2006 National English Contest for College Students

(Level A - Sample)

Part I Listening Comprehension ( 25 minutes, 30 points )

Section A Short Conversations ( 6 points )

Directions: In this section, you will hear 6 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation 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. She didn’t like it.                           

  B. She was ill. 

  C. She visited a friend. 

  D. She had read about it.

2. A. He believes dancing is enjoyable.

   B. He admires those who can dance.

   C. He definitely does not like dancing.

   D. He won’t dance until he’s done his work.

3. A. Around 3:00.              

   B. Around 5:00.

   C. At 2:00.                           

   D. At 1:00.

4. A. The thunderstorm.       

   B. The weather.

   C. The sun.                   

   D. The broadcast.

5. A. They are very good friends.

   B. They haven’t seen each other for a long time.

   C. They are fond of animals.

   D. They don’t expect to meet each other in the zoo.

6. A. Go out to work.          

   B. Listen carefully to John.

   C. Be calm and patient.   

   D. Do the easiest thing.

Section B Long Conversation (4 points )

Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, 4 questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken 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.

7.  A. She needs some information.

    B. She wants packing materials.

    C. She is checking her package.

    D. She is moving to California.

8.  A. Fresh fruit.                     

    B. A gift certificate.

    C. Homemade candy.           

    D. A wedding present.

9.  A. The next day.                  

    B. On Saturday.

    C. In three days.                 

    D. In one week.

10. A. Regular service.               

    B. Overnight express.

    C. Same day delivery.         

    D. Priority service.

Section C News Items (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. Young children.            

    B. Middle-aged people.   

    C. Old people.

12. A. In Beijing, 2005.           

    B. In New York, 1995.    

    C. In Beijing, 1995.

13. A. Yes, they were.                     

    B. No, they weren’t.

    C. Not mentioned in the news.

14. A. China and India.            

    B. China and Iceland.     

    C. Ukraine and Poland.

15. A. Sri Lankan children who survived the Tsunami.

    B. Indonesian children who survived the earthquake.

    C. American children who survived the tornado.

16. A. Lack of support from the government.

    B. Lack of funds to build sports facilities.

    C. Shortage of infrastructure facilities.

17. A. Sony.           

    B. Samsung.               

    C. Apple.

18. A. Popular Film stars.       

    B. Engineers and scientists.

    C. Popular Film directors.

19. A. Some animals can live longer by reducing food intake.

    B. Diabetes can be cured if the patient eats less.

    C. People can increase life spans by eating less meat.

20. A. Pakistan.       

    B. India.            

    C. Palestine.

Section D Passages (10 points)

Directions:In this section, you will hear 3 passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 3 or 4 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 23 are based on the passage you have just heard.

21. A. Chinese.                      

    B. German.   

    C. Roman.                       

    D. Not sure yet.

22. A. Chinese.                      

    B. Germans.  

    C. Americans.                

    D. Romans.

23. A. Because it means a period of rest from work.

    B. Because it symbolizes a new life with new hope.

    C. Because people think it brings us a good life.

    D. Because people enjoys emboding a happy occasion.

Passage Two

Questions 24 to 26 are based on the passage you have just heard.

24. A. There was a shortage of fuel.

    B. Most Americans voted for it.

    C. Large trucks were causing many accidents.

    D. There was a sudden increase in highway deaths.

25. A. Women.                

    B. Older persons.

    C. Westerners.               

    D. Young adults.

26. A. Trucks do not use crucial fuel.

    B. Few trucks are involved in accidents.

    C. Most trucks don’t transport consumer goods.

    D. Trucks run better at higher speeds.

（Script for Listening Comprehension）

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 6 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation 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. M: Did you see the new film last night?

   W: I’ve been in hospital for a few days.

   Q: Why didn’t the woman see the new film?

2. W: Lots of people enjoy dancing, do you?

   M: Believe it or not, that is the last thing I ever want to  do.

   Q: What does the man mean?

3. W: Bob, are you going straight home after school today?

    M: No, I have a class until one o’clock, and after that  I’m going to spend a couple of hours at the library before going home.

    Q: When is Bob going home this afternoon?

