专升本英语辅导：阅读理解

专升本英语辅导：阅读理解 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Reading Comprehension (Part One) Passage 1 Most people can measure their status at work by four P’s --- paychecks, promotions, performance reviews and perk (特殊待遇). For women, it is paychecks that often speak the loudest about how employers value them --- or undervalue them. Despite gains, many women still earn, on average, just 74 cents every dollar men earn, reports the US. Census Bureau. Do the math: that’s 26 cents per dollar lost. Over a working lifetime, the potential income adds up to staggering losses, as one example, the Institutes for women’s policy research in Washington calculates that the average 29-year-old working woman with a college degree will lose 990,000 dollars to the pay gap over her career. To emphasize just how much that income gap between men and women costs women, the working women’s department of the AFL-CIO last week launched an unusual website --- www.alfcio.org/equalpay.htm --- for equal pay. A visitor to the site simply enters her current salary, age group, and education level, then the screen shows how much the pay gap could cost her. For a hypothetical 40-year-old college educated woman earning 40,000 dollars, the figure is 844,107 dollars. In real life, of course, some women’s losses will be lower --- or even nonexistent. Wage discrimination has been against the law for 35 years. Yet systematic underpayment on the basis of sex and race still pervades the workplace. Since the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, the wage gap has closed at the rate of less than half a penny a year, giving new meaning to the term ―snail’s pace.‖ Women secretaries, for example, earn about 100 dollars a week less than male clerks, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity. For women lawyers, median weekly earnings are nearly 300 dollars less than those of male lawyers. Median pay for women professors is 170 dollars less than their male counterparts. The list of disparities goes on. Two myths persist. The first is that women work for extras — vocation, clothes, second cars. In truth, women work for the same economic reasons men do — to pay the rent, buy food, finance college education, save for retirement, and yes, buy extras too. The second myth holds that the pay gap is a woman’s issue. Not true. 1 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 1. According to the passage, which one best shows employers’ evaluation of women employees? A. Paychecks B. Promotions. C. Performance reviews. D. Perks. 2. Women’s average income is______ of men’s according to one of the U.S. Census Bureau’s reports. A. 26% B. more than 70% C. 80% D. 85% 3. The equal pay Website is opened______. A. to appeal for higher pay for women B. to expand the visitor’s vision C. to make known how serious the pay gap for women is D. to arouse women to struggle for their own benefits 4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. American women couldn’t get equal pay with men for lack of a law against wage discrimination. B. The Equal Pay Act, signed in 1963, is not effective in getting rid of wage discrimination. C. Although there is a law for equal pay, its enforcement is not satisfactory. D. In real life, all the women’s losses are lower than 40,000 dollars a year. 5. The most appropriate title of the passage is ______. A. the Pay Gap for Women B. Wage Discrimination C. The Equal Pay act D. Four P’s Passage 2 What is bothersome though, is the implication that if women are going to be taken seriously, they need to prove that they could hold their own against men. It’s tiresome, it’s sexist, it’ old —the notion that women’s activities hold value only if they are accepted in the eyes of men. And in competitive sports, that value seemingly has to arise from the ability to play against, and emerge victorious over, men. Then they will respect us. And not until. And what is the likelihood of this occurring? Not great. There are differences in physiology that makes men, on the whole, stronger and larger. This is an irrefutable fact. Does it make men superior? Well, if you measure that superiority by the potential to score more points in a game of women against men, then the answer would 2 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 probably have to be yes. Are there women who can see the floor, handle the ball, understand the game and make the right moves as well as men can? Undoubtedly. Is it possible that there are as yet unmeasured areas in which men excel in basketball skills? It’s quite possible. But does it matter? Probably not. Still, there are actually some good reasons to compare the games of men and women. Among them is the fact that in competition, comparison is the name of the game. Women’s basketball is a relatively young sport. There is not enough history to have produced a yardstick against which to measure performance. As in swimming in the last twenty years, women’s skills in the sport have improved, and continue to improve, at a tremendous rate. In swimming today, women’s race times have reached the levels of men’s times in the 60’s and 70’s. The question may be not ―How good are the women?‖ But ―How good will they become?‖ What are the limits? We have begun to find that there are limits, as the rate of change in the world records in swimming and track show. We haven’t come close to those limits yet in women’s basketball. In men’s basketball, arguably, the game hasn’t changed that much in the last 20 years. If you want to measure against a fairly stable standard, men’s basketball provides one — which is what men tend to want, and women sometimes buy into. And from there comes the speculation that no matter how good women are, just put them on the court with men, and we’ll find out the real truth — that women would be nothing if only they had to play against some real competition. 1. It can be inferred that the writer of the passage ______the idea that the value of women’s activities is judged by men. A. approves of B. doubts C. disapproves of D. accepts 2. It is an irrefutable fact that ______. A. men are superior to women in physiology B. men are superior to women in basketball and other games C. men can score more points in a game than women D. women excel in basketball skills in other areas 3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Women’s basketball is relatively young, so we have no yardstick to measure performance B. In swimming, women have made greater progress than men in the last twenty 3 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 years. C. There are limits to how good women will become in games. D. Women have reached those limits in basketball. 4. ______if women had to play against some real competition. A. There would be no loser or winner B. Both men and women would be winners C. Men would be losers D. Women would be losers Passage 3 There seems to be a wide gap in the way men and women view marriage. In a survey 52 percent of the male responders agreed with the concept that ―a man should go to work, but a woman should stay home and keep house,‖ while only twenty percent disagreed. In the follow-up survey conducted in 1990, the ratio of pros and cons turned out to be almost equal at 35 and 34 percent. However the proportion of disagreeing men was still smaller than the 43 percent of female responders. Women generally believed that, while women’s roles in Japan’s postwar society have become diversified, men have essentially remained unchanged. Under such circumstances, communication between the sexes is far from easy. Today, there has emerged the view that psychological factors may be responsible for the trouble men and women have in communication with each other. Thus, the mental aspect is beginning to loom as a major issue. During the whole period from Meiji era (明治时代 1868-1912) to the end of World War II, marriage meant a union of families to most Japanese. It was a coming together of two families under Japan’s time-honored family system. Therefore, not surprisingly, neither men nor women possessed the freedom to choose their own marriage partners. After the war, such freedom was guaranteed by Article 24 of the new constitution. But old customs do not change overnight, and the old family system persisted. At the door of a wedding party at a wedding hall you will see the familiar sign: ―Wedding Ceremony of Family A and Family B.‖ Despite such outward appearances, however, individualism has begun to take root. The 50 years since the end of war may be regarded as the process of shift from the family-centered to the individual-centered way of thinking. 4 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Recently, especially in the cities, there have appeared many phenomena that suggest that the Japanese are freeing themselves from the rigid family system. Young people now regard their marriage in terms of the husband-and-wife unit. And marital bonds can now assume various forms, with some couples choosing not to have the wife’s name entered in the family register and others selecting not to share a common domicile. Of course, there is still a big difference between Japan’s urban and rural districts. Conservative views still prevail in rural areas and it will likely take considerable time before people in the countryside come to think in the same way as Tokyo residents. 1.The surveys mentioned in the passage are used to support the view that____________. A. men and woman view marriage differently B. men think that women should stay home C. the number of the disagreeing men equals that of the disagreeing women D. women’s roles have changed while men’s haven’t 2. During the period from the Meiji era to World War II, ______in Japan. A. the family-centered way of thinking prevailed B. individualism began to take root C. men enjoyed the freedom to choose their wives D. the family system was important than anything else 3. After World War II, ______. A. old customs were replaced by individualism B. marriage was still regarded as a coming together of two families C. there was a gradual shift from individualism to the family system D. marriage was a union of families to all the Japanese 4. Recently, in Japanese cities, ______. A. young couples regard their marriages in terms of the family system B. some women don’t enter their names in the register of her husband’s family C. women are not able to free themselves from the rigid family system D. neither men nor women free themselves from the family system. 5 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Passage 4 Jim Trelease has devoted the past 16 years to promoting what he considers the best-kept secret in education today. ―Most people don’t believe me when they first hear it,‖ he says. ―They dismiss it for three reasons: One, it’s simple. Two, it’s free. Three, the child enjoys it. So how good can it be?