2003年全國大學生英語競賽初賽試題

PartIIVocabularyandStructure(15minutes,30points)

SectionAMultipleChoice(20points)

Directions：Questions31-50constituteacompletepassage.Thereare20blanksinthepassage.Foreachblanktherearefour

choicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.Thenmarkthecorrespondingletteronthe

AnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

31.SeniorMetropolitanpoliceofficerstriedtodismisstheNotingHillraceriotswhichragedforfivenightsovertheAugust

bankholidayin1958astheworkofuruffians,bothcoloredandwhite“hell-bentonhooliganism,accordingtoofficial

files.

A.recentrevealedB.newlyreleased

C.previousdisclosingD.earlierexposing

32.Butpoliceeyewitnessreportsinthesecretpapersthattheywereoverwhelminglytheworkofawhiteworkingclass

mobouttogetthe“niggers”.

A.containB.convince

C.consistD.confirm

33.TheferocityoftheNotingHill“racialriots"，asthepresscalledthematthetime,shockedBritainintoforthefirst

timethatitwasnotabovethekindofracialconflictthenbeingplayedoutintheAmericandeepsouth.

A.realizingB.witnessing

C.watchingD.identifying

34.Thecarnival,whichwillthestreetsofwestLondonmorethan1.5millionpeoplethisweekend,wasstartedin

1959asadirectresponsetotheriots.

A.crowd；ofB.pour；for

C.fill；withD.emerge；in

35.Whileseniorofficerstriedtoplaydowntheracialaspectsoftheriots,theinternalMetropolitanpolicefilesreleasedthis

monthatthepublicrecordofficeconfirmthatthedisturbanceswereoverwhelminglyby300to400strong“KeepBritain

Whitemobs，manyofthemTeddyboysarmedwithironbars,butchefsknivesandweightedleatherbelts,whowent

anigger-huntingvamongtheWestIndianresidentsofNotingHillandNotingDale.

A.eruptedB.commenced

C.triggeredD.inaugurated

36.ThefirstnightleftfiveblackmenonthepavementsofNotingHill.

A.lyingunconsciousB.theredied

C.feelfaintD.serioushurt

37.Thebattlesragedoverthebankholidayweekendastheblackrespondedinkindwithcounterattacksbylargegroups

of“menofcolor“similarlyarmed.

A.columnB.army

C.brigadeD.community

38.ThomasWilliamswasstoppedbythepoliceashecameoutofBluey*sClubonTalbotRoad,NotingHill.Heapiece

ofirondownhislefttrouserleg,apetrolbombinhisrightpocketandarazorbladeinhisinsidebreastpocket：”Ihaveto

protectmyself,“hetoldthearrestingofficer.

A.foundtohaveB.wasfoundtohave

C.foundhavingD.wasfoundhaving

39.Thefiles,whichweresealedunderthe75-yearrulebuthavebeenreleasedearly,showthatseniorofficerstriedto

convincethethenhomesecretary,"Rab"Butler,thattherewasnotaracialelementtotherioting.

A.forbiddenB.confidential

C.incredibleD.strict

40.Inhisofficialreport,DetectiveSergeantM.WaltersoftheNottingHillpolicesaidthenationalpresshadbeenwrongto

portraytheuwidespreadseriesofstreetdisturbances"as"racial“riots："Whereastherecertainlywassomefeelingbetween

whiteandcoloredresidentsinthisarea,itisabundantlyclearmuchofthetroublewascausedbyruffians,bothcoloredand

white,whoseizedonthisopportunitytoindulgeinhooliganism.“

A.illB.sick

C.painfulD.hurt

41.Butthepolicewitnessstatementsandprivatestatistics.

A.tolddifferentlyB.interpretedinadifferentway

C.existedmanydifferencesD.toldadifferentstory

42.TheMetcommissionerwastoldthatthe108peoplewhowerechargedwithoffencesrangingfromgrievousbodily

harmtoaffrayandriotandpossessingoffensiveweapons,72werewhiteand36were“colored”.