4. W: The broadcast says there’s going to be a thunderstorm today.

    M: I don’t believe it. Look, the sun is out.

    Q: What are they discussing?

5. W: Hello, David. Fancy meeting you here in the zoo.

   M: Hello, Jane. Nice to see you. Are these your kids?

   Q: What can you infer from the conversation?

6. W: I’m really angry at John. He never listens to me.

    M: Take it easy, Mary. Things will work out.

    Q: What does the man advise the woman to do?

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, 4 questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken 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.

M: Hello, National Express Courier Company, Customer  Service Department.

W: Hello, I have some questions about a package I’m going  to send, can you help me?

M: Yes, ma’am. What would you like to know?

W: I have a box of homemade candy. And I want to send it to my sister, it’s a birthday present. Do you have any special rules about delivering food?

M: No, not in this case, ma’ma. If you were sending fruit or vegetables, they would have to be packed specially. But there are no rules about sending candy.

W: OK, I have another question. I’m very concerned about  the package reaching my sister on time. Can you make  it sure that it will be there by her birthday on Saturday?

M: Where does it have to go?

W: California.

M: Hmm. Saturday’s only four days away. We have a priority service that would guarantee delivery in three days but it’s more expensive than our regular rate.

W: Well, I don’t want to waste money, but it’s more important that the package be there on time.

M: OK. Bring your package to the office, and we’ll send it by priority service.

W: OK. I’ll do that.

Questions 7 to 10 are based on the long conversation you have just heard.

7. Why is the woman calling the delivery company?

8. What is the woman sending to her sister? 

9. When is her sister’s birthday? 

10. Which method will the woman probably use to send her package? 

Section C

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. The World Health Organization says that every year more  than 1.7 million people die as a result of unsafe drinking water, making it the leading cause of death and disease   around the world. Most of the victims are young children, the vast majority of whom die of illnesses caused by organisms that thrive in water sources contaminated by raw  sewage.

     Question: Who are the main victims of unsafe drinking  water?

12. Six thousand delegates descended on the U.N.’s New York headquarters Monday for a high-level meeting to reaffirm commitments to women’s rights. The gathering—dubbed

    Beijing plus Ten—is devoted to assessing the progress made  since the Fourth Conference on Women in the Chinese capital in 1995.

    Question: When and where was the Fourth Conference on Women held?

13.  New York is the world capital for business and one of the bigger businesses is toys. This past week over 1,500 toymakers from 31 nations converged on the Big Apple to display their wares to retail surveyors. The sheer volume of toys on display at the four-day American International Toy

     Fair in midtown Manhattan might weary the most energetic child, if any children had been allowed to attend the  event, which they were not. The thousands of grown-ups  who attended were there to size up the latest offerings from  the $30 billion a year American toy industry.

Question: Were children allowed to attend the Toy Fair?

14. There are a record 691 US dollar billionaires, according to  Forbes magazine. Between them they have a fortune of 2.2  trillion dollars. That figure is slightly more than the annual  value  of  all  goods  and  services  produced in China and India, the two most populous countries. The highest concentration  of  the  ultra-rich  is in New York, followed by  Moscow and San Francisco and then London and Los  Angeles. But in total the very wealthy live in forty-seven  different  nations, with  Iceland,  Kazakstan, Ukraine  and Poland entering the list for the first time.

   Question:  Which countries’ annual value of all goods and services is almost equal to the fortune of all the billionaires in the world?

15. Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton have met  Sri Lankan children who survived December’s devastating  tsunami. The former political rivals are assessing how the U.S. can help rebuild affected countries.  Young survivors of the deadly Tsunami  sang and performed  dances  during  the  visit  by  George Bush and Bill Clinton to a trauma  center on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

     Others drew crayon pictures of their terrifying experiences to show to the former U.S. presidents.

    Question:  Whom did the two former U.S. Presidents meet according to the news?

16. Moscow is  widely  regarded  as  having  only  an  outside chance of staging the Games. Although the city is thriving, it suffers from a lack of hotel accommodation, transport problems, including an aging airport and questions of security. But the city and the Russian government are prepared to make major investments to secure the 2012 Olympics. Ten  billion  dollars would be available to transform the city’s infrastructure, including a new metro  system.

