2008翻译大赛初赛试题及标准答案(英语专业)
2008-2012年全国大学生英语竞赛初赛试题及答案(C类)
2008年全国大学生英语竞赛C类初赛赛卷2008 National English Contest for College Students(Level C--- Preliminary)Part I Listening Comprehension (25 minutes, 30 marks)1. A. To buy a newspaper. B. To find a chemist. C. To post a letter.2. A. Their billing system has been efficient.B. Their old billing system is outdated.C. He’s unimpressed with the new billing system.3. A. She’s been on vacation. B. She’s been at the grocery s tore.C. She’s been on a business trip.4. A. To go to the market. B. To have coffee. C. To have a discussion.5. A. Changing a flight reservation. B. Canceling a hotel reservation.C. Reserving an extra hotel room.Section B (10 marks)Conversation one6. What’s Tania’s phone number?A. 506-6178B. 501-6678C. 501-66877. Who is going shopping at Harrods?A. Tania.B. Karl.C. Karl’s mother.8. How is Tania going to get to Harrods?A. On foot.B. By taxi.C. By tube.9. Which street plan shows the way from the station?A. B. C.10. What kind of wine does Karl want?A. Red Merlot.B. White Bordeaux.C. Rose Chianti. Conversation Two11. Which drawing shows the position of the handle?A. B. C.12. What other product features are included?A. A range of handle sizes.B. A variety of color combinations.C. A set of rings for different-sized tins.13. What’s the purpose of the V-clip?A.To hold the paint brush so it drips in the can.B.To prevent paint from getting onto the painted surfaces.C.To prevent the brush drying out if the painter is interrupted.14. Who will probably use the can-holder?A. Artists.B. Decorators.C. Soldiers.15. How much does the product cost?A. ￡4.B. ￡5.C. $4.Section C (5 marks)16. What has prompted the new administration to review the Australia’s citizenship test?A. It’s out of date.B. Higher immigration rates.C. Many applicants failing it.17. Which train provides the easiest way to see Mount Fuji?A. From Tokyo to Yokohama.B. From Osaka to Yokohama.C. From Tokyo to Osaka.18. How many U.N. employees were killed in 2007?19. What have studies found out about severe pneumonia treatment?A.No medication works in developing countries.B.It can be effectively treated at home with oral antibiotics.C.It can only be treated in the hospital with injectable antibiotics.20. What was the bar’s business like b efore the smoking ban?A. Almost empty every day.B. Usually crowded at midday.C. Empty on Wednesdays.Section D (10 marks)Crime isn’t rising because the laws are not strict enough, or because the (21) ________ are not tough enough, or simply bec ause there aren’t enough policemen on the beat. It is rising because the agencies and individuals who can have a (22) _______ effect on crime are not pulling together or in the same (23) ______. The police are one of those agencies, of course. But crime prevention is also a matter for (24) ______ who are content to see mass (25) _______ turn into a way of life, for councils who prefer to shout yah-boo at the police, (26) _____ getting on with making life safer for local people, for architects who design exp osed and indefensible buildings, for parents who don’t take enough interest in what their teenage children are getting up to and for (27) ______ who sit inside and moan (28) ______ do anything about the state of the neighborhood or the street. Crime prevention has been neglected for too many by too many. Over the last ten years it has been willfully neglected in defiance of mounting (29) _______ that it is the central hope of (30) ________ action against crime.Part II Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices, marked A, B C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous.A. a; aB. the; aC. a; /D. /; the32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did.A. chance.B. opportunityC. optionD. solution33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people.A. generalB. usualC. commonD. average34. How did they manage to steal the Van Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose.A. belowB. beforeC. underD. beside35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly.A. is consideringB. was consideringC. should considerD. has considered36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______.A. in similarB. in particularC. in commonD. in accordance37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas.A. fell overB. fell downC. fell throughD. fell on38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true.A. thoughtB. should thinkC. had thoughtD. thinking39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t want ______.A. saw; enter; killedB. saw; enter; to be killedC. sees; entering; be killedD. sees; enter; killing40. Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday.A. whoB. thatC. whichD. as41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test.A. when choosingB. when you will chooseC. when you have chosenD. when you chose42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______.A. when he first introducedB. that he first introduced itC. he first introducedD. which he first introduced itA. On second thoughtsB. I could go either wayC. I will never learn to driveD. But then again44. _____ I’m getting married!A. Can you keep a secret?B. Well I never!C. Many happy returns.D. Congratulations!45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s cold all the time.A. I beg your pardon?B. Yeah, but it’s not very good.C. Do you know any good hotels?D. Do you have any suggestions?Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks)Section A (4 marks)There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatment with antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.TREATMENTAspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.CHILDRENYoung children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given aspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age.At one year: a single junior aspirin.At five years: half an adult aspirin.At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTORIf the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days.If the patient complains of earache.If the patient or parent is very worried.46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________.A.require an immediate visit to a doctorB.respond quickly to treatment with an antibioticC.rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illnessD.result in tonsillitis even when treated47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.A.prevent the patient from eating too muchB.give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every dayC.advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquids48. You should call the doctor in if _________.A.swelling occurs in the region of the earsB.the patient’s condition worsens after 2 daysC.the patient’s throat is still sore after a weekD.the disease spreads to another member of the family49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin?A.Young children should not be allowed to gargle with it.B.Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.C.Young children should be given aspirin more often than adults.D.Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.Section B (14 marks)There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet.For questions 50-55, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:1.To work together for international peace and to solve international problems;2.To develop friendly relations among nations;3.To work together for human rights for everyone of all races, religions, and of both sexes;4.To build a center where nations can work together for these goals.Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:1. All members are equal.2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way.3. No member will use force against another member.4. All members will help the UN in its actions.5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries except to enforce international peace.Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.The main United Nations organization is in New York City, but the UN has a ―family‖ of other related organizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many other services for poor children wherever they live. Another example is the World Health Organization, which develops medical programs all over the world.There are thousands of UN workers in developing countries. They work as planners to increase production in farming and industry. They provide medical services, improve education programs, and spread scientific information. They develop programs that provide jobs and better living conditions. They help countries control their population growth.The United Nations also holds large international conferences, where people meet to discuss important world issues. One conference was about the uses and ownership of oceans. Another was about women. There are also International Years. In these special years, people work together to improve situations and solve problems. One year was the International Year of the Child.For centuries countries have fought each other, and powerful countries have taken control of weaker ones. It is very difficult to persuade nations to live together in peace. Nevertheless, the United Nations is attempting to do this. It is the only organization that unites the world in the search for peace.Section C (10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 questions. Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions in as few words as possible (not more than 10 words ). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet .Questions 60-64 are based on the following passage.A language is a system of sounds, gestures, or characters used by humans to communicate their ideas and feelings. There are about 4,000 spokenlanguages in the world. Some are spoken by millions of people. Other languages have only a few speakers.All languages have rules for forming words and for ordering those words in sentences. In written languages, meaning is expressed through a system of characters and rules for combining those characters. In spoken languages, meaning is expressed through a system of sounds and rules for combining those sounds. Many deaf people use sign languages, in which gestures do the work of the sound system of spoken languages.Word order is more important in English than it is in some other languages, such as Russian. The sound system is very important in Chinese and in many languages spoken in West Africa.Languages are always changing, but they change very slowly. People invent new words for their language, borrow words from other languages, and change the meanings of words as needed. For example, the English word byte was invented by computer specialists in 1959. the English word tomato was borrowed from Nahuatl, and American Indian language spoken in Mexico. The English word meat once referred to food in general.There are several major language families in the world. The languages in each family are related, and scientists think they came from the same parent family. Language families come in different sizes. The Austronesian family contains at least 500 languages, including Pilipino, Malay, and Maori. The Basque language, spoken in northern Spain, is the only member of its language family.The Indo-European language family contains 55 languages, including English, German, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.Another language family is Sino-Tibetan, which includes Chinese, Burmese, and Tibetan. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. There are about 150 American Indian languages spoken today. These languages have many differences and have been divided into more than 50 language families.People learn languages by listening, copying what they hear, and using the language. Most children learn their first languages easily, and sometimes other languages as well. Adults often must work harder at learning a second language.Questions :Section D (12 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of three words from the passage to fill in each of the spaces, 65-70. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 65-70 are based on the following passage.Welcome to ―Software World‖ --- bringing you the very latest information on what is currently available on CD-ROM. Are you a director or producer looking for an unusual actor to play a part in a new movie project, or with that special look for a new commercial on TV? OK. The usual procedure would be to contact a theatrical agency, who would try and sell you the idea of using one of the actors listed on their books. Books? Too old-fashioned for you? Then get yourself a copy of this latest electronic database called ―The Electronic Curtain‖.The brainchild of casting agent Fred Harkney of the Better Talent Agenc y, he says he got the idea of an actor’s directory from his son playing computer games. Noting that junior had to type in the details of the characters in his favorite game, he realized he could do the same for the actors he represents. Eventually, he came to include information on nearly three quarters of the approximately 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain. With some theatrical agencies boasting that they represent over 500 performers, the need for this product is not hard to fathom. It can be a nightmare trying to remember just which actor has done what, or just what an actor can do. The database lists details of over 5,500 actors: TV shows they have appeared in, special skills they possess --- everything down to the color of their eyes and other distinguishing physical features. By entering the details of the type of person you are looking for, the database quickly locates only those persons with the particular qualities requested.One problem though, is that many actors feel it is too impersonal, and they could be missing out on much needed auditions for parts in theatrical shows. On the other hand, it might just get them that elusive job. The days of nervous nail-biting while waiting around to give an audition could well and truly be over. And all because of a small plastic disk. For product details ring this number now: 0171-379-60000.Summary:An electronic database giving information on nearly (65) ______ the 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain, is now available on CD-ROM. Some (66) ______ have over 500 actors on their books and it is difficult to remember all their details. The database lists information on over 5,500 actors and can be searched for details such as past (67) ______ they have appeared in, special skills they might have, and even the color of their eyes. The database can quickly locate persons with (68) _____ and, although some actors feel it is (69) ______ to be of much use, it is certain to change the way actors are chosen for parts in films, plays and shows. Ring the following telephone number for further (70) _____: 0171-379-6000.Part IV Cloze (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (5 marks)There are 5 blanks in the passage. Use the word given on the right-hand side to form a word that fits in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, one or more letters of the word have been given (not exceeding 3 letters). Read the passage below and decide which word best fits each blank, using only one word in each word in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.True relaxation is most certainly not a matter of flopping down in front of the television with a welcome drink. Nor is it about drifting into an exhausted sleep. Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness (76) mi_______ be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in (77) te_____ of quality and effect. Regardless of the level of tiredness, real relaxation is a state of alertness, yet, at the same (78) t______, passive awareness, in which our bodies are (79) a________ rest while our minds are awake.Moreover, it is as natural for a healthy person to be relaxed when moving as resting. (80) Be_____ relaxed in action means we bring the appropriate energy to everything we do, (81) W______ needs to be rediscovered is conscious relaxation. With this in (85) m______ we must apply ourselves to understanding stress and the nature of its causes, however deep-seated.Part V Translation (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (8 marks)Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.After my mother passed away, my dad tried even harder to stay healthy and active. Every morning, until the weather turned too cold, he swam in the turquoise pool in the complex where he lived. (86) Each day, no matter how he felt, he swam one more lap than the previous day, just to prove there was always room for improvement. Every few days he reported the new number of laps to me, pride edging his voice.By his late seventies, in spite of swimming and working six days a week, my dad had noticeably dwindled in strength and energy. By age eighty-one he was in poor health and had to retire. (87) He pretended he didn’t need to lean heavily on me for support as we walked slowly, and I pretended not to notice. His mind was clear, but congestive heart problems and disabling arthritis had worn him down. One day he said, ―In case of an emergency, I do not wish to be kept alive by any extraordinary means. I’ve signed an official paper to this effect.‖ He smiled his wonderful, broad grin and said, ―I’ve been blessed to have had your mother as my wife and you as my only child, and I’m ready to go.‖Less than a month later he had a heart attack. In the emergency room, he again reminded his doctor and me of his wishes, but I couldn’t imagine, in spite of this latest crisis, that he wouldn’t always be saying, ―Have I told you yet today that I adore you?‖(88) He was miserable in intensive care; tubes seemed to come from every opening. But my dad still had his sense of humor, asking me, ―Does this mean we can’t keep our lunch date tomorrow?‖ His voice faltered.―I’ll be here to pick you up and we’ll go someplace special,‖ I answered, a lump in my throat.(89) Dad refused to look at me for the first time in his life and turned toward the blank green wall next to his hospital bed. There was a painful silence between us. He said, ―I don’t want you to remember me like this. Promise me you won’t, darling! And please go now --- I’m so miserable.Section B (7 marks)Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.90. 她在阳光下只晒了一会儿，脸就开始变红了。
2008年05月CATTI三级笔译实务真题(英译汉部分、附答案)
2008年5月全国翻译专业资格（水平）考试三级笔译实务Section 1 English-Chinese Translation (英译汉)Translate the following passage into Chinese. The time for this section is 180 minutes. Europe Pushes to Get Fuel From FieldsARDEA, Italy — The previous growing season, this lush coastal field near Rome was filled with rows of delicate durum wheat, used to make high-quality pasta. Today it overflows with rapeseed, a tall, gnarled weedlike plant bursting with coarse yellow flowers that has become a new manna for European farmers: rapeseed can be turned into biofuel.Motivated by generous subsidies to develop alternative energy sources — and a measure of concern about the future of the planet —Europe’s farmers are beginning to grow crops that can be turned into fuels meant to produce fewer emissions than gas or oil. They are chasing their counterparts in the Americas who have been raising crops for biofuel for more than five years.“This is a much-needed boost to our economy, our farms,” said Marcello Pini, 50, a farmer, standing in front of the rapeseed he planted for the first time. “Of course, we h ope it helps the environment, too.”In March, the European Commission, disappointed by the slow growth of the biofuels industry, approved a directive that included a “binding target” requiring member countries to use 10 percent biofuel for transport by 2020 — the most ambitious and specific goal in the world.Most European countries are far from achieving the target, and are introducing incentives and subsidies to bolster production.As a result, bioenergy crops have replaced food as the most profitable crop in several European countries. In this part of Italy, for example, the government guarantees the purchase of biofuel crops at 22 Euros for 100 kilograms, or $13.42 for 100 pounds — nearly twice the 11 to 12 Euros for 100 kilograms of wheat on the open market in 2006. Better still, farmers can plant biofuel crops on “set aside” fields, land that Europe’s agriculture policy would otherwise require be left fallow.But an expert panel convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization pointed out that the biofuels boom produces benefits as well as trade-offs and risks — including higher and wildly fluctuating food prices. In some markets, grain prices have nearly doubled.“At a time when agricultural prices are low, in comes biofuel and improves the lot of farmers and injects life into rural areas,” said Gustavo Best, an expert at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. “But as the scale grows and the demand for biofuel crops seems to be infinite, we’re seeing some negative effects and we need to hold up a yellow light.”Josette Sheeran, the new head of the United Nations World Food program, which fed nearly 90 million people in 2006, said that biofuels created new problems. “An i ncrease in grain prices impacts us because we are a major procurer of grain for food,” she said. “So biofuels are both a challenge and an opportunity.”In Europe, the rapid conversion of fields that once grew wheat or barley to biofuel crops like rapeseed is already leading to shortages of the ingredients for making pasta and brewing beer, suppliers say. That could translate into higher prices in supermarkets.“New and increasing demand for bi oenergy production has put high pressure on the whole world grain market,” said Claudia Conti, a spokesman for Barilla, one of the largest Italian pasta makers.“Not only German beer producers, but Mexican tortilla makers have see the cost of their main ra w material growing quickly to historical highs.”Some experts are more worried about the potential impact to low-income consumers. In the developing world, the shift to more lucrative biofuel crops destined for richer countries could create serious hunger and damage the environment if wild land is converted to biofuel cultivation, the agriculture panel concluded.But officials at the European Commission say they are pursuing a measured course that will prevent some of the price and supply problems seen in American markets.In a recent speech, Mariann Fischer Boel, the European agriculture and rural development commissioner, said that the 10 percent target was “not a shot in the dark,” but was carefully chosen to encourage a level of growth for the biofuel industry that would not produce undue hardship for Europe’s poor.She calculated that this approach would push up would raw material prices for cereal by 3 percent to 6 percent by 2020, while prices for oilseed might rise 5 percent to 18 percent. But food prices on the shelves would barely change, she said.Yet even as the European program begins to harvest biofuels in greater volume, homegrown production is still far short of what is needed to reach the 10 percent goal: Europe’s farmers produced an estimated 2.9 billion liters, or 768 million gallons, of biofuel in 2004, far shy of the 3.4 billion gallons generated in the United States in the period. In 2005, biofuel accounted for around 1 percent of Europe’s fuel, according to European statistics, with almos t all of that in Germany and Sweden. The biofuel share in Italy was 0.51 percent, and in Britain, 0.18 percent.That could pose a threat to European markets as foreign producers like Brazil or developing countries like Indonesia and Malaysia try to ship their biofuels to markets where demand, subsidies and tax breaks are the greatest.Ms. Fischer Boel recently acknowledged that Europe would have to import at least a third of what it would need to reach its 10 percent biofuels target. Politicians fear that could hamper development of a local industry, while perversely generating tons of new emissions as “green” fuel is shipped thousands of kilometers across the Atlantic, instead of coming from the farm next door.Such imports could make biofuel far less green in other ways as well — for example if Southeast Asian rainforest is destroyed for cropland.Brazil, a country with a perfect climate for sugar cane and vast amounts of land, started with subsidies years ago to encourage the farming of sugarcane for biofu els, partly to take up “excess capacity” in its flagging agricultural sector.The auto industry jumped in, too. In 2003, Brazilian automakers started producing flex-fuel cars that could run on biofuels, including locally produced ethanol. Today, 70 percent of new cars in the country are flex-fuel models, and Brazil is one of the largest growers of cane for ethanol.Analysts are unsure if the Brazilian achievement can be replicated in Europe — or anywhere else. Sugar takes far less energy to convert to biofuel than almost any product.Yet after a series of alarming reports on climate change, the political urgency to move faster is clearly growing.With an armload of incentives, the Italian government hopes that 70,000 hectares, or 173,000 acres, of land will be planted with biofuel crops in 2007, and 240,000 hectares in 2010, up from zero in 2006.Mr. Pini, the farmer, has converted about 25 percent of his land, or 18 hectares, including his “set aside” land, to Europe’s fastest-growing biofuel crop, rapeseed. He still has 50 hectares in grain and 7 in olives.He has discovered other advantages as well. In Italy’s finicky food culture, food crops haveto look good and be high quality to sell— a drought or undue heat can mean an off year. Crops for fuel, in contrast, can be ugly or stunted.“You need fewer seeds and it’s much easier to grow,” he said.英译汉参考答案欧洲竞相从农田获取燃料阿尔代亚，意大利——上个生长季节，罗马近郊植物葱茏的靠海农田，遍布成排的纤细的硬质小麦，过去用于制作高品质意粉。
