1、北京理工大学考博英语模拟试卷 2及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 At the fall 2001 Social Science History Association convention in Chicago, the Crime and Justice network sponsored a forum on the history of gun ownership, gun use, and gun violence in the United States. Our purpose was to consider how social science
2、 history might contribute to the public debate over gun control and gun rights. To date, we have had little impact on that debate. It has been dominated by mainstream social scientists and historians, especially scholars such as Gary Kleck, John Lott, and Michael Bellesiles, whose work, despite prof
3、ound flaws, is politically congenial to either opponents or proponents of gun control. Kleck and Mark Gertz, for instance, argue on the basis of their widely cited survey that gun owners prevent numerous crimes each year in the United States by using firearms to defend themselves and their property.
4、 If their survey respondents are to be believed, American gun owners shot 100, 000 criminals in 1994 in self-defense a preposterous number. Lott claims on the basis of his statistical analysis of recent crime rates that laws allowing private individuals to carry concealed firearms deter murders, rap
5、es, and robberies, because criminals are afraid to attack potentially armed victims. However, he biases his results by confining his analysis to the year between 1977 and 1992, when violent crime rates had peaked and varied little from year to year. He reports only regression models that support his
6、 thesis and neglects to mention that each of those models find a positive relationship between violent crime and real income, and an inverse relationship between violent crime and unemployment. Contrary to Kleck and Lott, Bellesiles insists that guns and Americas “gun culture“ are responsible for Am
7、ericas high rates of murder. In Bellevilles opinion, relatively few Americans owned guns before the 1850s or know how to use, maintain, or repair them. As a result, he says, guns contributed little to the homicide rate, especially among white, which was low everywhere, even in the South and on the f
8、rontier, where historians once assume guns and murder went hand in hand. According to Bellesiles, these patterns changed dramatically after the Mexican War and especially after the Civil War, when gun ownership became widespread and cultural changes encouraged the use of handguns to command respect
9、and resolve personal and political disputes. The result was an unprecedented wave of gun-related homicides that never truly abated. To this day, the United States has the highest homicide rate of any industrial democracy. Bellevilles low estimates of gun ownership in early America conflict, however,
10、 with those of every historian who has previously studied the subject and have thus far proven irreproducible. Every homicide statistic he presents is either misleading or wrong. Given the influence of Kleck, kott, Bellesiles and other partisan scholars on the debate over gun control and gun rights,
11、 we felt a need to pull together what social science historians have learned to date about the history of gun ownership and gun violence in America, and to consider what research methods and projects might increase our knowledge in the near future. 1 Which of following statements is true about the p
12、ublic debate over gun network? （ A） It has little influence on the forum sponsored by the Crime and Justice network. （ B） Neither supporters nor opponents of gun control cite the works of scholars. （ C） The works of mainstream social scientists have great impact on it. （ D） Many social science histo
13、rians have so far failed to take part in it. 2 The author mentions Kleck, kott, and Bellesiles mainly to _. （ A） illustrate the influence they have on the issue of gun control （ B） refute the claim that private ownership of firearms will deter violent crimes （ C） support the thesis that gun ownershi
14、p leads to more violence （ D） demonstrate why research methods should be improved in the study of the gun ownership history 3 The authors main criticism of John kott is that he _. （ A） advocates private ownership of firearms （ B） is not objective in his analysis （ C） has analyzed a wrong period （ D）
15、 has cited dubious statistics 4 With which of the following will Bellesiles most probably agree? （ A） Gun control should be tightened. （ B） Guns have little to do with murder. （ C） Gun culture was the result of high homicide rates in America. （ D） The statistics that earlier historians produced of g
16、un ownership is reliable. 5 The passage is primarily concerned with _. （ A） resolving a public dispute over gun control （ B） describing the effects of earlier studies on gun control （ C） analyzing the flaws in the previous theories about gun control （ D） summarizing the recent development in the stu
17、dies of gun control 5 Fear and its companion pain are two of the most useful things that men and animals possess, if they are properly used. If fire did not hurt when it burnt, children would play it until their hands were burnt away. Similarly, if pain existed but fear did not, a child would burn i
18、tself again and again, because fear would not warn it to keep away from the fire that had burn it before. A really fearless soldier-and some do exist-is not a good soldier because he is soon killed; and a dead soldier is of no use to his army. Fear and pain are therefore two guards without which men
19、 and animals might soon die out. In our first sentence we suggested that fear ought to be properly used. if, for example, you never go out of your house because of the danger of being knocked down and killed in the street by a car, you are letting fear rule you too much. Even in your house you are n
20、ot absolutely safe: an airplane may crash on your house, or ants may eat away some of the beams in your roof so that the latter falls on you, or you may get cancer! The important thing is not to let fear rule you, but instead to use fear as your servant and guide. Fear will warn you of dangers; then
21、 you have to decide what action to take. In many cases, you can take quick and successful action to avoid the danger. For example, you see a car coming straight towards you; fear warns you, you jump out of the way, and all is well. In some cases, however, you decide that there is nothing that you ca
22、n do to avoid the danger. For example, you cannot prevent an airplane crashing onto your house. In this case, fear has given you its warning; you have examined it and decided on your course, of action, so fear of this particular danger is no longer of any use to you, and you have to try to overcome
23、it. 6 Children would play with fire until their hands were burnt away if _. （ A） they were given no warning beforehand （ B） they had never burnt themselves （ C） they had no sense of pain （ D） they were fearful of the fare 7 A really fearless soldier _. （ A） is of little use to the army （ B） is witho
