1. Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on kindness by referring to the saying "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to offer your kindness to other people. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
[范文] Offering kindness is a kind of behavior, not a saying. We have read too many articles about kindness but we tend to do few of it. In fact, just as the saying goes, "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." If we do nothing of kindness, all the words about it are the superfluous ones. Nowadays, kindness seems to be a word which we just say by mouth. We don't know how to act out of kindness or are afraid of showing kindness. We should know that all kinds of kindness are needed. Doing it worth is more worthwhile than just say it! Showing our kindness is not so much difficult as we think. For instance, giving hands to the people who are in trouble without asking for any remuneration; taking care of a roommate who is in bad health; avoiding hurting our friends and so on. We can do so much for kindness if we want. All in all, kindness is a kind of decent quality which lies in everyone's deep heart. Start showing your kindness from doing small things instead of just thinking of the idea about kindness!
Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension
Section A Directions:In this section, you will hear 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
[听力原文]
M: Morning, Penny, I know you are one of a few women taxi drivers in the city now, and you've been driving for a living for 12 years. Could you tell us what you found the most difficult about becoming a taxi driver?
W: I can still remember when I was first learning to drive, I didn't know how to judge distance. That's very scary.
M: Then, what's the best part of your job?
W: What I like best about the job was being outdoors, seeing how this city changes from season to season. And there are places of scenery I would probably have never seen in another job.
M: Now, what about annual leaves? Do you have them?
W: Oh, yes. When I first started, I had only 10 days. Now I have 3 weeks every year with pay.
M: Just out of curiosity. When you go on vacation to another place or city, do you drive there as well?
W: In most cases, not. I prefer to be driven by others if I go by car. I would also prefer to go by train or plane, if there is a choice.
M: Now my last question. Have you ever thought of changing your job?
W: Not yet. Maybe I will someday, but not at this moment. I do get lots of satisfaction out of it. So why should I?
M: OK. Our interview is coming to the end. Thank you very much for your time, Penny.
W: Pleasure.
What was the most difficult for Penny to become a taxi driver?
[解析] 对话开始男士问到女士成为出租车司机的最大困难是什么,女士回答说她一开始不知道如何判断距离,那十分吓人,故选A。
2.
A.Seeing interesting buildings in the city.
B.Taking long drives outside the city.
C.Being outdoors and seeing the changes of this city.
D.Driving in different weather conditions.
A B C D
C
[听力原文]
What does Penny like best about her job?
[解析] 男士问女士最喜欢这份工作的哪一点,女士回答说:工作在户外,可以看到这座城市在不同季节的变化;能看到从事别的工作所看不到的风景,故选C。
3.
A.Driving on her own.
B.Taking a train.
C.Booking airline tickets.
D.Being driven by others.
A B C D
A
[听力原文]
What will Penny try to avoid when she goes on vacation?
[解析] 男士问女士出去度假的时候是不是自己开车,女士回答说大多数情况下不是,她宁愿别人开车。如果有其他选择的话,她会倾向于选择坐火车或飞机。可知女士在度假时会尽量避免自己开车,故选A。
4.
A.She is the only woman taxi driver in the city.
B.She has ten days of annual leaves with pay now.
C.She has been driving a taxi for twelve years.
D.She plans to change her job at present.
A B C D
C
[听力原文]
What do we know about Penny from the conversation?
[解析] 本题考查细节。采访一开始就提到女士开了12年的出租车,因此选项c表述正确。对话提到该女士只是女出租车司机之一,并不是唯一的,因此A项错误;谈到带薪年假的问题时,女士说一开始只有10天,但现在是三周,因此B项错误. 关于考虑换工作的问题,女士表示可能某一天会,但不是现在,因此D项错误,故选C。
[听力原文] W: I think I've finally decided what to write in my paper. It's a new museum right near the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. M: Really? I picked a museum too, a science museum up in Alberta, Canada. They look sort of like spaceship. W: Say, I read about that. It was built about 20 years ago and I think by the same architect who designed the building I'm interested in. Douglas Cardinal. M: That's him! But I can't image Cardinal designing anything in the traditional classical style of the Capitol. W: Well, this new structure has to fit in with the architecture of the Capitol, but its style is anything but traditional. I don't mean that it's one of those big glass boxes they call modem architecture though. Instead of rectangles and straight lines, this building has rounded free form shapes and sweeping curves. It's supposed to represent the natural forms like the Canyon cliffs in the western states, rock formations that were shaped by water and the wind. M: Sounds fantastic. But I wonder why that sort of style would be chosen for a building in Washington D.C. W: That's easy. This place is called National Museum of the American Indian.And it's devoted to exhibits of Native American cultures, including those of the west. And for Cardinal this is his own family heritage too. And in designing this museum he was careful to respect the various Native American values and traditions, like paying attentions to the directions of winds and the position of the sun in different seasons of the year. M: Wow, an untraditional building, designed to show case some of North American's oldest traditions. Interesting!
What is the discussion mainly about?
