2023考研英语：技巧飞跃

《2023考研英语：技巧飞跃》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。

2023ὃẆ•ᢈParttwo▅partAL▅ᢈᨬ
ᑣ⁐ᜧ⚪⁚⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪᝱⚪1⚓ᐳ28⚓

12.᦮2009PartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1Habitsareafunnything.Wereachforthemmindlesslysettingourbrainsonauto-pilotandrelaxingintotheunconsciouscomfortoffamiliarroutine."Notchoice,buthabitrulestheunreflectingherd,“WilliamWordsworthsaidinthe19thcentury.Intheever-changing21stcentury,eventheword“habit“carriesanegativeconnotation.Soitseemsparadoxicaltotalkabouthabitsinthesamecontextascreativityandinnovation.Butbrainresearchershavediscoveredthatwhenweconsciouslydevelopnewhabits,wecreateparallelpaths,andevenentirelynewbraincellsthatcanjumpourtrainsofthoughtontonew,innovativetracks.Ratherthandismissingourselvesasunchangeablecreaturesofhabit,wecaninsteaddirectourownchangebyconsciouslydevelopingnewhabits.Infact,themorenewthingswetry-themorewestepoutsideourcomfortzone-themoreinherentlycreativewebecome,bothintheworkplaceandinourpersonallives.Butdon'tbothertryingtokilloffoldhabits;oncethoserutsofprocedurearewornintothebrain,they'retheretostay.Instead,thenewhabitswedeliberatelypressintoourselvescreateparallelpathwaysthatcanbypassthoseoldroads.2⚓ᐳ28⚓

2“Thefirstthingneededforinnovationisafascinationwithwonder/1saysDawnaMarkova,authorofTheOpenMind."Butwearetaughtinsteadto'decide,'justasourpresidentcallshimself'theDecider/஻Sheadds,however,that“todecideistokilloffallpossibilitiesbutone.Agoodinnovationalthinkerisalwaysexploringthemanyotherpossibilities/'Allofusworkthroughproblemsinwaysofwhichwe'reunaware,shesays.Researchersinthelate1960sdiscoveredthathumansarebornwiththecapacitytoapproachchallengesinfourprimaryways:analytically,procedurally,relationally(orcollaboratively)andinnovatively.Attheendofadolescence,however,thebrainshutsdownhalfofthatcapacity,preservingonlythosemodesofthoughtthathaveseemedmostvaluableduringthefirstdecadeorsooflife.Thecurrentemphasisonstandardizedtestinghighlightsanalysisandprocedure,meaningthatfewofusinherentlyuseourinnovativeandcollaborativemodesofthought“ThisbreaksthemajorruleintheAmericanbeliefsystemthatanyonecandoanything/'explainsM.J.Ryan,authorofthe2006bookThisYearIWill...andMs.Markova'sbusinesspartner."That'saliethatwehaveperpetuated,anditfosterscommonness.Knowingwhatyou*regoodatanddoingevenmoreofitcreatesexcellence/'Thisiswheredevelopingnewhabitscomesin.21.InWordsworth*sview,“habit“ischaracterizedbybeing.[A]casual3⚓ᐳ28⚓

3[B]familiar[C]mechanical[D]changeable22.Brainresearchershavediscoveredthattheformationofnewhabitcanbe[A]predicted[B]regulated[C]traced[D]guided23.Theword"ruts"(Line1,Paragraph4)isclosestinmeaningto.[A]tracks[B]series[C]characteristics[D]connections4⚓ᐳ28⚓

424.DawnaMarkovawouldmostprobablyagreethat.[A]ideasarebornofarelaxingmind[B]innovativenesscouldbetaught[C]decisivenessderivesfromfantasticideas[D]curiosityactivatescreativeminds25.Ryan'scommentssuggestthatthepracticeofstandardizedtesting[A]preventnewhabitsfrombeingformed[B]nolongeremphasizescommonness[C]maintainstheinherentAmericanthinkingmode[D]complieswiththeAmericanbeliefsystem5⚓ᐳ28⚓

