2008-6研究生学位英语统考真题

1 PART I LISTENING COMPREHENSION (25 minutes, 20 points) Section A (1 point each) 1. A. Composition is her favorite course. B. She prefers other courses to composition. C. She enjoys most of the courses. D. She doesn't like any course. 2. A. She hasn't read the passage. B. She doesn't understand it either. C. She cannot read it in darkness. D. She suggests that the man read it. 3. A. To guard her money. B. Not to go shopping downtown C. To look for a new wallet. D. Not to take the train. 4. A. The working hours were too long. B. The job was not well-paid. C. He didn't like working in a company D. The job was quite difficult. 5. A. Steven is satisfied with his experiment. B. Steven couldn't enjoy the parties any more C. Steven is a pleasure-seeker, D. Steven is worried about his experiments. 6. A. To go to a concert with the man. B. To give the mall a lift to the countryside C. To enjoy the sunshine. D. To have a short trip for pleasure. 7. A. Fred keeps annoying other people. B. Fred looks very funny. C. Fred always makes other people laugh. D. Fred is a man of his word. 8. A. To obey the established rules. B. To buy a new book for guidance. C. To try a new but safer experiment. D. To learn the methods from practice. 9. A. Bob doesn't swim. B. Bob cannot be relied on. C. Bob cannot persist in doing anything. D. Bob won't be free. Section B (1 point each) Mini-talk one 10. A. To find effects on the teaching of reading. B. To raise test scores in reading comprehension. C. To increase the teaching time for reading. D. To help all children read at or above grade level. 11. A. Teachers. B. Critics. C. Congressmen. D. Federal officials 12. A. Green Eggs and Ham. B. To Kill A Mockingbird. C. Of Mice and Men. D. A Child Called ‘It’. Mini-talk Two 13. A. A scientist B. A forester. C. A school master. D. A farmer. 14. A. He taught students to watch grass grow. B. He taught students how to manage forest. 2 C. He got parents involved in their children's work D. He developed games about science. 15. A. He wrote his own textbooks. B. He made students interested in their studies. C. He helped the students increase their scores. D. He made school activities creative. Section C (1 point each) Notes about the lecture 16. The United Nations World Food Program says ____________ could push one hundred million people into hunger. 17. Some reasons for high food prices: l) Inflated costs for fuel and fertilizer. 2) The ________ of the dollar. 18. The main reason for high food prices is ____________ in some rice-growing nations: 19. Thailand is the world' s ___________, Vietnam is the second. 20. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says high food prices could harm: 1) world trade, 2) economic growth, 3)___________, 4) political security. PART II VOCABULARY (10 minutes, 10 points ) Section A (0.5 point each) 21. Some scientists are trying to eliminate malaria by developing a GM mosquito that can't transmit the disease. A. remove B. fabricate C. enhance D. utilize 22. A tall building is usually equipped with several elevators, so it doesn't matter if one of them is out of order. A. in a mess B. in bad condition C. in short supply D. in a hurry 23. As the train service had been suspended, thousands of people had to wait for days at the station. A. elevated slightly B. cancelled completely C. delayed frequently D. stopped temporarily 24. We can learn about the hazards of hunting big game in stories about their ancestors. A. adventures B. pleasures C. dangers D. consequences 25. Novel drugs developed through biotechnologies can be expected to deliver a better effect. A. distribute B. produce C. liberate D. express 26. The price of housing varies with demand, and the same rule seems to hold for automobiles. A. contain B. fasten C. grasp D. apply 27. Some people are skeptical about the validity of Aristotle's argument that man is by nature a political animal. A. efficiency B. soundness C. availability D. contribution 28. Heart-broken and desperate, she was determined to leave this family for good. A. permanently B. alternatively C. temporarily D. desirably 29. It is generally believed that money can always bring happiness, but studies and surveys have proved that this is a myth. A. fairy tale B. absolute myth C. mistaken idea D. big controversy 30. The sight of these soldiers toiling along the expressway was extremely touching to a tender heart. A. sympathetic B. mild C. concerned D. feeble Section B (0.5 point each) 31. Students of English are advised to try to ___________the meaning of a new word from the context. A. turn out B. figure out C. look out D. put out 32. The drastic changes that have taken place in China have won worldwide __________. A. identification B. realization C. admission D. recognition 33. Bill Clinton rose to prominence after he was elected ________ of Arkansas at age 32 in 1978. A. president B. secretary C. governor D. premier 34. The finding of this experiment is __________ with what was previously reported. A. consistent B. constant C. coherent D. competent 35. However, the nature of online ________ is such that we tend to be more honest, more intimate. A. interruptions B. interpretations C. imaginations D. interactions 36. Reading extensively can broaden our vision and extend our life into a new _________. A. perspective B. hierarchy C. layer D. dimension 37. I was quite _______ to find my test score well below that of my tablemate. A. fascinated B. dismayed C. amused D. convinced 38. An earthquake of 8- _________ struck some parts of this province, causing a death toll of over 30,000. 