2005年英语专八阅读真题

2005年英语专八阅读真题

　　TEXT A

　　I remember meeting him one evening with his pushcart. I had managed to sell all my papers and was coming home in the snow. It was that strange hour in downtown New York when the workers were pouring homeward in the twilight. I marched among thousands of tired men and women whom the factory whistles had unyoked. They flowed in rivers through the clothing factory districts, then down along the avenues to the East Side.

　　I met my father near Cooper Union. I recognized him, a hunched, frozen figure in an old overcoat standing by a banana cart. He looked so lonely, the tears came to my eyes. Then he saw me, and his face lit with his sad, beautiful smile -Charlie Chaplin's smile.

　　"Arch, it's Mikey," he said. "So you have sold your papers! Come and eat a banana."

　　He offered me one. I refused it. I felt it crucial that my father sell his bananas, not give them away. He thought I was shy, and coaxed and joked with me, and made me eat the banana. It smelled of wet straw and snow.

　　"You haven't sold many bananas today, pop," I said anxiously.

　　He shrugged his shoulders.

　　"What can I do? No one seems to want them."

　　It was true. The work crowds pushed home morosely over the pavements. The rusty sky darkened over New York building, the tall street lamps were lit, innumerable trucks, street cars and elevated trains clattered by. Nobody and nothing in the great city stopped for my father's bananas.

　　"I ought to yell," said my father dolefully. "I ought to make a big noise like other peddlers, but it makes my throat sore. Anyway, I'm ashamed of yelling, it makes me feel like a fool. "

　　I had eaten one of his bananas. My sick conscience told me that I ought to pay for it somehow. I must remain here and help my father.

　　"I'll yell for you, pop," I volunteered.

　　"Arch, no," he said, "go home; you have worked enough today. Just tell momma I'll be late."

　　But I yelled and yelled. My father, standing by, spoke occasional words of praise, and said I was a wonderful yeller. Nobody else paid attention. The workers drifted past us wearily, endlessly; a defeated army wrapped in dreams of home. Elevated trains crashed; the Cooper Union clock burned above us; the sky grew black, the wind poured, the slush burned through our shoes. There were thousands of strange, silent figures pouring over the sidewalks in snow. None of them stopped to buy bananas. I yelled and yelled, nobody listened.

　　My father tried to stop me at last. "Nu," he said smiling to console me, "that was wonderful yelling. Mikey. But it's plain we are unlucky today! Let's go home."

　　I was frantic, and almost in tears. I insisted on keeping up my desperate yells. But at last my father persuaded me to leave with him.

　　11. "unyoked" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to

　　A. sent out

　　B. released

　　C. dispatched

　　D. removed

　　12. Which of the following in the first paragraph does NOT indicated crowds of people?

　　A.Thousands of

　　B. Flowed

　　C. Pouring

　　D. Unyoked

　　13. Which of the following is intended to be a pair of contrast in the passage?

　　A. Huge crowds and lonely individuals.

　　B. Weather conditions and street lamps.

　　C. Clattering trains and peddlers' yells.

　　D. Moving crowds and street traffic.

　　14. Which of the following words is NOT suitable to describe the character of the son?

　　A. Compassionate

　　B. Responsible

　　C. Shy

　　D. Determined

　　15. What is the theme of the story?

　　A. The misery of the factory workers.

　　B. How to survive in a harsh environment.

　　C. Generation gap between the father and the son.

　　D. Love between the father and the son.

　　16. What is the author's attitude towards the father and the son?

　　A. Indifferent

　　B. Sympathetic

　　C. Appreciative

　　D. Difficult to tell

　　TEXT B

　　提示：原文出自美国时代杂志(TIME) 日期Jan. 29, 2001

　　文章标题No Fall Insurance 作者AN K. SMITH, M.D.

　　When former President Ronald Reagan fell and broke his hip two weeks ago, he joined a group of more than 350,000 elderly Americans who fracture their hips each year. At 89 and suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease, Reagan is in one of the highest-risk groups for this type of accident. The incidence of hip fractures not only increases after age 50 but doubles every five to six years as the risk of falling increases. Slipping and tumbling are not the only causes of hip fractures; weakened bones sometimes break spontaneously. But falling is the major cause, representing 90% of all hip fractures.

　　These injuries are not to be taken lightly. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, only 25% of those who suffer hip fractures ever fully recover; as many as 20% will die within 12 months. Even when patients do recover, nearly half will need a cane or a walker to get around.

　　When it comes to hip fractures, the most dangerous place for elderly Americans, it turns out, is their homes; nearly 60% of these dangerous spills will occur in ore around the patient's domicile. This isn't all bad news, however, because a few modifications could prevent a lot of accidents.

　　The first thing to do is to get rid of those throw rugs that line hallways and entrances. They often fold over or bunch up, turning them into booby traps for anyone shuffling down the hall.

　　Entering and leaving the house is a particularly high-risk activity, which is why some experts suggest removing any doorsills higher than 1/2 in. if the steps are bare wood, you can increase traction by applying non-slip treads.

　　Because many seniors suffer from poor balance (whether from neurological deficits or from the inner-ear problems that increase naturally with aging), it also helps to install grab bars and handrails in bathrooms and along hallways.

　　The bedroom is another major hazard area that can be made much safer with a few adjustments. Avoid stain sheets and comforters, and opt for non-slip material like wool or cotton. Easy access to devices is important, so place a lamp, telephone and flashlight near the bed within arm's reach. Make sure the pathway between the bedroom and bathroom is completely clear, and install a night-light along the route for those emergency late-night trips.

　　It's a good idea to rearrange the furniture throughout the house, so that the paths between rooms are free of obstructions. Also, make sure telephone and appliance cords aren't strung across common walkways, where they can be tripped over.

　　In addition to these physical precautions, there are the health precautions every aging body should take. Physical and eye examinations, with special attention to cardiac and blood-pressure problems, should be performed annually to rule out serious medical conditions. Blood pressure that's too low or an irregular heartbeat can put you at risk for fainting and falling. Don't forget to take calcium and vitamin D, two critical factors in developing strong bones. Finally, enrolling in an exercise programme at your local gym can improve agility, strength, balance and coordination - all important skills that can keep you on your feet and off the floor.

　　17. The following are all specific measures to guard against injuries with the EXCEPTION of

　　A. removal of throw rugs.

　　B. easy access to devices

　　C. installation of grab bars

　　D. re-arrangement of furniture

　　18. In which paragraph does the author state his purpose of writing?

　　A. The third paragraph

　　B. The first paragraph

　　C. The last paragraph

　　D. The last but one paragraph

　　19. The main purpose of the passage is to

　　A. offer advice on how to prevent hip fractures

　　B. emphasize the importance of health precautions

　　C. discuss the seriousness of hip fractures.

　　D. identify the causes of hip fractures.

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