2023年研究生入学考试英语二考试题库

2023年研究生入学考试英语二考试题库卷I一.历年考点试题黑钻版(共50题)1.Directions:

YourfriendTomhasbeenaddictedtoonlinegamesforalongtime,thuslaggingbehindothersinstudy.Writehimaletterto

1)tellhimtheconsequenceofwebaddiction,and

2)giveyouradviceonhowtostudybetter.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LingMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.2.Directions:

Writealettertoyouruniversitylibrary,makingsuggestionsforimprovingitsservice.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.3.Inmanysectors,Chinaisnowtakingagloballeadintwoareasofinnovation:inimprovingconsumerproductsandthebusinessmodelsusedtosellthem;andinmakingmanufacturingprocessescheaper,quickerandbetter.Asaresult,Chinesefirmsnowoutsellforeignrivalsinsuchthingsashouseholdappliances,internetsoftwareandconsumerelectronics.Theyarehelpedbythefactthattheirhomemarketissohuge.

Chinesefirmsareinventingnewbusinessmodels.TheWest'sonlinefirmsgeneratemostoftheirrevenuefromadvertising.ButChina'sadvertisingindustryisonlyaboutone-eighththesizeofAmerica's,soChinesedigitalfirmshavehadtofindnewwaystomonetisetheirusers'eyeballs.YY.com,anonline-videoplatform,letsviewersbuyelectronic"roses"toshoweruponvideoartistswhoseshowstheyenjoyed.YYsaysitstopperformers,whogetacutoftherevenue,canearnmorethan20,000yuanamonth,seventimestheaveragefactoryworker'spay.4.Sweatingonpurposeisbecominganelitephenomenon.InadarkenedroomattheedgeofdowntownWashington,D.C.,electronicmusicpulsesoverthespeakersasacrowdofmostlysweatyyoungwomenbopupanddown.Sadly,thisisnotadrug-fuelledrave,butratheramid-afternoonspinclass.ItisrunbySoulCycle,whichpromotestheideathatridinganexercisebiketoloudmusicisakintoenteringa"soulsanctuary".Theexperience,involvingawkwardlyliftingweightswhilecycling,costsabout$35for45minutes,whichdoesnotdeteritswell-heeledcustomers."Someofthewomenpayalotofmoneytogohere,"saysastaffmember,hereyebrowsraised.

AccordingtofiguresfromtheInternationalHealth,RacquetandSportsclubAssociation,anindustrygroup,gymmembersnownumber54m,upfrom45min2009.TwiceasmanyAmericanssubscribetogymsasinthemid-1990s.5.SignsofdeclinearesuretobefoundinaplaceascomplexasAmerica:debt,crime,thehomeless,drugs,dropouts.ButthemaincharacteristicofAmerica,thefirstandmostenduringimpression,isdynamism,energy,aggressiveness,forwardmovement.

Itissohardtothinkofthisnationindeclinewhenyouknowthattherearevastregionsoftheplanetwhichareabsolutelyparalyzed,incapableofanyimprovementatall.ItisdifficultformetoagreewithPaulKennedy'sthesisthatAmericamustinevitablyfollowhistoricalprecedent.That'sthewayhistoryusedtobe—allpowerfulnationsdeclinedandgavewaytootherempires.ButIhaveasensethatwhatisgoingonhereconcernsmuchmorethanthefateofanation.ItmaybethattheEuro-centeredAmericannationisdecliningasitgiveswaytoanewPacificcivilizationthatwillinclude,butnotlimitedto,America.(153words)6.Directions:

Inthispart,youareaskedtowriteanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechartand

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayonANSWERSHEET2.

FinancialSourcesofCollegeStudents

1)描述中美大学生经济资助状况

2)分析这种状况的成因

3)预测中国大学生经济资助的可能变化

7.Globalizationplacesusinincreasinglymoresituationswherewemayneedtohostinternationalbusinessassociatesformeals.Withsomanyculturaldifferencesindiningpreferences,evenamongthoseofthesamenationalityandculture,thesafestandmostconsideratethingwecandowhentreatingaguestistosimplyask.Avoidmakingtoomanyassumptionsaboutwhatyourguestswouldlikeandinquireabouttheirpreferences.

