2008年专八真题点评(1)(王长喜)

学英语 找长喜 1 页眉上写页眉上写 2008 年真题点评年真题点评 PARTI LISTENING COMPREHENSION SECTION A MINI LECTURE The Popularity of English I Present status of English A English as a native first language B English as a lingua franca a language for communication among people whose 1 native first languages are different C Number of people speaking English as a first or a second language 320 380 million native speakers 250 2 350 million speakers of English as a second language II Reasons for the popular use of English A 3 Historical reasons the Pilgrim Fathers brought the language to America British settlers brought the language to Australia English was used as a means of control in 4 former British Empire B Economic reasons spread of 5 international commerce Good morning everyone Today s lecture is about the popularity of English As we all know English is widely used in the world Although English is NOT the language with the largest number of native or first language speakers it has really become a lingua franca Then what is a lingua franca 1 The term refers to a language which is widely adopted for communication between two speakers whose native languages are different from each other s and where one or both speakers are using it as a second language For example when an Indian talks to a Singaporean using English then English is the lingua franca Then actually how many people speak English as either a first or a second language 2 Some researchers suggested a few years ago that between 320 380 million people spoke English as a first language and anywhere between 250 350 million as a second language And of course if we include people who are learning English as a foreign language all over the world that number may increase dramatically Then we may ask a question how did English get there That is how did English gain the present status of popularity There are in fact a number of interlocking reasons for the popularity of English as a lingua franca Many of the reasons are historical but they also include economic and cultural factors that have influenced and sustained the spread of the language Let s go through the reasons one by one 3 First is the historical reason This is related to the colonial history As we know when the Pilgrim Fathers landed on the Massachusetts coast in 1620 after their journey from England they brought with them not just a set of religious beliefs a pioneering spirit or a desire for colonization but also their language Although many years later the Americans broke away from their colonial master the language of English remained and still does It was the same in Australia too When Commander Philip planted the British flag in Sydney Cove on 26th Jan 1788 it was not just a bunch of British convicts and their guardians but also a language 4 In other parts of the former British Empire English rapidly became a unifying or dominating means of control For example it became a lingua franca in India where a variety of indigenous languages made the use of any one of them as a whole country system problematic 学英语 找长喜 2 language of communication in the international business community C 6 Boom in international travel use of English in travel and tourism signs in airports language of announcement language of 7 traffic control D Information exchange use of English in the academic world language of 8 conferences or journal articles E Popular culture pop music on 9 many radios films from the USA III Questions to think about A status of English in the future B 10 split of distinct varieties of English So the imposition of English as the one language of administration helped maintain the colonizer s control and power Thus English traveled around many parts of the world in those days and long after that colonial power has faded away it is still widely used as a main or at least an institutional language in countries as far apart as Jamaica and Pakistan Uganda and New Zealand That is the first factor Now the second major factor in the spread of English has been the spread of commerce throughout the world 5 the spread of international commerce has taken English along with it This is the 20th century phenomenon of globalization Therefore one of the first sights many travelers see when arriving in countries as diverse as Brazil China for example is the yellow twin arched sign of a McDonald s fast food restaurant or some other famous brands outlets And without doubt English is used as the language of communication in the international business