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北文版12月六级A卷试题、答案及文章出处详解

http://www.sina.com.cn 2005/12/28 12:32  北文学校

  Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)

  Section A

  Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the
conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D], and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

  Example: You will hear:

  You will read: [A] 2 hours. [B] 3 hours.

  [C] 4 hours. [D] 5 hours.

  From the conversation we know that the two are talking about some work they will start at 9 o’clock in the morning and have to finish at 2 in the afternoon. Therefore, [D] “5 hours” is the correct answer. You should choose [D] on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre.

  Sample Answer [A] [B] [C] [D]

  1. M: The dean just announced that Dr. Holden’s going to take over as chairman of the history department.

  W: I knew it all along! He’s the obvious choice. All the other candidates are no match for him!

  Q: What does the woman mean?

  A) The dean should have consulted her on the appointment.

  B) Dr. Holden should have taken over the position earlier.

  C) She doesn’t think Dr. Holden has made a wise choice.

  {D) Dr. Holden is the best person for the chairmanship. }

  2. W: Hey, let me know how your summer’s going? I’ll miss you guys while I’m working here in the library.

  M: I’ll be working, too, but I’ll send you an email or call you once in a while. When we all get back to school, we can have a party or something.

  Q: What do we learn about the two speakers?

  {A) They’ll keep in touch during the summer vacation. }

  B) They’ll hold a party before the summer vacation.

  C) They’ll do odd jobs together at the school library.

  D) They’ll get back to their school once in a while.

  3. W: I know it’s the end of the season, but those peaches were such a bargain that I couldn’t help buying them! Have one please!

  M: Thank you! Actually, they seem past their prime.

  Q: What do we learn from the conversation?

  A) Peaches are in season now.

  {B) Peaches are not at their best now.}

  C) The woman didn’t know how to bargain.

  D) The woman helped the man choose the fruit.

  4. M: The assignment on physics is a real challenge. I don’t think I can finish it on time all by myself,.

  W: Why don’t we join our efforts together? It may be easier then.

  Q: What does the woman suggest?

  A) They join the physics club.

  B) They ask for an extension of the deadline.

  {C) They work on the assignment together. }

  D) They choose an easier assignment.

  5. M: Jean really lost her temper in Dr. Brown’s class this morning.

  W: Oh, did she? But I think her frankness is really something to be appreciated.

  Q: What does the woman mean?

  {A) She admires Jean’s straightforwardness. }

  B) She thinks Dr. Brown deserves the praise.

  C) She will talk to Jean about what happened.

  D) She believes Jean was rude to Dr. Brown.

  6. W: We heard that when you were a kid, you submitted a story to Reader’s Digest.

  M: Well, I don’t remember the story exactly, but my idea of a great time then was a pad of lined paper and a new blue pen. I thought of myself as a Reader’s Digest’s staff member at the age of six.

  Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?

  {A) He liked writing when he was a child. }

  B) He enjoyed reading stories in Reader’s Digest.

  C) He used to be an editor of Reader’s Digest.

  D) He became well known at the age of six.

  7. M: Your son certainly shows a lot of enthusiasm on the tennis court.

  W: I only wish he’d show as much for his studies.

  Q: What does the woman imply about her son?

  A) He shows great enthusiasm for his studies.

  B) He is a very versatile person.

  C) He has no talent for tennis.

  {D) He does not study hard enough. }

  8. W: We’re supposed to meet John here at the railway station.

  M: That’s like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

  Q: What does the man imply?

  A) John has lost something at the railway station.

  B) There are several railway stations in the city.

  {C) It will be very difficult for them to find John. }

  D) The train that John is taking will arrive soon.

  9. M: Professor Stevenson, as an economist, how do you look upon the surging Chinese economy? Does it constitute a threat to the rest of the world?

  W: I believe China’s economic success should be seen more as an opportunity than a threat. Those who looked upon it as a threat overlooked the benefits of China’s growth to the world’s economy. They also lack understanding of elementary economics.

  Q: What does Professor Stevenson think of China’s economy?

  {A) Its rapid growth is beneficial to the world. }

  B) It can be seen as a model by the rest of the world.

  C) Its success can’t be explained by elementary economics.

  D) It will continue to surge forward.

  10. W: Our school has just built some new apartments near campus, but one bedroom runs for 500 dollars a month.

  M: That’s a bit beyond the reach of most students!

  Q: What does the man mean?

  A) It takes only 5 minutes to reach the campus from the apartments.

  {B) Most students can’t afford to live in the new apartments.}

  C) The new apartments are not available until next month.

  D) The new apartments can accommodate 500 students.

  Section B

  Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A] , [B], [C] and [D]. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.

  Passage one

  I had flown from San Francisco to Virginia to attend a conference on multiculturalism. Hundreds of educators from across the country were meeting to discuss the need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum. I took a taxi to my hotel. On the way, my driver and I chatted about the weather and the tourists. The driver was a white man in his forties. “How long have you been in this country?” he asked. “All my life!” I replied, “I was born in the United States.” With a strong southern accent, he remarked, “I was wondering because your English is excellent.” Then I explained as I had done many times before, “My grandfather came here from China in the 1880s. My family has been here in America for over a hundred years.” He glanced at me in the mirror. Somehow, I did not look “American” to him. My appearance looked foreign. Questions like the one my taxi driver asked make me feel uncomfortable. But I can understand why he could not see me as an American. He had a narrow but widely-shared sense of the past: a history that has viewed Americans as descendants of Europeans. Race has functioned as something necessary to the construction of American character and quality. In the creation of our national identity, American has been defined as white. But America has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginia shore, where the first group of Englishmen and Africans arrived in the 17th century. And this reality is increasingly becoming visible everywhere.

