Part II Reading Comprehension
(35 minutes)
Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.
Passage One
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.
People living on parts of the south coast of England face a serious problem. In 1993, the owners of a large hotel and of several houses discovered, to their horror, that their gardens had disappeared overnight. The sea had eaten into the soft limestone cliffs on which they had been built. While experts were studying the problem, the hotel and several houses disappeared altogether, sliding down the cliff and into the sea.
Erosion (侵蚀) of the white cliffs along the south coast of England has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be abandoned as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most affected and have drawn up a map for local people, forecasting the year in which their homes will be swallowed up by the hungry sea.
Angry owners have called on the Government to erect sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases, this is impossible. New sea walls would cost hundreds of millions of pounds and would merely make the waves and currents go further along the coast, shifting the problem from one area to another. The danger is likely to continue, they say, until the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten as limestone is. Meanwhile, if you want to buy a cheap house with an uncertain future, apply to a house agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home.
11. What is the cause of the problem that people living on parts of the south coast of England face?
A) The disappearance of hotels, houses and gardens.
B) The experts’ lack of knowledge.
C) The rising of the sea level.
D) The washing-away of limestone cliffs.
12. The erosion of the white cliffs in the south of England ________.
A) will soon become a problem for people living in central England
B) has now become a threat to the local residents
C) is quickly changing the map of England
D) can be stopped if proper measures are taken
13. The experts’ study on the problem of erosion can ________.
A) lead to its eventual solution
B) provide an effective way to slow it down
C) help to prevent it from worsening
D) warn people whose homes are in danger
14. It is not feasible to build sea defenses to protect against erosion because ________.
A) it is too costly and will endanger neighbouring areas
B) the government is too slow in taking action
C) they will be easily knocked down by waves and currents
D) house agents along the coast do not support the idea
15. According to the author, when buying a house along the south coast of England, people should ________.
A) be aware of the potential danger involved
B) guard against being cheated by the house agent
C) take the quality of the house into consideration
D) examine the house carefully before making a decision
Passage Two
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes (运动员). Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning abut oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a flaw (缺陷) in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also be cautious that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters’ performances. Positive reinforcement should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect
on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.
16. An effective way to prevent the burnout of young athletes is ________.
A) to make sports less competitive
B) to make sports more challenging
C) to reduce their mental stress
D) to increase their sense of success
17. According to the passage sport is positive for young people in that ________.
A) it can help them learn more about society
B) it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves
C) it enables them to find flaws in themselves
D) it can provide them with valuable experiences
18. Many coaches and parents are in the habit of criticizing young athletes ________.
A) without realizing criticism may destroy their self confidence
B) in order to make them remember life’s lessons
C) believing that criticism is beneficial for their early development
D) so as to put more pressure on them
19. According to the passage parents and coaches should ________.
A) help children to win every game
B) pay more attention to letting children enjoy sports
C) enable children to understand the positive aspect of sports
D) train children to cope with stress
20. The author’s purpose in writing the passage is ________.
A) to persuade young children not to worry about criticism
B) to stress the importance of positive reinforcement to children
C) to discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement
D) to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout
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