Passage 4
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:
Successful innovations have driven many older technologies to extinction and have resulted in higher productivity, greater consumption of energy, increased demand of raw materials, accelerated flow of materials through the economy and increased quantities of metals and other substances in use each person. The history of industrial development abounds with examples.
In 1870, horses and mules were the prime source of power on U.S. farms. One horse or mule was required to support four human beings a ratio that remained almost constant for many decades. At that time, had a national commission been asked to forecast the population for 1970, its answer probably would have depended on whether its consultants were of an economic or technological turn of mind. Had they been “economists”, they would probably have projected the 1970 horses or mule population to be more than 50 million. Had they been “technologists”, they would have recognized that the power of steam had already been harnessed to industry and to learn and ocean transport. They would have recognized further that it would be the prime source of power on the farm. It would have been difficult for them to avoid the conclusion that the horse and mule population would decline rapidly.
16. According to the passage, what supplied most of the power on U.S. farms in 1870?
A. Animals B. Humans C. Engines D. Water
17. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the author as a consequence of new technological developments?
A. Older technologies die away.
B. The quality of life is Improved.
C. Overall productivity increase.
D. More raw materials become necessary.
18. It can be inferred from the passage that by 1870 .
A. technology began to be more economical
B. the steam engine had been invented
C. the U.S. horse population was about 10 million
D. a national commission was about 10 million
19. In the second paragraph, the author suggests that “economists” would .
A. plan the economy through yearly forecasts
B. fail to consider the influence of technological innovation
C. value the economic contribution of farm animals
D. consult the national commission on the economy
20. What is the author’s attitude toward changes brought on by technological innovations?
A. He is excited about them.
B. He accept them as natural.
C. He is disturbed by them.
D. He questions their usefulness.
ABDBB
暂无解析
PartIVTranslation
Asthesourceofaluminumisalmostinexhaustible,wecanexpectthatmoreandmoreuseswillbefoundforthisversatilemetal.(PassageTwo)
Passage1
Questions1to5arebasedonthefollowingpassage:
DoyouwanttosaywhatyouthinkinalettertothePresidentoftheUnitedStates?You’llgetareplyfromhim—writteninink,nottyped—afteronlyafewdays.
ThePresidentgetsabout4,000letterseveryweek.HeanswerseveryonewhowritestohimonspecialWhitesHousepaper.Buthedoesn’tneedalotoftimeforit.Infact,heonlygives20minutesaweektolookathispersonalcorrespondence.Hehasthemostmodernsecretaryintheworldtohelphim.
It’scomputer,worth￡800，000，whichhasitsownroomsonthefirstflooroftheWhiteHouse.IthasabankofelectronicpenswhichwritelikethePresidentwrites,inhisfavoritelightblueink.EachletterthePresidentreceivesgetsanumber,accordingtothetypeofansweritneeds.Thepensthenwritethecorrectreplyforit,accordingtothenumber.Eachlettertakeslessthanasecondtowrite.AWhiteHouseofficialsaid,“It’snotimportantthatletterscomefromacomputer.EachlettersayswhatthePresidentwantstosay.”
1.forareplyfromthePresident.
A.YouhavetowaitalongtimeB.Youonlyhavetowaitseveraldays
C.YouhavetowaitatleastonemonthD.Youonlyhavetowaitafewweeks
2.ThereplyfromthePresident.
A.isalwaysprintedB.isalwaystyped
C.isalwayswrittenininkD.isalwayswrittenbyhimself
3.Ittakesthecomputertowritetenletters.
A.nomorethantensecondsB.alittlemorethantenseconds
C.lessthantensecondsD.atleastonesecond
4.Thecomputercanbedescribedas.
A.expensivebutefficientB.possessingabeautifulhandwriting
C.heavyandinefficientD.thePresident’smostreliablesecretary
5.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat.
A.thePresidentneverreadsanyletterswrittentohimbyordinarypeople
B.thePresidenthiresaveryefficientsecretarytodealwithhiscorrespondence
C.thePresidentdoesnotreallycareaboutthelettershereceiveseveryweek
D.thePresidentisassuredthatthecomputerexpresshisviewsintheletters
Part III Cloze
Directions: There are twenty blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices. Choose the one that best fits into the passage and then marks your answer on the Answer Sheet.
Before the 20th century the horse provided day to day transportation in the United States. Trains were used only for long-distance transportation.
Today the car is the most popular 61 of transportation in all of the United States. It has completely 62 the horse as a means of everyday transportation. Americans use their cars for 63 90 percent of all personal 64 .
Most Americans are able to 65 cars.