  文章出处:

  I HAD FLOWN FROM San Francisco to Norfolk and was riding in a taxi to my hotel to attend a conference on multiculturalism. Hundreds of educators from across the country were meeting to discuss the need for greater cultural diversity in the curriculum. My driver and I chatted about the weather and the tourists. The sky was cloudy, and Virginia Beach was twenty minutes away. The rearview mirror reflected a white man in his forties. "How long have you been in this country?" he asked. "All my life," I replied, wincing. "I was born in the United States." With a strong southern drawl, he remarked: "I was wondering because your English is excellent!" Then, as I had many times before, I explained: "My grandfather came here from Japan in the 1880s. My family has been here, in America, for over a hundred years." He glanced at me in the mirror. Somehow I did not look "American" to him; my eyes and complexion looked foreign.

  Suddenly, we both became uncomfortably conscious of a racial divide separating us. An awkward silence turned my gaze from the mirror to the passing landscape, the shore where the English and the Powhatan Indians first encountered each other. Our highway was on land that Sir Walter Raleigh had renamed "Virginia" in honor of Elizabeth 1, the Virgin Queen. In the English cultural appropriation of America, the indigenous peoples themselves would become outsiders in their native land. Here, at the eastern edge of the continent, I mused, was the site of the beginning of multicultural America. Jamestown, the English settlement founded in 1607, was nearby: the first twenty Africans were brought here a year before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock. Several hundred miles offshore was Bermuda, the "Bermoothes" where William Shakespeare's Prospero had landed and met the native Caliban in The Tempest. Earlier, another voyager had made an Atlantic crossing and unexpectedly bumped into some islands to the south. Thinking he had reached Asia, Christopher Columbus mistakenly identified one of the islands as "Cipango" (Japan). In the wake of the admiral, many peoples would come to America from different shores, not only from Europe but also Africa and Asia. One of them would be my grandfather. My mental wandering across terrain and time ended abruptly as we arrived at my destination. I said good-bye to my driver and went into the hotel, carrying a vivid reminder of why I was attending this conference.

  QUESTIONS like the one my taxi driver asked me are always jarring, but I can understand why he could not see me as American. He had a narrow but widely shared sense of the past - a history that has viewed American as European in ancestry. "Race," Toni Morrison explained, has functioned as a "metaphor" necessary to the "construction of Americanness": in the creation of our national identity, "American" has been defined as "white."1

  But America has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginia shore, and this reality is increasingly becoming visible and ubiquitous. Currently, one-third of the American people do not trace their origins to Europe; in California, minorities are fast becoming a majority. They already predominate in major cities across the country - New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. ……

  说明:考试将原文的Japan换成China,这样文章听起来像是一位美籍华裔的经历,使得录音内容与考生更亲切。

  Questions 11 lo 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.

  11. What was the theme of the conference the speaker was to attend?

  A) The role of immigrants in the construction of American society.

  B) The importance of offering diverse courses in European history.

  {C) The need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum.}

  D) The historic landing of Europeans on the Virginia shore.

  12. Why did the taxi driver asked the speaker how long he has been in the US?

  A) He was wondering if the speaker was used to living in America.

  B) He was trying to show friendliness to the speaker.

  C) He wanted to keep their conversation going.

  {D) He believed the speaker was a foreigner. }

  13. What message does the speaker wish to convey?

  {A) The US population doesn’t consist of white European descendants only. }

  B) Asian tourists can speak English as well as native speakers of the language.

  C) Colored people are not welcome in the United States.

  D) Americans are in need of education in their history.

  Passage Two

  Laws have been written to govern the use of the American National Flag and to ensure proper respect for the flag. Custom has also governed the common practice in regard to its use. All the armed services have precise regulations on how to display the national flag. This may vary somewhat from the general rules. The national flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is folded. Unfold the flag first, and then hoist it quickly to the top of the flagpole. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. Do not use the flag as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not print it upon cushions, handkerchiefs, paper napkins or boxes. A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered if it comprises the flag, coat of arms, or badges of the United States. When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should not serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled.

  If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fail to the ground, but let it be carried high up in the air to form a feature of the ceremony. Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.

  文章可能来源处:

  Laws have been written to govern the use of the flag and to insure a proper respect for the Stars and strips. Custom has decreed certain other observances in regard to its use.

  All the services have precise regulations regarding the display of the National Flag, which may vary somewhat form the general rules below. Respect your flag and render it the courtesies to which it is entitled by observing the following rules:

  The National flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is furled. Unfurl, then hoist quickly to the top of the staff. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. A speaker's table is sometimes covered with the flag. This practice should be avoided.

  When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faced the audience, with other flags at his left.

  The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.

  Do not use the flag as a portion of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not embroider it upon cushions or handkerchiefs nor print it on paper napkins or boxes.

  A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered which consists of, or comprises among other things, "the flag, coat-of-arms or other insignia of the United States, or any simulation thereof".

