1989年考研英语真题.doc

1989年考研英语真题 Section I Structure and Vocabulary In each question, decide which of the four choices given will most suitably complete the sentence if inserted at the place marked. Put your choices in the ANSWER SHEET. (15 points) EXAMPLE: I was caught ________ the rain yesterday. [A] in [B] by [C] with [D] at ANSWER: [A] 1. Modern man faces dangers completely unknown ________ his predecessors. [A] for [B] to [C] of（B） [D] by 2. The chances of seeing a helicopter in my hometown are one ________ a million. [A] for [B] to [C] in（C） [D] against 3. ________ we have all the materials ready, we should begin the new task at once. [A] Since that [B] Since now [C] By now（D） [D] Now that 4. We hope the measures to control prices, ________ taken by the government, will succeed. [A] when [B] as [C] since（B） [D] after 5. The historical events of that period are arranged ________. [A] in alphabetical order [B] in an alphabetical order [C] in the alphabetical orders（A） [D] in alphabetical orders 6. In some markets there may be only one seller. ________ is called a monopoly. [A] Situation as this [B] Such kind of situation [C] Such a situation（C） [D] A situation of this 7. He is ________ to speak the truth. [A] too much of a coward [B] too much a coward [C] so much a coward（A） [D] so much of a coward 8. He always gives ________ to his wife’s demands and does whatever she tells him to. [A] up [B] away [C] in（C） [D] out 9. It’s ________ in the regulations that you can take 20 kilos of luggage with you. [A] laid upon [B] laid out [C] laid up（D） [D] laid down 10. Look at all the corruption that’s going on. It’s time the city was ________. [A] cleaned out [B] cleaned down [C] cleaned away（D） [D] cleaned up 11. Though he did not say so directly, the inspector ________ the man was guilty. [A] declared [B] implied [C] disclosed（B） [D] said 12. The Prime Minister refused to ________ on the rumour that he had planned to resign. [A] explain [B] comment [C] remark（B） [D] talk 13. I asked the tailor to make a small ________ to my trousers because they were too long. [A] change [B] variation [C] revision（D） [D] alteration 14. Magnificent views over the countryside have often ________ people to write poems. [A] excited [B] inspired [C] induced（B） [D] attracted 15. The food was divided ________ according to the age and size of the children. [A] equally [B] proportionately [C] sufficiently（B） [D] adequately Section II Reading Comprehension Each of the three passages below is followed by some questions. For each question there are four answers. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each of the questions. Put your choice in the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points) Text 1 A scientist once said: “I have concluded that the earth is being visited by intelligently controlled vehicles from outer space.” If we take this as a reasonable explanation for UFOs (unidentified flying objects), questions immediately come up. “Why don’t they get in touch with us, then? Why don’t they land right on the White House lawn and declare themselves?” people asked. In reply, scientists say that, while this may be what we want, it may not necessarily be what they want. “The most likely explanation, it seems to me,” said Dr. Mead, “is that they are simply watching what we are up to -- that responsible society outside our solar system is keeping an eye on us to see that we don’t set in motion a chain reaction that might have unexpected effects for outside our solar system.” Opinions from other scientists might go like this: “Why should they want to get in touch with us? We may feel we’re more important than we really are! They may want to observe us only and not interfere with the development of our civilization. They may not care if we see them but they also may not care to say ‘hello’.” Some scientists have also suggested that Earth is a kind of zoo or wildlife reserve. Just as we set aside wilderness areas and wildlife reserves to allow animals and growing things to develop naturally while we observe them, so perhaps Earth was set aside ages ago for the same purpose. Are we being observed by intelligent beings from other civilizations in the universe? Are they watching our progress in space travel? Do we live in a gigantic “zoo” observed by our “keepers,” but having no communication with them? Never before in our history have we had to confront ideas like these. The simple fact is that we, who have always regarded ourselves as supreme in the universe, may not be so. Now we have to recognize that, among the stars in the heavens, there may very well be worlds inhabited by beings who are to us as we are to ants. 16. People who ask the question “Why don’t they get in touch with us... and declare themselves?” think that ________. [A] there are no such things as UFOs [B] UFOs are visitors from solar system [C] there’s no reason for UFOs sooner or later（A） [D] we are bound to see UFOs sooner or later 17. According to Dr. Mead, the attitude of beings from outer space toward us is one of ________. [A] unfriendliness [B] suspicion [C] superiority（B） [D] hostility 18. The tone of the writer is that of ________. [A] doubt [B] warning [C] indifference（D） [D] criticism Text 2 The use of the motor is becoming more and more widespread in the twentieth century; as an increasing number of countries develop both technically and economically, so a larger proportion of the world’s population is able to buy and use a car. Possessing a car gives a much greater degree of mobility, enabling the driver to move around freely. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport and is, therefore, not compelled to work locally. He can choose from different jobs and probably changes his work more frequently as he is not restricted to a choice within a small radius. Travelling to work by car is also more comfortable than having to use public transport; the driver can adjust the heating in winter and the air conditioning in the summer to suit his own needs and preference. There is no irritation caused by waiting for trains, buses or underground trains, standing in long patient queues, or sitting on windy platforms, for as long as half an hour sometimes. With the building of good, fast motorways long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. For the first time in this century also, many people are now able to enjoy their leisure time to the full by making trips to the country or seaside at the weekends, instead of being confined to their immediate neighbourhood. This feeling of independence, and the freedom to go where you please, is perhaps the greatest advantage of the car. When considering the drawbacks, perhaps pollution is of prime importance. As more and more cars are produced and used, so the emission from their exhaust-pipes contains an ever larger volume of poisonous gas. Some of the contents of this gas, such as lead, not only pollute the atmosphere but cause actual harm to the health of people. Many of the minor illnesses of modern industrial society, headaches, tiredness, and stomach upsets are thought to arise from breathing polluted air; doctors’ surgeries are full of people suffering from illnesses caused by pollution. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to deal with the problem of traffic in towns; most of the important cities of the world suffer from traffic congestion. In fact any advantage gained in comfort is often cancelled out in city driving by the frustration caused by traffic jams: endless queues of cars crawling one after another through all the main streets. As an increasing number of traffic regulation schemes are devised, the poor bewildered driver finds himself diverted and forced into one-way systems which cause even greater delays than the traffic jams they are supposed to prevent. The mounting cost of petrol and the increased license fees and road tax all add to the driver’s worries. In fact, he must sometimes wonder if the motor car is such a blessing and not just a menace. 19. More and more people can afford to buy and use cars because ________. [A] an increasing number of cars are being produced [B] the cost of cars is getting cheaper with the development of technology [C] lots of countries have become more developed（C） [D] the use of cars has proved to be more economical 20. The advantages of having a car are best experienced in the driver’s ________. [A] freedom in choosing his job [B] comfort during the travels [C] enjoyment of his leisure time（D） [D] feeling of self-reliance 21. What is considered by the writer as the greatest menace to the people caused by the widespread use of motor cars? [A] air pollution [B] traffic jams [C] fatal diseases（A） [D] high cost Text 3 Manners nowadays in metropolitan cities like London are practically non-existent. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her, as he ought. In fact, it is saddening to note that if a man does offer his seat to an older woman, it is nearly always a Continental man or one from the older generation. This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves “First come, first served,” while a grey-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands? Yet this is all too often seen. Conditions in travel are really very hard on everyone, we know, but hardship is surely no excuse. Sometimes one wonders what would have been the behaviour of these stout young men in a packed refugee train or a train on its way to a prison-camp during the War. Would they have considered it only right and their proper due to keep the best places for themselves then? Older people, tired and irritable from a day’s work, are not angels, either -- far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. One cannot commend this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse. If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistants won’t bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductor pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration. 22. From what you have read, would you expect manners to improve among people ________? [A] who are physically weak or crippled [B] who once lived in a prison-camp during the War [C] who live in big modern cities（C） [D] who live only in metropolitan cities 23. What is the writer’s opinion concerning courteous manners towards women? [A] Now that women have claimed equality, they no longer need to be treated differently from men. [B] It is generally considered old-fashioned for young men to give up their seats to young women. [C] “Lady First” should be universally practiced.（D） [D] Special consideration ought to be shown them. 24. According to the author communication between human beings would be smoother if ________. [A] people were more considerate towards each other [B] people were not so tired and irritable [C] women were treated with more courtesy（A） [D] public transport could be improved 25. What is the possible meaning of the word “deterioration” in the last paragraph? [A] worsening of general situation [B] lowering of moral standards [C] declining of physical constitution（B） [D] spreading of evil conduct Section III Cloze Test For each numbered blank in the following passage there are four choices labeled [A], [B], [C] and [D]. Choose the best one and put your choice in the ANSWER SHEET. Read the whole passage before making your choice. (10 points) One day drought may be a thing of the past at least in coastal cities. Vast areas of desert throughout the world may for the first time and provide millions of hectares of land where now nothing grows. By the end of this century this may not be mere . Scientists are already looking into the possibility of using some of the available ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. In these regions there are vast ice-caps formed by snow that has fallen over the past 50,000 years. Layer layer of deep snow means that, when melted, the snow water would be pure, not salty as sea-ice would be. There is so much pure water here that it would need only a fraction of it to turn much of the desert or poorly irrigated parts of the world into rich farmland. And what useful packages it would come in! It should be possible to cut off a bit of ice and transport it! Alternatively perhaps a passing iceberg could be . They are always breaking away from the main caps and floating around, pushed by currents, until they eventually melt and are wasted. Many icebergs are, of course, far too small to be towed distance, and would melt before they reached a country that needed them anywhere. It would be necessary to locate one that was and that was big enough to provide a good supply of ice when it reached us. Engineers think that an iceberg up to seven miles long and one and a half miles wide could be transported if the tug pulling it was as big as a supertanker! Even then they would cover only twenty miles every day. However, the iceberg was at its destination, more that 7,000 million cubic metres of water could be taken from it! That would probably be more than enough for any medium-sized city even in the hottest summer! But no doubt a use could be found for it. , scientist say, there would not be too much wastage in such a journey. The larger the iceberg, the slower it melts, even if it is towed through the tropics. This is because when the sun has a bigger area to warm , less heat actually gets into the iceberg. The vast frozen centre would be unaffected. 26. [A] come to life [B] come into existence [C] come into activity（A） [D] come round 27. [A] speculation [B] imagination [C] c