上海英语中级口译证书第一阶段考试
(TEST BOOK)
SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST
(45 minutes)
Part A: Spot Dictation
Direction: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage ONLY ONCE.
How did the Olympic Games start? In ancient Greece athletic festivals were very important and had strong ________ (1). Originally the Festival was held in honour of .Zeus, the supreme god in Greek Mythology. Eventually the Olympian athletic festival had lost its ________ (2) and became an international event. No one knows exactly ________ (3) the Olympic Games go, but some scholars recorded date from 776 B.C.
According to some scholars, at first the only Olympic event was ________ (4), called a stadium and that was the only event until 724 B.C. After that, other ________ (5) were added and sixteen years later in ________ (6) the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the games. This pentathlon was a five-event match which ________ (7) running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus, and hurling the javelin.
The games were held ________ (8) and after an uninterrupted history of 1170 years, the games ________ (9) in A.D. 394, the Christian era, because of their pagan origin.
It was over ________ (10) before there was another such international athletics gathering. In 1896, the first of the modern ________ (11) opened in Athens, Greece.
Nowadays, the Games are held in different countries ________ (12). The host country provides vast facilities such as stadiums and ________ (13).Many more sports are represented, including the very celebrated event: ________ (14).
The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch, ________ (15) on Mount Olympus by the sun's rays. The torch is carried by ________ (16) to the stadium. The Olympic flame symbolizes the ________ (17) of the ancient Greek athletic ideals, and it burns throughout the Games until ________ (18). The well-known Olympic flag, however, is ________ (19): the five interlocking rings symbolize the uniting of all five continents ________ (20).
Part B: Listening Comprehension
1. Statements
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several short statements. These statements will be spoken ONLY ONCE, and you will not find them written on the paper; so you must listen carefully. When you hear a statement, read the answer choices and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
1.
(A) Diana is fond of outdoor activities.
(B) Diana is well-paid for her hard work.
(C) Diana dislikes her job because it is tough.
(D) Diana considers her income to be mediocre.
2.
(A) I'm not sure if you are responsible.
(B) I'm not content with the result of the meeting.
(C) I know the delay is not your fault.
(D) I think the flame of that fire is too high.
3.
(A) The refrigerator was repaired by an old man.
(B) The refrigerator will be fixed if it is under warranty.
(C) Mrs. Green had her refrigerator fixed for nothing.
(D) Mrs. Green would have had the refrigerator repaired if she had warranty.
4.
(A) George always tells the truth.
(B) George lives too far to visit us.
(C) It is kind of George to assist me in the filling station.
(D) It is worthwhile to make friends with George.
5.
(A) The company's budget must be reduced reasonably next year.
(B) The company's production cost is expected to rise next year.
(C) The company has to stabilize its production cost.
(D) The company is likely to go bankrupt because of its limited budget.
6.
(A) Prompt delivery of the goods before Christmas is the most important.
(B) Top priority should be given to the competitive and reasonable price of the goods
(C) During Christmas, there will be a shopping craze for goods with good quality.
(D) Nothing is more important than the quality and price of the goods for Christmas.
7.
(A) Let's continue the talk over dinner at 9 o'clock tonight.
(B) We have to work something out before 9 o'clock tomorrow.
(C) I propose a break until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
(D) I'm sure we'll all calm down before 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
8.
(A) Our products cannot compete on the international market because of their higher prices.
(B) Our products exhibit greater competitiveness even though they lack advanced technology.
(C) Advanced technology will increase our expense to compete on the international market.
(D) Advanced technology contributes to the excellence and competitiveness of our products.
9.
(A) Mr Parkinson never gives free investment consultations.
(B) Don't consult Mr Parkinson if your problem is about finance or investment
(C) The advice Mr Parkinson offers is often of great importance to our investment.
(D) We should not invest in the company where Mr Parkinson is the CEO.
10.
(A) Aging population is expected to double within decades.
(B) By 2020, 45% of the people in the country will be over sixty-five.
(C) Old people in this country can expect to live a longer life.
(D) In less than 20 years, 23 million more people will have to retire.
2. Talks and Conversations
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks and conversations. After each of these, you will hear a few questions. Listen carefully because you will hear the talk or conversation and questions ONLY ONCE. When you hear a question read the four answer choices and choose the best answer to that question. Then write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
Questions 11-14
11.
(A) ?400.
(B) ?450.
(C) ?500.
(D) ?600.
12.
(A) It is very near his working place.
(B) It is a rather crowded residential area.
(C) It is convenient for transportation and shopping.
(D) It is the only good position he has in mind.
13.
(A) He has a big family.
(B) He has to work at home.
(C) His mother-in-law likes to have parties.
(D) His children are rather naughty.
14.
(A) Its bedrooms are specious.
(B) Its rent is quite reasonable.
(C) It is located in a good position.
(D) It is well furnished.
Questions 15-1815.
(A) The orange juice can help treat indigestion.
(B) The orange in a supermarket is much cheaper.
(C) The orange is more nutritious than any other fruits.
(D) The orange is an essential part of a healthy diet
16.
(A) Orange.
(B) Chocolate.
(C) Vanilla.
(D) Sugar.
17.
(A) It can keep your immune system strong.
(B) It can assist in your effort to reduce weight.
(C) It can easily replace the nutrition of a daily meal.
(D) It can help control the rising blood sugar levels.
18.
