2023年雏雁英语考试真题

ENGLISHTESTPARTILISTENINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN)InSectionsA,BandCyouwillheareverythingONCEONLY.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.MarkthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononyourAnswerSheet.SECTIONATALKQuestions1to5refertothetalkinthissection.Attheendofthetalkyouwillbegiven15secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentothetalk.1.TherulesforthefirstprivatelibraryintheUSweredrawnupby___.A.thelegislatureB.thelibrarianC.JohnHarvardD.thefacultymembers2.Theearliestpubliclibrarywasalsocalledasubscriptionlibrarybecausebooks___.A.couldbelenttoeveryoneB.couldbelentbybookstoresC.werelenttostudentsandthefacultyD.werelentonamembershipbasis3.WhichofthefollowingisNOTstatedasoneofthepurposesoffreepubliclibraries?A.Toprovidereaderswithcomfortablereadingrooms.B.Toprovideadultswithopportunitiesoffurthereducation.C.Toservethecommunity’sculturalandrecreationalneeds.D.Tosupplytechnicalliteratureonspecializedsubjects.4.Themajordifferencebetweenmodemprivateandpubliclibrariesliesin___.A.readershipB.contentC.serviceD.function5.Themainpurposeofthetalkis___.A.tointroducecategoriesofbooksinUSlibrariesB.todemonstratetheimportanceofUSlibrariesC.toexplaintherolesofdifferentUSlibrariesD.todefinethecirculationsystemofUSlibrariesSECTIONBINTERVIEWQuestions6to10arebasedonaninterview.Attheendoftheinterviewyouwillbegiven15secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentotheinterview.6.Nancybecameataxidriverbecause___.A.sheownedacarB.shedrovewellC.shelikeddrivers’uniformsD.itwasherchildhooddream7.Accordingtoher,whatwasthemostdifficultaboutbecomingataxidriver?A.Therightsenseofdirection.B.Thesenseofjudgment.C.Theskillofmaneuvering.D.Thesizeofvehicles.8.WhatdoesNancylikebestaboutherjob?A.Seeinginterestingbuildingsinthecity.B.Beingabletoenjoytheworldofnature.C.Drivinginunsettledweather.D.Takinglongdrivesoutsidethecity.9.ItcanbeinferredfromtheinterviewthatNancyina(n)___mother.A.uncaringB.strictC.affectionateD.permissive10.ThepeopleNancymeetsareA.ratherdifficulttopleaseB.rudetowomendriversC.talkativeandgenerouswithtipsD.differentinpersonalitySECTIONCNEWSBROADCASTQuestion11isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestion.Nowlistentothenews.11.TheprimarypurposeoftheUSanti-smokinglegislationis___.A.totightencontrolontobaccoadvertisingB.toimposepenaltiesontobaccocompaniesC.tostartanationalanti-smokingcampaignD.toensurethehealthofAmericanchildrenQuestions12and13arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.12.TheFrenchPresident’svisittoJapanaimsat___.A.makingmoreinvestmentsinJapanB.stimulatingJapanesebusinessesinFranceC.helpingboosttheJapaneseeconomyD.launchingafilmfestivalinJapan13.ThisisJacquesChirac’s___visittoJapan.A.secondB.fourteenthC.fortiethD.forty-firstQuestions14and15arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.14.Afghanpeoplearesufferingfromstarvationbecause

