2008 年 11 月湖南成人学士学位英语真题及答案
Part I Reading Comprehension (30%)
Directions: There are three passages in this part. Each passage is followed by
some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices
marked A, B, C, and D. You should decide on the best choice and blacken the
corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.
Passage 1
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:
Scientists in India have invented a new way to produce electricity. Their
invention does not get its power from oil, coal or other fuels. It produces
electricity with the power of animals. India has about eighty million bullocks. They
do all kinds of jobs. They work in the fields. They pull vehicles through the streets.
They carry water containers. (76)Indian energy officials have been seeking ways to
use less imported oil to provide energy. Scientists at the National Institute for
Industrial Engineering in Bombay wondered whether the millions of bullocks could
help. Many villages in India lack electricity, but they have many bullocks. And often
the animals are not working. One job done by bullocks is to pump water out of the
well. The animals do this by walking around and around in a circle. As they walk,
they turn a heavy stick that makes the pump move.
This simple technology is
centuries old. Scientists thought that the same technology could be used to produce
electricity. Bullocks walk in a circle only two or three times a minute. This is
much too slow to produce electricity, but it can create enough power to turn a series
of gears. A large gear sits next to a smaller gear. As the large gear turns, it causes
the smaller gear to turn. That gear turns an even smaller one. Each gear moves faster
because it is a little smaller. The smallest gear may turn extremely fast. (77) Clocks
operate with gears. So do cars and so does the device invented by the
Indian
scientists to produce electricity.
According to the officials in the United Nations, the idea is being tested at
several places in India. The device is easy to operate and repair. And it can be
moved easily. It costs about three hundred and seven dollars now to make such a device,
but production of large numbers of them could cut the cost of each to about two hundred
dollars.
1. Who first thought of using bullocks to provide energy?
A. Indian energy officials.
B. Scientists in India.
C. Officials in the United Nations.
D. Researchers in Europe.
2. Which kind of job that the bullocks do is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Pulling vehicles.
B. Plowing fields.
C. Pumping water out if wells.
D. Carrying food baskets.
3. Why are bullocks used to provide energy in India?
A. Because bullocks have long been used by Indian people.
B. Because bullocks walk slowly and are easy to control
C. Because there are few non-working bullocks in India.
D. Because there is not enough oil in India.
4. In the sentence “This simple technology is centuries old” in
Paragraph One,
“This simple technology” refers to _____.
A. using bullocks to produce energy
B. using pumps to draw water out
C. having bullocks walk around to make the pump move
D. connecting gears of different sizes to produce electricity
5. Which of the following is true about the device mentioned in the passage?
A. It has a large gear and a smaller gear.
B. It’s easy to use, but difficult to move.
C. It’s quite cheap.
D. It’s still being tested.
Passage 2
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:
On-the-job smoking is a hot issue for both smokers and non-smokers, and many
managers now see smoking as a productivity problem. Although some people question
whether smoking really affects one’s productivity, it has, in fact, been proven
that a smoker costs a company more than a non-smoker. According to Professor William
Weis, a smoking employee costs his or her employer about $ 5,700 more a year than
a never-smoker. These costs include medical care, lost earnings and insurance. And
absence due to smoking breaks is one of the productivity problems, yet it accounts
for a great deal of employer costs.
(78) When the issue of smoking at the workplace is discussed, perhaps the most
important problem is the health risk that smoking causes to both smokers and
never-smokers. It has long been proven that smoking is linked to lung cancer. Now
many health experts warn that passive smoking can cause lung cancer and other
illnesses in healthy never-smokers. Passive smoking can be defined as exposure to
second-hand tobacco smoke in enclosed areas. Anyone who has been with smokers indeed
knows that their smoke can cause eye irritation, coughing, headaches and throat
soreness. While eye irritation may seem a small thing to some smokers, it
nevertheless is a problem that occurs every workday in offices and break-rooms and
can lead to greater health problems. Employees who do not smoke should not be
subjected to the risks of passive smoking and need to be able to work in a safe
environment. Surgeon General Koop states that the right of the smoker stops at the
point where his or her smoking increases the disease risk of those occupying the
same environment.
6. All the following cases are on-the-job smoking except that ____.
A. an employer smokes while working in the office
B. a taxi driver smokes while driving the car
C. a worker smokes while working in the workshop
D. a worker smokes while reading in the train
7. According to the passage, on-the-job smoking affects an employee’s performance
in the office in that_____.
