2009年职称英语综合类教材新增部分内容及参考译文
2009年职称英语综合类教材新增部分内容
第四部分 阅读理解
（六篇）
第二篇
Outside-the-classroom Learning Makes a Big Difference
Putting a bunch of college students in charge of a $300,000 Dance Marathon, fundraiser surely sounds a bit risky.1 When you consider the fact that the money is supposed to be given to. Children in need of medical care, you might call the idea crazy.
Most student leaders don't want to spend a large amount of time on something they care little about, said 22-year-old University of Florida student Darren Heitner. He was the Dance Marathon's operations officer for two years.
Yvonne Fangmeyer, director of the student organization office at the University of Wisconsin, conducted a survey in February of students involved in campus organizations.2 She said the desire for friendship was the most frequently cited reason for joining.
At large universities like Fangmeyer's, which has more than 40,000 students, the students first of all want to find a way to "belong in their own comer of campus".
Katie Rowley, a Wisconsin senior, confirms the survey's findings. "I wanted to make the campus feel smaller by joining an organization where I could not only get involved on campus but also find a group of friends."
All of this talk of friendship, however, does not mean that students aren't thinking about their resumes. "I think that a lot of people do join to ‘fatten up their resume’," said Heitner. "At the beginning of my college career, I joined a few of these organizations, hoping to get a start in my leadership roles."
But without passion student leaders can have a difficult time trying to weather the storms that come. For example, in April, several student organizations at Wisconsin teamed up3 for an event designed to educate students about homelessness and poverty. Student leaders had to face the problem of solving disagreements, moving the event because of rainy weather, and dealing with the university's complicated bureaucracy.
"Outside-of the classroom learning really makes a big difference," Fangmeyer said.
词汇：
Bunch n. 群
Marathon n. 马立松；耐力活动
fundraiser n. 募捐
weather v. 经受风雨
bureaucracy n. 官僚机构
注释：
1．Putting a bunch of college students in charge of a$300，000 Dance Marathon，fundraiser surely sounds a bit risky．让一群大学生去负责募集30万美元的马拉松式的跳舞活动，这种募捐听起来肯定有点儿冒险。“putting．．．in charge of．．．”是“让……负责”。
2．Yvonne Fangmeyer, director of the student organization office at the University of Wisconsin, conducted a survey in February of students involved in campus organizations．Yvonne Fangmeyer是威斯康星大学学生组织办公室主任，在二月组织了一次学生参加校园组织的调查。“a survey of students involved in campus organizations”太长了，所以“in February”插到了中间。
3.“teamup”是“参加”。
练习：
1. An extracurricular activity like raising a fund of $300,000 is risky because most student leaders
A) are lazy.
B) are stupid.
C) are not rich enough.
D) wilt not take an interest in it.
2. American students join campus organizations mostly for
A) making a difference.
B) gaining experience.
C) building friendship.
D) improving their resumes.
3. Who is Katie Rowley?
A) She's a senior professor.
B) She's a senior student.
C) She's a senior official.
D) She's a senior citizen
4. What do student leaders need to carry an activity through to a successful end?
A) Passion.
B) Money.
C) Power.
D) Fame.
5. The phrasal verb fatten up in paragraph 6 could be best replaced by
A) invent.
B) rewrite.
C) polish.
D) complete.
答案与题解：
1．D 问题问的是：像募集30万美元的的课外活动有点冒险是为什么?答案可以从第二段的第一句话中找到。第一句话是这么说的：大多数学生头头并不想在它们不感兴趣的事上花大量的时间。
2．C 问题问的是：美国学生参加校园组织的主要目的是什么?答案可以从第三段找到。第三段是这么说的：威斯康星大学学生组织办公室主任Yvonne Fangmeyer在二月组织了一次学生参加校园组织的调查。她说，寻求友谊是最经常列举的理由。
3．B问题问的是：Katie Rowley是谁?文章提到了好几个人，Katie Rowley是其中的一个。第五段讲到了Katie Rowley。“a Wisconsin senior”是“威斯康星四年级学生”。
4．A 问题问的是：为了把一项活动顺利地贯彻到底学生头头需要什么?答案可以从倒数第二段找到。第一句话是这么说的：但是，如果没有激情(passion)，学生头头试图经受急风暴雨的考验是会有困难的。
5．C 问题问的是：哪个词替换第6段中的“fatten up”最合适？“fatten up”原义是“使
人或动物变肥”，在这里可以解释为使一个人的履历更充实一些，因此也好看一些。因此意思上最接近的是“polish”(润色)。
第五篇
Life at Aichi University
I'm Yamamoto Mika, a 22-year old Japanese girl. I'd like to invite you to Aichi University so you can understand my life.
Our university has a close relationship with China and my department is the only one of its kind in Japan. My courses include the Chinese language, modem Chinese politics and economics. I love the Chinese culture and I have been to Tianjin as an exchange students.1
In Japan, our courses are divided into compulsory, optional and specialized courses.2 However, we have a flexible schedule. We can choose classes from a wide range of options.
Many students finish the compulsory courses in three years so that they can have one year without any classes. They often use this period of time to study abroad, conduct research and travel. Many students even suspend their study for additional study-abroad opportunities.
Japanese universities encourage students to choose their own ways of study, so it is quiet easy for us to apply for study suspension.
Japanese students participate in various kinds of extracurricular activities. They attend clubs from elementary schools, so many have already been accustomed to clubs when they enter university.
Our university now has 42 art clubs and 45 sports clubs. The annual University Festival is the grandest carnival of Japanese universities. In the festival, students promote their clubs and organize various activities. Our university's festival attracted about 150,000 people last year. I really like this festival.
In school, I participate in the journalism club. When we have the club promotion, we cook "tonnjiru", a kind of pork soup, and sell it to other students at the fair.
We also go to different places to interview celebrities who attend our festival as guests. It is a wonderful experience to talk to those stars face to face.
Japanese students like to hold parties. We have two kinds of parties. One is the Mochiyori party. If you want to attend this party you have to cook a course3 and take it to the party. The organizer buys drinks and snacks.
Another kind of party is the Nomikai, which mainly involves alcohol. We drink something called chu-hai, which is a combination of soda and wine. We also drink Japanese sake and beer. There are parties for many occasions, like welcoming new students, graduation, celebrating victories, birthday parties or just for promoting friendship.
词汇：
compulsory adj. 必修的
extracurricular adj. 课外的
carnival n. 狂欢节
celebrities n. 名人
sake n. （日本）清酒
注释：
1．I have been to Tianjin as an exchange student作为交换生我在天津学习过
2．compulsory, optional and specialized courses必修、选修、专修课
3．course是个多义词。本文出现两种意思：课程；(一道)菜
练习：
1. Which statement is NOT true of Yamamoto Mika?
A) She is a Japanese student.
B) She has never been to China.
C) She loves the Chinese culture.
D) She wants you to understand her life.
2. Many Japanese students finish the compulsory courses in three years because
A) they want to get married.
B) they want to stay at home.
C) they want to study abroad.
D) they want to make money.
3. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the University Festival?
A) Inviting government officials to dinner.
B) Organizing various activities.
C) Interviewing celebrities.
D) Promoting clubs.
4. When you attend a Mochiyori party, you need
A) interview celebrities.
B) buy drinks and snacks.
C) get permission from the organizer.
D) take to it a course you have cooked.
5. The word compulsory could be best replaced by
A) forced.
B) required.
C) requested.
D) demanded.
答案与题解：
1．B 问题问的是：下面的哪个有关Yamamoto Mika的命题是不对的? 第一段的最后一句话是这么说的：我酷爱中国文化，并且作为交换生在天津学习过。所以认为Yamamoto Mika从来没有去过中国是不对的。
2．C 问题问的是：为什么许多日本学生在三年里把所有的必修课都读完? 第四段是这么说的：许多日本学生在三年里把所有的必修课都读完是为了空出一年来，他们常常用这一段时间去国外学习、做研究和旅行。
3．A 问题问的是：下面的哪一种活动不是大学节的特色? A说的是：要求政府官员吃饭。文章没有提到过在大学节有请政府官员吃饭这种事。
4．D 问题问的是：当参加一种叫做Mochiyori的聚会时你需要做什么?倒数第二段的第三句话是这么说的：如果你想参加这种聚会的话，你要带一个你自己做的菜。
5．B “compulsory course”也可以说“required course”。
第三十四篇
Declining Interest in Developing Foreign Language Skills
Australia's foreign language skills are declining, Voice of America1 has reported. New figures show that only 13 percent of high school graduates can speak a foreign language. But four decades ago, 40 percent had foreign language skills.2
Professor Elise Tipton, from the University of Sydney, says increasingly students do not feel the need to learn another language to boost their career. She believes that Australia's economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for its minerals, is helping mask serious deficiencies in its language skills.
