（Level A - Preliminary）

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.  Keys and a purse.         B. Glasses and keys.

    C. Glasses and a bag.         D. Glasses, keys and a purse.

2. A. A plate.      B. A table.      C. A lamp.      D. A phone.

3.   A. They are under the chair by the television.

     B. They are under the chair with the rubbish.

     C. They are beside the television.

     D. They are by the door with the rubbish.

4. A. Grapes and oranges.         B. Grapes and apples.

   C. Bananas and grapes.         D. Bananas and oranges.

5. A. Five to three.                 B. Five past three.

   C. Twenty five to three.          D. Twenty five past three.

6. A. The restaurant.    B. The market.     C. The cinema.     D. The sports center.

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. You will hear both the conversation and the questions 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. ￡6.       B. ￡16.       C. ￡60.       D. ￡66.

8.  A. One.       B. Two.      C. Three.      D. Four.

9.  A. In a photographer's stuido.          B. In the library.

    C. In the post office.                  D. In the shopping center.

10. A. A letter from her college.            B. Her passport.

    C. Her student card.                     D. Her driving licence.

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. 6.        B. 16.         C. 60.

12. A. To bring more foreign language speakers into government service.

    B. To promote trade with foreign countries.

    C. To make people learn foreign languages at an early age.

13. A. An hour.       B. More than an hour.     C. Less than an hour.

14. A. To get publicity for their cause.

    B. To get some money for their group.

    C. To get more rights for their group.

15. A. Ticket prices have been falling and their incomes rising.

    B. Aviation fuel is becoming less expensive.

    C. British people prefer to travel by plane.

16. A. More than eighty thousand.

    B. More than sixty-two thousand.

    C. More than fifty-three thousand.

17. A. 30.      B. 27.     C. 57.

18. A. Baton Rouge.       B. Louisiana.       C. Atlanta.

19. A. Reduce violations of intellectual property rights.

    B. Controll the growing population.

    C. Working together to fight terrorism.

20. A. Workers and policemen.

    B. Farmers and the unemployed.

    C. Workers and farmers.

Section D Passages (10 points)

Directions：In this section, you will hear 2 passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 4 or 6 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 24 are based on the passage you have just heard.

21. A. He is very thin.       B. He is very tall.

    C. He is very short.      D. He is very fat.

22. A. He met a cook from a restaurant. 

    B. He met a man who had a farm.

    C. He met two fat farmers.   

    D. He met a farmer and his wife.

23. A. He wanted to have something to eat for lunch.

    B. He wanted to go to a restaurant for dinner.

    C. He wanted to make a cup of coffee.

    D. He wanted to do some farm work.

24. A. He wanted some green beans.            B. He wanted a big steak.

    C. He wanted some cake and coffee.        D. He wanted lots of potatoes.

Passage Two

Questions 25 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard.

25. A. Last week.               B. Three weeks ago.

    C. Two months ago.          D. Three years ago.

26. A. By coach.        B. By bus.

    C. By car.          D. By train.

27. A. 9 am to 9 pm.          B. 10 am to 8 pm.

    C. 10 am to 9 pm.         D. 10 am to 10 pm.

28. A. Get information.        B. Watch a film.

    C. Find a bank.            D. Buy some shoes.

29. A. Feed the ducks.      B. Take a bus ride round the lake.

    C. Go swimming.         D. Go sailing.

30. A. There was nowhere to put the rubbish.  

    B. There were not enough cleaners.

    C. The food in the café was disappointing.

    D. The service in the shops was slow.

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. I can't agree with my Mum. I think that such an old-fashioned dress can't cost a __________. She says 100 pounds is a real __________.

      A. lot of money; luck       B. bargain; luck

      C. fortune; bargain         D. big sum; fortune

32. __________ is on the rise, with over 20% of serious crimes being committed by children under the age of seventeen.

      A. Junior crime       B. Juvenile delinquency

      C. Minor crime        D. Senior delinquency
33. The Smiths were leaving that __________ town. Everybody wanted to escape its noise and pollution and was looking forward to a __________ country life.

      A. crowded; peaceful     B. deserted; peaceful

      C. desert; thrilling     D. empty; sour

34. When I first began writing poetry, I think the poets that I had studied at school __________ my approach and the things I wrote about.

