中南大学2014年考博英语真题

绝密★启用前2014年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试（湖南卷）英语Part I Listening Comprehension (30 marks)Section A (22.5 marks)Directions: In this section, you will hear six conversations between two speakers. For each conversation, there are several questions and each question is followed by three choices marked A, B and C. Listen carefully and then choose the best answer for each question.You will hear each conversation TWICE.Example:When will the magazine probably arrive?A. Wednesday.B. Thursday.C. Friday.Conversation 11. What will the woman do first?A. Take a shower.B. Go camping.C. Set up a time.2. When will the man probably call the woman?A. Thursday.B. Friday.C. Sunday.Conversation 23. What is the man going to do?A. Have a coffee break.B. See a doctor.C. Buy a pet.4. What happened to the man?A. He fell ill.B. He lost his dog.C. He slept badly.Conversation 35. What is the woman?A. A bus driver.B. A waitress.C. A tour guide.6. What does the man want to get?A. Some gifts.B. A menu.C. A bus schedule.Conversation 47. What did the man do yesterday?A. He saw a movie.B. He watched TV.C. He visited some friends.8. What time will the speakers probably meet this Saturday evening?A. At 6:30.B. At 7:00.C. At 7:30.9. Which of the following will the man buy?A. Some drinks.B. A birthday cake.C. Concert tickets.Conversation 510. What is the woman doing now?A. She is serving a customer.B. She is conducting an interview.C. She is doing some recording.11. When does the man go to the nursing home?A. Tuesdays.B. Thursdays.C. Sundays.12. Where will the man probably be working next Monday?A. At the airport nearby.B. In the studio next door.C. At the store downtown.Conversation 613. Why does the woman call the man?A. The oven doesn’t work.B. The heater won’t start.C. The plug is broken.14. Who will handle the problem first tomorrow evening?A. The woman.B. The man.C. A worker.15. Who is the woman speaking to?A. Her husband.B. Her house owner.C. Her boss.Section B (7.5 marks)Directions: In this section, you will hear a short passage. Listen carefully and then fill in the numbered blanks with the information you have heard. Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.You will hear the short passage TWICE.Part II Language Knowledge (45 marks)Section A (15 marks)Directions: For each of the following unfinished sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best complete the sentence.Example:The wild flowers looked like a soft orange blanket ____ the desert.A. coveringB. coveredC. coverD. to cover21. Children, when ___ by their parents, are allowed to enter the stadium.A. to be accompaniedB. to accompanyC. accompanyingD. accompanied22. If Mr. Dewey ___ present, he would have offered any possible assistance to thepeople there.A. wereB. had beenC. should beD. was23. ___ your own needs and styles of communication is as important as learning toconvey your affection and emotions.A. UnderstandingB. To be understoodC. Being understoodD. Having understood24. As John Lennon once said, life is ___ happens to you while you are busy makingother plans.A. whichB. thatC. whatD. where25. –I’ve prepared all kinds of food for the picnic.–Do you mean we ___ bring anything with us?A. can’tB. mustn’tC. shan’tD. needn’t26. You will never gain success ___ you are fully devoted to your work.A. whenB. becauseC. afterD. unless27. There is no greater pleasure than lying on my back in the middle of the grassland, ___at the night sky.A. to stareB. staringC. staredD. having stared28. Since the time humankind started gardening, we ___ to make our environment more beautiful.A. tryB. have been tryingC. are tryingD. will try30. ___ what you’re doing today important, because you’re trading a day of your life forit.A. MakeB. To makeC. MakingD. Made31. I am looking forward to the day ___ my daughter can read this book and know myfeelings for her.A. asB. whyC. whenD. where32. All we need ___ a small piece of land where we can plant various kinds of fruit treesthroughout the growing seasons of the year.A. areB. wasC. isD. were33. It’s not doing the things we like but liking the things we have to do ___ makes lifehappy.A. thatB. whichC. whatD. who34. Whenever you ___ a present, you should think about it from the receiver’s point ofview.A. boughtB. have boughtC. will buyD. buy35. ___ ourselves from the physical and mental tensions, we each need deep thought andinner quietness.A. Having freedB. FreedC. To freeD. FreeingSection B (18 marks)Directions: Fro each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.The summer before I went off to college, Mom stood me in her usual spot behind the ironing board (烫衣板) and said, “Pay attention; I’m going to teach you to iron.”Mom clearly explained her 36. ___ for this lesson. I was going to be 37. ___ and needed to learn this vital skill. Also, I would be meeting new people, and properly ironed clothes would help me make a good 38. ___.“Learn to iron a shirt,” Mom said, “and you can iron anything.”But ironing shirts was not 39.___ work. It didn’t make use of long muscles we used to throw a baseball, and it wasn’t a 40.___ operation like ice-skating. Ironing was like driving a car on a street that has a stop sign every 10 feet. Moreover, an iron produced steam and it carried an element of 41.___. If you touched the wrong part of it, you’d get burnt. If you forgot to turn it off when you 42.___, you might burn down the house.As for technique, Mom 43.___ me to begin with the flat spaces outward, always pushing the iron forward into wrinkled(有皱褶的) parts. Collars had to be done right. Mom said they were close to your face, where everyone would 44.___ them.Over the years, I’ve learned to iron shirts skillfully, which gives me a sense of 45.____. Whatever failures I suffer in my life, an ironed shirt tells me I am good at something. 46.____, through ironing I’ve learned the method for solving even the most troublesome problems. “47.____ wrinkles one at a time,” as Mom might have said, “and before long everything will get ironed out.”36. A. reasons B. rules C. emotions D. methods37. A. helpful B. confident C. powerful D. independent38. A. conclusion B. suggestion C. impression D. observation39. A. useful B. easy C. special D. suitable40. A. direct B. single C. smooth D. strange41. A. doubt B. pressure C. surprise D. danger42. A. went away B. fell down C. jumped off D. looked up43. A. taught B. chose C. forced D. sent44. A. touch B. design C. see D. admire45. A. honesty B. freedom C. justice D. pride46. A. Instead B. Besides C. Otherwise D. However47. A. Make up B. Deal with C. Ask for D. Rely onSection C (12 marks)Directions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with one word that best fits the context.We can choose our friends, but usually we cannot choose our neighbors. However, to get a happy home life, we have to get along with 48.____ as well as possible.An important quality in a neighbor is consideration for 49.____. People should not do things 50._____ will disturb their neighbors unnecessarily. For example, television sets need not be played at full volume(音量) 51._____ loud pop music should not be played very late at night. By avoiding things likely to upset your neighbors, you can enjoy 52._____ friendly relationship with them.An equally important quality is tolerance. Neighbors should do all they can to avoid disturbing other people. 53.____there are times when some level of disturbance is unavoidable. 54.____ neighbors want to get along well with each other, they have to show their tolerance. In this way, everyone will live 55.____ peace.Part III Reading Comprehension (30 marks)Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.A56. Towner Writer Squad will be started ____.A. to train comedy and TV writersB. to explore the fantastic gallery spaceC. to introduce a contemporary art museumD. to promote the development of young writers.57. To join the Writer Squad, each applicant should first ____.A. provide a piece of their writingB. meet the Writer Squad LeaderC. offer their family informationD. complete an application form58. Applications for the Writer Squad should be emailed no later than ____.A. 6 September, 2014B. 8 September, 2014C. 17 September, 2014D. 12 October, 201459. What is most important for the beginners?A. Practising as much as possible.B. Gaining confidence and having fun.C. Studying and writing at their own pace.D. Learning skills from writers and teachers.60. More information about Beginners Writing Project can be found at ____.A. /townerB. C. D. BIn the mid-1950s, I was a somewhat bored early-adolescent male student who believed that doing any more than necessary was wasted effort. One day, this approach threw me into embarrassment.In Mrs. Totten’s eighth-grade math class at Central Avenue School in Anderson, Indian, we were learning to add and subtract decimals (小数).Our teacher typically assigned daily homework, which would be recited in class the following day. On most days, our grades were based on our oral answers to homework questions.Mrs. Totten usually walked up and down the rows of desks requesting answers from student after student in the order the questions had appeared on our homework sheets. She would start either at the front or the back of the classroom and work toward the other end.Since I was seated near the middle of about 35 students, it was easy to figure out which questions I might have to answer. This particular time, I had completed my usual two or three problems according to my calculations.What I failed to expect was that several students were absent, which threw off my estimate. As Mrs. Totten made her way from the beginning of the class, I desperately tried to determine which math problem I would get. I tried to work it out before she got to me, but I had brain freeze and could n’t function.When Mrs. Totten reached my desk, she asked what answer I’d got for problem No.14. “I…I didn’t get anything,” I answered and my face felt warm.“Correct,” she said.It turned out that the correct answer was zero.What did I learn that day? First, always do all your homework. Second, in real life it isn’t always what you say but how you say it that matters. Third, I would never make it as a mathematician.If I could choose one school day that taught me the most, it would be that one.61. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 indicate?A. It is wise to value on e’s time.B. It is important to make an effort.C. It is right to stick to one’s belief.D. It is enough to do the necessary.62. Usually, Mrs. Totten asked her students to ___.A. recite their homework togetherB. grade their homework questions orallyC. answer their homework questionsD. check the answers to their homework questions63. The author could work out which question to answer since the teacher always ___.A. asked questions in a regular wayB. walked up and down when asking questionsC. chose two or three questions for the studentsD. requested her students to finish their usual questions64. The author failed to get the questions he had expected because ____.A. the class did n’t begin as usualB. several students didn’t come to schoolC. he did n’t try hard to make his estimateD. Mrs. Totten didn’t start from the back of the class65. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?A. An Unforgettable TeacherB. A Future MathematicianC. An Effective ApproachD. A Valuable LessonCThe behavior of a building’s users may be at least as important as its design when it comes to energy use, according to new research from the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). The UK promises to reduce its carbon emission (排放) by 80 percent by 2050, part of which will be achieved by all new homes being zero-carbon by 2016. But this report shows that sustainable building design on its own – though extremely important –is not enough to achieve such reductions: the behavior of the people using the building has to change too.The study suggests that the ways that people use and live in their homes have been largely ignored by existing efforts to improve energy efficiency (效率), which instead focus on architectural and technological developments.“Technology is going to assist but it is not going to do everything,”explains Katy Janda, a UKERC senior researcher, “consumption patterns of building users can defeat the most careful design.” In other words, old habits die hard, even in the best-designed eco-home.Another part of the problem is information. Households and bill-payers don’t have the knowledge they need to change their energy-use habits. Without specific information, it’s hard to estimate the costs and benefits of making different choices. Feedback (反馈) facilities, like smart meters and energy monitors, could help bridge this information gap by helping people see how changing their behavior directly affects their energy use; some studies have shown that households can achieve up to 15 percent energy savings using smart meters.Social science research has added a further dimension (方面), suggesting that individuals’behavior in the home can be personal and cannot be predicted –whether people throw open their windows rather than turn down the thermostat (位温器), for example.Janda argues that education is the key. She calls for a focused programme to teach people about building and their own behavior in them.66. As to energy use, the new research from UKERC stresses the importance of ___.A. zero-carbon homesB. the behavior of building usersC. sustainable building designD. the reduction of carbon emission67. The underlined word “which” in Paragraph 2 refers to “____”.A. the waysB. their homesC. developmentsD. existing efforts68. What are Katy Janda’s words mainly about?A. The importance of changing building users’ habits.B. The necessity of making a careful building design.C. The variety of consumption patterns of building users.D. The role of technology in improving energy efficiency.69. The information gap in energy use ___.A. can be bridged by feedback facilitiesB. affects the study on energy monitorsC. brings about problems for smart metersD. will be caused by building users’ old habits70. What does the dimension added by social science research suggest?A. The social science research is to be furthered.B. The education programme is under discussion.C. The behavior of building users is unpredictable.D. The behavior preference of building users is similar.Part IV Writing (45 marks)Section A (10 marks)Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information from the passage.Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.Many of us invest valuable time, energy and money planning our vacations. We do this because we know for sure that going on vacations must be good for us. Research proves this feeling without a doubt. Vacations help us perform better at work, improve our sleep quality and cushion us against depression.Yet, despite these benefits, many of us return home with a feeling that our last vacation was OK –but not great. In order to change this, some mistakes should be avoided. A classic one for vacation planners is attempting to maximize value for money by planning trips that have too many components (组成部分). Perhaps you’re planning a trip to Europe, seven cities in 10 days, and you realize it will cost only a little more to add two more destinations to the list. Sounds fine in theory, but hopping from one place to the next hardly gives an opportunity to experience what psychologists call mindfulness –time to take in our new surroundings, time to be present and absorb our travel experiences. Another mistake is that we worry too much about strategic issues such as how to find a good flight deal, how to get from A to B, or which destination to add or subtract from our journey. These issues may seem important, but our psychological state of mind is from more important.Actually, vacation happiness is based on the following top rules. First, choose your travel companions wisely, because nothing contributes more significantly to a trip than the right companions. Second, don’t spend your vacation time in a place where everything is too expensive so as to maintain a positive mood. Third, shop wisely, for meaningful experiences provide more long-term happiness than physical possession.Section B (10 marks)Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.Kids and PondsYears ago there was a group of kids who would hang around at some local ponds in the woods near their houses in Warwick, Rhode Island. In summer they caught frogs and fish. When winter arrived they couldn’t wait to go skating. Time passed, and the ponds became the only open space for the kids to go skating in the neighborhood.One day, a thirteen-year-old boy from this group of kids read in the local newspaper that a developer wanted to fill the ponds and build over a hundred small houses called condominium. So the boy went door to door and gathered more than two hundred signatures (签名) to stop the development. A group of citizens met and decided to support him.At the meeting of the town planning board (委员会), the boy was quite nervous at first and spoke very softly. But when he saw the faces of his friends and neighbors in the crowd and thought about what was happening to their favorite ponds, his voice grew louder. He told the town officials that they should speak for the citizens. He also insisted that they should leave enough space for children. A few days later, the developer stopped his plan.Nine years later, when that teen was a senior in college, he was informed that the developer was back with his proposal to build condominiums. Now twenty-two years old, he was studying wetlands ecology. He again appeared before the town planning board. This time as an expert witness, he used environment protection laws to explain restrictions on development in and around wetlands and the knowledge of wetlands ecology to help number the developer wanted. The ponds where those kids used to hang around were protected by a strip of natural land, and are still there today.81. What did the kids like to do at the local ponds in winter?(No more than 6 words) (2 marks) 82. How did the boy win the citizen s’ support?(No more than 10 words) (2 marks)83. What did the boy tell the town officials?(No more than 16 words) (3 marks)84. What helped the boy to protect the ponds successfully nine years later?(No more than 12 words) (3 marks) Section C (25 marks)Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below.学校正在组织科技创新大赛，你想为日常生活中某件物品（如钢笔、书包、鞋子……）设计添加新功能来参赛。

