Section ⅡReading Comprehension
Part A
Directions:
Read the following four texts.Answer the questions below each text by choosing A,B,C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)
Text1
　　Can computer reason? Reasoning requires the individual to take a given set of facts and draw correct conclusions. Unfortunately, errors frequently occur, and we are not talking about simple carelessness as occurs when two numbers are incorrectly added, nor do we mean errors resulting from simple forgetfulness. Rather, we have in mind errors of a logical nature—those resulting from faulty reasoning. Now, or at least soon, computers will be capable of error�瞗ree logical reasoning in a variety of areas. The key to avoiding errors is to use a computer program that relies on the recent research in the field of automated theorem proving. AURA(Automated Reasoning Assistant) is the program that best exemplifies this use of the computer.
　　AURA solves a program by drawing conclusions from a given set of facts about the problem. The program reaches logical conclusions flawlessly as it uses various types of reasoning and solves almost all problems by using sophisticated techniques to find a contradiction.
　　One generally starts with a set of assumptions and adds a statement that the goal is unreachable. For example, if the problem is to test a safety system that automatically shuts down a nuclear reactor when instruments indicate a problem, AURA is told that the system will not shut the reactor down under those circumstances. If AURA finds a contradiction between the statement and the system�餾 design assumptions, then this aspect of the reactor�餾 design has been proved satisfactory. This strategy lets AURA concentrate on the problem at hand and avoid the many fruitless steps required to explore the entire theory underlying the problem.
　　The chief use for AURA at this time is for electronic circuit design validation, but a number of other uses will arise. For example, there already exist “expert systems” that are special�瞤urpose programs designed to automate reasoning in a specific area such as medical diagnosis. These expert systems continue to improve and have an indefinite life span. Moreover, they can be duplicated for pennies. A human who can expertly predict where to drill for oil is in great demand. A program that can predict equally well would be invaluable and could be duplicated any number of times.
　　Will the computer replace the human being? It seems likely that computer programs will reproduce more clever programs and more efficient components. Reasoning programs will also analyze their own progress, learn from their attempts to solve a problem. Such programs will assist, rather than replace, humans. Reasoning assistants will enable human minds to turn to deeper and far more complex ideas, which will be partially formulated and then checked for reasoning flaws by a reasoning program. Many errors will be avoided.21. The author suggests in Par.1 that humans are
\[A\] liable to irrational thinking.\[B\] apt to err in simple counting.
\[C\] prone to memory dysfunction.\[D\] subject to unwitting reasoning.
22. The way AURA works in is to
\[A\] explore the faults in designing.\[B\] discover the bugs in a program.
\[C\] state against the set suppositions.\[D\] make assumptions by reasoning.
23. All of the following are mentioned as areas for AURA EXCEPT
\[A\] electronic engineering.\[B\] detection of fossil fuels.
\[C\] identification of diseases.\[D\] complicated mental logic.
24. All of the following are advantages of expert programs EXCEPT
\[A\] they can be duplicated infinitely.\[B\] they are featured by self�瞐nalysis.
\[C\] they may be enriched in contents.\[D\] they are reproduced almost free.
25. The best title for the text seems to be
\[A\] Practical Uses of Computers.\[B\] Suggested Applications for AURA.
\[C\] The Technical Perfection of AURA.\[D\] Computer Aid to Human Reasoning.

Text2
　　Half the world�餾 population will be speaking or learning English by 2015,researchers say.Two billion people are expected to start learning English within a decade and three billion will speak it,says a British Council estimate.
　　Other languages,such as French,risk becoming the casualties of this “linguistic globalization”.But the boom will be over by 2050 and the English�瞝anguage teaching industry will have become a victim of its own success,says David Graddol,author of the report,The Future of English.
　　Mr.Graddol�餾 research was based on a computer model developed to estimate demand for English�瞝anguage teaching around the world.The lecturer,who has worked in education and language studies at the Open University for the past 25 years,said the model charted likely student numbers through to 2050.
　　It was compiled by looking at various estimates from the United Nations Education,Scientific and Cultural 　　Organization (Unesco) on education provision,demographic projections,government education policies and international student mobility figures.The impact of educational innovations and other developments affecting the world population including the Chinese government�餾 policy of one baby per family were also factored in.
　　Based on its findings,Mr.Graddol has predicted that the world is about to be hit by a tidal wave of English.　　“Many governments,especially in countries which have relatively recently gained independence,are introducing the teaching of English under a utilitarian banner.”
　　“But English predominates in the business world,and for such countries to be able to compete for work,including lucrative (profitable) outsourcing contracts,English is being pushed heavily from kindergarten on.”
　　The potential bonanza (source of wealth) on offer from outsourcing means even maths and science are being taught in English at secondary schools in Malaysia.But demand for English teaching would drop as children progress through academia,and more universities across the world choose to teach in the language.
　　Mr.Graddol also estimated that the boom would be over by 2050.“English�瞝anguage students will be down from two billion to 500 million then,”he said,“Increasingly,as English spread across the globe,more people will become bilingual,even multi�瞝ingual and such skills are highly prized in business.But Britain has not got the best reputation for learning other languages.”
　　The report also showed that English was not the only language spreading,and the world,far from being dominated by English,was to become more multi�瞝ingual.Mr.Graddol said,“Chinese,Arabic and Spanish are all popular,and likely to be languages of the future.”26. It is estimated that in a decade English will be
［A］ actively studied by over 200 million people.
［B］ freely spoken by global English learners.
［C］ popular with over 80% of world inhabitants.
［D］ really mastered by 50% of people worldwide.
27. According to the text,“linguistic globalization” will
［A］ eliminate French from the globe.
［B］ defeat other European languages.
［C］ fail all languages except English.
［D］ make English the biggest winner.
28. David Graddol predicts that the thriving period of English will
［A］ terminate within half a century.
［B］ climax in the middle of the century.
［C］ endure for no less than five decades.
［D］ quit till the beginning of the 2050s.
29. The report “The Future of English” factored in all of the following EXCEPT
［A］ the educational condition and policy.
［B］ the directions and designs of Unesco.
［C］ the statistics about population.
［D］ the movements of overseas students.
30. The writer of the report deems that outsourcing is to
［A］ result in the increase of English subjects.
［B］ lead to the drop of interest in English study.
［C］ account for the further spread of English.
［D］ bring about transition in college curricula.

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