专八阅读理解模拟考试试题

1、专八阅读理解模拟试题（ 6 ）Joy and sadness are experienced by people in all cultures around the world, but how can we tell when other people are happy or despondent? It turns out that the expression of many emotions may be universal. Smiling is apparently a universal sign of friendliness and approval. Baring th

2、e teeth in a hostile way, asnoted by Charles Darwin in the nineteenth century, may be a universe sign of anger. As the originator of the theory of evolution, Darwin believed that the universal recognition of facial expressions would have survival value. For example, facial expressions could signal t

3、he approach of enemies (or friends) in the absence of language.Most investigators concur that certain facial expressions suggest the same emotions in a people. Moreover, people in diverse cultures recognize the emotions manifested by the facial expressions. In classic research Paul Ekman took photog

4、raphs of people exhibiting the emotions of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, and sadness. He then asked people around the world to indicate what emotions were being depicted in them. Those queried ranged from European college students to members of the Fore, a tribe that dwells in the New Guinea high

5、lands. All groups including the Fore, who had almost no contact with Western culture, agreed on the portrayed emotions. TheFore also displayed familiar facial expressions when asked how they would respond if they were the characters in stories that called for basic emotional responses. Ekman and his

6、 colleagues morerecently obtained similar results in a study of ten cultures in which participants were permitted to report that multiple emotions were shown by facial expressions. The participants generally agreed on which two emotions were being shown and which emotion was more intense.Psychologic

7、al researchers generally recognize that facial expressions reflect emotional states. Infact, various emotional states give rise to certain patterns of electrical activity in the facial muscles and in the brain. The facial-feedback hypothesis argues, however, that the causal relationship between emot

8、ions and facial expressions can also work in the opposite direction. According to this hypothesis, signals from the facial muscles (feedback) are sent back to emotion centers of the brain, and so a persons facial expression can influence that persons emotional state.ConsiderDarwins words: The free e

9、xpression by outward signs of an emotion intensifies it. On the otherhand, the repression, as far as possible, of all outward signs softens our emotions. Can smiling giverise to feelings of good will, for example, and frowning to anger?Psychological research has given rise to some interesting findin

10、gs concerning the facial-feedback hypothesis. Causing participants in experiments to smile, for example, leads them to report morepositive feelings and to rate cartoons (humorous drawings of people or situations) as being morehumorous. When they are caused to frown, they rate cartoons as being more

11、aggressive.What are the possible links between facial expressions and emotion? One link is arousal, which is the level of activity or preparedness for activity in an organism. Intense contraction of facial muscles,such as those used in signifying fear, heightens arousal. Self-perception of heightene

12、d arousal then leads to heightened emotional activity.Other links may involve changes in brain temperature and the release of neurotransmitters (substances that transmit nerve impulses.) The contraction of facial muscles both influences the internal emotional state and reflects it. Ekman has found t

13、hat theso-called Duchenne smile, which is characterized by crows feet wrinkles around the eyes and asubtle drop in the eye cover fold so that the skin above the eye moves down slightly toward theeyeball, can lead to pleasant feelings.Ekmans observation may be relevant to the British expression keep

14、a stiff upper lip as are commendation for handling stress. It might be that a stiff lip suppresses emotional response-as long as the lip is not quivering with fear or tension. But when the emotion that leads to stiffening the lip is more intense, and involves strong muscle tension, facial feedback m

15、ay heighten emotional response.The word despondent in the passage is closest in meaning toA curiousB unhappyC thoughtfulD uncertainThe author mentions Baring the teeth in a hostile way in order toA differentiate one possible meaning of a particular facial expression from other meanings of itB upport

16、 Darwins theory of evolutionC provide an example of a facial expression whose meaning is widely understoodD contrast a facial expression that is easily understood with other facial expressionsThe word concur in the passage is closest in meaning toA estimateB agreeC expectD understandAccording to par

17、agraph 2, which of the following was true of theFore people ofNew Guinea?A They did not want to be shown photographs.B They were famous for their story-telling skills.C They knew very little about Westernculture.D They did not encourage the expression ofemotions.According to the passage, what did Da

18、rwin believe would happen to human emotions that werenot expressed?A They would become less intense.B They would last longer than usual.C They would cause problems later.D They would become more negative.参考答案（反白可见）：B C B C A专八阅读理解模拟试题（ 5 ）Students of United States history, seeking to identify the ci

19、rcumstances that encouraged the emergence of feminist movements, have thoroughly investigated the mid-nineteenth-century American economic and social conditions that affected the status of women. These historians, however, have analyzed less fully the development of specifically feminist ideas and a

20、ctivities during the same period. Furthermore, the ideological origins of feminism in the United States have been obscured because, even when historians did take into account those feminist ideas and activities occurring within the United States, they failed to recognize that feminism was then a tru

