專家解析大學英語四級考試歷年閱讀真題(十四)

　　題目問優(yōu)雅的餐桌禮儀在當今社會生活中雖然不及過去流行，但……

　　最后一道題無非是考查全篇或是文章的最后部分。從題目問的內容來看，應該不是對全篇的考查，那么答案就只能存在于最后一兩段。最后一段還是比較長的，從這里出一道題非常有可能，所以可以不看第五段，直接從最后一段中尋找答案。

　　最后一段一共三句話。第一句是說正式禮儀的失去也有消極的一面。

　　第二句很長，需要慢慢消化理解。The fine points of etiquette that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere。首先可以發(fā)現主語是The fine points of etiquette，that引導了一個從句(一直到括號部分)，是對這個主語的修飾。謂語部分是must be picked up�；�本結構就是etiquette must be picked up elsewhere——禮節(jié)必須在別的地方重拾。從句部分的意思是“孩子們在餐桌上通過觀察和父母、祖父母的指導學到的禮儀”。

　　第三句是說一些公司開始召開禮節(jié)研討會，以給在社交方面較為懵懂的人們提供幫助。

　　這三句的邏輯順序是這樣的：社會不能喪失正式禮儀，因為它有消極的一面。過去孩子們可以在餐桌上學到正式禮儀，現在因為習慣改變已經學不到了，那么這種正式禮儀必須通過別的方式學習。有些公司開始召開禮節(jié)研討會，以給在社交方面較為懵懂的人們提供幫助，這就是一種學習方式。

　　A，在某些場合還是必須的。文中強調正式禮儀必須“重拾”，可見是必須的。A的說法正確。

　　B，遲早還要回歸的。文中沒有類似說法。

　　C，父母們依然在家中教授孩子這種禮儀。根據上面的分析，實際情況與此恰恰相反，孩子們在餐桌上已經學不到正式禮儀了。

　　D，有利于促進個人關系發(fā)展。文章講到禮儀研討會可以幫助不懂社交的人，那么應該是有利于他們的社會關系的發(fā)展，而不是個人關系。

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

　　Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.

　　Located on the shore of Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane (颶風) Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.

　　Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasn’t strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo’s wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.

　　At first sight, the house on Sullivan’s Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern (燈籠)” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.

　　To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings—long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm surges. The pilings allow the surges to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.

　　Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed by the house’s ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

　　36. After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina’s shore line are required ________.

　　A) to be easily reinforced

　　B) to look smarter in design

　　C) to meet stricter building standards

　　D) to be designed in the shape of cubes(C)

　　37. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because ________.

　　A) it is strengthened by steel rods

　　B) it is made of redwood

　　C) it is in the shape of a shell

　　D) it is built with timber and concrete(A)