Section Ⅰ Use of English Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C, or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. Driving through snowstorm on icy roads for long distances is a most nerve-racking experience. It is a paradox that the snow, coming 1 gently, blowing gleefully in a high wind, all the while 2 down a treacherous carpet, freezes the windows, 3 the view. The might of automated man is 4 . The horses, the powerful electrical systems, the deep-tread tires, all go 5 nothing. One minute the road feels 6 , and the next the driver is sliding over it, light as a 7 , in a panic, wondering what the heavy trailer trucks coming up 8 the rear are going to do. The trucks are like 9 when you have to pass them, not at sixty or seventy 10 you do when the road is dry, but at twenty-five and thirty. 11 their engines sound unnaturally loud. Snow, slush and 12 of ice spray from beneath the wheels, obscure the windshield, and rattle 13 your car. Beneath the wheels there is plenty of 14 for you to slide and get mashed to a pulp. Inch 15 inch you move up, past the rear wheels, the center wheels, the cab, the front wheels, all 16 too slowly by. Straight ahead you continue, 17 to cut over sharply would send you into a slip, 18 in front of the vehicle. At last, there is 19 enough, and you creep back over, in front of the truck now, but 20 the sound of its engine still thundering in your ears.
[解析] 从句引导词。空格所在句子中存在比较结构，即，you have to pass them not...you do when the road is dry(路面滑时开车不像路面干燥时那样快)，因此空格处填入的词应引导比较状语从句you do when...，从句中do为上文动词pass的替代词。as可用于比较结构，表示“像……一样，如同”，因此C项正确。what只能引导名词性从句，what you do表示“你做的事情”；since一般引导时间状语从句，表示“从……以后，自……以来”；that只能引导定语从句或名词性从句。
[解析] 介词辨析。空格处填入的介词与动词rattle(象声词，“格格响，嘎嘎响”)搭配，其宾语是your car，主语是上文的snow，slush and chips of ice。选项中，onto表示“(朝某处或某位置运动)向，朝”，against表示“逆着，与……相反”或“紧靠，倚”，off意为“从(某处落下)”，along意为“沿着，顺着”。根据句意，应是“雪、泥和碎冰碴溅到车上，又格格作响地从车上掉下来”，因此C项正确。
14.
A.snow
B.earth
C.room
D.ice
A B C D
C
[解析] 根据上下文选择恰当的词。四个选项都是常见的简单词汇，关键要根据句子含义进行选择。空格所在句子的结构是there is plenty of sth. for you to...，其中不定式作结果状语，意为“轮子下有足够的……让你打滑并被碾成肉酱”。根据句子逻辑，应是“(足够的)空间”，而非snow“雪”，earth“泥土”或ice“冰”。因此C项正确。
15.
A.by
B.after
C.for
D.with
A B C D
A
[解析] 英语成语。英语讲究对称美，其表现之一为成语排列形式上的对称美，即以介词、连词(and或or)或动词为“对称轴”，构成相同词、同词性的词、反义词或同类词的对称。本题inch by inch就是以介词by为“对称轴”构成的相同词(inch)的对称，意为“一点一点地”。类似结构的成语还有：head to head(交头接耳)，word for word(逐词地)，like for like(以牙还牙)。A项为正确答案。
[解析] 逻辑词辨析。空格前后是两个独立的分句，因此空格处需要填入一个连词。meanwhile为副词，意为“同时”，放在句首时要么另起一句，要么与前一句用分号隔开，meanwhile首先排除。其他几个词都可作连词，unless意为“除非”；whereas常用于比较或对比两个事实，意为“然而，但是，尽管”；for意为“因为”。根据句意，空格前后两个分句之间是因果关系，即“你(驾驶者)继续笔直地往前开，因为突然超车抢道到卡车前面(cut over sharply)会使你的车滑倒”，因此D项为正确答案。
18.
