自考 英语 模考阅读一

自考 英语 模考阅读一 《英语阅读一》模拟试题(一) READING COMPREHENSION Passage 1 According to a survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students, today’s traditional-age college freshmen are “ more materialistic and less altruistic(利他主义的)” than at any time in the 17 years of the poll. Not surprising in these hard times, the student’s major objective “ is to be financially well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life.” It follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting. Interest in teaching, social service and the ―altruistic‖ fields is at a low. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up. That’s no surprise either. A friend of mine( a sales representative for a chemical company) was making twice the salary of her college instructors her first year on the job—even before she completed her two-year associate degree. While it’s true that we all need a career, it is equally true that our civilization has accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge in fields far removed from our own and that we are better for our understanding of these other contributions-be they scientific or artistic. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs. Weekly we read of unions who went on strike for higher wages, only to drive their employer out of business. No company, no job. How shortsighted in the long run! But the most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense. I saw a cartoon recently which shows a group of businessmen looking puzzled as they sit around a conference table; one of them is talking on the intercom(对讲机): “ Miss Baxter,” he says, “ could you please send in someone who can distinguish right from wrong?” From the long-term point of view, that’s what education really ought to be about. 21. According to the author’s observation, college students A. have never been so materialistic as today B. have never been so interested in the arts C. have never been so financially well off as today D. have never attached so much importance to moral sense 22. The students’ criteria for selecting majors today have much to do with A. the influences of their instructors B. the financial goals they seek in life C. their own interpretations of the courses D. their understanding of the contributions of others 23. By sayng “While it’s true that„ be they scientific or artistic”( Line 1-3, para. 5). The author means that A. business management should be included in educational programs B. human wisdom has accumulated at an extraordinarily high speed C. human intellectual development has reached new heights D. the importance of a broad education should not be overlooked 24. Studying the diverse wisdom of others can A. create varying artistic interests B. help people see things in their right perspective C. help improve connections among people D. regulate the behavior of modern people 25. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A. Businessmen absorbed in their career are narrow-minded. B. Managers often find it hard to tell right from wrong C. People engaged in technical jobs lead a more rewarding life D. Career seekers should not focus on immediate interests only. Passage 2 New technology links the world as never before . Our planet has shrunk. It’s now a “global village” where countries are only seconds away by fax or phone or satellite link. And , of course, our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment is greatly enhanced by foreign language skills. Deeply involved with this new technology is a breed of modern businesspeople who have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad. In modern markets, success overseas often helps support domestic business efforts. Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks . the executive stationed in another country no longer need fear being “out of sight and out of mind.” He or she can be sure that the overseas effort is central to the company‘s plan for success, and that promotions often follow or accompany an assignment abroad. If an employee can succeed in a difficult assignment overseas, superiors will have greater confidence in his or her ability to cope back in the United States where cross-cultural considerations and foreign language issues are becoming more and more prevalent (普遍的)。 Thanks to a variety of relatively inexpensive communications devices with business applications, even small businesses in the United States are able to get into international markets. English is still the international language of business. But there is an ever-growing need for people who can speak another language. A second language isn’t generally required to get a job in business, but having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal . The employee posted abroad who speaks the country’s principal language has an opportunity to fast –forward certain negotiations , and can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly. The employee at the home office who can communicate well with foreign clients over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm. 26. What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment ? A. Critical B. Prejudiced C. Indifferent D. Positive. 27. With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, businesspeople A. have to get familiar with modern technology B. are gaining more economic benefits from domestic operations . C. are attaching more importance to their overseas business D. are eager to work overseas 28. In this passage , “Out of sight and out of mind” (Line 2, Para .3) probably means A. being unable to think properly for lack of insight B. being totally out of touch with business at home C. missing opportunities for promotion when abroad D. leaving all care and worry behind 29. According to the passage , what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today? A. Connections with businesses overseas. B. Ability to speak the client’s language C. Technical know-how D. Business experience 30. The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can A. better control the whole negotiation process B. easily find new approaches to meet market needs C. fast-forward their proposals to headquarters D. easily make friends with businesspeople abroad Passage 3 In recent years, Israeli consumers have grown more demanding as they’ve become wealthier and more worldly wise. Foreign travel is a national passion : this summer alone, one in 10 citizens will go abroad . Exposed to higher standards of service elsewhere, Israelis are returning home expecting the same. American firms have also begun arriving in large numbers. Chains such as KFC , McDonald‘s and Pizza Hut are setting a new standard of customer service , using strict employee training and constant monitoring to ensure the friendliness of frontline staff . Even the American habit of telling departing customers to ―Have a nice day‖ has caught on all over Israel. ―Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ?Let‘s be nicer,‘‖ says Itsik Cohen, director of a consulting firm. ―Nothing happens without competition .‖ Privatization , or the threat of it, is a motivation as well. Monopolies (垄断者) that until recently have been free to take their customers for granted now fear what Michael P erry, a marketing professor, calls “ the revengeful (报 复的) consumer .” When the government opened up competition with Bezaq , the phone company, its international branch lost 40% of its market share, even while offering competitive rates . Says Perry , ―People wanted revenge for all the years of bad service.‖ The electric company, whose monopoly may be short-lived , has suddenly stopped requiring users to wait half a day for a repairman. Now, appointments are scheduled to the half-hour . The graceless E1 A1 Airlines, which is already at auction (拍卖), has returned its employees to emphasize service and is boasting about the results in an ad campaign with the slogan, ―You can feel the change in the air .