英语阅读(二)2018年4月真题试题（00596）

英语阅读(二)2018年4月真题试题及答案解析（00596）

英语阅读(二)2018年4月真题试题及答案解析（00596），本试卷为英语自考专业，共100分。

一、单项选择题

Reading Comprehension.(40 points, 2 points for each)Directions: In this part of the test, there are five passages. Following each passage, there are five questions with four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and then write the corresponding letter on your Answer Sheet.

1.Passage OneThe ups and downs of life may seem to have no predictable plan. But scientists now know there are very definite life patterns that almost all people share. Today, when we live 20 years longer than our great grandparents, and when women mysteriously outlive men by seven years, it is clearer than ever that the “game of life" is really a game of trade-offs. As we age, we trade strength for ingenuity, speed for thoroughness, and passion for reason. These exchanges may not always seem fair, but at every age, there are some advantages. So it is reassuring to note that even if you've passed some of your“prime”, you sill have other prime years to experience in the future. Certain important primes seem to peak later in time. 
WHEN ARE YOU HBALTHIEST? For men, from 15 to 25; for women 15 to 30. “A man is in his best shape in the decade before age 25," says New York internist Dr. Donald Tomkins.“His muscles are firmest, his resistance to colds and infections is highest, and his body is most efficient in utilizing nutrients." Women, for reasons scientists do not understand, get a five-year bonus. Peak health begins to decline when the body process called anabolism (cell growth) is overtaken by the opposite process, catabolism (cell death).“Cells have been dying since birth," says Tomkins, “but in our late 20's, they start dying faster than they are replaced. " Also, muscle is replaced with fat. Women also get an additional bonus of good health later in life. The figures of National Institute of Health show that the onset of such“old age”diseases as arthritis, rheumatism, and heart ailments denies the generally greater fitness of women: Life expectancy for men is now 68.3; for women 75.9. U.S. aging authority Willim Kannel says, “Older women with low blood pressure are practically important." However, psychologists believe that by entering the competitive job market in increasing numbers, women may eventually give up their statistical advantage. WHEN ARE Y0U MOST CREATIVE? Generally between 30 to 39, but the peak [varies with] different professions. Mozart wrote a symphony and four sonatas by age eight, and Mendelssohn composed his best- known work, A Midsummer Night s Dream, at 17. Psychologist H. C. Lehman presents the years for peak work in many fields. Though the peak in most fields comes early- -most Nobel Prize winners did their top research in their late 20's and 30's- -creative people continue to produce quality work throughout their lives.  Questions 1-5 are based on Passage One.The first sentence in paragraph 1 means that _____.

A.people may have to go through the hard times
B.the ups and downs of life cannot be avoided
C.life patterns may not be told in advance
D.people may not have a happy life

2.We can learn from paragraph 3 that _____.

A.a woman is in her best shape in her late 20"s
B.a man is in his best shape in the decade before age 30
C.the peak health period for men is 5 years shorter than that for women
D.the peak health period for women is 10 years longer than that for men

3.We can learn from paragraph 4 that _____.

A.women are as suitable for the competitive job market as men
B.career women may lose their advantages in life expectancy
C.career women usually have lower blood pressure
D.women are fit for any kind of jobs i

4.The underlined part in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _____.

A.is different with
B.adapts to
C.is opposite to
D.goes with.

5.Which statement is true according to paragraph 6?

A.Creative people usually produce their peak work at the age of 30 to 39 .
B.Most Nobel Prize winners reach their peak before their 30"s
C.Creative people produce work of high quality all their lives.
D.People do not produce fine work in their old age

