考试吧—恩波：2008年12月英语四级预测试卷(三)

　　Section C

　　Directions:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46, you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks,you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

　　Today, students who want to learn English in the U.S. have a wide choice of courses and institutions to choose from. And, because the U.S. is such a big country, they also have a huge

　　(36) of locations in which to study. The U.S. has a long (37) of teaching English because, (38) its history, the country has welcomed immigrants from all over the world, most of whom have needed to (39) English. Today, the English language teaching sector in the U.S. is well (40) and its teachers are highly (41) and experienced.

　　American universities and colleges welcome many thousands of (42) students each year, who (43) on degree or postgraduate coures. Most of these institutions provide preparation courses for students (44) .These courses are called Intensive English Language Programs and (45) .

　　In addition to language tuition, Intensive English Language Programs give students (46) , and become more familiar with the American academic environment.

　　Part ⅣReading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

　　Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.

　　To call something “marginal” means it is not very good. Farmers have their own way to 47 marginal land: It is the last to be planted under good conditions, and has the 48 to be avoided under poor conditions. Low 49 soil is not the only reason land could be considered marginal. It might be in an area where rainfall is 50 or where a hillside might rise too steeply (陡峭地).

　　There are uses for marginal land, however. Most often it is used as grassland. Grasses provide excellent 51 for grazing(吃草)animals like cattle, sheep and goats. Grass seed can be bought from a foreign supplier or 52 grasses can be used. However, using marginal land for grazing is not a simple issue. There is a 53 of overgrazing. Cattle can damage the crops by eating down to the roots. Also, the weight of the animals crushes the soil and can make it too hard for growing. A(n) 54 way to reduce the harm is to move animals from one field to another. This method is known as rotational grazing (循环放牧)which is extremely important for marginal land.

　　Another use for marginal land is for tree crops. Studies have 55 that the white pine and loblolly pine(火炬松)are two kinds of trees that grow well on such land. They grow fast and provide good quality wood. Another tree is the poplar(白杨),found in many parts of the world.

　　Failure to take the care needed to protect marginal lands can make a bad situation worse.But good planning can 56 a marginal resource into a highly productive one.

　　A)feed B) priority C) transplant D) effective

　　E) limited F) define G) adequate H) transform

　　I) discouraging J) quality K) native L) revealed

　　M) prejudice N) hazard O) recovered