本科部大学英语精读(第三版)第二册期末试卷

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启用前绝密

西安交通工程学院

2014—2015学年度第二学期期末考试

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Part I Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long

conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions 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.

1. A. At a train station. B. At an airport. C. At a travel agency. D. At a bus station.

2. A. Receptionist and guest.

B. Salesperson and customer.

C. Doctor and patient.

D. Waiter and diner.

3. A. She has got everything ready. B. She never hesitates over what to take. C. She hates packing by herself.

D. She needs more time for packing. 4. A. Ask for directions.

B. Try a different route.

C. Go back for the map.

D. Cancel their trip.

5. A. She lives close to the man. B. She changes her mind at last. C. She will turn to her manager.

D. She declines the man's offer.

6. A. He ’s too busy to clean his house. B. He prefers to keep his house in a mess.

C. He ’s planning to find a new job.

D. He has already cleaned his new house.

7. A. In the street. B. On the phone. C. At home. D. At an office.

8. A. In the hospital. B. At a store. C. In the classroom. D. At a bank.

Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

9. A. Changing some UK pounds. B. Changing some US dollars.

C. Changing some HK dollars.

D. Changing some French francs.

10. A. 100 American dollars to 72 pounds. B. 700 American dollars to 405 pounds.

C. 700 American dollars to 400 pounds.

D. 400 American dollars to 100 pounds.

11. A. $400. B. $500. C. $700. D. $800.

12. A. 100, 5 and small changes. B. 100, 50 and small changes.

C. 50, 20 and small changes.

D. 20, 5 and small changes.

Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

13. A. To the cinema. B. To the hospital. C. To the shop. D. To his home.

14. A. Because she is going on holiday. B. Because she doesn’t like the film.

C. Because she is very busy with her work.

D. Because she is going home to meet her friend.

15. A. He goes to the cinema. B. He sits at home and watches TV.

C. He works at his company.

D. He goes to the country and enjoys the peace there. 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). Passage One

Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A. His house was surrounded by the flood. B. There was water all over the floor.

C. His car was upside down in the street.

D. Big rocks crashed down on his house.

17. A. About 17 inches. B. About 60 inches. C. About 16 inches. D. About 70 inches.

18. A. How people fought against a natural disaster .B.Many people helped them rebuild their hometown.

C. Many people died in a serious flood.

D. A big flood struck Peter's hometown.

Passage Two

Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.

19. A. On a plane. B. In a bus. C. On a train. D. At a tourist site.

20. A. To avoid annoying others. B. To show respect for the guide.

C. To guarantee passengers’ safety.

D. To keep the coach tidy and clean.

21. A. 15 to 30 minutes. B. About an hour. C. About two hours. D. About three hours.

22. A. Stonehenge. B. The River Avon.

C. The Roman baths.

D. The old buildings in the city center.

Passage Three

Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

23. A. On the internet. B. At travel agents. C. From guidebooks. D. In newspapers.

24. A. Planes. B. Buses. C. Trains. D. Ships.

25. A. Hotels with low prices. B. Hotels providing meals.

C. Hotels near sightseeing places.

D. Hotels with five stars.

Section C

Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for

the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just

heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you

have written.

You probably have noticed that people express similar ideas in different ways depending on the situation they are in. This is very (26)________. All languages have two general levels of (27)________: a formal level and an informal level. English is no (28)________. The difference in these two levels is the situation in which you use a (29)________ level. Formal language is the kind of language you find in textbooks, (30)________ books and in business letters. You would also use formal English in compositions and (31)________ that you write in school. Informal language is used in conversation with (32)________, family members and friends, and when we write (33)________ notes or letters to close friends.

Formal language is different from informal language in several ways. First, formal language tends to be more polite. What we may find (34)_______ is that it usually takes more words to be polite. For example, I might say to a f riend or a family member “Close the door, please,” but to a stranger, I probably would say “would you mind closing the door?”

Another difference between formal and informal language is some of the vocabulary. There are bound to be some words and phrases that belong in formal language and others that are (35)_______. Let’s say that I really like soccer. If I am talking to my friend I might say “I am just crazy about soccer!” But if I were talking to my boss, I would probably say “I really enjoy soccer.”

Part II Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the

passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.

When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a (36)________ and, in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its (37)_______ too.

One big disadvantage is (38)______ ---- it costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma (哮喘), and at times the air is so (39)_______that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of travelling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the (40)_______ jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.

Of course there are (41)_______. First, there is so much to do in the city,

whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater (42)________ of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of (43)________ is very surprising ---- and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.

Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens or twenties. However, as you (44)________ older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to (45)________ back there soon.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the

paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is

derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is

marked with a letter.密封线内不得答题

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The Prize

A) My name is Mara, I'm a 23-year-old athlete and I'm in training for the

Olympics. I run 5 miles every morning and night so that I am well prepared for my race. I am going to run the 1,500 meter race, it's taken a lot of time to get where I am now. I have a specific diet that I have to stick to; my diet is full of carbohydrates (碳水化合物) and other food's to make it balanced and healthy. My trainer is my dad as he used to run cross country in high school and also won races.

B) It will mean a lot to me if I win gold because it will make my family proud

and I will feel like I have accomplished something important and bigger than ever before. It will make my dad and mum especially proud of me because they were both athletes in high school but have never made it as far as me. If I don't win a gold medal I will be disappointed but I will learn from my

mistakes and I will be able to compete again in four years.

