13级期末阅读复习题
Part 1 Reading Comprehension (Multiple Choice)
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Polygamy is a funny thing―funny ha ha, as well as peculiar. One thinks of the
19th-century Mormon leader, Brigham Young, with his 55 wives (in those days, they said, women married Young). Devout (虔敬的) Mormons hold that a message from God told Young to go ahead and start collecting wives. Skeptics (怀疑者), of course, say that there was something else to this. In any case, it proved to be an efficient means of enabling Mormons to outnumber skeptics. And in fairness, some of his wives were elderly women whom he married out of kindness and not because he was attracted to them.
I find it very curious that Western countries, despite how much they pride themselves for their liberalism (人文自由主义) about what willing adults do with one another, have been slow to permit willing adults to marry each other at a rate more than one at a time.
What business is it of the states how many people I marry? And by the way, if one can enter into a common law marriage by living with someone for seven years, can one enter into a common law polygamy by living with two? I'd love to see that test case.
But what would it really be like to have multiple spouses? Most men I've asked answer immediately with a knowing smile. And those are the intelligent ones. Their minds immediately create an image something like a sexual (性的) version (看法) of a Hong Kong Sunday lunch, with many dishes to taste.
In truth, the idea scares me. I spend half my waking hours trying to deal with my childish consciousness to the civilized state known as marriage. It's only by total luck I can hold on to any of my natural state-of-nature qualities—watching violent movies, eating bad food, and acting poorly, the way that men can act poorly when free from the control of women. What if I were outnumbered?
Then there's the spectre (幻影，魔鬼) of a double settlement (解决) if the woman leaves. Modern marriage might be a raw deal for women, but it can be hell (地狱) on men when women leave. Little wonder that men, who write the laws, discourage polygamy. But then again, Mark Twain might have been right; maybe it was just the mother-in-law jokes.
1. What does the word "polygamy" most probably mean in the first sentence?
A. Funny stories.
B. Interesting events.
C. Having more than one wife at the same time.
D. Organizing a social act.
2. According to the passage, which one of the following statements is true?
A. In the 19th century, polygamy was considered a regular practice.
B. Young's wives were all very beautiful and attractive.
C. Polygamy began in the 1800s.
D. Some people think that polygamy is a good idea.
3. The author thinks that the government ______________.
A. should stop polygamy and promote monogamy (一夫一妻制)
B. should not stop polygamy while promoting monogamy
C. should establish laws against polygamy
D. should stop both monogamy and polygamy
4. Which one of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Most men welcome the idea of polygamy out of curiosity.
B. Most men like to have more than one wife for sexual purposes.
C. Most women do not like the idea of polygamy.
D. The author thinks that polygamy is needed for the modern world.
5. What does the phrase "a raw deal" mean in the last paragraph?
A. A new experience.
B. An unfair treatment.
C. An activity which is not agreed on.
D. A heavy blow.
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the same passage or dialog.
I used to go to Starbucks (星巴克) for their coffee, but that's changed since I discovered their comforting, tasty teas, which are better than coffee any time. Tea is cool even when it's hot. People drink more tea than any other drink in the world, except for water. Whether it's served hot or cold, natural and flavored teas are drinks that have been consumed (消费) for centuries. Everywhere you look, you'll find various kinds of teas―in restaura nts, grocery stores, television advertisements, and gift shops.
Why is there all this excitement about tea? What's its attraction? Well, there are many possibilities for why more and more people are drinking tea. One possibility is that people are coming to notice the benefits of drinking tea, particularly green tea. Studies show that drinking four cups of green tea a day can reduce the risk of developing various types of cancer, as well as heart disease. The key to tea's effects of cure seems to lie in chemicals found in tea which prevent a process that leads to the growth of cancers. Green tea may also prevent skin cancer. It has also been linked with helping the body to rid itself of harmful materials, and green tea is thought to possibly protect against colds and Parkinson's (帕金森) disease.
Another explanation for why people are drinking more tea may be due to the comforting process of just making a cup of tea. The time it takes to prepare tea leaves in hot water and enjoy its gentle flavor forces drinkers to slow down and relax a while, making it the perfect way to improve a world where people are so crazy about cappuccino（热牛奶咖啡）, a hot coffee with milk in it.
So, whether you drink tea, eat it in foods, wear it to smell good, or take it in pills, one thing is certain, the use of tea is more than a trend―it is a habit of our past and if studies prove the benefit of its use, it will undoubtedly be an important element of our future.