A.forB.from

C.ofD.in

43.ItispopularlybelievedthattheriotbeganonthenightofSaturday,August20,whena400-strongcrowdofwhitemen,

“Teds"，attackedhousesoccupiedbyWestIndians.

A.theyareallB.manyofthem

C.somewereD.mostofthembelongto

44.AmongthewasMajbrittMorrison,ayoungwhiteSwedishbrideofaJamaican.

A.offendersB.rioters

C.victimsD.residents

45.Shewaspeltedwithstones,glassandwood,andinthebackwithanironbarasshetriedtogethome.

A.bruisedB.struck

C.pattedD.scratched

46.Theinternalpolicewitnessstatementsprovidegraphicevidenceofthemotivesofthemobs—atonepointcrowdsseveral

thousandstrongroamedthestreetsofNottingHill,homesandattackinganyWestIndiantheycouldfind.

A.plungingintoB.breakinginto

C.seekingforD.searchingfor

47.PCRichardBedfordsaidhehadseenamobof300to400whitepeopleinBramleyRoad："Wewillkillallblack

bastards.Whydon*tyousendthemhome?”

A.shoutingB.tocry

C.utterD.announced

48.PCIanMcQueenonthesamenightsaidhewastold：uMindyourown,cops.Keepoutofit.Wewillsettlethese

niggersourway.Wellmurderthebastards.v

A.mattersB.affair

C.thingsD.business

49.ThedisturbancescontinuednightafternightuntiltheyfinallypeteredoutonSeptember5.AttheOldBaileyJudgeSalmon

laterhandeddownexemplaryoffouryearseachonninewhiteyouthswhohadgoneuniggerhunting”.

A.decisionsB.statements

C.trialsD.sentences

50.Whilethosedealtwithbythecourtswereoverwhelminglywhite,thelargenumberofblackpeoplealsoarrestedandthe

officialtherehadnotbeenaracialmotiveensuredalegacyofblackmistrustoftheMetropolitanpolicethathasnever

reallybeeneradicated.

A.persistenceB.perseverance

C.insistenceD.instance

SectionBEnorCorrection(lOpoints)

Directions：Thefollowingpassagecontains9errors.Ineachcaseonlyonewordisinvolved.Youshouldproofreadthepassage

ontheAnswerSheetandcorrectitinthefollowingway：

EXAMPLE

Onenight,quitelate,IwasstillawakeintheroomIamsharedwith1.am

myhusband.Iwaslyingonmyrightsideandcanhearachildcrying.2.could

Gettingup,IwentAseeifoursonwasallright.3.to

Hewassleepingsoundly,breathingdeeplyandgently.4.V

TheZipper

Whateverdidwedobeforetheinventionofthezipper?

In1893theworld'sfirstzipperwasproducedinChicago.

Althoughtheinventorclaimedthatitwasareliablefastening

forclothing,thiswasnotthecase.TheChicagozippersprang51.

openwithoutwarning,orjammedshut,anditswiftlylost

popularity.TwentyyearsagoaSwedish-bornengineercalled52.

Sundbacksolvedtheproblem.Heattachedtinycupstothe

backsoftheinterlockedteeth,andthismeantthattheteeth53.

couldbeenmeshedmorefirmlyandreliably.

Atfirstzippersweremadeofmetal.Theywereheavy,and

iftheygotstuckitwasdifficulttofree.Thencamenylon54.

zipperswhichwerelighterandeasiertouse,andhadsmaller

teeth.Thefashionindustrylikedthenewzippersfarbetter

becausetheydidn'tdistortthelineofthegarmentorweighing55.

downlightfabrics.Theywerealsoeasierforthemachinists

tofitintothegarment.

