专业八级-415及答案解析.doc

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1、专业八级-415 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、READING COMPREHENSIO(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、Passage 1(总题数：1，分数：20.00)The social organization of Egypt was distinguished by a surprising degree of fluidity. No inflexible caste system ever developed. All men were equal in the sight of the law. Although degrees of econom

2、ic inequality naturally existed, no man“s status was unalterably fixed, unless he was a member of the royal family. Even serfs appear to have been capable of rising above their humble condition. Freemen quite regularly made the transition from one social order to another. During the greater part of

3、the history of Egypt the population was divided into five classes: the royal family; the priests; the nobles; the middle class of scribes, merchants, artisans, and farmers; and the serfs. During the Empire a sixth class, the professional soldiers, was added, ranking immediately below the nobles. Tho

4、usands of slaves were captured in this period also, and these formed for a time a seventh class. The position of the various ranks of the society shifted from time to time. In the old kingdom the nobles and priests among all of the Pharaoh“s subjects held the supremacy. During the Middle Kingdom the

5、 classes of commoners came into their own. Scribes, merchants, artisans, and serfs rebelled against the nobles and wrested concessions from the government. Particularly impressive is the dominant role played by the merchants and industrialists in this period. The establishment of the Empire accompan

6、ied, as it was by the extension of government functions, resulted in the ascendancy of new nobility, made up primarily of bureaucrats. The priests also waxed in power with the growth of magic and superstition. The gulf that separated the standards of living of the upper and lower classes of Egypt wa

7、s perhaps even wider than it is today in Europe and America. The wealthy noble lived in splendid villas that opened into fragrant gardens and shady groves. Their food had all the richness and variety of sundry kinds of meat, poultry, cakes, fruit, wine, beer, and sweets. They are from vessels of ala

8、baster, gold, and silver, and adorned their persons with expensive fabrics and costly jewels. By contrast, the life of the poor was wretched indeed. The labors in the towns inhabited congested slums composed of mud-brick hovels with roofs of thatch. Their only furnishings were stools and boxes and a

9、 few crude pottery jars. The peasants on the great estates enjoyed a less crowded but no more abundant life. The basic social unit among the Egyptians was the monogamous family. No man, not even the Pharaoh, could have more than one lawful wife. Concubinage, however, was a socially reputable institu

10、tion. Women occupied an unusually enviable status. Wives were not secluded, and there is no record of any divorce. Women could own and inherit property and engage in business. Almost along among Oriental peoples the Egyptians permitted women to succeed to the throne. Another extraordinary social pra

11、ctice was close inbreeding. The ruler as son of the great sun god was required to marry his sister or some other female of his immediate family lest the divine blood be contaminated. There is evidence that many of his subjects followed the identical custom. As yet, historians have been unable to dis

12、cover any positive traces of racial degeneration produces by this practice, probably for the reason that the Egyptian stock was genetically sound to begin with. The educational system of this ancient people was about what one would expect in a highly integrated society. Attached to the treasury were

13、 a number of public schools equipped for the training of the thousands of scribes whose service were necessary in the keeping of records and accounts and in the administration of government functions. Many of them were also employed in a private capacity by the owners of the landed estates and by th

14、e leaders of the business world. Admission to these schools was open to any promising youth regardless of class. Apparently instruction was provided free of charge by the government because of the vital need for trained men. None but thoroughly utilitarian subjects had any place in the curriculum; t

15、he purpose was not education in the broader sense, but practical training. In spite of their limitations, these schools did provide for the poor but talented youth an avenue of escape from a life of hopeless drudgery.（分数：20.00）(1).We can infer from the first paragraph all the following EXCEPT（分数：4.0

16、0）A.Egypt enjoyed flexible social system.B.every man enjoyed the same social status.C.man could change from one social order to another.D.a flexible caste system was developed.(2).In which position were farmers ranked during the Empire?（分数：4.00）A.The third.B.The fourth.C.The fifth.D.The sixth.(3).Wh

17、at is the role of the second paragraph in the development of the topic?（分数：4.00）A.To show Egypt“s educational system and policy.B.To describe different sides of Egypt“s social life.C.To offer supporting evidence to the preceding paragraph.D.To provide a contrast to the preceding paragraph.(4).Close

