考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记.doc

考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(二)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 has 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.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.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 savings 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 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.31.Todays double income families are at greater financial risk in thatA. the safety net they used to enjoy has disappearedB. their chances of being laid off have greatly increasedC. they are more vulnerable to changes in family economicsD. they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance32.As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may haveA. a higher sense of securityB. less secured paymentsC. less chance to investD. a guaranteed future33.According to the author, health savings plans willA. help reduce the cost of healthcareB. popularize among the middle classC. compensate for the reduced pensionsD. increase the families investment risk34.It can be inferred from the last paragraph thatA. financial risks tend to outweigh political risksB. the middle class may face greater political challengesC. financial problems may bring about political problemsD. financial responsibility is an indicator of political status35.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 Conflict.D. The Middle Class in Ruins.absolute 2 a.绝对的，完全的absorb 3 v.吸收；吸引，使专心account 22 n.账(目，户)；叙述，说明；价值，地位；v.(for)说明，解释；占；(take into)考虑；顾及airline 1 n.航线；航空公司alert 1 a.警惕的；机灵的assistance 2 n.帮助，援助attendant 1 n.服务员，值班员；护理人员author 69 n.作者；创始人auto 2 n.汽车being 9 n.生物，人；存在，生存budget 4 n.预算；v.做预算campaign 4 n.战役；运动；vi.从事活动challenge 10 n.挑战(书)；艰巨任务，难题；v.向.挑战cliff 1 n.悬崖，峭壁compensate 5 v.(for)补偿，赔偿conflict 3 n.战斗，斗争；抵触，冲突；v.(with)抵触，冲突critic 7 n.批评家，评论家debate 8 v./n.争论，辩论depend 16 v.(on)取决于，依靠，信赖，相信deprive 2 v.夺去，使丧失disappear 4 v.不见，消失dose 2 n.剂量，一服，一剂；v.(给.)服药economic 23 a.经济(上)的，经济学的economics 5 n.经济学；经济情况elderly 1 a.过了中年的，稍老的employee 7 n.雇工，雇员fair 9 a.公平的，合理的；相当的，尚好的；晴朗的；金发的；n.集市，交易会，博览会fashionable 2 a.流行的，时髦的fell 1 v.砍倒，砍伐financial 11 a.财政的，金融的guarantee 5 n.保证，保证书；v.保证，担保harsh 3 a.粗糙的，刺耳的；残酷的，严厉的implication 6 n.含意，暗示infer 21 v.推论，推断insurance 6 n.保险，保险费，保险业invest 4 v.投资investment 11 n.投资，投资额model 8 n.样式，型；模范，典型；模型；原型，模特；v.(on, after)模仿，构造odds 1 n.不平等，差异；机会opportunity 11 n.机会parachute 1 n.降落伞；v.跳伞paragraph 66 n.段，节；小新闻，短评partner 3 n.合作者，合伙人；伙伴，舞伴payment 5 n.支付，付款额pension 2 n.养老金，年金perspective 3 n.视角；透视法；(in)正确地physical 7 a.物质的，有形的；肉体的，身体的；自然科学的，物理的primary 7 a.最初的，初级的；首要的，主要的，基本的rate 31 n.比率，率；等级；价格，费用；v.