1、北京大学考博英语-8 及答案解析(总分：58.50，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Part Vocabulary(总题数：20，分数：18.00)1.If you want to go to the concert, you“ll have to make a _ ,or there will be no tickets.（分数：0.50）A.reservationB.punctualityC.complimentD.clarity2.The beauty of the reflected images in the limpid pool was the poignant beauty of t
2、hings that are _, exist only until the sunset.（分数：1.00）A.equitableB.ephemeralC.euphoniousD.evasive3.It is not so much the language_the cultural background that makes the book difficult to understand.（分数：1.00）A.butB.norC.asD.like4.The market for dust masks and air purifiers is _ in Beijing because th
3、e capital has been shrouded for several days in thick fog and haze.（分数：1.00）A.boomingB.loomingC.doomingD.zooming5.“What courses are you going to do next semester?“ “I don“t know. But it“s about time_on something.“（分数：1.00）A.I“ddecideB.I decidedC.I decideD.I“m deciding6.Some readers, especially child
4、ren, find his works among the most_books they have ever read.（分数：1.00）A.captivatingB.captivatedC.capturableD.captious7.Mary and John took a long time in saying good night in order to postpone the _ of parting.（分数：1.00）A.jealousyB.reliefC.anguishD.appreciation8.Now many manufacturers build their busi
5、ness reputations by enclosing _ in the new products in case of damage in shipment or by incorrect operation.（分数：0.50）A.categoriesB.accessoriesC.analogiesD.observatories9.The concept of _ grouping of people with similar interests and abilities was very popular among educators.（分数：0.50）A.segregatedB.i
6、ntegratedC.homogeneousD.heterogeneous10.A full _ of all the reasons for and against closing the railway has begun（分数：1.00）A.explosionB.explorationC.exploitationD.explanation11.This toothed whale has a large, square head with _ the so-called spermaceti.（分数：1.00）A.cavity to containB.cavity containingC
7、.the cavity for containingD.a cavity that contains12.Crew chiefs supervised engines, switches and lights that told them how each item of equipment was functioning.（分数：1.00）A.observedB.preservedC.monitoredD.nurtured13.Some economists fret that share prices are moving far_companies earnings, to a degr
8、ee scarily reminiscent of Japan in the late 1980s just before its crash.（分数：1.00）A.ahead ofB.back ofC.independent ofD.abreast of14.In addition to bettering group and individual performance, cooperation _ the quality of interpersonal relationship.（分数：1.00）A.ascendsB.compelsC.enhancesD.prefers15.Stude
9、nts at these schools test far below the state average in reading, and their scores have improved only_（分数：1.00）A.marginallyB.marvelouslyC.martiallyD.markedly16.When he was in junior high at fourteen, his intelligence was such that he_among undergraduates than among schoolboys.（分数：1.00）A.would fit be
10、tter inB.would have fitted in betterC.fitted better inD.would have fitted better17.The nuclear family _ a self-contained, self-satisfying unit composed of father, mother and children.（分数：1.00）A.refers toB.definesC.describesD.devotes to18._ they think it will come to an end through the hands of God,
11、or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, nearly 15 percent of people worldwide think the end of the world is coming, according to a new poll.（分数：1.00）A.EitherB.WhetherC.NeitherD.If19._ a declining birth rate, there will be an over-supply of 27, 000 primary school places by 20
12、10, _ leaving 35 schools idle.（分数：1.00）A.Coupled with, equals toB.Coupling with, equivalent toC.Coupled with, equivalent toD.Coupling with, equals to20.Malaria is an infectious parasitic disease that can be either acute or chronic and is frequently（分数：0.50）A.repeatingB.terminalC.debilitatingD.recurr
13、ent二、Part Reading Compr(总题数：4，分数：20.50)Governments that want their people to prosper in the burgeoning world economy should guarantee two basic rights: the right to private property and the right to enforceable contracts, says Mancur Olson in his book Power and Prosperity. Olson was an economics pro
14、fessor at the University of Maryland until his death in 1998. Some have argued that such rights are merely luxuries that wealthy societies bestow, but Olson turns that argument around and asserts that such rights are essential to creating wealth. “Incomes are low in most of the countries of the worl
15、d, in short, because the people in those countries do not have secure individual rights,“ he says. Certain simple economic activities, such as food gathering and making handicrafts, rely mostly on individual labor; property is not necessary. But more advanced activities, such as the mass production
16、of goods, require machines and factories and offices. This production is often called capital-intensive, but it is really property-intensive, Olson observes. “No one would normally engage in capital-intensive production if he or she did not have rights that kept the valuable capital from being taken