China'sdishnamesareinfusedwithitsculinaryculture,andexpressingtheminEnglishisnotalwayssoeasy.ZhaoHuimin,directorofBeijingForeignAffairsOffice,said,"AsBeijingisstrivingtobecomea'WorldCity',weneedabetterlanguageenvironment.AndChinesefoodhasbecomemorepopulararoundtheworldinrecentyears,soit'sessentialtostandardizethetranslation.Thenewlypublishedbookcontainseasy-to-understandEnglishnamesofalmostallmainstreamdishesofChina'seightmajorcuisines.Itisforreferenceonly,andisnotcompulsory."8.Directions:SupposeBob,oneofyourfriends,isaskingyoutorecommendonesongtohimandwritealettertohim.Inyourletter,youshouldrecommendonesongandgiveyourreasons.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.9.ItiseasytounderestimateEnglishwriterJamesHerriot.Hehadsuchapleasant,readablestylethatonemightthinkthatanyonecouldimitateit.HowmanytimeshaveIheardpeoplesay,"Icouldwriteabook.Ijusthaven'tthetime,"Easilysaid.Notsoeasilydone.JamesHerriot,contrarytopopularopinion,didnotfinditeasyinhisearlydaysof,asheputit,"havingagoatthewritinggame".Whileheobviouslyhadanabundanceofnaturaltalent,thefinal,polishedworkthathegavetotheworldwastheresultofyearsofpractising,re-writingandreading.Likethemajorityofauthors,hehadtosuffermanydisappointmentsandrejectionsalongtheway,butthesemadehimallthemoredeterminedtosucceed.Everythingheachievedinlifewasearnedthehardwayandhissuccessintheliteraryfieldwasnoexception.10.Imaginehavingajobthatpaysyou12,000poundstowriteatworeportforabigcompanymeetingwherethedocumentisneverdiscussed.Orajobthatrequiresyoutorentacaranddriveupto500kmtooverseeaperson'scomputerbeingmovedfivemetresfromoneroomtoanother.Whataboutbeingareceptionistinapublishingcompanywherethephoneringsonceadayandyouronlyothertasksarefillingadishwithcandiesandwindingagrandfatherclockonceaweek?

ThesejobsarestrewnthroughDavidGraeber'sBullshitJobs,aprovocative,funnyandengagingbookthatclaimstheworldhasbeensurroundedbyarisingtideofpointlesswork.Thisisacuriouschargetohearatatimeofrisinganxietyaboutkeepingone'sjobsafefromarobot,ortheindignitiesofthegigeconomyandsweepingtechnologicaldisruption.Yetitclearlyhasappeal.11.Intelligencequotients(IQs)testingiscontroversialandregardedbysomeasacrudeindicatorofabilityorpotential.Whencomparingnations,measuredaverageIQtendstobeaffectedbyclass,nutrition,andculturalfactorsincludingeducation.Thereisalsodisagreementovertheinfluencesofnatureandnurture.

IQshaverisenindevelopednationsforalmostacentury.ButinBritain,researchhasfoundareversalofthistrend.Theaveragehaddeclinedbytwopointsonaverage,butbyasmuchassixpointsamongteenagersinthetophalfoftheIQscale,afallthatwipedouttheprevioustwodecadesofgainsinthatgroup.

NocauseforthisfallinIQshasbeenestablished:theinternet,thedumbingdownofeducation,andanobsessionwithexamresultshavebeensuggested.Flynnhasarguedthatyouthculturehasmadeacontribution.12.近些年来，上网的人越来越多，人们可以便捷地从电脑或手机上读到新闻、摄取信息甚至下载阅读电子图书，这令报摊、书店等传统读物经销商的生意日趋惨淡，如著名图书连锁店“光合作用”部分门店已关闭。该现象与趋势已引起公众的关注与热议。13.Bytheyear2100,globaltemperaturesareexpectedtorisebybetween0.8and3.5degreeCelsius.Thatmaynotseemlikemuch,butsuchanincreaseintemperaturewouldcauseariseinsealevelslargeenoughtoputthelivesofupto100millionpeopleatrisk.

