6. Christmas is a Christian holy day usually celebrated on December 25th ______ the birth of Jesus Christ.
A.in accordance with
B.in terms of
C.in favor of
D.in honor of
A B C D
D
[解析] 介词词组辨析。in accordance with“根据”,比较正规的字眼,通常指根据国家法律规定或某些重要条例的规定;in terms of“就……而言;以……措辞;关于”;in favor of“喜欢”;in honor of“纪念;招待”。根据句子中celebrated,birth of Jesus Christ的信息,很容易判定D项最接近句意。
7. To survive in the intense trade competition between countries, we must ______ the qualities and varieties of products we make to the world market demand.
A.improve
B.enhance
C.guarantee
D.gear
A B C D
D
[解析] 动词词义辨析。分析句子的成分,句子的主语we,宾语补足语the qualities and varieties of products,定语从句we make修饰前面的名词,所以句意是空格填入的动词与the world market demand搭配。选项中,只有gear(使……适合)符合句意。guarantee意为“保证”。
8. To give you a general idea of our products, we enclose the catalogues showing various products handled by us with detailed ______ and means of packing.
13. How large a proportion of the sales of stores in or near resort areas can be ______ to tourist spending?
A.attributed
B.applied
C.contributed
D.attached
A B C D
A
[解析] 动词词义辨析。选项中的动词都可以与to连用,但意思不同。attributed to“归因于;被认为是……所为”;applied to“适用于;应用于”;contributed to“有助于;捐献”;attached to“附属于;系于”。根据句意,a proportion of the sales of stores与tourist spending之间,用attributed to连接,符合句意。
14. Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and ______ for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old.
A.ingredient
B.reliance
C.shelter
D.inclination
A B C D
C
[解析] 上下文语义。考生根据题干后半部分的内容it will give us no shade when we grow old判断,空格填入的名词与shade(树荫)对应。对比选项,只有C项(庇护)符合句意,在这里意为“精神归宿”。
15. Some people would like to do shopping on Sundays since they expect to ______ wonderful bargains in the market.
17. The destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City ______ shock and anger throughout the world.
A.tempted
B.provoked
C.summoned
D.enveloped
A B C D
B
[解析] 动词词义辨析。tempted“引诱”;provoked“激怒”;summoned“召集”;enveloped“包围”。考生要选出与shock and anger(震惊和愤怒)搭配的动词,只有B项符合逻辑。
18. A 1994 World Bank report concluded that ______ girls in school was probably the single most effective anti-poverty policy in the developing world today.
20. Despite almost universal ______ of the vital importance of women's literacy, education remains a dream for many women in far too many countries of the world.
23. Some anthropologists claim that a few apes have been taught a rudimentary sign languages, but skeptics argue that the apes are only ______ their trainers.
27. If it is true that morality cannot exist without religion, then does not the erosion of religion herald the ______ of morality?
A.regulation
B.basis
C.belief
D.collapse
A B C D
D
[解析] 名词词义辨析。If条件句指出,morality和religion共存,根据主句中的主语the erosion of religion(宗教腐朽)指示的应该是morality的倒塌。故答案为D。
28. Certain animal behaviors, such as mating rituals, seem to be ______, and therefore ______ external factors such as climate changes, food supply, or the presence of other animals of the same species.