A.sheer
B.mostly
C.rarely
D.right
A B C D
D
[解析] 副词辨析。空格处应填入一个副词，修饰介词短语in front of(在……前面)。sheer作副词时意为“垂直地，陡峭地”；mostly意为“主要地，一般地”；rarely意为“罕有，很少，不常”；right意为“正好，恰好，直接地”，根据文意，D项为正确答案。
[解析] 介词辨析。空格前的but为并列连词，连接句子中的两个状语成分，即in front of...和the sound thundering。“with+名词+分词”可构成独立主格结构，作状语，因此A项正确。其他项作介词时，like意为“像，如同”，inside意为“在……里面”，upon意为“在……上”。 [全文翻译] 在暴风雪中长途驱车于结冰的路上是一种令人极度紧张的经历。矛盾的是，雪花在强风中轻快地飘落，铺成危险的毯子，封冻车窗，挡住视线。机器的力量被减弱了。马、强有力的电子系统、深胎面的轮胎都毫无用处。一分钟前路面还很结实，一分钟后司机就在上面打滑，轻飘飘地，处于恐慌之中，想着从后面突然出现的笨重地挂了拖车的卡车会干出什么事情来。当你不得不开车经过这些卡车时，它们就像巨人一般。这时你行驶的速度不是当路面干燥时的60或70，而是25和30，并且它们的引擎听起来极其刺耳。雪、泥和冰碴滓从轮子下喷洒出来，使挡风玻璃变得模糊不清，然后格格作响地从车上掉下。卡车轮子下的空间很大，足以让你滑进去并被碾成肉酱。你一点点的往前挪动，经过卡车的后轮，中间的轮子，驾驶室，前轮，所有这一切都是极其缓慢地滑过去的。你继续笔直地往前开，因为突然超车抢道到卡车前面会使你的车滑倒，正好倒在大卡车的前面。最后终于和卡车有了一段距离了，你才慢慢地往后挪，挪到另外一条车道上，现在你行使在卡车的前面了，但是引擎的声音仍然震耳欲聋。
Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension
Part A Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions after each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.
Text 1 Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage. It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies. We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. "So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism," Newman wrote, "that I am tempted to define 'journalism' as 'a term of contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.'" Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England's foremost classical-music critics, a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists. Is there any chance that Cardus's criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern readers have little use for the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.
1. It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that ______.
A.arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers
B.English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews
C.high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers
D.young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies
A B C D
B
[解析] 段落大意题。选项A比较容易排除，其与第一段矛盾，原文只是说decline，即下降，没有说消失(disappear)。选项C也可以排除，“高质量的报纸未丧失大量的读者”，此句为无中生有。选项D为干扰项，“年轻的读者怀疑报纸上的评论不合适”。原文表明其实读者是持赞同态度的：这些评论可以在报纸上刊登。这里的doubt表示怀疑，意思相反。第一段的decline in scope和第二段的a considerable number都在强调以前的报纸关于艺术评论数量很多，因此，正确答案为B项。
2. Newspaper reviews in England before World War Ⅱ were characterized by ______.
A.free themes
B.casual style
C.elaborate layout
D.radical viewpoints
A B C D
A
[解析] 事实细节题。选项B“不经意的、随便的”和文章中in detail and at length“详细的”、serious“严肃的”、calling“对做某项工作的强烈欲望或责任感”、proud“骄傲”是相矛盾的，所以是错误选项。选项C为干扰项。elaborate可以替换原文中的in detail，但是layout(布局)为无中生有，所以本项与原文不相符合。选项radical“激进的”为无中生有。而选项unfocused的英文解释和free的英文解释是相同的，属于同义替换。因此，正确选项为A。
3. Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?
A.It is writers' duty to fulfill journalistic goals.
B.It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.
C.Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.
D.Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.
A B C D
D
[解析] 事实细节题。选项A中的journalistic goals“新闻业的目标”为无中生有。选项B“作家成为记者是值得鄙视的”与文章中的proud“自豪的”语义相反。选项C“作者容易被新闻业吸引”，原文说的是被define "journalism" as...所吸引，而不是被journalism所吸引。选项D是同义替换，few相当于not all，have brains enough or literary gift enough相当于capable of。D选项中not all属于部分否定，语气委婉，在选项中出现往往正确。因此，正确选项为D。
4. What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?
A.His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.
B.His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.
C.His style caters largely to modern specialists.
D.His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.