(A) The fruit sugar in oranges.
(B) The fibre in oranges.
(C) Vitamin C in oranges.
(D) Calcium in oranges.
Questions 19-2219.
(A) He is applying to a university in England.
(B) He is consulting a female professor.
(C) He is studying in a British university.
(D) He is helping the woman cook some food.
20.
(A) It is awful.
(B) It is one of his favorite kinds.
(C) It is of a much greater variety.
(D) It is better than he expected.
21.
(A) He is fond of English dishes.
(B) He is tired of puddings and pies.
(C) He enjoys English strawberry yogurt.
(D) He seldom has breakfast at home.
22.
(A) Because it is properly cooked at home.
(B) Because it is a kind of Yorkshire pudding.
(C) Because he has never tasted it before.
(D) Because he has made it all by himself.
Questions 23-2623.
(A) We should pay more attention to our history class.
(B) We generally fail to remember anything that was said.
(C) Sharks are necessary in the training of active listeners.
(D) Good listening skills are essential in our life.
24.
(A) They tolerate distractions.
(B) They often find themselves in hot water.
(C) They are generally lazy.
(D) They are critical to family life.
25.
(A) By taking notes.
(B) By remembering what was said.
(C) By getting up to shut the door.
(D) By asking questions.
26.
(A) Seas.
(B) Sharks.
(C) Sponges.
(D) Students.
Questions 27-3027.
(A) He writes comic stories.
(B) He draws pictures for comic books.
(C) He teaches painting in an art school.
(D) He compiles comic books with other writers.
28.
(A) Give his drawings a more graphic look.
(B) Add variations to his works.
(C) Employ a chunky brush style.
(D) Move along a linear way.
29.
(A) They are very popular.
(B) They are of the same style.
(C) They are fairly eclectic.
(D) They are influenced by other artists.
30.
(A) It is a new one with only 2 editors.
(B) It takes him on the permanent staff.
(C) It controls the final look of his works.
(D) It has a nurturing environment.
Part C: Listening and Translation
I. Sentence Translation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentence in English. You will hear the sentences ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
II. Passage Translation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages in English. You will hear the passages ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening.
(1)
(2)
SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS
Directions: In this section, you will read several passages. Each passage is followed by several questions based on its content. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A), (B), (C) or (D), to each question. Answer all the questions following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
Questions 1-5
Last month, upon hearing that a neighbor had been burgled, my husband voiced a desire to beef up our home security. I was largely unresponsive. The previous owners of our house installed a burglar alarm system, but we never got it switched on, because, quoting Ed, I apparently care more about the $29 monthly fee than I do about our home security. In the end, I gave in.
The alarm company sent over a sales representative, a well-coiffed professional in a suit and heels. She recommended adding some infrared motion sensors. I was not wild about this. I like to keep things simple. My idea of home security is to hire cheap, disreputable painters who can be counted upon to paint the windows shut. "Besides, can't the motion sensors be set off by a pet?" I said.
Ed leaned in close to the sales rep. "We don't have any pets," he whispered. "We don't have a pet now'' I said." But we might someday." I knew this to be a lie. Ed is a dog person, and I'm a cat person. We cancel each other out.
I pointed out that every now and then, the neighbors' cat, Sprinkles, will sneak into the house when the back door is open. The alarm woman started talking about "pet resistance." This was a feature of the motion sensor whereby it was set to cover the room from the waist up only. "Though of course...," she hesitated, "the cat would have to stay on the ground at all times."
We got the sensors, and we got the system switched on. We never got a pet, each of us practicing his or her own particular brand of pet resistance, but we did, after many years of cost-based bickering, get a housecleaner. Every other month, Natalia can be seen making her way through the filth and cobwebs. I gave her the alarm code but promised to leave the alarm off the day she came.
Naturally, I forgot. Later that morning, my work phone rang. It was Natalia, yelling in harmony with the shrieking of the alarm. She couldn't find the code. On top of all this, my cell phone started ringing. This was the alarm company, responding to the alarm and calling me to get the secret password-which was different from the shutoff code-required for them to shut off the system and prevent the police from rushing over to arrest Natalia for breaking and entering.
Some weeks back, Ed and I had spent 15 minutes arguing over the secret password for the alarm. Ed is a fan of the complicated, hacker-proof, identity-theft-foiling password, the kind that involves alternating capital and lowercase letters with obscure foreign accent marks, whereas I'll use my name. I had no recollection of what we'd settled on. "Ummmm." The alarm, and Natalia, continued to go off. This went on for some time.
Meanwhile, Natalia had dug through her bag, found the piece of paper I'd given her with the shutoff code and quieted the screaming alarm. I don't know how effective these alarms are against burglars, but Sprinkles hasn't been seen on the property in weeks.
1.
Why didn't the writer get the burglar alarm system switched on?
(A) Because she didn't like its design.
(B) Because the burglar alarm system had broken down.
(C) Because she considered monthly fee unnecessary.
(D) Because she thought their home security was not a problem.
2.
The family didn't have a pet because _______.
(A) they didn't like pets
(B) they didn't like each other's favorite animal
(C) they took their neighbors' pet as their own.
(D) it cost a lot to have a pet.
3.
According to the sales representative, the motion sensor _______.
(A) is pet resistant
(B) is set to cover the room floor
(C) could be set off by a pet if it was near
(D) could be set off by a pet if it jumped high enough
4.
