2010年12月英语四六级考试阅读专项练习(20)

　　Passage 2

　　In the United States, it is not __11__ to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11: 00 p. m. . If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he __12__ it's a matter of life and death. The time chosen for the call __13__ its importance.

　　In __14__ life, time plays a very important part. In the U. S. A. , guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the __15__ to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in __16__ because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings __17__ between people from cultures that treat time differently.

　　Promptness is valued __18__ in American life, for example. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U. S. no one would think of keeping a business __19__ waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late is __20 __ to make a short

　　apology. If he is less than 5 minutes late, he will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.

　　A. highly B. engagement C. customary D. social

　　E. inform F. invitation G. advance H. absence

　　I. heavily J. associate K. expected L. assumes

　　M. habitual N. arise O. communicates

　　Passage 3

　　At the close of each business day, most trained teachers, administrators, politicians, and statesmen make objective analyses of all that has transpired. They then carefully evaluate performance in the achievement of certain specified objectives. You, as a student, would be wise to adopt the same practice and reflect upon your performance in relating to the achievement of certain personal and educational objectives.

　　First, what was your purpose, your motivational force in seeking an education? Did you seek an education in active performance, or did you seek to be educated in passive reception and automatic acquisition(获取) of information that was fed to you? Was the profit motive your primary motivation for obtaining an education? Do you want a better education for the sole purpose of getting a better job? What does the educational process really mean to you?

　　We are part of a world in which men thrill to the touch of gold and hearts respond to the word money instead of being thrilled by the thought of good. We five in a world in which we are taught that the pursuit of happiness is an equation for the most rapid acquisition of money, by whatever means.

　　If profit and money are your first priorities, and compassion and commitment to people your least concern, you have done little other than accumulate some facts and compile some information for future reference. If making money is your daydream and losing money your nightmare, if poverty is your worst fear and making money your most fervent prayer, you have missed the opportunity for education. You have failed yourself and have only received Nome instruction.

　　21.. This passage suggests that students should______.

　　A. assess their aims for learning B. learn more to earn more

　　C. evaluate their politicians and statesmen D. keep knowledge to themselves

　　22.The educational procedure should be one in which the student______.

　　A. does what he is told

　　B. gets a better education to get a better job

　　C. makes principles of education for self-betterment of their aims

　　D. approaches the benefits of being well-off

　　23. The author seems to feel that______.

　　A. people's welfare should be the chief concern in learning

　　B. profit has nothing to do with people

　　C. poverty is good for the soul

　　D. knowledge is not the main objective for learning

　　24.A good title for the selection might be______.

　　A. The Benefit of Education

　　B. Education Motivation—Progress or Profit

　　C. Self-Education

　　D. Profit and Money

　　25. The word "nightmare" in the last paragraph is nearest in meaning to_______.

　　A. a very bad dream B. unhappiness

　　C. sleeplessness D. a hazard to your health