(B)

Navigation computers, now sold by most car makers, cost $ 2000 and up. No surprise, then, that they are most often found in luxury cars. But it is a developing technology ─ meaning prices should eventually drop ─ and the market does seem to be growing.

Even at current prices, a navigation computer is impressive. It can guide you from point to point in most major cities with precise turn-by-turn directions ─ spoken by a clear human sounding voice, and written on a screen in front of the driver.

The computer works with an antenna（天线） that takes signals from no fewer than three of the 24 Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. By measuring the time required for a signal to travel between the satellites and the antenna, the car's location can be pinned down within 100 meters.

The satellite signals, along with inputs on speed from a wheel-speed sensor and direction from a meter, determine the car's position even as it moves. This information is combined with a map database. Streets, landmarks and points of interest are included.

Most systems are basically identical. The differences come in hardware--the way the computer accepts the driver's request for directions and the way it presents the driving instructions. On most systems, a driver enters a desired address or point of interest via a touch screen or disc. But the Lexus screen goes a step further: you can point to any spot on the map screen and get directions to it.

BMW's system offers a set of cross hairs(瞄准器上的十字纹) that can be moved across the map (you have several choices of map scale) to pick a point you'd like to get to. Audi's screen can be switched to TV reception.

Even the voices that recite the directions can differ, with better systems like BMW's and Lexus's having a wider vocabulary. The instructions are available in French, German, Spanish, Dutch and, Italian, as well as English. The driver can also choose parameters for determining the route: fastest, shortest or no freeways, for example.

 

46. We learn from the passage that navigation computers ______.

A. will greatly promote sales of automobiles B. may help solve potential traffic problems

C. are likely to be accepted by more drivers D. will soon be viewed as a symbol of luxury

47. With a navigation computer, a driver will easily find the best route to his destination _________.

A. by inputting the exact address B. by indicating the location of his car

C. by checking his computer database D. by giving orders to the computer

48. The navigation computer functions ____________.

A. by means of a direction finder and a speed detector

B. basically on satellite signals and a map database

C. mainly through the reception of turn-by-turn directions

D. by using a screen to display satellite signals

49. The navigation systems in cars like Lexus, BMW and Audi are mentioned to show __________.

A. the immaturity of the new technology

B. the superiority of the global positioning system

C. the cause of price fluctuations in car equipment

D. the different ways of providing guidance to the driver

 

Section C （6%）

Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words.

 

A tsunami(海啸) is a giant wave that can do huge amounts of damage when it hits land. To see how one starts, throw a stone into a pond or lake, and watch the ripples(涟漪) spread out on the surface of the water. A tsunami starts in a similar way to one of these ripples, except that it is not caused by a stone, but by something much bigger, such as an earthquake occurring under the sea.

Once it has started, a tsunami can move across the ocean for huge distances. An earthquake off the coast of South America generated (引起) a tsunami that travelled west for over 15,000 kilometres and caused enormous damage when it hit the coast of Japan 22 hours later.

Tsunamis can be caused by volcanic eruptions as well as by earthquakes. The most deadly tsunami in recorded history was the one that followed the eruption of Indonesia’s Krakatoa volcano in 1883. About 36,000 people died, and what actually killed most of them was the tsunami rather than the eruption itself.www.yggk.net

It is not only events on Earth that cause tsunamis. They can also be generated by a comet (彗星) or meteor (流星) hitting the Earth. No one has actually seen this happen, except on screen in Hollywood films such as Deep Impact. But the giant tsunamis produced by special effects in such films, big enough to cover the skyscrapers of New York, are theoretically possible, and computer simulations (模拟研究) show that they have almost certainly happened in the distant past.

In the open ocean, a tsunami wave is difficult to see, because most of it is below the surface. The part of the wave that is actually visible may be just one or two metres high. But the wave has enormous power, and can travel at the speed of a jet plane — almost 800 kph. As it eventually approaches land, the wave slows down, and this causes a dramatic increase in its height. By the time it actually reaches the land, it can be up to 30 metres high.

   Tsunamis occur in all the major oceans of the world, although they are most common in the Pacific area around Japan. Here, there is a complex and detailed system for monitoring the waves and providing warning for those who live in the area. 

(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TWELVE WORDS.)

50. Which tsunami was the most deadly one in history according to the passage?

51. Apart from being generated by a comet or meteor hitting the Earth, a tsunami can also be caused by ____________________________________________.

52. Why is a tsunami difficult to see in the open ocean?

 

第二卷 （共35分）分叉题，请根据教材选做

 

（以下部分由使用《牛津英语》教材的同学完成）

I. Vocabulary (10%)

Directions:  Complete the sentences with the words in the box. Each word can only be used ONCE.

A. reflect   B. consume     C. commit       D. convenient   AB. launch 

AC. stand for   AD. distinguish   BC. take over     BD. participate    CD. convert  

53. During the Mid-autumn Festival, people usually eat moon-cakes which _________ a happy reunion.

54. He suggests that we should wear something white in the desert because it can ________ heat.

55. When people ___________ financial crimes they actually steal money from the country.

56. The company proudly announced the ________ of its new range of cars.

57. Terry can't ___________ in the match because he has hurt his foot.

58. The fact is that most people ___________ far more protein than they actually need.

59. It takes 15 minutes to __________ the plane into a car by removing the wings and the tail.

60. There are not enough trained younger men and women ready to ___________ from older experts.

61. People who cannot __________ between colours are said to be colour-blind.

62. Customers find the 24 - hour service very ___________.

 

II. Translation (15%)

Section A   (共4分, 每小题2分)

Directions: Complete the following sentences by translating the Chinese in the brackets into English.

1. 探险家们首次试图抵达北极，但因为恶劣的天气不得不半路折返。

The explorers made ____________ reaching the North Pole, but had to return back half way because of the bad weather.

2. 毫无疑问，赞助商们对本次歌唱比赛选手的表现非常满意。

____________ the sponsors were satisfied with the performance of contestants in the singing contest.

 

Section B (共11分, 3小题3分，4小题4分, 5小题4分)

Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.

3. 过去几年来，上海的连锁店数量大大增加。（increase）

4. 尽管天气寒冷，我们还是把大部分假期都用在了户外运动上。（Despite）

5. 有些忧心忡忡的评论家警告说这项新发明可能存在问题，但我对它充满信心。（warn）