2015年广西民族大学基础英语考研真题A卷

2015 年广西民族大学基础英语考研真题 A 卷 I. Vocabulary (20 points，1 point each) Directions: There are 20 sentences in this part. Each sentence contains a word or phrase which is underlined. Below each sentence are four other expressions. Choose the one which would best keep the meaning of the original, and write down the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet. 1. Please keep your comments pertinent to the topic under discussion. A. relevant B. conforming C. satisfactory D. direct 2. He was deeply committed to political doctrines of social equality. A. issues B. beliefs C. interests D. basics 3. His plots are always very ingenious. A. stupid B. smart C. absurd D. consistent 4. In this example 'X' denotes the time taken and 'Y' the distance covered. A. represents B. points to C. equals to D. emphasizes 5. He didn't give an adequate answer to the question. A. enough B. wise C. prompt D. satisfactory 6. A high proportion of crime in any country is perpetrated by young males in their teens and twenties. A. committed B. witnessed C. perceived D. restricted 7. Baldwin enlightened her as to the nature of the experiment. A. showed B. explained to C. warned D. frightened 8. Most scientists believe it is legitimate to use animals in medical research. A. desirable B. reasonable C. legal D. effective 9. He said he was resigning but did not elaborate on his reasons. A. explain B. provide C. state D. tell 10. Success in the talks will reinforce his reputation as an international statesman. A. establish B. form C. consolidate D. threaten 11. We did not realize the magnitude of the problem. A. essence B. importance C. content D. consequences 12. Sleep has often been thought of as being in some way analogous death. A. similar B. close C. identical D. related 13. How much to tell terminally ill patients is left to the discretion of the doctor. A. decision B. secrets C. contemplation D. words 14. The director tried to wave aside these issues as trivial details that could be settled later. A. simple B. unimportant C. useless D. inferior 15. Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought. A. explain B. agree C. think D. argue 16. It takes time to really understand all these facts. A. ruminate B. realize C. assimilate D. accept 17. Computers can be used to make language learning easier. A. facilitate B. accelerate B. relieve D. alleviate 18. The selection process is based on rigorous tests of competence and experience. A. serious B. thorough C. difficult D. demanding 19. He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language. A. added B. used C. included D. compiled 20. Mr Norris said he was hopeful that his request would elicit a positive response. A. cause B. obtain C. produce D. call forth II. Reading Comprehension (80 points) Directions: The following two passages are followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice and write down the letter on your answer sheet. Passage 1 (15 points, 3 points each) One of the great mysteries of the brain is that we still cannot pin down exactly what a memory is—that is, how neural circuitry stores a given recollection. Yet in the last decade we have learned a lot about memory’s limitations. Memories are not necessarily written into our brains like ink on paper. Think of them instead as inscribed in clay, suggests André Fenton, a neuroscientist at New York University’s Center for Neural Science. Every time you access a memory, the message can get smudged, just as a clay tablet might if you were to pick it up and run your fingers over its surface. Ongoing biochemical processes cause memories to shift over time. Further, our mind sets and emotions can influence what we pay attention to and thus remember. Scientists are tinkering with experimental chemicals that, when injected, can interfere with memory-forming proteins and erase certain types of maladaptive feelings, such as an addict’s desire for drugs. Researchers have even managed to trick mice into forming entirely false memories. Memory formation and recollection is an evolving, active and plastic process that involves many different working parts of the brain, and scientists are just beginning to piece together how they coalesce into such a complex machine. 1. The first sentences of this passage suggests that ________. A. scientists have little idea about the mechanism of memory B. recollections are stored in memory C. memory is the last big problem to solve about our brain D. if we know how our brain stores the recollections we know the nature of memory 2. Fenton suggests that ________. A. ink on paper is different from inscriptions in clay B. using memory is harmful for our brain C. messages in our memory always change a little when we use them D. none of the above 3. According to the second paragraph, ________. A. chemicals that can influence memory-formation work on proteins B. addiction to drugs is a faulty type of adaptation C. altering memory-formation is already successful on mice D. all of the above 4. According to the second paragraph, which of the following is true about memory formation and recollection? A. The process is not a rigid or static one B. The process relies on every part of the brain working together C. Scientists are trying to combine what they know into a theory about memory D. none of the above 5. Which of the following is NOT true, according to this essay? A. Scientists are fascinated with the process of memory and recollection B. We still don't know everything about our brain