Australia does business very successfully in English with most of its trading partners. But as the world's economic power shifts to emerging regions such as Asia, its language gap could soon be exposed. According to the new figures, less than 6.5 percent of high school graduates are proficient in an Asian language. Academics worry that this means Australia will increasingly be isolated from its economically important Asian neighbors. Dilip Dutta, from the economics and business faculty at Sydney University, says language skills can enhance trading opportunities. If Australians want to trade with Asian countries, it is very important for them to learn the language that will help them to get closer to the culture.
But students have different opinions about Asian language learning. Pippa McCowage, a 22-year-old Australian student, says many young Australians have a half-hearted approach to foreign languages3, and the language curriculum is often weak. "While we're encouraged in high school to learn another language, it's not really apparent to me as a realistic expectation that you will have to speak it," said McCowage. "For example, I learned Japanese in high school, when I went on an exchange in Year 10, I found that the Japanese students of my age had a much greater proficiency in English than I did in Japanese. So in that sense, it almost discourages you.
At present, about 70 percent of Australia's major exports go to Asia and the Australian government has been keen on developing closer economic and diplomatic ties with Asia. Academics say that, as Asia becomes one of the world's economic powerhouses, Australia needs to improve its language skills if it is to take full advantage of the business opportunities on its doorstep.
词汇：
red-hot adj. 非常有活力的
academic n. 学者
half-hearted adj. 不热心的
powerhouse n. 经济体
注释：
1．Voice of America 美国之音
2．She believes that Australia’s economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for its minerals, is helping mask serious deficiencies in its language skills.她相信，由疯狂的矿物需求驱动的澳大利亚经济的繁荣进一步掩盖了该国语言技能方面存在的严重缺陷。
3．a halfhearted approach to foreign languages半心半意地对待外国语言
练习：
1. How much percent of high school graduates were proficient in foreign languages forty years ago?
A) 70.
B) 13.
C) 40.
D) 6.5.
2. What can be inferred from paragraph 2?
A) Australia has rich deposits of minerals.
B) Australia is essentially a self-sufficient country.
C) Australia has no intention to trade with Asian countries.
D) Australian students are not required to learn a foreign language.
3. What does Dilip Dutta think language skills can do?
A) Improve your relation with your partner.
B) Help settle international conflicts.
C) Remove barriers in negotiations.
D) Increase trading opportunities.
4. Why has the Australian government been keenly interested in strengthening ties with Asia?
A) Because Asia is where Australia is located.
B) Because Asia is where Australia's major exports go.
C) Because Asia is where Australians go and spend their holidays.
D) Because Asia is where Australia can play a big role in international affairs.
5. The word faculty in paragraph 3 can be replaced by
A) college.
B) institute.
C) university.
D) department.
答案与题解：
1．C 问题问的是：四十年以前多少百分比的高中毕业生外语是熟练的?答案在第一段。该段是这么说的：根据美国之音的报道，澳大利亚的外语技能在滑坡。新的数字表明，只有13％的高中毕业生能说一种外语，而四十年前是40％。
2．A 问题问的是：从第2段我们能推出什么？答案可以从第二句话中找到，见注释2。
3．D 问题问的是：DilipDutta认为语言技能能干什么?答案在第三段的一句话中，这句话是这么说的：Dilip Dutta, from the economics and business faculty at Sydney University, says language skills Can enhance trading opportunities．悉尼大学经济和商务系的Dilip Dutta说道，语言技能可以增加就业机会。
4．B 问题问的是：澳大利亚政府为什么热心于加强与亚洲的联系？最后一段的第一句话是这么说的：目前，澳大利亚主要的出口货物的70％流向了亚洲，因此澳大利亚政府热心于发展与亚洲的经济和外交联系。
5．D 问题问的是：第3段中的“faculty”(系)由哪个词替换最合适？“department”也是“系”。
第三十八篇
Immigration and Problems
Hundreds of thousands of people supporting immigration rights in the US filled streets all over America in early 2006. Many held signs and American flags and asked to be treated as citizens - not criminals. Many of these supported legislation from Senator John McCain that would open a path to citizenship to immigrants who were already in the country illegally. Proposed legislation from other politicians called for stricter measures - including rounding up1undocumented immigrants and sending them back to their home countries.
Canadian officials say that immigration applications continue to rise. Some want to keep the doors open. They need the labor. About 400,000 immigrants were allowed into the country in 2005, according to the Canadian Government statistics. However, all this growth means that cities need to adapt. Newcomers don't always make a smooth transition into jobs for which they are skilled. So industries are using mentoring programs to help new immigrants find proper jobs.
With the large numbers of undocumented African immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands and showing no sign of abating, the Spanish Government has decided to get tough2. There will be no more mass amnesties for illegals, and anyone coming to Spain without permission will be sent back, the government has announced. About 23,000 migrants landed on the islands in 2006, and riots have erupted in some crowded reception centers. This has promoted local authorities to appeal to the United Nations for help.
France's new immigration and integration law gives the government new powers to encourage high-skilled migration. It takes effect in 2007. The new law authorizes the government to identify particular professions where France has a talent shortage. Then the government will help these identified employers find immigrant workers with needed skills or qualifications. The selected foreign employees will be granted "skills and talents" visas, valid for three years. But some concern that it'll cause brain drain3 in developing countries.
词汇：
mentor v. 指导
undocumented adj. 无文件证明的
abate v. 减弱
amnesty n. 大赦
注释：
1．roundup是“逮捕”、“捕捉”。
2．get tough是“决心采取严厉的措施”。
3．brain drain是“人才枯竭”。
练习：
1. Many immigrants swarmed into streets in the US in early 2006, demanding that they should be treated as
A) animals.
B) citizens.
C) civilians.
D) criminals.
2. Some Canadian officials want to keep the door open because
A) Canada is in desperate need of talented people.
B) Canada can feed a much larger population.
C) Canada is suffering from labor shortage.
D) Canada is a multicultural country.
3. What has the Spanish Government decided to do?
A) Help immigrants find proper jobs.
B) Let immigrants freely enter the country.
C) Integrate immigrants into the Spanish culture.
D) Take tough measures against illegal immigration.
4. After France's new immigration and integration law takes effect, it will
A) lure overseas students back home.
B) undermine the unity of the country.
C) drain developing countries of talent.
D) induce resentment among the French workers.
5. The phrasal verb rounding up in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by
A) capturing.
B) encircling.
C) separating.
D) frightening.
答案与题解：
1．B 问题问的是：2006年初在美国许多移民涌入街道，他们要求受到怎样的对待?答案可以从第一段的第二句话中找到。这句话说的是：许多移民举着标语和美国国旗，要求按公民二不是罪犯对待。
2．C 问题问的是：一些加拿大官员想把门开着的原因是什么？答案可以从第二段中找到。前三句话是这么说的：加拿大官员说移民申请继续高涨。一些官员想把门开着。他们需要劳动力。
3．D 问题问的是：西班牙政府决定做什么？答案可以从第三段中找到。第一句话是这么说的：随着大批的无证非洲移民来到加里那群岛并且没有表明有减弱的迹象，西班牙政府决定采取严厉的措施。
4．C问题问的是：法国的新的移民和融入法案生效后，会发生什么情况？答案可以从最后一段的最后一句中找到。这句话是这么说的：但是有些人担心，这个法案会导致发展中国家的人才流失。
5．A 问题问的是：第一段中的短语“rounding up”由哪个词替换最合适？在注释1中我们已经讲述了“round up”的意思了。“capturing”(捕捉)是对的。
第四十四篇
Road Trip Vacations
It's summer. In the United States, it's the season of swimming pools, barbeques, camping and road trips.
Road trip vacations where the car journey is part of the fun are especially popular with college students, who like to explore the country on wheels. These budget trips are ideal for students who often have plenty of free time but little money.
"Ever since I went to college, I've been traveling around a lot, exploring the country," said Austin Hawkins, a 19-year-old college student from New York. This summer, Hawkins and his friends have spent weekends traveling in New England.
The best part about car trips, said Hawkins, is that you can be spontaneous. "On a road trip, if you get interested in things you see along the way you can stop and explore."