‖ For the first time, praise outnumbers complaints on customer survey sheets. 31. It may be inferred from the passage that A. customer service in Israel is now improving B. wealthy Israeli customers are hard to please C. the tourist industry has brought chain stores to Israel D. Israeli customers prefer foreign products to domestic ones 32. In the author’s view, higher service standards are impossible in Israel A. if customer complaints go unnoticed by the management B. unless foreign companies are introduced in greater numbers C. if there’s no competition among companies D. without strict routine training of employees 33. If someone in Israel today needs a repairman in case of a power failure, A. they can have it fixed in no time B. it‘s no longer necessary to make an appointment C. the appointment takes only half a day to make D. they only have to wait half an hour at most 34. The example of E1 A1 Airlines shows that A. revengeful customers are a threat to the monopoly of enterprises B. an ad campaign is a way out for enterprises in financial difficulty C. a good slogan has great potential for improving service D. staff retraining is essential for better service 35. Why did Bezaq’s international branch lose 40% of its market share? A. Because the rates it offered were not competitive enough B. Because customers were dissatisfied with its past service. C. Because the service offered by its competitors was far better . D. Because it no longer received any support from the government. Passage 4 Gopher Prairic, in which the action of Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street (1920) takes place, is a town of 3,000 inhabitants, smug, dull people whose one idea is to get on materially . They have no use for anyone who wishes something better for them; they oppose civic reform, cultural and educational projects . The most honored citizens are bankers. Carol, who has been to college and held a position as a librarian, comes to Gopher Prairie to live with her doctor husband. Appalled by the stagnant life of the town, and failing to become adjusted to it , she tries a number of cultural ideas . Her efforts to establish a little theater meet with no encouragement . Indeed, the people merely think she is putting on airs. Her affection for her hasband wanes, and she takes up with Erik Valborg, in whom she sees a spirit akin to her own. She leaves the little town for Washington D. C. , where she works as a government clerk. Later she returns to Gopher Prairie, better equipped than before to understand the forces which shape Main Street. At the time of its first appearance, Main Street provoked a storm of protest on the ground that the novelist libeled good Americans. Today , no one thinks of repeating this charge. Indeed, mas Lewis Gannett points out, Main Steeet has in no way changed except externally: it is the same Main Steet; yet doubtless it reads Sinclair Lewis‘ novels as eagerly as the rest of the nation. At the time when Main Street was published Lewis was accused of hating dull people . The novelist retorted that he did not hate them. He loved them. The truth is, the world of 1920 could not stand criticism. The Pulitzer Prize Committee refused to award Main Street a prize . The novelist was to have his revenge six years later, when he rejected the same award for Arrowsmith. 36. Which of the following is the central preoccupation of the people of Gopher Prairie? A. Progressive B. Material possessions C. Cultural activity D. Civic reform. 37. According to the passage, why is Carol unhappy in Gopher Prairie? A. She regrets that her husband is a doctor and not a banker B. She dislikes being a housewife and wants to live in Washington, D. C. C. She cannot find a job as a librarian or a theater director D. She finds the town residents dull and unreceptive to her ideas 38. According to the passage, why was there such adverse reaction to Main Street in 1920? A. People were reluctant to admit their faults B. Sinclair Lewis did not like honorable citizens C. Gopher Prairie was portrayed inaccurately D. The main character led an unconventional life. 39. According to Lewis Gannett, how does Main Street today compare to Main Street of 1920? A. Its fame has led to a tourist boom. B. Its people today would take Sinclair Lewis to court. C. Its external appearance has altered D. Its residents today are quite different 40. According to the passage, which of the following statements best explains why Sinclair Lewis rejected the Pulitzer Prize for Arrowsmith. A. He thought Arrowsmith was not worthy of the honor B. He disapproved of the composition of the Pulitzer Prize Committee. C. He claimed that the Pulitzer had no status D. He felt the committee had unjustly overlooked his previous work. SKIMMING AND SCANNING Passage 1 From good reading we can derive pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading. Our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction. With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely. Whether the characters portrayed are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances. Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings. When human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement. One of the most valuable gifts bestowed by books is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of everyday life or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart‘s desire. Through books we may get the thrill of hazardous adventure without danger. We can climb lofty mountains, brave the perils of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mingle with the gay throngs of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed, through books the whole world is ours for the asking. The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited. The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read. 41. In the first paragraph, we are told that A. we should always read good books, not bad ones B. happiness can be derived only from reading C. enjoyment and satisfaction can be achieved by reading good books. D. Reading good books is very important in human life. 42. Why is it that we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading? A. No one has come to disturb you B. Everything is so quiet and calm around you C. The book you are reading is so interesting and attractive D. Your book is overdue; you are finishing it at a very fast speed. 43. Which of the following is true? A. Your wish to visit some far-off place can be realized through the pages of the books. B. To escape from the dull realities of everyday life you should take up reading. C. Books can always help you to live a colourful life. D. You may obtain valuable experience from reading good books. 44. “„ the whole world is ours for the asking” implies that A. in books the world is more accessible to us B. we can ask to go anywhere in this world C. we can make a claim to everything in this world D. we can make a round-the-world trip free of charge Passage 2 The oldest stone buildings in the world are the pyramids. They have stood for nearly 5,000 years, and it seems likely that they will continue to stand for thousands of years yet. There are over eighty of them scattered along the banks of the Nile, some of which are different in shaped from the true pyramids. The most famous of these are the ―Step‖ pyramid and the ―Bent‖ pyramid. Some of the pyramids still look much as they must have done when they were built thousands of years ago. Most of the damage suffered by the others has been at the hands of men who were looking for treasure or, more often, for stone to use in modern buildings. The dry climate of Egypt has helped to preserve the pyramids, and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin. These are good reasons why they can still be seen today, but perhaps the most important is that they were planned to last forever. It is practically certain that plans were made for the building of the pyramids