2010年四川大学考博英语真题

I．Reading Comprehension (30%; one mark each)

Directions: Read the following six passages. Answer the questions below each passage by choosing A., B., C., or D.. Write your answers on the Answer Sheet.

Passage One

In the case of mobile phones, change is everything. Recent research indicates that the mobile phone is changing not only our culture, but our very bodies as well.

First, let's talk about culture. The difference between the mobile phone and its parent, the Fixed-line phone,is that a mobile number corresponds to a person,while a landline goes to a place. If you call my mobile, you get me. If you call my fixed—line phone, you get whoever answers it.

This has several implications. The most common one, however, and perhaps the thing that has changed our culture forever, is the “meeting” influence. People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet. Twenty years ago,a Friday night would need to be arranged in advance. You needed enough time to allow everyone to get from their place of work to the first meeting place. Now, however, a night out can be arranged on the run. It is no longer “see you there at 8”, but “text me around 8 and we'll see where we all are”.

Texting changes people as well. In their paper, Insights into the Social and Psychological Effects of SMS Text Messaging, two British researchers distinguished between two types of mobile phone users: the “talkers” and the “texters”—those who prefer voice to text messages and those who prefer text to voice.

They found that the mobile phone's individuality and privacy gave texters the ability to express a whole new outer personality. Texters were likely to report that their family would be surprised if they were to read their texts. This suggests that texting allowed texters to present a self-image that differed from the one familiar to those who knew them well.

Another scientist wrote of the changes that mobiles have brought to body language. There are two kinds that people use while speaking on the phone. There is the “speakeasy”: the head is held high,in a self-confident way, chatting away. And there is the “spacemaker” :these people focus on themselves and keep out other people.

Who can blame them? Phone meetings get cancelled or reformed and camera-phones intrude on people's privacy. So, it is understandable if your mobile makes you nervous. Perhaps you needn't worry so much. After all, it is good to talk.

1. When people plan to meet nowadays, they .

A.arrange the meeting place beforehand

B.postpone fixing the place till the last minute

C.seldom care about when and where to meet

D.still love to work out detailed meeting plans

2.According to the two British researcher, social and psychological effects are mostly likely to be seen on .

A.talkers B. the “speakeasy” C. the “spacemaker” D. texters

3.We can infer from this passage that the texts are .

A.quite revealing     B. well written    C. unacceptable by others    D. shocking to others

4.According to this passage, who is afraid of being heard while talking on the mobile?

A.Talkers B. The “speakeasy” C. The “spacemaker” D. Texters

5.An appropriate title for the passage might be, .

A.the SMS Effect

B.cultural Implications of Mobile Phone Use

C.changes in the Use of the Mobile

D.body Language and the mobile Phone

Passage Two

Humanity uses a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the world's population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis.

But that doesn’t have to be the outcome. Water shortages do not have to trouble the world, if we start valuing water more than we have in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer afford to consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as much as we like in any way we want.

Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs.

Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions and pumping it to nearby cropland.

No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local regional, and national agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate water policy.

6.What is the real cause of the potential water crisis?

A.Only half of the world's water can be used.

B.The world population is increasing faster and faster.

C.Half of the world's water resources have been serioilsly polluted.

D.Humanity has not placed sufficient value on water resources.

7.As indicated in the passage, the water problem .

A.is already serious in certain parts of the world

B.has been exaggerated by some experts in the field

C.poses a challenge to the technology of building reservoirs

D.is underestimated by government organizations at different levels

8.According to the author, the water price should .

A.be reduced to the minimum

B.stimulate domestic demand

C.correspond to its real value

D.take into account the occurrences of droughts

9.The author says that in some hot and dry areas it is advisable to .

A.build big lakes to store water

B.construct big pumping stations

C.build small and cheap irrigation systems

D.channel water from nearby rivers to cropland

10.In order to raise the efficiency of the water supply, measures should be taken to .

A.guarantee full protection of the environment

B.centralize the management of water resources

C.increase the sense of responsibility of agencies at all levels

D.encourage local and regional of control water resources

Passage Three

In some countries where racial prejudice is acute, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned.

