1、2012年中南大学考博英语真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Structure and Vocabulary 1 The ratio of the work done by machine_the work done on it is called the efficiency of the machine. （ A） against （ B） to （ C） for （ D） with 2 There can be no collapse in the property market because sellers have a real _to sell if they cant make la
2、st years prices. （ A） reluctance （ B） recommendation （ C） manipulation （ D） justification 3 Although any destruction of vitamins caused by food irradiation could be_the use of diet supplements, there may be no protection from carcinogens that some fear might be introduced into foods by the process.
3、（ A） attributed to （ B） counterbalanced by （ C） inferred from （ D） stimulated by 4 The rose may grow as low bush or as a tree, _. （ A） to depend on how to prune （ B） depending on how to prune （ C） depends on how it is pruned （ D） depending on how it is pruned 5 The Chisos Mountains in Big Bend Natio
4、nal Park in Texas were created by volcanic eruption that occurred_. （ A） the area in which dinosaurs roamed （ B） when dinosaurs roamed the area （ C） did dinosaurs roam the area （ D） dinosaurs roaming the area 6 Her 30-year study of the Gombe National Park chimpanzees is the largest continuous field
5、project ever recorded. It has made her and the chimpanzees a living_, earning her honorary degree, doctorates and wildlife conservation awards all over the world. （ A） legend （ B） specimen （ C） maximum （ D） document 7 A century ago the physicians word was_: to doubt it was considered almost sacrileg
6、ious. （ A） inevitable （ B） intractable （ C） objective （ D） incontrovertible 8 Sometimes patients suffering from severe pain can be helped by “drugs“ that arent really drugs at all _sugar pills that contains no active chemical elements. （ A） or rather （ B） but rather （ C） rather than （ D） other than
7、9 In the popular Western imagination, India continues to be a country in backwardness and poverty with little to show_scientific innovation or technological achievement. （ A） by way of （ B） in gratitude to （ C） in contact with （ D） for want of 10 There is hardly a generalization that can be made abo
8、ut peoples social behavior and the values informing it that cannot be_ from one or another point of view, or even dismissed as simplistic or vapid. （ A） defended （ B） intuited （ C） harangued （ D） challenged 11 Written to be performed on a_, Thornton Wilders play Our Town depicts life in small New En
9、gland community. （ A） stage scenery of bare （ B） stage bare of scenery （ C） scenery bare of stage （ D） bare of stage scenery 12 The senators attempt to convince the public that he is not interested in running for a second term is _given the extremely public fund-raising activities of his campaign co
10、mmittee. （ A） futile （ B） sincere （ C） specious （ D） disingenuous 13 That she seemed to prefer dabbling to concentrated effort is undeniable; nevertheless, the impressive quality of her finished paintings suggests that her actual relationship to her art was anything but_. （ A） superficial （ B） passi
11、onate （ C） disengaged （ D） lighthearted 14 So much of modern fiction in the United States is autobiographical, and so much of the autobiography fictionalized, that the_sometimes seem largely interchangeable. （ A） authors （ B） misapprehensions （ C） intentions （ D） genres 15 The first explorer_Califor
12、nia by land was Jedediah Strong Smith, a trapper who crossed the southwestern deserts of the United States in 1826. （ A） that he destined （ B） to reach （ C） had stretched （ D） who approached 16 Not surprisingly, people in the northern part of the country, where the work ethic and the climate push th
13、e pace of life ever upward, _permanently in the fast lane. （ A） concede （ B） reside （ C） lick （ D） wrest 17 Although biological methods of pest control are now available to committed organic gardeners, there are few of us who never need to_tile use of chemicals. （ A） resort to （ B） refer to （ C） siz
14、e up （ D） pick up 18 The philosopher claimed that a person who must consciously overcome his or her own indifference before helping another is behaving more nobly than one whose basic disposition allows such an act to be performed without_. （ A） comment （ B） enthusiasm （ C） duplicity （ D） deliberati
15、on 19 The prevailing union of passionate interest in detailed facts with equal devotion to abstract generalization is a hallmark of our present society; in the past this union appeared, at best, _and as if by chance. （ A） intuitionally （ B） sporadically （ C） cyclically （ D） opportunely 20 The skelet
16、on of a primitive bird that was recently discovered indicated that this ancient creature _todays birds in that, unlike earlier birds and unlike reptilian ancestors, it had not a tooth in its head. （ A） obscured （ B） preempted （ C） foreshadowed （ D） anticipated 二、 Cloze 20 Planning is a very importan
