1、专业英语八级（阅读）模拟试卷 97及答案与解析 SECTION A MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS In this section there are several passages followed by fourteen multiple-choice questions. For each multiple-choice question, there are four suggested answers marked A , B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. 0 (1)Som
2、etimes, medical science makes breakthroughs that almost no-one sees coming. Other times, it just seems to catch up with what ordinary people have known intuitively for generations. Though the latest finding from the University of New South Wales falls into the second category, that doesnt diminish i
3、ts significance. Having pored over thousands of pages of data, researchers are now all but convinced that by exercising their brains people can substantially reduce their risk of dementia(痴呆 ). (2)Scientists have conducted several hundred studies of the theory that brain reservethe effect of formal
4、education and mentally challenging work and leisure pursuits may, through some mechanism not fully understood, protect people against dementia. Aware that the studies had tossed up contradictory results, University of N.S.W. neuroscientist Michael Valenzuela and colleague Perminder Sachdev last year
5、 conducted the first systematic review of research on brain reserve. Having integrated data from 22 studies of possible links between peoples behavior and their subsequent brain health, the pair bring down their verdict in a paper about to be published in British journal Psychological Medicine. In s
6、hort, they say, people with high brain reserve have almost half as much risk of developing dementia as those with low brain reserve. In one sense the brain appears to be no different from the muscles of the body, says Valenzuela: “Its a case of use it or lose it.“ (3)Prevention is crucial with demen
7、tia, as medicines do no more than alleviate the symptoms for the 200,000 sufferers in Australia and New Zealand. The most common type of dementia, Alzheimers Disease, is characterized by the spread of sticky plaques(斑块 )and clumps of tangled fiber that disrupt communication between brain cells. Grad
8、ually robbing people of their memory, personality and eventually all cognitive function, it typically kills within 5 to 10 years. While most experts presume that aerobic exercise protects people from dementia by maintaining good blood flow to the brain, how mental exercise could help is still a puzz
9、le. “There are a lot of theories,“ says Valenzuela, “but its very difficult to pinpoint a single neurobiological characteristic that distinguishes people with high brain reserve from those with low brain reserve. I think thats been part of the problem: weve been looking for a magic bullet.“ Instead,
10、 Valenzuela assumes that mental activity alters the central nervous system in different ways at various levels. Research on mice, he says, shows that a highly stimulating environment increases both the production of new brain and nerve cells and the density of blood vessels around them. A few years
11、ago, Valenzuela headed a project in which a group of elderly Sydney residents had their brains analyzed before and after five weeks of memory training. Investigators found that the exercises induced biochemical changes that were the opposite of what occurs when Alzheimers takes hold. (4)That finding
12、 still excites Valenzuela because it suggests that even those people whove had their minds in low gear for most of their lives can compensate with a late burst of effort. “It seems you can make up for whatever education or job history you may have,“ he says. “Youre not locked into some dementia dest
13、iny.“ (5)But theres much we still dont know about the relationship between brain reserve and dementia. No one can yet say for sure whether an elderly persons disinclination to mental exercise is a cause or a symptom of the disease. Theres also uncertainty about whether high brain reserve helps preve
14、nt Alzheimers plaques and tangles from forming, or whether it minimizes their impact or both. Its possible that high brain reserve fosters unusually sturdy neurons(神经细胞 )that allow the brain to carry on as usual despite the presence of plaques. Autopsies of Alzheimers sufferers confirm no neat corre
15、lation between the extent of plaques and tangling and the severity of symptoms. “After almost 100 years of research,“ says Valenzuela, “we still dont understand the fundamental link between the neurobiological changes and the expression of disease.“ 1 According to the passage, the implication of the
16、 research conducted by Valenzuela and Sachdev is that_. （ A） the more we use our brains, the less chances we get dementia （ B） mental activity alters the central nervous system in different ways （ C） people with large brain reserve are more likely to suffer dementia （ D） brain reserve comes from edu
17、cation, challenging work and pastime 2 Which of the following is NOT one of the symptoms of Alzheimers Disease? （ A） Slow reaction. （ B） Memory decline. （ C） Collapse of mobility. （ D） Individuality disorder. 3 From the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? （ A） Aerobic exercise is
