2004入学考试试题

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR FISCAL SCIENCE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ENGLISH TEST FOR PH.D CANDIDATES (2004) Part I: Vocabulary (15 points): Directions: In each item, choose one word that best keeps the meaning of the sentence if it is substituted for the underlined word. Mark out your choice. 1. The new government has just set up a monopoly in salt. A. control B. share C. grant D. segment 2. It is impossible for parents to shield their children from every danger. A. protect B. relieve C. conserve D. free 3. During his lifetime he was lucky to accumulate quite a fortune. A. overtake B. confront C. gather D. demonstrate 4. More and more people nowadays are exercising, quitting tobacco, losing weight and becoming more health-conscious. A. given in B. giving out C. giving away D. giving up 5. Don’t be so innocent as to believe everything the politicians say. A. illiterate B. ignorant C. stupid D. simple 6. The scientist’s discovery will have a profound influence on mankind. A. deep B. moderate C. negative D. positive 7. The boy had a violent pain in his stomach after eating too much ice-cream. A. outrageous B. fatal C. fierce D. frequent 8. City police Sunday arrested former Mayor Richard Weekly on a long list of bribery, official mis-conduct, fraud, and corruption charges. A. deceit B. murder C. privilege D. accident 9. It is now believed that the dramatic changes in family structure; though regrettable, are impossible to reverse. A. striking B. emotional C. horrible D. sensational 10. Space is full of unseen hazards among which are cosmic rays. A. dangers B. ventures C. galaxies D. prospects 11. He displayed a complete lack of courtesy and tact in dealing with his employer. A. tenacity B. curiosity C. civility D. hostility 12. The earth revolves both round the sun and on its own axis. A. resolves B. involves C. evolves D. rotates 13. The government would not dare to impose taxes on such necessities as bread or milk. A. cut B. charge C. force D. occur 14. The politician tried to convince the voters that he was the man for the job. A. preach B. persuade C. confront D. specify 15. Scientists are often fascinated by phenomena that many ordinary people ignore. A. attracted B. disturbed C. horrified D. satisfied Part Ⅱ: Reading Comprehension (15 Points) Directions: There are 3 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should select the best choice and fill the corresponding letter on the blank. Passage 1 (5 points) The latest clock to be invented is a “language clock” which helps us to determine the dates of certain occurrences. This clock requires neither engines, springs, pendulums, nor electricity. In 1950 some research workers in America discovered that languages change at a steady rate through the centuries. They organized their investigation in the following ways. First, they prepared a list of 200 things for which there are common words in every language. Then they compared these words in modern languages with the ancient languages from which the modern ones had developed. They found that for a certain proportion of the 200 things, the ancient words continued to be used, though written or pronounced differently. But in other cases the ancient words had been replaced by new words which had been introduced into the language. After a thousand years, on the average, 81% of the lod words (162 of the 200 words) were still in use. After 2 000 years, on the average, 81% of these 162 words (or 66% of the original total of 200) remained. After 3 000 years, 81% of these 131 words (or 53% of the original number) remained in use, and so on. Next this group of research workers investigated situations where two different languages had developed separately and independently, from me same ancient language. (In modern times, of course, such situations are very unlikely to occur. Why?) They found that after 1 000 years, as before, each daughter language shared only 66% of the basic 200-word vocabulary. Each daughter language, as before, derived 81% of its 200 words from the original parent language. But (as you might expect) the words which they kept were not quite the same. The proportion of words actually shared by the daughter languages was therefore 81% of 81%, which is 66% of the original 200 words. After 2 000 years they shared 66% of 66% of the words, i.e. 43% of the original vocabulary. And after 3 000 years they shared only 29% of the original vocabulary. A long time ago, some Eskimos, speaking the Eskimo language, left the mainland of Alaska and began to live in a group of islands (called the Aleutian Islands) at some instance from the coast. Recently, research workers compared the islander’s language with the modern Eskimo language. They found that the Aleutians and the Eskimos shared only 29% of the words on the standard list. From this fact the investigators were able to calculate the date of the event referred to at the beginning of this paragraph. 