“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛 样题

2016“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛样题Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions. (Time allowed: 22 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes on the left with the people on the right. Please note there are two extra options you do not need to use.Questions 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.To ensure the high standards of facilities we need to build new wards, laboratories and consulting rooms. In short, we need your help now. Complete the coupon today and rest assured that your donation is going to the best possible cause.4. Where is the piece of text taken from?A. an advertisementB. an instruction bookletC. a storyD. a newspaperQuestions 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.Few corners of the world remain untainted by intrepid tourists, and their impact is often devastating. Too frequently they trample heedlessly on fragile environments, displacing wildlife and local populations in their insatiable quest for unexplored locations.5. What is the best title for this text?A. The future of tourismB. The role of tourismC. The price of tourismD. The benefits of tourismQuestions 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.Buying and selling anything is your forte now. If you visit a jumble or car-boot sale or the like, a romantic encounter is more than probable! News linked to the family is brilliant!6. What type of text is this?A. A personal advertisement.B. A personal horoscope.C. A friend’s letter of advice.D. A written warning.Questions 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.With our travel agency, the holiday you book is the holiday you get. If you arrive and find we’ve failed to live up to our promises, let us know what the problem is within one day of your arrival. We’ll spend 24 hours doing everything possible to sort the problem out. In the unlikely event that we can’t resolve your problem and make you happy within 24 hours, we’ll fly you home and give your money back.7. The text could best be described as __________.A. a commitmentB. an appealC. a warningD. a vowQuestions 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.The new digital cameras are great fun and very easy to use. They let you review your pictures the moment you take them, so you can re-shoot right away if you’re not satisfied. But remember, a digital camera is just a computer XXXX. It’s not a replacement for your ordinary camera.8. What is the meaning of the missing word (XXXX) in the text?A. “something that is poor quality”B. “an item that is not essential, something extra”C. “something expensive but good value for money”D. “a fashion which always remains popular”Questions 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.She had gone alone, but the children were to go to the station to meet her. And loving the station as they did, it was only natural that they should be there a good hour before there was any chance of Mother’s train arriving, even if the train were punctual, which was most unlikely.9. What can you say about their mother’s train?A. It would probably be early.B. It would probably be on time.C. It would probably be late.D. It had been cancelled.Question 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the number and proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions, from 1990¬1992 to 2014¬2016. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report201510. Choose the INCORRECT description about the chart.A.Current estimates suggest that nearly one in nine individuals do not have enough to eatbetween 2014 and 2016.B.Projections indicate that the 2015 MDG target is nearly reached, with 12.9 per cent ofundernourished population.C.The situation noticeably improved during the years 1995-1999, but went down in thefirst five years of the new millennium.D.The proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions has fallen by almosthalf since 1990.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time allowed: 38 minutes)Question 11-12 (Suggested completion time: 10 minutes)Directions: Read the definitions of two types of logical fallacy. Answer the questions according to the definitions.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of poisoning the well?A. That’s my stance on funding the education system, and anyone who disagrees with mehates children.B. You are so weird. That means—we are pretty much sure—that your whole family is weird,too.C. God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is inspired. Therefore, we know that Godexists.D. I don’t care what you say. We don’t need any more booksh elves. As long as the carpet isclean, we are fine.12. Which of the following provides a typical example of a false dilemma?A. Smoking is harmful to health, so you are supposed to quit smoking.B. If the government doesn’t reduce public spendi ng, our economy will collapse.C. You may as well avoid overeating, or else you might be obese in no time.D. You are the worst of the classmates; therefore, what you say is incredible.Questions 13 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about syllogism. Decide whether the reasonings are Valid or Invalid based on the principles of syllogism.Syllogism is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions tha t are asserted or assumed to be true. It is perhaps today’s most commonly accepted form of logical reasoning in aptitude tests. The most commonly used type of syllogisms is elucidated in a frequently used example:Premise 1: All men are mortal.Premise 2: Socrates is a man.Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.Now practice syllogisms for IQ tests. Please note that the conclusion is based on logical reasoning and doesn’t necessarily represent the “truth” always.13. Valid ( ); Invalid ( )Premise 1: All human action is conditioned by circumstances.Premise 2: All human action involves morality.Conclusion: All that involves morality is conditioned by circumstances.Questions 14 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about contraposition. Decide whether the reasonings are Valid or Invalid based on the principles of contraposition.In logic, contraposition is a law that says that a conditional statement is logically equivalent to its contrapositive. The contrapositive of the statement has its antecedent and consequent inverted and flipped. The most commonly used type of contraposition is elucidated in the following example:Premise 1: If it is raining, then there are clouds in the sky.Premise 2: There are no clouds in the sky.Conclusion: It is not raining.Now practice contraposition for IQ tests. Please note that the conclusion is based on logical reasoning and doesn’t necessarily represent the “truth” always.14. Valid ( ); Invalid ( )Premise 1: If he is not an American, he is not from Texas.Premise 2: He is from Texas.Conclusion: He is an American.Questions 15-17 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a science discovery. Answer the questions according to the text.Manipulating MemoryMemory is notoriously malleable. Our recollections fade and take onnew meanings; sometimes we remember things that never evenhappened. But 15 .Recently, however, scientists have started to grasp and tinker with memory’s physical basis. L ast year, in work evocative of films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception, researchers discovered ways to manipulate specific memories in mice using optogenetics, a powerful technique that can trigger nerve cells in animals’ brains b y zapping them with beams of laser light. In a series of experiments, they showed that they could delete existing memories and “incept” false ones.This year, researchers went even further: switching the emotional content of a memory in mice from bad to good and vice versa. Under the laser, for example, male mice that had once associated a certain room with being shocked were tricked into acting as though they had once met friendly female mice there instead.Whether the mice in these experiments actually experienced vivid false memories or just a fuzzy sense of pleasure or fear is unclear. Nor is it clear whether the findings apply to the tricks of memory so familiar to people. Long-sought therapeutic advances, such as treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, could remain far off. One thing is certain, however: Once considered beyond scientific dissection, memory is finally starting to yield its secrets.15. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in the passage?A.what is really happening in our brain as memories are remodeled remains mysteriousB.scientists are curious about why people are oblivious to what have happened to themC.advanced technology has helped scientists discover the workings of our brainD.some scientists argue that what we observe about human memory is not what it really is16. The word “incept” is closest in meaning to ________.A. operateB. startC. detectD. occupy17. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?A.People’s false memories result from the im pact of different emotion provoked by laterexperience on the same spot.B.The success in research indicates that it won’t be long that a therapy is worked out forpeople disturbed by painful memory.C.By zapping the brain cells of mice with light, researchers are able to create, erase, or altertheir memories, good or bad.D.Many fancy ideas in science fictions or movies that are based on them actually drawgreatly upon scientific achievement.Questions 18-19 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following passage about cholera. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the passage.A child receives the oral cholera vaccine ShancholCholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. Approximately one in 20 people infected with cholera has a serious case, with symptoms including severe diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. These symptoms quickly cause dehydration and shock, and can result in death within hours if the infected person doesn’t receive treatment. C holera is typically transmitted by contaminated food or water. In areas with poor treatment of sewage and drinking water, the feces of people with cholera can enter the water supply and spread quickly, resulting in an epidemic. The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in some coastal waters, so shellfish eaten raw can be a source of cholera in affected areas.18. Cholera is known to be a life-threatening disease which easily causes death of most of the patients.True ( ) False ( )19. Cholera typically occurs in areas near the sea or the river where contaminated food is a major source of the disease.True ( ) False ( )Questions 20-21 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the abstract of a research paper from the DeepMind website. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the abstract.Teaching Machines to Read and ComprehendAuthors: K. M. Hermann, T. Kočiský, E. Grefenstette, L. Espeholt, W. Kay, M. Suleyman, P. Blunsom Published: NIPS 2015Abstract: Teaching machines to read natural language documents remains an elusive challenge. Machine reading systems can be tested on their ability to answer questions posed on the contents of documents that they have seen, but until now large scale training and test datasets have been missing for this type of evaluation. In this work we define a new methodology that resolves this bottleneck and provides large scale supervised reading comprehension data. This allows us to develop a class of attention based deep neural networks that learn to read real documents and answer complex questions with minimal prior knowledge of language structure.20. Previous studies didn’t take constant effort to evaluate the reading ability of artificial intelligence machines, which was why the present research was conducted.True ( ) False ( )21. One implication of the research is that a methodology that helps gather and handle big data is indispensible to artificial intelligence related studies.True ( ) False ( )Questions 22-23 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about the “Think small” advertising campaign. Answer the questions according to the passage.Think SmallI f you’re interested in marketing and advertising, Volkswagen’s“Think small” campaign for the Beetle when it was firstintroduced to North America in 1959 looms large as one of thegreatest advertising campaigns of all time. It wasn’t just arevolution in automotive advertising; it changed the entireindustry.Until the Beetle hit the market, automotive marketing copy wasfull of bluster, and the images were flights of fancy, emphasizinglow, long lines and a fantasy lifestyle.The clean, simple photography on a white background that emphasized the Beetle’s compact, practical form may seem commonplace these days, but it was a revolution in a world where Americans grew up obsessed with muscle cars, horsepower, and tire smoke. Making the car small, when the convention was to make it fill the page, was also novel. The simplistic approach to design and layout was totally contrary to the advertising conventions of the time.__ 22__ The text was minimalist in both look and content, presenting the facts simply instead of trying to weave tall tales and fantasies; and instead of bluster, it ushered in an intelligent sense of humor that made readers feel like they were in on the joke. The message was one of smartanti-luxury, and took gentle aim at an industry obsessed with superficiality and styling, rather than the substance underneath the car bodies.Not only does “Think small” continue to inspire Volkswagen advertising to this day, it ushered in a creative revolution in the advertising business and changed the world of marketing forever. “Think small” showed the power of hum or and honesty, and its photographic and design principles brought about a major shift in the look and feel of marketing around the world.22. Which of the sentences below best fits the numbered space in the passage?A.What defined the ad even more than its visual style was the tone of its copy.B.This ad starts off doing the exact opposite of what you would expect in a car ad.C.This was an exercise in minimalism and a very accurate reflection on the product itself.D.The car wasn’t depicted as an integral piece o f the daily lives of a middle class family.23. It can be inferred that the advertising conventions of the 1950s were reflected in the following except that ___________.A.the ads in the 1950s typically showed proud owners and passengers evoking great joyabout new shiny big acquisitions.B.the marketing concept then focused on providing as much information as possible to thereader such as the way it’s created.C.the marketing schemes associated the advertised product with an idea or a way of livingfrom average consumers’ perspective.D.the marketing practice may attach importance to a sense of humor brought by the use ofexaggerated language.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify th e writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. (Time allowed: 30 minutes)Questions 24-35 (Suggested completion time: 30 minutes)Directions: Read three passages about fashion. Answer the questions according to the passages.Passage AIt’s not that easy to answer the question, “what is fashion?” because it means different things to different people. Fashion is an art. It’s a religion. It’s a job. It’s a peek into a personality. It’s playfulness. It’s an escape or a disguis e. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately, 25 . French fashion designer Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is ha ppening.”It’s true. Fashion isn’t defined solely by our clothing choices, but is also conveyed through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world. At its most fundamental, fashion is simply the prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behavior.So, who exactly answers the question “what is fashion”? Who decides what’s fashionable and what isn’t? What’s in or what’s out?Fashion Designers. The iconic fashion houses—Prada, Gucci, Chanel—are referred to as haute couture, Frenc h for “high sewing.” These designers lead the way in creating trend-setting fashion. While some of their designs are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everyday wear, generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.Media. Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on popular television shows and movies as well as adopted from magazine pages. “Sex and the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” these shows introduced us to new, cutting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead wearing a Carrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look and piece together your own creation.Celebrities. A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson and Jessica Simpson were spotted wearing them around L.A. several years ago, no one had given any thought to UGG boots. Now they are everywhere.Musicians. Musicians have always been very influential when it comes to dictating fashion. Rock ‘n’ roll is fashion. Elvis is an iconic example. In the 1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis. What about the heavy metal hair bands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the head bandana while Poison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, rocker hair.Just because you don’t know if a Prada bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you like it and it’s an expression of you. That is fashion.Passage BFashion is more prevalent in modern society than in primitive tribes or peasant communities. The modern society is an open society where class distinctions are not so rigid as in primitive society. Its urban and mobile class structure enables people to cultivate individual taste and adopt new course. The modern society is more tolerant of differences and therefore places few shackles on the cycle of fashion. Our standards of judgment have also changed. Today the individual is rated more by observable externalities than by his ancestry, his character or his genuine accomplishments. The clothes a man wears, the language he speaks, the manners he shows have more weight in ascribing a status than his simplicity, patriotism and integrity.If he can keep himself up to date in the matters of his dress, speech and manners, he will assure himself a high social esteem. Not only the mobile and urban character of modern society but its affluence also speaks for greater prevalence of fashion in it. Men today are richer than their ancestors and have more leisure. They have the necessary means and time to play with luxuries and to think of fashion. Maclver writes: We do not think of fashion in overalls; there is more of fashion in the body of an automobile than in its chassis. There is no fashion in steam shovels. Consequently the higher the standard of living the more material there is for fashion to operate upon.Passage CAs summer has officially faded into the colder weather of autumn, I assumed the days of Nike shorts, comically large T-shirts and polos would be only a memory of yesterday. This has not been the case.Fashion, in and of itself, is already a type of conformism. In order to be considered fashion, a look, a garment or a stylistic choice must be deemed fashionable.Who gets to decide this—what is fashionable? While certain fashion heavyweights play a role in this decision, the ultimate decision is left to the public.As I was surfing the Web recently for inspiration for this column, I came across the Prada website. What I discovered literally caused me to gasp. Of course, everyone knows Prada is an expensive brand—a luxury—but what I discovered shocked me: a keychain priced at $180. No, this keychain was not solid gold or encased in diamonds. It was simply a keychain: a skull with the word “Prada” on a small charm.How can a company charge $180 for a keychain? The answer: people are willing to pay for it. People know the brand and conform to the idea of owning a piece of such an Italian “luxury.”This is nonsensical. Why do we choose to wear miniscule shorts in frigid weather or spend nearly $200 on a charm? Such decisions are influenced by peers, the media and the personal resolution to not make rational, individualistic choices. We cling to the idea of acceptance.In short, we often choose to abide by the pressures of social conventionality, and this leads us to make ridiculous selections—pairing Ugg boots with shorts or wearing neon with camouflage—which we would otherwise not make.I am certainly shamefaced in my occasional conformity to these ludicrous fashion folkways. I am guilty of donning Crocs in public. Yikes!Transient, often preposterous trends referred to as fads inspire some rather strange ideas. Who can recall the pet rocks of the ‘70s or Popples of the ‘80s? Such pop trends are not confined to behavior; they bleed into the fashion world, evidenced in overly distressed jeans, the most painful of neon shades, shoes that resemble Swiss cheese and a host of other fads I do not have the space to mention.I refuse to give up hope for societal common sense.One day we will comprehend that shorts are for the summer and ridiculously expensive keychains are for “never.” Do not allow others to dictate for you. Be bold. Be an individual. Do not buy the keychain.24. The phrase “might not be caught dead” in Passage A most probably means ______.A.would rather not die anywayB.might not be caught red handedC.would refuse completely to do somethingD.might be uneasy though doing something25. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in Passage A?A.fashion is an individual statement of expression for each of usB.fashion facilitates social change by providing a transitional stageC.fashion is not an individual choice but a group choiceD.fashion determines our speech, opinion, dress, music, art, etc.26. It can be inferred from Passage A that fashion designers, media, celebrities and musicians share the following views except ______.A.that fashion is anything but separated from the daily life of ordinary people.B.that nothing completely absurd and unrealistic can finally become fashion.C.that fashion is what society accepts and has an element of social sanction behind it.D.that if a particular choice remains confined to an individual it can’t be called fashion.27. The word “affluence” in Passage B is closest in meaning to ______.A. versatilityB. wealthinessC. peculiarityD. charisma28. According to Passage B, which of the following attributes may probably be more important than others for an individual to be favorably received now?A. A wide range of erudition.B. Loyalty to his or her friends.C. A passion for popular novels.D. Good virtues such as honesty.29. Which of the following is NOT true about the author’s attitude towards fashion according to Passage C?A.The author thinks it a waste of time mentioning a list of examples of irrational fads.B.People are mad about fashion and therefore lose their own good judgment.C.The author never allows himself to be carried away by the fashion trends.D.Behind the behavior of keeping up with fashion is a need to stay in the crowd.30-31. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the three passages.30. All the three passages agree that fashion plays a role in the interplay of class relations that it satisfies the contrary desires for novelty and for conformity.True ( ) False ( )31. None of the three passages are denying conventional social values in people’s judgment, for example, what’s considered good about things or people.True ( ) False ( )Part IV Read and CreateIn Part IV, you will read a passage and then write a short essay according to it. You should write with clarity and logic. (Time allowed: 40 minutes)Question 32 (Suggested completion time: 40 minutes)Directions: Read a passage from Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the Sciences. Write a short essay according to the passage.… And as a multitude of laws often only hampers justice, so that a state is best governed when, with few laws, these are rigidly administered; in like manner, instead of the great number of precepts of which logic is composed, I believed that the four following would prove perfectly sufficient for me, provided I took the firm and unwavering resolution never in a single instance to fail in observing them.The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is to say, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgment than what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.The second, to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible, and as might be necessary for its adequate solution.The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplest and easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence.And the last, in every case to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that I might be assured that nothing was omitted.The long chains of simple and easy reasonings by means of which geometers are accustomed to reach the conclusions of their most difficult demonstrations, had led me to imagine that all things, to the knowledge of which man is competent, are mutually connected in the same way, and that there is nothing so far removed from us as to be beyond our reach, or so hidden that we cannot discover it, provided only we abstain from accepting the false for the true, and always preserve in our thoughts the order necessary for the deduction of one truth from another. And I had little difficulty in determining the objects with which it was necessary to commence, for I was already persuaded that it must be with the simplest and easiest to know, and, considering that of all those who have hitherto sought truth in the sciences, the mathematicians alone have been able to find any demonstrations, that is, any certain and evident reasons, I did not doubt but that such must have been the rule of their investigations.32. Answer the topic questions with no less than 300 words. You should write in YOUR OWN words:What is the main issue that Descartes explores in this part of the text, and w hat’s his method?。

