Section C
Directions:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by somequestions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choicesmarked A). B). C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 56to 60 are based on the following passage.
Texting haslong been bemoaned (哀叹)as the downfall of the written word,””penmanship for illiter,”as one criticcalled it. To which the proper response is LOL.
Textingproperly isn′t writing at all. It′s a “spoken” language that is getting richer and more complexby the year.
First,somehistorical perspective. Writing was only invented 5,500 years ago. whereasIanguage probably traces back at least 80.000 years. Thus talking came first;writing is just a craft that came along later. As such, the first writing wasbased on the way people talk，with short sentences.
However,while talking is largely subconscious and rapid, writing is deliberate andslow, Over time,writers took advantage of this and started cratting long-windedsentences such as this one:The whole engagement lasted above 12 hours, till thegradual retreat of the Per trsians was changed into a disorderlyflight, of which the shameful example was given by the principal leaders and……”
No one talkslike that casually — or should. But it is natural to desire to do so forspecial occasions. In the old days, we didn’t much write like talking because therewas no mechanism to reproduce the speed of conversation. But texting andinstant messaging do — and a revolution has begun. It involves the crude mechanicsof writing, but in its economy, spontaneity and even vulgaritv. texting isactually a new kind of talking, with its own kind of grammar and conventions.
Take LOL. Itdoesn’t actuallymean “laughing outloud” in a literalsense anymore. LOL has evolved into something much subtler and sophisticatedand is used even when nothing is remotely amusing. Jocelyn texts “Where haveyou been?” andAnnabelle texts back ，LOL at the library studying for two hours.” LOL signalsbasic empath)’(同感)betweentcxters. easing tension and creating a sense of equality. Instead of having aliteral meaning, it docs something - conveying an attitude — just likethe -cd ending conveys past tense rather than “meaning.，anything. LOL. of all things, isgrammar.
Of course noone thinks about that consciously. But then most of communication operateswithout being noticed. Over time, the meaning of a word or an expression driftsmeat used to mean any kind of food, silly used to mean, believe it or not，blessed.
Civilization,then，isfine 一 people banging away on their smartphones arefluently using a code separate from the one they use in actual writing, andthere is no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwidepeople speak differently from the w ay they write, and texting -quick, casualand only intended to be read once — is actually a way of talking with yourfingers.
56. What docritics say about texting?
A) It is mainlyconfined to youngsters
B) It competeswith traditional writing.
C) It willruin the wnttcn language.
D) It isoften hard to understand.
57. In what waydoes the author say writing is different from talking?
A) It is craftedwith specific skills.
C) It doesnot have as long a history.
B) It expressesideas more accuratcly.
D) It is notas easy to comprehend.
58. Why is LOLmuch used in tcxting?
A) It bringstextcrs closer to each other.
B) It shows thetcxtcr's sophistication.
C) It is atrendy way to communicate
D) It adds tothe humor of the text
59. Examples likemeat and silly are cited to show
A) thedifTerencc between writing and talking
B) howdifTercntly words are used in tcxting
C) why peopleuse the words the way they do
D) the gradualchange of word meaning
60.what doesthe author think of texting?
A)Itfacilitates exchange of ideas among people.
B)It is a newform of verbal communication.
C)Itdeteriorates pelple's composition skills.
D)It hastensthe decline of the written word.
Passage Two
Questions61to 65are based on the following passage.
it's possibleto admire oprah winfrey and still wish Harvard hadn't awarded her an honorarydoctor of law degree and the commencement(毕业典礼)speaker spot at yesterday's graduation.There's noquestion Oprah's achievements place her in the temple of American successstories. Talent,charm,and an exceptional work ethic have rarely hurled anyoneof world's most successful entertainment icons and the first African-Americanfemale billionaire.
Honorarydegrees are often conferred on non-academic leaders in the arts,business,andpolitics.Harvard's list in recent years has included Kofi fi Annan,BillGates,Meryl Streep,and David Souter.But Oprah's list in recent years hasincluded Kofi Annan,Bill Gates,Mery1 Streep,and david souter.But Oprah'sparticular brand of celebrity is not a good fit for the values of a universitywhose motto(座右铭),Veritas,means truth.Oprah's passionate advocacyextends,unfortunately,to a hearty embrace of fake science.Mostnotoriously,Oprah's validation of jenny McCarthy's claim that vaccines causeautism(自闭症)has no doubt contributed to much harmthrough the foolish avoidance of vaccines.
Famous peoplearc entitled to a few failings, like the rest of us. and the choice ofcommencement speakers often reflects a balance of insututional pnonties andaspirations. Judging from our conversations with many students. Oprah was awidely popular choice.
But this voteof confidence in Oprah sends a troubling message at precisely the time whenAmerican univereities need to do more to advance the cause of reason. As formerDean of Harvard College. Harry Lewis, noted in a blog post about hisobjections. “It seems vcrvodd for Harvard to honor such a high profile popularizer of the irrational…… at a timewhen political and religious nonsense so jeopardize the rule of reason in thisallegedly enlightened democracy and around the world.”
As America′s oldest andmost visible university. Harvard has a spccial opportunity to convey itsrespcct for science not only through its research and teaching programs butalso in its public affirmation of evidence-based inquiry.
Unfortunately，many American universitiesseem awfully busy protecting their brand name and not nearly busy enoughprotecting the pursuit of knowledge. A recent article in The Harvard Crimsonnoted the shocking growth of Harvard′s public relations arm in the last fiveyears and it questioned whether a focus on risk management and avoidingcontroversywas really the best outward-looking face of this great institution.
As Americanresearch universities begin to resemble profit centers and entertainment complexes, it’s easy tolose sight of their primary mission; to produce and spread knowledge.This missiondepends on traditions of rational discourse and vigorous defense of the scientificmethod.Oprah Winfrey’s honoray doctorate was a step in the wrong direction.
61.what do welearn about Oprah Winfrey from the passage?
A)She was adistinguished graduate of H arvard School of LaW.
B)She workedher way to success in the entertainment industry.
C)She used toabuse her children when she was a young mother.
D)Sheachieved her fame through persistent advocacy of fake science.
62.Why doesthe author deem it inappropriate for Harvard to confer an honorary degree onOprah winfrey?
A) She did notspecialize in the study of law.
B)She wasknown as a supporter of fake science.
C)She was an iconof the entertainment industry
D)She had notdistinguished herself academically.
63.How didHarry Lewis react to Harvard’s decision in his blong post ?
A)He wasstrongly against it.
B)Heconsidered it unpopular.
C)He thoughtit would help enhance Harvard’s reputation.
D)He thoughtit represented the will ofthe Harvard community.
64.What isthe author’s regretabout many American universities?
A)They show inadequate respect forevidence-based inquiry
B)They fallshort of expectations in teaching and research
C)They attachtoo much importance to public relations
D)They aretolerant of political and religious nonsense
65.What doesthe author think a prestigious university like H arvard should focus on?
A)Cultivationof student creativity
B)Liberationof the human mind
C)Liberationof the human mind
D)Pursuit ofknowledge and truth
Part IV Translation (30minutes)