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上海中级口译英语真题（完整文档）口语部分：Should We Use Child Endorsers?题目：2、 what are the possible advantages or disadvantages of children"s being advertising endorsers?口译部分：英译汉部分：1、在经济全球化，国际贸易自由化的背景下，大学将扮演怎样的角色；本科教育和研究生教育紧密相连；我们的教育应该使学生以寻求新知识、带来新发现为目的进行学习。
2、巴黎的介绍，节选于如下的文章：Ah, beautiful Paris. For centuries this city has attracted the admiration of the world. The allure and charm of Paris captivate all who visit there.啊，美丽的巴黎！几世纪来，这个城市吸引了整个世界的崇拜。
巴黎的诱惑与魅力吸引了所有到此游玩的人。
Where can you discover the charm of Paris for yourself? Is it in the legacy of all the French rulers who worked to beautify their beloved city? Is it in the famous castles，palaces， statues and monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower? Can you find it in the world-class museums， such as the Louvre? Perhaps Paris"allurelies in the zest and style of the Parisians.你在哪里可以找到巴黎对你自己的吸引力呢？是否是在历任的法国统治者们在美化他所钟爱的城市所留下來的遗产里？还是在那些有名的城堡、皇宫雕像和纪念碑例如埃菲尔铁塔之中？你能否在世界一流的博物馆，倒如卢浮宫中找着呢？或许巴黎的诱惑力在于巴黎人的特殊品味和风格。
上海市英语中级口译证书第二阶段考试试题集锦(201009)口语题Directions:Talk on the following topic for at least 3 minutes. Be sure to make your points clear and supporting details adequate. You should also be ready to answer any questions raised by the examiners during your talk. You need to have your name and registration number recorded. Start your talk with “My name is…”，”My registration number is…”Topic: Can shopping vouchers increase consumption?Questions for Reference:1.To stimulate consumption, which is more effective, tax reduction or shopping vouchers?2.What are the major purposes of issuing shopping vouchers?3.In what way can the shopping vouchers best be distributes? Shall every citizen be given the sameamount of shopping vouchers or should the vouchers be limited to the lower-income people only?口译题Part ADirections:In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. After you heard each paragraph, interpret it into Chinese. Start interpreting at the signal…and stop it at the signal…You may take notes while you are listening. Remember you will hear the passages ONLY ONCE. Now let’s begin Part A with the first passage.Passage 1As for us Americans, you may think that we give too much importance to individualism and personal gains, so much so that it might sacrifice collective benefits, and even bring harm to the harmony of the society.// Yes, but you don’t have to be worried. American work ethic is more individual-oriented. We often value the results and accomplishments of work more than its process.//If I am not mistaken, the traditional Chinese work ethic is based on Confucianism, which stresses the benefit of communal harmony rather than individual freedom.//It’s really very hard to say which is better because if the cultural differences. With the economic globalization, cultural exchanges have become more and more extensive and Americans and Chinese will know and understand each other better.至于我们美国人，你们会感到我们太看重个人主义，太看重个人利益，这样可能会牺牲集体的利益，甚至会损害社会的和谐。
上海中高级口译考试全解析上海外语口译资格证书考试已经进行了将近十年，目前报考的人数越来越多，依然有很多第一次接触到口译考试的朋友对此考试感到疑惑，这里出一个解答的汇总，希望能解决大家心中的疑问1、口译报考新手入门常见问题解答2、英语中高级口译考试考试对象、考试流程、证书用途口译报考新手入门常见问题解答上海市外语口译证书考试还有很多别名。
比如我们通常叫的上海口译考试、中高级口译证书考试……目前十分火热，且报考人数连年增长，这里针对新手报考口译考试通常会遇到的一些问题做了一系列整理，帮大家理清思路，搞清楚这到底是个怎样的口译考试问：什么是上海市外语口译证书考试？答：上海市外语口译证书考试是上海紧缺人才培训工程重要项目之一，由上海市高校浦东继续教育中心（PCEC）负责组织实施。
自1995年6月开考到现在，已有几十万人报考。
考试通过者（含笔试和口试）获得由上海紧缺人才培训工程联席会议办公室颁发的《上海市外语口译岗位资格证书》问：上海市外语口译证书考试有哪些考试项目？答：目前的考试项目有四个。
它们是英语高级口译、英语中级口译、日语口译、英语口译基础能力。
问：这四个项目的考试费用是怎样的？答：在上海地区，考试收费标准由上海市物价部门审核批准。
英语高级口译笔试、口试各210元；英语中级口译笔试、口试各180元；日语口译笔试、口试各200元；英语基础能力笔试、口试共200元。
（以上费用为上海地区考务费、报名费，外省市考点的考生另增加代办费）。
也就是说不同地区的报名费会略有高低不同，以当地报名点的报名费用为主。
问：通过考试，我可以拿到什么证书？答：英语高级口译、英语中级口译、日语口译笔试、口试全部合格者颁发《上海市外语口译岗位资格证书》；笔试合格者可办理《上海市外语口译笔试合格证书》；对英语口译基础能力笔试、口试全部合格者颁发《上海市英语口译基础能力合格证书》。
问：要拿到《上海市外语口译岗位资格证书》，我需要通过哪几项考试？答：上海市外语口译证书考试通常分为两部分，即笔试和口试。
上海市英语中级口译资格证书第二阶段考试（试卷一）A卷口语题Directions: Talk on the following topic for at least 5 minutes. Be sure to make your points clear and supporting details adequate. You should also be ready to answer any questions raised by the examiners during your talk. You need to have your name and registration number recorded. Start your talk with “My name is…, “ “My registration number is…”.Topic: The Importance of Transportation for Shanghai’s Economic Development Questions for Reference:1. Give a general picture of transportation in Shanghai and then compare itwith that in other cities in China or abroad.2. What are the causes of the most serious transportation problems in thecity?3.Why is transportation more important in Shanghai today?4.How to improve Shanghai’s transportation system?口译题Part ADirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. After you have heard each passage, interpret it into Chinese. Start interpreting at the signal…and stop it at the signal…You may take notes while you are listening. Remember you will hear the passages only once. Now let’s begin Part A with the first passage.Passage 1:Thank you very much for your gracious speech of welcome. China is one of the earliest cradles of civilization and a visit to this ancient civilization has long been my dream. // This visit will give me an excellent opportunity to meet old friends and establish new contacts. // I wish to say again that I am so delighted and privileged to visit your great country and this lovely town. // I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for me since my arrival in China. //Passage 2:I'm very glad to have the opportunity to work in your company with a group of brilliant people in China's automobile industry. //I had been looking forward to this job for many years and you have made my dream come true. //I appreciate all you have done for me. I really love my new house that you havechosen for me. //If you don't mind, I wish to tour around your company properties and meet my Chinese colleagues and lab assistants tomorrow. //Part BDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in Chinese. After you have heard each passage, interpret it into English. Start interpreting at the signal…and stop it at the signal…you may take not es while you’re listening. Remember you will hear the passages only once. Now, let’s begin Part B with the first passage.Passage 1:浦江商务旅游公司是经国家旅游局批准的我国首批商务旅游公司。
年9月中级口译考试真题,答案与解析Spot Dictation:We all have problems and barriers that block our progress or prevent us from moving into new areas. Our problems might include the fear of speaking in front of a group anxiety about math problemsor the reluctance to sound silly trying to speak a foreign language. It's natural to have problems and barriersbut sometimes they limit our experience so muchwe get bored with life. When that happensconsider the following three ways of dealing with the problem or barrier.One way is to pretend it doesn't exist. Avoid itdeny itand lie about it. It's like turning your head the other wayputting on a fake grinand saying"Seethere's really no problem at all. Everything is fine."In addition to looking foolishthis approach leaves the barrier intactand we keep bumping into it. Soa second approach is to fight the barrierto struggle against it. This usually makes the barrier grow. It increases the barrier's magnitude. A person who is obsessed with weight might constantly worry about being fat. He might struggle with it every daytrying diet after diet. And the more he strugglesthe bigger the problem gets.The third alternative is to love the barrier. Accept it. T otally experience it. Tell the truth about it. Describe it in detail.Applying this process is easier if you remember o ideas. First loving a problem is not necessarily the same as enjoying it. Love in this sense means total and unconditional acceptance. Secondunconditional acceptance is not the same as unconditional surrender. Accepting a problem is different than giving up or escaping from it. Ratherthis process involves escaping into the problemdiving into it headfirstand getting to know it in detail.Often the most effective solutions ewhen we face a problem squarelywith eyes wide openthen we can move through the probleminstead of around it. When you are willing to love your problemsyou drain them of much of their energy.【评析】本文选自Dave Ellis 的著作Being a Master Student其中的一个章节：Love your problems and experience your barriers，本文主要介绍了解决问题的三种办法，第一种是直接无视它，就当不存在；第二种是正视它，挑战它，第三种则是爱上困难，充分体验。
