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历年考研英语阅读理解真题汇总 Passage1 Ahistoryoflongandeffortlesssuccesscanbeadreadfulhandicap,but,ifproperlyhandled,itmaybecomeadrivingforce.WhentheUnitedStatesenteredjustsuchaglowingperiodaftertheendoftheSecondWorldWar,ithadamarketeighttieslargerthananycompetitor,givingitsindustriesunparalleledeconomiesofscale.Itsscientistsweretheworldsbest,itsworkersthemostskilled.AmericaandAmericanswereprosperousbeyondthedreamsoftheEuropeansandAsianswhoseeconomiesthewarhaddestroyed. Itwasinevitablethatthisprimacyshouldhavenarrowedasothercountriesgrewricher.Justasinevitably,theretreatfrompredominanceprovedpainful.Bythemid-1980sAmericanshadfoundthemselvesatalossovertheirfadingindustrialcompetitiveness.SomehugeAmericanindustries,suchasconsumerelectronics,hadshrunkorvanishedinthefaceofforeigncompetition.By1987therewasonlyoneAmericantelevisionmakerleft,Zenith.(Nowthereisnone:ZenithwasboughtbySouthKoreasLGElectronicsinJuly.)Foreign-madecarsandtextilesweresweepingintothedomesticmarketAmericasmachine-toolindustrywasontheropes.Forawhileitlookedasthoughthemakingofsemiconductors,whichAmericahadwhichsatattheheartofthenewcomputerage,wasgoingtobethenextcasualty. Allofthiscausedacrisisofconfidence.Americansstoppedtakingprosperityforgranted.Theybegantobelievethattheirwayofdoingbusinesswasfailing,andthattheirincomeswouldthereforeshortlybegintofallaswell.Themid-1980sbroughtoneinquiryafteranotherintothecausesofAmericasindustrialdecline.Theirsometimessensationalfindingswerefilledwithwarningsaboutthegrowingcompetitionfromoverseas. Howthingshavechanged!In1995theUnitedStatescanlookbackonfiveyearsofsolidgrowthwhileJapanhasbeenstruggling.FewAmericansattributethissolelytosuchobviouscausesasadevalueddollarortheturningofthebusinesscycle.Self-doubthasyieldedtoblindpride."Americanindustryhaschangeditsstructure,hasgoneonadiet,haslearnttobemorequick-witted,"accordingtoRichardCavanagh,executivedeanofHarvard'sKennedySchoolofGovernment,"ItmakesmeproudtobeanAmericanjusttoseehowourbusinessesareimprovingtheirproductivity,saysStephenMooreoftheCatoInstitute,athink-tankinWashington,DC.AndWilliamSahlmanoftheHarvardBusinessSchoolbelievesthatpeoplewilllookbackonthisperiodas"agoldenageofbusinessmanagementintheUnitedStates." 1.TheU.S.achieveditspredominanceafterWorldWarⅡbecause_____. ［A］ithadmadepainstakingeffortstowardsthisgoal ［B］itsdomesticmarketwaseighttimeslargerthanbefore ［C］thewarhaddestroyedtheeconomiesofmostpotentialcompetitors ［D］theunparalleledsizeofitsworkforcehadgivenanimpetustoitseconomy 2.ThelossofU.S.predominanceintheworldeconomyinthe1980sismanifestedinthefactthattheAmerican_____. ［A］TVindustryhadwithdrawntoitsdomesticmarket ［B］semiconductorindustryhadbeentakenoverbyforeignenterprises ［C］machine-toolindustryhadcollapsedaftersuicidalactions ［D］autoindustryhadlostpartofitsdomesticmarket 3.Whatcanbeinferredfromthepassage? ［A］Itishumannaturetoshiftbetweenself-doubtandblindpried. ［B］Intensecompetitionmaycontributetoeconomicprogress. ［C］Therevivaloftheeconomydependsoninternationalcooperation. ［D］Alonghistoryofsuccessmaypavethewayforfurtherdevelopment. 4.TheauthorseemstobelievetherevivaloftheU.S.economyinthe1990scanbeattributedtothe____. ［A］turningofthebusinesscycle ［B］restructuringofindustry ［C］improvedbusinessmanagement ［D］successineducation 参考答案: 1.C 2.D 3.B 4.A