试题3 研究生 学位英语

试题3

Part IV READING COMPREHENSION (45 minutes, 30 points, 1 point each) Directions: In this part of the test, there are five short passages. Read each passage carefully, and then do the questions that follow. Choose the best answer A, B, C, or D and mark the corresponding letter with a single bar across the square brackets on your Answer Sheet.

Passage One

Of all the accessories and adornments to clothes one perhaps pays least of all attention to buttons. Functional and often unexciting, replaced by zip fasteners or hooks and eyes, there is, one would think, nothing much to he said about the humble button.

Yet it is very probable that buttons started life as ornaments; certainly it is not known that they had any practical function until the 13th century. By the 14th century buttons were once again ornamental, often wastefully so, to such an extent that it was by no means uncommon for a person of wealth and consequence to have as many as 300 buttons on a single article of dress. Unimaginable as it seems today, sewing superfluous buttons on clothes became a craze—not one that seems harmful to us though some Italians took a different view and a law against buttons was enforced in Florence. No buttons were to be worn on the upper arms penalty for disobedience—a sound whipping. (How often this had to be carried out. history does not relate!)

Most of the buttons on modern clothes which could lie called decorative once did in fact serve a useful purpose. Buttons on boots are one good example. Sleeve buttons on men's coats are a reminder of the days when the fashion was for wearing shirts with frilly lace cuffs.

On the tails of a modern tail coat there are indeed buttons which are purely ornamental but in earlier days horsemen used these buttons to keep the tails out of harm's way.

With regard lo the side on which clothes are buttoned, originally both male and female dress was buttoned on the left hand side. Change came when men had to have access to their swords.

So perhaps it is worth taking a look at buttons.

51. Which of the following statements is true regarding buttons?

A. They have little function.

B. They are the only useful accessory.

C. They receive the least attention among accessories.

D. They are one of the best adornments to any clothes.

52. According to the author, _______. .

A. buttons are used as ornaments only in modern times

B. buttons have been used as ornaments since the 14th century

C. buttons were used as ornaments before the 13lh century

D. buttons have been used as ornaments on and off throughout the history

53. It is implied that in the 14th century buttons ________.

A. were a symbol of wealth

B. were occasionally put on clothes

C. began to have practical functions

D. represented the wearers' artistic taste

54. In Florence, a city in Italy, buttons were once______.

A. loved by every citizen

B. banned because they were a craze

C. considered harmful and nobody wore them

D. forbidden on the upper arms

55. It seems to the author that buttons

A. are worth a second look

B. have never served any function

C. should not he sewed on coats

D. play an important role in our lives

56. Male and female dress is now buttoned

A. on the right side

B. on the left side

C. on different sides

D. on the same side

Passage Two

Behind most of the bad things we do to our bodies as adults, eating more than we should is the idea we carry with us from childhood. On the one hand, we assume that we arc indestructible. On the other, we think that any damage we impose on ourselves can be undone when we finally clean up our act.

If the evidence for how wrong the first idea is isn't apparent when you stand naked in front of the mirror, just wait. But what if you cat right and drop all your bad habits? Is there still time to repair the damage?

To a surprising degree- the answer is yes. Over the past five years, scientists have accumulated a wealth of data about what happens when aging people with had habits decide to turn their lives around. The heartening conclusion: the body has an amazing ability to heal itself, provided the damage is not too great.

The effects of some bad habits smoking, in particular—can haunt you for decades. But the damage from other habits can be largely healed.

"Any time you improve your behavior and make lifestyle changes, they make a difference from that point on." says Dr. Jeffrey Koplan. "Maybe not right away. It's like slamming on the brakes. You do need a certain distance. "

But the distance can be remarkably short. Consider the recent announcements from the front lines of medical research:

—A study concluded that women who consume as little as two servings of fish a week cut their risk of suffering a stroke to half that of women who eat less than one serving of fish a month.

—The day you quit smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your body drop dramatically. Within weeks, your blood becomes less sticky and your risk of dying from a heart attack starts to decline…

Adopting healthy habits won't cure all that bothers you, of course. But doctors believe that many chronic diseases—from high blood pressure to heart disease and even some cancers can be warded off with a few sensible changes in lifestyle.

