(一)背景和考試綜合
快速閱讀有兩個變化：一是位置發(fā)生了變化，由原來的Part II調至Part III里的Section B, 即由原來的單獨部分，變成了與其他的閱讀理解放在一起;另一個變化就是題目形式的變化，由原來的多項選擇題變成了段落信息匹配題。這一變化更挑戰(zhàn)考生對于文章的理解程度和信息定位的能力，應該說是加大了難度。
四級考試中快速閱讀調整為長篇閱讀順應了時代發(fā)展的要求。該題型主要考查段落信息匹配。在篩選信息的過程中，要求考生在把握文章整體的基礎上，對文章的一些細節(jié)進行整理、歸納以及同義轉換。這意味著考生不僅要讀懂文章，還要對所掌握的信息進行加工處理。
(二)文章特點
通過試卷可知，長篇閱讀的文章長度、難度、體裁、題材、題目數量、考試時間、所占分值等都不變。
(三)試題特點
1.題干中的細節(jié)信息往往反映文章的主旨和段落主題。通過快速地閱讀題干中的若干細節(jié)信息，考生可以迅速了解原文的主旨大意。
2.題干提供的細節(jié)信息中往往暗含一些說明文或議論文所必需的邏輯關系，考生可以利用這種關系預先對一些表達進行排序，這對于解答信息匹配題有著非常重要的意義。
3.提干提供的信息表達中通常包括如下三類：能夠指示開頭段的詞，如overview, introduction, initiation, main idea, definition 等;能夠指示結尾段的詞，如future, solution, conclusion, suggestion, summary 等;能夠幫助考生回原文定位的特殊詞，如rate, ration, proportion, percentage, number, figure, statistical demographics 等。
4.有些試題題干中的細節(jié)信息往往會和原文的其他某一題目聯(lián)系密切，考生可通過先解答原文的其他題目來獲得解答題目的線索和提示性信息。
樣題分析：
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains in information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
文章大意：本文主要講述大學在增強國家實力和促進國際化交流等方面的巨大作用。A段總括全文，指出當代大學對國家強盛和世界和平起著至關重要的作用。B-E段講述各個大學自覺走上全球化道路。F-I段講研究型大學促成了美國的騰飛，但仍有諸多因素制約這種大學的發(fā)展。
46. American universities prepare their undergraduates for global careers by giving them chances for international study or internship.
解析：定位到D段第3、4句：And in the United States, institutions are helping place students in summer internships(實習) abroad to prepare them for global careers. Yale and Harvard have led the way, offering every undergraduate at least one international study or internship opportunity—and providing the financial resources to make it possible.
47. Since the mid-1970s, the enrollment of overseas students has increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent.
解析：定位到C段第2句：Over the past three decades the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2004.
48. The enrollment of international students will have a positive impact on America rather than threaten its competitiveness.
解析：定位到I段第1句：Most Americans recognize that universities contribute to the nation’s well-being through their scientific research, but many fear that foreign students threaten American competitiveness by taking their knowledge and skills back home. They fail to grasp that welcoming foreign students to the United States has two important positive effects: first, the very best of them stay in the States and—like immigrants throughout history—strengthen the nation;
49. The way research is carried out in universities has changed as a result of globalization.
解析：定位到E段：Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done.
50. Of the newly hired professors in science and engineering in the United States, twenty percent come from foreign countries.
解析：定位到C段末句：In the United States, 20 percent of the newly hired professors in science and engineering are foreign-born, and in China many newly hired faculty members at the top research universities received their graduate education abroad.