A. he can concentrate on what he is doing while smoking
B. he often goes away from his desk to smoke in the break-room.
C. he often asks for sick leave as a result of too much smoking.
D. he takes a rest from time to time because of eye irritation
8. Many managers do not seem to be in favor of on-the-job smoking mainly because
it ____.
A. reduces productivity of the company to a certain degree
B. does harm to the health of never-smokers of the company.
C. affects the relationship between smokers and non-smokers
D. makes the break-rooms more crowded and more polluted
9. Passive smoking means____
A. never-smokers take up the habit of smoking unwillingly
B. never-smokers have to put up with the active smokers
C. never-smokers take in smoke released by a lit cigarette
D. never-smokers share an enclosed area with smokers
10. In the second part of the passage, the author suggests banning on-the-job smoking
so as to____.
A. cut down costs of medical care and insurance
B. create a healthy and safe working environment
C. prevent eye irritation from becoming a big health problem
D. improve the smoking employees’ work efficiency
Passage 3
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage
Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget
bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible
physical and emotional
梦).
scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares(噩
(79)Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which
will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately
after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase(抹
去), the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops
the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. (80) So far the research
has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that
the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea,
while others support it.
Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers’ troubling
memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible
memories.
“Some memories can ruin people’s lives. They come back to you when you don’
t want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful
emotions.” said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
“This could relieve a lot of that suffering.”
But those who are against the research say that it is very dangerous to change
memories because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the
mistakes of the past.
“All of us can think of bad events in our lived that were horrible at the time
but make us who we are. I’m not sure we want to wipe those memories out,” said
Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist.
11. The passage is mainly about _____.
A. a new medical invention
B. a new research on memories
C a way of erasing painful memories
D an argument about the research on the pill
12. The drug tested on people can ____.
A. cause the brain to fix memories
B. stop people remembering their experiences
C. prevent body producing certain chemicals
D. wipe out the emotional effects of memories
13. We can infer from the passage that_____.
A. people doubt the effects of the pills
B. the pill will stop people’s bad experiences
C. taking the pill will do harm to people’s health
D. the pill has probably been produced in America
14. Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with?
A. Some memories can ruin people’s lives.
B. People want to get rid of bad memories.
C. Experiencing bad events makes us different from others.
D. The pill will reduce people’s sufferings from bad memories.
15. The word “scars” in Paragraph One is close in meaning to ____.
A. good stories
C. experiences
B. pains
D. memories
Part II Vocabulary and Structure (30%)
Directions: In this part there are 30 incomplete sentences. For each sentence
there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes
the sentence. Then blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.
16. Don’t be too ___ about things you are not supposed to know.
A. strange
B. amusing
C. curious
D. conscious
17. He’s got himself into a dangerous situation ____ he is likely to lose control
over the plane.
A. where
B. which
C. while
D. why
18. In order to change attitudes ___ employing women, the government is bringing
in new laws.
A. about
B. of
C. towards
D. on
19. The fact came up ____ specific speech sounds are recognized by babies as young
as 6 months old.
A. what
B. which
C. that
D. whose
20. It is generally believed that teaching is ____ it is a science.
A. an art much as
B. much an art as
C. as an art much as
D. as much an art as
21. _____, I have to put it away and focus my attention on study this week.
A. However the story is amusing
B. No matter amusing the story is
C. However amusing the story is
D. No matter how the story is amusing
22. For the sake of her daughter’s health, she decided to move to a warm____.
A. weather
B. temperature
C. season
D. climate
23. Be careful when you cross this very busy street. If not, you may get ____ by
a car.
A. run out
B. run over
C. run away
D. run after
24. _____, some famous scientists have the qualities of being both careful and
careless.
A. Strangely enough
B. Enough strangely
C. Strange enough
D. Enough strange
25. Having a trip abroad is certainly good for the old couple, but it remains ____
whether they will enjoy it.
A. to see
B. to be seen
C. seeing
D. seen
26. —You seem to show interest in cooking.
—What? ____, I’m getting tired of it.