Matt Roberts, a 20-year-old student from Ohio who drove to Montreal, Canada, agrees. "With road trips you don't have to plan in advance, you can just get into a car and drive."
Even with high gas prices, driving with friends is cheaper than flying. Roberts paid about 40 dollars for gas, but a round trip plane ticket would have cost nearly 400 dollars.
Driving trips first became popular in the 1920s. Newly paved roads and improved, cars made it possible to travel longer distances. Motels started appearing outside cities.
By the 1950s, car ownership became the norm. Construction of the US interstate highway system began in 1956 and motel and restaurant chains popped up1 everywhere making long distance trips easier.
Today, the US has the highest car ownership rate in the world. Only 8 percent of American homes have no car, according to the most recent US census.
Though many college students don't own a car, most have access to one. 2 On many of Hawkins' trips, they used a borrowed van.
Hawkins' most memorable road trip took place over spring break. He and two friends drove from New York to New Orleans to volunteer, helping rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina hit it last July. They crossed the country in two days and slept in their car in church parking lots.
Roberts' road trip to Canada last winter was even more eventful. Upon arriving in Montreal, they were lost in a blizzard and shivering in the -25°cold. To find their hotel, they turned on a laptop and drove around in circles until they found a spot with wireless Internet coverage.3
"I know we should have planned better, but we're young. Now, when I see those guys I always say: 'Remember when we were lost in the snow storm!' I'll never forget that."
词汇：
barbeques n. 户外烤肉
budget adj. 低廉的
motels n. 汽车旅馆
interstate adj. 洲际的
pop v. 突然出现
hurricane n. 风暴
laptop n. 笔记本电脑
注释：
1．popup是“突然冒出”，也可说pop out。
2．Though many college students don’t own a car, most have access to one．虽然许多大学生是没有车的，但是大多数都可以弄到一辆。“to have access t0…”是“可以得到”的意思。
3．To find their hotel，they turned on a laptop(笔记本电脑)and drove around in circles until they found a spot with wireless Internet coverage．为了找旅馆，他们打开笔记本电脑，然后一圈圈地转，最后终于发现了一个无线因特网覆盖的区域。
练习：
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true of American college students?
A) They have little money.
B) They like traveling by bike.
C) They like to explore the country.
D) They often have plenty of free time.
2. What will Hawkins do when he sees something interesting on a road trip?
A) He will turn back.
B) He will drive around.
C) He will stop to explore.
D) He will stop exploring.
3. When did motels suddenly appear?
A) After the work to build the interstate highway system started.
B) When driving trips became popular.
C) After many roads were paved.
D) After new cars were made.
4. Which of the following words can best describe Hawkins' trip to New Orlends?
A) Eventful.
B) Colourful.
C) Delightful.
D) Unforgettable.
5. The word blizzard in paragraph 12 can be replaced by
A) snowstorm.
B) hurricane.
C) mist.
D) fog.
答案与题解：
1．B 问题问的是：下面的哪一个有关美国大学生的命题是不对的。B说“他们喜欢骑自行车旅行”。这个命题是不对的。第二段的第一句是这么说的：路面旅行假期的部分乐趣来自开车旅行，这种通过路面旅行度过假期尤其在大学生中特别盛行。可以看出，大学生还是喜欢开车旅行，而不是骑车旅行。
2．C 问题问的是：当Hawkins在路面旅行中见到有趣的东西时会干什么？第四段Hawkins说了这么一句话：当你在路面旅行中一路上看到有趣的东西时，你可以停下来仔细看看。
3．A 问题问的是：汽车旅馆是什么时候突然出现的?答案在第六段，其中有一句话是这么说的：汽车旅馆开始在城外出现。第七段讲到的是汽车旅馆和菜馆连锁店的突然出现。
4．D 问题问的是：下面的哪个词描写Hawkins去新奥良的旅途最合适？倒数第三段讲到了Hawkins和他的伙伴志愿从纽约去新奥良，帮助重建该城。其中的第一句话是这么说的：Hawkins’ most memorable road trip took place over spring break．Hawkins的最值得记忆的路面旅行发生在春假。“memorable”和“unforgettable”的意思差不多。
5．A 问题问的是：最佳替换第12段的“blizzard”是哪个词？从该段提供的背景我们可以推出“snow storm”应该是最合适的。
第五十篇
Older Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanoes were more destructive in ancient history, not because they were bigger, but because the carbon dioxide they released wiped out life with greater ease.
Paul Wignall from the University of Leeds was investigating the link between volcanic eruptions and mass extinctions. Not all volcanic eruptions killed off large numbers of animals, but all the mass extinctions over the past 300 million years coincided with huge formations of volcanic rock. To his surprise, the older the massive volcanic eruptions were, the more damage they seemed to do. He calculated the "killing efficiency" for these volcanoes by comparing the proportion of life they killed off with the volume of lava that they produced. He found that size
for size, older eruptions were at least 10 times as effective at wiping out life as their more recent rivals.
The Permian extinction, for example, which happened 250 million years ago, is marked by floods of volcanic rock in Siberia that cover an area roughly the size of western Europe. Those volcanoes are thought to have pumped out about 10 gigatonnes of carbon as carbon dioxide. The global warming that followed wiped out 80 per cent of all marine genera at the time, and it took 5 million years for the planet to recover. Yet 60 million years ago, there was another huge amount of volcanic activity and global warming but no mass extinction. Some animals did disappear but things returned to normal within ten thousands of years. "The most recent ones hardly have an effect at all," Wignall says. He ignored the extinction which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, because many scientists believe it was primarily caused by the impact of an asteroid. He thinks that older volcanoes had more killing power because more recent life forms were better adapted to dealing with increased levels of CO2.
Vincent Courtillot, director of the Paris Geophysical. Institute in France, says that Wignall’s idea is provocative. But he says it is incredibly hard to do these sorts of calculations. He points out that the killing power of volcanic eruptions depends on how long they lasted. And it is impossible to tell whether the huge blasts lasted for thousands or millions of years. He also adds that it is difficult to estimate how much lava prehistoric volcanoes produced, and that lava volume may not necessarily correspond to carbon dioxide emissions.
词汇：
dioxide n. 二氧化物
lava n. 熔岩
Permian adj. 二叠纪
gigaton n. 十亿吨梯恩梯
genera n. 种类
dinosaurs n. 恐龙
asteroid n. 小行星
注释：
The Permian extinction 二叠纪物种灭绝
练习：
1. Why did older volcanic eruptions do more damage than more recent ones?
A) Because they killed off life more easily.
B) Because they were brighter.
C) Because they were larger.
D) Because they were hotter.
2. How did Wignall calculate the killing power of those older volcanic eruptions?
A) By estimating how long they lasted.
B) By counting the dinosaurs they killed.
C) By studying the chemical composition of lava.
D) By comparing the proportion of life wiped out with the volume of lava produced.
3. When did dinosaurs become extinct?
A) 300 million years ago.
B) 250 million years ago.
C) 60 million years ago.
D) 65 million years ago.
4. What can be inferred from paragraph 3 concerning dinosaurs?
A) They were killed off by an asteroid.
B) They died of drastic climate change.
C) They were wiped off by a volcanic eruption.
D) The cause of their extinction has remained a controversial issue.
5. What is the main thesis of the article?
A) Volcanic eruptions are not always deadly.
B) Older volcanic eruptions were more destructive.
C) Carbon dioxide emissions often give rise to global warming.
D) It is not easy to calculate the killing power of a volcanic eruption.
答案与题解：
1．A 问题问的是：为什么远古的火山爆发比近期的火山爆发破坏性更大？第一段是这么说的：古代的火山更具破坏力，不是因为它们更大，而是因为它们释放出的二氧化碳更能容易地毁灭生命。
2．D 问题问的是：Wignall是如何计算出远古火上爆发的杀伤力的？答案在第二段。第二段有这样一句话：He calculated the "killing efficiency" for these volcanoes by comparing the proportion of life they killed off with the volume of lava that they produced．他通过比较火山释放出的熔岩的体积与杀死生命的比例计算这些火山的杀伤效力。
3．C 问题问的是：恐龙是什么时候灭绝的?答案在第三段。其中有这么一句话：He ignored the extinction which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, because many scientists believe it was primarily caused by the impact of an asteroid．他没有提及6千5百万年前恐龙的灭绝是因为许多科学家相信恐龙的灭绝是受一颗小行星的影响。
4．D 问题问的是：第三段还可以推导出有关恐龙的什么样的信息?在讨论第三题的答案时，我们已经注意到了，Wignall没有提6千5百万年前恐龙的灭绝是否跟火山爆发有关是因为许多科学家相信恐龙的灭绝是受一颗小行星的影响。这就说明，关于恐龙灭绝的原因在科学家之间是有分歧的。
5．B 问题问的是：文章的主要论点是什么？答案在文章的第一句：Volcanoes were more destructive in ancient history, ．．．（古代火山更具破坏力）。
第六部分 完形填空
（四篇）
第六篇
Gun Rights in the US
Immediately after the shooting at Virginia Tech University, Americans gathered to mourn the dead. The president and the state governor both hurried there to share the １ . But the majority of Americans still cling to their right to ２ weapons.
