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Part I Reading Comprehension (2*25=50 points)
Directions: There are five passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions
or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D.
Decide on the best choice.
Passage 1
People tend to be impressed by evidence that seems to confirm some relationship. Thus
many are convinced their dreams are prophetic because a few have come true; they neglect or
fail to notice the many that have not.
Consider also the belief that “the phone always rings when I’m in the shower.” If it does
ring while you are in the shower, the event will stand out and be remembered. If it doesn’t ring,
that no event probably will even register.
People want to see order, pattern and meaning in the world. Consider, for example, the
common belief that things like the personal fortunes, plane crashes, and deaths “happen in
threes”. Such beliefs stem from the tendency of people to allow the third event to define the
time period. If three plane crashes occur in a month, then the period of time that counts as their
“happening together” is one month; if three crashes occur in a year, the period of time is
stretched. Flexible end points reinforce such beliefs.
We also tend to believe what we want to believe. Amajority of people think they are more
intelligent, more fair-minded and more skilled behind the wheel of an automobile than the
average person. Part of the reason we view ourselves so favorably is that we use criteria that
work to our advantage. An economist Thomas Schelling explains, “Everybody ranks himself
high in qualities he values; careful drivers give weight to care, skilled drivers give weight to
skill, and those who are polite give weight to courtesy.” This was why everyone ranks high on
his own scale.
Perhaps the most important mental habit we can learn is to be cautious in drawing
conclusions. The “evidence” of everyday life is something misleading.
1. In the first paragraph the author states that _____.
A. dreams cannot be said to be prophetic even though a few have come true
B. dreams are prophetic because some of them did come true
C. dreams may come true if clearly remembered
D. dreams and reality are closely related
2. By “things like…” “happen in threes” (Para. 3), the author indicates that people believe
______.
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