6. Nowadays, among all the drinks in the world, tea is __________.
A. the most widely consumed drink
B. as widespread as coffee
C. even more widely consumed than water
D. the second most widely consumed drink
7. The passage does not mention __________ as a possible benefit of drinking tea.
A. preventing skin cancer
B. helping the body to rid itself of harmful material
C. curing Parkinson's disease
D. reducing the risk of developing cancer
8. It is good to drink tea because the time it takes to prepare a cup of tea _________.
A. allows the tea leaves to absorb enough water
B. enables drinkers to relax
C. is suitable for people to get some news
D. can improve the quality of cappuccino
9. The writer suggests that in the future people will probably ___________.
A. follow the trend and go on drinking tea
B. drink more water than tea
C. form the habit of eating tea leaves in foods
D. take tea as an important part of their life
10. The passage is mainly about ____________.
A. the benefits of drinking tea
B. the benefits of drinking coffee
C. using tea leaves in fortune telling
D. advising people to drink tea and water
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Television carries more national advertising than any other medium in the United States. The same is true in some smaller countries such as Spain and Portugal, where it is the only medium reaching a general national audience. In many countries, (Sweden and Denmark, for example) the state-owned television accepts no advertising. In many other countries the amount of commercial (商业广告) time is very much limited, as in France, Germany, and Italy. Russian state-owned television began accepting a limited amount of advertising in 1988.
The chief reason that television is so well liked among United States advertisers is that it reaches a vast number of people at the same time. While it can cost well over 100,000 dollars, a 30-second commercial on network television can be seen and heard by as many as 25 million viewers. For companies that must make prospects aware of their products and convince them of their benefits immediately, there is nothing as efficient as television advertising.
Because it employs motion as well as words, pictures, sounds, and music, television is a valuable medium for products that lend themselves to demonstration. No other medium is
as effective in showing how quickly an automobile can move or how well a certain type of wristwatch will stand up under heavy use and continue to run. In the same way, it is an ideal medium for showing how some products can make a person feel better about him- or herself, such as long-distance telephone calls.
11. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A. There is less advertising on TV in Spain than in Sweden.
B. One can never see any commercial on TV in Denmark since it is not accepted at all.
C. The amount of commercial time is very much limited in most European countries.
D. French people don't have to worry about being troubled by commercials.
12. According to the passage, what is the main reason United States advertisers like television so much?
A. It communicates information more quickly.
B. Every household has at least one TV set.
C. It communicates information to a vast number of people at the same time.
D. American people love watching TV more than reading.
13. The word prospects in the 2nd paragraph means _____________.
A. potential customers
B. competitors
C. working staff at TV stations
D. partners
14. Which of the following is employed in TV advertising?
A. Motion
B. Sounds and music.
C. Pictures
D. All of the above.
15. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Television is as efficient as newspaper in demonstration benefits of a certain product or service.
B. Television is a valuable medium in demonstrating benefits of a certain product or service.
C. TV commercials can hardly help to communicate feelings.
D. People use advertising on TV whenever necessary because of its effectiveness. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Pepys and his wife had asked some friends to dinner on Sunday, September 2nd, 1666. The servants (女仆) were up very late on the Saturday evening, getting everything ready for the next day, and while they were busy they saw the glow of a fire start in the sky. By 3 o'clock on the Sunday morning, the glow had become so bright that one of the servants, Jane, woke her master to see it. Pepys went to the window to watch it. It seemed fairly far away, so after a time he went back to bed. When he got up in the morning, it looked as though the fire was dying down, though he could still see it. So he set to work to tidy (整理) his room and put his things back where he wanted them after the servants had cleaned everything.
While he was doing this, Jane came in to say that she had heard that the fire was a bad one: three hundred houses had been burned down in the night and the fire was still burning. Pepys went out to see for himself. He went to the Tower of London and climbed up on a high part of the building so that he could see what was happening. From there, Pepys could see that it was, indeed, a bad fire and that even the houses on London Bridge were burning. Someone told him that the fire had started in a baker's house in Pudding Lane (小巷), and then the flames (火焰) had quickly spread to the other houses in the narrow lane. So began the Great Fire of London, a fire that lasted nearly five days, destroyed most of the old city and ended, so it is said, at Pie Corner.
16. The servants were up very late because _______________.
A. they were chatting
B. they were having a party
C. they were preparing for a dinner
D. they were watching a fire
17. Pepys went back to bed because _______________.
A. he was not interested in chatting about a fire
B. he did not think the fire was anything special
C. the fire was far away
D. the fire had died down
18. When Pepys was tidying his room and things, Jane came in and told him that
_______________.
A. the fire was dying down
B. the fire had been put out
C. the fire was a bad one
D. no flame could be seen
19. The fire started _________________.
A. on London Bridge
B. in a baker's house
C. because the lane was too narrow for people to come in
D. because people could not get enough water to put it out
20. Pie Corner was __________________.
A. the site of the Tower of London
B. the site of the Great Fire of London
C. the place where the fire ended
D. the place where Pepys lived
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the same passage or dialog.
