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北京外国语大学2003年硕士研究生入学考试基础英语试题I．ReadingComprehensionThissectioncontainstwopassages.Readeachpassageandthenanswerthequestionsgivenattheendofeachpassage,usingtheanswersheetprovided.PassageOneHillaryClintonwasinherelement.OnstageatBelfast’sGrandOperaHouselastweek,flankedbyvolunteersandpoliticians’wives,ClintoncelebratedtheroleofwomenintheNorthernIrelandpeaceprocess.InaconfidentspeechreminiscentofanotherClinton,sheurgedheraudiencetokeeppushingforacommon-senseendtotheages-oldconflict.OnherlastofficialoverseastripasFirstLady,ClintonfondlyrecallednotonlyearliervisitstoBelfast,buthertravelaroundtheglobe.Nowshe’dcometosayfarewelland,assheputit,to“endonechapterinmylife.”ButtravelingwiththepresidentonhisvictorylaparoundtheBritishIsleslastweek,Hillarywasopeningawholenewbook.AstheClintonspreparetoleavetheWhiteHouse,Billisn’ttheonlyonethinkingaboutalegacy.HillaryhasrackedupalonglistofFirstLady“firsts”:firstbabyboomer,firstprofessionalwoman,firsttoheadamajorgovernmenttaskforce,firsttotestifybeforeagrandjury.“HillaryClintonis,inmyestimation,thesinglemostaccomplishedFirstLadyinAmericanhistory,”sayCarlAnthony,aformerNancyReaganaideandauthorof“AmericanFirstFamilies.”Butit’sbeenabumpyride.“Shemightsaysurvivingishergreatesttriumph,”saysafriend.NowherelectiontotheU.SSenateandastaggeringnewbookdealprovethatClintonhasnotonlysurvived－she’sthriving.Somuchsothatshe’salreadytoppingthewhisperinglistofcontendersfortheDemocraticpresidentialnominationin2004.Despiteallheryearsonthenationalstage,muchaboutHillaryClintonremainsamystery－whichmayexplainwhySimon&Schusterlastweekbidanalmostunprecedented$8milliontopublishhermemoirs.ButfriendscautionthatwhileClintonwilltouchontheobvioustravailsofherchampionfund-raiser－bothforDemocratswholoveherandforRepublicanswholovetohateher－andcouldbecomeaneloquentvoiceofoppositionagainstthenewBushWhiteHouse.Hillaryhaspromisedtoserveouthersix-yearSenateterm,avowthatstillcouldleaveheropenforapresidentialbidin2008.Still,friendsinsistshehavenosuchplans.Buttheideacouldgrowonher.AlGoreonceseemedthenaturalheirofBillClinton’slegacy.Butinafewyears,withasolidSenaterecordonkeycommitteeslikefinanceorappropriations,Hillarycouldbewellpositionedtochallengethenotoriouslystiffcampaignerwhoalreadysquanderedtheadvantagesofincumbency.Nomatterwhatherultimateambitions,Clintonhaslearnedathingortwoabouttakingsmallsteps.WhenHillarystakedoutanofficeintheWestWingandtookchargeofhealth-carereform,peoplethoughtshewasoverreaching.YetwhileClintonwaswoundedafterthehealth-fiasco,sheneverabandonedhergoals,quietlypushinginitiativesonchildren’shealth,adoptionandforeignaid,amongothers.Afteryearsofchanginghairstylesandpoliticalstrategies,Hillary,itseems,hasfinallyfoundhergroove.ItisacentraltenetofHillarylandthateverywomangetstomakechoicesofherown－towork,torunforoffice,tostandbyherman.SowhenClintonsitsdownwithLauraBush,friendssayshewon’tbeofferinganyhow-tolectures.ClintonisfarmoreconsumedwithherownnewjobintheSenate.She’salsozeroinginonahouseinWashington.Shewon’tbestayingat1600PennsylvaniaAvenueanymore,butshewon’tbefaraway,either.1.ExplainthefollowingsentencesorphrasesinEnglish,bringingouttheimpliedmeaning,ifthereisany:(40points)1)HillaryClintonwasinherelement.2)...reminiscentofanotherClinton...3)Butit’sbeenabumpyride.4)...she’salreadytoppingthewhisperinglistofcontendersfortheDemocraticpresidentialnominationin2004.5)...seemedthenaturalheirofBillClinton’slegacy.6)whoalreadysquanderedtheadvantagesofincumbency.7)...haslearnedathingortwoabouttakingsmallsteps.8)...hasfinallyfoundhergroove.9)ItisacentraltenetofHillaryland...10)...shewon’tbeofferinganyhow-tolectures.2.Giveabriefanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions:(15points)1)Whatdoestheauthormeanwhenhesays:“Hillarywasopeningawholenewbook.”?2)Accordingtotheauthor,whathasbeenHillaryClinton’sgreatestaccomplishmentastheFirstLady?3)DoestheauthorthinkthatHillaryClintonwilleventuallytrytocompeteforthepresidency?PassageTwoThenewsthatMcDonald’sisbeingsuedbyHindusandvegetariansforglazingtheirfrenchfrieswithbeefextractsentsomethingofafrissonthroughme.NotmerelybecauseIamavegetarianmyself,butbecausewehavecometothestagewhenpeopleinAmericanowfeelentitledtoexpectMcDonald’s,thecathedralofthebeefburger,toservethemsomethingthatis100percentvegetarian.Whatanevolution!WhenIcametotheUnitedStatesasagraduatestudentin1975,tobevegetarianwasacripplinghandicap.TheonlyfoodIcouldeatatthedormcafeterias(otherthanbreakfast)wassalads.Thereweretheoccasionaltastelessboiledvegetables,meanttoaccompanythemaindish,buttooneaccustomedtotheflavorsandseasoningsofrichlyvariedIndiancuisine,thesewerebarelyedible.WhenIfledthecampustoseekculinarysolaceinthewiderworld,allIcouldfindwerepizzasandsubmarinesandwiches.GreatBostonboastedbutoneIndianrestaurant,andasanimpecuniousstudentIcouldn’taffordtogomorethanonceasemester.AttheraredinnerpartiesIwasinvitedto,thehostessesheapedcarrotsandpeasonmyplate－and,ifIwaslucky,mashedpotatoes.Ifthatwasn’tbadenough,IdiscoveredthatmostAmericansassociatedvegetarianismwiththecounterculture,afadforpot-addledhippiesinbeadsandsandalscha