同等学力申硕士英语阅读第三课
第三课
Section A
Directions: In this section, there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.
Passage One
As 170 people sat down to dinner, I breathed a sigh of relief: The conference was going well. Running it was part of my job as a university program manager, working on a project to boost biotech collaborations between academia and industry. When I started in the role a few years earlier, I thought that maybe, after years of career exploration, I had finally found the right job for me. But at the conference, I found myself wondering whether that was really what I wanted from my career, I'm a scientist, not an event planner-but I had been too busy organizing the conference to appreciate the research being discussed. Was it time for yet another change?
I started off as a lab scientist. But then discovered that the highly focused nature of lab work wasn't for me. My next job was at a pharmaceutical company-conducting literature searches. I enjoyed the work, which allowed me to stay close to research and interact with a variety of people.But I was only offered a short-term contract, so after a year I had to move on. I then became a scientific journal editor. I loved the breadth of science that I was exposed to, but the job required a lengthy commute. So, I made another dramatic change and moved back to the ivory tower for my current job.
It had become a pattern: I spent a few years in each role only to find that it wasn't quite the right fit. I also realized that maybe I was searching for something that didn't exist.
I began to think about creative ways to add the scientific stimulation I sought to my work life. With my previous knowledge and my experience as an editor, I realized I had the skill set to do that through freelance science writing, such as news articles for journals and blogs.
With my former colleagues' positive responses, I finally decided I could do my university job on a less than full-time schedule. Fortunately, my manager agreed.
For the last year, I have been a university program manager/freelance writer, and I've never been happier. Weaving the two roles together has been a bit tricky at times. But I finally feel I have a career that is tailored to my needs. I've realized that a career doesn't need to be " off the shelf."Jobs can be mixed and matched to get to one that fits.
21. What did the author think of his conference organizing job in Paragraph 1?
A. It gave him a sense of achievement.
B. It proved that he was making progress in his career.
C. It was not as meaningful as scientific research.
D.It was too challenging for him.
22. The author left the job as scientific journal editor because
B.he was offered only a short contract
A. it demanded high work intensity
D. it was too far from home
C. he was not satisfied with the pay
23. What does "something"(Para 3) possibly mean?
D.A fixed pattern.
C.A balanced life.
A.A suitable role B.An ideal job.
24.What is the author's present job?
A. He works in a university and also writes on the side.
B. He is an event planner and also a program manager.
C. He teaches in a university and also writes books.
D. He is a full-time manager and also a freelance writer.
25. What is this passage mainly about?
A. The author's clear career plan.
B. The author's changing perception of career.
C. The author's persistence in the face of obstacles.
D. The author's failure in securing a work contract.
Passage Two
You've probably been seeing and hearing a lot more about "eSports" lately. Major television networks are broadcasting competitions, and even more mainstream media coverage is planned for the near future. What are eSports and why are they so popular?
Loosely defined, eSports are video game competitions. These can be anything from a local tournament(锦标赛)in a video game store to those staged in 25,000-seat arenas, watched live by millions of people around the world. In practical terms, "eSports" refers to the competitions engineered by global organizations that culminate in big-money championship tournaments-dollar figures that can exceed $1,000,000 for winners.
The second question-"Why are they getting so popular?"-is more nuanced. The biggest reason is that fans of games enjoy watching them played at the highest level. It's fun seeing the top players in the world do what they do best. There are plenty of other reasons the eSports community is growing. All of the controversies, drama, and compelling individuals from the mainstream sports world exist in eSports as well. Top players move from team to team like free agents, retire and return to competition unexpectedly, and experience unlikely come-from-behind victories and crushing defeats. New challengers consistently emerge on the scene, ready to take down championship teams and generate compelling rivalries. The parallels with traditional sports and eSports are more numerous than many realize.
Perhaps the biggest difference between traditional sports and eSports is the viewers. Unlike mainstream athletic competitions, which appeal to a broad range of demographics, consumers of eSports are overwhelmingly young and male. For example, over 70 percent of League of Legends(the most popular eSports game in terms of dollars and participants) viewers are males, and the vast majority of them are under 26. This means a couple of things, both of them appealing to advertisers looking to reach this young and lucrative market... the audience will grow as more youngsters are introduced, and as they get older, their purchasing power increases.