文档来源为 :从网络收集整理.word 版本可编辑 .欢迎下载支持.2016“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛样题Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructionscarefully and answer the questions. (Time allowed: 22 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes on the left with the people on the right.Please note there are two extra options you do not need to use._____1. Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on A. John Lockewhich to place it, and I shall move the world. B. Archimedes_____2.Morality is not the doctrine of how we may make C. Aristotleourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy D. Immanuel Kantof happiness. E. Steve Jobs_____3.You can't connect the dots looking forward;youcan only connect them looking backwards. So you have totrust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.Questions 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.To ensure the high standards of facilities we need to build new wards, laboratories and consulting rooms. In short, we need your help now. Complete the coupon today and rest assuredthat your donation is going to the best possible cause.4. Where is the piece of text taken from?A. an advertisementB. an instruction bookletC. a storyD. a newspaperQuestions 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.Few corners of the world remain untainted by intrepid tourists, and their impact is often devastating. Too frequently they trample heedlessly on fragile environments, displacing wildlife and local populations in their insatiable quest for unexplored locations.5.What is the best title for this text?A.The future of tourismB.The role of tourismC.The price of tourismD.The benefits of tourismQuestions 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.Buying and selling anything is your forte now. If you visit a jumble or car-boot sale or the like,6.What type of text is this?A.A personal advertisement.B.A personal horoscope.C.A friend’sletter of advice.D.A written warning.Questions 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.With our travel agency, the holiday you book is the holiday you get. If you arrive and findwe ’ve failed to live up to our promises, let us know what the problem is within one day of your arrival. We ’ll spend 24 hours doing everything possible to sort the problem out. In the unlikely event that we can’tresolve your problem and make you happy within24 hours, we ’ll fly you home and give your money back.7.The text could best be described as __________.A.a commitmentB.an appealC.a warningD.a vowQuestions 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.The new digital cameras are great fun and very easy to use. They let you review yourpictures the moment you take them, so you can re-shoot right away if you ’re not satisfied. But remember, a digital camera is just a computer XXXX. It ’s not a replacement for your ordinary camera.8.What is the meaning of the missing word (XXXX) in the text?A.“something that is poor quality ”B.“an item that is not essential, something extra ”C.“something expensive but good value for money ”D.“a fashion which always remains popular ”Questions 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.She had gone alone, but the children were to go to the station to meet her. And loving thestation as they did, it was only natural that they should be there a good hour before there was any chance of Mother ’s train arriving, even if the train were punctual, which was most unlikely.9.What can you say about their mother ’s train?A.It would probably be early.B.It would probably be on time.C.It would probably be late.D.It had been cancelled.Question 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the number and proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions, from 1990?1992 to 2014?2016. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report201510.Choose the INCORRECT description about the chart.A.Current estimates suggest that nearly one in nine individuals do not have enough toeat between 2014 and 2016.B.Projections indicate that the 2015 MDG target is nearly reached, with 12.9 per centof undernourished population.C.The situation noticeably improved during the years 1995-1999, but went down inthe first five years of the new millennium.D.The proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions has fallen byalmost half since 1990.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time allowed: 38 minutes)Question 11-12 (Suggested completion time: 10 minutes)Directions: Read the definitions of two types of logical fallacy. Answer the questions accordingto the definitions.Poisoning the WellPoisoning the well is a rhetorical technique and logical fallacy where adverseinformation about a target is preemptively presented to an audience, with theintention of discrediting or ridiculing everything that the target person is aboutto say. It uses the association of negative emotions to distract a subject fromactual evidence in an argument.11.Which of the following provides a typical example of poisoning the well?A.That ’mys stance on funding the education system, and anyone who disagrees with mehates children.B.You are so weird. That means —we are pretty much sure —that your whole family is weird,too.C.God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is inspired. Therefore, we know that Godexists.D. I don’ t care what you say. We don’ t need any moreelvesbook.A s hlong as the carpet isclean, we are fine.False DilemmaA false dilemma arises when we allow ourselves to be convinced that we have tochoose between two and only two mutually exclusive options, when that is untrue.Generally, when this rhetorical strategy is used, one of the options is unacceptableand repulsive, while the other is the one the manipulator wantsus to choose. Whoever succumbs to this trap has thus made a choice that isforced, and as such, of little value.12.Which of the following provides a typical example of a false dilemma? A.Smoking is harmful to health, so you are supposed to quit smoking.B. If the government doesn’ t reduce public ng,spendiour economy will collapse.C. You may as well avoid overeating, or else you might be obese in no time.D. You are the worst of the classmates; therefore, what you say is incredible.Questions 13 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about syllogism. Decide whether the reasonings are Valid or Invalidbased on the principles of syllogism.Syllogism is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusionbased on two or more propositions tha t are asserted or assumed to be true. It is perhaps today ’ s most commonly accepted form of logical reasoning in aptitude tests. The most commonly usedtype of syllogisms is elucidated in a frequently used example:Premise 1: All men are mortal.Premise 2: Socrates is a man.Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.Now practice syllogisms for IQ tests. Please note that the conclusion is based on logical reasoningand doesn’ t necessarily represent the“. truth” always13. Valid ( ); Invalid ( )Premise 1: All human action is conditioned by circumstances.Premise 2: All human action involves morality.Conclusion: All that involves morality is conditioned by circumstances.Questions 14 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about contraposition. Decide whether the reasonings are Validor Invalid based on the principles of contraposition.In logic, contraposition is a law that says that a conditional statement is logically equivalent to itscontrapositive. The contrapositive of the statement has its antecedent and consequent inverted andflipped. The most commonly used type of contraposition is elucidated inthe following example:Premise 1: If it is raining, then there are clouds in the sky.Premise 2: There are no clouds in the sky.Conclusion: It is not raining.Now practice contraposition for IQ tests. Please note that the conclusion is based on logicalreasoning and doesn’ t necessarily represent the“ truth” always.14. Valid ( ); Invalid ( )Premise 1: If he is not an American, he is not from Texas.Premise 2: He is from Texas.Conclusion: He is an American.Questions 15-17 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a science discovery. Answer the questions according to the text.Manipulating MemoryMemory is notoriously malleable. Our recollections fade and take onnew meanings; sometimes we remember things that never evenhappened. But15.Recently, however, scientists have started to grasp and tinker with memory ast ’ s physical basis. L year, in work evocative of films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception,researchers discovered ways to manipulate specific memories in mice using optogenetics,apowerful technique that can trigger nerve cells in animals y zapping ’thembrainswith beams oflaser light. In a series of experiments, they showed that they could delete existing memories and“ incept ” false ones.This year, researchers went even further: switching the emotional content of a memory in micefrom bad to good and vice versa. Under the laser, for example, male mice that had once associateda certain room with being shocked were tricked into acting as though they had once met friendlyfemale mice there instead.Whether the mice in these experiments actually experienced vivid false memories or just a fuzzysense of pleasure or fear is unclear. Nor is it clear whether the findings apply to the tricks of memoryso familiar to people. Long-sought therapeutic advances, such as treatments for post-traumaticstress disorder, could remain far off. One thing is certain, however: Once considered beyondscientific dissection, memory is finally starting to yield its secrets.15.Which of the following best fits the numbered space in the passage?A.what is really happening in our brain as memories are remodeled remains mysteriousB.scientists are curious about why people are oblivious to what have happened to themC.advanced technology has helped scientists discover the workings of our brainD.some scientists argue that what we observe about human memory is not what it really is16. The word incept“ ” is closest in meaning to________.A.operateB.startC.detectD.occupy17.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?A.People ’ s false memories result from the impact of different emotion provoked by laterexperience on the same spot.B. The success in research indicates that it won’ t be long that a therapy is worked out forpeople disturbed by painful memory.C.By zapping the brain cells of mice with light, researchers are able to create, erase, oralter their memories, good or bad.D.Many fancy ideas in science fictions or movies that are based on them actually draw greatlyupon scientific achievement.Questions 18-19 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following passage about cholera. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the passage.A child receives the oral cholera vaccine ShancholCholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. Approximately one in 20 people infected with cholera has a serious case, with symptoms including severe diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. These symptoms quickly cause dehydration and shock, and can result in death within hours if the infected person doesn ’receivet treatment. Cholera is typically transmitted by contaminated food or water. In areas with poor treatment of sewage and drinking water, the feces of people with cholera can enter the water supply and spread quickly, resulting in an epidemic. The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in some coastal waters, so shellfish eaten raw can be a source of cholera in affected areas.18.Cholera is known to be a life-threatening disease which easily causes death of most of the patients.True () False ( )19.Cholera typically occurs in areas near the sea or the river where contaminated food is amajor source of the disease.True ( ) False ( )Questions 20-21 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the abstract of a research paper from the DeepMind website. Decide whetherthe statements are True or False according to the abstract.Teaching Machines to Read and ComprehendAuthors: K. M. Hermann, T. Ko?isky, E. Grefenstette, L. Espeholt, W. Kay, M. Suleyman, P. Blunsom Published: NIPS 2015Abstract: Teaching machines to read natural language documents remains an elusive challenge. Machine reading systems can be tested on their ability to answer questions posed on the contents of documents that they have seen, but until now large scale training and test datasets have beenmissing for this type of evaluation. In this work we define a new methodology that resolves this bottleneck and provides large scale supervised reading comprehension data. This allows us to develop a class of attention based deep neural networks that learn to read real documents andanswer complex questions with minimal prior knowledge of language structure.20.Previous studies didn ’take constant effort to evaluate the reading ability of artificialintelligence machines, which was why the present research was conducted.True () False ( )21.One implication of the research is that a methodology that helps gather and handle big datais indispensible to artificial intelligence related studies.True ( ) False ( )Questions 22-23 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about the “ Think small ”advertising campaign. Answer thequestions according to the passage.Think SmallIf you ’ interested in marketing and advertising, Volkswagen ’ s“ Think small ”campaign for the Beetle when it was firstintroduced to North America in 1959 looms large as one of thegreatest advertising campaigns of all time. It wasn’ just arevolution in automotive advertising; it changed the entire industry.Until the Beetle hit the market, automotive marketing copy wasfull of bluster, and the images were flights of fancy,emphasizing low, long lines and a fantasy lifestyle.The clean, simple photography on a white background that emphasized the Beetle ’ s compact,practical form may seem commonplace these days, but it was a revolution in a world where Americans grew up obsessed with muscle cars, horsepower, andtire smoke. Making the car small, when the convention was to make it fill the page, was also novel. The simplistic approach to design and layout was totally contrary to the advertising conventions of the time.__ 22__ The text was minimalist in both look and content, presenting the facts simply instead oftrying to weave tall tales and fantasies; and instead of bluster, it ushered in an intelligent sense of humor that made readers feel like they were in on the joke. The message was one of smartanti-luxury, and took gentle aim at an industry obsessed with superficiality and styling, rather thanthe substance underneath the car bodies.Not only does“ Think small” continue to inspire Volkswagen advertising to this day, it ushered in a creative revolution in the advertising business and changed the world of marketing forever.“ Thinksmall ”showed the power of humor and honesty, and its photographic and designprinciples brought about a major shift in the look and feel of marketing around the world.22.Which of the sentences below best fits the numbered space in the passage?A.What defined the ad even more than its visual style was the tone of its copy.B.This ad starts off doing the exact opposite of what you would expect in a car ad.C.This was an exercise in minimalism and a very accurate reflection on the product itself.D.The car wasn ’ t depicted as an integral pieceftheo daily lives of a middle class family.23.It can be inferred that the advertising conventions of the 1950s were reflected in the followingexcept that ___________.A.the ads in the 1950s typically showed proud owners and passengers evoking greatjoy about new shiny big acquisitions.B.the marketing concept then focused on providing as much information as possible to thereader such as the way it’ s created.C.the marketing schemes associated the advertised product with an idea or a way of livingfrom average consumers ’ perspective.D.the marketing practice may attach importance to a sense of humor brought by the useof exaggerated language.文档来源为 :从网络收集整理.word 版本可编辑 .欢迎下载支持.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identifythe writer ’position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer ’ s arguments. (Timeallowed: 30 minutes)Questions 24-35 (Suggested completion time: 30 minutes)Directions: Read three passages about fashion. Answer the questions according to the passages.Passage AIt ’ s not that easy to answer the question,“ what is fashion?” because it means different things t different people. Fashion is an art. It ’a sreligion. It ’a sjob. It ’a speek into a personality. It ’ splayfulness. It ’ans escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately,25.French fashion designer Coco Chanel once said,“ Fashion is not something that exists in dressesonly. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what ishappening. ”It ’trues. Fashion isn ’definedt solely by our clothing choices, but is also conveyed through theway we carry ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world. At its most fundamental,fashion is simply the prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behavior.So, who exactly answers the question “ whatis fashion”Who? decides what’fashionable andwhat isn’ t? What’ s in or what’ s out?Fashion Designers. The iconic fashion houses—Prada, Gucci, Chanel—are referred to as hautecouture, Frenc h for “ high sewing. ” These designers lead the way in creating-settingrendfashion.While some of their designs are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everydaywear, generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.Media. Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on popular television shows and movies aswell as adopted from magazine pages. “ Sex and the City, ” “ The Devil Wears Prada, ” these introduced us to new, cutting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead wearing aCarrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look and piece togetheryour own creation.Celebrities. A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson andJessica Simpson were spotted wearing them around L.A. several years ago, no one had given anythought to UGG boots. Now they are everywhere.文档来源为 :从网络收集整理.word 版本可编辑 .欢迎下载支持.Musicians. Musicians have always been very influential when it comes to dictating fashion. Rock‘ n’ rollisfashion. Elvis is an iconic example. In the 1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis.What about the heavy metal hair bands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the headbandana while Poison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, rocker hair.Just because you don’ t knowPradaif bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn’ t matter. All that matters is that you like it and it’ s an expression of you. That is fashion.Passage BFashion is more prevalent in modern society than in primitive tribes or peasant communities. Themodern society is an open society where class distinctions are not so rigid as in primitive society. Itsurban and mobile class structure enables people to cultivate individual taste and adopt new course.The modern society is more tolerant of differences and therefore places few shackles on the cycle offashion. Our standards of judgment have also changed. Today the individual is rated more byobservable externalities than by his ancestry, his character or his genuine accomplishments. Theclothes a man wears, the language he speaks, the manners he shows have more weight inascribing a status than his simplicity, patriotism and integrity.If he can keep himself up to date in the matters of his dress, speech and manners, he will assurehimself a high social esteem. Not only the mobile and urban character of modern society but itsaffluence also speaks for greater prevalence of fashion in it. Men today are richer than theirancestors and have more leisure. They have the necessary means and time to play with luxuriesand to think of fashion. Maclver writes: We do not think of fashion in overalls; there is more offashion in the body of an automobile than in its chassis. There is no fashion in steam shovels.Consequently the higher the standard of living the more material there is for fashion to operate upon.Passage CAs summer has officially faded into the colder weather of autumn, I assumed the days of Nikeshorts, comically large T-shirts and polos would be only a memory of yesterday. This has not beenthe case.Fashion, in and of itself, is already a type of conformism. In order to be considered fashion, a look,a garment or a stylistic choice must be deemed fashionable.Who gets to decide this —what is fashionable? While certain fashion heavyweights play a role inthis decision, the ultimate decision is left to the public.As I was surfing the Web recently for inspiration for this column, I came across the Prada website.What I discovered literally caused me to gasp. Of course, everyone knows Prada is an expensivebrand —a luxury—but what I discovered shocked me: a keychain priced at $180. No, this keychainwas not solid gold or encased in diamonds. It was simply a keychain: a skull with the word“ Prada ” on a small charm.How can a company charge $180 for a keychain?The answer: people are willing to pay for it.People know the brand and conform to the idea of owning a piece of such an Italian“ luxuryThis is nonsensical. Why do we choose to wear miniscule shorts in frigid weather or spend nearly$200 on a charm? Such decisions are influenced by peers, the media and the personalresolution to not make rational, individualistic choices. We cling to the idea of acceptance.In short, we often choose to abide by the pressures of social conventionality, and this leads us tomake ridiculous selections—pairing Ugg boots with shorts or wearing neon with camouflage —which we would otherwise not make.I am certainly shamefaced in my occasional conformity to these ludicrous fashion folkways. I amguilty of donning Crocs in public. Yikes!Transient, often preposterous trends referred to as fads inspire some rather strange ideas. Whocan recall the pet rocks of the ‘ 70s or Popples ofSuchthe pop trends‘ 80s?arenot confined tobehavior; they bleed into the fashion world, evidenced in overly distressed jeans, the most painful ofneon shades, shoes that resemble Swiss cheese and a host of other fads I do not have the space tomention.I refuse to give up hope for societal common sense.One day we will comprehend that shorts are for the summer and ridiculously expensive keychainsare for “ neverDo. not”allow others to dictate for you. Be bold. Be an individual. Do not buy thekeychain.24. The phrase might“ not be caught dead ” in Passage A most probably means ______.A.would rather not die anywayB.might not be caught red handedC.would refuse completely to do somethingD.might be uneasy though doing something25.Which of the following best fits the numbered space in Passage A?A.fashion is an individual statement of expression for each of usB.fashion facilitates social change by providing a transitional stageC.fashion is not an individual choice but a group choiceD.fashion determines our speech, opinion, dress, music, art, etc.26.It can be inferred from Passage A that fashion designers, media, celebrities and musiciansshare the following views except ______.A.that fashion is anything but separated from the daily life of ordinary people.B.that nothing completely absurd and unrealistic can finally become fashion.C.that fashion is what society accepts and has an element of social sanction behind it.D. that if a particular choice remains confined to an individual it can’ t be called fashio27. The word affluence“ ” in Passage B is closest in meaning to ______.A.versatilityB.wealthinessC.peculiarityD.charisma28.According to Passage B, which of the following attributes may probably be more importantthan others for an individual to be favorably received now?A. A wide range of erudition.B. Loyalty to his or her friends.C. A passion for popular novels.D. Good virtues such as honesty.29. Which of the following is NOT true about the author’ s attitude towards fashion according to Passage C?A.The author thinks it a waste of time mentioning a list of examples of irrational fads.B.People are mad about fashion and therefore lose their own good judgment.C.The author never allows himself to be carried away by the fashion trends.D.Behind the behavior of keeping up with fashion is a need to stay in the crowd.30-31. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the three passages.30.All the three passages agree that fashion plays a role in the interplay of class relations thatit satisfies the contrary desires for novelty and for conformity.True () False ( )31. None of the three passages are denying conventional social values in people’ s judgment, example, what’ s considered good about things or people.True () False ( )文档来源 :从网收集整理.word 版本可 .迎下支持. Part IV Read and CreateIn Part IV, you will read a passage and then write a short essay according to it.You should write with clarity and logic. (Time allowed: 40 minutes)Question 32 (Suggested completion time: 40 minutes)Directions: Read a passage from Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the Sciences. Write a short essay according to the passage.⋯And as a multitude of laws often only hampers justice, so that a state is best governed when,with few laws, these are rigidly administered; in like manner, instead of the great number of precepts of which logic is composed, I believed that the four following would prove perfectly sufficient for me, provided I took the firm and unwavering resolution never in a single instance to fail in observing them.The first was never to accept anything for true which I did not clearly know to be such; that is tosay, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to comprise nothing more in my judgmentthan what was presented to my mind so clearly and distinctly as to exclude all ground of doubt.The second, to divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible,and as might be necessary for its adequate solution.The third, to conduct my thoughts in such order that, by commencing with objects the simplestand easiest to know, I might ascend by little and little, and, as it were, step by step, to the knowledge of the more complex; assigning in thought a certain order even to those objects which in their own nature do not stand in a relation of antecedence and sequence.And the last, in every case to make enumerations so complete, and reviews so general, that Imight be assured that nothing was omitted.The long chains of simple and easy reasonings by means of which geometers are accustomed to reach the conclusions of their most difficult demonstrations, had led me to imagine that all things, to the knowledge of which man is competent, are mutually connected in the same way,and that there is nothing so far removed from us as to be beyond our reach, or so hidden thatwe cannot discover it, provided only we abstain from accepting the false for the true, and always preserve in our thoughts the order necessary for the deduction of one truth from another. And Ihad little difficulty in determining the objects with which it was necessary to commence, for I was already persuaded that it must be with the simplest and easiest to know, and, considering that ofall those who have hitherto sought truth in the sciences, the mathematicians alone have beenable to find any demonstrations, that is, any certain and evident reasons, I did not doubt but that such must have been the rule of their investigations.32.Answer the topic questions with no less than 300 words. You should write in YOUR OWN words: What is the main issue that Descartes explores in this part of the text, and w hat ’ s his method?。