The word "bickering" in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _______.
(A) arguing
(B) considering
(C) persuading
(D) consulting
5.
Ed preferred their password for the alarm to be _______.
(A) complicated
(B) interesting
(C) easy to remember
(D) his own name
Questions 6-10
An article published recently in the prestigious scientific journal Nature is shedding new light on an important, but hitherto little has been appreciated, aspect of human evolution. In this article, Professors Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman suggest that the ability to run was a crucial factor in the development of our species. According to the two scientists, humans possess a number of anatomical features that make them surprisingly good runners. 'We are very confident that strong selection for running-which came at the expense of the historical ability to live in trees-was instrumental in the origin of the modern human body form,' says Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah.
Traditional thinking up to now has been that the distinctive, upright body form of modern humans has come about as a result of the ability to walk, and that running is simply a by-product of walking. Furthermore, humans have usually been regarded as poor runners compared to such animals as dogs, horses or antelopes. However, this is only true if we consider fast running, or sprinting, over short distances. Even an Olympic athlete can hardly run as fast as a horse can gallop, and can only keep up a top speed for fifteen seconds or so. Horses, antelopes and greyhounds, on the other hand, can run at top speed for several minutes, clearly outperforming us in this respect. But when it comes to long-distance running, humans do astonishingly well. They can maintain a steady pace for miles, and their overall speed compares favourably with that of horses or dogs.
Bramble and Lieberman examined twenty-six anatomical features found in humans. One of the most interesting of these is the nuchal ligament, a band of tissue that extends from a ridge on the base of the skull to the spine. When we run, it is this ligament that prevents our head from pitching back and forth or from side to side. Therefore, we are able to run with steady heads, held high. The nuchal ligament is not found in any other surviving primates, although the fossil record shows that Homo erectus, an early human species that walked upright, much as we do, also had one. Then there are our Achilles tendons at the backs of our legs, which connect our calf muscles to our heel bones-and which have nothing to do with walking. When we run, these tendons behave like springs, helping to propel us forward. Furthermore, we have low, wide shoulders, virtually disconnected from our skulls, another anatomical adaptation which allows us to run more efficiently. Add to this our light forearms, which swing out of phase with the movement of our legs to assist balance, and one begins to appreciate the point that Bramble and Lieberman are trying to make.
But what evolutionary advantage is gained from being good long-distance runners? One hypothesis is that this ability may have permitted early humans to obtain food more effectively. 'What these features and fossil facts appear to be telling us is that running evolved in order for our direct ancestors to compete with other carnivores for access to the protein needed to grow the big brains that we enjoy today,' says Lieberman.
6.
The human ability to run ______.
(A) was only recently described in a scientific journal
(B) played an important part in human evolution
(C) is now regarded as more important than the ability to climb trees
(D) is surprising when we consider evolutionary trends
7.
According to the passage, humans ______.
(A) are better runners than most other animals
(B) are not good at running short distances
(C) compare unfavorably with horses and dogs
(D) cannot run at top speed over long distances
8.
It appears that the nuchal ligament _______.
(A) is found only in modern primates
(B) enables us to run with steady heads
(C) prevents the head from moving
(D) is a unique anatomical feature among all species
9.
The passage suggests that _______.
(A) we do not need calf muscles in order to walk
(B) without shoulders we could not run very fast
(C) the movement of our forearms is out of phase
(D) our Achilles tendons are an adaptation for running
10.
According to the passage, early humans _______.
(A) killed animals by exhausting them
(B) may have evolved big brains for running
(C) competed with other animals for food
(D) could probably run before they could walk
Questions 11-15
People value money desperately because they value one another desperately; thus the cause of panic in the stock-market plunge is not that people will lose their dollars but that they will lose their sense of community. For the past couple of weeks, the nation has watched itself roll toward ruin because people were losing their money in bales. If one were tasteless enough to ask a big loser what exactly he was losing, he would sputter, "What am I losing? My car! My beautiful home! My children's educations! My clothes! My dinner! My dollars!" They are all true. People have been mourning the passing of their money for all the things that money can do, and what money can do is impressive. Money can build cities, cure diseases, and win wars. The sudden acquisition of the stuff can toss our spirits into the air like a hat.
Money can do considerably more. It offers power, an almost unique form of power, not simply because it allows us to acquire and possess things but because it is we who determine its worth; we who say a ruby costs more than an apple; we who decide that a tennis court is more valuable than a book. Paradoxically, money creates a deep sense of powerlessness as well, since technically we cannot provide money for ourselves; someone or something else must do that for us-our employers or, until recently, our stocks. All that, money can do: and when such essential, familiar functions are snatched from one's life, small wonder that people may grow wild, frantic, and even murderous.
What money can do, however, is not the same as what money is. Let's return for a moment to the theory: people value money because they value one another. In other words, the usefulness of money is directly related to and established by continuous mutual need. People work for money to buy things that other people make or do, things that they cannot or will not make or do for themselves but that they deem necessary for some definition of self-improvement.
Abstractly, money is one of the ways, indeed a universally accepted way, by which we make connections. Cash is cold. So the connections may feel cold, but real blood flows through them. These connections constitute one of the central means by which societies cohere; by which they sustain and characterize themselves.
When the coin begins to wobble, as it has in the past weeks, a fear seizes the mind that is disorienting. The fear is not merely that of the loss of possessions but of self-possession, which in some sense is bought and sold from person to person in infinite daily bargains. To lose money is frightening. To lose touch with others is more frightening still. Losing touch may cause the panic of the times.