    Question:  What problem is Moscow faced with in bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games?

17. Howard Stringer has already made a name for himself as head of Sony Corporation in the United States, and as chairman of its electronics unit. However, the company as   a whole, best known for its Playstation portable video games console, its Walkman personal music machines and its Vaio computers, has been losing market share to innovative new ideas from competitors. These include Samsung of South Korea and Apple Computer, whose iPod personal music system strays right into the Walkman territory that  Sony once claimed for itself.

     Question: Which company does Howard Stringer work for?

18. The red carpet will be rolled out in Hollywood when the Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, are presented later this month. Oscars for scientific and technical achievements   have already been handed out, with a little less fanfare but  just as much excitement for the winners. This event was  not in Hollywood but in nearby Pasadena, where engineers and scientists who make technical innovations in the movie  industry get their acknowledgment.

     Question:  Who  was  awarded  Oscars for  scientific  and technical achievements?

19. Scientists have known for some time that a severely reduced food intake makes some animals live longer. Now,researchers are getting closer to understanding why. They say the finding may also lead to a similar understanding in  people, and a treatment for diseases like diabetes.

Question: What do we learn from the news?

20. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s talks with India’s foreign minister covered regional defense issues,including the possible sale of U.S. fighter jets to India’s   long-standing rival, Pakistan. India is the first stop on Ms.  Rice’s six-nation tour of Asia—her first trip to the region  since becoming Secretary of State.

Question:  Which country did Ms. Rice stop first in  her six-nation  tour  of  Asia since becoming US   Secretary of State?

Section D

Directions：In this section, you will hear 3 passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 3 or 4 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

One of the oldest customs of mankind is the celebration of the New Year. Some people say the Chinese were the first to start it, others believe it was the ancient Germans, and still others claim it was the Romans.

We know that the Chinese have always had a great festival at the time of their New Year, which comes later than ours. The Chinese New Year festival lasts several days. The ancient Germans established a New Year festival because of the changing seasons. The German winter began in about the middle of November. It was the time when they gathered the harvest. Because everybody came together at this time for the happy occasion, and because it meant they would have a period of rest from work afterwards. They would make merry and have a great holiday. Even though it was November, they considered it the beginning of the New Year! When the Romans conquered Europe, they changed this time of celebration to the first of January.

From then on the coming of the New Year was a symbol of a new life with new hope for the future. This custom and this meaning have lasted to this day. We celebrate the New Year hoping it will bring us a good life.

Questions 21 to 23 are based on the passage you have just heard.

21. What is the author’s nationality?

22. Who are NOT mentioned to have started the celebration  of New Year?

23. Why do people celebrate the New Year festival nowadays?

Passage Two

According to a recent poll, a large majority of Americans are in favor of retaining the present 55-mile-an-hour speed limit. This speed was imposed in 1973 when fuel shortages became crucial. Seventy-five percent of the persons surveyed think that the law is a good one. They point to the decrease in the highway death rate or to the saving of fuel as reasons for their opinion. Easterners and older people, rather than young adults, are more likely to argue for retention of the law.

Likewise, only 23 percent of the people surveyed favor a higher speed limit for trucks. The trucking industry contends that truck engines work more efficiently at higher speeds and that trucks traveling at higher speeds reach markets more quickly, thereby saving consumers money. Some of the persons polled argue that trucks on certain highways are already involved in a disproportionate number of fatal highway accidents.

Questions 24 to 26 are based on the passage you have just heard.

24. What was the principle reason for the original imposition of  the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit?

25. Which of the following are less likely to favor retaining the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit?

26. Why do truckers want a higher speed limit for trucks?

Passage Three

Now, we’ll bring you a special news bulletin.

The three astronauts have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, a hundred and forty-five miles southwest of Hawaii, only six miles from the aircraft carrier that was dispatched for the recovery mission. The space module floated down on three parachutes and landed right-side-up in the water.

Mission Control in Houston confirmed that Parachutes and landing systems had functioned properly. Mission Control has advised that the astronauts to remain inside the module until they are lifted aboard the aircraft carrier.

An air force helicopter is already hovering above the module and seven divers are in the process of attaching lines to the spacecraft.

