Section Ⅰ Use of English
Directions:
Read the following text. Choose the best word(s)for each numbered blank and mark ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ or ［D］ on Answer Sheet 1. (10 points)
From childhood to old age, we all use language as a means of broadening our knowledge of ourselves and the world about us. When humans first 1 , they were like newborn children, unable to use this 2 tool. Yet once language developed, the possibilities for human kind’s future 3 and cultural growth increased.
Many linguists believe that evolution is 4 for our ability to produce and use language. They 5 that our highly evolved brain provides us 6 an innate language ability not found in lower 7 . Proponents of this innateness theory say that our 8 for language is inborn, but that language itself develops gradually, 9 a function of the growth of the brain during childhood. Therefore there are critical 10 times for language development.
Current 11 of innateness theory(天生论) are mixed, however, evidence supporting the existence of some innate abilities is undeniable. 12 , more and more schools are discovering that foreign languages are best taught in 13 grades. Young children often can learn several languages by being 14 to them, while adults have a much harder time learning another language once the 15 of their first language have become firmly fixed.
16 some aspects of language are undeniably innate, language does not develop automatically in a vacuum. Children who have been 17 from other human beings do not possess language. This demonstrates that 18 with other human beings is necessary for proper language development. Some linguists believe that this is even more basic to human language 19 than any innate capacities. These theorists view language as imitative, learned behavior. 20, children learn language from their parents by imitating them. Parents gradually shape their child’s language skills by positively reinforcing precise imitations and negatively reinforcing imprecise ones.
1. ［A］ generated ［B］ evolved ［C］ born ［D］ originated
2. ［A］ valuable ［B］ appropriate ［C］ convenient ［D］ favorite
3. ［A］ attainments ［B］ feasibility ［C］ entertainments ［D］ evolution
4. ［A］ essential ［B］ available ［C］ reliable ［D］ responsible
5. ［A］ confirm ［B］ inform ［C］ claim ［D］ convince
6. ［A］ for ［B］ from ［C］ of ［D］ with
7. ［A］ organizations ［B］ organisms ［C］ humans ［D］ children
8. ［A］ potential ［B］ performance ［C］ preference ［D］ passion
9. ［A］ as ［B］ just as ［C］ like ［D］ unlike
10. ［A］ ideological ［B］ biological ［C］ social ［D］ psychological
11. ［A］ reviews ［B］ reference ［C］ reaction ［D］ recommendation
12. ［A］ In a word ［B］ In a sense ［C］ Indeed ［D］ In other words
13. ［A］ various ［B］ different ［C］ the higher ［D］ the lower
14. ［A］ revealed ［B］ exposed ［C］ engaged ［D］ involved
15. ［A］ regulations ［B］ formations ［C］ rules ［D］ constitutions
16. ［A］ Although ［B］ Whether ［C］ Since ［D］ When
17. ［A］ distinguished ［B］ different ［C］ protected ［D］ isolated
18. ［A］ exposition ［B］ comparison ［C］ contrast ［D］ interaction
19. ［A］ acquisition ［B］ appreciation ［C］ requirement ［D］ alternative
20. ［A］ As a result ［B］ After all ［C］ In other words ［D］ Above all
Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension
Part A
Directions:
Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ or ［D］. Mark your answers on Answer Sheet 1. (40 points)
Text 1
When Howell Raines was made executive editor of the New York Times in 2001, he brought with him a reputation as a fearless and independent newsman. Within days, al-Qaeda (基地组织) struck the World Trade Centre, and the coverage he oversaw turned him into an editorial legend, his army of reporters winning an unprecedented number of Pulitzer prizes.
Yet, not a year and a half later, the discovery of fabrication by a young reporter triggered a managerial crisis that destroyed Mr Raines’s career and exposed the newspaper to ridicule for being unable to detect a pathological(病态的) liar in its own newsroom. Not long afterwards, another reporter, who was also a favourite of Mr Raines’s, departed as questions were being raised as to whether he had actually reported the stories appearing under his name. A year on, many inside the world’s best known paper of record and integrity still worry if its reputation can be restored.
Mr Raines got the editorship after pledging to raise the paper’s “competitive metabolism” (新陈代谢). The newspaper’s publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, had had ample opportunities to see his flaws. As bureau chief in Washington, DC, Mr Raines had treated a small group of reporters like pets, earning the dislike of the rest. Similar opinions had been voiced when he ran the newspaper’s editorial page. But in each place, Mr Raines had made the New York Times noticed. And for Mr Sulzberger, that seemed to be an answer to a problem.
Circulation had been stagnant for years, despite attempts to establish the New York Times as America’s national paper. According to Seth Mnookin, a noted columnist, Mr Sulzberger and Mr Raines both felt that the newspaper was badly in need of a change. In Mr Raines’s hands, this meant putting enormous pressure on getting the impossible story. The paper had also been making an effort to diversify the racial mix of its employees, a goal that Mr Raines endorsed. Both objectives converged in the career of Jayson Blair, whose talent as a writer was matched by his dishonesty as a reporter. His career was advanced by Mr Raines despite the trail of errors and suspect scoops (独家新闻) that he left.
After the Blair disaster, a painful self-examination began at the New York Times which continues today. Among other things, a kind of devil’s advocate was hired to criticise the paper’s workings, and to go public about its contradictions. Daniel Okrent’s column is one of the newspaper’s more provocative, addressing its left-of-centre world view and its use of outside sources to provide false objectivity for its own conclusions. Perhaps the result of all this will be the change that Mr Sulzberger was seeking.
21. Jason Blair was hired by the New York Times, because he .
［A］ he proved to be a good reporter in getting some hot stories
［B］ he was a long time favorite reporter of Mr Raines’
［C］ he promised to boost the circulation of the newspaper
［D］ he was talented and racially correct at the right time
22. Mr Raines’ career was destroyed because he .
［A］ failed to notify his publisher of the change of the editorial policy
［B］ was held responsible for allowing unfounded stories to be published
［C］ supported a young reporter in making up unfounded stories
［D］ took no action when the reputation of the newspaper was questioned
23. Mr Raines was made executive editor of the newspaper because .
［A］ he promised to enhance the competiveness of the newspaper
［B］ he had run the bureau in DC and the editorial section of the newspaper
［C］ Mr Sulzerberger believed that he could reshape the newspaper
［D］ he knew how to spur his reporters and get hot stories done
24. The author thinks Daniel Okrent .
［A］ never hesitates to expose the contradictions of the newspaper
［B］ always supports his conclusions with his own investigations
［C］ is critical of the management of the newspaper
［D］ fails to offer a balanced view on the subject he addresses
25. The expression “the impossible story” (Line 4, Para. 4) most probably means .
［A］ a news report of unusual proportions［B］ an unfounded news report
［C］ a report completed with difficulty ［D］ a news story aiming at making a stir
Text 2
For the generation that grew up during the feminist revolution and the rapid social change of the 1960s and 1970s, it at first seemed achievement enough just to “make it” in a man’s world. But coupled with their ambition, today’s women have developed a fierce determination to find new options for being both parent and professional without sacrificing too much to e
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