考博英语模拟试题与参考答案及解析2.doc

考博英语模拟试题Part Cloze (0. 5 x 20 = 10 % )Directions：In this part you are asked to choose the best word for each blank in the passage. Write your answers on the answer sheet.After yuppies and dinkies, a new creature from ad land stalks the block. The NYLON, an acronym linking New York and London, is a refinement of those more familiar categories such as jet-setters and cosmocrats (cosmopolitan aristocrats-do keep up). Marketing professionals have noted that 1 the demise of Concorde, a new class of high-earner increasingly 2 his or her time shuttling 3 the twin capitals of globalization. And NYLONS prefer their home comforts 4 tap in both cities. Despite the impressive 5 of air miles, they are not adventurous people.As 6 from Tom Wolfes Masters of the Universe of the 1980s NYLONS have done more than well 7 the long boom and new economy of the last ten years. They are DJs, chefs, games designers, Internet entrepreneurs, fashionistas, publishers and even a(n) 8 band of journalists and writers. They are self-con-sciously trendy and some are even able to 9 houses in both cities. Others will put up 10 a house in one, and a view 11 a room in the 12 .Of course, their horizons do 13 beyond just New York and London. For many, Los Angeles is an important shopping mall.More significantly for ad land, NYLONS provide some useful marketing savings. Campaigns no longer have to differ very much in the two cities, 14 NYLONS bring them ever closer together. The restaurants are the same, with Nobu now in London and Conran in New York. Many plays 15 in both cities at the same time, and DJs shuttle between the two, 16 the same garage to the same people in 17 clubs. Time Out and Wallpaper are the magazines of 18 All this is fine for NYLONS. But not so much 19 for everybody else watching Notting Hill turn 20 a pale imitation of Greenwich Village1. A. regardless of B. even though C. although D. despite2. A. uses B. spends C. expends D. costs3. A. between B. among C. amid D. amongst4. A. at B. in C. on D. above5. A. figure B. quantity C. number D. amount6. A. distinct B. distinctive C. discrete D. diverse7. A. within B. outside C. beyond D. out of8. A. select B. choice C. excellent D. exquisite9. A. offer B. provide C. buy D. afford10. A. for B. with C. on D. to11. A. in B. of C. with D. upon12. A. other B. another C. rest D. else13. A. enlarge B. extend C. expand D. widen14. A. but B. though C. as D. while15. A. present B. display C. run D. show16. A. performing B. playing C. presenting D. acting17. A. same B. likely C. similar D. like18. A. choice B. pick C. selection D. preference19. A. fun B. funny C. amusing D. interesting20. A. up B. into C. in D. out1I. Reading comprehension (20 x 2 = 40 % )Directions: There are four passages in this part. After each passage, there are five questions. you are to choose the best answer for each question. Write your answers on the answer sheet.Passage OneThe housing market has been for two years propping up consumers spirits while the rest of the economy lies exhausted on the floor, still trying to straggle to its feet. According to the National Association of Realtors, the national median existing-home price ended the year at $ 164, 000, up 7.1 percent from 2001. Thats the strongest annual increase since 1980.Although residential real estate activity makes up less than 8% of total U. S. GDP, a housing market like this one can make the difference between positive and negative growth. Most significantly, consumer spending is 66% of GDP, and the purchase of a new home tends to have an umbrella effect on the homeowners spending as he has to stock it with a washer/dryer, a new big-screen TV, and maybe a swing set for the yard.The main factor in housings continued strength is a classic economic example of zero-sum boom: the persistent weakness everywhere else. As the 2003 recovery continues to be more forecast than reality. Falling stock prices raised investor appeal for U. S. Treasury Bonds, which in turn, allowed most interest rates to drift even lower. But there are not many signs that theres a bubble ready to burst.Decembers new record in housing starts, for example, was nicely matched by the new record in new home sales. If you build it, they will buy and even if an economic pickup starts to reduce housings relative attractiveness, theres no reason why modest economic growth and improved consumer mood cant help sustaining housings strength. The momentum gained from low mortgage interest rates will carry strong home sales into 2003, with an improving economy offsetting modestly higher mortgage interest rates as the year progresses, said David Lereah, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.Just as housing has taken up much of the economic slack for the past two years, both as a comforting investment for fretting consumers and a driver of consumer spending itself, a big bump elsewhere in the economy in 2003 could be housings downfall. If stocks roar back this spring, capital inflows could steal from the bond market, pushing up long-term interest rates. Or Alan Greenspan and the Fed could do the same to short-term rates, as a way to hit the brakes on a recovery that is heating up too fast. In other words, if every-thing possible goes wrong for housing, homeowners should have plenty to compensate them in terms of job security and income hikes.21. The author draws a contrast between the housing market and the rest of the economy to show_A. the role of real estate activity B. the