全国2008年4月高等教育自学考试英语阅读(一)试题

全国2008年4月高等教育自学考试
英语阅读(一)试题
课程代码:00595

　　I.CAREFUL READING
　　Read the following passages carefully. Decide on the best answer and write the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points, 2 points each)

　　Passage 1

　　Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage.

　　He was a funny looking man with a cheerful face, good natured and a great talker. He was described by his student, the great philosopher Plato, as "the best and most just and wisest man". Yet this same man was condemned(判刑) to death for his beliefs.

　　The man was the Greek philosopher, Socrates, and he was condemned for not believing in the recognized gods and for corrupting young people. The second charge stemmed from his association with numerous young men who came to Athens from all over the civilized world to study under him.

　　Socrates’ method of teaching was to ask questions and, by pretending not to know the answers, to press his students into thinking for themselves. His teachings had unsurpassed influence on all the great Greek and Roman schools of philosophy. Yet, despite his fame and influence, Socrates himself never wrote a word.

　　Socrates encouraged new ideas and free thinking in the young, and this was frightening to the conservative people. They wanted him silenced. Yet, many were probably surprised that he accepted death so readily.

　　Socrates had the right to ask for a lesser penalty, and he probably could have won over enough of the people who had previously condemned him. But Socrates, as a firm believer in law, reasoned that it was proper to submit to the death sentence. So he calmly accepted his fate and drank a cup of poison in the presence of his grief-stricken friends and students.

　　1. According to Plato’s description, Socrates_______.
　　A.was a funny and good-tempered man
　　B.was the most just and intelligent man
　　C.had a special way to attract his students
　　D. had close relationships with his students

　　2. Socrates was condemned for all the following reasons EXCEPT________.
　　A.doubting the publicly recognized gods
　　B.corrupting the young people with his teachings
　　C.grouping students together to study under him
　　D.pressing his listeners into thinking for themselves

　　3. Socrates’ teaching was intended to_________.
　　A.encourage independent thinking
　　B.win over the conservative people
　　C.inform students of his radical ideas
　　D.lead his audience to be disobedient

　　4. The word "unsurpassed" in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to_____.
　　A.untold
　　B. unequalled
　　C.unnoticed
　　D. unexpected

　　5. Socrates readily accepted the death penalty because of_______.
　　A.his disregard for death
　　B.his disbelief in gods
　　C.his contempt for conservatives
　　D.his belief in the legal system

　　Passage 2

　　Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage.

　　Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all begin to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero?

　　Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.

　　A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and a community who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame. Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people.

　　The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?

　　Heroes are catalysts(催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated(实行种族隔离的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the committee meetings endless.

　　6. Heroes may come from different cultures, but they_______.
　　A.generally share some inspiring characteristics
　　B.probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people
　　C.are often influenced by their previous generations
　　D. are often pursued by a large number of fans

　　7. According to the passage, heroes are compared to high-voltage transformers in that___________.
　　A.they have a vision from the mountaintop
　　B.they have warm feelings and emotions
　　C.they can serve as concrete examples of noble strengths
　　D.they can make people feel stronger and more enthusiastic

　　8. Madonna and Michael Jackson are NOT considered heroes because_________.
　　A.they do not improve their fans morally
　　B.they are popular only with certain groups of people
　　C.their primary concern is their own financial interests
　　D.they are not clear about what principles they should follow

　　9. Gandhi and Martin Luther King are examples of outstanding leaders who________.
　　A.are good at demonstrating their charming characters
　　B.are capable of meeting all challenges and hardships
　　C.can bring about social changes in their nations
　　D.can change the whole world with their skills and charms

　　10. The author concludes that historical changes would________.
　　A.be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualities
　　B.not occur without heroes making the necessary sacrifices
　　C.take place if there were heroes to lead the people
　　D.produce leaders with attractive personalities

　　Passage 3

　　Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.

　　Homing pigeons are placed in a training program from about the time they are twenty-eight days of age. They are taught to enter the loft(鸽房) through a trap and to exercise above and around the loft, and gradually they are taken away for short distances in baskets and released. They are then expected to find their way home in the shortest possible time.

　　In their training flights or in actual races, the birds are taken to pre-arranged distant points and released to find their way back to their own lofts. Once the birds are liberated, their owners, who are standing by at the home lofts, anxiously watch the sky for their return. Since time is of the essence, the speed with which the birds can be directed to enter the loft trap may make the difference between gaining a win and a second place.

　　The head of a homing pigeon is comparatively small, but its brain is one quarter larger than that of the ordinary pigeon. The homing pigeon is very intelligent and some have been known to fly a hundred miles off course to avoid a storm.

