2024年英语专业八级考试试题原题及答案解析

2024年专八真题及答案

Inthissectionyouwillhearamini-lecture.YouwillhearthelectureONCEONLYWhile

listening,takenotesontheimpertantpoints.Yournoteswillnotbemarked,butyouwillneed

themtocompleteagap-fillingtaskafterthemini-lecture.Whenthelectureisover,youwillbe

giventwominutestocheckyournotes,andanothertenminutestocompletethegap-filling

taskonANSWERSHEETONE.Use(heblanksheetfornote-taking.

WritingExperimentalReports

I.Contentofanexperimentalreport,e.g.

—studysubject/area

一studypurpose

™I

II.Presentationofanexperimentalreport

一providingdetails

一regardingreadersas2

III.Structureofanexperimentalreport

---feature:highlystructuredand3

一sectionsandtheircontent:

INTRODUCTION4;whyyoudidit

METHODhowyoudidit

RESULTwhatyoufoundout

5whatyouthinkitshows

IV.Senseofreadership

一6:readeristhemarker

—7:readerisanidealized,hypothetical,intelligcnipersonwithlittleknowledgeof

yourstudy

™taskstofulfillinanexperimentalreport:

?introductiontorelevantarea

?necessarybackgroundinformation

?developmentofcleararguments

?definitionoftechnicalterms

?precisedescriptionofdata8

V.Demandsandexpectationsinreportwriting

—earlystage:

?understandingofstudysubject/areaanditsimplications

?basicgraspofthereport'sformat

--laterstage:

?9onresearchsignificance

--thingstoavoidinwritingINTRODUCTION:

?inadequatematerial

?10ofresearchjustificationforthestudy

SECTIONBINTERVIEW

InthissectionyouwillheareverythingONCEONLY.Listencarefullyand(henanswerthe

questionsthatfollow.Markthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononyourcolouredanswersheet.

QuestionsIto5arebasedonaninterxiew.Attheendoftheinterviewyouwillbegiven10

secondstoanswereachofthefcllowingfivequestions.

Nowlistentotheinterview.

1.Whichof(hefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?

A.Toastmasterswasoriginallysetuptotrainspeakingskills.

B.Toastmastersonlyacceptsprospectiveprofessionalspeakers.

C.Toastmastersacceptsmembersfromthegeneralpublic.

D.Toastmastersisanexclusiveclubforprofessionalspeakers.

2.ThefollowingarejobbenefitsbyjoiningToastmastersEXCEPT

A.becomingfamiliarwithvariousmeansofcommunication.

B.learninghowtodelivermessagesinanorganizedway.

C.becomingawareofaudienceexpectations.

D.learninghow(ogetalongwithfriends.

3.Toastmasters'generalapproachtotrainingcanbesummarizedas

A.practiceplusoveralltraining.

B.practicepluslectures.

C.practiceplusvoicetniining.

D.practiceplusspeechwriting.

4.ToastmastersaimstotrainpeopletobeallthefollowingEXCEPT

A.publicspeakers.

B.grammarteachers.

C.mastersofceremonies.

D.evaluators

5.Theinterviewmainlyfocuseson

A.thebackgroundinformation.

B.thedescriptionoftrainingcourses.

C.therequirementsofpublicspeaking.

D.(heoverallpersonalgrowth.

SECTIONCNEWSBROADCAST

InthissectionyouwillheareverythingONCEONLY.Listencarefullyand(henanswerthe

questionsthatfollow.Markthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononyourcolouredanswersheet.

Questions6and7are'basedonthefoUowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given20secondstoanswerthequestions.

Nowlistentothenews.

6.Whichofthefollowingisthemaincauseofglobalwarming?

A.Fossilfuel.

B.Greenhousegases.

C.Increaseddryness.

D.Violentstormpatterns.

7.Thenewsitemimpliesthatinthelastreport.

A.therewerefewerstudiesdone

B.therewerefewerpolicyproposals

C.therewaslessagreement

D.therewerefewerobjectives

Questions8and9arebasedonthefollowingnews.Altheendofthenewsitem,youwillbe

given20secondstoanswerthequestions.

Nowlistento(henews.

8.ThecauseoftheIndiantrainaccidentwas

A.terroristsabotage.

B.yet(obedetermined.

C.lack

ofcommunications.

D.badweather.

9.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?

A.Theaccidentoccurredonabridge.

B.TheaccidentoccurredinNewDelhi.

C.Therewereabout600casualties.

D.Victimswererescuedimmediately.

Question10isbasedonthefollowingnews.At(heendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven

lOsecondstoanswerthequestion.

Nowlistento(henews.

10.Whaiisthemainmessageof(henewsitem?

A.Youngpeopleshouldseekcareersadvice.

B.Careersserviceneedstobeimproved.

C.Businessesarcnotgettingtalentedpeople.

D.CareersadviceisnotofferedontheIntemet.

PARTIIREADINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN)

Inthissectiontherearcfourreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotalof20mukiple-choicequestions.

Readthepassagesandthenmarkyouranswersonyourcolouredanswersheet.

TEXTA

Wehadbeenwantingtoexpandourchildren'shorizonsbytakingthem(oaplacethatwasunlike

anythingwe'dbeenexposedtoduringourtravelsinEuropeandtheUnitedStates.Inthinking

aboutwhatwaspossiblefromGeneva,wherewearebased,wedecidedonatriptolstanbul.a

two-hourplaneridefromZurich.

Weenvisionedthetripasapre.tidetomoreexoticones,perhapstoNewDelhiorBangkoklater

thisyear,butthoughtour11-and13-year-oldsneededafirststepawayfrommanicured

boulevardsandpristinemonumcnts.Whatwcdidn'tforeseewas(hereactionoffriends,who

warnedthatwewereputtingoiirchildren"indanger,"referringvaguely,andmostincoiTectly,to

disease,terrorismorjust(heunknown.TohelpusgetacquaintedwiththepeculiaritiesofIstanbul

andtogiveourchildrenachancetochoosewhattheywereparticularlyinterestedinseeing,we

boughtanexcelientguidebookandreaditthoroughlybeforeleaving.

Friendlywarningsdidn'tchangeourplanning,althoughwemighthavemoreprudentlychecked

withtheU.S.StateDepartment'slistoftroublcspots.Wcdidn'tseealotofchildrenamong(he

foreignvisitorsduringoursix-daystayinIstanbul,butwefoundthetouristareasquitesafe,very

interestingandvariedenougheventosuitourson,whoseoft-repeatedrequestisthatwenotsee

"everysingle"churchandmuseuminagivencity.

Vaccinationsweren'tneededforthecity,butwewereconcernedaboutadaptingtothewaterfora

shortstay.Soweusedbottledwaterfordrinkingandbrushingourteeth,aprecautionthatmay

seemexcessive,butweallstayedhealthy.

Takingtheadviceofafriend,webookedahotela20-minutewalkfrommostofIstanbul'smajor

touristsites.Thisnotonlygotussonicmorningexercise,strollingovertheKarakoyBridge,but

tookuspastacolorfulassortmentoffishermen,vendorsandshoeshiners.

Fromateenagerandpre-teen'sview,Istanbulstreetlifeisfascinatingsincealmosteverythingcan

beboughtoutdoors.TheywereatagoodagetospendtimewanderingrhelabyrinthoftheSpice

Bazaar,whereshopsdisplaymoundsofpungentherbsinsacks.Doingthis

withyoungerchildrenwouldhehardersimplybecausethestreetsaresopackedwithpeople;

itwouldbeeasy(ogetlost.

Forourtwo,whosebuyingexperienceconsistedofdepartmentstoresandshoppingmallboutiques,

itwasamazingtodiscoverthatyoucouldbargainoverpriceandperhapsendupwithtwoof

somethingforthepriceofone.Theyalsolearnedtofigureouttherelativevalueof(heTurkishlira,

notasmallmatterwithitsmanyzeros.

BeingexposedtoIslamwasanimportantpartofourtrip.Visitingthemosques,especiallythe

enormousBlueMosque,wasourfirstglimpseintohowthism句orreligionispracticed.Our

children'scuriosityalreadyhadbeenpiquedbythefivedailycallstoprayeroverloudspeakersin

everycomerof(hecity,andthescarvescoveringtheheadsofmanywomen.

