1、2008年春季中级口译第一阶段笔试真题试卷及答案与解析 A: Spot Dictation Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
2、Remember you will hear the passage ONLY ONCE. 0 How did the Olympic Games start? In ancient Greece athletic festivals were very important and had strong【 C1】 _. Originally the Festival was held in honour of Zeus, the supreme god in Greek Mythology. Eventually the Olympian athletic festival had lost
3、its【 C2】 _and became an international event. No one knows exactly【 C3】 _the Olympic Games go, but some scholars recorded date from 776 B.C. According to some scholars, at first the only Olympic event was【 C4】 _, called a stadium and that was the only event until 724 B.C. After that, other【 C5】 _were
4、 added and sixteen years later in【 C6】 _the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the games. This pentathlon was a five-event match which【 C7】_running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus, and hurling the javelin. The games were held【 C8】 _and after an uninterrupted history of 1170 y
5、ears, the games【 C9】 _in A.D. 394, the Christian era, because of their pagan origin. It was over【 C10】 _before there was another such international athletics gathering. In 1896, the first of the modern【 C11】 _opened in Athens, Greece. Nowadays, the Games are held in different countries【 C12】 _. The
6、host country provides vast facilities such as stadiums and【 C13】 _. Many more sports are represented, including the very celebrated event:【 C14】 _. The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch,【 C15】 _on Mount Olympus by the suns rays. The torch is carried by【 C16】 _to the stadium.
7、The Olympic flame symbolizes the【 C17】 _of the ancient Greek athletic ideals, and it burns throughout the Games until【 C18】 _. The well-known Olympic flag, however, is【 C19】 _: the five interlocking rings symbolize the uniting of all five continents【 C20】 _. 1 【 C1】 2 【 C2】 3 【 C3】 4 【 C4】 5 【 C5】 6
8、 【 C6】 7 【 C7】 8 【 C8】 9 【 C9】 10 【 C10】 11 【 C11】 12 【 C12】 13 【 C13】 14 【 C14】 15 【 C15】 16 【 C16】 17 【 C17】 18 【 C18】 19 【 C19】 20 【 C20】 Statements Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements will be spoken ONLY ONCE, and you will not find them
9、written on the paper, so you must listen carefully. When you hear a statement, read the answer choices and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. （ A） Diana is fond
10、 of outdoor activities. （ B） Diana is well-paid for her hard work. （ C） Diana dislikes her job because it is tough. （ D） Diana considers her income to be mediocre. （ A） Im not sure if you are responsible. （ B） Im not content with the result of the meeting. （ C） I know the delay is not your fault. （
11、D） I think the flame of that fire is too high. （ A） The refrigerator was repaired by an old man. （ B） The refrigerator will be fixed if it is under warranty. （ C） Mrs. Green had her refrigerator fixed for nothing. （ D） Mrs. Green would have had the refrigerator repaired if she had warranty. （ A） Geo
12、rge always tells the truth. （ B） George lives too far to visit us. （ C） It is kind of George to assist me in the filling station. （ D） It is worthwhile to make friends with George. （ A） The companys budget must be reduced reasonably next year. （ B） The companys production cost is expected to rise ne
13、xt year. （ C） The company has to stabilize its production cost. （ D） The company is likely to go bankrupt because of its limited budget. （ A） Prompt delivery of the goods before Christmas is the most important. （ B） Top priority should be given to the competitive and reasonable price of the goods. （
14、 C） During Christmas, there will be a shopping craze for goods with good quality. （ D） Nothing is more important than the quality and price of the goods for Christmas. （ A） Lets continue the talk over dinner at 9 oclock tonight. （ B） We have to work something out before 9 oclock tomorrow. （ C） I pro
15、pose a break until 9 oclock tomorrow morning. （ D） Im sure well all calm down before 9 oclock tomorrow morning. （ A） Our products cannot compete on the international market because of their higher prices. （ B） Our products exhibit greater competitiveness even though they lack advanced technology. （
16、C） Advanced technology will increase our expense to compete on the international market. （ D） Advanced technology contributes to the excellence and competitiveness of our products. （ A） Mr. Parkinson never gives free investment consultations. （ B） Dont consult Mr. Parkinson if your problem is about
17、finance or investment. （ C） The advice Mr. Parkinson offers is often of great importance to our investment. （ D） We should not invest in the company where Mr. Parkinson is the CEO. （ A） Aging population is expected to double within decades. （ B） By 2020, 45% of the people in the country will be over
