考研英語閱讀真題正文+全文翻譯(1995-2010)1

2010Text1在過去的25年英語報紙所發(fā)生的變化中，影響最深遠的可能就是它們對藝術方面的報道在范圍上毫無疑問的縮小了，而且這些報道的嚴肅程度也絕對降低了。對于年齡低于40歲的普通讀者來講，讓他們想象一下當年可以在許多大城市報紙上讀到精品的文藝評論簡直幾乎是天方夜譚。然而，在20世紀出版的最重要的文藝評論集中，人們讀到的大部分評論文章都是從報紙上收集而來?，F在，如果讀到這些集子，人們肯定會驚詫，當年這般淵博深奧的內容竟然被認為適合發(fā)表在大眾日報中。從20世紀早期到二戰(zhàn)以前，當時的英國報紙上的評論主題廣泛，包羅萬象，我們現在離此類報紙評論越來越遠。當時的報紙極其便宜，人們把高雅時尚的文藝批評當作是所刊登報紙的一個亮點。在那些遙遠的年代，各大報刊的評論家們都會不遺余力地詳盡報道他們所報道的事情，這在當時被視為是理所當然的事情。他們的寫作是件嚴肅的事情，人們相信：甚至那些博學低調不喜歡炫耀的評論家，比如GeorgeBernardShaw和ErnestNewman也知道自己在做什么（即他們的文章會高調出現在報紙上）。這些批評家們相信報刊評論是一項職業(yè)，并且對于他們的文章能夠在報紙上發(fā)表感到很自豪。“鑒于幾乎沒有作家能擁有足夠的智慧或文學天賦以保證他們在新聞報紙寫作中站穩(wěn)腳跟”，Newman曾寫道，“我傾向于把‘新聞寫作’定義為不受讀者歡迎的作家用來嘲諷受讀者歡迎的作家的一個‘輕蔑之詞’”不幸的是，這些批評家們現在實際上已被人們遺忘。從1917年開始一直到1975年去世不久前還在為曼徹斯特《衛(wèi)報》寫文章的NevilleCardus，如今僅僅作為一個撰寫關于板球比賽文章的作家被人們所知。但是，在他的一生當中，他也是英國首屈一指的古典音樂評論家之一。他也是一位深受讀者青睞的文體家，所以1947年他的《自傳》一書就成為熱銷讀物。1967年他被授予爵士稱號，也是第一位獲此殊榮的音樂評論家。然而，他的書現在只有一本可以在市面上買到。他大量的音樂批評，除了專門研究音樂評論的人以外，已鮮為人知。Cardus的評論有沒有機會重新流行？前景似乎渺茫。在他去世之前，新聞業(yè)的品味早已改變很長時間了，而且他所擅長的措詞華麗的維多利亞愛德華時期的散文風格對后現代的讀者沒有什么用處。何況，由業(yè)余愛好者作音樂批評的傳統(tǒng)早已經成為昨日黃花了。2010Text2在過去的十年中，成千上萬的商業(yè)方法被授予了專利權。亞馬遜網站獲得的專利是在線“單擊”付費系統(tǒng)。美林公司的資產分配方案得到了法律保護。有個發(fā)明者的提箱技巧也獲得了專利?，F在，該國最高專利法院似乎完全準備好要縮減商業(yè)方法專利，因為商業(yè)方法專利自從十年前第一次批準授予以來一直有爭議。在一項使得知識產權律師們議論紛紛的提議中，美國聯邦巡回上訴法院聲稱它將利用某個具體案件來對商業(yè)方法專利進行廣泛的復審。密蘇里大學法學院DennisD.Crouch說，“正如人們所知道的那樣，Bilski案例是一件非常大的事情”它可能將消除整個專利類別”。對于商業(yè)方法訴求的限制是個戲劇性的徹底變化，因為正是聯邦巡回法院自己引進了這種專利。那是在1998年，對于所謂的美國道富銀行的案件中，聯邦巡回法院做出了判決，批準了籌集共同基金資產的方法具有專利權。這一裁決使得商業(yè)方法專利文件以幾何數級增加，起初只是一些新興的網絡公司對于某些特定類型的在線交易系統(tǒng)試圖爭取獨家專有權。后來，更多的公司競相添加這樣的專利權，希望這樣一個防御性的行為可以先下手為強。2005年，IBM公司在一份法院報告中聲稱：盡管懷疑這種專利授權的法律基礎，但它已經申請了300多份商業(yè)方法專利。同樣，當一些華爾街投資公司出席某些反對其金融產品的法庭案件時，他們會給其各類金融產品申請專利來作為自己的維權武器。前面提到的Bilski案例牽扯到一份已申請的方法專利，即關于能源市場的風險規(guī)避方法（注：也可譯為“套期保值或對沖風險”）。上訴法院罕見地裁定，該案件將不由三位法官聽審，而是由全部十二名法官共同進行。另外，上訴法院還宣布，它想探討的另一件事情是是否應該“重審”道富銀行的裁決。聯邦巡回法院的這一裁決效仿了最高法院。最高法院最近做出了一系列的判決，縮小了專利持有者的受保范圍。例如，去年四月，法官們認定太多的專利授予了一些顯而易見的“發(fā)明”。喬治華盛頓大學法律學院的專利法律師HaroldC.Wegner教授表示，“聯邦巡回法院的法官們正在對最高法院的反專利動態(tài)做出反應”。