2016年xdf考研英語閱讀基礎(chǔ)配套講義

考研閱讀基礎(chǔ)講義

2010--Text1

OfallthechangesthathavetakenceinEnglish-languagenewspapersduringthepastquarter-century,perhapsthemostfar-reachinghasbeentheinexorabledeclineinthescopeandseriousnessoftheirartscoverage.

Itisdifficulttothepointofimpossibilityfortheaveragereaderundertheageoffortytoimagineatimewhenhigh-qualityartscriticismcouldbefoundinmostbig-citynewspapers.Yetaconsiderablenumberofthemostsignificantcollectionsofcriticismpublishedinthe20thcenturyconsistedinlargepartofnewspaperreviews.Toreadsuchbookstodayistomarvelatthefactthattheirlearnedcontentswereoncedeemedsuitableforpublicationingeneral-circulationdailies.

WeareevenfartherremovedfromtheunfocusednewspaperreviewspublishedinEnglandbetweentheturnofthe20thcenturyandtheeveofWorldWarII,atatimewhennewsprintwasdirt-cheapandstylishartscriticismwasconsideredanornamenttothepublicationsinwhichitappeared.Inthosefar-offdays,itwastakenforgrantedthatthecriticsofmajorpaperswouldwriteindetailandatlengthabouttheeventstheycovered.Theirswasaseriousbusiness,andeventhosereviewerswhoworetheirlearninglightly,likeGeorgeBernardShawandErnest,couldbetrustedtoknowwhattheywereabout.Thesemenbelievedinjournalismasacalling,andwereproudtobepublishedinthedailypress.―Sofewauthorshavebrainsenoughorlirygiftenoughtokeeptheirownendupinjournalism,‖wrote,―thatIamtemptedtodefine?journalism‘a(chǎn)s?atermofcontemptappliedbywriterswhoarenotreadtowriterswhoare‘.‖

Unfortunay,thesecriticsarevirtuallyforgotten.NevilleCardus,whowrotefortheManchesterGuardianfrom1917untilshortlybeforehisdeathin1975,isnowknownsolelyasawriterofessaysonthegameofcricket.Duringhislifetime,though,hewasalsooneofEngland‘sforemostclassical-musiccritics,astylistsowidelyadmiredthathisAutobiography(1947)becameabestseller.Hewasknightedin1967,thefirstmusiccritictobesohonored.Yetonlyoneofhisbooksisnowinprint,andhisvastbodyofwritingsonmusicisunknownsavetospecialists.

IsthereanychancethatCardus‘scriticismwillenjoyarevival?Theprospectseemsremote.Journalistictasteshadchangedlongbeforehisdeath,andpostmodernreadershavelittleusefortherichlyupholsteredVicwardianproseinwhichhespecialized.Moreover,theamateurtraditioninmusiccriticismhasbeeninheadlongretreat.

ItisindicatedinParagraphs1and2that .

［A］artscriticismhasdisappearedfrombig-citynewspapers

［B］English-languagenewspapersusedtocarrymoreartsreviews

［C］high-qualitynewspapersretainalargebodyofreaders

［B］Itiscontemptibleforwriterstobejournalists.

［C］Writersarelikelytobetemptedintojournalism.

［D］Notallwritersarecapableofjournalisticwriting.

WhatcanbelearnedaboutCardusaccordingtothelasttwoparagraphs?

［A］Hismusiccriticismmaynotappealtoreaderstoday.

［B］Hisreputationasamusiccritichaslongbeenindispute.

［C］Hisstylecaterslargelytomodernspecialists.

［D］Hiswritingsfailtofollowtheamateurtradition.

Whatwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?

［A］NewspapersoftheGoodOldDays.

［B］TheLostHorizoninNewspapers.

［C］MournfulDeclineofJournalism.

［D］ProminentCriticsinMemory.

2011--Text1

ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast.―Hooray!Atlast!‖wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.

Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert‘sappointmentintheTimes,callshim―anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabouthim‖.AsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledbymusicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,thatseemslikelytohavestruckatleastsomeTimesreadersasfaintpraise.

Formypart,IhavenoideawhetherGilbertisagreatconductororevenagoodone.Tobesure,heperformsanimpressivevarietyofinterestingcompositions,butitisnotnecessaryformetovisitAveryFisherHall,oranywhereelse,tohearinterestingorchestralmusic.AllIhavetodoistogotomyCDshelf,orbootupmycomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfromiTunes.

Devotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformancearemissingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classicalinstrumentalistsmust

classical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonicinto―amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization‖.Butwhatwillbethenatureofthatdifference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra‘srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthePhilharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica‘soldestorchestraandthenewaudienceithopestoattract.

WelearnfromPara.1thatGilbert‘sappointmenthas .

［A］incurredcriticism

［B］raisedsuspicion

［C］receivedacclaim

［D］arousedcuriosity

TommasiniregardsGilbertasanwhois .

［A］influential

［B］modest

［C］respectable

［D］talented

Theauthorbelievesthatthedevotedconcertgoers .

［A］ignoretheexpensesofliveperformances

［B］rejectmostkindsofrecordedperformances

［C］exaggeratethevarietyofliveperformances

［D］overestimatethevalueofliveperformances

Accordingtothetext,whichofthefollowingistureofrecordings?

［A］Theyareofteninferiortoliveconcertsinquality.

［B］Theyareeasilyaccessibletothegeneralpublic.

［C］Theyhelpimprovethequalityofmusic.

［D］Theyhaveonlycoveredmasterpieces.

RegardingGilbert‘sroleinrevitalizingthePhilharmonic,theauthorfeels .

［A］doubtful

［B］enthusiastic

［C］confident

［D］puzzled

hewantedtorun.Italsosentaclearmessagetotheoutsideworldabouthisaspirations.AndMcGeeisn‘talone.InrecentweekstheNo.2executivesatAvonandAmericanExpressquitwiththeexnationthattheywerelookingforaCEOpost.Asboardsscrutinizesuccessionnsinresponsetoshareholderpressure,executiveswhodon‘tgetthenodalsomaywishtomoveon.Aturbulentbusinessenvironmentalsohasseniormanagerscautiousoflettingvaguepronouncementscloudtheirreputations.Asthefirstsignsofrecoverybegintotakehold,deputychiefsmaybemorewillingtomakethejumpwithoutanet.Inthethirdquarter,CEOturnoverwasdown23%fromayearagoasnervousboardsstuckwiththeleaderstheyhad,accordingtoLiberumResearch.Astheeconomypicksup,opportunities

willaboundforaspiringleaders.

Thedecisiontoquitaseniorpositiontolookforabetteroneisunconventional.ForyearsexecutivesandheadhuntershaveadheredtotherulethatthemostattractiveCEOcandidatesaretheoneswhomustbepoached.SaysKorn/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCarey:―Ican‘tthinkofasinglesearchI‘vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst.‖

Thosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven‘talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeago,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInternet-basedcommoditiesexchange.RobertWillumstadleftin2005withambitionstobeaCEO.Hefinallytookthatpostatamajorfinancialinstitutionthreeyearslater.

Manyrecruiterssaytheolddisgraceisfadingfortopperformers.Thefinancialcrisishasmadeitmoreacceptabletobebetweenjobsortoleaveabadone.―Thetraditionalrulewasit‘ssafertostaywhereyouare,butthat‘sbeenfundamentallyinverted,‖saysoneheadhunter.―Thepeoplewho‘vebeenhurttheworstarethosewho‘vestayedtoolong.‖

WhenMcGeeannouncedhisdeparture,hismannercanbestbedescribedasbeing .

［A］arrogant

［B］frank

［C］self-centered

［D］impulsive

AccordingtoParagraph2,seniorexecutives‘quittingmaybespurredby .

