东北师范大学考博英语真题,考博英语试题

东北师范大学 2006 年博士研究生入学考试英语试题
说明：所有试题均须答在答题纸上，答在本试题上一律无效。

Part I Grammar and Vocabulary (20%)
Directions: In this part you must choose the word or phrase which best completes each
sentence.
1. Recent polls seem to suggest that the government's popularity ______ at an all time
low. A. be B. should be C. can be D. is
2. She weights ______ between 55 and 60 kilograms. A. somehow B. sometimes C.
somewhere D. somewhat
3. Before you even get the project, you have to do a lot ______ about it. A. of plan B.
of plans C. of planning D. more plans
4. I have escaped to the first-class waiting room of sleeper not ______ for privacy and
comfort as for protection. A. just B. only C. all D. so much
5. Thomas turned his head, ______ the smoke. A. tried to avoid breathing B. tried to
avoid to breathe in C. trying not to breathe in D. trying not breathing
6. To catch a cheater, it helps to think like ______. A. them B. it C. any D. one
7. I would read all day long and well ______ the night if there were no other claims on
my time. A. at B. in C. on D. into
8. ______ is simply a means of urging people to do more of a good thing and less of a
bad thing. A. An incentive B. A desire C. A demand D. Encouragement
9. If her students do well enough, she might find herself praised, promoted and even
richer, the state of California at one point ______ bonuses of $ 25000 for teachers who
produced big test-score gains. A. introduced B. Utilized C. imposed D. practiced
10. Out of the corner of my eye I see my 90th birthday ______. It is one year and six
months away. A. approaching B. celebrated C. congratulated D. observed
11. For them the second-rate foreign product, either people or manufactures, is ______ to
the Chinese. A. preferring B. Preferable C. preferred D. favorite
12. No one –man, woman, or especially child---will be allowed to cross the line and
reenter the car until his ice-cream cone has been entirely ______ and he has cleaned
himself up. A. edible B. consumed C. taken D. exterminated
13. They also had less ______ to birth control. What they did have, accordingly, was a lot
more babies. A. chance B. Opportunity C. access D. right
14. The tablets will start to ______ a few minutes after they have been swallowed. A.
work B. affect C. perform D. effect
15. But overall, the teenage ______ of the population wasn't getting much bigger. A.
percent B. share C. account D. problem
16. You've been promoted? This calls ______ a celebration. A. up B. forth C. on
D. for
17. It didn't take her long to ______ a very convincing example. A. turn up B. come
up with C. pick up D. look up
18. Jackson tried to ______ him ______ to our way of thinking. A. bring…about B.
stick…abound C. bring…round D. get…round
19. There are rumors that British Leyland are going to ______ another 1000 workers. A.
wear off B. work off C. lay off D. set off
20. It took some experts many years to even recognize that crime was falling so ______
had they been of its continuing rise. A. quickly B. Steadily C. fascinated D.
confident
Part II Reading Comprehension (45%)
Directions: In this part you will find after each of the passages a number of questions or
unfinished statements about the passage, each with four suggested answers or ways of
finishing. You must choose the one which you think fits best.
Passage One (5%)
Conflict had existed between Spain and England since the 1570s. England wanted a
share of the wealth that Spain had been taking from the lands it had claimed in the
Americas.
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, encouraged her staunch admiral of the navy, Sir
Francis Drake, to raid Spanish ships and towns. Though these raids were on a small scale,
Drake achieved dramatic success, adding gold and silver to England's treasury and
diminishing Spain's omnipotence.
Religious differences also caused conflict between the two countries. Whereas Spain
was Roman Catholic, most of England had become Protestant. King Philip II of Spain
wanted to claim the throne and make England a Catholic country again. To satisfy his
ambition and also to retaliate against England's theft of his gold and silver, King Philip
began to build his fleet of warships, the Armada, in January 1586.
Philip intended his fleet to be indestructible. In addition to building new warships, he
marshaled one hundred and thirty sailing vessels of all types and recruited more than
nineteen thousand robust soldiers and eight thousand sailors. Although some of his ships
lacked guns and others lacked ammunition, Philip was convinced that his Armada could
withstand any battle with England.
