联大专升本英语专业考试Reading阅读理解

高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

Reading Comprehension (Part One)

Passage 1

Most people can measure their status at work by four P’s --- paychecks, promotions, performance reviews and perk (特殊待遇). For women, it is paychecks that often speak the loudest about how employers value them --- or undervalue them. Despite gains, many women still earn, on average, just 74 cents for every dollar men earn, reports the US. Census Bureau.

Do the math: that’s 26 cents per dollar lost. Over a working lifetime, the potential income adds up to staggering losses, as one example, the Institutes for women’s policy research in Washington calculates that the average 29-year-old working woman with a college degree will lose 990,000 dollars to the pay gap over her career. To emphasize just how much that income gap between men and women costs women, the working women’s department of the AFL-CIO last week launched an unusual website --- www.alfcio.org/equalpay.htm --- for equal pay. A visitor to the site simply enters her current salary, age group, and education level, then the screen shows how much the pay gap could cost her.

For a hypothetical 40-year-old college educated woman earning 40,000 dollars, the figure is 844,107 dollars. In real life, of course, some women’s losses will be lower --- or even nonexistent.

Wage discrimination has been against the law for 35 years. Yet systematic underpayment on the basis of sex and race still pervades the workplace. Since the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, the wage gap has closed at the rate of less than half a penny a year, giving new meaning to the term ―snail’s pace.‖

Women secretaries, for example, earn about 100 dollars a week less than male clerks, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity. For women lawyers, median weekly earnings are nearly 300 dollars less than those of male lawyers. Median pay for women professors is 170 dollars less than their male counterparts. The list of disparities goes on.

Two myths persist. The first is that women work for extras — vocation, clothes, second cars. In truth, women work for the same economic reasons men do — to pay the rent, buy food, finance college education, save for retirement, and yes, buy extras too.

The second myth holds that the pay gap is a woman’s issue. Not true.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

(379 words)

1. According to the passage, which one best shows employers’ evaluation of women employees?

A. Paychecks B. Promotions C. Performance reviews D. Perks 2. Women’s average income is______ of men’s according to one of the U.S. Census Bureau’s reports.

A. 26% B. more than 70% C. 80% D. 85% 3. The equal pay Website is opened______. A. to appeal for higher pay for women B. to expand the visitor’s vision

C. to make known how serious the pay gap for women is D. to arouse women to struggle for their own benefits

4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. American women couldn’t get equal pay with men for lack of a law against wage discrimination.

B. The Equal Pay Act, signed in 1963, is not effective in getting rid of wage discrimination.

C. Although there is a law for equal pay, its enforcement is not satisfactory. D. In real life, all the women’s losses are lower than 40,000 dollars a year. 5. The most appropriate title of the passage is ______.

A. the Pay Gap for Women B. Wage Discrimination C. The Equal Pay act D. Four P’s

Passage 2

What is bothersome though, is the implication that if women are going to be taken seriously, they need to prove that they could hold their own against men. It’s tiresome, it’s sexist, it’ old —the notion that women’s activities hold value only if they are accepted in the eyes of men. And in competitive sports, that value seemingly has to arise from the ability to play against, and emerge victorious over, men. Then they will respect us. And not until.

And what is the likelihood of this occurring? Not great. There are differences in physiology that makes men, on the whole, stronger and larger. This is an irrefutable fact. Does it make men superior? Well, if you measure that superiority by the potential

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

to score more points in a game of women against men, then the answer would probably have to be yes. Are there women who can see the floor, handle the ball, understand the game and make the right moves as well as men can? Undoubtedly. Is it possible that there are as yet unmeasured areas in which men excel in basketball skills? It’s quite possible. But does it matter? Probably not.

Still, there are actually some good reasons to compare the games of men and women. Among them is the fact that in competition, comparison is the name of the game. Women’s basketball is a relatively young sport. There is not enough history to have produced a yardstick against which to measure performance. As in swimming in the last twenty years, women’s skills in the sport have improved, and continue to improve, at a tremendous rate. In swimming today, women’s race times have reached the levels of men’s times in the 60’s and 70’s. The question may be not ―How good are the women?‖ But ―How good will they become?‖ What are the limits? We have begun to find that there are limits, as the rate of change in the world records in swimming and track show. We haven’t come close to those limits yet in women’s basketball.

In men’s basketball, arguably, the game hasn’t changed that much in the last 20 years. If you want to measure against a fairly stable standard, men’s basketball provides one — which is what men tend to want, and women sometimes buy into.

And from there comes the speculation that no matter how good women are, just put them on the court with men, and we’ll find out the real truth — that women would be nothing if only they had to play against some real competition. (425 words)

1. It can be inferred that the writer of the passage ______the idea that the value of women’s activities is judged by men. A. approves of B. doubts 2. It is an irrefutable fact that ______. A. men are superior to women in physiology

B. men are superior to women in basketball and other games C. men can score more points in a game than women D. women excel in basketball skills in other areas

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Women’s basketball is relatively young, so we have no yardstick to measure performance

C. disapproves of D. accepts

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

B. In swimming, women have made greater progress than men in the last twenty years.

C. There are limits to how good women will become in games. D. Women have reached those limits in basketball. 4. ______if women had to play against some real competition. A. There would be no loser or winner B. Both men and women would be winners C. Men would be losers D. Women would be losers

Passage 3

There seems to be a wide gap in the way men and women view marriage. In a survey 52 percent of the male responders agreed with the concept that ―a man should go to work, but a woman should stay home and keep house,‖ while only twenty percent disagreed. In the follow-up survey conducted in 1990, the ratio of pros and cons turned out to be almost equal at 35 and 34 percent. However the proportion of disagreeing men was still smaller than the 43 percent of female responders.

