2011年12月大学英语四级考试阅读真题及答案

　　Section B

　　Passage One

　　Boys' schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and are more likely to get involved in activities such as art, dance and music, according to research released today.

　　Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity in which students either sink or swim, the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to conform to a stereotype, the US study says.

　　Boys at single sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the "boy code" of hiding their emotions to be a "real man".

　　The findings of the study go against received wisdom that boys do better when taught alongside girls.

　　Tony Little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls.

　　The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when their female peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills.

　　But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boys' learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia.

　　Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with specifically "boy-focused" approaches such as themes and characters that appeal to them. Because boys generally have more acute vision, learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given "hands-on" lessons where they are allowed to walk around. "Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine and prefer the modern genre in which violence and sexism are major themes," James wrote.

　　Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to conform to a stereotype that men should be "masterful and in charge" in relationships. "In mixed schools, boys feel compelled to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means," the study reported.

　　57. The author believes that a single-sex school would _____________________.

　　A force boys to hide their emotions to be “real man”

　　B help to cultivate masculine aggressiveness in boys

　　C encourage boys to express their emotions more freely

　　D naturally reinforce in boys that traditional image of a man

　　58. It is commonly believed that in a mixed schools boys ____________________.

　　A perform relatively better B grow up more healthily

　　C behave more responsibly D receive a better education

　　59. What does Tony Little say about the British education system?

　　A It fails more boys than girls academically B It focuses more on mixed school education

　　C It fails to give boys the attention they need

　　D It places more pressure on boys than on girls

　　60. According to Abigail James, one of the advantages of single-sex schools is ______________.

　　A teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boys

　　B boys can focus on their lessons without being distracted

　　C boys can choose to learn whatever they are interested in

　　D teaching can be designed to promote boys’ team spirit

　　61. Which of the following is characteristic of boys according to Abigail James’ report?

　　A They enjoy being in charge B They conform to stereotypes

　　C They have sharper vision D They are violent and sexist

　　Passage Two

　　It's an annual argument. Do we or do we not go on holiday? My partner says no because the boiler could go, or the roof fall off, and we have no savings to save us. I say that you only live once and we work hard and what's the point if you can't go on holiday. The joy of a recession means no argument next year – we just won't go.

　　Since money is known to be one of the things most likely to bring a relationship to its knees, we should be grateful. For many families the recession means more than not booking a holiday. A YouGov poll of 2,000 people found 22% said they were arguing more with their partners because of concerns about money. What's less clear is whether divorce and separation rates rise in a recession – financial pressures mean couples argue more but make splitting up less affordable. A recent research shows arguments about money were especially damaging to couples. Disputes were characterized by intense verbal aggression, tended to be repeated and not resolved, and made men, more than women, extremely angry.

　　Kim Stephenson, an occupational psychologist, believes money is such a big deal because of what it symbolizes, which may be different things to men and women. "People can say the same things about money but have different conceptions of what it is for," he explains. "They will say it's to save, to spend, for security, for freedom, to show someone you love them" He says men are more likely to see money as a way of buying status and of showing their parents that they've achieved something.

　　"The biggest problem is that couples assume each other knows what is going on with their finances, but they don't. There seems to be more of a taboo about talking about money than talking about death. But you both need to know what you are doing, who is paying what into the joint account and how much you keep separately. In a healthy relationship you don't have to agree about money, but you have to talk about it."

　　62. What does the author say about vacationing?

　　A People enjoy it all the more during a recession

　　B Few people can afford it without working hard

　　C It makes all the hard work worthwhile

　　D It is the chief cause of family disputes

　　63. What does the author mean by saying “money is known… to bring a relationship to its knees” (Line1 Para. 2)?

　　A Money is considered to be the root of all evils

　　B Some people sacrifice their dignity for money

　　C Few people can resist the temptation of money

　　D Disputes over money may ruin a relationship

　　64. The YouGov poll of 2000 people indicates that in a recession _________________.

　　A conflicts between couples tend to rise

　　B it is more expensive for couples to split up

　　C couples show more concern for each other

　　D divorce and separation rates increase

　　65. What does Kim Stephenson believe?

　　A Money is often a symbol of a person’s status

　　B Money means a great deal to both men and women

　　C Men and women spend money on different things

　　D Men and women view money in different ways

　　66. The author suggests at the end of the passage that couples should ________________

　　A put their money together instead of keeping it separately

　　B make efforts to reach agreement on their family budgets

　　C discuss money matters to maintain a healthy relationship

　　D avoid arguing about money matters to remain romantic

　　参考答案

　　57. C) encourage boys to express their emotions more freely

　　58. A) perform relatively better

　　59. C) It fails to give boys the attention they need。

　　60. A) teaching can be tailored to suit the characteristics of boys

　　61. C) They have sharper vision。

　　62. C) It makes all the hard work worthwhile。

　　63. D) Disputes over money may ruin a relationship。

　　64. A) conflicts between couples tend to rise

　　65. D) Men and women view money in different ways。

　　66. C) discuss money matters to maintain a healthy relationship