　　Some homing pigeon experts claim that this bird is gifted with a form of built-in radar that helps it find its own loft after hours of flight, for the birds have two very sensitive ears hidden under the head feathers, while the sharp, prominent eyes can see great distances in daytime.

　　Why do homing pigeons fly home? They are not unique in this inherent skill; it is found in most migratory birds(候鸟), and in bees, ants, toads and even turtles, which have been known to travel hundreds of miles to return to their homes. But in the animal world, the homing pigeon can be trusted with its freedom and trained to carry out the missions that people demand.

　　11. What is the purpose of this passage?
　　A.To persuade the reader to buy a homing pigeon.
　　B.To inform the reader of homing pigeons and their training.

　　C.To explain how persistent and clever homing pigeons are.
　　D.To explain why homing pigeons are loyal to their owners.

　　12. According to the passage, what happens to homing pigeons when they are about a month old?
　　A.They are kept in a trap.
　　B.They enter their first race.
　　C.They begin a training program.
　　D.They start their first distant flight.

　　13. In actual races, homing pigeons must be guided to enter the loft trap very quickly because_______.
　　A.they are sometimes disobedient to their owners
　　B.they have no idea of when to start a race
　　C.time makes a big difference in winning a race
　　D.their intelligence can not always be trusted

　　14. According to the passage, the difference between a homing pigeon and an ordinary one lies in__________.
　　A.the span of the wings
　　B.the shape of the eyes
　　C.the texture of the feathers
　　D.the size of the brain

　　15. Bees, ants, toads and turtles are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to________.
　　A.to compare their home-finding abilities with those of homing pigeons
　　B.to compare the distances traveled by different types of animals
　　C.to provide a description of some other animals with similar features
　　D.to arouse the reader’s interest in some other animals with similar features

　　Passage 4

　　Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.

　　Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing his own language; but few people are even moderately proficient at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do their own languages is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problems of learning to pronounce, and consequently never set about tackling it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill——one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself.

　　I think, even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect the branch of study concerned with speaking in their practical teaching. So, the first point I want to make here is that the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to the teaching of English pronunciation. There should be occasions when other aspects of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place.

　　Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.

　　It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information. This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech, and of what we call general phonetic theory. But the first and most important part of a language teacher’s technique is his own performance, his ability to demonstrate the spoken language, in every detail of articulation(发音) as well as in fluent speaking, so that the student’s talent capacity for imitation is given the fullest scope and encouragement.

　　16. What does the author actually say about pronouncing foreign languages?
　　A.Quite a few people are proficient.
　　B.Few people are reasonably proficient.
　　C.People realize the importance of pronouncing foreign languages.
　　D.People tend to spend more time on pronouncing than spelling.

　　17. According to the author, pronouncing a foreign language is a skill that requires_______.
　　A.leaving it to take care of itself
　　B.careful training of a special kind
　　C.focusing on learners’ own performances
　　D.obtaining much of the theoretical knowledge

　　18. Regarding the teaching of English pronunciation, the author has made all the following suggestions EXCEPT_______.

　　A.to learn from a native speaker
　　B.to devote some lesson time
　　C.to demonstrate the spoken language
　　D.to possess the necessary information

　　19. In the author’s view, priority should sometimes be given to ______ in the practical teaching.
　　A.grammar
　　B. spelling
　　C.writing
　　D. pronunciation

　　20. The language teacher’s own oral performance is particularly important because _________.
　　A.the students may admire the teacher’s spoken language
　　B.the students may have a high respect for the teacher’s authority
　　C.the student’s vision can be widened to the fullest scope
　　D.the student’s speaking ability can be developed through imitation

　　II. SPEED READING

　　Skim or scan the following passages, and then decide on the best answer and write the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points,1 point each)

　　 Passage 5

　　 Questions 21-25 are based on the following passage.

　　Reading skills are very important. Experts estimate that it is possible for any normal adult English speaker to read 1,000 words a minute and more, with special training. Yet most students read only about 300 words per minute. The following principles might be helpful for foreign students who wish to increase their reading skills:

　　◇ Always read faster than is comfortable. The faster your normal rate of reading becomes, the better your understanding will be.

　　◇ Keep reading ahead. Do not allow yourself to regress while reading, even when you come across a new word. If some word, term or phrase has clouded your understanding, you should reread it only after you have read the entire paragraph through once.

　　◇ Read selectively. As you read make a conscious effort to screen the nouns, pronouns, and verbs from the other words, since these are the words that give meaning to what you have read. In effect, you should really read the nouns, pronouns and verbs and merely see the rest of the words in the sentence.

　　◇ Read beyondthe lines. As a good reader, you should see ideas implied through the words, and bridge the gap between the obvious and the suggested, thus obtaining much more information.