18、 an approach to protect people from dementia. （ B） Dementia is still an incurable disease nowadays. （ C） Elderly people get dementia because of little mental exercise. （ D） Mental exercise would be beneficial to avoiding dementia. 3 (1)Government scientists listed formaldehyde(甲醛 )as a Carcinogen, s
19、ubstance that produces cancer, and said it is found in worrisome quantities in glued board, particle board, and hair salons. They also said that styrene(苯乙烯 ), which is used in boats, bathtubs and in disposable foam plastic cups and plates, may cause cancer but is generally found in such low levels
20、in consumer products that risks are low. (2)Frequent and intense exposures in manufacturing plants are far more worrisome man the intermittent contact that most consumers have, but government scientists said that consumers should still avoid contact with formaldehyde and styrene along with six other
21、 chemicals that were added Friday to the governments official Report on Carcinogens. Its release was delayed for years because of intense lobbying from the chemical industry, which disputed its findings. John Bucher, associate director of me National Toxicology Program, which produced me report, sai
22、d evidence of formaldehydes carcinogenicity was far stronger man for styrene and that consumers were more likely to be exposed to potentially dangerous quantities of formaldehyde. (3)The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration warned in April that a hair-care product, Brazilian Blowout
23、 Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, contained unacceptable levels of formaldehyde, and salon workers have reported headaches, nosebleeds, burning eyes, and vomiting after using the product and other hair-straighteners. (4)Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at me American Cancer Society, said
24、 mat formaldehyde is both worrisome and inescapable. “Its the smell in new houses, and its in cosmetics like nail polish,“ he said. “All a reasonable person can do is manage their exposure and decrease it to as little as possible. Its everywhere.“ Consumers can reduce their exposure to formaldehyde
25、by avoiding pressed-wood products or buying only those that are labeled as U.L.E.F.(ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde), N.A.F.(no added formaldehyde)or C.A.R.B.(California Air Resources Board)Phase 1 or Phase 2 compliant. (5)Styrene is mostly a concern for workers who build boats, car parts, bathtubs
26、and shower stalls. Studies of workers exposed to high levels of styrene have found increased risks of genetic damage to white blood cells. There is also some evidence that styrene increases the risks of cancer among styrene workers, the report found. Consumers can be exposed to styrene from the fume
27、s of building materials, photocopiers and tobacco smoke. As for styrenes presence in plastic utensils and other consumer products, Dr. Brawley likened the risk from such products to that of coffee and cellphones uncertain and slight. (6)An industry spokesman said the action will hurt small businesse
28、s. “It will unfairly scare workers, plant neighbors and could have a chilling effect on the development of new products,“ said Tom Dobbins of the American Composites Manufacturers Association. “And our companies are primarily small businesses, and this could hurt jobs and local economies.“ Cal Doole
29、y, president and chief executive of the American Chemistry Council, a trade association that represents companies that make and use polystyrene and formaldehyde, rejected the reports conclusions. “We are extremely concerned that politics may have hijacked the scientific process,“ he said. Some in th
30、e industry have promised to continue fighting the report, and will appeal elements of its findings. But some already have begun using alternatives to formaldehyde in their products. (7)This is the 12th cancer list released by the toxicology program at the National Institutes of Health, and each has
31、been controversial. In 2000, controversy erupted over the ninth reports listing of secondhand smoke and tanning beds. The 11th reports listing in 2005 of naphthalene(卫生球 ), caused similar concern. That this latest report would warn about formaldehyde and styrene has been suspected by industry since
32、shortly after the release of the previous report, and industry groups have fought the process behind its release ever since. As a result, the government added numerous public comment periods to the process, and even after it was written, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services delay
33、ed the reports release for months to cope with industry complaints. 4 Which of the following statements contains an analogy? （ A） Frequent and intense exposures in manufacturing plants are far more worrisome than the intermittent contact that most consumers have, .(2nd paragraph) （ B） . evidence of