17、 by bandits, whether roving or stationary,“ he argues. “There is no private property without government-individuals may have possessions, the way a dog possesses a bone, but there is private property only if the society protects and defends a private right to that possession against other private pa
18、rties and against the government as well.“ Would-be entrepreneurs, no matter how small, also need a government and court system that will make sure people honor their contracts. In fact, the banking systems relied on by developed nations are based on just such an enforceable contract system. “We wou
19、ld not deposit our money in banks . if we could not rely on the bank having to honor its contract with us, and the bank would not be able to make the profits it needs to stay in business if it could not enforce its loan contracts with borrowers,“ Olson writes. Other economists have argued that the p
20、oor economies of Third World and communist countries are the result of governments setting both prices find the quantities of goods produced rather than letting a free market determine them. Olson agrees that there is some merit to this point of view, but he argues that government intervention is no
21、t enough to explain the poverty of these countries. Rather, the real problem is lack of individual rights that give people incentive to generate wealth. “If a society has clear and secure individual rights, there are strong incentives (刺激，动力) to produce, invest, and engage in mutually advantageous t
22、rade., and therefore at least some economic advance,“ Olson concludes.（分数：10.00）(1).Which of the following is true about Olson?（分数：2.00）A.He was a fiction writerB.He edited the book Power and ProsperityC.He taught economics at the University of MarylandD.He was against the ownership of private prope
23、rty(2).Which of the following represents Olson“s point of view?（分数：2.00）A.Protecting individual property rights encourages wealth buildingB.Only in wealthy societies do people have secure individual rightsC.Secure individual rights are brought about by the wealth of the societyD.In some countries, p
24、eople don“t have secure individual rights because they“re poor(3).What does Olson think about mass production?（分数：2.00）A.It“s capital intensiveB.It“s property intensiveC.It relies on individual laborD.It relies on individual skills(4).What is the basis for the banking system?（分数：2.00）A.Contract syst
25、em that can be enforcedB.People“s willingness to deposit money in banksC.The possibility that the bank can make profits from its borrowersD.The fact that some people have surplus money while some need loans(5).According to Olson, what is the reason for the poor economies of Third World countries?（分数
26、：2.00）A.government interventionB.lack of secure individual rightsC.being short of capitalD.lack of a free marketThe domestic economy in the United States expanded in a remarkably vigorous and steady fashion. The revival in consumer confidence was reflected in the higher proportion of incomes spent f
27、or goods and services and the marked increase in consumer willingness to take on installment debt. A parallel strengthening in business psychology was manifested in a stepped-up rate of plant and equipment spending and a gradual pickup in expenses for inventory. Confidence in the economy was also re
28、flected in the strength of the stock market and in the stability of the bond market. For the years as a whole, consumer and business sentiment benefited from the ease in East-West tensions. The bases of the business expansion were to be found mainly in the stimulative monetary and fiscal policies th
29、at had been pursued. Moreover, the restoration of sounder liquidity positions and tighter management control of production efficiency had also helped lay the groundwork for a strong expansion. In addition, the economic policy moves made by the President had served to renew optimism on the business o
30、utlook while boosting hopes that inflation would be brought under more effective control. Finaly, of course, the economy was able to grow as vigorously as it did because sufficient leeway existed in terms of idle men and machines. The United States balance of payments deficit declined sharply. Never
31、theless, by any other test, the deficit remained very large, and there was actually a substantial deterioration in our trade account to a sizable deficit, almost two-thirds of which was with Japan. While the overall trade performance proved disappointing, there are still good reasons for expecting t
32、he delayed impact of devaluation to produce in time a significant strengthening in our trade picture. Given the size of the Japanese component of our trade deficit, however, the outcome will depend importantly on the extent of the corrective measures undertaken by Japan. Also important will be our o
33、wn efforts in the United States to fashion internal policies consistent with an improvement in our external balance. The underlying task of public policy for the year ahead-and indeed for the longer run-remained a familiar one: to strike the right balance between encouraging healthy economic growth
