98.9a上海英语高级口译资格证书第一阶段考试

SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST (30 minutes)
Part A: Spot dictation
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with
blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the words you have heard on the tape. Write your
answer in the corresponding space in your NASWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the
passage only once.
The earth's moon, which has always been an object of worship and mystery to people of all
cultures and religions, is located an average of 239,000 miles from the earth. It has a diameter of
2,136 miles, and its gravity is _________ (1) that of the earth's. Scientists know that the moon,
as well as the sun, affects _________ (2). It is also possible that the moon is related to
_________ (3). But today we are going to discuss another fascinating question with respect to
the moon. Does it _________ (4)?
To begin with, many observers say that the _________ (5) definitely affect the behaviour of
animals. For example, fishermen know that fish are _________ (6), depending on that stage the
moon is in. But what about people? Carl Sagan, the _________ (7), says, “I have no doubt the
moon _________ (8) on human behaviour.” There are stories in almost every society about
people who do _________ (9) things during the time of the full moon, which comes
approximately every twenty-nine days. Is there _________ (10)?
In Los Angeles, some members of the _________ (11) departments agree that the full moon
is associated with more _________ (12). According to the fire department, the highest number of
_________ (13) occurs on two occasions: when _________ (14) are distributed and when the
moon is full.
A Los Angeles police sergeant named Bob Kenney _________ (15) that the full moon has
some effects on people, though he agrees that is _________ (16). Still, according to the Los
Angeles Times of January 20, _________ (17), he says that most of the police officers he knows
believe that there is a connection between _________ (18).
Many airline pilots, waitresses, bartenders, and newspaper reporters, all of whom
_________(19) the public, agree that people behave oddly during periods of the full moon,
though they can't _________ (20) how or why it happens.
Part B: Listening Comprehension
Directions: In this part of the test there will be some short talks and conversations. After each
one, you will be asked some questions. The talks, conversations and questions will be spoken
only once. Now listen care fully and choose the right answer to each question you have heard
and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER
BOOKLET.
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following conversation.
1. (A) Advertising an apartment in a newspaper.
(B) The furnishing of an apartment.
(C) The renting of an apartment.
(D) The renovating of an apartment.
2. (A) Two. (B) Three. (C) Four. (D) Five.
3. (A) More then 500 dollars. (B) A bit more than 400 dollars.
(C) 35 to 40 dollars. (D) Around 50 dollars.
4. (A) Around five-thirty this afternoon.
(B) Tomorrow morning.
(C) Sometime next week.
(D) It's not mentioned in the talk.
5. (A) The apartment rent includes heat and electricity.
(B) There is an elevator in the apartment building.
(C) The building is just behind the shopping centre.
(D) Tenants are not allowed to keep pets.
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following news.
6. (A) Because Palestine is not happy about the peace deal proposed by the US.
(B) Because Israel has refused to accept the U.S. deal.
(C) Because a fresh explosion of violence has broken out in Middle East.
(D) Because the Israeli government is under severe criticism from the Opposition.
7. (A) To disrupt a meeting of world trade leaders.
(B) To protest against the free trade policy of the government.
(C) To defend themselves against police violence.
(D) To demand that the arrested protester be released.
8. (A) More than 3.3. billion U.S. dollars.
(B) Around 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.
(C) 70 million U.S. dollars.
(D) 80 million U.S. dollars.
9. (A) The present mayor of Paris. (B) The former Paris mayor.
(C) A former Paris City Hall employee. (D) President Jacques Chirac.
10. (A) Two paintings by Cezanne.
(B) Three paintings by impressionist masters.
(C) Four valuable ancient pictures by unknown painters.
(D) Five paintings by Van Gogh.
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following interview.
11. (A) The manager of a well-known theatrical company.
(B) A British Council staff member.
(C) One of the singers touring abroad.
(D) One member of the airport security staff.
12. (A) Rome. (B) Katmandu. (C) Dehli. (D) Tokyo.
13. (A) One of the singers was lost a Delhi.
(B) Their travelling documents were missing at Cairo.
(C) The flight case was sent to the wrong place.
(D) Their luggage was partially damaged at Heathrow Airport.
14. (A) It had been stolen.
(B) It had been kept at Heathrow Airport.
(C) It had been dispatched to Bangkok.
(D) It had been sent to Tokyo.
