2016年外研社杯全国英语阅读大赛样题.pdf
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2016 National English Contest forCollege Students(Level C – Preliminary)Part I listening Comprehension (25 minutes,30 marks)Section A (5 marks)In this section, you will hear five short conversations. Each conversation will be read only once .After each conversation, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the question and 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.Where does this conversation probably take place?A.In an engine room . B .in a car. C.In a factory.2.Who is the man talking to ?A.A lifeguard .B.A travel agent .C.A gymnasium manager.A. By calling the company.B.By asking the sales representative.C.By looking at the price list.4.Why is Sue upset according to the conversation?A.Someone broke into her car.B.She had to pay too much for parking.C.She was given a ticket .5.What do the two speakers probably do for a living.A.Office clerks.B.Printers.C.Archiects.Section B (10 marks)In this section, you will hear two long conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. After each conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, read the five questions, each with the three choices marked A, Band C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centreConversation One6.Why did the man watch the video ?A.It was required by Professor Stephen.B.He wanted to learn about heart attacks.C.He had to take part in a discussion.7.In the man’s opinion, what is the video about?A. Men’s health.B.Stress.C.Health care for women .8.What did the man learn from the video?A.Women are under more stress than men .B.Women have more heart attacks than men .C.Women who have heart attacks get less care than men .9.At what ages are women most likely to have a heart attack?A.40 to 50 .B.60 to 65 .C.45 to 60.10.What does the woman think about the video?A.It sounds puzzling.B.It sounds very interesting .C.It sounds very dull.Conversation Two11.How long did the man wait before his call was answered?A.Twenty minutes.B.Twelve minutes .C.Twenty-four minutes .12.Why did the man phone Interserve Customer Service?A.He wanted to know what the recorded message means .B.He didn’t know which button to choose.C.He wanted to know if he can use his e-mail address while overseas.13.What does the man think about the menu of options?A.Its meaning isn’t ambiguous.B.It is far from clear .C.It is satisfactory.14.Which department would the man have spoken to if had chosen button two?A.Accounts and Billing.B.General Enquiries.C.Accounts and Service.15.What will the operator do next ?A.Make an official complaint.B.Improve the menu of options.C.Make a note of the man’s complaint.Section C (5 marks )In this section, you will hear five short news items .Each item will be read only once. After each item ,there will be a pause ,During the pause ,read the question and 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.16.How does rotational grazing reduce the need for pesticide treatments?A.By increasing the use of natural fertilizer.B.By limiting the need for chemical fertilizers.C.By reducing the growth of weeds.17.Which news agency votes for the top ten news stories?A.Reuters.B.The Associated PressC.United Press International.18.Which counties spent billions of dollars to develop new oil fields ?A. Syria, Brazil and Russia.B.Brazil,Iran and Saudi Arabia .C.Saudi Arabie ,Brazil and Russia.19.Why has the number of camels in India been decreasing in recent years?A.Because they are dying from traveling too far .B.Because they are short of food.C.Because they are infected with a disease.20.What is a symptom of multiple sclerosis?A.Loss of the ability to hear.B.Loss of the ability to see well.C.Loss of the ability to speak clearly.Section D(10 marks)In this section, you will hear a short passage which will be read only once. There are 10 missing words or phrases. Fill in the blanks with the exact words or phrases you hear on the tape .Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet .The fourth component of the Swedish social system is that its policies ensure full employment and increase the mobility of labour-that is ,the ability to change jobs without (21)______income. Swedes have a strong work ethic .This ,combined with state-funded programmers that(22)_______unemployment, which Sweden prefers to high unemployment rates and large welfare (23)______.So, there are a large number of (24)_______training programmes that unemployers par for (25)___________to workers in jobs that have become unnecessary. There are also subsidies for workers who must change jobs because of changes in the labour market .Sweden introduced the fifth and final component of its social system at the end of the 20th century. This component corrects some of the problems created by the four (26)________mentioned components. It includes new rules that are designed to improve job stability , such as training programmes to help employees learn new skills as their jobs change and become more (27)______,Also ,the government has reduced social(28)_________and welfare payments .So, in conclusion, the Swedes are happy with their system. Sweden has achieved more in terms of social equality, economic(29)________than many other economies. As a result ,most Swedes aren’t interested in any more reform of the economic system .However, because it is (30)_________in international markets, Sweden must continue to manage its social policies so that it remains competitive in the international marketplace.Part II Vocabulary and Structure(10 minutes,15 marks)31.The businessmen discussed the contract_____________but never actually signed anything.A.at lengthB.at sea .C.at randon.D.at will.32.Accustomed to the coffee from Columbia________Governor John said that ________coffee should always be strong.A./;a.B.the;a.C.a;a.D./;/.33._________a well-balanced diet,________adequate sleep ,is needed for good health.A.Alongside;with.B.Not only;but.C.Attached;to .D.Due to;so34._________very familiar with inspection reports, I realized that some pages of this one were missing.A.To beB.That wasC.BeingD.So was35.If you have not signed a contract, you are under no _________ to pay them any money.A.responsibilityB.liabilityC.circumstanceD.obligation36.As the market was _________ goods, the economy became more balanced , and inflation went down.A.speculated onB.subscribed forC.saturated withD.submitted to37.Surveys show that the majority of passengers are pleased that an agreement has been reached to forbid smoking on _________ flights within the continental United States.A. economicalB. commercialC. globalD. internal38.The new CEO asked that all inter-office communications ________ in writing rather than in person , _________ possible.A.have been made; whoeverB.would be made; whicheverC.be made ; wheneverD.stage bare of scenery39.Written to be performed on a __________,Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town depicts life in a small New England community.A.stage scenery of bareB.bare of stage sceneryC.scenery bare of stageD.stage bare of scenery40.____________ school policy , the students had a holiday between Chritmas and the New Year.A.On behalf ofB.With regard toC.In line withD.In case of41.To sell the house , we made a __________ to the buyer by agreeing to put a new roof on it.A.considerationmissionC.concessionD.confirmation42.Never before _________ available for quick and easy acess in so many different fields of study.A.so much free information wereB.has so much free information beenC.were so much free informationD.so much free information has been43.The computer company announced that the new solfware __________ in the first half of next year.A.be releasedB.will have releasedC.would have releasedD.was going to be released44.Tina: A group of us are going boeling on Tuesday night. Would you like to join us?Joe : I really would , but unfortunately I have a tennis lesson.Tina : Oh, that’s too bad. _________Joe : Yes, for sure. Thanks for the offer.A.How do you deal with that ?B.Maybe another time then ?C.When will you come back ?D.Don’t you really like bowling ?45.George : Hey, Agnes . How did the Human Resources meeting go ?I couldn’t make it because I was o ut at a sales conference.Agnes : Oh, George . __________ It turned into a major argument.George : Really ?A .Glad you’re back now. B.You’re lucky to have missed it.C.Nice to see you again.D.You’re just on time.Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 35 marks)Section A (5 marks )In this section , there is one passage followed by five question. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B, C and D .You should decide onthe best choice, and then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.When e-mail first came into general use about fifteen years ago, there was a lot of talk about the imminent arrival of the paperless office. However, it seems that e-mail has yet to revolutionize office communications .According to communicate ions analyst Richard Metcalf, some offices have actually seen an increase in paper as increase in paper as a result of e-mail.” Information in the form of e-mail messages now floods our computer screens. These messages can be distributed in the hundres.For those secretaries whose books ask them to print out all their e-mails and leave them in their intrays, this means using up a great deal of paper every month ,”Metcalf says.Metcalf has found that because some e-mails get lost in cyberspace, as are increasingly likely to be asked by clients and colleagues to send all important documents both by e-mails and by fax or “snail mail”-though the post .This highlightsafuther postential problem with e-mail in today’s offices-it is taking up time rather than saving it.“With e-mail, communication is much easier ,but there is also more room for misunderstrandings,”says psaychologist Dr David Lewis Generally ,much lsee care is take with e-mails than with letters or faxes and the sender will probably print the the documents and reread it before putting it in an envelope or sending it by fax.More worrying is still the increase misuse of e-mail for sending “flame-mail” –abusive or inappropriate e-mail messages .Recent research in several companies suggests that aggressive communications like this are on the increase .E-mail has become the perfect medium for expressing workplace frustration because is so instant.E-mail can also be a problem in order ways .Staff all too often make the mistake of thinking that the condense of an e-mail ,like things said over the phone ,are private and not permanent. But it is not only possible for anemployer to read all your e-mails, it is also perfectly legal-mail messages can be traced back to their origin for a period of at last two years , so you might want to rethink e-mailing your frustrations about your job to your friends. The advice is to keep personal e-mails out of the office .It goes without saying that e-mail exists to make life easier, and if used correctly, it is an invaluable tool for business of all sizes. But perhaps, for the time being ,the fact that in the business word 70persent of all documents are still in paper form is not such a bad thing after all.46.Why has the promise of the paperless office not come true in many offices?A.People write more memos than they used to.B.Maybe secretaries keep paper copies of everything their bosses send and receive .C.Many managers prefer to read their messages on paper .D.Staff leave messagers lying around their offices.47.What dose Richard Metcalf say about e-mail in Paragraph Two?A.It is not an appropriate channel for sending important informationB.It increases the amount of paperwork done in offices.C.It is not popular with many secretaries.48.How does David Lewis feel about e-mail messages?A.Many of them are not well written .B.Many of them are too long .C.Many of them are not printed out.D.Many of them are never read49.Why should employees not use company e-mail systems for personal messages?A.Because company e-mail systems are not easy to use.B.Because the people the messages sent to can’t.C.Because they allow people to express their anger immediately.D.Because e-mail is not a private means of communication.50.What dose the writer conclude about e-mail in the last paragraph?A.It has already made life a lot easier for many business.B.It is not being used enough in business today.C.It will never replace written communication.D.It is really useful when people use it properly.Section B(10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by five incomplete sentences. Read the passage carefully, and then complete the sentences in a maximum of there words for each blank. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.It is well known that some cultures prefer sons to daughters. In contrast, surveys have revealed that some people would rather have a daughter than a son. Apparently, each of these preference has its explanation in the local culture .Around the world , people who prefer sons have similar reasons .In many countries , sons are valued because they can work and contribute to the family income . Also , sons will be able to support their parents when the parents are old . In some cultures , sons are important because they enable the family name to continue for another generation . This is because the wife in these cultures takes her husband’s fami ly name , and more or less “belongs ”to the husband’s family . In addition , having a daughter can sometimes cause difficult for a family . In India , for example , having a daughter can be a burden because the family has to pay a dowry when the girl gets married .Generally ,people think traditional cultures are the ones in which boys are preferred . Research seems to support this belief . However , according to a survey conducted in 2000, people in the Czech Republic , Lithuania , Portugal , and the Caribbean prefer to have daughters . The researchers said that parents in these societies do not need to have the same economic situation that exists in other countries , so they do not need to have a son to help make money .Instead , families in these countries want daughters for emotional reasons . Many mothers think they will have a better relationship with a daughter than a son , for example . In addition ,they think daughters will take better care of them when they are old .In Japan , a similar trend has emerged . This might come as a surprise to some , because only one generation ago , the Japanese favored sons . In1982 , over half of Japanese couples surveyed would want a boy if they could have only one child . A survey done in 1997 , on the other hand , found that 75 percent wanted a girl !Some Japanese couples say they want to have daughters because they think daughters are cuter and easier to raise . Japanese couples also worry about being taken care of when they are old . If they have to live with their children when they are very old , many Japanese parents would want to live with a daughter . “A sons wife would be a stranger and harder to ask for help ,” one Japanese mother said .Critics warn that preference for a daughter is just as bad as preference for a son . “Instead of valuing children for the social roles they are expected to fill , parents must learn to value children as individuals ,” critics say . when that is the case, parents will be equally pleased with a son or daughter .Questions:51. The reasons that parents prefer to have sons are to continue____ , toHelp earn money for the family , and to support the parents in their oldAge .52. Japan’s preference for daughters now is quite____ because not long agoThe preference was for sons .53. In some developing countries , parents value boys more than girls mainly for _____ .54 . In India , parents receive _______ when their sons get married .55. Critics maintain that children should be treated by their parents as ___. Section C (10 marks )In this section ,there is one passage followed by five questions . Read the passage carefully and then answer each of the questions in a maximum of 10 words . Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet .Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.At least 600,000 jobs could disappear in the UK this year , according to a report by a personnel managers’ professional body . The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development says even those who escape redundancy will face pay freezes .It says that while total unemployment will not hit three million , the time between New Year and Easter will be the worst for job losses since 1991 .According to official statistics , there were 1.86 million people out of work in the UK in October , 2008. This figure was the highest since 1997 , taking the overall unemployment rate to 6 percent . David Frost of the British Chamber of Commerce says , “It is the worst ye ar . Companies are in survival mode .”The CIPD , which represents managers and personnel staff , issued its gloomy forecast a day after children’s retailer Adams joined a growing list of well known chains applying for bankruptcy protection .Chief economist John Philpott said , “In the face of some skepticism , the CIPD warned that 2008 would the UK’s worst year for jobs in a decade . It was , but in retrospectit will be seen as merely the slow –motion prelude to what will be the worst year for jobs in almost two decades . The CIPD’s annual barometer forecast is that the UK economy will shed at least 600,000 jobs in 2009 .Overall ,the 18-month period from the start of the recession in mid-2008 until the end of 2009 will witeness the loss of around three quarters of a million jobs , equivalent to the total net rise in employment in the preceding three years .”Mr Philpott said job losses were likely to continue into 2010 ,taking the final toll to about one million .The CIPD also surveyed 2,600 workers and found that more than one in four did not expect a pay rise next year ,while others feared wage cuts .The institute’s reward adviser ,Charles Cotton ,said ,”Employees are realistic about their pay prospects . Against this backdrop ,employers will need to work hard to find new ways to motivate their employees to perform .”