A B C D
A
[解析] 事实细节题。原文没有提到他的名声有争议，所以选项B为无中生有。选项C“他的风格符合现在的专家”与本段最后一句相矛盾。选项D移花接木，是利用最后一句话编造的选项。文章中说新闻业的品位已经改变，读者不需要他所擅长的风格，所以Cardus's criticism不可能重新流行；而A项中have little use for相当于not appeal to。同时本选项还有may这个语气委婉的词，符合正确答案语气委婉的规律。因此，正确选项为A。
Text 2 Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. Amazon.com received one for its "one-click" online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box. Now the nation's top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz the U.S. court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In re Bilski, as the case is known, is "a very big deal", says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law. It "has the potential to eliminate an entire class of patents." Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, move established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice. The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court's judges, rather than a typical panel of three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should "reconsider" its state street Bank ruling. The Federal Circuit's action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for "inventions" that are obvious. The judges on the Federal circuit are "reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court", says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.
1. Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because of ______.
2. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?
A.Its ruling complies with the court decisions.
B.It involves a very big business transaction.
C.It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit.
D.It may change the legal practices in the U.S..
A B C D
D
[解析] 事实细节题。全文一直没有讲Bilski案件的判决结果，而选项A、C都是在讲其判决结果，所以与原文文意相反。选项B是从原文“a very big deal”字面意思出发设置的干扰选项。a big deal在英文中的意思是“重要”，而不是“生意(transaction)”。选项D中potential相当于may，change对应第一段和第二段之间的转折。从第二段的review，eliminate也可以看出这是一种转折。本题选项D中还有may一词，正确答案往往语气委婉，因此D为正确答案。
3. The word "about-face" (Para 3) most probably means ______.
4. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents ______.
A.are immune to legal challenges
B.are often unnecessarily issued
C.lower the esteem for patent holders
D.increase the incidence of risks
A B C D
B
[解析] 事实细节题。由文章中“联邦审判要求这个案子由12名法官审，而不是普通的3人小组，并且要求判断是否要重新考虑之前的Bank ruling”，可以排除A；in the wake of相当于after，作者意思为：最高法院已经减少了对专利持有者的保护(protection)，而选项C的意思是减少了对专利持有者的尊重(esteem)，其中esteem是对protection的偷梁换柱；选项D在文中没有提及；最后一段中too many(被授予过多的专利)，表明法院认为很多business-method不应该被授予，选项B中often unnecessarily相当于too many，因此B为正确选项。
5. Which of the following would be the subject of the text?
A.A looming threat to business-method patents.
B.Protection for business-method patent holders.
C.A legal case regarding business-method patents.
D.A prevailing trend against business-method patents.
A B C D
A
[解析] 主旨大意题。首先排除选项B和选项C，与文章主题不符。判断选项A和选项D有一定难度。第一段讲过去business method很容易被授予专利。其中第一段的最后一句话已经暗含着对这种做法的反对。第二段转折：将会用一个案例来全面审查商业方法专利。第三段：对business method的约束(curbs)是法院态度的巨大转变。最后一段明确提出reacting to the anti-patent trend at the supreme court。要注意的是原文始终没有说Bilski case的判决，因此只是一个looming(隐约地出现)的danger，而不是已经盛行的趋势。因此，正确选项为A“商业方法专利迫在眉睫的威胁”。 [全文翻译] 在过去的十年中，成千上万的商业方法被授予了专利权。亚马逊网站获得了在线“单击”付费系统的专利。美林公司的资产分配方案得到了法律保护。有个发明者的提箱技巧也获得了专利。 现在，该国最高专利法院似乎完全准备好要缩减商业方法专利，因为商业方法专利自从十年前第一次批准授予以来一直有争议。在一项使得知识产权律师们议论纷纷的提议中，美国联邦巡回上诉法院声称它将利用某个具体案件来对商业方法专利进行广泛的复审。密苏里大学法学院的Dennis D. Crouch说：“正如人们所知道的那样，Bilski案例是一件非常大的事情，它可能将消除整个专利类别。” 对于商业方法诉求的限制是个戏剧性的变化，因为正是联邦巡回法院自己引进了这种专利。1998年，在对于所谓的美国道富银行的案件中，联邦巡回法院做出了判决，批准了筹集共同基金资产的方法具有专利权。这一裁决使得商业方法专利文件以几何数级增加，起初只是一些新兴的网络公司对于某些特定类型的在线交易系统试图争取独家专有权。后来，更多的公司竞相增加这样的专利权，希望借助这样一个防御性的行为可以先下手为强。2005年，IBM公司在一份法院报告中声称：尽管怀疑这种专利授权的法律基础，但它已经申请了300多份商业方法专利。同样，一些华尔街投资公司面对某些反对其金融产品的法庭案件，会给其各类金融产品申请专利来作为自己的维权武器。 前面提到的Bilski案例牵扯到一份已申请的方法专利，即关于能源市场的风险规避方法(注：也可译为“套期保值或对冲风险”)。上诉法院罕见地裁定，该案件将不由三位法官听审，而是由全部十二名法官共同审判。另外，上诉法院还宣布，它想探讨的另一件事情是是否应该“重审”道富银行的裁决。 联邦巡回法院的这一裁决效仿了最高法院。最高法院最近做出了一系列的判决，缩小了专利持有者的受保范围。例如，去年四月，法官们认定太多的专利授予了一些显而易见的“发明”。乔治·华盛顿大学法律学院的专利法律师Harold C. Wegner教授表示：“联邦巡回法院的法官们正在对最高法院的反专利动态做出反应。”