6.Passage TwoThe age of gilded youth is over. Today's under-thirties are the first generation for a century who can expect a lower living standard than their parents. Research into the lifestyle and prospects of people born since 1970 shows that they are likely to face a lifetime of longer working hours, lower job security and higher taxes than the previous generation. When they leave work late in the evening they will be more likely to return to a small rented flat than to a house of their own. When, eventually, they retire it will be on pensions far lower in real terms than those of their immediate forebears  The findings are revealed in a study of the way the aging of Britain's population is affecting different generations. Anthea Tinker, professor of social gerontology at King's College London, who carried out much of the work, said the growth of the proportion of people over 50 had reversed the traditional flow of wealth from older to younger generations. "Today's older middle-aged and elderly are becoming the new winners," she said.  "They made relatively small contributions in tax but now make relatively big claims on the welfare system. Generations born in the last three to four decades face the prospect of handing over more than a third of their lifetime's earnings to care for them." The surging number of older people, many living alone, has also increased demand for property and pushed up house prices. While previous generations found it easy to raise a mortgage, today's under-thirties have to live with their parents or rent. If they can afford to buy a home it is more likely to be a flat than a house. Laura Lenox-Conyngham, 28, grew up in a large house and her mother did not need to work. Unlike her wealthy parents, she graduated with student and postgraduate loan debts of f 13,000. She now earns about ￡20,000 a year, preparing food to be photographed for magazines. Her home is a one-bedroom flat in central London and she sublets the lounge sofa-bed to her brother. “My father took pity and paid of my student debts," she said. “But I still have no pension and no chance of buying a property for at least a couple of years—and then it will be something small in a bad area. My only hope is the traditional one of meeting a rich man." Tinker's research reveals Lenox-Conyngham is representative of many young professionals, especially in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.  Questions 6-10 are based on Passage Two.Anthea Tinker's research reveals that _____.

A.nowadays wealth flows from younger generations to the older ones
B.nowadays wealth flows from older generations to the younger ones
C.the traditional way of accumulating wealth has been reversed
D.long-established traditions have already been reversed

7.The new winners in wealth are the older middle-aged and elderly because _____.

A.they enjoy more privileges in the present society
B.they contribute less tax but claim more welfare
C.they know how to save up more money
D.they can make money easily

8.Which factor has pushed up the house prices?

A.The higher rent for a flat.
B.The increasing demand for bigger houses.
C.The easier application for a mortgage loan.
D.The increasing number of older people living alone.

9.Laura Lenox-Conyngham makes her living by _____.

A.marrying a rich man
B.taking photographs for magazines
C.subletting the lounge sofa-bed to her brother
D.preparing food for photographs for magazines

10.We can conclude from the passage that in Britain, _____.

A.Laura is a representive of people of all ages
B.life can get harder for people who are under-thirties
C.the older generations are leading a miserable life
D.the younger generations still enjoy high living standards

11.Passage ThreeDisillusionment with government and politics has contributed to the public's fascination with the media's increased interest in the character issue. The public's growing concern with character may be considered instinctual. Too often, in recent past, voters have reached out to candidates with neatly packaged virtues- characteristics they often fail to have in reality. There is another reason why the American people have“encouraged”the media to explore the politicians as never before. Political parties have seldom been more interchangeable. Ideological differences have become burred. And the nation's social and economic problems are too complicated to submit to clever political slogans. Consequently, most of the candidates now play it safe on the issues, relying on their rhetorical skills to produce the greatest number of sound bites that say as little as possible. The character issue becomes a way to sell candidates and to set them apart from each other. The issue of the media and character raises a number of important questions. Has the media gone too far in attempting to define what character is and what role it should play in identifying the differences between political candidates? Are the print media and television really responding to the public's growing desire for a greater “need to know”their candidates or are they manufacturing everything, no matter how trivial, in hope of selling more newspapers or achieving higher rating points? Is the media being responsible in defining the role of character in a political campaign? The great amount of coverage and the intensifying competition among the news organizations have led to more reports about the candidates' personal and especially sexual lives, says political science professor Larry Sabato, author of Feeding Frenzy. As the bigger more important issues become increasingly more complicated, the media has begun to focus more and more attention on the trifles. Character no longer becomes a question of how a candidate may handle an international crisis or prioritize a domestic agenda but whether the candidate cheated on a college exam years ago or committed adultery. By [elevating] character as an important element in the presidential election, has the media lost sight of properly defining character and the role it should play in identifying the best candidate?  Questions 11-15 are based on Passage Three.The media are giving increasing attention to _____.

A.the character of the political candidates
B.the differences between political parties
C.social and economic problems
D.government and politics

12.The author thinks that the character issue _____.