The astronauts have returned after fifteen days in space. Possibly one of the most important accomplishments of this mission was the extensive photographing of the Sun’s surface.

After two days of physical examinations and observation, the astronauts will fly to Houston to reunite with their families.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have confirmation that the astronauts are now aboard the aircraft carrier. They seem to be in very good conditions and they prepare for the welcoming ceremonies.

Questions 27 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard.

27. According to the reporter, where did the spacecraft splash down?

28. How many divers were in the process of attaching lines to the spacecraft?

29. How long had the astronauts been in space?

30. According to the reporter, where are the astronauts now?

Questions 27 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard.

27. A. 6 miles from Hawaii.             

    B. On an aircraft carrier.

    C. In the Atlantic Ocean.     

    D. 145 miles from Hawaii.

28. A. 17.           B. 70.            C. 7.            D. 27.

29. A. For two days.             

    B. For fifteen days.

    C. For twelve days              

    D. For three days.

30. A. Aboard the aircraft carrier.    

    B. In Houston.

    C. Aboard the helicopter.        

    D. In the space module.

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. Although he had looked through all the reference materials    on the subject, he still found it hard to understand this     point and his tutor’s explanation only ________ to his   confusion.

       A. extended                  B. amounted        

       C. added                        D. turned

32. The professor could hardly find sufficient grounds________    his arguments in favour of the new theory.

     A. on which to base              B. which to base on   

       C. to base on                       D. to be based on

33. These reference books, which you can get at any bookshop   in the city, will provide you ________ you need.

     A. all of information            B. all of the informations

     C. all the informations          D. all the information

34. Apart from taking care of her children, she has to take on   such heavy ________ housework as carrying water and   firewood.

       A. time-consumed              B. timely-consumed 

       C. time-consuming             D. timely-consuming

35. The man to whom we handed the forms pointed out that   they had not been ________ filled in.

      A . consequently                   B. regularly      

       C. comprehensively             D. properly

36. Every man in this country has the right to live where he   wants to ________ the color of his skin.

       A. with the exception of      B. in the light of  
       C. by virtue of               D. regardless of

37. These two areas are similar ________ they both have a   high rainfall during this season.

       A. to that                              B. besides that      
       C. in that                             D. except that

38. How close parents are to their children ________ a strong   influence on the character of the children.

       A. have         B. has         C. having               D. to have

39. All trains to Liverpool ________ because of the strike, they   decided to go there by coach.

       A. having canceled               B. having been canceled  

       C. were canceled                  D. have been canceled

40. ________ that they may eventually reduce the amount of   labor needed on construction sites by 90 percent.

       A. So clever are the construction robots      

       B. So clever the construction robots are

       C. Such construction robots are clever 

       D. Such clever construction robots are

Part III Situational Dialogues (5 minutes, 5 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. Mary: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving  my little girl’s life.

    John:  ______________

     Mary: I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’ve   done.

     John: I’m just happy I could help.

        A. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

        B. This is really a wonderful day.

        C. Anybody would have done the same.

        D. I am so glad to save her life.

42. Mother: You’re watching too much TV, Emily.

     Emily: Oh, come on, Mom.

     Mother:  ________        And you’re eating too many snacks.

     Emily: I only had some popcorn and some potato chips.

        A. I mean it.        

        B. You’re excused.

        C. Where’s your radio?

        D. I don’t want to know it.

43. Kate: I’m not optimistic about finding a job after I finish  college.

     Joseph: Oh? Why not?

     Kate: The economy is going downhill fast.

     Joseph: I know. ______________ It’s getting to the point  where even a degree won’t help you anymore.

     Kate: That’s right. And I’ll be lucky to even move out of  my parents’ house.

        A. My friend could offer me a job.

        B. I am not sure whether I agree or not.

        C. How do you feel about the economy?

        D. What is this world coming to?

44. Bruce: Good morning. Welcome to Supervacation Travel Agency. Can I help you?

     Mandy: Yes, I hope so. I’m interested in a short holiday  soon. I’d like some information.

     Bruce: Yes, certainly. ______________

     Mandy: Somewhere with some sunshine.

