江苏师范大学科文学院 大学英语B试题集及答案

Part I Vocabulary & Structure

Directions: Choose the ONE that best completes each sentence from the four choices given below.

C 1．A good newspaper story must come right to the ________ and save the details for later.

A) aim B) summit C) point D) purpose

A 2. This article deals with the natural ________which is most interesting to everyone.

A) phenomenon B) phenomena C) phenomenons D) phenomenas

D 3. On no account _______ rudeness from his employees.

A) the manager will tolerate B) the manager will not tolerate

C) the manager tolerates D) will the manager tolerate

C 4. The shop does not have any brown sugar in __________ at the moment, but it expects to have some tomorrow.

A) purchase B) sale C) stock D) trade

C 5. We regret _______ you that you are to be dismissed next week.

A) to have informed B) informing C) to inform D) having informed

A 6. The room is partly ________ with a few old bed stands.

A) furnished B) beautified C) decorated D) provided

B 7. It is advisable that she __________ for Madrid as soon as possible.

A) will leave B) may leave C) leaves D) leave

A 8. They always give the vacant seats to _________ comes first.

A) whoever B) whomever C) who D) whom

B 9. Children are very curious __________.

A) at heart B) by nature C) at birth D) from the beginning

B 10. She was so _______ in her job that she didn’t hear anybody knocking at the door.

A) attracted B) absorbed C) drawn D) concentrated

B 11. He _______ his job for a better position.

A) stopped B) quitted C) parted D) withdrew

A 12. I arrive at nine o’clock,teach until twelve thirty and then have a meal; that is my

morning ______.

A) routine B) regular C) order D) regulations

C 13. There is no reason to hold the belief ______ humans have no direct moral responsibility

to safeguard the welfare of animals.

A) which B) what C) that D) in which

A 14. His manners are beyond ______, and I have never met anyone so polite.

A) reproach B) reproaching C) approach D) blame

D 15. The husband and wife were never in ________ or agreement about anything for ten

minutes together.

A) pity B) symphony C) sympathy D) harmony

A 16. School teachers have to have a great deal of ______ in order to deal with difficult

children.

A) tolerance B) standing C) bearing D) still

A 17. The new apartment built a few months ago is large enough to ___ over two hundred

people.

A) contain B) provide C) reside D) accommodate

B 18. I think she hurt my feelings ______ rather than by accident as she claimed.

A) virtually B) deliberately C) literally D) appropriately

C 19. Have you seen the glass walls with ______ fish behind?

A) huge tropical B) lovely huge tropical

C) lovely tropical huge D) tropical lovely huge

C 20. Shoes of this kind are __________ to slip on wet ground.

A) feasible B) appropriate C) apt D) fitting

A 21. What he said is ______ to a true understanding of this book.

A) basic B) fundamental C) elementary D) primary

D 22. _______ by a strange loud noise downstairs, the two girls jumped from their bed and s

creamed.

A) Stunned B) Amazed C) Promoted D) Startled

A 23. The falling inflating rate is _ to a decrease in the amount of borrowing.

A) attributed B) referred C) subjected D) submitted

B 24. Peter will _________ what his parents expect of him.

A) watch for B) live up to C) stand up to D) get along with

C 25. You ought to have been told, _______ as old friend of the family.

A) who are B) to be C) being D) since were

D 26. Among her ___________ were sewing, cooking, plying the piano and dancing.

A) obligation B) fulfillment C) assignment D) accomplishments

B 27. The clothes a person wears express his ________ or social position.

A) curiosity B) status C) determination D) significance

A 28. It’s a pleasure for him to _____ his energy and even his life to research work.

A) dedicate B) delicate C) decorate D) direct

C 29. _______ at the station _________ we met a man carrying a copy of The Time.

A) It was … where B) It was … at which

C) It was … that D) just … that

B 30. Each variety of melon has its ___________ flavor and texture.

B A) individually B) individual C) private D) personal

D 31. When I _____something, I’d like to make it clear by means of examples and drawing.

A) illustrate B) expound C) explicate D) interpret

D32. To pass the text, ____________.

A) this book must be studied B) this book should be chosen

C) this book can be studied D) we should study this book

A 33. I can’t thank you ______ much for you kindness, because without you help, I would not

have fished the work so quickly.

A) too B) very C) quite D) that

A 34. A body weighs _______ from the surface of the Earth.

