1、2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 12007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)By 1830, the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies had become independent nations
2、. The roughly 20 million _1_ of these nations looked _2_ to the future. Born in the crisis of the old regime and Iberian Colonialism, many of the leaders of independence _3_ the ideas of representative government, careers _4_ to talent, freedom of commerce and trade, the _5_ to private property, and
3、 a belief in the individual as the basis of society. _6_ there was a belief that the new nations should be sovereign and independent states, large enough to be economically viable and integrated by a _7_ set of laws.On the issue of _8_ of religion and the position of the church, _9_, there was less
4、agreement _10_ the leadership. Roman Catholicism had been the state religion and the only one _11_ by the Spanish crown. _12_ most leaders sought to maintain Catholicism _13_ the official religion of the new states, some sought to end the _14_ of other faiths. The defense of the Church became a rall
5、ying _15_ for the conservative forces.The ideals of the early leaders of independence were often egalitarian, valuing equality of everything. Bolivar had received aid from Haiti and had _16_ in return to abolish slavery in the areas he liberated. By 1854 slavery had been abolished everywhere except
6、Spains _17_ colonies. Early promises to end Indian tribute and taxes on people of mixed origin came much _18_ because the new nations still needed the revenue such policies _19_. Egalitarian sentiments were often tempered by fears that the mass of the population was _20_ self-rule and democracy.1. A
7、 nativesB inhabitantsC peopleD individuals2. A confusedlyB cheerfullyC worriedlyD hopefully3. A sharedB forgotC attainedD rejected4. A relatedB closeC openD devoted5. A accessB successionC rightD return6. A PresumablyB IncidentallyC ObviouslyD Generally7. A uniqueB commonC particular2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一
8、考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 2D typical8. A freedomB originC impactD reform9. A thereforeB howeverC indeedD moreover10. A withB aboutC amongD by11. A allowedB preachedC grantedD funded12. A SinceB IfC UnlessD While13. A asB forC underD against14. A spreadB interferenceC exclusionD influence15. A supportB cryC
9、 pleaD wish16. A urgedB intendedC expectedD promised17. A controllingB formerC remainingD original18. A slowerB fasterC easierD tougher19. A createdB producedC contributed2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 3D preferred20. A puzzled byB hostile toC pessimistic aboutD unprepared forSection II Reading
10、ComprehensionPart ADirections:Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C, or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)Text 1If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006s World Cup tournament, you would most likely
11、 find a noteworthy quirk: elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the late months. If you then examined the European national youth teams that feed the World Cup and professional ranks, you would find this strange phenomenon to be ever more pr
12、onounced.What might account for this strange phenomenon? Here are a few guesses: a) certain astrological signs confer superior soccer skills; b) winter born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina; c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in sprin
13、gtime, at the annual peak of soccer mania; d) none of the above.Anders Ericsson, a 58-year-old psychology professor at Florida State University, says he believes strongly in “none of the above.” Ericsson grew up in Sweden, and studied nuclear engineering until he realized he would have more opportun
14、ity to conduct his own research if he switched to psychology. His first experiment, nearly 30 years ago, involved memory: training a person to hear and then repeat a random series of numbers. “With the first subject, after about 20 hours of training, his digit span had risen from 7 to 20,” Ericsson
15、recalls. “He kept improving, and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers.”This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitiv
16、e one. In other words, whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize, those differences are swamped by how well each person “encodes” the information. And the best way to learn how to encode information meaningfully, Ericsson determined, was a process known as del
17、iberate practice. Deliberate practice entails more than simply repeating a task. Rather, it involves setting specific goals, obtaining immediate feedback and concentrating as much on technique as on outcome.Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of
18、pursuits, including soccer. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers. Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated.