Women generally believe that, while women’s roles in Japan’s postwar society have become diversified, men have essentially remained unchanged. Under such circumstances, communication between the sexes is far from easy.

Today, there has emerged the view that psychological factors may be responsible for the trouble men and women have in communication with each other. Thus, the mental aspect is beginning to loom as a major issue.

During the whole period from Meiji era (明治时代 1868-1912) to the end of World War II, marriage meant a union of families to most Japanese. It was a coming together of two families under Japan’s time-honored family system. Therefore, not surprisingly, neither men nor women possessed the freedom to choose their own marriage partners.

After the war, such freedom was guaranteed by Article 24 of the new constitution. But old customs do not change overnight, and the old family system persisted. At the door of a wedding party at a wedding hall you will see the familiar sign: ―Wedding Ceremony of Family A and Family B.‖

Despite such outward appearances, however, individualism has begun to take root. The 50 years since the end of war may be regarded as the process of shift from

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

the family-centered to the individual-centered way of thinking.

Recently, especially in the cities, there have appeared many phenomena that suggest that the Japanese are freeing themselves from the rigid family system. Young people now regard their marriage in terms of the husband-and-wife unit. And marital bonds can now assume various forms, with some couples choosing not to have the wife’s name entered in the family register and others selecting not to share a common domicile.

Of course, there is still a big difference between Japan’s urban and rural districts. Conservative views still prevail in rural areas and it will likely take considerable time

before people in the countryside come to think in the same way as Tokyo residents. (411 words)

1. The surveys mentioned in the passage are used to support the view that____________.

A. men and woman view marriage differently B. men think that women should stay home

C. the number of the disagreeing men equals that of the disagreeing women D. women’s roles have changed while men’s haven’t

2. During the period from the Meiji era to World War II, ______in Japan. A. the family-centered way of thinking prevailed B. individualism began to take root

C. men enjoyed the freedom to choose their wives D. the family system was important than anything else 3. After World War II, ______.

A. old customs were replaced by individualism

B. marriage was still regarded as a coming together of two families C. there was a gradual shift from individualism to the family system D. marriage was a union of families to all the Japanese 4. Recently, in Japanese cities, ______.

A. young couples regard their marriages in terms of the family system B. some women don’t enter their names in the register of her husband’s family C. women are not able to free themselves from the rigid family system D. neither men nor women free themselves from the family system.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

peers.

C. Those who don’t belong to any group are frowned on by most of the people. D. The feelings of hate are stronger than at any other high schools.

4. The author’s friendship with his good friend was damaged because of____________.

A. their differing individual beliefs B. their different group beliefs

C. their different ideas about group identity D. their different attitudes towards children

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude toward group identity is__________. A. objective

Passage 7

Each college evaluates applicants differently. It is important to be aware of these differences and to create a strategy that is specific to each college. Some schools look only at academics and test scores, while others will consider alumni relations, state residency, interviews and other criteria. It is crucial to understand what each school deems important.

This information will allow you to focus on what will really help you to get into that particular school.

Some schools will choose a percentage of their students based solely on academic considerations. UC Berkeley chooses up to about 50% of their applicants this way. For most students, however, it is the other factors which will get them accepted or rejected.

The College-Edge strategy can help you figure out why the school of your choice may accept or deny your admissions. The Overall Plan will show you how important different factors are at different schools, such as test scores, minority status, and talents. This can give you an idea of how your strengths and weaknesses will affect your admission. You can also then compare your scores and skills with those of the freshmen class of that college.

Are you well-rounded?

Usually, after the admissions officers examine the academic criteria, they will examine the character of the student through his or her achievement and activities.

B. subjective

C. doubtful

D. positive

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

More than just a ―well-rounded‖ person, most colleges are looking for people who will make a contribution in some way to their schools and who have proven themselves to be motivated leaders.

If you have studied your way through high school without doing much else, chances are your application will seem a little incomplete. On the other hand, if you were involved in a million activities, but contributed nothing, your application may seem a little shallow. Schools may deny a student admission based on these grounds.

For instance, Yale University insists they have more interest in performance rather than test scores. Yale says it wants someone who will be a curious and involved student, and choose accordingly. Schools may overlook a bad test score if there are other strong points in an application, but a good test won’t cover up deficiencies in other areas. (364 words)

1. In order to enter the university you want to, you’re supposed to ______________. A. know the different admission criteria of different universities and adopt different strategies

B. impress the admission officers how excellent you are in academic studies C. understand what each school deems important

D. acquaint yourself with its alumni relations and other criteria 2. What does the word ―well-rounded‖ mean? A. Sophisticated C. Fully-developed A. Academic criteria C. Applicants’ activities University?

