全国2011年4月自学考试英语阅读（一）真题

I. CAREFUL READING

Read the following passages carefully. Decide on the best answer and write the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points, 2 points each)

Passage 1

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage.

Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes (运动员). Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.

The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents' and coaches' criticisms to heart and find a flaw (缺陷) in themselves.

Coaches and parents should also be cautious that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today's youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances.

Positive reinforcement (加强) should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.

1. An effective way to prevent the burnout of young athletes is ______.

A. to reduce their mental stress

B. to point out their shortcomings

C. to increase their sense of success

D. to make sports more challenging

2. According to the passage, the sport setting is positive for young people in that ______.

A. it enables them to find flaws in themselves

B. it helps them learn more about school life

C. it provides them with valuable experiences

D. it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves

3. Many coaches and parents tend to criticize young athletes ______.

A. so that they train harder

B. believing that too much praise is harmful

C. in order to make them remember life lessons

D. without realizing that criticism may destroy their self confidence

4. According to the passage, parents and coaches should ______.

A. train children to cope with stress

B. help children to win every game

C. prevent children from repeated failures

D. encourage children to enjoy themselves and sports

5. The author's purpose in writing the passage is ______.

A. to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout

B. to persuade young athletes not to worry about criticism

C. to stress the importance of positive reinforcement in sports

D. to discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement

Passage 2

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage.

Friedrich Dobl, a Yugoslav (南斯拉夫人) working in Germany, was annoyed with traffic jams. At long weekends and holiday times when he wanted to get home quickly, he always found himself moving slowly with hundreds of other cars along the crowded foreign workers' route through Germany and Austria.

How easy it all was for police and emergency services! A siren (警报器), a flashing light? And like magic everyone was out of the way. Going home from work one night, he passed a garage. And there in front of him was the answer to his problem. An old ambulance was for sale. The red cross had been removed. But not the flashing light, and the siren. He tried the light. It flashed magnificently. He tried the siren. That too sounded impressive. He bought the ambulance and opened up for himself a dream world of motoring.

It began early in the morning, all his luggage in the back of the ambulance and the motorway in Germany looking reasonably clear. Soon, as always, a long line of traffic appeared ahead. He switched on the flashing light and set off the siren. Cars swiftly slowed and pulled off the fast lane. Other cars stopped and drivers waved him ahead to an open road all his own. In record time he crossed the border into Austria. His trick was working. Police even waved him through the confusion caused by an accident.

But then the Yugoslav made his bad mistake. Until then he had only stopped for petrol. Now he was driving past a real accident, lights flashing, too late to realize that it was not another traffic jam as he assumed. They stopped him, and after hearing the story of his ride across two countries fined him 12.5 pounds.

6. At long weekends and holiday times Friedrich Dobl used to ______.

A. drive home in Germany

B. meet other foreign workers

C. get caught in terrible traffic jams

D. get to the workplace by a quick route

7. The reason why Dobl decided to buy the ambulance was that ______.

A. he had always wanted one

B. he wanted to sell it at a higher price

C. he liked the red cross and the flashing light

D. he knew that other cars would make way for an ambulance

8. In what condition was the ambulance he bought?

A. It was shabby and untidy.

B. The siren worked wonderfully.

C. The light did not flash properly.

D. The red cross was vaguely seen.

9. Armed with the ambulance, Dobl found that ______.

A. all the cars stopped and made way for him

B. the police were busy clearing the way of traffic

C. it was such fun to get out of the traffic confusion in Germany

D. he could cross the border into Austria in the shortest possible time

10. The most appropriate title for the story would be ______.

A. 'A Happy Drive!' B. 'A Tough Drive!'

C. 'A Safe Way Home?' D. 'A Quick Way Home?'

Passage 3

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.

If it were only necessary to decide whether to teach elementary science to everyone on a mass basis or to find the gifted few and take them as far as they can go, our task would be fairly simple. The public school system, however, has no such choice, for the jobs must be carried on at the same time. Because we depend heavily upon science and technology for our progress, we must produce specialists in many fields. Because we live in a democratic nation, whose citizens make the policies for the nation, large numbers of us must be educated to understand, to support, and when necessary, to judge the work of experts. The public school must educate both producers and users of scientific services.