估价；评级，评价reality 10 n.现实，实际；真实reform 8 v./n.改革，改造，改良responsibility 7 n.责任，责任心；职责，任务result 37 n.结果，成果，成绩；v.(in)导致，结果是；(from)起因于，因.而造成retire 2 v.退休，引退；退却，撤退；就寝risk 14 v.冒.的危险；n.风险，危险saving 3 n.储蓄；pl.储蓄金，存款scholar 5 n.学者secure 4 a.(from, against)安全的，可靠的，放心的；v.得到，获得；防护，保卫security 8 n.安全sense 16 n.感官，官能；感觉；判断力；见识；意义，意思；v.感觉到，意识到setback 3 n.退步，后退shift 12 v.替换，转移；移动；n.转换，转变；(轮)班，(换)班shoulder 2 n.肩，肩部；v.肩负，承担slip 3 v.滑，滑倒；滑落，滑掉；溜走；n.疏忽，小错，口误，笔误social 38 a.社会的；社交的，交际的；n.社交活动spouse 1 n.配偶(指夫或妻)保证人，主办人；vt.发起，主办；v.赞助status 5 n.地位，身份；情形，状况stock 9 n.备料，库存，现货；股票，公债；无生命之物；群，家庭，家系；v.储存stripe 1 n.条纹tend 26 v.趋向，往往是；照料，看护title 6 n.书名，标题；头衔，称号transform 5 v.改变，变换；变压；转化；改造unemployment 4 n.失业，失业人数vulnerable 3 a.易受攻击的，易受.的攻击acceleration 2 n.加速度according 47 ad.依照，根据deductible 1 a.可扣除的demographic 1 a.人口统计学的diagnosis 1 n.诊断disability 2 n.无能力，无资格disruption 1 n.中断，分裂，瓦解，破坏eightfold 1 a.八倍的，八层的；ad.八倍地，八层地fallout 1 n.降落，滑落financially 2 ad.财政上，金融上fluctuation 1 n.波动，起伏healthcare 2 n.卫生保健indicator 4 n.指示器legislative 2 a.立法的，立法机关的；n.立法机关outlive 2 vt.比.长寿outweigh 1 v.超过overburden 1 vt.不堪重负paycheck 1 n.薪水policymaker 1 n.决策人popularize 1 v.普及solidly 1 ad.坚硬地，稳固地steelworker 1 n.钢铁工人understandably 1 ad.可理解地wholesale 1 n.批发，趸售；a.批发的，(喻)大规模的难句1During the past generation, the American middle class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities.语法分析本句主干结构为：the American middleclass family. has been transformed by., family后面是一个定语从句修饰family;本句难点整句较长,主要是其中定语从句比较复杂;方法对策首先找出主句的主干,然后再分析从句结构,就可以把握本句了;例句精译在过去一代人中，美国中产阶级家庭已经被经济危机和新的现实所改变。过去他们曾经还能指望依靠艰苦工作和公平竞争来使自己在经济生活中获得安全保障。难句2As 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.语法分析本句主干为:. they have lost the parachute.,其后是一个定语从句,破折号后面是一个同位语从句,其中又包含一个定语从句;本句难点句子结构比较复杂,需要仔细分析;方法对策首先分析出主句的主干,然后再依次分析其他从句,本句就不再难了;例句精译其结果是，他们失去一个他们过去在财政困难时可以依赖的保险伞 - 或者说是一个后备的挣钱者(通常指妻子)：因为她可以出来参加工作，如果主要的挣钱者下了岗或生了病。难句3Steelworkers, 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.语法分析本句的主干结构为：Steelworks,. are joining millions of families., families后面是一个who引导的定语从句。定语从句中，主语是who,谓语是worry about,宾语是三个并列短语，其后是that引导的定语从句修饰the harsh reality。本句难点从句中结构稍复杂;方法对策只要抓住句子主干就可以掌握大意,然后再分析其他成分即可;例句精译钢铁工人、空勤人员以及汽车工业的工作者都与数百万家庭一样，他们都在担心着银行的存款利息变化、股票市场的波动、以及他们的退休金可能不够使用这一残酷现实。难句4Both 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.语法分析本句是由第二个and连接的两个并列句组成，句首的both和第一个and形成的both. and.结构是第一个分句的主干；第二个and后是第二个分句，包含：spread from. to.结构，其后with引导的成分说明newly fashionable healthsavings plans的内容；本句难点整句比较长,且有两个and容易让考生迷惑;方法对策首先抓住第二个and这个连接词,明白这是两个并列分句,然后确定两个分句各自的主干,即可理解本句内容。例句精译医疗保健费用的绝对数目和各个家庭所分担的数目也都在上升，而一种新近流行起来的医疗费用节约计划也正在从上层立法大厅到底层沃尔玛的工人之间广泛铺开，这对千家万户未来的医疗保健意味着更大的风险。难句5From 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.