1．Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For question 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

The Great People in the world

"Be not afraid of greatness: Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Readers of an important international newspaper published in Britain were recently asked to nominate (提名) the greatest person who has ever lived, giving a reason for their choice. The readers were permitted to name the second greatest person, if they wished. It was emphasized, however, that it was very important to provide a clear reason in each case.

The editor and staff of the newspaper at first thought that the two figures most of their readers would choose would be Jesus Christ and Shakespeare. After further consideration, they thought that Shakespeare would be the clear favorite rather than Jesus Christ since the newspaper was international and many readers would vote for other religious leaders. By contrast, Shakespeare was regarded as universal and uncontroversial (不会引起争议的). They were certain he would stand unchallenged as the greatest playwright in the world and the greatest contributor (贡献者) to the English language. Moreover, they were confident that he had a greater understanding of people and human nature than anyone who had ever lived. The results were not as expected! Though mentioned many times, Shakespeare received fewer votes than Walt Disney. Surprisingly, the latter was praised for exactly the same reason as Shakespeare -- namely, that he gave the greatest pleasure to the greatest number of people in the world today.

In the case of religious leaders, Jesus Christ emerged as the clear winner but Mohammed was a good second and Buddha a close third. Confucius, though a philosopher rather than a religious leader, also received a large number of votes though not half so many as he would have undoubtedly received had the survey been conducted mainly in Asia. Most of the newspaper's readers put Christ first, pointing out that he fundamentally (根本上) changed the way people thought and lived while his teaching and life provided the inspiration for some of the world's greatest art, architecture, music and literature. Mohammed (570--632 A.D.), whose teaching was not vastly different from Christ's, believed in repentance (悔罪), prayer and giving to the poor as well as in education, inculcating (反复灌输) a love for learning among those who were illiterate. Buddha (563--483 B.C.), born a long time before Christ, is still being discovered today, even far away from Asia. Frequently people who put Christ first, chose Mohammed or Buddha as second, and vice versa (反之亦然). Moreover, in the reasons given for each choice, the person's common humanity (人性) was stressed rather than their divinity (神性).

In many cases, admiration for religious leaders went hand in hand with respect for science. No one expressed the view that religious beliefs were incompatible (不相容的) with scientific research. One reader argued that Mohammed was the greatest of the religious leaders as he was not only a great religious leader and teacher but also a first-class administrator. The same reader put Albert Einstein second for discovering the formula E=MC2. From all the replies received by the newspaper, it seemed that the two greatest influences on mankind have been religion and science.

Many readers put Sir Isaac Newton second as he revolutionized the world and set modern science on its present course with his unified theory(统一场论). It was argued that Newton's work changed people's daily life throughout the world. In terms of first and second choices, Newton tied (得相等选票) with Beethoven in receiving more support than anyone except a religious leader. Yet the difficulty in choosing scientists was identified (识别) by Newton himself, "The reason I see so far is because I stand on the shoulders of the giants." Thus, it is hard to attribute (把…归因于) great scientific discoveries and breakthroughs to individuals.

Our great ignorance about the distant past also makes it difficult to identify great men. For example, no one knows who invented the wheel or discovered the productive use of fire. Little is known about the invention of writing and of numbers.

Moreover, advances in pure science are not the only criteria for greatness. There are also technological advances which have altered our lives. A few readers nominated Thomas Crapper, who lived in Britain in the mid-19th century and has now been almost forgotten. It was Crapper who invented the modern water closet (抽水马桶), thereby contributing to life expectancy (预期寿命), public health and personal comfort throughout the world. A reader in Taipei suggested that Crapper represented the high point of the industrial revolution! Still on the subject of technology, several readers voted for Ts'ai Lun, who invented paper in China around 100 A. D.

1. (20.0分)  According to the passage, which of the following statement is NOT true?

A.  Readers of an important international newspaper must give a clear reason for their nominee, as the greatest person, who has ever lived.

