09年英语专业八级全真试题(4)
度英语专业八级考试真题及答案(不包括听力)(4)
度英语专业八级考试真题及答案(不包括听力)(4) “museum”is a slippery word. it first meant (in greek) anything consecrated to the muses:a hill,a shrine,a garden,a festival or even a textbook.both plato s academy and aristotle s lyceum had a mouseion,a muses shrine.although the greeks already collected detached works of art,many temples—notably that of hera at olympia (before which the olympic flame is still lit)—had collections of objects,some of which were works of art by well known masters,while paintings and sculptures in the alexandrian museum were incidental to its main purpose.the romans also collected and exhibited art from disbanded temples,as well as mineral specimens,exotic plants,animals; and they plundered sculptures and paintings (mostly greek) for exhibition.meanwhile,the greek word had slipped into latin by transliteration (though not to signify picture galleries,which were called pinacothecae) and museum still more or less meant“muses- shrine”.the inspirational collections of precious and semi-precious objects were kept in larger churches and monasteries—which focused on the gold-enshrined,bejewelled relics of saints and martyrs.princes,and later merchants,had similar collections,which became the deposits of natural curiosities:large lumps of amber or coral,irregular pearls,unicorn horns,ostrich eggs,fossil bones and so on.they also included coins andgems—often antique engraved ones—as well as,increasingly,paintings and sculptures.as they multiplied and expanded,to supplement them,the skill of the fakers grew increasingly refined.at the same time,visitors could admire the very grandest paintings and sculptures in the churches,palaces and castles; they were not“collected”either,but“site-specific”,and were considered an integral part both of the fabric of the buildings and of the way of life which went on inside them—and most of the buildings were public ones.however,during the revival of antiquity in the fifteenth century,fragments of antique sculpture were given higher status than the work of any contemporary,so that displays of antiquities would inspire artists to imitation,or even better,to emulation; and so could be considered muses- shrines in the former sense.the medici garden near san marco in florence,the belvedere and the capitol in rome were the most famous of such early“inspirational”collections.soon they multiplied,and,gradually,exemplary “modern”works were also added to such galleries.in the seventeenth century,scientific and prestige collecting became so widespread that three or four collectors independently published directories to museums all over the known world.but it was the age of revolutions and industry which produced the next sharp shift in the way the institution was perceived:the fury against royal and churchmonuments prompted antiquarians to shelter them in asylum-galleries,of which the musee des monuments francais was the most famous.then,in the first half of the nineteenth century,museum funding took off,allied to the rise of new wealth:london acquired the national gallery and the british museum,the louvre was organized,the museum-insel was begun in berlin,and the munich galleries were built.in vienna,the huge kunsthistorisches and naturhistorisches museums took over much of the imperial treasure.meanwhile,the decline of craftsmanship (and of public taste with it) inspired the creation of “improving”collections.the victoria and albert museum in london was the most famous,as well as perhaps the largest of them.25. the sentence“museum is a slippery word”in the first paragra ph means that[a] the meaning of the word didn’t change until after the 15th century.[b] the meaning of the word had changed over the years.[c] the greeks held different concepts from the romans.[d] princes and merchants added paintings to their collections.26. the idea that museum could mean a mountain or an object originates from[a] the romans. [b] florence.[c] olympia. [d] greek.27. “...the skill of the fakers grew increasingly refined” in the third paragraph means that[a] there was a great demand for fakers. [b] fakers grew rapidly in number.[c] fakers became more skillful. [d] fakers became more polite.28. paintings and sculptures on display in churches in the 15th century were[a] collected from elsewhere. [b] made part of the buildings.[c] donated by people. [d] bought by churches.29. modern museums came into existence in order to[a] protect royal and church treasures. [b] improve existing collections.[c] stimulate public interest. [d] raise more funds.30. which is the main idea of the passage?[a] collection and collectors. [b] the evolution of museums.[c] modern museums and their functions. [d] the birth of museums.。
2009年英语专八考试真题
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.Writing Experimental ReportsI. Content of an experimental report, e.g.--- study subject/ area--- study purpose--- ____1____II.Presentation of an experimental report--- providing details--- regarding readers as _____2_____III.Structure of an experimental report--- feature: highly structured and ____3____--- sections and their content:INTRODUCTION ____4____; why you did itMETHOD how you did itRESULT what you found out____5____ what you think it showsIV. Sense of readership--- ____6____: reader is the marker--- ____7____: reader is an idealized, hypothetical, intelligent person with little knowledge of your study--- tasks to fulfill in an experimental report:introduction to relevant areanecessary background informationdevelopment of clear argumentsdefinition of technical termsprecise description of data ____8____V. Demands and expectations in report writing--- early stage:understanding of study subject/area and its implicationsbasic grasp of then report’s format--- later stage:____9____ on research significance--- things to avoid in writing INTRODUCTION:inadequate material____10____ of research justification for the studySECTION B INTERVIEWIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and thenanswer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Questions are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.Now listen to the interview.1. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.B. Toastmasters only accepts prospective professional speakers.C. Toastmasters accepts members from the general public.D. Toastmasters is an exclusive club for professional speakers.2. The following are job benefits by joining Toastmasters EXCEPTA. becoming familiar with various means of communication.B. learning how to deliver messages in an organized way.C. becoming aware of audience expectations.D. learning how to get along with friends.3. Toastmasters' general approach to training can be summarized asA. practice plus overall training.B. practice plus lectures.C. practice plus voice training.D. practice plus speech writing.4. Toastmasters aims to train people to be all the following EXCEPTA. public speakers.B. grammar teachers.C. masters of ceremonies.D. evaluators.5. The interview mainly focuses onA. the background information.B. the description of training courses.C. the requirements of public speaking.D. the overall personal growth.SECTION 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.Questions are based on the follwing news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.6. Which of the following is the main cause of global warming?A. Fossil fuel.B. Greenhouse gases.C. Increased dryness.D. Violent storm patterns.7. The news item implies that ______ in the last report.A. there were fewer studies doneB. there were fewer policy proposalsC. there was less agreementD. there were fewer objectivesQuestions are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.8. The cause of the Indian train accident wasA. terrorist sabotage.B. yet to be determined.C. lack of communications.D. bad weather.9. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. The accident occurred on a bridge.B. The accident occurred in New Delhi.C. There were about 600 casualties.D. Victims were rescued immediately.Question is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10seconds to answer the question.Now listen to the news.10. What is the main message of the news item?A. Young people should seek careers advice.B. Careers service needs to be improved.C. Businesses are not getting talented people.D. Careers advice is not offered on the Intemet.PART Ⅰ 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 AWe had been wanting to expand our children's horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we'd been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip toIstanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11- and 13-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn't foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children "in danger," referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have moreprudently checked with the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lot of children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see "every single" church and museum in a given city.Vaccinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concemed about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.Taking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul's major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen's view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques, it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children's curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakers in every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on the street or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults' desire to try something new amid children's insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook,which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily lef~to a learned third party.11. The couple chose Istanbul as their holiday destination mainly becauseA. the city is not too far away from where they lived.B. the city is not on the list of the U.S. State Department.C. the city is between the familiar and the exotic.D. the city is more familiar than exotic.12. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.13. We learn from the couple's shopping experience back home thatA. they were used to bargaining over price.B. they preferred to buy things outdoors.C. street markets were their favourite.D. they preferred fashion and brand names.14. The last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in IstanbulA. guidebooks are very useful.B. a professional guide is a must.C. one has to be prepared for questions.D. one has to make arrangements in advance.15. The family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPTA. religious prayers.B. historical buildings.C. local-style markets.D. shopping mall boutiques.TEXT BLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, at the same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by IBM last year concluded: "When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career's worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void."Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as 40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of the developed world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP's latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsense industrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere's 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that –flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth - also coincidentaUy help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends "a lot of time" on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world's most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. IBM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Young, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its "experienced" new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue." Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Yet few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage; and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards - this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply - whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount of work is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid theneed forworkers by spending money on machinery and automation.16. According to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approaching retirement would beA. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companies.B. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44- year-olds.C. a continuous increase in the number of 50-to 64-year-olds.D. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing.17. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforce EXCEPTA. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workers.B. using alumni networks to hire retired former employees.C. encouraging former employees to work overseas.D. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers.18. "The company spends 'a lot of time' on the ergonomics of its factories" (Paragraph Seven) means thatA. the company attaches great importance to the layout of its factories.B. the company improves the working conditions in its factories.C. the company attempts to reduce production costs of its factories.D. the company intends to renovate its factories and update equipment.19. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageing workforce mainly becauseA. they have not been aware of the problem.B. they are reluctant to hire older workers.C. they are not sure of what they should do.D. they have other options to consider.20. Which of the following best describes the author's development of argument?A. introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---~describing the actual status---offering reasons.B. describing the actual status--- introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue---introducing the issue----describing the actual status---offering reasons.D. describing the actual status--offering reasons---introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue.TEXT C(1) The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so thatthe husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's.(2) A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never ... in a working-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as myexperience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'."(3) It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.(4) The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.(5) What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband toA. work in the same sort of job as her husband.B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier (Paragraph Two) describes a relationship which the author of the passageA. thinks is the natural one.B. wishes to see preserved.C. believes is fair.D. is sure must change.23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they mustA. sometimes make the first advances in love.B. allow men to flirt with many women.C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns".25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man "makes passes" at many women.C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.TEXT DFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south,dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing - and his new broadcloak, which covered a much-too-tight army uniform - that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value - except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot AmaDablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one's eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyon to the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper,then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four mileshigh, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon - when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors - before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche's entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefied air, he removed his hand from the bundle--the first time he had done so - and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma's 29,029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste -"I recognize the divine in you" - from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig broom he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary - lightened of his load - appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.26. Which of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. "threaded".B. "dropping".C. "trudged".D. "daunting".27. In the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the following aspects EXCEPTA. clothing.B. height.C. social statusD. personal belongings.28. It can be inferred from the passage that one can get ______ of the region from the monastery.A. a narrow viewB. a hazy viewC. a distant viewD. a panoramic view29. Which of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached the monastery?A. "...he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop..."B. "...he removed his hand from the bundle..."C. "His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds..."D. "...he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps..."30. From how it is described in the passage the monastery seems to evokeA. a sense of awe.B. a sense of piety.C. a sense of fear.D. a sense of mystery.PART Ⅱ 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 sheet.31. The Head of State of New Zealand isA. the governor-general.B. the Prime Minister.C. the high commissioner.D. the monarch of the United Kingdom.32. The capital of Scotland isA. Glasgow.B. Edinburgh.C. Manchester.D. London.33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?A. Thomas Jefferson.B. George Washington.C. Thomas Paine.D. John Adams.34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?A. Perth.B. Adelaide.C. Sydney.D. Melbourne.35. Ode to the West Windwas written byA. William Blake.B. William Wordsworth.C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.D. Percy B. Shelley.36. Who among the following is a poet of free verse?A. Ralph Waldo Emerson.B. Walt Whitman.C. Herman Melville。