18、 sixty-five. （ C） Old people in this country can expect to live a longer life. （ D） In less than 20 years, 23 million more people will have to retire. Talks and Conversations Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear
19、 a few questions. Listen carefully because you will hear the talk or conversation and questions ONLY ONCE, when you hear a question, read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER
20、 BOOKLET. （ A） 400. （ B） 450. （ C） 500. （ D） 600. （ A） It is very near his working place. （ B） It is a rather crowded residential area. （ C） It is convenient for transportation and shopping. （ D） It is the only good position he has in mind. （ A） He has a big family. （ B） He has to work at home. （ C）
21、 His mother-in-law likes to have parties. （ D） His children are rather naughty. （ A） Its bedrooms are specious. （ B） Its rent is quite reasonable. （ C） It is located in a good position. （ D） It is well furnished. （ A） The orange juice can help treat indigestion. （ B） The orange in a supermarket is m
22、uch cheaper. （ C） The orange is more nutritious than any other fruits. （ D） The orange is an essential part of a healthy diet. （ A） Orange. （ B） Chocolate. （ C） Vanilla. （ D） Sugar. （ A） It can keep your immune system strong. （ B） It can assist in your effort to reduce weight. （ C） It can easily rep
23、lace the nutrition of a daily meal. （ D） It can help control the rising blood sugar levels. （ A） The fruit sugar in oranges. （ B） The fibre in oranges. （ C） Vitamin C in oranges. （ D） Calcium in oranges. （ A） He is applying to a university in England. （ B） He is consulting a female professor. （ C） H
24、e is studying in a British university. （ D） He is helping the woman cook some food. （ A） It is awful. （ B） It is one of his favorite kinds. （ C） It is of a much greater variety. （ D） It is better than he expected. （ A） He is fond of English dishes. （ B） He is tired of puddings and pies. （ C） He enjo
25、ys English strawberry yogurt. （ D） He seldom has breakfast at home. （ A） Because it is properly cooked at home. （ B） Because it is a kind of Yorkshire pudding. （ C） Because he has never tasted it before. （ D） Because he has made it all by himself. （ A） We should pay more attention to our history cla
26、ss. （ B） We generally fail to remember anything that was said. （ C） Sharks are necessary in the training of active listeners. （ D） Good listening skills are essential in our life. （ A） They tolerate distractions. （ B） They often find themselves in hot water. （ C） They are generally lazy. （ D） They a
27、re critical to family life. （ A） By taking notes. （ B） By remembering what was said. （ C） By getting up to shut the door. （ D） By asking questions. （ A） Seas. （ B） Sharks. （ C） Sponges. （ D） Students. （ A） He writes comic stories. （ B） He draws pictures for comic books. （ C） He teaches painting in a
28、n art school. （ D） He compiles comic books with other writers. （ A） Give his drawings a more graphic look. （ B） Add variations to his works. （ C） Employ a chunky brush style. （ D） Move along a linear way. （ A） They are very popular. （ B） They are of the same style. （ C） They are fairly eclectic. （ D
29、） They are influenced by other artists. （ A） It is a new one with only 2 editors. （ B） It takes him on the permanent staff. （ C） It controls the final look of his works. （ D） It has a nurturing environment. Sectence Translation Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentences in Engli
30、sh. You will hear the sentences ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Passage Translation Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. You will hear the passages
31、 ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening. 一、 SECTION 2: STUDA SKILLS Directions: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is follo
32、wed by several questions based on its content. You are to choose one best answer, (A), (B), (C) or (D), to each question. Answer all the questions following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage, and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding
33、 space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. 57 Last month, upon hearing that a neighbor had been burgled, my husband voiced a desire to beef up our home security. I was largely unresponsive. The previous owners of our house installed a burglar alarm system, but we never got it switched on, because, quoting Ed, I
34、 apparently care more about the $ 29 monthly fee than I do about our home security. In the end, I gave in. The alarm company sent over a sales representative, a well-coiffed professional in a suit and heels. She recommended adding some infrared motion sensors. I was not wild about this. I like to ke
