TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORSGRADE FOUR TIME LIMIT:135MIN
PART I DICTATIONListen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more.
Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.
PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSIONIn Sections A, B and C you will hear everything once only. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct response to each question on your answer sheet.
SECTION A CONVERSATIONSIn this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the conversation.
1. What is the first problem with the man's reservation?
A. The hotel confused him with another guest.
B. Rooms are overbooked for that evening.
C. There are no more rooms available for five people.
D. The price for the room is more than he expected.
参考答案： A
2. For which day did Mr. Nelson make a hotel reservation?
A. The seventeenth.
B. The eighteenth.
C. The nineteenth.
D. The twentieth.
参考答案： B
3. How does Mr. Nelson respond when the hotel clerk offers to provide him with a free room on his next visit?
A. He thinks it will take a long time to receive the free coupon for the room.
B. He feels he should first receive an apology from the manager.
C. He suggests that the hotel should give an additional 15% discount.
D. He implies that he might not visit again because of the problems.
参考答案： D
SCRIPT:
M: Hi. I have a reservation for tonight. Charles Nelson.
W: Okay. Mr. Nelson. That's a room for five guests under your name.
M: No. No. Hold on. There must be some mistake.
W: Okay. Let's check this again. Okay, Mr. Charles C. Nelson for tonight ...
M: Ah. There's the problem. My name is Charles Nelson, not Charles C. Nelson.
W: Okay. Let me check this again. Oh. Charles Nelson. A room for one for the 19th ...
M: Wait! It was for tonight. Not tomorrow night.
W: Hum. I don't think we have any rooms for tonight.
M: Ah come on! You must have something. Anything.
W: Well. Let me check my computer here. Ah! There has been a cancellation for this evening. A honeymoon suite is now available.
M: Great. I'll take it.
W: But I'll have to charge you two hundred and fifty dollars for the night.
M: Ah. I should get a discount for the inconvenience.
W: Well. A ten percent discount plus a ticket for a free continental breakfast.
M: Hey. Isn't the breakfast free anyway? I want to talk to the manager.
W: Wait, wait Mr. Nelson. I think I can give you an additional 15% discount and I'll throw in a free room for the next time you visit us.
M: That'll be a long time.
Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the conversation.
4. Which law did the driver break in the school zone?
A. He exceeded the speed limit.
B. He drank the wine before driving.
C. He didn't yield to children crossing the road.
D. He parked illegally near the school.
参考答案： A
5. What happened at the intersection?
A. The driver didn't use his turn signals.
B. The driver didn't come to a complete stop.
C. The driver failed to yield to other drivers.
D. The driver didn't slow down.
参考答案： B
6. What can be implied from the driver's conversation about the officer's name?
A. The driver plans to report the officer to his superiors.
B. The driver tells the officer that they have met before.
C. The driver hints that the officer could let him off.
D. The driver suggests he knows the officer's family.
参考答案： C
7. What happens at the end of the conversation?
A. The driver gets a ticket.
B. The officer arrests the driver.
C. The driver is taken to court.
D. The officer takes away the car.
参考答案： A
SCRIPT:
Police Officer: Okay. May I see your driver's license please?
Driver: What? Did I do anything wrong?
Police Officer: License, please. And your car registration.
Driver: Oh, yeah. Yeah, here it is.
Police Officer: Sir, did you realize you were speeding in a school zone?
Driver: What? No, I didn't, but that's probably because my odometer is broken, I mean, malfunctioning.
Police Officer: Yes, you were going 50 miles per hour in a 20 miles per hour zone. And, you failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection back there.
Driver: Rolling stops don't count?
Police Officer: And, one of your break lights is out, you're not wearing a seat belt, and your driver's license expired six months ago.
Driver: And your name is ... Officer Smith? Hey, are you related to the Smiths in town? My wife's cousin's husband (I think his name is Fred) works for the police department here. Or was that the fire department? Anyway, I thought you might be good pals, and you know ...
Police Officer: Hey, are you trying to influence an officer? I could have this car impounded right now because of these infractions.
Driver: No, of course not.
Police Officer: Okay, then. Here's your ticket. You can either appear in court to pay the fine or mail it in. Have a nice day.