      A. communicated    B. impressed     C. influenced      D. discussed

35. She is an excellent teacher who has taught in four schools. __________ she taught, her principals had a high opinion of her.

      A. Wherever            B. Everywhere  

      C. Inasmuch as         D. In such schools that

36. My friend Tanya __________ Japanese for six years before she __________ Japan. I've just received a letter from her. It says she has been studying Chinese for three months and __________ for China in a month.

      A. had been studying; visited; is leaving          B. studied; had visited; will live in

      C. has studied; visited; would leave               D. was studying; has visited; leaves

37. At the last place Gary worked, they __________ an annual company picnic. All the employees __________ bring their families along and spend the day at a nearby park. It was great.

      A. had to have; had to                     B. used to have; couldn't

      C. would have; didn't have to              D. used to have; would

38. They __________ such a big van __________ the price of gas would skyrocket.

      A. would have bought; if they knew

      B. wouldn't have bought; had they known

      C. wouldn't have bought; if had they known

      D. wouldn't have bought; did they know

39. We're going to paint the town __________ to celebrate our win.

      A. blue    B. purple   C. gold    D. red

40. Written in central Canada in the early part of the twentieth century, __________, depicts life in Manitoda.

      A. The Midnight Sun was Victor Frank's last novel

      B. Victor Frank's last novel was The Midnight Sun

      C. The Midnight Sun, which was Victor Frank's last novel

      D. Which was Victor Frank's last novel, The Midnight Sun

Part III Situational Dialogues (5 minutes, 5 points)

Directions: There are 5 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. Dan:  Have you ever participated in a risky sport?

      Kay:  Yes, I like hang gliding. It's fantastic to be able to fly like a bird. Though landing is sometimes difficult, I've always felt hang gliding is quite safe.

     Dan:  ____________________________________

      Kay:  I've never been seriously injured. Maybe I've just been lucky. Once, my glider turned upside down, and I lost control. I almost crashed, but I parachuted away just in time.

      A. What sports are risky?

      B. Do you ever get into some difficult situations?

      C. Have you ever hurt yourself in an accident?

      D. Have you ever been to a sports centre?
42. Lucy:  What made you leave such a large company?

      Ken:  My work there was so boring. I couldn't do anything myself. I always had to have my boss' approval. So I decided to get a new job at Coricom, a small venture company.

     Lucy:  ____________________________________

      Ken:  The work here is very challenging, which suits me. We always have to cope with dynamic working conditions. And, since there are not many people in this company, we understand each other very well and feel like we are all in the same family.

      A. What's the hardest part of your new job?

      B. How do you like your new job?

      C. Tell me about what you liked at the large company.

      D. Tell me about what you liked in your university.

43. Julio:      ____________________________________

     Officer:  Well, first, you write and get an application form. Then, you send it in with a copy of your  school records. And after that, you ask your teachers for some letters of recommendation.

      Julio:     Are foreign students allowed to work in the States?

     Officer: They'll only let you work in the summer. And you'll need to get permission from the U.S. Officer of Immigration to do that. During the school year you're not allowed to work unless the work experience is part of your school program.

      A. Is it all right to apply to several universities at the same time?

      B. I'd like to get some information on how to get into an American university.

      C. When can I apply for that?

      D. I'd like to get some information on how to get a travel card.

44. Bob:   ____________________________________

     Jane:  My first book was Trapped in a Cave, a true story about two boys who got trapped in an underground cave for five days without food, water or light. Next I wrote the current twelve volumes of Real Kids, Real Adventures. Right now I'm working on the next two Real Kids, Real Adventures books.

     Bob:  ____________________________________

    Jane:  If I'm looking for a specific kind of story - for instance a child who survived being struck by lightning - I'll go to the library and use Newsbank, keying in on words like “lightning” and “child”. Mostly, though, I get tips from kids who read the Real Kids, Real Adventures books and send notes or newspaper clippings.

