翻译考试历年中级口译真题(5)_第5页

SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS (50 minutes)

Directions: In this section, you will read severalpassages. Each passage is f ollowed by  several questions based on its content. You are to choose ONE best answer, (A) , (B), (C)  or (D) , to each question. Answer  all  the  questions f ollowing  each passage  on  the  basis  of    what  is  stated  or imp lied in that passage and write the letter of   the answer you have chosen in the correspond ing spa ce in your ANSWER BOOKLET.

Questions 1-5

     Last year more than a million and a half foreign tourists visited the United States. In order to understand intercultural problems better, and perhaps to find ways to improve the American image  abroad,  a  reporter  recently  interviewed  some  of  these  visitors  as they  were  leaving to return home. He especially wanted to find out their first impressions of the United States, what places they most enjoyed visiting, and some of their likes and dislikes.

As far as first impressions are concerned, almost all of the foreigners were impressed by the tremendous size of the country. The United States, of course, is a large country. The distance between San Francisco and New York is about the same as that between Gibraltar and Baghdad. Indeed,   the  entire Mediterranean     Sea  could   easily fit within   the  country's  borders.  Even expecting this, foreigners who visit the United States for the first time are overwhelmed by the vast distances. Apparently to be believed, such distances have to be traveld. 

The foreign visitors were also impressed by the range of climate and the variety of scenery in the country. Many were amazed to discover that, in the same day, they could travel from the snowy cold of New England winter to the sunny warmth of Florida sunshine. Even in the single state  of  California, they  could  find  sandy  beaches, rocky  shores, tropical  vegetation,  hot  dry deserts, redwood forests, and towering snow-capped mountains.

They were also impressed by the informal  friendliness  of Americans. Whether  on buses, trains, planes, or at vacation or scenic resorts, there visitors generally agreed that they had been greeted warmly. On the  other  hand,  some reported that  hotel  clerks, waiters, and taxi  drivers were often unsympathetic, impatient, and rude. The most common complaint of all was that so few Americans can speak any language but English, and some foreign visitors claimed that they had difficulty understanding the American accent.

1.   What does "this" in "Even expecting this…" (para.2, line 11) refer to?
     (A) The distance between San Francisco and New York.
     (B) The vastness of the country.
     (C) The size of the Mediterranean Sea.
     (D) The country's borders.
2.   Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
     (A) New England winters are cold.
     (B) Some taxi drivers are impolite.
     (C) The U.S.A is a popular place for tourists.
     (D) Hotel staff are often sympathetic.
3.   New England is located _______.
     (A) in the south west of the US
     (B) to the south of California
     (C) in the northeast of the US
     (D) to the west of Florida
4.   What made the most negative impression on foreign visitors?
     (A) The country's vastness.
     (B) The informal friendliness of Americans.
     (C) The fact that the American accent is hard to understand.
     (D) The fact that not many Americans can speak a foreign language.
5.   The overall purpose of this passage is to _______.
     (A) demonstrate the cultural differences between America and Europe
     (B) indicate ways to improve the American image abroad
     (C) describe the general impression of foreign visitors on America
     (D) criticize some behaviors of American taxi drivers