语法分析本句的主干结构是：. much of this looks. like. an opportunity. and. a frightening acceleration.;本句难点整句比较长,句子结构复杂;方法对策通读全句,抓住主句主干,然后再分析其他成分;例句精译从中产阶级家庭的角度出发，可以理解的是，这与其说是一个承担更多经济责任的机会，倒还不如说更像把经济危险的整个转变以惊人的速度加在他们早已不堪重负的双肩上。31.答案C解析本文提到了美国中产阶级家庭，因国家经济衰落而要面临的巨大风险。本题目问：今日这种夫妻双收入家庭会面临更大的财务风险是因为什么原因？我们从前两段中可以看出：由于经济原因现在的夫妻双方都要出去找工作。这样，原来妻子在家里操持家务，同时万一丈夫生了病或者失业了也可以出去找工作以帮助家庭渡过难关的这把保险伞就没有了。所以选C。32.答案B解析众所周知，钱存在银行比较保险可以稳定拿利息，但是把钱投入股市或者用于创业风险要大很多，但一旦获益也比存银行要强很多。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 - 要求退休人员将其大多数或全部有保障的收入变成必须依靠投资收益的收入。对于略为年轻的家庭来说，情况也好不到哪去。医疗的绝对费用和家庭必须承担的份额都在上升。这说明，退休人员的可靠收入可能更少。因此B.为正确选项。33.答案D解析本题仍应从第三段中找，因为34题问从末段中可以看出：？因此，本题应在末段前的这一段内，本段提到了：healthsaving plan are. of investment risk for families future healthcare.据此，我们判断可以选D。选项A、C原文均未提及。至于B (医疗费用节约计划将在)中产阶级中间得以推广与原文不符。原文谈到：医疗费用节约计划正在从上层立法院大厅到底层沃尔玛超市的员工之间广泛的铺开。34.答案C解析本题问从末段可以看出什么？我们仅从末段末句的总结中可看出作者想说的是：(美国)经济滑落已经开始了，那政治上的跌落可能不是很远了吧。35.答案B解析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。因此选择B.项。在过去一代人中，美国中产阶级家庭已经被经济危机和新的现实所改变。过去他们曾经还能指望依靠艰苦工作和公平竞争来使自己在经济生活中获得安全保障。如今，一份解雇通知书，一个错误的判断或失去配偶都有可能在几个月之内使他们从稳固的中产阶级滑向新生的贫民阶层。就在他们这代人中，成百万的女性参加了工作，改变了基本家庭经济结构。各种各样的学者们、政客们和批评家们还在辩论这件事的社会含义。但很少有人看待它的副作用：家庭的风险也随之上升。今日的家庭已经把两份收入这种预算状况推到了极致，毫无保留余地。其结果是，他们失去一个他们过去在财政困难时所可以依赖的保险伞 - 或者说是一个后备的挣钱者(通常指妻子)：因为她可以出来参加工作，如果主要的挣钱者下了岗或生了病。这种后备人员效应可以支援家庭安全网，再加上失业保险或残疾保险使家庭得以渡过难关。但是，今天一旦家中有了不测，再也无法从本应待在家中的那位后备者可以挣得的额外收入中得到补充。与此同时，家庭现在要承担退休收入方面的更多的风险。钢铁工人、空勤人员以及汽车工业的工作者等也加入了成百万的家庭，他们都在担心着银行的存款利息变化、股票市场的波动、以及他们的退休金可能不够使用这一残酷现实。去年，布什总统发起一场运动把人们固定的社保基金转为银行存款这种类型，由此，退休者们正在把他们有保障的收入变成取决于投资回报的钱财类型。对于年轻人组成的家庭来说，情况也好不到哪里去。医疗保健费用的绝对数目和各个家庭所分担的数目也都在上升，而一种新近流行起来的医疗费用节约计划也正在从上层立法大厅到底层沃尔玛的工人之间广泛铺开，这对千家万户未来的医疗保健意味着更大的风险。甚至人口学也正在对中产阶级家庭造成不利影响。家中有一个衰弱的老年父母，医疗看护费用在过去一代人的时间内上涨了八倍。从中产阶级家庭的角度出发，可以理解的是，这与其说是一个承担更多经济责任的机会，倒还不如说更像把经济危险的整个转变以吓人的速度加在他们早已过于不堪重负的双肩上。经济滑落己经开始了，政治上的跌落可能也不会很远了吧。31今日这种夫妻双份收入家庭会面临更大的财务风险是因为：A.他们所曾经享有的那种安全网应经不复存在了。B.他们两人下岗的机会增大了。C.他们对家庭经济转变的抵抗力变得更加脆弱了。D.他们被剥夺了失业保险或残疾保险。32作为布什总统改革的结果，退休人员可能有A.更高的安全感。B.更没有保障的收入。C.更少的投资机会。D.一个更加得到保障的未来。33按照作者看法，医疗费用节约计划将A.有助于减少医疗开支的费用。B.在中产阶级中间得以推广。C.对减少的退休金是一个补偿。D.增加了家庭的投资风险。34从末段中可推论出：A.财经风险可能超过政治风险。B.中产阶级可能面临更大的政治挑战。C.财经问题可能带来政治问题。D.财经责任是一个人的政治地位标志。35下列哪个是本文最佳的标题：A.警觉的中产阶级B.处于悬崖的中产阶级C.冲突中的中产阶级D.毁掉了的中产阶级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 business of every variety.Several massive leakages of customer and employee data this year-from organizations as diverse as Time Warner, the American defense contractor Science Applications International Corp and even the University of California, Berkeley-have left managers hurriedly peering into their intricate IT systems and business processes in search of potential vulnerabilities.Data is becoming an asset which