［A］theirexpectationofbetterfinancialstatus

［B］theirneedtoreflectontheirprivatelife

［C］theirstrainedrelationswiththeboards

［D］theirpursuitofnewcareergoals

［D］it‘ssafertosticktothetraditionalrules

Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthetext?

［A］CEOs:WheretoGo?

［B］CEOs:AlltheWayUp?

［C］TopManagersJumpWithoutaNet

［D］TheOnlyWayOutforTopPerformers

2012--Text1

Comeon－Everybody‘sngit.Thatwhisperedmessage,halfinvitationandhalfforcing,iswhatmostofusthinkofwhenwehearthewordspeerpressure.Itusuallyleadstonogood－drinking,drugsandcasual.ButinhernewbookJointheClub,TinaRosenbergcontendsthatpeerpressurecanalsobeapositivethroughwhatshecallsthesocialcure,inwhichorganizationsandofficialsusethepowerofgroupdynamicstohelpindividualsimprovetheirlivesandpossiblytheworld.

Rosenberg,therecipientofaPulitzerPrize,offersahostofexamplesofthesocialcureinaction:InSouthCarolina,astate-sponsoredantismokingprogramcalledRageAgainsttheHazesetsouttomakecigarettesuncool.InSouthAfrica,anHIV-preventioninitiativeknownasLoveLiferecruitsyoungpeopletopromotesafeamongtheirpeers.

Theideaseemspromising，andRosenbergisaperceptiveobserver.Hercritiqueofthelamenessofmanypublic-healthnsisspot-on:theyfailtomobilizepeerpressureforhealthyhabits,andtheydemonstrateaseriouslyflawedunderstandingofpsychology.―Daretobedifferent,pleasedon‘tsmoke!‖pleadsonebillboardnaimedatreducingsmokingamongteenagers-teenagerswhodesirenothingmorethanfittingin.Rosenbergarguesconvincinglythatpublic-healthadvocatesoughttotakeapagefromadvertisers,soskilledatapplyingpeerpressure.

Butonthegeneraleffectivenessofthesocialcure,Rosenbergislesspersuasive.JointheClubisfilledwithtoomuchirrelevantdetailandnotenoughexplorationofthesocialandbiologicalfactorsthatmakepeerpressuresopowerful.Themostglaringflawofthesocialcureasit‘spresentedhereisthatitdoesn‘tworkverywellforverylong.RageAgainsttheHazefailedoncestatefundingwascut.EvidencethattheLoveLifeprogramproduceslastingchangesislimitedandmixed.

There‘snodoubtthatourpeergroupsexertenormousinfluenceonourbehavior.Anemergingbodyofresearchshowsthatpositivehealthhabits—aswellasnegativeones—spreadthroughnetworksof

［C］anobstacletoschoolprogress

［D］acauseofundesirablebehaviors

Rosenbergholdsthatpublicadvocatesshould .

［A］recruitprofessionaladvertisers

［B］learnfromadvertisers‘experience

［C］stayawayfromcommercialadvertisers

［D］recognizethelimitationsofadvertisements

Intheauthor‘sview,Rosenberg‘sbookfailsto .

［A］adequayprobesocialandbiologicalfactors

［B］effectivelyevadetheflawsofthesocialcure

［C］illustratethefunctionsofstatefunding

［C］producealong-lastingsocialeffect

Paragraph5showsthatourimitationofbehaviors .

［A］isharmfultoournetworksoffriends

［B］willmisleadbehavioralstudies

［C］occurswithoutourrealizingit

［D］canproducenegativehealthhabits

Theauthorsuggestsinthelastparagraphthattheeffectofpeerpressureis .

