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。

　　Nowdays,a standard for measuring power has changed.These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power.No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effectiveness will remain a primary primary measure of power.But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard of opwer and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.

　　America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.

　　The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the Department of Defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutional forces in our society-government,industry,and education. That is not to say that the Defense Department will not be a strong force in the process because we will. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior of American industry.

　　1. Now a nation's political influence depends on _________.

　　a. the strength of its military forces

　　b. its ability to compete in industry

　　c. economic markets

　　d. both a and b

　　2. The Soviet Union was not listed as a third-world nation just because of _________.

　　a. its powerful military forces

　　b. its vast land

　　c. its industrial competitiveness

　　d. its contributions to world peace

　　3. The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power.

　　a. other countries

　　b. the declining U.S. industrial base

　　c. a new standard for measuring power

　　d. less advanced technology

　　4. America succeeded in shaping world events over past 40 years probably because of ___________.

　　a. its ability to adapt technology

　　b. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its people

　　c. its ability to compete in the world markets

　　d. both a and b

　　5. The purpose of writing this article is __________.

　　a. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring power

　　b. to demonstrate American political influence in the world

　　c. to emphasize that efforts must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial base

　　d. to show American industrial prowess

　　答案：

　　1.d 2.a 3.b 4.d 5.c