4.（2011•安徽卷）A

Passage 1

The Information Highway is the road that links computer users to a large number of on-line services: the Web, e-mail, and software, to mention just a few. Not long ago, the Information Highway was a new road, with not many users. Now, everyone seems to want to take a drive, with over 30 million families connected worldwide. Not surprisingly, this well-traveled highway is starting to look like a well-traveled highway. Traffic jams can cause many serious problems, forcing the system to close down for repair. Naturally, accidents will happen on such a crowed road, and usually victims are some files, gone forever. Then, of course, there’s Mr. Cool, with his new broad-band connection, who speeds down the highway faster than most of us can go. But don’t trick yourself; he pays for that speeding.

Passage 2

Want to know more about global warming and how you can help prevent it? Doctor Herman Friedman, who is considered a leading expert on the subject, will speak at Grayson Hall next Friday. Friedman studied environmental science at three well-known universities around the world before becoming a professor in the subject. He has also traveled around the world observing environmental concerns. The gradual bleaching (变白) of the Great Barrier Reef, which came into the public eye in 2002, is his latest interest. Signed copies of his colorful book, which was published just last month, will be on sale after his talk.

【文章大意】本文分两部分，第一篇介绍信息高速公路的情况；第二篇介绍Doctor Herman Friedman的情况。

56. The Information Highway .
A. is free from traffic accidents
B. is crowded with car drivers
C. offers just a few on-line services
D. appeals to a large number of users

【解析】选D。细节理解题。由第一篇短文中的Now, everyone seems to want to take a drive, with over 30 million families connected worldwide可知，信息高速公路深受广大用户喜爱，故D项正确。由Naturally, accidents will happen on such a crowed road, and usually victims are some files, gone forever.可知A项错误；由Now, everyone seems to want to take a drive可知，人人都想使用信息高速公路，B项中的car drivers概念错误；由 a large number of on-line services:和the Web, e-mail, and software, to mention just a few可知，on-line services的内容包含很多，故C项错误。

57. How does MR. Cool manage to travel the Information Highway so fast?
A. By storing fewer files.
B. By repair the system.
C. By buying a better computer.
D. By using a broad-band connection.

【解析】选D。细节理解题。由第一篇文章中的there’s Mr. Cool, with his new broad-band connection, who speeds down the highway faster than most of us can go可知D项正确。

58. What can be learned from Passenger 2?
A. There will be a book show at Grayson Hall.
B. Friedman is now studying the Great Barrier Reef.
C. There will be a talk on global warming this week.
D. Friedman is a leading expert on computer science.

【解析】选B。推理判断题。由第二篇文章中的The gradual bleaching (变白) of the Great Barrier Reef… is his latest interest可知B项正确。A项中的a book show错误；C项中的this week错误；D项中的on computer science错误。

59. Passage 2 is most probably .
A. a poster about a lecture
B. an ad for a new book
C. a note to a doctor in a university
D. an introduction to a professor

【解析】选A。主旨大意题。通读第二篇文章可知，全文是围绕着Doctor Herman Friedman在global warming方面的talk展开，故A项正确。