2018成人高考专升本《英语》考前提分试题及答案（5）_第4页

　　Oceanography has been defined as "The application of all sciences to the study of the sea".

　　Before the nineteenth century scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between.Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.

　　For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a hying from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that the question "What is at the bottom of the oceans.'?" had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineer had to know the depth profile( 起伏) of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.

　　It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned ,in 1853,for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings(测水深)were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later,some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea.

　　The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper

　　parts of the sea. Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition (考察), which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea.Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.

　　( )44. The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographic studies take on

　　A. an academic aspect

　　B. a military aspect

　　C. a business aspect

　　D. an international aspect

　　答案：C

　　( )45. It was __________that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.

　　A. the American Navy

　　B. some early intercontinental travelers

　　C. those who earned a living from the sea

　　D. the company which proposed to lay an undersea cable

　　答案：D

　　( )46. The aim of the voyages Maury was responsible for in the 1840s was __________

　　A. to make some sounding experiments in the oceans

　　B. to collect samples of sea plants and animals

　　C. to estimate the length of cable that was needed

　　D. to measure the depths of the two oceans

　　答案：D

　　( ) 47. This passage is mainly about __________

　　A. the beginnings of oceanography

　　B. the laying of the first undersea cable

　　C. the investigation of ocean depths

　　D. the early intercontinental communications

　　答案：A

　　The small number of newborn babies,which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear a word invented in Japan,"DINKS" ,which means Double Income No Kids.

　　In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a house is extremely high. A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $ 300,000 ( though prices have fallen). For a flat with one bedroom, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay about $ 900 a month. What's more,if they want to have a child,the child's education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $ 5,000 a year. In such a situation, it's difficult to afford children.

　　The number of married women who want to continue working increases rapidly because they enjoy their jobs. However, if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems.Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to continue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs.

　　In a word,Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

　　( )48. What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

　　A. The small number of newborn babies.

　　B. The changing social situation of women.

　　C. The high prices of houses and education.

　　D. The necessary steps of Asian governments.

　　答案：A

　　( )49. According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE?

　　A. It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia.

　　B. The prices of houses in Asia are quite low now.

　　C. Fewer and fewer married women want to have a job.

　　D. The word "DINKS" first appeared in an Asian country.

　　答案：D

　　( )50. To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten,how much will a couple pay each year?

　　A. $ 5,000.

　　B. $ 5,900.

　　C. $10,800.

　　D. $15,800.

　　答案：D

　　( ) 51. The writer seems to believe that Asian governments should __________

　　A. let women stay at home and have a baby

　　B. allow only one of the parents to go out to work

　　C. care for the growing needs of women for jobs

　　D. punish the companies that permit women to leave

　　答案：C

　　Deep inside a mountain near Sweetwater in East. Tennessee is a body of water known as the Lost Sea. It is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest underground lake.The Lost Sea is part of an extensive and historic cave system called Craighead Caverns.

　　The caverns have been known and used since the days of the Cherokee Indian Nation. The cave expands into a series of huge rooms from a small opening on the side of the mountain. Approximately one mile from the entrance,in a room called "the Council Room," many Indian artifacts have been found. Some of the items discovered include pottery, arrowheads ,weapons, and jewelry.

　　For many years there were persistent rumors of a large underground lake somewhere in a cave but it was not discovered until 1905. In that year, a thirteen-year-old boy named Ben Sands crawled through a small opening three hundred feet underground. He found himself in a large cave half filled with water.

　　Today tourists visit the Lost Sea and ride far out onto it in glass-bottomed boats powered by electric motors. More than thirteen acres of water have been mapped out so far and still no end to the lake has been found. Even though teams of divers have tried to explore the Lost Sea, the full extent of it is still unknown.

　　( ) 52. The Lost Sea is unique because it is __________

　　A. part of a historical cave system

　　B. the biggest underground lake in the world

　　C. listed in the Guinness Book of World Records

　　D. the largest body of water in Tennessee

　　答案：B

　　( ) 53. The Craighead Caverns have been known __________

　　A. through history

　　B. since the time of the Indian Nations

　　C. since 1905

　　D. since divers explored them

　　答案：B

　　( )54. Who located the Lost Sea in recent times?

　　A. The Cherokee Indians.

　　B. Tourists.

　　C. Ben Sands.

　　D. Scientists.

　　答案：C

　　( ) 55. It can be inferred from the passage that the Craighead Caverns presently serve as __________

　　A. an underground testing site

　　B. an Indian meeting ground

　　C. a tourist attraction

　　D. a motor boat race course

　　答案：C