四川农业大学2009年招收攻读博士学位研究生英语考试试题.docVIP

四川农业大学 2009年招收攻读博士学位研究生考试试题 科目名称：1080英语 (总分：100分) 适用专业：各专业 考生注意：所有答案必需写在答题纸上，否则无效！本试题随同答题纸交回！ 阅读理解部分务必做在机读卡上，并以“9”+准考证号第8-17位数字填写机读卡准考证号。 Part I: Reading comprehension(60 points) Passage One Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage. As the English language has changed at a fast speed in this century, so has the use of the English language. After the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded in 1927, the particular style of speech of the BBC announcers was recognized as Standard English or Received Pronunciation (RP) English. Now, most people still consider that the pronunciation and delivery of BBC announcers is the clearest and most understandable spoken English. English has had a strong association with class and social status. However, since the Second World War there has been a considerable change of attitude towards speech snobbery, and hallmarks of class distinction such as styles of speech have been gradually discarded, especially by the younger generation. As the need has arisen, new words have been invented or found from other languages and incorporated into English. Similarly, old words and expressions have been discarded as their usefulness has diminished or the fashions have passed. This also happens to styles and modes of speech which became fashionable at a particular time and in specific circumstances. By the end of the 1960s it became apparent that it was not necessary to speak Standard English or even correct grammar to become popular, successful and rich. The fashionable speech of the day was no longer the prerogative of a privileged class but rather a defiant expression of class lessness. The greatest single influence of the shaping of the English language in modern times is the American English. Over the last 25 years the English used by many people, particularly by those in the media, advertising and show business, has become more and more mid-Atlantic in style, delivery and accent. In the 1970s, fashion favoured stressl