The martial Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on May 9, 1588, but bad weather
forced it back to port. The voyage resumed on July 22 after the weather became more
stable.
The Spanish fleet met the smaller, faster, and more maneuverable English ships in
battle off the coast of Plymouth, England, first on July 31 and again on August 2. The
two battles left Spain vulnerable, having lost several ships and with its ammunition
depleted. On August 7, while the Armada lay at anchor on the French side of the Strait of
Dover, England sent eight burning ships into the midst of the Spanish fleet to set it on fire.
Blocked on one side, the Spanish ships could only drift away, their crews in panic and
disorder. Before the Armada could regroup, the English attacked again on August 8.
Although the Spaniards made a valiant effort to fight back, the fleet suffered
extensive damage. During the eight hours of battle, the Armada drifted perilously close to
the rocky coastline. At the moment when it seemed that the Spanish ships would be
driven onto the English shore, the wind shifted, and the Armada drifted out into the North
Sea. The Spaniards recognized the superiority of the English fleet and returned home,
defeated.
21. Sir Francis Drake added wealth to the treasury and diminished Spain's ______. A.
unlimited power B. unrestricted growth C. territory D. treaties
22. Philip recruited many ______ soldiers and sailors. A. warlike B. strong C.
accomplish D. timid
23. The ______ Armada set sail on May 9, 1588. A. complete B. warlike C.
independent D. isolated
foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce
the impact of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as
concrete and steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living
organisms to an earthquake's vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips
forward, the computer would force the building to shift in the opposite direction.
The new smart structures could be very expensive to build. However, they would
save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.
36. One reason why the loss of lives in the Los Angeles earthquake was comparatively
low is that ______. A. new computers had been installed in the buildings B. it
occurred in the residential areas rather than on the highways C. large number of Los
Angeles residents had gone for a holiday. D. improvements had been made in the
construction of buildings and highways
37. The function of the computer mentioned in the passage is to ______. A.
counterbalance an earthquake's action on the building B. predict the coming of an
earthquake with accuracy C. help strengthen the foundation of the building D.
measure the impact of an earthquake's vibrations
38. The smart building discussed in the passage ______. A. would cause serious
financial problems B. would be worthwhile though costly C. would reduce the
complexity of architectural design D. can reduce the ground vibrations caused by
earthquakes
39. It can be inferred from the passage that in minimizing the damage caused by
earthquakes, attention should be focused on ______. A. the increasing use of rubber
and steel in capital construction. B. the development of flexible building materials C.
the reduction of the impact of ground vibrations D. early forecasts of earthquakes
40. The author's main purpose in writing the passage is to ______. A. compare the
consequences of the earthquakes that occurred in the U.S. B. encourage civil engineers
to make more extensive use of computers C. outline the history of the development of
quake-resistant building materials D. report new developments in constructing quake-
resistant building.
Passage Five (5%)
I think it was De Mandeville who suggested a river party for the staffs of the various
embassies. Nor, on the face of it, was the idea a bad one. All winter long the logs come
down the River Sava until the frost locks them in: now with the spring thaw the river has
a pontoon of treetrunks some forty feet wide lining the bank under the willows so that
you can walk out over the river, avoiding the margins, and swim in the deep water.
These logs had been made into a hundred feet by sixty—big enough even to dance
on. While everyone was dancing the rumba and while the buffet was plying a heavy trade,
it was noticed that the distance between the raft and the shore had noticeably increased.
The gang-plank subsided in the ooze. It was not a great distance—perhaps ten feet. But
owing to the solid resistance such a large raft set up in the main current the pull was
definitely outward. But as yet nobody was alarmed; indeed most of the party thought it
was part of a planned entertainment.
As we approached the next bend of the river it looked as if the whole thing would
run aground on the bank, and a few of us made preparations to grab hold of the
overhanging willows and halt our progress. But by ill luck a change in the current carried
us just too far into the centre of the river and we were carried past the spit of land, vainly
groping at the tips of bushes.
It was about another five minutes before the full significance of our position began to
dawn upon us. By this time we were moving in stately fashion down the centre of the
river, all lit up like a Christmas tree. Exclamations, suggestions, counter suggestions
poured from the lips of the diplomats and their spouses in a dozen tongues.