A. Test scores C. Academic achievements

Passage 8

Public colleges and universities in the U.S., subsidized directly by state governments, are capturing an expanding share of enrollment. At the beginning of this century, more than 80% of students were enrolled in private colleges and universities.

B. Interest in performance D. Curiosity and involvement

B. Mature

D. Excellent in academic studies B. Applicants’ achievements D. All of the above

3. Which of the following will be examined by admissions officers?

4. Which of the following is the most important qualification for admission to Yale

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

By the middle of the century, the figure had fallen to about 50%. From the 1960s on, this trend has accelerated. By 1990, the composition had reversed itself from the beginning of the century, with four out of five students enrolled in public universities. During the three decades from 1965 to 1995, the public sector absorbed more than 86% of the higher education enrollment increase.

The evidence is strong that the state government policy to create a system of state-run colleges and universities that drastically underprices private institutions of higher education has resulted in a threat to the independent higher education system. This unquestioned march away from private higher education to government control is inefficient and harmful to a civilized society.

Private colleges and universities provide an educational experience quite different from state-run institutions. Private colleges are much smaller, with an average enrollment of around 1,500. The average enrollment for public colleges and universities is more than four times greater, approaching 7,000. Of the 120 largest institutions of higher education in terms of enrollment, all but eight are public. Eighty-five percent of colleges that enroll less than 1000 students are private.

Students at private colleges and universities are more likely to interact with faculty and more satisfied with classroom instruction. They complete their degrees at a much higher rate than their counterparts at state-run institutions. Private institutions grant more doctorate and first professional degrees than state institutions, despite their much smaller enrollment.

Aside from offering a different type of learning environment, a system of private colleges and universities is much more efficient than a government-run and -planned system. State governments have created a situation where a vast majority of students attend a college for a price that is far below the true cost of providing their education, and the educational service is not controlled very well by those who own the institution. (349 words)

1. According to the passage, which of the following is responsible for the decreasing enrollment in private colleges and universities? A. Public colleges and universities grant more courses.

B. Public colleges and universities are much larger than private colleges and universities.

C. The government does not finance private institutions of higher education.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

D. Public colleges and universities financially supported by the State government charge much less than private colleges and universities.

2. What is the author’s attitude toward the government’s policy to subsidize public universities ?

A. Positive B. Indifferent C. Critical D. Neutral

3. How many more students does a public university enroll than a private one on an average? A. 1,500

B. 7,000

C. 6,000 D. 5,500

4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Students and teachers at private universities communicate more often than those at public ones.

B. Classroom teaching at private universities is better than at public ones. C. Because of smaller enrollment, private universities offer fewer courses than public ones.

D. The tuition of public universities is below the cost of providing their education. 5. The passages is mainly organized by _______.

A. introducing the decreasing enrollment of private universities and enlisting the advantages of private universities to criticize the government’s policy B. introducing a phenomenon and analyzing its reasons C. comparing and contrasting two different concepts D. presenting a general idea and giving specific examples

Passage 9

Advertising

In the United States, advertising itself is a big business. Millions and millions of dollars are spent on television, radio, and printed messages to prospective consumers. Advertising firms do ―market research‖ for their clients, testing out various ―pitches‖ in the quest for ones that are effective.

From the viewpoint of American consumers, advertising functions to inform them about available products and services, as well as to encourage them to buy. Form the viewpoint of visitors from abroad, though, advertising serves an additional function, and it affords countless insights into American values, tastes and standards. From American advertising, foreign visitors can gain some understanding of these and other aspects of American society: American ideas about physical attractiveness in males

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

and females, American ideas concerning personal hygiene, the emphasis Americans place on sex, speed and technical sophistication, the amount of faith Americans have in arguments that include specific numbers, materialism in American society, male-female relationships, both pre- and post-marital, the attention Americans pay to the words of celebrities, the characteristics of people who, in Americans’ eyes, are considered ―authorities‖, whose ideas and recommendations are persuasive, and the sorts of things Americans find humorous.

By comparing advertising they see in the states with what they have at home, foreign visitors can gain understanding not just of American society, but of their own as well

Pricing

With few exceptions, Americans are accustomed to fixed prices on merchandise they buy and sell. The usual exceptions are houses, automobiles, and sometimes major appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. Another exception is a private sales. Americans are not accustomed to bargaining over prices, and in fact usually feel quite uncomfortable with the idea.

Foreign visitors must realize that the price marked on an item does not include the sales tax that is added as part of the payment. (Sales tax rates vary from one jurisdiction to another.)

Americans do not believe, as people from many cultures do, that a commercial transaction includes particular attention to the human relationships involved. They look for the item they want, decide whether they can afford the price marked on it, and, if they want to buy it, find a clerk or salesperson to take the money or do the paperwork for a credit-card purchase.

People who try to bargain for a lower price in a shop or store are likely to be considered either quite odd or startlingly aggressive. (400 words)

1. Which of the following functions does advertising in the U.S. serve?

A. Advertising offers the consumers information about products and services and persuades them to buy

B. Advertising acquaints foreign visitors with American marketing strategy C. Advertising tells people how to establish male-female relationships D. Advertising tells people how to be attractive physically 2. Which of the following is true of American advertising?

