1、2011年四川大学考博英语真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 Concern with money, and then more money, in order to buy the conveniences and luxuries of modern life, has brought great changes to the lives of most Frenchmen. More people are working than ever before in France. In the cities the traditional leisur
2、ely midday meal is disappearing. Offices, shops, and factories are discovering the great efficiency of a short lunch hour in company lunchrooms. In almost all lines of work emphasis now falls on ever-increasing output. Thus the “typical“ Frenchman produces more, earns more, and buys more goods than
3、his counterpart of the last generation. He gains in creating comforts and ease of life. What he loses to some extent is his sense of persona, uniqueness, or individuality. Some say that France has been Americanized. This is because the U. S. is a world symbol of the technological society and its con
4、sumer products, The so-called Americanization of France has its critics. They fear that “ assembly -line life“ will lead to the disappearance of the pleasures of the more graceful and leisurely(but less productive)old French style. What will happen, they ask, to taste, elegance, and the cultivation
5、of the good things in life-joy in the smell of a freshly picked apple, a stroll by the river, or just happy hours of conversation in a local cafe? Since the late 1950s life in France has indeed taken on qualities of rush, tension, and the pursuit of material gain. Some of the strongest critics of th
6、e new way of life are the young, especially university students. They are concerned with the future, and they fear that France is threatened by the triumph of this competitive, goods-oriented culture. Occasionally, they have reacted against the trend with considerable violence. In spite of critics,
7、however, countless Frenchmen are committed to keeping France in the forefront of the modern economic world. They find that the present life brings more rewards, conveniences, and pleasures than that of the past. They believe that a modern, industrial France is preferable to the old. 1 The old French
8、 way of life is characterized by_. （ A） leisure, elegance, and efficiency （ B） elegance, efficiency, and taste （ C） leisure, elegance, and taste （ D） leisure, efficiency, and taste 2 According to the passage, all the following are the description of todays Frenchmen EXCEPT that_. （ A） many of them p
9、refer the modern lifestyle （ B） they actually enjoy working at the assembly line （ C） they are more concerned with money than before （ D） they are more competitive than the old generation 3 Which of the following is true about the critics? （ A） Critics are greater in number than people enjoying the
10、new way of life. （ B） Student critics are greater in number than critics in other fields. （ C） Student critics have, on occasion, resorted to violent means, against the trend. （ D） Critics are concerned solely with the present rather than the future. 4 The best title for the passage would be . （ A）
11、Changes in the French Way of Life （ B） Criticism of the New Lifestyle （ C） The Americanization of France （ D） Features of the New Way of Life 5 It can be inferred from the passage that_. （ A） in pursuing material gains the French are suffering losses elsewhere （ B） the French enjoy short lunch hours
12、 （ C） the French are fed up with the smell of freshly picked apples （ D） great changes have occurred in the lifestyle of all Frenchmen 5 The decline in moral standards which has long-concerned social analysts has at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one,
13、 is glad. The fact that ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nations moral climate, says this ethics professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it. But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and ind
14、ividualism in America society are the biggest obstacles. “The thought that Im in it for me has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness. “ Ms. Elshtain says. Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she
15、says. With todays greater mobility and with so many couples working, those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self. In a 1996 poll of-Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U. S. And Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: D
16、ata show that Americans are struggling with-problems unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers. The desire for a higher moral standard is not a lament for some nonexistent “golden age“ , Elshtain says, nor is it a wishful longing for a time th
17、at denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice. Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to c ounter the materialism in society, she says. “Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that cant be bought. “ 6 P
18、rofessor Elshtain is pleased to see that Americans_. （ A） have adapted to a new set of moral standards （ B） are longing for the return of the good old days （ C） have realized the importance of material things （ D） are awakening to the lowering of their moral standards 7 The moral decline of American
19、 society is caused mainly by_. （ A） its growing wealth （ B） the self-centeredness of individuals （ C） underestimating the impact of social changes （ D） the prejudice against women and minorities 8 Which of the following characterizes the traditional communities? （ A） Great mobility. （ B） Concern for
20、 ones neighbors. （ C） Emphasis on individual effort. （ D） Ever weakening social bonds. 9 In the 1950s, classroom violence_. （ A） was something unheard of （ B） was by no means a rare occurrence （ C） attracted a lot of public attention （ D） began to appear in analysts data 10 According to Elshtain, th
21、e current moral decline may be reversed_. （ A） if people can return to the “golden age“ （ B） when women and men enjoy equal rights （ C） when people rid themselves of prejudice （ D） if less emphasis is laid on material things 10 No woman can be too rich or too thin. This saying often attributed to th
22、e late Duchess of Windsor embodies much of the odd spirit of our times. Being thin is deemed as such virtue. The problem with such a view is that some people actually attempt to live by it. I myself have fantasies of slipping into narrow designer clothes. Consequently, I have been on a diet for the
23、better or worse part of my life. Being rich wouldnt be bad either, but that wont happen unless an unknown relative dies suddenly in some distant land leaving me millions of dollars. Where did we go off the track? When did eating butter become a sin, and a little bit of extra flesh unappealing. If no
24、t repellent? All religions have certain days when people refrain from eating, and excessive eating is one of Christianitys seven deadly sins. However until quite recently, most people had a problem getting enough to eat. In some religious groups, wealth was a symbol of probable salvation and high mo
25、rals, and fatness a sign of wealth and well-being. Today the opposite is true. We have shifted to thinness as our new mark of virtue. The result is that being fat or even only somewhat overweight is bad because it implies a tack of moral strength. Our obsession with thinness is also fueled by health
