1、2015年北京师范大学考博英语真题试卷及答案与解析 一、 Reading Comprehension 0 The human ear contains the organ for hearing and the organ for balance. Both organs involve fluid-filled channels containing hair cells that produce electrochemical impulses when the hairs are stimulated by moving fluid. The ear can be divided int
2、o three regions: outer, middle, and inner. The outer ear collects sound waves and directs them to the eardrum separating the outer ear from the middle ear. The middle ear conducts sound vibrations through three small bones to the inner ear. The inner ear is a network of channels containing fluid tha
3、t moves in response to sound or movement. To perform the function of hearing, the ear converts the energy of pressure waves moving through the air into nerve impulses that me brain perceives as sound. Vibrating objects, such as the vocal cords of a speaking person, create waves in me surrounding air
4、. These waves cause the eardrum to vibrate with the same frequency. The three bones of the middle ear amplify and transmit the vibrations to the oval window, a membrane on the surface of the cochlea, the organ of hearing. Vibrations of me oval window produce pressure waves in the fluid inside me coc
5、hlea. Hair cells in the cochlea convert the energy of the vibrating fluid into impulses that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain. The organ for balance is also located in the inner ear. Sensations related to body position are generated much like sensations of sound. Hair cells in the inner
6、ear respond to changes in head position with respect to gravity and movement. Gravity is always pulling down on the hairs, sending a constant series of impulses to the brain. When the position of the head changesas when the head bends forwardthe force on the hair cells changes its output of nerve im
7、pulses. The brain then interprets these changes to determine the heads new position. 1 What can be inferred about the organs for hearing and balance? （ A） Both organs evolved in humans at the same time. （ B） Both organs send nerve impulses to the brain. （ C） Both organs contain the same amount of fl
8、uid. （ D） Both organs are located in me ears middle region. 2 Hearing involves all of the following EXCEPT_. （ A） motion of the vocal cords so that they vibrate （ B） stimulation of hair cells in fluid-filled channels （ C） amplification of sound vibrations （ D） conversion of wave energy into nerve im
9、pulses 3 It can be inferred from Paragraphs 2 and 3 that the cochlea is a part of_. （ A） the outer ear （ B） me eardrum （ C） the middle ear （ D） the inner ear 4 What can be inferred from Paragraph 4 about gravity? （ A） Gravity has an essential role in the sense of balance. （ B） The ear converts gravi
10、ty into sound waves in the air. （ C） Gravity is a force that originates in the human ear. （ D） The organ for hearing is not subject to gravity. 5 In this passage, the author mainly explains_. （ A） the organs of the human ear （ B） the function of the hearing （ C） the three regions of the ear （ D） how
11、 the ear organ performs the hearing and balance 5 The geology of the Earths surface is dominated by the particular properties of water. Present on Earth in solid, liquid, and gaseous states, water is exceptionally reactive. It dissolves, transports, and precipitates many chemical compounds and is co
12、nstantly modifying the face of the Earth. Evaporated from the oceans, water vapor forms clouds, some of which are transported by wind over the continents. Condensation from the clouds provides the essential agent of continental erosion: rain. Precipitated onto the ground, the water trickles down to
13、form brooks, streams, and rivers, constituting what is called the hydrographic network. This immense polarized network channels the water toward a single receptacle: an ocean. Gravity dominates this entire step in the cycle because water tends to minimize its potential energy by running from high al
14、titudes toward the reference point that is sea level. The rate at which a molecule of water passes through the cycle is not random but is a measure of the relative size of the various reservoirs. If we define residence time as the average time for a water molecule to pass through one of the three re
15、servoirsatmosphere, continent, and oceanwe see that the times are very different. A water molecule stays, on an average, eleven days in the atmosphere, one hundred years on a continent and forty thousand years in the ocean. This last figure shows the importance of the ocean as the principal reservoi
16、r of the hydrosphere but also the rapidity of water transport on the continents. A vast chemical separation process takes places during the flow of water over the continents. Soluble ions such as calcium, sodium, potassium, and some magnesium are dissolved and transported. Insoluble ions such as alu
17、minum, iron, and silicon stay where they are and form the thin, fertile skin of soil on which vegetation can grow. Sometimes soils are destroyed and transported mechanically during flooding. The erosion of the continents thus results from two closely linked and interdependent processes, chemical ero
