英文四级短文
发布时间:2017-02-13 来源: 短文摘抄 点击： 
英文四级短文篇一：英语四级文章阅读
1. Eye Language
Just back from a tour of several Arabian Gulf1 countries, a woman recalls how jumpy she felt talking to men there. “Not because of what they said, ”she explains,“ but what they did with their eyes. ”Instead of the occasional blink, Arabs lowered their lids so slowly and languorously that she was convinced they were falling asleep. In Japan eye contact is a key to the way you feel about someone. And the less of it,the better. What a Westerner considers an honest look in the eye , the Oriental takes as a lack of respect and a personal affront. Even when shaking hands or bowing — and especially when conversing6 — only an occasional glance into the other person’s face is considered polite. The rest of the time , great attention should be paid to fingertips, desktops,and the warp and woof of the carpet.“Always keep your shoes shined in Tokyo, ”advises an electronics representative who has spent several days there .“You can bet a lot of Japanese you meet will have their eyeson them. ”
眼睛的语言
从波斯湾的几个国家旅行回来后, 一位女士回想起她同当地男子谈话时忐忑不安的情景。“ 不是他们说话的内容, ”她解释说,“ 而是他们说话时的眼神让我紧张不安。”阿拉伯人不是偶尔眨一下眼睛, 而是缓慢而倦怠地垂下眼睑, 这使她误以为这些阿拉伯人就要睡着了。
在日本, 眼神的接触是你了解别人的关键所在。眼神接触越少越好。西方人认为看着别人的眼睛是一种诚实的表现, 而东方人则将盯视对方看作是不尊敬别人, 是对他人的一种冒犯。实际上, 在握手或鞠躬的时候, 尤其是在两人交谈的时候, 偶尔朝对方的脸上扫一眼才是礼貌的举动。其他时候, 谈话人则应把注意力集中在指尖、桌面以及地毯表面的纹理上。“ 在东京, 记住一定要让你的皮鞋保持光亮可鉴, ”一位已经在那里呆了几天的电子产品代理人提出忠告,“ 我敢说许多你遇到的日本人都会对你的鞋盯上几眼的。”
1. 阿拉伯湾, 也称为Persian Gulf ( 波斯湾) , 是印度洋的一个边缘海, 位于伊朗高原与阿拉伯半岛之间。
2. languorously adv. 倦怠地, 无精打采地。该词的名词形式是languor ( 倦怠, 慵困) , 动词形式是languish, 如: His vigilance never languished. ( 他的警觉从未松懈过。)
3. 眼神接触越少越好。这种结构相当于汉语中的“ 越??越??”, 表示两个过程按比例同时递增。better 后面省略了it is, 因为这种结构往往有省略。例如: The sooner, the better.( 越早越好。)
4. 东方人, 尤指中国人和日本人。与该词相对应的是the Occidental ( 西方人, 欧美(转载于:wwW.zHaoQt.NEt 蒲 公 英 文 摘:英文四级短文)人) 。
5. take . . . as 视??为, 把??理解为, 如: She took what he said as a compliment. ( 她把他的002 话看作是恭维话。)
6. conversing 是converse 的动名词形式, 意为“ 谈话, 交谈”。其名词形式是conversation。例如: Although they were strangers, they conversed with ease. ( 他们虽然互不相识, 却谈得很自在融洽。)
7. warp n. ( 织物的) 经线; woof n. ( 织物的) 纬线; the warp and the woof of the carpet 指“ 地毯表面的纹理”。the warp and woof of sth. 还可以引申为“ 某事物的基础或结构”。
8. have one’s eyes on 密切注意, 注视, 如: Businessmen always have their eyes on the new trade opportunities. ( 商人们总在关注着新的贸易机会。
02.Sleeping Position Reveals Personality Traits Whether it’s curled up in the fetal position , flat on the stomach or stretched out across the bed, the way people sleep reveals their personality, a British sleep expert said. The expert has identified six common sleeping positions and what they mean. “We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious says about us, ”he said. Crouched in the fetal position is the most popular sleep pattern and favored by 51 percent of women, according to the results of the study he conducted for a large hotel group. Fetal sleepers tend to be shy and sensitive while people who assume the soldier position, flat on their back with arms at their sides, are quiet and reserved. Sleeping on one’s side with legs outstretched and arms down in what he refers to as the log, indicates a social,
easygoing personality. But if the arms are outstretched in the yearning position, the person tends to be more suspicious. The free fall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6. 5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious. Unassuming, good listeners usually adopt the starfish position — on the back with outstretched arms and legs.The expert, who identified the positions by comparing personality traits of people.
