- PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION
PASSAGEONE
(1)TheearliestsettlerscametotheNorthAmericancontinenttoestablishcoloniesthatwerefreefromthecontrolsthatexistedinEuropeansocieties.Theywantedtoescapethecontrolsplacedontheirlivesbykingsandgovernments,priestsandchurches,noblemenandaristocrats.ThehistoricdecisionsmadebythosefirstsettlershavehadaprofoundeffectontheshapingoftheAmerican
character.Bylimitingthepowerofthegovernmentandthechurchesandeliminatingaformalaristocracy,theycreatedaclimateoffreedomwheretheemphasiswasontheindividual.IndividualfreedomisprobablythemostbasicofalltheAmericanvalues.Byfreedom,Americansmeanthedesireandtheabilityofallindividualstocontroltheirowndestinywithoutoutsideinterferencefromthegovernment,arulingnobleclass,thechurch,oranyotherorganizedauthority.
(2)Thereis,however,apricetobepaidforthisindividualfreedom:self-reliance.ItmeansthatAmericansbelievetheyshouldstandontheirownfeet,achievingbothfinancialandemotionalindependencefromtheirparentsasearlyaspossible,usuallybyage18or21.
(3)AsecondimportantreasonwhyimmigrantshavetraditionallybeendrawntotheUnitedStatesisthebeliefthateveryonehasaequalchancetoenteraraceandsucceedinthegame.BecausetitlesofnobilitywereforbiddenintheConstitution,noformalclasssystemdevelopedintheU.S.
(4)Thereis,however,apricetobepaidforthisequalityofopportunity:competition.Ifmuchoflifeisseenasrace,thenapersonmustruntheraceinordertosucceed;apersonmustcompetewithothers.ThepressuresofcompetitioninthelifeofanAmericanbegininchildhoodandcontinueuntilretirementfromwork.Infact,anygroupofpeoplewhodoesnotcompetesuccessfullydoesnotfit
intothemainstreamofAmericanlifeaswellasthosewhodo.
(5)AthirdreasonwhyimmigrantshavetraditionallycometotheUnitedStatesistohaveabetterlife.Becauseofitsabundantnaturalresources,theUnitedStatesappearedtobea“landofplentywheremillionscouldcometoseektheirfortunes.Thephrase“goingfromragstoriches”becameasloganfortheAmericandream.Manypeopledidachievematerialsuccess.MaterialwealthbecameavaluetotheAmericanpeople,anditalsobecameanacceptedmeasureofsocialstatus.
(6)Americanspayaprice,however,fortheirmaterialwealth:hardwork.HardworkhasbeenbothnecessaryandrewardingformostAmericansthroughouttheirhistory.Insomeways,materialpossessionsareseenasevidenceofpeople’sabilities.BarryGoldwater,acandidateforthepresidencyin1964,saidthatmostpoorpeoplearepoorbecausetheydeservetobe.MostAmericanswouldfind
thisaharshstatement,butmanymightthinktherewassometruthinit.
(7)ThesebasicvaluesdonottellthewholestoryoftheAmericancharacter.Rather,theyshouldbethoughtofasthemes,aswecontinuetoexploremorefacetsoftheAmericancharacterandhowitaffectslifeintheUnitedStates.
1.Para.4seemstosuggestthat__________.
A.Americansarebornwithasenseofcompetition
B.thepressureofcompetitionbeginswhenonestartswork
C.successfulcompetitionisessentialinAmericansociety
D.competitionresultsinequalityofopportunities
2.WhichofthefollowingmethodsdoestheauthormainlyuseinexplainingAmericanvalues?
A.Comparison
D.Causeandeffect
C.Definition
D.Processanalysis
- PASSAGETWO
(1)TheNobelsaretheoriginals,ofcourse.AlfredNobel,themanwhoinventeddeadlyexplosives,decidedtotryanddosomethinggoodwithallthemoneyheearned,andgaveprizestopeoplewhomadeprogressinliterature,science,economicsand—perhapsmostimportantly—peace.
(2)NotallrewardsareasnobleastheNobels.Eventhoughmostcountrieshaveasystemofrecognizing,honoringandrewardingpeoplewhohavedonesomethinggoodintheircountries,therearenowhundredsofawardsandawardceremoniesforallkindsofthings.
