2007年全国大学生英语竞赛C类初赛试题及答案

2007 National English Contest for College Students (Level C - Preliminary) Part I Listening Comprehension (25 minutes, 30 points) Section A (6 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear 6 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be read only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 1. A. He hasn’t found a suitable one. B. He hasn’t enough money. C. He prefers his old one. 2. A. In ten minutes. B. In fifteen minutes. C. In twenty minutes. 3. A. Have dinner with Mary. B. See a film with Mary. C. Do his homework. 4. A. Rainy. B. Sunny. C. Cloudy. 5. A. He has to go to the bank. B. He has missed the train. C. His train has been delayed. 6. A. £315. B. £350. C. £375. Section B (4 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. The conversation will be read only once. At the end of the conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, you must read the four questions, each with three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 7. What office is the student looking for? A. Accounting. B. Economic History. C. Economics. 8. When was the orientation meeting held? A. Yesterday. B. Last Friday. C. A week ago. 9. What is the rule about attendance at lectures? A. It is optional. B. It is necessary. C. It is difficult to enforce. 10. How often does the student have to attend tutorials? A. Once every other week. B. Three times a week. C. Once a week. Section C (10 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short news items. After each item, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the question and then the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 11. When did the bomb go off in a popular market in central Baghdad? A. Late in the evening. B. At mid-morning. C. Late in the afternoon. 12. What’s the purpose of the Amber Alert program? A. To report the number of children missing in the U.S. every year. B. To help find the children who are believed to have been abducted. C. To find out the reasons why children are kidnapped in the U.S. 13. How many villages have been involved in the inter-communal fighting in Chad? A. Fewer than 8. B. About 10. C. Over 20. 14. What is the best tactic when you’re caught up by a rolling wave of snow? A. To create space around you. B. To outrun the avalanche. C. To leave the ski resort instantly. 15. What’s the news item mainly talking about? A. Development of medical technology. B. Health care in California. C. Health insurance in the U.S. 16. How many people did bird flu kill in Indonesia in two weeks? A. 5. B. 2. C. 35. 17. What’s the function of the new drug produced by Pfizer? A. Reducing dogs’ weight. B. Increasing dogs’ appetite. C. Controlling dogs’ population. 18. What will soon begin in the southern Senegalese towns? A. Planting new agricultural crops. B. Biofuel production. C. Fuel recycling. 19. When did Ponti begin making films? A. In 1913. B. In 1931. C. In 1938. 20. What’s the main reason Democrats could regain control of Congress after 12 years? A. Nancy Pelosi has become their leader. B. Americans are dissatisfied with the Iraq war. C. They support sending more troops to Iraq. Section D (10 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear a short passage. There are ten missing words or phrases in it. Fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear on the tape. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet. Every traveller has a tale to tell about bad driving. These are usually exaggerated (21) __________ of life on the main streets of cities where the motorists are crazy and traffic lights are treated as colourful (22) __________. It all happened on a Sunday April morning. I (23) __________ my intention to turn left into a side road and paused as the oncoming traffic cleared. But as I drove across the road, an elderly man driving a battered Renault 12 chose to overtake me (24) __________ pass on the inside. There was a fearful bang and my car was pushed sideways. I felt groggy and bruised and was taken to hospital in the back seat of a police car. There my spleen was removed. Fortunately, though, my recovery was steady and (25) __________. But that’s not the end of the tale. Yes, I had taken out insurance and it covered my medical expenses, (26) __________ while I recovered and my flights home. However, as always, there was a catch to it. I had (27) __________ hired my car from a backstreet firm called Kavis that had been recommended by the hotel front desk. I was assured that I had full insurance cover, but Kavis (28) __________ my credit card £800 on the day of the accident. My solicitor took advice on the form I had signed. Being in a hurry at the time, I hadn’t (29) __________ to get it translated. “Mr. Balmer was stupid to sign