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2008年英语专业四级考试真题与答案

发帖者 吴怀唐 On 14:41
  QUESTION BOOKLET

  TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2008)

  -GRADE FOUR-

  TIME LIMIT: 135 MIN

  PART I DICTATION [15 MIN]

  Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more.

  Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.

  PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [120 MIN]

  In Sections A, B and C you will hear everything ONCE ONLY Listen carefully and then answer

  the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your answer sheet.

  SECTION A CONVERSATIONS

  In this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

  Questions 1 to 3 are based on the.following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you

  will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions. Now listen to the conversation.

  1. When is Anne available for the meeting?

  A. The third week of May.

  B. The third week of June.

  C. The eleventh of June.

  D. The eleventh of May.

  2. Their meeting will probably take place in

  A. London.

  B. Toronto.

  C. Mexico City.

  D. Chicago.

  3. When is Eric calling back?

  A. Thursday afternoon.

  B. Friday afternoon.

  C. Thursday morning.

  D. Friday morning.

  Questions 4 to 6 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the conversation.

  4. According to the woman, advertisements

  A. let us know the best product.

  B. give us sufficient information.

  C. fail to convince people.

  D. give misleading information.

  5. In the woman's opinion, money spent on advertisements is paid

  A. by manufacturers.

  B. by customers.

  C. by advertisers.

  D. by all of them.

  6. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?.

  A. The woman seems to be negative about advertising.

  B. The woman appears to know more about advertising.

  C. The man is to be present at a debate on advertising.

  D. The man has a lot to talk about on advertising.

  Questions 7 to 10 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation,

  you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the conversation.

  7. Mr Brown brought with him only a few things because

  A. there wasn't enough space in the cupboard.

  B. the hospital would provide him with everything.

  C. he was to stay there for a very short time.

  D. visitors could bring him other things.

  8. According to the hospital rules, at which of the following hours can visitors see patients?

  A. 2:00 pm.

  B. 5:00 pm.

  C. 7:00 pm.

  D. 6:00 pm.

  9. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

  A. Patients have breakfast at 8.

  B. Patients have lunch at 12.

  C. There are special alcohol lounges.

  D. There are special smoking lounges.

  10. Which statement best describes Mr Brown?

  A. He knows little about hospital rules.

  B. He can keep alcohol in the ward.

  C. He knows when to smoke.

  D. He is used to hospital life.

  SECTION B PASSAGES

  In this section, you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then

  answer the questions that follow.

  Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the passage.

  11. Meeting rooms of various sizes are needed for

  A. contacts with headquarters.

  B. relaxation and enjoyment.

  C. informal talks.

  D. different purposes.

  12. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as part of hotel facilities for

  guests?

  A. Restaurants. B. Cinemas.

  C. Swimming pools. D. Bars.

  13. A hotel for an international conference should have the following EXCEPT

  A. convenient transport services.

  B. competent office secretaries.

  C. good sports and restaurant facilities.

  D. suitable and comfortable rooms.

  Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the passage.

  14. The museum aims mainly to display

  A. the area's technological development.

  B. the nation's important historical events.

  C. the area's agricultural and industrial development.

  D. the nation's agricultural and industrial development.

  15. The following have been significant in the area's prosperity EXCEPT

  A. the motorways. B. the Roman road.

  C. the canals. D. the railways.

  16. We know from the passage that some exhibits

  A. are borrowed from workshops.

  B. are specially made for display.

  C. reflect the local culture and customs.

  D. try to reproduce the scene at that time.

  17. The passage probably comes from

  A. a conversation on the museum.

  B. a museum tour guide.

  C. a museum booklet.

  D. a museum advertisement.

  Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the passage.

  18. According to the speaker, safety in dormitory means that you

  A. insure all your expensive things.

  B. lock doors when going out.

  C. lock windows at night.

  D. take all necessary precautions.

  19. What does the speaker suggest girls do when they are going to be out late?

  A. Call their friends.

  B. Stay with their friends.

  C. Avoid walking in streets.

  D. Always take a taxi.

  20. What is the speaker's last advice?

  A. To take a few self-defense classes.

  B. To stick to well-lit streets at night.

  C. To avoid walking alone at night.

  D. To stay with their friends.

  SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST

  In this section, you will hear several news items. Listen to them carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

  Questions 21 and 22 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions. Now. listen to the news.

