2020年公共英语二级阅读理解试题四

Passage 1

Measles(麻疹),which once killed 450 children each year and disabled even more,was nearly wiped out in the United States 14 years ago by the universal use of the MMR vaccine(疫苗).But the disease is making a comeback,caused by a growing anti-vaccine movement and misinformation that is spreading quickly.Already this year,115 measles cases have been reported in the USA,compared with 189 for all of last year.

The numbers might sound small,but they are the leading edge of a dangerous trend.When vaccination rates are very high,as they still are in the nation as a whole,everyone is protected.This is called “herd immunity”,which protects the people who get hurt easily,including those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons,babies too young to get vaccinated and people on whom the vaccine doesn’t work.

But herd immunity works only when nearly the whole herd joins in.When some refuse vaccination and seek a free ride,immunity breaks down and everyone is in even bigger danger.

That’s exactly what is happening in small neighborhoods around the country from Orange County,California,where 22 measles cases were reported this month,to Brooklyn,N.Y.,where a 17-year-old caused an outbreak last year.

The resistance to vaccine has continued for decades,and it is driven by a real but very small risk.Those who refuse to take that risk selfishly make others suffer.

Making things worse are state laws that make it too easy to opt out(决定不参加) of what are supposed to be required vaccines for all children entering kindergarten.Seventeen states allow parents to get an exemption(豁免),sometimes just by signing a paper saying they personally object to a vaccine.

Now,several states are moving to tighten laws by adding new regulations for opting out.But no one does enough to limit exemptions.

Parents ought to be able to opt out only for limited medical or religious reasons.But personal opinions?Not good enough.Everyone enjoys the life-saving benefits vaccines provide,but they’ll exist only as long as everyone shares in the risks.

1.The first two paragraphs suggest that 　　　.

A.a small number of measles cases can start a dangerous trend

B.the outbreak of measles attracts the public attention

C.anti-vaccine movement has its medical reasons

D.information about measles spreads quickly

2.Herd immunity works well when 　　　.

A.exemptions are allowed

B.several vaccines are used together

C.the whole neighborhood is involved in

D.new regulations are added to the state laws

3.What is the main reason for the comeback of measles?

A.The overuse of vaccine.

B.The lack of medical care.

C.The features of measles itself.

D.The vaccine opt-outs of some people.

4.What is the purpose of the passage?

A.To introduce the idea of exemption.

B.To discuss methods to cure measles.

C.To stress the importance of vaccination.

D.To appeal for equal rights in medical treatment.

Passage 2

FLORENCE,Italy — Svetlana Cojochru feels hurt.The Moldovan has lived here seven years as a caregiver to Italian kids and the elderly,but in order to stay she’s had to prove her language skills by taking a test which requires her to write a postcard to an imaginary friend and answer a fictional job ad.

Italy is the latest Western European country trying to control a growing immigrant(移民) population by demanding language skills in exchange for work permits,or in some cases,citizenship.

Some immigrant advocates worry that as hard financial times make it more difficult for natives to keep jobs,such measures will become more a vehicle for intolerance than integration(融合).Others say it’s only natural that newcomers learn the language of their host nation,seeing it as a condition to ensure they can contribute to society.

Other European countries laid down a similar requirement for immigrants,and some terms are even tougher.The governments argue that this will help foreigners better join the society and promote understanding across cultures.

Italy,which has a much weaker tradition of immigration,has witnessed a sharp increase in immigration in recent years.In 1990,immigrants numbered some 1.14 million out of Italy’s then 56.7 million people,or about 2 percent.At the start of this year,foreigners living in Italy amounted to 4.56 million of a total population of 60.6 million,or 7.5 percent,with immigrants’ children accounting for an ever larger percentage of births in Italy.

Cojochru,the Moldovan caregiver,hoped obtaining permanent residence(居住权) would help her bring her two children to Italy;they live with her sister in Moldova,where salaries are among the lowest in Europe.She was skeptical that the language requirement would encourage integration.

Italians always “see me as a foreigner,” an outsider,even though she’s stayed in the country for years and can speak the local language fluently,she said.

1.Why does Cojochru have to take a language test?

A.To continue to stay in Italy.

B.To teach her children Italian.

C.To find a better job in Italy.

D.To better mix with the Italians.

2.Some people worry that the new language requirement may 　　　.

A.reduce Italy’s population quickly

B.cause conflicts among people

C.lead to financial difficulties

D.put pressure on schools

3.What do we know about Cojochru?

A.She lives with her sister now in Italy.