35、ep things simple. My idea of home security is to hire cheap, disreputable painters who can be counted upon to paint the windows shut. “Besides, cant the motion sensors be set off by a pet?“ I said. Ed leaned in close to the sales rep. “We dont have any pets,“ he whispered. “We dont have a pet now,“
36、I said. “But we might someday.“ I knew this to be a lie. Ed is a dog person, and Im a cat person. We cancel each other out. I pointed out that every now and then, the neighbors cat, Sprinkles, will sneak into the house when the back door is open. The alarm woman started talking about “pet resistance
37、.“ This was a feature of the motion sensor whereby it was set to cover the room from the waist up only. “Though of course , “she hesitated, “the cat would have to stay on the ground at all times.“ We got the sensors, and we got the system switched on. We never got a pet, each of us practicing his or
38、 her own particular brand of pet resistance, but we did, after many years of cost-based bickering, get a housecleaner. Every other month, Natalia can be seen making her way through the filth and cobwebs. I gave her the alarm code but promised to leave the alarm off the day she came. Naturally, I for
39、got. Later that morning, my work phone rang. It was Natalia, yelling in harmony with the shrieking of the alarm. She couldnt find the code. On top of all this, my cell phone started ringing. This was the alarm company, responding to the alarm and calling me to get the secret password which was diffe
40、rent from the shutoff code required for them to shut off the system and prevent the police from rushing over to arrest Natalia for breaking and entering. Some weeks back, Ed and I had spent 15 minutes arguing over the secret password for the alarm. Ed is a fan of the complicated, hacker-proof, ident
41、ity-theft-foiling password, the kind that involves alternating capital and lowercase letters with obscure foreign accent marks, whereas Ill use my name. I had no recollection of what wed settled on. “Ummmm.“ The alarm, and Natalia, continued to go off. This went on for some time. Meanwhile, Natalia
42、had dug through her bag, found the piece of paper Id given her with the shutoff code and quieted the screaming alarm. I dont know how effective these alarms are against burglars, but Sprinkles hasnt been seen on the property in weeks. 58 Why didnt the writer get the burglar alarm system switched on?
43、 （ A） Because she didnt like its design. （ B） Because the burglar alarm system had broken down. （ C） Because she considered monthly fee unnecessary. （ D） Because she thought their home security was not a problem. 59 The family didnt have a pet because _. （ A） they didnt like pets （ B） they didnt lik
44、e each others favorite animal （ C） they took their neighbors pet as their own （ D） it cost a lot to have a pet 60 According to the sales representative, the motion sensor _. （ A） is pet resistant （ B） is set to cover the room floor （ C） could be set off by a pet if it was near （ D） could be set off
45、by a pet if it jumped high enough 61 The word “bickering“ in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _. （ A） arguing （ B） considering （ C） persuading （ D） consulting 62 Ed preferred their password for the alarm to be _. （ A） complicated （ B） interesting （ C） easy to remember （ D） his own name 62 An art
46、icle published recently in the prestigious scientific journal Nature is shedding new light on an important, but hitherto little has been appreciated, aspect of human evolution. In this article, Professors Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman suggest that the ability to run was. a crucial factor in th
47、e development of our species. According to the two scientists, humans possess a number of anatomical features that make them surprisingly good runners. “We are very confident that strong selection for running which came at the expense of the historical ability to live in trees was instrumental in th
48、e origin of the modern human body form,“ says Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah. Traditional thinking up to now has been that the distinctive, upright body form of modern humans has come about as a result of the ability to walk, and that running is simply a by-product of walking
49、. Furthermore, humans have usually been regarded as poor runners compared to such animals as dogs, horses or antelopes. However, this is only true if we consider fast running, or sprinting, over short distances. Even an Olympic athlete can hardly run as fast as a horse can gallop, and can only keep up a top speed for fifteen seconds or so. Horses, antelopes and greyhounds, on the other hand, can run at top speed for several minute