because the plans of other large works have fortunately been preserved. However, there are no writings or pictures to show us how the Egyptians planned or built the pyramids themselves. Consequently, we are only able to guess at the methods used. Nevertheless, by examining the actual pyramids and various tools which have been found, archaeologists have formed a fairly clear picture of them. One thing is certain: there must have been months of careful planning before they could begin to build. The first thing they had to do was to choose a suitable place. You may think this would have been easy with miles and miles of empty desert around, but a pyramid could not be built just anywhere. Certain rules had to be followed, and certain problems had to be overcome. The step pyramid had to be on the west side of the Nile; the side on which the sun set. This was for religious reasons. It also had to stand well above the level of the river to protect it against the regular floods. It could not be too far from the Nile, however, as the stones to build it needed to be carried in boats down the river to the nearest point. Water transport was, of course, much easier than land transport. The builders also had to find a rock base which was not likely to crack under the great weight of the pyramid. Finally, it had to be near the capital, or better still, near the king‘s palace so that he could visit it easily and personally check the progress being made on the final resting place for his body. 45. We can guess how the pyramids were built because archaeologists have A. studied them and the tools used to build them. B. found the plans of some of them. C. found paintings showing each stage of construction D. found descriptions of how some were built. 46. Why did the Egyptians build the pyramids along the banks of the Nile? A. This must have been for religious reasons. B. It was difficult to find large rock bases far from the river. C. Pyramids had to be built on the Westside of the Nile. D. The river helped a lot in the transportation of building materials. 47. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? A. Kings regularly visited their pyramids to check on their progress. B. All pyramids were built in close proximity. C. The pyramids were built on bases of rock. D. Boats were used to transport stones. Passage 3 When Christian Barnard, a South African doctor, performed the first human heart transplant in 1967, the result was a worldwide moral debate on the ethics of transplanting organs. Hearts were not the first human organs to be transplanted but, in this case, if a donor gave his or her heart, he or she would obviously and necessarily die(or be dead). Kidney transplants, which were already quite common in 1967, often involved the transfer of a single kidney from a close living relative. The chances of survival of the donor were somewhat diminished because he now had only one kidney and if that kidney were affected by disease, he would not have a healthy kidney in reserve. Nevertheless the donor would certainly not necessarily die. Undoubtedly, another reason why the first heart transplant was so controversial was the fact that we associate so many personality traits with the heart. Questions were asked of the type: “ If a person had a different heart, would he still be the same person?‖ or ―If doctors needed a dying person‘s heart. Would they tend to declare him dead prematurely?‖ and so on. Today, not only hearts and kidneys, but also such extremely delicate organs as lungs and livers, are transplanted. These developments have led to a far higher or proportion of successful operations and this, in turn, has led to greater demand for transplants. At the same time, many of the original moral questions surrounding heart transplants have been almost forgotten. However, as a result of the heavy demand for organs, a new moral dilemma has emerged. For example, in the United States there are many people who would survive if lungs were available for transplanting. In fact, about 80% of them die before a suitable donor is found. In these circumstances who would decide if a donor were found whose lungs were equally suitable for two potential recipients? The problem is made worse by the fact that many patients, or their families, become desperate to find a donor. Some succeed in publicizing their situation in newspapers, to politicians or on television. Sometimes, as a result, suitable donors are found. But what would happen if another patient needed the organ more than the one who got the publicity? Who would decide if the other patient should get the organ? Would it be the doctors? Or the donor? Or the family who got the publicity? If such a dilemma developed it would be very difficult to resolve and it would be a matter of life or death to the patients involved. 48. Which of the following is true? A. Kidney transplant operations were not common until 1967. B. Kidneys for transplant operations had to come from dead people in 1967. C. Kidney transplant operations were performed before heart transplant operations. D. Heart transplant operations were as common as kidney transplant operations. 49. Improved medical techniques have resulted in A. more people seeking organ transplants B. more chances of survival of the donor C. even greater debate over whether or not to have organ transplants D. a new moral dilemma 50. How do you think the dilemma will develop? A. The dilemma will remain unresolved B. The public(through the media) will demand a fair resolution C. Those who are more desperate to find a donor will always be successful D. The doctors will have the final say. 《英语阅读一》模拟试题(二) READING COMPREHENSION Passage 1 On average, American kids ages 3 to 12 spent 29 hours a week in school , eight hours more than they did in 1981. They also did more household work and participated in more of such organized activities as soccer and ballet . Involvement in sports, in particular , rose almost 50% from 1981 to 1997: boys now spend an average of four hours a week playing sports ; girls log half that time . All in all , however , children‘s leisure time dropped from 40% of the day in 1981 to 25%. “Children are affected by the same time crunch that affects their parents,” says Sandra Hofferth, who headed the recent study of children’s timetable . A chief reason, she says , is that more mothers are working outside the home. (Nevertheless , children in both double-income and ―male breadwinner‖ households spent comparable amounts of time interacting with their parents, 19 hours and 22 hours respectively. In contrast, children spent only 9 hours with their single mothers. ) All work and no play could make for some very messe d-up kids . “ Play is the most powerful way a child explores the world and learns about himself,” says T. Berry Brazelton, professor at Harvard Medical School. Unstrctured play encourages independent thinking and allows the young to negotiate their relationships with their peers, but kids ages 3 to 12 spent only 12 hours a week engaged in it. The children sampled spent a quarter of their rapidly decreasing “free time” watching television. But that , believe it or not , was one of the findings parents might regard as good news. If they’re spending less time in front of the TV set, however, kids aren‘t replacing it with reading. Despite efforts to get kids more interested in books, the children spent just over an hour a week reading . Let‘s face it, who‘s got the time ? 