1、大学英语四级综合-29 及答案解析(总分：450.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：5，分数：450.00)Passage OneCreate a Green ZoneGet this: Your home is already an ecological wonder. Over the last 25 years the amount of energy used by the typical refrigerator dropped by two-thirds; washingmachine energy needs have been r
2、educed by nearly half; the use of redwood decking has fallen by two-thirds; and toilets use less than half the water that they did in the 1970s.You had no idea how good you were being, did you? Making choices that help the environment doesnt mean sacrificing comfort and, in fact, many green-home pro
3、ducts are extremely luxurious. Unfortunately, this contributes to the perception that the products are budget busters-a myth, says Alex Wilson, executive editor of Environmental Building News. “Certainly there are high-end green homes that demonstrate whats feasible, but the average homeowner can us
4、e many green strategies-and some actually reduce the cost of a home.“Architect Angela Dean, author of the book Green by Design, says even small changes can have a big impact. “Every time you change a light bulb, replace it with a fluorescent (荧光的) lamp,“ she says. According to govemment experts, if
5、every home in America replaced just one light bulb with a fluorescent lamp, the reduction in pollution would be equal to removing one million cars from the road.Here youll find our picks for the best and the brightest ideas in green building. Many of the products you can add to your house fight away
6、; others you can save for, and incorporate the next time you need a new roof or deck. Either way, being good has never been easier.Bamboo FlooringWood floors are gorgeous, but hardwoods traditionally used in flooring take decades to grow, and can be harvested irresponsibly in rain forests. The solut
7、ion is bamboo flooring. Although bamboo is technically a kind of grass, it grows like a treeonly faster. Since it matures in three years and regenerates itself, bamboo doesnt contribute to global destruction of forests. When pressed into boards, bamboo is as tough as other hardwoods, and has a richl
8、y patterned lines enlivened by tiny “nodes“-the bamboo equivalent of knotholes. It installs much like hardwood flooring and costs about the same. Solar RoofingOne drawback to solar-generated electricity is the bulky panels, which look out of place on a traditional home. Now you can harness the suns
9、power right through roof shingles (木瓦), thanks to an advanced technology. These space-age solar cells are shaped like conventional shingles and can be installed just like regular shingles, then wired into your homes electric system. Wilson says theyre not as efficient as freestanding solar panels, b
10、ut depending on weather conditions, they can generate virtually all the power for your home. In August, when the shingles are producing more electricity than you need, the current gets fed into the power grid, running your meter backward and thereby reducing your electric bill-which makes up for rai
11、ny days, when output is reduced. Solar shingles cost $40 to $50 a square foot installed, versus about $8 fur regular shingles, but you may only need them on the dark side of the house. And many states are now offering generous supplement.On-Demand Water HeatersMost houses have a hot-water tank that
12、is constantly fired up, keeping 40 to 80 gallons ready for the next shower or laundry load. By contrast, on-demand water heaters dont use a tank. Instead they employ a powerful burner to heat water only when needed. As a result, there is up to 34 percent greater efficiency, according to a report by
13、the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. On-demand heaters also save space because they are small and wall-mounted. Its important to get the right size heater for your home and lifestyle. This is a job for a heating professional, or your gas company.DeckingTraditional decking may u
14、se pressure-treated pine, which was usually tied with toxic substances. And the stain or paint applied to the wood often contains dangerous elements. It is necessary to change for your health; consider one of the many composite deck products made from recycled plastic and wood fiber. Besides looking
15、 great, they wont rot, or crack. They never need staining, and contain no toxic additives. Composite decking can cost two or three times as much as pressure-treated decking. But when you factor in the cost of maintaining a wood deck, the difference narrows over time.Occupancy SwitchesScientists have
16、nt figured out how to get kids to turn off lights in their rooms. But theyve made great strides in occupancy switches, which sense when no one is in a room and then shut off automatically. Older models that monitored environmental sound levels were not reliable; the latest switches rely on infrared
17、technology. Infrared switches are most common in homes; they need a direct line of sight and work best in simple four-walled spaces. Some are designed to replace a standard wall switch. Others are ceiling-mounted.Salvaged WoodSalvaged wood comes from two places-buildings that are being torn down or,
