Section 1 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)

       In Cambodia, the choice of a spouse is a complex one for the young male. It may involve not only his parents and his friends, __1__those of the young woman, but also a matchmaker. A young man can __2__ a likely spouse on his own and then ask his parents to __3__the marriage negotiations, or the young man’s parents may take the choice of a spouse, giving the child little to say in the selection. __4__, a girl may veto the spouse her parents have chosen. __5__ a spouse has been selected, each family investigates the other to make sure its child is marrying __6__ a good family.

       The traditional wedding is a long and colorful affair. Formerly it lasted three days, __7__1980s it more commonly lasted a day and a half. Buddhist priests offer a short sermon and __8__ prayers of blessing. Par--ts of the ceremony involve ritual hair cutting,__9__cotton threads soaked in holy water around the bride's and groom's wrists, and __10__a candle around a circle of happily married and respected couples to bless  the __11__.  Newlyweds traditionally move in with the wife's parents and may__12__ with them up to a year, __13__they can build a new house nearby.

       Divorce is legal and easy to __14__, but not common. Divorced persons are __15__ with some disapproval. Each spouse retains ___16___ property he or she __17__ into the marriage, and jointly-acquired property is __18__ equally. Divorced persons may remarry, but a gender prejudice __19__up.  The divorced male doesn't have a waiting period before he can remarry __20__the woman must wait ten months.

1.    A. by way of               B. with regard to               C. on behalf of            D. as well as
2.    A. decide on                B. provide for             C. compete with          D. adapt to
3.    A. close                B. arrange                  C. renew                     D. postpone
4.    A. In theory        B. Above all               C. In time                   D. For example
5.    A. Unless             B. Less                        C. After                             D. Although
6.    A. into                 B. within                    C. from                      D. through
7.    A. or                    B. since                      C. but                         D. so
8.    A. test                  B. copy                      C. recite                          D. create
9.    A. folding            B. piling                     C. wrapping                      D. tying
10. A. passing            B. lighting                  C. hiding                    D. serving
11. A. association       B. meeting                  C. collection               D. union
12. A. deal                 B. part                      C. grow                             D. live
13. A. whereas           B. until                      C. for                         D. if
14. A. avoid                      B. follow                     C. challenge               D. obtain
15. A. isolated           B. persuaded             C. viewed                    D. exposed
16. A. wherever        B. whatever               C. whenever               D. however
17. A. changed          B. brought                  C. shaped                   D. pushed
18. A. invested           B. divided                   C. donated                  D. withdrawn
19. A. warms             B. clears                      C. shows                     D. breaks
20. A. while                      B. so that                    C. once                      D. in that
 

Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension Part A

Directions：Read the following four texts. Answer the questions after each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)

Text 1

    France，which prides itself as the global innovator of fashion, has decided its fashion industry has lost an absolute right to define physical beauty for women. Its lawmakers gave preliminary approval last week to a law that would make it a crime to employ ultra-thin models on runways. The parliament also agreed to ban websites that “incite excessive thinness” by promoting extreme dieting.

    Such measures have a couple of uplifting motives. They suggest beauty should not be defined by looks that end up impinging on health. That’s a start. And the ban on ultra-thin models seems to go beyond protecting models from starving themselves to death –as some have done. It tells the fashion industry that it must take responsibility for the signal it sends women, especially teenage girls, about the social tape-measure they must use to determine their individual worth.

    The bans, if fully enforced, would suggest to women (and many men) that they should not let others be arbiters of their beauty. And perhaps faintly, they hint that people should look to intangible qualities like character and intellect rather than dieting their way to size zero or wasp-waist physiques.

    The French measures, however, rely too much on severe punishment to change a culture that still regards beauty as skin-deep-and bone-showing. Under the law, using a fashion model that does not meet a government-defined index of body mass could result in a $85,000 fine and six months in prison.

    The fashion industry knows it has an inherent problem in focusing on material adornment and idealized body types. In Denmark, the United States, and a few other countries, it is trying to set voluntary standards for models and fashion images that rely more on peer pressure for enforcement.

In contrast to France’s actions, Denmark’s fashion industry agreed last month on rules and sanctions regarding the age, health, and other characteristics of models. The newly revised Danish Fashion Ethical Charter clearly states:”We are aware of and take responsibility for the impact the fashion industry has on body ideals, especially on young people”. The charter’s main tool of enforcement is to deny access for designers and modeling agencies to Copenhagen Fashion Week (CFW), which is run by the Danish Fashion Institute. But in general it relies on a name-and -shame method of compliance.

Relying on ethical persuasion rather than law to address the misuse of body ideals may be the best step. Even better would be to help elevate notions of beauty beyond the material standards of a particular industry.   

21. According to the first paragraph，what would happen in France?
【A】Physical beauty would be redefined.
【B】New runways would be constructed.
【C】Websites about dieting would thrive.
【D】The fashion industry would decline.

22. The phrase “impinging on”(Line 2，Para.2) is closest in meaning to
【A】heightening the value of
【B】indicating the state of
【C】losing faith in
【D】doing harm to

23. Which of the following is true of the fashion industry？
【A】The French measures have already failed.
【B】New standards are being set in Denmark.
【C】Models are no longer under peer pressure.
【D】Its inherent problems are getting worse.

24. A designer is most likely to be rejected by CFW for

【A】pursuing perfect physical conditions
【B】caring too much about model’s character.
【C】showing little concern for health factors
【D】setting a high age threshold for models.

25. Which of the following may be the best title of the text?
【A】A Challenge to the Fashion Industry’s Body Ideals
【B】A Dilemma for the Starving models in France
【C】Just Another Round of Struggle for Beauty
【D】The Great Threats to the Fashion Industry