2006年考研英语试题、参考答案及点评
Section I Use of English
Section I Use of English
Directions:
Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A,B,Cor D on ANSWER SHEET1.(10points)
The homeless make up a growing percentage of America’s population.__1__ homelessness has reached such proportions that local government can’t possibly _____2____. To help homeless people _____3___ independence, the federal government must support job training programs,_____4_____ the minimum wage, and fund more low-cost housing._____5____everyone agrees on the numbers of Americans who are homeless. Estimates ____6__ anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million. _____7__ the figure may vary, analysts do agree on another matter: that the number of the homeless is_____8____, one of the federal government’s studies _____9__ that the number of the homeless will reach nearly 19 million by the end of this decade.
Finding ways to __10__ this growing homeless population has become increasingly difficult.___11__when homeless individuals manage to find a ___12__ that will give them three meals a day and a place to sleep at night, a good number still spend the bulk of each day__13__ the street, Part of the problem is that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs. And a significant number of the homeless have serious mental disorders. Many others,____14____not addicted or mentally ill, simply lack the everyday __15__ skills need to turn their lives _____16__.Boston Globe reporter Chris Reidy notes that the situation will improve only when there are_17___programs that address the many needs of the homeless. _____18__ Edward Blotkowsk, director of community service at Bentley College in Massachusetts,___19__it. “There has to be _____20___of programs. What we need is a package deal.”
1.[A]Indeed [B]Likewise [C]Therefore [D]Furthermore
2.[A]stand [B]cope [C]approve [D]retain
3.[A]in [B]for [C]with [D]toward
4.[A]raise [B]add [C]take [D]keep
5.[A]generally [B]almost [C]hardly [D]not
6.[A]cover [B]change [C]range [D]differ
7.[A]Now that [B]Although [C]Provided [D]Except that
8.[A]inflating [B]expanding [C]increasing [D]extending
9.[A]predicts [B]displays [C]proves [D]discovers
10.[A]assist [B]track [C]sustain [D]dismiss
11.[A]Hence [B]But [C]Even [D]Only
12.[A]lodging [B]shelter [C]dwelling [D]house
13.[A]searching [B]strolling [C]crowding [D]wandering
14.[A]when [B]once [C]while [D]whereas
15.[A]life [B]existence [C]survival [D]maintenance
16.[A]around [B]over [C]on [D]up
17.[A]complex [B]comprehensive [C]complementary [D]compensating
18.[A]So [B]Since [C]As [D]Thus
19.[A]puts [B]interprets [C]assumes [D]makes
20.[A]supervision [B]manipulation [C]regulation [D]coordination
完型填空参考答案及解析:
新航道 唐伟胜
一、完型填空参考译文:
无家可归者占美国人口的比例越来越大。而且,无家可归者已经增加了地方政府都无法应对的地步。为了帮助无家可归者走向独立,联邦政府必须支持就业培训项目、提高最低工资并资助建设更多低价住房。美国到底有多少无家可归者大家的意见并不一致,估计是在60万到300万之间。尽管人们估计的数字可能各不相同,分析家们对另外一个问题的意见的确是一致的:无家可归者的数量正在增长。联邦政府的一项研究预测,在本十年结束之前,无家可归者的数量将接近1900万。
想办法帮助这些越来越多的无家可归者任务越来越艰巨。即使无家可归者找到了住处,白天有三餐,晚上能安眠,还是会有很多人每天大部分时间流落街头。部分问题是,许多无家可归的成年人都是酒鬼或者瘾君子;而相当多的无家可归者患有严重的精神病;还有许多人虽然不喝酒吸毒,精神也正常,但就是没有使自己翻身的基本生活能力。《波士顿环球日报》记者克里斯.雷迪认为只有通过全面规划来解决这些无家可归者的各种需求,这种局面才有可能得到改善。用马塞诸塞州本特里学院社区服务部主任爱德华.布罗特科瓦斯克的话来说就是:“各种规划必须协调运行,我们需要的是一篮子计划。”
二、参考答案及要点分析:
1. D.本句接第一句。前句说无家可归者的比例越来越大,接下来的这句话表示递进,所以选furthermore。A选项表示“的确”,B选项likewise意思为“同理,同样”,C选项therefore表示因果关系,三个错误选项干扰性最大的是A选项,因为从逻辑上来分析,它入选的可能也很大,但相比之下递进的意思更符合逻辑。难度:☆☆☆☆
2. B 这里表示第一句中提到的问题已经让地方政府无法应付了,因此选择cope(应付,应对)。A选项stand表示“容忍”,C选项approve表示“同意”,D选项retain表示“保留”,均不合题意。难度:☆☆
3. D 本句表示“帮助无家可归的人走向独立”,故选择toward。本题的干扰项是C选项的with。虽然我们学过to help sb. with…这样的句型,但该句型表示的是“帮助某人做/学什么”的意思,如help me with my English(帮助我学习英语),help me with my exercises(帮助我做作业)。难度:☆☆☆
4. A 这里表示“提高最低工资待遇”,只有当人们能够挣到更多的钱,无家可归的人才会减少,故选raise。干扰项是B选项add。虽然add也表示增加,但当表达提高工资时,我们使用raise,而不用add。难度:☆
5. D 本题四个选项中,A选项generally和B选项almost表示肯定含义,C选项hardly和D选项not表示否定。根据上下文,本句说的是“并非每个人都同意”,所以排除A和B。同时,hardly只能与anyone等词搭配,表示“几乎没有任何人”,不能与everyone搭配,故正确答案为not。Not everyone agrees…表示“不是每个人都同意……”的意思。难度:☆
6. C 本句意思为“估计数字的范围大约从60万到300万之间”,使用range from…to…的句型。干扰项是A选项的cover,但cover表示“覆盖”,不表示范围。D选项differ主要强调不同,而本句并未强调不同,而是强调范围,故选择range。难度:☆☆☆
7. B 根据后文,本句表达的是让步意义,即,“虽然对这一数字人们意见不一,但人们却都同意另外一个事实”,因此选择although。其余选项不合题意。难度:☆
8. C 本题为词汇辨析题。四个选项都表达“增加,扩张”的含义,但由于本句主语为the number,因此只能搭配increase。A选项inflate表示“膨胀”,B选项expand表示“在面积上扩张”,D选项extend表示“在长度上延伸”。难度:☆
9. A 本句表示的是“预测”,故选择predict。D选项的discover为干扰项,从汉语的角度似乎说得通,即,“研究发现……”,然而,若说“发现”,后边的宾语从句只能使用一般现在时,如发现了一个什么规律等,但本句后边使用的是将来时,所以只能理解为“预测”。难度:☆☆
10. A 本题比较难, A选项的assist表示“帮助”,B选项的track表示“跟踪”;C选项的sustain表示“维持,使……继续活下去”;D选项的dismiss表示“解散,让……离开”。从全段来看,后面主要讲如何维持住这些无家可归者们的稳定,不仅要给他们吃住,还要解决他们其他一系列的问题,这就暗示前面的主题句讲的是帮助无家可归者,此外,从与名词population的搭配来看,也只有A选项最合适。难度:☆☆☆☆☆
11. C 根据题意,本句是让步的意思,“即使当他们有吃有住,他们仍然会……”,所以选择C选项的even。难度:☆☆
12. B 本题为词汇辨析题。四个选项都有“住房”、“住处”的意思,但B选项的shelter除了表示“藏身处”之外,还有“保护”的意思,而下文明显有此含义,故选择B。难度:☆☆☆☆
13. D 本题同样为词汇辨析题,主要要区分B选项stroll和D选项wander。Stroll表示“闲逛,悠闲地散步”,而wander则表示“徘徊,乱逛”的意思,很明显,wander更符合题意。难度:☆☆
14. C 本句表达让步,“虽然许多人……,但是……”,可以使用although/though,但选项中并未提供这两个词,但我们知道while也可以用来表达although的意思,故选择C选项的while。难度:☆☆
15. A 本题主要是区分life skills和survival skills,前者表示“生活能力”,后者表示“生存技能”,由于文章讨论无家可归者的基本生活问题,故应选择A选项。难度:☆☆☆
16. A 本题为词组搭配。Turn around表示“转过身”,turn on表示“打开”等意思,turn up表示“出现”等意思,turn over表示“翻转”。本句意思应该为“他们缺乏生存技能来改变自己的生活”,也就是说将生活“翻转”,故选择A选项的turn around。难度:☆☆☆☆
17. B 本句题意为“全面的规划”,所以用B选项的comprehensive。A选项complex强调复杂性;C选项complementary强调互补性;D选项compensating强调补偿性,所以均不合题意。难度:☆☆☆
18. C 难度:☆
19. A 本题和上题一起构成一个句型:as sb. puts it,意思为“正如……说的那样”。故18题选择C选项的as,19题选择A选项的puts。难度:☆
