Section ⅡReading Comprehension
Part A
When Dr. John W. Gofman, professor of medical physics at the University of California and a leading nuclear critic, speaks of “ecocide” in his adversary view of nuclear technology, he means the following: A large nuclear plant like that in Kalkar,the Netherlands, would produce about 200 pounds of plutonium each year. One pound, released into the atmosphere, could cause 9 billion cases of lung cancer. This waste product must be stored for 500,000 years before it is of no further danger to man. In the anticipated reactor economy, it is estimated that there will be 10,000 tons of this material in Western Europe, of which one table-spoonful of plutonium-239 represents the official maximum permissible body burden for 200,000 people. Rather than being biodegradable, plutonium destroys biological properties.
In 1972 the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration ruled that the asbestos level in the work place should be lowered to 2 fibers per cubic centimeter of air, but the effective date of the ruling has been delayed until now. The International Federation of Chemical and General Workers' Unions report that the 2-fiber standard was based primarily on one study of 290 men at a British asbestos factory. But when the workers at the British factory had been reexamined by another physician, 40—70 percent had X'ray evidence of lung abnormalities. According to present medical information at the factory in question, out of a total of 29 deaths thus far, seven were caused by lung cancer. An average European or American worker comes into contact with six million fibers a day. “We are now, in fact, finding cancer deaths within the family of the asbestos worker,” states Dr. Irving Selikoff, of the Mount Sinai Medical School in New York.
It is now also clear that vinyl chloride, a gas from which the most widely used plastics are made, causes a fatal cancer of the blood-vessel cells of the liver. However, the history of the research on vinyl chloride is, in some ways, more disturbing than the “Watergate cover-up.” “There has been evidence of potentially serious disease among polyvinyl chloride workers for 25 years that has been incompletely appreciated and inadequately approached by medical scientists and by regulatory authorities,” summed up Dr. Selikoff in the New Scientist. At least 17 workers have been killed by vinyl chloride because research over the past 25 years was not followed up. And for over 10 years, workers have been exposed to concentrations of vinyl chloride 10 times the “safe limit” imposed by Dow Chemical Company. (422 words)
Notes: plutonium 钚。asbestos 石棉。polyvinyl chloride 聚氯乙烯。
21. By “ecocide” the author most probably means
[A] waste utilization.
[B] ecological balance.
[C] radioactive reaction.
[D] massive bio-destruction.
22. According to the text, the author mentions plutonium in paragraph 1 to
[A] estimate the amount of nuclear material in Europe.
[B] exemplify one of the possible causes of lung cancer.
[C] highlight the measures needed to prevent lung cancer.
[D] show the destructive properties of industrial waste materials.
23. The style of the second paragraph is mainly
[A] factual.
[B] sarcastic.
[C] emotional.
[D] argumentative.
24. According to paragraph 3, some workers have been killed by harmful pollutants in that
[A] production could not be halted.
[B] they failed to take safety measures.
[C] research was not pursued to a solution.
[D] safety equipment was not adequately provided.
25. It can be inferred from the text that the author believes that
[A] nationwide application of anti-pollution devices can finally prevent cancer.
[B] tough legislation is needed to set lower limits of worker exposure to harmful chemicals.
[C] more research is required into the causes of cancer before further progress can be made.
[D] industrialization must be slowed down to prevent further spread of cancercausing agents.
Text2
The topic of cloning has been a politically and ethically controversial one since its very beginning. While the moral and philosophical aspects of the issues are entirely up to the interpretation of the individual, the application of cloning technology can be studied objectively. Many in the scientific community advocate the use of cloning for the preservation and support of endangered species of animals, which aside from cloning, have no other practical hope for avoiding extinction.