5Text2Itisawisefatherthatknowshisownchild,buttodayamancanboosthispaternal(fatherly)wisdom-oratleastconfirmthathe'sthekid'sdad.Allheneedstodoisshellout$30forpaternitytestingkit(PTK)athislocaldrugstore-andanother$120togettheresults.Morethan60000peoplehavepurchasedthePTKssincetheyfirstbecamezavailablewithoutprescriptionslastyears,accordingtoDougFog,chiefoperatingofficerofIdentigene,whichmakestheover-the-counterkits.MorethantwodozencompaniessellDNAtestsdirectlytothepublic,ranginginpricefromafewhundreddollarstomorethan$2500.Amongthemostpopular:paternityandkinshiptesting,whichadoptedchildrencanusetofindtheirbiologicalrelativesandfamiliescanusetotrackdownkidsputupforadoption.DNAtestingisalsothelatestrageamongpassionategenealogists—andsupportsbusinessesthatoffertosearchforafamily'sgeographicroots.Mosttestsrequirecollectingcellsbyswabbingsalivainthemouthandsendingittothecompanyfortesting.AlltestsrequireapotentialcandidatewithwhomtocompareDNA.Butsomeobserversareskeptical."There'sakindoffalseprecisionbeinghawkedbypeopleclaimingtheyaredoingancestrytesting/'saysTroyDuster,aNewYorkUniversitysociologist.Henotesthateachindividualhasmany6⚓ᐳ28⚓

6ancestors-numberinginthehundredsjustafewcenturiesback.Yetmostancestrytestingonlyconsidersasinglelineage,eithertheYchromosomeinheritedthroughmeninafather,slineormitochondrialDNA,whichispasseddownonlyfrommothers.ThisDNAcanrevealgeneticinformationaboutonlyoneortwoancestors,eventhough,forexample,justthreegenerationsbackpeoplealsohavesixothergreat-grandparentsor,fourgenerationsback,14othergreat-great-grandparents.Criticsalsoarguethatcommercialgenetictestingisonlyasgoodasthereferencecollectionstowhichasampleiscompared.Databasesusedbysomecompaniesdon'trelyondatacollectedsystematicallybutratherlumptogetherinformationfromdifferentresearchprojects.ThismeansthataDNAdatabasemayhavealotofdatafromsomeregionsandnotothers,soaperson1stestresultsmaydifferdependingonthecompanythatprocessestheresults.Inaddition,thecomputerprogramsacompanyusestoestimaterelationshipsmaybepatentedandnotsubjecttopeerrevieworoutsideevaluation.26.InParagraphs1and2,thetextshowsPTK,s.[A]easyavailability[B]flexibilityinpricing[C]successfulpromotion[D]popularitywithhouseholds7⚓ᐳ28⚓

727.PTKisusedto.[A]locateone'sbirthplace[B]promotegeneticresearch[C]identifyparent-childkinship[D]choosechildrenforadoption28.Skepticalobserversbelievethatancestrytestingfailsto.[A]tracedistantancestors[B]rebuildreliablebloodlines[C]fullyusegeneticinformation[D]achievetheclaimedaccuracy29.Inthelastparagraph,aproblemcommercialgenetictestingfacesis[A]disorganizeddatacollection[B]overlappingdatabasebuilding[C]excessivesamplecomparison[D]lackofpatentevaluation8⚓ᐳ28⚓