15. (A) They decided to wait for the equipment to arrive.
(B) They postponed the whole schedule.
(C) They cancelled the first concert.
(D) They borrowed musical instruments and costumes.
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following talk.
16. (A) 6 to 9 hours. (B) no more than 9 hours.
(C) 12 to 18 hours. (D) Over 20 hours.
17. (A) Science majors stay longer hours in the classroom.
(B) Science majors do more reading and writing.
(C) Science majors pay more money for their education.
(D) Science majors take more difficult examinations.
18. (A) Two.
(B) Three.
(C) Four.
(D) The number varies from subject to subject.
19. (A) A research paper can substitute for an exam.
(B) Many exams are take-home projects.
(C) Most exams consist of both objective and essay questions.
(D) Some exams have additional questions for outstanding students.
20. (A) To ask his professor in class.
(B) To seek help from a student affairs consultant.
(C) To visit his instructor only during regular office hours.
(D) To make an appointment to see his teacher immediately.
SECTION 2: READING TEXT (30 minutes)
Directions: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by several
questions about it. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A), (B), (C) or (D), to each question.
Answer all the questions following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that
passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your
ANSWER BOOKLET.
Questions 1～5
A surprise delay in slapping extra tax on cigarettes could cost the Exchequer a packet —
of more than &600m in lost revenues.
But Customs and Excise said yesterday that the decision to stall for more than seven
months the extra 21p duty and tax on 20 cigarettes was a “hangover” from the old November
Budgets, when Kenneth Clarks had increased tobacco duty from 1 December.
Similarly, Cordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had held back the increase in
drink— a penny on a pint of beer and 4p on a bottle of wine — until New Year's Day, 1999.
That timing had been settled by Mr. Clarks in his November Budget because he had not
wished to be dubbed a “Scrooge” for putting extra duties on drink in time for Christmas.
But the distinction between the immediate, overnight increase in petrol duty, and the extra
“holiday” for tobacco, will disturb the health lobby.
December's increase in duty amounts to 5 per cent in real terms — over and above
inflation — because “the Government maintains its commitment to protecting health”.
Last year's July Budget increase was also stalled until December, and it was estimated that
in addition to “lost” revenue of &300m, the Chancellor had handed the manufacturers ample
time to maximise production and profits in advance of the tax hike.
A spokesman for Customs and Excise yesterday played down any suggestion of lost
revenue. Treasury calculations show a remorselessly steady increase in the tax “take” from
tobacco; up from &8bn in 1996-97 to &8.9bn in the coming year.
But the yield from next December's increase in duty will be &25m for the rest of the new
financial year — compared with a full year yield of &710m in 1999-2000.
As for any suggestion of profiteering on the back of the delayed increase, Customs and
Excise said that there was always stockpiling of cigarettes and tobacco in advance of a tax
increase. “That is what happens every year, anyway,” the spokesman said. “That is a fact of
life.”
But John Carlisle, the former Conservative MP who now works for the Tobacco
Manufacturers' Association, told The Independent that the delayed increase in duty was “a sort
of crumb of comfort for me and my industry, and the poor smoker”
“Like last year, it seems to be creating a precedent as to the time the duty goes up, but from
our point of view it won't make any difference to the basic problem; that the smuggler will be
delighted by the news that the price is going up by that amount in the future.”
He said there were limits on how much the manufacturers could produce and stockpile.
“Yes, there is always stockpiling by retailers, but they have to pay the full price, and therefore
cannot do all that much.” There was also a certain amount of stockpiling by smokers, too.
But he added: “Probably it pushes consumption up a bit because people tend to store stuff
and if it's there, they are tempted to smoke it.”
(This article was published in March, 1998.)
1. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(A) The relationship between production and consumption of tobacco.
(B) The significance of the timing of tobacco tax increase.
(C) The relationship between lost revenues and the delay of tobacco tax increase.
(D) The effects of the delaying of tobacco tax increase.
2. The phrase “played down” in the sentence “A spokesman for Customs and Excise yesterday
played down any suggestion of lost revenue.” (para. 8) can be replaced by _________.
(A) laid emphasis on (B) paid no attention to
(C) reduced the significance of (D) spoke highly of
3. The spokesman's statement “That is a fact of life.” (para. 10) means which of the following?
(A) People smoke more cigarettes in advance of a tax increase.