2014年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试管理类专业硕士学位联考英语试卷Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)Thinner isn’t always better. A number of studies have _1_ that normal-weight people are in fact at higher risk of some diseases compared to those who are overweight. And there are health conditions for which being overweight is actually _2_. For example, heavier women are less likely to develop calcium deficiency than thin women. _3_, among the elderly, being somewhat overweight is often an _4_ of good health.Of even greater _5_ is the fact that obesity turns out to be very difficult to define. It is often _6_body mass index, or BIMI _7_ body mass divided by the square of height. An adult with a BIMI of 18 to 25 is often considered to be normal weight. Between 25 to 30 is overweight. And over 30 is considered obese. Obesity, _8_ can be divided into moderately obese, severely obese, and very severely obese.While such numerical standards seem _9_, they are not. Obesity is probably less a matter of weight than body fat. Some people with a high BMI are in fact extremely fit. _10_ others with a low BMI may be in poor _11_. For example, many collegiate and professional football players _12_ as obese, though their percentage body fat is low. Conversely, someone with a small frame may have high body fat but a _13_ BMI.Today we have a(n) _14_ to label obesity as a disgrace. The overweight are sometimes _15_ in the media with their faces covered. Stereotypes _16_ with obesity include laziness, lack of will power, and lower prospects for success. Teachers, employers, and health professionals have been shown to harbor biases against the obese. _17_ very young children tend to look down on the overweight, and teasing about body build has long been a problem in schools.Negative attitudes toward obesity, _18_ in health concerns have stimulated a number of anti-obesity _19_, My own hospital system has banned sugary drinks from its facilities. Many employers have instituted weight loss and fitness initiatives, Michelle Obama has launched a high-visibility campaign _20_ childhood obesity, even claiming that it represents our greatest national security threat!1. [A] denied [B] conduced [C] doubled [D] ensured2. [A] protective [B] dangerous [C] sufficient [D]troublesome3. [A] Instead [B] However [C] Likewise [D] Therefore4. [A] indicator [B] objective [C] origin [D] example5. [A] impact [B] relevance [C] assistance [D] concern6. [A] in terms of [B] in case of [C] in favor of [D] in respects of7. [A] measures [B] determines [C] equals [D] modifies8. [A] in essence [B] in contrast [C] in turn [D] in part9. [A] complicated [B] conservative [C] variable [D] straightforward10. [A] so [B] unlike [C] since [D] unless11. [A] shape [B] spirit [C] balance [D] taste12. [A] start [B] quality [C] retire [D] stay13. [A] strange [B] changeable [C] normal [D] constant14. [A] option [B] reason [C] opportunity [D] tendency15. [A] employed [B] pictured [C] imitated [D] monitored16. [A] compared [B] combined [C] settled [D] associated17. [A] Even [B] Still [C] Yet [D] Only18. [A] despised [B] corrected [C] ignored [D] grounded19. [A] discussions [B] businesses [C] policies [D] studies20. [A] for [B] against [C] with [D] withoutSection II Reading ComprehensionPart ADirections:Read the following four passages. Answer the questions below each passage by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)Text 1What would you do with $559m? This is now a question for Gloria Mackenzie, an 84-year-old widow who recently emerged from her small, un-roofed house in Florida to collect the biggest undivided lottery jackpot in history. If she hopes her new-found fortune will yield lasting feelings or fulfillment. She could do worse than read Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton.These two academics use an array of behavioral research to show that the most rewarding ways to spend money can be counterintuitive. Fantasies of great wealth often involve visions of fancy cars and extravagant homes. Yet satisfaction with these maternal purchases wears off fairly quickly. What was Once exciting and new becomes old hat; regret creeps in, It is far better to spend money on experiences, say Ms Dun and Mr. Norton, like interesting trips, unique meals or even going to the cinema. These purchases often become more valuable with time–as stones or memories-particularly if they involve feeling more connected toothers.This slim volume is packed with tips to help wage slaves as well as lottery winners get the most “happiness bang for your buck.”It seems most people would be better off if they could shorten their commutes to work, spend more time with friends and family and less of it watching television (something the average American spends a whopping two months a year doing, and is hardly jollier for it). Buying gifts or giving to charity is often more pleasurable than purchasing things for oneself, and luxuries are most enjoyable when they are consumed sparingly. This is apparently the reason McDonald’s restricts the availability of its popular McRib-a marketing trick that has turned the pork sandwich into an object of obsession.Readers of Happy Money are clearly a privileged lot, anxious about fulfilment, not hunger. Money may not quite buy happiness, but people in wealthier countries are generally happier than those in poor ones. Yet the link between feeling good and spending money on others can be seen among rich and poor people around the world. and scarcity enhances the pleasure of most things for most people. Not everyone will agree with the authors’ policy ideas, which range from mandating more holiday time to reducing tax incentives for American homebuyers, But most people will come away from this book believing it was money well spent.21. According to Dumn and Norton, which of the following is the most rewarding purchase?[A] A big house.[B] A special tour.[C] A stylish car.[D] A rich meal.22. The author’s attitude toward Americans’ watching TV is.[A] critical[B] supportive[C] sympathetic[D] ambiguous23. Macrib is mentioned in paragraph 3 to show that .[A] consumers are sometimes irrational[B] popularity usually comes after quality[C] marketing tricks are after effective[D] rarity generally increases pleasure24. According to the last paragraph, Happy Money .[A] has left much room for readers’ criticism[B] may prove to be a worthwhile purchase[C] has predicted a wider income gap in the us[D] may give its readers a sense of achievement25. This text mainly discusses how to .[A] balance feeling good and spending money[B] spend large sums of money won in lotteries[C] obtain lasting satisfaction from money spent[D] become more reasonable in spending on luxuriesText 2An article in Scientific American has pointed out that empirical research says that, actually, you think you're more beautiful than you are. We have a deep-seated need to feel good about ourselves and we naturally employ a number of self-enhancing (to use the psychological terminology) strategies to achieve this. Social psychologists have amassed oceans of research into what they call 70% of us rate ourselves as above average in leadership, 93% in driving (across the ages and genders ) and 85% at getting on well others-all obviously statistical impossibilities.We rose-tint our memories and put ourselves into self-affirming situations. We become defensive when criticized, and apply negative stereotypes to others to boost our own esteem. We strut around thinking we’re hot stuff.Psychologist and behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley oversaw a key study into self-enhancement and attractiveness. Rather than have people simply rate their beauty compared with others, he asked them to identify an original photograph of themselves from a lineup including versions that had been morphed to appear more and less attractive. Visual recognition, reads the study, is “an automatic psychological process, occurring rapidly and intuitively with little or no apparent conscious deliberation”.If the subjects quickly chose a falsely flattering image-which most did-they genuinely believed it was really how they looked.Epley found no significant gender difference in responses. Nor was there any evidence that those who self-enhanced the most (that is, the participants who thought the most positively doctored pictures were real) were doing so to make up for profound insecurities. In fact, those who thought that the images higher up the attractiveness scale were real directly corresponded with those who showed other markers for having higher self-esteem. “I don’t think the findings that we have are any evidence of personal delusion,”says Epley. “It’s a reflection simply of people generally thinking well of themselves.” If you are depressed, you won’t be self-enhancing.Knowing the results of Eplet’s study, it makes sense that manypeople hate photographs of themselves so viscerally — on one level, they don’t even recognize the person in the picture as themselves. Facebook, therefore, is a self-enhancer’s paradise, where people can share only the flukiest of flattering photos, the cream of their wit style Beauty, intellect and lifestyles. It’s not that people’s profiles are dishonest, says Catalina Toma of Wisconsin-Madison University, “but they portray an idealized version of themselves”. (People are much more likely to out-and-out lie on dating websites, to an audience of strangers.)26. According to the first paragraph, social psychologists have found that .[A] our self-ratings are unrealistically high[B] illusory superiority is baseless effect[C] our need for leadership is unnatural[D] self-enhancing strategies are ineffective27. Visual recognition is believed to be people’s .[A] rapid watching[B] conscious choice[C] intuitive response[D] automatic self-defense28. Epley found that people with higher self-esteem tended to .[A] underestimate their insecurities[B] believe in their attractiveness[C] cover up their depressions[D] oversimplify their illusions29. The word “viscerally” (Line 2, Para.6) is closest in meaning to .[A] instinctively[B] occasionally[C] particularly[D] aggressively30. It can be inferred that Facebook is self-enhancer’s paradise because people can .[A] present their dishonest profiles[B] define their traditional life styles[C] share their intellectual pursuits[D] withhold their unflattering sidesText 3The concept of man versus machine is at least as old as the industrial revolution, but this phenomenon tends to be most acutely felt during economic downturns and fragile recoveries. And yet, it would be a mistake to think we are right now simply experiencing the painful side ofa boom and bust cycle. Certain jobs have gone away for good, outmoded by machines. Since technology has such an insatiable appetite for eating up human jobs, this phenomenon will continue to restructure our economy in ways we can’t immediately foresee.When there is exponential improvement in the price and performance of technology, jobs that were once thought to be immune from automation suddenly become threatened. This argument has attracted a lot of attention, via the success of the book Race against the Machine, by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, who both hail from MIT’s Center for Digital Business.This is a powerful argument, and a scary one. And yet, John Hagel, author of The Power of Pull and other books, says Brynjolfsson and McAfee miss the reason why these jobs are so vulnerable to technology in the first place.Hagel says we have designed jobs in the U.S. that tend to be “tightly scripted”and “highly standardized”ones that leave no room for “individual initiative or creativity.” In short, these are the types of jobs that machines can perform much better at than human beings. That is how we have put a giant target sign on the backs of American workers, Hagel says.It’s time to reinvent the formula for how work is conducted, sincewe are still relying on a very 20th century notion of work, Hagel says. In our rapidly changing economy, we more than ever need people in the workplace who can take initiative and exercise their imagination “to respond to unexpected events.”That’s not something machines are good at. They are designed to perform very predictable activities.As Hagel notes, Brynjolfsson and McAfee indeed touched on this point in their book. We need to reframe race against the machine as race with the machine. In other words, we need to look at the ways in which machines can augment human labor rather than replace it. So then the problem is not really about technology, but rather, “how do we innovate our institutions and our work practices?”31. According to the first paragraph, economic downturns would .[A] ease the competition of man vs. machine[B] highlight machines’ threat to human jobs[C] provoke a painful technological revolution[D] outmode our current economic structure32. The authors of Race Against the Machine argue that .[A] technology is diminishing man’s job opportunities[B] automation is accelerating technological development[C] certain jobs will remain intact after automation[D] man will finally win the race against machine33. Hagel argues that jobs in the U.S. are often .