20. D 本句强调各种计划中的协同,故选择D 选项的coordination。A选项的supervision意思为“监督,管理”,B选项的manipulation意思为“操纵”,C选项的regulation意思为“调节,校准”,均不合题意。难度:☆☆☆☆
三、试题分析:
应该说,本年度的“英语知识应用”题难度比较适中,与2004、2005年相比并没有提升难度。下表是2002-2006年“英语知识应用”题的相关比较。
2002-2006年“英语知识应用”题的相关比较
和往年相比,2006年篇幅减少,但句子难度并没有提高,文章的主题表述也很清晰,也就是说,考生比较容易弄懂文章大部分内容。但有一个比较明显的变化就是,词汇辨析题增加了数量和难度。这样就需要考生不仅要明白文章的大体内容,还要在细节地方更精准地理解原文意思,然后通过词汇辨析选择出最佳答案。这无疑为考生提出了更大的挑战。下面举第6题为例说明:
Not everyone agrees on the numbers of Americans who are homeless. Estimates____6__ anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million.
[A] cover[B] change[C] range[D] differ
本题就需要考生仔细辨析四个选项的含义,然后结合上下文进行选择。应该说,A、B、C、D四个选项后可以跟这样的结构:change / range / differ from A to B,如:
This newspaper covers everything domestic news to financial situation.
It’s hard to adapt oneself to the change from a student to a teacher.
There are 40 students in the class, with their age ranging from 25 to 35.
Opinions differ from person to person.
但从上四句可以看出,只有range from A to B这样的结构才表示什么东西在某个范围内变化,cover强调覆盖面积,change强调状态变化,differ强调差异。而原文明显提到了一个范围:从60万到300万,因此只能选择range。
Section II Reading Comprehension
Part A
Directions:
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 1
In spite of “endless talk of difference,” American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. This is “the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of consumption “launched by the 19th –century department stores that offered ‘vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere. Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite.” these were stores “anyone could enter, regardless of class or background. This turned shopping into a public and democratic act.” The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization.
Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today’s immigration is neither at unprecedented level nor resistant to assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of population; in 1900, 13.6 percent. In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10 years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation------language, home ownership and intermarriage.
The 1990 Census revealed that “a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English “well” or “very well” after ten years of residence.” The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. “By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families.” Hence the description of America as a graveyard” for language. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrive before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics “have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S-born whites and blacks.” By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.
Rodriguez not that children in remote villages around world are fans of superstars like Amold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet “some Americans fear that immigrant living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation’s assimilative power.”
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America’s turbulent past, today’s social induces suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
21. The word “homogenizing” (Line 2, Paragraph 1) most probably means
A. identifying B. associating C. assimilating D. monopolizing
22. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century
A.played a role in the spread of popular culture.
B.became intimate shops for common consumers.
C.satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite.
D.owed its emergence to the culture of consumption.
23. The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.
A.are resistant to homogenization.
B.exert a great influence on American culture.
C.are hardly a threat to the common culture.
D.constitute the majority of the population.
24. Why are Amold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?
A. To prove their popularity around the world.
B. To reveal the public’s fear of immigrants.
C. To give examples of successful immigrants.
D. To show the powerful influence of American culture.
25. In the author’s opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is
A. rewardingB. successfulC. fruitlessD. harmful
Text 2
Stratford-on-Avon, as we all know, has only one industry—William Shakespeare—but there are two distinctly separate and increasingly hostile branches. There is the Royal Shakespeare Company (ASC), which presents superb productions of the plays at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre on the Avon. And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come, not to see the plays, but to look at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the other sights.
The worthy residents of Stratford doubt that the theatre adds a penny to their revenue. They frankly dislike the RSC’s actors, them with their long hair and beards and sandals and noisiness. It’s all deliciously ironic when you consider that Shakespeare, who earns their living, was himself an actor (with a beard) and did his share of noise-making.
The tourist streams are not entirely separate. The sightseers who come by bus- and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side—don’t usually see the plays, and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford. However, the playgoers do manage a little sight-seeing along with their playgoing. It is the playgoers, the ESC contends, who bring in much of the town’s revenue because they spend the night (some of them four or five nights) pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants. The sightseers can take in everything and get out of town by nightfall.