21. By mentioning “the same time crunch” (Line 1, Para. 2) Sandra Hofferth means A. Children have little time to play with their parents B. Children are not taken good care of by their working parents C. Both parents and children suffer from lack of leisure time D. Both parents and children have trouble managing their time 22. According to the author , the reason given by Sandra Hofferth for the time crunch is A. Quite convincing B. Partially true rses C. Totally groundless D. Rather confusing 23. According to the author a child develops better if A. He has plenty of time reading and studying B. He is left to play with his peers in his own way C. He has more time participating in school activities D. He is free to interact with his working parents 24. The author is concerned about the fact that American kids A. Are engaged in more and more structured activities B. Are increasingly neglected by their working mothers C. Are spending more and more time watching TV D. Are involved less and less in household work 25. We can infer from the passage that A. Extracurricular activities promote children‘s intelligence B. Most children will turn to reading with TV sets switched off C. Efforts to get kids interested in reading have been fruitful D. Most parents believe reading to be beneficial to children Passage 2 Henry Ford, the famous U. S. inventor and car manufacturer, once said, “ The business of America is business.” By this he meant that the U. S. way of life is based on the values of the business world . Few would argue with Ford’s statement. A brief glimpse at a daily newspaper vividly shows how much people in the United States think about business. For example, nearly every newspaper has a business section, in which the deals and projects, finances and management, stock prices and labor problems of corporations are reported daily. In addition, business news can appear in every other section. Most national news has an important financial aspect to it . welfare, foreign aid, the federal budget , and the policies of the Federal Reserve Bank are all heavily affected by business. Moreover, business news appears in some of the unlikeliest places. The world of arts and entertainment is often referred to as ―the entertainment industry‖ or ―show business‖. The positive side of Henry Ford’s statement can be seen in the prosperity that business has brought to U. S. life . One of the most important reasons so many people from all over the world come to live in the United States is the dream of a better job. Jobs are produced in abundance because the U. S. economic system is driven by competition. People believe that this system creates more wealth, more jobs, and a materially better way of life. The negative side of Henry Ford’s statement, however, can be seen when the word business is taken to mean big business. And the term big business—referring to the biggest companies, is seen in opposition to labor. Throughout U. S. history working people have had to fight hard for higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to form unions. Today , many of the old labor disputes are over, but there is still some employee anxiety . Downsizing—the laying off of thousands of workers to keep expenses low and profits high – creates feelings of insecurity for many. 26. The United States is a typical country A. Which encourages free trade at home and abroad B. Where people’s chief concern is how to make money C. Where all businesses are managed scientifically D. Which normally works according to the federal budget. 27. The influence of business in the U.S. is evidenced by the fact that A. most newspapers are run by big business B. even public organizations concentrate on working for profits C. Americans of all professions know how to do business D. Even arts and entertainment are regarded as business. 28. According to the passage, immigrants choose to settle in the U. S. , dreaming that A. They can start profitable businesses there B. They can be more competitive in business C. They will make a fortune overnight there . D. They will find better chances of employment 29. Henry Ford’s statement can be taken negatively because A. Working people are discouraged to fight for their rights B. There are many industries controlled by a few big capitalists C. There is a conflicting relationship between big corporations and labor D. Public services are not run by the federal government 30. A company’s efforts to keep expenses low and profits high may result in A. Reduction in the number of employees B. Improvement of working conditions C. Fewer disputes between labor and management D. A rise in workers‘ wages Passage 3 Professor Smith recently persuaded 35 people, 23 of them women, to keep a diary of all their absent-minded actions for a fortnight. When he came to analyse their embarrassing (差错) in a scientific report, he was surprised to find that nearly all of them fell into a few groupings . Nor did the lapses appear to be entirely random (随机的)。 One of the women, for instance, on leaving her house for work one morning threw her dog her earrings and tried to fix a dog biscuit on her car. “The explanation for this is that the brain is like a computer ,” explains the professor. “People programme themselves to do certain activities regularly. It was the woman‘s custom every morning to throw her dog two biscuits and then put on her earrings. But somehow the action got reversed in the programme.‖ About one in twenty of the incidents the volunteers reported were these ―programme assembly failures.‖ Altogether the volunteers logged 433 unintentional actions that they found themselves doing—an average of twelve each. There appear to be peak periods in the day when we are at our zaniest (荒谬可笑的). These are two hours some time between eight a. m. and noon, between four and six p. m. with a smaller peak between eight and ten p. m. ―Among men the peak seems to be when a changeover in brain ?programmes‘ occurs, as for instance between going to and from work.‖ Women on average reported slightly more lapses—12.5 compared with 10.9 for men—probably because they were more reliable reporters. A startling finding of the research is that the abse nt-minded activity is a hazard of doing things in which we are skilled. Normally , you would expect that skill reduces the number of errors we make. But trying to avoid silly slips by concentrating more could make things a lot worse—even dangerous. 31. In his study Professor Smith asked the subjects A. To keep track of people who tend to forget things B. To report their embarrassing lapses at random C. To analyse their awkward experiences scientifically D. To keep a record of what they did unintentionally 32. Professor Smith discovered that A. Certain patterns can be identified in the recorded incidents B. Many people were too embarrassed to admit their absent-mindedness C. Men tend to be more absent-minded than women D. Absent-mindedness is an excusable human weakness 33. “Programme assembly failures” (Line 6, Para. 2) refers to the phenomenon that people A. Often fail to programme their routines beforehand B. Tend to make mistakes when they are in a hurry C. Unconsciously change the sequence of doing things D. Are likely to mess things up if they are too tired 34. We learn from the third paragraph that A. Absent-mindedness tends to occur during certain hours of the day. B. Women are very careful to perform actions during peak periods C. Women experience more peak periods of absent- mindedness D. Men‘s absent-mindedness often results in funny situations 35. It can be concluded from the passage that A. People should avoid doing important things during peak periods of lapses B. Hazards can be avoided when people do things they are good at C. People should be careful when programming their actions D. Lapses cannot always be attributed to lack of concentration Passage 4 It’s no secret that many children would be healthier and happier with adoptive parents than with the parents that nature dealt them. That’s especially true of children who remain in abusive homes because the law blindly favors biological parents. It’s also true of children who suffer for years in foster homes(收养孩子的家庭) because of parents who can’t or won’t care for them but refuse to give up custody (监护) rights。 Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Mays fits neither description, but her recent court victory could eventually help children who do. Kimberly has been the object of an angry custody battle between the man who raised her and her biological parents, with whom she has never lived. A Florida judge ruled that the teenage can remain with the only father she‘s ever known and that her biological parents have ―no legal claim‖ on her. The ruling, though it may yet be reversed, sets aside the principle that biology is the primary determinant of parentage. That’s an important development, one that’s long overdue. Shortly after birth in December 1978, Kimberly Mays and another infant were mistakenly switched and sent home with the wrong parents. Kimberly‘s biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, received a child who died of a heart disease in 1988. Medical tests showed that the child wasn‘t the Twiggs‘ own daughter, but Kimberly was, thus sparking a custody battle with Robert Mays. In 1989, the two families agreed that Mr. Mays would maintain custody with the Twiggs getting visiting rights. Those rights were ended when Mr. Mays decided that Kimberly was being harmed. The decision to leave Kimberly with Mr. Mays rendered her suit debated. But the judge made clear that Kimberly did have standing to sue(起诉) on her own behalf. Thus he made clear that she was more than just property to be handled at adults saw fit. Certainly, the biological link between parent and child is fundamental. But biological parents aren’t always preferable to adoptive ones, and biological parentage does not convey an absolute ownership that cancels all the rights of children. 36. What was the primary consideration in the Florida judge’s ruling ? A. The biological link B. The child‘s benefits C. The traditional practice D. The parents‘ feelings 37. We can learn from the Kimberly case that A. Children are more than just personal possessions of their parents B. The biological link between parent and child should be emphasized C. Foster homes bring children more pain and suffering than care . D. Biological parents shouldn‘t claim custody rights after child is adopted. 38.The Twiggs claimed custody rights to Kimberly because A. They found her unhappy in Mr. Mays‘ custody B. They regarded her as their property C. They were her biological parents D. They felt guilty about their past mistake 39. Kimberly had been given to Mr. Mays A. By sheer accident B. Out of charity C. At his request D. For better care 40. The author’s attitude towards the judge’s ruling could be described as A. Doubtful B. Critical C. Cautious D. Supportive SKIMMING AND SCANNING Passage 1 The first man to jump out of an aeroplane when traveling at a speed greater than sound was Arthur Ray Hawkins, one of the most outstanding United States Navy pilots. Jumps of this sort had long been regarded as impossible. During an air shows over Mississippi in 1945, Hawkins was flying an entirely new type of plane. At 40,000 feet, the nose of the plane dipped sharply. No matter how hard he tried, Hawkins could not pull it out of the dive and it gathered such speed that it was soon traveling faster than sound. Strapped in his seat, and hanging upside-down , the pilot could not reach the button which would destroy the top of the plane. Near him, however, there was an explosion and his seat—which shielded him to some extent—burst through the glass shell above his head. While still half conscious, Hawkins tried to pull the ribbon which would open his parachute. It was fortunate that he failed in his attempt, for at such a rate of speed, the parachute would have been torn to pieces. As he sped towards the earth, he realized that the breathing-tube which supplied him with air had also been torn away. Rapidly losing consciousness because of the lack of air, he knew that he had to open the parachute, otherwise he might not get another chance to do so. At about 29,000 feet, the parachute opened and Hawkins pulled a handle which freed him from the pilot seat. While swinging through the air in slow motion, he began to tremble with cold and everything went grey: he was not getting enough air! Just then, he remembered a rule for breathing at great heights. He took short, sharp breaths and so forced air into the bloodstream. This kept him alive until, at 10,000 feet, he could breathe without difficulty. Soon afterwards, he landed safely in a field of cotton. His plane crashed into a wood nearby, but luckily no one was hurt. 41. The event described in this passage took place during A. A test-flight of a new type of plane B. An air-raid launched by the U. S. Navy C. A demonstration flight D. A routine-flight for training pilots 42. The plane Hawkins flew in which A. Was designed to fly at a speed faster than sound B. Gathered a speed faster than sound when diving out of control C. Was able to fly upside-down in the air D. Was able to eject the pilot from his plane when something unexpected happened 43. The explosion caused by the press of the button did not hurt Hawkins as he was A. Strapped in his seat B. Just under the glass shell C. Able to quickly jump out of the plane D. Protected by the pilot seat 44. The pilot continued to drop at a great speed until A. He started to use the rule for breathing at high altitude B. He was able to open his parachute and abandon his pilot seat C. His breathing-tube was torn away D. His consciousness was half regained Passage 2 Some children do not like school. So what else is new? But in Japan that familiar aversion has reached alarming proportions. About 50,000 unhappy youngsters a year (out of a total school-age population of 20 million ) suffer what Japanese behavioral experts call school phobia. School phobia is distinguished from other common childhood and adolescent psychological and emotional disorders by the patient‘s reaction to, and fear of, the idea of going to school. Typically, it begins with fever, sweating, headaches, and diarrhoea; it often progresses to complete physical inertia, depression, and even autism. A doctor on a house call found a thirteen-year-old Tokyo boy who had not been to school in more than a year. He lives in a darkened room receiving his food through a slot under the door and lashing out violently at his parents if they came too close. Once the boy was placed in a psychiatric ward for treatment, he again became an open, seemingly healthy youngster. When he was sent home, however, his symptoms returned, and he was never able to go back to school. School phobia can be cured, usually with tranquilizers and psychotherapy. Rehabilitation takes about two years. Yet victims who are put in clinics or mental wards often prefer to stay there. Their day is filled with activities like knitting, painting, music, free time, and sports. Nurses try to create a familiar environment in which the children can feel that they are taking a certain amount of responsibility for their lives and can find some sense of self-worth . The causes of school phobia are not precisely known. In a few severe cases brain disorders have been diagnosed. A more common factor may be the overprotective Japanese mother who, some psychiatrists say, leaves her children ill-prepared to face the real world. Many researchers point to the unrelenting pressures for success faced by both children and adults in Japan, where stress-related disorders of all sorts are common. In addition, the Japanese educational system is one of the world‘s most rigid, suppressing a child‘s individual creative and analytical development. Says Dr. Hitoshi Ishikawa, head of the department of psychosomatic medicine at Tokyo University, ―the problem won‘t be cured until Japanese society as a whole is cured of its deep-rooted social ills.