考研英語(yǔ)考前10天模擬試題及答案

1、胡敏考研英語(yǔ)考前10天模擬試題及答案（二）Section 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) Responsibilities. We all have them; most of us have more than wed like. That doesnt change the reality that, sooner o

2、r later, we all have to 1_ up to them. But perhaps it does explain our _2_ to add to the ever-growing list. Theres already so much to do in a day, why tack on an 3_ burden? Unfortunately, its this kind of defeatist mentality 4 _keeps people from enhancing their lives through proper 5 and exercise. H

3、ere is the salient point, though: The health and fitness benefits youll derive from 6_ the necessary work are worth whatever sacrifices you must make 7_ the way. I cant count how many times Ive heard the same 8 . Each time, I always give the same response: Yes, I say, working out is work. So is taki

4、ng the 9 to eat right. 10 yourself on the couch or having drinks with friends after work is a lot easier than exercising, and hitting the McDonalds drive thru takes a lot less time than cooking a 11 at home. But channel surfing, margaritas and a Quarter Pounder. With Cheese arent going to produce so

5、me of the things worth havinga low cholesterol level or the 12_ to go shirtless on the beach. Those benefits demand a _13_ effort. Im not saying you should eschew the _14_ night on the town or gourmet meal at a five-star restaurant. Both have their _15_ and are components of a well-rounded life. Ive

6、 enjoyed my _16_ of revelry and fine _17_ and look forward to those special opportunities to experience more of the good life. But Ive managed to find a balance between those _18 pleasures and a permanent _19_ to a regular workout and a healthy diet. Because, _20_, it is the latter that will have a

7、lasting improvement on the overall quality of my life. 1. A come B catch C confront D face 2. A resistance B reluctance C persistence D existence 3. A exact B external C extra D extensive 4. A that B which C what D who 5. A food B nutrition C diet D recreation 6. A setting in B putting in C getting

8、in D cutting in 7. A along B by C on D in 8. A reasons B questions C doubts D excuses 9. A chance B effort C time D interest 10. A Throwing B Planting C Sitting D Placing 11. A dish B dinner C meal D hamburger 12. A pride B confidence C enthusiasm D inspiration 13. A long time B long range C long te

9、rm D long distance 14. A additional B emotional C occasional D sensational 15. A place B position C location D attraction 16. A share B part C portion D section 17. A meal B diet C dining D eating 18. A short dated B short lived C short legged D short tempered 19. A coherence B experience C adherenc

10、e Dremembrance 20. A in a word B in the end C in the future D in a nutshellSection 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 Economists often like to

11、speak of Homo economicusrational economic man. In practice, human economic behaviour is not quite as rational as the relentless logic of theoretical economics suggests it ought to be. When buying things in a straight exchange of money for goods, people often respond to changes in price in exactly th

12、e way that theoretical economics predicts. But when faced with an exchange whose outcome is predictable only on average, most people prefer to avoid the risk of making a loss than to take the chance of making a gain in circumstances when the average expected outcome of the two actions would be the s

13、ame. There has been a lot of discussion about this discrepancy in the economic literaturein particular, about whether it is the product of cultural experience or is a reflection of a deeper biological phenomenon. So Keith Chen, of the Yale School of Management, and his colleagues decided to investig

14、ate its evolutionary past. They reasoned that if they could find similar behaviour in another species of primate (none of which has yet invented a cash economy) this would suggest that loss aversion evolved in a common ancestor. They chose the capuchin monkey, Cebus apella, a South American species

15、often used for behavioral experiments. First, the researchers had to introduce their monkeys to the idea of a cash economy. They did this by giving them small metal discs while showing them food. The monkeys quickly learned that humans valued these inedible discs so much that they were willing to tr

16、ade them for scrumptious pieces of apple, grapes and jelly. Preliminary experiments established the amount of apple that was valued as much as either a grape or a cube of jelly, and set the price accordingly, at one disc per food item. The monkeys were then given 12 discs and allowed to trade them o

17、ne at a time for whichever foodstuff they preferred. Once the price had been established, though, it was changed. The size of the apple portions was doubled, effectively halving the price of apple. At the same time, the number of discs a monkey was given to spend fell from 12 to nine. The result was

18、 that apple consumption went up in exactly the way that price theory (as applied to humans) would predict. Indeed, averaged over the course of ten sessions it was within 1% of the theorys prediction. One up to Cebus economicus. The experimenters then began to test their animals risk aversion. They d

19、id this by offering them three different trading regimes in succession. Each required choosing between the wares of two experimental “salesmen”. In the first regime one salesman offered one piece of apple for a disc, while the other offered two. However, half the time the second salesman only handed

20、 over one piece. Despite this deception, the monkeys quickly worked out that the second salesman offered the better overall deal, and came to prefer him. 21. The capuchin monkey was chosen for the experiments because_ A it is from South America. B it doesnt understand the concept of money. C it is o