Driver: Do you take cash?
Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the conversation.
8. What problem are the two speakers discussing?
A. There is too much noise in the office.
B. There is too much marking work.
C. Their office is not big enough.
D. Their office lacks necessary facilities.
参考答案： A
9. Why do Taylor's students come to the office?
A. To hand in their assignments.
B. To get his help in the course.
C. To help him do office work.
D. To talk with him socially.
参考答案： B
10. What does the man suggest they do?
A. Ask the students not to come.
B. Report the situation to the head.
C. Move the supplies to the storage room.
D. Find a separate room for meetings.
参考答案： D
SCRIPT:
W: James, do you have a minute?
M: Oh. Laura. Sure. What's up?
W: Well, I've been meaning to talk to you about the situation in the office.
M: I'm not in here very often. It's so noisy that I can't work.
W: That's exactly what I'm getting at. We're supposed to be able to do our preparation and marking in that office, but Taylor constantly has students coming in to get help with his course.
M: Has anybody spoken to him about it?
W: No, not yet, but someone's going to have to.
M: We can't really ask him to stop having students come in for help, can we?
W: No, of course not. But I'm not able to do my work. I imagine it's the same for the others in the office.
M: Hmmm, could we ask for a kind of meeting room? When a teacher has to talk with a student, they could go to the meeting room. You know, there's a room down the hall. It's only for storing supplies.
W: You mean that little storage room? Oh, that would be too small.
M: With the cabinets taken out, it might be bigger than it looks.
W: I'd like to have a look at that room. Can we go there now?
M: Sure.
SECTION B PASSAGESIn this section, you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the passage.
11. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Working at the office is safer than staying at home.
B. Travelling to work on public transport is safer than working at the office.
C. Staying at home is safer than working in the chemical industry.
D. Working in the chemical industry is safer than travelling by air.
参考答案： D
12. Why are chemical accidents usually reported as news?
A. They are very rare.
B. They often cause loss of life.
C. They always occur in big cities.
D. They arouse the interest of all the readers.
参考答案： B
13. The chemical accident that caused the least loss of life happened at ______.
A. Seveso
B. Flixborough
C. Texas City
D. Pemex
参考答案： A
SCRIPT:
Which is safer — staying at home, travelling to work on public transport, or working at the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low. However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact, the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any human activities, and almost as safe as staying at home.
The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby. It is this that makes chemical accidents so newsworthy. Fortunately, they are extremely rare. The most famous ones happened at Texas City in 1947, Flixborough in 1974, Seveso in 1976, Pemex in 1984 and Bhopal in 1984.
Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small. No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough. The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed. The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552. The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal.
Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the passage.
14. What's the main purpose of this passage?
A. It explains why you need extra time when you visit Arab countries.
B. It discusses how to be polite when doing business in the Arab world.
C. It implies why Arab officials and executives are so busy.
D. It tells us how difficult it is to do business with Arabs.
参考答案： B
15. According to the passage, which workdays are shared?
A. Monday — Tuesday — Wednesday — Thursday.
B. Saturday — Sunday — Monday — Tuesday.
C. Tuesday — Wednesday — Thursday — Friday.
D. Thursday — Friday — Saturday — Sunday.
参考答案： A
16. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. An Arab may give you a vague answer.
B. You may need extra time when doing business there.
C. An Arab may give his point in a definite way.
D. An Arab considers relationships crucial.
参考答案： C
17. Which is considered impolite in Arab countries?
A. A slow nod before the guest.
B. Direct refusal.
C. Contacting a decision-maker.
D. Delay in making decisions.
参考答案： B
SCRIPT:
Arabs consider it extremely bad manners to start talking business immediately. Even the busiest government official or executive always takes extra time to be polite and offer refreshments.
Making decisions quickly is not an Arab custom. There is vagueness in doing business in the Middle East which will puzzle a newcomer. Personal relationships are very important. They are the key to doing business in Arab countries. Try to identify the decision-maker regarding your product or service immediately and get to know him on a friendly basis. Familiarize yourself with the Moslem and national holidays. Most Arab countries have a six-day workweek from Saturday through Thursday. When matched with the Monday to Friday practice in most Western countries, it leaves only four workdays shared.
