在备考英语四级阅读时，重点应放在提升阅读速度和理解文章主旨上。多做训练，熟知容易见到题型和方法，能够帮助应付考试挑战。新东方在线我们为大伙整理了“2024年12月英语四级阅读理解考试题及参考答案”，期望能为大伙带来帮助。
2024年12月英语四级阅读理解考试题及参考答案
President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement on China’s entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet and Whit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furious over the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord. And when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a renewed effort at negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop.
In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal. A lot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reached. And without the Administration’s goal of a “bullet-proof agreement” that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.
THE HARD PART. Many business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be had. And Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, and TOP trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, “we’re not there yet,” according to senior officials.
Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy part. Although Clinton can signal U.S. approval for China’s entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accord. And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelming. Zhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. And Senators Jesse A. Helms and Emest F. Hollings promised to introduce a bill requiring congressional approval of any deal.
The hidden message from these three textile-state Southerners: Get more protection for the U. S. clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on “cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet financing.
BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what they’ve heard so far isn’t encouraging. Republicans, including Lott, say that “the time just isn’t right” for the deal. Translation: We’re determined to make it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoring human, religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology; and the sale of missile parts to America’s enemies. Beijing’s fierce critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, won’t help, either.
Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear on Apr. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline their Republican allies. With business and the White House still trading charges over who is responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade negotiating legislation in 1997, working together won’t be easy.
And Republicans—with a wink—say that they’ll eventually embrace China’s entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate America. Though not long before they torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege. Business must make this much dear to both its GOP allies and the Whit House: This historic deal is too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling
1. The main idea of this passage is
[A]. The Contradiction between the DemocraticParty and the Republican Party.
[B]. On China’s entry into WTO.
[C]. Clinton was right.
[D]. Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.
2. What does the sentence “Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, Detroit” convey?
[A]. Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.
[B]. The three places overdid criticism.
[C]. They wanted more protection.
[D]. They are in trouble.
3. What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward China’s entry into the WTO?
[A]. Contradictory. [B].Appreciative.
[C]. Disapproving. [D]. Detestful.
4. Who plays the leading part in the deal in America?
[A]. White House . [B]. Republicans.
[C]. The Democratic Party. [D]. Businessmen.
5. It can be inferred from the passage that
[A]. America will make concessions.
[B]. America will hold out for a better WTO
[C]. Clinton has the right to signal U. S. approval for China’s entry.
[D]. Democratic party approve China’s entry into the WTO.
[page] 词语讲解：
1. drubbing 痛打
get/take a drabbing 遭人痛打
2. flip-flop=great change suddenly 游说，忽然改变，忽然反方向。人字拖鞋，趾拖鞋
3. hold out 保持，维持
hold out for sth. 故意拖延达成共识以谋求……
4. horse –trading 精明的讨价还价
5. bullet-proof 防弹的
6. lobby 拉拢，暗中活动
7. lobbyist 院外活动集团成员
8. partisan 党人，帮派，是党派强硬支持者
9. acrimony 语言/态度的刻薄
10. sell to 说服同意或使用
11. meddle 干涉
12. Capitol Hill 美国国会
13. budge 使稍微移动，改变
14. lucrative 有利可图的，赚钱的
15. block 制止
16. fleet 舰队，船队，车队，机队
17. blanket 覆盖，妨碍扫兴，扑灭
18. Capitulate 投降，停止抵抗
19. fast track 迅速行程
20. with a wink 双眼一眨，非常快的
21. out on a limb 孤立无援
22. renege 违约
23. squabble 争吵
[page]难句分析：
1. President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to sendChinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without anagreement…
[结构剖析] send one packing 打发人走。
[参考译文] 克林顿于4月8日决定不达成中国加入世贸组织的协议便打发中国总理朱容基走人。
2. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported thata deal was in the bag.
[结构简析] in the bag 倒手，囊中之物。
[参考译文] 总统遭到很多报界舆论的抨击，它们曾报道过这桩交易已是囊中之物。
3. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord.
[参考译文] 朱指责克林顿缺少达成共识的勇气。
4. the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flo
[参考译文] 常见觉得总统的姿态来了一个一百八十度的转弯。
5. Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal.
[参考译文] 总统故意拖延协议以谋取一笔更好的入世贸组织买卖的决定完全正确。
6. And without the Administration’s goal of a “bullet-proof agreement” that business lobbyistscan enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisanacrimony that could harm relations with China for years.
[参考译文] 没商界院外活动集团成员热情的劝说共和党国会采纳政府目的中的防弹性协议，那样整个过程将会以党派之间的尖刻的争吵而结束，这会干扰将来多年和中国的关系。
7. the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles.