11.
This passage mainly discusses _______.
(A) the functions of money
(B) the stock-market plunge
(C) a new theory of investment
(D) a cold characteristic of cash
12.
According to the author, what can be a regular source of money provided for us?
(A) Possessions.
(B) Bargains.
(C) Stocks.
(D) Employers.
13.
According to the passage, money can do all the following EXCEPT _______.
(A) build cities and cure diseases
(B) enhance relationships among people
(C) create a sense of powerlessness
(D) prove the morality of people
14.
Under what circumstances are connections related to cash said to be cold in the passage?
(A) When they are not established for societies to cohere.
(B) When they are not compared to "real blood".
(C) When their functions are snatched from people's life.
(D) When their worth is hard to determine and not valued.
15.
It can be learned from the passage that ______.
(A) people worry about the dollars they have more than the sense of community
(B) money can lubricate the social machine but it cannot prove the value of people
(C) in daily transactions one's self-possession is gained or lost
(D) losing money is more frightening than losing touch with others
Questions 16-20
At first glance, why anyone would want to save California condors is not entirely clear. Unlike the closely related Andean condors with their white neck fluff or king vultures with their brilliant black-and-white colour, California condors are not much to see. Their dull black colour-even when contrasted with white underwings-featherless head and neck, oversized feet and blunt talons are hardly signs of beauty or strength. Their appeal begins to become evident when they take flights. California condors can soar almost effortlessly for hours, often covering hundreds of miles a day-far more than other creatures of the air. Only occasionally do they need to flap their wings-to take off, change direction or find a band of warm air known as thermal to carry them higher.
When it was discovered that the condor population was becoming dangerously small, scientists and zookeepers sought to increase condor numbers quickly to preserve as much of the species' genetic diversity as possible. From studying wild condors, they already knew that if a pair lost an egg, the birds would often produce another. So the first and sometimes second eggs laid by each female in captivity were removed, artificially incubated, and the chicks raised using hand-held puppets made to look like adult condors. Such techniques quickly proved effective.
Despite these successes, the effort to save California condors continues to have problems, evoke criticisms and generate controversy. Captive-hatched condors released to the wild have died at what to some people are alarmingly high rates. Others have had to be recaptured after they acted foolishly or became ill. As a result, the scientists, zookeepers and conservationists who are concerned about condors have bickered among themselves over the best ways to rear and release the birds.
Some of the odd behavior on the part of these re-released birds is hard to explain. At times they landed on people's houses and garages, walked across roads and airport runways, sauntered into park visitor centers and fast food restaurants, and took food offered by picnickers and fishermen. None are known to have died by doing so, though. Most recently, some of the first chicks hatched in the wild died after their parents fed them bottle caps, glass shards, pieces of plastic and other man-made objects that fatally perforated or blocked their intestines. These deaths may be due to the chicks' parents mistaking man-made objects for bone chips eaten for their calcium content.
Mike Wallace, a wildlife specialist at the San Diego Zoo, has suggested that some of the condors' problems represent natural behavior that helps them survive as carrion eaters. The real key to successful condor reintroduction, he believes, lies in properly socializing young condors as members of a group that follow and learn from older, preferably adult birds. That, he argues, was missing from earlier condor releases to the wild. Typically, condors hatched in the spring were released to the wild that autumn or winter, when they were still less than a year old. Now, condor chicks at several zoos are raised in cave-like nest boxes. The chicks can see older condors in a large flight pen outside their box but cannot interact with them until they are about five months old. Then the chicks are gradually released into the pen and the company of the social group. The group includes adult and older juvenile condors that act as mentors for younger ones.
16.
According to the passage, the most impressive feature of the California condor is _______.
(A) its resemblance to Andean condor
(B) its ability to glide
(C) its colorful plumage
(D) its blunt talons
17.
In the first stage of the conservation program _______.
(A) eggs were removed from the nests of wild condors
(B) female condors were captured and studied carefully
(C) scientists and zookeepers tried to create genetic diversity
(D) condors were induced to lay more than one egg
18.
Which of the following is true about the attempts to save these birds from extinction?
(A) There is disagreement about the methods employed.
(B) The majority of condors released into the wild became ill.
(C) Attempts to breed condors in captivity have failed,
(D) Condors reintroduced into the wild are unable to hunt.
19.
Some chicks hatched by re-released condors died because _______.
(A) they fell into pools of water
(B) they fell prey to other animals
(C) they had odd drinking habits
(D) they swallowed dangerous objects
20.
According to Mike Wallace, there will be fewer problems _______.
(A) if young condors are taught not to eat so much carrion
(B) if the chicks are kept in cave-like nest boxes for five months
(C) if young condors can learn appropriate behavior from older birds
(D) if the chicks can have older birds for company when they hatch
Questions 21-25
We are not who we think we are.
The American self-image is suffused with the golden glow of opportunity. We think of the United States as a land of unlimited possibility, not so much a classless society but as a place where class is mutable-a place where brains, energy and ambition are what counts, not the circumstances of one's birth.
The Economic Mobility Project, an ambitious research initiative led by Pew Charitable Trusts, looked at the economic fortunes of a large group of families over time, comparing the income of parents in the late 1960s with the income of their children in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Here is the finding: "The 'rags to riches' story is much more common in Hollywood than on Main Street. Only 6 percent of children born to parents with family income at the very bottom move to the top.