1. From the passage, we can infer that language clock is A. a mechanic clock B. a figurative clock C. an electronic clock C. a diamond clock 2. American researchers found that the language clock could help A. count the exact time by years B. decide when the language came into being C. make sure when the Aleuts left the mainland D. determine how the time changed 3. To invent the language clock the researchers studied and compared A. the pronunciation of language in different years B. the spelling of some languages in different centuries C. the vocabulary of languages in different times D. the grammar of some languages in different times 4. Generally speaking, after 4 000 years, on the average, the percentage of the 200 original words which remained in use was A. 81% B. 66% C. 43% D. 29% 5. Which of the following sentences is not true according to the passage? A. after 3 000 years, each daughter language shared only 29% of the basic 200-word vocabulary B. Some Aleuts are the descendants of Eskimos on the mainland of Alaska C. The language clock can help to determine the dates of certain events. D. Through thousands of years language Change only in vocabulary. Passage 2 (5 points) In some society it is the custom for parents to arrange the marriages of their children. The father and mother of the bride will meet with the father and mother of the groom, and if both families are pleased with each other, an agreement will be make. Often the brides and grooms will not be asked for their opinion in this matter, and sometimes they do not even meet each other until the day of the wedding. In some countries, men advertise for mail-order brides in the local paper. Most Americans find the idea of arranged marriages difficult to understand or accept. They believe that two people should marry for love, after a period of dating or courtship. During that period, the prospective marriage partners are supposed to learn enough about each other to decide whether or not they will be able to build a successful marriage. Today in America, it is common for people to live together as a way of preparing for marriage. The idea of an arranged marriage seems very old-fashioned indeed. But aren’t all marriages arranged in one way or another? In the United States marriages are seldom formally arranged, but quite a lot of informal r\arranging goes on before two people become husband and wife. People who get married are introduced to each other by friends. These friends have already decided that the two people are right for each other and arrange for them to meet. In the United States this kind of arrangement is very common. Because friends have such great influence, their approval of a dating or mating partner is very important. Families also exert open and subtle pressures on their children to influence their choices of marriage partners. Parents often arrange dates for their own children. One parent often tells a friend about her beautiful daughter or handsome son. Also, parents can meet the perfect marriage prospect for their son or daughter through business relationships. Since parents often assist their children financially, they feel that they have the right to help the bride and groom select where they will live, what type of furniture they will purchase, and what their life-style will be like. To a larger extent, social class determines the choice of a marriage partner in the United States. Marriages are usually arranged between people of similar religious, ethnic, and financial backgrounds. Despite what we see in the movies, the son of a bank president rarely marries or even meets a miner’s daughter. Americans may not accept or understand arranged marriages, but marriages in the United States are arranged nevertheless. 1. Which of the following can be chosen as the best title of this passage? A. Americans’ Marriage B. Arranged Marriage C. Marriage for Love D. Perfect Marriage 2. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage? A. Some couples marry according to their parents’ arrangement. B. Some men seek their future-wife by advertising in the newspaper. C. The Americans will not live together before their marriage. D. Friends and parents usually play an important role in arranging marriage. 3. Most Americans deem that A. financial status determines the choice of a marriage partner B. young men and women should get married as soon as they fall in love. C. Arranged marriages are hardly understood and accepted. D. Love plays a critical role in marriage. 4. According to the passage, all of the following statements are true except that A. in arranged marriages, the brides and grooms never meet before their wedding B. many Americans think the idea of arranged marriage out of date C. all marriages are not arranged in America D. a lot of informally arranged marriages exist in America 5. We can draw the conclusion that A. children always ask their parents for opinions about marriage B. the author thinks that in America marriages still bear class character C. it is unusual for Americans to live together as a way of preparing for marriages D. despite the different backgrounds, people still marry in America Passage 3 (5 points) Personality is to a large extent inherent—A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children. One place where children soak up A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the “win at all costs” moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying: “Rejoice, we conquer!” By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful. Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world need types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management. If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection for the caring professions, especially medicing, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy. It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors exclusively from A type stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged. 1. According to file passage, A-type individuals are usually A. impatient B. considerable C. aggressive C. agreeable 2. The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because A. the pressure is too great on the students B. some students are bound to fail C. failure rates are too high D. the results of examinations are doubtful 3. The selection of medical professionals are currently based on A. candidates’ sensitivity B. academic achievements C. competitive spirit D. surer values 4. From the passage we can draw the conclusion that A. the personality of a child is well established at birth B. family influence dominates the shaping of one’s characteristics C. the development of one’s personality is due to multiple factors D. B-type characteristics can find no place in a competitive society 5. What does the word “adopt” (para.2, Line 2) mean in the passage? A. Take B. Adjust C. Adapt D. Expert Part Ⅲ: Translating the following passages into Chinese (40 points) Directions: There are 4 passages of English in this part. Non-computer candidates should choose 2 passages out of the Passage 1, 2, and 3 and translate them into Chinese. Computer candidates should choose 2 passages out of the Passage 1, 2, and 3, and the Passage 4 and translate them into Chinese. Passage 1 (20 points) Despite China’s impressive economic achievements, the country’s elderly women suffer disproportionate poverty rates, the incidence of female suicide is rising, and the skewed gender balance among newborns will have severe future demographic(人口学的) consequences, according to a United Nations report. The development picture for women is also mixed. Gender gaps are widening, and the aging of Chinese society is posing an increasing challenge because the elderly are disproportionately poor and female, with widows and unmarried, childless women among the most economically vulnerable(脆弱的). The widely noted increase in tile margin of newborn boys over girls “has serious implications for the future,” the report warns. Sexual predetermination of newborns is illegal in China, but widespread and the government estimates that the sex ratio is about 116 boys for every 100 girls. “The shortage of women will have enormous implications on China’s social, economic and development future, In the next decade, we could have as many as 60 million missing women. People are exercising their preferences, but the consequences for society are huge.” These challenges are by no means unique to China and countries must work together to resolve them. Passage 2 (20 points) One hundred countries representing 4.5 billion people have signed the global treaty aimed at curbing tobacco use, which now claims nearly 5 million lives every year and causes an estimated annual net loss of $200 billion in treatment and lost productivity, the United Nations health agency reported. The treaty requires signed countries to restrict tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion, set new labelling and clean indoor air controls and strengthen legislation to clamp down on tobacco smuggling. At the time of its unanimous(一致的) adoption last May by WHO’s 192 members, the agency warned that the annual death toll of 4.9 million, if left unchecked, could double by 2020. The tobacco epidemic is still expanding, especially in developing countries where currently seven out of every 10 tobacco-related deaths occur, according to WHO. At current rates, the total number of tobacco users is expected to rise to 1.7 billion by 2025 from 1.3 billion now. The European Community (EC) has also signed the treaty as a regional economic integration organization, while its member states sign and ratify the treaty individually. Passage 3 (20 points) Hoping to extend Internet connectivity to underserved populations around the world, the United Nations and the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) today announced a series of programmes to accelerate the adoption of broadband (宽带) wireless technology in developing countries. The “Wireless Internet for Underserved Populations and Local Communities” initiative was developed in follow-up to a June 2003 conference on wireless Internet opportunities for developing nations. It is also in support of the Millennium (千年) Development Goals (MDGs)-a set of measurable and time-bound (有时间 要求 对教师党员的评价套管和固井爆破片与爆破装置仓库管理基本要求三甲医院都需要复审吗 的) targets adopted by world leaders at a UN summit (峰会) in 2000 - the first-ever global forum on information technologies (ICTs). W2i has received requests from business organizations and governmental regulatory agencies in several countries to facilitate consensus among local stakeholders (运营商) in emerging broadband wireless Internet standards. Early underwriters of the initiative include IBM and Intel. “Intel is a strong proponent (支持者、拥护者) of enabling affordable Internet connectivity worldwide, and we are developing wireless technologies and working with organizations like W2i to help accelerate the