Meanwhileanewfasteningagentmadeitsappearanceat

theendofthetwentycentury:velcro.Velcroisanotherproduct56.

madefromnylon.Nylonisaverytoughsyntheticfibrefirst

developedinthe1930s,andbearinganametomindthewearer57.

ofthetwoplaceswhereitwasdeveloped：NYforNewYorkand

LONforLondon.Velcroismadewithverysmallnylonhookson

onesideofthefasteningwhichcaughttinyloopedwhiskersonthe58.

othersideofthefastening.Itisstronganddurable.

Velcroisusedonclothing,luggagesandfootwear.Itisquick59.

andeasytofastenandunfasten,andhastakenalargepartof

thezipper'sshareofthemarket.Itisalsousedinwaysazipper

cannotbeused—forinstanceasaneasilychangedfasteningon

plastercasts,andtoholdfurnishingfabricsinaposition.60.

PartIIISituationalDialogues(5minutes,10points)

Directions：Completethefollowingdialoguesbychoosingthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswer

Sheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

61.Rob：HeyJill,you*relookinggreat.

Jill：Thanks,Rob.

Rob：Well,youdidit.How?

Jill：Ijogeverymorning,andIgotoaerobicseveryotherday.

A.Iboughtthisdressyesterday.Reallysmart.

B.Youarelookingfinetoo.

C.Fmrecoveringmystrengthaftertheflu.

D.MyNewYear'sresolutionwastogetinshape.

62.Bob：HiJane.Howareyou?

Jane：Ididn'tsleepawinklastnight.Thepeoplenextdoorweremakingalotofnoiseagaintillverylateat

night.

A.Fmfeelingabitoutofsortsthismorning.

B.Fine,thankyou.Andyou?

C.Isleptlikealoganddidn'twanttogetoutofbed.

D.Itseemsabitunusual,youknow.

63.Ann：Aah!He'sgorgeous!Lookatthosebig,goldenpaws.Whendidyougethim?

Roger：Yesterday.

Ann：Oh,right.Whatkindisshe?

Roger：ALabrador.

A.Susan'sgotamorebeautifulone.

B.Whafsup?

C.It'sasheactually.

D'Isn'titright?

64.Tina：Wow,lookatallthethingsonsale.

Andrew：Yes,look,thisshirtis50%off.

Tina：Andlookattheseshoes.Theyare30%offthenormalprice.

A.I'dliketobuyaskirt.B.Therearesomerealbargains.

C.Arethepricesreasonable?D.Theseshoesarethesameasmine.

65.Woman：Haveyoufinishedthepackaging?

Man：____________

Woman：Good.Becausethetruckwillbecomingsoon,thisisarushjob.

A.Don'thurrymorFilbreaktheglass.

B.Almost.Ijusthavetowraptheglassandputitintoboxes.

C.No,【haven't.Whydidn'tyouhelpmewithit?

D.Yes,Ihave.WhatelsecanIdoforyou?

66.CustomsOfficer：________________________

Mrs.Johnson：No,nothingatall.

CustomsOfficer：Noperfume,alcoholorcigarettes?

Mrs.Johnson：Well,Ihave200cigarettes；that'sall.

A.Doyouhaveanythinginthebag,ma'am?

B.Doyouhaveanythingtodeclare,ma'am?

C.Doyouwanttobuysomething,ma'am?

D.IsthereanythingIcandoforyou,ma'am?

67.Linda：Hello.Fdliketosendthispackage,please.

Clerk：_____________________________________

Linda：Firstclass.Howlongwillthattake?

Clerk：Aboutthreedays.

A.Howwouldyouliketosendit?B.Whichclassareyouin?

C.Wheredoyouwanttosenditto?D.Whichclassisitin?

68.Assistant：CanIhelpyou?

Colin：Yes,it'saboutthissportsshirt.Iwashedittheotherday.Thecolourrananditshrank.

Assistant：Ohdear,Isee._________________________

Colin：I'mafraidnot.

Assistant：I'msorry,butI'mnotallowedtochangeanythingwithoutareceipt.

A.Didyoubuyithere?

B.Wouldyouwanttochangeit?

C.Doyouhavethereceipt?

D.Couldyoutellmewhosoldittoyou?

