单选题It was a little weird at first, Erin Tobin said, seeing Harry Potter right there on the stage without his pants, or indeed any of his clothes. Not actually Harry Potter, of course, since he is fictional, but the next best thing: Daniel Radcliffe. who plays him in the movies. Now 17. Mr. Radcliffe has cast off his wand. his broomstick and everything else to appear in the West End revival of Peter Shaffer's "Equus." He stars as Alan Strang, a disturbed young man who, in a distinctly un-Harry-Potterish moment of frenzied psychosexual madness, blinds six horses with a hoof pick. To make it clear what audiences are in for, at least in part, photographs of Mr. Radcliffe's buff torso, stripped almost to the groin, have been used to advertise the production. It is as jarring as if, say, Anne Hathaway suddenly announced that instead of playing sweet-natured princesses and fashion-world ing6nues, she wanted to appear onstage as a nude. murderous prostitute. To explain how is surprising the change of Radcliffe to the audience, the author mentions Anne "Equus" opened last week, and the consensus so far is that Mr. Radcliffe has successfully extricated himself from his cinematic alter ego. Considering that playing Harry Potter is practically all he has done in his career, this is no small achievement. "I think he's a really good actor, and I sort of forgot about Harry Potter." said Ophelia Oates. 14, who saw the play over the weekend. "Anyway, you can't be Harry Potter forever." In The Daily Telegraph, Charles Spencer said that "Daniel Radcliffe brilliantly succeeds m throwing off the mantle of Harry Potter, announcing himself as a thrilling stage actor of unexpected depth and range." Mr. Radcliffe told The Daily Telegraph that "I thought it would be a bad idea to wait till the Potter films were all finished to do something else." There are still a few to go. The fifth, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," is scheduled for release on July 13. and Mr. Radcliffe has signed on for the final two installments as well. (Meanwhile, the seventh and last book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will hit stores on July 21.) Harry and Alan could not be more dissimilar as characters, even if both "come from quite weird backgrounds," as 13-year-old Ella Pitt, another recent theatergoer, put it. (And no. she declared, she was not too young for all the nakedness, swearing and sexuality.) Both characters have unresolved issues relating to their parents: Harry, because his are dead, and Alan, because his have driven him insane. But when it comes to romance, for instance, the celluloid Harry has yet to kiss a girl; the big moment comes in the forthcoming film. Meanwhile, Alan in "Equus" not only engages in some serious equi-erotic nuzzling with an actor playing a horse, but is also onstage, fully nude. for 10 minutes, during which he nearly has sex with an equally naked young woman.

单选题Placing a human being behind the wheel of an automobile often has the same curious effect as cutting certain fibres in the brain. The result in either case is more primitive behaviour. Hostile feelings are apt to be expressed in an aggressive way. The same man who will step aside for a stranger at a doorway will, when behind the wheel, risk an accident trying to beat another motorist through an intersection. The importance of emotional factors in automobile accidents is gaining recognition. Doctors and other scientists have concluded that the highway death toll resembles an epidemic and should be investigated as such. Dr. Ross A. McFarland, Associate Professor of Industrial Hygiene at the Harvard University School of Public Health, said that accidents "now constitute a greater threat to the safety of large segments of the population than diseases do." Accidents are the leading cause of death between the ages of 1 and 35. About one third of all accidental deaths and one seventh of all accidental injuries are caused by motor vehicles. Based on the present rate of vehicle registration, unless the accident rate is cut in half, one of every 10 persons in the country will be killed or injured in a traffic accident in the next 15 years. Research to find the underlying causes of accidents and to develop ways to detect drivers who are apt to cause them is being conducted at universities and medical centres. Here are some of their findings so far: A man drives as he lives. If he is often in trouble with collection agencies, the courts, and police, chances are he will have repeated automobile accidents. Accident repeaters usually are egocentric, exhibitionistic, resentful of authority, impulsive, and lacking in social responsibility. As group, they can be classified as borderline psychopathic personalities, according to Dr. McFarland. The suspicion, however, that accident repeaters could be detected in advance by screening out persons with more hostile impulses is false. A study at the University of Colorado showed that there were just as many overly hostile persons among those who had no accidents as among those with repeated accidents. Psychologists currently are studying Denver high school pupils to test the validity of this concept. They are making psychological evaluations of the pupils to see whether subsequent driving records will bear out their thesis.