Text 3 In spite of "endless talk of difference," American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. There is "the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of deference" characteristic of popular culture. People are absorbed into "a culture of consumption" launched by the 19th-century department stores that offered "vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere. Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite," these were stores "anyone could enter, regardless of class or background. This turned shopping into a public and democratic act." The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization. Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today's immigration is neither at unprecedented levels nor resistant to assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of population; in 1990, 13.6 percent. In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10 years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation—language, home ownership and intermarriage. The 1990 Census revealed that "a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English 'well' or 'very well' after ten years of residence." The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. "By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families." Hence the description of America as a "graveyard" for languages. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrived before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans. Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics "have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S.-born whites and blacks." By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians. Rodriguez notes that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet "some Americans fear that immigrants living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation's assimilative power." Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America's turbulent past, today's social indices hardly suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
1. The word "homogenizing" (Paragraph 1) most probably means ______.
2. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century ______.
A.played a role in the spread of popular culture
B.became intimate shops for common consumers
C.satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite
D.owed its emergence to the culture of consumption
A B C D
A
[解析] 事实细节题。该题利用题干中的“the department stores of the 19th century”定位到文章第一段People are absorbed into "a culture of consumption" launched by the 19th-century department stores that offered "vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere."可见，the culture of consumption是由这些百货商店发起的。选项A与相关信息句“融入了19世纪百货商店倡导的消费文化”直接关联；选项B、C、D均与上述信息句没有任何关联。因此，正确答案为A“在大众文化传播方面发挥作用”。
3. The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S. ______.
A.are resistant to homogenization
B.exert a great influence on American culture
C.are hardly a threat to the common culture
D.constitute the majority of the population
A B C D
C
[解析] 推理判断题。该题利用题干中的“immigrants”定位到文章第二段Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous.“移民很快适应了这一共同文化，虽然这种文化可能不会引人向上，但也不会毒害人们。”选项A“抵制同质化”，与上述句子内容没有关联；选项B“对美国文化产生重大影响”，文章中的意思是移民来到美国后并不抵制美国大众文化，移民更多的是融入美国当地的文化，也谈不上对美国文化产生巨大影响，故选项B不正确；选项D“占美国绝大多数人口”，文章中的意思是移民所占人口比例历年来只在10%上下，算不上美国人口的多数，故选项D不正确；选项C“对公共文化几乎没有威胁”，与前面的信息句意思一致，因此正确答案为C。
4. Why are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?
A.To prove their popularity around the world.
B.To reveal the public's fear of immigrants.
C.To give examples of successful immigrants.
D.To show the powerful influence of American culture.
