1、考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 120及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain. Its first use was as a shade against the sun. Nobody knows who first invented it, but the um
2、brella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, way back in the eleventh century B.C. We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor and authority.
3、In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices. In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use
4、the umbrella as protection against rain were the ancient Romans. During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it was considered a symbol of power and authority. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in Fran
5、ce and later on in England. By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe. Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasnt until the twentieth century that womens umbrellas began to be m
6、ade in a whole variety of colors. 1 The first use of umbrella was as _. （ A） protection against rain （ B） a shade against the sun （ C） a symbol of power （ D） a symbol of honor 2 _were the people who first used umbrellas. （ A） Chinese （ B） Romans （ C） Greeks （ D） Egyptians 3 The umbrella was used onl
7、y by royalty or by those in high offices _. （ A） in Europe in the 18th century （ B） in ancient Egypt and Babylon （ C） in the Far East in ancient times （ D） during the Middle Ages 4 According to the passage, which of the following is not true? （ A） Women enjoy using umbrellas with varied kinds of col
8、ors nowadays. （ B） The inventor of the umbrella is unknown. （ C） Once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas. （ D） Umbrellas were popular and cheap in ancient times. 5 Which of the following is the best title of the passage? （ A） When Was the Umbrella Invented? （ B） The History of Umbrella （
9、C） Umbrella A Symbol of Honor （ D） Who Used Umbrella First? 5 Adam Smith, writing in the 1770s, was the first person to see the importance of the division of labor and to explain part of its advantages. He gives as an example the process by which pins were made in England. “One man draws out the wir
10、e; another strengthens it; a third cuts it; a fourth points it; a fifth grinds it at the top to prepare it to receive the head. To make the head requires two or three operations. To put it on is a separate operation, to polish the pins is another. And the important business of making pins is, in thi
11、s manner, divided into about eighteen operations, which in some factories are all performed by different people, though in others the same man will sometimes perform two or three of them.“ Ten men, Smith said, in this way, turned out twelve pounds of pins a day or about 4,800 pins per worker. But if
12、 all of them had worked separately and independently without division of labor, none of them could have made twenty pins in a day and perhaps not even one. There can be no doubt that division of labor is an efficient way of organizing work. Fewer people can make more pins. Adam Smith saw this but he
13、 also took it for granted that division of labor is in itself responsible for economic growth and development and that it accounts for the difference between expanding economies and those that stand still. But division of labor adds nothing new; it only enables people to produce more of what they al
14、ready have. 6 According to the passage, Adam Smith was the first person to _. （ A） take advantage of the division of labor （ B） introduce the division of labor into England （ C） understand the effects of the division of labor （ D） explain the causes of the division of labor 7 Adam Smith saw that the
15、 division of labor _. （ A） enabled each worker to make pins more quickly and more cheaply （ B） increased the possible output per worker （ C） increased the number of people employed in factories （ D） improved the quality of pins produced 8 Adam Smith mentioned the number 4,800 in order to _. （ A） sho
16、w the advantages of the division of labor （ B） show the advantages of the old craft system （ C） emphasize how powerful the individual worker was （ D） emphasize the importance of increased production 9 According to the writer, Adam Smiths mistake was in believing that division of labor _. （ A） was an
17、 efficient way of organizing work （ B） was an important development in methods of production （ C） certainly led to economic development （ D） increased the production of existing goods 10 Which of the following could serve as an appropriate title for the passage? （ A） Adam Smith, the English Economis
18、t （ B） The Theory of Division of Labor （ C） Division of Labor, an Efficient Way of Organizing Work （ D） Adam Smith, the Last Discoverer of Division of Labor 10 With the start of BBC World Service Television, millions of viewers in Asia and America can now watch the Corporations news coverage, as wel