21、ly international movement actually centered in Europe. American feminist activists who have been described as solitary and individual theorists were in reality connected to a movement -utopian socialism-which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in

22、the first womens rights conference held at Seneca Falls.New York, in 1848. Thus, a complete understanding of the origins and development of nineteenth-century feminism in the United Statesrequires that the geographical focus be widened to include Europe and that the detailed study already made of so

23、cial conditions be expanded to include the ideological development of feminism.The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the Saint-Simonians. The specifically feminist part of Saint-Simonianism has, however, been less studied than the groups contribution toearly socialism. This is

24、 regrettable on two counts. By 1832 feminism was the central concern ofSaint-Simonianism and entirely absorbed its adherents energy; hence, by ignoring its feminism. European historians have misunderstood Saint-Simonianism. Moreover, since many feminist ideascan be traced to Saint-Simonianism, Europ

25、ean historians appreciation of later feminism in Franceand the United States remained limited.Saint-Simons followers, many of whom were women, based their feminism on an interpretation ofhis project to reorganize the globe by replacing brute force with the rule of spiritual powers. Thenew world orde

26、r would be ruled together by a male, to represent reflection, and a female, to represent sentiment. This complementarity reflects the fact that, while the Saint-Simonians did not reject the belief that there were innate differences between men and women, they nevertheless foresaw an equally importan

27、t social and political role for both sexes in their Utopia.Only a few Saint-Simonians opposed a definition of sexual equality based on gender distinction. This minority believed that individuals of both sexes were born similar in capacity and character, and they ascribed male-female differences to s

28、ocialization and education. The envisioned result of both currents of thought, however, was that women would enter public life in the new age and that sexual equality would reward men as well as women with an improved way of life.1.It can be inferred that the author considers those historians who de

29、scribe early feminists in the United States as solitary to beA insufficiently familiar with the international origins of nineteenth-century American feminist thoughtB overly concerned with the regional diversity of feminist ideas in the period before 1848C not focused narrowly enough in their geo-gr

30、aphical scopeD insufficiently aware of the ideological consequences of the SenecaFalls conference.According to the passage, which of the following is true of the Seneca Falls conference on womens rights?A It was primarily a product of nineteenth-century Saint-Simonian feminist thought.B It was the w

31、ork of American activists who were independent of feminists abroad.C It was the culminating achievement of the Utopian socialist movement.D It was a manifestation of an international movement for social change and feminism.The authors attitude toward most European historians who have studied the Sai

32、nt-Simonians is primarily one ofA approval of the specific focus of their researchB disapproval of their lack of attention to the issue that absorbed most of the Saint-Simoniansenergy after 1832C approval of their general focus on social conditionsD disapproval of their lack of attention to links be

33、tween theSaint-Simonians and their American counterparts. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes that study of Saint-Simonianism is necessary for historians of American feminism because such studyA would clarify the ideological origins of those feminist ideas that influenced Am

34、erican feminismB would increase understanding of a movement that deeply influenced the Utopian socialism ofearly American feministsC would focus attention on the most important aspect of Saint-Simonian thought before 1832D promises to offer insight into a movement that was a direct outgrowth of the

35、Seneca Falls conference of 1848. According to the passage, which of the following would be the most accurate description of the society envisioned by most Saint-Simonians?A A society in which women were highly regarded for their extensive educationB A society in which the two genders played compleme

36、ntary roles and had equal statusC A society in which women did not enter public life D A social order in which a body of men and women would rule together on the basis of their spiritual power参考答案A D B A B专八阅读理解模拟试题( 4 )Stratford-on-Avon, as we all know, has only one industry-WilliamShakespeare-but

37、there are two distinctly separate and increasingly hostile branches. There is the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), which presents superb productions of the plays at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre on the Avon. And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come, not to see the pl

38、ays, but to look at Anne Hathaway s Cottage, Shakespeare s birthplace and the other sights.The worthy residents of Stratford doubt that the theatre adds a pennyto their revenue. They frankly dislike the RSC s actors, them withtheir long hair and beards and sandals and noisiness. It s alldeliciously

39、ironic when you consider that Shakespeare, who earns their living, was himself anactor (with a beard) and did his share of noise - making.The tourist streams are not entirely separate. The sightseers who come by bus- and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side - don t usually se

40、e the plays, and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford. However, the playgoers do manage a little sight -seeing along with their play going. It is the playgoers, the RSC contends, who bring in much of the townrevenue because they spend the night (some of them four or five ni

41、ghts) pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants. The sightseers can take in everything and get out of town by nightfall.The townsfolk don t see it this way and local council does not contribute directly to the subsidy ofthe Royal Shakespeare Company. Stratford cries poor traditionally. Neverthele