Spot Dictation:We all have problems and barriers that block our progress, or prevent us from moving into new areas. Our problems might include the fear of speaking in front of a group, anxiety about math problems, or the reluctance to sound silly trying to speak a foreign language. It's natural to have problems and barriers, but sometimes they limit our experience so much, we get bored with life. When that happens, consider the following three ways of dealing with the problem or barrier.One way is to pretend it doesn't exist. Avoid it, deny it, and lie about it. It's like turning your head the other way, putting on a fake grin, and saying, "See, there's really no problem at all. Everything is fine."In addition to looking foolish, this approach leaves the barrier intact, and we keep bumping into it. So, a second approach is to fight the barrier, to struggle against it. This usually makes the barrier grow. It increases the barrier's magnitude. A person who is obsessed with weight might constantly worry about being fat. He might struggle with it every day, trying diet after diet. And the more he struggles, the bigger the problem gets.The third alternative is to love the barrier. Accept it. Totally experience it. Tell the truth about it. Describe it in detail.Applying this process is easier if you remember two ideas. First, loving aproblem is not necessarily the same as enjoying it. Love in this sense means total and unconditional acceptance. Second, unconditional acceptance is not the same as unconditional surrender. Accepting a problem is different than giving up or escaping from it. Rather, this process involves escaping into the problem, diving into it headfirst, and getting to know it in detail.Often the most effective solutions come, when we face a problem squarely, with eyes wide open, then we can move through the problem, instead of around it. When you are willing to love your problems, you drain them of much of their energy.【评析】本文选自Dave Ellis 旳著作Becoming a Master Student其中旳一种章节：Love your problems and experience your barriers，本文重要简介了处理问题旳三种措施，第一种是直接忽视它，就当不存在；第二种是正视它，挑战它，第三种则是爱上困难，充足体验。
3月上海中级口译考试真题及答案解析Talks and ConversationsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear a few questions. Listen carefully, because you will hear the talk or conversation and the questions ONLY ONCE. When you hear a question, read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Question 11—14M: I love this car; I think it’s really cool. It’s called the clean car.W: Where is it made?M: It was produced in Sweden. It was designed in Italy. The engine of the vehicle runs on electricity which is generated by water.W: so the fuel is plain H2O? Fantastic!M: this car was made for the city. It can be parked in a small space and it reaches a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.W: It looks very light. What’s it made of?M : It is made of a special metal which is being used for airplanes and space shuttles.W: And what’s the price of the clean car?M : That’s the only problem. It’s still rather expansive.11. What is the man and the woman talking about?12. Where is the vehicle produced?13. Which of the following is true about the vehicle?14. What is the only problem with the vehicle?【解析】本对话讨论的是一种以新能源供能的汽车。
中级口译笔试试题及答案一、听力理解（共20分）1. 听下面一段对话，选择正确的答案。
A. 去图书馆B. 去电影院C. 去公园D. 去超市对话内容：（此处假设有一段对话内容）答案：C2. 听下面一段对话，选择正确的答案。
A. 他喜欢看书B. 他喜欢听音乐C. 他喜欢画画D. 他喜欢运动对话内容：（此处假设有一段对话内容）答案：A二、阅读理解（共30分）1. 阅读以下短文，选择正确的答案。
短文内容：（此处假设有一段短文内容）A. 短文主要讲述了...B. 短文主要讲述了...C. 短文主要讲述了...D. 短文主要讲述了...答案：B2. 阅读以下短文，选择正确的答案。
短文内容：（此处假设有一段短文内容）A. 短文主要讲述了...B. 短文主要讲述了...C. 短文主要讲述了...D. 短文主要讲述了...答案：D三、翻译（共30分）1. 将以下句子从英语翻译成中文。
英文：The weather is getting warmer, so I will take off my coat.中文：天气变暖了，所以我将脱掉我的外套。
答案：正确2. 将以下句子从中文翻译成英语。
中文：他每天早晨都会去公园跑步。
英文：He goes running in the park every morning.答案：正确四、写作（共20分）1. 根据以下提示写一篇短文。
提示：描述你最喜欢的季节，并解释为什么。
答案：（此处假设有一篇短文内容）评分标准：- 内容相关性：5分 - 语言准确性：5分 - 组织结构：5分 - 语法和拼写：5分总分：20分。
2010年3月上海中级口译笔试真题及答案及听力原文2010年3月上海英语中级口译证书第一阶段考试真题SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST (45 minutes)Part A: Spot DictationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage ONL Y ONCE.The Internet is an excellent source for finding many types of information and for keeping up with new developments in the world. Today, an ever increasing number of people are using the Internet to __ dig up _(1) related information, conduct business, or personal activities, access electronic databases, send e-mail, and network with relatives, __ colleagues or friends _____(2). Frequently referred to as the Information Super Highway, the Internet is actually a network of ___ computer networks ____(3). You may think of the Internet as analogous to the ______ interstate highway system ___(4), Just as the interstate system connects to different cities via _ many different routes __(5), the Internet connects computers around the world via a number of different __ electronic pathways____(6). At the most basic level, a computer, a modem, and a right type of __ software ____(7) can get a person onto the Internet. Through the Internet you can access massive amounts of information by ____ accessing computers __(8) that are linked together.Generally speaking, two types of information ____ available on the internet ___(9), are the most useful for people. That is ,conversational resources, and _____ reference resources____(10).Conversational resources allow users to have conversations with individuals __ anywhere in the world __(11). Mailing lists and news groups are __ the primary types ____(12) of conversational resources. Mailing lists include electronic mail, whereby the user _ can read messages ____(13), send to any other individual, or group of individuals, who have subscribed by having their name and electronic______ mail address ___(14) placed on the center’s list of addresses.News groups are essentially electronic _____ bulletin boards_(15). Any one with Internet access can _ post an article____(16) to the board, and any one with Internet access can read the board.The reference resources you____ most frequently encounter __(17) are the World Wide Web (www) or the web for short. The web uses HTML (hypertext markup language) to transfer text __(18), sound, graphics and video. Of course, you need browsers to view documents, and __ navigate ___(19)through the intricate links structure. The most __ popular and well-known __(20) browser is the Microsoft Internet Explorer.(1) dig up(2) colleagues or friends(3) computer networks(4) interstate highway system(5) many different routes(6) electronic pathways(7) software(9) available on the internet(10) reference resources(11) anywhere in the world(12) the primary types(13) can read messages(14) mail address(15) bulletin boards(16) post an article(17) most frequently encounter(18) transfer text(19) navigate(20) popular and well-knownPart B: Listening Comprehension1. StatementsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements will be spoken ONLY ONCE, and you will not find them written on the paper; so you must listen carefully. When you hear a statement, read the answer choices and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.1. (A) It is planned that we will go and visit Australia early next year.(B) It is proposed that a new branch be set up in Australia.(C) The tuition fee for studying in Australia will be raised next year.(D) We are confident that our plan to start a branch school will come off.2. (A) I cannot describe our accountant without drinking some coffee.(B) I have to keep awake during our chief accountant’s briefings.(C) I think our chi ef accountant’s briefings are really boring.(D) I doubt that our chief accountant will talk with you over coffee.3.(A) Miss Brown is not qualified.(B) Miss Brown is right.(C) It is a well-paid job.(D) It is her first job.4. (A) The manager told the secretary not to rush.(B) The manager told his secretary to finish the memo on time.(C) The manager told the secretary to take the memo home.