在职艺术硕士MFA全国联考英文阅读理解试卷7

1、在职艺术硕士（ MFA全国联考英文阅读理解-试卷7（总分： 40.00，做题时间：90分钟 ）一、 英文阅读理解题（ 总题数：4，分数：40.00）Sign has become a scientific hot button. Only in the past 20 years have specialists in languagestudy realized that signed languages are unique a speech of the hand. They offer a new way to probe how the brain generates and und

2、erstands language, and throw new light on an old scientific controversy ： whether language, complete with grammar, is something that we are born with, or whether it is a learned behavior. The current interest in sign language has roots in the pioneering work of one rebel teacher at Gallaudet Univers

3、ity in Washington, D.C., the worlds only liberal arts university for deaf people. When Bill Stokoe went to Gallaudet to teach English, the school enrolled him in a course in signing. But Stokoe noticed something odd: among themselves, students signed differently from his classroom teacher. Stokoe ha

4、d been taught a sort of gestural code,each movement of the hands representing a word in English. At the time, American Sign Language （ASL） was thought to be no more than a form of pidgin English （混杂英语）. But Stokoe believedthe hand talk his students used looked richer. He wondered: Might deaf people

5、actually havea genuine language? And could that language be unlike any other on Earth? It was 1955, when evendeaf people dismissed their signing as substandard. Stokoes idea was academic heresy（异端邪说）. It is 37years later. Stokoe now devoting his time to writing and editing books and journalsand to p

6、roducing video materials on ASL and the deaf culture is having lunch at a cafe near theGallaudet campus and explaining how he started a revolution. For decades educators fought his idea that signed languages are natural languages like English, French and Japanese. They assumed language must be based

7、 on speech, the modulation （ 调节 ） of sound. But sign language is based on the movement of hands, the modulation of space. What I said, Stokoe explains, is that language is not mouth stuff its brain stuff. （340 words） （分数：10.00 ）(1) .The study of sign language is thought to be.（分数：2.00 ）A.a new way t

8、o look at the learning of languageB.a challenge to traditional views on the nature of languageVC.an approach to simplifying the grammatical structure of a languageD.an attempt to clarify misunderstanding about the origin of language解析：解析：本题属于细节推断题。这篇文章开头介绍了手语研究的进展以及意义， “进展”指过去的 20 年研究人员发现了手语的独特性（rea

9、lized that signed languages are unique） ，意义是指手语的这一发现为研究大脑如何应用与理解语言开辟了新的方向（a new way to probe how the brain generates andunderstands language） ，同时为一个古老的科学论题带来了新的希望：语言到底是天生的还是后天习得的（whetherlanguage is something that we are born with , or whether it is a learned behavior） 。 可知答案为 B。(2) .The present grow

10、ing interest in sign language was stimulated by.（分数： 2.00 ）A.a famous scholar in the study of the human brainB.a leading specialist in the study of liberal artsC.an English teacher in a university for the deafVD.some senior experts in American Sign Language 解析：解析：本题属于细节理解题。题目问的是，当前对手语的越来越高涨的兴趣是由谁激发的

11、。第一段段末和第二段 段首给我们介绍了一位先驱人物Stokoe 的基本信息：华盛顿特区一所聋人大学的教师。他在学校教授英语。对照选项，显然答案为C。2.00)(3) .According to Stokoe, sign language isA.a substandard languageB.a genuine language VC.an artificial languageD.an international language解析：解析：本题属于细节理解题。根据文章第三段，我们了解到当时人们普遍认为美国手语不过是一种混杂英语(thought to be no more than a fo

12、rm of pidgin English)，这里也在强调手语从属于语言。之后是Stokoe 自己的发现与思考：他认为学生们使用的手语意义比人们的普遍认为的要更为丰富(the “ handtalk ” his students used looked richer) ，同时受到了启发：或许聋人确实拥有一种真正的语言。可知答案为B。(4) .Most educators objected to Stokoes idea because they thought.(分数：2.00 )A.sign language was not extensively used even by deaf peopl

13、eB.sign language was too artificial to be widely acceptedC.a language should be easy to use and understandD.a language could only exist in the form of speech soundsV解析：解析：本题属于细节理解题。题目问的是，许多教育者都反对Bill Stokoe 的观点，是因为他们认为什么。根据“ For decades educators fought his idea that signed languages are natural lan