69.James：CouldIhavemybill,please?CanIpaybycreditcardoreurocheque?

Receptionist：____________

James：Filpaybycreditcard,then.

Receptionist：That'sfine.Ihopeyouenjoyedyourstayhere.

A.Here'syourbill.B.Sorry,wedon'ttakecreditcard.

C.Youcanpaybyeurocheque.D.Yes,wetakeboth.

70.Husband：Whenisouranniversary?

Wife：_________________________

Husband：No,ifsjustthatIboughttheseflowersforyouandIwashopingtodaywastheday.

A.Hmm...Ican'tremembereither.Why?

B.Hey,aretheseflowersforme?

C.Whocares?Doyouwanttogivemeasurprise?

D.Areyoujoking?Haveyoureallyforgottenagain?

PartIVReadingComprehension(25minutes,40points)

SectionAMultipleChoice(10points)

Directions：Thereisonereadingpassageinthispart.Thepassageisfollowedby5questionsorunfinishedstatements.Foreach

ofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Youshoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletter

ontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

Questions71to75arebasedonthefollowingpassage：

Takingapeepatwhat'sgoingoninyourhead

CARLFiler,18,astarsalesmanataB&QhardwarestoreintheUK,wascalledupforpromotionwithinoneweekofstarting

work.But,insteadofbeingmadesupervisor,hewassacked一afterhisemployerssawtheresultsofhispsychometrictest.

Youmightthinkthatanyonewhoanswersthathe“stronglydisagreesheisanover-achieverisaskingfortrouble,butMrFiler

alreadythoughthehadprovedhimselfmorethancapable.

Thisyear,nearlyhalfofUKfirms-46percent一willusepsychometricteststoselecttrainees,comparedwithjust17percentin

2000,accordingtoareportforGTLapublisherofgraduatecareerguides.

Thesetests,whichratecandidates?abilityandgaugetheirpersonality,havebeenusedintheUKsincethe1980s.Butassorted

studieshaveshownmostpeople一graduatesinparticular-arewhollycynicalabouttheideaoftheirpersonalitybeing

“measured.

,Peopletendtoseethemaseithertoosillyortooclever,saysCliveFletcher,professorofoccupationalpsychologyat

UniversityofLondon."Butalltheevidenceindicatesthetestsdohavesomevalue.

Thefirstpersonalitytestasweknowit,wasdevelopedbytheAmericanarmyin1917tofilteroutweakrecruits.

Butitwasnotuntilthe1980sthatthetestsbecamepopularinBritain.Witharisingnumberofgraduatesgoingforadecreasing

numberofjobs,organizationsbegantoseepsychometrictestingasacheap,reliablealternativetotheexpensive,

time-consuminginterview.

Buttodaythetestsarebecomingalarminglysophisticatedandareedgingtowardsprobingthe,darkside：pathologyand

personalitydisorders.Increasingly,testsarebeingusedtotrytodetectpromisingyounggraduateswhomay,laterinlife,fly

offtherails(gocrazy)；ortostoppsychopaths(havingmentaldisorder)gettingrecruited.

Inthefuture,intervieweescouldevenbegivenamouthswabtorevealthegeneticandbiologicalmarkersofpersonality."We

areheadingfortheeraofgeneticscreening,warnsCarolynJones,oftheInstituteforEmploymentRights."Ithinkthesetests

areveryflawed.

Andthereareotherproblemswiththetests.Forstarters,itispossibletofakeit-eventhetestproducersagreeonthis.Butthey

havemadeitashardaspossible.Forexample,lookatwhetheryouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingtwostatements/4New

ideascomeeasilytomeand"Ifindgeneratingnewconceptsdifficult.Howlongdiditlakeyoutorealizetheybothcould

meanthesamething?

Themainargument,however,isthatthetestsareinvalidandcannotquantify(putanumericalvalueon)somethingas

changeableaspersonality.

