大学英语口试阅读材料

第一部分：短文阅读（每小组需5-6分钟。教师可要求学生读其中的一、二段）(1)I suspect not everyone who loves the country would be happy living the way we do. It takes a couple of special qualities. One is a tolerance for solitude. Because we are so busy and on such a tight budget, we don’t entertain much. During the growing season there is no time for socializing anyway. Jim and Emily are involved in school activities, but they too spend most of their time at home.

The other requirement is energy—a lot of it. The way to make self-sufficiency work on a small scale is to resist the temptation to buy a tractor and other expensive laborsaving devices. Instead, you do the work yourself. The only machinery we own (not counting the lawn mower) is a little three horsepower rotary cultivator and a 16-inch chain saw.

How much longer we’ll have enough energy to stay on here is anybody’s guess—perhaps for quite a while, perhaps not. When the time comes, we’ll leave with a feeling of sorrow but also with a sense of pride at what we’ve been able to accom plish. We should make a fair profit on the sale of the place, too. We’ve invested about $35,000 of our own money in it, and we could just about double that if we sold today. But this is not a good time to sell. Once economic conditions improve, however, demand for farms like ours should be strong again.

We didn’t move here primarily to earn money though. We came because we wanted to improve the quality of our lives. When I watch Emily collecting eggs in the evening, fishing with Jim on the river or enjoying an old-fashioned picnic in the orchard with the entire family, I know we’ve found just what we were looking for.

(2)It has been replaced by dead-bolt locks, security chains, electronic alarm systems and trip wires hooked up to a police station or private guard firm. Many suburban families have sliding glass doors on their patios, with steel bars elegantly built in so no one can pry the doors open.

It is not uncommon, in the most pleasant of homes, to see pasted on the windows small notices announcing that the premises are under surveillance by this security force or that guard company.

The lock is the new symbol of America. Indeed, a recent public service advertisement by a large insurance company featured not charts showing how much at risk we are, but a picture of a child’s bicycle with the now-usual padlock attached to it.

The ad pointed out that, yes, it is the insurance companies that pay for stolen goods, but who is going to pay for what the new atmosphere of distrust and fear is doing to our way of life? Who is going to make the psychic payment for the transformation of America from the Land of the Free to the Land of the Lock?

For that is what has happened. We have become so used to defending ourselves against the new atmosphere of American life, so used to putting up barriers, that we have not had time to think about what it may mean.

(3)Always the college professor, my dad had carefully avoided anything he considered too sentimental, so I knew how moved he was to write me that, after having helped educate

The Reverend Nelson wrote that his decade as a “simple, old-fashioned principal” had ended with schools undergoing such swift changes that he had retired in self-doubt. “I heard more of what I had done wrong than what I did right,” he said, adding that my letter had brought him welcome reassurance that his career had been appreciated.

A glance at Grandma’s familiar handwriting brought back in a flash memories of standing alongside her white rocking chair, watching her “settin’down”some letter to relatives. Character by character, Grandma would slowly accomplish one word, then the next, so that a finished page would consume hours. I wept over the page representing my Grandma’s recent hours invested in expressing her loving gratefulness to me-whom she used to diaper!

(4)Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor beneath them. He was past sixty and had a long white beard curling down over his chest. Despite looking the part, Behrman was a failure in art. For forty years he had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little by serving as a model to those young artists who could not pay the price of a professional. He drank gin to excess, and still talked of his coming masterpiece. For the rest he was a fierce little old man, who mocked terribly at softness in any one, and who regarded himself as guard dog to the two young artists in the studio above.

Sue found Behrman smelling strongly of gin in his dimly lighted studio below. In one corner was a blank canvas on an easel that had been waiting there for twenty-five years to receive the first line of the masterpiece. She told him of Johnsy’ fancy, and how she feared she would, indeed, light and fragile as leaf herself, float away, when her slight hold upon the world grew weaker. Old Behrman, with his red eyes plainly streaming, shouted his contempt for such foolish imaginings.

“What!” He cried. “Are there people in the world foolish enough to die because leafs drop off from a vine? I have never heard of such a thing. Why do you allow such silly ideas to come into that head of hers? God! This is not a place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy should lie sick. Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away. Yes.”

(5)Every student is faced with the same question when he passes the College Entrance Examination. Should he choose a good major or a good university? Different people will offer different answers.

Some students give priority to a good major. What they cherish is a specialty they like most. In their mind, whether the university is famous is not very important. So long as they work hard, they can learn it well in any university, and a bright future is awaiting them.