大学生英语竞赛(NECCS)B类英语专业初赛真题2008年
大学生英语竞赛(NECCS)B类英语专业初赛真题2008年(无听力)Part Ⅰ Listening C o m p e r h e n s i o n(略)Part Ⅱ Multiple C h o iceSection AThere are 10 incomplete sentences in this section. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the ce n t r e.1. Shaka power and became the king of the Zulus upon the death of his father.A.assumedB.resumedC.consumedD.presumedAassume 接管，承担。
resume 重新获得，恢复。
consume 消耗，浪费，使全神贯注。
presume 假设，认 为，意味着。
2. To say that a soldier fought in battle like a lion may be a good descriptive, but it does not mean that he was on all fours, roaring and wagging his tail!A.anecdoteB.analogueC.analogyD.analysisCanalogy 类比，比喻。
anecdote轶事，奇闻。
analogue 类似物，模拟。
analysis分析，解析3. Many people living around the stadium about the violent behaviour of the Soccer fans.plainB.disapproveC.criticizeD.objectAcomplain about 对…进行抱怨，发牢骚，强调对某事不满。
2008年初赛及答案(C级)
2008 National English Contest for College 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. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be read only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.1. A. To buy a newspaper. B. To find a chemist. C. To post a letter.2. A. Their billing system has been efficient.B. Their old billing system is outdated.C. He’s u nimpressed with the new billing system.3. A. She’s been on vacation. B. She’s been at the grocery store.C. She’s been on a business trip.4. A. To go to the market. B. To have coffee. C. To have a discussion.5. A. Changing a flight reservation. B. Canceling a hotel reservation.C. Reserving an extra hotel room.Section B (10 marks)In this section, you will hear two long conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. At the end of each conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, read the five questions, each with three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. Conversation one6. What’s Tania’s phone number?A. 506-6178B. 501-6678C. 501-66877. Who is going shopping at Harrods?A. Tania.B. Karl.C. Karl’s mother.8. How is Tania going to get to Harrods?A. On foot.B. By taxi.C. By tube.9. Which street plan shows the way from the station?A. B. C.10. What kind of wine does Karl want?A. Red Merlot.B. White Bordeaux.C. Rose Chianti. Conversation Two11. Which drawing shows the position of the handle?A. B. C.12. What other product features are included?A. A range of handle sizes.B. A variety of color combinations.C. A set of rings for different-sized tins.13. What’s the purpose of the V-clip?A.To hold the paint brush so it drips in the can.B.To prevent paint from getting onto the painted surfaces.C.To prevent the brush drying out if the painter is interrupted.14. Who will probably use the can-holder?A. Artists.B. Decorators.C. Soldiers.15. How much does the product cost?A. ￡4.B. ￡5.C. $4.Section C (5 marks)In this section, you will hear five short news item. 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 center.16. What has prompted the new administration to review the Australia’s citizenship test?A. It’s out of date.B. Higher immigration rates.C. Many applicants failing it.17. Which train provides the easiest way to see Mount Fuji?A. From Tokyo to Y okohama.B. From Osaka to Y okohama.C. From Tokyo to Osaka.18. How many U.N. employees were killed in 2007?A. 17.B. 42.C. 59.19. What have studies found out about severe pneumonia treatment?A.No medication works in developing countries.B.It can be effectively treated at home with oral antibiotics.C.It can only be treated in the hospital with injectable antibiot ics.20. What was the bar’s business like before the smoking ban?A. Almost empty every day.B. Usually crowded at midday.C. Empty on Wednesdays.Section D (10 marks)In this section, you will hear a short passage. There are ten missing words or phrases. Fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear on the tape. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Crime isn’t rising because the laws are not strict enough, or because the (21) ________ are not tough enough, or simply because there ar en’t enough policemen on the beat. It is rising because the agencies and individuals who can have a (22) _______ effect on crime are not pulling together or in the same (23) ______. The police are one of those agencies, of course. But crime prevention is also a matter for (24) ______ who are content to see mass (25) _______ turn into a way of life, for councils who prefer to shout yah-boo at the police, (26) _____ getting on with making life safer for local people, for architects who design exposed and indefensible buildings, for parents who don’t take enough interest in what their teenage children are getting up to and for (27) ______ who sit inside and moan (28) ______ do anything about the state of the neighborhood or the street. Crime prevention has been neglected for too many by too many. Over the last ten years it has been willfully neglected in defiance of mounting (29) _______ that it is the central hope of (30) ________ action against crime.Part II Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices, marked A, BC and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous.A. a; aB. the; aC. a; /D. /; the32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did.A. chance.B. opportunityC. optionD. solution33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people.A. generalB. usualC. commonD. average34. How did they manage to steal the V an Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose.A. belowB. beforeC. underD. beside35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly.A. is consideringB. was consideringC. should considerD. has considered36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______.A. in similarB. in particularC. in commonD. in accordance37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas.A. fell overB. fell downC. fell throughD. fell on38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true.A. thoughtB. should thinkC. had thoughtD. thinking39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t want ______.A. saw; enter; killedB. saw; enter; to be killedC. sees; entering; be killedD. sees; enter; killing40. Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday.A. whoB. thatC. whichD. as41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test.A. when choosingB. when you will chooseC. when you have chosenD. when you chose42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______.A. when he first introducedB. that he first introduced itC. he first introducedD. which he first introduced it43. ________ really. I like both public transport and driving.A. On second thoughtsB. I could go either wayC. I will never learn to driveD. But then again44. _____ I’m getting married!A. Can you keep a secret?B. Well I never!C. Many happy returns.D. Congratulations!45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s c old all the time.A. I beg your pardon?B. Y eah, but it’s not very good.C. Do you know any good hotels?D. Do you have any suggestions?Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks)Section A (4 marks)There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choicesmarked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatment with antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.TREATMENTAspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.CHILDRENY oung children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given aspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age.At one year: a single junior aspirin.At five years: half an adult aspirin.At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTORIf the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days.If the patient complains of earache.If the patient or parent is very worried.46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________.A.require an immediate visit to a doctorB.respond quickly to treatment with an antibioticC.rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illnessD.result in tonsillitis even when treated47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.A.prevent the patient from eating too muchB.give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every dayC.advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquidsD.make the patient gargle with hot liquids48. Y ou should call the doctor in if _________.A.swelling occurs in the region of the earsB.the patient’s condition worsens after 2 daysC.the patient’s throat is still sore after a weekD.the disease spreads to another member of the family49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin?A.Y oung children should not be allowed to gargle with it.B.Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.C.Y oung children should be given aspirin more often than adults.D.Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.Section B (14 marks)There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet.For questions 50-55, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:1.To work together for international peace and to solve international problems;2.To develop friendly relations among nations;3.To work together for human rights for everyone of all races, religions, and of bothsexes;4.To build a center where nations can work together for these goals.Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:1. All members are equal.2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way.3. No member will use force against another member.4. All members will help the UN in its actions.5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries except to enforce international peace.Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.The main United Nations organization is in New Y ork City, but the UN has a “family” of other related organizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many other services for poor children wherever they live. Another example is the World Health Organization, which develops medical programs all over the world.There are thousands of UN workers in developing countries. They work as planners to increase production in farming and industry. They provide medical services, improve education programs, and spread scientific information. They develop programs that provide jobs and better living conditions. They help countries control their population growth.The United Nations also holds large international conferences, where people meet to discussimportant world issues. One conference was about the uses and ownership of oceans. Another was about women. There are also International Y ears. In these special years, people work together to improve situations and solve problems. One year was the International Y ear of the Child.For centuries countries have fought each other, and powerful countries have taken control of weaker ones. It is very difficult to persuade nations to live together in peace. Nevertheless, the United Nations is attempting to do this. It is the only organization that unites the world in the search for peace.Section C (10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 questions. Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions in as few words as possible (not more than 10 words). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 60-64 are based on the following passage.A language is a system of sounds, gestures, or characters used by humans to communicate their ideas and feelings. There are about 4,000 spoken languages in the world. Some are spoken by millions of people. Other languages have only a few speakers.All languages have rules for forming words and for ordering those words in sentences. In written languages, meaning is expressed through a system of characters and rules for combining those characters. In spoken languages, meaning is expressed through a system of sounds and rules for combining those sounds. Many deaf people use sign languages, in which gestures do the work of the sound system of spoken languages.Word order is more important in English than it is in some other languages, such as Russian. The sound system is very important in Chinese and in many languages spoken in West Africa.Languages are always changing, but they change very slowly. People invent new words for their language, borrow words from other languages, and change the meanings of words as needed. For example, the English word byte was invented by computer specialists in 1959. the English word tomato was borrowed from Nahuatl, and American Indian language spoken in Mexico. The English word meat once referred to food in general.There are several major language families in the world. The languages in each family are related, and scientists think they came from the same parent family. Language families come in different sizes. The Austronesian family contains at least 500 languages, including Pilipino, Malay,and Maori. The Basque language, spoken in northern Spain, is the only member of its language family.The Indo-European language family contains 55 languages, including English, German, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.Another language family is Sino-Tibetan, which includes Chinese, Burmese, and Tibetan. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. There are about 150 American Indian languages spoken today. These languages have many differences and have been divided into more than 50 language families.People learn languages by listening, copying what they hear, and using the language. Most children learn their first languages easily, and sometimes other languages as well. Adults often must work harder at learning a second language.Questions:Section D (12 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of three words from the passage to fill in each of the spaces, 65-70. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 65-70 are based on the following passage.Welcome to “Software World” --- bringing you the very latest information on what is currently available on CD-ROM. Are you a director or producer looking for an unusual actor to play a part in a new movie project, or with that special look for a new commercial on TV? OK. The usual procedure would be to contact a theatrical agency, who would try and sell you the idea of using one of the actors listed on their books. Books? Too old-fashioned for you? Then get yourself a copy of this latest electronic database called “The Electronic Curtain”.The brainchild of casting agent Fred Harkney of the Better Talent Agency, he says he got the idea of an actor’s directory from his son playing computer games. Noting that junior had to type in the details of the characters in his favorite game, he realized he could do the same for the actors he represents. Eventually, he came to include information on nearly three quarters of the approximately 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain. With some theatrical agencies boasting that they represent over 500 performers, the need for this product is not hard to fathom. It can be a nightmare trying to remember just which actor has done what, or just what an actor can do. The database lists details of over 5,500 actors: TV shows they have appeared in, special skills they possess --- everything down to the color of their eyes and other distinguishing physical features. By entering the details of the type of person you are looking for, the database quickly locates only those persons with the particular qualities requested.One problem though, is that many actors feel it is too impersonal, and they could be missing out on much needed auditions for parts in theatrical shows. On the other hand, it might just get them that elusive job. The days of nervous nail-biting while waiting around to give an auditioncould well and truly be over. And all because of a small plastic disk. For product details ring this number now: 0171-379-60000.Summary:Part IV Cloze (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (5 marks)There are 5 blanks in the passage. Use the word given on the right-hand side to form a word thatSection B (10 marks)There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, one or more letters of the word have been given (not exceeding 3 letters). Read the passage below and decide which word best fits each blank, using only one word in each word in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.True relaxation is most certainly not a matter of flopping down in front of the television with a welcome drink. Nor is it about drifting into an exhausted sleep. Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness (76) mi_______ be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in (77) te_____ of quality and effect. Regardless of the level of tiredness, real relaxation is a state of alertness, yet, at the same (78) t______, passive awareness, in which our bodies are (79) a________ rest while our minds are awake.Moreover, it is as natural for a healthy person to be relaxed when moving as resting. (80) Be_____ relaxed in action means we bring the appropriate energy to everything we do, (81) W______needs to be rediscovered is conscious relaxation. With this in (85) m______ we must apply ourselves to understanding stress and the nature of its causes, however deep-seated.Part V Translation (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (8 marks)Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.After my mother passed away, my dad tried even harder to stay healthy and active. Every morning, until the weather turned too cold, he swam in the turquoise pool in the complex where he lived. (86) Each day, no matter how he felt, he swam one more lap than the previous day, just to prove there was always room for improvement. Every few days he reported the new number of laps to me, pride edging his voice.By his late seventies, in spite of swimming and working six days a week, my dad had noticeably dwindled in strength and energy. By age eighty-one he was in poor health and had to retire. (87) He pretended he didn’t need to lean heavily on me for support as we walked slowly, and I pretended not to notice. His mind was clear, but congestive heart problems and disabling arthritis had worn him down. One day he said, “In case of an emergency, I do not wish to be kept alive by any extraordinary means. I’ve signed an official paper to this effect.” He smiled his wonderful, broad grin and said, “I’ve been blessed to have had your mother as my wife and you as my only child, and I’m ready to go.”Less than a month later he had a heart attack. In the emergency room, he again reminded his doctor and me of his wishes, but I couldn’t imagine, in spite of this latest crisis, that he wouldn’t always be saying, “Have I told you yet today that I adore you?”(88) He was miserable in intensive care; tubes seemed to come from every opening. But my dad still had his sense of humor, asking me, “Does this mean we can’t keep our lunch date tomorrow?” His voice faltered.“I’ll be here to pick you up and we’ll go someplace special,” I answered, a lump in my throat.(89) Dad refused to look at me for the first time in his life and turned toward the blank green wall next to his hospital bed. There was a painful silence between us. He said, “I don’t want you to remember me like this. Promise me you won’t, darling! And please go now --- I’m so mis erable.Section B (7 marks)Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.90. 她在阳光下只晒了一会儿，脸就开始变红了。
2008年英语专业八级真题及答案解析
TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2008)--GRADE EIGHT--PART I LISTENING COMPREHENSION (35 MIN)SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, you will be given two minutes to check your notes, and another ten minutes to complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note-taking.Complete the gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a maximum of THREE words. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically & semantically acceptable. You may refer to your notes.The Popularity of EnglishⅠ. Present status of EnglishA. English as a native/first languageB. English as a lingua franca: a language for communicationamong people whose (1) are different (1) ______C. Number of people speaking English as a first or a second language:— 320—380 million native speakers— 250—(2) million speakers of English as a second (2) ______LanguageⅡ. Reasons for the popular use of EnglishA. (3) reasons (3) ______— the Pilgrim Fathers brought the language to America;— British settlers brought the language to Australia;— English was used as a means of control in (4) (4) ______B. Economic reasons— spread of (5) (5) ______— language of communication in the international business communityC. (6) in international travel (6) ______— use of English in travel and tourism— signs in airports— language of announcement— language of (7) (7) ______D. Information exchange— use of English in the academic world— language of (8) or journal articles (8) ______E. Popular culture— pop music on (9) (9) ______— films from the USAⅢ. Questions to think aboutA. Status of English in the futureB. (10) of distinct varieties of English (10) ______SECTION B CONVERSATIONIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Questions 1 to 5 are bused on a conversation. At the end of the conversation you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions. Now listen to the conversation.1. Mary doesn't seem to favour the idea of a new airport because[A] the existing airports are to be wasted. [B] more people will be encouraged to travel.[C] more oil will be consumed. [D] more airplanes will be purchased.2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Mary as a potential disadvantage?[A] More people in the area. [B] Noise and motorways.[C] Waste of land. [D] Unnecessary travel.3. Freddy has cited the following advantages for a new airport EXCEPT[A] more job opportunities. [B] vitality to the local economy.[C] road construction. [D] presence of aircrew in the area.4. Mary thinks that people don't need to do much travel nowadays as a result of[A] less emphasis on personal contact. [B] advances in modern telecommunications.[C] recent changes in people's concepts. [D] more potential damage to the area.5. We learn from the conversation that Freddy is ______ Mary's ideas.[A] strongly in favour of [B] mildly in favour of[C] strongly against [D] mildly againstSECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Question 6 is bused on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the question. Now listen to the news.6. What is the main idea of the news item?[A] A new government was formed after Sunday's elections.[B] The new government intends to change the welfare system.[C] The Social Democratic Party founded the welfare system.[D] The Social Democratic Party was responsible for high unemployment.Questions 7 and 8 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the two questions. Now listen to the news.7. The tapes of the Apollo 11 mission were first stored in[A] a U. S. government archives warehouse.[B] a NASA ground tracking station.[C] the Goddard Space Flight Centre.[D] none of the above places.8. What does the news item say about Richard Nafzger?[A] He is assigned the task to look for the tapes.[B] He believes that the tapes are probably lost.[C] He works in a NASA ground receiving site.[D] He had asked for the tapes in the 1970s.Questions 9 and 10 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the two questions. Now listen to the news.9. The example in the news item is cited mainly to show[A] that doctors are sometimes professionally incompetent.[B] that in cases like that hospitals have to pay huge compensations.[C] that language barriers might lower the quality of treatment.[D] that language barriers can result in fatal consequences.10. According to Dr. Flores, hospitals and clinics[A] have seen the need for hiring trained interpreters.[B] have realized the problems of language barriers.[C] have begun training their staff to be bilinguals.[D] have taken steps to provide accurate diagnosis.PART ⅡREADING COMPREHENSION (30 MIN)In this section there are four reading passages followed by a total of 20 multiple-choice questions. Read the passages and then mark your answers on your coloured answer sheet.TEXT AAt the age of 16, Lee Hyuk Joon's life is a living hell. The South Korean 10th grader gets up at 6 in the morning to go to school, and studies most of the day until returning home at 6 p. m. After dinner, it's time to hit the books again—at one of Seoul's many so-called cram schools. Lee gets back home at 1 in the morning, sleeps less than five hours, then repeats the routine—five days a week. It's a grueling schedule, but Lee worries that it may not be good enough to get him into a top university. Some of his classmates study even harder.South Korea's education system has long been highly competitive. But for Lee and the other 700,000 high-school sophomores in the country, high-school studies have gotten even more intense. That's because South Korea has conceived a new college-entrance system, which will be implemented in 2008. This year's 10th graders will be the first group evaluated by the new admissions standard, which places more emphasis on grades in the three years of high school and less on nationwide SA T-style and other selection tests, which have traditionally determined which students go to the elite colleges.The change was made mostly to reduce what the government says is a growing education gap in the country: wealthy students go to the best colleges and get the best jobs, keeping the children of poorer families on the social margins. The aim is to reduce the importance of costly tutors and cram schools, partly to help students enjoy a more normal high-school life. But the new system has had the opposite effect. Before, students didn't worry too much about their grade-point averages; the big challenge was beating the standardized tests as high-school seniors. Now students are competing against one another over a three-year period, and every midterm and final test is crucial. Fretful parents are relying even more heavily on tutors and cram schools to help their children succeed.Parents and kids have sent thousands of angry online letters to the Education Ministry complaining that the new admissions standard is setting students against each other. "One can succeed only when others fail," as one parent said.Education experts say that South Korea's public secondary-school system is foundering, while private education is thriving. According to critics, the country's high schools are almost uniformly mediocre—the result of an egalitarian government education policy. With the number of elite schools strictly controlled by the government, even the brightest students typically have to settle for ordinary schools in their neighbourhoods, where the curriculum is centred on average students. To make up for the mediocrity, zealous parents send their kids to the expensive cram schools.Students in affluent southern Seoul neighbourhoods complain that the new system will hurt them the most. Nearly all Korean high schools will be weighted equally in the college-entrance process, and relatively weak students in provincial schools, who may not score well on standardized tests, often compile good grade-point averages.Some universities, particularly prestigious ones, openly complain that they cannot select the best students under the new system because it eliminates differences among high schools. They've asked for more discretion in picking students by giving more weight to such screening tools as essay writing or interviews.President Roh Moo Hyun doesn't like how some colleges are trying to circumvent the new system. He recently criticized "greedy" universities that focus more on finding the best students than trying to "nurture good students". But amid the crossfire between the government and universities, the country's 10th graders are feeling the stress. On online protest sites, some are calling themselves a "cursed generation" and "mice in a lab experiment". It all seems a touch melodramatic, but that's the South Korean school system.11. According to the passage, the new college-entrance system is designed to[A] require students to sit for more college-entrance tests.[B] reduce the weight of college-entrance tests.[C] select students on their high school grades only.[D] reduce the number of prospective college applicants.12. What seems to be the effect of introducing the new system?[A] The system has given equal opportunities to students.[B] The system has reduced the number of cram schools.[C] The system has intensified competition among schools.[D] The system has increased students' study load.13. According to critics, the popularity of private education is mainly the result of[A] the government's egalitarian policy. [B] insufficient number of schools.[C] curriculums of average quality. [D] low cost of private education.14. According to the passage, there seems to be disagreement over the adoption of the new system between the following groups EXCEPT[A] between universities and the government.[B] between school experts and the government.[C] between parents and schools.[D] between parents and the government.15. Which of the following adjectives best describes the author's treatment of the topic?[A] Objective. [B] Positive. [C] Negative. [D] Biased.TEXT BWilfred Emmanuel-Jones was a teenager before he saw his first cow in his first field. Born in Jamaica, the 47-year-old grew up in inner-city Birmingham before making a career as a television producer and launching his own marketing agency. But deep down he always nurtured every true Englishman's dream of a rustic life, a dream that his entrepreneurial wealth has allowed him to satisfy. These days he's the owner of a thriving 12-hectare farm in deepest Devon with cattle, sheep and pigs. His latest business venture: pushing his brand of Black Farmer gourmet sausages and barbecue sauces. "My background may be very urban," says Emmanuel-Jones. "But it has given me a good idea of what other urbanites want."And of how to sell it. Emmanuel-Jones joins a herd of wealthy fugitives from city life who are bringing a new commercial know-how to British farming. Britain's burgeoning farmers' markets—numbers have doubled to at least 500 in the last five years—swarm with specialty cheesemakers, beekeepers or organic smallholders who are redeploying the business skills they learned in the city. "Everyone in the rural community has to come to terms with the fact that things have changed." Says Emmanuel-Jones. "Y ou can produce the best food in the world, but if you don't know how to market it, you are wasting your time. We are helping the traditionalists to move on."The emergence of the new class of superpeasants reflects some old yearnings. If the British were the first nation to industrialize, they were also the first to head back to the land. "There is this romantic image of the countryside that is particularly English," says Alun Howkins of the University of Sussex, who reckons the population of rural England has been rising since 1911. Migration into rural areas is now running at about 100,000 a year, and the hunger for a taste of the rural life has kept land prices buoyant even as agricultural incomes tumble. About 40 percent of all farmland is now sold to "lifestyle buyers" rather than the dwindling number of traditional farmers, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.What's new about the latest returnees is their affluence and zeal for the business of producing quality foods, if only at a micro-level. A healthy economy and surging London house prices have helped to ease the escape of the would-be rustics. The media recognize and feed the fantasy. One of the big TV hits of recent years, the "River Cottage" series, chronicled the attempts of a London chef to run his own Dorset farm.Naturally, the newcomers can't hope to match their City salaries, but many are happy to trade any loss of income for the extra job satisfaction. Who cares if there's no six-figure annual bonus when the land offers other incalculable compensations?Besides, the specialist producers can at least depend on a burgeoning market for their products. Today's eco-aware generation loves to seek out authentic ingredients. "People like me may be making a difference in a small way," Jan McCourt, a onetime investment banker now running his own 40-hectare spread in the English Midlands stocked with rare breeds.Optimists see signs of far-reaching change: Britain isn't catching up with mainland Europe; it's leading the way. "Unlike most other countries, where artisanal food production is being eroded, here it is being recovered," says food writer Matthew Fort. "It may be the mark of the next stage of civilization that we rediscover the desirability of being a peasant." And not an investment banker.16. Which of the following details of Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is INCORRECT?[A] He was born and brought up in Birmingham.[B] He used to work in the television industry.[C] He is wealthy, adventurous and aspiring.[D] He is now selling his own quality foods.17. Most importantly, people like Wilfred have brought to traditional British farming[A] knowledge of farming. [B] knowledge of brand names.[C] knowledge of lifestyle. [D] knowledge of marketing.18. Which of the following does NOT contribute to the emergence of a new class of farmers?[A] Strong desire for country life. [B] Longing for greater wealth.[C] Influence of TV productions. [D] Enthusiasm for quality food business.19. What is seen as their additional source of new income?[A] Modern tendency to buy natural foods. [B] Increase in the value of land property.[C] Raising and selling rare live stock. [D] Publicity as a result of media coverage.20. The sentence in the last paragraph "... Britain isn't catching up with mainland Europe; it's leading the way" implies that[A] Britain has taken a different path to boost economy.[B] more authentic foods are being produced in Britain.[C] the British are heading back to the countryside.[D] the Europeans are showing great interest in country life.TEXT CIn Barcelona the Catalonians call them castells, but these aren't stereotypical castles in Spain. These castles are made up of human beings, not stone. The people who perform this agile feat of acrobatics are called castellers, and to see their towers take shape is to observe a marvel of human cooperation.First the castellers form what looks like a gigantic rugby scrummage. They are the foundation blocks of the castle. Behind them, other people press together, forming outward-radiating ramparts of inward-pushing muscle: flying buttresses for the castle. Then sturdy but lighter castetlers scramble over the backs of those at the bottom and stand, barefoot, on their shoulders—then still others, each time adding a higher "story".These human towers can rise higher than small apartment buildings: nine "stories", 35 feet into the air. Then, just when it seems this tower of humanity can't defy gravity any longer, a little kid emerges from the crowd and climbs straight up to the top. Arms extended, the child grins while waving to the cheering crowd far below.Dressed in their traditional costumes, the castellers seem to epitomize an easier time, before Barcelona became a world metropolis and the Mediterranean's most dynamic city. But when you observe them up close, in their street clothes, at practice, you see there's nothing easy about what the castellers do—and that they are not merely reenacting an ancient ritual.None of the castellers can give a logical answer as to why they love doing this. But Victor Luna, 16, touches me on the shoulder and says in English: "We do it because it's beautiful. We do it because we are Catalan."Barcelona's mother tongue is Catalan, and to understand Barcelona, you must understand two words of Catalan: seny and rauxa. Seny pretty much translates as common sense, or the ability to make money, arrange things, and get things done. Rauxa is reminiscent of our words "raucous" and "ruckus".What makes the castellers revealing of the city is that they embody rauxa and seny. The idea of a human castle is rauxa—it defies common sense—but to watch one going up is to see seny in action. Success is based on everyone working together to achieve a shared goal.The success of Carlos Tusquets bank, Fibanc, shows seny at work in everyday life. The bank started as a family concern and now employs hundreds. Tusquets said it exemplifies how the economy in Barcelona is different.Entrepreneurial seny demonstrates why Barcelona and Catalonia—the ancient region of which Barcelona is the capital—are distinct from the rest of Spain yet essential to Spain's emergence, after centuries of repression, as a prosperous, democratic European country. Catalonia, with Barcelona as its dynamo, has turned into an economic powerhouse. Making up 6 percent of Spain's territory, with a sixth of its people, it accounts for nearly a quarter of Spain's production—everything from textiles to computers—even though the rest of Spain has been enjoying its own economic miracle.Hand in hand with seny goes rauxa, and there's no better place to see rauxa in action than on the Ramblas, the venerable, tree-shaded boulevard that, in gentle stages, leads you from the centre of Barcelona down to the port. There are two narrow lanes each way for cars and motorbikes, but it's the wide centre walkway that makes the Ramblas a front-row seat for Barcelona's longest running theatrical event. Plastic armchairs are set out on the sidewalk. Sit in one of them, and an attendant will come and charge you a small fee. Performance artists throng the Ramblas—stilt walkers, witches caked in charcoal dust, Elvis impersonators. But the real stars are the old women and happily playing children, millionaires on motorbikes, and pimps and women who, upon closer inspection, prove not to be.Aficionados (Fans) of Barcelona love to compare notes: "Last night there was a man standing on the balcony of his hotel room," Mariana Bertagnolli, an Italian photographer, told me, "The balcony was on the second floor. He was naked, and he was talking into a cell phone."There you have it, Barcelona's essence. The man is naked (rauxa), but he is talking into a cell phone (seny).21. From the description in the passage, we learn that[A] all Catalonians can perform castells.[B] castells require performers to stand on each other.[C] people perform castells in different formations,[D] in castells people have to push and pull each other.22. According to the passage, the implication of the performance is that[A] the Catalonians are insensible and noisy people.[B] the Catalonians Show more sense than is expected.[C] the Catalonians display paradoxical characteristics.[D] the Catalonians think highly of team work.23. The passage cites the following examples EXCEPT ______ to show seny at work.[A] development of a bank [B] dynamic role in economy[C] contribution to national economy [D] comparison with other regions24. In the last but two paragraph, the Ramblas is described as "a front-row seat for Barcelona's longest running theatrical event". What does it mean?[A] On the Ramblas people can see a greater variety of performances.[B] The Ramblas provides many front seats for the performances.[C] The Ramblas is preferred as an important venue for the events.[D] Theatrical performers like to perform on the Ramblas.25. What is the main impression of the scenes on the Ramblas?[A] It is bizarre and outlandish. [B] It is of average quality.[C] It is conventional and quiet. [D] It is of professional standard.TEXT DThe law firm Patrick worked for before he died filed for bankruptcy protection a year after his funeral. After his death, the firm's letterhead properly included him: Patrick S. Lanigan, 1954-1992. He was listed up in the right-hand corner, just above the paralegals. Then the rumors got started and wouldn't stop. Before long, everyone believed he had taken the money and disappeared. After three months, no one on the Gulf Coast believed that he was dead. His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.The remaining partners in the law firm were still together, attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages and the bank notes, back when they were rolling and on the verge of serious wealth. They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thus the bankruptcy. Since Patrick's departure, they had tried every possible way to divorce one another, but nothing would work. Two were raging alcoholics who drank at the office behind locked doors, but never together. The other two were in recovery, still teetering on the brink of sobriety.He took their money. Their millions. Money they had already spent long before it arrived, as only lawyers can do. Money for their richly renovated office building in downtown Biloxi. Money for new homes, yachts, condos in the Caribbean. The money was on the way, approved, the papers signed, orders entered; they could see it, almost touch it when their dead partner—Patrick—snatched it at the last possible second.He was dead. They buried him on February 11,1992. They had consoled the widow and put his rotten name on their handsome letterhead. Y et six weeks later, he somehow stole their money.They had brawled over who was to blame. Charles Bogan, the firm's senior partner and its iron hand, had insisted the money be wired from its source into a new account offshore, and this made sense after some discussion. It was ninety million bucks, a third of which the firm would keep, and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand. Someone at the bank would talk. Soon everyone would know. All four vowed secrecy, even as they made plans to display as much of their new wealth as possible. There had even been talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.So Bogan took his share of the blame. At forty-nine, he was the oldest of the four, and, at the moment, the most stable. He was also responsible for hiring Patrick nine years earlier, and for this he had received no small amount of grief.Doug V itrano, the litigator, had made the fateful decision to recommend Patrick as the fifth partner. The other three had agreed, and when Patrick Lanigan was added to the firm name, he had access to virtually every file in the office. Bogan, Rapley, V itrano, Havarac, and Lanigan, Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law. A large ad in the yellow pages claimed "Specialists in Offshore Injuries." Specialists or not, like most firms they would take almost anything if the fees were lucrative, Lots of secretaries, and paralegals. Big overhead, and the strongest political connections on the Coast.They were all in their mid-to late forties, Havarac had been raised by his father on a shrimp boat. His hands were still proudly calloused, and he dreamed of choking Patrick until his neck snapped. Rapley was severely depressed and seldom left his home, where he wrote briefs in a dark office in the attic.26. What happened to the four remaining lawyers after Patrick's disappearance?[A] They all wanted to divorce their wives. [B] They were all heavily involved in debts.[C] They were all recovering from drinking. [D] They had bought new homes, yachts, etc,27. Which of the following statements contains a metaphor?[A] His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.[B] ... they could see it, almost touch it when their dead partner...[C] ... attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages...[D] ... and for this he had received no small amount of grief.28. According to the passage, what is the main cause of Patrick stealing the money?[A] Patrick was made a partner of the firm.[B] The partners agreed to have the money transferred.[C] Patrick had access to all the files in the firm.[D] Bogan decided to hire Patrick nine years earlier.29. The lawyers were described as being all the following EXCEPT[A] greedy. [B] extravagant. [C] quarrelsome. [D] bad-tempered.30. Which of the following implies a contrast?[A] ..., and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand.[B] They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thus the bankruptcy.[C] There had even been talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.[D] His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.PART ⅢGENERAL KNOWLEDGE (10 MIN)There are ten multiple-choice questions in this section. Choose the best answer to each question. Mark your answers on your coloured answer sheet.31. The largest city in Canada is[A] V ancouver. [B] Montreal. [C] Toronto. [D] Ottawa.32. According to the United States Constitution, the legislative power is invested in[A] the Federal Government. [B] the Supreme Court,[C] the Cabinet. [D] the Congress.33. Which of the following is the oldest sport in the United States?[A] Baseball. [B] Tennis. [C] Basketball. [D] American football,34. The head of the executive branch in New Zealand is[A] the President. [B] the Governor-General.[C] the British monarch. [D] the Prime Minister.35. The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, is an important poetic work by[A] William Langland. [B] Geoffrey Chaucer.[C] William Shakespeare. [D] Alfred Tennyson.36. Who wrote The American?[A] Herman Melville. [B] Nathaniel Hawthorne.[C] Henry James. [D] Theodore Dreiser.37. All of the following are well-known female writers in 20th-century Britain EXCEPT[A] George Eliot. [B] Iris Jean Murdoch.[C] Doris Lessing. [D] Muriel Spark.38. Which of the following is NOT a design feature of human language?[A] Arbitrariness. [B] Displacement.[C] Duality. [D] Diachronicity.39. What type of sentence is "Mark likes fiction, but Tim is interested in poetry."?[A] A simple sentence. [B] A coordinate sentence.[C] A complex sentence. [D] None of the above.40. The phenomenon that words having different meanings have the same form is called[A] hyponymy. [B] synonymy.。