When an Arab says yes, he may mean “maybe”. When he says maybe, he probably means “no”. You will seldom get a direct “no” from an Arab because it is considered impolite. Also, he does not want to close his options. Instead of “no”, he will say “inshallah,” which means, “if God is willing.” On the other hand, “yes” does not necessarily mean “yes”. A smile and a slow nod might seem like an agreement, but in fact, your host is being polite. An Arab considers it impolite to disagree with a guest.
Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.
Now listen to the passage.
18. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. You can improve your speaking ability.
B. You should always make a short speech.
C. There are different kinds of speeches.
D. It is hard to make a good speech.
参考答案： A
19. To make a good speech, it is necessary to have knowledge of all of the following EXCEPT______.
A. the subject
B. the audience
C. the occasion
D. the drama
参考答案： D
20. What kind of speaker is the person?
A. Moderator.
B. Introducer.
C. Lecturer.
D. Commentator.
参考答案： C
SCRIPT:
So, you have to give a speech — and you're terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience.
Cheer up! It doesn't have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech-making. First of all, it is important to plan. Find out everything you can about your subject. And, at the same time, find out as much as you can about your audience.
Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What's the occasion? Are you introducing another speaker? Moderating a discussion? Giving a lecture? Convincing someone? Make sure you know into which category you fit. Don't spoil your speech by confusing one speaking role with another.
When you are making your speech, try to relax. Speak slowly and clearly and look at people in your audience. Pause for a few seconds and then give your audience a chance to think about what you have said.
Just remember: be prepared. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you'll see that you don't have to be afraid of public speaking. You're not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.
SECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear several news items. Listen to the news items carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
Questions 21 and 22 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.
Now, listen to the news.
21. The UN resolution is about international efforts in tightening control on ______.
A. terrorism activities
B. terrorists' networks
C. weapons for terrorists
D. funding for terrorism
参考答案： D
22. What does the UN resolution specifically require states to do?
A. To establish a financial network.
B. To revise their banking laws.
C. To increase their police force.
D. To curb regional terror activities.
参考答案： B
SCRIPT:
The UN resolution calls for greater international intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation, and it requires states to change their banking laws in order to police the global network of terrorism's financiers. It makes providing funds for terror activities a criminal offense and would freeze bank accounts of those who sponsor terrorism.
Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.
Now, listen to the news.
23. Altogether how many people were injured during the violence?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 13
D. 14
参考答案： D
24. How long has the violence lasted?
A. For one day.
B. For two days.
C. For the whole summer.
D. For one year.
参考答案： B
SCRIPT:
A police spokesman said the devices were made safe by explosives experts in the Ardoyne district, where a woman was shot in the leg and 13 police officers were injured during a second successive night of violence. Northern Ireland's police chief had earlier called on community leaders to work together to end the violence. The violence has erupted sporadically throughout a summer of sectarian tension in north Belfast.
Question 25 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 5 seconds to answer the question.
Now, listen to the news.
25. After the terrorist attacks in the United States, insurance rates soared as much as ______.
A. 100%
B. 200%
C. 500%
D. 1000%
参考答案： D
SCRIPT:
Airlines are being hit with huge increases to insure their planes after the terrorist attacks in the United States. Goshawk Insurance Holdings, which insures aircraft around the world, said rates had soared as much as 10-fold since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Airlines around the world have cut services and dismissed staff as their business has plunged in the wake of the crisis. They are also struggling with increased security costs.
Questions 26 and 27 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.
Now, listen to the news.
26. Eight foreign aid workers were arrested in Afghanistan because of their ______ activities.
A. political
B. espionage
C. religious
D. relief
参考答案： C
27. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the penalties?
A. A fine.
B. Expulsion.
C. A jail term.
D. Death sentence.
参考答案： A
SCRIPT:
A Pakistani lawyer said the resumption of the trial of eight foreign aid workers accused of preaching Christianity in Afghanistan has been put off until Sunday. He had met earlier Saturday with the aid workers, two Americans, two Australians, and four Germans. They insist they were in Afghanistan to help the poor, not to convert them. The penalty for these captured aid workers could range from expulsion to a jail term and death sentence.