[解析] 对话后面女士说,她们所谈论的地方就是National Museum of the American Indian (美国印第安人国家博物馆)。选项C符合题意,故选C。D选项干扰性较强。虽然本对话多次提到Douglas Cardinal,但主要谈论的还是他设计的建筑,故排除选项D。
6.
A.Both of them are located in Alberta, Canada.
B.Both of them are designed by Douglas Cardinal.
C.Both of them built about 20 years ago.
D.Both of them show American cultures.
A B C D
B
[听力原文] What do the two museums mentioned in the conversation have in common?
Section B Directions:In this section, you will hear 2 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
A.A lot of native languages have already died out in the US.
B.The US ranks first in the number of endangered languages.
C.The efforts to preserve Indian languages have proved fruitless.
D.More money is needed to record the native languages in the US.
A B C D
A
[听力原文] The us has already lost more than a third of the native languages that existed before European colonization and the remaining 192 are classed by UNESCO as ranging between unsafe and extinct. "We need more funding and more effort to return these languages to everyday use," says Fred Nawusky of the National Museum of the American Indian. "We are making progress, but money needs to be spent on revitalizing languages, not just documenting them." Some 40 languages mainly in California and Oklahoma where thousands of Indians were forced to relocate in the 19th century have fewer than 10 native speakers. Part of the issue is that tribal groups themselves don't always believe their languages are endangered until they are down to the last handful of speakers. "But progress is being made through emerging schools, because if you teach children when they are young, it will stay with them as adults and that's the future," says Mr. Nawusky, a Comanche Indian. Such schools have become a model in Hawaii, but the islanders' local language is still classed by UNESCO as critically endangered because only 1,000 people speak it. The decline in American Indian languages has its historical roots. In the mid-19th century, the US government adopted a policy of Americanizing Indian children by removing them from their homes and culture. Within a few generations, most had forgotten their native tongues. Another challenge to language survival is television. It has brought English into homes, and pushed out traditional storytelling and family time together, accelerating the extinction of native languages.
What do we learn from the report?
2.
A.To set up more language schools.
B.To document endangered languages.
C.To educate native American children.
D.To revitalise America's native languages.
A B C D
D
[听力原文] For what purpose does Fred Nawusky appeal for more funding?
3.
A.The US government's policy of Americanising Indian children.
B.The failure of American Indian languages to gain an official status.
C.The US government's unwillingness to spend money educating Indians.
D.The long-time isolation of American Indians from the outside world.
A B C D
A
[听力原文] What is the historical cause of the decline in American Indian Languages?
4.
A.It is being utilised to teach native languages.
B.It tells traditional stories during family time.
C.It speeds up the extinction of native languages.
D.It is widely used in language immersion schools.
A B C D
C
[听力原文] What does the speaker say about television?
C.Jobs created by economic progress are insufficient.
D.More and more old people are unemployed.
A B C D
C
[听力原文] Organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund expect the international economy to perform better this year than in 2013. They also expect economic conditions to improve the next year. Yet one United Nations agency worries that economic progress is not creating enough jobs for the millions of people seeking employment. The U.N.'s International Labor Organization (ILO) is saying current economic growth has not helped the world's unemployed. The ILO released a report on employment this week. Guy Ryder of Britain is the Director General of the agency. He says the unemployment numbers for 2013 represent an increase from the year before. That means new jobs created by economy growth are not keeping up with the number of people entering the job market. "The bottom line figure for 2013 is that there are nearly 202 million people around the world unemployed, and that represents an increase of nearly five million on the previous year," said Ryder. The ILO says much of the increase came from East and South Asia—they were responsible for nearly half of the additional job seekers, and many others came from sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. One question is whether the current period of economic growth is leading to job creation The ILO says, based on current information, the world will have 18 million more jobless individuals by 2018, many of these are young people between the ages of 15 and 24 Guy Ryder says youth unemployment is a major concern. "Yong people are the particular victims of unemployment: 74.5 million of the unemployed, aged between 15 and 24, that is one million more than the year before," said Ryder. The ILO says youth unemployment worldwide is over 13 percent.
A.Youth unemployment worldwide is over 30 percent.
B.Young people are the particular victims of unemployment.
C.Female unemployment is a major concern in the world.
D.Most unemployed people are aged between 14 and 25.
A B C D
B
[听力原文] What do we know about youth unemployment?