  When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should not serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fall to the ground, but let it be carried aloft to form a feature of the ceremony.

  Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.

  The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing, with one exception: Navy vessels, upon receiving a salute of this type from a vessel registered by a nation formally recognized by the United State, must return the compliment. ………

  Questions 14 lo 17 are based on the passage you have just heard.

  14. How do Americans ensure proper respect for the National Flag?

  {A) By making laws. }

  B) By enforcing discipline.

  C) By educating the public.

  D) By holding ceremonies.

  15. What is the regulation regarding the raising of the American National Flag?

  A) It should be raised by soldiers.

  {B) It should be raised quickly by hand. }

  C) It should be raised only by Americans.

  D) It should be raised by mechanical means.

  16. How should the American National Flag be displayed at an unveiling ceremony?

  A) It should be attached to the statue.

  B) It should be hung from the top of the monument.

  C) It should be spread over the object to be unveiled.

  {D) It should be carried high up in the air.}

  17. What do we learn about the use of the American National Flag?

  A) There has been a lot of controversy over the use of flag.

  B) The best athletes can wear uniforms with the design of the flag.

  {C) There are precise regulations and customs to be followed. }

  D) Americans can print the flag on their cushions or handkerchiefs.

  Passage Three

  In some large American city schools, as many as 20~40% of the students are absent each day. There are two major reasons for such absences: one is sickness, and the other is truancy, that is, staying away from school without permission. Since school officials can’t do much about illness, they are concentrating on reducing the number of truants. One of the most promising schemes has been tried in Florida. The pupils there with good attendance have been given free hamburgers, toys and T-shirts. Classes are told that if they show improved rates of attendance, they can win additional gifts. At the same time, teachers are being encouraged to inspire their students to come to school regularly. When those teachers are successful, they are also rewarded. “We’ve been punishing truants for years, but that hasn’t brought them back to school.’’ One school principal said, “Now we are trying the positive approach. Not only do you learn by showing up every day, but you earn.” In San Francisco, the board of education has had a somewhat similar idea. Schools that show a decrease in deliberate destruction of property can receive the amount of money that would’ve been spent on repairs and replacements. For example, 12,000 dollars had been set aside for a school’s property damages every year. Since repair expenses of damaged property required only 4,000 dollars, the remaining 8,000 dollars was turned over to the student activities fund. “Our democracy operates on hope and encouragement,” said the school board member. “Why not provide some positive goals for students and teachers to aim at?”

  Questions 18 lo 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.

  18. Which reason for students’ absences is discussed in great detail?

  A) Punishment by teachers.

  B) Poor academic performance.

  {C) Truancy.}

  D) Illness.

  19. Who will benefit from the scheme being tried in Florida?

  A) The Board of Education.

  B) Principals of city schools.

  C) Students with good academic records.

  {D) Students with good attendance records. }

  20. What measure has been taken in San Francisco to reduce destruction of school property?

  A) Punishing students who damage school property.

  {B) Rewarding schools that have decreased the destruction. }

  C) Promoting teachers who can prevent the destruction.

  D) Cutting the budget for repairs and replacements.

  Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)

  Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

  Passage one

  Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

  Too many vulnerable child-free adults are being ruthlessly(无情的) manipulated into parenthood by their parents, who think that happiness among older people depends on having a grandchild to spoil. We need an organization to help beat down the persistent campaigns of grandchildless parents. It’s time to establish Planned Grandparenthood, which would have many global and local benefits.

  Part of its mission would be to promote the risks and realities associated with being a grandparent. The staff would include depressed grandparents who would explain how grandkids break lamps, bite, scream and kick. Others would detail how an hour of baby-sitting often turns into a crying marathon. More grandparents would testify that they had to pay for their grandchild’s expensive college education.

  Planned grandparenthood’s carefully written literature would detail all the joys of life grandchild-free: a calm living room, extra money for luxuries during the golden years, etc. Potential grandparents would be reminded that, without grandchildren around, it’s possible to have a conversation with your kids, who — incidentally — would have more time for their own parents.

  Meanwhile, most children are vulnerable to the enormous influence exerted by grandchildless parents aiming to persuade their kids to produce children . They will take a call from a persistent parent, even if they’re loaded with work. In addition, some parents make handsome money offers payable upon the grandchild’s birth. Sometimes these gifts not only cover expenses associated with the infant’s birth, but extras, too, like a vacation. In any case, cash gifts can weaken the resolve of even the noblest person.

  At Planned Grandparenthood, children targeted by their parents to reproduce could obtain non-biased information about the insanity of having their own kids. The catastrophic psychological and economic costs of childbearing would be emphasized. The symptoms of morning sickness would be listed and horrors of childbirth pictured. A monthly newsletter would contain stories about overwhelmed parents and offer guidance on how childless adults can respond to the different lobbying tactics that would-be grandparents employ.

  When I think about all the problems of our overpopulated world and look at our boy grabbing at the lamp by the sofa, I wish I could have turned to Planned Grandparenthood when my parents were putting the grandchild squeeze on me.

  If I could have, I might not be in this parenthood predicament(窘境). But here’s the crazy irony, I don’t want my child-free life back. Dylan’s too much fun.

