1999年1月大学英语四级.doc

　Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)　　Direction: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B) C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. 　　Passage One　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:　　 The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched（草盖的）roof cottages around a church; a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white; the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched form buildings – these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside.　　 Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practiced in the British Isles（英论诸岛）. Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too.　　 Thatching is a solitary（独自的）craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practiced toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today, maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.　　 In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are often reluctant to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to import the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty t