开放教育本科英语专业

英语阅读（1）考试说明

责任教师 聂光华

第一部分 考试说明

根据大纲规定，本课程的教学目的在于提高学生的英语阅读理解能力和阅读速度，掌握阅读的基本技能，扩大词汇量和拓展知识面。期末考试题也就围绕这些目的而设置。为了便于复习，帮助尽量多的学生一次性顺利通过考试，特将有关期末考试的范围、题型等作一简要说明，并附上一份自测题供复习用。

1．考试范围及分数比例

考试范围教材内容占50%，从《读者的选择》1---6单元和《英语扩充词汇阶梯阅读-----精通6000词汇》1---18课中取材；课外内容占50%，难度低于教材内容。

2．试题的构成和题型

试题分成三部分：

Part one Language Skills （15%）

该题共15小题, 5个问答题、10个选择题，试题大部分取材于《读者的选择》第3，5单元中的Word Study和Sentence Study，其重点是考查学生对语法和构词法知识的活用。

Part Two Vocabulary （10%）

该10个选择题，试题取材于《英语扩充词汇阶梯阅读---精通6000词汇》1---18课的练习中，其重点是考查学生对课文中词汇的掌握。

Part Three Reading Comprehension （75%）

该题共35小题，包括6篇短文，一篇取材于《英语扩充词汇阶梯阅读---精通6000词汇》1---18课；一篇取材于《读者的选择》第2, 4, 6单元中的 Reading Selection；其余的出自教材外，其难度略低于教材。该题重点是考查学生的阅读理解能力。

该题的题型包括是非判断题（True or False）、选择题 （Multiple Choice）和问答题。

3．复习方法建议

阅读课考查的是学生的实际阅读理解水平，不是考查死记硬背的能力，因此，复习的过程仍然是阅读的过程。复习中一方面要真正读懂教材中的文章，并对练习融会贯通，切不可死记硬背某些练习的答案。对试题中的课外内容，学生无从根据具体教材准备，因为这部分内容不给予规定参考材料，但是只要学生按要求达到了课内教材规定的阅读理解水平，课外内容也就能够理解，因为试题中的课外内容难度低于课内内容。当然如果学生平时在课外阅读广泛，多读类似难度的文章和阅读理解题，就更能有把握顺利通过考试。

第二部分 自测题

在完成本学期的教学任务后，教师应根据期末考试重点指导学生复习，帮助他们巩固已学知识，教师应叫学生在规定的时间内（2小时）做完这套自测题，其目的是让学生熟悉题型，明白要求和难易程度，以便使他们顺利地进行期末考试。该套试题的完成情况也将作为平时成绩的参考。

英语阅读（1）自测题

Part one Language Skills ( 15%)

I．Word Study

Answer the following Questions：

1. Which word means “ a logical result or conclusion.

2. The pilot asked the ground workers to de-ice the wings of the plane before he tried to

take off in the winter storm. What would the workers exactly do?

3. Because some of our patients speak Spanish and some speak English, what kind of

nurses do we need?

4. How do you define the word “monogamy”?

5. Dan says he is an atheist. What does he mean?

II. Sentence Study

6. Albert was sitting next to Julia in the outer office when Alice returned after her meeting

with Miss Cain.

Who had a meeting?

a. Albert and Julia b. Julia and Miss Cain

c. Julia and Alice d. Alice and Miss Cain

7. Joan, following the instructions of the new manager, took a calculator from the desk

drawer and started to work out the new monthly rent figures for Mrs. Koester' s

and Mrs. Pye 's rooms.

Who was doing the calculations?

a. Joan b. the manager

c. Mrs. Koester d. Mrs. Pye

8. If it wasn't bad enough that Kevin left the dinner early, I found out that he left with my

coat instead of his.

What do we definitely know about Kevin?

a. He ate dinner early. b. He should have left early.

c. It wasn't bad that he left. d.. He left his coat.

9. These robust and persistent sailors gathered from all the nations of western Europe, and

set out on the voyages that laid foundations for four great empires with no other power

than sail and oar.