Part Ⅱ Close The study of genetics has given rise to a profitable new industry called biotechnology. As the name 1 , it combines biology and modern technology through such 2 as genetic engineering. Some of the new biotech companies, as they are called, 3 in agriculture and are working enthusiastically to patent (取得专利) seeds that give a high yield (产量), that 4 disease, drought and frost, and that reduce the need for dangerous chemicals. 5 such goals could be achieved, it would be most beneficial. But some have raised 6 about genetically engineered crops. "In nature, genetic diversity (多样性) is created within certain limits," says the book Genetic Engineering, Food and Our Environment. "A rose can be crossed (杂交) with a different kind of rose, but a rose will 7 cross with a potato..." Genetic engineering, on the other hand, usually involves taking genes from one species and inserting them into another in an attempt to 8 a desired property or character. This could mean, 9 , selecting a gene which leads to the production of a chemical with antifreeze properties from an arctic fish, and joining it into a potato or strawberry to make it frost-resistant. It is now possible for plants to be engineered with genes 10 from bacteria. viruses, insects, animals or even humans. 11 , then, biotechnology allows humans to break the genetic walls that 12 species. Like the green revolution, 13 some call the gene revolution 14 to the problem of genetic uniformity (千篇一律)—some say even more so 15 geneticists can employ techniques such 16 cloning and organ culture, processes that produce perfectly 17 copies, or clones. Concerns about the biodiversity, therefore, remain. Genetically altered plants, however, raise new 18 , such as the effects that they may have on us and the environment. "We are flying blindly into a new 19 of agricultural biotechnology with high hopes, few constraints, and little idea of the potential 20 ," said science writer Jeremy Rifkin.
1.
A.suggests
B.recalls
C.concerns
D.advises
A B C D
A
[解析] 动词词义辨析。空前的as在这里是介词,意为“根据,按照”,the name指代上一句的biotechnology。根据空后的combines biology and modern technology信息,说明是对这个名词的解释,且这个解释是从这个名字推断出来的。选项中,suggests意为“暗示,建议”,符合句意和逻辑。故答案为A。
2.
A.concepts
B.views
C.techniques
D.courses
A B C D
C
[解析] 上下文语义。空前的such指代前面的biology and modern technology,根据这一信息判定,只有C项(技术)可以概括前面biology and modem technology的信息。故答案为C。
3.
A.participate
B.focus
C.specialize
D.involve
A B C D
C
[解析] 动词词组辨析和上下文语义。focus一般与介词on搭配,排除B项。participate in“参加;分享”;specialize in“专门研究……”;involve in“参与;涉及”。根据空格所在句子的the new biotech companies,agriculture,specialize in与agriculture搭配符合前后逻辑,意为“专门从事农业的研究”。故答案为C。
4.
A.treat
B.avoid
C.oppose
D.resist
A B C D
D
[解析] 动词词义辨析。空格所在句子是三个that引导的定语从句,修饰seeds。根据空格前的信息give a high yield推断出后面的内容是能够抵御disease,drought and frost的种子。选项中,resist意为“抵抗;忍耐”,在农业领域中,常与disease,drought,frost等词搭配使用,“抵御疾病、干旱和霜冻”,且后文出现了frost-resistant的信息。故答案为D。
5.
A.If
B.Unless
C.Since
D.As
A B C D
A
[解析] 逻辑关系。根据空格所在句子的信息判断such goals could be achieved是主句it would be most beneficial的条件。选项中,if可以引导条件状语从句,A项符合句意。
6.
A.demands
B.topics
C.concerns
D.lessons
A B C D
C
[解析] 固定搭配。concerns与about为固定搭配,意为“对……表示担心、忧虑”。
7.
A.sometimes
B.never
C.frequently
D.eventually
A B C D
B
[解析] 上下文语义。前一句提到一种玫瑰花can be crossed with不同种类的玫瑰花,接着是but,要进行转折,根据后面的a potato的信息判定,此处应填入具有否定意思的词。只有B项符合要求。
8.
A.convey
B.transfer
C.select
D.collect
A B C D
B
[解析] 动词词义辨析。根据空格前面的内容taking...from...and inserting...into another...to,这一系列的过程的目的是“转移”a desired property or character convey指以某种方式或由某一“途径”将人或物运送至某地;transfer指把人或物从一处“转送”到另一处。故答案为B。
9.
A.for example
B.for one thing
C.on one hand
D.in any case
A B C D
A
[解析] 上下文语义。B项和C项都是“一方面”的意思,一般放句首,排除。根据上下文的语义,此处使用具体的例子解释前面基因转移的过程。故答案为A。in any case意为“无论如何”。
10.