(B) Smugglers are pleased with the news of tobacco tax increase.
(C) People store more cigarettes and tobacco before a tax increase.
(D) Manufacturers produce more cigarettes and tobacco before tax is increased.
4. It can concluded from the passage that John Carlisle _________.
(A) fully supports the delayed increase in tobacco tax
(B) thinks the news of delayed increase in tax is welcome
(C) is against the decision to delay tax increase
(D) is indifferent to the timing of tax increase
5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
(A) The rate of tax increase for tobacco, drink and petrol will be the same.
(B) The delayed increase in tobacco tax will cost the government a huge loss of revenue.
(C) The timing to tobacco and drink tax increase can be more sensitive than that of petrol tax
increase.
(D) The decision to delay the increase of tobacco tax will arouse much concern among some
people.
Questions 6～10
Positive effects of the Government's welfare-to-work policies could be “swamped” by
worsening poverty among people who remain dependent on benefits, ministers are today
warned.
A report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that pensioners, lone parents with
preschool children and some long-term sick and disabled people will grow relatively poorer if
the Government continues to raise benefits only in line with prices.
The report, by John Hills of the London School of Economics, updates the 1995 findings of
an inquiry into income and wealth, set up by the foundation.
Professor Hills says the income gap between rich and poor, which had widened greatly
during the 1980s, started to narrow under the premiership of John Major. But it could widen
again if the real value of earnings accelerated away from the real value of prices-linked benefits.
In terms of the numbers living with low incomes relative to the average, this effect could
swamp all of the positive effects of the other initiatives.
“In some sense, what we may see is a race between the positive effects of measures to
increase incomes from work at the bottom, including lower unemployment, and the negative
effects of falling relative incomes for those remaining largely dependent on benefits.”
The report throws into stark relief how the growth of income inequality in the 1980s —
when the poorest tenth of the population suffered a net cut in real income — contrasts with
trends both before and since.
During the 1960s and 1970s, and again after 1992, the poorest groups fared best. The
reversion to this pattern under Mr. Major is attributed to tax changes and the fact that economic
growth fed into falling unemployment rather than higher real earnings.
But the gap between rich and poor which opened in the 1980s had so far narrowed only
marginally. “Even if we continue that rate of progress, it will take more than a decade to get
back to where we were in the 1970s.”
Moreover, a resumption of rapid growth in real earnings would set back even the slight
progress that had been made — unless benefits were raised by more than prices.
The report was written before the Budget, which included an extra increase in benefit rates
for families with young children. Ministers have also promised future real increases in benefits
for severely disabled people.
But the phasing out of benefit premiums for lone parents is hitting one of the biggest groups
of people relying on social security.
Sir Peter Barclays, the foundation's chairman, said it was vital that the Government took
advantage of the “breathing space” created by the halt in the growth of inequality. Ministers
were acting on many of the original inquiry's recommendations, particularly in terms of helping
working families.
“But it remains to be seen whether the Government will follow through with other
initiatives to help other low-income groups, including pensioners.” Six Peter said.
Professor Hills, who is head of the LSE's center for analysis of social exclusion, is calling
on the Government to set explicit targets for tackling poverty in addition to the 32 indicators
proposed in last week's welfare reform green paper. “Given that so much of the emphasis of
government policy is towards the reduction of poverty, it would be useful if the Government was
to nail its colours to the mast and set itself some kind of target.”
The foundation has commissioned the New Policy Institute to develop a model poverty
audit. A report is due in the autumn.
6. The word “swamped” used in the first paragraph can be replaced by which of the following?
(A) greatly heightened (B) much weakened
(C) largely consolidated (D) totally counteracted
7. According to the passage, the income gap between rich and poor could widen again as
_________.
(A) the unemployment rate is lowered
(B) the increase of benefits is independent of price increase
(C) the income tax rate is increasing
(D) the increase of benefits is only based on prices
8. The expression “fared best” in the sentence “During the 1960s and 1970s, and again after
1992, the poorest groups fared best.” (para. 8) can be paraphrased by which of the following?
(A) obtained higher income (B) lived a better life
(C) enjoyed more equality (D) paid lower income tax
9. The expression “phasing-out” in the sentence “But the phasing-out of benefit premiums for
lone parents is hitting one of the biggest groups of people relying on social security.” (para.
