《学士学位英语》课程题库.doc

成人学士学位英语试题库 出题人: 任艳I . Reading Comprehension II. Close III. Vocabulary IV. Translation V . Writing （71=7）I . Reading Comprehension Directions: In this part there are four passages. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A,B,C,D. You are required to decide on the choice that best answers the question or completes the statement. Passage1 In order to learn to be ones true self, it is necessary to obtain a wide and extensive knowledge of what has been said and done in the world; critically to inquire into it; carefully to consider it ; clearly to analyze it ; and earnestly to carry it out. It matters not what you learn , but when you once learn a thing, you must never give it up until you have mastered it . It matters not what you inquire into, but when you once inquire into a thing, you must never give it until you have thoroughly understood it. It matters not what you try to think of , but when you once try to think of a thing , you must never give it up until you have got what you want. It matters not what you try to carry out, but when you once try to carry out a thing , you must never give it up until you have done it thoroughly and well. （ A ） 1. According to the author, first of all one must _ . A. obtain knowledge B. analyze C. inquire D. act （ C ） 2. When you try to do something , what matters is _ . A. not to care too much about it B. to act immediately C. to carry it through to the end D. to think carefully before you do it （ B ） 3. The end of learning should be _ . A. thought B. mastery C. inquiry D. analysis （ D ） 4. According to the author, another mans success should _ . A. not be taken into consideration B. make us nervous C. cause one to stop trying D. spur us on to greater efforts （ A ） 5. The author implies but does not say that _ . A. success depends not so much on natural ability as it does on effort B. the way to knowledge is through specialization C. one has to know everything to be successful D. success in ones profession is least important in ones lifePassage2 Earthquakes may rightly be ranked as one of the most destructive forces known to man: since records began to be written down, it has been estimated that earthquakerelated fatalities have numbered in the millions, and that earthquake-related destruction has been beyond calculation. The greater part of such damage and loss of life has been due to falling down of buildings and the effects of rock slides, floods, fire, disease, gigantic sea waves, and other phenomena resulting from earthquakes, rather than from the quakes themselves. The great majority of all earthquakes occur on two specific areas, along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and from the East Indies to the Atlas Mountains. But they may, however, happen anywhere at any time. This element of the unknown has for centuries added greatly to the fear and horror surrounding earthquakes, but in recent times there have been indications that earthquake prediction may be possible. By analyzing changes in animal behavior, patterns of movements in the earths surface, and other unusual phenomena, scientists have shown increasing success in predicting when and where earthquakes will strike. As a result, a worldwide earthquake warning network is already in operation and has helped to prepare for the vast destruction that might otherwise have been totally unexpected. It is doubtful that man will ever be able to control earthquakes and do away with the destructiveness altogether, but as how and why earthquakes happen become better understood, man will become more and more able to deal with their possible destruction before it occurs.（ B ） 1. Most destruction brought about by earthquakes is the results of the following EXCEPT_ . A. the collapsing of buildings and the fire it causes B. the panic brought about by earthquakes C. the floods and huge sea waves resulting from earthquakes D. the disease that often follows earthquakes （ C ）2. This element of the unknown (Para.3) refer to the fact that _ . A. earthquake-related destruction has been beyond calculation B. millions of people have died during earthquakes C. earthquakes may occur anywhere at any time D. there are other phenomena resulting from earthquakes （ B ） 3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Some of the natural phenomena are similarly destructive as earthquakes. B. A worldwide earthquake warning network has not been put into use. C. It seems possible now for scientists to predict when and where earthquakes will occur. D. Most earthquakes take place on some specific areas of the earth. （ D ）4. The author believes that the prediction of earthquakes _ . A. should be more accurate in future B. is as a matter of fact impossible C is really reliable D is of some help （ A ）5. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author is chiefly interested in _. A. getting prepared and handling the possible destruction beforehand B. controlling earthquakes C. making earthquakes harmless D. having a better understanding of earthquakesPassage 3Very high waves are destructive when they strike the land. Fortunately, this seldom happens. One reason is that out at sea, waves moving in one direction almost always run into waves moving in a different direction. The two sets of waves tend to cancel each other out. Another reason is that water is shallower near the shore. As a wave gets closer to land, the shallow bottom helps reduce its strength.But the power of waves striking the shore can still be very great. During a winter gale, waves sometimes strike the shore with the force of 6000 pounds for each square foot. That means a wave, 25 feet high and 500 feet along its face, may strike the shore with a force of 75 million pounds.Yet the waves, no matter how big or how violent, affect only the surface of the sea. During the most raging storms, the water a hundred fathoms (600 feet ) beneath the surface is just as calm as on a day without a breath of wind.（ D ）1. According to the passage, destruction caused by high waves occurs _ . A. regularly B. always C. predictably D. rarely（ A ）2. We know from this passage that out at sea, when waves going in opposite directions meet, their force _ . A. is liable to lessen B. causes great damage C. extends to the ocean floor D. increase rapidly（ B ）3. It is clear from the passage that coastal depth _ . A. is the only factor influencing the strength of very high waves B. influences the power of high waves C. has no influence upon the strength of very high waves D. is irrelevant to the question of the power of high waves （ C ）4. From the second paragraph of the passage we know that the power of very high waves striking th shore is _ . A. constant B. equalize C. variable D. perpetual（ D ）5. From your reading of the passage, which of the following is true? A. At a depth of 1200 feet the effects of a violent surface storm are frightful. B. A typhoon 500 miles out at sea can stir up the ocean floor. C. If high waves can strike the shore with a horizontal force of 75 million pounds, the vertical force of such waves can have an even greater effect upon the ocean floor. D. A submarine commander navigating his vessel at a depth of 700 feet will not be affected by araging surface storm.Passage 4In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since the first half of the twentieth century. Today, a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by