  21. What happened during the New Year celebration in Thailand?

  A. Terrorists fought with Government troops.

  B. Thai troops killed terrorists.

  C. There were shootings.

  D. There were explosions.

  22. What has led to the violent situation in the south of Thailand?

  A. The Muslims wanted independence.

  B. Thai troops have been sent there.

  C. About 2000 people have been killed.

  D. There have been more bombings since 2004.

  Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the news.

  23. Under the national oil law, the Iraqi government

  A. will give more oil revenues to only a few provinces.

  B. will let provinces distribute their oil revenues.

  C. will distribute oil revenues according to population size.

  D. will distribute oil revenues according to security needs.

  24. The construction package is meant to

  A. help build more houses.

  B. help improve the country's economy.

  C. help more children to go to school.

  D. help more young people to get education.

  Questions 25 and 26 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the news.

  25. The joint committee will promote co-operation between Egypt and Spain in all the following

  areas EXCEPT

  A. education. B. industry.

  C. investment. D. technology.

  26. What is this news item mainly about?

  A. The establishment of a joint committee.

  B. The trade relations between Egypt and Spain.

  C. The future trade volume between Egypt and Spain.

  D. The establishment of a joint business council.

  Question 27 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 5

  seconds to answer the question. Now, listen to the news.

  27. According to the news, Japanese teenage women

  A. are less violent than men.

  B. are less violent than before.

  C. are more violent than before.

  D. are more violent than men.

  Question 28 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 5

  seconds to answer the question. Now, listen to the news.

  28. Which of the following statements is CORRECT according to the news?

  A. Zimbabweans stayed away from voting.

  B. Zimbabweans were enthusiastic about voting.

  C. Only a few Zimbabweans turned up to vote.

  D. Zimbabweans believed that Mugabe would win.

  Questions 29 and 30 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the news.

  29. The news mentioned _____ reason(s) for the action taken by Indian telecom workers.

  A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

  30. According to the news, who among the following were NOT affected by telecom workers'

  action?

  A. Banks. B. Big companies. C. Long-distance callers. D. Government officials.

  PART III CLOZE [15 MIN]

  Decide which of the choices given below would best complete the passage if inserted in the

  eorresponding blanks. Mark the best choice for each blank on your answer sheet.

  Salt, shells or metals are still used as money in out-of-the-way parts of the world today.

  Salt may seem rather a strange (31)____ to use as money, (32)_____ in countries where the food of the people is mainly vegetable, it is often an (33)_____ necessity. Cakes of salt, stamped to show their (34)____, were used as money in some countries until recent (35)_____, and cakes of salt (36)____ buy goods in Borneo and parts of Africa.

  Sea shells (37)_____ as money at some time(38)____ another over the greater part of the Old World. These were (39)___ mainly from the beaches of the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean, and were traded to India and China. In Africa, shells were traded right across the (40)___ from East to West.

  Metal, valued by weight, (41)____ coins in many parts of the world. Iron, in lumps, bars or rings, is still used in many countries(42)_____ paper money. It can either be exchanged(43)____ goods, or made into tools, weapons, or ornaments. The early money of China, apart from shells, was of bronze, (44)_____ in flat, round pieces with a hole in the middle, called "cash". The (45)_____ of these are between three thousand and four thousand years old - older than the earliest coins of the eastern Mediterranean.

  Nowadays, coins and notes have (46)____ nearly all the more picturesque (47)____ of money, and (48)____ in one or two of the more remote countries people still keep it for future use on ceremonial (49)____ such as weddings and funerals, examples of (50)____money will soon be found only in museums.

  (31) A. object B. article C. substance D. category

  (32) A. but B. and C. so D. even

  (33) A. abstract B. advantageous C. abundant D. absolute

  (34) A. weight B. value C. role D. size

  (35) A. times B. events C. situations D. conditions

  (36) A. even B. also C. still D. never

  (37) A. had been used B. are used C. would be used D. would have been used

  (38) A. and B. but C. yet D. or

  (39) A. collected B. produced C. grown D. raised

  (40) A. city B. district C. communib D. continent

  (41) A. processed B. produced C. preceded D. proceeded

  (42) A. in spite of B. instead of C. along with D. in line with

  (43) A. against B. as C. in D. for

  (44) A. often B. seldom C. really D. much

  (45) A. earlier B.earliest C.better D.best

  (46) A. replaced B. reproduced C. reflected D. recovered

  (47) A. sizes B. shapes C. formats D. forms

  (48) A. while B. although C. because D. if

  (49) A. events B. gatherings C. occasions D. assemblies

  (50) A. original B. primitive C. historical D. crude

  PART IV GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY [15 MIN]

  There are thirty sentences in this section. Beneath each sentence there are four words or phrase marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word orphrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.