(D) The manager told the secretary to wind the clock in the office.5. (A) Your 10% discount is not enough for a second order.(B) You should deliver the second order next month.(D) We’ll buy more if the price is cheaper.6. (A) Scientists are convinced that most animals cannot adapt to changes in climate.(B) Certain animals are more adaptable as they can live in extreme conditions.(C) Climate changes are responsible for the disappearance of some species.(D) Some species can move to the new surroundings in case of climate changes.7. (A) I think sending the products by air is faster and safer.(B) I need a quick response for my question about the products.(C) To avoid any damage, we’d better send the products by sea.(D) It is dangerous to send the products by sea as there are pirates.8. (A) Generation gap is a new phenomenon of the ever-changing modern times.(B) Differences exist among people even if they are of the same generation.(C) Modern people can have different life expectancy, with only a few years apart.(D) Modern people of different age groups may easily sharea common viewpoint.9. (A) We have made doubled efforts to increase the attendance.(B) We need to find another 80 agents for our sales conference.(C) This year’s attendance will almost double that of the last.(D) More than 280 people will c ome to this year’s conference.10. (A) We have invested less than half a million in that project.(B) We have invested almost three million in that project.(C) We have invested five million or so in that project.(D) We have invested about seven million in that project.2. Talks and ConversationsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear a few questions. Listen carefully because you will hear the talk or conversation and questions ONL Y ONCE. When you hear a question, read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Questions 11--1411. (A) Husband and wife.(B) Customer and waitress.(C) Tenent and door-keeper(D) Patient and doctor.12. (A) His mother. (B) His father. (C) His child. (D) Himself.13. (A) Red salty beef. (B) Spicy seafood.(C) Fish and chips. (D) Sausages and eggs.14. (A) A notice. (B) Two tablets.(C) Some medicine. (D) Some red wine. Questions 15--1815. (A) In 1800 (B) In 1851(C) In 1939 (D) In 195016. (A) T o attract people all over the world.(B) To save millions of dollars in hotel accommodation.(C) To offset the imbalance in foreign trade.(D) To outweigh the benefits and potential revenues.17. (A) T o promote scientific exchanges.(B) To define cross-cultural communications.(C) To improve their national images(D) To display their technological advancements.18. (A) the presentation of new inventions.(B) the promotion of cultural exchanges.(C) the ambition of nation branding.(D) the creation of a universal language.Questions 19--2219. (A) Because she wanted to invite him to Spain.(B) Because she needed some help to find a hotel.(C) Because she asked him to book a hotel.(D) Because she thought that he had been ill for some time.20. (A) He generally camped around while traveling in Spain.(B) He used to work hard in a seaside hotel in Spain.(C) He found it difficult to travel around Spain on his own.(D) He normally would help Joyce to find a hotel in Spain.21. (A) She can not put up with her noisy kids.(B) She can not organize the trip to Spain.(C) She has to find hotel rooms for her kids.(D) She has to rent a bigger car for the camping equipment.22. (A) Visit Joyce Cook.(B) Phone Mr and Mrs Simpson.(C) Book the hotel rooms in advance.(D) Consult someone else.23. (A) It has fixed weight. (B) It has functions.(C) It has color. (D) It has surface.24. (A) One-sixth pound. (B) One-fourth pound.(C) One-third pound. (D) Half a pound.25. (A) The weight of an object on the earth’s surface.(B) The power of attraction between two objects.(C) The natural beauty of an object in space.(D) The attraction of ancient objects and relics.26. (A) Because there is less air on the Moon.(B) Because the moon is not inhabitable.(C) Because the moon is too far away from the earth.(D) Because the moon is much smaller.Questions 27--3027. (A) An advertising agency.(B) A beautiful picture.(C) A project from the finance office.(D) A catalogue of products.28. (A) They don’t have enough money for extra copies.(B) They don’t have time to print the n ew catalogue.(C) They cannot get in touch with their regular customers.(D) They cannot attend the expo coming up this spring.29. (A) Right away. (B) At noon.(C) In the afternoon. (D) In a couple of days.30. (A) T o approve a budget supplement.(B) To pay the advertising agency for the expo.(C) To hold Mrs Cater responsible for the catalogue.(D) To design a real eye-catcher.Part C: Listening and Translation1. Sentence TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentences in English. You will hear the sentences ONL Y ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)2. Passage TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. You will hear the passages ONL Y ONCE. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening.(1)(2)SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS (45 minutes)Directions: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is followed by several questions based on following each passage on the basis of what is stated orimplied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Questions 1-5On Saturday mornings I worked in the family shop. I started cycling down to the shop with Dad on Saturday as soon as I was b ig enough. I thought of it as giving him a hand and so I didn’t mind what I did, although it was mostly just fetching and carrying at a run all morning. I managed not to think of it as work and I looked forward to the bar of chocolate my grandmother passed me unsmilingly as I left. I tried not to look at her; I had reason to feel guilty because I’d generally already eaten some dried fruits or a sliver of cheese when no one was looking. As soon as I was fifteen, though, Dad said, “That’s it, our Janet. You’r e of working age now and you’re not coming to work unless your grandmother pays you properly.’ He did his best to make his chin look determined. “I shall speak to her.”The next Saturday, Gran called me into her little office behind the shop. I always hated going in there. She had an electric heater on full blast, and the windows were always kept tightly closed whatever the weather. There were piles of dusty catalogues and brochures on the floor. “You’re wanting to get paid, I hear,” Gran said. “Yes, please,”I replied. It was rather like visiting the head mistress at school, so I was very quiet and respectful. Gran searched through the mess of papers on her crowded desk, sighing and clicking her tongue. Eventually she produced an official-looking leaflet and ran her fingers along the columns of figures. “How old are you?” “Fifteen ... Gran,” I added for extra politeness, but she looked at me as if I had been cheeky. “Full-timers at your age get twohundred and forty pounds for a thirty-five-hour week,” she a nnounced in such a way as to leave no doubt that she wasn’t in favour of this. “No wonder there’s no profit in shopkeeping! So, Janet, what’s that per hour?” Question like that always flustered me. Instead of trying to work them out in my head, I would jus t stand there unable to think straight. “I’ll get a pencil and paper,” I offered. “Don’t bother,” snapped Gran angrily, “I’ll do it myself. I’ll give you 6 pounds an hour; take it or leave it,” “I’ll take it, please,” “And I expect real work for it, mind. N o standing about, and if I catch you eating any of the stock, there’ll be trouble. That’s theft, and it’s a crime.”From then on, my main job at the shop was filling the shelves. This was dull, but I hardly expected to be trusted with handling the money. Once or twice, however, when Dad was extra busy, I’d tried to help him by serving behind the counter. I hated it. It was very difficult to remember the prices of everything and I was particularly hopeless at using the till. Certain customers made unkind remarks about this, increasing my confusion and the chances of making a fool of myself.It was an old-established village shop, going back 150 years at least and it was really behind the times even then. Dad longed to be able to make the shop more attractiv e to customers, but Gran wouldn’t hear of it. I overheard them once arguing about whether to buy a freezer cabinet. “Our customers want frozen food,” Dad said. “They see things advertised and if they can’t get them from us, they’ll go elsewhere.” “Your fa ther always sold fresh food,” Gran replied. “People come here for quality, they don’t want all that frozen stuff.”1. How did Janet feel when she first started her Saturday morning job?