830.Anappropriatetitleforthetextismostlikelytobe.[A]ForsandAgainstsofDNATesting[B]DNATestingandItsProblems[C]DNATestingOutsidetheLab[D]LiesBehindDNATestingText3Therelationshipbetweenformaleducationandeconomicgrowthinpoorcountriesiswidelymisunderstoodbyeconomistsandpoliticiansalike.Progressinbothareasisundoubtedlynecessaryforthesocial,politicalandintellectualdevelopmentoftheseandallothersocieties;however,theconventionalviewthateducationshouldbeoneoftheveryhighestprioritiesforpromotingrapideconomicdevelopmentinpoorcountriesiswrong.Wearefortunatethatitis,becausebuildingneweducationalsystemsthereandputtingenoughpeoplethroughthemtoimproveeconomicperformancewouldrequiretwoorthreegenerations.Thefindingsofaresearchinstitutionhaveconsistentlyshownthatworkersinallcountriescanbetrainedonthejobtoachieveradicallyhigherproductivityand,asaresult,radicallyhigherstandardsofliving.Ironically,thefirstevidenceforthisideaappearedintheUnitedStates.Notlongago,withthecountryenteringarecessionandJapanatitspre-bubblepeak,theU.S.workforcewasderidedaspoorlyeducatedandoneofprimarycausesof9⚓ᐳ28⚓

9thepoorU.S.economicperformance.Japanwas,andremainsthegloballeaderinautomotive-assemblyproductivity.YettheresearchrevealedthattheU.S.factoriesofHonda,Nissan,andToyotaachievedabout95percentoftheproductivityoftheirJapanesecounterparts—aresultofthetrainingthatU.S.workersreceivedonthejob.Morerecently,whileexamininghousingconstruction,theresearchersdiscoveredthatilliterate,non-English-speakingMexicanworkersinHouston,Texas,consistentlymetbest-practicelaborproductivitystandardsdespitethecomplexityofthebuildingindustry'swork.Whatistherealrelationshipbetweeneducationandeconomicdevelopment?Wehavetosuspectthatcontinuingeconomicgrowthpromotesthedevelopmentofeducationevenwhengovernmentsdon*tforceit.Afterall,that*showeducationgotstarted.Whenourancestorswerehuntersandgatherers10,000yearsago,theydidn'thavetimetowondermuchaboutanythingbesidesfindingfood.Onlywhenhumanitybegantogetitsfoodinamoreproductivewaywastheretimeforotherthings.Aseducationimproved,humanity'sproductivitypotentialincreasedaswell.Whenthecompetitiveenvironmentpushedourancestorstoachievethatpotential,theycouldinturnaffordmoreeducation.Thisincreasinglyhighlevelofeducationisprobablyanecessary,butnotasufficient,conditionforthecomplexpoliticalsystemsrequiredbyadvancedeconomicperformance.Thuspoorcountriesmight10⚓ᐳ28⚓

10notbeabletoescapetheirpovertytrapswithoutpoliticalchangesthatmaybepossibleonlywithbroaderformaleducation.Alackofformaleducation,however,doesn'tconstraintheabilityofthedevelopingworld'sworkforcetosubstantiallyimproveproductivityfortheforeseeablefuture.Onthecontrary,constraintsonimprovingproductivityexplainwhyeducationisn'tdevelopingmorequicklytherethanitis.31.TheauthorholdsinParagraph1thattheimportanceofeducationinpoorcountries.[A]issubjecttogroundlessdoubts[B]hasfallenvictimofbias[C]isconventionallydowngraded[D]hasbeenoverestimated32.ItisstatedinParagraph1thattheconstructionofaneweducationsystem[A]challengeseconomistsandpoliticians[B]takeseffortsofgenerations[C]demandspriorityfromthegovernment[D]requiressufficientlaborforce11⚓ᐳ28⚓

1133.AmajordifferencebetweentheJapaneseandU.Sworkforcesisthat.[A]theJapaneseworkforceisbetterdisciplined[B]theJapaneseworkforceismoreproductive[C]theU.Sworkforcehasabettereducation[D]theU.Sworkforceismoreorganized34.Theauthorquotestheexampleofourancestorstoshowthateducationemerged.[A]whenpeoplehadenoughtime[B]priortobetterwaysoffindingfood[C]whenpeoplenolongerwenthungry[D]asaresultofpressureongovernment35.Accordingtothelastparagraph,developmentofeducation.[A]resultsdirectlyfromcompetitiveenvironments[B]doesnotdependoneconomicperformance[C]followsimprovedproductivity[D]cannotaffordpoliticalchanges12⚓ᐳ28⚓

