全国2010年10月高等教育自学考试英语写作基础试题
课程代码:00597

I. 重写句子 (15 points, 1.5 points each)
Revise the following sentences according to the requirement.
Example: The history of English words is the history of our civilization in many ways. (periodic sentence)
In many ways, the history of English words is the history of our civilization.
1. I was apprenticed to a builder when I was fourteen. (simple sentence)
2. Independence Hall in Philadelphia is now restored. Fifty years ago it was in bad shape. (compound sentence)
3. The story was interesting. It was not believable. (complex sentence)
4. Despite its shortcomings, education remains the single best means of economic advancement. (loose construction)
5. My aunt often travels abroad. She enjoys experimenting with unusual food.
(sentence with a modifying phrase)
6. I want neither your sympathy nor do I want your pity. (sentence with parallel
structure)
7. We should not rely so heavily on oil, coal and uranium. They are overused. Coal and oil are irreplaceable. Uranium is also irreplaceable. (long sentence)
8. Shopkeepers usually close their stores early on December 24 to get home early for Christmas Eve. (sentence with "to Opener")
9. Smith forgot his wedding anniversary for the tenth straight year. Smith’s wife was extremely angry. She made Smith spend a week sleeping on the porch. (compound-complex sentence)
10. The route can be changed. I know several people. They don’t like any change.
(compound-complex sentence)
Ⅱ.改写病句 ( 15 points, 3 points each)
Correct the errors in the following sentences.
Example: After seeing an offensive mouthwash ad on television. I resolved never to buy that brand again.
After seeing an offensive mouthwash ad on television, I resolved never
to buy that brand again.
11. I went home, he stayed at the party.
12. I returned the kitty to my mom. Which had been missing for a couple of days.
13. Mother could not persuade me that giving is as much a joy as to receive.
14. Walked along the river, I ran into a high school friend of mine.
15. Economists are applauded or ignored when the economy is strong; are criticized when is weak.
Ⅲ.标出主题句(1 5 points,5 points each)
16. Choose the best topic sentence from the group below. Write the letter of your
choice in the blank provided.
A. There are some differences in the behavior of rock and classical music audiences.
B. At a rock concert, the audience members yell, whistle, sing along, and
even stamp their feet.
C. Members of the classical music audience are so highly disciplined that
they refrain from even clearing their throats or coughing.
D. With rock music, the better the performance, the more active the audience
will be; with classical music, the better the performance, the more still
the audience will be.
Answer:_____________
17. Read the following paragraph and underline the topic sentence. Burnout is a potential problem for any hard working and persevering student. To strengthen their immunity to burnout, students need to work in moderation. They can concentrate on school every day, provided that they do not overtax themselves. One method students can use is to avoid concentrating on a single project for an extended period of time. For example, if students have to read two books for a midterm history test, they should do other assignments at intervals so that the two books will not get boring. Another means to moderate a workload is to regulate how many extracurricular projects to take on.
18. Read the following paragraph carefully and select the best topic sentence from the four possible answers that follow the paragraph. Write the letter of your choice in the blank provided.
Topic Sentence:___________________
The first electronic computer, ENIAC, went into operation just over fifty years ago. Compared with today’s home computer, ENIAC was enormous, consisting of forty panels, each two feet wide and four feet deep. Today’s PC or Macintosh, by contrast, can fit on one’s desk or even lap. ENIAC had to be configured by hand, with its programmers taking up to two days to reset switches and cables. Today, the average home user can change programs in an instant. And for all its size and inconvenience, ENIAC was slow. In its time, its operating speed of 100,000 pulses per second seemed amazingly fast. However, today’s home machine can operate at 1 billion pulses per second or faster.
A. ENIAC came into being about 50 years ago.
B. ENIAC was huge in size, and inconvenient to use.
C. ENIAC differed from today’s home computer greatly.
D. ENIAC operated at a much slower speed compared with today’s home computer.
Ⅳ. 重新组合段落 ( 5 points, 1 point each )
Rearrange the following numbered sentences so that they will read logically. Put the numbers in proper sequence in the boxes provided below.
19. When they reached the cottage, the two seated themselves with some appearance of fatigue (疲惫) upon the upper step of the porch.
20. The sunshade continued to approach slowly.
21. He fixed his gaze upon a white sunshade (遮阳伞) that was advancing slowly from the beach.
22. The gulf looked far away, melting hazily into the blue of the horizon.
23. Mr. Pontellier, sitting at the porch of a cottage, lit a cigar and looked afar.
24. Beneath the sunshade were his wife, Mrs. Pontellier, and young Robert Lebrun.
25. They faced each other, each leaning against a supporting post.
26. He could see it plainly between the trunks of the water-oaks along the gulf and across the stretch of wild flowers.

22

20

24

Ⅴ. 标出与段落内容无关的句子( 10 points )
Read the following paragraph and cross out the TWO irrelevant sentences.
We have all used physical databases since our grammar school days. Grammar school is known today as grade school or elementary school. Our class year-books, telephone books, shoeboxes full of receipts documenting various bills we have paid—these are all databases in one form or another, for a database is nothing more than a collection of information organized to allow retrieval (取回)of that information in certain ways. Anyone who is well organized has a better chance of succeeding in college or in the business world.
Ⅵ. 写信 (40 points)
Write a letter according to the following situation: You are going to apply for an undergraduate English literature program of a university. In the letter, tell them about your interest in the program, your qualifications and your career plan. The letter is addressed to the program director Mr. Rochester. Don’t forget to tell him your phone number (555-5555) and your email address （linping @126.com）. Please sign your name as Li Ping. (150-200 words)