2004年阅读及英美文学、语言学基础

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1、厦门大学2004年招收攻读硕士学位研究生入 学 考 试 试 题招 生 专 业 英语语言文学 考 试 课 程 阅读及英美文学、语言学417研 究 方 向_注意：答案必须标明题号，按序写在专用答题纸上，写在本试卷上或草稿纸上者一律不给分。Write down your answers to all the questions in this test in separate blank answer sheets provided at your test center.Part One Reading Comprehension 70 pointsDirections: Each passage

2、 is followed by questions based on its content. After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions following the passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage.Passage 1The tap dancer, like the flamenco performer, is basically an improviser. T

3、hus looking at tap one wants to savor the personality and inventiveness of the individual. When Bill Robinson danced in the movies, his technical skill and sophisticated rhythms could be heard as well as seen. The Nicholas Brothers ran up walls or the proscenium arch of the theater or jumped off pla

4、tforms and landed in splits on the floor. Peg Leg Bates, who had lost a leg, made a specialty out of dancing with his wooden leg. Sandman Sims scattered sand on the floor (as Fred Astaire did in one of his films) and tapped ever so softly, slid and turned in dances as soothing as lullabies.1. What d

5、oes the passage mainly discuss?(A) The styles of various tap dancers(B) The structure of the modern dance theater(C) The difference between flamenco and tap dancing(D) The use of dance in certain movie productions2. According to the passage, in what way is a flamenco dancer similar to a tap dancer?(

6、A)Both perform the same kinds of steps(B)Both rely on individual inventiveness(C)Both are trained in classical techniques(D)Both make very little noise3. An acrobatic style of dancing was most closely associated with which of the following performers?(A)Peg Leg Bates(B)Bill Robinson(C)The Nicholas B

7、rothers(D)Sims and Astaire4. Which two dancers used sand in their routines?(A)Robinson and Sims(B)The Nicholas Brothers(C)Bates and Robinson(D)Sims and Astaire5. The author implies which of the following about tap dancing?(A) It is more complex than flamenco dancing(B) It is meant to be heard as wel

8、l as seen(C) It became popular primarily because of the movies(D) It should be performed by at least two people.Passage 2The science of meteorology is concerned with the study of the structure, state, and behavior of the atmosphere. The subject may be approached from several directions, but the scen

9、e cannot be fully appreciated from any advantage point. Different views must be integrated to give perspective to the whole picture. One may consider the condition of the atmosphere at a given moment and attempt to predict changes from that condition over a period of a few hours to a few days ahead.

10、 This approach is covered by the branch of the science called synoptic（天气的）meteorology. Synoptic meteorology is the scientific basis of the technique of weather forecasting by means of the preparation and analysis of weather maps and aerological diagram. The practical importance of the numerous appl

11、ications of weather forecasting cannot be overestimated. In serving the needs of shipping, aviation, agriculture, industry, and many other interests and fields of human activity with accurate weather warnings and professional forecast advice, great benefits are reaped in the form of the saving of hu

12、man life and property and in economic advantages of various kinds. One important purpose of the science of meteorology is constantly to strive, through advanced study and research, to increase our knowledge of the atmosphere with the aim of improving the accuracy of weather forecasts. The tools need

13、ed to advance our knowledge in this way are the disciplines of mathematics and physics applied to solve meteorological problems. The use of these tools forms that branch of the science called dynamic meteorology.6. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A) The Limitations of Meteo

14、rological Forecasting B) New Advances in Synoptic Meteorology C) Approaches to the Science of Meteorology D) The Basics of Dynamic Meteorology7. The prediction of synoptic meteorologists are directly based on the_(A)application of the physical sciences(B)preparation and study of weather maps(C)antic

15、ipated needs of industry(D)observations of commercial airline pilots8. Which of the following is NOT referred to by the author as a field whose needs are served by weather forecasting?A) Transportation. B) Manufacturing.C) Farming.D) Sports.9. The author implies that increased accuracy in weather fo

16、recasting will lead to_.A) more funds allocated to meteorological researchB) greater protection of human lifeC) a higher number of professional forecastersD) less-specialized forms of synoptic meteorology10. Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the third paragraph of

17、the passage?A) A procedure is explained and its importance is emphasized.B) Two contrasting views of a problem are presented.C) Recent scientific advancements are outlined in order of importance.D) A problem is examined and possible solutions are given.11. In the last sentence of the passage, the ph

18、rase “these tools” refers to_.A) weather forecastsB) meteorological problemsC) mathematics and physicsD) economic advantagePassage 3There are three basic ways in which individual economic units interact with one another. They are the market system, the administered system, and the traditional system

19、. In a market system, individual economic units are free to interact among each other in the market place. Transactions may take place through barter or money exchange. In a barter economy, real goods such as automobiles, shoes, and pizzas are traded against each other. Obviously, finding somebody w

20、ho wants to trade an old car in exchange for a sailboat may not always be an easy task. Hence the introduction of money as a medium of exchange eases transactions considerably. An alternative to the market system is administered control by some agency over all transactions. This agency will issue la

