西南财经大学考博英语真题,考博英语试题

西南财经大学
2007年攻读博士学位研究生入学考试试题
英语

Part I Vocabulary (15 points, 0.5 point each)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single pencil line through the center.
1. A number of ______ clients have expressed their interest in our business.
A. possible
B. potential
C. original
D. relevant

2. I'm pleased to hear of your job offer — all that hard work at school has obviously ______.
A. paid off
B. taken its toll
C. made a difference
D. shown up

3. Based on the ______ that every business is now free to formulate its own strategy in light of the changing market, I would predict a marked improvement in the efficiency of China's economy.
A. guidance
B. instruction
C. premise
D. quantity

4. The aircraft base is protected with specially designed shelters which are built to ______ ground and air attacks.
A. paid off
B. withstand
C. contest
D. contend

5. He should ______ what he's good at, and not switch to something he knows nothing about.
A. take on
B. stick to
C. go after
D. live on

6. His testimony is of no ______ to the case.
A. relevance
B. relation
C. substance
D. connection

7. History, and modern, has taught these people an intense distrust of their neighbors.
A. primitive
B. ancient
C. religious
D. urban

8. It's already 11 pm. The little pub around the corner was closed, so we had ______ to it.
A. do away with
B. do up
C. do without
D. do with

9. Great efforts have been put on the study of a new pain-killing medicine which is supposed to ______ the headache to a great degree.
A. suppress
B. relieve
C. get rid of
D. cancel

10. Most people like crystal because of its physical quality, which makes it seem magnificent.
A. transparent
B. opaque
C. bright
D. visible

11. Oil can change a society more ______ than anyone could ever imagine.
A. uniquely
B. drastically
C. delicately
D. severely

12. Despite his passionate persuasive speech, she ______ his proposal with a slow wave of her hand.
A. eliminated
B. removed
C. got rid of
D. dismissed

13. The farm ministers scheduled an emergency meeting in Luxembourg in hopes of easing the worldwide "mad cow" ______.
A. crisis
B. panic
C. hazard
D. danger

14. You can ______ the video camera on a tripod, so that you don't have to worry about holding it steady while you ask questions.
A. withstand
B. implement
C. mount
D. dwell

15. We shall offer you advice, but you are under no ______ to follow it.
A. pursuit
B. obligation
C. command
D. instruction

16. This biography offers only a few ______ of his life before he became famous.
A. glimpses
B. glares
C. glitters
D. gleams

17. One of the reasons why metal could substitute for salt as money is that it is more ______.
A. durable
B. light
C. strong
D. sustainable

18. The experiment didn't succeed until the researcher realized that temperature was an essential factor.
A. steady
B. constant
C. changeable
D. continual

19. The attack at Pearl Harbor ______ a sharp response from American citizens, which pushed Americans to the world war.
A. launched
B. retreated
C. provoked
D. extracted

20. It is rude to ______ when two persons are holding a conversation.
A. stand in between
B. stand by
C. cut down
D. cut in

21. Most of the amateur contestants were ______ from the competition in the first round.
A. defeated
B. eliminated
C. discharged
D. distinguished

22. The dairy company ______ an advertisement campaign against its competitors.
A. participated
B. terminated
C. launched
D. upheld

23. His description of the holiday ______ a picture of long, hot days by the sea.
A. revokes up
B. conjures up
C. recalls
D. retraces

24. The mayor's abuse of power and negligence of duty were ______ in all the newspapers.
A. renounced
B. demonstrated
C. protected
D. denounced

25. It seems these creatures can ______ temperatures which would kill other species.
A. tolerate
B. compromise
C. mock
D. undergo

26. This course focuses on the ______ of economic analysis to the problems of inflation, unemployment, the balance of payments and enterprise behavior.
A. conception
B. combination
C. application
D. introduction

27. This disease ______ in Africa but has now spread to many parts of the world.
A. derived
B. originated
C. sparkled
D. dwelled

28. These technological advances in communication have ______ the way people do business.
A. revolted
B. represented
C. adopted
D. transformed

29. Public interest in the shipwreck has been ______ by the great success of the film Titanic.
A. revived
B. survived
C. revised
D. devised

30. Stimulated by the government's new economic policy, small and medium-sized enterprises began to ______.
A. prospect
B. popularize
C. prosper
D. propose