     Bruce: Here’s a Supervacation brochure. It gives informa tion about lots of holidays.

     Mandy: Thanks for the information. I expect I’ll see you  soon.

        A. What about New York?

        B. Will you be traveling alone?

        C. What sort of holiday interests you?

        D. How are things going with you?

45. Mark: Good afternoon. I’ve just joined the library. How   many books can I take out?

     Jenny: You can take two books, and keep them for ten  days. If  you  haven’t  finished, you  can  renew  them.

     Mark: How do I do that? ________________

     Jenny: No, you can telephone. Tell us the titles of the books, and the date they are due for return.

     Mark: Splendid. I would like to borrow A Tale of Two Cities, or  David Copperfield.

     Jenny: Those two books have already been borrowed.

        A. Why can’t I keep them for a longer time?

        B. Must I visit the library?

        C. How much could I be fined?

        D. Can I lend them to my friends?

Part IV IQ Test (5 minutes, 5 points)

Directions: There are 5 IQ Test questions in this part. For each question there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Mark your answer on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

46. A postman delivers mail round a housing estate.

He does not want to visit the same street more than once,

     but can pass over the same street corners.

     On which housing estate is this possible?


47. Here is a riddle.

    I am suspended in the air, I touch nothing, and I am surrounded by lights. Now I dress myself afresh, and now I am naked, and I am in the heat and the cold, by night and by day. Everyone amuses himself by tramping upon me, even the animals abuse and scorn me, and yet I have such treasures hidden in my bosom that he who finds them I can make full of happiness.

What is the answer to the riddle?

        A. The Sun.                        B. The Moon.

       C. The Earth.                      D. The Sky.

48.

Which of the following numbers should replace the question mark?

           A. 417.          B. 926.          C. 138.          D. 172.

49. This bar chart shows the heights of a class of pupils.

       Which statement must be true?

    A. 2 children are 125 cm tall or less.

    B. 8 children are at least 140 cm tall, but less than 145 cm tall.

    C. 8 children are more than 144 cm tall, but less than 150 cm tall.

    D. No children are taller than 158 cm.

50.

Can you guide the robot along the white squares through this grid?

It starts on the square marked "Begin" and finishes on the square marked "End".

You can only programme it to move FORWARD, TURN LEFT 90° or TURN RIGHT 90°.

Which of the instructions below will guide the robot through the grid?

    A. FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 4, TURN LEFT 90°,

        FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 2.

    B. FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 3, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 3.

    C. FORWARD 3, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 3, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 2.

    D. FORWARD 3, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 3, TURN LEFT 90°,

        FORWARD 4, TURN RIGHT 90°,

        FORWARD 2.

Part V Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 40 points)

Section A Multiple Choice (5 points)

Directions: There is 1 passage in this section with 5 questions. 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 51-55 are based on the following passage.

   Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course that he attends gives him a credit, which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a university student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.

   For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this imposes a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for participation in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. Students who advise the academic authorities usually perform the effective work of maintaining discipline. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in this career.

Questions:

51. Normally a student would at least attend ________ classes each week.

       A. 36           B. 12           C. 20            D. 15

52. According to the first paragraph, an American student is allowed ________  .

       A. to live in a different university

       B. to take a particular course in a different university

       C. to live at home and drive to classes 

       D. to get two degrees from two different universities

53. American university students are usually under pressure of   work because ______.

       A. their academic performance will affect their future careers

       B. they are heavily involved in student affairs

       C. they have to observe university  discipline

       D. they want to run for positions of authority

54. Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably because  ________  .

       A. they hate the constant pressure and strain of their study

       B. they will then be able to study longer in the university

       C. such positions help them get better jobs

       D. such positions are usually well paid

55. The student organizations seem to be effective in ______.

       A. dealing with the academic affairs of the university

       B. keeping up the students’ enthusiasm for social activities

       C. evaluating students’ performance by bringing them  before a court

       D. ensuring that the students observe university regulations

Section B Yes / No / Not Given (5 points)

Directions: In this part, you will have 5 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet. For questions 56 - 60, mark

  Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;

  N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;

  NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.

Questions 56-60 are based on the following passage.

