中国矿业大学博士入学英语考试试题(2007)

1、Entrance Examination in English for Ph.D Candidates at CUMTB（November ,2007）提示：请将所有答案写在答题纸上，写在试卷上无效。 Part One: Cloze (15 points) If you were to begin a new job tomorrow, you would bring with you some basic strengths and weaknesses. Success or （1） in your work would depend, to （2） great extent,（3） yo

2、ur ability to use your strengths and weaknesses to the best advantage.（4） the utmost importance is your attitude. A person （5） begins a job convinced that he isnt going to like it or is （6） that he is going to ail is exhibiting a weakness which can only hinder his success. On the other hand, a perso

3、n who is secure（7） his belief that he is probably as capable （8） doing the work as anyone else and who is willing to make a cheerful attempt near it possesses a certain strength of purpose. The（9） are that he will do well. （10） the prerequisite skills for a particular job is strength. Lacking those

4、skills is obviously a weakness. A bookkeeper who cant add or a carpenter who cant cut a straight line with a saw is hopeless cases. This book has been designed to （11） you capitalize on the strength and overcome the （12） that you bring to the job of learning. But in groups to measure your developmen

5、t, you must first take stock of somewhere you stand now.（13） we get further along in the book, well be dialing in some detail with specific processes for developing and strengthening （14） skills. However, to begin with, you should pause to examine your present strengths and weaknesses in three areas

6、 that are critical to your success or failure in school: your（15） , your reading and communication skills, and your study habits.Part Two: Reading Comprehension (40 points) Passage One Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage. Many of the most damaging and life threatening types of weathe

7、r torrential rains, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes - begin quickly, strike suddenly, and disappear rapidly, destroying small regions while leaving neighbouring areas untouched. Such event as a tornado struck the northeastern section of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tor

8、nado exceeded $250 million, the highest ever for any Canadian storm.Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short lived local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to study car

9、efully the subtle atmospheric changes that come before these storms. In most nations, for example, weather-balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job p

10、redicting general weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events.Until recently, the observation intensive approach needed for accurate, very short-range forecasts, or Nowcasts, was not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional

11、 weather stations was extremely high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were hard to overcome. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instrumen

12、ts, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyze this large volume of weathe

13、r information. Meteorologists and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these

14、 new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.1.The word exceeded in paragraph 1 most probably means _.A added up to B were more than C were aboutD were less than 2.Conventional computer models of the atmosphere fails to predict such a short-lived tornado because

15、_.A the computer is not used to forecast specific local eventsB the computers are not advanced enough to predict itC the weather data people collect are often wrongD weather conditions in some small regions are not available 3.According to the passage, the word Nowcast (paragraph 3) means _.A a way

16、of collecting raw weather data B a forecast which can predict the weather conditions in the small area in an accurate wayC a network to collect instant weather dataD a more advanced system of weather observation 4.According to the passage, _ is the key factor to making Nowcasts a reality.A scientifi

17、c and technological advances such as radar, or satellitesB computer scientistC meteorologists D advanced computer programs5.According to the author, the passage mainly deals with _.A a tornado in Edmonton, AlbertaB whats a NowcastC the disadvantage of conventional computer models of the weather fore

18、cast D a breakthrough in weather forecastPassage Two Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage.Paradise Lost is Miltons masterpiece. Its story is taken from the Bible, about the fall of man, that is, how Adam and Eve are tempted by Satan to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit from t

19、he Tree of Knowledge, and how they are punished by God and driven out of Paradise. In Miltons words, the purpose of writing the epic is to justify the ways of God to men, but apparently, Milton is uttering his intense hatred of cruelness of the ruler in the poem. By depicting Satan and his followers

20、 as well as their fiery utterance and brave actions, Milton is showing a Puritans revolt against the dictator and against the established Catholics and the Anglican Church. In the poem God is no better than a cruel and selfish ruler, seated on a throne with a group of angels about him singing songs

21、to praise him. His long speeches are not pleasing at all. He is cruel and unjust in punishing Satan. His angels are stupid. But Satan is by far the most striking character in the poem, who rises against God and, though defeated, still persists in his fighting.Adam and Eve shows Miltons belief in the