Navigatingmealscanbetroublesomewithchildren,butakebab,boughton(hestreetorin

restaurants,wasunfailinglypopular.Sincewehaddecidedthistripwasnotforgourmets,kebabs

sparedustheagonyoftryingtofindarestauranteachdaythatwouldsuittheadults'desiretotiy

somethingnewamidchildren'sinsistence(hat(hefoodbeservedimmediately.Gradually,wc

branchedouttotrysomeotherTurkishspecialties.

AlthoughoursonhadstudiedIslambriefly,itisimpossibletobepreparedforeveryawkward

question(hatmightconicup,suchasduringourvisitstotheTopkapiSarayi,theOttomanSultans'

palace.Noguideswereavailablesoitwasdo-it-yourself,usingourguidebook,whichcheatedus

ofalotofinterestinghistoryandanecdotesthataprofessionalguidecouldprovide.Nexttime,we

resolvedtomakesucharrangementsinadvance.plex,withitsimperialtreasures,itscourtyardsand

itsharem.Thelastrequiredabitofexplanationthatwewouldhavehappilylef-toateamedthird

party.

11.ThecouplechoseIstanbulastheirholidaydestinationmainlybecause

A.thecityisnott(x)farawayfromwheretheylived.

B.thecityisnotonthelistoftheU.S.StateDepartment.

C.thecityisbetweenthefamiliarandtheexotic.

D.thecityismorefamiliarthanexotic.

12.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECT?

A.Thefamilyfoundthecitywasexactlywhattheyhadexpected.

B.Theirfriendswereopposedtotheirholidayplan.

C.Theycouldhavebeenmorecautiousaboutbringingkidsalong.

D.Theywereabitcautiousabout(hequalityofwaterinthecity.

13.Weleanifromthecouple'sshoppingexperiencebackhomethat

A.theywereusedtobargainingoverprice.

B.theypreferredtobuythingsoutdoors.

C.streetmarketsweretheirfavourite.

D.theypreferredfashionandbrandnames.

14.ThelasttwoparagraphssuggestihattovisitplacesofinterestinIstanbul

A.guidebooksareveryuseful.

B.aprofessionalguideisamust.

C.onehastobepreparedforquestions.

D.onehastomakeanangementsinadvance

15.ThefamilyhaveseenorvisitedallthefollowinginIstanbulEXCEPT

A.religiousprayers.

B.historicalbuildings.

C.local-stylemarkets.

D.shoppingmallboutiques.

TEXTB

Lastmonththefirstbaby-boomersturned60.Thebulkygenerationbornbetween1946and

1964isheadingtowardsretirement.Thelooming"demographiccliffwillseevastnumbers

ofskilledworkersdispatchedfremthelabourfbrce.Theworkforceisageingacrosstherichworld.

WithintheEUthenumberofworkersagedbetween50and64willincreaseby25%overthenext

twodecades,whilethoseaged20-29willdecreaseby20%.InJapanalmost20%ofthepopulation

isalreadyover65,thehighestshareintheworld.AndintheUnitedStatesthenumberofworkers

aged55-64willhaveincreasedbymorethanhalfinthisdecade,atthesametimeasthe35-to

44-year-o!dsdeclineby10%.

Giventhatmostsocietiesarcgearedtoretirementataround65,companieshavea

loomingproblcinofknowledgemanagement,ofmakingsure(hat(heboomersdonotleavebefore

theyhavehandedovertheirexpertisealongwiththeofficekeysandiheire-mailaddress.Asurvey

ofliunian-resourcesdirectorsbyIBMlastyearconcluded:"Whenthebaby-boomer

gcncrationrctires,manycompanieswillfindouttoolatethatacareer'sworthofexperiencehas

walkedoutthedoor,leavinginsufficienttalenttofillinthevoid."

Somealsofaceashortageofexpertise.Inaerospaceanddefence,fbrexample,asmuchas40%of

theworkforceinsomecompanieswillbeeligibletoretirewithinthenextfiveyears.Atthesame

lime,thenumberofengineeringgraduatesindevelopedcountriesisinsteepdecline.

