1、在职艺术硕士（MFA ）全国联考英文阅读理解模拟试卷 5 及答案与解析一、英文阅读理解题0 Why does cream go bad faster than butter? Some researchers think they have the answer, and it comes down to the structure of the food, not its chemical compositiona finding that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives.Cream and butt
2、er contain pretty much the same substances, so why cream should sour much faster has been a mystery. Both are emulsionstiny globules (小球体) of one liquid evenly distributed throughout another. The difference lies in whats in the globules and whats in the surrounding liquid, says Brocklehurst, who led
3、 the investigation.In cream, fatty globules drift about in a sea of water. In butter, globules of a watery solution are locked away in a sea of fat. The bacteria which make the food go bad prefer to live in the watery regions of the mixture. “This means that in cream, the bacteria are free to grow t
4、hroughout the mixture,“ he says.When the situation is reversed, the bacteria are locked away in compartments (隔仓 室)buried deep in the sea of fat. Trapped in this way, individual colonies cannot spread and rapidly run out of nutrients (养料). They also slowly poison themselves with their waste products
5、. “In butter, you get a self-limiting system which stops the bacteria growing,“ says Brocklehurst.The researchers are already working with food companies keen to see if their products can be made resistant to bacterial attack through alterations to the foods structure. Brocklehurst believes it will
6、be possible to make the emulsions used in salad cream, for instance, more like that in butter. The key will be to do this while keeping the salad cream liquid and not turning it into a solid lump. (292 words)1 The significance of Brocklehursts research is that_.（A）it suggested a way to keep some foo
7、ds fresh without preservatives（B） it discovered tiny globules in both cream and butter（C） it revealed the secret of how bacteria multiply in cream and butter（D）it found that cream and butter share the same chemical composition2 According to the researchers, cream sours faster than butter because bac
8、teria（A）are more evenly distributed in cream（B） multiply more easily in cream than in butter（C） live on less fat in cream than in butter（D）produce less waste in cream than in butter3 According to Brocklehurst, we can keep cream fresh by_.（A）removing its fat（B） killing the bacteria（C） reducing its wa
9、ter content（D）altering its structure4 The word “colonies“ (Line 2, Para. 4) refers to_.（A）tiny globules（B） watery regions（C） bacteria communities（D）little compartments5 Commercial application of the research finding will be possible if salad cream can be made resistant to bacterial attack_.（A）by var
10、ying its chemical composition（B） by turning it into a solid lump（C） while keeping its structure unchanged（D）while retaining its liquid form5 Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.Asteroids are big
11、ger versions of the meteoroids (流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and dont threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a y
12、ear for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, well have a way to change its course.Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldnt be cheap.Is it worth it? Two things experts consider wh
13、en judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences are if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500, 000 years. Sounds pretty rarebut if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we don
14、t take care of these big asteroids, theyll take care of us,“ says one scientist. “Its that simple. “The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday (毁灭 性的)rocks than from a great nuclear
15、 fleet set against them,“ said a New York Times article. (272 words)6 What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?（A）They are heavenly bodies different in composition.（B） They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.（C） There are more asteroids than meteoroids.（D）Asteroids are more myster
16、ious than meteoroids.7 What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?（A）It is very unlikely but the danger exists.（B） Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.（C） Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.（D）Its still too early to say wh
17、ether such a collision might occur.8 What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the courses of asteroids?（A）It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.（B） It may create more problems than it might solve.（C） It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroi
18、ds with Earth is very unlikely.（D）Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.9 We can conclude from the passage that_.（A）while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world（B） asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future（
19、C） the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime（D）workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth10 Which of the following best describes the authors tone in this passage?（A）Optimistic.（B） Critical
20、.（C） Objective.（D）Arbitrary.10 Amtrak (美国铁路客运公司 ) was experiencing a downswing in ridership (客运量) along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.At o
21、ne time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became Americas standard of convenience. Also, air travel h
22、ad easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the w
23、est.Two portions of the total market were targeted; 1) anxious fliersthose concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-loversthose viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacatioa The agency then developed a campaign that f
24、ocused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed al
25、ong some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were
26、impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route. (307 words)11 Whats the authors purpose in writing this passage?（A）To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.（B
27、） To stress the influence of the automobile on Americas standard of convenience.（C） To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.（D）To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.12 It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in
28、Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that_.（A）trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportation（B） trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportation（C） trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to be（D）trains could not compete with planes in terms of
29、 luxury and convenience13 To encourage consumers to travel by train, DDB Needham emphasized_.（A）the freedom and convenience provided on trains（B） the practical aspects of train travel（C） the adventurous aspects of train trips（D）the safety and cleanliness of train trips14 The train ads were placed am
30、ong family-oriented TV programs involving nature and America because_.（A）they could focus on meaningful travel experiences（B） they could increase the effectiveness of the TV programs（C） their profits could be increased by some 15 percent（D）most travel-lovers and nervous fliers were believed to be am
31、ong the audiences15 According to the passage, the Empire Builder enjoyed an increase in ridership and profits because_.（A）the attractiveness of its name and route was effectively advertised（B） it provided an exciting travel experience（C） its passengers could enjoy the great western outdoors（D）it was
32、 widely advertised in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and Seattle15 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 lines with thatched cottages painted pink or white; the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty
33、 collection of thatched farm buildings 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 (不列颠群岛).