  51. Our association, which has consistently pressed for greater employment opportunities for tN

  disabled, will publish ____ proposals in the near future.

  A. their B. our C. his D. its

  52. Had Judy been more careful on the maths exam, she ____ much better results now.

  A. would be getting B. could have got

  C. must get D. would get

  53. Nine is to three _____ three is to one.

  A. when B. that C. which D. what

  54. Men differ from animals ____ they can think and speak.

  A. for which B. for that C. in that D. in which

  55. ____ he wanted to go out with his friends at the weekend, he had to stay behind to finish

  his assignment.

  A. Much though B. Much as C. As much D. Though much

  56. I enjoyed myself so much ____ I visited my friends in Paris last year.

  A. when B. which C. that D. where

  57. Which of the following is INCORRECT?

  A. All his lectures were boring. C. Her few friends are all fond of dancing.

  B. Half his money was gone. D. He invited many his friends to the party.

  58. When you have finished with that book, don't forget to put it back on my desk, _____?

  A. do you B. don't you C. will you D. won't you

  59. What does "He wisely refused to spend his money" mean?

  A. It was wise of him to refuse to spend his money.

  B. He refused to spend his money in a wise manner.

  C. He was short of money and didn't want to buy anything.

  D. He refused, in a wise manner, to spend his money.

  60. They stood chatting together as easily and naturally as ____.

  A. it could be B. could be C. it was D. was

  61. The following are all correct responses to "Who told the news to the teacher?" EXCEPT

  A. Jim did this. B. Jim did so. C. Jim did that. D. Jim did.

  62. Quality is ____ counts most.

  A. which B. that C. what D. where

  63. In his plays Shakespeare _____ his characters live through their language.

  A. would make B. had made C. made D. makes

  64. The square itself is five hundred yards wide, five times ____ the size of St. Peter's in

  Rome.

  A. / B. that of C. which is D. of

  65. Which of the following sentences expresses "probability"?

  A. You must leave immediately.

  B. You must be feeling rather tired.

  C. You must be here by eight o'clock.

  D. You must complete the reading assignment on time.

  66. When he first started in university, he really felt at _____ with his major --- economics.

  A. shore B. bank C. ocean D. sea

  67. On the road motorists should be aware of cyclists and be ____ towards them.

  A. considerable B. considering C. considerate D. considered

  68. Sally was a bit shy, but the teacher found her quite ____ discussing a recent film with

  others.

  A. at home B. at most C. at house D. at bean

  69. The company has capitalized _____ the error of judgment made by its business competitor.

  A. in B. over C. with D. on

  70. Tim has failed three courses this semester, so he will have to _____ them next semester.

  A. remake B. repeat C. reapply D. revise

  71. Keep this reference book; it may come in _____ one day.

  A. handy B. useful C. convenient D. helpful

  72. The questions that the speaker raised were well ____ the average adult.

  A. past B. on C. beyond D. through

  73. Teachers in this school were encouraged to use drama as a(n) _____ of learning.

  A. design B. instrument C. agency D. tool

  74. First, we need to find out what his scheme is, and then act _____.

  A. sensitively B. imaginatively C. efficiently D. accordingly

  75. At first Jim was not quite clear what he was going to do after university, but now he seems

  _____ on becoming a computer programmer.

  A. fit B. set C. disposed D. decided

  76. When invited to talk about his achievements+ he refused to blow his own _____ and

  declined to speak at the meeting.

  A. trumpet B. whistle C. bugle D. flute

  77. In spite of the treatment, the pain in his leg grew in

  A. gravity B. extent C. intensity D. amount

  78. Bus services between Town Centre and Newton Housing Estate will be _____ until the

  motorway is repaired.

  A. discontinued B. suspended C. halted D. ceased

  79. The moon, being much nearer to the Earth than the Sun, is the ____ cause of the tides.

  A. principal B. basic C. initial D. elementary

  80. Teddy came to my ____ with a cheque of $200 to pay my room rate, after I phoned him

  that my wallet had been stolen.