Whenanewmovementinartattainsacertainfashion,itisadvisabletofindoutwhatitsadvocatesareaimingat,for,howeverfarfetchedandunreasonabletheirprinciplesmayseemtoday,itispossiblethatinyearstocometheymayberegardedasnormal.WithregardtoFuturistpoetry,however,thecaseisratherdifficult,forwhateverFuturistpoetrymaybeevenadmittingthatthetheoryonwhichitisbasedmayberight,itcanhardlybeclassedasLiterature. This,inbrief,iswhattheFuturistsays;foranoiseandviolenceandspeed.Consequently,ourfeelings,thoughtsandemotionshaveundergoneacorrespondingchange.Thisspeedingupoflife,saystheFuturist,requiresanewformofexpression.Wemustspeedupourliteraturetoo,ifwewanttointerpretmodernstress.Wemustpouroutalargestreamofessentialwords,unhamperedbystops,orqualifyingadjectives,offiniteverbs.Insteadofdescribingsoundswemustmakeupwordsthatimitatethem;wemustusemanysizesoftypeanddifferentcoloredinksonthesamepage,andshortenorlengthenwordsatwill. Certainlytheirdescriptionsofbattlesareconfused.ButitisalittleupsettingtoreadintheexplanatorynotesthatacertainlinedescribesafightbetweenaTurkishandaBulgarianofficeronabridgeoffwhichtheybothfallintotheriverandthentofindthatthelineconsistsofthenoiseoftheirfallingandtheweightsoftheofficers:Pluff!Pluff!Ahundredandeighty-fivekilograms.This,thoughitfulfillsthelawsandrequirementsofFuturistpoetry,canhardlybeclassedasLiterature.Allthesame,nothinkingmancanrefusetoaccepttheirfirstproposition:thatagreatchangeinouremotionallifecallsforachangeofexpression.Thewholequestionisreallythis:haveweessentiallychanged? 1.Thispassageismainly____. [A]asurveyofnewapproachestoart [B]areviewofFuturistpoetry [C]aboutmeritsoftheFuturistmovement [D]aboutlawsandrequirementsofliterature 2.Whenanovelliteraryideaappears,peopleshouldtryto_____. [A]determineitspurposes [B]ignoreitsflaws [C]followthenewfashions [D]accepttheprinciples 3.Futuristsclaimthatwemust____. [A]increasetheproductionofliterature [B]usepoetrytorelievemodernstress [C]developnewmodesofexpression [D]avoidusingadjectivesandverbs 4.TheauthorbelievesthatFuturistpoetryis_____. [A]basedonreasonableprinciples [B]newandacceptabletoordinarypeople [C]indicativeofbasicchangeinhumannature [D]moreofatransientphenomenonthanliterature. 参考答案: 1.B 2.A 3.C 4.D Passage3 AimlessnesshashardlybeentypicalofthepostwarJapanwhoseproductivityandsocialharmonyaretheenvyoftheUnitedStatesandEurope.ButincreasinglytheJapaneseareseeingadeclineofthetraditionalwork-moralvalues.Tenyearsagoyoungpeoplewerehardworkingandsawtheirjobsastheirprimaryreasonforbeing,butnowJapanhaslargelyfulfilleditseconomicneeds,andyoungpeopledon'tknowwheretheyshouldgonext. Thecomingofageofthepostwarbabyboomandanentryofwomenintothemale-dominatedjobmarkethavelimitedtheopportunitiesofteen-agerswhoarealreadyquestioningtheheavypersonalsacrificesinvolvedinclimbingJapansrigidsocialladdertogoodschoolsandjobs.Inarecentsurvey,itwasfoundthatonly24.5percentofJapanesestudentswerefullysatisfiedwithschoollife,comparedwith67.2percentofstudentsintheUnitedStates.Inaddition,farmoreJapaneseworkersexpresseddissatisfactionwiththeirjobsthandidtheircounterpartsinthe10othercountriessurveyed. Whileoftenpraisedbyforeignersforitsemphasisonthebasics,Japaneseeducationtendstostresstesttakingandmechanicallearningovercreativityandself-expression."Thosethingsthatdonotshowupinthetestscorespersonality,ability,courageorhumanityarecompletelyignored,"saysToshikiKaifu,chairmanoftherulingLiberalDemocraticParty'seducationcommittee."Frustrationagainstthiskindofthingleadskidstodropoutandrunwild."LastyearJapanexperienced2,125incidentsofschoolviolence,including929assaultsonteachers.Amidtheoutcry,manyconservativeleadersareseekingareturntotheprewaremphasisonmoraleducation.LastyearMitsuoSetoyama,whowastheneducationminister,raisedeyebrowswhenhearguedthatliberalreformsintroducedbytheAmericanoccupationauthoritiesafterWorldWarⅡhadweakenedthe"Japanesemoralityofrespectforparents." ButthatmayhavemoretodowithJapaneselife-styles."InJapan,"sayseducatorYokoMuro,"itsneveraquestionofwhetheryouenjoyyourjobandyourlife,butonlyhowmuchyoucanendure."Witheconomicgrowthhascomecentralization;fully76percentofJapans119millioncitizensliveincitieswherecommunityandtheextendedfamilyhavebeenabandonedinfavorofisolated,twogenerationhouseholds.UrbanJapanesehavelongenduredlengthycommutes(travelstoandfromwork)andcrowdedlivingconditions,butastheoldgroupandfamilyvaluesweaken,thediscomfortisbeginningtotell.Inthepastdecade,theJapanesedivorcerate,whilestillwellbelowthatoftheUnitedStates,hasincreasedbymorethan50percent,andsuicideshaveincreasedbynearlyone-quarter. 