Other students pay more attention to the university. They attach great importance to the university because the environment is vital to the making of an excellent person and is the symbol of a good future job itself. How can you have a wide vision and a broad horizon if you receive education in a small college?

In a word, the best choice is a good major at a good university. We can only get such a chance after making great efforts. If we cannot obtain both, the first thing to consider is a good major itself.

(6)Recently, PC games have become very popular on campus. What amazes us most is that many students often spend their evenings playing such games. It is true the PC games can do much harm to us if we indulge in them.

There are many reasons explaining the harms of PC games. The main reason is that playing PC games is an enormous waste of time and we will have little time for our study. What is more, those who play PC games day and night will be harmed physically for lack of rest and sleep. Thirdly, most games are about violence and unhealthy contents. As a result, we benefit less from PC games.

Considering all these, we should deal with PC games carefully. For one thing, we shouldn’t spend too much time, energy and money on the games because study is our priority. For another, we should try to learn something when playing them occasionally. In conclusion, we should try to avoid the harms of PC games and live a more meaningful life.

(7) There is no complete agreement among people as to whether we should encourage private cars in China or not. Some people consider that we should encourage the development of private cars in China. However, others think that we have to stop encouraging private cars.

Some people may say that it is reasonable to encourage more private cars. They hold this opinion because they believe that private cars bring convenience .However, others believe that too many private cars bring problems instead of convenience. They argue that problems like traffic jam and air pollution have become more and more serious in big cities.

Personally, I am in favor of the former opinion. Firstly, the private-owned car is an important milestone marking the improvement of Chinese people’s living standard. Secondly, problems caused by private cars can be solved gradually with the development of technology. Most important of all, taxes collected from private cars can be used to build more roads. Taking above-mentioned factors into consideration, I may reasonably conclude that it is wise to encourage private cars.

(8)Different people have different views on whether a student should be a specialist or a generalist. Some people prefer the argument that college students should focus on developing skills in one field . Others tend to the idea that an all-round talent may have a brighter future in a competitive society. As to me ,I agree with the former.

Of course, it is necessary that college students should widen their vision. For example, they should learn something without any direct connection to their majors, but it is impossible to demand college students to become an all-round generalist within four years. The following reasons can account for my preference.

The main reason is that a student cannot spend enough time on several fields at the same time because of the limit of energy. A good example to illustrate is that some ambitious students who stretch themselves to several different areas only find that they end up with low efficiency. For another, enterprises usually offer specialists higher salaries. From the foregoing, I believe that to be a specialist is the right choice for most students.

(9)People all over the world set great regard on good manners. To certain degree, good manners indicate a person’s good education and breeding. In schools, it is part of student s’moral training to develop good manners. A person with good manners always wins praise. On the contrary, people will frown on him if he behaves roughly and impolitely.

There are good manners in which we behave in public places. It is a good manner to offer help to the young, the old and the handicapped when they are in need of it. So is it to conduct ourselves politely and keep away from foul language. Besides, we should guard against such minor offences as making a loud noise, casting peels and shells, smoking, and spitting.

If everyone has developed good manners, people will form a more harmonious relationship. If everyone behaves considerately towards others and follows the social ethics, people will live in a better world. With the general mood of society improved, there will be

a progress of civilization.

(10) Now there is a widespread concern in China over the widening gap between the rich and the poor. We are surprised to learn that a pop singer can make over a hundred thousand yuan for one performance overnight, while it may take an average farmer his lifetime to earn that much.

The cause lies in three aspects. First, the gap is result of the economic reform. Some seize the opportunities and become millionaires by working hard and meanwhile the slow development in agriculture hinders the farmers from raising their living standards and the closedown of many state-owned enterprises renders the jobless poverty-stricken. Second, the current distribution of income is not scientific and reasonable, thus widening the income difference. Third ,while most make money honestly, there are some dishonest businessmen and government officials who have accumulated large fortunes by illegal ways.

To narrow the gap, the government should take effective actions to help the poor, and meanwhile strictly enforce laws to eliminate corruption in government. On the other hand, reform on income distribution should be carried out and strict income taxation should be made more workable and effective to narrow people’s income gap. And finally, the traditional “law of value”and “principle of more pay for more work” should have their final say.

(11)As is known to all, examinations play an important role in student’s lives. Some students seem to get accustomed to cheating in exams. In fact, the problem of cheating in exams become more serious.

