2008年11月北京成人本科学位英语统一考试真题及答案

Part I Reading Comprehension (30%)

Directions: There are three passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. You should decide on the best choice and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

Passage 1

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:

Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares(噩梦).

(76)Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase(抹去), the effect of painful memories.

In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. (77) So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.

The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it.

Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers’ troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.

“Some memories can ruin people’s lives. They come back to you when you don’t want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions.” said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “This could relieve a lot of that suffering.”

But those who are against the research say that it is very dangerous to change memories because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.

“All of us can think of bad events in our lived that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I’m not sure we want to wipe those memories out,” said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist.

1. The passage is mainly about _____.

A a new medical invention

B a new research on memories

C a way of erasing painful memories

D an argument about the research on the pill

2. The drug tested on people can ____.

A cause the brain to fix memories

B stop people remembering their experiences

C prevent body producing certain chemicals

D wipe out the emotional effects of memories

3. We can infer from the passage that_____.

A people doubt the effects of the pills

B the pill will stop people’s bad experiences

C taking the pill will do harm to people’s health

D the pill has probably been produced in America

4. Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with?

A Some memories can ruin people’s lives.

B People want to get rid of bad memories.

C Experiencing bad events makes us different from others.

D The pill will reduce people’s sufferings from bad memories.

5. The word “scars” in Paragraph One is close in meaning to ____.

A good stories

B pains

C experiences

D memories

Passage 2

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:

On-the-job smoking is a hot issue for both smokers and non-smokers, and many managers now see smoking as a productivity problem. Although some people question whether smoking really affects one’s productivity, it has, in fact, been proven that a smoker costs a company more than a non-smoker. According to Professor William Weis, a smoking employee costs his or her employer about $ 5,700 more a year than a never-smoker. These costs include medical care, lost earnings and insurance. And absence due to smoking breaks is one of the productivity problems, yet it accounts for a great deal of employer costs.

(78) When the issue of smoking at the workplace is discussed, perhaps the most important problem is the health risk that smoking causes to both smokers and never-smokers. It has long been proven that smoking is linked to lung cancer. Now many health experts warn that passive smoking can cause lung cancer and other illnesses in healthy never-smokers. Passive smoking can be defined as exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in enclosed areas. Anyone who has been with smokers indeed knows that their smoke can cause eye irritation, coughing, headaches and throat soreness. While eye irritation may seem a small thing to some smokers, it nevertheless is a problem that occurs every workday in offices and break-rooms and can lead to greater health problems. Employees who do not smoke should not be subjected to the risks of passive smoking and need to be able to work in a safe environment. Surgeon General Koop states that the right of the smoker stops at the point where his or her smoking increases the disease risk of those occupying the same environment.

6. All the following cases are on-the-job smoking except that____.

A an employer smokes while working in the office

B a taxi driver smokes while driving the car

C a worker smokes while working in the workshop

D a worker smokes while reading in the train

7. According to the passage, on-the-job smoking affects an employee’s performance in the office in that_____.

A he can concentrate on what he is doing while smoking

B he often goes away from his desk to smoke in the break-room

C he often asks for sick leave as a result of too much smoking

D he takes a rest from time to time because of eye irritation

8. Many managers do not seem to be in favor of on-the-job smoking mainly because it ____.

A reduces productivity of the company to a certain degree

B does harm to the health of never-smokers of the company

C affects the relationship between smokers and non-smokers

D makes the break-rooms more crowded and more polluted

9. Passive smoking means____

A never-smokers take up the habit of smoking unwillingly

B never-smokers have to put up with the active smokers

C never-smokers take in smoke released by a lit cigarette

D never-smokers share an enclosed area with smokers

10. In the second part of the passage, the author suggests banning on-the-job smoking so as to____.

A cut down costs of medical care and insurance

B create a healthy and safe working environment

C prevent eye irritation from becoming a big health problem

D improve the smoking employees’ work efficiency

Passage 3

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage

Scientists in India have invented a new way to produce electricity. Their invention does not get its power from oil, coal or other fuels. It produces electricity with the power of animals. India has about eighty million bullocks. They do all kinds of jobs. They work in the fields. They pull vehicles through the streets. They carry water containers. (79)Indian energy officials have been seeking ways to use less imported oil to provide energy. Scientists at the National Institute for Industrial Engineering in Bombay wondered whether the millions of bullocks could help. Many villages in India lack electricity, but they have many bullocks. And often the animals are not working. One job done by bullocks is to pump water out of the well. The animals do this by walking around and around in a circle. As they walk, they turn a heavy stick that makes the pump move. This simple technology is centuries old. Scientists thought that the same technology could be used to produce electricity. Bullocks walk in a circle only two or three times a minute. This is much too slow to produce electricity, but it can create enough power to turn a series of gears. A large gear sits next to a smaller gear. As the large gear turns, it causes the smaller gear to turn. That gear turns an even smaller one. Each gear moves faster because it is a little smaller. The smallest gear may turn extremely fast. (80)Clocks operate with gears. So do cars and so does the device invented by the Indian scientists to produce electricity.