2010Text3在《引爆流行》這本書中，作者MalcolmGladwell認為社會流行潮流在很大程度上是由一小部分特殊個體的行為引起的，這些人就是人們常說的影響者。他們異乎尋常的博聞多識，能言善辯，人脈廣泛。從直覺上講，MalcolmGladwell的理論似乎很有說服力，但是它沒有解釋流行觀念的實際傳播過程。人們之所以認為影響者很重要，是因為受到了“兩級傳播”理論的影響，即信息先從媒體流向影響者，然后再從影響者流向其他人。這一理論看似合理，但未經驗證。營銷人員接受兩級傳播理論是因為該理論認為，如果他們能夠找到影響者，并對他們施加影響，這些精英們就會替他們完成大部分的營銷傳播工作。這一理論似乎還可以解釋某些裝扮、品牌或社區(qū)為何會突然受到出乎意料的追捧。對于許多諸如此類的情況，如果只是走馬觀花地尋找原因，你會發(fā)現總是有一小群人開風氣之先，率先穿上、宣傳和開發(fā)人們此前從未留意的東西。這種事實證據與該觀點正好一拍即合——只有一些特別的人才能引領潮流。但是，在最近的研究中，一些研究人員發(fā)現，影響者對社會流行潮流的影響力遠比人們認為的要小。事實上，他們似乎根本就是無關緊要。研究者的觀點源于對社會影響力的簡單觀察：除了少數像OprahWinfrey這樣的名人之外（她強大的人氣影響力主要來自媒體影響力，而非她與觀眾互動的人際影響力），即使人群中最有影響力的人也無法與那么多的“其他人”互動，從而引領潮流。然而，根據兩級傳播理論，正是這些非名人影響者直接影響了他們的朋友和同事，從而推動了社會流行潮流。但是，要讓一種社會流行潮流真正發(fā)生，每個受影響的人還必須影響他的熟人，而他的熟人又必須影響其他熟人，依此類推；但是會有多少人去關注這些熟人中的每個人，與最初的影響者幾乎沒有關系。舉個例子來說，在這個人際影響的網絡中，如果第一個影響者受到兩次抵制，那么他的連鎖影響范圍就不會繼續(xù)擴大，或者說影響的人不會很多。基于這一人際影響力的基本事實，研究者們研究了社會影響的動力機制。我們對不同人群進行了成千上萬次計算機模擬，不斷調整人們影響他人和受他人影響的各種變量。他們發(fā)現，人們所說的“全球連鎖反應”——影響力通過（人際）網絡進行廣泛傳播——發(fā)生的主要前提，并不取決于是否存在著那么幾個影響者，而主要取決于易受影響的人們是否達到了臨界數量。2010Text4臺面上，銀行家們將他們的麻煩歸咎于己身，臺面下，他們一直把目標對準他人：會計準則制定者。銀行業(yè)抱怨會計規(guī)則迫使他們報告巨大損失，認為這不公平。規(guī)則規(guī)定他們必須以第三方付出價格來評估部分資產的價值，而非按照管理者和監(jiān)管者期望該資產能夠獲得的價格。不幸的是，銀行的游說活動看來已顯成效。其中細節(jié)可能無法獲知，但是準則制定者在獨立性方面——這正是資產市場正常運行的關鍵——已經做出妥協了。銀行如果不以能夠吸引買家的價格計量有毒資產，銀行系統(tǒng)的復蘇將會非常困難。美國FASB（財務會計準則委員會）在與國會激烈摩擦之后，匆匆通過了規(guī)則的修改。這些修改使得銀行在使用模型評估非流動資產方面用有更大的自由，同時使得它們確認收益表中長期資產損失時更為靈活。FASB主席BobHerz大聲反對那些“懷疑我們的動機”的人們。然而銀行股票上漲了，這些修改強化了“管理層使用理性判斷”的說法，這種說法是一個游說團的客氣之言。歐洲的部長們立刻要求國際會計準則委員會(IASB)也這么做。IASB表示它不想沒有完整計劃就冒然行動，但它在今年下半年完成規(guī)則修訂時必須屈服的壓力十分巨大。歐洲委員會委員CharlieMcCreevy警告IASB說：它不是“處在政治真空中”而是“在現實世界里”，并表示歐洲可能最終會發(fā)展出不同的會計規(guī)則。正是這些銀行呆錯了星球，它們的賬目上充斥著估值過高的資產?，F在他們爭論道市價高估了損失，因為市價主要反映了市場的暫時性流動性不足，而非壞賬的可能范圍。幾年中沒人會知道真相。但是，銀行股票以低于賬面價值的價格交易，這一點反應了投資者的懷疑。死寂的市場一定程度上反應了癱瘓的銀行由于怕賬面損失既既不愿出售資產，也不愿意去購買那些看似不錯的廉價資產。為了讓銀行系統(tǒng)重新運轉起來，損失必須被確認和處理。美國收購有毒資產的新計劃只有在銀行將資產定價在足夠吸引買家的水平上才會有效。成熟的市場需要獨立的，甚至是好斗的準則制定者。FASB和IASB以往正是這樣對抗特殊利益集團的敵意的，例如改進股權和退休金的相關規(guī)則。但是現在向批評者妥協是自尋壓力，他們會進一步做出讓步。2013SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:

Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmarkA,B,CorDonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)Giventheadvantagesofelectronicmoney,youmightthinkthatwewouldmovequicklytothecashlesssocietyinwhichallpaymentsaremadeelectronically.__1__atruecashlesssocietyisprobablynotaroundthecorner.Indeed,predictionshavebeen___2__fortwodecadesbuthavenotyetcometofruition.Forexample,BusinessWeekpredictedin1975thatelectronicmeansofpaymentwouldsoon"revolutionizethevery__3__ofmoneyitself,"onlyto__4___itselfseveralyearslater.Whyhasthemovementtoacashlesssocietybeenso___5___incoming?Althoughelectronicmeansofpaymentmaybemoreefficientthanapaymentssystembasedonpaper,severalfactorswork__6___thedisappearanceofthepapersystem.First,itisvery___7__tosetupthecomputer,cardreader,andtelecommunicationsnetworksnecessarytomakeelectronicmoneythe___8__formofpaymentSecond,papercheckshavetheadvantagethatthey___9___receipts,somethingthatmanyconsumersareunwillingto__10__.Third,theuseofpaperchecksgivesconsumersseveraldaysof"float"-ittakesseveraldays__11___acheckiscashedandfundsare__12___fromtheissuer'saccount,whichmeansthatthewriterofthecheckcancaminterestonthefundsinthemeantime.___13__electronicpaymentsareimmediate,theyeliminatethefloatfortheconsumer.Fourth,electronicmeansofpaymentmay__14___securityandprivacyconcerns.Weoftenhearmediareportsthatanunauthorizedhackerhasbeenabletoaccessacomputerdatabaseandtoalterinformation___15___there.Thefactthatthisisnotan__16___occurrencemeansthatdishonestpersonsmightbeabletoaccessbankaccountsinelectronicpaymentssystemsand__17___fromsomeoneelse'saccounts.The__18__ofthistypeoffraudisnoeasytask,andanewfieldofcomputerscienceisdevelopingto___19___securityissues.Afurtherconcernisthattheuseofelectronicmeansofpaymentleavesanelectronic__20___thatcontainsalargeamountofpersonaldata.Thereareconcernsthatgovernment,employers,andmarketersmightbeabletoaccessthesedata,therebyviolatingourprivacy.1.[A]However[B]Moreover[C]Therefore[D]Otherwise