adoption of broadband wireless technologies worldwide,” said Julie Coppernoll, director of marketing for Intel’s Wireless Networking Group. Passage 4 (20 points, compulsory for computer candidates) Competitive pressures and a thriving new economy have driven thousands of businesses around the world to make enormous investments in their information technology solutions. Investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions are only two examples of the new trends. Businesses use ERP software to improve operational efficiency and increase profitability; and CRM solutions to automate customer interaction processes that improve customer service and increase sales productivity. In today’s modern technological world, companies are data rich and information poor. The growing need to anticipate changing market conditions and customer preferences, develop intelligent business plans, and act proactively is fueled by the availability of critical information. And because so much of that essential information is locked away within ERP, CRM and other transaction-oriented systems, the need for data warehousing is more compelling than ever. Without the ability to move from data to information to knowledge to action, companies cannot stay competitive in today’s modern and ever changing economy. Early data warehousing efforts focused on separating the decision-support environment from operational transaction-processing systems. The ultimate goal was to create a centralized source of data for accurate, consistent reporting. The greatest cost of implementing data warehouses comes from the process of extracting, transforming and integrating data from source systems. Par Ⅳ: Translating the following paragraph into English (10 points) 我们国家要走向现代化，最大的障碍，并不是资源问题，也不是资金问题，更不是技术问题，而是十几亿人口的素质问题。资金可以积累，资源可以更有效地利用，技术可以创造也可以引进，但是十几亿人口的素质（quality）是无法引进的，这必须靠我们去提高。 Part Ⅴ: Writing (20 points) 1) Write an essay on Water Shortage in China and Suggestions on Remedies(解决办法). The article below can be used to support your writing in facts and certain remedies 2) Not less than 150 words. Water Crisis Looming for China Surging water consumption in China’s growing cities and towns, coupled with reckless (粗心大意的、无计划的) industrial and agricultural use, is straining the nation’s already strapped (紧张的) water supplies, the government and several international organizations warn. China’s water resources amount to the fifth-largest in the world, and its winding rivers have cradled (摇篮) civilizations for over five millennia. But with the country’s population swelling (增长) to 1.3 billion, many of China’s rivers, including the legendary Yellow River， are drying up, and the water table (地下水) is falling. The international groups say dwindling water supplies could disrupt China’s food security, public health, environment, and economic growth. “China’s problem is “brown” (此处指在地图上呈现褐色，绿化令人担忧) poverty. If you look at a map, large swaths of the country are totally brown - nothing can grow there,” said Deepak Bhattasali. the World Bank’s chief economist in Beijing. “If this brown spreads, so will hunger, [and] industrial growth will slow. The country’s annual per capital water supply is only 2,200 cubic meters, 25% of the global average, according to the World Bank. The government says that by 2030, the water supply is expected to fall below 1,700 cubic meters per person, which the World Bank calls dangerously low During the same period, water demand is expected to more than triple, from 120 billion tons a year to 400 billion tons. Using uncharacteristically strong language, the World Bank recently warned that the situation “will soon become unmanageable, with catastrophic (灾难性的) consequences for future generations.” China does not act like a nation in the midst of a water shortage. Taps run freely because the government subsidizes water supplies, especially to farmers. For industry, China’s water consumption efficiency is one-tenth that of developed countries. And only a fraction of China’s industrially used water is recycled, mostly because local governments are loath (不喜欢的) to burden local firms with costly recycling rules. A senior Chinese official in charge of water resources has said China loses more than 30 billion cubic meters of water every year, causing a $28 billion loss in industrial output. But he says he is committed to making the tough decisions needed to correct the situation. Water conservation and recycling programs are being introduced. and the government has said it will raise the price of water supplied to farmers and industry. Steps are being taken to curb rapid deforestation and soil erosion across the country. Hydropower, which creates large evaporating (蒸发) reservoirs, is increasingly being complemented(补充) with wind power. China is on track to generate 10% of its power from wind and solar energy by 2010. Programs to desalinate (淡化) seawater using solar energy are also in place in several cities. But none of this is likely to be enough, analysts say. Lester Brown of the Worldwatch Institute, an environmental watchdog based in Washington, D.D., warns that China’s water problems will have global repercussions (影响). Brown calculates that shortages will cut China’s annual agricultural output by 9 million tons, forcing it to buy grain. This will push up world food prices.