2016下半年公共英语四级考前模拟试题及答案

　　If ambition is to be well regarded, the rewards of ambition — wealth, distinction, control over one’s destiny — must be deemed worthy of the sacrifices made on ambition’s behalf. If the tradition of ambition is to have vitality, it must be widely shared; and it especially must be highly regarded by people who are themselves admired, the educated not least among them. In an odd way, however, it is the educated who have claimed to have given up on ambition as an ideal. What is odd is that they have perhaps most benefited from ambition — if not always their own then that of their parents and grandparents. There is a heavy note of hypocrisy in this, a case of closing the barn door after the horses have escaped — with the educated themselves riding on them.

　　Certainly people do not seem less interested in success and its signs now than formerly. Summer homes, European travel, BMWs — the locations, place names and name brands may change, but such items do not seem less in demand today than a decade or two years ago. What has happened is that people cannot confess fully to their dreams, as easily and openly as once they could, lest they be thought pushing, acquisitive and vulgar. Instead, we are treated to fine hypocritical spectacles, which now more than ever seem in ample supply: the critic of American materialism with a Southampton summer home; the publisher of radical books who takes his meals in three-star restaurants; the journalist advocating participatory democracy in all phases of life, whose own children are enrolled in private schools. For such people and many more perhaps not so exceptional, the proper formulation is, “Succeed at all costs but avoid appearing ambitious.”

　　The attacks on ambition are many and come from various angles; its public defenders are few and unimpressive, where they are not extremely unattractive. As a result, the support for ambition as a healthy impulse, a quality to be admired and fixed in the mind of the young, is probably lower than it has ever been in the United States. This does not mean that ambition is at an end, that people no longer feel its stirrings and promptings, but only that, no longer openly honored, it is less openly professed. Consequences follow from this, of course, some of which are that ambition is driven underground, or made sly. Such, then, is the way things stand: on the left angry critics, on the right stupid supporters, and in the middle, as usual, the majority of earnest people trying to get on in life.

　　1. It is generally believed that ambition may be well regarded if ____.

　　A. its returns well compensate for the sacrifices

　　B. it is rewarded with money, fame and power

　　C. its goals are spiritual rather than material

　　D. it is shared by the rich and the famous

　　2. The last sentence of the first paragraph most probably implies that it is ____.

　　A. customary of the educated to discard ambition in words

　　B. too late to check ambition once it has been let out

　　C. dishonest to deny ambition after the fulfillment of the goal

　　D. impractical for the educated to enjoy benefits from ambition

　　3. Some people do not openly admit they have ambition because ____.

　　A. they think of it as immoral

　　B. their pursuits are not fame or wealth

　　C. ambition is not closely related to material benefits

　　D. they do not want to appear greedy and contemptible

　　4. From the last paragraph the conclusion can be drawn that ambition should be maintained ____.

　　A. secretly and vigorously B. openly and enthusiastically

　　C. easily and momentarily D. verbally and spiritually

　　参考答案：ACDB

　　完形填空

　　Ludwig Van Beethoven,a major composer of the nineteenth century,overcame many _1__ problems to achieve artistic greatness.

　　Born in Bonn,Germany,in 1770,he first studied music _2__ the court organist,Gilles Vander Eeden.His father was excessively strict and given to _3__ drinking.When his mother died,Beethoven,then a young man,was __4_ guardian of his two younger brothers.Appointed deputy court organists to Christian Gottlob Neefe at a surprisingly early age in 1782,Beethoven also __5_ the harpsichord and the Viola.In 1792 he was sent to Vienna __6_ his patron.court Ferdinated Waldstein,to _7__ music under Haydn.

　　Beethoven __8_ unmarried.Because _9__ irregular payment from his publishers and erratic support __10_ his patrons,he was troubled by financial worries throughout his _11__ life.Continually plagued by _12__ health,he developed an ear infection which _13__ to his tragic deafness in 1819.

　　In _14__ of this handicap,however,he continued to write music.He completed mature mastepieces of great musical depth;three piano sonatas,four string quarters,the Missa Solemins,and the 9th Symphony.He died in 1872.His life was marked by a passionate dedication __15_ independence.

　　Nothing that Beethoven often __16_ into fits of rage,Goethe once said__17_ him," I am astonished by his talent,but he is unfortunately an altogether untamed personality." _18__ Beethoven's personality may have been _19__ ,his music shows great discipline and control ,and this is _20__ we remember him best.

　　1) A personal B himself C private D own

　　2) A by B within C with D for

　　3) A small B heavy C many D great

　　4) A sent B send C name D named

　　5) A played B play C playing D to play

　　6) A by B on C in D from

　　7) A studying B have studied C study D be studied

　　8) A reminded B remarked C remanded D remained

　　9) A for B of C with D on

　　10) A from B on C under D between

　　11) A older B younger C adult D old

　　12) A good B worse C illness D ill