___.A.meltingsnowbeginstoblockthemountainpathsB.theTalibanhavedestroyedexistingfoodstocksC.theTalibanarehinderingfooddeliveriesD.anemergencyair-liftoffoodwascancelled15.peopleinAfghanistanarefacingstarvation.A.160,000.B.16,000C.1,000,000D.100,000SECTIONDNOTE-TAKINGANDGAP-FILLINGFilleachofgapswithONEword.Youmayrefertoyournotes.Makesurethewordyoufillinisbothgrammaticallyandsemanticallyacceptable.OnPublicSpeakingWhenpeopleareaskedtogiveaspeechinpublicforthefirsttime,theyusuallyfeelterrifiednomatterhowwelltheyspeakininformalsituations.Infact,publicspeakingisthesameasanyotherformof(1)___thatpeopleareusuallyengagedin.Publicspeakingisawayforaspeakerto(2)___histhoughtswiththeaudience.Moreover,thespeakerisfreetodecideonthe(3)___ofhisspeech.Twokeypointstoachievesuccessinpublicspeaking:—(4)___ofthesubjectmatter.—goodpreparationofthespeech.Tofacilitatetheirunderstanding,informyouraudiencebeforehandofthe(5)___ofyourspeech,andenditwithasummary.Otherkeypointstobearinmind:—beawareofyouraudiencethrougheyecontact.—varythespeedof(6)___—usethemicrophoneskillfullyto(7)___yourselfinspeech.—bebriefinspeech;alwaystrytomakeyourmessage(8)__Example:thebestrememberedinauguralspeechesoftheUSpresidentsarethe(9)___ones.Therefore,brevityisessentialtothe(10)___ofaspeech.PARTIIPROOFREADINGANDERRORCORRECTION(15MIN)Thefollowingpassagecontains20errors.Eachlinecontainsamaximumofoneerror.Ineachcase,onlyonewordisinvolved.Youshouldproofreadthepassageandcorrectitinthefollowingway.Forawrongword,underlinethewrongwordandwritethecorrectoneintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.Foramissingword,markthepositionofthemissingwordwitha“∧”signandwritethewordyoubelievetobemissingintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.Foranunnecessaryword,crossouttheunnecessarywordwithaslash“／”andputthewordintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.Ifthelineiscorrect,placeaVintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.When∧artmuseumwantsanewexhibit,(1)anItneverbuysthingsinfinishedformandbangs(2)neverthemonthewall.Whenanaturalhistorymuseum(3)∕wantsanexhibition,itmustoftenbuildit.(4)exhibitYouareexpectedtowriteyourfinalanswerontheAnswerSheet.Theneedforsurgicaloperation,especiallyanemergencyoperation,almostalwayscomesasasevereshocktothepatientandhisfamily.Despiteofmodernadvances,mostpeoplestill1haveairrationalfearofhospitalsandanesthetics.Patientsdo2notoftenbelievethemreallyneedsurgery—cuttingintoa3partofthebodyasopposingtotreatmentwithdrugs.Inthe4earlyyearsofthiscenturytherehadlittlespecializationin5surgery.Agoodsurgeonwaspossibleofperformingalmost6everyoperationwhichhadbeendeviseduptothattime.Today7thesituationisdifferent.Operationsarenowcarriedoutthat8werenotevendreamedfiftyyearsago.Theheartcanbesafely9openedandit’svalvesrepaired.Cloggedbloodvesselscanbe10cleanedout,andbrokenonesmendedandreplaced.Alung,the11wholestomach,orevenlypartofthebraincanberemovedand12stillpermitthepatientliveacomfortableandsatisfactorylife.13However,noteachsurgeonwantstoorisqualifiedtocarryout14everytypeofmodernoperation.Thescopeofsurgeryhasincreasedremarkablyinthiscentury.Itssafetyhasincreasedtoo.Deathsfrommostoperationsareabout20%oftheywerein1910andsurgeryhas15beenextendedinmanydirections,forexample,tocertaintype16ofbirthdefectsinnewbornbabies,andattheotherendofthescaletolife-savedoperationsforthepatientswhoarein17eighties.Thehospitalstayaftersurgeryhasbeenshortenedto18asmuchasaweekformostmajoroperations.Mostpatientsare19outofbedonthedayafteranoperationandbebackatworkin20twoorthreeweeks.PARTIIIREADINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN)Directions:Eachofthepassagesbelowisfollowedbysomequestions.Foreachquestiontherearefouranswersmarked［A］,［B］,［C］or［D］.Readthepassagescarefullyandchoosethebestanswertoeachofthequestions.Besuretowritedownyourchoiceinthenumberedspaceontheanswersheet.Passage1InterviewSowhathavetheytaughtyouatcollegeaboutinterviews?Somecoursesgototownonit,othersdoverylittle.Youmaygetconflictingadvice.Onlyonethingiscertain:thekeytosuccessispreparation.Therefollowsomeusefulsuggestionsfromateachertrainingcoursecoordinator,aheadofdepartmentandaheadteacher.Astheyappeartobeincompleteharmonywithoneanotherdespiteneverhavingmet,wemaytaketheiradviceseriously.OxfordBrookesUniversity’sapproachtothebusinessofapplicationandinterviewfocusesonresearchandrehearsal.TrainingcoursecoordinatorBrendaStevensspeaksofthevalueofgettingstudents“todeconstructtheadvertisement,seewhattheycanoffertothatschool,andthatsituation,andthenwritetheletter,dotheirCVsandcriticizeeachother’s.”Finally,theyroleplayinterviewerandinterviewee.Thisissterlingstuff,andBrookesstudentsspendacoupleofweeksonit.“Thebetterpreparedstudentswon’tbethrownbynervesontheday,”saysMsStevens.“They’llhavetheirstrategiesandquestionsworkedout.”Shealsosays,atrifledisconcertingly,“thebetterthestudent,theworsetheinterviewee.”Shebelievesthemostcapablestudentsarelessabletoputthemselvesforward.Evenifthisweretree,saysMsStevens,youmuststillmakeyourowncase.“Bewareofinfernality,”sheadvises.Oneaspirantteacher,nowaheadofdepartmentatasmartsecondaryschool,failedhisfirstjobinterviewbecausehetookhisjacketoffwhilewaitingforhisappointment.Itwashotandeveryoneinthestaffroomwasinshirtsleevesbutattheendofthedaytheycriticizedhiscasualattitude,whichtheyhaddeducedfromthefactthathetookhisjacketoffinthestaffroom,eventhoughheputitbackonfortheinterview.Incidentally,menreallydohavetowearasuittotheinterviewandwomenreallycannotwearjeans,evenifmenneverwearthesuitagainandwomenteachmostdaysinjeans.Panelsrespondinstantlytotheseindicators.Butbeware:itwillnotpleasethemanybetterifyouaretoosmart.Findoutaboutthepeoplewhowilltalktoyou.Intheearlymeetingstheyarelikelytobeheadsofdepartmentsorheadsofyear.Oftentheymaybeconcernedwithpastoralmatters.Itmakessensetoknowtheirprioritiesandletthemhearthethingsaboutyouthattheywanttohear.Duringpreliminarymeetingsyoumaybeseeningroupswithtwoorthreeotherapplicantsandyoumustdemonstratethatyouknowyourstuffwithoutputtingyourcompanionsdown.Theinterviewerswillbewatchinghowyouworkwithateam.Butrememberthewarningaboutinformality:howeverfriendlyandco-operativetheotherparticipantsare,donotgivewaytotheideathatyouaretherejusttobefriends.Routinequestionscanberehearsed,but“don’tgoontoolong,”advisesthedepartmenthead.Theymaywellask:“Whathavebeenyourworst/bestmomentswhenteaching?”,orwantyouto“talkaboutsomegoodteachingyouhavedone.”Theexpertsagreeyoushouldrecognizeyourweaknessesandofferastrategyforovercomingthem.