1999年6月北京成人本科学士学位英语试题及答案

PartI Reading Comprehension  

Passage 1 

Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage. 

“High tech” and “state of the art” are two expressions that describe very modern technology. High tech is just a shorter way of saying high technology. And high technology describes any invention, system of device that uses the newest ideas or discoveries of science and engineering. What is high tech?

“State of the art” is something that is as modern as possible. It is a product that is based on the very latest methods and technology. Something that is “state of the art” is the newest possible design or product of a business or industry. A state of the art television set, for example, uses the most modern electronic design and parts. It is the best that one can buy. 

“State of the art” is not a new expression. Engineers have used it for years, to describe the best and most modern way of doing something. Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970’s. The reason was the computer revolution. Every computer company claimed that its computers were “state of the art”. 

Computer technology changed so fast that a state of the art computer today might be old tomorrow. The expression “state of the art” became common and popular as computers themselves. Now all kinds of products are said to be “state of the art”. 

1. What is the purpose of the passage? 

A. To tell how “high tech” and “state of the art” have developed. 

B. To give examples of “high tech”. 

C. To tell what “high tech” and “state of the” are.  

D. To describe very modern technology. 

2. What can we infer from the passage? 

A. American stores could provide new kinds of products to the people. 

B. High tech describes a technology that is not traditional. 

C. “State of the art” is not as popular as “high tech”. 

D. A modern plough pulled by oxen is “state of the art 

3. All the following examples are high tech except _________ 

A. a microwave over   B. a home computer   C. a hand pump   D. a satellite 

4. Which of the following statements is not true? 

A. since the computer revolution, the expression “state of the art” has become popular. 

B. “State of the art” means something that is the best one can  

C. With the rapid development of computer technology, a state of the tart computer may easily become out of date. 

D. All kinds of products are “state of the art” nowadays. 

5. The best title for the passage is __________ 

A. Computer Technology       B. High Tech and State of the Art 

C. Mast Advanced Technology   D. Two New Expressions  

Passage 2 

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage: 

Cheating: The income tax deadline (最后期限) approaches and some taxpayer’s thoughts turn to it. Test time approaches and some students’ thoughts turn to it. 

“You want something you can’t get by behaving within the rules, and you want it badly enough you’ll do it regardless of any guilt or deep regret~ and you’re willing to run the risk of being caught.” That’s how Ladd Wheeler, psychology professor at the University of Rochester in New York, defines cheating. 

Many experts believe cheating is on the rise. “We’re suffering a moral breakdown.” Pinkard says, “we’re seeing more of the kind of person who regards the world as a series of things to be dealt with. Whether to cheat depends on whether it’s the person’s interest “. He does, however, see less cheating among the youngest students. 

Richard Dienabier, Psychology(心理学) professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, believes that society’s attitudes account for much of the increase in cheating. 

“Twenty years age, if a person cheated in college, society said: That is extremely serious, you will be dropped for a term if not kicked out permanently,” he says, “nowadays, at the University of Nebraska, for example, it is the stated policy of the college of Arts and Sciences that if a student cheats on an exam, the student must receive an “F’ on what he cheated on. That’s nothing. If you’re going to flunk anyway, why not cheat?” 

“Cheating is most likely in situations where the vital interests are high and the chances of getting caught are low~” says social psychologist. Lynn Kahle of the University of Oregon in Eugene. 

6. The passage centers on _________ 

A. convincing the reader that cheating is immoral 

B. discussing the reasons for cheating 

C. describing how students cheat on exam 

D. discussing how to control cheating 

7. Cheating tends to occur when ________ 

A. one wants something badly 

B. one can’t get something in a right way. 

C. it is not very likely to be revealed. 

D. a series of things has to be dealt with 

8. Which of the following is true according to the~ passage? 

A. It is forgivable to cheat unless money is involved. 

B. There has been a quick increase in cheating. 

C. Most cheaters are college students. 

D. Cheaters do not feel guilty and regretful. 

9. What can be inferred from the passage? 

A. Cheating is widespread because society is too tolerant. 

B. cheating is the result of intense pressure. 

C. Cheating is cheating, whether on a test or on any other occassions. 

D. Cheating comes together with civilization. 

10. The word “flunk” in paragraph 5 could best be replaced by which of the following? 

A. Fear B. Fail C. Be pleased D. Succeed 

Passage 3  

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage: 

The young people who talk of the village as being “dead” are talking nothing but nonsense, as in their hearts they must surely know. 

No, the village is not dead. There is more life in it now than there ever was. But it seems that “Village life” is dead. Gone for ever. It began to decline (衰落) about a hundred years ago, when many girls left home to go into service in town many miles away, and men also left home in increasing number in search of a work, and home was where work was. There are still a number of people alive today who can remember. What “village life” meant the early years of the present century? It meant knowing and being known by everybody else in the village. It meant finding your entertainment in the village of within walking distance of it. It meant housewives tied to the home all day and every day. It meant going to bed early to save lamp —oil and coal. 

Then came the First World War and the Second World War. After each war, new ideas, new attitudes, new trades and occupations were revealed to villagers. The long — established order of society was no longer taken for granted. Electricity and the motorcar were steadily operating to make “village life” and “town life” almost alike. Now with the highly developed science and technology and high — level social welfare for all, there is no point whatever in talking any longer about “village life. “ It is just life, and that a better life. 

Finally, if we have any doubts about the future, or about the many changes, which we have seen in our lives, we have only to look in at the school playground any mid — morning; or see the children as they walk homeward in little groups. Obviously these children are better fed, better clothed, better educated, healthier, prettier and happier than any generation of children that ever before walked the village street. 

11. By saying that village is not dead, but “village life” is dead, the writer suggests that _________ 

A. those young people who talk of the village as being “dead” are wrong 

B the two statements are against each other 

C. “village life” today is rather uninteresting 

D. “village life” today is no longer like what is used to be. 

12. It was _________ that “village life” began to take a sharp turn. 

A. about a century ago 

B. during the two world wars 

C. with electricity and motorcars introduced into the village 

D. only recently 

13. As is suggested in paragraph 2, villagers in the past _________ 

A. lived a simpler life than villagers today 

B. knew fewer people than villagers today. 

C. found it difficult to enjoy themselves 

D. liked to wash themselves with cold water. 

14. The expression “.... ” There is no point whatever in talking about in paragraph 3 means that _________ 

A. there is no end to the talking about.... 

B. It is harmful to talk about…. 

C. It is not meaningless to talk about.... 

D. there is no reason for talking about        

15. From the passage we can see that the writer’s attitude toward “village life” is ___________ 

A. positive   B. negative  C. neutral   D. unclear