(3)TheOscarsareprobablythemostfamous,atimeforthe(mostly)Americanfilmindustrytotellitselfhowgooditisandanannualopportunityforlotsofbigstarstogiveeachotherawardsandmaketearfulspeeches.AswellasthattherearealsotheGoldenGlobes,evidentlyforthesamething.
(4)Butit’snotonlyfilms---therearealsoGrammies,Brits,theMercuryPrizeandtheMTVformusic.InBritain,awriterwhowinstheBookerPrizecanexpecttoseetheirdifficult,literarynovelhitthebestsellerlistsandcompetewiththeDaVinciCodeforpopularity.TheTurnerPrizeisanawardforBritishcontemporaryartists—eachyearitcausescontroversybyapparentlygivinglotsofmoneytoartistswhodothingslikedisplayingtheirbeds,puttinganimalsinglasscasesor—thisyear—buildingagardenshed.
(5)Awardsdon’tonlyexistforarts.TherearenowawardsforSportsPersonalityoftheYear,forEuropeanFootballeroftheYearandWorldFootballeroftheYear.Thisseemsverystrange—sometimesawardscanbegoodtogiverecognitiontopeoplewhodeserveit,ortohelppeoplewhodon’tmakealotofmoneycarryontheirworkwithoutworryingaboutfinances,butprofessionalsoccerplayersthesedayscertainlyaren’tshortofcash!
(6)Manysmalltownsandcommunitiesallovertheworldalsohavetheirownawardceremonies,forlocalwritersorartists,orjustforpeoplewhohavegraduatedfromhighschoolor,gotauniversitydegree.EventheBritishCouncilhasitsownawardsfor“InnovationinEnglishLanguageTeaching”.
(7)Whyhavealltheseawardsandceremoniesappearedrecently?Shakespeareneverwonaprize, nordidLeonardoDaVinciorAdamSmithorCharlesDickens.
(8)Itwouldbepossibletosay,however,thatinthepast,scientistsandartistscouldwin“patronageformrichpeople”—akingoralordwouldgivetheartistsorscientistsmoneytohavethempainttheirpalacesorhelpthemdevelopnewwaysofmakingmoney.Withthechangeinsocialsystemsacrosstheworld,thisnolongerhappens.Alotofscientificresearchisnoweitherfundedbythestateorbyprivatecompanies.
(9)Perhapsawardceremoniesarejustthemostrecentphaseofthisprocess.
(10)However,thereismoretoitthanthat.WhenafilmwinsanOscar,manymorepeoplewillgoandseeit,orbuytheDVD.WhenawriterwinstheNobelPrize,manymorepeoplebuytheirbooks.WhenagroupwinstheMTVawards,theceremonyisseenbyhundredsofthousandsofpeopleacrosstheworld.Theresult?Thegroupsellslotsmorerecords.(11)Mostawardceremoniesarenowsponsoredbybigorganizationsorcompanies.Thismeansthatitisnotonlythepersonwhowinstheawardwhobenefits---butalsothesponsors.TheMTVawards,forexample,aregreatforpublicizingnotonlymusic,butalsoMTVitself!
(12)Onthesurface,itseemstobea“Win-win”situation,witheveryonebeinghappy,butletmeaskyouaquestion—howfardoyouthinkthatpublicityandmarketingarewinninghere,andhowmuchgenuinerecognitionofachievementistakingplace?
1.Whatistheauthor’stonewhenhementionsawardssuchastheOscars,theGoldenGlobesand
Grammies(Paras.3&4)
A.Amused.
B.Appreciative.
C.Sarcastic.
D.Serious.
2.AccordingtoPara.4,whatwouldhappentoawardwinningwriters?
A.Theywouldenjoyamuchlargerreadership.
B.Theywouldturntopopularnovelwriting.
C.Theywouldcontinuenon-fictionwriting.
D.Theywouldtrycontroversialformsofart.
3.WhichofthefollowingstatementsbestsumsupPara.6?
A.Awardsceremoniesareheldforlocalpeople.
B.Awardsceremoniesareheldonimportantoccasions.
C.Awardsceremoniesareheldincertainprofessions.
D.Awardsceremoniesareheldforallsortsofreasons.
4.AccordingtoPara.8,onedifferencebetweenscientistsandartistsinthepastandthoseatpresent
liesin_____________.