There are countries where the white man imposes his rule by brute force, and there are countries where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both side who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence—as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other, what is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all.

We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more acute. The sheer horror, the bloodshed and the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us.

The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and harder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. But enforcement! If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the slums and ghettos,at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is undermined by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social program. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around US. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law.

Before we can even begin to contemplate peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other's problems. And to do this,we must learn about them： it is a simple exercise in communication,in exchanging information. “Talk,talk, talk,the advocates of violence say,” all you ever do is talk,and we are none the wiser.

“It's rather like the story of the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk,he was none the wiser”. Possible? My lord,the barrister replied, “none the wiser, but surely far better informed.” Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom; the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve.

11.Which can best replace the word “acute” (Line 1, Para. 1 ) mean       .

A.intelligent and quick to notice and understand things

B.having a sharp end or point

C.very sensitive and well developed

D.serious or severe

12.What does the author intend to convey in the first paragraph?

A.Violence leads to nowhere but making things worse.

B.Violence is the root of evils.

C.Violence is what humankind resents most.

D.Violence can be eliminated sooner or later.

13.What does the author think of our energy and strength?

A.They are wasted and might be well directed and achieve more meaningful results.

B.They are already constructive and well directed and will fulfill a stable society.

C.They will work only with coordinated efforts.

D.They will work like magic on the solution of racial prejudice.

14.What do truly reasonable men advocate to solve the problem of race prejudice?

A.Law enforcement. B. Knowledge.   C. Nonviolence. D. Eliminating violence mess.

15.According to the author, what's the prerequisite of peaceful co-existence between the races?

A.Mutual understanding.

B.Mutually cooperative.

C.Learning from each other.

D.Bridging the misunderstanding gap between races' customs.

Passage Four

Web browsers! Interactive software! There's a lot of new technology talk going on in public relations these days, and it's coming from a variety of sources, clients,fearful that they are missing out on some mysterious “next wave” ,demand some kind of whiz-bang（尖端）demonstration of technology from agencies. Industry publications continuously tout the latest and greatest electronic innovations. College kids enter the marketplace aimed with computer literacy completely alien to many veteran practitioners. And in some cases, members of the media demand that information be packaged to accommodate their particular technological preferences.

Is technology now the tail wagging dog? The answer, unequivocally, is no. Technology remains what it has always been, a tool used by professionals to help them do their jobs. All of this millennium talk has produced an unnecessary level of anxiety about the necessity of technological innovation一the idea that you are light-years behind unless you are light-years ahead. Relax! The foundations of good public relations remain the same: anticipating and meeting the needs of clients and the media, and providing informed and useful counsel. Solid research, strong writing skills, creativity, and an appreciation for the values of the media are the backbone of the profession, regardless of how information is packaged.

Even if the speed of information transmission is increasing,high tech isn't for everyone. All clients don't need individual web pages and summaries of chat room activity. When considering applications of new technologies, consider the audiences for your client. Are they comfortable with technology? Do they have access to the distribution systems you are considering? Do they have the skills and knowledge to use these systems? Do they navigate the web, use CD-ROM or even own a VCR?

Consider the image of the company itself. The delivery system is part of the message and contributes to the overall image, so the practitioner should consider how that system affects the client, the product, and the audiences.

Yes,a web page can be a cost-efficient communication tool when you consider the minimal media cost. But once it's up and running,you've got to keep it fresh, and that means a continual allocation of time and specialized resources. In the hyper-speed model of communications, nothing is older than information that is both outdated and on-line. And to information consumers, your web page will cease to be a source if it isn't kept current. In the last presidential election, more than one candidate had problems with their personal web pages because web masters were not kept up to date on changes in campaign strategy and messages. The gap between what the candidate was saying and what the web page was showing became a story in itself. If you're going to have a presence on the Internet ,you have to budget for regular maintenance. Otherwise, you are putting a sign up that says “too cheap to be relevant”.

16.The recent enthusiasm for new technology is partly brought on by       .

A.electronic innovations

B.the development of new interactive software

C.consumers' fear of being left behind the tide

D.the popularization of the Web

17.What does the writer think of the recent new technology talk going on in public relations?