  文章的出处:

  BY ALL ACCOUNTS, high-paid Washington lobbyists are tough and sneaky, but they’re nothing compared with aging parents whose mission in life is to become grandparents. I know. I’ve got a 1-year-old son destroying our living room to prove it. Dylan was born after our parents’ unrelenting campaign to have grandchildren eclipsed our better judgment not to have kids at all. Lobbying pressure from Mom and Dad tipped our scales toward reproduction—and away from a child-free future.

  Too many vulnerable child-free adults are being ruthlessly manipulated into parenthood by their parents, who think that happiness among older people depends on having a grandchild to spoil. We need an organization to help beat down the persistent campaigns of grandchildless parents. It’s time to establish Planned Grandparenthood. Such an organization would have many global and local benefits.

  Part of its mission would be to promote the risks and realities associated with being a grandparent. The staff would include depressed grandparents who would explain how grandkids break lamps, pee in light sockets, punch, bite, scream and kick. Others would detail how an hour of baby-sitting often turns into a crying marathon. More grandparents would testify that, due to their children’s foolish investment schemes, they had to pay for their grandchild’s pricey college education, destroying plans for a fantasy cruise in the South Pacific.

  Planned Grandparenthood would publicize statistics on the average number of diapers changed by grandparents, the number of carpet stains grandchildren cause and the little ones’ average decibel noise level. Lengthy fact sheets would outline the viruses grandchildren pass on to grandparents—sicknesses that could cause severe complications for older people—and the health benefits from avoiding direct contact with children, who constantly contract disease from schoolmates.

  To offer an alternative to the risks of being a grandparent, Planned Grandparenthood’s carefully written literature would detail all the joys of life grandchild-free: a calm and uncluttered living room, extra money for luxuries during the golden years, no spit-up stains on the shoulders of shirts and no diapers in the trash can. Potential grandparents would be reminded that, without grandchildren around, it’s possible to have a conversation with your kids, who—incidentally—would have more time for their own parents.

  Planned Grandparenthood would emphasize that most parks in our country are filled with kids at play and that it’s easy to observe these happy children from a safe distance and even talk to them, if necessary. For would-be grandparents, the beauty of watching kids at a playground or on a soccer field is, of course, that they don’t have to let them into their houses or incur any of the usual expense and hardship that family bonds necessitate.

  Planned Grandparenthood would be welcomed by children so besieged by their parents that they are leaning toward having children of their own. It’s an unfortunate truth—exemplified in politics at all levels—that even the most irrational arguments sound more cogent when delivered by an acquaintance. This truth applies to the relationship between aging parents, desperate for grandchildren, and aging children, unsure about whether to have their own kids.

  Think about the enormous insider clout wielded by grandchildless parents aiming to persuade their kids to produce children. First, parents have unbelievable access. Most sons or daughters will take a call from a parent, even if they’re swamped with work. They will listen to their parents (“Do yourself a favor and be a father”) even when they would hang up on someone else saying the exact same thing. And they will often listen to their parents repeat the litany over and over again.

  In addition, like cash-carrying Washington lobbyists, some parents make offers of much needed money payable upon the grandchild’s birth. Sometimes these gifts not only cover expenses associated with the birth and the infant, but extras, too, like a vacation. (Never mind that there is no vacation after you have kids.) In any case, as we know from observing Congress, cash gifts can weaken the resolve of even the most noble person.

  Furthermore, it’s difficult—if not impossible—for children to ignore longtime family friends, whom their parents enlist in their “Grandchildren Now” campaign. They sit down with you before Thanksgiving dinner and say:

  “How are you, Jason?” “Fine, how are you, Martha?”

  “Jason, now that you’ve grown up, why don’t you just have a baby?” “I don’t want to have a baby. I can be grown up and not have a baby.” “You’ll regret it. Children are the joy of life, and your parents would make such wonderful grandparents.”

  “Thank you, Martha. Now, how are you?” “Jason, seriously, why not have a baby? ...”

  At Planned Grandparenthood, children targeted by their parents to reproduce could obtain nonbiased information about the insanity of having their own kids. The catastrophic environmental, psychological and economic costs of childbearing would be emphasized. The symptoms of morning sickness would be listed and horrors of childbirth pictured. NO MORE GRANDPARENTS bumper stickers would be available. A monthly newsletter would not only contain stories about overwhelmed parents but offer guidance on how childless adults can respond to the different lobbying tactics that would-be grandparents employ.

  When I think about all the problems of our overpopulated world and I look at our boy grabbing at the lamp by the sofa, I wish I could have turned to Planned Grandparenthood when my parents were putting the grandchild squeeze on me.

  If I could have, I might not be in this parenthood predicament. But here’s the crazy irony. I don’t want my child-free life back. Dylan’s too much fun.

  说明:本文的作者为男士(一位father),但是考试文章由于字数限制,信息不够丰富,所以人们印象中往往以为作者为女士,故出题时也用her代替。

  21. What’s the purpose of the proposed organization Planned Grandparenthood?

  A) To encourage childless couples to have children.

  B) To provide facilities and services for grandchildless parents.

  C) To offer counseling to people on how to raise grandchildren.