community 6 And the third factor related to the popular use of English is the boom in international travel And you will find that much travel and tourism is carried on around the world in English Of course this is not always the case as the multi lingualism of many tourism workers in different countries demonstrate But a visit to most airports on the globe will show signs not only in the language of that country but also in English just as many airline announcements are broadcast in English too whatever the language of the country the airport is situated in 7 So far English is also the preferred language of air traffic control in many countries and is used widely in sea travel communication Another factor has something to do with information exchange around the world As we all know a great deal of academic discourse around the world takes place in English 8 It is often a lingua franca of conferences for example and many journal articles in fields as diverse as astronomy child psychology and zoology have English as a kind of default language The last factor I cite here concerns popular culture In the western world at least English is a dominating language in popular culture 9 Pop music in English can be heard on many radios Thus many people who are not English speakers can sing words from their favourite English medium songs And many people who are regular cinemagoers or TV viewers can frequently hear English in subtitled films coming out of the USA Now to sum up in today s lecture we have reviewed some of the reasons or factors that lie behind the popular use of English as the number one world language Before we finish I would like to leave a few questions for you to think about Is the status of English as the number one world language assured in the future 10 Will it split 学英语 找长喜 3 into varieties that become less mutually intelligible OR will some other language or languages take the place of English as world language in future These questions are not easy to answer I know but they are definitely worth pondering over after the lecture OK this brings us to the end of today s lecture Thank you for your attention 1 信息推断 解析 讲座的第一部分讲述了英语目前的使用状况 其中第一点讲了英语为母语的情况 本题所在处第二点讲了英语在母语不同的人群中作为通用语 通过 communication 可推测 lingua franca 意为 通用语言 具体到讲座中 在自问自答了问题 what is a lingua franca 之 后 进行了举例说明 由印度人和新加坡人用英语进行交流可知 他们的母语是不同的 所 以答案为 native first languages 2 信息辨认 解析 本题考查对相关数字的辨认 在讲了两种使用英语的不同情况之后 第三点分别用 数字进行说明 由原文中的 between 250 350 million as a second language 可知 把英语作为 第二外语的人数是 250 350 million 因此本题填入 350 即可 3 信息辨认 解析 讲座的第二部分主要回顾英语崛起的原因 由本题下面对该原因的列举可以推测本 题可填入 Historical 因为清教徒把英语带入美国 英国殖民者把英语带入澳大利亚 这些 都是历史原因 具体到讲座中 在提出 how did English gain the present status of popularity 这 一问题后 提到 Let s go through the reasons one by one 然后接着指出 First is the historical reason 所以直接得出答案为 Historical 同时注意首字母大写 4 信息转述 解析 本题所在处针对英语盛行的第三个历史方面的原因进行概括说明 由题干可知 本 题需要填入地点名词 该地点是英语作为控制手段而使用的地区 原文在讲完澳大利亚的情 况之后 接着提到 In other parts of the former British Empire English rapidly became a unifying or dominating means of control 根据考试要求 答案确定为 former British Empire 5 信息辨认 解析 本题所在处针对英语盛行的第二个原因 经济原因进行设题 经济方面根据常识 推测 无非是国际贸易的扩展 国际投资等 讲座中提到 Now the second major factor in the spread of English has been the spread of commerce throughout the world 接着提到 The spread of international commerce has taken English along with it commerce throughout the world 和 international commerce 同义 考虑到字数要求 确定答案为 international commerce 6 信息辨认 解析 本题所在处针对第三个原因设题 由本题下面的列举可推测 本题的答案应为 spread 的同义词 也许可以填 Increase Boom 等 讲座在介绍第三个原因时提到 And the third factor related to the popular use of English is the boom in international travel 因此答案为 Boom 7 信息辨认 解析 本题所在处针对国际旅游业的兴起的最后一点进行具体说明 通过前几点进行预测 旅行中会涉及使用英语的情况 难道是地图的语言 市内交通工具使用的语言 讲座在介绍 第三个原因的最后部分提到 So far English is also the preferred language of air traffic control in many countries and is used widely in sea travel communication 根据考试要求 将原句中的 air traffic control and sea travel communication 简化为 traffic control 最终确定答案 学英语 找长喜 4 8 信息推断 解析 本题所在处针对英语盛行的第四个原因 信息交流进行介绍 根据填空处所在的 题干预测 需填入与 journal articles 相关的词 并且与信息交流有关 无非是国际会议 日 常谈话等 讲座中提到了 information exchange 方面的原因 一是英语在 academic discourse 中的应用 二是英语在 conferences 和 journal articles 中的应用 结合题干 答案为 conferences 9 信息辨认 解析 最后一个原因是大众文化的崛起 由常识可知 我国都受到了以英语为主导的大众 文化的影响 如带有字幕的好莱坞大片 电台上 电视上常播放英语流行歌曲等 具体到讲 座中 演讲者介绍了 popular culture 方面的原因 指出了英语传播的一条途径 Pop music in English can be heard on many radios 由此确定空格处填入 many radios 10 信息转述 解析 该讲座是以提问的方式结束的 本题与第二个问题 Will it split into varieties that become less mutually intelligible 相关 分析空格处可知 此处需要填入名词 而 split 的动词 和名词形式相同 因此填入 