阅读理解真题选编Passage One(2002年 1 月大学英语四级阅读真题)要求：该篇文章是有关未来汽车的设计要有效避免交通堵塞的科技说明文考生对此类文章要做到认知准确，同时要精读该部分文章，争取达到会背的程度Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse.They see a day inthe not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust.Other authorities,however,think the auto is here to stay.They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urbantravel in the foreseeable future.The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years.It should becomesmaller,safer,and more economical,and should not be powered by the gasoline engine.The car ofthe future should be far more pollution-free than present types.Regardless of its power source,the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urbantraffic congestion(拥挤).One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highwaysystem.When the auto enters the highway system,a retractable(可伸缩的)arm will drop from the autoand make contact with a rail,which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically.Onceattached to the rail,the car will become electrically powered from the system,and control of thevehicle will pass to a central computer.The computer will then monitor all of the carsmovements.The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system.Thecomputer will calculate the best route,and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exitfrom the highway.The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer(蜂鸣器)that willwarn him of his coming exit.It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle10,000 vehicles per hour,compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by apresent-day highway.21.One significant improvement in the future car will probably be.A)its power sourceB)its driving systemC)its monitoring systemD)its seating capacity22.What is the authors main concern?A)How to render automobiles pollution-free.B)How to make smaller and safer automobiles.C)How to solve the problem of traffic jams.D)How to develop an automated subway system.23.What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system?A)A rail.B)An engine.C)A retractable arm.D)A computer controller.24.In an automated highway system,all the driver needs to do is.A)keep in the right laneB)wait to arrive at his destinationC)keep in constant touch with the computer centerD)inform the system of his destination by phone.25.What is the authors attitude toward the future of autos?A)Enthusiastic.B)Pessimistic.C)Optimistic.D)Cautious.Passage Two(2002年 1 月大学英语四级阅读真题)要求：这是一篇关于大学校园中出现的“老年学热”的说明文。
考生要精读之For an increasing number of students at American universities,Old is suddenly in.the reason isobvious:the graying of America means jobs.Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom(生育高峰)generation,a longer life span means that the nations elderly population is bound to expandsignificantly over the next 50 years.By 2050,25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65,up from 14 percent in 1995.The change poses profound questions for government and society,ofcourse.But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions and in law andbusiness as well.In addition to the doctors,were going to need more sociologists,biologists,urban planners and specialized lawyers,“says Professor Edward Schneider of the University ofSouthern Californias(USC)School of Gerontology(老年学).Lawyers can specialize in“elder law，which covers everything from trusts and estates tonursing-home abuse and age discrimination(歧视).Businessmen see huge opportunities in theelder market because the baby boomers,74 million strong,are likely to be the wealthiest group ofretirees in human history.4iAny student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with,say,and MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,“one professor says.Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC.She began college as a biology major butfound she was“really bored with bacteria.,So she took a class in gerontology and discovered thatshe liked it.She says,“I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying/31.Old is suddenly in(Line 1,Para.1)most probably means A)America has suddenly become a nation of old peopleB)gerontology has suddenly become popularC)more elderly professors are found on America campusesD)American colleges have realized the need of enrolling older students32.With the aging of America,lawyers can b e n e f i t.A)from the adoption of the elder law,?B)from rendering special services to the elderlyC)by enriching their professional knowledgeD)by winning the trust of the elderly to promote their own interests33.Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market?A)Retirees are more generous in spending money.B)They can employ more gerontologists.C)The elderly possess and enormous purchasing power.D)There are more elderly people working than before.34.Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?A)Retirees who are。