B.  Shakespeare said that some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.

C. Readers of the international newspaper in Britain can nominate the greatest person who is still alive in the world.

D.  The readers are allowed to name another great person, if they like.

2. (20.分)The editor and staff thought that Shakespeare would be voted the greatest person because （    ）

A. he was the greatest playwright in the world and the greatest contributor to the English language

B. people of different religions would favor him over other religious leaders

C. the newspaper was international and the readers came from different countries

D.  Shakespeare wrote a lot of famous plays read by many readers from different countries in the world

3.(20.0分) .Why was Walt Disney voted as the greatest person in the world by the readers?

A.  Because Walt Disney is more famous than Shakespeare in the world.

B.  Because he was mentioned many times by the editor and staff of the newspaper.

C.  Because Walt Disney is favored by many small children.

D.  Because people in the world gain the greatest pleasure from him.

4.(20.0分)  According to the passage, which of the following can be said about Confucius?

A.  He received a greater number of votes than the editor and the staff of the newspaper had expected.

B.  Undoubtedly, he enjoys much higher respect and admiration in Asia than anywhere else.

C.  He received only half of the votes he would have received if he were taken as a religious leader.

D.  He definitely deserved many more votes than he actually received.

5.(20.0分) When voting for the great religious figures, people tended to ___________ .

A. emphasize their common humanity, rather than the idea that they were gods

B. assert that they had completely changed the way people thought and lived

C. say that they had greatly influenced the world’s art, architecture, music and Literature

D. all of the above

6.(20.0分 .What does the author mean by saying “admiration for religious leaders went hand in hand with respect for science”?

A.  Religious leaders and great scientists were of equal important to mankind.

B. Readers expressed the view that religious beliefs could not be equated with the scientific research.

C. Readers believe that admiration for religious leaders is different from respect science.

D. Readers believe that the great person can be admired and respected as both a religious leader and a scientist.

7.(20.0分)  The sentence “Newton tied with Beethoven in receiving more support than anyone except a religious leader” can be best interpreted as ______________ .

A. “Newton receives more votes than Beethoven, but got much fewer votes than a religious leader”

B. “Newton and Beethoven each received an equally large number of votes, second only to Jesus Christ”

C. “the religious leaders apart, Newton and Beethoven equally won the largestnumber of votes”

D. “in many cases, either Newton or Beethoven was voted a great man, second onlyto a religious leader”

8.(20.0分) A great number of readers put Sir Isaac Newton second because he revolutionized the world and set modern science on it present course______________________.

 

9.(20.0分)  9.It difficult to identify great men because of _______________________.

 

10.(20.0分)  10.People have been aware that ___________________ are not the only criteria for greatness.

 

2．Directions: In this section, there are two passages,each of which has ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.

As a young boy, Albert Einstein did so poorly in school that teachers thought he was slow. The young Napoleon Bonaparte was just one of hundreds of artillery lieutenants in the French Army. And the teenage George Washington, with little_______education, was being trained not as a soldier but as a land surveyor.

Despite their unspectacular beginnings, each would go on to carve a place for himself in history. What was it that ______ them to become great? Were they born with something special? Or did their greatness have more to do with timing, devotion and, perhaps, an uncompromising _______?

For decades, scientists have been asking such questions. And, in the past few years, they have found evidence to help explain why some people ______ above, while others -- similarly talented, perhaps -- are left behind. Their findings could have implications for us all.

Who is great? Defining who is great depends on how one measures success. But there are some ______. "Someone who has made a lasting contribution to human civilization is great," said Dean Keith Simonton, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and author of the 1994 book Greatness: Who Makes History and Why. But he added a word of ______: "Sometimes great people don't make it into history books. A lot of women achieved great things or were______ but went unrecognized."