Question 28 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 5 seconds to answer the question.
Now, listen to the news.
28. According to the report, how many people are HIV-positive?
A. 22 million.
B. 36 million.
C. 25 million.
D. 58 million.
参考答案： B
SCRIPT:
On the 20th anniversary of the first official report on AIDS, the head of the United Nations' AIDS program warns the deadly disease may only be at its early stages in many parts of the world. Dr. Piot said the disease has already reached staggering proportions since first being identified in 1981. 58 million people worldwide have contracted the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, while 22 million have died from related illnesses. The U.N. estimates the world's HIV-positive population at 36 million, including 25 million in sub-Saharan Africa. International officials warn the disease will have disastrous political, social and economic consequences in many developing countries.
Questions 29 and 30 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.
Now, listen to the news.
29. The Edmund S. Muskie program is targeted at ______.
A. a selected group of students
B. teachers of English
C. community workers
D. master degree holders
参考答案： A
30. What can we know about the programs from the news?
A. They are sponsored by non-governmental organizations.
B. They have been in operation for more than 10 years.
C. They provide chances for native American students.
D. Thousands of Georgians have benefited from them.
参考答案： B
SCRIPT:
On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy announced educational exchange programs for the 2004-2005 school year. The programs include educational opportunities for Georgians to study in U.S. high schools and universities. The Edmund S. Muskie program provides scholarships for selected students to earn a master's degree. Other programs are for university faculty, English teachers, and community leaders. The programs are administered by the U.S. Embassy and the American Councils for International Education, IREX, Open Society Georgian Foundation and Project Harmony. Nearly 1,000 Georgians have participated in the U.S. government sponsored education programs since they began in the early 1990s.
PART III CLOZEDecide which of the choices given below would best complete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks. Mark the best choice for each blank on your answer sheet.
During McDonald's early years French fries were made from scratch every day. Russet Burbank potatoes were ［31］______, cut into shoestrings, and fried in its kitchens. ［32］______ the chain expanded nationwide, in the mid-1960s, it sought to cut labour costs, reduce the number of suppliers, and ［33］______ that its fries tasted the same at every restaurant. McDonald's began ［34］______ to frozen French fries in 1966 and few customers noticed the difference. ［35］______ , the change had a profound effect on the nation's agriculture and diet. A familiar food had been ［36］______ into a highly processed industrial ［37］______ . McDonald's fries now come from huge manufacturing plants ［38］ ______ can process two million pounds of potatoes a day. The expansion ［39］______ McDonald's and the popularity of its low-cost, mass-produced fries changed the way Americans eat.
The ［40］______ of McDonald's French fries played a crucial role in the chain's success: fries are much more profitable than hamburgers and was ［41］______ praised by customers, competitors, and even food critics. Their ［42］______ taste does not stem from the kind of potatoes that McDonald's ［43］______ , the technology that processes them, or the restaurant ［44］______ that fries them; other chains use Russet Burbank, buy their French fries from the ［45］______ large processing companies, and have similar ［46］______ in their restaurant kitchens. The taste of a French fry is ［47］______ determined by the cooking oil. For decades McDonald's cooked its French fries ［48］______ a mixture of ［49］______ 7 per cent cottonseed oil and 93 per cent beef fat. The mixture gave the fries their unique ［50］______ .
31. A. scaledB. strippedC. peeledD. sliced 参考答案： C
32. A. AsB. Due toC. Owing toD. With参考答案： A
33. A. ensueB. ensureC. enrichD. enable参考答案： B
34. A. switchingB. divertingC. modifyingD. altering参考答案： A
35. A. StillB. AnywayC. BesidesD. Nevertheless参考答案： D
36. A. transformedB. mergedC. cutD. reduced参考答案： A
37. A. brandB. stuffC. commodityD. produce参考答案： C
38. A. thisB. thatC. /D. what参考答案： B
39. A. intoB. fromC. inD. of参考答案： D
40. A. senseB. smellC. fragranceD. taste参考答案： D
41. A. longB. onlyC. firstD. lonely参考答案： A
42. A. distinctiveB. distinctC. distinguishedD. distinguishable参考答案： A
43. A. possessesB. buysC. acquiresD. grows参考答案： B
44. A. toolB. equipmentC. cookerD. /参考答案： B
45. A. exactB. identicalC. sameD. alike参考答案： C
46. A. worksB. potsC. boilersD. fryers参考答案： D
47. A. adequatelyB. massivelyC. plentifullyD. largely参考答案： D
48. A. overB. withC. inD. on参考答案： C
49. A. aboutB. lessC. moreD. equally参考答案： A
50. A. flavourB. fragranceC. smellD. perfume参考答案： A
PART IV GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARYThere are thirty sentences in this section. Beneath each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.