A) less, the father it gets B) the father it gets, less

C) less, the further it gets D) the further it gets, the less

B 35. You’ll find this instrument ______ great value ______making certain kinds of measurements.

A) of ….of B) of …in C) for…of D) of…to

B 36. Their products are frequently overpriced and ____ in quality.

A)influential B)inferior C)superior D)subordinate

B 37. After hearing the story, I felt ________ puzzled.

A) some what B) somewhat C) anyway D) somehow

C38. The neighborhood boys like to play basketball on that ____ lot.

A)valid B)vain C)vacant D)vague

B 39. We may have been looking at all these surveys and statistic upside down, maybe it’s just

______.

A) one way around B) the other way around

C) another way around D) other way around

A 40. These people once had fame and fortune; now ____ is left to them is utter poverty.

A）all that B）all what C)all which D）that all

A 41. Words have come from Mr. Green ______ she could arrive on the Sunday following. A) about which B) that C) whether D) of which

D 42. The residents____ had been damaged by the fire were given help by the Red Cross.

A)all of their homes B)all their homes

C)whose all homes D)all of whose homes

C 43. Investigators agreed that passengers on the airliner ____ at the very moment of the crash. A）should have died B）must be dying

C）must have died D）ought to die

B 44. The energy ____ by the chain reaction is transformed into heat.

A）transferred B）released C）delivered D）conveyed

C 45. ____ their work will give us a much better feel for the wide differences between the two schools of thought.

A）To have reviewed B）Having reviewed

C）Reviewing D）Being reviewed

A 46. Many people like white color as it is a ____ of purity.

A）symbol B）sign C）signal D）symptom

C 47. During the process, great care has to be taken to protect the ____ silk from damage.

A）sensitive B）tender C）delicate D)sensible

A 48. Although he has looked through all the reference materials on the subject, he still found

it hard to understand this point and her explanation only______ his confusion.

A) added to B) added C) added up D) added up to

D 49. These tables below showing the up s and downs of the world economy in the 1980’s

were compiled ________careful observation and detailed studies.

A) at the bottom of B) in exchange for

C) in the name of D) on the basis of

C 50. The present ________ wasn’t really satisfactory to them.

A) attraction B) assassination C) arrangement D) inspection

B 51. Just as they must put aside their prejudices, _________we must be prepared to accept

their good faith.

A) thus B) so C) as D) like

C 52. Wherever there is matter, there is energy; all changes of matter _______changes in the

form of the energy.

A) retain B) include C) involve D) contain

A 53. The falling inflation rate is ______ to a decrease in the amount of borrowing.

A) attributed B) referred C) subjected D) submitted

B 54. The Weather Bureau has repeatedly advised people to take every ______ against the

coming typhoon.

A) protection B) precaution C) prevention D) prediction

D 55. I would never have ____ a court of law if I hadn't been so desperate.

A）sought for B)accounted for C）turned up D）resorted to

A 56. The ring was _______ to her from her great grandmother.

A) handed down B) handed out C) handed around D) handed over

B 57. The students are working hard for fear that they______ in the exams.

A) will fail B) should fail C) failed D) fails

C58. Have you seen the glass walls with ______ fish behind?

A) huge tropical B) lovely tropical huge

C) lovely huge tropical D) tropical lovely huge

D 59. As a matter of fact, Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves ______ those of Kuwait.

A) come second following B) come second with

C) is second only to D) are second only to

A60. The fundamental ______which govern all physical process are also related to many everyday occurrences.

A) principals B) principles C) rules D) regulations

B 61. Despite its wide range of styles and instrumentation, country music has certain common

features ________ its own special character.

A) give it that B) that give it C) give that D) that gives it to

C 62. Statistics show that only 27% of the paper we _______ is recycled.

A) resume B) presume C) consume D) assume

B 63. There are several people, who are new comers, _______ to me in my company.

A) lower B) junior C) superior D) higher

C 64. The amount of money that the government spends on ______ has halved in the past

decade.

A) farewell B) advantage C) welfare D) wages

D 65. The heat in the little room exposed all day to the glaring sun was _______.

A) intolerant B) intolerance C) tolerate D) intolerable

A66. The traditional approach _______ with complex problems is to break them down into smaller, more easily managed problems.

A) to dealing B) in dealing C) dealing D) to deal

C 67. He declined the invitation partly because he was busy and ______.