3 A. altitude B. aptitude C. magnitude D. gratitude 39. Both linguists and psychologists are eager to learn more about the process of language ________. A. acquisition B. attainment C. possession D. fulfillment 40. An overseas market with a great growth potential is not easy to _________. A. break down B. break up C. break through D. break into PART III CLOZE TEST (10 minutes, 10 points, 1 point each) According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the leading cause of death among children 41 5 and 14 years of age. Says NHTSA: "Over 50% of children who die in crashes are 42 by safety devices. 43 , 4 out of 5 children are improperly restrained." The NHTSA offers a number of safety tips and 44 for those who are accompanied by children while driving. Although laws 45 from country to country and even from state to state, these guidelines may 46 food for thought to many parents and guardians of children. Please check your local laws and do 47 you can to keep your precious baby safe. The safest place for all children is in the back seat. Infants should be 48 in a rear-facing safety seat in the backseat of the car. A child at least a year old and 49 at least 20 pounds may be placed in a forward-facing seat. At 40 pounds, the child can use a "booster seat", which is secured by one of the car's lap and shoulder 50 . At approximately 80 pounds and a height of about four feet nine inches, the child may begin using an adult safety belt. 41. A. at B. between C. for D. about 42. A. bound B. undefined C. unrestrained D. inhibited 43. A. Of course B. On contrary C. Nevertheless D. In addition 44. A. cautions B. forms C. notes D. concepts 45. A. work B. vary C. enforce D. affect 46. A. give way B. differ from C. serve as D. deal with 47. A. whatever B. whichever C. that D. which 48. A. tied B. stuck C. surrounded D. placed 49. A. weight B. weighted C. weigh D. weighing 50. A. stripes B. belts C. ribbons D. bows PART IV READING COMPREHENSION (45 minutes, 30 points, 1 point each) Passage One Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, separated by work, commuting and the single life, researchers reported on Friday. Nearly a quarter of people surveyed said they had "zero" close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants, the researchers said. “This is a big social change, and it indicates something that's not good for our society,” said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith-Lovin. Smith-Lovin's group used data from a national survey of 1,500 American adults that has been ongoing since 1972. She said it indicated people had a surprising drop in the number of close friends since 1985. At that time, Americans most commonly said they had three close friends whom they had known for a long time, saw often, and with whom they shared a number of interests. They were almost as likely to name four or five friends, and the relationships often sprang from their neighborhoods or communities. Ties to a close network of friends create a social safely net that is good for society. Research has also linked social support and civic participation to a longer life, Smith-Lovin said. The data also show the social isolation trend mirrors other class divides: Non-whites Americans and the highly educated. That means that in daily life, personal emergencies and national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, those with the lowest resources also have the lowest personal friends to call for advice and assistance. "It's one thing to know someone and exchange e-mails with them. It's another thing to say, ‘Will you give me a ride out of town with all of my possessions and pets? And can I stay with you for a couple or three months?’” Smith-Lovin said. "Worrying about social isolation is not a matter of remembering a warm past. Real things are strongly connected with that," added Harvard University Public Policy Professor Robert Putnam. He suggested flexible work schedules would allow Americans to tend both personal and professional lives. 51. One reason for the social isolation of Americans is ________. A. frequent relocation B. frequent traveling C. living alone D. working flexible hours 52. The percentage of people with more than two close friends is about________. A. 25% B. 50% C. 60% D. 75% 53. According to the passage, close social ties among people are_______. A. a must for social progress B. beneficial for the family C. a source of happiness D. good for people's health 4 54. It is implied that ________ tend to live a more socially isolated life. A. people in the higher social ladder B. people in the lower social ladder C. people with a longer life span D. people with a shorter life span 55. According to Robert Putnam, ________. A. it is useless to worrying about social isolation B. social isolation is not necessarily bad for us C. it is time to do something about social isolation D. social isolation does not mean the end of society 56. The passage is focused on _________. A. the new trend in American social life B. the urban problems in modem society C. the ways to build a strong social network D. the reasons for close interpersonal relationships Passage Two For years, France proudly resisted establishing domestic smoking bans. It held out longer than Britain, Spain and Italy, but on January 2, 2008, it finally forbid cigarettes in bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs. This was not a decision taken lightly. Magazines ran photo-spreads reminding us that French people look seriously cool with a cigar in their mouth. There were illustrations of Charles de Gaulle, the French president during World War II, Brigitte Bardot the 1950s famous fashionist, and the famous French philosopher and writer, Jean-Paul Sartre. Even the present President Nicolas Sarkozy, extremely image-conscious, posed for Paris Match magazine with a fat cigar. But now, France's traditional “cafe-clope” (morning coffee and cigarette) is only possible if people can bear the freezing temperatures outside. In the latter part of the 20th century, the health risks of