According to the officials in the United Nations, the idea is being tested at several places in India. The device is easy to operate and repair. And it can be moved easily. It costs about three hundred and seven dollars now to make such a device, but production of large numbers of them could cut the cost of each to about two hundred dollars.

11. Who first thought of using bullocks to provide energy?

A Indian energy officials

B Scientists in India

C Officials in the United Nations

D Researchers in Europe.

12. Which kind of job that the bullocks do is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A Pulling vehicles

B Plowing fields

C Pumping water out if wells

D Carrying food baskets.

13. Why are bullocks used to provide energy in India?

A Because bullocks have long been used by Indian people

B Because bullocks walk slowly and are easy to control

C Because there are few non-working bullocks in India

D Because there is not enough oil in India

14. In the sentence “This simple technology is centuries old” in Paragraph One, “This simple technology” refers to _____.

A using bullocks to produce energy

B using pumps to draw water out

C having bullocks walk around to make the pump move

D connecting gears of different sizes to produce electricity.

15. Which of the following is true about the device mentioned in the passage?

A It has a large gear and a smaller gear.

B It’s easy to use, but difficult to move.

C It’s quite cheap.

D It’s still being tested.

Part II Vocabulary and Structure (30%)

Directions: In this part there are 30 incomplete sentences. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

16. For the sake of her daughter’s health, she decided to move to a warm____.

A weather

B temperature

C season

D climate

17. Be careful when you cross this very busy street. If not, you may get ____ by a car.

A run out

B run over

C run away

D run after

18. ___, some famous scientists have the qualities of being both careful and careless.

A Strangely enough

B Enough strangely

C Strange enough

D Enough strange

19. Having a trip abroad is certainly good for the old couple, but it remains ____ whether they will enjoy it.

A to see

B to be seen

C seeing

D seen

20. ----You seem to show interest in cooking.

-----What? ____, I’m getting tired of it.

A On the contrary

B To the contrary

C On the other hand

D To the other hand

21. These wild flowers are so special that I would do ____ I can to save them.

A whatever

B that

C which

D whichever

22. Time will____ whether I made the right choice or not.

A see

B say

C tell

D know

23. Suddenly, a tall man driving a golden carriage ____ the girl and took her away, ____ into the woods.

A seizing; disappeared

B seized; disappeared

C seizing; disappearing

D seized; disappearing

24. It suddenly ____ me how we could improve the situation.

A occurred

B feared

C shook

D struck

25. Was it because he was ill ____ he asked for leave?

A so

B when

C why

D that

26. John likes Chinese food, but he ____ eating with chopsticks.

A is used to

B used to

C isn’t used to

D didn’t used to

27. Fujian Province lies ____ the east of China and Taiwan is ____ the east of Fujian.

A in; in

B to; in

C to; to

D in; to

28. For John this was the beginning of a new life, _____he thought he would never see,

A what

B that

C one

D it

29. We stayed for the night at the foot of the mountain and ____ to climb it the next morning.

A set about

B set off

C set up

D set out

30. We should do as much ad we can ____ our country better and more beautiful.

A make

B to make

C makes

D making

31. “To put of something” means “to _____”.

A look for it

B put it in place

C postpone it

D cancel it

32. _____, he’ll make a first-class tennis player,

A Giving time

B To give time

C Given time

D Being given time

33. ----Did you see her off the day before yesterday?

----No, but I wish I ____.

A were

B did

C had

D would

34. Some drivers always drive carelessly. There is some ____ danger while they are driving.

A painful

B potential

C probable

D primary

35. You have stayed at home for two days. It’s time you ____ for a walk.

A go out

B went out

C will go out

D would go out

36. Can you ____ the three mistakes in this paragraph?

A turn out

B bring out

C call out

D pick out

37. This is much ____ to the one I bought last week.

A worse

B lower

C inferior

D equal

38. _____ their country has plenty of oil, ours has none.

A While

B Where

C When

D Unless

39. There at the door stood a girl about the same height ____.

A as me

B as mine

C with mine

D with me

40. Don’t be too ___ about things you are not supposed to know.

A strange

B amusing

C curious

D conscious

41. He’s got himself into a dangerous situation ____ he is likely to lose control over the plane.

A where

B which

C while

D why

42. In order to change attitudes ___ employing women, the government is bringing in new laws.

A about

B of

C towards

D on

43. The fact came up ____ specific speech sounds are recognized by babies as young as 6 months old.

A what

B which

C that

D whose

44. It is generally believed that teaching is ____ it is a science.

A an art much as

B much an art as

C as an art much as

D as much an art as

45. _____, I have to put it away and focus my attention on study this week.

A However the story is amusing

B No matter amusing the story is

C However amusing the story is

D No matter how the story is amusing

Part III Identification (10%)

Directions: Each of the following sentences has four underlined parts marked A, B, C and D. Identify the one that is not correct. Then blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

46. This is the sportsman whom everyone says will win the gold medal at the Winter Olympic

A B C D

Games.