Forthefirsttimeinthescientificcommunity,thereistotalagreementthattheactivityofhumansisatleastpartlyresponsiblefortheproblem—specificallytheemissionofgreenhousegaseslikecarbondioxide,whichisreleasedbytheburningofwood,coalandpetroleumproducts.ReducingharmfulemissionisjustoneareainwhichtheUnitedNationsIntergovernmentalPanelisdecidedlyoptimistic.Intheshorttermitmightnotprovethatdifficult.Efficiencyimprovementsalonecouldcutenergyneedsbyasmuchas30percentatvirtuallynoextracostand,indevelopedcountries,emissionreductionsofupto60percent"aretechnicallyfeasible".Inthelongerterm,harmfulemissionswillbereducedastheworldchangesovertocheaper,lessenvironmentallydamagingenergysources.14.Likeexaminations,theannualrankingofschoolisanecessaryevil.Itisaboontoschoolswhichdowellandabanetothosewhichfailtomeasureup.Rankingisgoodinthatitwillleadtocompetitionwhichwillraisetheoverallteachingstandardsofschools.However,competitioncanbebothvirtuousandviciousanditisquiteimpossibletojustretaintheformerandsaynotothelatter.

Thenegativeeffectsoftheinevitableviciouscompetitionmaybealotmoredamagingthanwethink.Foraschooltoprovethatithasmadeprogressandemergewinnerintheyearlybattle,theprincipal,teachersandpupilswillallhavetofocustheirtimeandenergyonachievingexcellentacademicresults.

Itisunfortunatethattoalargeextent,academicscoreshavebecometheprimaryconcerninthelearningprocess.15.Directions:

SupposeyouruniversityisholdingaknowledgecontestonLow-CarbonLifeonCampus.Writeanoticeto

1)brieflyintroducethecontest,and

2)callforvolunteers.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownnameorthenameofyouruniversity.

Donotwritetheaddress.16.ApoacherintheUnitedStateshasbeenorderedtowatchtheDisneyclassicBambiaspartofhissentenceforillegallykillinghundredsofdeer.DavidBerry,29,wasorderedbyacourtinMissouritowatchthefilmatleastonceamonthduringhisyearlongjailsentenceinwhatconservationagentshavecalledoneofthelargestdeerpoachingcasesinstatehistory.Theclassic1942animatedmovieisaboutababydeernamedBambiwhosemotherisshotandkilledbyhunters.Itisnotthefirst"bizarre"sentence.In2003,twoteenagersfromChicagoweresentencedto45daysinjailandorderedtomarchthroughthecenteroftheirhometownwithadonkey.TheywerefoundguiltyofstealinganddefacingastatueofthebabyJesus.17.Directions:

Supposeyourunclehasjustbeenpromotedtoamanager.Writealetterto

1)congratulatehim,and

2)expressyourbestwishes.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.18.Asearlyasthe19thcentury,shoppershaveviewedThanksgivingDayasthetraditionalstarttotheholidayshoppingseason,anoccasionmarkedbycelebrationsandsales.Departmentstoresinparticularlockedontothismarketingnotion,hostingparadestolaunchthestartofthefirstwaveofChristmasadvertisements,chiefamongthem,theMacy'sThanksgivingDayParade,runninginNewYorkCitysince1924.TheholidayshoppingcrazebecamesoimportanttoretailersthatduringtheGreatDepression,theyappealedtoPresidentFranklinD.Rooseveltin1939tomoveThanksgivingDayupinordertostretchouttheholidayshoppingseason.Rooseveltobliged,movingThanksgivingDayoneweekearlier,butdidn'tannouncethechangeuntilOctober.Asaresult,AmericanshadtwoThanksgivingsDaythatyear—Roosevelt's,jokinglydubbed"Franksgiving,"

andtheoriginal.Becausetheswitchoverwashandledsopoorly,fewobservedit,andthechangeresultedinlittleeconomicboost.19.Itisjustoneexampleofthegrowingconcernovertheincreasingpowerconsumptionandenvironmentalimpactofcomputers.Astudyfoundthatthepowerconsumptionofdatacentersdoubledbetween2000and2005,andnowaccountsfor1.2%ofAmericanelectricityconsumption,thoughotherestimatesputthefigureat4%.Companiesnowspendasmuchas10%oftheirtechnologybudgetsonenergy,saysRakeshKumarofGartner,aconsultancy.

Powerconsumptionhasincreasedbecauseoftheriseoftheinternet,ofcourse,butalsobecauseofwayinwhichcomputershavehistoricallybeendesigned:tomaximizeperformanceatallcosts.Between1996and2006,thenumberofserversinusewentfrom6millionto28millionandtheaveragepowerconsumptionofeachservergrewfrom150wattsto400watts.Butthingsarenowstartingtochangeandthecomputerindustryhasbeenseizedwithenthusiasmfor"greencomputing".20.Arolemodelisapersonwhoisagoodexampletoothers,intermsofdoingnobleorcharitableactsorrepresentinggoodvaluesorwaysofthinkingandacting.Relatedtorolemodelsareheroesandicons.Aheroisapersonwhohasamazingabilitiesortraits,andhasperformedextraordinaryacts.Aniconissomeonewhoisanimageorsymbolofimportance.

