1、2009年武汉大学二外英语考研真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Part A Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. (40 points) 0 Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we fit in society. As we go about ou
2、r everyday lives, we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example, we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian, whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman, whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a “ meter rea
3、der, and so on. The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter, and change throughout life. Most of us can, at a very high speed, assume the statuses that various situations require. Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allow
4、ing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others, most of us perform it rather effortlessly. A stat
5、us has been compared to ready-made clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric. But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our choice is limi
6、ted to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook. Having made a choice within these limits we can have certain alterations made, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks. Statuses, too, come ready made, and the range of choice among them
7、 is limited. 1 In the first paragraph, the writer tells us that statuses can help us_. （ A） determine whether a person is fit for a certain job （ B） behave appropriately in relation to other people （ C） protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations （ D） make friends with other people 2 According to the
8、 writer, people often assume different statuses_. （ A） in order to identify themselves with others （ B） in order to better identify others （ C） as their mental processes change （ D） as the situation changes 3 The word “appraisal“(Sentence 4, Paragraph 2)most probably means_. （ A） involvement （ B） ap
9、preciation （ C） assessment （ D） presentation 4 In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the pronoun “it“ refers to_. （ A） fitting our actions to those of other people appropriately （ B） identification of other people s statuses （ C） selecting one s own statuses （ D） constant mental process 5 By
10、 saying that “an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince“(Sentence 3, Paragraph 3), the writer means_ . （ A） different people have different styles of clothes （ B） ready-made clothes may need alterations （ C） statuses come ready made just like clothe
11、s （ D） our choice of statuses is limited 5 The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched(草盖的 )roof cottages around a church; a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white; the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm b
12、uildings these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside. Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practiced in the British Isles. Although thatch has always been used
13、 for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too. Thatching is a solitary(独自的 )craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practiced today has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time hatchers are employed in England and Wa
14、les today, maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world live under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing coun
15、tries are often reluctant to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to import the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done in th
16、e British way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat. 6 Which of the following remains a unique feature of the English countryside? （ A） Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses. （ B） Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings. （ C） Cottages with thatched
17、 roofs. （ D） Churches with cottages around them. 7 What do we know about thatching as a craft? （ A） It is a collective activity. （ B） It is practiced on farms all over England. （ C） It is quite different from what it used to be. （ D） It is in most cases handed down among family members. 8 Thatched h
18、ouses are still preferred because of_. （ A） their style and comfort （ B） their durability （ C） their easy maintenance （ D） their cheap and ready-made materials 9 People in developing countries also live under thatch because_. （ A） thatched cottages are a big tourist attraction （ B） thatched roof hou
19、ses are the cheapest （ C） thatch is an effective defense against the heat （ D） they like thatched houses better than other buildings 10 We can learn from the passage that_. （ A） thatched cottages in England have been passed down from ancient times （ B） thatching is a building craft first created by
20、the English people （ C） the English people have a special liking for thatched houses （ D） most thatched cottages in England are located on hillsides 10 People living on parts of the south coast of England face a serious problem. In 1993, the owners of a large hotel and of several houses discovered,
21、to their horror, that their gardens had disappeared overnight. The sea had eaten into the soft limestone cliffs on which they had been built. While experts were studying the problem, the hotel and several houses disappeared altogether, sliding down the cliff and into the sea. Erosion of the white cl
22、iffs along the south coast of England has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be abandoned as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most affected and have drawn up a map for local people, forecasting
23、 the year in which their homes will be swallowed up by the hungry sea. Angry owners have called on the Government to erect sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases, this is impossible. New sea walls would cost hundreds of millions of pounds and wo
24、uld merely make the waves and currents go further along the coast, shifting the problem from one area to another. The danger is likely to continue, they say, until the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten as limestone is. Meanwhile, if you want to buy a cheap house with an
25、 uncertain future, apply to a house agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home. 11 What is the cause of the problem that people living on parts of the south coast of England face? （ A） The r
26、ising of the sea level. （ B） The experts lack of knowledge. （ C） The washing-away of limestone cliffs. （ D） The disappearance of hotels, houses and gardens. 12 The erosion of the white cliffs in the south of England_. （ A） will soon become a problem for people living in central England （ B） has now