睡姿揭示人的性格
一 位英国睡眠专家曾说过: 无论你是像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉, 或是趴在床上睡, 还是四肢伸开平躺着睡, 睡觉的姿势揭示了你的性格。该专家归纳了六种常见睡觉姿势, 以及这些姿势的含义。“ 醒着的时候, 我们都知道自己的肢体语言, 但这是我们第一次知道自己的潜意识在说些什么, ”他说。他对一家大型酒店集团所做的研究结果表明: 像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉是最流行的睡觉姿势, 有51% 的妇女喜欢这种姿势。采用胎儿式睡姿的人往往比较害羞, 也很敏感; 而采用仰卧、双臂放在身体两侧的士兵式睡姿的人则比较安静, 也不愿说话。侧卧、两腿伸直、双臂自然下垂的睡姿称为原木式睡姿。采用这种睡姿的人喜欢社交活动, 容易相处。但是如果双臂伸出, 呈渴望状, 这种人往往比较多疑。自由式, 即俯卧, 双手放在头的两侧, 这是最特别的睡姿。只有6 . 5% 的人喜欢这样睡, 他们通常性情急躁, 爱社交。谦虚忠实的听众通常选择仰卧且四肢伸展的海星式睡姿。该专家通过比较人物性格特征、他们喜欢的睡姿和最常见的睡姿归纳出以上这些睡姿。他说人们一旦采用了某种睡姿就很难再改变。
阅读讲解：
1. 意识理论。他把人类的心理结构分为三层, 即意识( conscious) 、前意识
( preconscious)
和无意识( 即潜意识) 。他认为意识处于大脑表层, 是一个人所直接感知到的内容; 前意 识主要是在意识与无意识之间起警戒作用, 阻止无意识的本能欲望进入意识之中; 无意 识处于大脑底层, 毫无理性, 是决定人的行为和愿望的内在动力。
2. 这里的once 不是“ 一次”或“ 曾经”的意思, 不是副词, 而是连词, 意为“ 一旦, 一??
就??”, 如: Once printed, this dictionary will be very popular! ( 一旦出版, 这本词典将会
非常畅销! )
3. The“V”Sign
The palm-forward“V”sign, formed by raising and spreading the first two fingers1 ,has three different meanings in American culture.The most popular meaning of the“V”sign was invented in 1941 by a Belgian, Victor De Lavalaye. Wanting a symbol for resistance to the Nazi2 occupation, he came up with the single letter“V”, which stood not only for his own first name3, but also for English victory, Flemish virijheid, and French
victoire. The symbolism of the sign spread very quickly, and Winston Churchill4 used it constantly in public appearance. Thus throughout the 1940 s and 1950 s, the gesture meant simply“victory”.The second meaning came in the 1960 s. Because of its military implication, Americanantiwar protestors used the sign sarcastically against the arms, so that it became known as the“ peace sign”. In the 1970s, the“V”sign , which had lost its military implication, was a common greeting among freedom lovers, acid heads5, political radicals, and ultimately, young people in general. So by about the middle of the 1970s, it ceased to give clue to the user’s philosophy. The third meaning is the oldest and least common. American children jokingly put “V”, which resembles“ horns”, behind friends’heads in group snapshots. The are unknowingly reproducing something that southern Europeans would find highly offensive. This mischief, called“horns of the Devil”, is a variant of the European“ horns”gesture, which is obscene. Here the“V”sign means“Your wife has been cheating on you ”or, when placed behind
another’s head,“His wife has been cheating on him”. In the United States, the gesture is typically given with the palm facing the viewer. The British use both this version and an older, palm-backward version; the latter is obscene in American culture, and
corresponds to the American“ finger”6 . Churchill got some surprised stares in 1941 when, evidently unaware of the vulgar usage, he gave the palm-backward“V”to British troops. In England today you could have to be a social hermit not to understand the distinction. Astonishingly, however, Margaret Thatcher7 repeated Churchill’s error after her victory in the 1979 election.