In education, there should be a good balance among the branches of knowledge that contribute to effective thinking and wise judgment. Such a balance is defeated by too much emphasis on any other field. This question of balance involves not only the relation of the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the arts but also relative emphasis among the natural sciences themselves.

Similarly, we must have a balance between current and classical knowledge.The attention of the public is continually drawn to the discovery of new knowledge; it should not be allowed to turn our attention away from the sound, established materials that form the basis of courses for beginners.

11. According to the 1 st paragraph, the task of education is fairly complicated because ______.

A. the public school has no choice of what to teach

B. it is difficult to choose what to teach in public schools

C. the current public school system is too complex to be understood

D. the educators have to take care of both ordinary and gifted students

12. Which of the following is NOT included in the passage?

A. A democratic nation needs a lot of well-educated citizens.

B. We depend much on science and technology for our progress.

C. The educators are required to lay emphasis on some particular field.

D. Elementary science should be taught on a mass basis in public schools.

13. According to the author, the balance among the branches of knowledge is very necessary because such a balance ______.

A. would benefit the growth of gifted students

B. would ensure the students' grasp of new knowledge

C. involves both the natural sciences and the social sciences

D. facilitates the training of effective reasoning and wise decision-making

14. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. Most people take great interest in classical knowledge.

B. Sufficient attention should be given to basic knowledge.

C. The discovery of new knowledge is particularly important.

D. Classical knowledge is more popular than current knowledge.

15. The passage centers on ______.

A. the balance in education

B. the importance of education

C. the balance between basic and new knowledge

D. the balance among different branches of knowledge

Passage 4

Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.

Regular interaction or familiarity seems to increase liking; often, the people we interact with the most are simply those who are closest to us. A classic study by Festinger found that residents of an apartment complex tended to interact with, and like those who happened to live on the same floor more than those who lived on other floors or in other buildings. The researcher did not analyze this phenomenon in terms of the development of in-group versus out-group perceptions and biases, but such an analysis might prove interesting. Likewise, when classroom seating is alphabetical (依字母顺序的), students are more likely to be friends with people who share the same initial.

There are two major explanations for the relation between proximity (接近) and liking. The first is simple availability. If most people are nice and easy enough to approach, it follows that proximity will determine who you get to know and, therefore, like. The second explanation is based on the mere exposure effect, that is, simple familiarity increases liking for a person or object that is not necessarily likeable. The mere exposure effect has been demonstrated in the laboratory with some meaningless syllables, which people find more pleasing after they have repeated them several times. It seems reasonable to conclude that repeated exposure to people in proximity to us leads us to like them more.

16. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Liking and Similarity.

B. Proximity and Liking.

C. Availability and Friendship.

D. Interaction and Relationship.

17. According to the passage, the researcher studies the phenomenon on the basis of ______.

A. perceptions of membership

B. the development of friendship

C. in-group versus out-group biases

D. the degree of familiarity among people

18. The organizational pattern of the passage can be best described as ______.

A. opinion-proof

B. problem-solution

C. phenomenon-reason

D. comparison-contrast

19. The experiment on the meaningless syllables is intended to demonstrate that ______.

A. most people are friendly at first sight

B. simple familiarity increases liking for a person

C. students will definitely become friends in the classroom setting

D. irritation with someone at the first meeting usually leads to disliking

20. According to the passage, all the following statements are true EXCEPT that ______.

A. we tend to interact with people closest to us

B. teachers like the students seated in the front

C. interaction is more likely to happen between neighbors

D. we tend to like people who share our attitudes and opinions

II. SPEED READING

Skim or scan the following passages, and then decide on the best answer  and write the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each)

Passage 5

Questions 21-25 are based on the following passage.

Ever since humans have inhabited the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication is accomplished through sign language in which motions stand for letters, words and ideas. Tourists, the deaf, and the mute have had to resort to this form of expression. Many of these symbols are very colorful and exact and can be used internationally; spelling, however, cannot.

Body language transmits ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either intentionally or unintentionally. A wink can be a way of flirting or indicating that the party is only joking. A nod signifies approval, while shaking the head indicates a negative reaction.

Other forms of nonlinguistic language can be found in Braille (a system of raised dots read with the fingertips), signal flags, Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide, warn and instruct people.