(A) She enjoyed the work that she was given.(B) She was pleased to be helping her father.(C) She worried that she was not doing it well.(D) She was only really interested in the reward.2. What do we learn about her grandmother’s office in the second paragraph?(A) It was untidy.(B) It was dark.(C) It needed decorating.(D) It had too much furniture in it.3. The word “flustered” (para. 2) means _______.(A) bored (B) angered (C) confused (D) depressed4. What did Janet’s father and grandmother disagree about?(A) How to keep their customers loyal to the shop.(B) The type of advertising needed to attract customers.(C) The type of customers they wanted to attract.(D) How to get new customers to come to the shop.5. What impression do we get of Janet’s feelings towards her grandmother?(A) She respected her fairness.(B) She doubted her judgment.(C) She disliked her manner.(D) She admired her determination.Questions 6-10Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such prominent features had altered the appearance of the town centre entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants.Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week’s storm, when the winds brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn’t have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this has the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyed, took the initiative and drove him to the doctor’s door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn’t have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist’s to get his p rescribed antibiotics and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, groaned thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.It wa sn’t until Saturday, when the antibiotics took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realised with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams’ large house stood in a sizeable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafygarden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This has not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that disguised the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness. And the view from the window didn’t bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great m any upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams’ every movement.“Doesn’t it look terrible?” Pelham croaked to his wife.But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. “That’s what I’ve been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.”6. Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?(A) The town looked different.(B) The police had done little to help.(C) No market could be held.(D) Fallen trees had not been removed.7. What do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham and his work, from the third paragraph?(A) He found his work extremely annoying.(B) He was sure that he fulfilled a vital role in his work.(C) He considered the police systems not efficient.(D) He did not trust the decisions made by his superiors.8. When Inspector Pelham’s wife first told him about the walnut tree, he appeared to be _______.(A) worried (B) shocked (C) saddened (D) uninterested9. As a result of the storm, the Pelh ams’ living-room _______.(A) was pleasantly lighter (B) felt less private(C) had a better view (D) was in need of repair10. From what we learn of Inspector Pelham, he could best be described as _______.(A) open-minded (B) well-likedQuestions 11-15A team of world-leading neuro-scientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person’s brain and read their intentions before they act. The research breaks controversial new ground in scientists’ ability to probe people’s minds and eavesdrop on their thoughts, and raises serious ethical issues over how brain-reading technology may be used in the future. The team used high-resolution brain scans to identify patterns of activity before translating them into meaningful thoughts, revealing what a person planned to do in the near future. It is the first time scientists have succeeded in reading intentions in this way.“Using the scanner, we co uld look around the brain for this inf ormation and read out something that from the outside there’s no way you could possibly tell is in there. It’s like shining a torch around, looking for writing on a wall,” said John-Dylan Haynes at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, who led the study with colleagues at University College London and Oxford University.The research builds on a series of recent studies in whichbrain imaging has been used to identify tell-tale activity linked to lying, violent behaviour and racial prejudice. The latest work reveals the dramatic pace at which neuro-science is progressing, prompting the researchers to call for an urgent debate into the ethical issues surrounding future uses for the technology.If brain-reading can be refined, it could quickly be adopted to assist interrogations of criminals and terrorists, and even usher in a “Minority Report” era (as portrayed in the Steven Spielberg science fiction film of that name), where judgments are handed down before the law is broken on the strength of an incriminating brain scan. “These techniques are emerging and we need an ethical debate about the implications, so that one day we’re not surprised and overwhelmed and caught on the wrong foot by what they can do. These things are going to come to us in the next few years and we should really be prepared,” Professor Haynes said. The use of brain scanners to judge whether people are likely to commit crimes is a contentious issue that society shou ld tackle now, according to Haynes. “We see the danger that this might become compulsory one day, but we have to be aware that if we prohibit it, we are also denying people who aren’t going to commit any crime the possibility of proving their innocence.”During the study, the researchers asked volunteers to decide whether to add or subtract two numbers they were later shown on a screen. Before the numbers flashed up, they were given a brain scan using a technique called functional magnetic imaging resonance. The researchers then used a software that had been designed to spot subtle differences in brain activity to predict the person’s intentions with 70 percent accuracy.Because brains differ so much, the scientists need a goodidea of what a person’s brain activity looks like when they are thinking something to be able to spot it in a scan, but researchers are already devising ways of deducing what patterns are associated with different thoughts.11. According to the passage, the brain-reading technology can be used ______.(A) to eavesdrop on potential criminals and terrorists.(B) to probe people’s minds and read their intentions.(C) to design a software to spot subtle differences in brain activity.(D) to suppress activities linked to lying, violence and discrimination.12. Which of the following words can best describe the research on the brain scan?(A) Ethical.(B) Powerful.(C) Compulsory.(D) Groundbreaking.13. What should people do before brain scans are to be put into practical use?(A) Mobilize adequate resources.(B) Resolve controversial issues.(C) Improve the scanner’s accuracy.(D) Identify different brain activities.14. The word “this” in the sentence “We see the danger that this might become compulsory one day, …” (para.5) refers to ______.(A) the use of brain scanners(B) the prohibition of brain scanners(C) warning people who are likely to commit crimes(D) denying people the possibility of proving their innocence15. How did neuroscientists manage to detect different brain activities of people?