1、在职艺术硕士（MFA）全国联考英文阅读理解-试卷 3 及答案解析(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)Why does cream go bad faster than butter? Some researchers think they have the answer, and it comes down to the structure of the food, not its chemical compositiona finding that could help rid some processed foods of chemi
2、cal preservatives. Cream and butter contain pretty much the same substances, so why cream should sour much faster has been a mystery. Both are emulsionstiny globules (小球体) of one liquid evenly distributed throughout another. The difference lies in what“s in the globules and what“s in the surrounding
3、 liquid, says Brocklehurst, who led the investigation. In cream, fatty globules drift about in a sea of water. In butter, globules of a watery solution are locked away in a sea of fat. The bacteria which make the food go bad prefer to live in the watery regions of the mixture. “This means that in cr
4、eam, the bacteria are free to grow throughout the mixture,“ he says. When the situation is reversed, the bacteria are locked away in compartments (隔仓 室) buried deep in the sea of fat. Trapped in this way, individual colonies cannot spread and rapidly run out of nutrients (养料). They also slowly poiso
5、n themselves with their waste products. “In butter, you get a self-limiting system which stops the bacteria growing,“ says Brocklehurst. The researchers are already working with food companies keen to see if their products can be made resistant to bacterial attack through alterations to the food“s s
6、tructure. Brocklehurst believes it will be possible to make the emulsions used in salad cream, for instance, more like that in butter. The key will be to do this while keeping the salad cream liquid and not turning it into a solid lump. (292 words)（分数：10.00）(1).The significance of Brocklehurst“s res
7、earch is that_.（分数：2.00）A.it suggested a way to keep some foods fresh without preservativesB.it discovered tiny globules in both cream and butterC.it revealed the secret of how bacteria multiply in cream and butterD.it found that cream and butter share the same chemical composition(2).According to t
8、he researchers, cream sours faster than butter because bacteria（分数：2.00）A.are more evenly distributed in creamB.multiply more easily in cream than in butterC.live on less fat in cream than in butterD.produce less waste in cream than in butter(3).According to Brocklehurst, we can keep cream fresh by_
9、.（分数：2.00）A.removing its fatB.killing the bacteriaC.reducing its water contentD.altering its structure(4).The word “colonies“ (Line 2, Para. 4) refers to_.（分数：2.00）A.tiny globulesB.watery regionsC.bacteria communitiesD.little compartments(5).Commercial application of the research finding will be pos
10、sible if salad cream can be made resistant to bacterial attack_.（分数：2.00）A.by varying its chemical compositionB.by turning it into a solid lumpC.while keeping its structure unchangedD.while retaining its liquid formUnless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now, one might crash into E
11、arth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists. Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids (流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don“t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth. Bu
12、y $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we“ll have a way to change its course. Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapon
13、s. But the cost wouldn“t be cheap. Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences are if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500, 000 years. So
14、unds pretty rarebut if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we don“t take care of these big asteroids, they“ll take care of us,“ says one scientist. “It“s that simple. “ The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Ea
15、rth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday (毁灭 性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them,“ said a New York Times article. (272 words)（分数：10.00）(1).What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?（分数：2.00）A.They are heavenly bodies different in composition.B.They are hea
16、venly bodies similar in nature.C.There are more asteroids than meteoroids.D.Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.(2).What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?（分数：2.00）A.It is very unlikely but the danger exists.B.Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.C
17、.Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.D.It“s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.(3).What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the courses of asteroids?（分数：2.00）A.It sounds practical but it may not solve the
18、problem.B.It may create more problems than it might solve.C.It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.D.Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.(4).We can conclude from the passage that_.（分数：2.00）A.while pushing asteroids off course nu
19、clear weapons would destroy the worldB.asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near futureC.the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetimeD.workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of ast
20、eroids with Earth(5).Which of the following best describes the author“s tone in this passage?（分数：2.00）A.Optimistic.B.Critical.C.Objective.D.Arbitrary.Amtrak (美国铁路客运公司) was experiencing a downswing in ridership (客运量) along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its adver
21、tising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation exis
22、ting at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America“s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train tr
23、avel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west. Two portions of the total market were targeted; 1) anxious fliersthose concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-loversthose viewing themselves as relaxe
24、d, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacatioa The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed west
25、ern train trips as wonderful adventures. Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-orien
26、ted TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route. (307 words)（分数：10.00）(1).What“s the autho