“IknowI’vegottoworkonclassroommanagement—Iwouldhopeforsomehelp,”perhaps.Nooneexpectsanewteachertoknowitall,buttheyhopeforanobjectiveappraisalofcapabilities.Bewarnedagainstinexpertquestioning.Youmaybeaskedquestionsinsuchawaythatitseemsimpossibletopresentyourbestfeatures.Somequestionsmaybeplainsilly,askedperhapsbypeopleonthepanelwhoarefromoutsidethesituation.Donotbethrown,havewaysofcircumnavigatingit,andnever,everletthemseethatyouthinktheyhavesaidsomethingfoolish.Youwillalmostcertainlybeaskedhowyouseethefutureanditisimportanttohaveagoodanswerprepared.Somepeopleareputoffbybeingaskedwhattheyexpecttobedoinginfiveortenyears’time.Onyourpreliminaryvisit,saysthedepartmenthead,besuretogivethemabitofaninterviewofyourown,toseethedirectionthedepartmentisgoingandwhatyoucouldcontributetoit.Theheadteacheroffershisthoughtsinanine-pointplan.Irontheapplicationform!Thenitstandsoutfromeveryoneelse’s,whichhavebeenfoldedandbatteredinthepost.Itgivesaninitialimpressionwhichmaygetyourapplicationtothetopofthepile.Ensurethatyourapplicationistailoredtotheparticularschool.Maketheheadfeelyouarewritingdirectlytohimorher.Putyourselfateasebeforeyoumeettheinterviewingpanel:ifyouarenervous,youwilltalktooquickly.Beforeyouentertheroomrememberthatthepeoplearehumanbeingstoo;takeawaythemystiqueoftheirroles.Listen.Thereisadangerofnothearingaccuratelywhatisbeingsaid.Makeeyecontactwiththespeakers,andwitheveryoneintheroom.Allowyourwarmthandhumanitytobeseen.Asenseofhumourisveryimportant.Haveaportfolioofyourworkthatcanlinktheorytopractice.Manyschoolswantyoutoshowwork.Foraprimaryappointment,giveexamplesfromtherangeofthecurriculum,notjustart.(Forthisreason,takingpicturesonyourteachingpracticeisimportant.)Prepareyourselfincaseyouareaskedtogiveatalk.Havepromptcardsready,anddon’twaffle.Yourspeechmustbeclearandarticulate,withcorrectgrammar.Thisisimportant:theywanttohearyouandtheywanttohearhowwellyoucancommunicatewithchildren.Believeinyourselfandhaveconfidence.Someofthepeopleaskingthequestionsdon’tknowmuchaboutwhatyoudo.Bereadytohelpthem.Thusarmed,youshouldhavenodifficultyatall.Goodluckandkeepyourjacketon!1.Ms.BrendaStevenssuggeststhatbeforeapplyingjobapplicantsshould___.A.gothrougheachother’sCVsB.rehearsetheiranswerstoquestionsC.understandthoroughlythesituationsD.gototowntoattendtrainingcourse2.Isitwisetoadmitsomeofyourweaknessesrelatingtowork?A.Yes,butyoushouldhaveideasforimprovementinthefuture.B.Yes,becauseitisnaturaltobeweakincertainaspects.C.No,admittingweaknessesmayputyouatadisadvantage.D.No,itwillonlyprompttheintervieweestorejectyou.3.Thebestwaytodealwithoddquestionsfromtheinterviewersisto___.A.remainsmilingandkindlypointouttheinaccuraciesB.keepcalmandtrytobetactfulinyouranswersC.sayfranklywhatyouthinkabouttheissuesraisedD.suggestsomethingelsetogetoveryournervousness4.Thesuggestionsofferedbytheheadteacherare___.A.originalB.ambiguousC.practicalD.controversialPassage2TheUniversityinTransformation,editedbyAustralianfuturistsSohailInaya-tullahandJenniferGidley,presentssome20highlyvariedoutlooksontomorrow’suniversitiesbywritersrepresentingbothWesternandnon-Westernperspectives.Theiressaysraiseabroadrangeofissues,questioningnearlyeverykeyassumptionwehaveabouthighereducationtoday.ThemostwidelydiscussedalternativetothetraditionalcampusistheInternetUniversity—avoluntarycommunitytoscholars/teachersphysicallyscatteredthroughoutacountryoraroundtheworldbutalllinkedincyberspace.Acomputerizeduniversitycouldhavemanyadvantages,suchaseasyscheduling,efficientdeliveryoflecturestothousandsorevenmillionsofstudentsatonce,andreadyaccessforstudentseverywheretotheresourcesofalltheworld’sgreatlibraries.YettheInternetUniversityposesdangers,too.Forexample,alineoffranchisedcourseware,producedbyafewsuperstarteachers,marketedunderthebrandnameofafamousinstitution,andheavilyadvertised,mighteventuallycometodominatetheglobaleducationmarket,warnssociologyprofessorPeterManicasoftheUniversityofHawaiiatManoa.Besidesenforcingarigidlystandardizedcurriculum,sucha“collegeeducationinabox”couldunderselltheofferingsofmanytraditionalbrickandmortarinstitutions,effectivelydrivingthemoutofbusinessandthrowingthousandsofcareeracademicsoutofwork,noteAustraliancommunicationsprofessorsDavidRooneyandGregHearn.Ontheotherhand,whileglobalconnectivityseemshighlylikelytoplaysomesignificantroleinfuturehighereducation,thatdoesnotmeangreateruniformityincoursecontent—orotherdangers—willnecessarilyfollow.Counter-movementsarealsoatwork.Manyinacademia,includingscholarscontributingtothisvolume,arequestioningthefundamentalmissionofuniversityeducation.Whatif,forinstance,insteadofreceivingprimarilytechnicaltrainingandbuildingtheirindividualcareers,universitystudentsandprofessorscouldfocustheirlearningandresearcheffortsonexistingproblemsintheirlocalcommunitiesandtheworld?FeministscholarIvanaMilojevicdarestodreamwhatauniversitymightbecome“ifwebelievedthatchildcareworkersandteachersinearlychildhoodeducationshouldbeoneofthehighest(ratherthanlowest)paidprofessionals?”Co-editorJenniferGidleyshowshowtomorrow’suniversityfaculty,insteadofgivinglecturesandconductingindependentresearch,maytakeonthreenewroles.Somewouldactasbrokers,assemblingcustomizeddegree-creditprogrammesforindividualstudentsbymixingandmatchingthebestcourseofferingsavailablefrominstitutionsallaroundtheworld.Asecondgroup,mentors,wouldfunctionmuchliketoday’sfacultyadvisers,butarelikelytobeworkingwithmanymorestudentsoutsidetheirownacademicspecialty.Thiswouldrequirethemtoconstantlybelearningfromtheirstudentsaswellasinstructingthem.Athirdnewroleforfaculty,andinGidley’sviewthemostchallengingandrewardingofall,wouldbeasmeaning-makers:charismaticsagesandpractitionersleadinggroupsofstudents/colleaguesincollaborativeeffortstofindspiritualaswellasrationalandtechnologicalsolutionstospecificreal-worldproblems.Moreover,thereseemslittlereasontosupposethatanyoneformofuniversitymustnecessarilydriveoutallotheroptions.Studentsmaybe“enrolled”incoursesofferedatvirtualcampusesontheInternet,between—orevenduring—sessionsatarealworldproblem-focusedinstitution.Asco-editorSohailInayatullahpointsoutinhisintroduction,nofutureisinevitable,andtheveryactofimaginingandthinkingthroughalternativepossibilitiescandirectlyaffecthowthoughtfully,creativelyandurgentlyevenadominanttechnologyisadaptedandapplied.Eveninacademia,thefuturebelongstothosewhocareenoughtoworktheirvisionsintopractical,sustainablerealities.5.WhenthebookreviewerdiscussestheInternetUniversity,[A]heisinfavourofit.[B]hisviewisbalanced.[C]heisslightlycriticalofit.[D]heisstronglycriticalofit.6.WhichofthefollowingisNOTseenasapotentialdangeroftheInternetUniversity?[A]Internet-basedcoursesmaybelesscostlythantraditionalones.[B]Teachersintraditionalinstitutionsmaylosetheirjobs.[C]Internet-basedcoursewaremaylackvarietyincoursecontent.[D]TheInternetUniversitymayproduceteacherswithalotofpublicity.7.Accordingtothereview,whatisthefundamentalmissionoftraditionaluniversityeducation?