2019年6月大学英语四级阅读理解训练：让座

①Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically non-existent. ②It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her, as he ought. ③In fact, it is saddening to note that if a man does offer his seat to an older woman, it is nearly always a Continental man or one from the older generation.

①This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. ②Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. ③Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. ④Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves “First come, first served,” while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands? ⑤Yet this is all too often seen.

①Conditions in travel are really very hard on everyone, we know, but hardship is surely no excuse. ②Sometimes one wonders what would have been the behaviour of these stout young men in a packed refugee train or a train on its way to a prison-camp during the War. ③Would they have considered it only right and their proper due to keep the best places for themselves then?

①Older people, tired and irritable from a day’s work, are not angels, either — far from it. ②Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. ③One cannot commend this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse.

①If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. ②All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. ③Shop assistants won’t bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductor pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on and so on. ④It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration.

一、词汇

1.metropolitan a. 大都市的

2.practically ad. 几乎，简直，实际上

3.elbow v. 用手肘推开

4.dash n. 冲撞

5.tube n. 地铁

6.much less ad. 更不必说(何况)

7.note v. 注意

8.continental a. 大陆的

9.courtesy n. 礼貌

10.rat race卑鄙的竞争, 你死我活的竞争

11.cripple n. 跛者,残疾人

12.irritable a. 易怒的，烦躁的

13.brisk a. 敏锐的, 凛冽的, 轻快的

14.weary a. 疲倦的,厌烦的

15.shove v. 推挤

16.commend v. 委托，推荐，嘉奖

17.imperative a. 命令式的,急需的

18.growl v. 怒吠，咆哮

　　二、长难句

1. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her, as he ought.

该句的主干为It is nothing for sb (a big, strong schoolboy) to do sth(to elbow an elderly woman aside … )，其中it为形式主语，不定式结构to do sth为真正的主语。much less用于否定句之后，表示程度减少，意为“更何况，更不用说”。句末as引导了方式状语从句，且为省略句，其完整形式是as he ought to (stand up and offer his seat to her)。

翻译：个大个头，身体强壮的男学生在冲向地铁或公共汽车的最后一个座位时，用肘部把一个老太太推向一旁，这已经不算什么了，更别指望他站起来把座位让给老太太，尽管他应该那样做。

2. In fact, it is saddening to note that if a man does offer his seat to an older woman, it is nearly always a Continental man or one from the older generation.

该句的主干为it is saddening to note that …，其中it为形式主语，that引导的从句为真正的主语。该从句为主从复合句，包含了if引导的条件状语从句。

翻译：实际上，我们悲哀地发现如果真有一个人把自己的座位让给老年妇女，那么这个人几乎总是欧洲大陆人或是老一辈的人。

3. This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else.

该句的主干为This question … is much argued about，主语名词question后接有介词短语of giving up seats in public transport做后置定语。Who引导的定语从句，也做后置定语，修饰名词young men。该定语从句的主干为who (young men) say that … and that …，两个that引导的从句做say的宾语。

翻译：在公共交通工具上让座的问题常被青年人反驳，他们说，既然妇女要求平等，那么她们将不应再被礼貌对待，那些出去工作的人应该像其他任何人一样在你死我活的竞争中轮流等候。

4. Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened.

该句为主从复合句。插入语however表明该句与上文之间的转折关系。句首为even if引导的让步状语从句，其主干为it is not agreed that …，it为形式主语，that引导的从句为真正的主语。主句为the fact remains that …，其中that引导的从句为the fact的同位语。

翻译：即使在年轻男子应该让位给年轻女子的做法上不能达成共识，但是对那些老人、病者和负重之人仍应给予礼貌。

5. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves “First come, first served,” while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands?

该句为主从复合句形式的疑问句。主句为Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness … ，其中that引导的从句we can sit …first served,” 做后置定语，修饰名词短语ideals of unselfishness。句末为while引导的时间状语从句。

翻译：难道我们真的丧失了所有的无私思想，以至于当一位白发苍苍的老太太、一位抱着孩子的母亲或一位伤残者站在旁边时，我们仍然能够如此漫不经心地读着报纸或一本书，同时对自己说“先来，先享受”吗?

