2023年自考专业英语英语阅读一提分冲刺试卷2

自考专业(英语)英语阅读（一）提分冲刺试卷2

一、CAREFULREADING

1、WhatbetteroccasionthanValentinesDaytoaskforyoursweetheartshand?InAmerica,theanswerisalmostanyother.Mostlove-stuckAmericanmenareunawareoftheperilsofproposal.Manywillsurprisegirlfriendswithadiamondengagementring.

Suitors(求偶者)woulddowelltoconsiderwhatmighthappentothatexpensiverockiftheengagementisbrokenoffbeforetheweddingday.Etiquetteandcommonsensedictatethattheringshouldbereturnedtotheman.Inmanystates,thatiswhatthelawrequirestoo.Butnotall.BrianBix,alawprofessoratQuinnipiacCollegeinConnecticut,pointsoutthatinsomepartsofAmericaitmatterswhoisresponsibleforthebreak-up.Inhisstate,ifthemanistoblame,legalprecedentsuggeststhatthewomankeepsthering.ThingsarenotsoclearinneighbouringNewYork.

Whentheringisgivenmightmattertoo,forsomestatescouldletthefinancekeeptheringifshecanconvinceacourtthatitwasanunconditionalgift,ratherthanonegivenforpossiblemarriage.Legalscholarssaythisisaverytrickypoint.Butonethingisclear.Awomancouldstrengthentheargumentthattheringwasgivenunconditionallyifshehadreceiveditonatraditionalgift-givingoccasion,suchasValentinesDay.

Luckilyforromance,DeBeersbroughttothemarketanundisputedlyeternaloption:theMillenniumdiamond,whichcomeswithaserialnumberandanappropriatelyepochallogoetched(蚀刻)intothestonebylasers.Officialsatthediamondcartelareconfidentthatthelimitededitionof20,000gemswillgofast.

Nodoubtmanymenwillrushtobuythesediamonds,whichDeBeersvowsnottoissueagainuntil3,000.Howcouldanyfellowfailtowinhisgirlsheartwithsuchaonce-in-a-millenniumtoken(信物)?Justtobesafe,though,betternotgiveitonherbirthday?Accordingtothepassage,whendomostAmericanmenpropose?()

A.OnValentine'sDay.

B.Onthebirthdayofhissweetheart.

C.OnanyotherdaythanValentine'sDay.

D.Ontheeveoftheweddingday.

2、Thephrase"theperilsofproposal"(Para.1)referstowhichofthefollowing?()

A．Theproposalmaybeturneddown.

B．Thediamondringsmaybefake.

C．Thediamondringmaynotbereturnediftheengagementisbrokenoff.

D．Thesweetheartmaybeatrickyperson.

3、Accordingtotheauthor,menshouldpropose______.()

A．onValentine'sDay

B．onthesweetheart'sbirthday

C．onNewYear'sDay

D．onaworkday

4、Theword"millennium"(Para.5)means______.()

A．onethousandyears

B．onehundredyears

C．ageneration

D．alifetime

5、Theinformationcontainedinthepassageismostusefulto______.()

A．amanwhoisabouttopropose

B．awomanwhoisabouttomarry

C．anewly-marriedcouple

D．manufacturersofdiamondrings

6、AlbertEinsteinonceattributedthecreativityofafamousscientisttothefactthatheneverwenttoschool,andthereforepreservedtheraregiftofthinkingfreely.ThereisundoubtedlyatruthinEinsteinsobservation;manyartistsandgeniusesseemtoviewtheirschoolingasadisadvantage.Butsuchatruthisnotacriticismofschools.Itisthefunctionofschoolstocivilize,nottotrainexplorers.Theexplorerisalwaysalonelyindividualwhetherhisorherpioneeringbeinart,music,scienceortechnology.ThecreativeexplorerofunmappedlandsshareswiththegeniuswhatWilliamJamesdescribedasthefacultyofperceivinginanunhabitualway.Insofarasschoolsteachperceptualpatternstheytendtodestroycreativityandgenius.Butifschoolcouldsomewhatexistsolelytocultivategenius,thensocietywouldbreakdown.Forthesocialorderdemandsunityandwidespreadagreement,bothtraitsthataredestructivetocreativity.Therewillalwaysbeconflictbetweenthedemandsofsocietyandtheimpulsesofcreativityandgenius.AlbertEinsteinoncethoughtthatschools______.()

A.helpeddevelopthecreativityofascientist

B.preservedararegiftforscientists

C.preventedascientistfromthinkingfreely

D.contributedalottoscienceandtechnology

7、Totheauthor'sopinion,schoolingmeetstheneedof______()

A．genius

B．socialorder

C．facultyofperceiving.