second-bend tobacco smoke were made public. Then, in 1975, a modern wave of smoking bans started in Minnesota, the US. Since then, many countries and regions have joined in the movement. Among them, the US has been a pioneer, with California being the first in the world to ban indoor smoking at all public places, including bars and restaurants. Thus some French people call the non-smoking law issued on January 2 "a touch too American". However, studies before the ban showed that 70 percent of French people supported the enforcement. The public's positive response means that the smoking ban will be just one more US trend accepted by French society. Even among strong smokers, no one wants to risk a fine. French barman Jean-Michel, dressed in a leather waistcoat and a cowboy -style shoelace tie, complained harshly about the ban. Was be anticipating a smokers' revolt? "No," he said calmly. "People will respect it. I'll do what I did at school. I 'll smoke in the toilets.” According to the non-smoking law, individuals who smoke in bars, cafes, restaurants or clubs can be fined up to 450 euros. The owners of these places can be fined up to 750 euros if they fail to stop customers from smoking. 57. The law of banning smoking in public places was not made easily because _______. A. France proudly resists establishing new laws B. French people like their images with a cigar in their mouth C. French people have had such a strong habit since World War II D. smoking has become fashionable for Frenchmen lately 58. According to the passage, French President Nicolas Sarkozy _________. A. pays a great deal of attention to his own public image B. has been a heavy smoker in public eyes C. strongly opposes the law of banning smoking D. is a model in the hearts of French people 59. Which of the following is the first place in the world to ban indoor smoking at all public places? A. Minnesota. B. California. C. France. D. Britain. 60. It is implied in the passage that _________. A. French people usually resist American trends B. French people oppose the non-smoking law because it is too American C. French people often follow American suits D. French people respect the non-smoking law because it is from the US 61. By saying "I'11 do what I did at school", Jean-Michel means that _______. A. he did not smoke when he was a school student B. he had to smoke in the toilets when he was at school C. he olden anticipated revolts when he was at school D. smoking was not allowed in the toilets when he was at school 62. What is the main idea of tiffs passage? A. It is difficult to establish new laws in France. 5 B. How the non-smoking law was established? C. Non-smoking law is another American trend. D. France finally accepts smoking ban. Passage Three It is the world's fourth-most-important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice. It provides more calories, more quickly, using less land and in a wider range of climates than any other plant. It is, of course, the potato. The United Nations has declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato. It hopes that greater awareness of the merits of potatoes will contribute to the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, by helping to reduce poverty and promote economic development. It is always the international year of this or month of that. But the p otato's unusual history means it is well worth celebrating. Unlikely though it seems, the potato promoted economic development by supporting the Industrial Revolution in England in the 19th century. It provided a cheap source of calories and was easy to cultivate, so it liberated workers from the land. Potatoes became popular in the north of England, as people there specialized in livestock farming and domestic industry, while farmers in the south concentrated on wheat production. By a happy accident, the concentrated industrial activity in the regions where coal was readily available, and a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Friedrich Engels even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its "historically revolutionary role". In the form of French fries, served alongside burgers and Coca-Cola, potatoes are now a symbol of globalization. This is quite a change given the skepticism which first greeted them on their arrival in the Old World in the 16th century. They were variously thought to be fit only for animals, to be associated with the devil or to be poisonous. They took hold in 18th-century Europe only when war and famine meant there was nothing else to eat; people then realized just how useful and reliable they were. As Adam Smith, one of the potato's many admirers, observed at the time, "The very general use which is made of potatoes in these kingdoms as food for man is a convincing proof that the prejudices of a nation, with regard to diet, however deeply rooted, are by no means unconquerable." Mashed, fried, boiled and roast, a humble potato changed the world, and people everywhere should celebrate it. 63. By making 2008 the Year of the Potato, the United Nations hopes that the potato could ________. A. enrich people's daily food supply B. be used to replace other food crops C. help deal with environmental issues D. he a solution to some economic problems 64. Paragraph 3 mainly describes _________. A. why the potato became popular in the north of England B. why the potato was important in England's population growth C. how the potato contributed to England's industrial development D. how the potato helped improve England's working conditions 65. Friedrich Engels's words show that he ________. A. thought highly of the potato B. took the potato too seriously C. underestimated the role of the potato D. lacked the basic knowledge of the potato 66. Europeans began to eat potatoes in the 18th century because _________. A. t