2.[A]off[B]back[C]over[D]around

3.[A]power[B]concept[C]history[D]role

4.[A]reward[B]resist[C]resume[D]reverse

5.[A]silent[B]sudden[C]slow[D]steady

6.[A]for[B]against[C]with[D]on

7.[A]imaginative[B]expensive[C]sensitive[D]productive

8.[A]similar[B]original[C]temporary[D]dominant

9.[A]collect[B]provide[C]copy[D]print

10.[A]giveup[B]takeover[C]bringback[D]passdown

11.[A]before[B]after[C]since[D]when

12.[A]kept[B]borrowed[C]released[D]withdrawn

13.[A]Unless[B]Until[C]Because[D]Though

14.[A]hide[B]express[C]raise[D]ease

15.[A]analyzed[B]shared[C]stored[D]displayed

16.[A]unsafe[B]unnatural[C]uncommon[D]unclear

17.[A]steal[B]choose[C]benefit[D]return

18.[A]consideration[B]prevention[C]manipulation[D]justification

19.[A]copewith[B]fightagainst[C]adaptto[D]callfor

20.[A]chunk[B]chip[C]path[D]trailSectionIIReadingComprehensionPartA

Directions:

Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1

Inanessayentitled“MakingItinAmerica”,theauthorAdamDavidsonrelatesajokefromcottonaboutjusthowmuchamoderntextilemillhasbeenautomated:Theaveragemillonlytwoemployeestoday,”amanandadog.Themanistheretofeedthedogistheretokeepthemanawayfromthemachines.”

Davidson’sarticleisoneofanumberofpiecesthathaverecentlyappearedmakingthepointthatthereasonwehavesuchstubbornlyhighunemploymentanddecliningmiddle-classincomestodayisalsobecauseoftheadvancesinbothglobalizationandtheinformationtechnologyrevolution,whicharemorerapidlythaneverreplacinglaborwithmachinesorforeignworker.Inthepast,workerswithaverageskills,doinganaveragejob，couldearnanaveragelifestyle,But,today,averageisofficiallyover.Beingaveragejustwon’tearnyouwhatitusedto.Itcan’twhensomanymoreemployershavesomuchmoreaccesstosomuchmoreaboveaveragecheapforeignlabor,cheaprobotics,cheapsoftware,cheapautomationandcheapgenius.Therefore,everyoneneedstofindtheirextra-theiruniquevaluecontributionthatmakesthemstandoutinwhateveristheirfieldofemployment.Yes,newtechnologyhasbeeneatingjobsforever,andalwayswill.Butthere’sbeenaacceleration.AsDavidsonnotes,”Inthe10yearsendingin2009,[U.S.]factoriesshedworkerssofastthattheyerasedalmostallthegainsoftheprevious70years;roughlyoneoutofeverythreemanufacturingjobs-about6millionintotal-disappeared.Therewillalwaysbechanged-newjobs,newproducts,newservices.ButtheonethingweknowforsureisthatwitheachadvanceinglobalizationandtheI.T.revolution,thebestjobswillrequireworkerstohavemoreandbettereducationtomakethemselvesaboveaverage.Inaworldwhereaverageisofficiallyover,therearemanythingsweneedtodotosupportemployment,butnothingwouldbemoreimportantthanpassingsomekindofG.I.Billforthe21stcenturythatensuresthateveryAmericanhasaccesstopoet-highschooleducation.

21.ThejokeinParagraph1isusedtoillustrate_______

[A]theimpactoftechnologicaladvances

[B]thealleviationofjobpressure

[C]theshrinkageoftextilemills

[D]thedeclineofmiddle-classincomes22.AccordingtoParagraph3,tobeasuccessfulemployee,onehasto______

[A]workoncheapsoftware

[B]askforamoderatesalary

[C]adoptanaveragelifestyle

[D]contributesomethingunique23.ThequotationinParagraph4explainsthat______

[A]gainsoftechnologyhavebeenerased

[B]jobopportunitiesaredisappearingatahighspeed

[C]factoriesaremakingmuchlessmoneythanbefore

[D]newjobsandserviceshavebeenoffered24.Accordingtotheauthor,toreduceunemployment,themostimportantis_____

[A]toacceleratetheI.T.revolution

[B]toensuremoreeducationforpeople

[C]toadvanceeconomicglobalization

[D]topassmorebillsinthe21stcentury25.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethemostappropriatetitleforthetext?

[A]NewLawTakesEffect

[B]TechnologyGoesCheap

[C]AverageIsOver

[D]RecessionIsBad

Text2

Acenturyago,theimmigrantsfromacrosstheAtlanticincludesettlersandsojourners.AlongwiththemanyfolkslookingtomakeapermanenthomeintheUnitedStatescamethosewhohadnointentiontostay,and7millinpeoplearrivedwhileabout2milliondeparted.AboutaquarterofallItalianimmigrants,forexample,eventuallyreturnedtoItalyforgood.Theyevenhadanaffectionatenickname,“uccellidipassaggio,”birdsofpassage.Today,wearemuchmorerigidaboutimmigrants.Wedividenewcomersintotwocategories:legalorillegal,goodorbad.WehailthemasAmericansinthemaking,orourbrokenimmigrationsystemandthelongpoliticalparalysisoverhowtofixit.Wedon’tneedmorecategories,butweneedtochangethewaywethinkaboutcategories.Weneedtolookbeyondstrictdefinitionsoflegalandillegal.Tostart,wecanrecognizethenewbirdsofpassage,thoselivingandthrivinginthegrayareas.Wemightthenbegintosolveourimmigrationchallenges.

Croppickers,violinists,constructionworkers,entrepreneurs,engineers,homehealth-careaidesandphysicistsareamongtoday’sbirdsofpassage.Theyareenergeticparticipantsinaglobaleconomydrivenbytheflowofwork,moneyandideas.Theyprefertocomeandgoasopportunitycallsthem,Theycanmanagetohaveajobinoneplaceandafamilyinanother.

Withorwithoutpermission,theystraddlelaws,jurisdictionsandidentitieswithease.WeneedthemtoimaginetheUnitedStatesasaplacewheretheycanbeproductiveforawhilewithoutcommittingthemselvestostayingforever.Weneedthemtofeelthathomecanbebothhereandthereandthattheycanbelongtotwonationshonorably.

Accommodatingthisnewworldofpeopleinmotionwillrequirenewattitudesonbothsidesoftheimmigrationbattle.Lookingbeyondtheculturewarlogicofrightorwrongmeansopeningupthemiddlegroundandunderstandingthatmanagingimmigrationtodayrequiresmultiplepathsandmultipleoutcomes.Includingsomethatarenoteasytoaccomplishlegallyintheexistingsystem.26“Birdsofpassage”referstothosewho____

[A]immigrateacrosstheAtlantic.

[B]leavetheirhomecountriesforgood.

[C]stayinaforeigntemporarily.

[D]findpermanentjobsoverseas.27Itisimpliedinparagraph2thatthecurrentimmigrationsystemintheUS____

[A]needsnewimmigrantcategories.

[B]hasloosenedcontroloverimmigrants.

[C]shouldbeadoptedtomeetchallenges.

[D]hasbeenfixedviapoliticalmeans.28Accordingtotheauthor,today’sbirdsofpassagewant___

[A]financialincentives.

[B]aglobalrecognition.

[C]opportunitiestogetregularjobs.

[D]thefreedomtostayandleave.29Theauthorsuggeststhatthebirdsofpassagetodayshouldbetreated__

[A]asfaithfulpartners.

[B]witheconomicfavors.

[C]withregaltolerance.

[D]asmightyrivals.30whichisthemosttitle?

[A]comeandgo:bigmistake.

[B]livingandthriving:greatrisk.

[C]withorwithout:greatrisk.

[D]legalorillegal:bigmistake.