单选题Many foreigners who have not visited Britain call all the inhabitants English, for they are used to thinking of the British Isles as England. (1) , the British Isles contain a variety of people, and only the people of England call themselves,English. The others (2) to themselves as Welsh, Scottish, or Irish, (3) the case may be; they are often slightly annoyed at being (4) as "English". Even in England there are many differences in (5) character and speech. The chief (6) is between southern England and northern England. South of a line going from Bristol to London, people speak the type of English usually (7) by toreign students, (8) there are local variations. Further north, regional (9) is usually "broader" than that of southern Britain. Northerners are (10) to claim that they work harder than Southerners, and are more (11) . They are openhearted and hospitable; foreigners often find that they make friends with them (12) . Northerners generally have hearty (13) : the visitor to Lancashire or Yorkshire, for instance, may look forward to receiving generous (14) at meal times. In accent and character the people of the Midlands (15) a gradual change from the southern to the northern type of Englishman. In Scotland the sound (16) by the letter " R" is generally a strong sound, and " R" is often pronounced in words in which it would be (17) in southern English, The Scots are said to be a serious, cautious, thrifty people, (18) inventive and somewhat mystical. All the Celtic peoples of Britain (the Welsh, the Irish, the Scots) are frequently (19) as being more " fiery" than the English. They are of a race that is quite (20) from the English.

单选题The airlines may be satisfied if the TSA can

单选题In 1575--over 400 years ago the French scholar Louis Le Roy published a learned book in which he voiced despair over the changes caused by the social and technological innovations of his time, what we now call the Renaissance. We, also, feel that our times are out of joint; we even have reason to believe that our descendants will be worse off than we are. The earth will soon be overcrowded and its resources exhausted. Pollution will ruin the environment, upset the climate and endanger human health. The gap in living standards between the rich and the poor will widen and lead the angry, hungry people of the world to acts of desperation including the use of nuclear weapons as blackmail. Such are the inevitable consequences of population and technological growth if present trends continue. The future is never a projection of the past. Animals probably have no chance to escape from the tyranny of biological evolution, but human beings are blessed with the freedom of social evolution. For us, trend is not destiny (fate). The escape from existing trends is now facilitated by the fact that societies anticipate future dangers and take preventive steps against expected changes. Despite the widespread belief that the world has become too complex for comprehension by the human brain, modern societies have often responded effectively to critical situations. The decrease in birth rates, the partial prohibition of pesticides and the rethinking of technologies for the production and use of energy are but a few examples illustrating a sudden reversal of trends caused not by political upsets or scientific breakthroughs, but by public awareness of consequences. Even more striking are the situations in which social attitudes concerning future difficulties undergo rapid changes before the problems have come to pass -- witness the heated arguments about the problems of behavior control and of genetic engineering even though there is as yet no proof that effective methods can be developed to manipulate behavior and genes on a population scale. One of the characteristics of our times is thus the rapidity with which steps can be taken to change the orientation of certain trends and even to reverse them. Such changes usually emerge from grass root movements rather than from official directives.

单选题A young man choosing a car is noted to suggest that

单选题Which of following tends to warm the climate?