Unknown to us, too, other factors were being introduced which were to make this a
memorable night for us all. Spy-mania was at its height and the Yugoslav forces lived in
a permanent state of alertness. There were frequent rumors of armed raids from
Czechoslovakia.
It was in this context that some Yugoslav infantryman at an observation post along
the river saw what he took to be a large armed man on war full of Czech paratroops in
dinner jackets and ball dresses sailing upon Belgrade. He did not wait to verify this first
impression. He galloped into Belgrade Castle a quarter of an hour later on a foam-flecked
mule with the news that the city was about to be invaded.
41. A river party was practicable because ______. A. the river was lined with willow
trees B. the banks were not muddy at this time C. there was a suitable surface for
walking on D. there was not too much frost at this season
42. The raft did not stop at the next bend because ______. A. there was too much mud
on the river bank B. there were only bushes to catch hold of C. the current made it
swirl outwards D. the water was not shallow enough
43. The occupants of the raft were ______. A. completely unaware of their situation
B. quarrelling in various languages C. indignant with the organizers of the party D.
anxious to help solve the problem
44. They came under suspicion because ______. A. the Yugoslavs feared an invasion
B. Czechoslovakia was at war C. the country was full of spies D. of the way they
were dressed
45. The Yugoslav look-out made a mistake because ______. A. the party were dressed
in soldiers' uniforms B. the raft was sailing towards Belgrade C. many of the party
were armed D. he was affected by the general tension
Passage Six (10%)
April the 3rd was the day we attempted to reach Mount Everest. The morning saw us
all up and rushing about the camp at daybreak. We bumped down the nine miles of dusty
track, each clutching a camera or one of the more delicate instruments to our chests in an
endeavor to make our bodies absorb as many of the shocks from the bumpy track as
possible. The ground staff were already busy on our arrival. The sheds where the aircraft
were kept had been opened and the great machines were being manhandled out onto the
runway. The bottles of oxygen were carefully placed in their clips and connected to the
system. The vertical cameras were fitted and tested, air frames and engines were
inspected and tested in every detail.
Pilots and observers cared greatly about their equipment, trying on oxygen masks
which they had tried on many times before, readjusted to a nicety. They then rechecked
the charts which had been carefully prepared to allow accurately for the increasing wind
speeds during the climb—all trying to keep themselves occupied during that tense half
hour wait for the return of the reconnaissance machine.
There had been so much preparation for this flight, and there was still so much of the
unknown about it, that the crews could not help being slightly affected by the general
excitement. Waiting is always unpleasant, and we were all relieved to see the
reconnaissance machine diving down through the dust haze. The Air Commodore who
commanded it brought welcome news. Though he had been unable to climb above the
dust, he had been able to see towards the mountains through the top of the haze and there
was a cloudless sky. This was splendid: no cloud to spoil the photography.
We had promised not to attempt the flight if the wind exceeded 40 miles an hour, but
this was the first time we had found the wind under 100 miles an hour. We worked out
the implications and reckoned that, provided we did not spend more than fifteen minutes
at the summit, we could get back inside our petrol endurance. We might wait for days and
weeks and not get another opportunity. The Air Commodore weighed the position
carefully and gave the word "Go".
46. The author and his colleagues held their instruments close to their bodies because
______. A. there were so many people in the car B. the dust might have obscured
their cameras C. the surface of the track was very uneven D. they wanted to protect
themselves from bumps
47. When the members of the expedition arrived at the aerodrome, the ground staff were
______. A. maneuvering the aircraft into position on the runway B. attaching the clips
to the bottles of oxygen C. waiting to remove the machines from the sheds D. making
final adjustments to the vertical cameras
48. The crews of the aircraft kept checking their equipment ______. A. to ensure that
the straps on their oxygen masks were adjustable B. to pinpoint the position of the
reconnaissance plane C. to verify the accuracy of the wind speeds shown in their charts
D. to keep themselves busy until it was time to take off
49. For this expedition the pilots were equipped with ______. A. a television system
B. a new type of aircraft C. breathing apparatus D. parachute equipment
50. During the reconnaissance flight the Air Commodore was able to ______. A. get
close to the Summit of Mount Everest B. observe the weather conditions above the dust.
