2006年11月北京成人三级英语考试试题（B）
北京地区成人本科学士学位英语统一考试
2006年11月25日（B）卷
Part I Reading Comprehension（30％）
Passage 1
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:
(76) The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject of discussion among economists (经济学家). It has been argued that the supply of good land is limited. To feed a large population, inferior land must be cultivated and the good land worded intensively. Thus , each person produces less and this means a lower average income than could be obtained with a smaller population. Other economists have argued that a large population gives more scope for specialization and the development of facilities such as ports, roads and railways, which are not likely to be built unless there is a big demand to justify them.
One of the difficulties in carrying out a world-wide birth control program lies in the fact that official attitudes to population growth vary from country to country depending on the level of industrial development and the availability of food and raw materials. In the developing country where a vastly expanded population is pressing hard upon the limits of food, space and natural resources, it will be the first concern of government to place a limit on the birthrate, whatever the consequences may be. In the highly industrialized society the problem may be more complex. A decreasing birth rate may lead to unemployment because it results in a declining market for manufactured goods. (77)When the pressure of population on housing declines, prices also decline and the building industry is weakened. Faced with considerations such as these, the government of a developed country may well prefer to see a slowly increasing population, rather than one which is stable or in decline.
1. A smaller population may mean _______.
A. higher productivity, but a lower average income
B. lower productivity, but a higher average income
C. lower productivity, and a lower average income
D. higher productivity, and a higher average income
2. According to the passage, a large population will provide a chance for developing _______.
A. agriculture B. transport system C. industry D. national economy
3. In a developed country, people will perhaps go out of work if the birthrate _______.
A. goes up B. is decreasing C. remains stable D is out of control
4. According to the passage slowly rising birthrate perhaps is good for ________.
A. a developed nation
B. a developing nation
C. every nation with a big population
D. every nation with a small population
5. It is no easy job to carry out a general plan for birth control throughout the world because ______.
A. there are too many underdeveloped countries in the world
B. underdeveloped countries have low level of industrial development
C. different governments have different views about the problem
D. even developed countries may have complex problems
Passage 2
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage:
To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain. It was first used as a shade against the sun.
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, way back in the eleventh century B.C..
We know that the umbrella was also used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use; it became a symbol of honor and authority. In the Far East In ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royal people or by those in high office.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrellas as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.
During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in 16th century. And again it became a symbol of power and authority.
Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. (78)It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made in a variety of colors.
6. The first use of umbrella was as_____.
A. protection against rain B. a shade against the sun
C. a symbol of power D. a symbol of honor
7._____were regarded as the people who first used umbrellas.
A. Romans B. Greeks
C. Chinese D. Europeans
8. The umbrella was used only by royal people or those in high office______.
A. in European in the eighteenth century
B. in ancient Egypt and Babylon
C. in the Far East in ancient times
D. during the Middle Ages
9. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Women enjoy using umbrella with varies kinds of colors
B. The inventor of the umbrella is unknown
C. Once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas
D. Umbrellas were popular and cheap in the ancient times
10. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?
A. When Was the Umbrella Invented
B. The Role of Umbrella in History
C. The Colors and Shapes of Umbrella
D. Who Needed Umbrella First
Passage 3
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:
One study shows that Americans prefer to answer with a brief “Yes”, “No”, “Sure”, or the very popular “Yeah” rather than with a longer reply. (79) But brief replies do not mean Americans are impolite of unfriendly to some extent. Very often, Americans are in a hurry and may greet you with a single word “ Hi”, indeed; this is a greeting you will hear again and again during your stay in the United States. It is used by everyone, regardless of rank, age or occupation. However, those who are accustomed to longer greetings may require a little more time before they feel comfortable with American simple talk.
Americans sometimes use plain talk when they are uncomfortable. (80) If people praise them or thank them in an especially polite way, they may become uncomfortable and not know what to say in reply . They don’t want to be impolite or rude, you can be sure that they liked what was said about them. Except for certain holidays, such as Christmas, Americans don’t usually give gifts. Thus, you will find Americans embarrassed as they accept gifts, especially if they have nothing to give in return. They are generally a warm but informal people.
11 he fact that Americans like shorter answers tells us ______.
E. they reply very quickly in a hurry
F. they choose words too carefully
G. they like replying briefly
H. they want to be as polite as they can
12 hose who like using beautiful or formal words _____.
a) need more time to get used to American simple greeting
b) need no time to get familiar with American greeting
c) do not very much like American way of greeting
d) think Americans are not polite whatever
13 Which of the following is NOT true?
a) Americans often answer with the words like “sure”, “yeah.”
b) They are not impolite with brief replies.
c) Americans in high ranks must use formal words in greeting.
d) Americans are a warm but informal people.