18、sion and mechanical erosion. Their respective interactions and efficiency depend on different factors. 6 According to the passage, clouds are primarily formed by water_. （ A） precipitating onto the ground （ B） changing from a solid to a liquid state （ C） evaporating from the oceans （ D） being carrie
19、d by wind 7 The passage suggests that the purpose of the “hydrographic network“ is to_. （ A） determine the size of molecules of water （ B） prevent soil erosion caused by flooding （ C） move water from the Earths surface to the oceans （ D） regulate the rate of water flow from streams and rivers 8 What
20、 determines the rate at which a molecule of water moves through the cycle, as discussed in the third paragraph? （ A） The potential energy contained in water. （ B） The effects of atmospheric pressure on chemical compounds. （ C） The amounts of rainfall that fall on the continents. （ D） The relative si
21、ze of the water storage areas. 9 All of the following are examples of soluble ions EXCEPT_. （ A） magnesium （ B） iron （ C） potassium （ D） calcium 10 The word “efficiency“ in line 21 is closest in meaning to_. （ A） relationship （ B） growth （ C） influence （ D） effectiveness 10 Scientists have long unde
22、rstood that supermassive black holes weighing millions or billions of suns can tear apart stars that come too close. The black hotels gravity pulls harder on the nearest part of the star, an imbalance that pulls the star apart over a period of minutes or hours, once it gets close enough. Scientists
23、say this uneven pulling is not the only hazard facing the star. The strain of these unbalanced forces can also trigger a nuclear explosion powerful enough to destroy the star from within. Matthieu Brassart and Jean-Pierre Luminet of the Observatoire de Paris in Meudon, France, carried out computer s
24、imulations of the final moments of such an unfortunate stars life, as it veered towards a supermassive black hole. When the star gets close enough, the uneven forces flatten it into a pancake shape. Some previous studies had suggested this flattening would increase the density and temperature inside
25、 the star enough to trigger intense nuclear reactions that would tear it apart. But other studies had suggested that the picture would be complicated by shock waves generated during the flattening process and that no nuclear explosion should occur. The new simulations investigated the effects of sho
26、ck waves in detail, and found that even when their effects are included, the conditions favor a nuclear explosion. “ There will be an explosion of the star it will be completely destroyed,“ Brassart says. Although the explosion obliterates the star, it saves some of the stars matter from being devou
27、red by the black hole. The explosion is powerful enough to hurl much of the stars matter out of the black holes reach, he says. The devouring of stars by black holes may already have been observed, although at a much later stage. It is thought mat several months after the event that rips the star ap
28、art, its matter starts swirling into the hole itself. It heats up as it does so, releasing ultraviolet light and X-rays. If stars disrupted near black holes really do explode, then they could in principle allow these events to be detected at a much earlier stage, says Jules Hatpern of Columbia Unive
29、rsity in New York, US2. “It may make it possible to see the disruption of that star immediately if it gets hot enough,“ he says. Brassart agrees. “Perhaps it can be observed in the X-rays and gamma rays, but its something that needs to be more studied,“ he says. Supernova researcher Chris Fryer of t
30、he Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, US3, says the deaths of these stars are difficult to simulate, and he is not sure whether the researchers have proven their case that they explode in the process. 11 Something destructive could happen to a star that gets too close to a bla
31、ck hole. Which of the following destructive statements is NOT mentioned in the passage? （ A） The black hole could tear apart the star. （ B） The black hole could trigger a nuclear explosion in the star. （ C） The black hole could dwindle its size considerably. （ D） The black hole could devour the star
32、. 12 According to the third paragraph, researchers differed from each other in the problem of _. （ A） whether nuclear reaction would occur （ B） whether the stars would increase its density and temperature （ C） whether shock waves would occur （ D） whether the uneven forces would flatten the stars 13
33、According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following is NOT true? （ A） No nuclear explosion would be triggered inside the star. （ B） The star would be destroyed completely. （ C） Much of the stars matter thrown by the explosion would be beyond the black holes reach. （ D） The black hole would com