Not sure where to start? Surprisingly, it doesn't matter, since one positive change usually leads to another. Make enough changes, and you'll discover you've adopted a new way of life.

57. Most people with bad habits of eating more than they should believe that ______.

A. they can never change the habits that have haunted them for decades

B. their bodies cannot be damaged by the bad habits

C. their bodies can heal all the damage without the help from outside

D. they can force themselves to clean up the had habits later

58. The evidence to disapprove the assumption that we are indestructible_____.

A. is seldom apparent

B. is clearly shown in the mirror

C. will appear obvious sooner or later

D. is still a question

59. According to the passage the human body can heal the damage caused by bad habits_____.

A. when the damage is not very serious

B. no matter how serious the damage is

C. after we have dropped our bad habits

D. much more slowly than we think

60. According to the recent announcements______.

A. women should eat as much fish as possible

B. women arc at a higher risk of suffering a stroke than men

C. eating a little more fish can improve women's health

D. men don't have to eat as much fish as women

61. It is implied in the passage that______ .

A. smokers have lower levels of carbon monoxide than non-smokers

B. the blood of smokers is more sticky than that of non-smokers

C. smokers will be unlikely to die from heart attack if they quit smoking

D. chronic diseases can be cured if we drop our habit of smoking

62. In the last paragraph the author tells us _____.

A. when we should start quitting our bad habits

B. it doesn't matter how we start quitting our bad habits

C. that making enough changes will make doctors unnecessary to us

D. it's never too late to start making sensible changes in our lifestyle

Passage Three

Our true challenge today is not debts and deficits or global competition but the need to find a way to live rich, fulfilling lives without destroying the planet's biosphere, which supports all life. Humanity has never before faced such a threat: the collapse of the very elements that keep us alive.

An apple is an easy thing to take for granted. If you live where apples grow in abundance, you might assume that they arc readily available and. better yet, that you may pick from a wide variety. But do you know that there arc far fewer types to choose from today than there were 100 years ago?

Between the years 1804 and 1905, there were 7,098 varieties of apples grown in the United States. Today 6,121 of those are extinct. But does diversity really matter?

In the 1840's. Ireland's population exceeded eight million, making it the most densely populated country in Europe. Potatoes were its dietary mainstay, and a single variety called lumpers was the most widely grown.

In 1845 the farmers planted their lumpers as usual, but a plant disease known as blight struck and wiped out almost the entire crop. "Most of Ireland survived that difficult year," wrote Paul Raeburn in his book The Last Harvest The Genetic Gamble That Threatens to Destroy American Agriculture. "The devastation came the next year. Farmers had no choice but to plant the same potatoes again. They had no other varieties. The blight struck again, this lime with overwhelming force. The suffering was indescribable. " Historians estimate that up to 1 million people died of starvation, while another 1. 5 million emigrated, most to the United States. Those remaining suffered from crushing poverty.

In the Andes of South America, farmers grew many varieties of potatoes, and only a few were affected by blight. Hence, there was no epidemic. Clearly, diversity of species and diversity within species provide protection. The growing of just one uniform crop runs counter to this basic survival strategy and leaves plants exposed to disease or pests, which can destroy an entire region's harvest. That is why many farmers depend so heavily on the frequent use of pesticides, even though such chemicals are often environmentally hazardous.

Why do farmers replace their many folk varieties with one uniform crop? Usually in response to economic pressures. Planting uniform crops promises ease of harvesting, attractiveness of the product, resistance to go bad, and high productivity. But these trends may be destroying man's own food supply.

63. The main idea of the passage is_____ .

A. it is important to protect the earth's bio-diversity

B. man is destroying his own food supply

C. we now have fewer bio-species than before

D. numerous strains of plants can resist plagues

64. With regard to the variety of apples in the United Slates_______.

A. it is the fewest in variety in terms of plant family

B. over 80% of its varieties have been destroyed

C. we have done our best to protect it

D. it is as wide as it was 100 years ago

65. The author tells the story in Ireland in the 1840's to show that_____.

A. farmers should grow as many varieties of potatoes as in South America

B. potatoes should not be grown as a dietary mainstay

C. lumpers were not a choice variety of potatoes

D. bio-diversity is essential to life on earth

66. The uniform crop of lumpers in Ireland in the 1840's______.

A. caused blight to strike Ireland repeatedly

B. caused Ireland's population to decline by half

C. destroyed the whole Irish agricultural tradition

D. seriously devastated Ireland s economy

67. Diversity of species and diversity within species can help plants _______.

A. ward off some disastrous diseases and pests

B. resist natural disasters such as droughts

C. withstand the harmful effect of pesticides

D. yield bumper harvests

68. Which of the following is NOT the reason that farmers replace their folk varieties

with one uniform crop?