[A] performed by innovative minds[B] scripted with an individual style[C] standardized without a clear target[D] designed against human creativity34. According to the last paragraph, Brynjolfsson and McAfee discussed .[A] the predictability of machine behavior in practice[B] the formula for how work is conducted efficiently[C] the ways machines replace human labor in modern times[D] the necessity of human involvement in the workplace35. Which of the following could be the most appropriate title for the text?[A] How to Innovate Our Work Practices[B] Machines will Replace Human Labor[C] Can We Win the Race Against Machines[D] Economic Downturns Stimulate InnovationsText 4When the government talks about infrastructure contributing to the economy the focus is usually on roads, railways, broadband and energy.Housing is seldom mentioned.Why is that? To some extent the housing sector must shoulder the blame. We have not been good at communicating the real value that housing can contribute to economic growth. Then there is the scale of the typical housing project. It is hard to jostle for attention among multibillion-pound infrastructure projects, so it is inevitable that the attention is focused elsewhere. But perhaps the most significant reason is that the issue has always been so politically charged. This government does not want to see a return to large-scale provision of council housing, so it is naturally wary of measures that will lead us down that route.Nevertheless, the affordable housing situation is desperate. Waiting lists increase all the time and we are simply not building enough new homes.The comprehensive spending review offers an opportunity for the government to help rectify this. It needs to put historical prejudices to one side and take some steps to address our urgent housing need.There are some indications that it is preparing to do just that. The communities minister, Don Foster, has hinted that George Osborne may introduce more flexibility to the current cap on the amount that local authorities can borrow against their housing stock debt. The cap, introduced in 2012 as part of the Housing Revenue Account reform, hasbeen a major issue for the sector. Evidence shows that 60,000 extra new homes could be built over the next five years if the cap were lifted, increasing GDP by 0.6%.Ministers should also look at creating greater certainty in the rental environment, which would have a significant impact on the ability of registered providers to fund new developments from revenues.Finally, they should look at the way in which public sector land is released. Currently up-front payments are required, putting a financial burden on the housing provider. A more positive stimulus would be to encourage a system where the land is made available and maintained as a long-term equity stake in the project.But it is not just down to the government. While these measures would be welcome in the short term, we must face up to the fact that the existing £4.5bn programme of grants to fund new affordable housing, set to expire in 2015, is unlikely to be extended beyond then. The Labour party has recently announced that it will retain a large part of the coalition's spending plans if it returns to power. The housing sector needs to accept that we are very unlikely to ever return to the era of large-scale public grants. We need to adjust to this changing climate. This means that affordable housing specialists like Wates Living Space have to create a whole new way of working in partnership with registered providers. Wehave to be prepared to take on more of the risk during the development phase, driving down the cost to deliver high-quality affordable housing and, most importantly, developing alternative funding models to help achieve this.While the government's commitment to long-term funding may have changed, the very pressing need for more affordable housing is real and is not going away. The comprehensive spending review provides the opportunity to start moving us in the right direction - stimulating investment in new supply and quickly delivering tangible benefits to local economies. It also helps create the space to develop a long-term sustainable strategy for housing.36. The author believes that the housing sector .[A] has attracted much attention[B] has lost its real value in economy[C] shoulders too much responsibility[D] involves certain political factors37. It can be learned that affordable housing has .[A] suffered government biases[B] increased its home supply[C] offered spending opportunities[D] disappointed the government38. According to Paragraph 5, George Osborne may .[A] prepare to reduce housing stock debt[B] release a lifted GDP growth forecast[C] allow greater government debt for housing[D] stop local authorities from building homes39. It can be inferred that a stable rental environment would .[A] lower the costs of registered providers[B] relieve the minister of responsibilities[C] contribute to funding new developments[D] lessen the impact of government interference40. The author believes that after 2015, the government may .[A] implement more policies to support housing[B] stop generous funding to the housing sector[C] renew the affordable housing grants programme[D] review the need for large-scale public grantsPart BDirections:Read the following text and answer questions by finding information from the right column that corresponds to each of the marked detailsgiven in the left column. There are two extra choices in the left column. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)Emerging in the late Sixties and reaching a peak in the Seventies, Land Art was one of a range of new forms, including Body Art, Performance Art, Action Art and Installation Art, which pushed art beyond the traditional confines of the studio and gallery. Rather than portraying landscape, land artists used the physical substance of eland itself as their medium.The British land artist, typified by Richard Long’s piece, was not only more domestically scaled, but a lot quirkier than its American counterpart. Indeed, while you might assume that an exhibition of Land Art would consist only of records of works rather than the works themselves, Long’s photograph of his work is the work. Since his “action” is in the past the photograph is its sole embodiment.That might seem rather an obscure point, but it sets the tone for an exhibition that contains a lot of black-and-white photographs and relatively few natural objects.Long is Britain’s best-known Land Artist and his Stone Circle, a perfect ring of purplish rocks from Portishead beach laid out on the gallery floor, represents the elegant, rarefied side of the form. The BoyleFamily, on the other hand, stands for its dirty, urban aspect. Comprising artists Mark Boyle and Joan Hills and their children, they recreated random sections of the British landscape on gallery walls. Their Olaf Street Study, a square of brick-strewn waste ground, is one of the few works here to embrace the mundanity that characterizes most of our experience of the landscape most of the time.Parks feature, particularly in the earlier works, such as John Hilliard’s very funny. Across the Park, in which a long-haired stroller is variously smiled at by a pretty girl and unwittingly assaulted in a sequence of images that turn out to be different parts of the same photograph.Generally however British land artists preferred to get away from towns, gravitating towards landscapes that are traditionally considered beautiful such as the Lake District or the Wiltshire Downs. While it probably wasn’t apparent at the time, much of this work is permeated by a spirit of romantic escapism that the likes of Wordsworth would have readily understood. Derek Jarman’s yellow-tinted film Towards Avebury, a collection of long, mostly still shots of the Wiltshire landscape, evokes a tradition of English landscape painting stretching from Samuel Palmer to Paul Nash.In the case of Hamish Fulton, you can’t help feeling that the Scottishartist has simply found a way of making his love of walking pay. A typical work, such as Seven Days, consists of a single beautiful black-and-white photograph taken on an epic walk, with the mileage and number of days taken listed beneath. British Land Art as shown in this well selected, but relatively modestly scaled exhibition wasn’t about imposing on the landscape, more a kind of landscape-orientated light conceptual art created passing through. It had its origins in the great outdoors, but the results were as gallery-bound as the paintings of Turner and Constable.Section III Translation46. Directions:Translate the following text from English into Chinese. Write your translation on ANSWER SHEET. (15 points)Most people would define optimism as being endlessly happy, with a glass that’s perpetually half full. But that’s exactly the kind of false cheerfulness that positive psychologists wouldn’t recommend. “Healthy optimism means being in touch with reality,”says Tal Ben-Shahar, a Harvard professor. According to Ben-Shahar, realistic optimists are those who make the best of things that happen, but not those who believe everything happens for the best.Ben-Shahar uses three optimistic exercises. When he feels down- say, after giving a bad lecturehe grants himself permission to be human. He reminds himself that not every lecture can be a Nobel winner; some will be less effective than others. Next is reconstruction. He analyzes the weak lecture, learning lessons for the future about what works and what doesn’t. Finally, there is perspective, which involves acknowledging that in the grand scheme of life, one lecture really doesn’t matter.Section IV WritingPart A47. Directions:Suppose you are going to study abroad and share an apartment with John,a local student. Write him an email to1) tell him about your living habits, and2) ask for advice about living there.You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET 2.Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use “Li Ming”instead.Do not write your address. (10 points)Part B48. Directions:Write an essay based on the following chart. In your essay, you should1) interpret the chart, and2) give your comments.You should write at least 150 words.Write your essay on ANSWER SHEET 2. (15 points)2014年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试管理类专业硕士学位联考英语试卷答案Section I Use of English1. [B] concluded2. [A] protective3. [C] Likewise4. [A] indicator5. [D] concern6. [A] in terms of7. [C] equals8. [C] in turn9. [D] straightforward10. [B] while11. [A] shape12.[B] quality13. [C] normal14. [D] tendency15. [B] pictured16. [D] associated17. [A] Even18. [D] grounded19. [C] policies20. [B] againstSection II Reading Comprehension21. According to Dumn and Norton, which of the following is the most rewarding purchase?[B]A special tour22. The author’s attitude toward Americans’ watching TV is[A]critical23. Macrib is mentioned in paragraph 3 to show that[D]rarity generally increases pleasure24. According to the last paragraph, Happy Money[B]may prove to be a worthwhile purchase25. This text mainly discusses how to26. According to the first paragraph, social psychologist have found that ______.[A] our self-ratings are unrealistically high27. Visual recognition is believed to be people’s______[C] intuitive response28. Epley found that people with higher self-esteem tended to______[B] believe in their attractiveness29. The word "Viscerally"(Line 2,para.5) is closest in meaning to_____.[A]instinctively30. It can be inferred that Facebook is self-enhancer’s paradise because people can _____.[D] withhold their unflattering sides31. According to the first paragraph, economic downturns would _____.[B]highlight machines’ threat to human jobs32. The authors of Race Against the Machine argue that _____.[A]technology is diminishing man’s job opportunities33. Hagel argues that jobs in the U.S. are often _____.[D]designed against human creativity34. According to the last paragraph, Brynjolfsson and McAfee discussed _____.[D] the formula for how work is conducted efficiently35. Which of the following could be the most appropriate title for the text?[C]Can We Win the Race Against Machines36. The author believes that the housing sector______.[D]involves certain political factors37. It can be learned that affordable housing has_____.[A]suffered government biases38. According to Paragraph 5, George Osborne may _____.[C]allow greater government debt for housing39. It can be inferred that a stable rental environment would _____.[C]contribute to funding new developments40. The author believes that after 2015, the government may _____.[B]stop generous funding to the housing sector41.Stone Cirele[D]represents the elegance of the British land art.42.Olaf Street Study[E]depicts the ordinary side of the British land art.43.Across the Park[G]contains images from different parts of the same photograph.44.Towards Avebury[C]reminds people of the English landscape painting tradition.45.Seven Days[A]originates from a long walk that the artist took.Section III Translation大多数人认为乐观主义就是无休止的开心，就像在看到一个装了一半水的杯子的时候，会认为还差半杯就满了，而非空了一半。

