[英语考试]2012年9月高级口译考试真题和答案.doc

2012 年9 月高级口译考试真题和答案【Spot Dictation】Hunger and food insecurity have been called Americas “hidden crisis.” At the same time, andapparently paradoxically, obesity has been declared a serious epidemic. Both obesity and hunger(and, more broadly, food insecurity) are serious public health problems, sometimes co-existing inthe same families and the same individuals. Their existence sounds contradictory, but those withinsufficient resources to purchase adequate food can still be overweight, for reasons thatresearchers now are beginning to understand.The apparent paradox of expanding wastelands and persistent hunger and food insecurity inAmerica is driven in part by the economics of buying food. Households without money to buyenough food first change their purchasing in eating habits, relying on cheaper high-calorie foodsover more expensive neutral rich foods before they cut back on the amount of food. In order tocope with limited money for food and to stave off hunger, families try to maximize calories-intakefor each dollar spent, which can lead to over-consumptions of calories and a less healthful diet.Research among low-income families shows that mothers first sacrifice their own nutrition byrestricting their food intake during periods of food insufficiency in order to protect their childrenfrom hunger. The resulting chronic ups and downs in food intake can contribute, over the long run,to obesity among low-income women.Dr. Larry Brown, executive director of the Center on Hunger and Poverty, reported, A growingbody of research shows that hunger and obesity pose a dual threat for some people. We need tobetter understand this relationship if our nation is to grapple with these parallel threats to thewell-being of Americans. We particularly need to avoid damaging policy prescriptions thatassume hunger and obesity cannot coexist.Renowned food experts and scientists call for a reform agenda to address both hunger and obesity.According to James Wells, president of the Food Research and Action Center, an agenda thatseriously tackles hunger and obesity among the poor must address their common roots. Those沪江英语roots include food insecurity and the impact of poverty. One answer is increased access to incomesupports and nutrition programs so that more families have sufficient resources to obtain healthierdiets.评析：本文选自The Paradox of Hunger and Obesity in America和Hunger, obesity: two sidesof same coin.，命题者对两篇文章的内容进行了节选和组合，组成了一篇听写段落。本文属于社会经济类文章，介绍了hunger 和obesity的“共存”和“矛盾”方面的问题。文章的整体难度不是太大，涉及到obesity，agenda，food insecurity，coexist，paradox，calories，nutrition等相关词汇也是高口常见的词汇，但考生要注意文章中长句子的拆分，抓住句子的主干及核心信息，尤其是一些关键词更应该听懂听清。另外，grapple等一些难度相对比较大的词要求考生在平时需要注意相关词汇的积累，多读一些经济报刊类的文章。【Listening Comprehension】Listening Comprehension 1Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following conversation.M: Do you come from a particularly musical family?W: Not really, my family are farming people and my parents have always lived on farms. Myoldest brother is a born farmer and my second brother works on a farm too, but hes also got anoffice job to do with agriculture. And so they appreciate music, but they dont really know muchabout classical, in inverted commas, that sort of things. They appreciate perhaps Scottishtraditional music more and they like a good tune. And if they can trace a tune, and they can taptheir feet tune or clap tune. They are quite happy, but they dont know about Stravinsky orsomething like that. Then they are quite lost.M: Why did you choose percussion? I mean, its not the obvious thing even for a musical studentto choose.W: No, but I liked it. I was always keen on percussion. Clarinet and percussion were my twoinstruments, and I like the sheer variety. But I feel I was very much influenced by a local girl who沪江英语played the xylophone. And she was absolutely brilliant. And I just said “gosh, I want to do thattoo.” But then I discovered that percussion didnt just consist of xylophone, it consisted of a lotmore and so I liked that as well. And so, thats how it really all began.M: You started to play percussion quite young?W: Yes, thats when I was at secondary school at the age of 12. I had a bit of job actually, startingpercussion. Because when you are a pupil at school, you all go through a music oral