大学英语期末考试试卷

2010级大学英语第一学期期末考试(A卷)

Jan., 2011

Part II Reading Comprehension (30 %)

Directions: There are four passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or

unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

Passage One

Science is not a set of unquestionable results but a way of understanding the world around us. Its real work is slow. The scientific method , as many of us learned in school, is a gradual process that begins with a purpose or problem or question to be answered. It includes a list of materials, a procedure to follow, a set of observations to make and, finally, conclusions to reach. In medicine, when a new drug is proposed that might cure or control a disease, it is first tested on a large random group of people, and their reactions are then compared with those of another random group not given the drug. All reactions in both groups are carefully recorded and compared, and the drug is evaluated. All of this takes time and patience.

It’s the result of course, that makes the best news—not the years of quiet work that characterize the bulk of scientific inquiry. After an experiment is concluded or an observation is made, the result continues to be examined critically. When it is submitted for publication, it goes to a group of the scientist’s colleagues, who review the work. Einstein was right when he said: “No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right, a single experiment can at any time prove me wrong.”

In August 1996, NASA announced the discovery in Antarctica of a meteorite（流星） from Mars that might contain evidence of ancient life on another world. As President Clinton said that day, the possibility that life existed on Mars billions of years ago was potentially one of the great discoveries of our time.

After the excitement wore down and initial papers were published, other researchers began looking at samples from the same meteorite. Some concluded that the “evidence of life” was mostly contamination from Antarctic ice or that there was nothing organic at all in the rock. Was this a failure of science, as some news reports trumpeted?

No! It was a good example of the scientific method working the way it is supposed to. Scientists spend years on research, announce their findings, and these findings are examined by other scientists. That’s how we learn. Like climbing a mountain, we struggle up three feet and fall back two. It’s a process filled with disappointments and reverses, but somehow we keep moving ahead.

21. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage is to state that ____________.

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A) most scientific discoveries are not reliable

B) mass media is misleading because it looks at the research results only

C) scientific research is a process filled with reverses and requires slow and patient

work

D) repeated experiments are necessary before medicine can be used in patients

22. Publication of a scientific finding signifies __________. A) a challenge to fellow scientists to prove it wrong B) the end of a process

C) the beginning of a new scientific inquiry D) the soundness of the result

23. Einstein’s words are used to show that he thought___________. A) experiments have proved him right

B) scientists do not need so many experiments

C) one experiment is not enough to prove him wrong. D) scientific ideas are never free from challenge

24. NASA’s announcement of the discovery of evidence of ancient life on Mars shows _________. A) the way human beings learn about nature B) the failure of the scientific method

C) the fruitlessness of human search for life on another world D) the excitement brought by scientific findings

25. It can be inferred from the passage that the media is interested in __________. A) the process of scientific research B) the results of scientific research C) the scientists who do the research

D) the effects of scientific research on human life

Passage Two

Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.

For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this imposes a constant pressure

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and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually performed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.

26. Normally a student would at least attend __________classes each week.

A) 36 B) 12 C) 20 D) 15

27. According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed _______.

A) to live in a different university

B) to take a particular course in a different university C) to live at home and drive to classes

D) to get two degrees from two different universities

28. American university students are usually under pressure of work because_________.

A) their academic performance will affect their future careers B) they are heavily involved in student affairs C) they have to observe university discipline D) they want to run for positions of authority

29.Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably

because_________.

A) they hate the constant pressure and strain of their study B) they will then be able to stay longer in the university C) such positions help them get better jobs D) such positions are usually well paid

30. The student organizations seem to be effective in _________.

A) dealing with the academic affairs of the university

B) ensuring that the students observe university regulations

C) evaluating students’ performance by bringing them before a court D) keeping up the students’ enthusiasm for social activities

Passage Three

Doreen Sykora is now a junior at Mcgill University. She had a difficult time when she first began college. She said, “I was always well prepared for my examinations. But I would go in to class to take the exam, and I would fall apart. I could not answer the questions correctly-----even though I knew the answers! I would just blank out because of nervousness and fear.” Hitoshi

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Sakamoto, an anthropology student at Temple University in Tokyo reports similar experiences.