2009年英语专业八级考试原题
2009年英语专业八级考试原题PART V TRANSLATION (60 MIN)SECTION A CHINESE TO ENGLISH我想不起来哪一个熟人没有手机。
今天没有手机的人是奇怪的，这种人才需要解释。
我们的所有社会关系都储存在手机的电话本里，可以随时调出使用。
古代只有巫师才能拥有这种法宝。
手机改变了人与人之间的关系。
会议室门口通常贴着一条通告：请与会者关闭手机。
可是会议室里的手机铃声仍然响成一片。
我们都是普通人，并没有多少重要的事情。
尽管如此，我们也不会轻易关掉手机。
打开手机象征我们与这个世界的联系。
手机反映出我们的“社交饥渴症”。
最为常见的是，一个人走着走着突然停下来，眼睛盯着手机屏幕发短信。
他不在乎停在马路中央还是厕所旁边。
为什么对于手机来电和短信这么在乎？因为我们迫切渴望与社会保持联系。
SECTION B ENGLISH TO CHINESEWe, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.However, too many of the world's leaders are still best described in the words of Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler's threat: "They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, all powerful to be impotent."So today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global-warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow, we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.。
09年专八真题及答案
PART 2 READING COMPREHENSION (30 MIN)TEXT AWe had been wanting to expand our children's horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we'd been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip to Istanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11- and 13-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn't foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children "in danger," referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lot of children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see "every single" church and museum in a given city.Vaccinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concemed about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.Taking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul's major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen's view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques, it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children's curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakers in every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on thestreet or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults' desire to try something new amid children's insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook,which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily lef~to a learned third party.11. The couple chose Istanbul as their holiday destination mainly becauseA. the city is not too far away from where they lived.B. the city is not on the list of the U.S. State Department.C. the city is between the familiar and the exotic.D. the city is more familiar than exotic.12. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.13. We learn from the couple's shopping experience back home thatA. they were used to bargaining over price.B. they preferred to buy things outdoors.C. street markets were their favourite.D. they preferred fashion and brand names.14. The last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in IstanbulA. guidebooks are very useful.B. a professional guide is a must.C. one has to be prepared for questions.D. one has to make arrangements in advance.15. The family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPTA. religious prayers.B. historical buildings.C. local-style markets.D. shopping mall boutiques.TEXT BLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number ofworkers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, at the same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by IBM last year concluded: "When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career's worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void."Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as 40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of the developed world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP's latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsense industrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere's 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that –flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth - also coincidentaUy help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends "a lot of time" on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world's most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. IBM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Young, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its "experienced" new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst &Young found that "although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue." Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Yet few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage; and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards - this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply - whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount of work is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid theneed for workers by spending money on machinery and automation.16. According to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approaching retirement would beA. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companies.B. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44- year-olds.C. a continuous increase in the number of 50-to 64-year-olds.D. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing.17. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforce EXCEPTA. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workers.B. using alumni networks to hire retired former employees.C. encouraging former employees to work overseas.D. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers.18. "The company spends 'a lot of time' on the ergonomics of its factories" (Paragraph Seven) means thatA. the company attaches great importance to the layout of its factories.B. the company improves the working conditions in its factories.C. the company attempts to reduce production costs of its factories.D. the company intends to renovate its factories and update equipment.19. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageing workforce mainly becauseA. they have not been aware of the problem.B. they are reluctant to hire older workers.C. they are not sure of what they should do.D. they have other options to consider.20. Which of the following best describes the author's development of argument?A. introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---~describing the actualstatus---offering reasons.B. describing the actual status--- introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue---introducing the issue----describing the actual status---offering reasons.D. describing the actual status--offering reasons---introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue.TEXT C(1) The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's.(2) A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never ... in a working-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as myexperience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'."(3) It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.(4) The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.(5) What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them asthe blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband toA. work in the same sort of job as her husband.B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier (Paragraph Two) describes a relationship which the author of the passageA. thinks is the natural one.B. wishes to see preserved.C. believes is fair.D. is sure must change.23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they mustA. sometimes make the first advances in love.B. allow men to flirt with many women.C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns".25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man "makes passes" at many women.C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.TEXT DFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south,dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing - and his new broadcloak, whichcovered a much-too-tight army uniform - that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value - except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot AmaDablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one's eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyon to the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper,then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four miles high, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon - when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors - before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche's entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefied air, he removed his hand from the bundle--the first time he had done so - and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma's 29,029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste -"I recognize the divine in you" - from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig broom he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary - lightened of his load - appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.26. Which of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. "threaded".B. "dropping".C. "trudged".D. "daunting".27. In the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the following aspects EXCEPTA. clothing.B. height.C. social statusD. personal belongings.28. It can be inferred from the passage that one can get ______ of the region from the monastery.A. a narrow viewB. a hazy viewC. a distant viewD. a panoramic view29. Which of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached the monastery?A. "...he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop..."B. "...he removed his hand from the bundle..."C. "His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds..."D. "...he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps..."30. From how it is described in the passage the monastery seems to evokeA. a sense of awe.B. a sense of piety.C. a sense of fear.D. a sense of mystery.PART Ⅱ GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (10 MIN)31. The Head of State of New Zealand isA. the governor-general.B. the Prime Minister.C. the high commissioner.D. the monarch of the United Kingdom.32. The capital of Scotland isA. Glasgow.B. Edinburgh.C. Manchester.D. London.33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?A. Thomas Jefferson.B. George Washington.C. Thomas Paine.D. John Adams.34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?A. Perth.B. Adelaide.C. Sydney.D. Melbourne.35. Ode to the West Windwas written byA. William Blake.B. William Wordsworth.C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.D. Percy B. Shelley.36. Who among the following is a poet of free verse?A. Ralph Waldo Emerson.B. Walt Whitman.C. Herman MelvilleD. Theodore Dreiser.37. The novel Sons and Lovers was written byA. Thomas Hardy.B. John Galsworthy.C.D.H. Lawrence.D. James Joyce.38. The study of the mental processes of language comprehension and production isA. corpus linguistics.B. sociolinguistics.C. theoretical linguistics.D. psycholinguistics.39. A special language variety that mixes languages and is used by speakers of different languages for purposes of trading is calledA. dialect.B. idiolect.C. pidgin.D. register.40. When a speaker expresses his intention of speaking, such as asking someone to open the window, he is performingA. an illocutionary act.B. a perlocutionary act.C. a locutionary act.D. none of the above.PART Ⅲ PROOFREADING & ERROR CORRECTION (15 MIN)Proofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET TWO as instructed.When ∧art museum wants a new exhibit, (1)_______ it never buys things in finished form and hangs (2)_______ them on the wall. When a natural history museum wants an exhibition, it must often build i. (3)_______ The previous section has shown how quickly a rhyme passes from one schoolchild to the next and illustrates the further difference ____1____ between school lore and nursery lore. In nursery lore a verse, learnt in early childhood, is not usually passed on again when the little listener ____2____ has grown up, and has children of their own, or even grandchildren. ____3_____ The period between learning a nursery rhyme and transmitting it may be something from 20 to 70 years. With the playground ____4____ lore, therefore, a rhyme may be excitedly passed on within the very hour ____5____ it is learnt; and, in the general, it passes between children of the ____6____ same age, or nearly so, since it is uncommon for the differnce in age between playmates to be more than five years. If, therefore, a playground rhyme can be shown to have been currently for a hundred years, or ____7____ even just for fifty, it follows that it has been retransmitted over and over, very possibly it has passed along a chain of two or three ____8____ hundred young hearers and tellers, and the wonder is that it remains live ____9____ after so much handling, to let alone that it bears resemblance to the ____10____ original wording.PART Ⅳ TRANSLATION (60 MIN)SECTION A CHINESE TO ENGLISH我想不起来哪一个熟人没有手机。
2009年英语专业八级真题及详解【圣才出品】
2009年英语专业八级真题及详解TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2009)-GRADE EIGHT-TIME LIMIT: 150 MIN PART Ⅰ LISTENING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the mini-lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening to the mini-lecture, please complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure the word (s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.Now, listen to the mini-lecture. When it is over, you will be given THREE minutes to check your work.Writing Experimental ReportsI. Content of an experimental report, e.g.—study subject/ area—study purpose (1) _____ (1) _____II. Presentation of an experimental report—providing details—regarding readers as (2) _____ (2) _____ III. Structure of an experimental report—feature: highly structured and (3) _____ (3) _____—sections and their content:INTRODUCTION (4) _____; why you did it (4) _____(5) _____ how you did it (5) _____RESULTS what you found out(6) _____ what you think it shows (6) _____IV. Sense of readership—(7) _____: reader is the marker (7) _____—(8) _____: reader is an idealized, hypothetical, intelligent (8) _____person with little knowledge of your study—tasks to fulfill in an experimental report:·introduction to relevant area·necessary (9) _____ (9) _____·development of clear arguments·definition of (10) _____ (10) _____·precise description of data (11) _____ (11) _____ V. Demands and expectations in report writing—early stage:·(12) _____ of study subject/area and its implications (12) _____·basic grasp of (13) _____ (13) _____—later stage:·(14) _____ on research significance (14) _____—things to avoid in writing INTRODUCTION:··(15) _____ of research justification for the study (15) _____【答案与解析】(1) study result/findings(细节题。
2009年英语专业八级真题及解析
C. Because they are organizing their thoughts.
D. Because they are not interested in the talking.
Now, listen to Part Two of the interview. Questions 6 to 10 are based on Part Two of the interview.
and museum in a given city.
