自主学习5

Part I Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each

blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please write the corresponding letter for each item in the blank. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

Questions 1 to 10 are based on the following passage.

Reading is an important skill that needs to be developed in children. Not only is it necessary for 1)_O_ in the world of schools and later on universities, but in adult life as well. The ability to learn about new subjects and find helpful information on anything from health problems and consumer protection to more 2)_A__ research into science or the arts depends on the ability to read.

The more children read, the better they become at reading. It's as simple as that. The more enjoyable the things they read are, the more they'll 3)_N_ with them and develop the reading skills that they'll need for full 4)_B_ to information in their adult lives. Reading should be viewed as a pleasurable activity --- as a source of 5)__J_ tales and useful and interesting factual information.

The more young children are to read, the greater their interest in mastering reading. Reading out loud 6)__K_ children to proper grammar and phrasing. It 7)_I___ the development of their spoken language skills, their ability to express themselves verbally(口头上).

Reading, by way of books, magazines or websites, exposes kids to new vocabulary. Even when they don't understand every new word, they absorb something from the 8)__F that may deepen their understanding of it the next time the word is 9)_H__. When parents read aloud to children, the children also hear correct pronunciation as they see the words on the page, even if they can't yet read the words 10)_L__.

A) academic B) access C) accompany D) clearly F) context G) enables H) encountered I) enhances K) exposes L) independently M) specific N) stick E) comprehension J) entertaining（令人愉快的） O) survival Section B Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each

statement contains information given in one of the paragraghs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragragh is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by writing the corresponding letter in the blank.

Google’s Google Problem

A) Google is killing Google Reader. Use of Google Reader, a tool, by the way, for reading online content

via RSS was concentrated among a small group of relatively intense users. As it happens, that small group includes quite a lot of people who write for or as part of their living And so Google Reader has been mourned over, angrily at times, a bit more than the many other Google services that have come and

gone.

B) It isn't that hard to imagine what Google was thinking when it made this decision. It's a big company, but

even big companies have finite resources, and devoting those precious resources to something that isn't making money and isn't judged to have much in the way of development potential is not an attractive option. Dropping Reader isn't going to hurt the company's business.

C) Yet this little contretemps(令人尴尬的事) may suggest bigger trouble ahead for Google and big changes

for the internet. One immediate effect is relatively easy to anticipate. John Hempton makes a nice point here: Google is in the process of abandoning its mission. Google's stated mission is to organize all the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Google no longer cares. It seems what they care about is mass-markets.

D) Google has asked us to build our lives around it: to use its e-mail system, its search engines, its maps, its

calendars, its cloud-based apps and storage services, its video- and photo- hosting services, and on and on and on. Google wants us to use its services in ways that provide it with interesting and valuable information, and eyeballs. If a particular Google experiment isn't cutting it in that category, then Google may feel justified in axing it.

E) But that makes it increasingly difficult for Google to have success with new services. Why commit to

using and coming to rely on something new if it might be pulled away at some future date? This is especially problematic for \"social\" apps that rely on network effects. Even a bad social service may thrive if it obtains a critical mass. Yanking away services beloved by early adopters almost guarantees that critical masses can't be obtained: not, at any rate, without the provision of an incentive or commitment mechanism to protect the would-be users from the risk of losing a vital service.

F) There may be bigger implications still, however. As I said, Google has asked us to build our lives around

it, and we have responded. This response entails(需要) a powerful self-reinforcement mechanism: Both providers and users of information and other services change their behaviour as a result of the availability of a Google product. You can see this on a small scale with Reader. People design their websites and content based on the assumption that others, via an RSS reader, will come across and read that content in a certain way. And readers structure their reading habits, and ultimately their mental models of what information is available and where, based on the existence of this tool. If you then pull away the product at the heart of that system, you end up causing significant disruption(混乱), assuming there aren't good alternatives available.

G) The issue becomes a bit more obvious when you think about something like search. Many of us now

operate under the assumption that if we want to find something we will be able to do so quickly and easily via Google search. If I want an idea for a unique gift for someone, I can put in related search terms and feel pretty confident that I'll get back store websites and blogs and Pinterest pages and newspaper stories and pictures all providing possible matches.

H) If I'm a researcher, I know I can quickly find relevant academic papers, data, newspaper accounts, expert

analysis, and who knows what else related to an enormous range of topics. Once we all become comfortable with that state of affairs we quickly begin optimizing(优化) the physical and digital resources around us. And once we all become comfortable with that, we begin rearranging our mental architecture. We stop memorising key data points and start learning how to ask the right questions. We begin to think differently. We stop keeping a mental model of the physical geography of the world around us, because why bother? We can call up an incredibly detailed and accurate map of the world, complete with satellite and street-level images, whenever we want. The bottom line is that the more we all participate in this world, the more we come to depend on it.