51. Agriculture is the country's chief source of wealth, wheat ______ by far the biggest cereal crop.
A. is
B. been
C. be
D. being
参考答案： D
52. Jack ______ from home for two days now, and I am beginning to worry about his safety.
A. has been missing
B. has been missed
C. had been missing
D. was missed
参考答案： A
53. Above the trees are the hills, ______ magnificence the river faithfully reflects on the surface.
A. where
B. of whose
C. whose
D. which
参考答案： C
54. Who ______ was coming to see me in my office this afternoon?
A. you said
B. did you say
C. did you say that
D. you did say
参考答案： B
55. — Does Alan like hamburgers?
— Yes. So much ______ that he eats them almost every day.
A. for
B. as
C. to
D. so
参考答案： D
56. Your ideas, ______ , seem unusual to me.
A. like her
B. like hers
C. similar to her
D. similar to herself
参考答案： B
57. The opening ceremony is a great occasion. It is essential ______ for that.
A. for us to be prepared
B. that we are prepared
C. of us to be prepared
D. our being prepared
参考答案： A
58. Time ______ , the celebration will be held as scheduled.
A. permit
B. permitting
C. permitted
D. permits
参考答案： B
59. ______ I like economics, I like sociology much better.
A. As much as
B. So much
C. How much
D. Much as
参考答案： D
60. It is futile to discuss the matter further, because ______ going to agree upon anything today.
A. neither you nor I are
B. neither you nor me am
C. neither you nor I am
D. neither me nor you are
参考答案： C
61. They overcame all the difficulties and completed the project two months ahead of time, ______ is something we had not expected.
A. which
B. it
C. that
D. what
参考答案： A
62. He is quite worn out from years of hard work. He is not the man ______ he was twenty years ago.
A. which
B. that
C. who
D. whom
参考答案： B
63. She would have been more agreeable if she had changed a little bit, ______?
A. hadn't she
B. hasn't she
C. wouldn't she
D. didn't she
参考答案： C
64. I parked my bike behind the building, but now it's gone. It ______.
A. may be stolen
B. must be stolen
C. must have been stolen
D. must have stolen
参考答案： C
65. I suppose these apples are for ______.
A. us three
B. we three
C. our three
D. three us
参考答案： A
66. ______ the end of the film, more and more people left the cinema.
A. To
B. On
C. By
D. Towards
参考答案： D
67. At three thousand feet, wide plains begin to appear, and there is never a moment when some distant mountain is not ______.
A. on view
B. at a glance
C. on the scene
D. in sight
参考答案： D
68. The first two stages in the development of civilized man were probably the invention of weapons and the discovery of fire, although nobody knows exactly when he acquired the use of the ______.