27、become a threat to the local residents （ C） can be stopped if proper measures are taken （ D） is quickly changing the map of England 13 The experts study on the problem of erosion can_. （ A） warn people whose homes are in clanger （ B） provide an effective way to slow it down （ C） help to prevent it f
28、rom worsening （ D） lead to its eventual solution 14 It is not feasible to build sea defenses to protect against erosion because_. （ A） house agents along the coast do not support the idea （ B） it is too costly and will endanger neighboring areas （ C） the government is too slow in taking action （ D）
29、they will be easily knocked down by waves and currents 15 According to the author, when buying a house along the south coast of England, people should （ A） take the quality of the house into consideration （ B） guard against being cheated by the house agent （ C） examine the house carefully before mak
30、ing a decision （ D） be aware of the potential danger involved 15 In the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful. Negative events like serious illness of a family memb
31、er were high on the list, but so were some positive life-changing events, like marriage. When you take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you deal with stress it only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know that the way you handle these events dr
32、amatically affects your chances of staying healthy. By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports. Somehow, the research got boiled down to a memorable message. Women s magazines ran hea
33、dlines like Stress causes illness! If you want to stay physically and mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events. But such simplistic advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events are dangerous, many like the death of a loved one are impossible to avoid. Moreover, any war
34、ning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription for staying away from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful. A person who wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job or move. The notion that a stress makes you sick also ig
35、nores a lot of what we know about people. It assumes we re all vulnerable and passive in the face of adversity. But what about human initiative and creativity? Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental vigor than they had before. We also know that a long time without change o
36、r challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and mental strain. 16 The result of Holmes-Rae s medical research tells us_. （ A） the way you handle major events may cause stress （ B） what should be done to avoid stress （ C） what kind of event would cause stress （ D） how to cope with sudden changes in
37、 life 17 The studies on stress in the early 1970s led to_. （ A） widespread concern over its harmful effects （ B） great panic over the mental disorder it could cause （ C） an intensive research into stress-related illnesses （ D） popular avoidance of stressful jobs 18 The score of the Holmes-Rahe test
38、shows_. （ A） how much pressure you are under （ B） how positive events can change your life （ C） how stressful a major event can be （ D） how you can deal with life-changing events 19 Why is “such simplistic advice“(Sentence 1, Paragraph 3)impossible to follow? （ A） No one can stay on the same job for
39、 long. （ B） No prescription is effective in relieving stress. （ C） People have to get married someday. （ D） You could be missing opportunities as well. 20 According to the passage people who have experienced ups and downs may become_. （ A） nervous when faced with difficulties （ B） physically and men
40、tally strained （ C） more capable of coping with adversity （ D） indifferent toward what happens to them 21 My money gets spent so fast. It seems to_into thin air. （ A） disappear （ B） miss （ C） end up （ D） get lost 22 He s a horrible man and I hope_. （ A） we ve never seen him （ B） we never saw him （ C
41、） well never see him again （ D） we had never seen him before 23 Recent reports will give the_news about the election. （ A） latter （ B） latest （ C） present （ D） quickest 24 Community service can_anything from gardening to helping old people s homes. （ A） present （ B） involve （ C） replace （ D） oblige
42、25 The professor_an invitation to all the students to come to tea. （ A） reached （ B） allowed （ C） spread （ D） extended 26 Let s_everything and find out where the trouble is. （ A） look at （ B） find out （ C） go over （ D） inquire into 27 They_their conversation when Mr. Chapman came into the office. （
43、A） held up （ B） finished （ C） put off （ D） broke off 28 She has_some brilliant scheme to double her income. （ A） come up with （ B） given in to （ C） settled down in （ D） looked up to 29 They seem_to socialize with a very small circle of people. （ A） concerned （ B） content （ C） joyful （ D） pleasant 30
44、 His knowledge of English is_for the job, although he is not fluent in the language. （ A） proper （ B） complete （ C） perfect （ D） adequate 31 She wrote an_letter to the newspaper complaining about the councils action. （ A） disappointed （ B） surprised （ C） indignant （ D） disapproved 32 There s growing
45、_among the electorate with the old two-party system. （ A） impatience （ B） disbelief （ C） hopelessness （ D） insistence 33 He could have told us what had happened, but he did not_to. （ A） choose （ B） promise （ C） select （ D） allow 34 It is impossible to_the news unless you read the newspaper every day
46、. （ A） look up in （ B） keep up with （ C） put up with （ D） follow up 35 The missing child s parents became more and more worried as the hours_. （ A） spent （ B） missed （ C） passed （ D） went 36 As the bus_into the station there was a rush to get seats. （ A） drew （ B） sent （ C） arrived （ D） pulled 37 Un
47、able to speak a word of that language, he_with his hands. （ A） related （ B） communicated （ C） connected （ D） exchanged 38 Well need_milk if Bob and Mary are coming for the weekend. （ A） other （ B） extra （ C） spare （ D） further 39 The growing_of the company is reflected in the high price of its share
48、s. （ A） development （ B） probability （ C） potential （ D） possibility 40 For wildlife enthusiasts the journey is_because the region is known for its sea birds. （ A） funny （ B） worthy （ C） pleased （ D） worthwhile 41 The rent is reasonable and_, the location is perfect. （ A） moreover （ B） though （ C） t
49、herefore （ D） however 42 Grandma was insistent that we_her soon. （ A） went and visited （ B） go and visit （ C） went visiting （ D） go and visiting 43 I_you the money. Why didn t you ask me? （ A） would lend （ B） could have lent （ C） must have lent （ D） had lent 44 This car has been_trouble; it s always breaking down. （ A） anything but （ B） nothing but （ C） all but （ D） none b