[解析] 短文提到,失业者尤以年轻人居多。因此选项B与短文内容相符。
Section C Directions:In this section, you will hear recordings of lectures or talks followed by some questions. The recordings will be played only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
[听力原文] W: Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to have Scott Jurk here to share his experience in ultra-marathons. Scott Jurek has been called the "King of Pain" and the greatest ultra-marathoner ever. Ultra-marathons can be 125 miles longer than a typical 26-mile marathon. Scott finished his first in 1994, and since then, he's dominated the sport. Today he holds records for these races that cover more than 150 miles and last over 24 hours straight. Scott: M: Thank you for your introduction. Actually, I wasn't always a runner. I used to hate running. I grew up hunting and fishing in northern Minnesota, and that really was where I got connected with the outdoors. And I had been interested in running through Nordic ski racing and had to get ready for the snow season by doing some running on the ski trails. Many people wonder what propels me to run the distances I do. I think it's that self-exploration, that idea of there's something out there and the desire to see what my body, what my mind and down to what my spirit can do. The furthest distance I've run is 165.7 miles in 24 hours. How that works? You know, the more time you take breaks... the clock is always going, so the idea is to continue running throughout and as much as you can, because you only get 24 hours. And the only times I did stop were to go to the bathroom, basically, and even eating is done on the run. I'm actually a physical therapist and so know a little bit about the body. But is it healthy to go that far in that amount of time? You know, it's hard to say, but the human body was built for endurance. If you look at our ancestors and what they did, I mean, even think of my great grandparents and what they did for workout in the fields, and I think maybe our perception of what is normal has changed over the years. I'm trying to work with my body. I'm not competing against myself. Obviously, there's a clock out there. I'm not competing against other runners either. But I do use other racers in the competition to push my body to that edge because the competition really helps explore those boundaries—what am I capable of? What do we learn about the ultra-marathon from this speech? [解析] 从选项看,本题可能跟一项跑步运动相关。录音开头,主持人提到超级马拉松要比典型的26英里马拉松还长125英里。B“超级马拉松在距离上比典型马拉松更长”与此符合,故为答案。 录音中明确提出超级马拉松要比典型的26英里马拉松还长125英里,A认为它就是经典的26英里马拉松,故排除。超级马拉松确实辛苦,但是录音并没提到要在冬天结冰的道路上跑,故C排除。D说Scott Jurek开创了这项运动,录音只是说他称霸了该项运动比赛,是记录的保持者,并没有提及该运动的创始者,故排除D。
2.
A.He won prizes in many racing competitions.
B.He enjoyed outdoor activities in the snow.
C.He grew up hunting and fishing.
D.He used to like running in fields.
A B C D
C
[听力原文] What do we learn about Scott Jurek's childhood? [解析] Scott Jurek在录音中提到他在儿童时期其实是讨厌跑步的,是狩猎和钓鱼伴随他成长,选项C所述与此相符,故本题选C。 录音并未提及Scott Jurek儿时在很多跑步比赛中获奖,故A排除。录音有提到Scott Jurek童年生活中的一些户外活动,也提及滑雪比赛激发了他对跑步的兴趣,他也曾在覆盖着雪的小路上跑步,但不能因此推出他喜欢雪中的户外活动。故B错误。D“他过去喜欢在田地里跑步”,但Scott Jurek说他在儿童时期是讨厌跑步的,故排除。
3.
A.It's great but not healthy for body.
B.It has helped him reach his extremity.
C.It's beyond most racers' endurance.
D.It's an exploration of body and spirit.
A B C D
D
[听力原文] What is Scott Jurek's view on the competition? [解析] Scott Jurek在讲驱使自己跑完这么长距离的比赛的原因时,提到他是想了解自己的思想和精神到底能发展到什么程度,最后还说到参加这种超长距离的比赛能帮助探索自己身体的极限,故D“它是一项身心的探索”所述正确。 录音中Scott Jurek并未就跑超长距离的超级马拉松是否健康的问题明确表态,但是他指出人的身体是有忍耐力的,故A“跑超级马拉松不健康”不准确。录音中Scott Jurek提到参加这种超长距离的比赛能帮助探索自己身体的极限,并未提及它已经帮助自己达到身体的极限,故B错误。录音中Scott Jurek只提到人的身体是有忍耐力的,并未说超级马拉松超出了大部分赛跑选手的忍耐力。故C排除。
C.It can elevate economic exchange between nations.
D.It enables people to trade freely and fairly.
A B C D
A
[听力原文]
Jessica: Good morning, class. Today we have Professor Wilson here to tell us something about free trade.
Professor Wilson: Well, free trade means no tariffs and no quotas between countries that trade goods with one another. But, it's not only a free flow of goods. It also means the free flow of services between nations. It's a system that allows people to buy and sell whatever they desire with whomever they desire. Advocates argue that total free trade will result in a net gain in wealth for both trading partners. Some of the characteristics of free trade are...uh, let me list them for you. First, the absence of tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods and services. Second is the absence of quotas and other trade barriers. Third, the free flow of labor between two trading partners. Fourth, the free flow of capital between the two trading partners. And fifth is the absence of subsidies and regulations on locally produced goods and services that give businesses in the home country an advantage over those of a foreign country. Now having said all this, keep in mind that free trade is a relatively loose term that means different things to different people. For instance, it can be any combination of these characteristics I just mentioned to you, and, typically, it's never completely 100% free. When you have a free trade agreement between two countries, there are usually some protective policies in place.