statistics on home prices C. the boom of housing market D the degree of consumer spirits 22. According to the writer, what may be chiefly responsible for the umbrella effect(Paragraph2)? A. Sustainable bond markets. B. Robust housing market. C. Bubbly stock markets. D. Ill-natured consumers.23. By the expression zero-sum boom (Paragraph 3), the writer means _A. housings continued strength and the persistent weakness may cancel each other out.B. there are signs that improved consumer mood fails to help sustain housings strength.C. stock price negative growth will ultimately offset housing markets positive strength.D. higher mortgage interest rates are compatible with the recovery of the economy.24. It is implied in the passage that the economy in the year 2003 may _A. grow moderately B. struggle to its feet. C. heat up too fast D. continue to boom.25. What is the writers attitude toward future housing market?A. Carefree. B. Optimistic. C. Composed. D. Gloomy.Passage TwoBiologically, there is only one quality which distinguishes us from animals: the ability to laugh. In a universe which appears to be utterly devoid of humor, we enjoy this supreme luxury. And it is a luxury, for unlike any other bodily process, laughter does not seem serve a biologically useful purpose. In a divided world, a laughter is a unifying force. Human begins oppose each other on a great many issues. Nations may disagree about systems of government and human relations may be plagued by ideological factions and political camps, but we all share the ability to laugh. And laughter, in turn, depends on the most complex and subtle of all-human qualities: a sense of humor. Certain comic stereotypes have a universal appeal. This can best be seen from the world-wide popularity of Charlie Chaplains early films. The little man at odds with society never fails to amuse no matter which country we come from. As that great commentator on human affairs, Dr. Samuel Johnson, once remarked, Men have been wise in very different modes; but they have always laughed in the same way.A sense of humor may take various forms and laughter may he anything from refined tinkle to an earth-quaking roar, but the effect is always the same. Humor helps us to maintain a correct sense of values. It is the one quality which political fanatics appear to lack. If we can see the funny side, we never make the mistake of taking ourselves too seriously. We are always reminded that tragedy is not really far removed from comedy, so we never get a lop-sided view of things.This is one of the chief functions of satire and irony. Human pain and suffering are so grim; we hover so often on the brink of war, political realities are usually enough to plunge us into total despair. In such circumstances, cartoons and satirical accounts of somber political events redress the balance. They take the wind out of pompous and arrogant politicians who have lost their sense of proportion. They enable us to see that many of our most profound actions are merely comic or absurd. We laugh when a great satirist like Swift writes about wars in Gullivers Travels. The Lilliputians and their neighbors attack each other because they cant agree which end to break an egg. We laugh because we are meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep too. It is no wonder that in totalitarian regimes any satire against the Establishment is wholly banned. It is too powerful weapon to be allowed to flourish.The sense of humor must be singled out as mans most important quality because it is associated with laughter. And laughter, in turn, is associated with happiness. Courage, determination, initiative - these are qualities we share with other forms of life. But the sense of humor is uniquely human. If happiness is one of the great goals of life, then it is the sense of humor that provides the key.26. The author quotes Dr. Samuel Johnsons words to_A.criticize the hypocrisy of politicians B. readdress the popularity of Chaplin.C.illustrate a universal appeal of humor D. ban satires in totalitarian regimes27. According to the author, which of the following can be a chief function of the sense of humor? A. Strengthening human relations. B. Keeping a correct sense of values. C. Eliminating comic stereotypes. D. Singling out adverse comments.28. If one gets a lop-sided view of things, he is likely to _A.detach tragedy from comedy B. associate humor with laughter C. identify pain with happiness D. combine satire with irony29. We can infer from Paragraph 3 that_A. Satires and ironies overemphasize less serious aspects of human life. B. Arrogant politicians enable others to appreciate profound actions. C. Many issues on trivialities may arise for lack of a touch of humor. D. A sense of humor inevitably prompts us to take ourselves seriously.30. To which of the following is the author likely to agree? A. Satire and irony can be very harsh and cruel, not funny at all. B. It is absurd to stress the quality of humor at the expense of others. C. Human affairs are often an inappropriate subject for humor. D. A sense of humor is the most important of all human qualities.Passage ThreePopular art has a number of meanings, impossible to define with any precision, which range from folklore to junk. The poles are clear enough, but the middle tends to blur. The Hollywood Western of the 1930s for example, has elements of folklore, but is closer to junk than to high art or folk art. There can be great trash, just as there is bad high art. The musicals