2012年全国职称英语考试教材阅读理解 综合 A级.doc

2012年全国职称英语考试教材阅读理解（综合类A级） （新增）To Have or Have Not（新增）Going Her Own Way A Tale of Scottish Rual Life （新增）Pop Music in Africa （新增）Why So Many Children Eat to Live New US Plan for Disease Prevention The Operation of International Airlines Sauna Can Buildings Be Designed to Resist Terrorist Attack? Americans Get Touchy Women Staying in Mini-Skirts for Longer Defending the Theory of Evolution Still Seems Needed （新增） Narrow Escape Finding Enlightenment in Scotland The Beginning of American Literature Older Volcanic Eruptions1 To Have and Have NotIt had been boring hanging about the hotel all afternoon. The road crew were playing a game with dollar notes. Folding them into small planes to see whose would fly the furthest.1 Having nothing better to do，I joined in and won five，and then took the opportunity to escape with my profit. Despite the evil-looking clouds，I had to get out for a while.I headed for a shop on the other side of the street. Unlike the others，it didnt have a sign shouting its name and business，and instead of the usual impersonal modern lighting，there was an appealing glow inside. Strangely nothing was displayed in the window. Not put off by this，I went inside.It took my breath away. I didnt know where to look, where to start. On one wall there hung three hand-stitched American quilts that were in such wonderful condition they might have been newly-made. I came across tin toys and antique furniture, and on the wall in front of me, a 1957 Stratocaster guitar , also in excellent condition. A card pushed between the strings said $50. I ran my hand along a long shelf of records, reading their titles. And there was more.“Can I help you？” She startled me. I hadnt even seen the woman behind the counter come in. The way she looked at me, so directly and with such power. It was a look of such intensity that for a moment I felt as if I were wrapped in some kind of magnetic or electrical field. I found it hard to take and almost turned away. But though it was uncomfortable. I was fascinated by the experience of her looking straight into me, and by the feeling that I was neither a stranger, nor strange, to her.Besides amusement her expression showed sympathy. It was impossible to tell her age；she reminded me faintly of my grandmother because, although her eyes were friendly, I could see that she was not a woman to fall out with. I spoke at last. I was just looking really, I said, though secretly wondering how much of the stuff I could cram into the bus.The woman turned away and went at once towards a back room, indicating that I should follow her. But it in no way lived up to the first room. The light made me feel peculiar, too. It came from an oil lamp that was hung from the centre of the ceiling and created huge shadows over everything. There were no rare electric guitars, no old necklaces, no hand-painted boxes with delicate flowers. It was also obvious that it must have taken years, decades, to collect so much rubbish, so many old documents arid papers.I noticed some old books, whose gold lettering had faded, making their titles impossible to read. They look interesting, I said, with some hesitation. To be able to understand that kind of writing you must first have had a similar experience, she said clearly. She noted the confused look on my face, but didnt add anything.She reached up for a small book which she handed to me. This is the best book I can give you at the moment, she laughed. “If you use it.” I opened the book to find it full. or rather empty, with blank white pages, but paid her the few dollars she asked for it, becoming embarrassed when I realised the notes were still folded into little paper planes. I put the book in my pocket, thanked her and left.词汇： impersonal /imp?:s?n?l/ adj. 客观的；非个人的；没有人情味的；语 非人称的 n.语非人称动词；不具人格的事物antique / nti:k/ adj. 古老的，年代久远的 n. 古董，古玩startle /st:tl/ vt. vi. 使吓一跳，使惊奇 n.惊愕，惊恐arid / rid/ adj. 干旱的，枯萎的。毫无生气的magnetic /m gnetik/ adj. 有吸引力的，磁极的注释：1. The road crew were playing a game with dollar notes. Folding them into small planes to see whose would for the furthest.巡回乐团道具管理组的成员在用美元玩儿游戏，把纸币折成纸飞机的形状然后看谁飞得最远。2. I was fascinated by the experience of her looking straight into me, and by the feeling that I was neither a stranger , nor strange, to her. 