D．theimpulsesofcreativity

8、Therewillalwaysbecontradictionbetween______.()

A．thedemandsofsocietyandschooling

B．cultivationofcreativityandfacultyofperceiving

C．socialunityandschooling

D．creativityandwidespreadsocialagreement

9、Einstein'sobservationisinaccordwith______.()

A．theschoolmaster's

B．theauthor's

C．thatofmanyartists

D．bothBandC

10、Whichstatementbestexpressesthemainideaofthepassage?()

A．Einsteinandartistshavesaidschoolslimitcreativityandgenius.

B．Schoolsshouldbedesignedtoencouragecreativityandsocialorder.

C．Explorersandgeniuseslookattheworlddifferentlyfromthewaymostpeopledo.

D．Schoolscanneversatisfytheneedsofbothgeniusandsocietyasawhole.

11、GopherPrairie,inwhichtheactionofSinclairLewisMainStreet(1920)takesplace,isatownof3,000inhabitants,smug,dullpeoplewhoseoneideaistogetonmaterially.Theyhavenouseforanyonewhowishessomethingbetterforthem;theyopposecivicreform,culturalandeducationalprojects.Themosthonoredcitizensarebankers.Carol,whohasbeentocollegeandheldapositionasalibrarian,comestoGopherPrairietolivewithherdoctorhusband.Appalledbythestagnantlifeofthetown,andfailingtobecomeadjustedtoit,shetriesanumberofculturalideas.Hereffortstoestablishalittletheatermeetwithnoencouragement.Indeed,thepeoplemerelythinksheisputtingonairs.Heraffectionforherhusbandwanes,andshetakesupwithErikValborg,inwhomsheseesaspiritakintoherown.SheleavesthelittletownforWashingtonD.C.,wheresheworksasagovernmentclerk.LatershereturnstoGopherPrairie,betterequippedthanbeforetounderstandtheforceswhichshapeMainStreet.

Atthetimeofitsfirstappearance,MainStreetprovokedastormofprotestonthegroundthatthenovelistlibeledgoodAmericans.Today,noonethinksofrepeatingthischarge.Indeed,asLewisGannettpointsout,MainStreethasinnowaychangedexceptexternally:itisthesameMainStreet;yetdoubtlessitreadsSinclairLewis,novelsaseagerlyastherestofthenation.AtthetimewhenMainStreetwaspublishedLewiswasaccusedofhatingdullpeople.Thenovelistretortedthathedidnothatethem.Helovedthem.Thetruthis,theworldof1920couldnotstandcriticism.ThePulitzerPrizeCommitteerefusedtoawardMainStreetaprize.Thenovelistwastohavehisrevengesixyearslater,whenherejectedthesameawardforArrowsmith.WhichofthefollowingisthecentralpreoccupationofthepeopleofGopherPrairie?()

A.Progressive.

B.Materialpossessions.

C.Culturalactivity.

D.Civicreform.

12、Accordingtothepassage,whyisCarolunhappyinGopherPrairie?()

A．Sheregretsthatherhusbandisadoctorandnotabanker.

B．ShedislikesbeingahousewifeandwantstoliveinWashingtonD.C.

C．Shecannotfindajobasalibrarianoratheaterdirector.

D．Shefindsthetownresidentsdullandunreceptivetoherideas.

13、Accordingtothepassage,whywastheresuchadversereactiontoMainStreetin1920?()

A．Peoplewerereluctanttoadmittheirfaults.

B．SinclairLewisdidnotlikehonorablecitizens.

C．GopherPrairiewasportrayedinaccurately.

D．Themaincharacterledanunconventionallife.

14、AccordingtoLewisGannett,howdoesMainStreettodaycomparetoMainStreetof1920?()

A．Itsfamehasledtoatouristboom.

B．ItspeopletodaywouldtakeSinclairLewistocourt.

C．Itsexternalappearancehasaltered.

D．Itsresidentstodayarequitedifferent.

15、Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingstatementsbestexplainswhySinclairLewisrejectedthePulitzerPrizeforArrowsmith?()

A．HethoughtArrowsmithwasnotworthyofthehonor.

B．HedisapprovedofthecompositionofthePulitzerPrizeCommittee.

C．HeclaimedthatthePulitzerhadnostatus.

D．Hefeltthecommitteehadunjustlyoverlookedhispreviouswork.