Thegoldenruleisthen,thatapsychometrictestshouldneverbeusedasthesolebasisofselection,butshouldalwaysbe

followedbyinterviews.

71.Mostpeople'sattitudetowardsthepsychometrictestis.

A.contemptuousB.favorableC.tolerantD.confounded

72.Whichofthefollowingisoneofthereasonswhypsychometrictestingwinsanadvantageoverinterviews?

A.Itdoesn'tcostanymoney.B.Itrequiresnoequipment.

C.Itistime-saving.D.Itcanbedonewithinseconds.

73.Whichofthefollowingstatementsistheauthor'sidea?

A.Psychometrictestsaredefective.

B.Psychometrictestsshouldnotbetheonlywaytorecruitpromisingyounggraduates.

C.Psychometrictestsareinvalidandcannotquantifysomethingchangeableaspersonality.

D.Psychometrictestsaregoldenrules.

74.Thetestproducersmakethetestsverycomplicatedto.

A.avoidcheatingB.improvegeneticscreening

C.findoutthebestideasD.generatenewconcepts

75.Whichofthefollowingisnottrueaccordingtothepassage?

A.TheAmericanarmydevelopedthefirstpersonalitytesttoscreenoutweakrecruits.

B.Inthefuture,interviewerscouldgiveamouthswabtorevealinterviewees*symptoms.

C.Therearepossibilitiesforstarterstocheatinthepsychometrictests.

D.Interviewsstillplayanimportantroleinevaluatinginterviewees.

SectionBShortAnswerQuestions(30points)

Directions：Inthispartthereare3passageswith15questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagescarefully.Then

answerthequestionsinthefewestpossiblewords(notexceeding10words).RemembertorewritetheanswersontheAnswer

Sheet.

Questions76to80arebasedonthefollowingpassage：

The8StepsofSocialInvention

1.Getreadytoplay.

Likeothertypesofcreativity,socialinventivenessflourisheswhenyoubeginthinkingoutsideconventionalboundaries.Charlie

Girsch,aSt.Paul,Minnesota-basedcreativityconsultant,suggeststhatyoustartbyplayingwithobviouslyabsurdexplanations

foreverydayevents.uIftrafficisslow,youllbetemptedtosay,'Hmm.Mustbeanaccidentupahead.,Instead,trysaying,

"Mustbeafamilyofturtlescrossingthehighway'or'Iexpectthere'ssomekindofalienabductiongoingon.,Youllbe

amazedhowsoonyouwillbelookingatfamiliarproblemsinnewways."Girsch'sbook,FanningtheCreativeSpiritCCreativity

Central,1999)hasscoresofotherexercisesforlimberinguptheinventivepartofyourbrain.

2.Generateazillionfar-fetchedideas.

Concernedaboutthehomelessinyourneighborhood?ImagineaHomelessParliament,aHomelessCircus,homelessfamilies

forminganorchestra,ahomelessmuseum...andonandon.Generatelikemadwithnoregardforfeasibilityinorder,as

socialinventionpioneerNicholasAlberyadvises,touovercomeeworthy-but-dullideas.nEventuallythetwoorthreebestideas

willbegintostandout.

3.Takeyourwildestideaandbringitdowntoearth.

HowaboutthatHomelessCircus?Coulditturnintoaforumforhomelesspeopletodisplaytheircreativetalents?A

performanceseriesabouthomelessness?Aneighborhoodcarnivalwiththehomelessasguestsofhonor?Yourflakiestidea

mayhaveagermofbrilliancethatactuallymakesitmoreattractive,andthusmorefeasible(andfundable),thanits

worthy-but-dullcousins.

4.Lookforinvenationsthatsolvemorethanoneproblem.

TheSlowFoodMovement,borninItaly,boostslocalfarmersandregionalcuisinetraditionsandrestaurateursandthesame

timethatit“feeds”ourhungerforauthentictastes,healthyeating,andamoreleisurely,sanerstyleoflife.

5.Accentuatethepositive.