  {D) To discourage people from insisting on having grandchildren. }

  22. Planned Grandparenthood would include depressed grandparents on its staff in order to ____.

  A) show them the joys of life grandparents may have in raising grandchildren

  {B} draw attention to the troubles and difficulties grandchildren may cause }

  C) share their experience in raising grandchildren in a more scientific way

  D) help raise funds to cover the high expense of education for grandchildren

  23. According to the passage, some couples may eventually choose to have children because_____.

  {A) they find it hard to resist the carrot-and-stick approach of their parents }

  B) they have learn from other parents about the joys of having children

  C) they feel more and more lonely ad they grow older

  D) they have found it irrational to remain childless

  24. By saying “… my parents were putting the grandchild squeeze on me” (Line 2-3, Para. 6), the author means that _________.

  {A) her parents kept pressuring her to have a child }

  B) her parents liked to have a grandchild in their arms

  C) her parents asked her to save for the expenses of raising a child

  D) her parents kept blaming her for her child’s bad behavior

  25. What does the author really think of the idea of having children?

  A) It does more harm than good.

  B) It contributes to overpopulation.

  {C) It is troublesome but rewarding. }

  D) It is a psychological catastrophe

  Passage Two

  Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

  Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they’ll say, “Success.” The dream of individual opportunity has been at home in America since Europeans discovered a “new world” in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote, “We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered(无拘无束的) and unrestrained, because each person works for himself … We have no princes, for whom we toil (干苦力活), starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world.” The promise of a land where “the rewards of a man’s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor” drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories.

  Our national mythology (神化) is full of illustrations of the American success story. There’s Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became America’s best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to “make a fortune in real estate with no money down,” and “dressing for success.” The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it’s as important to be “successful” in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business.

  But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to “make it” also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the “right” neighborhoods, wear the “right” clothes, eat the “right” foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we are different, that we stand out from the crowd. It is one of the great paradoxes of our culture that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens.

  文章最后一段的出处:

  But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to "make it" also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the achievers and the drones, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become engrossed in status symbols: we try to live in the "right" neighborhoods, wear the "right" clothes, eat the "right" foods. These emblems of distinction assure us and others that we are different, that we stand out from the crowd. It is one of the great paradoxes of our culture that we believe passionately in the fundamental equality of all yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens.

  说明:黑体字部分生词较多,所以采用了删除(如the achievers and the drones)或变动单词(如emblems被替换成symbols等)两种手段。

  26. What is the essence of the American Dream according to Crevecoeur?

  A) People are free to develop their power of imagination.

  B) People who are honest and work hard can succeed.

  C) People are free from exploitation and oppression.

  {D) People can fully enjoy individual freedom. }

  27. By saying “the rewards of a man’s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor” (Line 10, Para. 1), the author means __________.

  {A) the more diligent one is, the bigger his returns}

  B) laborious work ensures the growth of an industry

  C) a man’s business should be developed step by step

  D) a company’s success depends on its employees’ hard work

  28. The characters described in Horatio Alger’s novels are people who _______.

  A) succeeded in real estate investment

  B) earned enormous fortunes by chance

  {C) became wealthy after starting life very poor }

  D) became famous despite their modest origins

  29. It can be inferred from the last sentence of the second paragraph that _________.

  A) business success often contributes to a successful marriage

  {B) Americans wish to succeed in every aspect of life}

  C) good personal relationships lead to business success

  D) successful business people provide good care for their children

  30. What is the paradox of American culture according to the author?

  A) The American road to success is full of nightmares.

  B) Status symbols are not a real indicator of a person’s wealth.

  C) The American Dream is nothing but an empty dream.

  {D) What Americans strive after often contradicts their beliefs. }

  Passage Three

  Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

  Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries between science and technology, between discovery and manufacture. Most governments, perhaps all governments, justify public expenditure on scientific research in terms of the economic benefits the scientific enterprise has brought in the past and will bring in the future. Politicians remind their voters of the splendid machines ‘our scientists’ have invented, the new drugs to relieve old ailments(病痛), and the new surgical equipment and techniques by which previously intractable(难治疗的) conditions may now be treated and lives saved. At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists that they tailor their research to ‘economic needs’, that they award a higher priority to research proposals that are ‘near the market’ and can be translated into the greatest return on investment in the shortest time. Dependent, as they are, on politicians for much of their funding, scientists have little choice but to comply. Like the rest of us, they are members of a society that rates the creation of wealth as the greatest possible good. Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring, creative spirit.

  In such circumstances no one should be too hard on people who are suspicious of conflicts of interest. When we learn that the distinguished professor assuring us of the safety of a particular product holds a consultancy with the company making it, we cannot be blamed for wondering whether his fee might conceivably cloud his professional judgment. Even if the professor holds no consultancy with any firm, some people many still distrust him because of his association with those who do, or at least wonder about the source of some of his research funding.

  This attitude can have damaging effects. It questions the integrity of individuals working in a profession that prizes intellectual honesty as the supreme virtue, and plays into the hands of those who would like to discredit scientists by representing them as venal(可以收买的). This makes it easier to dismiss all scientific pronouncements, but especially those made by the scientists who present themselves as ‘experts’. The scientist most likely to understand the safety of a nuclear reactor, for example, is a nuclear engineer, and a nuclear engineer is most likely to be employed by the nuclear industry. If a nuclear engineer declares that a reactor is unsafe, we believe him, because clearly it is not to his advantage to lie about it. If he tells us it is safe, on the other hand, we distrust him, because he may well be protecting the employer who pays his salary.