18、 increasingly, underwater. Logging operations in the 19th century used waterways to float trees; many logs sank. Today, divers are recovering these logs, which remain preserved in the cold fresh water. This salvaged wood often sells at a premium-S6 to $8 per board foot, and considerably more for exo
19、tic varieties. The logs are from ancient forests, where the branches and leaves that spread out at the top of a group of trees formed a thick roof which slowed growth and resulted in exceptionally tight lines favored by fine woodworkers. “You cant buy that kind of wood anymore,“ says Wilson. Often t
20、he wood is from trees that are now largely wiped out, like longleaf yellow pine. The wood can be used in any part of construction, from ceiling beams to flooring, or in furniture.Compact FluorescentsThese light bulbs, which use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent (白炽的) bulbs, have been ar
21、ound since the early 1980s. But in the past few years theyve gotten better, smaller-and cheaper. How cheap? Try five bucks, with a five-year guarantee. The reason, says Wilson, is simple: competition. “When California had its power crisis there was a huge upsurge in compact fluorescent, and Chinese
22、companies began making them inexpensively. Now theyre being made by dozens of companies, plus some utilities offer discounts.“ Todays compact fluorescents switch on quickly and dont buzz. And the colors are much warmer than the ghostly white models of the past.（分数：90.00）(1).What opinion does Alex Wi
23、lson disapprove?（分数：9.00）A.Helping the environment means killing comfort.B.Most green-home products are extremely comfortable.C.Green products increase the cost of a home.D.Average families can afford many green products.(2).Compared with hardwoods, what does the author say about bamboo?（分数：9.00）A.B
24、amboo can grow constantly in rain forests.B.Bamboo is a kind of grass but it grows like a tree.C.Bamboo flooring usually costs more.D.Bamboo causes the destruction of forests.(3).According to the passage, what is the disadvantage of the freestanding solar panel?（分数：9.00）A.It is difficult to handle.B
25、.It is not efficient.C.It must be installed on a special house.D.It seems unsuitable for a regular hous(4).Once the solar cells in the shingles bring in more electricity than you need in hot summer,（分数：9.00）A.your electric bill will be cut downB.you will pay more for a square foot installedC.you hav
26、e to run out of unwanted electricityD.your state will give you some supplement(5).On-demand water heaters increase efficiency because _（分数：9.00）A.they are constantly fired upB.they heat water in a small tankC.they heat water only when neededD.they use gas to heat water(6).The author suggests using c
27、omposite decking mainly because _（分数：9.00）A.traditional decking threatens peoples healthB.composite decking is made from recycled plastic and wood fiberC.composite decking is not easy to be damaged and cheap as wellD.traditional decking needs staining(7).What do we learn about occupancy switches fro
28、m the passage?（分数：9.00）A.They rely on environmental sound levels.B.They work better in a small space.C.They apply infrared technology.D.They are not always reliabl(8).The salvaged logs from ancient forests have _ because a thick roof formed by branches and leaves at the top of a group of trees slowe
29、d growth.（分数：9.00）填空项 1:_(9).Wilson thinks compact fluorescents have become better, smaller and cheaper mainly thanks to_（分数：9.00）填空项 1:_(10).The author of the passage provides readers some best ideas in _（分数：9.00）填空项 1:_Passage Two4 Ways to Engage Todays Generation of StudentsEach year, every facul
30、ty member becomes one year older. However, the average age of each incoming student remains the same. This presents a challenge: How can we keep the communication and learning gap from expanding more and more as time goes on?Now weve stepped into digital and information age when this generation has
31、been granted endless satellite channels, websites, text messages, and Ipod music choices to constantly go through daily. This makes it more difficult than ever before for faculty to keep the interest and attention of the students. Here are a few great tips for faculty on how to better engage todays
32、generation of students:1. Bring Cool Careers and Majors to LifeThis generation of students doesnt see the connection between todays lesson and what they really want to do someday. The more we can close that gap-to illustrate classroom relevance to their world-the better we can engage students and ke
33、ep their interest.The prospect of getting a job and working 40+ hours per week for the next 40 years doesnt exactly breed excitement in this generation. However, they can get excited through examples of “cool“ young people in their field who are very successful doing something they LOVE for a living
