2007年考研阅读理解与解析 (2).doc

2007年 Text 1If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006s World Cup tournament, you would most likely find a noteworthy quirk: elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the later months. If you then examined the European national youth teams that feed the World Cup and professional ranks, you would find this strange phenomenon to be even more pronounced.如果你打算调查一下2006年世界杯锦标赛上所有足球运动员的出生证明，那么你很有可能发现一个值得注意的怪现象：优秀足球运动员更可能出生于每年的前几个月而不是后几个月。如果你再调查一下那些为世界杯和各大职业联赛提供球员的欧洲国家青年队，你会发现这一奇怪的现象更为明显。What might account for this strange phenomenon? Here are a few guesses: a) certain astrological signs confer superior soccer skills; b) winter-born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina; c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime, at the annual peak of soccer mania; d) none of the above.什么可以解释这一奇怪的现象呢？下面是一些猜测：a）某种星象学的征兆使人具备更高的足球技能；b）冬季出生的婴儿往往有较高的血氧含量，这增加了踢足球所需要的耐力；c）热爱足球的父母更可能在春季（每年足球狂热的鼎盛时期）怀孕；d）以上各项都不对。Anders Ericsson, a 58-year-old psychology professor at Florida State University, says he believes strongly in “none of the above.” Ericsson grew up in Sweden, and studied nuclear engineering until he realized he would have more opportunity to conduct his own research if he switched to psychology. His first experiment, nearly 30 years ago, involved memory: training a person to hear and then repeat a random series of numbers. “With the first subject, after about 20 hours of training, his digit span had risen from 7 to 20,” Ericsson recalls. “He kept improving, and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers.”58岁的安德斯 埃里克森是佛罗里达州立大学的一名心理学教授，他说，他坚信“以上各项都不对”这一猜测。在瑞典长大的埃里克森，早先从事核工程学的研究，直到后来他认识到如果自己转向心理学领域，就会有更多机会从事自己的研究。他的首次试验是大约30年以前进行的一个与记忆有关的试验：训练一个人先听一组任意挑选的数字，然后复述这些数字。“在经过大约20小时的训练之后，第一个试验对象复述的数字跨度从7个上升到20个，” 埃里克森回忆说。“该试验对象不断进步，在接受大约200个小时的训练后，他复述的数字已经达到80多个。”This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitive one. In other words, whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize, those differences are swamped by how well each person “encodes” the information. And the best way to learn how to encode information meaningfully, Ericsson determined, was a process known as deliberate practice. Deliberate practice entails more than simply repeating a task. Rather, it involves setting specific goals, obtaining immediate feedback and concentrating as much on technique as on outcome.这一试验的成功，连同后来证明的记忆本身不是遗传决定的研究，使得埃里克森得出结论，即记忆过程是一种认知练习，而不是一种本能行为。换句话说，无论两个人天生的记忆力能力存在怎样的差异，这些差异都会被个人如何恰当地对信息进行“编码”的能力消除。埃里克森确信，了解如何有目的地解读信息的最佳方法就是众所周知的刻意练习过程。刻意练习需要的不仅仅是简单地重复一个任务。更确切地说，它包括确定明确的目标、获得即时的反馈以及对技巧和结果的同样重视。Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers. Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers- whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming- are nearly always made, not born.因此，埃里克森和他的同事开始研究包括足球领域在内的各种不同领域中杰出表现者。他们收集了一切可能得到的资料，不仅包括统计数据和传记详细资料，还包括他们对成功人士进行的实验室实验结果。他们的研究得出了令人惊讶的结论我们通常称为天分的作用被高估了。或者换句话说，杰出表现者-无论是在记忆方面还是外科手术方面，无论是跳芭蕾还是搞计算机编程-几乎总是后天练就的，而不是与生俱来的。21The birthday phenomenon found among soccer players is mentioned to_.AI stress the importance of professional training.B spotlight the soccer superstars in the World Cup.C introduce the topic of what makes expert performance.D explain why some soccer teams play better than others.文中提到足球运动员中的出生现象是用来_.A 强调职业训练的重要性 B 聚焦世界杯上的足球巨星C 引出什么决定了杰出表现这个话题D 解释为什么一些足球队比其他足球队表现好22.The word “mania” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) most probably means_.A fun. B craze.C hysteria. D excitement.