1.IntheWesternerseyes,thepostwarJapanwas_____. [A]underaimlessdevelopment [B]apositiveexample [C]arivaltotheWest [D]onthedecline 2.Accordingtotheauthor,whatmaychieflyberesponsibleforthemoraldeclineofJapanesesociety? [A]Women'sparticipationinsocialactivitiesislimited. [B]Moreworkersaredissatisfiedwiththeirjobs. [C]Excessiveemphasishisbeenplacedonthebasics. [D]Thelife-stylehasbeeninfluencedbyWesternvalues. 3.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtotheauthor? [A]Japaneseeducationispraisedforhelpingtheyoungclimbthesocialladder [B]Japaneseeducationischaracterizedbymechanicallearningaswellascreativity. [C]Morestressshouldbeplacedonthecultivationofcreativity. [D]Droppingoutleadstofrustrationagainsttesttaking. 4.ThechangeinJapaneseLife-styleisrevealedinthefactthat____. [A]theyoungarelesstolerantofdiscomforts [B]thedivorcerateinJapanexceedsthatintheU.S. [C]theJapaneseenduremorethaneverbefore [D]theJapaneseappreciatetheirpresentlife. 参考答案: 1.B 2.D 3.C 4.A Passage5 Ifambitionistobewellregarded,therewardsofambitionhealth,distinction,controloveronesdestinymustbedeemedworthyofthesacrificesmadeonambitionsbehalf.Ifthetraditionofambitionistohavevitality,itmustbewidelyshared;anditespeciallymustbehighlyregardedbypeoplewhoarethemselvesadmired,theeducatednotleastamongthem.Inanoddway,however,itistheeducatedwhohaveclaimedtohavegiveuponhavegiveuponambitionasanideal.Whatisoddisthattheyhaveperhapsmostbenefitedfromambition-ifnotalwaystheirownthethatoftheirparentsandgrandparents.Thereisheavynoteofhypocrisyinthis,acaseofclosingthebarndoorafterthehorseshaveescapedwiththeeducatedthemselvesridingonthem. Certainlypeopledonotseemlessinterestedinsuccessanditssignsnowthanformerly.Summerhomes,Europeantravel,BMWs.Thelocations,placenamesandnamebrandsmaychange,butsuchitemsdonotseemlessindemandtodaythanadecadeortwoyearsago.Whathashappenedisthatpeoplecannotconfessfullytotheirdreams,aseasilyandopenlyasoncetheycould,lesttheybethoughtpushing,acquisitiveandvulgar.Instead,wearetreatedtofinehypocriticalspectacles,whichnowmorethaneverseeminamplesupply:thecriticofAmericanmaterialismwithaSouthamptonsummerhome;thepublisherofradicalbookswhotakeshismealsinthree-starrestaurants;thejournalistadvocatingparticipatorydemocracyinallphasesoflife,whoseownchildrenareenrolledinprivateschools.Forsuchpeopleandmanymoreperhapsnotsoexceptional,theproperformulationis,"Succeedatallcostsbutavoidappearingambitious." Theattacksonambitionaremanyandcomefromvariousangles;itspublicdefendersarefewandunimpressive,wheretheyarenotextremelyunattractive.Asaresult,thesupportforambitionasahealthyimpulse,aqualitytobeadmiredandfixedinthemindoftheyoung,isprobablylowerthanithaseverbeenintheUnitedStates.Thisdoesnotmeanthatambitionisatanend,thatpeoplenolongerfeelitsstirringsandpromptings,butonlythat,nolongeropenlyhonored,itislessopenlyunderground,ormadesly.Such,then,isthewaythingsstand:ontheleftangrycritics,ontherightstupidsupporters,andinthemiddle,asusual,themajorityofearnestpeopletryingtogetoninlife. 