07考研英语历年阅读理解真题精析.doc

考研英语历年阅读理解真题精析-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 late 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 ever more pronounced.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.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.”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.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.1. The birthday phenomenon found among soccer players is mentioned to A stress the importance of professional training. B spotlight the soccer superstars at the World Cup. C introduce the topic of what makes expert performance. D explain why some soccer teams play better than others.2. The word “mania” （Line 4, Paragraph 2）most probably means A fun.B craze.C hysteria.D excitement.3. 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.4. 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.5. 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.”Unit 14（2007）Part 1试题解析：1【正确答案】【C】【解析】结构题，题干中的“is mentioned to”表明本题是结构题。本题考查考生对文章第一段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“soccer player”，出自文章第一段第一句话中。文章第一段提到检查足球运动员的出生证明时指出，你最可能发现一种引人注意的巧合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，第二段接着指出，什么可以解释这种奇怪的现象呢？随后介绍了几种猜测。这说明，提到生日现象是为了引出本文的主题。C为正确选项。第一段中没有提到专业训练，所以A属于无中生有；本文是通过检查世界杯上的足球运动员而得出“生日”现象的，说明B属于本末倒置；文中并没有提到某些足球队比其他足球队表现更好，所以D与文意不符。2. 【正确答案】【B】【解析】词义题，题干中的“most probably means”表明本题是词义题。本题考查考生对文章第二段内容的理解。题干中的信号词出自文章第二段最后一句话中。文章第二段首先指出，什么可以解释这种奇怪的现象呢？接着提到了一些猜测，其中的c）指出，热爱足球的父母更可能在春季怀孕，随后提到了该词所在的句子。这说明，该词可能与“soccermad”的意思相近。B是对该词的同义替换，为正确选项。A和C是误解了该词的意思；D不准确。3. 【正确答案】【A】【解析】细节题，题干中的“According to Ericsson”表明本题是观点细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三、四段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“Ericsson”和“memory”，出自文章第三、四段。文章第三段提到了有关记忆的试验，第四段介绍了埃里克森有关记忆的结论记忆过程是一种认知练习，不是一种本能练习；了解如何有目的地解读信息的最佳方法就是一个为人所知的有意练习过程，而有意练习需要的不只是简单地重复一个任务，它涉及到确定明确的目标、获得即时反馈以及注重方法与结果。这说明，他认为，好的记忆力依赖于人们对信息的有目的应用。A为正确选项。B和C明显与文意不符；不准确；与有关的信息是第一段第四句话，而这个假设被一项研究证实是错误的，所以B不对；D是在解释有意练习，与题目的要求不符。4. 【正确答案】【D】【解析】细节题，题干中的“Ericsson and his colleagues believe”表明本题是观点细节题。本题考查考生对文章最后一段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“Ericsson and his colleagues”，出自文章最后一段。文章最后一段介绍了埃里克森和他的同事有关成就优秀者的研究，指出，他们的研究得出了一个非常令人惊奇的结论成就优秀者几乎总是培养的，不是天生的。D为正确选项。A和C与文意相反；B与最后一段第二句话的意思不符。5. 【正确答案】【C】【解析】主旨题，题干中的“closest to the message the text tries to convey”表明本题是主旨题。本题考查考生对全文内容的理解。文章通过足球运动员的出生证明引出了本文的主题，随后的段落解释了这种现象，得出的结论是，成就优秀者几乎都是后天培养的，而不是天生的。这说明，本文主要讲的是，优异成就是后天习得的，不是天生的。C为正确选项。A、B和D都是误解了文意。全文翻译：如果你打算检查2006年世界杯锦标赛上所有足球运动员的出生证明，那么你最可能发现一种引人注意的巧合：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。如果你检查进入世界杯和职业比赛的欧洲国家青年队的话，那么你会发现这种奇怪的现象甚至更明显。什么可以解释这种奇怪的现象呢？下面是一些猜测：a）某种占星术征兆使人具备更高的足球技能；b）冬季出生的婴儿往往具有更高的供氧能力，这提高了踢足球的耐力；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）以上各项都不是。安德斯?埃里克森是佛罗里达州立大学的一位58岁的心理学教授，他说，他坚信“以上各项都不是”这一点。埃里克森在瑞典长大，他一直在研究核工程，直到他认识到，如果他转向心理学领域，他会有更多机会从事自己的研究。他的首次试验是在大约30年以前进行的，与记忆有关训练一个人先听一组任意挑选的数字，然后复述这些数字。“在接受大约20个小时的训练后，第一个试验对象（复述）的数字组合从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。”这次成功，连同后来证明“记忆本身不是遗传决定的”研究，使得埃里克森得出结论记忆过程是一种认知练习，不是一种本能练习。换句话说，无论两个人在记忆力方面可能有什么样的天生差异，这些差异都会被每个人如何恰当地“解读”所记的信息所掩盖。