The average price of a 66 made car was 1 050 in 1950, 1 740 in 1960 and up to 1 750 67 1975. During this period American car manufacturers set about 68 their products and work efficiency.
As a result, the yearly income of the 69 family increased from 1950 to 1975 70 than the price of cars. For this reason 71 a new car takes a smaller 72 of a family’s total earnings today.
In 1951 73 it took 8.1 months of an average family’s 74 to buy a new car. In 1962 a new car 75 8.3 of a family’s annual earnings. By 1975 it only took 4.75 76 income. In addition, the 1975 cars were technically 77 to models from previous years.
The 78 of the automobile extends throughout the economy 79 the car is so important to Americans. Americans spend more money to 80 their cars running than on any other item.
61. A. kinds B. means C. mean D. types
62. A. denied B. reproduced C. replaced D. ridiculed
63. A. hardly B. nearly C. certainly D. somehow
64. A. trip B. works C. business D. travel
65. A. buy B. sell C. race D. see
66. A. quickly B. regularly C. rapidly D. recently
67. A. on B. in C. behind D. about
68. A. raising B. making C. reducing D. improving
69. A. unusual B. interested C. average D. biggest
70. A. slowest B. equal C. faster D. less than
71. A. bringing B. obtain C. bought D. purchasing
72. A. part B. half C. number D. side
73. A. clearly B. proportionally C. percentage D. suddenly
74. A. income B. work C. plans D. debts
75. A. used B. spend C. cost D. needed
76. A. months’ B. dollars C. family D. year
77. A. famous B. superior C. fastest D. purchasing
78. A. running B. notice C. influence D. discussion
79. A. then B. as C. so D. which
80. A. start B. leave C. keep D. repair
Passage2
Questions6to10arebasedonthefollowingpassage:
Whenaluminumwasfirstproducedaboutahundredandfiftyyearsago,itwassodifficulttoseparateformtheoresinwhichitwasfoundthatitspricewashigherthanthatofgold.Thepriceremainedhighuntilanewprocesswasdiscoveredforrefiningthemetalwiththeaidofelectricityapproximatelythreequartersofacenturylater.Thenewmethodwassomuchcheaperthataluminumbecausepracticalformanypurposes,oneofwhichwasmakingpotsandpans.
Aluminumislightweight,rustproofandeasilyshapedintodifferentforms.Bymixingitwithothermetals,scientistshavebeenabletoproduceavarietyofalloys,someofwhichhavethestrengthofsteelbutweighonlyonethirdasmuch.
Today,theusesofaluminumareinnumerable.Perhapsitsmostimportantuseisintransportation.Aluminumisfoundintheengineofautomobiles,inthehullsofboats.Itisalsousedinmanypartsofairplanes.Infact,thehuge“airbus”planeswouldprobablyneverhavebeenproducedifaluminumdidnotexist.Bymakingvehicleslighterinweightaluminumhasgreatlyreducedtheamountoffuelneededtomovethem,Aluminumisalsobeingusedextensivelyinthebuildingindustryinsomecountries.
Sincealuminumissuchaversatile(多用的)metal,itisfortunatethatbauxite(铝土矿),whichisoneofitschiefsources,isalsooneoftheearth’smostplentifulsubstances.Asthesourceofaluminumisalmostinexhaustible,wecanexpectthatmoreandmoreuseswillbefoundforthisversatilemetal.
6.Thepriceofaluminumwassharplyreducedwhenpeoplediscoveredanewrefiningprocesswiththeaidof.
A.windB.solarenergyC.hydraulicpowerD.electricity
7.Aluminumis.
A.lightweight,rustproofbutnoteasilyshapedintodifferentforms
B.heavyweight,rustproofandeasilyshapedintodifferentforms
C.lightweight,rustproofandeasilyshapedintodifferentforms
D.lightweightandeasilyshapedintodifferentformsbutitiseasytobecomerusty
8.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtrue?
A.Aluminumiswidelyusedintransportation.
B.Aluminumisalsousedinmanypartsofairplanes.
C.Aluminumisbeingusedextensivelyinthebuildingindustry.
D.Aluminumisnotusedinitspureform.
9.Aluminumisfoundonearthmostlyintheformof.
A.puremetalB.bauxiteC.goldD.liquid
10.Whatisthepassagetalkingabout?
A.Thefeaturesofaluminumanditsfunctions.B.Theprocessofaluminum.
C.Thediscoveryofaluminum.D.Thepromisingfutureofaluminum.
Part IV Translation
By making vehicles lighter in weight aluminum has greatly reduced the amount of fuel needed to move them, (Passage Two)