1.Itisgenerallybelievedthatambitionmaybewellregardedif_____. [A]itsreturnswellcompensateforthesacrifices [B]itisrewardedwithmoney,fameandpower [C]itsgoalsarespiritualratherthanmaterial [D]itissharedbytherichandthefamous 2.Thelastsentenceofthefirstparagraphmostprobablyimpliesthatitis____. [A]customaryoftheeducatedtodiscardambitioninwords [B]toolatetocheckambitiononceithasbeenletout [C]dishonesttodenyambitionafterthefulfillmentofthegoal [D]impracticalfortheeducatedtoenjoybenefitsfromambition 3.Somepeopledonotopenlyadmittheyhaveambitionbecause____. [A]theythinkofitasimmoral [B]theirpursuitsarenotfameorwealth [C]ambitionisnotcloselyrelatedtomaterialbenefits [D]theydonotwanttoappeargreedyandcontemptible 4.Fromthelastparagraphtheconclusioncanbedrawnthatambitionshouldbemaintained_____. [A]secretlyandvigorously [B]openlyandenthusiastically [C]easilyandmomentarily [D]verballyandspiritually 参考答案: 1.A 2.C 3.D 4.B Specializationcanbeseenasaresponsetotheproblemofanincreasingaccumulationofscientificknowledge.Bysplittingupthesubjectmatterintosmallerunits,onemancouldcontinuetohandletheinformationanduseitasthebasisforfurtherresearch.Butspecializationwasonlyoneofaseriesofrelateddevelopmentsinscienceaffectingtheprocessofcommunication.Anotherwasthegrowingprofessionalisationofscientificactivity. Noclear-cutdistinctioncanbedrawnbetweenprofessionalsandamateursinscience:exceptionscanbefoundtoanyrule.Nevertheless,thewordamateurdoescarryaconnotationthatthepersonconcernedisnotfullyintegratedintothescientificcommunityand,inparticular,maynotfullyshareitsvalues.Thegrowthofspecializationinthenineteenthcentury,withitsconsequentrequirementofalonger,morecomplextraining,impliedgreaterproblemsforamateurparticipationinscience.Thetrendwasnaturallymostobviousinthoseareasofsciencebasedespeciallyonamathematicalorlaboratorytraining,andcanbeillustratedintermsofthedevelopmentofgeologyintheUnitedKingdom. AcomparisonofBritishgeologicalpublicationsoverthelastcenturyandahalfrevealsnotsimplyanincreasingemphasisontheprimacyofresearch,butalsoachangingdefinitionofwhatconstitutesanacceptableresearchpaper.Thus,inthenineteenthcentury,localgeologicalstudiesrepresentedworthwhileresearchintheirownright;but,inthetwentiethcentury,localstudieshaveincreasinglybecomeacceptabletoprofessionalsonlyiftheyincorporate,andreflecton,thewidergeologicalpicture.Amateurs,ontheotherhand,havecontinuedtopursuelocalstudiesintheoldway.Theoverallresulthasbeentomakeentrancetoprofessionalgeologicaljournalsharderforamateurs,aresultthathasbeenreinforcedbythewidespreadintroductionofrefereeing,firstbynationaljournalsinthenineteenthcenturyandthenbyseverallocalgeologicaljournalsinthetwentiethcentury.Asalogicalconsequenceofthisdevelopment,separatejournalshavenowappearedaimedmainlytowardseitherprofessionaloramateurreadership.Arathersimilarprocess ofdifferentiationhasledtoprofessionalgeologistscomingtogethernationallywithinoneortwospecificsocieties,whereastheamateurshavetendedeithertoremaininlocalsocietiesortocometogethernationallyinadifferentway. AlthoughtheprocessofprofessionalisationandspecializationwasalreadywellunderwayinBritishgeologyduringthenineteenthcentury,itsfullconsequenceswerethusdelayeduntilthetwentiethcentury.Insciencegenerally,however,thenineteenthcenturymustbereckonedasthecrucialperiodforthischangeinthestructureofscience. 1.Thegrowthofspecializationinthe19thcenturymightbemoreclearlyseeninsciencessuchas_________. [A]sociologyandchemistry [B]physicsandpsychology [C]sociologyandpsychology [D]physicsandchemistry 2.Wecaninferfromthepassagethat_________. [A]thereislittledistinctionbetweenspecializationandprofessionalisation [B]amateurscancompetewithprofessionalsinsomeareasofscience [C]professionalstendtowelcomeamateursintothescientificcommunity [D]amateurshavenationalacademicsocietiesbutnolocalones 3.Theauthorwritesofthedevelopmentofgeologytodemonstrate_________. [A]theprocessofspecializationandprofessionalisation [B]thehardshipofamateursinscientificstudy [C]thechangeofpoliciesinscientificpublications [D]thediscriminationofprofessionalsagainstamateurs 4.Thedirectreasonforspecializationis_________. [A]thedevelopmentincommunication [B]thegrowthofprofessionalisation [C]theexpansionofscientificknowledge [D]thesplittingupofacademicsocieties 参考答案: 1.D 2.B 3.A 4.C