参考译文
手势 “V”
掌 心向外, 竖起食指和中指, 并向两边展开, 这样就构成了一个V 形手势。V 形手势在美国文化中有三个不同的含义。V 形手势最为普及的一个意思是在1941 年由比利时人维克托· 德· 拉维雷创造发明的。他伸出双指, 作出字母V 的手势来表示他对纳粹占领比利时的反抗。这个V 不仅代表他的名字, 而且还象征英语victory ( 胜利) 、佛兰芒语virijheid ( 胜利) 和法语victoire ( 胜利) 这三个单词。这一手势的象征意义迅速地传播开来, 温斯顿· 邱吉尔在公众场合就曾多次使用。因此, 在20 世纪40 年代和50 年代, 这个手势只是表示“ 胜利”的意思。V 形手势的第二个意思出现在20 世纪60 年代。由于这个手势含有军事方面的意思,美国反战者就讽刺性地用这个手势来反对战争, 于是, 这个手势开始被称为“ 和平的标志”。20 世纪70 年代, V 形手势失去了军事方面的含义, 成为热爱自由的人、嗜用迷幻药的人、政治激进主义者们见面问候时常用的手势, 并最终在广大年轻人流传开来。也就是说, 大约到20 世纪70 年代中期, 这个手势就不再表示使用者的人生观了。V 形手势的第三个意思最为古老, 也少为人用。在集体照相的时候, 美国孩子常开玩。笑 地在朋友的脑袋后面摆出手势V, 样子就像动物的角一样。他们无意中做出了一个被南欧人视为相当无礼的动作。这种被称作“ 魔鬼之角”的恶作剧是欧洲“ 角形”手势的变体,这种手势被认为具有淫秽的意味。在南欧, 手势V 表示“ 你的老婆对你不忠”。在别人脑袋后面做出这种手势, 如同在说“ 他的老婆对他不忠”。
在美国, 人们通常将掌心向外, 面向对方做出这个手势; 而英国人有时将掌心对着别人, 有时则像前人那样, 掌心向内。掌心向内的V 形手势在美国文化里被看成是下流动作, 与美国人竖起中指一样具有淫秽的含义。1941 年, 邱吉尔掌心朝内, 向英国军队摆出了V 形手势。一些士兵吃惊地盯着他看, 显然他对这个手势的下流含义还全然不知。如今, 在英国, 如果你还不知道掌心向内和向外的差别的话, 你一定是个不问世事的隐士。然而, 令人惊讶的是, 玛格丽特· 撒切尔在赢得1979 年的选举之后, 又重蹈邱吉尔的覆辙, 做了一个掌心向内的V 形手势。
阅读导释
1. 这里指中指( middle finger) 和食指( forefinger 或index finger) 。其他三个指头分别是小指 ( little finger, 也称pinkie) 、无名指( ring finger) 和拇指( thumb) 。
2. Nazi adj. 纳粹的。纳粹是德国国家社会主义工人党的简称, 成立于1919 年。该党在希特勒的领导下, 对德国进行了十余年的法西斯统治, 对邻国发动了大规模的军事侵略, 并对犹太人实施种族灭绝政策。
3. 名, 又称given name, 本文里指Victor。欧美人的姓是family name 或last name。有些欧美人的姓与名之间还有名, 被称为middle name, 有的人还使用别名或化名( alias) 。
4. 温斯顿·邱吉尔( 1874—1965) , 英国保守党政治家、作家, 曾两度担任英国首相。第二次世界大战期间他领导英国人民对德作战, 为争取世界反法西斯战争的胜利做出了不可磨灭的贡献。他著有《二战回忆录》( Memoirs of the Second World War) 、《英语民族史》( A History of the English Speaking Peoples) 等书, 于1953 年获诺贝尔文学奖。邱吉尔晚年醉心于绘画, 并于1948 年当选为英国皇家艺术院特别会员。
5. 嗜用迷幻药者。在美国俚语中, acid 指“ 迷幻药”, head 则有“ 麻醉药品吸食者”的意思。
6. 与美国人竖起中指一样具有淫秽的含义。该句中的finger 指的是中指, 美国俚语里有give sb. the finger 这个短语, 意为“向某人伸出中指”, 有“ 侮辱别人或淫秽”的意思, 而掌心向内的V 形手势在美国文化里有着跟“伸出中指”相似的含义。
7. 玛格丽特·撒切尔, 1925 年生于一个小商人家庭, 1979 年首次当选为英国首相, 直到1990 年卸任。因其政治手段强硬, 故被世人誉为“ 铁娘子”。她在任时对英国的政治和经济影响巨大, 使英国的20 世纪80 年代被称为“ 撒切尔时代”。
英文四级短文篇二：大学英语四级作文常用词组
大学英语四级作文常用词组
一
1.abide by(=be faithful to ; obey)忠于;遵守.
