2015年12月大学英语四级模拟题及答案(1)

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

　　Until the 1980s, the American homeless population comprised mainly older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems-both legal and educational-for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers.

　　Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis. But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.

　　One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the "throwaway" youths who have been cast off their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.

　　Federal law, the Stewart McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.

　　31. In 1987, the American homeless population was made up of _____.

　　A) older males B) school children

　　C) adults D) both A and B

　　32. The author implies in the first paragraph that _____.

　　A) the homeless population is growing rapidly

　　B) there is serious shortage of school administrators and teachers

　　C) homeless children often move from place to place

　　D) homeless children usually stay outside schools

　　33. The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are _____ homeless children.

　　A) 7000,000 B) 350,000

　　C) 440,000 D) 70,000

　　34. One part of the homeless population is difficult to count. The reason might be that _____.

　　A) homeless children live on the streets

　　B) homeless children have no parents

　　C) the homeless are too young to be counted as children

　　D) the homeless children are not taken as members of their families

　　35. The aim of the McKinney Act is to _____.

　　A) offer education for homeless children

　　B) provide family shelters for homeless children

　　C) reduce the number of homeless children

　　D) estimate the number of homeless population

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

　　If women are mercilessly exploited year after year, they have only themselves to blame. Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion. When you come to think of it, only a woman is capable of standing in front of a wardrobe(衣柜) packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.

　　Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time altering the dresses they have. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; necklines are lowered or raised, and so on.

　　No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with vital things like warmth, comfort and durability(耐用). They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn't at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or delicately picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.

　　When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women's clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers. Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability? That is for you to decide.

　　36. Designers and big stores always make money .

　　A) by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry

　　B) because they are capable of predicting new fashions

　　C) by constantly changing the fashions in women's clothing

　　D) because they attach great importance to quality in women's clothing

　　37. To the writer, the fact that women alter their old-fashioned dresses is seen as .

　　A) a waste of money B) a waste of time

　　C) an expression of taste D) an expression of creativity

　　38. The writer would be less critical if fashion designers placed more stress on the of clothing.

　　A) cost B) appearance

　　C) comfort D) suitability

　　39. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

　　A) New fashions in clothing are created for the commercial exploitation of women.

　　B) The constant changes in women's clothing reflect their strength of character.

　　C) The fashion industry makes an important contribution to society.

　　D) Fashion designs should not be encouraged since they are only welcomed by women.

　　40. By saying "the conclusions to be drawn are obvious" (Lines 1-2, Para. 4) the writer means that .

　　A) women's inconstancy in their choice of clothing is often laughed at

　　B) women are better able to put up with discomfort

　　C) men are also exploited greatly by fashion designers

　　D) men are more stable and reliable in character