以下是為大家整理的2003同等學(xué)力申碩統(tǒng)考英語考試真題的文章，供大家學(xué)習(xí)參考！
Section A Directions: In this section there are fifteen sentences, each with one word or phrase underlined. Choose the one from the four choices marked A, B, C and D that best keeps the meaning of the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center。 16. The very sight of the imposing buildings assured these tourists of the significant changes in this city. A. instinctive B. impressive C. institutional D. imaginary 17. The accepted criteria of adequate diet have been challenged by new discoveries in nutrition. A. formationsB. components C. standards D. ingredients 18. Senior citizens are advised to go in for some creative activities to keep themselves mentally young. A search for B. invest in C. engage in D. work out 19. Presumably, excessive consumption of fried foods has serious consequences as has been proved. A theoretically B. Practically C. Incredibly D. Probably 20. The sitting-room feels comfortable with the fireplace shedding warm and faint light. A. giving off B. calling off C. shaking off D. putting off 21. The nasty language of local officials makes them seem very ignorant and rude. A. artificial B. indecent C. humorous D. lively 22. We shouldn’t treat children as peers or friends, but guide them in making their choices, even if it means with some discipline. A. persuasion B. punishment C. rewards D. criticism 23. Silk, although it is considered a delicate fabric, is in fact very strong, but it is adversely affected by sunlight. A. soft B. sheer C. fragile D. refined 24. It is anticipated that this contract will substantially increase sales over the next three years. A. apparently B. slightly C. considerably D. steadily 25. The new government embarked upon a program of radical economic reform. A. initiated B. produced C. adopted D. implemented 26. In the accident three men were trapped in a submerged vehicle, and their only hope was another man whose legs were broken. A. wrecked B. burnt C. overturned D. sunk 27. Nearly eleven thousand people have been arrested for defying the ban on street trading. A. criticizing B. neglecting C. blaming D. disclosing 28. There are some things in the class the teachers will not put up with. A. tolerate B. contribute C. resist D. prohibit 29. Despite the dangers and difficulties in fighting with the terrorists, the soldiers were resolute. A. defensive B. aggressive C. stubborn D. firm 30. Born in 1932, he retired as a foreign correspondent for the Polish Press Agency in 1981, by which time his three books had started to come out. A. be subscribed B. be published C. be popular D. be written
Section B Directions: In this section, there are fifteen incomplete sentences. For each sentence 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. Sometimes we buy a magazine with absolutely no purpose ___________ to pass time. A. rather than B. other thanC. as well D. except for 32. Those who ___________ women’s liberation movement continue to hope, and work, for a change. A. consist in B. believe in C. indulge in D. result in 33. Finding out about these universities has become easy for anyone with Internet _______. A. entrance B. admission C. access D. entry 34. How strange it is that the habit he developed in his childhood still _____________ him. A. takes to B. clings to C. attends to D. adds to 35. The three disrespectful sons began to feel worried about the ultimate ______________ of the family’s property. A. proposal B. disposal C. removal D. salvation 36. Chemists, physicists and mathematicians are ___________ known as scientists. A. collectively B. alternatively C. cognitively D. exclusively 37. The national government is to make every effort to ______________ the will of the people. A. executeB. exceed C. excite D. exhaust 38. There are often discouraging predictions that have not been ____________ by actual events. A. verified B. utilized C. mobilized D. modified 39. Tom was ___________ of a crime he didn’t commit. He fought for many years to clear his name. A. convicted B. convinced C. conceived D. condemned 40. Actor Pierce Brosnan may play the deadly super spy in the movies, but in real life he is a ___________ father and a loving husband. A. devastated B. deserved C. desperate D. devoted 41. The years of practice, of developing my special technique, are just about to _________. A. turn up B. figure out C. pay off D. clear away 42. Like most foreigners, I ask a lot of questions, some of which are insultingly silly. But everyone I __________________ has answered those questions with patience and honesty. A. come across B. come by C. come over D. come into 43. Now when talking about economic reform I am very ____________ aware of the shadow hanging over most African countries’ debt. A. well B. far C. much D. greatly 44. This procedure describes how suggestions for improvements to the systems are ______. A. celebrated B. proceeded C. generated D. established 45. “Since we are exchanging ___________, I too have a secret to reveal,” said Mary. A. transferences B. transactions C. confidences D. promises
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes, 25 points) Directions: There are five passages in this part. Each passage is followed by five questions or unfinished statements. For each of hem there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and mark the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.