      A. Can you tell me about the books you've written so far? ; Where do you get your stories?

      B. What are your favorite books that you've read? ; Where do you get your stories?

      C. Can you tell me about the books you've written so far? ; What's the hardest part about being a writer?

      D. Where do you get your stories? ; What's the hardest part about being a writer?

45. Lisa:  ____________________________________

     Andy: I think people love to laugh. They want to laugh even in serious business presentations, in the classroom, seminar, and so on. When people laugh, they relax. And they can remember you and your message better.

     Lisa:  ____________________________________

     Andy: Most people give a summary at the end of their speech. But, in my opinion, a summary at the end only distracts from a good presentation. I want to give people a chance to think about the topic, so I finish my speech with some questions.

      A. Could you tell me how to introduce speakers? ; How do you end your speech?

      B. Could you tell me how to introduce speakers? ; Do you think the title of a speech is important?

      C. How do you end your speech? ; Do you think the title of a speech is important?

      D. Why do you use so many jokes in your speech? ; How do you end your speech?

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. What is the minimum number of matches you can remove from this diagram to leave just 2 squares?

 

      A. 2.        B. 4.        C. 6.       D. 8.

47. Which of the bottom watches completes the sequence?

  

48. Which of these cubes cannot be formed from this web     

                 

49. How many circles contain a dot?

                                  

      A. 12.        B. 11.        C. 10.        D. 13.

50. Each symbol in this table has a value. The total of these values in each row and column is written at the end of the corresponding row or column. Can you find the value of each symbol?

                              

 

      A. Triangle = 6.5, Square = 4.2, Diamond = 5.8, Circle = 11.4

      B. Triangle = 7.5, Square = 5.2, Diamond = 6.8, Circle = 12.4

      C. Triangle = 8.5, Square = 5.2, Diamond = 6.8, Circle = 13.4

      D. Triangle = 5.5, Square = 3.2, Diamond = 4.8, Circle = 10.4

Part V Reading Comprehension (25 minutes, 40 points)

Section A Multiple Choice (5 points)

Directions: There is one passage in this section with 5 questions. For each question, 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.

      I was dirty, smelly, hungry and somewhere beneath all that, suntanned. It was the end of an Inter-Rail holiday. My body couldn't take any more punishment. My mind couldn't deal with any more foreign timetables, currencies or languages.

      “Never again,” I said, as I stepped onto home ground. I said exactly the same thing the following year. And the next. All I had to do was buy one train ticket and, because I was under twenty-five years old, I could spend a whole month going anywhere I wanted in Europe. Ordinary beds are never the same once you've learnt to sleep in the corridor of a train, the rhythm rocking you into a deep sleep.

      Carrying all your possessions on your back in a rucksack makes you have a very basic approach to travel, and encourages incredible wastefulness that can lead to burning socks that have become too anti-social, and getting rid of books when finished. On the other hand, this way of looking at life is entirely in the spirit of Inter-Rail, for common sense and reasoning can be thrown out of the window along with the paperback book and the socks. All it takes to achieve this carefree attitude is one of those tickets in your hand.

      Any system that enables young people to travel through countries at a rate of more than one a day must be pretty special. On that first trip, my friends and I were at first unaware of the possibilities of this type of train ticket, thinking it was just an inexpensive way of getting to and from our chosen camp-site in southern France. But the idea of non-stop travel proved too tempting, for there was always just one more country over the border, always that little bit further to go. And what did the extra miles cost us? Nothing.

      We were not completely uninterested in culture. But this was a first holiday without parents, as it was for most other Inter-Railers, and in organizing our own timetable we left out everything except the most immediately available sights. This was the chance to escape the guided tour, an opportunity to do something different. I took great pride in the fact that, in many places, all I could be bothered to see was the view from the station. We were just there to get by, and to have a good time doing so. In this we were no different from most of the other Inter-Railers with whom we shared corridor floors, food and water, money and music.

      The excitement of travel comes from the sudden reality of somewhere that was previously just a name. It is as if the city in which you arrive never actually existed until the train pulls in at the station and you are able to see it with your own tired eyes for the first time.