27、r“s purpose in writing this passage?（分数：2.00）A.To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.B.To stress the influence of the automobile on America“s standard of convenience.C.To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.D.To illustr
28、ate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.(2).It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that_.（分数：2.00）A.trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportationB.trains were not the fastest and most
29、convenient form of transportationC.trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to beD.trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience(3).To encourage consumers to travel by train, DDB Needham emphasized_.（分数：2.00）A.the freedom and convenience provided on trainsB.the p
30、ractical aspects of train travelC.the adventurous aspects of train tripsD.the safety and cleanliness of train trips(4).The train ads were placed among family-oriented TV programs involving nature and America because_.（分数：2.00）A.they could focus on meaningful travel experiencesB.they could increase t
31、he effectiveness of the TV programsC.their profits could be increased by some 15 percentD.most travel-lovers and nervous fliers were believed to be among the audiences(5).According to the passage, the Empire Builder enjoyed an increase in ridership and profits because_.（分数：2.00）A.the attractiveness
32、of its name and route was effectively advertisedB.it provided an exciting travel experienceC.its passengers could enjoy the great western outdoorsD.it was widely advertised in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and SeattleThe view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched (草盖的) roof cottages ar
33、ound a church； a drive through a narrow village street lines with thatched cottages painted pink or white; the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm buildings these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essenti
34、al part of the attraction of the English countryside. Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practiced in the British Isles (不列颠群岛). Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too. Thatching is a solitary (独自的)
35、craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practiced toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today, maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners cho
36、ose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are often reluctant to go back to tr
37、aditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to import the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty year
38、s, and is an effective defiance against the heat. (292 words)（分数：10.00）(1).Which of the following remains a unique feature of the English countryside?（分数：2.00）A.Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses.B.Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings.C.Cottages with thatched roofs.D.Churches with co
39、ttages around them.(2).What do we know about thatching as a craft?（分数：2.00）A.It is a collective activity.B.It is practised on farms all over England.C.It is quite different from what it used to be.D.It is in most cases handed down among family members.(3).Thatched houses are still preferred because
40、of_.（分数：2.00）A.their style and comfortB.their durabilityC.their easy maintenanceD.their cheap and ready-made materials(4).People in developing countries also live under thatch because_.（分数：2.00）A.thatched cottages are a big tourist attractionB.thatched roof houses are the cheapestC.thatch is an effe
41、ctive defense against the heatD.they like thatched houses better than other buildings(5).We can learn from the passage that_.（分数：2.00）A.thatched cottages in England have been passed down from ancient timesB.thatching is a building craft first created by the English peopleC.the English people have a
42、special liking for thatched housesD.most thatched cottages in England are located on hillsides在职艺术硕士（MFA）全国联考英文阅读理解-试卷 3 答案解析(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)Why does cream go bad faster than butter? Some researchers think they have the answer, and it comes down to the structure of the
43、food, not its chemical compositiona finding that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives. Cream and butter contain pretty much the same substances, so why cream should sour much faster has been a mystery. Both are emulsionstiny globules (小球体) of one liquid evenly distributed th
44、roughout another. The difference lies in what“s in the globules and what“s in the surrounding liquid, says Brocklehurst, who led the investigation. In cream, fatty globules drift about in a sea of water. In butter, globules of a watery solution are locked away in a sea of fat. The bacteria which mak
45、e the food go bad prefer to live in the watery regions of the mixture. “This means that in cream, the bacteria are free to grow throughout the mixture,“ he says. When the situation is reversed, the bacteria are locked away in compartments (隔仓 室) buried deep in the sea of fat. Trapped in this way, in
46、dividual colonies cannot spread and rapidly run out of nutrients (养料). They also slowly poison themselves with their waste products. “In butter, you get a self-limiting system which stops the bacteria growing,“ says Brocklehurst. The researchers are already working with food companies keen to see if
47、 their products can be made resistant to bacterial attack through alterations to the food“s structure. Brocklehurst believes it will be possible to make the emulsions used in salad cream, for instance, more like that in butter. The key will be to do this while keeping the salad cream liquid and not
48、turning it into a solid lump. (292 words)（分数：10.00）(1).The significance of Brocklehurst“s research is that_.（分数：2.00）A.it suggested a way to keep some foods fresh without preservatives B.it discovered tiny globules in both cream and butterC.it revealed the secret of how bacteria multiply in cream an
49、d butterD.it found that cream and butter share the same chemical composition解析：解析：本题属于细节题。根据第一段的第二句的后半部分：“a finding that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives”(这一发现可能使一些加工食品不再需要化学防腐剂)，可知答案为 A。(2).According to the researchers, cream sours faster than butter because bacteria（分数：2.00）A.are more evenly distributed in creamB.multiply more easily in cream than in butter C.live on less fat in cream than in butterD.produce less waste in cream than in butter解析：解析：本题属于推理题。根据第二、三段的内容(参见短文大意)，可知奶油之所以比黄油容易变坏，