5. In the author's opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is ______.
A.rewarding
B.successful
C.fruitless
D.harmful
A B C D
B
[解析] 主旨大意题。文章结尾处说But particularly when viewed against America's turbulent past, today's social indices hardly suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.“但是，当审视美国过去的骚动时，当今的美国社会各项指标几乎没有显示出社会环境变得腐败黑暗”，由此可以判断，作者认为美国社会对移民的同化是成功的。因此，正确答案为B。 [全文翻译] 尽管人们对于美国社会的差异性有没完没了的争议，美国还是一部神奇的同化国民的机器。美国社会呈现出“服饰和话语趋于平民化、一致化，自在随意和尊重缺失”等通俗文化的特点。人们融入了19世纪百货商店倡导的“消费文化”。与那些迎合知识精英的优雅舒适的商店不同，这些百货商店有优雅的环境，提供各式各样的商品，不论阶层和背景如何，任何人都可以进入，从而使得购物成为一种公众的、民主的行为。而均质化的其他推动力还包括大众传媒、广告和体育。 移民很快适应了这一共同文化，虽然这种文化可能不会引人向上，但也不会毒害人们。Gregory Rodriguez为《国家移民论坛》撰写文章，他在报道中指出，如今移民的数量既没有创新高，也不拒绝被同化，1998年移民占美国人口总数的9.8%，1990年所占比例是13.6%。而1990年之前的10年间，人口中每一千个人中有3.1个移民。而1890年前的10年，数字是9.2。现在要考虑同化的三个指数：语言，住房所有权和跨国通婚。 1990年的人口普查表明，“绝大多数移民在美国居住10年后英语说得好或很好，他们来自15个最常移民的国家。”而这些移民的孩子往往会说双语，精通英语。“到了第三代，大多数移民家庭都不会说他们的本国语了。”因而美国被描述为语言的墓地。到1996年，那些在外国出生，于1970年前移民美国的人拥有房屋的比例达到75.6%，高于土生土长的美国人的房屋拥有比例，后者为69.8%。 在外国出生的亚洲人和西班牙人比土生土长的美国白人和黑人通婚比例高。到了第三代，1/3的西班牙裔女性嫁给非西班牙裔男士，而41%的亚裔美国女性嫁给非亚裔人士。 Rogriguez注意到，世界各地住在偏远村庄中的孩子是诸如阿诺德·施瓦辛格和加思·布鲁克斯这类超级巨星的影迷。但是一些美国人担心住在美国的一些移民却不知为何没有受到该国同化作用的影响。 美国存在分裂问题和骚动吗?没错。国家大了，就会什么东西都会沾上点儿。但是，当审视美国骚动的过去时，今天的各项社会指标还不能表明社会环境变得腐败黑暗。
Text 4 Bankers have been blaming themselves for their troubles in public. Behind the scenes, they have been taking aim at someone else: the accounting standard-setters. Their rules, moan the banks, have forced them to report enormous losses, and it's just not fair. These rules say they must value some assets at the price a third party would pay, not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch. Unfortunately, banks' lobbying now seems to be working. The details may be unknowable, but the independence of standard-setters, essential to the proper functioning of capital markets, is being compromised. And, unless banks carry toxic assets at prices that attract buyers, reviving the banking system will be difficult. After a bruising encounter with Congress, America's Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rushed through rule changes. These gave banks more freedom to use models to value illiquid assets and more flexibility in recognizing losses on long-term assets in their income statement. Bob Herz, the FASB's chairman, cried out against those who "question our motives." Yet bank shares rose and the changes enhance what one lobby group politely calls "the use of judgment by management." European ministers instantly demanded that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) do likewise. The IASB says it does not want to act without overall planning, but the pressure to fold when it completes it reconstruction of rules later this year is strong. Charlie McCreevy, a European commissioner, warned the IASB that it did "not live in a political vacuum" but "in the real word" and that Europe could yet develop different rules. It was banks that were on the wrong planet, with accounts that vastly overvalued assets. Today they argue that market prices overstate losses, because they largely reflect the temporary illiquidity of markets, not the likely extent of bad debts. The truth will not be known for years. But bank's shares trade below their book value, suggesting that investors are skeptical. And dead markets partly reflect the paralysis of banks which will not sell assets for fear of booking losses, yet are reluctant to buy all those supposed bargains. To get the system working again, losses must be recognized and dealt with. America's new plan to buy up toxic assets will not work unless banks mark assets to levels which buyers find attractive. Successful markets require independent and even combative standard-setters. The FASB and IASB have been exactly that, cleaning up rules on stock options and pensions, for example, against hostility from special interests. But by giving in to critics now they are inviting pressure to make more concessions.