A) for lack of money B) partly because his lack of money

C) partly because he lacked money D) partly his lack of money

C 68. Susan ______ between Rotterdam and London for her new job.

A) commutes B) changes C) moves D)shuttles

A 69. ________Mansfield was sitting almost in the dark, reading some poems by a young and

unknown writer.

A) Only then did they notice that B) Only then they noticed that

C) Only did they notice that D) Only when they noticed that

A 70. Small as it is, the ant is as much as a creature as _______ all other animals on earth.

A) are B) do C) is D) have

D 71. In to his sister, he was always considerate in his treatment of others.

A) contrary B) contract C) contact D) contrast

C 72. In the time of social reform, people’s state of mind tends to keep with the rapid

change of society.

A) step B) progress C) pace D) touch

B 73. We came in this field late, so we must work hard to make the lost time.

A) out for B) up for C) up with D) off with

B 74. You will find this instrument ______ great value _______ making certain kinds of

measurements.

A) of … of B) of … in C) for … of D) of … to

C 75. The director was critical the way we were doing the work.

A) at B) in C) of D) with

D 76. Over a third of population was estimated to have no to the health service.

A) assessment B) assignment C) exception D) access

A 77. When I go out in the evening, I use the bike _______ the car if I can.

A) rather than B) regardless of C) in spite of D) other than

B78. In this university, student are available based on financial needs.

A) awards B) loans C) funds D) rewards

B 79. The mad man was put in the soft-padded cell lest he himself.

A) injured B) injure C)had injured D)would injure

D 80. Don’t have him for a friend. He’s _______ a criminal.

A）anything but B）but for

C）rather than D）nothing but

A 89. Tim waited a moment to himself that he was not being followed.

A) assure B) ensure C) insure D) sure

D 81. Television programs may, , not be very interesting, but this is because they are

aimed at the average level of the audience.

A) on occasion B) for example C) if yes D) in fact

B 82. The area does not entirely of rich people, despite popular belief.

A) compose B) consist C) contain D) comprise

B 83. Joe is accustomed at six in the morning.

A) rising B) to be rising C) to rising D) to have risen

B 84. The history of life on earth has been a history of _______between living things and their

surrounding things.

A）interference B）interaction

C）interview D）introduction

A 85. Reading is a pleasant way to spend one’s _______.

A）leisure B）relaxation

C）recreation D）relief

A 86. The ring was to her from her great grandmother.

A) handed down B) handed out

C) handed around D) handed over

B 87. Each of us might the concept of freedom in a slightly different way.

A) devise B) define C) design D) derive

D 88. Many scientists and engineers are judged how great their achievements are.

A) in spite of B) in ways of C) in favor of D) in terms of

C 89. We had to a lot of noise when the children were at home.

A) go in for B) hold on to C) put up with D) keep pace with

B 90. The morning news says a school bus with a train at the junction and a group of

policemen was sent there immediately.

A) bumped B) collided C) crashed D) struck

A 91. They believed that this was not the of their campaign for equality but merely the

beginning.

A) climax B) summit C) pitch D) maximum

C 92. College officials were about the investigation for a whole month.

A) kept in the bay B) kept in the dark

C) kept in suspense D) kept quiet

B 93. I always what I have said.

A) get to B) hold to C) lead to D) see to

B 94. Britain has the highest of road traffic in the world—over 60 cars for every mile of

road.

A) popularity B) density C) intensity D) prosperity

D 95. The police have down their list of suspects after several days’ investigation.

A) reduced B) put C) drawn D) narrowed

D 96. Students or teachers can participate in excursions to lovely beaches around the island at

regular_____.

A) gaps B) rate C) length D) intervals

C 97. Grain production in the world is but still millions go hungry.

A) staggering B) shrinking C) soaring D) suspending

A 98. Despite the economic forecasts, manufacturing output has risen slightly.

A) gloomy B) miserable C) shadowy D) obscure

A 99. A bicycle or a motorcycle is built on the same , though the force that moves them is

different.

A）principle B）principal C）principles D）principals

A 100. Language has always been described as the mirror of society. Chinese is of no ______. A）exception B）explanation C）expectation D）excuse

C 101. We regret to inform you that you ________ next week.

A）are dismissed B）are dismissing

C）are to be dismissed D）to be dismissing

C 102. We were ________ by the news that they were getting divorced; they got married just a

month ago and were considered such a perfect match.