A.It indicates a sudden realization of an oncoming radical change in public relations.

B.It reminds us of the fact that technology remains what it has always been.

C.It is superficial and does not mean that we are ushering in a new age.

D.It is a sure sign that we are missing out on some mysterious “next wave”.

18.The “tail wagging dog”(Para. 2) most probably means       .

A.the overwhelmingly predominant thing

B.the dog that tucks its tail between its legs

C.the thing to be tamed urgently

D.the problem to be tackled at once

19.According to the author, the role of new technology in public relations       .

A.can't be too emphasized in today's world

B.is unnecessarily exaggerated

C.is not fully recognized yet

D.is more important to the company than to the client

20.It is implied in the last paragraph that a web page       .

A.can usually provide the viewers with the latest information

B.is not a good idea unless its information is updated constantly

C.may take more money to be set up and kept running than imagined

D.can find extensive applications in presidential elections

Passage Five

The potential of computers for increasing the control of organizations or society over their members and for invading the privacy of those members has caused considerable concern.

The privacy issue has been raised most insistently with respect to the creation and maintenance of data files that assemble information about persons from a multitude of sources.

Files of this kind would be Kighly valuable for many kinds of economic and social research, but they are bought at too high a price if they endanger human freedom or seriously enhance their opportunities of blackmailers. While such dangers should not be ignored, it should be noted that the lack of comprehensive data files has never before been the limiting barrier to the suppression of human freedom.

Making the computer the villain in the invasion of privacy or encroachment on civil liberties simply divers attention from the real dangers. Computer data bank files can and must be given the highest degree of protection form abuse. But we must be careful also, that we do not employ such crude methods of protection as to deprive our society of important data it needs to understand its down social processes and to analyze its problems.

Perhaps the most important question of all about the computer is what it has come and will do to man, view of himself and his place in the universe. The most heated attacks on the computer are not focused on its possible economic effects, its presumed destruction of job satisfaction, or its threat to privacy and liberty，but upon the claim that it causes people to be viewed, and to view themselves, as machines.

What the computer and progress in artificial intelligence challenge are an ethic that rests on man's apartness from the rest of nature. An alternative ethic, of course, views man as a part of nature, governed by nature law, subject to the forces of gravity and the demands of his body. The debate about artificial intelligence and the simulation of man's thinking is,in considerable part,a confrontation of these two views of man's place in the universe.

21.Why is it important to prevent the abuse of computer data bands?

A.To protect the right of the individual.

B.To maintain discipline in society.

C.To encourage economic and social research.

D.To collect wide-ranging information.

22.Which of the following is not true about date files?

A.It may cause invasion of privacy.

B.Dangers caused by it should be paid much attention to.

C.Computer data files should be protected from abuse.

D.It is reasonable to cancel data files in order to protect privacy.

23.Too much caution in the use of computers will______..

A.prevent the solution of economic problems

B.cause more suppression of human freedom

C.lead to clumsy methods of protection

D.interfere with our study of society

24.What lessons can be learned from the past in this decade?

A.Private issue has always been associated with data collection.

B.Attacks on freedom are new.

C.The accumulation of data encourages oppression.

D.Privacy has been a neglected issue.

25.The arrival of the computer has made man______.

A.have more difficulty understanding himself

B.think more like a machine

C.look at himself in a different way

D. gain less satisfaction from his work

Passage Six

Among the many ways in which people communicate through speech, public speaking has probably received more study and attracted more attention than any other. Politicians campaigning for public office，salespeople presenting products, and preachers delivering sermons all depend upon this form of public communication. Even people who do not make speaking a part of their daily work are often asked to make public speeches: students at graduation,for instance, or members of churches, clubs, or other organizations. Nearly everyone speaks in public at some time or other, and those who perform the task well often become leaders.

There are many reasons for speaking in public. A public speaker may hope to teach an audience about new ideas,for example, or provide information about some topic. Creating a good feeling or entertaining an audience may be another purpose. Public speakers, however, most often seek to persuade an audience to adopt new opinions, to take certain actions，or to see the world in a new way.