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

A. It’s persuasive and humorous

B. It lays stress on technical development C. The words of celebrities are usually quoted

D. It offers insights into American values, tastes and standards 3. Which of the following is true of American pricing? A. Most products are not sold at fixed prices B. Domestic appliances are not sold at fixed prices C. Almost all the products are sold at fixed prices D. Automobiles are sold at fixed prices

4. According to the passage, what the customers in the U.S. pay for a product or service is_______ A. its fixed price

B. the price which is not fixed

C. the fixed price and the non-fixed price D. the price and the sales tax

5. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A. Americans pay attention to human relationships when shopping B. Americans don’t pay attention to human relationships C. Americans seldom bargain when shopping

D. Americans like to do some shopping with a credit-card

Passage 10

The word ―recreation‖ brings to mind activities that are relaxing and enjoyable. Such activities as an evening walk around the neighborhood, a Sunday picnic with the family, and playing catch in the yard with the children seem relatively spontaneous and relaxing.

Much American recreational activity, however, seems to foreign visitors to be approached with a high degree of seriousness, planning, organization, and expense. Spontaneity and fun are absent, as far as the visitor can tell. ―These crazy Americans!‖ a South American exclaimed on seeing yet another jogger go past her house in sub-freezing winter weather. Many Americans jog every day, or play tennis, handball, racquetball, or bridge two or three times a week, or bowl every Thursday night, or have some other regularly scheduled recreation. They go on vacations, ski trips, and hunting or fishing expeditions that require weeks of planning and organizing. In the

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

Americans’ view, all these activities are generally fun and relaxing, or are worth the discomfort they may cause because they contribute to health and physical fitness. Much American recreation is highly organized. There are classes, clubs, leagues, newsletters, contests, exhibitions and conventions centered on hundreds of different recreational activities. People interested in astronomy, bird watching, cooking, dancing, ecology, fencing, gardening, and hiking – and on and on – can find a group of like-minded people with whom to meet, learn, and practice or perform.

In America, recreation is a big business. Many common recreational activities require supplies and equipment that can be quite costly. Recreational vehicles (used for traveling and usually including provisions for sleeping, cooking, and bathing) can cost as much as $35,000. In 1984, Americans owned approximately 3,982,000 recreational vehicles, valued at about $7,733 million. Jogging shoes, hiking boots, fishing and camping supplies, cameras, telescopes, and bowling balls are not low-cost items. Beyond equipment, there is clothing. The fashion industry has successfully persuaded many Americans that they must be properly dressed for jogging, playing tennis, skiing, swimming, and so on. Fashionable outfits for these and other recreational activities can be surprisingly expensive. (337 words)

1. According to the passage, what is Americans' attitude towards recreation? A. Absent-minded. B. Serious. 2. How often do Americans bowl?

A. Every day. B. Twice a week. C. Three times a week. D. Once a week.

3. Americans take to skiing and hunting in spite of discomfort because _____. A. they are highly organized

B. they are adventurous and exciting activities C. they are instructive and funny D. they are beneficial to their health

4. All of the following are true of American recreation EXCEPT ______. A. Americans spend a lot of money on recreational vehicles and outfits B. Most Americans approach recreation with a high degree of spontaneity C. Americans play bridge at least eight times a month

D. Americans take to recreational activities not only for fun and relaxation but also

for physical fitness

C. Critical. D. Skeptical.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

5. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

A. foreign visitors are interested in the way Americans approach recreation B. foreign visitors are quite surprised about the way Americans approach recreation C. foreign visitors are crazy about the way Americans approach recreation D. Americans take to recreation because they can make a profit from it

Passage 11

What seems distinctive about American interests in sport is that it is not confined to social classes. People in all walks of life are represented among ardent sports fans. The collective audience for sports events is enormous.

Sports are associated with educational institutions in a way that is unique. Junior and senior high schools have coaches as faculty members, and school athletic teams compete with each other in an array of sports. Each team's entourage included a marching band (especially associated with football, as Americans and Canadians call the game played with oblong-shaped ball) and a group of cheerleaders. In some smaller American communities, high school athletics are a focal point of the townspeople's activities and conversations.

Nowhere else in the world are sports associated with colleges and universities in the way they are in the States. College sports, especially football, are conducted in an atmosphere of intense excitement and pageantry. Games between teams classified as \football powers\attract nationwide television audiences that number in the millions. There is a whole industry built on the manufacture and sale of badges, pennants, T-shirts, blankets, hats, and countless other items bearing the totem and colors of various university athletic teams. Football and basketball coaches at major universities are paid higher salaries than the presidents of their institutions. Athletic department budgets in the millions of dollars.

Said a recently-arrived foreign student in Iowa City, ―It looks like that the most important part of the University (of Iowa) is the most important thing in the whole town.‖

Sports are a very frequent topic of conversation, especially among males. \talk\about sports is self-interesting, but not too personal. Participants can display their knowledge of athletes and statistics without revealing anything considered private.

In some social circles, associating with athletes is a way to achieve social

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

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recognition. A person who knows a local sports hero personally, or who attends events where famous athletes are present, is considered by some people to have accomplished something worthwhile.