Passage 1 Andrea had never seen an old lady hitchhiking (搭車) before. However, the weather and the coming darkness made her feel sorry for the lady. The old lady had some difficulty climbing in through the ear door, and pushed her big brown canvas shopping bag down onto the floor under her feet. She said to Andrea, in a voice that was almost a whisper, "Thank you dearie, —I'm just going to Brockbourne." Something in the way the lady spoke, and the way she never turned her head, made Andrea uneasy about this strange hitchhiker. She didn't know why, but she felt instinctively that there was something wrong, something odd, something... dangerous. But how could an old lady be dangerous? It was absurd. Careful not to turn her head, Andrea looked sideways at her passenger. She studied the hat, the dirty collar of the dress, the shapeless body, the arms with their thick black hairs... Thick black hairs? Hairy arms? Andrea's blood froze. This wasn't a woman. It was a man. At first, she didn't know what to do. Then suddenly, an idea came into her racing, terrified brain. Swinging the wheel suddenly, she threw the car into a skid (剎車), and brought it to a halt. "My God!" she shouted, "A child! Did you see the child? I think I hit her!" The "old lady" was clearly shaken by the sudden skid, "I didn't see anything dearie," she said. "I don't think you hit anything. " "I'm sure it was a child!" insisted Andrea." Could you just get out and have a look? Just see if there's anything on the road?" She held her breath. Would her plan work? It did. The passenger slowly climbed out to investigate. As soon as she was out of the vehicle, Andrea gunned the engine and accelerated madly away, and soon she had put a good three miles between herself and the awful hitchhiker. It was only then that she thought about the bag lying on the floor in front of her. Maybe the bag would provide some information about the real identity about the man. Pulling into the side of the road, Andrea opened the heavy bag curiously. It contained only one item------- a small hand axe, with a razor—sharp blade. The axe, and the inside of the bag, were covered with the dark red stains of dried blood. Andrea began to scream.
46. Andrea allowed the hitchhiker to take a ride in her car, mainly because _______. A. the hitchhiker was an old woman B. she was curious about the old lady C. the lady had a heavy bag D. she knew the old lady 47. What made Andrea afraid when she looked at the old lady? A. She had a shapeless body. B. She had a harsh voice. C. She wore a dirty dress. D. She had hairy arms. 48. Andrea suddenly stopped the car because________ . A. she thought she had hit a child on the road B. she skidded on some ice on the road C. she wanted to trick the passenger into getting out D. she couldn't concentrate and nearly had a crash 49. Andrea looked in the passenger's bag to________ . A. examine what was in it B. find out where the passenger lived C. use the passenger's tools D. find out who the passenger was 50. Andrea screamed because_______ . A. she saw the hitchhiker come back B. she realized she could have been killed C. she was scared at seeing blood D. she cut herself by the blade
Passage 2 Desperately short of living space and dangerously prone to flooding, the Netherlands plans to start building homes, businesses and even roads on water. With nearly a third of the country already covered by water and half of its land mass below sea level and constantly under threat from rising waters, the authorities believe that floating communities may well be the future. Six prototype wooden and aluminum floating houses are already attached to something off Amsterdam, and at least a further 100 are planned on the same estate, called Ijburg. "Everybody asks why didn’t we do this kind of thing before," said Gijsbert Van der Woerdt, director of the firm responsible for promoting the concept. "After Bangladesh we’re the most densely populated country in the world. Building space is scarce and government stud¬ies show that we’ll need to double the space available to us in the coming years to meet all our needs. " Before being placed on the water and moved into position by tugboats (拖船), the hou¬ses are built on land atop concrete flat—bottomed boats, which encase giant lumps of polystyrene （聚苯乙烯） reinforced with steel. The flat—bottomed boats are said to be unsinkable and are anchored by underwater cables. The floating roads apply the same technology. The concept is proving popular with the Dutch. The waiting list for such homes, which will cost between euros 200, 000～500, 000 to buy, runs to 5, 000 names, claims Vander Woerdt. With much of the country given over to market gardening and the intensive cultivation of flowers, planners have also come up with designs for floating greenhouses designed so that the water beneath them irrigates the plants and controls the temperature inside. A pilot project, covering 50 hectares of flooded land near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, is planned for 2005. The opportunities for innovative developers look promising. "We have 10 projects in the pipeline—floating villages and cities complete with offices, shops and restaurants," Van der Woerdt said.