Strictly speaking, the US is not the only country ３ gun violence has destroyed lives, families and communities in everyday circumstance. But the US is one of the ４ countries that seems unwilling and politically incapable of doing anything serious to stop it.
In countries like Britain and Canada, the government adopted stricter ５ control soon after serious gun violence incidents. US leaders, however, are held ６ by the gun lobby and the electoral system.
The powerful National Rifle Association, the major supporter of gun ７ in the US, is too strong for any party to take on. Most Republicans oppose gun controls anyway. ８ the years; the Democrats have found that they can either campaign for gun control or win power, not ９ ; they prefer power.
According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, firearm incidents accounted 10 nine percent of the 4.7 million violent crimes in 2005. So, although opinion polls show most Americans want stricter gun laws, many don't want to give up their arms they 11 to protect themselves.
Dave Hancock, a Virginia gun lover, is one example. In an interview he said. "If one professor in Virginia incident had been carrying a legal weapon they might have been able to 12 all this." In his opinion, the massacre is an argument for more people to carry weapons, not fewer.
But at the root of Americans' clinging to the fight to bear arms is not just a fear of crime, but a mistrust of 13 , commented UK's Guardian newspaper.
One Virginia resident, who had a permit to carry a concealed firearm, told the Guardian that it was 14 American's responsibility to have a gun.
"Each person," he said, "should not rely solely 15 the government for protection."
词汇：
mourn v．致哀
lobby n．院外活动集团
electoral adj．选举的
firearm n．火器
massacre n.／v．大屠杀
练习：
1. A) ceremony B) funeral C) tears D) grief
2. A) make B) own C) destroy D) trade
3. A) while B) which C) where D) that
4. A) few B) some C) much D) little
5. A) rifle B) knife C) bullet D) gun
6. A) prisoner B) hostage C) person D) home
7. A) fire B) attacks C) rights D) violence
8. A) Over B) Since C) Till D) Until
9. A) both B) either C) each D) one
10. A) of B) off C) for D) out
11. A) hide B) buy C) sell D) keep
12. A) control B) stop C) handle D)treat
13. A) government B) guards C) students D) professors
14. A) many B) few C) every D) all
15. A) on B) in C) at D) from
答案与题解：
1．D “share the grief”是“同悲”。share是“跟他人拥有同样的情感”的意思。整个句子说的是，总统和州长两人都赶到那里跟大家一样悲痛。
2．B 这四个选项填入后，四个句子在句法和语义上都是成立的。但是，从整个文章来考察，只有“0wn”是合适的选择，全文主要讨论美国公民是否有权拥有枪支。
3．C 该句子的从句本身是一个完整的事件，如果还要附加一些东西的话，只能是事件发生的地点，因此用“where”。整个句子说的是：严格说来，美国是唯一一个每天都会发生枪支暴力摧毁生命、家庭和社区的国家。
4．A “But”引入的命题跟上一个句子表达的命题构成反比，因此需用“few”。
5．D 本文讨论枪支，因此“knife”和“bullet”可以排除。“rilfe”是来复枪，即步枪“gun”是枪支，比“rifle”的覆盖面大，因此用“gun”是对的。
6．B “to be held hostage”是“扣为人质”。整个句子说的是：然而，美国领导人受制于枪支院外活动集团和选举制度。
7．C 本文讨论的就是“枪支拥有权”，因此填入“rights”是对的。这个句子有点难。“take Oil”是“斗争”。整个句子说的是：强大的国家来复枪协会，是美国枪支拥有权的主要支持者，它太强大了，没有一个政党敢于跟它斗争的。
8．A “the years”是一段时间。“0ver”表示“跨越”，因此在语义上是协调的。合起就是“在过去的一些年里”。“since”起始的时间状语也是一个段时间状语，但是它要求出现的是一个时间点，如2001年，指从2001年到现在。因此“0ver”是对的。
9．A 特别提请注意的是：对于“(either)…or…”的意义语言学家是有争议的，一种意见认为“0r”是不兼容的，另一种意见认为“0r”是兼容的。所谓不兼容，就是说，要么是“gun control”，要么是“win power”，而不可能是“gun control and win power”；所谓兼容，就是，“gun control”、“win power”和“gun control and win power”这三种情况都可以。可以看出，在本文作者看来，“0r”是兼容的，所以才有后一句话：not both(不是二者兼有)。
10．C “account”作动词时，后面跟“for”。
11．D 此处应该用一个状态动词，只有“keep”是状态动词。
12．B “stop”在这里是最合适的词。整个句子说的是：在一次专访中他说，如果弗吉尼亚事件中有位教授带了一支合法的枪支的话，他们就有可能阻止所有这一切的发生。
13．A “mistrust”是“不信任”。
14．C “very”和“all”意思相近，但“every”是对的，因为“American”用的是单数。
15．A “rely”和“on”是固定搭配。
第九篇
Freezing to Death for Beauty
People in Beijing wear a lot of clothing during winter to fend off the cold. In the United States, however, people wear 1 , partly because the car is the primary mode of transportation. Cars take 2 straight to their workplaces, which are heated well. The American diet is full of calories, so their 3 can afford to burn heat more quickly.
Fewer layers of clothing give people the opportunity to stay 4 .Lots of Yale girls wear skirts 5 when it's 10 degrees Centigrade outside. Some of them at least wear boots, tights, and leg-warmers1. Some, however, really just go for the look 6 the risk of health2. These girls have nothing to prevent their legs 7 the wind, and no socks to protect their feet. A mini skirt and a pair of stilettos are all that they wear.
Typically, the ones pursuing fashion are 8 , with little body fat. Just by the nature of their bodies, they are already at a disadvantage compared with normal people in 9 weather. I have always 10 , whenever I pass these girls, how they manage to refrain from shivering and just smile like spring had arrived3.
And then there are the guys. The girls can be said to 11 health for beauty. But why do guys 12 so little? It is not like, once they shed some layers, they suddenly become better-looking. They are not exactly being fashionable when they 13 wear sporty shorts and shower slippers in the midst of winter. It's not cute.
Of course, people have the freedom to look whatever 14 hey want. I am just surprised that, given the vast difference between winter and summer temperatures in Connecticut, they can still 15 like they are partying on the beach in the middle of February.