(5)Vaccinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concerned about adapting to the water for a
(4) Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with
the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lot of children among the foreign visi
3. A. Individuals who wish to become professional speakers.
B. Individuals who wish to improve their public speaking.
C. Individuals who want to increase their self-confidence.
专八 2009 - 1
8. A. Serving as toastmaster of the meeting. C. Monitoring use of filler words or phrases.
2009年英语专八考试真题及参考答案(完整版)
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.Writing Experimental ReportsI. Content of an experimental report, e.g.--- study subject/ area--- study purpose--- ____1____II.Presentation of an experimental report--- providing details--- regarding readers as _____2_____III.Structure of an experimental report--- feature: highly structured and ____3____--- sections and their content:INTRODUCTION ____4____; why you did itMETHOD how you did itRESULT what you found out____5____ what you think it showsIV. Sense of readership--- ____6____: reader is the marker--- ____7____: reader is an idealized, hypothetical, intelligent person with little knowledge of your study--- tasks to fulfill in an experimental report:nintroduction to relevant areanecessary background informationnndevelopment of clear argumentsdefinition of technical termsnprecisendescription of data ____8____V. Demands and expectations in report writing--- early stage:nunderstanding of study subject/area and its implicationsbasic grasp of thenreport's format--- later stage:____9____ on researchnsignificance--- things to avoid in writing INTRODUCTION:inadequatenmaterial____10____ of research justification for the studynSECTION B INTERVIEWIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answerthe questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.Now listen to the interview.1. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.B. Toastmasters only accepts prospective professional speakers.C. Toastmasters accepts members from the general public.D. Toastmasters is an exclusive club for professional speakers.2. The following are job benefits by joining Toastmasters EXCEPTA. becoming familiar with various means of communication.B. learning how to deliver messages in an organized way.C. becoming aware of audience expectations.D. learning how to get along with friends.3. Toastmasters' general approach to training can be summarized asA. practice plus overall training.B. practice plus lectures.C. practice plus voice training.D. practice plus speech writing.4. Toastmasters aims to train people to be all the following EXCEPTA. public speakers.B. grammar teachers.C. masters of ceremonies.D. evaluators.5. The interview mainly focuses onA. the background information.B. the description of training courses.C. the requirements of public speaking.D. the overall personal growth.SECTION 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.Questions 6 and 7 are'based on the foUowing news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.6. Which of the following is the main cause of global warming?A. Fossil fuel.B. Greenhouse gases.C. Increased dryness.D. Violent storm patterns.7. The news item implies that ______ in the last report.A. there were fewer studies doneB. there were fewer policy proposalsC. there was less agreementD. there were fewer objectivesQuestions 8 and 9 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.8. The cause of the Indian train accident wasA. terrorist sabotage.B. yet to be determined.C. lack of communications.D. bad weather.9. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. The accident occurred on a bridge.B. The accident occurred in New Delhi.C. There were about 600 casualties.D. Victims were rescued immediately.Question 10 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10seconds to answer the question.Now listen to the news.10. What is the main message of the news item?A. Young people should seek careers advice.B. Careers service needs to be improved.C. Businesses are not getting talented people.D. Careers advice is not offered on the Intemet.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 AWe had been wanting to expand our children's horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we'd been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip toIstanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11- and 13-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn't foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children "in danger," referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lotof children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see "every single" church and museum in a given city.Vaccinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concemed about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.T aking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul's major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen's view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques, it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children's curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakers in every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on the street or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults' desire to try something new amid children's insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook,which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily lef~to a learned third party.11. The couple chose Istanbul as their holiday destination mainly becauseA. the city is not too far away from where they lived.B. the city is not on the list of the U.S. State Department.C. the city is between the familiar and the exotic.D. the city is more familiar than exotic.12. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.13. We learn from the couple's shopping experience back home thatA. they were used to bargaining over price.B. they preferred to buy things outdoors.C. street markets were their favourite.D. they preferred fashion and brand names.14. The last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in IstanbulA. guidebooks are very useful.B. a professional guide is a must.C. one has to be prepared for questions.D. one has to make arrangements in advance.15. The family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPTA. religious prayers.B. historical buildings.C. local-style markets.D. shopping mall boutiques.TEXT BLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, at the same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by IBM last year concluded: "When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career's worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void."Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as 40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of thedeveloped world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP's latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsense industrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere's 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that –flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth - also coincidentaUy help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends "a lot of time" on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world's most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. IBM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Young, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its "experienced" new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue." Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Yet few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage; and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards - this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply - whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount of work is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid theneed for workers by spending money on machinery and automation.16. According to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approachingretirement would beA. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companies.B. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44- year-olds.C. a continuous increase in the number of 50-to 64-year-olds.D. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing.17. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforce EXCEPTA. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workers.B. using alumni networks to hire retired former employees.C. encouraging former employees to work overseas.D. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers.18. "The company spends 'a lot of time' on the ergonomics of its factories" (Paragraph Seven) means thatA. the company attaches great importance to the layout of its factories.B. the company improves the working conditions in its factories.C. the company attempts to reduce production costs of its factories.D. the company intends to renovate its factories and update equipment.19. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageing workforce mainly becauseA. they have not been aware of the problem.B. they are reluctant to hire older workers.C. they are not sure of what they should do.D. they have other options to consider.20. Which of the following best describes the author's development of argument?A. introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---~describing the actual status---offering reasons.B. describing the actual status--- introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue---introducing the issue----describing the actual status---offering reasons.D. describing the actual status--offering reasons---introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue.TEXT C(1) The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's.(2) A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never ... in aworking-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as myexperience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'."(3) It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.(4) The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.(5) What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband toA. work in the same sort of job as her husband.B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier (Paragraph Two) describes a relationship which the author of the passageA. thinks is the natural one.B. wishes to see preserved.C. believes is fair.D. is sure must change.23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they mustA. sometimes make the first advances in love.B. allow men to flirt with many women.C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns".25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man "makes passes" at many women.C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.TEXT DFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south,dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing - and his new broadcloak, which covered a much-too-tight army uniform - that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value - except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot AmaDablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one's eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyon to the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper,then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four miles high, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon - when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors - before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche's entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefiedair, he removed his hand from the bundle--the first time he had done so - and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma's 29,029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste -"I recognize the divine in you" - from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig broom he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary - lightened of his load - appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.26. Which of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. "threaded".B. "dropping".C. "trudged".D. "daunting".27. In the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the following aspects EXCEPTA. clothing.B. height.C. social statusD. personal belongings.28. It can be inferred from the passage that one can get ______ of the region from the monastery.A. a narrow viewB. a hazy viewC. a distant viewD. a panoramic view29. Which of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached the monastery?A. "...he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop..."B. "...he removed his hand from the bundle..."C. "His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds..."D. "...he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps..."30. From how it is described in the passage the monastery seems to evokeA. a sense of awe.B. a sense of piety.C. a sense of fear.D. a sense of mystery.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 sheet.31. The Head of State of New Zealand isA. the governor-general.B. the Prime Minister.C. the high commissioner.D. the monarch of the United Kingdom.32. The capital of Scotland isA. Glasgow.B. Edinburgh.C. Manchester.D. London.33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?A. Thomas Jefferson.B. George Washington.C. Thomas Paine.D. John Adams.34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?A. Perth.B. Adelaide.C. Sydney.D. Melbourne.35. Ode to the West Windwas written byA. William Blake.B. William Wordsworth.C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.D. Percy B. Shelley.36. Who among the following is a poet of free verse?A. Ralph Waldo Emerson.B. Walt Whitman.C. Herman MelvilleD. Theodore Dreiser.37. The novel Sons and Lovers was written byA. Thomas Hardy.B. John Galsworthy.C. D.H. Lawrence.D. James Joyce.38. The study of the mental processes of language comprehension and production isA. corpus linguistics.B. sociolinguistics.C. theoretical linguistics.D. psycholinguistics.。
2009年英语专八考试真题及参考答案(完整版)
