2005年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题

Section I: Use of English

Directions:

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark [A], [B], [C] or [D] on ANSWER SHEET 1 (10 points)

The human nose is an underrated tool. Humans are often thought to be insensitive smellers compared with animals, __1__ this is largely because, __2__ animals, we stand upright. This means that our noses are __3__ to perceiving those smells which float through the air, __4__ the majority of smells which stick to surfaces. In fact, __5__, we are extremely sensitive to smells, __6__ we do not generally realize it. Our noses are capable of __7__ human smells even when these are __8__ to far below one part in one million.

Strangely, some people find that they can smell one type of flower but not another, __9__ others are sensitive to the smells of both flowers. This may be because some people do not have the genes necessary to generate __10__ smell receptors in the nose. These receptors are the cells which sense smells and send __11__ to the brain. However, it has been found that even people insensitive to a certain smell __12__ can suddenly become sensitive to it when __13__ to it often enough.

The explanation for insensitivity to smell seems to be that brain finds it __14__ to keep all smell receptors working all the time but can __15__ new receptors if necessary. This may __16__ explain why we are not usually sensitive to our own smells we simply do not need to be. We are not __17__ of the usual smell of our own house but we __18__ new smells when we visit someone else’s. The brain finds it best to keep smell receptors __19__ for unfamiliar and emergency signals __20__ the smell of smoke, which might indicate the danger of fire.

1. [A] although

[B] as

[C] but（C）

[D] while

2. [A] above

[B] unlike

[C] excluding（B）

[D] besides

3. [A] limited

[B] committed

[C] dedicated（A）

[D] confined

4. [A] catching

[B] ignoring

[C] missing（C）

[D] tracking

5. [A] anyway

[B] though

[C] instead（B）

[D] therefore

6. [A] even if

[B] if only

[C] only if（A）

[D] as if

7. [A] distinguishing

[B] discovering

[C] determining（D）

[D] detecting

8. [A] diluted

[B] dissolved

[C] determining（A）

[D] diffused

9. [A] when

[B] since

[C] for（D）

[D] whereas

10. [A] unusual

[B] particular

[C] unique（B）

[D] typical

11. [A] signs

[B] stimuli

[C] messages（C）

[D] impulses

12. [A] at first

[B] at all

[C] at large（A）

[D] at times

13. [A] subjected

[B] left

[C] drawn（D）

[D] exposed

14. [A] ineffective

[B] incompetent

[C] inefficient（C）

[D] insufficient

15. [A] introduce

[B] summon

[C] trigger（D）

[D] create

16. [A] still

[B] also

[C] otherwise（B）

[D] nevertheless

17. [A] sure

[B] sick

[C] aware（C）

[D] tired

18. [A] tolerate

[B] repel

[C] neglect（D）

[D] notice

19. [A] available

[B] reliable

[C] identifiable（A）

[D] suitable

20. [A] similar to

[B] such as

[C] along with（B）

[D] aside from