Agreatdealofattentionisbeingpaidtodaytothesocalleddigitaldivide-thedivisionoftheworldintotheinfo（information）richandtheinfopoor.Andthatdividedoesexisttoday.MywifeandIlecturedaboutthisloomingdangertwentyyearsago.Whatwaslessvisiblethen,however,werethenew,positiveforcesthatworkagainstthedigitaldivide.Therearereasonstobeoptimistic. Therearetechnologicalreasonstohopethedigitaldividewillnarrow.AstheInternetbecomesmoreandmorecommercialized,itisintheinterestofbusinesstouniversalizeaccess-afterall,themorepeopleonline,themorepotentialcustomersthereare.Moreandmoregovernments,afraidtheircountrieswillbeleftbehind,wanttospreadInternetaccess.Withinthenextdecadeortwo,onetotwobillionpeopleontheplanetwillbenettedtogether.Asaresult,Inowbelievethedigitaldividewillnarrowratherthanwidenintheyearsahead.AndthatisverygoodnewsbecausetheInternetmaywellbethemostpowerfultoolforcombatingworldpovertythatwe'veeverhad. Ofcourse,theuseoftheInternetisn'ttheonlywaytodefeatpoverty.AndtheInternetisnottheonlytoolwehave.Butithasenormouspotential. Totakeadvantageofthistool,someimpoverishedcountrieswillhavetogetovertheir outdatedanti-colonialprejudiceswithrespecttoforeigninvestment.Countriesthatstillthinkforeigninvestmentisaninvasionoftheirsovereigntymightwellstudythehistoryofinfrastructure（thebasicstructuralfoundationsofasociety）intheUnitedStates.WhentheUnitedStatesbuiltitsindustrialinfrastructure,itdidn'thavethecapitaltodoso.AndthatiswhyAmericasSecondWaveinfrastructure-includingroads,harbors,highways,portsandsoon-werebuiltwithforeigninvestment.TheEnglish,theGermans,theDutchandtheFrenchwereinvestinginBritainformercolony.Theyfinancedthem.ImmigrantAmericansbuiltthem.Guesswhoownsthemnow?TheAmericans.IbelievethesamethingwouldbetrueinplaceslikeBraziloranywhereelseforthatmatter.ThemoreforeigncapitalyouhavehelpingyoubuildyourThirdWaveinfrastructure,whichtodayisanelectronicinfrastructure,thebetteroffyou'regoingtobe.Thatdoesn'tmeanlyingdownandbecomingfooled,orlettingforeigncorporationsrununcontrolled.ButitdoesmeanrecognizinghowimportanttheycanbeinbuildingtheenergyandtelecominfrastructuresneededtotakefulladvantageoftheInternet. 1.Digitaldivideissomething_________. [A]gettingworsebecauseoftheInternet [B]therichcountriesareresponsiblefor [C]theworldmustguardagainst [D]consideredpositivetoday 2.GovernmentsattachimportancetotheInternetbecauseit_________. [A]offerseconomicpotentials [B]canbringforeignfunds [C]cansoonwipeoutworldpoverty [D]connectspeopleallovertheworld 3.ThewritermentionedthecaseoftheUnitedStatestojustifythepolicyof______. [A]providingfinancialsupportoverseas [B]preventingforeigncapitalscontrol [C]buildingindustrialinfrastructure [D]acceptingforeigninvestment 4.Itseemsthatnowacountry'seconomydependsmuchon_________. [A]howwelldevelopeditiselectronically [B]whetheritisprejudicedagainstimmigrants [C]whetheritadoptsAmericasindustrialpattern [D]howmuchcontrolithasoverforeigncorporations 参考答案： 1.C 2.A 3.D 4.A WhydosomanyAmericansdistrustwhattheyreadintheirnewspapers?TheAmericanSocietyofNewspaperEditorsistryingtoanswerthispainfulquestion.Theorganizationisdeepintoalongself-analysisknownasthejournalismcredibilityproject. Sadtosay,thisprojecthasturnedouttobemostlylow-levelfindingsaboutfactualerrorsandspellingandgrammarmistakes,combinedwithlotsofhead-scratchingpuzzlementaboutwhatintheworldthosereadersreallywant. Butthesourcesofdistrustgowaydeeper.Mostjournalistslearntoseetheworldthroughasetofstandardtemplates（patterns）intowhichtheyplugeachdaysevents.Inotherwords,thereisaconventionalstorylineinthenewsroomculturethatprovidesabackboneanda