6. If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite.

该句为主从复合句，句首为if引导的条件状语从句，主句为it seems imperative not only that …but also that …，其中it为形式主语，not only… but also …连接的两个that引导的并列从句为真正的主语。

翻译：然而，如果城市还打算保持其良好的居住环境，这一点十分必要，不仅运输工具要改进，人类之间的交流也更有必要保持畅通和有礼貌。

　　三、文章结构分析

这篇文章以交通工具上的让座问题为切入点，主要探讨城市中的礼貌缺失现象，论证方法为说理和例证。

第一段指出现象：礼貌在大城市中已经不复存在，并以如今年轻人不给老年人让座为例说明这一情况的恶劣性。

第二段提出年轻人对不让座这种行为的解释(女性要求平等对待)，作者对此进行反驳，指出这一理由不能推而广之。

第三、四段分析交通工具上礼貌缺失的潜在原因，并对其进行驳斥：第三段指出原因之一——旅行条件的艰苦，随后以难民车和战时开往集中营的车为例反驳这一理由。第四段指出原因之二——人们因工作劳累而变得疲倦和易怒，随后指出这只是一种借口。

第五段提出警告与建议：列举城市中礼貌缺失的种种表现，指出礼貌对于城市的良好居住环境十分必要，并就此提出建议——改善交通工具和人际交流。

　　四、试题具体分析

17. From what you have read, would you expect manners to improve among people ________?17.从文中可以推知，你会期望哪一类人的礼貌会有所改善?

[A] who are physically weak or crippled[A] 身体虚弱的人或残疾人

[B] who once lived in a prison-camp during the War[B] 战争期间曾生活在集中营的人

[C] who live in big modern cities[C] 生活于现代大城市中的人

[D] who live only in metropolitan cities[D] 只生活于大都市的人

[分析]本题所考查的知识点是：文章主旨。

此题实际上考查文章中论述现象(礼貌缺失)的主体。第一段首句指出，礼貌在伦敦这样的大都市(metropolitan cities like London)已经不复存在。第一段②③句提出交通工具上的让座问题，指出当今年轻人缺少应有礼貌。第二、三和四段对当今年轻人这一行为的理由和交通工具上让座问题的潜在原因进行分析，作者随后对这些原因进行一一反驳。第五段将现象范围扩大(cities)，指出礼貌对于良好居住环境的重要性，并对此提出建议。[C]选项概括文章中的论述现象的主体(schoolboys、young men、older people、shop assistants、taxi drivers、bus conductors)，为正确项。

[A]和[B]选项张冠李戴，身体虚弱的人或残疾人是应该获得礼貌对待的对象，而非需要改善礼貌的主体;第三段以难民车和集中营的人来反驳造成让座问题的原因(旅行条件艰苦)，而非期望他们改善礼貌。[D]选项以偏概全，第五段将范围扩大至整个城市，而非仅局限于大都市。

18. What is the writer’s opinion concerning courteous manners towards women?18. 作者对于给予女性礼貌对待的观点是什么?

[A] Now that women have claimed equality, they no longer need to be treated differently from men.[A] 既然女性宣称平等，那么她们就应该得到与男性一样的对待。

[B] It is generally considered old-fashioned for young men to give up their seats to young women.[B] 年轻男人让座给年轻女人被认为是老旧的做法。

[C] “Lady First” should be universally practiced.[C] “女士优先”应当被广为推广。

[D] Special consideration ought to be shown them.[D] 应该给予女性特别的关照。

[分析]本题所考查的知识点是：作者观点。

文章第二段首句指出年轻人不让座的原因：女性要求平等对待。但随后②句指出，女性从未声明像男性一样强壮(，因此她们还应获得些许特别关照)。[D]选项正确。

[A]选项反向干扰，这是年轻人的观点，也是作者所反驳的观点。[B]和[C]选项从文中无从推知。

19. According to the author communication between human beings would be smoother if ________.19.作者认为人与人之间的交流将会变得更加容易，如果________。

