2018年成人学位英语考试模拟试题及答案（16）_第2页

　　Part III Reading Comprehension ( 30 minutes, 20 points)

　　Passage 1

　　It may look like just another playgroup, but a unique educational center in Manhattan is really giving babies something to talk about. "It's a school to teach languages to babies and young children with games, songs--some of the classes also have arts and crafts," said Francois Thibaut, the founder of the Langrage Workshop for Children, a place where babies become bilingual.

　　Children as young as few months are exposed to French and Spanish before many of them can even speak English. Educators use special songs and visual (视觉的) aids to ensure that when a child is ready to talk, the languages will not be so foreign. "Children have a unique capacity to learn many languages at the same time," said Thibaut. "Already at nine months, a child can tell the differences between the sounds he or she has heard since birth and the sounds he or she has never heard yet." Thibaut says the best time to expose children to language is from birth to 3 years old. For the last 30 years, the school has been using what it calls the Thibarut Technique, a system that combines language lessons with child's play.

　　“I always wanted to learn Spanish, but by the time I got to high school it was too late to pick it up and speak fluently,” said Marc Lazare, who enrolled his son at the school. "I figured at this age, two, it's a perfect time for him to learn.”

　　Aside from learning a language, the kids also gain a tremendous sense of confidence. One young student boasted that aside from French, she can speak five languages (though that included "monkey" and "lion"). The school gives children the tools to communicate, and sometimes that gives them an advantage over their parents. "I think they sometimes speak French when they think I won’t understand them,” said parent Foster Gibbons

　　Depending on the age group, classes run from 45 minutes up to 2 hours. Even when the students are not in class, the program is designed to make sure the learning continues at home. Tapes and books are included so kids can practice on their own. ( 359 )

　　41. The word "bilingual" in the first paragraph probably means ______.

　　A. capable of using two languages B. both clever and confident

　　C. aware of their own limitations and strengths D. independent of their parents

　　42. The passage tells us that the best time for a child to learn languages is ______.

　　A. before seven years old B. from birth to three years old C. in his childhood D. in his teens

　　43. According to Thibaut, it is possible _____________.

　　A. for children to take advantage of their parents by using a foreign language

　　B. to expose children to a foreign language after they can speak

　　C. to combine language lessons with sports games

　　D. for children to learn several languages at the same time

　　44. The school teaches language by _______________.

　　A. exposing children to the new environment B. using modern facilities and equipment

　　C. combining language lessons with games D. giving children confidence

　　45. The best title for this text is __________________.

　　A. A Unique Language School for Children B. The Foreign Language for Children to Learn

　　C. Special Songs and Visual Aids in Learning D. The Best Way to Learn a Foreign Language

　　Passage 2

　　The differences in living standards around the world are vast. In 1993, the average American had an income of about $25,000. In the same year, the average Mexican earned $7,000, and the average Nigerian earned $1,500. Not surprisingly, this large variation in average income is reflected in various measures of the quality of life. Changes in living standards over time are also large. In the United States, incomes have historically grown about 2 percent per year (after adjusting for changes in the cost of living). At this rate, average income doubles every 35 years. In some countries, economic growth has been even more rapid. In Japan, for instance, average income has doubled in the past 20 years, and in South Korea it has doubled in the past 10 years.

　　What explains these large differences in living standards among countries and over time? The answer is surprisingly simple. Almost all variation in living standards is attributable to differences in countries' productivity—that is, the amount of goods and services produced from each hour of a worker's time. In nations where workers can produce a large quantity of goods and services per unit of time, most people enjoy a high standard of living; in nations where workers are less productive, most people must endure a more meager existence. Similarly, the growth rate of a nation's productivity determines the growth rate of its average income.

　　The fundamental relationship between productivity and living standards is simple, but its implications are far-reaching. If productivity is the primary determinant of living standards, other explanations must be of secondary importance. For example, people might think that labor unions or minimum-wage laws contributed to the rise in living standards of American workers over the past century. Yet the real hero of American workers is their rising productivity.

　　The relationship between productivity and living standards also has great implications for public policy. When thinking about how any policy will affect living standards, the key question is how it will affect our ability to produce goods and services. To improve living standards, policymakers need to raise productivity by ensuring that workers are well educated, have the tools needed to produce goods and services, and have access to the best available technology.

　　46. Which of the following countries has enjoyed the fastest economic growth in history?

　　A. Mexico. B. The United States C. Japan D. South Korea.

　　47. The Word “meager'’ in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to “____”

　　A.modest B. poor C.meaningless D.plentiful

　　48. What is the most important factor that leads to the rise in living standards of average people?

　　A.Labor unions B.Minimum-wage laws C.Rising productivity. D.Favorable public policy

　　49. The study of the relationship between productivity and living standards is significant that_______________.

　　A.it calls policymakers’ attention to a qualified work force

　　B.it encourages workers to get better education

　　C.it helps improve the workers’ ability to produce goods ands services

　　D.it enables policymakers to access the latest technology

　　50. The passage mainly discusses______

　　A.the differences in average income among countries B.the relationship between productivity and living standards

　　C.the causes of the rise in living standards D.the importance of raising productivity