‖ His audience tonight, mostly young parents and teachers gathered in the St. Helena, Calif. elementary-school auditorium, giggles nervously. ―I know what you’re thinking,‖ Trelease says. ―There are only 24 hours in a day. It’s true. But who ever told you that parenting was going to be a time-saving activity?‖ Trelease continues to persuade them that no matter how busy they are, the foremost nurturing they can give a child, next to hugging him, is reading aloud to him. He backs up his opinion with facts. Numerous studies, including recent reports by the Center for the Study of Reading and the National Council of Teachers of English, confirm that reading to children builds vocabulary, stimulates imagination, stretches the attention span, nourishes emotional development, and introduces the textures and nuances of the English language. Reading aloud is, in essence, an advertisement for learning to read. Trelease laments that elementary-school students are too often conditioned to associate reading with work. ―We have concentrated so hard on teaching children how to read that we have forgotten to teach them to want to read,‖ he says. His audience is surprised to hear that only 22 percent of eighth-graders read for fun daily, while 65 percent watch three hours or more of television each day. Research also indicates that average reading proficiency drops when TV viewing reaches about three hours a day. Their parents’ habits are no better: a recent survey shows a decline in newspaper readership among U.S. adults. Lest there be any doubt about the stakes involved, Trelease makes a bold claim. Reading, he says, is the single most important social factor in American life today. ―The more you read, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the longer you stay in school. The longer you stay in school, the more money you earn. The more you earn, the better your children will do in school. So if you hook a child with reading, you influence not only his future but also that of the next generation.‖ 6 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 1. According to the passage, Trelease’s best-kept secret in education is ______. A. hugging children every day B. stimulating children’s imagination C. extending children’s attention span D. reading aloud to children 2. What’s most people’s attitude towards Trelease’s secret? A. Positive B. Doubtful C. Enthusiastic D. Indifferent 3. What worries Trelease is ______ A. that reading aloud is often used as an advertisement B. reading is too frequently associated with work at elementary schools C. teachers neglect to stimulate the student’s desire to read at elementary schools D. teachers fail to teach children how to read at the elementary schools 4. According to the passage, average reading proficiency drops because ______ A. 78 percent of eighth-graders regard reading not funny but boring B. most people spend more time watching TV C. adults force their children to read D. only 22 percent of people read for fun 5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Trelease as a benefit of reading aloud to children? A. It makes people smarter. B. It enables the parents to work more efficiently C. It benefits children and their next generation D. It helps cultivate children’s characters Passage 5 Prior to age 11, children tend to tell their parents what’s on their minds — in fact, parents are first on the list, says Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. ―This completely reverses during the teen years,‖ Riera explains. ―They talk to their friends first, then maybe their teachers or counselors and their parents last.‖ Parents who do know what’s going on in their children’s lives are in the best position to help them. In a three-year study of more than 20,000 adolescents, 7 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Laurence Steinberg, Professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia and author of You and Your Adolescent, found that teens who shared details of their daily lives with parents were less likely to have trouble with schoolwork or get involved with drugs or alcohol. Yet more and more parents have a tough time connecting with their teenagers. Here are seven steps for parents who want to break down the walls of silence. Create a ―listening climate.‖ ―It’s not natural for teenagers to want to sit down and talk,‖ says Dr. Candace Erickson, a behavioral and developmental pediatrician and New York City’s Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. ―You have to make it seem natural for them.‖ The key, she adds, is to create an ongoing ―listening climate‖ in your home. ―This way, when teens have something important to discuss, coming to you with the problem will seem like an ordinary thing to do.‖ One of the best ways to achieve this is to set aside special time with your teenager on a regular basis. Nancy Pistorius of Lawrence, Kan, says that makes all the difference in her relationship with her 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa. ―She and I go out for lunch sometimes, or to the theater. And we have adventures together, like one recent Sunday when we attended a painting workshop.‖ Dinner is an important—but often overlooked—opportunity for shared family time. According to the Families and Work Institute, a nonprofit research organization, nearly one in five teenagers rarely or never eats dinner with his or her parents. ―It’s sounds too simple , but according to the thousands of kids I’ve worked with over 26 years, this really does make a difference,‖ says Nancy Rubin, a schoolteacher in Marin, Calif., and author of Ask Me If I Care:Voices from an American High School, ―Just the fact that their parents are interested in what they have to say every night at dinner gives them a feeling of being respected.‖ 1. According to Michael Riera, children tend to ______ prior to age 11. A. tell their parents what’s on their minds first B. tell their parents what’s on their minds last C. tell their teachers what’s on their minds first D. turn a deaf ear to their parents’ advice 2. The study conducted by Laurence Steinberg shows that______ A. children who do not tell their parents what’s on their minds tend to be involved with drugs or alcohol. 8 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 B. children who do not share details of their daily lives with their parents are more likely to get involved with drugs or alcohol. C. children who tell their parents what they think will keep a good relationship with their parents. D. more and more parents have a tough time connecting with their teenagers. 3. Nancy Pistorius’ relationship with her daughter is mentioned to support the view that ______ A. arranging special time with teenagers is quite beneficial for improving the relationship between parents and kids B. setting aside special time with children is natural for creating a ―listening climate‖ C. discussing important problems is one of the best ways to connect with kids D. it’s not natural for teenagers to want to sit down and talk. 4. According to the Families and Work Institute, the percentage of teenagers who rarely or never eat dinner with their parents is ______ A. 5% B.20% C. 25% D.51% 5. Which of the following is most likely to be the main idea of the passage that follows this one? A. Other steps for parents to communicate with their teenagers. B. Talking with kids every night will make them feel respected. C. Talking with kids at dinner is different from going out for dinner with them. D. The reasons why teenagers rarely or never eat dinner with their parents. Passage 6 From my earliest memories of elementary school, I remember how the classes were made to compete. Mrs. Olsen’s class was particularly good at marching to the lunch room. Because they were quieter and their lines were straighter, they were allowed to eat before our class. This was the beginning of group identity, and along with it came rivalry, competition, and conflicts. By high school, I had almost no individual identity left. I was an American and all other countries were enemies. I was a Hillcrest Hisky and all other high school were enemies. I was a wrestler and all the other sports were for wimps (懦弱者). I was on the debate team and everyone else was dumb. 9 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 At my high school, there were cowboys, jocks, seminary students, nerds, acid rockers and so on. Everyone had a group; no one was an individual. Wait. I take that back. There were a few individuals, but they were completely outcast from social order. Never in my life can I remember stronger feelings of hate than in high school. But we never called it hate. We called it loyalty. If you are like me, you want to avoid teaching rivalry, conflict and prejudice to your children. Many home school families reject the public schools precisely to avoid the kind of ―socialization‖ that leads to these problems. As adults, most of us are better at being an individual than we were in high school, but the influence of group identity continue to promote competition and prejudice in our world. How can we avoid teaching these unwanted attitudes to our children? One possible strategy for stopping the negative influences of group identity would be: recognize and replace. Look for the prejudice in your life and replace it with charity. Treat every person as an individual and ignore the social classifications created by a group-dependent world. A good friend and I once discovered our differing religious beliefs. He identified with a certain group and I with another. Because of our dependence on group identity, our conversation revolved around the beliefs of the groups. Our individual beliefs, which were quite similar, took a back seat while we discussed topics we knew little about. We defended our groups even when we did not understand or did not know the official group decision on many issues. The resulting rivalry has damaged our friendship ever since. 1. Which of the following may be the most appropriate title of the passage? A. Group Identity and its Negative Influences B. Group Identity and Hate C. Loyalty is responsible for Group Identity D. Individualism and Group Identity 2. According to the passage, which of the following accompanies group identity? A. Debate. B. Hate. C. Loyalty D. Socialization 3. Which of the following is true of the author’s high school? A. Cowboys are the few who have no group identity. B. Seminar students have group identity but they were not popular among their 10 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 peers. C. Those who don’t belong to any group are frowned on by most of the people. D. The feelings of hate are stronger than at any other high schools. 