2015“‘外研社杯’全国英语阅读大赛”样题一、2015 年“‘外研社杯’全国英语阅读大赛”比赛内容包含四个环节：Part I Read and Know（读以明己）Part II Read and Reason（读以察世）Part III Read and Question（读以启思）Part IV Read and Create（读以言志）二、比赛样题仅为2015 年阅读大赛赛题的内容和形式样例，并非完整试卷。

三、大赛的模拟赛、复赛和决赛都将包含样题的四个环节，但各环节的赛题内容和形式会根据不同阶段有所变化。

四、大赛的初赛由参赛学校参考样题内容自行命题，组委会不做硬性规定。

五、“Part I Read and Know（读以明己）”部分不计成绩，根据参赛选手答题情况给予个性化反馈。

六、“Part VI Read and Create（读以言志）”部分，组委会将在赛前公布大赛推荐阅读书单。

比赛样题：Part I Read and KnowIn this part, you will read some questions about your abilities or personalities. Read as fastas you can and choose the answer that you think best describes yourself. Are You Charismatic?Charisma is the magnetic power that attracts people to you. It won’t affect the quality of your workor provide you with wonderful original ideas, but it remains one of the most vital talents if you want tomake it big in life. If people who don’t even understand what you’re talking about believe that you area genius, you will have made it. The following test will decide whether you’ve got what it takes.1) Do people find themselves attracted to you?A. Yes, it can be embarrassing sometimes.B. No, no more than other people.C. I suppose they do a bit.2) Do you find that people agree with you regardless of the quality of your arguments?A. No, never.B. Not that often.C. All the time.3) Would you find it easy to attract followers?A. No, not at all.B. Not very easy.C. Yes, it’s really no problem.4) Do you find casual acquaintances open up and tell you their lifestories in intimate detail?A. Occasionally.B. Never.C. Happens all the time. Sometimes I just can’t get away.Part II Read and ReasonIn this part, you will read texts of different forms and genres. Read the instructionscarefully and answer the questions based on your comprehension, analysis and inferencesof the texts.1. Among the four statements below, one statement is the main point, and the other three arespecific support for the point. Identify the main point with P and the specific support with S.___A. Hungry bears searching for food often threaten hikers.___B. Hiking on that mountain trail can be very dangerous.___C. Severe weather develops quickly, leaving hikers exposed to storms and cold.___D. When it rains, the trail, which is very steep at some points, becomes slippery.2. Read the following cartoon. Put a tick by the three statements that are most logically basedon the information suggested by it.___A. Lucy has just criticized the boy, Linus.___B. Linus feels Lucy’s criticism is valid.___C. Lucy feels very guilty that Linus has taken her criticism badly. ___D. Lucy doesn’t seem to realize that people may accept constructive criticism but reject destructive criticism.___E. The cartoonist believes we should never criticize others.___F. The cartoonist believes it’s best to criticize others in a constructive way.3. Read an extract of an advertisement. Choose the answer which you think fits each questionbest according to the text.Young Environmental Journalist CompetitionHow to Enter:If you’re aged 16-25, we’re looking for original articles of 1,000 words (or less) withan environmental or conservation theme. The closing date for entries is 30 December, 2015.Your article should show proof of investigative research, rather than relying solely oninformation from the Internet and phone interviews. Y ou don’t have to go far. A reporton pollution in a local stream would be as valid as a piece about the remotest rain forest.Your article should show you are passionate and knowledgeable about environmentalissues. It should also be objective and accurate, w hile being creative enough to holdthe reader’s interest. We are notlooking for“think pieces” or opinion columns.Your aim should be to advance understanding and awareness of environmental issues. Youshould be able to convey complex ideas of readers of this general interest magazine in anengaging and authoritative manner.Facts or information contained in short-listedarticles will be checked.Read the rules carefully.1) Before entering for the competition, young people must have_______.A. conducted some relevant research in their local areaB. gained a qualification in experimental researchC. uncovered some of the evidence in the research by themselvesD. consulted a number of specialists on the subject under research2) The articles submitted must_______.A. focus on straightforward conceptsB. include a range of viewsC. be accessible to non-specialistD. reveal the writer’s standpoint4. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Johnny Appleseed, one of the gentlest and most beloved of American folk heroes, was born in1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. (2) His real name was John Chapman. (3) Chapman’s early lifewas full of misfortune.(4) First, his father left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. (5) ThenJohn’s mother and baby brother died before John’s second birthday.(6) However, John’s fortunesimproved when his father returned and remarried, and by the time John was in his teens, he had tenbrothers and sisters.(7) As a young man, John began traveling west on foot, stopping to clear land and plant the appleseeds he always carried with him. (8) Settlers who followed John’s path were delighted to findyoung apple orchardsdotting the landscape.(9) John was a friendly fellow who often stopped to visit with families along his way, entertaining them with stories of his travels. (10) Tales of his exploits followed him through Pennsylvania, Ohio,and Indiana. (11) Many of the stories were true. (12) For instance, John really did travel barefoot through the snow, lived on the friendliest of terms with Indian tribes, and refused to shoot anyanimal. (13) Other tales about John, however, were exaggerations.(14) Settlers said, for example,that he slept in the treetops and talked to the birds or that he had once been carried off by a gianteagle. (15) Johnny Appleseed never stopped traveling until his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845.1) Sentence 1 is a statement of_______.A. factB. opinionC. fact and opinion2) The details in sentences 4 and 5 support the point or points in _______.A. sentence 1B. sentence 2C. sentence 3D. sentence 63) The relationship between sentences 3 and 6 is one of _______.A. contrastB. additionC. cause and effectD. comparison4) We can conclude that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. provided apples for numerous settlersB. was quickly forgotten by the settlersC. grew wealthy by selling his apple treesD. left home because of problems with his family5) The passage suggests that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. grew weary of travelingB. had great respect for other people and animalsC. lived a very short but rich lifeD. planted many trees other than apple trees6) The tone of the passage is _______.A. pessimisticB. bitter and impassionedC. amused and excitedD. straightforward with a touch of admiration7) Which is the most appropriate title for this selection?A. The Planting of American Apple OrchardsB. Folk Heroes of AmericaC. Settlers Recall Johnny AppleseedD. The Life and Legend of John Chapman5. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in whichinformation is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizen’s patterns of response to politics.(2) By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection of the major party candidates. (3) By centering politics on the person of the candidate, television accelerated the citizen’s focus on character rather than issues.(4) Television has altered the forms of political communication as well.(5) The messages on which most of us rely are briefer than they once were.(6) The stump speech, a political speech given by traveling politicians and lasting 11/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10 second “sound bite” in broadcast news. (7) Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience who will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news.(8) In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. (9) In 15 or 30 seconds,a speaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others.(10) In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.(11) Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it requires a changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. (12) Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. (13) Schools teach us to analyze words and print. (14) However, in a word in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills.(15) Recognizing the power of television’s pictures, politicians craft televisual, staged events,called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage. (16) Much of the political activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, their speechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. (17) Sound bites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.1) What is the main idea of the passage?A. Citizens in the United States are now more informed about politicalissue because of television coverage.B. Citizens in the United States prefer to see politicians ontelevision instead of in person.C. Politics in the United States has become substantially morecontroversial since the introduction of television.D. Politics in the United States has been significantly changed by television.2) The word “disseminated” in sentence 1 is closest in meaningto_______.A. analyzedB. discussedC. spreadD. stored3) It can be inferred that before the introduction of television,political parties _______.A. had more influence over the selection of political candidatesB. spent more money to promote their political candidatesC. attracted more membersD. received more money4) The author mentions the “stump speech” in sentence 6 as an example of _______.A. an event created by politicians to attract media attentionB. an interactive discussion between two politiciansC. a kind of political presentation typical of the nineteenth centuryD. a style of speech common to televised political events5) The word “that” in sentence 7 refers to _______.A. audienceB. broadcast newsC. politicianD. advertisement6) According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches,traditional political discourse was more successful at _______.A. allowing news coverage of political candidatesB. placing political issues within a historical contextC. making politics seem more intimate to citizensD. providing detailed information about a candidate’s private behavior7) The author states that “politicians assert but do not argue” insentence 10 in order to suggestthat politicians _______.A. make claims without providing reasons for the claimsB. take stronger positions on issues than in the pastC. enjoy explaining the issue to broadcastersD. dislike having to explain their own positions on issues to citizens8) The purpose of paragraph 4 is to suggest that_______.A. politicians will need to learn to become more personal when meeting citizensB. politicians who are considered very attractive are favored bycitizens over politicians who are less attractiveC. citizens tend to favor a politician who analyzed the issue over one who does notD. citizens will need to learn how to evaluate visual political imagesin order to become better informed9) Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?A Political presentations today are more like advertisements than in the past.B. Politicians today tend to be more familiar with the views of citizensthan in the past.C. Citizens today are less informed about a politician’s character than in the past.D. Political speeches today focus more on details about issues than in the past.Part III Read and QuestionIn this part, you will read about related or contradictory views on a variety of issues.You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments.Read the following two passages and answer the questions.Passage AWhile The origin of Species created a great stir when it was published in 1859, Darwinian thought was almost completely out of vogue by the turn of the twentieth century. It took Ronald Fisher’s “Great Synthesis”of the 1920s, which combined the genetic work of Gregor Mendel with Darwin’s ideas about natural selection, and Theodosius Dobzhansky’s “Modern Synthesis” of the 1930s, which built upon Fisher’s work with genetics within a species by focusing on how genetic variation could cause the origin of a new species, to begin to rehabilitate Darwin.Yet, what is remarkable is how very prescient Darwin, working without knowledge of the mechanisms of heredity, proved to be. As prominent biologist Ernst Mayr notes, what made Darwinian theory so remarkable was his emphasis on “population thinking.” This contrasts to Jean- Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of evolution, popular throughout the nineteenth century, which posited that individuals changed personal actions and will. Lamarckian theory is often exemplified by a giraffe constantly reaching up to eat leaves off high branches and passing on its lengthened neck to its children.Such explanations bore a strong resemblance to children’s fables (and indeed Rudyard Kipling’s late nineteenth century Just so Stories build upon Lamarckian theories). Where Darwin differed was his insistence that significant variation was not based within one particular individual, but rather in the breeding population as a whole. Natural selection was not based on the actions or goals of one individual, but variations in the average character of the species.Passage BAs Peter Bowler points out in his aptly named The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth, nineteenth century Darwinism was quite different from the Darwinism of today. Thomas Huxley, “Darwin’s Bulldog,” so called because of his tireless public campaigning for Darwinian thought, exemplifies this difference. As a result of his advocacy, by the end of the nineteenth century Huxley was the vehicle for Darwinian thought. Noted science fiction writer H.G. Wells,for instance, garnered all of his information about natural selection and evolution through Huxley’s lectures. Yet Huxley’s theory va ried significantly from those of Darwin, focusing on the willof humankind.In the preface to Evolution and Ethics, Huxley wrote that “We cannot do without our inheritance from the forefathers who were the puppets of the cosmic process; the society which renounces it must be destroyed from without. Still less can we do with too much of it; the society in which it dominates must be destroyed from within.” According to Huxley, humankind has moved past physical evolution to the realm of self-directed moral evolution. Huxley, then, acknowledges that humankind has evolved under the pressure of natural selection and must remain aware of the fact or be “destroyed from without,” but he argues that a society that continues in the path that Nature has placed it will be “destroyed from within” because it will no longer be adapted to itself.1) Based on the information in the passage, Rudyard Kipling mostly likely wrote stories ______.A. dedicated to enlightening humans by using animals as positive examples of properbehaviorB. based on futuristic worlds which were populated by evolved subjectsC. featuring individuals developing variation through the power of their desiresD. seeking to exhibit the effects of population thinking in breeding populationsE. portraying the effects of parental inheritance through examiningthe lives of children2) Which of the following best represents Huxley’s beliefs?A. Focusing on physical evolution leaves man as nothing more than a“puppet” of forces beyond his control; to succeed in li fe it isnecessary to reject physical evolution in favor of moral change.B. The ideas of Charles Darwin needed to be carefully delineatedthrough lectures so that his ideas about individual variation could be fully understood.C. By exerting personal will, humankind will be able to enactsignificant, lasting variation which will be demonstrated through the bodies of the children of those who seek change.D. While humankind is inescapably linked to its physical past and thematerial conditionsof its evolution, it must be wary of being too attached to the path dictated by natural selection.E. Certain elements of Darwin’s theory about evolution had to bediscarded so that the public would be willing to accept the thrust of the theory as a whole.3) Which of the following would the authors of Passage A and Passage Bmostly likely agree to be most closely aligned in their thinking?A. Lamarck and Huxley.B. Kipling and Wells.C. Mayr and Bowler.D. Mendel and Huxley.E. Dobzhansky and Wells.4) Which of the following statements about Darwin is supported by both passages?A. Darwin differed significantly from other theorists of evolutionbecause he focused on breeding populations as a whole.B. The modern understanding of Darwin varies significantly fromnineteenth-century beliefs about his theories.C. It was not until the early twentieth century that Darwinism as weknow it began to emerge.D. Fiction writers were particularly interested in disseminating ideasabout Darwin.E. Delineating the specific inheritance of the child is crucial tounderstanding how natural selection proceeds.5) Which of the following best represents the difference between the two passages?A. The first passage begins with current understandings of Darwinismand moves back in time, while the second passage begins with older understanding and moves forward in time.B. While the first passage focuses on the difference between twotheories of evolution, the second paragraph traces differencesbetween two individual interpreters of evolution.C. The first passage introduces a general theory, offers specificevidence, and thenconsiders the ramifications of that theory, while the secondpassage does not consider the ramifications of the evidence itrepresents.D. The first passage is concerned with demonstrating a way in whichDarwin is closely linked with modern thinkers, while the second passage is focused on how he differed from one of hiscontemporaries.E. The first passage provides a historical retrospective of the primaryinterpreters of Darwin, and the second passage centers on oneparticular interpreter.6) Based on the information in Passage B, which of the following claimsin Passage A would Thomas Huxley be most likely to object to?A. It is impossible to truly understand natural selection without the benefit of modern genetictheory.B. It is likely that the giraffe developed a long neck due to the factthat it constantly stretchedit to gain access to food.C. There are different ways to understand how evolution functions to change individuals.D. Variations in the average character of a population are the most crucial factor in the properevolution of man.E. Allowing natural selection to dominate our society will lead to the destruction of humankind.7) Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the Lamarckian mode of variation?A. An adult bird tries to change the environment for the benefit of its children.B. Seeking to morally adapt to its environment, a chimpanzee changes the way it woos its mate.C. A gi raffe’s bodily shape changes because it is unable to fit into the caves it traditionallysleeps in.D. Because of a change in the environment, a number of chimpanzees die out while othersthrive and pass on their genes.E. Because it hunts for salmon with its mouth wide open, a bear gradually develops astraining mechanism between its teeth.Part IVRead and CreateIn this part, you will be required to write a short essay on a given topic based on yourgeneral reading. You should write with clarity, logic and creativity.1. Write an essay of about 200 words on one of the following topics.1) Hamlet is characterized by his melancholic mood and delay in action.Give a characteranalysis of Hamlet and list the possible reasons for his melancholy and delay.2) A Tale of Two Cities can be regarded as a historical novel, a moral novel and a novel stronglyconcerned with themes of resurrection, redemption and patriotism, as well as of guilt, shameand love. What is your understanding of the themes of the novel?2. Read the essay below. Answer one of the following questions by writing an essay of about200 words.Of StudiesStudies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience:for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be onlyin the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, ifa man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a presentwit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he does not. Historiesmake men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logicand rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay there is no stond or impediment in thewit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriateexercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walkingfor the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another,let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.1) We are now living in the age of “information explosion”. What lessons can we learn fromBacon’s “Of Studies” to access information?2) In what sense does reading make a full man?。