A.resulted
B.evolved
C.injected
D.taken
A B C D
D
[解析] 动词词组辨析。resulted from“起因于;由……造成”;evolved from“演变而来,从……进化,从……演变”;injected from“从……注射”;taken from“从……取出”。要填入的动词与genes和bacteria,viruses,insects,animals or even humans搭配,根据句意,基因只能是从bacteria,viruses,insects,animals or even humans中提取出来,故答案为D。
[解析] 名词词义辨析。little idea of意为“不知道”。navigations“航行,航海”;mystery“神秘”;outcomes“产生,结果”;destinations“目的地,终点”。根据句意,不知道基因技术会带来的潜在结果。故答案为C。
Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension
Passage 1 The Carnegie Foundation report says that many colleges have tried to be "all things to all people". In doing so, they have increasingly catered to a narrow minded careerism while failing to cultivate a global vision among their students. The current crisis, it contends, does not derive from a legitimate desire to put learning to productive ends. The problem is that in too many academic fields, the work has no context; skills, rather than being means, have become ends. Students are offered a variety of options and allowed to pick their way to a degree. In short, driven by careerism, "the nation's colleges and universities are more successful in providing credentials (文凭) than in providing a quality education for their students. "The report concludes that the special challenge confronting the undergraduate college is one of shaping an integrated core of common learning. Such a core would introduce students to essential knowledge, to connections across the disciplines, and in the end, to application of knowledge to life beyond the campus." Although the key to a good college is a high-quality faculty, the Carnegie study found that most colleges do very little to encourage good teaching. In fact, they do much to undermine it. As one professor observed: "Teaching is important, we are told, and yet faculty know that research and publication matter most." Not surprisingly, over the last twenty years colleges and universities have failed to graduate half of their four-year degree candidates. Faculty members who dedicated themselves to teaching soon discover that they will not be granted tenure (终身任期), promotion, or substantial salary increases. Yet 70 percent of all faculties say their interests lie more in teaching than in research. Additionally, a frequent complaint among young scholars is that "There is pressure to publish, although there is virtually no interest among administrators or colleagues in the content of the publications."
1. When a college tries to be "all things to all people" (Line 1-2, Para. 1) it aims to ______.
A.satisfy the needs of all kinds of students simultaneously
B.focus on training students in various skills
C.encourage students to take as many courses as possible
D.make learning serve academic rather than productive ends
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节推理题。根据原文首段的内容可知,卡耐基财团的报告对many colleges采取all things to all people的做法是不赞同的。由此判定答案在原文首段第四句,原文中的too many academic fields与选项C中的as many courses as possible对应。故答案为C。选项A、B、D均是卡耐基财团的报告提出的建议。
2. By saying that "in too many academic fields, the work has no context" (Lines 4-5, Pare. 1) the author means that the teaching in these areas ______. A. ignores the actual situation B is not based on the right perspective C. only focuses on an integrated core of common learning D. gives priority to the cultivation of a global vision among students
3. One of the reasons for the current crisis in American colleges and universities is that ______.
A.a narrow vocationalism has come to dominate many colleges
B.students don't have enough freedom in choosing what they want to learn
C.skills are being taught as a means to an end
D.students are only interested in obtaining credentials
A B C D
A
[解析] 细节推理题。根据题干关键词current crisis与原文首段第二句failing to对应,进行定位。原文中的a narrow与选项A重现;minded careerism与选项A中的vocationalism对应;increasingly catered to与选项A中的come to dominate对应。故答案为A。选项C与原文首段第四句表述的内容不符,skills,rather than being means,have become ends(技能变成了目的,而不是手段)。选项B和D提到是colleges and universities存在的问题,而不是原因,故排除。
