距离2016年6月四级考试越来越近了，现在正是大家备考英语四级最好的时机。新东方网英语四级频道为大家整理了英语四级阅读每天一练，希望可以为大家带来帮助。
Asregardssocialconventions,wemustsayawordaboutthewell-knownEnglishclasssystem.『ThisisanembarrassingsubjectforEnglishpeople,andonetheytendtobeashamedof,thoughduringthepresentcenturyclass-consciousnesshasgrownlessandless,andtheclasssystemlessrigid.』①Butitstillexistsbelowthesurface.Broadlyspeaking,itmeanstherearetwoclasses,the“middleclass”andthe“workingclass”.(Weshallignoreforamomenttheold“upperclass”,includingthehereditaryaristocracy,sinceitisextremelysmallinnumbers;butsomeofitsmembershavetherighttositintheHouseofLords,andsomenewspaperstakeasurprisinginterestintheirprivatelife.)Themiddleclassconsistschieflyofwell-to-dobusinessmenandprofessionalpeopleofallkinds.Theworkingclassconsistschieflyofmanualandunskilledworkers.
Themostobviousdifferencebetweenthemisintheiraccent.Middle-classpeopleuseslightlyvaryingkindsof“receivedpronunciation”whichisthekindofEnglishspokenbyBBCannouncersandtaughttooverseaspupils.Typicalworking-classpeoplespeakinmanydifferentlocalaccentswhicharegenerallyfelttoberatheruglyanduneducated.OneofthebiggestbarriersofsocialequalityinEnglandisthetwo-classeducationsystem.Tohavebeentoaso-called“publicschool”immediatelymarksyououtasoneofthemiddleclass.Themiddleclassestendtoliveamoreformallifethanworking-classpeople,andareusuallymorecultured.Theirmiddaymealis“lunch”andtheyhavearatherformaleveningmealcalled“dinner”,whereastheworkingman’sdinner,ifhisworkinghourspermit,isatmidday,andhissmaller,late-eveningmealiscalledsupper.
Aswehavesaid,however,theclasssystemismuchlessrigidthanitwas,andforalongtimeithasbeengovernmentpolicytoreduceclassdistinctions.『Working-classstudentsverycommonlyreceiveauniversityeducationandentertheprofessions,andworking-classincomeshavegrownsomuchrecentlythatthedistinctionsbetweenthetwoclassesarebecominglessandlessclear.』②However,regardlessofone’ssocialstatus,certainstandardsofpolitenessareexpectedofeverybody,andawell-bredpersonispolitetoeveryonehemeets,andtreatsalabourerwiththesamerespecthegivesanimportantbusinessman.Servilityinspiresbothembarrassmentanddislike.Eventheword“sir”,exceptinschoolandincertainoccupations(e.g.commerce,thearmyetc.)soundstooserviletobecommonlyused.
1.Themiddleclassmainlyreferstopeople__________.
A.whowerebornasaristocrat
B.whohavetherighttositintheHouseofLords
C.whospeakinmanydifferentlocalaccents
D.whoareprosperousbusinessmenorwhoworkinsomeprofessions
2.ThemostobviousdifferencebetweentheworkingclassandthemiddleclassinEnglishistheir__________.
A.dressB.workC.accentD.meal
3.Whyisn’ttheword“sir”commonlyusedinBritain?
A.Becauseitsoundstooservileandislikelytocauseembarrassment.B.Becauseitcanonlybeusedinsomecertainoccupations.
C.Becauseitisanimpoliteword.
D.Becauseitshowsthatthespeakerisnotawell-bredperson.
4.The“upperclass”inEnglandtoday___________.
A.areextremelysmallinnumbersothatmediapaysnoattentiontothem
B.stillusesoldwordslike“Sir”intheireverydaylife
C.includesthehereditaryaristocracy
D.refersonlytotheroyalfamily
5.WhichofthefollowingisnottrueabouttheEnglishclasssystem?
A.ItisanembarrassingsubjectforEnglishpeople.
B.Working-classstudentscannotreceiveauniversityeducation.
C.Theclasssystemismuchlessrigidthanitwas.
D.Theclasssystemstillexistsbelowthesurface.
1.conventionn.习俗2.embarrassv.使困窘
3.rigidadj.严格4.hereditaryadj.世袭的
5.manualadj.体力的6.accentn.口音
7.receivedpronunciationadj.(英语的)标准发音
8.well-bredadj.有教养的9.servilityn.卑屈
10.occupationn.职业
①【解析】这是一个复合句，主句由“and”引导的两个并列句组成，“though”引导的让步状语从句，也是由两个并列的句子组成。
【译文】尽管本世纪等级意识越来越淡，等级制度也越来越不严格，但对于英国人来说它仍是一个尴尬的话题，仍旧引以为耻。
②【解析】这是一个复合句，由“and”引导的两个并列句组成，“so…that”作“grown”的状语。
【译文】劳工家庭中的孩子上大学成为非常平常的事情，此后他们也加入各种专业行当。劳工阶层的工资近来也快速增长，使得两个阶层间的界线越来越模糊。
【短文大意】本文主要讲述英国等级意识虽然越来越淡，但在表层下，等级仍然存在。而“阶层”的最大区别是他们的口音。
1.D细节题。意为“那些比较富裕的生意人或有一定的职业的人”。见第一段的倒数第二句：中产阶级主要包括富裕的生意人和有一定的职业的人。所以正确答案应该是D。
2.C细节题。意为“口音”。见第二段的第一句：他们之间最明显的区别是他们的口音。所以正确答案应该是C。
3.A推断题。意为“因为它听起来太过谦卑，很可能会引起尴尬”。见文章的最后两句：谦卑会引起尴尬和不悦。甚至像“先生”这样的词，除了在特定的职业中(如商业、军队)外，也不太常用，因为它听起来太过谦卑。所以正确答案应该是A。
4.C细节题。A选项前半是对的。上流社会人数很少，后半是错的，媒体还在关注他们，注意一定要看清楚再选。B选项相关内容在文末。D没有提到。B在第一段中间出现，是正确答案。
5.B细节题。意为“来自工人阶级家庭的学生不能接受大学教育”。见第三段第二句的前半句：来自工人阶级家庭的学生接受大学教育并且某种职业的情况已十分普遍。所以选项B的答案与文章不相符，是正确答案。
