2022年考研英語一真題及答案解析

絕密☆啟用前2022年全國碩士研究生招生考試英語（一）（科目代碼：201）☆考生注意事項(xiàng)☆答題前，考上須在試題冊指定位置上填寫考生編號和考生姓名；在答題卡指定位置上填寫報(bào)考單位、考生姓名和考生編號，并涂寫考生編號信息點(diǎn)?？忌毎言囶}冊上的“試卷?xiàng)l形碼”粘貼條取下，粘貼在答題卡的“試卷?xiàng)l形碼粘貼位置”框中。不按規(guī)定粘貼條碼而影響評卷結(jié)果的，責(zé)任由考生負(fù)責(zé)。選擇題的答案必須涂寫在答題卡相應(yīng)題號的選項(xiàng)上，非選擇題的答案必須書寫在答題卡指定位置的邊框區(qū)域內(nèi)。超出答題區(qū)域書寫的答案無效；在草稿紙、試卷冊上答題無效。填（書）寫部分必須使用黑色字跡簽字筆書寫，字跡工整、筆跡清晰；涂寫部分必須使用2B鉛筆填涂。考試結(jié)束。將答題卡和試題冊按規(guī)定交回。（以下信息考生必須認(rèn)真填寫）考生編號考生姓名2022年全國碩士研究生入學(xué)統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）試題SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmarkA,B,CorDontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Theideathatplantshavesomedegreeofconsciousnessfirsttookrootintheearly2000s;theterm“plantneurobiology”was1aroundthenotionthatsomeaspectsofplantbehaviorcouldbe2tointelligenceinanimals.3plantslackbrains,thefiringofelectricalsignalsintheirstemsandleavesnonethelesstriggeredresponsesthat4consciousness,researcherspreviouslyreported.Butsuchanideaisuntrue,accordingtoanewopinionarticle.Plantbiologyiscomplexandfascinating,butit5sogreatlyfromthatofanimalsthatso-called6ofplants’intelligenceisinconclusive,theauthorswrote.Beginningin2006,somescientistshave7thatplantspossessneuron-likecellsthatinteractwithhormonesandneurotransmitters,8“aplantnervoussystem,9tothatinanimals,”saidleadstudyauthorLincolnTaiz,“They10claimedthatplantshave‘brain-likecommandcenters’attheirroottips.”This11makessenseifyousimplifytheworkingsofacomplexbrain,12ittoanarrayofelectricalpulses;cellsinplantsalsocommunicatethroughelectricalsignals.13,thesignalinginaplantisonly14similartothefiringinacomplexanimalbrain,whichismorethan“amassofcellsthatcommunicatebyelectricity,”Taizsaid.“Forconsciousnesstoevolve,abrainwithathreshold15ofcomplexityandcapacityisrequired,”he16.“Sinceplantsdon’thavenervoussystems,the17thattheyhaveconsciousnessareeffectivelyzero.”Andwhat’ssogreataboutconsciousness,anyway?Plantscan’trunawayfrom18,soinvestingenergyinabodysystemwhich19athreatandcanfeelpainwouldbeavery20evolutionarystrategy,accordingtothearticle.1.[A]coined[B]discovered[C]collected[D]issued2.[A]attributed[B]directed[C]compared[D]confined3.[A]unless[B]when[C]once[D]though4.[A]copewith[B]consistedof[C]hintedat[D]extendedin5.[A]suffers[B]benefits[C]develops[D]differs6.[A]acceptance[B]evidence[C]cultivation[D]creation7.[A]doubted[B]denied[C]argued[D]requested8.[A]adapting[B]forming[C]repairing[D]testing9.[A]analogous[B]essential[C]suitable[D]sensitive10.[A]just[B]ever[C]still[D]even11.[A]restriction[B]experiment[C]perspective[D]demand12.[A]attaching[B]reducing[C]returning[D]exposing13.[A]However[B]Moreover[C]Therefore[D]Otherwise14.[A]temporarily[B]literally[C]superficially[D]imaginarily15.[A]list[B]level[C]label[D]local16.[A]recalled[B]agreed[C]questioned[D]added17.[A]chances[B]risks[C]excuses[D]assumptions18.[A]danger[B]failure[C]warning[D]control19.[A]represents[B]includes[C]reveals[D]recognizes20.[A]humble[B]poor[C]practical[D]easySectionⅡReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.