TIMEmagazinepublishedalistofheroesandiconsfromthelast100years(1900to2000).Thelistoftwentypeoplewho"articulatethelongingsofthelast100years,exemplifyingcourage,selflessness,exuberance,superhumanabilityandamazinggrace"includes:MotherTeresa,PrincessDiana,Pele,CheGuevara,SirEdmundHillaryandTenzingNorgan,HelenKeller,BruceLee,CharlesLindberghandAndreiSakharov.Doyouknowwhoallofthesepeopleare?Whowouldyouaddtoyourpersonallistofheroesandicons?

SomefamousrolemodelshavebeenrecipientsofaNobelPrize.TheNobelPrizeisahighly-respectedinternationalawardgiventopeople(andorganizations)whohaveconductedexceptionalresearch,createdground-breakinginventionsormadeoutstandingcontributionstosociety.Therearefivecategories:NobelPrizeinPhysics,NobelPrizeinChemistry,NobelPrizeinMedicine,NobelPrizeinLiteratureandNobelPrizeinPeace.21.Directions:

SupposeyouhavereadapieceofinformationontheInternetaboutrecruitingEnglisheditors.Writealettertothecompany'sPersonnelDepartmentto

1)showyourinterest,

2)describeyourself,and

3)explainwhyyouwouldbesuitableforthejob.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.22.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET2.

23.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthechartbelow.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

2013—2015年我国物馆数量和参观人数24.Directions:

Aspartofastudentsocialsurveyproject,youareleadingagrouptovisitanexhibitioninasmalltown.Writealetter:

1)askforinformationregardingsuchthingsasthecontentsoftheexhibition,

2)thedatesofitsopeningandclosing,anydiscounts.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter,Use"ZhangWei"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.25.WhenAmericansexpressindifferenceabouttheproblemofunequalincomes,it'susuallybecausetheyseetheUnitedStatesasalandofboundlessopportunity.Sure,you'llhearitsaid,ourcountryhasprettybigincomedisparitiescomparedwithWesternEurope.Andsure,thosedisparitieshavebeenwideninginrecentdecades.Butstarkeconomicinequalityisthepricewepayforlivinginadynamiceconomywithavenuestoadvancementthattheclass-boundOldWorldcanonlydreamabout.Wemayhavelessequalityofeconomicoutcomes,butwehavealotmoreequalityofeconomicopportunity.

Theproblemis,thisisn'ttrue.MostofWesternEuropetodayisbothmoreequalinincomesandmoreeconomicallymobilethantheUnitedStates.Anationthatpridesitselfonitslackofclassrigidityhas,inshort,becomesignificantlymoreeconomicallyrigidthanmanyotherdevelopedcountries.Howdidourperceptionofourselvesendupsoinconsistentwithreality?26.Inthe19thcentury,therewasahydraulicmodelofhowtobeagoodperson.Thereareallthesetorrentsofpassionflowingthroughyou.Yourjob,ascaptainofyoursoul,istoerectdamstokeepthesepassionsincheck.Yourjobistojustsaynotolaziness,temptation,greed,druguseandtheothersins.

Prayingcouldreallyhelp.Theycouldhelpyouidentifysin.Preacherscouldpersuadeyoutoexercisethewillpoweryouneedtoguardagainsttemptation.Thesedaysthatmodelisoutoffashion.Youusuallycan'tchangeyourbehaviorbysimplyresolvingtodosomething.Ifthatweretrue,NewYear'sresolutionswouldactuallywork.

Yourwillpowerisnotlikeadamthatcanblockthetorrentofself-indulgence.It'smorelikeamuscle,whichtireseasily.Peoplecanchangetheirlives,butorderingchangeisnotsimplebecausemanythings,evenwithinourselves,arebeyondourdirectcontrol.27.InGermaneyes,strongexportsandabigtradesurplusaresymbolsofeconomicvirility.ButforeignersaremoreimpressedwithGermany'srecentemploymentrecord.AdecadeagoGermanyhadoneoftheworstjoblessratesintherichworld.Todayitsunemploymentrateof5.4%(usingOECDfigures)isoneofthelowestinEurope.Youthunemployment,below8%,ishalfthatinAmericaandathirdoftheEuropeanaverage.ItisalsothelowestGermanyhasseenfor20years.