2008-2014年全国大学生英语竞赛C类初赛真题及答案汇总
2008 National English Contest for College 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. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be read only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.1. A. To buy a newspaper. B. To find a chemist. C. To post a letter.2. A. Their billing system has been efficient.B. Their old billing system is outdated.C. He’s unimpressed with the new billing system.3. A. She’s been on vacation. B. She’s been at the grocery store.C. She’s been on a business trip.4. A. To go to the market. B. To have coffee. C. To have a discussion.5. A. Changing a flight reservation. B. Canceling a hotel reservation.C. Reserving an extra hotel room.Section B (10 marks)In this section, you will hear two long conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. At the end of each conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, read the five questions, each with three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. Conversation one6. What’s Tania’s phone number?A. 506-6178B. 501-6678C. 501-66877. Who is going shopping at Harrods?A. Tania.B. Karl.C. Karl’s mother.8. How is Tania going to get to Harrods?A. On foot.B. By taxi.C. By tube.9. Which street plan shows the way from the station?A. B. C.10. What kind of wine does Karl want?A. Red Merlot.B. White Bordeaux.C. Rose Chianti. Conversation Two11. Which drawing shows the position of the handle?A. B. C.12. What other product features are included?A. A range of handle sizes.B. A variety of color combinations.C. A set of rings for different-sized tins.13. What’s the purpose of the V-clip?A.To hold the paint brush so it drips in the can.B.To prevent paint from getting onto the painted surfaces.C.To prevent the brush drying out if the painter is interrupted.14. Who will probably use the can-holder?A. Artists.B. Decorators.C. Soldiers.15. How much does the product cost?A. ￡4.B. ￡5.C. $4.Section C (5 marks)16. What has prompted the new administration to review the Australia’s citizenship test?A. It’s out of date.B. Higher immigration rates.C. Many applicants failing it.17. Which train provides the easiest way to see Mount Fuji?A. From Tokyo to Yokohama.B. From Osaka to Yokohama.C. From Tokyo to Osaka.18. How many U.N. employees were killed in 2007?A. 17.B. 42.C. 59.19. What have studies found out about severe pneumonia treatment?A.No medication works in developing countries.B.It can be effectively treated at home with oral antibiotics.C.It can only be treated in the hospital with injectable antibiotics.20. What was the bar’s business like before the smoking ban?A. Almost empty every day.B. Usually crowded at midday.C. Empty on Wednesdays.Section D (10 marks)In this section, you will hear a short passage. There are ten missing words or phrases. Fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear on the tape. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Crime isn’t rising because the laws are not strict enough, or because the (21) ________ are not tough enough, or simply because there aren’t enough policemen on the beat. It is rising because the agencies and individuals who can have a (22) _______ effect on crime are not pulling together or in the same (23) ______. The police are one of those agencies, of course. But crime prevention is also a matter for (24) ______ who are content to see mass (25) _______ turn into a way of life, for councils who prefer to shout yah-boo at the police, (26) _____ getting on with making life safer for local people, for architects who design exposed and indefensible buildings, for parents who don’t take enough interest in what their teenage children are getting up to and for (27) ______ who sit inside and moan (28) ______ do anything about the state of the neighborhood or the street. Crime prevention has been neglected for too many by too many. Over the last ten years it has been willfully neglected in defiance of mounting (29) _______ that it is the centralhope of (30) ________ action against crime.Part II V ocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices, marked A, B C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous.A. a; aB. the; aC. a; /D. /; the32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did.A. chance.B. opportunityC. optionD. solution33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people.A. generalB. usualC. commonD. average34. How did they manage to steal the Van Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose.A. belowB. beforeC. underD. beside35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly.A. is consideringB. was consideringC. should considerD. has considered36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______.A. in similarB. in particularC. in commonD. in accordance37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas.A. fell overB. fell downC. fell throughD. fell on38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true.A. thoughtB. should thinkC. had thoughtD. thinking39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t want ______.A. saw; enter; killedB. saw; enter; to be killedC. sees; entering; be killedD. sees; enter; killing40. Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday.A. whoB. thatC. whichD. as41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test.A. when choosingB. when you will chooseC. when you have chosenD. when you chose42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______.A. when he first introducedB. that he first introduced itC. he first introducedD. which he first introduced it43. ________ really. I like both public transport and driving.A. On second thoughtsB. I could go either wayC. I will never learn to driveD. But then again44. _____ I’m getting married!A. Can you keep a secret?B. Well I never!C. Many happy returns.D. Congratulations!45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s cold all the time.A. I beg your pardon?B. Yeah, but it’s not very good.C. Do you know any good hotels?D. Do you have any suggestions?Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks)Section A (4 marks)There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choicesmarked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatment with antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.TREATMENTAspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.CHILDRENYoung children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given aspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age.At one year: a single junior aspirin.At five years: half an adult aspirin.At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTORIf the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days.If the patient complains of earache.If the patient or parent is very worried.46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________.A.require an immediate visit to a doctorB.respond quickly to treatment with an antibioticC.rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illnessD.result in tonsillitis even when treated47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.A.prevent the patient from eating too muchB. give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every dayC. advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquidsD. make the patient gargle with hot liquids48. You should call the doctor in if _________.A.swelling occurs in the region of the earsB.the patient’s condition worsens after 2 daysC.the patient’s throat is still sore after a weekD.the disease spreads to another member of the family49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin?61.Young children should not be allowed to gargle with it.62.Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.63.Young children should be given aspirin more often than adults.64.Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.Section B (14 marks)There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet.For questions 50-55, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:1. To work together for international peace and to solve international problems;2. To develop friendly relations among nations;3. To work together for human rights for everyone of all races, religions, and of both sexes;4. To build a center where nations can work together for these goals.Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:1. All members are equal.2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way.3. No member will use force against another member.4. All members will help the UN in its actions.5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries except to enforce international peace.Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.The main United Nations organization is in New York City, but the UN has a “family”of other related organizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many other services for poor children wherever they live. Another example is the World Health Organization, which develops medical programs all over the world.There are thousands of UN workers in developing countries. They work as planners to increase production in farming and industry. They provide medical services, improve education programs, and spread scientific information. They develop programs that provide jobs and better living conditions. They help countries control their population growth.The United Nations also holds large international conferences, where people meet to discuss important world issues. One conference was about the uses and ownership of oceans. Another was about women. There are also International Years. In these special years, people work together to improve situations and solve problems. One year was the International Year of the Child.For centuries countries have fought each other, and powerful countries have taken control of weaker ones. It is very difficult to persuade nations to live together in peace. Nevertheless, the United Nations is attempting to do this. It is the only organization that unites the world in the search for peace.Section C (10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 questions. Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions in as few words as possible (not more than 10 words). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 60-64 are based on the following passage.A language is a system of sounds, gestures, or characters used by humans to communicate their ideas and feelings. There are about 4,000 spoken languages in the world. Some are spoken by millions of people. Other languages have only a few speakers.All languages have rules for forming words and for ordering those words in sentences. In written languages, meaning is expressed through a system of characters and rules for combining those characters. In spoken languages, meaning is expressed through a system of sounds and rules for combining those sounds. Many deaf people use sign languages, in which gestures do the work of the sound system of spoken languages.Word order is more important in English than it is in some other languages, such as Russian. The sound system is very important in Chinese and in many languages spoken in West Africa.Languages are always changing, but they change very slowly. People invent new words for their language, borrow words from other languages, and change the meanings of words as needed. For example, the English word byte was invented by computer specialists in 1959. the English word tomato was borrowed from Nahuatl, and American Indian language spoken in Mexico. The English word meat once referred to food in general.There are several major language families in the world. The languages in each family are related, and scientists think they came from the same parent family. Language families come in different sizes. The Austronesian family contains at least 500 languages, including Pilipino, Malay, and Maori. The Basque language, spoken in northern Spain, is the only member of its language family.The Indo-European language family contains 55 languages, including English, German,Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.Another language family is Sino-Tibetan, which includes Chinese, Burmese, and Tibetan. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. There are about 150 American Indian languages spoken today. These languages have many differences and have been divided into more than 50 language families.People learn languages by listening, copying what they hear, and using the language. Most children learn their first languages easily, and sometimes other languages as well. Adults often must work harder at learning a second language.Questions:Section D (12 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of three words from the passage to fill in each of the spaces, 65-70. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 65-70 are based on the following passage.Welcome to “Software World” --- bringing you the very latest information on what is currently available on CD-ROM. Are you a director or producer looking for an unusual actor to play a part in a new movie project, or with that special look for a new commercial on TV? OK. The usual procedure would be to contact a theatrical agency, who would try and sell you the idea of using one of the actors listed on their books. Books? Too old-fashioned for you? Then get yourself a copy of this latest electronic database called “The Electronic Curtain”.The brainchild of casting agent Fred Harkney of the Better Talent Agency, he says he got the idea of an actor’s directory from his son playing computer games. Noting that junior had to type in the details of the characters in his favorite game, he realized he could do the same for the actors he represents. Eventually, he came to include information on nearly three quarters of the approximately 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain. With some theatrical agencies boasting that they represent over 500 performers, the need for this product is not hard tofathom. It can be a nightmare trying to remember just which actor has done what, or just what an actor can do. The database lists details of over 5,500 actors: TV shows they have appeared in, special skills they possess --- everything down to the color of their eyes and other distinguishing physical features. By entering the details of the type of person you are looking for, the database quickly locates only those persons with the particular qualities requested.One problem though, is that many actors feel it is too impersonal, and they could be missing out on much needed auditions for parts in theatrical shows. On the other hand, it might just get them that elusive job. The days of nervous nail-biting while waiting around to give an audition could well and truly be over. And all because of a small plastic disk. For product details ring this number now: 0171-379-60000.Summary:Part IV Cloze (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (5 marks)There are 5 blanks in the passage. Use the word given on the right-hand side to form a word that fits in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, one or more letters of the word have been given (not exceeding 3 letters). Read the passage below and decide which word best fits each blank, using only one word in each word in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.True relaxation is most certainly not a matter of flopping down in front of the television with a welcome drink. Nor is it about drifting into an exhausted sleep. Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness (76) mi_______ be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in (77) te_____ of quality and effect. Regardless of the level of tiredness, real relaxation is a state of alertness, yet, at the same (78) t______, passive awareness, in which our bodies are (79) a________ rest while our minds are awake.Moreover, it is as natural for a healthy person to be relaxed when moving as resting. (80) Be_____ relaxed in action means we bring the appropriate energy to everything we do, (81) W______ needs to be rediscovered is conscious relaxation. With this in (85) m______ we must apply ourselves to understanding stress and the nature of its causes, however deep-seated.Part V Translation (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (8 marks)Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.After my mother passed away, my dad tried even harder to stay healthy and active. Every morning, until the weather turned too cold, he swam in the turquoise pool in the complex where he lived. (86) Each day, no matter how he felt, he swam one more lap than the previous day, just to prove there was always room for improvement. Every few days he reported the new number of laps to me, pride edging his voice.By his late seventies, in spite of swimming and working six days a week, my dad had noticeably dwindled in strength and energy. By age eighty-one he was in poor health and had to retire. (87) He pretended he didn’t need to lean heavily on me for support as we walked slowly,and I pretended not to notice. His mind was clear, but congestive heart problems and disabling arthritis had worn him down. One day he said, “In case of an emergency, I do not wish to be kept alive by any extraordinary means. I’ve signed an official paper to this effect.” He smiled his wonderful, broad grin and said, “I’ve been blessed to have had your mother as my wife and you as my only child, and I’m ready to go.”Less than a month later he had a heart attack. In the emergency room, he again reminded his doctor and me of his wishes, but I couldn’t imagine, in spite of this latest crisis, that he wouldn’t always be saying, “Have I told you yet today that I adore you?”(88) He was miserable in intensive care; tubes seemed to come from every opening. But my dad still had his sense of humor, asking me, “Does this mean we can’t keep our lunch date tomorrow?” His voice faltered.“I’ll be here to pick you up and we’ll go someplace special,” I answered, a lump in my throat.(89) Dad refused to look at me for the first time in his life and turned toward the blank green wall next to his hospital bed. There was a painful silence between us. He said, “I don’t want you to remember me like this. Promise me you won’t, darling! And please go now --- I’m so miserable. Section B (7 marks)Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.90. 她在阳光下只晒了一会儿，脸就开始变红了。
2008 National English Contest for College Students(Level B - Sample)参考答案
1. M: I guess we'll have a hot summer again.
W: I know. Last summer was mild. Do you remember our first summer
7. W: I'm going to invite a few of my classmates to a party.
M: You can't invite just a few. The others will be angry.
Q: What does the man imply that the woman should do?
8. M: We'll have to hurry if we're going to be on time to get to the
airport. It's already eight thirty.
W: Well, it takes only half an hour to get to the airport, and
application?
M: Isn't there a photocopy machine in the post office that you
were just in?
Q: What does the man Imply?
was said. Both the conversation and the question will be read only
once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause,
2008年11月翻译资格考试三级英语笔译实务真题及答案