Public speakers usually know well in advance when they are scheduled to make an address.

Consequently they are able to prepare their message before they deliver it. Sometimes, though, speakers must deliver the message unprepared, or off the cuff, such as when they are asked to offer a toast at a wedding reception or to participate in a televised debate or interview.

When they do not have to speak unpreparedly, most speakers write their own speeches.

Politicians and business executives sometimes employ professional writers who prepare their for them. These professional writers may work alone or in small teams. Although the speaker may have some input into the contents of the speech, the writers sometimes have a great influence over the opinions expressed by their employers. Regardless of how a speech is prepared, the person who delivers it is given credit for its effect upon its hearers.

26.Public speaking is well known to the average people because       .

A.most of them have been trained as public speakers

B.most of them have been audience of such activities

C.most of them have to do it when they study at college

D.The passage does not mention the reason

27.Which of the following is rarely the purpose of public speaking?

A.To influence people's ideas and behavior.

B.To enjoy the satisfaction from one's own speech.

C.To persuade the audience to accept an idea.

D.To promote public interest.

28.In paragraph 4,the expression “deliver the message off the cuff ” means        .

A. speak at a large reception            B. speak on television

C. speak according to the schedule        D. speak without preparation

29.Often the speech prepared by a professional writer for a boss       .

A. is very professional and tactful             B. expresses the writer’s idea of the matter

C. expresses the boss’s idea of the matter       D. expresses the ideas of both

30.No matter who writes a speech,the audience       .

A.believe it expressed the speaker's idea

B.know very well who the speaker is

C.know whose idea the speech really expresses

D.do not believe what the speaker says

II. Vocabulary (10%; 0.5 mark each)

31.       the new fund-raising plan is approved，we will soon have more money to build the gymnasium.

A. While B. Given C. Unless D. Even if

32.The qualities of my home town,        on me as a boy, had a profound effect on the philosophy that directed my career.

A. having impressed B. impressed  C. impressing D. to be impressed

33.I intend to move that our committee       Jim as chairman,and I hope that you will second my motion.

A. will appoint B. appoints C. appoint D. appointed

34.Our country had made great efforts to promote the family-planning policy, but       the birth rate is getting higher and higher.

A. as it were B. as it is C. as it was D. as is it

35. He caused a false account of the event       in the newspaper.

A. had published B. to be published C. being published D. to have published

36. Neptune is about thirty times as far from the Sun       .

A. is the Earth B. the Earth is C. is as the Earth D. as is the Earth

37. Talking about that is useless,        is familiar to me.

A. which fact   B. the fact of which    C. its fact   D. that fact

38.According to the law which he later produced,everything in the universe attracts everything else towards      .

A. it    B. everything C. itself D. each

39.Thomas Edison,       , seemed to be awkward in his childhood.

A. a great inventor B. was a great inventor

C. a great inventor who D. who as a great inventor

40.The commander said to his troops that under no circumstances       to step across the border.

A. the enemy should be allowed B. should the enemy be allowed

C. should allow the enemy D. the enemy should allow

41.George Washington       .

A.always will and always has been an American hero

B.always has and always will an American hero

C.always has and always will be an American hero

D.always has been and always will be an American hero

42.To be frank,I’d sooner you        a good review yesterday for the coming test.

A. hadn't done   B. didn't do    C. couldn't have done D. wouldn't do

43.These goods are sold at reduced prices,       .

A.the defects are pointed out to the customers

B.the defects pointed out to the customers

C.the defects have been pointed out to the customers

D.the defects being pointed out to the customers

44.There is       what will happen to them.

A. no telling B. not telling  C. not to tell D. not to be told

45.     touching in O'Henry's stories is the gallantry with which ordinary people struggle to maintain their dignity.

A. Most is B. It mostly is C. Is it most D. What is most

46.On his wanderings he's       Spanish, Italian,French and a smattering of Russian.

A. woken up B. taken to C. picked up D. come to

47.His eighth book came out earlier this year and was a(n)       bestseller.

A. swift B. instant C. timely D. punctual

48.The ideological make-up of the unions is now       different from what it had been.

