1、考博英语（阅读理解）模拟试卷 88及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechani
2、cal problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossi
3、ng the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines. The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines
4、 from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on the project began four years later. The Central Pa
5、cific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish laborers: The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other did. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah
6、. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous church bells to honor the great achievement. The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant mar
7、kets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States. 1 How many years did the constructions of the transcontinental railroad take? 2 What did the major problem with Americans railroad system in the mid 19th lie in? 3 The building of the first transcontinental system br
8、ought about_. 4 What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad? 5 What would a suitable title for this passage be? 5 Todays worker is no longer willing to work in an authoritarian and dehumanizing environment. Workers want meaning in their work and balance in their lives. They
9、want opportunities to contribute and to know how their work is effective. Employees want to work for organizations that respect them as individuals. They also want to know that they are working for an ethical company that acts in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Today, and in the f
10、uture, companies must design work so that employees can take responsibility and be rewarded appropriately. By changing altitudes, and conditions in the workplace, organizations can help make work more meaningful. Repetitive factory routines and office work that simply moves paper from in-box to out-
11、box are mindless task that destroy motivation and productivity. Research has shown that mental challenge is closely related to job satisfaction. Too little challenge in the work, as in completely automated tasks, generally leads to boredom and lowered satisfaction. On the other hand, too much challe
12、nge may lead to failure and frustration. Thus success or achievement in reaching an accepted standard of competence is an important factor in job satisfaction. Todays workers want to be a valued part of the whole. They want to know that their work is important and how it fits into the corporate stra
13、tegy. They want to know not only how the work they do affects others and the organizations goals, but how they as individuals can make an impact. Employees will contribute their knowledge enthusiastically in a corporate culture that values the individual. The profitability of a company is related to
14、 the quality and efforts of its workers. Therefore, a direct relationship between job performance and reward makes work more meaningful. Compaq Computers, for example, has an unusually low turnover rate among its employees. Like most companies in the computer field, Compaq expects its people to work
15、 long and hard to achieve big results quickly. In many companies an atmosphere of constant push would inspire people to seek employment with less pressure somewhere else. Instead, high quality people stay with Compaq. The companys culture emphasizes individual responsibility for results and high res
16、pect for individuals, Compaq benefits from creating opportunities for employees to perform to the vast of their potential and to be rewarded for their achievements. 6 What is an ethical company? 7 What kinds of work will kill job satisfaction? 8 What may happen if there is too much challenge in ones
17、 job? 9 On what condition does high turnover of employees occur? 10 How do employees contribute to the profitability under the corporate culture of Compaq Computers? 10 Barbie Dolls Flashy clothes, the perfect boyfriend, a Corvette, Ferrari, full size apartment with beautiful furniture and boat. She
18、s the woman who has everything and every year receives more. Since her introduction in 1959, the Barbie doll may be the most influential icon of American culture in the late twentieth century. 【 R1】 _She attracted little girls because of her adult-like features. Before this, children looked at toys
19、like Yogi Bear, Howdy Doody, and baby dolls for inspiration. With the creation of Barbie, girls now had a new toy to stimulate their imaginations. In the 1950s most women stayed at home, cooking, cleaning and caring for their children; they didnt parade around in tight little skirts and high heels.
20、The Barbie doll represented independence and glamour: she could sing solos in the spotlight one minute and pilot an airplane the next. She was exciting and completely different from the clinging Betsy Westsys and Chatty Cathys that little girls were used to. In Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biogr
21、aphy of a Real Doll, M. G. Lord tells the story of Barbies creators. Ruth Handler, the youngest of ten siblings(同胞 ), worked as a stenographer for Paramount Pictures as a young woman. Her husband Elliott designed light fixtures and studied art. 【 R2】 _The Handlers began the factory in their garage b
22、ut quickly expanded until they had hired a hundred workers who made jewelry and decorative items. World War II shortages of labor soon put them out of business. Despite their first failure, the Handlers didnt give up and, in 1945, they joined with Harold Matson, a former worker, and together the thr
23、ee started “Mattel Creations“. Matsons last name along with Elliots was fused together to form the name Mattel. In 1946, Matson sold out his share. The Handlers were not discouraged, though, because of their strong belief in futuristic materials such as Plexiglas, Lucite and plastic. They continued
24、looking for the perfect item to make their company a success. Little did they know that their persistence would lead them to establish a multi-million company initiated by the revolutionary Barbie doll. Ruth Handler first encountered the model for Barbie in 1955 while vacationing in Switzerland with
25、 her family. The Lilli doll, a comic character from Germany, was usually found in tobacco stores as a three dimensional(三维的 )pinup(挂在墙上的照片，玩偶等 ). Ruth brought back two dolls, one for her daughter Barbara, and one for herself. 【 R3】 _Handler recalls: “Through their play Barbara imagined their lives a
26、s adults. They used the dolls to reflect the adult world around them. They would sit and carry on conversations, making the dolls real people. I thought if only we could take this play pattern and three dimensionalize it, we would have something very special. “ Barbie debuted at the American Toy Fai
27、r in New York City in the winter of 1959. But in her unseasonable black-and-white striped swimsuit, the doll did not impress toy buyers. Even Sears, Mattels biggest customer, refused to put the sexy doll on their shelves. Lord says it was Mattels advertising strategy aimed at the children that final