That is right, just 6 percent of children born to parents who ranked in the bottom fifth of the study sample, in terms of income, were able to bootstrap their way into the top fifth. Meanwhile, an incredible 42 percent of children born into that lowest quintile are still stuck at the bottom, having been unable to climb a single rung of the income ladder.
It is noted that even in Britain-a nation we think of as burdened with a hidebound class system-children who are born poor have a better chance of moving up. When the three studies were released, most reporters focused on the finding that African-Americans born to middle-class or upper middle-class families are earning slightly less, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than did their parents.
One of the studies indicates, in fact, that most of the financial gains white families have made in the past three decades can be attributed to the entry of white women into the labor force. This is much less true for African-Americans.
The picture that emerges from all the quintiles, correlations and percentages is of a nation in which, overall, "the current generation of adults is better off than the previous one", as one of the studies notes.
The median income of the families in the sample group was $55,600 in the late 1960s; their children's median family income was measured at $71,900. However, this rising tide has not lifted all boats equally. The rich have seen far greater income gains than have the poor.
Even more troubling is that our notion of America as the land of opportunity gets little support from the data. Americans move fairly easily up and down the middle rungs of the ladder, but there is "stickiness at the ends" - four out of ten children who are born poor will remain poor, and four out often who are born rich will stay rich.
21.
What did the Economic Mobility Project find in its research?
(A) Children from low-income families are unable to bootstrap their way to the top.
(B) Hollywood actors and actresses are upwardly mobile from rags to riches.
(C) The rags to riches story is more fiction than reality.
(D)The rags to riches story is only true for a small minority of whites.
22.
The word "quintile" (para.4) refers to _______ in the passage.
(A) the bottom fifth
(B) the study data
(C) the sample group
(D) the lowest family income
23.
It can be inferred from the undertone of the writer that America, as a classless society, should _______.
(A) perfect its self-image as a land of opportunity
(B) have a higher level of upward mobility than Britain
(C) enable African-Americans to have exclusive access to well-paid employment
(D) encourage the current generation to work as hard as the previous generation
24.
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
(A) The US is a land where brains, energy and ambition are what counts.
(B) Inequality persists between whites and blacks in financial gains.
(C) Middle-class families earn slightly less with inflation considered.
(D) Children in lowest-income families manage to climb a single rung of the ladder.
25.
What might be the best title for this passage?
(A) Social Upward Mobility.
(B) Incredible Income Gains.
(C) Inequality in Wealth.
(D) America Not Land of Opportunity.
Questions 26-30
I am always a little puzzled when I hear people complain about the difficulties of finding a good job. Young people in their 20s express dissatisfaction that all the good jobs have been taken by those in their 40s. People in their 40s, trapped in the middle groups of the workforce, complain about waiting for their elders to make room for them at the top. Older employees worry about being forced out of the job market prematurely by younger people willing to work at entry-level wages. It is not a pretty picture.
But I do not buy it. In my view, differences between generations are not a problem but an opportunity-if you remember to apply some basic principles of self-marketing. Most of us learned from Marketing 101 textbooks that there are four phases in the life cycle of a product or brand. The names may differ, but essentially the four phases are Introduction, Growth, Maturity and Decline. As a manager of high-profile athletes for more than 30 years, I know that these four phases certainly apply to the career and marketability of an athlete.
An athlete's introduction or start-up phase is when he or she starts competing, does well and captures the attention of people in the sport. Introduction turns into the growth phase when the athlete goes from being a promising performer to an established star. That's when everybody wants a piece of the athlete's time and he must stay focused on his primary talent and not get distracted by side issues.
For an athlete, the toughest thing about the mature phase may simply be recognizing that he or she is in it. If you're marketing a bar of soap it is easy to tell if the product is mature. It is there in the stagnant or shrinking sales figures. It is different with athletes. Not only do they think the growth phase will never end, but they often deny that there is any decrease in their athletic skills or marketability, no matter what the numbers say.
The decline phase for an athlete may sound harsh, but it doesn't have to be if he or she thinks of it as a reflective phase. In this phase an athlete can have tremendous future as a legendary figure who functions as an ambassador for his or her sport. If you substitute "employee" for "athlete" in these examples, these four phases apply to any individual's career.
I genuinely believe that whenever people face a career crisis, a big reason is because they are "out of phase." I have always been a tremendous advocate of recruiting older workers. With the massive downsizing of corporate America, there are tens of thousands of talented men and women over the age of 50 who feel shut out of the work-place. To me, these people are a gold mine-not because they are available but rather because they possess the qualities that employees in the introduction and growth phases lack, namely wisdom and experience. And since many of them received generous early-retirement packages, money is not their sole motivation. In other words, they are affordable.
If I were marketing myself in the mature phase, I'd focus on these qualities. Wisdom, experience and affordability make up a potent package. But you can not do that unless you first recognize and fully appreciate the phase you are in.
26.
What can be concluded from the passage?
(A) Most young people cannot find a job if they don't study the four phase theory.
(B) Young people with good jobs have studied the four phase theory.
(C) Job seekers should fully understand the phase they are in.
(D) Older employees will be forced out of job market by the young.
27.
Who are complaining about the difficulties of getting a good job at the top?
(A) Young people hopping from job to job.
(B) People in their forties.