17、t activity in our lives yet really sophisticated. It can give pleasure, even excitement, 【 C1】 _cause quite severe headaches. The more significant the task【 C2】 _is, the more careful the planning requires. Getting to school or to work on time is a task requiring【 C3】 _or no planning, and it is almos
18、t a【 C4】 _. Meanwhile when you luckily to enjoy a months touring holiday【 C5】 _, or better【 C6】 _, getting married, it would a different matter altogether. It the【 C7】 _involves a church wedding, with fifty guests, a reception, a honeymoon in Venice, and【 C8】 _to a new home, this requires even more
19、planning to make【 C9】 _that it is successful. Planning is our way of trying to ensure success and【 C10】 _avoiding costly failures we cannot afford. It is【 C11】 _essential and fundamental to mankind as a【 C12】 _, to individual nations, to families and single people; the【 C13】 _may vary, but the【 C14】
20、_of importance does not. In essence, a nation planning its resources and【 C15】_does not differ from the【 C16】 _weekly shopping or monthly household budget.【 C17】 _are designed to ensure an adequate supply of essentials,【 C18】_a rate of spending within the limits of【 C19】 _, and if properly carried o
21、ut, will【 C10】 _shortages, wastage and over-expenditure. 21 【 C1】 （ A） on the end （ B） or （ C） test （ D） more or less 22 【 C2】 （ A） arrangement （ B） aside （ C） ahead （ D） above 23 【 C3】 （ A） plenty （ B） fewer （ C） little （ D） utmost 24 【 C4】 （ A） assignment （ B） burden （ C） endeavor （ D） routine 25
22、【 C5】 （ A） onboard （ B） abroad （ C） alien （ D） facticity 26 【 C6】 （ A） more （ B） otherwise （ C） still （ D） moreover 27 【 C7】 （ A） latter （ B） holiday （ C） previously （ D） substance 28 【 C8】 （ A） attending （ B） gripping （ C） returning （ D） staying 29 【 C9】 （ A） consider （ B） sure （ C） vibrant （ D） kn
23、own 30 【 C10】 （ A） of （ B） for （ C） with （ D） between 31 【 C11】 （ A） equally （ B） mainly （ C） virtually （ D） utterly 32 【 C12】 （ A） whole （ B） matter （ C） integration （ D） fact 33 【 C13】 （ A） scale （ B） scope （ C） extent （ D） range 34 【 C14】 （ A） height （ B） degree （ C） depth （ D） grade 35 【 C15】 （
24、A） procedures （ B） processes （ C） needs （ D） requirements 36 【 C16】 （ A） similar （ B） popular （ C） regular （ D） familiar 37 【 C17】 （ A） Some （ B） All （ C） Both （ D） Many 38 【 C18】 （ A） with （ B） at （ C） before （ D） at 39 【 C19】 （ A） production （ B） wage （ C） income （ D） property 40 【 C20】 （ A） avoid
25、 （ B） keep （ C） solve （ D） cause 三、 Reading Comprehension 40 The miserable fate of Enrons employees will be a landmark in business history, one of those awful events that everyone agrees must never be allowed to happen again. This urge is understandable and noble: thousands have lost virtually all t
26、heir retirement savings with the demise of Enron stock. But making sure it never happens again may not be possible, because the sudden impoverishment of those Enron workers represents something even larger than it seems. Its the latest turn in the unwinding of one of the most audacious promise of th
27、e 20th century. The promise was assured economic security even comfort essentially everyone in the developed world. With the explosion of wealth, that began in the 19th century it became possible to think about a possibility no one had dared to dream before. The fear at the center of daily living si
28、nce caveman days lack of food warmth, shelter would at last lose its power to terrify. That remarkable promise became reality in many ways. Governments created welfare systems for anyone in need and separate programs for the elderly(Social Security in the U. S.). Labor unions promised not only bette
29、r pay for workers but also pensions for retirees. Giant corporations came into being and offered the possibility in some cases the promise of lifetime employment plus guaranteed pensions. The cumulative effect was a fundamental change in how millions of people approached life itself, a reversal of a
30、ttitude that most rank as one of the largest in human history. For millennia the average persons stance toward providing for himself had been. Ultimately Im on my own. Now it became, ultimately Ill be taken care of. The early hints that this promise might be broken on a large scale came in the 1980s
31、. U. S business had become uncompetitive, globally and began restructuring massively, with huge layoffs. The trend accelerated in the 1990s as the bastions of corporate welfare faced reality. IBM ended its no-layoff policy. AT a pH value of 7 represents a neutral value, and 7. 4 is the pH value of t
32、he human tear. The pH ratio must be regularly monitored to ensure a consistent optimum ram one usually kept within the spectrum of 7 to 8 as measured by a reliable pH measuring kit. As the chemicals in chlorine complete their reactions, they break down and are no longer effective in keeping the pool
33、 water neutralized. Additional chlorine must be added to water at specific times. Outdoor pools that are in direct sunlight need to have water added more often because the chemical reaction time for chlorine is increased and its effectiveness is reduced in these conditions. Since the hypochlorite io