34、and avoiding inflationary pressures. With the economy showing sustained and vigorous growth, and with the currency crisis highlighting the need to improve our competitive posture internationally, the emphasis seemed to be shifting to the problem of inflation. The Phase Three Program of wage and pric
35、e restraint can contribute to reducing inflation. Unless productivity growth is unexpectedly large; however, the expansion of real output must eventually begin to slow down to the economy“s larger run growth potential if generalized demand pressures on prices are to be avoided.（分数：7.50）(1).The autho
36、r mentions increased installment debt in the first paragraph in order to show _.（分数：1.50）A.the continuing expansion of the economyB.the growth of consumer purchasing powerC.the consumers“ confidence in the economyD.the soaring consumer incomes for spending(2).Paragraph 2 mainly deals with _.（分数：1.50
37、）A.economic policy measures suggested by the PresidentB.the causes of business development for the periodC.the stimulative monetary and fiscal policesD.the revival of stronger liquidity positions(3).It can be inferred from the third paragraph that the author“s attitude toward the reduction of the in
38、ternational payments deficit seems _.（分数：1.50）A.bitter-sweetB.pessimisticC.sympatheticD.doubtful(4).Part of the public policy task, as outlined in the text, is to _.（分数：1.50）A.prevent payments deficitB.devalue the American dollarC.avoid inflationary pressuresD.increase the balance of trade(5).It can
39、 be learned from the last paragraph that the Phase Three Program contained _.（分数：1.50）A.devaluation of the dollarB.productivity measuresC.reduced government spendingD.wage and price controlsThe early retirement of experienced workers is seriously harming the US economy, according to a new report fro
40、m the Hudson Institute, a public policy research organization. Currently, many older experienced workers retire at an early age. According to the recently issued statistics, 79 percent of qualified workers begin collecting retirement benefits at age 62; if that trend continues, there will be a labor
41、 shortage that will hinder the economic growth in the twenty-first century. Older Americans constitute an increasing proportion of the population, according to the US Census Bureau, and the population of those over age 65 will grow by 60% between 2001 and 2020. During the same period, the group aged
42、 18 to 44 will increase by only 4%. Keeping older skilled workers employed, even part time, would increase US economic output and strengthen the tax base; but without significant policy reforms, massive early retirement among baby boomers seems more likely. Retirement at age 62 is an economically ra
43、tional decision today. Social Security and Medicaid earnings limits and tax penalties subject our most experienced workers to marginal tax rates as high as 67%. Social Security formulas encourage early retirement. Although incomes usually rise with additional years of work, any pay increases after t
44、he 35-year mark result in higher social Security taxes but only small increases in benefits. Hudson Institute researchers believe that federal tax and benefit policies are at fault and reforms are urgently needed, but they disagree with the popular proposal that much older Americans will have to wor
45、k because Social Security will not support them and that baby boomers are not saving enough for retirement. According to the increase in 401 (k) and Keogh retirement plans, the ongoing stock market on Wall Street, and the likelihood of large inheritances, there is evidence that baby boomers will rea
46、ch age 65 with greater financial assets than previous generations. The Hudson institute advocates reforming government policies that now discourage work and savings, especially for older worker. Among the report“s recommendations: Tax half of all Social Security benefits. regardless of other income;
47、 provide 8% larger benefits for each year beyond 65; and permit workers nearing retirement to negotiate compensation packages that may include a lower salary but with greater healthcare benefits. However, it may take real and fruitful planning to find the right solution to the early retirement of ol
48、der experienced workers; any measures taken must be allowed to prolong the serviceability of older experienced workers.（分数：0.00）(1).According to Hudson Institute researchers, the effect of the early retirement of qualified workers in the U. S. economy is _A.constructiveB.significantC.inconclusiveD.d
49、etrimental(2).The older experienced workers in America tend to retire early because their prolonged service may _A.do harm to younger generationsB.end up with few or no benefitsC.give play to their potentialsD.shed light on social trends(3).The second paragraph is written chiefly to show that _A.there will be an acute labor shortage in the near futureB.baby-boomers contribute much to the US economic outputC.government policies concerning older people ar