A) relieved B）dismayed C）startled D）disillusioned

A 103. This train ticket is ______ for five days.

A）valid B）valuable C）serviceable D）functional

B 104. The Weather Bureau has repeatedly advised people to take every ________ against the

coming typhoon.

A）protection B）precaution C）prevention D）prediction

D 105. Mother insists that she ________ for Madrid as soon as possible.

A）will leave B）may leave C）leaves D）leave

C 106. In the time of social reform, people’s state of mind _______ pace with the rapid

changes of society.

A）tends to keeping B）tend to keeping

C）tends to keep D）tend to keep

A 107. Every means ________ tried but without much result.

A）has been B）have been C）are D）is

B 108. She never laughed, ________ lose her temper.

A）or she ever did B）nor did she

C）or did she ever D）nor she ever did

B 109. Electrical energy _______ from the sun in a round-about way is the most widely used

energy.

A）to come B）coming C）come D）having come

A 110. He always did well at school _________ having to do part-time jobs every now and

then.

A）in spite of B）regardless of C）on account of D）in case of

A 111. The little girl did not seem to be frightened of being left by herself in the house. A）in the least B）at least C）at the least D）in least

D 112. It was very kind of you to do the washing-ups, but you _______ it.

A）mustn’t have done B）wouldn’t have done

C）mightn’t have done D）didn’t have to do

D 113. — Is John coming by train?

— He should, but he _______ not. He likes driving his car.

A）must B）can C）need D）may

B 114. I advised her that in the presence of the princess, she should not say anything until

_______.

A）being asked B）asked

C）to be asked D）having been asked

C 115. ________ three times in a row, the boxer decided to give up fighting.

A）Having defeated B）To have defeat

C）Having been defeated D）To have been defeated

C 116. ________ at the station ________ we met a man carrying a copy of The Times.

A）It was …. where B）It was …. At which

C）It was …. that D）Just … that

C 117. Many in the credit industry expect that credit cards will eventually ________paper

money for almost each purchase.

A）trade B）replace

C）reduce D）exchange

B 118. You’ll find this instrument ____ great value making certain kinds of

measurement.

A）of…of B）of…in C）of….to D）for… of

B 119. I don’t think he will arrive here in time, _________?

A）do I B）will he C）won’t he D）don’t I

Part II Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

We all know that DNA has the ability to identify individuals, but because it is inherited, there are also regions of the DNA started which can relate an individual to his or her family (immediate and extended), tribal group and even an entire population. Molecular Genealogy (宗谱学) can use this unique identification provided by the genetic markers to link people together into family trees.

Pedigrees (家谱) based on such genetic markers can mean a breakthrough for family trees where information is incomplete or missing due to adoption, illegitimacy or lack of records. There are many communities and populations which have lost precious records due to tragic events such as the fire in the Irish courts during Civil War in 1921 or American salves for whom many records were never kept in the first place.

The main objective of the Molecular Genealogy Research Group is to build a database containing over 100,000 DNA samples from individuals all over the world. These individuals will have provided a pedigree chart of at least four generations and a small blood sample. Once the database has enough samples to represent the world genetic make-up, it will eventually help in solving many issues regarding genealogies that could not be done by relying only on traditional written records. Theoretically, any individual will someday be able to trace his or her family origins through this database.

In the meantime, as the database is being created, Molecular Genealogy can verify possible or suspected relationships between individuals. “For example, if two men sharing the same last name believe that they are related, but no written record proves this relationship, we can verify this possibility by collecting a sample of DNA from both and looking for common markers, in this case we can look primarily at the Y chromosome (染色体)”，explains Ugo A. Perego, a member of the BYU Molecular Genealogy research team.

B 1. People in a large area may possess the same DNA thread because _______.

A）DNA is characteristic of a region

B）They are beyond doubt of common ancestry

C）DNA strand has the ability to identify individuals

D）Their unique identification can be provided via DNA

C 2. The possible research of family trees is based on the fact that _________.

A）genetics has achieved a breakthrough

B）genetic information contained in DNA can be revealed now

C）each individual carries a unique record of who he is and how he is related to others D）we can use DNA to prove how distant an individual is to a family, a group or a population

A 3. The Molecular Genealogy Research Group is building a database for the purpose of

_______.

A）offering assistance in working out genealogy-related problem

B）solving many issues without relying on traditional written records

C）providing a pedigree chart of at least four generations in the world

D）confirming the assumption that all individuals are of the same origin

B 4. If two men suspect for some reason that they have a common ancestor, _______.