Protectionism, on the other hand, means government restraint on trade between two nations. Protective trade or protective tariffs are a nation's efforts to prevent its own people from trading. Such protective measures include tariffs on imported goods and services, restrictive quotas on imported goods and services, government regulations which discourage imports, anti-dumping laws, and subsidies for local producers.
There are a number of advantages to free trade. Perhaps the most important advantage of free trade is that it lowers the costs of goods and services. This is possible for a number of reasons. For example, production can take place in nations where labor and other operating costs are lower. Despite its apparent advantages, there are a number of critics of free trade. Many people prefer protectionism. And, as I mentioned a moment ago, in the real world, even when we have free trade or a free trade agreement, there's still some protectionism. Protectionists feel it's better for local consumers to pay higher prices and thereby maintain quality jobs. So, protectionism protects businesses, jobs, and wages, but it also means higher prices.
Why do some people approve of total free trade?
[解析] 关于一些人支持自由贸易的原因,听力原文中提到Advocates argue that total free trade will result in a net gain in wealth for both trading partners. 由此可知,支持自由贸易的人认为绝对的自由贸易可以让交易双方都获得净利润。由此可知,A项正确,故选A。
5.
A.To increase its national revenues.
B.To meet its own people's needs.
C.To limit other nations' economic development.
D.To protect its own industries.
A B C D
D
[听力原文]
Why does a nation impose protective tariffs?
[解析] 听力原文中提到Protective trade or protective tariffs are a nation's efforts to prevent its own people from trading. 由此可知,贸易保护或者保护性关税是一个国家限制进口,从而保护其国内产业不受影响而采取的措施,因而D项表述正确,故选D。
6.
A.It completely gets rid of protectionism.
B.It offers more well-paid jobs.
C.It lowers the costs of goods and services.
D.It raises the prices of many products.
A B C D
C
[听力原文]
What could be the most important advantage of free trade?
[解析] 关于自由贸易最重要的好处,听力原文中提到Perhaps the most important advantage of free trade is that it lowers the costs of goods and services. 由此可知,自由贸易最大的好处可能在于它降低了商品和服务的价格,C项表述符合原文,故选C。
7.
A.It improves the selling of local products.
B.It helps maintain the number of goods.
C.It limits the export and import.
D.It protects business, jobs and wages.
A B C D
D
[听力原文]
What's the benefit of protectionism?
[解析] 听力原文最后提到了贸易保护主义的好处,即protectionism protects businesses,jobs,and wages,指出贸易保护主义保护了企业、工作和薪酬,因而D表述符合原文,故选D。
[听力原文]
It is often said mathematics is a foundation of learning. Communications, computer science, the arts, the Interact, space exploration all are based on underlying mathematical concepts. In its most recent international survey, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranked the United States in 27th place for student performance in math. What are the causes and what is being done about it? Mathematics is more than arithmetic. Scientists and philosophers throughout history have called it the foundation of all knowledge, and praise its simple beauty. Yet many Americans seem to have a problem with it. In a recent survey, one in three Americans admitted that they're not good at math. Here nationally renowned mathematician and Dean of the School of Education, Albert knows why. "Elementary school teachers in this country, and Europe as well, are part of that general population and consequently they bring that dislike of mathematics subconsciously, sometimes consciously at other times, to the classroom and as a result the teaching mathematics at the elementary school level lacks motivation, lacks enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of the teacher is extremely important in turning kids on to the subject matter, " said Albert. Turning kids on to math is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. It's a one-of-a-kind museum that resembles a high-tech playground with more than 30 hands-on attractions. "And as a nation we need to get kids more excited about math and about science, technology, and engineering because that's our productivity, that's our workforce, " said Lawrence, the Executive Director of MoMath.
Every day the museum is filled with lots of excited schoolchildren and adults.
"I learn a lot more than I am learning currently, but it's really just a lot of fun to see all the different things that look like just games when they're actually just math, " said Sera.
"It probably makes mathematics seem less scary than a lot of people think it is, " said Lew, Sera's grandfather.
What is the foundation of all knowledge according to scientists throughout history?
[解析] 听力原文中明确提到Mathematics is more than arithmetic. Scientists and philosophers throughout history have called it the foundation of all knowledge. 由此可知数学不仅仅是算术,科学家和哲学家把数学称为所有知识的基石,故选项B为答案。A项Arithmetic为干扰项,听音时应注意分辨。
9.
A.Teachers bring their dislike to the classroom.
B.Mathematics is more difficult than arithmetic.
C.All Americans are not good at mathematics.
D.Kids are more excited about technology and engineering.
A B C D
A
[听力原文]
According to Albert, why does the teaching mathematics at elementary school in U. S. lack motivation and enthusiasm?
[解析] 听力原文中提到,有调查结果显示三分之一的美国人承认自己不擅长数学,紧接着提到美国的一部分小学老师就属于这类人,他们把对数学的厌恶带到教室中,从而导致了这里的数学教学缺乏动力和热情,故选A。
10.
A.Exhibit cool items like robots.