词汇：
fend v．抵御
mode n．方式
Centigrade adj．摄氏温度的
tights n．裤袜
stiletto n．细高跟鞋
shed v．脱掉
sporty adj．花哨的
cute adj．喜人的
注释：
1．1eg-warmers暖腿套。
2．Some，however, really just go for the look at the risk of heath．然而，有些真是只是为了漂亮而牺牲健康。注意：“go for”是“选择”的意思，因此“go for the look”是“选择漂亮”。
3．I have always wondered，whenever I pass these girls，how they manage to refrain from shivering and just smile like spring had arrived．每当我走过这些女孩的时候，我总是想，她们怎么能做得到不哆嗦，并且还能带着似乎春天已经来临的微笑。“like spring had arrived”是反事实条件句。
练习：
1. A) scarce B) less C) little D) least
2. A) people B) students C) shoppers D) them
3. A) arms B) heads C) legs D) bodies
4. A) bony B) thin C) fashionable D) hungry
5. A) even B) sometimes C) frequently D) occasionally
6. A) in B) for C) at D) on
7. A) with B) against C) above D) under
8. A) fat B) ugly C) short D) skinny
9. A) warm B) cold C) cool D) hot
10. A) dreamed B) stated C) claimed D) wondered
11. A) sacrifice B) devote C) suffer D) endure
12. A) bear B) carry C) wear D) put on
13. A) only B) seldom C) rarely D) hardly
14. A) method B) road C) way D) avenue
15. A) see B) resemble C) show D) look
答案与题解：
1．B 上一个句子说北京人冬天要穿许多衣服以抵御寒冷。这后一个句子是跟上一个句子做比较，因此要用“little”的比较级形式“less”。
2．D 把“people”填入后生成的句子同样是正确的，但是跟前一个句子放在一起时是不连贯的。这是因为在前一个句子中已经有了一个“people”。“them”是一个代词，代词的作用就是照应，这也就是为什么语言中需要代词。在这个句子中“them”就是照应前面的“people”。
3．D “body”是“身体”，指人的物质结构。是“身体”产生热。
4．C “stay”是系动词，跟形容词连用，说明某种状态的存在。四个选项都是形容词，但只有“fashionable”是最佳选择。如果“穿得少”是一种时尚的话，那么只穿几件衣服当然是很时髦的。填入“bony”、“thin”、“hungry”在语义上句子都是不成立的，因为一种“瘦(bony／thin)的状态”是营养差、节食或疾病造成的，跟穿多少衣服没有关系。“保持饥饿状态”跟穿衣服也没有关系。
5．A “Fewer layers of clothing give people the opportunity to stay fashionable．”是主题句。跟在主题句后面的句子是对这一命题的证明，这就需要有具体的事实。“even”诱发的是一组可能性，而它引入的词语所指的可能性是在这一组可能性中最最不容易发生的。尽管如此，它还是发生了。这样的证据是非常有力的。因此“even”是最佳选择。
6．C “at the risk of health”是“有损健康的危险”。什么词跟什么介词连用有时候是没有道理的，所有需要死记硬背。
7．B “prevent”是“防止”，跟“against”连用。
8．D 该问题问：典型的追求时髦的人是什么样的人？“丑”(ugly)和“矮个”(short)显然跟追求时髦没有关系。有关系的是“fat”(胖)和“skinny”(瘦／皮包骨)。“fat”可以排除，因为它跟后面的“with little body fat”相矛盾。因此只有“skinny”是正确的选择。
9．B 四个选项都是有关不同温度的天气。由于本文讨论的主题是“为了漂亮冻得要死”，因此合适的选项是“cold”。
10．D 这四个动词后面都可以跟从句，但只有“wondered”可以跟疑问从句。
11．A “sacrifice health for beauty”是“为了漂亮而牺牲健康”。中英语表达差不多。
12．C “wear”和“put on”翻成中文都是“穿”的意思。前者是状态动词；后者由于其动作能瞬间完成而不具备延续性，因此不可能表达某种状态。而这个句子表达的完全是一种状态，因此“wear”是合适的选择。
13．A 前面句子讲到男人脱掉几层衣服并不突然显得更好看，那么下面的句子应该进一步具体化，因此用“only”是对的。填入该词后，句子说的是“当他们仅仅穿着花哨的短裤和洗澡用的拖鞋时在确切意义上并不显得更时髦”。
14．C “way”有多种意思，包括“道路”、“途经”、“方向”、“方法”、“方式”、“样子”等。整个句子说的是：当然，人们有选择自己外表样子的自由。
15．D just like是“好像是”。整个句子说的是：我只是觉得惊讶，在康涅狄格州冬夏温度相差很大的情况下，他们仍然看上去像似在二月中旬的海滩上聚会。
13．B must：必须；might：可能have to：必须；should：应该。女人根据男人的特征选择伴侣这只是一个因素，因此下结论应该留有余地，用might是比较合适的。
14．A show：显出；tell：告诉；state：陈述；say：说。除shown之外，told、stated或said填入后生成的句子都是错的。
15．B spouse：配偶；fan：狂热仰慕者；partner：配偶；mate：伴侣。我们的世界知识告诉我们，任何人都不可能有数百万的配偶，所以只有fans是合适的选择。
第十一篇
New Ideas
Iceland's President Olafur Grimsson is trying to drive carbon dioxide1 underground to 1 its release into the air.
Over the next two years, a team of scientists will try to 2 carbon dioxide-charged water2 into the rock underground. Scientist theory says this should work3. The CO2 will react with the rock to form a stable mineral that remains in the 3 for millions of years.
If the experiment succeeds, Iceland could give the world a new 4 to reduce CO2 emissions.
Sigurdur Gislason, a university professor in Iceland, says his country has an 5 over other countries: "We have enormous amounts of clean 6 and a small society. You can do experiments here that you can't do anywhere else."
In an attempt to cut back on the use of air conditioners during summer, the Japanese government in 2005 7 a campaign to keep office temperatures at 28°C degrees in summer. Men were also encouraged to change business suits for 8 wear. In other words, no more ties.
"The 9 is meant to show the government's resolve to achieve Japan's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda. The 10 has cut an estimated 79,000 tons of carbon dioxide gas emissions each year.
As the country's 2005 Energy Policy Act 11 into force this year, more
Americans will be encouraged to use 12 cars and energy sources.
According to the new law, those who buy hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius can earn tax credits; or rebates, of 13 to $2,600 a year. Homemakers can also save when they renovate, claiming tax rebates 14 up to $500 simply by fitting their homes with energy-saving insulation. If they. 15 in solar water heating, the payoff at tax time is equal to 30 percent of the appliance's cost or a maximum of $2,000.
词汇：
dioxide n．二氧化物
greenhouse n．温室
hybrid adj．混合
homemaker n．主妇
rebate n．退款
insulation n．绝缘
注释：
1. carbon dioxide二氧化碳
2．carbon dioxide．charged water充满了二氧化碳的水
3．Scientist theory says this should work．科学家的理论说这样做应该行得通。work是“行得通”或“有效的”意思。
练习：
1 A) reduce B) narrow C) interrupt D) interfere
2 A) spread B) splash C) inject D) flow
3 A) air B) rock C) water D) soil
4 A) era B) period C) page D) way
5 A) merit B) benefit C) profit D) advantage
6 A) oil B) energy C) gas D) solar-power
7 A) mounted B) called C) opened D) held
8 A) decent B) formal C) casual D) fashionable
9 A) pledge B) move C) promise D) statement
l0 A) campaign B) war C) activity D) move
ll A) makes B) takes C) bring D) comes
12 A) fast B) cheap C) expensive D) environment-friendly
13 A) under B) up C) on D) from
14 A) putting B) worth C) building D) buying
15 A) spend B) give C) invest D) donate
答案与题解：
1．A “reduce its release”是“减排”。整个句子说的是：冰岛总统Olafur Grimsson为了减少二氧化氮排放到大气中正试图把它们注入地下。
2．C 整个句子说的是：在未来的两年里，一组科学家将尝试把充满了二氧化氮的水注入到岩石层。“inject…into…”是“把……注入到……”。
3．B 前面出现了“the rock ground”，因此填“rock”。整个句子说的是：二氧化氮跟岩石相互作用会形成一种稳定的矿物质，在岩石中可以呆上几百万年。
4．D 选项“era”、“period”和“page”很有迷惑性，但它们要求的动词是不一样的。如可以说“usher in anew era”(开创了一个新纪元)等。
5．D 由于不定冠词“an”发音的关系要求后面的名词的起始音是元音。
6．B“energy”是“oil”、“gas”和“solar-power”的上位词，因此是最佳的选择。
7．C 本段讲为了在夏天减少使用空调日本政府在2005年发起了一场夏天办公室的温度保持在摄氏28度的运动。“mounted a campaign”是“发动了一场运动”的意思，也可说“launched a campaign”。
8．C “business suites”是“公务服”。“公务服”比较正式，往往指“西服”。穿西服当然会很热。因此“decent”(像样的)和“formal” (正式的)不可能是合适的选择。“fashionable”(时髦的)衣服本身并没有说清楚是否凉快。因此正确地选择是“casual”(随便的)。
9．B 日本政府已经发起了一场运动，因此这不是一种“保证”(pledge)、“许诺”(promise) 或“声明”(statement)。所以唯一合适的选择是“行动”(move)。整个句子说的是：所采取的行动是表明政府为了达到日本减排6％的温室气体的目标的决心。
10．A “campaign”和“move”前面都出现过，似乎都可以。这两个词在前面出现时的语境是“a campaign”和“the move”。注意：用不定冠词说明是新信息，用定冠词或代词说明是旧信息。一种信息第二次出现时就是旧信息，因此“campaign”第二次出现时可以说“the campaign”，也可以用“it”：由于“move”本来就是指“campaign”的，本来就是信息，再次出现时，应用“it”比“the move”跟好些。
11．D “come into force”是“生效”的意思，是固定的说法。词是需要一个个记的。一种固定的说法，它的意义就相当于一个词的意义，因此也需要死记硬背。
12．D “environment．friendly”是“对环境不造成太多问题的”意思。整个句子说的是：随着国家的2005年的能源政策法令在今年生效，这必将鼓励更多的美国人使用对环境不会造成太多影响的车和能源。
13．B “up to$2，600 a year”是“一年最多可达到2，600美元”。
14．B “worth up to$500”是“最多值500美元。
15．C “spend”需要有宾语，所以不合适。
第十四篇
Improve Computer-research Skills
Like many college students, Jose Juarez carries around a pocket-sized computer that lets him watch movies, surf the Interact and text-message his friends1.