A. They want to make more money.

B. They want to have a higher output.

C. They want to prevent the destruction of human food.

D. They want to make their products more attractive.

Passage Four

It is a well-documented fact that women still live longer than men. A 1998 study by Harvard Medical School geriatrician Thomas Perls offers two reasons: one is the evolutionary drive to pass on her genes; the other is the need to stay healthy enough to rear as many children as possible. A man's purpose is simply to carry genes that ensure longevity and pass them on to his children.

Okay, so that's the legacy of our cave-dweller past. But what is it about a man's lifestyle that reduces his longevity? As action moviemakers know all too well, men arc supercharged with testosterone. Aside from forcing us to watch frenzied movies like The Matrix Reloaded, the testes-produced hormone also triggers riskier behavior and aggression, and increases levels of harmful cholesterol, raising the risk of heart disease or stroke. Meanwhile, the female hormone chops harmful cholesterol and raises "good" cholesterol.

As Perls's study points out: "Between ages 15 and 24, men are four to five limes more likely to die than women. This time frame coincides with the onset of puberty and an increase in reckless and violent behavior in males. Researchers refer to it as a ‘tea -tosterone storm. ’Most deaths in this male group come from motor vehicle accidents，followed by homicide, suicide.. .and drownings . "

While all this jumping from tall buildings may result in some accidental death, it still doesn't account for the onset of fatal illnesses at an earlier age. Statistically, men are crippled more quickly by illnesses like heart disease, stroke and cancer. A Singapore study found that while men were diagnosed with chronic illness two years earlier than women, women were also disabled by their illnesses four years later. Men more often engage in riskier habits like drinking alcohol and using recreational drugs, as well as eating to excess. And the stereotype about men being adverse to seeing a doctor on a regular basis? Studies have shown it's true.

If your goal is to become the first 100-year-old man on your family tree, there an* some things you can do to boost your odds. One is to examine what centenarians are doing right. According to the ongoing New England Centenarian Study, the largest comprehensive study of centenarians in the world, they can fend off or even escape age associated diseases like heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Ninety percent of those studied were functionally independent for the vast majority of their lives up until the age of 92. and 75% were just as autonomous at an average age of 95. "Centenarians disprove the perception that 'the older you get, the sicker you get. ' Centenarians teach us that the older you get. the healthier you've been. "

69. This passage mainly discusses ______.

A. why women lead a healthier life than men

B. how women can live longer and slay healthy

C. what keeps men from enjoying a longer life span

D. whether men's life style leads to their early death

70. According lo Thomas Perls, which of the following is a major factor contributing to the relative

longevity of women over men?

A. Their natural urge to remain healthy.

B. Their greater natural drive to pass on genes.

C. Their need to bear healthy offspring.

D. Their desire lo have more children.

71. The author mentions "the legacy of our cave-dweller past" to______.

A. support the argument about women's role in rearing children

B. summarize a possible cause of different life expectancies

C. challenge the theory about our ancestors' behavior patterns

D. illustrate the history of human evolution process

72. According to the passage, testosterone is a hormone that______ .

A. increases as men grow older

B. reduces risk factors in male behavior

C. leads to aggressive behavior and heart disease

D. accounts for women's dislike for violent films

73. Compared with women, men as a whole_____ .

A. suffer from depression more often

B. suffer from diseases later than women

C. are reluctant to have physical checkups

D. arc not affected by violent movies

74. Centenarians refer to people who______.

A. live longer than females

B. live at the turn of the century

C. are extremely independent

D. arc a hundred years or older

Passage Five

Last year. Curt Dunnam bought a Chevrolet Blazer with one of the most popular new features in high-end cars: the OnStar personal security system.

