成人英语三级

Part II Reading Comprehension (40 points)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each of the passages is followed by 5 questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

Passage One

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano located just east of Naples, Italy. It is the only volcano on the continent of Europe to have erupted in the last one hundred years, though other volcanoes have erupted on islands in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1631, approximately three thousand people were killed by an eruption from Mount Vesuvius. Since 1631, the 4,200 foot high volcano has erupted at least twenty one times. Mount Vesuvius is considered particularly dangerous because today, nearly three million people live in the direct path of a potential future eruption.

Mount Vesuvius is most famous for its landmark eruption in the year 79 AD, which buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in layers of burning ash. The only account of the eruption that survives is from Pliny the Younger. From his dramatic account, scientists believe the cloud of ash he witnessed that descended upon Pompeii was twenty miles high. The city of Pompeii was completely buried. It was rediscovered in 1748, more than 1600 years after the eruption. The people of Pompeii were found buried under 12 layers of soil. Many of the buildings were amazingly well-preserved, as were the bodies of those who were just going about their daily routines when the eruption occurred. The ruins at Pompeii have provided archaeologists with valuable information about how people in the Roman Empire lived. Today, Pompeii is one of the most visited sites in Italy.

16. In the last one hundred years, _______ volcano(es) erupted on the European Continent.

A. twenty one B. two

C. only one D. seventeen

17. Today, Mount Vesuvius is considered particularly dangerous because __________ .

A. it is the most active volcano in the world

B. three million people will be in danger if it erupts

C. three thousand people were killed in 1631 eruption

D. this volcano is 4,200 foot high

18. It was in the _______ eruption that the city of Pompeii was destroyed.

A. 1631 B. 1748

C. 1600 D. 79

19. The landmark eruption of Mount Vesuius happened ________ .

A. completely out of people’s expectation

B. after people around were well prepared

C. before the buildings were well-preseved

D. after people around moved out

20. Which of the following is NOT true about Pompeii?

A. The city of Pompeii was completely buried in 79 AD eruption.

B. Now many people will visit Pompeii when they go to Italy

C. The bodies of those who were buried in the eruption were not well-preserved.

D. 1,600 years after the eruption, Pompeii was rediscovered.

Passage Two

The United Kingdom is a large island located in Europe. It also includes part of the island of Ireland. It is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Over 60 million people live in the United Kingdom. The vast majority of the population, however, lives in England. The government of the United Kingdom is considered a constitutional monarchy. A constitutional monarchy is a government in which the monarch (king or queen) is head of state. Now, Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of the United Kingdom. In reality, however, she exercises very little political power.

The history of the United Kindgom is full of wars, invasions, revolutions, and interesting rulers. Numerous castles, fortifications, old cathedrals, and ruins are evidence of the kingdom's past. The "UK," as it is often called, was once the world's most powerful nation. Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, and even the United States are among nations that used to be controlled by the United Kingdom. It is also the birthplace of the English language.

There are many remarkable landmarks to see in the United Kingdom such as the Tower of London, Big Ben, Oxford University and the mysterious Stonehenge. Oxford University, founded sometime in the 12th century, is the oldest university in the English speaking world. Many of the United Kingdom's former prime ministers attended Oxford. Stonehenge, located near Salisbury, England, is a group of giant standing stones arranged in a circular formation. Archaeologists believe the formations are over 4,500 years old. No one knows exactly what Stonehenge is meant to represent.

21. In the United Kingdom, most of the people live in ________ .

A. England B. Scotland

C. Wales D. Northern Ireland

22. In a constitutional monarchy, _________ is the head of the state.

A. the prime minister B. constitution

C. the king or queen D. Queen Elizabeth II

23. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. The United Kingdom is an European country.

B. Now, in the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II has the greatest political power.

C. The United Kingdom has a population of 60 million.

D. Constitutional monarchy is generally considered the form of government in the United Kingdom.

24. The English language is originally from _________ .

A. Canada B. Australia

C. the United States D. the United Kingdom

25. If you visit Stonehenge, you will see _________ .

A. many ancient castles

B. a group of huge standing stone

C. an old university

D. a huge clock

Passage Three

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. His career in exploration started when he was very young. As a teenager he traveled the seas and eventually made Portugal his base. He appealed to the kings of Portugal, France and England to finance a westward trip to the Indies, but all denied his request. After ten years of monumental efforts but fruitless results, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to finance Columbus in the hopes of acquiring great wealth. On August 3, 1492, Columbus and three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, left Palos, Spain and headed westward.

