大學英語四級考試閱讀練習題

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　　Psychologists take opposing views of how external rewards, from warm praise to old cash, affect motivation and creativity. Behaviorists, who study the relation between actions and, argue that rewards can improve performance at work and school. Some other researchers who study various aspects of mental life, maintain those rewards often destroy creativity by encouraging dependence on approval and gifts from others.

　　The latter view has gained many supporters, especially among educators. But the careful use of small monetary rewards sparks in grade-school children suggesting that properly presented inducements indeed aid inventiveness, according to a study in the June Journal Personality and Social Psychology.

　　“If they know they're working for a reward and can focus on a relatively challenging task, they show the most creativity,” says Robert Esenberger of the University of Delaware in Newark. “But it's easy to kill creativity by giving rewards for poor performance or creating too much anticipation for rewards.”

　　A teacher who continually draws attention to rewards or who hands out high grades for ordinary achievement ends up with uninspired students, Esenberger holds. As an example of the latter point, he notes growing efforts at major universities to tighten grading standards and restore falling grades.

　　In earlier grades, the use of so-called token economics, in which students handle challenging problems and receive performance-based points toward valued rewards, shows promise in raising effort and creativity, the Delaware psychologist claims.

　　1. Psychologists are divided with regard to their attitudes toward ____.

　　A*** the choice between spiritual encouragement and monetary rewards

　　B*** the appropriate amount of external rewards

　　C*** the study of relationship between actions and

　　D*** the effects of external rewards on students' performance

　　2. What is the view held by many educators concerning external rewards for students?

　　A*** They approve of external rewards.

　　B*** They don't think external rewards.

　　C*** They have doubts about external rewards.

　　D*** They believe external rewards can motivate small children, but not college students.

　　3. According to the result of the study mentioned in the passage, what should educators do to stimulate motivation and creativity?

　　A*** Give rewards for performances which deserve them.

　　B*** Always promise rewards.

　　C*** Assign tasks which are not very challenging.

　　D*** Be more lenient to students when mistakes are made.

　　4. It can be inferred from the passage that major universities are trying to tighten their grading standards because they believe ____.

　　A*** rewarding poor performance may kill the creativity of students’

　　B*** punishment is more effective than rewarding

　　C*** failing uninspired students helps improve their overall academic standards

　　D*** discouraging the students anticipation for easy rewards is matter of urgency

　　5.Which of the following facts about “token economics” is not correct?

　　A*** Students are assigned challenging tasks.

　　B*** Rewards are given for good performances.

　　C*** Students are evaluated according to the effort they put into the task.

　　D*** With token economics, students’ creativity can be enhanced.

　　答案與解析：

　　1. D心理學家認為外界的獎勵對學生會有不同的影響。事實辨析題。根據文章第一句話“Psychologists take opposing views of how external re wards, from warm praise to old cash, affect motivation and creativity”可知，心理學家的分歧在於來自外界的獎勵對學生的積極性和創造性究竟有什麼影響，故選項D正確.

　　2. C許多教育家對外界的獎勵持懷疑態度。文章第二段第一句話提到，後一種觀點得到了許多教育工作者的支援，從第一段中可知，後一種觀點是：獎勵會促使學生對別人的讚許和饋贈產生依賴心理，因此獎勵會破壞創造精神。由此可知，他們對獎勵的正面作用持懷疑態度。故選項C正確。

　　3. A根據文中的研究結果表明，教育家通過給予學生應得的獎勵來提高他們的積極性和創造性。文章第三段指出，給予學生恰當的獎勵，可使他們發揮更大的創造性，但如果對糟糕的表現也給予獎勵，或讓學生對獎勵有太多的期許，反而會扼殺創造性。故選項A正確。

　　4. B從文中可以得知，一些重點大學試圖加強等級標準，因為他們相信懲罰比獎勵更有效。事實辨析題。從文中第四段可知，許多大學之所以嚴格考試的評分標準，是因為“A teacher ... who hands out high grades for ordinary achievement ends up with uninspired students”。選項B 與此意相同。

　　5. C根據學生的表現對他們做出評價。事實辨析題。根據最後一段的意思，在這種獎勵制度下，要根據學生的表現對他們做出評價，而不僅僅是他們花費了多少精力來完成任務，故選項C正確。

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　　When a consumer finds that an item she or he bought is faulty or in some other way does not live up to the manufacturer's claims, the first step is to present the warranty, or any other records which might help, at the store of purchase. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction. A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager. In general, the “higher up” his or her complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled. In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer's favor, assuming he or she has a just claim. Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of purchase, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter.

　　Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly, and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in question. If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements. For example, “The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear” is better than “This stereo does not work”. The store manager may advice the consumer to write to the manufacturer. If so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and firmly as possible. If a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result, the consumer can go to a step further. She or he can threaten to take the seller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumer's rights.

　　1. When a consumer finds that his or her in it, the first thing he or she should do is to ____.

　　A*** complain personally to the manager

　　B*** threaten to take the matter to court

　　C*** write a firm letter of complaint to the store of purchase

　　D*** show some written proof of the purchase to the store

　　2. How can a consumer make his or her complaint more effective, according to the passage?

　　A*** Explain exactly what is wrong with the item.

　　B*** Threaten to take the seller to court.

　　C*** Make polite and general statements about the problem.

　　D*** Avoid having direct contact with the store manager.

　　3. According to the passage, which of the following is suggested as the last alternative that consumers may turn to?

　　A*** Complain to the store manager in person.

　　B*** Complain to the manufacturer.

　　C*** Write a complaint letter to the manager.

　　D*** Turn to the Consumers’ Rights Protection Organization for help.

　　4. The phrase “live up to” in this context means ____.

　　A*** meet the standard of

　　B*** realize the purpose of

　　C*** fulfill the demands of

　　D*** keep the promise of

　　5.The passage tells us ____.

　　A*** how to settle a consumer’s complaint about a faulty item

　　B*** how to make an effective complaint about a faulty item

　　C*** how to avoid buying a faulty item

　　D*** how to deal with complaints from customers

　　答案與解析：

　　1. D當顧客發現自己所購買的商品有問題時，他所做的第一件事就是出示在商場購物的憑具。事實辨析題。文章第一段指明，顧客購買了有瑕疵的商品後，首先應出示在某商場購買某商品的相關記錄或證明。故選項D正確。

　　2. A為了使投訴更加有效，應當指出商品的問題所在。事實辨析題。根據第四段第一句話，最有效的投訴方式是指出所購商品的具體問題，故選項A正確。

　　3. D文章表明：消費者最後的處理方向就是向消費者權益保護組織求助。事實辨析題。文章最後一段指出，顧客購買了有瑕疵的商品後，可以向銷售者或生產者投訴，如得不到滿意答覆，可以進一步向消費者權益保護組織反映。故選項D正確。

　　4. A達到標準。詞彙題。文中“does not live up to the manufacturer’s claims”中的live up to意為“沒有達到„„的標準”。故選項A正確。

　　5. B文章告訴我們怎樣對有瑕疵的商品進行有效投訴。主旨題。本文主要說明顧客在購買了有瑕疵的商品後如何進行最有效的投訴，故選項B正確。