Why were these voyages important?

a. Sailors came from many countries in Europe.

b. The voyages laid the foundations for Western Europe.

c. The foundations for empires were established.

d. Western Europe lost its power.

10. While we may be interested in the possibilities of social harmony and individual fulfillment to be achieved through nontraditional education, one cannot help being cautious about accepting any sort of one-sided educational program as a cure for the world’s ills.

How does the author feel about nontraditional education?

a. He believes that it has no possibility of success.

b. He doubts that it can cure the world’s ills.

c. He feels that it is a cure for the world’s ills.

d. He believes it will bring social harmony.

11. A few government officials even estimate that the war has created more than half a million refugees who need immediate food, clothing, and shelter.

Exactly how many refugees are there?

a. half a million b. Only a few government officials know the exact figure.

c. over half a million d. We don’t know exactly.

12. The complexity of the human situation and the injustice of the social order demand far more fundamental changes in the basic structure of society itself than some politicians are willing to admit in their speeches.

What is necessary to correct the problems of society?

a. basic changes in its structure

b. fewer political speeches

c. honest politicians

d. basic change in political methods

13. The Green Tiger press believes that the relatively unknown works of great children’s illustrators are sources of vast beauty and power, and is attempting to make these treasures more easily available.

What is the goal of this printing company?

a. to publish more children’s books

b. to develop powerful stories

c. to make children’s illustrations more easily available

d. to encourage artists to become children’s illustrators.

14. This is not just a sad-but-true story; the boy’s experience is horrible and damaging, yet a sense of love shines through every word.

How does the author of this sentence feel about the story?

a. It transmits a sense of love. b. It is not true.

c. It is just sad. d. It is horrible and damaging.

15. The financial situation isn’t bad yet, but we believe that we have some vital information and, if it is correct, unemployment will soon become a serious problem.

What do we know about the financial situation?

a. It won’t change. b. It is not bad now>

c. It will become a serious problem. d. It will improve.

Part Two Vocabulary (10%)

III. Choose the one answer that best completes the sentence:

l. My colleagues and I ______ the term sleep debt.

A) coined B)counted

C) circled D)drew

2. The mass sightings of whatever flew over northern Arizona that might have added new fuel _______the UFO controversy.

A) for B) on

C) toward D) to

3. One is more______to make mistakes when one is tired.

A) content B) willing

C) prone D) incline

4. Recently, she tends to become______with her families and friends.

A) anxious B) eager

C) cross D) calm

5. They ______revenge on their enemies.

A) relocated B) vowed

C) smuggled D) sobered

6. She _____her blouse when she was ironing it.

A) teared B) preached

C) scorched D) publicized

7. The story of his adventure makes _______reading.

A) fascinating B) deliberate

C) tedious D) generous

8. The clouds _____above the hills.

A) decreased B) cleared

C)amassed D) built

9. Some gentle cerebral exercise will help you ______ grueling jobs.

A) tackle B)deal

C) cope D)figure

1O. Cash lost large _______of hair after that disastrous experience.

A) fits B) bouts

C) clumps D)volumes

Part Three Reading Comprehension ( 75% )

IV. True or False

( refer to the passage on Page 77 of Reader’s Choice )

Parents Seeking Cool Classroom for Son

1. Raul is in a wheelchair because his legs are broken.

2. In order to seek cool classroom for their son, Raul’s parents take the matter to court.

3. The typical temperature of Brownsville, Texas during the school year is above 78 degrees.

4. Raul must stay in the plexiglass box all of the time.

5. Raul cannot see or hear his classmates from inside the plexiglass box.

6. The school district has worked cooperatively with the parents to solve Raul’s problems.

7. The Brownsville school system cannot afford to air-condition any of its classrooms

8. The Brownsville school district cannot afford to air-condition Raul’s classroom.

9. Apparently, the Brownsville school district believes that primary school students cannot endure the heat.

10. It would cost only 2,000 dollars to air-condition Raul’s room.

V. Multiple Choice

Passage One

People can be addicted to different things — e.g., drugs, certain foods, or even television. People who have such an addiction are compulsive; i.e., they have a very powerful psychological need that they feel they must satisfy. According to psychologists, many people are compulsive spenders; They feel that they must spend money. This compulsion, like most others, is irrational — impossible to explain reasonably. For compulsive spenders who buy on credit, charge accounts are even more exciting than money. In other words, compulsive spenders feel that with credit, they can do anything. Their pleasure in spending enormous amounts is actually greater than the pleasure that they get from the things they buy.

