《大学英语II》期末预测试卷No.2(附答案

Part I Listening Comprehension ( 25%) (略)

Part II Reading Comprehension (40%)

Section A

Directions: There are three reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four suggested answers marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the best answer to each question. Then you should mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

Passage 1

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage: The advantages and disadvantages of a large population have long been a subject of discussion among economists. 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 worked 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 worldwide 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 a 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 a highly industrialized society the problem may be more complex. A decreasing birthrate may lead to unemployment because it results in a declining market for manufactured goods. 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.

31. A large population may mean _________.

A) higher productivity, but a lower average income B) lower productivity, but a higher average income C) higher productivity and a higher average income D) lower productivity and a lower average income

32. A large population may offer more scope for the development of _________.

A) economy B) transportation

C) extensive cultivation D) agriculture

33. In highly industrialized countries, unemployment may result from _________.

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A) a decreasing birthrate B) an increasing birthrate C) a stable birthrate

D) a birth control program

34. What may the government of a developed country prefer?

A) A rapidly increasing population. B) A rapidly decreasing population. C) A slowly increasing population. D) A slowly decreasing population.

35. Why is it difficult to carry out a worldwide birth control program?

A) Because it will do harm to the national economy in most countries.

B) Because it will lead to complex social problems in developing countries. C) Because people are unwilling to practice birth control. D) Because different governments have different opinions.

Passage 2

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll could have been much worse.

More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, an earthquake of similar intensity that shook America in 1988 claimed 25,000 victims.

Injuries and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the earthquake occurred at 4:31 a.m. on a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highways. In addition, changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more resistant to quakes.

Despite the good news, civil engineers aren’t resting on their success. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new designs should offer even greater security to cities where earthquakes often take place.

In the past, making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials, such as steel, and wood, that bend without breaking. Later people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brain as well as concrete(混凝土) and steel supports. Called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms(生物体) to an earthquake’s vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would force the building to shift in the opposite direction.

The new smart structures could be very expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

36.One reason why the loss in the Los Angeles earthquake was relatively low is that

_____________.

A) the earthquake was forecasted early

B) most people in Los Angeles had left the city C) it took place in the early morning D) the earthquake was much less intense

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37. What does the phrase “resting on their success” in paragraph 4 mean? A) Having a vacation after achieving the success.

B) Being satisfied with their success and doing nothing more. C) Being unaware of the success achieved. D) Being responsible for the success.

38. The smart building mentioned in the passage would _______________. A) be treated like living organisms

B) no longer need steel, wood or rubber C) balance itself in an earthquake

D) reduce the ground vibrations caused by the earthquake

39. It can be inferred from the passage that to make the loss minimal we should ____________.

A) build smart buildings

B) lift the building off its foundation C) use more firm yet flexible materials D) reduce the impact of ground vibrations

40. The purpose of this passage is to ______________.

A) compare different quake-resistant building materials B) inform people of the damages caused by earthquakes C) advocate the extensive use of computers in construction

D) report the new progress in designing quake-resistant buildings

Passage 3

Questions 41 to 45 are based on the following passage:

During the rest of sleep, the fatigue of the body disappears and recuperation (复原) begins. The tired mind gathers new energy; the memory improves; and annoyance and problems are seen correctly.

Some adults require little sleep, others need eight to ten hours in every twenty-four. Infants sleep sixteen to eighteen hours daily, the amount gradually decreasing as they grow older. Young students may need twelve hours; university students may need ten. A worker with a physically demanding job may also need ten, whereas an executive working under great pressure may manage on six to eight. Many famous people are well known to have required little sleep. Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin apparently averaged only four to six hours a night.

Whatever your individual need, you can be sure that by the age of thirty you will have slept for a total of more than twelve years. By that age you will also have developed a sleep routine: a favorite hour, a favorite bed, a favorite posture (姿势), and a formula you need to follow in order to rest comfortably.

Investigators have tried to find out how long a person can go without sleep. Several people have reached more than 115 hours -- nearly five days. Whatever the limit, it is absolute. Animals kept awake for from five to eight days have died of exhaustion. The limit for human beings is probably about a week.

41. It is implied in the passage that _______.

A) a light sleep is as refreshing as a deep one

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B) memory is greatly improved during sleep

C) famous people need less sleep than ordinary people D) sleep is important for good mental and physical health

42. It can be concluded from the passage that the amount of sleep required ________.

A) depends on the bed one sleeps in

B) can be predicted from the type of job one has C) varies greatly from one individual to another

D) is closely related to the amount of pressure one suffers

43. The word “formula” (line 3, paragraph 3) most probably means ________.

A) a prescription B) a mathematical rule

C) a fixed method or approach

D) an expression of the elements of a compound 44. A person should _______ in order to sleep well.