34、.While we mostly think of celebrities as TV stars or athletes, there are celebrities within almost every field. For example, Josh Bernstein of the History Channels “Digging for the Truth“ and Discovery Channels “Into the Unknown With Josh Bernstein“ makes history fun and interesting, especially to t
35、hose who never believed such topics were fun and interesting before. Even MSNBC television personalities such as the politically branded Tucker Carlson, and Jim Kramer of “Mad Money“, do give an alternative flair to the otherwise “boring“ world of politics and finance.2. Find Clever Opportunities to
36、 Integrate TV/Movies/Pop CultureIs it important for students to understand the long history of business, psychology, leadership, ete? Absolutely! However, seeking out opportunities to supplement historical principles with books, movies, or music of today can definitely help bring the learning proces
37、s to life. Cite a chapter, or even a paragraph or quote, from a source written since 2000 by someone 30 years old or under on the topic, and youll be amazed with the attention, interest, and results.One great example is the book Campus CEO: A Student Entrepreneurs Guide to Launching a Multi-Million
38、Dollar Business, written by Randal Pinkett, a sharp young professional who was a winner on the Donald Trump television show “The Apprentice“. This book includes many old-age, proven business principles from books written 50 years prior. However, which do you think is more appealing to read for today
39、s student?Any reference to reality television, video games, or downloaded music for their Ipod can immediately raise their attention. So, what do we mean by reference? A reference can be sharing a marketing article on the X-Box product, or a fresh class case study on a company such as Apple, or a st
40、atistical exercise on average the number of text messaging characters transmitted by the average college student each day. Have fun with examples from their world that can be used at every turn.3. Use the lnternet and Technology; In Ways that Speak Their LanguageIn general, less instances of distrib
41、uting articles from a magazine and more instances of citing article links on that magazines website is a good thing. The words “check out this website“ will probably elicit a more positive response than the infamous “take one and pass it down“. The Intemet is the virtual home of this generation. The
42、yve never lived without it.Whenever possible, have students research an individual or company website that is discussed in class. Beyond just articles and websites, what blogs within their field or subject can they participate in now as students? There can be great benefits to communication with fie
43、ld professionals across the world, and can even help students stay on the cutting edge of industry issues. Most importantly, they might just have fun doing it.YouTube has a world of possibilities in the learning community. Within moments, a drafting or engineering student can view the design and con
44、struction of an NFL stadium using time lapse photography (时间推移摄影术), while a biology student can view computer animation of photosynthesis. Instead of reading about things or hearing about things, students want to see things with their own eyes, on their own computers.4. Use Humor and Have Fun in the
45、 ClassroomCertainly, the job of an educator isnt to entertain. It is to educate. However: Do you remember a teacher who didnt just teach a class, but impacted your life? Did you feel as if they could relate to you, and could even make you laugh? Did you have fun in their class, and look forward to a
46、ttending each day?Zig Ziglar, one of the most successful motivational speakers in history, knew the power of incorporating humor in his presentations. Throughout his career, Zig would strategically place some type of wit, joke, or funny example every seven minutes during his presentation, no matter
47、the audience or topic. As he studied, attention span begins to dip as time between jokes lingered. People pay attention because they dont want to miss the next joke!So, what if youre not that funny? Here are a few tips: Go to Google or Google Images, and search under “Business humor“, or “Funny Biol
48、ogy“, or “Funny Advertising“. Keep an eye out for funny articles, or even comical things on television, that might have some direct or even indirect relevance to the subject. When applicable and appropriate, allow an environment where students are encouraged to have tim in group projects or class ex
49、ercises together. No one can articulate cool and funny lingo (行话) to students better than other students. Making learning fun is one principle that holds true no matter the generation. Teaching can be much easier when students look forward to coming to class.（分数：90.00）(1).It is more difficult for faculty to maintain the interest and attention of students because_（分数：9.00）A.the faculty dont understand what the students are thinkingB.the students have been attracted by various dig