［A］harmful

［B］desirable

［C］profound

［D］questionable

2012--Text3

Intheidealizedversionofhowscienceisdone,factsabouttheworldarewaitingtobeobservedandcollectedbyobjectiveresearcherswhousethescientificmethodtocarryouttheirwork.Butintheeverydaypracticeofscience,discoveryfrequentlyfollowsanambiguousandcomplicatedroute.Weaimtobeobjective,butwecannotescapethecontextofouruniquelifeexperience.Priorknowledge

miningclaims,thecommunitytakescontrolofwhathappensnext.Withinthecomplexsocialstructureofthescientificcommunity,researchersmakediscoveries;editorsandreviewersactasgatekeepersbycontrollingthepublicationprocess;otherscientistsusethenewfindingtosuittheirownpurposes;andfinally,thepublic(includingotherscientists)receivesthenewdiscoveryandpossibly panyingtechnology.Asadiscoveryclaimworksitswaythroughthecommunity,theinctionandbetweensharedandcompetingbeliefsaboutthescienceandthetechnologyinvolvedtransformsanindividual‘sdiscoveryclaimintothecommunity‘scrediblediscovery.

Twoparadoxesexistthroughoutthiscredibilityprocess.First,scientificworktendstofocusonsomeaspectofprevailingknowledgethatisviewedas pleteorincorrect.Littlereward paniesduplicationandconfirmationofwhatisalreadyknownandbelieved.Thegoalisnew-search,notre-search.Notsurprisingly,newlypublisheddiscoveryclaimsandcrediblediscoveriesthatappeartobeimportantandconvincingwillalwaysbeopentochallengeandpotentialmodificationorrefutationbyfutureresearchers.Second,noveltyitselffrequentlyprovokesdisbelief.NobelLaureateandphysiologistAlbertSzent-Gy?rgyioncedescribeddiscoveryas―seeingwhateverybodyhasseenandthinkingwhatnobodyhasthought.‖Butthinkingwhatnobodyelsehasthoughtandlingotherswhattheyhavemissedmaynotchangetheirviews.Sometimesyearsarerequiredfortrulynoveldiscoveryclaimstobeacceptedandappreciated.

Intheend,credibility―happens‖toadiscoveryclaim—aprocessthatcorrespondstowhatphilosopherAnnetteBaierhasdescribedasthecommonsofthemind.―Wereasontogether,challenge,revise,andcompleteeachother‘sreasoningandeachother‘sconceptionsofreason.‖

Accordingtothefirstparagraph,theprocessofdiscoveryischaracterizedbyits .

［A］uncertaintyandcomplexity

［B］misconceptionanddeceptiveness

［C］logicalityandobjectivity

［］ essandregularity

ItcanbeinferredfromParagraph2thatcredibilityprocessrequires .

［A］strictinspection

［B］sharedefforts

［C］individualwisdom

［D］persistentinnovation

Paragraph3showsthatadiscoveryclaim escredibleafterit .

［A］hasattractedtheattentionofthegeneralpublic

［B］CollectiveScrutinyinScientificDiscovery

［C］EvolutionofCredibilityinngScience

［D］ChallengetoCredibilityattheGatetoScience

2012--Text4

IfthetradeunionistJimmyHoffawerealivetoday,hewouldprobablyrepresentcivilservant.WhenHoffa‘sTeamsterswereintheirprimein1960,onlyoneintenAmericanernmentworkersbelongedtoaunion;now36%do.In2009thenumberofunionistsinAmerica‘spublicsectorpassedthatoftheirfellowmembersintheprivatesector.InBritain,morethanhalfofpublic-sectorworkersbutonlyabout15%ofprivate-sectoronesareunionized.

Therearethreereasonsforthepublic-sectorunions‘thriving.First,theycanshutthingsdownwithoutsufferingmuchinthewayofconsequences.Second,theyaremostlybrightandwell-educated.AquarterofAmerica‘spublic-sectorworkershaveauniversitydegree.Third,theynowdominateleft-of-centrepolitics.Someoftheirtiesgobackalongway.Britain‘sLaborParty,asitsnameimplies,haslongbeenassociatedwithtradeunionism.Itscurrentleader,EdMiliband,oweshispositiontovotesfrompublic-sectorunions.