Questions:

51. At the end of his first trip, the writer said “Never again” because _______.

      A. he felt ill  

      B. he disliked trains

      C. he was tired from the journey    

      D. he had lost money

52. What does the writer mean by “this way of looking at life” in Paragraph 3?

      A. Worrying about your clothes.              B. Throwing unwanted things away.

      C. Behaving in an anti-social way.           D. Looking after your possessions.

53. Why did the writer originally buy an Inter-Rail ticket?

      A. To get to one place cheaply.             B. To meet other young people.

      C. To see a lot of famous places.           D. To go on a tour of Europe.

54. What the writer liked about traveling without his parents was that _______ .

      A. he could see more interesting places

      B. he could spend more time sightseeing

      C. he could stay away from home longer

      D. he could make his own decisions

55. What does “it” in Line 3, Paragraph 6, refer to?

      A. A name.     B. The city.    C. The train.    D. The station.

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.

The Outdoor Centre
Opening times
Water sports: 10 am - 6 pm
Play Park: 10 am - 5.30 pm

Entrance / Car park fees

Low season: Weekdays ￡2.00 per car      Weekends  ￡3.00 per car
High season: 23 July - 11 September         Weekdays and weekends ￡3.00 per car

Fees are for cars with four people. Each extra person is 50p. Fees to be paid at the main office.
The center is not a private club; it is an organization whose aim is to provide outdoor sports and recreation facilities for the public.
Group visitors are requested to inform the center in advance of their intended visit.
Windsurfing - One-day course
Beginner windsurfing course is offered on Saturdays and Sundays when the weather is good enough. Learning to windsurf is a lot of fun. The excitement when you sail across the water for the first time is not easily forgotten. Boards with small sails are available for beginners.
Course fee: ￡32.50 (this includes all equipment)
One-day adventure course
This is an opportunity you have been waiting for. Come and try sailing, climbing, surfing and archery. This course is intended to introduce outdoor activities to adults in a fun, leisurely manner. You do not need to be extremely fit or to have had previous experience of the activities. All you need is to be interested.
Course fee: ￡22.50
Play Park
The Play Park is suitable for children from two to ten years of age. It is one of the best of its type in the country. It has sand and water play, slides, large ball pool, play castle and much, much more. Next year the center will open a new Play Palace and Play Ship.
Summer adventure holidays (for 14 - 18 years of age)
Sailing      Climbing        Windsurfing        Fun Games
Statement:
Safety is of primary importance at the Outdoor Center. All staff members are fully trained in First Aid, and qualified to teach the activities on offer. We also make certain that all children only take part in activities that are suitable for their age and physical abilities. For this programme children must be able to swim 25 metres and be in good physical health.

Statements:

56. In August, four people visiting the centre together by car have to pay more than two people.

57. The centre has special equipment for people who learn to sail.

58. The adventure course is suitable for beginners.

59. The centre is planning to add extra facilities to the Play Park.

60. Summer adventure holidays are open to any child between eight and fourteen years who can swim.

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 a maximum of 10 words. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

Passage One

Questions 61-65 are based on the following passage.

      Going to the beach is many Americans' favorite activity. In the area near New York City, nine million people used to go to the beach every summer. They went swimming in the ocean without giving a thought to what was underwater． But those days are long gone．

      In the summer of 1988，the government was forced to shut down beaches all over America． Many of the beaches had to be closed because garbage from hospitals was found in the water． The garbage included glass bottles with samples of blood，and people were afraid they might get AIDS from the blood． Where the medical garbage came from is anybody's guess． At some beaches， sewage （生活污水） was found in the water.

      Americans were shocked by this state of affairs． They had long taken for granted that oceans were big enough to stay clean，even if garbage and sewage were dumped into them． People didn't think of the underwater garbage because it was out of sight．

      Some of the most polluted waters still look beautiful at first glance． San Francisco Bay is a good example of a beautiful bay that's full of chemicals． Scientists discovered pollution in some lakes and rivers when they found fish with rotting skin． In many parts of America，people are told not to eat too much fish because of pollution．

      Most American cities put their garbage in the ground． But New York and a few other cities put their garbage in the ocean． Boston Harbor is so polluted that scientists say it won't recover until the next century at best． The city of Boston puts its sewage in the water． The government has ordered the city to build a sewage treatment plant．

      Cleaning up oceans won't be easy，but people can no longer ignore this challenge．

Questions:

61. Most Americans used to go to the beach because of __________.

62. Ocean waters around America have become polluted by __________.

63. Some polluted waters are still beautiful because pollutants such as chemicals are hard to __________.

64. If fish live in polluted waters people should not __________.

65. The author of this passage seems to suggest that people should pay more attention to__________.

Passage Two

Questions 66-70 are based on the following passage.