我还是觉得那种被直视的感觉很美妙，那种感觉是我既不是陌生人而且对她来说并不陌生。3. The light made me feel peculiar, too. It came from an oil lamp that was hung the centre of the ceiling and created huge shadows over everything.房间的灯光也让我感觉和特别，灯光来自天花板上的油灯，使一切都笼罩在巨大的阴影之下。练习： 1. Why did the writer want to leave the hotel?A) To enjoy the good weather.B) To have a change of scene.C) To spend all his winnings.D) To get away from the crew.2. What attracted the writer to the shop?A) The lack of a sign or name.B) The fact that it was nearby.C) The empty window display.D) The light coming from inside.3. The writer found the stock in the front of the shop_.A) of top qualityB) of good valueC) difficult to get atD) badly displayed4. What was unusual about the way the woman looked at him?A) It made him feel self-conscious.B) She was happy to stare at him.C) She seemed to know him well.D) It made him want to look away.5. The writer disliked the back room because_.A) there was hardly anything in itB) she had ordered him to go thereC) he saw nothing he really likedD) it was too dark to look around答案与题解： 1. B 本题的问题是：为什么作者想要离开宾馆？由本文第一段第一句可以得出答案。在宾馆是十分无聊的，最后一句也写出作者不顾天气不好而想要出去走走，A，C选项错误，D选项未提及。2. D 本题的问题是：是什么吸引作者到那个商店？由第二段中间“there was an appealing glow inside.” 可以得出答案。A，C选项不切题。D选项未提及。3. A 本题的问题是：作者发现在小店前面存放的物品是怎样的？从第三段对于物品的详细描述可以得出答案。“ On one wall there hung three hand-stitched American quilts that were in such wonderful condition they might have been newly-made. I came across tin toys and antique furniture, and on the wall in front of me, a 1957 Stratocaster guitar , also in excellent condition.”4. C 本题的问题是：那个女人看他的方式有什么不同？由第四段最后一句“I was fascinated by the experience of her looking straight into me, and by the feeling that I was neither a stranger, nor strange, to her.”有一种似曾相识的感觉。5.C 本体的问题是：作者不喜欢后屋的原因？从文中的第六段和第七段可以得出结论，他认为没有什么他真正喜欢的东西。“It was also obvious that it must have taken years, decades, to collect so much rubbish, so many old documents arid papers.”“I noticed some old books, whose gold lettering had faded, making their titles impossible to read. They look interesting, I said, with some hesitation.” 2 Going Her Own WayWhen she was twelve, Maria made her first important decision about the course of her life. She decided that she wanted to continue her education, Most girls from middle-class families chose to stay home after primary school，though some attended private Catholic finishing schools. There they learned a little about music，art，needlework，and how to make polite conversation. This was not the sort of education that interested Maria or her mother. By this time，she had begun to take her studies more seriously. She read constantly and brought her books everywhere. One time she even brought her math book to the theater and tried to study in the dark.Maria knew that she wanted to go on learning in a serious way. That meant attending the public high school，something that very few girls did. In Italy at the time，there were two types of high schools: the classical schools and the technical schools. In the classical schools，the students followed a very traditional program of studies，with courses in Latin and Greek language and literature，and Italian literature and history1. The few girls who continued studying after primary school usually chose these schools.Maria，however，wanted to attend a technical school. The technical schools were more modem than the classical schools and they offered courses in modern languages，mathematics，science，and accounting2.Most people including Marias father believed that girls would never be able to understand these subjects. Furthermore，they did not think it was proper for girls to study them.Maria did not care if it was proper or not. Math and science were the subjects that interested her most. But before she could sign up for the technical school，she had to win her father sapproval. She finally did，with her mothers help，though for many years after，there was tension in the family. Marias father continued to oppose her plans，while her mother helped her.In 1883，at age thirteen，Maria entered the Regia Scuola Tecnica Michelangelo Buonarroti in Rome. Her experience at this school is difficult for us to imagine. Though the courses included modern subjects，the teaching methods were very traditional. Learning consisted of memorizing long lists of facts and repeating them back to the teacher. Students were not supposed to ask questions or think for themselves in any way. Teachers were very demanding，discipline in the classroom was strict，and punishment was severe for those who failed to achieve or were disobedient.词汇: discipline /disiplin/ n. 纪律，学科，训练，惩罚 punishment / p?ni?m?nt/ n. 惩罚，严厉对待，虐待注释:1. In the classical schools，the students followed a very traditional program of studies，with courses in Latin and Greek language and literature，and Italian literature and history. 在传统学校中，学生们都依照一种非常传统的教学方式学习，包含拉丁语、希腊语与文学课，还有意大利文学与历史。2. The technical schools were more modem than the classical schools and they offered courses in modern languages，mathematics，science，and accounting. 技术学校比传统学校要现代得多， 他们提供的课程有现代语言、数学、自然科学，以及会计学。练习: 1. Maria wanted to attend_.A） private “finishing” schoolB） school with Latin and GreekC） technical high schoolD） school for art and music2. In those days, most Italian girls_. A) went to classical schoolsB) went to “finishing” schoolsC) did not go to high schoolD) went to technical schools3. You can infer from this passage that_. A) girls usually attended private primary schoolsB) only boys usually attended technical schoolsC) girls did not like going to schoolD) only girls attended classical schools4. Marias father probably_. A) had very modern views about womenB) had very traditional views about womenC) had no opinion about womenD) thought women could not learn Latin5. High school teachers in Italy In those days were_. A) very modernB) very intelligentC) quite scientificD) quite strict答案与题解： 1. C 本题的问题是：Maria想去个怎样的学校？由文中第三段可明确得出结论。“Maria, however, wanted to attend a technical school .” A, B, D项均有明显错误。2. C 本题的问题是：在当时的意大利大多数女孩的选择是什么？由文中的第一段可知“Most girls from middleclass families chose to stay home after primary school ,”所以本题的正确答案为C。3. B 本题为推理题，问题是：从全文可以得出什么样的结论？A选项未提及。C选项错误，原文只说大多数女孩子都选择呆在家里，并未说她们都不喜欢读书。D选项错误，原文只说就算是上学的话大多数女孩子都选择传统学校，而并非只有女孩子可以去。所以正确答案为B。4. B 本题问的是：Maria的父亲对女性的态度是什么？由文中第三段倒数第二句“Most peopleincluding Marias father believed in the girls would never be able to understand these subjects.”可以得出答案，父亲和大多数人一样都持传统观念。5. D 本题的问题是：当时的意大利高中教师是怎样的？从文中最后一段可以得出结论“Teachers were very demanding, discipline in the classroom was strict, and punishment was severe for those who failed to achieve or were disobedient,”故正确答案为D。3 A Tale of Scottish Rural LifeLewis Grassic Gibbons Sunset Song (1932. was voted the best Scottish novel of all time by Scottishs reading public in 20051 Once considered shocking for its frank description of aspects of the lives of Scotlands poor rural farmers, it has been adapted for stage, film, TV and radio in recent decades.The novel is set on the fictional estate of Kinraddie, in the farming country of the Scottish northwest in the years up to and beyond World War I. At its heart is the story of Chris, who is both part of the community and a little outside it.Grassic Gibbon gives us the most detailed and intimate account of the life of his heroine. We watch her grow through a childhood dominated by her cruel but hard-working father; experience tragedy (her mothers suicide and murder of her twin children.; and learn about her feelings as she grows into woman. We see her marry, lose her husband，then marry again. Chris has seemed so convincing a figure to some female readers that they cannot believe that she is the creation of a man2.But it would be misleading to suggest that this book is just about Chris. It is truly a novel of a place and its people. Its opening section tells of Kinraddies long history, in a language that imitates the places changing patterns of speech and writing.The story itself is amazingly full of characters and incidents. It is told from Chris point of view but also from that of the gossiping community, a community where everybody knows everybody elses business and nothing is ever forgotten.Sunset Song has a social theme too. It is concerned with what Grassic Gibbon perceives as the destruction of traditional Scottish rural life first by modernization and then by World War 1. Gibbon tried hard to show how certain characters resist the war. Despite this, the war takes the young men away, a number of them to their deaths. In particular, it takes away Chris husband, Ewan Tavendale. The war finally kills Ewan, but not in the way his widow is told. In fact, theGermans