Atewcompaniesaresosqueezed(hattheyarealreadytakingexceptionalmeasures.Earlierthis

yeartheLosAngelesTimesinterviewedanenterprisingAustralianwhowasstayingin

BeverlyHillswhilehetriedtopersuadelocalstoemigratetoToowoomba,Queensland,to

workforhisengineeringcompanythere.Toowoombatoday;therestofthedevelopedworld

tomorrow?

Ifyoulookhardenough,youcanfindcompaniesthathavebeguntoadapttheworkplacetoolder

workers.TheAARP,anAmericanassociationfbrtheover-50s,producesanannuallistof

thebestemployersofitsmembers.Health-carefirmsinvariablycomenearthetopbecausethey

areoneoftheindustriesmostinneedofskilledlabour.Othersectorssimilarlyaffected,saysthe

ConferenceBoard,includeoil.gas,energyandgovernment.

Near(hetopof(heAARP'slatestlistcomesDeere&Company,a

no-nonsenseindustrial-equipniertmanufacturerbasedinIllinois;about35%ofDeere's46.000

employeesareover50andanumberofthemareintheir70s.Thetoolsitusestoachievethat-

flexibleworking,telecommuting,andsoforth-alsocoincidcntaUyhelpolderworkerstoextend

theirworkinglives.Thecomparyspends"alotoftime"ontheergonomicsofitsfactories,making

jobstherelesstiring,whichenablesolderworkerstostayatthemforlonger.

Likewise,formorethanadecade,Toyota,arguablytheworld'smostadvancedmanufacturer,has

adapteditsworkstationstoolderworkers.Theshortageofskilledlabouravailabletothe

automotiveindustryhasmadeiiunusuallykeentorecruitolderworkers.BMWrecentlysetupa

factoryinLeipzigthatexpresslyseiouttoemploypeopleovertheageof45.

Needsmustwhenthedevildrives.Otherfirmsarepolishingtheiralumninetworks.IBMusesits

networktorecruitretiredpeopleforparticularprojects.Ernst&Young,aprofessional-sendees

firm,hasabout30.000registeredalumni,andabout25%ofits"experienced"newrecruitsare

formeremployeeswhoreturnafteranabsence.

Butsuchexamplesarcunusual.AsurveyinAmericalastmonthbyErnst&Youngfoundthat

"althoughcorporateAmericaforeseesasignificantworkforceshortageasboomersretire,itisnot

dealingwiththeissue."Almostthree-quartersofthe1,400globalcompaniesquestionedby

Deloittelastyearsaidtheyexpeeredashortageofsalariedstaffoverthenextthreetofiveyears.

Yetfewofthemarelookingtoolderworkerstofillthatshortage;andevenfewerarelookingto

themtofillanothergapthathasalreadyappeared.ManyfirmsinEuropeandAmericacomplain

thattheystruggletofindqualifieddirectorsfortheirboards-thiswhenthepoolofretiredtalent

fromthoseverysamefirmsisgrowingbyleapsandbounds.

Whyarefirmsnotworkinghardertokeepoldemployees?Partofthereasonisthatthecrunchhas

beenbeyondthehorizonofmostmanagers.Norishangingontoolderworkerstheonlywayto

copewithafallingsupplyoflabour.Theparticipationofdevelopingcountriesintheworld

economyhasincreasedtheoverallsupply-whateverthelocaleffectofdemographicsintherich

countries.Avastamountofworkisbeingsentoffshore(osuchplacesasChinaandIndiaand

morewillgoinfuture.Somecountries,suchasAustralia,arerelaxingtheirimmigrationpolicies

toallowmuchneededskillstocomeinfromabroad.Otherswillavoidtheneedforworkersby

spendingmoneyonmachineryandautomation.

16.Accordingtothepassage,themostseriousconsequenceofbaby-boomersapproaching

retirementwouldbe

A.alossofknowledgeandexperiencetomanycompanies.

B.adecreaseinthenumberof35-to44-year-olds.

C.acontinuousincreaseinthenumberof50-to64-year-olds.

D.itsimpactonthedevelopedv/orldwhoseworkforceisageing.

