2005 National English Contest for College Students Level A

(Sample)

Part I Listening Comprehension (25 minutes, 30 points)

Section A Dialogues (10 points)

Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short dialogues．At the end of each dialogue,a question will be asked about what was said． Both the dialogue and the question will be read only once．After each question， there will be a pause．During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer． Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

１. A. A computer engineer.   B. A singer.　  

    C. A computer salesperson. 　D. A stereo salesperson.

2. A. In the restaurant.     B. In the airplane.

 　C. In the theatre.      D. At the railway station.

3. A. The number 2 train, on track 4. B. The number 4 train, on track 2.

　 C. The number 2 train, on track 2. D. The number 4 train, on track 4.

4. A. He wants to leave the theatre before the movie is over.

 　B. He doesn't know the way to the theatre.

 　C. He wants to go early to avoid a traffic jam.

 　D. He doesn't usually get up at 7:00.

5. A. Italian.　  B. American.  C. French.   D. German.

6. A. At 9 o'clock.     B. At 10 o'clock. 

  　C. At 11 o'clock.      D. At 12 o'clock.

7. A. Ground beef.  B. Flour.　  C. Potatoes.   D. Cheese.

8. A. At the end of the week.　  B. Right away.

 　C. At the end of the month.　  D. Before lunch time.

9. A. In the basement.    B. On the ground floor.

 　C. On the second floor.    D. On the third floor. 

10. A. On Wednesday June 5th.　   B. On Thursday June 6th.

　  C. On Friday June 7th.　    D. On Saturday June 8th.

Section B News Item(10 points)

Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short pieces of news from BBC or VOA. After each news item and question, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the three choices marked A, B, and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

11. A. 500 years ago.   B. 700 years ago. 　   C. 1, 000 years ago.

12. A. In the U.S.    B. In Iraq.   C. In Afghanistan.

13. A. Pollution.     B. Tourists.   C. Tidal waves.

14. A. At least 22.    B. More than 60.   C. At least 19.

15. A. On Saturday.    B. In May.     C. In October.

16. A. Job growth of 337, 000 had been predicted by private sector forecasters.

 　 B. At least 225,000 jobs have been created in the past three months.

 　 C. Job growth in October was more than the average growth of the past three months.

17. A. To detect the pollution area on the earth.

    B. To locate the sources of gamma ray explosions.

    C. To destroy the mysterious material in the universe.

18.  A. South Korea.    B. Japan.     C. America.

19.  A. He died at age 37.  B. He was the 1960's pop superstar.

     C. He was an Oscar winner.

20.  A. Climate Change.  B. United Nations' Future.

     C. Recent Accomplishments in Economy.

Section C Passages (10 points)

Directions: In this section, you will hear 2 passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 5 questions. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the first passage.

21.  A. A student.   B. A secretary. C. A doctor.   D. An English teacher.

22.  A. In Mexico.   B. In England. C. In the United States.  D. In Spain.

23.  A. Her address in Mexico.    B. Her telephone number.

 C. Her address in the U.S.    D. Her family members.

24.  A. Her Social Security number.   B. Her student I.D. number.

 C. The bus number.      D. Her medical insurance number.

25.  A. She wanted to go home.    B. She didn't have Social Security number.

     C. She couldn't remember what's the bus number.

     D. She had to remember too many numbers. 

Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the second passage.

26. A. On Friday evenings.    B. On Sunday mornings.

    C. On Saturday mornings.   D. On Saturday evenings.

27. A. Many people don't stay home on Saturday evenings.

    B. People probably eat brunch at around 11:00 in the morning.

    C. The zoo is probably crowded on beautiful Saturday afternoons.

    D. There are usually a lot of parties on Sunday nights.

28. A. To have a big dinner.    B. To prepare for the week ahead.

    C. To welcome grandparents.  D. To watch TV.

29. A. Go to a movie.     B. Go to the church.

    C. Go to parties.      D. Go to the zoo.

30. A. On Friday nights.     B. On Saturday nights.

    C. On Sunday nights.    D. On Monday nights.

Part II  Vocabulary and Structure (5 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: There are 10 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank 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 centre.

31. During the criminal investigation lawyers determined________specific funds had been diverted and to whom.

 A. wherever     B. where  C. whom     D. whomever

32. Several major contracts with some very important clients are________renewal this year.

 A. up to       B. in at     C. up for       D. in for

33. I'd rather he________a book like Fight Club every five years than books like Diary coming out each 12 months. That's what I like about Salinger.