22、 power of man. God denies them a chance to pursue for knowledge. It is this longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide road to intelligent and active life. It has been noted by many critics that Miltons revolutionary feelings makes him forget religious doctrines（教条）. The angels who surro

23、und the God never think of expressing any opinions of their own, and they never seem to have any opinions of their own. The image of God surrounded by such angels resembles the court of an absolute monarch . But Satan and his followers, who freely discuss all issues in council, remind us of a Republ

24、ican Parliament.6.This passage is most probably _.A a review of Miltons Paradise LostB an introduction of what Paradise Lost is about C a depiction of the cruelness of the British ruler D part of an introduction to English literature7.According to the passage, Milton _.A describes Satan as a Puritan

25、 B doesnt believe in God C is satisfied with the British ruler D calls on people to fight against the dictator8.In the poem, Satan is described as _.A an evil person B contrary to what is depicted in the BibleC selfish and cruel devilD a stupid ghost 9.Which of the following can NOT be inferred from

26、 this passage?A If Adam and Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit, human being would be ignorant until now. B God acts like a dictator.C Satan and his followers are parliament members in the poem. D The angels are depicted as stupid in the poem.10.According to this passage, Paradise Lost is written

27、for the purpose of _.A praising God for the creation of the world B criticizing the cruelness of British ruler C changing peoples unfavourable impression of Satan D expressing his support for the fight of SatanPassage Three Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.Bringing up children i

28、s a hard work, and you are often to blame for any bad behavior of your children. If so, Judith Rich Harris has good news for you. Parents, she argues, have no important long-term effects on the development of the personality of their children. Far more important are their playground friends and neig

29、hborhood. Ms. Harris takes to hitting the assumption, which has dominated developmental psychology for almost half a century.Ms. Harriss attack on the developmentalists nature argument looks likely to reinforce doubts that the profession was already having. If parents matter, why is it that two adop

30、ted children, reared in the same home, are no more similar in personality than two adopted children reared in separate homes? Or that a pair of identical twins, reared in the same home, are no more alike than a pair of identical twins reared in different homes?Difficult as it is to track the precise

31、 effects of parental upbringing, it may be harder to measure the exact influence of the peer group in childhood and adolescence. Ms. Harris points to how children from immigrant homes soon learn not to speak at school in the way their parents speak. But acquiring a language is surely a skill, rather

32、 than a characteristic of the sort developmental psychologists hunt for. Certainly it is different from growing up tensely or relaxed, or from learning to be honest or hard-working or generous. Easy though it may be to prove that parents have little impact on those qualities, it will be hard to prov

33、e that peers have vastly more.Moreover, mum and dad surely cannot be ditched completely. Young adults may, as Ms. Harris argues, be keen to appear like their peers. But even in those early years, parents have the power to open doors: they may initially choose the peers with whom their young associat

34、e, and pick that influential neighborhood. Moreover, most people suspect that they come to resemble their parents more in middle age, and that peoples child bearing habits may be formed partly by what their parents did. So the balance of influences is probably complicated, as most parents already su

35、spected without being able to demonstrate it scientifically. Even if it turns out that the genes they pass on and the friends their children play with matter as much as affection, discipline and good example, parents are not completely off the hook.11. According to Ms. Harris, _.A parents are to bla

36、me for any bad behavior of their children B parents will affect greatly the childrens life in the long run C nature rather than nurture has a significant effect on childrens personality development D childrens personality is shaped by their friends and neighbors12.Which of the following views is con

37、sistent with what the developmentalists hold?A Children are more influenced by their peers than by their parents. B Twins are quite different if they are reared in two separate families.C Identical twins reared in the same home are different in personality. D Nurture has a less significant effect on

38、 childrens personality development.13.According to Para. 3, which of the following statements is TRUE?A It is harder to track the precise effects of parental upbringing than the exact influence of the peer group in children. B Immigrant children tend to discard the way their parents speak quickly wh

39、en they go to school. C It has been proved that peers have more impact on childrens qualities such as to be honest or hard-working or generous. D It is easier for children to acquire a language at school than at home. 14.The word ditched ( Line 1,Para. 4) could best be replaced by _.A proved B empha

