1、厦门大学考博英语模拟试卷 4及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 If there is one thing scientists have to hear, it is that the game is over. Raised on the belief of an endless voyage of discovery, they recoil (畏缩 ) from the suggestion that most of the best things have already been located If they have, today s scien
2、tists can hope to contribute no more than a few grace notes to the symphony of science. A book to be published in Britain this week, The End of Science, argues persuasively that this is the case. Its author, John Horgan, is a senior writer for Scientific American magazine, who has interviewed many o
3、f todays leading scientists and science philosophers. The shock of realizing that science might be over came to him, he says, when he was talking to Oxford mathematician and physicist Sir Roger Penrose. The End of Science provoked a wave of denunciation (谴责 ) in the United States last year. “The rea
4、ction has been one of complete shock and disbelief, “ Mr. Horgan says. The real question is whether any remaining unsolved problems, of which there are plenty, lend themselves to universal solutions. If they do not, then the focus of scientific discovery is already narrowing. Since the triumphs of t
5、he 1960s the genetic code, plate tectonics (板块构造说 ), and the microwave background radiation that went a long way towards proving the Big Bang genuine scientific revolutions have been scarce. More scientists are now alive, spending more money on research, than ever. Yet most of the great discoveries
6、of the 19th and 20th centuries were made before the appearance of state sponsorship, when the scientific enterprise was a fraction of its present size. Were the scientists who made these discoveries brighter than todays? That seems unlikely. A far more reasonable explanation is that fundamental scie
7、nce has already entered a period of diminished returns. “Look, dont get me wrong, “ says Mr. Horgan. “There are lots of important things still to study, and applied science and engineering can go on for ever. I hope we get a cure for cancer, and for mental disease, though there are few real signs of
8、 progress. “ 1 The sentence “most of the best things have already been located“ could mean_. （ A） most of the best things have already been changed （ B） most of the best things remain to be changed （ C） there have never been so many best things waiting to be discovered （ D） most secrets of the world
9、 have already been discovered 2 John Horgan_.I. has published a book entitled The End of Science II. has been working as an editor of Scientific American III. has been working many years as a literary critic IV. is working as a science writer （ A） I and II （ B） I only （ C） I and IV （ D） I , II and I
10、V 3 There have not been many genuine scientific revolutions in the past few decades because_. （ A） there have been decreased returns in the research of fundamental science （ B） there are too many important things for scientists to study （ C） applied science and engineering take up too much time and
11、energy （ D） todays scientists are not as intelligent as those in the past 4 The term “the Big Bang“ probably refers to _. （ A） the genetic code theory （ B） a geological theory （ C） a theory of the origin of the universe （ D） the origin and the power of atomic energy 5 The best title of this passage
12、can be_. （ A） Great Scientific Discoveries Will Never Be Possible （ B） The Harsh Challenge Has to Be Met by Modern Scientists （ C） The State Sponsorship and Scientific Enterprise Are All in Vain （ D） The Chance for Great Scientific Discoveries Becomes Scarce 5 Astronaut Jim Voss has enjoyed many mem
13、orable moments in his career, including three space flights and one space walk. But he recalls with special fondness a decidedly earthbound (为地球引力所束缚的 ) experience in the summer of 1980, when he participated in the NASA-ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Voss, then a science teacher at West Poi
14、nt, was assigned to the Marshall Space Flight Centers propulsion (推 进 ) lab in Alabama to analyze why a hydraulic fuel pump seal on the space shuttle was working so well when previous seals had failed. It was a seemingly tiny problem among the vast complexities of running the space program. Yet it w
15、as important to NASA because any crack in the seal could have led to destructive results for the astronauts who relied on them. “I worked a bit with NASA engineers, “ says Voss, “but I did it mostly by analysis“. I used a handheld calculator, not a computer, to do a thermodynamic (热力学的 ) analysis. “
16、 At the end of the summer, he, like the other NASA-ASEE fellows working at Marshall, summarized his findings in a formal presentation and detailed paper, It was a valuable moment for Voss because the ASEE program gave him added understanding of NASA, deepened his desire to fly in space, and intensif