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一个为人所知的有意练习过程。有意练习需要的不只是简单地重复一个任务。相反，它涉及到确定明确的目标、获得即时反馈以及注重方法与结果。因此，埃里克森和他的同事开始研究广泛领域的成就优秀者，包括足球。他们收集了能够收集的所有资料，不只是表现方面的统计数据和传记详细资料，还包括他们自己对取得很高成就的人员进行的实验室实验结果。他们的研究得出了一个非常令人惊奇的结论我们通常称为才能的特征被高估了。或者，换句话说，成就优秀者（无论是在记忆还是手术方面，在芭蕾还是计算机编程方面）几乎总是培养的，不是天生的。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.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?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.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 test 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.6. Which of the following may be required in an intelligent test? A Answering philosophical questions. B Folding or cutting paper into different shapes. C Telling the difference between certain concepts. D Choosing words or graphs similar to the given ones.7. 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.8. People nowadays can no longer achieve IQ scores as high as vos Savants because A 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.9. 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 test are out of date.10. What is the authors attitude towards IQ test?A Supportive.B Skeptical.C Impartial.D Biased.Unit 14（2007） Part2试题解析：6. 【正确答案】【D】【解析】细节题，题干中的“Which of the following”表明本题是判断正误细节题。本题考查考生对文章第一段和最后一段内容的理解。文章第一段指出，智商测试要求你完成口头和视觉分析，要求你在纸张被折叠、剪切后想象它的形状，要求你推论数字的顺序，以及其他类似的项目，最后一段指出，传统的测试最恰当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际知识。这说明，在智力测试中可能需要创造性和实际知识。D为正确选项。A和C属于无中生有；B与文意不符。7. 【正确答案】【C】【解析】推论题，题干中的“can be inferred”表明本题是推论题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。文章第三段指出，智商测试主要表现为两种形式，也就是斯坦福比奈智力量表和威斯勒智力量表，这两种都有成人和儿童测试类型。由此可知，对成人和儿童的测试内容可能不相同。C为正确选项。A与该段第一句话的意思不符；B与该段第三句话中“although”引导的句子意思不符；D属于无中生有。8. 【正确答案】【A】【解析】细节题，题干中的“because”表明本题是原因细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“IQ scores ”和“Vos Savants”，出自文章第三段第四句话中。文章第三段指出，得到像沃斯?萨文特这样的超高分数再也不可能了，因为现在的分数依据的是相同年龄者的统计学群体分布状况，而不是简单地通过实足年龄乘以100来划分智能年龄。这说明，原因是现在的计算方法与以前不同。A为正确选项。B是第四段的信息，与题目的要求不符；C明显与文意不符；D属于无中生有。9. 【正确答案】【A】【解析】归纳题，题干中的“We can conclude”表明本题是归纳题。本题考查考生对文章最后一段内容的理解。文章最后一段指出，有专家认为，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，随后解释了这种观点，指出，传统的测试最恰当地评估了分析能力和语言表达能力，而且，一旦人口或环境发生变化，智商测试就不一定预测得那么准确，并且应试能力也很重要。这说明，智商测试不可能真实反映一个人的能力。A为正确选项。A不准确；B与文意相反；C属于夸大其词；D属于无中生有。10. 【正确答案】 【B】【解析】态度题，题干中的“the authors attitude”表明本题是态度题。本题考查考生对全文内容的理解。作者文中使用了“有点困惑”、“ 但没有测量创造性和实际知识，这些也是解决问题、在生活中取得成功的关键因素”以及“ 它预测的结果是相反的”等词句，说明作者对智商测试持怀疑态度。B为正确选项。A与作者的态度相反；C和D是误解了作者的态度。全文翻译：过去几年，星期日报的增刊检阅开设了一个名叫“询问玛丽琳”的专栏。人们被邀请去询问玛丽琳?沃斯?萨文特她在10岁时测试的智力水平达到别人23岁时的水平，这使得她的智商高达228（是有记录的最高水平）。智商测试要求你完成口头和视觉分析，要求你在纸张被折叠、剪切后想象它的形状，要求你推论数字的顺序，以及其他类似的项目。所以，当沃斯?萨文特面对普通人（其智商为100）提出的像“热爱与喜爱之间的区别是什么？”或者“运气与巧合的特征是什么？”这样的问题时，她感到有点困惑。设想物体、判断数字模式的能力如何使一个人能够回答难倒了一些最杰出的诗人和哲学家的问题，这一点并不明显。很明显，智力包含的不只是一次测试所得的分数。而聪明意味着什么？可以明确显示多少智力？我们能够从神经学、遗传学、计算机科学以及其他领域了解多少智力？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。智商测试主要表现为两种形式：斯坦福比奈智力量表和威斯勒智力量表（两种都有成人和儿童测试类型）。由于这些测试一般要花费几百美元，所以通常只有心理学家才进行这些测试，尽管这些测试的变种在书店和环球网上流行。得到像沃斯?萨文特这样的超高分数再也不可能了，因为现在的分数依据的是相同年龄者的统计学群体分布状况，而不是简单地通过实足年龄乘以100来划分智能年龄。其他标准测试，比如学术能力检测以及研究生入学考试，包含了智商测试的主要方面。罗博特?J?