Atthestateleveltheirinfluencecanbeevenmorefearsome.MarkBaldassareofthePublicInstituteofCaliforniapointsoutthatmuchofthestate‘sbudgetispatrolledbyunions.Theteachers‘unionskeepaneyeonschools,theOAonprisonsandavarietyoflaborgroupsonhealthcare.

Inmanyrichcountriesaveragewagesinthestatesectorarehigherthanintheprivateone.Buttherealgainscomeinbenefitsandworkpractices.Politicianshaverepeatedly―backloaded‖public-sectorpaydeals,keethepayincreasesmodestbutaddingtoholidaysandespeciallypensionsthatarealreadygenerous.

Reformhasbeenvigorouslyopposed,perhapsmostegregiouslyineducation,wherecharterschools,academiesandmeritpayallfaceddrawn-outbattles.Eventhoughthereisplentyofevidencethatthequalityoftheteachersisthemostimportantvariable,teachers‘unionshavefoughtagainstgettingridofbadonesandpromotinggoodones.

Asthecosttoeveryoneelsehas eclearer,politicianshavebeguntoclampdown.InWisconsintheunionshaveralliedthousandsofsupportersagainstScottWalker,thehardline

［C］unionshaveenlargedtheirpublic-sectormembership

［D］theernmenthasimproveditsrelationshipwithunionists

WhichofthefollowingistrueofParagraph2?

［A］Public-sectorunionsareprudentintakingactions.

［B］Educationisrequiredforpublic-sectorunionmembership.

［C］LaborPartyhaslongbeenfightingagainstpublic-sectorunions.

［D］Public-sectorunionsseldomgetintroublefortheiractions.

ItcanbelearnedfromParagraph4thatthe einthestatesectoris .

［A］illegallysecured

［B］indirectlyaugmented

［C］excessivelyincreased

［D］fairlyadjusted

TheexampleoftheunionsinWisconsinshowsthatunions .

［A］oftenrunagainstthecurrentpoliticalsystem

［B］canchangepeople‘spoliticalattitudes

［C］maybeabarriertopublic-sectorreforms

［D］aredominantintheernment

JohnDonahue‘sattitudetowardsthepublic-sectorsystemisoneof .

［A］disapproval

［B］appreciation

［C］tolerance

［D］indifference

2013--Text1

Inthe2006filmversionofTheDevilWearsPrada,MirandaPriestly,yedbyMerylStreep,scoldsherunattractiveassistantforimaginingthathighfashiondoesn‘taffecther.Priestlyexinshowthedeepbluecoloroftheassistant‘ssweaterdescendedovertheyearsfromfashionshowstodepartmentstoresandtothebargainbininwhichthepoorgirldoubtlessfoundhergarment.

Thistop-downconceptionofthefashionbusinesscouldn‘tbemoreoutofdateoratoddswith

Thevictimsofthisrevolution,ofcourse,arenotlimitedtodesigners.ForH&Mtooffera$5.95knitminiskirtinallits2,300-plusstoresaroundtheworld,itmustrelyonlow-wageoverseaslabor,orderinvolumesthatstrainnaturalresources,andusemassiveamountsofharmfulchemicals.

Overdressedisthefashionworld‘sanswertoconsumer-activistbestsellerslikeMichaelPollan‘sTheOmnivore’sDilemma.―Mass-producedclothing,likefastfood,fillsahungerandneed,yetisnon-durable,andwasteful,‖Clineargues.Americans,shefinds,buyroughly20billiongarmentsayear—about64itemsper —andnomatterhowmuchtheygiveaway,thisexcessleadstowaste.

TowardstheendofOverdressed,Clineintroducedherideal,aBrooklynwomannamedSarahKateBeaumont,whosince2008hasmadeallofherownclothes—andbeautifully.ButasClineisthefirsttonote,ittookBeaumontdecadestoperfecthercraft;herexamplecan‘tbeknockedoff.

