2007年江苏省普通高等学校“专转本”统一考试

大学英语

第I卷（共100分）

Part I Reading Comprehension （共40分） Passage one

Under proper conditions, sound waves will be reflected from a hillside or other such obstruction. Sound travels at the rate of about one-fifth of mile per second. If the hill is eleven hundred feet away, it takes two seconds for the sound to travel o the hill and back. Thus, by timing the interval between a sound and its reflection (the echo), you can estimate the distance to an obstruction.

During word war 2 the British used a practical application of this principle to detect German planes on their way to bomb London long before the enemy was near the target. They used radio waves instead of sound waves, since radio waves can penetrate fog and clouds. The outnumbered Royal Air Force (RAF) always seemed to the puzzled Germans to be lying in wait at the right time and never to be surprised. It was radio echoes more than anything else that won the Battle of Britain.

Since the radio waves were used to tell the direction in which to send the RAF planes and the distance to send them (their range of flight, in other words), the device was called radio directing and ranging, and from the initials the word radar was coined. (files come from www.dinyuan.cn)

1. Sound waves reflected from a hill can be used to estimate the. A. heigt of the hill C. distance to the hill

B. speed of sound D. intensite of sound

2. Practical applications of this principles resulted in. A. New electronic instruments for planes B. A radio directing and ranging device C. New radio sets for RAF bombers D. An electronic detecting device

3. Radar enabled the English to.

A. Detect German planes on their way to London B. Direct the outnumbered RAF planes effectively C. Confuse German bomber pilots D. Both A and B

4.It can be inferred from the passage that

A. Light waves could be used in a device similar to radar B. Radar was a practical application of a well-known principle C. Radar greatly increased the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force D. Sound waves are reflected from a hillside under all conditions 5. The author of this passage probably intended to explain A. Exactly how radar works

B. Why the British used radio waves in their device C. How radar (work and device) came to be

D. How radar helped the British win the Battle of Britain Passage Two

In general, the ancient Romans were a practical people. They cared less about philosophy and pure mathematics than did the Greeks. The Romans were the best of the ancient engineers and architects. They were brilliant students of Greek geometry and trigonometry (三角学) , and they applied their knowledge to the construction of fine bridges, roads, aqueducts (渠道) , and public buildings.

They knew about the smelting of iron ore, but they used the iron they produced mainly for spears, swords, and shields, rather than for building construction.

While the Romans accomplished practical wonders, they did very little theoretical scientific thinking. Because of their frequent wars, many of their inventions were no more than improvements in the design of Greek weapons with which they were familiar. There are two reasons for the Romans neglect of philosophy and pure mathematics. First, they were apparently too busy conquering nearby nations and forming them into a rapidly growing empire to waste time on abstract thinking. Secondly, they were handicapped (妨碍) by the rigidity of their numerical system. (Try to multiply XI by LVII or

to divide CXLIII by IX; it simply cannot be done with pencil and paper.) The Romans did all of their arithmetic on an abacus, the ancient counterpart of the modern computing machine. Their number system discouraged the study of pure mathematics. 6. The author calls the Romans “practical” because they A. Cared little about philosophy

B. Applied their knowledge to construction

C. Saw the necessity for developing theoretical science D. Studied the past and learned from it

7.The ancient Romans did not concern themselves with A. Theoretical or abstract thought C. Studying

B. applied mathematics D. either A or C

8.In construction, the Romans made extensive use of A. Iron ore C. Studying

B. peometry and trigonometry D. both B and C

9.Many Romans inventions were based on Greek weapons because the A. Greeks had superior weapons Bromines were involved in frequent wars

C. Romans were not familiar with many types of weapons D. Greek proved himself or herself inspired inventor

10.The author of this passage probably wanted to explain why A. He considers the Romans a practical people B. Roman were involved in frequent wars

C. Theoretical thinking is necessary fir the growth of a nation D. The Romans contributed little to philosophical thought Passage Three

Professor Barry Wellman if University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interacts these days. The term to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks.

Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and

e-mail, our social networks involved live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and colleagues at work. Some of the interaction was by phone, but it was still voice, person to person, in real time.

A recent research study by the Pew Internet and Americans Life Project showed that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the coputer has replaced this person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew study say that’s a good thing. Why?

In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with MORE real people than expected-helpful-people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million American told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them major life decisions.

Thanks to the computer. “networked individuals” are able to be alone and together with other people-at the same time!

11. the pew study was conducted in A. the United States C. the U.S. and Canada

B. Canada D. Europe

12. in the article, a network is a group of connected A. radio or TV stations C. computers

B. people D. roads

13. before the invention of the Internet, our connections with people tool place mainly A. in person e-mail

14. Which of the following has happened since the invention of the Internet and email? A. people are talking on the phone more than ever.

B. Interaction through the computer has replaced a lot of person to person interaction. C. Americans are turning into hermits.

D. Sixty million Americans have bought computers.

15. Which of the following was NOT one of the discoveries of Pew study?

B. by phone C. by letter D. by