The goal of the use of cloning to avoid extinction is the reintroduction of new genes into the gene pool of species with few survivors, ensuring the maintenance and expansion of genetic diversity. Likely candidates for this technique are species known to have very few surviving members, such as the African Bongo Antelope, the Sumatran Tiger, and the Chinese Giant Panda. In the case of Giant Panda, some artificial techniques for creating offspring have already been performed, perhaps paving the way for cloning as the next step in the process.
With the estimated population of only about 1000 Giant Pandas left in the world, the urgency of the situation has led to desperate measures. One panda was born through the technique of artificial insemination in the San Diego Zoo in the United States. “Hua Mei” was born in 1999 after her parents, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, had trouble conceiving naturally.
The plan to increase the Giant Panda population through the use of cloning involves the use of a species related to the Giant Panda, the American Black Bear. Egg cells will be removed from female black bears and then fertilized with Panda cells such as those from Ling-Ling or Hsing-Hsing. The fertilized embryo will then re-implanted into the black bear, where it will grow and mature, until a new panda is delivered from the black bear host.
Critics of cloning technology argue that the emphasis on cloning as a method by which to preserve species will draw funding away from other methods, such as habitat preservation and conservation. Proponents of cloning counter that many countries in which many endangered species exist are too poor to protect and maintain the species' habitats anyway, making cloning technology the only practical way to ensure that those species survive to future generations. The issue is still hotly debated, as both sides weigh the benefits that could be achieved against the risks and ethical concerns that constantly accompany any argument on the issue. (402 words)
Notes: ethically 道德上。gene pool基因库。insemination n. 受精。fertilize 使受精。embryo 胚胎。proponent 支持者，拥护者。weigh A against B 权衡A和B的利弊。
26. The author raises the issue of ethical consideration in cloning in paragraph 1 in order to
［A］ identify the issues that will not be addressed in the text.
［B］ reveal an area of interest that will be explored later in the text.
［C］ identify one of the main issues affecting the cloning controversy today.
［D］ draw the reader's attention to a sensitive issue that bears consideration in the topic of cloning.
27. The author directs attention to “Hua Mei”, the baby panda born in the San Diego Zoo, in order to
［A］ show that cloning as an artificial birth technique has succeeded.
［B］ argue that pandas are a particularly likely candidate for cloning.
［C］ show that artificial birth techniques other than cloning have succeeded.
［D］ demonstrate the necessity of cloning and other artificial birth techniques to the survival of certain species.
28. Paragraph 4 is written in order to
［A］ detail the process by which cloning in the panda population has been executed in the past.
［B］ guide the reader to consider the possibility of cloning in restoring the panda
population.
［C］ demonstrate that the use of cloning to repopulate the panda species is a feasible goal.
［D］ inform the reader of how cloning would be carried out in the panda population.
29. The main purpose of the last paragraph is to
［A］ argue in favor of one side on a particularly controversial topic of cloning.
［B］ display both sides' arguments on another contentious issue in cloning.
［C］ redirect the readers' attention to the previously raised issue of ethics in cloning.
［D］ provide further relevant information to the evaluation of cloning as a preservation technique.
30. It can be inferred from the information given in the text that the best candidate for cloning would be
［A］ Giant Pandas.
［B］ an endangered species with many living related species.
［C］ the species in which previous techniques of artificial reproduction have been
successfully applied.
［D］ those for which cloning is the only feasible method by which to reproduce the species.
Text3
Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is an expert in the skill of pronouncing his own language, but few people are even moderately proficient at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, and consequently never set about tackling it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill, one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect, in their practical teaching, the branch of study concerned with speaking the language.
So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught; the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this, and by his whole attitude to the subject should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving his close attention. So there should be occasions when other aspects of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place.
Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.
It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information. This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech, and of what we call general phonetic theory. It is also possible in this way to get a clear mental picture of the relationship between the sounds of different languages, between the speech habits of English people and those, say, of your students. Unless the teacher has such a picture, any comments he may make on his students' pronunciation are unlikely to be of much use, and lesson time spent on pronunciation may well be time-wasted.