2. be absent from…. 缺席，不在
3. absence or mind(=being absent-minded) 心不在焉
4. absorb(=take up the attention of)吸引…的注意力(被动语态)be absorbed i n 全神贯注于…近be engrossed in ; be lost in ; be rapt in ;be concentrated on ; be focused on ; be centered on
5. (be) abundant in(be rich in; be well supplied with) 富于,富有6. access(to) (不可数名词) 能接近,进入,了解
6. in accordance with (=in agreement with) 依照,根据
7. on one’s own account 1) 为了某人的缘故, 为了某人自己的利益2) (=at one’s own risk) 自行负责3) (=by oneself)依靠自己on account 赊账; on account of 因为; on no account不论什么原因也不;of …account 有…..重要性.
8. take…into account(=consider)把...考虑进去
9. give sb. an account of 说明, 解释(理由)
10. account for (=give an explanation or reason for) 解释, 说明.
二
1. by accident(=by chance, accidentally)偶然地,意外. Without accident(=safely) 安全地,
2. of one’s own accord(=without being asked; willingly; freely)自愿地,主动地
3. in accord with 与…一致. out of one’s accord with 同….不一致
4. with one accord (=with everybody agreeing)一致地
5. on account of (=because of) 由于,因为.
6. on no account(=in no case, for no reason)绝不要,无论如何不要(放句首时句子要倒装)
7. accuse…of…(=charge…with; blame sb. for sth. ; blame sth. on sb. ; complain about) 指控,控告
8. be accustomed to (=be in the habit of, be used to)习惯于.
9. be acquainted with(=to have knowledge of) 了解; (=to have met socially ) 熟悉 三
1. act on 奉行,按照…行动; act as 扮演; act for 代理
2. adapt oneself to(=adjust oneself to) 使自己适应于
3. adapt…(for) (=make sth. Suitable for a new need) 改编, 改写(以适应新的需要)
4. in addition (=besides) 此外, 又, 加之
5. in addition to(=as well as, besides, other than)除…外
6. to advantage 有利的,使优点更加突出地.
7. have an advantage over 胜过. have the advantage of 由于…处于有利条件have the advantage of sb.知道某人所不知道的事
8. take advantage of (=make the best of, utilize, make use of, profit from, harness)利用.
9. agree with 赞同(某人意见) agree to 同意
10. in agreement (with) 同意, 一致
四
1. ahead of 在…之前, 超过…;……………. ahead of time 提前.
2. in the air 1)不肯定, 不具体. 2)在谣传中.
3. above all (=especially, most important of all) 尤其是, 最重要的.
4. in all (=counting everyone or everything, altogether) 总共, 总计
5. after all 毕竟,到底; (not) at all 一点也不; all at once(=suddenly)突然; once and for all 只此一次; above all 最重要的; first of all 首先; all in all 大体上说; be all in 累极了; all but 几乎.
6. adhere to (=abide by, conform to, comply with, cling to, insist on, pe rsist in, observe, opinion, belief ) 粘附; 坚持, 遵循
7. adjacent(=next to, close to) 毗邻的, 临近的
8. adjust..(to) (=change slightly)调节; 适应;
9. admit of (=be capable of, leave room for) …的可能，留有…的余地.