  A. attendance B. assistance C. rescue D. safety

  PART V READING COMPREHENSION [25 MIN]

  In this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer. Mark your answers on your answer sheet.

  TEXT A

  When the sun is up in Amsterdam, the largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the

  Amstel River. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water

  taxi.

  But when the sun goes down, the partying begins. In the big clubs and in coffee shops,

  tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke.

  Several areas of the city clearly show the two worlds that rule Amsterdam. And they're all

  within a short cab ride of each other.

  For example, Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals, open markets, concerts

  and other events. Several beautiful and very popular hotels can be found there. And there is the

  Royal Palace and the Magna Plaza shopping mall.

  But as evening descends on Dam Square so do the party-seekers. Hip pop or funk music

  begins blaring from Club Paradiso and Club Melkweg. These are two of the most popular clubs in

  Europe. So if you come, be ready to dance. The clubs don't shut down until 4 am.

  And while you are there, check out the various inexpensive ways to tour the city. Don't

  worry about getting lost. Although Dutch is the official language, most people in Amsterdam

  speak English and are happy to help you with directions.

  And you'll notice that half the people in the streets are on bicycles. They rent for US$17 to $20 for a whole day.

  Amsterdam also has a good canal system. From anywhere between U852 and $9.50, you can

  use the canal bus or a water taxi to cruise the "Venice of the North".

  You can take in the picturesque canal house architecture: The rows of neat, narrow four-story dwellings of brownstone with large windows are well worth seeing. Many of them are several

  centuries old.

  You might also want to jump out of the canal bus at the Museum Quarter and start walking.

  Masterpieces by Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Bruegel, Van Gogh and others are on display at

  the Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt House and others.

  The city has an appreciation of its historic past. One place to visit is the Anne Frank House in Nine Streets. It was there that the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary during World War II. Visitors can view Anne's original diary and climb behind the bookcase to the room where she and her family hid from the Nazis for two years.

  81. At the beginning of the passage, the author indicates that

  A. Amsterdam is generally known as a quiet city.

  B. parties go on all day long in Amsterdam,

  C. Amsterdam presents two different pictures.

  D. Amsterdam attracts many daytime visitors.

  82. Which tourist attraction is cited for elaboration in Paragraphs Four and Five?

  A. Royal Palace.

  B. Dam Square.

  C. Club Paradiso.

  D. Magna Plaza.

  83. According to the passage, the local people have all the following characteristics EXCEPT

  A. they are party goers.

  B. they show hospitality.

  C. they can speak English.

  D. they are fond of cycling.

  84. Which of the following adjectives can best describe Amsterdam as a tourist city?

  A. Modern. B. Delightful.

  C. Quiet. D. Historic.

  TEXT B

  In an article some Chinese scholars are described as being "tantalized by the mysterious

  dragon bone hieroglyphics." Tantalized is one of many English words that have their origins in

  myths and legends of the past (in this case, Greek and Roman ones). The meaning of the verb

  tantalize is a very particular one: "to promise or show something desirable to a person and then

  take it away; to tease by arousing hope." Many (but not all) English dictionaries give you a brief indication of a word's origins in brackets before or after the explanation of the meaning. For tantalize the following explanation is given: [> Tantalus]. This means that you should look up the name Tantalus to find out the word's origins, and if you do, you will find out that in Greek mythology, Tantalus was a king who was punished in the lower world with eternal hunger and

  thirst; he was put up to his chin in water that always moved away when he tried to drink it and

  with fruit on branches above him placed just a little bit out of his reach. Can you see why his

  name was changed into a verb meaning "to tease or torment by arousing desire"?

  Another example is the word siren, familiar to us as the mechanical device that makes such

  an alarming sound when police cars, ambulances, or fire engines approach. This word also has its

  origins in Greek mythology. The traveler Odysseus (Ulysses to the Romans) made his men plug

  their ears so that they wouldn't hear the dangerous voices of the sirens, creatures who were half

  bird and half woman and who lured sailors to their deaths on sharp rocks. So the word came to be

  associated both with a loud sound and with danger!

  When someone speaks of a "jovial mood" or a "herculean effort," he or she is using words

  with origins in mythology. Look these words up to find their meaning and relationship to myths.