‖ 45. The author chooses to write about school phobia because A. It is something new in Japan B. Most children have developed the disease C. Its symptoms are not easily perceptible D. An alarming proportion of Japanese children suffer from it 46. Which of the following is the purpose of the second paragraph? A. To show that school phobia can be cured B. To suggest a way to deal with school phobia C. To describe the behavior of school phobia victims. D. To present a typical case of school phobia 47. From the last paragraph, we know that the causes of school phobia A. Can be easily determined B. Are complex and manifold C. Lie exclusively in the Japanese educational system D. Originate from the Japanese way of bringing up children . Passage 3 Intelligence tests are chiefly measures of scholastic aptitude. Most educators and psychologists regard them as reasonably good predictors of academic success. Indeed , a strong relationship between IQ and academic achievement is built into intelligence tests, so that what we have come to mean by intelligence is the probability of acceptable school performance. While errors in prediction are usually not large for groups, it is possible that the use of an IQ test score alone for a single individual may result in a relatively large error in prediction. Further, an individual‘s IQ , unlike his or her blood type, is not fixed or unchanging. It varies from time to time, even under ideal testing conditions. Plus, it is amenable to modification by environmental interventions. It is not possible to predict success in all of life’s endeavors from a test designed to predict academic success. The more the real-life situation differs from that of the school environment, the less valid the scores from intelligence tests will be in making predictions about an individual‘s future performance(and thus the less willing we should be to make inferences about a person‘s intelligence in a nonschool area of functioning ). For instances, intelligence tests are not necessarily relevant to various occupations requiring mechanical and artistic talents. Nor are intelligence tests designed to tell us about children‘s curiosity, their ability to get along with people, or their chances to become active and responsible members of society . Proponents of intelligence testing say that knowledge of general aptitude scores can assist a teacher in making decisions about the kind and level of material with which to provide each student. They argue that good teaching dictates that teachers design instructional strategies in accordance with the differing aptitude of their students. When combined with other test results and classroom observations, an IQ score can prove to be a helpful tool. However, it is crucial that teachers recognize that a single IQ score provides, at least, an exceedingly tentative estimate of a student‘s scholastic aptitude. 48. The passage is intended to A. Tell the relationship between an individual‘s IQ test score and his academic performance . B. Show how to make an IQ test to predict an individual‘s ability with less errors C. Suggest a correct attitude toward IQ test D. Give a relatively perfect definition to ―intelligence‖ 49. According to the first paragraph, which of the following is true? A. One who scores high in an IQ test is bound to be a successful student B. IQ tests are useful to test the ability of a group , but not the ability of an individual. C. The use of IQ scores to predict an individual‘s future success is not so reliable. D. A person’s IQ score remains constant regardless of changes in testing conditions. 50. The author’s attitude toward intelligence tests is A. Positive B. Doubtful C. Neutral D. Objective 《英语阅读一》模拟试题(三) READING COMPREHENSION Passage 1 A recent study, published in last week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, offers a picture of how risky it is to get a lift from a teenage driver. Indeed, a 16-year-old driver with three or more passengers is three times as likely to have a fatal accident as a teenager driving alone. By contrast, the risk of death for drivers between 30 and 59 decreases with each additional passenger. The authors also found that the death rates for teenage drivers increased dramatically after 10p. m. , and especially after midnight. With passengers in the car, the driver was even more likely to die in a late-night accident. Robert Foss, a scientist at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, says the higher death rates for teenage drivers have less to do with “really stupid behavior” than with just a lack of driving experience. “The basic issue,” he says, ―is that adults who are responsible for issuing licenses fail to recognize how complex and skilled a task driving is.‖ Both he and the author of the study believe that the way to mitigate (使缓解) the problem is to have states institute so-called graduated licensing systems, in which getting a license is a multistage process. A graduated license requires that a teenager first prove himself capable of driving in the presence of an adult, followed by a period of driving with night or passenger restrictions, before graduating to full driving privileges. Graduated licensing systems have reduced teenage driver crashes, according to recent studies. About half of the states now have some sort of graduated licensing system in place, but only 10 of those states have restrictions on passengers under 20 (without the presence of an adult over 25) for the first six months 21. Which of the following situations is most dangerous according to the passage ? A. Adults giving a lift to teenagers on the highway after 10 p.m. B. A teenager driving after midnight with passengers in the car C. Adults driving with three or more teenage passengers late at night. D. A teenager getting a lift from a stranger on the highway at midnight 22. According to Robert Foss , the high death rates of teenage drivers is mainly due to A. Their frequent driving at night B. Their improper way of driving C. Their lack of driving experience D. Their driving with passengers 23. According to Paragraph 3, which of the following statements is TRUE ? A. Teenagers should spend more time learning to drive B. Driving is a skill too complicated for teenagers to learn C. Restrictions should be imposed on teenagers D. The licensing authorities are partly responsible for teenagers’ driving accidents. 24. A suggested measure to be taken to reduce teenagers’ driving accidents is that A. Driving in the presence of an adult should be made a rule B. They should be prohibited from taking on passengers C. They should not be allowed to drive after 10 p. m. D. The licensing system should be improved 25. The present situation in about half of the states is that the graduated licensing system A. Is under discussion B. Is about to be set up C. Has been put into effect D. Has been perfected Passage 2 If you know exactly what you want, the best route to a job is to get specialized training. A recent survey shows that companies like the graduates in such fields as business and health care who can go to work immediately with very little on-the –job training . That’s especially true of booming fields that are challenging for workers. At Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, for example, bachelor’s degree graduates get an average of four or five job offers with salaries ranging from the high teens to the low 20s and plenty of chances for rapid advancement. Large companies, especially, like a background of formal education coupled with work experience. But in the long run, too much specialization doesn’t pay off. Business, which has been flooded with MBAs, no longer considers the degree an automatic stamp of approval. The MBA may open doors and command a higher salary initially, but the impact of a degree washes out after five years. As further evidence of the erosion of corporate faith in specialized degrees, Michigan State’s Scheetz cites a pattern in corporate hiring practices. Although companies tend to take on specialists as new hires, they often seek out generalists for middle and upper-level management. ―They want someone who isn‘t constrained by nuts and bolts to look at the big picture,‖ says Scheetz. This sounds suspiciously like a formal statement that you approve of the liberal-arts graduate. Time and again labor-market analysts mention a need for talents that liberal-arts majors are assumed to have: writing and communication skills, organizational skills, open-mindedness and adaptability ,and the ability to analyze and solve problems. David Birch claims he does not hire anybody with an MBA or an engineering degree. ―I hire only liberal-arts people because they have a less-than-canned way of doing things,‖ says Birch. Liberal-arts means an academically thorough and strict program that includes literature, history, mathematics, economics, science, human behavior—plus a computer course or two. With that under your belt, you can feel free to specialize. ―A liberal-arts degree coupled with an MBA or some other technical training is a very good combination in the market place,‖ says Scheetz. 