2008年11月翻译资格考试三级英语笔译实务真题及答案试题部分：Section 1: English-Chinese Translation (英译汉) Translate the following passage into Chinese.LONGYEARBYEN, Norway —With plant species disappearing at an alarming rate, scientists and governments are creating a global network of plant banks to store seeds and sprouts, precious genetic resources that may be needed for man to adapt the world’s food supply to climate change.This week, the flagship of that effort, the Global Seed Vault near here, received its first seeds, millions of them. Bored into the middle of a frozen Arctic mountain topped with snow, the vault’s goal is to store and protect samples of every type of seed from every seed collection in the world.As of Thursday, thousands of neatly stacked and labeled gray boxes of seeds —peas from Nigeria, corn from Mexico —reside in this glazed cavelike structure, forming a sort of backup hard drive, in case natural disasters or human errors erase the seeds from the outside world.Descending almost 500 feet under the permafrost, the entrance tunnel to the seed vault is designed to withstand bomb blasts and earthquakes. An automated digital monitoring system controls temperature and provides security akin to a missile silo or Fort Knox. No one person has all the codes for entrance.The Global Vault is part of a broader effort to gather and systematize information about plants and their genes, which climate change experts say may indeed prove more valuable than gold. In Leuven, Belgium, scientists are scouring the world for banana samples and preserving their shoots in liquid nitrogen before they become extinct.A similar effort is under way in France on coffee plants. A number of plants, most from the tropics, do not produce seeds that can be stored.For years, a hodgepodge network of seed banks has been amassing seed and shoot collections in a haphazard manner. Labs in Mexico banked corn species. Those in Nigeria banked cassava. Now these scattershot efforts are being urgently consolidated and systematized, in part because of better technology to preserve plant genes and in part because of the rising alarm about climate change and its impact on world food production.“We started thinking about this post-9/11 and on the heels of Hurricane Katrina,” said Cary Fowler, president of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, a nonprofit group that runs the vault. “Everyone was saying, why didn’t anyone prepare for ahurricane before? We knew it was going to happen.“Well, we are losing biodiversity every day —it’s a kind of drip, dr ip, drip. It’s also inevitable. We need to do something about it.”This week the urgency of the problem was underscored as wheat prices rose to record highs and wheat stores dropped to the lowest level in 35 years. A series of droughts and new diseases cu t wheat production in many parts of the world. “The erosion of plants’ genetic resources is really going fast,” said Dr. Rony Swennen, head of the division of crop biotechnology at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, who has preserved half of the world’s 1,200 banana types. “We’re at a critical moment and if we don’t act fast, we’re going to lose a lot of plants that we may need.”The United Nations International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, ratified in 2004, created a formal global network for banking and sharing seeds, as well as for studying their genetic traits. Last year, its database received thousands of new seeds.A system of plant banks could be crucial in responding to climate crises since it could identify genetic material and plant strains better able to cope with a changed environment.Here at the Global Vault, hundreds of gray boxes containing seeds from places ranging from Syria to Mexico were moved this week into a freezing vault to be placed in suspended animation. They harbor a vast range of qualities, like the ability to withstand drier, warmer climate.Section 2: Chinese-English Translation (汉译英) Translate the following passage into English.在上海的现代化轻轨列车上，上班族有的在打手机，有的在用笔记本电脑，有的在观赏车内顺平显示器上播放的电影。
2008年全国大学生英语竞赛初赛试卷(C类)及答案--来自赛才网[1]
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2008 National English Contest for College 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. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be read only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.1. A. To buy a newspaper. B. To find a chemist.C. To post a letter.2. A. Their billing system has been efficient.B. Their old billing system is outdated.C. He’s unimpressed with the new billing system.3. A. She’s been on vacation. B. She’s been at the grocery store.C. She’s been on a business trip.4. A. To go to the market. B. To have coffee.C. To have a discussion.5. A. Changing a flight reservation. B. Canceling a hotel reservation.C. Reserving an extra hotel room.Section B (10 marks)In this section, you will hear two long conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. At the end of each conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, read the five questions, each with three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Conversation one6. What’s Tania’s phone number?A. 506-6178B. 501-6678C. 501-66877. Who is going shopping at Harrods?A. Tania.B. Karl.C. Karl’s mother.8. How is Tania going to get to Harrods?A. On foot.B. By taxi.C. By tube.9. Which street plan shows the way from the station?A. B. C.10. What kind of wine does Karl want?A. Red Merlot.B. White Bordeaux.C. Rose Chianti.Conversation Two11. Which drawing shows the position of the handle?A. B. C.12. What other product features are included?A. A range of handle sizes.B. A variety of color combinations.C. A set of rings for different-sized tins.13. What’s the purpose of the V-clip?A.To hold the paint brush so it drips in the can.B.To prevent paint from getting onto the painted surfaces.C.To prevent the brush drying out if the painter is interrupted.14. Who will probably use the can-holder?A. Artists.B. Decorators.C. Soldiers.15. How much does the product cost?A. ￡4.B. ￡5.C. $4.Section C (5 marks)In this section, you will hear five short news item. 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 center.16. What has prompted the new administration to review the Australia’s citizenship test?A. It’s out of date.B. Higher immigration rates.C. Many applicants failing it.17. Which train provides the easiest way to see Mount Fuji?A. From Tokyo to Yokohama.B. From Osaka to Yokohama.C. From Tokyo to Osaka.18. How many U.N. employees were killed in 2007?A. 17.B. 42.C. 59.19. What have studies found out about severe pneumonia treatment?A.No medication works in developing countries.B.It can be effectively treated at home with oral antibiotics.C.It can only be treated in the hospital with injectableantibiotics.20. What was the bar’s business like before the smoking ban?A. Almost empty every day.B. Usually crowded at midday.C. Empty on Wednesdays.Section D (10 marks)In this section, you will hear a short passage. There are ten missing words or phrases. Fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear on the tape. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Crime isn’t rising because the laws are not strict enough, or because the (21) ________ are not tough enough, or simply because there aren’t enough policemen on the beat. It is rising because the agencies and individuals who can have a (22) _______ effect on crime are not pulling together or in the same (23) ______. The police are one of those agencies, of course. But crime prevention is also amatter for (24) ______ who are content to see mass (25) _______ turn into a way of life, for councils who prefer to shout yah-boo at the police, (26) _____ getting on with making life safer for local peo、ple, for architects who design exposed and indefensible buildin、gs, for parents who don’t take enough interest in what their teenage children are getting up to and for (27) ______ who sit inside and moan (28) ______ do anything about the state of the neighborhood or the street. Crime prevention has been neglected for too many by too many. Over the last ten years it has been willfully neglected in defiance of mounting (29) _______ that it is the central hope of (30) ________ action against crime.Part II Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices, marked A, B C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous.A. a; aB. the; aC. a; /D. /; the32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did.A. chance.B. opportunityC. optionD. solution33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people.A. generalB. usualC. commonD. average34. How did they manage to steal the Van Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose.A. belowB. beforeC. underD. beside35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly.A. is consideringB. was consideringC. should considerD. has considered36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______.A. in similarB. in particularC. in commonD. in accordance37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas.A. fell overB. fell downC. fell throughD. fell on38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true.A. thoughtB. should thinkC. had thoughtD. thinking39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t wan t ______.A. saw; enter; killedB. saw; enter; to be killedC. sees; entering; be killedD. sees; enter; killing40. Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday.A. whoB. thatC. whichD. as41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test.A. when choosingB. when you will chooseC. when you have chosenD. when you chose42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______.A. when he first introducedB. that he first introduced itC. he first introducedD. which he first introduced it43. ________ really. I like both public transport and driving.A. On second thoughtsB. I could go either wayC. I will never learn to driveD. But then again44. _____ I’m getting married!A. Can you keep a secret?B. Well I never!C. Many happy returns.D. Congratulations!45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s cold all the time.A. I beg your pardon?B. Yeah, but it’s not very good.C. Do you know any good hotels?D. Do you have any suggestions?Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks) Section A (4 marks)There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatmentwith antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.TREATMENTAspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.CHILDRENYoung children, who may not be able to gargle, should be givenaspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age.At one year: a single junior aspirin.At five years: half an adult aspirin.At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTORIf the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days.If the patient complains of earache.If the patient or parent is very worried.46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________.A.require an immediate visit to a doctorB.respond quickly to treatment with an antibioticC.rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illnessD.result in tonsillitis even when treated47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.A.prevent the patient from eating too muchB.give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every dayC.advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquidsD.make the patient gargle with hot liquids48. You should call the doctor in if _________.A.swelling occurs in the region of the earsB.the patient’s condition worsens after 2 daysC.the patient’s throat is still sore after a weekD.the disease spreads to another member of the family49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin?A.Young children should not be allowed to gargle with it.B.Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.C.Young children should be given aspirin more often than adults.D.Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.Section B (14 marks)There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet.For questions 50-55, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N(for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage. For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:1.To work together for international peace and to solveinternational problems;2.To develop friendly relations among nations;3.To work together for human rights for everyone of all races,religions, and of both sexes;4.To build a center where nations can work together for thesegoals.Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:1. All members are equal.2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way.3. No member will use force against another member.4. All members will help the UN in its actions.5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries exceptto enforce international peace.Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.The main United Nations organization is in New York City, but the UN has a “family” of other related orga nizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many other services for poor children wherever they live. Another example is the World Health Organization, which develops medical programs all over the world.There are thousands of UN workers in developing countries. They work as planners to increase production in farming and industry. They provide medical services, improve education programs, and spread scientific information. They develop programs that provide jobs and better living conditions. They help countries control their population growth.The United Nations also holds large international conferences, where people meet to discuss important world issues. One conference was about the uses and ownership of oceans. Anotherwas about women. There are also International Years. In these special years, people work together to improve situations and solve problems. One year was the International Year of the Child.For centuries countries have fought each other, and powerful countries have taken control of weaker ones. It is very difficult to persuade nations to live together in peace. Nevertheless, the United Nations is attempting to do this. It is the only organization that unites the world in the search for peace.Section C (10 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 questions. Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions in as few words as possible (not more than 10 words). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Questions 60-64 are based on the following passage.A language is a system of sounds, gestures, or characters used by humans to communicate their ideas and feelings. There are about 4,000 spoken languages in the world. Some are spoken by millions of people. Other languages have only a few speakers.All languages have rules for forming words and for ordering those words in sentences. In written languages, meaning is expressed through a system of characters and rules for combining those characters. In spoken languages, meaning is expressed through a system of sounds and rules for combining those sounds. Many deaf people use sign languages, in which gestures do the work of the sound system of spoken languages.Word order is more important in English than it is in some other languages, such as Russian. The sound system is very important in Chinese and in many languages spoken in West Africa.Languages are always changing, but they change very slowly. People invent new words for their language, borrow words fromother languages, and change the meanings of words as needed. For example, the English word byte was invented by computer specialists in 1959. the English word tomato was borrowed from Nahuatl, and American Indian language spoken in Mexico. The English word meat once referred to food in general.There are several major language families in the world. The languages in each family are related, and scientists think they came from the same parent family. Language families come in different sizes. The Austronesian family contains at least 500 languages, including Pilipino, Malay, and Maori. The Basque language, spoken in northern Spain, is the only member of its language family.The Indo-European language family contains 55 languages, including English, German, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.Another language family is Sino-Tibetan, which includes Chinese, Burmese, and Tibetan. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. There are about 150 American Indian languages spoken today. These languages have many differences and have been divided into more than 50 language families.People learn languages by listening, copying what they hear, and using the language. Most children learn their first languages easily, and sometimes other languages as well. Adults often must work harder at learning a second language.Questions:Section D (12 marks)In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of three words from the passage to fill in each of the spaces, 65-70. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet. Questions 65-70 are based on the following passage.Welcome to “Software World” --- bringing you the very latest information on what is currently available on CD-ROM. Are you a director or producer looking for an unusual actor to play a part in a new movie project, or with that special look for a new commercial on TV? OK. The usual procedure would be to contact a theatrical agency, who would try and sell you the idea of using one of theactors listed on their books. Books? Too old-fashioned for you? Then get yourself a copy of this latest electronic database called “The Electronic Curtain”.The brainchild of casting agent Fred Harkney of the Better Talent Agency, he says he got the idea of an actor’s directory from his son playing computer games. Noting that junior had to type in the details of the characters in his favorite game, he realized he could do the same for the actors he represents. Eventually, he came to include information on nearly three quarters of the approximately 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain. With some theatrical agencies boasting that they represent over 500 performers, the need for this product is not hard to fathom. It can be a nightmare trying to remember just which actor has done what, or just what an actor can do. The database lists details of over 5,500 actors: TV shows they have appeared in, special skills they possess --- everything down to the color of their eyes and other distinguishing physical features. By entering the details of the type of person you are looking for, the database quickly locates only those persons with the particular qualities requested.One problem though, is that many actors feel it is too impersonal, and they could be missing out on much needed auditions for parts in theatrical shows. On the other hand, it might just get them thatelusive job. The days of nervous nail-biting while waiting around to give an audition could well and truly be over. And all because of a small plastic disk. For product details ring this number now: 0171-379-60000.Summary:Part IV Cloze (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (5 marks)There are 5 blanks in the passage. Use the word given on the right-hand side to form a word that fits in each blank. Remember towrite the answers on the Answer Sheet.Section B (10 marks)There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, one or more letters of the word have been given (not exceeding 3 letters). Read the passage below and decide which word best fits each blank, using only one word in each word in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.True relaxation is most certainly not a matter of flopping down in front of the television with a welcome drink. Nor is it about drifting into an exhausted sleep. Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness (76) mi_______ be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in (77) te_____ of quality and effect. Regardless of the level of tiredness, real relaxation is a state of alertness, yet, at the same (78) t______, passive awareness, in which our bodies are (79) a________ rest while our minds are awake.Moreover, it is as natural for a healthy person to be relaxed when moving as resting. (80) Be_____ relaxed in action means we bring the appropriate energy to everything we do, (81) W______ needs to be rediscovered is conscious relaxation. With this in (85) m______ we must apply ourselves to understanding stress and the nature of its causes, however deep-seated.Part V Translation (15 minutes, 15 marks)Section A (8 marks)Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.After my mother passed away, my dad tried even harder to stayhealthy and active. Every morning, until the weather turned too cold, he swam in the turquoise pool in the complex where he lived. (86) Each day, no matter how he felt, he swam one more lap than the previous day, just to prove there was always room for improvement. Every few days he reported the new number of laps to me, pride edging his voice.By his late seventies, in spite of swimming and working six days a week, my dad had noticeably dwindled in strength and energy. By age eighty-one he was in poor health and had to retire. (87) He pretended he didn’t need to lean heavily on m e for support as we walked slowly, and I pretended not to notice. His mind was clear, but congestive heart problems and disabling arthritis had worn him down. One day he said, “In case of an emergency, I do not wish to be kept alive by any extraordinary me ans. I’ve signed an official paper to this effect.” He smiled his wonderful, broad grin and said, “I’ve been blessed to have had your mother as my wife and you as my only child, and I’m ready to go.”Less than a month later he had a heart attack. In the emergency room, he again reminded his doctor and me of his wishes, but I couldn’t imagine, in spite of this latest crisis, that he wouldn’t always be saying, “Have I told you yet today that I adore you?”(88) He was miserable in intensive care; tubes seemed to come from every opening. But my dad still had his sense of humor, asking me, “Does this mean we can’t keep our lunch date tomorrow?” His voice faltered.“I’ll be here to pick you up and we’ll go someplace special,” I answered, a lump in my throat.(89) Dad refused to look at me for the first time in his life and turned toward the blank green wall next to his hospital bed. There was a painful silence between us. He said, “I don’t want you to remember me like this. Promise me you won’t, darling! And please go now --- I’m so miserable.Section B (7 marks)Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.90. 她在阳光下只晒了一会儿，脸就开始变红了。
2008年全国大学生英语竞赛初赛试卷(D类)及答案