绝密★启用前2014年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试（湖南卷)英语本试题卷分四个部分，共12页。

时量120分钟。

满分150分。

Part I Listening Comprehension (30 marks)Section A (22.5 marks)Directions: In this section，you will hear six conversations between two speakers. For each conversation, there are several questions and each question is followed by three choices marked A, B and C. Listen carefully and then choose the best answer for each question.You will hear each conversation TWICE.Example:When will the magazine probably arrive?A. Wednesday.B. Thursday.C. Friday.The answer is B.Conversation 11. What will the woman do first?A. Take a shower.B. Go camping.C. Set up a time.2. When will the man probably call the woman?A. Thursday.B. Friday.C. Sunday.Conversation 23. What is the man going to do?A, Have a coffee break. B. See a doctor. C. Buy a pet.4. What happened to the man?A. He fell ill.B. He lost his dog.C. He slept badly.Conversation 35. What is the woman?A. A bus driver.B. A waitress.C. A tour guide.6. What does the man want to get?A. Some gifts.B. A menu.C. A bus schedule.Conversation 47. What did the man do yesterday?A. He saw a movie.B. He watched TV.C. He visited some friends.英语试题第1页（共12页)8. What time will the speakers probably meet this Saturday evening?A. At 6:30.B. At 7:00.C. At 7:30.9. Which of the following will the man buy?A. Some drinks.B. A birthday cake. G. Concert tickets. Conversation 510. What is the woman doing now?A. She is serving a customer.B. She is conducting an interview.C. She is doing some recording.11 .When does the man go to the nursing home?A. Tuesdays.B. Thursdays.C. Sundays.12. Where will the man probably be working next Monday?A. At the airport nearby.B. In the studio next door,C. At the store downtown.Conversation 613. Why does the woman call the man?A. The oven doesn‟t work.B. The heater won‟t start.C. The plug is broken.14. Who will handle the problem first tomorrow evening?A. The woman.B. The man. C A worker.15. Who is the woman speaking to?A. Her husband.B. Her house owner.C. Her boss.Section B (7.5 marks)Directions: In this section, you will hear a short passage. Listen carefully and then Jill in the numbered blanks with the information you have heard. Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.You will hear the short passage TWICE.英语试题第2页（共12页)Part II Language Knowledge (45 marks)Section A (15 marks)Directions: For each of the following unfinished sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and IX Choose the one that best completes the sentence.The wild flowers looked like a soft orange blanket the desert,A. coveringB. coveredC. coverD. to coverThe answer is A.21.Children，when b y their parents, are allowed to enter the stadium.A. to be accompaniedB. to accompanyC. accompanyingD. accompanied21. D【解析】考查非谓语动词。

中南大学学位英语考试真题及答案Title: Central South University Degree English Exam Questions and AnswersIntroductionCentral South University (CSU) is a prestigious university located in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. As part of the university requirements, students are required to pass the Degree English Exam in order to graduate. The exam assesses students' proficiency in the English language and tests their listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. In this document, we will provide a sample of CSU Degree English Exam questions and answers to help students prepare for the exam.Listening SectionQuestion 1:Listen to the following conversation and choose the correct answer:What does the man want to order?A. A hamburgerB. A sandwichC. A saladAnswer: B. A sandwichQuestion 2:Listen to the following passage and fill in the blanks:According to the speaker, studying abroad can help students _______ their horizons and improve their _______ skills.Answer: broaden, languageReading SectionQuestion 1:Read the following text and answer the questions:What is the main idea of the passage?A. The benefits of exerciseB. The importance of a healthy dietC. The dangers of smokingAnswer: A. The benefits of exerciseQuestion 2:Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this passage?A. InformativeB. SarcasticC. HumorousAnswer: A. InformativeWriting SectionQuestion 1:Write an essay of at least 200 words on the following topic: Discuss the impact of technology on modern society.Answer: Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate in modern society. From smartphones and social media to artificial intelligence and automation, technology has greatly impacted every aspect of our lives. In this essay, we will explore the positive and negative effects of technology on society.Speaking SectionQuestion 1:Describe a memorable trip you have taken and explain why it was memorable.Answer: I would like to talk about a trip I took to Japan last year. It was a memorable experience because it was my first time traveling abroad and experiencing a different culture. I visited famous landmarks such as Tokyo Tower and Kyoto Temples, tried traditional Japanese cuisine, and made friends with locals. Overall, it was a trip that opened my eyes to the beauty of diversity and left a lasting impression on me.ConclusionIn conclusion, the Central South University Degree English Exam is an important requirement for students to demonstrate their English proficiency. By practicing with sample questions and answers like the ones provided in this document, students can better prepare for the exam and increase their chances of success. We hope this resource will be helpful to all students preparing for the CSU Degree English Exam. Good luck!。