In the United States 84 colleges now accept just women. Most of these colleges were established in the 19th century; they were designed to offer women the education they could not receive anywhere else. At that time major universities and colleges accepted only men. In the past 20 years many young women have chosen to study at colleges that accept both men and women. As a result some women's colleges decided to accept men students too. Others, however, refused to change. Now these schools are popular (流行的)
again.
The president of Trinity College (三一大学) in Washington, D.C. said that by the end of the 1980s women began to recognize that studying at the same school with men did not mean women were having an equal chance to learn. The president of Smith College in Massachusetts says a women's college permits women to choose classes and activities freely. For example, she says that in a women's college a higher percentage of students studies mathematics than in a college with both men and women.
Educational experts say men students in the United States usually speak in class more than women students do. In a women's college, women feel freer to say what they think. Women's schools also bring out leadership capabilities in many women. Women are represented everywhere. For example, at a women's college every governing office is held by a woman. Recent studies reportedly show that this leadership continues after college. American women who went to women's colleges are more likely to hold successful jobs later in life.
21. Women's colleges were established to ________________.
A. give women the same right of education that men enjoy
B. make changes to the traditional educational system (系统)
C. defy men's privilege (特权) in society
D. train women in particular fields
22. Studying at the same school with men does not mean ________________.
A. women can do the same thing as men
B. that women are given the same chance as men
C. women are allowed more freedom to develop themselves
D. the present educational system does not allow other choices
23. According to the passage, in women's schools _________________.
A. women are freer than if they study at the same school with men
B. women could do anything they want
C. they teach things peculiar to women
D. men are openly challenged
24. Which one of the following statements is NOT true about women's college?
A. Women feel freer to say what they think.
B. More women can participate in the management of the college.
C. A very high percentage of women will become leaders later.
D. Women are more likely to be successful in their later careers.
25. The title of this passage is most likely to be ______.
A. Female Education in the United States
B. Women's Schools in the United States
C. Women Should be Given the Same Education as Men
D. Education in America
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Tonga is made up of about 150 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. There are
three main groups of islands—Vava'u in the north, Ha'apai in the middle, and Tongatapu in the south. Most of the eastern islands are made up of dead animal remains. The higher islands in the west were formed by a process of mountain building. Large areas on these islands are too mountainous to be used for crops. Some of the mountains are still active—which means that they can be dangerous. Many of the smaller islands do not have any people on them. There are only two large towns—Nukualofa, the capital, and Neiafu. These towns are Tonga's chief ports.
Tonga has few natural resources. The most important resources are a pleasant sunny climate and natural beauty, which attract growing numbers of tourists. Because of its location, Tonga is sometimes hit by storms. One such storm, in 1982, caused high winds and huge waves that destroyed many homes, including almost all of the buildings in Nuku'alofa.
Tonga was a British protected state from 1900 until 1970, when it became fully free from foreign rule again. Britain was responsible for Tonga's foreign affairs, but the Tongan nobles still controlled local matters. For most of this period, Tonga was ruled by Queen Salote Tupou III. During the time of her leadership, education and health care were expanded and women were given the right to help choose the leaders. The Tongan government is a mixture of Polynesian tradition and Western methods. The government, in part, is made up of a seven-member body appointed by the king, seven nobles chosen by the nobles, and seven persons chosen by all adult citizens.
Tonga's small size, lack of resources, and growing population have created problems. But the country is well governed, and sound plans for the future are being made.
26. According to the passage, Tonga is ________.
A. a small country to the North of the United States
B. a country with very rich natural resources
C. is a country made up of more than a hundred small islands
D. is a country whose government depends totally on Britain
27. Which of the following statements about Tonga is NOT true?
A. Tonga attracts large numbers of tourists every year.
B. Tonga is subject to natural disasters because of it location.
C. The islands in Tonga are quite fit for growing crops.
D. Tonga doesn't have many large cities.
28. What is true about Tonga's political status?
A. Tonga's foreign affairs are still controlled by the British.
B. Tonga became free from the UK over thirty years ago.
C. Tonga is not governed well because women have power.
D. Tongan women have very high social status.
29. Which of the following is the problem that Tonga is facing now?
A. The lack of natural resources and its small size.
B. Hunger of its people because of crop problems.
C. Failure of health care and education systems.
D. Social problems and disorders since 1970.
30. This passage is most probably taken from _________.
A. a textbook on different places in the world
B. a book on human civilization
C. a book on the world economy
D. a book on environmental protection
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the same passage or dialog.