16、Ifyouknowexactlywhatyouwant,thebestroutetoajobistogetspecializedtraining.Arecentsurveyshowsthatcompanieslikethegraduatesinsuchfieldsasbusinessandhealthcarewhocangotoworkimmediatelywithverylittleon-the-jobtraining.

Thatsespeciallytrueofboomingfieldsthatarechallengingforworkers.AtCornellsSchoolofHotelAdministration,forexample,bachelorsdegreegraduatesgetanaverageoffourorfivejobofferswithsalariesrangingfromthehighteenstothelow20sandplentyofchancesforrapidadvancement.Largecompanies,especially,likeabackgroundofformaleducationcoupledwithworkexperience.Butinthelongrun,toomuchspecializationdoesntpayoff.Business,whichhasbeenfloodedwithMBAs,nolongerconsidersthedegreeanautomaticstampofapproval.TheMBAmayopenIdoorsandcommandahighersalaryinitially,buttheimpactofadegreewashesoutafterfiveyears.

Asfurtherevidenceoftheerosionofcorporatefaithinspecializeddegrees,MichiganStatesScheetzcitesapatternincorporatehiringpractices.Althoughcompaniestendtotakeonspecialistsasnewhires,theyoftenseekoutgeneralistsformiddleandupper-levelmanagement.Theywantsomeonewhoisntconstrainedbynutsandboltstolookatthebigpicture,saysScheetz.

Thissoundssuspiciouslylikeaformalstatementthatyouapproveoftheliberal-artsgraduate.Timeandagainlabor-marketanalystsmentionaneedfortalentsthatliberal-artsmajorsareassumedtohave:writingandcommunicationskills,organizationalskills,open-mindednessandadaptability,andtheabilitytoanalyzeandsolveproblems.DavidBirchclaimshedoesnothireanybodywithanMBAoranengineeringdegree.Ihireonlyliberal-artspeoplebecausetheyhavealess-than-cannedwayofdoingthings,saysBirch.Liberal-artsmeansanacademicallythoroughandstrictprogramthatincludesliterature,history,mathematics,economics,science,humanbehavior.plusacomputercourseortwo.Withthatunderyourbelt,youcanfeelfreetospecialize.Aliberal-artsdegreecoupledwithanMBAorsomeothertechnicaltrainingisaverygoodcombinationinthemarketplace,saysScheetz.Whatkindsofpeopleareinhighdemandonthejobmarket?()

A.Studentswithabachelor'sdegreeinhumanities.

B.PeoplewithanMBAdegreefromtopuniversities.

C.Peoplewithformalschoolingplusworkexperience.

D.Peoplewithspecialtraininginengineering.

17、Bysaying"...buttheimpactofadegreewashesoutafterfiveyears"(Line4,Para.3),theauthormeans______.()

A．mostMBAprogramsfailtoprovidestudentswithasolidfoundation

B．anMBAdegreedoesnothelppromotiontomanagerialpositions

C．MBAprogramswillnotbeaspopularinfiveyears'timeastheyarenow

D．infiveyearspeoplewillforgetaboutthedegreetheMBAgraduateshavegot

18、AccordingtoScheetz'sstatement(Line5-6,Para.4),companiesprefer______.()

A．peoplewhohaveastrategicmind

B．peoplewhoaretalentedinfinearts

C．peoplewhoareambitiousandaggressive

D．peoplewhohavereceivedtraininginmechanics

19、DavidBirchclaimsthatheonlyhiresliberal-artspeoplebecause.()

A．theyaremorecapableofhandlingchangingsituations

B．theycansticktoestablishedwaysofsolvingproblems

C．theyarethoroughlytrainedinavarietyofspecializedfields

D．theyhaveattendedspecialprogramsinmanagement

20、Whichofthefollowingstatementsdoestheauthorsupport?()

A．Specialistsaremoreexpensivetohirethangeneralists.

B．Formalschoolingislessimportantthanjobtraining.

C．On-the-jobtrainingis,inthelongrun,lesscostly.

D．Generalistswilloutdospecialistsinmanagement.

二、SPEEDREADING

1、Intheeighteenth-century,oneofthefirstmoderneconomists,AdamSmith,thoughtthatthewholeannualproduceofthelandandlabourofeverycountryprovidedrevenuetothreedifferentordersofpeople:thosewholivebyrent,thosewholivebywages,andthosewholivebyprofit.Eachsuccessivestageoftheindustrialrevolution,however,madethesocialstructuremorecomplicated.