After stopping in the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, Columbus' ships hit the open seas. Covering about 150 miles a day, the trip was long and arduous. The crew was afraid of sea monsters and grew more restless every day when land was not sighted. Columbus offered a reward for the first person to sight land. On October 12, a crew member aboard the Pinta sighted one of the Bahama Islands. Columbus set foot on what he believed was one of the Spice Islands, a group of islands in Asia (now known as Indonesia), where valuable spices and riches came from. He named the land San Salvador. Columbus failed to find the riches he expected, and continued to search for China. He next visited Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). He encountered native peoples who he named "Indians" because he believed they were inhabitants of the Indies.

Columbus returned to Spain a hero. He was named viceroy of the Indies. He soon returned to the New World but never found the riches he expected. Some began to believe that Columbus had found "a new world" rather that a shortcut to the Indies.

26. Christopher Columbus’ request was ________ when he asked the king of France to finance a westward trip to Indies.

A. refused B. granted

C. discussed D. agreed

27. On August 3, 1492, Columbus’ westward trip financed by the king of ________ began.

A. Portugal B. France

C. Spain D. England

28. Which of the following is not one of Columbus’ three ships

A. Nina B. Santa Maria

C. Palos D. Pinta

29. ‘Crew’ means _________ .

A. the sea monsters

B. the people who worked aboard the ships

C. the people who cannot see the land

D. the people who are exposed to the open seas

30. During Columbus’ westward trip, he did not reach ________ .

A. Canary Islands B. the Bahama Islands

C. Cuba D. China

Passage Four

Online distance education creates a virtual learning community where face-to- face contact with classmates and faculty member(s) is either limited or non-existent. Interactions between members of the virtual community are through e-mails, postings on list serve and bulletin boards, all of which are primarily written communication. For students who are better at expressing themselves orally, this is an adjustment. Frequency of feedback in a virtual learning community is greater than classroom based interactions because exchanges are not restricted by time and space. Students have to learn to manage this increased flow of electronic messaging. Siegle reports that the optimal number of students in a virtual classroom is 8-12 students. More students than this makes it difficult to manage, while fewer students is not conducive to meaningful dialogue. Students also have to develop an understanding of the "etiquette" inherent in electronic messages. Unless faculty members provide specific guidelines for communication in a virtual environment, many students, particularly students with learning disabilities, may find this to be frustrating. An oft cited example, is expecting e-mail inquiries to be answered instantaneously.

Interestingly, the belief that one is completely anonymous in a virtual learning environment is quickly exposed when students have to share all relevant communication in written form. Students have to learn to be comfortable exchanging personal information in writing, knowing that this becomes a documented record for the entire class to see. Most importantly, students have to learn to actively post questions and inquiries in the appropriate dialogue box because without non-verbal cues and other tacit communications, faculty are unable to react to those students who may be feeling lost or overwhelmed.

31. In a virtual learning community, ____________ .

A. classmates can always talk face to face with each other

B. teachers can interact with students face to face

C. communication is primarily in written form

D. there is no communication between the members

32. One benefit in virtual learning community is _________ .

A. students becoming better expressing themselves.

B. the greater frequency of feedback

C. exchanges restricted by space and time

D. the increased flow of electronic messaging

33. ‘Instantaneously’ means __________ .

A. immediately B. meanfully

C. inherently D. specifically

34. When students in a virtual learning community exchange personal information, ___________ .

A. they can remain anonymous

B. their real identity may be known to others

C. they do feel very comfortable

D. not all the members can see the information

35. Students have to learn to post in the appropriate dialogue box because _________ .

A. students are feeling lost or overwhelmed

B. non-verbal and other tacit communications are very useful here

C. faculty are unwilling to react to non-verbal cues

D. written information is the only way for faculty to know students’ questions and inquiries

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