1、专业英语四级-108及答案解析 (总分：99.98，做题时间：90分钟)二、Passage 1(总题数：1，分数：20.00)Real innovation is a dying art. Its true that creativitythe business of thinking up new ideas-is far from dead, but its getting harder and harder to get new concepts applied in design, manufacturing or business. It costs thousands of pou
2、nds to get a new idea into the marketplace, and there is very little support for anything from most companies or government. A lot of people dont want to know. Ive always been interested in new ideas. I was trained as an engineer and went to work for an automotive components company, and almost from
3、 the first day I was asking why things were done in this way and not that. I thought up my first invention at 19then I discovered someone else had got there first. Ive been inventive all my life. Ive got 14 patents to my name. Invention is what happens when you come across a problem, and look for a
4、solution. It could be at work or at home in the gardenlike a better way of mowing the lawn, say. But these days creativity is being stifled because there are so many hoops to go through. You have a brilliant idea for a left-handed widget but you still have to ask yourself: Is it new? Has it already
5、been protected? Is there a market for it? Is the investment worth it? Only 4 percent of granted patents reach the market place. Part of the problem is that manufacturing industry and government are obsessed with complex technology like bioengineering. There is no interest in low technology or simple
6、 ideas that are equivalent to the invention of the paperclip. Inventors still come up with simple devices, but its difficult to get anyone interested. But its also a very British problem. Inventions from Britain are often taken up overseas, because most British companies tend not to look outside the
7、ir own factory gates. My own personal theory is that its a legacy of the Empire, when Britain had a captive audience and little competition, so industries didnt need to market their products. Nowadays, companies from other leading economies have to make what the consumer wants in order to ensure the
8、ir profits, so they are always ready to innovate. And many British manufacturers have never caught up. Plus, British schoolchildren arent embracing vocational training subjects such as metalwork, woodwork, or design and technology. As a result university engineering departments are closing. Tomorrow
9、s World used to be on the TV, but where is that now? The whole lack of interest in creativity and invention is a symptom of the class system, tooheres a kind of snobbishness in Britain about cleverness and originality. The only inventors you see in the media are people like Sir Clive Sinclair and Tr
10、evor Bayliss who come across like mad scientists.（分数：20.00）(1).Whats the authors opinion on real innovation?（分数：4.00）A.He is in two minds.B.It has little future.C.It has a bright future.D.It depends.(2).Which of the following statements about the author is INCORRECT according to the passage?（分数：4.00
11、）A.He was original and creative.B.He has got 14 patents to his name.C.His first invention was a big success.D.He was trained to be an engineer.(3).Whats the problem of the traditional British industry according to the author?（分数：4.00）A.Lack of investment.B.Lack of labor.C.Lack of innovation.D.Lack o
12、f competition.(4).Which of the following is NOT the problem that hinders the real invention?（分数：4.00）A.Theres a kind of snobbishness in Britain about cleverness and originality.B.Most British companies tend not to look outside their own factory gates.C.There is no interest in low technology or simpl
13、e ideas.D.New inventions can be put into use.(5).What does the phrase catch up (Para. 5) mean?（分数：4.00）A.To come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster.B.To get involved in something.C.To do what needs to be done because you have not been able to do it until now.D.To try to ta
14、ke hold of something.三、Passage 2(总题数：1，分数：20.00)I am one of the many city people who are always saying that given the choice we would prefer to live in the country away from the dirt and noise of a large city. I have managed to convince myself that if it werent for my job I would immediately head ou
15、t for the open spaces and go back to nature in some sleepy village buried in the country. But how realistic is the dream? Cities can be frightening places. The majority of the population live in massive tower blocks, noisy, dirty and impersonal. The sense of belonging to a community tends to disappe
16、ar when you live fifteen floors up. All you can see from your window is sky, or other blocks of flats. Children become aggressive and nervouscooped up at home all day, with nowhere to play; their mothers feel isolated from the rest of the world. Strangely enough, whereas in the past the inhabitants
