III. Reading Comprehension
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A,B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
Nothing can better illustrate the failure of education in this country than the contrast between millions of college graduates finding it hard to get a proper job every year and the lack of workers in the more industrialized regions.
According to news from Dongguan (东莞), one of the __50__ manufacturing centers in the Pearl River Delta (珠江三角洲) region in South China, “over 90 percent” factories have said they are finding __51__ difficult to employ people from the second half of 2009, when the __52__ began picking up and overseas orders restarted pouring in. Running to full capacity seems a dream that the factories had__53__.
An awkward reality is that only few, __54__, of the new college graduates could really fill the vacancies because the trainings they have received are entirely __55__ from the demands of the jobs. Nor will Chinese cities have enough workforce if they pursue a development model other than export-based manufacturing.
The __56__ for that is simple: The knowledge about management graduates gather is totally out of step with reality, __57__ of them can hardly express themselves in English or compose an email message properly, and __58__ handle even paper work in a law service with the legal knowledge they have.
I __59__ some college teachers, whom I went to college with, that the amount of time an average college student spends on studies today is less than half of what we __60__ in the late 1970s when proper college education was recovered after the “cultural revolution” (1966-76).
“They (the administrations) have enrolled so many students just to __61__ from their parents (tuition and other charges)”, one of the teachers said embarrassedly. “It's a nationwide phenomenon, you know.”
It is hard to believe that a country should not __62__ education so seriously when there are no longer as many young people as before and view its opportunities only in terms of immediate financial gains, which greatly affects the quality of education. __63__, vocational education faces a double threat: frequent ups and downs in the business cycle and that of a flooding of cheap college certificates.
It is __64__ in a country with rapid development in many fields to see little reform and progress in its education system. When colleges are reduced to money-making machines, they cannot help a society create enough workers, thinkers and leaders.
50. A. necessary B. key C. new D. remote
51. A. this B. that C. it D. as
52. A. economy B. country C. city D. industry
53. A. in the near future B. at present time C. from time to time D. in the long past
54. A. and some B. but none C. if any D. because such
55. A. different B. same C. opposite D. similar
56. A. result B. method C. reason D. expectation
57. A. some B. most C. few D. all
58. A. can B. must C. can’t D. mustn’t
59. A. took from B. picked out C. caught sight of D. learned from
60. A. spent B. cost C. wasted D. detected
61. A. cost money B. make money C. create money D. deal with
62. A. put B. set C. make D. take
63. A. Although B. Besides C. However D. Therefore
64. A. common B. likely C. worthwhile D. surprising
Section B: Vocabulary
Directions: Complete the passage by choosing the proper words in the box.
Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A.hurriedly |
B.anxiety |
C.professionals |
D.typical E. really |
F. simple G. bought H. ending I. design J. wonderful
Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something __41__but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertisers hoping to sell their products.
The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people’s lives. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly __42__. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, __43__in the costomer giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods __44__ in almost every family are not __45__ needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the __46__, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.
It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed with which new types of products come on the market. Advances in __47__ and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The __48__ example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. So gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing: no choice, no __49__.
It ____ that making a plan is easier than carrying it out.
A.was turned out |
B.is turned out |
C.has been turned |
D.turns out |
Not only ____ at music, but also they are ready to help others.
A.they are talented |
B.they have been talented |
C.are they talented |
D.they have talented |
There is no doubt ____ we will host the 2010 World Expo successfully.
A.which |
B.whether |
C./ |
D.that |
It is the experience he had as a boy ______ has formed his present personality.
A.that |
B.what |
C.which |
D.who |