中南大学博士研究生英语考试真题全文共3篇示例，供读者参考篇1Southern University Doctoral English ExamSection A: Vocabulary and Structure (10 points)Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.1. The project __________ a lot of time and effort, but it was worth it in the end.A. consumedB. reservedC. preservedD. delayed2. The new manager decided to __________ the company's policy on staff training.A. modifyB. adoptC. maintainD. disregard3. The team worked __________ to meet the deadline for the research paper.A. leisurelyB. swiftlyC. indiscriminatelyD. insincerely4. He has a __________ for finding solutions to complex problems.A. talentB. weaknessC. deficiencyD. disability5. The company's reputation was __________ damaged by the scandal.A. completelyB. slightlyC. moderatelyD. immenselySection B: Reading Comprehension (30 points)Read the passage carefully and answer the questions below.The Rise of Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way we live and work. From virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa toself-driving cars and automated factories, AI is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives.One of the key benefits of AI is its ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. This has led to significant advancements in fields such as medicine, finance, and transportation. AI algorithms can detect patterns in data that humans may overlook, leading to more accurate diagnoses, better investment decisions, and safer transportation systems.However, the rise of AI also raises concerns about job displacement and privacy. As machines become more capable of performing complex tasks, some worry that human workers will be replaced by robots and AI systems. Additionally, the collection and analysis of personal data by AI systems raise questions about privacy and data security.Despite these concerns, the potential of AI to revolutionize industries and improve our quality of life is undeniable. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial that we carefully consider the ethical implications and ensure that AI is used responsibly for the benefit of society.Questions:1. What is one of the key benefits of AI mentioned in the passage?2. What are some of the concerns raised by the rise of AI?3. Why is it important to consider the ethical implications of AI?Section C: Writing (60 points)Write an essay of at least 300 words on the following topic: "The Impact of Technology on Education."In your essay, you should address the following points:- How has technology changed the way students learn?- What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of using technology in the classroom?- How can educators effectively incorporate technology into their teaching practices?- What role do you think technology will play in the future of education?Remember to provide examples and evidence to support your arguments.以上是中南大学博士研究生英语考试真题的部分内容，希望对您有所帮助。

英语试卷一【±q461533046】Part I Answer Dialogue Completion1. We will be shown around the city : schools , museums , and some other places , _________ othe r visitors seldom go .A. whatB. whichC. whereD. when2．The famous basketball star . __________ tried to make a comeback , attracted a lot of attention .A. whereB. whenC. whichD. who3．He is only one of the students who _________ a winner of scholarship for three years .A. isB. areC. have beenD. has been4. Is this the reason __________ at the meeting for his carelessness in his work ?A. he explainedB. what he explainedC. how he explainedD. why he explained5. The result of the experiment was very good , __________ we hadn’t expected .A. whenB. thatC. whichD. what6. Recently I bought an ancient Chinese vase . ________ was very reasonable .A. which priceB . the price of whichC. its priceD. the price of whose7. Caral said the work would be done by October , ________ personally I doubt very much .A. itB . thatC. whenD. which8. Dorothy was always speaking highly of her role in the play , __________ , of course , made the others unhappy .A. whoB. whichC. thisD. what9. John said he’d been working in the office for an hour , __________ was true .A. heB. thisC. whichD. who10. He must be from Africa, _________can be seen from his skin.A. thatB. asC. whoD. what11. Have you seen the film “Titanic”, _________ leading actor is world famous ?A. itsB. it’sC. whoseD. which12. He was very rude to the customs office , _________ of course made things even worse .A. whoB. whomC. whatD. which13. After living in Paris for fifty years he returned to the small town __________ he grew up as a c hild .A. whichB. thatC. whereD. when14. I don’t like _________ you speak to her .A. the wayB. the way in thatD. the way of which15. All of the flowers now raised here have developed from those _________ in the forest .A. once they growB. they grew onceC. they once grewD. once grew16. In the office I never seem to have time until after 5:30 pm , ________ many people have got h ome .A. whose timeB. thatC. on whichD. by which17. _________ we know , China will be an __________ powerful country in 20 or 30 years’ time .A. That ; advancingB. This ; advancedC. As ; advancedD. It ; advancing18. I shall never forget those years __________ I lived in the country with the farmers , ________ has a great effect on my life .A. that ; whichB. when ; whichC. which ; thatD. when ; who19. The weather turned out to be very good , ________ was more than we could expect .A. whatB. whichC. thatD. it20. In the dark street , there wasn’t a single person __________ she could turn for help .A. thatB. whoC. from whomD. to whom21. He made another wonderful discovery , __________ of great importance to science.A. which I think isC. which I think itD. I think which is25. His son has become a doctor, ________ he wanted to be.A. whichB. thatC. whoD. what26. She said she was busy, _________ was a lie.A. whichB. thatC. whatD. that。

2014年湖北省考博英语真题试卷(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Reading Comprehension 2. Cloze 3. English-Chinese Translation 4. Chinese-English Translation 5. WritingReading ComprehensionI am writing this at home because last week my ergonomic(符合人体工程学的)chair at the office fell apart, unable any longer to bear my weight. I am writing it on a computer that is propped on top of two thick books, because otherwise my neck would be cricked as I peered at the screen. At 1. 93m and weighing. . . well, I’m not going to say what I weigh, but think second-row rugby union forward. . . I am not built for this world. We therefore welcome a new report from Professor Tim Hatton at the University of Essex, demonstrating that the average height of men in Europe has increased by 4 inches in the past century and in the UK by a whopping 5 inches. A similar increase is likely to have occurred among women:but, because the study is based in part on military records, evidence is thinner on the ground. The problem, as Hatton observes, is that the world hasn’t kept pace with our increased height. I long ago abandoned buses—levering myself into a narrow seat was impossible. Air travel is also challenging. I was in the back row of an easyjet plane recently, which has even less space than an ordinary seat, and would have ended up with a severe backache had it not been for some thoughtful passenger not turning up, allowing me to relocate to an aisle seat where the only danger is being hit by the trolley. Small cars are impossible—I have to drive with my head through the sunroof. West End theaters are hopelessly cramped. As before in cricket grounds: I would under no circumstances pay ￡80 for a plastic bucket seat at a Test match, where I would be wedged uneasily between two loud, red-trousered merchant bankers sipping warm champagne. As for those appalling pine beds with footboards, usually found in absurdly small hotel rooms where I invariably get stuck in the toilet because the door won’t open with me inside, they should be banned immediately. Our extra height generally means extra weight. US data show that baseball players are on average 3 inches taller and 2 stones heavier than they were a century ago—and these are the superfit guys. Other data suggest ordinary Americans have added 2. 54 cm and 12. 6 kg in the past 50 years alone. We are all giants now—or will be soon. As a representative of this new breed, I would say just one thing: beware garden furniture. It appears to be made for gnomes. I routinely remove pleasant-looking but wholly impractical cane chairs, and once, while interviewing the actress Jenny Seagrove, snapped the strings of a hammock-type chair in her garden. It is not easy to get your interviewee to take you seriously after your I am writing this at home because last week my ergonomic(符合人体工程学的)chair at the office fell apart, unable any longer to bear my weight. I am writing it on a computer that is propped on top of two thick books, because otherwise my neck would be cricked as I peered at the screen. At 1. 93m and weighing. . . well, I’m not going to say what I weigh, but think second-row rugbyunion forward. . . I am not built for this world. We therefore welcome a new report from Professor Tim Hatton at the University of Essex, demonstrating that the average height of men in Europe has increased by 4 inches in the past century and in the UK by a whopping 5 inches. A similar increase is likely to have occurred among women:but, because the study is based in part on military records, evidence is thinner on the ground. The problem, as Hatton observes, is that the world hasn’t kept pace with our increased height. I long ago abandoned buses—levering myself into a narrow seat was impossible. Air travel is also challenging. I was in the back row of an easyjet plane recently, which has even less space than an ordinary seat, and would have ended up with a severe backache had it not been for some thoughtful passenger not turning up, allowing me to relocate to an aisle seat where the only danger is being hit by the trolley. Small cars are impossible—I have to drive with my head through the sunroof. West End theaters are hopelessly cramped. As before in cricket grounds: I would under no circumstances pay ￡80 for a plastic bucket seat at a Test match, where I would be wedged uneasily between two loud, red-trousered merchant bankers sipping warm champagne. As for those appalling pine beds with footboards, usually found in absurdly small hotel rooms where I invariably get stuck in the toilet because the door won’t open with me inside, they should be banned immediately. Our extra height generally means extra weight. US data show that baseball players are on average 3 inches taller and 2 stones heavier than they were a century ago—and these are the superfit guys. Other data suggest ordinary Americans have added 2. 54 cm and 12. 6 kg in the past 50 years alone. We are all giants now—or will be soon. As a representative of this new breed, I would say just one thing: beware garden furniture. It appears to be made for gnomes. I routinely remove pleasant-looking but wholly impractical cane chairs, and once, while interviewing the actress Jenny Seagrove, snapped the strings of a hammock-type chair in her garden. It is not easy to get your interviewee to take you seriously after your vast bulk has been plunged suddenly on to their manicured lawn.1．The best title of this passage might be______.A．Poor Quality of ChairsB．Trouble with Being TallC．Embarrassment of Being RejectedD．Difficulties in Taking Planes and Buses正确答案：B解析：本文的最佳标题也许是：高个子带来的麻烦。

