2009年12月大学英语四级模拟试题(1)

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
　　 Teaching children to read well from the start is the most important task of elementary schools. But relying on educators to approach this task correctly can be a great mistake. Many schools continue to employ instructional methods that have been proven ineffective. The staying power of the “look-say” or “whole-word” method of teaching beginning reading is perhaps the most flagrant example of this failure to instruct effectively.
　　 The whole-word approach to reading stresses the meaning of words over the meaning of letters, thinking over decoding, developing a sight vocabulary of familiar words over developing the ability to unlock the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. It fits in with the self-directed, “learning how to learn” activities recommended by advocates （倡导者）of “open” classrooms and with the concept that children have to be developmentally ready to begin reading. Before 1963, no major publisher put out anything but these “Run-Spot-Run” readers.
　　 However, in 1955, Rudolf Flesch touched off what has been called “the great debate” in beginning reading. In his best-seller Why Johnny Can’t Read, Flesch indicted（控诉）the nation’s public schools for miseducating students by using the look-say method. He said – and more scholarly studies by Jeane Chall and Rovert Dykstra later confirmed – that another approach to beginning reading, founded on phonics（语音学）, is far superior.
　　Systematic phonics first teachers children to associate letters and letter combinations with sounds; it then teaches them how to blend these sounds together to make words. Rather than building up a relatively limited vocabulary of memorized words, it imparts a code by which the pronunciations of the vast majority of the most common words in the English language can be learned. Phonics does not devalue the importance of thinking about the meaning of words and sentences; it simply recognizes that decoding is the logical and necessary first step.
　　36. The author feels that counting on educators to teach reading correctly is _____________.
　　 A) only logical and natural B) the expected position
　　 C) probably a mistake D) merely effective instruction
　　37. The author indicts the look-say reading approach because _________________.
　　 A) it overlooks decoding B) Rudolf Flesch agrees with him
　　 C) he says it is boring D) many schools continue to use this method
　　38. One major difference between the look-say method of learning reading and the phonics method is _______________.
　　A) look-say is simpler B) Phonics takes longer to learn
　　C) look-say is easier to teach D) phonics gives readers access to far more words
　　39. The phrase “touch-off” (Para 3, Line 1) most probably means _____________.
　　 A) talk about shortly B) start or cause
　　 C) compare with D) oppose
　　40. According to the author, which of the following statements is true?
　　 A) Phonics approach regards whole-word method as unimportant.
　　B) The whole-word approach emphasizes decoding.
　　C) In phonics approach, it is necessary and logical to employ decoding.
　　D) Phonics is superior because it stresses the meaning of words thus the vast majority of most common words can be learned.
　　Part Three Vocabulary and Structure
　　Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.
　　41. Word had come from the manager ____________ a new transaction would be concluded.
　　A) who
　　B) that
　　C) which
　　D) when
　　42. There was a traffic jam, but she ____________ get to the destination in time.
　　A) could
　　B) might
　　C) ought to
　　D) was able to
　　43. "Do you think ____________ I should attend the lecture?" she asked me.
　　A) that
　　B) whether
　　C) if
　　D) when
　　44. Their room was on the third floor, its window ____________ the sports ground.
　　A) overlooks
　　B) overlooking
　　C) overlooked
　　D) to overlook
　　45. On no account ____________ to anyone who works in the company.
　　A) my name must be mentioned
　　B) my name must mention
　　C) must my name be mentioned
　　D) must my name mention
　　46. Jim knows little of mathematics, ____________ of chemistry.
　　A) and still less
　　B) as well as
　　C) no less than
　　D) and still more
　　47. The man denied ____________ any thing at the supermarket when he was questioned by the police.
　　A) to have stolen
　　B ) to steal
　　C ) having stolen
　　D ) having been stealing
　　48. Did he tell you what ____________ if he had a chance?
　　A) was he going to do
　　B) he would do
　　C) be had done
　　D) had to do
　　49. The results were to ____________ yesterday, but we have heard nothing.
　　A) reveal
　　B) have revealed
　　C) be revealed
　　D) have been revealed
　　50. Calculations, which are astronomically exact, have been made ____________ with the use of computers.
　　A) possible
　　B) it possible
　　C) possibly
　　D) to be possible
　　51. To handle the delicate situation, you must ；be____________
　　A) more than careful
　　B) more carefully
　　C) carefully enough
　　D) enough carefully
　　52. The governess agreed to teach the temperamental child ____________ she was given complete authority.
　　A) whether
　　B) for
　　C) that
　　D) provided
　　53. According to the periodic table, ____________ still some elements undiscovered.
　　A) there seem to be
　　B) it seems to be
　　C) it seems that
　　D) here seem
　　54. The farmer used wood to build a house ____________ to store grain.
　　A) with
　　B) in which
　　C) which
　　D) where
　　55. A beam of light will not bend round the corners unless ____________ to do so with the help of a reflecting device.
　　A) being done
　　B) made
　　C) to be made
　　D) having made
　　56. ____________, the more severe the winters are.
　　A) The more north you go
　　B) The farther you go the north
　　C) The more you go north
　　D) The farther north you go
　　57. Vicky has been sad recently, for her plan to go to college ____________ at the last moment.
　　A) fell out
　　B) fell behind
　　C) fell through
　　D) fell off
　　58. You had better ____________ teasing these newcomers, for that will hurt their feeling.
　　A) leave out
　　B) leave for
　　C) leave off
　　D) leave behind
　　59. Don't lose heart! You should _____________ your courage and overcome the difficulty.
　　A) hold up
　　B) set up
　　C) pull up
　　D) pluck up
　　60. He ____________ a sum of money every month to help the two orphans.
　　A) sets aside
　　B) sets up
　　C) sets along
　　D) sets in
　　61. His debts had to be _____________ after he committed suicide with his rifle.
　　A) laid off
　　B) written off
　　C) turned off
　　D) put off
　　62. The gentleman ____________ a cherub with his letter.
　　A) combined
　　B) included
　　C) kept
　　D) enclosed
　　63. At the meeting both sides exchanged their views on a wide ____________ of topics they were interested in.
　　A) extent
　　B) number
　　C) collection
　　D) range
　　64. His ____________ has changed but he has kept the fine qualities of a scientific researcher.
　　A) state
　　B) status
　　C) station
　　D) statue
　　65. She can speak French and German, to ____________ nothing of English.
　　A) say
　　B) speak
　　C) talk
　　D) tell
　　66. If you play with electricity, you may get an electric ____________
　　A) strike
　　B) beat
　　C) shock
　　D) knock
　　67. It was a wonderful play with a ____________ of over fifty actors and actresses.
　　A) list
　　B) group
　　C) bunch
　　D) herd
　　68. A ____________change in policy is needed if relations are ever to improve.
　　A) strict
　　B) wide
　　C) ever
　　D) radical
　　69. Please give my best ____________ to your family.
　　A) notice
　　B) attention
　　C) regards
　　D) cares
　　70. They bought the land with a ____________ to build a new office block.
　　A) purpose
　　B) view
　　C) goal
　　D) reason