A.should be strongly emphasized
B.can be a crucial factor in the presidential election
C.should not become involved in the presidential election
D.could be a good way to identify the political candidates

13.What led to more reports about the trifles about the political candidates?

A.The public"s growing desire to define the role of character.
B.The severe competition among the media outlets.
C.The differences between political candidates.
D.The sense of responsibility of the media.

14.The word“elevating" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to_____.

A.lifting
B.regarding
C.cultivating
D.evaluating

15.The main purpose of this passage is to _____.

A.comment on the positive role of the media in the presidential election
B.present the roles of the media and character in a political campaign
C.express the worry of the public about political campaigns
D.explain why the public has a growing interest in politics

16.Passage FourAs the first generations grow up in a wired world, teenagers hardly know a time when computers weren't around, and they leap at the chance to spend hours online, chatting with friends and searching the web for their interested topics. So what? But researchers nationwide are increasingly concerned that teenagers are becoming more isolated, less skillful at interpersonal relationships, and perhaps numb to the small-or-big cheating that is so much a part of the e-mail world. Researchers are asking just how the futures of teenagers are changed when so many of them are spending hours on the Internet each day, replacing face-to-face contact with computer contact. Teens, who used computers even just a few hours a week, showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation. These teens have fewer friends to hang around with, possibly because their computer time has replaced the hours they would have spent with others. They don't see anything strange in the fact that the computer screen occupies a central place in their social lives. They think school is stressful and busy. There's almost no time to just hang out. Talking online is just catch-up time. Many teens acknowledge there's an unreal quality to their cyberspace . communication, including their odd shorthand terms, such as POS (parent over shoulder) or LOL (laughing out loud). This code is considered as part of the exclusive shared language that teenagers love. When it comes to e-mail exchanges, teens also show a remarkable tolerance for each other’s excuses or tricks. Nor are they surprised when a mere acquaintance unloads a personal secret through e-mail. Nobody seems to expect the online world to be the same as the real world.Teens say they also appreciate the ability to edit what they say online, or take the time to think about a response. As cowardly as it may seem, some teens admit1 that asking someone for a date, or breaking up, can be easier in message form. But they insist there's no harm intended, and cyberspace has become just another medium, like the telephone, in the world of teenagers.   Questions 16-20 are based on Passage Four.Researchers are worrying about the futures of teenagers, because _____.

A.teens tend to keep away from people around them
B.teens are indifferent to face-to-face communication
C.teens don"t know about a life without computers around
D.teens are spending too much time on the Internet each day

17.Teens spend much time on the Internet, because _____.

A.they think school is too boring
B.they don"t see their social life strange
C.they have few friends to hang out with
D.they think computer contact is easier than face-to-face contact

18.Which of the following statements is true according to paragraph 4?

A.Cyberspace communication has an unreal quality.
B.The teens would not approve of excuses and tricks in emails.
C.Teenagers enjoy uploading their personal secrets through email.
D.The odd shorthand terms used online by teenagers carry no meaning.

19.Teens use cyberspace as another medium because _____.

A.they can get more chances to ask someone for a date
B.it takes less time when expressing ideas by messages
C.they no longer have to edit what they want to say online
D.it can bring them a lot of convenience in communication

20.Nowadays teenagers have become , as a consequence of spending long hours online.

A.socially active
B.more ambitious
C.socially awkward
D.more cowardly

Vocabulary.

(15 points, 1 point for each)Directions: Scan the following passage and find the words which have roughly the same meanings as those given below. The number in the brackets after each word definition refers to the number of paragraph in which the target word is. Write the word you choose on the Answer Sheet.