4. American colleges and universities failed to graduate half of their four-year degree candidates because ______.
A.most of them lack high-quality faculties
B.the interests of most faculty members lie in research
C.there are not enough incentives for students to study hard
D.they attach greater importance to research and publication than to teaching
A B C D
D
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干关键词half of their four-year degree candidates为原文尾段第四句重现定位答案。阅读相关信息,原因在前一句话,research and publication与选项D重现,most与选项D中的than to teaching。故答案为D。
5. It can be inferred from the passage that high-quality college education calls for ______.
A.putting academic work in the proper context
B.a commitment to students and effective teaching
C.the practice of putting learning to productive ends
D.dedication to research in frontier areas of knowledge
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节推断题。原文首段尾句是报告得出的关于学校应该向学生做什么的结论...introduce students to essential knowledge, to connections across the disciplines...to application of knowledge to life beyond the campus这些内容都是学校应该向学生做出的承诺。原文尾段首句提出most colleges在鼓励good teaching方面做得很少,故good teaching应该也是high-quality cortege education应该具备的,与选项B中的effective teaching对应。故答案为B。
Passage 2
Endangered Species
Endangered species are plants and animals that are in immediate danger of extinction. Extinction is actually a normal process in the course of evolution. Since the formation of the earth, many more species have become extinct than those exist today. These species slowly disappeared because of changes of climate and their failure to adapt to such conditions as competition and predation (捕食). Since the 1600s, however, the process of extinction has greatly accelerated as a result of both human population growth and technological encroachment (侵犯) on natural ecology systems. Today the majority of the world's environments are changing faster than the ability of most species to adapt to such changes through natural selection. Species become extinct or endangered for a number of reasons, but the primary cause is the destruction of natural habitats (栖息地). Drainage of wetlands (沼泽地), cutting and clearing of forests, growth of cities, and highway and dam construction have seriously reduced available natural habitats. As the various surroundings become fragments, the remaining animal populations crowd into smaller areas, causing further destruction of natural surroundings. Species in these small islands lose contact with other populations of their own kind, thus reducing their genetic variation and making them less adaptable to environment changes. Since the 1600s, commercial exploitation of animals for food and other products has caused many species to become extinct or endangered. Introduced diseases and parasites have also greatly reduced some species. Pollution is another important cause of their extinction. Some private and governmental efforts have been organized to save declining species. Laws were made in some countries in the early 1900s to protect wild animals from commercial trade and killing. International endeavors are shown in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, approved by 51 nations. Its purpose is to restrict exploitation of wild animals and plants by regulating and restricting trade in certain species. How effective such laws will be in various countries, however, depends on enforcement (实施) and support by the people and the courts. Because of a lack of law enforcement, the willingness of some segments of society to trade in endangered species, the activities of people who catch and kill animals illegally and dealers who supply the trade, the future of many species is in doubt in spite of legal protection.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is the most important factor causing the rapid extinction of man species since the 17th century?
A.Human beings are not aware of the importance of preserving endangered species,
B.Some endangered species have already reached the end of their life span in evolution.
C.The development of human society has greatly affected natural ecology systems.
D.The world's climate has changed so greatly that most species cannot survive.
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干中的时间关键词the 17th century与原文首段第五句中的the 1600s对应,定位答案。题干中的the most important factor与原文中的greatly accelerated对应;题干中的extinction为原文重现;题干中的causing与原文中的as a result of对应,故of后的内容就是答案,其中human population growth and technological被选项C概括为The development of human society,encroachment与选项C中的greatly affected对应,选项C中natural ecology systems为原文重现。故答案为C。
2. In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the word "islands" refers to ______.
A.the lands that are completely surrounded by water
B.the wild animals' breeding grounds protected by law
C.the pieces of land separated by modern buildings and roads
D.the small and isolated areas inhabited by certain species
3. This passage mentions all of the following reasons that cause the extinction of man species except ______.
A.natural selection of species
B.various natural disasters
C.commercial trade and killing
D.destruction of natural surroundings
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节判断题。注意题干中的except。由原文首段第二句的内容...actually a normal process in the course of evolution可知选项A正确。由第二段首句中的the destruction of natural habitats内容可知选项D正确。由尾段第二句的内容commercial trade and killing可知选项C正确。原文首段第四句提到了changes of climate,但原文没有提及natural disasters,故答案为B。
4. According to the passage, which of the following is most important in saving declining species?
A.Governments should make some laws to protect endangered species.