10. in advance (before in time) 预告, 事先.
五
1. arise from(=be caused by) 由…引起.
2. arrange for sb.sth. to do sth. 安排…做…
3. arrive on 到达; arrive at 到达某地(小地方);得出,作出; arrive in 到达某地(大地方);
4. be ashamed of (=feel shame, guilt or sorrow because of sth. done) 以… 为羞耻
5. assure sb. of sth. (=try to cause to believe or trust in sth.) 向…保证, 使…确信.
6. appeal to sb. for sth. 为某事向某人呼吁. appeal to sb. 对某人有吸引力
7. apply to sb. for sth. 为…向…申请; apply for申请; apply to 适用.
8. apply to 与…有关;适用
9. approve of (=consent to, be in favor of, favor, agree to, consider good, right) 赞成, approve vt. 批准
六
1. arise from(=be caused by) 由…引起.
2. arrange for sb.sth. to do sth. 安排…做…
3. arrive on 到达; arrive at 到达某地(小地方);得出,作出; arrive in 到达某地(大地方);
4. be ashamed of (=feel shame, guilt or sorrow because of sth. done) 以… 为羞耻
5. assure sb. of sth. (=try to cause to believe or trust in sth.) 向…保证, 使…确信.
6. appeal to sb. for sth. 为某事向某人呼吁. appeal to sb. 对某人有吸引力
7. apply to sb. for sth. 为…向…申请; apply for申请; apply to 适用.
8. apply to 与…有关;适用
9. approve of (=consent to, be in favor of, favor, agree to, consider good, right) 赞成, approve vt. 批准
英文四级短文篇三：大学英语四级作文常用句型
大学英语四级作文常用句型
一、~~~ the + ~ est + 名词 + (that) + 主词 + have ever + seen
( known/heard/had/read, etc)
~~~ the most + 形容词 + 名词 + (that) + 主词 + have ever + seen
( known/heard/had/read, etc) 例句：Helen is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.
海伦是我所看过最美丽的女孩。
Mr. Chang is the kindest teacher that I have ever had.
张老师是我曾经遇到最仁慈的教师。
二、Nothing is + ~~~ er than to + V Nothing is + more + 形容词 + than to + V
例句：Nothing is more important than to receive education.
没有比接受教育更重要的事。
三、~~~ cannot emphasize the importance of ~~~ too much.（再怎么强调...的重要性也不为过。） 例句：We cannot emphasize the importance of protecting our eyes too much.
我们再怎么强调保护眼睛的重要性也不为过。
四、There is no denying that + S + V ...（不可否认的...）
例句：There is no denying that the qualities of our living have gone from bad to worse.
不可否认的，我们的生活品质已经每况愈下。
五、It is universally acknowledged that + 句子~~ （全世界都知道...） 例句：It is universally acknowledged that trees are indispensable to us. 全世界都知道树木对我们是不可或缺的。
六、There is no doubt that + 句子~~ （毫无疑问的...）
例句：There is no doubt that our educational system leaves something to be desired.
毫无疑问的我们的教育制度令人不满意。
七、An advantage of ~~~ is that + 句子 （...的优点是...）
例句：An advantage of using the solar energy is that it won't create (produce) any pollution.
使用太阳能的优点是它不会制造任何污染。
八、The reason why + 句子 ~~~ is that + 句子 （...的原因是...）
例句：The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can provide us with fresh air./ The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can
supply fresh air for us.
我们必须种树的原因是它们能供应我们新鲜的空气。
九、So + 形容词 + be + 主词 + that + 句子 （如此...以致于...）
例句：So precious is time that we can't afford to waste it. 时间是如此珍贵，我们经不起浪费它。
十、Adj + as + Subject（主词）+ be, S + V~~~ （虽然...）
例句：Rich as our country is, the qualities of our living are by no means satisfactory. {by no means = in no way = on no account 一点也不} 虽然我们的国家富有，我们的生活品质绝对令人不满意。
十一、The + ~er + S + V, ~~~ the + ~er + S + V ~~~ The + more + Adj + S + V, ~~~ the + more + Adj + S + V ~~~（愈...愈...）
例句：The harder you work, the more progress you make. 你愈努力，你愈进步。
The more books we read, the more learned we become. 我们书读愈多，我们愈有学问。
十二、By +Ving, ~~ can ~~ （借着...，..能够..）
例句：By taking exercise, we can always stay healthy. 借着做运动，我们能够始终保持健康。
十三、~~~ enable + Object（受词）+ to + V （..使..能够..） 例句：Listening to music enable us to feel relaxed.
