北京地区成人本科学士学位英语统一考试
2014.05.10
Part I Reading Comprehension (30%)
Directions: There are three passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, CandD. You should decide on the best choice and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.
Passage 1
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:
The first year of school in America, known as kindergarten, usually begins between the ages of five and six. Among rich countries such a late start is very strange. President Obama believes it is an economic and social problem; his education secretary goes as far as to say that it is "morally wrong”. This statement has some support, as it is clear from research into vocabulary that youngsters from poor families enter kindergarten well behind those from rich families—a disadvantage that usually lasts a lifetime. Children from households on welfare knew 525 words by the age of three, while the children of professionals had mastered1,116.
(76)Pre-school can help close this gap.So in a speech last month, Mr. Obama called for a partnership between the federal government and the states to expand it to every American child. It later became known that "every" meant those who come from families with incomes of up to 200% above the poverty line—equal to an income of $47,000 for a family of four.
(77)Some critics say that sending children to school at the age of four does not work. The evidence suggests otherwise. For example, on March 20thnew results were announced from a study of 9tol1yearolds in New Jersey. This report found that disadvantaged children who had attended pre-school had better literacy (读写能力), language, maths and science skills. And two years of pre-kindergarten were better than one.
Some studies also follow the effects of early learning over lifetimes, such as its effect on crime rates and other factors that may eventually burden society. Critics havesingled outa government scheme called Head Start, created in 1965, which provides poor households with a range of services including school-based early education.
1．Kindergarten in rich countries other than America usually begins at the age of ______
A. eight B. seven C. six D. four
2．According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Poor pre-school kids have a larger vocabulary than rich kids.
B. President Obama believes that early education can solve all economic and social problems.
C. Rich pre-school kids have a richer vocabulary than poor kids.
D.President Obama’s education secretary thinks it is morally wrong to let kids start kindergarten early.
3．Which of the following about the New Jersey study is TRUE?
A. There is no evidence to support the New Jersey study.
B. New Jersey has created a new Head Start to help disadvantaged kids.
C. Sending children to school at the age of four is not going to help.
D. Two years of pre-kindergarten were better than one.
4．The phrase "single out" in the last paragraph means ______.
A. choose B. think about C. count D. depend on
5．Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage?
A. Secondary Education B. Pre-school Education
C. Poor Kids’ Education D. Rich Kids’ Education
Passage 2
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:
Humans may not have landed on Mars (火星) just yet, but that isn’t shopping a European company from devising a plan to send four people to the Red Planet within the next few years. (78)This project, called Mars One, aims to send a small group of people to Mars in 2022and eventually establish a permanent colony on the planet.
"Everything we need to go to Mars exists," said Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp in March 2014. "We have the rockets to send people to Mars, the equipment to land on Mars, the robots to prepare the settlement for humans. For a one-way mission, all the technology exists." Yet the four astronauts (宇航员) chosen for the trip will be stuck on Mars—forever. And despite Mars One’s thorough planning, there are a number of challenges that may prevent the mission from ever taking place. (79)The biggest roadblock could be the mission’s huge cost($6 billion). However, Lansdorp is confident that Mars One will be able to fund the project by selling the broadcast rights for the mission and subsequent experiences living on the planet.
Those broadcast rights will also play a part in helping to select the people who will be sent to Mars. Lansdorp said the company will hold a selection process similar to a reality show. Lansdorp is expecting at least 1 million applications from people around the world. In addition to the cost, several other potential problems could inhibit (阻止)the mission to Mars.
“It’s even more challenging to send people there with life support, with food, with air, with all the other things like books, entertainment, means of communication and of providing for their own resources for a long stay on Mars," said Adam Baker，senior lecturer in space engineering at Kingston University in London. "The sheer size of the rockets you’d need to do this would be absolutelycolossal.”
6. According to Project Mars One, humans could send four people to Mars within the next ______years.
A.sevenB. eightC. tenD. six
7．According to Bas Lansdorp, which of the following is NOT TRUE?
A. For a one-way trip to Mars, all the technology exists.
B. He could not come up with the fund for Mars One.
C. We humans have the rockets to send people to Mars.
D. We humans have the equipment to land on Mars.
8．According to the passage, all the following statements are TRUEEXCEPT that ______.
A. a competition process will be held to select the four astronauts
B. the cost of Mars One could go as much as $6 billion
C. if it goes as planned，we could expect to watch Mars One on TV
D. the four astronauts could return to Earth after a few years’ stay on Mars
9. The word "colossal” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
A. very large B. very small C. medium D. average
10. Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage?
A. Ready for a Round Trip to Mars
B. Ready for a Short Visit to Mars
C. Ready for a One-way Trip to Mars
D. Ready for a Walk on Mars
Passage 3
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:
When the United States Congress created Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the goal was to set aside a place where Americans could enjoy the beauty of nature for years to come. Now, 142 years later, there are hundreds of national parks across the country, and technology is changing the way people experience them. Should park visitors be able to use cell phones, or should their use be restricted?
"Connectivity presents a real challenge to all of us." Al Nash says. He is a public affairs officer at Yellowstone National Park. He says cell phone service at Yellowstone is available in parts of the park with stores and campgrounds. This makes it easy for visitors to share photos of their trip on social networking sites and to stay in touch with friends and family members. (80)If a park visitor is hurt or in danger, cell phones make it easier to get help. Some say the ability to download applications that provide information about plants and animals in the park can enrich a visitor’s experience.