　　Because the reading assignments in most college courses are very long, students should plan to read every day. If, however, they find that they cannot complete all the assigned readings in the beginning, they should not panic. Instead, they should ask their classmates how much they are reading and attempt to learn from them what to read first and what to postpone until a later date.

　　Because much of the past learning experience of foreign students may have been for the purpose of passing examinations, they might be inclined to put off studying until late in the term. Such behavior can result in failure in the US system, where assignments must be completed on time and done regularly each day.

　　21. With special training, a normal adult English speaker may read _______ words per minute.
　　A.300
　　B. Less than 1000
　　C.1000
　　D. 1000 and more

　　22. According to the author, what is the type of vocabulary the reader should not spend much time on while reading?
　　A.Nouns.
　　B. Pronouns.
　　C.Prepositions.
　　D. Verbs.

　　23. What principle should foreign students follow when they come across a new word while reading?
　　A.Always read faster than is comfortable.
　　B.Keep reading ahead.
　　C.Read selectively.
　　D.Read beyond the lines.

　　24. According to the passage, who should the student turn to for advice if he cannot complete all the assigned readings in the beginning?
　　A.His teacher.
　　B.His supervisor.
　　C.His tutor.
　　D. His classmates.

　　25. In the United States, the foreign students must do their reading assignments ________.
　　A.every day
　　B.until late in the term
　　C.right after their class
　　D.in the way their teachers have suggested

　　Passage 6

　　Questions 26-30 are based on the following passage.

　　We can see how the product life cycle works by looking at the introduction of instant coffee. When it was introduced, most people did not like it as well as "regular" coffee, and it took several years to gain general acceptance (introduction stage). At one point, though, instant coffee grew rapidly in popularity, and many brands were introduced (stage of rapid growth). After a while, people became attached to one brand and sales leveled off (stage of maturity). Sales went into a slight decline when freeze-dried coffees were introduced (stage of decline).

　　The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this: Different stages in the product life cycle call for different strategies. The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not decline. One strategy is called market modification. It means that marketing managers look for new users and market sections. Did you know, for example, that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally designed for the military?

　　Market modification also means searching for increased usage among present customers or going for a different market, such as senior citizens. A marketer may re-position the product to appeal to new market sections.

　　Another product extension strategy is called product modification.It involves changing product quality,features,or style to attract new users or more usage from present users.American auto manufacturers are using quality improvement as one way to recapture world markets.Note,also,how auto manufacturers once changed styles dramatically from year to year to keep demand from falling.

　　26.The first paragraph tell us that a new product is_______.
　　A. not easily accepted by the public
　　B. often inferior to old ones at first
　　C. often more expensive than old ones
　　D.usually introduced to satisfy different tastes

　　27. To extend product life,_____strategies are often employed.
　　A.2
　　B.3 、
　　C.4
　　D.5

　　28. When people stick to one brand,the product goes into_________.
　　A.the stage of introduction`
　　B.the stage of rapid growth
　　C.the stage of maturity`
　　D.the stage of decline

　　29. Backpacks were originally designed for_________.
　　A.the military
　　B.travelers
　　C.shoppers
　　D.students

　　30. Product modification does not invo1ve changing _________.
　　A.product quality
　　B.features
　　C.style
　　D.price

　　III.DISCOURSE CLOZE

　　The following is taken from the textbook.Read the passage and fill in the numbered spaces (there are more suggested answers than necessary).

　　Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.(10 points, 1 point each)

　　All of us have read thrilling stories in which the hero had only a limited and specified time to live.(31)________.But always we were interested in discovering just how the doomed man chose to spend his last days or his last hours. I speak,of course,of free men who have a choice,not condemned criminals whose sphere of activities is strictly delimited.

　　Such stories set us thinking,wondering what we should do under similar circumstances.What events,what experiences,what associations should we crowd into those last hours as mortal beings?(32)________?

　　Sometimes I have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we should die tomorrow. Such an attitude would emphasize sharply the values of life. We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keenness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to come. (33)_______, but most people would be chastened by certainty of impending death.

　　In stories, the doomed hero is usually saved at the last minute by some stroke of fortune, but almost always his sense of values is changed. (34)_______. It has often been noted that those who live, or have lived, in the shadow of death bring a mellow sweetness to everything they do.

　　Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future. (35)_______. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude toward life.

　　The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life. (36)_______. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill.

　　I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. (37)_________,

　　Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. "Nothing in particular." She replied. (38)_______, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.

　　How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? (39)________. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sigh of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolution;. and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy shiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. (40)________. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my fingertips.