17、of one street all knew each other, nowadays people on the same floor in tower blocks dont even say hello to each other. Country life, on the other hand, differs from this kind of isolated existence in that a sense of community generally binds the inhabitants of small villages together. People have t
18、he advantage of knowing that there is always someone to turn to when they need help. But country life has disadvantages too. While it is true that you may be among friends in a village, it is also true that you are cut off from the exciting and important events that take place in cities. Theres litt
19、le possibility of going to a new show or the latest movie. Shopping becomes a major problem, and for anything slightly out of the ordinary you have to go on an expedition to the nearest large town. The city-dweller who leaves for the country is often oppressed by a sense of unbearable stillness and
20、quiet. What, then, is the answer? The country has the advantage of peace and quiet, but suffers from the disadvantage of being cut off; the city breeds a feeling of isolation, and constant noise batters the senses. But one of its main advantages is that you are at the centre of things, and that life
21、 doesnt come to an end at half-past nine at night. Some people have found (or rather bought) a compromise between the two: they have expressed preference for the quiet life by leaving the suburbs and moving to villages within commuting distance of cities. They generally have about as much sensitivit
22、y as the plastic flowers they leave behindthey are polluted with strange ideas about change and improvement which they force on to the unwilling original inhabitants of the villages. What then of my dreams of leaning on a cottage gate and murmuring morning to the locals as they pass by. Im keen on t
23、he idea, but you see theres my cat, Toby. Im not at all sure that he would take to all that fresh air and exercise in the long grass. I mean, can you see him mixing with all those hearty males down the farm? No, he would rather have the electric imitation-coal fire any evening.（分数：20.00）(1).We get t
24、he impression from the first paragraph that the author _.（分数：4.00）A.used to live in the countryB.used to work in the cityC.works in the cityD.lives in the country(2).In the authors opinion, the following may cause city people to be unhappy EXCEPT _.（分数：4.00）A.a strong sense of fearB.lack of communic
25、ationC.housing conditionsD.a sense of isolation(3).The passage implies that it is easy to buy the following things in the country EXCEPT _.（分数：4.00）A.daily necessitiesB.fresh fruitsC.designer clothesD.fresh vegetables(4).According to the passage, which of the following adjectives best describes thos
26、e people who work in large cities and live in villages?（分数：4.00）A.Original.B.Quiet.C.Arrogant.D.Insensitive.(5).Do you think the author will move to the country?（分数：4.00）A.Yes, he will do so.B.No, he will not do so.C.It is difficult to tell.D.He is in two minds.四、Passage 3(总题数：1，分数：20.00)Most people
27、 know two things about Corsica: Napoleon was born here and it was the haunt of bandits. The first is correct; the second is in the wrong tense. The bandits are still here, taking potshots at anything that smacks of French domination and flexing their muscles in the struggle for independence. But don
28、t let that stop you visiting this magical place; perhaps the best-kept secret in the western Mediterranean. The bandits are not out to get youtheir main purpose in life seems to be the destruction of French road signs, although from time to time theyll blow up a public building. Drive along the moun
29、tain roads and riotously beautiful coastal eorniche highways and youll see signs in two langnagesFrench and Corsu, the indigenous language derived from Tuscan Italian. Invariably the French signs are defaced. There is nothing new about thisCorsicans have been fighting since at least Roman times and
30、it is thought the word and concept vendetta originated here. And this is precisely why the island is that European raritya tourist paradise without tourist overload. We sailed into Ajaceiopronounced Ayaehooon a stylish overnight Moby ferry from Marseilles. We could also have flown or sailed across f
31、rom an Italian harbour, but Marseilles is the port of choice for most visitors. As soon as the ferry docked we could smell good food and within two minutes of landing, I was walking through the citys waterfront marketplace eating sweet onion pasties. The little town (pop. 68,000) rises from the harb
32、our into the maquiscovered hills. Its blank-faced houses betray the long influence of Genoa and the narrow, winding streets reveal the historic need to take cover and man the barricades. Up above the town are some of the wildest mountains in Europe, accessed by skinny roads and forest tracks. A high
33、way of sorts runs around the coast, but the interior is almost uninhabited. Many people come here to test their stamina and courage against a harsh landscape; many more come to laze around in idyllic coastal towns and villages. Cap Corse, a crooked cape pointing towards the French-Italian rivieras,