While verbalization is the most common form of language, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.

21. All of the following can be used internationally EXCEPT ______.

A. spelling B. motions

C. sign language D. picture signs

22. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. There are many forms of communication in existence.

B. Verbalization is the most common form of communication.

C. The deaf and the mute use a verbal form of communication.

D. Body language may be equally effective in transmitting ideas or thoughts.

23. Besides oral speech, which form of communication is most commonly used by the blind people?

A. Braille. B. Signal flags.

C. Body language. D. Gestures.

24. How many forms of communication are mentioned in the third paragraph?

A. Seven. B. Six.

C. Five. D. Four.

25. Which of the following best summarizes this passage?

A. Body language transmits ideas or thoughts more quickly.

B. Body language transmits ideas or thoughts more accurately.

C. Nonlinguistic language is more expressive than verbalization.

D. Nonlinguistic language also expresses human thoughts and feelings.

Passage 6

Questions 26-30 are based on the following passage.

American workers continue to demand shorter and shorter working hours each week. The possibility of a four-day working week is now being seriously considered; some companies are already experimenting with it. Since machines have helped to reduce the time needed for work, at the office, factory, and in the home, men and women have more leisure time today than ever before in the country's history.

It is tree that much leisure is used in play. America is a country of sports-of hunting, fishing and swimming, and of team sports like baseball and football. Millions of Americans watch their favorite sport on television, play in community orchestras, make their own films or recordings, go camping, visit museums, attend lectures, travel, garden, read, and join in hundreds of other activities.

America is a 'do-it-yourself' country. The people enjoy building things for their homes, sewing their own clothes, even making their own photographs. They do these things for fun as well as for economy.

But as much as Americans enjoy their free time, the country is at the same time a 'self-improvement' country. More than 25 million adults continue their education, chiefly by going to school in the evening, during their own free time, at their own expense. Added to the time spent on personal activities, Americans also devote a great amount of their time to the varied needs of their communities. Many hospitals, schools, libraries, museums, parks, community centers, and organizations that assist the poor depend on the many hours citizens devote to these activities, often without any pay.

26. Which of the following best reflects the style of the passage?

A. Informative. B. Persuasive.

C. Entertaining. D. Descriptive.

27. The proposal of a four-day working week in America ______.

A. has been accepted B. is unlikely to be accepted

C. is under consideration D. has been widely put into practice

28. What makes the reduction of working hours possible?

A. Machines have helped to reduce working time.

B. Americans have more leisure time than working time.

C. A four-day working week has proved to be successful.

D. Men and women need more leisure time than ever before.

29. According to the passage, America may NOT be described as ______.

A. a country of sports B. a country of film making

C. a 'do-it-yourself' country D. a 'self-improvement' country

30. In addition to the time devoted to personal activities, a great amount of free time is also spent on ______.

A. further education B. community services

C. making the films and recordings D. watching sports on TV

III. DISCOURSE CLOZE

The following is taken from the textbook. Read the passage and fill in the numbered spaces (there are more suggested answers than necessary).

Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each)

English is now the international language for airline pilots, scientists, medical experts, businessmen and many others. Consequently, more and more people are learning it. The BBC's English teaching programs are broadcast daily to four continents (31) ______. Films and video are on the air or used in institutions in over 100 countries. All this helps to add more speakers to the estimated 100 million (32) ______. The rush to learn English has reached even China. The main reason for the upsurge (上升) in interest is (33) ______.

Unlike many other widely used languages, English can be correctly used in a very simple form with less than one thousand words and (34) ______. This was pointed out in the 1920's by two Cambridge scholars, Ogden and Richards, (35) ______. Another reason for the popularity of English is that English-speaking countries are spread throughout the world. An estimated 310

million people in Britain, the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, South Africa, etc. (36) ______. Also in former British colonial areas in Africa and Asia (37) ______, no common language has been found which would make a suitable substitute for English.

In Delhi, although nationalists would prefer to phase out (逐步停止) the use of English, the man from South India finds English more acceptable than Hindi, (38) ______. Turning from India to Africa, a similar problem exists. However reluctant African nations are to use English and, as it were, subject themselves to a kind of 'cultural imperialism', there seems to be no alternative language which will do the job of communication effectively.