　　(From Three Days to See)
　　A.Sometimes it was as long as a year; sometimes as short as twenty-four hours

　　B.This is a basic fact to keep in mind

　　C. But those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties

　　D. He becomes more appreciative of the meaning of life and its permanent spiritual values

　　E. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound

　　F. There are those, of course, who would adopt the epicurean motto of"Eat, drink, and be merry"

　　G. In this way, the survivors can become all-powerful

　　H. I who cannot see find hundred of things to interest me through mere touch

　　I. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable

　　J. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses

　　K. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug

　　L. What happiness should we find in reviewing the past, what regrets

　　IV. WORD FORMATIONS

　　Complete each of the following sentences with the proper form of the word in the brackets. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each )

　　41. (profession)　　　My _______ training has taught me to look at things logically.

　　42. (profit)　　　　　Most of the schools in China are running on a ____ basis, operating within their budgets.

　　43. (remarkable)　　　In recent years the Chinese labour market has been ___ successful in absorbing the increase in the number of graduates.

　　44. (disagree)　　　　Britain and France have expressed some ________ with the proposal.

　　45. (horrify)　　　　　He was _________ at the thought of his son moving about on a stage in tights.

　　46. (grow)　　　　　　　A steady ________ in the popularity of two smaller parties may upset the polls in this region.

　　47. (practical)　　　　Although it is _______ to expect yourself to change the entire way you live, it is not too much to ask you to quit smoking now.

　　48. (simple)　　　　　　The computer has _______ the difficult task of teaching reading to the deaf.

　　49. (consistent)　　　　The irony is that many officials in Washington agree in private that their policy is________.

　　50. (increasing)　　　　His father began to lose his memory bit by bit, becoming ________ forgetful.

　　V. GAP FILLING

　　The following is taken from the textbook. Fill in the numbered gaps with the correct form of the words or phrases in the box (there are more words than necessary). Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each)

　　 train, for, depend,who,accept, use, vary, develop,

　　 resulting in,social,on,refer to,comparing

　　It is generally (51)_______ that the experiences of the child in his first years largely determine his character and later personality. Every experience teaches the child something and the effects are cumulative. ‘Upbringing’ is normally used to (52)_________ the treatment and training of the child within the home. This is closely related to the treatment and training of the child in school, which is usually distinguished by the term ‘education’. In a society such as ours, both parents and teachers are responsible (53)__________ the opportunities provided for the development of the child, so that upbringing and education are interdependent.

　　The ideals and practices of child rearing (54)___________ from .culture to culture. In general, the more rural the community, the more uniform are the customs of child upbringing. In more technologically (55)_________ societies, the period of childhood and adolescence tends to be extended over a long time, (56)_______ more opportunity for education and greater variety in character development.

　　Early upbringing in the home is naturally affected both by the cultural pattern of the community and by the parents’ capabilities and their aims and (57)______ not only on upbringing and education but also on the innate abilities of the child. Wild differences of innate intelligence and temperament exist even in children of the same family.

　　Parents can ascertain what is normal in physical, mental and (58)____________ development, by referring to some of the many books based (59)________ scientific knowledge in these areas, or less reliably, since the sample is smaller, by comparing notes with friends and relatives (60)_______ have children.

　　(From Bringing Up Children)

　　VI. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

　　The following 2 questions are based on Passage Four in this test paper. Read the passage carefully again and answer the questions briefly by referring back to Passage Four. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET (10 points, 5 points each)

　　61. According to the author, why do people generally not speak foreign languages very much better than their own languages?

　　62. What are the three basic requirements for the foreign language teacher in teaching pronunciation?

　　VII. TRANSLATION

　　The following excerpt is taken from the textbook. Read the paragraph carefully and translate into Chinese each of the numbered and underlined parts. (10 points, 2 points each)

　　The American is quite ready to admit certain weaknesses, such as "I never was good at mathematics," "I’m a rotten tennis player," or "I’m the world’s worst bridge, player." However, the stranger must not be too quick to agree with him. (63) Americans think it is all right, even sporting, to admit a defect in themselves, but they feel that it is almost an insult to have someone else agree. (64) A part of American idea of good sportsmanship is the point of being generous to a loser. (65) This attitude is carried over into matters that have nothing to do with competition. (66) If a man talks about his weak points, the listener says something in the way of encouragement, or points to other qualities in which the speaker excels. An American student reports that when he was in a foreign country he was completely stunned when he said to a native, "I don’t speak your language very well," and the native replied, "I should say you don’t." In a similar situation an American would have commented, "Well, you have only been here two months," or "But you’re making progress." (67) Although Americans are quite informal, it is best for a foreigner, in case of doubt, to be too formal rather than not formal enough. Consideration for others is the basis of all courtesy.

　　(From American Social Relations)

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