Thoughseveralfast-fashioncompanieshavemadeeffortstocurbtheirimpactonlaborandtheenvironment—includingH&M,withitsgreenConsciousCollectionline—Clinebelieveslastingchangecanonlybeeffectedbythecustomer.Sheexhibitstheidealismcommontomanyadvocatesofsustainability,beitinfoodorinenergy.Vanityisaconstant;peoplewillonlystartshopmoresustainablywhentheycan‘taffordnotto.

Priestlycriticizesherassistantforher .

［A］poorbargainingskill

［B］insensitivitytofashion

［C］obsessionwithhighfashion

［D］lackofimagination

AccordingtoCline,mass-marketlabelsurgeconsumersto .

［A］combatunnecessarywaste

［B］shutoutthefeverishfashionworld

［C］resisttheinfluenceofadvertisements

［D］shopfortheirgarmentsmorefrequently

Theword―indictment‖(Line2,Para.2)isclosestinmeaningto .

［A］accusation

［B］enthusiasm

［C］indifference

［D］tolerance

Whichofthefollowingcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?

2013--Text2

Anoldsayinghasitthathalfofalladvertisingbudgetsarewasted—thetroubleis,nooneknowswhichhalf.Intheinternetage,atleastintheory,thisfractioncanbemuchreduced.Bywatchingwhatpeoplesearchfor,clickonandsayonline,companiescanaim―behavioural‖adsatthosemostlikelytobuy.

Inthepastcoupleofweeksaquarrelhasillustratedthevaluetoadvertisersofsuchfine-grainedinformation:Shouldadvertisersassumethatpeoplearehappytobetrackedandsentbehaviouralads?Orshouldtheyhaveexplicitpermission?

InDecember2010America‘sFederalTradeCommission(FTC)proposedaddinga―donottrack‖(DNT)optiontointernetbrowsers,sothatuserscouldladvertisersthattheydidnotwanttobefollowed.‘sInternetExplorerandApple‘sSafaribothofferDNT;‘sChromeisduetodosothisyear.InFebruarytheFTCandDigitalAdvertisingAlliance(DAA)agreedthattheindustrywouldgetcrackingonrespondingtoDNTrequests.

OnMay31stsetofftherow.ItsaidthatInternetExplorer10,theversionduetoappearwithwindows8,wouldhaveDNTasadefault.

Advertisersarehorrified.Humannaturebeingwhatitis,mostpeoplestickwithdefaultsettings.FewswitchDNTonnow,butiftrackingisoffitwillstayoff.BobLiodice,thechiefexecutiveoftheAssociationofNationalAdvertisers,saysconsumerswillbeworseoffiftheindustrycannotcollectinformationabouttheirpreferences.Peoplewillnotgetfewerads,hesays.―They‘llgetlessmeaningful,lesstargetedads.‖

Itisnotyetclearhowadvertiserswillrespond.GettingaDNTsignaldoesnotobligeanyonetostoptracking,althoughsomecompanieshavepromisedtodoso.Unabletolwhethersomeonereallyobjectstobehaviouraladsorwhethertheyarestickingwith ‘sdefault,somemayignoreaDNTsignalandpressonanyway.

Alsouncleariswhyhasgoneitalone.Afterall,ithasanadbusinesstoo,whichitsayswillcomplywithDNTrequests,thoughitisstillworkingouthow.Ifitistryingtoupset,whichreliesalmostwhollyonadvertising,ithaschosenanindirectmethod:thereisnoguaranteethatDNTbydefaultwill ethenorm.DNTdoesnotseemanobviouslyhugesellingpointforwindows8—thoughthefirmhascomparedsomeofitsotherproductsfavourablywith‘son

［A］onlineadvertisers

［ merceconductors

［C］digitalinformationysis

［D］internetbrowserdevelopers

BobLiodiceholdsthatsettingDNTasadefault .

［A］maycutthenumberofjunkads

［B］failstoaffecttheadindustry

［C］willnotbenefitconsumers

［D］goesagainsthumannature

WhichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtoParagraph6?

