2013考研英语二基础阅读理解讲义附答案

PassageSustainabledevelopmentisappliedtojustabouteverythingfromenergytocleanwaterandeconomicgrowth,andasaresultithas edifficulttoquestioneitherthebasicassumptionsbehinditorthewaytheconceptisputtouse.Thisisespeciallytrueinagriculture,wheresustainabledevelopmentisoftentakenasthesolemeasureofprogresswithoutaproperappreciationofhistoricalandculturals.Tostartwith,itisimportanttorememberthatthenatureofagriculturehaschangedmarkedlythroughouthistory,andwillcontinuetodoso.MedievalagricultureinnorthernEuropefed,clothedandshelteredapredominantlyruralsocietywithamuchlowerpopulationdensitythanitistoday.Ithadminimaleffectonbiodiversity,andanypollutionitcausedwastypicallylocalized.IntermsofenergyuseandthenutrientscapturedintheproductitwasrelativelyContrastthiswithfarmingsincethestartoftheindustrialCompetitionfromoverseasledfarmerstospecializeandincreaseyields.Throughoutthisperiodfoodbecamecheaper,safeandmorereliable.However,thesechangeshavealsoledtohabitatlossandtodiminishingbiodiversity.What’smore,demandforanimalproductsindevelocountriesisgrowingsofastthatmeetingitwillrequireanextra300milliontonsofgrainayearby2050.Yetthegrowthofcitiesandindustryisreducingtheamountofwateravailableforagricultureinmanyregions.Allthismeansthatagricultureinthe21stcenturywillhavetobeverydifferentfromhowitwasinthe20th.thiswillrequireradicalthinking.Forexample,weneedtomoveawayfromtheideathattraditionalpracticesareinevitablymoresustainablethannewones.Wealsoneedtoabandonthenotionthatagriculturecanbe“zeroimpact”.Thekeywillbetoabandontherathersimpleandstaticmeasuresofsustainability,whichcentreontheneedtomaintainproductionwithoutincreasingdamage.Insteadweneedamoredynamicinterpretationonethatlooksattheprosandcons（正反两方面）ofallthevariouswaylandisused.Therearemanydifferentwaystomeasureagriculturalperformancebesidesfoodyield:energyuse,environmentalcosts,waterpurity,carbonfootprintandbiodiversity.Itisclear,forexample,thatthecarbonoftransportingtomatoesfromSpaintotheUKislessthanthatofproducingthemintheUKwithadditionalheatingandlighting.ButwedonotknowwhetherlowercarbonfootprintswillalwaysbebetterforWhatiscrucialisrecognizingthatsustainableagricultureisnotjustaboutsustainablefoodproduction.HowdopeopleoftenmeasureprogressinByits C)ByitsimpactontheByits D)ByitscontributiontoeconomicSpecialisationandtheefforttoincreaseyieldshaveresulted Localised C)competitionfromtheshrinkingof D)thedecreaseofWhatwillagriculturebelikeinthe21stItwillgothroughradicalItwillsupplymoreanimalItwillabandontraditionalfarmingItwillcausezerodamagetotheWhatdoestheauthorthinkoftraditionalfarmingTheyhaveremainedthesameovertheTheyhavenotkeptpacewithpopulationTheyarenotnecessarilyTheyareenvironmentallyWhatistheauthor’spurposeinwritingthisToremindpeopleoftheneedofsustainableTosuggestwaysofensuringsustainablefoodToadvancenewcriteriaformeasuringfarmingTourgepeopletorethinkwhatsustainableagriculturePassageThepercentageofimmigrants(includingthoseunlawfullypresent)intheUnitedStateshasbeencreeupwardforyears.At12.6percent,itisnowhigherthanatanypointsincethemid1920s.WearenotabouttogobacktothedayswhenCongressopenlyworriedaboutinferiorracespollutingAmerica’sbloodstream.Butonceagainwearewonderingwhetherwehavetoomanyofthewrongsort