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.Writing Experimental ReportsI. Content of an experimental report, e.g.--- study subject/ area--- study purpose--- ____1____II.Presentation of an experimental report--- providing details--- regarding readers as _____2_____III.Structure of an experimental report--- feature: highly structured and ____3____--- sections and their content:INTRODUCTION ____4____; why you did itMETHOD how you did itRESULT what you found out____5____ what you think it showsIV. Sense of readership--- ____6____: reader is the marker--- ____7____: reader is an idealized, hypothetical, intelligent person with little knowledge of your study--- tasks to fulfill in an experimental report:nintroduction to relevant areanecessary background informationnndevelopment of clear argumentsdefinition of technical termsnprecisendescription of data ____8____V. Demands and expectations in report writing--- early stage:nunderstanding of study subject/area and its implicationsbasic grasp of thenreport's format--- later stage:____9____ on researchnsignificance--- things to avoid in writing INTRODUCTION:inadequatenmaterial____10____ of research justification for the studynSECTION B INTERVIEWIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answerthe questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.Now listen to the interview.1. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.B. Toastmasters only accepts prospective professional speakers.C. Toastmasters accepts members from the general public.D. Toastmasters is an exclusive club for professional speakers.2. The following are job benefits by joining Toastmasters EXCEPTA. becoming familiar with various means of communication.B. learning how to deliver messages in an organized way.C. becoming aware of audience expectations.D. learning how to get along with friends.3. Toastmasters' general approach to training can be summarized asA. practice plus overall training.B. practice plus lectures.C. practice plus voice training.D. practice plus speech writing.4. Toastmasters aims to train people to be all the following EXCEPTA. public speakers.B. grammar teachers.C. masters of ceremonies.D. evaluators.5. The interview mainly focuses onA. the background information.B. the description of training courses.C. the requirements of public speaking.D. the overall personal growth.SECTION 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.Questions 6 and 7 are'based on the foUowing news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.6. Which of the following is the main cause of global warming?A. Fossil fuel.B. Greenhouse gases.C. Increased dryness.D. Violent storm patterns.7. The news item implies that ______ in the last report.A. there were fewer studies doneB. there were fewer policy proposalsC. there was less agreementD. there were fewer objectivesQuestions 8 and 9 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.8. The cause of the Indian train accident wasA. terrorist sabotage.B. yet to be determined.C. lack of communications.D. bad weather.9. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. The accident occurred on a bridge.B. The accident occurred in New Delhi.C. There were about 600 casualties.D. Victims were rescued immediately.Question 10 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10seconds to answer the question.Now listen to the news.10. What is the main message of the news item?A. Young people should seek careers advice.B. Careers service needs to be improved.C. Businesses are not getting talented people.D. Careers advice is not offered on the Intemet.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 AWe had been wanting to expand our children's horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we'd been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip toIstanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11- and 13-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn't foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children "in danger," referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lotof children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see "every single" church and museum in a given city.Vaccinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concemed about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.T aking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul's major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen's view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques, it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children's curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakers in every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on the street or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults' desire to try something new amid children's insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook,which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily lef~to a learned third party.11. The couple chose Istanbul as their holiday destination mainly becauseA. the city is not too far away from where they lived.B. the city is not on the list of the U.S. State Department.C. the city is between the familiar and the exotic.D. the city is more familiar than exotic.12. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.13. We learn from the couple's shopping experience back home thatA. they were used to bargaining over price.B. they preferred to buy things outdoors.C. street markets were their favourite.D. they preferred fashion and brand names.14. The last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in IstanbulA. guidebooks are very useful.B. a professional guide is a must.C. one has to be prepared for questions.D. one has to make arrangements in advance.15. The family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPTA. religious prayers.B. historical buildings.C. local-style markets.D. shopping mall boutiques.TEXT BLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, at the same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by IBM last year concluded: "When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career's worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void."Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as 40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of thedeveloped world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP's latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsense industrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere's 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that –flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth - also coincidentaUy help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends "a lot of time" on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world's most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. IBM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Young, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its "experienced" new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue." Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Yet few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage; and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards - this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply - whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount of work is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid theneed for workers by spending money on machinery and automation.16. According to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approachingretirement would beA. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companies.B. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44- year-olds.C. a continuous increase in the number of 50-to 64-year-olds.D. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing.17. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforce EXCEPTA. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workers.B. using alumni networks to hire retired former employees.C. encouraging former employees to work overseas.D. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers.18. "The company spends 'a lot of time' on the ergonomics of its factories" (Paragraph Seven) means thatA. the company attaches great importance to the layout of its factories.B. the company improves the working conditions in its factories.C. the company attempts to reduce production costs of its factories.D. the company intends to renovate its factories and update equipment.19. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageing workforce mainly becauseA. they have not been aware of the problem.B. they are reluctant to hire older workers.C. they are not sure of what they should do.D. they have other options to consider.20. Which of the following best describes the author's development of argument?A. introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---~describing the actual status---offering reasons.B. describing the actual status--- introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue---introducing the issue----describing the actual status---offering reasons.D. describing the actual status--offering reasons---introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue.TEXT C(1) The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's.(2) A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never ... in aworking-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as myexperience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'."(3) It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.(4) The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.(5) What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband toA. work in the same sort of job as her husband.B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier (Paragraph Two) describes a relationship which the author of the passageA. thinks is the natural one.B. wishes to see preserved.C. believes is fair.D. is sure must change.23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they mustA. sometimes make the first advances in love.B. allow men to flirt with many women.C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns".25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man "makes passes" at many women.C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.TEXT DFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south,dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing - and his new broadcloak, which covered a much-too-tight army uniform - that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value - except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot AmaDablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one's eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyon to the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper,then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four miles high, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon - when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors - before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche's entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefiedair, he removed his hand from the bundle--the first time he had done so - and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma's 29,029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste -"I recognize the divine in you" - from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig broom he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary - lightened of his load - appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.26. Which of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. "threaded".B. "dropping".C. "trudged".D. "daunting".27. In the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the following aspects EXCEPTA. clothing.B. height.C. social statusD. personal belongings.28. It can be inferred from the passage that one can get ______ of the region from the monastery.A. a narrow viewB. a hazy viewC. a distant viewD. a panoramic view29. Which of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached the monastery?A. "...he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop..."B. "...he removed his hand from the bundle..."C. "His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds..."D. "...he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps..."30. From how it is described in the passage the monastery seems to evokeA. a sense of awe.B. a sense of piety.C. a sense of fear.D. a sense of mystery.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 sheet.31. The Head of State of New Zealand isA. the governor-general.B. the Prime Minister.C. the high commissioner.D. the monarch of the United Kingdom.32. The capital of Scotland isA. Glasgow.B. Edinburgh.C. Manchester.D. London.33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?A. Thomas Jefferson.B. George Washington.C. Thomas Paine.D. John Adams.34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?A. Perth.B. Adelaide.C. Sydney.D. Melbourne.35. Ode to the West Windwas written byA. William Blake.B. William Wordsworth.C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.D. Percy B. Shelley.36. Who among the following is a poet of free verse?A. Ralph Waldo Emerson.B. Walt Whitman.C. Herman MelvilleD. Theodore Dreiser.37. The novel Sons and Lovers was written byA. Thomas Hardy.B. John Galsworthy.C. D.H. Lawrence.D. James Joyce.38. The study of the mental processes of language comprehension and production isA. corpus linguistics.B. sociolinguistics.C. theoretical linguistics.D. psycholinguistics.。
2009年英语专业八级考试真题（4）
2009年英语专业八级考试真题（4）英译中Good bye and good luck Scientific and technological advances are enabling us to comprehend the furthest reaches of the cosmos, the most basic constituents of matter, and the miracle of life.At the same time, today, the actions, and inaction, of human beings imperil not only life on the planet, but the very life of the planet.Globalization is making the world smaller, faster and richer. Still, 9/11, avian flu, and Iran remind us that a smaller, fatster world is not necessarily a safer world.Our world is bursting with knowledge - but desperately in need of wisdom. Now, when sound bites are getting shorter, when instant messages crowd out essays, and when individual lives grow more frenzied, college graduates capable of deep reflection are what our world needs.For all these reasons I believed - and I believe even more strongly today - in the unique and irreplaceable mission of universities.科技进步正在使我们能够探索宇宙的边陲、物质最基本的成分及生命的奇迹.与此同时，今天，人类所做的及没能做到的事情，不仅危害到这个星球上的生命，也危害到该星球的寿命。
2006-2009年英语专业八级考试真题与参考答案