The heavily advertised communications and tracking feature is used nationwide by more than two million drivers, who simply push a button to connect, via a built-in cellphone, to a member of the OnStar staff. A Global Positioning System, or G. P. S., helps the employee give verbal directions to the driver or locate the car after an accident. The company can even send a signal to unlock car doors for locked-out owners, or honk the horn to help people find their cars in an endless plain of parking spaces. The biggest selling point for the system is its use in frustrating car thieves. Once an owner reports to the police that a car has been stolen, the company can track it to help am st the thieves, a service it performs about 400 times each month.

But for Mr. Dunnam. the more he learned about his car's security features, the less secure he felt. He has enough technical knowledge to worry that someone else—law enforcement officers, or hackers—could listen in on his phone calls, or gain control over his automotive systems without his knowledge or consent. "While I don't believe G. M. intentionally designed this system to facilitate such activities, they sure have made it easy." he said.

Mr. Dunnam said he had become even more concerned because of a federal appeals court case involving a criminal investigation, in which federal authorities had demanded that a company attach a wiretap to tracking services like those installed in his car. The suit did not reveal which company was

involved. A three-judge panel in San Francisco rejected the request, but not on privacy grounds; the panel said the wiretap would interfere with the operation of the safety services. OnStar has said that its equipment was not involved in that case. An OnStar spokeswoman. Geri Lama. suggested that Mr. Dunnam's worries were overblown. The signals that the company sends to unlock car doors or track location-based information can be triggered only with a secure exchange of specific identifying data, which ought to hinder all but the most determined hackers, she said.

75. The most important feature of OnStar advertised by the company is that it can

______.

A. help people find their cars in the big parking lot

B. give verbal direction to drivers lost in unfamiliar areas

C. open car doors for owners unable to find their car keys

D. make it difficult for thieves to get away with stolen cars

76. We can conclude from the passage that OnStar is_____ .

A. too complicated to use especially for new drivers

B. not as useful and effective as the company claims

C. popularly used among the more expensive cars

D. not widely used in the country except in a few states

77. Mr. Dunnam felt dissatisfied with OnStar because____ .

A. his personal information might lie revealed

B. his demand for better services was rejected

C. OnStar posed potential danger to driving safety

D. OnStar had been developed mainly to facilitate police work

78. The three-judge panel rejected the request of the federal authorities because_____.

A. it was in violation of individual privacy

B. it was against the Constitution of the nation

C. the wiretap might affect the safety of personal data

D. the wiretap might reduce the efficiency of the system

79. OnStar spokeswoman suggested that Mr. Dunnam's worries_______.

A. exaggerated the problems that might occur

B. represented reasonable concerns of customers

C. presented problems for them to solve

D. made sense due to the existence of hackers

80. The passage is mainly written to_____ .

A. promote the brand and sale of OnStar

B. point out the worries caused by OnStar

C. introduce the new features of OnStar

D. show the future trend represented by OnStar

PAPER TWO

Part V TRANSLATION (40 minutes, 20 points)

Section A (20 minutes, 10 points)

Directions：Put the following paragraphs into Chinese. Write your Chinese version in the proper space on Answer Sheet II.

As a branch of cognitive science, linguistics has undergone systematic inquiry and elaboration in terms of language acquisition and classification. When it comes lo language learning, the spelling of Chinese characters is notoriously difficult to Westerners, who are often left puzzled about numerous strokes. In China, the myth remains that maximum efficiency can be achieved by exposing young children to native speakers as early as possible. However, a more profound insight into the process of language

acquisition won't be gained until studies of the brain have developed lo the point where the function of each part of the brain is brought to light. The eagerness to make children proficient in English on the part of parents in Chins is open to question.

Section B (20 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: Put the following paragraph into English. Write your English version in the proper space on Answer Sheet II.