51. The Netherlands plans to start building floating communities on water because _________. A. most parts of the country are covered by water B. the country is constantly threatened by floods C. it will promote the cultivation of flowers D. people think it better to live on water 52. By citing "Everyone asks why didn’t we do this kind of thing before ", the author wants to tell us that__________. A. building floating communities is a very good idea B. the director of the firm didn’t want to answer the question C. the Netherlands should follow the example of Bangladesh D. people are not satisfied with the government’s work 53. The floating houses will be________ . A. reinforced with steel B. made of concrete C. constructed in water D. built on boats 54. According to the author, the floating communities on water____________ . A. can promote market gardening B. are beyond the reach of most Dutch people C. will increase the cost of gardening D. will be very popular by the year of 2005 55. "10 projects in the pipeline" in the last paragraph means____________ . A. "10 pipelines to provide gas" B. "10 companies to lay the pipelines" C. "10 floating houses to be built on water" D. "10 building projects planned and started" Passage 3 My new home was a long way from the centre of London but it was becoming essential to find a job, so finally I spent a whole morning getting to town and putting my name down to be considered by London Transport for a job on the tube. They were looking for guards, not drivers. This suited me. 1 couldn’t drive a car but thought that I could probably guard a train, and perhaps continue to write my poems between stations. The writers Keats and Chekhov had been doctors. T. S. Eliot had worked in a bank and Wallace Stevens for an insurance company. I would be a tube guard. I could see myself being cheerful, useful, a good man in a crisis. Obviously I would be overqualified but I was willing to forget about that in return for a steady income and travel privileges those being particularly welcome to someone living a long way from the city centre. The next day I sat down, with almost a hundred other candidates, for the intelligence test, I must have done all right because after half an hour’s wait I was sent into another room for a psychological test. This time there were only about fifty candidates. The examiner sat at a desk. You were signaled forward to occupy the seat opposite him when the previous occupant had been dismissed, after a greater or shorter time. Obviously the long interviews were the more successful ones. Some of the interviews were as short as five minutes. Mine was the only one that lasted a minute and a half. I can remember the questions now: "Why did you leave your last job?" "Why did you leave your job before that?" "And the one before that?" I can’t recall my answers, except that they were short at first and grew progressively shorter. His closing statement, I thought, revealed a lack of sensitivity which helped to explain why as a psychologist, he had risen no higher than the underground railway. "You have failed the psychological test and we are unable to offer you a position. " Failing to get that job was my low point. Or so I thought, believing that the work was easy. Actually, such jobs—being a postman is another one I still desire—demand exactly the sort of elementary yet responsible awareness that the habitual dreamer is least qualified to give. But I was still far short of full self—understanding. I was also short of cash.
56. The writer applied for the job because________ . A. he could no longer afford to live without one B. he wanted to work in the centre of London C. he had received suitable training D. he was not interested in any other available job 57. The writer thought he was overqualified for the job because_________ . A. he had written many poems B. he often traveled underground C. he had worked in an insurance company D. he could deal with difficult situations 58. The length of his interview meant that_________ . A. he had not done well in the intelligence test B. he was not going to be offered the job C. he had little work experience to talk about D. he did not like the examiner 59. What was the writer’s opinion of the psychologist? A. He was inefficient at his job. B. He was unsympathetic. C. He was unhappy with his job. D. He was very aggressive. 60. What does the writer realize now that he did not realize then? A. How difficult it can be to get a job. B. How unpleasant ordinary jobs can be. C. How badly he did in the interview. D. How unsuitable he was for the job.
