英语专业八级改错题

X. Proofreading and error correction (17 passages)

Proofreading and error correction (10 marks)

Directions:

The following passage contains 10 errors. Each indicated line contains one error only. In each case, only one word is involved. You should proofread the passage and correct it in the following manner:

For a wrong word, underline the wrong word and write the correct one in the blank provided at the end of the line.

For a missing word, mark the position of the missing word with a “/\” sign and write the word you believe to be missing in the blank provided at the end of the line.

For an unnecessary word, cross the unnecessary word with a slash “/” and put the word in the blank provided at the end of the line.

Your answer SHOULD be put on the Answer Sheet.

Passage 2

Many of the computing patterns used today in elementary

arithmetic. Such as these for performing long [1]______

multiplications and divisions, were developed so late as the [2]______

fifteenth century. Two reasons are usually advanced to

account for this tardy development, named, the mental [3]______

difficulties and the physical difficulties encountered in such

work.

The first of these, the mental difficulties, must be

somewhat discounted. The impression which the ancient [4]______

numeral systems are not amenable to even the simplest

calculations is largely based on lack of familiarity to these [5]______

systems. It is clear that addition and subtraction in a simple

grouping system require only ability to count the number

symbols of per kind and then to convert to higher units. No [6]______

memorization of number combinations is needed. In a

ciphered numeral system, if sufficient addition and

memorization tables have been memorized, the work can

proceed much as we do it today.

The physical difficulties encountered, therefore, were

quite real. Without a plenty and convenient supply of some [8]______

suitable writing medium, any very extended development

of the arithmetic process was bound to being hampered. It [9]______

must be remembered that our common machine-made pulp

paper is little more than a hundred years old. The older rag

paper was made in hand and was consequently expensive [10]_____

and scarce.

Answer:

1. these: those

2. so: as

3. named: namely

4. which: that

5. to: with

6. per: each/every

7. therefore: however

8. plenty: plentiful 9. being: be 10. in: by

Passage 3

It is indisputable in order to fulfill its many functions, water [1]_____

should be clean and biologically valuable. The costs

connected with the provision of biologically valuable water

for food production with the maintenance of sufficiently

clean water, however, are primarily production costs.

[2]_____

Purely “environmental”costs seem to be on this respect [3]_____

only costs connected with the safeguarding of cultural,

recreational and sports functions which the water courses

and reservoirs fulfill both in nature and in humane [4]_____

settlement.

The pollution problems of the atmosphere resemble those

of the water only partly. So far, the supply of air has not

been deficient like was the case with water, and the [5]_____

dimensions of the air-shed are so vast that a number of

people still hold the opinion that air needs not be [6]_____

economized. However, scientific forecasts have shown that

the time may be already approaching that clear and [7]_____

biologically valuable air will become problem No. 1.

Air be ubiquitous, people are particularly sensitive about

any reduction in the quality of the atmosphere, the

increased contents of dust and gaseous exhalations, and

particularly about the presence of odors. The demand on [9]______

purity of atmosphere, therefore, emanates much more from

the population itself than the specific sectors of the national [10]______

economy affected by a polluted or even biologically

aggressive atmosphere.

Answer:

1. indisputable /\: that

2. however: therefore

3. on: in

4. humane: human

5. like: as

6. needs: need

7. that: when 8. be: being 9. on: for 10. than /\: from

Passage 4

During the 1970’s, a grown number of scientists started [1]______

wondering whether solar activity might have a direct effect

in the earth’s weather. Research had indicated a general [2]______

connection between the cycle of sunspots and changes in

atmosphere conditions on earth. Until recently, scientists

had been able to substantiate the link with hard data.

[3]_____

Now a consensus is developing which there is a statistical [4]_____

correlation between sunspots and climate changes. Sunspot

activity had been tied with directional changes in certain [5]_____

stratospheric (同温层的) winds at equator. When the [6]_____

winds are blowing westward and sunspot activity is near an

11-year peak, the southeastern United States has an

abnormal cold winter. The activity also seems to affect the [7]_____

track of the North American jet stream and storms in the

North Atlantic Ocean.

As far the data has withstood the tests of skeptics. A chief [8]____

scientist of the U.S. National Weather Service, whose

business is to subject statistical correlation to vigorous

analysis, is among the many converts to the new theory. He

believes that whether the correlation occurred by chance, it [9]______

should have failed testing by now. However, it passed with

flying colors, causing meteorologists at the National

Weather Service react with guarded optimism. As one put it, [10]_____

“it could be the difference between a so-so forecast and a

pretty good one.”

