Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (40 points)(Directions:There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage 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 bar through the center of the letter that indicates your choice.)
1. Can eating a chocolate bar every day really prevent age-related memory loss? People would say “No”. Can eating chocolate cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner be good for your heart? Again, they would say“No”,because that would be too good to be true. But new research shows that large amounts of flavanols (黄烧醇),substances found in cocoa (可可),tea and some vegetables, may reverse age-related memory failure. Another study is looking to see if high levels of cocoa flavanols can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Flavanols found in dark chocolate are known to increase blood flow in the part of the brain that controls memory. They also help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol (胆固醇).A new study published online found that cocoa flavanols reverse minor memory loss in older adults. Dr. Scott Small, a professor at Columbia University, is the lead writer of a research paper describing the effects of cocoa flavanols on brain activity. The study involved 37 volunteers aged between 50 and 69. Researchers gave them a high-level flavanol drink made from cocoa beans or a low-level flavanol drink. For a period of three months, some subjects got 900mg of flavanol a day while the others got 10mg. Brain imaging and memory tests were given to each subject before and after the study. Dr. Small says that the subjects who had the high-level flavanol drink showed much improvement on memory tests. The researchers warn that more work is needed because this study was performed on a small group. Researchers at Women ’s Hospital in Boston recently announced plans to do just that.
【正确答案-参考解析】:参加考试可见2. Brain drain, which is the action of having highly skilled and educated people leaving their country to work abroad, has become one of the developing countries’ concerns. Brain drain is also referred to as human capital flight. More and more third world science-and-technology-educated people are heading for more prosperous countries seeking higher wages and better working conditions. This has of course serious consequences on the sending countries. While many people believe that immigration is a persona] choice that must be understood and respected, others look at the phenomenon from a different perspective. What makes those educated people leave their countries should be seriously considered and a distinction between push and pull factors must be made. The push factors include low wages and lack of satisfactory working and living conditions. Social unrest, political conflicts and wars may also be determining causes. The pull factors, however, include academic freedom and extensive funds for research. Brain drain has negative impact on the sending countries ’economic prospects and competitiveness. It reduces the number of dynamic and creative people who can contribute to the development of their country. Likewise, with more entrepreneurs (企业家)taking their investments abroad, developing countries are missing an opportunity of wealth creation. This has also negative consequences on tax revenue and employment. Most of the measures taken so far have not had any success in softening the effects of brain drain. One option is to provide adequate working and living conditions in the sending countries. Another option should involve encouraging the expatriates(侨民)to contribute their skill to the development of their countries without necessarily moving back home.
【正确答案-参考解析】:参加考试可见Ⅳ translation (15 points)(Directions:Translate the following passage into Chinese and put your translation on the ANSWER SHEET.)
1. translation (15 points) Directions:Translate the following passage into Chinese and put your translation on the ANSWER SHEET. We do not often consider how much energy goes into creating comforts like hot showers and cold beer. A more efficient refrigerator will give us the same cold beer while using less energy. A more water-efficient showerhead will give us the same hot shower while using less water; less water requires less energy. By being more efficient, we use less energy, requiring fewer resources and less money. We have a lot of opportunities for energy efficiency at home. Whether you are ready to upgrade an appliance to an ENERGY STAR rated model or replace conventional light bulbs with more efficient ones, you will enjoy the same level of comfort in your daily life while saving both energy and money.
【正确答案-参考解析】:参加考试可见