test, andwhich is done through a tape recorder. And you just listen and you write down answers, thingslike that. And afterwards, when I asked if I could play percussion, the obvious reaction of myteachers was “Well, look at these marks, they are not good”. But I said, “Well, really? I play thepiano”. That was the only thing I could back myself up with. Until eventually he said, “Well, thepercussion teacher happens to be at school today. Perhaps she might want to go through and seewhat he says”. And so the percussion teacher said, “Well, I cant really see why she shouldnt beplaying percussion”. And so its really just gone from there. But at the time,they didnt know that Iwas wearing hearing aids and this sort of thing. And so when I told them, their reaction was muchdifferent. You know what I mean?M: They didnt know that when they gave you the test?W: Oh, no, and I refuse to tell anyone. Rightly or wrongly, Im not sure. But certainly, that wasthe case. Thats how it all started really.Questions:1. Which type of family does the woman come from?2. What kind of music does the woman say her family likes most?3. Which of the following instruments does the woman play?4. When did she start to play the musical instrument shes talking about now?5. Which of the following statements is true according to the conversation?沪江英语【解析】高口第一篇听力理解，主题是采访音乐人怎样开始play percussion的。文章难度中下，只有几个乐器名词和古典音乐人名，不影响理解。建议考生在听力过程中，多加留意题目的关键词语。clarinet n. 单簧管；percussion n. 打击乐器；xylophone n. 木琴。Listening Comprehension 2Question 6 to 10 are based on the following news.Washington, the United SatesPresident Barack Obama is set to announce a $3billion plan to boost food security and farmproductivity in Africa, US officials say.They say the initiative is aimed at alleviating shortages as world food supplies are being stretchedby rising demand in Asias emerging markets. Food security is expected to be on the agenda ofthis weekends G-8 meeting.The summit near Washington is being dominated by Europes debt crisis and a possible Greek exitfrom the euro zone.The head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Rajiv Shah, said the moveshows the administrations commitment to boosting world food production as rising wealth in Asiadrives consumption.【文章大意】文章讲述奥巴马政府投入三十亿美元刺激非洲的食品安全和生产。美国国籍开发署的领导人拉吉夫沙阿称，随着亚洲经济推动着消费，政府的这一举动显示了对于促进世界粮食生产的承诺。boost：v. 促进，增加initiative：n. 倡议；主动权沪江英语alleviate：n. 减轻agenda：n. 议程Madrid, SpainSpains government called for calm Friday, a day after rating agency Moodys downgraded 16Spanish banks in the latest sign of distress in Europe. Among those who saw their ratings loweredwere the countries two largest banks.At a Cabinet meeting Friday, Spanish ministers agreed that the top priority regarding the economyis controlling the deficit.The downgrades come amid rising concerns about the political and economic turmoil in Greece,and the potential ripple effect of that crisis on nations like Spain and Italy that are struggling withlow growth and big debts.Moreover, the real-estate crisis that began in 2008 is ongoing, and unemployment has risen to veryhigh levels, with rising risks to white-collar employment affecting the outlook for bankshousehold lending.【文章大意】穆迪公司将 16家西班牙银行的等级调低之后，西班牙内阁会议通过当前经济最紧要的是控制赤字。top priority：当务之急turmoil：n. 混乱Sao Paulo, Brazil沪江英语President Dilma Rousseff plans to cut and simplify taxes for electricity producers, two seniorofficials told Reuters, as part of a strategy to reduce Brazils high business costs and stimulate itsstruggling economy.Brazil has been on the brink of recession since mid-2011 as high taxes, an overvalued exchangerate and other structural problems squeeze what had previously been one of the worlds mostdynamic emerging economies.Rousseff has in recent months announced targeted tax cuts for stagnant sectors such as theautomotive industry, embracing an incremental approach to reform that has drawn criticism frominvestors who say more drastic changes are needed.【文章大意】这篇文章讲述巴西政府为企业减税从而刺激经济。be on the brink：濒临squeeze：v. 压榨stagnant：adj. 停滞的；不景气的drastic：adj. 激烈的；猛烈的New York, the United StatesChildren from racial and ethnic minorities now account for more than half the births in the US,according to estimates of the latest US census data.Black, Hispanic, Asian and mixed-race births make up 51% of new arrivals in the year ending inJuly 2011.It puts non-Hispanic white births in the minority for the first time.