2004年9月英语中级口译真题+音频+答案
SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS (50 minutes)
Directions: In this section, you will read severalpassages. Each passage is f ollowed by several
questions based on its content. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A) , (B), (C) or (D) , to each
question. Answer all the questions f ollowing each passage on the basis of what is stated or
imp lied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the correspond ing
spa ce in your ANSWER BOOKLET. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
Questions 1-5
Last year more than a million and a half foreign tourists visited the United States. In order
to understand intercultural problems better, and perhaps to find ways to improve the American
image abroad, a reporter recently interviewed some of these visitors as they were leaving to
return home. He especially wanted to find out their first impressions of the United States, what
places they most enjoyed visiting, and some of their likes and dislikes.
As far as first impressions are concerned, almost all of the foreigners were impressed by the
tremendous size of the country. The United States, of course, is a large country. The distance
between San Francisco and New York is about the same as that between Gibraltar and Baghdad.
Indeed, the entire Mediterranean Sea could easily fit within the country's borders. Even
expecting this, foreigners who visit the United States for the first time are overwhelmed by the
vast distances. Apparently to be believed, such distances have to be traveld.
The foreign visitors were also impressed by the range of climate and the variety of scenery
in the country. Many were amazed to discover that, in the same day, they could travel from the
snowy cold of New England winter to the sunny warmth of Florida sunshine. Even in the single
state of California, they could find sandy beaches, rocky shores, tropical vegetation, hot dry
deserts, redwood forests, and towering snow-capped mountains. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
They were also impressed by the informal friendliness of Americans. Whether on buses,
trains, planes, or at vacation or scenic resorts, there visitors generally agreed that they had been
greeted warmly. On the other hand, some reported that hotel clerks, waiters, and taxi drivers
were often unsympathetic, impatient, and rude. The most common complaint of all was that so
few Americans can speak any language but English, and some foreign visitors claimed that they
had difficulty understanding the American accent.
1. What does "this" in "Even expecting this…" (para.2, line 11) refer to?
(A) The distance between San Francisco and New York.
(B) The vastness of the country.
(C) The size of the Mediterranean Sea.
(D) The country's borders.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
(A) New England winters are cold.
(B) Some taxi drivers are impolite.
(C) The U.S.A is a popular place for tourists.
(D) Hotel staff are often sympathetic.
3. New England is located _______.
(A) in the south west of the US
(B) to the south of California
(C) in the northeast of the US
(D) to the west of Florida
4. What made the most negative impression on foreign visitors?
(A) The country's vastness.
(B) The informal friendliness of Americans.
(C) The fact that the American accent is hard to understand.
(D) The fact that not many Americans can speak a foreign language.
5. The overall purpose of this passage is to _______.
(A) demonstrate the cultural differences between America and Europe
(B) indicate ways to improve the American image abroad
(C) describe the general impression of foreign visitors on America
(D) criticize some behaviors of American taxi drivers http://tr.hjenglish.com/
Questions 6-10
A million motorists leave their cars full up with petrol and with the keys in the ignition
every day. The vehicles are sitting in petrol stations while drivers pay for their fuel. The
Automobile Association (AA) has discovered that cars are left unattended for an average three
minutes — and sometimes considerably longer — as drivers buy drinks, sweets, cigarettes and
other consumer items — and then pay at the cash till. With payment by the credit card more and
more common, it is not unusually for a driver to be out of his car for as long as six minutes,
providing the car thief with a golden opportunity. http://www.hjenglish.com/
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. Twenty four percent admitted
that they 'always' or 'sometimes' leave the keys in their car. This means that nationwide, a
million cars daily become easy targets for the opportunist thief.
For more than ten 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 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. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
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 own carelessness.
When AA engineers surveyed on town center car park last year, ten percent of the cars checked
were unlocked, a figure backed by a Home Office national survey that found 12 percent of
drivers sometimes left their cars unlocked. The AA recommends locking up whenever you leave
the car — and for however short a period. A partially open sun-roof or window is a further
come-on to thieves.
There are many other traps to avoid. The Home Office has found little awareness among
drives about safe parking. Most motorists questioned made no efforts to avoid among drives
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 don't like audiences. Leaving valuables in view is an invitation to
the criminals. A Manchester Probationary 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
garage car is at substantially less risk. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
6. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
(A) The use of credit cards may increase the risk of car theft.