[A]Knowledgelearningandcareerbuilding.[B]Learninghowtosolveexistingsocialproblems.[C]Researchingintosolutionstocurrentworldproblems.[D]Combiningresearcheffortsofteachersandstudentsinlearning.8.Judgingfromthethreenewrolesenvisionedfortomorrow’suniversityfaculty,universityteachers[A]arerequiredtoconductmoreindependentresearch.[B]arerequiredtooffermorecoursestotheirstudents.[C]aresupposedtoassumemoredemandingduties.[D]aresupposedtosupervisemorestudentsintheirspecialty.9.Whichcategoryofwritingdoesthereviewbelongto?[A]Narration.[B]Description.[C]Persuasion.[D]Exposition.Passage3FamilyMattersThismonthSingaporepassedabillthatwouldgivelegalteethtothemoralobligationtosupportone’sparents.CalledtheMaintenanceofParentsBill,itreceivedthebackingoftheSingaporeGovernment.Thatdoesnotmeanithasn’tgenerateddiscussion.SeveralmembersoftheParliamentopposedthemeasureasun-Asian.Otherswhoacknowledgedtheproblemoftheelderlypoorbelieveditadisproportionateresponse.Stillothersbelieveitwillsubvertrelationswithinthefamily:cynicsdubbeditthe“SueYourSon”law.Thosewhosaythatthebilldoesnotpromotefilialresponsibility,ofcourse,areright.Ithasnothingtodowithfilialresponsibility.Itkicksinwherefilialresponsibilityfails.Thelawcannotlegislatefilialresponsibilityanymorethanitcanlegislatelove.Allthelawcandoistoprovideasafetynetwherethismoralityprovesinsufficient.Singaporeneedsthisbillnottoreplacemorality,buttoprovideincentivestoshoreitup.Likemanyotherdevelopednations,Singaporefacestheproblemsofanincreasingproportionofpeopleover60yearsofage.Demographyisinexorable.In1980,7.2%ofthepopulationwasinthisbracket.Bytheendofthecenturythatfigurewillgrowto11%.By2030,theproportionisprojectedtobe26%.Theproblemisnotoldageperse.Itisthattheratioofeconomicallyactivepeopletoeconomicallyinactivepeoplewilldecline.Butnoamountofgovernmentexhortationorpaternalismwillcompletelyeliminatetheproblemofoldpeoplewhohaveinsufficientmeanstomakeendsmeet.Somepeoplewillfallthroughtheholesinanysafetynet.Traditionally,aperson’sinsuranceagainstpovertyinhisoldagewashisfamily,liftsisnotarevolutionaryconcept.NorisituniquelyAsian.Careandsupportforone’sparentsisauniversalvaluesharedbyallcivilizedsocieties.TheprobleminSingaporeisthatthemoralobligationtolookafterone’sparentsisunenforceable.Afathercanbecompelledbylawtomaintainhischildren.Ahusbandcanbeforcedtosupporthiswife.But,untilnow,asonordaughterhadnolegalobligationtosupporthisorherparents.In1989,anAdvisoryCouncilwassetuptolookintotheproblemsoftheaged.Itsreportstatedwithatingeofcomplacencythat95%ofthosewhodidnothavetheirownincomewerereceivingcashcontributionsfromrelations.Butwhataboutthe5%whoaren’tgettingrelatives’support?Theyhaveseveraloptions:(a)getajobandworkuntiltheydie;(b)applyforpublicassistance(youhavetobedestitutetoapply);or(c)starvequietly.Noneoftheseoptionsissociallyacceptable.Andwhatifthis5%figuregrows,asitislikelytodo,associetyages?TheMaintenanceofParentsBillwasputforthtoencouragethetraditionalvirtuesthathavesofarkeptAsiannationsfromsomeofthebreakdownsencounteredinotheraffluentsocieties.Thislegislationwillallowapersontoapplytothecourtformaintenancefromanyorallofhischildren.Thecourtwouldhavethediscretiontorefusetomakeanorderifitisunjust.Thosewhoderidetheproposalforopeningupthecourtstofamilylawsuitsmissthepoint.Onlyinextremecaseswouldanyparenttakehischildtocourt.Ifitdoesindeedbecomelaw,thebill’seffectwouldbefarmoresubtle.First,itwillreaffirmthenotionthatitiseachindividual’s—notsociety’s—responsibilitytolookafterhisparents.Singaporeisstillconservativeenoughthatmostpeoplewillnotobjecttothisidea.Itreinforcesthetraditionalvaluesanditdoesn’thurtasocietynowandthentoreminditselfofitscorevalues.Second,andmoreimportant,itwillmakethosewhoareinclinedtoshirktheirresponsibilitiesthinktwice.Untilnow,ifapersonaskedfamilyelders,clergymenortheMinistryofCommunityDevelopmenttohelpgetfinancialsupportfromhischildren,themosttheycoulddowastomediate.Butmediatorshavenoteeth,andachildcouldsimplyignoretheirpleas.Buttobesuedbyone’sparentswouldbeamassivelossofface.Itwouldbeapublicdisgrace.Fewpeoplewouldbesothick-skinnedastosay,“Sueandbedamned”.Thehandoftheconciliatorwouldbeimmeasurablystrengthened.Itisfarmorelikelythatsomesortofamicablesettlementwouldbereachediftherecalcitrantsonordaughterknowsthatthealternativeisapublictrial.ItwouldbenicetothinkSingaporedoesn’tneedthiskindoflaw.Butthatbeliefignoresthecleardemographictrendsandtheeffectofaffluenceitselfontraditionalbends.Thoseofuswhopushedforthebillwillconsiderourselvesmostsuccessfulifitactsasanincentivenottohaveitinvokedinthefirstplace.10.TheMaintenanceofParentsBill___.A.receivedunanimoussupportintheSingaporeParliamentB.wasbelievedtosolvealltheproblemsoftheelderlypoorC.wasintendedtosubstitutefortraditionalvaluesinSingaporeD.waspassedtomaketheyoungmoreresponsibletotheold11.Byquotingthegrowingpercentagepointsoftheagedinthepopulation,theauthorseemstoimplythat___.A.thecountrywillfacemountingproblemsoftheoldinfutureB.thesocialwelfaresystemwouldbeundergreatpressureC.youngpeopleshouldbegivenmoremoraleducationD.theoldshouldbeprovidedwithmeansoflivelihood12.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?A.FilialresponsibilityinSingaporeisenforcedbylaw.B.Fathershavelegalobligationstolookaftertheirchildren.C.Itisanacceptablepracticefortheoldtocontinueworking.D.TheAdvisoryCouncilwasdissatisfiedwiththeproblemsoftheold.13Theauthorseemstosuggestthattraditionalvalues___.A.playaninsignificantroleinsolvingsocialproblemsB.arehelpfultotheelderlywhentheysuetheirchildrenC.areveryimportantinpreservingAsianuniquenessD.aresignificantinhelpingtheBillgetapproved14.TheauthorthinksthatiftheBillbecomeslaw,itseffectwouldbe___.indirectB.unnoticedC.apparentD.straightforward15.Attheendofthepassage,theauthorseemstoimplythatsuccessoftheBilldependsupon___.A.strictenforcementB.publicsupportC.governmentassuranceD.filialawarenessPassage4WHYSHOULDanyonebuythelatestvolumeintheever-expandingDictionaryofNationalBiography?Idonotmeanthatitisbad,asthereviewerswillagree.Butitwillcostyou65pounds.Andhaveyougottherestofvolumes?Youneedthebasic22plusthelargelydecennialsupplementstobringthetotalto31.Ofcourse,itwillbeanswered,publicandacademiclibrarieswillwantthenewvolume.Afterall,itadds1,068livesofpeoplewhoescapedthenetoftheoriginalcompilers.Yetin10year’stimearevisedversionofthewholecaboodle,calledtheNewDictionaryofNationalBiography,willbepublished.Itseditor,ProfessorColinMatthew,tellsmethathewillhaveroomforabout50,000lives