ers.Theirloudestcriticsarguethatthenewwaveofimmigrantscannot,andindeeddonotwantto,fitinaspreviousgenerationsdid.Wenowknowthattheseracistviewswerewrong.Intime,Italians,Romaniansandmembersofotherso-calledinferiorracesbecameexemryAmericansandcontributedgreatly,inwaystoonumeroustodetail,tothebuildingofthismagnificentnation.Thereisnoreasonwhythesenewimmigrantsshouldnothavethesamesuccess.AlthoughchildrenofMexicanimmigrantsdobetter,intermsofeducationalandprofessionalattainment,thantheirparents,UCLAsociologistEdward hasfoundthatthegainsdon’tcontinue.Indeed,the generationismarginallyworseoffthanthethird.JamesJackson,oftheUniversityofMichigan,hasfoundasimilartrendamongblackCaribbeanimmigrants, lsfearsthatMexican-AmericansmaybefatedtofollowinthefootstepsofAmericanblacks—thatlargepartsofthecommunitymay emired（陷入）inaseeminglypermanentstateofpovertyandunderachievement.LikeAfrican-Americans,Mexican-Americansareincreasinglyrelegatedto降入segregatedsubstandardschoolsandtheirdropoutrateisthehighestforanyethnicgroupinthecountry.Wehavelearnedmuchaboutthefoolishideaofexcludingpeopleonthepresumptionoftheethnic/racialinferiority.ButwhatwehavenotyetlearnedishowtomaketheprocessofAmericanizationworkforall.IamnottalkingaboutrequiringpeopletolearnEnglishortoadoptAmericanways;thosethingshappenprettymuchontheirown.Butasargumentsaboutimmigrationheatupthentrail,wealsooughttoasksomebroaderquestionaboutassimilation,abouthowtoensurethatpeople,onceoutsiders,don’tforeverremainmarginalizedwithintheseshores.Thatisamuchlargerquestionthanwhatshouldhappen edworkers,orhowbesttosecuretheborder,anditisonethataffectsnotonly ersbutgroupsthathavebeenhereforgenerations.Itwillhavemoreimpactonourfuturethanwherewedecidetosettheadmissionsbarforthelatestwaveofwould-beAmericans.Anditwouldbeniceifwefinallygottheanswerright.HowwereimmigrantsviewedbyU.S.CongressinearlyTheywereofinferiorTheywereaSourceofpoliticalTheywereathreattothenation’sTheywerepartofthenation’sWhatdoestheauthorthinkofthenewTheywillbeadynamic intheTheycandojustaswellastheirTheywillbeverydisappointedonthenewTheymayfindithardtofitintotheWhatdoes les’researchsayaboutMexican-TheymayslowlyimprovefromgenerationtoTheywilldobetterintermsofeducationalTheywillmeltintotheAfrican-AmericanTheymayforeverremainpoorandWhatshouldbedonetohelpthenewRidthemoftheirinferiorityUrgethemtoadoptAmericanPreventthemfrombeingTeachthemstandardAmericanAccordingtotheauthor,theburningissueconcerningimmigrationis_.HowtodealwithpeopleenteringtheU.S. HowtohelpimmigrantstobetterfitintoAmericanHowtostopillegalimmigrantsfromcrossingtheHowtolimitthenumberofimmigrantstoenterthePassageBillGates,thebillionairechairmanwithoutasingleearneduniversitydegree,isbyhissuccessraisingnewdoubtsabouttheworthofthebusinessworld‟sfavoriteacademictitle:theMBA(MasterofBusinessAdministration).TheMBA,a20th-centuryproduct,alwayshasbornethemarkoflowlycommerceandgreedonthetree-linedcampusesruledbypurerdisciplinessuchasphilosophyandliture.Butevenwiththerecessionapparentlycuttingintothehiringofbusinessschoolgraduates,about79,000peopleareexpectedtoreceiveMBAsin1993.Thisisnearly16timesthenumberofbusinessgraduatesin1960,atestimonytothewidespreadassumptionthattheMBAisvitalforyoungmenandwomenwhowanttoruncompaniessomeday.