2017“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛初赛（90min）Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions. (Time suggested: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are three extra options you do not need.Questions 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.A few intuitive, sensitive visionaries may understand and comprehend XXXX (the book title), XXXX (the author)’s new and mammoth volume, without going through a course of training or instruction, but the average intelligent reader will glean little or nothing from it—even from careful perusal, one might properly say study, of it—save bewilderment and a sense of disgust. It should be companioned with a key and a glossary like the Berlitz books...4. Which of the following works does the book review address?A.UlyssesB.The OdysseyC.In Search of Lost TimeD.One Hundred Years of SolitudeQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.I like the fact that the study focuses on a French classroom, which receives less attention in Second Language Acquisition research than other foreign language classrooms.However, for reasons that I elaborate on below, I do not recommend this manuscript for publication. I recommend that the author consults the Journal of Language, Identity, and Education. That journal might be a better fit for this paper.5. The text could best be described as __________.A. a conclusionB. a summaryC. a reviewD. a pledgeQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.My Lord,I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honor which, being very little accustomed to favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.6. This text is taken from a letter which showed the writer’s __________ the Lord.A.gratitude towardsB.indifference toC.contempt forD.respect forQuestion 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Because of social media, words are moving around theworld within weeks and months, whereas in the past, itcould take a few years, says Julie Coleman, author of TheLife of Slang. “It’s not necessarily that language is changingmore quickly, but technologies have developed and theyallow the transmission of slang terms to pass from onegroup to another much more quickly.”7. The main purpose of the text is to ________.A.explain the quick migration of slangB.imply the unnecessary change of languageC.exemplify the advancement of technologyD.introduce the book The Life of SlangQuestions 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.When hunting raccoons for fur was a popular sport, huntingdogs were used to sniff them out of trees. As they are XXXXanimals, the hunting party had to work at night, and the dogswould sometimes end up choosing the wrong tree, or as the idiomgoes, “bark up the wrong tree.” The term was first printed in abook by Davy Crockett in 1833.8. Which word is the best substitution for the missing word XXXX?A.solitaryB.aggressiveC.nocturnalD.herbivorousQuestion 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the details about a euphemism, and answer the question according to the details.9. The euphemism described above most probably refers to __________.A.people with special needsB.downright overwroughtC.tired and emotionalD.mentally challengedQuestion 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the share of UN procurement from Global Compact members from 2010 to 2014. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: 2014 Annual Statistical Report on United Nations Procurement, the United Nations Office for Project Services, 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description of the chart.A.The share of UN procurement volume from Global Compact members grew steadily over thefive years in terms of absolute volume.B.In 2013, the total procurement volume dropped noticeably, and so did the procurement fromGlobal Compact members.C.In 2014, the total procurement volume increased greatly, causing a drop in the share ofprocurement from Global Compact members.D.The proportion of procurement from Global Compact members was not in line with thegeneral trend of procurement from Global Compact members.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time suggested: 40 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of Confusion of “Necessary” with “Sufficient” Condition?A.You said that I would have to run the mile in less than six minutes to be on the track team,and I did. So why did I get cut from the team?B.Dina has to be rich or at least to be an heiress. She after all belongs to the Alpha Phi Lambdasorority which is the richest sorority on campus.C.It’s supposed to be in the low twenties tonight, so surely we’re not going to the footballgame, are we?D.To see viruses, one must have a microscope. This follows if William Carroll said he sawviruses, he must have used a microscope.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the definition of one type of logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.12. Which of the following provides a typical example of Texas Sharpshooter fallacy ?A. I won ’t pay the parking ticket because the traffic sign here says “Fine for Parking”!B. Cola is healthy because it sells best among the top five healthiest countries in the world.C. We can ’t exploit the outer space because many people on Earth hardly make ends meet.D. Nobody at school can speak French because neither teachers nor the principal can speak it. Questions 13-14 Reasoning. (Suggested completion time: 8 minutes)In a swimming competition, Matt, Alen and Johnson won a medal respectively: the gold medal, the silver medal and the bronze medal. The coach made a guess : “Matt won the gold medal, Alen didn ’t win the gold medal and Johnson didn ’t win the bronze medal .” Unfortunately, only one of them is right.13. Who won the gold medal, who won the silver, and who won the bronze medal?A. Matt: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Alen: bronze medal.B. Alen: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.C. Johnson: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.D. Matt: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Johnson: bronze medal.14. Richard: The national budget should provide significant increases in all levels of education inthe upcoming year.Natalie: That’s not fair. A reduction in defense spending in peacetime may bring us excessiverisks. We can’t afford it.Which of the following is the best interpretation of Natalie’s argument?A. Funds saved from defense have been diverted to all levels of education.B. Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts on spending on the military.C. The size of the military budget reflects a state’s ability to fund educational activities.D. Compared with military spending, investing in education will create a financial crisis. Questions 15-16 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text and decide whether the statements are True or False according to the text.QuestionsQuestions define tasks, express problems, and delineateissues. They drive thinking forward. Answers, on the otherhand, often signal a full stop in thought. Only whenananswer generates further questions does thought continue as inquiry. A mind with no questions is a mind that is not intellectually alive. No questions (asked) equals no understanding (achieved). Superficial questions equal superficial understanding, unclear questions equal unclear understanding. If your mind is not actively generating questions, you are not engaged in substantial learning.15. The main purpose of the text is to define “questions”.True ( ) False ( )16. It can be inferred that a mind filled with questions will surely be engaged in substantial learning.True ( ) False ( )Questions 17-18 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the sugar industry, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to FatThe internal sugar industry documents, recently discovered by a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that the sugar industry may have manipulated the research into the role of sugar in heart disease.The documents show that a trade group called the Sugar Research Foundation, known today as the Sugar Association, paid three Harvard scientists the equivalent of about $50,000 in today’s terms to publish a 1967 review of research into sugar, fat and heart disease. The studies used in the review were handpicked by the sugar group, and the article, which was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, minimized the link between sugar and heart health and cast aspersions on the role of saturated fat.Even though the influence-meddling revealed in the documents dates back nearly 50 years, more recent reports show that the food industry has continued to influence nutrition science.Last year, an article in The New York Times revealed that Coca-Cola, the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, had provided millions of dollars in funding to researchers who sought to play down the link between sugary drinks and obesity. In June, The Associated Press reported that candy makers were funding studies that claimed that children who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who do not.The revelations are important because the debate about the relative harms of sugar and saturated fat continues today, Dr. Glantz said. For many decades, health officials encouraged Americans to reduce their fat intake, which led many people to consume low-fat, high-sugarfoods that some experts now blame for fueling the obesity crisis.Today, the saturated fat warnings still remain a cornerstone of t he government’s dietary guidelines, though in recent years the American Heart Association, the World Health Organization and other health authorities have also begun to warn that too much added sugar may increase risks of cardiovascular disease.17. The word handpicked in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________.A.carefully chosen in a highly scientific wayB.carried out with the best research findingsC.tailored to the needs of the sugar industryD.done by scientists from Harvard University18. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A.Manufacturers of sugar related food are funding studies aimed at finding the relationshipbetween sugar and health.B.Scientific research may not produce accurate results when funding for the research isprovided by agents who are not impartial.C.It is now accepted in the US that sugar and saturated fat are both responsible for anincreasing risk of heart disease.D.The industry-funded research plays an important and informative role in that it shapes theoverall scientific debate.Questions 19-20 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about MasterCard. Answer the questions according to the passage.MasterCardMasterCard is making it easier for charities to get help quickly to the people who really need it, and ensure that donations are actually being used for good. The MasterCard Aid Network, launched last September, distributes a version of the company’s plastic cards that come loaded with points that can be redeemed at certain merchants for groceries, medicine, shelter and even building materials or business supplies. The chip-enabled system can be deployed in a day or two compared to the weeks required to create and import paper vouchers.The system doesn’t require an Internet connection—a boon in off-the-grid areas where many refugees and disaster victims are concentrated. Still, the transactions enable organizations to collect data on what card recipients redeem, allowing charities to protect against fraudulent use and gather insight into beneficiaries’ needs.So far, organizations including Save the Children, World Vision and Mercy Corps have distributed cards to more than 75,000 people, from earthquake victims in Nepal to those in war-torn Yemen. MasterCard, which charges the charities fees for the service, says the program is profitable. The United Nations also recently named MasterCard the leader of an initiative to improve the distribution of humanitarian aid in emergencies, with a focus on the data management and privacy aspect.19. What is the passage mainly about?A.How MasterCard as for-profit company joins hands with world charity organizations.B.How MasterCard can keep an edge by its technological innovation in the world market.C.How MasterCard made its transformation from a for-profit company to a non-profit one.D.How MasterCard shortened the path between troubled populations and the aid they need.20. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?A.Without the efforts of the MasterCard Company, charities could not have protected againstfraudulent use of donations.B.MasterCard will perform a more important role in the international rescue and aid programswith technology developments.C.The plastic cards the MasterCard Aid Network distributes to needed people are similar tocredit cards but paid by donators.D.MasterCard earns money from charging fees for service and then gives the money torefugees and natural disaster victims.Questions 21-23 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about virtual reality and augmented reality, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.Virtual Reality vs. Augmented RealityOne of the biggest confusions in the world of augmented reality is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality. Both are earning a lot of media attention and are promising tremendous growth.Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial, computer-generated simulation or recreation of a real-life environment or situation. It immerses the user by making them feel they are experiencing the simulated reality firsthand, primarily by stimulating their vision and hearing.Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements atop an existing reality in order to make it more meaningful through the ability to interact with it. AR isdeveloped into apps and used on mobile devices to blend digital components into the real world in such a way that they enhance one another, but can also be told apart easily.Augmented reality and virtual reality are similar in that both are inverse reflections of one in another with what each technology seeks to accomplish and deliver for the user. Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real-life setting, while augmented reality delivers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world. Both leverage some of the same types of technology, and they each exist to serve the user with an enhanced or enriched experience.However, the two also differ from each other in various ways. Augmented reality enhances experiences by adding virtual components such as digital images, graphics, or sensations as a new layer of interaction with the real world. It is being used more and more in mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets to change how the real world and digital images, graphics intersect and interact. Contrastingly, virtual reality creates its own reality that is completely computer generated and driven. It is usually delivered to the user through a head-mounted or hand-held controller. This equipment connects people to the virtual reality, and allows them to control and navigate their actions in an environment meant to simulate the real world.21-23. Which THREE of the following statements can be inferred from the text?A.Augmented reality shows virtual elements on top of the real world, while virtual realityrecreates real-life situations in a digital way.B. A virtual reality dressing room may allow shoppers to virtually try on their purchases quicklyand easily without really having to put them on.C.Virtual reality is able to transpose us by taking us to some other place, while augmentedreality, in contrast, never moves us elsewhere.D.With augmented reality, you can swim with sharks, and with virtual reality, you can watch ashark pop out of your business card.E.Both augmented and virtual realities utilize some of the same types of technology and offerpeople enriched experiences.F.Augmented reality will enable an immobile patient to go out of the room and enjoy his/herfavorite sights, sounds and smells in the country.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. (Time allowed: 30 minutes)Questions 24-31 (Suggested completion time: 30 minutes)Passage ANonverbal communication is often spontaneous and unintentional, and its meaning may be ambiguous. For one thing, different nonverbal codes can indicate the same meaning while one nonverbal code can have different meanings in diverse contexts. Think about your expression of love toward your parents. Have your affective words or behavior remained the same over the past 18 years? Do you feel the same when a friend gives you a hug at the news that you have failed an exam and at the time when you have won an award? In addition, people may use masking, a facial management technique, to replace an expression of true feeling with one appropriate for a given interaction. For instance, your friend Mary is suffering from a fever but still smiles at you to confirm that she’s OK.Culture, technology, and situation all serve as powerful influences on our nonverbal behavior. What may be an innocent gesture in one group, context, region, or country can convey a different and possibly offensive message elsewhere. For example, American people are accustomed to making direct eye contact when speaking to someone, whether a friend or a professor. However, in some East Asian cultures, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, direct eye contact in interactive communication is not required. In fact, such long-time direct eye contact, when facing superiors or elders, might be considered a sign of disrespect and challenge. Similarly, some cultures are contact cultures so that touch is an important form of communication, whereas other cultures are non-contact cultures so touching is generally avoided. For example, a socially polite touch involves a handshake between American men but may include a kiss between Arab or European men. Some religions prohibit opposite-sex touching between unmarried or unrelated individuals.Nonverbal communication can be found in our electronic written communication such as email, text messaging, and Internet chat rooms. 25 We use all capital letters to indicate shouting, random punctuation (#@*&!) to substitute for obscenities, and type treatments such as boldfacing and italicizing for emphasis. We use color, font styles and sizes, animations, figures, diagrams, and pictures in attempts to express emotion or help users visualize the sender or the message in context. We expect others to use emoticons to express emotion in mediated texts (). Since we can’t hear voice inflection or see facial expressions in many mediated situations, your preferences for screen text size, whether you leave a few explanatory lines, and whether you attach or compress files all say something about you to others. As the Internet allows users to have visual, audio, and text contact, with refinements, speakers have the potential to be even more persuasive than in face-to-face conversations across distances.No one likes taking out the garbage. But in Japan the chore is compounded by an added element: The neighbors are watching. No, I’m not being paranoid. They’re watching.Every time I take my trash down to the curb, in its regulation translucent white bag, I can feel their eyes peering through the plastic at my milk cartons, my egg containers, and my disposable chopsticks. They can see everything.I first realized my garbage and I were not alone on a Monday a few months ago, when I was bringing down a bag of old cereal boxes, soggy refrigerator leftovers, and coffee grounds. My landlady, who lives on the first floor, was outside watering her garden. Her eyes took in the contents of my trash.“No, today is Monday. It’s plastics day,” she said.“Oh,” I replied, “I guess they changed the pick-up schedule.” Her eyes fluttered to the ground, studiously avoiding mine. “No, Monday has always been plastics day,” she said.Over the next few minutes, in the muddled mix of Japanese and English we use to communicate, my landlady explained that she often would take my garbage away if I had put it out on the wrong day, store it in her house, and then bring it out again on the proper day.As I wa lked back upstairs, lugging my unwanted trash, it hit me: For the year and a half since I’d been living in the apartment, she’d been watching me, peeping from behind her rose bushes: scurrying to the curb after I’d been there, checking to see whether I’d f ollowed the correct garbage protocol. That’s when I learned the hard truth: When it comes to garbage in Japan, there’s no such thing as privacy. Garbage is public property, something to which your neighbors can claim snooping privileges. As a foreigner in this homogenous land, my activities garner more attention, and more criticism, than most. I’ve started wondering what else my neighbors notice. What else am I doing wrong?What I found most disturbing about the exchange was that my landlady had been reluctant for so long to confront me directly. We see each other constantly, sometimes we have pleasant little chats, or she comes upstairs when something is broken. Yet she could never bear to tell me that I had mixed up the trash schedule. Pointing out one’s m istakes is considered rude in Japan.As a foreigner with rudimentary Japanese, I expected the language barrier to be the biggest obstacle to living here. I was wrong. Learning to navigate Japan, perhaps any foreign country, is all about reading the subtle cultural cues, not the alphabet. Most things in Japan remain unspoken, especially the improper and the unpleasant.The most powerful voice you have, no one else can hear. It is a voice shaping your destiny, ability to cope with triumph or disaster, and how you engage with and inspire others in any quest you face. This voice ultimately determines your success as a communicator and the success of your communications. It is the voice within your head.The starting point for being an outstanding public relations communicator is recognizing that you deliver communications not just through your words, signs or gestures. Nor do you deliver just through your body language. You communicate through the way you think.You probably know of people who ca n easily comment on other people’s problems but are blind to their own shortcomings. The ability to understand yourself, your own emotions, and know how your mind works is known as your intrapersonal skill. Having self-awareness and understanding of yourself makes it possible subsequently to develop fully your interpersonal skills. Your intrapersonal skill is essentially how you can manage your own thinking—the ability to understand how your thinking works and ultimately master the voice in your head.Everyone has an inner voice that creates an internal dialogue, a self-talk, which shapes and progresses their thinking and communication. (Your self-talk is not a sign of delusional behavior!) This self-talk lies at the heart of your subsequent communications. If you are unclear in your mind about how you feel and understand about an issue, the probability is that your subsequent communications will reflect this uncertainty, or fail to convince.The image of Sir Bob Geldof when he launched Band Aid in 1984 is a good example of someone with a clear sense of passion and belief, who initially had limited resources—at the outset his campaign was just him and his intense reaction to watching BBC news coverage of famine scenes in Ethiopia. Yet he succeeded in creating a major brand and raising valuable funds for famine relief. His clear sense of purpose fueled his passion to overcome the odds. A committed community activist can likewise often outwit and outperform a well-oiled and well-funded formal public relations programme; witness the success of groups like Greenpeace against major oil companies.The potential of the focused few was recognized by sociologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” The starting point for your journey in understanding and becoming an outstanding public relations communicator is to examine what shapes your thinking and how it is manifested in your communications.24. Which statement is true about the ambiguity of nonverbal communication?A.It leads to vagueness in nonverbal codes in a given context.B.Intended meanings of nonverbal codes cannot be conveyed fully.C.It stems from the spontaneity and randomness of nonverbal codes.D.True feelings can be hidden by the ambiguity of nonverbal codes.25. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in Passage A?A.It supersedes all other forms because of its effectiveness.B.There is a whole series of substitutions for nonverbal codes.C.People are born with a natural ability to communicate nonverbally.D.Interpretation of nonverbal codes relies on sensation and experiences.26. The word navigate in the last paragraph of Passage B means__________.A.roaming about freelyB.keep close contact withC.familiarize oneself withD.sail smoothly along27. What can be deciphered from Japan’s trash codes?A.Japanese tend to present their remarks in an explicit way.B.Trash is public property from which neighbors may intrude upon one’s privacy.C.The language barrier is an obstacle to dealing with the trash business.D.People not following the correct trash protocol will be considered rude.28. According to P assage C, the voice in one’s head__________.A.matters more than any vocal messagesB.should precede one’s subsequent communicationsC.can help avoid potential misunderstanding in some wayD.determines the development of one’s interpersonal skills29. How do people’s personal communication skills affect their public relations?A.Self awareness of how you think will affect your ability to communicate effectively.B.Effective public relation communications are delivered through nonverbal codes.C.Successful public relations are determined by the voice qualities of communicators.municators with passion and beliefs have stronger chances of outwitting their rivals.30-31. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the three passages.30. Nonverbal codes in electronic written communications may well be more effective than face-to-face conversations.True ( ) False ( )31. It’s vital to take age, culture, region, gender, and emotional state into account when comprehending body language gestures.True ( ) False ( )。

“外教社杯”第15届英语整本书阅读测评活动初评试题（初一组）答卷时间为60分钟I. Text Filling. ( 2%*15=30%)a) Directions: There are ten blanks in the following passage. Fill each blank with only ONE appropriate word, or the right form of the word given in the brackets（括号）.Holly walks 1 (noisy) downstairs to her father’s office. She knocks on his door, waits 2 him to say, “Come in!” Then she enters. 3 father is on the phone. He’s always on the phone, and when he 4 (not) on the phone, he’s working on his computer. She waits and rehearses（排练）in her mind 5 she plans to say. Finally he presses a button on his mobile 6 looks at her.“Dad, can we talk?”“Sure. But not for long. I have 7 make another call. What is it?”“I’ve got 8 (a) idea,” says Holly.Thirty 9 (second) later...“Absolutely not!” says her father.So Holly walks 10 of the office (leaving the door open), goes into her own room and slams her door shut.b) Directions: There are five blanks in the following passage. Fill each blank with only ONE appropriate sentence from the six ones marked A, B, C, D, E and F given after the passage. Note that one of them is NOT needed.Penny sits in the park. It is cold, but she is waiting for Jane. 11“Hello, Penny,” says Jane. She looks at Penny. “You are so cold. You are blue.”Jane sees that there is something inside Penny’s coat. “ 12 ” she asks.Penny takes out Socks and puts him on the ground. He runs around and then comes back to Penny. She strokes him. Jane strokes him, too.“His name is Socks,” says Penny. She tells Jane about the bin.“That is horrible,” says Jane. “ 13 Some people do such terrible things. You poor little thing,” she says to Socks. “You can’t live in a rubbish bin.”“You are a very kind girl,” she says to Penny.“But I have a problem,” says Penny. “ 14 He can’t live at my home.” She tells Jane about Lucy, but she doesn’t say anything about rugs or chewing.“ 15 That is a problem,” says Jane.II. Cloze. (3%*10=30%)Directions: There are ten blanks in the following passage. For each blank, there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage.Wendy lives with her parents, Mr and Mrs Darling, and her brothers, John and Michael, at number 14 (the house 16 on their street).The children have a nurse 17 the neighbours’ children have nurses, and Mr Darling wants to be like his neighbours. But the family is poor so their nurse 18 like other children’s nurses. She’s a big 19 and her name is Nana.Nana puts the children to bed every evening and she looks 20 them if they cry in the night. Her kennel（狗窝）is in the children’s bedroom.Nana is a 21 nurse, but Mr Darling is a bit worried. He worries about the neighbours. What do they think of him? Do they think 22 the Darlings are a strange family because the children’s nurse is a dog? He also thinks that Nana 23 not like him. But Mrs Darling always says: “Nana loves you very much, George.”The Darling family is a very 24 family. Sometimes Mr and Mrs Darling and their children all dance around the sitting room 25 . What a lovely time they have!16.A. door B. face C. number D. map17.A. because B. but C. so D. unless18.A. can B. can’t C. is D. isn’t19.A. dog B. cat C. pig D. duck20.A. for B. after C. out D. up21.A. good B. bad C. best D. worst22.A. which B. that C. when D. where23.A. do B. does C. did D. doing24.A. rich B. worried C. sad D. happy25.A. again B. also C. together D. oftenIII. Reading Comprehension. (4%*10=40%)Directions: There are two passages. Each passage is followed by questions based on its content. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question.AEvery evening the Fisherman goes out on the sea. He calls the Mermaid. She comes out of the water and sings to him. The dolphins swim round and round the Mermaid. The seagulls fly round and round the Mermaid.The Mermaid sings a beautiful song. She sings of the Sea-folk and of the palaceof the King. She sings of the gardens of the sea full of coral and fish. She sings of whales, sea lions and seahorses. She sings of sunken ships and of Mermaids holding out their arms to the sailors, calling them into the sea.The Mermaid sings and sings. All the fish come from the bottom of the sea to listen to her. The Fisherman throws his nets into the sea. His nets and boat are full of fish. Then the Mermaid stops singing. She smiles at the Fisherman and she swims back under the sea.26.Where does the Fisherman go every evening?A.He goes to the market.B.He goes out on the sea.C.He goes to the palace of the king.D.He goes to the garden.27.Why does the Mermaid come out of the water every evening?A.To sing to the Fisherman.B.To have a swim.C.To see her husband.D.To catch fish.28.What doesn’t the Mermaid sing of?A.The Sea-folk and the palace of the King.B.The gardens of the sea full of coral and fish.C.Whales, sea lions and seahorses.D.Sunken sheep.29.When does the Mermaid stop singing?A.All the fish come from the bottom of the sea to listen to her.B.The Fisherman throws his nets into the sea.C.The Fisherman’s nets and boat are full of fish.D.The Fisherman smiles at her.30.Which of the following is TRUE?A.Every morning the Fisherman goes out on the sea.B.The dolphins swim round and round the Fisherman.C.The seagulls swim round and round the Mermaid.D.The Mermaid swims back under the sea after singing.BIt’s a quiet evening in the prairie. Chief Strong Buffalo and Chief Wise Owl are sitting round a fire. “My people are great hunters. They can find fish in the river and animals in the woods and on the prairie. They speak the language of the trees and the flowers. And they know the names of all the stars,” says Chief Strong Buffalo.For a long time, the two men don’t speak. ①Chief Wise Owl looks up at the sky. ②He can feel the wind on his face. ③He can hear the distant cry of a coyote （丛林狼）. ④Then he looks into Strong Buffalo’s eyes for a long time. “My people,” Wise Owl says, “always tell the truth.”“Ha! Ha! Ha! Your people always tell the truth? Do you really think so, WiseOwl? Do you think that they never tell lies?” laughs Strong Buffalo. Wise Owl is quiet. Again he looks up at thesky. Then he looks at a tree on the other side of the river. “Yes, I think so. Do you see that young man over there,” he says. “His name is Dark Eyes. He looks after my horses. He always tells the truth! My people tell the truth - all the time! Like Dark Eyes!”31.Who speak the language of the trees and the flowers?A.Chief Strong Buffalo’s peopleB.Chief Wise Owl’s peopleC.a coyoteD.Dark Eyes32.Chief Wise Owl thinks that ________.A.his people are great huntersB.his people never tell liesC.Dark Eyes always tells liesD.all of the above33.According to the text, we know that ______.A.Strong Buffalo believes that Wise Owl’s people always tell the truthB.Strong Buffalo doesn’t believe that Wise Owl’s people always tell the truthC.Strong Buffalo thinks that Wise Owl always tells the truthD.Strong Buffalo thinks that his people never tell lies34.Which is the best place for the following sentence?He can see the stars and the moon and the silver clouds.A.①B. ②C. ③D. ④35.Which of the following is NOT true?A.It’s a quiet evening in the prairie.B.Wise Owl can hear the distant cry of a coyote.C.There is a tree on the other side of the river.D.Dark Eyes is Strong Buffalo’s good friend.答案：1.noisily2.for3.Her4.isn't5.what或all6.and7.to8.an9.seconds 10.out 11-15 BDEFC16-20 CADAB21-25 ABBDC26-30 BADCD31-35 ABBBD。