26. It is stated in Paragraph 1 that eSports have .
A. caused competition among media
B. drawn an increasing number of youths
C. created many broadcasting companies
D. attracted major television networks
27. According to Paragraph 2, eSports .
A.can be staged only in local stadiums
B. can lead to a huge sum of award
C. may be hard to define precisely
D. may be loosely linked to video games
28. The word "nuanced" (Para3) most probably means " ”.
B. outstanding
D.complicated
A.strange
C.specific
29.Which of the following is Not a reason for the growth of the eSports community?
A. The stories about the top players
B. The fun of watching top-level performance
C. The investment from governments
D. The parallels with the mainstream sports
30. Traditional sports and eSports are different mainly in
A. their rules
B. their importance
C. their profits
D. their audiences
Passage Three
Sen. Kamala Harris was half right in her speech launching her 2020 presidential campaign,when she said we need to address climate change based on "science fact, not science fiction."The truth is, we need both. Science fiction has an important role to play in rescuing the future from the huge challenges we're facing-and the responses to Harris' statement illustrate this perfectly.
When the California Democrat's statement about climate change went out on social media, a number of people pointed out the truth: Science fiction has been helping us to prepare for a world of potentially disastrous climate upheaval for years. But an equal number of loud voices took issue with Harris' warnings about climate change, because in our post-truth era, the scientific consensus about what humans are doing to our planet is still somehow a matter of opinion.
And that's why science fiction is more important than Harris gives it credit for. No amount of scientific evidence will convince deniers—or the vast number of people who merely live in a state of denial. We live in a post-truth era in which facts and fiction are blurring into an indistinguishable mess and power belongs to whoever can tell the best story, true or not. What matters is just how something makes us feel? which is why we need better stories, that, in the words of author Neil Gaiman,"lie in order to tell the truth."
Stories about climate change might be fiction, but they can help to sway people's hearts and minds in a different way than a recitation of the undeniable facts. Science fiction creators have been looking for ways to restore people's faith in the future. Authors such as Alexandra Rowland have started a conversation about creating a new type of stories called "Hopepunk" that show people reasons to believe we really can do the hard work of fixing our problems. Some other authors are creating a new genre called "Solarpunk" that aims to tell stories about using technological and scientific innovation to help the environment.
When the truth becomes near-impossible to distinguish through the fog of disinformation and"alternative facts," people tend to feel powerless to change the world. Activist LA. Kauffman says people need to be reminded that they "have more collective power than they realize." Adds Kauffman,"There are truths we can get to through the imagination that are hard to get to through purely factual accounts."
31. How does the author comment on Senator Harris' statement about climate change?
A. Really confusing.
B. Partially true.
C. Quite convincing.
D. Totally wrong.
32. The deniers in Paragraph 3 refer to those who deny that .
A.science fiction is important
B. we are in a post-truth era
C. climate change is a serious issue
D. our opinions actually matter
33. The author cites Neil Gaiman in order to emphasize that .
A. fiction may better convey the truth
B.it is difficult to tell the fact from fiction
C. the power of fiction is overestimated
D. fiction makes us feel better about ourselves
34. What do "Hopepunk" and "Solarpunk" have in common?
A.A focus on technological innovation.
B.A vivid description of the harsh reality.
C.An intention to broaden our horizons.
D. An optimistic outlook for the future.
35. What might be Kauffman attitude toward science fiction?
D. Unclear.
B. Concerned.
A. Appreciative.
C. Negative.
Passage Four
Many people have looked to the stars and wondered what it would be like to take a trip into outer space. Ever since the space program began, traveling beyond Earth has been a privilege for a select few, namely, astronauts. The rest of us have had to imagine what it would be like, but that may soon change.
Those who favor expanding space exploration feel that it is time to go beyond the government-funded National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) program and to create opportunities for individuals and businesses to explore outer space. Imagine privately financed research outposts in space, missions to Mars, and mining operations on the Moon. The space frontier could indeed be the next gold rush!
Imagine what it would be like to travel in space. Those who have been lucky enough to visit space have all called it an amazing experience. The view of Earth and the stars must be spectacular, and the experience of living in "zero gravity" would be fascinating. The first American woman to visit space, Sally Ride, said that it was the greatest fun of her life. Imagine the thrill of booking a flight for a weekend stay (or longer) at a space hotel. It turns out that a space hotel would be much easier to design and build than the International Space Station; early estimates of the cost to build the hotels indicate that they would be less expensive if the orbiting hotels were built to accommodate large numbers of space travelers.
The space hotel and the other projects businesses might think up would allow people to see what is happening in space with their own eyes. That may lead to more support of NASA and its space research and greater appreciation of the funding that the space program now receives.