B.People should pay more attention to the protection of natural surroundings.
C.Relevant laws must be made and enforced with the support of the people.
D.Some organizations should warn people not to trade in endangered animals.
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节推理题。根据题干中的saving declining species与原文尾段首句中的save declining species(拯救濒危物种)对应,对答案进行定位。仔细阅读原文尾段,第二句中的Laws were made in some countries是重要的措施。再由原文尾段第五句的转折连词however判定本句中的How effective such laws也是重要的方面,此句中的enforcement为选项C中enforced的同根词,support为选项C的重现。故答案为C。
5. How does the author feel about the prospect of protecting endangered species from being extinct?
Passage 3 Those who welcomed the railway saw it as more than a rapid and comfortable means of passing. They actually saw it as a factor in world peace. They did not foresee that the railway would be just one more means for the rapid movement of aggressive armies. None of them foresaw that the more we are together—the more chances there are of war. Any boy or girl who is one of a large family knows that. Whenever any new invention is put forward, those for it and those against it can always find medical men to approve or condemn. The anti-railway group produced doctors who said that tunnels would be most dangerous to public health: they would produce colds, catarrhs (黏膜炎) and consumptions. The deafening noise and the glare of the engine fire would have a bad effect on the nerves. Further, being moved through the air at a high speed would do grave injury to delicate lungs. In those with high blood-pressure, the movement of the train might produce apoplexy (中风). The sudden plunging of a train into the darkness of a tunnel, and the equally sudden rush into full daylight, would cause great damage to eyesight. But the pro-railway group was of course able to produce equally famous medical men to say just the opposite. They said that the speed and swing of the train would equalize the circulation, promote digestion, tranquilize the nerves, and ensure good sleep. The actual rolling-stock was anything but comfortable. If it was a test of endurance to sit for four hours outside a coach in rain, or inside in dirty air, the railway offered little more in the way of comfort. Certainly the first-class carriages had cushioned seats; but the second-class had only narrow bare boards, while the third-class had nothing at all; no seats and no roof; they were just open trucks. So that third-class passengers gained nothing from the few mode except speed. In the matter of comfort, indeed they lost; they did, on the coaches, have a seat, but now they had to stand all the way, which gave opportunities to the comic (滑稽的) press. This kind of thing: A man was seen yesterday buying a third-class ticket for the new London and Birmingham Railway. The state of his mind is being enquired into. A writer in the early days of railways wrote feelingly of both second- and third-class carriages. He made the suggestion that the directors of the railways must have sent all over the world to find the hardest possible wood. Of the open third-class trucks he said that they had the peculiar property of meeting the rain from whatever quarter it came. He described them as horizontal shower-baths, from whose searching power there was no escape.
1. All boys and girls in large families know that ______.
A.a boy and a gift usually fight when they are together
B.people tend to be together more than they used to be
C.a lot of people being together makes fights likely
D.railway leads the world to peace
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干关键词boys and girls和large families分别与原文首段尾句中的boy or girl和a large family对应,对原文进行定位。原文首段尾句中的that指代前一句话,the more被选项C替换为a lot of people,are together与选项C中的being together对应,the more chances与选项C中的likely对应,there are of war与选项C中的makes fights对应,故答案为C。
2. According to those who welcomed the railway, the railway itself should include all the following except ______.
A.the railway enables people to travel fast
B.the railway brings comfort to people
C.the railway makes the world peaceful
D.the railway leads the world to war as well.
