Passage Two

　　Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

　　Believe it or not, optical illusion (错觉) can cut highway crashes.

　　Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent stripes, called chevrons (人字形), painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.

　　Now the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.

　　Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest—curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.

　　Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.

　　Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway sped and the number of traffic accidents.

　　56.The passage mainly discusses ________.

　　A) a new way of highway speed control

　　B) a new pattern for painting highways

　　C) a new approach to training drivers

　　D) a new type of optical illusion(A)

　　57.On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that ________.

　　A) they should avoid speed-related hazards

　　B) they are driving in the wrong lane

　　C) they should slow down their speed

　　D) they are approaching the speed limit(C)

　　58.The advantage of chevrons over straight, horizontal bars is that the former ________.

　　A) can keep drivers awake

　　B) can cut road accidents in half

　　C) will have a longer effect on drivers

　　D) will look more attractive(C)

　　59.The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to ________.

　　A) try out the Japanese method in certain areas

　　B) change the road signs across the country

　　C) replace straight, horizontal bars with chevrons

　　D) repeat the Japanese road patterns(A)

　　60.What does the author say about straight, horizontal bars painted across roads?

　　A) They are falling out of use in the United States.

　　B) They tend to be ignored by drivers in a short period of time.

　　C) They are applicable only on broad roads.

　　D) They cannot be applied successfully to traffic circles.(B)

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

　　Amtrak (美国铁路客运公司) was experiencing a downswing in ridership (客运量) along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.) At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America’s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.

　　Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliers—those concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-lovers—those viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.

　　Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.

　　61.What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

　　A) To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.

　　B) To stress the influence of the automobile on America’s standard of convenience.

　　C) To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.

　　D) To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.(D)

　　62.It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that ________.

　　A) trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportation

　　B) trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportation

　　C) trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to be

　　D) trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience(B)

　　63.To encourage consumers to travel by train, DDB Needham emphasized ________.

　　A) the freedom and convenience provided on trains

　　B) the practical aspects of train travel

　　C) the adventurous aspects of train trips

　　D) the safety and cleanliness of train trips(C)

　　64.The train ads were placed among family-oriented TV programs involving nature and America because ________.

　　A) they could focus on meaningful travel experiences

　　B) they could increase the effectiveness of the TV programs

　　C) their profits could be increased by some 15 percent

　　D) most travel-lovers and nervous fliers were believed to be among the audiences(D)

　　65.According to the passage, the Empire Builder enjoyed an increase in ridership and profits because ________.

　　A) the attractiveness of its name and route was effectively advertised

　　B) it provided an exciting travel experience

　　C) its passengers could enjoy the great western outdoors

　　D) it was widely advertised in newspapers and magazines in Chicago and Seattle(A)

　　Short Answer Questions

　　Directions:In this part there is a short passage with five questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words.)

　　In Britain, the old Road Traffic Act restricted speeds to 2 m.p.h. (miles per hour) in towns and 4 m.p.h. in the country. Later Parliament increased the speed limit to 14 m.p.h. But by 1903 the development of the car industry had made it necessary to raise the limit to 20 m.p.h. By 1930, however, the law was so widely ignored that speeding restrictions were done away with altogether. For five years motorists were free to drive at whatever speeds they likes. Then in 1935 the Road Traffic Act imposed a 30 m.p.h. speed limit in built-up areas, along with the introduction of driving tests and pedestrian crossing.

　　Speeding is now the most common motoring offence in Britain. Offences for speeding fall into three classes: exceeding the limit on a restricted road, exceeding on any road the limit for the vehicle you are driving, and exceeding the 70 m.p.h. limit on any road. A restricted road is one where the street lamps are 200 yards apart, or more.

　　The main controversy (争论) surrounding speeding laws is the extent of their safety value. The Ministry of Transport maintains that speed limits reduce accidents. It claims that when the 30 m.p.h. limit was introduced in 1935 there was a fall of 15 percent in fatal accidents. Likewise, when the 40 m.p.h. speed limit was imposed on a number of roads in London in the late fifties, there was a 28 percent reduction in serious accidents. There were also fewer casualties (伤亡) in the year after the 70 m.p.h. motorway limit was imposed in 1966.

　　In America, however, it is thought that the reduced accident figures are due rather to the increase in traffic density. This is why it has even been suggested that the present speed limits should be done away with completely, or that a guide should be given to inexperienced drivers and the speed limits made advisory, as is done in parts of the USA.

　　Questions:

　　66.During which period could British motorists drive without speed limits?

　　67.What measures were adopted in 1935 in addition to the speeding restrictions?

　　68.Speeding is a motoring offence a driver commits when he ________.

　　69.What is the opinion of British authorities concerning speeding laws?

　　70.What reason do Americans give for the reduction in traffic accidents?

　　Part IV Translation

　　71.尽管经理努力帮忙，他还是不能找到问题的根源所在。

　　72.在思维方面，与他的行为一样，他是非常传统的。

　　73. It’s no use complaining since nothing ever changes as the result of a complaint. What’s important is to take measures to prevent similar events from happiness.

　　74. The prosperity of the company stems from hardworking and thrifty of the entire staff.

　　75. It sounds like a good idea, but what if it’s a trick?