Text3

Scientistshavefoundthatalthoughwearepronetosnapoverreactions,ifwetakeamomentandthinkabouthowwearelikelytoreact,wecanreduceoreveneliminatethenegativeeffectsofourquick,hard-wiredresponses.Snapdecisionscanbeimportantdefensemechanisms;ifwearejudgingwhethersomeoneisdangerous,ourbrainsandbodiesarehard-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-orhireoutsidescreeners.JohnGottman,themarriageexpert,explainsthatwequickly“thinslice”informationreliablyonlyafterwegroundsuchsnapreactionsin“thicksliced”long-termstudy.WhenDr.Gottmanreallywantstoassesswhetheracouplewillstaytogether,heinvitesthemtohisislandretreatforamucklongerevaluation;twodays,nottwoseconds.Ourabilitytomuteourhard-wiredreactionsbypausingiswhatdifferentiatesusfromanimals:dogecanthinkaboutthefutureonlyintermittentlyorforafewminutes.Buthistoricallywehavespentabout12percentofourdayscontemplatingthelongerterm.Althoughtechnologymightchangethewaywereact,ithasn’tchangedournature.Westillhavetheimaginativecapacitytoriseabovetemptationandreversethehigh-speedtrend.31.Thetimeneededinmakingdecisionsmay____.

[A]varyaccordingtotheurgencyofthesituation

[B]provethecomplexityofourbrainreaction

[C]dependontheimportanceoftheassessment

[D]predeterminetheaccuracyofourjudgment

32.Ourreactiontoafast-foodlogoshowsthatsnapdecisions____.

[A]canbeassociative

[B]arenotunconscious

[C]canbedangerous

[D]arenotimpulsive

33.Toreversethenegativeinfluencesofsnapdecisions,weshould____.

[A]trustourfirstimpression

[B]doaspeopleusuallydo

[C]thinkbeforeweact

[D]askforexpertadvice

34.JohnGottmansaysthatreliablesnapreactionarebasedon____.

[A]criticalassessment

[B]‘‘thinsliced’’study

[C]sensibleexplanation

[D]adequateinformation

35.Theauthor’sattitudetowardreversingthehigh-speedtrendis____.

[A]tolerant

[B]uncertain

[C]optimistic

[D]doubtful

Text4

Europeisnotagender-equalityheaven.Inparticular,thecorporateworkplacewillneverbecompletelyfamily—friendlyuntilwomenarepartofseniormanagementdecisions,andEurope’stopcorporate-governancepositionsremainoverwhelminglymale.indeed,womenholdonly14percentofpositionsonEuropecorporateboards.TheEuropeUnionisnowconsideringlegislationtocompelcorporateboardstomaintainacertainproportionofwomen-upto60percent.Thisproposedmandatewasbornoffrustration.Lastyear,EuropeCommissionVicePresidentVivianeRedingissuedacalltovoluntaryaction.Redinginvitedcorporationstosignupforgenderbalancegoalof40percentfemaleboardmembership.Butherappealwasconsideredafailure:only24companiestookitup.DoweneedquotastoensurethatwomencancontinuetoclimbthecorporateLadderfairyastheybalanceworkandfamily?“Personally,Idon’tlikequotas,”Redingsaidrecently.“Butilikewhatthequotasdo.”Quotasgetaction:they“openthewaytoequalityandtheybreakthroughtheglassceiling,”accordingtoReding,aresultseeninFranceandothercountrieswithlegallybindingprovisionsonplacingwomenintopbusinesspositions.IunderstandReding’sreluctance-andherfrustration.Idon’tlikequotaseither;theyruncountertomybeliefinmeritocracy,governmentbythecapable.Bur,whenoneconsiderstheobstaclestoachievingthemeritocraticideal,itdoeslookasifafairerworldmustbetemporarilyordered.Afterall,fourdecadesofevidencehasnowshownthatcorporationsinEuropeastheUSareevadingthemeritocratichiringandpromotionofwomentotopposition—nomatterhowmuch“softpressure”isputuponthem.Whenwomendobreakthroughtothesummitofcorporatepower--as,forexample,SherylSandbergrecentlydidatFacebook—theyattractmassiveattentionpreciselybecausetheyremaintheexceptiontotherule.Ifappropriatepubicpolicieswereinplacetohelpallwomen---whetherCEOsortheirchildren’scaregivers--andallfamilies,Sandbergwouldbenomorenewsworthythananyotherhighlycapablepersonlivinginamorejustsociety.

36.IntheEuropeancorporateworkplace,generally_____.

[A]womentakethelead

[B]menhavethefinalsay

[C]corporategovernanceisoverwhelmed

[D]seniormanagementisfamily-friendly

37.TheEuropeanUnion’sintendedlegislationis________.