沪江英语Sociologists believe the ongoing economic slowdown has contributed to a greater decline in birthrates among white people.The US Census Bureau recorded 2million babies born to minorities in the year to July 2011, justover half of all births, compared with 37% in 1990.US birth rates have been declining, but the drop has been larger for white people.The nations minority population now makes up 36% of the total US population.【文章大意】本文的关键词是新生儿数量，通过一系列的数字分析，讲述了在经济危机下，美国的白人新生儿数量下滑。【评析】文章没有过多的生词，但要求考生需要把握对于数字的敏感度。London, the United KingdomOil prices slipped towards $107 a barrel on Friday as investors fled risky, growth-sensitive assetson fears that Greece would leave the euro, although short-covering provided some support forBrent.Brent crude was down 16 cents to $107.33 a barrel after slipping to its lowest level for the year at$106.40 earlier in the session.Traders and analysts said short-covering was providing a floor for Brent futures, but the overalltrend remains to the downside given the uncertainty over what will happen with Greece.【文章大意】文章讲述英国布伦特的原油价格下跌。沪江英语slip down：下滑short-covering：空头回补Questions:6. Which of the following is not expected to be on the agenda of this weekends G-8 summitmeeting near Washington?7. After Moody lowered the ratings of Spanish banks, what is the top priority regarding theeconomy as agreed by Spanish ministers?8. What dose Brazilian President plan to do to stimulate its struggling economy?9. What can we know from the news about the new-born population in the United States?10. At what price did Brent Crude Oil end Friday on London market?Listening Comprehension 3Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following interview.W: Mr Johnson, you have traveled to so many places in the world. Does travel necessarily openminds to other cultures?M: I think travel is good in any capacity. I do hope that people who travel to other countries spendat least a little bit of time not travelling in an isolated kind of way. Over the last 2 or 3decades,travel whether in wildness or urban areas has become much more insular. When I travel, I tend tonot bring very much baggage with me. Maybe just carry-on. I also know that where I am going,millions of people have lived for thousands of years. I know that I can survive there if they cansurvive.W: With all the travelling you do, in what way is it still a pleasure for you?沪江英语M: I think it is important when you travel that you get on plateau a little bit. I think we try nowwith cell phones and Internet to stay connected all the time. I think some sort of disconnectionfrom that for just a few days or week. Convenient hands travel. You dont have to be connectedevery day. I also find when I move overseas for several weeks or month Im not in touch with thenews. I dont see it or hear about it. I find when I come back to the states, nothing was changedvery much. The reality is the news that we want to know every day, maybe doesnt really matterafter a few weeks or months. Life goes on.W: Any favorite places that youve visited?M: I love my home in Montana. My ancestors were homesteaders inMontana. And I have lived inBosman since in 1995. I also like where I grew up in north Tanzania. I like the savanna and highplateau. I like the wild life. I do like few beaches, but mostly Im a mountain person. I love theKarakoramMountains in northern Pakistan. I also love the Pamir mountains in the Hindu KushRange. The Karakoram is the greatest consolidation of high peaks in the world. I have a hard timepicking a city I like a lot.W: Any places still on your list?M: My wife wants to go to Antarctica. I dont have time in this lifetime. It takes too long. I wantto go to northern Norwegian. Its where my ancestors are from. Very beautiful rivers and seas. Myancestors were fishermen. I also want to go to Peru and Argentina in Andes.W: Whatre responsibilities do you think western travelers have to the places that they visit?M: If you can go local even for a day, its fine if you have a package tour but spend at least oneday a week doing something a little different than whats on the rest of your itinerary. Spend sometime in the local cafe, get to know somebody, go visit a school. Its uncomfortable for people atfirst but often people say thats the most significant part of the trip. That will help the localeconomy.Questions：沪江英语11. According to Mr. Johnson, which of the following statements applies to travelers in the pasttwenty or thirty years?12. In what way is traveling a pleasure for Mr. Johnson?13. Which of the following places does Mr. Johnson like most?14. Which of the following places is not on Mr. Johnsons traveling list?15. According to Mr. Johnson, what should western travelers do when they visit places?