this document,” it read. I (30) __________ with a smile. After all, I am still alive! Part II Vocabulary and Structure (10 minutes, 15 points) Directions: There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 31. If I lose my new watch my parents will be very annoyed ______ me. A. against B. with C. for D. about 32. I don’t think ______ possible to master a foreign language without much memory work. A. this B. that C. its D. it 33. Does brain power ______ as we get older? Scientists now have some surprising answers. A. descend B. decline C. reduce D. collapse 34. I don’t believe in Brown’s adventure at all. It sounds so ______. A. incredible B. credible C. incredulous D. credulous 35. We’ll never get to the station on time ______ we run as fast as we can. A. in case B. even if C. provided that D. if only 36. Oil sales volume in local urban and rural areas rose by 24% and 50% ______, over July 2006. A. separately B. individually C. independently D. respectively 37. The shipping authorities followed the ______ of the unidentified submarine on their radar screens. A. channel B. way C. course D. direction 38. I set off as soon as I got the news about my grandpa’s illness. Unfortunately, he ______ at the hospital before I ______. A. has died; went there B. had died; arrived C. died; had been there D. was dying; had gone 39. The committee has made rules ______ all its members are supposed to work. A. by which B. so that C. now that D. for which 40. They were married for fifteen years but have now ______ up and live apart. A. split B. divided C. divorced D. separated 41. We wouldn’t have missed the train if we ______ to the station. A. didn’t walk B. wouldn’t run C. hadn’t walked D. weren’t running 42. No matter what measure they took, in no way ______. A. could the outflowing tide be controlled B. the outflowing tide could be controlled C. could the outflowing tide control D. the outflowing tide could control 43. —Did you get any information from Peter? —He ______ an expert, but he doesn’t seem to know much. A. believes to be B. is supposed to be C. thought to be D. is claimed being 44. —The radio’s terribly loud. Could you turn it down a little? —Sorry! ______ —Yes, and something else - wouldn’t it be an idea to buy your own soap? A. Is it disturbing you? B. I forgot where I put my soap this morning. C. A football match was broadcast live on it. D. Could you repeat what you said? 45. —Can I book a room from now until Friday? —_________________ —What’s the price? —$128.75 not counting the service. A. Definitely. Go see it yourself. B. Yes, our hotel is quite near to the station. C. Of course. Would you like to follow me? D. You can have Room 33, overlooking the sea. Part III IQ Test (5 minutes, 5 points) Directions: There are 5 IQ Test questions in this part. For each question there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Mark your answer on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 46. Which figure completes the sequence? 47. A man has 29 socks in his drawer, 9 identical blue, 8 identical grey and 12 identical black. The lights have fused and he is completely in the dark. How many socks must he take out to make certain that he has a pair of each colour? A. 21 B. 14 C. 23 D. 24 48. Which comes next? A, 1A, 111A, 311A,? A. 1312A B. 13211A C. 1231A D. 11231A 49. Find the weight to balance the scales. A. 2kg B. 4kg C. 3kg D. 5kg 50. What is the missing number? A. 748 B. 754 C. 745 D. 784 Part IV Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 40 points) Section A (6 points) Directions: There is one passage in this section with 6 questions. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. Questions 51-56 are based on the following passage. “A Unique Experience in Indian Cuisine” Opening night at the Gandhi Restaurant brought cries of praise and delight from customers when they sampled the unique cuisine on Monday night. Opened by County Councillor, Mr. Tony Peaston, the Gandhi offers the discerning diner authentic Indian dishes, many available for the first time in Hampshire. The secret lies in the preparation - only authentic Indian herbs and spices are used to individually prepare each special dish, following ancient recipes, many handed down through generations of Indian chefs. High Standard “I’ve travelled extensively and dined at many Indian restaurants throughout the country, but rarely have I tasted Indian food of such a high standard,” extolled Councillor Peaston. “Whilst Gandhi himself was a leader of men, the Gandhi Restaurant could be considered the leader of a new breed of Indian cuisine in Hampshire,” he added. “By far the best curry we have had in the Portsmouth area,” was the comment of Havant diners, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cairns