“Ifyouaregoingintothecorporateworlditisstilladisadvantagenottohaveone,”saidDonaldMorrison,professorofmarketingandmanagementscience.“Butinthelastfiveyearsorso,whensomeonesays,„ShouldIattempttogetanMBA,‟theansweralotmoreis:Itdepends.”ThesuccessofBillGatesandothernon-MBAs,suchasthelateSamWaltonofWal-MartStoresInc.,hashelpedinspireself-consciousdebatesonbusinessschoolcampusesovertheworthofabusinessdegreeandwhethermanagementskillscanbeTheHarvardBusinessReviewprintedalively,fictionalexchangeofletterstodramatizecomintsaboutbusinessdegreeholders.ThearticlecalledMBAhires“extremelydisappointing”andsaid“MBAswanttomoveuptoofast,theydon‟tunderstandpoliticsandpeople,andtheyaren‟tabletofunctionaspartofateamuntiltheirthirdyear.Butbythen,they‟reoutlookingforotherjobs.”Theproblem,mostparticipantsinthedebateacknowledge,isthattheMBAhasacquiredanaura(光环)offuturerichesandpowerfarbeyonditsactualimportanceandusefulness.Enrollmentinbusinessschoolsexplodedinthe1970sand1980sandcreatedtheassumptionthatnoonewhopursuedabusinesscareercoulddowithoutone.Thegrowthwasfueledbyabacklash(反冲)againsttheanti-businessvaluesofthe1960sandbythewomen‟smovement.BusinesspeoplewhohavehiredorworkedwithMBAssaythosewiththedegreesoftenknowhowtoyzesystemsbutarenotsoskillfulatmotivatingpeople.“Theydon‟tgetalotofgroundinginthepeoplesideofthebusiness”,saidJamesShaffer,vice-andprincipaloftheTowersPerrinmanagementconsultingfirm.AccordingtoParagraph2,whatisthegeneralattitudetowardsbusinessoncampusesdominatedbypurerdisciplines?ItseemsthatthecontroversyoverthevalueofMBAdegreeshadbeenfueledmainlyby thecomintsfromvariousthesuccessofmanynon-thecriticismfromthescientistsofpurerthepoorperformanceofMBAsatWhatisthemajorweaknessofMBAholdersaccordingtotheHarvardBusinessTheyareusuallyself-TheyareaggressiveandTheykeepcominingabouttheirTheyarenotgoodatdealingwithFromthepassageweknowthatmost canclimbthecorporateladderfairlyquittheirjobsoncetheyarefamiliarwiththeirreceivesalariesthatdonotmatchtheirprofessionalcherishunrealisticexpectationsabouttheirWhatisthepassagemainlyWhythereisanincreasedenrollmentinMBAThenecessityofreformingMBAprogramsinbusinessDoubtsabouttheworthofholdinganMBAAdebateheldrecentlyonuniversityPassageGermanChancellor(首相)OttoVonBismarckmaybemostfamousforhismilitaryanddiplomatictalent,buthislegacy(遗产)includesmanyoftoday‟ssocialinsuranceprograms.Duringthemiddleofthe19thcentury,Germany,alongwithotherEuropeannations,experiencedanunprecedentedrashofworkcedeathsandaccidentsasaresultofgrowingindustrialization.MotivatedinpartbyChristiancompassion(怜悯)forthehelplessaswellasapracticalpoliticalimpulsetoundercutthesupportofthesocialistlabormovement,ChancellorBismarckcreatedtheworld‟sfirstworkers‟compensationlawin1884.By1908,theUnitedStateswastheonlyindustrialnationintheworldthatlackedworkers‟compensationinsurance.America‟sinjuredworkerscouldsuefordamagesinacourtoflaw,buttheystillfacedanumberoftoughlegalbarriers.Forexample,employeeshadtoprovethattheirinjuriesdirectlyresultedfromemployernegligenceandthattheythemselveswereignorantaboutpotentialhazardsintheworkce.Thefirststateworkers‟compensationlawinthiscountrypassedin1911,andtheprogramsoonspreadthroughoutthenation.AfterWorldWarII,benefitpaymentstoAmericanworkersdidnotkeepupwiththecostofliving.Infact,realbenefitlevelswerelowerinthe1970sthantheywereinthe1940s,andinmoststatestheumbenefitwasbelowthepovertylevelforafamilyoffour.In1970,RichardNixonsetupanationalcommissiontostudytheproblemsofworkers‟compensation.Twoyearslater,thecommissionissued19key mendations,includingonethatcalledforincreasingcompensationbenefitlevelsto100percentofthestates‟averageweeklywages.Infact,theaveragecompensationbenefitinAmericahasclimbedfrom55percentofthestates‟averageweeklywagesin1972to97percenttoday.But,asmoststudiesshow,every10percentincreaseincompensationbenefitsresultsina5percentincreaseinthenumbersofworkerswhofileforclaims.Andwithsomuchmoremoneyfloatingintheworkers‟compensationsystem,it‟snotsurprisingthatdoctorsandlawyershavehelpedthemselvestoalargesliceofthegrowingpie.Welearnfromthepassagethattheprocessofindustrializationin. paniedbyanincreasednumberofworkshopresultedinthedevelopmentofpopularsocialinsurancerequiredworkerstobeawareofthepotentialdangersattheworkmetgrowingfromlaborersworkingatTheworld‟sfirstworkers‟compensationlawwasintroducedby.tomakeindustrialproductiontospeedupthepaceofoutofreligiousandpoliticalforfearoflosingthesupportofthesocialistlaborOneoftheproblemstheAmericaninjuredworkersfacedingettingcompensationintheearly19thcenturywasthat theyhadtohavethecouragetosuefordamagesinacourtofdifferentstatesintheU.S.hadtotallydifferentcompensationAmerica‟saveragecompensationbenefitwasmuchlowerthanthecostoftheyhadtoproduceevidencethattheiremployerswereresponsiblefortheAfter1972workers‟compensationinsuranceintheU.S.becamemorefavorabletoworkerssothat thepovertylevelforafamilyoffourwentuptherewerefewerlegalbarrierswhentheyfiledforthenumberofworkerssuingfordamagesmoremoneywasallocatedtotheircompensationTheauthorendsthepassagewiththeimplication compensationbenefitsinAmericaaresoaringtonewtheworkersarenottheonlyonestobenefitfromthecompensationpeoplefromallwalksoflifecanbenefitfromthecompensationmoneyfloatinginthecompensationsystemisahugedrainontheU.S.PassageYouheartherefrainallthetimetheU.S.economylooksgoodstatistically,butitdoesn’tfeelgoodWhydoesn’tever-greaterwealthpromoteever-greaterhappiness?Itisaquestionthatdatesatleasttotheappearancein1958ofTheAffluent(富裕的)SocietybyJohnKennethGalbraith,whodiedrecentlyat97.TheAffluentSocietyisamodernclassicbecauseithelpeddefineanewmomentinthehumancondition.Formostofhistory,“hunger,sickness,andcold”threatenednearlyeveryone,Galbraithwrote.