needs to be guarded as much as any other asset,says Haim Mendelson of Stanford Universitys business school.The ability to guard customer data is the key to market value, which the board is responsible for on behalf of shareholders. Indeed, just as there is the concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), perhaps it is time for GASP, Generally Accepted Security Practices, suggested Eli Noam of New Yorks Columbia Business School.Setting the proper investment level for security, redundancy, and recovery is a management issue, not a technical one, he says.The mystery is that this should come as a surprise to any boss. Surely it should be obvious to the dimmest executive that trust, that most valuable of economic assets, is easily destroyed and hugely expensive to restore-and that few things are more likely to destroy trust than a company letting sensitive personal data get into the wrong hands.The current state of affairs may have been encouraged-though not justified-by the lack of legal penalty (in America, but not Europe) for data leakage. Until California recently passed a law, American firms did not have to tell anyone, even the victim, when data went astray. That may change fast: lots of proposed data security legislation is now doing the rounds in Washington, D. C. Meanwhile, the theft of information about some 40 million credit card accounts in America, disclosed on June 17 th, overshadowed a hugely important decision a day earlier by Americas Federal Trade Commission (FTC. that puts corporate America on notice that regulators will act if firms fail to provide adequate data security.36.The statement: It never rains but it pours is used to introduceA. the fierce business competitionB. the feeble boss board relationsC. the threat from news reportsD. the severity of data leakage37.According to Paragraph 2, some organizations check their systems to find outA. whether there is any weak pointB. what sort of data has been stolenC. who is responsible for the leakageD. how the potential spies can be located38.In bringing up the concept of GASP the author is making the point thatA. shareholders interest should be properly attended toB. information protection should be given due attentionC. businesses should enhance their level of accounting securityD. the market value of customer data should be emphasized39.According to Paragraph 4, what puzzles the author is that some bosses fail toA. see the link between trust and data protectionB. perceive the sensitivity of personal dataC. realize the high cost of data restorationD. appreciate the economic value of trust40.It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 thatA. data leakage is more severe in EuropeB. FTCs decision is essential to data security.C. California takes the lead in security legislation.D. legal penalty is a major solution to data leakage ability 15 n.