单选题{{B}}Text 2{{/B}} Imagine a world in which there was suddenly no emotion--a world in which human beings could feel no love or happiness, no terror or hate. Try to imagine the consequences of such a transformation. People might not be able to stay alive: knowing neither joy nor pleasure, neither anxiety nor fear, they would be as likely to repeat acts that hurt them as acts that were beneficial. They could not learn: they could not benefit from experience because this emotionless world would lack rewards and punishments. Society would soon disappear: people would be as likely to harm one another as to provide help and support. Human relationships would not exist: in a world without friends or enemies, there could be no marriage, affection among companions, or bonds among members of groups. Society's economic underpinnings would be destroyed: since earning $10 million would be no more pleasant than earning $10, there would be no incentive to work. In fact, there would be no incentives of any kind. For as we will see, incentives imply a capacity to enjoy them. In such a world, the chances that the human species would survive are next to zero, because emotions are the basic instrument of our survival and adaptation. Emotions structure the world for us in important ways. As individuals, we categorize objects on the basis of our emotions. True we consider the length, shape, size, or texture, but an object's physical aspects are less important than what it has done or can do to us--hurt us, surprise us, anger us or make us joyful. We also use categorizations coloured by emotions in our families, communities, and overall society. Out of our emotional experiences with objects and events comes a social feeling of agreement that certain things and actions arc "good" and others are "bad", and we apply these categories to every aspect of our social life--from what foods we eat and what clothes we wear to how we keep promises and which people our group will accept. In fact, society exploits our emotional reactions and attitudes, such as loyalty, morality, pride, shame, guilt, fear and greed, in order to maintain itself. It gives high rewards to individuals when perform important tasks such as surgery, makes heroes out of individuals for unusual or dangerous achievements such flying fighter planes in a war, and Uses the legal and penal system to make people afraid to engage in antisocial acts.

单选题{{B}}Text 4{{/B}} Astronaut Jim Voss has enjoyed many memorable moments in his career, including three space flights and one space walk. But he recalls with special fondness a decidedly earthbound experience in the summer of 1980, when he participated in the NASA-AS-EE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Voss, then a science teacher at West Point, was assigned to the Marshall Space Flight Center's propulsion lab in Alabama to analyze why a hydraulic fuel pump seal on the space shuttle was working so well when previous seals had failed. It was a seemingly tiny problem among the vast complexities of running the space program. Yet it was important to NASA because any crack in the seals could have led to destructive results for the astronauts who relied on them. "I worked a bit with NASA engineers," says Voss, "but I did it mostly by analysis. I used a handheld calculator, not a computer, to do a thermodynamic analysis. "At the end of the summer, he, like the other NASA-ASEE fellows working at Marshall, summarized his findings in a formal presentation and detailed paper. It was a valuable moment for Voss because the ASEE program gave him added understanding of NASA, deepened his desire to fly in space, and intensified his application for astronaut status. It was not an easy process. Voss was actually passed over when he first applied for the astronaut program in 1978. Over the next nine years he reapplied repeatedly, and was finally accepted in 1987. Since then he has participated in three space missions. The 50-year-old Army officer, who lives in Houston, is now in training for a four-month mission as a crew member on the International Space Station starting in July 2000. Voss says the ASEE program is wonderful for all involved. "It brings in people from the academic world and gives NASA a special property for a particular period of time. It brings some fresh eyes and fresh ideas to NASA, and establishes link with our colleges and universities," Voss explains. "There's an exchange of information and an exchange of perspectives that is very important." For the academic side, Voss says, the ASEE program also "brings institutions of higher learning more insight into new technology. We give them an opportunity to work on real-world problems and take it back to the classroom. "

单选题The best illustration of the meaning o[ "trend is not destiny" in Para. 3 is that