34、formaldehydes carcinogenicity was far stronger than for styrene.(2nd paragraph) （ C） Dr. Brawley likened the risk from such products to that of coffee and cellphonesuncertain and slight.(5th paragraph) （ D） Its the smell in new houses, and its in cosmetics like nail polish, .(4th paragraph) 5 In Tom
35、 Dobbins view, the following are influences exerted by the governments report EXCEPT _. （ A） frightening away those working in plants that use formaldehyde or styrene （ B） frightening away those living near factories that use formaldehyde or styrene （ C） Preventing companies from developing new prod
36、ucts （ D） Making factories replace formaldehyde and styrene with other materials 6 It can be inferred from the passage that the Report on Carcinogens _. （ A） was influenced by political factors （ B） was produced under the guidance of chemical industry （ C） included disputed findings and conclusions
37、（ D） listed two carcinogens, formaldehyde and styrene 7 Which of the following best describes the authors attitude towards the governments action? （ A） Supportive. （ B） Neutral. （ C） Critical. （ D） Admiring. 7 (1)Employers buffeted by talk of recession slashed 80,000 jobs in March, the most in five
38、years and the third straight month of losses. (2)At the same time, the national unemployment rate rose from 4.8 percent to 5.1 percent, the clearest signal yet that the economy might already be shrinking. (3)The new snapshot of the job market, released by the Labor Department Friday, underscored the
39、 damage that a trio of crises in the housing, credit and financial sectors has inflicted on companies, jobseekers and the economy as a whole. (4)“The labor market has indeed turned south,“ said Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors. “That was the one last bastion of hope to stay out of
40、a recession. Now the question is how deep and how long will it last?“ (5)The unemployment rate was the highest since September 2005, when significant job losses followed the devastating blows of Gulf Coast hurricanes. (6)Job losses were widespread in March. Construction, manufacturing, retailing, fi
41、nancial services and various business services all racked up losses. That overwhelmed gains elsewhere, including in education and health care, leisure and hospitality as well as in government. (7)On Wall Street, stocks fell, with the Dow Jones industrials down more than 80 points in morning trading.
42、 (8)The new employment figures were much weaker than economists were expecting. They were anticipating a drop of 50,000 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate to rise to 5 percent. (9)The 5.1 percent rate, while relatively modest by historical standards, was the highest in 2.5 years. (10)Job cuts in
43、 both January and February turned out to be even deeper. Employers got rid of 76,000 in each month. The elimination of 80,000 jobs in March was the most since March 2003, when the labor market was still struggling to recover from the 2001 recession. (11)The economy is suffering the effects of a hous
44、ing collapse, a credit crunch and a financial system in turmoil. Thats causing people and businesses to hunker down, crimping spending, capital investment and hiring. Those things in turn further weaken the economy in what has become a vicious cycle. (12)For the first time, Federal Reserve Chairman
45、Ben Bernanke acknowledged Wednesday that the country could be heading toward a recession, saying federal policymakers are “fighting against the wind“ in combating it. Many other economists and the public believe the recession already has arrived. (13)Bernanke wouldnt tip his hand about the Feds next
46、 move. However, many economists believe the central bank will lower interest rates again when they meet later this month, and they said Fridays employment report would justify another reduction perhaps by half a point. (14)The Fed has taken a number of extraordinary actions recently slashing interes
47、t rates, providing financial backing to JP Morgans takeover of troubled Bear Stearns and opening an emergency lending program for big investment houses. All the actions are ultimately aimed at limiting damage to the national economy. (15)With a public on edge, Congress, the White House and president
48、ial contenders are scrambling to come up with their own relief plans even as they engage in a political blame game. (16)In March, construction companies cut 51,000 jobs, factories eliminated 48,000 positions, retailers cut payrolls by more than 12,000. Professional and businesses services lost 35,00
49、0 jobs and temporary help firms cut nearly 22,000 jobs. Financial firms chopped 5,000 jobs. When government hiring was removed, the numbers looked even worse. Private employers shed 98,000 jobs in March. (17)With the pace of hiring slowing down, the number of unemployed people increased to 7.8 million in March; workers with jobs saw only modest wage gains at the same time. Average hourly earnings for jobholders rose to $17.86 in March, a 0.3 percent increase from the previous month. That matched economists forecasts.