There is even a special psychology of bargain hunting. To save money, of course, most people look for sales, low prices, and discounts. Compulsive bargain hunters, however, often buy things that they don’t need just because they are cheap. They want to believe that they are helping their budgets, but they are really playing an exciting game: When they can buy something for less than other people, they feel that they are winning. Most people, experts claim, have two reasons for their behavior: a good reason for the things that they do and the real reason.

It is not only scientists, of course, who understand the psychology of spending habits, but also business people. Stores, companies, and advertisers use psychology to increase business: They consider people’s needs for love, power, or influence, their basic values, their beliefs and opinions, and so on in their advertising and sales methods.

Psychologists often use a method called “behavior therapy” to help individuals solve their personality problems. In the same way, they can help people who feel that they have problems with money.

1. According to the psychologists, a compulsive spender is one who spends large amounts of

money .

a. and takes great pleasure from what he or she buys

b. in order to satisfy his or her basic needs in life

c. just to meet his or her strong psychological need

d. entirely with an irrational eagerness

2. According to the writer, compulsive bargain hunters are in constant search of the lowest

possible prices ______.

a. because they want to save money to help their budgets

b. because they can openly boast of their triumph over others in getting things for less.

c. and will not have money problems if they can keep to their budgets

d. but they seldom admit they feel satisfied if they can get things for less than others

3. Which of the following is true?

a. All people spend money for exactly the same reason that they need to buy things.

b. Business people and advertisers can use the psychology of money to increase sales.

c. Business people understand the psychology of compulsive buying better than scientists do.

d. compulsive bargain hunters do not have problems with money.

4. The article is mainly about____.

a. the psychology of money-spending habits

b. the purchasing habits of compulsive spenders

c. a special psychology of bargain hunting

d. the use of psychology of spending habits in business

5. From the passage we may safely conclude that compulsive spenders or compulsive bargain hunters _____.

a. are really unreasonable

b. need special treatment

c. are really beyond remedies

d. can never get any help to solve their problems with money

Passage Two

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10 th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decimum.

Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make. And more than just a right : the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro’s to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her piece of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

6.A decimum was _____.

a. the wife’s inheritance from her father.

b. a gift of money to the new husband.

c. a written contract.

d. the wife’s right to receive one-tenth of her husband’s property.

7. In the society described in the passage, the legal standing of the wife in marriage was_____

a. higher than that of her husband.

b. lower than that of her husband.

c. the same as that of her husband.

d. higher than that of a single woman.

8.What compensation did Maria Vivas get for the field?

a. some of the land Miro had inherited.

b. a tenth of Miro’s land .

c. money for household expenses.

d. money from Miro’s inheritance.

9.Could a husband sell his wife’s inheritance?

a. no, under no circumstances

b. yes, whenever he wished to

c. yes, if she agreed

d. yes, if his father-in-law agreed

10.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an effect of the dowry system?

a. The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage.

b. The wife was protected from desertion.

c. The wife gained a powerful economic position.

d. The husband was given control over his wife’s property.

Passage Three

The human brain contains 10 thousand million cells and each of these may have a thousand connections. Such enormous numbers used to discourage us and cause us to dismiss the possibility of making a machine with human-like ability, but now that we have grown used to moving forward at such a pace we can be less sure. Quite soon, in only 10 or 20 years perhaps, we will be able to assemble a machine as complex as the human brain, and if we can we will. It may then take us a long time to render it intelligent by loading in the right software or by altering the architecture but that too will happen.