12Text4ThemostthoroughlystudiedintellectualsinthehistoryoftheNewWorldaretheministersandpoliticalleadersofseventeenth-centuryNewEngland.AccordingtothestandardhistoryofAmericanphilosophy,nowhereelseincolonialAmericawas"somuchimportanceattachedtointellectualpursuits/'Accordingtomanybooksandarticles,NewEngland1sleadersestablishedthebasicthemesandpreoccupationsofanunfolding,dominantPuritantraditioninAmericanintellectuallife.TotakethisapproachtotheNewEnglandersnormallymeanstostartwiththePuritans'theologicalinnovationsandtheirdistinctiveideasaboutthechurch—importantsubjectsthatwemaynotneglect.Butinkeepingwithourexaminationofsouthernintellectuallife,wemayconsidertheoriginalPuritansascarriersofEuropeanculture,adjustingtoNewWorldcircumstances.TheNewEnglandcolonieswerethescenesofimportantepisodesinthepursuitofwidelyunderstoodidealsofcivilityandvirtuosity.TheearlysettlersofMassachusettsBayincludedmenofimpressiveeducationandinfluenceinEngland.BesidestheninetyorsolearnedministerswhocametoMassachusettschurchesinthedecadeafter1629,therewerepoliticalleaderslikeJohnWinthrop,aneducatedgentleman,lawyer,andofficialoftheCrownbeforehejourneyedtoBoston.Thesemenwroteandpublishedextensively,reachingbothNewWorldandOldWorldaudiences,andgivingNewEnglandanatmosphereof13⚓ᐳ28⚓

13intellectualearnestness.Weshouldnotforget,however,thatmostNewEnglanderswerelesswelleducated.Whilefewcraftsmenorfarmers,letalonedependentsandservants,leftliterarycompositionstobeanalyzed,itisobviousthattheirviewswerelessfullyintellectualized.Theirthinkingoftenhadatraditionalsuperstitiousquality.AtailornamedJohnDane,whoemigratedinthelate1630s,leftanaccountofhisreasonsforleavingEnglandthatisfilledwithsigns.Sexualconfusion,economicfrustrations,andreligioushope—allcametogetherinadecisivemomentwhenheopenedtheBible,toldhisfatherthatthefirstlinehesawwouldsettlehisfate,andreadthemagicalwords:"Comeoutfromamongthem,touchnouncleanthing,andIwillbeyourGodandyoushallbemypeople."OnewonderswhatDanethoughtofthecarefulsermonsexplainingtheBiblethatheheardinPuritanchurches.Meanwhile,manysettlershadslighterreligiouscommitmentsthanDane's,asoneclergymanlearnedinconfrontingfolkalongthecoastwhomockedthattheyhadnotcometotheNewWorldforreligion.஻Ourmainendwastocatchfish.”36.Theauthorholdsthatintheseventeenth-centuryNewEngland.[A]Puritantraditiondominatedpoliticallife[B]intellectualinterestswereencouraged[C]politicsbenefitedmuchfromintellectualendeavors[D]intellectualpursuitsenjoyedaliberalenvironment14⚓ᐳ28⚓