I) What Google has actually done is create a powerful infrastructure(基础设施). The shape of that

infrastructure influences everything that goes online. And it influences the allocation of mental resources of everyone who interacts with the online world. But there isn't much to the real human world that isn't shaped by the mental activity of the people in it! That's a lot of power to put in the hands of a company that now seems interested, mostly, in identifying core mass-market services it can use to maximise its

return on investment. Now in the short run, that may mostly be a problem for all of us. To the extent that we become worried about this phenomenon, we may go out and find back-up services or other alternatives. This will be less convenient and more costly, in terms of time and money, but those sufficiently foresighted(预见的) might feel it's a better option than opening up gmail one day to read that the email service, and the 10-year's worth of communication it holds, will soon be gone.

J) But in the long run that's a problem for Google. Because we tend not to entrust(委托) this sort of critical

public infrastructure to the private sector. Network externalities are all fine and good to ignore so long as they mainly apply to the sharing of news and pictures from a weekend trip with college friends. Once they concern large amount of economic output and the cognitive activity of millions of people, it is difficult to keep the government out. Maybe that obstacle will be sufficient to keep Google providing its most heavily used products. But maybe not.

K) I find myself thinking again of the brave new world of the industrial city, when new patterns of

interaction led to enormous changes in economic activity, in culture and personal behaviour, and in the way we think. We upgraded ourselves, in terms of education and social norms, to maximize the return to urban life. I think we, meaning users of the web and the companies that provide its blood and bones, are only beginning to deal with the implications of a world awash(充斥的) in information.

H11. Once we become comfortable with optimizing the physical and digital resources around us, we will

start rearranging our mental architecture.

E12. A bad social service may become successful provided that it gets a critical mass.

J13. In the long term, people are not inclined to put critical public infrastructure into the hands of the private

sector like Google.

B14. Google decided to shut down Google Reader because it was not profitable or promising.

I15. Everything on the Internet can be influenced by the powerful infrastructure created by Google.

F16. The availability of a Google product changes the behavior of the providers and users of information

and other services.

C17. According to John Hempton, now Google seems to be more concerned with mass-markets than its

stated mission.

G18. Nowadays, many of us assume that if we would like to search for something quickly and easily, we can

Google it.

K19. The big changes in economic activity, culture, individual behavior and thinking method resulted from

new patterns of interaction.

D20. If a service cannot offer interesting and valuable information and eyeballs, Google will think it right to

close it down.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished

statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C), D). You should decide on the best choice and write the corresponding letter in the blank.

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

If you are trying to do your bit for sustainability and save water by taking shorter showers, then a new report on sustainability reveals for the first time that there are more effective ways that our everyday choices can have a positive impact on the environment.

For example, the glass of juice you have for breakfast might have used the same amount of water in its production as the amount you have just saved by cutting your shower from 10 to 5 minutes. The milk on your cereal might have used even more.

Balancing Act, a world first that has been developed for the Australia economy by scientists from

CSIRO (澳大利亚联邦科学月工业研究组织) and the University of Sydney, looks across 135 industry sectors of the Australian economy and quantifies the impacts and contributions across ten social, environmental, and financial indicators.

Report co-author CSIRO scientist, Barney Foran, says that sustainability for Australia is a balancing act as we try to make decisions and trade-offs in the face of often-competing economic, social and environmental attributes.

\"We still need to eat and shower—and it is still worth taking shorter showers to save our stressed urban water supplies—but now consumers have a new tool to help us make more informed choices about different types of products based on a new sustainability rating,\" says Foran.

Different to other studies because of its detailed observation of the full production chain, this report is able to show the full effects--both direct and indirect of the production of an individual conunodity or serwce, cappuccinos(卡布奇诺咖啡) or haircuts. It highlights sustainability challenges for different industries and points out areas in the production chain where a focused effort would make a significant difference.

All effects are referenced back to a consumption dollar roughly the dollar spent by a consumer in everyday life. It also shows that each consumption dollar is quite different-some dollars are positive and create employment, or suck in imports or generate government revenue. Other consumption dollars are less positive through their high use of water or production of greenhouse gas emissions.

