1、考博英语-455 及答案解析(总分：99.99，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Section Reading Co(总题数：4，分数：20.00)1From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is
2、almost certain that one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has in creased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of them, women and chi
3、l dren on the roads. Man versus the motor-car! It is a never-ending battle which man is los ing. Thousand of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel
4、, his car be comes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a mans very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind steering wheels. They swear, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful
5、 as two-year-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.The surprising thing is that the society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his conveni
6、ence. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes noth ing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.It is high time a world code wer
7、e created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which was universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few exa
8、mples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more diffi cult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all
9、vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can impair a persons driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist ) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed lim its should be imposed on all roads.
10、Governments should lay down safety specifications for manufacturers, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and perform ance should be banned. These measures may sound inordinately harsh. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual
11、 toll of human life. After all, the world is for human beings, not or motor-cars.（分数：5.00）(1).The main idea of this passage is_.（分数：1.00）A.traffic accidents are mainly caused by motoristsB.thousands of people the world over are killed each yearC.the laws of some countries about driving are too laxD.
12、only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents(2).What does the author think of society toward motorists?（分数：1.00）A.Society criticizes the motorists severely.B.Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns.C.Society overlooks their rude driving.D.Victims of accidents are nothin(3).Why does the
13、author say “his car becomes the extension of his personality“?（分数：1.00）A.Driving can show his real self.B.Driving can show the other part of his personality.C.Driving can bring out his character.D.His car embodies his temper.(4).Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accide
14、nts?（分数：1.00）A.Build more highways.B.Stricter driving tests.C.Test drivers every three years.D.Raise age limit and lay down safety specifications.(5).The attitude of the author is_.（分数：1.00）A.ironicalB.criticalC.appealingD.militant2Climatic conditions are delicately adjusted to the composition of th
15、e Earths atmos phere. If there were a change in the atmospherefor example, in the relative proportions of atmosphere gasesthe climate would probably change also. A slight increase in water vapor, for instance, would increase the hem-retaining capacity of the atmosphere and would lead to a rise in gl
16、obal temperatures. In contrast, a large increase in water vapor would increase the thickness and extent of the cloud layer, reducing the mount of solar en ergy reaching the Earthsurface.The level of carbon dioxide, CO2 in the atmosphere has important effect on climatic change. Most of the Earths inc
17、oming energy is short-wavelength radiation, which tends to pass through atmospheric CO2 easily. The Earth, however, reradiates much of the re ceived energy as a long-wavelength radiation, which CO2 absorbs and then remits toward the Earth. This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, can result
18、in an increase in the surface temperature of a planet. An extreme example of the effect is shown by the Ve- nus, a planet covered by heavy clouds composed mostly of CO2, whose surface tempera tures have been measured at 43. If the CO 2 content of the atmosphere is reduced, the temperature falls. Acc
19、ording to one respectable theory, if the atmospheric CO2 concentra tion were halved, the Earth would become completely covered with ice. Another equally respectable theory, however, states that a halving of the CO2 concentration would lead only to a reduction in global temperatures of 3.If, because
20、of an increase in forest fires or volcanic activity, the CO2 content of the atmosphere increased, a warmer climate would be produced. Plant growth, which relies on both the warmth and the availability of CO2, would probably increase. As a consequence, plants would use more and more CO2，Eventually CO
21、 2 levels would diminish and the cli mate, in turn, would become cooler. With reduced temperatures many plants would die; CO2 would thereby be returned to the atmosphere and gradually the temperatures would rise again. Thus, if this process occurred, there might be a long-term oscillation in the amo
22、unt of CO2 present in the atmosphere, with regular temperature increase and decrease of a set magnitude.Some climatologists argue that the burning of fossil fuels has raised the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and has caused a global temperature rise of at least 1. But a supposed global temperature r
23、ise of 1 may in reality be only several regional temperature increase, restricted to areas where there are many meteorological stations and caused simply by shifts in the pattern of atmospheric circulation. Other areas, for example the Southern Hemi sphere oceanic zone, may be experiencing an equiva
24、lent temperature decrease that is unrec ognized because of the shortage of meteorological recording stations.（分数：5.00）(1).The passage supplies information for answering which of the following questions?（分数：1.00）A.Why are projections of the effects of changes in water vapor levels on the climate so i
25、naccurate?B.What are the steps in the process that takes place as CO2 absorbs long-wavelength radiation?C.How might our understanding of the greenhouse effect be improved if the burning of fossil fuels were decreased?D.What might cause a series of regular increases and decreases in the amount of CO2
26、 in the atmosphere?(2).The author is primarily concentrated on_.（分数：1.00）A.explaining the effects that the burning of fossil fuels might have on climateB.illustrating the effects of CO2 on atmospheric radiationC.discussing effects that changes in the CO2 level in the atmosphere might have on cli mat