能力，智能；才能，才干account 22 n.账(目，户)；叙述，说明；价值，地位；v.(for)说明，解释；占；(take into)考虑；顾及act 11 v.行动，做事；(on)起作用；表演；(for)代表，代替；n.行为，动作；(一)幕；法令，条例adequate 3 a.足够的，充分的，恰当的affair 2 n.事，事情，事件agenda 2 n.议事日程application 4 n.请求，申请(书，表)；应用，运用；施用，敷用appreciate 3 v.感谢，感激；正确评价，欣赏，赏识asset 2 n.资产，有用的东西attend 5 v.出席，参加；(to)照顾，护理；关注，注意attention 14 n.注意(力)，留心；立正author 69 n.作者；创始人behalf 5 n.利益，支持，好处board 5 n.板，纸板；全体委员，委员会，部门；伙食；船舷；v.上船(车，飞机)business 36 n.商业，生意；事务，业务，职责；企业；贸易量；行业，业务commission 4 n.委员会；委任，委托(书)，代办；佣金，手续费competition 16 n.比赛；竞争concept 15 n.概念，观念，思想concern 20 v.涉及，关系到；(常与with, about, in连用)关心，挂念；担心，担忧；n.(利害)关系；关心，挂念；担心，担忧corporation 10 n.公司，企业，团体current 7 n.电流，水流，气流；潮流，趋势；a.当前的，现在的；通用的，流行的，最近的data 22 n.(datum的复数)资料，数据dim 1 a.暗淡的，模糊的disclose 2 v.揭示，泄露diverse 3 a.多种多样的，(from)不同的economic 23 a.经济(上)的，经济学的emphasize 6 v.强调employee 7 n.雇工，雇员encourage 13 v.鼓励，怂恿enhance 7 v.提高，增强essential 11 a.(to)必要的，必不可少的；本质的，基本的；n.本质，要点；必需品executive 6 n.总经理，董事，行政负责人；a.执行的，实施的federal 14 a.联邦的feeble 1 a.虚弱的，无力的fierce 3 a.凶猛的，残忍的；激烈的，强烈的firm 14 a.坚固的，稳固的；坚决的，坚定的；n.公司，商号gasp 1 n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁地说headline 3 n.大字标题infer 21 v.推论，推断information 44 n.通知，报告；情报，信息intricate 1 a.错综复杂的，复杂精细的investment 11 n.投资，投资额issue 18 v.流出，放出；发行，发表，颁布；n.发行(物)，(报刊)期号；问题，争论点，争端justify 8 v.证明.是正当的，为.辩护lead 21 v.领导，引导；领先，占首位；(to)通向，导致，引起；经验，过(生活)；n.带领，引导；n.铅legal 11 a.法律的，法定的；合法的，正当的legislation 4 n.立法；法规link 9 v.连接，联系；n.环节，链环locate 3 v.查找；使.坐落于，位于major 11 a.(较)大的，(较)重要的；n.专业，主修科目；专业学生；少校；v.(in)主修，专攻management 11 n.经营，管理；管理部门massive 3 a.巨大的；大规模的；严重的mystery 2 n.神秘，神秘的事物；神秘小说，侦探小说nasty 2 a.肮脏的，卑劣的，下流的；令人厌恶的obvious 13 a.明显的，显而易见的odd 5 a.奇数的，单的；奇怪的，古怪的；单只的，不成对的；临时的，不固定的；带零头的，余的organization 6 n.组织体制；团体，机构paragraph 66 n.段，节；小新闻，短评peer 2 n.同等的人，贵族；vi.凝视，窥视；vt.与.同等，封为贵族penalty 2 n.处罚，惩罚perceive 5 v.察觉，感知；理解，领悟potential 13 a.潜在的，可能的；势的，位的；n.潜能，潜力principle 7 n.原理，原则；主义，信念；(行动的)规则，准则process 34 n.过程，进程；工序，制作法；工艺；v.加工，处理propose 4 v.提议，建议；提名，推荐；求婚puzzle 4 n.难题，谜，迷惑；v.(使)迷惑，(使)为难recovery 4 n.痊愈，复元；(经济)复苏responsible 11 a.(for, to)应负责的，有责任的；可靠的，可信赖的；责任重大的，重要的restore 3 v.恢复，使回复；归还，交还；修复，重建school 44 n.学校；(大学里的)学院，系；学派，流派science 58 n.科学；学科security 8 n.安全sensitive 7 a.(to)敏感的，易受伤害的；灵敏的setting 6 n.安置，安装；落山；(固定东西的)柜架底座；环境，背景severe 3 a.严厉的，严格的；剧烈的，严重的，严峻的，艰难的solution 4 n.解答，解决办法；溶解，溶液spy 6 n.间谍；v.当间谍，刺探；察觉，发现staff 5 n.全体职工，全体人员；杠，棒；参谋部；v.配备工作人员statement 7 n.声明，陈述suite 1 n.(一批)随员，(一套)家具，套房system 31 n.系统，体系；制度，体制theft 1 n.偷窃，失窃threat 9 n.恐吓，威胁；坏兆头，危险迹象threaten 8 v.恐吓，威胁；有.危险，快