17.Thefollowingareallthemeasuresthatcompanieshaveadoptedtocopewiththeageing

workforceEXCEPT

A.makingplacesofworkaccommodatetheneedsofolderworkers.

B.usingalumninetworkstohireretiredformeremployees.

C.encouragingformeremployeestoworkoverseas.

D.grantingmoreconvenienceinworkinghourstoolderworkers.

18."Thecompanyspends'alotoftime'ontheergonomicsofitsfactories"(ParagraphSeven)

meansthat

A.thecompanyattachesgreatimportancetothelayoutofitsfactories.

B.(hecompanyimprovestheworkingconditionsinitsfactories.

C.thecompanyattemptstoreduceproductioncostsofitsfactories.

D.thecompanyintendstorenovateitsVictoriesandupdateequipment.

19.Intheauthor'sopinionAmericanfirmsarenotdoinganythingtcdealwiththeissueofthe

ageingworkforcemainlybecause

A.theyhavenotbeenawareof(heproblem.

B.(heyarcreluctanttohireolderworkers.

C.theyarenotsureofwhattheyshoulddo.

D.theyhaveotheroptionstoconsider.

20.Whichof(hefollowingbcs(describestheauthor'sdevelopmentofargument?

A.introducingtheissue-citingways(odealwiththeissue---describingtheaclual

status---offeringreasons.

B.describingtheactualstatus-introducingtheissue-citingwaystodealwiththe

issue---offeringreasons.

C.citingwaystodealwiththeissue-introducingtheissue-describingtheactual

status—offeringreasons.

D.describingtheactualstatus—offeringreasons---introducingtheissue---citingwaysto

dealwiththeissue.

TEXTC

(1)Theotherproblemthatarisesfromtheemploymentofwomenisthatoftheworkingwife.

Ithastwoaspects:thatof(hewifewhoismoreofasuccessthanherhusbandandthatofthewife

whomustrelyheavilyonherhusbandforhelpwithdomestictasks.Therearcvariouswaysin

whichtheimpactofihefirstdifficultycanbereduced.Providedthathusbandandwifearenotin

thesameordirectlycomparablelinesofwork,theharshfactofhergreatersuccesscanbe

obscuredbyagenialconspiracytorejectapurelymonctar);measureofachievementasintolerably

crude.Wherethereareranks,itisbestifthecoupleworkindifferentfieldssothatthehusband

canfindsomespecialreasonfbrthesuperiorityofthelowestfigureinhistothemostelevatedin

hiswife's.

(2)Aproblemthataffectsamuchlargernumberofworkingwivesistheneedtore-allocate

domestictasksiftherearechildren.InTheRoadtoWiganPierGeorgeOrwellwroteofthe

uncniploycdof(heLancashirecoalfields:"Practicallynever...inaworking-classhome,willyou

seethemandoing

astrokeofthehousework.Unemploymenthasnotchangedthisconvention,

whichonthefaceofitseemsalittleunfair.Themanisidlefrommorningtonightbutthewoman

isasbusyasever-moreso,indeed,becauseshehastomanagewithlessmoney.Yetsofaras

myexperiencegoesthewomendonotprotest.Theyfeelthatamanwouldlosehismanhoodif,

merelybecausehewasoutofwork,hedevelopedinaMaryAnn

3)Itisoverthecareofyoungchildrenthatthisre-allocationofdutiesbecomesreally

significant.Forthis,unlikethecookingoffishfingersorthemakingofbeds,isaninescapably

time-consumingoccupation,and(imeiswhatthefullyemployedwifehasnomore(ospareof

thanherhusband.

(4)Themaleinitiativeincourtshipisaprettyindiscriminateaffair,somethingthatistriedonwith

anyremotelyplausiblewomanwhocomeswithinrangeand.ofcourse,withalldegreesof

tentativeness.Whatdecidestheissueofwhetheragenuinecourtsh.pisgoingtogetunderwayis

thewoman'sresponse.Ifsheshowsinteresttheenginesofpersuasionaresetinmovement.The

truthisthatincourtshipsocietygiveswomen(herealpowerwhilepretendingtogiveittomen.

