翻译考试历年中级口译真题(14)_第6页

Questions 21～25
      Experiments  have  shown  that  in  selecting  personnel  for a job, interviewing is at best  a hindrance,   and may even cause  harm. These studies  have disclosed that judgments of interviewers differ markedly and bear little or no relationship to the adequacy of j ob applicants. Of the many reasons why this should be the case, three in particular stand out. The first reason is related to an error ofjudgment known as the halo effect. If a person has one noticeable good trait, their other characteristics will be judged as better than they really are. Thus, an individual who dresses  smartly  and  shows  self  confidence is  likely to be judged  capable  of doing a job  well regardless of his or her real ability.

      Interviewers are also prejudiced by an effect  called the primacy effect. This error occurs when interpretation of later information is distorted by earlier connected information. Hence, in an interview situation, the interviewer spends most of  the  interview trying to confirm  the impression given by the candidate in the first few moments.Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that such an impression is unrelated to the aptitude of the applicant.

      The phenomenon known as the contrast effect also skews the judgment of interviewers. A suitable candidate may be underestimated because he or she contrasts with a previous one who appears exceptionally intelligent. Likewise, an average candidate who is preceded by one who gives a weak showing may bejudged as more suitable than he or she really is.

     Since interviews as a form of personnel selection have been shown to be inadequate, other selection procedures have been devised which more accurately predict candidate suitability. Of the various tests devised, the predictor which appears to do this most successfully is cognitive ability as measured by a variety of verbal and spatial tests.

21. The word “hindrance”in line 2 is closest in meaning to____________.
   A. encouragement                      B. assistance
   C. procedure                              D. interference
22. According to the passage, the halo effect________________.
   A. stands out as the worst judgmental error
   B. works only when a candidate is well dressed and self confident
   C. exemplifies how one good characteristic colors perceptions
   D. helps the interviewer's capability tojudge real ability
23. According to the passage, the impression given in the first few moments______________.
   A. can easily be altered
   B. is the one that stays with the interviewer
   C. is unrelated to the interviewer's prejudices
   D. has never been reinforced throughout the interview
24. The author mentions all of the following reasons why interviewing is not an accurate way to predict candidate suitability EXCEPT_____________.
    A. the halo effect                        B. the primacy effect 
    C. the contrast effect                  D. thecognitive effect
25. This passage mainly discusses_______________.
   A. the effects of interviewing onjob applicants
   B. the inadequacy of interviewing job applicants
   C. thejudgments of interviewers concerning job applicants
   D. the tactics and techniques for judging job applicants

Questions 26～30
        It was  once  believed  that  being   overweight   was  healthy,  but  nowadays    few  people subscribe to this viewpoint. While many people are fighting the battle to reduce weight, studies are being  conducted  concerning  the  appetite  and  how  it  is  controlled by  both  emotional  and biochemical factors. Some of the conclusions of these studies may give insights into how to deal with weight problems. For example, when several hundred people were asked about their eating habits in times of stress, 44 percent  said they reacted to  stressful  situations by  eating. Further investigations with both humans and animals indicated that it is not food which relieves tension but rather the act of chewing.

        A test in which subjects were blindfolded showed that obese people have a keener sense of taste and crave more flavorful food than nonobese people. When deprived of the variety and intensity of tastes, obese people are not satisfied and consequently eat more to fulfill this need. Blood   samples   taken   form  people   after they   were  shown a picture of food  revealed  that overweight people reacted with an increase in blood insulin, a chemical associated with appetite. This did not happen with average-weight people.

        In  another  experiment, results  showed that  certain  people have a  specific, biologically induced hunger for carbohydrates. Eating carbohydrates raises the level of serotonin(血清素), a neurotransmitter  in the brain. Enough  serotonin  produces a  sense  of  satiation. and hunger  for carbody drates subsides.

        Exercise has been recommended as an important part of a weight-loss program. However, it has been found that mild exercise, such as using stairs instead of the elevator, is better in the long run than taking on a strenuous program, such as jogging, which many people find difficult to continue over periods of time and which also increases appetite.