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SECTION 4: LISTENING TEST (30 minutes)
Part A: Note-taking and Gap-filling
Directions: In this part of the test you will hear a short talk. You will hear the talk only once.
While listening to the talk, you may take notes on the important points so that you can have
enough information to complete a gap-filling task on a separate ANSWER BOOKLET. You are
required to write ONE word or figure only in each in each blank. You will not get your Answer
Booklet until after you have listened to the talk.
The American work force is changing. The most important change is from a _________ (1)
economy to a _________ (2) economy. Generally, service jobs are divided into _________ (3)
types. One, transportation and _________ (4) companies, like the phone company. Two,
_________ (5) companies. Three, _________ (6) companies. Four, finance, _________ (7) and
real estate companies. And finally, five, _________ (8) services, such as hotels, car repair,
_________ (9) and medicine. Economists predict that by the year 2000 _________ (10)% of the
work force will be part of the service economy.
Then what are the causes for such a change? First, American manufacturing industries are
not _________ (11) because they are faced with _________ (12) from other parts of the world.
Secondly, because of technological advances, _________ (13), accounting and other
business services have become important.
Thirdly, more _________ (14) are now having jobs and this has increased the need for
_________ (15) and day-care centres. And finally, the number of _________ (16) people has
grown, so have _________ (17) services.
But, according to some economists, the service job explosion may create problems. The
standard of living might _________ (18) because half of the service jobs pay _________ (19)
wages.
The other problem is that some service jobs give a worker very little _________ (20).
Part B: Listening and Translation
Ⅰ. Sentence Translation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 English sentences. You will hear the sentences
only once. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in
the corresponding space in you ANSWER BOOKLET.
(1) _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(2) __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(3) __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(4) __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(5) _________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Ⅱ. Passage Translation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 2 passages. You will hear the passages only
once. After you have heard each passage, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the
corresponding space in you ANSWER BOOKLET. You may take notes while you are listening.
(1)___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
(2)___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
SECTION 5: READING TEST (30 minutes)
Directions: Read the following passages and then answer IN COMPLETE SENTENCES the
questions which follow each passage. Use only information from the passage you have just read
and write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
Questions 1～3
Federal officials announced yesterday a $3 million grant program that will allow
low-income high school students in 32 states — including Maryland and Virginia — to take
Advanced Placement tests next year without having to pay the $52 cost for each exam.
The federal aid, combined with state and local subsidies, is enough to cover all the low
income students in those states who take the college-level tests, officials said. Their estimate was
based on the number of low-income students who took AP tests last year.
The District and the other 18 states did not apply for the grant, federal officials said. A.D.C.
schools spokeswoman said she did not know why the District has not applied.
AP classes are high school versions of college-level courses, and most colleges give credit
to students who do well on the end-of-course exam. The AP program offers 31 tests in 18
subjects.
“I am convinced that the Advanced Placement program is an important tool in the fight to
raise standards in our schools and help defray the cost of college,” said Sen. Jeff Bingaman
(D-N.M.), who won congressional approval for the program in the fall. “We need to do
everything possible to expand this program to more schools and make sure cost does not stand in
the way of any student who wants to take an AP exam.”
Fairfax County School Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech, who was with Bingaman at
the Capitol Hill news conference announcing the grants, said the federal aid will make it easier
for Fairfax to implement its new requirement that all students in AP courses take the
corresponding tests. He said he expects the School Board to approve a $1.1 million appropriation
that would make the tests free for most or all country students, regardless of income.
Students will be eligible for the federal grant if they qualify for federal school lunch
subsidies. In 1997, 900,000 AP tests were taken — 72,000 by low-income students. The
exams are administered by the College Board, which charged students $74 for each test last year,
or $52 for those who qualify for school lunch subsidies.
Fairfax is one of the few school districts to require that all students enrolled in AP courses
take the corresponding exams. In most Washington area districts, many students decide to enroll
in the courses without taking the exams because of the fee and because they will automatically
boost their grade-point average simply by completing an AP course. Supporters of an exam
requirement say it means students will work harder and get more out of the classes.
Kathleen Wills, assistant director of planning for Arlington County schools, said the federal
grant will make it easier for teachers to require students to take the tests, but she was not sure the
Arlington district would follow Fairfax in making a blanket requirement.
Some Washington area teachers in the International Baccalaureate program, which provides
college-level courses in about 300 U.S. schools, said they also could use federal support.
“It is sort of like the federal government funding McDonald's but not Burger King,” said
Bill Bixby, the IB coordinator at Stonewall Jackson High in Prince William County.
1. What do you know about Advanced Placement program and tests from the passage?
2. According to the passage, what kind of students can receive federal grant for AP tests? Why
are students encouraged to take AP tests?
3. Explain Bill Bixby's statement “It is sort of like the federal government funding McDonald's
but not Burger King” (last paragraph)?
Questions 4～6
Ministers face a showdown with their nature advisers today over the fate of wildlife areas
where damage may be allowed for the sake of cheaper water bills.
English Nature has identified 79 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) that are being
sucked dry by over abstraction or are being polluted by effluent from treatment works. It says
that the water industry has a legal obligation to stop the damage, find alternative water sources
and fund improvements at treatment works to protect the rivers, fenland and wetland areas and
their rich range of wildlife.
However, the sites have become part of the price review by Ian Byatt, the water regulator,
which will set customer bills for 2000 to 2005. Environmental improvements are widely
believed to be one area where savings can be made.
Water companies drawing up spending plans have been advised by the Environment
Agency that only special-interest sites of European quality need to be seriously considered.
Officials admitted yesterday that the guidance had come after pressure from Whitehall.