(A) Flashing them up on a screen.(B) Deducing varying patterns.(C) Using a designed software.(D) Predicting their intentions.Questions 16-20Why bankrupt yourself in a so-called old people’s home? Try a health spa—it might actually be cheaper.Sometimes I see old ladies shuffling along the pavement with their sticks, Zimmer frames for greater support, swollen ankles, backs bent, fingers clutching at the small bag of shopping for one, and I think: “There goes my future.”But perhaps it need not be like that. Instead of bankrupting oneself or the state with the increasingly high cost of home care or an old people’s home, why not try a health spa instead?My friend Rosemary has just returned from a five-day visit to one of these health farms, which she thought might aid her recovery from her heart attack.It wasn’t exactly her cup of tea, she said: a sort of mix between mall shopping and a Saga cruise, “with the same awful whirlpools, people waiting about half-clothed, and loads of boutiques selling odd things.It would have been more beneficial had she not foolishly tried yoga and lay on the floor trying to breathe. One should not do this after a heart attack.Rosemary soon felt clammy and sick, sat on a chair, and then, even more foolishly, raised her arms above her head and nearly flaked out. So she staggered to the smoking room, now hiddenaway in a distant chalet behind the lawn because despite a tremendous struggle, she hasn’t quite managed to give up completely yet.But the food was fabulous, the grounds were heavenly, and there were hordes of charming young staff, and loads of free activities, not all strenuous. Rosemary was able to do blessed little for five days and she did have a lovely rest—perfect if one is old and fairly helpless.When m y mother was alive, I took her to both Rosemary’s health spa and a local care home. It wasn’t a nursing home—my mother was able to wash and dress herself and move about—but entertainment and activities were minimal and the food was grim: the customary dried chicken legs and bits of quiche and white bread ham sandwiches for supper.This wretched place cost exactly the same as the health spa. How can the spa do it for that price and also manage respect for guests, fabulous food and attractive surroundings? W e just can’t work it out.16. What does the author mean when she thinks “There goes my future.” (para. 2)?(A) The same is true of her future.(B) Her future might be worse.(C) She doesn’t have much of a future.(D) She can’t tell what her future hold s for her.17. In the author’s eyes, why did her friend Rosemary benefit less in the health spa?(A) Because she did her mall shopping instead.(B) Because she reverted to her old habit of smoking.(C) Because she did physical exercise not suitable for her.(D) Because she stayed there for a span of five days.18. The author’s high opinion of the health spa is based on ______.(A) her own experience(B) her friend Rosemary’s experience(C) her mother’s experience(D) both Rosemary’s and her mother’s ex periences19. According to the passage, which of the following can be found in a care home?(A) Loads of boutiques.(B) Lots of free activities.(C) Charming young staff.(D) Poor-quality food.20. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.(A) Rosemary will revisit the health spa and stay there longer for recovery(B) a care home is not as attractive as the health spa(C) the health spa is more to the taste of old ladies than to old menQuestions 21-25The latest gloomy news from journalism’s battere d front lines is that the prestigious New York Times (NYT) is laying off 100 staff. Paper-and-ink newspapers are in deep trouble, there’s no doubt about that. But the NYT, as comprehensive as its news coverage sometimes is, is hardly in a position to offer the real story on its current woes, anymore than a psychoanalyst is able to objectively analyze him or herself.What’s bad for the NYT is not necessarily bad for journalism any more than what is good for the NYT is necessarily good for journalism. But with more than 100 newspapers closing down last year, troubles at the NYT can be seen in a general perspective as。
1998.3上海市英语中级口译资格证书第一阶段考试SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST (40 minutes)Part A: Spot DictationDirections: Is this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage only once.Britain is changing more rapidly than ever before in her long history. In some respects the new British society reflects general world trends. In other respects it has kept its own _________(1). British society is evolving, that is to say, developing and suiting itself to __________(2). Evolution rather than revolution or violent change is a ___________(3) of the British way of life.This is shown in one way by how the British people __________(4). The Conservative and Labour Parties have controlled __________(5) for the last fifty years,but today neither party can any longer be sure from which class or __________(6) its support will come. Not long ago you _______(7) the working classes always to vote for the Labour Party. The' word “Labour”means “hard work”—especially hard work”___________(8). The Labour Party is the party which is supposed _________(9) the “working man”. Your would also have expected the ________ (10) classes to vote for the Conservative Party. The word“Conservative”means “keeping things _________(11)”The Conservative Party is supposed to be the party which represents __________(12), businessmen and the self-employed. In some respects traditional British“class distinctions”are becoming _________(13), and you can be less sure how people will vote. Many members of the middle class __________(14).Many ordinary working people enjoy a better standard of living and are ___________(15) any change which might affect them. But the ___________(16) between the classes remain. Many Conservative fear that the sovereignty of Parliament is being threatened by __________(17). Many workers are afraid that the Conservative bosses are trying to keep __________(18) down. But class feelings have not reached a __________(19) yet. Middle-class and working class min can ___________(20) at a football match and be the best of friends.Part B: Listening ComprehensionⅠ. StatementsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements ill be spoken only once, and you will not find them written on the paper。
上海市中级口译笔试试题与详细答案解析(2008年春季+秋季)08年春季上海外语口译考试中级口译笔译真题SECTION 1: LISTENING TESTPart A: Spot DictationDirection: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage ONLY ONCE.How did the Olympic Games start? In anci ent Greece athletic festivals were very important and had strong ________ (1). Originally the Festival was held in honour of .Zeus, the supreme god in Greek Mythology. Eventually the Olympian athletic festival had lost its ________ (2) and became an international event. No one knows exactly ________ (3) the Olympic Games go, but some scholars recorded date from 776 B.C.According to some scholars, at first the only Olympic event was ________ (4), called a stadium and that was the only event until 724 B.C. After that, other ________ (5) were added and sixteen years later in ________ (6) the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the games. This pentathlon was a five-event match which ________ (7) running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus, and hurling the javelin.The games were held ________ (8) and after an uninterrupted history of 1170 years, the games ________ (9) in A.D. 394, the Christian era, because of their pagan origin.