 A. transcribing   B. wrote      C. publish      D. would buy

34. Teachers and parents try to teach children that the future is________, and that they'll be there to provide guidance.

 A. theirs to decide       B. them to change  

 C. themselves to recognize  D. their to fulfill

35. Europeans and North Americans are sometimes not________to the business customs of Asia.

 A. supposed      B. used    C. related      D. expected

36. Benjamin Brothers' annual warehouse sale is being________for an additional two days to accommodate the large number of customers.

 A. tended to    B. spread out  C. held over   D. turned up

37. Though the company has used________to attract new clients, profits were down in the last quarter of the year.

 A. indulgences    B. incentives   C. industry      D. increments

38. We would like to express our________a large number of businesses and business publications,  who have given us permission to use various types of their materials.

 A. thanks at    B. gratefulness on C. gratitude in     D. appreciation to

39.________, however, the season has been one of unusual profit and enjoyment, and he would
be a churlish sportsman, indeed, who could find grounds for complaint.

 A. Everything taken into consideration   B. Taking everything into consideration

 C. Take everything into consideration    D. To take everything into consideration

40.________ many a long hour of practice, many a day of study and effort, between those simple
 days in Woonsocket, and Anna's recent triumphs in Chicago.

 A. There have been  B. There were  C. There was   D. There has been

Part III Situational Dialogues (5 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: There are 10 incomplete dialogues in this part. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the dialogue. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

41． Patty: Hello, could I speak to Mrs. Lee, please?

     Betty: This is Betty Lee.

     Patty: Oh, Betty, this is Patty Wong. Bill and I will be having a buffet party next Saturday, and we'd like you to join us.

     Betty: We'd love to, Patty. ________________

     Patty: Oh, we're celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary.

 A． What time do you want us to come?  B. What's the occasion?

 C． Who else are you inviting?    D. How long will it be?

42． Edward: How are you feeling?

     Gail: Much better. Thanks for coming to see me. Please take a seat.

     Edward: How was the operation?

     Gail: Everything turned out for the best. It didn't hurt at all, but when the anesthetic wore off, I began to feel some pain.

     Edward: ________________ 

A. You may leave the hospital in a couple of days.

B. We all miss you.

C. You'd better take things easy for a while, be patient.

D. Don't worry about it.

43． Adrian: Boris. To what do I owe this honour?

     Boris: Just a social call, Adrian. Good to find you all at home.

     Adrian: I'd like you to meet my family.

     Boris: ________________

A. You can't imagine.   B. Never mind.

C. With pleasure.   D. I've been looking forward to this for some time.

44． Ann: What will you buy your dad as a birthday present?

     John: I haven't decided yet. You've got to help me!

     Ann: What does he like to do best?

     John: Of course! Why didn't I think of that? He loves to go fishing!

     Ann:________________

     John: I can buy him a set of fishing tackle!

     Ann: Good. That represents an auspicious New Year greeting. You will be a special wellwisher.

 A. Here you are.  B. You bet.  C. There you go.    D. There it is.

45． Bill： What's the time?

     Blanche： 8 o'clock, so we'd better get a move on if we're going to meet your sister at the airport.

     Bill： That's alright. Her flight doesn't arrive until 8:30.

     Blanche： Yeah, but it'll take us an hour to get there—you know what the traffic is like.

     Bill： OK.________________

     Blanche： What's wrong with those shorts?

     Bill： I don't like driving in shorts. I'm going to put some jeans on.

 A. I'll just go and get changed.   B. I'll wash my hands.

 C. Please wait me a moment.  D. I'll be back soon.

46． Husband: Oh, dear, my eyes are really sore.

     Wife: ________________

     Husband: Yes, and I've got a runny nose, too.

     Wife: Hmm, I can see that. Do you suffer from hay fever?

     Husband: Not usually, no. Maybe I should go and see the doctor.

     Wife: Yes, then she can give you a prescription for the chemist's.

 A. What's the reason?      B. How long have they been?

 C. Are they?            D. Never mind.

47． Dick：What shall I do with this frying pan?

     May： It's dirty, isn't it?

     Dick： Yes.

     May： Well, could you put it in the dishwasher? It's full, so you could put it on.

     Dick： OK. ________________

     May： Oh, the detergent in the bottle under the sink. It's green with a red label.

 A. How should I do?      B. Where is the dishwasher?

C. Can I do it later?   D. What shall I use?

48． Alice： Where's Emma these days? I haven't seen her recently.

     Doris： She's in Portugal on business. Lucky her!