The reasons of cheating in exams lie in several aspects. Firstly, some students just play time away and want to pass the exams without efforts. Secondly, some are under great pressure from parents and they fear to fail in the exams. Thirdly, some cheat to get high scores and scholarships. Finally, the problem of cheating in exams becomes very serious.

As a matter of fact, cheating in exams can be eliminated if we take the following measures. On the one hand, we should explain the harms of cheating to the students. On the

Therefore, they can be taught a lesson.

(12)Different people have different views on whether we can change our fates or not. Some people prefer that our fates lie in our own hands, and we can control them with our determination and efforts. Others tend to believe that fate is determined by God. As to me, I agree with the first statement.

Of course, sometimes something unexpected usually occurs. For example, a healthy young man may suffer a traffic accident and lose his legs in a sudden. But it doesn’t mean that he can do nothing to change his miserable fortune. The following reasons can account for my preference.

The main reason is that our human beings have the intelligence and ambition which enables us to conquer difficulties. A good example to illustrate is that many a hero, such as Zhang Haidi, has succeeded in fighting against her fate. For another, God only helps those who help themselves. From the foregoing, we should be confident in and faithful to ourselves, no matter what happens.

(13)It is certain that knowing how to succeed in a job interview is very important. For one reason, if we know something about job interview, we can gain more confidence. For another, excellent performance in a job interview can create a good impression to the interviewers and give interviewees more chances to win the job. However, some still puzzle on how to win a job interview.

Here come some suggestions. To begin with, the interviewee should take care of his or her appearance. Secondly, the interviewee should demonstrate his or her aptitudes and skills to prove to be competent for the job. For instance, if asked to tell something about his or her academic background, the interviewee should take advantage of this opportunity to show his or her talents in that field. Thirdly, I think it is important that the interviewee should pay more attention to his or her manners. That is because a well-mannered man is welcomed in social activities, the interviewee has to know business etiquette.

Actually, the solutions vary according to different situations. Therefore, it is advisable for us to prepare job interview in the light of his or her own circumstance. (14)If the city residents ever want to increase living quality, the problem of air pollution has to be solved. With more and more factories being set up, more and more people flooding into cities and more and more cars and buses running on the road, this problem has been more and more serious.

First of all, big factories should abide by the environmental laws and rules closely, not giving off waste gases into the air directly without disposal. What’s more, the municipal government should call on all the people to plant more trees, which can purify the air and improve air quality, the tail gases from cars, buses and trucks should never exceed the national standard. Only when all the people stop pursuing personal interests at the price of air pollution can we hope to put an end this unfavorable situation.

The air quality is of great importance to anybody at any time and place. If a person

quality?

(15)As a popular saying goes, “Health is better than wealth.” Good health enables you to enjoy you life and achieve what you hope for in your career. On the other hand, poor health tends to deprive you of your interest in everything around you. Therefore, health is indispensable to your happy life.

There are many ways, which help to build up your health. In the first place, those who are always on the run from morning till night should find time to relax because too much stress can lead to poor performance and ill health. Secondly, if you want to keep fit, you must give up the habits that are harmful to your health. Finally, regular physical exercise is essential for a healthy mind and body. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing more healthful than a brisk walk in the morning.

Personally, I think that health is of great importance to us. So we must give up any habit that does damage to our health and stick to what is beneficial to our health.

(16)The chart reveals that the vast majority (83%)of students like pop music, which is in great contrast with only 5% of them favor classical music and 12% of them are fond of folk music.

The reason for the popularity of the pop songs are its themes and melodies, which describe mostly emotions and daily life of the young people. Besides, pop songs are usually easy to follow and meaningful to those young students.

As far as I’m concerned, I prefer all kings of music. When I feel stressed or exhausted after a day’s hard work, I often listen to light music, classical music or folk music to relax myself. When I feel sad, I’ll listen to some pop songs or rock music to encourage myself.

(17) Job hunting in employment markets has become a common part of people’s life. And the balance between the supplies and the demands has always aroused the greatest concern. What impresses us most is the contrast between the oversupply of college graduates and the shortage of technical workers. The reasons for the phenomenon are varied.

Among the various reasons, the changing of market supply and demands plays an important part. That is to say, more and more skilful technical workers are badly needed in various industries. What is more, college graduates who have no skillful working experiences give priority to jobs in big companies and in big cities. For example, they do their utmost to find jobs in cities like Beijing, shanghai, etc.