In the second half of each year, many powerful storms are born in the warmer southern Atlantic and Caribbean seas. Of these, only about a half a dozen create the strong, circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that can cause great harm, and several usually make their way to the coast. There they cause millions of dollars of damage, and bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as innocent circling winds hundreds—even thousands—of miles out to sea. As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun, they are carried westward by the trade winds. When conditions are just right, warm, wet air flows in at the bottom of these winds, moves upward through it, and comes out at the top. In the process, the water in this warm air produces rain. And the heat is changed to energy in the form of strong winds. As the heat increases, the young storm begins to move in circles, turning in the direction opposite to the movement of a clock's hands.
The average life of a strong storm of this type is only about nine days, but it contains almost more power than we can imagine. The energy in the heat given by a great storm's rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the United States for more than six months. Water, not wind, is the main source of death and damage in a great storm. One of these storms usually brings 6 to 12 inch downpours resulting in sudden floods. Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea—the mountains of water moving toward the low-pressure storm center. The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves toward shore.
31. This passage describes __________.
A. the growth of great storms
B. the damage caused by great storms
C. the average life of a great storm
D. All of the above
32. The powerful storms described in this passage have winds that move at __________.
A. 75 miles per hour or more
B. less than 75 miles per hour
C. half a dozen miles per hour
D. 75 miles per hour
33. According to the passage, the growth of a great storm goes through the following steps:
A. small winds—trade winds—air flows—wet air—rain—heat—strong wind
B. wet air—trade winds—strong wind—rain—warm winds—heat—air flows
C. small winds—wet air—trade wind—strong wind—air flows—heat—rain
D. wet air—trade wind—strong wind—heat—air flows—small winds—rain
34. According to the passage, the energy in the heat given by a great storm's rainfall in a single day would _______________________________.
A. destroy half of the farmlands in the United States within one hour
B. provide electrical power to the U. S. for more than half a year
C. supply water to the United States for more than six months
D. flood the Unites States for six months
35. The greatest cause of death and damage in a great storm is ______________.
A. water
B. wind
C. heat
D. air flows
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Ours is a big world, and full of many different people. People with many varying (不同的) points of view are often running up against others who have different opinions. Those of us who smoke are just one group of many. Recently, the activism (采取行动) of
non-smokers has reminded us of the need to be considerate (体谅的) of others when we smoke in public.
But, please! Enough is enough! We should like to remind non-smokers that being polite is a two-way street. If you politely request that someone not smoke you are more likely to receive an agreeable response than if you give an ugly look and say something unkind. If you speak directly to someone, you are more likely to get what you want than if you complain to the management.
Many of us have been smoking for so long that we sometimes forget that others are not used to the smell of burning tobacco. We' re human, and like everyone else, we occasionally offend unknowingly. But most of us are open to friendly suggestions and comments, and quite willing to change our behavior to accommodate others.
Smokers are people, too. We laugh and cry. We have hopes, dreams, and aspirations. We have children, mothers, and pets. We eat our hamburgers (汉堡包) with everything on them and give respect to the flag at Fourth of July picnics. We hope you'll remember that the next time a smoker light up in public.
36. The purpose of the first paragraph is ______.
A. to inform the reader of the bigness of the world
B. to declare that the author belongs to the group of smokers
C. to tell non-smokers that smokers will be considerate
D. to reveal the author's reason for writing this essay
37. What does the second sentence in the second paragraph imply?
A. We should go on two different roads.
B. We have different ways of doing things.
C. Being polite to each other is a mutual thing.
D. We can smoke and sometimes we will not smoke.
38. According to the author, how can you get an agreeable response from smokers if you don't feel like someone smoking beside you?
A. Complain to his boss.
B. Tell him directly that you hate smokers.
C. Keep from complaining but do something to suggest your feelings.
D. Tell him politely that you are not used to smoke.
39. According to the author, why do some smokers smoke in public?
A. Because they cannot stop from smoking.
B. Because they forget that others do not like the smell cigarettes.
C. Because they are humans and they cannot avoid offending people.
D. Because there is no law against it.
40. How does the author try to persuade the reader?
A. He uses reasons.
B. He appeals to people's feelings.
C. He gives examples in his argument.
D. He simply states his opinion.
Questions 41 to 45 are based on the same passage or dialog.
If the population of the Earth goes on increasing at its present rate, there will eventually not be enough resources left to support life on the planet. One possible solution to the problem has recently been suggested by an American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan: he believes that before the Earth's resources are completely used up it will be possible to change the atmosphere (大气圈) of Venus (金星) and so create a new world almost as large as the Earth itself. The difficulty is that Venus is much hotter than the Earth and has only a tiny amount of water.