     Alice： Have you ever been there?

     Doris： Yes, but a long time ago. It was before Sam was born and he's nearly ten now. I 
haven't been anywhere interesting for ages—it's years since I've been abroad.________________

     Alice： How's your job going?

     Doris：Well, it's OK for the time being , but if anything better came up, I'd apply for it.

     Alice： There was a great job advertised in the paper the other day—just right for you.

A. I want to change my job.    B. I hope I can go abroad.

C. I'd love to have Emma's job.  D. When can I go abroad?

49． Rose： Oh, hi, Bill. How was your holiday? Did you have a good time?

     Bill： Oh, yes, it was fantastic. Thailand is really beautiful and there is so much to do.

     Rose： Yes, I imagine so. Did you do a lot of sight-seeing, then?

     Bill： Yes, all day long! The temples were incredible.

     Rose： But it must have been expensive.  　　　

     Bill： Yes, I'm sorry to say!

     Rose： So was it worth going to Thailand, then?

     Bill： Oh, yes—definitely. It was the holiday of a lifetime.

A. Did you spend a lot of money?  B. Did you have a good time?

C. Do you regret having been there?  D. Do you want to go there again?

50．Salesgirl：________________

    Customer： No. I'd like a long-sleeved shirt in yellow, medium.

    Salesgirl： I think we're out of your size.

    Customer： Well, can you get me one?

    Salesgirl： I think so. Check back next week.

A. Can you help me?    B. Is somebody taking care of you?

C. What are you looking for?   D. Can I help you?

Part IV IQ Test （5 minutes, 5 points）

51. Which of A,B,C, or D continues the above sequence?

52. Which of the words, A to D, is missing from the brackets?

 BEND （LOOPHOLE） LAIR

 HALT （ . . . . . . . . ） LEAF

 A. SNUGNESS.   B. STUDFARM.  C. TIMEBOMB.   D. STOPPAGE.

53. How many children has Albert?

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

54. Each of the nine squares in the grid marked 1A to 3C, should incorporate all the lines and symbols which are shown in the squares of the same letter  and number immediately above and to the left. For example, 2B should incorporate all the lines and symbols that are in 2 and B.

　　One of the squares is incorrect. Which one is it?

 A. 1B.   B. 2A.   C. 3A.    D. 3C.

55. Which number should replace the question mark? 

 A. 1     B. 2     C. 3      D. 4

Part V Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 35 points)

Section A Multiple Choice (5 points)

Directions: There is １ passage in this section with 5 unfinished statements. For each of them, there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

Questions 56—60 are based on the following passage.

    Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols are almost certain to be banned from French schools and public buildings after a special commission told the government recently that legislation was needed to defend the secular nature of the state. The 20-member group, appointed by President Jacques Chirac and headed by the national ombudsman, Bernard Stasi, recommended that all “conspicuous” signs of religious belief — including Jewish skullcaps, oversized Christian crosses and   Islamic   headscarves — be outlawed in state-approved schools.

　　The report, compiled after six months of study, also recommended that the laws should include a clause requiring “the strict neutrality of all public service employees”. Some Muslim women had reportedly been insisting that their husbands accompany them at all times in hospital and would accept only female doctors. The report said the legislation must remind all health service users that “it is forbidden to reject a healthcare worker, and that the rules of hygiene must be respected”. In a gesture of respect to “all spiritual options”, the report said the Jewish and Muslim holy days of Yom Kippur and Eid should be made official school holidays, and companies should consider ways of allowing their employees to take off the religious holiday of their choice.

　　Mr Chirac said that he favoured a law protecting France's secular republic, “I will be guided by republican principles and the demands of national unity and the solidarity of the French people,” he said. The question of whether a “secularism law” is desirable or necessary— particularly to deal with the increasing number of Muslim girls wanting to wear headscarves at school — may seem abstract, or even absurd, to those used to British or US notions of multiculturalism. In France, where secularism is a constitutional guarantee and everyone, in the eyes of the republic, is supposed to be equally French regardless of ethnic or religious differences, the issue has dominated media and political debate for several months. Mr Stasi said the proposed law aimed to preserve constitutional secularism and counter “forces trying to destabilise the republic”, a clear reference to Islamic fundamentalism. But he stressed that the law was not directed at the mainly moderate Muslim community of 5 million. “Muslims must understand that secularism is a chance for Islam,” Mr Stasi said. “Secularism is the separation of church and state, but it is also the respect of differences.”

　　The main teachers' union, said that the proposals did not go far enough to promote secularism in schools.