2009年英语专业八级考试真题与参考答案PARTI LISTENING COMPREHENSION (35 MIN)SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONL Y Whilelistening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will needthem to complete a gap-filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, you will begiven two minutes to check your notes, and another ten minutes to complete the gap-fillingtask on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note-taking.Writing Experimental ReportsI.Content of an experimental report, e.g.--- study subject/ area--- study purpose--- ____1____II.Presentation of an experimental report--- providing details--- regarding readers as _____2_____III.Structure of an experimental report--- feature: highly structured and ____3____--- sections and their content:INTRODUCTION ____4____; why you did itMETHOD how you did itRESULT what you found out____5____ what you think it showsIV. Sense of readership--- ____6____: reader is the marker--- ____7____: reader is an idealized, hypothetical, intelligent person with little knowledge of your study --- tasks to fulfill in an experimental report:⏹introduction to relevant area⏹necessary background information⏹development of clear arguments⏹definition of technical terms⏹precise description of data ____8____V. Demands and expectations in report writing--- early stage:⏹understanding of study subject/area and its implications⏹basic grasp of the report’s format--- later stage:⏹____9____ on research significance--- things to avoid in writing INTRODUCTION:⏹inadequate material⏹____10____ of research justification for the studySECTION B INTERVIEWIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONL Y. Listen carefully and then answer thequestions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet. Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10seconds to answer each of the following five questions.Now listen to the interview.1. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.B. Toastmasters only accepts prospective professional speakers.C. Toastmasters accepts members from the general public.D. Toastmasters is an exclusive club for professional speakers.2. The following are job benefits by joining Toastmasters EXCEPTA. becoming familiar with various means of communication.B. learning how to deliver messages in an organized way.C. becoming aware of audience expectations.D. learning how to get along with friends.3. Toastmasters' general approach to training can be summarized asA. practice plus overall training.B. practice plus lectures.C. practice plus voice training.D. practice plus speech writing.4. Toastmasters aims to train people to be all the following EXCEPTA. public speakers.B. grammar teachers.C. masters of ceremonies.D. evaluators.5. The interview mainly focuses onA. the background information.B. the description of training courses.C. the requirements of public speaking.D. the overall personal growth.SECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONL Y. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet. Questions 6 and 7 are'based on the foUowing news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.6. Which of the following is the main cause of global warming?A. Fossil fuel.B. Greenhouse gases.C. Increased dryness.D. Violent storm patterns.7. The news item implies that ______ in the last report.A. there were fewer studies doneB. there were fewer policy proposalsC. there was less agreementD. there were fewer objectivesQuestions 8 and 9 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.8. The cause of the Indian train accident wasA. terrorist sabotage.B. yet to be determined.C. lack of communications.D. bad weather.9. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?A. The accident occurred on a bridge.B. The accident occurred in New Delhi.C. There were about 600 casualties.D. Victims were rescued immediately.Question 10 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.10. What is the main message of the news item?A. Young people should seek careers advice.B. Careers service needs to be improved.C. Businesses are not getting talented people.D. Careers advice is not offered on the Intemet.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 AWe had been wanting to expand our children's horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we'd been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip to Istanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11- and 13-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn't foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children "in danger," referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn't change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with the U.S. State Department's list of troublespots. We didn't see a lot of children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see "every single" church and museum in a given city.V accinations weren't needed for the city, but we were concemed about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.Taking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul's major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen's view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques, it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children's curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakersin every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on the street or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults' desire to trysomething new amid children's insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook, which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily lef~ to a learned third party.11. The couple chose Istanbul as their holiday destination mainly becauseA. the city is not too far away from where they lived.B. the city is not on the list of the U.S. State Department.C. the city is between the familiar and the exotic.D. the city is more familiar than exotic.12. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.13. We learn from the couple's shopping experience back home thatA. they were used to bargaining over price.B. they preferred to buy things outdoors.C. street markets were their favourite.D. they preferred fashion and brand names.14. The last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in IstanbulA. guidebooks are very useful.B. a professional guide is a must.C. one has to be prepared for questions.D. one has to make arrangements in advance.15. The family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPTA. religious prayers.B. historical buildings.C. local-style markets.D. shopping mall boutiques.TEXT BLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, at the same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by IBM last year concluded: "When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career's worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void."Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of the developed world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP's latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsenseindustrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere's 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that - flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth - also coincidentaUy help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends "a lot of time" on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world's most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. IBM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Young, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its "experienced" new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue." Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Yet few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage; and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards - this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply - whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount of work is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid the need for workers by spending money on machinery and automation.16. According to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approachingretirement would beA. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companies.B. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44- year-olds.C. a continuous increase in the number of 50-to 64-year-olds.D. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing.17. The following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageingworkforce EXCEPTA. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workers.B. using alumni networks to hire retired former employees.C. encouraging former employees to work overseas.D. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers.18. "The company spends 'a lot of time' on the ergonomics of its factories" (Paragraph Seven)means thatA. the company attaches great importance to the layout of its factories.B. the company improves the working conditions in its factories.C. the company attempts to reduce production costs of its factories.D. the company intends to renovate its factories and update equipment.19. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of theageing workforce mainly becauseA. they have not been aware of the problem.B. they are reluctant to hire older workers.C. they are not sure of what they should do.D. they have other options to consider.20. Which of the following best describes the author's development of argument?A. introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with the issue---~describing the actualstatus---offering reasons.B. describing the actual status--- introducing the issue---citing ways to deal with theissue---offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue---introducing the issue----describing the actualstatus---offering reasons.D. describing the actual status--offering reasons---introducing the issue---citing ways todeal with the issue.TEXT C(1) The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife.It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wifewho must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways inwhich the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in thesame or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by agenial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Wherethere are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find somespecial reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's.(2) A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocatedomestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of theunemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never ... in a working-class home, will yousee the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention,which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman isas busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as myexperience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merelybecause he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'."(3) It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes reallysignificant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapablytime-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of thanher husband.(4) The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried onwith any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees oftentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is thewoman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth isthat in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.(5) What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and awayfrom it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despiteall its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, moreindirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution ofeconomic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistributionof the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them asthe blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband toA. work in the same sort of job as her husband.B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier (Paragraph Two) describes arelationship which the author of the passageA. thinks is the natural one.B. wishes to see preserved.C. believes is fair.D. is sure must change.23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they mustA. sometimes make the first advances in love.B. allow men to flirt with many women.C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns".25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man "makes passes" at many women.C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.TEXT DFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south, dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing - and his new broadcloak, which covered a much-too-tight army uniform - that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value - except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot Ama Dablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one's eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyonto the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper,then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four miles high, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon - when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors - before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche's entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefied air, he removed his hand from the bundle--the first time he had done so - and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma's 29,029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste -"I recognize the divine in you" - from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig broom he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary - lightened of his load - appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.26. Which of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. "threaded".B. "dropping".C. "trudged".D. "daunting".27. In the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the followingaspects EXCEPTA. clothing.B. height.C. social status.D. personal belongings.28. It can be inferred from the passage that one can get ______ of the region from themonastery.A. a narrow viewB. a hazy viewC. a distant viewD. a panoramic view29. Which of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached themonastery?A. "...he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop..."B. "...he removed his hand from the bundle..."C. "His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds..."D. "...he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps..."30. From how it is described in the passage the monastery seems to evokeA. a sense of awe.B. a sense of piety.C. a sense of fear.D. a sense of mystery.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 sheet.31. The Head of State of New Zealand isA. the governor-general.B. the Prime Minister.C. the high commissioner.D. the monarch of the United Kingdom.32. The capital of Scotland isA. Glasgow.B. Edinburgh.C. Manchester.D. London.33. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the U.S. President?A. Thomas Jefferson.B. George Washington.C. Thomas Paine.D. John Adams.34. Which of the following cities is located on the eastern coast of Australia?A. Perth.B. Adelaide.C. Sydney.D. Melbourne.35. Ode to the West Windwas written byA. William Blake.B. William Wordsworth.C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.D. Percy B. Shelley.36. Who among the following is a poet of free verse?A. Ralph Waldo Emerson.B. Walt Whitman.C. Herman MelvilleD. Theodore Dreiser.37. The novel Sons andLovers was written byA. Thomas Hardy.B. John Galsworthy.C. D.H. Lawrence.D. James Joyce.38. The study of the mental processes of language comprehension and production isA. corpus linguistics.B. sociolinguistics.C. theoretical linguistics.D. psycholinguistics.39. A special language variety that mixes languages and is used by speakers of different languagesfor purposes of trading is calledA. dialect.B. idiolect.。