26、 concerns. It is true that in this country we have more overweight people than ever before, and that, in many cases, being overweight correlates with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. These diseases, however, may have as much to do with our way of life and our high-fat diets as w
27、ith excess weight. And the associated risk of cancer in the digestive system may be more of a dietary problem too much fat and a lack of fiber than a weight problem. The real concern, then, is not that we weigh too much, but that we neither exercise enough nor eat well. Exercise is necessary for str
28、ong bones and both heart and lung health. A balanced diet without a lot of fat can also help the body avoid many diseases. We should surely stop paying so much attention to weight. Simply being thin is not enough. It is actually hazardous if those who get(or already are)thin think they are automatic
29、ally healthy and thus free from paying attention to their overall lifestyle. Thinness can be pure vainglory. 11 Swept by the prevailing trend, the author_. （ A） has to go on a diet （ B） could still prevent herself form going off the track （ C） has to seek help from rich distant relatives （ D） has to
30、 wear highly fashionable clothes 12 In the eyes of the author, an odd phenomenon nowadays is that_. （ A） the Duchess of Windsor is regarded as a woman of virtue （ B） looking slim is a symbol of having a large fortune （ C） being thin is viewed as a much desired quality （ D） religious people are not n
31、ecessarily virtuous 13 In human history peoples views on body weight_. （ A） were closely related to their religious beliefs （ B） changed from time to time （ C） varied between the poor and the rich （ D） led to different moral standards 14 Whats the authors advice to women who are absorbed in the idea
32、 of thinness? （ A） They should be more concerned with their overall lifestyle. （ B） They should be more watchful for fatal diseases. （ C） They should gain weight to look healthy. （ D） They should rid themselves of fantasies about designer clothes. 15 The author criticizes womens obsession with thinn
33、ess_. （ A） from an economic and educational perspective （ B） from sociological and medical points of view （ C） from a historical and religious standpoint （ D） in the light of moral principles 15 Imagine a world in which there was suddenly no emotion a world in which human beings could feel no love h
34、appiness, no terror or hate. Try to imagine the consequences of such a transformation. People might not be able to stay alive: knowing neither joy nor pleasure, neither anxiety nor fear, they would be as likely to repeat acts that hurt them as acts that were beneficial. They could not learn. They co
35、uld not benefit from experience because this emotionless world would lack rewards and punishments. Society would soon disappear: People would be as likely to harm one another as to provide help and support. Human relationships would not exist: In a world without friends or enemies, there could be no
36、 marriage, affection among companions, or bonds among members or groups. Societys economic underpinnings would be destroyed: since there would be no incentives of any kind. For as we will see, incentives imply a capacity to enjoy them. In such a world, the chances that the human species would surviv
37、e are next to zero, because emotions are the basic instrument of our survival and adaptation. Emotions structure the world for us in important ways. As individuals, we categorize objects on the basis of our emotions. True, we consider the length, shape, size, or texture, but an objects physical aspe
38、cts are less important than what it has done or can do to us hurt us, surprise us, anger us or make us joyful. We also use categorizations colored by emotions in our families, communities, and overall society. Out of our emotional experiences with objects and events comes a social feeling of agreeme
39、nt that certain things and actions are “good“ and others are “bad“ , and we apply these categories to every aspect of our social life from what foods we eat and what clothes we wear to how we keep promises and which people our group will accept. In fact, society explains our emotional reactions and
40、altitudes, such as loyalty, morality, pride, shame, guilt, fear and greed, in order to maintain itself. It gives high rewards to individuals who perform important tasks such as surgery, makes heroes out of individuals for unusual or dangerous achievements such as flying fighter planes in a war, and
41、uses the legal and penal system to make people afraid to engage in antisocial acts. 16 The reason why people might not be able to stay alive in a world without emotion is that （ A） they would not be able to tell the texture of objects （ B） they would not know what was beneficial and what was harmful
42、 to them （ C） they would not be happy with a life without love （ D） they would do things that hurt each others feelings 17 According to the passage, peoples learning activities are possible because they_. （ A） enjoy being rewarded for doing the right thing （ B） know what is vital to the progress of
43、society （ C） believe that emotions are fundamental for them to stay alive （ D） benefit from providing help and support to one another 18 It can be inferred from the passage that the economic foundation of society is dependent on （ A） the ability to make money （ B） the will to work for pleasure （ C）
44、the capacity to enjoy incentives （ D） the categorizations of our emotional experiences 19 Emotions are significant for mans survival and adaptation because_. （ A） they provide the means by which people view the size or shape of objects （ B） they are the basis for the social feeling of agreement by w
45、hich society is maintained （ C） they encourage people to perform dangerous achievements （ D） they generate more love than hate among people 20 The emotional aspects of an object are more important than its physical aspects in that they （ A） help society exploit its members for profit （ B） encourage
46、us to perform important tasks （ C） help to perfect the legal and penal system （ D） help us to adapt our behavior to the world surrounding us 20 To fight against computer crimes, a computer system needs a sure way of identifying its right users and rejecting those who are not entitled to use it. The
47、identification system should be quick, simple, and convenient. At present, signatures are widely used to identify credit card holders, but it takes an expert to detect a good forgery. Sometimes even a human expert is fooled, and there is no reason to believe that a computer could do any better. Phot
48、ographs are also sometimes used for identification. But, people find it inconvenient to stop by a credit card company aid to be photographed. Companies might lose business if they made the pictures under absolute requirement. Also, photographs are less useful these days, when people frequently chang
49、e their appearance by changing the way they wear their hair. Finally, computer programs for analyzing photographs are still highly experimental. Cash-drawing systems often use two identification numbers: One is recorded on a magnetic stripe on the identification cards, and the other is given to the CRS holder. When the user inserts his card into the cash-drawing terminal, he keys in the identification number he has been given. The computer checks to see that the number recorded