18、inbreeding was popular in Egypt during the ancient time because（分数：4.00）A.they wanted to maintain their blood“s purity.B.there was no other ideal choices.C.nobody knew the reasons by now.D.it was a law during that time.(5).What is the best title of this article?（分数：4.00）A.Ancient Egypt“s Educational

19、 System.B.Social Life in Ancient Egypt.C.Social System in Ancient Egypt.D.Ancient Egypt“s Classes System.三、Passage 2(总题数：1，分数：24.00)This month Singapore passed a bill that would give legal teeth to the moral obligation to support one“s parents. Called the Maintenance of Parents Bill, it received the

20、 backing of the Singapore Government. That does not mean it hasn“t generated discussion. Several members of the Parliament opposed the measure as un-Asian. Others who acknowledged the problem of the elderly poor believed it a disproportionate response. Still others believe it will subvert relations

21、within the family; cynics dubbed it the “Sue Your Son“ law. Those who say that the bill does not promote filial responsibility, of course, are right. It has nothing to do with filial responsibility. It kicks in where filial responsibility falls. The law cannot legislate filial responsibility any mor

22、e than it can legislate love. All the law can do is to provide a safety net where this morality proves insufficient. Singapore needs this bill not to replace morality, but to provide incentives to shore it up. Like many other developed nations, Singapore faces the problems of an increasing proportio

23、n of people over 60 years of age. Demography is inexorable. In 1980, 7.2% of the population was in this bracket. By the turn of the century, that figure will grow to 11%. By 2030, the proportion is projected to be 26%. The problem is not old age per se. It is that the ratio of economically active pe

24、ople to economically inactive people will decline. But no amount of government exhortation or paternalism will completely eliminate the problem of old people who have insufficient means to make ends meet. Some people will fall through the holes in any safety net. Traditionally, a person“s insurance

25、against poverty in his old age was his family. This is not a revolutionary concept. Nor is it uniquely Asian. Care and support for one“s parents is a universal value shared by all civilized societies. The problem in Singapore is that the moral obligation to look after one“s parents is unenforceable.

26、 A father can be compelled by law to maintain his children. A husband can be forced to support his wife. But, until now, a son or daughter had no legal obligation to support his or her parents. In 1989, an Advisory Council was set up to look into the problems of the aged. Its report stated with a ti

27、nge of complacency that 95% of those who did not have their own income were receiving cash contributions from relations. But what about the 5% who aren“t getting relatives“ support? They have several options: (a) get a job and work until they die; (b) apply for public assistance (you have to be dest

28、itute to apply); or (c) starve quietly. None of these options is socially acceptable. And what if this 5% figure grows, as it is likely to do, as society ages? The Maintenance of Parents Bill was put forth to encourage the traditional virtues that have so far kept Asian nations from some of the brea

29、kdowns encountered in other affluent societies. This legislation will allow a person to apply to the court for maintenance from any or all of his children. The court would have the discretion to refuse to make an order if it is unjust. Those who deride the proposal for opening up the courts to famil

30、y lawsuits miss the point only in extreme cases would any parent take his child to court. If it does indeed become law, the bill“s effect would be far more subtle. First, it will reaffirm the notion that it is each individual“snot society“sresponsibility to look after his parents. Singapore is still

31、 conservative enough that most people will not object to this idea. It reinforces the traditional values and it doesn“t hurt a society now and then to remind itself of its core values. Second, and more important, it will make those who are inclined to shirk their responsibilities think twice. Until

32、now, if a person asked family elders, clergymen or the Ministry of Community Development to help get financial support from his children, the most they could do was to mediate. But mediators have no teeth, and a child could simply ignore their pleas. But to be sued by one“s parents would be a massiv

33、e loss of face. It would be a public disgrace. Few people would be so thick-skinned as to say, “Sue and be damned“. The hand of the conciliator would be immeasurably strengthened. It is far more likely that some sort of amicable settlement would be reached if the recalcitrant son or daughter knows t

34、hat the alternative is a public trial. It would be nice to think that Singapore doesn“t need this kind of law. But that belief ignores the clear demographic trends and the effect of affluence itself on traditional bonds. Those of us who pushed for the bill will consider ourselves most successful if

35、it acts as an incentive not to have it invoked in the first place.（分数：24.00）(1).The Maintenance of Parents Bill（分数：4.00）A.received unanimous support in the Singapore Parliament.B.was believed to solve all the problems of the elderly poor.C.was intended to substitute for traditional values in Singapo

36、re.D.was passed to make the young more responsible to the old.(2).By quoting the growing percentage points of the aged in the population, the author seems to imply that（分数：4.00）A.the country will face mounting problems of the old in future.B.the social welfare system would be under great pressure.C.

