Part II Reading Comprehension(35 minutes)

　　Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. 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 centre.

　　Passage One

　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

　　I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that concludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago. While any of these statements might be true, they are practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, I was struck by a report which concluded that today's children are significantly more anxious than children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children ages 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago.

　　Why are America's kids so stressed? The report cites two main causes: increasing physical isolation-brought on by high divorce rates and less involvement in community, among other things-and a growing perception that the world is a more dangerous place.

　　Given that we can't turn the clock back, adults can still do plenty to help the next generation cope.

　　At the top of the list is nurturing ( 培育 ) a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress.

　　To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can pull the plug on TVs and computers. Your family will thank you later. They will have more time for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep.

　　Limit the amount of virtual (虚拟的) violence your children are exposed to. It's not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on the local news.

　　Keep your expectations for your children reasonable. Many highly successful people never attended Harvard or Yale.

　　Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you cope with your own anxieties and provide a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable. But it doesn't have to ruin your life.

　　21. The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are________.

　　A) surprising B) confusing

　　C) illogical D) questionable

　　22. What does the author mean when he says, "we can't turn the clock back" (Line 1, Para. 3)?

　　A) It's impossible to slow down the pace of change.

　　B) The social reality children are facing cannot be changed.

　　C) Lessons learned from the past should not be forgotten.

　　D) It's impossible to forget the past.

　　23. According to an analysis, compared with normal children today, children treated as mentally ill 50 years ago________.

　　A) were less isolated physically

　　B) were probably less self-centered

　　C) probably suffered less from anxiety

　　D) were considered less individualistic

　　24. The first and most important thing parents should do to help their children is ________.

　　A) to provide them with a safer environment

　　B) to lower their expectations for them

　　C) to get them more involved socially

　　D) to set a good model for them to follow

　　25. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

　　A) Anxiety, though unavoidable, can be coped with.

　　B) Children's anxiety has been enormously exaggerated.

　　C) Children's anxiety can be eliminated with more parental care.

　　D) Anxiety, if properly controlled, may help children become mature.

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

　　It is easier to negotiate initial salary requirement because once you are inside, the organizational constraints ( 约束 ) influence wage increases. One thing, however, is certain: your chances of getting the raise you feel you deserve are less if you don't at least ask for it. Men tend to ask for more, and they get more, and this holds true with other resources, not just pay increases. Consider Beth's story:

　　I did not get what I wanted when I did not ask for it. We had cubicle ( 小隔间 ) offices and window offices. I sat in the cubicles with several male colleagues. One by one they were moved into window offices, while I remained in the cubicles. Several males who were hired after me also went to offices. One in particular told me he was next in line for an office and that it had been part of his negotiations for the job. I guess they thought me content to stay in the cubicles since I did not voice my opinion either way.

　　It would be nice if we all received automatic pay increases equal to our merit, but "nice" isn't a quality attributed to most organizations. If you feel you deserve a significant raise in pay, you'll probably have to ask for it.

　　Performance is your best bargaining chip(筹码)when you are seeking a raise. You must be able to demonstrate that you deserve a raise. Timing is also a good bargaining chip. If you can give your boss something he or she needs (a new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before merit pay decisions are being made, you are more likely to get the raise you want.

　　Use information as a bargaining chip too. Find out what you are worth on the open market. What will someone else pay for your services?

　　Go into the negotiations prepared to place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.

　　26. According to the passage, before taking a job, a person should ________.

　　A) demonstrate his capability

　　B) give his boss a good impression

　　C) ask for as much money as he can

　　D) ask for the salary he hopes to get

　　27. What can be inferred from Beth's story?

　　A) Prejudice against women still exists in some organizations.

　　B) If people want what they deserve, they have to ask for it.

　　C) People should not be content with what they have got.

　　D) People should be careful when negotiating for a job.

　　28. We can learn from the passage that ______.

　　A) unfairness exists in salary increases

　　B) most people are overworked and underpaid

　　C) one should avoid overstating one's performance

　　D) most organizations give their staff automatic pay raises

　　29. To get a pay raise, a person should ________.

　　A) advertise himself on the job market

　　B) persuade his boss to sign a long-term contract

　　C) try to get inside information about the organization

　　D) do something to impress his boss just before merit pay decisions

　　30. To be successful in negotiations, one must________.

　　A) meet his boss at the appropriate time

　　B) arrive at the negotiation table punctually

　　C) be good at influencing the outcome of the interaction

　　D) be familiar with what the boss likes and dislikes

　　【试题解析】

　　Passage One

　　本文作者在第一段指出,今天的孩子在精神上要比50年前的孩子紧张得多.第二段分析了导致这种情况的两个原因:一是高离婚率和很少参加社会活动使孩子们感到孤独;二是因为孩子们认为这个世界越来越危险.第三段承上启下,指出虽然我们不能改变现实,但可以想办法帮助孩子们脱离困境.从第四段起一直到文章最后一段,作者列举了若干这方面的方法:首先是让孩子们认识到个人主义的局限性;帮助他们建立良好的人际关系;减少暴力对他们的不良影响;对孩子的期望值要合理;带领孩子积极锻炼身体.