11.Not all kids are cut out for college, despite the expectations of their parents or teachers. And especially in the brave new world of the 21st century, not all kids need to go to college right after high school—or ever—to succeed says J Michael Farr, author of America's Top Jobs for People Without a Four-Year Degree. And chances are, you will need training after high school through some form of alternative career education. Only four of the fastest growing occupations in the United Sates require a four-year degree or more, says Unger, author of But What If I Don’t Want to Go to College? But many of the others—home health aides, building maintenance, teaching aides—require post-high-school training. Which vocational education and training you'll need- -and the cost depends upon the vocation you choose. Public community colleges offer some of the best vocational training, often specializing in areas such as the graphic arts, hotel and restaurant management, and building trades, according to Unger. Fulltime tuition averages $1,200 a year, although the range from state-to-state is $600 to $3,500. Vocational training at technical institutes will be costlier. Private junior colleges average $7,000 a year, according to Unger. Tuition for private-for profit trade schools that usually specialize in one field, such as hair-styling or auto mechanics, varies widely, and Unger warns students to be wary of unethical operators. Not just any vocational education or training will do. The trick is to find reputable, high-quality programs and to avoid con artists and dead end programs, advises Unger. Look for programs that are accredited, offer in-depth academic and vocational instruction, teach real skills for real jobs, provide hands-on work experience, help students in job-hunting, and are linked to potential employers. Too often, Unger argues, parents push their reluctant children to go to college. Many drop out.“We are forcing hundreds of thousands of kids to go to college and they clearly do not want to be there," he says. What about high school graduates who don't want college and don't know what to do next? Start by visiting your school guidance office or library to thumb through The Occupational Outlook Handbook published every two years by the U.S. Labor Department. It offers nuts and-bolts descriptions of jobs and the training required. Think about what interests you—sports, music, gardening, whatever—and what jobs let you pursue that interest, advises Unger. Visit people who do these jobs. Ask questions.21. in a special manner (Para.1)22. different from the one you have and can be used instead (Para.2)23. an academic qualification conferred by a college or university (Para.2)24. assistants (Para. 2)25. the particular occupation for which you are trained (Parra. 3)26. devoting to (Para. 3)27. the limits within which things change (Para.3)28. organizations established to promote art, science or education (Para.3)29. an effective way of doing something (Parra. 4)30. honorable (Para. 4)31. officially recognized (Para.4)32. prospective (Para. 4)33. unwilling (Para.5)34. statements about what something is like (Para. 6)35. go in search of (Para. 7)

三、Summarization.

(20 points, 2 points for each)Directions: In this section of the test, there are ten paragraphs. Each of the paragraphs is followed by an incomplete phrase or sentence which summarizes the main idea of the paragraph. Spell out the missing letters of the word on your Answer Sheet.

21.Paragraph OneFood marketing brings together the producer and the consumer. The marketing of even a single food product can be a complicated process involving many producers and companies. These businesses include not only chicken and vegetable processors but also the companies that transport the ingredients and those who print labels and manufacture cans.The c_____ of activities in food marketing.

22.Paragraph TwoAs leaders and professionals, we are called upon to be at our best all of the time. Not only do we need to maintain and improve personal performance, but we as project managers and program managers are frequently responsible for the performance of others. One challenge is how we manage many of our positive and negative feelings that inevitably come our way in the course of our professional endeavors.Leaders and professionals should know how to c____ their personal feelings.

23.Paragraph ThreeBoth Oxford and Cambridge regularly come top in any ranking of the world's best universities. The two universities began within a century of each other. Unlike most modern universities, both Oxford and Cambridge consist of a large number of colleges. Through the centuries, both universities have made huge contributions to British cultural life. They have produced great writers, world leaders and politicians.The g___ of Oxford and Cambridge.

24.Paragraph FourFrom childhood Bill Gates was intelligent and competitive. In school, he had excellent records in mathematics and science. It was a very important decision in Bill's life that his parents sent him to a private school, and it was there that he was introduced to a computer. Bill Gates and his friends formed the“Programmers Croup"in late 1968. In the next yer, they got their fist opportunity in Information Sciences.The g___ of Bill Gates.

25.Paragraph FiveDo you check your work emails when you' re on holiday? Do you call your colleagues to ask what s happening in the office even on a day of? When you see no signal on your mobile phone in a busy shopping centre or no wifi in the hotel by the beach, will you get anxious?Typical signs of a w___.

26.Paragraph SixThe single largest cause of sick leave in the UK is not the common cold or flu, but back pain. Back pain affects one in tree British adults, and is notoriously difficult to treat. Traditionally, doctors in the UK have advised back pain sufferers to do stretching exercises and take painkillers when necessary.But now a new solution: acupuncture has been officially B____ and its treatments.