A.natureofwork
B.personalcontact
C.sourceoffunding
D.socialstatus
5.ItcanbeconcludedfromPara.12thattheauthorthinksawards________.
A.promotemarketratherthanachievements
B.dogoodtobothmarketandpopularity
C.helpthosewhoarereallytalented
D.areeffectiveinmakingpeoplepopular
- PARTVREADINGCOMPREHENSION
Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,eachwithfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswer.
TEXTA
Racket,dinclamor,noise,whateveryouwanttocallit,unwantedsoundisAmerica'smostwidespread
nuisance.Butnoiseismorethanjustanuisance.Itconstitutesarealandpresentdangertopeople'shealth.Day
andnight,athome,atwork,andatplay,noisecanproduceseriousphysicalandpsychologicalstress.Nooneis
immunetothisstress.Thoughweseemtoadjusttonoisebyignoringit,theear,infact,neverclosesandthe
bodystillresponds—sometimeswithextremetension,astoastrangesoundinthenight.
Theannoyancewefeelwhenfacedwithnoiseisthemostcommonoutwardsymptomofthestressbuilding
upinsideus.Indeed,becauseirritabilityissoapparent,legislatorshavemadepublicannoyancethebasisof
manynoiseabatementprograms.Themoresubtleandmoreserioushealthhazardsassociatedwithstress
causedbynoisetraditionallyhavebeengivenmuchlessattention.Nevertheless,whenweareannoyedormade
irritablebynoise,weshouldconsiderthesesymptomsfairwarningthatotherthingmaybehappeningtous,
someofwhichmaybedamagingtoourhealth.
Ofmanyhealthhazardstonoise,hearinglossisthemostclearlyobservableandmeasurablebyhealth
professionals.Theotherhazardsarehardertopindown.Formanyofus,theremaybeariskthatexposuretothe
stressofnoiseincreasessusceptibilitytodiseaseandinfection.Themoresusceptibleamongusmayexperience
noiseasacomplicatingfactorinheartproblemsandotherdiseases.Noisethatcausesannoyanceandirritability
inhealthpersonsmayhaveseriousconsequencesforthesealreadyillinmindorbody.
Noiseaffectsusthroughoutourlives.Forexample,thereareindicationsofeffectsontheunbornchildwhen
mothersareexposedtoindustrialandenvironmentalnoise.Duringinfancyandchildhood,youngstersexposed
tohighnoiselevelsmayhavetroublefallingasleepandobtainingnecessaryamountsofrest.
Why,then,istherenotgreateralarmaboutthesedangers?Perhapsitisbecausethelinkbetweennoiseand
manydisabilitiesordiseaseshasnotyetbeenconclusivelydemonstrated.Perhapsitisbecausewetendto
dismissannoyanceasapricetopayforlivinginthemodernworld.Itmayalsobebecausewestillthinkof
hearinglossasonlyanoccupationalhazard.
1.InParagraph1,thephrase"immuneto"areusedtomean___.
A.unaffectedby
B.hurtby
C.unlikelytobeseenby
D.unknownby
2.Theauthor'sattitudetowardnoisewouldbestbedescribedas___.
A.unrealistic
B.traditional
C.concerned
D.hysterical
3.Whichofthefollowingbeststatesthemainideaofthepassage?
A.Noiseisamajorproblem;mostpeoplerecognizeitsimportance.
B.Althoughnoisecanbeannoying,itisnotamajorproblem.
C.Noiseisamajorproblemandhasnotyetbeenrecognizedassuch.
D.Noiseisamajorproblemaboutwhichnothingcanbedone.
4.Theauthorcondemnsnoiseessentiallybecauseit___.
A.isagainstthelaw
B.canmakesomepeopleirritable
C.isanuisance
D.inagangertopeople'shealth
5.Theauthorwouldprobablyconsiderresearchabouttheeffectsnoisehasonpeopletobe___.
A.unimportant
B.impossible.
C.awasteofmoney
D.essential
- TEXTB
Whatweknowofprenataldevelopmentmakesallthisattemptmadebyamothertomoldthecharacterofherunbornchildbystudyingpoetry,art,ormathematicsduringpregnancyseemutterlyimpossible.Howcould
suchextremelycomplexinfluencespassfromthemothertothechild?Thereisnoconnectionbetweentheirnervoussystems.Eventhebloodvesselsofmotherandchilddonotjoindirectly.Anemotionalshocktothemotherwillaffectherchild,becauseitchangestheactivityofherglandsandsothechemistryherblood.Anychemicalchangeinthemother'sbloodwillaffectthechildforbetterorworse.Butwecannotseehowalooking
formathematicsorpoeticgeniuscanbedissolvedinbloodandproduceasimilarlikingorgeniusinthechild.