In writing his book, Simonton combined ______ knowledge about great figures with recent findings in genetics, psychiatry and the social sciences. The great figures he ______ on include men and women who have won Nobel Prizes, led great nations or won wars, composed symphonies that have endured for centuries, or revolutionized science, philosophy, politics or the arts.______he doesn't have a formula to define how or why certain people rise above (too many factors are involved), he has come up with a few common characteristics.

A) focused   B) influential   C) criteria    D) personality    E) formal    F) Though  G) historical    H) caution    I) rise   J) enabled   k) criterion    L) private  M) historic    N) Yet    O) raise

 

 

3．Directions: In this section, there are two passages,each of which has ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.

Young Albert was a quiet boy. "Perhaps too quiet", thought Hermann and Pauline Einstein. He spoke ______ at all until age 3. They might have thought him slow, but there was something else ______. When he did speak, he'd say the most unusual things. At age 2, Pauline promised him a surprise. Albert was excited, ______she was bringing him some new fascinating toy. But when his mother presented him with his new baby sister Maja, all Albert could do is ______with questioning eyes. Finally he responded, "where are the wheels?"
   When Albert was 5 years old and sick in bed, Hermann Einstein brought Albert a device that did stir his intellect. It was the first time he had seen a compass. He lay there shaking and twisting the odd thing, ______ he could fool it into pointing off in a new direction. But try as he might, the compass needle would always find its way back to ______ in the direction of north. "A wonder," he thought. The invisible force that guided the compass needle was evidence to Albert that there was more to our world that ______ the eye. There was "something behind things, something deeply hidden."
   So began Albert Einstein's journey down a road of exploration ______ he would follow the rest of his life. "I have no special gift," he would say, "I am only passionately curious."
   Albert Einstein was more than just curious______. He had the patience and determination that kept him at things longer than most others. Other children would build houses of card up to 4 stories tall before the cards would lose balance and the whole structure would come falling down. Maja watched in ______ as her brother Albert methodically built his card buildings to 14 stories. Later he would say, "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."

A) that     B) indeed     C) wander     D) pointing   E) hardly     F) point   G)thinking  

H) hard    I) evident     J) staring    K) though     L)stare     M) wonder    N) certain    

O) meets

 

4．Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Who is great? Defining who is great depends on how one measures success. But there are some criteria. "Someone who has made a lasting contribution to human civilization is great," said Dean Keith Simonton, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and author of the 1994 book Greatness: Who Makes History and Why. But he added a word of caution: "Sometimes great people don't make it into history books . A lot of women achieved great things or were influential but went unrecognized ."

In writing his book, Simonton combined historical knowledge about great figures with recent findings in genetics, psychiatry and the social sciences. The great figures he focused on include men and women who have won Nobel Prizes, led great nations or won wars, composed symphonies that have endured for centuries, or revolutionized  science, philosophy, politics or the arts. Though he doesn't have a formula to define how or why certain people rise above (too many factors are involved), he has come up with a few common characteristics.

A "never surrender" attitude. If great achievers share anything, said Simonton, it is an unrelenting drive to succeed. "There's a tendency to think that they are endowed with something super-normal," he explained. "But what comes out of the research is that there are great people who have no amazing intellectual processes. It's a difference in degree. Greatness is built upon tremendous amounts of study, practice and devotion."

He cited Winston Churchill, Britain's prime minister during World War II, as an example of a risk-taker who would never give up. Thrust into office when his country's morale was at its lowest, Churchill rose brilliantly to lead the British people. In a speech following the Allied evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940, he inspired the nation when he said, "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end...We shall never surrender."

1.(20.0分)  1.Professor Simonton defines greatness as _________.

A. the lasting contribution which a person makes or has made to human civilization

B. measurement of success

C. a never surrender attitude

D. a few common characteristics that make certain people rise above

2.(20.0分)  2.The example of Winston Churchill shows us that _______________.