1. Bankers complained that they were forced to ______.
A.follow unfavorable asset evaluation rules
B.collect payments from third parties
C.cooperate with the price managers
D.reevaluate some of their assets
A B C D
A
[解析] 事实细节题。选项B是对文章内容的偷梁换柱，把value偷换为collect。选项C与原文语义相反。错误一：原文明确说“规则不让按照managers期待的价格评估”，所以这与cooperate(合作)语义相反。错误二：原文中没有提到price manager这个概念，managers and regulators would like them to fetch是定语从句来修饰price。选项D reevaluate(重新评估)无中生有。题目中complain相当于moan，选项A中unfavorable相当于not fair，asset evaluation相当于value some assets，所以本项属于同义替换，因此正确选项为A“遵循不利的资产评估准则”。
2. According to the author, the rule changes of the FASB may result in ______.
A.the diminishing role of management
B.the revival of the banking system
C.the banks' long-term asset losses
D.the weakening of its independence
A B C D
D
[解析] 事实细节题。选项A与原文意思相反，diminish与文章中的enhance相矛盾。对于选项B，第二段中讲了银行复苏的条件：“银行如果不以能够吸引买家的价格计量有毒资产，银行系统的复苏将会非常困难。”而本选项说FASB的规则变化会带来复苏，与文章内容不相符。选项C是对第三段第二句的断章取义，应排除。从第三段可知FASB通过了规则变化，第二段首句的意思是“不幸的是，银行的游说活动看来已起作用了”。这就意味着：第一段提到的“银行抱怨规则的不公平”得到重视，规则变化了。所以本题题干问的“the rule changes of the FASB”的结果也就是第二段的第二句。因此选项D“其独立性的削弱”为正确答案。
3. According to Paragraph 4, McCreevy objects to the IASB's attempt to ______.
A.keep away from political influences
B.evade the pressure from their peers
C.act on their own in rule-setting
D.take gradual measures in reform
A B C D
C
[解析] 事实细节题。选项A是强干扰项，貌似是对第四段中“not in a political vacuum”的同义替换，但是与选项C相比，C选项更加符合本段的中心内容。因为本段并不是强调IASB不能摆脱政治影响，而是强调IASB想要自己独立地制定规则。当两个选项无法分清的时候，符合中心内容的才是正确答案。选项B为偷梁换柱，原文没有提来自同伴的压力(pressure from their peers)，而是说“在今年下半年完成规则修订时必须屈服的压力”。选项D“在改革中采取渐进措施”属于无中生有。对于选项C，文章中讲欧洲部长对IASB的要求，提到了IASB对其的抵触情绪，但是(but)压力又很大(strong)，McCreevy警告IASB它不是“处在政治真空中”而是“在现实世界里”。这些内容的中心思想是：IASB想自己独立的制定规则(act on their own in rule-setting)，而欧洲部长(包括McCreevy)又想命令其按自己意愿行为，所以C为正确答案。
4. The author thinks the banks were "on the wrong planet" in that they ______.
A.misinterpreted market price indicators
B.exaggerated the real value of their assets
C.neglected the likely existence of bad debts
D.denied booking losses in their sale of assets
A B C D
B
[解析] 事实细节题。由文章中第五段首句“It was banks that were on the wrong planet, with accounts that vastly overvalued assets”可知题干中的in that相当于首句中的with，所以with后面就是解题关键，选项B“夸大了其资产的实际价值”，与此句中的overvalued是同义替换，因此正确答案为B。
5. The author's attitude towards standard-setters is one of ______.
Part B Directions: Read the following text and answer the questions by finding a subtitle for each of the market parts or paragraphs. There are two extra items in the subtitles. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. A. Set a Good Example for Your Kids B. Build Your Kids' Work Skills C. Place Time Limits on Leisure Activities D. Talk about the Future on a Regular Basis E. Help Kids Develop Coping Strategies F. Help Your Kids Figure Out Who They Are G. Build Your Kids' Sense of Responsibility
How can a Parent Help
Mothers and fathers can do a lot to ensure a safe landing in early adulthood for their kids. Even if a job's starting salary seems too small to satisfy an emerging adult's need for rapid content, the transition from school to work can be less of a setback if the startup adult is ready for the move. Here are a few measures, drawn from my book Ready or Not, Here Life Comes, that parents can take to prevent what I can "work life unreadiness": 1 You can start this process when they are 11 or 12. Periodically review their emerging strengths and weaknesses with them and work together on any shortcomings, like difficulty in communicating well or collaborating. Also, identify the kinds of interests they keep coming back to, as these offer clues to the careers that will fit them best. 2 Kids need a range of authentic role models—as opposed to members of their clique, pop stars and vaunted athletes. Have regular dinner table discussions about people the family knows and how they got where they are. Discuss the joys and downsides of your own career and encourage your kids to form some ideas about their own future. When asked what they want to do, they should be discouraged from saying "I have no idea". They can change their minds 200 times, but having only a foggy view of the future is of little good. 3 Teachers are responsible for teaching kids how to learn, parents should be responsible for teaching them how to work. Assign responsibilities around the house and make sure homework deadlines are met. Encourage teenagers to take a part-time job. Kids need plenty of practice delaying gratification and deploying effective organizational skills, such as managing time and setting priorities. 