(40points)Text1Peopleoftencomplainthatplasticsaretoodurable.Waterbottles,shoppingbags,andothertrashlittertheplanet,fromMountEveresttotheMarianaTrench,becauseplasticsareeverywhereanddon’tbreakdowneasily.Butsomeplasticmaterialschangeovertime.Theycrackandfrizzle.They“weep”outadditives.Theymeltintosludge.Allofwhichcreateshugeheadachesforinstitutions,suchasmuseums,tryingtopreserveculturallyimportantobjects.Thevarietyofplasticobjectsatriskisdizzying:earlyradios,avant-gardesculptures,celluloidanimationstillsfromDisneyfilms,thefirstartificialheart.Certainartifactsareespeciallyvulnerablebecausesomepioneersinplasticartdidn’talwaysknowhowtomixingredientsproperly,saysTheavanOosten,apolymerchemistwho,untilretiringafewyearsago,workedfordecadesattheCulturalHeritageAgencyoftheNetherlands.“It’slikebakingacake:Ifyoudon’thaveexactamounts,itgoeswrong,”shesays.“Theobjectyoumakeisalreadyatimebomb.”Andsometimes,it’snottheartist’sfault.Inthe1960s,theItalianartistPicroGilardibegantocreatehundredsofbright,colorfulfoampieces.Thosepiecesincludedsmallbedsofrosesandotheritemsaswellasafewdozen“naturecarpets”—largerectanglesdecoratedwithfoampumpkins,cabbages,andwatermelons.Hewantedviewerstowalkaroundonthecarpets—whichmeanttheyhadtobedurable.Unfortunately,thepolyurethanefoamheusedisinherentlyunstable.It’sespeciallyvulnerabletolightdamage,andbythemid-1990s,Gilardi’spumpkins,roses,andotherfigureswerespittingandcrumbling.Museumslockedsomeofthemawayinthedark.SovanOostenandhercolleaguesworkedtopreserveGilardi’ssculptures.Theyinfusedsomewithstabilizingandconsolidatingchemicals.VanOostencallsthosechemicals“sunscreens”becausetheirgoalwastopreventfurtherlightdamageandrebuildwornpolymerfibers.Sheisproudthatseveralsculptureshaveevengoneondisplayagain,albeitsometimesbeneathprotectivecases.DespitesuccessstorieslikevanOosten’s,preservationofplasticswilllikelygetharder.Oldobjectscontinuetodeteriorate.Worse,biodegradableplasticsdesignedtodisintegrate,areincreasinglycommon.Andmoreisatstakeherethanindividualobjects.JoanaLiaFerreira,anassistantprofessorofconservationandrestorationattheNOVASchoolofScienceandTechnology,notesthatarchaeologistsfirstdefinedthegreatmaterialagesofhumanhistory—StoneAge,IronAge,andsoon—afterexaminingartifactsinmuseums.Wenowliveinanageofplastic,shesays,“andwhatwedecidetocollecttoday,whatwedecidetopreserve...willhaveastrongimpactonhowinthefuturewe’llbeseen.”21.AccordingtoParagraph1,museumsarefacedwithdifficultiesin_____.[A]maintainingtheirplasticitems.[B]obtainingdurableplasticartifacts.[C]handlingoutdatedplasticexhibits.[D]classifyingtheirplasticcollections.22.VanOostenbelievesthatcertainplasticobjectsare_____.[A]immunetodecay[B]improperlyshaped[C]inherentlyflawed[D]complexinstructure23.MuseumsstoppedexhibitingsomeofGilardi’sartworksto_____.[A]keepthemfromhurtingvisitors[B]duplicatethemforfuturedisplay[C]havetheiringredientsanalyzed[D]preventthemfromfurtherdamage24.Theauthorthinksthatpreservationofplasticsis_____.[A]costly[B]unworthy[C]unpopular[D]challenging25.InFerreira’sopinion,preservationofplasticartifacts_____.[A]willinspirefuturescientificresearch[B]hasprofoundhistoricalsignificance[C]willhelpusseparatethematerialages[D]hasanimpactontoday'sculturallifeText2Asthelatestcropofstudentspentheirundergraduateapplicationformandweighuptheiroptions,itmaybeworthconsideringjusthowthepoint,purposeandvalueofadegreehaschangedandwhatGenerationZneedtoconsiderastheystartthethirdstageoftheireducationaljourney.Millennialsweretoldthatifyoudidwellinschool,gotadecentdegree,youwouldbesetupforlife.Butthatpromisehasbeenfoundwanting.Asdegreesbecameuniversal,theybecamedevalued.Educationwasnolongerasecurerouteofsocialmobility.Today,28percentofgraduatesintheUKareinnon-graduateroles,apercentagewhichisdoubletheaverageamongOECDcountries.Thisisnottosaythatthereisnopointingettingadegree,butratherstressthatadegreeisnotforeveryone,thattheswitchfromclassroomtolecturehallisnotaninevitableoneandthatotheroptionsareavailable.Thankfully,therearesignsthatthisisalreadyhappening,withGenerationZseekingtolearnfromtheirmillennialpredecessors,evenifparentsandteacherstendtobestillsetinthedegreemindset.Employershavelongseentheadvantagesofhiringschoolleaverswhooftenprovethemselvestobemorecommittedandloyalemployeesthangraduates.Manytooareseeingtheadvantagesofscrappingadegreerequirementforcertainroles.Forthoseforwhomadegreeisthedesiredroute,considerthatthismaywellbethefirstofmany.Inthisageofgeneralists,itpaystohavespecificknowledgeorskills.Postgraduatesnowearn40percentmorethangraduates.Whenmoreandmoreofushaveadegree,itmakessensetohavetwo.ItisunlikelythatGenerationZwillbedonewitheducationat18or21;theywillneedtobeconstantlyup-skillingthroughouttheircareertostayemployable.Ithasbeenestimatedthatthisgeneration,duetothepressuresoftechnology,thewishforpersonalfulfilmentanddesirefordiversity,willworkfor17differentemployersoverthecourseoftheirworkinglifeandhavefivedifferentcareers.Education,andnotjustknowledgegainedoncampus,willbeacorepartofGenerationZ’scareertrajectory.Oldergenerationsoftentalkabouttheirdegreeinthepresentandpersonaltense:“Iamageographer”or“Iamaclassist.”Theirsonsordaughterswouldneversaysuchathing;it’sasiftheyalreadyknowthattheirdegreewon’tdefinetheminthesameway.26.TheauthorsuggeststhatGenerationZshould_____.[A]becarefulinchoosingacollege[B]bediligentateacheducationalstage[C]reassessthenecessityofcollegeeducation[D]postponetheirundergraduateapplication27.ThepercentageofUKgraduatesinnon-graduaterolesreflect_____.[A]Millennial’sopinionsaboutwork[B]theshrinkingvalueofadegree[C]publicdiscontentwitheducation[D]thedesiredrouteofsocialmobility28.Theauthorconsidersitagoodsignthat_____.[A]generationZareseekingtoearnadecentdegree[B]schoolleaversarewillingtobeskilledworkers[C]employersaretakingarealisticattitudetodegrees[D]parentsarechangingtheirmindsabouteducation29.ItisadvisedinParagraph5thatthosewithonedegreeshould_____.[A]makeanearlydecisionontheircareer[B]attendonthejobtrainingprograms[C]teamupwithhigh-paidpostgraduates[D]furthertheirstudiesinaspecificfield30.WhatcanbeconcludedaboutGenerationZfromthelasttwoparagraphs?[A]Lifelonglearningwilldefinethem.[B]Theywillmakequalifiededucators.[C]Depresswillnolongerappealthem.[D]Theywillhavealimitedchoiceofjobs.Text3Enlightening,challenging,stimulating,fun.TheseweresomeofthewordsthatNaturereadersusedtodescribetheirexperienceofart-sciencecollaborationsinaseriesofarticlesonpartnershipsbetweenartistsandresearchers.Nearly40%oftheroughly350peoplewhorespondedtoanaccompanyingpollsaid,theyhadcollaboratedwithartists;andalmostallsaidtheywouldconsiderdoingsoinfuture.Suchanencouragingresultsisnotsurprising.Scientistsareincreasinglyseekingoutvisualartiststohelpthemcommunicatetheirworktonewaudiences.