56. The Stasi commission has recommended that the wearing of headscarves in French schools be banned because_________.

 A. they are conspicuous B. they represent forces trying to destabilise the republic

 C. the commission wants to defend the secular nature of the French state

 D. they are religious symbols

57. The commission recommended a clause requiring the strict neutrality of all public service
employees because__________.

 A. they wanted to remind people that it is forbidden to reject a healthcare worker

 B. some people only accept female doctors

 C. it took six months to compile the report

 D. some people accept female and male doctors

58. The commission recommended the introduction of new public holidays________.

 A. in order to allow workers to choose their holidays

 B. as a gesture of respect to all religions

 C. in order to ensure the strict neutrality of all public service employees

 D. in order to give the doctors more opportunities to work

59. The constitutional guarantee of secularism under French law means that________.

 A. people cannot wear headscarves to school

 B. people can wear headscarves to school

 C. the issue has dominated media and political debate for several months

 D. everyone is regarded as equally French whatever their religion or ethnic background

60. The main teachers' union criticised the proposals because they________.

 A. were too radical     B. were not radical enough

 C. promoted secularism in schools  D. were too unfair

Section B Short Answer Questions (20 points)

Directions: In this section, there are 2 passages. Each passage is followed by 5 questions or
unfinished statements. Read the passages carefully, then answer the questions in the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words). Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

Questions 61—65 are based on the following passage.

    The changing climate over the next 50 years is expected to drive a quarter of land animals and plants into extinction, according to the first comprehensive study into the effect of higher temperatures on the natural world. The scale of the disaster facing the planet shocked those involved in the research. They estimate that more than 1 million species will be lost by 2050.

　　The results are described as “terrifying” by Chris Thomas, professor of conservation biology at Leeds University, who is lead author of the research from four continents published last week in the magazine Nature. Much of that loss — more than one in 10 of all plants and animals — is already irreversible because of the extra global warming gases already discharged into the atmosphere. But the scientists say that action to curb greenhouse gases now could save many more. It took two years for the largest global collaboration of experts to make the first major assessment of the effect of climate change on six biologically rich regions of the world taking in 20% of the land surface. The research in Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and South Africa, showed that species living in mountainous areas had a greater chance of survival because they could move uphill to get cooler.

　　In South Africa, major conservation areas such as Kruger National Park risked losing up to 60% of the species under their protection, while of 300 South African plant species studied, more than one third were expected to die out, including the national flower, the King Protea.

　　In the Cerrado region of Brazil which covers one fifth of the country, a study of 163 tree species showed that up to 70 would become extinct. Many of the plants and trees that exist in this savannah occur nowhere else in the world. In Europe, the continent least affected by climate change, survival rates were better.

　　Studies in Mexico's Chihuahuan desert confirmed that on flatter land extinction was more likely because a small change in climate would require migrations over vast distances for survival. One third of 1,870 species examined would be in trouble.

　　So many species are already destined for extinction because it takes at least 25 years for the greenhouse effect — or the trapping of the sun's rays by the carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — to have its full effect on the planet. The continuous discharge of more greenhouse gases, particularly by the United States and European nations, is making matters worse. The research says that, if mankind continues to burn oil, coal and gas at the current rate, up to one third of all life forms will be doomed by 2050.

Questions:

61. How many species are expected to be lost by the year 2050?

62. How much of the land surface of the world does the report on global warming cover?

63. How many species of South African plants are expected to die out?

64. How long does it take for the greenhouse effect to have its full effect on the planet?

65. Which human activities can produce greenhouse gases?

Questions 66—70 are based on the following passage.

    South Korean and American scientists have cloned human embryos and successfully extracted stem cells from one of them. The research opens the way for once-undreamed of treatments for long-term diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It also reignites the debate about human cloning. The team used 242 eggs from 16 women to clone 30 blastocysts — the tiny ball of cells that become an embryo. Stem cells are the agents that turn a single fertilised egg into up to 10 trillion cells in just nine months' gestation.

　　Scientists around the world have cloned sheep, mice, rats, rabbits, horses, and even a mule. But despite dramatic yet unsupported claims from European fertility clinics, primates and humans were thought to be almost impossible to clone.

　　The Korean and US scientists sucked the original DNA out of the egg, and substituted it with chromosomes from an adult cell. Then they “tricked” the egg into thinking it had been fertilised. “Nobody has cloned a human here,” said Donald Kennedy, a biologist and editor in chief of Science.

