2023年大学生英语竞赛初赛级试题及答案.doc

National English Contest
for College Students
(Level B - Preliminary)
( 总分：150分；答题时间：120分钟)

Part I Listening Comprehension (30 marks)
Section A (5 marks)
In this section, you will hear five short conversations. Each conversation will be read only once. At the end of each conversation, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the question and the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
1. For what occasion has the cake been made?
A. A wedding. B. A birthday party. C. A conference reception.
2. Where does this conversation probably take place?
A. A travel agency. B. A photography class. C. A wildlife park.
3. When did Nadia's family move to England from Germany?
A. During World War I. B. During World War II. C. Ten years ago.
4. What does the woman think of Matt?
A. He is not trustworthy. B. He is quite honest. C. He is helpful.
5. Which airport will the speakers depart from?
A. Heathrow. B. Milan. C. Liverpool.
Section B (10 marks)
In this section, you will hear two interviews. Each interview will be read only once. At the end of each
interview, there will be a pause. During the pause, read the five questions, each with three choices
marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the
answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
Interview One
6. Why was Jonas Day invited to the studio for the interview?
A. He is a close friend of Madonna. B. He is an expert in student journalism.
C. He has just won an award for writing an article about Madonna.
7. When and where was Madonna born?
A. In 1968; in Detroit. B. In 1958; in Rochester.
C. In 1958; in New York.
8. What is one thing most people don't associate with Madonna?
A. She is chief executive of an entertainment company.
B. She prefers making records to films.
C. She is not concerned about media attention.
9. What was Madonna's reaction to the bad publicity about her' private life?
A. She was angry. B. She simply ignored it. C. She was surprised.
10. Why did she want Michael Jackson's manager to be her manager too?
A She knew he was associated with many record producers.
B. She was impressed by what he had done for Michael Jackson.
C. She wanted to be more famous than Michael Jackson.
Interview Two
11. Why did Dave decide on a full-time career as a diving instructor?
A. He had always liked teaching diving. B. His trainees were pleased with him.
C. It was a chance to earn more money.
12. What is most important for a diving instructor, according to Dave?
A. Finding a good spot to dive.
B. Knowing the local geographic conditions.
C. Being patient with the trainees.

13. How did Dave feel after the conversation with Mr and Mrs Jones?
A. Embarrassed. B. Upset. C. Impatient.
14. What does Dave find boring about his job?
A. Following the same routine. B. Allowing students time for photos.
C. Repeating instructions for students.
15. What would Dave like to be in the future?
A. A photographer. B. A secretary. C. A manager.

Section C (5 marks)
In this section, you will hear five short news items. Each item will be read only once. After each item,
there will be a pause. During the pause, read the questions and the three choices marked A, B and C,
and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a
single line through the centre.
16. How many African nations have direct air links to America?
A. Two. B. Four. C. Six.
17. What is affecting the refugees in northern Yemen, according to the news?
A. Cold weather. B. An earthquake. C. A flood.
18. When did President Obama first contact Haitian President Rene Preval, after the quake?
A. On Thursday. B. On Friday. C. On Saturday.
19. Who will be the first users of Galileo, the new satellite navigation system?
A. Rescue workers. B. GPS users. C. European drivers.
20. Where were the Egyptian workers' tombs located?
A. Near the country's oldest pyramid. B. Close to the Great Pyramid.
C. Close to a queen's tomb.

Section D (10 marks)
Listen to part of a talk given by a woman called Vanessa to some students about her experiences of
studying abroad. For questions 21 - 30, complete the notes. You will need to write a word or a short
phrase. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.

Part II Multiple Choice (15 marks)
Section A (10 marks)
There are 10 incomplete sentences in this section. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
31. There weren't many _______ at the games because the tickets were too expensive.
A. competitors B. onlookers C. contestants D. spectators
32. Owning a car has several advantages. _________ you can go wherever you want, whenever you want.
A. First of all B. As a result C. Personally D. Besides
33. --Does the baby look like his father?
--No, actually, I think he __ his mother.
A. takes on B. takes after C. takes up D. takes to
34. We had a party last night. I've had to spend _________ morning clearing up the mess.
A. whole B. entire C. all D. most
35. The committee meetings, _______ always dominated by the same people, slow-moving and inefficient.
A. which were; were B. that are; are C. been; were D. though; are
36. The current crisis should as a warning not to be overconfident in the markets.
A. function B. serve C. regard D. intend
37. She wasn't allowed into the country; __ because her papers weren't in order.
A. subsequently B. admittedly C. presumably D. thoroughly
38. We wanted to go out yesterday but the weather was terrible. If it ___ a nice day, we ____ for a picnic.
A. had been; would have gone B. was; would go
C. were; would have gone D. would be; would go
39. --It's been a wonderful day.
--Yes, fantastic. We've had no _________________ with anything.' Everything's been perfect.
A. obstacles B. questions C. barriers D. problems
40. --Do you know anyone who does translations?
--I met a man just the other day who was setting up an agency.
--They don't do Chinese to English by any chance, do they?
-- I could give you his number, if you like.
A. Why don't you just do it? B. I wouldn't have a clue.
C. Go for it. D. I'm thinking about it.

