1、2010年四川大学考博英语真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 In the case of mobile phones, change is everything. Recent research indicates that the mobile phone is changing not only our culture, but our very bodies as well. First, lets talk about culture. The difference between the mobile phone and its parent
2、, the fixed-line phone, is that a mobile number corresponds to a person, while a landline goes to a place. If you call my mobile, you get me. If you call my fixed-line phone, you get whoever answers it. This has several implications. The most common one, however, and perhaps the thing that has chang
3、ed our culture forever, is the “meeting“ influence. People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet. Twenty years ago, a Friday night would need to be arranged in advance. You needed enough time to allow everyone to get from their place of work to the first meeting place. Now,
4、however, a night our can be arranged on the run. It is no longer “see you there at 8“ , but “text me around 8 and well see where we all are“. Texting changes people as well. In their paper, “Insights into the Social and Psychological Effects of SMS Text Messaging“ , two British researchers distingui
5、shed between two types of mobile phone users: the “talkers“ and the “texters“ those who prefer voice to text messages and those who prefer text to voice. They found that the mobile phones individuality and privacy gave texters the ability to express a whole new outer personality. Texters were likely
6、 to report that their family would be surprised if they were to read their texts. This suggests that texting allowed texters to present a self-image that differed from the one familiar to those who knew them well. Another scientist wrote of the changes that mobiles have brought to body language. The
7、re are two kinds that people use while speaking on the phone. There is the “speakeasy“: the head is held high, in a self-confident way, chatting away. And there is the “spacemaker“: these people focus on themselves and keep out other people. Who can blame them? Phone meetings get cancelled or reform
8、ed and camera-phones intrude on peoples privacy. So, it is understandable if your mobile makes you nervous. But perhaps you neednt worry so much. After all, it is good to talk. 1 When people plan to meet nowadays, they_. （ A） arrange the meeting place beforehand （ B） postpone fixing the place till t
9、he last minute （ C） seldom care about when and where to meet （ D） still love to work out detailed meeting plans 2 According to the two British researchers, the social and psychological effects are mostly likely to be seen on_. （ A） talkers （ B） the “speakeasy“ （ C） the “spacemaker“ （ D） texters 3 We
10、 can infer from the passage that the texts sent by texters are_. （ A） quite revealing （ B） well written （ C） unacceptable by others （ D） shocking to others 4 According to the passage, who is afraid of being heard while talking on the mobile? （ A） Talkers. （ B） The “speakeasy“. （ C） The “spacemaker“.
11、 （ D） Texters. 5 An appropriate title for the passage might be_. （ A） The SMS Effect （ B） Cultural Implications of Mobile Phone Use （ C） Changes in the Use of the Mobile （ D） Body Language and the Mobile Phone 5 Humanity uses a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of
12、shortages and droughts are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the worlds population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis. But that doesnt
13、have to be the outcome. Water shortages do not have to trouble the world if we start valuing water more than we have in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer afford
14、to consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as much as we like in any way we want. Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply co
15、sts. Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions and pumping it to n
16、earby cropland. No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional, and national agencies that watch various aspects of water u
17、se, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate water policy. 6 What is the real cause of the potential water crisis? （ A） Only half of the worlds water can be used. （ B） The world population is increasing faster and faster. （ C） Half of the worlds water resources have been seriously p
18、olluted. （ D） Humanity has not placed sufficient value on water resources. 7 As indicated in the passage, the water problem_ . （ A） is already serious in certain parts of the world （ B） has been exaggerated by some experts in the field （ C） poses a challenge to the technology of building reservoirs
19、（ D） is underestimated by government organizations at different levels 8 According to the author, the water price should_. （ A） be reduced to the minimum （ B） stimulate domestic demand （ C） correspond to its real value （ D） take into account the occurrences of droughts 9 The author says that in some
20、 hot and dry areas it is advisable to_. （ A） build big lakes to store water （ B） construct big pumping stations （ C） build small and cheap irrigation systems （ D） channel water from nearby rivers to cropland 10 In order to raise the efficiency of the water supply, measures should be taken to_. （ A）
21、guarantee full protection of the environment （ B） centralize the management of water resources （ C） increase the sense of responsibility of agencies at all levels （ D） encourage local and regional control of water resources 10 In some countries where racial prejudice is acute, violence has so come t
22、o be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are countries where the white man imposes his rule by brute force; there are countries where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides w
23、ho would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progre
24、ss at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but
25、 makes it more acute. The sheer horror, the bloodshed and the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us. The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and harder to
26、 get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the slums and ghettos, at i
27、mproving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is undermined by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of
28、a stable social program. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law. Before we can even begin to contemplate peaceful co-existence be
29、tween the races, we must appreciate each others problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchanging information. “Talk, talk, talk,“ the advocates of violence say, “ all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser. “ Its rather like the stor
30、y of the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wiser. “ Possible, my lord,“ the barrister replied, “ none the wiser, but surely far better informed. “ Knowledge is the n
31、ecessary prerequisite to wisdom; the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve. 11 Which can best replace the word “acute“(Line 1, Para. 1)mean? （ A） Intelligent and quick to notice and understand things. （ B） Having a sharp end or point. （ C） Very sensitive and well developed.