C. take long-range photographs of the mountain D. send information back to the
aerodrome
Passage Seven (10%)
Whatever may be said against mass circulation magazines and newspapers, it can
hardly be argued that they are out of touch with their readers' daydreams, and therefore
the persuasions they hold out to them must be a near accurate reflection of their
unfulfilled wants and aspirations. Study these and you will assuredly understand a good
deal of what it is that makes society go forward.
Looking back, for example, to the twenties and thirties, we can see that circulation
managers unerringly diagnosed the twin obsessions which dominated that era of mass
unemployment--economic insecurity and a passionate concern for the next generation.
Thus it was that readers were recruited with offers of free insurance policies for the one,
and free instant education for the other. The family whose breadwinner lost an eye in a
double railway derailment, or an arm in a flood, could confidently expect to collect
several hundred pounds from the Daily This or the Evening That. The family who could
not afford to send their son to grammar school could find comfort in equipping him with
the complete works of Shakespeare in one magnificent, easy-to-read volume.
After the war the need to fall into step with the new consumer society was soon
realized. If you were challenged by neighbors who, unlike you, could afford a holiday
abroad, then winning an easy competition could set you up with a fortnight in an exotic
sunspot. Dishwashers, washing machines, slow-cookers and deep-fat fryers were--and
still are--available by the same means.
51. The writer finds the study of gifts and prizes interesting because it ______. A.
shows the power of the popular press B. reveals social trends C. confirms his view of
human nature D. exposes journalist dishonesty
52. Why did newspapers in the 1920s and 1930s offer their readers gifts? A. to spread
popular education B. to increase their circulation C. to improve social conditions D.
to increase their readers' ambitions
53. What does the choice of gifts tell us about the circulation manages? A. they
despaired their reader B. their interests were rather serious C. they understood their
readers D. they enjoyed being powerful
54. Why were readers in the 1920s and 1930s attracted by free insurance policies? A.
they were afraid of being unable to work B. Jobs were more dangerous then C. they
had bigger families to look after D. money was given away with the policies
55. Why did holidays abroad become a common prize after the war? A. people became
more interested in material possessions B. everyone wanted the opportunity to travel
C. group travel became easier D. people want to get away from familiar surrounding
Part III Translation (20%)
Directions: Translate the following sentences from English into Chinese.
1. Let American confront a novel problem alongside English, and immediately its
superior imaginativeness and resourcefulness become obvious.
2. If you stock your refrigerator with fruit juices, you may be setting your kids up for a
battle with obesity.
3. Stereotypes of the nagging, critical mother-in-law may need some revising, a new
study suggests that good husbands or boyfriends are often the product of great moms.
4. Cash-strapped couples are buying fewer engagement rings and instead wearing their
affections on their sleeves in the form of brand-name watches and other love tokens,
industry researches said on Tuesday.
5. McDonald's Corp...battered by criticism of its fatty foods, said it would eliminate
French fries and soft drinks by the end of the year, part of a swing toward pleasing
health-minded customers and simplifying it menu.
6. I believe that though my life was short in years, it was full in experience, joy, love and
accomplishment, that my own immortality will reside in the memories of my loved ones
left behind, mother, brother, wife, children, dear friends.
7. A reader in Florida, apparently bruised by some personal experience, writes in to
complain. "If I steal a nickel's worth of merchandise, I am a thief and punished, but if I
steal the love of another's wife, I am free."
8. The waitress recommends real home-made beef and mashed potatoes and he will have
the beef, but could he substitute fries with that, please?
9. Leadership is all about getting people consistently to give their best, helping them to
grow to their fullest potential, and motivating them to work toward a common good.
10. Almost any kind of information can be found though the internet from electronic
magazines that deal with ghost stories, poetry, or children's stories to areas where you can
play games, listen to music, or discuss about any thing that interests you.
Part IV Writing (15%)
Directions: Write a composition of about 200 words. Your answer must follow exactly
the instructions given.
Topic: Is it possible for humans to be equal?
You are to give your composition a proper title and then write three paragraphs:
In the first paragraph, state clearly your viewpoint.
In the second paragraph, support your viewpoint with details or examples.
In the last paragraph, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion with a summary
or a suggestion.
Marks will be awarded for content, organization and appropriate use of language.