大学英语四级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷834
仔细阅读
Every December witnesses a particular genre of advertisement in America. The details vary, but the plot does not: one family member surprises another with the Christmas gift of a luxury car, often adorned with a cartoonishly large bow—most people will not be able to afford. But the envy such ads induce serves an economic purpose, even as it leaves the majority feeling worse about themselves.
On the surface, ads and other forms of marketing serve a straightforward economic role. They can improve the quality of purchasing decisions, by informing consumers about the relative merits of various products, yet advertising might fall short of this ideal. Honest or not, successful ads induce a desire to spend, perhaps on things the audience does not need or cannot afford. If the effect of advertising is mostly to encourage people to want things that they cannot have, rather than to direct them towards items that are a good match for their needs and tastes, then it is possible that spending on advertising leaves society worse off overall.
A forthcoming paper finds a significant and inverse relationship between spending on advertisements and national welfare. It estimates that a doubling of ad spending is associated with a subsequent drop in reported satisfaction of 3%—an effect about a quarter as strong as a spell of unemployment. The findings may illustrate an aspect of the economy that has puzzled some economists for more than a century. In \\
1.The car advertisement in America________.(D)
A. indicates the prosperity of the US economy
B. praises the gift-giving tradition of Christmas
C. shows Americans’ affection for luxury cars
D. causes adverse effects on people’s feelings
解析：细节题。根据题干关键词car advertisement in America定位到第一段第一、二句，但这两句无法解题，需继续看下文。第一、二句指出每年12月美国都会出现特定类型的广告，第三句指出此类广告产生的影响及作用。D项“对人们的心情造成负面影响”是对第三句中it leaves the majority feeling worse about themselves(它让大多数人对自己感到更为不满)的同义替换。故本题选D。
2.According to Paragraph 2, the author thinks that ads should(C)
A. cultivate the taste of customers
B. be honest and straightforward
C. help people spend their money wisely
D. encourage people to pursue better things
解析：细节题。根据题干关键词Paragraph 2和ads定位到第二段第一句，但该句无法解题，需继续看下文。第二段第二句介绍广告本应具备的直接经济作用。C项“帮助人们明智地消费”是对第二句中They can improve the quality of purchasing decisions…(它们可以……使消费者作出更好的购买决定)的适度推断。故本题选C。
3.Increased spending on advertisements________.(A)
A. may link with the decline in satisfaction
B. results in a higher unemployment rate
C. may increase commodity prices
D. causes conspicuous consumption
解析：细节题。根据题干关键词Increased spending on advertisements定位到第三段第一、二句。A项“与满意度下降有关”是对第二句中a doubling of ad spending is associated with a subsequent drop in reported satisfaction of 3％(广告支出增加一倍与随后报告中公布的满意率下降3％有关)的概括总结。故本题选A。
4.According to Paragraph 4, people buy high-cost items to _(A)
A. gain feelings of superiority
B. acquire after-sales service
C. enjoy the excellent quality
D. gain acceptance from others
解析：细节题。根据题干关键词Paragraph 4和people buy high-cost items定位到第四段第一句。A项“获得优越感”是对第一句中simply to set themselves apart from the less well-off(只是为了标榜自己与穷人不同)的适度推断。故本题选A。
5.The best title for this text could be________.(D)
A. Luxury Goods: Making People Miserable
B. Luxury Goods: Economi
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