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II. Grammar and Vocabulary
Section A
Directions: After reading the passages below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
(A)
The California state assembly recently approved the so-called Paris Hilton bill, which prevents dogs 25______ occupying the driver’s seat in a moving vehicle. The bill passed 26______ Democrats wanted to make an example of Miss Hilton. They think she is a “little rich girl” who always gets her way; plus, her daddy is a big contributor to the Republican Party. “The judge 27______ have put her in jail for four months,” said one Democrat when Paris got only a four-day jail sentence for driving while drunk.
28______ (drive) around town with her little dog Lovey hanging out the driver's window, Paris is a familiar sight throughout Los Angeles. Pictures of her and Lovey are common in newspapers and magazines.
“That dog is a deadly threat to everyone on the streets and the sidewalks,” said assembly leader Fabian Nunez. “We wrote this bill to protect the public. There’s no telling 29______ the dog might cause her to drive into a crowd of pedestrians. 30______ Paris wants to be with her dog, let her chauffeur do the driving. The state assembly is responsible for protecting people, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
The assembly bill passed by a vote of 44 to 11. The state senate(参议院) 31______(expect) to approve the bill, and Governor Schwarzenegger has promised to sign it. “I love dogs,” he said, “but when it comes to 32______ (protect) the people of California, dogs will have to take a back seat.”
The eleven assembly members who objected to the bill were all Republicans. “While Californians,” said Republican Tom Ridge, “are being attacked daily by murderers, rapists, and muggers, who do the Democrats protect citizens from—a 33______ (spoil) little girl and her dog!”
(B)
He almost killed somebody, but one minute changed his life. This beautiful story comes from Sherman Rogers’ book, Foremen: Leaders or Drivers? .
In his true-life story, Rogers illustrates the importance of effective relationships. During his college years, Rogers spent 34______ summer in an Idaho(爱达荷州) logging camp. When the superintendent had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in charge.
“35______ if the men refuse to follow my orders?” Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, an immigrant worker who roared all day, giving the other men a hard time.
“Fire them,” the superintendent said. Then, as if 36______ (read) Roger’s mind, he added, “I suppose you think you are going to fire Tony if you get the chance. I’d feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is the most reliable worker I’ve ever had. I know he hates everybody and everything. But he comes in first and leaves last. There has not been an accident for eight years on the hill 37______ he works.”
Rogers took over the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him.
“Tony, do you know I’m in charge here today?” Tony grunted（发哼声）. “I was going to fire you the first time we fought, but I want you to know I’m not,” he told Tony, adding what the superintendent 38______ (say).
When he finished, Tony dropped the shovelful of sand he had held and tears streamed down his face.
“Why he no tell me dat eight years ago?”
That day Tony worked harder than ever before --- and he smiled! He later said to Rogers, “My first foreman who ever say, ‘Good work, Tony’ and it made me feel like Christmas.”
Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again who was now superintendent for railroad construction for one of 39______ (large) logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he came to California and happened to have such success.
Tony replied, “If it not be for the one minute you talk to me back in Idaho, I keel somebody someday. One minute change my whole life.”
Effective managers know the importance of taking a moment to point out 40______ a worker is doing well. But what a difference a minute of affirmation can make in any relationship!
Section B
Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. reassures B. well C. distinguish D. encounter E. objects
F. inoffensive G. reveals H. afterwards I. implication J. genuine K. unpleasant
Telling Tales
“Here’s a nice bit of gossip!” Do I have your attention? Probably. We listen, but 41______ we often feel terrible with ourselves. That’s the problem with gossip: it’s something that as a social species we are primed to enjoy, but it can also be 42______ and harmful.
Not all gossip is bad. Small talk establishes relationships and 43______ the other person that our intentions are friendly. So gossip, in the sense of exchanging bits and pieces of news about ourselves and others, can be perfectly 44______. If I say to you, “Let’s meet for coffee and have a bit of a gossip,” I’m inviting you to a social 45______ in which two people chew the fat. There is nothing wrong with that: life would be very dull if we were unable to talk about what goes on around us.
But it’s not that simple. If we say that somebody is a gossip, we do not mean that he or she enjoys gentle social chat: it carries a crueler 46______. A true gossip enjoys spreading stories about other people --- stories in which others do not usually come out 47______. The gossip is one who spreads bad gossip; good gossip is still fine, but it’s not what gossips spread. The distinction between good and bad gossip is not always clear. It would be easy if we could 48______ the two by saying that bad gossip is just about people; but innocent gossip may be about people too. The best way to tell the difference is to look at the intention behind the remarks. Bad gossip 49______ itself in its desire to make the 50______ of the story look foolish. It also intrudes on their privacy. So we all know the difference.
Now then, did you hear about ...