34、n is an especially potent chemical capable of fading fabrics and paint, most people are meticulous about rinsing chlorine from potentially affected areas. Although chlorine is inexpensive and widely available, some people find the bleach smell to be repugnant and the distinct aroma present at many s
35、wimming pools to be overwhelming. These people may not be able to enjoy aquatic pursuits in those pools that employ chlorine as a cleansing agent. Other people may find that inhaling chlorine at the high levels present around some pools may be difficult to tolerate. Still others may experience skin
36、irritation after swimming in a pool containing chlorine. Although there are other chemicals and compounds available to clean swimming pools, they may be prohibitively expensive or incapable of killing all types of bacteria present in the water. 52 According to the passage, a stable pH value in pool
37、water is dependent upon which of the following? （ A） Monitoring and adding chlorine when warranted. （ B） Ensuring that there is only a minimum amount of bacteria in the water. （ C） Paying close attention to the reactions of chemicals in the pool water. （ D） Ensuring that water is protected from dire
38、ct sunlight. 53 The authors primary purpose is to_. （ A） offer an unbiased opinion of chlorines efficacy （ B） provide an argument for using chlorine （ C） discuss the chemical reaction taking place within a pool （ D） show how chlorine can keep pool water safe 54 Based on the passage, which statement
39、is probably NOT true of chlorine? （ A） It can be harmful if swallowed. （ B） Occasional high levels in pool water arc probably not harmful. （ C） It can kill most common types of pool water bacteria. （ D） A pools size will dictate the amount needed. 55 The author includes the information about the pH
40、of human tears mainly to_. （ A） give the reader a base of reference （ B） personalize the passage to enhance interest （ C） provide a visual image for the reader （ D） answer the readers anticipated question 56 All of the following statements are true about chlorine EXCEPT that_. （ A） chlorines efficac
41、y is affected by sunlight （ B） chlorine is made up of two chemicals: hypochlorous acid and hypochlorine ion （ C） chlorine is usually said to be malodorous （ D） chlorine levels must be routinely assessed in pool water 56 For 150 years scientists have tried to determine the solar constant, the amount
42、of solar constant energy that reaches the Earth. Yet, even in the most cloud-free regions of the planet, the solar constant cannot be measured precisely. Gas molecules and dust particles in the atmosphere absorb and scatter sunlight and prevent some wavelengths of the light from ever reaching the gr
43、ound. With the advent of satellites, however, scientists have finally been able to measure the Suns output without being impeded by the Earths atmosphere. Solar Max, a satellite from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), has been measuring the Suns output since February 1980. Alth
44、ough a malfunction in the satellites control system limited its observation for a few years, the satellite was repaired in orbit by astronauts from the space shuttle in 1984. Maxs observations indicate that the solar constant is not really constant after all. The satellites instruments have detected
45、 frequent, small variations in the Suns energy output, generally amounting to no more than 0. 05 percent of the Suns mean energy output and lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Scientists believe these fluctuations coincide with the appearance and disappearance of large groups of sunspots on the
46、Suns disk. Sunspots are relatively dark regions on the Suns surface that have strong magnetic fields and a temperature about 2, 000 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the rest of the Suns surface. Particularly large fluctuations in the solar constant have coincided with sightings of large sunspot groups
47、. In 1980, for example, Solar Maxs instruments registered 0. 3 percent drop in the solar energy reaching the Earth. At that time a sunspot group covered about 0. 6 percent of the solar disk, an area 20 times larger than the Earths surface. Long-term variations in the solar constant are more difficul
48、t to determine. Although Solar Maxs data have indicated a slow and steady decline in the Suns output, some scientists have thought that the satellites aging detectors might have become less sensitive over the years, thus falsely indicating a drop in the solar constant. This possibility was dismissed
49、, however, by comparing Solar Maxs observations with data from a similar instrument operating on NASAs Nimbus 7 weather satellite since 1978. 57 Why is it not possible to measure the solar constant accurately without a satellite? （ A） The Earth is too far from the Sun. （ B） Some areas on Earth receive more solar energy than
