大学英语阅读三级Passage 1-10

大学英语阅读三级Passage 1-10
Passage 1
The secret of being born lucky is a summer birthday, with May babies most likely to enjoy a lifetime?s good fortune, according to a study of more than 40,000 people. The time of year at which you are born has an enduring
influence on levels of optimism and self-reported luck, according to research by British and Swedish scientists. May was the luckiest month in which to be born, with 50 per cent of those born then considering themselves lucky, while October was the least lucky month, with just 43 percent claiming good fortune. The findings add to growing evidence that the phenomenon of luck is not all down to chance, but is affected by a person? s general disposition. Other research has shown that whether people think themselves fortunate depends less on objective success than on having a “glass half-full” or “half-empty” approach to life. “What we are seeing suggests that something is influencing how people perceive their luckiness. My hypothesis is that people create their own luck by traits such as optimism, that luck is a psychological phenomenon rather than a matter of blind chance,” said Professor Richard Wise man, who
led the research. The pattern of the results, with those born in spring and summer reporting themselves luckier than those born in autumn or winter, could have two potential explanations, Professor Wiseman said.
1. According to the passage, whether people think themselves lucky not depends on the following factors EXCEPT ______
A) one?s objective success B) one?s general disposition C) one?s
attitude to life D) one?s place of birth
2. According to the passage, those who were born in _______ regard themselves as the most fortunate.
A) March B) April C) May D) October
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A) Optimistic people tend to be luckier. B) Devoted people tend to be luckier.
C) Objective success is more important than one?s general disposition in feeling lucky. D) People drinking more water tend to be luckier.
4. Which of the following words can best replace the word “trait”(Line 8, Para. 2)? A) quality. B) expectation. C) belief. D) idea.
5.What is the best title for the passage? A) Luck is Something Born.
B) Luck is Not All Down to Chance. C) Luck is A Matter of Blind Chance. D) Luck and Age.
Passage 2
Researchers say most of us make instant judgement about a person on the basis of how they look. They say facial features can determine whether we like or trust someone. It may even influence how we vote.
“Over the years, we have found that facial features affect the way many
of us perceive others,” says Elisabeth Cornwell, a psychology researcher at
the university?s Perception Laboratory. Studies suggest that people are less likely to trust those with particularly masculine features, such as a square jaw, small eyes or big nose. “They are perceived as dominant and less trustworthy,” says Ms Cornwell. “It doesn?t mean that men who look more masculine are less trustwort hy―It?s just our first impressions. “ Those with less masculine features―larger eyes, a smaller nose and thinner lips―are deemed to be more trustworthy. “We are very good at processing these features quickly,” says Ms Cornwell.
The researchers are putting their science to the test at the Royal
society?s annual summer exhibition in London. They have subtly manipulated the faces of Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy accentuating their dominant and trustworthy features respectively. “We have used a computer programme to change the shape of their face and features. We hope it will help people to understand our work.” So should we expect to see Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kenned y at the exhibition getting tips? “I don?t think it?s something they will want to try,” says Ms Cornwell. “It?s not really
possible with television. We all know what they look like. I think they would be naive to try it.” 1. Why are people less likely to t rust those with particularly masculine features? A) Because they are bad-tempered.
B) Because they are perceived as dominant and less trustworthy. C) Because they are perceived as tricky. D) Because they are more stubborn.
2. According to the passage, which of the following is perceived as a g masculine feature? A) Larger eyes. B) A square jaw. C) A smaller nose. D) Thinner lips.
3. What can be inferred from the passage?
A) Most of us tend to judge people by how they look.
B) Some studies show that people with particular masculine features are more dominant. C) A candidate with less masculine features is more likely to win a vote. D) Most of us are with masculine features.
4. Why will Tony Blair not want to change his facial features according to the passage? A) Because he is so popular that everyone knows what he looks like. B) Because he does not want to get tips.
C) Because he has great confidence in his looks. D) Because he is very naive.
5.. What is the best title for the passage? A) Facial Features.
B) How People Perceive Others. C) Facial Features Are Everything.
D) How Facial Features Affect One?s First Impression.
Passage 3
British university entrants expect to be provided with washing machines and dryers in their rooms, and even car parking spaces, a survey has found. Students are also less prepared to tolerate poor quality living conditions than their predecessors, says the survey by British polling organization Mori.
More than 1,000 full-time undergraduates and postgraduates from 21 universities across the UK were surveyed for the research. It shows that location is the key factor in choosing accommodation for students―nearly half of those interviewed said that being close to their place of study was the most important factor in their choice. Cost came second, with evidence that many parents foot the bills for their children?s rent. The survey also shows that students are no longer prepared to carry bags of washing to the nearest launderette. These newcomers expect washers and dryers to be provided with their accommodation. The study also highlights those things today?s students expect as standard―communal areas to be cleaned regularly, utility bills to be included, even private car parking space to be included.
Separate findings from the UK?s National Union of Students published
earlier this year show more than half of students in private rented accommodation are living in unsatisfactory conditions.
1. Who are the subjects of the survey? A) Some oversea students in U. K.
B) Some undergraduates and postgraduates in U. K. universities. C) Some graduates in U. K. universities. D) Some British students in other countries.
2. What kind of accommodation is the most attractive to students according to the survey by British polling organization Mori? A) An apartment near their universities.