B.She enjoys learning the Italian language.

C.She speaks Italian well enough for her job.

D.She wishes to go back to her home country.

Passage 1

【语篇导读】 麻疹是一种原本在美国彻底消失的疾病,但最近正在卷土重来,主要原因是一些人拒绝注射麻疹疫苗。事实上,只有所有人都参与进来,群体免疫才会有效果。考生如果怕自己错过考试报名时间和考试时间的话，可以 免费预约短信提醒，届时会以短信的方式提醒大家报名和考试时间。

1.The first two paragraphs suggest that 　　　.

A.a small number of measles cases can start a dangerous trend

B.the outbreak of measles attracts the public attention

C.anti-vaccine movement has its medical reasons

D.information about measles spreads quickly

答案　A

解析　推理判断题。根据第二段第一句“The numbers might sound small,but they are the leading edge of a dangerous trend.”可推断出,麻疹患者的数量虽然不算多,但是很有可能会引发危险。

2.Herd immunity works well when 　　　.

A.exemptions are allowed

B.several vaccines are used together

C.the whole neighborhood is involved in

D.new regulations are added to the state laws

答案　C

解析　细节理解题。根据第三段第一句“But herd immunity works only when nearly the whole herd joins in.”可知,只有所有人群都参与进来,群体免疫才能最大限度地发挥效用。

3.What is the main reason for the comeback of measles?

A.The overuse of vaccine.

B.The lack of medical care.

C.The features of measles itself.

D.The vaccine opt-outs of some people.

答案　D

解析　细节理解题。根据倒数第三段第一句可知,麻疹卷土重来的主要原因是一些人拒绝注射麻疹疫苗。

4.What is the purpose of the passage?

A.To introduce the idea of exemption.

B.To discuss methods to cure measles.

C.To stress the importance of vaccination.

D.To appeal for equal rights in medical treatment.

答案　C

解析　推理判断题。通读全文内容可知,作者写这篇文章的目的是强调接种疫苗的重要性。

【长难句分析】This is called “herd immunity”,which protects the people who get hurt easily,including those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons,babies too young to get vaccinated and people on whom the vaccine doesn’t work.

这就是所谓的“群体免疫”,它能保护那些容易受伤的人,包括那些由于医学原因不能接种疫苗的人,太小而不能接种疫苗的婴儿和疫苗不起作用的人。

本句结构比较复杂。which引导的是非限制性定语从句,第一个who引导的是定语从句,修饰the people,在including引导的短语中,who引导的是限制性定语从句,修饰those,on whom是“介词+关系代词”结构,引导限制性定语从句,修饰people。

Passage 2

【语篇导读】本文报道了意大利最近采取的一项限制移民的措施,即要求移民通过一项语言考试来获得工作条件甚至居民身份。

1.Why does Cojochru have to take a language test?

A.To continue to stay in Italy.

B.To teach her children Italian.

C.To find a better job in Italy.

D.To better mix with the Italians.

答案　A

解析　细节理解题。根据第一段中的“...in order to stay she’s had to prove her language skills by taking a test...” 可知她参加考试的原因是要继续留在意大利,故A项正确。

2.Some people worry that the new language requirement may 　　　.

A.reduce Italy’s population quickly

B.cause conflicts among people

C.lead to financial difficulties

D.put pressure on schools

答案　B

解析　推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Some immigrant advocates worry that as hard financial times make it more difficult for natives to keep jobs,such measures will become more a vehicle for intolerance than integration.”可知,糟糕的经济状况已经让本土人很难保住工作,而这样一项措施使得移民压力变大,可能会导致排外而不是融合,故B项正确。

3.What do we know about Cojochru?

A.She lives with her sister now in Italy.

B.She enjoys learning the Italian language.

C.She speaks Italian well enough for her job.

D.She wishes to go back to her home country.

答案　C

解析　推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“...she’s stayed in the country for years and can speak the local language fluently...”可知,她能熟练地讲意大利语,故C项正确。B项在文中未提到;A、D两项和文章倒数第二段内容矛盾。

【长难句分析】Some immigrant advocates worry that as hard financial times make it more difficult for natives to keep jobs,such measures will become more a vehicle for intolerance than integration(融合).

一些移民倡导者担心,由于经济困难时期使本地人更加难以保持工作,这些措施将成为不宽容而不是融合的机会。

本句是一个复合句。that引导的是宾语从句,在宾语从句中有一个as引导的原因状语从句,it是形式宾语,代替后面的动词不定式短语。

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