Part II Reading Comprehension (40 points, 2 points each)
Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single pencil line through the center.
Passage 1
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
One of the most widespread and important types of learning is operant conditioning, which involves increasing a behavior by following it with a reward, or decreasing a behavior by following it with punishment. For example, if a mother gives a boy his favorite snack every day for his cleaning up his room, before long the boy may spend some time each day cleaning his room in anticipation of the snack. In this example, the boy's room-cleaning behavior increases because it is followed by a reward.
Unlike classical conditioning, in which the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli are presented regardless of what the learner does, operant conditioning requires action on the part of the learner. The boy in the above example will not get his snack unless he first cleans up his room. The term operant conditioning refers to the fact that the learner must operate, or perform a certain behavior, before receiving a reward or punishment.
Some of the earliest scientific research on operant conditioning was conducted by American psychologist Edward L. Thorndike at the end of the 19th century. Thorndike's research subjects included cats, dogs, and chickens. To see how animals learn new behaviors, Thorndike used a small chamber that he called a puzzle box. He would place an animal in the puzzle box, and if it performed the correct response (such as pulling a rope, pressing a lever, or stepping on a platform), the door would swing open and the animal would be rewarded with some food located just outside the cage. The first time an animal entered the puzzle box, it usually took a long time to make the response required to open the door. Eventually, however, it would make the appropriate response by accident and receive its reward: escape and food. As Thorndike placed the same animal in the puzzle box again and again, it would make the correct response more and more quickly. Soon it would take the animal just a few seconds to earn its reward.
Based on these experiments, Thorndike developed a principle he called the law of effect. This law states that behaviors that are followed by pleasant consequences will be strengthened, and will be more likely to occur in the future. Conversely, behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences will be weakened, and will be less likely to be repeated in the future. Thorndike's law of effect is another way of describing what modern psychologists now call operant conditioning.
31. The difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning is that ______.
A. the former emphasizes punishment, while the latter emphasizes the operation
B. the former emphasizes reward, while the latter emphasizes the operation
C. the former emphasizes stimulus, while the latter emphasizes the operation
D. the former emphasizes snack, while the latter emphasizes the operation

32. What's the occupation of Edward L. Thorndike?
A. A teacher.
B. A scientist.
C. A learner.
D. An engineer.

33. Why could the animals in the puzzle box give correct response more and more quickly?
A. Because they had been forced to do so.
B. Because they had been rewarded many times after being able to do so.
C. Because they understood that people were doing an experiment on them.
D. Because they were the cleverest animals.

34. Which of the following may be inferred according to the law of effect?
A. Behaviors will be strengthened, if they are followed by pleasant consequences.
B. Behaviors will be weakened, if they are followed by unpleasant consequences.
C. Behaviors will not be repeated, if they are followed by punishment.
D. Teachers should praise and encourage students more.

35. The law of effect shows that ______.
A. pleasant results lead to repeated behaviors.
B. unpleasant results cause pleasant behaviors.
C. behaviors are not likely to appear even if there are pleasant consequences.
D. pleasant consequences will be weakened by unpleasant behaviors.

Passage 2
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
At the Kyoto conference on global warming in December 1997, it became abundantly clear how complex it is to work out international agreements relating to the environment because of economic concerns unique to each country. It is no longer enough to try to forbid certain activities or to reduce emissions of certain substances. The global challenges of the interlink between the environment and development increasingly bring us to the core of the economic life of states. During the late 1980s we were able, through international agreements, to make deep cuts in emissions harmful to the ozone layer. These reductions were made possible because substitutions had been found for many of the harmful chemicals and, more important, because the harmful substances could be replaced without negative effects on employment and the economies of states.
Although the threat of global warming has been known to the world for decades and all countries and leaders agree that we need to deal with the problem, we also know that the effects of measures, especially harsh measures taken in some countries, would be nullified (抵消) if other countries do not control their emissions. Whereas the UN team on climate change has found that the emissions of carbon dioxide would have to be cut globally by 60% to stabilize the content of CO2 in the atmosphere, this path is not feasible for several reasons. Such deep cuts would cause a breakdown of the world economy. Important and populous low- or medium-income countries are not yet willing to undertake legal commitments about their energy uses. In addition, the state of world technology would not yet permit us to make such a big leap.
We must, however, find a solution to the threat of global warming early in the 21st century. Such a commitment would require a degree of shared vision and common responsibilities new to humanity. Success lies in the force of imagination, in imagining what would happen if we fail to act. Although many living in cold regions would welcome the global-warming effect of a warmer summer, few would cheer the arrival of the subsequent tropical diseases, especially where there had been none.
36. The main purpose of this passage is to ______.
A. analyze the problem of global warming
B. argue against making deep cuts in emissions
C. convince people that global warming is a real threat
D. criticize some countries for refusing to cut down emissions harmful to the ozone layer