4.The author’s friendship with his good friend was damaged because of____________ A. their differing individual beliefs B. their different group beliefs C. their different ideas about group identity D. their different attitudes towards children 5. It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude toward group identity is__________ A. objective B. subjective C. doubtful D. positive Passage 7 Each college evaluates applicants differently. It is important to be aware of these differences and to create a strategy that is specific to each college. Some schools look only at academics and test scores, while others will consider alumni relations, state residency, interviews and other criteria. It is crucial to understand what each school deems important. This information will allow you to focus on what will really help you to get into that particular school. Some schools will choose a percentage of their students based solely on academic considerations. UC Berkeley chooses up to about 50% of their applicants this way. For most students, however, it is the other factors which will get them accepted or rejected. The College-Edge strategy can help you figure out why the school of your choice may accept or deny your admissions. The Overall Plan will show you how important different factors are at different schools, such as test scores, minority status, and talents. This can give you an idea of how your strengths and weaknesses will affect your admission. You can also then compare your scores and skills with those of the freshmen class of that college. Are you well-rounded? Usually, after the admissions officers examine the academic criteria, they will examine the character of the student though his or her achievement and activities. More than just a ―well-rounded‖ person, most colleges are looking for people who 11 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 will make a contribution in some way to their schools and who have proven themselves to be motivated leaders. If you have studied your way through high school without doing much else, chances are your application will seem a little incomplete. On the other hand, if you were involved in a million activities, but contributed nothing, your application may seem a little shallow. Schools may deny a student admission based on these grounds. For instance, Yale University insists they have more interest in performance rather than test scores. Yale says it wants someone who will be a curious and involved student, and choose accordingly. Schools may overlook a bad test score if there are other strong points in an application, but a good test won’t cover up deficiencies in other areas. 1. In order to enter the university you want to, you’re supposed to ______________. A. know the different admission criteria of different universities and adopt different strategies B. impress the admission officers how excellent you are in academic studies C. understand what each school deems important D. acquaint yourself with its alumni relations and other criteria 2. What does the word ―well-rounded‖ mean? A. Sophisticated B. Mature C. Fully-developed D. Excellent in academic studies 3. Which of the following will be examined by admissions officers? A. Academic criteria B. Applicants’ achievements C. Applicants’ activities D. All of the above 4. Which of the following is the most important qualification for admission to Yale University? A. Test scores B. Interest in performance C. Academic achievements D. Curiosity and involvement Passage 8 Public colleges and universities in the U.S., subsidized directly by state governments, are capturing an expanding share of enrollment. At the beginning of this century, more than 80% of students were enrolled in private colleges and universities. By the middle of the century, the figure had fallen to about 50%. From the 1960s on, 12 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 this trend has accelerated. By 1990, the composition had reversed itself from the beginning of the century, with four out of five students enrolled in public universities. During the three decades from 1965 to 1995, the public sector absorbed more than 86% of the higher education enrollment increase. The evidence is strong that the state government policy to create a system of state-run colleges and universities that drastically underprices private institutions of higher education has resulted in a threat to the independent higher education system. This unquestioned march away from private higher education to government control is inefficient and harmful to a civilized society. Private colleges and universities provide an educational experience quite different from state-run institutions. Private colleges are much smaller, with an average enrollment of around 1,500. The average enrollment for public colleges and universities is more than four times greater, approaching 7,000. Of the 120 largest institutions of higher education in terms of enrollment, all but eight are public. Eighty-five percent of colleges that enroll less than 1000 students are private. Students at private colleges and universities are more likely to interact with faculty and more satisfied with classroom instruction. They complete their degrees at a much higher rate than their counterparts at state-run institutions. Private institutions grant more doctorate and first professional degrees than state institutions, despite their much smaller enrollment. Aside from offering a different type of learning environment, a system of private colleges and universities is much more efficient than a government-run and -planned system. State governments have created a situation where a vast majority of students attend a college for a price that is far below the true cost of providing their education, and the educational service is not controlled very well by those who own the institution. 1. According to the passage, which of the following is responsible for the decreasing enrollment in private colleges and universities? A. Public colleges and universities grant more courses. B. Public colleges and universities are much larger than private colleges and universities. C. The government does not finance private institutions of higher education. D. Public colleges and universities financially supported by the State government 13 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 charge much less than private colleges and universities. 2. What is the author’s attitude toward the government’s policy to subsidize public universities ? A. Positive B. Indifferent C. Critical D .Neutral 3. How many more students does a public university enroll than a private one on an average? A. 1,500 B. 7,000 C. 6,000 D. 5,500 4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Students and teachers at private universities communicate more often than those at public ones. B. Classroom teaching at private universities is better than at public ones. C. Because of smaller enrollment, private universities offer fewer courses than public ones. D. The tuition of public universities is below the cost of providing their education. 5. The passages is mainly organized by _______. A. introducing the decreasing enrollment of private universities and enlisting the advantages of private universities to criticize the government’s policy B. introducing a phenomenon and analyzing its reasons C. comparing and contrasting two different concepts D. presenting a general idea and giving specific examples Passage 9 Advertising In the United States, advertising itself is a big business. Millions and millions of dollars are spent on television, radio, and printed messages to prospective consumers. Advertising firms do ―market research‖ for their clients, testing out various ―pitches‖ in the quest for ones that are effective. From the viewpoint of American consumers, advertising functions to inform them about available products and services, as well as to encourage them to buy. Form the viewpoint of visitors from abroad, though, advertising serves an additional function, and it affords countless insights into American values, tastes and standards. From American advertising, foreign visitors can gain some understanding of these and other aspects of American society: American ideas about physical attractiveness in males and females, American ideas concerning personal hygiene, the emphasis Americans 14 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 place on sex, speed and technical sophistication, the amount of faith Americans have in arguments that include specific numbers, materialism in American society, male-female relationships, both pre- and post-marital, the attention Americans pay to the words of celebrities, the characteristics of people who, in Americans’ eyes, are considered ―authorities‖, whose ideas and recommendations are persuasive, and the sorts of things Americans find humorous. By comparing advertising they see in the states with what they have at home, foreign visitors can gain understanding not just of American society, but of their own as well Pricing With few exceptions, Americans are accustomed to fixed prices on merchandise they buy and sell. The usual exceptions are houses, automobiles, and sometimes major appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. Another exception is a private sales. Americans are not accustomed to bargaining over prices, and in fact usually feel quite uncomfortable with the idea. Foreign visitors must realize that the price marked on an item does not include the sales tax that is added as part of the payment. (Sales tax rates vary from one jurisdiction to another.) Americans do not believe, as people from many cultures do, that a commercial transaction includes particular attention to the human relationships involved. They look for the item they want, decide whether they can afford the price marked on it, and, if they want to buy it, find a clerk or salesperson to take the money or do the paperwork for a credit-card purchase. People who try to bargain for a lower price in a shop or store are likely to be considered either quite odd or startlingly aggressive. 