21、ften used in behavioral experiments. D it is cute and friendly. 22. How were the monkeys introduced to the idea of a cash economy? A They were told that metal discs could be traded for food. B They were given metal discs if they gave the researchers food. C They were shown the different values of th

22、ree different kinds of food. D They were given some discs which researchers would exchange for food. 23. The researchers reduce the “cost” of apples in order to_ A see if the monkeys would “buy” more apples, as humans would. B see if the monkeys understood the idea of a cash economy. C see if the mo

23、nkeys preferred apples or another kind of food. D see what the monkeys would buy with only nine metal discs. 24. The first trading regime mentioned in the final paragraph revealed that _ A monkeys dont mind being deceived. B monkeys like to take risks. C monkeys dont really understand the concept of

24、 a cash economy. D monkeys will “buy” from a deceptive person if they offer a better deal. 25. What is the next paragraph likely to cover? A A comparison of the way the monkeys behaved and real economic behaviour. B A second trading regime. C An explanation of the monkeys behaviour. D A conclusion o

25、n how this might affect theoretical economics. Text 2 More and more, it seems, the same tech tools we depend on to get through the day are often the source of our frustrations. Gadgets have gotten better: They do more, are smaller, and cost less. But they dont work quite the way we want them too, do

26、 they? Text-messaging and camera phone features that obscure access to your voice mail. Camcorder batteries that die in the middle of your sisters wedding. The sick PC that sends copies of its virus to everyone in your E-mail address book. But there is reason for renewed hope. More companies are dis

27、covering that one key to reining in unruly tech is simplicity itself; that is, less is actually more. A few years ago, it seemed only a sprinkling of companies offered products that in their design emphasized ease of use and dependability over frilly, rarely used features. Now analysts report that w

28、hole industriesamong them cellphones, consumer electronics, and, yes, even computersseem to be shifting back to basics, with a few companies taking the lead. The downside to this switch for now is that simplicity and reliability oddly enough tend to cost extra. An Apple Macintosh, widely considered

29、user-friendly, costs at least several hundred dollars more than a Windows-based PC. Verizon Wireless, rated by many the most reliable cellphone service, generally costs more than Sprint, Cingular, or T-Mobile. But that effective surcharge could fade if brand loyalty surges for companies that priorit

30、ize efficient, friendly design. So how did we go from the days of small, color TVs and bricklike mobile phones to high definition home theaters and smart phones that are too clever by half? The blame for the personal tech mess goes both ways. Companies are eager to crank out new products with new fe

31、atures. Its a quick way to get attention, distancing a product from competitors and dusting upstarts in a cutthroat arena. Shoppers, meanwhile, are routinely seduced by the new bells and whistles. Consumer electronics tend to be among the more expensive purchases people make during the year, so why

32、not get the gizmo that does more? “Were all trapped in an economic myth that more is better,” says John Maeda, a media arts and sciences professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Haddon Fishers Motorola phone locks up a couple of times a day, says the Syracuse University sophomore. He

33、has also had to put up with a PC that would spontaneously reboot while he slept or attended class. “You learn to live with a certain level of pain,” he says. Such vexations, repeated across the country, have eroded confidence in tech manufacturers. A recent survey conducted for Royal Philips Electro

34、nics found that two thirds of American consumers have lost interest in a tech product because it looks too complexand half think the manufacturers are just guessing at what will sell, rather than listening to their customers. 26.In paragraph 1, the author cites the examples in order to demonstrate t

35、hat_ A gadgets do not function as we would like. B gadgets work, but we do not use them properly. C gadgets are smaller and cost less. D people need clear instructions on how to use new gadgets. 27. Why might less mean more as far as modern gadgets are concerned? A Gadgets cost less and do more thin

36、gs. B Simple gadgets cost more than complex ones. C Gadgets with fewer features are less likely to let you down. D Most people prefer simple gadgets. 28. “Dusting upstarts in a cutthroat arena” in paragraph 3 means_ A matching your competitors in the marketplace. B introducing new features in gadget

37、s that are on the market. C defeating competitors in a competitive market. D competing effectively with companies that introduce new, unnecessary features. 29. Why do people buy products that do more, even if they are less efficient or less user friendly? A Because people usually purchase brand-name

38、 products, regardless of actual quality. B Because we live in a consumer society. C Because we think we are getting a better deal. D Because people are unaware of what exactly they are purchasing. 30. American consumers losing interest in tech products because_ A the products are too difficult to us

39、e. B the companies dont listen to consumer complaints. C US-made electronics are unreliable. D consumers are losing faith in products that dont do what they want them to do. Text 3 Americans have always been excessive worshippers of what William James called “the bitch goddess success”. Self-help gu

40、rus have topped the bestseller lists since Benjamin Franklin published his autobiography. Americans are much more likely than Europeans to believe that people can get ahead in life so long as they are willing to work hard. And they are much more likely to choose a high-paying job that carries a risk

41、 of redundancy than a lower-paid job that guarantees security. But you cant have winners without losers (or how would you know how well you are doing?). And you cant broaden opportunity without also broadening the opportunity to fail. For instance, until relatively recently, blacks could not blame t

42、hemselves for their failure in the “race of life”, in Abraham Lincolns phrase, because they were debarred from so many parts of it. Now the barriers are lifted, the picture is more complicated. All of which creates a huge problem: how exactly should a hyper-competitive society deal with its losers?