2008 Nationnal English Contest forCollege Students(Level D---Preliminary)Part I Listening Comprehension (25 minutes,30 marks) Section A:In this part,you will hear seven recordings.The seven recordings will be played only once.At the end of each recording,a question will be asked about what was said.After each question,there will be a pause.During the pause,look carefully at three pictures marked A,B and C,and decide which picture answers the question.Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.(7 marks)1.What time does the film stat?A.6:00B.6:30C.8:002. What season is the speaker describing in the poem?（个别题目的图画从略，下同）3. Which graph is the speaker talking about?4. How does Jack come into the office?5. Why does the speaker want some coins?6. Which subject does Mike think is the most difficut?7. What does Henry drink after breakfast now?Section B:In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations.At the end of each conversation,aquestion will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and question will be read only once.After each conversation,there will be a pause.During the pause,read 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.(8 marks)8. A.The coffee table B. The couch C.The desk9.A.This Friday B.This weekday C.Monday throughFriday10.A.In Hong Kong B.In the mail C.With Susan11.By train B.By bus C.By plane12.A.He has poor eyesight B.The newspaper has been sold outC.There are no English magamines13.A.Get to the train station B.Get out of the heatC.Take a walk14.A.Baked goods B.A building C.A restaurant15.A.Lend Paul her computers B.Sell him an adapterC.Ask a friwnd for helpSectionC: In this section, you will hear one long conversation.The conversation will be played only once. At the end of the conversation, there will be a one—minute pause.During the pause,read the five questions,each with three choices marked A,B and C, and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the correspoonding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line throughthe centre.(5marks)Questions 16 to 20 are bsed on the conversation you hace just heard.16.Where does this conversation probably take place?A.At jane’sB.At an office.C.At a bar17.How much does the most expensive wine cost?A.Almost $1,600B.Nearly $6,000C.Around $60,00018.What does Jane say about the most expensivewine?A.It is the oldest wineB.It is over 2oo years old.C.It was produced in Washington,D.C19.What does the man think about the wine?A.It’s very special.B.It’s too expensive.C.It;s better than buyinga house.20.What is said that Thomas Jefferson did with the wine?A.He introduced it to George Washington.B.He keat several bottles of it in Washington.C.He passed the wine down to his descendants.SectionD: In this section,there is a short passage. Listen to the passage carefully, and then fill in the blanks with the words or phrases you hear on the tape. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.Good morning and welcome. I’m here today to talk about time management.My aim i8s to (21)____ some techniques which will help you to use your time more efficiently.Time is (22)____ money, people and equipment. It’s a limited(23)____. Time management is about making the best(24)_____use of it. So,what are the (25)____of time management?Today we’re going to look at three fundamental steps.The first step is to (26)____ how you use your time now.This requires a methodical approach. Break your day into half hour periods. Record what you do in each period.The mext step id to prioritise.Take the tasks which genuinely(270____and put them in order of priority –whih are the most important,which are (28)____.(29)____, organize your time and your tasls. Ask yourself ―How much time will I need?‖Be realistic because work tends to expand to fill the time (30)____.Part ⅡVocabulary and Structures (10 minutes,15 marks) There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank, there are four choices marked A,,B,C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the AnswerSheet with a single line through the centre.31.We had an exciting _____ on the Trans—Siberian railway last week.a.travel B.trip C.tour D.cruise32.I have an urgent problem and I need to call mu parents, buty I’m afraid I haven’t got _____ change –only a $10 note. Willl you di me a _____?A.any;favourB.a lot;helpC.some;handD.a few;support33.We still couldn’t hear Professor Wang clearly at the business lecture, so we asked him to speak_____.A, sloe B.more slow C.slower D.more slowly34.The pilot succeeded in _____the helicopter_____ the cliff.A.stopping;atB.mending;inC.flying;onnding;on35._____my husband and I _____ down the road yesterday evening, we herd a woman scream.A.Since; had walkedB.While; have walkedC.As ; were walkingD.When ; are walking36.He won’t be expecting a present ,so you _____buy him one.A.can’tB.have toC.don’t needD.need’t37.Pierre left without sauying a word to the boss because he cannot stand ____to wait.A.be madeB.to be madeC.being madeD.be making38.Fiona said that she felt quite embarrassed that day beaause she was mot accustomed to _____like that.A.be treatingB.have been treatedC.being treatedD.be treated39. I saw a comic film,_____ was very amusing, last Saturday. Infact, it was the best film ____ I’ve wver seen.A.which;whatB.that;whichC.which;thatD.that;what40.It seems that you’ve caught a bad cold.You’d better see a doctor,____you?A.hadn’tB.didn’tC.wouldn’tD.don ’t41.Mr.Smith managed to eat lunch____having bad an enormous breakfast.A.despiteB.sinceC.becauseD.although42.If it rains on Saturday,we shall have to____the match for a week.A.bring onB.put awayC.take offD.put off43.He is not satisfied with his exam results and wishes he ____harder for his exams.A.has studiedB.would studyC.studiesD.had studied44.-Do you want to eat out tonight or shall we cook something?-____I can’t afford to eat out again.A.I really need a coffeeB.Let’s cookC.let’s do that thenD.That’s would be nice45.-He locked himself out of his car yesterday.-Oh,he’s always doing things like that._______A.He’s a lovely personB.He’s very carelessC.He’s always happyD.He’s quite generousPart III Reading Comprehension(20 minutes,40 marks) SectionA:There is one passage in this section with 5 questions.For each of them,there are 4 choices marked A,B,C and D.You should decide on the best choice.Then mark the corresponding letter on the AnswerSheet with a single line through the centre(5 marks)Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.The main topic of last week ’s meeting was a suggestion boxes.All departments in the factory are to have labeled suggestion boxes.At the meeting,it was obvious that the employees’suggestions would not only save the company money,but would do much to lift spirit and streamline production.To further this process,the suggestion box idea was adopted.Forms for the suggestions are tobe kept inside the box .When employees fill out a form,they should clearly state which situation they are trying to improve,list all deta,and then offer a solution,stating how the company would benefit.Forms will then be collected each month by the department heads,who will then pass them on to the plant manager.Where necessary,the plant manager will consult with the respective departments to gather any relevant data.If applicable,the matter will then be passed on to the finance department for approval.A bonus will be paid to employees for any suggestions that are adopted.The amount of the bonus will be in proportion with the savings to the company.Questions:46.What is the topic of the report?A.A meetingB.spiritC.ProductionD.A new system47.Why has the company decided to use suggestion boxes?A.To take advantage of the employees’ideas.B.To minimize customer complaintsC.To take some of the burden off department headsD.To calm the finance department.48.How do the employees get the suggestion slips?A.By requesting then from department heads.B.By applying to the plant managerC.By looking in the suggestion box itselfD.By asking the director of finance49.What is the plant manager supposed to do?A.Review each suggestion with the employeeB.Issue bonus checksC.Pass the suggestions to the finance departmentD.Collect relevant data if necessary50.What should employees specifically include in their suggestions?A.The names of troublesome coworkersB.How long the problem has existedC.What they consider is an appropriate bonusD.A description of what they would like to changeSection B:In this section,there is one passage followed by 5 statements.Go over the passage quickly and mark the answers on the Answer Sheet.For Answer 51-55,markT(for TRUE) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;F(for FALSE)if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage.(5 marks)Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Dear Advisor:Should She Propose?Dear AdvisorMy boyfriend and I just celebrated three years together.I want to ask him to marry me .My friends say I shouldn’t.They say that only desperate women propose marriage.Are they right?Nervous in New Jersey Dear Nervous，Your friends are not right.Today it is fine for a woman to propose to a man.In 2003,the Korbel Champagne Company conducted a survey. They asked,‖Should woman ask men to marry them?‖ Sixty-seven percent of American said they would.―Would you propose a woman’proposal?‖Almost 80 percent said yes. Thirtyt-one percent of women know a woman who has proposed to a man.Experts generally agree. D.r Linda O’Connor has a radio talk show about love and marrage. O’Conn or says that women who propose are usually educated and self-confi-dent.. In addition, their boyfriend usually like stong women with a lot of self-confidence may need some help with their proposalsl. Here is her advice. First, the proposal should not be a surprise. The relationship should be serious. She also advises women to do two more things. They should write out the proposal and practice it before they ask for their boyfriends’hands in marriage.How would Susan Fine answer you? If you and your boyfriend are happy, do not pay attention to your friends. And don’t invite them to the weeding.The Advisor Statements:51. ―Nervous in New Jersey‖ wrote to Susan Fine.52―Nervous in New Jersey‖ wants to get married.53. ― In 2003 most women said that only m en should propose to women.54.Dr.Linda O’Connor is a lawyer.55. The advisor told ―Nervous in New Jersey ‖to propose to her boyfriend.Section C:Read the passage carefully and answer Questions 56 to 63. Answer each question in a maximum of 10 words.Remember to write the answer on the er Answer Sheet.( 16marks)Perserving the PastToday ,many old buildings are being torn down so new ones can be built. But some older buildings are both beautiful and intereting. They need to be save.The city of San Antonio, Texas, was settled by the Spanish in the early 1700s. Later, it was governed by Mexico. If you go to the San Antonio,you can see many missions or churches that were built by the Spanish.All were started beweet 1720 and 1731. You can also find other buildings from early period in the history of Texas. Some of these buildings are still standing because a group of women worked to save them.In 1924, the city of San Antonio was going to cement over the San Antonio River and turn it into an underground sewer. A group of women felt that the beauty of San Antonio should be preserved. They formed a club to keep the river from being destroyed.The women saved the river. Then they worked together to preserve several old buildings that were going to be torn down. In the 1930s,the women saved an old mill and granary. They raised money to buy these buildings by giving tea and selling cakes.More cently, the ladies in San Antonio have worked to save a Spanish convient.They could not afford to buy the whole buildings,so they paid for only half .Even so, the women are still looking for other old buildings to save. They want peoper to know about the city’s long and intereting history.Questions:56.What is passage mainly about ?57.What does the word ones in Sentence 1 refer to58. When was San Antonio in Texas settled ?59. What can you see if you go to San Antonio ?60. The word in Paragraph 3 that means saved is .61.How did the women raised money to buy old buildings ?62. Why did the women want to save the San Antonio River ?63. Why have the women worked to save the river and old buildings?Section D:In this section , there is one passage followed by a summary . For Answers 64 to 70 , please read the passage carefully and complete each space in the summary , using a maximum of three words from the passage . Remember to write the answer on the Answer Sheet .(14 marks)Answer 64 to 70 are based on the following passage.Around the world , music therapy is being used to different medical conditions and illnesses. Some of the ways people use music therapy are to reduce pain , such as childbirth or during cancer treatments, or to stimulate brain activity after an injury or memory loss. Music therapy has also been successful in aiding to overcome disabities.Classical music is most typically used for therapy due to ite complex sounds and patterns. Although rap or pop might be fun to listen to, it’s unlikely that such styles of music would produce the same kind of therapeutic effect. Playing a music instrument rather than simply listening to music can also be therapeutic for some people, helping relieve stress and anxiety.Have scientists been able to prove that music can hea diseaes? Music has been shown to reduce pain in cancer patients by increasing the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers, and when we listen to music, our brains respond by releasing these natural painkillers. It has also been known to contribute to the brain development of new born babies and even babies still in the mother’s womb. Currently, music therapy is used in a variety of setting such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers ,nursing homes, day care centers, and schools.Summary:There appears to be some evidence that music is helpful (64) some medical conditions. Therefore, doctors dand patients are turning to (65) to treat various(66) and disabilities. Doctors believe thatmusic with (67) and patterns is more effective. This kind of music seems to (68) more activity in the brain. Although it may be (69) to listen to rap or pop or dance music, doctors prefer to use (70) to treat patients.Part IV Cloze(15 minutes,15marks)Scetion A:Read the following passage carefully, and then fill in the blanks with the proper form of the words given on the right. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.(5marks)Section B: There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, some letters of the missing word have been given (not exceeding 3 letters). Read the passage below and decide which word best fits each blank. Use only one word in each blank. Remember to write the answer on the Answer Sheet.(10 marks)The Museum of ChilhoodThere are 4,000 toys in London’s Museum of Childhood,but it is not essential to be a child to enjoy it. Most of zhe older toys were (76) me to be played with by adults.All the toys live in a beautifull glsstopped (77)bu in the East End of London but it wasn’tbulit for them .It wasn’t until 1974 that the(79)wh building was officially devoted to the histoy of the childhood.Once upon a time ,every toy was homemade,although by the late 1700s a huge toy industry had (80)dev .Many home-made toys wer made of metal and wood and a few of these have lasted well enough for the museum to display them.It even has oneof the oldest dools’ houses still in(81)exi,made in 1673.Ther e’s something for everyone, including the 18th century toy theatre and the miniature Chinese gardens, containing tiny (82)ani .Whichever is your favorite, each exhibit enables you to catch a (83)gil of the people and world it was made for.The 35 or so workers at the museum take great care to make sure that all of the exhibit are preserved in good working order.And sa(84) f he 500 new toys that move in every year from all over the world -nobody has ever heard a (85)sin one complaining.Part V Translation (15 minutes,15 marks)Section A:Translate the underlined sentences in the following passage into Chinese.Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.(8 marks)Rcently, I saw a heading for an Internet article that read,‖If only I’d bought that stock…..‖Well, sure, hingsight is wonderfull! We all habe it. But the line made me think:(86)How much time do we spend thinking of the many ―if only‖ in our lives? How many regrets flit thoughts? Everyone harbors a few-if only I hadn’t missed this; if only I’d found the time to do that ;(87)if only I’d been first with that idea, instead of just a little too late.―If onlys ‖are exercises in futility. I think it’s better to foll our reveries with all we are glad we did do. Such as, I’m so glad I met my husband. I’m so glad I was born in this time,in this place, to these parents. (88) I’m so glad I have the loving extended family who have been among my greatest blessings.I’m so glad I planted that spindly little magnolia tree 20 years ago. (89)Now it lifts up its arms to the sky and fills my view with pink-and-white beauty. I’m so glad my grandfather planted apple trees 100 years ago. They ,too, are a wonder to behold in any season-alive with honeybees among the blossoms in spring, studded with burgeoning fruit in summer, and weighed low with their delicious rosy bounty in September.Section B:Translate the following sentencesinto English,using the words given in the brackets.Remember to write the anwsers on the anwser sheet.(7 marks)90.谢谢您的邀请，但是恐怕我无法应邀出席。
2008年全国英语能力竞赛初二组初赛和决赛试题参考答案
2008年全国中学生英语能力竞赛初赛初二组试题参考答案听力部分（共四大题，计30分）I．Sentences （句子理解）1—5 DCADBII．Responses （问句应答）6—10 BADCBIII. Dialogues （对话理解）A) 11—15 CADBAB) 16—20 ADCDBIV．Passages （短文理解）A) 21—25 BCACDB) 26. Science27. Running28. country(side)29. bike / bicycle30. farm笔试部分（共八大题，计120分）I. Multiple-choice （选择填空）A) 31—35 BCDACB) 36—40 DCACA41—45 BDCDA46—50 CBDABII．Reading comprehension （阅读理解）A）51—55 CBDBAB）A. 56. In a cave.57. He thought the other boys were behind the wall.58. Some old pieces of paper.59. 他（老师）告诉他们，那些纸是地图，而且可能有2000年的历史。
60. b d f a e cB. 61. invitation; Debbie62. big garden63. great / good time64. Green Road65. Baker’sC. 66. animals / creatures67. together68. dies69. shapes70. 它们有着和它们形状相似的（陆地）动物的名字。
III. Cloze （完形填空）A) 71. how far72. find out73. windy74. First75. to76. write back77. their78. who79. later80. balloonsB) 81. walking82. Is83. touch84. to bite85. didn’t lieIV. Sentence pattern transformation （句式转换）86. went into space before people did / went into space earlier than people did87. the second monkey to go into space Enos88. How long did his trip last?89. What did Enos do when the spaceship was opened?90. How happy Enos was to be back on Earth!V. Translation （翻译）91. I will go to the science centre with you if I have time. / If I have time, I will go to the science centre with you.92. Eating a balanced diet / A balanced diet is good for our health.93. It took him an hour to get to the railway station.94. She didn’t leave school until 8 pm yesterday.95. They decided not to go there because of the bad weather.VI. IQ （智力测试）96. stop97. breakfast98. MEET ME AT THE LAB TONIGHT99. It means “can’t understand”. / 弄不明白。
2008专八真题附带答案与解析
2008专八真题附带答案与解析2008 年英语试题及答案TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2008)-GRADE EIGHTTIMELIMIT: 195 MINPARTI LISTENING COMPREHENSION (35 MIN)SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lectureONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Yournotes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete agap-filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, youwill be given two minutes to check your notes, and another ten minutesto complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blanksheet for note-taking.SECTION B CONVERSATIONIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefullyand then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer toeach question on your coloured answer sheet. Questions 1 to 5 are based on a conversation. At the end of theconversation you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of thefollowing five questions.Now listen to the conversation.1. Mary doesn't seem to favour the idea of a new airport becauseA. the existing airports are to be wastedB. more people will be encouraged to travel.382C. more oil will be consumed.D. more airplanes will be purchased.2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Mary asa potentialdisadvantage?A. More people in the area.B. Noise and motorways.C. Waste of land.D. Unnecessary travel.3. Freddy has cited the following advantages for a new airportEXCEPTA. more job opportunities.B. vitality to the local economy.C. road construction,D. presence of aircrew in the area.4. Mary thinks that people don't need to do much travel nowadaysas a result ofA. less emphasis on personal contact.B. advances in modern telecommunications.C. recent changes in people's concepts.D. more potential damage to the area5. We learn from the conversation that Freddy is Mary's ideas,383A. strongly in favour ofB. mildly in favour ofC. strongly againstD. mildly againstSECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefullyand then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer toeach question on your coloured answer sheet. Question 6 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the question. Now listen to the news.6. What is the main idea of the news item?A. A new government was formed after Sunday's elections.B. The new government intends to change the welfare system.C. The Social Democratic Party founded the welfare system.D. The Social Democratic Party was responsible for high unemployment.Questions 7 and 8 are based on the following news. At the end of thenews item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.7. The tapes of the Apollo-11 mission were first stored inA. a U.S. government archives warehouse.B. a NASA ground tracking station.384C. the Goddard Space Flight Centre.D. none of the above places.8. What does the news item say about Richard Nafzger?A. He is assigned the task to look for the tapes.B. He believes that the tapes are probably lost.C. He works in a NASA ground receiving site.D. He had asked for the tapes in the 1970s. Questions 9 and10 are based on the following news. At the end of thenews item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.9. The example in the news item is cited mainly to showA. that doctors are sometimes professionally incompetentB. that in cases like that hospitals have to pay huge compensations.C. that language barriers might lower the quality of treatment.D. that language barriers can result in fatal consequences.10. According to Dr. Flores, hospitals and clinicsA. have seen the need for hiring trained interpreters.B. have realized the problems of language barriers.C. have begun training their staff to be bilinguals.D. have taken steps to provide accurate diagnosis. 