Expressions from sports are extraordinarily common in everyday American speech. Baseball is probably the source of more idiomatic expressions than any other sport. That fact disadvantages foreign visitors in communicating with Americans because most of them come from countries where baseball is not played. (375 words)

1. Sports are associated with American high schools in that _____. A. all the students take part in different sports

B. high school athletics are the hot issue in most American communities C. coaches work in high schools as faculty members D. sports is not confined to faculty members

2. In the U. S., colleges are related to sports in a unique way because ______. A. college games between teams appeal to millions of people

B. football coaches at universities are paid higher salaries than college presidents C. athletic departments gain a net profit of millions of dollars D. college sports games are the most important events 3. It can be inferred from the passage that ______. A. all the Americans like to talk about sports

B. American college students are crazy about games between colleges C. men are more interested in sports than women in the U.S.

D. Americans like to have \

privacy

4. According to the passage, is the most important source of idiomatic expressions in the U.S.

A. football B. basketball C. baseball D. boxing 5. Which of the following is probably the best title for the passage? A. American Excitement

B. Sports and Idiomatic Expressions

C. American Sports and Educational Institutions D. Social Classes and Sports

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Passage12

Developing countries are unusually vulnerable to cigarette advertising. Until recently, some of them sold tobacco only through government monopolies, with little or no attempt at persuasion. And because most of these countries don’t have effective anti-smoking campaigns, many of their people are surprisingly innocent of the link between tobacco and disease. In Manila, we even found cigarettes sold at a snack bar operated by the local Boy Scouts.

Many governments, moreover, are reluctant to wage anti-smoking wars because they’re addicted to tobacco taxes. Argentina gets 22.5 percent of all its tax revenue from tobacco; Malawi, 16.7 percent.

Into this climate of naivety and neglect, American tobacco companies have unleashed not only the marketing wizardry (魔术) that most of us take for granted, but other tactics they wouldn’t dare use here.

Tobacco spokesmen insist that cigarette advertising draws only people who already smoke. But an ad executive; who worked until recently on the Philip Morris account, speaking on condition of anonymity, disagrees. ―You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out what’s going on. Just look at the ads. It’s ludicrous for them to deny that a cartoon character like Joe Camel isn’t attractive to kids.‖

Dr. John L. Clowe, president of the American Medical Association, says, ―It is clear that advertising fosters tobacco use among children. And, despite tobacco-industry denials, ads like Joe Camel are especially appealing to adolescents, equating smoking with sexual prowess, athleticism, even success.‖

Numerous independent studies support this view. Time and again they have shown that cigarette advertising creates an environment in which young people are more likely to smoke .That may explain why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that smokers between ages 12 and 18 prefer Marlboro, Newport and Camel —three of the most advertised brands. (298 words)

1. People in developing countries are easily influenced by cigarette advertising because .

A. they don’t know the relationship between tobacco and disease B. they have a strong inclination to smoke

C. they have been forbidden to smoke by the governments D. there were no institutions which persuade them not to smoke

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2. Many governments didn’t launch anti-smoking campaigns because A. tobacco taxes take up a large part of their revenue B. they are unusually subject to cigarette advertising C. they don’t think tobacco can do harm to people’s health D. they are innocent of the link between tobacco and disease 3. According to an executive on the Philip Morris account, . A. cigarette advertising only appeals to the young men B. cigarette advertising appeals to adults

C. cigarette advertising is attractive to people who already smoke D. cigarette advertising also appeals to kids

4. According to Dr. John L. Clowe, cigarette advertising is appealing to adolescents because

A. they are addicted to nicotine

B. they regard smoking as a symbol of sexual ability and even success C. they want to get more tobacco taxes D. they regard smoking as a kind of sports

5. Which of the following is the best title of the passage? A. Smoking and Tobacco Taxes B. Smoking in Developing Countries C. Smoking and Cigarette Advertising D. Tobacco Industry

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

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Reading Comprehension (Part Two)

Passage 13

Positive thinking is a lot more than blind faith -- and its power over people’s lives is awesome. Optimists fare better than pessimists in almost every respect of life, often achieving more and enjoying greater social success. Optimistic people are also less susceptible to depression and physical ills. Says psychology professor Martin E. P. Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, ―There’s evidence that optimism bolsters the immune system.‖

Psychologists believe optimism and pessimism are habits we learn as children, and our parents are our role models. When a water pipe broke and flooded your new home, did your father lament, ―Why did I pick such a lousy house?‖ Or did he declare, ―Our contract guaranteed everything would be in perfect condition, so I’ll have the builder fix the plumbing and replace the damage‖?

―Optimism is a habitual way of explaining setbacks to yourself,‖ says Seligman. Here’s how it works:

The pessimist believes bad events stem from permanent conditions (―I failed the math quiz because I don’t have head for numbers.‖) and good events from temporary ones (―My husband brought me flowers because he had a good day at work.‖). The optimist, however, attributes failure to temporary causes (―I failed the test because I didn’t pay attention.‖) and favorite situations to enduring causes.(―He brought me flowers because he loves me.‖)

The pessimist allows a disappointment in one area of his life to pervade the test. Say he’s laid off from work. The pessimist not only feels bad about losing his job, but he also starts to worry that his marriage is in trouble and his kids are out of control. The optimist doesn’t let one setback contaminate his whole life. So at the moment I don’t have a job，he thinks. My wife and I are still close, and my kids made the honor roll（上了光荣榜）.