37. The reason why it is difficult to get rid of the threat of global warming is that ______.
A. the leaders of many countries are not fully aware of the gravity of the problem
B. many people welcome the global-warming effect of a warm summer
C. not all the countries are willing to make deep cuts in emissions
D. world technology is not able to solve the problem

38. In the passage the author implies that ______.
A. the world has recently become aware of the threat of global warming
B. the problem of global warming has largely been solved
C. it is always difficult to work out international agreements to cut down emissions harmful to the ozone layer
D. it is no longer easy to reach international agreements relating to the environment

39. According to the author, it is impossible at present to cut 60% of carbon dioxide emissions globally because ______.
A. some people are irresponsible
B. it would cause a collapse of the world economy
C. it is only a goal to be reached in the future
D. some people are lacking in imagination

40. What should all countries do to help solve the problem of global warming?
A. They should hold another world conference on climate change.
B. They should provide advanced technology.
C. They should replace all the harmful substances.
D. They should willingly undertake legal commitments about their energy uses.

Passage 3
Questions 41 to 45 are based on the following passage:
Like many other small boys, I was fascinated by cars, not least because my oldest brother was a bit of a car guy and subscribed to cool magazines like Car and Driver and Motor Trend. Every so often, one of those magazines would run an article on the "Car of the Future." They featured unconventional styling and things like small nuclear reactors as power sources. Yet, frankly, my car doesn't do anything that my brother's Studebaker didn't do. It goes, it stops, it burns gasoline, it plays music. I still have to steer it, and it still runs into things if I don't steer it carefully.
But guess what? All of these things are subject to change in the not-so-distant future. It will still go and stop, but it may not burn gasoline. I may not have to steer it, and it may be a lot better at not running into things.
Airbags aren't the be-all and end-all in safety. In fact, considering the recent news about people occasionally being killed by their airbags in low-speed collisions (碰撞), they obviously still need some development. But they aren't going away, and in fact, you can expect to see cars appearing with additional, side-impact airbags, something some European car-manufacturers already offer.
Better than systems to minimize injury in the event of an accident, however, are systems that minimize the likelihood of an accident happening in the first place. Future cars may be able to eliminate many of the major causes of accidents, including drunk-driving, tailgating and sleepiness. Cars could be equipped with sensors that can detect alcohol in a driver's system and prevent the car from being started, for example. Many accidents are caused by people following car in front too closely. As early as next year, you'll be able to buy cars with radar-equipped control systems. If the radar determines you're closing too quickly with the car in front, it will ease up on the throttle. For city streets, expect other radar devices that will give advance warning that the car in front of you has slowed abruptly and you should step on the brakes or that may even brake for you.
Will cars eventually be able to drive themselves? There's no reason to think it won't be technically possible, and Mercedes is working on a system that can brake, accelerate and steer a vehicle down a highway on its own. Nobody really expects people to give up all control to their cars, but such systems could be used as failsafe systems to keep cars on the road and bring them safely to a stop even if the driver suddenly became disabled.
41. The author was fascinated by cars because ______.
A. other small boys liked to own a car of their own, too
B. he read exotic things about cars in his brother's magazines
C. his oldest brother loved to take him to places in his car
D. he subscribed to cool car magazines

42. By saying "my car doesn't do anything that my brother's Studebaker didn't do", the author means that ______.
A. my car is far better than my brother's was
B. my car is not as good as my brother's was
C. not much has changed in the performance of cars so far
D. much improvement has been made in the design of cars recently

43. Which of the following statements is true of airbags?
A. They are in need of further improvement.
B. They are going to disappear gradually.
C. They kill people instead of protecting them in low-speed collisions.
D. They are a standard feature of European cars.

44. What will future cars do if the sensors detect alcohol in the driver's system?
A. They will give a warning in advance.
B. They will brake automatically.
C. They will ease up on the throttle.
D. They will not start.

45. Which of the following statements is true according to the last paragraph?
A. People will give up all control to their cars.
B. Cars will be able to drive themselves.
C. No cars will ever break down on the roads.
D. Cars will all be equipped with failsafe systems.