47. I heard that you really had a wonderful time at John’s birthday party, hadn’t you?

A B C D

48. E-mail as well as mobile telephones are becoming more and more popular in daily

A B C D

communication.

49. They are going to have the servicemen installed an electric fan in the office tomorrow.

A B C D

50. Two woman teachers and four girl students were praised at the meeting yesterday.

A B C D

51. Lesson Three is the most difficult lesson, but it isn’t the most difficult lesson in Book Four.

A B C D

52. The reporter was very pleased when the chairman allowed him to ask few questions.

A B C D

53. He tried to learn Greek but soon got tired of it and gave up it.

A B C D

54. With the sun setting, we stopped working, putting away our tools and were going to go home.

A B C D

55. Polite manners in China demand that a person stands up when anyone enters a room or when

A B C

anyone hands him something.

D

Part IV Cloze (10%)

Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage, and for each blank there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D at the end of the passage. Then blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

Scientists say that something very serious is happening to the earth. It will begin to get __56__ in the following years. There will be major changes in ___57__ in the new century. Coastal waters will have a __58__ temperature. This will have a __59__ effect on agriculture. In northern areas, the __60__ season will be ten days longer by the year 2010. However, in warmer areas, it will be too dry. The __61__ of water could __62__ by eighty percent. This would __63__ a large decrease in agriculture production.

World temperature could __64__ two degrees centigrade by the year 2040. However, the increase could be three times as great in the Artic and Antarctic area. This could cause the __65__ sheets to melt and raise the __66__ of the oceans __67__ one to two meters. Many coastal cities would be __68__ water.

Why is this happening? There is too __69__ carbon dioxide in the air. __70__ oil, gas and coal burn, they create large amounts of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide lets __71__ enter the earth’s atmosphere and __72__ the earth. However, it doesn’t let as much heat __73__ the atmosphere and enter space. It’s like a blanket. The heat __74__ the sun can pass through the blanket to warm the earth. The heat __75__ there and can’t escape through the blanket again.

Scientists call this the green-house effect.

56. A warmer B colder C better D worse

57. A land B agriculture C climate D weather

58. A lower B higher C normal D proper

59. A good B general C serious D useful

60. A getting B playing C taking D growing

61. A much B many C amount D number

62. A fall B decrease C refuse D rise

63. A lead B keep C make D cause

64. A increase B drop C lift D realize

65. A water B rain C stone D ice

66. A degree B level C coast D area

67. A by B to C of D with

68. A above B under C below D over

69. A little B many C few D much

70. A If B Because C When D Why

71. A sunlight B air C rain D gas

72. A cold B protect C hurt D heat

73. A enter B get C leave D reach

74. A through B by C from D on

75. A stores B arrives C stands D stays

Part V Translation (20%)

Section A

Directions: In this part there are five sentences which you should translate into Chinese. These sentences are all taken from the 3 passages you have just read in the part of Reading Comprehension. You can refer back to the passages so as to identify meanings in the context.

76. Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories.

77. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.

78. When the issue of smoking at the workplace is discussed, perhaps the most important problem is the health risk that smoking causes to both smokers and never-smokers.

79. Indian energy officials have been seeking ways to use less imported oil to provide energy.

80. Clocks operate with gears. So do cars and so does the device invented by the Indian scientists to produce electricity

Section B

Directions: In this part there are five sentences in Chinese. You should translate them into English. Be sure to write clearly.

81. 在我看来，他们很难掩盖事实真相。

82. 直到会议结束那位经理一直保持沉默不语。

83. 我想说的是，在奥运会上做志愿者(volunteer)对于年轻人是有意义的事。

84. 简而言之，每个人都应该为自己的行为负责。

85. 我下决心一个月内在功课上要赶上同学们。

参考答案

1D 2C 3D 4C 5B

6D 7B 8A 9C 10B

11B 12D 13D 14C 15D

16d 17b 18a 19b 20a

21a 22c 23d 24d 25d

26c 27d 28b 29D 30b

31c 32C 33c 34B 35b

36d 37C 38a 39b 40c

41a 42c 43C 44d 45c

46b 47D 48b 49c 50a

51a 52d 53d 54c 55b

56D 57C 58B 59C 60D

61C 62B 63D 64A 65D

66B 67A 68B 69D 70C

71A 72D 73C 74C 75D

76. 现在美国研究者认为马上就可以发明出来一种药丸，能够帮助人们忘记坏的记忆。

77. 迄今为止，研究已经显示，能够被减少的只是记忆的情感影响，而不是记忆被删除。

78. 当讨论工作场所吸烟的问题时，也许最重要的问题是，吸烟对吸烟者和不吸烟者的健康造成的危害。

79. 印度能源官员已经在使用节能减排的方法。

80. 钟表是由齿轮来驱动的。汽车和这种印度科学家发明的发电设备也是一样的。

81. In my view, it is very difficult for them to hide the truth.

82. The manager keeps silence till the conference end.

83. What I want ti say is that it is meaningful for the young to be volunteer in the Olympic Games.

84. In short, everybody should take responsibility for their actions.

85. I am determined to catch up other classmates in study in a month.