12) can best be replaced by _________.
(A) gradual withdrawal (B) slow continuation
(C) large increase (D) sudden stoppage
10. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(A) The extra increase in benefit rates for families with young children is more important than
other issues.
(B) To reduce poverty, the most important thing is to lower unemployment.
(C) To narrow the gap between rich and poor, the benefit rates should be raised higher than
inflation rate.
(D) The government's welfare reform programme has met strong criticism and opposition.
Questions 11～15
Astronomers have witnessed the biggest bang since the big bang — the moment about 15
billion years ago when the universe was created in a massive explosion.
The huge burst of energy from the edge of the universe is estimated to the second only to
the moment of creation in its explosive fore, releasing more energy in two seconds than the sun
will give out in its lifetime.
Scientists hope the explosion — known as a gamma-ray burst because it emits energy in the
form of gamma radiation — will shed light on the earliest stages in the evolution of the stars
and galaxies.
Gamma-ray bursts cannot be seen by the human eye but if they could the sky would light up
like a camera flash each time they occurred. They are by far the most energetic events in the
universe and, until now, have remained largely a mystery.
The latest gamma-ray burst to be detected accurately occurred last December. Using a
network of telescopes and satellites, the astronomers were able to calculate its distance from
earth at about 15 billion light years. This means it must have happened soon after the big bang
itself, while the intensity of the radiation revealed it to be the biggest bang recorded by man.
Scientists from the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the California
Institute of Technology are to announce details of their analysis this week.
The huge distance between the source of the explosion and the Earth suggests gamma-ray
bursts are up to 10 times larger than previously thought, said Jonathan Katz, professor of physics
at Washington University in St Louis.
“Gamma-ray bursts may be the most distant things we will ever see and as such will act as
beacons to probe into the very distant regions of the universe when stars and galaxies were first
formed.”
American spy satellites looking for the radiation released from Soviet nuclear tests first
detected gamma-ray bursts in 1967 but the details were kept classified until 1973.
For nearly 25 years scientists were hampered in their efforts to find an explanation for the
huge explosions because they lasted no longer than a few seconds.
The inability to explain them led to speculation that gamma-ray bursts were the remnants of
nuclear battles between alien civilisations, or even the exhaust energy of extraterrestrial
spaceships going into warp drive.
Two satellite, the American Compton gamma-ray observatory and the Italian-Dutch
Bepposax satellite, have now been able to locate the precise direction of gamma-ray bursts
within seconds of them occurring.
John Quenby, professor of physics at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
in London, said the most likely explanation for gamma-ray bursts is that they result from the
enormous energy released when two very dense objects— called neutron stars — collide.
(This article was published in May, 1998.)
11. According to the passage, “the big bang” is used to express all of the following EXCEPT
_________.
(A) the huge energy burst which created the universe
(B) the energy burst which took place in the center of the universe
(C) the explosion which took place in the form of gamma radiation
(D) the explosion which happened about 15 billion years ago.
12. According to the passage gamma-ray bursts _________.
(A) were detected accidentally
(B) were first detected by Soviet unclear experts
(C) were made known to the public after 1973
(D) were soon given clear and detailed explanation
13. It can be concluded from the passage that the study of the big bang will probably _________.
(A) lead to the discovery of earliest human civilisations
(B) tell how and when the universe was formed
(C) display the intensity of nuclear radiation
(D) make it possible to communicate with other civilisations
14. Which of the following is NOT directly stated but can be inferred from the passage?
(A) Gamma-ray explosion is very, very far away from the Earth.
(B) Scientists believe that the universe was formed out of the big bang.
(C) Gamma-ray bursts lasted only a very short period of time.
(D) Scientists are still working hard to find more plausible explanations for the big bang.
15. Which of the following can be used as the best title of the passage?
(A) Gamma-ray bursts and nuclear wars between alien civilisations.
(B) Astronomy and the creation of universe.
(C) Big bang theory explains the mystery of universe.
(D) Big bang II sheds light on evolution of universe.
Questions 16～20
Lloyds TSB, the UK's biggest high street bank, is being forced to withdraw a memo which
orders its branch staff not to switch customers into accounts that would pay them higher rates of
interest.
