英语四级考试作为很多大学生难以通过的一门英语水平测试，其含金量是十分高的。随着我国国内的跨国企业越来越多，而这些企业对于英语水平的要求也是相当之高。如果我们连四级考试都无法通过，是一定没有机会进入这些大公司的。为了大家以后能够有更多的机会，我就2016年的真题给大家做出部分的摘录，希望对大家的四级备考能够起到一定的作用。
There seems never to have been a civilizationwithout toys， but when and how theydeveloped is unknown. They probably came aboutjust to give children something to do. In the ancient world， as is today， most boys played with some kinds of toys and mostgirls with another. In societies where socialroles are rigidly determined， boys pattern their play after the activities of theirfathers and girls after the tasks of their mothers. This is true because boys and girls are being prepared， even in play， to step into the roles and responsibilities of theadult world.
What is remarkable about the history oftoys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remainedare same. The changes have beenmostly in terms of craftsmanship， mechanics， and technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to theirdevelopment in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present thatis amazing. In Egypt， the Americas， China， Japan and among the Arctic (北极的) peoples， generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and ways oflife because toys imitate their surroundings. Nearly every civilization had dolls， little weapons， toy soldiers， tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded asa kind of art form， they have not been subjectto technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use. The progress from the wheel to the oxcart to theautomobile is a direct line of ascent (进步). The progress from a rattle (拨浪鼓) used by a baby in 3000 BC to one used by an infanttoday， however， is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastesof the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.
1. The reason why the toys most boys play with are differentfrom those that girls play with is that ________.
A) their social roles are rigidly determined
B) most boys would like to follow their fathers’ professions
C) boys like to play with their fathers while girlswith their mothers
D) they like challenging activities
2. One aspect of “the universality of toys” lies inthe fact that ________.
A) technological advances have greatly improved thedurability of toys
B) the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys dependson the efforts of universities
C) the exploration of the universe had led to the creationof new kinds of toys
D) the basic characteristics of toys are the same theworld over
3. Which of the following is the author’s view on thehistorical development of toys?
A) The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.
B) Toys have remained basically the same all throughthe centuries.
C) The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technologyin recent years.
D) Toys are playing an increasingly important role inshaping a child’s character.
4. Regarded as a kind of art form， toys ________.
A) follow a direct line of ascent B) also appeal greatly to adults
C) are not characterized by technological progress D) reflect the pace of social progress
5. The author uses the example of rattle to show that________.
A) in toy-making there is a continuity in the sue of materials
B) even the simplest toys can reflect the progress oftechnology
C) even the simplest toys can reflect the progress oftechnology
D) even a simple toy can mirror the artistic tastesof the time