2014医学博士英语统考听力文字版Question 1W: It would help me if you could go over the last week and give me an idea how much beer drank each evening.M: Well, let me see, I went up to the pub 4 times last week, and drank about 3 pints each evening.Question: How much beer did the man drink last week?Question 2W: Is there anything else I can do to help me sleep at night? M: Don’t worry so much about things of work. I know, I know, easier said than done.W: Should I stay home from work?M: No, I don’t think that’s nec essary, just remember to stay calm.Question: What does the doctor suggest the woman do?Question3W: How’s even your feeling in general?M: No complaints, really.Question: What does the man mean?Question 4W: Our managing director is going to give you a raise.M: Really? Are you kidding me?W: Absolutely! He thinks you would!Question: What does the woman say?Question 5W: I’ve been so worried about my daughter. She’s so different and temperament for me. We are not always on the same wheeling.M: Th at’s quite common with mothers and daughters.W: She is a further personality and very much on the ball, but she is an excitable child.Question: What does the woman mean?Question 6W: Where is your injury?M: Here, my ankle.W: How did it happen?M: I tripped over on the pavement and twisted it. It was swollen and very painful.Question: What is true about the woman?Question 7W: John wants to move upwards and onwards within his new company.M: He is well qualified and the boss interested him.W: So you think he will achieve his goal?M: Yeah! For betting he will.Question: What did the man mean?Question 8M: Take the slip to the front desk and then arrange an appointment for the tests.W: Thank you, doctor! Have a nice day!Question: What will the woman do?Question 9M: There is one girl on my school who everybody picks up. W: Why?M: Because she doesn’t wear what everybody else wears. Question: What can be inferred about the girl in question?Question 10M: What’s your coming for today, Mrs. Anderson?W: I’ve been having some pains in my joints, especially the knees!Question: Where does the conversation most probably take place?Question 11W: How long does the pain last when you get it?M: It comes and goes! Sometimes I hardly feel anything, other times it can last up to half an hour or more.W: Is there any type of food that seems to cause stronger pain or other types?M: Um, heavy foods like stay insomnia usually bring s it on, I’ll been to avoid those.Question: What type of food seems to cause stronger pain to the man?Question 12W: Carl, your bicycle is too old, it’s not safe ty to ride.M: Yeah! I think I need to buy a new one, but it will go with time.Question: What did the man mean?Question 13M: How long could you have these symptoms?W: Oh, I have the cough for two weeks, but feeling ill just be past a few days.Question: What do we know about the woman’s illness?Question 14W: I think I could recover the cough at the end of this year. M: I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but the stock index still ranges between 1900 and 2900 after every year.Question 15M: I just want check to understand which pills to take and when?W: The yellow one in the morning and the others, oh, I think no, maybe, a h, you’d better to write it down! Then you wo n’t forget!M: Here is some paper! The yellow one once a day before breakfast, the large round one three times a day after meals, the small ones when you need one for sleeping.Question: Which of the following statements is true?Section B Dialogue One Question 16-20W: Hi, Patrick, how are your feeling today?M: A bit better.W: That’s good to hear. Are you still feeling nausea?M: No. I haven’t felt sick to my stomach so she is to switch my medication.W: Great, say, your test result came this morning.M: It’s about time. Is it good news or a bad?W: I guess it would be a bit of both. Which do you want first? M: Let’s get the bad news over with.W: OK. It looks like you are going to need surgery to remove your tumor from your leg. After the operation you’re going to have to escape your feet for at least 3 weeks. That means no soccer.M: It is a friend of you if you are going to say that.W: Now, for the good news. The belt shows the tumor is benign which means it is not cancerous. We’re going to take it out anyway just being on a safe side.M: Wow, that’s a load off my mind. Thanks doctor.W: Don’t get too excited, we still need to get the bottom of this way of loathing...M: I probably have just been so worried about stupid lump. W: These things off and on are stress-related but we’re still going to do a few blood test just rule a few things out.M: Things like what? Cancer?W: Actually, I am thinking more of the lines of food allergy.Passage 1Woman may be more susceptible to the lung-damaging effect to smoking than men, according to the new research by Inassessali Sohine ND, and her colleagues from ChimingLaboratory, Briven and Women Hospital and University of Bergen Norway. They analyzed the data from the Norwegian case control study, including 954 subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 955 controls, all the current or ex-smokers. And COPD subject had moderate or severe COPD. Although analysis indicated the women may be more vulnerable to the effect to smoking, which is something previously suspected but not proven, said Dr. Sohine. The study results would be prevented on May 18, at the 115 international conference of American directive society in Santiago. Examining the total study samples there is no gender differences with respect to lung function and COPD severity. The women were on average younger, and they smoked significantly left than men. To experience the differences further they also analyzed two subgroups of study example, COPD subject on the age of 60 and COPD subjects with less than 20 pack years. In both subgroups we need have more severe disease and great impairment to the lung function than man. This means the female smokers in our study experienced reduced the lung function at a lower level of smoking exposure and at the earlier age than men, said Dr. Sohine. It’s long been suspected that the effective smoking on lung function may be modified by gender. Interaction analysts confirm that being female represents a higher risk of reduced lung function and severer COPD. But this gender reset was most pronounced women’s level of smoking exposure was low.According to Dr Sohine, the reason why the women may be more susceptible to the effect of cigarette smoke is still unknown. There are several possible explanations. Women have small airways, therefore eat cigarettes may be more harm. Also there are genderPassage 2In December 1997 large numbers of cattle, goats and sheep began dying in the Garissa district of north-eastern Kenya. A month later people started dying, too. It was, at the time, the biggest recorded outbreak of Rift Valley fever in East Africa. Some 100,000 stock animals succumbed and about 90,000 people were infected, hundreds fatally in five countries.In December 2007 the same thing happened. Or, it started to happen but was stopped in its tracks. The difference was that the second time around there was warning. In September researchers at the Goddard Space Century, Greenbelt, Maryland, part of America’s space agency, NASA, told the authorities in Kenya that they had a problem. They told them again in October. And again in November. By the time the epidemic emerged, the Kenyan health ministry had dispatched teams to the area to distribute mosquito nets and urge village leaders and religious authorities to stop people slaughtering and eating animals. Though the outbreak still killed 300 people in Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, it could bea lot worse. According to Kenneth Linthicum of America’s Department of Agriculture, the number of deaths would probably have been more than twice as high without the warning.The warning itself was possible because of a model of how disease spreads that Dr Linthicum helped design. And the data that were plugged into that model came from satellites.What the researchers at Goddard had noticed at the time of the first outbreak was that in the months preceding it, surface temperatures in the equatorial part of the Indian Ocean had risen by half a degree. These higher temperatures brought heavy and sustained rains, cloud cover and warmer air to much of the Horn of Africa. Mosquitoes multiplied wildly, and lived long enough for the virus that causes the fever to develop to the point where it is easily transmissible. In September 2007 the researchers saw the same thing happening in the ocean, and suspected the same consequences would follow.参考答案：1-5 ABCCD 6-10 BDDAD 11-15 DDCAD16-20 BCDDAD 21-25DCABC 26-30 BADAD。

2014年中南大学考博英语真题及详解Entrance English Examination for PhD Program Candidates (2014) B卷试卷一Part 1 Use of English ( 20%)Section A Vocabulary and Structure (10%, 每题0.5分)Directions: There are 20 incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer thatbest completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter onAnswer Sheet with a single line through the center.1. The French and the Americans have a very different relationship to money,______ and ostentation.A) optimumB) opulenceC) obnoxiousD) obfuscate【答案】B【解析】句意：法国人和美国人对金钱，财富和炫耀之间的关系的看法非常不同。

opulence 财富；富裕。

optimum最适条件；最适度。

obnoxious可憎的，讨厌的。

obfuscate使暗淡；使模糊。

只有opulence与money，ostentation表达同类概念，因此答案选B。

2. One of the first ______ of reduced burning in Amazon rain forests was the chestnut industry: smoke tends to drive out the insect that, by pollinating chestnut tree, allow chestnuts to develop.A) casualtiesB) reformersC) criticsD) beneficiaries【答案】D【解析】句意：在亚马逊雨林中减少燃烧的第一个受益者是栗树工业：烟往往会赶走昆虫，通过给栗树授粉，可以让栗子树生长。