ready-madenarrativestructureforotherwiseconfusingnews. Thereexistsasocialandculturaldisconnectbetweenjournalistsandtheirreaders,whichhelpsexplainwhythe"standardtemplates"ofthenewsroomseemalientomanyreaders.Inarecentsurvey,questionnairesweresenttoreportersinfivemiddle-sizecitiesaroundthecountry,plusonelargemetropolitanarea.Thenresidentsinthesecommunitieswerephonedatrandomandaskedthesamequestions. RepliesshowthatcomparedwithotherAmericans,journalistsaremorelikelytoliveinupscaleneighborhoods,havemaids,ownMercedeses,andtradestocks,andthey'relesslikelytogotochurch,dovolunteerwork,orputdownrootsinacommunity. Reporterstendtobepartofabroadlydefinedsocialandculturalelite,sotheirworktendstoreflecttheconventionalvaluesofthiselite.Theastonishingdistrustofthenewsmediaisn'trootedininaccuracyorpoorreportorialskillsbutinthedailyclashofworldviewsbetweenreportersandtheirreaders. Thisisanexplosivesituationforanyindustry,particularlyadecliningone.Hereisatroubledbusinessthatkeepshiringemployeeswhoseattitudesvastlyannoythecustomers.Thenitsponsorslotsofsymposiumsandacredibilityprojectdedicatedtowonderingwhycustomersareannoyedandfleeinginlargenumbers.Butitneverseemstogetaroundtonoticingtheculturalandclassbiasesthatsomanyformerbuyersarecomplainingabout.Ifitdid,itwouldopenupitsdiversityprogram,nowfocusednarrowlyonraceandgender,andlookforreporterswhodifferbroadlybyoutlook,values,education,andclass. 1.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout? [A]needsofthereadersallovertheworld [B]causesofthepublicdisappointmentaboutnewspapers [C]originsofthedecliningnewspaperindustry [D]aimsofajournalismcredibilityproject 2.Theresultsofthejournalismcredibilityprojectturnedouttobe . [A]quitetrustworthy [B]somewhatcontradictory [C]veryilluminating [D]rathersuperficial 3.Thebasicproblemofjournalistsaspointedoutbythewriterliesintheir_________. [A]workingattitude [B]conventionallifestyle [C]worldoutlook [D]educationalbackground 4.Despiteitsefforts,henewspaperindustrystillcannotsatisfythereadersowingtoits_________. [A]failuretorealizeitsrealproblem [B]tendencytohireannoyingreporters [C]likelinesstodoinaccuratereporting [D]prejudiceinmattersofraceandgender 参考答案: 1.B 2.D 3.C 4.A Couldthebadolddaysofeconomicdeclinebeabouttoreturn?SinceOPECagreedtosupply-cutsinMarch,thepriceofcrudeoilhasjumpedtoalmost$26abarrel,upfromlessthan$10lastDecember.Thisnear-triplingofoilpricescallsupscarymemoriesofthe1973oilshock,whenpricesquadrupled,and1979-80,whentheyalsoalmosttripled.Bothpreviousshocksresultedindouble-digitinflationandglobaleconomicdecline.Sowherearetheheadlineswarning ofgloomanddoomthistime? TheoilpricewasgivenanotherpushupthisweekwhenIraqsuspendedoilexports.Strengtheningeconomicgrowth,atthesametimeaswintergripsthenorthernhemisphere,couldpushthepricehigherstillintheshortterm. Yettherearegoodreasonstoexpecttheeconomicconsequencesnowtobelessseverethaninthe1970s.Inmostcountriesthecostofcrudeoilnowaccountsforasmallershareofthepriceofpetrolthanitdidinthe1970s.InEurope,taxesaccountforuptofour-fifthsoftheretailprice,soevenquitebigchangesinthepriceofcrudehaveamoremutedeffectonpumppricesthaninthepast. Richeconomiesarealsolessdependentonoilthantheywere,andsolesssensitivetoswingsintheoilprice.Energyconservation,ashifttootherfuelsandadeclineintheimportanceofheavy,energy-intensiveindustrieshavereducedoilconsumption.Software,consultancyandmobiletelephonesusefarlessoilthansteelorcarproduction.ForeachdollarofGDP(inconstantprices)richeconomiesnowusenearly50%lessoilthanin1973.TheOECDestimatesinitslatestEconomicOutlookthat,itoilpricesaveraged$22abarrelforafullyear,comparedwith$13in1998,thiswouldincreasetheoilimportbillinricheconomiesbyonly0.25-0.5%ofGDP.Thatislessthanone-quarteroftheincomelossin1974or1980.Ontheotherhand,oil-importingemergingeconomies—towhichheavyindustryhasshifted—havebecomemoreenergy-intensive,andsocouldbemoreseriouslysqueezed. Onemorereasonnottolosesleepovertheriseinoilpricesisthat,unliketherisesinthe1970s,ithasnotoccurredagainstthebackgroundofgeneralcommodity-priceinflationandglobalexcessdemand.Asizableportionoftheworldisonlyjustemergingfromeconomicdecline.TheEconomistscommoditypriceindexisbroadlyunchangingfromayearago.In1973commoditypricesjumpedby70%,andin1979byalmost30%. 