installments. In the U.S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain, and people there spend over 10 percent of their income on the installment plan.The price of an article bought on installments is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash. There is a charge for interest. The buyer pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment when the goods are delivered to him. He then makes regular payments, weekly or monthly, until the full price is paid up. The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.Installment buy has advantages and disadvantages. It can help couples with small incomes to furnish their homes and start housekeeping. It increases the demand for goods, and in this way helps business and employment. There is, however, the danger that when business is bad, installment buying may end suddenly, making business much worse. This may result in a great increase in unemployment. If the people on the imstallment plan lose their jobs, they will probably not be able to make their payments. If great numbers of people are bot able to pay their installment debts there is a possibility that businessmen cannot collect their debts and will therefore lose money. If businessmen lose money or fail to make a satisfactory profit, it becomes more likely to have a depression. This is why, in some countries, the government controls the installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment and each of the following installments to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.（ B ）1. Which of the following is NOT true about the installment plan? A. A lot of British families use the installment plan. B. More than 10 percent American families buy things on installments. C. Americans depend more on installment than British people do. D. Americans spend one tenth of their income on installment buying.（ C ）2. Goods bought on installments are more expensive than goods bought by cash because _ . A. the delivery of the goods charges extra money B. the buyer has to pay a down payment C. the buyer has to pay extra money as interest D. the service offered by installment plan charged extra money（ C ）3. What will happen to a buy if he fails to make the full payment for an item bought on installements? A. He might lose his job. B. He will have to sell what he has bought. C. He will stop owning the item he has bought. D. He will go into debt.（ A ）4. The advantage of installment buying might include all the following EXPECT that_ . A. people develop a good habit of saving money B. purchasing power is strengthened C. employment might be increased D. young couples are able to furnish their homes（ D ）5. In some countries, the governments control the installment plan to _ . A. increase employment B. avoid depressions C. ensure that businesses make good profits D. ensure that people can pay for what they buy Passage 5Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality, but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I want to be an electrical engineer and, of course, any sensible student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, famous reputation and lots of good labs and research equipment. But thats not what I did.I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts( 文科 ) university that doesnt even offer a major in electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my career. I wanted to open my eyes and expand my vision by interacting with people who werent studying science or engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a sensible choice. They told me I was wise and mature beyond my 18 years, and I believed them.I headed off to college sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big engineering factories where they didnt care if you had values or were flexible. I was going to be complete engineer: technical genius and sensitive humanist ( 人文学者 ) all in one.Now Im not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideals crashed into reality, as all noble ideals eventually do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile ( 协调 ) engineering with liberal-arts courses in college. The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply dont mix as easily as I assumed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways; together they threaten to confuse, the struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult.（ A ）1. The author chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university because he _ . A. intended to be a combination B. wanted to be an example of practicality and rationality C. wanted to be a combination of engineer and humanist D. Intended to be a sensible student with noble ideals （ B ）2. According to the author, by interacting with people who study liberal arts, engineering students can _ . A.balance engineering and the liberal-arts B. broaden their horizons C. become noble idealists D. broaden their horizons （ B ）3. In the eyes of the author, a successful engineering student is expected_ . A. to have an excellent academic record B. to be a technical genius with a wide vision C. to be wise and mature D. to be imaginative with a value system to guide him （ A ）4.The authors experience shows that he was _ . A. unrealistic B. creative C. ambitious D. irrational （ C ）5. The word they in together they threaten to confuse.( Para. 5 )refers to _ . A. flexibility and a value system B. engineering and the liberal arts C. engineer and the liberal arts D. practicality and rationality Passage 6The making of glass is a very old industry-at least 4500 years old. Glass has many extraordinary qualities and it is frequently being used in new ways.One of the most interesting new uses for glass is in telephone communication. Scientists have developed glass fibres as thin as human hair which are designed to carry light signals. When the light reaches the other end , it is first changed into electrical signals, which are in turn converted into sound messages.Called light-wave communication, the new system was used successfully in an experiment in Chicago in 1977. During the experiment, two glass fibres were able to carry 672 conversations at the same time. The light-wave cable, containing 144 glass fibres, has the capacity to carry 50000 conversations at the same time.The light-wave communication system has two important advantages. First, the glass fibre cables are smaller and weigh less than copper cables. Second, they cost less.Perhaps it can be said that telephone communication has entered the age of light! （ C ）1. One of the extraordinary qualities of glass is that it can carry_ . A. sound signals B. electrical signals C. light signals D. any signal （ A ）2. Before you can hear a message on the telephone using the new system, _ . A. light must first be changed into electrical signals and then into sound B. electrical signals must first be changed into light signals and then into sound C. the light signals have to be changed directly into sound messages D. either the light or the electrical signals have to be changed into sound messages （ B ）3. Which of the following is not included in the passage? A. Glass fibre cables are lighter than copper ones. B. Light-wave communication has been for civil use of about 30 years. C. Glass fibre cables are used to carry light waves. D. Glass is a favorable material for telephone communication. （ A