1、考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 72及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 It was 3:45 in the morning when the vote was finally taken. After six months of arguing and final 16 hours of hot parliamentary debates, Australias Northern Territory became the first legal authority in the world to allow doctors to take the lives o
2、f incurably ill patients who wish to die. The measure passed by the convincing vote of 15 to 10. Almost immediately word flashed on the Internet and was picked up, half a world away, by John Hofsess, executive director of the Right to Die Society of Canada. He sent it on via the groups on line servi
3、ce, Death NET. Says Hofsess: “We posted bulletins all day long, because of course this isnt just something that happened in Australia. Its world history.“ The full import may take a while to sink in. The NT Rights of the Terminally III law has left physicians and citizens alike trying to deal with i
4、ts moral and practical implications. Some have breathed sighs of relief, others, including churches, right to life groups and the Australian Medical Association, bitterly attacked the bill and the haste of its passage. But the tide is unlikely to turn back. In Australia where an aging population, li
5、fe extending technology and changing community attitudes have all played their part other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia In the U.S. and Canada, where the right to die movement is gathering strength, observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling.
6、Under the new Northern Territory law, an adult patient can request death probably by a deadly injection or pill to put an end to suffering. The patient must be diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors. After a “cooling off“ period of seven days, the patient can sign a certificate of request. After
7、 48 hours the wish for death can be met. For Lloyd Nickson, a 54 year old Darwin resident suffering from lung cancer, the NT Rights of Terminally III law means he can get on with living without the haunting fear of his suffering: a terrifying death from his breathing condition. “Im not afraid of dyi
8、ng from a spiritual point of view, but what I was afraid of was how Id go, because Ive watched people die in the hospital fighting for oxygen and clawing at their masks,“ he says. 1 From the second paragraph we learn that_. （ A） the objection to euthanasia is slow to come in other countries （ B） phy
9、sicians and citizens share the same view on euthanasia （ C） changing technology is chiefly responsible for the hasty passage of the law （ D） it takes time to realize the significance of the laws passage 2 When the author says that observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling, he means_. （
10、 A） observers are taking a wait and see attitude towards the future of euthanasia （ B） similar bills are likely to be passed in the U.S., Canada and other countries （ C） observers are waiting to see the result of the game of dominoes （ D） the effect taking process of the passed bill may finally come
11、 to a stop 3 When Lloyd Nickson dies, he will_. （ A） face his death with calm characteristic of euthanasia （ B） experience the suffering of a lung cancer patient （ C） have an intense fear of terrible suffering （ D） undergo a cooling off period of seven days 4 The authors attitude towards euthanasia
12、seems to be that of_. （ A） opposition （ B） suspicion （ C） approval （ D） indifference 4 A report consistently brought back by visitors to the U.S. is how friendly, courteous, and helpful most Americans were to them. To be fair, this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians, and sho
13、uld best be considered North American. There are, of course, exceptions. Small minded officials, rude waiters, and ill mannered taxi drivers are hardly unknown in the U.S Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment. For a long period of time and in many parts of the country,
14、 a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dull existence. Dullness and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from one another. Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion, and brought news of the outside world. The harsh realities of the fron
15、tier also shaped this tradition of hospitality. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured, or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers. It reflected the harshn
16、ess of daily life: if you didnt take in the stranger and take care of him, there was no one else who would, and someday, remember, you might be in the same situation. Today there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the weary traveler. Yet, the old tradition of hospitality t
17、o strangers is still very strong in the U.S., especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy tourist trails. “I was just traveling through, got talking with this American, and pretty soon he invited me home for dinner amazing.“ Such observations reported by visitors to the U.S. are no
18、t uncommon, but are not always understood properly. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result of a historically developed cultural tradition. As is true of any developed society, in America a complex set of cultural si
19、gnals, assumptions, and conventions underlies all social interrelationships. And, of course, speaking a language does not necessarily meant that someone understands social and cultural patterns. Visitors who fail to “translate“ cultural meanings properly often draw wrong conclusions. For example, wh
20、en an American uses the word “friend“, the cultural implications of the word may be quite different from those it has in the visitors language and culture. It takes more than a brief encounter on a bus to distinguish between courteous convention and individual interest. Yet, being friendly is a virt
21、ue that many American value highly and expect from both neighbors and strangers. 5 In the eyes of visitors from the outside world,_. （ A） rude taxi drivers are rarely seen in the U.S. （ B） small minded officials deserve a serious comment （ C） Canadians are not so friendly as their neighbors （ D） mos
22、t Americans are ready to offer help 6 It could be inferred from the last paragraph that_. （ A） culture exercises an influence over social interrelationship （ B） courteous convention and individual interest are interrelated （ C） various virtues manifest themselves exclusively among friends （ D） socia