A. violently B. severely C. extremely D. radically

49.There was snow everywhere,so that the shape of things was difficult to       .

A. identify B. authorize   C. justify   D. rationalize

50.He said it would not be all that difficult to reach a peaceful conclusion to the       .

A. paradox B. dilemma   C. prejudice   D. conflict

III. Cloze (10%; 0.5 mark each)

You probably know that it's better for both you and the environment if you buy an organic tomato instead of one that7 s been doused in pesticides, but there are lots of other things to consider before venturing down the aisle of your local supermarket (or farmer's market).

The explosion in  51  produce and other foods during the last few years has been an extremely  52  development in the food industry. However,  53  still exists about exactly what the organic  54  means.

Do you know the difference between a cereal that's “organic, 100% organic” ,and “made with organic  55  ? The USDA has clearly defined standards that  56  which of those labels can legally go on your raisin bran. You can learn more about them www.usda.gov.

Organic foods are great, but the jury is still very much out  57  another new development in the food world: genetically  58  organisms ( GMOs) . No one knows for certain the short and  59  effects of these products of gene engineering,  60  there's a chance they could lead to the  61  creation of “superweeds” or  62  with natural plant stocks, for more information on GMOs, we recommend visiting www.saynotogmos.org.

63  you’re shopping, don’t forget to consider the companies behind the  64  names. One cereal company might be an environmental champion,   65  the other manufactures its corn flakes via  66  environmental practices. An easy way to compare two companies is to use  67  such as www.responsibleshopper.com. They present both the good and bad sides of every company they  68  ,and they grade hundreds of companies on social,ethical and environmental issues.

Remember:  69  conscious shopping is a powerful tool for effecting change. You can make a difference every time you fill your   70  cart.

51. A. green B. organic C. healthy   D. optional

52. A. positive B. negative C. active   D. passive

53. A. controversy B. contribution C. conversion   D. confusion

54. A. label B. mark C. word   D. food

55. A. components   B. genes   C. ingredients   D. compositions

56. A. determine   B. illustrate   C. recommend   D. demonstrate

57. A. in   B. to   C. for   D. on

58. A. moved   B. modified   C. modeled   D. motivated

59. A. long-run   B. long-term   C. long-day   D. long-distance

60. A. while   B. and   C. but   D. or

61. A. unconditional   B. unexceptional   C. unintentional   D. uncontroversial

62. A. interfere   B. intervene   C. interact   D. intrude

63. A. Anytime   B. Any time   C. Sometime   D. Some time

64. A. brand   B. code   C. product   D. family

65. A. when   B. while   C. as   D. because

66. A. constructive   B. destructive   C. instructive   D. obstructive

67. A. sights   B. addresses   C. sites   D. webs

68. A. profit   B. profile   C. propose   D. protect

69. A. socially   B. conditionally   C. morally   D. environmentally

70. A. nursery   B. grocery   C. bakery   D. stationery

IV. Translation (30%)

Translate the following sentences into English.

71. 成都是一座来了就不想走的城市。

72. 莫贪意外之财，莫饮过量之酒。

73. 老弱病残孕专座。

74. 作为求职者，过于随性的穿着会严重影响你被录用的几率。

75. 调查表明，很少有人能够完全献身于自己的事业。

V. Writing (20%)

Directions: “Go West, Young Man” was a popular saying of the 19 century in the United States, referring to opportunities on the frontier. Today in China, there is also a great need for patriotic and energetic young people to go west and make contributions to the western region development. Write on the Answer Sheet an essay of about 150 words to discuss the significance of the development of West China. The suggested title is Go West, Revitalize Our Nation.

考博英语自学神器：四川大学-希赛学习包

版权辅导教材+推荐自学计划+在线智能题库+知识点练习+入群共同学习+1-2年服务期

考博英语培训课程：四川大学-希赛课程

结合历年考试真题，辅以相关理论知识，以轻松、简化的语言教授，让学生迅速掌握知识点及做题技巧。

小编推荐：

历年四川大学考博英语真题汇总

>>点击注册会员，享更多英语考试相关资料

素材来源：网络