This relatively simple presentation of highly complex issues makes this a powerful tool for people who are interested in sustainability to move beyond decisions based on dollars and cents and enables them to make decisions based on a contribution to society, environment, and economy. B21. The new report on sustainability ________.

A) suggests that saving water by raking shorter showers is ineffective B) provides more effective daily ways that can protect environment

C) indicates that drinking juice wastes more water than taking long shower D) reveals that milk uses more water in its production than juice does 22. According to the passage, Balancing Act _____________.

A) is developed for 135 industry sectors of the Australian economy

B) is the first environmental protection organization developed by scientists C) quantifies the environmental impact of ten social and financial indicators D) helps keep sustainability of Australia's economy, society and environment 23. What benefit does Barney Foran think consumers can get from the new report?

A) It urges people to take shorter showers to save water. B) It enables people to be wiser in selecting products.

C) It saves the urban water supplies for people to take showers. D) It informs people of a fresh sustainability rating.

24. According to the passage, what makes the new report special?

A) It observes the full production chain in detail.

B) It informs consumers of a new sustainability rating. C) It shows the indirect effects of an individual product. D) It stresses the challenges different industries face.

25. By using \"a consumption dollar\

A) help people make decisions based on dollars and cents B) simplify the complex issue of greenhouse gas emissions C) discuss economy's contribution to society and environment

D) show different impacts and contributions of our daily consumption Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Marriage emerged as the most popular institution throughout history primarily because it was an effective arrangement to improve the care and upbringing of children. Marriage is not necessary to have

children, but it has been of enormous importance in the rearing of children.

With the sharp declines in birth rates since 1970 in Western and other rich countries, including much larger fractions of adults who do not have any children, both men and women have significantly increased their ages marriage, and sharply raised their tendencies to divorce. In 1950, a typical woman and man married at ages 20.3 and 22.8 respectively, whereas now the typical marital ages are 26.0 and 27.7. These changes in age at mariage are related to reduced demand for many children, increased college education of both men and women but especially of women, much greater labor force participation of married and divorced women, and the narrowing of the gender gap in earnings.

The most important economic and social concerns due to low marriage rates are the effects on roaring of children. These effects are not due to lower marriage rates alone, but rather to the close connection between these low rates and high divorce rates, and to the greater tendency of women to have children without being married, or without living with the fathers of their children.

Although many single mothers do an absolutely wonderful job in raising their children, common sense and most academic findings suggest that having a father present during the raising of children generally has a positive effect on the development of non-cognitive ( 非认知性) traits of children, These include a general respect for authority and reduced rebelliousness in school, and the avoidance of gangs and other criminal activities. It also appears that the absence of fathers has a greater effect, on the non-cognitive traits of sons than daughters, although that is a less well-established finding.

I am not claiming that children are worst oft\" when their parents divorce if their parents were fighting a lot, or ff they bad abusive (粗暴的) fathers. Rather, it, appears that up to a significant point, children are, better off in intact families even when their families are not ideal. 26. What do we learn from the first paragraph about marriage? A) It is primarily a necessary step to have children.

B) It meets resistance in Western and other rich countries. C) It has a tremendous impact on the rearing of children. D) It is the most important institution throughout history. 27. What may give rise to the changes in marriage age?

A) Sharply rising divorce rate.

B) Greater work participation of men. C) Increased college education of women. D) Narrowed gender gap in the labor market.

28. What does the author say about low marriage rates?

A) It lowers divorce rates to some extent.

B) It results in greater tendency of single mothers. C) It is mainly due to the issue of raising children. D) It provo kes economic and social concerns.

29. Some findings suggest that raising children with a father present can_______.

A) urge children to follow all the rules in school B) avoid children's engagement in criminal activities C) promote the development of children's cognitive traits

D) have a greater effect on the non-cognitive traits of daughters

30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author believes_______.

A) parents' divorce will hinder children's development B) children are worse off ff they had abusive fathers

C) parents should divorce ff they were fighting frequently D) an intact family is better for children to a certain degree

Part II Vocabulary and Structure (30 minutes)

Section A

Directions: For each of the following incomplete sentence, there are four words or expressions marked A),

B,) C) and D). Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Write the corresponding letter in the blanks.

A31. This species of dolphin is widely _________ throughout the world.

A) distributed B) spread C) extended D) contributed C32. John ______ in asking Mary to marry him until she finally said, “Yes”. A) consisted B) insisted C) persisted D) assisted

A33. On hearing the horrible shriek in the next room, everybody sprang _____ his feet. A) to B) on C) up D) by

C34. Europeans are more ________ to drink coffee after the meal and to keep their knife and fork in hand until they finish eating.