14、guageslike English ， French and Japanese They assumed language must be based on speech ， the modulation( 调节 )of sound ” ，即得出答案为D。(5) .Stokoes argument is based on his belief that.(分数：2.00 )A.sign language is as efficient as any other languageB.sign language is derived from natural languageC.language

15、 is a system of meaningful codesD.language is a product of the brainV解析：解析：本题属于细节理解题。根据文章最后一段我们得知：很多教育家们反对Stokoe 的观点，认为语言必须以语音为基础，是声音的变体(language must be based on speech ， the modulation of sound) ，而 Stokoe 则认为手语恰恰以手的动作为基础(sign language is based on the movement of hands) ，进一步解释说“语言不是嘴巴层次的东西，而是大脑层次的东

16、西(brain stuff) ” 。由此可知答案为D。Reebok executives do not like to hear their stylish athletic shoes calledootwear for yuppies（ 雅皮士，少壮高薪职业人士）. They contend that Reebok shoes appeal to diverse market segments,especially now that the company offers basketball and childrens shoes for the under-18 set andwalki

17、ng shoes for older customers not interested in aerobics （健身操 ） or running. The executivesalso point out that through recent acquisitions they have added hiking boots, dress and casual shoes, and high-performance athletic footwear to their product lines, all of which should attract new and varied gro

18、ups of customers. Still, despite its emphasis on new markets, Reebok plans few changes in the upmarket （ 高档消费人群的） retailing network that helped push sales to $ 1 billionannually, ahead of all other sports shoe marketers. Reebok shoes, which are priced from $27 to $85, will continue to be sold only i

19、n better specialty, sporting goods, and department stores,in accordance with the companys view that consumers judge the quality of the brand by the quality of its distribution. In the past few years, the Massachusetts-based company has imposed limits on the number of its distributors （and the number

20、 of shoes supplied to stores） , partly out of necessity. At times the unexpected demand for Reeboks exceeded supply, and the company could barely keep up with orders from the dealers it already had. These fulfillment problems seem to be distribution now, but the company is still selective about its

21、distributors. At present, Reebok shoes are available in about five thousand retail stores in the United States. Reebok has already anticipated that walking shoes will be the next fitness-related craze, replacing aerobics shoes the same way its brightly colored, soft leather exercise footwear replace

22、d conventional running shoes. Through product diversification and careful market research, Reebok hopes to avoid the distribution problems Nike came across several years ago, when Nike misjudged the strength of the aerobics shoe craze and was forced to unload huge inventories of running shoes throug

23、h discount stores. （355 words） （分数：10.00）like their shoes to be called(1) .One reason why Reeboks managerial personnel donootwear) 2.00(分数：for yuppies is that.A.they believe that their shoes are popular with people of different age groupsB.new production lines have been added to produce inexpensive

24、shoesC.yuppies usually evokes a negative imageD.the term makes people think of prohibitive prices解析：解析：本题属于细节推论题。题于中的“managerial personnel ”即为第一段的“executives ” ，因此可知本题 答案在第一段且为该段之主题：目标市场很大，高层领导们当然不希望自己的产品仅供应一些雅皮士，再由下文更可知其目标消费是多层次的。容“ children's shoes for the under-18 set and walking for older cu

25、stomers易错选的选项B侧重公司的生产策略，故不妥。(2) .Reeboks view that consumers judge the quality of the brand by the quality of itsdistribution (Lines 56, Para. 2) implies that.(分数：2.00 )A.the quality of a brand is measured by the service quality of the store selling itB.the quality of a product determines the qualit

26、y of its distributorsC.the popularity of a brand is determined by the stores that sell itD.consumers believe that first-rate products are only sold by high-quality stores解析：解析：本题属于句意理解题。题干引号中那部分在第二段，答案当然应在第二段，而该段主要论及高档消费群体的零售网一只在精品专卖屋、体育用品专卖店及大百货商场销售。所以答案为D。2.00)(3) .Reebok once had to limit the num

