National English Contest for College
Students
(Level D---Preliminary)
Part I Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)
There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank, 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 centre.
1. Would you please pass me the book ________ cover is black? A. which B. whose C. that D. its
2. I have an urgent problem and I need to call my parents, but I’m afraid I haven’t got _____ change –only a $10 note. Will you do me a _____?A. any; favor B. a lot; help C. some; hand D. a few; support3. We still couldn’t hear Professor Wang clearly at the business lecture, so we asked him to speak_____.A, sloe B. more slow C. slower D. more slowly4. The pilot succeeded in _____the helicopter_____ the cliff(悬崖).A. stopping; at B. mending; in C. flying; on D. landing; on5._____my husband and I _____ down the road yesterday evening, we heard a woman scream.
A. Since; had walked B. While; have walkedC. As; were walking D. When; are walking
6. She didn’t go to the party last night，___________she had to finish her term paper. A. if B. though C. till D. because 7. Would you be _________ by the idea of going to Paris?A. exciting B. excitably C. excited D. excitedly
8. _______ her surprise, Miss Wang found nobody in the classroom.A. At B. To C. For D. With
9. I saw a comic film _____ was very amusing last Saturday. In fact, it was the best film ____ I’ve ever seen.
A. which; what B. that; which C. which; that D. that; what
10. It seems that you’ve caught a bad cold. You’d better see a doctor, ____you? A. hadn’t B. didn’t C. wouldn’t D. don’t
11. Mr. Smith managed to eat lunch ____having had an enormous breakfast. A. despite B. since C. because D. although 12. If it rains on Saturday, we shall have to____ the match for a week. A. bring on B. put away C. take off D. put off
13. He is not satisfied with his exam results and wishes he___ harder for his exams.A. has studied B. would study C. studies D. had studied
14.-Do you want to eat out tonight or shall we cook something? -____. I can’t afford to eat out again.A.I really need a coffee B. Let’s cookC. let’s do that then D. That’s would be nice15.-He locked himself out of his car yesterday. -Oh, he’s always doing things like that._______A. He’s a lovely person B. He’s very carelessC. He’s always happy D. He’s quite generous
Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 30 marks)
Section A: There are two passages in this section with 10 questions. For each of them, there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. (20 marks)
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
The main topic of last week’s meeting was a suggestion box. All departments in the factory are to have labeled suggestion boxes. At the meeting, it was obvious that the employees’ suggestions would not only save the company money, but would do much to lift spirit and streamline production. To further this process, the suggestion box idea was adopted.
Forms for the suggestions are kept inside the box .When employees fill out a form, they should clearly state which situation they are trying to improve, list all data, and then offer a solution, stating how the company would benefit. Forms will then be collected each month by the department heads who will then pass them on to the plant(工厂) manager. Where necessary, the plant manager will consult with the respective departments to gather any relevant data. If applicable, the matter will then be passed on to the finance department for approval. A bonus(奖金) will be paid to employees for any suggestions that are adopted. The amount of the bonus will be in proportion with the savings to the company.Questions:
16. What is the topic of the report?
A. A meeting B. spirit C. Production D. A new system17. Why has the company decided to use suggestion boxes?
A. To take advantage of the employees’ ideas. B. To minimize customer complaints
C. To take some of the burden off department heads D. To calm the finance department.
18. How do the employees get the suggestion slips?
A. By requesting then from department heads. B. By applying to the plant manager
C. By looking in the suggestion box itself D. By asking the director of finance
19. What is the plant manager supposed to do?
A. Review each suggestion with the employee
B. Issue bonus checks
C. Pass the suggestions to the finance department D. Collect relevant data if necessary
20. What should employees specifically include in their suggestions?
A. The names of troublesome coworkers B. How long the problem has existed
C. What they consider is an appropriate bonus D.A description of what they would like to change
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
Cars are lots of fun, but they could also be dangerous. We have to be careful when we drive them or ride in them.
It's always a good idea to put on your seat belt when you're in a car. Why? Think about this example: You put an egg on a skateboard(滑板) and give it a push. If the skateboard hits a stone, it will stop, but the egg won't. It will fly through the air, hit the ground and break.
Now, think what would happen if you tied the egg to the skateboard. When the skateboard hits a stone, the egg won't go flying. It will stay safely on the skateboard.
Volvo, a famous Swedish carmaker, was the first to use seat belts in 1949. Air bags are also very important for car safety, because sometimes a seat belt isn't enough. If the car is going really fast and runs into something, seat belts could even hurt the people who wear them.
Most newer cars have air bags in front of and next to the seats. When a car hits something, its air bags will come out quickly--in less than one second--to keep the people inside safe.
21. We have to be careful in driving a car mainly because it could be ______.A. little fun B. a pleasure C. a lot of trouble D. a great danger22. The example of an egg on a skateboard is used to show that ______.
A. eggs break easily on a moving skateboardB. cars should not be stopped suddenlyC. seat belts are important to safetyD. driving is a dangerous act
23. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. People with seat belts tied will always be safe in cars.B. Volvo was the first carmaker to use seat belts in cars.C. Air bags will come out before the cars hit something.D. All cars have air bags in front of the seats.