　　21. 本题题干为"作者认为有关人们心智状态的任何研究结论都是________".根据文章第一段前两句"I'm usually fairly skeptical about...they are practically impossible to prove scientifically."可知,作者对于这一类研究结论的态度是"skeptical(对……持怀疑态度的,不相信的)".因此,正确答案为选项D).

　　22. 本题问:作者说"我们不能倒拨时钟"这句话是什么含义?四个选项中,除选项B)外,其余选项的意思文章都未涉及到.如果把选项B)" The social reality children are facing cannot be changed."代入第三段替换"we can't turn the clock back"这一部分,完全符合上下文逻辑和全文意思.因此,正确答案为选项B).

　　23. 本题题干为"根据分析,与今天的正常儿童相比,50年前被认为精神上有病的儿童________".解题依据为第一段最后一句"In fact, the analysis showed, normal children ages 9 to 17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago.(实际上,有分析表明,今天9-17岁的正常儿童精神上比50年前精神上有病的儿童还要紧张.)".由此可见,正确答案为选项C).

　　24. 本题题干为"为了帮助孩子们,父母亲应该做的最首要的事情是________".解题依据为第四段"At the top of the list is nurturing ( 培育 ) a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress.(首先是让孩子们认识到个人主义的局限性.任何一个孩子都不是一座孤岛.加强社会联系能帮助他们更多地参与社会活动,使他们免受精神紧张的压力.)".选项C)的意思正好与这一段相符.因此,正确答案为选项C).

　　25. 本题问:从文章中可以得出什么推论?解题依据为本文最后一句"Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable. But it doesn't have to ruin your life.(有时精神上紧张和焦虑是难免的,但它不至于毁掉你的生活.)"选项A)的意思正好与这一句相符.因此,正确答案为选项A).

　　Passage Two

　　本文第一段阐明了作者的一个观点:你应当主动争取你本应得到的薪酬和待遇.第二段以贝思的亲身经历进一步验证了作者的上述观点.文章后半部分作者就如何争取加薪提出了若干建议,如优秀的工作业绩,提出要求的恰当时机和谈判的技巧等.

　　26. 本题题干为"根据短文,一个人在接受工作前应当________".解题依据为第一段,尤其是第一句前面这一部分"It is easier to negotiate initial salary requirement,...(进公司前谈工资要求要容易些,……)".把选项D)填入空格,题句的意思正好与文章内容相符.因此,正确答案为选项D).

　　27. 本题问:从贝思的经历中可以得出什么样的推论?第二段叙述了贝思的经历,从中可以得出以下推论:如果你想得到你本应得到的薪酬和待遇,就应当主动去争取.选项B)正好是这一意思.因此,正确答案为选项B)。

　　28. 本题题干为"从本文我们可以知道________".解题依据为第一段后半部分,尤其是最后一句中的前面部分"men tend to ask for more, and they get more(往往主动要求加薪的就能得到加薪)".由此可见,这样加薪不合理.选项A)正好是这一意思.因此,正确答案为选项A)。

　　29. 本题题干为"为了得到加薪,一个人应该________".解题依据为第三段最后一句"If you can give your boss something he or she needs (a new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before merit pay decisions are being made, you are more likely to get the raise you want.(如果在老板根据雇员的工作业绩决定加薪之前,你能向老板提供所需要的东西,比如一个新客户或是一个数额可观的合同,你就更有可能得到加薪.)".把选项D)填入空格,意思正好与文章内容相符.因此,正确答案为选项D) 。

　　30. 本题题干为"为了取得谈判的成功,一个人必须________".解题依据为文章最后一句"Go into the negotiations prepared to place your chips on the table at the appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction of the interaction.(与老板谈判时要准备好在适当的时机把筹码放在谈判桌上,并通过使用谈判技巧引导谈判的发展方向.)".选项C)就是这一意思.因此,正确答案为选项C)。

　　(文/张国荣; 英语通大学英语四级考试版2004年第5期;版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)