The townsfolk don’t see it this way and local council does not contribute directly to the subsidy of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Stratford cries poor traditionally. Nevertheless every hotel in town seems to be adding a new wing or cocktail lounge. Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.
Anyway, the townsfolk can’t understand why the Royal Shakespeare Company needs a subsidy. (The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 percent occupied all year long and this year they’ll do better.) The reason, of course, is that costs have rocketed and ticket prices have stayed low.
It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would drive away the young people who are Stratford’s most attractive clientele. They come entirely for the plays, not the sights. They all seem to look alike (though they come from all over)---lean, pointed, dedicated faces, wearing jeans and sandals, eating their buns and bedding down for the night on the flagstones outside the theatre to buy the 20 seats and 80 standing—room tickets held for the sleepers and sold to them when the box office opens at 10:30 a.m.
Text 3
When prehistoric man arrived in new parts of the world, something strange happened to the large animals. They suddenly became extinct. Smaller species survived. The large, slow-growing animals were easy game, and were quickly hunted to extinction. Now something similar could be happening in the oceans.
That the seas are being overfished has been known for years. What researchers such as Ransom Myers and Boris Worm have shown is just how fast things are changing. They have looked at half a century of data from fisheries around the world. Their methods do not attempt to estimate the actual biomass (the amount of living biological matter) of fish species in particular parts of the ocean, but rather changes in that biomass over time. According to their latest paper published in Nature, the biomass of large predators (animals that kill and eat other animals) in a new fishery is reduced on average by 80% within 15 years of the start of exploitation. In some long-fished areas, it has halved again since then.
Dr Worm acknowledges that the figures are conservative. One reason for this is that fishing technology has improved. Today's vessels can find their prey using satellites and sonar, which were not available 50 years ago. That means a higher proportion of what is in the sea is being caught, so the real difference between present and past is likely to be worse than the one recorded by changes in catch sizes. In the early days, too, longlines would have been more saturated with fish. Some individuals would therefore not have been caught, since no baited hooks would have been available to trap them, leading to an underestimate of fish stocks in the past. Furthermore, in the early days of longline fishing, a lot of fish were lost to sharks after they had been hooked. That is no longer a problem, because there are fewer sharks around now.
Dr Myers and Dr Worm argue that their work gives a correct baseline, which future management efforts must take into account. They believe the data support an idea current among marine biologists, that of the "shifting baseline". The notion is that people have failed to detect the massive changes which have happened in the ocean because they have been looking back only a relatively short time into the past. That matters because theory suggests that the maximum sustainable yield that can be cropped from a fishery comes when the biomass of a target species is about 50% of its original levels. Most fisheries are well below that, which is a bad way to do business.
31. The extinction of large prehistoric animals is noted to suggest that
A. large animal were vulnerable to the changing environment.
B. small species survived as large animals disappeared.
C. large sea animals may face the same threat today.
D. Slow-growing fish outlive fast-growing ones
32. We can infer from Dr Myers and Dr. Worm’s paper that
A. the stock of large predators in some old fisheries has reduced by 90%.
B. there are only half as many fisheries as there were 15 years ago.
C. the catch sizes in new fisheries are only 20% of the original amount.
D. the number of larger predators dropped faster in new fisheries than in the old.
33. By saying these figures are conservative (Line 1, paragraph 3), Dr Worm means that
A. fishing technology has improved rapidly
B. then catch-sizes are actually smaller then recorded
C. the marine biomass has suffered a greater loss
D. the data collected so far are out of date.
34. Dr Myers and other researchers hold that
A. people should look for a baseline that can’t work for a longer time.
B. fisheries should keep the yield below 50% of the biomass
C. the ocean biomass should restored its original level.
D. people should adjust the fishing baseline to changing situation
35. The author seems to be mainly concerned with most fisheries’
A.management efficiency
B.biomass level
C.catch-size limits
D.technological application.
Text 4
Many things make people think artists are weird and the weirdest may be this: artists' only job is to explore emotions, and yet they choose to focus on the ones that feel bad.
This wasn't always so. The earliest forms of art, like painting and music, are those best suited for expressing joy. But somewhere in the 19th century, more artists began seeing happiness as insipid, phony or, worst of all, boring as we went from Wordsworth's daffodils to Baudelaire's flowers of evil.
You could argue that art became more skeptical of happiness because modern times have seen such misery. But it's not as if earlier times didn't know perpetual war, disaster and the massacre of innocents. The reason, in fact, may be just the opposite: there is too much damn happiness in the world today.
After all, what is the one modern form of expression almost completely dedicated to depicting happiness? Advertising. The rise of anti-happy art almost exactly tracks the emergence of mass media, and with it, a commercial culture in which happiness is not just an ideal but an ideology.
People in earlier eras were surrounded by reminders of misery. They worked until exhausted, lived with few protections and died young. In the West, before mass communication and literacy, the most powerful mass medium was the church, which reminded worshippers that their souls were in peril and that they would someday be meat for worms. Given all this, they did not exactly need their art to be a bummer too.
Today the messages your average Westerner is bombarded with are not religious but commercial, and forever happy. Fast-food eaters, news anchors, text messengers, all smiling, smiling. Our magazines feature beaming celebrities and happy families in perfect homes. And since these messages have an agenda--to lure us to open our wallets to make the very idea of happiness seem unreliable. "Celebrate!" commanded the ads for the arthritis drug Celebrex, before we found out it could increase the risk of heart attacks.
What we forget--what our economy depends on is forgetting--is that happiness is more than pleasure without pain. The things that bring the greatest joy carry the greatest potential for loss and disappointment. Today, surrounded by promises of easy happiness, we need someone to tell us as religion once did, Memento mori: remember that you will die, that everything ends, and that happiness comes not in denying this but in living with it. It's a message even more bitter than a clove cigarette, yet, somehow, a breath of fresh air.
36.By citing the example of poets Wordsworth and Baudelaire, the author intends to show that
A. Poetry is not as expressive of joy as painting or music.
B. Art grow out of both positive and negative feeling.
C. Poets today are less skeptical of happiness.
D. Artist have changed their focus of interest.
37. The word “bummer” (Line 5. paragraph 5) most probably means something
A. religiousB. unpleasant C. entertaining D. commercial
38.In the author’s opinion, advertising
A.emerges in the wake of the anti-happy part.
B.is a cause of disappointment for the general peer
C.replace the church as a major source of information
D.creates an illusion of happiness rather than happiness itself.
39.We can learn from the last paragraph that the author believes
A.Happiness more often than not ends in sadness.