of Denvilles. “We enjoyed the different menu and found the advice of the staff, explaining how each dish was prepared, very helpful for deciding our choice of menu,” they said. Such glowing comments reflect the exclusive nature of the dishes available at the Gandhi Restaurant. Original Recipes You can choose from a menu which offers curries and tandoories, knowing each one is specially cooked for you, with individual care and attention, according to strict original recipes, by a top London chef, formerly of Covent Garden. And after you have sampled the spicy delights of your main course, you can select from a choice of original Indian sweets to temper your palate. Relaxing in the comfortable surroundings of the restaurant, you can have a hot towel to freshen yourself or clean your fingers between courses - another touch of Indian living. The Gandhi Restaurant, situated at 139 Kingston Road, Portsmouth, is fully licensed and open seven days a week. You can pop in for a traditional Indian lunch between 12 and 2:30 pm or enjoy a languid evening meal, when the restaurant is open from 6 pm to midnight. But take care to book in advance, as demand for this cuisine is expected to be high, so avoid disappointment by telephoning Portsmouth 811966. As proof of confidence in your enjoyment, the Gandhi is offering a 10 per cent discount on the cost of your meal, when you produce this advertisement within three months of the opening. The staff at the Gandhi look forward to serving you with your first taste of truly authentic Indian cuisine in this area- and they know you will come back again and again. 51. “A Unique Experience in Indian Cuisine” here means that the Gandhi restaurant __________. A. is the only genuine Indian restaurant in Hampshire B. offers customers its own special style of cooking C. makes special food for native Indian customers D. is trying out Indian recipes for the first time 52. How does the food preparation contribute to the unique, experience? A. It varies from customer to customer, depending on the price. B. The methods used are secret and known only to the chef. C. It uses genuine Indian ingredients and follows ancient recipes. D. It follows methods described by traditional Indian authors. 53. According to the article, in what way does the restaurant live up to its name? A. It will soon be as famous throughout the world as Gandhi himself. B. The owner considers himself to be a leader of the local Indian community. C. It has had a considerable influence on other Hampshire restaurants. D. It sets new standards of excellence for other Indian restaurants to follow. 54. Where did the top chef of the Gandhi Restaurant use to work? A. In London. B. In Hampshire. C. In Denvilles. D. In Portsmouth. 55. Hot towels are provided __________. A. because customers feel cold B. to make customers feel more relaxed C. mainly for hygienic reasons D. to give customers the true feel of Indian life 56. Customers can obtain a cheaper meal by __________. A. bringing the advertisement with them B. making a phone call to the restaurant C. providing proof of their enjoyment D. contributing to the cost of advertising Section B (7 points) Directions: In this section, there is one passage followed by 7 statements. Go over the passage quickly and mark the answers on the Answer Sheet. For questions 57- 63, mark Y (for Yes) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for No) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG (for Not Given) if the information is not given in the passage. Questions 57-63 are based on the following passage. Eleven days ago, as he felt himself being crushed from head to toe, Andrew Jepson was certain he was about to die. Yesterday the 26-year-old construction worker was able to stroll around his parents’ home and tell for the first time how he survived being run over by a four-ton road roller. The accident happened as Mr. Jepson worked at a building site at Heathrow and the roller was reversing at 4 mph. “I was looking away and then I just felt it go over my leg”, he said. “I fell to the floor and felt this amazing pain in my leg as it was being crushed.” “When I felt it running over me I thought this is it, I’m dead. Nobody can survive this.” “There was absolutely nothing I could do. The pain was horrendous and all the air was being crushed out of my lungs.” “I couldn’t breathe. I thought every breath would be my last.” The machine took more than a second to roll over Mr. Jepson’s body. “It came over my head but I had my hard hat on which must have blocked most of the pressure,” he said. Workmates believed he would be dead but the uneven surface, foundation for a road, cushioned much of the weight of the roller and saved him. “Afterwards I tried to get straight up,” he said. “I was