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 ____________.
1-13
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
2-13
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
3-13
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?
4-13
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 _______.
5-13
大一英语上学期期末考试试卷