   After I left Debrecen I walked for days and put up my tent at night. An old couple driving a horse and cart stopped and spoke to me. I tried out my broken Hungarian and they laughed. But it was obvious they were offering me a lift, so I got up on the cart, with my backpack and tent. They offered me some fiery apricot liqueur, home-made by the look of it. We drank it from the bottle.

   The land was flat. You could see forever. You could see as far as the future. At first we could still see the Hortobagy River, brown in the weak sunshine, and carpets of sunflowers. But then, as we jolted along a track in the cart, there was just the puszta—the dry Great Plain of Hungary. It’s where the Hungarians grow their wheat and catch their wild horses.

   A Hungarian poet once said that the earth and the sky are one in the puszta. I understand what he means. As far as you can see in every direction, the sky comes down and touches the land. This dry yellow land is not beautiful in the usual sense, but being in it, being part of it, I felt a great sense of peace. I have always hated mountains and skyscrapers because they are bigger than I am. But this ... When I lay down and watched the puszta from the back of the cart, it was like being in a great safe flat bed that had no sides but just went on forever. It was then, at that moment, that I felt I could do anything in the world that I wanted. I was eighteen years old.

   Then, in the distance, we saw the horses. At first there was just a cloud of dust. Then, suddenly, about ten small, wiry, brown Hungarian wild horses charged across the Great Plain. They got near enough for me to see them tossing their heads. Two csikos, Hungarian cowboys, were chasing them. The cowboys saw the cart and shouted something. The old man shouted something back and he and the old woman laughed. They said something to me in Hungarian, probably trying to explain what the cowboys had said.

   I fell asleep. When I woke up, the horses and the two csikos had gone but nothing about the scenery had changed. We were still moving forward but it was as if we had stopped.

   I didn’t want us ever to arrive anywhere. I wanted to stay on that cart in the Great Plain forever. But at the same time I knew that when the journey was over, everything was going to be just fine. And it was.

Statements:

56. Debrecen is a town in Hungary.

57. The writer felt a sense of horror because nothing in the scenery was bigger than her.

58. The writer liked flat scenery better than mountains.

59. The grass on the Great Plain didn’t change very much.

60. The writer described a moment when she knew that everything in her life would be bad.

Section C Short Answer Questions (20 points)

Directions: In this section, there are 2 passages followed by 10 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.

   Why do some students do better than others? To find out, the Reader’s Digest invited 2,130 high-school seniors to take a special academic test and then answer a list of personal questions. Among the poll’s top findings:

   Strong families give kids an edge in school. For instance, students who lived with two parents scored high more often on our test than students who didn’t. Students who regularly shared mealtimes with their families tested better than those who didn’t. This “family gap” showed up for students of all backgrounds.

   Today’s youth are far more optimistic about themselves and their futures than is generally believed. Four of five were confident. They would be able to “making things better for myself and for other people.” Almost the same number described their lives at home as “pretty good” or “wonderful”.

   As has been in other polls, not all groups tested  equally  well.  Children  with  college-educated parents tested better than kids whose parents didn’t go past high school. Whites tended to score higher than blacks. Boys generally scored higher than girls. But more importantly, the Reader’s Digest poll revealed that, within each group, strong families were a significant factor.

   With the help of Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., last spring, the Digest surveyed a representative cross-section of high-school seniors in classrooms across the nation. Our paper-and-pencil poll asked eight questions in each of the six subjects: math, science, literature, geography, history and government.

Questions:

61. The purpose of the Reader’s Digest poll is to ________ .

62. What does the word “an edge” in Paragraph Two probably  mean?

63. What did the Reader’s Digest poll show?

64. One of the factors in higher scores by students in every  group is______.

65. In the Reader’s Digest survey, how many questions were  asked altogether?

Questions 66-70 are based on the following passage.

   For centuries man dreamed of achieving vertical flight. In 400 A. D. Chinese children played with a fan-like toy that spun upwards and fell back to earth as rotation ceased. Leonardo da Vinci conceived the first mechanical apparatus, called a “Helix”, which could carry a man straight up, but this was only a design and was never tested.