Sagan suggests that algae (藻类), plant life that can live in extremely hot or cold atmospheres and at the same time produce oxygen, should be produced in conditions similar to those on Venus. The algae will be placed in small rockets. Spaceships will then fly to Venus and fire the rockets into the atmosphere. In a fairly short time, the algae will break down the gasses in the atmosphere and change them into oxygen that people can breathe. But before man can set foot on Venus, it will be necessary for the oxygen to produce rain to cool the planet, so that after a few years conditions like those on Earth will be produced.
If the experiments are successful, life will become possible there but it will not be pleasant at first. When they go to Venus, the first citizens will have to take plenty of water with them and get used to days and nights lasting 60 Earth days. But there will also be some advantages. They will live longer because their hearts will suffer less stress than on Earth.
41. Men may eventually move to Venus because ______________________.
A. there are many people on the Earth
B. we have used too much oil and water
C. the limited resources can't support life on the Earth
D. people take up too much space
42. Now it is difficult for us to move to Venus because ______________________.
A. it is too hot for men to land on
B. there is no water there
C. we cannot change the environment there
D. it's a long distance for us to go there
43. The algae play a very important role in the possible solution because
_________________________.
A. they can be produced easily on the Earth
B. there are a lot of them on Venus
C. they can be easily carried to Venus
D. they can live in hot and cold conditions and produce oxygen
44. The first citizens will find life on Venus not pleasant because ___________.
A. their hearts will suffer more stress
B. their days and nights will last quite long
C. there are not any houses there
D. there is too much water there
45. One of the advantages the first citizens on Venus will enjoy is ___________.
A. they will have much more space
B. they won't suffer from heart disease
C. their life will last longer
D. they will have better living conditions
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Rote-learning (死记硬背), spoon-fed education, produces a brand of kids that don't know what to do when entering university. They are disciplined into following, not leading. Yet the future depends on creativity and imagination. The world needs creators, makers and shakers of the new centuries, not the followers of the past centuries. As the numbers increase at college and university level, more students from the lower ends are likely to be thrown into a process designed to choose only learners that have proved excellent in listening to teachers.
There are three ways to learn: looking, listening and doing.
Students and teachers today are a product of learning by listening. The computer may not be liked by traditional teachers, who use rote-learning to put information, which will be out of date in a few years, into the heads of the students. With computer learning you learn by looking, listening and doing; you use three methods of learning, not just one. Therefore, you can learn faster.
The changing speed of information is frightening. What we learn now will be out of date in the near future. So what students are learning now at school may be replaced by the time they finish university. We have to learn by choice what to forget. Rote-learning for exams is one thing, but wouldn't it be better to learn how to learn? The students at
university today could possibly be doing a job in the not too distant future which has not yet been invented.
46. According to the author, the future doesn't need ____________.
A. creativity
B. imagination
C. creators
D. followers
47. In the author's view, how can students learn well?
A. Carefully listen to the teacher in class.
B. Take down every single word said by the teacher.
C. Learn all the notes by heart.
D. Combine listening with looking and doing.
48. What does the author mean by "The changing speed of information is frightening"?
A. We don't have enough time to adjust ourselves to the speed of information.
B. What we learned today may not be useful tomorrow.
C. The pace of life is too fast.
D. The world is changing every minute.
49. What does the last sentence of the passage tell us?
A. Rote-learning is completely harmful.
B. Students may have to do jobs which are not yet in existence.
C. It's better to learn how to learn than learn what to forget.
D. Students must imagine the future.
50. The author's attitude towards rote-learning is _________.
A. approving
B. disapproving
C. confident
D. opposite to what the words say
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Open or distance learning has had a major effect on higher education through the Open University, the only university to provide education exclusively for adult learners studying at a distance. Our 100,000 students are currently studying at the Open University. We found limited development of distance learning in the case studies, with the exception of some postgraduate and professional courses. Even here, however, there seemed to be limits on further growth because of the high costs involved in setting up new distance learning courses, as well as uncertainties of demand (particularly in terms of the perceived financial returns on study). One of the case study universities provided video facilities and visiting staff to a rural area for a group of undergraduate (大学本科在校的) students about 50 miles away. This was a new development which was working well and likely to be expanded to involve other universities.
The main reason for general lack of development of distance learning, especially at the undergraduate level, may be that other universities have been unable to afford the considerable set-up costs and student support facilities. As costs of technology come
down this might change. The Open Learning Foundation is developing connections between universities to set open learning approaches within existing programs of study and thus encourage their greater use. This is seen as likely to develop further in the future.