17、ied his application for astronaut status. “ It was not an easy process. Voss was actually passed over when he first applied for the astronaut program in 1978. Over the next nine years he reapplied repeatedly, and was finally accepted in 1987. Since then he has participated in three space missions. T
18、he 50-year-old Army officer, who lives in Houston, is now in training for a four-month mission as a crew member on the International Space Station starting in July 2000. Voss says the ASEE program is wonderful for all involved, “ It brings in people from the academic world and gives NASA a special p
19、roperty for a particular period of time. It brings some fresh eyes and fresh ideas to NASA, and establishes a link with our colleges and universities, “ Voss explains. “Theres an exchange of information and an exchange of perspectives that is very important. “ For the academic side, Voss says, the A
20、SEE program also “brings institutions of higher learning more insight into new technology. We give them an opportunity to work on real-world problems and take it back to the classroom“. 6 Why was the hydraulic fuel pump seal important for the space shuttle? （ A） Because previous seals all failed. （
21、B） Because it was very complex in running the space program. （ C） Because great care has to be taken of the hydraulic fuel pump sealing. （ D） Because any crack in the seals would cause disastrous results for the astronauts. 7 The great significance of Voss findings lies in_. I. strengthening his det
22、ermination to join in space flights II. furthering his understanding of NASA III. consolidating his astronaut status in NASA programs （ A） I only （ B） II only （ C） I , II and III all included （ D） I and. II only 8 How many flights will Voss have finished if his four-month mission starting in July 20
23、00 ends up successfully? （ A） Three. （ B） Two. （ C） Four. （ D） Five. 9 Which of the following is NOT true according to what Voss said on the ASEE program? （ A） Fresh members from the academic world participate in the program. （ B） The program brings new outlooks to NASA space programs. （ C） It is im
24、portant for the space scientists to exchange information and perspectives. （ D） American colleges and universities are special property of NASA. 10 What does Voss want to stress in the last paragraph? （ A） The technological significance of the program. （ B） The educational significance of the progra
25、m. （ C） The philosophical significance of the program. （ D） The historical significance of the program. 10 The current emergency in Mexico City that has taken, over our lives is nothing. I could ever have imagined for me or my children. We are living in an environmental crisis, an air-pollution emer
26、gency of unprecedented severity. What it really means is that just to breathe here is to play a dangerous game with your health. As parents, what terrorizes us most are reports that children are at higher risk because they breathe more times per minute. What more can we do to protect them and oursel
27、ves? Our pediatricians (儿科医师的 ) medical recommendation was simple; abandon the city permanently. We are foreigners and we are among the small minority that can afford to leave. We are here because of my husbands work. We are fascinated by Mexico its history and rich culture. We know that for us, thi
28、s is a temporary danger. However, we cannot stand for much longer the fear we feel for our boys. We cannot stop them from breathing. But for millions, there is no choice. Their lives, their jobs, their futures depend on being here. Thousands of Mexicans arrive each day in this city, desperate for ec
29、onomic opportunities. Thousands more are bom here each day. Entire families work in the streets and practically live there. It is a familiar sight; as parents hawk goods at stoplights, their children play in the grassy highway dividers, breathing exhaust fumes. I feel guilty complaining about my per
30、sonal situation; we wont be here long enough for our children to form the impression that skies are colored only gray. And yet the government cannot do what it must to end this problem. For any country, especially a developing Third World economy like Mexico, the idea of barring from the capital cit
31、y enough cars, closing e-nough factories and spending the necessary billions on public transportation is simply not an option. So when things get bad, as in the current emergency, Mexico takes half measures prohibiting some more cars from circulating, stopping some factories from producing that even
32、 its own officials concede arent adequate. The word “emergency“ implies the unusual. But when daily life itself is an emergency, the concept loses its meaning. It is human nature to try to adapt to that which we cannot change or to mislead ourselves into believing we can adapt. 11 According to the p
33、assage, the current emergency in Mexico City refers to_. （ A） serious air pollution （ B） economic crisis （ C） unemployment （ D） natural disaster 12 Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? （ A） Kids are in greater danger than grown-ups in Mexico City. （ B） The author i