of George Gershwin are great popular art, never aspiring to high art. Schubert and Brahms, however, used elements of popular music - folk themes - in works clearly intended as high art. The case of Verdi is a different one: he took a popular genre - bourgeois melodrama set to music (an accurate definition of nineteenth-century opera) and, without altering its fundamental nature, transmuted it into high art. This remains one of the greatest achievements in music, and one that cannot be fully appreciated without recognizing the essential trashiness of the genre.As an example of such a transmutation, consider what Verdi made of the typical political elements of nineteenth-century opera. Generally in the plots of these operas, a hero or heroine - usually portrayed only as an individual, unfettered by class - is caught between the immoral corruption of the aristocracy and the doctrinaire rigidity o r secret greed of the leaders of the proletariat. Verdi transforms this naive and unlikely formulation with music of extraordinary energy and rhythmic vitality, music more subtle than it seems at first hearing. There are scenes and arias that still sound like calls to arms and were clearly understood as such when they were first performed. Such pieces lend an immediacy to the otherwise veiled political message of these operas and call up feelings beyond those of the opera itselfOr consider Verdis treatment of character. Before Verdi, there were rarely any characters at all in musical drama, only a series of situations which allowed the singers to express a series of emotional states. Any attempt to find coherent psychological portrayal in these operas is misplaced ingenuity. The only coherence was the singers vocal technique: when the cast changed, new arias were almost always substituted, generally adapted from other operas. Verdis characters, on the other hand, have genuine consistency and integrity. Even if, in many cases, the consistency is that of pasteboard melodrama, the integrity of the character is achieved through the music: once he had become established. Verdi did not rewrite his music for different singers or countenance alterations or substitutions of somebody elses arias in one of his operas, as every Eighteenth century composer had done. When he revised an opera, it was only for dramatic economy and effectiveness.31. By referring to Schubert and Brahms, the author suggests thatA. the works produced in the 18th century can be all considered as trash.B. the achievements of the two artists overshadow that of Verdi.C. popular music could be applied to compositions intended as high art.D. the term of popular music is susceptible to many definitions.32. According to the passage, the immediacy of the political message in Verdis operas stems from The_A.audiences familiarity with earlier operas B. vitality and subtlety of the music employed. C.portrayal of heightened emotional outlets D. individual talents and skills of the singer33. It can be concluded from the passage that the author regards Verdis revisions to his operas with _ A. approval for the intentions that motivated the revisions B.regret that the original musicals and texts were altered C. concern that the revisions changed plots of the originals. D. disappointment, for the revisions seem largely irrelevant.34. It can inferred that the author views the independence from social class of the heroes and heroines of 19th century operas as _ A. a plot refinement which could be the achievement only by Verdi B. an idealized but accurate portrayal of bourgeois lifestyles C. a plot convention with no real connection to political reality D. a symbolic representation of the social position of aristocrats35. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the first paragraph of the passage as a whole? A. It compares and contrasts several achievements that are thoroughly examined later in the passage. B. It defines terms and relationships that are challenged in an argument later in the passage. C. It provides a host of concrete examples from which generalizations are drawn later in the passage. D. It leads to an assertion that is supported by examples and manifestations later in the passage.Passage FourWhoever said that victory has many fathers and defeat is an orphan, surely had never heard of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the case of the hapless multilateral trade body and its long suffering representatives, the total failure of the opening meeting of the so-called Millennium trade round has lots of people boasting of their role in the violent physical straggle. Well. Thats just brilliant. They are proud of being part of a movement that wants to wreck the most important engine of economic growth, prosperity and overall global rising living standards we have - the freedom of trade and movement of people and goods between nations.The 135-members WTO is composed of sovereign governments wishing to further this goal and ease the settlement of international trade disputes. From the sounds emanating from Seattle, though, it would now seem the WTO has now replaced the Trilateral Commission and the Freemasons as candidate No. 1 to take over the world.Everybody has his favorite Seattle story. The citys police chief will have plenty of time to think about his, having now resigned in disgrace over the loss of control of downtown Seattle. The Seattle business community may be more inclined to brood over theirs; the poor fools invested $ 9 million to attract the m