A）we can decide according to their family tree

B）we can find the truth from their genetic markers

C）we can compare the differences in their Y chromosome

D）we can look for written records to prove their relationship

C 5. Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the passage?

A）We are walking, living, breathing record of our ancestors

B）Many American salves did not know who their ancestors were

C）An adopted child generally lacks enough information to prove his identity

D）Molecular Genealogy can be used to prove relationship between individuals Passage 2

If you want to stay young, sit down and have a good think. This is the research finding of a team of Japanese doctors, who say that most of our brains are not getting enough exercises----and as a result, we are aging unnecessarily soon.

Professor Taiju Matsuzawa wanted to find out why otherwise healthy farmers in northern Japan appeared to be losing their ability to think and reason at a relatively early age, and how the process of aging could be slowed down.

With a team of colleagues at Tokyo National University, he set about measuring brain volumes of a thousand people of different ages and varying occupations.

Computer technology enabled the researchers to obtain precise measurements of the volume of the front and side sections of the brain, which relate to intellect and emotion, and determine the human character. (The rear section of the brain, which controls functions like eating and breathing, does not contract with age, and one can continue living without intellectual or emotional faculties.)

Contraction of front and side parts--as cells die off--was observed in some subjects in their thirties, but it was still not evident in some sixty-and-seventy-year-olds.

Matsuzawa concluded from his tests that there is a simple remedy to the contraction normally associated with age-using the head.

The findings show in general terms that contraction of the brain begins sooner in people

in the country than in the towns. Those least at risk, says Matsuzawa, are lawyers, followed by university professors and doctors. White collar worker doing routine work in government offices are, however, as likely to have shrinking brains as the farm worker, bus driver and shop assistant.

Matsuzawa’s findings show that thinking can prevent the brain from shrinking. Blood must circulate properly in the head to supply the fresh oxygen the brain cells need. “The best way to maintain good blood circulation is through using the brain,” he says, “Think hard and engage in conversation. Don’t rely on pocket calculator.

B 1. The purpose of Professor Taiju Matsuzawa’s research is _______.

A ) to find out which people are most intelligent

B ) to know something about the reason and process of ageing

C ) to measure the size of certain people’s brains

D ) to make people live longer

C 2. According to the author, what is the simple way to slow down the shrinking of the brain?

A ) Taking some medicine. B) Taking more physical exercise.

C) Using the head. D) Getting much more nutrition.

B 3. Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “remedy” in Para. 6?

A) Medicine. B) Treatment. C) Preparation D) Examination.

A 4. . According to the passage, which people seem to age slower than the others?

A) Lawyers. B) Farmers. C) Clerks. D) Shop assistants.

C 5. We can infer from the passage that ________.

A) the front section of the brain does not shrink

B) using the brain can give the brain cells fresh oxygen

C) farm worker’s brain has contracted more than bus driver’s

D) nothing can be done to slow down the process of aging

Passage 3

Surprisingly, no one knows how many children receive education in English hospitals, still less the content or quality of that education. Proper records are just not kept.

We know that more than 850,000 children go through hospital each year, and that every child of school age has a legal right to continue to receive education while in hospital.

Little wonder the latest survey concludes that the extent and type of hospital teaching available differ a great deal across the country. It is found that half of the hospitals in England which admit children have no teacher. A further quarter has only a part-time teacher. The special children’s hospitals in major cities do best; general hospitals on the country and holiday areas are worst off.

From this survey, one can estimate that fewer than one in five children have some contact with a hospital teacher and that contact may be as little as two hours a day. Most children interviewed were surprised to find a teacher in hospital at all. They had not been

prepared for it by parents or their own school. It there was a teacher they were much more likely to read books and do math or number work; without a teacher they would only play games.

Reasons for hospital teaching range from preventing a child falling behind and maintaining the habit of school to keeping a child occupied, and the latter is often all the teacher can do. The position and influence of many teachers was summed up when parents referred to them as “the library lady” or just “the helper”.

Children tend to rely on intimate school friends to keep in touch with school work. Once back at school, children rarely get extra teaching, and are told to catch up as best as they can.

Many short-stay child-patients catch up quickly. But schools do very little to ease the anxiety about falling behind expressed by many of the children interviewed.

B 1. Which of the following statements is true?

A) Every child in hospital receives some teaching?