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除It was over ________ (10) before there was another such international athletics gathering. In 1896, the first of the modern ________ (11) opened in Athens, Greece.Nowadays, the Games are held in different countries ________ (12). The host country provides vast facilities such as stadiums and ________ (13).Many more sports are represented, including the very celebrated event: ________ (14).The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch, ________ (15) on Mount Olympus by the sun's rays. The torch is carried by ________ (16) to the stadium. The Olympic flame symbolizes the ________ (17) of the ancient Greek athletic ideals, and it burns throughout the Games until ________ (18). The well-known Olympic flag, however, is ________ (19): the five interlocking rings symbolize the uniting of all five continents ________ (20).Part B: Listening Comprehension1. StatementsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements will be spoken ONLY ONCE, and you will not find them written on the paper; so you must listen carefully. When you hear a statement, read the answer choices and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.1.(A) Diana is fond of outdoor activities.(B) Diana is well-paid for her hard work.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(C) Diana dislikes her job because it is tough.(D) Diana considers her income to be mediocre.2.(A) I'm not sure if you are responsible.(B) I'm not content with the result of the meeting.(C) I know the delay is not your fault.(D) I think the flame of that fire is too high.3.(A) The refrigerator was repaired by an old man.(B) The refrigerator will be fixed if it is under warranty.(C) Mrs. Green had her refrigerator fixed for nothing.(D) Mrs. Green would have had the refrigerator repaired if she had warranty.4.(A) George always tells the truth.(B) George lives too far to visit us.(C) It is kind of George to assist me in the filling station.(D) It is worthwhile to make friends with George.5.(A) The company's budget must be reduced reasonably next year.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(B) The company's production cost is expected to rise next year.(C) The company has to stabilize its production cost.(D) The company is likely to go bankrupt because of its limited budget.6.(A) Prompt delivery of the goods before Christmas is the most important.(B) Top priority should be given to the competitive and reasonable price of the goods(C) During Christmas, there will be a shopping craze for goods with good quality.(D) Nothing is more important than the quality and price of the goods for Christmas.7.(A) Let's continue the talk over dinner at 9 o'clock tonight.(B) We have to work something out before 9 o'clock tomorrow.(C) I propose a break until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.(D) I'm sure we'll all calm down before 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.8.(A) Our products cannot compete on the international market because of their higher prices.(B) Our products exhibit greater competitiveness even though they lack advanced technology.(C) Advanced technology will increase our expense to compete on the international market.(D) Advanced technology contributes to the excellence and competitiveness of our products.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除9 (A) Mr Parkinson never gives free investment consultations.(B) Don't consult Mr Parkinson if your problem is about finance or investment(C) The advice Mr Parkinson offers is often of great importance to our investment.(D) We should not invest in the company where Mr Parkinson is the CEO.10(A) Aging population is expected to double within decades.(B) By 2020, 45% of the people in the country will be over sixty-five.(C) Old people in this country can expect to live a longer life.(D) In less than 20 years, 23 million more people will have to retire.2. Talks and ConversationsDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear a few questions. Listen carefully because you will hear the talk or conversation and questions ONLY ONCE. When you hear a question read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.Questions 11-1411.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(A) ?400.(B) ?450.(C) ?500.(D) ?600.12.(A) It is very near his working place.(B) It is a rather crowded residential area.(C) It is convenient for transportation and shopping.(D) It is the only good position he has in mind.13.(A) He has a big family.(B) He has to work at home.(C) His mother-in-law likes to have parties.(D) His children are rather naughty.14.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(A) Its bedrooms are specious.(B) Its rent is quite reasonable.(C) It is located in a good position.(D) It is well furnished.Questions 15-1815.(A) The orange juice can help treat indigestion.(B) The orange in a supermarket is much cheaper.(C) The orange is more nutritious than any other fruits.(D) The orange is an essential part of a healthy diet16.(A) Orange.(B) Chocolate.(C) Vanilla.(D) Sugar.17.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(A) It can keep your immune system strong.(B) It can assist in your effort to reduce weight.(C) It can easily replace the nutrition of a daily meal.(D) It can help control the rising blood sugar levels.18.(A) The fruit sugar in oranges.(B) The fibre in oranges.(C) Vitamin C in oranges.(D) Calcium in oranges.Questions 19-2219.(A) He is applying to a university in England.(B) He is consulting a female professor.(C) He is studying in a British university.(D) He is helping the woman cook some food.20.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(A) It is awful.(B) It is one of his favorite kinds.(C) It is of a much greater variety.(D) It is better than he expected.21.(A) He is fond of English dishes.(B) He is tired of puddings and pies.(C) He enjoys English strawberry yogurt.(D) He seldom has breakfast at home.22.(A) Because it is properly cooked at home.(B) Because it is a kind of Yorkshire pudding.(C) Because he has never tasted it before.(D) Because he has made it all by himself.Questions 23-2623.收集于网络，如有侵权请联系管理员删除(A) We should pay more attention to our history class.(B) We generally fail to remember anything that was said.(C) Sharks are necessary in the training of active listeners.(D) Good listening skills are essential in our life.24.(A) They tolerate distractions.(B) They often find themselves in hot water.(C) They are generally lazy.(D) They are critical to family life.25.(A) By taking notes.(B) By remembering what was said.(C) By getting up to shut the door.(D) By asking questions.26.(A) Seas.(B) Sharks.(C) Sponges.(D) Students.Questions 27-3027.(A) He writes comic stories.(B) He draws pictures for comic books.(C) He teaches painting in an art school.(D) He compiles comic books with other writers.28.(A) Give his drawings a more graphic look.(B) Add variations to his works.(C) Employ a chunky brush style.(D) Move along a linear way.29.(A) They are very popular.(B) They are of the same styl e.(C) They are fairly eclectic.(D) They are influenced by other artists.30.(A) It is a new one with only 2 editors.(B) It takes him on the permanent staff.(C) It controls the final look of his works.(D) It has a nurturing environment.Part C: Listening and TranslationI. Sentence TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentence in English. You will hear the sentences ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.(1)(3)(4)(5)II. Passage TranslationDirections: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. You will hear the passages ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening.(1)(2)SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLSDirections: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is followed by several questions based on its content. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A), (B), (C) or (D), to each question. Answer all the questions following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Questions 1-5Last month, upon hearing that a neighbor had been burgled, my husband voiced a desire to beef up our home security. I was largely unresponsive. The previous owners of our house installed a burglar alarm system, but we never got it switched on, because, quoting Ed, I apparently care more about the $29 monthly fee than I do about our home security. In the end, I gave in.The alarm company sent over a sales representative, a well-coiffed professional in a suit and heels. She recommended adding some infrared motion sensors. I was not wild about this. I like to keep things simple. My idea of home security is to hire cheap, disreputable painters who can be counted upon to paint the windows shut. "Besides, can't the motion sensors be set off by a pet?" I said.Ed leaned in close to the sales rep. "We don't have any pets," he whispered. "We don't have a pet now'' I said." But we might someday." I knew this to be a lie. Ed is a dog person, and I'm a cat person. We cancel each other out.I pointed out that every now and then, the neighbors' cat, Sprinkles, will sneak into the house when the back door is open. The alarm woman started talking about "pet resistance." This was a feature of the motion sensor whereby it was set to cover the room from the waist up only. "Though of course...," she hesitated, "the cat would have to stay on the ground at all times."We got the sensors, and we got the system switched on. We never got a pet, each of us practicing his or her own particular brand of pet resistance, but we did, after many years of cost-based bickering, get a housecleaner. Every other month, Natalia can be seen making her way through the filth and cobwebs. I gave her the alarm code but promised to leave the alarm off the day she came.Naturally, I forgot. Later that morning, my work phone rang. It was Natalia, yelling in harmony with the shrieking of the alarm. She couldn't find the code. On top of all this, my cell phone started ringing. This was the alarm company, responding to the alarm and calling me to get the secret password-which was different from the shutoff code-required for them to shut off the system and prevent the police from rushing over to arrest Natalia for breaking and entering.Some weeks back, Ed and I had spent 15 minutes arguing over the secret password for the alarm. Ed is a fan of the complicated, hacker-proof, identity-theft-foiling password, the kind that involves alternating capital and lowercase letters with obscure foreign accent marks, whereas I'll use my name. I had no recollection of what we'd settled on. "Ummmm." The alarm, and Natalia, continued to go off. This went on for some time.Meanwhile, Natalia had dug through her bag, found the piece of paper I'd given her with the shutoff code and quieted the screaming alarm. I don't know how effective these alarms are against burglars, but Sprinkles hasn't been seen on the property in weeks.1.Why didn't the writer get the burglar alarm system switched on?(A) Because she didn't like its design.(B) Because the burglar alarm system had broken down.(C) Because she considered monthly fee unnecessary.(D) Because she thought their home security was not a problem.2.The family didn't have a pet because _______.(A) they didn't like pets(B) they didn't like each other's favorite animal(C) they took their neighbors' pet as their own.(D) it cost a lot to have a pet.3.According to the sales representative, the motion sensor _______.(A) is pet resistant(B) is set to cover the room floor(C) could be set off by a pet if it was near(D) could be set off by a pet if it jumped high enough4.The word "bickering" in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _______.(A) arguing(B) considering(C) persuading(D) consulting5.Ed preferred their password for the alarm to be _______.(A) complicated(B) interesting(C) easy to remember(D) his own nameQuestions 6-10An article published recently in the prestigious scientific journal Nature is shedding new light on an important, but hitherto little has been appreciated, aspect of human evolution. In this article, Professors Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman suggest that the ability to run was a crucial factor in the development of our species. According to the two scientists, humans possess a number of anatomical features that make them surprisingly good runners. 'We are very confident that strong selection for running-which came at the expense of the historical ability to live intrees-was instrumental in the origin of the modern human body form,' says Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah.Traditional thinking up to now has been that the distinctive, upright body form of modern humans has come about as a result of the ability to walk, and that running is simply a by-product of walking. Furthermore, humans have usually been regarded as poor runners compared to such animals as dogs, horses or antelopes. However, this is only true if we consider fast running, or sprinting, over short distances. Even an Olympic athlete can hardly run as fast as a horse can gallop, and can only keep up a top speed for fifteen seconds or so. Horses, antelopes and greyhounds, on the other hand, can run at top speed for several minutes, clearly outperforming us in this respect. But when it comes to long-distance running, humans do astonishingly well. They can maintain a steady pace for miles, and their overall speed compares favourably with that of horses or dogs.Bramble and Lieberman examined twenty-six anatomical features found in humans. One of the most interesting of these is the nuchal ligament, a band of tissue that extends from a ridge on the base of the skull to the spine. When we run, it is this ligament that prevents our head from pitching back and forth or from side to side. Therefore, we are able to run with steady heads, held high. The nuchal ligament is not found in any other surviving primates, although the fossil record shows that Homo erectus, an early human species that walked upright, much as we do, also had one. Then there are our Achilles tendons at the backs of our legs, which connect ourcalf muscles to our heel bones-and which have nothing to do with walking. When we run, these tendons behave like springs, helping to propel us forward. Furthermore, we have low, wide shoulders, virtually disconnected from our skulls, another anatomical adaptation which allows us to run more efficiently. Add to this our light forearms, which swing out of phase with the movement of our legs to assist balance, and one begins to appreciate the point that Bramble and Lieberman are trying to make.But what evolutionary advantage is gained from being good long-distance runners? One hypothesis is that this ability may have permitted early humans to obtain food more effectively. 'What these features and fossil facts appear to be telling us is that running evolved in order for our direct ancestors to compete with other carnivores for access to the protein needed to grow the big brains that we enjoy today,' says Lieberman.6.The human ability to run ______.(A) was only recently described in a scientific journal(B) played an important part in human evolution(C) is now regarded as more important than the ability to climb trees(D) is surprising when we consider evolutionary trends7.According to the passage, humans ______.(A) are better runners than most other animals(B) are not good at running short distances(C) compare unfavorably with horses and dogs(D) cannot run at top speed over long distances8.It appears that the nuchal ligament _______.(A) is found only in modern primates(B) enables us to run with steady heads(C) prevents the head from moving(D) is a unique anatomical feature among all species9.The passage suggests that _______.(A) we do not need calf muscles in order to walk(B) without shoulders we could not run very fast(C) the movement of our forearms is out of phase(D) our Achilles tendons are an adaptation for running10.According to the passage, early humans _______.