These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and is stressed about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly because of the severe tension and nervousness.

Now there are special university courses to help students. In these courses, advisors and psychologists try to help students by teaching them to manage test anxiety. Such a course helps students learn to live with stress and not fail because of it. First students take a practice test to measure their worry level. If the tests show that their stress level is high, the students can take a short course to manage the fear. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. They get training to become calm in very tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work more easily. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.

Doreen Sykora saw immediate results after taking such a course. She now has enthusiasm about the relaxation methods. “Mostly, what I do is imagine myself in a very calm place. Then I imagine myself picking up a pencil. I move slowly and carefully. I breathe easily and let all the tension out. With each breath, more worry leaves me. It really works too. My grades have improved greatly! I’m really doing well at McGill now. This relaxation method works not only on examinations, but it has improved the rest of my life as well.”

For Hitoshi in Tokyo, the results were much the same. He is enjoying school a lot more and learning more.

31. Doreen Sykora and Hitoshi Sakamoto were filled with nervousness and fear during

examinations because they were__________.

A) not ready and unaware of the answers B) physically so weak that they fell apart C) subject to test anxiety

D) unable to write or think clearly

32. The higher the students’ worry level is, __________.

A) the less calm and relaxing they are

B) the more difficult they will be trained to manage fear C) the more stressed and tense they are

D) the longer courses they will take to manage fear

33. What’s the purpose of some special university student-help courses?

A) To help students to reduce test anxiety.

B) To show a stress level experienced by students. C) To learn more knowledge about test anxiety. D) To have a better understanding of test anxiety.

34. What’s the meaning of “blank out” in paragraph one?

A) To be like a blanket. B) To be sure of an answer. C) To be relaxed.

D) To be unable to think clearly.

35.Which of the following best sums up the organization of the passage?

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A) Examples----theories----ideas.

B) Problem----strategy----examples----results. C) General statement----examples----result. D) Strategy----experiment----examples.

Part III

Vocabulary and Structure (15 %)

Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four

choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

36. The president made a _______ speech at the opening ceremony of the sports meeting, which

encouraged the sportsmen greatly.

A) vigorous C) flat B) tedious D) harsh

37. It is not easy to learn English well but if you _______, you will succeed in the end.

A) hang up C) hang on B) hang about D) hang onto

38. Remember that customers don’t _______ about prices in that city.

A) debate C) dispute B) bargain D) consult

39. The newcomers found it impossible to _______ themselves to the climate sufficiently to make

permanent homes in the new country.

A) suit C) regulate B) adapt D) coordinate

40. A _______ to this problem is expected to be found before long.

A) result C) settlement B) function D) solution

41. You have nothing to _______ by refusing to listen to our advice.

A) gain C) seize B) grasp D) earn

42. One day I _______ a newspaper article about the retirement of an English professor at a

nearby state college.

A) came across C) came after B) came about D) came at

43. A peculiarly pointed chin is his memorable facial _______.

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A) mark B) feature C) trace

D) appearance

44. I hope that you’ll be more careful in typing the letter. Don’t _______ anything.

A) omit C) lack B) leak D) withdraw

45. Our new house is very _______ for me as I can get to the office in five minutes.

A) adaptable C) available B) convenient D) comfortable

46. Those gifts of rare books that were given to us were deeply _______.

A) appreciated C) appealed B) approved D) applied

47. The sale usually takes place outside the house, with the audience _______ on benches, chairs

or boxes.

A) having seated C) seated B) seating D) having been seated

48. He is _______ about his chances of winning a gold medal in the Olympics next year.

A) optimistic C) outstanding B) optional D) obvious

49. The clothes a person wears may express his _______or social position.

A) curiosity C) determination B) status D) significance

50. I don’t know the word. I had to _______ a dictionary. A) throw up C) refer to B) make out D) take over

51. Look at these beautiful Japanese stamps. Roger gave them to me in _____ for two sets of 1988

British special issue.

A) exchange B) change

C) shift D) switch

52. It is rather _____ that the research team as a whole still has little idea about the cause of that fatal disease.

A) rewarding C) embarrassing B) demanding D) requiring

53. The people of African interior began to _____ gold in exchange for the goods they needed

from abroad.