(5)Whatdoesseemclearisthatthemoremenandwomenaretogether,atworkandaway

fromit,themorethecomprehensiveamorousnessofmentowardswomenwillhavetogo.despite

allitspastevolutionaryservices.Forilisthisthatmakesinferiorityatworkabrasiveand,more

indirectly,makesdomesticworkseemunmanly,ifthereistobeanequalizingredistributionof

economicanddomestictasksbetweenmenandwomen(heremustbeacompensating

redistributionoftheeroticinitiative.Ifwomenwillnolongerletusbeatthemtheymustallowus

tojointhemastheblushingrecipientsofflowersandchocolates.

21.ParagraphOneadvisestheworkingwifewhoismoresuccessfulthanherhusband(o

A.workinthesamesortofjobasherhusband.

B.playdownhersuccess,makingitsoundunimportant.

C.stresshowmuchthefamilygainsfromherhighsalary.

D.introducemorelabour-savingmachineryintothehome.

22.Orwell'spictureofrelationsbetweenmanandwifeinWiganPier(ParagraphTwo)describesa

relationshipwhichtheauthorofthepassage

A.thinksisthenaturalone.

B.wishestoseepreserved.

C.believesisfair.

D.issuremustchange.

23.Whichof(hefollowingwordsisusedliterally,NOTmetaphorically?

A.Abrasive(ParagraphFive).

B.Engines(ParagraphFour).

C.Convention(ParagraphTwo).

D.Heavily(ParagraphOne).

24.Thelastparagraphstressesthatifwomenaretoholdimportantjobs,thentheymust

A.sometimesmakethefirstadvancesinlove.

B.allowmentoflirtwithmanywomen.

C.stopacceptingpresentsofflowersandchocolates.

D.avoidmakingtheirhusbandslooklike"MaryAnns".

25.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECTaboutthepresentformofcourtship?

A.Menareequallyseriousaboutcourtship.

B.Eachman"makespasses"atmanywomen.

C.Thewoman'sreactiondecidesthefateofcourtship.

D.Themanleaveshimselftheopportunitytogiveupthechasequickly.

TEXTD

FromNamcheBazaar,theSherpacapitalat12.000feet,thelonglinethreadedsouth,

dropping2,000feettothevalleyfloor,thentrudgeddownthehugeSola-Khumbucanyonuntilit

openedoutto(helushbutstilldauntingfoothillsofCentralNepal.

ItwashereatNamchethatonemanbrokerankandleanednorth,slowlyandarduously

climbingthesteepwallsofthenaturalamphitheaterbehindthescatterofstonehuts,thenpast

KundeandKhumjong.

Despitewearingabalaclavaonhishead,hehadbeenfrequentlyrecognizedbytheTibetans,

andtreatedwiththegravestdeferenceandrespect.Evenamongthosewhoknewnothingabout

him、expressionsofsurpriselituptheirdark,liquideyes.Hewasainannotexpectedtobethere.

NotonlywashisstaturesubstantiallygreaterthanthatofthediminutiveTibetans,butit

wasalsoobviousfromhisbearing-andhisnewbroadcloak,whichcoveredamuch-too-tight

armyuniform-thathecamefromamarkedlyloftierstationinlifethandidtheaverageTibetan.

Amongapeoplevirtuallybereftofpossessions,hehadfewerstill,consistingsolelyofarounded

bundleaboutafootindiameterslungsecurelybyacordoverhisshoulder.Thematerialthe

bundlewaswrappedinwasofaroughTibetanweave,whichdidnolaugurthatthecontentwas

ofanygreatervalue-exceptfortheimportanceheseemedtoascribetoit,neverforamoment

releasinghisgrip.

Hisobjectivewasatinyhuddleofbuildingsperchedhalfwayupanenormousvalleywall

acrossfromhim,atopagreatwoodedspurjuttingoutfromthe

lowerlapofthe22,493-footAma

Dablum,oneofthemostmajestcmountainsonearth.TherewassituatedTengboche,themost

famousBuddhistmonasteryintheHimalayas,itssettingunsurpassedformagnificence

anywhereontheplanet.