Section B (5 marks)
There are five incomplete statements or questions about English speaking countries in this section. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the' most suitable answer from the given choices, then mark the corresponding letter on the answer sheet with a single line through the centre.
41. The headquarters of The World Health Organization (VCHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are in _____
A. New York B. Washington, DC C. Geneva D. Brussels
42. At the beginning there were only states in the United States of America became the 50th state
in 1959.
A. 11; Alaska B. 13; Alaska C. 11; Hawaii D. 13; Hawaii
43. Britain doesn't share a land border with any other country except ____________.
A. Ireland B. France C. Iceland D. Norway
44. Which city is the capital of Australia?
A. Brisbane. B. Melbourne. C. Canberra. D. Sydney.
45. Which of the following is a Canadian province?
A. Montreal. B. Ontario. C. Toronto. D. Calgary.

Part III Cloze (10 marks)
Read the following passage and fill in each blank with one word according to the context, by using the correct form of the word given, or the first letter of the word. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.
Flu and How Not to Catch It
This winter, in offices and workplaces throughout the country, people are at risk of becoming a health danger to their colleagues. These are the people who, carrying flu viruses, have dragged themselves in to work in (46) sp______ of the high temperature, headache, sore throat and cough they are (47) su__________ from. Most experts agree that people with flu ought to stay at home, certainly in the case of those (48) _______ jobs involve public safety - airline pilots, air traffic (49) __________ (control) and train drivers.
A diet rich in (50) ve_________ and fruit and regular exercise may help people avoid the illness. Experts are (51) (doubt) whether taking lots of vitamin C will (52) __________ any difference, but reducing stress levels may help. Basic hygiene is certainly important, as well, especially in the office. We know that the illness can be passed on (53) f cups and saucers, so do more than simply rinse them under the tap with all the others. Wash them properly with hot water and use disinfectants to clean surfaces. Remember to wash your hands (54) reg and don't touch your face, as flu enters the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Other tips on prevention include (55) ______ rid of cloth handkerchiefs, which provide a home for germs. Change to paper tissues and throw them away afterwards.

Part IV Reading Comprehension (40 marks)
Read the following passages. Each passage is followed by several questions. Respond to the questions according to the passage. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.
Section A (10 marks)
Trendy Solar Radio / Crank Radio Stylish as It Is Useful

This crank AM/FM radio can be charged in three different ways - by crank, solar power or with an AC wall adapter. Just 30 seconds of winding provides 35 minutes of playing time. The handy integrated LED flashlight gives this crank radio one more emergency use, though it's so stylish you will want to use it anytime and anywhere.
The crystal clear casing showcases the excellence of the engineering and engages users by converting human energy to pure listening pleasure. A full charge provides 25 hours of playing time. No disposable
batteries required.
Reg Price: $59.00
New Year's Sale: $49.00

The Kiran Solar Lantern

This lantern is five times brighter than a kerosene lantern and will shine light for up to eight hours on a fully charged battery. Not only can you charge it, using the solar panel, but it can be plugged in and charged through an AC charger as well. It provides 360-degree light and has a handle with multiple-settings to allow for flexible usage. It has protection for over-charging and has an all around tough design. In order to get a full charge the lamp
needs eight hours of sun while it requires four hours of AC charging. This will give you four hours of light on the high setting and eight on the low setting.
The lamp retails for only $10.
The Frosted Scroll Solar-Powered Lantern

Most solar lights are used with plants and make your garden look much better. Well, instead of sprucing up your plants, you can add a little mood lighting to your deck or porch. This lamp could even be used indoors, if you make sure it stays close to a window to get the full charge it needs to run. This is not the usual solar lamp found in
gardens, which is exactly what makes it so appealing.
In Order for this lamp to cast a pretty scroll design onto your tabletop, it'll need to soak up the sun through a solar panel located on the top. After it has been fully charged, though, it'll give you light for up to eight hours. It doesn't have to stay on all the time either, like a lot of other solar lights. This one comes with an on/off switch, so that you can choose when to use up the charge. You can purchase the lights individually for ￡24.99 or about $39.

Fill in each blank with no more than three words according to the passage.
New Productions

Section B (10 marks)

Property Prices "Causing Distress"
Six out of 10 Chinese white-collar workers say they are fatigued by work and other pressures, a survey has found. The number 1 cause of anxiety is the ever-increasing cost of housing and property, the survey reported. About 76 percent of office workers are over-worked and not entirely healthy, according to samples from 3 million health checks in 15 cities.
Less than 3 percent of the respondents interviewed are completely healthy, said the White Paper on the Health of Chinese White-collar Workers, released on Sunday by the Chinese Medical Doctors' Association.
The survey interviewed people aged between 26 and 45, with monthly incomes of between 5,000 yuan ($732) to 10,000 yuan. Many higher-income people between the ages of 35 and 50 are biologically 10 years older than their actual age, with declining health, the survey said.
Buying property ranks as the most significant cause of pressure for 46 percent of those interviewed, followed by parents' health, difficulty in finding a spouse, and children's education.
The increasing gap between income and housing prices is causing the most stress and some 85 percent of families cannot afford to buy a house, the survey said. The ratio of housing prices to family income should be three to six times, while in China the ratio this year is expected to reach 8.3, far beyond reasonable, the Economic Blue Paper published yesterday by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences reported. The survey said that the land supply system and developers' land stockpiles have also contributed to the out-of-reach property prices.
Commercial property prices have gone up 5 to 10 percent, with a square metre costing between 4,935 to 5,280 yuan. From January to August of , developers invested 2,111 billion yuan in property, up 14.7 percent from the previous year. Revenue from the sale of commercial property was 2,346.3 billion yuan, up 69.9 percent from .
Property prices are the talk of the town, and this topic r