B.Increase enthusiasm of the teacher.
C.Get kids more interested in math.
D.Make mathematics more difficult.
A B C D
C
[听力原文]
What is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics?
[解析] 听力原文中明确提到Turning kids on to math is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. 由此可知,将孩子的注意力转向数学是位于纽约市的国家数学博物馆的目的,随后又引用了其执行董事的话,指出国家希望让孩子们对数学和科技等更加感兴趣,故C项为正确答案。A项是为了达到这一目的而采取的手段,属于干扰项;其余两项在听力原文中均未提及,故排除。
Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension
Section A Directions:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. The other day I was listening to a Christian radio program on the way to the gym. Each day they ask a question for their listeners to respond to, either 1 phone or their Facebook page, and the topic that day was "What do you 2 to?" The answers that listeners were sending in were simple, yet 3 . For example, one woman said she looked forward to having a cup of tea at night once her children were in bed. It got me thinking about the simple things in life. Essentially, that's what we all generally look forward to—the little things. A hug after a long day. A cup of something hot in the morning. The sun shining again after a rainy patch, 4 us to finally hang our 5 . A comfortable bed to 6 into at night. A refreshing shower. A freshly 7 lawn. A meal out. I like to see these small things as being as much a part of God's love for me as the bigger gifts. He sometimes sends my way. As Robert Louis Stevenson put it: "The best things in life are nearest: breath in your 8 , light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the 9 of right just before you. Then do not 10 at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life." A. seize B. upon C. via D. slide E. look forward F. mowed G. refreshing H. nostrils I. enabling J. anticipate K. notorious L. path M. laundry N. estate O. grasp
Section B Directions:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
The Kitchen of 2013: Experts Dish
A. The reign of the trophy kitchen is officially over. The dream kitchens of today aren't about the sexiest six-burner range or the most exotic countertop material. As cooking has returned to centre stage and remodeling budgets have sobered, the kitchen island is nurturing family togetherness and reviving casual entertaining. B. In kitchens with a small footprint, glass tiles, quartz counters and dish drawers are adding sparkle and practicality. The kitchen of 2013 has soul. "That industrial, commercial style was looking a little cold," says Samantha Emmerling, kitchen editor at Hearst Design Group. "People are spending all their time in there, and they want it warm and inviting, as well as low-maintenance." C. A kitchen renovation is still costly. The average 2013 kitchen remodeling job is $47308, down $3742 from last year, according to the National Kitchen&Bath Association. Designers say the look today is less tradition, more transition. Clients are choosing more modern touches such as white or gray cabinets, gray walls and neutral quartz counters, individualized with different textures and touches of color. D. "Ten years ago, everyone showed up with the same photos of what they wanted," says Paul Lobkovich, an architect and kitchen designer at Lobkovich Kitchen Designs in Tysons Corner. "Now people are much more creative. They've seen plenty of HGTV shows and scoured Houzz and other Web sites. They have a Pinterest (品趣志,图片社交分享网站) board full of stuff they like. This gives people a wide range of unique looks. And it makes it more exciting for us designers." E. Yes, the kitchen is still the most obsessed room in the house, but it's clear that homeowners want more than just trends. Homeowners are seeking a calming space that makes them happy. "Lately it's been less the kind of stars in the eyes approach and a bit more practical with a simplified aesthetic," says designer Eric Lieberknecht, who owns a kitchen design firm in Alexandria. "People have a wide portfolio of things they want, and not just what their neighbor has." F. Nadia Subaran, senior designer at Bethesda's Aidan Design, calls the design direction "modern cottage." "It's not stark modern design," Subaran says. "It has natural materials, textures and layering, with lots of whites and grays. There is nothing fussy or decorative about it." Although stainless still reigns, there is growing interest in white ranges and refrigerators in a new glossy finish, as well as soapstone countertops and floating shelves. G. "People are really looking to make the most of their space, they want practical and functional," says Liza Hausman, a vice president at Houzz, a home design Web site and mobile app. The 2013 member survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Association identified a menu of some of today's top style choices in kitchens. Here is insider information on seven of them. 1. White Cabinets H. The choice of cabinets is arguably the most important decision when redoing a kitchen. The selection sets the look. In the National Kitchen&Bath Association survey, 67 percent of respondents said that white was their first choice for cabinetry, a jump of 20 percentage points in the past two years. "Over the years, white is always a popular color and there are times it is the No. 1 color," says John Morgan, President of the association and owner of kitchen products supplier Morgan Pinnacle in Glyndon, Md. "I would say that white and dark cherry are both timeless." 