21、ws or commands as to how much each goods and service should be produced, exchanged, and consumed by each economic unit. Central planning may be one way of administering such an economy. The central plan drawn up by the government shows the amount of each commodity produced by the various firms and d

22、istributed to different households for consumption. In a traditional society, production and consumption patterns are governed by tradition. Each persons place with the economic system is fixed by parentage, religion, and custom. Transactions take place on the basis of tradition, too. People belongi

23、ng to a certain group or caste may have an obligation to care for other persons, provide them with food and shelter, care for their health,and provide for their education. Clearly, in a system where every decision is made on the basis of tradition alone progress may be difficult to achieve.12. What

24、is the main purpose of the passage? A） To explain the science of economics. B） To outline types of economic systems. C） To argue for the superiority of one economic system. D） To compare barter and money exchange markets.13. In the second paragraph, by which of the following could the word real best

25、 be replaced? A） High quality. B） Concrete. C） Utter. D） Essential.14. According to the passage, a barter economy can lead to A） rapid speed of transactions B） misunderstandings C） inflation D） difficulties for the traders15. According to the passage who has the greatest degree of control on an admi

26、nistered system? A） Individual households. B） Small businesses. C） Major companies. D） The government.Passage 4What is the future for cities? Why does one inner-city neighborhood become a slum and another a high-class district? Why does one city attract new shopper and visitors while another languis

27、hes?Camden, New Jersey, displays the strong contrast that characterize American urban areas. The central city of Camden houses an isolated underclass., while suburban Camden County prospers. The population of the city of Camden has declined from 117,000 in 1960 to less than 80,000 today. Nearly 85 p

28、ercent of the citys residents are black and Hispanic, while the white population has declined from 90,000 in 1960 to 10,000 today. Only 1 percent of the households remaining have annual incomes of more than $50,000, compared with 20 percent in the rest of the country and 10 percent among all black h

29、ouseholds.More than 40 percent of Camdens residents are under eighteen, closer to the level found in developing countries than to eh rest of the United States. Job prospects are not promising for these young people, because more than half have left school without obtaining a high-school diploma. In

30、the past, Camdens youths could find jobs in factories that produced Campbells soups, Esterbrook pens, and RCA Victor records, radios, and televisions, but the city has lost 90 percent of its industrial jobs. The Esterbrook and Campbell factories in Camden are closed, though Campbells corporate offic

31、es remain: General Electric now operates the former RCA factory but with a labor force at only 15 percent of the level during the 1960s. Camdens unemployment rate is more than twice the national average.As Camdens population and industries decline, few shops have enough customers to remain open. The

32、 city once had thirteen movie theaters, but none are left. The murder rate soared after gangs carved up the city into districts during the mid-1980s to control cocaine trafficking.Meanwhile, Camden County excluding the city has grown from 275,000 in 1960 to more than 400,000 today. Cherry Hill has m

33、ore than 75,000 residents today, compared to less than 10,000 in 1960, and will surpass Camden as the largest city in the county before the end of the decade. About 85 percent of Cherry Hills high-school graduates go on to college. Cherry Hill has attracted so many new jobs that the major obstacles

34、to further economic growth is a shortage of qualified workers.Camdens mismatch between the locations of people, jobs, resources, and services exemplifies the urban crisis throughout the United States, as well as in other countries. Geographers help us to understand why these patterns arise, and what

35、 be done about them.16. Which of the following is NOT TRUE? A）Camden County is larger than the city of Camden. B）Cherry Hills economy is sluggish C）The white people have moved to the suburbs. D）General Electric now employs less workers than it used to.17. What is the author most likely to do in the

36、following section? A）Elaborating on geographical patterns of other areas. B）Quoting government policies in favor of her view. C）Highlighting statistics in support of her argument. D）Proposing possible solutions to the problem.Passage 5For a long time we have worked hard at isolating the individual f

37、amily. This has increased the mobility of individuals; and by encouraging young families to break away from older generations and the home community, we have burdened every small family with tremendous responsibilities once shared within three generations and among a large number of people the nurtu

38、ring of small children, the initiation of adolescents into adulthood, and care of the sick and disabled and the protection of the aged. What we have failed to realize to realize is that even as we have separated the single family from the larger society, we have expected each couple to take on a ran

39、ge of obligations that traditionally have been shared within a family and a wilder community.So all over the world there are millions of families left alone, as it were, each in its own box parents faced with the specter of what may happen if either one gets sick, children fearful that their parents

40、 may end their quarrels with divorce, and empty-handed old people without any role in the life of the next generation.Then, having reduced little by little to almost nothing the relationship between families the community, when families get into trouble because they cannot accomplish the impossible,

41、 we turn their problems over to impersonal social agencies, which can act only in a fragmented way because they are limited to patchwork programs that often are too late to accomplish what is most needed.Individuals and families do get some kind of help, but what they learn and what those who work h

42、ard within the framework of social agencies convey, even as they try to help, is that families should be able to care for themselves.18. According to the author, when young families are isolated, _ A）old people can easily accept the change B）people can move from place to placeC）individuals can hardl

