2005年全国硕士研究生入学考试英语试题

Section I Use of English

Directions:

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

The human nose is an underrated tool. Humans are often thought to be insensitive smellers compared with animals, 　1　 this is largely because, 　2　 animals, we stand upright. This means that our noses are 　3　 to perceiving those smells which float through the air, 　4　 the majority of smells which stick to surfaces. In fact, 　5　 , we are extremely sensitive to smells, 　6　 we do not generally realize it. Our noses are capable of 　7　 human smells even when these are 　8　 to far below one part in one million.

Strangely, some people find that they can smell one type of flower but not another, 　9　 others are sensitive to the smells of both flowers. This may be because some people do not have the genes necessary to generate 　10　 smell receptors in the nose. These receptors are the cells which sense smells and send 　11　 to the brain. However, it has been found that even people insensitive to a certain smell 　12　 can suddenly become sensitive to it when 　13　 to it often enough.

The explanation for insensitivity to smell seems to be that the brain finds it 　14　 to keep all smell receptors working all the time but can 　15　 new receptors if necessary. This may 　16　 explain why we are not usually sensitive to our own smells—we simply do not need to be. We are not 　17　 of the usual smell of our own house, but we 　18　 new smells when we visit someone else’s. The brain finds it best to keep smell receptors 　19　 for unfamiliar and emergency signals 　20　 the smell of smoke, which might indicate the danger of fire.

1. [A] although [B] as [C] but [D] while

2. [A] above [B] unlike [C] excluding [D] besides

3. [A] limited [B] committed [C] dedicated [D] confined

4. [A] catching [B] ignoring [C] missing [D] tracking

5. [A] anyway [B] though [C] instead [D] therefore

6. [A] even if [B] if only [C] only if [D] as if

7. [A] distinguishing [B] discovering [C] determining [D] detecting

8. [A] diluted [B] dissolved [C] dispersed [D] diffused

9. [A] when [B] since [C] for [D] whereas

10. [A] unusual [B] particular [C] unique [D] typical

11. [A] signs [B] stimuli [C] messages [D] impulses

12. [A] at first [B] at all [C] at large [D] at times

13. [A] subjected [B] left [C] drawn [D] exposed

14. [A] ineffective [B] incompetent [C] inefficient [D] insufficient

15. [A] introduce [B] summon [C] trigger [D] create

16. [A] still [B] also [C] otherwise [D] nevertheless

17. [A] sure [B] sick [C] aware [D] tired

18. [A] tolerate [B] repel [C] neglect [D] notice

19. [A] available [B] reliable [C] identifiable [D] suitable

20. [A] similar to [B] such as [C] along with [D] aside from