19、l as listen to it. And of course in Britain listeners and viewers can tune in to two BBC television channels, five BBC national radio services and dozens of local radio station. They are brought sport, comedy, drama, music, news and current affairs, education, religion, parliamentary coverage, child
20、rens programmes and films for an annual licence fee of 83 pounds per household. It is a remarkable record, stretching back over 70 years yet the BBCs future is now in doubt. The Corporation will survive as a publicly-funded broadcasting organization, at least for the time being, but its role, its si
21、ze and its programmes are now the subject of a nation-wide debate in Britain. The debate was launched by the Government, which invited anyone with an opinion of the BBC including ordinary listeners and viewers to say what was good or bad about the Corporation, and even whether they thought it was wo
22、rth keeping. The reason for its inquiry is that the BBCs royal charter runs out in 1996 and it must decide whether to keep the organization as it is, or to make changes. Defenders of the Corporation of whom there are many are fond of quoting the American slogan “If it aint broke, dont fix it.“ The B
23、BC “aint broke“, they say, by which they mean it is not broken (as distinct from the word “broke“, meaning having no money), so why bother to change it? Yet the BBC will have to change, because the broadcasting world around it is changing. The commercial TV channels TV and Channel 4 were required by
24、 the Thatcher Governments Broadcasting Act to become more commercial, competing with each other for advertisers, and cutting costs and jobs. But it is the arrival of new satellite channelsfunded partly by advertising and partly by viewers subscriptions-which will bring about the biggest changes in t
25、he long term. 11 The world famous BBC now faces _. （ A） the problem of new coverage （ B） an uncertain prospect （ C） inquiries by the general public （ D） shrinkage of audience 12 In the passage, which of the following about the BBC is not mentioned as the key issue? （ A） Extension of its TV service t
26、o Far East. （ B） Programmes as the subject of a nation-wide debate. （ C） Potentials for further international co-operations. （ D） Its existence as a broadcasting organization. 13 The BBCs “royal charter“ (Line 4, Para. 4) stands for _. （ A） the financial support from the royal family （ B） the privil
27、eges granted by the Queen （ C） a contract with the Queen （ D） a unique relationship with the royal family 14 The foremost reason why the BBC has to readjust itself is no other than （ A） the emergence of commercial TV channels （ B） the enforcement of Broadcasting Act by the government （ C） the urgent
28、 necessity to reduce costs and jobs （ D） the challenge of new satellite channels 14 The United States is a country made up of many different races. Usually they are mixed together and cant be told from one another. But many of them still talk about where their ancestors came from. It is something th
29、ey are proud of. The original Americans, of course were the Indians. The so-called white men who then came were mostly from England. But many came from other countries like Germany and France. One problem the United States has always had is discrimination. As new groups came to the United States the
30、y found they were discriminated against. First it was the Irish and Italians. Later it was the blacks. Almost every group has been able to finally escape this discrimination. The only immigrants who have not are the blacks. Surprisingly enough the worst discrimination today is shown towards the Indi
31、ans. One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity. Of course they are not the only ones who have done so. The Japanese have their Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and the Chinese a Chinatown in New York. The Dutch settlement in Pennsylvania also
32、stays separate from other people. Their towns are like something from the 19th century. They have a different reason from the other groups for staying separately. They live separately for religious reasons rather than keep together in a racial group. Although some groups have kept themselves separat
33、e and others have been discriminated against, all groups have helped make the United States a great county. There is no group that has not helped in some way. And there is no group that can say they have done the most to make it a great country. Many people still come from other countries to help th
34、e United States grow. A good example is the American project that let a man walk on the moon. It was a scientist from Germany who was most responsible for doing that. It is certain that in the future the United States will still need the help of people from all racial groups to remain a great countr
35、y. 15 Which of the following statements can best describe the main idea of this passage? （ A） The United States is a country made up of many different races. （ B） Discrimination is the most serious problem in the United States. （ C） All races in the United States have helped make the country a great
