1、2008年北京大学考博英语真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Structure and Vocabulary 1 “What courses are you going to do next semester?“ I dont know. But its about time_on something. （ A） Id decide （ B） I decided （ C） I decide （ D） Im deciding 2 _a ticket for the match, he can now only watch it on TV at home. （ A） Obtaining not （ B
2、） Not obtaining （ C） Not having obtained （ D） Not obtained 3 How can I ever concentrate if you_continually_ me with silly questions? （ A） have, interrupted （ B） had, interrupted （ C） are, interrupting （ D） were, interrupted 4 As it turned out to be a small house party, we_so formally. （ A） need not
3、have dressed up （ B） must not have dressed up （ C） did not need to dress up （ D） must not dress up 5 _is often the case with a new idea, much preliminary activity and optimistic discussion produced no concrete proposals. （ A） That （ B） It （ C） This （ D） As 6 It is not so much the language_the cultur
4、al background that makes the book difficult to understand. （ A） but （ B） nor （ C） as （ D） like 7 _human problems that repeat themselves in_life repeat themselves in _literature. （ A） /, /, the （ B） /, the, / （ C） The, /, / （ D） The, the, the 8 He is not under arrest, _any restriction on him. （ A） or
5、 the police have placed （ B） or have the police placed （ C） nor the police have placed （ D） nor have the police placed 9 He was_to tell the truth even to his closest friend. （ A） too much of a coward （ B） too much the coward （ C） a coward enough （ D） enough of a coward 10 I couldnt sleep because the
6、 tap in the bathroom was_. （ A） draining （ B） dropping （ C） spilling （ D） dripping 11 We have been hearing_accounts of your work. （ A） favored （ B） favorable （ C） favorite （ D） favoring 12 Please put your empty cigarette packets and paper bags in the_bins provided. （ A） junk （ B） litter （ C） scrap （
7、 D） deposit 13 At first, the company refused to purchase the equipment, but this decision was _revised. （ A） subsequently （ B） successively （ C） predominantly （ D） preliminarily 14 Once a picture is proved to be a forgery, it becomes quite_. （ A） invaluable （ B） priceless （ C） unworthy （ D） worthles
8、s 15 The local authorities realized the need to make_for elderly people in their housing programs. （ A） preparation （ B） requirement （ C） specification （ D） provision 16 Most people cant get_the day without at least one cup of tea or coffee. （ A） on （ B） through （ C） over （ D） by 17 As the director
9、cant come to the reception, Im representing the company （ A） on his account （ B） on his behalf （ C） for his part （ D） in his interest 18 The award ceremony will be the_of the inaugural Singapore International Water Week that is held from 23 to 27 June 200 （ A） twilight （ B） insight （ C） highlight （
10、D） highland 19 There is a conspicuous lack of public debate about how this insular country should _the reality that more immigrants are coming and that those already here are changing Japan. （ A） abide by （ B） account for （ C） act on （ D） adjust to 20 Nobody knows what triggered the event, which_ a
11、million cubic meters of water per second, obliterating the barrier between Britain and France. （ A） released （ B） relieved （ C） restored （ D） retained 二、 Reading Comprehension 20 The 19th-century British Aristocracy The British aristocracy had always been involved in industrialization, especially in
12、 the development of mining, canals, and railways. It now shrewdly associated itself with the new wave of commercial expansion: most banks and insurance companies had a lord to add tone to the managerial board. It also shored up its fortunes by astute marriages, notably with the new aristocracy of we
13、alth in the United States; the best-known example was the marriage of the duke of Marlborough to Consuelo Vanderbilt. By these means, many of the great aristocratic estates were preserved despite agricultural decline. But they were playthings as well as engines of wealth, and came to be treated as s
14、uch. The aristocracy came to be known to the urban population chiefly through their representation in the popular press and magazines as men and women of leisure; racing, hunting, shooting, and fishing in the country, gambling and attending the season in London. In a population for which leisure was
15、 becoming increasingly important, this did not make the aristocracy unpopular. 21 In the second sentence of this passage, “had a lord to add tone to the managerial board“ means that_. （ A） the banks and insurance companies would hire a lord on the board to give advice to their management （ B） having
16、 lords involved in the management gave the banks or companies a very good public image （ C） lords worked for the banks and insurance companies to bring in more profits （ D） it had become a fashion to have a lord on the managerial board of a bank or a company 22 The “astute marriages“ in the passage