28、ly paved the way for Barbies success. The 1950s was a big decade for child culture. Disneyland had opened in July of 1955, and Walt Disneys Mickey Mouse Club television series was a hit for children under the age of 12. Manufacturers and retailers had aimed toy advertising at parents in the past wit
29、h the focus during Christmas season. But once children actually saw toys advertised on television, toys became a big business. Television advertisements with the child-as-a-consumer revolutionized the toy industry in the twentieth century. Barbie was a fantasy. In a border city it was rare to encoun
30、ter a white, blue-eyed person. “Maybe thats why I was so attracted to her. “ Most little girls couldnt wait to get their hands on Barbie because they had never encountered a doll with such an enormous wardrobe. Angela Loya, an engineer and Barbie collector from Houston, idolized Barbie because of he
31、r independence. She said in an interview, “ Barbie was designed for women by women. It taught us what was expected from us by society. She had it all.the clothes, the boyfriend and whatever career she wanted. She was the symbol of post-war female independence. “ 【 R4】 _Lord quotes Ruth Handler as sa
32、ying, “Pregnancy(怀孕 )would never be part of Barbies physique, because Barbie would not compromise her freedom. Just as she did not depend on parents, she would not have offspring dependent on her. “ Barbies sexy image also raised questions among both children and parents. Many parents still did not
33、talk about sex to their children and naked baby dolls usually did not spark great interest. Barbie dolls changed this. Some 700 million Barbie dolls have been sold since 1959 in over 140 countries. Yearly sales exceeded the $ 1 billion mark in 1993. Retail experts estimate that the typical American
34、girl owns an average of eight Barbie dolls. And the doll has her own Hall of Fame in Palo Alto, California, where a collection of over 20, 000 Barbies awaits visitors. 【 R5】 _A childs imagination can take Barbie anywhere. She easily can be a doctor by simply converting her hot pink kitchen into an o
35、perating room. Tissue boxes and packing cartons make great furniture and apartment complexes. A child really doesnt need the fancy cars or doll houses to make her dreams come alive: all that is really needed is an imagination. A. Barbies biographer reminds us that she was not defined through relatio
36、nships of responsibility to men or family. B. Barbie, named after the Handlers daughter, has become the quintessential(典型的 ) American doll. C. Barbies success may be attributed to the focus on children as consumers for the first time. D. A second contributing factor to the realization of this doll e
37、volved from Ruth watching her daughter and friends play with paper dolls. E. In 1937, they had moved from Colorado to California where they gambled their life savings on a plan to build Plexigla. 11 【 R1】 12 【 R2】 13 【 R3】 14 【 R4】 15 【 R5】 15 Negotiation is limited to the corporate boardroom or to
38、high-stakes business settings . By becoming familiar with simple negotiating skills, you can help solve a wide variety of workplace problems, both large and small. When you are discussing a need or problem with your coworkers, choose whichever of the following techniques will help bring your discuss
39、ion to a positive close. Learn about the others needs . What does the other person need? How can you help meet these needs? Negotiation often involves exchanges, and your willingness to discover resources you can “swap“ with each other can make your negotiation successful. Listen. 【 R1】 _ Negotiate
40、with the right person. 【 R2】 _. Ask questions . In the course of a typical negotiation, your coworker will say things you disagree with . He might even make an ultimatum or two . Dont respond in kind . Probe his position by asking open-ended questions and posing hypothetical scenarios. You will like
41、ly discover additional negotiating room as a result. Know your strengths but dont let on . 【 R3】 _. Dont be afraid to give in , but do it point by point. A good rule of thumb: make a concession only when your coworker makes a concession. Think of negotiating as a selling . Imagine you are a salesper
42、son who must convince your customer of the merits of your product. A sales mindset will help you maintain a positive and persuasive attitude. Anticipate shock tactics. Good negotiators know that “shock tactics“ are a normal part of serious negotiation discussions. 【 R4】 _. Look at the big picture. I
43、f you and your coworker agree on the big picture , you can agree “in principle“ to your mutual objective-and pursue the details later. An agreement in principle often removes a major stumbling block to successful negotiations, since it may put you and the other person on the same side. Look for “yes
44、“ opportunities. 【 R5】 _When you hear a “yes“ , thank you coworker and reaffirm your desire to conclude an agreement. Remember that winning is not everything. In a productive negotiation, both sides give away something in order to gain something of greater value. Do not enter a negotiation with the
45、intention of browbeating your opponent or “winning“ the deal. Instead, seek to arrive at a win-win outcome that leaves both you and your coworker enthusiastic about the result and eager to negotiate again. A. Always maintain a sense of decorum, even when others appear angry, frustrated of disgusted.
46、 Your decorum signals your willingness to continue the discussion-but on civil terms. B. Remain on the lookout for points you and the other person agree on. When negotiations are not going well even when they seem doomed agreement on a relatively minor point can often change the tone of the discussi
47、on. C. Let your coworker talk about her problem first. Try to understand her position before you argue your point of view. D. Dont let your coworker know fully what you can offer in negotiation until the discussion progresses further. Save your best negotiating points and concessions for later. E. N
48、othing is more frustrating than approaching an individual to help you solve a problem, only to discover that he cannot. Figure out who can help meet your needs, and then decide how best to approach that individual. 16 【 R1】 17 【 R2】 18 【 R3】 19 【 R4】 20 【 R5】 20 In June 2006, in Minato, Tokyo, a 16-
49、year old high school student was killed by a Schindler elevator. He was backing out of it with his bicycle when the elevator suddenly rose with the doors still open, crushing his skull. Investigations began related to this fatality. In the process of this investigation, the safety of elevators in Japan came under question. 【 R1】 _The Japan Elevator Association disclosed that 9200 entrapments happened in Japan in 2004 in elevators of the big four Japanese elevator manufacturers(Mitsubishi Ele