A. latter
B. latest
C. later
D. last
参考答案： A
69. It will take us twenty minutes to get to the railway station, ______ traffic delays.
A. acknowledging
B. affording
C. allowing for
D. accounting for
参考答案： C
70. He will have to ______ his indecent behaviour one day.
A. answer to
B. answer for
C. answer back
D. answer about
参考答案： B
71. With ______ exceptions, the former president does not appear in public now.
A. rare
B. unusual
C. extraordinary
D. unique
参考答案： A
72. We have been hearing ______ accounts of your work.
A. favoured
B. favourable
C. favourite
D. favouring
参考答案： B
73. During the summer holiday season there are no ______ rooms in this seaside hotel.
A. empty
B. blank
C. deserted
D. vacant
参考答案： D
74. Drive straight ahead, and then you will see a ______ to the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway.
A. sign
B. mark
C. signal
D. board
参考答案： A
75. Whenever possible, Ian ______ how well he speaks Japanese.
A. shows up
B. shows around
C. shows off
D. shows out
参考答案： C
76. The tenant left nothing behind except some ______ of paper, cloth, etc.
A. sheets
B. scraps
C. pages
D. slices
参考答案： B
77. Shares on the stock market have ______ as a result of a worldwide economic downturn.
A. turned
B. changed
C. floated
D. fluctuated
参考答案： D
78. I think you can take a(n) ______ language course to improve your English.
A. intermediate
B. middle
C. medium
D. mid
参考答案： A
79. Be careful with those wine glasses — they're very ______.
A. delicate
B. light
C. broken
D. decorated
参考答案： A
80. We must make sure we get to the station ______, because we've still got to buy our tickets.
A. on time
B. in good time
C. for a time
D. at one time
参考答案： B
PART V READING COMPREHENSIONIn this section there are several passages followed by twenty questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.
TEXT A
The way in which people use social space reflects their social relationships and their ethnic identity. Early immigrants to America from Europe brought with them a collective style of living, which they retained until late in the 18th century. Historical records document a group-oriented existence, in which one room was used for eating, entertaining guests, and sleeping. People ate soups from a communal pot, shared drinking cups, and used a common pit toilet. With the development of ideas about individualism, people soon began to shift to the use of individual cups and plates; the eating of meals that included meat, bread, and vegetables served on separate plates; and the use of private toilets. They began to build their houses with separate rooms to entertain guests — living rooms, separate bedrooms for sleeping, separate work areas — kitchen, laundry room, and separate bathrooms.
In Mexico, the meaning and organization of domestic space is strikingly different. Houses are organized around a patio, or courtyard. Rooms open onto the patio, where all kinds of domestic activities take place. Individuals do not have separate bedrooms. Children often sleep with parents, and brothers or sisters share a bed, emphasizing familial interdependence. Rooms in Mexican houses are locations for multiple activities that, in contrast, are rigidly separated in the United States.
81. Changes in living styles among early immigrants were initially brought about by ______.
A. rising living standards
B. new concepts
C. new customs
D. new designs of houses
参考答案： B
82. Which of the following is NOT discussed in the passage?
A. Their concepts of domestic space.
B. Their social relationships.
C. The functions of their rooms.
D. The layout of their houses.
参考答案： B
TEXT B
There are superstitions attached to numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance.
Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men.
For example, it is commonly said that luck, good or bad, comes in threes; if an accident happens, two more of the same kind may be expected soon afterwards. The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period.
Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill omen linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three.
Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil.
Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.
Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very perilous time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age.
Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear.
The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians.
In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number.
Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs.
83. According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people?
A. 3 and 7.
B. 3 and 9.
C. 7 and 9.
D. 3 and 13.
参考答案： C
84. The ill luck associated with 13 is supposed to have its origin in ______.
A. legend
B. religion
C. popular belief
D. certain customs
参考答案： B
85. What is the author's attitude towards people's superstitious beliefs?
A. He is mildly critical.
B. He is strongly critical.
C. He is in favour of them.
D. His attitude is not clear.
参考答案： A
TEXT C
Women's minds work differently from men's. At least, that is what most men are convinced of. Psychologists view the subject either as a matter of frustration or a joke. Now the biologists have moved into this minefield, and some of them have found that there are real differences between the brains of men and women. But being different, they point out hurriedly, is not the same as being better or worse.
There is, however, a definite structural variation between the male and female brain. The difference is in a part of the brain that is used in the most complex intellectual processes — the link between the two halves of the brain.
The two halves are linked by a trunkline of between 200 and 300 million nerves, the corpus callosum. Scientists have found quite recently that the corpus callosum in women is always larger and probably richer in nerve fibres than it is in men. This is the first time that a structural difference has been found between the brains of women and men and it must have some significance. The question is “What?”, and, if this difference exists, are there others? Research shows that present-day women think differently and behave differently from men. Are some of these differences biological and inborn, a result of evolution? We tend to think that is the influence of society that produces these differences. But could we be wrong?