When talking about the solutions to the unbalanced job opportunities, I believe that we should first balance the demands and the supplies in the labor markets. On the one hand, we should train more qualified technical workers to supply the markets. On the other hand, college graduates should adapt their expectancies to the demands of the whole society. In brief, we have to adjust ourselves constantly to meet the demands of the society.

(18)With the rapid economic development and changes in ideas, more and more college students are now engaged in part-time jobs. They work in their spare time as private tutors, salesmen, waiters or shop assistants. Some people believe that taking park-time jobs offer many advantages. To begin with, by doing spare-time jobs the students can earn money to support themselves, thus lightening their parents’financial burden. Besides, while doing their part-time jobs, the students can develop their ability by putting what they learn on campus into practice. Finally doing part-time jobs helps the students to learn something beyond their text books and gain some social experience that will be of great help to their future career.

Other people feel different about it. They think that for all these advantages, doing part-time jobs while at college has also some disadvantages. Some students may get tired from their jobs and cannot concentrate themselves in class. Besides, if they become too interested in their part-time jobs, they may fail to do well in their study, which will surely cast shadows on their future. What is more, doing part-time jobs may encourage an unhealthly desire for money and personal profits, some of them may even give up study halfway in pursuit of material comfort.

To sum up , students should always remember that study is their primary job at college, which should involve most of their time, efforts and interest. And taking part-time jobs will bring them benefits only when they can keep a balance between them.

(19)There is no complete agreement among people as to the relation between love and study on campus. Some people consider that love can promote student’s study. However, others think that love may hamper student’s study. However, others think that love may hamper student’s concentrating on learning.

Some people may say that love is kind of power. They hold this opinion because there are many romantic love stories which reveal the couples make progress together after they fall in love. However, others believe that love will waste student’s precious time. They argue that college students should exert all their energy to study hard.

Personally, I am in favor of the former opinion. Firstly, a true lover will never stand aside while another falls behind in his or her study. Secondly, most love stores on campus are developed on the basis of mutual help in study. Most important of all, mutual help in life is certainly a strong support. Taking above-mentioned factors into consideration, we may reasonably conclude that love and study do not really contradict each other.）

(20)It is true that environment is very important to human development. However, we have already seriously destroyed the environment when we focus on developing our economy. I think that we should protect our environment from being further destoried. The reasons can be listed as follows.

Firstly, without good environment human beings cannot exist, not to mention the development of economy. Secondly, good environment can attract more foreign investment to improve the economy. For example, cities in south-east China, such as Xiamen and Shenzhen, have gained more foreign investment thanks to their unpolluted beautiful natural environment. Thirdly, good environment can ensure the healthy development of local

industry by exploiting their natural beauty.

It goes without saying that we have to make use of environment to develop our economy. There is no doubt that we have to balance the environment and development in order not to hamper the development. In conclusion, our future depends on the environment we live.

(21)Running red lights is a common occurrence in cities. Some people justify it by claiming that they have their own eyes and judgment. They don’t think that they should stop at the crossroads because an automatic, brainless machine turns red every thirty or forty seconds. They certainly don’t want to get killed, but it seems that they are never aware of the danger of running a red light. And especially when they have some urgent things to do, they simply forget there are such things as traffic regulations.

Some others think that a red light means a stop signal and it is completely wrong to ignore it, even though there is no cross traffic or no policeman around at the time. They feel that everyone is supposed to stop when the traffic light turns red, because it is part of a contract we all have with each other. It’s not only the law, but an agreement we have, and we trust each other to honor it.

So far as I am concerned, I don’t doubt that it is wrong to run red lights. People may have reasons for what they do, but we do have a contract with each other to stop for red lights and our whole eystem of trust depends on everyone doing the right thing. What’s more, running red lights is, after all, a possible cause of accidents and anyone who does it endangers his own life that way.）

(22)The fast development of modern technology has not only provided an increasing number of people with a considerable amount of disposable income, but also enabled them to enjoy long weekends and paid vacations. Besides, it has greatly improved the major modes of transport and made travel more desirable than ever before. Hence more and more people are tempted to leave their homes to see more of the world. They travel both at home and abroad. It seems as though there are travelers wherever there are sun and sea.

People travel because travel benefits them in a number of ways. First, it enables people to derive much pleasure from seeing sights and snapping pictures. Second, it provides an effective way to get their mind off their work. It relieves them from strain and makes them thoroughly relaxed and ready to resume their work with renewed efforts. Third, it offers an opportunity to visit old friends and make new friends, too. Finally, it allows people to see new customs, learn new things, gain new experience and enables them to come back with a broader mind.