Answer:

1. grown: growing

2. in: on

3. able: unable

4. which: that

5. with: to

6. at: above

7. abnormal: abnormally

8. As: So 9. whether: if 10. /\ react: to

Passage 5

Despite of their many differences of temperament and of literary [1]_____

perspective, Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and

Whitman share certain beliefs. Common to all these writers is their

humanistic perspective. Its basic premises are that humans are the

spiritual center of the universe and in them alone is the clue to [2]_____

nature, history, and ultimately the cosmos themselves. Without [3]______

denying outright the existence either of a deity or of brute matter,

this perspective thus rejects them as exclusive principles of [4]______

interpretation and prefers to explaining humans and the world in [5]_____

terms of humanity itself. This preference is expressed most clearly

in the Transcendentalist principle that the structure of the universe

literally duplicates the structure of the individual self; however, all [6]_____

knowledge begins with self-knowledge.

This common perspective is almost always universalized. Its

emphasis is not upon the individual as a particular European or

American, while upon the human as universal, freed from the [7]_____

accidents of times, space, birth, and talent. Thus, for Emerson, the

“American scholar”turns to be simply “Man thinking”; while, for [8]_____

Whitman, the “Song of Myself” merges imperceptibly into a song

of all the “children of Adam,” where “every atom belonged to me

as good belongs to you.”

Also common to all five writers is the belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization, which, in turn, depends upon the harmonious reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: first,

the self-asserting impulse of the individual to withdraw, to remain unique and separate, and be responsible only for himself or herself and second, the [9]_____

self-transcending impulse of the individual to embrace the whole world in the experience of a single moment and know and become one with that world.

[10]___

Answer:

1. despite of: delete of

2. /\ in them: that

3. themselves: itself

4. thus: nevertheless

5. explaining: explain

6. however: therefore

7. while: but 8. turn /\: out 9. for: to 10. /\ know: to

Passage 6

Hitler and his me killed over 5,000,000 people because they were

Jewish or were not their definition of “normal”. The Ku Klux Klan

exist today and openly professes its hatred towards Jews and color [1]______

people. Our society is riddled with such hatred based upon peoples’

beliefs and origins and it seems millions are fighting each other in no [2]______

relevant reason at all. I do believe that we can greatly reduce the amount

of prejudice in our world today, yet I do not think that it will ever

completely go away. The society has seemingly come to accept all races, [3]______

religions, and genders, and supposedly has achieved political correctness,

yet there will forever be individuals who discriminated based upon these [4]_____

issues. These individuals often form large groups that recruit new members

to enforce their hatred of those with certain religion or skin tone.

[5]_____

Obviously, no one can tell those people that they cannot have their

own opinions or beliefs, for they have the right to hate whom they like.

[6]_____

However, I believe we need to raise our children to accept all people, no

matter god they do or do not believe in or what color skin they may [7]_____

have. If children are raised around people who are not the same as they

are, then they will most likely not think anything different from people [8]______

who do not look the same as them or believe what they believe. If we

raise our children to believe all people are equal to the start, then [9]______

prejudice will slowly disintegrate over time. We, as the human race,

need to focus on not judging people before we know them who they are.

[10]_____

Today, there are so many different people in this world that stereotypes

are almost always incorrect, as many people choose not to be followers,

but to be individuals.

Answer:

1. color: colored

2. in: for

3. The society: delete the

4. discriminated: discriminate

5. with /\ certain: a

6. whom: whomever

7. no matter /\ god: what

8. from: of

9. to the start: from 10. them /\ who: for

Passage 7

“No new taxes.”This is a quote that almost all of us remember the 1992 [1]______

presidential election. Along with it we remember that there were new

taxes during that president’s term of office. There are a myriad of

promises made and thing done in a presidential election year that have [2]_____

questionable motives as to whether they are done in the best interest of

the people or in the interest of the presidential candidate. These hiding [3]______

interests are one of the biggest problems with the political aspects of

government in modern society. One of the prime examples of this is the

Vietnam War. Although the South Vietnam asked for our help, which [4]______

we had previously promised, the entire conflict was managed in order to

meet personal political agendas and to remain politically correct in the

world’s eyes more than to bring a quick and decisive end to the conflict.