计算机被认为是有史以来对人类生活影响最大的发明。它的神奇之处在于其运算速度和准确性优于人类。计算机能在几秒内完成几十年前可能需要数天才能完成的事，这是人类第一次感到自己作为最高级物种的地位受到了挑战。

Part VI WRITING (30 minutes, 10 points )

Directions：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 150 words under the title of "Short Message Service : A Blessing Or a Curse?" Your composition should be based On

the following outline:

1. As a modern mode of communication, short message service on mobile-phones has brought us some benefits;

2. But it has created some problems;

3. My suggestions to solve the problem.

答案与讲解：

第四部分阅读理解

第一篇

本文介绍了纽扣的起源、历史及其功用。

51. (C)

文章一开始作者说：在服装上面的所有附件和装饰品中，纽扣也许是最不引人注意的了。

52. (C)

第二段第一句作者说：然而纽扣一开始是用做装饰品的，当然直到13世纪它们才有实用的功用。

53. (A)

第二段第二句作者说：到14世纪纽扣又成了装饰品，通常浪费十分严重，以至于有钱人在一件衣服上钉上300个扣子也不足为奇。

54. (D)

第四段第四句作者说：（佛罗伦萨）扣子是不可以钉在衣袖的上半部的，违反这一法律的惩罚是鞭刑。

55. (A)

全文最后一句作者说：所有也行扣子还是值得我们再研究研究的。

56. (C)

第五段作者说：至于扣子钉在衣服的哪一边，一开始男人和女人是一样的，都钉在左边，只是男人为了方便拿出剑来才改在了右边。

第二篇

本文指出如饮食过量和吸烟一些坏习惯会给人们的身体造成损害，但研究表明只要我们改掉坏的生活习惯身体就能有所改善，虽然不一定会立竿见影，但对我们的健康总是有好处的。

57. (B)

文章一开始作者说：在我们成年人的一些不利于健康的坏习惯中，饮食过量是我们从儿时就开始的。一方面我们认为人的身体是不会被毁掉的，……

58. (C)

第二段第一句作者说：如果当你脱了衣服站在镜子前还没有看到坏习惯如何毁掉你的身体的证据的话，等着瞧吧！（言外之意：如果你现在还没有得肥胖症得话，以后也会得的。）

59. (A)

第三段第三句作者说：令人高兴的结论是：假如身体得损害不是太严重的话，我们人的身体有一种惊人的自我修复功能。

60. (C)

第七段作者说：一项研究结论表明每周吃两次鱼得妇女比每月吃一次鱼得妇女得中风的几率小一半。也就是说妇女多吃些鱼对健康有好处。

61. (B)

第八段作者说：从你戒烟当天开始，你血中的一氧化碳的浓度就会明显下降。几周内你血液的粘稠度提高。

62. (D)

最后一段作者说：你不知道从哪儿开始来改变坏习惯吗？使我们吃惊的是这没有多大关系（言外之意：从哪儿都行），因为一个良好的改变通常会带来另一个。改掉足够的坏习惯你就会发现自己开始了一个全新的生活方式。

第三篇

本文作者通过讲述19世纪40年代爱尔兰遭受的农业灾害，提醒读者注意生物物种多样化和一种生物内部种类多样化对人类生存的重要性，并分析了为什么有些农民倾向种植单一品种作物的原因。

63. (A)

见文章内容介绍。

64. (B)

第三段作者说：1804至1905年期间在美国的苹果就有了7098种，可是现在已有6121种灭绝了。这个数字超过原有种类的80％。

65. (D)

在第四、五、六段中作者着重举了19世纪40年代爱尔兰由于土豆种植品种单一化而带来的灾害。19世纪时，土豆是爱尔兰主要的食物来源，1845年时绝大多数农民种植的是一种叫做lumpers的土豆，但是由于

一种土豆枯萎病的流行，使几乎所有的土豆苗枯死，整个爱尔兰农业损失惨重。由于没有别的品种，第二年农民种的还是这种土豆，结果再一次使农业几乎颗粒无收。100万人饿死，150万人逃离家园移民到美国。剩下的人也陷入极度的贫困，而在南美的安第斯山脉地区，由于农民种植的土豆品种多样化，只有少数品种受到枯萎病的侵害，枯萎病没有在此流行。

66. (D)

参见第65题。

67. (A)

第六段第三句作者说：显然，物种的多样化和一个物种内部的多品种化能提供保护。

68. (C)

最后一段作者说：为什么许多农民种植单一品种的作物来代替当地各种不同品种的作物呢？这通常是出于经济上的压力。种植单一品种的作物易于收获，有些产品能吸引消费者，有些不容易腐烂、产量高等。但是这种趋势可能会破坏人类食物的供应。