(B) It is advised that the drivers take car keys with them.
(C) Most cars are stolen by professional thieves.
(D) The AA advises that motorists leave their cars locked.
7. Where in the passage does the author mention leaving valuables in view is an invitation to
the criminals?
(A) The first paragraph.
(B) The second paragraph.
(C) The third paragraph.
(D) The last paragraph.
8. The car theft is due to all of the following EXCEPT _______.
(A) people's carelessness
(B) unawareness of safe parking http://tr.hjenglish.com/
(C) coat left on the car seat
(D) poor quality of a car lock
9. In order to prevent car theft, people are recommended to _______.
(A) park cars in quiet places
(B) use a garage and lock it
(C) leave a spare car key at home
(D) become a member of AA
10. The main purpose of this passage is to _______.
(A) analyse the car theft rise in Britain
(B) report the survey results by AA
(C) suggest the ways to investigate car theft
(D) compare car crime with other types of crime
Questions 11-15
Travellers arriving at Heathrow airport this year have been met by the smell of freshly-cut
grass, pumped from a discreet corner via an 'aroma box', a machine which blows warm, scented
air into the environment. It can scent the area of an average high street shop with the smell of the
chocolate, freshly-cut grass, or sea breezes, in fact any synthetic odours that can be made to
smell like the real thing. http://ts.hjenglish.com/
Heathrow's move into 'sensory' marketing is the latest in a long line of attempts by
businesses to use sensory psychology — the scientific study of the effects of the senses on our
behaviour to help sell products. Marketing people call this 'atmospherics' — using sounds or
smells to manipulate consumer behaviour. On Valentine's Day two years ago the chain of
chemist's Superdog scented one of its London shops with chocolate. The smell of chocolate is
supposed to have the effect of reducing concentration and making customers relax. 'Chocolate is
associated with love', said a marketing spokeswoman, 'we thought it would get people in the
mood for romance.' She did not reveal, though, whether the smell actually made people spend
more money.
However, research into customer satisfaction with certain scented products has clearly
shown that small does have a commercial effect, though of course it must be an appropriate
smell. In a survey, customers considered a lemon-scented detergent more effective than another
scented with coconut despite the fact that the detergent used in both was identical. On the other
hand, a coconut-scented suntan lotion was rated more effective that a lemon-scented one. A
research group from Washington University reported that the smell of mint or orange sprayed in
a store resulted in customers rating the store as more modern and more pleasant for shopping
than other stores without the smell. Customers also rated the goods on sale as better, and
expressed a stronger intention to visit the store again in the future. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
Music too has long been used in supermarkets for marketing purposes. Supermarkets are
aware, for example, that slow music causes customers to stay longer in the shop (and hopefully
buy more things). At Leicester University psychologists have found that a specific kind of music
can influence consumer behaviour. In a supermarket French wine sold at the rate of 76%
compared to 20% German wine when French accordion music was played. The same thing
happened in reverse when German Bierkeller music was played. In one American study people
even bought more expensive wines when classical music was played instead of country music.
Writers and poets have often described the powerful effects of smell on our emotions, and
smell is often considered to be the sense most likely to evoke emotion-filled memories. Research
suggests however that this is a myth and that a photography or a voice is just as likely to evoke a
memory as a smell. Perhaps the reason for this myth is because smells, as opposed to sights and
sounds, are very difficult to give a name to. The fact that smell is invisible, and thus somehow
more mysterious, may partly explain its reputation as our most emotional sense.
11. What is the use of "aroma box" at Heathrow airport?
(A) It can scent a lot of synthetic fragrance into the environment.
(B) It is a machine which blows warm and fresh air into the environment.
(C) It often pumps the smell of freshly-cut grass from a high-street shop.
(D) It is a box which sends out not only aroma but also music.http://www.hjenglish.com/
12. Who might benefits most from "atmospherics" in the "sensory" marketing?
(A) Psychologists.
(B) Customers.
(C) Shop owners.
(D) The research groups.
