2008年4月试题(A).docVIP

北京地区成人本科学士学位英语统一考试 2008.04.19（A卷） Part I Reading Comprehension Directions: There are three passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. Passage 1 Question 1to 5 are based on the following passage. Looking back on my childhood, I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed(紧抱的) flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages, I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic. Before World War I we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and my toys. (76) Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a crystal-clear memory of dogs, the farm animals, the local birds and above all, the insects. I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil, reading about other people抯 observations and discoveriees ,then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind. Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle(谜) ，because it all seems to fit together. This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books, which some might honor with the title of scientific research. But curiosity, a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist; one of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline, a quality I lack. A scientist can be made .A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of born