26. What kinds of people are in high demand on the job market ? A. Students with a bachelor‘s degree in humanities B. People with an MBA degree from top universities C. People with formal schooling plus work experience D. People with special training in engineering 27. By saying “„but the impact of a degree washes out after five years.” (Line 3, Para, 3), the author means A. Most MBA programs fail t provide students with a solid foundation B. An MBA degree does not help promotion to managerial positions C. MBA programs will not be as popular in five years‘ time as they are now D. In five people will forget about the degree the MBA graduates have got 28. According to Scheetz’s statement (Line 4-5. Para .4) ,companies prefer A. People who have a strategic mind B. People who are talented in fine arts C. People who are ambitious and aggressive D. People who have received training in mechanics 29. David Birch claims that he only hires liberal-arts people because A. They are more capable of handling changing situations B. They can stick to established ways of solving problems C. They are thoroughly trained in a variety of specialized fields D. They have attended special programs in management 30. Which of the following statements does the author support? A. Specialists are more expensive to hire than generalists B. Formal schooling is less important than job training C. On-the –job training is, in the long run, less costly D. Generalists will outdo specialists in management Passage 3 About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table, I couldn’t help overhearing parts of their conversation. At one point the woman asked: “So, how have you been?” And the boy—who could not have been more than seven or eight years old—replied. ―Frankly, I‘ve been feeling a little depressed lately.‖ This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed my growing belief that children are changing. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were “depressed” until we were in high school. The evidence of a change in children has increased steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem childlike anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to. Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is different. Childhood as it once was no longer exists. Why? Human development is based not only on innate biological states, but also on patterns of access to social knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new status. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages: traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders. In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation machine has been installed to 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information, and indiscriminately, to all viewers alike, be they children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation, many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging, more vivid moving pictures. Communication through print, as a matter of fact, allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access. Reading and writing involve a complex code of symbols that must be memorized and practices. Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials. 31. According to the author, feeling depressed is A. A sure sign of a psychological problem in a child B. Something hardly to be expected in a young child C. An inevitable phase of children‘s mental development D. A mental state present in all humans, including children 32. Traditionally, a child is supposed to learn about the adult world A. Through contact with society B. Gradually and under guidance C. Naturally and by biological instinct D. Through exposure to social information 33. The phenomenon that today’s children seem adultlike is attributed by the author to A. The widespread influence of television B. The poor arrangement of teaching content C. the fast pace of human intellectual development D. the constantly rising standard of living 34. Why is the author in favour of communication through print for children? A. It enables children to gain more social information B. It develops children‘s interest in reading and writing C. It helps children to memorize and practice more. D. It can control what children are to learn 35. What does the author think of the change in today’s children? A. He feels amused by chair premature behavior B. He thinks it is a phenomenon worthy of note C. He considers it a positive development D. He seems to be upset about it. Passage 4 “Opinion” is a word that is used carelessly today. It is used to refer to matters of taste, belief, and judgment. This casual use would probably cause little confusion if people didn’t attach too much importance to opinion. Unfortunately, most do attach great importance to it. ―I have as much right to my opinion as you to yours,‖ and ―Everyone‘s entitled to his opinion,‖ are common expressions. In fact, anyone who would challenge another‘s opinion is likely to be branded intolerant. Is that label accurate? Is it intolerant to challenge another’s opinion? It depends on what definition of opinion you have in mind. For example, you may ask a friend “What do you think of the new Ford cars?” And he may reply, “In my opinion, they’re ugly.‖ In this case, it would not only be intolerant to challenge his statement, but foolish. For it‘s obvious that by opinion he means his personal preference, a matter of taste. And as the old saying goes, ―it‘s pointless to argue about matters of taste.‖ But consider this very different use of the term. A newspaper reports that the Supreme Court has delivered its opinion in a controversial case. Obviously the justices did not state their personal preferences, their mere likes and dislikes. They stated their considered judgment, painstakingly arrived at after thorough inquiry and deliberation. Most of what is referred to as opinion falls somewhere between these two extremes. It is not an expression of taste. Nor is it careful judgment. Yet it may contain elements of both. It is a view or belief more or less casually arrived at, with or without examining the evidence. Is everyone entitled to his opinion? Of course, this is not only permitted, but guaranteed. We are free to act on our opinions only so long as, in doing so, we do not harms others. 36. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the author? A. Everyone has a right to hold his own opinion. B. Free expression of opinions often leads to confusion. C. Most people tend to be careless in forming their opinions. D. Casual use of the word ―opinion‖ often brings about quarrels. 37. According to the author, who of the following would be labored as intolerant? A. Someone who turns a deaf ear to others‘ opinions. B. Someone who can’t put up with others’ tastes. C. Someone who values only their own opinions. D. Someone whose opinion harms other people 38.The new Ford cars are cited as an example to show that A. It is foolish to criticize a famous brand B. One should not always agree to others‘ opinions C. Personal tastes are not something to be challenged D. It is unwise to express one‘s likes and dislikes in public. 