34、is the prime destination for travellers who take time to study where theyre going. Bastia is the main town and Plage de Saleccia the regions showpiece beach. At the other end of the island is the magical little town of Bonifacio, with streets so white and water so blue and your eyes start to hurt. P
35、erched on a crumbling cliff above a harbour where tycoons yachts are moored, the town looks across the narrow straits to northern Sardinia.（分数：20.00）(1).Corsica is an island of _.（分数：4.00）A.ItalyB.FranceC.GenoaD.Greek(2).Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the first three par
36、agraphs?（分数：4.00）A.Corsu is a language derived from Tuscan Italian.B.Corsica is not a much toured place.C.Corsicans are under the rule of France.D.The bandits in Corsica are cruel killers and robbers.(3).The building style of the houses here has been under the influence of _.（分数：4.00）A.ItalyB.France
37、C.GenoaD.Roman(4).What does the phrase of sorts mean in Paragraph 6?（分数：4.00）A.Rather, to some extent.B.To a certain extent.C.Feeling unwell.D.Not fully deserving.(5).Which of the following towns is called the magical little one by the author?（分数：4.00）A.Bastia.B.Ajaccio.C.Sardinia.D.Bonifacio.五、Pass
38、age 4(总题数：1，分数：20.00)As one of Europes leading cultural cities Berlin offers many museums, historic sites and other places for a memorable visit. Many landmarks remind us of the long history of Berlin, the remains of the destruction during World War and its history when it was divided between east a
39、nd west. Even though Berlin is a large metropolis orientating yourself in Berlin isnt hard at all. There are three prominent landmarks: the Church of Remembrance (the Gedachtniskirche), located in the west on the Kurfturstendamm, the Brandenburger Tor in the city district of Mitte, and the Fernsehtu
40、rm (TV-tower) at Alexanderplatz in the East. Round and about these three points of interest lie the inner districts of Berlin. The 365-meter high TV Tower was built between 1965 and 1969 and is located in East Berlin. It reminds us of the time when Berlin was divided. Now its a symbol of a united ci
41、ty. And as one of the highest buildings in Europe it offers a marvellous view of the city both during the day and night. You can visit the observation platform located at a height of 203 meters or dine at the restaurant while enjoying the view. The Brandenburg Gate, Berlins only remaining city gate,
42、 is the most known town landmark and also symbol of the division and reunion of the city. It was situated in the no mans land just behind the wall and reopened after the Fall of the Wall on December 22, 1989. The sandstone construction, built from 1788-1791 to plans by C. G. Langhans, has 12 Doric c
43、olumns and is based on the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. In 1891-1895, in a new-Romanesque style, the original Gedachtniskirche was built to honour the memory of Kaiser Wilhelm I and represented a symbol of the era of the German Empire. During the Second World War, the church was heavily da
44、maged but not completely destroyed. The remaining ruins reminded the local population about the bombings of the war and were transformed into a small museum and into a memorial. In 1961-1963, next to the church, the high six-sided bell tower and the flat eight-sided main building were built. The old
45、 tower ruins serve today as a church museum and a remembrance hall for peace and reconciliation. The Reichstag is a very important site in German historyits colourful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19th century. The Reichstag was constructed from 1884-1894 by Paul Wallot, s
46、ince a representative building was needed to house the parliament of the newly-founded German state. On November 9, 1918, the politician Philipp Scheidemann announced the establishment of the Republic from one of its windows. After the war, the devastated building was rebuilt in a simplified form fr
47、om 1961-1971, but it was not used for parliamentary functions. After reunification, the German Federal Government decided to use the building as a parliament once again. From 1994-1999 the Reichstag was reconstructed and extended by the Architect Sir Norman Forster. Since 1999 the Reichstag is home
48、to the Bundestag (the lower Parliament). The Berlin Wall was originally one hundred miles long and was constructed by the Communist government of the former east. All that is left today are a few sections of the wall near the Ostbahnhof and the Reichstag. These sections have been preserved to remind Berliners of the 28-year division of their city. The remnants of the Berlin Wall now serve as an outdoor gallery of art from local and city artists.（分数：19.98）(1).According to the second paragraph, the three prominent landmarks _.（