But it does not follow that you can teach pronunciation successfully as soon as you have read the necessary books. It depends, after that, on what use you make of your knowledge, and this is a matter of technique.
Now the first and most important part of a language teacher's technique is his own performance, his ability to demonstrate the spoken language, in every detail of articulation as well as in fluent speaking, so that the student's latent capacity for imitation is given the fullest scope and encouragement. The teacher, then, should be as perfect a model in this respect as he can make himself. And to supplement his own performance, however satisfactory this may be, the modern teacher has at his disposal recordings, radio, television and video, to supply the authentic voices of native speakers, or, if the teacher happens to be a native speaker himself or speaks just like one, then to vary the method of presenting the language material. (537 words)
Notes: set about着手，试图。articulation发音。latent潜在的，不明显的。at one's disposal供某人任意支配使用。
31. What does the writer actually say about pronouncing foreign languages?
［A］ Only a few people are really proficient.
［B］ No one is really an expert in the skill.
［C］ There aren't many people who are even fairly good.
［D］ There are even some people who are moderately proficient.
32. The writer argues that going about the problem of pronunciation in the wrong way is
［A］ an obvious cause of not grasping the problem correctly.
［B］ a fundamental consequence of not speaking well.
［C］ a consequence of not grasping the problem correctly.
［D］ not an obvious cause of speaking poorly.
33. What is it that teachers are said to be inclined to forget?
［A］ The practical teaching of languages.
［B］ The importance of a good accent.
［C］ The principle of phonetic theory.
［D］ The teaching of pronunciation in the classroom.
34. The value the student puts on correct speech habits depends upon
［A］ how closely he attends to the matter.
［B］ whether it is English that is being taught.
［C］ his teacher's approach to pronunciation.
［D］ the importance normally given to grammar and spelling.
35. According to the text, in relation to someone teaching his own language to foreigners, audio-visual aids can
［A］ completely replace his own teaching performance.
［B］ provide alternative samples of native speech.
［C］ help to improve teaching quality to a great extent.
［D］ provide a perfect model for language students to follow.
Text4
The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihood of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical activities, these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed “intuition” to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.
Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse of capriciousness.
Isenberg's recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers' intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and personal experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an “Aha!” experience. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally suspicious of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to find out a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns.
One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is invariably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.
Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often initiate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of thinking/acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution. (454 words)
Notes: capriciousness 多变，反复无常。run counter to 与…背道而驰；违反。bypass 绕过。in close concert 一齐，一致。given prep. 考虑到，由于。
36. The logical organization of the first paragraph of the text is that
［A］ a conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
［B］ the results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
［C］ two opposite points of view are presented and evaluated.
［D］ a widely accepted definition is presented and qualified.
37. In relation to the “writers on management” mentioned in Para. 2, the text suggests that they
［A］ have not based their analyzes on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.
［B］ have relied in drawing their conclusions on what managers say rather than what managers do.
［C］ have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.
［D］ have not acknowledged the role of intuition in managerial practice.
38. According to the text, senior managers use intuition in all of the following ways EXCEPT
［A］ to speed up the creation of a solution to a problem.
［B］ to identify a problem or bring together different facts.
［C］ to initiate clear goals and in the end attain them.
［D］ to evaluate possible solutions to a problem.
39. When mentioning “thinking/acting cycles”(in Para. 4), the author is most likely to believe that
［A］ a manager analyzes a series of problems and then acts on that analysis.
［B］ a manager gathers data by acting and then observes the effects of action.
［C］ action and analysis in managerial practice invariably occur simultaneously.
［D］ a manager takes action, being able to clarify reasons for that action.
40. According to the text, which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?
［A］ Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y does not.
［B］ Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does not.
［C］ Manager Y draws on years of personal experience in creating a solution to a problem; Manager X does not.
［D］ Manager X depends on day-by-day tactical activities; Manager Y does not.
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