I think it certain that in decades, not centuries, machines of silicon (硅) will arise first to rival and then exceed their human ancestors. once they exceed us they will be capable of their own design. In a real sense they will be able to reproduce themselves. Silicon will have ended carbon's long control. And we will no longer be able to claim ourselves to be the finest intelligence in the known universe.

As the intelligence of robots increases to match that of humans and as their cost declines through economies of scale we may use them to expand our frontiers, first on earth through their ability to withstand environments, harmful to ourselves. Thus, deserts may bloom and the ocean beds be mined. Further ahead, by a combination of the great wealth this new age will bring and the technology it will provide, the construction of a vast, man-created world in space, home to thousands or millions of people, will be within our power.

11. In what way can we make a machine intelligent?

A) By making it work in such environments as deserts, oceans or space.

B) By working hard for 10 or 20 years.

C) By either properly programming it or changing its structure.

D) By reproducing it.

12. What does the writer think about machines with human-like ability?

A) He believes they will be useful to human beings.

B) He believes that they will control us in the future.

C) He is not quite sure in what way they may influence us.

D) He doesn't consider the construction of such machines possible.

13. The word "carbon" (Line 4, Para. 2 ) stands for _______.

A) intelligent robots C) an organic substance

B) a chemical element D) human beings

14. A robot can be used to expand our frontiers when.

A) its intelligence and cost are beyond question

B) it is able to bear the rough environment

C) it is made as complex as the human brain

D) its architecture is different from that of the present ones

15. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A) after the installation of a great number of cells and connections, robots will be capable of self reproduction

B) with the rapid development of technology, people have come to realize the possibility of making a machine with human-like ability

C) once we make a machine as complex as the human brain, it will possess intelligence

D) robots will have control of the vast, man-made world in space

Passage Four

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in l994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll (死亡人数) could have been much worse.

More than 6o people died in this earthquake. By comparison, an earthquake of similar intensity that shook America in l988 claimed 25,000 victims.

Injuries and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:3l a.m. on a holiday, when traffic was light on the city's highways. In addition, changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20years have strengthened the city's buildings and highways, making them more resistant to quakes.

Despite the good news, civil engineers aren't resting on their successes. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints (蓝图) for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new designs should offer even greater security to cities where earthquakes often take place.

In the past, making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking- Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports. Called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake's vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would force the building to shift in the opposite direction.

The new smart structures could be very expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

16. One reason why the loss of lives in the Log Angeles earthquake was comparatively low is that _________.

A) new computers had been installed in the buildings

B) it occurred in the residential areas rather than on the highways

C) large numbers of Los Angeles residents had gone for a holiday.

D) improvements had been made in the construction of buildings and highways

17. The function of the computer mentioned in the passage is to _______.

A) counterbalance an earthquake's action on the building

B) predict the coming of an earthquake with accuracy

C) help strengthen the foundation of the building

D) measure the impact of an earthquake's vibrations

18. The smart buildings discussed in the passage __________.

A) would cause serious financial problems

B) would be worthwhile though costly

C) would increase the complexity of architectural design

D) can reduce the ground vibrations caused by earthquakes

19. [t can be inferred from the passage that in minimizing the damage caused by earthquakes attention should be focused on _________.

A) the increasing use of rubber and steel in capital construction

B) the development of flexible building materials

C) the reduction of the impact of ground vibrations

D) early forecasts of earthquakes

20. The author's main purpose in writing the passage is to _______.

A) compare the consequences of the earthquakes that occurred in the U.S.

B) encourage civil engineers to make more extensive use of computers:

C) outline the history of the development of quake-resistant building materials

D) report new developments in constructing quake-resistant buildings.

VI. Answer the questions

( refer to the passage on Page 9 of Mastering 6,000 Words )

UFOs---A Second Look

1. What are the Canadian Snowbirds?

2. How did people in the 1950s explain the reported sightings?

3. Did the panel’s report conclude that some of the sightings could be extraterrestrial in origin?

4. What did the director of the Ames Laboratory at Iowa State say about the molten metal?

5. Why was Cash sent to hospital four days later?