Those who oppose expanding space exploration argue that the costs are overwhelming and unrealistic. They point to the billions of dollars that would have to be raised through consumers or corporate sponsorship. In addition, civilian space travel is potentially dangerous, and there are many unknown risks involved.
Who would determine the safety of commercial orbiting vehicles, and how would they be insured? Issues like this require time for discussion among groups from many different businesses.Companies that specialize in manufacturing, travel, marketing, insurance, law, and finance would all have to be involved.
Others believe there are simply too many unanswered questions to put civilians in space any time soon. There are also those who question investing in space exploration when there are widespread problems like poverty and disease that need to be addressed on Earth. For these people,commercial space travel will remain science fiction, at least for many years to come.
36. The expression "the next gold rush" (Para. 2) probably means that
A. gold might be discovered on remote planets
B. space exploration could be the next investment hotspot
C. investors are enthusiastic about gold mining in space
D. private businesses are more interested in space travel
37. It can be learned from Paragraph 3 that
A. space visitors regret what they have done
B.space hotels would be very uncomfortable
C. Sally Ride enjoyed her visit to outer space
D. the view of Earth and the stars is boring
38. All of the following are objections to commercial space travel EXCEPT
A. overwhelming costs
B. potential dangers
D. government opposition
C. unknown risks
39. The author' s attitude toward commercial space travel is
D. indifferent
A. supportive
C. objective
B.opposing
40. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
B. Future of Private Space Businesses
A. Civilians in Space
C. Exploration of Outer Space
D. Hotels in Space
Section B
Directions : In this section, you are required to read one quoted blog and the comments on it. The blog and comments are followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.
If you try to contact Indy Cube (a provider of workspaces) after 5 p. m. , you receive an automatic Message that would make a good demonstration for the fast-growing four-day week movement,"we'll get back to you pretty quickly during working hours,"it says. "if you're messaging us outside of these, we're probably busy with other things, like horse-riding, dancing,or good sleep.
The firm is one of a growing number of employers giving their workers an extra day off for the same pay as a five-day week. There is emerging evidence that it can boost productivity for bosses and happiness for workers.
And it is not just small businesses that might be spotting a chance to save a little money by turning the lights off one day a week. One of the biggest organizations to make the switch is Perpetual Guardian whose shift has generated huge globe interest, with 406 organizations from around the world asking it for advice.
"This week we have had people contact us from Japan, Canada, the UK, France,Switzerland." said its founder Andrew Barnes. The day off that each worker takes varies,depending on the team's needs at the time, but there has been a change in culture with "less time surfing on social media and fewer unnecessary meetings." said Barnes.
However, Kate Cooper, policy director at the Institute of Leadership and Management argues the reasons behind increases in productivity are not yet clear. Cooper said that "the Hawthorne effect" may be in play, that is, people change their behavior simply because they feel they are being observed-in this case they feel that by being granted a four-day week they believe their bosses are interested in their work."How sustainable is that?"Cooper doubts.
Comment 1:
I don't exactly disagree with a 4-day week as long as I still have the option to work 5 days and get more money for it.
Comment 2:
Middle class conception of work-life balance. It's an interesting idea, but so much needs to happen in the UK before this becomes an option for the majority.
Comment 3:
True for all these reasons. And I feel there is actually great reason: the environment we need to be producing less stuff in order to reduce the stress on our planet.
Comment 4:
I thought this was supposed to be here 20 years ago with the advances in technology.
Comment 5:
3 days off a week? Preparing for 7 days off a week.
41. What can we learn about Indy Cube?
A. It is one of the biggest providers of workspaces.
B. It is the first company to start the four-day week.
C. Its boss should be happy with a higher productivity.
D. Its employees are worried about their future income.
42. Barnes thinks the four-day week schedule .
A. will soon be adopted by other companies in the world
B. has made a positive impact on his company's culture
C. benefits big companies more than smaller ones
D. has greatly enhanced his workers' sense of wellbeing
43. By "the Hawthorne effect", Cooper suggests that the effect of a four-day week is .
A.obvious
B. lasting
C. beneficial
D. uncertain
44. Which of the following suggests that the four-day week is currently enjoyed by only a small part of the work force?
A. Comment 1.
B. Comment 2.
C. Comment 3.
D. Comment 5.
45. Which of the following expresses the greatest concern about the four-day week?
A. Comment 1.
B. Comment 2.
C. Comment 4.
D. Comment 5.