  Many common words, such as the names for the days of the week and the months of the year,

  also come from mythology. Wednesday derives from the ancient Norse king of the gods, Woden,

  and Thursday was originally Thor's day, in honour of Thor, the god of thunder. As a matter of fact, all the planets, except the one we live on, bear names that come from Roman mythology,

  including the planet that is farthest away from the sun and for that reason was called after the

  Roman god of the dead. This god has also given his name to one of the chemical elements.

  Several other elements have names that come from mythology, too.

  It seems that myths and legends live on in the English language.

  85. The purpose of the first sentence in Paragraph One is ____.

  A. to describe the work of some Chinese scholars.

  B. to arouse readers' interest in hieroglyphics.

  C. to lead readers onto the main theme.

  D. to link the preceding part to the present one.

  86. We learn from the passage, all English dictionaries include _____.

  A. legends. B. mythology.

  C. word origins. D. word definitions.

  87. The example of tantalize is to show _____.

  A. how the word came into existence.

  B. how Tantalus was punished in the lower world.

  C. how all English dictionaries show word origins.

  D. how the meaning of the word changed over the years.

  88. According to the passage, which of the following does NOT have origins in myths or

  legends?

  A. Jovial. B. Wednesday. C. Earth. D. March.

  89. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

  A. Greek and Roman Mythology in Language.

  B. Mythological Origins of English Words.

  C. Historical Changes in Word Meanings.

  D. Mythology and Common Words.

  TEXT C

  My heart sank when the man at the immigration counter gestured to the back room. l'm an

  American born and raised, and this was Miami, where I live, but they weren't quite ready to let

  me in yet.

  "Please wait in here, Ms Abujaber," the immigration officer said. My husband, with his very

  American last name, accompanied me. He was getting used to this. The same thing had happened

  recently in Canada when I'd flown to Montreal to speak at a book event. That time they held me

  for 45 minutes. Today we were returning from a literary festival in Jamaica, and I was startled that I was being sent "in back" once again.

  The officer behind the counter called me up and said, "Miss, your name looks like the name

  of someone who's on our wanted list. We're going to have to check you out with Washington."

  "How long will it take?"

  "Hard to say ... a few minutes," he said. "We'll call you when we're ready for you."

  After an hour, Washington still hadn't decided anything about me. "Isn't this computerized?"

  I asked at the counter. "Can't you just look me up?"

  Just a few more minutes, they assured me.

  After an hour and a half, I pulled my cell phone out to call the friends I was supposed to meet that evening. An officer rushed over. "No phones!" he said. "For all we know you could be calling a terrorist cell and giving them information."

  "I'm just a university professor," I said. My voice came out in a squeak.

  "Of course you are. And we take people like you out of here in leg irons every day."

  I put my phone away.

  My husband and 1 were getting hungry and tired. Whole families had been brought into the

  waiting room, and the place was packed with excitable children, exhausted parents, even a flight

  attendant.

  I wanted to scream, to jump on a chair and shout: "I'm an American citizen; a novelist; l

  probably teach English literature to your children." Or would that all be counted against me?

  After two hours in detention, I was approached by one of the officers. "You're free to go," he said. No explanation or apologies. For a moment, neither of us moved, we were still in shock.

  Then we leaped to our feet.

  "Oh, one more thing." He handed me a tattered photocopy with an address on it. "If you

  weren't happy with your treatment, you can write to this agency."

  "Will they respond?" I asked.

  "I don't know --- I don't know of anyone who's ever written to them before." Then he added,

  "By the way, this will probably keep happening each time you travel internationally."

  "What can I do to keep it from happening again?"

  He smiled the empty smile we'd seen all day. "Absolutely nothing."

  After telling several friends about our ordeal, probably the most frequent advice I've heard in response is to change my name. Twenty years ago, my own graduate school writing professor advised me to write under a pen name so that publishers wouldn't stick me in what he called "the ethnic ghetto" --- a separate, secondary shelf in the bookstore. But a name is an integral part of anyone's personal and professional identity -just like the town you're born in and the place where you're raised.

  Like my father, I'll keep the name, but my airport experience has given me a whole new

  perspective on what diversity and tolerance are supposed to mean. I had no idea that being an

  American would ever be this hard.

  90. The author was held at the airport because _____.

  A. she and her husband returned from Jamaica.

  B. her name was similar to a terrorist's.

  C. she had been held in Montreal.

  D. she had spoken at a book event.

  91. She was not allowed to call her friends because _____.

  A. her identity hadn't been confirmed yet.

  B. she had been held for only one hour and a half.

  C. there were other families in the waiting room.

  D. she couldn't use her own cell phone.

  92. We learn from the passage that the author would _____ to prevent similar experience

  from happening again.