“Povertywasfoundeverywhereinthatworld.Obviouslyitisnotofours.”AfterWorldWarII,thedreadofanotherGreatDepressiongavewaytoaneconomicboom.Inthe1930sunemploymenthadaveraged18.2percent;inthe1950sitwas4.5percent.ToGalbraith,materialismhadgonemadandwouldbreedThroughadvertising,companiesconditionedconsumerstobuythingstheydidn’treallywantorneed.Becausesomuchspendingwasartificial,itwouldbeunfulfilling.Meanwhile, ernmentspendingthatwouldmakeeveryonebetteroffwasbeingcutdownbecausepeopleinstinctively—andwrongly—labeledernmentonlyas“anecessaryIt’softensaidthatonlythericharegettingahead;everyoneelsestandingstillorfallingbehind.Well,therearemanyundeservingrich—chiefexecutives,forinstance.Butoveranymeaningfulperiod,mostesareincreasing.From1995to2004,inflation-adjustedaverageerose14.3percent,to$43,200.Peoplefeel“squeezed”becausetheiresoftendon’tsatisfytheirrisingwants—forbiggerhomes,morehealthcare,moreeducation,fasterInternetconnections.Theothergreatfrustrationisthatithasnoteliminatedinsecurity.Peopleregardjobstabilityaspartoftheirstandardofliving.Ascorporatelayoffsincreased,thatparthaseroded.Moreworkersfearthey’ve e“thedisposableAmerican,”asLouisUchi leputsitinhisbookbythesamename.Becausesomuchprevioussufferingandsocial stemmedfrompoverty,thearrivalofwidespreadaffluencesuggestedutopian(式的)possibilities.Uptoapoint,affluencesucceeds.Thereismuchlessphysicalmiserythanbefore.Peoplearebetteroff.Unfortuna y,affluencealsocreatesnewcomintsandAdvancedsocietiesneedeconomicgrowthtosatisfythemultiplyingwantsoftheircitizens.Butthequestforgrowthletsloosenewanxietiesandeconomicsthatdisturbthesocialorder.Affluenceliberatestheindividual,promisingthateveryonecanchooseauniquewaytoself-fulfillment.Butthepromiseissoextravagantthatitpredestinesmanydisappointmentsandsometimesinspireschoicesthathaveanti-socialconsequences,includingfamilybreakdownandobesity(肥胖症).Statisticalindicatorsofhappinesshavenotrisenwith Shouldwebesurprised?Notreally.We’vesimplyreaffirmedanoldtruth:thepursuitofaffluencedoesnotalwaysendwithhappiness.WhatquestiondoesJohnKennethGalbraithraiseinhisbookTheAffluentWhystatistics lthetruthabouttheWhyaffluencedoesn’tguaranteeHowhappinesscanbepromotedWhatliesbehindaneconomicAccordingtoGalbraith,peoplefeeldiscontented publicspendinghasn’tbeencutdownas ernmenthasprovedtobeanecessarytheyareinfearofanotherGreatmaterialismhasrunwildinmodernWhydopeoplefeelsqueezedwhentheir erisesTheirmaterialpursuitshavegonefaraheadoftheirTheirpurchasingpowerhasdroppedmarkedlywithThedistributionofwealthisunevenbetweentherichandtheHealthcareandeducationalcosthavesomehowgoneoutofWhatdoesLouisUchi lemeanby“thedisposableAmerican”(Line3,Para.ThosewhoseejobstabilityaspartoftheirlivingPeoplefullofutopianideasresultingfromPeoplewhohavelittlesayinAmericanWorkerswhonolongerhavesecureWhathasaffluencebroughttoAmericanRenewedeconomicAsenseofself- sandcomMiseryandanti-socialPassageEarlyintheageofaffluencethatfollowedWorldWarII,anAmericanretailingystnamedVictorLebowproclaimed,“Ourenormouslyproductiveeconomy...demandsthatwemakeconsumptionourwayoflife,thatweconvertthebuyinganduseofgoodsintorituals,thatweweekourspiritualsatisfaction,ouregosatisfaction,inconsumption.Weneedthingsconsumed,burnedup,wornout,receddiscardedataneverincreasingAmericanshaverespondedtoLebow‟scall,andmuchoftheworldhasConsumptionhas