1. Which of the following functions does advertising in the U.S. serve? A. Advertising offers the consumers information about products and services and persuades them to buy B. Advertising acquaints foreign visitors with American marketing strategy C. Advertising tells people how to establish male-female relationships D. Advertising tells people how to be attractive physically 2. Which of the following is true of American advertising? A. It’s persuasive and humorous 15 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 B. It lays stress on technical development C. The words of celebrities are usually quoted D. It offers insights into American values, tastes and standards 3. Which of the following is true of American pricing? A. Most products are not sold at fixed prices B. Domestic appliances are not sold at fixed prices C. Almost all the products are sold at fixed prices D. Automobiles are sold at fixed prices 4. According to the passage, what the customers in the U.S. pay for a product or service is_______ A. its fixed price B. the price which is not fixed C. the fixed price and the non-fixed price D. the price and the sales tax 5. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A. Americans pay attention to human relationships when shopping B. Americans don’t pay attention to human relationships C. Americans seldom bargain when shopping D. Americans like to do some shopping with a credit-card Passage 10 The word ―recreation‖ brings to mind activities that are relaxing and enjoyable. Such activities as an evening walk around the neighborhood, a Sunday picnic with the family, and playing catch in the yard with the children seem relatively spontaneous and relaxing. Much American recreational activity, however, seems to foreign visitors to be approached with a high degree of seriousness, planning, organization, and expense. Spontaneity and fun are absent, as far as the visitor can tell. ―These crazy Americans!‖ a South American exclaimed on seeing yet another jogger go past her house in sub-freezing winter weather. Many Americans jog every day, or play tennis, handball, racquetball, or bridge two or three times a week, or bowl every Thursday night, or have some other regularly scheduled recreation. They go on vacations, ski trips, and hunting or fishing expeditions that require weeks of planning and organizing. In the Americans’ view, all these activities are generally fun and relaxing, or are worth the 16 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 discomfort they may cause because they contribute to health and physical fitness. Much American recreation is highly organized. There are classes, clubs, leagues, newsletters, contests, exhibitions and conventions centered on hundreds of different recreational activities. People interested in astronomy, bird watching, cooking, dancing, ecology, fencing, gardening, and hiking – and on and on – can find a group of like-minded people with whom to meet, learn, and practice or perform. In America, recreation is big business. Many common recreational activities require supplies and equipment that can be quite costly. Recreational vehicles (used for traveling and usually including provisions for sleeping, cooking, and bathing) can cost as much as $35,000. In 1984 Americans owned approximately 3,982,000 recreational vehicles, valued at about $7,733 million. Jogging shoes, hiking boots, fishing and camping supplies, cameras, telescopes, and bowling balls are not low-cost items. Beyond equipment, there is clothing. The fashion industry has successfully persuaded many Americans that they must be properly dressed for jogging, playing tennis, skiing, swimming, and so on. Fashionable outfits for these and other recreational activities can be surprisingly expensive. 1. According to the passage, what is Americans' attitude towards recreation? A. Absent-minded. B. Serious. C. Critical. D. Skeptical. 2. How often do Americans bowl? A. Every day. B. Twice a week. C. Three times a week. D. Once a week. 3. Americans take to skiing and hunting in spite of discomfort because _____. A. they are highly organized B. they are adventurous and exciting activities C. they are instructive and funny D. they are beneficial to their health 4. All of the following are true of American recreation EXCEPT ______. A. Americans spend a lot of money on recreational vehicles and outfits B. Most Americans approach recreation with a high degree of spontaneity C. Americans play bridge at least eight times a month D. Americans take to recreational activities not only for fun and relaxation but also for physical fitness 5. It can be inferred from the passage that ______. 17 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 A. foreign visitors are interested in the way Americans approach recreation B. foreign visitors are quite surprised about the way Americans approach recreation C. foreign visitors are crazy about the way Americans approach recreation D. Americans take to recreation because they can make a profit from it Passage 11 What seems distinctive about American interests in sport is that it is not confined to social classes. People in all walks of life are represented among ardent sports fans. The collective audience for sports events is enormous. Sports are associated with educational institutions in a way that is unique. Junior and senior high schools have coaches as faculty members, and school athletic teams compete with each other in an array of sports. Each team's entourage included a marching band (especially associated with football, as Americans and Canadians call the game played with oblong-shaped ball) and a group of cheerleaders. In some smaller American communities, high school athletics are a focal point of the townspeople's activities and conversations. Nowhere else in the world are sports associated with colleges and universities in the way they are in the States. College sports, especially football, are conducted in an atmosphere of intense excitement and pageantry. Games between teams classified as "major football powers" attract nationwide television audiences that number in the millions. There is a whole industry built on the manufacture and sale of badges, pennants, T-shirts, blankets, hats, and countless other items bearing the totem and colors of various university athletic teams. Football and basketball coaches at major universities are paid higher salaries than the presidents of their institutions. Athletic department budgets in the millions of dollars. Said a recently-arrived foreign student in Iowa City, ―It looks like that the most important part of the University (of Iowa) is the most important thing in the whole town.‖ Sports are a very frequent topic of conversation, especially among males. "Small talk" about sports is self-interesting, but not too personal. Participants can display their knowledge of athletes and statistics without revealing anything considered private. In some social circles, associating with athletes is a way to achieve social recognition. A person who knows a local sports hero personally, or who attends events 18 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 where famous athletes are present, is considered by some people to have accomplished something worthwhile. Expressions from sports are extraordinarily common in everyday American speech. Baseball is probably the source of more idiomatic expressions than any other sport. That fact disadvantages foreign visitors in communicating with Americans because most of them come from countries where baseball is not played. 1. Sports are associated with American high schools in that _____. A. all the students take part in different sports B. high school athletics are the hot issue in most American communities C. coaches work in high schools as faculty members D. sports is not confined to faculty members 2. In the U. S., colleges are related to sports in a unique way because ______. A. college games between teams appeal to millions of people B. football coaches at universities are paid higher salaries than college presidents C. athletic departments gain a net profit of millions of dollars D. college sports games are the most important events 3. It can be inferred from the passage that ______. A. all the Americans like to talk about sports B. American college students are crazy about games between colleges C. men are more interested in sports than women in the U.S. D. Americans like to have "small talk" about sports because it doesn't reveal one's privacy 4. According to the passage, is the most important source of idiomatic expressions in the U.S. A. football B. basketball C. baseball D. boxing 5. Which of the following is probably the best title for the passage? A. American Excitement B. Sports and Idiomatic Expressions C. American Sports and Educational Institutions D. Social Classes and Sports 19 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Passage12 Developing countries are unusually vulnerable to cigarette advertising. Until recently, some of them sold tobacco only through government monopolies, with little or no attempt at persuasion. And because most of these countries don’t have effective anti-smoking campaigns, many of their people are surprisingly innocent of the link between tobacco and disease. In Manila, we even found cigarettes sold at a snack bar operated by the local Boy Scouts. Many governments, moreover, are reluctant to wage anti-smoking wars because they’re addicted to tobacco taxes. Argentina gets 22.5 percent of all its tax revenue from tobacco; Malawi, 16.7 percent. Into this climate of naivety and neglect, American tobacco companies have unleashed not only the marketing wizardry (魔术) that most of us take for granted, but other tactics they wouldn’t dare use here. Tobacco spokesmen insist that cigarette advertising draws only people who already smoke. But an ad executive; who worked until recently on the Philip Morris account, speaking on condition of anonymity, disagrees. ―You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out what’s going on. Just look at the ads. It’s ludicrous for them to deny that a cartoon character like Joe Camel isn’t attractive to kids.‖ Dr. John L. Clowe, president of the American Medical Association, says, ―It is clear that advertising fosters tobacco use among children. And, despite tobacco-industry denials, ads like Joe Camel are especially appealing to adolescents, equating smoking with sexual prowess, athleticism, even success.‖ Numerous independent studies support this view. Time and again they have shown that cigarette advertising creates an environment in which young people are more likely to smoke .That may explain why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that smokers between ages 12 and 18 prefer Marlboro, Newport and Camel — three of the most advertised brands. 