fully conscious. I was in shock but for some reason I thought, ‘If I stay down, I will die.’” “Luckily a labourer ran over and kept me down so that I would not do any more injury to myself.” “The driver rushed over. He was really upset. I said, ‘You are not to blame, it was just an accident.’” Mr. Jepson, a site engineer, suffered crushed ribs, bruising, cuts and a collapsed left lung but escaped permanent injury. An air ambulance arrived and doctors operated at the scene. He spent two days in intensive care but six days later was back at his parents’ home near Spalding, Lincolnshire. “It is like being born again,” said Mr. Jepson, who has amazed doctors with his recovery. “When I came around from the anaesthetic I just cried with joy. Being able to walk and breathe again is the most wonderful thing in the world.” Mr. Jepson’s 62-year-old father, John, said, “When we heard he had been under a roller I feared the worst. We prayed all the way to the hospital. To see him now is just wonderful.” Mr. Jepson’s employer, construction firm Laing, said the accident was still being investigated. Statements: 57. The accident happened two weeks ago. 58. Mr. Jepson was paving the road when the accident happened. 59. The roller was going backwards when it hit Mr. Jepson. 60. A workman ran immediately to the scene of the accident. 61. An operation was performed at the scene of the accident. 62. The company has decided who is responsible for the accident. 63. The investigation of the accident lasted for almost two years. Section C (7 points) Directions: You are going to read a magazine article about sand. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences (A-H) the one which fits each gap (64-70). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on the Answer Sheet. Sand: as children we play on it and as adults we relax on it. It is something we complain about when it gets in our eyes on a windy beach, and praise when it is made into sand castles. But we don’t often look at it. If we did, we would discover an account of a geological past and a history of sea life that goes back thousands and, in some cases, mil- lions of years. Sand covers not just seashores, but also ocean beds, deserts and mountains. And it is a major element in manufactured products too - concrete is largely sand, while glass is made of little else. Well, it is larger than fine dust and smaller than shingle. In fact, according to the most generally accepted scheme of measurement, grains can be called sand if their diameter is greater than 0.06 of a millimetre and less than 0.6 of a millimetre. Depending on its age and origin, a particular sand can consist of tiny stones or porous grains through which water can pass. They have come from the breaking down of rocks, or from the dead bodies of sea creatures, which collect on the bottom of the oceans, or even from volcanic eruptions. If it is a dazzling white, its grains may come from nearby coral, from crystalline quartz rocks or from gypsum, like the white sand of New Mexico. On Pacific Islands, jet black sands form from volcanic minerals. Other black beaches are magnetic and are mined for iron ore. It washes rock into streams and rivers and down to the sea, leaving be- hind softer materials. By the time it reaches the sea, the hardest rocks remain but every- thing else has been broken into tiny particles of 0.02 millimetre diameter or less. The largest pieces fall to the bottom quickly, while smaller particles float and settle only slowly in deeper water, which is why the sandy beach on the shoreline so often turns to mud further out. If the individual fragments still have sharp edges, you can be sure they were formed fairly recently. This is the case on the island of Kamoama in Hawaii, where a beach was created after a volcanic eruption in 1990. Molten lava spilled into the sea and exploded into glassy droplets. It seems that when the poet William Blake saw infinity in a grain of sand he was not far wrong. Sand is an irreplaceable industrial ingredient which has many uses. Sand cushions our land from the force of the sea, and geologists say it often does a better job protecting our shores than the most advanced coastal technology. A. These may have the shape of stars or spirals, their edges rough or smooth. B. It is one of the most common substances on earth. C. In addition, it has one vital function which you might never even notice. D. Rain is an important force in the creation of beaches. E. In the great slow cycle of the earth, sand that was once rock can turn to rock again. F. What exactly is sand? G. Colour is another clue to the origins of sand. H. It can be difficult to date the sand on a beach accurately but it is possible to get a general idea of whether or not the sand is “young