[5]______

This can be seen in the selective bombing of Hanoi throughout the course

of Vietnam War. Politically this strategy looked very good. However,

military it was ludicrous. War is the one arena in which politicians have [6]______

no place. War is the military’s sole purpose. Therefore, the U.S.

military should be allowed to conduct any war, conflict, or police action

that it has committed to without political interference or control because [7]______

of the problems and hidden interests which are always present when

dealing with politics.

The military gave full control to use force as they saw fit. That is [8]_____

the fact that the military is best suited for conducting wars. Politicians

are not. It is not the place for politicians to be involved in the decision [9]_____

making process in regards to war or military strategy. Let’s just pray that

it does not cost the death of another 58,000 of American men to learn [10]_____

that the politicians’ place is not in war but in peace.

Answer:

1. /\ the 1992: from

2. thing: things

3. hiding: hidden

4. the South: delete the

5. more than: rather

6. military: militarily

7. has /\ committed: been

8. gave: was given 9. for: of 10. cost: take

Passage 8

Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April 14, 1452 in the town of Vinci near

Florence Italy. He kept the name of his town in his last name. He lived [1]______

during the fifteenth century, a period known as the Renaissance period.

Leonardo Da Vinci was very talented. He was a great artist, but he

became famous because he was able to do so many other things. He was

a architect, a musician, inventor, sculptor, scientist, and mathematician.

[2]______

His artistic talent revealed early in his life. When he was about 15 years [3]______

old Leonardo’s father took him to Florence, Italy, to train a painter and [4]______

sculptor in the studio of Andrea del Verroccho. He studied with this

master until the age of 25. At this point, he set up his own

business and was famous for being a painter and a man of science. As a

scientist, he observed everything he could by nature. Leobardo used [5]______

what he learned from nature and science to make his painting look real.

He draw and took many notes of what he observed. His notes were [6]______

written backwards, probably because he didn’t want people to read

about his discoveries and observations. In order to read Leonardo’s

notes, one has to take them up to a mirror. In 1472, he entered a [7]______

painter’s guild. His earliest extensive works were dated back to this [8]______

time. In 1482 Da Vinci worked for Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan for

18 years. He fulfilled the position as court artist, but also worked as

an engineer and architect. While in Milan Leonardo developed more

theories about painting. Leonardo believed that knowledge should be

based on observation. He believed that observation led to an understanding,

[9]____

and artist had an obligation to record this understanding by painting

accurate images. He made sketches of everything around him. This

caused him to make a master plan; his plan was to record the structure of

every building in the world. He believed that this would discover laws [10]____

of harmony and proportion.

Answer:

1. in: for

2. a architect: an

3. /\ revealed: itself was

4. train /\: as

5. by: in

6. draw: drew

7. take: hold

8. were: delete were

9. led to an: delete an 10. discover: uncover

Passage 9

The Catholic Church during the Middle Ages played an all-encompassing

role on the lives of the people and the government. As the Dark Ages [1]_____

came to a close the ideas of the Renaissance started to take hold, and the

church’s power gradually began to dwindle. The monarchy of Europe

also began to grow replacing the church’s power. Monarchies, at the [2]_____

close of the Middle Ages and the dawn of the Renaissance, did not seek

the guidance of the church as many as it sought their approval. However, [3]_____

the Church during the Age of Discovery was still a major influence. The

discovery of the New World and its previous unknown inhabitants [4]____

presented new problems in the Catholic Church in the later 14th and [5]_____

early 15th century. When Spain’s rulers and emissaries decided to

physically conquer and populate the New World, and not just trade with

it, the transportation of Christian institutions followed.

The church established contact with the New World, and made a [6]______

goal to establish the Catholic doctrines among the native population

there. The Catholic Church and the Spanish monarch, however, looked

at the native population in the New World as souls to be saved. They did [7]_____

not consider or treat the Indians as equals. To them, the population

seemed to mean more than the individual’s spiritual standpoint. The

implantation of Christianity in the New World, and the treatment of the [8]_____

native population by the missionaries and Christian conquerors was [9]_____

harmful or even destructive to the New World. Through men such as

Cortez and Bartolome Las Casas, accounts of the conversation have been Recorded. One of the reasons for this was the alliance of the Catholic

Church to the Spanish monarchy. The status of the Indian was [10]_____

irrelevant and disregarded by the Christian conquerors and missionaries

who wanted to convert them.