2. Quartz Counters I. According to Lorenzo Marquez, vice president of marketing for Cosentino North America, Silestone's parent company, the most popular colors right now are white and gray. "Quartz counter is a pretty honest material, and it functions so nicely," says Washington designer Paul Sherrill of Solis Betancourt&Sherrill. "If you don't have a tolerance for natural stone and what it's going to do over time, go for it." 3. Many Shades of Gray J. Gray seems to be the color of the moment. Although white and off-white are still the top colors, grays are showing up on cabinets, counters and walls. Alexandria color consultant Jean Molesworth Kee of the Painted Room says, "I'm seeing a lot of quick redos where they are painting old wood cabinets a light gray and totally getting rid of anything Tuscan red or yellow." But she cautions against gray overload. "If there is too much gray, it can look really chilly and depressing. You'll think you are stirring your pot in an operating room. You need a lot of white to balance it out." 4. Led Lighting K. More and more remodeled kitchens now have LED lighting, especially below cabinets. LED bulbs are more efficient and generate little heat. "We are doing a lot of LED under cabinet lighting," says Larry Rosen, owner of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens in Rockville. "Halogen (卤素) and Xenon (氙) lighting actually burn very hot. If you accidentally touch a bulb, you can burn yourself. LED is more expensive, but they save on electricity, are cool and last a really long time." 5. Electronic Faucets (水龙头) L. "When people renovate their kitchen, it's not just functionality and beauty," says Houzz's Liza Hausman. "They are thinking about how to include the latest technology." One of these new toys is the tricked-out faucet. Both touch-activated faucets and hands-free faucets are beginning to appear in kitchen remodeling contracts. According to Tom Tylicki, the Moen MotionSense hands-free faucet responds to consumers' kitchen work styles and helps prevent the spread of germs. It's also a good choice for gardeners whose hands are frequently covered in dirt. 6. Satin Nickel (雾镍) Finishes M. "Satin nickel is the new oiled bronze," Sherrill says. For him, the matte nickel finish reflects the increasingly, modernist kitchen look. The survey found that polished nickel and polished chrome (铬) were less requested than last year, and the duller finish was growing in popularity. Some designers feel that this finish best complements stainless steel appliances; others say the gray metal color sets off gray cabinets, counters and walls. 7. Glass Backsplashes (后挡板) N. Glass tiles are the jewelry of a kitchen for Tynesia Hand Smith, a Bloomingdale interior designer. "They add great shimmer," she says. With neutral colors ruling in cabinets and counters, glass tile is one way to add color and personality. "Reds, greens and blues, vibrant colors are trending right now, as is iridescent glass," says DeeDee Gundberg, an Ann Sacks Tile product development manager. Instead of using the ubiquitous white subway tile backsplash, she suggests substituting large format glass tile in a similar shape. "Light blue glass tiles are still very traditional with white cabinets but look very fresh," Gundberg adds.
1. The choice of cabinets is the most important thing for homeowners when they decide to remodel their kitchens.
H
[解析] 细节辨认题。由定位句可知,在重新装修厨房的时候,可以说最重要的决定就是选择什么样的橱柜。题干中的remodel their kitchens对应定位句中的redoing a kitchen,故选H。
2. The kitchen of 2013 becomes more impressive and practical because new materials are used.
B
细节推断题。定位句提到,在空间狭窄的厨房里,使用玻璃瓷砖、石英台面和石英餐具抽屉,既可以增光添彩,又可以提高实用性。2013版的厨房具有灵魂。题干中的more impressive and practical对应定位句中的adding sparkle and practicality,故选B。
3. More and more remodeled kitchens have LED lighting, because LED bulbs consume less electricity and produce little heat.
K
细节辨认题。由定位句可知,越来越多的改造厨房使用LED灯,虽然LED灯泡价格昂贵,但是它更加节能,产热少,寿命更长。题干中的consume less electricity对应定位句中的save on electricity;produce对应定位句中的generate,故选K。
4. Homeowners not only want trends, but also want to make their kitchens a comfortable place to enjoy themselves.
E
同义转述题。由定位句可知,屋主不仅想紧跟潮流,他们还希望把厨房变成一个安静、可以让人享受快乐的地方。题干中的not only want trends对应定位句中的want more than just trends;enjoy themselves对应定位句中的makes them happy,故选E。
5. Gray is a popular color right now, but it can't be used too much in rooms.
J
细节归纳题。J段首句提到,灰色似乎是现在的流行色。J段倒数第三句提到,但是如果过多使用灰色,就会使房间变得冷冰冰,令人感到压抑。题干中的a popular color right now对应定位句中的the color of the moment。题干是对定位句的归纳总结,故选J。
6. Liza Hausman thinks that the ideal kitchens should be both practical and functional.
8. The dream kitchens of today focus on cultivating close relations among family members.
A
细节推断题。由定位句可知,当今理想的厨房不在于其拥有时尚的六眼灶,也不在于其操作台使用了具有异域风情的材料,而在于能够培养家庭成员间的亲密关系及复兴轻松的进餐方式。题干中的cultivating close relations对应定位句中的nurturing family togetherness,故选A。