2009英语专业八级答案
2009年专业八级真题参考答案PART I LISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A1. Study result/ findings2. unknowledgeable audiences3. disciplined4. what you did5. DISCUSSION6. a common mistake7. in reality8. collection and analysis9. focus / emphasis10. LackSECTION B1-5 CDABA6-10 BCBABPART II & III11-15 CADBD16-20 DCBDB21-25 BDCAA26-30 DDDBA31-35 DBACD36-40 BCDCAPART IV1.the – a2.when ---- until3.their ---- his4.something ---- anything5.therefore ---- however6.“the”去掉7.currently ---- current8.“over”后面加上again9.live ---- alive10.“to”去掉PART VSECTION A CHINESE TO ENGLISHCell phone has altered the relationship among people. There is usually a notice on the door of conference room, which reads "Please turn off your handset." However, phones ring now and then when the conference goes on. We are but ordinary people and have few urgencies to tackle with.Nevertheless, we will not switch off our phones easily. Phones-on symbolizes our contacting with this world. Obviously, cell phone has been reflecting our “thirst for socialization”. We are very familiar with the scene when a person suddenly stops his/her steps to edit some messages with eyes glued at the phone, not caring about his/her stopping in the middle of the road or beside the restroom.SECTION B ENGLISH TO CHINESE我们人类正面临一场全球性的危机----人类文明的存续正受到威胁。
英语专业八级真题与答案(4)
英语专业八级真题与答案(4)Text CRichard, King of England from 1189 to 1199, with all his characteristic virtues and faults cast in a heroic mould, is one of the most fascinating medieval figures. He has been described as the creature and embodiment of the age of chivalry, In those days the lion was much admired in heraldry, and more than one king sought to link himself with its repute. When Richard’s contemporaries called him” Coeur de Lion”(The Lion heart), they paid a lasting compliment to the king of beasts. Little did the English people owe him for his services, and heavily did they pay for his adventures. He was in England only twice for a few short months in his ten years’ reign; yet his memory has always English hearts, and seems to present throughout the centuries the pattern of the fighting man. In all deeds of prowess as well as in large schemes of war Richard shone. He was tall and delicately shaped strong in nerve and sinew, and most dexterous in arms. He reioiced in personal combat, and regarded his opponents without malice as necessary agents in his fame He loved war, not so much for the sake of glory or political ends, but as other men love science or poetry, for the excitement of the struggle and the glow of victory. By this his whole temperament was toned; and united with the highest qualities of the military commander, love of war called forth all the powers of his mind and body.Although a man of blood and violence, Richard was too impetuous to be either treacherous on habitually cruel. He was as ready to forgive as he was hasty to offend; he was open-handed and munificent to profusion; in war circumspect in design and skilful in execution; in political a child, lacking in subtlety and experience. His political alliances were formed upon his likes and dislikes; his political schemes had neither unity nor clearness of purpose. The advantages gained for him by military geoids were flung away through diplomatic ineptitude. When, on the jouthey to the East, Messina in Sicily was won by his arms he was easily persuaded to share with his polished, faithless ally, Philip Augustus, fruits of a victory which more wisely used might have foiled the French King’s artful schemes. The rich and tenable acquisition of Cyprus was cast away even more easily than it was won. His life was one magnificent parade, which, when ended, left only an empty plain.In 1199, when the difficulties of raising revenue for the endless war were at their height, good news was brought to King Richard. It was said there had been dug up near the castle of Chaluz, on the lands of one of his French vassals, a treasure of wonderful quality; a group of golden images of an emperor, his wife, sons and daughters, seated round a table, also of gold, had been unearthed. The King claimed this treasure as lord paramount. The lord of Chaluz resisted the demand, and the King laid siege to his small, weak castle. On the third day, as he rode daringly, nearthe wall. confident in his hard-tried luck, a bolt from a crossbow struck him in the left shoulder by the neck. The wound, already deep, was aggravated by the necessary cutting out of the arrow-head. Gangrene set in, and Coeur de Lion knew that he must pay a soldier’s debt. He prepared for death with fortitude and calm, and in accordance with the principles he had followed. He arranged his affairs, he divided his personal belongings among his friends or bequeathed them to charity. He declared John to be his heir, and made all present swear fealty to him. He ordered the archer who had shot the fatal bolt, and who was now a prisoner, to be brought before him. He pardoned him, and made him a gift of money. For seven years he had not confessed for fear of being compelled to be reconiled to Philip, but now he received the offices of the Church with sincere and exemplary piety, and died in the forty-second year of his age on April 6, 1199, worthy, by the consent of all men, to sit with King Arthur and Roland andother heroes of martial romance at some Eternal round Table, which we trust the Creator of the Universe in His comprehension will not have forgotten to provide.The archer was flayed alive.20 “ little did the English people own him for his service” (paragraph one) means that the EnglishA. paid few taxes to him.B gave him little respect.C received little protection from him.D had no real cause to feel grateful to him.√21. To say that his wife was a “ magnificent parade’( paragraph Two) implies that it was to some extent.A . spent chiefly at war.B impressive and admirable.C lived too pompouslyD. an empty show.√22. Richard’s behaviour as death approached showed.A. bravery and self-control.B. Wisdom and correctnessC. Devotion and romanceD. Chivalry and charity√23. The point of the last short paragraph is that Richard wasA. cheated by his own successorsB. determined to take revenge on his enemies.C. more generous to his enemies than his seccesors.D unable to influence the behavior of his success ors.√24. Which of the following phrase best describes Richard as seen by the author?A. An aggressive king, too fond of war.B. A brave king with minor faults.√C A competent but cunning soldier.D A kind with great political skills.25. The relationship between the first and second paragraphs is thatA. each presents one side of the picture. √B. the first generalizes the second gives examples.C. the second is the logical result of the first.D. both present Richard’s virtues and faults.。
英语专业八级考试真题与答案(4)
英语专业八级考试真题与答案(4)Text CRichard, King of England from 1189 to 1199, with all his characteristic virtues and faults cast in a heroic mould, is one of the most fascinating medieval figures. He has been described as the creature and embodiment of the age of chivalry, In those days the lion was much admired in heraldry, and more than one king sought to link himself with its repute. When Richard’s contemporaries called him” Coeur de Lion”(The Lion heart), they paid a lasting compliment to the king of beasts. Little did the English people owe him for his services, and heavily did they pay for his adventures. He was in England only twice for a few short months in his ten years’ reign; yet his memory has always English hearts, and seems to present throughout the centuries the pattern of the fighting man. In all deeds of prowess as well as in large schemes of war Richard shone. He was tall and delicately shaped strong in nerve and sinew, and most dexterous in arms. He reioiced in personal combat, and regarded his opponents without malice as necessary agents in his fame He loved war, not so much for the sake of glory or political ends, but as other men love science or poetry, for the excitement of the struggle and the glow of victory. By this his whole temperament was toned; and united with the highest qualities of the military commander, love of war called forth all the powers of his mind and body.Although a man of blood and violence, Richard was too impetuous to be either treacherous on habitually cruel. He was as ready to forgive as he was hasty to offend; he was open-handed and munificent to profusion; in war circumspect in design and skilful in execution; in political a child, lacking in subtlety and experience. His political alliances were formed upon his likes and dislikes; his political schemes had neither unity nor clearness of purpose. The advantages gained for him by military geoids were flung away through diplomatic ineptitude. When, on the jouthey to the East, Messina in Sicily was won by his arms he was easily persuaded to share with his polished, faithless ally, Philip Augustus, fruits of a victory which more wisely used might have foiled the French King’s artful schemes. The rich and tenable acquisition of Cyprus was cast away even more easily than it was won. His life was one magnificent parade, which, when ended, left only an empty plain.In 1199, when the difficulties of raising revenue for the endless war were at their height, good news was brought to King Richard. It was said there had been dug up near the castle of Chaluz, on the lands of one of his French vassals, a treasure of wonderful quality; a group of golden images of an emperor, his wife, sons and daughters, seated round a table, also of gold, had been unearthed. The King claimed this treasure as lord paramount. The lord of Chaluz resisted the demand, and the King laid siege to his small, weak castle. On the third day, as he rode daringly, nearthe wall. confident in his hard-tried luck, a bolt from a crossbow struck him in the left shoulder by the neck. The wound, already deep, was aggravated by the necessary cutting out of the arrow-head. Gangrene set in, and Coeur de Lion knew that he must pay a soldier’s debt. He prepared for death with fortitude and calm, and in accordance with the principles he had followed. He arranged his affairs, he divided his personal belongings among his friends or bequeathed them to charity. He declared John to be his heir, and made all present swear fealty to him. He ordered the archer who had shot the fatal bolt, and who was now a prisoner, to be brought before him. He pardoned him, and made him a gift of money. For seven years he had not confessed for fear of being compelled to be reconiled to Philip, but now he received the offices of the Church with sincere and exemplary piety, and died in the forty-second year of his age on April 6, 1199, worthy, by the consent of all men, to sit with King Arthur and Roland andother heroes of martial romance at some Eternal round Table, which we trust the Creator of the Universe in His comprehension will not have forgotten to provide.The archer was flayed alive.20 “ little did the English people own him for his service” (paragraph one) means that the EnglishA. paid few taxes to him.B. gave him little respect.C. received little protection from him.D. had no real cause to feel grateful to him.√21. To say that his wife was a “ magnificent parade’( paragraph Two) implies that it was to some extent.A . spent chiefly at war.B. impressive and admirable.C. lived too pompouslyD. an empty show.√22. Richard’s behaviour as death approached showed.\A. bravery and self-control.B. Wisdom and correctnessC. Devotion and romanceD. Chivalry and charity√23. The point of the last short paragraph is that Richard wasA. cheated by his own successorsB. determined to take revenge on his enemies.C. more generous to his enemies than his seccesors.D unable to influence the behavior of his s uccessors.√24. Which of the following phrase best describes Richard as seen by the author?A. An aggressive king, too fond of war.B. A brave king with minor faults.√C. A competent but cunning soldier.D. A kind with great political skills.25. The relationship between the first and second paragraphs is thatA. each presents one side of the picture. √B. the first generalizes the second gives examples.C. the second is the logical result of the first.D. both present Richard’s virtues and faults.。
2009年英语专业八级真题及详解【圣才出品】
2009年英语专业八级真题及详解TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS(2009)-GRADE EIGHT-TIME LIMIT:150MIN PART I LISTENING COMPREHENSION(25MIN)SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture.You will hear the mini-lecture ONCE ONLY.While listening to the mini-lecture,please complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure the word(s)you fill in is(are)both grammatically and semantically acceptable.You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.Now,listen to the mini-lecture.When it is over,you will be given THREE minutes to check your work.Writing Experimental Reports【答案与解析】(1)study result/findings细节题。
这篇演讲稿主要是介绍如何写实验报告。
在第二段中，作者提到“All report is,...like what you did，why you did it，what you found out in the process and so on”，从中可以得出实验报告的内容包括研究主题(what you did）、研究目的(why youdid it）以及研究结果(what you found out）。
09年英语专业八级全真试题(7)