arent responsible for his death, but his own side. He is shot because he is said to have run away from a battle.If the novel is about the end of one way of life it also looks ahead. It is a Sunset Song but is concerned too with the new Kinraddie, indeed of the new European world. Grassic Gibbon Went on to publish two other novels about the place that continue its story.1. What is Sunset Song mainly about? A.The First World War. B.The beauty of the sunset. C.The new European world. D.The lives of rural Scottish farmers.2. Which statement is NOT true of Chris? A.She is the heroine of Sunset Song. B.She had a miserable childhood. C.She is the creation of a man. D.She married only once.3. What is the opening section of the novel mainly concerned with? A.The climate of Kinraddie. B.The history of Kinraddie. C.The geography of Kinraddie. D.The language spoken in Kinraddie.4. Who are responsible for Evans death, according to Chris? A.The Germans. B.The French army. C.The British troops. D.The Russian soldiers.5. The word sunset occurring in the title of the novel most probably means A.the end of the heroines life. B.the end of ones life. C.the end of traditional life. D.the end of the day.4 Pop Music in AfricaYoung musicians in African countries are creating a new kind of pop music. The tunes and the rhythms of their music combine African traditions with various forms of music popular today, such as hip-hop, rap, rock, jazz, or reggae. The result is music that may sound familiar to listeners anywhere in the world, but at the same time is distinctly African. It is different also in another way: Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues in Africa today.Eric Wainaina is one of these African musicians. He grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, in a family of musicians. As a teenager, he listened to pop music from the United States, and later he moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Now he has produced a CD in Kenya. Erics most popular song, Land of A Little Something” is about Kenyas problem of bribery, or paying others for illegal favors. He wants people to listen to his songs and think about how to make Kenya a better place to live.Another musician who writes serious songs is Witness Mwaijaga from Tanzania. Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women. At the age of fifteen she lost her home, but she was luckier than other homeless young people. She could make a living by writing songs and singing on the street. By the time she was eighteen years old, she had become a star. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania, especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women1.Baaba Maal, from Senegal, also feels that pop music must go beyond entertainment. He says that in Senegal, storytellers have always been important people. In the past, they were the ones who kept the history of their people alive. Baaba believes that songwriters now have a similar responsibility. They must write about the world around them and help people understand how it could be better. The words of his songs are important, in fact. They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans, as well as the rights of women, love for one s family, and saving the environment2.One of South Africas most popular musicians is Brenda Fassie. She is sometimes compared to Madonna, the American pop star, because she likes to shock people in her shows. But she also likes to make people think. She became famous in the 1980s for her simple pop songs against apartheid. Now that apartheid has ended, her songs are about other issues in South African culture and life. To sing about these, she uses local African languages and a new pop style called kwaito.In recent years, people outside of Africa have also begun to listen to these young musicians. Through music, the younger generation of Africans are connecting with the rest of the world and, at the same time, influencing the rest of the world.词汇： reggae /regei/ n. 瑞格舞（西印度群岛的舞曲） bribery /braib?ri/ n. 行贿，贿赂apartheid / ? P a:theit / n. 种族隔离注释：1. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania, especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women. 她用嘻哈和说唱的风格写歌，歌曲的内容是 坦桑尼亚的各种问题，特别是艾滋和女性权利的缺失。2. They speak of peace and cooperati