外研社杯全国中学生外语素养大赛初赛题目一、听力（每小题1分，共15分）1.What does the man mainly want to do?A. Visit a museum.B. Take a tour.C. Go shopping.2.What did the man do?A. He went to the library.B. He read a magazine.C. He watched a movie.3.What does the woman suggest?A. Going to the park.B. Eating out.C. Taking a bus.4.What did the woman do last night?A. She went to the movies.B. She stayed at home.C. She went to a party.二、阅读理解（每小题2分，共20分）The following is an advertisement for a language school. Welcome to our language school! We offer a variety of classes forboth adults and children. Our classes are designed to help students improve their language skills and gain confidence in speaking. We have experienced teachers who will guide you through the process of learning a new language. We also have a wide range of resources that can help you practice and improve your language skills. So come join us and start your journey to becoming a more confident speaker!5. What kind of classes does the language school offer?A. Classes for adults only.B. Classes for children only.C. Classes for both adults and children.6. What can students gain from the classes?A. Knowledge of a new language.B. Confidence in speaking.C. Experience in teaching.。

2015“‘外研社杯’全国英语阅读大赛”样题一、2015年“‘外研社杯’全国英语阅读大赛”比赛内容包含四个环节：PartⅠRead and Know（读以明己）PartⅡRead and Reason（读以察世）PartⅢ Read and Question（读以启思）PartⅣ Read and Create（读以言志）2、比赛样题仅为2015年阅读大赛赛题的内容和形式样例，并非完整试卷。

3、大赛的模拟赛、复赛和决赛都将包含样题的四个环节，但各环节的赛题内容和形式会根据不同阶段比赛有所变化。

4、大赛的初赛由参赛学校参考样题内容自行命题，组委会不做硬性规定。

5、“PartⅠRead and Know（读以明己）”部分不计成绩，根据参赛选手打听情况给予个性化反馈。

6、“PartⅣ Read and Create（读以言志）”部分，组委会将在赛前公布大赛推荐阅读书单。

Part I Read and KnowIn this part, you will read some questions about your abilities or personalities. Read as fast as you can and choose the answer that you think best describes yourself.Are You Charismatic?Charisma is the magnetic power that attracts people to you. It won’t affect the quality of your work or provide you with wonderful original ideas, but it remains one of the most vital talents if you want to make it big in life. If people who don’t even understand what you’re talking about believe that you are a genius, you will have made it. The following test will decide whether you’ve got what it takes.1) Do people find themselves attracted to you?A. Yes, it can be embarrassing sometimes.B. No, no more than other people.C. I suppose they do a bit.2) Do you find that people agree with you regardless of the quality of your arguments?A. No, never.B. Not that often.C. All the time.3) Would you find it easy to attract followers?A. No, not at all.B. Not very easy.C. Yes, it’s really no problem.4) Do you find casual acquaintances open up and tell you their life stories in intimate detail?A. Occasionally.B. Never.C. Happens all the time. Sometimes I just can’t get away....Part II Read and ReasonIn this part, you will read texts of different forms and genres. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on your comprehension, analysis and inferences of the texts.1. Among the four statements below, one statement is the main point, and the other three are specific support for the point. Identify the main point with P and the specific support with S.___A. Hungry bears searching for food often threaten hikers.___B. Hiking on that mountain trail can be very dangerous.___C. Severe weather develops quickly, leaving hikers exposed to storms and cold.___D. When it rains, the trail, which is very steep at some points, becomes slippery.2. Read the following cartoon. Put a tick by the three statements that are most logically based on the information suggested by the cartoon.___A. Lucy has just criticized the boy, Linus.___B. Linus feels Lucy’s criticism is valid.___C. Lucy feels very guilty that Linus has taken her criticism badly.___D. Lucy doesn’t seem to realize that people may accept constructive criticism but reject destructive criticism.___E. The cartoonist believes we should never criticize others.___F. The cartoonist believes it’s best to criticize others in a constructive way.3. Read an extract of an advertisement. Choose the answer which you think fits each question best according to the text.Young Environmental Journalist CompetitionHow to Enter:☆ If you’re aged 16-25, we’re looking for original articles of 1,000 words (or less) with an environmental or conservation theme. The closing date for entries is 30 December, 2015.☆ Your article should show proof of investigative research, rather than relying solely on information from the Internet and phone interviews. You don’t have to go far. A report on pollution in a local stream would be as valid as a piece about the remotest rain forest.☆ Your article should show you are passionate and knowledgeable about environmental issues. It should also be objective and accurate, while being creative enough to hold the reader’s interest. We are not looking for “think pieces” or opinion columns.☆ Your aim should be to advance understanding and awareness of environmental issues. You should be able to convey complex ideas of readers of this general interest magazine in an engaging and authoritative manner.☆ Facts or information contained in short-listed articles will be checked.☆ Read the rules carefully.1) Before entering for the competition, young people must have_______.A. conducted some relevant research in their local areaB. gained a qualification in experimental researchC. uncovered some of the evidence in the research by themselvesD. consulted a number of specialists on the subject under research2) The articles submitted must_______.A. focus on straightforward conceptsB. include a range of viewsC. be accessible to non-specialistD. reveal the writer’s standpoint4. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Johnny Appleseed, one of the gentlest and most beloved of American folk heroes, was born in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. (2) His real name was John Chapman. (3) Chapman’s early life was full of misfortune. (4) First, his father left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. (5) Then John’s mother and baby brother died before John’s second birthday. (6) However, John’s fortunes improved when his father returned and remarried, and by the time John was in his teens, he had ten brothers and sisters.(7) As a young man, John began traveling west on foot, stopping to clear land and plant the apple seeds he always carried with him. (8) Settlers who followed John’s path were delighted to find young apple orchards dotting the landscape.(9) John was a friendly fellow who often stopped to visit with families along his way, entertaining them with stories of his travels. (10) Tales of his exploits followed him through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. (11) Many of the stories were true. (12) For instance, John really did travel barefoot through the snow, lived on the friendliest of terms with Indian tribes, and refused to shoot any animal. (13) Other tales about John, however, were exaggerations. (14) Settlers said, for example, that he slept in the treetops and talked to the birds or that he had once been carried off by a giant eagle. (15) Johnny Appleseed never stopped traveling until his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845.1) Sentence 1 is a statement of_______.A. factB. opinionC. fact and opinion2) The details in sentences 4 and 5 support the point or points in _______.A. sentence 1B. sentence 2C. sentence 3D. sentence 63) The relationship between sentences 3 and 6 is one of _______.A. contrastB. additionC. cause and effectD. comparison4) We can conclude that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. provided apples for numerous settlersB. was quickly forgotten by the settlersC. grew wealthy by selling his apple treesD. left home because of problems with his family5) The passage suggests that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. grew weary of travelingB. had great respect for other people and animalsC. lived a very short but rich lifeD. planted many trees other than apple trees6) The tone of the passage is _______.A. pessimisticB. bitter and impassionedC. amused and excitedD. straightforward with a touch of admiration7) Which is the most appropriate title for this selection?A. The Planting of American Apple OrchardsB. Folk Heroes of AmericaC. Settlers Recall Johnny AppleseedD. The Life and Legend of John Chapman5. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in which information is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizens’ patterns of response to politics. (2) By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection of the major party candidates. (3) By centering politics on the person of the candidate, television accelerated the citizens’ focus on character rather than issues.(4) Television has altered the forms of political communication as well. (5) The messages on which most of us rely are briefer than they once were. (6) The stump speech, a political speech given by traveling politicians and lasting 11/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10-second “sound bite” in broadcast news. (7) Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience who will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news.(8) In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. (9) In 15 or 30 seconds, a speaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others. (10) In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.(11) Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it requires a changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. (12) Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. (13) Schools teach us to analyze words and print. (14) However, in a world in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills.(15) Recognizing the power of television’s pictures, politicians craft televisual, staged events, called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage. (16) Much of the political activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, their speechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. (17) Sound bites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.1) What is the main idea of the passage?A. Citizens in the United States are now more informed about political issue because of television coverage.B. Citizens in the United States prefer to see politicians on television instead of in person.C. Politics in the United States has become substantially more controversial since the introduction of television.D. Politics in the United States has been significantly changed by television.2) The word “disseminated” in sentence 1 is closest in meaning to_______.A. analyzedB. discussedC. spreadD. stored3) It can be inferred that before the introduction of television, political parties _______.A. had more influence over the selection of political candidatesB. spent more money to promote their political candidatesC. attracted more membersD. received more money4) The author mentions the “stump speech” in sentence 6 as an example of _______.A. an event created by politicians to attract media attentionB. an interactive discussion between two politiciansC. a kind of political presentation typical of the nineteenth centuryD. a style of speech common to televised political events5) The word “that” in sentence 7 refers to _______.A. audienceB. broadcast newsC. politicianD. advertisement6) According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches, traditional political discourse was more successful at _______.A. allowing news coverage of political candidatesB. placing political issues within a historical contextC. making politics seem more intimate to citizensD. providing detailed information about a candidate’s private behavior7) The author states that “politicians assert but do not argue” in sentence 9 in order to suggest that politicians _______.A. make claims without providing reasons for the claimsB. take stronger positions on issues than in the pastC. enjoy explaining the issue to broadcastersD. dislike having to explain their own positions on issues to citizens8) The purpose of paragraph 4 is to suggest that_______.A. politicians will need to learn to become more personal when meeting citizensB. politicians who are considered very attractive are favored by citizens over politicians who are less attractiveC. citizens tend to favor a politician who analyzed the issue over one who did notD. citizens will need to learn how to evaluate visual political images in order to become better informed9) Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?A. Political presentations today are more like advertisements than in the past.B. Politicians today tend to be more familiar with the views of citizens than in the past.C. Citizens today are less informed about a politician’s character than in the past.D. Political speeches today focus more on details about issues than in the past.Part III Read and QuestionIn this part, you will read about related or contradictory views on a variety of issues. You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments.Read the following two passages and answer the questions.Passage AWhile On the origin of Species created a great stir when it was published in 1859, Darwinian thought was almost completely out of vogue by the turn of the twentieth century. It took Ronald Fisher’s “Great Synthesis” of the 1920s, which combined the genetic work of Gregor Mendel with Darwin’s ideas about natural selection, and Theodosius Dobzhansky’s “Modern Synthesis” of the 1930s, which was built upon Fisher’s work with genetics within a species by focusing on how genetic variation could cause the origin of a new species, to begin to rehabilitate Darwin.Yet, what is remarkable is how very prescient Darwin, working without knowledge of the mechanisms of heredity, proved to be. As prominent biologist Ernst Mayr notes, what made Darwinian theory so remarkable was his emphasis on “population thinking”. This contrasts to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of evolution, popular throughout the nineteenth century, which posited that individuals changed personal actions and will. Lamarckian theory is often exemplified by a giraffe constantly reaching up to eat leaves off high branches and passing on its lengthened neck to its children.Such explanations bore a strong resemblance to children’s fables (and indeed Rudyard Kipling’s late-nineteenth-century Just So Stories was built upon Lamarckian theories). Where Darwin differed was his insistence that significant variation was not based within one particular individual, but rather in the breeding population as a whole. Natural selection was not based on the actions or goals of one individual, but variations in the average character of the species.Passage BAs Peter Bowler points out in his aptly named The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth, nineteenth-century Darwinism was quite different from the Darwinism of today. Thomas Huxley, “Darwin’s Bulldog”, so called because of his tireless public campaigning for Darwinian thought, exemplifies this difference. As a result of his advocacy, by the end of the nineteenth century Huxley was the vehicle for Darwinian thought. Noted science fiction writer H. G. Wells, for instance, garnered all of his information about natural selection and evolution through Huxley’s lectures. Yet Huxley’s theory varied significantly from that of Darwin, focusing on the will of humankind.In the preface to Evolution and Ethics, Huxley wrote that “We cannot do without our inheritance from the forefathers who were the puppets of the cosmic process; the society which renounces it must be destroyed from without. Still less can we do with too much of it; the society in which it dominates must be destroyed from within.” According to Huxley, humankind has moved past physical evolution to the realm of self-directed moral evolution. Huxley, then, acknowledges that humankind has evolved under the pressure of natural selection and must remain aware of the fact or be “destroyed from without”, but he argues that a society that continues in the path that Nature has placed it will be “destroyed from within” because it will no longer be adapted to itself.1) Based on the information in the passage, Rudyard Kipling most likely wrote stories ______.A. dedicated to enlightening humans by using animals as positive examples of proper behaviorB. based on futuristic worlds which were populated by evolved subjectsC. featuring individuals developing variation through the power of their desiresD. seeking to exhibit the effects of population thinking in breeding populationsE. portraying the effects of parental inheritance through examining the lives of children2) Which of the following best represents Huxley’s beliefs?A. Focusing on physical evolution leaves man as nothing more than a “puppet” of forces beyond his control; to succeed in life it is necessary to reject physical evolution in favor of moral change.B. The ideas of Charles Darwin needed to be carefully delineated through lectures so that his ideas about individual variation could be fully understood.C. By exerting personal will, humankind will be able to enact significant, lasting variation which will be demonstrated through the bodies of the children of those who seek change.D. While humankind is inescapably linked to its physical past and the material conditions of its evolution, it must be wary of being too attached to the path dictated by natural selection.E. Certain elements of Darwin’s theory about evolution had to be discarded so that the public would be willing to accept the thrust of the theory as a whole.3) Which of the following would the authors of Passage A and Passage B mostly likely agree to be most closely aligned in their thinking?A. Lamarck and Huxley.B. Kipling and Wells.C. Mayr and Bowler.D. Mendel and Huxley.E. Dobzhansky and Wells.4) Which of the following statements about Darwin is supported by both passages?A. Darwin differed significantly from other theorists of evolution because he focused on breeding populations as a whole.B. The modern understanding of Darwin varies significantly from nineteenth-century beliefs about his theories.C. It was not until the early twentieth century that Darwinism as we know it began to emerge.D. Fiction writers were particularly interested in disseminating ideas about Darwin.E. Delineating the specific inheritance of the child is crucial to understanding how natural selection proceeds.5) Which of the following best represents the difference between the two passages?A. The first passage begins with current understandings of Darwinism and moves back in time, while the second passage begins with older understanding and moves forward in time.B. While the first passage focuses on the difference between two theories of evolution, the second paragraph traces differences between two individual interpreters of evolution.C. The first passage introduces a general theory, offers specific evidence, and then considers the ramifications of that theory, while the second passage does not consider the ramifications of the evidence it represents.D. The first passage is concerned with demonstrating a way in which Darwin is closely linked with modern thinkers, while the second passage is focused on how he differed from one of his contemporaries.E. The first passage provides a historical retrospective of the primary interpreters of Darwin, and the second passage centers on one particular interpreter.6) Based on the information in Passage B, which of the following claims in Passage A would Thomas Huxley be most likely to object to?A. It is impossible to truly understand natural selection without the benefit of modern genetic theory.B. It is likely that the giraffe developed a long neck due to the fact that it constantly stretched it to gain access to food.C. There are different ways to understand how evolution functions to change individuals.D. Variations in the average character of a population are the most crucial factor in the proper evolution of man.E. Allowing natural selection to dominate our society will lead to the destruction of humankind.7) Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the Lamarckian mode of variation?A. An adult bird tries to change the environment for the benefit of its children.B. Seeking to morally adapt to its environment, a chimpanzee changes the way it woos its mate.C. A giraffe’s bodily shape changes because it is unable to fit into the caves it traditionally sleeps in.D. Because of a change in the environment, a number of chimpanzees die out while others thrive and pass on their genes.E. Because it hunts for salmon with its mouth wide open, a bear gradually develops a straining mechanism between its teeth.Part IVRead and CreateIn this part, you will be required to write a short essay on a given topic based on your general reading. You should write with clarity, logic and creativity.1. Write an essay of about 200 words on one of the following topics.1) Hamlet is characterized by his melancholic mood and delay in action. Give a character analysis of Hamlet and list the possible reasons for his melancholy and delay.2) A Tale of Two Cities can be regarded as a historical novel, a moral novel and a novel strongly concerned with themes of resurrection, redemption and patriotism, as well as of guilt, shame and love. What is your understanding of the themes of the novel?2. Read the essay below. Answer one of the following questions by writing an essay of about 200 words.Of StudiesStudies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, andthe plots and marshalling of affairs come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study, and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confuse; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be ready wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.1) We are now living in the age of “information explosion”. What lessons can we learn from Bacon’s “Of Studies” to access information”2) In what sense does reading make a full man?。

赛题分值说明：1. 线上初赛：题型仅为客观题，即Read and Know，Read and Reason，Read and Question三个模块，共40题，答题时间为110分钟，满分100分。

