1、2009年武汉大学二外英语考研真题试卷及答案解析(总分：168.00，做题时间：90 分钟)1.Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D.（分数：10.00）_Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we fit in society. As
2、we go about our everyday lives, we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example, we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian, whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman, whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or
3、 a “ meter reader, and so on. The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter, and change throughout life. Most of us can, at a very high speed, assume the statuses that various situations require. Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate stat
4、uses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others, most of us perform it rather effort
5、lessly. A status has been compared to ready-made clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric. But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our
6、choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook. Having made a choice within these limits we can have certain alterations made, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks. Statuses, too, come ready made, and the range of cho
7、ice among them is limited.（分数：10.00）(1).In the first paragraph, the writer tells us that statuses can help us_.（分数：2.00）A.determine whether a person is fit for a certain jobB.behave appropriately in relation to other peopleC.protect ourselves in unfamiliar situationsD.make friends with other people(
8、2).According to the writer, people often assume different statuses_.（分数：2.00）A.in order to identify themselves with othersB.in order to better identify othersC.as their mental processes changeD.as the situation changes(3).The word “appraisal“(Sentence 4, Paragraph 2)most probably means_.（分数：2.00）A.i
9、nvolvementB.appreciationC.assessmentD.presentation(4).In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the pronoun “it“ refers to_.（分数：2.00）A.fitting our actions to those of other people appropriatelyB.identification of other people“ s statusesC.selecting one“ s own statusesD.constant mental process(5)
10、.By saying that “an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince“(Sentence 3, Paragraph 3), the writer means_ .（分数：2.00）A.different people have different styles of clothesB.ready-made clothes may need alterationsC.statuses come ready made just like clothe
11、sD.our choice of statuses is limitedThe view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched(草盖的)roof cottages around a church; a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white; the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm buildings
12、these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside. Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practiced in the British Isles. Although thatch has always been used for cott
13、age and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too. Thatching is a solitary(独自的)craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practiced today has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time hatchers are employed in England and Wales today,
14、 maintaining and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world live under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are
15、often reluctant to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to import the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done in the British
16、way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat.（分数：10.00）(1).Which of the following remains a unique feature of the English countryside?（分数：2.00）A.Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses.B.Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings.C.Cottages with thatched r
17、oofs.D.Churches with cottages around them.(2).What do we know about thatching as a craft?（分数：2.00）A.It is a collective activity.B.It is practiced on farms all over England.C.It is quite different from what it used to be.D.It is in most cases handed down among family members.(3).Thatched houses are s
18、till preferred because of_.（分数：2.00）A.their style and comfortB.their durabilityC.their easy maintenanceD.their cheap and ready-made materials(4).People in developing countries also live under thatch because_.（分数：2.00）A.thatched cottages are a big tourist attractionB.thatched roof houses are the chea
19、pestC.thatch is an effective defense against the heatD.they like thatched houses better than other buildings(5).We can learn from the passage that_.（分数：2.00）A.thatched cottages in England have been passed down from ancient timesB.thatching is a building craft first created by the English peopleC.the
20、 English people have a special liking for thatched housesD.most thatched cottages in England are located on hillsidesPeople living on parts of the south coast of England face a serious problem. In 1993, the owners of a large hotel and of several houses discovered, to their horror, that their gardens
21、 had disappeared overnight. The sea had eaten into the soft limestone cliffs on which they had been built. While experts were studying the problem, the hotel and several houses disappeared altogether, sliding down the cliff and into the sea. Erosion of the white cliffs along the south coast of Engla
22、nd has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be abandoned as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most affected and have drawn up a map for local people, forecasting the year in which their homes will
23、 be swallowed up by the hungry sea. Angry owners have called on the Government to erect sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases, this is impossible. New sea walls would cost hundreds of millions of pounds and would merely make the waves and curre
24、nts go further along the coast, shifting the problem from one area to another. The danger is likely to continue, they say, until the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten as limestone is. Meanwhile, if you want to buy a cheap house with an uncertain future, apply to a house
25、 agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home.（分数：10.00）(1).What is the cause of the problem that people living on parts of the south coast of England face?（分数：2.00）A.The rising of the sea lev
26、el.B.The experts“ lack of knowledge.C.The washing-away of limestone cliffs.D.The disappearance of hotels, houses and gardens.(2).The erosion of the white cliffs in the south of England_.（分数：2.00）A.will soon become a problem for people living in central EnglandB.has now become a threat to the local r