A B C D
D
[解析] 细节判断题。根据题干中的those who welcomed the railway为原文首段首句的重现,定位答案。由首段首句中的a rapid and comfortable means of passing可知选项A和B正确。由原文首段第二句中的as a factor in world peace可知选项C正确。原文首段第四句提到了越多人在一起,war的机会就越多,但这是None of them foresaw,故答案为D。
3. According to the anti-railway group, all the followings are true but ______.
A.tunnels are dangerous to public health
B.the noise and the glare of the engine fire may affect people's nerves
C.the rapid speed through the air does damage to people's lungs
D.to those with high blood-pressure, the rapid speed of the train causes them to die
A B C D
D
[解析] 细节判断题。根据题干关键词anti-railway group为原文第二段第二句的重现,对答案进行定位。由第二段第二句中的tunnels would be most dangerous to public health内容,可知选项A正确。由原文第二段第三句The...noise and the glare of the engine fire...effect on the nerves内容,可知选项B正确。由原文第二段第四句...through the air at a high speed...do grave injury to delicate lungs内容,可知选项C正确。由原文第二段第五句the movement of the train可能引起血压高的人apoplexy(中风),而不是to die。故答案为D。
4. We may safely conclude that ______.
A.the author belongs to the anti-railway group
B.the author belongs to the for-railway group
C.the author speaks highly of the railway
D.the author may never take train because of its potential dangers
A B C D
A
[解析] 逻辑推断题。作者在原文首段提到the more we are together—the more chances there are of war,越多人在一起,war的机会就越多。接着在第二段通过列举doctors的例子,提出火车的种种不好之处,然后在第三段首句提到The actual rolling-stock was anything but comfortable,除了comfortable没什么优点,这都说明作者是anti-railway group的一员。故答案为A。
Passage 4 Many of you young persons out there are seriously thinking about going to college. (That is, of course, a lie. The only things you young persons think seriously about are loud music and sex. Trust me: these are closely related to college). College is basically a bunch of rooms where you sit for roughly two thousand hours and try to memorize things. The two thousand hours are spread out over four years; you spend the rest of the time sleeping and trying to get dates. Basically, you learn two kinds of things in college: Things you need to know later in life (two hours). These include how to make collect telephone calls and get beer and crepe-paper stains out of your pajamas. Things you will not need to know in later life (1,998 hours). These are the things you learn in classes whose names end in -ology, -osophy, -istry, -ics, and so on. The idea is you memorize these things, then write them down in little exam books, then forget them. If you fail to forget them, you become a professor and have to stay in college for the rest of your life. It's very difficult to forget everything. For example, when I was in college, I had to memorize—don't ask me why—the names of the metaphysical poets other than John Donne. I have managed to forget one of them, but I still remember that the other two were named Vaughan and Crashaw. Sometimes, when I'm trying to remember something important, like whether my wife told me to get tuna packed in oil or tuna packed in water, Vaughan and Crashaw just pop up in my mind, right there in the supermarket. It's a terrible waste of brain cells. After you've been in college for a year or so, you're supposed to choose a major, which is the subject you intend to memorize and forget the most things about. Here is a very important piece of advice: be sure to choose a major that does not involve Known Facts and Right Answers. This means that you must not major in mathematics, physics, biology or chemistry, because these subjects involve actual facts. If, for example, you major in mathematics, you're going to wander into class one day and the professor will say: "Define the cosine integer of the quadrant of the rhomboid binary axis, and extrapolate your result to five significant vertices." If you don't come up with exactly the answer the professor has in mind, you fail. The same is true of chemistry: if you write in your exam book that carbon and hydrogen combine to form oak, your professor will flunk you. He wants you to come up with the same answer he and all the other chemists have agreed on. Scientists are extremely snotty about this.
1. According to the author, what are closely related to college?
A.Thinking and study.
