上的车辆不是很多”可以推断：这次的地震造成的“死

伤人数”与1998年比少很多，即少是相对的，故选G)relatively。

3.选A)。空格中要填的词是本句话中的主语，应为名词。这句话的主干是have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways,从第三段的内容和注释3的解析可知：建筑结构发生了变化，故应选择A)changes。

4.选I)。此处应填形容词，和其前面的more构成形容词的比较级，描述新型建筑与地震有关的性能。them = the city’s buildings and highways, have strengthened "被加固"说明他们更有抵御风险的能力了。选项中的四个形容词只有resistant符合这个意思，故选I)。

5.选B)。此处应填形容词，修饰名词materials。从后面的...bent without breaking "即使弯曲也不会折断"，说明是有韧性的材料。选项中的四个形容词只有flexible表示“柔韧的，可变形的”，故B)正确。

6.选F)。此处应填名词。根据上下文insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation“在建筑物和地基之间填充橡胶和钢材”是为了减少the impact of ground vibrations"地面震动对建筑物的影响"。选项中decrease和reduce都可以表示“减少”的意思，前者指稳定的逐步地减少，后者强调在大小、程度或强度方面下降或减少。故

F)reduce更符合题意。

7.选D)。根据注释3，可以推知，这里要填的词是和前面的In the past, Laer相对应的，选项中的形容词中只有recent可表示时间，the most recent desighs“最近的设计”，在原文中可以对应“过去，后来”，故D)为正确答案。

18.选K)。前面提到了智能建筑，这里说明当地震使这样的建筑向前倒的时候，电脑会怎样它，使它相反方向移动。在动词push和force之间悬着。push强调的是外加的力量，而这里的拖力者是与智能建筑一体的计算机系统，故这里force符合文意。

9.选N)。此后应填名词，做动词offer的宾语。本句前面一直在描述新型建筑采取的抗震措施，本句是这些措施的结果。抗震型建筑为城市提供的应该是更多的安全保障，选项中表示“安全”的词有safety和security，前者是处于安全状态，不受伤害，没有危险，多用于人身，货物。后者常指国家社会的免遭战争，灾难而安然无恙，故N)security更符合文意。

10.选J)。此处应填形容词。从后面的However后的一句说明智能建筑的优点而得知，However前所说的是智能建筑的缺点。既然智能建筑很聪明，又是新事物，那么建造起来肯定会耗费很多资金的，所以选J)expensive。

导读：

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll(死亡人数) could have been much worse. More than 60 people died in this earthquake.(The damage and death toll could have been much worse.此句为虚拟语气，“地震所造成的伤亡和损失本来应该更大。”说明实际上这次地震的损失并不大。)By comparison, an earthquake of similar M)intensity that shook America in 1998 claimed 25,000 victims.(这句的主干是an earthquake...claimed...25,000 victims。)

Injuries and deaths were G)relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. On a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highway. In addition, A)changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last

20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more

I)resistant to quakes.

In the past, making structures quake-resist-ant meant firm yet B)flexible

materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to F)reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most D)recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake’s vibrations. When ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would K)force the building to shift in the opposite direction. The new designs should offer even greater N)security to cities where earthquakes ofen take place.(In the past...,Later...,The most...designs,这里是一个世间顺序上的描述，说明了从以前到现在，建筑物的结构一直在不断变化。)

The new smart structures could be very J)expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

全文翻译：

Passage 3

【全文翻译】

理智购买是一种积极的方式，可以让你的钱更值钱。你购买一件物品或者一份服务的方式真的可以给你节省钱或者多花钱。以吹风机作一个简单的例子。如果你要买一个吹风机，当你选了一个外观你非常喜欢而且价格又是最便宜的，你一定认为你买了最好的东西。但是，当你把它买回家，你才发现它要花两倍于较贵的吹风机所花的时间来吹干你的头发。电费加上你的时间成本很可能使你的吹风机成为最贵的。

当你外出购物时，你应该采取什么样的原则呢?如果你保持你的家、你的车，或者任何一件值钱的物品处于一种良好的状态中，从长远的眼光来看，你会省钱。在你买一个新的用

品前，先与有这个物品的人交流一下。如果可能的话，你可以试试或者借来看看是否适合你的特殊要求。在购买一个贵重物品或者一项服务之前，要看好它的价格和功能。如果可能的话，一定要货比三家。

1.【解析】[B]save 本文主要讲理智的购物可以省很多钱的问题。你购买一件物品或者一份服务的方式真的可以给你省钱或者让你多花钱，所以此处空格填save，节省。

2.【解析】[G]simple 就拿吹风机作一个简单的例子。空格处用simple形容例子符合文章所表达的意思。

3.【解析】[C]best 如果你要买一个吹风机，当你选了一个外观你非常喜欢而且价格又是最便宜的，你一定认为你买了最好的东西。make the best buy即是说买了最好的东西。

4.【解析】[I]in 以怎样的价格用固定短语in price。最便宜的价格就是the cheapest in price。

5.【解析】[K]model 意为“样式，型”。当你把它买回家，你才发现它要花两倍于较贵的吹风机所花的时间来吹干你的头发。a more expensive model更贵的一款。

6.【解析】[N]adopt 意为“采用”。那么你外出购物时应该采用什么样的原则呢?adopt principles “采用原则”，principles 需要用adopt 来搭配。

7.【解析】[A]possession 意为“拥有物”。如果你保持你的家、你的车，或者任何一件值钱的物品处于一种良好的状态中，从长远的眼光来看你会省钱。

8.【解析】[D]appliance 意为“用品，器具”。在你买一个新的用品之前，先与有这个物品的人交流一下。

9.【解析】[L]item 在买一个贵的东西之前，要看好价格和正在出售的物品。item可用来指代物品。

10.【解析】[F]from 这个空格前是动词choose，从中作出选择即用介词from来搭配。