“Artistshelpscientistsreachabroaderaudienceandmakeemotionalconnectionsthatenhancelearning”O(jiān)nerespondentsaid.OneexampleofhowartistsandscientistshavetogetherrockedthescenescamelastmonthwhentheSydneySymphonyOrchestraperformedareworkedversionofAntonioVivaldi’sTheFourSeasons.Theyreimaginedthe300-year-oldscorebyinjectingthelatestclimatepredictiondataforeachseason-providedbyMonashUniversity’sClimateChangeCommunicationResearchHub.TheperformancewasacreativecalltoactionaheadofNovember’sUnitedNationsClimateChangeConferenceinGlasgow,UK.Butagenuinepartnershipmustbeatwo-waystreet.FewerartistthanscientistsrespondedtotheNaturepol1,however,severalrespondentsnotedthatartistsdonotsimplyassistscientistswiththeircommunicationrequirements.Norshouldtheirworkbeconsideredonlyasanobjectofstudy.Thealliancesaremostvaluablewhenscientistsandartistshaveasharedstakeinaproject,areabletojointlydesignitandcancritiqueeachother’swork.Suchanapproachcanbothpromptnewresearchaswellasresultinpowerfulart.Morethanhalfacenturyago,theMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyopeneditsCenterforAdvancedVisualStudies(CAVS)toexploretheroleoftechnologyinculture.Thefoundersdeliberatelyfocusedtheirprojectsaroundlight-hancethe“visualstudies”inthename.Lightwasasomethingthatbothartistsandscientistshadaninterestin,andthereforecouldformthebasisofcollaboration.Asscienceandtechnologyprogressed,anddividedintomoresub-disciplines,thecentrewassimultaneouslylookingtoatimewhenleadingresearcherscouldalsobeartists,writersandpoets,andviceversa.Nature’spollfindingssuggestthatthistrendisasstrongasever,but,tomakeacollaborationwork,bothsidesneedtoinvesttime,andembracesurpriseandchallenge.Thereachofart-sciencetie-upsneedstogobeyondthenecessarypurposeofresearchcommunication,andparticipants.Artistsandscientistsalikeareimmersedindiscoveryandinvention,andchallengeandcritiquearecoretoboth,too.31.Accordingtoparagraph1,art-sciencecollaborationshave.[A]caughttheattentionofcritics[B]receivedfavorableresponses[C]promotedacademicpublishing[D]sparkedheatedpublicdisputes32.ThereworkedversionofTheFourSeasonsismentionedtoshowthat.[A]artcanofferaudienceseasyaccesstoscience[B]sciencecanhelpwiththeexpressionofemotions[C]publicparticipationinsciencehasapromisingfuture[D]artiseffectiveinfacilitatingscientificinnovations33.Someartistsseemtoworryaboutintheart-sciencepartnership.[A]theirrolemaybeunderestimated[B]theirreputationmaybeimpaired[C]theircreativitymaybeinhibited[D]theirworkmaybemisguided34.WhatdoestheauthorsayaboutCAVS?[A]Itwasheadedalternatelybyartistsandscientists.[B]Itexemplifiedvaluableart-sciencealliances.[C]Itsprojectsaimedatadvancingvisualstudies.[D]Itsfounderssoughttoraisethestatusofartists.35.Inthelastparagraph,theauthorholdsthatart-sciencecollaborations.[A]arelikelytogobeyondpublicexpectations[B]willintensifyinterdisciplinarycompetition[C]shoulddomorethancommunicatingscience[D]arebecomingmorepopularthanbeforeText4ThepersonalgrievanceprovisionsofNewZealand’sEmploymentRelationsAct2000(ERA)preventanemployerfromfiringanemployeewithoutgoodcause.Instead,dismissalsmustbejustified.Employersmustbothshowcauseandactinaprocedurallyfairway.Personalgrievanceproceduresweredesignedtoguardthejobsofordinaryworkersfrom“unjustifieddismissals”.Thepremisewasthatthecommonlawofcontractlackedsufficientsafeguardsforworkersagainstarbitraryconductbymanagement.Longgonearethedayswhenabosscouldsimplygiveanemployeecontractualnotice.Buttheseprovisionscreatedifficultiesforbusinesseswhenappliedtohighlypaidmanagersandexecutives.Ascountlessboardsandbusinessownerswillattest,constrainingfirmsfromfiringpoorlyperforming,high-earningmanagersisahandbrakeonboostingproductivityandoverallperformance.ThedifferencebetweenC-gradeandA-grademanagersmayverywellbethedifferencebetweenbusinesssuccessorfailure.Betweenpreservingthejobsofordinaryworkersorlosingthem.Yetmediocrityisnolongerenoughtojustifyadismissal.Consequently–andparadoxically–lawsintroducedtoprotectthejobsofordinaryworkersmaybeplacingthosejobsatrisk.Ifnotplacingjobsatrisk,totheextentemploymentprotectionlawsconstrainbusinessownersfromdismissingunder-performingmanagers,thoselawsactasaconstraintonfirmproductivityandthereforeonworkers’wages.Indeed,in“AnInternationalPerspectiveonNewZealand’sProductivityParadox”(2014),theProductivityCommissionsingledoutthelowqualityofmanagerialcapabilitiesasacauseofthecountry’spoorproductivitygrowthrecord.NorarehighlypaidmanagersthemselvesimmunefromtheharmcausedbytheERA’sunjustifieddismissalprocedures.Becauseemploymentprotectionlawsmakeitcostliertofireanemployee,employersaremorecautiousabouthiringnewstaff.Thismakesitharderforthemarginalmanagertogainemployment.Andfirmspaystafflessbecausefirmscarrytheburdenoftheemploymentarrangementgoingwrong.Societyalsosuffersfromexcessiveemploymentprotections.Stringentjobdismissalregulationsadverselyaffectproductivitygrowthandhamperbothprosperityandoverallwell-being.AcrosstheTasmanSea,Australiadealswiththeunjustifieddismissalparadoxbyexcludingemployeesearningaboveaspecified“high-incomethreshold”fromtheprotectionofitsunfairdismissallaws.InNewZealand,a2016privatemembers’Billtriedtopermitfirmsandhigh-incomeemployeestocontractoutoftheunjustifieddismissalregime.However,themechanismsproposedwereunwieldyandtheBillwasvoteddownfollowingthechangeingovernmentlaterthatyear.36.ThepersonalgrievanceprovisionsoftheERAareintendedto____.[A]punishdubiouscorporatepractices[B]improvetraditionalhiringprocedures[C]exemptemployersfromcertainduties[D]protecttherightsofordinaryworkers37.Itcanbelearnedfromparagraph3thattheprovisionsmay____.[A]hinderbusinessdevelopment[B]underminemanagers’authority[C]affectthepublicimageofthefirms[D]worsenlabor-managementrelations38.WhichofthefollowingmeasureswouldbetheProductivityCommissionsupport?[A]Imposingreasonablewagerestraints.[B]Enforcingemploymentprotectionlaws.[C]Limitingthepowersofbusinessowners.[D]Dismissingpoorlyperformingmanagers.39.WhatmightbeaneffectofERA’sunjustifieddismissalprocedures?[A]Highlypaidmanagerslosetheirjobs.[B]Employeessufferfromsalarycuts.[C]Societyseesariseinoverallwell-being.[D]Employersneedtohirenewstaff.40.Itcanbeinferredthatthe“high-incomethreshold”inAustralia____.[A]hassecuredmanagers’earnings[B]hasproducedundesiredresults[C]isbeneficialtobusinessowners[D]isdifficulttoputintopracticePartBDirections：Inthefollowingtext，somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions41-45，choosethemostsuitableonefromthefistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblanks.Therearetwoextrachoices，whichdonotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET.（10points）(41)TeriByrdIwasazooandwildlifeparkemployeeforyears.Boththewildlifeparkandzooclaimedtobeoperatingforthebenefitoftheanimalsandforconservationpurposes.Thisclaimwasfalse.Neitheroneofthemactuallyparticipatedinanycontributionswhosebottomlineismuchmoreimportantthantheconditionoftheanimals.Animalsdespisebeingcaptivesinzoos.Nomatterhowyou“enhance”enclosures,theydonotallowforfreedom,anaturaldietoradequatetimefortransparencywiththeseinstitutions,andit’spasttimetoeliminatezoosfromourculture.