   The ancient dream was finally realized in 1940 when a Russian immigrant, an aeronautical engineer, piloted a strange-looking craft of steel tubing with a rotating fan on top. It rose awkwardly and vertically into the air from a standing start, hovered a few feet above the ground, went sideways and backwards, and then settled back to earth. That vehicle was called a helicopter.

   Imaginations were fired. Men dreamed of commuting to work in their own personal helicopter. Every man would have one in his backyard. People anticipated that vertical flight transports would carry millions of passengers as do the airliners of today. Such fantastic expectations were not fulfilled.

   The helicopter has now become an extremely versatile machine. It excels in military missions, carrying troops, guns and strategic instruments where other aircraft cannot go. Corporations use them as airborne offices, many metropolitan areas use them in police work, construction and logging companies employ them in various advantageous ways, engineers use them for site selection and surveying, and oil companies use them as the best way to make offshore and remote work stations accessible to crews and supplies. Any urgent mission to a hard-to-get-to place is a likely task for a helicopter. Among their other multitude of   uses, they deliver people across town, fly to and from airports, assist in rescue work, and aid in the search for missing or wanted persons.

Questions:

66. According to the passage, the first mechanical apparatus that  could fly vertically was designed by________________  .

67. How were men’s imaginations about vertical flight transportation fired?

68. Oil companies use helicopters as the best way to  accessible to crews and supplies.

69. What’s the main topic of the passage?

70. What do people expect the helicopters to do as today’s air liners?

Section D Summary (10 points)

Directions: In this part, there is 1 passage followed with a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summ-

ary with the appropriate words of the passage. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

Questions 71-75 are based on the following passage.

London wins Olympics

2012 event will be secure, pledges capital’s mayor

By Paul Kelso

   Mr Blair, who had helped to lay the groundwork for victory during three days of intense one-to-one lobbying of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, said hard work had paid off: “We had the right message that we wanted, a strong message for the Olympic mood.” Where Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris had sought to reassure and flatter the IOC with presidential promises and high-budget tourism videos, Lord Coe set out a challenge to a movement sometimes more concerned with its internal politics than its mission. “Some might say your decision today is between five similar bids. That would be to undervalue the opportunity before you,” he said. “In the past you have made bold decisions. This is a decision about which city will help us show a new generation why sport matters. On behalf of the youth of today, the athletes of tomorrow and the Olympians of the future, we humbly submit the bid of London 2012.” London’s mayor Ken Livingstone and the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, insisted that the London 2012 Olympics would be secure despite last week’s terrorist attacks. “We have reassured the IOC that we have the security to handle the games,” said Mr Livingstone, adding that the Metropolitan Police had been involved in the advisory group for the Athens games. “The IOC know, through the experience of the 1972 Munich Olympics, that there is nowhere that can ever be completely safe but there is nowhere that will be safer than London,” he said.

Summary:

   According to Mr Blair, London had a persuasive message, which was in keeping with the Olympic mood. While the respective presidents for Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris made (71) ________ to the IOC and used expensive videos to make them confident about their bids and also to (72) ________ them, Coe aimed to challenge the Committee. The IOC is at times more concerned with its own politics rather than with what it is supposed to do. Mr Coe told the Committee that their (73)  ________ was about which city would help show young people why (74)  ______ is important. He then presented the (75)  ________ on behalf of the youth of today, the athletes of tomorrow and the Olympians of the future.

Part VI Cloze (10 minutes, 15 points)

Directions: There are 15 blanks in the passage. For each blank, some letters of the word has been given(not exceeding 3 letters). 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.

   Education is a long process that not only provides us with basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, but is also essential in shaping our future lives. From the moment we enter (76)k________n as small children, and as we progress through primary and secondary education, we are laying the (77)f________ for the life ahead of us. We must(78)d    p    e          ourselves to work hard so that we can pass exams and gain the (79)q________s we will need to secure a good job. We must also acquire valuable life skills so that we can fit  in and work with those around us. And of course (80)h______ education helps us to understand how we can stay fit and healthy.