27.Paragraph SevenDuring television's first 20 years, deaf people missed most of the fun. They could not hear what was being said and had to guess. Deaf people who watched television liked sports and action shows, but they were disappointed with other programs. If there was a lot of dialogue, even the most skilled lip-readers could only catch part of the talking.Early shows on TV f___ many deaf people.

28.Paragraph EightSummer is the ideal time for one of the great outdoor activities, hiking. It is : much more than just a great workout. You breathe in the fresh, clean air while the city life you have endured all week just fades away. When hiking in the deserts, you suddenly realize that life is precious and you will think deeply about your life.Hiking is a b __activity.

29.Paragraph NineIt is difficult to imagine what life would be like without memory. The meanings of thousands of everyday perceptions, the bases for the decisions we make, and the roots of our habits and skills are to be found in our past experiences, which are brought into the present by memory.The f____ of memory.

210.Paragraph TenMost commuters in Munich, Germany, spend hours stuck in traffic or trying squeeze into one of the overcrowded subway trains, every morning, but for 40-year-old Benjamin David, commuting is actually a relaxing experience. Every day, he jumps into the Isar River and swims two kilometers to his workplace in Kulturstrand.A different way to a____ heavy traffic

四、Translation.

(20 points, 4 points for each)Directions: In the following passage, there are five groups of underlined sentences. Read the passage carefully and translate these sentences into Chinese. Write the Chinese version on your Answer Sheet.

31.If you're making a presentation of any sort, begin preparing as far ahead of time as possible. Two days before your presentation is usually too late to go into the ring and come up with a winning idea. (46. Prepare yourself as well as your material, giving special attention to your voice. With energy and enthusiasm in your voice, the listeners say ahhh. tell me more. You read approval.) Like your voice, your appearance is a communication tool. For example, if you are animated, you are most likely to see animated listeners. You give the audience the message: I'm glad I'm here; I'm glad you're here. (47.Your approach can, in fact, be a powerful weapon for deflecting hostility—from an audience, an interviewer. an employer.A benevolent aspect says I understand and conveys good will and positive expectations. It works.) However, don't ever assume that an audience, an interviewer, your boss will be sympathetic. Always be prepared for a grilling. Think beforehand of the ten toughest questions you could get and be ready with your answers. And remember, when you're asked a hostile question, never show hostility to your questioner. If you do, you lose. Once you're prepared for a situation, you're 50 per cent of the way toward overcoming nervousness. (48. The other 50 per cent is the physical and mental control of nervousness: adjusting your attitude so you have confidence. and control of yourself and your audience.)  I was in the theater for many years and always went to work with terrible. stage fright---until I was in "The King and I". While waiting offstage one night, I saw Yul Brynner, the show's star, pushing in a lunging position against a wall. It looked as though he wanted to knock it down. "This helps me control my 1 nervousness," he explained.I tried it and, sure enough, freed myself from stage fright. Not only that, but pushing the wall seemed to give me a whole new kind of physical energy. (49.Later discovered that when you push against a wall you contract the muscles that I lie just below where your ribs begin to splay. I call this area the "vital triangle".) To understand how these muscles work, try this: Sit in a straight-backed chair and lean slightly forward.  (50. Put your palms together in front of you, your elbows pointing out the sides. your fingertips pointing upward, and push so that you feel pressure in the heels of your palms and under your arms.)  Say sssssss, like a hiss. As you're exhaling the "s", contract those muscles in the vital triangle as though you were rowing a boat, pulling the oars back and up. The vital triangle should tighten. Relax the muscles at the end of your exhalation, then inhale gently. You can also adjust your attitude to prevent nervousness. What you say to yourself sends a message to your audience. If you tell yourself you're afraid, that's the message your listener receives. (51. So select the attitude you want to communicate. Attitude adjusting is your mental suit of armor against nervousness. If you entertain only positive thoughts, you will be giving out these vibes: joy and ease, enthusiasm, sincerity and concern. and authority.) You have the power within you to become a forceful, persuasive and confident communicator. With these techniques, you will be able to ask for a raise, make a sale, deal with a family crisis, feel comfortable in social and business situations. Master the simple principles set out here and you will never be nervous again.