13. Research into customer satisfaction showed that _______.
(A) the right smell made people think a product was better
(B) people preferred the smell of lemon to coconut
(C) certain smells could make people dislike a shop http://tr.hjenglish.com/
(D) customers rated the goods on sale as more inviting
14. The use of music in supermarkets _______.
(A) may lead customers to pay more of a product
(B) can increase sales of a specific product
(C) makes people buy more foreign wine
(D) causes customers to buy more from in the shop
15. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
(A) Smell is the most emotional of the senses.
(B) Smell stimulates our memory more than the other senses.
(C) Smell is considered to be mysterious, as it is untouchable.
(D) Smell is the most difficult sense to identify.
Questions 16-20 http://tr.hjenglish.com/papers.htm
The danger of misinterpretation is greatest, of course, among speakers who actually speak
different native tongues, or come from different cultural backgrounds, because cultural
difference necessarily implies different assumptions about natural and obvious ways to be polite.
Anthropologist Thomas Kochman gives the example of a white office worker who appeared
with a bandaged arm and felt rejected because her black fellow worker didn't mention it. The
doubly wounded worker assumed that her silent colleague didn't notice or didn't care. But the
co-worker was purposely not calling attention to something her colleague might not want to talk
about. She let her decide whether or not to mention it, being considerate by not imposing.
Kochman says, based on his research, that these differences reflect recognizable black and white
styles.
An American woman visiting England was repeatedly offended — even, on bad days,
enraged — when the British ignored her in setting in which she thought they should pay
attention. For example, she was sitting at a booth in a railway-station cafeteria. A couple began
to settle into the opposite seat in the same booth. They unloaded their luggage; they laid their
coats on the seat; he asked what she would like to eat and went off to get it; she slid into the
booth facing the American. And throughout all this, they showed no sign of having noticed that
someone was already sitting in the booth. http://tr.hjenglish.com/
When the British woman lit up a cigarette, the American had a concrete obj ect for her anger.
She began ostentatiously looking around for another table to move to. Of course there was none;
that's why the British couple had sat in her booth in the first place. The smoker immediately
crushed out her cigarette and apologized. This showed that she had noticed that someone else
was sitting in the booth, and that she was not inclined to disturb her. But then she went back to pretending the American wasn't there, a ruse in which her husband collaborated when he returned with their food and they ate it.
To the American, politeness requires talk between strangers forced to share a booth in a
cafeteria, if only a fleeting "Do you mind if I sit down?" or a conventional, "Is anyone sitting
here?" even if it's obvious no one is. The omission of such talk seemed to her like dreadful
rudeness. The American couldn't see that another system of politeness was at work. By not
acknowledging here presence, the British couple freed her from the obligation to acknowledge
theirs. The American expected a show of involvement; they were being polite by not imposing.
An American man who had lived for years in Japan explained a similar politeness ethic. He
lived, as many Japanese do, in extremely close quarters — a tiny room separated from
neighbouring rooms by paper-thin walls. In this case the walls were literally made of paper. In
order to preserve privacy in this most unprivate situation, his Japanese neighbour with the door
open, they steadfastly glued their gaze ahead as if they were alone in a desert. The American
confessed to feeling what I believe most American would feel if a next-door neighbour passed
within a few feet without acknowledging their presence — snubbed. But he realized that the
intention was not rudeness by omitting to show involvement, but politeness by not imposing.
The fate of the earth depends on cross-cultural communication. Nations must reach
agreements, and agreements are made by individual representatives of nations sitting down and
talking to each other — public analogues of private conversation. The processes are the same,
and so are the pitfalls. Only the possible consequences are more extreme.
16. In Thomas Kochman's example, when the white office worker appeared with a bandaged
arm, why did her colleague keep silent?
(A) Because she didn't care about her white colleague at all.
(B) Because she was considerate by imposing on her.
(C) Because she didn't want to embarrass her white colleague.
(D) Because she was aware of their different cultural backgrounds.
17. What is the best definition for the word "imposing" in paragraph 2?
(A) Unreasonably expecting someone to do something.
(B) Using your authority to make sure a rule is kept.
(C) Acting in a grand, impressive way.
(D) Causing troubles to oneself.
18. Which of the following can he concluded from the passage?
(A) The British would like to avoid talking to strangers in public.
(B) The American would like to be imposed in different settings.
(C) The British expect a small talk between strangers who are forced to share a booth in a
cafeteria.
(D) The American enjoy being ignored in unfamiliar settings.