42、ss every hotel in town seems to be adding a new wing or cocktail lounge. Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.Anyway, the townsfolk can t under

43、stand why the Royal Shakespearell do better.) The reason,Company needs a subsidy. (The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 per cent occupied all year long and this year theyof course, is that costs have rocketed and ticket prices have sta

44、yedlow.It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would driveaway the young people who are Stratford s most attractive clientele.They come entirely for the plays, not the sights. They all seem to lookalike (though they come from all over)-lean, pointed, dedicatedfaces, wearing jeansand

45、sandals, eating their buns and bedding downfor the night on the flagstones outside thetheatre to buy the 20 seatsand 80 standing-room tickets held for the sleepers and sold to themwhen the box office opens at 10:30 a.m.From the first two paragraphs , we learn thatthe townsfolk deny the RSC s contrib

46、ution to the town s revenuethe actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stagethe two branches of the RSC are not on good termsthe townsfolk earn little from tourismIt can be inferred from Paragraph 3 thatthe sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separatelythe playgoers spend more

47、 money than the sightseersthe sightseers do more shopping than the playgoersthe playgoers go to no other places in town than the theaterBy saying “ Stratford cries poor traditionally-3, P” ara(Lgirnaep2h4), the author implies thatStratford cannot afford the expansion projectsStratford has long been

48、in financial difficultiesthe town is not really short of moneythe townsfolk used to be poorly paidAccording to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy becauseticket prices can be raised to cover the spendingthe company is financially ill-managedthe behavior of the actors is not socially acceptabl

49、ethe theatre attendance is on the riseFrom the text we can conclude that the authorA. is supportive of both sidesB. favors the townsfolks viewtakes a detached attitudeis sympathetic to the RSC.参考答案A B C D D专八阅读理解模拟试题（ 3 ）He was an old man with a white beard and huge nose and hands. Long before the t

50、ime during which we will know him, he was a doctor and drove a jaded white horse from house to house through the streets of Winesburg. Later he married a girl who had money. She had been left a large fertile farm when her father died. The girl was quiet, tall, and dark, and to many people she seemed

51、 very beautiful. Everyone in Winesburg wondered why she married the doctor. Within a year after the marriage she died.The knuckles of the doctors hands were extraordinarily large. When the hands were closed they looked like clusters of unpainted wooden balls as large as walnuts fastened together by

52、steel rods.He smoked a cob pipe and after his wifes death sat all day in his empty office close by a window that was covered with cobwebs. He never opened the window. Once on a hot day in August he tried but found it stuck fast and after that he forgot all about it.Winesburg had forgotten the old ma

53、n, but in Doctor Reefy there were the seeds of something very fine. Alone in his musty office in the Heffner Block above the Paris Dry Goods Companys store, he worked ceaselessly, building up something that he himself destroyed. Little pyramids of truth he erected and after erecting knocked them dow

54、n again that he might have the truths to erect other pyramids.Doctor Reefy was a tall man who had worn one suit of clothes for ten years. It was frayed at the sleeves and little holes had appeared at the knees and elbows. In the office he wore also a linen duster with huge pockets into which he cont

55、inually stuffed scraps of paper. After some weeks the scraps of paper became little hard round balls, and when the pockets were filled he dumped themout upon the floor. For ten years he had but one friend, another old man named John Spaniard who owned a tree nursery. Sometimes, in a playful mood, ol

56、d Doctor Reefy took from his pockets a handful of the paper balls and threw them at the nursery man. That is to confound you, you blithering old sentimentalist, he cried, shaking with laughter.The story of Doctor Reefy and his courtship of the tall dark girl who became his wife and left her money to

57、 him is a very curious story. It is delicious, like the twisted little apples that grow in the orchards ofWinesburg. In the fall one walks in the orchards and the ground is hard with frostunder foot. The apples have been taken from the trees by the pickers. They have been put inbarrels and shipped t

58、o the cities where they will be eaten in apartments that are filled with books, magazines, furniture, and people. On the trees are only a few gnarled apples that the pickers haverejected. They look like the knuckles of Doctor Reefy s hands. One nibbles at them and they are delicious. Into a little r

59、ound place at the side of the apple has been gathered all of its sweetness.One runs from tree to tree over the frosted ground picking the gnarled, twisted apples and filling his pockets with them.Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples.The girl and Doctor Reefy began their courtship on

60、 a summer afternoon. He was forty-fivethen and already he had begun the practice of filling his pockets with the scraps of paper thatbecame hard balls and were thrown away. The habit had been formed as he sat in his buggy behind the jaded grey horse and went slowly along country roads. On the papers