   For most people, this process ends when they are in their mid-to-late teens. For others, (81)h______, it is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. After they finish school, many progress to (82)f______r education where they will learn more useful skills such as computer literacy or basic business management. Others will enrol in a programme of (83)h______ education at a university where, with hard work, they will have the opportunity to graduate after three or four years with a well-earned (84)d________. After that, they may work for a while before opting to study for a higher degree—an MA, for example, or a PhD.  And if they live a long way from a college or university, they might follow a (85)c    p    e course using mail and the (86)in________. In fact, it is largely due to the proliferation of computers that many people, who have not been near a school for many years, have started to study again and can proudly class themselves as (87)ma______e students.

   We live in a fascinating and constantly changing world, and we must (88)co______y learn and acquire new knowledge if we are to adapt and keep up with changing events. Our schooldays are just the beginning of this process, and we should make the best of every (89)o______y to develop ourselves, whether we are eighteen or eighty. You are, indeed, never too (90)o________ to learn.

Part VII Translation (15 minutes, 15 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.

   You’d imagine that asking people to rate themselves on a ten point scale in response to the question “In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?” would only lead to wild inaccuracies. (91) But when scientists compare such basic measures to a full-blown psychological assessment, the results are fairly consistent. It would seem we’re rather good judges of our happiness, and this fact has allowed the use of simple questionnaires and interviews to survey more than a million people across many nations.

   (92) It’s also quite clear that happiness isn’t just some whimsical concept dreamt up in the 1960s by the hippies and advertising agencies. Richard Davidson at Wisconsin University monitored electrical activity in the brain to show how a highly attractive photograph causes a particular portion of our left hemisphere to illuminate, while a horrific photo stimulates our right side. Indeed, people prone in general to more of this left-portion activity tend to score higher on all counts of good mood, whereas right-siders are decidedly gloomy. The same is true for new-born babies.

   (93) What’s more, it seems likely that around 50 per cent of our characteristic level of happiness is an inherited factor. This can be estimated because in 1996, Lykken and Tellegen at Minnesota University compared 663 pairs of identical twins. A further 69 pairs were identical twins who had been reared apart, yet these twins still showed at least a 50 per cent similarity in their self-reported happiness, a far higher percentage than the non-identical twins. Strong evidence indeed that we probably have a genetically predetermined set range. But we should remind ourselves that, as in all aspects of biological inheritance, our genetic potential needs the right environment if it is to unfurl in accordance with our DNA blueprints. So learning to live regularly in the upper end of your happiness set-range is where skill and know how can pay dividends. How well you play the hand you’re dealt could account for a great deal.

   And there are other reasons to feel we have everything to play for. For instance, the surveys show that no stage of life is inherently any happier than another, despite everything our parents told us about our school and college days. If anything, life feels better as you get older. (94) Moreover, intelligence as measured by IQ tests is a very poor predictor of life success or happiness. And there’s life if any difference between male and female average self-ratings, though women are more prone to intense swings. The bottom line is, life feeling good pays no heed to age, IQ or gender. It’s open to all-comers.

   Trouble is, we don’t always know how to generate wholesome, renewable happiness, and sometimes our default response is to reach for the quick-fix, in one form or another. (95) Yet, we shouldn’t forget feeling miserable is most often a healthy response simply nature’s way of telling us to make important improvements. So here’s our chance to cultivate home-grown, ever-green, deeply  rooted  happiness,  without the hangovers.

Section B Chinese-English Translation (5 points)

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

96. 目前社会上有很多假冒伪劣产品。( there be 结构)

97. 人们常说:“活到老,学到老。”(never,too否定结构)

98. ________________(他没有认真准备就通过了考试)  was sheer luck. (that 引导从句)

99. 大学生必须去了解社会,以便在毕业后使自己能很快适应社会。( so that 表结果结构)

100. 除非我们对自己有充分的自信,否则我们在事业上将一事无成。( unless表条件结构)

Part VIII  Writing (30 minutes, 30 points)

Task I (10 points)

Directions: One of your friends, Wenhua, has passed the entrance examinations to Oxford University to study for a master’s degree. Write a letter of congratulation to him.

   Write your letter with no less than 120 words. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use “Li Ming” instead. You do not need to write the address. Now write the letter on the Answer Sheet.

Task II (20 points)

Directions: Write an essay about 150 words based on the following drawing. In your essay, you should first describe the drawing, then interpret its meaning, and give your comments on it. Now write the composition on the Answer Sheet.