2012年全国大学生英语竞赛C类初赛真题及答案

2012 National English Contest for College Students(Level C – Preliminary) (总分：150分 时间：120分钟) Part I listening Comprehension (30 marks) Section A (5 marks) In this section, you will hear five short conversations. Each conversation will be read only once .After each conversation, there will be a twenty-second pause. During the pause, read the question and the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer .Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre. What does the man say we can do to deal with oil crisis? A. To make full use of oil. B. To use as little oil as possible C. To find alternative energy. 2. Where does this conversation most probably take place? A. In an insurance company. B. In a bank. C. In a supermarket. 3. According to the man, who is going to take over the position they are talking about? A. Janice. B. Someone else. C. Meryl. 4. What does the woman say about the man’s report for the meeting? A. He has to get it ready before tomorrow noon. B. He has done well enough. C. He has enough time to prepare it. 5. How many people will be on the earth by the year 2020 according to the professor? A. Some 5.8 billion. B. Nearly 7 billion. C. Over 8.5 billion. Section B (10 marks) In this section, you will hear two long conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. At the end of each conversation, there will be a one-minute pause. During the pause, read the questions and the three choices marked A, Band C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre Conversation One 6. What’s the main job of Simon’s organization? A. They send out radio signals to communicate with other planets. B. They look for life and intelligence on other planets. C. They study stars that have planets orbiting around them. 7. Why does the organization search for radio signals from space? A. Their presence may prove the existence of aliens. B. They may help scientists find out how the universe started. C. They convey messages about life on the earth. 8. Does Simon believe those stories about aliens visiting our planet? A. No, he doesn’t believe them at all. B. Yes, he does believe those stories because of his study. C. Yes, he believes them although he has no evidence. 9. Which of the following factor is considered to be important in forming life according to the passage? A. Gravity. B. Minerals. C. Water. 10. When did the “big bang” occur? A. No one knows. B. 12 billion years ago. C. 20 billion year ago. Conversation Two 11. Why did Bob make the news last month? A. Because he criticized traditional jobs B. Because he earned a lot of money. C. Because he tried new strategies in finding a job. 12. In which way do the bestsellers like “The Brand Called You” and “The Personal Branding Phenomenon” help people? A. They advise people to promote themselves as brands. B. They teach people how to be a perfect partner. C. They give people tips for job interview. 13. When did Bob come up with the idea of using the internet to find a job? A. Ten years ago when he was a college student. B. When he began to do research between jobs. C. After he launched the campaign “Give Bob a Job”. 14. What was the purpose of Bob’s making the video? A. To fulfill his ambition as a director. B. To sell his products like Teddy bears and T-shirts. C. To advertise his skills and talents. 15. How can the internet help Bob in his job search exactly? A. By helping him make friends. B. By passing on the video he made. C. By providing job information for him. Section C (5 marks) In this section, you will hear five short news items. After each item, which will be read only once, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the question and the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre. 16. How many troops are going to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year? A. 43,000. B. 10,000. C. 33,000. 17. What is the finding of the study? A. Low-calorie foods may lead to more weight. B. High-calorie foods may lead to more weight. C. High-calorie foods may lead to less weight. 18. What do the conflicting reports show about radiation? A. The radiation level given by Tokyo Electric is much smaller than that given by other tests. B. The radiation level given by other tests is smaller than that given by Tokyo Electric. C. The radiation level is close to 10,000 times the normal level. 19. Why are Caribbean Service and Europe Today shut down by BBC? A. Because of their outdated services. B. Because of cuts in government funding. C. Because of lack of target audience. 20. What’s the cause of demonstrations in cities and towns across Syria? A. They are calling for more freedom. B. Workers demand higher pay. C. Some thirty people were killed by the police. Section D (10 marks) In this section, you will hear a short passage. There are 10 missing words or phrases. Fill in the blanks with the exact words or phrases you hear. The passage will be read twice. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet. Recovery from jetlag can take as long as a day for every time zone crossed. So if you’re flying east-west for your holiday or on business, it is likely to mean a few days of feeling tired or even unwell. Jetlag is the (21)__________ of the body’s natural cycle and some factors make it worse. The artificial atmosphere inside a plane can affect the body in a number of ways and add to the effects of jetlag. Exercising before flights helps to offset the effects on the body of reduced (22) _________, and aerobic exercise afterwards helps to reoxygenate it. Drink plenty of water. Children may need more. Drinking carrot juice before flying overcomes oxygen deficiency. Eat light, frequent meals. Heavy meals (23) __________ the blood circulation, which can lead to dizziness and fainting. For two weeks before you fly, eat plenty of food containing vitamins A and E; they will build up your (24) __________ and help to keep you fit. Sleep as much as you can before the flight and on it. On board, wear earplugs and eye pads because darkness (25) __________ secretion of the hormones that enhance sleep. Avoid alcohol, which restricts the brain’s oxygen intake. Like tea and coffee, alcohol increases the dehydration effect of flying. If you need to drink to relax, (26) __________ that the cabin environment intensifies the effect of alcohol. Wear loose, comfortable, warm clothes and limber up during flight. Sitting down for several hours slows down the (27) _________, leading to local stiffness, cramps and dizziness. Re-adjust to local time as soon as you can. Bright light helps the body stay alert, so if you are going somewhere sunny, stay outside. Do not smoke before or during the flight since smoking (28) ___________ the blood oxygen level. If you need to calm your nerves, try aromatherapy oils which have a sedative effect. (29) _________ your doctor before flying if you are on medication. The effects of some drugs are strengthened at high altitudes and some may produce (30) _________. Part II Vocabulary and Structure (15 marks) There are 15 incomplete sentences in this section. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre. 31. What we all work for is to free ________ time for the things we really want to do. A. off B. up C. aside D. in 32. You _________ his words seriously. He was talking nonsense. A. won’t take B. may not take C. mustn’t have taken D. needn’t have taken 33. Never hesitate to _________ the first opportunity that comes along. A. seize B. draw C. who; that D. obtain 34. His mother ________ hated city life longed to return to the village in _______she grew up. A. that; where B. who; which C. who; that D. who; where 35. All things _______, I think I’d better take your advice. A. considering B. to be considered C. considered D. have been considered 36. Twelve European countries ________ over to the Euro on January 1st, 2002. A. transformed B. switched C. reversed D. altered 37. She isn’t anything ________ unpleasant as people say she is. A. as like B. like C. as D. like as 38. Stop complaining. You really ________ my nerves. A. get down B. get along C. get off D. get on 39. There wasn’t _______ truth in what he said. A. a grain of B. a ray of C. a point of D. a drop of 40. ________ for my savings, I wouldn’t be able to survive these miserable days. A. Was it not B. Were it not C. Had it been not D. Hadn’t it been 41. There was a power cut this morning. ________, I couldn’t do anything with my computer. A. Supposedly B. Presumably C. Consequently D. Essentially 42. Alarm clocks needlessly wake ______ households. I want to design something targeted at the individual sleeper. A. whole B. total C. full D. high 43. _______ both parties agree on these issues will a contract be signed soon. A. If only B. Unless C. Should D. Only if 44.—I’ve run out of cash. Could you lend me a few pounds this evening? —_____ I’ll just have to find time to get to the bank and make a withdrawal. A.I can lend you some now. B. I’m not sure I’ve got any either. C. Sorry, I haven’t got a penny in my account. D. My credit card must be left home. 45. —We’re all going to the New Skyline Restaurant for our end-of-year get-together. Can we count you in? —Oh, thanks, Sara, but _____ A. I didn’t find you then. B. I’ve been to the restaurant once. C. I’ll pass this time. D. I’ll meet you there at 5:00. Part III Cloze (10 marks) Read the following passage and fill in each blank with one word. Choose the correct word in one of the following three ways: according to the context, by using the correct form of the given word, or by using the given letters of the word. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet. Did you know that for every 20,000 novels written, only one gets published? So the (46) ____ (likely) that I’ll ever fulfill my ambition of becoming a professional mystery writer doesn’t seem very high. But the prospect of turning my lifelong passion into my livelihood and achieving fame and (47) for ______ at the same time is just too exciting for me to be put off by dull statistics. 　　So what does it (48) t_______ to become a writer? Reading is important—all writers need to research their genre thoroughly to familiarize themselves (49) _______ its codes and conventions. My bookshelves at home are stacked with the novels of all the great mystery writers, which I’ve read and in many cases, re-read, despite (50) _______ (know) all the time “who’d done it”. 　　Of course, being a writer requires imagination. You have to develop your own personal style rather than simply copy the work of “the greats”. I’ve turned out (51) d________ of short crime stories for my university student magazine—some have been published, some not, but I’ve always aimed to produce original and imaginative material. 　　Last but not (52) ________, successful writers possess enormous self-discipline. I’ve often sacrificed my social life in order to devote the necessary time and effort to producing a good quality story. And more than once that has meant (53) _______ the midnight oil. We’ve got a novel inside us. Getting it out in anywhere near publishable form is no (54) ______ task, but with imagination and determination, and the help of an expert on “master class”, who could possibly fail to (55) re_______ their ambition? Part IV Reading Comprehension (40 marks) Read the following passages. Each passage is followed by several questions. Respond to the questions using information from the passage. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet. Section A (10 marks) Questions 56—60 are based on the following passage. The term culture shock was introduced for the first time in 1958 to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment. This term expresses the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment. We can describe culture shock as the physical and emotional discomfort a person suffers when coming to live in a place different from the place of origin. Often, the way that we live before is not accepted or considered as normal in the new place. Everything is different, for example, not speaking the language, not knowing how to use banking machines, not knowing how to use telephones, and so forth. The symptoms of culture shock can appear at different times. Although a person can experience real pain from culture shock, it is also an opportunity for growing and learning new perspectives. Culture shock can help people develop a better understanding of themselves and stimulate personal creativity. Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing, or appear only at certain times. In the first stage, the new arrival may feel very happy about all of the new experience. This time is called the honeymoon stage. Afterward, the second stage presents itself. A person may encounter some difficulties in daily life. For example, communication difficulties may occur, such as not being understood. In this stage, there may be feelings of impatience, anger and sadness. Transition between the old methods and those of the new country is a difficult process and takes time to complete. The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of the new culture. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. A person may start to feel a psychological balance. The individual is more familiar with the environment and wants to belong. This starts an evaluation of the old ways versus those of the new. In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. This stage can be one of double integration or triple integration, depending on the number of cultures that the person has to process. This integration is characterized by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person starts to define himself or herself and establish goals for living. The fifth stage is the stage that is called the reentry shock. This occurs when a person returns to the newly acquired customs are considered improper in the old culture. Questions 56—60 Complete the summary with words from the passage, changing the form where necessary, with only one word for each blank. Introduced in 1958, culture shock is a term used to (56) __________ physical and emotional discomfort people experience when they come to or live in a new place. Although many people suffer a lot from culture shock, it is an (57) _________ for personal improvement. The five stages of culture shock may last for a long time or show up once in a while. In the first stage, the (58) __________ stage, the new arrival might be OK with everything. Afterward, (59) ________ from old methods to the new one calls for time and energy. During the third and fourth stage, people may gain more understanding of the new culture and possess objective views. The double or triple integration is (60) __________ by a feeling of belonging. The last stage, called reentry shock, refers to the feeling people have when returning to their home country. Section B (10 marks) Questions 61-65 are based on the following passage. For some people, it would be unthinkable. But Gabe Henderson is finding freedom in a recent decision; he canceled his MySpace account. The 26 years old graduate student stopped his account after realizing that a lot of his online friends were really just acquaintances. “The superficial emptiness clouded the excitement I had once felt,” Henderson wrote in an article. “It seems we have lost, to some degree, the special depth that true friendship is about.” Journalism professor Michael Bugeja, who is a strong supporter of face-to-face communication, read Henderson’s column and saw it was a sign of hope. Though he’s not anti-technology, Bugeja often lectures students about “interpersonal intelligence” —knowing when, where, and for what purpose technology is most appropriate. He points out the students he’s seen walking across campus, holding hands with each other while talking on cell phones to someone else He’s also seen them in coffee shops, surrounded by people, but staring instead at a computer screen. “True friends,” he says, “need to learn when to stop blogging and go across campus to help a friend.” These days, young people are more wired than ever—but they’re also getting more worried. Increasingly, they’ve had to deal with online bullies, who are posting anything from embarrassing photos to online threats. And increasingly, young people also are realizing that things they post on their profiles can come back to hurt them when applying for schools or jobs. Social networking can be an “extremely effective” way to publicize events to large groups. It can even help build a sense of community on campus. People joined Facebook as a way to meet others. However, it has limitations. A good Internet profile could make even the most boring person seem some what interesting. People are also not always happy with text messages on the cell phones. Cell phones can be a quick way to say “have a good day”. But friends can also cancel a night out with a text message to avoid having to explain. “Our generation needs to get over this fear of confrontation and rejection.” Henderson says. “The focus needs to be on quality communication, in all ways.” Back in his life, Henderson is enjoying spending more face-to-face time with his friends and less with his computer. He says his decision to quit his social-networking Internet accounts was a good one. “I’m not sacrificing friends,” he says, “because if a picture, some basic information about their life and a Web page is all my friendship has become, then there was nothing to sacrifice to begin with.” Questions 61—63 Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the passage. 61. Although Henderson quit MySpace, most of his online friends are actually close friends. 62. According to Bugeja, young people should know when to use technology and when to stop using it. 63. Social networking helps build a sense of community but has a negative effect on young people’s life if it is used inappropriately. Questions 64—65 Answer the following questions briefly according to the passage. 64. What does Henderson lose by using social networking websites like Myspace? 65. What do young people need to overcome in order to focus on quality communication? Section C (10 marks) Questions 66—70 are based on the following passage. “Five … Four … Three … Two … One … See ya! ” and Chance McGuire, twenty-five, is airborne off a 600 –foot concrete dam in Northern California. In one second he falls 15 feet, in two seconds 60 feet, and after three seconds and 130 feet, he is flying at 66 miles an hour. McGuire is a practitioner of what he calls the king of all extreme sports. BASE—an acronym for building, antenna, span (bridge) and earth (cliffs)—jumping has one of the sporting world’s highest fatality rates: in its 18-year history, forty –six participants have been killed. Y