2014年12月英语四六级考试离我们还有几个月的时间，同学们可以提早开始备考，这样在冲刺的时间大家就不用那么慌张了。英语四级的阅读部分需要多练习才能掌握，小编在备考阶段为大家准备了练习题，希望能帮助到同学们。

　　The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world's technology. So says more than one study in recent years. One of the reasons for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U.S. scientists and engineers.

　　Since 1976,employment of scientists and engineers is up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds--the near term source of future PH.D.s-is declining. Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields-law,medicine,business,etc. While the number of U.S. PH.D.s in science and engineering declines,the award of PH.D.s to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly.

　　Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master's degree holders. Too often, promising PH.D.candidates, confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education,find the attraction of industry irresistible.

　　1.The U.S.will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ________.

　　a. the number of PH.D. degree holders is declining

　　b. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasing

　　c. the number of 22-year-ilds is declining

　　d. scientists and engineers are not employed

　　2.The field of science and engineering is facing a competition from ________ .

　　a. technology

　　b. foreign nationals

　　c. such fields as law, medicine and business

　　d. postgraduates

　　3.Large-scale enterprises now need _______.

　　a. bright graduates and postgraduates

　　b. new inventions

　　c. advanced technology

　　d. engineers

　　4.Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PH.D. degree because _________.

　　a. they are not encouraged to be engaged in science

　　b. industry does not require PH.D. holders

　　c. they have financial difficulties

　　d. they will spend much time and energy completing PH.D.

　　5.PH.D. candidates "find the attraction of industry irresistible" means that _________.

　　a. they find industry is attracting more and more college students

　　b. they don't think they can prevent themselves from working for industry

　　c. they cannot resist any attraction from all sides

　　d. they cannot work for industry any longer

　　答案与解析：

　　1.b 2.c 3.a 4.d 5.b