1、考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 121及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 In modern days, on the western bank of the upper Tigris River stands an Iraqi city called Qalat Sherqat. Thousands of years ago, this very site was once the capital of a great Mesopotamian empire. At the time, the place had a different name. It was
2、 called Ashur or Assur. The word Ashur eventually gave rise to the team Assyria, which was the northern part of Mesopotamia. People living in that region later became known as the Assyrians. Historians often divide the long history of Assyria into three periods even though they cannot reach a consen
3、sus over the exact dates of each era. The three periods was the Old Assyrian Period (circa 2000 B.C. 1400 B.C.), the Middle Assyrian Period (circa 1365 B.C. 1100 B.C.) and the Neo-Assyrian Empire (circa 934 B.C. 609 B.C.). Archaeological evidence showed that people began to settle in Ashur as early
4、as 2500 B.C. But it did not attain any political significance until the third dynasty of Ur collapsed in 2004 B.C. After that fiasco, the Assyrian transformed the Ashur into a bustling commercial center, controlling trade routes to and from Anatolia. In 1813 B.C., the first great Assyrian king, Sham
5、shi-Adad I, ascended the throne and began a series of military expansions. At the height of his reign, his kingdom owned the entire northern Mesopotamia. Its growing influence gave its neighbors plenty of reasons to be wary. While things were going splendidly for this Assyrian upstart, Shamshi-Adad
6、passed away in 1791 B.C. Soon after his death, the kingdom began to fall apart. Knowing that the Shamshi-Adads empire was on the verge of collapse, Hammurabi of the 1st dynasty of Babylon jumped at the chance and invaded the northern Mesopotami. He conquered Ashur in 1760 B.C. From that point on to
7、the middle of 1300s B.C., Assyria was reduced to a mere vassal state. At first, it had to answer to the 1st dynasty of Babylon. After that empire was eradicated, it turned to submit to a Hurrian kingdom called Mitanni. It was not until 1365 B.C. that Assayria, then ruled by Ashur-Uballit I, was able
8、 to regain its independence. For the next couple hundred years, Assyria grew increasingly powerful. It eventually defeated Babylonia and even occupied Egypt. 1 According to the article, the Assyrian lived in part of modern days _. （ A） Egypt （ B） India （ C） China （ D） Iraq 2 According to historians,
9、 the history of Assyria has lasted for about _. （ A） 4000 years （ B） 3800 years （ C） 3100 years （ D） 1400 years 3 It was during the reign of Shamshi-Adad I, the first great Assyrian king, that the Assyrians _. （ A） began to expand their empire with military forces （ B） began to open new trade routes
10、 （ C） began to encourage commercial activities （ D） began to establish diplomatic relations with other countries 4 During the reign of Shamshi-Adad I, the neighboring countries of Assyrian Empire _. （ A） all showed their respect （ B） all admired the achievements of Shamshi-Adad I （ C） all became vig
11、ilant and anxious （ D） all paid tribute to Shamshi-Adad I 5 In history, the Assyrians were once very powerful, and they even occupied _ at one stage. （ A） India （ B） Russia （ C） Egypt （ D） Greece 5 Thirty-one million Americans are over 60 years of age, and twenty-nine million of them are healthy, bu
12、sy, productive citizens. By the year 2030, one in every five people in the United States will be over 60. Elderly people are members of the fastest-growing minority in this country. Many call this the “graying of America“. In 1973, a group called the “Gray Panthers“ was organized. This group is made
13、 up of young and old citizens. They are trying to deal with the special problems of growing old in 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
14、elderly cant afford the food, clothing, and housing they need. Some old people are afraid and have 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
15、as possible. So, the Gray Panthers are looking for ways to solve the special problems of the elderly. 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 proble
16、ms she talks about is where and how elders live. She says that Americans do not encourage elders 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
17、of time talking to groups of older Americans. She encourages them to continue to live in their own 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. 6 What health problems do many
18、 elderly have ? （ A） They feel lonely. （ B） They are suffering from cancer. （ C） They cannot walk or see or hear well. （ D） They have got heart problems. 7 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） ar
19、e places where small children are taken care of 8 Maggie Kuhn travels across the United States in order to _ elders. （ A） collect money for （ B） show concerns for （ C） find houses for （ D） educate people to help 9 One of the problems Maggie Kuhn talks about is _. （ A） why elders should be taken care
20、 of （ B） where and how elders live （ C） who needs medical care （ D） how to improve education in the USA 10 Maggie Kuhn encourages elders to _. （ A） live in nursing homes （ B） travel more （ C） live with younger people （ D） do some house work 10 How men first learnt to invent words is unknown; in othe
21、r words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, 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 coul
22、d be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether 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
23、longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and the 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 po
24、werfully to our minds and emotions. This charming use of words is what we call literary style. 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 choo
25、se our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and dull. 11 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 yet solved 12 One of the reasons why men i
26、nvented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was that _. （ A） they could agree upon certain signs （ B） they could write them down （ C） they could communicate with each other （ D） they could combine them 13 What is true about the words ? （ A） They are used to express feelings only. （ B） The
27、y can not be written down. （ C） They are simply sounds. （ D） They are mysterious. 14 In expressing 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 15 Which of the following statements about the real
28、poet is NOT true ? （ A） He is no more a master of words than an ordinary person. （ B） He can convey his ideas in words which sing like music. （ C） He can move men to tears. （ D） His style is always charming. 15 Today is the anniversary of that afternoon in April a year ago that I first saw the stran
29、ge and appealing doll in the window of Abe Sheftels toy shop on Third Avenue near Fifteenth Street, just around the corner from my office, where the plate on the door reads: Dr. Samuel Amory. I remember just how it was that day: the first hint of spring floated across the East River, mixing with the
30、 soft-coal smoke from the factories and the street smells of the poor neighborhood. As I turned the corner on my way to work and came to Sheftels, I was made once more aware of the poor collection of toys in the dusty window, and I remembered the approaching birthday of a small niece of mine in Clev
31、eland, to whom I was in the habit of sending modest gifts. Therefore, I stopped and examined the window to see if there might be anything suitable, and looked at the confusing collection of unappealing objects a red toy fire engine, some lead soldiers, cheap baseballs, bottles of ink, pens, yellowed
32、 envelopes, and advertisements for soft drinks. And thus it was that my eyes eventually came to rest upon the doll stored away in one corner, a doll with the strangest, most charming expression on her face. I could not wholly make her out, due to the shadows and the film of dust through which I was
33、looking, but I was aware that a tremendous impression had been made upon me as though I had run into a person, as one does sometimes with a stranger, with whose personality one is deeply impressed. 16 What made an impression on the author? （ A） The dolls unusual face. （ B） The collection of toys. （
34、C） A stranger he met at the store. （ D） The resemblance of the doll to his niece. 17 Why does the author mention his niece? （ A） She likes dolls. （ B） The doll looks like her. （ C） She lives near Sheftels. （ D） He was looking for a gift for her. 18 Why did the author go past Sheftels? （ A） He was on
35、 his way to work. （ B） He was looking for a present for his niece. （ C） He wanted to buy some envelopes. （ D） He liked to look in the shop windows. 19 The story takes place in the _. （ A） early summer （ B） early spring （ C） midsummer （ D） late spring 20 Most of the things in the store window were _.
