Passage 1
The question of whether war is inevitable is one which has concerned many of the world`s great writers. Before considering this question， it will be useful to introduce some related concepts. Conflict， defined as opposition among social entities directed against one another， is distinguished from competition， defined as opposition among social entities independently striving for something which is in inadequate supply. Competitors may not be aware of one another， while the parties to a conflict are. Conflict and competition are both categories of opposition， which has been defined as a process by which social entities function in the disservice of one another. Opposition is thus contrasted with cooperation， the process by which social entities function in the service of one another. These definitions are necessary because it is important to emphasize that competition between individuals or groups is inevitable in a world of limited resources， but conflict is not. Conflict， nevertheless， is very likely to occur， and is probably an essential and desirable element of human societies.
Many authors have argued for the inevitability of war from the premise that in the struggle for existence among animal species， only the fittest survive. In general， however， this struggle in nature is competition， not conflict. Social animals， such as monkeys and cattle， fight to win or maintain leadership of the group. The struggle for existence occurs not in such fights， but in the competition for limited feeding areas and for the occupancy（占有）of areas free from meat-eating animals. Those who fail in this competition starve to death or become victims to other species. This struggle for existence does not resemble human war， but rather the competition for the necessities of life that are insufficient to satisfy all.
Among nations there is competition in developing resources， trades， skills， and a satisfactory way of life. The successful nations grow and prosper（繁荣）； the unsuccessful decline. While it is true that this competition may induce efforts to expand territory at the expense of others， and thus lead to conflict， it cannot be said that war-like conflict among nations is inevitable， although competition is.
26. In the first paragraph， the author gives the definitions of some terms in order to ______.
A） argue for the similarities between animal societies and human societies
B） smooth out the conflicts in human societies
C） distinguish between two kinds of opposition
D） summarize the characteristic features of opposition and cooperation
27. According to the author， competition differs from conflict in that_______.
A） it results in war in most cases
B） it induces efforts to expand territory
C） it is a kind of opposition among social entities
D） it is essentially a struggle for existence
28. The phrase “function in the disservice of one another”（Para 7， Line.1） most probably means“_______”。
A） betray each other
B） harm one another
C） help to collaborate with each other
D） benefit one another
29. The author indicates in the passage that conflict_______.
A） is an inevitable struggle resulting from competition
B） reflects the struggle among social animals
C） is an opposition among individual social entities
D） can be avoided
30. The passage is probably intended to answer the question“_______”。
A） Is war inevitable？
B） Why is there conflict and competition？
C） Is conflict desirable？
D） Can competition lead to conflict？
Passage 2
As Dr. Samuel Johnson said in a different era about ladies preaching， the surprising thing about computers is not that they think less well than a man， but that they think at all. The early electronic computer did not have much going for it except a marvelous memory and some good math skills. But today the best models can be wired up to learn by experience， follow an argument， ask proper questions and write poetry and music. They can also carry on somewhat puzzling conversations.
Computers imitate life. As computers get more complex， the imitation gets better. Finally， the line between the original and the copy becomes unclear. In another 15 years or so， we will see the computer as a new form of life.
The opinion seems ridiculous because， for one thing， computers lack the drives and emotions of living creatures. But drives can be programmed into the computer`s brain just as nature programmed them into our human brains as a part of the equipment for survival.
Computers match people in some roles， and when fast decisions are needed in a crisis， they often surpass them. Having evolved when the pace of life was slower， the human brain has an inherent defect that prevents it from absorbing several streams of information simultaneously and inherent defect that prevents it from absorbing several streams of information simultaneously and acting on them quickly. Throw too many things at the brain at one time and it freezes up.
We are still in control， but the capabilities are increasing at a fantastic rate， while raw human intelligence is changing slowly， if at all. Computer power has increased ten times every eight years since 1946. In the 1990s， when the sixth generation appears， the reasoning power of an intelligence built out of silicon will begin to match that of the human brain.
That does not mean the evolution of intelligence has ended on the earth. Judging by the past， we can expect that a new species out of man， surpassing his achievements as he has surpassed those of his predecessor. Only a carbon chemistry would assume that the new species must be man`s flesh-and-blood descendants. The new kind of intelligent life is more likely to be made of silicon.
31. What do you suppose was the attitude of Dr. Samuel Johnson towards ladies preaching？
A） He believed that ladies were born worse preachers than men.
B） He was pleased that ladies could preach， though not as well as men.
C） He disapproved of ladies preaching.
D） He encouraged ladies to preach.
32. Today， computers are still inferior to man in terms of _______.
A） decision making
B） drives and feelings
，六级经典阅读8