Others say cell phones disturb people’s enjoyment of our national parks. In their view, cell phone towers are an eyesore, and they’d rather hear the sound of birds than the ring of an incoming call. Can you imagine looking out a peaceful lake or field of grass only to be disturbed by a person shouting into their phone, "Can you hear me now?"
Nash says Yellowstone tries to strike a balance. "Ultimately, our job is to let visitors understand and enjoy nature better while protecting what people find special about Yellowstone, and one of those things that’s special is the ability to get away from the hustle and bustle (喧嚣) of one’s daily life."
11．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Which U.S. National Park Has the Most Visitors?
B. Should National Parks Allow the Use of Cell Phones?
C. What Did Yellowstone Do to Enrich Park Visitors’ Experience?
D. Can Technology Transform the Way People Experience Nature?
12．National parks were established ______.
A. to show respect to former presidents
B. to raise public awareness about climate change
C. to preserve areas of natural beauty
D. to create job opportunities
13．According to the passage, which of the following statements about the cell phone service at Yellowstone is TRUE?
A. It is limited to certain areas in the park.
B. It is available everywhere in the park.
C. It is not available in the park.
D. It is available to visitors at a fee.
14．The word "eyesore “in the third paragraph probably means ______.
A. something unpleasant to look at B. something harmful to health
C. beautiful scene D. serious threat
15．What’s the position of Yellowstone on cell phone use?
A. Supportive. B. Neutral. C. Negative. D. Doubtful.
Part Ⅱ VocabularyandStructure (30%)
Directions: In this part there are 30incomplete sentences. For each sentence there are four choices marked A. B. C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.
16．All the passengers ______in the accident were sent to the nearby hospital in no time.
A. to find injured B. finding injured
C. to be found injured D. found injured
17．The big fire lasted as long as 24 hours ______it was brought under control.
A. after B. before C. since D. while
18．In this workshop, the output of July was three times ______of January.
A. that B. this C. one D. it
19．Seeing her father come back, ______.
A. tears ran down her cheeks B. her tears ran out
C. she burst into tears D. tears burst into her
20．______singer and ______dancer is also good at drawing.
A. The; a B. The; the C. A; a D. The; /
21．It’s such a difficult problem ______no one can work it out.
A. as B. that C. so D. thus
22．I’d rather you ______there next week.
A. wear B. go C. should have gone D. had gone
23．By the end of this term, we ______3,000 English words in all.
A. will learn B. will have learned
C. learned D. had learned
24．______is known to all, the earth moves around the sun once a year.
A. That B. As C. What D. It
25．______I admit that she has shortcomings, I still like her.
A. When B. As C. While D. Once
26．To our great ______, Tom’s illness proved not to be as serious as we had feared.
A. anxiety B. relief C. view D. judgment
27．The meeting is to begin at 4:00 p.m., but as assistants, we’re ______to be there a bit earlier.
A. invited B. supposed C. encouraged D. hoped
28．Can you ______the differences between the two pictures?
A. tell B. talk C. speak D. say
29．Do you know the ______of the saying I just quoted?
A. resource B. source C. course D. cause
30．The Internet has brought ______big changes in the way we work.
A. about B. out C. up D. back
31．Dr Hampton: Good morning, Professor Smith.
Professor Smith: ______, Dr Hampton.
Dr Hampton: May I come in?
Professor Smith: Of course, please.
A. Good morning B. Fine, thanks
C. Pleased to meet you D. How do you do
32. The travelers are going to Taiwan, ______they plan to stay for two or three days.
A. that B. which C. when D. where
33. When George was a little boy in primary school, he often ______to school on foot.
A. goes B. went C. go D. will go
34．On no account ______to deprive (剥夺) a student of his right to receive education.
A. anyone is allowed B. is anyone allowed
C. anyone allows D. allows anyone
35．Alice speaks English well, ______?
A. she does B. does she
C. she doesn’t D. doesn’t she
36．Student: Professor Wang, must I hand in the paper this week?
Professor Wang: No, ______. You can hand it in next week.
A. you mustn’t B. you can’t
C. you needn’t D. you shouldn’t
37．If I______you, I would go now and wait for them at the station.
A. am B. was C. were D. have been
38．Ted,______yourself and don’t get your coat dirty again, or you will get into trouble!
A. behave B. make C. perform D. take
39．In the dead man’s bedroom the police found several important ______which pointed to Blake as the murderer.
A. careers B. clues C. challenges D. dreams
40．The old man sitting on the park bench seemed ______to me, yet I couldn’t possibly remember where we had met before.
A. proud B. gradual C. familiar D. mental
41．They go to work every day ______Saturday and Sunday. Those days are holidays.
A. besides B. on C. from D. except
42．She has ______chance to win the election as her opponent is too strong.
A. little B. a little C. few D. a few
43．Today Bob was late again for class because he overslept (睡过头), but he ______an excuse of being ill.
A. looked up B. made up C. put up D. took up
44．You have to ______early in the morning to avoid the rush hour.
A. set aside B. set out C. set up D. set in
45．______I fixed the plug properly, I still got an electric shock.
-
A. Because B. However C. Although D. When
Part III.Identification:
46.Nowthatwehavelostallthemoney,it’snousetoturnonmeandsayingit’sallmyfault.
A B C D
47.Theengineersmadetwobigplansforthedam,oneofwhatwasneverputinuse.
A B C D
48.NomatterwheneverIhavetogiveaspeech,IgetextremelynervousbeforeIstart.