24、ut equal （ C） is nothing but a dead soldier （ D） easily gets killed in a battle 8 Fear should be used properly because _. （ A） an airplane may crash on your house （ B） you may get cancer （ C） fear can only be used as a servant and guide （ D） men are now letting fear rule them too much 9 People somet
25、imes succeed in timely avoiding danger because _. （ A） they have gained experience （ B） they jump out of the way in time （ C） they are calm in face of danger （ D） they are warned of the danger and can take quick action 10 Implied but not stated: _. （ A） Fear is always something helpful. （ B） Too muc
26、h fear is harmful. （ C） Fear ought to be used as a servant and guide. （ D） Fear is something unprofitable. 10 Thirty-one million Americans are over 60 years of age, and twenty-nine million of them are healthy, busy, productive citizens. By the year 2030, one in every five people in the United States
27、 will be over 60. People are members of the fastest-growing minority in this country. Many call this the “graying of America“. In D73, a group called the “Gray Panthers“ was organized. This group is made up of young and old citizens. They are trying to deal with the special problems of growing old i
28、n America. The Gray Panthers know that many elderly people have health problems; some cannot walk well, others cannot see or hear well. Some have financial problems; prices are going up so fast that the elderly cant afford the food, clothing, and housing they need. Some old people are afraid and hav
29、e safety problems. Others have emotional problems. Many elderly are lonely because of the death of a husband or a wife. The Gray Panthers know another fact, too. Elderly people want to be as independent as possible. So, the Gray Panthers are looking for ways to solve the special problems of the elde
30、rly. The president of the Gray Panthers is Maggie Kuhn, an active woman in her late 70s. She travels across the United States, educating both young and old about the concerns of elders. One of the problems she talks about is where and how elders live. She says that Americans do not encourage elders
31、to live with younger people. As far as Maggie Kuhn is concerned, only elders who need constant medical care should be in nursing homes. Maggie Kuhn knows that elders need education, too. She spends lots of time talking to groups of older Americans. She encourages them to continue to live in their ow
32、n houses if it is possible. She also tells them that it is important to live with younger people and to have children around them. This helps elders to stay young at heart. 11 What health problems do many elderly have? （ A） They feel lonely. （ B） They are suffering from cancer. （ C） They cannot walk
33、 or see or hear well. （ D） They have got heart problems. 12 Nursing homes _. （ A） are good for elders who need constant medical care （ B） help keep elders young （ C） are set up for training nurses （ D） are places where small children are taken care of 13 Maggie Kuhn travels across the United States
34、in order to _ elders. （ A） collect money for （ B） show concerns for （ C） find houses for （ D） educate people to help 14 One of the problems Maggie Kuhn talks about is _. （ A） why elders should be taken care of （ B） where and how elders live （ C） who needs medical care （ D） how to improve education i
35、n the USA 15 Maggie Kuhn encourages elders to _. （ A） live in nursing homes （ B） travel more （ C） live with younger people （ D） do some house work 15 How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals,
36、somehow invented certain sound to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whethe
37、r spoken or written in letters, we call words. The power of words, then, lies in their associations-the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and t
38、he more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases. Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming use of words is what we call literary style.
39、 Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and dull. 1
40、6 The origin of language is _. （ A） a legend handed down from the past （ B） a matter that is hidden secretly （ C） a question difficult to answer （ D） a problem not vet solved 17 One of the reasons why men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was that _. （ A） they could agree upon
41、certain signs （ B） they could write them down （ C） they could communicate with each other （ D） they could combine them 18 What is true about the words? （ A） They are used to express feelings only. （ B） They can not be written down. （ C） They are simply sounds. （ D） They are mysterious. 19 In express
42、ing their thoughts, great writers are able _. （ A） to confuse the readers （ B） to move men to tears （ C） to move our actions （ D） to puzzle our feelings 20 Which of the following statements about the real poet is NOT true.? （ A） He is no more a master of words than an ordinary person. （ B） He can co
43、nvey his ideas in words which sing like music. （ C） He can move men to tears. （ D） His style is always charming. 二、 English-Chinese Translation 21 The recovery of the US economy during the first quarter of this year has been so spectacular that it is creating a new set of risks for financial markets
44、. The great new risks now facing the US economy center on monetary policy and the oil market. 22 The current federal funds interest rate of only 1.75 percent has clearly become unsustainable in view of the economys resilience. The Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by at least 0.25 percentage
45、 points during the second quarter and could increase short-term interest rates to at least 3 percent before the autumn-the level they were at before September 23 Such tightening would probably cause refinancing to slump to about $ 300 billion at annual rates late this year, which would eliminate cap
46、ital gains as a prop for consumer spending. Rising interest rates could also clamp the rally likely to occur in the equity market as corporate profits recover. If investment spending fails to revive, the economy s annual growth rate could slide back to the 2 3 percent. 24 The oil price is also a big
47、 risk, mainly because the Bush administration appears determined to attack Iraq. The probability of war could easily push the oil price back into the $ 35 $ 40 a barrel range for at least a few months. In effect, that would impose a big new tax on consumer spending and corporate profits. The prospec
48、t of monetary tightening and a sharp increase in the oil price suggests that late 2002 and early 2003 could be a period of great volatility for the US economy. 三、 Chinese-English Translation 25 陆地交通的形式，与其说取决于技术，不如说取决于政治、经济和环境方面的考虑。我们现在就可以建造更坚固、更安静、更防滑的道路，但却不建，因为费用太高。我们可以在高速公路两旁安装隔音板并且设计出尾气少、轮胎噪音低的卡车，从而使交通噪音减半，但我们不愿意掏这笔钱。环保游说者们已对汽车厂商产生了巨大影响，对尾气排放的控翩已经严格了许多，但是在控制空气污染方面仍然任重而道远。 四、 Writing 26 Write a composition of at least 250 words on the given topic “My idea of the future world“ with the following outline. Present your argument with supporting details. 北京理工大学考博英语模拟试卷 2答案与解析