B.Shopping and music.
C.Music and sex.
D.Sleeping and thinking.
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干关键词closely related to college定位到原文首段括号内。原文中的music and sex与选项C重现。故答案为C。
2. According to the author, what should the college students learn two kinds of thing?
A.How to memorize things and to get dates.
B.The things you will need and not need to know in later life.
C.How to forget everything and to write poets.
D.How to enhance memory and study ability.
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干关键词learn two kinds of things定位到原文第二段。接着第三段和第四段分别阐述了Things you need to know later in life (two hours)和Things you will not need to know in later life (1,998 hours)。选项B是对这两句的概括。故答案为B。
3. When should the college students choose a major?
A.The moment they go to college.
B.After they have been in college for nearly two years.
C.After they have been in college for a year or so.
D.When they become a senior.
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节事实题。根据题干关键词choose a major为原文第七段首句重现,对答案进行定位。题干中的should与原文第七段首句中的are supposed to对应,故原句前半部分的after引导的时间状语即为答案,与选项C为重现。故答案为C。
4. The word "flunk" in the last paragraph means ______.
A.float
B.fail
C.ridicule
D.dupe
A B C D
B
[解析] 语义题。根据题干信息定位到原文尾段的第四句。注意本句中的主语The same,这说明上一句所说的情况与本句类似。对比两句的内容,尾段第三句的don't...exactly the answer the professor has in mind与第四句中的you write...carbon and hydrogen...to form oak情况类似,所以第三句中的fail应该与第四句中的flunk意思相近。故答案为B。
5. What is the best title for the passage?
A.The Myth of College
B.What Can You Learn in College
C.How to Enjoy Your College Life
D.The Importance of College
A B C D
A
[解析] 主旨题。阅读全文,考生可以发现文章介绍了college里密不可分的事loud music and sex,大学里可以learn two kinds of things以及大学如何选专业。选项B和C是本文主题的一部分,而选项D并没有提及,本文就是向没有进入大学的人解开神秘的面纱。故答案为A(大学的传说)。
Part Ⅳ Use of Language
The Psychology of Warranties Protection Racket 保单心理学保护之诈
If extended guarantees are overpriced, why are they so popular? CUSTOMERS tend to agonise over the relative merits of different models of electronic goods such as digital cameras or plasma televisions. But when they get to the till, many spend freely on something they barely think about at all: an extended warranty, which is often more profitable to the retailer than the device it covers. Shoppers typically pay 10%-50% of the cost of a product to insure it beyond the term covered by the manufacturer's guarantee. 1 Yet products rarely break within the period covered, and repairs tend to cost no more than the warranty itself. 2 So why, asks a paper published in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research, so many consumers still buy extended warranties? The authors—Tao Chen of the University of Maryland, Ajay Kalra of Rice University and Baohong Sun of Carnegie Mellon University—examined purchase data from a big electronics retailer for over 600 households from November 2003 to October 2004. 3 If a customer is about to buy something fun (ie, a plasma television rather than a vacuum cleaner), he will be more inclined to splash out on extra insurance. This is because consumers value "hedonic" items over utilitarian ones, regardless of the actual price tag. 4 The study also found that poorer consumers are more likely to buy "potentially unnecessary and overpriced insurance", because they are more worried about the expense of replacing a product if it breaks. 5 But although most policies go unused, he admits that the emotional tranquillity that comes with buying a new warranty is not in itself without value, even if "rationally, it doesn't make sense". A. This is especially true if the item is on sale, as finding an unexpected bargain leaves buyers feeling flush and pleased. B. The terms of these deals vary (and there is often a great deal of fine print), but they usually promise to repair or replace a faulty device for between one and four years. C. Only in the present century has one species man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world. D. This is because consumers are more likely to buy "hedonic" items. E. They concluded that the decision to buy a warranty had a great deal to do with a shopper's mood. F. The popularity of warranties should logically depend on the likelihood of a product's failure, says Mr. Kalra. G. That makes warranties amazingly profitable: they generate over $16 billion annually for American retailers, according to Warranty Week, a trade journal.