Passage 4 For more than 10 years there has been a bigger rise in car crime than in most other types of crime. An average of more than two cars a minute are broken into, vandalized (破壞) or stolen in the UK. Car crime accounts for almost a third of all reported offences with no signs that the trend is slowing down. Although there are highly professional criminals involved in car theft, almost 90 percent of car crime is committed by the opportunist. Amateur thieves are aided by our carelessness. When the Automobile Association (AA) engineers surveyed one town centre car park last year, 10 percent of cars checked were unlocked, a figure backed up by a Home Office national survey that found 12 percent of drivers sometimes left their cars unlocked. The vehicles are sitting in petrol stations while drivers pay for their fuel. The AA has discovered that cars are left unattended for an average of three minutes and sometimes much longer as drivers buy drinks, cigarettes and other consumer items and then pay at the counter. With payment by credit card more and more common, it is not unusual for a driver to be out of his car as long as six minutes providing the car thief with a golden opportunity. In an exclusive AA survey, carried out at a busy garage on a main road out of London, 300 motorists were questioned over three days of the holiday period. 24 percent admitted that they "always" or "sometimes" leave the keys in the car. This means that nationwide, a million cars daily become easy targets for the opportunist thief. The AA recommends locking up whenever you leave the car------- and for however short a period. A partially open sunroof or window is a further come—on to thieves. Leaving valuables in view is an invitation to the criminal. A Manchester probationary (假釋期) service research project, which interviewed almost 100 car thieves last year, found many would investigate a coat thrown on a seat. Never leave any documents showing your home address in the car. If you have a garage, use it and lock it— a garaged car is at substantially less risk. There are many other traps to avoid. The Home Office has found little awareness among drivers about safe parking. Most motorists questioned made no efforts to avoid parking in quiet spots away from street lights just the places thieves love. The AA advises drivers to park in places with people around—thieves do not like audiences.
61. The passage seems to imply that payment by credit card_________ . A. is preferable for safe parking B. is now a common practice C. takes longer than necessary D. aids a car thief in a way 62. Which of the following statements is correct? A. In the UK, a million cars are stolen daily. B. In the UK, there are amateur car thieves only. C. There are more car crimes than any other type of offences. D. One in ten drivers invites car theft due to carelessness. 63. The researches mentioned in the passage on car theft include all the following EXCEPT_________. A. checking private garages B. interviewing motorists C. questioning car thieves D. examining parking lots 64. The best way for a driver to avoid car theft is_________ . A. leaving documents showing one’s home address in the car B. locking one’s car in a parking lot at any time C. not leaving the car unattended for longer than necessary D. not leaving a sunroof or window partially open 65. In the last paragraph, the term "safe parking" means__________ . A. not parking under street lights B. not parking in front of a theatre or cinema C. avoiding traps set by a possible car thief D. parking where a lot of people pass by
Section A Directions: In this section there are fifteen sentences, each with one word or phrase underlined. Choose the one from the four choices marked A, B, C and D that best keeps the meaning of the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center。 16. The very sight of the imposing buildings assured these tourists of the significant changes in this city. A. instinctive B. impressive C. institutional D. imaginary 17. The accepted criteria of adequate diet have been challenged by new discoveries in nutrition. A. formationsB. components C. standards D. ingredients 18. Senior citizens are advised to go in for some creative activities to keep themselves mentally young. A search for B. invest in C. engage in D. work out 19. Presumably, excessive consumption of fried foods has serious consequences as has been proved. A theoretically B. Practically C. Incredibly D. Probably 20. The sitting-room feels comfortable with the fireplace shedding warm and faint light. A. giving off B. calling off C. shaking off D. putting off 21. The nasty language of local officials makes them seem very ignorant and rude. A. artificial B. indecent C. humorous D. lively 22. We shouldn’t treat children as peers or friends, but guide them in making their choices, even if it means with some discipline. A. persuasion B. punishment C. rewards D. criticism 23. Silk, although it is considered a delicate fabric, is in fact very strong, but it is adversely affected by sunlight. A. soft B. sheer C. fragile D. refined 24. It is anticipated that this contract will substantially increase sales over the next three years. A. apparently B. slightly C. considerably D. steadily 25. The new government embarked upon a program of radical economic reform. A. initiated B. produced C. adopted D. implemented 26. In the accident three men were trapped in a submerged vehicle, and their only hope was another man whose legs were broken. A. wrecked B. burnt C. overturned D. sunk 27. Nearly eleven thousand people have been arrested for defying the ban on street trading. A. criticizing B. neglecting C. blaming D. disclosing 28. There are some things in the class the teachers will not put up with. A. tolerate B. contribute C. resist D. prohibit 29. Despite the dangers and difficulties in fighting with the terrorists, the soldiers were resolute. A. defensive B. aggressive C. stubborn D. firm 30. Born in 1932, he retired as a foreign correspondent for the Polish Press Agency in 1981, by which time his three books had started to come out. A. be subscribed B. be published C. be popular D. be written