He's part of "Generation M" - those born after 1985 who 1 up connected to everything from video game to cellphones.
"For us, it's everyday life," said Juarez, 18, a freshman 2 California State University at Sacramento (CSUS).
3 ,educators are now saying that not all Generation M-ers can synthesize the piles of information they're accessing.
"They're geeky2, but they don't know what to 4 with their geekdom," said
Barbara O'Connor, a Sacramento State communications studies professor who has been involved in a nationwide 5 to improve students' computer-research skills.
In a recent nationwide test to 6 their technological "literacy" their ability to use the Interact to complete class assignments - only 49 percent correctly evaluated a set of Web sites for objectivity, authority and timeliness. Only 35 per cent could correctly narrow an overly 7 Internet search.
About 130 Sacramento State students, including Juarez, participated in the experimental test, 8 to 6,300 college students across the country.
The hour-long assessment test is conducted by Educational Testing Service. It is a web-based scavenger hunt3（拾荒游戏） 9 simulated Interact search engines and academic databases that spit out purposely misleading information.
"They're very good at 10 in and using the Internet, but don't always understand what they get back," said Linda Goff, head of instructional services for the CSUS library.
"You see an open search box, you type in a few words and you 11 the button," said Goff, who is involved in the testing.
"They take at face value4 12 shows up at the top of the list as the best stuff."
Educators say that these sloppy research skills are troubling.
"We look at that as a foundational skill, in the same way we 13 math and English as a foundational skill," said Lorie Roth, assistant vice-chancellor for academic programmes in the CSU5 system.
Measuring how well students can "sort the good 14 the bad" on the Internet has become a higher priority for CSU, Roth said.
CSU is considering 15 a mandatory assessment test on technological literacy for all freshmen, much as it has required English and math placement tests since the 1980s.
Students in freshman seminars at Sacramento State were asked to take the test early in the semester and were expected to finish another round this week to measure their improvement.
词汇：
surf v．浏览
cellphone n．手机
geeky adj．与网络交往的
scavenger n．拾荒者
sloppy adj．马虎的
mandatory adj．强制性的
literacy n．文化水平
注释：
1．text—message his friends给朋友发信息。
2．geek是“极客”。这是音译。所谓“极客”是指跟网络交往的高手。Geekdom作为一个八极客。“-dom”是后者，有多种意思，此处表示“作为……的状况”。
3．scavenger hunt拾荒游戏。所谓“拾荒游戏”是指在规定的时间内搜索到难以搜索的东西，以先搜到者为胜。
4．take as face value是“断然接受一句话所说的(即字面意义)而不去考虑它是否还有其它的含义”。
5．CSU是California State University的缩写。
练习：
1. A) brought B) built C) stood D) grew
2. A) about B) near C) at D) near
3. A) Besides B) However C) In addition D) Of course
4. A) do B) work C) make D) deal
5. A) effort B) plot C) wish D) slogan
6. A) ask B) measure C) require D) demand
7. A) small B) little C) broad D) large
8. A) conducted B) held C) managed D) administered
9. A) between B) upon C) by D) with
10, A) writing B) copying C) typing D) moving
11. A) pull B) push C) beat D) strike
12. A) whatever B) whoever C) whichever D) however
13. A) look at B) take up C) cope with D) serve as
14. A) out B) from C) on D) off
15. A) added B) adds C) adding D) add
答案与题解：
1．D 这四个动词都可以跟“up”构成有意义的搭配。但是，只有“grew up”放入后是合适的。如果用“brought up”，前面需要一个“be”动词。整个句子说的是：他是“M代”的一个，“M代”就是那些l985年后生的，他们的成长跟从电子游戏到手机等各种玩意儿联系在一起的。
2．C “California State University at Sacramento”是一所大学。它前面的介词用“at”或“in”。
3．B 所在句子跟上面句子在意思上有转折，因此用“However”。上面主要讲Juarez是“M代”的一员，整天背着电脑，因为对他来说，电脑是生活的一部分。有鉴于此，他应该是电脑高手。紧接着的句子是这么说的：然而，教育工作者现在说，不是所有的M代人都能把他们正在找的一堆堆的信息综合起来。
4．A “what to do with their geekdom”是“他们的网络交往的熟练水平用来干什么”。
5．A “in an effort／in efforts to do．．．”是“致力于……”的意思。