B.The anti-happy art is distasteful by refreshing.
C.Misery should be enjoyed rather than denied.
D.The anti-happy art flourishes when economy booms
40.Which of the following is true of the text?
A.Religion once functioned as a reminder of misery.
B.Art provides a balance between expectation and reality.
C.People feel disappointed at the realities of morality.
D.mass media are inclined to cover disasters and deaths.
Part B
Directions:
In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A- G to fit into each of numbered blanks. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)
On the north bank of the Ohio River sits Evansville, Ind., home of David Williams, 52, and of a riverboat casino where gambling games are played. During several years of gambling in that casino, Williams, a state auditor earning $35,000 a year, lost approximately $175,000. He had never gambled before the casino sent him a coupon for $20 worth of gambling.
He visited the casino, lost the $20 and left. On his second visit he lost $800. The casino issued to him, as a good customer, a Fun Card, which when used in the casino earns points for meals and drinks, and enables the casino to track the user's gambling activities. For Williams, these activities become what he calls electronic morphine. (41)______________. In 1997 he lost $21,000 to one slot machine in two days. In March 1997 he lost $72,186. He sometimes played two slot machines at a time, all night, until the boat locked at 5 a.m., then went back aboard when the casino opened at 9 a.m. Now he is suing the casino, charging that it should have refused his patronage because it knew he was addicted. It did know he had a problem.
In March 1998, a friend of Williams's got him involuntarily confined to a treatment center for addictions, and wrote to inform the casino of Williams's gamblers. The casino included a photo of Williams among those of banned gamblers, and wrote to him a” cease admissions” letter noting the medical/psychological nature of problem gambling behaviors, the letter said that before being readmitted to the patronizing the casino would pose no threat to his safety have to his safety or well-being. (42) ______________.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the casino has 20 signs warning: “Enjoy the fun ... and always bet with your head, not over it”. Every entrance ticket lists a toll-free number for counseling from the Indiana Department of Mental Health. Nevertheless, Williams's suit charges that the casino, knowing he was “helplessly addicted to gambling”, intentionally worked to ”love” him to “engage in conduct against his will” well. (43) ______________.
The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) says “pathological gambling” involves persistent, recurring and uncontrollable pursuit less of money than of taking risks in quest of a windfall, (44) ______________.Pushed by science, or what claims to be science, society is reclassifying what once were considered character flaws or moral failings as personality disorders akin to physical disabilities. (45) ______________.
Forty-four states have lotteries, 29 have casinos, and most of these states are to varying degrees dependent on --you might say --addicted to--revenues from wagering. And since the first Internet gambling site was created in 1995, competition for gamblers' dollars has become intense. The Oct. 28 issue of NEWSWEEK reported that 2 million gamblers patronize 1,800 virtual casinos every week. With $3.5 billion being lost on Internet wagers this year, gambling has passed pornography as the Web's most profitable business.
(A). Although no such evidence was presented, the casino's marketing department continued to pepper him with mailings. And he entered the casino and used his Fun Card without being detected.
(B). It is unclear what luring was required, given his compulsive behavior. And in what sense was his will operative?
(C). By the time he had lost $5,000 he said to himself that if he could get back to even, he would quit. One night he won $5,500, but he did not quit.
(D). Gambling has been a common feature of American life forever, but for a long time it was broadly considered a sin, or a social disease. Now it is a social policy: the most important and aggressive promoter of gambling in America is government.
(E). David Williams’s suit should trouble this gambling nation. But don’t bet on it.
(F). It is worrisome that society is medicalizing more and more behavioral problems, often defining as addictions what earlier, sterner generations explained as weakness of will.
(G). The anonymous, lonely, undistracted nature of online gambling is especially conductive to compulsive behavior. But even if the government knew how to move against Internet gambling, what would be its grounds for doing so?
Part C
Directions:
Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Our translation should be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET2. (10 points)
Is it true that the American intellectual is rejected and considered of no account in his society? I am going to suggest that it is not true. Father Bruckbergen told part of the story when he observed that it is the intellectuals who have rejected Americans. But they have done more than that. They have grown dissatisfied with the role of intellectual. It is they, not Americans, who have become anti-intellectual.
First, the object of our study pleads for definition. What is an intellectual? (46) I shall define him as an individual who has elected as his primary duty and pleasure in life the activity of thinking in Socratic(苏格拉底) way about moral problems .He explores such problem consciously, articulately, and frankly, first by asking factual questions, then by asking moral questions, finally by suggesting action which seems appropriate in the light of the factual and moral information which he has obtained. (47) His function is analogous to that of a judge, who must accept the obligation of revealing in as obvious a matter as possible the course of reasoning which led him to his decision.
This definition excludes many individuals usually referred to as intellectuals --- the average scientist for one 48) I have excluded him because, while his accomplishments may contribute to the solution of moral problems, he has not been charged with the task of approaching any but the factual aspects of those problems. Like other human beings, he encounters moral issues even in everyday performance of his routine duties.--- he is not supposed to cook his experiments, manufacture evidence, or doctor his reports. (49) But his primary task is not to think about the moral code, which governs his activity, any more than a businessman is expected to dedicate his energies to an exploration of rules of conduct in business. During most of his walking life he will take his code for granted, as the businessman takes his ethics.
The definition also excludes the majority of factors, despite the fact that teaching has traditionally been the method whereby many intellectuals earn their living (50) They may teach very well and more than earn their salaries, but most of them make little or no independent reflections on human problems which involve moral judgment .This description even fits the majority eminent scholars .“Being learned in some branch of human knowledge in one thing, living in public and industrious thoughts,” as Emerson would say ,“is something else.”