Inourdiscussionofinstinctswesawthattherewasreasontobelievethatwhateverweinheritmustbeof
someverysimplesortratherthananycomplicatedorverydefinitekindofbehavior.Itiscertainthatnoone
inheritsaknowledgeofmathematics.Itmaybe,however,thatchildreninheritmoreorlessofarathergeneral
abilitythatwemaycallintelligence.Ifveryintelligentchildrenbecomedeeplyinterestedinmathematics,they
willprobablymakeasuccessofthatstudy.
Asformusicalability,itmaybethatwhatisinheritedisanespeciallysensitiveear,apeculiarstructureofthe
handsorthevocalorgansconnectionsbetweennervesandmusclesthatmakeitcomparativelyeasytolearnthe
movementsamusicianmustexecute,andparticularlyvigorousemotions.Ifthesefactorsareallorganized
aroundmusic,thechildmaybecomeamusician.Thesamefactors,inothercircumstancemightbeorganized
aboutsomeothercenterofinterest.Therichemotionalequipmentmightfindexpressioninpoetry.Thecapable
fingersmightdevelopskillinsurgery.Itisnottheknowledgeofmusicthatisinherited,thennoreventheloveof
it,butacertainbodilystructurethatmakesitcomparativelyeasytoacquiremusicalknowledgeandskill.
Whetherthatabilityshallbedirectedtowardmusicorsomeotherundertakingmaybedecidedentirelybyforces
intheenvironmentinwhichachildgrowsup.
6.Whichofthefollowingstatementsisnottrue?
A.Somemotherstrytoinfluencetheirunbornchildrenbystudyingartandothersubjectsduringtheir
pregnancy.
B.Itisutterlyimpossibleforustolearnanythingaboutprenataldevelopment.
C.Thebloodvesselsofmotherandchilddonotjoindirectly.
D.Therearenoconnectionbetweenmother'snervoussystemsandherunbornchild's.
7.Amotherwillaffectherunbornbabyontheconditionthat____.
A.sheisemotionallyshocked
B.shehasagoodknowledgeofinheritance
C.shetakespartinallkindofactivities
D.shestickstostudying
8.Accordingtothepassage,achildmayinherit____.
A.everythingfromhismotherB.aknowledgeofmathematics
C.arathergeneralabilitythatwecallintelligence
D.hermother'smusicalability
9.Ifachildinheritssomethingfromhismother,suchasanespeciallysensitiveear,apeculiarstructureofthe
handsorofthevocalorgans,hewill____.
A.surelybecomemusician
B.mostlybecomeapoet
C.possiblybecomeateacher
D.becomeamusicianontheconditionthatallthesefactorsareorganizedaroundmusic
10.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthepassage?
A.RoleofInheritance.
B.AnUnbornChild.
C.Functionofinstincts.
D.InheritedTalents.
- TEXTC
Therearetwofactorswhichdetermineanindividual'sintelligence.Thefirstisthesortofbrainheisbornwith.
Humanbrainsdifferconsiderably,somebeingmorecapablethanothers.Butnomatterhowgoodabrainhehas
tobeginwith,anindividualwillhavealoworderofintelligenceunlesshehasopportunitiestolearn.Sothe
secondfactoriswhathappenstotheindividual—thesortofenvironmentinwhichheisbroughtup.Ifan
individualishandicapped(不利)environmentally,itislikelythathisbrainwillfailtodevelopandhewillnever
attainthelevelofintelligenceofwhichheiscapable.Theimportanceofenvironmentindetermininganindividual'sintelligencecanbedemonstratedbythecasehistoryoftheidenticaltwins,PeterandMark.Beingidentical,thetwinshadidenticalbrainsatbirth,andtheirgrowthprocesseswerethesame.Whenthetwinswerethreemonthsold,theirparentsdied,andtheywere
placedinseparatefoster(抚养)homes.Peterwasraisedbyparentsoflowintelligenceinanisolatedcommunity
withpooreducationalopportunities.Markwasrearedinthehomeofwell-to-doparentswhohadbeentocollege.Hewasreadtoasachild,senttogoodschools,andgiveneveryopportunitytobestimulated
intellectually.Thisenvironmentaldifferencecontinueduntilthetwinswereintheirlateteens,whentheywere
giventeststomeasuretheirintelligence.Mark'sI.Q.was125,twenty-fivepointshigherthantheaverageand
fullyfortypointshigherthanhisidenticalbrother.Givenequalopportunities,thetwins,havingidenticalbrains,
wouldhavetestedatroughlythesamelevel.