When things go wrong, pessimists blame themselves. If another driver dents your packed car，you chide yourself for parking in a ―stupid‖ spot. The optimist ascribes such trouble to a fluke or looks for a new approach – ―Next time I’ll park where there are few cars.‖ (360 words)

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

1. According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE? A. The power of optimism and pessimism is fearful.

B. Optimistic people are less likely to fall ill than pessimistic people. C. Optimism is connected with blind faith.

D. Pessimism makes people lose interest in anything. 2. Psychologists hold that_______. A. one is born optimistic or pessimistic. B. pessimism is hereditary

C. optimism is acquired when one is very young. D. optimism is a long lasting habit

3. Which of the following is TRUE of the difference between optimists and pessimists?

A. Optimists live a more wealthy life than pessimists.

B. Optimism can help explain the setback while pessimism cannot.

C. For pessimists a failure proves that he’s incapable, but optimists don’t think so. D. Pessimists usually blame themselves for their mistakes, while optimists don’t. 4. In this passage, how is the discussion of and pessimism developed？ A. By comparison and contrast.

B. By defining and explaining them with examples. C. By analyzing the reasons for optimism and pessimism. D. By introducing the historical background.

Passage 14

The ability to devote unswerving attention to a task can produce success in any field. On the other hand, being unable to stay in a zone can turn a sure winner into an also-ran (失败者). At the 1992 U.S. Olympic trials, decathlon star Dan O’Brien began by setting such a record pace in the contest’s events that a place on the team seemed certain. That’s when he relaxed and stumbled in the pole vault -- failing to clear a height that he had reached hundreds of times before. Unable, as he admitted later, to ―get his head together,‖ he tried and failed twice more. Despite O’Brien’s physical abilities, a mental lapse had dashed his Olympic hopes.

Most of us can sympathize with O’Brien’s. You’ve probably had those frustrating times when you couldn’t seem to get your brain going. You’ve sat blankly in front of

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

the computer screen, struggling to find the right words. You’ve started at the budget figures, unable to get your mind around them. And yet you’ve also known states of high concentration -- when you’ve gotten your best work done at a fast pace. How can you get yourself into your most productive state, your own personal zone?

Psychologists who have worked in the field of maximum performance, and neurologists who’ve studied what happens to the brain in such states, provide useful advice.

Practice, practice. Does mental focus develop the part of the brain used in the task, just as physical exercises build up the muscles? Psychology professor Michael Posner used PET scans and electroencephalograms to trace the brain activity of people focused on given tasks. Trying a task for the first time increased blood flow and electrical activity in the brain. But as the subjects became accomplished, brain blood flow and electrical discharges decreased. The more we practice concentration, Posner believes, the less brain activity is necessary. And mental skills perfected in one area can be transferred to others.

―The key,‖ says Louis Csoka, who taught concentration to future battlefield commanders at the U.S. Military Academy, ―is to learn to overcome noise and interference, whether internal or external.‖ For example, if you’re a jazz lover, you might practice by turning on some music and listening only to the alto saxophone, blocking out all the other instruments or vocals. If you’re a football fan, practice by looking at only the left outside linebacker. (400 words) 1. The example of Dan O’Brien is cited to prove________. A. the significance of devoting attention to a task B. the importance of mental relaxation

C. that practice is quite important for one’s mental focus D. that certainty can turn into uncertainty

2. According to Michael Posner, practice helps attain mental concentration because _______.

A. the more we practice the less brain activity is necessary B. practice increases blood flow

C. practice generates electricity in the brain D. both B and C

3. According to Louis Csoka, ________ is of vital important achieving mental concentration.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

A. overcoming internal and external interference B. focusing on given tasks C. decreasing electrical discharges D. blocking out all other instruments

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. How to Overcome Interference

B. The Approaches to Attain Mental Concentration C. Practice and Brain Activity D. Failure and Lack of Concentration

Passage 15

In 1971, Shell came up with a new method for drilling oil that increased production 3-6 times. Siemens has recently managed to cut the time it spends on production development by half. IBM, Saatchi & Saatchi, Merck, NASA and Microsoft have similar success stories — thanks to a man named Edward De Bono.

De Bono is no soothsayer, neither does he possess any supernatural powers. Rather, he is a scholar in the art of creative thinking.

A leading authority in the field of creative and conceptual thinking. De Bono is acclaimed today as the mastermind behind breakthrough theories like \Thinking\

According to De Bono, creative people are not necessarily intelligent. What makes them creative is their ability to actualize their thoughts.

\is like a cooking contest. All are given the same ingredients. The winner is the one who takes these ingredients and manages to create superior value,\De Bono said.