27、ber of its distributors becauseA.its supply of products fell short of demandVB.too many distributors would cut into its profitsC.the reduction of distributors could increase its share of the marketD.it wanted to enhance consumer confidence in its products解析：解析：本题属于细节归纳题。根据题干中“limit the number of dis

28、tributions及即使产品供不应求时，也要对批发商有所选择，而对批发商数量的限制部分是由于“necessity ” ( 迫不得已 ) ，因为需求量出乎意料地超过了供应能力。(4).Although the Reebok Company has solved the problem of fulfilling its orders, it”确定答案在第三段。该段论out of2.00)A.does not want to further expand its retailing networkB.still limits the number of shoes supplied to sto

29、resC.is still particular about who sells its productsVD.still carefully chooses the manufacturers of its productsbut ”相呼应，答案即为该句解析：解析：本题属于细节理解题。题干中的“although ”与短文第三段倒数第二句之“的复述。(5).What lesson has Reebok learned from Nikes distribution problems?(分数：2.00)A.A company should not sell its high quality sh

30、oes in discount stores.B.A company should not limit its distribution network.C.A company should do follow-up surveys of its products.D.A company should correctly evaluate the impact of a new craze on the market.V解析：解析：本题属于细节推论题。“ Nike” ( 耐克 )一词确定答案位置在最后一段，市场预测与决策。Nike 公司正是由于当时错误地判断了健身鞋流行的强度而导致了老产品(r

31、unning shoes) 的积压而不得不打折销售这是市场预测不准确所导致的。Cars account for half the oil consumed in the U.S., about half the urban pollution and one fourth the greenhouse ( 温室 ) gases. They take a similar toll (损耗 ) of resources in other industrialnations and in the cities of the developing world. As vehicle use conti

32、nues to increase in the coming decade, the U.S. and other countries will have to deal with these issues or else face unacceptable economic, health-related and political costs. It is unlikely that oil prices will remain at their current low level or that other nations will accept a large and growing

33、U.S. contribution to global climatic change. Policymakers, and industry have four options: reduce vehicle use, increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, switch to less harmful fuels, or find less polluting driving systems. The last of onlythe ultimat

34、ely is electricityby powered vehicles of introduction the particular in thesesustainable option. The other alternatives are attractive in theory but in practice are either impractical or offer only marginal improvements. For example, reduced vehicle use could solve traffic problems and a host of soc

35、ial and environmental problems, but evidence from around the world suggests that it is very difficult to make people give up their cars to any significant extent. In the U.S., mass-transit ridership and carpooling (合伙用车) have declined since WorldWar II. Even in western Europe, with fuel prices avera

36、ging more than $ 1 a liter (about $ 4 a gallon) and with easily accessible mass transit and dense populations, cars still account for 80 percent of all passenger travel. Improved energy efficiency is also appealing, but alternative fuel economy has barely made any progress in 10 years. Alternative f

37、uels such as natural gas, burned in internal-combustion engines, could be introduced at relatively low cost, but they would lead to only marginal reductions in pollution and greenhouse emissions (especially because oil companies are already spending billions of dollars every year to develop less pol

38、luting types of gasoline). (337 words) (分数：10.00 )(1) .From the passage we know that the increased use of cars will.(分数：2.00 )A.consume half of the oil produced in the world B.have serious consequences for the well-being of all nationsVC.widen the gap between the developed and developing countries D

39、.impose an intolerable economic burden on residents of large cities解析：解析：本题属于细节归纳题。通过U3纳第一段主题可以得到答案。选项A、C和D均仅涉及问题的某个方面，只有 B 代表了私人轿车继续增长的真正后果。(2) .The U.S. has to deal with the problems arising from vehicle use because.(分数：2.00)A.most Americans are reluctant to switch to public transportation systems

40、B.the present level of oil prices is considered unacceptableC.other countries will protest its increasing greenhouse emissionsVD.it should take a lead in conserving natural resources解析：解析：本题属于细节推论题。根据第一段最后一句"It is unlikely that other nations will accept a large and growing U. S. contribution to

41、 global climatic change",再结合上文论及轿车问题和" face - political costs ”等细节，可推知答案为C。(3) .Which of the following is the best solution to the problems mentioned in the passage?(分数：2.00)A.The designing of highly efficient car engines.B.A reduction of vehicle use in cities.C.The development of electric