A) go to bed early

B) sleep as much as he can C) follow his sleep routine

D) do a physically demanding job

45. The longest time a human being can survive without sleep is probably _______

A) five days B) seven day C) ten days D) twelve days

Section B

Directions: Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage. Complete each of the sentences with less than 5 words.

You can deposit money in a building society and obtain annual interest at a certain rate. You can also borrow money from a building society. What, then, is the difference between a bank and a building society? In practice, a building society does not seem to be very different from a savings bank. Many people regularly save money by depositing small amounts in a building society, just as other people regularly save money by depositing small amounts monthly in a savings bank. Some people deposit large amounts in a building society as an investment. They receive higher interest than they would receive from a savings bank; their money can be invested either in building society shares or in loans to the society.

These societies are controlled by law, but they are not government organizations. They were originally started to enable people to buy houses. One of their main purposes is to provide loans for buying or building houses. Many people prefer buying a house to paying rent, but some of them cannot afford to buy a house. To cover the cost (or part of the cost) they borrow money from a building society. Then loan plus the interest is paid back in monthly amounts over an agreed number of years. Probably the payments made in this way are no more than the rent of a rented house. But at the end of the stated period, when the debt is paid, the borrower becomes the owner of the house. To protect the building society from “bad debts” he must sign a statement to say that the house belongs to the society until the debt is repaid.

A building society invests the savings of his shareholders in houses and property. Unlike a bank, it does not serve as a general clearing house for every kind of exchange or business operation. Its activities are limited in comparison with the activities of a bank.

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46. Some people deposit large amounts of money in a building society because they receive _________________ than they would receive from a savings bank.

47. The original purpose of building societies was to ________________________________. 48. Many people prefer buying a house to paying rent because they want to become ___________ _____________.

49. To protect the building society from “bad debts”, the borrower must ____________________. 50. Unlike a bank, a building society invests its money only in ___________________________.

Part III Vocabulary and Structure ( 25 %)

Section A

Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence.

51. In some areas, modern intensive farming is ______________the reintroduction of traditional methods.

A) giving birth to B) giving way to C) getting rid of D) giving credit for

52. The reason_____________ the grass is green was a mystery to the little boy. A) why B) for C) that D) to

53. Profits have declined as a ______________of the recent drop in sales. A) reason B) purpose C) result D) fault

. Today, most community colleges offer technical, vocational, pre-professional, and adult-education programs __________general academic programs.

A) except for B) but for C) in addition to D) in relation to

55. They felt inferior _________the others until the team's international success gave them some pride.

A) of B) than C) to D) by

56. Shy persons are usually ______________with the impressions they make. A) anxious B) concerned C) doubtful D) assured

57. Did the TV play __________your expectations?

A) live up to B) fit in with C) amount to D) agree with

58. Mary was short and plump, in _______to her mother, who was tall and thin. A) contact B) contrast C) comparison D) contest

59. The police believe she is the thief, but all the evidence suggests__________. A) opposite B) otherwise C) likewise D) so

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60. She __________Gary as shy, but I'd say he was just rude.

A) drew B) assumed C) described D) informed

61. The operation ____________ putting a small tube into your heart.

A) involves B) suggests C) expects D) implies

62. Take a hat with you__________ the sun is very hot.

A) although B) even if C) in case D) lest

63. What amazes me is her complete _________for anyone else's opinion.

A) disregard B) despair C) dismissal D) dispute

. You could ___________having a huge debt to pay off if you're not careful.

A) turn to B) result in C) wind up D) incline to

65. Biologists __________animals and plants into groups.

A) classify B) regard C) label D) take

66. You mustn't let your social life ______________of your studies.

A) take charge B) set aside C) keep track D) get in the way

67. There's no point ____________about it－just do as you are told.

A) to argue B) argue C) arguing D) being arguing

68. In his novel many ordinary citizens ________ their lives to unselfish service of humanity.

A) prefer B) distinguish C) isolate D) devote

69. Life ________ to only a slight degree the popular image of it.

A) likes B) equals C) resembles D) accesses

70. In our science class, we learn how falling bodies ________.

A) accumulate B) dismiss C) associate D) accelerate

71. Developing countries in South Asia have ________ the Middle East in purchase of weapons according to this report.

A) omitted B) overtaken C) performed D) caught

72. The director ________ that competition for public office should be based more on merit than money. A) exerted B) assessed C) asserted D) induced

73. There is a growing ________ to regard money more highly than quality of life. A) tendency B) likeliness C) attempt D) guidance

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74. The simple plan ________ into a complicated scheme in a week's time.