17、refers to marriages between_. （ A） British aristocracy and rich American entrepreneurs （ B） old British aristocratic families and newly knighted aristocracy of wealth （ C） aristocratic families and new business families of money and enterprises （ D） big landlord families in the British countryside a
18、nd rich American tycoons of industry 23 Judging from the content of the passage, Consuelo Vanderbilt was_. （ A） male, and from a rich business family in the United Sates （ B） female, and from a British wealthy family of industry （ C） male, and from a rich industrial family of Britain （ D） female, an
19、d from an entrepreneur family in America 24 Which of the following statements is TRUE? （ A） The 19th-century British aristocrats were treated as decorations in public life and were used to make money by press. （ B） The 19th-century British aristocrats were toys of the rich capitalists and were made
20、to earn profits for them. （ C） The 19th-century British aristocrats acted as playmates of people in pleasure-seeking such as hunting, fishing, and shooting. （ D） The 19th-century British aristocrats were popular figures in advertisements because they lived a leisurely life. 24 How to Do Fewer, Bette
21、r Animal Experiments For a nation of pet lovers, Britain conducts a surprising number of experiments on animals some 3 m a year. America appears to use fewer animals just Lima year, according to official statistics but that is an illusion. Unlike Britains government, Americas does not think rats and
22、 mice worth counting. Japan and China have even less comprehensive data than America, and animals used in research in those two countries are not protected to the same extent that they are in the West. Even so, academic centers supporting alternatives to animal testing have emerged in both places in
23、 recent years. In July China issued its first set of guidelines governing the use of animals in research. In an ideal world, there would be no animal testing. It is expensive and can be of dubious scientific value, since different species often react differently to the same procedure. That is why ma
24、ny researchers are working on ways of reducing the number of animal experiments needed and of making those that still happen more effective. However, the transition is proving easier for some types of experiment than for others, as a group of researchers in the field discussed at the sixth World Con
25、gress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, held last week in Tokyo. The most important message from the congress was that things are going in the right direction. The number of animals used in experiments has fallen by half in the past 30 years, at least in those countries that recor
26、d such things. There has also been a shift in the sort of animal used. Most of those employed today are rodents rather than dogs, cats, rabbits and monkeys. (That public opinion generally welcomes this is, however, a good example of “cutist“ prejudice for one species over another; there is no reason
27、 to believe that rodents suffer less than other mammals. ) Also, of the experiments that are still conducted, the majority are now concerned with developing and testing medicine rather than, say, checking how toxic cosmetics are. Of the 11 m animals involved each year in experiments that have to be
28、reported to the European Commission, about 45% are used for medical and veterinary purposes and another 35% for basic biomedical research. 25 Which of the following is “an illusion“? （ A） Britain protects animals used in research better than Japan and China. （ B） China has issued guidelines governin
29、g the use of animals in research. （ C） Japan has less comprehensive data on animal testing than America. （ D） America conducts fewer experiments on animals than Britain. 26 Many researchers are currently trying to_. （ A） use animals involved in research more effectively （ B） slow down the transition
30、 for some experiments （ C） challenge the scientific value of animal testing （ D） raise the cost of using any animals in research 27 The cutist prejudice probably refers to the fact that_. （ A） pet animals are thought to suffer more in experiments （ B） rodents are believed to react in the same way wi
31、th humans （ C） testing medicine is supposed to do more harm than testing cosmetics （ D） what sort of animals to use is reckoned more crucial than whether to use them 27 Thanks in no small part to Al Gore and his film producers, the American public is waking up to the seriousness of global warming. W
32、hat is not so widely appreciated is that unless the US government acts urgently and decisively, this problem could very quickly get very much worse. For reasons both economic and political coal is poised to be the fuel of choice in the coming decades as the US weans itself off foreign oil. Coal comb
33、ustion generates half the USs electricity and releases about 1. 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year. If present trends continue, these figures will more than double by 2050, much to the detriment of the worlds climate. Without an alternative fuel, the only solution is to capture and store carbon