51. The Open University provides an education for _________________.
A. students who do not like attending regular universities
B. students who failed the College Entrance Examination
C. students who are adults and away from a university
D. students who are limited in their ability to learn
52. Among other things, the further growth of distance learning at postgraduate and professional levels is limited by ____________________.
A. the high costs involved
B. a low student demand
C. a lack of education
D. the poor rural technology
53. The attempt of one case study university to provide equipment and staff to a rural group of students _________.
A. would be expanded
B. did not work well
C. might help learning
D. could cost a lot
54. The cost of setting up a distance learning program might change ______________.
A. as new developments are made
B. as more students take classes there
C. as the Open University helps more
D. as technology becomes cheaper
55. The tone of this passage can best be described as ________________.
A. discouraging
B. encouraging
C. persuasive
D. scientific
Questions 56 to 60 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in communications technology is a step back from the closeness of human interaction. With email and instant messaging over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another. With voice mail, you can conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine. As almost every imaginable contact between human beings becomes automatic by machine, the alienation quotient goes up. You can't even call a person to get the phone number of another person anywhere. Phone assistance is almost always fully automatic by machine. Pumping gas at the station? Why say good morning to the worker when you can use your credit card at the pump and save yourself the bother of human contact?
Placing money at the bank? Why talk to a clerk who might live in the neighborhood when you can just put your credit card into the ATM?
Pretty soon you won't have the hard task of making eye contact at the grocery store. Some grocery chains are using a self-scanner so you can check yourself out, avoiding those annoying clerks who look at you and ask how you are doing.
56. The effect of increased communication technology is ____________.
A. the retreat of human closeness
B. the lack of care for neighbors
C. the saving of more free time
D. the advance of our contacts
57. If his mom has a question, he will ____________.
A. find new ways to reach her
B. send her an email message
C. try to get her a voice machine
D. answer through voice mail
58. Judging from the context, the word "alienation" (Line 2, Paragraph 2) means
___________.
A. relationship
B. closeness
C. strangeness
D. stress
59. ATMs in banks have changed life by __________.
A. making it more difficult to want human contact
B. making it faster to receive money from banks
C. making it easier to obtain bank credit cards
D. making it unnecessary to talk with bank clerks
60. The writer's attitude toward advances in communications technology may be described as _______________.
A. unconcerned
B. critical
C. positive
D. uninterested
Questions 61 to 65 are based on the same passage or dialog.
A man was telling one of his friends why he was content with his married life. "My wife makes all the small decisions," he explained, "and I make all the big ones, so we never try to have too much influence on each other's business and never get angry with each other. We have no complaints and no arguments."
"That sounds reasonable," answered his friend. "And what sort of decisions does your wife make?"
"Well," answered the man, "she decides what jobs I apply for, what sort of house we live
in, what furniture we have, where we go for our holidays, and things like that."
His friend was surprised. "Oh?" he said. "And what do you consider important decisions then?"
"Well," answered the man, "I decide who should be President, whether we should increase our help to poor countries, what we should do about the atom bomb (原子弹), and things like that."
61. The man was content with his married life because _________________.
A. he and his wife talk about every decision they make
B. he has more power than his wife does in family life
C. he and his wife are responsible for different things
D. he has many good friends and influence in the world
62. What does the man's friend think at first?
A. He thought that their marriage couldn't work.
B. He thought that the man had too much power.
C. He thought that the wife had too much power.
D. He thought that their arrangement sounded fine.
63. The wife lets the man decide ________________.
A. which house to buy
B. where to work
C. where to travel
D. who should be President
64. We can tell from the story that _________________.
A. the man's wife has the final say in the family
B. the man has the final say in the family
C. the man's friend will follow his example
D. the man and his wife respect each other
65. A good title for this passage is _________________.
A. A man and his friend
B. A loving husband
C. A happy married life
D. A choice for President
Questions 66 to 70 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Is your job doing harm to your health? If you are like a lot of American workers today, you experience a significant amount of stress in work. Stress doesn't just make you unhappy at work. It can affect your health. Doctors say people under stress have higher blood pressure, even when they are away from work. And they are at a higher risk for death from any cause than those who are more relaxed.
How do you know if your job could be a risk to your health? Some danger signs include difficulty getting to sleep or difficulty waking up in the morning, forgetfulness, aches and pains for no apparent reason, a desire to eat less or tendency to eat poorly, loss of interest
in activities, etc. Everyone has bad days in which they feel many of these symptoms, but if you have noticed several of them, and you have experienced them for months, you may need to do something.
