To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. It was first used as a shade against the sun.
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, way back in the eleventh century. We know that the umbrella was also used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. (81)And there was a strange thing connected with its use; it became a symbol of honor and authority. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royal people or by those in high office.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use umbrellas as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the 16th century. And again it became a symbol of power and authority.
Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twenties century that women's umbrellas began to be made in a variety of colors. 41. The first use of the umbrella was as . A. Protection against the rain B. A shade against the sun. C. A symbol of power D. A symbol of honor
42. The are regarded as the people who first used umbrellas. A. Romans B. Greeks C. Chinese D. Europeans
43. The umbrella was used only by royal people or those in high office . A. in Europe in the eighteenth century. B. in ancient Egypt and Babylon C. in the Far East in ancient times D. during the Middle Ages
44. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. Women's umbrellas are made in various kinds of colors. B. The inventor of the umbrella is unknown.
C. Once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas. D. Umbrellas were popular and cheap in ancient times.
45. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage? A. When Was the Umbrella Invented B. The Roles of Umbrellas in History C. The Colors and Shapes of Umbrellas D. Who Needed the Umbrella First Passage Two
Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. According to some research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels, including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed.
The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Margaret Barnes, a pediatrician, believes in the importance of exercise. (82)She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in elementary school or high school can be traced back to a lack of movement as babies.
In studies with seniors, research has shown that exercise helps older people as well. The exercise doesn't have to be very difficult. The main goal is just to increase the heart rate. And especially when learning new movements, such as yoga or tai chi, it appears that new memory paths open up in the brain. This can improve people's short-term memory.
46. What is the main idea of this passage? A. How to take exercise
B. How exercise helps the brain C. How to enjoy music
D. How the brain can change
47. According to the passage, how does exercise affect the brain? A. It helps people think more clearly B. It improves long-term memory C. It makes babies more intelligent D. It strengthens blood vessels
48. According to Margaret Barnes, many learning problems that children have in school may be caused by . A. low intelligence
B. a lack of exercise when very young C. social problems
D. difficult relationships with teachers
49. Why are voga and tai chi recommended to seniors? A. They are new movements B. They are good for memory
C. They can slow down their heart rate. D. They are good for joints
50. What type of patients does a pediatrician probably treat? A. Patients with mental problems B. Patients with physical problems C. Children D. Old people Passage Three
How can we get rid of garbage? Do we have enough energy sources to meet our future energy needs? These are two important questions that many people are asking t
oday. Some people think that man might be able to solve both problems at the same time. (83)They suggest using garbage as an energy source, and at the same time it can save the land to hold garbage.
For a long time, people buried garbage or dumped it on empty land. Now, empty land is scarce. But more and more garbage is produced each year. However, garbage can be a good fuel to use. The things do not look like coal, petroleum, or natural gas; but they are chemically similar to these fossil fuels. As we use up our fossil fuel supplies, we might be able to use garbage as an energy source.
Buring garbage is not a new idea. Some cities in Europe and the United States have been buring garbage for years. The heat that is produced by burning garbage is used to boil water. The steam that is produced is used to make electricity or to heat nearby buildings. In Pairs, France, some power plants burn almost 2 million metric tons of the city's garbage each year. The amount of energy produced is about the same as would be produced by buring almost a half million barrels of oil.
But there are problems in using garbage as a fuel. Garbage that burns easily , such as food scraps (碎屑) and paper, must be separated from metals, glass, and other materials that do not burn easily. This separation process is normally costly. Another problem is that burning garbage can pollute the air.
Our fossil fuel supplies are limited. Buring garbage might be one kind of energy source that we can use to help meet our energy needs. This method could also reduce the amount of garbage piling up on the earth.
51. What two problems can man solve by burning problem? A. The shortage of energy and air pollution
B. The shortage of energy and the land to hold garbage. C. Air pollution and the shortage of fossil fuels.
D. Air pollution and the shortage of the land to hold garbage. 52. Which of the following is NOT the result of burning garbage? A. The garbage burned is turned into fossil fuels. B. The heat produced is used to boil water.