split 即可 SECTI ON B CONVERSATION 听前预测 浏览各个题干和选项可知 对话中的 Mary 和 Freddy 对于新机场的修建看法不 一 Mary 因为各种原因不赞同修建新机场 原因包括当今人们因为某种原因不需要更多的 旅行 而 Freddy 却列举了修建新机场的好处 两人证明其观点的论据是听音重点 W Hello Freddy M Hello Mary How nice to see you again How is everything going W Fine Busy these days M Yeah with lots of things to do Would you like to join me for a drink W OK thanks M Any news recently W Oh well I read in the local paper the other day that the government is planning to build an airport here You know that M I m afraid not W Well 1 my real objection to this idea of a new airport is is the whole thing is so wasteful I mean we know we re currently in fuel crisis we know that we ve got to conserve oil and fuel and all the rest of it And yet here the government seems quite deliberately to be encouraging people to to travel to use and these jets use a heck of a lot of oil I mean it takes a ton of oil a ton of petrol before one of these big jets even takes off M Mm W It seems so completely short sighted to me quite apart 1 Mary doesn t seem to favour the idea of a new airport because A the existing airports are to be wasted B more people will be encouraged to travel C more oil will be consumed D more airplanes will be purchased 解析 选 C 女士在提到修建新 机场时明确指出自己的观点 the whole thing is so wasteful 接着解释 自己有如此看法的原因 目前正面 临 fuel crisis 我们应该 conserve oil and fuel 而飞机的使用会消耗大量 原油 这正是 Mary 反对修建机场 的原因 故答案为 C A 和 D 对 话中未提及 B 是修建新机场的可 能原因 不是 Mary 反对修建的原 因 2 Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Mary as a potential disadvantage 学英语 找长喜 5 from all the waste of land and so on I can t see I can t see the rationale behind really wanting an an airport at all M Well surely you must admit that the existing airports nearby are becoming swamped I mean why should people er W Well they aren t being swamped M be treated like cattle when there s a chance of a new airport here W 2 But but really people shouldn t be traveling as much that s that s why most of the journeys I mean they re swamped because there s far too much unnecessary tourism and so on It isn t necessary for people to travel so fast or even so often M Well you take the climate here in this country Now just before Christmas there was this dreadful cold spell and there was a tremendous increase in the number of people who wanted to leave and spent Christmas and the New Year in a reasonable climate of sun and and a certain mild climate And and in summer the same situation occurs It is unbearably hot here and people want to go somewhere cool W Well yes I can sympathize with that But it is still not really necessary to do well as 2 it is necessary to to conserve fuel and it is necessary to well not to waste land I mean land for a new airport could be used for far more important things which would benefit the people here far more I mean it could be used for farming for instance M True W It could also be used for housing or it could be used for parks you know People then could come and enjoy themselves without having to travel far M But er airports do bring some local advantages 3 They bring roads there is obviously extra employment for instance new hotels shops restaurants will have to be built This means more jobs for the locals and it is good for local economy W But you ask the people you ask those who are now living near the airports for instance whether whether they reckon that airports are bringing them advantages although 2 all the airports bring in are noise and vast motorways and the whole area is is desolated isn t it M But the airport infra infrastructure relies on housing and other facilities for the great number of people who would be employed in the airport the pilots even the stewardesses they have to live somewhere near the airport right A More people in the area B Noise and motorways C Waste of land D Unnecessary travel 解析 选 A 女士在对话中提到 了修建新机场的三个可能的不良后 果 本来不必要的旅行 浪费土地 噪音和更多的道路 分别与 D C B 的内容相对应 只有 A 导致本地区人口增多 未提及 故为答案 点睛 前两题考查了女士反对修 建新机场的论据 3 Freddy has cited the following advantages for a new airport EXCEPT A more job opportunities B vitality to the local economy C road construction D presence of aircrew in the area 解析 选 D 男士在反驳女士 时 指出了修建新机场的可能带来 的益处 道路等基础设施的建设 更多的就业机会 促进当地经济的 发展 分别与 C A B 的内 容相对应 只有 D 本地区出现 飞机上的全体机组人员 未提及 故为答案 点睛 本题考查男士认为修建新 机场的好处 D 不符合常理 4 Mary thinks that people don t need to do much travel nowadays as a result of A less emphasis on personal contact B advances in modern telecommunications C recent changes in people s concepts D more potential damage to the area 解析 选 B 女士认为人们现 在根本不需要那么多旅行的原因是 