Research showed that these two halves of the brain had different functions, and that the corpus callosum enabled them to work together. For most people, the left half is used for word-handling, analytical and logical activities; the right half works on pictures, patterns and forms. We need both halves working together. And the better the connections, the more harmoniously the two halves work. And, according to research findings, women have the better connections.
But it isn't all that easy to explain the actual differences between skills of men and women on this basis. In schools throughout the world girls tend to be better than boys at “language subjects” and boys better at maths and physics. If these differences correspond with the differences in the hemispheric trunkline, there is an unalterable distinction between the sexes.
We shan't know for a while, partly because we don't know of any precise relationship between abilities in school subjects and the functioning of the two halves of the brain, and we cannot understand how the two halves interact via the corpus callosum. But this striking difference must have some effect and, because the difference is in the parts of the brain involved in intellect, we should be looking for differences in intellectual processing.
86. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A. Biologists are conducting research where psychologists have given up.
B. Brain differences point to superiority of one sex over the other.
C. Results of scientific research fail to support popular belief.
D. The structural difference in the brain between the sexes has long been known.
参考答案： A
87. According to the passage it is commonly believed that brain differences are caused by _____ factors.
A. biological
B. psychological
C. physical
D. social
参考答案： D
88. The words “these differences” in paragraph 5 refer to those in ______.
A. skills of men and women
B. school subjects
C. the brain structure of men and women
D. activities carried out by the brain
参考答案： A
89. At the end of the passage the author proposes more work on ______.
A. the brain structure as a whole
B. the functioning of part of the brain
C. the distinction between the sexes
D. the effects of the corpus callosum
参考答案： B
90. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To outline the research findings on the brain structure.
B. To explain the link between sex and brain structure.
C. To discuss the various factors that cause brain differences.
D. To suggest new areas in brain research.
参考答案： A
TEXT D
Information is the primary commodity in more and more industries today.
By 2005, 83% of American management personnel will be knowledge workers. Europe and Japan are not far behind.
By 2005, half of all knowledge workers (22% of the labour force) will choose “flextime, flexplace” arrangements, which allow them to work at home, communicating with the office via computer networks.
In the United States, the so-called “digital divide” seems to be disappearing. In early 2000, a poll found that, where half of white households owned computers, so did fully 43% of African-American households, and their numbers were growing rapidly. Hispanic households continued to lag behind, but their rate of computer ownership was expanding as well.
Company-owned and industry-wide television networks are bringing programming to thousands of locations. Business TV is becoming big business.
Computer competence will approach 100% in US urban areas by the year 2005, with Europe and Japan not far behind.
80% of US homes will have computers in 2005, compared with roughly 50% now.
In the United States, 5 of the 10 fastest-growing careers between now and 2005 will be computer related. Demand for programmers and systems analysts will grow by 70%. The same trend is accelerating in Europe, Japan, and India.
By 2005, nearly all college texts and many high school and junior high books will be tied to Internet sites that provide source material, study exercises, and relevant news articles to aid in learning. Others will come with CD-ROMs that offer similar resources.
Internet links will provide access to the card catalogues of all the major libraries in the world by 2005. It will be possible to call up on a PC screen millions of volumes from distant libraries. Web sites enhance books by providing pictures, sound, film clips, and flexible indexing and search utilities.
Implications: Anyone with access to the Internet will be able to achieve the education needed to build a productive life in an increasingly high-tech world. Computer learning may even reduce the growing American prison population.
Knowledge workers are generally better paid than less-skilled workers. Their wealth is raising overall prosperity.
Even entry-level workers and those in formerly unskilled positions require a growing level of education. For a good career in almost any field, computer competence is a must. This is one major trend raising the level of education required for a productive role in today's work force. For many workers, the opportunity for training is becoming one of the most desirable benefits any job can offer.
91. Information technology is expected to have impact on all the following EXCEPT ______.
A. American management personnel
B. European management personnel
C. American people's choice of career
D. traditional practice at work
参考答案： C
92. The words “digital divide” in the 4th paragraph refers to ______.
A. the gap in terms of computer ownership
B. the tendency of computer ownership
C. the dividing line based on digits
D. the ethnic distinction among American households
参考答案： A
93. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the passage?