A. the importance of persistence and dedication in achieving greatness

B. the importance of leadership and encouragement in achieving greatness

C. the importance of his speech following the Allied evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940

D. the inspiration to the nation in achieving greatness

3.(20.0分) In his book, “Who Makes History and Why?”, Professor Simonton warned us that ___________.

A. not all great people were men

B. all women were unrecognized in the history

C. a lot of great women should be written in the history books

D. great people were unwilling to be written in the history books

4.(20.0分).What is the difference of a normal person from the great one?

A.  They don’t have enough abilities

B.  They simply don’t devote the amount of time required.

C.  They cannot put up with all the frustrations and obstacles.

D.  They are simply motivated by a desire for fame.

5.(20.0分) What did the Branders University study show?

A.  The study showed that enjoying one’s work is the best form of motivation.

B.  The study showed that the desire for fame and money would influence the quality.

C.  The study showed that people who thought about writing just for pleasure did the best job.

D. The study showed there was no any relationship between one’s motivation and work.

 

5．(20.0分)  Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Love your work. As a child, Einstein became fascinated with the way magnets are drawn to metal. "He couldn't stop thinking about this stuff," Simonton pointed out. "He became obsessed with problems in physics by the time he was 16, and he never stopped working on them. It's not surprising that he made major contributions by the time he was 26."

"For most of us, it's not that we don't have the ability," Simonton added, "it's that we don't devote the time. You have to put in the effort and put up with all the frustrations and obstacles."

Like other creative geniuses, Einstein was not motivated by a desire for fame, said Simonton. Instead, his obsession with his work was what set him apart.

Where such drive comes from remains a mystery. But it is found in nearly all creative geniuses -- whether or not their genius is acknowledged by contemporaries.

"Emily Dickinson was not recognized for her poetry until after her death," said Simonton. "But she was not writing for fame. The same can be said of James Joyce, who didn't spend a lot of time worrying about how many people would read Finnegans Wake."

Today, researchers have evidence that an intrinsic passion for one's work is a key to rising above. In a 1985 study at Brandeis University conducted by Teresa Amiable, now a professor of business administration at Harvard University, a group of professional writers -- none famous  -- were asked to write a short poem. Each writer was then randomly placed in one of three groups: One group was asked to keep in mind the idea of writing for money; another was told to think about writing just for pleasure; and a third group was given no instruction at all.

The poems then were submitted anonymously to a panel of professional writers for evaluation. The poetry written by people who thought about writing for money ranked lowest. Those who thought about writing just for pleasure did the best. "Motivation that comes from enjoying the work makes a significant difference," Amiable said.

1.(20.0分)  1.The reason why Einstein is a great person is ________________.

A.  that he discovered the formula E=MC2

B.  that he has won the Nobel Prize

C.  that he has a “never surrender” attitude

D.  that he shows enthusiasm for his work

2.(20.0分)  2.What problem does Professor Simonton point out which often stops talented people from achieving greatness?

A.  They don’t have enough abilities.

B.  They simply waste the amount of time.

C.  They cannot solve all the frustrations and obstacles themselves.

D.  They are simply motivated by a desire for fame.

3.(20.0分)  3.Where does the drive to work come from?

A.  It is still unknown.

B.  It is found in all creative geniuses.

C.  It is from tremendous amounts of practice and devotion.

D.  It is from the work itself.

4.(20.0分).The purpose of the research conducted by Prof. Amiable at Brandeis University is ___________.

A. that they want to know how money influences people

B. that they want to tell people the importance of passion for one’s work.

C. that they want to know which group can rank the first.

D. that they want to know the relationship between one’s motivation and result.

5.(20.0分)  5.What did the Brandeis University study show?

A.  The study showed that enjoying one’s work is the best form of motivation.

B.  The study showed that the desire for fame and money would influence the quality of a poem.

C.  The study showed that people who thought about writing just for pleasure did the best job.

D.  The study showed there was no any relationship between one’s motivation and one’s work.