27、esidentsC.can be stopped if proper measures are takenD.is quickly changing the map of England(3).The experts“ study on the problem of erosion can_.（分数：2.00）A.warn people whose homes are in clangerB.provide an effective way to slow it downC.help to prevent it from worseningD.lead to its eventual solu
28、tion(4).It is not feasible to build sea defenses to protect against erosion because_.（分数：2.00）A.house agents along the coast do not support the ideaB.it is too costly and will endanger neighboring areasC.the government is too slow in taking actionD.they will be easily knocked down by waves and curre
29、nts(5).According to the author, when buying a house along the south coast of England, people should（分数：2.00）A.take the quality of the house into considerationB.guard against being cheated by the house agentC.examine the house carefully before making a decisionD.be aware of the potential danger invol
30、vedIn the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful. Negative events like serious illness of a family member were high on the list, but so were some positive life-chang
31、ing events, like marriage. When you take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you deal with stressit only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know that the way you handle these events dramatically affects your chances of staying healthy. By the earl
32、y 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports. Somehow, the research got boiled down to a memorable message. Women“ s magazines ran headlines like Stress causes illness! If you want to stay physica
33、lly and mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events. But such simplistic advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events are dangerous, manylike the death of a loved oneare impossible to avoid. Moreover, any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription for staying
34、 away from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful. A person who wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job or move. The notion that a stress makes you sick also ignores a lot of what we know about people. It assumes we“ re all
35、vulnerable and passive in the face of adversity. But what about human initiative and creativity? Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental vigor than they had before. We also know that a long time without change or challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and mental strain
36、.（分数：10.00）(1).The result of Holmes-Rae“ s medical research tells us_.（分数：2.00）A.the way you handle major events may cause stressB.what should be done to avoid stressC.what kind of event would cause stressD.how to cope with sudden changes in life(2).The studies on stress in the early 1970s led to_.（
37、分数：2.00）A.widespread concern over its harmful effectsB.great panic over the mental disorder it could causeC.an intensive research into stress-related illnessesD.popular avoidance of stressful jobs(3).The score of the Holmes-Rahe test shows_.（分数：2.00）A.how much pressure you are underB.how positive ev
38、ents can change your lifeC.how stressful a major event can beD.how you can deal with life-changing events(4).Why is “such simplistic advice“(Sentence 1, Paragraph 3)impossible to follow?（分数：2.00）A.No one can stay on the same job for long.B.No prescription is effective in relieving stress.C.People ha
39、ve to get married someday.D.You could be missing opportunities as well.(5).According to the passage people who have experienced ups and downs may become_.（分数：2.00）A.nervous when faced with difficultiesB.physically and mentally strainedC.more capable of coping with adversityD.indifferent toward what
40、happens to them2.My money gets spent so fast. It seems to_into thin air.（分数：2.00）A.disappearB.missC.end upD.get lost3.He“ s a horrible man and I hope_.（分数：2.00）A.we“ ve never seen himB.we never saw himC.we“ll never see him againD.we had never seen him before4.Recent reports will give the_news about
41、the election.（分数：2.00）A.latterB.latestC.presentD.quickest5.Community service can_anything from gardening to helping old people“ s homes.（分数：2.00）A.presentB.involveC.replaceD.oblige6.The professor_an invitation to all the students to come to tea.（分数：2.00）A.reachedB.allowedC.spreadD.extended7.Let“ s_e
42、verything and find out where the trouble is.（分数：2.00）A.look atB.find outC.go overD.inquire into8.They_their conversation when Mr. Chapman came into the office.（分数：2.00）A.held upB.finishedC.put offD.broke off9.She has_some brilliant scheme to double her income.（分数：2.00）A.come up withB.given in toC.se
43、ttled down inD.looked up to10.They seem_to socialize with a very small circle of people.（分数：2.00）A.concernedB.contentC.joyfulD.pleasant11.His knowledge of English is_for the job, although he is not fluent in the language.（分数：2.00）A.properB.completeC.perfectD.adequate12.She wrote an_letter to the new
44、spaper complaining about the council“s action.（分数：2.00）A.disappointedB.surprisedC.indignantD.disapproved13.There“ s growing_among the electorate with the old two-party system.（分数：2.00）A.impatienceB.disbeliefC.hopelessnessD.insistence14.He could have told us what had happened, but he did not_to.（分数：2
45、.00）A.chooseB.promiseC.selectD.allow15.It is impossible to_the news unless you read the newspaper every day.（分数：2.00）A.look up inB.keep up withC.put up withD.follow up16.The missing child“ s parents became more and more worried as the hours_.（分数：2.00）A.spentB.missedC.passedD.went17.As the bus_into t
46、he station there was a rush to get seats.（分数：2.00）A.drewB.sentC.arrivedD.pulled18.Unable to speak a word of that language, he_with his hands.（分数：2.00）A.relatedB.communicatedC.connectedD.exchanged19.We“ll need_milk if Bob and Mary are coming for the weekend.（分数：2.00）A.otherB.extraC.spareD.further20.T
47、he growing_of the company is reflected in the high price of its shares.（分数：2.00）A.developmentB.probabilityC.potentialD.possibility21.For wildlife enthusiasts the journey is_because the region is known for its sea birds.（分数：2.00）A.funnyB.worthyC.pleasedD.worthwhile22.The rent is reasonable and_, the
48、location is perfect.（分数：2.00）A.moreoverB.thoughC.thereforeD.however23.Grandma was insistent that we_her soon.（分数：2.00）A.went and visitedB.go and visitC.went visitingD.go and visiting24.I_you the money. Why didn“ t you ask me?（分数：2.00）A.would lendB.could have lentC.must have lentD.had lent25.This car
49、 has been_trouble; it“ s always breaking down.（分数：2.00）A.anything butB.nothing butC.all butD.none but26._by the news of his father“s death, he could hardly utter a word.（分数：2.00）A.To be stunnedB.Being stunnedC.StunnedD.Stunning27.You can go out, _you promise to be back before 11 o“ clock.（分数：2.00）A.ev