27、eD.challenging hypotheses about the effects of water vapor and CO2 on climate(3).The passage suggests that a large decrease in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would result in_.（分数：1.00）A.at least a slight decrease in global temperaturesB.at the most a slight increase in short-wavelength radiatio
28、n reaching the earthC.a slight long-term increase in global temperaturesD.a slight short-term increase in global temperatures(4).The author refers to the Venus primarily in order to_.（分数：1.00）A.show the inherent weakness of the greenhouse effect theoryB.show that the greenhouse effect works on other
29、 planets but not on the earthC.show the extent to which Earths atmosphere differs from that of the VenusD.support the argument that the CO2 level in the atmosphere has a significant effect on climate(5).The passage suggests that if there were a slight global warming at the present time, it would be_
30、.（分数：1.00）A.easy to measure the exact increase in temperature because of the abundance of temperature recording stations throughout the worldB.difficult to prove that the warming was caused by the burning of fossil fuelsC.easy to demonstrate the effects of the warming on the water vapor in the atmos
31、- phereD.difficult to measure the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere because of local varia tions in amount3Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every facet of our life, educated people need at least some acquaintance with its structure and opera- tion. They should also
32、 have an understanding of the subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific concepts is easier to attain if one knows something about the things that excite and frustrate the scientist.This
33、book is written for the intelligent student or lay person whose acquaintance with science is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty store house of dried facts; for the person who has been presented with science as the production of gadgets; and for the person who
34、views the scientists as some sort of magician. The book can be used to supplement a course in any science, to accompany any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or independently of any coursesimply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lea
35、d readers to a broader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scien tists are, and what they do. It will give them an awareness and understanding of the rela tionship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in o
36、ur culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scien tific views and some of the values and philosophies that are pervasive in our culture.We have tried to present in this book an accurate and up-to-date picture of the scientif ic community and the people who popul
37、ated it. That population has in recent years come to comprise more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture is not an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all segments of society as more women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make s
38、ignificant contribu tions. In discussing these changes and contributions, however, we are faced with a lan guage that is implicitly sexist, one that uses male nouns or pronouns in referring to un specified individuals. To offset this built-in bias, we have adopted the policy of using plural nouns an
39、d pronouns whenever possible and, when absolutely necessary, alternating he and she. This policy is far from being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgment of the in adequacy of our language in treating half of the human race equally.We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as inf
40、ormative. Our approach is usually informal. We feel, as do many other scientists, that we shouldnt take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a grim and dreary way to earn a living.（分数：5.00）(1).According to the passage, “scientific
41、subculture“ means_.（分数：1.00）A.cultural groups that are formed by scientistsB.people whose knowledge of science is very limitedC.the scientific communityD.people who make good contribution to science(2).We need to know something about the structure and operation of science because_.（分数：1.00）A.it is n
42、ot easy to understand the things that excite and frustrate scienceB.science affects almost every aspect of our lifeC.scientists live in a specific substructureD.it is easier to understand general characteristics of science(3).The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who_.（分数：1.00）A.
43、long for deeper understanding of scienceB.are good at producing various gadgetsC.work in a storehouse of dried factsD.are interested in popular science(4).According to this passage,_.（分数：1.00）A.English is a sexist languageB.only in the scientific world is the role of women increasing rapidlyC.women
44、are making significant contributions to eliminating the inadequacy of our languageD.male nouns or pronouns should not be used to refer to scientists(5).This passage most probably is_.（分数：1.00）A.a book reviewB.the preface of a bookC.the post script of a bookD.the concluding part of a book4Next to Sir
45、 Andrew in the club-room sits Captain Sentry, a gentleman of great cour age, good understanding, but invincible modesty. He is one of those that deserve very well, but are very awkward at putting their talents within the observation of such as should take notice of them. He was some years a captain,
46、 and behaved himself with great gallantry in several engagements and at several sieges; but having a small estate of his own, and being next heir to Sir Roger, he has quitted a way of life in which no man can rise suitably to his merit, who is not something of a courtier as well as a soldier. I have
47、 heard him often lament that in a profession where merit is placed in so conspicuous a view, impudence should get the better of modesty. When he had talked to this purpose; I never heard him make a sour expression, but frankly confess that he left the world because he was not fit for it. A strict ho
48、nesty, and an even regular behavior, are in themselves obsta cles to him that must press through crowds, who endeavour at the same end with himself, the favor of a commander. He will, however, in his way of talk excuse generals for not disposing according to mens desert, or inquiring into it; for, s
49、ays he, that the great man who has a mind to help me, has as many, to break through to come at me, as I have to come at him: therefore he will conclude that the man who would make a figure, especially in a military way, must get over all false modesty, and assist his patron against the impor tunity of other pretenders, by a proper assurance in his own vindication. He says it is a civil cowardice to be backward in asserting what you ought to expect, as it is a military fear to be slow in attacking when it is your duty. With