听音乐使我们能够感觉轻松。
十四、On no account can we + V ~~~ （我们绝对不能...） 例句：On no account can we ignore the value of knowledge. 我们绝对不能忽略知识的价值。
十五、It is time + S + 过去式 （该是...的时候了）
例句：It is time the authorities concerned took proper steps to solve the traffic problems.
该是有关当局采取适当的措施来解决交通问题的时候了。
十六、Those who ~~~ （...的人...）
例句：Those who violate traffic regulations should be
punished.
违反交通规定的人应该受处罚。
十七、There is no one but ~~~ （没有人不...）
例句：There is no one but longs to go to college.
没有人不渴望上大学。
十八、be + forced/compelled/obliged + to + V （不得不...） 例句：Since the examination is around the corner, I am compelled to give up doing sports.
既然考试迫在眉睫，我不得不放弃做运动。
十九、It is conceivable that + 句子 （可想而知的）
It is obvious that + 句子 （明显的）
It is apparent that + 句子 （显然的）
例句：It is conceivable that knowledge plays an important role in our life.
可想而知，知识在我们的一生中扮演一个重要的角色。
二十、That is the reason why ~~~ （那就是...的原因）
例句：Summer is sultry. That is the reason why I don't like it.
夏天很燠热。那就是我不喜欢它的原因。
二十一、For the past + 时间，S + 现在完成式...（过去...年来，...一直...）
例句：For the past two years, I have been busy preparing for the examination.
过去两年来，我一直忙着准备考试。
二十二、Since + S + 过去式，S + 现在完成式。
例句：Since he went to senior high school, he has worked very hard.
自从他上高中，他一直很用功。
二十三、It pays to + V ~~~ （...是值得的。）
例句：It pays to help others.
帮助别人是值得的。
二十四、be based on （以...为基础）
例句：The progress of thee society is based on harmony. 社会的进步是以和谐为基础的。
二十五、Spare no effort to + V （不遗余力的）
例句：We should spare no effort to beautify our environment. 我们应该不遗余力的美化我们的环境。
二十六、bring home to + 人 + 事 （让...明白...事）
例句：We should bring home to people the value of working hard.
我们应该让人们明白努力的价值。
二十七、be closely related to ~~ （与...息息相关）
例句：Taking exercise is closely related to health.
做运动与健康息息相关。
二十八、Get into the habit of + Ving
= make it a rule to + V （养成...的习惯）
We should get into the habit of keeping good hours. 我们应该养成早睡早起的习惯。
二十九、Due to/Owing to/Thanks to + N/Ving, ~~~ （因为...） 例句：Thanks to his encouragement, I finally realized my dream.
因为他的鼓励，我终于实现我的梦想。
三十、What a + Adj + N + S + V!
= How + Adj + a + N + V!（多么...！）
例句：What an important thing it is to keep our promise! How important a thing it is to keep our promise!
遵守诺言是多么重要的事！
三十一、Leave much to be desired （令人不满意）
例句：The condition of our traffic leaves much to be desired. 我们的交通状况令人不满意。
三十二、Have a great influence on ~~~ （对...有很大的影响） 例句：Smoking has a great influence on our health.
抽烟对我们的健康有很大的影响。
三十三、do good to （对...有益），do harm to （对...有害） 例句：Reading does good to our mind.读书对心灵有益。 Overwork does harm to health.工作过度对健康有害。
三十四、Pose a great threat to ~~ （对...造成一大威胁） 例句：Pollution poses a great threat to our existence. 污染对我们的生存造成一大威胁。
三十五、do one's utmost to + V = do one's best （尽全力去...）
例句：We should do our utmost to achieve our goal in life. 我们应尽全力去达成我们的人生目标。
热点文章阅读