1.Themainreasonforthelatestriseofoilpriceis. [A]globalinflation. [B]reductioninsupply. [C]fastgrowthineconomy. [D]Iraqssuspensionofexports. 2.Itcanbeinferredfromthetextthattheretailpriceofpetrolwillgoupdramaticallyif. [A]priceofcruderises. [B]commoditypricesrise. [C]consumptionrises. [D]oiltaxesrise. 3.TheestimatesinEconomicOutlookshowthatinrichcountries. [A]heavyindustrybecomesmoreenergy-intensive. [B]incomelossmainlyresultsfromfluctuatingcrudeoilprices. [C]manufacturingindustryhasbeenseriouslysqueezed. [D]oilpricechangeshavenosignificantimpactonGDP. 4.Wecandrawaconclusionfromthetextthat. [A]oil-priceshocksarelessshockingnow. [B]inflationseemsirrelevanttooil-priceshocks. [C]energyconservationcankeepdowntheoilprices. [D]thepriceriseofcrudeleadstotheshrinkingofheavyindustry. 5.Fromthetextwecanseethatthewriterseems. [A]optimistic. [B]sensitive. [C]gloomy. [D]scared. 参考答案: 1.B 2.D 3.D 4.A 5.A Sincethedawnofhumaningenuity,peoplehavedevisedevermorecunningtoolstocopewithworkthatisdangerous,boring,burdensome,orjustplainnasty.Thatcompulsionhasresultedinrobotics—thescienceofconferringvarioushumancapabilitiesonmachines.Andifscientistshaveyettocreatethemechanicalversionofsciencefiction,theyhavebeguntocomeclose. Asaresult,themodernworldisincreasinglypopulatedbyintelligentgizmoswhosepresencewebarelynoticebutwhoseuniversalexistencehasremovedmuchhumanlabor.Ourfactorieshumtotherhythmofrobotassemblyarms.Ourbankingisdoneatautomatedtellerterminalsthatthankuswithmechanicalpolitenessforthetransaction.Oursubwaytrainsarecontrolledbytirelessrobot-drivers.Andthankstothecontinualminiaturizationofelectronicsandmicro-mechanics,therearealreadyrobotsystemsthatcanperformsomekindsofbrainandbonesurgerywithsubmillimeteraccuracy—fargreaterprecisionthanhighlyskilledphysicianscanachievewiththeirhandsalone. Butifrobotsaretoreachthenextstageoflaborsavingutility,theywillhavetooperatewithlesshumansupervisionandbeabletomakeatleastafewdecisionsforthemselves—goalsthatposearealchallenge."Whileweknowhowtotellarobottohandleaspecificerror,"saysDaveLavery,managerofaroboticsprogramatNASA,"wecan'tyetgivearobotenoughcommonsensetoreliablyinteractwithadynamicworld."Indeedthequestfortrueartificialintelligencehasproducedverymixedresults.Despiteaspellofinitialoptimisminthe1960sand1970swhenitappearedthattransistorcircuitsandmicroprocessorsmightbeabletocopytheactionofthehumanbrainbytheyear2010,researcherslatelyhavebeguntoextendthatforecastbydecadesifnotcenturies. Whattheyfound,inattemptingtomodelthought,isthatthehumanbrainsroughlyonehundredbillionnervecellsaremuchmoretalented—andhumanperceptionfarmorecomplicated—thanpreviouslyimagined.Theyhavebuiltrobotsthatcanrecognizetheerrorofamachinepanelbyafractionofamillimeterinacontrolledfactoryenvironment.Butthehumanmindcanglimpsearapidlychangingsceneandimmediatelydisregardthe98percentthatisirrelevant,instantaneouslyfocusingonthemonkeyatthesideofawindingforestroadorthesinglesuspiciousfaceinabigcrowd.ThemostadvancedcomputersystemsonEarthcantapproachthatkindofability,andneuroscientistsstilldon'tknowquitehowwedoit. 1.Humaningenuitywasinitiallydemonstratedin . [A]theuseofmachinestoproducesciencefiction. [B]thewideuseofmachinesinmanufacturingindustry. [C]theinventionoftoolsfordifficultanddangerouswork. [D]theelitescunningtacklingofdangerousandboringwork. 2.Theword"gizmos"(line1,paragraph2)mostprobablymeans . [A]programs. [B]experts. [C]devices. [D]creatures. 3.Accordingtothetext,whatisbeyondmansabilitynowistodesignarobotthatcan . [A]fulfilldelicatetaskslikeperformingbrainsurgery. [B]interactwithhumanbeingsverbally. [C]havealittlecommonsense. [D]respondindependentlytoachangingworld. 