(C) Older employees with the likelihood of early retirement.
(D) People not completing the four phases in their career cycle.
28.
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the author?
(A) One generation's ambition will sooner or later become a reality.
(B) Finding a good job mainly depends on one's age.
(C) Differences between generations are more an opportunity than a problem.
(D) The marketability of a product can be compared with that of an athlete.
29.
According to the author, in which of the four phases can an athlete have a tremendous appeal?
(A) Introduction phase.
(B) Growth phase.
(C) Mature phase.
(D) Decline phase.
30.
The author thinks highly of older employees because _______.
(A) they are good at marketing themselves
(B) they are obedient and can be easily controlled
(C) they possess better qualities in the growth phase
(D) they have more wisdom, experience and affordability
SECTION 3: TRANSLATION TEST (1)
Direction: Translate the following passage into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
Imagine you have two candidates for a job. Their CVs are equally good, and they both give good interview. You cannot help noticing, though, that one is pug-ugly and the other is handsome. Are you swayed by their appearance?
If you were swayed by someone’s looks, would that be wrong? In the past, people often equated beauty with virtue and ugliness with vice.
Even now, the expression “as ugly as sin” has not quite passed from the language. There is, of course, the equally famous expression “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, to counter it. Most beholders agree what is beautiful-and modern biology suggests there is a good reason for that agreement. Biology also suggests that beauty may, indeed, be a good rule of thumb for assessing someone of either sex. Not an infallible one, and certainly no substitute for an in-depth investigation. But, nevertheless, an instinctive one, and one that is bound to contribute to the advantage of the physically well endowed.
SECTION 4: TRANSLATION TEST (2)
Direction: Translate the following passage into English and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
我国首次月球探测工程的成功,实现了中华民族的千年奔月梦想,开启了中国人走向深空探索宇宙奥秘的时代,标志着我国已经进入世界具有深空探测能力的国家行列。这是我国推进自主创新、建设创新型国家取得的又一标志性成果，是中华民族在攀登世界科技高峰征程上实现的又一历史性跨越，是中华民族为人类和平开发利用外层空间作出的又一重大贡献。全体中华儿女都为我们伟大祖国取得的这一辉煌成就感到骄傲和自豪！
听力原文：
Section 1 -Spot dictation
How did the Olympic Games start? In ancient Greece, athletic festivals were very important and have strong religious associations. Originally, the festival was held in honor of Zeus, the supreme God in Greek mythology. Eventually, the Olympian athletic festival had lost its local and national characters and became an international event. No one knows exactly how far back the Olympic Games go, but some scholars recorded date from 776 BC. According to some scholars, at first, the only Olympic event was 200-yard dash, called a stadium and that was the only event until 724BC. After that, other field events were added and 16 years later in 708BC, the pentathlon was added and wrestling became part of the Games. This Pentathlon was a five-event match, which consisted of running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the discus and hurling the javelin.
The Games were held every four years and after an uninterrupted history of 1170 years, the Games were abolished in AD394, the Christen era, because of the pagan origin. It was over 1500 years before there was another such international athletic gathering.
In 1896, the first of the modern summer games opened in Athens, Greece. Nowadays the Games are held in different countries in turn. The host country provides vast facilities, such as stadiums and living accommodation. Many more sports are represented, including the very celebrated event, the marathon races. The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch , lighted on Mount Olympics by the sun's rays. The torch is carried by a succession of runners to the stadium. The Olympic flam symbolizes the continuation of the ancient Greek athletic ideals and it burns throughout the Games until the closing ceremony. The well-known Olympic flag, however, is a modern conception. The five interlocking rings symbolize the uniting of all five continents, participating in the Games.
Section 1-Part B Statement
Sentence No. 1
Diana is working as a sales person for an insurance company this summer. It is a tough job, and she gets to be outdoors from time to time, but the pay is descent.
Sentence No. 2
Please don't get annoyed over what I said now; I'm just worried about the delay. In no way do I blame you for what happened. You have tried your best.
Sentence No. 3
Mrs. Green called the after-sales service agency and had her almost new refrigerator repaired for free because it's still under warrantee.
Sentence No. 4
George is a true pal; he is ready to offer any kind of assistance whenever you are in need. Friends like him are few and far between!
Sentence No. 5
Unless the whole production cost could be reduced to a reasonable limit, the company would have to double its budget by next year.
Sentence No. 6
If the goods could not arrive in time for the Christmas rush, good quality and competitive price would mean nothing at all.
Sentence No. 7
Well, I am sure we can work something out, but it's almost dinner time. I suggest we come back tomorrow, say 9 o'clock to continue the talk.
Sentence No. 8
If our products are to compete on the international market, advanced technology is a key element. The higher the technology, the better the products, and the greater the competitiveness.
Sentence No. 9
The fact that Mr. Parkinson is a high ranking CEO doesn't mean that he can advice you about finance and investment questions.
Sentence No. 10
In this county, the total number of people over 65 years old is 23 million today, but it will swell to 45 million by the year 2020.
Talks and Conversations
Q11-14
Now , you are looking for an flat in this area, correct?
Yeah, that's right.
And, how much are you prepared to pay?
Well, I can pay up to six hundred pounds a month if I have to.
Well, there are some very reasonable apartments for around five hundred pounds.
Are there?
It depends on the size, of course. We have flats that can't be rented for only four hundred pounds a month. What size did you have in mind? I mean how many bedrooms? How much space, ect. , do you need?