  31. What is the chief concern of most governments when it comes to scientific research?

  A) Support from the votes.

  {B) The reduction of public expenditure.}

  C) Quick economic returns.

  D) The budget for a research project.

  32. Scientist have to adapt their research to ‘economic needs’ in order to _________ .

  A) impress the public with their achievements

  {B) pursue knowledge for knowledge’s sake }

  C) obtain funding from the government

  D) translate knowledge into wealth

  33. Why won’t scientists complain about the government’s policy concerning scientific research?

  {A) They think they work in an environment hostile to the free pursuit of knowledge. }

  B) They are accustomed to keeping their opinions to themselves.

  C) They know it takes patience to win support from the public.

  D) They think compliance with government policy is in the interests of the public.

  34. According to the author, people are suspicious of the professional judgment of scientists because ___________.

  A) their pronouncements often turn out to be wrong

  B) sometimes they hide the source of their research funding

  C) some of them do not give priority to intellectual honesty

  {D) they could be influenced by their association with the project concerned}

  35. Why does the author say that public distrust of scientists can have damaging effects?

  A) It makes things difficult for scientists seeking research funds.

  {B) People would not believe scientists even when they tell the truth. }

  C) It may dampen the enthusiasm of scientists for independent research.

  D) Scientists themselves may doubt the value of their research findings.

  Passage Four

  Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

  In many ways, today’s business environment has changed qualitatively since the late 1980s. The end of the Cold War radically altered the very nature of the world’s politics and economics. In just a few short years, globalization has started a variety of trends with profound consequences: the opening of markets, true global competition, widespread deregulation (解除政府对……的控制) of industry, and an abundance of accessible capital. We have experienced both the benefits and risks of a truly global economy, with both Wall Street and Main Street (平民百姓) feeling the pains of economic disorder half a world away.

  At the same time, we have fully entered the Information Age. Starting breakthroughs in information technology have irreversibly altered the ability to conduct business unconstrained by the traditional limitations of time or space. Today, it’s almost impossible to imagine a world without intranets, e-mail, and portable computers. With stunning speed, the Internet is profoundly changing the way we work, shop, do business, and communicate.

  As a consequence, we have truly entered the Post-Industrial economy. We are rapidly shifting from an economy based on manufacturing and commodities to one that places the greatest value on information, services, support, and distribution. That shift, in turn, places an unprecedented premium on “knowledge workers,” a new class of wealthy, educated, and mobile people who view themselves as free agents in a seller’s market.

  Beyond the realm of information technology, the accelerated pace of technological change in virtually every industry has created entirely new businesses, wiped out others, and produced a pervasive (广泛的) demand for continuous innovation. New product, process, and distribution technologies provide powerful levers for creating competitive value. More companies are learning the importance of destructive technologies — innovations that hold the potential to make a product line, or even an entire business segment, virtually outdated.

  Another major trend has been the fragmentation of consumer and business markets. There’s a growing appreciation that superficially similar groups of customers may have very different preferences in terms of what they want to buy and how they want to buy it. Now, new technology makes it easier, faster ,and cheaper to identify and serve targeted micro-markets in ways that were physically impossible or prohibitively expensive in the past. Moreover, the trend feeds on itself, a business’s ability to serve sub-markets fuels customers’ appetites for more and more specialized offerings.

  文章出处:

  In many ways, today's business environment has changed qualitatively since the late 1980s. The end of the Cold War radically altered the very nature of global politics and economics. In just a few short years, the triumph of capitalism has spawned a variety of trends with profound consequences: the opening of markets, true global competition, widespread industry deregulation, and an abundance of accessible capital. We have experienced both the benefits and perils of a truly global economy, with both Wall Street and Main Street feeling the pangs of economic dislocation half a world away.

  At the same time, we have fully entered the Information Age. Startling breakthroughs in information technology have irreversibly altered the ability to conduct business unconstrained by the traditional limitations of time or space. Today, it's almost impossible to imagine a world devoid of intranets, e-mail, and laptops. With stunning speed, the Internet is profoundly changing the way we work, shop, do business, and communicate.

  In less than ten years, the changes wrought by new information technology have been phenomenal.

  As a consequence, we have truly entered the Post-Industrial economy. We are rapidly shifting from an economy based on manufacturing and commodities to one that places the greatest value on information, services, support, and distribution. That shift, in turn, places an unprecedented premium on "knowledge workers," a new class of affluent, educated, and mobile people who view themselves as free agents in a seller's market.

  Beyond the realm of information technology, the accelerated pace of technological change in virtually every industry has created entirely new businesses, wiped out others, and produced a pervasive demand for continuous innovation. New product, process, and distribution technologies provide powerful levers for creating competitive value. More companies are learning the importance of destructive technologies--innovations that hold the potential to make a product line, or even an entire business segment, virtually obsolete.

  Another major trend has been the fragmentation of consumer and business markets. There's a growing appreciation that superficially similar groups of customers may have very different preferences in terms of what they want to buy and how they want to buy it. Now, new technology makes it easier, faster, and cheaper to identify and serve targeted micromarkets in ways that were physically impossible or prohibitively expensive in the past. Moreover, the trend feeds on itself, a business' ability to serve sub-markets fuels customers' appetites for more and more specialized offerings.