1. People in developing countries are easily influenced by cigarette advertising because . A. they don’t know the relationship between tobacco and disease B. they have a strong inclination to smoke C. they have been forbidden to smoke by the governments D. there were no institutions which persuade them not to smoke 20 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 2. Many governments didn’t launch anti-smoking campaigns because A. tobacco taxes take up a large part of their revenue B. they are unusually subject to cigarette advertising C. they don’t think tobacco can do harm to people’s health D. they are innocent of the link between tobacco and disease 3. According to an executive on the Philip Morris account, . A. cigarette advertising only appeals to the young men B. cigarette advertising appeals to adults C. cigarette advertising is attractive to people who already smoke D. cigarette advertising also appeals to kids 4. According to Dr. John L. Clowe, cigarette advertising is appealing to adolescents because A. they are addicted to nicotine B. they regard smoking as a symbol of sexual ability and even success C. they want to get more tobacco taxes D. they regard smoking as a kind of sports 5. Which of the following is the best title of the passage? A. Smoking and Tobacco Taxes B. Smoking in Developing Countries C. Smoking and Cigarette Advertising D. Tobacco Industry 21 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Reading Comprehension (Part Two) Passage 13 Positive thinking is a lot more than blind faith -- and its power over people’s lives is awesome. Optimists fare better than pessimists in almost every respect of life, often achieving more and enjoying greater social success. Optimistic people are also less susceptible to depression and physical ills. Says psychology professor Martin E. P. Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, ―There’s evidence that optimism bolsters the immune system.‖ Psychologists believe optimism and pessimism are habits we learn as children, and our parents are our role models. When a water pipe broke and flooded your new home, did your father lament, ―Why did I pick such a lousy house?‖ Or did he declare, ―Our contract guaranteed everything would be in perfect condition, so I’ll have the builder fix the plumbing and replace the damage‖? ―Optimism is a habitual way of explaining setbacks to yourself,‖ says Seligman. Here’s how it works: The pessimist believes bad events stem from permanent conditions (―I failed the math quiz because I don’t have head for numbers.‖) and good events from temporary ones (―My husband brought me flowers because he had a good day at work.‖). The optimist, however, attributes failure to temporary causes (―I failed the test because I didn’t pay attention.‖) and favorite situations to enduring causes.(―He brought me flowers because he loves me.‖) The pessimist allows a disappointment in one area of his life to pervade the test. Say he’s laid off from work. The pessimist not only feels bad about losing his job, but he also starts to worry that his marriage is in trouble and his kids are out of control. The optimist doesn’t let one setback contaminate his whole life. So at the moment I don’t have a job，he thinks. My wife and I are still close, and my kids made the honor roll(上了光荣榜). When things go wrong, pessimists blame themselves. If another driver dents your packed car，you chide yourself for parking in a ―stupid‖ spot. The optimist ascribes such trouble to a fluke or looks for a new approach – ―Next time I’ll park where there are few cars.‖ 22 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 1. According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE? A. The power of optimism and pessimism is fearful. B. Optimistic people are less likely to fall ill than pessimistic people. C. Optimism is connected with blind faith. D. Pessimism makes people lose interest in anything. 2. Psychologists hold that_______. A. one is born optimistic or pessimistic. B. pessimism is hereditary C. optimism is acquired when one is very young. D. optimism is a long lasting habit 3. Which of the following is TRUE of the difference between optimists and pessimists? A. Optimists live a more wealthy life than pessimists. B. Optimism can help explain the setback while pessimism cannot. C. For pessimists a failure proves that he’s incapable, but optimists don’t think so. D. Pessimists usually blame themselves for their mistakes, while optimists don’t. 4. In this passage, how is the discussion of and pessimism developed, A. By comparison and contrast. B. By defining and explaining them with examples. C. By analyzing the reasons for optimism and pessimism. D. By introducing the historical background. Passage 14 The ability to devote unswerving attention to a task can produce success in any field. On the other hand, being unable to stay in a zone can turn a sure winner into an also-ran (失败者). At the 1992 U.S. Olympic trials, decathlon star Dan O’Brien began by setting such a record pace in the contest’s events that a place on the team seemed certain. That’s when he relaxed and stumbled in the pole vault -- failing to clear a height that he had reached hundreds of times before. Unable, as he admitted later, to ―get his head together,‖ he tried and failed twice more. Despite O’Brien’s physical abilities, a mental lapse had dashed his Olympic hopes. Most of us can sympathize with O’Brien’s. You’ve probably had those frustrating times when you couldn’t seem to get your brain going. You’ve sat blankly in front of 23 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 the computer screen, struggling to find the right words. You’ve started at the budget figures, unable to get your mind around them. And yet you’ve also known states of high concentration -- when you’ve gotten your best work done at a fast pace. How can you get yourself into your most productive state, your own personal zone? Psychologists who have worked in the field of maximum performance, and neurologists who’ve studied what happens to the brain in such states, provide useful advice. Practice, practice. Does mental focus develop the part of the brain used in the task, just as physical exercises build up the muscles? Psychology professor Michael Posner used PET scans and electroencephalograms to trace the brain activity of people focused on given tasks. Trying a task for the first time increased blood flow and electrical activity in the brain. But as the subjects became accomplished, brain blood flow and electrical discharges decreased. The more we practice concentration, Posner believes, the less brain activity is necessary. And mental skills perfected in one area can be transferred to others. ―The key,‖ says Louis Csoka, who taught concentration to future battlefield commanders at the U.S. Military Academy, ―is to learn to overcome noise and interference, whether internal or external.‖ For example, if you’re a jazz lover, you might practice by turning on some music and listening only to the alto saxophone, blocking out all the other instruments or vocals. If you’re a football fan, practice by looking at only the left outside linebacker. 1. The example of Dan O’Brien is cited to prove________. A. the significance of devoting attention to a task B. the importance of mental relaxation C. that practice is quite important for one’s mental focus D. that certainty can turn into uncertainty 2. According to Michael Posner, practice helps attain mental concentration because _______. A. the more we practice the less brain activity is necessary B. practice increases blood flow C. practice generates electricity in the brain D. both B and C 3. According to Louis Csoka, ________ is of vital important achieving mental concentration. 24 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 A. overcoming internal and external interference B. focusing on given tasks C. decreasing electrical discharges D. blocking out all other instruments 4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. How to Overcome Interference B. The Approaches to Attain Mental Concentration C. Practice and Brain Activity D. Failure and Lack of Concentration Passage 15 In 1971, Shell came up with a new method for drilling oil that increased production 3-6 times. Siemens has recently managed to cut the time it spends on production development by half. IBM, Saatchi & Saatchi, Merck, NASA and Microsoft have similar success stories — thanks to a man named Edward De Bono. De Bono is no soothsayer, neither does he possess any supernatural powers. Rather, he is a scholar in the art of creative thinking. A leading authority in the field of creative and conceptual thinking. De Bono is acclaimed today as the mastermind behind breakthrough theories like "Lateral Thinking" and "Parallel Thinking." According to De Bono, creative people are not necessarily intelligent. What makes them creative is their ability to actualize their thoughts. "Creativity is like a cooking contest. All are given the same ingredients. The winner is the one who takes these ingredients and manages to create superior value," De Bono said. For De Bono, creativity is a key-factor for success in the 21st century. "We need creativity because first we need to change the way we are doing things, adapt to the changing world around us, achieve maximum use of available assets and finally solve problems that are otherwise difficult to solve." De Bono pointed out. "Many ask: Can creative thinking be taught, or is it a talent? Creativity is a skill that can be taught," the expert said. Creative thinking, according to De Bono, is like a car: The motor resembles human intelligence while oil resembles information and knowledge. The driver is the navigator, the thinker. "When people see a mountain, they often wish to climb it, but they fail to think how they are going to do so." 25 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 De Bono believes that people today should try to deviate from the regular norms of thinking. "The thinking we need in the new millennium is different. Up till now, we have been thinking according to standard situations and judgment," he said. "We think of something and say: 'What is it?' Instead, we have to ask: 'What could it become?'" De Bono pointed out that it is not enough to be competent or efficient to succeed. "It's how you provide additional value. And that needs creative thinking. It is what I call: 'Design Thinking.' We are not short of information, what's important is how to use this information," the expert noted. (392 words) 1. What has probably led to the successful innovation in companies such as Shell and Siemens? A. Supernatural powers. B. Creative thinking. C. Participation by Edward De Bono. D. Breakthroughs in technology 2. Which of the following are creative people particularly good at? A. Winning different contests. B. Navigating a car skillfully. C. Asking ―What could it become?‖ D. Thinking before they start doing anything 3. Which of the following abilities can be interpreted as creativity? A. The ability to learn a skill faster than others do. B. The ability to obtain more information than others do. C. The ability to complete a task competently and efficiently. D. The ability to fulfill one’s own dreams. 