21--25 CACCB 26--30 ABCDD 31--36 CACDB 37--40 BBDCA
解析:TEXT 121. The word “homogenizing” (line 2, Para 1) most probably meansA. identifying B. associating C. assimilating D. monopolizingC正确。 上下文很容易的。
22. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century A. played a role in the spread of popular culture. B. became intimate shops for common consumers. C. satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite. D. owed its emergence to the culture of consumption. A正确。百货商店使得大家能去买很多一样的服饰等等。
23. The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S. A. are resistant to homogenization. B. exert a great influence on American culture. C. are hardly a threat to the common culture. D. constitute the majority of the population. C正确。到美国的移民能很好融入美国文化,能说好英语,能顺利买房结婚等,不难选择出正确答案。
24. Why are Amold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5? A. To prove their popularity around the world. B. To reveal the public’s fear of immigrants. C. To give examples of successful immigrants. D. To show the powerful influence of American culture. C正确。 忠于原文,这篇文章的中心是要说美国是个大熔炉。
25. In the author’s opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is A正确。. rewarding B. successful C. fruitless D. harmful这道题保留观点,个人觉得选D,但是选B也似乎说得通。
TEXT 2
26. From the first two paras , we learn thatA. the townsfolk deny the RSC ’ s contribution to the town’s revenueB. the actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stageC. the two branches of the RSC are not on good termsD. the townsfolk earn little from tourismA正确。文章第一句话,很容易。
27. It can be inferred from Para 3 thatA. the sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separatelyB. the playgoers spend more money than the sightseersC. the sightseers do more shopping than the playgoersD. the playgoers go to no other places in town than the theaterB正确。 见文章第二段,看戏的人给镇子带来了更多的经济收入。
28. By saying “Stratford cries poor traditionally” (Line 2-3, Paragraph 4), the author implies thatA. Stratford cannot afford the expansion projectsB. Stratford has long been in financial difficultiesC. the town is not really short of moneyD. the townsfolk used to be poorly paidC正确。 通过上下文很容易知道cries poor 是装穷的意思,和中文的哭穷很类似,不过还是不要通过字面意思猜,通过上下文最有把握,最踏实。
29. According to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy becauseA. ticket prices can be raised to cover the spendingB. the company is financially ill-managedC. the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptableD. the theatre attendance is on the riseD正确。 原文倒数第二自然段说得很清楚The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 percent occupied all year long and this year they’ll do better. 这说明对于镇上的人来说,他们实际上不知道票价低的,所以A不选。他们看到的只是表面现象D。
30. From the text we can conclude that the authorA. is supportive of both sidesB. favors the townsfolk’s viewC. takes a detached attitudeD. is sympatheticD正确。从最后一段段首,和后面的句子看出作者认为不可能上调价格,这是很可耻的,可是镇上的人们又不理解。所以实际上同情它的遭遇。
TEXT 3
31. The extinction of large prehistoric animals is noted to suggest that A. large animal were vulnerable to the changing environment. B. small species survived as large animals disappeared. C. large sea animals may face the same threat today. D. Slow-growing fish outlive fast-growing ones C 正确。A是就事论事B和D都是无中生有
32. We can infer from Dr Myers and Dr. Worm’s paper that A. the stock of large predators in some old fisheries has reduced by 90%. B. there are only half as many fisheries as there were 15 years ago. C. the catch sizes in new fisheries are only 20% of the original amount. D. the number of larger predators dropped faster in new fisheries than in the old. A正确。 这道题目关键是要理解原文第二段的最后一句,……the biomass of large predators (animals that kill and eat other animals) in a new fishery is reduced on average by 80% within 15 years of the start of exploitation. In some long-fished areas, it has halved again since then.,前一个句子讲大型食肉动物减少了80%,即剩下20%, 现在在某些long-fished地区, 又减少了一半10%,所以总共减少了90%。
33. By saying these figures are conservative (Line 1, paragraph 3), Dr Worm means that A. fishing technology has improved rapidly B. then catch-sizes are actually smaller then recorded C. the marine biomass has suffered a greater loss D. the data collected so far are out of date. C正确。 文章主题说的是海洋鱼类需要保护。
34. Dr Myers and other researchers hold that A. people should look for a baseline that can’t work for a longer time. B. fisheries should keep the yield below 50% of the biomass C. the ocean biomass should restored its original level. D. people should adjust the fishing baseline to changing situation D. 正确。 最后一段提到给出一个 correct baseline 才行,就是要调整原来的baseline。
35. The author seems to be mainly concerned with most fisheries’ A. management efficiency B. biomass level C. catch-size limits D. technological application.B正确。 本文中心是海洋生物量biomass
TEXT4
36.By citing the example of poets Wordsworth and Baudelaire, the author intends to show that A. Poetry is not as expressive of joy as painting or music. B. Art grow out of both positive and negative feeling. C. Poets today are less skeptical of happiness. D. Artist have changed their focus of interest. B正确。选D的同学没有注意到原文和兴趣没有关系。而B原文分别用Wordsworth's daffodils to Baudelaire's flowers of evil. 来代表。因为百合花是好的,evil是不好的。
37. The word “bummer” (Line 5. paragraph 5) most probably means something A. religious B. unpleasant C. entertaining D. commercial B正确。 上下段可以看出过去人不好过日子,所以选不好的选项。
38. In the author’s opinion, advertising A. emerges in the wake of the anti-happy part. B. is a cause of disappointment for the general peer C. replace the church as a major source of information D. creates an illusion of happiness rather than happiness itself. D正确。看第四段,简单 。
39.We can learn from the last paragraph that the author believes A. Happiness more often than not ends in sadness. B. The anti-happy art is distasteful by refreshing. C. Misery should be enjoyed rather than denied. D. The anti-happy art flourishes when economy booms C正确。最后一段的第一二句,What we forget--what our economy depends on is forgetting--is that happiness is more than pleasure without pain. The things that bring the greatest joy carry the greatest potential for loss and disappointment.
