2014年职称英语理工类B级考前押题(二)

　　阅读理解

　　Eta Carinae

　　As possibly the galaxy's (银河) most massive star, Eta Carinae is now engaging in some very unusual behaviour. Australian astronomers, being in the Southern Hemisphere (半球), are able to observe it clearly.

　　In the 19th century, Eta Carinae was for a time the third brightest star in the sky. It has now become less bright so that binoculars (双筒望远镜) are needed to see it. "It seems to be brightening and becoming less bright over a period of many years", said Dr Bob Duncan from the Australia Telescope National Facility.

　　While it is not unusual for stars to vary in brightness, the period is usually much shorter. "Since 1992 it has become four times brighter, and then last year it began to drop dramatically," he said.

　　The problem in observing Eta Carinae is that it has been surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust, making it hard to see the star directly. However, radio waves and infrared light (红外线) can pass through this cloud, so telescopes that receive these wavelengths can observe what is occurring.

　　Eta Carinae is of particular interest to astronomers because it seems to be in its death throes (剧痛). Being so large it will end up as a supernova (超新星). There has not been a supernova in our galaxy since the invention of the telescope. While a 1987 explosion in a nearby galaxy gave astronomers plenty of valuable data, they are hungry for an even closer look.

　　Eta Carinae has other unique features, and is the only star known to produce an ultraviolet (紫外线) laser that is brighter than that produced by the Sun. Lasers have been observed in other frequencies from a few stars.

　　31　Eta Carinae is now engaging in

　　A　some very common behaviour.

　　B　some very dull behaviour.

　　C　some very frightening behaviour

　　D　some very strange behaviour.

　　32　The word "period" in Paragraph 3 means the length of time

　　A　over which stars vary in brightness.

　　B　for which Eta Charinae's brightening lasts.

　　C　Eta Carinae takes to become a supernova.

　　D　it takes the laser from Eta Carinae to travel to the earth.

　　33　Eta Carinae is hard to observe because

　　A　it is too far away.

　　B　there is too much dust and gas around it

　　C　the binoculars are not powerful enough.

　　D　it does not send out infrared light.

　　4　Astronomers are particularly interested in Eta Carinae because

　　A　it is in its final stage.

　　B　it is a supernova.

　　C　it exploded in 1987.

　　D　it is brighter than the Sun.

　　5　Which of the following statements about Eta Carinae is NOT true?

　　A　It will end up as a supernova.

　　B　It can be seen only through binoculars.

　　C　It is the only star that sends out an ultraviolet laser.

　　D　Its ultraviolet laser is brighter than that of the Sun.

　　第二篇

　　IOC's Official Problems

　　The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched an investigation into allegations that its officials in more than 50 countries have been selling London Olympics tickets on the black market for profit. The IOC met at an emergency session on Saturday to look into a pile of evidence uncovered by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. The paper claims that high-ranking Olympic officials have been selling tickets for the games at hugely inflated prices. The highest priced tickets on the black market were for the men's 100-meter final. The IOC has issued a statement saying it "takes these allegations very seriously and has immediately taken the first steps to investigate. "

　　IOC rules forbid national Olympics committees from selling tickets, overseas, increasing ticket prices or selling tickets to unauthorized, third-party resellers. Despite this, Sunday Times undercover reporters posing as illegal ticket sellers say they have recorded evidence of 27 officials selling tickets distributed to 54 countries. One of the most serious allegations was against the Greek Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos. He denies saying he had "pulled strings" with the head of the London Olympics Sebastian Coe even though the paper posted videos of its reporters' negotiations with Capralos on its Website. Mr Capralos has so far refused to comment.

　　The IOC is investigating its own officials for__________.

　　A.running the black market

　　B.secretly meeting reporters

　　C.illegally selling tickets

　　D.criticizing Sunday Times

　　37、The word "allegations" (Para. 1 ) probably means__________.

　　A.discussions

　　B.claims

　　C.announcements

　　D.opinions

　　38、Sunday Times reveaJed__________.

　　A.details about IOC's emergency session

　　B.evidence against some IOC officials,

　　C.ticket prices for men's 100-meter final

　　D.pricing policy of the London Olympics

　　39、Which of the following is NOT against the IOC rules concerning its officials?__________.

　　A.Selling tickets internationally.

　　B.Raising the prices of the tickets.

　　C.Selling tickets to unofficial resellers.

　　D.Giving tickets to their friends.

　　40、Faced with the evidence against him, Capralos __________.

　　A.blamed other officials

　　B.admitted the facts

　　C.issued a statement

　　D.gave no response

　　41、根据材料，完成41-46题。

　　第三篇

　　Psychology of Shopping

　　People can be addicted to different things -- e.g. alcohol, drugs, certain foods, or even television. People who have such addition are compulsive, i.e. they have a very powerful psychological need that they feel they must spend money. This compulsion, like most others, is irrational- impossible to explain reasonably. For compulsive spenders who buy on credit,charge accounts are even more exciting than money.

　　In other words, compulsive spenders feel that with credit, they can do anything. Their pleasure in spending enormous amounts is actually greater than the pleasure that they get from the things they buy. There is special psychology of bargain hunting. To save money, 0f course,most people search for sales, low prices and discounts. Compulsive bargain hunters, however,often buy things they don't need just only because they are cheap. They believe that they are helping their budgets, but they are really playing an exciting game: when they can buy something for less than other people, they feel that they are winners. Most people, experts claim,have two reasons for their behavior: a good reason for things that they do and the real one.

　　Of course, it is not only scientists who understand the psychology of spending habits, but also business people. Stores, companies, and advertisers use psychology to increase business:they consider people's needs for love, power, or influence, their basic value, their beliefs and opinions, and so on in their advertising and sales methods. Psychologists can often use a method called "behavior therapy" to help individuals solve their personality problems. In the same way, they can help people who feel that they have problems with money.

　　The word "compulsive" (Line 2, Para. 1 ) probably-means__________.

　　A.necessary

　　B.compulsory

　　C.complicated

　　D.fearful

　　42、According to the passage, the greatest pleasure of crazy shopping for a compulsive spender is__________.

　　A.to get things they want

　　B.to meet their strong psychological need

　　C.to spend a lot of money

　　D.to meet their basic needs

　　43、According to the passage, compulsive bargain hunters constantly search for the lowest possible prices __________.

　　A.because they feel satisfied if they spend less moneythan others

　　B.because they have money problem

　　C.because they like to show off their success in getting things for less money

　　D.because they want to save money to help their budget

　　44、According to the passage, which of the following is true?__________.

　　A.All people only buy things they need.

　　B.Both business people and advertisers increase sales through using psychology.

　　C.Scientists understand psychology better than business people.

　　D.Compulsive spenders can never get any help to solve their problems.with money.

　　45、What does the passage mainly discuss?__________.

　　A.The use of the psychology of spending money in business.

　　B.A special psychology of bargaining.

　　C.A method to help compulsive spenders to solve the problem of money.

　　D.The psychology of money-spending habits.