  说明:考试出于政治考虑用globalization替换了the triumph of capitalism,为减少生词用started替换了spawned,without替换了devoid of,outdated替换了obsolete等等。

  36. According to the first paragraph, the changes in the business environment in the past decades can be attributed to __________.

  A) technological advances

  B) worldwide economic disorder

  C) the fierce competition in industry

  {D) the globalization of economy }

  37. What idea does the author want to convey in the second paragraph?

  A) The rapid development of information technology has taken businessmen by surprise.

  {B) Information technology has removed the restrictions of time and space in business transactions.}

  C) The Internet, intranets, e-mail, and portable computers have penetrated every corner of the world.

  D) The way we do business today has brought about startling breakthroughs in information technology.

  38. If a business wants to thrive in the Post-Industrial economy, __________.

  A) it has to invest more capital in the training of free agents to operate in a seller’s market

  B) it should try its best to satisfy the increasing demands of mobile knowledgeable people

  {C) it should not overlook the importance of information, services, support, and distribution }

  D) it has to provide each of its employees with the latest information about the changing market

  39. In the author’s view, destructive technologies are innovations which _________

  {A) can eliminate an entire business segment }

  B) demand a radical change in providing services

  C) may destroy the potential of a company to make any profit

  D) call for continuous improvement in ways of doing business

  40. With the fragmentation of consumer and business markets, ______________.

  A) an increasing number of companies have disintegrated

  B) manufacturers must focus on one special product to remain competitive in the market

  C) it is physically impossible and prohibitively expensive to do business in the old way

  {D) businesses have to meet individual customers’ specific needs in order to succeed }

  Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)

  Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked [A], [B],[C] and [D]. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

  41. It seems somewhat ___________ to expect anyone to drive 3 hours just for a 20-minute meeting.

  A) eccentric B) impossible{C) absurd} D) unique

  42. This area of the park has been specially __________ for children, but accompanying adults are also welcome.

  A) inaugurated{B) designated} C) entitled D) delegated

  43. The girl’s face __________ with embarrassment during the interview when she couldn’t answer the tough question.

  A) beamed B) dazzled C) radiated {D) flushed}

  44. Slavery was __________ in Canada in 1833, and Canadian authorities encouraged the slaves, who escaped from America, to settle on its vast virgin land.

  A) diluted B) dissipated {C) abolished} D) resigned

  45. Unfortunately, the new edition of dictionary is __________ in all major bookshops.

  A) out of reach {B) out of stock} C) out of business D) out of season

  46. The hands on my alarm clock are __________, so I can see what time it is in the dark.

  A) exotic B) gorgeous {C) luminous} D) spectacular

  47. Psychologists have done extensive studies on how well patients __________ with doctors’ orders.

  {A) comply} B) correspond C) interfere D) interact

  48. In today’s class, the students were asked to __________ their mistakes on the exam paper and put in their possible corrections.

  A) cancel B) omit C) extinguish {D) erase}

  49. The Government’s policies will come under close __________ in the weeks before the election.

  A) appreciation B) specification {C) scrutiny} D) apprehension

  50. Police and villagers unanimously __________ the forest fire to thunder and lightning.

  {A) ascribed} B) approached C) confirmed D) confined

  51. In some remote places there are still very poor people who can’t afford to live in __________ conditions.

  A) gracious {B) decent} C) honorable D) positive

  52. Since our knowledge is __________, none of us can exclude the possibility of being wrong.

  A) controlled B ) restrained {C) finite} D) delicate

  53. You shouldn’t __________ your father’s instructions. Anyway he is an experienced teacher.

  A) deduce B) deliberate {C) defy} D) denounce

  54. The company management attempted to __________ information that was not favorable to them, but it was all in vain.

  {A) suppress} B) supplement C) concentrate D) plug

  55. It is my hope that everyone in this class should __________ their errors before it is too late.

  A) refute B) exclude C) expel {D) rectify}

  56. The boy’s foolish question __________ his mother who was busy with housework and had no interest in talking.

  A) intrigued B) fascinated {C) irritated} D) stimulated

  57. Millions of people around the world have some type of physical, mental, or emotional __________ that severely limits their abilities to manage their daily activities.

  A) scandal B) misfortune C) deficit {D) handicap}

  58. It is believed that the feeding patterns parents __________ on their children can determine their adolescent and adult eating habits.

  A) compel {B) impose} C) evokeD) necessitate

  59. If the value-added tax were done away with, it would act as a __________ to consumption.

  A) progression B) prime C) stability {D) stimulus}

  60. The bride and groom promised to __________ each other through sickness and health.

  A) nourish B) nominate C) roster {D) cherish}

  61. They’re going to build a big office block on that __________ piece of land.

  A) void {B) vacant} C) blank D) shallow

  62. Without any hesitation, she took off her shoes, __________ up her skirt and splashed across the stream.

  {A) tucked} B) revolved C) twisted D) curled

  63. Very few people could understand his lecture because the subject was very __________.

  A) faint {B) obscure} C) gloomy D) indefinite

  64. Professor Smith explained the movement of light __________ that of water.

  {A) by analogy with} B) by virtue of C) in line with D) in terms of

  65. Tom is bankrupt now. He is desperate because all his efforts __________ failure.

  A) tumbled to B) hinged upon C) inflicted on {D) culminated in}

  66. While fashion is thought of usually __________ clothing, it is important to realize that it covers a much wider domain.