“mania”（第二段第四行）最有可能的意思是_.A 嬉笑 B 狂热C 歇斯底里 D 兴奋23. According to Ericsson, good memory_.A depends on meaningful processing of information.B results from intuitive rather than cognitive exercises.C is determined by genetic rather than psychological factors.D requires immediate feedback and a high degree of concentration.在Ericsson看来，好的记忆_.A 取决于对信息的有意义的处理 B 取决于天生能力还不是认知练习C 由基因而不是心理因素决定 D 要求即刻的反馈和注意力高度集中24. Ericsson and his colleagues believe that_.A talent is a dominating factor for professional success.B biographical data provide the key to excellent performance.C the role of talent tends to be overlooked.D high achievers owe their success mostly to nurture.Ericsson和他的同事相信_.A 天生的才能对于职业的成功是一项主要的因素B 传记数据提供了优秀表现的关键因素 C 天生才能的角色通常被忽略D 取得突出成就的人大多数由于后天塑造取得成功25. Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?A “Faith will move mountains.” B “One reaps what one sows.”C “Practice makes perfect.” D “Like father, like son.”下面的那一句谚语与文章所传递的信息最接近？A 精诚所至，金石为开 B 善有善报，恶有恶报C 熟能生巧 D 有其父必有其子B选项的翻译说明：you reap what you sow 不同的老师有不同的翻译，有的翻译“一分耕耘一分收获”，有的翻译为“种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆”，其实都和牛津和朗文的字典解释有出入：一、朗文当代英语词典的解释为：used to say that if you do bad things, bad things will happen to you, and if you do good things, good things will happen to you二、牛津高阶英语词典的解释为：you reap what you sow (saying) you have to deal with the bad effects or results of sth that you originally started所以，本人翻译为善有善报，恶有恶报。另外，个人觉得“种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆”在汉英词典中的解释应该翻译为：Plant melons and you get melons, sow beans and you get beans. 而不应该翻译为： We reap what we sow. 或 As a man sows,so he shall reap.2007年 Text 2For the past several years, the Sunday newspaper supplement Parade has featured a column called “Ask Marilyn.” People are invited to query Marilyn vos Savant, who at age 10 had tested at a mental level of someone about 23 years old; that gave her an IQ of 228 the highest score ever recorded. IQ tests ask you to complete verbal and visual analogies, to envision paper after it has been folded and cut, and to deduce numerical sequences, among other similar tasks. So it is a bit confusing when vos Savant fields such queries from the average Joe (whose IQ is 100) as, Whats the difference between love and fondness? Or what is the nature of luck and coincidence? Its not obvious how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns suits one to answer questions that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers.近几年来，星期日报的增刊漫步开设了一个名为“询问Marilyn”的专栏，邀请人们向Marilyn vos Savant提问。Marilyn vos Savant在10岁时测定的智力水平达到普通人23岁时的水平，这使得她的智商高达228是有记录的智商测试最高水平。智商测试要求你完成一些文字和图像的类比分析，要求你在纸张被折叠和剪切后想象它的形状，要求你推论数字的顺序，还有其他类似的项目。所以，当vos Savant被普通人Joe（智商为100）问及像“爱与喜欢之间的区别是什么？”或者“运气与巧合的本质特征是什么？”这样的问题时，人们感到有点困惑。一个人具备物体空间想象力和计算数字模式的能力，不见得就能够回答连一些最优秀的诗人和哲学家都无法理解的问题。Clearly, intelligence encompasses more than a score on a test. Just what does it mean to be smart? How much of intelligence can be specified, and how much can we learn about it from neurology, genetics, computer science and other fields?毫无疑问，智力包含的不仅仅是一次测试所得的分数。而聪明究竟意味着什么？智力中有多少能够说明白？我们能够从神经学、遗传学、计算机科学以及其他领域对智力的了解又有多少？The defining term of intelligence in humans still seems to be the IQ score, even though IQ tests are not given as often as they used to be. The test comes primarily in two forms: the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (both come in adult and childrens version). Generally costing several hundred dollars, they are usually given only by psychologists, although variations of them populate bookstores and the World Wide Web. Superhigh scores like vos Savants are no longer possible, because scoring is now based on a statistical population distribution among age peers, rather than simply dividing the mental age by the chronological age and multiplying by 100. Other standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), capture the main aspects of IQ tests.