4.Besidesreducinghumanlabor,robotscanalso . [A]makeafewdecisionsforthemselves. [B]dealwithsomeerrorswithhumanintervention. [C]improvefactoryenvironments. [D]cultivatehumancreativity. 参考答案: 1.C 2.C 3.D 4.B TheSupremeCourtsdecisionsonphysician-assistedsuicidecarryimportantimplicationsforhowmedicineseekstorelievedyingpatientsofpainandsuffering.Althoughitruledthatthereisnoconstitutionalrighttophysician-assistedsuicide,theCourtineffectsupportedthemedicalprincipleof"doubleeffect,"acenturies-oldmoralprincipleholdingthatanactionhavingtwoeffects—agoodonethatisintendedandaharmfulonethatisforeseen—ispermissibleiftheactorintendsonlythegoodeffect. Doctorshaveusedthatprincipleinrecentyearstojustifyusinghighdosesofmorphinetocontrolterminallyillpatientspain,eventhoughincreasingdosageswilleventuallykillthepatient. NancyDubler,directorofMontefioreMedicalCenter,contendsthattheprinciplewillshielddoctorswho"untilnowhavevery,verystronglyinsistedthattheycouldnotgivepatientssufficientmediationtocontroltheirpainifthatmighthastendeath." GeorgeAnnas,chairofthehealthlawdepartmentatBostonUniversity,maintainsthat,aslongasadoctorprescribesadrugforalegitimatemedicalpurpose,thedoctorhasdonenothingillegalevenifthepatientusesthedrugtohastendeath."It'slikesurgery,"hesays."Wedon'tcallthosedeathshomicidesbecausethedoctorsdidn'tintendtokilltheirpatients,althoughtheyriskedtheirdeath.Ifyou'reaphysician,youcanriskyourpatientssuicideaslongasyoudon'tintendtheirsuicide." Onanotherlevel,manyinthemedicalcommunityacknowledgethattheassisted-suicidedebatehasbeenfueledinpartbythedespairofpatientsforwhommodernmedicinehasprolongedthephysicalagonyofdying.JustthreeweeksbeforetheCourtsrulingonphysician-assistedsuicide,theNationalAcademyofScience(NAS)releasedatwo-volumereport,ApproachingDeath:ImprovingCareattheEndofLife.Itidentifiestheundertreatmentofpainandtheaggressiveuseof"ineffectualandforcedmedicalproceduresthatmayprolongandevendishonortheperiodofdying"asthetwinproblemsofend-of-lifecare. Theprofessionistakingstepstorequireyoungdoctorstotraininhospices,totestknowledgeofaggressivepainmanagementtherapies,todevelopaMedicarebillingcodeforhospital-basedcare,andtodevelopnewstandardsforassessingandtreatingpainattheendoflife.Annassayslawyerscanplayakeyroleininsistingthatthesewell-meaningmedicalinitiativestranslateintobettercare."Largenumbersofphysiciansseemunconcernedwiththepaintheirpatientsareneedlesslyandpredictablysuffering,"totheextentthatitconstitutes"systematicpatientabuse."Hesaysmedicallicensingboards"mustmakeitclear…thatpainfuldeathsarepresumptivelyonesthatareincompetentlymanagedandshouldresultinlicensesuspension." 1.Fromthefirstthreeparagraphs,welearnthat . [A]doctorsusedtoincreasedrugdosagestocontroltheirpatientspain. [B]itisstillillegalfordoctorstohelpthedyingendtheirlives. [C]theSupremeCourtstronglyopposesphysician-assistedsuicide. [D]patientshavenoconstitutionalrighttocommitsuicide. 2.Whichofthefollowingstatementsitstrueaccordingtothetext? [A]Doctorswillbeheldguiltyiftheyrisktheirpatientsdeath. [B]Modernmedicinehasassistedterminallyillpatientsinpainlessrecovery. [C]TheCourtruledthathigh-dosagepain-relievingmedicationcanbeprescribed. [D]Adoctorsmedicationisnolongerjustifiedbyhisintentions. 3.AccordingtotheNAS'sreport,oneoftheproblemsinend-of-lifecareis . [A]prolongedmedicalprocedures. [B]inadequatetreatmentofpain. [C]systematicdrugabuse. [D]insufficienthospitalcare. 4.Whichofthefollowingbestdefinestheword"aggressive"(line3,paragraph7)? [A]Bold. [B]Harmful. [C]Careless. [D]Desperate. 5.GeorgeAnnaswouldprobablyagreethatdoctorsshouldbepunishedifthey . [A]managetheirpatientsincompetently. [B]givepatientsmoremedicinethanneeded. [C]reducedrugdosagesfortheirpatients. [D]prolongtheneedlesssufferingofthepatients. 参考答案: 1.B 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.D