(A) killed animals by exhausting them(B) may have evolved big brains for running(C) competed with other animals for food(D) could probably run before they could walkQuestions 11-15People value money desperately because they value one another desperately; thus the cause of panic in the stock-market plunge is not that people will lose their dollars but that they will lose their sense of community. For the past couple of weeks, the nation has watched itself roll toward ruin because people were losing their money in bales. If one were tasteless enough to ask a big loser what exactly he was losing, hewould sputter, "What am I losing? My car! My beautiful home! My children's educations! My clothes! My dinner! My dollars!" They are all true. People have been mourning the passing of their money for all the things that money can do, and what money can do is impressive. Money can build cities, cure diseases, and win wars. The sudden acquisition of the stuff can toss our spirits into the air like a hat. Money can do considerably more. It offers power, an almost unique form of power, not simply because it allows us to acquire and possess things but because it is we who determine its worth; we who say a ruby costs more than an apple; we who decide that a tennis court is more valuable than a book. Paradoxically, money creates a deep sense of powerlessness as well, since technically we cannot provide money for ourselves; someone or something else must do that for us-our employers or, until recently, our stocks. All that, money can do: and when such essential, familiar functions are snatched from one's life, small wonder that people may grow wild, frantic, and even murderous.What money can do, however, is not the same as what money is. Let's return for a moment to the theory: people value money because they value one another. In other words, the usefulness of money is directly related to and established by continuous mutual need. People work for money to buy things that other people make or do, things that they cannot or will not make or do for themselves but that they deem necessary for some definition of self-improvement.Abstractly, money is one of the ways, indeed a universally accepted way, by which we make connections. Cash is cold. So the connections may feel cold, but real blood flows through them. These connections constitute one of the central means by which societies cohere; by which they sustain and characterize themselves.When the coin begins to wobble, as it has in the past weeks, a fear seizes the mind that is disorienting. The fear is not merely that of the loss of possessions but of self-possession, which in some sense is bought and sold from person to person in infinite daily bargains. To lose money is frightening. To lose touch with others is more frightening still. Losing touch may cause the panic of the times.11.This passage mainly discusses _______.(A) the functions of money(B) the stock-market plunge(C) a new theory of investment(D) a cold characteristic of cash12.According to the author, what can be a regular source of money provided for us?(A) Possessions.(B) Bargains.(C) Stocks.(D) Employers.13.According to the passage, money can do all the following EXCEPT _______.(A) build cities and cure diseases(B) enhance relationships among people(C) create a sense of powerlessness(D) prove the morality of people14.Under what circumstances are connections related to cash said to be cold in the passage?(A) When they are not established for societies to cohere.(B) When they are not compared to "real blood".(C) When their functions are snatched from people's life.(D) When their worth is hard to determine and not valued.15.It can be learned from the passage that ______.(A) people worry about the dollars they have more than the sense of community(B) money can lubricate the social machine but it cannot prove the value of people(C) in daily transactions one's self-possession is gained or lost(D) losing money is more frightening than losing touch with othersQuestions 16-20At first glance, why anyone would want to save California condors is not entirely clear. Unlike the closely related Andean condors with their white neck fluff or king vultures with their brilliant black-and-white colour, California condors are not much to see. Their dull black colour-even when contrasted with white underwings-featherless head and neck, oversized feet and blunt talons are hardly signs of beauty or strength. Their appeal begins to become evident when they take flights. California condors can soar almost effortlessly for hours, often covering hundreds of miles a day-far more than other creatures of the air. Only occasionally do they need to flaptheir wings-to take off, change direction or find a band of warm air known as thermal to carry them higher.When it was discovered that the condor population was becoming dangerously small, scientists and zookeepers sought to increase condor numbers quickly to preserve as much of the species' genetic diversity as possible. From studying wild condors, they already knew that if a pair lost an egg, the birds would often produce another. So the first and sometimes second eggs laid by each female in captivity were removed, artificially incubated, and the chicks raised using hand-held puppets made to look like adult condors. Such techniques quickly proved effective.Despite these successes, the effort to save California condors continues to have problems, evoke criticisms and generate controversy. Captive-hatched condors released to the wild have died at what to some people are alarmingly high rates. Others have had to be recaptured after they acted foolishly or became ill. As a result, the scientists, zookeepers and conservationists who are concerned about condors have bickered among themselves over the best ways to rear and release the birds. Some of the odd behavior on the part of these re-released birds is hard to explain. At times they landed on people's houses and garages, walked across roads and airport runways, sauntered into park visitor centers and fast food restaurants, and took food offered by picnickers and fishermen. None are known to have died by doing so, though. Most recently, some of the first chicks hatched in the wild died after theirparents fed them bottle caps, glass shards, pieces of plastic and other man-made objects that fatally perforated or blocked their intestines. These deaths may be due to the chicks' parents mistaking man-made objects for bone chips eaten for their calcium content.Mike Wallace, a wildlife specialist at the San Diego Zoo, has suggested that some of the condors' problems represent natural behavior that helps them survive as carrion eaters. The real key to successful condor reintroduction, he believes, lies in properly socializing young condors as members of a group that follow and learn from older, preferably adult birds. That, he argues, was missing from earlier condor releases to the wild. Typically, condors hatched in the spring were released to the wild that autumn or winter, when they were still less than a year old. Now, condor chicks at several zoos are raised in cave-like nest boxes. The chicks can see older condors in a large flight pen outside their box but cannot interact with them until they are about five months old. Then the chicks are gradually released into the pen and the company of the social group. The group includes adult and older juvenile condors that act as mentors for younger ones.16.According to the passage, the most impressive feature of the California condor is_______.(A) its resemblance to Andean condor(B) its ability to glide(C) its colorful plumage(D) its blunt talons17.In the first stage of the conservation program _______.(A) eggs were removed from the nests of wild condors(B) female condors were captured and studied carefully(C) scientists and zookeepers tried to create genetic diversity(D) condors were induced to lay more than one egg18.Which of the following is true about the attempts to save these birds from extinction?(A) There is disagreement about the methods employed.(B) The majority of condors released into the wild became ill.(C) Attempts to breed condors in captivity have failed,(D) Condors reintroduced into the wild are unable to hunt.19.Some chicks hatched by re-released condors died because _______.(A) they fell into pools of water(B) they fell prey to other animals(C) they had odd drinking habits(D) they swallowed dangerous objects20.According to Mike Wallace, there will be fewer problems _______.(A) if young condors are taught not to eat so much carrion(B) if the chicks are kept in cave-like nest boxes for five months(C) if young condors can learn appropriate behavior from older birds(D) if the chicks can have older birds for company when they hatch Questions 21-25We are not who we think we are.。