4. According to the passage, ―What is it?‖(the 7th paragraph) indicates that the person A. is thinking laterally B. is following the regular norms of thinking C. is not certain about the standard situation and judgement D. is being creative when faced with something new 5. Which of the following statements would De Bono probably agree with? A. Creativity is an asset of intelligent people B. Creativity must be nurtured because it has nothing to do with one’s talent C. It’s hard to switch from one’s usual way of thinking to creative thinking D. Nowadays one can hardly succeed without creativity 26 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Passage 16 To understand the differences between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, imagine a business problem as a maze. One person might be motivated to make it through the maze as quickly and safely as possible in order to get a tangible reward, such as money — the same way a mouse would rush through for a piece of cheese. This person would look for the simplest, most straightforward path and then take it. In fact, if he is in a real rush to get that reward, he might just take the most beaten path and solve the problem exactly as it has been solved before. Another person might have a different approach to the maze. She might actually find the process of wandering around the different paths — the challenge and exploration itself — fun and intriguing. No doubt, this journey will take longer and include mistakes, because any maze — any truly complex problem — has many more dead ends than exits. But when the intrinsically motivated person finally does find a way out of the maze — a solution — it very likely will be more interesting. There is abundant evidence of strong intrinsic motivation in the stories of widely recognized creative people. When asked what makes the difference between creative scientists and those who are less creative, the Nobel–prize–winning physicist Arthur Schawlow said, ‖ The most successful scientists often are not the most talented, but the ones who are just impelled by curiosity. They’ve got to know what the answer is.‖ Albert Einstein talked about intrinsic motivation as ―the enjoyment of seeing and Searching. ‖ The novelist John Irving, in discussing the very long hours he put into his Writing, said, ―The unspoken factor is love. The reason I can work so hard at my writing is that it’s not work for me.‖ And Michael Jordan, perhaps the most creative basketball player ever, had a ―love of the game‖ clause inserted into his contract; he insisted that he be free to play pick–up basketball games any time he wished. Creative people are rarely superstars like Michael Jordan. Indeed, most of the creative work done in the business world today gets done by people whose names will never be recorded in history books. They are people with expertise, good creative thinking skill, and high level of intrinsic motivation. (387 words) 27 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 1. Form the information provided in the passage, what is extrinsic motivation? A. It’s a motivation that comes from within oneself. B. It’s a motivation that comes from outside oneself. C. It’s a weak motivation in the form of a tangible reward. D. It’s a strong motivation for immediate success in one’s work. 2. An intrinsically motivated person is often one who A. is talented. B. loves money. C. has expertise. D. is curious. 3. What’s is likely to happen when an intrinsically motivated person runs through a maze? A. He may get lost in the maze and ask for help. B. He may quickly pick out one path and run through it. C. He may make a lot of mistakes before finding a way out. D. He may be frustrated at reaching many dead ends and give up. 4. From what is said towards the end of the passage, we can know that A. scientists are all intrinsically motivated people. B. success can only be achieved by intrinsically motivated people. C. creative people are never tired of their work. D. some creative people are not widely recognized. 5. This passage is mainly focused on A. various kinds of motivation as displayed by creative people. B. the power of intrinsic motivation. C. the relationship between intrinsic motivation and creativity. D. the differences between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Passage 17 Rita Warner doesn't know what to make of her son's fall from grace. Two years ago he was "gifted", according to an entrance exam for Capitol Hill, St. Paul's prestigious gifted-talented magnet school. But this year a new test found he's not gifted. Meanwhile, he's still on a waiting list for Capitol Hill. Warner jokes that either her son has lost some brain cells or the new test has some problems. She's one of many St. Paul parents who have received letters this month from the school district about how their children fared on the ambitious new test, called the modified Charlotte/Discover model. Schools across the state long have debated how best to identify gifted students. 28 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Some educators think standardized tests are the most reliable way. Others argue that paper-pencil tests don't catch all the gifted students. Some say students with English-language difficulties are particularly at risk of being left out with typical exams. The St. Paul and Minneapolis school districts have adopted testing methods using outside observations to help find gifted students. While Minneapolis still considers test scores and other factors, St. Paul is relying almost exclusively on the modified Charlotte/Discover model to determine who's eligible for gifted services. Using a $218,000 state grant, the district tested all kindergartners and second-graders. So far, about 545 of the nearly 3,400 students assessed have turned out to be gifted -- 16 percent. The gifted population mirrors the district's student population in terms of racial breakdown, a fact that has evoked both celebration from officials and suspicion from critics who charge that the district manipulated the process to get the results it wanted. Warner questioned whether school officials' desire to diversify (使多样化) the talent pool led them to design a test that would do just that. "I had concerns that this new Charlotte/Discover model, in its eagerness to identify children that would otherwise be overlooked, might overlook children who would do well on the written test," she said. (326 words) 1. When Warner learns that her ―gifted‖ son didn’t do well in the new test, she A. feels sorry that he is not as clever as before. B. worries about his future. C. is puzzled by his failure. D. is angry about his fall from grace. 2. It can be learnt from the passage that A. standardized tests are the most popular way to identify gifted children. B. typical exams designed to find gifted children often neglect language proficiency. C. in some way non-standardized tests are more scientific than the standardized ones. D. so far no tests have been regarded by all as the best way to discover talent children. 29 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 3. According to some critics, the St. Paul school officials controlled the test process so that A. the result wouldn’t turn out to be against any race. B. children of particular races couldn’t enjoy gifted services. C. white children could prove to be more intelligent. D. children of the minorities could prove to be more gifted. 4. ―Children that would otherwise be overlooked‖ (Line 2, Para.10) most probably refer to children A. who failed in the entrance exam for Capitol Hill. B. who don’t know the nature of the Charlotte/Discover model. C. who belong to some particular races. D. who come from poor families. 5. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the text? A. Many St. Paul children have fallen from grace just like Warner’s son. B. St. Paul has gained financial aid from the state while conducting the new test. C. Schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul use same methods to choose gifted children. D. The modified Charlotte/Discover model is less scientific than the entrance exam For Capitol Hill. Passage 18 Geniuses look at problems in many different ways. Genius often comes from finding a new perspective that no one else has taken. Leonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about the form of a problem, you begin by learning how to restructure it in many different ways. He felt that the first way he looked at a problem was too biased toward his usual way of seeing things. He would restructure his problem by looking at it from one perspective and move to another perspective and still another. With each move, his understanding would deepen and he would begin to understand the essence of the problem. Geniuses make their thought visible. The explosion of creativity in the Renaissance was intimately tied to the recording and conveying of vast knowledge in drawings, graphs, and diagrams, as in the renowned(著名的) diagrams of da Vinci and Galileo. Galileo revolutionized science by making his thought graphically visible while his contemporaries used only conventional mathematical and verbal 30 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 approaches. Geniuses produce. A distinguishing characteristic of genius is immense productivity. Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents, still the record. He guaranteed productivity by giving himself and his assistants idea quotas. His own personal quota was one minor invention every 10 days and a major invention every six months. Bach wrote a cantata (清唱剧) every week, even when he was sick or exhausted. Mozart produced more than 600 pieces of music. Einstein is best known for his paper on relativity, but he published 248 other papers. T.S. Eliot's numerous drafts of The Waste Land constitute a jumble (杂乱的一团) of good and bad passages that eventually was turned into a masterpiece. Geniuses make novel combinations. Like the highly playful child with a bucket of building blocks, a genius is constantly combining and recombining ideas, images, and thoughts into different combinations in their conscious and subconscious minds. 2Consider Einstein's equation, E=mc. Einstein did not invent the concepts of energy, mass, or speed of light. Rather, by combining these concepts in a novel way, he was able to look at the same world as everyone else and see something different. (347 words) 1. In order to understand a problem thoroughly, da Vinci A. referred to numerous books. B. compared it with many other problems. C. made use of drawings and graphs. D. approached it from different angles. 