40、sized C comparedD ignored 15. What is the authors main purpose?A To highly praise Ms. Harriss work. B To counter Ms. Harriss work. C To objectively report on Ms. Harriss work. D To critically comment on Ms. Harriss work. Passage Four Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.According to

41、 sociologists, there are several different ways in which a person may become recognized as the leader of a social group. In the family, traditional cultural patterns confer leadership on one or both of the parents. In other cases, such as friendship groups, one or more persons may gradually emerge a

42、s leaders, although there is no formal process of selection. In larger groups, leaders are usually chosen formally through election or recruitment.Although leaders are often thought to be people with unusual personal ability, decades of research have failed to produce consistent evidence that there

43、is any category of “natural leaders”. It seems that there is no set of personal qualities that all leaders have in common; rather, virtually any person may be recognized as a leader if the person has qualities that meet the needs of that particular group.Research suggests that there are typically tw

44、o different leadership roles that are held by different individuals. Instrumental leadership is leadership that emphasizes the completion of tasks by a social group. Group members look to instrumental leaders to “get things done.” Expressive leadership, on the other hand, is leadership that emphasiz

45、es the collective well-beings of a social groups members. Expressive leaders are less concerned with the overall goals of the group than with providing emotional support to group members and attempting to minimize tension and conflict among them.Instrumental leaders are likely to have a rather secon

46、dary relationship to other group members. They give others and may discipline group members who inhibit the attainment of the groups goals. Expressive leaders cultivate a more personal or primary relationship to others in the group. They offer sympathy when someone experiences difficulties and try t

47、o resolve issues that threaten to divide the group. As the difference in these two roles suggest, expressive leaders generally receive more personal affection from group members; instrumental leaders, if they are successful in promoting group goals, may enjoy a more distant respect.16. What does the

48、 passage mainly discuss?A The problems faced by leaders.B How leadership differs in small and large groups.CHow social groups determine who will lead them.DThe role of leaders in social groups.17. The passage mentions all of the following ways by which people can become leaders EXCEPTA recruitmentB

49、formal election processC specific leadership trainingD traditional cultural patterns18. Which of the following statements about leadership can be inferred from paragraph 2?A A person who is an effective leader of a particular group may not be an effective leader in another groupB Few people succeed

50、in sharing a leadership role with another personC A person can best learn how to be an effective leader by studying research on leadership.D Most people desire to be leaders but can produce little evidence of their qualifications.19. In mentioning “natural leaders” in line 8, the author is making th

51、e point thatA few people qualify as “natural leaders”.Bthere is no proof that “natural leaders” exist.C “natural leaders” are easily accepted by the members of a group.D “natural leaders” share a similar set of characteristics20. The passage indicates that instrumental leaders generally focus onA en

52、suring harmonious relationships.Bsharing responsibility with group members.Cidentifying new leaders.D achieving a goal.Passage Five Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.There are people in Italy who cant stand soccer. Not all Canadians love hockey. A similar situation exists in Amer

53、ica, where there are those individuals you may be one of them who yawn or even frown when somebody mentions baseball. Baseball to them means boring hours watching grown men in funny tight outfits standing around in a field staring away while very little of anything happens. They tell you its a game

54、better suited to the 19th century, slow, quiet, and gentlemanly. These are the same people you may be one of them who love football because theres the sport that glorifies “the hit”.By contrast, baseball seems abstract, cool, silent, still.On TV the game is fractured into a dozen perspectives, repla

55、ys, closeups. The geometry of the game, however, is essential to understanding it. You will contemplate the game from one point as a painter does his subject; you may, of course, project yourself into the game. It is in this projection that the game affords so much space and time for involvement. Th

56、e TV wont do it for you.Take, for example, the third baseman. You sit behind the third base dugout and you watch him watching home plate. His legs are apart, knees flexed. His arms hang loose. He does a lot of this. The skeptic still cannot think of any other sports so still, so passive. But watch w

57、hat happens every time the pitcher throws: the third baseman goes up on his toes, flexes his arms or bring the glove to a point in front of him, takes a step right or left, backward or forward, perhaps he glances across the field to check his first basemans position. Suppose the pitch is a ball. “Nothing happened,” you say. “I could have had my eyes closed.”The skeptic and the innocent must play the game. And this involvement in the stands is no more intellectual than listening to music is. Watch the third b