34、 Although thatch has always been used 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 toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time th
35、atchers are employed in England and Wales today, maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.In fact, if we look at developing countries,
36、 over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries 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 m
37、ud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat. (292 words)16 Which of the following remains a unique feature of the English countryside?（A）Narrow stree
38、ts lined with pink or white houses.（B） Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings.（C） Cottages with thatched roofs.（D）Churches with cottages around them.17 What do we know about thatching as a craft?（A）It is a collective activity.（B） It is practised on farms all over England.（C） It is quite different
39、from what it used to be.（D）It is in most cases handed down among family members.18 Thatched houses are still preferred because of_.（A）their style and comfort（B） their durability（C） their easy maintenance（D）their cheap and ready-made materials19 People in developing countries also live under thatch b
40、ecause_.（A）thatched cottages are a big tourist attraction（B） thatched roof houses are the cheapest（C） thatch is an effective defense against the heat（D）they like thatched houses better than other buildings20 We can learn from the passage that_.（A）thatched cottages in England have been passed down fr
41、om ancient times（B） thatching is a building craft first created by the English people（C） the English people have a special liking for thatched houses（D）most thatched cottages in England are located on hillsides在职艺术硕士（MFA ）全国联考英文阅读理解模拟试卷 5 答案与解析一、英文阅读理解题1 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 本题属于细节题。根据第一段的第二句的后半部分：“a find
42、ing that could help rid some processed foods of chemical preservatives”(这一发现可能使一些加工食品不再需要化学防腐剂)，可知答案为 A。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解2 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。根据第二、三段的内容(参见短文大意)，可知奶油之所以比黄油容易变坏，是因为细菌更易在奶油中繁殖。即 B。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解3 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 本题属于细节题。根据最后一段的第一句“The researchers”(参见短文大意) 可知答案为 D“改变结构”。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解4 【正确
43、答案】 C【试题解析】 本题属于词义辨别题。colony 的基本含义是 “殖民者”，其所在的句子意为：“细菌被油脂隔离，个别的细菌群不能繁殖，且迅速用光其自身的养料”，由此可知，C“细菌群”是正确答案。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解5 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。依据是最后两段的最后两句：“Brocklehurst” 认为可以使沙拉酱的乳状液像黄油一样。关键是怎样让沙拉酱将保持液态而不是变成块状的固体。故答案为 D。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解6 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。根据文章第二段的第一句的内容：小行星是指那些划过夜空的比较大的流星，我们可作出选择，即 B
44、“小行星和流星是本质相似的天体”。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解7 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。文章的第五段的后三句说道：专家们认为虽然小行星与地球相撞的可能性很小一一每 50 万年一次，但一旦发生了便是世界末日。有一位科学家说：“如果我们不注意它们(小行星)，它们就会注意(袭击)我们，事情就是那么简单。”由此可知，A 是正确的。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解8 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。依据是文中的最后一段的内容：“The cure，though，might be worse than the disease”(治疗方法可能比疾病本身还糟糕。)“the cure
45、”暗指用核武器来改变小行星轨道的办法， “the disease”则指的是小行星可能会与地球相撞的危机。后文进一步指出全世界更害怕的是大量的核武器舰队，而不是毁灭性的星体。所以 B 是对的。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解9 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 本题属于推理题。既然用核武器来改变小行星的轨道这一方法行不通，我们当然要去寻找更合理的解决办法，即 D。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解10 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 本题属于主旨题。从整体来看，作者很客观地说明了存在的问题和大家对其的态度，故作者的语气是客观的，即 C。其他选项， A“乐观的”、B“批评的”、D“武断的”均不符合题意。【知识模块】
46、英文阅读理解11 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 本题属于主旨题。文章第一、二段提出并分析美国铁路客运存在的问题及铁路广告公司必须要做的工作，第三、四段：介绍了广告公司的一些具体做法及成效。A、B 所示内容在文中略有提及，都是为表示铁路客运的窘境服务的，文中未论及选项 C 的内容。为此，考生通过思考可猜测这部分文章可能选自有关广告方面的文章，讲述的是一个利用广告成功地提高经济效益的事例。因此应选D。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解12 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 本题属于细节推理题。文中根本未谈及长、短距离客运的事，也就推断不出 A 来。C 是混淆视听的一个选项。火车确实不像以前有竞争力了，但并非因
47、为它速度比过去慢了或不如原来便利了，而是因为其他交通工具的竞争力增强了，所以 C 也不是正确推论。飞机是以速度占优势的，因此 D 是与事实相悖的推理。在阅读中，考生曾读到：“However，times change and the automobile became Americas standard of convenienceAlso ，air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances”根据这两句话我们可得出 B 项的推论，所以 B 为正确答案。【知识模块】
48、 英文阅读理解13 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 本题属于细节判断题。A 中“convenience”不是广告中宣传的火车特点。为了鼓励游客多乘火车，广告公司更多的是宣传火车沿途的西部风光，乘火车旅行的感受，而不是旅行的便利。文中曾含蓄地提到了火车具有安全和干净的特点，但只是间接的，不是强调地提出(emphasized)。因此看来，A 、B、D 均不是正确选项，C 为正确选择，且可在第三段最后一句找到依据。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解14 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 本题属于细节推断题。从文中第四段可读到：“These ads were strategically placed among f
49、amilyoriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences”为什么火车广告要放在这些电视节目中，因为是想最有效地向目标观众进行宣传。言外之意爱好旅游的人和怕乘飞机者会在这些节目的观众之中。因此 D 为正确选项。【知识模块】 英文阅读理解15 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 本题属于细节判断题。文章第四段第一句写道：Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains(Empire Builder，etc)由此可看到 A 为正确答案。别忘了，这是一篇关于广告作用的文章，讲述了一个广告宣传成功的事例。B 和