For De Bono, creativity is a key-factor for success in the 21st century. \creativity because first we need to change the way we are doing things, adapt to the changing world around us, achieve maximum use of available assets and finally solve problems that are otherwise difficult to solve.\creative thinking be taught, or is it a talent? Creativity is a skill that can be taught,\the expert said. Creative thinking, according to De Bono, is like a car: The motor resembles human intelligence while oil resembles information and knowledge. The driver is the navigator, the thinker. \climb it, but they fail to think how they are going to do so.\

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

dictionary will tell you that the word \paper made by the Chinese has little in common with the inner bark of the papyrus plant used originally in Egypt.

Instead, the Chinese soaked hemp, linen and other plant fibers in vats(大缸) and let the disintegrated sediment form on a screen, which was then lifted from the water and dried, until it could be peeled off in sheets. The first piece of paper was thick, strong, and useful for anything but writing!

The Origin of Firecrackers

The ancient Chinese believed in a densely-populated world of spirits, specters and demons who plagued mankind with everything from bothersome tricks to deadly afflictions.

It became an established practice to drive off demons and welcome benevolent spirits at events like New Year's celebrations, weddings, victory processions and festivals.

When certain long-streamer fireworks were exploded, the falling red paper resembled the dripping of blood, symbolizing a sacrifice in which everything is cleansed but no human or animal has to be killed.

Engineering

It is common knowledge that the Chinese first cultivated silk (by the 14th century B.C.), but in order to deal with the enormously long silk fibers, they invented a silk-winder, which then gave rise to the spinning wheel.

The chain-drive was first employed by the inventor Su Sung in an astronomical clock in 1090 A.D., 800 years before it appeared in European silk reeling mills. In 1869, a fellow named J.F. Tretz used the chain-drive to make bicycles, the most popular form of transportation in China today.

(354 words)

1. Westerners who didn’t know the origin of paper might think paper was first invented in ________. A. Egypt

B. China

C. India

D. Greece

2. It can be inferred from the passage that for an ancient western sacrifice, _______. A. food was a necessity

B. red paper should be burnt D. blood should be shed

C. firecrackers should be exploded

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

3. Which of following is implied in the last section of passage? A. Few people know the significance of Chinese silk-winder. B. Bicycles were originally invented by Chinese. C. Chinese style of sacrifice is superior to western ones. D. Ancient Chinese paper was better than that of Egypt. 4. The writer regards the Chinese inventions with__________. A. sarcasm

B. admiration

C. suspicion

D. indifference

5. This writing is probably__________. A. a newspaper article

Passage 22

Every Chinese schoolchild is drilled in the motherland’s historic ―Four Inventions‖: gunpowder, paper, printing and the compass. But last week a somewhat unlikely item was added to the list of things for which the rest of the world should apparently be grateful to China — the sauna(桑拿浴).

According to China Daily, the sauna ―may well have once been a popular luxury in ancient China‖, and ―related records on steam bathing by ancient Chinese may be found in various historical accounts‖.

It seems that nothing was beyond the ancient Chinese. A couple of years ago, an article claimed that China had also invented golf, which was news to Scotland. And in the recent Peking Toilet Exhibition, photographs of archaeological remains were produced to demonstrate that China was home to the earliest known public convenience.

Finland, which has a million saunas for its population of five million, is likely to be devastated by this latest revelation. According to China Daily, during the Warring States period(475B.C.—221B.C.), Shi Hu, the King of Zhao of the Jie ethnic group, used to bathe in the steam from a pool into which more than 1,000 scalding metal bars, each weighing just over 401b, has been plunged.

As for Kubla Khan, ―struck down by a disabling illness‖ one day after fighting, ―his attendants poured water on a scorching hot stone to make steam‖ which helped him to expel a blood clot, explained the newspaper.

―It is possible that the Chinese style of steaming or fuming found its way to Finland and was eventually accepted by the Finns,‖ said China Daily, suggesting that

B. a research report D. an argumentative essay

C. an except from a novel

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

the Chinese invention could have spread to Finland when the Hun people, who originated in China, invaded Hungary in AD376. However, a Finnish spokesman argued that saunas in Finland dated back to the Stone Age and there was much more to the sauna than just a bit of steam. The fundamentals of the sauna experience included ―forests, lakes, clean air and fresh water‖, he said.

(317 words)

1. ―Nothing was beyond the ancient Chinese‖ (Line 1, Para. 3) means__________. A. ancient Chinese were capable of everything B. ancient Chinese could do very little

C. if ancient Chinese could not do it, others could not either

D. ancient Chinese people could do everything better than Scottish people 2. The pool in which Shi Hu bathed was heated by__________. A. hot stones

B. hot metal bars

C. hot water

D. hot wind

3. Which of the following is true? A. Hungarian people invaded Finland.

B. Chinese people brought the sauna to Hungary. C. the sauna was popular in Shi Hu’s time. D. Kubla Khan invented the sauna.

4. According to the Finnish spokesman, the major difference between the ancient Chinese saunas and the Finnish ones is that the latter__________. A. used fuming

B. used a natural pool D. emphasized good service

C. emphasized natural environment writer__________.

A. is trying to assume an objective attitude B. is somewhat biased

C. has regarded the whole thing as a joke D. disagrees with the Finnish spokesman

Passage 23

What are the chances that we will encounter alien form of live, as we explore the galaxy. If the argument about the time scale for the appearance of life on earth is correct, there ought to be many other stars, whose planets have life on them. Some of these stellar(恒星的) systems could have formed 5 million years before the Earth. So

5. Judging from the way the massage is written, we can see that the

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

why is the galaxy not crawling with self-designing mechanical or biological life forms? Why hasn’t the Earth been visited, and even colonized. I discount suggestions that UFOs contain beings from outer space. I think any visits by aliens, would be mush more obvious, and probably also, much more unpleasant.