[参考译文] 美国政府期望铺平道路，试图使朱在纺织品上让步，结果失败。
8. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit.
[结构简析] 这句句子连接上文而说。
Leave sb. In the lurch 固定使用方法，义：置某人于困难之中弃之不考虑，丢弃某人。完整句型应该是：WallStreet, Hollywood and Detrait are also left in the lurch.
[参考译文] 同样也陷于困境的有华尔街，好莱坞和底特律。
9. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on“cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. automakers to provide fleet financing.
[参考译文] 朱容基总理不允许开放金融股票市场，坚持对美国电影和音乐作文化方面的限制规定，不让美国汽车商染指投资汽车。
10. Translation. 翻译。这是作者为共和党的“The time isn’t right”做注释/讲解。
[page]答案解析：
1. C. 总统是对的。这篇文章摘自Business Weekly. 文章是从商人的角度来看待中国加入WTO，他们期望从谈判中获得更多的利益，而克林顿的赞同不认可的目的和他们相符——争取更多利益。这篇就是从四方利益最后趋向一致“赞同中国加入世贸”来证明“总统结论正确”的中心思想。
第一段指出Clinton由打发朱总理回国，不认可中国入世到一百八十度大转弯，在电话中愤怒的朱总理表示第三努力协商。内阁和白宫官员建议分歧，商人对失去机会火冒三丈。
第二段点出克林顿故意拖延以谋取更多的利益的决定是正确的——文章的主旨句。商人院外活动集团成员要以“政府完美无缺的协议的目的来讲服共和党赞成/同意。以免整个过程以党争而告终。
第三，四段是商业方面的高级官员的代表纷纷却说Clinton“当中国作出很多打折让步时，美国不在那里。”克林顿有权签署赞成中国加入世贸组织，可他需要国会批准北京永久性最惠国作为扩大贸易协定的组成部分。再说对国会的干涉的魅惑力相当大：就在朱踏上美国当地时，参议院多数派领袖Trent Lott宣布他对中国是是否应该入世持怀疑态度，而参议院Tesse A Helms… 承诺提出一项需要国会批准任何买卖的提案。
第五段讲了朱总理的强硬立场。第六段又是共和党的反对声，使民主党内站在北京以便的批评家也没有办法。
最后一段指出：尽管困难重重，这一历史事件太要紧了，不可以因党争而冒失失去机会的危险。
A. 民主党和共和党的矛盾。两党之争见上文译注，最后还是一致。 B. 论中国加入世贸组织。文章不是论中国加入而是论美国环绕中国入世贸的种种。 D. 商人院外活动集团成员控制国会。这在第五段中提到商人院外活动集团成员阻挠美国国会事先同意最后协议，但不是主题思想。
2. A. 朱总理拒绝了他们的需要。见难句译注9。B. 这三个地方批评过头。 C. 他们需要更多的保护。 D. 他们陷入困境。
3. A. 矛盾。共和党刚开始就反对。什么对中国是否应该加入世贸组织持怀疑态度。第六段说得更露骨，时间不对。意思是他们想把整个事件看着好象克林顿屈从于中国，忽略了“中国违反人权，宗教权，劳动权，盗窃核武器技术，把导弹组成部件买给美国的敌人”等事实。最后一段共和党一下子又所他们最后将会同意中国加入世贸组织以表示对整体美国的好感。无论是商人院外活动集团有哪些用途，还是明确指出重开谈判的重要程度。这一历史事件太要紧绝不可以因党争而失去机会。共和党即使心中不愿，也不能不同意现实。心情是矛盾的。B. 赞赏。C. 不赞成。 D. 厌恶。
4. D. 商界。第一段中就点出：商界领袖对失去这次机会火冒三丈。第二段中提到商界院外活动成员要以实实在在的协议来讲服共和党国会，免得以党争告终。第三段明确指出：很多商界院外人士一方面对协议未签定表示失望，另方面又赞同，还会更好的条件。各种和商界直接关系的高级官员对克林顿劝说。
第五段：纺织，金融股票，汽车以至电影等都是商界的需要。朱总理拒绝的就是商界需要。
第六段提及商界院外活动的成员制止国会事先同意最后协定。
最后一段又是商界使共和党网盟和白宫了解此事的重要程度。
5. A. 美国将会作出让步，见上面注解。商人是绝对不会舍弃国内市场的。
B. 美国会故意拖延以求获得更好的条件。这一点恐怕不会，见上文注解。朱总理的强硬立场，商人的见解。C. 克林顿有签署批准中国入世之权。 D. 民主党赞成中国加入世贸，这两项都是事实。
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