09年英语专业八级全真试题(7)PART IV PROOFREADING & ERROR CORRECTION （15 MIN）Proofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET TWO as instructed.When ∧art museum wants a new exhibit, （1）_______it never buys things in finished form and hangs （2）_______them on the wall. When a natural history museumwants an exhibition, it must often build i. （3）_______The previous section has shown how quickly a rhyme passesfrom one schoolchild to the next and illustrates the further difference ____1____between school lore and nursery lore. In nursery lore a verse, learnt in early childhood, is not usually passed on again when the little listener ____2____has grown up, and has children of their own, or even grandchildren. ____3_____The period between learning a nursery rhyme and transmittingit may be something from 20 to 70 years. With the playground ____4____lore, therefore, a rhyme may be excitedly passed on within the very hour ____5____it is learnt; and, in the general, it passes between children of the____6____same age, or nearly so, since it is uncommon for the differnce in age between playmates to be more than five years. If, therefore, a playgroundrhyme can be shown to have been currently for a hundred years, or ____7____even just for fifty, it follows that it has been retransmitted overand over, very possibly it has passed along a chain of two or three ____8____hundred young hearers and tellers, and the wonder is that it remains live ____9____after so much handling, to let alone that it bears resemblance to the ____10____original wording.。
2009～2021年英语专八TEM8历年真题合辑及简要答案
TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2009)-GRADE EIGHT-TIME LIMIT: 115 MIN PART I LISTENING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN] SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening to the mini-lecture, please complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is(are) both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.Now listen to the mini-lecture. When it is over, you will be given THREE minutes to check your work.SECTION B INTERVIEWIn this section you will hear ONE interview. The interview will be divided into TWO parts. At the end of each part, five questions will be asked about what was said. Both the interview and the questions will be spoken ONCE ONLY. After each question there will be a ten-second pause. During the pause, you should read the four choices of A, B, C, and D, and mark the best answer to each question on ANSWER SHEET TWO.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the questions.Now, listen to Part One of the interview.1. A. It was founded in 1942. B. It aims to develop writing skills.C. It is located in California.D. The location of its branches.2. A. To maximize its interests. B. To improve one’s public speaking skills.C. To improve people’s mental health.D. To help people to become sociable.3. A. Toastmasters was originally set up to train speaking skills.B. Toastmasters only accepts prospective professional speakers.C. Toastmasters accepts members from the general public.D. Toastmasters is an exclusive club for professional speakers.4. A. Becoming familiar with various means of communication.B. Learning how to deliver messages in an organized way.C. Becoming aware of audience expectations.D. Learning how to get along with friends.5. A. Listening to others’ opinions. B. Waiting for your turn to speak.C. Speak out your ideas in an organized way.D. Getting useful feedback.Now listen to Part Two of the interview.6. A. Practice plus B. Practice plus C. Practice plus D. Practice plus7. A. A basic menu will be provided to students.B. People can learn how to use different tones or volumes of sounds when giving a speech.C. The assignments exclude preparing speeches and presenting speeches.D. It is designed to serve different purposes.8. A. Public speakers. B. Grammar teachers. C. Masters of ceremonies.D. Evaluators.9. A. Self-confidence. B. Better communication skills.C. Special techniques of delivering speeches.D. Skills of leadership.10. A. The background information. B. The description of training courses.C. The requirements of public speaking.D. The overall personal growth.PART II READING COMPREHENSION [45 MIN] SECTION A MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONSIn this section there are several passages followed by fourteen multiple choice questions. For each multiple choice question, there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer and mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.PASSAGE ONEWe had been wanting to expand our children’s horizons by taking them to a place that was unlike anything we’d been exposed to during our travels in Europe and the United States. In thinking about what was possible from Geneva, where we are based, we decided on a trip to Istanbul, a two-hour plane ride from Zurich.We envisioned the trip as a prelude to more exotic ones, perhaps to New Delhi or Bangkok later this year, but thought our 11-and l3-year-olds needed a first step away from manicured boulevards and pristine monuments.What we didn’t foresee was the reaction of friends, who warned that we were putting our children “in danger,” referring vaguely, and most incorrectly, to disease, terrorism or just the unknown. To help us get acquainted with the peculiarities of Istanbul and to give our children a chance to choose what they were particularly interested in seeing, we bought an excellent guidebook and read it thoroughly before leaving.Friendly warnings didn’t change our planning, although we might have more prudently checked with the U.S. State Department’s list of trouble-spots. We didn’t see a lot of children among the foreign visitors during our six-day stay in Istanbul, but we found the tourist areas quite safe, very interesting and varied enough even to suit our son, whose oft-repeated request is that we not see “every single”church and museum in a given city.V accinations weren’t needed for the city, but we were concerned about adapting to the water for a short stay. So we used bottled water for drinking and brushing our teeth, a precaution that may seem excessive, but we all stayed healthy.Taking the advice of a friend, we booked a hotel a 20-minute walk from most of Istanbul’s major tourist sites. This not only got us some morning exercise, strolling over the Karakoy Bridge, but took us past a colorful assortment of fishermen, vendors and shoe shiners.From a teenager and pre-teen’s view, Istanbul street life is fascinating since almost everything can be bought outdoors. They were at a good age to spend time wandering the labyrinth of the Spice Bazaar, where shops display mounds of pungent herbs in sacks. Doing this with younger children would be harder simply because the streets are so packed with people; it would be easy to get lost.For our two, whose buying experience consisted of department stores and shopping mall boutiques,it was amazing to discover that you could bargain over price and perhaps end up with two of something for the price of one. They also learned to figure out the relative value of the Turkish lira, not a small matter with its many zeros.Being exposed to Islam was an important part of our trip. Visiting the mosques, especially the enormous Blue Mosque, was our first glimpse into how this major religion is practiced. Our children’s curiosity already had been piqued by the five daily calls to prayer over loudspeakers in every corner of the city, and the scarves covering the heads of many women.Navigating meals can be troublesome with children, but a kebab, bought on the street or in restaurants, was unfailingly popular. Since we had decided this trip was not for gourmets, kebabs spared us the agony of trying to find a restaurant each day that would suit the adults’ desire to try something new amid children’s insistence that the food be served immediately. Gradually, we branched out to try some other Turkish specialties.Although our son had studied Islam briefly, it is impossible to be prepared for every awkward question that might come up, such as during our visits to the Topkapi Sarayi, the Ottoman Sultans’ palace. No guides were available so it was do-it-yourself, using our guidebook, which cheated us of a lot of interesting history and anecdotes that a professional guide could provide. Next time, we resolved to make such arrangements in advance.On this trip, we wandered through the magnificent complex, with its imperial treasures, its courtyards and its harem. The last required a bit of explanation that we would have happily left to a learned third party.11. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?A. The family found the city was exactly what they had expected.B. Their friends were opposed to their holiday plan.C. They could have been more cautious about bringing kids along.D. They were a bit cautious about the quality of water in the city.12. W e learn from the couple’ s shopping experience back home that ____________.A. they were used to bargaining over priceB. they preferred to buy things outdoorsC. street markets were their favouriteD. they preferred fashion and brand names13. T he last two paragraphs suggest that to visit places of interest in Istanbul ____________.A. guidebooks are very usefulB. a professional guide is a mustC. one has to be prepared for questionsD. one has to make arrangements in advance14. T he family have seen or visited all the following in Istanbul EXCEPT ____________.A. religious prayersB. historical buildingsC. local-style marketsD. shopping mall boutiquesPASSAGE TWOLast month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The bulky generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The looming “demographic cliff” will see vast numbers of skilled workers dispatched from the labour force.The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. In Japan almost 20% of the population is already over 65, the highest share in the world. And in the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half in this decade, atthe same time as the 35- to 44-year-olds decline by 10%.Given that most societies are geared to retirement at around 65, companies have a looming problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. A survey of human-resources directors by BM last year concluded: “When the baby-boomer generation retires, many companies will find out too late that a career s worth of experience has walked out the door, leaving insufficient talent to fill in the void.”Some also face a shortage of expertise. In aerospace and defence, for example, as much as 40% of the workforce in some companies will be eligible to retire within the next five years. At the same time, the number of engineering graduates in developed countries is in steep decline.A few companies are so squeezed that they are already taking exceptional measures. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times interviewed an enterprising Australian who was staying in Beverly Hills while he tried to persuade locals to emigrate to Toowoomba, Queensland, to work for his engineering company there. Toowoomba today; the rest of the developed world tomorrow?If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The AARP, an American association for the over-50s, produces an annual list of the best employers of its members. Health-care firms invariably come near the top because they are one of the industries most in need of skilled labour. Other sectors similarly affected, says the Conference Board, include oil, gas, energy and government.Near the top of the AARP’s latest list comes Deere & Company, a no-nonsense industrial-equipment manufacturer based in Illinois; about 35% of Deere’s 46,000 employees are over 50 and a number of them are in their 70s. The tools it uses to achieve that—flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth—also coincidentally help older workers to extend their working lives. The company spends “a lot of time” on the ergonomics of its factories, making jobs there less tiring, which enables older workers to stay at them for longer.Likewise, for more than a decade, Toyota, arguably the world’s most advanced manufacturer, has adapted its workstations to older workers. The shortage of skilled labour available to the automotive industry has made it unusually keen to recruit older workers. BMW recently set up a factory in Leipzig that expressly set out to employ people over the age of 45. Needs must when the devil drives.Other firms are polishing their alumni networks. BM uses its network to recruit retired people for particular projects. Ernst & Y oung, a professional-services firm, has about 30,000 registered alumni, and about 25% of its “experienced” new recruits are former employees who return after an absence.But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Y oung found that “although corporate America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue.” Almost three-quarters of the 1,400 global companies questioned by Deloitte last year said they expected a shortage of salaried staff over the next three to five years. Y et few of them are looking to older workers to fill that shortage, and even fewer are looking to them to fill another gap that has already appeared. Many firms in Europe and America complain that they struggle to find qualified directors for their boards—this when the pool of retired talent from those very same firms is growing by leaps and bounds.Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Part of the reason is that the crunch has been beyond the horizon of most managers. Nor is hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labour. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply—whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. A vast amount ofwork is being sent offshore to such places as China and India and more will go in future. Some countries, such as Australia, are relaxing their immigration policies to allow much needed skills to come in from abroad. Others will avoid the need for workers by spending money on machinery and automation.15. A ccording to the passage, the most serious consequence of baby-boomers approaching retirementwould be ____________.A. a loss of knowledge and experience to many companiesB. a decrease in the number of 35- to 44-year-oldsC. a continuous increase in the number of 50- to 64-year-oldsD. its impact on the developed world whose workforce is ageing16. T he following are all the measures that companies have adopted to cope with the ageing workforceEXCEPT ____________.A. making places of work accommodate the needs of older workersB. using alumni networks to hire retired former employeesC. encouraging former employees to work overseasD. granting more convenience in working hours to older workers17. I n the author’ s opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageingworkforce mainly because ____________.A. they have not been aware of the problemB. they are reluctant to hire older workersC. they are not sure of what they should doD. they have other options to consider18. W hich of the following best describes the author’s development of argument?A. introducing the issue →citing ways to deal with the issue →describing the actual status →offering reasons.B. describing the actual status → introducing the issue →citing ways to deal with the issue →offering reasons.C. citing ways to deal with the issue → introducing the issue →describing the actual status →offering reasons.D. describing the actual status → offering reasons → introducing the issue → citing ways to dealwith the issue.PASSAGE THREEThe other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife’s.A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: “Practically never … in a working-class home, will you see the man doing a strokeof the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever—more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Y et so far as my experience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a ‘Mary Ann’”It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman’s response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly. If there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.19. W hich of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?A. Abrasive (Paragraph Five).B. Engines (Paragraph Four).C. Convention (Paragraph Two).D. Heavily (Paragraph One).20. T he last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they must ____________.A. sometimes make the first advances in loveB. allow men to flirt with many womenC. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolatesD. avoid making their husbands look like “Mary Anns”21. W hich of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?A. Men are equally serious about courtship.B. Each man “makes passes” at many women.C. The woman’s reaction decides the fate of courtship.D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.PASSAGE FOURFrom Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital at 12,000 feet, the long line threaded south, dropping 2,000 feet to the valley floor, then trudged down the huge Sola-Khumbu canyon until it opened out to the lush but still daunting foothills of Central Nepal.It was here at Namche that one man broke rank and leaned north, slowly and arduously climbing the steep walls of the natural amphitheater behind the scatter of stone huts, then past Kunde and Khumjong.Despite wearing a balaclava on his head, he had been frequently recognized by the Tibetans, and treated with the gravest deference and respect. Even among those who knew nothing about him, expressions of surprise lit up their dark, liquid eyes. He was a man not expected to be there.Not only was his stature substantially greater than that of the diminutive Tibetans, but it was also obvious from his bearing—and his new broad-cloak, which covered a much-too-tight army uniform—that he came from a markedly loftier station in life than did the average Tibetan. Among a people virtually bereft of possessions, he had fewer still, consisting solely of a rounded bundle about a foot in diameter slung securely by a cord over his shoulder. The material the bundle was wrapped in was of a rough Tibetan weave, which did not augur that the content was of any greater value—except for the importance he seemed to ascribe to it, never for a moment releasing his grip.His objective was a tiny huddle of buildings perched halfway up an enormous valley wall across from him, atop a great wooded spur jutting out from the lower lap of the 22,493-foot Ama Dablum, one of the most majestic mountains on earth. There was situated Tengboche, the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas, its setting unsurpassed for magnificence anywhere on the planet.From the top of the spur, one’s eyes sweep 12 miles up the stupendous Dudh Kosi canyon to the six-mile-long granite wall of cliff of Nuptse at its head. If Ama Dablum is the Gatekeeper, then the sheer cliff of Nuptse, never less than four miles high, is the Final Protector of the highest and mightiest of them all: Chomolongma, the Mother Goddess of the World, to the Tibetans; Sagarmatha, the Head of the Seas, to the Nepalese; and Everest to the rest of us. And over the great barrier of Nuptse She demurely peaks.It was late in the afternoon—when the great shadows cast by the colossal mountains were descending into the deep valley floors—before he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop just past Tengboche’s entrance gompa. His chest heaving in the rarefied air, he removed his hand from the bundle—the first time he had done so—and wiped grimy rivulets of sweat from around his eyes with the fingers of his mitted hand.His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds, the pagoda-like monastery itself, and the stone buildings that tumbled down around it like a protective skirt. In the distance the magic light of the magic hour lit up the plume flying off Chomolongma’s 29029-foot-high crest like a bright, welcoming banner.His breathing calmed, he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps to the monastery entrance. There he was greeted with a respectful nameste—“I recognize the divine in you”—from a tall, slim monk of about 35 years, who hastily set aside a twig bro0m he had been using to sweep the flagstones of the inner courtyard. While he did so, the visitor noticed that the monk was missing the small finger on his left hand. The stranger spoke a few formal words in Tibetan, and then the two disappeared inside.Early the next morning the emissary—lightened of his load—appeared at the monastery entrance, accompanied by the same monk and the elderly abbot. After a bow of his head, which was returned much more deeply by the two ocher-robed residents, he took his leave. The two solemn monks watched, motionless, until he dipped over the ridge on which the monastery sat, and out of sight.Then, without a word, they turned and went back inside the monastery.22. W hich of the following words in Paragraph One implies difficulty in walking?A. “threaded”.B. “dropping”.C. “trudged”.D. “daunting”.23. I n the passage the contrast between the Tibetans and the man is indicated in all the following aspectsEXCEPT ____________.A. clothingB. heightC. social statusD. personal belongings24. W hich of the following details shows that the man became relaxed after he reached the monastery?A. “… he reached the crest of the spur and shuffled to a stop …”B. “… he removed his hand from the bundle …”C. “His narrowed eyes took in the open sweep of the quiet grounds …”D. “… he slowly, stiffly struggled forward and up the rough stone steps …”SECTION B SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONSIn this section there are eight short-answer questions based on the passages in SECTION A. Answer each question in NO MORE THAN 10 WORDS in the space on ANSWER SHEET TWO.PASSAGE ONE25. W hy did the couple choose Istanbul as their holiday destination?PASSAGE TWO26. What does “The company spends ‘a lot of time’ on the ergonomics of its factories” (Paragraph Seven)mean?PASSAGE THREE27. W hat’s the author’s advice to the working wife who is more successful than her husband?28. W hat does “Mary Ann” in the second paragraph probably mean?29. W hat’s the author’s attitude towards the relationship between man and wife in Wigan Pier pictured byOrwell?PASSAGE FOUR30. W hat does “daunting” in the first paragraph probably mean?31. W hat kind of view can we get about this region from the monastery?32. A ccording to the description of the monastery, what kind of sense can we get about it?PART III LANGUAGE USAGE [15 MIN] The passage contains Ten errors. Each indicated line contains a maximum of ONE error. In each case, only ONE word is involved. You should proofread the passage and correct it in the following way: For a wrong word, underline the wrong word and write the correct onein the blank provided at the end of the line.For a missing word, mark the position of the missing word with a “∧”sign and write the word you believe to be missingin the blank provided at the end of the line.For an unnecessary word, cross the unnecessary word with a slash “ / ” and putthe word in the blank provided at the end of the line. EXAMPLEWhen ∧art museum wants a new exhibit, (1) anit never buys things in finished form and hangs (2) never them on the wall. When a natural history museumwants an exhibition, it must often build it. (3) exhibitProofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET THREE as instructed.PART IV TRANSLATION [25 MIN]Translate the underlined part of the following text into English. Write your translation on ANSWER SHEET THREE.我想不起来哪一个熟人没有手机。
09年英语专业八级全真试题（4）
TEXT C （1） The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife. It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife's. （2） A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: "Practically never …… in a working-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as my experience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a 'Mary Ann'." （3） It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband. （4） The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman's response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men. （5） What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates. 21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband to A. work in the same sort of job as her husband. B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant. C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary. D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home. 22. Orwell's picture of relations between man and wife in Wigan Pier （Paragraph Two） describes a relationship which the author of the passage A. thinks is the natural one. B. wishes to see preserved. C. believes is fair. D. is sure must change. 23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically? A. Abrasive （Paragraph Five）. B. Engines （Paragraph Four）. C. Convention （Paragraph Two）. D. Heavily （Paragraph One）. 24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important jobs, then they must A. sometimes make the first advances in love. B. allow men to flirt with many women. C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates. D. avoid making their husbands look like "Mary Anns". 25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship? A. Men are equally serious about courtship. B. Each man "makes passes" at many women. C. The woman's reaction decides the fate of courtship. D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
09年英语专业八级全真试题(4)
TEXT C
（1）The other problem that arises from the employment of women is that of the working wife.
It has two aspects: that of the wife who is more of a success than her husband and that of the wife who must rely heavily on her husband for help with domestic tasks. There are various ways in which the impact of the first difficulty can be reduced. Provided that husband and wife are not in the same or directly comparable lines of work, the harsh fact of her greater success can be obscured by a genial conspiracy to reject a purely monetary measure of achievement as intolerably crude. Where there are ranks, it is best if the couple work in different fields so that the husband can find some special reason for the superiority of the lowest figure in his to the most elevated in his wife’s.
（2）A problem that affects a much larger number of working wives is the need to re-allocate domestic tasks if there are children. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell wrote of the unemployed of the Lancashire coalfields: “Practically never …… in a working-class home, will you see the man doing a stroke of the housework. Unemployment has not changed this convention, which on the face of it seems a little unfair. The man is idle from morning to night but the woman is as busy as ever - more so, indeed, because she has to manage with less money. Yet so far as
my experience goes the women do not protest. They feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed in a ‘Mary Ann’.”
（3）It is over the care of young children that this re-allocation of duties becomes really significant. For this, unlike the cooking of fish fingers or the making of beds, is an inescapably time-consuming occupation, and time is what the fully employed wife has no more to spare of than her husband.
（4）The male initiative in courtship is a pretty indiscriminate affair, something that is tried on with any remotely plausible woman who comes within range and, of course, with all degrees of tentativeness. What decides the issue of whether a genuine courtship is going to get under way is the woman’s response. If she shows interest the engines of persuasion are set in movement. The truth is that in courtship society gives women the real power while pretending to give it to men.
（5）What does seem clear is that the more men and women are together, at work and away from it, the more the comprehensive amorousness of men towards women will have to go, despite all its past evolutionary services. For it is this that makes inferiority at work abrasive and, more indirectly, makes domestic work seem unmanly, if there is to be an equalizing redistribution of economic and domestic tasks between men and women there must be a compensating redistribution of the erotic
initiative. If women will no longer let us beat them they must allow us to join them as the blushing recipients of flowers and chocolates.
21. Paragraph One advises the working wife who is more successful than her husband to
A. work in the same sort of job as her husband.
B. play down her success, making it sound unimportant.
C. stress how much the family gains from her high salary.
D. introduce more labour-saving machinery into the home.
22. Orwell’s picture of relations between m an and wife in Wigan Pier （Paragraph Two）describes a relationship which the author of the passage
A. thinks is the natural one.
B. wishes to see preserved.
C. believes is fair.
D. is sure must change.
23. Which of the following words is used literally, NOT metaphorically?
A. Abrasive （Paragraph Five）.
B. Engines （Paragraph Four）.
C. Convention （Paragraph Two）.
D. Heavily （Paragraph One）.
24. The last paragraph stresses that if women are to hold important
jobs, then they must
A. sometimes make the first advances in love.
B. allow men to flirt with many women.
C. stop accepting presents of flowers and chocolates.
D. avoid making their husbands look like “Mary Anns”.
25. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the present form of courtship?
A. Men are equally serious about courtship.
B. Each man “makes passes” at many women.
C. The woman’s reaction decides the fate of courtship.
D. The man leaves himself the opportunity to give up the chase quickly.。