385PART II READING COMPREHENSION (30 MIN)In this section there are four reading passages followed by a totalof 20 multiple-choice questions. Read the passages and then mark youranswers on your coloured answer sheetTEXT AAt the age of 16, Lee Hyuk Joon's life is a living hell. The South Korean10th grader gets up at 6 in the morning to go to school, and studiesmost of the day until returning home at 6 p.m. After dinner, it's timeto hit the books again—at one of Seoul's many so-called cram schools.Lee gets back home at 1 in the morning, sleeps less than five hours,then repeats the routine—five days a week. It's a grueling schedule,but Lee worries that it may not be good enough to get him into a topuniversity. Some of his classmates study even harder. South Korea's education system has long been highly competitive. But for Lee and the other 700,000 high-school sophomores in the country,high-school studies have gotten even more intense. That's because SouthKorea has conceived a new college-entrance system, which will beimplemented in 2008. This year's 10th graders will be the first groupevaluated by the new admissions standard, which places more emphasison grades in the three years of high school and less on nationwideSAT-style and other selection tests, which have traditionallydetermined which students go to the elite colleges. The change was made mostly to reduce what the government says is agrowing education gap in the country: wealthy students go to the bestcolleges and get the best jobs, keeping the children of poorer familieson the social margins. The aim is to reduce the importance of costlytutors and cram schools, partly to help students enjoy a more normalhigh-school life. But the new system has had the opposite effect. Before,students didn't worry too much about their grade-point averages; thebig challenge was beating the standardized tests as high-school seniors.Now students are competing against one another over a three-year period,386and every midterm and final test is crucial. Fretful parents are relyingeven more heavily on tutors and cram schools to help their childrensucceed.Parents and kids have sent thousands of angry online letters to theEducation Ministry complaining that the new admissions standard issetting students against each other. "One can succeed onlywhen othersfail,” as one pare nt said.Education experts say that South Korea's public secondary-schoolsystem is foundering, while private education is thriving. Accordingto critics, the country's high schools are almost uniformlymediocre—the result of an egalitarian government education policy.With the number of elite schools strictly controlled by the government,even the brightest students typically have to settle for ordinaryschools in their neighbourhoods, where the curriculum is centred onaverage students. To make up for the mediocrity, zealous parents sendtheir kids to the expensive cram schools.Students in affluent southern Seoul neighbourhoods complain that thenew system will hurt them the most. Nearly all Korean high schools willbe weighted equally in the college-entrance process, and relativelyweak students in provincial schools, who may not score well onstandardized tests, often compile good grade-point averages.Some universities, particularly prestigious ones, openly complain thatthey cannot select the best students under the new system because iteliminates differences among high schools. They've asked for morediscretion in picking students by giving more weight to such screeningtools as essay writing or interviews.President Roh Moo Hyun doesn't like how some colleges are trying tocircumvent the new system. He recently criticized "greedy"universities that focus more on finding the best students than fayingto "nurture good students". But amid the crossfire between thegovernment and universities, the country's 10th graders are feelingthe stress. On online protest sites, some are calling themselves a“cursed generation” and “mice in a lab experiment”. It all seemsa touch melodramatic, but that's the South Korean school system.38711. According to the passage, the new college-entrance system isdesigned toA. require students to sit for more college-entrance tests.B. reduce the weight of college-entrance tests.C. select students on their high school grades only.D. reduce the number of prospective college applicants.12. What seems to be the effect of introducing the new system?A. The system has given equal opportunities to students.B. The system has reduced the number of cram schools.C. The system has intensified competition among schools.D. The system has increased students' study load.13. According to critics, the popularity of private education ismainly the result ofA. the government's egalitarian policy.B. insufficient number of schools:C. curriculums of average quality.D. low cost of private education.14. According to the passage, there seems to be disagreement overthe adoption of the new system between the following groups EXCEPTA. between universities and the government.388B. between school experts and the government.C. between parents and schools.D. between parents and the government.15. Which of the following adjectives best describes the author'streatment of the topic?A. Objective.B. Positive.C. Negative.D. Biased.TEXT BWilfred Emmanuel-Jones was a teenager before he saw hisfirst cow inhis first field. Born in Jamaica, the 47-year-old grew up in inner-cityBirmingham before making a career as a television producer andlaunching his own marketing agency. But deep down he always nurturedevery true Englishman's dream of a rustic life, a dream that hisentrepreneurial wealth has allowed him to satisfy. These days he's theowner of a thriving 12-hectare farm in deepest Devon with cattle, sheepand pigs. His latest business venture: pushing his brand of Black Fannergourmet sausages and barbecue sauces. “My background may be veryurban,” says Emmanuel-Jones. “But it has given me a good idea of whatother urbanites want.”And of how to sell it. Emmanuel-Jones joins a herd ofwealthy fugitivesfrom city life who are bringing a new commercial know-how to Britishfarming. Britain's burgeoning farmers' markets-numbers have doubledto at least 500 in the last five years—swarm with specialtycheesemakers, beekeepers or organic smallholders who are redeployingthe business skills they learned in the city. "Everyone in theruralcommunity has to come to terms with the fact that things have changed."389Says Emmanuel-Jones. "You can produce the best food in the world, butif you don't know how to market it, you are wasting your time. We arehelping the traditionalists to move on."The emergence of the new class of superpeasants reflects some oldyearnings. If the British were the first nation to industrialize, theywere also the first to head back to the land. "There is this romanticimage of the countryside that is particularly English," says AlunHowkins of the University of Sussex, who reckons the population of ruralEngland has been rising since 1911. Migration into rural areas is nowrunning at about 100,000 a year, and the hunger for a taste of the rurallife has kept land prices buoyant even as agricultural incomes tumble.About 40 percent of all farmland is now sold to "lifestyle buyers"rather than the dwindling number of traditional farmers, according tothe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.What's new about the latest returnees is their affluence and zeal forthe business of producing quality foods, if only at a micro-level. Ahealthy economy and surging London house prices have helped to easethe escape of the would-be rustics. The media recognize and feed thefantasy. One of the big TV hits of recent years, the "River Cottage"series, chronicled the attempts of a London chef to run his own Dorsetfarm.Naturally, the newcomers can't hope to match their City salaries, butmany are happy to trade any loss of income for the extra job satisfaction.Who cares if there's no six-figure annual bonus when the land offersother incalculable compensations?Besides, the specialist producers can at least depend on a burgeoningmarket for their products. Today's eco-aware generation loves to seekout authentic ingredients. "People like me may be making a differencein a small way," Jan McCourt, a onetime investment banker now runninghis own 40-hectare spread in the English Midlands stocked with rarebreeds.Optimists see signs of far-reaching change: Britain isn't catching upwith mainl and Europe; it's leading the way. “Unlike most othercountries, where artisanal food production is being eroded, here it390is being recovered," says food writer Matthew Fort. “It may be themark of the next stage of civilization that we rediscover the de sirability of being a peasant.” And not an investment banker.16. Which of the following details of Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones isINCORRECT?A. He was born and brought up in Birmingham.B. He used to work in the television industry.C. He is wealthy, adventurous and aspiring.D. He is now selling his own quality foods.17. Most importantly, people like Wilfred have brought totraditional British farmingA. knowledge of farming.B. knowledge of brand names.C. knowledge of lifestyle.D. knowledge of marketing,18. Which of the following does NOT contribute to the emergence ofa new class of farmers?A. Strong desire for country life.B. Longing for greater wealth,C. Influence of TV productions.D. Enthusiasm for quality food business.19. What is seen as their additional source of new income?391A. Modern tendency to buy natural foods.B. Increase in the value of land property.C. Raising and selling rare live stock. VD. Publicity as a result of media coverage.20. The sentence in the last paragraph “...Britain isn't catchingup with mainland Europe; it's leading the way" implies thatA. Britain has taken a different path to boost economy.B. more authentic foods are being produced in Britain.C. the British are heading back to the countryside.D. the Europeans are showing great interest in country life.TEXT CIn Barcelona the Catalonians call them castells, but these aren'tstereotypical castles in Spain. These castles are made up of humanbeings, not stone. The people who perform this agile feat of acrobaticsare called castellers, and to see their towers take shape is to observea marvel of human cooperation.First the castellers form what looks like a giganticrugby scrummage.They are the foundation blocks of the castle. Behind them, other peoplepress together, forming outward-radiating ramparts of inward-pushingmuscle: flying buttresses for the castle. Then sturdy but lightercastellers scramble over the backs of those at the bottom and stand,barefoot, on their shoulders—then still others, each time adding ahigher "story".These human towers can rise higher than small apartment buildings: nine“stories”, 35 feet into the air. Then, just When it seems this towerof humanity can't defy gravity any longer, a little kid emerges fromthe crowd and climbs straight up to the top. Arms extended, the child392grins while waving to the cheering crowd far below. Dressed in their traditional costumes, the castellers seem to epitomize an easier time, before Barcelona became a world metropolis arid theMediterranean's most dynamic city. But when you observe-them tip close,in their street clothes, at practice, you see there's nothing easy aboutwhat the castellers do - and that they are not merely reenacting anancient ritual.None of the castellers can-give a logical answer as to whythey lovedoing this. But Victor Luna, 16, touches me on the shoulder and saysin English: "We do it because it's beautiful. We do it because we areCatalan."Barcelona’s mother tongue is Catalan, and to understand Barcelona,you must understand two words of Catalan: seny and rauxa. Seny prettymuch translates as common sense, or the ability to make money, arrangethings, and get things done. Rauxa is reminiscent of our words “raucous”and “ruckus”.What makes the castellers revealing of the city is that they embodyrauxa and seny. The idea of a human castle is rauxa—it defies commonsense—but to watch one going up is to see seny in action. Success isbased on everyone working together to achieve a shared goal.The success of Carlos Tusquets' bank, Fibanc, shows seny at work ineveryday life. The bank started as a family concern and now employshundreds. Tusquets said it exemplifies how the economy in Barcelonais different.Entrepreneurial seny demonstrates why Barcelona and Catalonia—theancient region of which Barcelona is the capital—are distinct fromthe rest of Spain yet essential to Spain's emergence, after centuriesof repression, as a prosperous, democratic European country. Catalonia,with Barcelona as its dynamo, has turned into an economic powerhouse.Making up 6 percent of Spain’s territory, with a sixth of its people,it accounts for nearly a quarter of Spain's production—everything fromtextiles to computers—even though the rest of Spain has been enjoyingits own economic miracle.393Hand in hand with seny goes rauxa, and there's no better place to seerauxa in action than on the Ramblas, the venerable, tree-shadedboulevard that, in gentle stages, leads you from the centre of Barcelonadown to the port. There are two narrow lanes each way for cars andmotorbikes, but it’s the wide centre walkway that makes the Ramblasa front-row seat for Barcelona's longest running theatrical event.Plastic armchairs are set out on the sidewalk. Sit in one of them, andan attendant will come and charge you a small fee. Performance artiststhrong the Ramblas—stilt walkers, witches caked in charcoal dust,Elvis impersonators. But the real stars are the old women and happilyplaying children, millionaires on motorbikes, and pimps and women who,upon closer inspection, prove not to be.Aficionados (Fans) of Barcelona love to compare notes: “Last nightthere was a man standing on the balcony of his hotel room,” MarianaBertagnolli, an Italian photographer, told me. "The balcony was on thesecond floor. He was naked, and he was talking into a cell phone."There you have it, Barcelona's essence. The man is naked (rauxa), buthe is talking into a cell phone (seny).21. From the description in the passage, we learn thatA. all Catalonians can perform castells.B. castells require performers to stand on each other.C. people perform castells in different formations.D. in castells people have to push and pull each other.22. According to the passage, the4mplication of the performance isthatA. the Catalonians are insensible and noisy people.B. the Catalonians show more sense than is expected. 394C. the Catalonians display paradoxical characteristics.D. the Catalonians think highly of team work.23. The passage cites the following examples EXCEPT __________ toshow seny at work.A. development of a bankB. dynamic role in economyC. contribution to national economyD. comparison with other regions24. In the last but two paragraph, the Ramblas is described as “afront-row seat for Barcelona’s longest running theatrical event”.What does it mean?A. On the Ramblas people can see a greater variety of performances.B. The Ramblas provides many front seats for the performances.C. The Ramblas is preferred as an important venue for the events.D. Theatrical performers like to perform on the Ramblas.25. What is the main impression of the scenes on the Ramblas?A. It is bizarre and Outlandish.B. It is of average quality.C. It is conventional and quiet.D. It is of professional standard.TEXT D395The law firm Patrick worked for before he died filed for bankruptcyprotection a year after his funeral. After his death, the firm's letterhead properly included him: Patrick S. Lanigan, 1954-1992. Hewas listed up in the right-hand corner, just above the paralegals. Thenthe rumors got started and wouldn't stop. Before long, everyonebelieved he had taken the money and disappeared. After three months,no one on the Gulf Coast believed that he was dead. His name came offthe letterhead as the debts piled up.The remaining partners in the law firm were still together, attachedunwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages andthe bank notes,back when they were rolling and on the verge of serious wealth. Theyhad been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thus thebankruptcy. Since Patrick's departure, they had tried every possibleway to divorce one another, but nothing would work. Two were ragingalcoholics who drank at the office behind locked doors, but nevertogether. The other two were in recovery, still teetering on thebrink of sobriety.He took their money. Their millions. Money they had already spent longbefore it arrived, as only lawyers can do. Money for their richlyrenovated office building in downtown Biloxi. Money for new homes,yachts, condos in the Caribbean. The money was on the way, approved,the papers signed, orders entered; they could see it, almost touch itwhen their dead partner—Patrick—snatched it at the last possiblesecond.He was dead. They buried him on February 11, 1992. They had consoledthe widow and put his rotten name on their handsome letterhead. Yetsix weeks later, he somehow stole their money.They had brawled over who was to blame. Charles Bogan, the firm's seniorpartner and its iron hand, had insisted the money be wired from itssource into a new account offshore, and this made sense after somediscussion. It was ninety million bucks, a third of which the firm wouldkeep, and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi,population fifty thousand. Someone at the bank would talk.Sooneveryone would know. All four vowed secrecy, even as they made plansto display as much of their new wealth as possible. There had even been396talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.So Bogan took his share of the blame. At forty-nine, he was the oldestof the four, and, at the moment, the most stable. He was also responsiblefor hiring Patrick nine years earlier, and for this he had receivedno small amount of grief.Doug Vitrano, the litigator, had made the fateful decision to recommendPatrick as the fifth partner. The other three had agreed, and whenPatrick Lanigan was added to the firm name, he had access to virtuallyevery file in the office. Bogan, Rapley, Vitrano, Havarac, and Lanigan,Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law. A large ad in the yellow pages claimed"Specialists in Offshore Injuries." Specialists or not, like most firmsthey would take almost anything if the fees were lucrative. Lots ofsecretaries and paralegals. Big overhead, and the strongest politicalconnections on the Coast.They were all in their mid- to late forties. Havarac had been raisedby his father on a shrimp boat. His hands were still proudly calloused,and he dreamed of choking Patrick until his neck snapped. Rapley wasseverely depressed and seldom left his home, where he wrote briefs ina dark office in the attic.26. What happened to the four remaining lawyers after Patrick'sdisappearance?A. They all wanted to divorce their wives.B. They were all heavily involved in debts.C. They were all recovering from drinking.D. They had bought new homes, yachts, etc.27. Which of the following statements contains a metaphor?A. His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.B. …they could see it, almost touch it when their dead partner...397C. …, att ached unwillingly at the h ip by the bondage of mortgages...D. …, and for this he had received no small amount of grief.28. According to the passage, what is the main cause of Patrickstealing the money?A. Patrick was made a partner of the firm.B. The partners agreed to have the money transferred.C. Patrick had access to all the files in the firm.D. Bogan decided to hire Patrick nine years earlier.29. The lawyers were described as being all the following EXCEPTA. greedy.B. extravagantC. quarrelsome.D. bad-tempered.30. Which of the following implies a contrast?A. …, and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi,population fifty thousand.B. They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thusthe bankruptcy.C. There had even been talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.D. His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.398PART III GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (10 MIN)There are ten multiple-choice questions in this section. Choose thebest answer to each question. Mark your answers on your coloured answersheet31. The largest city in Canada isA. Vancouver.B. Montreal.C. TorontoD. Ottawa.32. According to the United States Constitution, thelegislativepower is invested inA. the Federal Government.B. the Supreme Court.C. the Cabinet.D. the Congress.33. Which of the following is the oldest sport in the United States?A. Baseball.B. Tennis.C. Basketball.D. American football.34. The head of the executive branch in New Zealand is 399A. the President.B. the Governor-General.C. the British monarch,D. the Prime Minister.35. The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a groupof pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, is an important poetic workbyA. William Langland.B. Geoffrey Chaucer.C. William Shakespeare.D. Alfred Tennyson.36. Who wrote The American?A. Herman Melville.B. Nathaniel Hawthorne.C. Henry James.D. Theodore Dreiser.37. All of the following are well-known female writers in 20th-century Britain EXCEPTA. George Eliot.B. Iris Jean Murdoch.C. Doris Lessing.400D. Muriel Spark.38. Which of the following is NOT a design feature of human language?A. Arbitrariness.B. Displacement.C. Duality.D. Diachronicity.39. What type of sentence is “Mark likes fiction, but Tim isinterested in po etry.”?A. A simple sentence.B. A coordinate sentence.C. A complex sentence.D. None of the above.40. The phenomenon that words having different meanings have the sameform is calledA. hyponymy.B. synonymy.C. polysemy.D. homonymy.PART IV PROOFREADING & ERROR CORRECTION (15 MIN) 401Proofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET TWO as。
2008年英语专业八级考试真题及答案
2008年英语专业八级考试真题及答案TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS（2008）—GRADE EIGHT—PART II READING COMPREHENSION (30 MIN)In this section there are four reading passages followed by a total of 20 multiple-choice questions. Read the passages and then mark your answers on your coloured answer sheet。