24. According to the passage, air bags are another device that ______.A. adds safety to car driving B. is going to replace seat beltsC. comes out slowly to function D. prevents cars from running too fast25. The best title for this passage is ______.A. Buy a Volvo with Air bags B. Make a Car Safe InsideC. Fasten Your Seat Belts D. Add Air Bags to Cars
Section B: In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 statements. For Answer 26-30, mark T (for TRUE) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; F (for FALSE) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage. (10 marks)
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage. Dear Advisor: Should She Propose(求婚)?Dear Advisor
My boyfriend and I just celebrated three years together. I want to ask him to marry me .My friends say I shouldn’t. They say that only desperate women propose marriage. Are they right? Nervous in New Jersey
Dear Nervous，
Your friends are not right. Today it is fine for a woman to propose to a man. In 2003, the Korbel Champagne Company conducted a survey. They asked, “Should woman ask men to marry them?” Sixty-seven percent of American said they would. “Would you propose a woman’s proposal?”Almost 80 percent said yes. Thirty-one percent of women know a woman who has proposed to a man.
Experts generally agree. Dr. Linda O’Connor has a radio talk show about love and marriage. O’Connor says that women who propose are usually educated and self-confident. In addition, their boyfriend usually like strong women with a lot of self-confidence may need some help with their proposals. Here is her advice. First, the proposal should not be a surprise. The relationship should be serious. She also advises women to do two more things. They should write out the proposal and practice it before they ask for their boyfriends’ hands in marriage.
How would Susan Fine answer you? If you and your boyfriend are happy, do not pay attention to your friends. And don’t invite them to the weeding.
The Advisor
Statements:
26. “Nervous in New Jersey” wrote to Susan Fine.27. “Nervous in New Jersey” wants to get married.
28. “In 2003 most women said that only men should propose to women.29. Dr. Linda O’Connor is a lawyer.
30. The advisor told “Nervous in New Jersey” to propose to her boyfriend.
Part III Cloze (15 minutes, 15marks)
People from Great Britain brought the English language to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries. And in the following 300 years, there were 31 many changes in 32 places that now people can 33 tell an English person 34 an American in the way he or she talks.
Many old words 35 in England but were kept in America. For example, 300 years ago people in Great Britain got their water from something they called either a “faucet”, a “spigot” or a “tap”. All these words are still heard in different parts of
America, but only “tap” is still common in England. Americans often made up new words or changed old 36. “Corn” is one kind of plant in America and 37 in England. Also, over the last three centuries the English language 38 thousands of new words for things that weren’t known 39. And often, American and English people used two 40 names for them. A tin can（洋铁罐头） is called “tin” for short in England, but a “can” in America. The word “radio” is 41 all over the world, including（包括） America. But many English people call it a “wireless”. And almost anything having something to do with cars, railroads, etc. 42 different names in British and American English．
But now American and British English may be growing closer together. One 43 is the large amount（数量）of American speech that British people hear daily in movies, on television, or from travelers. 44 this, Americans seem to be influencing（影响） the British more and more. So some day, English may even be 45 on both sides of the Atlantic（大西洋）. 31. A. such 32. A. either 33. A. hardly 34. A. with 35. A. disappeared 36. A. word 37. A. another 38. A. added 39. A. anywhere 40. A. new 41. A. produced 42. A. has 43. A. thing 44. A. For 45. A. different
B. too B. both B. difficulty
C. so C. neither
C. clearly C. to
D. great D. twoD. easilyD. andD. were spokenD. waysD. a kind of food
B. from
B. were disappeared C. spoke B. forms
C. ones C. a plant
B. also planted B. has added B. in some countries B. short B. made B. have B. cause B. Because B. more different
C. discovered D. has discoveredC. before
D. for centuriesD. surprisingD. usedD. was givenD. expressionD. Because ofD. more useful
C. different C. developed C. has given C. reason C. Besides C. the same
Section A: Translate the following paragraph into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet. (10 marks)
46. Winter
Winter is very cold and windy in most parts of China. I usually look forward to the Spring Festival and the winter holiday when I can go to the south where the climate is warmer during these holidays. Also, I look forward to seeing my grandparents and my friends. Winter is the time everyone is in a festive mood. In the city, I usually do a lot of reading at home in the winter because of the cold weather outside.
Part ⅤWriting (20 minutes, 20 marks)
Part IV Translation (20 minutes, 20 marks)
Section B: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet. (10 marks)47.谢谢您的邀请，但是恐怕我来不了。（invitation）48.没有水，没人活的下去。（without）
Your class has recently had a discussion about learning a foreign language. For homework, your teacher has asked you to write a composition of no fewer than 120 words, giving your opinion about the following statements:
The best way to learn a foreign language is to study it in the country where it is spoken.
Do you agree? If you do, please give your reasons. If you don’t, then talk about the best way in your eyes to learn English well. Please write your composition on the Answer Sheet.(20 marks)
VIP专享英语竞赛初赛试题
