英语专四 短文听力 Passage 1-1

 短文

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage.

The United States is on the verge¹ of losing its leading place in the world’s technology. So says more than one study in recent years. (11) The main reason for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U. S. scientists and engineers. Since 1976，employment of scientists and engineers has gone up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds—the near term source of future PhDs—is declining. (12) Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields； law，medicine， business，etc. While the number of U. S. PhDs in science and engineering declines, the award of PhDs to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly. Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master’s degree holders². (13) Too often，promising³ PhD candidates，confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education，find the attraction of industry irresistible⁴.

 

题目

Passage 1

In this section you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

Now, listen to the passage.

11.  The U.S. will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ?

A. the number of PhD degree holders is declining

B. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasing

C. the number of 22-year-olds is declining

D. scientists and engineers are not employed

12. The candidates of the PhD in the field of science and engineering is facing a

competition from ?

A. technology B. foreign nationals

C. such fields as law D. postgraduates⁵

13.  Many promising postgraduates are unwilling⁶ to pursue a PhD degree because .

A. they are not encouraged to be engaged in science

B. industry does not require PhD holders

C. they won't earn much money after graduation

D. they will face the cost and financial sacrifice

 

答案解析

Passage 1

11. B细节题。短文一开始点明主题，美国将逐渐失去它在技术方面的领先地位，原 因是科学家和工程师在数量上双双减少，接下来分析了减少的原因。B为正确答 案。A具有强干扰性，但不是博士生总量少了。而是从事科学和工程方面的博士生 少了，故应排除。

12. C细节题。文中提到工科博士减少的原因之一是报考博士的考生受到来自法律， 医学和商业方面的竞争，故C为正确答案。B具有强干扰性，但文中只提到越来越 多的博士学位颁发给外国人，但并未说对本国的科技领域构成竞争，故应排除。

13. D细节题。文章结尾说很难动员学生继续深造，因为工业需要大量本科和硕士毕 业生，对许多有望。继续攻读博士的学生来讲，继续深造就意味着在费用和财力方 面必须付出和牺牲。据此推断D为正确答案。

1 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

2 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

5 postgraduates   

研究生( postgraduate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Professor Zhu will give lectures to the postgraduates [graduate students] this term. 朱教授这学期给研究生开课。
• These postgraduates were a very talented group. 这些研究生是一群天分很高的学生。

6 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。