  {A) in relation to} B) in proportion to C) by means of D) on behalf of

  67. The meaning of the sentence is __________; you can interpret it in several ways.

  A) skeptical B) intelligible {C) ambiguous} D) exclusive

  68. Cancer is a group of diseases in which there is uncontrolled and disordered growth of __________ cells.

  A) irrelevant B) inferior C) controversial {D) abnormal}

  69. At that time, the economy was still undergoing a __________ and job offers were hard to get.

  A) concession B) supervision {C) recession} D) deviation

  70. I could hear nothing but the roar of the airplane engines which __________all other sounds.

  A) overturned {B) drowned} C) deafened D) smoothed

  Part IV Error Correction (15 minutes)

  Directions: This part consists of a short passage. In this passage, there are altogether 10 mistakes, one in each numbered line. You may have to change a word, add a word or delete a word. Mark out the mistakes and put the corrections in the blanks provided. If you change a word, cross it out and write the correct word in the corresponding blank. If you add a word, put an insertion mark(∧) in the right place and write the missing word in the blank. If you delete a word, cross it out and put a slash(/)in the blank.

  Example:

  Television is rapidly becoming the literature of our periods. 1. time / times/period

  Many of the arguments having used for the study of literature as a 2____________

  school subject are valid for∧study of television. 3. the______

  Every week hundreds of CVs(简历) land on our desks.

  We’ve seen it all: CVs printed on pink paper, CVs that are 10

  pages long and CVs with silly mistakes in first paragraph. A S1 _______ the

  good CV is your passport to an interview and, ultimate, to S2 _______ ultimately

  the job you want. Initial impressions are vital, and a badly presented CV

  could mean acceptance, regardless of what’s in it. S3 _______ rejection

  Here are a few ways to avoid end up on the reject pile. S4 _______ ending

  Print your CV on good-quality white paper.

  CVs with flowery backgrounds or pink paper will

  stand out upon all the wrong reasons. S5 _______ for

  Get someone to check for spelling and grammatical

  errors, because a spell-checker will pick up every S6 _______ not

  mistake. CVs with errors will be rejected — it shows

  that you don’t pay attention to detail.

  Restrict yourself to one or two pages, and

  listing any publications or referees on a separate sheet. S7 _______ list

  If you are sending your CV electronically, check the

  formatting by sending it to yourself first. Keep up S8 _______ /

  the format simple.

  Do not send a photo unless specifically requested. If

  you have to send one, make sure it is one taking in a S9 _______ taken

  professional setting, rather than a holiday snap.

  Getting the presentation right is just the first step. What

  about the content? The rule here is to keep it factual and

  truthful — exaggerations usually get find out. And remember S10 _______ found

  to tailor your CV to each different job.

  文章出处:

  There's nothing worse than a bad CV, says Kris Richards of scientific recruitment consultancy Lab Support UK

  EVERY week hundreds of CVs land on our desks. We've seen it all: CVs printed on pink paper, ones that are 10 pages long and ones with howlers in the first paragraph. A good CV is your passport to interview and, ultimately, to the job you want.

  Initial impressions are vital, and a badly presented CV could mean rejection, regardless of what's in it.

  Here are a few ways to avoid ending up on the reject pile.

  Print your CV on good-quality white or off-white paper. CVs with floral backgrounds or pink paper will stand out for all the wrong reasons.

  Get someone to check for spelling and grammatical errors, because a spellchecker will not pick up every mistake. CVs with errors will be rejected - it shows that you don't have good attention to detail.

  Restrict yourself to one or two pages, and list any publications or referees on separate sheets.

  If you are sending your CV electronically, check the formatting by sending it to yourself first. Keep the format simple.

  Do not send a photo unless specifically requested. If you have to send one, make sure it is one taken in a professional setting, not a holiday snap.

  Getting the presentation right is just the first step. What about the content? The rule here is to keep it factual and truthful - exaggerations or fibs usually get found out. And remember to tailor your CV to each different job.

  If you are applying straight from university, your education and final year project or industrial placements will probably be the most relevant information for the role. Put them first, followed by your employment history, in reverse chronological order. Only include the edited highlights, as too much detail could detract from the rest of your CV. It is best to write in bullet points, and try and start with a positive: "Responsible for...", "Achievements include..."

  说明:考试文章主要运用了化难为简的方法,如将howlers替换成silly mistakes等。

  Part V Writing (30 minutes)

  Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a company declining a job offer. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below:

  1.对公司提供职位表示感谢

  2.解释为何不能接受所提供的职位

  3.希望给与谅解,并表达对公司的良好祝愿

  A Letter Declining a Job Offer

  Dear Ms. Jones,

  Thank you very much for offering me the Sales Associate position with your company. I appreciate your discussing the details of the position with me and giving me time to consider your offer.

  You have a fine organization and there are many aspects of the position which are very appealing to me. After much thought and careful deliberation, however, I have decided not to accept your offer. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe it is the appropriate one for my career at this time. As I had stated on the phone, I have accepted another opportunity that is more in line with my skills and career goals.

  I want to thank you for the consideration and courtesy given to me. It was a pleasure meeting you and your fine staff. I’m sincerely looking forward to your understanding and hoping you and your company will continue success. I do wish that our paths would cross again in the future.

  Best Regards,

  Nancy Lewis

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