23、l interrelationships equal the complex set of cultural conventions 7 Families in frontier settlements used to entertain strangers_. （ A） to improve their hard life （ B） in view of their longdistance travel （ C） to add some flavor to their own daily life （ D） out of a charitable impulse 8 The traditi
24、on of hospitality to strangers_. （ A） tends to be superficial and artificial （ B） is generally well kept up in the United States （ C） is always understood properly （ D） was something to do with the busy tourist trails 8 Technically, any substance other than food that alters our bodily or mental func
25、tioning is a drug. Many people mistakenly believe the term drug refers only to some sort of medicine or an illegal chemical taken by drug addicts. They dont realize that familiar substances such as alcohol and tobacco are also drugs. This is why the more neutral term substance is now used by many ph
26、ysicians and psychologists. The phrase “substance abuse“ is often used instead of “drug abuse“ to make clear that substances such as alcohol and tobacco can be just as harmfully misused as heroin and cocaine. We live a society in which the medicinal and social use of substances(drugs)is pervasive: a
27、n aspirin to quiet a headache, some wine to be sociable, coffee to get going in the morning, a cigarette for the nerves. When do these socially acceptable and apparently constructive uses of a substance become misuses? First of all, most substances taken in excess will produce negative effects such
28、as poisoning or intense perceptual distortions. Repeated use of a substance can also lead to physical addiction or substance dependence. Dependence is marked first by an increased tolerance, with more and more of the substance required to produce the desired effect, and then by the appearance of unp
29、leasant withdrawal symptoms when the substance is discontinued. Drugs(substances)that affect the central nervous system and alter perception, mood, and behavior are known as psychoactive substances. Psychoactive substances are commonly grouped according to whether they are stimulants, depressants, o
30、r hallucinogens. Stimulants initially speed up or activate the central nervous system, whereas depressants slow it down. Hallucinogens have their primary effect on perception, distorting and altering it in a variety of ways including producing hallucinations. These are the substances often called ps
31、ychedelic(from the Greek word meaning “mind manifesting“)because they seemed to radically alter ones state of consciousness. 9 “Substance abuse“(Line 5, Para. 1)is preferable to “drug abuse“ in that_. （ A） substances can alter our bodily or mental functioning if illegally used （ B） drug abuse is onl
32、y related to a limited number of drug takers （ C） alcohol and tobacco are as fatal as heroin and cocaine （ D） many substances other than heroin or cocaine can also be poisonous 10 The word “pervasive“(Line 1, Para. 2)might mean_. （ A） widespread （ B） overwhelming （ C） piercing （ D） fashionable 11 Ph
33、ysical dependence on certain substances results from_. （ A） uncontrolled consumption of them over long periods of time （ B） exclusive use of them for social purposes （ C） quantitative application of them to the treatment of diseases （ D） careless employment of them for unpleasant symptoms 12 From th
34、e last paragraph we can infer that_. （ A） stimulants function positively on the mind （ B） hallucinogens are in themselves harmful to health （ C） depressants are the worst type of psychoactive substances （ D） the three types of psychoactive substances are commonly used in groups 12 No company likes t
35、o be told it is contributing to the moral decline of a nation. “Is this what you intended to accomplish with your careers?“ Senator Robert Dole asked Time Warner executives last week. “You have sold your souls, but must you corrupt our nation and threaten our children as well?“ At Time Warner, howev
36、er, such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990. Its a self-examination that has, at various times, involved issues of responsibility, creative freedom and the corporate bottom line. At the core of thi
37、s debate is chairman Gerald Levin, 56, who took over for the late Steve Ross in 1992. On the financial front, Levin is under pressure to raise the stock price and reduce the companys mountainous debt, which will increase to 17.3 billion after two new cable deals close. He has promised to sell off so
38、me of the property and restructure the company, but investors are waiting impatiently. The flap over rap is not making life any easier for him. Levin has consistently defended the companys rap music on the grounds of expression. In 1992, when Time Warner was under fire for releasing Ice Ts violent r
39、ap song Cop Killer, Levin described rap as a lawful expression of street culture, which deserves an outlet. “The test of any democratic society,“ he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, “lies not in how well it can control expression but in whether it gives freedom of thought and expression the wi
40、dest possible latitude, however disputable or irritating the results may sometimes be. We wont retreat in the face of any threats.“ Levin would not comment on the debate last week, but there were signs that the chairman was backing off his hard line stand, at least to some extent. During the discuss
41、ion of rock singing verses at last months stockholders meeting, Levin asserted that “music is not the cause of societys ills“ and even cited his son, a teacher in the Bronx, New York, who uses rap to communicate with students. But he talked as well about the “balanced struggle“ between creative free
42、dom and social responsibility, and he announced that the company would launch a drive to develop standards for distribution and labeling of potentially objectionable music. The 15 member Time Warner board is generally supportive of Levin and his corporate strategy. But insiders say several of them h
43、ave shown their concerns in this matter. “Some of us have known for many, many years that the freedoms under the First Amendment are not totally unlimited,“ says Luce. “I think it is perhaps the case that some people associated with the company have only recently come to realize this.“ 13 Senator Ro
44、bert Dole criticized Time Warner for_. （ A） its raising of the corporate stock price （ B） its self-examination of soul （ C） its neglect of social responsibility （ D） its emphasis on creative freedom 14 According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? （ A） Luce is a spokesman of Time Warner.