1437.ItissuggestedinParagraph2thatNewEnglanders.[A]experiencedacomparativelypeacefulearlyhistory[B]broughtwiththemthecultureoftheOldWorld[C]paidlittleattentiontosouthernintellectuallife[D]wereobsessedwithreligiousinnovations38.TheearlyministersandpoliticalleadersinMassachusettsBay.[A]werefamousintheNewWorldfortheirwritings[B]gainedincreasingimportanceinreligiousaffairs[C]abandonedhighpositionsbeforecomingtotheNewWorld[D]createdanewintellectualatmosphereinNewEngland39.ThestoryofJohnDaneshowsthatlesswell-educatedNewEnglanderswereoften.[A]influencedbysuperstitions[B]troubledwithreligiousbeliefs[C]puzzledbychurchsermons[D]frustratedwithfamilyearnings15⚓ᐳ28⚓

1540.ThetextsuggeststhatearlysettlersinNewEngland.[A]weremostlyengagedinpoliticalactivities[B]weremotivatedbyanillusoryprospect[C]camefromdifferentintellectualbackgrounds[D]leftfewformalrecordsforlaterreferenceBackgroundinformationᐲᙠ"#$%Ḅ'ᓅ)ᙢ+,-ᙢ./012"45",6"#ᜧ▮'ᓅஹ9:ᜧ;<ஹ=>?@ᜧḄ+A஺ᐲᙢ+ᒹD"#Ḅ6EF,ᵫᓅHᓭᑖKLMNFஹOℳᱯFஹRSTUFஹV⃬XYFZ[ḕ,]^_Fஹ`abF஺V⃬XYFZ[ḕ✌defg6hᙢ+Ḅᨬᜧijklmnoᦻᓄrs஺ᐲᙢ+tᨵᐰ"#wHᐰxyᨬzḄᦟ|}᛻஺!"#$ᐲᙢ'NFMaineRSTUᓡNewHampshireℳᱯFVermontV⃬XYFZកMassachusetts]_FRhodeIsland`abTConnecticut16⚓ᐳ28⚓

162013PartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsaftereachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.(40points)Text1Inanessayentitled"MakingItinAmerica”,theauthorAdamDavidsonrelatesajokefromcottoncountryaboutjusthowmuchamoderntextilemillhasbeenautomated:Theaveragemillhasonlytwoemployeestoday,“amanandadog.Themanistheretofeedthedog,andthedogistheretokeepthemanawayfromthemachines//Davidson'sarticleisoneofanumberofpiecesthathaverecentlyappearedmakingthepointthatthereasonwehavesuchstubbornlyhighunemploymentanddecliningmiddle-classincomestodayislargelybecauseofthebigdropindemandbecauseoftheGreatRecession,butitisalsobecauseoftheadvancesinbothglobalizationandtheinformationtechnologyrevolutionwhicharemorerapidlythaneverreplacinglaborwithmachinesorforeignworkers.Inthepast,workerswithaverageskills,doinganaveragejob,couldearnanaveragelifestyle.But,today,averageisofficiallyover.Beingaveragejustwonztearnyouwhatitusedto.Itcan'twhensomanymoreemployershavesomuchmoreaccesstosomuchmoreaboveaveragecheapforeignlabor,cheaprobotics,cheapsoftware,cheapautomationandcheapgenius.Therefore,everyoneneedstofindtheirextra—theiruniquevaluecontributionthatmakesthemstandoutin17⚓ᐳ28⚓

17whateveristheirfieldofemployment.Yes,newtechnologyhasbeeneatingjobsforever,andalwayswill.Butthere*sbeenanacceleration.AsDavidsonnotes,஻Inthe10yearsendingin2009,[U.S.]factoriesshedworkerssofastthattheyerasedalmostallthegainsoftheprevious70years;roughlyoneoutofeverythreemanufacturingjobsabout6millionintotal—disappeared/Therewillalwaysbechange-newjobs,newproducts,newservices.ButtheonethingweknowforsureisthatwitheachadvanceinglobalizationandtheI.T.revolution,thebestjobswillrequireworkerstohavemoreandbettereducationtomakethemselvesaboveaverage.Inaworldwhereaverageisofficiallyover,therearemanythingsweneedtodotosupportemploymentbutnothingwouldbemoreimportantthanpassingsomekindofG.I.Billforthe21stcenturythatensuresthateveryAmericanhasaccesstopost-highschooleducation.21.ThejokeinParagraph1isusedtoillustrate.[A]theimpactoftechnologicaladvances[B]thealleviationofjobpressure[C]theshrinkageoftextilemills[D]thedeclineofmiddle-classincomes22.AccordingtoParagraph3,tobeasuccessfulemployee,onehasto.[A]workoncheapsoftware18⚓ᐳ28⚓