Thisisnottheresultofboominggrowth.OverthepastdecadeGermany'seconomyhasonaveragegrownmoreslowlythanAmerica'sandBritain'sandbarelyfasterthanthatoftheeurozoneasawhole.ButGermanymanagedtoavoidasurgeoflay-offsafterthefinancialcrisisandhasdonefarbetterthanothersatgettingtheyoungandthehard-to-employintowork.28.WillnewspapersbecomeathingofthepastinthisInternetage?Itiscurrentlyestimatedthatmorethan1billionpeopleusetheInternetworldwide.Thenumber-oneonlineactivityise-mail,followedbyreadingnewsontheInternet.TheInternetisanincreasinglyeffectiveandefficientwaytoreachthelargestpossibleaudienceworldwide.HarrisInteractive,aU.S.-basedcompany,reportedthatthemajorityofpeoplewentonlinebecausetheycouldobtaininformationattimessuitabletothem;orothersdidsobecausemoredetailednewscouldbefoundonline;ormoreup-to-dateinformationwasavailableonline;orbecausetheycouldaccessnewswhileatwork.

Thoughmostmediareportersandnetworkstrytoreportobjectively,biasexists.Biasmeanstofavor.Biascanoccurinthemedia'schoiceofstoriesandcoverageofastory.Throughthechoiceofwordsandselectionofinterviews,interviewersandinterviewees,themediamightreportfavorablyorunfavorablyonanewsissue.Asviewersofnewsstories,audiencesneedtoobjectivelyjudgethenewscoveragethattheyhearandread,andseekoutmoreinformationfromothersources,ifnecessary.29.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayontheANSWERSHEET.

30.Directions:

Supposeyourclassistoholdacharitysaleforkidsinneedofhelp.Writeyourclassmatesanemailto

1)informthemaboutthedetailsandencouragethemtoparticipate.

2)Don'tuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Don'twriteyouraddress.31.Peoplegenerallyassumethatwhentheyconsideranotherpersona"friend,"thatpersonalsothinksofthemasafriend,whichmeansfriendshipismutual.Butwhenweanalyzedself-reportedrelationshipsurveysfromseveralexperimentsaroundtheworld,wefoundthatwhilemostpeopleassumefriendshipsaretwo-way,onlyabouthalfoffriendshipsareindeedmutual.Thesefindingsindicateaprofoundinabilityofpeopletoknowwhotheirfriendsare.

Initselfthismayseemlikeaninterestingbutminorfinding,butthislargeproportionofunbalancedfriendshipstranslatestoamajoreffectontheabilityofanindividualtopersuadeotherstocooperateorchangetheirbehavior.

That'sbecausesuccessdependsontheabilitytorecruitfriendstohelpatcriticaltimes.Studieshaveshownthatsocialinfluenceisacriticalfactorinorganizationalchange,andespeciallyinthepropagationofnewbehaviors,newideas,andnewmethodsinbothorganizationsandsociety.32.Directions:

YouhavelustcomebackfromtheU.S.asamemberofaSino-Americanculturalexchangeprogram.WritealettertoyourAmericancolleagueto

1)expressyourthanksforhis/herwarmreception;

2)welcomehim/hertovisitChinainduecourse.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"ZhangWei"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.33.Whenaskedwhatmakesyouhappy,youwouldprobablyhavenoproblemprovidingmewithafewanswers—anewcar,lessbodyfat,ahigher-payingjob,andsoon.Theyusuallyhaveasimilartheme;i.e.,ourhappinessdependsonexternalcircumstances.

Youmaybesurprisedtolearnthatmaterialisticthingsrarelydeterminelong-termhappiness.Thatwhichyouhavealwaysassumedwouldmakeyourlifemuchmorejoyfulmaynotactuallyimprovelong-termhappiness.Happinessisdeterminedbyinnatefactorsandperceptions,aswellasexperiences.

Humansaresocialanimals;weneedtosocialize.Thebiggestpredictorofhappinessistheextentofoursocialrelationships.Aprimaryreasonwhyourbrainshaveevolvedinthemannertheyhaveisthatwecanbesocial.