Section B Directions: In this section, there are fifteen incomplete sentences. For each sentence 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. Sometimes we buy a magazine with absolutely no purpose ___________ to pass time. A. rather than B. other thanC. as well D. except for 32. Those who ___________ women’s liberation movement continue to hope, and work, for a change. A. consist in B. believe in C. indulge in D. result in 33. Finding out about these universities has become easy for anyone with Internet _______. A. entrance B. admission C. access D. entry 34. How strange it is that the habit he developed in his childhood still _____________ him. A. takes to B. clings to C. attends to D. adds to 35. The three disrespectful sons began to feel worried about the ultimate ______________ of the family’s property. A. proposal B. disposal C. removal D. salvation 36. Chemists, physicists and mathematicians are ___________ known as scientists. A. collectively B. alternatively C. cognitively D. exclusively 37. The national government is to make every effort to ______________ the will of the people. A. executeB. exceed C. excite D. exhaust 38. There are often discouraging predictions that have not been ____________ by actual events. A. verified B. utilized C. mobilized D. modified 39. Tom was ___________ of a crime he didn’t commit. He fought for many years to clear his name. A. convicted B. convinced C. conceived D. condemned 40. Actor Pierce Brosnan may play the deadly super spy in the movies, but in real life he is a ___________ father and a loving husband. A. devastated B. deserved C. desperate D. devoted 41. The years of practice, of developing my special technique, are just about to _________. A. turn up B. figure out C. pay off D. clear away 42. Like most foreigners, I ask a lot of questions, some of which are insultingly silly. But everyone I __________________ has answered those questions with patience and honesty. A. come across B. come by C. come over D. come into 43. Now when talking about economic reform I am very ____________ aware of the shadow hanging over most African countries’ debt. A. well B. far C. much D. greatly 44. This procedure describes how suggestions for improvements to the systems are ______. A. celebrated B. proceeded C. generated D. established 45. “Since we are exchanging ___________, I too have a secret to reveal,” said Mary. A. transferences B. transactions C. confidences D. promises
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes, 25 points) Directions: There are five passages in this part. Each passage is followed by five questions or unfinished statements. For each of hem there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and mark the corresponding letter on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.
Passage 1 Andrea had never seen an old lady hitchhiking (搭車) before. However, the weather and the coming darkness made her feel sorry for the lady. The old lady had some difficulty climbing in through the ear door, and pushed her big brown canvas shopping bag down onto the floor under her feet. She said to Andrea, in a voice that was almost a whisper, "Thank you dearie, —I'm just going to Brockbourne." Something in the way the lady spoke, and the way she never turned her head, made Andrea uneasy about this strange hitchhiker. She didn't know why, but she felt instinctively that there was something wrong, something odd, something... dangerous. But how could an old lady be dangerous? It was absurd. Careful not to turn her head, Andrea looked sideways at her passenger. She studied the hat, the dirty collar of the dress, the shapeless body, the arms with their thick black hairs... Thick black hairs? Hairy arms? Andrea's blood froze. This wasn't a woman. It was a man. At first, she didn't know what to do. Then suddenly, an idea came into her racing, terrified brain. Swinging the wheel suddenly, she threw the car into a skid (剎車), and brought it to a halt. "My God!" she shouted, "A child! Did you see the child? I think I hit her!" The "old lady" was clearly shaken by the sudden skid, "I didn't see anything dearie," she said. "I don't think you hit anything. " "I'm sure it was a child!" insisted Andrea." Could you just get out and have a look? Just see if there's anything on the road?" She held her breath. Would her plan work? It did. The passenger slowly climbed out to investigate. As soon as she was out of the vehicle, Andrea gunned the engine and accelerated madly away, and soon she had put a good three miles between herself and the awful hitchhiker. It was only then that she thought about the bag lying on the floor in front of her. Maybe the bag would provide some information about the real identity about the man. Pulling into the side of the road, Andrea opened the heavy bag curiously. It contained only one item------- a small hand axe, with a razor—sharp blade. The axe, and the inside of the bag, were covered with the dark red stains of dried blood. Andrea began to scream.