A. By 2005 all college and school study materials will turn electronic.
B. By 2005 printed college and school study materials will be supplemented with electronic material.
C. By 2005 some college and school study materials will be accompanied by CD-ROMs.
D. By 2005 Internet links make worldwide library search a possibility.
参考答案： A
94. Which of the following areas is NOT discussed in the passage?
A. Future careers.
B. Nature of future work.
C. Ethnic differences.
D. Schools and libraries.
参考答案： C
95. At the end of the passage, the author seems to emphasize ______ in an increasingly high-tech world.
A. the variety of education
B. the content of education
C. the need for education
D. the function of education
参考答案： C
TEXT E
The men and women of Anglo-Saxon England normally bore one name only. Distinguishing epithets were rarely added. These might be patronymic, descriptive or occupational. They were, however, hardly surnames. Heritable names gradually became general in the three centuries following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was not until the 13th and 14th centuries that surnames became fixed, although for many years after that, the degree of stability in family names varied considerably in different parts of the country.
British surnames fall mainly into four broad categories: patronymic, occupational, descriptive and local. A few names, it is true, will remain puzzling: foreign names, perhaps, crudely translated, adapted or abbreviated; or artificial names.
In fact, over fifty per cent of genuine British surnames derive from place names of different kinds, and so they belong to the last of our four main categories. Even such a name as Simpson may belong to this last group, and not to the first, had the family once had its home in the ancient village of that name. Otherwise, Simpson means “the son of Simon”, as might be expected.
Hundreds of occupational surnames are at once familiar to us, or at least recognisable after a little thought: Archer, Carter, Fisher, Mason, Thatcher, Taylor, to name but a few. Hundreds of others are more obscure in their meanings and testify to the amazing specialisation in medieval arts, crafts and functions. Such are “Day”, (Old English for breadmaker) and “Walker” (a fuller whose job was to clean and thicken newly made cloth).
All these vocational names carry with them a certain gravity and dignity, which descriptive names often lack. Some, it is true, like “Long”, “Short” or “Little”, are simple. They may be taken quite literally. Others require more thinking: their meanings are slightly different from the modern ones. “Black” and “White” implied dark and fair respectively. “Sharp” meant genuinely discerning, alert, acute rather than quick-witted or clever.
Place names have a lasting interest since there is hardly a town or village in all England that has not at some time given its name to a family. They may be picturesque, even poetical; or they may be pedestrian, even trivial. Among the commoner names which survive with relatively little change from old-English times are “Milton”(middle enclosure) and “Hilton”(enclosure on a hill).
96. Surnames are said to be ______ in Anglo-Saxon England.
A. common
B. vocational
C. unusual
D. descriptive
参考答案： C
97. We learn from the first paragraph that ______ for many years after the 13th and 14th centuries.
A. family names became descriptive and occupational
B. people in some areas still had no surnames
C. some people kept changing their surnames
D. all family names became fixed in England
参考答案： B
98. According to the passage, about half of genuine British surnames ______.
A. derive from occupations
B. are of foreign origin
C. carry respect and reputation
D. come from place names
参考答案： D
99. The word “patronymic” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to "______ ".
A. formed from the name of one's father
B. formed from the family occupation
C. formed from one's family home
D. formed from one's family history
参考答案： A
100. Which of the following sentences is an opinion rather than a fact?
A. Hundreds of occupational names are at once familiar to us.
B. British surnames fall mainly into four broad categories.
C. Vocational names carry with them a certain gravity and dignity.
D. Every place in England has given its name to a family.
参考答案： C
PART VI WRITINGSECTION A COMPOSITION
People in modern society live under a lot of pressure, from education, career, or family. So it is important for them to keep a good mood under whatever circumstances.
Write on ANSWER SHEET THREE a composition of about 200 words on the following topic:
THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING A GOOD MOOD
You are to write in three parts.
In the first part, state specifically what your view is.
In the second part, support your view with one or two reasons.
In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks.
SECTION B NOTE-WRITING
Write on ANSWER SHEET THREE a note of about 50-60 words based on the following situation:
Your friend Clare has invited you to her house-warming party this weekend. However, you will be away then. Write her a note politely declining her invitation and expressing your best wishes to her.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness.
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