Itisnotrealistic,norisitdesirabletobehappyallthetime.Whatisimportantislearningtoappropriatelyregulatethosepotentiallydamagingthoughts.34.Teenagesmokinghaslongbeenoneofthemostseriouspublic-healthissues.SmokingistheleadingcauseofpreventabledeathintheUnitedStates,and9in10Americansmokershadtheirfirsttasteoftobaccobeforetheageof18.Althoughpoliciestocurbteensmokingshowedsignsofsuccessforatime,youthtobaccoratesremainedstagnantbetween2011and2015.Duringthisperiod,theuseofe-cigarettesamonghighschoolstudentsincreasedbyastaggering900percent.

Withthesestatisticsinmind,therecentdeclineinteentobaccoande-cigaretteuseisanencouragingsignalthatinterventionsmaybeworking.Itisdifficulttodeterminecausation,butexpertshaveattributedthedroptoarangeoffederal,stateandlocalpoliciesdesignedtodissuadeyoungadultsfromusingtobacco,suchasincreasingtobaccotaxesandexpandingantismokingordinancestoincludee-cigarettesandothernewproducts.35.Directions:

ThechartbelowshowsthemonthlyrevenueofaforeigncompanyBiosoftin2018.Inyourwriting,youshouldsummarizetheinformationbyselectingandreportingthemainfeaturesandmakecomparisonswhererelevant.Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANWERSHEET.

36.Itisawell-knownfactthatthereareconstantconflictsamongdifferentgroupsofpeople,andthatpeopletendtoblametheirmisfortunesonsomeoutsideothergroupsfortheirmisfortunes.Whatarethecausesofgroupprejudice?Thereseemstobelittledoubtthatoneoftheprincipalcausesofprejudiceisfear:inparticularthefearthattheinterestsofourowngrouparegoingtobeendangeredbytheactionsofanother.Thisislesslikelytobethecaseinastable,relativelyunchangingsocietyinwhichthemembersofdifferentsocialandoccupationalgroupsknowwhattoexpectofeachother,andknowwhattoexpectforthemselves.Intimesofrapidsocialandeconomicchange,however,newoccupationsandnewsocialrolesappear,andpeoplestartlookingjealouslyateachothertoseewhethertheirowngroupisbeingleftbehind.37.Directions:

OneofyourclassmateswantstovisitBeihaiParktomorrowandyourteacherasksyoutogowithher.Butyouareunfamiliarwiththispark.YouwillaskforhelpfromyourfriendEmma,askinghertobeyourtourguide.Inyourletter,youshould

1)listthespecificreasonsforrequest,

2)statethewaytosolvetheproblem,and

3)showyourgratitude.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter,Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.38.Studiesshowthatsocialengagementisoneofthebestpredictorsofhappiness.Yetweassociatewitheachotherlessthanever.RobertPutnamofHarvardUniversitycalledthisphenomenon"bowlingalone";hesaidthatthedeclineofprivateassociations,particularlychurches,hadledtoanisolationthatwasmakingpeoplepooreremotionally.Thatpatternhasacceleratedasweswiveltowardamoredigitalsociety.

Weliveintherichest,mostprosperous,freesttimeinhumanhistory.That'sawonderfulgiftwe'veallbeengiven.Butwe'vealsoshedgiftsthatareancientandvital:thegiftofsolidfamilystructure;thegiftofcommonreligiouscommitment;thegiftofacultureandheritageofmeritocracy(精英教育).Nogovernmentprogramcanfillthosegaps—andeveryefforttodosoendswiththeexacerbationofpreciselythefailuresgovernmentprogramsaredesignedtoalleviate.39.Directions:

SupposeyonhaveanappointmentwithDoctorAikenforfixingyourchippedtooth,butyouhavetocancelitbecauseyouareaskedtotakeameetingatthattime.Writeane-mailtoDoctorAikento

1)apologizeandexplainthesituation,and

2)suggestafuturemeeting.

YoushouldwriteneatlyontheANWSERSHEET.

Donotsignyouownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.40.Inmostpublicschoolstoday,teachersaresimplyrated"satisfactory"or"unsatisfactory,"andevaluationsconsistofhavingtheprincipalobserveaclassforafewminutesacoupleoftimeseachyear.

Manydistrictsandstatesaretryingtomovetowardbetterpersonnelsystemsforevaluationandimprovement.Unfortunately,someeducationadvocatesinNewYork,LosAngelesandothercitiesareclaimingthatagoodpersonnelsystemcanbebasedonrankingteachersaccordingtotheir"value-addedrating"—ameasurementoftheirimpactonstudents'testscores—andpublic