单选题
Although "naming rights" have proliferated in American higher education for the past several decades, the phenomenon has recently expanded to extraordinary lengths. Anything to get an extra dollar out of donors is fair game. I know colleges and universities sorely need to raise funds in these times of fiscal constraints, but things have gotten a bit out of hand. Universities and colleges have long been named after donors—think of Harvard, Yale, Brown, and many others. John Harvard would hardly get a bench named after him today, given the modesty of his gift of books for the library back in the seventeenth century. Now it takes much more to get one's name on a college. One institution, Rowan University of New Jersey, changed its name (from Glassboro State College) not long ago when a large donation was made. Buildings, too, have been affected. Traditionally, they were named after people such as distinguished scholars or visionary academic leaders; now they're often named after big donors. Why is all of this happening now? The main motivation for the naming frenzy is, of course, to raise money. Donors love to see their names, or the names of their parents or other relatives, on buildings, schools, institutions, professorships, and the like. Increasingly, corporations and other businesses also seek to benefit from having their names on educational facilities. Today, no limits seem to exist on what can be named. If something does not have a name, it is up for grabs—a staircase, a pond, or a parking garage. Once all the major facilities have titles, lesser things go on the naming auction block. Colleges and universities, public and private, are all under increased pressure to raise money, and naming brings in cash. It is unproductive. Separate branding weakens the focus and mission of an institution and perhaps even its broader reputation. It confuses the public, including potential students, and feeds the idea that the twenty-first-century university is simply a confederation of independent entrepreneurial domains. The trends we see now in the United States, and perhaps tomorrow in other countries, will inevitably weaken the concept of the university as an institution that is devoted to the search for truth and the transmission of knowledge. All this naming distracts from the mission of an institution that has almost a millennium of history and cheapens its image. It is a sad symbol indeed of the commercialization and entrepreneurialism of the contemporary university.
单选题
From the 2nd paragraph, we can learn that John Harvard ______. A. got a university named after him due to his donated books B. would only get a bench named after him today C. was the first donor for higher education in 17th century D. was the founder of Harvard University
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 题目问:关于John Harvard,我们通过第二段内容可以知道什么?第二段John Harvard would hardly get a bench named after him today,given the modesty of his gift of books for the library back in the seventeenth century.通过这句话可知,约翰?哈佛在17世纪将他的宝贵礼物——书籍赠送给学校图书馆,于是他的名字也就成为学校的名字了。据此判断,应选择A。
单选题
In the past, the buildings in universities were named after ______. A. political leaders B. wealthy alumni C. outstanding scholars D. famous donors
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 题目问:在过去,大学的建筑以什么命名?第二段Buildings,too,have been affected.Traditionally,they were named after people such as distinguished scholars or visionary academic leader.通过这句话可知,传统上,大学的建筑一般以著名学者或有远见的学术带头人的名字来命名。据此判断,应选择C。
单选题
The main purpose for corporations to donate money to universities is ______. A. to raise more money B. to get benefit and reputation C. to train skillful students for them D. to improve educational facilities
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 题目问:公司向大学捐钱的主要目的是什么?第三段Increasingly,corporations and other businesses also seek to benefit from having their names on educational facilities.通过这句话可知,越来越多的公司和企业也寻求以他们名字来给教育设施命名,以求获得经济利益。据此判断,应选择B。
单选题
In the 4th paragraph, the word "unproductive" probably means ______. A. naming cannot bring benefits to the donating businesses B. separate naming yields a broader reputation for a university C. out-of-hand naming weakens the goal of higher education D. naming cannot raise enough money for a university's development
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 题目问:单词“unproductive”是什么意思?第四段第二句Separate branding weakens the focus and mission of an institution and perhaps even its broader reputation.一些与商业利益联系的研究机构的命名形式,削弱了研究机构本身的重心和使命,甚至削弱其广泛的声誉。据此判断,应选择C。
单选题
According to the author, a university should be a place ______. A. devoted to the search for truth B. commercialized by naming trends C. attracting potential students D. focusing on scientific research only
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 题目问:根据作者的观点,大学应该是一个什么样的地方?第五段The trends… will inevitably weaken the concept of the university as an institution that is devoted to the search for truth and the transmission of knowledge.通过这句话可知,大学应该是一个探寻真理和传播知识的地方。据此判断,应选择A。