Manyintermediategroupsgrewupduringthenineteenthcenturybetweentheuppermiddleclassandtheworkingclass.Thereweresmall-scaleindustrialistsaswellaslargeones,smallshopkeepersandtradesmen,officialandsalariedemployees,skilledandunskilledworkers,andprofessionalmensuchasdoctorsandteachers.Farmersandpeasantscontinuedinallcountriesasindependentgroups.

Duringthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturiesthepossessionofwealthinevitablyaffectedapersonssocialposition.Intelligentindustrialistswithinitiativemadefortunesbytheirwitswhichliftedthemintoaneconomicgroupfarhigherthanthatoftheirworkingclassparents.Buttheylackedthesocialtrainingoftheupperclass,whodespisedthemasthenewrich.

Theyoftensenttheirsonsanddaughterstospecialschoolstoacquiresocialtraining.Heretheirchildren,mixedwiththechildrenoftheupperclasses,wereacceptedbythem,andveryoftenfoundmarriagepartnersfromamongthem.Inthesameway,athrifty,hardworkinglabourer,thoughnotcleverhimself,mightsaveforhissonenoughtopayforanextendedsecondaryschooleducationinthehopethathewouldmoveinawhite-collaroccupation,carryingwithitahighersalaryandamoveupinthesocialscale.

Inthetwentiethcenturytheincreasedtaxationofhigherincomes,thegrowthofthesocialservices,andthewiderdevelopmentofeducationalopportunityhaveconsiderablyalteredthesocialoutlook.Theupperclassesnolongerarethesole,oreventhemainpossessorsofwealth,powerandeducation,thoughinheritedsocialpositionstillcarriesconsiderableprestige.WhatcriteriondidAdamSmithseemtogobyinhisclassificationofsocialgroups?()

A.Theamountofwealth.

B.Theamountofmoney.

C.Thesocialstatus.

D.Thewayofgettingmoney.

2、Ifyoucomparethefirstandsecondparagraphs,whatgroupsofpeopledidAdamSmithleaveoutinhisclassification?()

A．Officialsandemployees.

B．Peasantsandfarmers.

C．Doctorsandteachers.

D．Tradesmenandlandlords.

3、Whowerethe"newrich"duringthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies?()

A．Theupperclasspeople.

B．Ownersoflargefactories.

C．Intelligentindustrialists.

D．Skilledworkerswhomadetheirfortune.

4、Accordingtothepassage,whatdidlabourersdoiftheyintendedtomaketheirchildrenmoveupinthesocialladder?()

A．Theysavedalotofmoneyfortheirchildrentoreceivehighereducation.

B．Theytriedtofindmarriagepartnersfromthechildrenoftheupperclass.

C．Theymadegreaterfortunesbytheirwits.

D．Theyworkedevenhardertoacquiresocialtraining.

5、Inthetwentiethcentury,classdifferenceshavebeenpartlysmoothedoutby()

A．increasedincomeanddecreasedtaxation

B．developedsocialservices,moreeducationalopportunitiesandincreasedtaxation

C．education,theincreaseofincomeandindustrialdevelopment

D．thedecreaseoftheupperclasspopulation

6、Internationalairlineshaverediscoveredthebusinesstravelers,themanorwomanwhoregularlyjetsfromcountrytocountryaspartofthejob.Thisdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatairlineseverabandonedtheirbusinesstravelers.Indeed,companieslikeLufthansaandSwissairwouldrightlyarguethattheyhavealwayscateredbestfortheexecutiveclasspassengers.Butmanylinescouldbeaccusedofconcentratingtooheavilyintherecentpastonattractingpassengersbyvolume,oftenattheexpenseofregulartravelers.Too,often,theyhaveseemedgearedforquantityratherthanquality.Operatingamajorairlineinthe1980sisessentiallyamatteroffindingtherightmixofpassengers.Theairlinesneedtofillupthebackendoftheirwide-bodiedjetswithlowfarepassengers,withoutforgettingthatthefrontendshouldbefilledwithpeoplewhopaysubstantiallymorefortheirtickets.Itisnocoincidencethatthetwomajorairlinebankruptciesin1982wereamongthecompaniesspecializingincheapflights.Butlowfaresrequireconsistentlyfullaircrafttomakeflightseconomicallyviable,andintherecentrecessionthevolumeoftraffichasnotgrown.Equallythelargenumberofairlinesjostlingfortheavailablepassengershascreatedahugeexcessofcapacity.Thenetresultofexcesscapacityandcut-throatcompetitionindrivingdownfareshasbeentopushsomeairlinesintocollapseandleavemanyothershoveringonthebrink.Againstthisgrimbackground,itisnosurprisethatairlinesareturningincreasinglytowardsthebusinesstravele