34、s not a native Mexican. （ C） The authors husband is a pediatrician. （ D） The Mexican history and culture appeal to the author. 13 The word “hawk“ (Paragraph 3) most probably means_. （ A） sell （ B） transport （ C） place （ D） deliver 14 The Mexican government takes half measures to solve the pollution
35、problem because_. （ A） Mexican economy depends very much on cars and factories （ B） it is not wise enough to come up with effective measures （ C） Mexicans are able to adapt themselves to the current emergency （ D） Mexicans enjoy playing dangerous games with their health 15 The purpose of the passage
36、 is to_. （ A） describe the harmful air pollution （ B） explain the way to prevent air pollution （ C） show the worries about the air pollution （ D） recommend a method to avoid air pollution 15 Every morning, Allie wakes up and accompanies her friend to the washroom. She turns on the light, soaps up a
37、washcloth, and begins cleaning her friends face. Is Anie an extremely devoted companion? Yes! Allie is a capuchin monkey who helps her disabled friend perform everyday tasks. Monkeys like Allie are just one of many kinds of animals that help improve or even save human lives. But not all animals are
38、suited to do every job. Certain animals are “ hired“ for specific jobs based on their traits, or characteristics. By using different methods of conditioning (training animals to act in a particular way in response to a stimulus, or signal), humans can teach animals toper form extraordinary tasks. Th
39、roughout history, humans have relied on animals traits to get certain jobs done. For example, compared with humans, dogs are “far superior at tracking down odors“ , says Marian Bailey, an animal behav-iorist at Henderson State University in Arkansas. Thats because dogs have million of olfactory rece
40、ptors, or smell nerves, in their noses. For that reason, hunters used dogs to track down prey even in ancient Egypt Today, dogs my be employed to sniff out illegal substances in school lockers or earthquake victims buried beneath the rubble of the collapsed building or highway. Primates may not be g
41、ood sinffers, but they can certainly lend a helping hand or two. Monkeys are perfect helpmates for quadriplegics, people paralyzed from the neck down who are unable to use their own hands (and legs). Like humans, explains Bailey monkeys have opposable thumbs thumbs that face the hands other fingers
42、so monkeys can pick up objects. Capuchins learn to open doors, clean up spills, and unscrew bottle tops. They can even get a sandwich out of the refrigerator and load your favorite tape into the VCR. And speaking of VCRs, animals are even helping scientists make a videotape. Jennifer Hurley, an anim
43、al researcher at the Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz, California, is training two sea lions to carry video cameras on their backs to record the natural behavior of whales. So how do you get an animal employee to do its job? The answer, career-training. Trainers teach the animals to obey their instruct
44、ions through a process called conditioning. Most trainers condition animals by using positive reinforcement, rewarding an animal for doing something correctly, says animal behaviorist Bailey. For example, trainers teach their dogs how to sniff out drugs by hiding a towel with the smell of drugs. “Do
45、gs love to retrieve objects so the towel becomes a reward“ , says Morris Berkowitz, who heads up a canine drug-sniffing program in New York. After repeating this game of hide-and-seek many times, the dog begins to “associate the odor with a reward“ , says Berkowitz. When he gives the command, or sti
46、mulus, the dog seeks cot drugs (its like learning to study hard for a tests in order to get a good grade as a reward. ) At “Helping Hands Monkey Helpers for the Disabled“ , capuchin monkeys are trained twice before being teamed with a disabled human. First, monkeys are placed with a foster family to
47、 become socialized to people. For five years, families help the monkeys adapt to a human environment, so the monkeys will trust and enjoy being around people. Taking the monkeys in when theyre four to six weeks old is important, says Bailey. “Thats when monkeys normally become socialized to other mo
48、nkeys, “ she says. Second, trainers at Helping Hands train the monkeys to perform specific tasks to assist a particular person. For example, a monkey may be trained to scratch an itch, or slip a floppy disc into a computer dive. Trainers reward the monkeys by using positive reinforcement, such as fo
49、od, drinks. Directions: The passage below summarizes the main points of the passage. Read the summary and then select the best word or phrase from the box blow, according to the passage. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Allie is a capuchin【 B1】 _who helps her disabled friend perform everyday tasks. Allie is a( n) 【 B2】 _of many animals who can be【 B3】 _to do certain jobs. Besi