Answer:

1.on: in

2. Monarchies: Monarchy

3. many: much

4. previous: previously

5. later: late

6. made /\:it

7. look at: upon 8. implantation: implanting

9. was: were 10. to: with

Passage 10

Adopting a child is an experience that promises to bring great joy as it

changes a couple or individual’s life forever. But what happens if the

mother of that child wants to endorse their child? Those are the issues

that many adopting parents and birth-right mothers are facing today.

Many biological mothers want their child back. There are many

concerns in adopting parents to know---there is the possibility that the [1]______

birth mother may file for the child. As a birth mother or the adopting

parent one must realize the consequences that could lay ahead.

[2]______

The legal and social transfer of all parental right, responsibilities,

and roles from one parent or parents, usually biological, to a nonbiological

parent or parents is the define of adoption. In such a transfer, adoptive [3]______

parents accept the same rights and responsibilities as the child’s birth

parents would have had, while the child becomes a member of a family

that provides the social, emotional, and physical nurturing that children

needed to grow up to be healthy, functioning adults. But there are some [4]______

legal issues or opinions that can lead to a halting backfire in the adoption

process. But, as the biological parent(s) and adopting parent(s), they

must be ready for quickly approaching to pros and cons.

[5]_____

Throughout the adoption journey, there are many positive

feedback to adoption. Children are in need of adoption because some

birth parents are unable or inavailable to provide adequately for the [6]______

needs of their child. Birth parents may feel they cannot take on the

responsibility of an unplanned child because they are too young or

because they are financially or emotionally unable to provide properly

care. They do not feel ready or able to be good parents. Most adopting

parents feel confident that most birth-right mothers will not seize their [8]_____

child. Most of the time adopting parents can handle the task but

sometimes it backfires when the biological mother or couple want the

baby back.

Birth mothers shouldn’t gain their child back if they are not

financially ready. Usually greed and emotions will stand in their way and

they will want their child back. But many children as they grow older questioned, “Why me?”or “Why did my mom put me up for adoption?”

[9]____

Sometimes the biological mother might feel that her child will hate her

as he/she grows older and never visit her. The birth mother should really

think about adoption seriously before putting the child up or away trying [10]___

to regain their child back. The process is both financially and

emotionally critical. The lesson learned in the issue of adoption is not to

have a child. Whether it is premarital sex, age, or financial or emotional problems, one must be prepared for the consequences ahead.

Answer:

1. in: for

2. lay: lie

3. define: definition

4. needed: need

5. approaching to: delete to

6. inavailable: unavailable

7. properly: proper 8. seize /\ their child: back

9. questioned: question 10. away: before/delete away

Passage 11

What is the “super predator”? He or she is a young hypercriminal who

are committing acts of violence of unprecedented coldness and brutality.

This newest phenomenon in the world of crime is perhaps the most

dangerous challenge faced society and law enforcement ever.

[1]_____

If psychopaths are not new, this breed of super criminal exceeds the [2]_____

scope of psychopathic behavior. They are younger, more brutal, and

completely unafraid of the law. While current research for the super [3]_____

predator is scarce, I will attempt to give an indication as to the reasons a

child could become such a monster.

Violent teenage criminals are increasingly vicious. They are what

called urban “super predators,”young people, often from broken homes [4]_____

or so-called dysfunctional families, who commit murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and other violently acts. These emotionally damaged young

people, often are the products of sexual or physical abuse. They live in a [6]______

aimless and violent present; they have no sense of the past and no hope

for the future; they commit unspeakably brutal crimes against other peo-

ple, often to gratify what urges or desires drive them at the moment and [7]______

their utter lack of remorse is shocking.

Study reveals that the major reason of violent crime is not poverty [8]_____

but family breakdown---specially, the absence of a father in the

household. Today, right now, one-fourth of all the children in the

United States is living in fatherless homes--- this adds up to 19 million [9]_____

children without fathers. Compared to children in two-parent-family

homes, these children will be twice as likely to drop out of the school, [10]____

twice as likely to have children out of wedlock, and they stand more

than three times the chance of ending up in poverty, and almost ten

times more likely to commit violent crime and ending up in jail.

Answer:

1. faced: facing

2. If: While

3. for: on

4. /\ called: is

5. violently: violent

6. a: an

7. what: whatever

8. reason: cause 9. is: are 10. of the: delete the