2018年12月份的英语四级已经进入关键阶段，你准备好了吗？真题做了吗？想要稳扎稳打通过四级，英语四级真题一定要做。所以，今天一起来做英语四级真题练习吧！

Directions: There are 1 passage in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Questions 56 to 60are based on the following passage.

The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts in higher education isn’t an either/or proposition(命题)，although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM(science, technology, engineering, maths)-related fields can make it seem that way.

The latest congressional report acknowledges the critical importance of technical training, but also asserts that the study of the humanities (人文学科)and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels. Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become innovative(创新的)leaders, and benefit from the spiritual enrichment that the reflection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides.

      Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects as technological advances and changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs. Under these circumstances, it’s natural to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run. Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily.

Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’s little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers. The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be flexible. The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight—picked up from science, arts, and technology—to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States.

56. What does the latest congressional report suggest?

A) STEM-related subjects help students find jobs in the information society.

B) The humanities and STEM subjects should be given equal importance.

C) The liberal arts in higher education help enrich students’ spiritual life.

D) Higher education should be adjusted to the practical needs of society.

57. What is the main concern of students when they choose a major?

A) Their interest in relevant subjects.

B) The academic value of the courses.

C) The quality of education to receive.

D) Their chances of getting a good job.

58. What does the author say about the so called soft subjects?

A) The benefit students in their future life.

B) They broaden students’ range of interests.

C) They improve students’ communication skills.

D) They are essential to students’ healthy growth.

59. What kind of job applicants do employers look for?

A) Those who have a strong sense of responsibility.

B) Those who are good at solving practical problems.

C) Those who are likely to become innovative leaders.

D) Those who have received a well-rounded education.

60. What advice does the author give to college students?

A) Seize opportunities to tap their potential.

B) Try to take a variety of practical courses.

C) Prepare themselves for different job options.

D) Adopt a flexible approach to solving problems.

【参考答案】

      解析：56.B

本题属于观点型细节题，问最近的一次国会报告提出了什么建议。根据题干定位词latest congressional report 定位到文章第二段第一句。Acknowledge意为“承认”，引出观点。前半句非常简单，“最近的一次国会报告承认了技术训练的关键性”，后半句以 but进行语义转折，意为“但是他们也认为关于人文学科和社会科学的研究都必须在任何等级的美国教育系统中作为核心部分”。之后的both areas are critical to…都是在描述这两门学科对塑造人才的积极影响，可以略读。

解析：57.D

题目问学生选择专业时主要关心什么。结合顺序原则可以大致定位到第三段，本段前两句话讲述了家长和学生们在为高等教育做出巨大投资之后所以担心 的问题就是市场的变化可能会导致孩子们将来就业机会变少以及工资降低。并且根据这个大背景提出了一个公认的解决的办法，也就是由题干中的major定位到 的本段第三句，“Major in a subject designed to get you a job”seems the obvious answer to some,… 意思是“选择一个为给你找到工作而设计的专业是大部分人认可大答案”。

解析：58.A

问作者如何评价所谓的“软”学科。本题答案依然出自于第三段，57题定位句的后半句，即though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run.本句的disciplines与subjects都是“学科”的意思，所以这句话可以翻译成“尽管他们忽略一个事实，那就是人文学科中那些被描述 成“软”学科的，通常能够能够促成将来的就业和成功”。

解析：59.D

问老板想找什么类型的应聘者。答案出自第三段最后一句话，employers have expressed a preference for students who received a broadly-based education that has taught them how to write well, think carefully, research creatively, and communicate easily. 这句话非常直白地告诉我们老板所偏爱的员工是接受过broadly-based education的人，即“全方位教育”，所以与这句话有相同描述的选项即为正选。

解析：60.D

问作者给大学生提了什么建议。全文只有四段话，前三段都已经用于解决之前的四道题，所以最后一题自然而然地定位到最后一段。并且由第一句里的 students should…可以看出这段话主要是在讨论相关的建议。由于没有具体的定位词可以参考，所以一般情况下咱们需要快速读完整段话再一一对应选项看有没有符合的内容。

本题选择D。答案出自于本段的最后两句话。意思是“能在这种环境下做到最好的一定是那些已经让自己做好随时变通的准备的人。”以及最后作者还评 价“能够利用任何可用的工具——不管是来自己于哪个学科，去解决问题，并且利用机会表现自己”的能力会产生很大的帮助。D选项就是对原文的归纳和总 结，ABC属于无中生有的干扰项。

好了，以上是小编整理的英语四级真题的阅读理解部分（不含听力与作文）。在做阅读理解题时，一定要揣测出图人的意图，不要想当然。选出的答案，一定要能在原文中找到有力的支撑句，这样才有把握。