18[B]askforamoderatesalary[C]adoptanaveragelifestyle[D]contributesomethingunique23.ThequotationinParagraph4explainsthat.[A]gainsoftechnologyhavebeenerased[B]jobopportunitiesaredisappearingatahighspeed[C]factoriesaremakingmuchlessmoneythanbefore[D]newjobsandserviceshavebeenoffered24.Accordingtotheauthor,toreduceunemployment,themostimportantis_.[A]toacceleratetheLT.revolution[B]toensuremoreeducationforpeople[C]toadvanceeconomicglobalization[D]topassmorebillsinthe21stcentury25.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethemostappropriatetitleforthetext?[A]NewLawTakesEffect.[B]TechnologyGoesCheap.[C]AverageIsOver.[D]RecessionIsBad.19⚓ᐳ28⚓

19Text2Acenturyago,theimmigrantsfromacrosstheAtlanticincludedsettlersandsojourners.AlongwiththemanyfolkslookingtomakeapermanenthomeintheUnitedStatescamethosewhohadnointentiontostay,andwhowouldmakesomemoneyandgohome.Between1908and1915,about7millionpeoplearrivedwhileabout2milliondeparted.AboutaquarterofallItalianimmigrants,forexample,eventuallyreturnedtoItalyforgood.Theyevenhadanaffectionatenickname,“uccellidipassaggio”,birdsofpassage.Today,wearemuchmorerigidaboutimmigrants.Wedividenewcomersintotwocategories:legalorillegal,goodorbad.WehailthemasAmericansinthemakingorbrandthemasalienstobekickedout.Thatframeworkhascontributedmightilytoourbrokenimmigrationsystemandthelongpoliticalparalysisoverhowtofixit.Wedon'tneedmorecategories,butweneedtochangethewaywethinkaboutcategories.Weneedtolookbeyondstrictdefinitionsoflegalandillegal.Tostart,wecanrecognizethenewbirdsofpassage,thoselivingandthrivinginthegrayareas.Wemightthenbegintosolveourimmigrationchallenges.Croppickersviolinists,constructionworkers,entrepreneurs,engineers,homehealth-careaidesandphysicistsareamongtoday'sbirdsofpassage.Theyareenergeticparticipantsinaglobaleconomydrivenbytheflowofwork,moneyandideas.Theyprefertocomeandgoasopportunitycallsthem.Theycanmanagetohaveajobinoneplaceandafamilyinanother.Withorwithoutpermission,theystraddlelaws,jurisdictionsandidentitieswith20⚓ᐳ28⚓

20ease.WeneedthemtoimaginetheUnitedStatesasaplacewheretheycanbeproductiveforawhilewithoutcommittingthemselvestostayingforever.Weneedthemtofeelthathomecanbebothhereandthereandthattheycanbelongtotwonationshonorably.Accommodatingthisnewworldofpeopleinmotionwillrequirenewattitudesonbothsidesoftheimmigrationbattle.Lookingbeyondtheculturewarlogicofrightorwrongmeansopeningupthemiddlegroundandunderstandingthatmanagingimmigrationtodayrequiresmultiplepathsandmultipleoutcomes,includingsomethatarenoteasytoaccomplishlegallyintheexistingsystem.26.“Birdsofpassage“referstothosewho.[A]immigrateacrosstheAtlantic[B]leavetheirhomecountriesforgood[C]stayinaforeigncountrytemporarily[D]findpermanentjobsoverseas27.ItisimpliedinParagraph2thatthecurrentimmigrationsystemintheUS_.[A]needsnewimmigrantcategories[B]hasloosenedcontroloverimmigrants[C]shouldbeadaptedtomeetchallenges[D]hasbeenfixedviapoliticalmeans21⚓ᐳ28⚓