斯顿伯格认为，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？”这篇文章中，斯顿伯格指出，传统的测试最恰当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际知识，这些也是解决问题、在生活中取得成功的关键因素。而且，一旦人口或环境发生变化，智商测试就不一定预测得那么准确。研究发现，如果在低压力状况下进行智商测试，那么这种测试就可以预测领导才能，但是，在高压力状况下，智商测试所得的结果与领导才能的关系是否定的，也就是说，它预测的结果是相反的。任何经历过学术能力检测的人都会认为，应试能力也很重要，无论是知道何时应该进行推测还是知道应该忽略什么问题。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 realties. 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.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 theirs new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachuted 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.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-saving 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 assistance have jumped eightfold in just one generation.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.11. 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.12. As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may have A a higher sense of security.B less secured payments. C less chance to invest.D a guaranteed future.13. 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.14. 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.15. Which of the following is the best title for this text? A The Middle Class on the Alert B The Middle Class on the Cliff C The Middle Class in ConflictD The Middle Class in RuinsUnit 14（2007）Part3试题解析：11. 【正确答案】【C】【解析】细节题，题干中的“in that”表明本题是原因细节题。本题考查考生对文章第二段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“doubleincome”（文中用的是“twopaycheck”），出自文章第二段第三句话中。文章第二段首先提到了家庭经济状况的变化问题，指出，如今的家庭根据其新的双收入限度安排开支，这就使得它们失去了它们在经济萧条时期曾经有过的缓解举措如果家庭的主要挣钱者失业了或者病倒了，后备挣钱者可以出去工作，以便帮助家庭渡过难关，但现在不可能这样了。这说明，原因是家庭经济状况的变化更容易影响它们。C为正确选项。文中是说“以前可以维护失业保险或残疾保险提供的安全网”，但并没有说现在没有了安全网，所以A与文意不符；B和D属于无中生有。12. 【正确答案】【B】【解析】细节题，题干中的“As a result of.”表明本题是事实细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“President Bush”，出自文章第三段第三句话中。文章第三段首先提到，家庭被要求在其退休收入中承担更多风险，随后指出，在去年的大多数时间里，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，对于更年轻的家庭来说，前景并不是更乐观，卫生保健和家庭承担的份额的绝对成本都上涨了，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新投资风险。这说明，退休人员得可靠收入可能更少。B为正确选项。A和D与文意相反；C是误解了该段倒数第二句话中“a large new dose of investment risk for familiesfuture healthcare”这句话的意思。13. 【正确答案】【D】【解析】细节题，题干中的“According to the author”表明本题是观点细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“healthsavings plans”，出自文章第三段第五句话中。文章第三段提到健康储蓄计划时指出，最近实施的健康储蓄计划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛的员工，其可减免税高得多，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新投资风险。这说明，健康储蓄计划可能增加家庭的卫许多新投资风险。D为正确选项。A与文意相反；B和C属于无中生有。14. 【正确答案】【C】【解析】推论题，题干中的“can be inferred”表明本题是推论题。本题考查考生对文章最后一段内容的理解。文章最后一段指出，经济副作用已经开始，政治副作用可能也将开始。由此可知，经济问题可能导致政治问题的出现。C为正确选项。A和B是误解了文意；D属于无中生有。15. 【正确答案】【B】【解析】主旨题，题干中的“the best title for this text”表明本题是主旨题。本题考查考生对全文内容的理解。文章第一段指出，中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实改变了，如今，一个家庭可能在几个月之内从稳定的中产阶层家庭降格成一个新贫困家庭，随后的段落介绍了造成这种现状的原因。这说明，本文主要是介绍中产阶层面临穷困问题的现象。B为正确选项。本文并不是提请中产阶层注意什么问题，所以A不能表达本文的主题；本文并没有提到冲突问题，所以C不能表达本文的主题；D属于夸大其词。全文翻译：过去十几年里，美国那些曾经可以依靠辛勤劳动和公平条件维持其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、一个不利的诊断结果或者一个配偶去世都可能在几个月之内将一个家庭从稳定的中