      There are cockroaches (蟑螂) everywhere on Earth except the places that are covered with ice. Scientists have discovered about 3,500 different species of cockroach. There is just one human species! Cockroaches can be anything in size from about five mm to nine cm. Although five mm is very small, nine cm is as long as a large rat.

      It is very difficult to catch most cockroaches. They “see” with the hairs on their bodies. These hairs can feel the smallest movement in the air, so the cockroaches know immediately something moves, and run to safety.

      Of all the species of cockroach, fortunately only three live among humans and are a serious problem. They are the German, the Oriental, and the American. One egg case of the German cockroach can produce as many as seven million cockroaches in 12 months!

      Our main problem with cockroaches is that not only do they look ugly to us, but they also carry diseases. They are particularly dangerous in hospitals as they eat all kinds of hospital waste or get it on their bodies. They can then carry this waste, which may contain dangerous bacteria, on to food which is then eaten by people in the hospital.

      Most of the bacteria that cause food poisoning have been found in the stomachs of cockroaches, so it is important that cockroaches should be kept out of restaurants and other places where food is prepared.

      Many people work and try to destroy cockroaches, but as soon as they find one way of doing it, the cockroaches “learn” how to deal with it. Electricity does not always kill them and they can avoid most poisons or “learn” how to deal with others. At one time, scientists thought that radiation would kill them, but they have been on Earth for about 300 million years, and it does not harm them as much as it does us.

      It seems probable that when there are no longer human beings living on the Earth, cockroaches will still be here.

Questions:

66. Cockroaches do not live in places where it is __________.

67. Cockroaches know that someone or something is near because __________.

68. Cockroaches can __________ because they carry bacteria.

69. Paragraph 6 says that it is very difficult to __________.

70. The passage is mainly about __________.

Section D Summary (10 points)

Directions: In this part, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary with the appropriate words from the passage. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.

Questions 71-75 are based on the following passage.

      Cosmetics have been used throughout history. The ancient Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Romans all used various kinds of makeup. Some of these cosmetics were used to improve their appearance. Others were used to protect their skin. But in some cases, things used for makeup were dangerous, or even deadly!

      Some of the first skin care treatments started in Egypt. In fact, Cleopatra was known to use them. She thought a bath in milk and honey left her skin silky smooth. Egyptians also developed some of the earliest sunscreens. They used oils and creams for protection against the sun and dry winds. Egyptian and other ancient cultures also used various powders on their skin for beauty. Egyptians used black kohl around their eyes. Romans put white chalk on their faces. And Indians painted red henna on their bodies.

      Most of the ancient cosmetic powders, oils, and creams were harmless. But in the name of beauty, some people applied dangerous chemicals and poisons to their skin. During the Italian Renaissance, women wore white powder made of lead on their faces. Of course, doctors now know lead is like a poison for our bodies.

      Also around the time of the Renaissance, women in Italy put drops of belladonna in their eyes. Belladonna is a very poisonous plant. The poison in the plant affects the nerves in the body. By putting belladonna drops in her eyes, a woman's pupils would become very large. People thought this made her more beautiful. Actually, this is why the plant is called belladonna. In Italian, belladonna means “beautiful woman.”

      When Elizabeth I was queen of England in the late 1500s, some rather dangerous cosmetics were also used by women there. Women were using rouge made with mercury. They were also using special hair dye made with lead and sulphur. The dye was designed to give people red hair, the same color as the queen's hair. Over time, the dye made people's hair fall out. Finally, women using this dye ended up bald, like the queen, and had to wear wigs.

Summary:

      Although people have used cosmetics throughout history, not all of them have been safe. In fact, some of them have been quite (71)__________ to people. For example, long ago in Italian (72)__________, people thought women with big pupils were beautiful. Therefore, in the (73)__________ of beauty, women began to put (74)__________ of belladonna in their eyes to make their pupils larger. Today we know belladonna is poisonous, and it can affect the (75)__________ in the body.