2. During the Renaissance, graphs and diagrams A. were often used to aid scientific researches. B. served as sources of fresh ideas for some scientists. C. could provide scientists with an immense quantity of knowledge. D. were necessary for the expression of creative ideas. 3. What is the main idea of the third paragraph? A. Geniuses make creations or discoveries in large quantities. B. Geniuses can make many achievements without much effort. C. Geniuses inevitably experience failures before making a success. D. Geniuses may just produce something common and ordinary. 31 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 4. In the last paragraph, the author mentions the playful child in order to show A. that geniuses are fond of playing games, too. B. that geniuses are as creative as most children with a set of interesting toys. C. how geniuses turn ideas into reality in different ways. D. why making different combinations can work wonders. 5. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? A. Einstein invented the concept of speed of light. B. The Waste Land is a great work of literature. C. Edison made one major invention every 10 days. D. Mozart composed something every day even when he was sick. Passage 19 Emotions are an essential part of our nature and may be either helpful or destructive depending on how we deal with them. Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, contends that emotional intelligence, or EQ, is more important than IQ in a person's ability to be successful and happy. It's widely known that emotions can empower people or drive them up a wall. When you can't get through to that special someone, your emotions tie you up in knots and you feel powerless. Getting a handle on those feelings, then being able to use alternative behaviors, is the beginning of EQ. We all have emotions — even your partner, who appears stone-faced and unruffled (镇定的) by crisis. Identifying a specific emotion at the time you're having it is the basis of EQ. Take jealousy, for example. Remember that time your partner spent so much extra time with that tall blonde at your best friend's party? When you mentioned it, he got angry and yelled: "You're always so jealous! You have to learn to trust me." He made you feel so foolish — like an insecure little girl — and you vowed you would never be jealous again. It doesn't work that way. Jealousy is only a symptom, and trust isn't the issue. Fear is. Until you figure out what you're afraid of, you'll find yourself on that merry-go-round again and again. So sit down and analyze why you feel so fearful about the attentions your significant someone shines on sultry (性感的) sisters. Some fears are obvious. Will he find someone else more attractive? If he finds 32 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 someone more attractive, will he leave you? If he leaves you, what will you do? We stay in unhappy or destructive relationships and jobs for far longer than is emotionally healthy because we fear change. And we don't trust ourselves to make the right decisions. Goleman says emotionally literate people have learned how to express their emotions at the right time and place and in the right way. They're also aware of how their emotions affect others, keeping the focus on cooperation instead of competition or compliance (顺从). (353 words) 1. According to the author, just as emotions can empower people, they can also ______. A. make people crazy B. prevent a person from jumping high C. help people find the person they are looking for D. increase a person’s physical strength 2. _____ is the root of jealousy A. Selfishness B. Fear C. Lack of confidence D. Lack of trust 3. Judging from the context, ―you will find yourself on that merry-go-around again and again‖ (line 2, Para. 6) most probably means_______. A. you will attend your friend’s party frequently B. you will dance with your partner all the time C. you will repeatedly find yourself in that kind of situation D. you will always feel happy so long as you don’t know what you are afraid of 4. Which of the following statement is NOT a characteristic of emotionally literate people? A. They can express their emotions appropriately. B. They can considerate of others’ feelings. C. They prefer to cooperate rather than compete with others. D. They tend to do anything at the request of other people. 5. From what is said in the passage, it can be concluded that________. A. bad emotions might bring about disasters in one’s life B. EQ is as important as IQ in person’s ability to be successful C. sometimes it is because of money that we don’t quit unhappy job D. all of us tend to lose control of our emotions regardless of any consequences. 33 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Passage 20 Juan Carlo, king of Spain, killed his younger brother in a gun accident as a child. The brother was the only other male in the line of succession. This might explain why The king held a reception in 1986 for the veterans of the International Brigades. These foreigners had fought and mostly died to save the Spanish Republic from the monarchists, among others, in Spain's fratricidal (杀兄弟的) Civil War of 50 years before. In shot my brother Dave in the calf with a BB (BB型气枪) gun at a range of about 150 yards at our grandfather's farm as he was walking away uphill. He was 6 years old. I didn't think I could hit him from that distance, but I did: the BB bounced off without having done any damage, but his feelings were hurt permanently. This little brother of mine now works for the Washington Post and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize last year for his reporting on Bill Clinton. After the Pulitzer award was announced, the woman who runs the art museum at The college where I teach asked: ―Doesn't that make you feel inadequate?‖ I didn’t think at the time that this was a normal, let alone polite, question for her to ask, but I have worked out an answer to it: Everything makes me feel Inadequate, and it does the same to him. Dave had a tough time because our sister Jean and I were always doing great in school. Dave wouldn't eat most foods, talked back to Dad, and was our mother's favorite, so we thought. We still do. None of us could understand why she'd make this mistake, and we attributed it to his asthmatic condition. People say that the strongest bond is the sibling bond. I know exactly what my brother's motives are in everything. In fact, my brother and I are one. One day in 1962 I had gotten halfway home from West and saw Dave running toward me, running hard. ―What's wrong?‖ I asked him when he reached me. He was out of breath. ―The letter came today!‖ he said. ―From Harvard! You got in!‖ It took me back a little to see what this meant to him. What was it to him? Maybe he's forgotten, but I'll never forget what it was to be intercepted by my little brother at the corner of the street as he carried the news of my success. (402 words) 34 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 1. The story of Juan Carlos is told to imply . A. how important the International Brigades were B. how guilty Juan Carlos was of his carelessness C. The writer's admiration for the International Brigades D. The writer's feeling towards his brother 2. The writer thought the woman's question was . A. impolite B. imprecise C. incomprehensible D. inadequate 3. It can be inferred from the passage that . A. the writer and his sister hated their brother B. the writer was jealous of his brother because the latter won a Pulitzer Prize C. the writer almost killed his brother with a BB gun D. the writer's performance at school resulted in great pressure on his brother 4. The writer and his sister believed that their mother made a ―mistake‖ because she . A. didn’t cure Dave of his asthma B. allowed Dave to talk back to Dad C. didn’t teach Dave to behave appropriately at home D. loved Dave more than she did them 5. When the younger brother knew that the writer entered college, his reaction revealed________. A. his love for the writer B. his surprise at the news C. his jealousy against the writer D. his hatred for the writer Passage 21 This year's San Francisco Chronicle Chinese New Year parade will feature 80 different units. The parade's theme, "3,000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention." has inspired many float (彩车) sponsors to honor Chinese contributions to the modern world. In his book, The Genius of China, author Robert Temple asserts, "Possibly more than half of the basic inventions and discoveries upon which the 'modern world' rests come from China." Some of the mentioned inventions and discoveries include paper, firecrackers, engineering. The Origin of Paper The Chinese first invented paper in the second century B.C. Although the 35 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 dictionary will tell you that the word "paper" comes from the root, "papyrus," actual paper made by the Chinese has little in common with the inner bark of the papyrus plant used originally in Egypt. Instead, the Chinese soaked hemp, linen and other plant fibers in vats(大缸) and let the disintegrated sediment form on a screen, which was then lifted from the water and dried, until it could be peeled off in sheets. The first piece of paper was thick, strong, and useful for anything but writing! The Origin of Firecrackers The ancient Chinese believed in a densely-populated world of spirits, specters and demons who plagued mankind with everything from bothersome tricks to deadly afflictions. It became an established practice to drive off demons and welcome benevolent spirits at events like New Year's celebrations, weddings, victory processions and festivals. When certain long-streamer fireworks were exploded, the falling red paper resembled the dripping of blood, symbolizing a sacrifice in which everything is cleansed but no human or animal has to be killed. Engineering It is common knowledge that the Chinese first cultivated silk (by the 14th century B.C.), but in order to deal with the enormously long silk fibers, they invented a silk-winder, which then gave rise to the spinning wheel. The chain-drive was first employed by the inventor Su Sung in an astronomical clock in 1090 A.D., 800 years before it appeared in European silk reeling mills. In 1869, a fellow named J.F. Tretz used the chain-drive to make bicycles, the most popular form of transportation in China today. (354 words) 1. Westerners who didn’t know the origin of paper might think paper was first invented in ________. A. Egypt B. China C. India D. Greece 2. It can be inferred from the passage that for an ancient western sacrifice, _______. A. food was a necessity B. red paper should be burnt C. firecrackers should be exploded D. blood should be shed 36 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 3. Which of following is implied in the last section of passage? A. Few people know the significance of Chinese silk-winder. B. Bicycles were originally invented by Chinese. C. Chinese style of sacrifice is superior to western ones. D. Ancient Chinese paper was better than that of Egypt. 