四六级

　　英语四级阅读理解占总分的35%，相对来说比重较大，所以这部分对四级取得高分是关键，考生们需要多做题、多练习。小编为大家整理了英语四级阅读理解100篇精讲，希望可以帮助大家提升阅读能力。

　　英语四级阅读理解100篇之石器时代

　　The stone age, The Iron Age. Entire epochs have been named for materials. So what to call the decades ahead? The choice will be tough. Welcome to the age of superstuff. Material science -- once the least sexy technology – is bursting with new, practical discoveries led by superconducting ceramicsthat may revolutionize electronics. But superconductors are just part of the picture: from house and cars to cook pots and artificial teeth, the world will someday be made of different stuff. Exotic plastics, glass and ceramics willshape the future just as surely as have genetic engineering and computer science.

　　The key to the new materials is researchers’ increasing ability to manipulate substances at the molecular level. Ceramics, for example, have long been limited by their brittleness. But by minimizing the microscopic imperfections that cause it, scientists are making far stronger ceramics that still retain such qualities as hardness and heat resistance. Ford Motor Co. now uses ceramic tools to cut steel. A firm called Kyocera has created a line of ceramic scissors and knives that stay sharp for years and never rust or corrode.

　　A similar transformation has overtaken plastics. High-strength polymers now form bridges, ice-skating rinks and helicopter rotors. And one new plastic that generates electricity when vibrated or pushed is used in electric guitars, touch sensors for robot hands and karate jacketsthat automatically record each punch and chop. Even plastic litter, which once threatened to permanently blot the landscape, has proved amenable to molecular tinkering. Several manufacturers now make biodegradable forms; some plastic six-pack rings for example, gradually decompose when exposed to sunlight. Researchers are developing ways to make plastics as recyclable as metal or glass. Besides, composites – plastic reinforced with fibers of graphite or other compounds – made the round-the-world flight of the voyager possible and have even been proved in combat: a helmet saved an infantryman’s life by deflecting two bullets in the Grenada invasion.

　　Some advanced materials are old standard with a new twist. The newest fiberoptic cable that carry telephone calls cross-country are made of glass so transparent that a piece of 100 miles thick is clearer than a standard window pane.

　　But new materials have no impact until they are made into products. And that transition could prove difficult, for switching requires lengthy research and investment. It can be said a firmer handle on how to move to commercialization will determine the success or failure of a country in the near future.

　　1. How many new materials are mentioned in this passage?

　　[A] Two

　　[B] Three

　　[C] Four

　　[D] Five

　　2. Why does the author mention genetic engineering and computer science?

　　[A] To compare them with the new materials.

　　[B] To show the significance of the new materials on the future world.

　　[C] To compare the new materials to them.

　　[D] To explain his view point.

　　3. Why is transition difficult?

　　[A] Because transition requires money and time.

　　[B] Because many manufacturers are unwilling to change their equipment.

　　[C] Because research on new materials is very difficult.

　　[D]Because it takes 10 years.

　　4. Where lies success of a country in the New Age of superstuff?

　　[A] It lies in research.

　　[B] It lies in investment.

　　[C] It lies in innovation.

　　[D] It lies in application.

　　英语四级阅读理解100篇之石器时代【答案详解】

　　1. B 三种超导材料。答案再第一段最后一句“神奇的塑料、玻璃和陶瓷”。下面各段具体讲这三种材料。第二段讲陶瓷：“新材料之关键在于研究工作者不断提高在分子水平上处理物质的能力。举陶瓷为例，由于它的脆性，长期来应用范围有限。但是通过改善导致脆性的微小缺陷，科学家制造出一种保持原有硬度和抗热性，但坚实得多的陶瓷”。第三段讲塑料。“类似的转折发生在塑料上，高强度的塑料建成了桥梁、溜冰场、直升机的叶轮。一种震动或推动就能发电的新型塑料用于电子吉他上，触及传感塑料用于机械手和空手道外衣上，它能自动记录每次击打。”后面谈及塑料垃圾可以处理，或者制造可分解还原的塑料制品。塑料内加入其他化合物加强性能。第四段讲有些高级材料由新的改变，最新的光纤电缆由玻璃制成，透明度极高，100英里厚的一块其清晰度比一块普通窗玻璃还高。

　　2. B 说明这种新材料对未来世界的意义。答案在第一段：“神奇的塑料、玻璃和陶瓷一定会象生物工程和计算机一样将改变世界。”A. 把它们和新材料相比较，这里不仅仅是比较，而是说明三者都具同样的作用--改变世界。 C. 把新材料比作它们。也不仅仅是比喻比拟。 与A一样没有说到核心电。D. 说明他的观点。太笼统。

　　3. A 转折需要钱和时间。见最后一段“可是新材料只有制成产品才有影响，而这个转折可能很困难，因为转折需要长期的研究和投资。可以这么说，在不久的将来，更牢牢地掌握如何把材料转变成商品将决定一个国家之成败。”B. 因为许多制造商不愿改变他们的设备。C. 因为新材料的研究非常困难。 D. 转折要华上十年时间。这三项文内没有涉及。

　　4. D 在超级材料时代已过之成功在于应用。A. 在于研究。B. 在于投资。C. 在于革新。这三项都是应用的部分前提。其中A和B文内提到，C项文内未涉及。

　　英语四级阅读理解100篇之石器时代【参考译文】

　　石器时代，铁器时代。整个时代都以物质命名。那么，未来的几十年该怎么称呼呢?这将是一个艰难的选择。欢迎来到超物质时代。材料科学——曾经是最不性感的技术——正迸发出新的、以超导陶瓷为首的实用发现，这些陶瓷可能会彻底改变电子技术。但是超导体只是其中的一部分:从房子和汽车到煮锅和假牙，这个世界总有一天会由不同的材料构成。正如基因工程和计算机科学一样，奇特的塑料、玻璃和陶瓷必将塑造未来。

　　这种新材料的关键在于，研究人员在分子水平上操纵物质的能力越来越强。以陶瓷为例，其脆性长期以来一直受到限制。但是，通过尽量减少引起这种现象的微观缺陷，科学家们正在制造一种强度大得多的陶瓷，这种陶瓷仍然具有硬度和耐热性等特性。福特汽车公司(Ford Motor Co.)现在使用陶瓷工具来切割钢材。一家名为京瓷的公司发明了一系列陶瓷剪刀和刀具，它们可以保持锋利多年，不会生锈或腐蚀。

　　类似的转变已经超过了塑料。高强度聚合物现在形成桥梁、溜冰场和直升机旋翼。一种新型塑料可以在振动或推动时发电，这种塑料被用于电吉他、机器人手的触摸传感器和空手道夹克中，可以自动记录每一拳和劈的动作。甚至一度威胁要永久污染环境的塑料垃圾，也被证明是可以接受分子修补的。一些制造商现在生产可生物降解的产品;例如，一些六块装的塑料环，在阳光下会逐渐分解。研究人员正在研究使塑料像金属或玻璃一样可回收利用的方法。此外，复合材料——用石墨或其他化合物纤维增强的塑料——使旅行者号飞行成为可能，甚至在战斗中也得到了证明:在格林纳达入侵中，一顶头盔挡住两颗子弹，挽救了一名步兵的生命。

　　一些先进的材料是旧的标准，有了新的变化。最新的光纤电缆是由透明的玻璃制成的，100英里厚的玻璃比标准的窗玻璃还要透明。

　　但新材料在被制成产品之前不会产生影响。这种转变可能会很困难，因为转变需要长期的研究和投资。可以说，一个国家能否在不久的将来走向商业化，将取决于一个国家的成败。