19. What seems to be 'Japanese' behaviour in order to preserve privacy in close quarters?
(A) They would separate their rooms by paper-thin walls.
(B) They act as if they have never known someone living next to them.
(C) They are very friendly and considerate to their neighbours.
(D) They pull their face long and glue steadfastly their gaze ahead.
20. Which of the following can serve as the best title for the passage?
(A) An American Woman's Overseas Experience
(B) The Cultural Wave
(C) Mixed Metamesssage across Cultures
(D) Pitfalls and Possible Consequences
Questions 21-25
Local government in Britain is the responsibility of elected local authorities, which provide
local services under specific powers conferred by Parliament. Government on a local basis can
be traced back at least 1,000 years, but this concept of a comprehensive system of councils
locally elected to manage various services provided for the benefit of the community was first
cooperated into law in the late nineteenth century. The local authorities' maj or responsibilities
nowadays include education, housing, the police, environmental health, personal social services,
traffic administration, town and country planning, fire services, libraries and many minor
functions.
There are 6 metropolitan local authorities, and Greater London and the remaining 47
'non-metropolitan' authorities, or counties. Each separate authority has power to levy a 'rate' (a
form of local property tax) to pay for the work for which it has responsibility. Rates are a local
tax paid by the occupiers of non-agricultural land and building in a local authority area as
contributions to the cost of local services. The amount paid by the individual depends on the
value of the property in relation to the total sum needed by the authority.
Total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales exceeds ￡9,000 million a year.
A clear distinction is made between capital expenditure and current expenditure. Capital
expenditure (about a quarter of the total) is normally financed by borrowing. current expenditure
is financed from three main sources: local rates; Government grants, in the form of a 'rate
support' grant, and grants towards the cost of specific services; other income, including rents
from local authority-owned properties. Housing and education are the two maj or areas for which
local authorities are responsible. Each local authority area is divided into two districts — 36 in
metropolitan counties, 296 in nonmetropolitan counties. The heavily populated metropolitan
districts (e.g. Birmingham, population 1.1 million) have the resources to undertake provision of
services such as education and personal social services which the maj ority of non-metropolitan
districts could not undertake.
County and district councils consists of directly elected councilors. Broadly speaking,
county councils have 60-100 members, metropolitan district councils 50-80 members,
non-metropolitan district councils 30-60 members. The councilors elect annually one of their
members as chairman. On certain district councils with historical status the chairman is called
'mayor' or 'Lord Mayor'. This has ceremonial significance, but makes no difference to the
administrative functions of the area. Councillors are voluntary and unpaid, though they claim an
attendance allowance of up to ￡10 a day.
All county councils are elected at four-yearly intervals. The pattern of election to district
councils varies. All local elections due in any one year are held on the same day, normally the
first Thursday in May. The people entitled to vote at local government elections are those who
are resident in the local authority area on the qualifying date, are 18 or over on election day, are
British subj ects or citizens of the Irish Republic (this will therefore include Commonwealth
citizens e.g. Australians). Candidates for councilors must have British nationality and be over 21,
and must either have lived or worked in the area for a year. Most candidates stand as
representatives of one of the national political parties (Labour, SDP, Conservatives or Liberal for
the most part), a few as members of associations representing some local interests or as
independents.
21. What are NOT included in the functions of local authorities according to the passage?
(A) environment health and education.
(B) housing and country development planning.
(C) local libraries and the police.
(D) court and charity organizations.
22. How does the government work out the amount of the "rate" paid by the individuals?
(A) It depends on how many properties the individual own and the amount the authority
needs.
(B) It is calculated by the value of the property and the total sum needed by the authority.
(C) It depends on the annual income of the individual and the value of the property.
(D) It is calculated by the family annual income and the total sum needed by the authority.
23. How often are county council elections held?
(A) Every four years.
(B) Every two years.
(C) Twice a year.
(D) Four times a year.
24. According to the passage, directly elected councilors _______.
(A) can claim an attendance allowance of more than ￡10 a day
(B) would elect one of their members as 'mayor' every two years
(C) will do the voluntary work and are not paid
(D) must have either British or Irish nationality
25. Which of the following candidates is eligible for the election of councilors?
(A) A 20-year-old British who has been living in the area for a year.