2014年6月学位课真题（A卷）PAPER ONEPARTA I LISTENTING　COMPREHENSION (25 minutes, 20 points)Section A ( 1 point each)Directions:In this section, you will hear nine short conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation a question will be asked about what was said. The conversations and the questions will be read only once. Choose the best answer from the four choices given by making the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on our machine-scoring Answer Sheet.1. A. He feels quite satisfied with Jenny.B He would rather continue his work.C. He suggests stopping today’s work.D He thinks Jenny lazy and inefficient.2. A The trip was boringB The trip was excitingC He was homesickD He felt quite lonely.3. A. He is running out of gas.B He feels very hungry.C There is something wrong with his car.D He doesn’t feel well himself.4. A. She never listens to any doctor.B. She doesn’t eat candy anymore.C She often gives candy to the doctor.D She is still eating candy.5. A He is going to win the matchB He is going to give up.C He is going to take chance.D He is going to beat his rival first.6. A. He is going to a long shift.B He has lost a match.C He hates to go to clubs.D He is exhausted.7. A Playing chess is not as easy as the man thinks.B Chess is not a very difficult game to play.C It is easier to play chess after some practice.D She thinks the man is boasting.8. A Tiffany got angry for no reason.B Tiffany went to work in blue.C He’s got mad at Tiffany.D He didn’t know Tiffany had left.9. A To find a better job.B To stop working too hard.C To learn more about his job.D To accept a new job offer.Section B ( 1 point each)Directions: In this section, you will hear two mini-talks. At the end of each talk, there will be some questions. Both the talks and the questions will be read to you only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must choose the best answer from the four choices given by marking the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on your machine-scoring Answer Sheet.Mini-talk One10. A. about 100,000B. About 10,000C. About 50,000.D About 500,00011. A. Unsanitary conditions and poor management.B. Malpractices of professions.C Improper use of equipment.D Careless treatment and tending12. A. Tell someone immediately.B. Say nothing about it to doctors.C Clean it up himself or herself.D Tell the consumer groups.Mini-talk Two13. A House cleaning for older people.B. Food and shelter for older people.C Extra assistance to older people.D Companions for older people.14. A Rides to supermarkets.B Taking care of sick ones.C Bathing servicesD Transportation to doctors.15. A Daily care. B. Computer support C Removing snow D General yard workSection C (1 point each)Directions:In this section you will hear a short lecture. Listen to the recording and complete the notes about the lecture. You will hear the recording twice. After the recording you are asked to write down your answers on the Answer Sheet. You now have 25 seconds to read the notes below.16. A scientist began calling storms by women’s names by the end of ______(three words).17. The experts name storms when they reach wind speeds of ____(two words) an hour.18. The same list of names is not used again for ____six years( three words)19. A name _____(two words) when the storm with thisname has been very destructive.20. Katrina ___(two words) for more than 1800 deaths along the Gulf of Mexico.Part II VOCABULARY (10minutes, 10 points) Section A (0.5 point each)Directions: There are ten questions in this section. Each question is a sentence with one word or phrase underlined. Below the sentence are four words or phrases marked A,B,C and D. Choose the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the underlined one. Mark the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on your machine-scored Answer Sheet.21. My daughter managed to finish college with distinction and went on to graduate school.A. difference B separation C domination D honor22. The English abstract of your thesis leaves much to be desired , so you have to rewrite it.A is near completionB is far from perfectC is among the bestD is of little worth23. These kids, inexperienced but curious, finally made a kite that was too delicate to fly.A. subtle B exquisite C fragile D delicious24. The driver of this old car had few options short of replacing the motor.A lacking inB other thanC aside fromD provided that25. A collage education is more likely to give you the chance to live fulfilling lives.A deterioratingB forbiddingC demandingD rewarding26. You can’t help admiring the weightlifters when they lift the heavy weight with all their might.A strengthB likelihoodC wisdomD vigor27. This accomplished movie director had to pay a fine of over one million dollars for violation of the one-child policy.A finishedB notoriousC successfulD convicted28. If you own stock, you must allow for the possibility that it will lose value sometimes.A throw doubt toB take into accountC go ahead withD go in for29. The divorce rate among the post-80s in China is exceedingly high for various reasons.A temporarilyB extremelyC allegedlyD perpetually30. Those infected with the virus of hepatitis B enjoy equal rights under the provisions of the law.A according toB above allC less thanD regardless ofSection B (0.5 point each)Directions:There are ten questions in this section. Each question is a sentence with something missing. Below each sentence are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on your machine-scored Answer Sheet.31. All the teachers you have had in your lifetime ____ several categories.A fall behindB fall outC fall throughD fall into32. On that January day in a small town, my life changed ____ and I became a high school teacher.A courseB wayC roadD line33. The ferry service will initially run on ____ days, increasing eventually to daily sailings.A considerateB alternateC elaborateD subordinate34. A respectable official will never ____ his principles in face of various pressure.A comprehendB complicateC compriseD compromise35. incompetent leadership and bureaucracy can suppress creativity and ___.A initialB initiationC initiativeD initiator36. As the elevator is _____, you have to walk upstairs to my office.A out of stockB out of orderC out of mindD out of place.37. This terrible road accident ____ the driver disabled the rest of the life.A keptB remainedC preservedD left.38. This girl spent little time on experiments, yet she ____ completed her thesis as scheduled.A somehowB howeverC additionallyD hardly.39. At any ICU in a hospital, there are a few patients who are ____ ill and look hopeless.A ultimatelyB terminallyC drasticallyD punctually40. College students in China are ____ to grammatical errors when they use English.A proneB conduciveC rigorousD casual.Part III CLOZE TEST ( 10 minutes, 1 point each) Directions:There are 10 questions in this part of the test. Read the passage through. Then, go back and choose onesuitable word or phrase marked A, B, C and D for each blank in the passage. Mark the corresponding letter of the word or phrase you have chosen with a single bar across the square brackets on your machine-scoring Answer Sheet.The word “smog” has become a household word in urban China. Smog is an __41__ of greenhouse gases and pollutants that reduce visibility and harm respiratory functions. Smog is typically __42__ cities with high concentrations of cars and factories. The population density, amount of industry an d the fuels used __43__ together to have an impact on smog levels. During summer, smog is worse __44___ the production of ozone, the main component of smog, increases in strong sunlight. The important thing to understand about smog is that this kind of pollution is spread out __45 ___ large distances. Walking, biking or using public transportation can help limit ozone production. __46__, decreasing household electricity use and keeping your vehicles fuel-efficient reduces __47__ greenhouse gases. Checking tire pressure, oil levels, air filters, and getting regular maintenance help __48__ fuel efficiency. Be sure to use only the fuel recommended in the vehicle’s user __49___. Simple steps like avoiding stop-and-go traffic and reducing vehicle workload decrease smog-related emissions. To lighten the workload, avoid running the air-conditioner, __50__ the engine and carrying heavy objects in the vehicle.41. A arbitration B accumulation C optimization D evaluation42. A accompanied by B obliged to C immersed in D associated with43. A work B get C playD put44. A so B because C before D until45. A between B beneath C within D over46. A In addition B After all C By contrast D At first47. A ozone-produced B ozone-productionC ozone-producing D ozone-producer48. A constrain B refrain C restrain D maintain49. A illustration B roadmap C manual D prescription50. A idling B burning C emptying D exhibiting Part IV READING COMPREHENSION (45 minutes, 30 points, 1 point each)Directions:In this part of the test, there are five short passages. Read each passage carefully, and then do the questions that follow. Choose the best answer from the four choices given and mark the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on your machine-scored Answer Sheet.Passage OneMarriage was one of the first non-biological factors identified as improving life expectancy. The explanation given was that married people tend to take fewer risks with their health and enjoy better mental and emotional health. Marriage also provides more social and material support.The difference between married people and single people, in terms of health, is narrowing. To really understand this, we have to be precise about terms. Researchers typically distinguish between never married, currently married, widowed and divorced. As we look in-depth into this issue of marriage and health, we’ll see that things get pretty fuzzy nowadays.No one is saying that having a piece of paper that says “married” on it is going to improve your life expectancy. There is something about people who live in marriage that improves life expectancy---- or to be more precise, there was something about people who lived in marriage in the 70s that was found to improve life expectancy. Now, people could be listed as “single never married” in census data, but be living with someone and be experiencing all the health benefits of marriage without having the marriage certificate. This complicates research on marriage and health.Even using the traditional categories of “currently married” or “never married,” single are catching up, but only men. Men who were never married typically had the lowest life expectancy (in 1972). Now, the never married men are closing in on their currently married counterparts. The difference in life expectancy is becoming smaller because their wife took care of them. In other words, in the 1970s, married men had the advantage because they had their wives to make sure they went to the doctor and took care of themselves. Now, men are taking more responsibility for their own health and take action. Compared to 1972, people who are widowed now report poorer health than their married counterpart. In the 70s, they reported their health as the same as married people, now their health is about 7% worse. No one reallyknows why widowhood is more damaging to health now than in the 70s. my guess is that widowed people in the 70s had more of a community and extended family to help them out. Now, the widowed are more likely to be isolated.51. Paragraph 1 is concerned with ____A the benefit of marriage to health.B various definition of marriageC the disadvantages of marriageD misconception about marriage.52. The underlined word “fuzzy” in Paragraph 2 probably means_____A explicitB indistinctC worseD ridiculous53. Paragraph 3 implies that ____A whoever lives in marriage can live to an old age.B partnership can also contribute to life expectancyC we know clearly how marriage contributes to health.D a marriage certificate is a guarantee of good health.54. It can be concluded from Paragraph 4 that ____A single females are as healthy as single males.B there are as many single men as married onesC single males are financially better off than before.D single men can also enjoy long life expectancy55. For the widowed, the finding described in the last paragraph seems to be ____A bad newsB good newsC a pleasant surpriseD practical advice56. The central idea of this passage is that _____A remaining single is of greater benefit to life expectancy than marriage.B marriage doesn’t contribute as much to life expectancy as it used to.C the longer you stay married, the longer your life expectancyD it is increasingly difficult to give a precise definition of marriage.Passage TwoFor decades, American society has been moving toward a complete ban on smoking tobacco. Since about the mid-20th century, when scientific studies revealing the drug’s devastating effects on the human body were made public, public policy and social attitudes have shifted more and more against tobacco. This is something to my taste.But in executing its well-intentioned ban on consuming tobacco products on University of California campuses, the university administrations’ probation of e-cigarettes is a step too far. These means of taking in tobacco can help get smokers off conventional cigarettes, and there’s no conclusive proof that there are negative effects for bystanders. Simply put, e-cigarettes shouldn’t affect people who haven’t made the decision to put themselves at risk.It’s also a point of contention as to how harmful e-cigarettes even are to oneself. Boston University professor Michael Siegel, who advocates banning cigarettes, doesn’t believe we should restrict e-cigarettes the same way we do “conventional” cigarettes, according to the East Bay Express. Furthermore according to a study published in the esteemed British medical journal the Lancet, e-cigarettes were “modestly effective” at reducing smokers’ dependency on tobacco--- much like the commercially available nicotine patches.It doesn’t seem there are obvious negative externalities to the use of e-cigarettes. If that’s the case, then what’s the basis of the ban? Tobacco Free Berkeley project manager Steve Maranzana illustrated one justification when he told the East Bay Express that the university wants “to steer people towards quitting resources that have been proved to be effective and FDA-approved.”In the context of a “better safe than sorry” approach, the university’s decision to include prohibition e-cigarettes in its tobacco ban makes sense, so does the idea that the university wants people to use federally sanctioned “ quitting resources.” But just because the university wants to play it safe or tell people to use one kind of quitting about product, that doesn’t mean it has that authority. Banning e-cigarettes is an excessive intrusion on the judgment and lifestyle of members of the UC community. Individuals should have the ability to reason for themselves if e-cigarettes are the right choice for them, and they should be the ones to determine whether they want to use UC-recommended or FDA-approved methods.And if people decide to use e-cigarettes while not creating a problem for anyone else, why should the university get to take away that option?57. It can be concluded from the first paragraph that the author ____A has been smoking cigarettes for many years.B objects to a complete ban on smoking tobacco.C is in favor of banning cigarette smoking.D often wonders if cigarette smoking is harmful.58. The author believes that prohibition of e-cigarettes by University of California ____A seems well-grounded and innovativeB is illegal and consequently ineffectiveC can effectively help quit smoking.D does not have a solid or sound basis.59. Paragraph 4 implies thatA FDA has approved the use of e-cigarettes in quitting smoking.B e-cigarettes have proved to be effective for quitting smoking.C Steve Maranzana does not welcome the use of e-cigarettes.D University of Berkeley has done nothing to ban smoking.60. The ‘better safe than sorry’ approach suggests that University of California _____A has been authorized to prohibit e-cigarettes.B has doubts about the safety of e-cigarettesC will regret its decision to prohibit e-cigarettes.D boycotts federally approved quitting products.61. The author is convinced that individuals ___A have to obey school regulations on cigarette smoking.B should shift from e-cigarettes to tobacco smoking.C can question the effect of FDA-approved methodsD can decide for themselves whether to use e-cigarettes62. This passage is intended to argue that ____A the ban on e-cigarettes should be lifted.B cigarette smoking should be banned completely.C e-cigarettes should be approved by the FDA.D e-cigarettes will replace tobacco cigarettes.Passage ThreeResearch said to prove that greenhouse gases cause climate change has been condemned as a sham by scientists.A UN report earlier this year said humans are to blame for global warming and there is “little doubt” it is linked to man’s use of fossil fuels. But other climate experts say there is little scientific evidence to support the theory. In fact global warming could be caused by increased solar activity.Their argument will be outlined in a TV program called The Great Global Warming Swindle raising major questions about some of the evidence used for global warming.Ice core samples from Antarctica have been used as proof of how warming over the centuries has been accompanied by raised CO2 levels. But Professor Ian Clark at the University of Ottawa claims that warmer periods of the Earth’s history came around 800 years before rises in carbon dioxide levels.The program also highlights how there was a huge surge in carbon dioxide emissions, yet global temperatures fell for four decades after 1940.The UN report, published in February, was promoted as being backed by more than 2,000 of the world’s leading scientists. But Professor Paul Reiter said it was a “sham” given that this list included names of scientists who disagreed with its findings. He also said his name was removed from an assessment only when he threatened legal action against the panel.“That is how they make it seem that all the top scientists are agree,” he said. “It’s not true.” Gary Calder, a former editor of New Scientis t, claims clouds and solar activity are the real reason behind climate change. “The government’s chief scientific adviser Sir David King is supposed to be the representative of all that is good in British science, so it is disturbing that he and the government are ignoring a multitude of evidence against the greenhouse effect being the main driver against climate change,” he said.Philip Stott, a professor of biogeography, argues climate change is too complicated to be caused by just one factor, whether CO2 or clouds. He said: “The system is too complex to say exactly what the effect of reducing or increasing CO2 production would be.” “It is ridiculous to see politicians arguing over whether they will allow the global temperature to rise by 2c or 3c.”The documentary is likely to spark fierce criticism from the scientific establishment.63. A UN report on climate change is criticized for the following reasons EXCEPT ____A lack of convincing evidence for its theory.B linking global warming to use of fossil fuels.C including names of scientists who disagreed.D refusal to use ice core samples from Antarctica.64. Which of the following statements is accepted by The Great Global Warming Swindle?A Slow global warming ahs coincided with increased levels of CO2.B Colder temperatures followed a surge in emissions of greenhouse gases.C Global warming has nothing to do with increased CO2 levels at all.D Criticism from the scientific establishment is reasonable and acceptable.65. As far as climate change is concerned, Gary Calder____A is sure that all the top scientists agree with the UN　B agrees with Sir David King on causes of climate change.C doesn’t think of Sir David King as a respectable scientists .D believes that solar activity is not the cause of climate change.66. As mentioned in Paragraph 8, Philip Stott believes that ____A global temperature should not be allowed to rise.B CO2 production has significant impact on climates.C climate change is probably caused by multiple factors.D effects of increased production of CO2 are easily predictable.67. The word “sham” used in this passage probably means ____A truthB fallacyC discoveryD conclusion68. Which of the following could be a proper title of this passage?A Greenhouse Effect Is a Myth, Say Scientists.B Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases UrgentC Causes of Climate Change Little KnownD Optimism vs Pessimism in Theories of Global WarmingPassage FourThe New York Times and the Guardian are calling for President Barack Obama to take mercy on former NSA employee Edward Snowden.President Barack Obama’s recent speech on changes to the way the National Security Agency spies on people inspired many questions. It also helped to renew the debate over Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor behind the leaks. Is he a good guy or a bad buy?Of course, nothing is so simple, but Snowden’s actions have definitely divided people. According to recent polls, most Americans consider Snowden to be more of a whistle-blower than a traitor. However, the same polls indicate more Americans believe Snowden’s actions were mostly bad for the United States.Snowden first leaked the NSA documents in June 2013, including information on American spying on enemies and on American citizens, which raised the fury of civil rights advocates. Other documents focused on how the U.S. spied on its allies, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel. That led Merkel to reportedly demand clarification from Obama about the reports that her phone had been tapped.And the leaks have kept on coming out. On Friday, while outlining how he plans to reform the NSA, Obama mentioned Snowden by name. “Given the fact of an open investigation, I’m not going to dwell on Mr. Snowden’s actions or his motivations,” Obama said. “I will say that our nation’s defense depends in part on the loyalty of those entrusted with our nation’s secrets.”Later, Obama said, “We know that the intelligence services of other countries--- including some who pretend to be surprised about the Snowden disclosures----are constantly probing our government and private-sector networks and accelerating programs to listen to our conversations and invade our emails and compromise our systems.”The Times wrote, “When someone reveals that government officials have routinely and deliberately broken the law, that person should not face life in prison at the hands of the same government.” The Guardian described Snowden’s actions as “some act of moral courage.”Nothing in Obama’s speech indicated that his administration is considering these suggestions.A blog from the Washington Post’s Max Fisher offers an interesting theory on why people remain divided about Snowden. As Fisher puts it, “Many Americans see him as either a hero or a wicked person but rarely as something in between.”69. It can be concluded from this passage that Americans ____A are of divided opinion about Snowden.B mostly regard Snowden as a traitor now.C support Snowden’ action against the country.D don’t care about what Snowden has done.70. The underlined word ‘whistle-blower’ in Paragraph 3 probably means ____A a judge at the Supreme Court of the U.S.B a criminal that has turned against the country.C a discloser of wrongdoing to the public.D a person who keeps a nation’s secrets.71. According to Paragraph 4, NSA did all the following except ____A collecting intelligence on enemy countries.B obtaining secret information on American citizens.C listening to Angela Merkel’s phone in secret.D giving clarification about information collection.72. In Paragraph 6, Obama made these remarks to ____A justify the spying activities of American agencies.B disclose the real motivations of Snowden’s action.C make an official apology to other countries.D demand an investigation into Snowden’s case.73. As mentioned in Paragraph 7, both the New York Times and the Guardia n ___A condemned Snowden as a traitor.B wished Snowden to be imprisonedC expressed sympathy for Snowden.D believed Snowden had broken the law.74. Which of the following statements is true according to this passage?A President Obama is considering taking mercy on Snowden.B The debate continues as to whether Snowden is a traitor or a hero.C Most Americans agree that Snowden is a really good guy.D Americans regard Snowden as both heroic and evil.Passage FiveLast week, Education Secretary Arne Duncan declared a war on paper textbooks. “Over the next few years,” he said, “textbooks should be out of use.” In their place would come a variety of digital-learning technologies, like e-readers and multimedia Websites.Such technologies certainly have their place. But Duncan is threatening to light a fire to a tried-and-true technology---good old paper--- that has been the foundation for one of the great educational systems on the planet. And while e-readers and multimedia may seem appealing, the idea of replacing this learning platform with a widely promoted but still unproved one is extremely dangerous.A renowned expert on reading, Maryanne Wolf, has recently begun studying the effects of digital reading on learning, and so far the results are mixed. She worries that Internet reading, in particular, could be such a source of distractions for the student that they may cancel out most other potential benefits of a Web-linked, e-learning environment. And while the high-tech industry has sponsored substantial amounts of research on the potential benefits of Web-based learning, not enough time has passed for successive studies to demonstrate the full effects.In addition, digital-reading advocates claim that lightweight e-books benefit students’ backs and save schools money. But the rolling backpack seems to have solved the weight problem, and the astounding costs to equip every student with an e-reader, provide technical support and pay for regular software updates promise to make the e-textbook a very expensive option.My point is that we shouldn’t jump at a new technology simply because it has advantages; only time and study will reveal its disadvantages and show the value of what we’ve left behind. Which brings us back to paper. With strength and durability that could last thousands of years, paper can preserve information without the troubles we find when our most cherished knowledge is stuck on an unreadable floppy disk or lost deep in the “cloud”. Paper textbooks can be stored and easily referenced on a shelf. They are easy to read and don’t require a battery or plug. Though the iPad and e-readers have increasingly better screen clarity, the idea that every time a person reads a book, newspaper or magazine in the near future they will require an energy source is frightening.The digitization of information offers important benefits, but before we tear into pieces the last of the paper textbooks, let us pause and think more about it. 75. In Paragraph 2, the author argues that paper textbooks ____A are already out of fashion.B remain irreplaceable now.C are to be destroyed quickly.D are inferior to e-textbooks.76. According to Maryanne Wolf, e-reading ___A is suitable for studentsB is not worthy of study.C has some adverse effects.D is of multiple benefits.77. What is the problem that e-textbooks fail to solve?A The weight of traditional schoolbags.B Students’ disinterest in reading.C The need to update the contents regularly.D The cost for schools to maintain them.78. Paragraph 5 is primarily concerned with ____A advantages of paper textbooksB the future of paper textbooksC the accessibility of e-books.D ways to improve e-books.79. What does the author think of replacing paper books with e-readers?A It is the result of technological progress.B We should be cautious about doing that.C It is unrealistic at least for the time being.D We are sure to benefit from the change.。