　　The White House responded to the news of the breakthrough with a reminder that President George Bush is opposed to stem cell research. “The age of human cloning has apparently arrived: today cloned blastocysts for research, tomorrow cloned blastocysts for baby-making,” said Leon Kass, chairman of the president's council on bioethics. Last week's announcement was the culmination of years of research into the potential benefits of therapeutic cloning. But for those benefits to be realised, researchers must now work out how to turn the cells into replacement human tissue needed to treat disease.

　　In the long term, some scientists believe it could be possible to grow entire organs. Linda Kelly of the Parkinson's Disease Society in the UK said: “This announcement is clearly a milestone in medical research.” But the pressure group Human Genetics Alert warned that researchers had given a big boost to those who want to make cloned babies. Such fears arise because the initial steps in therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are identical.

Questions:

66. The extraction of stem cells from cloned human embryos could lead to________.

67. Previously people thought that it was impossible to clone________.

68. The original DNA was substituted by________.

69. Opponents of stem cell research believe that it could lead to________.

70. Some people regard this research as________.

Section C True or False (10 points)

Directions: In this section, there is 1 passage with 10 statements. Read the passage and decide which of the statements at the end of the passage are true and which are false. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

Questions 71—80 are based on the following passage.

    A recent survey of women MPs in the British Parliament shows that many male MPs have very old-fashioned views about women. The survey was based on interviews with 83 current and recent MPs and it contains some frank comments about certain male MPs making sexist remarks and gestures as women try to speak in the House of Commons, the lower chamber of the British Parliament.

　　When Gillian Shephard arrived in the House of Commons as a new Tory (Conservative) MP in 1987 she was confused when she and her fellow women MPs were called Betty. “There was a Conservative MP who called us all Betty,” she says, “and when I said, ‘Look, you know my name isn't Betty’, he said, ‘Ah, but you're all the same, so I call you all Betty, it's easier’.”

　　Barbara Follett says: “I remember some Conservatives making sexist comments and gestures every time a Labour woman got up to speak.” When a large number of female MPs — 120 in all — arrived in the House of Commons after Tony Blair's election victory in 1997, Labour's Claire Curtis-Thomas thought that the red ribbons tied to coat hangers were for Aids day. Later she learnt they were for MPs to hang up their swords.

　　Another new MP, Yvette Cooper, found it hard to make Commons officials believe that she was not a researcher or a secretary. Jackie Ballard, a Liberal Democrat who left parliament at the  last  election,  remembers  a  well-known  Tory MP who constantly made sexist remarks, “maybe about someone's legs or someone being a lesbian ... if he worked for me he'd probably be sacked”. The same MP once said, while drunk in the House of Commons, that he'd like to “make love to” a nearby woman.

　　The interviews show how even after the arrival of the “Blair babes”, female MPs were expected to concentrate on “women's issues”, such as health and education. Several complain of the humiliation they experienced when they entered traditionally male territory. When Labour's Dari Taylor resigned from the defence committee — one of only two women on it — the chairman, Bruce George, stood up and said: “Well, I have to make this announcement: one down, one to go.”

　　Many women MPs were astonished by the negative reactions of their male colleagues. Even male MPs who publicly supported sexual equality were furious when they saw women getting promotion. One current member of the government was asked, when she was promoted: “Oh, you've had a very fast rise, who have you been sleeping with?” Male MPs and officials seemed unwilling to accept the new Labour women, many of them in their 30s and 40s. Some simply could not believe that such young women could be members of parliament.

　　Many female MPs say that things have improved since the introduction of “family friendly” hours. The old male drinking culture is gradually disappearing. But it isn't perfect yet. Sarah Teather, the new Liberal Democrat MP, says: “Lots of people say it's similar to an old boys' club. I've always said, to me it feels rather more like a teenage public school — you know, a public school full of teenage boys.”

　　The thing that makes women MPs furious is that their achievements are not recognised. They say that they have brought a new feminised agenda to British politics, in particular, the fact that childcare is now at the top of the domestic agenda. They mention several other successful policies too, in particular parental leave.

Statements:

71. All British male MPs have old-fashioned views about women.

72. All the male MPs call the women MPs “Betty”.

73. The red ribbons were to mark Aids day.

74. Commons officials thought one woman MP was a secretary or a researcher.

75. Health and education are traditional male territory.

76. Many male MPs reacted negatively when women got promotion.

77. The old male drinking culture is rapidly disappearing.

78. Many women MPs feel their achievements are recognised.

79. 83 MPs were interviewed in this survey.

80. 125 women MPs arrived in Parliament in 1997.