第1-3题每题1分，第4-9题每题2分，第10题5分，第11-30题每题3分，第31-40题每题2分。

2. 复赛和决赛：题型包含客观题和主观题，即Read and Know，Read and Reason，Read and Question，Read and Create四个模块，共41题，答题时间为150分钟，满分100分。

第1-3题每题1分，第4-9题每题2分，第10题5分，第11-30题每题1.5分，第31-40题每题2分，第41题30分。

注：本样题仅供了解大赛题型，不提供参考答案；Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read theinstru ctions carefully and answer the questions. (Time allowed: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are two extra options you do not need.Question 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.To ensure the high standards of facilities we need to build new wards,la boratories and consulting rooms. In short, we need your help now. Com pletethe coupon today and rest assured that your donation is going to th e bestpossible cause.4. Where is the piece of text taken from?A. an advertisementB. an instruction bookletC. a storyD. a newspaperQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Few corners of the world remain untainted by intrepid tourists, and their impact is often devastating. Too frequently they trample heedlessly on fr agileenvironments, displacing wildlife and local populations in their insati ablequest for unexplored locations.5. What is the best title for this text?A. The Future of TourismB. The Role of TourismC. The Price of TourismD. The Benefits of TourismQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With E-book sales increasing by more than 300% for the second year,pu blishers delivering new revenue streams through E-book Apps, and academicpublishers long having derived some 90% of their revenue online, it is atravesty to describe all this as the publishing world being "indenial" about digital.6. What is the main idea of this text?A. Publishers are making profits from E-book sales.B. Not all publishers are threatened by digital storms.C. E-books become a main source of revenue for publishers.D. Traditional publishing industry is dying out.Question 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With our travel agency,the holiday you book is the holiday you g et. If you arrive and find we'vefailed to live up to our promises, let us know what the problem is within oneday of your arrival. We'll spend 2 4 hours doing everything possible to sort theproblem out. In the unlikely event that we can't resolve your problem and makeyou happy within 24 hours, we'll fly you home and give your money back.7. The text could best be described as__________.A. a commitmentB. an appealC. a warningD. a vowQuestion 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.The new digital camerasare great fun and very easy to use. They let you review your pictures themoment you take them, so you can re-s hoot right away if you're not satisfied.But remember, a digital camera is just a computer XXXX. It's not a replacementfor your ordinary camera.8. What is the meaning of the missing word XXXX in the text?A. "something that is poor quality"B. "an item that is not essential, something extra"C. "something expensive but good value for money"D. "a fashion which always remains popular"Question 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.She had gone alone, but the children were to go to the station to meeth er. And loving the station as they did, it was only natural that they sho uldbe there a good hour before there was any chance of Mother's train arriving,even if the train were punctual, which was most unlikely.9. What can you say about their mother's train?A. It would probably be early.B. It would probably be on time.C. It would probably be late.D. It had been cancelled.Question 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the number and proportion ofundernouris hed people in the developing regions, from 1990-1992 to 2014-2016.Ans wer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description about the chart.A. The latest estimates suggest that nearly one in nineindividuals do n ot have enough to eat between 2014 and 2016.B. Projections indicate that the 2015 MDG target is nearlyreached, wit h 12.9 per cent of undernourished population.C. The situation noticeably improved during the years1995-1999, but w ent down in the first five years of the new millennium.D. The proportion of undernourished people in the developingregions h as fallen by almost half since 1990.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read thei nstructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical infere nce andreasoning. (Time allowed: 55 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of poisoningthe well?A. That's my stance on funding the education system, andanyone who disagrees with me hates children.B. You are so weird. That means—we are pretty much sure—thatyour whole family is weird, too.C. God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible isinspired. Therefo re, we know that God exists.D. I don't care what you say. We don't need any morebookshelves. As long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Look at the following picture and then answer the question.12. Which of the following logical fallacies does the picture illustrate?A. False Dilemma:an argument that presents alimited set of two poss ible categories and assumes that everything in the scopeof the discussion must be an element of that setB. Guilt by Association: a fallacy used to discreditan argument for pr oposing an idea that is shared by some socially demonizedindividual or groupC. No True Scotsman:an argument coming up aftersomeone has mad e a general claim about a group of things and then beenpresented with evidence challenging that claimD. Hasty Generalization: a fallacy committed when oneforms a conclu sion from a sample that is either too small or too special to be represe ntativeQuestions 13-14 Reasoning (Suggested completion time: 10 minutes)13. Many people report that exposure to certain foods and drinks such a scheese, chocolate, and red wine, is associated with the onset of migrain eheadaches. Other people report that exposure to certain smells (especiall ystrong perfumes) seems to trigger a migraine headache, and some note thatexposure to bright and flickering lights can be followed by a migrain e. Itwould seem that a person with a tendency to get migraines should t ry to findout which of these situations is associated with the onset of th e headache andthen avoid this stimulus.All of the following, if true, would make the above recommendationi mpractical except:A. The time delay between the trigger and the onset ofthe headache c an make it exceptionally difficult to identify the trigger.B. The presence of a known trigger doesn't always cause amigraine.C. In a high proportion of cases the patients report multipletriggers for their headaches.D. Most of the known triggers are common and almostunavoidable feat ures of modern life.14. Richard:The national budget should provide significantincreases in all levels of education in the upcoming year.Natalie:That's not fair. A reduction indefense spending in peacetime may bring us excessive risks. We can't afford it.Which of the following is the best interpretation of Natalie's argume nt?A. Funds saved from defense have been diverted to alllevels of educat ion.B. Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts onspending on the military.C. The size of the military budget reflects a state's abilityto fund educ ational activities.D. Compared with military spending, investing in educationwill create a financial crisis.Questions 15-17 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a science discovery. Answer the question saccording to the text.Manipulating MemoryMemory is notoriously malleable. Our recollections fade and take on ne wmeanings; sometimes we remember things that never even happened. B ut 15 .Recently, however, scientists have started to grasp and tinker withmemor y's physical basis. Last year, in work evocative of films suchas Eternal S unshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception, researchersdiscovered ways t o manipulate specific memories in mice using optogenetics, apowerful tec hnique that can trigger nerve cells in animals' brains by zappingthem wit h beams of laser light. In a series of experiments, they showed thatthey could delete existing memories and "incept"falseones.This year, researchers went even further: switching the emotional content of a memory in mice from bad to good and vice versa. Under the laser, forexample, male mice that had once associated a certain room with be ing shockedwere tricked into acting as though they had once met friendl y female mice thereinstead.Whether the mice in these experiments actually experienced vivid falsem emories or just a fuzzy sense of pleasure or fear is unclear. Nor is it c learwhether the findings apply to the tricks of memory so familiar to pe ople.Long-sought therapeutic advances, such as treatments for post-trauma tic stressdisorder, could remain far off. One thing is certain, however: O nce consideredbeyond scientific dissection, memory is finally starting to yield its secrets.15. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in the text?A. what is really happening in our brain as memories areremodeled re mains mysteriousB. scientists are curious about why people are oblivious towhat have h appened to themC. advanced technology has helped scientists discover theworkings of o ur brainD. some scientists argue that what we observe about humanmemory is not what it really is16. The word "incept"is closest in meaningto ________.A. operateB. startC. detectD. occupy17. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A. People's false memories result from the impact ofdifferent emotion provoked by later experience on the same spot.B. The success in research indicates that it won't be long thata therap y is worked out for people disturbed by painful memory.C. By zapping the brain cells of mice with light, researchersare able t o create, erase, or alter their memories, good or bad.D. Many fancy ideas in science fictions or movies that arebased on th em actually draw greatly upon scientific achievement.Questions 18-19 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the text about cholera. Decide whether the statements a reTrue or False according to the text.A child receives the oral cholera vaccine ShancholCholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. Approximately one in 20 people infected with cholera has a serious case, with sympto msincluding severe diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. These symptoms quicklycause dehydration and shock, and can result in death within hours if theinfected person doesn't receive treatment. Cholera is typically trans mitted bycontaminated food or water. In areas with poor treatment of se wage and drinkingwater, the feces of people with cholera can enter the water supply and spreadquickly, resulting in an epidemic. The cholera ba cterium may also live in theenvironment in some coastal waters, so shell fish eaten raw can be a source ofcholera in affected areas.18. Cholera is known to be a life-threatening disease which easily cause sdeath of most of the patients.True ( ) False ( )19. Cholera typically occurs in areas near the sea or the river wherecont aminated food is a major source of the disease.True ( ) False ( )Questions 20-21 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the abstract of a research paper from the DeepMindweb site. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to theab stract.Teaching Machines to Read and ComprehendAuthors: K. M. Hermann, T. Kočiský, E. Grefenstette, L. Espeholt, W. Kay, M. Suleyman,P. BlunsomPublished: NIPS 2015Abstract: Teaching machines to readnatural language documents remains an elusive challenge. Machine readingsystems can be tested on their abili ty to answer questions posed on thecontents of documents that they have seen, but until now large scale trainingand test datasets have been miss ing for this type of evaluation. In this workwe define a new methodolog y that resolves this bottleneck and provides largescale supervised reading comprehension data. This allows us to develop a classof attention based deep neural networks that learn to read real documents andanswer comp lex questions with minimal prior knowledge of language structure.20. Previous studies didn't take constant effort to evaluate the readingabi lity of artificial intelligence machines, which was why the present resear chwas conducted.True ( ) False ( )21. One implication of the research is that a methodology that helps gat her andhandle big data is indispensable to artificial intelligence related st udies.True ( ) False ( )Questions 22-23 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the "Think small" advertisingcampaign. A nswer the questions according to the text.Think SmallIf you're interested in marketing and advertising, Volkswagen's"Think sm all" campaign for the Beetle when it was first introduced toNorth Ameri ca in 1959 looms large as one of the greatest advertising campaignsof a ll time. It wasn't just a revolution in automotive advertising; it changedt he entire industry.Until the Beetle hit the market, automotive marketing copy was full ofbl uster, and the images were flights of fancy, emphasizing low, long lines anda fantasy lifestyle.The clean, simple photography on a white background that emphasized t heBeetle's compact, practical form may seem commonplace these days, b ut it was arevolution in a world where Americans grew up obsessed wit h muscle cars,horsepower, and tire smoke. Making the car small, when t he convention was tomake it fill the page, was also novel. The simplisti c approach to design andlayout was totally contrary to the advertising co nventions of the time.__ __22_____ The text wasminimalist in both look and content, presenti ng the facts simply instead oftrying to weave tall tales and fantasies; and instead of bluster, it ushered inan intelligent sense of humor that made readers feel like they were in on thejoke. The message was one of s mart anti-luxury, and took gentle aim at anindustry obsessed with superfi ciality and styling, rather than the substanceunderneath the car bodies.Not only does "Think small" continue to inspire Volkswagenadvertising t o this day, it ushered in a creative revolution in the advertisingbusiness and changed the world of marketing forever. "Think small"showed the p ower of humor and honesty, and its photographic and designprinciples br ought about a major shift in the look and feel of marketing aroundthe world.22. Which of the sentences below best fits the numbered space in the te xt?A. What defined the ad even more than its visual stylewas the tone of its copy.B. This ad starts off doing the exact opposite of what youwould expect in a car ad.C. This was an exercise in minimalism and a very accuratereflection o n the product itself.D. The car wasn't depicted as an integral piece of the dailylives of a middle class family.23. It can be inferred that the advertising conventions of the 1950s were reflected in the following except that ___________.A. The ads in the 1950s typically showed proud ownersand passengers evoking great joy about new shiny big acquisitions.B. The marketing concept then focused on providing as muchinformatio n as possible to the reader such as the way it's created.C. The marketing schemes associated the advertised productwith an ide a or a way of living from average consumers' perspective.D. The marketing practice may attach importance to a sense ofhumor brought by the use of exaggerated language.Questions 24-25 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following six remarks concerning the crowd. Four o fthem are taken from Gustave Le Bon's book, The Crowd: A Study of t he PopularMind. Choose the two remarks that may NOT be taken from the book.24-25. _______The CrowdA. In crowds it is stupidity and not mother wit that isaccumulated.B. Crowds most envy the lonely man who walks confidently asif he is walking with the great crowds!C. A crowd is not merely impulsive and mobile. Like a savage,it is n ot prepared to admit that anything can come between its desire and ther ealization of its desire.D. I walked with them, as crowds have that effect on me, Iwant to d o what they do, to journey towards some point of revelation, which ofc ourse never comes.E. Crowds, being incapable both of reflection and ofreasoning, are dev oid of the notion of improbability; and it is to be notedthat in a genera l way it is the most improbable things that are the moststriking.F. …the individual forming part of a crowd acq uires, solelyfrom numer ical considerations, a sentiment of invincible power which allows himto yield to instincts which, had he been alone, he would perforce have kep tunder restraint.Questions 26-28 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a fly. Answer the questions according to the text.The FlyAt that moment the boss noticed that a fly had fallen into his broadinkp ot, and was trying feebly but desperately to clamber out again. "Help!He lp!" said those struggling legs. But the sides of the inkpot were wetand slippery; it fell back again and began to swim. The boss took up a pe n,picked the fly out of the ink, and shook it on to a piece of blotting-p aper.For a fraction of a second it lay still on the dark patch that oozed round it.Then the front legs waved, took hold, and, pulling its small, s odden body up,it began the immense task of cleaning the ink from its wings. Over and under,over and under, went a leg along a wing, as the stone goes over and under thescythe. Then there was a pause, while the fly, seeming to stand on the tips ofits toes, tried to expand first one wing and then the other. It succeeded atlast, and, sitting down, it began, like a minute cat, to clean its face. Nowone could imagine that the litt le front legs rubbed against each other lightly,joyfully. 27 .26. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?A. The boss saved the fly out of his broad inkpot.B. The fly was trapped by the thick ink on its wings.C. The passage describes how a fly survived an accident.D. The passage shows how a fly conquered a challenge.27. Which of the following statement can best fit in the numbered spac e?A. The horrible danger was over; it had escaped; it wasready for life again.B. The boss was relieved now, reassured that the fly had beenout of danger.C. But the front legs waved, caught hold, and, more slowlythis time, t he task restarted.D. But such a grinding feeling of wretchedness seized himthat he felt positively frightened.28. The tone of the text can be described as a complex mixture of anyt hingbut _______.A. sympatheticB. humorousC. cheerfulD. depressingQuestions 29-30 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about Chaco Culture. Answer the questionsacco rding to the text.The "Chaco Culture", as modern-day archaeologists call it,flourished betw een roughly the 9th and 13th centuries A.D. and was centered atChaco Canyon in what is now New Mexico.The people of the Chaco Culture built immense structures that at timese ncompassed more than 500 rooms. They also participated in long-distanc e tradethat brought cacao, macaws (a type of parrot), turquoise and copp er to ChacoCanyon.29_______, researchers have to rely on the artifacts and structures t heyleft behind, as well as oral accounts that have been passed on throug hgenerations, to reconstruct what their lives were like.Archaeologists generally agree that Chaco Canyon was the center of Cha coCulture. Today the canyon is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The National Park Service estimates that there are about 4, 000 archaeologicalsites in the park, including more than a dozen immens e structures thatarchaeologists sometimes call "Great Houses". Archaeolog ical researchhas revealed many discoveries, including a system of roads t hat connected manyChaco Culture sites, and evidence of astronomical ali gnments that indicate thatsome Chaco Culture structures were oriented to ward the solstice sun and lunarstandstills.“There has been more archaeological research conducted in Chaco and o n thesubject of Chaco than on any other prehistoric district in North A merica,” saysa National Park Service statement posted on Chaco Culture National HistoricalPark's website."Today, twenty Puebloan groups in New Mexico, as well as the Hopi in Arizona, claim Chaco as their ancestral homeland and are tied to this pl acethrough oral traditions and clan lineages. A number of Navajo clans are alsoaffiliated with Chacoan sites through their traditional stories," the National Park Service statement says.Despite the fact that there has been an immense amount of archaeologic alresearch carried out at Chaco Canyon, and at other Chaco Culture sites in theAmerican Southwest, modern-day archaeologists disagree over what the people ofthe Chaco Culture were like.Some archaeologists think that the people of the Chaco Culture were not politically united, while some think they controlled an empire centered o nChaco Canyon. "What was Chaco? Opinions vary widely, perhaps wildl y.Interpretations range from a valley of peaceful farming villages to the monumental capital of an empire," wrote Stephen Lekson, a professor at theUniversity of Colorado Boulder, in an article published in the book TheArchitecture of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico(University of Utah Press, 2007).Lekson noted that there are different interpretations among archaeologists as to what the Great Houses were. Some archaeologists believe that they werevillages inhabited by thousands of people, while others think that t hey wereelite residences that housed a small number of residents.29. Which of the following best fits in the numbered space in the text?A. The people of the Chaco Culture did not use a writingsystem and as suchB. While archaeologists are not certain what caused thisdramatic popul ation bumpC. When thinking about archaeological sites, we tend to thinkof themas dead silentD. Since Chaco's national monument status may not protect itfrom dev elopment pressures30. Which of the following statements can we know from the text?A. The people of the Chaco culture were good at foreigntrade.B. "Great Houses" were built from approximately the9th to 13thcentury A.D.C. Most descendants of ancient Chaco people live in NewMexico now.D. Archaeologists hold different ideas about how the peopleof the Cha co Culture lived.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify the writer's position and evaluate the effectivenes s ofthe writer's arguments. (Time allowed: 35 minutes)Questions 31-40 (Suggested completion time: 35 minutes)Directions: Read three passages about fashion. Answer the questionsaccor ding to the passages.Passage AIt's not that easy to answer the question, "what is fashion?"because it m eans different things to different people. Fashion is an art. It'sa religion. It's a job. It's a peek into a personality. It's playfulness. It'san escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately, 32 . French f ashion designer Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is notsomething that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street,fashion has to d o with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."It's true. Fashion isn't defined solely by our clothing choices, but isalso conveyed through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and ourv iews of the world. At its most fundamental, fashion is simply the prevai lingstyle or custom, as in dress or behavior.So, who exactly answers the question "what is fashion"? Whodecides wh at's fashionable and what isn't? What's in or what's out?Fashion Designers. The iconic fashion houses—Prada, Gucci, Chanel—are referred to as haute couture, French for "high sewing". Thesedesigners le ad the way in creating trend-setting fashion. While some of theirdesigns are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everydaywear, generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.Media. Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on populartelevisio n shows and movies as well as adopted from magazine pages. "Sexand t he City", "The Devil Wears Prada", these shows introducedus to new, cu tting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead wearinga Carrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look andpiec e together your own creation.Celebrities. A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson and Jessica Simpson were spotted wearing them arou nd L.A.several years ago, no one had given any thought to UGG boots. Now they areeverywhere.Musicians. Musicians have always been very influential when it comes t odictating fashion. Rock 'n' roll is fashion. Elvis is an iconic example. I n the1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis. What about the heavymetal hairbands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the head bandana whilePoison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, ro cker hair.Just because you don't know if a Prada bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn't matter. All that matters is that you like it and it's an expression ofyou. That is fashion.Passage B[A]Fashion is more prevalent in modern society than in primitive tribes orpeasant communities. The modern society is an open society where cla ssdistinctions are not so rigid as in primitive society. Its urban and mob ileclass structure enables people to cultivate individual taste and adopt n ew course.[B]Our standards of judgment have also changed. Today the in dividual is ratedmore by observable externalities than by his ancestry, hi s character or hisgenuine accomplishments. The clothes a man wears, the language he speaks, themanners he shows have more weight in ascribin g a status than his simplicity,patriotism and integrity.If he can keep himself up to date in the matters of his dress, speech a ndmanners, he will assure himself a high social esteem. [C]Not only the mobileand urban character of modern society but its affluence alsospea ks for greater prevalence of fashion in it. Men today are richer than the irancestors and have more leisure. They have the necessary means and ti me to playwith luxuries and to think of fashion. Maclver writes: We do not think offashion in overalls; there is more of fashion in the body of an automobile thanin its chassis. There is no fashion in steam shovels.[D]Consequently thehigher the standard of living the more material ther e is for fashion to operateupon.。