C) It’s one week until I leave for the Olymp ics so I have been training extra

hard. My dad keeps pushing me, telling me if I try harder I will defiantly get a gold medal; honestly I think he is pushing me a little too hard, every night I have to have a hot bath to sooth my muscles. I have packed my stuff ready to leave for London.

D) I'm at the London stadium waiting for the runners to get called up. My heart

is pumping so fast it feels like it's going to explode, my hands are sweaty and I'm shaking like mad. I'm so nervous about this race: what if something goes wrong? What if I trip and fall? Just as I was thinking about the worst case scenario I heard the runners being called up to the race track. I slowly stood up and made my way over.

E) I took my place on the starting line and focused my mind on the track ahead.

I slowed down my breathing and calmed my nerves. I could see all the people staring down at us with anticipation running through their veins. I heard the starting pistol get shot and we all set off. At first I was lagging behind but I soon caught up to the lead runner, my heart rate was through the roof but my breathing was calm and steady.

F) The lead runner and I were neck and neck until the last 10 meters when I

picked up my pace to a fast sprint and overtook him. I made it to the finish line way ahead of all the rest; I looked behind me and smiled, feeling like I

something. I walked over to a bench and waited for the winning results to be called.

G) I waited a long agonizing hour for all the other events to finish. When all the events finished,

all the contestants walked over to the platform and waited for the results. When it was the runners’ turn I waited anxiously; the bronze medal winner was called up, then the silver and then it was the gold medal. I heard them call my name and I screamed with joy, I walked up to the top stand on the platform and was handed a big gold trophy. Everyone was clapping and cheering; I felt on top of the world, this is the biggest achievement I have ever won and it will stay with me for life.

46. Mara’s setting-off in the race is not very satisfactory.

47. Mara will always remember the happy moment of winning the gold medal.

48. If Mara cannot win a gold medal, she will take part in the next Olympic Games.

49. Mara keeps abreast with the lead runner for the major part of the running.

50. Mara will run the 1,500 meter race in the London Olympic Games.

51. Mara has practiced her running so hard that her muscles become stiff.

52. While waiting for the race, Mara is very much worried about making mistakes in her running.

53. Mara’s coach used to run cross country in high school.

54. Mara starts to speed up only in the last minute.

55. In the course of the race, Mara’s heart beats very, very fast.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. 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.

Passage One

Questions 56 to 58 are based on the following passage.

There was a story many years ago of a school teacher ---- Mrs. Thompson. She told the children on the first day that she loved them all the same. But that was a lie. There in the front row was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. He didn’t play well with the other children and he always needed a bath. She did not like him.

Then Mrs. Thompson got to know that Teddy was actually a very good boy before the death of his mother. Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when, like all her other students, Teddy brought her a Christmas present too. It was his mother’s perfume.

Teddy said, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mom used to.” After th e children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she stopped teaching reading, writing and math. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The boy’s mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he improved. By the end of the sixth grade, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class.

Six years went by before she got a note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. He went to college. Mrs. Thompson got two more letters from him with the last one signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M. D.

The story doesn’t end there. On his wedding day, Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. You made me feel important and showed me that I could make a difference.”

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”

56. What did Mrs. Thompson do on the first day of school?

A. She made Teddy feel ashamed.

B. She asked the children to play with Teddy.

C. She changed Teddy’s seat to the fron t row.

D. She told the class something untrue about herself.

57. In what way did Mrs. Thompson change?

A. She taught fewer school subjects.

B. She became stricter with her students.

C. She cared more about educating students.

D. She no longer liked her job as a teacher.

58. Why did Teddy thank Mrs. Thompson at his wedding?

A. She had kept in touch with him.

B. She had given him encouragement.

C. She had sent him Christmas presents.

D. She had taught him how to judge people. Passage Two

Questions 59 to 61 are based on the following passage.

Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time. Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive if the rain is spread throughout the year. If it falls, within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form.

Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down. Sand dunes (沙丘) are formed as winds move the sand across the desert. Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape. Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high.

There is, however, much more to a desert than sand. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, cliffs and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay beneath a sea more than millions of years ago. Over the centuries, the water dried up. Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks. The faces of the desert mountains are always changing ---- very, very slowly ---- as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock.

Most deserts have a surprising variety of life. There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted to life in the desert. During the heat of the day, a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life. As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely.

59. Many plants may survive in deserts when_________.

A. the rain is spread out in a year

B. the rain falls only in a few weeks

C. there is little rain in a year

D. it is dry all the year round

60. Sand dunes are formed when__________.

A. pieces of rock get smaller

B. there is plenty of rain in a year

C. sand piles up gradually

D. the sea has dried up over the years PartⅢTranslation (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.

绝大多数的美国人仍然相信诚实（honesty）是美国人性格的一个重要组成部分。因为这一理由，在社会各级都有许多监督委员会（watch-dog committees）。虽然学校、商界和政府中的不诚实现象近年来似乎比过去多了许多，但这会不会是由于我们越来越善于揭露（reveal）这类不诚实行为的缘故呢？

Part IV Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the topic: My Views on Examinations. You should write at least 120 words

following the outline given below in Chinese.

1. 大学都用考试来衡量学生的成绩；

2. 考试可能带来的副作用；

3. 我对考试的看法。

My Views on Examinations 密封线内不得答题