34、pletely devour the star. 14 What will happen several months after the explosion of the star? （ A） The stars matter will move further away from by the black hole. （ B） The black holes matter will heat up. （ C） The torn stars matter will swirl into the black hole. （ D） The black holes matter will rele
35、ase ultraviolet light and X-rays. 15 According to the context, the word “disruption“ in Paragraph 6 means_. （ A） confusion （ B） tearing apart （ C） interruption （ D） flattening 15 Our culture has caused most Americans to assume not only that our language is universal but that the gestures we use are
36、understood by everyone. We do not realize that waving good-bye is the way to summon a person from the Philippines to ones side, or that in Italy and some Latin-American countries, curling the finger to oneself is a sign of farewell. Those private citizens who sent packages to our troops occupying Ge
37、rmany after World War II and marked them GIFT to escape duty payments did not bother to find out that “ Gift“ means poison in German. Moreover, we like to think of ourselves as friendly, yet we prefer to be at least 3 feet or an arms length away from others. Latins and Middle Easterners like to come
38、 closer and touch, which makes Americans uncomfortable. Our linguistic and cultural blindness and the casualness with which we take notice of the developed tastes, gestures, customs and languages of other countries, are making us lose friends, business and respect in the world. Even here in the Unit
39、ed States, we make few concessions to the needs of foreign visitors. There are no information signs in four languages on our public buildings or monuments; we do not have multilingual guided tours. Very few restaurant menus have translations, and multilingual waiters, bank clerks and policemen are r
40、are. Our transportation systems have maps in English only and often we ourselves have difficulty understanding them. When we go abroad, we tend to cluster in hotels and restaurants where English is spoken. Then attitudes and information we pick up are conditioned by those nativesusually the richerwh
41、o speak English. Our business dealings, as well as the nations diplomacy, are conducted through interpreters. For many years, America and Americans could get by with cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance. After all America is the most powerful country of the free world, the distributor needed
42、funds and goods. But all that is past. American dollars no longer buy all good things, and we are slowly beginning to realize that our proper role in the world is changing. A 1979 Harris poll reported that 55 percent of Americans want this country to play a more significant role in world affairs; we
43、 want to have a hand in the important decisions of the next century, even though it may not always be the upper hand. 16 It can be inferred that Americans being approached too closely by Middle Easterners would most probably_. （ A） stand still （ B） jump aside （ C） step forward （ D） draw back 17 The
44、author gives many examples to criticize Americans for their_. （ A） cultural self-centeredness （ B） casual manners （ C） indifference towards foreign visitors （ D） arrogance towards other countries 18 In countries other than their own most Americans_. （ A） are isolated by the local people （ B） are not
45、 well informed due to the language barrier （ C） tend to get along well with the natives （ D） need interpreters in hotels and restaurants 19 According to the author, Americans cultural blindness and linguistic ignorance will_. （ A） affect their image in the new era （ B） cut themselves off from the ou
46、tside world （ C） limit their role in world affairs （ D） weaken the position of the US dollar 20 The authors intention in writing this article is to make Americans realize that_. （ A） it is dangerous to ignore their foreign friends （ B） it is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs
47、（ C） it is necessary to use several languages in public places （ D） it is time to get acquainted with other cultures 20 Historians have only recently begun to note the increase in demand for luxury goods and services that took place in 18th-century England. McKendrick has explored the Wedgwood firms
48、 remarkable success in marketing luxury pottery; Plumb has written about the proliferation of provincial theaters, musical festivals, and childrens toys and books. While the fact of this consumer revolution is hardly in doubt, three key questions remain: Who were the consumers? What were their motiv
49、es? And what were the effects of the new demand for luxuries? An answer to the first of these has been difficult to obtain. Although it has been possible to infer from the goods and services actually produced what manufactures and servicing trades thought their customers wanted, only a study of relevant personal documents written by actual consumers will provide a precise picture of who wanted what. We still need to know how large this consumer market was and how far down the social sc