The view (39) ______. Some teachers who have returned from overseas consider it creates a wider gap between those who are educated (40) ______. Nevertheless, in many parts of the world, the technical and scientific knowledge needed to develop a country's resources and improve people's living conditions, is just not available in the mother tongue. A second language opens the door to the world-wide sharing of skills and discoveries in science, engineering and medicine.  (From English World-wide)

A. and supplied to radio stations in 120 countries

B. very few grammatical rules

C. who use English as a second language

D. recent increase in China's contacts with the outside world

E. use English as their mother tongue

F. who devised a system called 'Basic English'

G. while the northerner prefers English to any of the southern languages

H. where many local languages are spoken

I. that spreading the use of English is entirely beneficial has its opponents

J. English in one form or another will be spoken by far more people

K. and those who have little or no education

L. it will doubtless continue to change and develop

IV. WORD FORMATIONS

Complete each of the following sentences with the proper form of the word in the bracket. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each )

41. (increase)   His hot temper was making it ______ difficult for others to work with him.

42. (accurate)   This information has to be altered if it is ______ or likely to cause damage or distress.

43. (understand)   The concept of arranged marriages is badly ______ in the west.

44. (operation)   There are ______ advantages in putting sales and admin in the same building.

45. (curious)   She decided to call her ex-boyfriend out of ______.

46. (short)   Patients were dying because of an acute ______ of nurses.

47. (familiar)   The goal of the experiment was to ______ the people with the new laws.

48. (legal)   Under French law, it is ______ to import dangerous waste, such as hospital rubbish.

49. (profit)   Drug manufacturing is the most ______ business in America.

50. (suspicion)   It's a bit ______ that no one knows where he was at the time of the murder.

V. GAP FILLING

The following is taken from the textbook. Fill in the numbered gaps with the correct form of the words or phrases in the box (there are more words than necessary). Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 1 point each)

Five thousand years ago a story which told of the creation of this world in seven days was common among all the people of western Asia. And this was the Jewish version of it.

They vaguely (51)______ the making of the land and of the sea and of the trees and the flowers and the birds and of man and woman to their (52)______ gods.

But it happened that the Jews were the first among all people to (53)______ the existence of One Single God. Afterwards, when we come to talk of the days of Moses, we shall tell you (54)______ this came about.

In the beginning, however, the particular Semitic tribe which later was to (55)______ the Jewish nation, worshipped several divinities, just as all their neighbors had done before them for countless ages.

The stories of the creation, however, which we find in the Old Testament, were (56)______ more than a thousand years after the death of Moses, when the idea of One God had been accepted by the Jews (57)______ an absolutely established fact, and when doubt of His Existence meant exile or death.

You will now (58)______ how the poet who gave unto the Hebrew people their final version of the beginning of all things, came to describe the gigantic labor of creation as the sudden (59)______ of one single and all-mighty will, and as the work of their own tribal God, (60)______ they called Jehovah, or the Ruler of the High Heavens.

And this is how the story was told to worshippers in the temple.

(From The Story of the Bible)

VI. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

The following 2 questions are based on Passage Four in this test paper. Read the passage carefully again and answer the questions briefly by referring back to Passage Four. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10points, 5points each)

61 What is the major finding of the classic study conducted by Festinger? And what does Festinger's study intend to confirm?

62. What are the author's two major explanations for the relation between proximity and liking?

VII. TRANSLATION

The following excerpt is taken from the textbook. Read the paragraph carefully and translate into Chinese each of the numbered and underlined parts. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points, 2 points each)

(63) Learning together is a fruitful source of relationship between children and parents. By playing together, parents learn more about their children and children learn more from their parents. (64) Toys and games which both parents and children can share are an important means of achieving this co-operation. Building-block toys and jigsaw puzzles and crosswords are good examples.

(65) Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness and indulgence towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters, others are severe over times of coming home at night, punctuality for meals or personal cleanliness. In general, the controls imposed represent the needs of the parents and the values of the community as much as the child's own happiness and well-being.

(66) As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child, consistency is very_ important in parental teaching. To forbid a thing one day and excuse it the next is no foundation for morality. (67) Also, parents should realize that 'example is better than precept'.

(From Bringing Up Children)