Fromthetopofthespur,one'seyessweep12milesupthestupendousDudhKosicanyon

tothesix-milc-longgranitewallofcliffofNuptscatitshead.IfAmaDablumisthe

Gatekeeper.thenthesheercliffofNuptse,neverlessthanfourmileshigh,istheFinalProtectorof

thehighestandmightiestofthemall:Choniolongma,theMotherGoddessoftheWorld,tothe

Tibetans;Sagannatha,theHcacoftheSeas,to(heNepalese;andEveresttotherestofus.And

overthegreatbarrierofNuptseShedemurelypeaks.

Itwaslateintheafternoon-whenthegicatshadowscastbythecolossalmountainswere

descendingintothedeepvalleyfloors-beforehereachedthecrestofthespurandshuffledtoa

stopjustpastTengboche'sentrancegompa.Hischestheavingintherarefiedair,heremovedhis

handfromthebundle-thefirsttimehehaddoneso-andwipedgrimyrivuletsofsweatfrom

aroundhiseyeswith(hefingersofhismilledhand.

Hisnarrowedeyestookintheopensweepofthequietgrounds,thepagoda-likemonastery

itself,andthestonebuildingsthattumbleddownarounditlikeaprotectiveskirt.Inthedistance

themagiclightofthemagichourlitup(heplumeflyingoffChomolongma's29,029-foot-high

crestlikeabright,welcomingbanner.

Hisbreathingcalmed,heslowly,stifflystruggledforwardanduptheroughstonestepsto

themonasteryentrance.Therehewasgreetedwitharespectfulnain？ste-"Irecognizethedivine

inyou"-fromatali,slimmonkofabout35years,whohastilysetasideatwigbroomhehad

beenusingtosweeptheflagstonesoftheinnercourtyard.Whilehedidso,thevisitornoticed

thatthemonkwasmissing(hesmallfingeronhislefthand.Thestn.ngcrspokeafewformal

wordsinTibetan,andthenthetwodisappearedinside.

Earlythenextmorningtheemissarj,-lightenedofhisload-appearedatthemonastery

entrance,accompaniedby(hesamemonkandtheelderlyabbot.Afterabowofhishead,which

wasretumedmuchmoredeeplybythetwoocher-robedresidents,hetookhisleave.Thetwo

solemnmonkswatched,motionless,untilhedippedovertheridgeonwhichthemonasterysat,

andoutofsight.

Then,withoutaword,theyturnedandwentbackinsidethemonastery.

26.WhichofthefollowingwordsinParagraphOneimpliesdifficultyinwalking?

A."threaded".

B."dropping".

C."trudged".

D."daunling".

27.InthepassagethecontrastbetweentheTibetansandthemanisindicatedinallthefollowing

aspectsEXCEPT

A.clothing.

B.height.

C.socialstatus.

D.personalbelongings.

28.Itcanheinferredfromthepassagethatonecangetoftheregionfromthe

monastery.

A.anarrowview

B.ahazyview

C.adistantview

D.apanoramicview

29.WhichofthefollowingdetaIsshowsthatthemanbecamerelaxedafterhereachedthe

monastery?

A."...hereachedthecrestofthespurandshiiff)edtoastop..."

B."...heremovedhishandfromthebundle..."

C."Hisnarrowedeyestookintheopensweepof(hequietgrounds..."

D."...heslowly,stifflystruggledfonvardanduptheroughstonesteps…”

30.Fromhowitisdescribedinthepassagethemonasteryseemstoevoke

A.asenseofawe.

B.asenseofpiety.

C.asenseoffear.

D.asenseofmystery.

PARTIIIGENERALKNOWLEDGE(10MIN)

Therearetenmultiple-choicequestionsinthissection.Choosethebestanswertoeachquestion.

Markyouranswersonyourcolouredanswersheet.

31.TheHeadofStateofNewZealandis

A.thegovernor-general.

B.thePrimeMinister.

C.thehighcommissioner.

D.themonarchoftheUnitedKingdom.

32.ThecapitalofScotlandis

A.Glasgow.

B.Edinburgh.

C.Manchester.

D.London.

33.WhowrotetheDeclarationofIndependenceandlaterbecametheU.S.President?

A.ThomasJefferson.

B.GeorgeWashington