大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷121 (题后含答案及解析)题型有：1.
B．Elephant population declined because of climate change.
C．The land area inhabited by elephants fell.
D．The land area inhabited by elephants increased slowly.
正确答案：C
解析：细节辨认题。第三段提到，对大约80个个案研究的数据进行收集时，发现大象数量降低，其栖息地面积在下降，故C)为正确答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读
13． Why are these numbers in previous surveys a bit conservative?
A．Because some surveys underestimate the numbers of elephants in the protected areas.
B．Because elephants often flee into the protected areas to look for food.
C．Because researchers could overestimate elephant populations in the protected areas.
D．Because estimates on the absolute population of elephants must be doubtful.
正确答案：C
解析：细节辨认题。由定位段可知，这些数字是有些保守的。因为许多调查是在保护区进行的，他们可能高估了大象的数量——大象经常逃到保护区来逃脱附近的偷猎，故本题答案为C)。 知识模块：篇章阅读
14． What does “be taken with a grain of salt”(Para. 5)exactly mean?
A．Be doubtful.
B．Be serious.
C．Be confused.
D．Be salty.
正确答案：A
解析：语义理解题。定位段是由but连接的两个分句，后半句跟前半句是转折的关系，该短语出现在第一个分句中，后半句提到，连续多年用一个标准的方式采集同一地区的样本，所得到的总趋势通常更准确，说明前面的这种方式调查出的数据是有待考究的．故正确答案为A)。 知识模块：篇章阅读
15． Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A．Plummeting African Forest Elephant Population
B．The Prohibition of Trade With China
C．No Protected Areas
D．No Poaching
正确答案：A
解析：主旨大意题。整篇文章重点强调的是非洲森林象数量的骤降，而不是强调禁止跟中国的贸易等，因此答案为A)。 知识模块：篇章阅读
This Sunday, a handful of stars will go home empty handed from the 2014 Academy Awards show. Not only will they be left with the bitter sting of defeat, but such loss may also lead to shorter life spans than the winners. Seriously. Social status has long been recognized as a predictor for poor health. Typically, research has focused on disparities(差异)between the rich and the poor. But science tells us that the effect may extend to quite literally the top of social ladder. In fact, Oscar winners may also have the advantage of longevity. The finding was first noticed in 2001. Researchers from the University of Toronto studied 1 9 Oscar-nominated actors and actresses. When they accounted for factors that could influence death rates, they found that among the participants, Oscar winners had a survival advantage of about four extra years of life, and actors who won multiple Oscars had an advantage of six years. Nominees who didn’t win had the same survival rates as their non-nominated peers. Success could possibly account for the survival advantage, the researchers say. They speculate that since stars are subjected to intense personal scrutiny(细查), they pay special attention to their looks and behaviors. Consequently, they may avoid risky behavior and focus more intensively on eating and exercise. Not to mention, many have the means to hire nannies, trainers, and managers, which could mean they are under less stress than the general population. Of course, there are the exceptions, like Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman who died recently after an overdose. Another study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine questioned the methods of the 2001 study. The original study was criticized for counting the years an actor was alive, instead of comparing years after a win. They also declared winners and losers at the onset, and didn’t factor in whether actors in the study won an award later on. When the new researchers re-calculated, they didn’t find the numbers significant. If the findings do hold true, it could mean that there are other factors that impact survival, like a jump in social status. Looks like we will have to wait and see.
16． What can we learn from the 2001 study?
A．Stars who won multiple Oscars would live the longest.
B．Nominees who didn’t win would live longer than non-nominees.
C．Nominees who didn’t win lived as long as winners.
D．Whether winning an Oscar or not had no influence on life span.
正确答案：A
解析：推理判断题。由定位段可知，2001年的研究发现，奥斯卡获奖者的寿命比提名者要多大约四年，多次获奖的演员能够多活六年。没有获奖的提名者和那些没有被提名的演员寿命差不多，因此A)符合原文，为本题答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读
17． Why do stars tend to focus intensively on eating and exercise?
A．Because they want to live long enough to win an Oscar.
B．Because their trainers and managers tell them to do so.
C．Because the public watch their looks and behaviors intensely.
D．Because they have to stay in shape to perform.
正确答案：C
解析：细节辨认题。由定位句可知，因为明星总是受到大家的密切关注，他们会花大量心思在外表和行为上，所以会更加注重饮食和锻炼，因此C)为本题答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读
18． Why was the 2001 study criticized?
A．Because it didn’t account for other factors influencing death rates.
B．Because it didn’t compare the years after actors winning an Oscar.
C．Because it considered whether participants won an award later on.
D．Because it studied an inadequate number of Oscar-nominated actors.
正确答案：B
解析：细节辨认题。定位句解释了2001年的研究被批评的原因：只是计算演员的寿命，而不是对比他们获奖后活了多长时间。而且之前的研究一开始就断定了赢家和输家，并没有考虑到研究中的演员后来有没有获奖，因此B)为本题答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读
19． What did the new researchers find after they re-calculated?
A．The finding was exactly the same as the 2001 study’s.
B．There was significant difference in the longevity of winners and nominees.
C．There was no tiny difference in the longevity of winners and nominees.
D．There was not much difference in the years of winners and nominees after a win.
正确答案：D
解析：细节辨认题。由定位句可知，当新研究者再次计算的时候，他们发现数字差异不大，即获奖者与提名者在颁奖后活的时间相差无几，因此D)为本题答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读
20． What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．What affects longevity is still not clear.
B．It is true that social status can impact survival.
C．Oscar winners live longer due to their improved social status.
D．Whether winning an Oscar or not has no effect on longevity.
正确答案：A
解析：推理判断题。由定位段可知，如果这些发现确实是正确的，那也就意味着还有其他因素影响着寿命，比如社会地位的显著改变。最终结果如何，我们似乎要拭目以待。由此可知，目前人们对影响寿命的因素还没有定论，因此A)为本题答案。 知识模块：篇章阅读