“Financial incentives and targeted investment in training and development could be effective ways to do this ,” he added .“More than ever , this is a time where organizations need to en gage in an open and straightforward communication with their staff , clearly explaining the reasons for any difficult measures that will affect them ,” he said . “This will help preserve staff loyalty and engagement even during times when unpopular decisions need to made .”Questions:In the UK ?57. What kind of organization is the Chartered Institute of Personnel andDevelopment ?58. What are many British companies now struggling for ?59. What does the CIPD advise British employers to do under the presentcircumstances?60. Why does Charles Cotton suggest that employers communicate withtheir straight—forwardly ?Section D (10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully, and then complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of threewords from the passage to full in each of the blanks. Remember ton write the answers on the answer sheet.Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Everyone knows about pollution in the environment. Water, air, and land are all polluted. This means that pollution is everywhere .Now, scientists are looking inside our bodies to find out about internal pollution.In 2003, the Environmental Working Group studied nine people to measure the chemicals in there bodies. These nine people had an average of 53 cancer-causing chemicals in their bodies .They also had average of 62 chemicals that can harm babies in pregnant women .Even though a lot of chemicals were found in human bodies , the chemicals were found in small amounts .The amounts were small enough that they were probably not hurting the people . However, scientists are worried because most of these chemicals were created by humans. Most of these chemicals did not exist 75b years ago. This proves that we have not only polluted the world – we have polluted our own babies!How dose this pollution get into our bodies? We come into contact with many chemicals everyday .for example, everyone use soap, skin lotion, and shampoo. However, few people know that these products contain harmful chemicals, some of which may cause memory loss. Chemicals known as DEA(diethanolamine) and TEA(triethanolamine) may seep into the skin and stop us from absorbing a helpful nutrient called “choline”. Choline is a nutrient that plays a crucial role in the memory cell making progress in the developing brain. Some people worry that every time we wash our hair, we are decreasing our memories.Everyone knows they should brush their teeth regularly, but recent research has shown that some toothpastes can cause cancer. Fluoride is a key ingredient in many toothpastes. However, studies show that fluoride dose not really protect our teeth. In fact, fluoride has been connected with bone cancer and other diseases. While we are trying to save our smiles, we could be damaging our health.Women are probably exposed to more chemicals then men because they use more beauty products. Recently, harmful chemicals are called “phthalates”. Studies on animals have shown that phthalates can damage the liver, the kidneys, and thelungs. Cosmetic companies say the amounts of phthalates in their products are safe. But consumer protection groups disagree. They say some women try to look beautiful, the more they could be harming their health.In a futuristic story by Ray Bradbury, a man found a pristine stream on a new planet. When he drank from the stream, he died! Why? His body was so polluted that pure water was a position to him! Perhaps that is only science fiction, but it reminds us to take care of our bodies. We must find ways to reduce the pollution we absorb.Summary:Like our polluted environment, our bodies are no longer pollution-free. Scientists now know that there is pollution in our bodies. On (61) , we have 53 cancer-causing chemicals in our bodies. Even fluoride (62) with bone cancer and other diseases. Some common cosmetics contain small amounts of chemicals, which seep into our (63) when we use these products. They prevent us from absorbing the (64) our bodies need. So, it is (65) that we find ways to reduce the amount of chemicals in our bodies. We should remind our friends and families to take care of their bodies.Part IV Cloze(15 minutes,15 marks)Read the passage and fill in each blank with one word. Choose the word in one of the following three ways: according to the context , by using the correct from of the given word ,or by using the given letters of the word. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.According to a group called the Voice Function, everyone has a singing voice as well as a(66)——(speak) voice somewhere inside them. This, they say, should be (67) enc ——from an early age because it provides the best, and the (68) ——(cheap), basis on which to build an understanding of music.The teaching of the Hungarian (69) (compose) Zoltan Kodaly are responsible for this idea. He observed that songs can become a key part of the relationship (70)_______a mother and her child almost from birth . This is (71) as______ true of traditional societies, (72)_______those of West Africa , where some small children are able to sing literally(73)hun______ of songs , all of which have been learn by heart . However many modern children first come to understanding ofmusic (74)_______they learn to play an instrument (75)_______although some teaching of the theory of music is usually a part of this , their relationship with the music on the page is often a mechanical one.The (76)____(believe) of the Voice Foundation is that a natural feeling for rhythm. harmony and musical structure .the very qualities we appreciate in the greatest musicians. can only be achieved through the (77)____(explore) of the voice from thebeginning of a person’s life .The foundation has , therefore ,set itself the task of (78) _____a singing-centered musical education(79)pro_____that could benefit junior all(80)_____the world.Part V Translation (15minutes, 20 marks)Section A (10 marks)Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answer sheet.Embroidery (刺绣) is a brilliant pearl in Chinese art .(81) From the magnificent Dragon Robes worn by emperors to today’s fashions, embroidery adds a great deal of pleasure to our culture and our lives.The oldest embroidery on record in China dates from the Shang Dynasty. Embroidery in this period symbolized social status. (82) It was not until later on, as the national economy developed, that embroidery entered the lives of the common people.After the Zhou Dynasty, the Han Dynasty witnessed a leap in both techniques and styles of embroidery. Embroidered objects ranged from the sun, the moon, stars, mountains dragons, and phoenixes to tigers, flowers and grasses, clouds and geometric patterns. Auspicious words were also fashionable. Both historic records and products of the time prove this.The cultural relics found in the Mawangdui Han Tomb are the best evidence of this unprecedented development in embroidery.In addition, embroidery unearthed from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang , the ancient tombs in Turpan and northern Inner Mongolia ,further strengthen this observation .(84) The Chinese word for embroidery is “xiu”, a picture or embroidery in five colours .It implies beautiful and magnificent things.Embroidery was an elegant task for ladies who were forbidden to go out of their homes. (85)It was a good pastime to which they could devote their intelligence and passion . Imagine a beautiful young lady embroidering a dainty pouch .Stitch by stitch, she embroiders a pair of love birds for her lover .It’s a cold winter da y and the room is filled with the aroma of incense. What a touching and beautiful picture!Section B (10marks)Translate the following sentences into English, using the words or structures required in the brackets .Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.86.她先天残疾,但他从未屈服于任何困难。
2016年全国大学生英语竞赛初赛答案(C类)Part I Listening Comprehension (30 marks)Section A (5 marks)1—5 DBDCBSection B (10 marks)6—10 BBCAD 11—15 CADDBSection C (5 marks)16—20 CBBAD最新全国大学生英语竞赛历年真题精讲(A、B、C、D类)Section D (10 marks)21. bush 22. overactive 23. gave quick energy 24. nutrition25. created 26. spices 27. came much later 28. was forbidden29. spread 30. replacedPart II Vocabulary, Grammar and Culture (15 marks)Section A (10 marks)31—35 BABDC 36—40 DAADBSection B (5 marks)41—45 DBBCA作文评分标准:一、评分原则:1. 本题满分为I 10 分;II 20 分,按四个档次给分。
2. 评分时,先根据文章的内容和语言初步确定其所属档次,然后以该档次的要求来衡量,确定或调整本档次,最后给分。
3. I 词数少于100 词或多于140 的,II 词数少于140 或多于180 的,从总分中减去2 分。
4. 如书写较差,以致影响阅卷,将分数降低一档。
二、各档次给分范围和要求第四档(很好):I 9-10 分;II 16-20 分完全符合写作格式的要求,覆盖多个内容要点,表达思想清楚,文字通顺,连贯性很好,基本上无词汇和语法错误。
第三档(好):I 6-8 分;II 11-15 分基本符合写作格式的要求,有个别地方表达思想不够清楚,文字基本通顺、连贯,有少量词汇和语法错误。
Part I Read and KnowIn this part, you will read some questions about your abilities or personalities. Read as fast as you can and choose the answer that you think best describes yourself.Are You Charismatic?Charisma is the magnetic power that attracts people to you. It won’t affect the quality of your work or provide you with wonderful original ideas, but it remains one of the most vital talents if you want to make it big in life. If people who don’t even understand what you’re talking about believe tha t you area genius, you will have made it. The following test will decide whether you’ve got what it takes.1) Do people find themselves attracted to you?A. Yes, it can be embarrassing sometimes.B. No, no more than other people.C. I suppose they do a bit.2) Do you find that people agree with you regardless of the quality of your arguments?A. No, never.B. Not that often.C. All the time.3) Would you find it easy to attract followers?A. No, not at all.B. Not very easy.C. Y es, it’s really no problem.4) Do you find casual acquaintances open up and tell you their life stories in intimate detail?A. Occasionally.B. Never.C. Happens all the time. Sometimes I just can’t get away.Part II Read and ReasonIn this part, you will read texts of different forms and genres. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on your comprehension, analysis and inferences of the texts.1. Among the four statements below, one statement is the main point, and the other three are specific support for the point. Identify the main point with P and the specific support with S.___A. Hungry bears searching for food often threaten hikers.___B. Hiking on that mountain trail can be very dangerous.___C. Severe weather develops quickly, leaving hikers exposed to storms and cold.___D. When it rains, the trail, which is very steep at some points, becomes slippery.2. Read the following cartoon. Put a tick by the three statements that are most logically based on the information suggested by the cartoon.___A. Lucy has just criticized the boy, Linus.___B. Linus feels Lucy’s criticism is valid.___C. Lucy feels very guilty that Linus has taken her criticism badly.___D. Lucy doesn’t seem to realize that people may accept constructive criticism but reject destructive criticism.___E. The cartoonist believes we should never criticize others.___F. The cartoonist believes it’s best to criticize others in a constructive way.3. Read an extract of an advertisement. Choose the answer which you think fits each question best according to the text.Young Environmental Journalist CompetitionHow to Enter:☆If you’re aged 16-25, we’re looking for original articles of 1,000 words (or less) with an environmental or conservation theme. The closing date for entries is 30 December, 2015.☆ Your article should show proof of investigative research, rather than relying solely on information from the Internet and phone interviews. You don’t have to go far. A report on pollution in a local stream would be as valid as a piece about the remotest rain forest.☆ Your article should show you are passionate and knowledgeable about environmental issues. It should also be objective and accurate, while being creative enough to hold the reader’s interest. We are not looking for “think pieces” or opinion columns.☆ Your aim should be to advance understanding and awareness of environmental issues. You should be able to convey complex ideas of readers of this general interest magazine in an engaging and authoritative manner.☆Facts or information contained in short-listed articles will be checked.☆ Read the rules carefully.1) Before entering for the competition, young people must have_______.A. conducted some relevant research in their local areaB. gained a qualification in experimental researchC. uncovered some of the evidence in the research by themselvesD. consulted a number of specialists on the subject under research2) The articles submitted must_______.A. focus on straightforward conceptsB. include a range of viewsC. be accessible to non-specialistD. reveal the writer’s standpoint4.Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows(1) Johnny Appleseed, one of the gentlest and most beloved of American folk heroes, was born in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. (2) His real name was John Chapman. (3) Chapman’s early life was full of misfortune. (4) First, his father left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. (5) Then John’s mother and baby brother died before John’s second birthday. (6) However, John’s fortunes improved when his father returned and remarried, and by the time John was in his teens, he had ten brothers and sisters. (7) As a young man, John began traveling west on foot, stopping to clear land and plant the apple seeds he always carried with him. (8) Settlers who followed Joh n’s path were delighted to find young apple orchards dotting the landscape.(9) John was a friendly fellow who often stopped to visit with families along his way, entertaining them with stories of his travels. (10) Tales of his exploits followed him through Pennsylvania, Ohio, andIndiana. (11) Many of the stories were true. (12) For instance, John really did travel barefoot through the snow, lived on the friendliest of terms with Indian tribes, and refused to shoot any animal. (13) Other tales about John, however, were exaggerations. (14) Settlers said, for example, that he slept in the treetops and talked to the birds or that he had once been carried off by a giant eagle. (15) Johnny Appleseed never stopped traveling until his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845.1) Sentence 1 is a statement of_______.A. factB. opinionC. fact and opinion2) The details in sentences 4 and 5 support the point or points in _______.A. sentence 1B. sentence 2C. sentence 3D. sentence 63) The relationship between sentences 3 and 6 is one of _______.A. contrastB. additionC. cause and effectD. comparison4) We can conclude that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. provided apples for numerous settlersB. was quickly forgotten by the settlersC. grew wealthy by selling his apple treesD. left home because of problems with his family5) The passage suggests that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. grew weary of travelingB. had great respect for other people and animalsC. lived a very short but rich lifeD. planted many trees other than apple trees6) The tone of the passage is _______.A. pessimisticB. bitter and impassionedC. amused and excitedD. straightforward with a touch of admiration7) Which is the most appropriate title for this selection?A. The Planting of American Apple OrchardsB. Folk Heroes of AmericaC. Settlers Recall Johnny AppleseedD. The Life and Legend of John Chapman5.Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in which information is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizens’ patterns of response to politics. (2) By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection of the major party candidates. (3) By centering politics on the personof the candidate, television accelerated the citizens’ foc us on character rather than issues.(4)Television has altered the forms of political communication as well. (5) The messages on which most of us rely are briefer than they once were. (6) The stump speech, a political speech given by traveling politicians and lasting 11/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10-second “sound bite” in broadcast news. (7) Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience who will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news.(8) In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. (9) In 15 or 30 seconds, a speaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others. (10) In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.(11) Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it requires a changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. (12) Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. (13) Schools teach us to analyze words and print. (14) However, in a world in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills.(15)Reco gnizing the power of television’s pictures, politicians craft televisual, staged events, called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage. (16) Much of the political activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, their speechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. (17) Sound bites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.1) What is the main idea of the passage?A. Citizens in the United States are now more informed about political issue because of television coverage.B. Citizens in the United States prefer to see politicians on television instead of in person.C. Politics in the United States has become substantially more controversial since the introduction of television.D. Politics in the United States has been significantly changed by television.2) The word “disseminated” in sentence 1 is closest in meaning to_______.A. analyzedB. discussedC. spreadD. stored3) It can be inferred that before the introduction of television, political parties _______.A. had more influence over the selection of political candidatesB. spent more money to promote their political candidatesC. attracted more membersD. received more money4) The author mentions the “stump speech” in sentence 6 as an example of _______.A. an event created by politicians to attract media attentionB. an interactive discussion between two politiciansC. a kind of political presentation typical of the nineteenth centuryD. a style of speech common to televised political events5) The word “that” in sentence 7 refers to _______.A. audienceB. broadcast newsC. politicianD. advertisement6) According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches, traditional political discourse was more successful at _______.A. allowing news coverage of political candidatesB. placing political issues within a historical contextC. making politics seem more intimate to citizensD. providing detailed information about a candidate’s private behavior7) The author states that “politicians assert but do not argue” in sentence 9 in order to suggest that politicians _______.A. make claims without providing reasons for the claimsB. take stronger positions on issues than in the pastC. enjoy explaining the issue to broadcastersD. dislike having to explain their own positions on issues to citizens8) The purpose of paragraph 4 is to suggest that_______.A. politicians will need to learn to become more personal when meeting citizensB. politicians who are considered very attractive are favored by citizens over politicians who are less attractiveC. citizens tend to favor a politician who analyzed the issue over one who did notD. citizens will need to learn how to evaluate visual political images in order to become better informed9) Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?A. Political presentations today are more like advertisements than in the past.B. Politicians today tend to be more familiar with the views of citizens than in the past.C. Citizens today are less informed about a politician’s character than in the past.D. Political speeches today focus more on details about issues than in the past.Part III Read and QuestionIn this part, you will read about related or contradictory views on a variety of issues. You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. Read the following two passages and answer the questions.Passage AWhile On the origin of Species created a great stir when it was published in 1859, Darwinian thought was almost completely out of vogue by the turn of the twentieth cen tury. It took Ronald Fisher’s “Great Synthesis” of the 1920s, which combined the genetic work of Gregor Mendel with Darwin’s ideas about natural selection, and Theodosius Dobzhansky’s “Modern Synthesis” of the 1930s, which was built upon Fisher’s work with genetics within a species by focusing on how genetic variation could cause the origin of a new species, to begin to rehabilitate Darwin.Yet, what is remarkable is how very prescient Darwin, working without knowledge of the mechanisms of heredity, proved to be. As prominent biologist Ernst Mayr notes, what made Darwinian theory so remarkable was his emphasis on “population thinking”. This contrasts to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of evolution, popular throughout the nineteenth century, which posited that individuals changed personal actions and will. Lamarckian theory is often exemplified by a giraffe constantly reaching up toeat leaves off high branches and passing on its lengthened neck to its children.Such explanations bore a strong resemblance to ch ildren’s fables (and indeed Rudyard Kipling’s late-nineteenth-century Just So Stories was built upon Lamarckian theories). Where Darwin differed was his insistence that significant variation was not based within one particular individual, but rather in the breeding population as a whole. Natural selection was not based on the actions or goals of one individual, but variations in the average character of the species.Passage BAs Peter Bowler points out in his aptly named The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth, nineteenth-century Darwinism was quite different from the Darwinism of today. Thomas Huxley, “Darwin’s Bulldog”, so called because of his tireless public campaigning for Darwinian thought, exemplifies this difference. As a result of his advocacy, by the end of the nineteenth century Huxley was the vehicle for Darwinian thought. Noted science fiction writer H. G. Wells, for instance, garnered all of his information about natural selection and evolution through Huxley’s lectures. Yet Huxley’s theory varied significantly from th at of Darwin, focusing on the will of humankind.In the preface to Evolution and Ethics, Huxley wrote that “We cannot do without our inheritance from the forefathers who were the puppets of the cosmic process; the society which renounces it must be destroyed from without. Still less can we do with too much of it; the society in which it dominates must be destroyed from within.” According to Huxley, humankind has moved past physical evolution to the realm of self-directed moral evolution. Huxley, then, acknowledges that humankind has evolved under the pressure of natural selection and must remain aware of the fact or be “destroyed from without”, but he argues that a society that continues in the path that Na ture has placed it will be “destroyed from within” because it will no longer be adapted to itself.1) Based on the information in the passage, Rudyard Kipling most likely wrote stories ______.A. dedicated to enlightening humans by using animals as positive examples of proper behaviorB. based on futuristic worlds which were populated by evolved subjectsC. featuring individuals developing variation through the power of their desiresD. seeking to exhibit the effects of population thinking in breeding populationsE. portraying the effects of parental inheritance through examining the lives of children2) Which of the following best represents Huxley’s beliefs?A. Focusing on physical evolution leaves man as nothing more than a “puppet” of forces beyond his control; to succeed in life it is necessary to reject physical evolution in favor of moral change.B. The ideas of Charles Darwin needed to be carefully delineated through lectures so that his ideas about individual variation could be fully understood.C. By exerting personal will, humankind will be able to enact significant, lasting variation which will be demonstrated through the bodies of the children of those who seek change.D. While humankind is inescapably linked to its physical past and the material conditions of its evolution, it must be wary of being too attached to the path dictated by natural selection.E. Certain elements of Darwin’s theory about evolution had to be discarded so that the public would be willing to accept the thrust of the theory as a whole.3) Which of the following would the authors of Passage A and Passage B mostly likely agree to be most closely aligned in their thinking?A. Lamarck and Huxley.B. Kipling and Wells.C. Mayr and Bowler.D. Mendel and Huxley.E. Dobzhansky and Wells.4) Which of the following statements about Darwin is supported by both passages?A. Darwin differed significantly from other theorists of evolution because he focused on breeding populations as a whole.B. The modern understanding of Darwin varies significantly from nineteenth-century beliefs about his theories.C. It was not until the early twentieth century that Darwinism as we know it began to emerge.D. Fiction writers were particularly interested in disseminating ideas about Darwin.E. Delineating the specific inheritance of the child is crucial to understanding how natural selection proceeds.5) Which of the following best represents the difference between the two passages?A. The first passage begins with current understandings of Darwinism and moves back in time, while the second passage begins with older understanding and moves forward in time.B. While the first passage focuses on the difference between two theories of evolution, the second paragraph traces differences between two individual interpreters of evolution.C. The first passage introduces a general theory, offers specific evidence, and then considers the ramifications of that theory, while the second passage does not consider the ramifications of the evidence it represents.D. The first passage is concerned with demonstrating a way in which Darwin is closely linked with modern thinkers, while the second passage is focused on how he differed from one of his contemporaries.E. The first passage provides a historical retrospective of the primary interpreters of Darwin, and the second passage centers on one particular interpreter.6) Based on the information in Passage B, which of the following claims in Passage A would Thomas Huxley be most likely to object to?A. It is impossible to truly understand natural selection without the benefit of modern genetic theory.B. It is likely that the giraffe developed a long neck due to the fact that it constantly stretched it to gain access to food.C. There are different ways to understand how evolution functions to change individuals.D. Variations in the average character of a population are the most crucial factor in the proper evolution of man.E. Allowing natural selection to dominate our society will lead to the destruction of humankind.7) Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the Lamarckian mode of variation?A. An adult bird tries to change the environment for the benefit of its children.B. Seeking to morally adapt to its environment, a chimpanzee changes the way it woos its mate.C. A giraffe’s bodily shape changes because it is unable to fit into t he caves it traditionally sleeps in.D. Because of a change in the environment, a number of chimpanzees die out while others thrive and pass on their genes.E. Because it hunts for salmon with its mouth wide open, a bear gradually develops a straining mechanism between its teeth.Part IV Read and CreateIn this part, you will be required to write a short essay on a given topic based on your general reading. You should write with clarity, logic and creativity.1.Write an essay of about 200 words on one of the following topics.1) Hamlet is characterized by his melancholic mood and delay in action. Give a character analysis of Hamlet and list the possible reasons for his melancholy and delay.2) A Tale of Two Cities can be regarded as a historical novel, a moral novel and a novel strongly concerned with themes of resurrection, redemption and patriotism, as well as of guilt, shame and love. What is your understanding of the themes of the novel?2.Read the essay below. Answer one of the following questions by writing an essay of about 200 words.Of StudiesStudies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study, and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confuse; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be ready wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind may hav e a special receipt.1)We are now living in the age of “information explosion”. What lessons can we learn from Bacon’s “Of Studies” to access information”2)In what sense does reading make a full man?。
2017“外研社杯”全国英语阅读大赛初赛(90min)Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions. (Time suggested: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are three extra options you do not need.Questions 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.A few intuitive, sensitive visionaries may understand and comprehend XXXX (the book title), XXXX (the author)’s new and mammoth volume, without going through a course of training or instruction, but the average intelligent reader will glean little or nothing from it—even from careful perusal, one might properly say study, of it—save bewilderment and a sense of disgust. It should be companioned with a key and a glossary like the Berlitz books...4. Which of the following works does the book review address?A.UlyssesB.The OdysseyC.In Search of Lost TimeD.One Hundred Years of SolitudeQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.I like the fact that the study focuses on a French classroom, which receives less attention in Second Language Acquisition research than other foreign language classrooms.However, for reasons that I elaborate on below, I do not recommend this manuscript for publication. I recommend that the author consults the Journal of Language, Identity, and Education. That journal might be a better fit for this paper.5. The text could best be described as __________.A. a conclusionB. a summaryC. a reviewD. a pledgeQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.My Lord,I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honor which, being very little accustomed to favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.6. This text is taken from a letter which showed the writer’s __________ the Lord.A.gratitude towardsB.indifference toC.contempt forD.respect forQuestion 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Because of social media, words are moving around theworld within weeks and months, whereas in the past, itcould take a few years, says Julie Coleman, author of TheLife of Slang. “It’s not necessarily that language is changingmore quickly, but technologies have developed and theyallow the transmission of slang terms to pass from onegroup to another much more quickly.”7. The main purpose of the text is to ________.A.explain the quick migration of slangB.imply the unnecessary change of languageC.exemplify the advancement of technologyD.introduce the book The Life of SlangQuestions 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text, and answer the question according to the text.When hunting raccoons for fur was a popular sport, huntingdogs were used to sniff them out of trees. As they are XXXXanimals, the hunting party had to work at night, and the dogswould sometimes end up choosing the wrong tree, or as the idiomgoes, “bark up the wrong tree.” The term was first printed in abook by Davy Crockett in 1833.8. Which word is the best substitution for the missing word XXXX?A.solitaryB.aggressiveC.nocturnalD.herbivorousQuestion 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the details about a euphemism, and answer the question according to the details.9. The euphemism described above most probably refers to __________.A.people with special needsB.downright overwroughtC.tired and emotionalD.mentally challengedQuestion 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the share of UN procurement from Global Compact members from 2010 to 2014. Answer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: 2014 Annual Statistical Report on United Nations Procurement, the United Nations Office for Project Services, 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description of the chart.A.The share of UN procurement volume from Global Compact members grew steadily over thefive years in terms of absolute volume.B.In 2013, the total procurement volume dropped noticeably, and so did the procurement fromGlobal Compact members.C.In 2014, the total procurement volume increased greatly, causing a drop in the share ofprocurement from Global Compact members.D.The proportion of procurement from Global Compact members was not in line with thegeneral trend of procurement from Global Compact members.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read the instructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical inference and reasoning. (Time suggested: 40 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of Confusion of “Necessary” with “Sufficient” Condition?A.You said that I would have to run the mile in less than six minutes to be on the track team,and I did. So why did I get cut from the team?B.Dina has to be rich or at least to be an heiress. She after all belongs to the Alpha Phi Lambdasorority which is the richest sorority on campus.C.It’s supposed to be in the low twenties tonight, so surely we’re not going to the footballgame, are we?D.To see viruses, one must have a microscope. This follows if William Carroll said he sawviruses, he must have used a microscope.