2017“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛初赛（90min）Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions. (Time suggested: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are three extra options you do not need.Questions 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.A few intuitive, sensitive visionaries may understand and comprehend XXXX(the book title), XXXX (the author)’s new and mammoth volume, without going through a course of training or instruction, but the average intelligent reader will glean little or nothing from it—even from careful perusal, one might properly say study, of it—save bewilderment and a sense of disgust. It should be companioned with a key and a glossary like the Berlitz books...4. Which of the following works does the book review address?A.UlyssesB.The OdysseyC.In Search of Lost TimeD.One Hundred Years of SolitudeQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.I like the fact that the study focuses on a French classroom, which receives less attention in Second Language Acquisition research than other foreign language classrooms.However, for reasons that I elaborate on below, I do not recommend this manuscript for publication. I recommend that the author consults the Journal of Language, Identity, and Education. That journal might be a better fit for this paper.5. The text could best be described as __________.A. a conclusionB. a summaryC. a reviewD. a pledgeQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.My Lord,I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honor which, being very little accustomed to favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.6. This text is taken from a letter which showed the writer’s __________ the Lord.A.gratitude towardsB.indifference toC.contempt forD.respect forQuestion 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Because of social media, words are moving around theworld within weeks and months, whereas in the past,it could take a few years, says Julie Coleman,author of The Life of Slang. “It’s notnecessarily that language is changing more quickly,but technologies have developed and they allow thetransmission of slang terms to pass from one group to another much more quickly.”7. The main purpose of the text is to ________.A.explain the quick migration of slangB.imply the unnecessary change of languageC.exemplify the advancement of technologyD.introduce the book The Life of SlangQuestions 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.When hunting raccoons for fur was a popular sport,hunting dogs were used to sniff them out of trees. As theyare XXXX animals, the hunting party had to work at night, and the dogs would sometimes end up choosing the wrong tree, or as the idiom goes, “bark up the wrong tree.” The term was first printed in a book by Davy Crockett in 1833.8. Which word is the best substitution for the missing word XXXX?A.solitaryB.aggressiveC.nocturnalD.herbivorousQuestion 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the details about a euphemism, and answer the question according to the details.9.The euphemism described above most probably refers to __________.A.people with special needsB.downright overwroughtC.tired and emotionalD.mentally challengedQuestion 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the share of UN procurement from Global Compact members from 2010 to 2014. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: 2014 Annual Statistical Report on United Nations Procurement, the United Nations Office for Project Services, 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description of the chart.A.The share of UN procurement volume from Global Compact members grew steadilyover the five years in terms of absolute volume.B.In 2013, the total procurement volume dropped noticeably, and so did theprocurement from Global Compact members.C.In 2014, the total procurement volume increased greatly, causing a drop in theshare of procurement from Global Compact members.D.The proportion of procurement from Global Compact members was not in line withthe general trend of procurement from Global Compact members.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time suggested: 40 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of Confusion of “Necessary” with “Sufficient” Condition?A.You said that I would have to run the mile in less than six minutes to be onthe track team, and I did. So why did I get cut from the team?B.Dina has to be rich or at least to be an heiress. She after all belongs to theAlpha Phi Lambda sorority which is the richest sorority on campus.C.It’s supposed to be in the low twenties tonight, so surely we’re not goingto the football game, are we?D.To see viruses, one must have a microscope. This follows if William Carroll saidhe saw viruses, he must have used a microscope.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the definition of one type of logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.12. Which of the following provides a typical example of Texas Sharpshooter fallacy?A.I won’t pay the parking ticket because the traffic sign here says “Fine forParking”!B.Cola is healthy because it sells best among the top five healthiest countriesin the world.C.We can’t exploit the outer space because many people on Earth hardly make endsmeet.D.Nobody at school can speak French because neither teachers nor the principalcan speak it.Questions 13-14 Reasoning.(Suggested completion time: 8 minutes)In a swimming competition, Matt, Alen and Johnson won a medal respectively: the gold medal, the silver medal and the bronze medal. The coach made a guess: “Matt won the gold medal, Alen didn’t win the gold medal and Johnson didn’t win the bronze medal.” Unfortunately, only one of them is right.13. Who won the gold medal, who won the silver, and who won the bronze medal?A. Matt: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Alen: bronze medal.B. Alen: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.C. Johnson: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.D. Matt: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Johnson: bronze medal.14. Richard:The national budget should providesignificant increases in all levelsof education in the upcoming year.Natalie:That’s not fair. A reduction in defense spending in peacetime may bring us excessive risks. We can’t afford it.Which of the followingis the best interpretation of Natalie’s argument?A.Funds saved from defense have been diverted to all levels of education.B.Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts on spending on themilitary.C.The size of the military budget reflects a state’s ability to fund educationalactivities.pared with military spending, investing in education will create a financialcrisis.Questions 15-16 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text and decide whether the statements are True or False according to the text.QuestionsQuestions define tasks, express problems, anddelineate issues. They drive thinking forward.Answers, on the other hand, often signal a full stopin thought. Only when an answer generates furtherquestions does thought continue as inquiry. A mind with no questions is a mind that is not intellectually alive. No questions (asked) equals no understanding (achieved). Superficial questions equal superficial understanding, unclear questions equal unclear understanding. If your mind is not actively generating questions, you are not engaged in substantial learning.15. The main purp ose of the text is to define “questions”.True ( ) False ( )16. It can be inferred that a mind filled with questions will surely be engaged in substantial learning.True ( ) False ( )Questions 17-18 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the sugar industry, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to FatThe internal sugar industry documents, recently discovered by a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest thatthe sugar industry may have manipulated the research into the role of sugar in heart disease.The documents show that a trade group called the Sugar Research Foundation, known today as the Sugar Association, paid three Harvard scientists the equivalent of about $50,000 in today’s terms to publish a 1967 review of research into sugar, fat and heart disease. The studies used in the review were handpicked by the sugar group, and the article, which was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, minimized the link between sugar and heart health and cast aspersions on the role of saturated fat.Even though the influence-meddling revealed in the documents dates back nearly 50 years, more recent reports show that the food industry has continued to influence nutrition science.Last year, an article in The New York Times revealed that Coca-Cola, the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, had provided millions of dollars in funding to researchers who sought to play down the link between sugary drinks and obesity. In June, The Associated Press reported that candy makers were funding studies that claimed that children who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who do not.The revelations are important because the debate about the relative harms of sugar and saturated fat continues today, Dr. Glantz said. For many decades, health officials encouraged Americans to reduce their fat intake, which led many people to consume low-fat, high-sugar foods that some experts now blame for fueling the obesity crisis.Today, the saturated fat warnings still remain a cornerstone of th e government’s dietary guidelines, though in recent years the American Heart Association, the World Health Organization and other health authorities have also begun to warn that too much added sugar may increase risks of cardiovascular disease.17. The word handpicked in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________.A.carefully chosen in a highly scientific wayB.carried out with the best research findingsC.tailored to the needs of the sugar industryD.done by scientists from Harvard University18. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A.Manufacturers of sugar related food are funding studies aimed at finding therelationship between sugar and health.B.Scientificresearch may not produce accurate results when funding for theresearch is provided by agents who are not impartial.C.It is now accepted in the US that sugar and saturated fat are both responsiblefor an increasing risk of heart disease.D.The industry-funded research plays an important and informative role in thatit shapes the overall scientific debate.Questions 19-20 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about MasterCard. Answer the questions according to the passage.MasterCardMasterCard is making it easier for charities to get help quickly to the people who really need it, and ensure that donations are actually being used for good. The MasterCard Aid Network, launched last September, distributes a version of the company’s plastic cards that come loaded with points that can be redeemed at certain merchants for groceries, medicine, shelter and even building materials or business supplies. The chip-enabled system can be deployed in a day or two compared to the weeks required to create and import paper vouchers.The system doesn’t require an Internet connection—a boon in off-the-grid areas where many refugees and disaster victims are concentrated. Still, the transactions enable organizations to collect data on what card recipients redeem, allowing charities to protect against fraudulent use and gather insight into beneficiaries’ needs.So far, organizations including Save the Children, World Vision and Mercy Corps have distributed cards to more than 75,000 people, from earthquake victims in Nepal to those in war-torn Yemen. MasterCard, which charges the charities fees for the service, says the program is profitable. The United Nations also recently named MasterCard the leader of an initiative to improve the distribution of humanitarian aid in emergencies, with a focus on the data management and privacy aspect.19. What is the passage mainly about?A.How MasterCard as for-profit company joins hands with world charityorganizations.B.How MasterCard can keep an edge by its technological innovation in the worldmarket.C.How MasterCard made its transformation from a for-profit company to a non-profitone.D.How MasterCard shortened the path between troubled populations and the aid theyneed.20. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?A.Without the efforts of the MasterCard Company, charities could not have protectedagainst fraudulent use of donations.B.MasterCard will perform a more important role in the international rescue andaid programs with technology developments.C.The plastic cards the MasterCard Aid Network distributes to needed people aresimilar to credit cards but paid by donators.D.MasterCard earns money from charging fees for service and then gives the moneyto refugees and natural disaster victims.Questions 21-23 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about virtual reality and augmented reality, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.Virtual Reality vs. Augmented RealityOne of the biggest confusions in the world of augmented realityis the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality. Both are earning a lot of media attention and are promising tremendous growth.Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial, computer-generated simulation or recreation of a real-life environment or situation. It immerses the user by making them feel they are experiencing the simulated reality firsthand, primarily by stimulating their vision and hearing.Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements atop an existing reality in order to make it more meaningful through the ability to interact with it. AR is developed into apps and used on mobile devices to blend digital components into the real world in such a way that they enhance one another, but can also be told apart easily.Augmented reality and virtual reality are similar in that both are inverse reflections of one in another with what each technology seeks to accomplish and deliver for the user. Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real-life setting, while augmented reality delivers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world.Both leverage some of the same types of technology, and they each exist to serve the user with an enhanced or enriched experience.However, the two also differ from each other in various ways. Augmented reality enhances experiences by adding virtual components such as digital images, graphics, or sensations as a new layer of interaction with the real world. It is being used more and more in mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets to change how the real world and digital images, graphics intersect and interact.Contrastingly, virtual reality creates its own reality that is completely computer generated and driven. It is usually delivered to the user through a head-mounted or hand-held controller. This equipment connects people to the virtual reality, and allows them to control and navigate their actions in an environment meant to simulate the real world.21-23. Which THREE of the following statements can be inferred from the text? A.Augmented reality shows virtual elements on top of the real world, while virtualreality recreates real-life situations in a digital way.B. A virtual reality dressing room may allow shoppers to virtually try on theirpurchases quickly and easily without really having to put them on.C.Virtual reality is able to transpose us by takingus to some other place, whileaugmented reality, in contrast,never moves us elsewhere.D.With augmented reality, you can swim with sharks, and with virtual reality,you can watch a shark pop out of your business card.E.Both augmented and virtual realities utilize some of the same types of technologyand offer people enriched experiences.F.Augmented reality will enable an immobile patient to go out of the room and enjoyhis/her favorite sights, sounds and smells in the country.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject.You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. (Time allowed: 30 minutes)Questions 24-31 (Suggested completion time: 30 minutes)Passage ANonverbal communication is often spontaneous and unintentional, and its meaning may be ambiguous. For one thing, different nonverbal codes can indicate the same meaning while one nonverbal code can have different meanings in diverse contexts. Think about your expression of love toward your parents. Have your affective words or behavior remained the same over the past 18 years? Do you feel the same when a friend gives you a hug at the news that you have failed an exam and at the time when you have won an award? In addition, people may use masking, a facial management technique, to replace an expression of true feeling with one appropriate for a given interaction. For instance, your friend Mary is suffering from a fever but still smiles at you to confirm that she’s OK.Culture, technology, and situation all serve as powerful influences on our nonverbal behavior. What may be an innocent gesture in one group, context, region, or country can convey a different and possibly offensive message elsewhere. For example, American people are accustomed to making direct eye contact when speaking to someone, whether a friend or a professor. However, in some East Asian cultures, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, direct eye contact in interactive communication is not required. In fact, such long-time direct eye contact, when facing superiors or elders, might be considered a sign of disrespect and challenge. Similarly, some cultures are contact cultures so that touch is an important form of communication, whereas other cultures are non-contact cultures so touching is generally avoided. For example, a sociallypolite touch involves a handshake between American men but may include a kiss between Arab or European men. Some religions prohibit opposite-sex touching between unmarried or unrelated individuals.Nonverbal communication can be found in our electronic written communication such as email, text messaging, and Internet chat rooms. 25 We use all capital letters to indicate shouting, random punctuation (#@*&!) to substitute for obscenities, and type treatments such as boldfacing and italicizing for emphasis. We use color, font styles and sizes, animations, figures, diagrams, and pictures in attempts to express emotion or help users visualize the sender or the message in context. We expect others to use emoticons to express emotion in mediated texts (). Since we can’t hear voice inflection or see facial expressionsin many mediated situations, your preferences for screen text size, whether you leave a few explanatory lines, and whether you attach or compress files all say something about you to others.As the Internet allows users to have visual, audio, and text contact, with refinements, speakers have the potential to be even more persuasive than in face-to-face conversations across distances.No one likes taking out the garbage. But in Japan the chore is compounded by an added element: The neighbors are watching. No, I’m not being paranoid. They’re watchin g.Every time I take my trash down to the curb, in its regulation translucent white bag, I can feel their eyes peering through the plastic at my milk cartons, my egg containers, and my disposable chopsticks. They can see everything.I first realized my garbage and I were not alone on a Monday a few months ago, when I was bringing down a bag of old cereal boxes, soggy refrigerator leftovers, and coffee grounds. My landlady, who lives on the first floor, was outside watering her garden. Her eyes took in the contents of my trash.“No, today is Monday. It’s plastics day,” she said.“Oh,” I replied, “I guess they changed the pick-up schedule.” Her eyes fluttered to the ground, studiously avoiding mine. “No, Monday has always been plastics day,” she said.Over the next few minutes, in the muddled mix of Japanese and English we use to communicate, my landlady explained that she often would take my garbage away if I had put it out on the wrong day, store it in her house, and then bring it out again on the proper day.As I walked back upstairs, lugging my unwanted trash, it hit me: For the year and a half since I’d been living in the apartment, she’d been watching me, peeping from behind her rose bushes: scurrying to the curb after I’d been there, checking to see whether I’d followed the correct garbage protocol. That’s when I learned the hard truth: When it comes to garbage in Japan, there’s no such thing as privacy. Garbage is public property, something to which your neighbors can claim snooping privileges. As a foreigner in this homogenous land, my activities garner more attention, and more criticism, than most. I’ve started wondering what else my neighbors notice. What else am I doing wrong?What I found most disturbing about the exchange was that my landlady had beenreluctant for so long to confront me directly. We see each other constantly, sometimes we have pleasant little chats, or she comes upstairs when something is broken. Yet she could never bear to tell me that I had mixed up the trash schedule. Pointing out one’s mistakes is considered rude in Japan.As a foreigner with rudimentary Japanese, I expected the language barrier to be the biggest obstacle to living here. I was wrong. Learning to navigate Japan, perhaps any foreign country, is all about reading the subtle cultural cues, not the alphabet. Most things in Japan remain unspoken, especially the improper and the unpleasant.The most powerful voice you have, no one else can hear. It is a voice shaping your destiny, ability to cope with triumph or disaster, and how you engage with and inspire others in any quest you face. This voice ultimately determines your success as a communicator and the success of your communications. It is the voice within your head.The starting point for being an outstanding public relations communicator is recognizing that you deliver communications not just through your words, signs or gestures. Nor do you deliver just through your body language.You communicate through the way you think.You probably know of people who can easily comment on other people’s problems but are blind to their own shortcomings. The ability to understand yourself, your own emotions, and know how your mind works is known as your intrapersonal skill. Having self-awareness and understanding of yourself makes it possible subsequently to develop fully your interpersonal skills. Your intrapersonal skill is essentially how you can manage your own thinking—the ability to understand how your thinking works and ultimately master the voice in your head.Everyone has an inner voice that creates an internal dialogue, a self-talk, which shapes and progresses their thinking and communication. (Your self-talk is not a sign of delusional behavior!) This self-talk lies at the heart of your subsequent communications. If you are unclear in your mind about how you feel and understand about an issue, the probability is that your subsequent communications will reflect this uncertainty, or fail to convince.The image of Sir Bob Geldof when he launched Band Aid in 1984 is a good example of someone with a clear sense of passion and belief, who initially had limited resources—at the outset his campaign was just him and his intense reaction to watching BBC news coverage of famine scenes in Ethiopia. Yet he succeeded in creating a major brand and raising valuable funds for famine relief. His clear sense of purpose fueled his passion to overcome the odds. A committed community activist can likewise often outwit and outperform a well-oiled and well-funded formal public relationsprogramme; witness the success of groups like Greenpeace against major oil companies.The potential of the focused few was recognized by sociologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” The starting point for your journey in understanding and becoming an outstanding public relations communicator is to examine what shapes your thinking and how it is manifested in your communications.24. Which statement is true about the ambiguity of nonverbal communication?A.It leads to vagueness in nonverbal codes in a given context.B.Intended meanings of nonverbal codes cannot be conveyed fully.C.It stems from the spontaneity and randomness of nonverbal codes.D.True feelings can be hidden by the ambiguity of nonverbal codes.25. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in Passage A?A.It supersedes all other forms because of its effectiveness.B.There is a whole series of substitutions for nonverbal codes.C.People are born with a natural ability to communicate nonverbally.D.Interpretation of nonverbal codes relies on sensation and experiences.26. The word navigate in the last paragraph of Passage B means__________.A.roaming about freelyB.keep close contact withC.familiarize oneself withD.sail smoothly along27. What can be deciphered from Japan’s trash codes?A.Japanese tend to present their remarks in an explicit way.B.Trash is public property from which neighbors may intrude upon one’s privacy.C.The language barrier is an obstacle to dealing with the trash business.D.People not following the correct trash protocol will be considered rude.28. According to P assage C, the voice in one’s head__________.A.matters more than any vocal messagesB.should precede one’s subsequent communicationsC.can help avoid potential misunderstanding in some wayD.determines the development of one’s interpersonal skills29. How do people’s personal communication s kills affect their public relations?A.Self awareness of how you think will affect your ability to communicateeffectively.B.Effective public relation communications are delivered through nonverbal codes.C.Successful public relations are determined by the voice qualities ofcommunicators.municators with passion and beliefs have stronger chances of outwitting theirrivals.30-31. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the three passages.30. Nonverbal codes in electronic written communications may well be more effective than face-to-face conversations.True ( ) False ( )31. It’s vital to take age, culture, region, gender, and emotional state into account when comprehending body language gestures.True ( ) False ( )。