1.
B
[解析] 空前提到the term,在这里是“条款,期限”的意思,选项B的The terms正好与之照应,而且空后提到产品在保期内不大会损坏,并且维修的费用也不会超过保证书承诺的额度的信息,products,repairs分别与选项B里的these deals,repair or replace a faulty device吻合,故答案为B。句意为保险协议的条款各有不同(经常是一大堆难懂的条文),但通常都会承诺在1到4年内可以维修或更换出毛病的产品。
2.
G
[解析] 空格处是本段的结尾句,一般是点题的作用。从文章的标题The psychology of warranties(保单心理学),Protection racket(保护之诈)来看。空格要填入的内容应与此有关,是这种情况导致的结果。备选答案中,选项G中的makes一次说明后面的内容是要产生的结果,warranties amazingly profitable与前文对应,故答案为G。
3.
E
[解析] 空格所在的段落开头提出:为什么那么多顾客依然要多买保单呢? 接着提到Tao Chen和Baohong Sun对此作了调查,按照逻辑,接下来就应该是调查的结果或结论。选项E中的concluded说明这是一个结论,选项后面的内容buy a warranty与本段首句中的buy extended warranties呼应,而had a great deal to do with a shopper's mood是对首句why的回答。故答案为E。
4.
A
[解析] 空格前提到随意在额外的保险上花钱的顾客们是重视“享乐的”,不顾真实的价格标签这一情况。选项A中的This is especially true正好与之顺承。故答案为A。
1. Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the points where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all, people will have to accept more "unnatural food".
2. According to a growing body of experience, the chemicals that make up many plastics may migrate out of the material and into foods and fluids, ending up in your body.
根据逐渐增加的亲身经验,许多塑料制品的化学成分会移动到食物或流体上去,最终进入你的体内。
3. Consider the survey evidence, which shows that while most Americans want to have both science and religion in their lives, they'll only go so far to preserve the former at the expense of the latter.
4. The bodies who play major professional sports have changed dramatically over the years, and managers have been more than willing to adjust team uniforms to fit the growing numbers of bigger, longer frames.
5. This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high-energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.
1. As the society develops, interpersonal relationships are getting more and more indifferent. Please make comment on the phenomena.
It seems very ridiculous that people living so near don't know each other for such a long time. However, the condition is performed everywhere. It is the exact reflection of interpersonal relationships in the modern world where most people live in apartments. They close their doors and never go out as soon as they get home from work. If they live alone, they will kill their time by watching TV or reading magazines. They don't have any connections even with their closest neighbors, who seem no different from people they meet every day in the street. This phenomenon is neither good to us, nor to our society. People will feel lonely and become more and more indifferent so that interpersonal relationships are not harmonious. Interpersonal communication is very important to us. Firstly, it is essential for our physical well-being. Lack of communication shows a wide range of medical hazards. Socially isolated people are found to be two or three times more likely to suffer from poor health than those with strong social ties. Steady interpersonal communication contributes to the longevity of our lives. Secondly, interpersonal communication enables us to have a sense of our identity. Deprived of communication with others, we can hardly have a clear idea of identity. Our sense of identity comes from the way we interact with other people. We decide what we are like based on how others react to us. In our life we need to feel a sense of belonging to some personal relationship. We need to influence others and feel some sense of power over our world, and to care for others and know that they care for us, thus to have a sense of affection and friendship. Lastly, interpersonal communication is the means of important information in every respect, which makes us well informed and helps us to grow. To sum up, interpersonal communication is just as necessary as water and air to us in our work and life. We should pay great attention to the amount of interpersonal communication as well as to the ways of doing it. Proper and skillful interpersonal communication will satisfy our physical needs, psychological needs, social needs and practical needs.