年全国大学生英语竞赛初赛试题C类.doc

2008 National English Contest for College Students
(Level C--- Preliminary)
Part II Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)
There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. 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 center.
31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous.
A. a; a B. the; a C. a; / D. /; the
32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did
A. chance. B. opportunity C. option D. solution
33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people.
A. general B. usual C. common D. average
34. How did they manage to steal the Van Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose.
A. below B. before C. under D. beside
35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly.
A. is considering B. was considering C. should consider D. has considered
36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______
A. in similar B. in particular C. in common D. in accordance
37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas.
A. fell over B. fell down C. fell through D. fell on
38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true.
A. thought B. should think C. had thought D. thinking
39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t want ______.
A. saw; enter; killed B. saw; enter; to be killed
C. sees; entering; be killed D. sees; enter; killing
40 Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday.
A. who B. that C. which D. as
41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test.
A. when choosing B. when you will choose
C. when you have chosen D. when you chose
42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______.
A. when he first introduced B. that he first introduced it
C. he first introduced D. which he first introduced it
43. ________ really. I like both public transport and driving.
A. On second thoughts B. I could go either way
C. I will never learn to drive D. But then again
44. _____ I’m getting married!
A. Can you keep a secret? B. Well I never!
C. Many happy returns. D. Congratulations!
45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?
--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s cold all the time.
A. I beg your pardon? B. Yeah, but it’s not very good.
C. Do you know any good hotels? D. Do you have any suggestions?

Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks)
Section A (4 marks)
There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.
Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.
Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatment with antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.
Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.
Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.
TREATMENT
Aspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.
Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.
Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.
Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.
CHILDREN
Young children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given aspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age.
At one year: a single junior aspirin.
At five years: half an adult aspirin.
At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.
WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
If the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days.
If the patient complains of earache.
If the patient or parent is very worried.
46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________.
A. require an immediate visit to a doctor
B. respond quickly to treatment with an antibiotic
C. rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illness
D. result in tonsillitis even when treated
47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.
A. prevent the patient from eating too much
B. give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every day
C. advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquids
D. make the patient gargle with hot liquids
48. You should call the doctor in if _________.
A. swelling occurs in the region of the ears
B. the patient’s condition worsens after 2 days
C. the patient’s throat is still sore after a week
D. the disease spreads to another member of the family
49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin?
A. Young children should not be allowed to gargle with it.
B. Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.
C. Young children should be given aspirin more often than adults.
D. Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.
Section B (14 marks)
There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet.
For questions 50-55, mark
Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;
N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;
NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.
For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.
The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:
1. To work together for international peace and to solve international problems;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations;
3. To work together for human rights for everyone of all races, religions, and of both sexes;
4. To build a center where nations can work together for these goals.
Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:
1. All members are equal.
2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way.
3. No member will use force against another member.
4. All members will help the UN in its actions.
5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries except to enforce international peace.
Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.
The main United Nations organization is in New York City, but the UN has a “family” of other related organizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many other services for poor children wherever they live. Another example is the World Health Organization, which develops medical programs all over the world.
There are thousands of UN workers in developing countries. They work as planners to increase production in farming and industry. They provide medical services, improve education programs, and spread scientific information. They develop programs that provide jobs and better living conditions. They help countries control their population growth.
The United Nations also holds large international conferences, where people meet to discuss important world issues. One conference was about the uses and ownership of oceans. Another was about women. There are also International Years. In these special years, people work together to improve situations and solve problems. One year was the International Year of the Child.
For centuries countries have fought each other, and powerful countries have taken control of weaker ones. It is very difficult to persuade nations to live together in peace. Nevertheless, the United Nations is attempting to do this. It is the only organization that unites the world in the search for peace.
50. The United Nations was organized at a meeting in California in 1945.
51. The United Nations works for international peace.
52. Kuwait is a member of the UNICEF.
53. The United Nations has its main organization in San Francisco.
54. The United Nations helped Algeria become independent.
55. UNICEF is an organization that helps save wildlife.
56. Each country in the UN has signed an agreement that says no member ______ against another member.
57. Despite its effort, the United Nations hasn’t been ______ in its goals.
58. People meet to discuss important world issues in ______ held by the United Nations.
59. The United Nations is ______ nations to live together in peace, though it is difficult.

Section C (10 marks)
In this section, there is one passage followed by 5 questions. Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions in as few words as possible (not more than 10 words). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.
Questions 60-64 are based on the following passage.
A language is a system of sounds, gestures, or characters used by humans to communicate their ideas and feelings. There are about 4000 spoken languages in the world. Some are spoken by millions of people. Other languages have only a few speakers.
All languages have rules for forming words and for ordering those words in sentences. In written languages, meaning is expressed through a system of characters and rules for combining those characters. In spoken languages, meaning is expressed through a system of sounds and rules for combining those sounds. Many deaf people use sign languages, in which gestures do the work of the sound system of spoken languages.
Word order is more important in English than it is in some other languages, such as Russian. The sound system is very important in Chinese and in many languages spoken in West Africa.
Languages are always changing, but they change very slowly. People invent new words for their language, borrow words from other languages, and change the meanings of words as needed. For example, the English word byte was invented by computer specialists in 1959. the English word tomato was borrowed from Nahuatl, and American Indian language spoken in Mexico. The English word meat once referred to food in general.
There are several major language families in the world. The languages in each family are related, and scientists think they came from the same parent family. Language families come in different sizes. The Austronesian family contains at least 500 languages, including Pilipino, Malay, and Maori. The Basque language, spoken in northern Spain, is the only member of its language family.
The Indo-European language family contains 55 languages, including English, German, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.
Another language family is Sino-Tibetan, which includes Chinese, Burmese, and Tibetan. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. There are about 150 American Indian languages spoken today. These languages have many differences and have been divided into more than 50 language families.
People learn languages by listening, copying what they hear, and using the language. Most children learn their first languages easily, and sometimes other languages as well. Adults often must work harder at learning a second language.
Questions:
60. How many languages are spoken all over the world?
61. What are the language rules for?
62. How is meaning expressed in sign language?
63. What is more important in English compared with other languages?
64. Which language is the only member of its language family?

Section D (12 marks)
In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing a maximum of three words from the passage to fill in each of the spaces, 65-70. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.
Questions 65-70 are based on the following passage.
Welcome to “Software World” --- bringing you the very latest information on what is currently available on CD-ROM. Are you a director or producer looking for an unusual actor to play a part in a new movie project, or with that special look for a new commercial on TV? OK. The usual procedure would be to contact a theatrical agency, who would try and sell you the idea of using one of the actors listed on their books. Books? Too old-fashioned for you? Then get yourself a copy of this latest electronic database called “The Electronic Curtain”.
The brainchild of casting agent Fred Harkney of the Better Talent Agency, he says he got the idea of an actor’s directory from his son playing computer games. Noting that junior had to type in the details of the characters in his favorite game, he realized he could do the same for the actors he represents. Eventually, he came to include information on nearly three quarters of the approximately 34,000 actors registered and looking for work in Britain. With some theatrical agencies boasting that they represent over 500 performers, the need for this product is not hard to fathom. It can be a nightmare trying to remember just which actor has done what, or just what an actor can do. The database lists details of over 5,500 actors: TV shows they have appeared in, special skills they possess --- everything down to the color of their eyes and other distinguishing physical features. By entering the details of the type of person you are looking for, the database quickly locates only those persons with the particular qualities requested.
One problem though, is that many actors feel it is too im