If you notice these signs in yourself or your beloved one, check with your doctor to eliminate other possibilities. If the cause does appear to be stress, you should try to make time for yourself away from work. Try relaxing in a warm bubble bath, listening to music, and shutting out the world for a while.
66. According to the passage, ____________.
A. many American workers are under stress lately
B. almost all people know how to get rid of stress
C. most people go to doctors for help with stress
D. it is sure that our work is doing harm to our health
67. How does stress at work affect your life?
A. It makes you unhappy at work.
B. It always affects your health.
C. It makes you worry all the time.
D. It keeps you from working well.
68. Which of the following is mentioned as a sign that your job is unhealthy?
A. Sudden aches and pains.
B. Frequent bad days.
C. Trouble remembering.
D. Loss of time to relax.
69. When should you do something about your problems?
A. When you've been told by others that you should do something.
B. When you've noticed several bad symptoms over a long time.
C. When you've let stress affect your friendships or life at work.
D. When you've visited a doctor and he has told you to leave work.
70. What can you do if you've noticed some of the signs of stress?
A. See a doctor and try to relax more.
B. Change to another less stressful job.
C. Assume much fewer responsibilities.
D. Take up a hobby like playing music.
Questions 71 to 75 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Dramatic changes in higher education are giving more people than ever the chance of studying for a degree. But they may find many difficulties when it comes to new graduates' job prospects (前景).
According to a report from the Institute of Manpower Studies (人力研究所), the output
of graduates in Britain has almost doubled in the past five years and seems set to rise by a further 57 per cent by 2005. At the same time, economic recession (萧条) has cut the number of graduate jobs such that one in seven (14 per cent) of 2002 university graduates in England, Scotland and Wales failed to find work within six months of graduating. So
is it surprising that many graduates have turned to post-graduate studies as an escape route? In the 10 years to 2001, the number of students on master's courses grew by 97 per cent. But while such courses in mathematics and computer sciences rose by 149 per cent, science courses increased by only 31 per cent.
The growth in the number of science students has not been evenly spread out, and in some subjects numbers are actually falling. "What is disturbing," says Richard Pearson, the director of the Institute of Manpower Studies, "is that the output of physics graduates will go down by 6 per cent and mathematicians by 4 per cent by 1995." Students are now more attracted to business studies and combined non-technical degree courses than to single honors degrees in science and technology. The day when there are no physics teachers to be found may yet return.
71. What's the main focus of the above passage?
A. There are more chances for students to get degrees.
B. The students' job future remains bleak.
C. Many students turn to postgraduate studies.
D. More graduates meet with less job offers.
72. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Graduates in Britain have almost doubled in the past five years and will rise to 57 per cent by 2005.
B. One out of seven graduates from universities in England, Scotland and Wales was jobless within six months after graduation.
C. From 1991 to 2001, the number of students on master's degree courses rose by 97 per cent.
D. Mathematics and computer courses grew by 149 per cent and science courses by only
31 per cent.
73. What concerned Richard Pearson, the director of the Institute of Manpower Studies?
A. He's worried about the lack of combined non-technical degree courses.
B. He's worried about the job prospects of science students.
C. He's concerned about the uneven spread of science students.
D. He's concerned about the drop in the number of technical courses.
74. What's the overall tendency when it comes to course preference among students?
A. They tend to choose business courses.
B. They prefer mathematics to physics.
C. They are more attracted to science courses.
D. They prefer courses with better job prospects.
75. What's the possible solution of the problem in question?
A. Increase students' social responsibilities.
B. Assist students in their career choices.
C. Develop their interest in physics teaching.
D. Encourage their passion for science research.
Questions 76 to 80 are based on the same passage or dialog.
A person may have an idea about himself that will prevent him from doing good work. He may have the idea that he is not capable of it. It is easy to get such an idea even though there is not a good reason for it. A child may think he is stupid because he does not understand how to make the most of his mental skills, or he may accept another person's mistaken estimate of his ability.
A person who believes that he is incapable will not make a real effort, because he feels that it would be useless. He is therefore likely to fail, and the failure will add to his belief about his incompetence.
Alfred Adler, a famous psychiatrist, had an experience which illustrates this. When he was a small boy he got off to a poor start in arithmetic. His teacher got the idea that he had no ability in arithmetic, and told his parents what she thought. In this way, they too developed the idea. He accepted their mistaken estimate of his ability, felt that it was useless to try, and was very poor at arithmetic, just as they expected.
One day he became very angry at the teacher and the other students because they laughed when he said he saw how to do a problem which none of the other students had been able to solve.