32、（ D） Serious or severe. 12 What does the author intend to convey in the first paragraph? （ A） Violence leads to nowhere but making things worse. （ B） Violence is the root of evils. （ C） Violence is what humankind resents most. （ D） Violence can be eliminated sooner or later. 13 What does the author
33、think of our energy and strength? （ A） They are wasted and might be well directed and achieve more meaningful results. （ B） They are already constructive and well directed and will fulfill a stable society. （ C） They will work only with coordinated efforts. （ D） They will work like magic on the solu
34、tion of racial prejudice. 14 What do truly reasonable men advocate to solve the problem of race prejudice? （ A） Law enforcement. （ B） Knowledge. （ C） Nonviolence. （ D） Eliminating violence mess. 15 According to the author, whats the prerequisite of peaceful co-existence between the races? （ A） Mutua
35、l understanding. （ B） Mutually cooperative. （ C） Learning from each other. （ D） Bridging the misunderstanding gap between races customs. 15 Web browsers! Interactive software! Theres a lot of new technology talk going on in public relations these days, and its coming from a variety of sources, clien
36、ts, fearful that they are missing out on some mysterious “ next wave“ , demand some kind of whiz-bang(尖端 )demonstration of technology from agencies. Industry publications continuously tout the latest and greatest electronic innovations. College kids enter the marketplace armed with computer literacy
37、 completely alien to many veteran practitioners. And in some cases, members of the media demand that information be packaged to accommodate their particular technological preferences. Is technology now the tail wagging dog? The answer, unequivocally, is no. Technology remains what it has always been
38、, a tool used by professionals to help them do their jobs. All of this millennium talk has produced an unnecessary level of anxiety about the necessity of technological innovation the idea that you are light-years behind unless you are light years ahead. Relax! The foundations of good public relatio
39、ns remain the same: anticipating and meeting the needs of clients and the media, and providing informed and useful counsel. Solid research, strong writing skills, creativity, and an appreciation for the values of the media are the backbone of the profession, regardless of how information is packaged
40、. Even if the speed of information transmission is increasing, high tech isnt for everyone. All clients dont need individual web pages and summaries of chat room activity. When considering applications of new technologies, consider the audiences for your client. Are they comfortable with technology?
41、 Do they have access to the distribution systems you are considering? Do they have the skills and knowledge to use these systems? Do they navigate the web, use CD-ROM, or even own a VCR? Consider the image of the company itself. The delivery system is part of the message and contributes to the overa
42、ll image, so the practitioner should consider how that system affects the client, the product, and the audiences. Yes, a web page can be a cost-efficient communication tool when you consider the minimal media cost. But once its up and running, youve got to keep it fresh, and that means a continual a
43、llocation of time and specialized resources. In the hyper-speed model of communications, nothing is older than information that is both outdated and online. And to information consumers, your web page will cease to be a source if it isnt kept current. In the last presidential election, more than one
44、 candidate had problems with their personal web pages because webmasters were not kept up to date on changes in campaign strategy and messages. The gap between what the candidate was saying and what the web page was showing became a story in itself. If youre going to have a presence on the Internet,
45、 you have to budget for regular maintenance. Otherwise, you are putting a sign up that says “ too cheap to be relevant“. 16 The recent enthusiasm for new technology is partly brought on by_. （ A） electronic innovations （ B） the development of new interactive software （ C） consumers fear of being lef
46、t behind the tide （ D） the popularization of the Web 17 What does the writer think of the recent new technology talk going on in public relations? （ A） It indicates a sudden realization of an oncoming radical change in public relations. （ B） It reminds us of the fact that technology remains what it
47、has always been. （ C） It is superficial and does not mean that we are ushering in a new age. （ D） It is a sure sign that we are missing out on some mysterious “next wave“. 18 The “tail wagging dog“(Para. 2)most probably means_. （ A） the overwhelmingly predominant thing （ B） the dog that tucks its ta
48、il between its legs （ C） the thing to be tamed urgently （ D） the problem to be tackled at once 19 According to the author, the role of new technology in public relations_. （ A） cant be too emphasized in todays world （ B） is unnecessarily exaggerated （ C） is not fully recognized yet （ D） is more impo
49、rtant to the company than to the client 20 It is implied in the last paragraph that a web page_. （ A） can usually provide the viewers with the latest information （ B） is not a good idea unless its information is updated constantly （ C） may take more money to be set up and kept running than imagined （ D） can find extensive applications in presidential elections 20 The potential of computers for increasing the control of organizations or society over their members and for invading the privacy of