37、young people should be given more moral education.D.the old should be provided with means of livelihood.(3).Which of the following statements is CORRECT?（分数：4.00）A.Filial responsibility in Singapore is enforced by law.B.Fathers have legal obligations to look after their children.C.It is an acceptabl

38、e practice for the old to continue working.D.The Advisory Council was dissatisfied with the problems of the old.(4).The author seems to suggest that traditional values（分数：4.00）A.play an insignificant role in solving social problems.B.are helpful to the elderly when they sue their children.C.are very

39、 important in preserving Asian uniqueness.D.are significant in helping the Bill get approved.(5).The author thinks that if the Bill becomes law, its effect would be（分数：4.00）A.indirect.B.unnoticed.C.apparent.D.straightforward.(6).At the end of the passage, the author seems to imply that success of th

40、e Bill depends upon（分数：4.00）A.strict enforcement.B.public support.C.government assurance.D.filial awareness.四、Passage 3(总题数：1，分数：16.00)In a decade working as a nanny, Andreia Soares finally clambered up the ladder into Brazil“s middle class. With the money she saved, she bought a two-bedroom apartme

41、nt with granite kitchen countertops and a small veranda, a house for her mother, a plot of land for her brother and a Louis Vuitton purse from Paris that she proudly pulls from a closet. While she has done better than many of her counterparts, Ms. Soares is part of a nanny revolution that is shatter

42、ing the colonial stereotype of inexpensive but dedicated domestic help in Latin America. As their expectations for a better quality of life rise, nannies are increasingly seeking to work for the very wealthy and becoming less affordable for many middle-class families. The shift is causing ripples of

43、 class tension, posing an irritating problem in a society in which more women are entering the work force without the sort of elaborate system of day care that exists in some industrialized nations. Fading fast are the days when white-frocked nannies worked for a menial salary, with only two days of

44、f every 15 days. Better-qualified nannies are refusing to work weekends and are demanding salaries that are two to four times what they were paid just five years ago. A growing number are refusing to sleep over or are leaving the field, choosing jobs that allow more time for a private life, accordin

45、g to parents, nannies and directors of nanny placement agencies. The supply of nannies has thinned as some have sought other work in the expanding job market, driving up salaries for those who stay in the field, economists, nannies and nanny agency directors said. Many remaining nannies are taking c

46、ourses to become better qualified and to help them find work in wealthier homes, where they can charge much more. While some mothers embrace the changes as good for Brazil“s development, many are up in arms. Once isolated, nannies now trade information about the market and working conditions through

47、 e-mail, blogs and social networks. Six years ago, Evanice dos Santos, a former nanny turned blogger, had no Internet access and caught up with fellow nannies at a Paulo athletic club where her employers were members. Now married, she has dedicated herself to helping nanny friends online “find a bet

48、ter path“ toward more money and better hours. Some well-paid nannies in Paulo are employing nannies of their own. Ms. Soares said nanny friends earning more than $4,300 a month were paying less-qualified nannies a little over $900 a month to baby-sit for their own children. Marilia Toledo, the owner

49、 of the Masa nanny agency, said the market in （分数：16.00）(1).To say that Ms. Soares is “part of a nanny revolution“ (Paragraph Three) implies that（分数：4.00）A.nannies have moved up into the Brazilian middle class.B.nannies are seeking better pay and higher social status.C.nannies are leaving their field and seeking other jobs.D.nannies have become better educated and qualified.(2).Which of the following is NOT true about Brazilian nannies in the past?（分数：4.00）A.They had low social status.B.They were underpaid.C.They worked long hours.D.They attended training courses.(3).What leads to the rising