4 Playing video games encourages immediate content. And hours of watching TV shows with canned laughter only teaches kids to process information in a passive way. At the same time, listening through earphones to the same monotonous bats for long stretches encourages kids to stay inside their bubble instead of pursuing other endeavors. All these activities can prevent the growth of important communication and thinking skills and make it difficult for kids to develop the kind of sustained concentration they will need for most jobs. 5 They should know how to deal with setbacks, stresses and feelings of inadequacy. They should also learn how to solve problems and resolve conflicts, ways to brainstorm and think critically. Discussions at home can help kids practice doing these things and help them apply these skills to everyday life situations. What about the son or daughter who is grown but seems to be struggling and wandering aimlessly through early adulthood? Parents still have a major role to play, but now it is more delicate. They have to be careful not to come across as disappointed in their child. They should exhibit strong interest and respect for whatever currently interests their fledging adult (as naive or ill-conceived as it may seem) have while becoming a partner in exploring options for the future. Most of all, these new adults must feel that they are respected and supported by a family that appreciates them.
Section Ⅲ Translation Directions: Translate the following text from English into Chinese. Write your translation on ANSWER SHEET 2.
1. Getting a proper amount of rest is absolutely essential for building your energy resources. If you frequently work far into the night or have a poor sleep, it stands to reason that you may start to feel a little run down. Though everybody is different, most people need at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night in order to function at their best. If you have been lacking energy, try going to bed earlier at night. If you can wake up feeling well-rested, it will be an indication that you are starting to get an appropriate amount of sleep at night. If you sleep more than eight hours every night but still don't feel energetic, you may actually be getting too much sleep. Once in a while, you are bound to have nights where you don't get an adequate amount of sleep. When your schedule permits you can also consider taking a short sleep during the day, for sometimes taking a nap is the perfect way to recharge your batteries.
1. Directions: You bought a digital camera in a store last week, and you have found that there is something wrong with it. Write a letter to the store manager to explain the problem, express your complaints and suggest a solution. You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET 2. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use "Li Ming" instead. Do not write the address.
[范文] Dear Manager, I am Li Ming, and I bought a digital camera in a store last week. I venture to write to complain about the quality of the digital camera I bought last Friday at your store. During the five days the camera has been in my possession, problems have emerged one after another. For one thing, the screen is always black, making the camera no different from a traditional one. For another, the battery is distressing as it supports the camera's operation for only two hours. Therefore, I wish to exchange it for another camera or declare a refund. I will appreciate it if my problem receives due attention.
Yours, Li Ming
Part B
1. Directions: In this section, you are asked to write an essay based on the following chart. In your writing, you should 1) interpret the chart and 2) give your comments. You should write at least 150 words. Write your essay on ANSWER SHEET 2. Investment in Beijing from Different Countries and Regions
Hong Kong—44% Japan—19.2% U.S.A.—16% Other 23 countries—21.8%
[范文] Since China opened its door to the outside world, Beijing has made remarkable results in attracting foreign business to invest in joint ventures. According to the pie chart, the investors in different enterprises come from 26 countries and regions. The investment of Hong Kong ranks first, accounting for 44 percent of the total. Japan's investment makes up 19.2 percent, putting it in second spot. Third is the United States at 16 percent. It is generally believed that Beijing benefits a lot from the outside investment. In the first place, a large number of joint ventures have been set up, which contributes greatly to the development of Capital Economy. Secondly, the foreign-invested enterprises offer a lot of jobs to the residents in Beijing. This in turn relieves the problem of laid-off workers in the city. Finally, the high-tech enterprises in the capital will grow rapidly as Beijing enjoys the same preferential policies as coastal cities open to the outside world. As far as the measures to attract outside investment are concerned, they are as follows. On the one hand, we should make special efforts to improve the investment environment so that an increasing amount of foreign capital can stream into Beijing. On the other hand, we should take advantage of this opportunity to run the present foreign-invested enterprises as efficiently as possible. I am convinced that with the reform and opening up policy being implemented, Beijing will be a great attraction for foreign investment.
深色：已答题 浅色：未答题