A. On the contrary
C. On the other hand
B. To the contrary
D. To the other hand
27. These wild flowers are so special that I would do ____ I can to save them.
A. whatever
B. that
C. which
D. whichever
28. Time will____ whether I made the right choice or not.
A. see
B. say
C. tell
D. know
29. Suddenly, a tall man driving a golden carriage ____ the girl and took her away,
____ into the woods.
A. seizing; disappeared
B. seized; disappeared
C. seizing; disappearing
D. seized; disappearing
30. It suddenly ____ me how we could improve the situation.
A. occurred
B. feared
C. shook
D. struck
31. Was it because he was ill ____ he asked for leave?
A. so
B. when
C. why
D.
that
32. John likes Chinese food, but he ____ eating with chopsticks.
A. is used to
B. used to
C. isn’t used to
D. didn’t used
to
33. Fujian Province lies ____ the east of China and Taiwan is ____ the east of Fujian.
A. in; in
B. to; in
C. to; to
D. in; to
34. For John this was the beginning of a new life, _____he thought he would never
see,
A. what
B. that
C. one
D. it
35. We stayed for the night at the foot of the mountain and ____ to climb it the
next morning.
A. set about
B. set off
C. set up
D. set out
36. We should do as much ad we can ____ our country better and more beautiful.
A. make
B. to make
C. makes
D. making
37. “To put of something” means “to _____”.
A. look for it
B. put it in place
C. postpone it
D. cancel it
38. _____, he’ll make a first-class tennis player,
A. Giving time
B. To give time
C. Given time
D. Being given time
39. —Did you see her off the day before yesterday?
—No, but I wish I ____.
A. were
B. did
C. had
D. would
40. Some drivers always drive carelessly. There is some ____ danger while they are
driving.
A. painful
B. potential
C. probable
D. primary
41. You have stayed at home for two days. It’s time you ____ for a walk.
A. go out
B. went out
C. will go out
D. would go out
42. Can you ____ the three mistakes in this paragraph?
A. turn out
B. bring out
C. call out
D. pick out
43. This is much ____ to the one I bought last week.
A. worse
B. lower
C. inferior
D. equal
44. _____ their country has plenty of oil, ours has none.
A. While
B. Where
C. When
D. Unless
45. There at the door stood a girl about the same height ____.
A. as me
B. as mine
C. with mine
D. with me
Part III Identification (10%)
Directions: Each of the following sentences has four underlined parts marked
A, B, C and D. Identify the one that is not correct. Then blacken the corresponding
letter on the Answer Sheet.
46. The reporter was
questions.
very
pleased when
the chairman
allowed him to ask
few
A
B
C
D
47. He
tried to
learn Greek but
soon
got tired of it
and
gave up it.
A
B
C
D
48. With the sun
were going
to go home.
setting, we stopped
working,
putting
away our tools and
A
B
C
D
manners
in
China
demand
that
a
person
stands
up
when
49. Polite
anyone
enters
a room or when
A
B
C
anyone
hands
D
him something.
50. This
Winter Olympic Games.
is the sportsman
whom
everyone says
will win the gold medal
at
the
A
51. I
party,
heard
hadn’t
A
52. E-mail
more popular
B
C
D
that you really
had
a wonderful time
at
John ’ s birthday
you?
B
C
D
as
well
as
mobile
telephones
are
becoming
more
and
in
daily communication.
A
B
C
D
53. They are going to
office tomorrow.
have
the servicemen
installed
an electric fan
in
the
A
B
C
D
54. Two
meeting yesterday.
woman
teachers and four
girl
students
were
praised
at
the
A
B
C
D
the
most difficult lesson,
but
it isn ’ t
the
most
55. Lesson Three is
difficult lesson
in Book Four.
A
B
C
D
Part IV Cloze (10%)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage, and for each blank
there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D at the end of the passage. Then blacken
the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.
__56
in the following years. There will be major changes in
Scientists say that something very serious is happening to the earth. It will
57
temperature. This will have
season will be ten
61
a large decrease in
begin to get
in the new century. Coastal waters will have a
a
days longer by the year 2010. However, in warmer areas, it will be too dry. The
of water could
agriculture production.
effect on agriculture. In northern areas, the
by eighty percent. This would
58
60
59
63
62
World temperature could
two degrees centigrade by the year 2040. However,
the increase could be three times as great in the Artic and Antarctic area. This
could cause the
67
one to two meters. Many coastal cities would be
sheets to melt and raise the
of the oceans
water.
65__
66
68
64
Why is this happening? There is too
70
oil, gas and coal burn, they create large amounts of carbon dioxide. This carbon
dioxide lets
the earth. However,
the atmosphere and enter space. It’s like a
it doesn’t let as much heat
enter the earth’s atmosphere and
carbon dioxide in the air.
69
72
73
71