TEXT AAt the age of 16, Lee Hyuk Joons life is a living hell. The South Korean 10th grader gets up at 6 in the morning to go to school, and studies most of the day until returning home at 6 p.m. After dinner, its time to hit the books again—at one of Seouls many so-called cram schools. Lee gets back home at 1 in the morning, sleeps less than five hours, then repeats the routine—five days a week. Its a grueling schedule, but Lee worries that it may not be good enough to get him into a top university. Some of his classmates study even harder.South Koreas education system has long been highly competitive. But for Lee and the other 700,000 high-school sophomores in the country, high-school studies have gotten even more intense. Thats because South Korea has conceived a new college-entrance system, which will be implemented in 2008. This years 10th graders will be the first group evaluated by the new admissions standard, which places more emphasis on grades in the three years of high school and less on nationwide SAT-style and other selection tests, which have traditionally determined which students go to the elite colleges.The change was made mostly to reduce what the government says is a growing education gap in the country: wealthy students go to the best colleges and get the best jobs, keeping the children of poorer families on the social margins. The aim is to reduce the importance of costly tutors and cram schools, partly to help students enjoy a more normal high-school life. But the new system has had the opposite effect. Before, students didnt worry too much about their grade-point averages; the big challenge was beating he standardized tests as high-school seniors. Now students are competing against one another over a three-year period, and every midterm and final test is crucial. Fretful parents are relying even more heavily on tutors and cram schools to help their children succeed.Parents and kids have sent thousands of angry online letters to the Education Ministry complaining that the new admissions standard is setting students against each other. "One can succeed only when others fail,” as one parent said.Education experts say that South Koreas public secondary-school system is foundering, while private education is thriving. According to critics, the countrys high schools are almost uniformly mediocre—the result of an egalitarian government education policy. With the number of elite schools strictly controlled by the government, even the brightest students typically have to settle for ordinary schools in their neighbourhoods, where the curriculum is centred on average students. To make up for the mediocrity, zealous parents send their kids to the expensive cram schools. Students in affluent southern Seoul neighbourhoods complain that the new system will hurt them the most.Nearly all Korean high schools will be weighted equally in the college-entrance process, and relatively weak students in provincial schools, who may not score well on standardized tests, often compile good grade-point averages.Some universities, particularly prestigious ones, openly complain that they cannot select the best students under the new system because it eliminates differences among high schools. Theyve asked for more discretion in picking students by giving more weight to such screening tools as essay writing or interviews.President Roh Moo Hyun doesnt like how some colleges are trying to circumvent the new system. He recently criticized "greedy" universities that focus more on finding the best students than faying to "nurture good students". But amid the crossfire between the government and universities, the countrys 10th graders are feeling the stress. On online protest sites, some are calling themselves a “cursed generation” and “mice in a lab experiment”. It all seems a touch melodramatic, but thats the South Korean school system.11. According to the passage, the new college-entrance system is designed toA. require students to sit for more college-entrance tests.B. reduce the weight of college-entrance tests.C. select students on their high school grades only.D. reduce the number of prospective college applicants.12. What seems to be the effect of introducing the new system?A. The system has given equal opportunities to students.B. The system has reduced the number of cram schools.C. The system has intensified competition among schools.D. The system has increased students study load.13. According to critics, the popularity of private education is mainly the result ofA. the governments egalitarian policy.B. insufficient number of schools:C. curriculums of average quality.D. low cost of private education.14. According to the passage, there seems to be disagreement over the adoption of the new system between the following groups EXCEPTA. between universities and the government.B. between school experts and the government.C. between parents and schools.D. between parents and the government.15. Which of the following adjectives best describes the authors treatment of the topic?A. Objective.B. Positive.C. Negative.D. Biased.TEXT BWilfred Emmanuel-Jones was a teenager before he saw his first cow in his first field. Born in Jamaica, the 47-year-old grew up in inner-city Birmingham before making a career as a television producer and launching his own marketing agency. But deep down he always nurtured every true Englishmans dream of a rustic life, a dream that his entrepreneurial wealth has allowed him to satisfy. These days hes the owner of a thriving 12-hectare farm in deepest Devon with cattle, sheep and pigs. His latest business venture: pushing hi s brand of Black Fanner gourmet sausages and barbecue sauces. “My background may be very urban,” says Emmanuel-Jones.“But it has given me a good idea of what other urbanites want.”And of how to sell it. Emmanuel-Jones joins a herd of wealthy fugitives from city life who are bringing a new commercial know-how to British farming. Britains burgeoning farmers markets -numbers have doubled to at least 500 in the last five years—swarm with specialty cheesemakers, beekeepers or organic smallholders who are redeploying the business skills they learned in the city. "Everyone in the rural community has tocome to terms with the fact that things have changed." Says Emmanuel-Jones. "You can produce the best food in the world, but if you dont know how to market it, you are wasting your time. We are helping the traditionalists to move on."The emergence of the new class of superpeasants reflects some old yearnings. If the British were the first nation to industrialize, they were also the first to head back to the land. "There is this romantic image of the countryside that is particularly English," says Alun Howkins of the University of Sussex, who reckons the population of rural England has been rising since 1911. Migration into rural areas is now running at about 100,000a year, and the hunger for a taste of the rural life has kept land prices buoyant even as agricultural incomes tumble. About 40 percent of all farmland is now sold to "lifestyle buyers" rather than the dwindling number of traditional farmers, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.Whats new about the latest returnees is their affluence and zeal for the business of producing quality foods, if only at a micro-level. A healthy economy and surging London house prices have helped to ease the escape of the would-be rustics. The media recognize and feed the fantasy. One of the big TV hits of recent years, the "RiverCottage" series, chronicled the attempts of a London chef to run his own Dorset farm. Naturally, the newcomers cant hope to match their City salaries, but many are happy to trade any loss of income for the extra job satisfaction. Who cares if theres no six-figure annual bonus when the land offers other incalculable compensations?Besides, the specialist producers can at least depend on a burgeoning market for their products. Todays eco-aware generation loves to seek out authentic ingredients. "People like me may be making a difference in a small way," Jan McCourt, aonetime investment banker now running his own 40-hectare spread in the English Midlands stocked with rare breeds.Optimists see signs of far-reaching change: Britain isnt catching up with mainland Europe; its leading the way. “Unlike most other countries, where artisanal food production is being eroded, here it is being recovered," says food writer Matthew Fort. “It may be the mark of the next stage of civilization that we rediscover the desirability of being a peasant.” And not an investment banker.16. Which of the following details of Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is INCORRECT?A. He was born and brought up in Birmingham.B. He used to work in the television industry.C. He is wealthy, adventurous and aspiring.D. He is now selling his own quality foods.17. Most importantly, people like Wilfred have brought to traditional British farmingA. knowledge of farming.B. knowledge of brand names.C. knowledge of lifestyle.D. knowledge of marketing,18. Which of the following does NOT contribute to the emergence of a new class of farmers?A. Strong desire for country life.B. Longing for greater wealth,C. Influence of TV productions.D. Enthusiasm for quality food business.19. What is seen as their additional source of new income?A. Modern tendency to buy natural foods.B. Increase in the value of land property.C. Raising and selling rare live stock. VD. Publicity as a result of media coverage.20. The sentence in the last paragraph “...Britain isnt catching up with mainland Europe; its leading the way" implies thatA. Britain has taken a different path to boost economy.B. more authentic foods are being produced in Britain.C. the British are heading back to the countryside.D. the Europeans are showing great interest in country life.TEXT CIn Barcelona the Catalonians call them castells, but these arent stereotypical castles in Spain. These castles are made up of human beings, not stone. The people who perform this agile feat of acrobatics are called castellers, and to see their towers take shape is to observe a marvel of human cooperation.First the castellers form what looks like a gigantic rugby scrummage. They are the foundation blocks of the castle. Behind them, other people press together, forming outward-radiating ramparts of inward-pushing muscle: flying buttresses for the castle. Then sturdy but lighter castellers scramble over the backs of those at the bottom and stand, barefoot, on their shoulders—then still others, each time adding a higher "story".These human towers can rise higher than small apartment buildings: nine “stories”, 35 feet into the air. Then, just When it seems this tower of humanity cant defy gravity any longer, a little kid emerges from the crowd and climbs straight up to the top. Arms extended, the child grins while waving to the cheering crowd far below.Dressed in their traditional costumes, the castellers seem to epitomize an easier time, before Barcelona became a world metropolis arid the Mediterraneans most dynamic city. But when you observe-them tip close, in their street clothes, at practice, you see theres nothing easy about what the castellers do - and that they are not merely reenacting an ancient ritual.None of the castellers can-give a logical answer as to why they love doing this. But Victor Luna, 16, touches me on the shoulder and says in English: "We do it because its beautiful. We do it because we are Catalan."Barcelona’s mother tongue is Catalan, and to understand Barcelona, you must unders tand two words of Catalan: seny and rauxa. Seny pretty much translates as common sense, or the ability to make money, arrange things, and get things done. Rauxa is reminiscent of our words “raucous” and “ruckus”.What makes the castellers revealing of the city is that they embody rauxa and seny. The idea of a human castle is rauxa—it defies common sense—but to watch one going up is to see seny in action. Success is based on everyone working together to achieve a shared goal.The success of Carlos Tusquets bank, Fibanc, shows seny at work in everyday life. The bank started as a family concern and now employs hundreds. Tusquets said it exemplifies how the economy in Barcelona is different.Entrepreneurial seny demonstrates why Barcelona and Catalonia—the ancient region of which Barcelona is the capital—are distinct from the rest of Spain yet essential to Spains emergence, after centuries of repression, as a prosperous, democratic Europeancountry. Catalonia, with Barcelona as its dynamo, has turned into an economic powerhouse. Making up 6 percent of Spain’s territory, with a sixth of its people, it accounts for nearly a quarter of Spains production—everything from textiles to computers—even though the rest of Spain has been enjoying its own economic miracle.Hand in hand with seny goes rauxa, and theres no better place to see rauxa in action than on the Ramblas, the venerable, tree-shaded boulevard that, in gentle stages, leads you from the centre of Barcelona down to the port. There are two narrow lanes each way for cars and motorbikes, but it’s the wide centre walkway that makes the Ramblas a front-row seat for Barcelonas longest running theatrical event. Plastic armchairs are set out on the sidewalk. Sit in one of them, and an attendant will come and charge you a small fee. Performance artists throng the Ramblas—stilt walkers, witches caked in charcoal dust, Elvis impersonators. But the real stars are the old women and happily playing children, millionaires on motorbikes, and pimps andwomen who, upon closer inspection, prove not to be.Aficionados (Fans) of Barcelona love to compare notes: “Last night there was a man standing on the balcony of his hotel room,” Mariana Bertagnolli, an Italian photographer, told me. "The balcony was on the second floor. He was naked, and he was talkinginto a cell phone."There you have it, Barcelonas essence. The man is naked (rauxa), but he is talking into a cell phone (seny).21. From the description in the passage, we learn thatA. all Catalonians can perform castells.B. castells require performers to stand on each other.C. people perform castells in different formations.D. in castells people have to push and pull each other.22. According to the passage, the4mplication of the performance is thatA. the Catalonians are insensible and noisy people.B. the Catalonians show more sense than is expected.C. the Catalonians display paradoxical characteristics.D. the Catalonians think highly of team work.23. The passage cites the following examples EXCEPT __________ to show seny at work.A. development of a bankB. dynamic role in economyC. contribution to national economyD. comparison with other regions24. In the last but two paragraph, the Ramblas is described as “a front-row seat for Barcelona’s longest running theatrical event”. What does it mean?A. On the Ramblas people can see a greater variety of performances.B. The Ramblas provides many front seats for the performances.C. The Ramblas is preferred as an important venue for the events.D. Theatrical performers like to perform on the Ramblas.25. What is the main impression of the scenes on the Ramblas?A. It is bizarre and Outlandish.B. It is of average quality.C. It is conventional and quiet.D. It is of professional standard.TEXT DThe law firm Patrick worked for before he died filed for bankruptcy protection a year after his funeral. After his death, the firms letterhead properly included him: Patrick S. Lanigan, 1954-1992. He was listed up in the right-hand corner, just above the paralegals. Then the rumors got started and wouldnt stop. Before long, everyone believed he had taken the money and disappeared. After three months, no one on the Gulf Coast believed that he was dead. His name came off the letterheadas the debts piled up.The remaining partners in the law firm were still together, attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages and the bank notes, back when they were rolling and on the verge of serious wealth. They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thus the bankruptcy. Since Patricks departure, they had tried every possible way to divorce one another, but nothing would work. Two were raging alcoholics who drank at the office behind locked doors, but nevertogether. The other two were in recovery, still teetering on the brink of sobriety.He took their money. Their millions. Money they had already spent long before it arrived, as only lawyers can do. Money for their richly renovated office building in downtown Biloxi. Money for new homes, yachts, condos in the Caribbean. The money was on the way, approved, the papers signed, orders entered; they could see it, almost touch it when their dead partner—Patrick—snatched it at the last possible second.He was dead. They buried him on February 11, 1992. They had consoled the widow and put his rotten name on their handsome letterhead. Yet six weeks later, he somehow stole their money.They had brawled over who was to blame. Charles Bogan, the firms senior partner and its iron hand, had insisted the money be wired from its source into a new account offshore, and this made sense after some discussion. It was ninety million bucks,a third of which the firm would keep, and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand. Someone at the bank would talk. Soon everyone would know. All four vowed secrecy, even as they made plans to display as much of their new wealth as possible. There had even been talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.So Bogan took his share of the blame. At forty-nine, he was the oldest of the four, and, at the moment, the most stable. He was also responsible for hiring Patrick nine years earlier, and for this he had received no small amount of grief.Doug Vitrano, the litigator, had made the fateful decision to recommend Patrick as the fifth partner. The other three had agreed, and when Patrick Lanigan was added to the firm name, he had access to virtually every file in the office. Bogan, Rapley, Vitrano, Havarac, and Lanigan, Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law. A large ad in the yellow pages claimed "Specialists in Offshore Injuries." Specialists or not, like most firms theywould take almost anything if the fees were lucrative. Lots of secretaries and paralegals. Big overhead, and the strongest political connections on the Coast.They were all in their mid- to late forties. Havarac had been raised by his father on a shrimp boat. His hands were still proudly calloused, and he dreamed of choking Patrick until his neck snapped. Rapley was severely depressed and seldom left his home, where he wrote briefs in a dark office in the attic.26. What happened to the four remaining lawyers after Patricks disappearance?A. They all wanted to divorce their wives.B. They were all heavily involved in debts.C. They were all recovering from drinking.D. They had bought new homes, yachts, etc.27. Which of the following statements contains a metaphor?A. His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.B. …they could see it, almost touch it when their dead partner...C. …, attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mo rtgages...D. …, and for this he had received no small amount of grief.28. According to the passage, what is the main cause of Patrick stealing the money?A. Patrick was made a partner of the firm.B. The partners agreed to have the money transferred.C. Patrick had access to all the files in the firm.D. Bogan decided to hire Patrick nine years earlier.29. The lawyers were described as being all the following EXCEPTA. greedy.B. extravagantC. quarrelsome.D. bad-tempered.30. Which of the following implies a contrast?A. …, and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand.B. They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits; thus the bankruptcy.C. There had even been talk of a firm jet, a six-seater.D. His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.PART III GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (10 MIN)There are ten multiple-choice questions in this section. Choose the best answer to each question. Mark your answers on your coloured answer sheet31. The largest city in Canada isA. Vancouver.B. Montreal.C. TorontoD. Ottawa.32. According to the United States Constitution, the legislative power is invested inA. the Federal Government.B. the Supreme Court.C. the Cabinet.D. the Congress.33. Which of the following is the oldest sport in the United States?A. Baseball.B. Tennis.C. Basketball.D. American football.34. The head of the executive branch in New Zealand isA. the President.B. the Governor-General.C. the British monarch,D. the Prime Minister.35. The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, is an important poetic work byA. William Langland.B. Geoffrey Chaucer.C. William Shakespeare.D. Alfred Tennyson.36. Who wrote The American?A. Herman Melville.B. Nathaniel Hawthorne.C. Henry James.D. Theodore Dreiser.37. All of the following are well-known female writers in 20th -century Britain EXCEPTA. George Eliot.B. Iris Jean Murdoch.C. Doris Lessing.D. Muriel Spark.38. Which of the following is NOT a design feature of human language?A. Arbitrariness.B. Displacement.C. Duality.D. Diachronicity.39. What type of sentence is “Mark likes fiction, but Tim is interested in poetry.”?A. A simple sentence.B. A coordinate sentence.C. A complex sentence.D. None of the above.40. The phenomenon that words having different meanings have the same form is calledA. hyponymy.B. synonymy.C. polysemy.D. homonymy.Secton C6-10、DABCB 11-15、CBDAC 16-20、BDCDB 21-25、CADDB 26-30CADBC。
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2008年湖北省翻译大赛英专初赛试题
提示:请在至少５个选项中选出一个最佳译文,每题2分，共５0题。
满分为10０分。
最后有两题加试,每题5分。
前面达到80分者加试题才有效。
考试时间：30分钟
01）She knew ｎｏmore shortｈaｎd than if ｓhe hａd beｅn ａｇｒadｕaｔe in stenogra ｐｈｙｊｕst let slｉｐupoｎthe worｌd ｂy a buｓｉness colｌegｅ．
(A)她并不太精通速记，就像是刚刚走出商学院速记专业的毕业学生，来闯荡世界。
(B）她的速记法丝毫不逊色于商业大学的速记毕业生——世面上只认他们。
(C）她粗通速记，水平相当于刚从商学院速记专业的毕业生,刚刚踏上社会。
(D) 她的速记水平很好，即使她是一个刚刚从商学院毕业的速记专业的学生,也不过如此了。
（E）她并不懂得很多速记知识，她比不上从商学院速记专业毕业的学生。
０２）Alopｅｃｉａmay also oｃｃｕr in sｙpｈilis，ｔhyｒoｉd diｓeａsｅ, and iron deficiency.
（A) 秃头症也许会和梅毒、甲状腺疾病和缺铁症有关。
(Ｂ)体内缺铁、盾状疾病、以及花柳病都会引发斑秃。
(C) 梅毒、甲状腺疾病和铁缺乏症也可引起脱发。
（D）患有梅毒、甲状腺和缺铁等病症者也会有脱发。
（Ｅ) 秃头症会和梅毒、甲状腺疾病以及缺铁症同时发生。
０3）Herｅis aｎexample of immunoflｕorescencｅpoｓitivｉty for anｔｉ－tｈyrogloｂｕlｉｎａnｔibｏdy．
(Ａ) 这个病例显示了抗甲状腺球蛋白的萤光免疫检验为阳性。
(B）这是抗甲状腺球蛋白免疫荧光法阳性的病例。
(C）这是一个甲状腺球蛋白的萤光免疫检验是阳性的病例。
(Ｄ) 该病例是抗甲状腺球蛋白的萤光免疫检验呈阳性。
(Ｅ）这个例子很好地说明了萤光免疫检验出了甲状腺球蛋白。
04) IｆＩｃoｕｌｄhanｄlｅ a cuｅｓtick liｋe Bｉlｌy Mｏｒales, Ｉ'd beｃomｅａpool hｕｓt ｌer．
（Ａ）如果我能像比利.莫拉雷斯那样摆弄球杆,我能够成为台球高手。
(B) 我要是能像比利.摩拉莱斯那样操控球杆,我早就成了撞球赌客了。
(C) 假如我耍球杆像比利.莫拉赖斯那么利索，我肯定成了靠打台球的骗子手了。
（D）只要我能像比利.莫拉雷斯那样玩弄球杆,我铁定靠打台球混钱。
(E) 要是我能够像比利莫拉尔那样耍弄球杆，我早就成为台球专业户喽。
0５）Ｔhe hurricane hｉt Florida ｉn Jｕly.
(A) 七月中，佛罗里达州惨遭风暴蹂躏。
(Ｂ) 佛罗里达州七月遭到飓风袭击。
(Ｃ) 飓风在七月份袭击了佛罗里达州。
(D）飓风袭击佛罗里达州是在七月中。
(E）袭击福罗里达州的暴风是七月形成的。
06) We shｏuld staｎd by oｎa hurrｉｃane aｌert ．
(Ａ) 接到飓风警报，我们应当多加戒备。
(B) 得到暴风雨警报后,我们不应该慌乱。
(C)既然是大风暴预警，我们应该停止前进。
(Ｄ) 在暴风雨警戒期间我们应该坚定不移。
（E)得到飓风预警后，不得盲目行事。
0７）We ｍusｔｄo goodｒａthｅr tｈan evｉl，ｏn howeveｒhumble a sｃalｅ．
(A) 我们必须做好事而不做坏事,而不论其规模是多么微不足道。
(Ｂ) 勿因善小而不为，勿因恶小而为之。
(C)无论是大事小事,只要是坏的就别做,只要是好的就应做。
(D）好事再小都应做,坏事再小也别为。
(E)我们应该惩恶扬善,尽管有时并不起眼。
08) She ｓmiled him intｏa goｏd humoｒ．
(A) 她对他微笑使他情绪好转。
(Ｂ)她向他致以微笑,他还以诙谐幽默。
(C) 她的微笑让他感到兴高采烈。
（D) 她的微笑真令他心旷神怡。
(Ｅ) 那女子的微笑使他心情舒畅。
0９）Five thouｓaｎｄｊｏbs were axeｄas a reｓuｌt ｏf gｏveｒnｍeｎt sｐｅndｉng ｃｕtｓ.
(A) 有五千个就业机会被砍掉了，其原因是政府开支的削减。
(B)因为行政经费压缩,5０00人丢了饭碗。
（C) 五千人被炒了鱿鱼的起因是政府减少了经费。
(D）由于政府缩减经费的缘故,有五千人被突然解雇了。
(E) 5000个岗位就这样没了，直接原因就是行政单位削减开支。
１0）The alｌieｄwarplanes bombｅdｔhe couｎｔry bｙtｈe ｈundred.
（A) 盟军的战斗机群轰炸了该国,达几百架次。
(Ｂ) 联军的战机出动了几百架，对该国狂轰滥炸。
(C) 盟军数以百计的战机轰炸了那片土地。
(D)联军的机群从空中轰炸乡村时有成百架。
(Ｅ) 联合国军队的战机轰炸了其乡村地区，出动的飞机有上百架。
1１）Hｅsaｉd hiｓplaｎhaｄthe virtue of bｅing ｔhｅeasieｓｔｔo impleｍenｔ.
(Ａ) 他说他的计划有其好处,那就是容易实行。
(B)他说他计划的优点在于最容易实施。
(Ｃ) 他表示他的计划有其容易执行的优势。
(D)他说他的计划的长处是简单易行。
(E) 他说其计划便于实施。
1２)Givinｇadviｃe at the righｔtｉme has to iｎvｏlve ａgreat dｅal of iｎtellｉgeｎce.
(A) 忠告如适时，定需多睿智。
(B）在适当的时间提出建议需要很高的智商。
(C)恰当的时机提供建议须涉及大量的情报。
（D)适时提出忠告，要有高度的智慧。
（E) 提出意见,时机要巧,足智多谋,才能讨好。
13) Wｈeｎone inteｎｄs to ｉｎtegrate ａsｃhism, so it wｉｌlｂe．
（A) 只要有心促团结,便有可能不分裂。
(Ｂ) 当你意愿整合一个分裂时，它就将如你所愿。
（Ｃ）人若有心反对分裂，精诚团结不会怠懈。
（D）人们如果一心向往团结,反对分裂,就能做到这一点。
(Ｅ)想团结者不分裂,闹分裂者不团结。