  A. write to the agency B. change her name

  C. avoid traveling abroad D. do nothing

  93. Her experiences indicate that there still exists _____ in the US.

  A. hatred B. discrimination

  C. tolerance D. diversity

  94. The author sounds in the last paragraph.

  A. impatient

  B. bitter

  C. worried

  D. ironic

  TEXT D

  Public speaking fills most people with dread. Humiliation is the greatest fear; self-exposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second. Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearances of all kinds.

  Most people have plenty of insecurities, and this seems like a situation that will bring them out. If you were under pressure to be perfect, you are terrified of falling in the most public of ways.

  While extroverts will feel less fear before the ordeal, it does not mean they will necessarily do it better. Some very shy people manage to shine. When I met the British comedian Julian Clary, he was shy and cautious, yet his TV performances are perfect.

  In fact, personality is not the best predictor of who does it well. Regardless of what you are like in real life, the key seems to be to act yourself.

  Actual acting, as in performing the scripted lines of a character other than yourself, does not do the job. While politicians may limit damage by havingcarefully rehearsed, written scripts to speak from, there is always a hidden awareness among the audience that the words might not be

  true.

  Likewise, the incredibly perfect speeches of many American academics are far from natural.

  You may end up buying their book on the way out, but soon afterwards, it is much like fast food,

  and you get a nameless sense that you've been cheated.

  Although, as Earl Spencer proved at his sister Princess Diana's funeral, it is possible both to prepare every word and to act naturally. A script rarely works and it is used to help most speakers.

  But, being yourself doesn't work either. If you spoke as if you were in your own kitchen, it

  would be too authentic, too unaware of the need to communicate with an audience.

  I remember going to see British psychiatrist R. D. Laing speak in public. He behaved like a

  seriously odd person, talking off the top of his head. Although he was talking about madness and

  he wrote on mental illness, he seemed to be exhibiting rather than explaining it.

  The best psychological place from which to speak is an unselfconscious self-consciousness,

  providing the illusion of being natural. Studies suggest that this state of "flow", as psychologists call it, is very satisfying.

  95. Women hate public speaking most mainly because of _____.

  A. their upbringing very early on.

  B. their inability to appeal to the audience.

  C. their sense of greater public pressure.

  D. their sense of greater humiliation.

  96. "this" in Paragraph Two refers to

  A. insecurity.

  B. sense of failure.

  C. public speaking.

  D. pressure.

  97. Which of the following is NOT the author's viewpoint?

  A. Acting like performers spoils the message in a speech.

  B. Perfection of scripts is necessary in making good impressions.

  C. Acting naturally means less dependence on the prepared script.

  D. There should be a balance between actual acting and acting naturally.

  98. What is the author's view on personality?

  A. Personality is the key to success in public speaking.

  B. Extroverts are better public speakers.

  C. Introverts have to learn harder to be good speakers.

  D. Factors other than personality ensure better performance.

  99. The author implies that while speaking R. D. Laing _____.

  A. was both too casual and authentic.

  B. was acting like a performer.

  C. was keeping a good balance.

  D. was aware of his audience.

  100. In the last paragraph the author recommends that ____.

  A. you forget about your nervousness.

  B. you feel natural and speak naturally.

  C. you may feel nervous, but appear naturally.

  D. you may imagine yourself to be natural.

  PART VI WRITING [45 MIN]

  SECTION A COMPOSITION [35 MIN]

  December 5th is International Volunteers Day. Since 1985, when the United Nations announced the special day, tens of millions of people around the world have volunteered to help those in need.

  China now has 4.5 million registered volunteers who have provided more than 4.5 billion hours of

  volunteer work. What can you gain from volunteering?

  Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a composition of about 200 words on the following topic:

  The Benefits of Volunteering

  You are to write in three parts.

  In the first part, state specifically what your opinion is.

  In the second part, support your opinion with appropriate details.

  In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary.

  Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to

  follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks.

  SECTION B NOTE-WRITING [10 MIN]

  Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a note of about 50-60 words based on the following

  situation:

  Jane, your classmate, is thinking of subscribing to an English-language newspaper. And you

  would like to recommend one to her. Write a note, telling her which newspaper it is and

  describing two features of the paper.

  Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness.

  THE END

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