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the definition of one type of logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.12. Which of the following provides a typical example of Texas Sharpshooter fallacy ?A. I won ’t pay the parking ticket because the traffic sign here says “Fine for Parking”!B. Cola is healthy because it sells best among the top five healthiest countries in the world.C. We can ’t exploit the outer space because many people on Earth hardly make ends meet.D. Nobody at school can speak French because neither teachers nor the principal can speak it. Questions 13-14 Reasoning. (Suggested completion time: 8 minutes)In a swimming competition, Matt, Alen and Johnson won a medal respectively: the gold medal, the silver medal and the bronze medal. The coach made a guess : “Matt won the gold medal, Alen didn ’t win the gold medal and Johnson didn ’t win the bronze medal .” Unfortunately, only one of them is right.13. Who won the gold medal, who won the silver, and who won the bronze medal?A. Matt: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Alen: bronze medal.B. Alen: gold medal; Johnson: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.C. Johnson: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Matt: bronze medal.D. Matt: gold medal; Alen: silver medal; Johnson: bronze medal.14. Richard: The national budget should provide significant increases in all levels of education inthe upcoming year.Natalie: That’s not fair. A reduction in defense spending in peacetime may bring us excessiverisks. We can’t afford it.Which of the following is the best interpretation of Natalie’s argument?A. Funds saved from defense have been diverted to all levels of education.B. Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts on spending on the military.C. The size of the military budget reflects a state’s ability to fund educational activities.D. Compared with military spending, investing in education will create a financial crisis. Questions 15-16 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text and decide whether the statements are True or False according to the text.QuestionsQuestions define tasks, express problems, and delineateissues. They drive thinking forward. Answers, on the otherhand, often signal a full stop in thought. Only whenananswer generates further questions does thought continue as inquiry. A mind with no questions is a mind that is not intellectually alive. No questions (asked) equals no understanding (achieved). Superficial questions equal superficial understanding, unclear questions equal unclear understanding. If your mind is not actively generating questions, you are not engaged in substantial learning.15. The main purpose of the text is to define “questions”.True ( ) False ( )16. It can be inferred that a mind filled with questions will surely be engaged in substantial learning.True ( ) False ( )Questions 17-18 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the sugar industry, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to FatThe internal sugar industry documents, recently discovered by a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, and published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that the sugar industry may have manipulated the research into the role of sugar in heart disease.The documents show that a trade group called the Sugar Research Foundation, known today as the Sugar Association, paid three Harvard scientists the equivalent of about $50,000 in today’s terms to publish a 1967 review of research into sugar, fat and heart disease. The studies used in the review were handpicked by the sugar group, and the article, which was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, minimized the link between sugar and heart health and cast aspersions on the role of saturated fat.Even though the influence-meddling revealed in the documents dates back nearly 50 years, more recent reports show that the food industry has continued to influence nutrition science.Last year, an article in The New York Times revealed that Coca-Cola, the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, had provided millions of dollars in funding to researchers who sought to play down the link between sugary drinks and obesity. In June, The Associated Press reported that candy makers were funding studies that claimed that children who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who do not.The revelations are important because the debate about the relative harms of sugar and saturated fat continues today, Dr. Glantz said. For many decades, health officials encouraged Americans to reduce their fat intake, which led many people to consume low-fat, high-sugarfoods that some experts now blame for fueling the obesity crisis.Today, the saturated fat warnings still remain a cornerstone of t he government’s dietary guidelines, though in recent years the American Heart Association, the World Health Organization and other health authorities have also begun to warn that too much added sugar may increase risks of cardiovascular disease.17. The word handpicked in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________.A.carefully chosen in a highly scientific wayB.carried out with the best research findingsC.tailored to the needs of the sugar industryD.done by scientists from Harvard University18. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A.Manufacturers of sugar related food are funding studies aimed at finding the relationshipbetween sugar and health.B.Scientific research may not produce accurate results when funding for the research isprovided by agents who are not impartial.C.It is now accepted in the US that sugar and saturated fat are both responsible for anincreasing risk of heart disease.D.The industry-funded research plays an important and informative role in that it shapes theoverall scientific debate.Questions 19-20 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the passage about MasterCard. Answer the questions according to the passage.MasterCardMasterCard is making it easier for charities to get help quickly to the people who really need it, and ensure that donations are actually being used for good. The MasterCard Aid Network, launched last September, distributes a version of the company’s plastic cards that come loaded with points that can be redeemed at certain merchants for groceries, medicine, shelter and even building materials or business supplies. The chip-enabled system can be deployed in a day or two compared to the weeks required to create and import paper vouchers.The system doesn’t require an Internet connection—a boon in off-the-grid areas where many refugees and disaster victims are concentrated. Still, the transactions enable organizations to collect data on what card recipients redeem, allowing charities to protect against fraudulent use and gather insight into beneficiaries’ needs.So far, organizations including Save the Children, World Vision and Mercy Corps have distributed cards to more than 75,000 people, from earthquake victims in Nepal to those in war-torn Yemen. MasterCard, which charges the charities fees for the service, says the program is profitable. The United Nations also recently named MasterCard the leader of an initiative to improve the distribution of humanitarian aid in emergencies, with a focus on the data management and privacy aspect.19. What is the passage mainly about?A.How MasterCard as for-profit company joins hands with world charity organizations.B.How MasterCard can keep an edge by its technological innovation in the world market.C.How MasterCard made its transformation from a for-profit company to a non-profit one.D.How MasterCard shortened the path between troubled populations and the aid they need.20. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?A.Without the efforts of the MasterCard Company, charities could not have protected againstfraudulent use of donations.B.MasterCard will perform a more important role in the international rescue and aid programswith technology developments.C.The plastic cards the MasterCard Aid Network distributes to needed people are similar tocredit cards but paid by donators.D.MasterCard earns money from charging fees for service and then gives the money torefugees and natural disaster victims.Questions 21-23 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about virtual reality and augmented reality, and answer the questions according to the information in the text.Virtual Reality vs. Augmented RealityOne of the biggest confusions in the world of augmented reality is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality. Both are earning a lot of media attention and are promising tremendous growth.Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial, computer-generated simulation or recreation of a real-life environment or situation. It immerses the user by making them feel they are experiencing the simulated reality firsthand, primarily by stimulating their vision and hearing.Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements atop an existing reality in order to make it more meaningful through the ability to interact with it. AR isdeveloped into apps and used on mobile devices to blend digital components into the real world in such a way that they enhance one another, but can also be told apart easily.Augmented reality and virtual reality are similar in that both are inverse reflections of one in another with what each technology seeks to accomplish and deliver for the user. Virtual reality offers a digital recreation of a real-life setting, while augmented reality delivers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world. Both leverage some of the same types of technology, and they each exist to serve the user with an enhanced or enriched experience.However, the two also differ from each other in various ways. Augmented reality enhances experiences by adding virtual components such as digital images, graphics, or sensations as a new layer of interaction with the real world. It is being used more and more in mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones, and tablets to change how the real world and digital images, graphics intersect and interact. Contrastingly, virtual reality creates its own reality that is completely computer generated and driven. It is usually delivered to the user through a head-mounted or hand-held controller. This equipment connects people to the virtual reality, and allows them to control and navigate their actions in an environment meant to simulate the real world.21-23. Which THREE of the following statements can be inferred from the text?A.Augmented reality shows virtual elements on top of the real world, while virtual realityrecreates real-life situations in a digital way.B. A virtual reality dressing room may allow shoppers to virtually try on their purchases quicklyand easily without really having to put them on.C.Virtual reality is able to transpose us by taking us to some other place, while augmentedreality, in contrast, never moves us elsewhere.D.With augmented reality, you can swim with sharks, and with virtual reality, you can watch ashark pop out of your business card.E.Both augmented and virtual realities utilize some of the same types of technology and offerpeople enriched experiences.F.Augmented reality will enable an immobile patient to go out of the room and enjoy his/herfavorite sights, sounds and smells in the country.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. (Time allowed: 30 minutes)Questions 24-31 (Suggested completion time: 30 minutes)Passage ANonverbal communication is often spontaneous and unintentional, and its meaning may be ambiguous. For one thing, different nonverbal codes can indicate the same meaning while one nonverbal code can have different meanings in diverse contexts. Think about your expression of love toward your parents. Have your affective words or behavior remained the same over the past 18 years? Do you feel the same when a friend gives you a hug at the news that you have failed an exam and at the time when you have won an award? In addition, people may use masking, a facial management technique, to replace an expression of true feeling with one appropriate for a given interaction. For instance, your friend Mary is suffering from a fever but still smiles at you to confirm that she’s OK.Culture, technology, and situation all serve as powerful influences on our nonverbal behavior. What may be an innocent gesture in one group, context, region, or country can convey a different and possibly offensive message elsewhere. For example, American people are accustomed to making direct eye contact when speaking to someone, whether a friend or a professor. However, in some East Asian cultures, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, direct eye contact in interactive communication is not required. In fact, such long-time direct eye contact, when facing superiors or elders, might be considered a sign of disrespect and challenge. Similarly, some cultures are contact cultures so that touch is an important form of communication, whereas other cultures are non-contact cultures so touching is generally avoided. For example, a socially polite touch involves a handshake between American men but may include a kiss between Arab or European men. Some religions prohibit opposite-sex touching between unmarried or unrelated individuals.Nonverbal communication can be found in our electronic written communication such as email, text messaging, and Internet chat rooms. 25 We use all capital letters to indicate shouting, random punctuation (#@*&!) to substitute for obscenities, and type treatments such as boldfacing and italicizing for emphasis. We use color, font styles and sizes, animations, figures, diagrams, and pictures in attempts to express emotion or help users visualize the sender or the message in context. We expect others to use emoticons to express emotion in mediated texts (). Since we can’t hear voice inflection or see facial expressions in many mediated situations, your preferences for screen text size, whether you leave a few explanatory lines, and whether you attach or compress files all say something about you to others. As the Internet allows users to have visual, audio, and text contact, with refinements, speakers have the potential to be even more persuasive than in face-to-face conversations across distances.No one likes taking out the garbage. But in Japan the chore is compounded by an added element: The neighbors are watching. No, I’m not being paranoid. They’re watching.Every time I take my trash down to the curb, in its regulation translucent white bag, I can feel their eyes peering through the plastic at my milk cartons, my egg containers, and my disposable chopsticks. They can see everything.I first realized my garbage and I were not alone on a Monday a few months ago, when I was bringing down a bag of old cereal boxes, soggy refrigerator leftovers, and coffee grounds. My landlady, who lives on the first floor, was outside watering her garden. Her eyes took in the contents of my trash.“No, today is Monday. It’s plastics day,” she said.“Oh,” I replied, “I guess they changed the pick-up schedule.” Her eyes fluttered to the ground, studiously avoiding mine. “No, Monday has always been plastics day,” she said.Over the next few minutes, in the muddled mix of Japanese and English we use to communicate, my landlady explained that she often would take my garbage away if I had put it out on the wrong day, store it in her house, and then bring it out again on the proper day.As I wa lked back upstairs, lugging my unwanted trash, it hit me: For the year and a half since I’d been living in the apartment, she’d been watching me, peeping from behind her rose bushes: scurrying to the curb after I’d been there, checking to see whether I’d f ollowed the correct garbage protocol. That’s when I learned the hard truth: When it comes to garbage in Japan, there’s no such thing as privacy. Garbage is public property, something to which your neighbors can claim snooping privileges. As a foreigner in this homogenous land, my activities garner more attention, and more criticism, than most. I’ve started wondering what else my neighbors notice. What else am I doing wrong?What I found most disturbing about the exchange was that my landlady had been reluctant for so long to confront me directly. We see each other constantly, sometimes we have pleasant little chats, or she comes upstairs when something is broken. Yet she could never bear to tell me that I had mixed up the trash schedule. Pointing out one’s m istakes is considered rude in Japan.As a foreigner with rudimentary Japanese, I expected the language barrier to be the biggest obstacle to living here. I was wrong. Learning to navigate Japan, perhaps any foreign country, is all about reading the subtle cultural cues, not the alphabet. Most things in Japan remain unspoken, especially the improper and the unpleasant.The most powerful voice you have, no one else can hear. It is a voice shaping your destiny, ability to cope with triumph or disaster, and how you engage with and inspire others in any quest you face. This voice ultimately determines your success as a communicator and the success of your communications. It is the voice within your head.The starting point for being an outstanding public relations communicator is recognizing that you deliver communications not just through your words, signs or gestures. Nor do you deliver just through your body language. You communicate through the way you think.You probably know of people who ca n easily comment on other people’s problems but are blind to their own shortcomings. The ability to understand yourself, your own emotions, and know how your mind works is known as your intrapersonal skill. Having self-awareness and understanding of yourself makes it possible subsequently to develop fully your interpersonal skills. Your intrapersonal skill is essentially how you can manage your own thinking—the ability to understand how your thinking works and ultimately master the voice in your head.Everyone has an inner voice that creates an internal dialogue, a self-talk, which shapes and progresses their thinking and communication. (Your self-talk is not a sign of delusional behavior!) This self-talk lies at the heart of your subsequent communications. If you are unclear in your mind about how you feel and understand about an issue, the probability is that your subsequent communications will reflect this uncertainty, or fail to convince.The image of Sir Bob Geldof when he launched Band Aid in 1984 is a good example of someone with a clear sense of passion and belief, who initially had limited resources—at the outset his campaign was just him and his intense reaction to watching BBC news coverage of famine scenes in Ethiopia. Yet he succeeded in creating a major brand and raising valuable funds for famine relief. His clear sense of purpose fueled his passion to overcome the odds. A committed community activist can likewise often outwit and outperform a well-oiled and well-funded formal public relations programme; witness the success of groups like Greenpeace against major oil companies.The potential of the focused few was recognized by sociologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” The starting point for your journey in understanding and becoming an outstanding public relations communicator is to examine what shapes your thinking and how it is manifested in your communications.24. Which statement is true about the ambiguity of nonverbal communication?A.It leads to vagueness in nonverbal codes in a given context.B.Intended meanings of nonverbal codes cannot be conveyed fully.C.It stems from the spontaneity and randomness of nonverbal codes.D.True feelings can be hidden by the ambiguity of nonverbal codes.25. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in Passage A?A.It supersedes all other forms because of its effectiveness.B.There is a whole series of substitutions for nonverbal codes.C.People are born with a natural ability to communicate nonverbally.D.Interpretation of nonverbal codes relies on sensation and experiences.26. The word navigate in the last paragraph of Passage B means__________.A.roaming about freelyB.keep close contact withC.familiarize oneself withD.sail smoothly along27. What can be deciphered from Japan’s trash codes?A.Japanese tend to present their remarks in an explicit way.B.Trash is public property from which neighbors may intrude upon one’s privacy.C.The language barrier is an obstacle to dealing with the trash business.D.People not following the correct trash protocol will be considered rude.28. According to P assage C, the voice in one’s head__________.A.matters more than any vocal messagesB.should precede one’s subsequent communicationsC.can help avoid potential misunderstanding in some wayD.determines the development of one’s interpersonal skills29. How do people’s personal communication skills affect their public relations?A.Self awareness of how you think will affect your ability to communicate effectively.B.Effective public relation communications are delivered through nonverbal codes.C.Successful public relations are determined by the voice qualities of communicators.municators with passion and beliefs have stronger chances of outwitting their rivals.30-31. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to the three passages.30. Nonverbal codes in electronic written communications may well be more effective than face-to-face conversations.True ( ) False ( )31. It’s vital to take age, culture, region, gender, and emotional state into account when comprehending body language gestures.True ( ) False ( )。
实用文案Part I Read and KnowIn this part,you will read some questions about your abilities or personalities. Read as fast as you can and choose the answer that you think best describes yourself.Are You Charismatic?Charisma is the magnetic power that attracts people to you. It won’t affect the quality of your work or provide you with wonderful original ideas, but it remains one of the most vital talents if you want to make it big in life.If people who don’t even understandwhat you’re talking about believe that you are a genius, you will have made it. The following test will decide whether you’ve got what it takes.1) Do people find themselves attracted to you?A.Yes, it can be embarrassing sometimes.B.No,no more than other people.C.I suppose they do a bit.2) Do you find that people agree with you regardless of the quality of your arguments?A. No,never.B.Not that often.C.All the time.3) Would you find it easy to attract followers?A.No,not at all.B.Not very easy.C.Yes, it’s really no problem.4) Do you find casual acquaintances open up and tell you their life stories in intimate实用文案detail?A.Occasionally.B.Never.C.Happens all the time. Sometimes I just can’t get away.Part II Read and ReasonIn this part,you will read texts of different forms and genres.Read the instructionscarefully and answer the questions based on your comprehension,analysis and inferences of the texts.1.Among the four statements below,one statement is the main point, and theother three are specific support for the point. Identify the main point with P and the specific support with S.___A. Hungry bears searching for food often threaten hikers.___B. Hiking on that mountain trail can be very dangerous.___C. Severe weather develops quickly, leaving hikers exposed to storms and cold.___D. When it rains, the trail, which is very steep at some points, becomes slippery.2.Read the following cartoon.Put a tick by the three statements that are most logically based on the information suggested by the cartoon.___A. Lucy has just criticized the boy, Linus.___B. Linus feels Lucy’s criticism is valid.___C. Lucy feels very guilty that Linus has taken her criticism badly.___D. Lucy doesn’t seem to realize that people may accept constructive criticism but reject destructive criticism.___E. The cartoonist believes we should never criticize others.___F. The cartoonist believes it’s best to criticize others in a constructive way.3. Read an extract of an advertisement.Choose the answer which you think fits each question best according to the text.Young Environmental Journalist CompetitionHow to Enter:☆If you’re aged16-25, we’re looking for original articles of1,000 words (or less) withan environmental or conservation theme. The closing date for entries is30 December, 2015.☆Your article should show proof of investigative research, rather than relying solely on information from the Internet and phone interviews. You don’t have to go far.A reporton pollution in a local stream would be as valid as a piece about the remotest rain forest.☆Your article should show you are passionate and knowledgeable about environmental issues. It should also be objective and accurate, while being creativeenough to hold the reader’s interest. We are not looking for“think pieces”or opinion columns.☆ Your aim should be to advance understanding and awareness of environmental issues. You should be able to convey complex ideas of readers of this general interestmagazine in an engaging and authoritative manner.☆Facts or information contained in short-listed articles will be checked.☆Read the rules carefully.1) Before entering for the competition, young people must have_______.A. conducted some relevant research in their local areaB.gained a qualification in experimental researchC.uncovered some of the evidence in the research by themselvesD.consulted a number of specialists on the subject underresearch 2) The articles submitted must_______.A.focus on straightforward conceptsB.include a range of viewsC.be accessible to non-specialistD.reveal the writer’s standpoint4.Read the passage below.Then choose the best answer to each question that follows(1) Johnny Appleseed, one of the gentlest and most beloved of American folk heroes, was born in1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. (2) His real name was John Chapman. (3) Chapman’s early life was full of misfortune. (4) First, his father left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. (5) Then John’s mother and baby brother died before John’ssecond birthday. (6) However, John’s fortunes improved when his father returned and remarried, and by the time John was in his teens, he had ten brothers and sisters.(7) As a young man,John began traveling west on foot,stopping to clear land and plantthe apple seeds he always carried with him. (8) Settlers who followed John’s path were delighted to find young apple orchards dotting the landscape.(9) John was a friendly fellow who often stopped to visit with families along his way,entertaining them with stories of his travels. (10) Tales of his exploits followed himthrough Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. (11) Many of the stories were true. (12) Forinstance, John really did travel barefoot through the snow,lived on the friendliest ofterms with Indian tribes, and refused to shoot any animal. (13) Other tales about John,however, were exaggerations. (14) Settlers said, for example, that he slept in thetreetops and talked to the birds or that he had once been carried off by a giant eagle.(15) Johnny Appleseed never stopped traveling until his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845.1) Sentence 1is a statement of_______.A.factB.opinionC.fact and opinion2) The details in sentences 4and5support the point or points in _______.A.sentence 1B.sentence 2C.sentence 3D.sentence 63) The relationship between sentences 3and6 is one of_______.A.contrastB.additionC.cause and effectparison4) We can conclude that Johnny Appleseed _______.A.provided apples for numerous settlersB.was quickly forgotten by the settlersC.grew wealthy by selling his apple treesD.left home because of problems with his family5) The passage suggests that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. grew weary of travelingB. had great respect for other people and animalsC. lived a very short but rich lifeD. planted many trees other than apple trees6) The tone of the passage is _______.A.pessimisticB.bitter and impassionedC.amused and excitedD.straightforward with a touch of admiration7) Which is the most appropriate title for this selection?A. The Planting of American Apple OrchardsB. Folk Heroes of AmericaC.Settlers Recall Johnny AppleseedD.The Life and Legend of John Chapman5.Read the passage below.Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in which information is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizens’patterns of response to politics. (2) By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection ofthe major party candidates. (3) By centering politics on the person of the candidate, television accelerated the citizens’focus on character rather than issues.(4)Television has altered the forms of political communication as well. (5) The messages on which most of us rely are briefer than they once were. (6) The stump speech, a political speech given by traveling politicians and lasting 11/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10-second “sound bite”in broadcast news. (7) Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience who will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news.(8) In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. (9) In 15 or 30 seconds, a speaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others. (10) In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.(11) Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it requires a changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. (12) Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. (13) Schools teachus to analyze words and print. (14) However, in a world in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills.(15) Recognizing the power of television’s pictures, politicians craft televisual, stagedevents, called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage. (16) Much of thepolitical activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, theirspeechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. (17) Soundbites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.1) What is the main idea of the passage?A.Citizens in the United States are now more informed about political issue because of television coverage.B.Citizens in the United States prefer to see politicians on television instead of in person.C.Politics in the United States has become substantially more controversial since the introduction of television.D.Politics in the United States has been significantly changed by television.2) The word “disseminated”in sentence 1is closest in meaning to_______.A. analyzedB.discussedC.spreadD.stored3) It can be inferred that before the introduction of television, political parties _______.A. had more influence over the selection of political candidatesB.spent more money to promote their political candidatesC.attracted more membersD.received more money4) The author mentions the “stump speech”in sentence 6as an example of_______.A. an event created by politicians to attract media attentionB.an interactive discussion between two politiciansC.a kind of political presentation typical of the nineteenth centuryD.a style of speech common to televised political events5) The word “that”in sentence 7refers to_______.A.audienceB.broadcast newsC.politicianD.advertisement6) According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches, traditional political discourse was more successful at_______.A.allowing news coverage of political candidatesB.placing political issues within a historical contextC.making politics seem more intimate to citizensD.providing detailed information about a candidate’s private behavior7) The author states that “politicians assert but do not argue”in sentence 9in order to suggest that politicians _______.A.make claims without providing reasons for the claimsB.take stronger positions on issues than in the pastC.enjoy explaining the issue to broadcastersD.dislike having to explain their own positions on issues to citizens8) The purpose of paragraph4is to suggest that_______.A.politicians will need to learn to become more personal when meeting citizensB.politicians who are considered very attractive are favored by citizens over politicians who are less attractiveC.citizens tend to favor a politician who analyzed the issue over one who did notD.citizens will need to learn how to evaluate visual political images in order to become better informed9) Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?A.Political presentations today are more like advertisements than in the past.B.Politicians today tend to be more familiar with the views of citizens than in the past.C.Citizens today are less informed about a politician’s character than in the past.D.Political speeches today focus more on details about issues than in the past.Part III Read and QuestionIn this part,you will read about related or contradictory views on a variety of issues.You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments.Read the following two passages and answer the questions.Passage AWhile On the origin of Species created a great stir when it was published in 1859,Darwinian thought was almost completely out of vogue by the turn of the twentiethcentury. It took Ronald Fisher’s“Great Synthesis”of the1920s,which combined thegenetic work of Gregor Mendel with Darwin’s ideas about natural selection, andTheodosius Dobzhansky’s“Modern Synthesis”of the 1930s, which was built uponFisher’s work with genetics within a species by focusing on how genetic variation could cause the origin of a new species, to begin to rehabilitate Darwin.Yet, what is remarkable is how very prescient Darwin, working without knowledge ofthe mechanisms of heredity, proved to be. As prominent biologist Ernst Mayr notes,what made Darwinian theory so remarkable was his emphasis on“population thinking”.This contrasts to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of evolution, popular throughout thenineteenth century, which posited that individuals changed personal actions and will.Lamarckian theory is often exemplified by a giraffe constantly reaching up to eat leaves off high branches and passing on its lengthened neck to its children.Such explanations bore a strong resemblance to children’s fables(and indeed Rudyard Kipling’s late-nineteenth-century Just So Stories was built upon Lamarckian theories). Where Darwin differed was his insistence that significant variation was not based withinone particular individual, but rather in the breeding population as a whole. Naturalselection was not based on the actions or goals of one individual, but variations in the average character of the species.Passage BAs Peter Bowler points out in his aptly named The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth, nineteenth-century Darwinism was quite different from the Darwinism of today. Thomas Huxley,“Darwin’s Bulldog”,so called because of his tireless public campaigning for Darwinian thought, exemplifies this difference. As a result of his advocacy, by the end of the nineteenth century Huxley was the vehicle for Darwinian thought. Noted science fiction writer H.G.Wells, for instance, garnered all of his information about