9春季上海外语口译考试中级口译笔译真题

09年春季上海外语口译考试中级口译笔译真题

[1] SECTION 1: LISTENING TEST [2] SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS

[3] SECTION 3: TRANSLATION TEST (1) [4] SECTION 4: TRANSLATION TEST (2)

SECTION 2: STUDY SKILLS (45 minutes)

Directions: In this section, you wiIl read several passages. Each passage is followed 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 following each passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage and write the letter of the answer you have chosen in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Questions 1--5

I came across an old country guide the other day.It listed all the tradesmen in each village in my part of the country,and it was impressive to see the great variety of services which were available on one's own doorstep in the late Victorian countryside.

Nowadays a superficial traveler in rural Eng1and might conclude that the only village tradesmen still flourishing were either selling frozen food to the inhabitants or selling antiques to visitors. Nevertheless, this would really be a false impression. Admittedly there has been a contraction of village commerce, bul its vigor is still remarkable.

Our local grocer's shop, for example, is actually expanding in spite of the competition from supermarkets in the nearest town. Women sensibly prefer to go there and exchange the local news whi1e doing their shopping, instead of queueing up anonymously at a supermarket. And the proprietor knows well that persona1 service has a substantial cash value.

His Prices may be a bit higher than those in the town, bu he will deliver anything at any time. His assistants think nothing of bicycling down the village street in their lunch hour to take a piece of cheese to an old age pensioner who sent her order by word of mouth with a friend who happened to be passing. The more affluent customers telephone their shopping lists and the goods are on their doorsteps within an hour.They have only to hint at a fancy for some commodity outside the usual stock and the grocer a red-faced figure, instantly obtains it for them..

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The village gains from this sort of enterprise, of course. But I also find it satisfactory because a village shop offers one of the few ways in which a modest individualist can still get along in the world without attaching himself to the big battalions of industry or commerce.

Most of the village shopkeepers I know, at any rate, are decidedly individualist in their ways. For example, our shoemaker is a formidable figure: a thick-set, irritable man whom children treat with marked respect, knowing that an ill-judged word can provoke an angry eruption at any time. He stares with contempt at the pairs of cheap, mass-produced shoes taken to him for repair: has it come to this, he seems to be saying, that he, a craftsman, should have to waste his skills upon such trash? But we all know he will in fact do excellent work upon them.And he makes beautiful shoes for those who can afford such luxury. 1.The services available in villages nowadays are normally_________. (A) fewer but still very active

(B) less successful than earlier but managing to survive (C) active in providing food for the village and tourists

(D) surprisingly energetic considering the little demand for them 2.The local grocer’s shop is expanding even though________. (A) town shops are more attractive

(B) town shops are larger and less well-known

(C) people like to shop where they are less well-known (D) people get extra service in townshops

3.How do the village grocer’s assistants feel about delivering goods? (A) They tend to forget it. (B) They will not consider it.

(C) They take it for granted. (D) It does not seem worth their while 4.Another aspect of personal service available in the village shop is that_________.

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(A) there is a wide range of goods available

(B) goods not in stock can be obtained whenever they are needed (C) special attention is given to the needs of wealthier customers (D) goods are always restocked before they run out

5.In what way is the village shoemaker a “formidable figure”? (A) He seems to pay little attention to public opinion. (B) He refuses to mend cheap,mass-produced shoes. (C) He has a very rough temper.

(D) He has very high standards of workmanship. Questions 6--10

Drivers on the Basingstoke by-pass used to have their attention diverted by a sign that read—A MOMENT'S INATTENTION CAUSES ACCIDENTS. This self-defeating warning has now been removed, but its message is still very much to the point.

Almost anything can cause an accident. Apart from momentary inattention, it might be a minor miscalculation, a sudden fit of coughing, a bop on the head with a teddy-bear from a child in the back seat, an argument with the wife, fog, falling asleep at the wheel, bad eyesight, a glaring sun, ice, rain, wind, or snow—a1l these can make the difference between a tragic hit and a lucky miss. Although human error plays its part, it is by no means the only cause of accidents. There must be some cause other than simple human error. Road construction plays its part: researchers have found that it is not at the obvious danger spot—sharp corners, cross-roads, narrow lanes—that accidents happen. It is on those roads where there are subtle visual traps, unexpected changes in the shape or surface of the .road, or even insufficient or badly-placed signs. Wherever there is a 'black spot', it means that something is seriously wrong with the road. Why else did the careless driving of so many come out at that particular spot?

What the law requires when you have an accident

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There are, firstly the legal formalities of exchanging names and addresses with others involved in an accident and, in certain cases, informing the police.However, you are required by law to stop after an accident only if: l Somebody other than yourself in or outside your car has been injured. 2 A vehicle not your own has been damaged.

3 Any horse, cow,donkey,sheep, or dog has been injured.

It has been said that if a driver continues unaware of causing injury he must be acquitted. But the courts are wary of that excuse. Furthermore, the driver himself must wait at the scene。 it is not enough for him to leave his chauffeur or a friend to attend to the boring formalities while he goes off on more important business.

If you have been involved in an accident and have stopped, you must give your name, address, and registration number to anyone who has a good reason for requesting it。 this means anyone affected by the accident. If these formalities are complied with it is not necessary to wait for the arrival of the police. It is, however, often wise to do so. The police are expert at drawing plans, taking measurements and photographs and gathering other evidence. In your absence the police could be given a biased story against you。 and you yourself migh wam to point out certain features of the accident to the police.

6. A MOMENT'S INATTENTION CAUSES ACCIDENTS' (para. l) is a self defeating Warning because______.

(A) it will make a driver wait at the scene (B) it will distract the driver's attention (C) it is too difficult to understand (D) it is too long to be read by drivers

7. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? (A) After an accident you have to give your name to anyone who asks for it. (B) Drivers on the Basingstoke by-pass used to ignore the sign. (C) Road construction problems can be a major cause of accidents.

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