6．B 考试是为了测量某方面的能力或水平，因此“measure”是对的。
7．C 所在句子中有“narrow”这个词，它的反义词是“broad”，这也可看作是一个提示。整个句子说的是：只有34％的人能够正确地缩小过宽的网上搜索。
8．D “administer”是“组织并监督”的意思。整个句子说的是：包括Juarez在内的大约130名Sacrament0州的学生参加了为全国6，300名大学生组织的实验性测试。
9．D 这个句子是讲“拾荒游戏”，用“with”可以表示它有什么性质。整个句子说的是：它是一种基于网络的拾荒游戏，它有模拟因特网搜索引擎和能不断输出有意引起误解的信息的数据库。
10．C 电脑是有键盘的，输入词时我们不是用笔写而是用键，“type in”就是“键入”。
11．B 电脑的键盘上由许多按钮，按“按钮”是“push the button”或“press the button”。
12．A 由于用电脑是为了获得信息，因此用一个比较宽泛的词比较合适，所以选择“whatever”是最佳的。整个句子说的是：他们断然把出现在单子上端的认为是最好的。
13．A 句子中的“in the same way”提示我们应该选择上半句中已经出现过的“look at”。
14．B “sort the good from the bad”是“把好的和坏的区分开来”。
15．C “consider”要求后面跟动名词。
2008年职称英语综合类教材新增部分内容参考译文
第四部分 阅读理解
（六篇）
第二篇
课外学习带来很大不同
让一群大学生去负责募集30万美元的马拉松式的跳舞活动，这种募捐听起来肯定有点儿冒险。当你知道这笔募捐款是提供给需要医疗护理的儿童，你可能会觉得这个想法很疯狂。
佛罗里达大学一个22岁的学生Darren Heitner说大多学生领导者不想在他们不太关注的事情上花太多时间。他任马拉松式跳舞经营部经理两年了。
Yvornne Fangmeyer是威斯康星大学学生组织办公室主任，在二月组织了一次学生参加校园组织的调查。她说增进友谊是大家提到最多的参加校园组织的原因。
像Fangmeyer的大学那样规模很大的学校，有4万多学生，学生首先想要找到属于们的校园一角。
威斯康星大四的学生Katie Rowley肯定了调查结果。“我加入校园组织希望让校园感觉上变得小一些，这样不仅可以投入到校园生活中还可以交到很多朋友”。
这些关于友谊的看法并不意味着学生不考虑他们的经历。Heitner说：“我认为很多人加入校园组织来丰富经历，，刚上大学的时候，我加入了一些校园组织，希望培养自己的领导能力。”
但是如果没有热情，学生领导者很难经受风雨考验。例如，在四月份，威斯康星大学几个学生组织展开了一项活动，向学生讲述无家可归和贫困。学生领导必须面对一些问题，比如解决争论，受雨天影响而更改活动日期，同学校复杂的机构打交道。
Fangmeyer说：“课外的这种学习确实带来很大不同。”
第五篇
爱知大学的生活
我是山本美嘉，一个22岁的日本姑娘。我想邀请您来爱知大学做客以便了解我们的大学生活。
我们学校和中国有着密切的联系，我们系也是日本独一无二的。我们的课程包括汉语、当地中国政治和经济。我喜欢中国文化，曾作为交换生在天津学习过。
在日本，我们的课程分为必修、选修和专修课。虽然如此，我们选课还是蛮灵活的，选择范围也很广泛 。
很多学生用三年的时间完成必修课，这样他们就有一年的时间不用上课。他们常常利用这段时间去留学、做研究或者旅游。许多学生甚至休学去争取到国外留学的机会。
日本大学鼓励学生选择自己的学习方式，所以我们要想申请休学是相当容易的。
日本学生参加各种各样的课外活动。他们从小学起就参加俱乐部，因此很多大学生上大学时就已经很习惯于俱乐部的生活了。
我们学校现在有42个艺术俱乐部和45个体育俱乐部。一年一度的大学生节是日本大学里最盛大的节日。节日里，同学们开俱乐部促进会并组织各种活动。去年我校举行的大学生节引来了大概有150，000人。我太喜欢这个节日了。
在学校，我参加了新闻俱乐部。开俱乐部促进会时，我们做“猪肉汁”，一种猪肉汤在义卖会上买给其他的学生。
我们也到各地采访名人，他们也作为嘉宾参加我们的节日。和这些明星大腕们进行面对面的交流真是一种美妙的体验。
日本学生喜欢聚会。我们的聚会分为两种。一种叫做 Mochiyori。如果你像参加这种聚会，你须带上自己做的一道菜，由组织者买饮料和小吃。
另一种聚会叫做 Nomikai，这种聚会主要是喝酒。我们喝一种叫做 Chu-hai 的东西，它是苏打水和葡萄酒的混合物。我们也喝日本清酒和啤酒。在很多情况下我们都会举行聚会，像迎新、送旧、庆祝胜利和生日，或者只是为了增进友谊。
第三十四篇
逐渐丧失提高外语技能的兴趣
美国之音报道：澳大利亚人的外语技能在走下坡路。新的数字显示，仅有l3％的中学毕业生能够说外语，但是四十年前，这一数字是40％。
悉尼大学的Elise Tipton教授称，越来越多的学生认为没有必要学门外语来为自己的事业增加筹码。她认为，澳大利亚的经济繁荣是靠大量出口矿产来支撑的(她相信，由疯狂的矿物需求驱动的澳大利亚经济的繁荣进一步掩盖了该国语言技能方面存在的严重缺陷。)，而这种繁荣会掩盖澳语言技能方面存在的严重缺陷。
澳大利亚能够成功地用英语和大部分贸易伙伴做生意。但随着世界经济的力量向亚洲等地区转移，语言差异将会很快显现出来。根据新的数字，中学毕业生中，仅有6．5％的人能够熟练运用亚洲国家的语言。学者们担心，这会使澳大利亚与其经济强劲的邻居隔离开来。
悉尼大学经济贸易学院教授Dilip Dutta称，语言技能可以增加贸易机会，如果澳大利亚想要和亚洲国家做生意，那么学习其语言就是非常重要的，因为这可以有助于理解其文化。
但学生们对学习亚洲国家语言有不同的看法，Pippa McCowage是一名22岁的澳大利亚学生。他说许多澳大利亚的年轻人都半心半意的对待外国语言，并且教授外语的课程表也不完善。“我们在高中学习外语时，真的没感觉到因为现实的需求要学习外语。”他说“比如说，我高中时学习日语，在十年级时作为交换生去了日本。我发现日本学生的英语水平要远远高于我的日语水平。从这一点来看，这很容易让人丧失兴趣。”
现如今，澳大利亚70％的出口产品销往亚洲，并且澳政府极力想要加深与亚洲的经济外交关系。学者们称，随着亚洲变成世界重要经济体之一，澳大利亚如果想要充分利用在家门口的贸易机会，就必须要提高其语言能力。
第三十八篇
移民问题
2006年初，成千上万的拥护美国移民权利的人们纷纷涌上美国的街头。他们打着标语，挥舞着国旗，要求被当作公民而非罪犯看待。他们中大部分人都支持参议员麦凯恩的立法，这个立法会为那些已经非法进入这个国家的移民指明一条取得公民身份的路。而其它议员的提案则呼吁采取更为严厉的措施——包括逮捕未记录在案的移民并把他们遣送回国。
加拿大官员称移民申请数量保持增长势头。有些人希望自家国门敞开，因为他们需要劳动力。据加官方数据显示，在2005年，大约四十万人移民加拿大。然而，这些增长意味着城市需要适应这些移民。新来的移民在向他们擅长的工作领域过渡时也并非一帆风顺，因此，许多工业采用培训项目帮助他们找到合适的工作。
随着大批的无证非洲移民来到加里那群岛并且没有表明有减弱的迹象，西班牙政府决定采取严厉的措施。政府宣布，对非法移民的大赦将不复存在，并且任何未或许可进入西班牙的人一律遣送回国。2006年，大约两万三千移民抵达群岛，一些拥挤的接待中心发生了暴乱。这些都促使当地政府向联合国寻求帮助。
法国新的移民和融入法案给予政府新的权利以鼓励具有高技术的人才移民法国。这项法案于2007年生效。根据新法规，政府可以限定哪些是法国人才短缺的行业，然后帮助有关雇主寻找具备他们需要的技术或资格的移民。这些外来的雇员将获得“技术与人才”的签证，有效期为三年。但是有些人担心，这个法案会导致发展中国家的人才流失。
第四十四篇
路面旅行假期
夏天到了。在美国，这是一个游泳、户外烤肉、露营和路面旅行的好季节。
路面旅行假期的部分乐趣来自开车旅行，这种通过路面旅行度过假期尤其在大学生中特别盛行。这种低廉的旅行方式对学生来说比较理想，他们往往有足够的空闲时间，却没有多少钱。
“从上大学以来，我周游了很多地方，去探索这个国家，”奥斯汀•霍金斯，一个来自纽约的19岁的大学生这样说。今年夏天，霍金斯和他的朋友花了几个周末的时间前往新英格兰旅游。
开车旅行最好的部分，霍金斯说，就是你可以是自发的。“当你在路面旅行中一路上看到有趣的东西时，你可以停下来仔细看看。”
马特•罗伯茨，一位来自俄亥俄州的20岁的大学生，曾开车到过加拿大的蒙特利尔，同意这一观点。“路面旅行你不必事先计划，只需坐上汽车开走就是了。”
即使油价高企，与朋友开车旅行还是比乘飞机便宜。罗伯茨支付了约40美元的油费，但来回机票费用将近400美元。
驾车旅行首次流行于20世纪20年代。新建道路和汽车性能的提高使人们有可能进行较长距离的旅行。汽车旅馆开始在城外出现。