人类有关智力的定义性术语似乎仍然是智商分数，即使人们并不像以前那样经常进行智商测试。智商测试主要有为两种形式：Stanford-Binet智力量表和Wechsler智力量表（两种都包含成人和儿童两个版本）。尽管这两种测试的各种变种在书店和互联网上都可以找到，但是一般情况下智力测验通常由心理学家来操作，费用为几百美元。像vos Savant那样的超高分现在再也不可能了，因为现在的分数依据的是相同年龄者的统计人口分布，而不是简单地把智力年龄除以实际年龄再乘以100。其他一些标准化测试，比如学术水平测试考试（SAT）以及研究生入学考试（GRE），也包含了智商测试的主要内容。Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school and in life, argues Robert J. Sternberg. In his article “How Intelligent Is Intelligence Testing?”, Sternberg notes that traditional test best assess analytical and verbal skills but fail to measure creativity and practical knowledge, components also critical to problem solving and life success. Moreover, IQ tests do not necessarily predict so well once populations or situations change. Research has found that IQ predicted leadership skills when the tests were given under low-stress conditions, but under high-stress conditions, IQ was negatively correlated with leadership that is, it predicted the opposite. Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test-taking skill also matters, whether its knowing when to guess or what questions to skip.Robert J. Sternberg认为，这样的标准测试不可能评估在学校和生活中取得成功所需的所有重要因素。在其名为智力测试如何明智？的文章中，Sternberg指出，传统测试非常准确地评估了分析能力和语言表达能力，但没有测量创造性和实践知识，这些也是解决问题和取得人生成功的关键因素。而且，一旦人口或环境发生变化，智商测试就未必能够准确预测。研究发现，如果在压力较小的状况下进行智商测试，那么这种测试就可以预测出领导才能，但是，在压力很高的状况下，智商测试所得的结果与领导才能是负相关的，也就是说，预测的结果与实际是相反的。任何经历过SAT（学术水平测试考试）的人都会认为，应试能力也很重要，比如何时应该猜测，或者什么问题应该忽略等。26. Which of the following may be required in an intelligence test?A Answering philosophical questions.B Folding or cutting paper into different shapes.C Telling the differences between certain concepts.D Choosing words or graphs similar to the given ones.下列的哪一项在智商测试中有所要求？A回答哲学问题 B把纸折成或剪成不同的形状C区别一些概念之间不同 D根据给定的词汇或者图像选择相似的词汇或图像27. What can be inferred about intelligence testing from Paragraph 3?A People no longer use IQ scores as an indicator of intelligence.B More versions of IQ tests are now available on the Internet.C The test contents and formats for adults and children may be different.D Scientists have defined the important elements of human intelligence.从第三段中，我们可以推断关于智商测试的哪一项情况？A 人们不再用智商分数来作为智力的指标B 更多版本的智商测试现在可以从互联网上得到C 成人和儿童的测试内容和形式可能是不同的D 科学家们已经定义了人类智力的重要因素28. People nowadays can no longer achieve IQ scores as high as vos Savants becauseA the scores are obtained through different computational procedures.B creativity rather than analytical skills is emphasized now.C vos Savants case is an extreme one that will not repeat.D the defining characteristic of IQ tests has changed.现在的人们不再可能取得vos Savant那么高的智商分数是因为A 现在使用不同的计算程序计分 B 现在更加强调创造力而不是分析能力C vos Savant的例子只是一个不会再出现的极端情况D 智商测试的定义性特征发生了变化29. We can conclude from the last paragraph thatA test scores may not be reliable indicators of ones ability.B IQ scores and SAT results are highly correlated.C testing involves a lot of guesswork.D traditional tests are out of date.我们可以从最后一段总结出A测试分数可能无法可靠地证明一个人能力B智商分数与SAT的结果高度相关C测试中包括了很多猜题的工作 D传统的测试已经过时30. What is the authors attitude towards IQ tests?ASupportive BSkeptical.CImpartial DBiased作者对于智商测试的态度是怎样的？A 支持的B 质疑的C 客观的D 有偏见的2007年 Text 3During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.在上一代人当中，那些曾经可以依靠辛勤劳动和公平竞争就能维持收入稳定的中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实改变了。如今，一份解雇通知书、一张疾病诊断书或者配偶的去世都可能在几个月之内让一个家庭从一个收入殷实的中产阶层家庭跌为一个新贫民阶层。 