Passage 4
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage:
"Welcome to the U.S.A.! Major credit cards are accepted!" By the millions they are coming no longer the tired, the poor, the wretched masses longing for a better living. These are the wealthy. "We don't have a budget," says a biologist from Brazil, as she walks with two companions through New York City's South Street. "We just use our credit cards."
The US has long been one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, but this year has been exceptional. First, there was the World Cup, which drew thousands from every corner of the globe; then came the weakening of the US dollar against major currencies. Now the US, still the world's superpower, can also claim to be the world's bargain basement. Nobody undersells America these days on just about everything, from consumer electronics to fashion clothes to tennis rackets. Bottom retail prices anywhere from 30% to 70% lower than those in Europe and Asia have attracted some 47 million visitors, who are expected to leave behind $79 billion in 1994. That's up from $74 billion the year before.
True, not everyone comes just for bargains. There remains an undeniable fascination in the rest of the world with all things American, nourished by Hollywood films and US television series. But shopping the USA is proving irresistible. Every week thousands arrive with empty suitcases ready to be filled; some even rent an additional hotel room to hold their purchases. The buying binge has become as important as watching Old Faithful Fountains erupt in Yellowstone Park or sunbathing on a beach in Florida.
The US has come at last to appreciate what other countries learned long ago: the pouring in of foreign tourists may not always be convenient, but it does put money in the bank. And with a trade deficit at about $130 billion and growing for the past 12 months, the US needs all the deposits it can get. Compared with American tourists abroad, visitors to the US stay longer and spend more money at each stop; an average of 12.2 nights and $1624 a traveler versus the Americans' four nights and $298.
46. From what the Brazilian biologist says, we know that tourists like her ______.
A. are reluctant to carry cash with them
B. simply don't care how much they spend
C. are not good at planning their expenditure
D. often spend more money than they can afford

47. The reason why 1994 was exceptional is that ______.
A. it saw an unusually large number of tourists to the US
B. it witnessed a drop in the number of tourists to the US
C. tourism was hardly affected by the weakening of the US dollar that year
D. Tourists came to the US for sightseeing rather than for bargains that year

48. By saying "nobody undersells America" (Underlined), the author means that ______.
A. no other country underestimates the competitiveness of American products
B. nobody expects the Americans to cut the prices of their commodities
C. nobody restrains the selling of American goods
D. no other country sells at a lower price than America

49. Why does the author assert that all things American are fascinating to foreigners?
A. Because they have gained much publicity through the American media
B. Because they represent the world's latest fashions
C. Because they embody the most sophisticated technology
D. Because they are available at all tourist destinations

50. From the passage we can conclude that the US has come to realize ______.
A. the weakening of the US dollar can result in trade deficits
B. the lower the retail prices, the greater in profits
C. tourism can make great contributions to its economy
D. visitors to the US are wealthier than US tourists abroad

Part III Translation from English into Chinese (15 points)
Directions: Translate the following English into Chinese, and write down your Chinese versions on the Answer Sheet.
Most commonly we come to books with blurred and divided minds, asking of fiction that it shall be true, of poetry that it shall be false, of biography that it shall be flattering, of history that it shall enforce our own prejudices. If we could banish all such preconception when we read, that would be an admirable beginning. Do not dictate to your author; try to become him. Be his fellow worker and accomplice. If you hang back, and reserve and criticize at first, you are preventing yourself from getting the fullest possible value from what you read. But if you open your mind as widely as possible, then signs and hints of almost imperceptible fineness, from the twist and turn of the first sentences, will bring you into the presence of a human being unlike any other.
Part IV Translation from Chinese into English (15 points)
Directions: Translate the following Chinese into English, and write down your English versions on the Answer Sheet.
由于香港的战略位置，面向国际的商业氛围，和优越的通讯条件，使她成为世界贸易的活动中心和亚太地区的神经中枢。香港已和世界上170个国家和地区的公司有商业往来，与亚洲其他国家和地区的贸易大幅度增长。香港的集装箱港口是世界上最繁忙的，而且还在进一步扩建。虽然香港开始成为世界金融中心还是最近二十年的事，但现在海外贷款已占到香港银行提供的总贷款的一半以上。当这颗东方明珠重新回到中国的掌上时，中国人民眼中的香港未来比过去任何时候都更加光明灿烂。
Part V Writing (15 points)
Directions: Write a composition based on the title and topic sentences given below. You should write it in 180—200 words clearly and neatly on the Answer Sheet.
Title: Traveling On Holidays
Nowadays traveling on holidays has become a fashion in China. ……
Traveling has many advantages. ……
On the whole, I think traveling does more good than harm. ……