单选题In Japanese women's opinion, their male counterparts

单选题{{B}}Text 4{{/B}} A few common misconceptions Beauty is only skin-deep. One's physical assets and liabilities don't count all that much in a managerial career. A woman should always try to look her best. Over the last 30 years, social scientists have conducted more than 1,000 studies of how we react to beautiful and not-so-beautiful people. The virtually unanimous conclusion: Looks do matter, mom than most of us realize. The data suggest, for example, that physically attractive individuals are more likely to be treated well by their parents, sought out as friends, and pursued romantically. With the possible exception of women seeking managerial jobs, they are also more likely to be hired, paid well, and promoted. Un-American, you say, unfair and extremely unbelievable? Once again, the scientists have caught us mouthing pieces while acting just the contrary. Their typical experiment works something like this. They give each member of a group-college students, perhaps, or teachers or corporate personnel managers a piece of paper relating an individual's accomplishments. Attached to the paper is a photograph. While the papers all say exactly the same thing the pictures are different. Some show a strikingly attractive person, some an average looking character, and some an unusually unattractive human being. Group members are asked to rate the individual on certain attributes, anything from personal warmth to the likelihood that he or she will he promoted. Almost invariably, the better looking the person in the picture, the higher the person is rated. In the phrase, borrowed from Sappo, that the social scientists use to sum up the common perception, what is beautiful is good. In business, however, good looks cut both ways for women, and deeper than for men. A Utah State University professor, who is an authority on the subject, explains: in terms of their careers, the impact of physical attractiveness on males is only modest. But its potential impact on females can be tremendous, making it easier, for example, for the more attractive to get jobs where they are in the public eye. On another note, though, there is enough literature now for us to conclude that attractive women who aspire to managerial positions do not get on as well as women' who may be less attractive.

单选题Responsibilities—We all have them; most of us have more than we'd like. That doesn't change the reality that, sooner or later, we all have to (1) up to them. But perhaps it does explain our (2) to add to the ever-growing list. There's already so much to 'do in a day, why tack on an (3) burden? Unfortunately, it's this kind of defeatist mentality (4) keeps people from enhancing their lives through proper (5) and exercise. Here is the salient point, though: The health and fitness benefits you'll derive from (6) the necessary work are worth whatever sacrifices you must make (7) the way. I can't count how many times I've heard the same (8) . Each time, I always give the same response: Yes, I say, working out is work. So is taking the (9) to eat right. (10) yourself on the couch or having drinks with friends after work is a lot easier than exercising, and hitting the McDonald's drive-thru takes a lot less time than cooking a (11) at home. But channel surfing, margaritas and a Quarter Pounder With Cheese aren't going to produce some of the things worth having—a low cholesterol level or the (12) to go shirtless on the beach. Those benefits demand a (13) effort. I'm not saying you should eschew the (14) night on the town or gourmet meal at a five-star restaurant. Both have their (15) and are components of a well-rounded life. I've enjoyed my (16) of revelry and fine (17) and look forward to those special opportunities to experience more of the good life. But I've managed to find a balance between those (18) pleasures and a permanent (19) to a regular workout and a healthy diet. Because, (20) , it is the latter that will have a lasting improvement on the overall quality of my life.