2018“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛样题赛题分值说明：1. 线上初赛：题型仅为客观题，即Read and Know，Read and Reason，Read and Question 三个模块，共40题，答题时间为110分钟，满分100分。

第1-3题每题1分，第4-9题每题2分，第10题5分，第11-30题每题3分，第31-40题每题2分。

2. 复赛和决赛：题型包含客观题和主观题，即Read and Know，Read and Reason，Read and Question，Read and Create四个模块，共41题，答题时间为150分钟，满分100分。

第1-3题每题1分，第4-9题每题2分，第10题5分，第11-30题每题1.5分，第31-40题每题2分，第41题30分。

Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions. (Time allowed: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are two extra options you do not need.Question 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.To ensure the high standards of facilities we need to build new wards, laboratories and consulting rooms. In short, we need your help now. Complete the coupon today and rest assured that your donation is going to the best possible cause.4. Where is the piece of text taken from?A. an advertisementB. an instruction bookletC. a storyD. a newspaperQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Few corners of the world remain untainted by intrepid tourists, and their impact is often devastating. Too frequently they trample heedlessly on fragile environments, displacing wildlife and local populations in their insatiable quest for unexplored locations.5. What is the best title for this text?A. The Future of TourismB. The Role of TourismC. The Price of TourismD. The Benefits of TourismQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With E-book sales increasing by more than 300% for the second year, publishers delivering new revenue streams through E-book Apps, and academic publishers long having derived some 90% of their revenue online, it is a travesty to describe all this as the publishing world being "in denial" about digital.6. What is the main idea of this text?A. Publishers are making profits from E-book sales.B. Not all publishers are threatened by digital storms.C. E-books become a main source of revenue for publishers.D. Traditional publishing industry is dying out.Question 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With our travel agency, the holiday you book is the holiday you get. If you arrive and find we've failed to live up to our promises, let us know what the problem is within one day of yourarrival. We'll spend 24 hours doing everything possible to sort the problem out. In the unlikely event that we can't resolve your problem and make you happy within 24 hours, we'll fly you home and give your money back.7. The text could best be described as__________.A. a commitmentB. an appealC. a warningD. a vowQuestion 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.The new digital cameras are great fun and very easy to use. They let you review your pictures the moment you take them, so you can re-shoot right away if you're not satisfied. But remember, a digital camera is just a computer XXXX. It's not a replacement for your ordinary camera.8. What is the meaning of the missing word XXXX in the text?A. "something that is poor quality"B. "an item that is not essential, something extra"C. "something expensive but good value for money"D. "a fashion which always remains popular"Question 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.She had gone alone, but the children were to go to the station to meet her. And loving the station as they did, it was only natural that they should be there a good hour before there was any chance of Mother's train arriving, even if the train were punctual, which was most unlikely.9. What can you say about their mother's train?A. It would probably be early.B. It would probably be on time.C. It would probably be late.D. It had been cancelled.Question 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the number and proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions, from 1990-1992 to 2014-2016. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description about the chart.A. The latest estimates suggest that nearly one in nine individuals do not have enough to eat between 2014 and 2016.B. Projections indicate that the 2015 MDG target is nearly reached, with 12.9 per cent of undernourished population.C. The situation noticeably improved during the years 1995-1999, but went down in the first five years of the new millennium.D. The proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions has fallen by almost half since 1990.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time allowed: 55 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of poisoning the well?A. That's my stance on funding the education system, and anyone who disagrees with me hates children.B. You are so weird. That means—we are pretty much sure—that your whole family is weird, too.C. God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is inspired. Therefore, we know that God exists.D. I don't care what you say. We don't need any more bookshelves. As long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Look at the following picture and then answer the question.12. Which of the following logical fallacies does the picture illustrate?A. False Dilemma: an argument that presents a limited set of two possible categories and assumes that everything in the scope of the discussion must be an element of that setB. Guilt by Association: a fallacy used to discredit an argument for proposing an idea that is shared by some socially demonized individual or groupC. No True Scotsman: an argument coming up after someone has made a general claim about a group of things and then been presented with evidence challenging that claimD. Hasty Generalization: a fallacy committed when one forms a conclusion from a sample that is either too small or too special to be representativeQuestions 13-14 Reasoning (Suggested completion time: 10 minutes)13. Many people report that exposure to certain foods and drinks such as cheese, chocolate, and red wine, is associated with the onset of migraine headaches. Other people report that exposure to certain smells (especially strong perfumes) seems to trigger a migraine headache, and some note that exposure to bright and flickering lights can be followed by a migraine. It would seem that a person with a tendency to get migraines should try to find out which of these situations is associated with the onset of the headache and then avoid this stimulus.All of the following, if true, would make the above recommendation impractical except: A. The time delay between the trigger and the onset of the headache can make it exceptionally difficult to identify the trigger.B. The presence of a known trigger doesn't always cause a migraine.C. In a high proportion of cases the patients report multiple triggers for their headaches.D. Most of the known triggers are common and almost unavoidable features of modern life.14. Richard: The national budget should provide significant increases in all levels of education inthe upcoming year.Natalie: That's not fair. A reduction in defense spending in peacetime may bring us excessive risks. We can't afford it.Which of the following is the best interpretation of Natalie's argument?A. Funds saved from defense have been diverted to all levels of education.B. Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts on spending on the military.C. The size of the military budget reflects a state's ability to fund educational activities.D. Compared with military spending, investing in education will create a financial crisis. Questions 15-17 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a science discovery. Answer the questions according to the text.Manipulating MemoryMemory is notoriously malleable. Our recollections fade and take on new meanings; sometimes we remember things that never even happened. But 15 .Recently, however, scientists have started to grasp and tinker with memory's physical basis. Last year, in work evocative of films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception, researchers discovered ways to manipulate specific memories in mice using optogenetics, a powerful technique that can trigger nerve cells in animals' brains by zapping them with beams of laser light. In a series of experiments, they showed that they could delete existing memories and "incept" false ones.This year, researchers went even further: switching the emotional content of a memory in mice from bad to good and vice versa. Under the laser, for example, male mice that had onceassociated a certain room with being shocked were tricked into acting as though they had once met friendly female mice there instead.Whether the mice in these experiments actually experienced vivid false memories or just a fuzzy sense of pleasure or fear is unclear. Nor is it clear whether the findings apply to the tricks of memory so familiar to people. Long-sought therapeutic advances, such as treatments forpost-traumatic stress disorder, could remain far off. One thing is certain, however: Once considered beyond scientific dissection, memory is finally starting to yield its secrets.15. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in the text?A. what is really happening in our brain as memories are remodeled remains mysteriousB. scientists are curious about why people are oblivious to what have happened to themC. advanced technology has helped scientists discover the workings of our brainD. some scientists argue that what we observe about human memory is not what it really is16. The word "incept" is closest in meaning to ________.A. operateB. startC. detectD. occupy17. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A. People's false memories result from the impact of different emotion provoked by later experience on the same spot.B. The success in research indicates that it won't be long that a therapy is worked out for people disturbed by painful memory.C. By zapping the brain cells of mice with light, researchers are able to create, erase, or alter their memories, good or bad.D. Many fancy ideas in science fictions or movies that are based on them actually draw greatly upon scientific achievement.Questions 18-19 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the text about cholera. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the text.A child receives the oral cholera vaccine ShancholCholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. Approximately one in 20 people infected with cholera has a serious case, with symptoms including severe diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. These symptoms quickly cause dehydration and shock, and can result in death within hours if the infected person doesn't receive treatment. Cholera is typically transmitted by contaminated food or water. In areas with poor treatment of sewage and drinking water, the feces of people with cholera can enter the water supply and spread quickly, resulting in an epidemic. The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in some coastal waters, so shellfish eaten raw can be a source of cholera in affected areas.18. Cholera is known to be a life-threatening disease which easily causes death of most of the patients.True ( ) False ( )19. Cholera typically occurs in areas near the sea or the river where contaminated food is a major source of the disease.True ( ) False ( )Questions 20-21 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the abstract of a research paper from the DeepMind website. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the abstract.Teaching Machines to Read and ComprehendAuthors: K. M. Hermann, T. Kočiský, E. Grefenstette, L. Espeholt, W. Kay, M. Suleyman, P. BlunsomPublished: NIPS 2015Abstract: Teaching machines to read natural language documents remains an elusive challenge. Machine reading systems can be tested on their ability to answer questions posed on the contents of documents that they have seen, but until now large scale training and test datasets have been missing for this type of evaluation. In this work we define a new methodology that resolves this bottleneck and provides large scale supervised reading comprehension data. This allows us to develop a class of attention based deep neural networks that learn to read real documents and answer complex questions with minimal prior knowledge of language structure.20. Previous studies didn't take constant effort to evaluate the reading ability of artificial intelligence machines, which was why the present research was conducted.True ( ) False ( )21. One implication of the research is that a methodology that helps gather and handle big data is indispensable to artificial intelligence related studies.True ( ) False ( )Questions 22-23 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the "Think small" advertising campaign. Answer the questions according to the text.Think SmallI f you're interested in marketing and advertising, Volkswagen's "Think small" campaign for the Beetle when it was first introduced to North America in 1959 looms large as one of the greatest advertising campaigns of all time. It wasn't just a revolution in automotive advertising; it changed the entire industry.Until the Beetle hit the market, automotive marketing copy was full of bluster, and the images were flights of fancy, emphasizing low, long lines and a fantasy lifestyle.The clean, simple photography on a white background that emphasized the Beetle's compact, practical form may seem commonplace these days, but it was a revolution in a world where Americans grew up obsessed with muscle cars, horsepower, and tire smoke. Making the car small, when the convention was to make it fill the page, was also novel. The simplistic approach to design and layout was totally contrary to the advertising conventions of the time.__ __22_____ The text was minimalist in both look and content, presenting the facts simply instead of trying to weave tall tales and fantasies; and instead of bluster, it ushered in an intelligent sense of humor that made readers feel like they were in on the joke. The message was one of smart anti-luxury, and took gentle aim at an industry obsessed with superficiality and styling, rather than the substance underneath the car bodies.Not only does "Think small" continue to inspire Volkswagen advertising to this day, it ushered in a creative revolution in the advertising business and changed the world of marketing forever. "Think small" showed the power of humor and honesty, and its photographic and design principles brought about a major shift in the look and feel of marketing around the world.22. Which of the sentences below best fits the numbered space in the text?A. What defined the ad even more than its visual style was the tone of its copy.B. This ad starts off doing the exact opposite of what you would expect in a car ad.C. This was an exercise in minimalism and a very accurate reflection on the product itself.D. The car wasn't depicted as an integral piece of the daily lives of a middle class family.23. It can be inferred that the advertising conventions of the 1950s were reflected in the following except that ___________.A. The ads in the 1950s typically showed proud owners and passengers evoking great joy about new shiny big acquisitions.B. The marketing concept then focused on providing as much information as possible to thereader such as the way it's created.C. The marketing schemes associated the advertised product with an idea or a way of living from average consumers' perspective.D. The marketing practice may attach importance to a sense of humor brought by the use of exaggerated language.Questions 24-25 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following six remarks concerning the crowd. Four of them are taken from Gustave Le Bon's book, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind. Choose the two remarks that may NOT be taken from the book.24-25. _______The CrowdA. In crowds it is stupidity and not mother wit that is accumulated.B. Crowds most envy the lonely man who walks confidently as if he is walking with the great crowds!C. A crowd is not merely impulsive and mobile. Like a savage, it is not prepared to admit that anything can come between its desire and the realization of its desire.D. I walked with them, as crowds have that effect on me, I want to do what they do, to journey towards some point of revelation, which of course never comes.E. Crowds, being incapable both of reflection and of reasoning, are devoid of the notion of improbability; and it is to be noted that in a general way it is the most improbable things that are the most striking.F. …the individual forming part of a crowd acquires, solely from numerical considerations, a sentiment of invincible power which allows him to yield to instincts which, had he been alone, he would perforce have kept under restraint.Questions 26-28 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a fly. Answer the questions according to the text.The FlyAt that moment the boss noticed that a fly had fallen into his broad inkpot, and was trying feebly but desperately to clamber out again. "Help! Help!" said those struggling legs. But the sides of the inkpot were wet and slippery; it fell back again and began to swim. The boss took up a pen,picked the fly out of the ink, and shook it on to a piece of blotting-paper. For a fraction of a second it lay still on the dark patch that oozed round it. Then the front legs waved, took hold, and, pulling its small, sodden body up, it began the immense task of cleaning the ink from its wings. Over and under, over and under, went a leg along a wing, as the stone goes over and under the scythe. Then there was a pause, while the fly, seeming to stand on the tips of its toes, tried to expand first one wing and then the other. It succeeded at last, and, sitting down, it began, like a minute cat, to clean its face. Now one could imagine that the little front legs rubbed against each other lightly, joyfully. 27 .26. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?A. The boss saved the fly out of his broad inkpot.B. The fly was trapped by the thick ink on its wings.C. The passage describes how a fly survived an accident.D. The passage shows how a fly conquered a challenge.27. Which of the following statement can best fit in the numbered space?A. The horrible danger was over; it had escaped; it was ready for life again.B. The boss was relieved now, reassured that the fly had been out of danger.C. But the front legs waved, caught hold, and, more slowly this time, the task restarted.D. But such a grinding feeling of wretchedness seized him that he felt positively frightened.28. The tone of the text can be described as a complex mixture of anything but _______.A. sympatheticB. humorousC. cheerfulD. depressingQuestions 29-30 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about Chaco Culture. Answer the questions according to the text.The "Chaco Culture", as modern-day archaeologists call it, flourished between roughly the 9th and 13th centuries A.D. and was centered at Chaco Canyon in what is now New Mexico.The people of the Chaco Culture built immense structures that at times encompassed more than 500 rooms. They also participated in long-distance trade that brought cacao, macaws (a type of parrot), turquoise and copper to Chaco Canyon.29_______, researchers have to rely on the artifacts and structures they left behind, as well as oral accounts that have been passed on through generations, to reconstruct what their lives were like.Archaeologists generally agree that Chaco Canyon was the center of Chaco Culture. Today the canyon is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Park Service estimates that there are about 4,000 archaeological sites in the park, including more than a dozen immense structures that archaeologists sometimes call "Great Houses". Archaeological research has revealed many discoveries, including a system of roads that connected many Chaco Culture sites, and evidence of astronomical alignments that indicate that some Chaco Culture structures were oriented toward the solstice sun and lunar standstills.“There has been more archaeological research conducted in Chaco and on the subject of Chaco than on any other prehistoric district in North America,”says a National Park Service statement posted on Chaco Culture National Historical Park's website."Today, twenty Puebloan groups in New Mexico, as well as the Hopi in Arizona, claim Chaco as their ancestral homeland and are tied to this place through oral traditions and clan lineages. A number of Navajo clans are also affiliated with Chacoan sites through their traditional stories," the National Park Service statement says.Despite the fact that there has been an immense amount of archaeological research carried out at Chaco Canyon, and at other Chaco Culture sites in the American Southwest, modern-day archaeologists disagree over what the people of the Chaco Culture were like.Some archaeologists think that the people of the Chaco Culture were not politically united, while some think they controlled an empire centered on Chaco Canyon. "What was Chaco? Opinions vary widely, perhaps wildly. Interpretations range from a valley of peaceful farming villages to the monumental capital of an empire," wrote Stephen Lekson, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, in an article published in the book The Architecture of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (University of Utah Press, 2007).Lekson noted that there are different interpretations among archaeologists as to what the Great Houses were. Some archaeologists believe that they were villages inhabited by thousands of people, while others think that they were elite residences that housed a small number of residents.29. Which of the following best fits in the numbered space in the text?A. The people of the Chaco Culture did not use a writing system and as suchB. While archaeologists are not certain what caused this dramatic population bumpC. When thinking about archaeological sites, we tend to think of them as dead silentD. Since Chaco's national monument status may not protect it from development pressures30. Which of the following statements can we know from the text?A. The people of the Chaco culture were good at foreign trade.B. "Great Houses" were built from approximately the 9th to 13thcentury A.D.C. Most descendants of ancient Chaco people live in New Mexico now.D. Archaeologists hold different ideas about how the people of the Chaco Culture lived. Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify the writer's position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer's arguments. (Time allowed: 35 minutes)Questions 31-40 (Suggested completion time: 35 minutes)Directions: Read three passages about fashion. Answer the questions according to the passages.Passage AIt's not that easy to answer the question, "what is fashion?" because it means different things to different people. Fashion is an art. It's a religion. It's a job. It's a peek into a personality. It's playfulness. It's an escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately, 32 . French fashion designer Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."It's true. Fashion isn't defined solely by our clothing choices, but is also conveyed through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world. At its most fundamental, fashion is simply the prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behavior.So, who exactly answers the question "what is fashion"? Who decides what's fashionable and what isn't? What's in or what's out?Fashion Designers. The iconic fashion houses—Prada, Gucci, Chanel—are referred to as haute couture, French for "high sewing". These designers lead the way in creating trend-setting fashion. While some of their designs are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everyday wear, generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.Media. Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on popular television shows and movies as well as adopted from magazine pages. "Sex and the City", "The Devil Wears Prada", these shows introduced us to new, cutting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead wearing aCarrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look and piece together your own creation.Celebrities. A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson and Jessica Simpson were spotted wearing them around L.A. several years ago, no one had given any thought to UGG boots. Now they are everywhere.Musicians. Musicians have always been very influential when it comes to dictating fashion. Rock 'n' roll is fashion. Elvis is an iconic example. In the 1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis. What about the heavy metal hair bands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the head bandana while Poison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, rocker hair.Just because you don't know if a Prada bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn't matter. All that matters is that you like it and it's an expression of you. That is fashion.Passage B[A]Fashion is more prevalent in modern society than in primitive tribes or peasant communities. The modern society is an open society where class distinctions are not so rigid as in primitive society. Its urban and mobile class structure enables people to cultivate individual taste and adopt new course. [B]Our standards of judgment have also changed. Today the individual is rated more by observable externalities than by his ancestry, his character or his genuine accomplishments. The clothes a man wears, the language he speaks, the manners he shows have more weight in ascribing a status than his simplicity, patriotism and integrity.If he can keep himself up to date in the matters of his dress, speech and manners, he will assure himself a high social esteem. [C]Not only the mobile and urban character of modern society but its affluence also speaks for greater prevalence of fashion in it. Men today are richer than their ancestors and have more leisure. They have the necessary means and time to play with luxuries and to think of fashion. Maclver writes: We do not think of fashion in overalls; there is more of fashion in the body of an automobile than in its chassis. There is no fashion in steam shovels. [D]Consequently the higher the standard of living the more material there is for fashion to operate upon.Passage CAs summer has officially faded into the colder weather of autumn, I assumed the days of Nike shorts, comically large T-shirts and polos would be only a memory of yesterday. This has not been the case.Fashion, in and of itself, is already a type of conformism. In order to be considered fashion, a look, a garment or a stylistic choice must be deemed fashionable.Who gets to decide this—what is fashionable? While certain fashion heavyweights play a role in this decision, the ultimate decision is left to the public.As I was surfing the Web recently for inspiration for this column, I came across the Prada website. What I discovered literally caused me to gasp. Of course, everyone knows Prada is an expensive brand—a luxury—but what I discovered shocked me: a keychain priced at $180. No, this keychain was not solid gold or encased in diamonds. It was simply a keychain: a skull with the word "Prada" on a small charm.。