Part VI Cloze (10 minutes, 15 points)

Directions: There are 15 blanks in the passage. For each blank, some letters of the word have 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.

      I'm really in two minds about what to do when I leave school. Should I go straight to university or should I spend a year travelling (76) a           the world?

      First of all, there are so many (77) ben       of going straight to university.

      The most important point is that the (78) s      I get my qualifications, the quicker I'll get a job and start earning.

      In my opinion, starting work and making (79)m      is one of the most important things in life.

      And I'm not (80) al       in this opinion. Many consider a sound (81)ca      and a good salary to be an important goal.

      Secondly, if I go straight to university, I'll learn so many things that will help me in my future life.It is often said that knowledge is the key to power, and I cannot (82) dis       with this.

      (83)M          , I'll be able to take part in the social activities that the university offers, and meet lots of new friends who share the same interests.

      However, it could also be (84)ar      that I would meet lots of interesting people while I was traveling.

      (85) Fur        , if I spent a year travelling, I would learn more about the world.

      On the one hand, I would experience lots of different (86) c       .

      On the other hand, I could end up suffering from culture shock, homesickness and some (87) str        tropical diseases.

      Nevertheless, these inconveniences would be an inevitable part of travelling and would be greatly (88) out      by the advantages.

      (89) Unf        , another point is that if I spent a year traveling I would need a lot of money.

      But I (90)b        it would be easy to make a bit while I was travelling, giving English lessons or working in hotels and shops.

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.

      In such a changing, complex society, formerly simple solutions to informational needs become complicated. (91) Many of life's problems which were solved by asking family members, friends or colleagues are beyond the capability of the extended family to resolve. Where to turn for expert information and how to determine which expert advice to accept are questions facing many people today.

      In addition to this, there is the growing mobility of people since World War II. (92) As families move away from their stable community, their friends of many years, and their extended family relationships, the informal flow of information is cut off, and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable. The almost unconscious flow of information about the simplest aspects of living can be cut off. Thus, things once learned subconsciously through the casual communications of the extended family must be consciously learned.

      Adding to social changes today is an enormous stockpile of information. (93) The individual now has more information available than any generation, and the task of finding that one piece of information  relevant  to  his  or  her  specific  problem  is  complicated,  time-consuming  and sometimes even overwhelming.

      Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the development of technologies which enable the storage and delivery of more information with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before. Computer technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of data in machine readable files, and to program computers to locate specific information. (94) Telecommunications developments enable the sending of messages via television, radio, and, very shortly, electronic mail, to bombard people with multitudes of messages. Satellites have extended the power of communications to report events at the instant of occurrence. Expertise can be shared worldwide through teleconferencing, and problems in dispute can be settled without the participants leaving their homes and / or jobs to travel to a distant conference site. Technology has facilitated the sharing of information and the storage and delivery of information, thus making more information available to more people.

      In this world of change and complexity, the need for information is of greatest importance. (95) Those people who have accurate, reliable up-to-date information to solve the day-to-day problems, the critical problems of their business, social and family life, will survive and succeed. “Knowledge is power” may well be the truest saying and access to information may be the most critical requirement of all people.

Section B Chinese-English Translation (5 points)

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

96. 毫无疑问，有了计算机的帮助，人们能生活得更容易。
97. 我们应该保护森林，使其免受破坏和污染。
98. 国家的发展取决于年轻一代的素质，这是众人皆知的事实。
99. 我们认为计算机在英语教学中会得到广泛应用。
100. 为了不让父母为他担心，他有时不得不说些谎话。

Part VIII  Writing (30 minutes, 30 points)

Task I:

Directions: There is an error in an English magazine that you feel must be corrected. Write a letter to the editor to
      1) point out the mistake;
      2) suggest the correction;
      3) express your interest in the magazine.
      You should write about 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：

Directions: Look at the following picture and write an article, which should meet the following two requirements:

      1) Interpret the message conveyed by the picture;

      2) Make your comments on what is represented.

      Now write a composition of about 150 words on the Answer Sheet.