19、Or, put another way, expert performers whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming are nearly always made, not born.21. The birthday phenomenon found among soccer players is mentioned toA stress the importance of professional training.B spotlight the soccer superstars in the World C
20、up.C introduce the topic of what makes expert performance.D explain why some soccer teams play better than others.22. The word “mania” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) most probably meansA fun.B craze.C hysteria.D excitement.23. According to Ericsson, good memory2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 4A depends on
21、 meaningful processing of information.B results from intuitive rather than cognitive exercises.C is determined by genetic rather than psychological factors.D requires immediate feedback and a high degree of concentration.24. Ericsson and his colleagues believe thatA talent is a dominating factor for
22、 professional success.B biographical data provide the key to excellent performance.C the role of talent tends to be overlooked.D high achievers owe their success mostly to nurture.25. Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?A “Faith will move mountains.”B “
23、One reaps what one sows.”C “Practice makes perfect.”D “Like father, like son.”Text 2For the past several years, the Sunday newspaper supplement Parade has featured a column called “Ask Marilyn.” People are invited to query Marilyn vos Savant, who at age 10 had tested at a mental level of someone abo
24、ut 23 years old; that gave her an IQ of 228 the highest score ever recorded. IQ tests ask you to complete verbal and visual analogies, to envision paper after it has been folded and cut, and to deduce numerical sequences, among other similar tasks. So it is a bit confusing when vos Savant fields suc
25、h queries from the average Joe (whose IQ is 100) as, Whats the difference between love and fondness? Or what is the nature of luck and coincidence? Its not obvious how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns suits one to answer questions that have eluded some of the be
26、st poets and philosophers.Clearly, intelligence encompasses more than a score on a test. Just what does it mean to be smart? How much of intelligence can be specified, and how much can we learn about it from neurology, genetics, computer science and other fields?The defining term of intelligence in
27、humans still seems to be the IQ score, even though IQ tests are not given as often as they used to be. The test comes primarily in two forms: the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (both come in adult and childrens version). Generally costing several hundred dolla
28、rs, they are usually given only by psychologists, although variations of them populate bookstores and the World Wide Web. Superhigh scores like vos Savants are no longer possible, because scoring is now based on a statistical population distribution among age peers, rather than simply dividing the m
29、ental age by the chronological age and multiplying by 100. Other standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), capture the main aspects of IQ tests.Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school
30、and in life, argues Robert J. Sternberg. In his article “How Intelligent Is Intelligence Testing?”, Sternberg notes that traditional test best assess analytical and verbal skills but fail to measure creativity and practical knowledge, components also critical to problem solving and life success. Mor
31、eover, IQ test do not necessarily predict so well once populations or situations change. Research has found that IQ predicted leadership skills when the tests were given under low-stress conditions, but under high-stress conditions, IQ was negatively correlated with leadership that is, it predicted
32、the opposite. Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test-taking skill also matters, whether its knowing when to guess or what questions to skip.26. Which of the following may be required in an intelligence test?A Answering philosophical questions.B Folding or cutting paper into differe
33、nt shapes.C Telling the difference between certain concepts.D Choosing words or graphs similar to the given ones.27. What can be inferred about intelligence testing from Paragraph 3?2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 5A People no longer use IQ scores as an indicator of intelligence.B More versions o
34、f IQ tests are now available on the Internet.C The test contents and formats for adults and children may be different.D Scientists have defined the important elements of human intelligence.28. People nowadays can no longer achieve IQ scores as high as vos Savants becauseA the scores are obtained thr
35、ough different computational procedures.B creativity rather than analytical skills is emphasized now.C vos Savants case is an extreme one that will not repeat.D the defining characteristic of IQ tests has changed.29. We can conclude from the last paragraph thatA test scores may not be reliable indic
36、ators of ones ability.B IQ scores and SAT results are highly correlated.C testing involves a lot of guesswork.D traditional test are out of date.30. What is the authors attitude towards IQ test?A Supportive.B Skeptical.C Impartial.D Biased.Text 3During the past generation, the American middle-class
37、family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.In just one genera
38、tion, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Todays families have budgeted to the limi
39、ts of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This “added-worker effect” could support the safety net offered b
40、y unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirem
41、ent income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to
42、move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen and
43、newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly pa
44、rent and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance have jumped eightfold in just one generation.From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frighte
45、ning acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.31. Todays double-income families are at greater financial risk in thatA the safety net they used to enjoy has disapp
46、eared.2007年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题 北文考研真诚为您服务 6B their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.C they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.D they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.32. As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may haveA a higher sense
47、of security.B less secured payments.C less chance to invest.D a guaranteed future.33. According to the author, health-savings plans willA help reduce the cost of healthcare.B popularize among the middle class.C compensate for the reduced pensions.D increase the families investment risk.34. It can be
48、 inferred from the last paragraph thatA financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.B the middle class may face greater political challenges.C financial problems may bring about political problems.D financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.35. Which of the following is the best title for this text?A The Middle Class on the AlertB The Middle Class on the CliffC The Middle Class in ConflictD The Middle C