C. The research of scientists are focused on eliminating undesired memories D. “Ongoing biochemical processes” refer mainly to those intrinsic to our body, not to the experimental chemicals in the laboratory. Passage 2 (15 points, 3 points each) A new study suggests holding a position of power, with weighty responsibilities, increases symptoms of depression in women but diminishes them in men. "Women with job authority -- the ability to hire, fire and influence pay -- have significantly more symptoms of depression than women without this power." Pudrovska, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, explained in a press release. "In contrast, men with job authority have fewer symptoms of depression than men without such power." Pudrovska and her research partner conducted their study using data on mental health and job authority collected from 1954 to 2004 as part of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The study's authors claim that social and cultural norms allow for men to more seamlessly assume positions of power. According to them, a man in power is expected and accepted by his peers, colleagues and subordinates -- by those working alongside him as well as outsiders looking in. In contrast, previous studies have shown women in positions of authority regularly experience "interpersonal tension, negative social interactions, negative stereotypes, prejudice, social isolation, as well as resistance from subordinates, colleagues and superiors." The weight of these stressors and tensions results in an uptick of depressive symptoms, with women in power possessing depression symptoms more often than men not in positions of authority. As well, men in positions of power were even less likely to be depressed. The study's authors say their findings are proof that "we need to address gender discrimination, hostility and prejudice against women leaders to reduce the psychological costs and increase the psychological rewards of higher-status jobs for women." 1. The first paragraph suggests that ________. A. women are depressed but men are not B. holding a position of power has different effects on women and men C. having more power is harmful for women but healthy for men D. none of the above 2. The study was called a “longitudinal study” because ________. A. the study was based on collected data B. the study was conducted on mental health and job authority C. the study was done across 50 years D. none of the above 3. In the study's authors' opinion, the differences between men and women in adapting to job authority________. A. lies primarily in social and cultural norms B. consists in the different expectations that society has on men and women C. are manifested in their different patterns of depression D. all of the above 4. The study's authors believe that ________. A. society ought to pay women leaders more than men leaders B. social discrimination and hostility toward women leaders increase their psychological tension C. women leaders had better be relieved of their higher-status jobs D. none of the above 5. The author of this passage ________. A. reports on the study and the findings but gives no explicit comment B. apparently agrees with the study's authors on their conclusion C. shows sympathy to women in high positions D. wants to draw public attention to the social discrimination addressed in the study Passage 3 Read the following passages carefully and then explain in your own English the exact meaning of the numbered and underlined parts. (25 points, 5 points each) Consider the times you’ve hopped on a subway, boarded a plane or entered a waiting room. [1]Chances are, you probably avoided engaging with any fellow commuters or patients. But contrary to what we might think, we’d be happier if we did strike up a conversation with a total stranger. In a study, commuters in Chicago were asked to either talk with a stranger on a train, or sit quietly alone, or just [2]do whatever they’d normally do on their commute. Then, they responded to a survey about how they felt. It turns out that those who engaged with strangers had the most pleasurable experience and [3]those who remained solitary had the least enjoyable experience. These answers were compared with another group that did not participate but instead had to predict how they might feel in each situation. This group thought talking with strangers would be the least enjoyable, by far. So [4]despite being social animals and enjoying social engagement, we avoid chatting with strangers. Why? Well, according to a follow up study it’s because we think, wrongly, that strangers don’t want to talk with us. [5]The one way to get over this is to practice reaching out – who knows, commuting could become more enjoyable. Passage 4 Read the following passages carefully and then explain in your own English the exact meaning of the numbered and underlined parts. (25 points, 5 points each) [1]The intelligence of dolphins is well documented by science. Studies show that dolphins are able to understand sign language, solve puzzles, and use objects in their environment as tools. Scientists also believe that dolphins possess a sophisticated language: numerous instances have been recorded in which dolphins transmitted information from one individual to another. A recent experiment proved that dolphins can even recognize themselves in a mirror—[2]something achieved by very few animals. This behavior demonstrates that dolphins are aware of their own individuality, at a level of