We need at least three bedrooms, as we have two children and my mother-in-law lives with us. She is a widow now and can't stand living alone, you know.
Well, I've got just the place for you, a nice flat near Station Street.
Oh, yes, I know Station Street quite well. It's very convenient for transportation and shopping.
It's handy to almost everything. Very good position indeed.
Now, how big is this house? How many rooms are there?
There are seven including the bathroom.
Sounds like there is plenty of room, all right? But just a minute, how much is the rent?
And that's the best part. It's only four hundred and fifty pounds a month. Would you like me to run you around.
Why not? Sounds like just what I'm looking for.
Yeah, could be your lucky day.
Questions：
11. How much is the man going to pay for the flat?
12. What does the man know about the Station Street?
13. Why does the man need a flat with three bedrooms?
14. According to the woman, what is the best part of the flat at issue?
Q15-18
Will you enjoy a cup of orange juice every morning? My advice is please make sure that you do so. Orange juice is an integral part of a healthy diet. Today the flavor of orange is the world's third favorite flavor next to chocolate and vanilla. As a common kind of fruits, the orange has additional nutritional contents than other citrus fruits. The major nutritional content in oranges is vitamin C. As a whole, the vitamin C content in orange fruits can keep your immune system strong and healthy. Another nutritional content in oranges is calcium. It can ensure strong teeth and bone. Calcium also supports to maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Calcium in oranges also assists for a healthy muscle function. The health benefits of the orange never end here. A daily glass of orange juice can help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones, better that other citrus fruit juices, such as lemonade. The fiber in the orange reduces high cholesterol level in the body. The natural food sugar, fructose in the orange controls the rising blood sugar levels after a meal. So next time you go to a supermarket or dine in a restaurant, make sure that you buy and have that delicious food as a part of your everyday diet.
15. What is the main idea of this talk?
16. According to the talk, which of the following is the world's first favorite flavor?
17. What is good about vitamin C in the orange?
18. Which of the following assists for a healthy muscle function?
Q19－22
George, as a university student, you've been here for almost a year. Do you miss your home cooking a lot? Or are you getting used to our English food?
Oh there are quite a lot of dishes I miss very much indeed. You see in my country we have a much greater variety of dishes, but I must say English food is much better than I thought it was going to be.
Really, what are your favorite English dishes?
Well, first of all I think the quality of your food is excellent. Your dairy products are so fresh and your meat is usually so tender. For example, the strawberry yoghurt and pork rib chop. And there is so much to choose from (in) the shops.
Yes, but what English dishes do you particularly like? Or don't you like any of them?
Well, I'm a little tired of your fishing chips, and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is only good when properly cooked at home. I don't like the way you cook your vegetables, either. And...
So you don't really like any of our food, do you?
Oh, no. I didn't say that.
Well.
I'm very fond of the steak and kidney pudding you make. And I like your apple pies. You know, all the home-made staff.
It's very nice of you to say so.
And I think your cooked breakfasts are simply marvelous. Nothing like them where I come from.
Question 19
What is the man doing at the moment?
Question 20
What does the man think of the English food?
Question 21
Which of the following statements is true about the man?
Question 22
According to the man, why does he like the steak and kidney pudding so much?
Q23-26
More often than not, I've been asked by my students this question: how can I improve my listening skills? Let me first cite a very common instance of poor listening at this school. You don't know how it happened. You know you were paying attention when your history class started. But somewhere along the way your eyes glazed over and the teacher's voice became a dull hum in the background of your mind. When you finally shook yourself out of your trends, he was asking you a question, "So what happened at Hastings in the year of 1066?" Once again, poor listening has you in hot water. As listeners, we tend to think that the responsibility for a successful communication lies with the person doing the talking. This attitude causes us to become passive listeners. We tolerate distractions, putting up with the noise in the hall for instance instead of getting up to shut the door. And we generally fail to reopen to the speaker's message by asking questions or to remember anything that was said. Effective listeners, on the other hand, play an active role by paying constant attentions, by following the speaker's movement, by taking notes, or by asking questions. Passive listeners are the sponges in the communication sea. Active listeners are their sharks. Good listening is a valuable skill. It is one of the top management skills needed for success in business. Listening is also critical to success in family life and among friends. Good listeners do well in school. They follow directions better and don't waste time wandering what the assignment was. Therefore, becoming an active listener will help you in your relationships with your schoolwork and on the job.
Question 23
What is the main idea of the talk?
Question 24
Which of the following is true about the passive listeners?
Question 25
According to the talk, how can we reopen to the speaker's message?
Question 26
To which of the following does the man compare poor listeners?
Q27-30
W: Recently artist Samuel Cliff and writer Dan Archer took our readers by surprise with their new comment book entitled Tales Up The Forest. With a diverse cast of characters, and a craze story that reflex upon both reality and unreality, Samuel has once again exposed his unique art to a much larger audience. Here in the studio we are happy to have you with us. Samuel, as an artist where have you been, and where are you going?
M: well, I'd like to think that my past as an artist has been an interesting one as far. Stylistically there have been a lot of changes; I started out with a chunky organic brush style, very popular that time. Back then when I did my first book, My Dollar, I had a feeling that comments would just too precious, and I want my work to be bold. I still enjoy working that way. But since then my Interests have changed. Half way through my "Run on the Little Cat", that's my second series, I move towards a more linear style, which is something I always loved. I've been trying a little variations on things out since then, and now I am trying to push towards a more graphic work. I really loved doing color work.