43、Its all very well to note that drunkards and slackers get what they deserve. But what about the honest toilers? One way to deal with the problem is to offer people as many second chances as possible. In his intriguing new book “Born Losers: A History of Failure in America”, Scott Sandage argues that

44、 the mid-nineteenth century saw a redefinition of failurefrom something that had described a lousy business to something that defined a whole life. Yet one of the striking things about America is how valiantly it has resisted the idea that there is any such thing as a born loser. American schools re

45、sist streaming their pupils much longer than their European counterparts: the whole point is to fit in rather than stand out. American higher education has numerous points of entry and reentry. And the American legal system has some of the most generous bankruptcy rules in the world. In Europe, a ba

46、nkrupt is often still a ruined man; in America, he is a risk-taking entrepreneur. American historynot to mention American folkloreis replete with examples of people who tried and tried again until they made a success of their lives. Lincoln was a bankrupt storekeeper. Henry Ford was a serial failure

47、. At 40, Thomas Watson, the architect of IBM, faced prison. Americas past is also full of people who came back from the brink. A second way to deal with losers is to celebrate them. Perhaps in reaction to the relentless boosterism of business life, American popular culture often sympathises with los

48、ers. But even in the loser-loving bits of popular culture, the American obsession with success has a habit of winning through. More often than not, born losers turn out to be winners in disguise. 31. According to paragraph 1, why are Americans “much more likely to choose a high-paying job that carri

49、es a risk of redundancy than a lower-paid job that guarantees security”? A Because they dont mind taking risks. B Because Americans believe in the idea of “no pain, no gain”. C Because Americans rely a lot on self瞙elp books written by famous people. D Because a having high瞤aying job is how many Amer

50、icans view success. 32. Paragraph 2 suggests that _ A America was once a racist country. B black Americans now have equal rights. C if you give someone the chance to succeed, you also give them the chance to fail. D you can know how successful you are by seeing how many people are failing. 33. The “

51、honest toilers” mentioned in paragraph 3 refer to_ A lazy people and alcoholics. B trustworthy workers. C people who fail even though they try hard. D born loserspeople who need lots of second chances in order to succeed. 34. We can learn from paragraph 4_ A that the United States is better than Eur

52、ope. B that American society is designed to give people many opportunities. C that the American system is better for children and businessmen. D that Scott Sandages book is largely irrelevant to modern American society. 35. According to paragraph 5, which of these is NOT an example of why Americans

53、might like losers? A They often succeed in the end. B Losers often have legal problems. C There is sometimes a dislike of people who enthusiastically promote business. D Some very famous Americans were once losers. Text 4 Few things say “forget Im here” quite so eloquently as the pose of the shythe

54、averted gaze, the hunched shoulders, the body pivoted away from the crowd. Shyness is a state that can be painful to watch, worse to experience and, in survival terms at least, awfully hard to explain. In a species as hungry for social interaction as ours, a trait that causes some individuals to shr

55、ink from the group ought to have been snuffed out pretty early on. Yet shyness is commonplace. “I think of shyness as one end of the normal range of human temperament,” says professor of pediatrics William Gardner of Ohio State University. But normal for the scientist feels decidedly less so for the

56、 painfully shy struggling merely to get by, and thats got a lot of researchers looking into the phenomenon. What determines whos going to be shy and whos not? What can be done to treat the problem? Just as important, is it a problem at all? Are there canny advantages to being socially averse that th

57、e extroverts among us never see? With the help of behavioral studies, brain scans and even genetic tests, researchers are at last answering some of those questions, coming to understand what a complex, and in some ways favorable, state shyness can be. For all the things shyness is, there are a numbe

58、r of things its not. For one, its not simple introversion. If you stay home on a Friday night just because you prefer a good book to a loud party, youre not necessarily shynot unless the prospect of the party makes you so anxious that what youre really doing is avoiding it. “Shyness is a greater tha

59、n normal tension or uncertainty when were with strangers,” says psychologist Jerome Kagan of Harvard University. “Shy people are more likely to be introverts, but introverts are not all shy.” Still, even by that definition, there are plenty of shy people to go around. More than 30% of us may qualify

60、 as shy, says Kagan, a remarkably high number for a condition many folks dont even admit to. There are a lot of reasons we may be so keyed up. One of them, new research suggests, is that we may simply be confused. In a study published early this year, Dr. Marco Battaglia of San Raffaele University i