A) solved B) involved C) revolved D) evolved

75. The ________ of nursing staff to doctors is 3:1.

A) rate B) ratio C) pace D) proportion

76. A ________ skin is easily hurt by too much sunshine.

A) severe B) serious C) sensitive D) sensible

77. What a(n) ________ that I was in Beijing at the same time as you.

A) incident B) event C) coincidence D) incidence

78. Impossible ________ it seems, the news turned out to be true.

A) but B) when C) as D) however

79. Both my brother and I are impatient. I think he is ________ fit to be a teacher than I am.

A) rather B) more C) other D) no more

80. Many children feel they are ________ love after their mother found jobs.

A) deprived of B) derived of C) deprived from D) derived from Section B

Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with the proper form of the word derived from the one given in brackets. .

81. They are ___________ although they are poor. (ambition)

82. She looked after her father with devotion and great __________during his long illness. (tender)

83. Most people know that much of what they see, hear and read in popular media is sentimental and only ________ true. (part)

84. A stone hit him on the head and knocked him ___________. (conscious)

85. This accident is a _____________ of one that happened here three weeks ago. (repeat) 86. His house is furnished in a curious _____________ of old and modern styles. (mix) 87. Clearly we need to come to an arrangement that is __________to both parties. (accept)

88. The quantities of grain and other major agricultural products increased ________ last year.

(notice)

. Compared to the great trouble we've had in the past, this is only a minor ________.

(convenient )

90. She can do a wonderful ___________ of a blackbird's song. (imitate)

Section C

Directions: Complete the following sentences with the appropriate forms of words according to

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the meanings of the expressions given in Chinese in brackets.

91. There is a section at the end of the magazine which includes the _____________ (摘要) of recent articles.

92. Scientists are hoping for a _____________ (突破) in the search for a cure for the disease. 93. The _____________ (外部的) walls of the house are in need of repair.

94. The city's transport system is one of the most _____________ (有效率的) in Europe. 95. She is a lively, _____________ (健谈的) person.

96. Her brilliant performance could not overcome the _____________ (不足) of the script. 97. I've been invited to her wedding but I haven't got anything _____(得体的) to wear.

98. _____________（人工的）intelligence is the study of how to make computers do things that people can do.

99. Achieving common prosperity through participation and _____________（合作）is our challenge in the new century.

100. His action had been greeted with almost universal _____________ (不赞成) .

Part V Writing (10%)

Directions: For this part, you are required to write a short paragraph, which starts with a general statement that is supported by specific details and the reason. Study the following outline carefully and your paragraph must be based on the information given in the outline. Start your paragraph with the sentence given. Remember that you should write at least 60 words.

Outline Problem Solution AIDS, spread, fast, among teenagers win the war, against AIDS, train youth from 8 to 26, in turn, they teach/spread, anti-AIDS knowledge, their peers; make, simple, explain, the risk of catching AIDS, friends of their own age do better, than, adults

Evaluation

重庆交通学院《大学英语II》期末预测试卷No.2答案

Part II Reading Comprehension (40%) Section A

31—35: D B A C D 36—40: C B C A D 41—45: DCCCB Section B

46. higher interest 47. enable people to buy houses 48.the owner of the house 49. sign a statement 50. houses and property

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (25%)

51—55: BACCC 56—60: BABBC 61—65: ACACA 66—70: DCDCD 71—75: BCADB 76—70: CCCDA

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81. ambitious 82. tenderness 83. partially/partly 84. unconscious 85. repetition 86. mixture 87. acceptable 88. noticeably . inconvenience 90. imitation 91. abstracts 92. breakthrough 93. external 94. efficient 95. talkative

96. inadequacy 97. appropriate 98. Artificial 99. cooperation 100.disapproval

Part V. Writing (10%)

AIDS is spreading fastest among teenagers. To win the war against AIDS, some organizations have established special programs to train youth from 8 to 26 and they, in turn, spread anti-AIDS knowledge to their peers. They make it simple and explain the risk of catching AIDS to friends of their own age. These young people are even doing much better than an adult can.

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