W: I'd say your works have been fully eclectic in tone and story, do you agree?
M: Yeah, eclectic is a good word for it. I try to take on a project that seems interesting to me, I can't imagine working on just one kind of story for the rest of my life.
W: You are, em, for lack of a better term, all-inclusive artist, meaning you usually ink your own pencils and keep you own style, can you stand to be influenced by someone else?
M: I have been influenced by others in the past, and we've all done an outstanding job. It's the nature of collaboration, isn't it? The thing is now I really enjoying having control over the final look of the art work.
W: what is it about the company you've giving it so much of your time and effort as an artist?
M: It's a very nurturing environment. My editors are all open to new ideas. They've encouraged me to push my abilities and grow. It's a great place to be. And I wonder they keep renewing my contract.
Q27: What is the man's job?
Q28: What's the man trying to do now for his works?
Q29: What's the woman's comment about the man's artistic works?
Q30: What does the man say about the company with whom he has contracts?
Sentence Translation
1、 Most people are too anxious during tests. Such anxiety makes them less efficient than normal. As a result, their scores are much lower than they expected.
大多数人在考试中都很紧张。紧张会让他们做题时比平时的效率低。结果，他们的分数会比自己预期的要低。
2. The office of Mr. Arthur Tiger, the prominent industrialist, was broken into during the weekend. A small amount of money was taken and the office itself was left in a terrible mess.
著名实业家阿瑟 泰格的办公室周末遭劫，少量现金失窃，办公室内一片狼藉。
3. A job interview works both ways. On the one hand, employers measure shortlisted candidates during the conversation. On the other, prospective employees can decide whether the job in question is right for them.
工作面试是双向选择的过程。一方面，雇主会在交谈中衡量入围名单中的候选人，另一方面，准雇员也在考虑眼前的这份工作是否适合他。
4. The stock exchange index was 998 in June, 2005. Yesterday, it reached 5, 960 which is the highest in history and almost 6 times higher than 2 year ago.
股票指数在2005年6月是998. 昨天，达到5，960. 这是历史最高峰，股指比两年前升了六倍。
5. By far, the most serious economic problem in Britain is that of inflation, now being accelerated by overheated investment in capital and property and threatened further by a possible wage explosion.
英国目前最严重的经济问题是通货膨胀。资本和资产投资过热已经在推波助澜，而如果工资猛增，则令这个问题雪上加霜。
Passage translation
1. Water is great medicine needed to maintain a healthy body and a clear mind. About 60%of your body is water and you must constantly resupply it. The standard recommendation is to drink at least 8 glasses a day. When you are exercising, your need even more water because you are sweating and losing water. Of course, warm temperatures also increase water loss. Just walking for an hour on a warm day may increase your requirement by 2 glasses or more.
要保持身体健康，头脑清醒，水是最好的药品。你身体的60%是由水组成的，你必须不断地补充水份。标准的建议是每天至少喝八杯水。当你做体育运动的时候，会需要更多的水，因为你在不停地流汗、失水。当然炎热的天气也会增加失水。如果你在炎热的天气里走上一小时，就要多喝2杯水。
2. Some people might think that being a foreign student is an easy task to do. It is not true. We live between two worlds. One, a world of memories, a world of the past where we get our strength to deal with the difficulties of growing up to and adapting to new places, a world that nobody here knows. Two, a world of the present, strange and unfamiliar. A world where only we can take care of ourselves. A world where the rules and values are so different from the ones I was born to.
有些人可能认为在国外读书是一件很容易的事情。但事实并非如此。我们生活在两个世界里：一个是记忆的世界，即过去的世界，我们从那里获得力量，来解决成长中的困难、适应新的地方，那是身处现在世界的人并不知道的一个世界。另外一个是现在的世界，一个陌生的、不熟悉的世界。在这样的世界里，只有我们自己才能照顾自己，这个世界的规则和我们生来所知的世界是不同的。
英译中答案：
让我们来做个假设：现在一份职位面前有两个候选人。从简历上看他们旗鼓相当不相上下，而且两人都举止得体、大方端庄。那么，你的判断会受到两人相貌的左右吗？
就算你的决定的确受到了他们外貌的影响，那又算不算错呢？在过去，我们总是把美貌等同于真善美，而把丑陋视作假恶丑。
即使时至今日，"丑如罪恶"这种表达也没有被人遗忘。当然了，对美丽也有类似的说法，比如"情人眼里出西施"就能与之相对。的确，大多数人的审美观都相似，而且现代生物学研究也证明了人在评定异性的美丑时标准都很一致。这并不是绝对真理，也没有其它的深入研究能够辅助证明。但无论如何，这都是种本能，基本上应归结于人类的进化优势。
中译英答案：
With the successful launch of its first lunar probe, China has realized its millennial dream of flying to the moon, ushered in the new era of entering the space and exploring the mystery of universe, which marks China's access to the ranking of the world's advanced countries capable of probing the moon. It constitutes the milestone of China to promote independence and innovation and to build a country of innovation, the historic advance of China in the conquest of the world's scientific and technological peak, the momentous contribution of China to world peace and human utilization of outer space. All the Chinese people are overwhelmed with pride in the glorious achievement of our great country!
其他部分答案欠奉。
来源：沪江英语