［A］DNTmaynotserveitsintendedpurpose.

［B］AdvertisersarewillingtoimplementDNT.

［C］DNTislosingitspopularityamongconsumers.

［D］Advertisersareobligedtoofferbehaviouralads.

Theauthor‘sattitudetowardswhatBrendonLynchsaidinhisblogisoneof .

［A］indulgence

［B］understanding

［C］appreciation

［D］skepticism

2014--Text1

Inorderto―changelivesforthebetter‖andreduce―dependency,‖GeorgeOsborne,ChancelloroftheExchequer,introducedthe―upfrontworksearch‖scheme.OnlyifthejoblessarriveatthejobcentrewithaCV,registerforonlinejobsearch,andstartlookingforworkwilltheybeeligibleforbenefitandthentheyshouldreportweeklyratherthanfortnightly.Whatcouldbemorereasonable?

Moreapparentreasonablenessfollowed.Therewillnowbeaseven-daywaitforthejobseeker‘sallowance.―Thosefirstfewdaysshouldbespentlookingforwork,notlookingtosignon,‖heclaimed.―We‘rengthesethingsbecauseweknowtheyhelppeoplestayoffbenefitsandhelpthoseonbenefitsgetintoworkfaster.‖Help?Really？Onfirsthearing,thiswasthesociallyconcernedchancellor,tryingtochangelivesforthebetter,completewith―reforms‖toanobviouslyindulgent

structureinyourlife.Worse,thecrucial etofeedyourselfandyourfamilyandpaythebillshasdisappeared.Askanyonenewlyunemployedwhattheywantandtheanswerisalways:ajob.

ButinOsborneland,yourfirstinstinctistofallintodependency–permanentdependencyifyoucangetit–supportedbyastateonlytooreadytoindulgeyourfalsehood.Itisasthough20yearsofever-tougherreformsofthejobsearchandbenefitadministrationsystemneverhappened.TheprincipleofBritishwelfareisnolongerthatyoucaninsureyourselfagainsttheriskofunemploymentandreceiveunconditionalpaymentsifthedisasterhappens.Eventheveryphrase―jobseeker‘sallowance‖—inventedin1996—isaboutredefiningtheunemployedasa―jobseeker‖whohadnomandatoryrighttoabenefitheorshehasearnedthroughmakingnationalinsurancecontributions.Instead,theclaimantreceivesatime-limited―allowance,‖conditionalonactivelyseekingajob;noentitlementandnoinsurance,at￡71.70aweek,oneoftheleastgenerousintheEU.

GeorgeOsborne‘sschemewasintendedto .

motivatetheunemployedtoreportvoluntarily

providetheunemployedwitheasieraccesstobenefits

encouragejobseekers‘a(chǎn)ctiveengagementinjobseeking

guaranteejobseekers‘legitimaterighttobenefits

Thephrase―tosignon‖(Line3,Para.2)mostprobablymeans .

toregisterforanallowancefromtheernment

toacceptthe ernment‘srestrictionsontheallowance

tocheckontheavailabilityofjobsatthejobcentre

toattendaernmentaljob-trainingprogram

Whatpromptedthechancellortodevelophisscheme?

Adesiretosecureabetterlifeforall.

Aneagernesstoprotecttheunemployed.

Anurgetobegeneroustotheclaimants.

Apassiontoensurefairnessfortaxpayers.

AccordingtoParagraph3,beingunemployedmakesonefeel .

insulted

uneasy

enraged

guilty

Towhichofthefollowingwouldtheauthormostprobablyagree?

2014--Text2

Allaroundtheworld,lawyersgeneratemorehostilitythanthemembersofanyotherprofession—withthepossibleexceptionofjournalism.ButtherearefewceswhereshavemoregroundsforcomintthanAmerica.

Duringthedecadebeforetheeconomiccrisis,spendingonlegalservicesinAmericagrewtwiceasfastasinflation.Thebestlawyersmadeskyscrapers-fullof