36、 （ A） expensive （ B） appealing （ C） neatly arranged （ D） unattractive 考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 121答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 1 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 分析文章第 1段，文中描述了 Qalat Sherqat是伊拉克的一个城市，它还有另外的一个名字， Ashur或 Assur， Assyrians在那里居住。因此，本题选 D。 2 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题考查对文章第 2段的把握。第 2段讲到，历史学家将历史划分了三个时期，这三个时期分别持续了 600、 265
37、、 325年，从公元前 2000年到公元前 609年，约有 1400年的历史。因此，本题选 D。 3 【正确答案】 A 【试题 解析】 通过阅读文章，文中第 3段第 3句中提到 “第一位伟大的亚述国王，沙姆什 阿达德一世登上了王位，并开始了一系列的军事扩张 ”。可知， A选项为此句的同义转换，因此，本题选 A。 4 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 文中第 3段第 5句提到， “它的影响力越来越大，这使得它的邻国变得越来越不安 ”。题干 C选项说 “都变得警惕和焦虑 ”符合文章意思，因此，本题选 C。 5 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 通过对文章最后一段最后一句的理解 “它最终打败巴比伦，甚至
38、占领了埃及 ”。可知， Assyrians最终占领了埃 及。本题选 C。 6 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 2段第 4句： The Gray Panthers know that many elderly people have health problems： some cannot walk well， others cannot see or hear well从中可知 C项是正确答案。 7 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 3段最后一句： only elders who need constant medical care should be
39、 in nursing homes从中可知 A项为正确答案。 8 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 3段第 2句： educating both young and old about the concerns of elders。从中可知， Maggie Kuhn走遍整个美国的目的是为了教育不同年龄层次的人去关心和帮助老年人。因此 D项为正确答案。 9 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是第 3段第 3句： One of the problems she talks about is where and how elders live。从中可知 B项为正确答案。
40、 10 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是最后一段的第 3、 4句： She encourages them to continue to live in their own houses if it is possible She also tells them that it is important to live with younger people and to have children around them。从中可知， Maggie Kuhn鼓励老年人与年轻人和小孩子共同生活。因此 C项为正确答案。 11 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章第 1段
41、第 1句： How men first learnt to invent words is unknown； in other words， the origin of language is a mystery。从中可知D项是正确答案。 12 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题可参照 第 1段第 2句，从 so that所引导的状语从句 so that they could communicate with each other可知， C项为正确答案。 13 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是第 1段最后一句话： Those sounds， whether spoken or
42、written in letters， we call words。从中可知， C项为正确答案。 A项不对，因为原文提过 express thoughts and feelings， actions and things。 B项中的not使这一选项与文中的事实相反， D项文中没有提及，原文只说过语言的起源是mystery，而不是语言本身。 14 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题可参照文章的最后一段。从中可知，一位真正的诗人 (the real poet)能把我们普通人感动得流泪，因此 B项为正确答案。 15 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题可参照文中最后一段的第 3句 Above al
43、l， the real poet is a master of words。而 A项与之不符。因此 A项为正确答案。 16 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题的依据句是文章最后一段中的两句： a doll with the strangest， most charming expression on her facea tremendous impression had been made upon me。因此 A项为正确答案。 17 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题可参照文章的第 2段。开始时作者说在上班的路上路过那家玩具店，而且当时碰巧想起每年要给自己的侄女买件生日礼物，而且他知道侄
44、女喜欢不太贵的玩具，因此才 停下来看看有没有合适的。这里提到侄女应该是作者为自己下一步的举动做出的一个铺垫。因此 D项为正确答案。 18 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题可参照文章的第 2段。开始时作者说在上班的路上路过那家玩具店，从中可知作者并非专门去玩具店买东西，只不过是路过而已。因此 A项为正确答案。 19 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 从文中第 1行中间的 in April和第 4行的 the first hint of spring可知， B项为正确答案。 20 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题的依据 是文章第 2段的 And looked at the confusing collection of unappealing objects。 unappealing和 D项中的 unattractive一样，意思都是 “不吸引人的 ”，因此 D为正确答案。