In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Todays families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This “added-worker effect” could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner. 在仅仅一代人的时间里，数百万母亲出去工作，改变了基本的家庭经济状况。学者、决策者以及各类批评人士对这些变化的社会意义争论不休，但是，很少有人关注这些变化的副作用：家庭的风险也增加了。如今的家庭根据双份收入限度安排开支。因此，它们失去了在经济萧条时期曾经有过的缓解举措一个后备挣钱者（通常是母亲），她可以在家庭的主要挣钱者失业或者病倒的时候出去工作。这种“额外工人效应”可以支持由失业保险或残疾保险提供的安全网，以便帮助家庭渡过难关。但现如今，家庭财产的损失再也不可能通过呆在家里的配偶的额外收入来弥补了。 During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistancehave jumped eightfold in just one generation. 与此同时，家庭被要求在其退休收入中承担更多风险。钢铁厂的工人、航空公司的职员以及汽车产业工人加入了上百万家庭的队伍当中，这些家庭不得不担心利率、股市波动以及退休金不够养老的严峻现实。在去年的大部分时间里，布什总统一直致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式，要求退休人员将其大多数或所有保障报酬用来交换依靠投资回报所得的报酬。对于更年轻的家庭来说，情况也不容乐观。健康医疗的绝对成本和家庭需要承担的部分都上涨了 而且，最近流行的健康储蓄计划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛员工，包含大量更高的减免，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新的投资风险。甚至人口统计状况也对中产阶层家庭不利，因为家有一个年迈体弱的父亲或母亲的几率 以及随之而来对其身体上的照顾和经济上的帮助 在仅仅一代人的时间里就增长为原来的8倍。 From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.可以理解的是，从中产阶级家庭的角度来看，这很大程度上看上去不大像是有一个机会去履行更多的经济责任，而更像是加速把大部分的经济风险转移到本来就不堪重负的肩膀上，这种情况令人发指。经济副作用已经开始，政治副作用可能也不远了。31 Todays double-income families are at greater financial risk in that _.A the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.B their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.C they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.D they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.现在的双收入家庭面临很大的财务风险，因为_.A 他们以前享受的安全网已经消失了 B 他们失业的几率大大增强了C 他们面对家庭经济状况的改变更加脆弱 D 他们被剥夺了失业和残疾保险32. As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may haveA a higher sense of security.B less secured payments.C less chance to invest.D a guaranteed future.布什总统的改革导致了退休人员可能会有A 更强的安全感 B 更少有保证的收入C 更少投资的机会 D 一个有保障的未来33. According to the author, health-savings plans will_.A help reduce the cost of healthcare.B popularize among the middle class.C compensate for the reduced pensions.D increase the families investment risk.根据本文作者，健康储蓄计划将会_.A 帮助减少医疗保健的成本 B 在中产阶级中得到普及C 补偿减少的退休金 D 增加家庭的投资风险34. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that_.A financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.B the middle class may face greater political challenges.C financial problems may bring about political problems.D financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.可以从文章最后一段推测_.A 财务风险往往比政治风险重要 B 中产阶级可能面临更大的政治挑战C 财务问题可能带来政治问题 D 财务责任代表了政治地位35. Which of the following is the best title for this text?A The Middle Class on the AlertB The Middle Class on the CliffC The Middle Class in ConflictD The Middle Class in Ruins下面的那一项是这篇文章的最好标题？A 中产阶级在警觉 B 中产阶级在悬崖上C 矛盾的中产阶级 D 前途渺茫的中产阶级in ruins的朗文解释：if someones life, a countrys economy etc is in ruins, it is affected by very great problems Her marriage was in ruins.她的婚姻困难重重。 His career is/lies in ruins. 他已前途尽毁。2007年 Text 4It never rains but it pours. Just as bosses and boards have finally sorted out their worst accounting and compliance troubles, and improved their feeble corporation governance, a new problem threatens to earn them especially in America the sort of nasty headlines that inevitably lead to heads rolling in the executive suite: data insecurity. Left, until now, to odd, low-level IT staff to put right, and seen as a concern only of data-rich industries such as banking, telecoms and air travel, information protection is now high on the bosss agenda in businesses of every variety. 真是祸不单行。就在老板和董事会最终解决了令人头疼的财务问题和违纪问题、改善了缺乏效率的公司管理之后，又有一个新的问题正在威胁他们，这个问题就是数据不安全，这会让他们（尤其是在美国）上头条丑闻，必然会