eacentralpillaroflifeinindustriallandsandisevenembeddedinsocialvalues.Opinionsurveysintheworld‟stwolargesteconomies—JapanandtheUnitedStates—showconsumeristdefinitionsofingeverOverconsumptionbytheworld‟sfortunateisanenvironmentalproblemunmatchedinseveritybyanythingbutperhapspopulationgrowth.Theirsurgingexploitationofresourcesthreatenstoexhaustorunalblyspoils,soils,water,airandclimate.Ironically,highconsumptionmaybeamixedblessinginhumanterms,too.Thetime-honoredvaluesofintegrityofcharacter,goodwork,friendship,familyandcommunityhaveoftenbeensacrificedintherushtoriches.Thusmanyintheindustriallandshaveasensethattheirworldofplentyissomehowhollow—that,misledbyaconsumeristculture,theyhavebeenfruitlesslyattemptingtosatisfywhatareessentiallysocial,psychologicalandspiritualneedswithmaterialthings.Ofcourse,theoppositeofover-consumption,poverty,isnosolutiontoeitherenvironmentalorhumanproblems.Itisinfiniyworseforpeopleandbadforthenaturalworldtoo.Dispossessed(被得一无所有的)peasantsslash-and-burntheirwayintotherainsofLatinAmerica,andhungrynomads(游牧民族)turntheirherdsoutontofragileAfricangrassland,reducingittodesert.Ifenvironmentaldestructionresultswhenpeoplehaveeithertoolittleortoomuch,wearelefttowonderhowmuchisenough.Whatlevelofconsumptioncantheearthsupport?Whendoeshavingmoreceasetoaddnoticeablytohumansatisfaction?TheemergenceoftheaffluentsocietyafterWorldWar gavebirthtoanewgenerationofupperclassgaverisetothedominanceofthenewledtothereformoftheretailingresultedintheworshipof consumptionis theconversionofthesaleofgoodsintothepeople‟sdesireforariseintheirlivingtheimbalancethathasexistedbetweenproductionandtheconceptthatone‟ssuccessismeasuredbyhowmuchtheyWhydoestheauthorsayhighconsumptionisamixedBecausepovertystillexistsinanaffluentBecausemoralvaluesaresacrificedinpursuitofmaterialBecauseoverconsumptionwon‟tlastlongduetounrestrictedpopulation Accordingtothepassage,consumerist cannotthriveonafragilewillnotaggravateenvironmentalcannotsatisfyhumanspiritualwillnotalleviatepovertyinwealthyItcanbeinferredfromthepassage humanspiritualneedsshouldmatchmaterialthereisneveranendtosatisfyingpeople‟smaterialwhetherhighconsumptionshouldbeencouragedisstillanhowtokeepconsumptionatareasonablelevelremainsaPassageForyears,doctorsadvisedtheirpatientsthattheonlythingtakingmultivitaminsdoesisgivethemexpensiveurine尿).Afterall,truevitamindeficienciesarepracticallyunheardofinindustrializedcountries.Nowitseemsthosedoctorsmayhavebeenwrong.Theresultsofagrowingnumberofstudiessuggestthatevenamodestvitaminshortfallcanbeharmfultoyourhealth.Althoughproofofthebenefitsofmultivitaminsisstillfarfromcertain,thefewdollarsyouspendonthemisprobablyagoodinvestment.Oratleastthat‟stheargumentputforwardintheNewEnglandJournalofMedicine.Ideally,sayDr.WalterWillettandDr.MeirStampferofHarvard,allvitaminsupplementswouldbeevaluatedinscientificallyrigorousclinicaltrials.Butthosestudiescantakealongtimeandoftenraisemorequestionsthantheyanswer.Atsomepoint,whileresearchersworkonfiguringoutwherethetruthlies,itjustmakessensetosaythepotentialbenefitoutweighsthecost.Thebestevidencetodateconcernsfolate,oneoftheBvitaminsIt‟sbeenprovedtolimitthenumberofdefectsinembryos(胚胎),andarecenttrialfoundthatfolateincombinationwithvitaminB12andaformofB6alsodecreasesthere-blockageofarteriesaftersurgicalre