第四篇

本文作者从生理上和生活方式上探讨了男人为什么比女人寿命短的原因。男人因受到睾丸激素的影响而易于做出威胁的和具有攻击性的行为，同时使有害胆固醇的水平提高，从而有易发心脏病和中风等疾病的威胁。另外男人的一些不良习惯如饮酒、吸毒和饮食过量以及不愿意看医生等都是造成男人寿命短的原因。

69. (C)

见文章内容介绍和第二、三、四段内容。

70. (A)

文章一开始作者说：有足够的材料证明女人比男人活得长。1998年哈佛医学院的老年病学家Thomas Perls 的一项研究得出两个原因：一种是由于进化的原因女人要向其后代遗传其基因；另一个原因就是妇女要保持足够的健康身体以便养育尽可能多的子女。

71. (B)

第二段第一句作者说：对了，这就是我们住在山洞里的老祖宗给我们传下来的。这句话是总结第一段中作者认为女人比男人活得长的原因主要是遗传。

72. (C)

第二段第三句作者说：正如动作片制片人非常了解的那样，男人的行为受到睾丸激素的影响（be supercharged with: 受到……的压力）。睾丸激素除了驱使我们去看像?黑客帝国II －决战未来?（The Matrix Reloaded）这样的电影外，睾丸产生的激素还能引发危险的和具有攻击性的行为，同时提高有害胆固醇的水平，从而增加得心脏病和中风的危险。

73. (C)

第四段最后两句作者说：人们常说一般情况下男人不愿意去医生那儿看病，研究表明这是事实。

74. (D)

最后一段作者说：如果你的目标是成为你们家族中第一个百岁老人，你要做下列事情来增加自己的机会：一是要看看百岁老人们有哪些好的生活习惯……centenarian与前一句中的100-year-old man是同义。

第五篇

本文讲述了美国一种新型汽车安全系统，它具有通过卫星帮助驾车人找到车的位置、帮助被锁在车外的驾车人打开车门、特别是能阻止盗车贼把车偷走等安全功能。但是消费者认为驾车人与服务中心通话过程可能会被人监听，信息可能被别人利用，反而使自己的车不安全。

75. (D)

第二段第四句作者说：该系统最大的卖点就是它能阻止盗车贼偷走汽车。一旦车主向警察报告车丢了，公司将启动跟踪系统抓住偷车贼。

76. (C)

文章第一句作者说：去年Curt Dunnam买了一辆雪佛莱Blazer牌汽车，该车具有高档车中最受欢迎的特点，即配有OnStar个人安全系统。

77. (A)

第三段第二句作者说：Dunnam先生在这方面有足够的技术知识，因此他担心别人，如执法官或黑客，可能会听到他的车载电话通话的内容，或在他不知情或不同意的情况下控制他的车的安全系统。

78. (C)

第四段第三句后半部作者说：（由三位法官组成的）裁决小组说监听系统（wire tap）能够干扰安全服务系统的工作。

79. (A)

第四段第五句作者说：一位OnStar公司的女发言人Geri Lama指出Dunnam先生的担心是过虑了。公司发出的开车门的信号或跟踪定位信号只有在确认车主的特别数据信息后才能发出。它可以阻止所有的其他人控制你的车，除非那些铁了心要偷你的车的黑客。

80. (B)

见全篇的内容。

第五部分翻译

【英译汉】

语言学是认知科学的一个分支，在语言习得和分类方面已得到系统的研究和阐述。谈到语言学习，西方人公认汉字的拼写特别困难，他们对众多的笔画一筹莫展。在中国仍有一种错误的认识，认为只要幼儿尽早接触本族语者，就能取得最佳效果。但是，只有到了大脑的研究十分发达，已揭示了大脑每一区域功能之时，人们才能对语言习得的过程有更深刻的了解。中国的家长们是否应急于让孩子精通英语还值得商榷。

注意：需要扣分的地方有：把notoriously翻译为“臭名昭著”，把myth翻译为“神话”，把on the part of翻译为“一部分”等。

【汉译英】

The computer is believed to be the invention that has exerted the greatest influence on human lives in history. What is remarkable about it is that it can calculate with better speed and accuracy than man. The computer can finish in seconds what might have taken days decades ago. This is the first time that man has felt that his position (status) as the highest species has been challenged.

注意：需要扣分的翻译是：is believed an invention; need (might/ may take) days; this is man’s first time to (this is the first for man to feel); his position of the highest species.