[A]areflectionofgenderbalance

[B]areluctantchoice

[C]aresponsetoReding’scall

[D]avoluntaryaction

38.AccordingtoReding,quotasmayhelpwomen______.

[A]gettopbusinesspositions

[B]seethroughtheglassceiling

[C]balanceworkandfamily

[D]anticipatelegalresults

39.Theauthor’sattitudetowardReding’sappealisoneof_________.

[A]skepticism

[B]objectiveness

[C]indifference

[D]approval

40.Womenenteringtopmanagementbecomeheadlinesduetothelackof______.

[A]moresocialjustice

[B]massivemediaattention

[C]suitablepublicpolicies

[D]greater“softpressure”PartBDirections:

Youaregoingtoreadalistofheadingsandatext.ChoosethemostsuitableheadingfromthelistA-Fforeachnumberedparagraph(41-45).MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)

[A]Livelikeapeasant

[B]Balanceyourdiet

[C]Shopkeepersareyourfriends

[D]Remembertotreatyourself

[E]Sticktowhatyouneed

[F]Planningiseverything

[G]Wastenot,wantnot

ThehugelypopularblogtheSkintFoodiechronicleshowTonybalanceshisloveofgoodfoodwithlivingonbenefits.Afterbills,Tonyhas￡60aweektospend,￡40ofwhichgoesonfood,but10yearsagohewasearning￡130,000aIyearworkingincorporatecommunicationsandeatingatLondon'sbestrestaurants'"atleasttwiceaweek.Thenhismarriagefailed,hiscareerburnedoutandhisdrinkingbecameserious."Thecommunitymentalhealthteamsavedmylife.AndIfeltlikethatagain,toacertaindegree,whenpeoplerespondedtotheblogsowell.ItgavemethevalidationandconfidencethatI'dlost.Butit'sstilladay-by-daything."Nowhe'slivinginacouncilflatandfieldingoffersfromliteraryagents.He'sfeelingpositive,buthe'llcarryonblogging-notabouteatingascheaplyasyoucan-"therearesomanypeopleinamuchworsestate,withbarelyanymoneytospendonfood"-buteatingwellonabudget.Here'shisadviceforeconomicalfoodies.

41._____________________

Impulsivespendingisn'tanoption,soplanyourweek'smenuinadvance,makingshoppinglistsforyouringredientsintheirexactquantities.IhaveanExceltemplateforaweekofbreakfast,lunchanddinner.Stoplaughing:it'snotjustcosteffectivebuthelpsyoubalanceyourdiet.It'salsoagoodideatoshopdailyinsteadofweekly,because,being-human,you'llsometimeschangeyourmindaboutwhatyoufancy.

42____________________________________________________________

Thisiswheresupermarketsandtheiranonymitycomeinhandy.Withthem,

there'snotthesameembarrassmentaswhenbuyingonecarrotinalittle

greengrocer.Andifyouplanproperly,you'llknowthatyouonlyneed,say,350g

ofshinofbeefandsixrashersofbacon,notwhateverweightispre-packedinthe

supermarketchiller.

43_________

Youmayproudlyclaimtoonlyhavefrozenpeasinthefreezer-that'snot

goodenough.Mineisfilledwithleftovers,bread,stock,meatandfish.Planning

aheadshouldeliminatewastage,butifyouhavesurplusvegetablesyou'lldoa

vegetablesoup,andallfruitsthreateningto"gooff'willbecookedorjuiced.

44___________________________________

Everyonesaysthis,butitreallyisatoptipforfrugaleaters.Shopatbutchers,

delisandfish-sellersregularly,evenforsmallthings,andbesuperfriendly.Soon

you'llfeelcomfortableaskingifthey'veanyknucklesofhamforsoupsandstews,

orbeefbones,chickencarcassesandfishheadsforstockwhich,moreoftenthan

not,they'llletyouhaveforfree.