单选题{{B}}Part A{{/B}}{{B}}Directions:{{/B}}Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.{{B}}Text 1{{/B}} "Equal Justice Under Law,' reads the motto atop the U.S. Supreme Court building. The words am lofty, but for the thousands of people who trudge through the criminal-justice system daily and who speak no English, the phrase means legally nothing. For many of these defendants, the words are also legally empty. American justice for those who do not comprehend English is "anything but uniform, let alone understandable. There are no nationwide standards for court interpreters, little training and virtually no monitoring. "Everybody gets a piece of due process," says David Fellmeth, a senior court interpreter in New York city. "But how big a piece depends on the interpreter." Horror stories regularly fill court dockets. In a New York federal court, a translated undercover wire quotes a Cuban defendant: "I don' t even have the ten kilos." The defendant means kilos of currency (Cuban cents), but the translated statement suggests kilograms of drugs. In a New Jersey homicide trial, the prosecutor asks whether the testimony of a witness is lengthier than the translation. "Yes," responds the Polish interpreter, "but everything else was not important." Congress tried to surmount the language barriers in the federal courts by passing legislation eleven years ago authorizing Government-paid interpreters for those who do not speak English. So far, though, only 308 people have passed the rigorous Spanish-only federal certification process—a cadre far too small to handle the 43,000 annual requests for interpreters in 60 languages. The situation in the states is breaker. Last year Cook County, IH, processed 40,000 requests, and the New York courts sought out interpreters 250 times a day. As in the federal system, Spanish is the language most in demand. Only a handful of states test their interpreters for language skills. Thus in many local courts, translation may be a free-lance project for the secretary who speaks a little French or a favor requested from a relative of the defendant. "A family member is the worst person you can use," says Maureen Dunn, an interpreter for the deaf. "They have their own side of the story, and they add and omit things." Besides, interpretation is a sophisticated art. It demands not only a broad vocabulary and instant recall but also the ability to reproduce tone and nuance and a good working knowledge of street slang. "Most people believe that if you are bilingual, you can interpret," says Jack Leeth of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. "That's about as true as saying that if you have two hands, you can automatically be a concert pianist." Professional interpreters are among the first to admit the sad state of translation in the courts. They are often relegated to clerical status, with low pay, and asked to work without time to prepare. Says New York interpreter Gabriel Felix: "We could use a central administrator, dictionaries and in some courts a place to hang our coats, a chair and a desk. " Some jurisdictions are trying to make improvements. New York and New Jersey are broadening their testing and sending their interpreters to school for further training. The Federal Government is working on new requirements for Navajo and Haitian-Creole interpreters. And in Los Angeles a federal lawsuit is demanding certified interpreters in immigration proceedings. For now, however, the quality of court interpreting around the country depends on the luck of the draw.

单选题{{B}}Text 4{{/B}} When there is blood in the water, it is only natural that dorsal fins swirl around excitedly. Now that America's housing market is ailing, predators have their sights on the country's credit-card market. Analysts at Goldman Sachs reckon that credit-card losses could reach $ 99 billion if contagion spreads from subprime mortgages to other forms of consumer credit. Signs of strain are clearly visible. There are rises in both the charge-off and delinquency rates, which measure the share of balances that are uncollectable or more than 30 days late respectively. HSBC announced last month that it had taken a $1.4 billion charge in its American consumer-finance business, partly because of weakness among card borrowers. It is too early to panic, though. Charge-offs and delinquencies are still low. According to Moody's, a rating agency, the third-quarter delinquency rate of 3.89% was almost a full percentage point below the historical average. The deterioration in rates can be partly explained by technical factors. A change in America's personal-bankruptcy laws in 2005 led to an abrupt fall in bankruptcy filings, which in turn account for a big chunk of credit-card losses ; the number of filings (and thus charge-off rates) would be rising again, whether or not overall conditions for borrowers were getting worse. The industry also reports solid payment rates, which show how much of their debt consumers pay off each month. And confidence in credit-card asset-backed securities is pretty firm despite paralysis in other corners of structured finance. Dennis Moroney of Tower Group, a research firm, predicts that issuance volumes for 2007 will end up being 25% higher than last year. Direct channels of infection between the subprime-mortgage crisis and the credit-card market certainly exist: consumers are likelier to load up on credit-card debt now that home- equity loans are drying up. But card issuers look at cash flow rather than asset values, so falling house prices do not necessarily trigger a change in borrowers' creditworthiness. They may even work to issuers' advantage. The incentives for consumers to keep paying the mortgage decrease if properties are worth less than the value of the loan; card debt rises higher up the list of repayment priorities as a result. Card issuers are also able to respond much more swiftly and flexibly to stormier conditions than mortgage lenders are, by changing interest rates or altering credit limits. That should in theory reduce the risk of a rapid repricing of assets. "We are not going to wake up one day and totally revalue the loans," says Gary Perlin, Capital One' s chief financial officer. If a sudden subprime-style meltdown in the credit-card market is improbable, the risks of a sustained downturn are much more real. If lower house prices and a contraction in credit push America into recession, the industry will undoubtedly face a grimmer future. Keep watching for those dorsal fins.