40.Which of the following is true of the text? A. Religion once functioned as a reminder of misery. B. Art provides a balance between expectation and reality. C. People feel disappointed at the realities of morality. D. mass media are inclined to cover disasters and deaths.A正确。过去时态,所以符合倒数第三段的内容。BCD无中生有。
李传伟点评
一、总体评价
1.内容
这次考试的四篇文章分别涉及了美国文化中的同化(homogenizing/assimilation)、莎士比亚故居的旅游、海洋鱼类的过量捕捞和忧愁的艺术(the art of unhappiness)等内容,都是时效性较强的问题,尤其是后两篇。难度按从易到难的顺序排列,第一篇最容易,第四篇最难。
2.文章来源
这些文章既然时效性较强,一般就属于时文。我过去讲课时强调几种要阅读的杂志,如The Economist, Newsweek, Time等,并且指出其中400-500词或较易删改为如此长度的文章是阅读重点,这些说法在这次考试中又得到了验证。如,第三篇选自The Economist 2003年5月15日的文章Ocean’s eleventh hour?,原文共679词,经过删改变为考试时的文章。第四篇选自Time 2005年1月17日的文章The Art of Unhappiness,原文共841词,经过删改变为考试时的文章。
3.生词与难句
文章中存在个别生词,但生词总量未超纲,而且这些生词根据上下文可以推出意思,并不影响理解和做题。难句不多,第三篇文章多些。
二、试题分析
1.总评价
阅读部分难度与2005年基本持平,但第四篇文章偏难,主要是涉及人文的内容较多。假如平均分为50分左右,那么这一部分的平均得分约为18-20分。
2.题型
这次考试题型并不复杂,主要涉及词汇题(21、37)、句子意思题(33)、例证题(24、31、36)、态度题(25)、细节题(如22)等,其中例证题和细节题较多,需要细心阅读和定位原文。最后一篇文章是一篇人文文章,阅读时要注意作者的态度。以第一篇文章为例。第一篇文章的答案为CACDA。具体做题思路如下:
第一题,21题,是个词汇题,根据原文首句的上下文就能确定答案是C,因为原文首句开始的in spite of表示转折关系,就是说homogenizing与前面的 difference在上下文中构成反义词,在四个选项中能与difference构成反义词的只有assimilate。当然从后文也能看出文章中的重要词assimilate是homogenizing的同义词。有的同学根据词根homo表示“相同”的意思选C也是对的。37题的bummer根据上文的对于“不幸”的描写,也能选到B“令人不快的”。
第二种题,22题,是细节题,根据其中的关键词department stores of the 19th century定位一段,再根据原文排除可以推出A是对的。注意D颠倒了因果关系。
第三题,23题,是个简单的推理题。问题问文中暗示现在美国的移民如何?2段首句的特殊结构not…but就告诉了我们现在美国移民的特点:能融入共同文化(common culture),表达这一意思的选项只有C。
第四题,24题,答案比较明显,应该是D,也就是说举这两个人为例是为了说明美国文化的巨大影响。
第四篇文章较难理解,其大意是“美国人一向追求幸福。过去人们‘累得筋疲力尽,生活几无保障,年纪轻轻就命丧黄泉的悲苦境地’,而今天面对着“快乐得让人无法忍受的商业文化”时,却发现抓到手的幸福令人隐约不快。当人们终于记起:幸福远不止是没有痛苦的快乐时,才发现忧愁的艺术尽管苦涩,却带来一股令其头脑清醒的清新气息”。过去有宗教告诉我们人有不幸,而如今的商业文化却只宣传幸福,作者对此不满。有些问题提示如下:
36题是个例证题,问提到两位诗人的目何在。原文举这两位诗人是为了说明艺术家的转变:过去描述幸福,后来描述不幸。因此B为正确答案。
37题已在前面说过。
38题,由原文可知,如今的广告给人造成幸福的幻觉,而非真的幸福,那么D为正确答案。
39题,根据文章最后可以推出作者觉得那些宣扬不幸的艺术令人不快(distasteful),但是令人有清新之感(refreshing),因此答案为C。
40题,由文中可知,宗教在过去提醒人们苦难的存在,如今宣传不幸的艺术起着同样的作用。A说到了宗教的这一作用,为正确答案。
由上面的解说可以看出,今年的阅读理解题的难度与去年差不多,只要能够把我们过去讲的一些做题方法吃透,再加上较扎实的词汇基础和阅读能力,得一个自己满意的分数不是太难。祝大家阅读部分和整个考研英语考出理想的分数!
谭慧点评06年考研英语阅读新题型
一、今年7选5题型的整体分析
总的来说,今年的7选5题型比去年简单。今年的考题是关于“赌博”这个社会问题的讨论的,文章从生动鲜明的实例引入,继而谈到各大媒体对这个问题的反应和讨论,是非常鲜明的西方报刊杂志的文章的风格,对于经常阅读英文报刊杂志的同学,这样的文章其实并不难上手。
同时,不可质疑的是,今年的考题不仅仅强调了考生的词汇量问题,而且从更深一步强调了考生对于西方文化的理解。文中casino一词,就带有鲜明的西方文化特征,表示“赌场”。很多同学熟悉gamble一词,但是对于casino并不见得了解。这个单词原本是 意大利语,是 casa的小字尾“房屋”,而其本身也来自于拉丁语 casa,意思是“村舍、小屋、茅屋。”最起初,这个词专门用来指一所乡间房屋,后来逐渐演变成用来指一个社交聚会场所,人们可以在那里跳舞、听音乐和赌博。而随着时代发展,赌博这种娱乐的地位似乎已在其他娱乐之上,于是它开始有了“赌场”的含义。而现在,这个意大利词的这些意义都已被借用到英语中;“社交聚会场所”这层意思在18世纪首次被记录下来,“赌场”的含义在1851年被首次记录下来。在西方,标有casino的地方几乎每个大城市都随处可见,而casino这样的赌博场所给人们带来的问题也越来越明显,于是就有了关于casino的讨论。随着因特网的出现,方便快捷的在线casino也越来越盛行,在google上搜索一下“casino”,你可以找到无数的casino online。对于考生来说,学习英语的同时熟悉英语国家的文化是非常重要的一方面,这也是今年考题出题的一个很明显的趋势,希望下年度要考研的同学注意。
除此以外,今年的考题还是要提醒同学们关于做题的具体的步骤。第一步:读首句,明大意。弄明白文章的大意,在答题的时候牢牢扣住文章的主旨,心中如果能牢记文章主旨,答题时就能做到有条不紊。第二步:观选项,找特征。文章大意明了后,一定要沉下心来仔细观察选项,千万不能马虎,把文章的衔接和连贯的手段,比方说人称代词、指示代词、连接词、复现同现这些词语标记出来。第三步:看前后,抓线索。观察完选项后,再回到原文定位,抓住空前空后的句子,锁定目标答案的特征。第四步:查全文,对答案。这一条指的是最后用代入法通读全文,检查答案是不是很合理。如果同学们能遵照这四步答题,那么其实文章很容易抓住线索来答题。
另外,由于2005年考纲上公布的新题型有三种,所以很多同学在复习准备时就茫然不知所措,其实这三种题型说到底是万变不离其宗的,都是考察文章的衔接与连贯,而七选五题型是这三种题型的基本题型,做好了七选五题型,其它两种也迎刃而解,这一点我上课的时候也曾经说到过,所以今年继续考察七选五,不应该出乎同学们的意料之外。
二、今年7选5题型的具体分析
拿到文章以后,先不要急着做,要先观察一下。看看41考段中,42考段尾,43考段落,44考段中,45考段尾。
1、读首句,明大意
文章第一段的文字简单,用一个实例引出了文章的讨论内容。首段提到:“Williams在赌场里赌了好几年,他每年通过赌博赚进$35,000, 但是输掉的却是$175,000。他开始赌博是因为赌场曾经送给他一张价值$20的优惠券。”很明显,文章提到的肯定是关于赌博的问题,而且Williams在赌场里赢少输多,那么赌博显然不是件好事情,给Williams带来的痛苦。而Williams开始赌博是因为那张优惠券,那么显示是赌场有意诱导了Williams这种意志薄弱的人进行赌博。谈论赌博的方方面面,尤其是赌博的危害性是文章的讨论重点,考生在做题前一定要心中有数。
2、观选项,找特征
可以先扫描一下选项,把每个选项中的特征词,如数词、连接词、代词等划出来。同时,要明确每个选项的大意。
(A).Although no such evidence was presented, the casino's marketing department continued to pepper him with mailings. And he entered the casino and used his Fun Card without being detected.