natural selection and evolution through Huxley ’s lectures. YetHuxley’s theory varied significantly from that of Darwin, focusing on the will of humankind.In the preface to Evolution and Ethics,Huxley wrote that “We cannot do without our inheritance from the forefathers who were the puppets of the cosmic process; the society which renounces it must be destroyed from without. Still less can we do with too much of it; the society in which it dominates must be destroyed from within.”According to Huxley, humankind has moved past physical evolution to the realm of self-directed moral evolution. Huxley, then, acknowledges that humankind has evolved under the pressure of natural selection and must remain aware of the fact or be “destroyed from without”, but he argues that a society that continues in the path that Nature has placed it will be “destroyed from within”because it will no longer beadapted to itself.1) Based on the information in the passage,Rudyard Kipling most likely wrote stories ______.A.dedicated to enlightening humans by using animals as positive examples of proper behaviorB.based on futuristic worlds which were populated by evolved subjectsC.featuring individuals developing variation through the power of their desiresD.seeking to exhibit the effects of population thinking in breeding populationsE.portraying the effects of parental inheritance through examining the lives of children2) Which of the following best represents Huxley’s beliefs?A. Focusing on physical evolution leaves man as nothing more than a“puppet”offorces beyond his control; to succeed in life it is necessary to reject physical evolution in favor of moral change.B.The ideas of Charles Darwin needed to be carefully delineated through lectures so that his ideas about individual variation could be fully understood.C.By exerting personal will, humankind will be able to enact significant, lastingvariation which will be demonstrated through the bodies of the children of those who seek change.D. While humankind is inescapably linked to its physical past and the materialconditions of its evolution, it must be wary of being too attached to the path dictated by natural selection.E. Certain elements of Darwin’s theory about evolution had to be discarded so that the public would be willing to accept the thrust of the theory as a whole.3) Which of the following would the authors of Passage A and Passage B mostly likely agree to be most closely aligned in their thinking?marck and Huxley.B.Kipling and Wells.C.Mayr and Bowler.D.Mendel and Huxley.E.Dobzhansky and Wells.4) Which of the following statements about Darwin is supported by both passages?A.Darwin differed significantly from other theorists of evolution because he focused on breeding populations as a whole.B.The modern understanding of Darwin varies significantly from nineteenth-century beliefs about his theories.C.It was not until the early twentieth century that Darwinism as we know it began to emerge.D.Fiction writers were particularly interested in disseminating ideas about Darwin.E.Delineating the specific inheritance of the child is crucial to understanding how natural selection proceeds.5) Which of the following best represents the difference between the two passages?A. The first passage begins with current understandings of Darwinism and moves back in time, while the second passage begins with older understanding and movesforward in time.B. While the first passage focuses on the difference between two theories ofevolution, the second paragraph traces differences between two individual interpreters of evolution.C. The first passage introduces a general theory, offers specific evidence, and thenconsiders the ramifications of that theory, while the second passage does not consider the ramifications of the evidence it represents.D. The first passage is concerned with demonstrating a way in which Darwin isclosely linked with modern thinkers, while the second passage is focused on how he differed from one of his contemporaries.E. The first passage provides a historical retrospective of the primary interpreters of Darwin, and the second passage centers on one particular interpreter.6) Based on the information in Passage B,which of the following claims in Passage A would Thomas Huxley be most likely to object to?A.It is impossible to truly understand natural selection without the benefit of modern genetic theory.B.It is likely that the giraffe developed a long neck due to the fact that it constantly stretched it to gain access to food.C.There are different ways to understand how evolution functions to change individuals.D.Variations in the average character of a population are the most crucial factor in the proper evolution of man.E. Allowing natural selection to dominate our society will lead to the destruction of humankind.7) Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the Lamarckian mode of variation?A.An adult bird tries to change the environment for the benefit of its children.B.Seeking to morally adapt to its environment, a chimpanzee changes the way it woos its mate.C.A giraffe’s bodily shape changes because it is unable to fit into the caves it traditionally sleeps in.D.Because of a change in the environment, a number of chimpanzees die out while others thrive and pass on their genes.E.Because it hunts for salmon with its mouth wide open,a bear gradually develops a straining mechanism between its teeth.Part IV Read and CreateIn this part,you will be required to write a short essay on a given topic based on your general reading.You should write with clarity,logic and creativity.1.Write an essay of about200words on one of the following topics.1) Hamlet is characterized by his melancholic mood and delay in action. Give a character analysis of Hamlet and list the possible reasons for his melancholy and delay.2)A Tale of Two Cities can be regarded as a historical novel, a moral novel and a novel strongly concerned with themes of resurrection, redemption and patriotism, as well as of guilt, shame and love. What is your understanding of the themes of thenovel?2.Read the essay below.Answer one of the following questions by writing an essay of about 200 words.Of StudiesStudies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study, and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confuse; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted,others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read,but not curiously; and some few to be ready wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books;else distilledbooks are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man;and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not.Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay there is no stond or impediment in the wit,but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not aptto beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.1)We are now living in the age of“information explosion”. What lessons can we learn from Bacon’s“Of Studies”to access information”2)In what sense does reading make a full man?。
赛题分值说明:1. 线上初赛:题型仅为客观题,即Read and Know,Read and Reason,Read and Question三个模块,共40题,答题时间为110分钟,满分100分。
第1-3题每题1分,第4-9题每题2分,第10题5分,第11-30题每题3分,第31-40题每题2分。
2. 复赛和决赛:题型包含客观题和主观题,即Read and Know,Read and Reason,Read and Question,Read and Create四个模块,共41题,答题时间为150分钟,满分100分。
第1-3题每题1分,第4-9题每题2分,第10题5分,第11-30题每题1.5分,第31-40题每题2分,第41题30分。
注:本样题仅供了解大赛题型,不提供参考答案;Part I Read and KnowIn Part I, you will read short texts of various kinds. Read theinstru ctions carefully and answer the questions. (Time allowed: 20 minutes)Questions 1-3 (Suggested completion time: 3 minutes)Directions: Read the following quotes. Match the quotes with the people. Please note there are two extra options you do not need.Question 4 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.To ensure the high standards of facilities we need to build new wards,la boratories and consulting rooms. In short, we need your help now. Com pletethe coupon today and rest assured that your donation is going to th e bestpossible cause.4. Where is the piece of text taken from?A. an advertisementB. an instruction bookletC. a storyD. a newspaperQuestion 5 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.Few corners of the world remain untainted by intrepid tourists, and their impact is often devastating. Too frequently they trample heedlessly on fr agileenvironments, displacing wildlife and local populations in their insati ablequest for unexplored locations.5. What is the best title for this text?A. The Future of TourismB. The Role of TourismC. The Price of TourismD. The Benefits of TourismQuestion 6 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With E-book sales increasing by more than 300% for the second year,pu blishers delivering new revenue streams through E-book Apps, and academicpublishers long having derived some 90% of their revenue online, it is atravesty to describe all this as the publishing world being "indenial" about digital.6. What is the main idea of this text?A. Publishers are making profits from E-book sales.B. Not all publishers are threatened by digital storms.C. E-books become a main source of revenue for publishers.D. Traditional publishing industry is dying out.Question 7 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.With our travel agency,the holiday you book is the holiday you g et. If you arrive and find we'vefailed to live up to our promises, let us know what the problem is within oneday of your arrival. We'll spend 2 4 hours doing everything possible to sort theproblem out. In the unlikely event that we can't resolve your problem and makeyou happy within 24 hours, we'll fly you home and give your money back.7. The text could best be described as__________.A. a commitmentB. an appealC. a warningD. a vowQuestion 8 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.The new digital camerasare great fun and very easy to use. They let you review your pictures themoment you take them, so you can re-s hoot right away if you're not satisfied.But remember, a digital camera is just a computer XXXX. It's not a replacementfor your ordinary camera.8. What is the meaning of the missing word XXXX in the text?A. "something that is poor quality"B. "an item that is not essential, something extra"C. "something expensive but good value for money"D. "a fashion which always remains popular"Question 9 (Suggested completion time: 2 minutes)Directions: Read the text and answer the question according to the text.She had gone alone, but the children were to go to the station to meeth er. And loving the station as they did, it was only natural that they sho uldbe there a good hour before there was any chance of Mother's train arriving,even if the train were punctual, which was most unlikely.9. What can you say about their mother's train?A. It would probably be early.B. It would probably be on time.C. It would probably be late.D. It had been cancelled.Question 10 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: The bar chart shows the number and proportion ofundernouris hed people in the developing regions, from 1990-1992 to 2014-2016.Ans wer the question according to the information in the chart.Source: The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 201510. Choose the INCORRECT description about the chart.A. The latest estimates suggest that nearly one in nineindividuals do n ot have enough to eat between 2014 and 2016.B. Projections indicate that the 2015 MDG target is nearlyreached, wit h 12.9 per cent of undernourished population.C. The situation noticeably improved during the years1995-1999, but w ent down in the first five years of the new millennium.D. The proportion of undernourished people in the developingregions h as fallen by almost half since 1990.Part II Read and ReasonIn Part II, you will read short texts on different subjects. Read thei nstructions carefully and answer the questions based on logical infere nce andreasoning. (Time allowed: 55 minutes)Question 11 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following definition of a logical fallacy. Answer the question according to the definition.11. Which of the following provides a typical example of poisoningthe well?A. That's my stance on funding the education system, andanyone who disagrees with me hates children.B. You are so weird. That means—we are pretty much sure—thatyour whole family is weird, too.C. God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible isinspired. Therefo re, we know that God exists.D. I don't care what you say. We don't need any morebookshelves. As long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.Question 12 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Look at the following picture and then answer the question.12. Which of the following logical fallacies does the picture illustrate?A. False Dilemma:an argument that presents alimited set of two poss ible categories and assumes that everything in the scopeof the discussion must be an element of that setB. Guilt by Association: a fallacy used to discreditan argument for pr oposing an idea that is shared by some socially demonizedindividual or groupC. No True Scotsman:an argument coming up aftersomeone has mad e a general claim about a group of things and then beenpresented with evidence challenging that claimD. Hasty Generalization: a fallacy committed when oneforms a conclu sion from a sample that is either too small or too special to be represe ntativeQuestions 13-14 Reasoning (Suggested completion time: 10 minutes)13. Many people report that exposure to certain foods and drinks such a scheese, chocolate, and red wine, is associated with the onset of migrain eheadaches. Other people report that exposure to certain smells (especiall ystrong perfumes) seems to trigger a migraine headache, and some note thatexposure to bright and flickering lights can be followed by a migrain e. Itwould seem that a person with a tendency to get migraines should t ry to findout which of these situations is associated with the onset of th e headache andthen avoid this stimulus.All of the following, if true, would make the above recommendationi mpractical except:A. The time delay between the trigger and the onset ofthe headache c an make it exceptionally difficult to identify the trigger.B. The presence of a known trigger doesn't always cause amigraine.C. In a high proportion of cases the patients report multipletriggers for their headaches.D. Most of the known triggers are common and almostunavoidable feat ures of modern life.14. Richard:The national budget should provide significantincreases in all levels of education in the upcoming year.Natalie:That's not fair. A reduction indefense spending in peacetime may bring us excessive risks. We can't afford it.Which of the following is the best interpretation of Natalie's argume nt?A. Funds saved from defense have been diverted to alllevels of educat ion.B. Highlighting spending on education dangerously impacts onspending on the military.C. The size of the military budget reflects a state's abilityto fund educ ational activities.D. Compared with military spending, investing in educationwill create a financial crisis.Questions 15-17 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a science discovery. Answer the question saccording to the text.Manipulating MemoryMemory is notoriously malleable. Our recollections fade and take on ne wmeanings; sometimes we remember things that never even happened. B ut 15 .Recently, however, scientists have started to grasp and tinker withmemor y's physical basis. Last year, in work evocative of films suchas Eternal S unshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception, researchersdiscovered ways t o manipulate specific memories in mice using optogenetics, apowerful tec hnique that can trigger nerve cells in animals' brains by zappingthem wit h beams of laser light. In a series of experiments, they showed thatthey could delete existing memories and "incept"falseones.This year, researchers went even further: switching the emotional content of a memory in mice from bad to good and vice versa. Under the laser, forexample, male mice that had once associated a certain room with be ing shockedwere tricked into acting as though they had once met friendl y female mice thereinstead.Whether the mice in these experiments actually experienced vivid falsem emories or just a fuzzy sense of pleasure or fear is unclear. Nor is it c learwhether the findings apply to the tricks of memory so familiar to pe ople.Long-sought therapeutic advances, such as treatments for post-trauma tic stressdisorder, could remain far off. One thing is certain, however: O nce consideredbeyond scientific dissection, memory is finally starting to yield its secrets.15. Which of the following best fits the numbered space in the text?A. what is really happening in our brain as memories areremodeled re mains mysteriousB. scientists are curious about why people are oblivious towhat have h appened to themC. advanced technology has helped scientists discover theworkings of o ur brainD. some scientists argue that what we observe about humanmemory is not what it really is16. The word "incept"is closest in meaningto ________.A. operateB. startC. detectD. occupy17. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?A. People's false memories result from the impact ofdifferent emotion provoked by later experience on the same spot.B. The success in research indicates that it won't be long thata therap y is worked out for people disturbed by painful memory.C. By zapping the brain cells of mice with light, researchersare able t o create, erase, or alter their memories, good or bad.D. Many fancy ideas in science fictions or movies that arebased on th em actually draw greatly upon scientific achievement.Questions 18-19 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the text about cholera. Decide whether the statements a reTrue or False according to the text.A child receives the oral cholera vaccine ShancholCholera is caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine. Approximately one in 20 people infected with cholera has a serious case, with sympto msincluding severe diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. These symptoms quicklycause dehydration and shock, and can result in death within hours if theinfected person doesn't receive treatment. Cholera is typically trans mitted bycontaminated food or water. In areas with poor treatment of se wage and drinkingwater, the feces of people with cholera can enter the water supply and spreadquickly, resulting in an epidemic. The cholera ba cterium may also live in theenvironment in some coastal waters, so shell fish eaten raw can be a source ofcholera in affected areas.18. Cholera is known to be a life-threatening disease which easily cause sdeath of most of the patients.True ( ) False ( )19. Cholera typically occurs in areas near the sea or the river wherecont aminated food is a major source of the disease.True ( ) False ( )Questions 20-21 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the abstract of a research paper from the DeepMindweb site. Decide whether the statements are True or False according to theab stract.Teaching Machines to Read and ComprehendAuthors: K. M. Hermann, T. Kočiský, E. Grefenstette, L. Espeholt, W. Kay, M. Suleyman,P. BlunsomPublished: NIPS 2015Abstract: Teaching machines to readnatural language documents remains an elusive challenge. Machine readingsystems can be tested on their abili ty to answer questions posed on thecontents of documents that they have seen, but until now large scale trainingand test datasets have been miss ing for this type of evaluation. In this workwe define a new methodolog y that resolves this bottleneck and provides largescale supervised reading comprehension data. This allows us to develop a classof attention based deep neural networks that learn to read real documents andanswer comp lex questions with minimal prior knowledge of language structure.20. Previous studies didn't take constant effort to evaluate the readingabi lity of artificial intelligence machines, which was why the present resear chwas conducted.True ( ) False ( )21. One implication of the research is that a methodology that helps gat her andhandle big data is indispensable to artificial intelligence related st udies.True ( ) False ( )Questions 22-23 (Suggested completion time: 6 minutes)Directions: Read the text about the "Think small" advertisingcampaign. A nswer the questions according to the text.Think SmallIf you're interested in marketing and advertising, Volkswagen's"Think sm all" campaign for the Beetle when it was first introduced toNorth Ameri ca in 1959 looms large as one of the greatest advertising campaignsof a ll time. It wasn't just a revolution in automotive advertising; it changedt he entire industry.Until the Beetle hit the market, automotive marketing copy was full ofbl uster, and the images were flights of fancy, emphasizing low, long lines anda fantasy lifestyle.The clean, simple photography on a white background that emphasized t heBeetle's compact, practical form may seem commonplace these days, b ut it was arevolution in a world where Americans grew up obsessed wit h muscle cars,horsepower, and tire smoke. Making the car small, when t he convention was tomake it fill the page, was also novel. The simplisti c approach to design andlayout was totally contrary to the advertising co nventions of the time.__ __22_____ The text wasminimalist in both look and content, presenti ng the facts simply instead oftrying to weave tall tales and fantasies; and instead of bluster, it ushered inan intelligent sense of humor that made readers feel like they were in on thejoke. The message was one of s mart anti-luxury, and took gentle aim at anindustry obsessed with superfi ciality and styling, rather than the substanceunderneath the car bodies.Not only does "Think small" continue to inspire Volkswagenadvertising t o this day, it ushered in a creative revolution in the advertisingbusiness and changed the world of marketing forever. "Think small"showed the p ower of humor and honesty, and its photographic and designprinciples br ought about a major shift in the look and feel of marketing aroundthe world.22. Which of the sentences below best fits the numbered space in the te xt?A. What defined the ad even more than its visual stylewas the tone of its copy.B. This ad starts off doing the exact opposite of what youwould expect in a car ad.C. This was an exercise in minimalism and a very accuratereflection o n the product itself.D. The car wasn't depicted as an integral piece of the dailylives of a middle class family.23. It can be inferred that the advertising conventions of the 1950s were reflected in the following except that ___________.A. The ads in the 1950s typically showed proud ownersand passengers evoking great joy about new shiny big acquisitions.B. The marketing concept then focused on providing as muchinformatio n as possible to the reader such as the way it's created.C. The marketing schemes associated the advertised productwith an ide a or a way of living from average consumers' perspective.D. The marketing practice may attach importance to a sense ofhumor brought by the use of exaggerated language.Questions 24-25 (Suggested completion time: 4 minutes)Directions: Read the following six remarks concerning the crowd. Four o fthem are taken from Gustave Le Bon's book, The Crowd: A Study of t he PopularMind. Choose the two remarks that may NOT be taken from the book.24-25. _______The CrowdA. In crowds it is stupidity and not mother wit that isaccumulated.B. Crowds most envy the lonely man who walks confidently asif he is walking with the great crowds!C. A crowd is not merely impulsive and mobile. Like a savage,it is n ot prepared to admit that anything can come between its desire and ther ealization of its desire.D. I walked with them, as crowds have that effect on me, Iwant to d o what they do, to journey towards some point of revelation, which ofc ourse never comes.E. Crowds, being incapable both of reflection and ofreasoning, are dev oid of the notion of improbability; and it is to be notedthat in a genera l way it is the most improbable things that are the moststriking.F. …the individual forming part of a crowd acq uires, solelyfrom numer ical considerations, a sentiment of invincible power which allows himto yield to instincts which, had he been alone, he would perforce have kep tunder restraint.Questions 26-28 (Suggested completion time: 5 minutes)Directions: Read the text about a fly. Answer the questions according to the text.The FlyAt that moment the boss noticed that a fly had fallen into his broadinkp ot, and was trying feebly but desperately to clamber out again. "Help!He lp!" said those struggling legs. But the sides of the inkpot were wetand slippery; it fell back again and began to swim. The boss took up a pe n,picked the fly out of the ink, and shook it on to a piece of blotting-p aper.For a fraction of a second it lay still on the dark patch that oozed round it.Then the front legs waved, took hold, and, pulling its small, s odden body up,it began the immense task of cleaning the ink from its wings. Over and under,over and under, went a leg along a wing, as the stone goes over and under thescythe. Then there was a pause, while the fly, seeming to stand on the tips ofits toes, tried to expand first one wing and then the other. It succeeded atlast, and, sitting down, it began, like a minute cat, to clean its face. Nowone could imagine that the litt le front legs rubbed against each other lightly,joyfully. 27 .26. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?A. The boss saved the fly out of his broad inkpot.B. The fly was trapped by the thick ink on its wings.C. The passage describes how a fly survived an accident.D. The passage shows how a fly conquered a challenge.27. Which of the following statement can best fit in the numbered spac e?A. The horrible danger was over; it had escaped; it wasready for life again.B. The boss was relieved now, reassured that the fly had beenout of danger.C. But the front legs waved, caught hold, and, more slowlythis time, t he task restarted.D. But such a grinding feeling of wretchedness seized himthat he felt positively frightened.28. The tone of the text can be described as a complex mixture of anyt hingbut _______.A. sympatheticB. humorousC. cheerfulD. depressingQuestions 29-30 (Suggested completion time: 7 minutes)Directions: Read the text about Chaco Culture. Answer the questionsacco rding to the text.The "Chaco Culture", as modern-day archaeologists call it,flourished betw een roughly the 9th and 13th centuries A.D. and was centered atChaco Canyon in what is now New Mexico.The people of the Chaco Culture built immense structures that at timese ncompassed more than 500 rooms. They also participated in long-distanc e tradethat brought cacao, macaws (a type of parrot), turquoise and copp er to ChacoCanyon.29_______, researchers have to rely on the artifacts and structures t heyleft behind, as well as oral accounts that have been passed on throug hgenerations, to reconstruct what their lives were like.Archaeologists generally agree that Chaco Canyon was the center of Cha coCulture. Today the canyon is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The National Park Service estimates that there are about 4, 000 archaeologicalsites in the park, including more than a dozen immens e structures thatarchaeologists sometimes call "Great Houses". Archaeolog ical researchhas revealed many discoveries, including a system of roads t hat connected manyChaco Culture sites, and evidence of astronomical ali gnments that indicate thatsome Chaco Culture structures were oriented to ward the solstice sun and lunarstandstills.“There has been more archaeological research conducted in Chaco and o n thesubject of Chaco than on any other prehistoric district in North A merica,” saysa National Park Service statement posted on Chaco Culture National HistoricalPark's website."Today, twenty Puebloan groups in New Mexico, as well as the Hopi in Arizona, claim Chaco as their ancestral homeland and are tied to this pl acethrough oral traditions and clan lineages. A number of Navajo clans are alsoaffiliated with Chacoan sites through their traditional stories," the National Park Service statement says.Despite the fact that there has been an immense amount of archaeologic alresearch carried out at Chaco Canyon, and at other Chaco Culture sites in theAmerican Southwest, modern-day archaeologists disagree over what the people ofthe Chaco Culture were like.Some archaeologists think that the people of the Chaco Culture were not politically united, while some think they controlled an empire centered o nChaco Canyon. "What was Chaco? Opinions vary widely, perhaps wildl y.Interpretations range from a valley of peaceful farming villages to the monumental capital of an empire," wrote Stephen Lekson, a professor at theUniversity of Colorado Boulder, in an article published in the book TheArchitecture of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico(University of Utah Press, 2007).Lekson noted that there are different interpretations among archaeologists as to what the Great Houses were. Some archaeologists believe that they werevillages inhabited by thousands of people, while others think that t hey wereelite residences that housed a small number of residents.29. Which of the following best fits in the numbered space in the text?A. The people of the Chaco Culture did not use a writingsystem and as suchB. While archaeologists are not certain what caused thisdramatic popul ation bumpC. When thinking about archaeological sites, we tend to thinkof themas dead silentD. Since Chaco's national monument status may not protect itfrom dev elopment pressures30. Which of the following statements can we know from the text?A. The people of the Chaco culture were good at foreigntrade.B. "Great Houses" were built from approximately the9th to 13thcentury A.D.C. Most descendants of ancient Chaco people live in NewMexico now.D. Archaeologists hold different ideas about how the peopleof the Cha co Culture lived.Part III Read and QuestionIn Part III, you will read passages on the same subject. You will be required to identify the writer's position and evaluate the effectivenes s ofthe writer's arguments. (Time allowed: 35 minutes)Questions 31-40 (Suggested completion time: 35 minutes)Directions: Read three passages about fashion. Answer the questionsaccor ding to the passages.Passage AIt's not that easy to answer the question, "what is fashion?"because it m eans different things to different people. Fashion is an art. It'sa religion. It's a job. It's a peek into a personality. It's playfulness. It'san escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately, 32 . French f ashion designer Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is notsomething that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street,fashion has to d o with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."It's true. Fashion isn't defined solely by our clothing choices, but isalso conveyed through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and ourv iews of the world. At its most fundamental, fashion is simply the prevai lingstyle or custom, as in dress or behavior.So, who exactly answers the question "what is fashion"? Whodecides wh at's fashionable and what isn't? What's in or what's out?Fashion Designers. The iconic fashion houses—Prada, Gucci, Chanel—are referred to as haute couture, French for "high sewing". Thesedesigners le ad the way in creating trend-setting fashion. While some of theirdesigns are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everydaywear, generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.Media. Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on populartelevisio n shows and movies as well as adopted from magazine pages. "Sexand t he City", "The Devil Wears Prada", these shows introducedus to new, cu tting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead wearinga Carrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look andpiec e together your own creation.Celebrities. A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson and Jessica Simpson were spotted wearing them arou nd L.A.several years ago, no one had given any thought to UGG boots. Now they areeverywhere.Musicians. Musicians have always been very influential when it comes t odictating fashion. Rock 'n' roll is fashion. Elvis is an iconic example. I n the1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis. What about the heavymetal hairbands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the head bandana whilePoison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, ro cker hair.Just because you don't know if a Prada bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn't matter. All that matters is that you like it and it's an expression ofyou. That is fashion.Passage B[A]Fashion is more prevalent in modern society than in primitive tribes orpeasant communities. The modern society is an open society where cla ssdistinctions are not so rigid as in primitive society. Its urban and mob ileclass structure enables people to cultivate individual taste and adopt n ew course.[B]Our standards of judgment have also changed. Today the in dividual is ratedmore by observable externalities than by his ancestry, hi s character or hisgenuine accomplishments. The clothes a man wears, the language he speaks, themanners he shows have more weight in ascribin g a status than his simplicity,patriotism and integrity.If he can keep himself up to date in the matters of his dress, speech a ndmanners, he will assure himself a high social esteem. [C]Not only the mobileand urban character of modern society but its affluence alsospea ks for greater prevalence of fashion in it. Men today are richer than the irancestors and have more leisure. They have the necessary means and ti me to playwith luxuries and to think of fashion. Maclver writes: We do not think offashion in overalls; there is more of fashion in the body of an automobile thanin its chassis. There is no fashion in steam shovels.[D]Consequently thehigher the standard of living the more material ther e is for fashion to operateupon.。
