第三部分 阅读理解 (80分)
Passage 1
One phase of the business cycle is the expansion phase. This phase
is a two-fold one, including recovery and prosperity. During the recovery
period there is ever - growing expansion of existing facilities and new
facilities for production are created. More businesses are created and older
ones expanded. Improvements of various kinds are made. There is an ever
increasing optimism (乐观主义) about the future of economic growth. Much
capital is invested in machinery or "heavy" industry. More labor is employed.
More raw materials are required. As one part of the economy develops, other
parts are affected. For example, a great expansion in automobiles results in an
expansion of the steel, glass, and industries. Roads are required. Thus the
cement and machinery industries are stimulated. Demand for labor and materials
results in greater prosperity for workers and suppliers (供应商) of raw
materials, including farmers. This increases purchasing power and the volume of
goods bought and sold. Thus prosperity is diffused (扩散) among the various
portions of the population. This prosperity period may continue to rise and
rise without an apparent end. However a time comes when this phase reaches a
peak and stop spiraling (盘旋地移动) upwards. This is the end of the expansion
phase.
21. We may assume that in the next paragraph the writer will discuss _______.
○A. union demands
○B. the status of the farmer
○C. the higher cost of living
○D. the recession period
22. The title below that best expresses the idea of this passage is ________.
○A. The Business Cycle
○B. The Recovery Stage
○C. Attaining Prosperity
○D. The Period of Good Times
23. Prosperity in one industry _________.
○A. reflects itself in many other industries
○B. will spiral upwards
○C. will affect the steel industry
○D. will end abruptly
24. Which of the following industries will probably be a good indicator of a
period of expansion?
○A. Toys.
○B. Machine tools.
○C. Foodstuffs.
○D. Farming.
25. During the period of prosperity, people regard the future ___________.
○A. cautiously
○B. in a confident manner
○C. opportunely
○D. indifferently
Passage 2
The value of money is going down. What you could buy in 1970 for
￡20, now, in 1979 costs ￡56.40. That’s inflation and nobody likes it, least
of all the Bank of England. One of the results of inflation is that people need
coins and notes of higher value. At the moment, the note of the highest value
which is generally in circulation(流通) is the ￡20 note. Now, the Bank of
England plans to introduce a new, ￡50 note. And the Bank is trying to decide
which famous English man or woman to put on the back of the new note.
Quite a problem. The Bank usually chooses safe, historical personalities. We
already have Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist, the first duck of Wellington, the
famous soldier who led the British army at Waterloo, Florence Nightingale,
founder of English nursing and - of course - Shakespeare. So far, the list of
possible choices for the ￡50 note is quite predictable (可预测的). There’s Sir
Francis Drake, to represent the achievements of English explorers in the
sixteenth century. Then we have Lord Nelson, another sailor and the man who won
the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 for England. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the
engineer, is also on the list because of the magnificent bridges which he
built. The Bank will not forget music this time either - sir Edward Elgar, one
of our most famous composers of the nineteenth century is a possible choice. If
they choose a woman, the faminist (女权主义者) movement has two
representatives; Boadicea, Queen of the early English tribes of the first
century, who fought against the Romans, or Emily Pankhurst, who fought to get
the vote for women early in this century.
What do you think of this selection? There’s no one who was alive in the last
fifty years on it and no political leader. Why not? Why doesn’t the Bank
choose popular heroes-like the Beetles, for example? Write and tell "BBC Modern
English" who is on your list for this banknote. Imagine you have to choose
some personality to go on a banknote in your own country. Who is your choice?
26. "Inflation" in this story means _________.
○A. "rise in prices resulting from an increase in the money, credit, etc."
○B. "the rise and fall of the voice in speaking"
○C. "the process of inflating or being inflated"
○D. "an illness brought by infection"
27. Who dislike(s) inflation most?
○A. Ordinary people.
○B. Merchants.
○C. Officials.
○D. The Bank of England.
28. Why is there no-one who was alive in the last fifty years in the selection
and no political leader?
○A. Because the Bank of England does not like contemporary figures and
political leaders.
○B. Because living personalities and political leaders are not as influential
as anyone in this selection.
○C. Because the Bank of England usually chooses safe and historical
personalities.
○D. Because living personalities and political leaders are not allowed to be
put on the back of the new banknote.
29. The British army at Waterloo was fighting against _________.
○A. the Indian army
○B. the French army
○C. the Spanish army
○D. the Russian army
30. BBC Modern English is _____________.
○A. a book
○B. a TV program
○C. a TV guide
○D. a magazine for students of English as a foreign language |