2128.Accordingtotheauthor,today*sbirdsofpassagewant.[A]financialincentives[B]aglobalrecognition[C]opportunitiestogetregularjobs[D]thefreedomtostayandleave29.Theauthorsuggeststhatthebirdsofpassagetodayshouldbetreated[A]asfaithfulpartners[B]witheconomicfavors[C]withlegaltolerance[D]asmightyrivals30.Themostappropriatetitleforthistextwouldbe.[A]ComeandGo:BigMistake[B]LivingandThriving:GreatRisk[C]LegalorIllegal:BigMistake[D]WithorWithout:GreatRisk22⚓ᐳ28⚓

22Text3Scientistshavefoundthatalthoughwearepronetosnapoverreactions,ifwetakeamomentandthinkabouthowwearelikelytoreact,wecanreduceoreveneliminatethenegativeeffectsofourquickhard-wiredresponses.Snapdecisionscanbeimportantdefensemechanisms;ifwearejudgingwhethersomeoneisdangerousourbrainsandbodiesarehard-wiredtoreactveryquickly,withinmilliseconds.Butweneedmoretimetoassessotherfactors.Toaccuratelytellwhethersomeoneissociable,studiesshow,weneedatleastaminute,preferablyfive.Ittakesawhiletojudgecomplexaspectsofpersonality,likeneuroticismoropen-mindedness.Butsnapdecisionsinreactiontorapidstimuliaren*texclusivetotheinterpersonalrealm.PsychologistsattheUniversityofTorontofoundthatviewingafast-foodlogoforjustafewmillisecondsprimesustoread20percentfaster,eventhoughreadinghaslittletodowitheating.Weunconsciouslyassociatefastfoodwithspeedandimpatienceandcarrythoseimpulsesintowhateverelsewe'redoing.Subjectsexposedtofast-foodflashesalsotendtothinkamusicalpiecelaststoolong.Yetwecanreversesuchinfluences.Ifweknowwewilloverreacttoconsumerproductsorhousingoptionswhenweseeahappyface(onereasongoodsalesrepresentativesandrealestateagentsarealwayssmiling),wecantakeamomentbeforebuying.Ifweknowfemalejobscreenersaremorelikelytorejectattractivefemaleapplicants,wecanhelpscreenersunderstandtheirbiases—orhireoutside23⚓ᐳ28⚓

23screeners.JohnGottman,themarriageexpert,explainsthatwequickly“thinslice”informationreliablyonlyafterwegroundsuchsnapreactionsin“thicksliced0long-termstudy.WhenDr.Gottmanreallywantstoassesswhetheracouplewillstaytogether,heinvitesthemtohisislandretreatforamuchlongerevaluation:twodays,nottwoseconds.Ourabilitytomuteourhard-wiredreactionsbypausingiswhatdifferentiatesusfromanimals:dogcanthinkaboutthefutureonlyintermittentlyorforafewminutes.Buthistoricallywehavespentabout12percentofourdayscontemplatingthelongerterm.Althoughtechnologymightchangethewaywereact,ithasn*tchangedournature.Westillhavetheimaginativecapacitytoriseabovetemptationandreversethehigh-speedtrend.31.Thetimeneededinmakingdecisionsmay.[A]varyaccordingtotheurgencyofthesituation[B]provethecomplexityofourbrainreaction[C]dependontheimportanceoftheassessment[D]predeterminetheaccuracyofourjudgment32.Ourreactiontoafast-foodlogoshowsthatsnapdecisions.[A]canbeassociative[B]arenotunconscious24⚓ᐳ28⚓