14 The Americans like others’ praise but if in a polite way ________.
a) they don’t know what to way in reply
b) they feel somewhat uneasy
c) they don’t want to reply
d) both A and B
15 The passage indicates that _______.
a) Americans exchange gifts the first time they meet.
b) Americans seldom give gifts except for some holidays.
c) Americans often bring some gifts to their friends.
d) Americans only want to get gifts from others.
Part Ⅱ Vocabulary and Structure （30％）
16. The old people often raise ______ for the sake of companionship.
A. pets B. pipes C. pills D. pies
17. The river here is very wide but ____, so you can walk across it.
A. narrow B. arrow C. shallow D. hollow
18. The streets were empty ____ the policemen on duty.
A. besides B. except C. excepting D. except for
19. Don’t leave matches or cigarettes on the table within the _____ of little children.
A. hand B. reach C. space D. distance
20. ?How did you pay the workers?
?As a rule , they were paid by ______.
A. the hour B. an hour C. hour D. the time
21.____ of the students in our class are from the north.
A. Two ninth B. Second ninth
C. Second nines D. Two ninths
22. My father has classes ____ day: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
A. each other B. every other
C. this and the other D. all other
23. This morning Jack came to school late____.
A. than usual B. as usual
C. like usual D. like usually
24. I’m putting on weight. The doctor has warned me to ____sugar.
A. keep up B. keep back
C. keep off D. keep away
25. We were ____ for half an hour in the traffic and so we arrived late.
A. kept up B. held up
C. cut up D. brought up
26. The news quickly spread through the village ______ the war had ended.
A. which B. what C. that D. where
27. We hurried to the station ______ find ourselves three hours earlier for the train.
A. only to B. in order to C. so as to D. such as to
28. I meant ______ you , but I’m afraid I forgot.
A. ringing B. being ringing C. to ringing D. to ring
29. We live in a time ______, more than ever before in history, people are moving
A. what B. when C. which D. where
30. Is there any possibility of getting the price______ further?
A. reduced B. reduce C. reducing D. be reduced
31. _______ you feel too ill to go out. I would rather not stay at home tonight.
A. Because B Although C. Unless D. If
32. Because of many mistakes, she was made ______ these letters again.
A. type B. to typing C. typed D. to type
33. It is hot and dry; the flowers need ______.
A. being watered B. be watered C. to water D. to be watered
34. He began by showing us where the country was and went on _______ us about its climate.
A. telling B. to tell C. to telling D. to be told
35. Our failure _____ ourselves to modern life often causes us trouble in our work.
A. to adopt B. to apply C. to adapt D. to act
36. Once _____ of the necessity of a move, he worked hard to find a new home.
A. convinced B. be convinced C. convincing D. having convinced
37. So many representatives _______ , the conference had to be put off.
A. were absent B. to be absent C. being absent D. had been absent
38. In no case _____ the students from exploring new ideas.
A. we should prevent B. we could prevent C. should we prevent D. shouldn’t prevent
39. I don’t think it advisable that Tom _____ to the job since he has no experience.
A. be assigned B. is assigned C. will be assigned D. has been assigned
40. With all this work on hand, she ______ to the dance party last night.
A. oughtn’t to go B. hadn’t gone C. shouldn’t have gone D. mustn’t have gone
41. As Christmas was coming, the town began a ______ clearing on a large scale.
A. through B. thorough C. though D. thought
42. E-mail writing has became the usual means of communication _______ people some distance away.
A. for B. on C. to C. with
43. It is a good idea for parents to monitor the _____ as well as the kind of television that their children watch.
A. number B. size C. amount D. screen
44. I’m afraid that there isn’t _____ for you in my car.
A. place B. seat C. corner D. room
45. It suddenly _____ to me that we could use a computer to do the job.
A. happened B. occurred C. agreed D. presented
Part Ⅲ Identification（10％）
46. Let’s go and watch that mew movie at eight tonight, won’t we?
A B C D
47. It is very important that the students’ voice is heard by the authorities of all our schools.
A B C D
48. This is such a beautiful day that everyone around us feel like going out for a walk.
A B C D
49. We saw a big dog that was fierce and felt frightened in our way home.
A B C D
50. You will feel inconvenient in Japan if you can either speak Japanese nor English.
A B C D
51. He didn’t dare to leave the house for fear someone would recognize him soon.
A B C D
52. You can see the whole city for miles from here in a clear day.
A B C D
53. He wished he didn’t tell her the truth that brought her so much pain.
A B C D
54. The room, which window faces the south, is the nicest one of all on this floor.
A B C D
55. He is a true friend of mine, whom I can always depend whenever I get into trouble.
A B C D