B) A cheap house far way from their universities. C) An apartment with car parking space. D) An apartment with washing machines.
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A) The survey described in the passage is conducted by UK ? s National Union of Students. B) Most of the subjects are from universities in London. C) Most college students pay the rent by themselves.
D) Students think that communal areas should be cleaned regularly by cleaners rather than themselves.
4. According to the passage, the choice of accommodation is influenced by the following factors EXCEPT ______.
A) convenience B) comfort C) low rents D) weather 5. What does the survey indicate?
A) U. K. university students are increasingly satisfied with their living conditions. B) U. K. university students are less and less energetic.
C) U. K. university students demand higher qualities of their living conditions. D) U. K. university students pay less and less attention to their studies.
Passage 4
The former first lady and now New York Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has written a book about her eight years in the White House. It is being released with a great deal of public fanfare. The book reveals details about the notorious Monica Lewinsky scandal involving her husband, President Clinton.
In Living History, the wife of former President Clinton recounts the moment when Mr. Clinton informed her that he had, fact, had what he called “a relationship that was not appropriate” with Miss Lewinsky, then a White House intern. She writes, “I? could hardly breathe. Gulping for air, I started
crying and yelling at him. What do you mean? What are you saying? Why did you
lie to me? I was furious and getting more so by the second. He just stood
there saying over and over again, I?m sorry. I?m so sorry. I was trying to
pr otect you and Chelsea, referring to their daughter.” Mrs. Clinton says she hopes that people will read the book for more than intimate details of her troubled marriage. “It? s a pretty long book, and it?s about my life, and
it?s about all of the issues that I?ve worked on, particularly on behalf of women and children, and things that I? ye cared about literally since I was a little girl,” she said. “I think it will give people more insight and, perhaps, answer questions. It?s also my story.”
Publisher Simon & Schuster paid Senator Clinton $ 8 million for the 560-page book, and has ordered an unusually large first printing of one-million copies. Publishing rights to the book already have been sold in 16 countries.
1. What appeals to the readers most in the book Living History according
to the passage? A) Hilary?s eight years in the White House. B) Hilary?s
troubled marriage.
C) The issues that Hilary have worked on. D) Hilary?s life as a senator.
2. The word “notorious” (Line 4, Para. 1) is closest in meaning to______.
A) well-known B) unheard-of C) surprising D) amusing
3. Which of the following can best describe Hilary’s reaction when Mr. Clinton told her his inappropriate relationship with Miss Lewinsky? A) Indifferent. B) Calm.
C) Angry. D) Astonished.
4. What is Hilary’s comment on her own book? A) It is more than interesting.
B) It can meet the need of people to know about other? s intimacy. C) It
is an academic book
D) The language of the book is beautiful.
5. What CANNOT be inferred from the passage? A) Living History is expected
to sell well.
B) Living History will be published beyond America. C) Mrs. Clinton is
well paid for the book Living History. D) Mr. Clinton is a responsible husband.
passage 5
The human form of mad cow disease, an incurable, brain-wasting illness
that?s killed more than 100 people in Britain, has claimed its first Canadian
victim. Canadian health officials confirmed Thursday that the unidentified man
died sometime this summer. The man, who lived in the western province of
Saskatchewan, contracted the disease from eating contaminated meat while
traveling in Britain.
Dr. Antonio Giulivi, an official with the government agency Health Canada,
quickly moved to calm fears by assuring the public the disease had not entered
the Canadian food supply.
The variant of the cow-killing illness, known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,
is believed to be caused when ground parts of diseased cattle are mixed into
cattle feed and those cows are turned into processed meats for human
consumption. Though the disease cannot be confirmed until an autopsy is
performed on the dead brain, symptoms of human infection include uncontrolled
shaking, dementia and finally paralysis. But while government officials
insisted safeguards are in place to keep the disease out of Canadian meat,
warnings were issued to 71 patients at the hospital where the infected man was
treated before his illness was identified. Those patients had been treated
with the same medical instruments used on the diseased man. Though the
instruments were cleaned and disinfected, officials said a theoretical
possibility remains that those people could have been infected. News of the
death initially sent Canadian restaurant stocks into a tailspin, but most of
them recovered by the end of the trading session.
1. Where is the Canadian supposed to contact mad cow disease? A) In
Saskatchewan. B) In Britain. C) In Canada. D) Not mentioned.
2. Which part of the body does the mad cow disease mainly affect? A) Hands.
B) Legs. C) Brain. D) Liver.
3. Why did the Canadian government issue warnings to 71 patients?
A) They ever used the same medical instruments with the first Canadian victim. B) They were intimate relatives of the first Canadian victim. C) They had ever traveled to Britain.
D) They were supposed to have contacted mad cow disease.
4. What did Health Canada do after the mad cow disease infected a Canadian?
A) Health Canada concealed the truth by all means. B) Health Canada tried to remove public fear. C) Health Canada succeeded in curing the victim.
D) Health Canada tried to find ways to cure the disease. 5. What can be inferred from the passage?
A) The news of the mad cow disease death has no effect on Canadian economy.
B) We can decide whether a person contract mad cow disease by the symptoms of uncontrolled shaking, dementia and paralysis.
C) Some cows in Canada contracted mad cow disease.
D) The mad cow disease is not completely known to the scientists yet.
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