2009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)

Research on animal intelligence always makes us wonder just how smart humans are. 　1　 the fruit-fly experiments described by Carl Zimmer in the Science Times. Fruit flies who were taught to be smarter than the average fruit fly 　2　 to live shorter lives. This suggests that 　3　 bulbs burn longer, that there is a(n) 　4　 in not being too bright.

Intelligence, it 　5　 , is a high-priced option. It takes more upkeep, burns more fuel and is slow 　6　 the starting line because it depends on learning—a(n) 　7　 process—instead of instinct. Plenty of other species are able to learn, and one of the things they’ve apparently learned is when to 　8　 .

Is there an adaptive value to 　9　 intelligence? That’s the question behind this new research. Instead of casting a wistful glance 　10　 at all the species we’ve left in the dust I.Q.-wise, it implicitly asks what the real 　11　 of our own intelligence might be. This is 　12　 the mind of every animal we’ve ever met.

Research on animal intelligence also makes us wonder what experiments animals would 　13　 on humans if they had the chance. Every cat with an owner, 　14　 , is running a small-scale study in operant conditioning. We believe that 　15　 animals ran the labs, they would test us to 　16　 the limits of our patience, our faithfulness, our memory for locations. They would try to decide what intelligence in humans is really 　17　 , not merely how much of it there is. 　18　 , they would hope to study a(n) 　19　 question: Are humans actually aware of the world they live in? 　20　 the results are inconclusive.

1. [A] Suppose [B] Consider [C] Observe [D] Imagine

2. [A] tended [B] feared [C] happened [D] threatened

3. [A] thinner [B] stabler [C] lighter [D] dimmer

4. [A] tendency [B] advantage [C] inclination [D] priority

5. [A] insists on [B] sums up [C] turns out [D] puts forward

6. [A] off [B] behind [C] over [D] along

7. [A] incredible [B] spontaneous [C] inevitable [D] gradual

8. [A] fight [B] doubt [C] stop [D] think

9. [A] invisible [B] limited [C] indefinite [D] different

10. [A] upward [B] forward [C] afterward [D] backward

11. [A] features [B] influences [C] results [D] costs

12. [A] outside [B] on [C] by [D] across

13. [A] deliver [B] carry [C] perform [D] apply

14. [A] by chance [B] in contrast [C] as usual [D] for instance

15. [A] if [B] unless [C] as [D] lest

16. [A] moderate [B] overcome [C] determine [D] reach

17. [A] at [B] for [C] after [D] with

18. [A] Above all [B] After all [C] However [D] Otherwise

19. [A] fundamental [B] comprehensive [C] equivalent [D] hostile

20. [A] By accident [B] In time [C] So far [D] Better still