A) probably B) possibly C) likely D) necessarily B35. The blow on the head damaged his __________.

A) version B) vision C) outlook D) view D36. She ______ her mother in character, but not in appearance.

A) seems B) looks alike C) assembles D) resembles B37. The price of beer _____ from 50 cents to $ 4 per liter during the summer season. A) altered B) ranged C) separated D) differed

C38. Mary doesn’t want to work right away because she thinks that if she ___________ a job she probably wouldn’t be able to see her parents very often.

A) has to get B) had got C) were to get D) could have got

C39. Make sure you choose a ________ of different books so that you can learn some new vocabulary each times.

A) variation B) variable C) variety D) kind D40. Helen turned the radio down lest she ___________ the phone ringing.

A) missed B) might miss C) would miss D) should miss C41. He’d stayed honest ---________ that one time when he had attempted kidnapping.

A) besides B) except C) except for D) but for

D42. Finding a job in the multinational media corporation has always been _______ his wildest dream.

A) under B) over C) above D) beyond

A43. If he ______ in asking such awkward questions, then send dhim to the boss. A) persists B) insists C) adheres D) resists B44. The earthquake was so bad that the town was _________________disappeared.

A) nothing but B) all but C) anything but D) something but C45. To undertake this duty involves ______ on holidays; however, she doesn’t mind it at all. A) work B) to work C) having to work D) to have to work C46. She ________ that he was not much of a pianist. A) denied B) exclaimed C) commented D) contributed

D47. I ________ a few words of Turkish (土耳其语) when I was in Istanbul(伊斯坦布尔). A) took up B) built up C) put up D) picked up

B48. I hold the opinion __________ women need their own space to talk freely. A) what B) that C) which D) whether

B49. _________ to my departure, I had made a reservation at the hotel through Internet. A) Forward B) Prior C) Earlier D) Ahead A50. Wounds that are _________ to the air heal more quickly.

A) exposed B) exploded C) supposed D) touched

A51. Ann never dreamed of_________for her to be promoted in this big company very soon. A) there being a chance B) there be a chance C) there to be a chance D) being a chance

A52. Tony is very disappointed _____ the result of the exam. A) with B) for C) toward D) on C53. He hoped the firm would _______ him to Paris branch.

A) transform B) transmit C) transfer D) translate

C. _____ man forgets his wife’s birthday, which will have bad effect on the marital life. A) Many B) A great many C) Many a D) Much a C55. I don’t know the idiom. I had to _________ a dictionary.

A) look out B) make out C) refer to D) go over

C56. _______ the wide variety of food habits in the world, a relatively small number of basic plants and animals supply most of the world’s food.

A) While B) Though C) Despite D) With A57. The young man looked with perfect ______ at his beautiful wife. A) contentment B) contented C) contents D) contenting C58. These seats are _________ for the elderly and women with babies.

A) preserved B) conserved C) reserved D) deserved

A59. Many women still feel that they are being _____ by a male culture, particularly in the professional services sector.

A) held back B) held on C) held forth D) held out C60. We _______ our old furniture when we moved to the new apartment. A) gave up B) gave in C) gave away D) gave off Section B

Directions: Complete the following sentences with the proper form of the words given in brackets.

61. Their loud parties have recently caused a number of __complaints_________(complain) from the other people in the building

62. The town has changed beyond ___recognition__________(recognize) since I was here last time. 63. He was _______responded_______(respond) to the idea of starting a new project.

. They have been very ___responded________(respond) to the needs of disabled customers.

65. Mike seems ____awareness___(aware) of the trouble he’s causing, and he still goes his own way. 66. Vacations have been ____lengthened_____________(long) and the work week shortened.

67. She made gestures with her hands in order to ______emphasize______(emphasis) what she was saying. 68. More careful control of drug ____prescriptions____________(prescribe) can cut costs and reduce overdoses of medication.

69. I always take fuel consumption into ________consideration______(consider) when buying a car. 70. The defense policy had to meet three __criteria____________(criterion) if it was to succeed.

71. When the guests sit down at a dinner table, it is _______customary______(custom) for the men to help the ladies by pushing their chairs under them.

72. His father _____threatened_______(threat) to beat the boy if he stole again.

73. The patient is fighting for _______survival_________(survive) following the operation. 74. The old couple no longer had the ___inclination________(incline) for foreign travel.(同16) 75. There are many __edible______(eat) fruits growing wild in the coastal forest.