(B) A 30-year-old Englishman who has moved to the area half a year ago.
(C) A 40-year-old British who has been working in the area for 2 years.
(D) A 50-year-old Irishman who has been working and living in the area for 3 years.
Questions 26-30
Myrna Blyth spent more than 20 years as a top magazine editor. So she knows a thing to
two about how the media uses stress, fear and the ultimately fruitless pursuit of perfection to sell
stories. In her controversial new book, Blyth offers some tips about how not to get spun by what
you see or read.
Secret 1 Stress happens
Stress has become an all-purpose gimmick to get our attention. Many magazines and TV
shows love nothing more than suggesting that we can't make it through the day without
practically dying from stress. Yes we all have stress. But not all day, not every day. I find it
downright insulting to hear that we can't keep it together when we're merely going about our good, if sometimes complicated, lives.
The newest research says that the best way to handle stress is not by checking into a day
spa or a holiday resort where the end goal is stress reduction. That sort of binge-and-purge
approach does little to keep us relaxed. Instead, we should simply acknowledge that life is full of
little tensions because, hey, that's life. And we should handle it moment by moment the way
people always have, by taking a deep breath and getting some perspective.
Secret 2 Check "balance "
Stop worrying about achieving balance in your life, especially when you have kids. Kids
take up all available time — it's the basic law of parenthood. No matter how much time you give
them, whether you work from eight to eight or are around the house all the time, you'll still feel
you haven't been there enough for them. Here is the deal: while your children are around, you
won't have time to put your life in perfect balance. That's really not so terrible. You are supposed
to think more about your kids than about yourself. Trust me, you'll have time after they've left
home.
Secret 3 Bef ear less
When it wants to make a big impression, the media isn't shy about scaring us out of our wits.
Reporting and pessimism have become totally intertwined in so many areas, especially in stories
about health and environment. We're supposed to fear everything, from killer celery to weapons
of mass destruction.
How to protect yourself from the effects of these constant guerrilla tactics? Kimberly
Thompson of the Harvard School of Public Health suggests remembering that how we perceive
and process information depends upon how it's presented, positively or negatively. If you hear
about a small number of people stricken by a rare illness, it follows, doesn't it, that a large
number of people (including you) are perfectly fine. Remember, almost all media scare stories
are about something dastardly that happened to a very small group of people, like the unlucky
women who happened to share the same infected foot basin in just one nail salon in California.
In your fight against fear:
Compare the hype to the fact. A little healthy skepticism is in order.
Be wary of pictures. Just because someone's crying doesn't necessarily mean she's telling
the truth.
Don't let impressive-sounding jargon convince you.
Watch the disclaimers. "Might" or "could" doesn't mean that you or your family are really
at risk.
Secret 4 Nobady 's perf ect
Here's what a lot of the media want us to believe: One day, we'll get everything right about
our appearance. Our hair will look fabulous, our skin will be smooth and crease-free. We'll look
so good we'll have made over not just our looks but our lives.
Of course, we all want to look good, but without going to extremes or over budget. The
people important to you — the ones who are in your life — already like the way you look. And
better yet, they like you more for what's going on inside than what can be seen on the outside.
26. What do you think is the best title for this passage?
(A) Stress, Lies and the Media.
(B) How to Avoid Telling the Truth.
(C) Don't Be Afraid of Scary Stories.
(D) Stress, Freedom and the Media.
27. "Binge-and-purge approach" (para.3) refers to a way to reduce stress by ______.
(A) getting drunk
(B) having a kind of relaxation
(C) embarking on a short holiday
(D) acknowledging that life is life
28. Which of the following is NOT suggested as a good way to overcome fear?
(A) Remember that reporting and pessimism have become totally intertwined.
(B) Don't believe words or phrases that sound impressive.
(C) Pray that you won't be among a small number of unlucky people.
(D) Be a little skeptical about the media blitz of bad news about your life.
29. This passage is most helpful for readers who _______.
(A) have no confidence in their appearance
(B) are worried about achieving balance in their lives
(C) are dying from stress
(D) perceive and process information in a pessimistic way
30. We can infer from the passage that _______.
(A) good look will make over our lives
(B) stress is a natural part of human existence
(C) parents will never find enough time with their kids
(D) anything scaring only happens to a small number of people