A) desire

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B) afford

C) offer

D) receive

54. We should not blame her for what happened yesterday, because that was outside her _____of

responsibility.

A) field C) extent B) limit D) range

55. The students put forward some suggestions _____ consideration.

A) worthless C) worth B) worthy D) worthy of

56. The author of the report is well _____ with the problem in the hospital because he has been

working there for many years. A) acquainted C) enlightened B) informed D) advised

57. After years of hard work, he finally gained ______ to the university which he longed for many

years.

A) access

B) commitment

C) opportunity D) reward

58. _____ you have passed the driving test successfully, you can drive on your own.

A) By now C) Now then B) Now and again D) Now that

59. Within first seven seconds of meeting, people will form their opinion about others through unspoken communication like _____, postures and attitudes.

A) signs C) symptoms B) gestures D) symbols

60. It had never _____ to me that our football team won the game.

A) struck C) hit B) occurred D) meant

61. The students ______ in cleaning the classroom according to the arrangement.

A) alternate C) adopt B) adapt D) admit

62. Have you any ______plans about how to deal with these difficulties? We need to be

practical-minded.

A) abstract C) concrete B) consistent D) contrary

63. The professor was afraid that unless the train speeded up he would miss his _______ to New

York.

A) junction B) connection

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C) seat

D) carriage

64. When writing about controversial topics, some authors try to be _______ without favoring

either side.

A) reflective C) impressive B) persuasive D) objective

65. Many factors such as too much stress, bad living habits can lead to poor ______ and ill health. A) experience C) performance B) appearance D) competence

Part IV Cloze

(10 %)

Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should choose the ONE answer that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

Language is a signaling system which operates with symbolic vocal sounds (语声), and which is used by a group of people for the purpose of communication.

Let’s look at this 66______ in more detail, because it

66. A) recognition

B) function

C) classification D) definition C) as D) what C) human D) physical

C) means D) approaches C) warning D) boring C) similar D) unfamiliar C) Afterwards D) Furthermore C) with D) in

C) interpret D) express

is language, more than anything else, 67_____ 67. A) it distinguishes man from the rest of the 68_____ world.

Other animals, it is true, communicate with one another by 69_____ of cries: for example, many birds utter (发声) 70_____calls at the approach of danger; monkeys utter 71_____ cries, such as expressions of anger, fear and pleasure. 72_____ these various means of communication differ in important ways 73_____ human language. For instance, animals’ cries do not 74_____ thought and feelings clearly. This means, basically, that

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B) that 68. A) native B) animal

69. A) ways

B) methods 70. A) dating

B) exciting 71. A) identical

B) different 72. A) But

B) Therefore 73. A) from

B) about 74. A) infer

B) explain

they lack structure. They lack the kind of structure that 75_____ us to divide a human utterance (发声) into 76_____.

We can change an utterance by 77_____ one word in it with 78_____: a good illustration of this is a soldier who can say, e.g., “tanks approaching from the north”, 79_____ who can change one word and say “aircraft approaching from the north” or “tanks approaching from the west”; but a bird has a single alarm cry, 80_____ means “danger!”

This is why the number of 81_____ that an animal can make is very limited: the great tit (山雀) is a case 82_____ point; it has about twenty different calls, 83_____ in human language the number of possible utterances is 84_____. It also explains why animal cries are very 85_____ in meaning.

75. A) encourages C) enables B) enforces 76. A) sounds

B) words 77. A) spelling

B) saying 78. A) ours

B) another 79. A) so

B) but

80. A) this

B) that

81. A) signs

B) signals 82. A) in

B) at 83. A) since

B) while 84. A) limitless

B) boundless 85. A) ordinary

B) alike

D) ensures C) voices D) speeches C) replacing D) pronouncing C) theirs D) others

C) or D) and

C) which D) it

C) gestures D) marks

C) of D) for C) anyhow D) somehow C) changeable D) ceaseless C) common D) general

Part V

Writing

(15%)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic My

View on Online Self-access Learning. You should write at least 120 words. And you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:

1. 一些人认为上机自主学习方式好； 2. 也有一些人认为传统的授课方式好；

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3. 我的看法。

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