【解析】本篇听力难度适中，中心话题是“商务人士的一个旅行访谈”。这个话题还是大家比较熟悉的，因此理解不难。主要谈到的几个方面如下：旅行的乐趣；最喜欢的目的地；不准备去的地方以及有关西方人旅行建议但文中也出现了一些国名和地名。因此大家在平时英语学习中注意积累。不过听的过程中可以记下中文名称即可。关键词：carry-on随身行李disconnected 不连通的，不联系的Montana 蒙大拿州Tanzania 坦桑尼亚Pakistan 巴基斯坦savanna 热带草原Antarctic南极沪江英语ancestor 祖先itinerary 行程_Listening Comprehension 4Question 16-20 are based on the following talk.At the same time that Brokeback Mountain hits video store shelves, savvy computer users candownload the entire movie legally. The Oscar-winning drama is the inaugural release of a newvideo-on-demand service fromMovielink.Five of the major Hollywood studios started the California-based company, Movielink, four yearsago in 2008 to offer time-limited online rentals of feature films, but Movielink Chief ExecutiveOfficer Jim Ramo says purchasers can now own a downloaded digital copy to watch over and overagain. He said, What weve tried to do with our launch is having a great mix of Academy Awardwinners, blockbusters and classics. We have a little over 300 titles in all with our launch.Of course, video pirates already have those options. Warner Brothers Home Entertainmentpresident Kevin Tsujihara says the new plan provides a legal alternative to online theft estimatedto cost the entertainment industry more than $4 billion annually. Movielink CEO Ramo says thecompanys experience with some 100,000 rental downloads per month demonstrates that illegalcopying can be prevented.With a high-speed connection, a full-length film takes about 90 minutes to download. The digitalfiles are inWindows Media format and will only play on a PC. Purchasers can burn backup copiesto DVD; however, those discs will not work on a standard DVD player. Mr. Ramo says that willchange when copy protection protocols can be perfected. He also notes that the downloads will notwork on Macintosh computers and suggests Apple, which pioneered video downloads through itsiTunes site, may have its own film distribution plan in the works, perhaps with Disney.Movielink has films from Warner Brothers, SONY, Universal, Paramount, Fox and MGM in itscatalogue. However, Mr. Ramo says the download-to-own service is only available within the沪江英语United States. “Movielink was only licensed to do business in the United States, so we had afiltering mechanism that made sure that the only people who could get Movielink were within theUnited States. Having said that, I think were happy to see now that Movielink has alreadylicensed other distributers around the world. There have been announcements recently in theNetherlands, the UK and Germany, so I think there are certainly more and more countries that aregoing to be opened up for digital delivery.”Questions:16. When was the company Movielink founded?17. What new service is offered by the company now?18. What kind of movies are not offered with the launch of this new service?19. How much does online theft cost the entertainment industry annually?20. Where does Movielink not allow download outside the United States at present?本篇听力取材较早，内容是一家名叫Movielink的公司推出在线下载电影服务来对抗盗版和网络剽窃。问题涉及公司成立时间、提供的新服务、可供下载的电影类型、网络盗版每年造成的损失和服务使用区域。五个题目均是常见的细节题，考生在听力过程中只要抓住具体细节信息并做好笔记即可选出正确答案。本篇听力的主要难点如下：1. 专有名词较多，比如Paramount, Warner Brothers, MGM等，还出现了电影名称，如Brokeback Mountain 是断背山，如果平时生活中看电影等不注意，可能听不出来。2. 出现一些比较难的词汇，如Academy Award winner 奥斯卡获奖影片，blockbuster 大片，pirate盗版商，online theft网络剽窃，filtering mechanism过滤机制，distribution发行，licensed许可的，digital file数码文件，protection protocol保护协议等，也是要求考生有一定词汇储备的。沪江英语3. 注意力要求较高。Question 19答案位于前半部分，而Question 20则在最后一句话。考生很容易在中间这部分注意力分散等，所以，听力考试时坚持仔细听到最后一刻是十分重要的。【阅读上半场 MC第一篇】The museum for black America: a force for unity or division? 出自：http:/www.independent.co.ukBarack Obama marked its launch, but not everyone welcomes the new addition to the Smithsonianfamily.To paraphrase Martin Luther King her