4. The writer regards the Chinese inventions with__________. A. sarcasm B. admiration C. suspicion D. indifference 5. This writing is probably__________. A. a newspaper article B. a research report C. an except from a novel D. an argumentative essay Passage 22 Every Chinese schoolchild is drilled in the motherland’s historic ―Four Inventions‖: gunpowder, paper, printing and the compass. But last week a somewhat unlikely item was added to the list of things for which the rest of the world should apparently be grateful to China — the sauna(桑拿浴). According to China Daily, the sauna ―may well have once been a popular luxury in ancient China‖, and ―related records on steam bathing by ancient Chinese may be found in various historical accounts‖. It seems that nothing was beyond the ancient Chinese. A couple of years ago, an article claimed that China had also invented golf, which was news to Scotland. And in the recent Peking Toilet Exhibition, photographs of archaeological remains were produced to demonstrate that China was home to the earliest known public convenience. Finland, which has a million saunas for its population of five million, is likely to be devastated by this latest revelation. According to China Daily, during the Warring States period(475B.C.—221B.C.), Shi Hu, the King of Zhao of the Jie ethnic group, used to bathe in the steam from a pool into which more than 1,000 scalding metal bars, each weighing just over 401b, has been plunged. As for Kubla Khan, ―struck down by a disabling illness‖ one day after fighting, ―his attendants poured water on a scorching hot stone to make steam‖ which helped him to expel a blood clot, explained the newspaper. ―It is possible that the Chinese style of steaming or fuming found its way to Finland and was eventually accepted by the Finns,‖ said China Daily, suggesting that 37 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 the Chinese invention could have spread to Finland when the Hun people, who originated in China, invaded Hungary in AD376. However, a Finnish spokesman argued that saunas in Finland dated back to the Stone Age and there was much more to the sauna than just a bit of steam. The fundamentals of the sauna experience included ―forests, lakes, clean air and fresh water‖, he said. (317 words) 1. ―Nothing was beyond the ancient Chinese‖ (Line 1, Para. 3) means__________. A. ancient Chinese were capable of everything B. ancient Chinese could do very little C. if ancient Chinese could not do it, others could not either D. ancient Chinese people could do everything better than Scottish people 2. The pool in which Shi Hu bathed was heated by__________. A. hot stones B. hot metal bars C. hot water D. hot wind 3. Which of the following is true? A. Hungarian people invaded Finland. B. Chinese people brought the sauna to Hungary. C. the sauna was popular in Shi Hu’s time. D. Kubla Khan invented the sauna. 4. According to the Finnish spokesman, the major difference between the ancient Chinese saunas and the Finnish ones is that the latter__________. A. used fuming B. used a natural pool C. emphasized natural environment D. emphasized good service 5. Judging from the way the massage is written, we can see that the writer__________. A. is trying to assume an objective attitude B. is somewhat biased C. has regarded the whole thing as a joke D. disagrees with the Finnish spokesman Passage 23 What are the chances that we will encounter alien form of live, as we explore the galaxy. If the argument about the time scale for the appearance of life on earth is correct, there ought to be many other stars, whose planets have life on them. Some of these stellar(恒星的) systems could have formed 5 million years before the Earth. So 38 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 why is the galaxy not crawling with self-designing mechanical or biological life forms? Why hasn’t the Earth been visited, and even colonized. I discount suggestions that UFOs contain beings from outer space. I think any visits by aliens, would be mush more obvious, and probably also, much more unpleasant. What is the explanation of why we have not been visited? One possibility is that the argument, about the appearance of life on Earth, is wrong. Maybe the probability of life spontaneously appearing is so low, that Earth is the only planet in the galaxy, or in the observable universe, in which it happened. Another possibility is that there is a reasonable probability of forming self- reproducing systems, like cells, but that most of these forms of life did not evolve intelligence. A third possibility is that there is a reasonable probability for life to form, and to evolve to intelligent beings, in the external transmission phase. But at that point, the system becomes unstable, and the intelligent life destroys itself. This would be a very pessimistic conclusion. I very much hope it is not true. I prefer a fourth possibility: there are other forms of intelligent life out there, but that we have been overlooked. There used to be a project called SETI, the search for extra-terrestrial(地球外的) intelligence. It involved scanning the radio frequencies, to see if we could pick up signals form alien civilizations. I thought this project was worth supporting, though it was cancelled due to a lack of funds. But we should have been wary of answering back, until we have developed a bit further. Meeting a more advanced civilization, at our present stage, might be a bit like the original inhabitants of America meeting Columbus. I don’t think they were better off for it. (360words) 1. The author thinks that__________. A) it is impossible that we encounter some alien form if life B) life only exists on Earth C) it is likely that we’ll encounter some alien form of life D) beings form outer space will never visit the earth 2. What does the word ―discount‖(Line 5, Para. 1) most probably mean according to the context? A) Doubt. B) Accept. C) Deduct D) Disregard 3. Which of the following is NOT among the four possibilities of why we haven’t been visited? 39 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 A) Forms of life on the other planets don’t evolve to intelligent beings. B) Earth is the only planet that contains life in the universe. C) Life on the other planets destroys itself. D) Beings from outer space are too far away from us. 4. In the author’s eyes, the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence__________. A) is unnecessary B) should be supported C) is a waste of money D) has not been done appropriately 5. By comparison, the author considers that__________. A) a more advanced civilization will destroy us if they visit us at present B) the original inhabitants of America were better off because of Columbus’ visit C) being visited by a more advanced civilization will do us no good D) we won’t be better off even though we are visited by beings form outer space at present. Passage 24 My name is Gail Naughton and I am President of Advanced Tissue Sciences. On thJune 28 of this year I was honored to be the first individual woman to be awarded ―National Inventor of the Year‖ by the Intellectual Property Organization. I was delighted to donate my award money to the Association for Women in Science Organization to help provide scholarship funds for young women interested in pursuing a career in science; but this is a small part of what needs to be done. Being the first woman of 27 awardees in indeed a privilege and offers me the opportunity to serve as a role model for many young women interested in pursuing a career in science. Yet the ―first of 27‖ raises the serious issue of the paucity(缺乏) of women who are pursuing a career in technical fields and who are contributing their talents toward developing key inventions that can provide key benefits to the American public and to people worldwide. My successes scientifically were not due to special programs in schools, scholarships for women in science, or a privileged formal education. I am a scientist today because I had the great fortune to be raised by my parents to believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Although not having the benefit of a college education, my parents stressed the value of higher education to both my brother and myself. This backing, along with a strong stubbornness, carried me through years of intense training toward my Ph.D. 40 高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解 旅游学院英语系 Training in the sciences and engineering is long, expensive, and arduous and starting salaries in these fields for new Ph.D.s are remarkably low, particularly for women and minorities. Young people need to be encouraged to face these hurdles (障 碍) and be given every opportunity to develop their scientific talents. We and others developing cutting edge technologies in this exciting new millennium need the largest and best-trained talent pool available. Please don’t let future inventors be neglected. I implore your support of developing grants and scholarships to encourage women and minorities to get into technology. Training and support can’t start too early; scholarships for special training and scientific sabbaticals (休假年) for teachers in minority areas are a key first step. Programs to raise awareness and encourage young scientists are key. Your support can help ensure that the United States develops the best talent pool and remains clearly the worldwide technical leader. (400 words) 1. It can be inferred from the passage that before Gail Naughton ―National Inventor of the Year‖ was to be awarded to__________. A. women only B. minorities C. men only D. both men and women 2. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. There are fewer women than men pursuing a career in science. B. Women are less talented than men in science. C. Men get scholarships in science more easily than women do. D. Future inventors are often neglected. 3. The author has attributed her success largely to__________. A. scholarships for women in science B. her talent C. special training in schools D. her parents’ trust and support 4. The author tells us that women in science and engineering__________. A. have more chances than men B. earn less money than men C. have certain privileges D. earn as much money as men 5. The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to__________. A. show her great success in science B. indicate that American is the worldwide technical leader C. ask for people’s support of women pursuing a career in science D. prove that it’s difficult for women to pursue a career in science 41