“AverycommonquestionthatIgetwhenIworkwithpeopleincommunitiesis4Whydoesn'tanybodycareaboutour

problems?'notesMchaelPatterson,asocialinventorandactivistinMassachusetts.uWhataworthlessquestion.'Why'?

questionsareforphilosophers.Ask'How'?and'What'?questions-theyarealotmorepractical.^Forinstance,Patterson

asks,uWhatwouldyoudoifyouknewyoucouldn'tfail?”

6.Giveitarest.

Walkawayfromyourfavoriteideaforawhile,forgetaboutit,letitsleep.Withyourconsciousmindoutoftheway,your

subconsciousgetstofiddlewiththeconceptforawhile,andyoujustmighthaveanunexpectedinsightorbreakthrough.

7.Practice“yesand"insteadof"yesbut".

Nomatterhowtemptedyouaretosay"Yes,butthiswillbehardbecause,"or"Yes,butamillionotherpeoplearedoingthis,“

shifttheconjunctionto“and"andseewhatsortofpositiverefinementorchangeemerges."Yds,andwecouldconcentrateon

immigrants.v"Yes,andwecanmakeitopentoallages.”

8.Getyourideaintotheworld.

Thisisthetoughpart.Youmightseekoutthehelpofactivistswhowilltakeashinetoyourideas.Orbecomeanorganizer

yourself.PaulGlove,aNewYorksocialinventor,coun-sels：”Ifyouhaveanideayoubelievein,writeapamphletwithyour

phonenumberonitandpostitinLaundromatsandbookstores.Ifthreepeoplecallyou,havelunchwiththemandcall

yourselvesanorganization.Iffivepeoplecall,meetwiththemandissueapressrelease.Presto,youYelaunched.

76.Togeneratefar-fetchedideashelpsto.

77.MichaelPattersonwantsustocomeupwith“How"？and“What"？insteadof"Why"?questionsbecauseheconsiders

theyaremorepracticalthan.

78.Thepurposetopractice“yesand“insteadof"yesbut"istomakeyourselfmore.

79.Accordingtothearticle,whenonehasdifficultydevelopinghisfavoriteidea,heshould.

80.Oneshouldnotonlygeneratefar-fetchedideasbutalsobecausethelatterstepisthenearesttoreality.

Questions81to85arebasedonthefollowingpassage：

ThinSliceofTVHasBigMarket

Itistooearlytowriteanobituaryforbulkypicturetubes,whichwillremainthemostaffordableTVsetsforyearstocome.

But,analystsandindustryexecutivesinsistthatthinscreensalreadyhavestartedtobecomethedominantformatforTVsetsin

thedigitalera.

Sharppricecutshavebroughtplasmasetsandotherthin,flattelevisionsoutofhigh-endelectronicboutiquesandinto

thousandsofmass-marketoutletssuchasCosco,awholesalebuyingclubintheUS,bestknownforofferingmembersbulk

itemsandbigdiscounts.

TheleastexpensiveplasmasetsstillcostaheftyUS$3,OOOormore,yetsalesaregrowingsorapidlythatmany

manufacturersareracingtoboostproduction.

Thatincrease,combinedwithexpandingproductioncapacityandimprovedtechnology,couldpushthepriceofplasmasets

downbyone-thirdnextyear,accordingtoanalystRichardDohertyofEnvisioneeringGroup,aUSresearchfirm.

Butmanufacturersarenotjustcompetingwitheachother；theyarealsotryingtofendoffchallengesfromcompeting

thin-screentechnologies,suchasliquidcrystaldisplays(LCD).

ThedemandforthinscreensisfuelledinpartbytheadventofDVDsanddigitalTVbroadcasts,whichoffermoredetailed

picturesandmorelifelikecolorsthanconventionalanalogTVsignals.

Toseethedifference,consumersneedasetthatcanpackmoreinformationontothescreenthantheircurrentTVscan.