45__________________

Youwon'tbeeatingoutalot,butsaveyourpenniesandonceeveryfew

monthstreatyourselftoasetlunchatagoodrestaurant-￡1.75aweekforthree

monthsgivesyou￡21-morethan"enoughforathree-courselunchat

Michelin-starredArbutus.It's￡16.95there-or￡12.99foralargepizzafrom

Domino's:IknowwhichI'drathereat.Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmark[A],[B],[C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)MillionsofAmericansandforeignersseeGI.Joeasamindlesswartoy,thesymbolofAmericanmilitaryadventurism,butthat’snothowitusedtobe.Tothemenandwomenwho1inWorldWarⅡandthepeopletheyliberated,theGI.wasthe2mangrownintohero,thepoorfarmkidtornawayfromhishome,theguywho3alltheburdensofbattle,whosleptincoldfoxholes,whowentwithoutthe4offoodandshelter,whostuckitoutanddrovebacktheNazireignofmurder.Thiswasnotavolunteersoldier,notsomeonewellpaid,5anaverageguyup6thebesttrained,bestequipped,fiercest,mostbrutalenemiesseenincenturies.Hisnameisn'tmuch.GI.isjustamilitaryabbreviation7.GovernmentIssue,anditwasonallofthearticles8tosoldiers.AndJoe?Acommonnameforaguywhonever9ittothetop.JoeBlow,JoePalooka.JoeMagrac...aworkingclassname.TheUnitedStateshas10hadapresidentorvice-presidentorsecretaryofstateJoe.G.I.Joehada11careerfightingGerman,Japanese,andKoreantroops.Heappearsasacharacter.ora12ofAmericanpersonalities,inthe1945movieTheStoryofG.I.Joe,basedonthelastdaysofwarcorrespondentEmiePyle.SomeofthesoldiersPyle13portrayedthemselvesinthefilm.Pylewasfamousforcoveringthe14sideofthewar,writingaboutthedirt-snow-and-mudsoldiersnothowmanymileswere15orwhattownswerecapturedorliberated.Hisreports16the“Willie”cartoonsoffamedStarsandStripesartistBillMaulden.Bothmen17thedirtandexhaustionofwar,the18ofcivilizationthatthesoldierssharedwitheachotherandthecivilians:coffee,tobacco,whiskey,shelter,sleep.19Egypt,France,andadozenmorecountries,G.I.JoewasanyAmericansoldier,20themostimportantpersonintheirlives.1.[A]performed[B]served[C]rebelled[D]betrayed2.[A]actual[B]common[C]special[D]normal3.[A]bore[B]cased[C]removed[D]loaded4.[A]necessities[B]facilities[C]commodities[D]properties5.[A]and[B]nor[C]but[D]hence6.[A]for[B]into[C]form[D]against7.[A]meaning[B]implying[C]symbolizing[D]claiming8.[A]handedout[B]turnover[C]broughtback[D]passeddown9.[A]pushed[B]got[C]made[D]managed10.[A]ever[B]never[C]either[D]neither11.[A]disguised[B]disturbed[C]disputed[D]distinguished12.[A]company[B]collection[C]community[D]colony13.[A]employed[B]appointed[C]interviewed[D]questioned14.[A]ethical[B]military[C]political[D]human15.[A]ruined[B]commuted[C]patrolled[D]gained16.[A]paralleled[B]counteracted[C]duplicated[D]contradicted17.[A]neglected[B]avoided[C]emphasized[D]admired18.[A]stages[B]illusions[C]fragments[D]advances19.[A]With[B]To[C]Among[D]Beyond20.[A]onthecontrary[B]bythismeans[C]fromtheoutset[D]atthatpointSectionⅡReadingComprehensionText1Homeworkhasneverbeenterriblypopularwithstudentsandevenmanyparents,butinrecentyearsithasbeenparticularlyscorned.Schooldistrictsacrossthecountry,mostrecentlyLosAngelesUnified,arerevisingtheirthinkingonhiseducationalritual.Unfortunately,L.A.Unifiedhasproducedaninflexiblepolicywhichmandatesthatwiththeexceptionofsomeadvancedcourses,homeworkmaynolongercountformorethan10%ofastudent’sacademicgrade.Thisruleismeanttoaddressthedifficultythatstudentsfromimpoverishedorchaotichomesmighthaveincompletingtheirhomework.Butthepolicyisunclearandcontradictory.Certainly,nohomeworkshouldbeassignedthatstudentscannotdowithoutexpensiveequipment.Butifthedistrictisessentiallygivingapasstostudentswhodonotdotheirhomeworkbecauseofcomplicatedfamilylives,itisgoingriskilycloseto