The bank will today write to every one of its 2,600 branches to “clarify” the contents of an
internal memo, which tells staff it is “unacceptable” to inform current account customers that
they could make better returns by shifting spare cash into accounts with higher returns.
The average balance in a Lloyds TSB account is understood to be 2,000 and if half of every
balance was moved into an alternative instant access account operated by Lloyds the bank would
have to pay an estimated &160 million in additional interest in a year.
Lloyds, which has 7 million customers and last year made more than &3 billion profit, pays
0.3 per cent interest on its current account. its instant access account offers 3.4 per cent.
The memo told staff they could lose out on incentive scheme rewards — including cash
bonuses and foreign holidays — if they were caught switching cash out of low interest
accounts.
A spokeswoman for Lloyds TSB said the memo, entitled Key Sales and Service Objectives,
was designed to improve service levels and had been “quoted out of context”.
It was written by Mike Mitchell, the bank's national sales manager, and circulated in
January. It was designed to stop its staff opening new accounts merely to receive incentive
scheme points.
Staff are allowed, however, to make other suggestions to customers, including selling them
financial services such as unit trust investments and private health insurance, which generate
substantial profits for the bank.
Branch workers who successfully sell such products receive incentive scheme rewards,
directly related to how much profit the bank makes from them.
The bank's spokeswoman said: “The spirit of this memo, of putting customers first, has
been obfuscated by sentences which are meant to say one thing but may be interpreted as saying
another.”
In some cases, she claimed, those with high sums to invest can get better returns from their
existing current accounts because the interest rate rises as the balance goes up.
But she admitted that the memo tells staff that all current account switches “must be
initiated by the customer”, and that staff are not allowed to advise customers their money might
earn better returns in alternative accounts.
The only time such suggestions can be made, says the memo, is in a formal one-to-one
interview with the customer.
The bank insisted that the memo was designed to improve customer service, but it has
angered branch staff, who believe they are being ordered not to operate in the customers' best
interests.
The Lloyds' spokeswoman added; “We agree that this memo may be misinterpreted.”
The bank's deputy chief executive. Michael Fairley, has intervened and will be rewriting the
memo.
16. According to the passage, Lloyds TSB is going to withdraw its internal memo circulated in
January because _________.
(A) it has been made known to the general public
(B) it has been opposed by its customers
(C) it is misinterpreted by its branch staff
(D) it is considered against customers' best interests
17. The spokeswoman for Lloyds TSB's comment that the memo had been “quoted out of
context” could be considered _________.
(A) a confession of the bank's malpractice
(B) a guarantee of improvement of the bank's service
(C) a response to criticisms of the memo
(D) a him to withdraw and rewrite the memo
18. It can be concluded from the passage that according to the memo, the branch staff
_________.
(A) will get no cash bonuses if they sell private health insurance to customers
(B) will receive no incentive scheme rewards if found shifting customers cash into higher
interest accounts
(C) cannot make any suggestions in a formal one-to-one interview with customers
(D) shall never tell customers the interest rates of different accounts
19. The word “obfuscated” used in paragraph 10 can be replaced by which of the following?
(A) clarified (B) strengthened
(C) obscured (D) weakened
20. According to the passage, all of the following are true EXCEPT that _________.
(A) the interest rate of an instant access account is higher than that of a current account
(B) the interest rate can rise as the balance in an account goes up to a certain level
(C) the memo does not allow account switches initiated by customers
(D) the memo encourages bank workers to sell more financial services to customers
SECTION 3: TRANSLATION TEST (30 minutes)
Directions: Translate the following passage into Chinese and write your version in the
corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.
What a noble medium the English language is. It is not possible to write a page without
experiencing positive pleasure at the richness and variety, the flexibility and the profoundness of
our mother-tongue. If an English writer cannot say what he has to say in English, and in simple
English, it is probably not worth saying. What a pity that English is not more generally studied. I
am not going to attack classical education. No one who has the slightest pretension to literary
tastes can be insensible to its attraction. But I confess our present educational system excites in
my mind grave misgivings, which I cannot believe is the best or even reasonable, a system that
thrusts upon reluctant and uncompehending multitudes treasures which can only be appreciated
by the previleged and gifted few. To the vast majority of children who attend our public schools,
classical subjects are the best preparation for the study of English, I reply that by far this
preparatory stage is incomplete and without deriving any of the benefits which are promised as
its result.