B) Not enough is known about hospital teaching.

C) Hospital teaching is of poor quality.

D) The special children’s hospitals are worst off.

D 2. It can be inferred from the latest survey that _________.

A) hospital teaching across the country is similar

B) each hospital has at least one part-time teacher

C) all hospitals surveyed offer education to children

D) only one-fourth of the hospital have full-time teacher

C 3. The hospital teachers are found _________.

A) not welcomed by the children and their parents

B) unnecessary C) not quite helpful D) capable

B 4. In order to catch up with their school work, children in hospital usually turn to _________.

A) hospital teachers B) schoolmates C) parents D) school teachers

C 5. We can conclude from the passage that the author is ________.

A) unfavorable towards children receiving education in hospitals

B) in favor of the present state of teaching in hospitals

C) unsatisfied with the present state of hospital teaching

D) satisfied with the results of the latest survey

Passage 4

A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement spread over farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best

means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines.

The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental system. In 1862 congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nerbraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish laborers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.

The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.

A 1. The major problems with America’s railroad system in the mid-19th century lay in ________.

A) poor quality rails and unreliable stopping systems

B) lack of financial support for development

C) limited railroad lines

D) lack of transcontinental railroad

A 2. The building of the first transcontinental system _______.

A) brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west.

B) attracted many visitor to the construction sites

C) attracted laborers from Europe

D) encouraged people to travel all over the country

B 3. The best title for this passage would be _________.

A) Settlements Spread Westward

B) The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link

C) American Railroad History

D) The Importance of Railroads in the American Economy

D 4. The construction of the transcontinental railroad took _________.

A) 9 years B) 7 years C) 4 years D) 3 years

C 5. What mostly likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad?

A) The possibility of government support for such a task.

B) The need to explore Utah.

C) The need to connect the east coast with the west.

D) The need to develop the railroad industry in the west.

Passage 5

U.S. college students are increasingly burdened with credit card debt, according to a study released Tuesday, and the consequences can be serious—ranging from higher drop-out rates to future employment problems and even suicide.

Based on hundreds of face-to-face interviews and surveys with students, sociologist Robert Manning of Georgetown University concluded both the number with credit card debt and their indebtedness had been “systematically underreported”in previous studies which failed to reflect the “survival strategies” many used to cope with their debts. These included the use of federal student loans to pay off credit cards, effectively shifting the debt, appeals to parents for loans, cutting back on course work to increase time at paid jobs, or even dropping out altogether to work full time. “Official drop-out rates include growing numbers of students who are unable to cope with the stress of their debts and part-time jobs for servicing their credit cards.” the study said.

Even then, debts can haunt students. “Student credit card debts are increasingly scrutinized during the recruitment process and may be an important factor in evaluating prospective, employee.”It noted. And the stress can also manifest in far more tragic ways. Jane O’Donnell’s, 2-year-old son, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, committed O’Donnell and Manning agreed students should bear some responsibility for reckless use of credit, but said credit card companies also had to be held accountable for making it so easy for them to get into debt. Manning said one of the most disturbing aspects of the student credit card issue was “the seduction of college and university administrators by the credit card industry.” Card issuers were sponsoring school programs, funding activities and even entering into business partnerships with schools involving college-branded “affinity” card, he said, “As a result, rather than protecting the economic and educational interests of their students, college administrators are playing an active and often disingenuous role in promoting the prominence of credit cards in collegiate life.”

C 1. Which is NOT one of the strategies American students may use to deal with their credit

card debt?

A) Use federal student loans. B) Seek part-time jobs to get money.

C) Promote the prominence of credit cards.

D) Ask parents to help them pay the debt.

B 2. Which may NOT be the consequence of students’ credit card debt?

A) High drop-out rates. B) Enter into business partnerships with schools.

C) Commit suicide. D) Future employment problems.

A 3. Who should be criticized for negative consequences of students’credit card debt

according to the passage?

A) Parents. B) Students themselves.

C) College and university administrators. D) Credit card issuers.

A 4. The main idea of this passage is __________.

A) negative consequences of students’ using credit card

B) college administrators are playing their proper roles in promoting credit cards

C) card issuers or college administrators promoted credit card

D) reasons for high drop-out rates in universities

D 5. We can infer from the passage that _________.

