高等教育自学考试《英语（二）》模拟试卷二

Moderate Earthquake Strikes England!
A moderate earthquake struck parts of southeast England on 28 April 2007, toppling chimneys from houses and rousing residents from their beds.Several thousand people were left without power in Kent County.One women suffered minor head and neck injuries.
"It felt as if the whole house was being slid across like a fun-fair ride," said the woman.
The British Geological Survey said the 4.3-magnitude quake struck at 8 ~ 19 a.m.and was centered under the English Channel, about 8.5 miles south of Dover and near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.
Witnesses said cracks appeared in wails and chimneys collapsed across the county.Residents said the tremor had lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds.
"I was lying in bed and it felt as if someone had just got up from bed next to me." Said Hendrick van Eck, 27, of Canterbury about 60 miles southeast of London."I then heard the sound of cracking, and it was getting heavier and heavier.It felt as if someone was at the end of my bed hopping up and down."
There are thousands of moderate quakes on this scale around the world each year, but they are rare in Britain.The April 28 quake was the strongest in Britain since 2002 when a 4.8-magnitude quake struck the central England city of Birmingham.
The country’s strongest earthquake took place in the North Sea in 1931 ,measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale.British Geological Survey scientist Roger Musson said the quake took place on 28 April in an area that had seen several of the biggest earthquakes ever to strike Britain, including one in 1580 that caused damage in London and was felt in France.Musson predicted that it was only a matter of time before another earthquake struck this part of England.However.people should not be scared too much by this prediction, Musson said, as the modern earthquake warning system of Britain should be able to detect a forthcoming quake and announce it several hours before it takes place.This would allow time for people to evacuate and reduce damage to the minimum.

① You might find yourself staring at the clock, willing it to move faster so the boring workday will finally end.If your job offers little in the way of stimulation, there are steps you can take inside and outside the workplace.② If you're bored with your job, it could be a sign that you've mastered the basic requirements and are ready for more of a challenge.You might not have been in your position long enough to request a promotion.Still, you can take steps to enhance your current role.Ask your boss if there are any projects you can help with.Volunteer to train less experienced colleagues.You'll feel more stimulated at work and also increase your chances of future advancement.③If you feel there is nothing left to learn in your present position, take steps to increase your knowledge.Your company's website might have online courses you can take during your slow periods, with your manager's permission.Enroll in training classes your company offers in areas that interest you.You also can pursue educational opportunities outside of the workplace, such as college classes, industry-specific training programs or self-improvement courses.If the knowledge you acquire doesn't help you in your present position, it might eventually help you move into a more fulfilling position.④Look for ways to challenge yourself.If your job involves performing repetitive tasks, set a quota for the number of times you can accomplish a particular task during the course of a shift.This will give you something to shoot for.If you have co-workers who perform the same tasks, make a friendly wager to see who can do the most.You'll form stronger bonds with your colleagues, and your employer is likely to notice your increased productivity.⑤According to psychotherapist and career coach Nina Ham, boredom at work might be a symptom of dissatisfaction with your personal life.Finding sources of stimulation outside of work can have a positive impact on your attitude toward your job.Seeking counseling for an emotional issue can also be of benefit.If your personal life is going well and nothing you try seems to improve your engagement level at work, it might be time to consider a job or even a career change.

School age children may be learning about SARS from adults and the media, but may not know what to make of the situation, says a national health charity.The Lung Association says parents should take time to talk to their ____1____ and explain the facts about SARS and how to avoid the illness.The following is based on recommendations ____2____ Thursday by the Lung Association:Ask your children if they have heard ____3____ SARS at school, from friends, from TV, etc.Finding out what they already know can be a good ____4____ to start the conversation and to clear away any wrong ideas they might have about the illness and how it is spread.School age children are usually old ____5____ to understand concepts such as getting sick from germs and how to avoid illness.A simple reminder ____6____ to cough on people and to wash their hands often may be sufficient for younger kids.All children should be shown how to ____7____ their hands properly.Remember to keep it simple so ____8____ not to overwhelm children with information, but answer them truthfully.Kids can tell when you're not being honest or if your're hiding something, and sometimes the unknown can be more frightening than the ____9____ .Parents with anxious children will know how their kids will handle information on SARS and can tailor their discussion accordingly.One way to explain the illness is to tell children that SARS is like a bad breathing problem.It is ____10____ from a cold, but people can catch it in the same ways—such as coughing on someone, not washing your hands or sharing a glass with a sick person.

School-going children need pocket money for food, stationery and bus fares.Parents give pocket money to their children in different ways.Some give a lump sum at the beginning of a month or a week.____1____ The way in which pocket money is given affects how money is spent or saved.On the other hand, the children's spending habits may affect how pocket money is given.Pocket money given on a daily basis is sometimes termed as "food money".____2____ They learn how to manage small sums of money.As the money is limited, they have to control their spending.Some parents choose this method of allocating pocket money in order to prevent their children from overspending, hoping that in time they can be trusted with larger sums of money.____3____ Giving pocket money on a daily basis places responsibilities of budgeting on the parents, instead of the child.The child may spend every single cent of the daily pocket money by overindulging in junk food, as they know they will get another sum of money the next day.This results in children being short-sighted in their spending.____4____ They may develop the mentality that money is meant to be spent.Others spend more than they are given.They borrow from their siblings or their classmates when they feel like indulging themselves.Then they may ask for money to pay off their debts.This habit of borrowing causes them to depend on others to solve their problems.____5____