山东大学2013年考博英语真题

　　Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension

　　Passage 1

　　The Carnegie Foundation report says that many colleges have tried to be ―all things to all people‖. In doing so, they have increasingly catered to a narrow minded careerism while failing to cultivate a global vision among their students. The current crisis, it contends, does not derive from a legitimate desire to put learning to productive ends. The problem is that in too many academic fields, the work has no context; skills, rather than being means, have become ends. Students are offered a variety of options and allowed to pick their way to a degree. In short, driven by careerism, ―the nation’s colleges and universities are more successful in providing credentials (文凭) than in providing a quality education for their students. ―The report concludes that the special challenge confronting the undergraduate college is one of shaping an integrated core of common learning. Such a core would introduce students to essential knowledge, to connections across the disciplines, and in the end, to application of knowledge to life beyond the campus. ― Although the key to a good college is a high-quality faculty, the Carnegie study found that most colleges do very little to encourage good teaching. In fact, they do much to undermine it. As one professor observed: ―Teaching is important, we are told, and yet faculty know that research and publication matter most.‖ Not surprisingly, over the last twenty years colleges and universities have failed to graduate half of their four-year degree candidates. Faculty members who dedicated themselves to teaching soon discover that they will not be granted tenure (终身任期), promotion, or substantial salary increases. Yet 70 percent of all faculties say their interests lie more in teaching than in research. Additionally, a frequent complaint among young scholars is that ―There is pressure to publish, although there is virtually no interest among administrators or colleagues in the content of the publications.‖

　　51. When a college tries to be ―all things to al people‖ (Lines 1-2, Para. 1) it aims to ________.

　　A) satisfy the needs of all kinds of students simultaneously

　　B) focus on training students in various skills

　　C) encourage students to take as many courses as possible

　　D) make learning serve academic rather than productive ends

　　52. By saying that ―in too many academic fields, the work has no context‖ (Lines 4-5, Pare. 1) the author means that the teaching in these areas ________.

　　A) ignores the actual situation

　　B) is not based on the right perspective

　　C) only focuses on an integrated core of common learning

　　D) gives priority to the cultivation of a global vision among students

　　53. One of the reasons for the current crisis in American colleges and universities is that ________.

　　A) a narrow vocationalism has come to dominate many colleges

　　B) students don’t have enough freedom in choosing what they want to learn

　　C) skills are being taught as a means to an end

　　D) students are only interested in obtaining credentials

　　54. American colleges and universities failed to graduate half of their four-year degree candidates because ________.

　　A) most of them lack high-quality faculties

　　B) the interests of most faculty members lie in research

　　C) there are not enough incentives for students to study hard

　　D) they attach greater importance to research and publication than to teaching

　　55. It can be inferred from the passage that high-quality college education calls for ________. A) putting academic work in the proper context

　　B) a commitment to students and effective teaching

　　C) the practice of putting leaning to productive ends

　　D) dedication to research in frontier areas of knowledge

答案

　　51. C 52. B 53. A 54. D 55. B

　　Passage 2

　　Endangered Species Endangered species are plants and animals that are in immediate danger of extinction. Extinction is actually a normal process in the course of evolution. Since the formation of the earth, many more species have become extinct than those exist today. These species slowly disappeared because of changes of climate and their failure to adapt to such conditions as competition and predation (捕食). Since the 1600s, however, the process of extinction has greatly accelerated as a result of both human population growth and technological encroachment (侵犯) on natural ecology systems. Today the majority of the world’s environments are changing faster than the ability of most species to adapt to such changes through natural selection.

　　Species become extinct or endangered for a number of reasons, but the primary cause is the destruction of natural habitats (栖息地). Drainage of wetlands (沼泽地), cutting and clearing of forests, growth of cities, and highway and dam construction have seriously reduced available natural habitats. As the various surroundings become fragments, the remaining animal populations crowd into smaller areas, causing further destruction of natural surroundings. Species in these small islands‖ lose contact with other populations of their own kind, thus reducing their genetic variation and making them less adaptable to environment changes.

　　Since the 1600s, commercial exploitation of animals for food and other products has caused many species to become extinct or endangered. Introduced diseases and parasites have also greatly reduced some species. Pollution is another important cause of their extinction.

　　Some private and governmental efforts have been organized to save declining species. Laws were made in some countries in the early 1900s to protect wild animals from commercial trade and killing. International endeavors are shown in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. approved by 51 nations. Its purpose is to restrict exploitation of wild animals and plants by regulating and restricting trade in certain species. How effective such laws will be in various countries, however, depends on enforcement (实施 ) and support by the people and the courts. Because of a lack of law enforcement, the willingness of some segments of society to trade in endangered species, the activities of people who catch and kill animals illegally and dealers who supply the trade, the future of many species is in doubt in spite of legal protection.

　　56 According to the passage, which of the following is the most important factor causing the rapid extinction of man species since the 17th century?

　　A Human beings are not aware of the importance of preserving endangered species. B Some endangered species have already reached the end of their life span in evolution. C The development of human society has greatly affected natural ecology systems. D The world’s climate has changed so greatly that most species cannot survive.

　　57 In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the word islands refers to

　　A the lands that are completely surrounded by water.

　　B the wild animals’ breeding grounds protected by law

　　C the pieces of land separated by modern buildings and roads.

　　D the small and isolated areas inhabited by certain species.

　　58 This passage mentions all of the following reasons that cause the extinction of man species except

　　A natural selection of species.

　　B various natural disasters.

　　C commercial trade and killing.

　　D destruction of natural surroundings.

　　59 According to the passage, which of the following is most important in saving declining species?

　　A Governments should make some laws to protect endangered species.

　　B People should pay more attention to the protection of natural surroundings.

　　C Relevant laws must be made and enforced with the support of the people.

　　D Some organizations should warn people not to trade in endangered animals.

　　60 How does the author feel about the prospect of protecting endangered species from being extinct?

　　A Worried. B Optimistic. C Indifferent. D Confident.

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