34、 dioxide from burning coal. Overcoming the engineering obstacles in the way of large-scale sequestration of carbon dioxide will be hard enough, but the bigger challenge is one of political will. US companies as yet have no incentive to capture carbon emissions. While moves at state and congressional
35、 levels are pushing in the right direction, the ambiguity in the administrations policy is counterproductive. It is time for the US government to put a price on carbon emissions so utilities that invest in technologies to reduce carbon emissions will see their efforts rewarded. Such a move would not
36、 only reduce the risks associated with global warming, but also go a long way to restoring Americas green credentials. 28 According to the author, what adds to the seriousness of global warming? （ A） The American public was ignorant of the problem. （ B） The American government is doing nothing to de
37、al with the problem. （ C） The US will choose coal as the major fuel which will have large carbon emissions. （ D） There is no alternative fuel other than foreign oil which has large carbon emissions. 29 Which of the following is true about the obstacles for effectively capturing carbon emissions? （ A
38、） The existing technology is only able to deal with large-scale carbon emissions. （ B） The companies are not highly motivated in adopting new technologies. （ C） The government policy for using coal and oil is counterproductive. （ D） The companies feel reluctant to be involved in political issues. 30
39、 What does the author suggest as a solution to the problem? （ A） The government should charge carbon emissions so as to encourage companies to adopt new technology. （ B） The government should reward utilities that invest in technologies to reduce carbon emission. （ C） The government should make long
40、-time efforts to encourage people to plant more trees. （ D） The government should pay for large-scale carbon emissions. 30 Dealing with Depression (51) Contrary to what many people think depression is not a normal part of growing older. Nor is it harder to treat in older people. But it is often hard
41、er to recognize and harder to get patients to accept and continue with treatment. “Most people think sadness is a hallmark of depression,“ Bruce said. “But more often in older people its anhedonia theyre not enjoying life. Theyre irritable and cranky. “ (52) She added: “Many older people despair ove
42、r the quality of their lives at the end of life. If they have a functional disability or serious medical illness, it may make it harder to notice depression in older people. “ Family members, friends and medical personnel must take it seriously when an older person says “Life is not worth living,“ “
43、I dont see any point in living,“ “Id be better off dead“ or “My family would be better off if I died,“ the experts emphasized. “Listen carefully, empathize and help the person get evaluated for treatment or into treatment,“ Brown urged. (53) He warned that “depressed older adults tend to have fewer
44、symptoms“ than younger adults who are depressed. The ideal approach, of course, is to prevent depression in the first place (54) Brown recommended that older adults structure their days by maintaining a regular cycle and planning activities that “give them pleasure, purpose and a reason for living.
45、“ He suggested “social activities of any type joining a book club or bowling league, going to a senior center or gym, taking courses at a local college, hanging out at the coffee shop. “ Bruce suggests taking up a new interest like painting or needlework or volunteering at a place of worship, school
46、 or museum. (55) Brown notes that any activity the person is capable of doing can help to ward off depression and suicidal thinking. And he urges older people to talk to others about their problems. 三、 Cloze 35 Dad Cant Handle These Toys Any parent with a child【 C1】 _the ages of 3 and 11 can tell yo
47、u【 C2】_technology has crept into nearly【 C3】 _aspects of playtime and nearly every type of toy. The Hyper Dash, introduced recently from Wild Planet, is a【 C4】_in point. “Its the perfect blend of technology, learning and exercise,“ says an educational psychologist. Wild Planet has【 C5】 _ unveiled a
48、younger version of Hyper Dash, for kids 3 to 5, 【 C6】 _Animal Scramble, which is due【 C7】_stores in September. In【 C8】 _, the firm will soon release Hyper Jump. “Play and technology are【 C9】 _,“says Claire Green of the nonprofit Parents Choice Foundation. “Theres【 C10】 _ putting the genie back in th
49、e bottle. “ 36 【 C1】 37 【 C2】 38 【 C3】 39 【 C4】 40 【 C5】 41 【 C6】 42 【 C7】 43 【 C8】 44 【 C9】 45 【 C10】 四、 Proofreading 45 (66) A longtime aide to President Bush who wrote occasional guest columns for his hometown newspaper resigned on Friday evening after admitted that he had repeatedly plagiarized from other writers. (67) The White House cal