What is the explanation of why we have not been visited?

One possibility is that the argument, about the appearance of life on Earth, is wrong. Maybe the probability of life spontaneously appearing is so low, that Earth is the only planet in the galaxy, or in the observable universe, in which it happened.

Another possibility is that there is a reasonable probability of forming self- reproducing systems, like cells, but that most of these forms of life did not evolve intelligence.

A third possibility is that there is a reasonable probability for life to form, and to evolve to intelligent beings, in the external transmission phase. But at that point, the system becomes unstable, and the intelligent life destroys itself. This would be a very pessimistic conclusion. I very much hope it is not true.

I prefer a fourth possibility: there are other forms of intelligent life out there, but that we have been overlooked. There used to be a project called SETI, the search for extra-terrestrial(地球外的) intelligence. It involved scanning the radio frequencies, to see if we could pick up signals form alien civilizations. I thought this project was worth supporting, though it was cancelled due to a lack of funds. But we should have been wary of answering back, until we have developed a bit further. Meeting a more advanced civilization, at our present stage, might be a bit like the original inhabitants of America meeting Columbus. I don’t think they were better off for it.

(360words)

1. The author thinks that__________.

A) it is impossible that we encounter some alien form if life B) life only exists on Earth

C) it is likely that we’ll encounter some alien form of life D) beings form outer space will never visit the earth

2. What does the word ―discount‖(Line 5, Para. 1) most probably mean according to the context? A) Doubt. been visited?

B) Accept.

C) Deduct

D) Disregard

3. Which of the following is NOT among the four possibilities of why we haven’t

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

A) Forms of life on the other planets don’t evolve to intelligent beings. B) Earth is the only planet that contains life in the universe. C) Life on the other planets destroys itself.

D) Beings from outer space are too far away from us.

4. In the author’s eyes, the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence__________. A) is unnecessary

B) should be supported

D) has not been done appropriately

C) is a waste of money

5. By comparison, the author considers that__________.

A) a more advanced civilization will destroy us if they visit us at present B) the original inhabitants of America were better off because of Columbus’ visit C) being visited by a more advanced civilization will do us no good

D) we won’t be better off even though we are visited by beings form outer space at present.

Passage 24

My name is Gail Naughton and I am President of Advanced Tissue Sciences. On June 28th of this year I was honored to be the first individual woman to be awarded ―National Inventor of the Year‖ by the Intellectual Property Organization. I was delighted to donate my award money to the Association for Women in Science Organization to help provide scholarship funds for young women interested in pursuing a career in science; but this is a small part of what needs to be done. Being the first woman of 27 awardees in indeed a privilege and offers me the opportunity to serve as a role model for many young women interested in pursuing a career in science. Yet the ―first of 27‖ raises the serious issue of the paucity(缺乏) of women who are pursuing a career in technical fields and who are contributing their talents toward developing key inventions that can provide key benefits to the American public and to people worldwide.

My successes scientifically were not due to special programs in schools, scholarships for women in science, or a privileged formal education. I am a scientist today because I had the great fortune to be raised by my parents to believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Although not having the benefit of a college education, my parents stressed the value of higher education to both my brother and myself. This backing, along with a strong stubbornness, carried me through years of intense training toward my Ph.D.

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高职升本科《英语综合》辅导 Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

旅游学院英语系

Training in the sciences and engineering is long, expensive, and arduous and starting salaries in these fields for new Ph.D.s are remarkably low, particularly for women and minorities. Young people need to be encouraged to face these hurdles (障

碍) and be given every opportunity to develop their scientific talents.

We and others developing cutting edge technologies in this exciting new millennium need the largest and best-trained talent pool available. Please don’t let future inventors be neglected. I implore your support of developing grants and scholarships to encourage women and minorities to get into technology. Training and support can’t start too early; scholarships for special training and scientific sabbaticals (休假年) for teachers in minority areas are a key first step. Programs to raise awareness and encourage young scientists are key. Your support can help ensure that the United States develops the best talent pool and remains clearly the worldwide technical leader.

(400 words)

1. It can be inferred from the passage that before Gail Naughton ―National Inventor of the Year‖ was to be awarded to__________. A. women only C. men only

B. minorities

D. both men and women

2. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. There are fewer women than men pursuing a career in science. B. Women are less talented than men in science.

C. Men get scholarships in science more easily than women do. D. Future inventors are often neglected.

3. The author has attributed her success largely to__________. A. scholarships for women in science C. special training in schools A. have more chances than men C. have certain privileges

B. her talent

D. her parents’ trust and support B. earn less money than men D. earn as much money as men

4. The author tells us that women in science and engineering__________.

5. The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to__________. A. show her great success in science

B. indicate that American is the worldwide technical leader C. ask for people’s support of women pursuing a career in science D. prove that it’s difficult for women to pursue a career in science

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