[A] people were more considerate towards each other[A] 人们对彼此多加关照。

[B] people were not so tired and irritable[B] 人们不那么劳累和易怒。

[C] women were treated with more courtesy[C] 女性得到更多礼貌对待。

[D] public transport could be improved[D] 公共交通有所改善。

[分析]本题所考查的知识点是：作者观点。

作者以交通工具上的让座问题为切入点来探讨城市中礼貌缺失的现象。文章第二段指出，人们对于那些身处弱势的人(如女性、老人、病人和残疾人等)应当怀有无私思想，应当给予礼貌对待。[A]选项正确。

文章第四段前两句指出人们因为工作劳累而变得疲倦易怒，以至于失去礼貌，但③句则指出这只是一种借口，排除[B]选项。[C]和[D]选项以偏概全，女性只是应当获得礼貌对待的对象之一，其他对象还包括老人、病人、残疾人等;交通工具上的让座问题仅是作者例举的礼貌缺失的一种典型现象，因此改善交通工具并不能解决礼貌缺失这一整体现象。

20. What is the possible meaning of the word “deterioration” in the last paragraph?20.最后一段的词语“deterioration”的意思可能是________。

[A] worsening of general situation[A] 总体情况的恶化

[B] lowering of moral standards[B] 道德标准的下降

[C] declining of physical constitution[C] 身体素质的下降

[D] spreading of evil conduct[D] 恶劣行为的传播

[分析]本题所考查的知识点是：根据上下文推测词义。

Deterioration前有such修饰，联系上文，应当指作者前面列出的礼貌缺失的种种表现(商店售货员不愿助人，出租车司机彼此怒目而视，公共汽车售票员粗鲁举止，这种种行为体现了人们道德素质的下降，进而说明道德标准的降低，[B]选项正确。

[A]选项范围太过宽泛，而无法具体概括文章所指出的问题。[C]选项从文中无从推知。[D]选项局限于表面，而没有深刻领会现象背后的意义。

　　五、全文翻译

如今，礼貌在像伦敦这样的大都市里实际上已经不存在了。一个大个头，身体强壮的男学生在冲向地铁或公共汽车的最后一个座位时，用肘部把一个老太太推向一旁，这已经不算什么了，更别指望他站起来把座位让给老太太，尽管他应该那样做。实际上，我们悲哀地发现如果真有一个人把自己的座位让给老年妇女，那么这个人几乎总是欧洲大陆人或是老一辈的人。

在公共交通工具上让座的问题常被青年人反驳，他们说，既然妇女要求平等，那么她们将不应再被礼貌对待，那些出去工作的人应该像其他任何人一样在你死我活的竞争中轮流等候。妇女从未声明像男子一样身强力壮。即使在年轻男子应该让位给年轻女子的做法上不能达成共识，但是对那些老人、病者和负重之人仍应给予礼貌。难道我们真的丧失了所有的无私思想，以至于当一位白发苍苍的老太太、一位抱着孩子的母亲或一位伤残者站在旁边时，我们仍然能够如此漫不经心地读着报纸或一本书，同时对自己说“先来，先享受”吗? 然而这却是太常见的景象了。

我们知道，对每个人来讲，旅途中的条件都是很苦的，但是艰苦确实不是理由。有时人们想知道，在一列拥挤的难民车或在战期驶往监狱的火车上，那些强壮的年轻男子会怎样做。那时，他们会不会认为为自己留下最好的位子是正确的并且是他们的应得的权益?

老人，常因一天的工作变得劳累且易怒，他们也不会表现得如天使一般——远远不会。上地铁或公共汽车时，疲倦的人们前挤后拥，彼此推搡，许多激烈的或侮辱性的争吵就会爆发。当然，我们无法说这种现象是错是对，只是能理解疲倦是其发生的原因之一。

然而，如果城市还打算保持其良好的居住环境，这一点十分必要，不仅运输工具要改进，人类之间的交流也更有必要保持畅通和有礼貌。整个城市里，似乎人们太疲倦，太匆忙以至于做不到讲礼貌。商店售货员嫌麻烦不愿过来帮忙;出租汽车司机们在拐角处危险地冲过去时，他们会彼此大吼大叫;公共汽车售票员在拼命的乘客们尚未来得及上下车之前，拉动车铃，等等，等等。在我们看来正是年轻人和强壮者出一点力以阻止这种状况恶化的时候了。