9. Paul Sherrill thinks that quartz counter is a very good material in remodeling kitchens.
Section C Directions:There are two passages in this section. 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 mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One Using data from a research study that took place in the U.K. which asked families to report on their diets, the team found that vegetarian males were more likely to be depressed than their carnivorous (食肉的) counterparts. The sample included nearly 10000 men who had a pregnant partner, and everyone identified their dietary preference. Only 350 were reported being vegetarian. The scientists compared how both plant- and meat-eaters fared on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, used by U.K. doctors to determine if women are likely to develop postpartum (产后的) depression. The team found that vegetarians were more likely to have scores higher than 10, the minimum threshold of possible depression. They report their findings in the current issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders. The survey ferreted out some honesty about what exactly the participants meant by "vegetarian." Although the men who said they followed such a diet didn't eat burgers or hot dogs, they did consume nearly as much oily fish and shellfish as meat-eaters. And those who identified as vegetarian actually did indulge in red meat: 72 reported some consumption while only 16 of the vegetarians admitted to cheating. The researchers don't assert that being vegetarian causes depression. Instead, they're suggesting a link between plant-based diets and mental health. The primary theory for this link is that vegetarians receive fewer nutrients found in red meat, vitamin B12 specifically, and that could contribute to depressive symptoms. But the study authors believe this new data should spur a randomized controlled trial to further examine the relationship between meat and mood. Studies have increasingly shown that nutrition and depression are linked. As researchers noted in a paper, nutritional neuroscience has just begun looking at how nutrition impacts cognition, behavior and emotion. Many patients with mental disorders have deficiencies in certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins. In a small study of patients, doctors found that coupling vitamin B12 supplements with antidepressants significantly decreased symptoms.
1. From the data of the research study that took place in the U. K., we know ______.
A.vegetarians account for a small percentage of the respondents
B.males get depressed more easily than their pregnant partners
C.carnivorous pregnant women are more likely to be depressed
D.being a vegetarian does good to one's physical and mental health
A B C D
A
[解析] 由题干中的the research study和took place in the U.K. 定位到首段第一句。 推理判断题。文章首段通过一项调查研究引出饮食偏好和抑郁的联系。接下来的内容给出一项数据:在近万名调查样本中只有350人是素食主义者。由此可推断,素食主义者在受调查的人中只占一小部分,故答案为A。 [参考译文] 英国曾作过一项调查研究,让家庭成员汇报他们的饮食情况。利用这项调查研究的数据,研究小组发现吃素的男性比那些吃肉的男性更容易抑郁。样本包括近万名有着怀孕伴侣的男性,每个人都能确定他们的饮食偏好。报告指出,只有350人是素食主义者。 科学家使用“爱丁堡产后抑郁量表”来比较素食主义者和肉食主义者的表现,该量表被英国医生用来确定女性是否有可能患产后抑郁症。研究小组发现,素食主义者的得分更有可能高于10,而这是可能出现抑郁症的最低值。他们在《情感障碍杂志》的最新一期公布了他们的发现。 这项调查对于参与者究竟如何理解“素食主义者”查明了一些诚实的看法。虽然说自己遵循了这种饮食方式的人不吃汉堡或热狗,但他们食用的富含脂肪的鱼和贝类几乎和肉食主义者一样多。而有些自认为是素食主义者的人实际上却沉迷于红肉:72人报告说食用过肉类,而只有16位素食主义者承认有欺骗行为。 研究人员并不断言食素会导致抑郁症。相反,他们是在建议将以植物为主的饮食与心理健康联系起来。导致这一联系的主要理论是素食主义者在红肉中获得的营养物质较少,特别是维生素B12,这可能会导致抑郁症状。但研究作者认为,这一新的数据应该会引发一项随机对照试验,以进一步研究肉类与情绪之间的关系。 越来越多的研究表明,营养和抑郁症是有联系的。正如研究人员在一篇论文中指出的,营养神经科学刚刚开始研究营养如何影响认知、行为和情绪。许多精神障碍患者缺乏某些营养素,包括欧米伽3脂肪酸和B族维生素。在对患者进行的一项小型研究中,医生发现,将维生素B12补充剂与抗抑郁药联合使用可显著减轻症状。
2. What can we infer from the findings of the team?______
A.People who scored higher than 10 were less depressed.