2015“‘外研社杯’全国英语阅读大赛”样题D✧Facts or information contained in short-listed articles will be checked.✧Read the rules carefully.1) Before entering for the competition, young people must have _______A. Conducted some relevant research in their local area.B. Gained a qualification in experimental research.C. Uncovered some of the evidence in the research b themselves.D. Consulted a number of specialists on the subject under research.2) The articles submitted must ________A. Focus on straightforward concepts.B. Include a range of views.C. Be accessible to non-specialistD. Reveal the writer’s standpoint.4. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Johnny Apple seed, one of the gentlest and most beloved of American folk heroes, was born in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. (2) His real name was John Chapman. (3) Chapman’s early life was full of misfortune. (4) First, his father left home to fight in the Revolutionary War. (5) Then John’s mother and b aby brother died before John’s second birthday. (6) However, John’s fortunes improved when his father returned and remarried, and by the time John was in his teens, he had ten brothers and sisters.(7) As a young man, John began traveling west on foot, stopping to clear land and plant the apple seeds he always carried with him. (8) Settlers who followed John’s path were delighted to find young apple orchards dotting the landscape.(9) John was a friendly fellow who often stopped to visit with families along his way, entertaining them with stories of his travels. (10) Tales of his exploits followed him through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. (11) Many of the stories were true. (12) For instance, John really did travel barefoot through the snow, lived on the friendliest of terms with Indian tribes, and refused to shoot anyanimal. (13) Other tales about John, however, were exaggerations. (14) Settlers said, for example, that he slept in the treetops and talked to the birds or that he had once been carried off by a giant eagle. (15) Johnny Appleseed never stopped traveling until his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845.1) Sentence 1 is a statement of _____A. factB. opinionC. fact and opinion2) The details in sentences 4 and 5 support the point or points in ______A. sentence 1B. sentence 2C. sentence 3D. sentence 63) The relationship between sentences 3 and 6 is one of _______.A. contrastB. additionC. cause and effectD. comparison4) We can conclude that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. provided apples for numerous settlersB. was quickly forgotten by the settlersC. grew wealthy by selling his apple treesD. left home because of problems with his family5) The passage suggests that Johnny Appleseed _______.A. grew weary of travelingB. had great respect for other people and animalsC. lived a very short but rich lifeD. planted many trees other than apple trees6) The tone of the passage is _______.A. pessimisticB. bitter and impassionedC. amused and excitedD. straightforward with a touch of admiration7) Which is the most appropriate title for this selection?A. The Planting of American Apple OrchardsB. Folk Heroes of AmericaC. Settlers Recall Johnny AppleseedD. The Life and Legend of John Chapman5. Read the passage below. Then choose the best answer to each question that follows.(1) Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in which information is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizens’ pattern s of response to politics. (2) By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection of the major party candidates. (3) By centering politics on the person of the candidate, televisi on accelerated the citizens’ focus on character rather than issues.(4) Television has altered the forms of political communication as well. (5) The messages on which most of us rely are briefer than they once were. (6) The stump speech, a political speech given by traveling politicians and lasting 11/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10-second “sound bite” in broadcast news. (7) Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience who will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news.(8) In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. (9) In 15 or 30 seconds, a speaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others. (10) In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.(11) Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it requiresa changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. (12) Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. (13) Schools teach us to analyze words and print. (14) However, in a world in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills.(15) Recognizing the power of television’s pictures, politicians craft televisual, staged events, called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage.(16) Much of the political activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, their speechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. (17) Sound bites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.1) What is the main idea of the passage?A. Citizens in the United States are now more informed about political issue because of television coverage.B. Citizens in the United States prefer to see politicians on television instead of in person.C. Politics in the United States has become substantially more controversial since the introduction of television.D. Politics in the United States has been significantly changed by television.2) The word “disseminated” in sentence 1 is closest in meaning to_______.A. analyzedB. discussedC. spreadD. stored3) It can be inferred that before the introduction of television, political parties _______.A. had more influence over the selection of political candidatesB. spent more money to promote their political candidatesC. attracted more membersD. received more money4) The author mentions the “stump speech” in sentence 6 as an example of _______.A. an event created by politicians to attract media attentionB. an interactive discussion between two politiciansC. a kind of political presentation typical of the nineteenth centuryD. a style of speech common to televised political events5) The word “that” in sentence 7 refers to _______.A. audienceB. broadcast newsC. politicianD. advertisement6) According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches, traditional political discourse was more successful at _______.A. allowing news coverage of political candidatesB. placing political issues within a historical contextC. making politics seem more intimate to citizensD. providing detailed information about a candidate’s private behavior7) The author states that “politicians assert but do not argue” in sentence 9 in order to suggest that politicians _______.A. make claims without providing reasons for the claimsB. take stronger positions on issues than in the pastC. enjoy explaining the issue to broadcastersD. dislike having to explain their own positions on issues to citizens8) The purpose of paragraph 4 is to suggest that_______.A. politicians will need to learn to become more personal when meeting citizensB. politicians who are considered very attractive are favored by citizens over politicians who are less attractiveC. citizens tend to favor a politician who analyzed the issue over one who did notD. citizens will need to learn how to evaluate visual political images in order tobecome better informed9) Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?A. Political presentations today are more like advertisements than in the past.B. Politicians today tend to be more familiar with the views of citizens than in the past.C. Citizens today are less informed about a politician’s character than in the past.D. Political speeches today focus more on details about issues than in the past.Part III Read and QuestionIn this part, you will read about related or contradictory views on a variety of issues. You will be required to identify the writer’s position and evaluate the effectiveness of the writer’s arguments. Read the following two passages and answer the questions.Passage AWhile On the origin of Species created a great stir when it was published in 1859, Darwinian thought was almost completely out of vogue by the turn of the twentieth century. It took Ronald Fisher’s “Great Synthesis” of the 1920s, which combined the genetic work of Gregor Mendel with Darwin’s ideas about natural selection, and Theodosius Dobzhansky’s “Modern Synthesis” of the 1930s, which was built upon Fisher’s work with genetics within a species by focusing on how genetic variation could cause the origin of a new species, to begin to rehabilitate Darwin.Yet, what is remarkable is how very prescient Darwin, working without knowledge of the mechanisms of heredity, proved to be. As prominent biologist Ernst Mayr notes, what made Darwinian theory so remarkable was his emphasis on “population thinking”. This contrasts to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of evolution, popular throughout the nineteenth century, which posited that individuals changed personal actions and will. Lamarckian theory is oftenexemplified by a giraffe constantly reaching up to eat leaves off high branches and passing on its lengthened neck to its children.Such explanations bore a strong resemblance to children’s fables (and indeed Rudyard Kipling’s late-nineteenth-century Just So Stories was built upon Lamarckian theories). Where Darwin differed was his insistence that significant variation was not based within one particular individual, but rather in the breeding population as a whole. Natural selection was not based on the actions or goals of one individual, but variations in the average character of the species. Passage BAs Peter Bowler points out in his aptly named The Non-Darwinian Revolution: Reinterpreting a Historical Myth, nineteenth-century Darwinism was quite different from the Darwini sm of today. Thomas Huxley, “Darwin’s Bulldog”, so called because o f his tireless public campaigning for Darwinian thought, exemplifies this difference. As a result of his advocacy, by the end of the nineteenth century Huxley was the vehicle for Darwinian thought. Noted science fiction writer H. G. Wells, for instance, garnered all of his information about natural selection and evolution through Huxley’s lectures. Yet Huxley’s theory varied significantly from that of Darwin, focusing on the will of humankind.In the preface to Evolution and Ethics, Huxley wrote that “We cannot do without our inheritance from the forefathers who were the puppets of the cosmic process; the society which renounces it must be destroyed from without. Still less can we do with too much of it; the society in which it dominates must be destroyed from within.” According to Huxley, humankind has moved past physical evolution to the realm of self-directed moral evolution. Huxley, then, acknowledges that humankind has evolved under the pressure of natural selection and must remain aware of the fact or be “destroyed from without”, but he argues that a society that continues in the path that Nature has placed it will be “destroyed from within” because it will no longer be adapted to itself.1) Based on the information in the passage, Rudyard Kipling most likely wrote stories ______.A. dedicated to enlightening humans by using animals as positive examples of proper behaviorB. based on futuristic worlds which were populated by evolved subjectsC. featuring individuals developing variation through the power of their desiresD. seeking to exhibit the effects of population thinking in breeding populationsE. portraying the effects of parental inheritance through examining the lives of children2) Which of the following best represents Huxley’s beliefs?A. Focusing on physical evolution leaves man as nothing more than a “puppet” of forces beyond his control; to succeed in life it is necessary to reject physical evolution in favor of moral change.B. The ideas of Charles Darwin needed to be carefully delineated through lectures so that his ideas about individual variation could be fully understood.C. By exerting personal will, humankind will be able to enact significant, lasting variation which will be demonstrated through the bodies of the children of those who seek change.D. While humankind is inescapably linked to its physical past and the material conditions of its evolution, it must be wary of being too attached to the path dictated by natural selection.E. Certain elements of Darwin’s theory about evolution had to be discarded so that the public would be willing to accept the thrust of the theory as a whole.3) Which of the following would the authors of Passage A and Passage B mostly likely agree to be most closely aligned in their thinking?A. Lamarck and Huxley.B. Kipling and Wells.C. Mayr and Bowler.D. Mendel and Huxley.E. Dobzhansky and Wells.4) Which of the following statements about Darwin is supported by both passages?A. Darwin differed significantly from other theorists of evolution because he focused on breeding populations as a whole.B. The modern understanding of Darwin varies significantly from nineteenth-century beliefs about his theories.C. It was not until the early twentieth century that Darwinism as we know it began to emerge.D. Fiction writers were particularly interested in disseminating ideas about Darwin.E. Delineating the specific inheritance of the child is crucial to understanding how natural selection proceeds.5) Which of the following best represents the difference between the two passages?A. The first passage begins with current understandings of Darwinism and moves back in time, while the second passage begins with older understanding and moves forward in time.B. While the first passage focuses on the difference between two theories of evolution, the second paragraph traces differences between two individual interpreters of evolution.C. The first passage introduces a general theory, offers specific evidence, and then considers the ramifications of that theory, while the second passage does not consider the ramifications of the evidence it represents.D. The first passage is concerned with demonstrating a way in which Darwin is closely linked with modern thinkers, while the second passage is focused on how he differed from one of his contemporaries.E. The first passage provides a historical retrospective of the primary interpreters of Darwin, and the second passage centers on one particular interpreter.6) Based on the information in Passage B, which of the following claims in Passage A would Thomas Huxley be most likely to object to?A. It is impossible to truly understand natural selection without the benefit ofmodern genetic theory.B. It is likely that the giraffe developed a long neck due to the fact that it constantly stretched it to gain access to food.C. There are different ways to understand how evolution functions to change individuals.D. Variations in the average character of a population are the most crucial factor in the proper evolution of man.E. Allowing natural selection to dominate our society will lead to the destruction of humankind.7) Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the Lamarckian mode of variation?A. An adult bird tries to change the environment for the benefit of its children.B. Seeking to morally adapt to its environment, a chimpanzee changes the way it woos its mate.C. A giraffe’s bodily shape changes because it is unable to fit into the caves it traditionally sleeps in.D. Because of a change in the environment, a number of chimpanzees die out while others thrive and pass on their genes.E. Because it hunts for salmon with its mouth wide open, a bear gradually develops a straining mechanism between its teeth.Part IV Read and CreateIn this part, you will be required to write a short essay on a given topic based on your general reading. You should write with clarity, logic and creativity.1. Write an essay of about 200 words on one of the following topics.1) Hamlet is characterized by his melancholic mood and delay in action. Give a character analysis of Hamlet and list the possible reasons for his melancholy and delay.2) A Tale of Two Cities can be regarded as a historical novel, a moral novel and a novel strongly concerned with themes of resurrection, redemption and patriotism,as well as of guilt, shame and love. What is your understanding of the themes of the novel?2. Read the essay below. Answer one of the following questions by writing an essay of about 200 words.Of Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business.For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study, and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confuse; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be ready wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logicand rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.1) We are now living in the age of “information explosion”. What lessons can we learn from Bacon’s “Of Studies” to access information”2) In what sense does reading make a full man?。
2016年外研社杯全国英语阅读大赛样题
PartIReadandKnow
InPartI,youwillreadshorttextsofvariouskinds.Readthe
instructionscarefullyandanswerthequestions.(Timeallowed:22
minutes)
Questions1-3(Suggestedcompletiontime:5minutes)
Directions:Readthefollowingquotes.Matchthequotesontheleftwith
thepeopleontheright.Pleasenotetherearetwoextraoptionsyoudo
notneedtouse.
Questions4(Suggestedcompletiontime:2minutes)
Directions:Readthetext,andanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.
Toensurethehighstandardsoffacilitiesweneedtobuildnewwards,
laboratoriesandconsultingrooms.Inshort,weneedyourhelpnow.
Completethecoupontodayandrestassuredthatyourdonationisgoing
tothebestpossiblecause.
4.Whereisthepieceoftexttakenfrom?
A.anadvertisement
B.aninstructionbooklet
D.anewspaper
Questions5(Suggestedcompletiontime:2minutes)
Directions:Readthetext,andanswerthequestionaccordingtothetext.
Fewcornersoftheworldremainuntaintedbyintrepidtourists,andtheir
impactisoftendevastating.Toofrequentlytheytrampleheedlesslyon
fragileenvironments,displacingwildlifeandlocalpopulationsintheir
insatiablequestforunexploredlocations.
5.Whatisthebesttitleforthistext?