46. Andrea allowed the hitchhiker to take a ride in her car, mainly because _______. A. the hitchhiker was an old woman B. she was curious about the old lady C. the lady had a heavy bag D. she knew the old lady 47. What made Andrea afraid when she looked at the old lady? A. She had a shapeless body. B. She had a harsh voice. C. She wore a dirty dress. D. She had hairy arms. 48. Andrea suddenly stopped the car because________ . A. she thought she had hit a child on the road B. she skidded on some ice on the road C. she wanted to trick the passenger into getting out D. she couldn't concentrate and nearly had a crash 49. Andrea looked in the passenger's bag to________ . A. examine what was in it B. find out where the passenger lived C. use the passenger's tools D. find out who the passenger was 50. Andrea screamed because_______ . A. she saw the hitchhiker come back B. she realized she could have been killed C. she was scared at seeing blood D. she cut herself by the blade
Passage 2 Desperately short of living space and dangerously prone to flooding, the Netherlands plans to start building homes, businesses and even roads on water. With nearly a third of the country already covered by water and half of its land mass below sea level and constantly under threat from rising waters, the authorities believe that floating communities may well be the future. Six prototype wooden and aluminum floating houses are already attached to something off Amsterdam, and at least a further 100 are planned on the same estate, called Ijburg. "Everybody asks why didn’t we do this kind of thing before," said Gijsbert Van der Woerdt, director of the firm responsible for promoting the concept. "After Bangladesh we’re the most densely populated country in the world. Building space is scarce and government stud¬ies show that we’ll need to double the space available to us in the coming years to meet all our needs. " Before being placed on the water and moved into position by tugboats (拖船), the hou¬ses are built on land atop concrete flat—bottomed boats, which encase giant lumps of polystyrene （聚苯乙烯） reinforced with steel. The flat—bottomed boats are said to be unsinkable and are anchored by underwater cables. The floating roads apply the same technology. The concept is proving popular with the Dutch. The waiting list for such homes, which will cost between euros 200, 000～500, 000 to buy, runs to 5, 000 names, claims Vander Woerdt. With much of the country given over to market gardening and the intensive cultivation of flowers, planners have also come up with designs for floating greenhouses designed so that the water beneath them irrigates the plants and controls the temperature inside. A pilot project, covering 50 hectares of flooded land near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, is planned for 2005. The opportunities for innovative developers look promising. "We have 10 projects in the pipeline—floating villages and cities complete with offices, shops and restaurants," Van der Woerdt said.
51. The Netherlands plans to start building floating communities on water because _________. A. most parts of the country are covered by water B. the country is constantly threatened by floods C. it will promote the cultivation of flowers D. people think it better to live on water 52. By citing "Everyone asks why didn’t we do this kind of thing before ", the author wants to tell us that__________. A. building floating communities is a very good idea B. the director of the firm didn’t want to answer the question C. the Netherlands should follow the example of Bangladesh D. people are not satisfied with the government’s work 53. The floating houses will be________ . A. reinforced with steel B. made of concrete C. constructed in water D. built on boats 54. According to the author, the floating communities on water____________ . A. can promote market gardening B. are beyond the reach of most Dutch people C. will increase the cost of gardening D. will be very popular by the year of 2005 55. "10 projects in the pipeline" in the last paragraph means____________ . A. "10 pipelines to provide gas" B. "10 companies to lay the pipelines" C. "10 floating houses to be built on water" D. "10 building projects planned and started" Passage 3 My new home was a long way from the centre of London but it was becoming essential to find a job, so finally I spent a whole morning getting to town and putting my name down to be considered by London Transport for a job on the tube. They were looking for guards, not drivers. This suited me. 1 couldn’t drive a car but thought that I could probably guard a train, and perhaps continue to write my poems between stations. The writers Keats and Chekhov had been doctors. T. S. Eliot had worked in a bank and Wallace Stevens for an insurance company. I would be a tube guard. I could see myself being cheerful, useful, a good man in a crisis. Obviously I would be overqualified but I was willing to forget about that in return for a steady income and travel privileges those being particularly welcome to someone living a long way from the city centre. The next day I sat down, with almost a hundred other candidates, for the intelligence test, I must have done all right because after half an hour’s wait I was sent into another room for a psychological test. This time there were only about fifty candidates. The examiner sat at a desk. You were signaled forward to occupy the seat opposite him when the previous occupant had been dismissed, after a greater or shorter time. Obviously the long interviews were the more successful ones. Some of the interviews were as short as five minutes. Mine was the only one that lasted a minute and a half. I can remember the questions now: "Why did you leave your last job?" "Why did you leave your job before that?" "And the one before that?" I can’t recall my answers, except that they were short at first and grew progressively shorter. His closing statement, I thought, revealed a lack of sensitivity which helped to explain why as a psychologist, he had risen no higher than the underground railway. "You have failed the psychological test and we are unable to offer you a position. " Failing to get that job was my low point. Or so I thought, believing that the work was easy. Actually, such jobs—being a postman is another one I still desire—demand exactly the sort of elementary yet responsible awareness that the habitual dreamer is least qualified to give. But I was still far short of full self—understanding. I was also short of cash.