39. Considered judgment is different from personal preference in that A. It is stated by judges in the court. B. It reflects public likes and dislikes C. It is a result of a lot of controversy D. It is based on careful thought 40. As indicated in the passage, being free to act on one’s opinion A. Means that one can ignore other people‘s criticism. B. Means that one can impose his preferences on others. C. Doesn’t mean that one has the right to do things at will. D. Doesn‘t mean that one has the right to charge others without evidence. SKIMMING AND SCANNING Passage 1 Large companies need a way to reach the savings of the public at large. The same problem, on a smaller scale, faces practically every company trying to develop new products and create new jobs. There can be little prospect of raising the sort of sums needed from friends and people they know, and while banks may agree to provide short-term finance, they are generally unwilling to provide money on a permanent basis for long-term projects. So companies turn to the public, inviting people to lend them money, or take a share in the business in exchange for a share in future profits. This they do by issuing stocks and shares in the business through the Stock Exchange. By doing so they can put into circulation the savings of individuals and institutions, both at home and overseas. When the saver needs his money back, he does not have to go to the company with whom he originally placed it. Indeed, he sells his shares through a stock broker to some other saver who is seeking to invest his money. Many of the services needed both by industry and by each of us are provided by the Government or by local authorities. Without hospitals, roads, electricity, telephones, railways, this country would not function. All these require continuous spending on new equipment and new development if they are to serve us properly, requiring more money than is raised through taxes alone. The Government, local authorities, and nationalized industries therefore frequently need to borrow money to finance major capital spending, and they, too, come to the Stock Exchange. There is hardly a man or woman in this country whose job or whose standard of living does not depend on the ability of his or her employers to raise money to finance new development. In one way or another this new money must come from the savings of the country. The Stock Exchange exists to provide a channel through which these savings can reach those who need finance. 41. Almost all companies embarking on developing new products must A. Rely on their own financial resources B. Persuade the banks to provide long-term loans C. Borrow large sums of money from friends and people they know D. Depend on the public for finance 42. The money which enables a company to go ahead with its products is A. Repaid to its original owners as soon as possible B. Raised by the selling of shares of the company C. Put into circulation on the Stock Exchange D. Usually borrowed from overseas 43. When the savers want their money back they A. Go to the company with whom they had placed their money B. Borrow from other people C. Put their shares in the company back on the market D. Transfer their shares to a more successful company 44. Which of the following statements is true of the Stock Exchange? A. It enables those in need of finance to get as much as they wish. B. It enhances the ability of companies to raise money to finance new development C. It provides a way for the savings of a country to reach those who need finance. D. It increases job opportunities to improve living standards of a country. Passage 2 Fifty years ago the sink was an oblong, shallow trough of yellowish earthenware, placed far enough under a tap to allow for a bucket being filled there. Its sides were grooved and it was fitted with a waste-pipe and plug. When the time came to wash the dishes the first move was to boil a kettle and the second move was to pour hot water, diluted with cold, into a chipped enamel basin which was placed in the sink. Since those early days the march of progress has introduced a second tap, which actually runs hot, and has altered the appearance and shape of the sink itself. It first became whiter and deeper, then it turned to stainless steel, the grooved wooden draining boards being transformed into shining metal or gaily-colored formica, the old wooden plate racks turning into fiberglass or plastic. What is surprising however, is that the old basin(now also made in plastic) should remain; a smaller basin within a larger trough. But why? Why should not the sink be of the right size to begin with? Perhaps a hundred years of mental effort have at last produced a double sink, each half small enough to fill directly as a first step towards washing the dishes. But houses with double sinks are still the exception and those with plastic basins are still the rule. Nor is even the double sink complete, for the housewife needs to add, as she has always done, a triangular perforated vessel into which her wet trash and tea-leaves can be emptied. Without this the waste-pipe is liable to be locked, as the designer of the sink should have realized. But why was no effort made to produce a sink that was complete in itself, needing no plastic after-thought? Why was not the required mesh incorporated in the original design? It is true that the waste-disposal unit is now on the market, but how long it has taken to introduce! 45. Which of the following features of the average sink has not changed during the last 50 years? A. The depth B. The draining board C. The material it is made of D. The number of compartments 46. In most cases, only one of the following processes in washing up is no longer necessary, which is it? A. Boiling a kettle B. Diluting the hot water with cold C. Turning on the tap D. Using a basin 47. The invention of the double sink A. Causes more frequent blockage of the waste pipe B. Has made washing up much easier C. Has solved all of the housewives‘ problems D. Still follows the traditional method. Passage 3 Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man takes to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fails all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary step toward political regeneration; so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. Modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer. It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug. The attraction of this way of writing is that it is easy. It is easier—even quicker, once you have the habit—to say ―In my opinion, it is not an unjustifiable assumption‖ than to say ―I think‖. If you use ready-made phrases, you not only don‘t have to hunt about for words; you also don‘t have to bother with the rhythms of your sentences, since these phrases are generally so arranged as to be more or less euphonious. When you are composing I a hurry it is natural to fall into a pretentious, Latinised style. Tags like ―a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind‖ or ―a conclusion to which all of us would readily assent‖ will save many a sentence from coming down with a hump. By using stable metaphors, similes and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself. 48. According to the writer, the abuse of language A. Is the cause of foolish thoughts B. Is the result of foolish thoughts C. Is the cause and the result of foolish thoughts D. Is the result of influence by bad writers 49. According to the author, the fight against bad English is A. A matter concerning the political future of Britain B. The concern of professional writers C. A matter not to be taken seriously D. Unlikely to succeed without government intervention 50. From the author’s point of view, bad habits in English A. Will gradually disappear B. Are spreading quickly in the country C. Can be easily discarded D. Can be done away with by conscious efforts