24[C]canbedangerous[D]arenotimpulsive33.Toreversethenegativeinfluencesofsnapdecisions,weshould,[A]trustourfirstimpression[B]doaspeopleusuallydo[C]thinkbeforeweact[D]askforexpertadvice34.JohnGottmansaysthatreliablesnapreactionsarebasedon[A]criticalassessment[B]''thinsliced''study[C]sensibleexplanation[D]adequateinformation35.Theauthor"sattitudetowardreversingthehigh-speedtrendis[A]tolerant[B]uncertain[C]optimistic[D]doubtful25⚓ᐳ28⚓

25Text4Europeisnotagender-equalityheaven.Inparticular,thecorporateworkplacewillneverbecompletelyfamily-friendlyuntilwomenarepartofseniormanagementdecisions,andEurope'stopcorporate-governancepositionsremainoverwhelminglymale.Indeed,womenholdonly14percentofpositionsonEuropecorporateboards.TheEuropeUnionisnowconsideringlegislationtocompelcorporateboardstomaintainacertainproportionofwomen—upto60percent.Thisproposedmandatewasbornoffrustration.Lastyear,EuropeCommissionVicePresidentVivianeRedingissuedacalltovoluntaryaction.Redinginvitedcorporationstosignupforgenderbalancegoalsof40percentfemaleboardmembership.Butherappealwasconsideredafailure:only24companiestookitup.Doweneedquotastoensurethatwomencancontinuetoclimbthecorporateladderfairlyastheybalanceworkandfamily?“Personally,Idon'tlikequotas/1Redingsaidrecently."ButIlikewhatthequotasdo."Quotasgetaction:they"openthewaytoequalityandtheybreakthroughtheglassceiling/'accordingtoReding,aresultseeninFranceandothercountrieswithlegallybindingprovisionsonplacingwomenintopbusinesspositions.IunderstandReding,sreluctance—andherfrustration.Idonztlikequotaseither;theyruncountertomybeliefinmeritocracy,governancebythecapable.But,whenoneconsiderstheobstaclestoachievingthemeritocraticideal,itdoeslook26⚓ᐳ28⚓

26asifafairerworldmustbetemporarilyordered.Afterall,fourdecadesofevidencehasnowshownthatcorporationsinEuropeaswellastheUSareevadingthemeritocratichiringandpromotionofwomentotopposition—nomatterhowmuch“softpressure"isputuponthem.Whenwomendobreakthroughtothesummitofcorporatepower—as,forexample,SherylSandbergrecentlydidatFacebook-theyattractmassiveattentionpreciselybecausetheyremaintheexceptiontotherule.Ifappropriatepubicpolicieswereinplacetohelpallwomen—whetherCEOsortheirchildren/scaregivers—andallfamilies,Sandbergwouldbenomorenewsworthythananyotherhighlycapablepersonlivinginamorejustsociety.36.IntheEuropeancorporateworkplace,generally.[A]womentakethelead[B]menhavethefinalsay[C]corporategovernanceisoverwhelmed[D]seniormanagementisfamily-friendly37.TheEuropeanUnion'sintendedlegislationis.[A]areflectionofgenderbalance[B]areluctantchoice[C]aresponsetoReding'scall[D]avoluntaryaction27⚓ᐳ28⚓

2738.AccordingtoReding,quotasmayhelpwomen.[A]gettopbusinesspositions[B]seethroughtheglassceiling[C]balanceworkandfamily[D]anticipatelegalresults39.Theauthor"sattitudetowardReding'sappealisoneof.[A]skepticism[B]objectiveness[C]indifference[D]approval40.Womenenteringtopmanagementbecomeheadlinesduetothelackof[A]moresocialjustice[B]massivemediaattention[C]suitablepublicpolicies[D]greater“softpressure”28⚓ᐳ28⚓