A) students should not have part-time jobs

B) credit cards should not be used

C) if there is no credit card, college students may not commit suicide

D) college students should learn to wisely manage their personal finances

Passage 6

Traffic congestion and cities, it seems, go hand in hand. Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but, like the weather, no one seems to do anything about it. In particular, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and public officials responsible for metropolitan transportation systems are frequently criticized for failing to make a dent in congestion.

But is traffic congestion a sign of failure? Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success. Should transportation systems be viewed any differently? I think we should recognize that traffic congestion is an inevitable by-product of vibrant (充满活力的), successful cities, and view the “congestion problem” in a different light.

Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions. Traffic congestion occurs where lots of people pursue these ends simultaneously in limited spaces. Culturally and economically vibrant cities have the worst congestion problems, while decaying cities don’t have much traffic. By some estimate, New York and Los Angeles are America’s most congested cities. But if you want access to major brokerage houses, you will find them easier to reach in congested New York than in any other metropolitan area. And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite guidance engineers, you will reach them more quickly via the crowded freeways of LA than via less crowded roads elsewhere.

Despite congestion, a large number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be consummated in large, crowded cities than elsewhere. Seen in this light, congestion is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity and a drag on otherwise high levels of accessibility, not a cause of economic decline and urban decay. So while we can view congestion as imposing costs on metropolitan areas, the costs of inaccessibility in uncongested places are almost certainly greater.

The terrible economic and environmental tolls that congestion brings in places like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Lagos are undeniable. But mobility is far higher and congestion levels

are far lower here in the US, even in our most crowded cities. That’s why, for now, we don’t see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago, heading for cities like California, and Illinois.

B 1. We can conclude from the first paragraph that ________.

A) traffic congestion and weather are the two factors hindering the development of the big

city

B) traffic congestion seems to be very difficult to deal with

C) if the traffic engineers try their best, traffic congestion can be solved

D) public officials are always criticized for misusing their power

C 2. According to the second paragraph, what’s the author’s view towards traffic congestion?

A) Traffic congestion is both a sign of failure and a sign of success.

B) In cities, traffic congestion is inevitable.

C) Traffic congestion is a consequence of successful cities.

D) For a vibrant city, traffic congestion is not unavoidable.

D 3. By saying “decaying” (Line 3, Para.3), the writer probably means _______.

A) declining B) robust C) prosperous D) developing

C 4. According to this passage, which statement about “New York”and “Los Angeles”is TRUE?

A) New York and Los Angeles are the most vibrant cities in the USA.

B) It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.

C) Despite the traffic congestion in LA, you will find a satellite-guidance engineer more

quickly there.

D) The traffic congestion in the two cities has been worsened.

A 5. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A) Congestion has caused terrible bad effects in cities such as Bangkok and Lagos.

B) The congestion level in Jakarta is lower than that in the US.

C) The congestion in San Francisco has resulted in the capital draining away.

D) California is as crowed and vibrant as San Francisco.

Passage 7

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical maneuvers, these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed intuition to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.

Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what

intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.

Isenberg’s recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers’intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an Ahexperience. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns.

One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that thinking is inseparable from acting. Since managers often know what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is inextricably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.

Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of thinking/acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.

D 1. According to the text, senior managers use intuition in all of the following ways EXCEPT to ________.

A) speed up of the creation of a solution to a problem

B) identify a problem

C) bring together disparate facts

D) stipulate clear goals

D 2. The text suggests which of the following about the writers on management mentioned in line 1, paragraph 2?

A) They have criticized managers for not following the classical rational model of decision analysis.

B) They have not based their analyses on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.

C) They have relied in drawing their conclusions on what managers say rather than on what managers do.

D) They have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.

C 3. It can be inferred from the text that which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?

A) Manager X analyzes first and then acts; Manager Y does not.

B) Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y

does not.

C) Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does

not.

D) Manager Y draws on years of hands-on experience in creating a solution to a problem;

Manager X does not.

D 4. The text provides support for which of the following statements?

A) Managers who relay on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal discussion analysis.

B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.

C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.

D) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

B 5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the text?

A) An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.

B) A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.

C) The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.

D) Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.

Passage 8

In bringing up children, every parent watches eagerly the child’s acquisition(学会) of each new skil l—the first spoken words, the first independent steps, or the beginning of reading and writing. It is often tempting to hurry the child beyond his natural learning rate, but this can set up dangerous feelings of failure and states of worry in the child. This might happen at any stage. A baby might be forced to use a toilet too early, a young child might be encouraged to learn to read before he knows the meaning of the words he reads. On the other hand, though, if a child is left alone too much, or without any learning opportunities, he loses his natural enthusiasm for life and his desire to find out new things for him.

Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters; others are severe over times of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. In general, the controls imposed represent the needs of the parents and the values of the community as much as the child’s own happiness.

As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child, consistency is very

important in parental teaching. To forbid a thing one day and excuse it the next is no foundation for morality(道德). Also, parents should realize that “example is better than precept”. If they are not sincere and do not practice what they preach(说教), their children may grow confused and emotionally insecure when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to some extent fooled. A sudden awareness of a marked difference between their parents’principles and their morals can be a dangerous disappointment.

D 1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A) Many parents want to see their children learn new skills.

B) Every parent hurries his child to do everything beyond his ability.

C) Some parents set up dangerous states of worry in the child.

D) Few parents will make his lose interest in learning new things.

C 2. In the process of children’s learning new skills parents .

A) should encourage them to read before they know the meaning of the words they read

B) should not expect too much of them

C) should achieve a balance between pushing them too hard and leaving them on their own

D) should create as many learning opportunities as possible

B 3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A) Parents should teach their children to learn to use a toilet as early as possible.

B) Parental restrictions on their children are different, and not always enforced in the

interests of the children alone.

C) Parents should be strict with their children.

D) parents should preach more rather than set their children an example.

D 4. The word “precept” (Para. 3) probably means “”.

A) idea B) punishment C) behavior D) instruction

A 5. In moral matters, parents should .

A) observe the rules themselves

B) be aware of the marked difference between adults and children

C) forbid things which have no foundation in morality

D) consistently ensure the security of their children

Passage 9

Each summer, no matter how pressing my work schedule, I take off one day exclusively for my son. We call it dad-son day. This year our third stop was the amusement park, where he discovered that he was tall enough to ride one of the fastest roller coasters(过山车) in the world. We blasted through face-stretching turns and loops for ninety seconds. Then, as we stepped off the ride, he shrugged and, in a distressingly calm voice, remarked that it was not as exciting as other rides he’d been on. As I listened, I b egan to sense something seriously out of balance.

Throughout the season, I noticed similar events all around me. Parents seemed hard pressed to find new thrills for indifferent kids. Surrounded by ever-greater stimulation, their young faces were looking disappointed and bored.

Facing their children’s complaints of “nothing to do”. Parents were shelling out large numbers of dollars for various forms of entertainment. In many cases the money seemed to do little more than buy transient relief from the terrible moans of their bored children. This set me pondering the obvious question: “How can it be so hard for kids to find something to do when there’s never been such a range of stimulating entertainment available to them?”

What really worries me is the intensity of the stimulation. I watch my little daughter’s face as she absorbs the powerful onslaught (冲击) arousing visuals and bloody special effects in movies.

Why do children immersed in this much excitement seem starved for more? That was, I realized, the point. I discovered during my own reckless adolescence that what creates excitement is not going fast, but going faster. Thrills have less to do with speed than changes in speed.

I’m concerned about the cumulative effect of years at these levels of feverish activity. It is no mystery to me why many teenagers appear apathetic (麻木的) and burned out, with a “been there, done that” air of indifference toward much of life. As increasing numbers of friends’ children are prescribed medications ----- stimulants to deal with inattentiveness at school or anti-depressants to help with the loss of interest and joy in their live ---- I question the role of kids’ boredom in some of the diagnoses.

My own work is focused on the chemical imbalances and biological factors related to behavioral and emotional disorders. These are complex problems. Yet I’ve been reflecting more and more on how the pace of life and the intensity of stimulation may be contributing to the rising rates of psychiatric problems among children and adolescents in our society.

A 1. The author felt surprised in the amusement park at the face that________

A) his son was not as thrilled by the roller coaster ride as expected

B) his son blasted through the turns and loops with his face stretched

C) his son appeared distressed but calm while riding the roller coaster

D) his son could keep his balance so well on the fast-moving roller coaster

D 2. According to the author, children are bored _________.

A) unless their parents can find new thrills for them

B) when they don’t have any access to stimulating fun games

C) when they are left alone at weekends by their working parents

D) even if they are exposed to more and more kinds of entertainment

C 3. From his own experience, the author came to the conclusion that children seem to expect ________.

A) a much wider variety of sports facilities