注意到转折连词although,那么表明此选项如果入选,和前文必然存在转折关系。而such evidence一词表明此选项如果入选,前文必然提到某种evidence。另外,一定要注意the casino's marketing department continued to pepper him with mailings一句中的continue一词。这句话的意思是说“casino的市场部继续给他大量写信”,那么很明显,如果此选项入选,前文必然曾经提到casino给他写信。当然,该选项的最后一句提到了his Fun Card这个专有名词,那么此选项如果入选,前文肯定曾经提到过Fun Card,并对之做出过相应介绍。
(B). It is unclear what luring was required, given his compulsive behavior. And in what sense was his will operative?
这个选项很短,由两个问句组成。选项说“尚不清楚是什么样子的诱惑导致了他的所谓不情愿的行为,也尚不清楚他自己的意愿究竟如何。”由于选项短,可以很清楚的知道选项的大意。那么,如果此选项入选,前文肯定曾经提到有什么诱惑导致了他的所谓不情愿的行为,也肯定曾经提到过所谓的他自己的意愿。这些词都可以作为标志词划出来。
(C).By the time he had lost $5,000 he said to himself that if he could get back to even, he would quit. One night he won $5,500, but he did not quit.
这个选项中最明显的特征词当然是数词,考生需要把数词全部划下来。选项意为“在他输掉$5,000的时候,他对自己说,如果把输掉的赢回来他就收手了。一个晚上他确实赢了$5,500,但是他并没有收手”。很明显,这个选项仍然提到Williams赌博的过程。
(D).Gambling has been a common feature of American life forever, but for a long time it was broadly considered a sin, or a social disease. Now it is a social policy: the most important and aggressive promoter of gambling in America is government.
这个选项提到:“赌博现在是美国人生活中很常见的事情了,但是很长时间一来,赌博其实都被视为是犯罪或社会问题。其实美国赌博的最重要和最积极的推进者是美国政府”。这个选项中直接提到了美国政府在美国人赌博习惯中所扮演的角色,这点要牢记。
(E).David Williams’s suit should trouble this gambling nation. But don’t bet on it.
这个选项只有一句话,提到“Williams的个案可能会给这个赌博成性的国家带来影响,给人们的赌博生涯带来麻烦,但是也不一定”。其实比较明显的是,这个选项属于总结类型的句子,总结说明Williams的案例给美国社会带来的可能结果。而且考生还要注意到trouble this gambling nation中this这个指示代词,这个词语表明,如果这个选项入选,前面肯定曾经描述过这个国家的赌博情况。
(F). It is worrisome that society is medicalizing more and more behavioral problems, often defining as addictions what earlier, sterner generations explained as weakness of will.
这个选项说“令人不安的是,社会现在正在用医学方法处理越来越多的这样的行为问题,尤其是对以前的东西上瘾的问题,更加不客气的说,其实这是一个意志力薄弱的问题”。注意medicalize一词,表示“用医学方法处理(非医学问题等)”。还要注意的是,如果这个选项入选,前文肯定提到过用医学方法来处理行为问题,而这样的医治方法越来越盛行,所以才令人不安。
(G). The anonymous, lonely, undistracted nature of online gambling is especially conductive to compulsive behavior. But even if the government knew how to move against Internet gambling, what would be its grounds for doing so?
这个选项提到了online gambling(在线赌博)的问题。那么什么是在线赌博?在线赌博的危害是什么?如果这个选项入选,前面应该要有介绍。
3、看前后,抓线索
41空:
此空为段中题。
空前文字说的是Willliams的赌博经历。提到了一些数词,作为特征词,考生应该注意。初次赌博,他输掉了赌场赠送的20美元优惠券。第二次赌博,输掉了800美元。然后赌场又搞活动,送他一张Fun Card,可以用这张卡在赌场赌博时刷卡吃免费餐,喝免费饮料,同时也记录他的赌博活动。而且Williams后来认为这些活动简直就是“电子吗啡”。
空后文字继续说Williams的赌博活动,同时也提到了一些列数字。那么根据同现复现原则,毫无疑问,41空也会提到Williams的赌博经历,而且很可能出现数字。很明显,只有选项C符合,所以41空很快选C。
42空:
此空为段尾题。
对于段尾题,当然要牢牢抓住空前文字。空前文字提到,Williams的一个朋友后来把他送到了一个治疗中心去治疗赌瘾,还写信给Casino告知这件事情。Casino作出的反应是,把Williams列入禁止赌博人员的名单,同时给他写信说明赌博对身心的危害,信中还提到,在Williams重新入会之前,赌场不会对其人身财产做出威胁。比较明显的是,空前文字反复提到了写信一事,选项中只有A提到了“casino的市场部继续给他大量写信”。42空选A。
43空:
此空为段落题。
空前文字提到“Williams提出指控,Casino明明知道他无可救药的迷恋上赌博,还故意引诱他从事违背他意愿的活动”。注意空前文字中的 “lure”和“will”两词,在这里分别表示“诱惑”和“意愿”。考生应该很快能想到选项B,前面提到过,如果B选项入选,前文肯定曾经提到有什么诱惑导致了他的所谓不情愿的行为,也肯定曾经提到过所谓的他自己的意愿,所以43空选B。
44空:
此空为段中题。