Passage Two Bernard Bailyn has recently reinterpreted the early history of the United States by applying new social research findings on the experiences of European migrants. In his reinterpretation, migration becomes the organizing principle for rewriting the history of preindustrial North America. His approach rests on four separate propositions. The first of these asserts that residents of early modern England moved regularly about their countryside; migrating to the New World was simply a natural spillover. Although at first the colonies held little positive attraction for the English-they would rather have stayed home-by the 18th century people increasingly migrated to America because they regarded it as the land of opportunity. Secondly, Bailyn holds that, contrary to the notion that used to flourish in America history textbooks, there was never a typical New World community. For example, the economic and demographic character of early New England towns varied considerably. Bailyn's third proposition suggest two general patterns prevailing among the many thousands of migrants: one group came as indentured servants, another came to acquire land. Surprisingly, Bailyn suggests that those who recruited indentured servants were the driving forces of transatlantic migration. These colonial entrepreneurs helped determine the social character of people who came to preindustrial North America. At first, thousands of unskilled laborers were recruited; by the 1730's, however, American employers demanded skilled artisans. Finally, Bailyn argues that the colonies were a half-civilized hinterland of the European culture system. He is undoubtedly correct to insist that the colonies were part of an Anglo-American empire. But to divide the empire into English core and colonial periphery, as Bailyn does, devalues the achievements of colonial culture. It is true, as Bailyn claims, that high culture in the colonies never matched that in England. But what of seventeenth-century New England, where the settlers created effective laws, built a distinguished university, and published books? Bailyn might respond that New England was exceptional. However, the ideas and institutions developed by New England Puritans had powerful effects on North American culture. Although Bailyn goes on to apply his approach to some thousands of indentured servants who migrated just prior to the revolution, he fails to link their experience with the political development of the United States. Evidence presented in his work suggests how we might make such a connection. These indentured servants were treated as slaves for the period during which they had sold their time to American employers. It is not surprising that as soon as they served their time they passed up good wages in the cities and headed west to ensure their personal independence by acquiring land. Thus, it is in the west that a peculiarly American political culture began, among colonists who were suspicious of authority and intensely anti-aristocratic.
1. According to Bailyn, what plays an important role in the history of preindustrial North America?______
A.indentured servants.
B.artisans.
C.migration.
D.mechanism.
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节题。根据题干关键词preindustrial可定位到第一段第二句In his reinterpretation, migration becomes the organizing principle for rewriting the history of preindustrial North America. 即“在他的重新解释中,迁徙成了重写北美前工业化历史的重要依据。”因此对于贝林而言,他觉得在北美前工业化历史中扮演重要角色的应该是移民(migration),故C项为正确答案。
2. In the 18th, why did so many British people rush to the US?______
A.They were forced to there.
B.Chances attract them to immigrate there.
C.They wanted to expand their territory further.
D.Migrating to the New World was simply a natural spillover.
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节题。根据题干信息,可定位到第二段第二句Although at first the colonies held little positive attraction... by the eighteenth century people increasingly migrated to America because they regarded it as the land of opportunity. 由此可知,18世纪英国人涌入美国的原因是美国有大量的机会,选项中的chances是原文中opportunity的同义替换,故B项为正确答案。
3. According to paragraph 3, Bailyn's attitude towards indentured servant employer is ______.
A.tolerant
B.skeptical
C.interested
D.favor
A B C D
D
[解析] 态度题。根据题干信息,可定位到第三段第二句Bailyn suggests that those who recruited indentured servants were the driving forces of transatlantic migration. 即“贝林认为那些征召契约仆人的人是这种跨越大西洋移民迁徙的推动力。”这是一种肯定的态度,D项中的favor意为“支持”,故正确。
4. We can infer from the last two paragraphs that ______.
A.the colonies were a civilized inland of the European culture system
B.puritans lived in New England once made a significant impact on North American culture
C.in his research, Bailyn connected the experience of indentured servants with the political development of the United States
D.in the 1730's, American employers demanded skilled artisans to develop their new world
A B C D
B
[解析] 推断题。根据A项中的关键词可定位到第四段第一句colonies were a half-civilized hinterland of the European culture system,选项少了half一词,因此它以偏概全,过于绝对。根据C项中的关键词可定位到文章末段第一句he fails to link their experience with the political development of the United States,其中their指的就是indentured servants,选项与原文意思相反,故错误。D项属于第三段的内容,不在定位范围之内,故B项为正确答案。
5. According to the text, what is the author's attitude towards Bailyn?______
A.Objectivity.
B.Appreciation.
C.Skepticism.
D.Prejudice.
A B C D
A
[解析] 态度题。作者在文中辩证地看待贝林的观点,其从很多语句中可以看出来。比如Bailyn argues that the colonies were a half-civilized hinterland of the European culture system. He is undoubtedly correct to insist that the colonies were part of an Anglo-American empire. But to divide the empire into English core and colonial periphery, as Bailyn does, devalues the achievements of colonial culture. 即“贝林提出,殖民地是欧洲文化体系的半文明化的腹地。在坚持殖民地是盎格鲁一美利坚帝国的一部分这一点上,他无疑是正确的。但是像贝林这样,把帝国划分为英国核心和殖民地外围,就贬低了殖民地文化的成就。”故A项为正确答案。
Part Ⅳ Translation Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
The ways Chinese people adopt to get around has experienced a long transformation from depending on physical strength to taking convenient tools. From the 1950s to the 1970s, bicycle, in place of on foot, was the most fashionable means of transportation and also the most important characteristic of society. In the 1980s, motorcycle gradually became people's favorite. During the past 20-plus years ranging from the early 1990s to the present, with the development of urban traffic and automotive industry and increasingly busy life, more and more people prefer private cars, making the number of private cars grow at a surprising speed and the life of ordinary people seem to be installed by wheels, moving ahead fast.