到了20世纪50年代，汽车拥有成为常态。始于l956年的美国州际公路系统的建设以及汽车旅馆和连锁餐厅在各地的突然出现使得长途旅行更加容易。
今天，美国在世界上具有最高的汽车拥有率。根据最近的美国国情调查，只有百分之八的美国家庭没有汽车。
虽然许多大学生是没有车的，但是大多数都可以弄到一辆。在霍金斯的许多次旅行中，他们用的是借来的货车。
霍金斯最值得记忆的路面旅行发生在春假。他和两个伙伴开车从纽约到新奥尔良做志愿者服务，去帮助他们重建去年7月被卡特里娜飓风毁坏的家园。他们在两天之内横穿美国，困了就睡在停在教会停车场的他们的汽车里。
罗伯茨去年冬天到加拿大的路面旅行更是充满变数。刚一抵达蒙特利尔，他们就在暴风雪中迷了路，在零下25度的天气里冻得发抖。为了找旅馆，他们打开笔记本电脑，然后一圈一圈地转，最后终于发现了一个无线因特网覆盖的区域。
“我知道我们本应该计划更好些，但我们还年轻。现在，当我看到这些家伙我总是说：“记住我们迷失在暴风雪的日子!”“我永远不会忘记这一点。”
第五十篇
远古火山喷发
古代的火山更具杀伤力，不是因为它们更大，而是因为它们释放出来的二氧化碳更容易把人杀死。
来自里兹大学的Paul Wignall正在调查火山爆发和大规模物种灭绝之间的联系。不是所有的火山都会造成大量动物死亡。但在过去的三亿年间，巨大的火山岩石的形成都伴随着大规模种族灭绝。让他惊奇的是，远古的火山造成的破坏更大。他通过比较火山释放出的熔岩的体积与杀死生命的比例计算这些火山的杀伤效力。他发现，体积相同的情况下，老远古火山要比近期火山的杀伤力大十倍。
例如，发生在两亿五千年前的二叠纪物种灭绝就与西伯利亚的火山爆发发生在同一时期。当时的火山岩大约覆盖了西欧那么大的面积。当时火山释放出了大约l00亿吨梯恩梯的二氧化碳，随之而来的全球变暖杀死了80％的海洋生物。500万年以后，地球才恢复到原来的状态。然而，6000年前，火山大规模爆发，以及而后的全球变暖并没有带来种族灭绝。一些动物确实消失了，但几万年以后，地球又恢复到以前的水平。“最近的一次火山爆发基本上没带来什么影响。”Wignall称。他并没有将650万年前的恐龙灭绝计算在内，因为大部分的科学家认为那是有小行星撞击地球所引起的。他认为，远古火山之所以杀伤力大是因为近期的生物能够更好的适应二氧化碳含量上升。
法国巴黎地理研究所的所长Vincent Courtillot称Wignall的观点很具争议性，并且很难做出这样的计算。他指出火山爆发的杀伤力是由其持续长度所决定的。并且很难知道是否大规模爆发会持续上百万年。他补充道，很难计算远古火山灰喷发多少火山岩，并且火山岩的数量也不一定和二氧化碳释放数量相一致。
第六部分 完型填空
（四篇）
第六篇
美国的枪支拥有权
弗吉尼亚理工大学的枪击案刚一发生，许多美国人都赶去致哀。总统和州长也匆忙赶到那里跟大家一样悲痛。但是大多数的美国民众却仍然坚持他们的枪支拥有权。
严格说来，美国是唯一一个每天都会发生枪支暴力摧毁生命、家庭和社区的国家。但是美国似乎也是不情愿或者在政治上无法采取任何严厉措施予以制止这种事情发生的为数不多的几个国家之一。
在一些国家，如英国和加拿大，严重的枪支暴力事件发生后，政府会立刻采取更为严格的枪支管制。然而，美国领导人却受制于枪支院外活动集团和选举制度。
强大的国家来复枪协会，是美国枪支拥有权的主要支持者，它太强大了，没有～个政党敢于跟它斗争。总之多数共和党人反对枪支管制。在过去的几年来，民主党人也发现，他们要么执行枪支管制要么赢得权力，而不是两个；但他们更喜欢权力。
据美国司法统计局统计，2005年全国发生的枪支暴力事件占470万暴力犯罪的百分之九。所以，尽管民意调查显示多数美国人希望执行更严格的枪支法，但多数人不想放弃他们的武器，他们想随时保护自己。
戴夫•汉考克，一位弗吉尼亚枪支爱好者，就是其中一例。在～次专访中他说，“如果弗吉尼亚事件中有位教授带了一支合法的枪支的话，他们就有可能阻止所有这一切的发生。”他认为，这次大屠杀表明，应该让越来越多的人携带武器，而不是更少。
但是，从根本上讲，美国人坚持有权携带武器不仅是由于对犯罪的恐惧心理，还有对政府的不信任，英国的卫报这样评论。
一位拥有私人携带枪支许可证的弗吉尼亚居民告诉卫报记者，拥有枪支是每一个美国人的责任。
他说，“每一个人都不应该仅仅依靠政府的保护。”
第九篇
美丽就是一切
冬天北京人都穿得很厚来防寒，而在美国，人们穿得很少，一个原因是轿车已经成为了主要的交通工具，它可以把人们直接送到单位，而单位又有暖气。还有个原因是美国的饮食里含热量高，能在短时间内燃烧所需要的热量。
轻便的衣服给人们提供了时尚的机会。许多耶鲁女孩甚至在外部气温为10摄氏度的天气下穿短裙。其中一些至少还穿着靴子，裤袜和暖腿套。而有些真是只是为了漂亮而牺牲健康。她们的双腿露在凛冽的寒风中，脚上也没有穿袜子，所穿就只是一条迷你裙和一双细高跟鞋。
典型的说，那些追求时尚的人都是非常苗条，几乎没有脂肪的人。仅看她们的体质，与正常人相比，抵御寒冬的能力就已经处于劣势。每当我走过这些女孩的时候，我总是想，她们怎么能做得到不哆嗦，并且还能带着似乎春天已经来临的微笑。
男孩也这样，可以说女孩是为了漂亮而牺牲了健康，但男孩子为什么穿这么少呢?好像并不是，他们穿得少了，就突然变得更好看了。当冬天最冷的时候他们仅仅穿着花哨的短裤和洗澡用的拖鞋时在确切意义上并不显得更时髦，也不讨人喜欢。
当然，人们有决定自己穿着的自由。我只是觉得惊讶，在康涅狄格州冬夏温度相差很大的情况下，他们仍然看上去像是在二月中旬的海滩上聚会。
第十一篇
新观念
冰岛总统奥拉维尔•拉格纳•格里姆松为了减少二氧化氮排放到大气中正试图把它们注入地下。
在未来的两年里，一组科学家将尝试把充满了二氧化氮的水注入到岩石层。二氧化氮跟岩石相互作用会形成一种稳定的矿物质，在岩石中可以呆上几百万年。
如果这次尝试成功，冰岛将会给世界提供一种减少二氧化氮气体的新方法。
冰岛的一位大学教授Sigurdur Gislason谈到他的国家比别的国家更有优势：“我们有大量的无污染能量，但社会较小。你在这里做的尝试在别的国家是没法办到的。”
为了减少夏天空调的使用量，日本政府于2005年发起一项运动，倡导在夏天使办公室温度保持在28度，并且鼓励大家穿便装来代替西装。也就是不戴领带。
内阁总秘书长Hiroyuki Hosoda表示：“所采取的行动是表明政孵为了达到日本减排6％的温室气体的目标的决心：”据估计，这项运动每年减排79000吨。
随着国家的2005年的能源政策法令在今年生效，这必将!鼓励更多的美国入使用对环境10以不会造成太多影响的车和能源。
根据新的法律，那些买了如本田这样的混合发动汽车的人每年会享受高达2600美元的税收折扣。家庭主妇们在装修时也能省钱，只要用节省能源的绝缘材料装修家里就可以得到高达500美元的税收折扣．如果她们用太阳能热水器，税收折扣就相当于热水器售价的30％，最高可达2000美元。
第十四篇
提高使用电脑的技能
像许多大学生一样，琼斯•朱锐斯随身带着一部掌上电脑用来看电影，上网冲浪和给朋友发短信。
他是“M代”的一个，“M代”就是那些l985年后生的，他们的成长跟从电子游戏到手机等各种玩意儿联系在一起的。
“对我们来说每天的生活都离不开这些”，琼斯•朱锐斯如是说，他今年十八岁，是位于加里福尼亚的萨克拉门托州立大学的大一新生。
然而，教育工作者现在说，不是所有的M代人都能把他们正在找的一堆堆的信息综合起来。
芭芭拉•欧康纳教授说：“他们很精通电脑，却并不清楚自己的状况”。欧康纳教授曾参与全国范围的研究，课题是如何提高学生的电脑研究技术。
最近全国范围内开展了一项衡量学生的科技能力的测试，其目的是测试他们利用因特网完成课堂作业的能力，只有49％的被测者正确地评估了一组网站的客观性、权威性和时效性。只有35％的被测者可以正确地缩小宽泛的网络搜索。
包括朱锐斯在内130名来自萨克拉门托的学生参加了为全国6，300名大学生组织的实验性测试。
这项长达一小时的评估测试由美国教育考试服务处发起。它是一种基于网络的拾荒游戏，它有模拟因特网搜索引擎和能不断输出有意引起误解的信息的数据库。
“他们很擅长打字和使用网络，但总是搞不清楚他们从网上得到了哪些东西”，州立大学图书馆的建设服务处的处长琳达•高芙如是说。
琳达•高芙也参与了这项测试，她评价说：“你看见一个搜索栏，打几个词进去，然后点搜索键”，“他们断然把出现在搜索结果页面上端的认为是最好的。”
教育家认为这些马虎的研究方法很令人不安。
“我们将网络搜索看作一项基本技能，就像我们认为数学和英语是基本技能一样。”劳瑞•罗斯，州立大学副校长的助手这样说。
罗斯说，衡量学生能够在多大程度上分辨因特网上的好坏已经成为进入我校的优先考虑标准。
加里福尼亚的萨克拉门托州立大学正在考虑给所有大一新生多加一门入学测试，即网络识别能力，就像l980年以来他们对英语和数学的要求一样。
在萨克拉门托州立大学研讨会上，大一新生需在学期开始就参加该项测试并且在这周内完成另一轮测试来评估他们是否取得进步。
转载自：外语教育网