Part VI Cloze-Test (10 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: There are 10 blanks in the passage. For each blank, the first letter of the word has been given. Read the passage below and think of the word which best fits each blank. Use only one word in each blank. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

     In every cultivated language there are two great classes of words which, taken together, comprise the whole vocabulary. First, there are those words w___81___which we become acquainted in daily conversation, which we l___82___, that is to say, from the members of our own family and from our familiar associates, and which we should know and use even if we could not read or write. They c___83___the common things of life, and are the stock in trade of all who s___84___the language. Such words may be called “popular”, since they belong to the people at large and are not the exclusive p___85___of a limited class.

　　On the other hand, our language i___86___a multitude of words which are comparatively
s___87___used in ordinary conversation. Their meanings are known to every educated person, but  there  is  little  occasion  to  use  them  at  home  or  in  the  market-place. Our f___88___acquaintance with them comes not from our mother's lips or from the talk of our school-mates, b___89___from books that we read, lectures that we hear, or the more formal conversation of highly educated speakers who are discussing some particular topic in a style appropriately elevated above the habitual l___90___of everyday life. Such words are called “learned”, and the distinction between them and “popular” words is of great importance to a right understanding of linguistic process.

Part VII Translation (15 minutes, 20 points)

Section A English-Chinese Translation (10 points)

Directions: Translate the underlined sentences of the following passage into Chinese. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

    Recently in four weeks, we can listen to the word “tsunami”. The whole world put attention to the South Asia where the tsunami happened. (91) Before, musicians produced a “sonic tsunami”, Wall Street analysts foresaw “tsunamis” of bad earnings news and Japanese restaurants served “tsunami” sushi rolls. The word was used in dozens of different contexts, but now it likely will appear with just one, tragic, meaning.

　　(92) Because of the South Asian tsunami disaster that has killed more than 150,000 people, the word assumes a solely solemn use, much the way “Ground Zero”, for the site of the World Trade Center, had its meaning changed from “starting point” to the center of the Sept. 11 tragedy, said Paul Payack, head of Global Language Monitor. Payack said that since the Dec. 26 tsunami, the Japanese word has appeared more than 18.5 million times and been the subject of 88,000 articles in major media.

　　(93) “Before Sept. 11, 2001, the term ground zero was a business cliche meaning starting point, especially when beginning a project over again as in ‘going back to ground zero.’ That term now represents what many consider to be hallowed ground and its old usage is rarely employed,” he said.

　　(94) “In the same manner, we envision that the word tsunami will be the subject of considerable discretion before being used in anything other than a most serious manner,” he said. Payack said thousands of sports teams around the world use tsunami into their names, like the Tsunami Aquatics Swim team of Livermore, California.

　　He said there are also some 10, 000 products called tsunami, like Tsunami Point-to-Point Wireless Bridges, Tsunami Multimedia Speakers and Tsunami Image Processors. (95) Newspaper headline writers also liked the colorful word, as the Detroit News' “Ford Releases a Tsunami of New Products” and “Heading for the presidency on a tsunami of visions” in London's The Times.

Section B Chinese-English Translation (10 points)

Directions: Translate the following sentences into English. Remember to write the answers on 
the Answer Sheet.

 96. 旅游令人很兴奋，因为你可以看到与你生活和工作的地方截然不同的风景。

 97. 这是个竞争的世界；我们需要在工作、事业等方面竞争；考试也是一种竞争。

 98. 爱是一门理解的艺术；深刻和相互的理解是爱的常青树的肥沃土壤。

 99． 靛青（indigo）代表着思考和反省，代表着黎明的微光和深邃的海水；世界需要它来平衡和比较，需要它来祈祷和获求内心的安宁。

 100． 教育最重要的目的不是教你挣得面包，而是使每一口挣得的面包都更香甜。

Part VIII Writing (30 minutes, 30 points)

Task I (10 points)

Directions: Write an email to a colleague about a current project that you are working on. Prepare the situation using the questions below. The information can be real or imaginary.

 ●What project/activity/job are you going to write about?

 ●What are the aims of the project/activity/job?

 ●What resources are involved? Ideas: material, financial, human.

 ●In general, how is it going?

 ●Are there any problems? How are you overcoming the problems?

 You should write about 120 words. Write your email  on the Answer Sheet.

Task II (20 points)

Directions: The picture is a caricature, which means “hen in shackles chained to her egg”. You should write an argumentation at least 150 words, based on the picture information. Write your argumentation on the Answer Sheet.