43、y become innovative D）economy develops at high speed19. What is said to be the major problem facing young couples? A）They need to be fulfill more duties B）They are incapable of balancing the budget C）They have their children spoiled and overindulged D）They get empty-handed after divorce.20. The auth

44、or implies that _. A）social agencies in America can be very helpful B）the help of American families from social agencies is limited. C）the government should do more to improve patchwork programs. D）the fragmentary nature of the American family is unique.Passage 6Throughout human history there have b

45、een many stringent taboos concerning watching other people eat or eating in the presence of others. There have been attempts to explain these taboos in terms of inappropriate social relationships either between those who are involved and those who are not simultaneously involved in the satisfaction

46、of a bodily need, or between those already satiated and those who appear to be shamelessly gorging. Undoubtedly such elements exist in the taboos, but there is an additional element with a much more fundamental importance. In prehistoric times, when food was so precious and the on-lookers so hungry,

47、 not to offer half of the little food one had was unthinkable, since every glance was a plea for life. Further, during those times, people existed in nuclear or extended family groups, and the sharing of food was quite literally supporting ones family or, by extension, preserving ones self.21. If th

48、e argument in the passage is valid, taboos against eating in the presence of others who are not also eating would be LEAST likely in a society that (A) always had a plentiful supply of food (B) emphasized the need to share worldly goods (C) emphasized the value of privacy (D) discouraged overindulge

49、nce22. According to the passage, the author believes that past attempts to explain some taboos concerning eating are (A) implausible (B) incomplete(D) ill-founded(D) inelegantPassage 7Air, like words, is a form of communication. Words, spoken and written, render accessible to humans of the latest ge

50、nerations all the knowledge discovered by the experience and reflection, both of preceding generations and of the best and foremost minds of their own times. Art renders accessible to people of the latest generations all the feelings experienced by their predecessors, and those already felt by their

51、 best and foremost contemporaries. Just as the proceeds through art. Feelings less kind and less necessary for the well-being of humankind are replaced by other kinder and more essential to that end. This is the purpose of art, and the more art fulfills that purpose that better the art; the less it

52、fulfills it , the worse the art.23. The author develops the passage primarily by _(A)theory and refutation(B) example and generalization(C)question and answer(D) inference and deduction24. According to the author, knowledge is _(A)evolutionary and emotional(B)cumulative and progressive(C)static and

53、unmoving(D)dynamic and cyclical25. The style of the passage can best be described as _ (A) speculative (B) argumentative(D) expository(D) sarcasticPassage 8Our current system of unemployment compensation has increased nearly all sources of adult unemployment seasonal and cyclical variations in the d

54、emand for labor, weak labor force attachment, and unnecessarily long durations of unemployment. First, for those who are already unemployed, the system greatly reduces the cost of extending the period of unemployment. Second, for all types of unsteady work seasonal, cyclical and casual it raises the

55、 net wage to the employee, relative to the cost of the employer.As for the first, consider a worker who earns $500 per month or $6000 per year if she experiences no employment. If she is unemployed for one month, she loses $500 in gross earnings but only $116 in net income. How does this occur? A re

56、duction of $500 in annual earning reduces her federal, payroll and state tax liability by $134. Unemployment compensation consists of 50 percent of her wage or $250. Her net income therefore falls from $366 if is employed, to $250 paid as unemployment compensation. Moreover, part of the higher incom

57、e from employment is offset by the cost of transportation to work and other expenses associated with employment; and in some industries, the cost of unemployment is reduced further or even made negative by the supplementary unemployment benefits paid by employers under collective bargaining agreemen

58、ts. The overall effect is to increase the duration of a typical spell of unemployment and to increase the frequency with which individuals lose jobs and become unemployed.The more general effect of unemployment compensation is to increase the seasonal and cyclical fluctuations in the demand for labo

59、r and the relative number of short-lived casual jobs. A worker who accepts such work knows she will be laid off when the season ends. If there were no unemployment compensation, workers could be induced to accept such unstable jobs only if the wage rate were sufficiently higher in those jobs than in

60、 the more stable alternative. The higher cost of labor, then would induce employers to reduce the instability of employment by smoothing production lags, by additional development of off-season work and by the introduction of new production techniques, e.g. new methods of outdoor work in bad weather

61、.Employers contribute to the state unemployment compensation fund on the basis of their own previous employers. Within limits, the more benefits that those former employees draw, the higher is the employers tax rate. The theory of experience rating is clear. If an employer paid the full cost of the

62、unemployment benefits that his former employees received, unemployment compensation would provide no incentive to an excess use of unstable unemployment. In practice, however, experience rating is limited by a maximum rate of employer contribution. For any firm which pays the maximum rate, there is

63、no cost for additional unemployment and no gain from a small reduction in unemployment.The challenge at this time is to restructure the unemployment system in a way that strengthens its good features while reducing the harmful distinctive effects. Some gains can be achieved by removing the ceiling o

64、n the employers rate of contribution and by lowering the minimum rate to zero. Employers would then pay the full price of unemployment insurance benefits were taxed in the same way as other earnings. This would eliminate the anomalous situations in which a workers net income is actually reduced when he returns to work.26. The authors primary concern is to _ (A) defend the system of unemployment compensation against criticism (B) adv