C. The steam produced is used to make electricity. D. The steam produced is used to heat buildings.
53. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. About 2 million metric tons of garbage is burned in France each year. B. In the modern society, more and more garbage is produced each year. C. Using garbage is a good way to solve the problem of energy shortage. D. Burning garbage is an old idea.
54. According to the passage, which of the following four groups of garbage is ready for burning?
A. Food scraps and metals B. Paper and glass C. Metals and glass
D. Food scraps and paper
55. What is the general tone of the passage?
A. Optimistic B. Indifferent C. Promoting D. Anxious Passage Four
H5N1 avian influence, known commonly as bird flu, has killed at least 15 people across Asia and was confirmed in China on January 27. No human cases have been found in the mainland, but 13 of the country's 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities (直辖市) have reported the disease in poultry.
The Chinese government has taken measures to prevent and control the disease. Poultry within 3 km of infected farms is to be killed and those within 5 km to receive vaccines (疫苗). (84)Meanwhile , there will be constant monitoring and daily reports on the disease across the country, and increased production of bird flu vaccines.
Among the Asian countries and regions affected by bird flue in animals, only Vietnam and Thailand have reported human cases. The people infected were reported to have caught the disease from poultry, while the World Health Organization (WHO) said there is \ proof of human-to-human transmission(传播)\ of bird flue.
(85)The big fear is that the disease could combine with a human influenza virus to create a deadly new disease that will kill millions of people across the globe. Many Asian farmers live closely with their animals and sell live chickens in the market. This greatly increases the possibility of human beings infected with bird flu.
A spokesman of the WHO said that Asian countries affected by bird flu should introduce a more healthy way of raising and selling chickens. And the people there have to complexly change their lifestyle and attitude towards animals. Here are some safety measures for people to stay healthy; Keep fit and well through regular exercise; Avoid infected poultry and infected people;
Avoid eating raw or under-done poultry and eggs; Make sure there is always fresh air in your home;
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; Wash your hands frequently;
46. What does the word \ \ the passage mean? A. Wild birds B. Wild animals
C. Home-raised birds D. Home-raised animals
47. From the passage, we can learn that . A. infected poultry within 3 km was killed in China. B. Bird flu case was confirmed in China on Jan,27. C. Human cases were found 13Asian countries
D. Over two thirds of China has been infected with bird flu 48. What do people fear most? A. Poultry will infect many people
B. The disease can spread quickly among people C. There will be human-to-human transmission
D. A new disease combining bird flu and human flu will break out 49. One of the right ways for us to avoid bird flu is . A. To kill all the poultry B. To eat no more chickens C. To form a healthy habit
D. To keep separated from others
50. Which must be wrong for the Asians to change their lifestyle? A. Farmers should avoid selling live poultry in the market B. Farmers should vaccinate their poultry regularly C. Farmers should live more closely with their poultry. D. People should avoid buying live poultry in the market. 三、完形填空 20分：每空1分
Mrs. Jones was over eighty, but she still drove her old car like a woman half her age. She loved driving very fast, and was proud of the fact 61 she had never, in her thirty-five-year driving, been punished 62 a driving offence（违法）.
Then one day she nearly 63 her record. A police car 64 her, and the policemen in it saw her 65 a red lighr without stopping. Of course, she was stopped. It seemed 66 that she would be punished.
67 Mrs. Jones come up to the judge, he looked at her seriously and said that she was 68 old to drive a car, and that the 69 why she had not stopped at the red 70 was most probably that her eyes had become weak 71 old age, so that she had simply not seen it. When the judge had finished what he was 72 , Mrs. Jones opened the big handbag she was 73 and took out her sewing. Without saying a word, she 74 a needle with a very small eye, and threaded it at her first attempt.
When she had 75 done this, she took the thread out of the needle again and handed 76 the needle and the thread to the judge, saying,\ Now it is your 77 . I suppose you drive a car, and that you are quite sure about your own eyesight.\
The judge took the 78 and tried to thread it. After half a dozen tries, he had still not succeeded. The case against Mrs. Jones was 79 , and her record 80 unbroken. 61.
A. which B. when C. that D. this 62.
A. about B.on C. to D. for 63. A. kept
2010年陕西省高校在校生专升本英语考试试题