36、 one. （ D） The prosperity of the United States is mainly due to the hard work of the most discriminated races. 16 In the first paragraph the word “told“ means _. （ A） separated （ B） distinguished （ C） revealed （ D） made known 17 This passage implies that discrimination is a problem which _. （ A） man
37、y races in the United States have experienced （ B） will still be very serious in the United States in the future （ C） has already been solved in the United States （ D） is strongly opposed by many different races in the United States 18 The main reason why the Indians are most discriminated against i
38、s that _. （ A） they have tried hard to keep their religions （ B） they have tried hard to live together to keep their Indian customs （ C） they are the only ones who have tried to keep their identity （ D） they discriminate many other races 19 The Dutch live separately in Pennsylvania _. （ A） to escape
39、 discrimination （ B） to keep together in a racial group （ C） to enjoy themselves in their own towns （ D） for religious reasons 考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 120答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 1 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是第 1段最后一句： Its first use was a shade against the sun。因此 B项为正确答案。 2 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 2段最后一句
40、： Probably the first to use it were the Chinese，因此 A项为正确答案。 3 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 3段最后一句： In the Far East in ancient times， the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices。因此 C项为正确答案。 4 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 综观全文，只有 D项文中并未提及，因此 D项是正确答案。 5 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 从文中内容可知，作者是在
41、按照时间顺序讲述伞的历史，因此 B项是正 确答案。 6 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据。是文章第 1段第 1句： was the first person to see the importance of the division of labor and to explain part of its advantages。 C项中的understand等于原文中的 see，因此 C项为正确答案。 7 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题可参照文章的第 3段。从中可知，通过分工合作工人们能极大地提高产量。因此正确答案为 B项。 8 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题可参照此段下一
42、句： without division of labor， none of them could have made twenty pins in a day and perhaps not even one。从中可知，作者用这一数字显示分工的优越性。因此 A项为正确答案。 9 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据是文章最后一段的第 3句： Adam Smith saw this but he also took it for granted that和文章的最后一句 But division of labor adds nothing new； it only enables peop
43、le to produce more of what they already have。因此 C项是正确答案。 10 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 从文中内容可知， A项不够全面，作者并非是在介绍这位经济学家。 B项不适合，文章主要是讲分工，但重点不在理论研究方面，而是用实例说明分工怎样提高了劳动效率。 D项是明显错误的，因为文章说 Adam Smith是第一个 提出分工理论的人，而不是最后一个。因此 C项是正确答案。 11 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 从文章第 1段的内容可知，随着 BBC(英国广播公司 )国际电视服务节目的开播，亚洲和美洲数以百万计的人不仅可以收听还可以收看到该公司
44、新闻报道，据此可知 A项的 “新闻报道范围的问题 ”和 D项 “观众人数的减少 ”不是 BBC现在面临的问题。 C项不正确，文中第 4段提到了 “调查、质询 ”，但那是政府为了解普通大众的意见所采取的行动，并不是 BBC现在面临的问题。从文章第 3段的内容可知，不过，如今的 BBC前途悬而未决。据此可知，现 在的 BBC前途不确定。 B项的 “不确定的前途 ”与文中的 “the BBCs future is now in doubt(如今，BBC的前途悬而未决 )”的意思相符，因此 B项为正确答案。 12 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题中， C项的 “进一步加强国际合作的潜力 ”有文中没
45、有提到。从文章第 3段第 2句可知，该公司将作为政府基金资助的广播机构而幸存，至少目前是这样，但是它的作用、规模以及它的节目成为现阶段整个英国争论的话题。据此可知， BBC的生存方式、作用、规模以及它的节目都是目前的关键问题。这说明 A项 “把其电视覆盖范围拓展到远东 ”、 B项 “节目成为全国争论的话题 ”和 D项 “作为广播机构的存在 ”三项之意都是文中所说的关键问题。因此正确答案为C。 13 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题中， A、 B、 D三项都与文意不符。从文章第 4段的最后一句可知，政府做这样的调查的原因是一一 BBC持有的皇家契约将于 1996年到期，政府必须决定是维持该公
46、司的原状还是实行改革。据此可知， “royal charter”应该是指 “BBC与皇家签订的合约 ”。 C项的 “指的是与女王签订的合约 ”与文中 “the BBCs royal charter runs out (BBC持有的皇家契约将到期 )”的意思相符，因此 C项为正确答案。 14 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题中， A、 B、 C三项都不是主要原因。从文章最后一段的内容可知，然而 BBC将不得不实行改革，因为其周边的广播业正在发生变革；撒切尔政府的广播法案要求商业电视频道更加商业化，要它们互相竞争广告商，要它们降低成本，裁减员工；但是，从长远来看，正是新卫星频道的出现 部分资金
47、来自于广告收入，部分来自于用户的收视费，才会带来最大的变革。据此可知， BBC不得不重新自 我调整的主要原因是新卫星频道的出现。 D项的 “新卫星频道的挑战 ”与文中的 “the arrival of new satellite channels will bring about the biggest changes in the long term(从长远来看，新卫星频道的出现才会带来最大的变革 )”的意思相符，因此 D项为正确答案。 15 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题可参照文章的第 5段。从中可知，美国所有的种族都为建设美国做出了贡献，体现了文章的中心思想，因此 C项为正确答案。
48、 16 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 文中原句是： Usually they are mixed together and cant be told from one another。 told是 tell的过去分词，常与 can， could， be able to连用，意思是 “辨别，分辨，认出 ”。因此 B项为正确答案。 17 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文中第 3段的 As new groups came to the United States they found they were discriminated against First.Later.Almos
49、t every group has been able to finally escape this discrimination。因此 A是正确答案。 18 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是第 4段第 1、 2句： One reason the Indians are discriminated against is that they have tried so hard to keep their identity Of course they are not the only ones who have done so，从中可知 C项为正确答案。 19 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是第 4段最后一句： They live separately for religious reasons rather than keep together in a racial group。从中可知，荷兰人自成一体是出于宗教的原因，因此 D项为正确答案。