(42)KarenR.SimeAsazoologyprofessor,IagreewithEmmaMarristhatzoodisplayscanbesadandcruel.Butsheunderestimatestheeducationalvalueofzoos.Thezoologyprogramatmyuniversityattractsstudentsforwhomzoovisitswerethecrucialformativeexperiencethatledthemtomajorinbiologicalsciences.Thesearemostlystudentswhohadnoopportunityaschildrentotraveltowildernessareas,wildliferefugesornationalparks.AlthoughgoodTVshowscanhelpstirchildren’sinterestinconservation,theycannotreplacetheexcitementofazoovisitasanintense,immersiveandinteractiveexperience.Surelytheremustbesomemiddlegroundthatbalanceszoos’treatmentofanimalswiththeireducationalpotential.(43)GregNewberryEmmaMarris’sarticleisaninsultandadisservicetothethousandsofpassionatewhoworktirelesslytoimprovethelivesofanimalsandprotectourplanet.Sheusesoutdatedresearchanddecades-oldexamplestounderminethenoblemissionoforganizationcommittedtoconnectingchildrentoaworldbeyondtheirown.Zoosareattheforefrontofconservationandconstantlyevolvingtoimprovehowtheycareforanimalsandprotecteachspeciesinitsnaturalhabitat.Aretheretragedies?Ofcourse.ButtheyaretheexceptionnotthenormthatMs.Marrisimplies.Adistressedanimalinazoowillgetasgoodorbettertreatmentthanmostofusatourlocalhospital.(44)DeanGalleaAsafellowenvironmentalistanimal-protectionadvocateandlongtimevegetarian.IcouldproperlybeinthesamecampasEmmaMarrisontheissueofzoos.ButIbelievethatwell-runzoosandtheheroicanimalsthatsuffertheircaptivitysoserveahigherpurpose.Wereitnotforopportunitiestoobservethesebeautifulwildcreaturesclosetohomemanymorepeoplewouldbedrivenbytheirfascinationtotraveltowildareastoseekoutdisturbandevenhuntthemdown.Zoosareinthatsensesimilartonaturalhistoryandarcheologymuseumsservingtosatisfyourneedforcontactwiththeselivingcreatureswhileleavingthevastmajorityundisturbedintheirnaturalenvironments.(45)JohnFraserEmmaMarrisselectivelydescribesandmisrepresentsthefindingsofourresearch.Ourstudiesfocusedontheimpactofzooexperiencesonhowpeoplethinkaboutthemselvesandnatureandthedatapointsextractedfromourstudies.Zoosaretoolsforthinking.Ourresearchprovidesstrongsupportforthevalueofzoosinconnectingpeoplewithanimalsandwithnature.Zoosprovideacriticalvoiceforconservationandenvironmentalprotection.Theyaffordanopportunityforpeoplefromallbackgroundstoencounterarangeofanimalsfromdronebeestospringbokorsalmontobetterunderstandthenaturalworldwelivein.[A]Zooswhichsparenoefforttotakecareofanimalsshouldnotbesubjectedtounfaircriticism.[B]Topressurezoostospendlessontheiranimalswouldleadtoinhumaneoutcomesforthepreciouscreaturesintheircare.[C]Whileanimalsincaptivitydeservesympathy,zoosplayasignificantroleinstartingyoungpeopledownthepathofrelatedsciences.[D]Zoossavepeopletripstowildernessareasandthuscontributetowildlifeconservation.[E]Forwildanimalsthatcannotbereturnedtotheirnaturalhabitats,zoosofferthebestalternative.[F]Zoosshouldhavebeencloseddownastheyprioritizemoneymakingoveranimals’wellbeing.[G]Marrisdistortsourfindingswhichactuallyprovethatzoosserveasanindispensablelinkbetweenmanandnature.Directions:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenneatlyontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)TheManWhoBrokeNapoleon’sCodes-MarkUrbanBetween1807and1814theIberianPeninsula(comprisingSpainandPortugal)wasthesceneofatitanicandmercilessstruggle.Ittookplaceonmanydifferentplanes:betweenNapoleon’sFrencharmyandtheangryinhabitants;betweentheBritish,everkeentoexacerbatetheemperor’sdifficulties,andthemarshalssentfromParistotrytokeepthemincheck;betweennewforcesofscienceandmeritocracyandoldonesofconservatismandbirth.(46)Itwasalso,andthisisunknowneventomanypeoplewellreadabouttheperiod,abattlebetwe