45、 （ B） Gerald Levin is liable to compromise. （ C） Time Warner is united as one in the face of the debate. （ D） Steve Ross is no longer alive 15 In face of the recent attacks on the company, the chairman_. （ A） stuck to a strong stand to defend freedom of expression （ B） softened his tone and adopted
46、some new policy （ C） changed his attitude and yielded to objection （ D） received more support from the 15 member board 16 The best title for this passage could be_. （ A） A Company under Fire （ B） A Debate on Moral Decline （ C） A Lawful Outlet of Street Culture （ D） A Form of Creative Freedom 考博英语（阅读
47、理解）模拟试卷 72答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 【知识模块】 阅读理解 1 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 从文章第 2段的内容可知，这一立法的深刻意义可能要过一段时间才能为人们所理解。澳北州所通过的晚期病人权益法使得无论是内科医生还是普通市民都同样地努力从道义和实际意义两方面来对待这一问题。有些人如释重负，而包括教会人士、生存权利组织成员以及澳大利亚医学会成员在内的其他人则猛烈抨击了这一法案及其草率的通过。而这种潮流将不太可能逆转。在澳大利亚，人口老龄化、寿命延长技术以及公众态度的变化都在各自发挥着作用。其他国家也准备考虑制定类似的法规来对待安乐死问题。在美
48、国和加拿大，死亡权利运动正在逐渐兴起， 观察家正等待着多米诺骨牌开始倒下。据此可知，由于人们对安乐死的看法有异，要充分领会安乐死法案通过的全部意义需要时间。 D项与文章的意思相符，因此 D项为正确答案。 【知识模块】 阅读理解 2 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题中， “domino”意为 “多米诺骨牌 ”，指引发连锁反应。从文章第 2段的最后一句话可知，在美国和加拿大，死亡权利运动正在逐渐兴起，观察家们正在等待多米诺骨牌开始倒下。据此可知，作者认为，由于澳大利亚通过了安乐死法案，这对美国和加拿大产生了影响，使得这两个国家的死亡权利运动逐渐兴起，从而会产生连锁反应。 B项与文章的意思相符，
49、因此 B项为正确答案。 【知识模块】 阅读理解 3 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 从文章第 2段的后半部分可知，对于居住在达尔文的现年 54岁的肺癌患者 Nickson来说，这个法案意味着他可以平静地生活下去而无须惧怕因呼吸困难而死去。 “从精神上说，我并不怕死，害怕的是怎样死。 ”他说， “我曾看见医院里的病人死前用手抓他们的供氧面罩，与氧气抗争。 ”据此可知， Lloyd Nickson在去世时，将不会像其他病人那样有恐惧感和折磨感。 A项与文章的意思相符 ，因此 A项为正确答案。 【知识模块】 阅读理解 4 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 从文章第 1段的内容可知，经过 6个月的争论和 16个小时议会的最后激烈辩论，澳大利亚北部地区成为第一个允许医生结束那些无药可救、但求一死的病人的生命的合法地区；这一法案的通过不只是澳大利亚发生的事情，它是世界上的一件历史大事；从文章第 2段的内容可知，这一法案的深刻意义可能需要过一段时间才能为人们所理解；有些人如释重负，而另一些人都对这一法案以及它的草率通过进行了猛烈抨击；但是这一趋势不可能逆转；在美国和加拿大，死 亡权