11.Thisselectioncanbestbetitled____________.
A.MeasuringYourIntelligence
B.IntelligenceandEnvironment
C.TheCaseofPeterandMark
D.HowtheBrainInfluencesIntelligence
12.Thebeststatementofthemainideaofthispassageisthat_______.
A.humanbrainsdifferconsiderably
B.thebrainapersonisbornwithisimportantindetermininghisintelligence
C.environmentiscrucialindeterminingaperson'sintelligence
D.personshavingidenticalbrainswillhaveroughlythesameintelligence
13.Accordingtothepassage,theaverageI.Q.is_______.
A.85.B.100C.110D.125
14.Thecasehistoryofthetwinsappearstosupporttheconclusionthat_______.
A.individualswithidenticalbrainsseldomtestatthesamelevelB.anindividual'sintelligenceisdeterminedonlybyhisenvironment
C.lackofopportunityblocksthegrowthofintelligence
D.changesofenvironmentproducechangesinthestructureofthebrain
15.Thispassagesuggeststhatanindividual'sI.Q._______.
A.canbepredictedatbirth
B.staysthesamethroughouthislife
C.canbeincreasedbyeducation
D.isdeterminedbyhischildhood
- TEXTD
Personalityis,tolargeextent,inherent--A-typeparentsusuallybringaboutA-typeoffspring.Butthe
environmentmustalsohaveaprofoundeffect,sinceifcompetitionisimprotanttotheparents,itislikelytobecomeamajorfactorlivesoftheirchildren.OneplacewherechildrensoakupAcharacteristicsisschool,whichis,byitsverynature,ahighlycompetitiveinstitution.Toomanyschoolsadoptthe"winatallcosts"moralstandardandmeasuretheirsuccessbysportingachievements.Thecurrentpassionformakingchildrencompeteagainsttheirclassmatesoragainsttheclockproducesatwo-layersystem,inwhichcompetitiveAtypesseeminsomewaybetterthantheirB-typefellows.Beingtookeentowincanhavedangerousconsequences:rememberthatPheidippides,thefirstmarathonrunner,droppeddeadsecondsaftersaying:"Rejoice,weconquer!".Byfartheworstformofcompetitioninschoolisthedisproportionateemphasisonexaminations.Itisarareschoolthatallowspupilstoconcentrateonthosethingstheydowell.Themeritsofcompetitionbyexaminationaresomewhatquestionable,butcompetitioninthecertainknowledgeoffailureispositivelyharmful.Obviously,itisneitherpracticalnordesirablethatallAyoungsterschangeinto'B's.Thewouldneedstypes,andschoolshaveanimportantdutytotrytofitachild'spersonalitytohispossiblefutureemployment.Itistopmanagement.16.Accordingtotheauthor,whatfactorscontributetothebuildingofpersonality?
A.inheritance
b.inheritance,competitionandenvironment
c.competition
d.environment
17.Whichofthefollowingstatementsisnottrueaccordingtotheauthorofthepassage?
A.Schoolsusuallyadoptseverecompetitivepolicies.
B.Studentsareoftendividedbycompetitionresults.
C.Schoolisplacewherechildrencultivatetheircharacteristics.
D.Thestrongerdesireforwinning,thebetter.
18.Thephrase"soakup"isclosestinmeaningto____.
A.pullup
b.takeup
c.takein
d.pullin
19.Whatattitudedoestheauthorholdtowardexaminationsinschools?
A.positive
b.negative
c.doubtful
d.neutral
20.whatsuggestiondoestheauthormakeconcerningthemanagementofschools?
A.AllstudentsbemadeintocompetitiveAtypes.
B.Achild'spersonalitybeconsideredinregardtohispossiblefuturejob.
C.AllstudentsbechangedintoBcharacteristics.
D.Schoolsabolishallformsofexaminations.