Thissharpnessismostvividonscreensthatare40inchesdiagonalorlarger.Atthatsize,however,traditionaldirectviewand

projectionTVsaresobulkythatmanyconsumershavetroublefindingaplaceforthemathome.

Hencetheinterestinthinscreens一modelsslenderandlightenoughtohangonawall.

TheglasspanelsattheheartofplasmaandLCDsetscomemainlyfromaboutadozencompanieswithfactoriesinJapan,South

Koreaand,increasingly,China.About800,000plasmapanelswillbeshippedthisyeararoundtheworld,analystssay.

ThatisatinyamountcomparedwiththeoverallmarketforTVs,whichwasabout140millionsetslastyear.But,industry

expertssaid2003wouldbeaubreakoutyear“orplasmabecauseshipmentsshoulddouble.

Helpingdrivethegrowthareneworexpandedmanufacturingfacilities.Forexample,JapaneseelectronicsgiantNEClastyear

doubledthecapacityofitsJapanesefactory——reaching300,OOOto400,000plasmapanels.Anditplanstodoubleitagainin

2003,officialssaid.

Ascompetitionhasheatedupduringthelastfouryears,priceshavefallenmorethan50percent.Accordingto“NPDTec

world”,theaveragepriceofaplasmadisplaysoldintheUSdroppedfromUS$12,700inJanuary1999toUS$6,lOOin

October2002.

ThebestmarketsforplasmascreenshavebeeninAsia,andabouthalfofthesetshavegonetobusinessesinsteadofhomes.

LCDTVscarryapremiumprice一theycanbe10timesasexpensiveasacomparabletube-driventelevision一thatknocksthem

outofmostbuyers'budgets.

ButLCDpanelsarequicklytakingoverthemarketforcomputermonitors,andthetensofmillionsofpanelsbeingproduced

forthatsegmentwillhelppushdownpricesforLCDTVs,analystspredicted.

SharpElectronics,forone,isbettingheavilyonLCDs.Itschairman,ToshiakiUrushisako,haspredictedthatSharpwillswitch

completelyfromconventionaltubesetstoLCDTVsinJapanby2005.

Flat-panelreferstowafer-thin(3inchesorless)TVs,whereasflat-screenmayactuallydescribetraditionalcathode-ray-tubesets

(CRTs)whoseglassfrontlacksthedistortingcurvethatTVshavehadfor50years.

Beawareoftwothings：One,flat-paneltechnologymaynotbehigh-definitionTV；foreventualHDTVreception,someofthese

setswillrequireaseparateHDtuner.Two,someflat-panelTVsarejustthepanelandlackspeakersandsometimesabuilt-in

tuner.

Pricerange：US$700—2,000

LCDvsplasma

Ingeneral,LCDtechnologyisusedforsmallerscreensbecauseoftheenormousnumberoftransistorsneededtoturnthe

glasslikeliquidcrystalsintocolorimages.Thelargerthedisplay,themoretransistors,themorechanceoffailedconnections.

AplasmascreenisfoundinTVsetslargerthan20inches.ColoriscomparabletoanLCD*s.LCDsdonotdeteriorateover

time,whileaplasmadisplayaverages30,000hours(atraditionalTVscreencangofor20,000),afterwhichitfadesover

aperiodofyears.Earlierproblemswiththequalityofplasma'scontrasthavebeenaddressed,andcurrentscreensarecleaner

andbetterdefined.

Pricerange：US$600—2,800

HDTV

Simplyput,high-definitionTVis10timesassharpastraditionalTV,andthesoundisdigital,likeCDsound,notFM,

whichiswhattraditionalTVprovides.HDtechnologyachievesitsvisualclaritywithmoreimmagelinesonthescreen.Where

analogTVshave480horizontallines,HDTVhas720or1,0801ines.Beaware：manyHDTVsetsbeingsoldnowareinfact

onlyHDTVmonitors,offeringacrisppicture.Toreceivegenuinehigh-definitiontelevisionsignals,ownersmustbuya

separateHDTVreceiver.

Pricerange：US$1,00