空前文字提到一家医学杂志提到的“病态赌博”的概念,从医学角度来谈赌博。如果仔细分析过选项,考生应该很快能想到选项F,前面已经提到过,如果F选项入选,前文肯定提到过用医学方法来处理所谓行为问题,如赌博,而这样的医治方法越来越盛行,所以才令人不安,那么F选项放在这里最合适,所以44空选F。
45空:
此空为段尾题。
空前提到,“由于科学的推动,社会正在把这种行为重新归类。 曾经被认为性格缺陷和道德败坏,现在已经被划为了病态人格的范畴,与生理残障类似”。
空后文字提到,美国有44个州有彩票活动,29个州有赌场,而且大多数州在不同程度上依靠这些赌博活动获得税收。继而引入了网上赌博的概念,第一个赌博网的创立时间,网上赌博的发展等等。
现在还剩下D/E/G三个选项。我们来观察一下这三个选项。
前面提到过, G提到的是online gambling(在线赌博)的问题。那么什么是在线赌博?在线赌博的危害是什么?如果G入选,前面应该要有介绍。很明显,45空在空后才初次引入网上赌博的概念,所以45空不能选G,G应该在文章最后一段后面出现比较合适。
E提到Williams的个案可能会给这个赌博成性的国家带来影响,给人们的赌博生涯带来麻烦,但是也不一定。如果这个选项入选,前面肯定曾经描述过这个国家的赌博情况。很明显,这个国家的赌博情况,比如有每个州的赌博状况等等问题是在45空空后提到的,E选项出现在文章最后才合适,所以45空不能选E。
D直接提到了美国政府在美国人赌博习惯中所扮演的角色。而45空空后文字提到了政府之所以这样做主要是因为要从赌博活动中取得税收,所以D选项承上启下,45空应该选D。
4、察全文,对答案
把选项代进去,看看是不是合适。这一步主要是看意思是否相连,是否这是一篇完整的文章。文章的结构和脉络是否清楚。
本文是一篇很典型的报刊杂志评论文章,以事例提出论点,以各方媒体的评论展开论证。
总的来说,文章难度不是很大,主要是抓住主旨,把握线索,保持清醒的头脑和敏锐的思维。希望大家考出来好成绩,也希望大家能够进入自己的理想学校。
刘红艳新题型精解
Part B
[试题分析]
本题考查方式与2005年阅读新题型相同,采取了七选五形式。本篇是选自News Week 2002年11月25日的文章,题为“Electronic Morphine”(电子吗啡)由专栏作家George F. Will撰写,原文848词。本题经改写后题干部分496词,选项部分202词。与2005年真题的明显区别是:05年考查的五处空白处均为整段;而06年41题为段中空白,42题为段尾空白,43题为整段空白,44题为段中空白,45题为段尾空白。这种选项设置更符合《2006年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语考试大纲》的要求,空白处位置多样:空白处的位置可能在段首、段落中间、段末或整段,但不会是文章的第一句,一般情况下也不会是文章的最后一句。
本篇介绍的是风靡美国的赌博业对赌徒的危害。文章从一位赌徒的赌博经历入手,描述了赌徒威廉姆斯开始赌博、大量输钱、沉溺赌博、求助治疗中心戒赌继而控告睹场的过程。最后,作者指出睹场在美国社会中地位的改变:从社会毒瘤到政府支持的社会政策,并且剖析了这一现象背后的深刻原因。
41.[答案] C
[分析] 本题为“数字定位题”,考查的是段中句。文章第二段讲述威廉姆斯赌博输钱的经历,列举了他输钱的具体数目。空白处前的数字是$20和$800,空白后的数字是$21,000和$72,186。这些数字是递增的,表明他越睹输得越多。由此我们可以大胆推测本空白处的内容应当包含数字,而且应该是介于800和35,000之间。七个选项中只有C与数字相关,且数字大小符合前述标准,因此可确定为答案。此外,我们还可以从举例逻辑关系角度解题,空白处前一句说威廉姆斯称这些赌博活动为“电子吗啡”,接着以示例说明。他输了5,000美元时,他对自己说如果能够赢回来,他就不赌了;然而,一夜间他赢了5,500美元,但是却没有停下来。1997年他两天内在自动赌博机上就输了21,000美元。
42.[答案] A
[分析] 本题属“逻辑关系题”,考查的是段尾句。本段交待了朋友将不情愿的威廉姆斯送进了戒赌治疗中心并写信告诉了赌场。赌场把威廉姆斯的照片放入严禁进入的赌徒中并给他写了“禁止入内”通知书,指明赌博行为对健康和心理的严重危害。信中说在他获准再次光顾前,赌场不会对他的安全和健康造成任何威胁。然而事实却不是这样,空白处内容应该有一个结构上的转折,“尽管没有出示此类证据,赌场的市场部仍不断给他发邮件,而且他进赌场时使用游乐卡竟无人察觉。”这句话进一步说明了上一段提到的威廉姆斯起诉赌场的原因,即赌场明明知道他已出现沉溺赌博的问题,本该拒绝他光顾赌场却没有那么做。
43.[答案] B
[分析] 本题属“原词重现和同义复现题”,考查的是整段定位。强干扰项是选项F。选项B和F中都出现了空白处前一句中的“will”。首先利用“原词重现”这一语篇衔接手段帮助我们排除其它干扰项;但仅仅这样仍不足以锁定答案,我们还注意到B项的“his compulsive behavior”与空白前的“engage in conduct against his will”相照应,而且二者是同义复现的关系。此部分的意思是:威廉姆斯控告赌场明明知道他已经“不可救药地沉溺于赌博”,仍然故意“乐于”努力使他“做出违背自己意愿的行为”。到底是什么样的诱惑使他做出这种不能自控的行为,在何种意义上他的意愿才是有效的?
F项的意思是:令人不安的是,社会在用医学方法处理愈来愈多的行为问题,也就是今天我们常说的“沉溺症”,更为严厉的几代前辈以前将这些行为解释为意志薄弱。而空白处前面并未提到医学方法对此类行为问题的解释,因此不能被选为答案。
44.[答案] F
[分析] 本题属“同义复现题”,考查的是段中句。空白处前一句说:心理障碍诊断统计手册第四版为“病理赌博”下了定义,其表现为:持续、反复且无法自控地不惜冒险以求发横财。“病理赌博”(pathological gambling)是一个我们没听过的新医学术语,因此,空白处需要对此做进一步解释。选项F中的“medicalizing more and more behavioral problems”和“addictions”与“pathological gambling”构成同义复现关系,因此为正确答案。
45.[答案] D
[分析] 本题属“同义复现题”,考查的是段尾句。本段首先介绍了“病理赌博”的定义,接着进一步指出从前人们认为的“意志薄弱行为”就是今天我们常说的“沉溺症”。在所谓“科学”的推动下,社会将从前我们认为的性格缺陷、道德过失重新归类到类似于生理障碍的“病态人格”。空白处是段尾,既要对本段进行总结,还要引出下一段内容,起到承上启下的作用。选项D使用“同义复现”手段达到了这一要求,用“a sin, or a social disease.”替换前