考研英语真题阅读.pdf
全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text.Choose the best word(s)fbr each numbered blank andmark A,B,C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.(10 points)In 1924 Americas National Research Council sent two engineers to supervise aseries of industrial experiments at a large telephone-parts factory called theHawthorne Plant near Chicago.It hoped they would learn how stop-floor lighting workers*productivity.Instead,the studies ended 2 giving their nameto the Hawthorne effect0,the extremely influential idea that the very 3 tobeing experimented upon changed subjects*behavior.The idea arose because of the 4 behavior of the women in the Hawthorneplant.According to 5 of the experiments,their hourly output rose whenlighting was increased,but also when it was dimmed.It did not 6 what wasdone in the experiment;7 something was changed,productivity rose.A(n)8 that they were being experimented upon seemed to be 9 to alterworkers*behavior 10 itselfAfter several decades,the same data were 11 to econometric the analysis.Hawthorne experiments has another surprise store 12 the descriptions onrecord,no systematic 13 was found that levels of productivity were related tochanges in lighting.It turns out that peculiar way of conducting the experiments may be have let to14 interpretation of what happed.15,lighting was always changed on aSunday.When work started again on Monday,output 16 rose compared withthe previous Saturday and 17 to rise fbr the next couple of days.18,acomparison with data fbr weeks when there was no experimentation showed that19 to be diligent for the first fewdays of the week in any case,before 20 a plateau and then slackening off.Thissuggests that the alleged Hawthorne effect is hard to pin down.Section II Reading Comprehension1.A affectedB achievedC extractedD restored2.A atB upC withD off3.A truthB sightC actD proof4.A controversialB perplexingC mischievousD ambiguous5.A requirementsB explanationsC accountsD assessments6.A concludeB matterC indicateD work7.A as far asB fbr fear thatC in case thatD so long as8.A awarenessB expectationC sentimentD illusion9.A suitableB excessiveCenoughD abundant10.AaboutB forC onD by11.A comparedB shownC subjectedD conveyed12.A contrary toB consistent with C parallel withD peculiar to13.A evidenceB guidanceC implicationD source14.A disputableB enlighteningC reliableD misleading15.A In contrastB For exampleC In consequence D As usual16.A dulyB accidentallyC unpredictablyD suddenly18.A ThereforeB FurthermoreC HoweverD Meanwhile19.A attemptedB tendedC choseD intended20.A breakingB climbingC surpassingD hittingPart ADirections:Read the following four texts.Answer the questions below each text by choosing A,B,C or D.Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.(40 points)Text 1Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers duringthe past quarter-century,perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorabledecline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage.It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age offorty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in mostbig-city newspapers.Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections ofcriticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews.To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents wereonce deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews publishedin England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II,at atime when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered anornament to the publications in which it appeared.In those far-off days,it was takenfor granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length aboutthe events they covered.Theirs was a serious business,and even those reviewerswho wore their learning lightly,like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman,could be trusted to know what they were about.These men believed in journalism asa calling,and were proud to be published in the daily press.So few authors havebrains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism/9Newman wrote,“that I am tempted to define journalism as 匕 term of contemptapplied by writers who are not read to writers who are.Unfortunately,these critics are virtually forgotten.Neville Cardus,who wrotefor the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975,isnow known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket.During his lifetime,though,he was also one of England foremost classical-music critics,a stylist sowidely admired that his Autobiography(1947)became a best-seller.He was knightedin 1967,the first music critic to be so honored.Yet only one of his books is now inprint,and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists.Is there any chance that Carduss criticism will enjoy a revival?The prospectseems remote.Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death,and postmodernreaders have little use for the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose in which hespecialized.Moreover,the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlongretreat.21.It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 thatA arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers.B English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews.C high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers.D young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies.22.Newspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized byA free themes.B casual style.C elaborate layout.D radical viewpoints.23.Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?A It is writers*duty to fulfill journalistic goals.B It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.C Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.D Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.24.What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?A His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.B His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.C His style caters largely to modem specialists.D His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.25.What would be the best title for the text?A Newspapers of the Good Old DaysB The Lost Horizon in NewspapersC Mournful Decline of JournalismD Prominent Critics in MemoryText 2Over the past decade,thousands of patents have been granted for what arecalled business methods.A received one for its one-click onlinepayment system.Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy.One inventor patented a technique fbr lifting a box.Now the nations top patent court appears completely ready to scale back onbusiness-method patents,which have been controversial ever since they were firstauthorized 10 years ago.In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz theU.S.court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use a particular case toconduct a broad review of business-method patents.In re Bilski,as the case isknown,is na very big deal，says Dennis D.Crouch of the University of MissouriSchool of law.It nhas the potential to eliminate an entire class of patents.nCurbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face,because itwas the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with its 1998 decision in theso-called state Street Bank case,approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fundassets.That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings,initiallyby emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific typesof online transactions.Later,move established companies raced to add such patentsto their files,if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to thepunch.In 2005,IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis fbrgranting them.Similarly,some Wall Street investment films armed themselves withpatents fbr financial products,even as they took positions in court cases opposing thepractice.The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in theenergy market.The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the casewould be heard by all 12 of the courts judges,rather than a typical panel of three,and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should reconsider its statestreet Bank ruling.The Federal Circuifs action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions bythe supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections fbr patent holders.LastApril,for example the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld forinventions”that are obvious.The judges on the Federal circuit are reacting to theanti-patent trend at the Supreme Court*,says Harold C.Wegner,a patent attorneyand professor at George Washington University Law School.26.Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because ofA their limited value to businessB their connection with asset allocationC the possible restriction on their grantingD the controversy over authorization27.Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?A Its ruling complies with the court decisionsB It involves a very big business transactionC It has been dismissed by the Federal CircuitD It may change the legal practices in the U.S.28.The word about-face”(Line 1,Para 3)most probably meansA loss of good willB increase of hostilityC change of attitudeD enhancement of dignity29.We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patentsA are immune to legal challengesB are often unnecessarily issuedC lower the esteem for patent holdersD increase the incidence of risks30.Which of the following would be the subject of the text?A A looming threat to business-method patentsB Protection for business-method patent holdersC A legal case regarding business-method patentsD A prevailing trend against business-method patentsText 3In his book The Tipping Point,Malcolm Gladwell argues that social epidemicsare driven in large part by the acting of a tiny minority of special individuals,oftencalled influentials,who are unusually informed,persuasive,or well-connected.Theidea is intuitively compelling,but it doesnt explain how ideas actually spread.The supposed importance of influentials derives from a plausible sounding butlargely untested theory called the two step flow of communication”：Informationflows from the media to the influentials and from them to everyone else.Marketershave embraced the two-step flow because it suggests that if they can just find andinfluence the influentials,those selected people will do most of the work for them.The theory also seems to explain the sudden and unexpected popularity of certainlooks,brands,or neighborhoods.In many such cases,a cursory search for causesfinds that some small group of people was wearing,promoting,or developingwhatever it is before anyone else paid attention.Anecdotal evidence of this kind fitsnicely with the idea that only certain special people can drive trendsIn their recent work,however,some researchers have come up with the findingthat influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed.In fact,they dont seem to be required of all.The researchers*argument stems from a simple observing about social influence,with the exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfrey一whose outsize presenceis primarily a function of media,not interpersonal,influence-even the mostinfluential members of a population simply dont interact with that many others.Yetit is precisely these non-celebrity influentials who,according to the two-step-flowtheory,are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends andcolleagues directly.For a social epidemic to occur,however,each person so affected,must then influence his or her own acquaintances,who must in turn influence theirs,and so on;and just how many others pay attention to each of these people has littleto do with the initial influential.If people in the network just two degrees removedfrom the initial influential prove resistant,fbr example,the cascade of change won*tpropagate very far or affect many people.Building on the basic truth about interpersonal influence,the researchersstudied the dynamics of populations manipulating a number of variables relating ofpopulations,manipulating a number of variables relating to peoples ability toinfluence others and their tendency to be influenced.Our work shows that theprincipal requirement fbr what we call global cascades*1-the widespreadpropagation of influence through networks-is the presence not of a few influentialsbut,rather,of a critical mass of easily influenced people,each of whom adopts,say,a look or a brand after being exposed to a single adopting neighbor.Regardless ofhow influential an individual is locally,he or she can exert global influence only ifthis critical mass is available to propagate a chain reaction.31.By citing the book The Tipping Point,the author intends toA analyze the consequences of social epidemicsB discuss influentials*function in spreading ideasC exemplify peoples intuitive response to social epidemicsD describe the essential characteristics of influentials.32.The author suggests that the Htwo-step-flow theory0A serves as a solution to marketing problemsB has helped explain certain prevalent trendsC has won support from influentialsD requires solid evidence for its validity33.What the researchers have observed recently shows thatA the power of influence goes with social interactionsB interpersonal links can be enhanced through the mediaC influentials have more channels to reach the publicD most celebrities enjoy wide media attention34.The underlined phrase these people in paragraph 4 refers to the ones whoA stay outside the network of social influenceB have little contact with the source of influenceC are influenced and then influence othersD are influenced by the initial influential35.what is the essential element in the dynamics of social influence?A The eagerness to be acceptedB The impulse to influence othersC The readiness to be influencedD The inclination to rely on othersText 4Bankers have been blaming themselves for their troubles in public.Behind thescenes,they have been taking aim at someone else:the accounting standard-setters.Their rules,moan the banks,have forced them to report enormous losses,and its justnot fair.These rules say they must value some assets at the price a third party wouldpay,not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch.Unfortunately,banks1 lobbying now seems to be working.The details may beunknowable,but the independence of standard-setters,essential to the properfunctioning of capital markets,is being compromised.And,unless banks carry toxicassets at prices that attract buyers,reviving the banking system will be difficult.After a bruising encounter with Congress,A