David Withrington, senior freshwater officer a English Nature, said that meant only about
nine of the 79 sites would be saved, with the rest continuing to face harm with no real
improvement in customers' bills. Bnglish Nature calculates that saving all the sites would cost
about &200 million, or just 1 per cent of the water companies' planned spending.
The dispute will come to a head today at a conference in London organised by English
Nature and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to be attended by Michael Meacher, the
Environment Minister, Mr. Byatt and representatives from consumer and water industry groups.
Mr. Withrington said yesterday: “It seems that the choice about sites should be helped and
which ones are less important has been based more on what are seen to be the Government's
obligations under European directives, whereas we believe there is a clear duty under the Water
Industry Act 1991 for companies to tackle all sites, SSSIs and those with European listing.”
Sarah Fowler. of the RSPB, said yesterday that improving the standard of watery wildlife
sites should be a priority, rather than allowing them to become marginalised during the price
review: “Schemes to protect wildlife sites were omitted from previous review of 1990-99 in
favour of schemes under the Bathing Waters Directive, the Urban Waste Water Treatment
Directive and Directives on Drinking Water.”
Ms Fowler said that damage to special sites was playing a role in the decline of
water-loving species. Over the past 25 years, lapwings have declined by 38 per cent, reed
buntings by 60 per cent and black-tailed godwits by 31 per cent. English Nature is to reaffirm its
advice that all sites, whether of international or national significance, are covered under the
Water Industry Act 1991. It will also urge the public to write to MPs, asking them to put pressure
on the Government and the regulator to protect all wildlife sites hit by overabstraction or sewage
effluent pollution.
4. What are the sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)? What is happening to SSSIs?
5. What is the major dispute over SSSIs?
6. Give a brief summary of Sarah Fowler's view towards wildlife protection.
Questions 7～10
Radio 4 is facing the wrath of the literary world over claims that it is abandoning its
commitment to the short story.
Schedule changes imposed by James Boyle, Controller of the station, mean regular
short-story readings could disappear next year and writers are complaining that more stories are
being rejected.
The daily Short Story, which goes out at 4.45pm, is a valuable platform for up-and-coming
writers who often get their first break there. Distinguished authors such as John Mortimer and
Fay Weldon have been contributing to the slot for 20 years. Writers, who regard the short story
as the Cinderella of the publishing world, cherish it as their main radio showcase.
From April, Short Story will disappear, but Mr. Boyle has assured writers that there will be
a new slot at 3:45p.m. Insiders, however, say that new draft schedules show that the new
programme will be “miscellaneous” in content and no longer dedicated to short stories.
Executives have been told not to commission any more stories for it because “the tab is full”.
There are also plans to use the slot to broadcast This Sceptr'd Isle, a contemporary history
series, when it is feared the short story could disappear.
“This was the only dedicated broadcast platform for short stories in this country,” said the
source. “It was crucial for bringing on new writers and without it we are lost.”
The Writer's Guild and the Society of Authors will raise their concerns at a meeting with Mr.
Boyle next week. Jonathan Myerson, of the Writer's Guild, said:“We are tearing our hair out.
Short Story is the last of a one-off, the only place where new, one-off material could be aired.
For the first time I think the BBC's Radio Drama Department is feeling like the writers have
been feeling for the past three years. You submit ideas, they get rejected and no one tells you
why. There is no nurturing going on any more.”
Radio 4 receives 15,000 unsolicited short stories a year, only a fraction of which can be
used. But the BBC's service of reading the work and writing back to authors is greatly valued.
Insiders believe that, because the work is so labour-intensive, it is being wound down to save
money.
Writers are already displeased that Woman's Hour is to lose its reading slot, which will be
replaced by a drama serial from April.
A BBC source said: “Morale is low in that department because no one can get a straight
answer about what is happening to short stories. Apparently they have been told no more work is
needed, but very little has been commissioned from April 1998 so the feeling is it is slowly
being wound down.”
“The only things they seem interested in buying are existing collections because they are
easier to commission and don't involve spending time on unsolicited work. And there is very
little in the way of short stories in Book at Bedtime and The Late Book.”
Fay Weldon, who has had many short stories broadcast on Radio 4, said: “If this is true, it
is extremely sad. The BBC has a duty to foster the creative talent of this country and to wind
down something like this is an abuse of public trust and confidence. It also misjudges the
listeners, who really enjoy short stories on the radio.”
She added that a year ago when she last recorded a short story at Radio 4, she noticed that it
appeared to have been downgraded. “We were in the oldest studio with the most antiquated
equipment, I noticed,” she said.
A spokesman denied that the station was abandoning the short story, adding:“Radio 4 will
remain the home of new writing.”
7. What do you know about Short Story from the passage?
8. What is the response of the literary people towards the schedule changes of short-story
readings programme?
9. Cite possible reasons from the passage why Short Story programme will disappear soon.
10. What can we learn from the comment by the author Fay Weldon?
SECTION 6: TRANSLATION TEST (30 minutes)
Directions: Translate the following passage into English and write your version in the
corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
我国政府强化了对外贸的控管，强化了商会这类中介机构的服务与协调功能。我们希
望继续加强外贸体制的改革，使之逐渐走向竞争，并受到诸如关税、汇率和利率等法律和
经济手段的制约。所有这些都应助于加速中国外贸的国际化进程，为宏观经贸局面的形成
创造一个较好的环境。通过促进商贸业、制造业、农业、技术产业和银行之间更为密切的
合作，我们能够为国际市场提供更多、更好的出口产品。在这种情况下，中国自然会成为
一个大市场。 |