56. The writer applied for the job because________ . A. he could no longer afford to live without one B. he wanted to work in the centre of London C. he had received suitable training D. he was not interested in any other available job 57. The writer thought he was overqualified for the job because_________ . A. he had written many poems B. he often traveled underground C. he had worked in an insurance company D. he could deal with difficult situations 58. The length of his interview meant that_________ . A. he had not done well in the intelligence test B. he was not going to be offered the job C. he had little work experience to talk about D. he did not like the examiner 59. What was the writer’s opinion of the psychologist? A. He was inefficient at his job. B. He was unsympathetic. C. He was unhappy with his job. D. He was very aggressive. 60. What does the writer realize now that he did not realize then? A. How difficult it can be to get a job. B. How unpleasant ordinary jobs can be. C. How badly he did in the interview. D. How unsuitable he was for the job.
Passage 4 For more than 10 years there has been a bigger rise in car crime than in most other types of crime. An average of more than two cars a minute are broken into, vandalized (破壞) or stolen in the UK. Car crime accounts for almost a third of all reported offences with no signs that the trend is slowing down. Although there are highly professional criminals involved in car theft, almost 90 percent of car crime is committed by the opportunist. Amateur thieves are aided by our carelessness. When the Automobile Association (AA) engineers surveyed one town centre car park last year, 10 percent of cars checked were unlocked, a figure backed up by a Home Office national survey that found 12 percent of drivers sometimes left their cars unlocked. The vehicles are sitting in petrol stations while drivers pay for their fuel. The AA has discovered that cars are left unattended for an average of three minutes and sometimes much longer as drivers buy drinks, cigarettes and other consumer items and then pay at the counter. With payment by credit card more and more common, it is not unusual for a driver to be out of his car as long as six minutes providing the car thief with a golden opportunity. In an exclusive AA survey, carried out at a busy garage on a main road out of London, 300 motorists were questioned over three days of the holiday period. 24 percent admitted that they "always" or "sometimes" leave the keys in the car. This means that nationwide, a million cars daily become easy targets for the opportunist thief. The AA recommends locking up whenever you leave the car------- and for however short a period. A partially open sunroof or window is a further come—on to thieves. Leaving valuables in view is an invitation to the criminal. A Manchester probationary (假釋期) service research project, which interviewed almost 100 car thieves last year, found many would investigate a coat thrown on a seat. Never leave any documents showing your home address in the car. If you have a garage, use it and lock it— a garaged car is at substantially less risk. There are many other traps to avoid. The Home Office has found little awareness among drivers about safe parking. Most motorists questioned made no efforts to avoid parking in quiet spots away from street lights just the places thieves love. The AA advises drivers to park in places with people around—thieves do not like audiences.
61. The passage seems to imply that payment by credit card_________ . A. is preferable for safe parking B. is now a common practice C. takes longer than necessary D. aids a car thief in a way 62. Which of the following statements is correct? A. In the UK, a million cars are stolen daily. B. In the UK, there are amateur car thieves only. C. There are more car crimes than any other type of offences. D. One in ten drivers invites car theft due to carelessness. 63. The researches mentioned in the passage on car theft include all the following EXCEPT_________. A. checking private garages B. interviewing motorists C. questioning car thieves D. examining parking lots 64. The best way for a driver to avoid car theft is_________ . A. leaving documents showing one’s home address in the car B. locking one’s car in a parking lot at any time C. not leaving the car unattended for longer than necessary D. not leaving a sunroof or window partially open 65. In the last paragraph, the term "safe parking" means__________ . A. not parking under street lights B. not parking in front of a theatre or cinema C. avoiding traps set by a possible car thief D. parking where a lot of people pass by