42、 cars.D.The use of less polluting fuels.解析：解析：本题属于细节题。根据题干中的“solution ”可确定答案在第二段，又根据“best ”可进一步确定答案在该段第二句 “is ultimately the only sustainable（可持续的）option ”。(4) .Which of the following is practical but only makes a marginal contribution to solving theproblem of greenhouse emissions? （分数：2.00 ）A.The u

43、se of fuels other than gasoline. B.Improved energy efficiency. V C.The introduction of less polluting driving systems. D.Reducing car use by carpooling.解析：解析：本题属于细节题。根据题干中的“marginal contribution ”可以确定答案在第三段最后一句话，再分析这段话的开头提到的“Improved energy efficiency is also appealing ” ，即可得出答案为B。(5) .Which of the

44、following statements is TRUE according to the passage?（分数：2.00 ）A.The decline of public transportation accounts for increased car use in western Europe.VB.Cars are popular in western Europe even though fuel prices are fairly high.C.The reduction of vehicle use is the only sustainable option in dense

45、ly populated western Europe.D.Western European oil companies cannot sustain the cost of developing new-type fuels.解析：解析：本题属于细节判断题。各选项涉及的内容可能在短文的任何地方，但正确答案通常仍应与主题一致。A的因果关系与短文内容（第二段倒数第二句）不一致；C与短文内容（第二段第一、二句及最后一句）相矛盾；D也非短文最 后一句之本意。In the 1950s, the pioneers of artificial intelligence （AI） predicted tha

46、t, by the end of this century, computers would be conversing with us at work and robots would be performing our housework. But as useful as computers are, they e nowhere close to achieving anything remotely resembling these early aspirations for humanlike behavior. Never mind something as complex as

47、 conversation: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the shape of an object, the most elementary of tasks for a ten-month-old kid. A growing group of AI researchers think they know where the field went wrong. The problem, the scientists say, is that AI has been trying to separat

48、e the highest, most abstract levels of thought, like language and mathematics, and to duplicate them with logical, step-by-step programs. A new movement in AI, on the other hand, takes a closer look at the more roundabout way in which nature came up with intelligence. Many of these researchers study

49、 evolution and natural adaptation instead of formal logic and conventional computer programs. Rather than digital computers and transistors, some want to work with brain cells and proteins.The results of these early efforts are as promising as they are peculiar, and the new nature-based AI movement

50、is slowly but surely moving to the forefront of the field. Imitating the brains neural （ 神经的 ） network is a huge step in the right direction, says computer scientist and biophysicist Michael Conrad, but it still misses an important aspect of natural intelligence. People tend to treat the brain as if

51、 it were made up of color-coded transistors, he explains, ut its not simply a clever network of switches. There are lots of important things going on inside the brain cells themselves. Specifically, Conrad believes that many of the brains capabilities stem from the pattern-recognition proficiency of

52、 the individual molecules that make up each brain cell. The best way to build an artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same sort of molecular skills. Right now, the notion that conventional computers and software are fundamentally incapable of matching the proce

53、sses that take place in the brain remains controversial. But if it proves true, then the efforts of Conrad and his fellow AI rebels could turn out to be the only game in town. （384 words）（分数：10.00 ）(1) .The author says that the powerful computers of today.（分数：2.00 ）A.are capable of reliably recogniz

54、ing; the shape of an objectB.are close to exhibiting humanlike behaviorC.are not very different in their performance from those of the 1950sD.still cannot communicate with people in a human languageV解析：解析：本题属于细节归纳题。根据题意确定答案在第一段第二、三句。注意选项A中"are capableof reliably recognizing ” 与短文中 "struggl

55、e to reliably recognize ” 是不一致的，故不能选。更多的考生 可能会误选C,但是，在效能(performance)上，当今电脑与50年代的电脑相距是非常大的，而且本文探讨的是人工智 能，而非电脑的一般效能，故选题时要紧扣短文主题。(2) .The new trend in artificial intelligence research stems from.(分数：2.00 )A.the shift of the focus of study onto the recognition of the shapes of objectsB.the belief that human intelligence cannot be duplicated with logical, step-by-stepprograms VC.the aspirati