When Adler succeeded in solving the problem, he rejected the idea that he couldn't do arithmetic and was determined to show them that he could. His anger and his new found confidence stimulated him to go at arithmetic problems with a new spirit. He now worked with interest, determination, and purpose, and he soon became very good at arithmetic. This experience made him realize that many people have more ability than they think they have, and that lack of success is as often the result of lack of knowledge of how to apply one's ability, lack of confidence, and lack of determination as it is the result of lack of ability.
76. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. A wrong self-image may prevent one from reaching his full potential.
B. It's easy for a person to believe in his own incompetence.
C. Never take to heart what others think of you.
D. Lack of success is often the result of lack of ability.
77. Why a person's mistaken notion often results in failure?
A. He believes he'll succeed one day.
B. He feels that he's not good enough.
C. He believes he'll fail anyway.
D. He doesn't need to make any effort.
78. What's the function of Alfred Adler's example in the whole passage?
A. Alfred Adler's experience illustrates his poor start in math.
B. Alfred Adler's story exemplifies the author's conclusion.
C. Alfred Adler's example shows his real ability in arithmetic.
D. Alfred Adler's example teaches us the value of self-confidence.
79. According to the author, what's the reason of a child for thinking he is stupid?
A. There's not a good reason for this kind of thinking.
B. Because the people around him tell him it.
C. Because he never thinks that he can also be smart.
D. Because he does not know how to make full use of his mental powers.
80. According to the author, many people's mental pictures about themselves are
________________.
A. correct
B. in focus
C. out of focus
D. accurate
Questions 81 to 85 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Winston Churchill was one of the great men of his age. To show their respect for him, the British lawmakers asked a fine artist, Graham Sutherland, to paint Winston Churchill's picture. When it was completed, it was presented to him, at a grand affair in the Westminster Hall, at the House of Commons (下议院).
There is a famous film that shows Churchill accepting the gift. He describes the painting as "a remarkable example of modern art", which draws loud laughter.
In fact he must have been unhappy with the painting. Sutherland later reported that he asked whether it was to be painted with a "happy" or "angry" attitude. "Angry," replied Churchill. At the time, Churchill was coming to the end of his political life and was unhappy that people wanted him to end his career.
Some twenty years later it was revealed that Lady Churchill hated the painting so much that she had it destroyed. "It was preying on (折磨) his mind," she was reported as saying.
A leading art critic was asked what he thought about the matter. He said he could understand Lady Churchill and had pity on her. Graham Sutherland was a very honest artist, who could only paint what he saw. At the time it was painted, Churchill was an old man, worried by the thought that he would have to end his political career soon. But Lady Churchill shouldn't have had the painting destroyed. It could have been stored away until after their deaths.
81. Why did the British lawmakers ask Graham Sutherland to paint a picture of Winston Churchill?
A. To show their respect for him.
B. To make Churchill happy.
C. To put it in the Westminster Hall.
D. To make Churchill unhappy.
82. Where was the painting of Winston Churchill after it was finished?
A. In Churchill's home.
B. In Churchill's office.
C. In the Westminster Hall.
D. In a busy town square.
83. What did Churchill say about the painting at the presentation?
A. He said it was not well painted.
B. He said he was unhappy with it.
C. He said it was very honest art.
D. He said it was a great piece of art.
84. Why was Churchill actually unhappy at that time?
A. Because he had to retire and put an end to his political life.
B. Because the painting did not look like him one little bit.
C. Because Lady Churchill was not happy with the painting.
D. Because he was so very sick and did not feel well at all.
85. What is the author's attitude towards the painting being destroyed?
A. Approval.
B. Disapproval.
C. Anger.
D. Indifference.
Questions 86 to 90 are based on the same passage or dialog.
Earthquakes (地震) can be really terrible. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 caused over $200-million worth of damage, destroyed almost 30,000 buildings, and killed about 450 persons. In Japan, the cities of Tokyo and Yokohama were leveled by the earthquakes of 1923 in which more than 140,000 persons were killed by falling buildings and fires, and over a million persons were left homeless―all in 30 seconds.
Hundreds of earthquakes occur every year throughout the world. Fortunately, few are as destructive as those described above. The development of an accurate system for predicting earthquakes would reduce the loss of life and property. But at present scientists can only study the phenomenon.
The study of earthquakes is called seismology. Seismographs (地震仪) are instruments sensitive to ground movement, and are used to record each motion. The Richter Scale is used to grade each earthquake's strength on a 1-to-10 scale.
86. What is seismology?
A. Study of the humankind.
B. Study of the earth's surface.
C. Study of the earth's history.
D. Study of earthquakes.
87. How long did the earthquake last in Japan in 1923?
A. A minute.
B. Half a minute.
C. Thirty minutes.
D. No record.