现代技术的进步 随后又给出了例 证 通过电话和客户交流就可以免 受旅行奔波之苦 因此 答案为 学英语 找长喜 6 W Yeah but it s it s just so so damaging to the whole area I think airports from my point of view the whole concept is out dated really 4 Um with modern technology we re going to make a lot of travel unnecessary really For example it won t be necessary for businessmen to fly out to a foreign country to talk to somebody They can just leave it to the telephone in the office press a button and say to the person they want to do business with You see business deals can be made without having to travel back and forth right M Yes you re right But for a lot of people personal contact is important And this means travel and means quick travel air travel 5 And we justjust needneed a new airport B 其余三项对话中都未提及 5 We learn from the conversation that Freddy is Mary s ideas A strongly in favour of B mildly in favour of C strongly against D mildly against 解析 选 C 通过第 2 3 题的 分析可以看出 两人关于修建新机 场的观点是针锋相对的 对话末尾 男士所说的话 we just need a new airport 更验证了答案为 C SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST NEWS ITEM ONE 听前预测听前预测 由选项中的关键词 new government Sunday s elections the Social Democratic Party welfare system high unemployment 可预测 该新闻涉及新政府的成立 福利制度的 细节内容以及失业率居高不下的原因 6 What is the main idea of the news item A A new government was formed after Sunday s elections B The new government intends to change the welfare system C The Social Democratic Party founded the welfare system D The Social Democratic Party was responsible for high unemployment 6 The New Moderates Party began forming the new Swedish Government on Monday In Sunday s elections the New Moderates Party defeated the Social Democrats The Social Democratic Party has controlled Sweden for all but nine years since 1932 building up the country s generous welfare state But the New Moderates wants to change it Sweden s welfare system is famed around the world but the system encourages people to be lazy And unemployment is also high in Sweden One reason is the high tax on companies which makes it difficult to employ new people 6 解析 选 A 本则新闻主要介绍新温和党在大选中战胜社会民主党 将组建新政府 并提出了国家现在面临的问题及应对措施 因此 新闻的大意是 A 周日选举之后 新政 府将要建立 B 和 C 在新闻中都有所提及 但都是关于 welfare system 的细节内容 故排 除 新闻最后提到高失业率的原因是对公司征税过高 并没有说 the Social Democratic Party 应对此负责 D 也可排除 点睛 一道典型的主旨题 新闻首句即为主旨句 之后的语句都是对于首句的拓展 NEWS ITEM TWO 听前预测听前预测 预览题干和选项可知 该新闻主要介绍阿波罗 11 的录音带的存放位置以及关 学英语 找长喜 7 于人物 Richard Nafzger 的细节 7 The tapes of the Apollo 11 mission were first stored in A a U S government archives warehouse B a NASA ground tracking station C the Goddard Space Flight Centre D none of the above places 8 What does the news item say about Richard Nafzger A He is assigned the task to look for the tapes B He believes that the tapes are probably lost C He works in a NASA ground receiving site D He had asked for the tapes in the 1970s Much of the world was watching on television when the commander of the Apollo 11 mission Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon in July 1969 The pictures of that historic footstep and everything else about that and subsequent Apollo moon landings were recorded on magnetic tape at three NASA ground tracking stations around the world 7 The tapes were then shipped to a NASA operations center near Washington the Goddard Space Flight Center In late 1969 the space agency began transferring them and tens of thousands of tapes from other space missions to a nearby U S government archives warehouse NASA says it asked for them back in the 1970s but now does not know where they are I probably am overly sensitive to the word lost I did not feel they are lost said Richard Nafzger a Goddard Space Flight Center engineer who was in charge of television processing from all of NASA s ground receiving sites 8 The space agency has authorized him to set aside his other duties for the foreseeable future and devote his time to the hunt for the tapes Nafzger says they are stored somewhere 7 解析 选 C 对于阿波罗 11 录音带的存放位置 新闻中多次提到 注意题干中出现的 first stored A 是 1969 年末转移到此的地点 B 是录制的地点 随后提到运送到 the Goddard Space Flight Center 故答案为 C 点睛 本题考查对新闻中地名的记忆和理解 按照时间线索理解各个地点对应发生的事情 是解题关键 8 解析 选 A 新闻最后提到太空局授权 Richard Nafzger 暂时搁置其他工作 全力投入 到寻找录音带的工作中 A 与之符合 故为答案 新闻中提到 Richard Nafzger 对录音带丢 失的反应是 I did not feel they are lost 可见他不相信录音带丢失了 排除 B 他负责的工作 是来自美国宇航局的全部地面接收站的视频处理 而不是在 NASA ground receiving site 工作 排除 C 在 20 世纪 70 年代要回录音带的是 NASA 而不是 Richard Nafzger 排除 D 点睛 本题考查对新闻中有关人物细节的记忆 梳理和理解 A 中 assigned 是新闻结尾 处 authorized 的同义替换 look for the tapes 是 the hunt for the tapes 的同义转述 NEWS ITEM THREE 听前预测听前预测 浏览题干和选项可推测 新闻中可