2023年研究生入学考试英语二历年高频考题带答案难题附详解

2023年研究生入学考试英语二历年高频考题带答案难题附详解（图片大小可自由调整）第1卷一.历年考点试题黑钻版(共50题)1.Directions:

YouhavejustcomebackfromCanadaandfoundamusicCDinyourluggagethatyouforgottoreturntoBob,yourlandlordthere.Writehimaletterto

1)makeanapology,and

2)suggestasolution.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.2.Inmanysectors,Chinaisnowtakingagloballeadintwoareasofinnovation:inimprovingconsumerproductsandthebusinessmodelsusedtosellthem;andinmakingmanufacturingprocessescheaper,quickerandbetter.Asaresult,Chinesefirmsnowoutsellforeignrivalsinsuchthingsashouseholdappliances,internetsoftwareandconsumerelectronics.Theyarehelpedbythefactthattheirhomemarketissohuge.

Chinesefirmsareinventingnewbusinessmodels.TheWest'sonlinefirmsgeneratemostoftheirrevenuefromadvertising.ButChina'sadvertisingindustryisonlyaboutone-eighththesizeofAmerica's,soChinesedigitalfirmshavehadtofindnewwaystomonetisetheirusers'eyeballs.YY.com,anonline-videoplatform,letsviewersbuyelectronic"roses"toshoweruponvideoartistswhoseshowstheyenjoyed.YYsaysitstopperformers,whogetacutoftherevenue,canearnmorethan20,000yuanamonth,seventimestheaveragefactoryworker'spay.3.Directions:

SupposeyouareinvitedbyProfessorWilliamstogiveapresentationaboutChineseculturetoagroupofinternationalstudents.Writeareplyto

1)accepttheinvitation,and

2)introducethekeypointsofyourpresentation.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Don'tuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Don'twriteyouraddress.4.Directions:

YourfriendTomhasbeenaddictedtoonlinegamesforalongtime,thuslaggingbehindothersinstudy.Writehimaletterto

1)tellhimtheconsequenceofwebaddiction,and

2)giveyouradviceonhowtostudybetter.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LingMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.5.Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.6.Realityisusuallyonestepaheadofthelanguagewepossesstodescribeit.PeoplebegantakingpicturesofthemselveslongbeforetheOxfordEnglishDictionaryselected"selfie"asits2013WordoftheYear.Friendse-mailedeachotherpicturesofcatslongingforcheezburgerswithoutknowingtheyweresharinga"meme".Thislanguagelagtimemakesitdifficulttounderstandthepresentasitunfurls.Or,asphilosopherLudwigWittgensteinmightsay,"Thelimitsofmylanguagemeanthelimitsofmyworld."

Ournewbook,TheAgeofEarthquakes:AGuidetotheExtremePresent,triestofillthatgap.Partpoeticmanifesto,partpostmoderndictionary,thetextexploreshowtechnologyisreinventingsuchfundamentalthingsastime,individualityandclass.Whichoftoday'suniversalexperiences,weasked,wouldseemutterlyalientoaversionofusfromtwodecadesago?

Co-authorsDouglasCoupland,HansUlrichObristandIturnedouranswersintonewwordsthatdescribetheeffectsofdigitaltechnologyandtheInternetoneverythingfromourbrainstotheplanet.You'veallfeltthesethingshappeningtoyou.Butyoudidn'thavenamesforthemyet.Well,nowyoudo.7.Imaginehavingajobthatpaysyou12,000poundstowriteatworeportforabigcompanymeetingwherethedocumentisneverdiscussed.Orajobthatrequiresyoutorentacaranddriveupto500kmtooverseeaperson'scomputerbeingmovedfivemetresfromoneroomtoanother.Whataboutbeingareceptionistinapublishingcompanywherethephoneringsonceadayandyouronlyothertasksarefillingadishwithcandiesandwindingagrandfatherclockonceaweek?

ThesejobsarestrewnthroughDavidGraeber'sBullshitJobs,aprovocative,funnyandengagingbookthatclaimstheworldhasbeensurroundedbyarisingtideofpointlesswork.Thisisacuriouschargetohearatatimeofrisinganxietyaboutkeepingone'sjobsafefromarobot,ortheindignitiesofthegigeconomyandsweepingtechnologicaldisruption.Yetitclearlyhasappeal.8.Foroveracentury,psychologistshavestudiedintelligencebyaskingpeoplequestions.Theirexamshaveevolvedintobatteriesoftests,eachprobingadifferentmentalability,suchasverbalreasoningormemorization.

Inasignificantadvanceinthestudyofmentalability,ateamofEuropeanandAmericanscientistsannouncedMondaythatithadidentified52geneslinkedtointelligenceinnearly80,000people.Thesegenesdonotdetermineintelligence,however.Theircombinedinfluenceisminuscule,theresearcherssaid,suggestingthatthousandsmorearelikelytobeinvolvedandstillawaitdiscovery.Justasimportant,intelligenceisprofoundlyshapedbytheenvironment.Still,thefindingscouldmakeitpossibletobeginnewexperimentsintothebiologicalbasisofreasoningandproblem-solving,expertssaid.Theycouldevenhelpresearchersdeterminewhichinterventionswouldbemosteffectiveforchildrenstrugglingtolearn."Thisrepresentsanenormoussuccess,"saidPaigeHarden,apsychologistattheUniversityofTexas,whowasnotinvolvedinthestudy.9.Directions:

SupposeyouhavetocancelyourtravelplanandwillnotbeabletovisitProfessorSmith.Writehimanemailto

(1)apologizeandexplainthesituation,and

(2)suggestafuturemeeting.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.10.Salesofchildren'sliteraturehaverisenbydoubledigitsinmostofthepasttenyears,muchfasterthanthegrowthofbooksalesoverall.Thenumberofchildren'stitleshasmorethantripledsince2005.Thispartlyreflectsagrowingdemandforproductsaimedatindulgedonly-children.Acost-consciousreluctancetohavemoreoffspring,whichwasreinforcedbythecountry'srecentlyrelaxedone-childpolicy,helpedfuelthatdemand.Thericherparentsare,themoretheysplashoutonchildren'sbooks.

Booksellersseeahugemoneymakingopportunity.Mostpublishersofliteratureforadultsnowofferchildren'stitlestoo.Aroundhalfofthe100best-sellingbookslastyearwereforyoungsters—ahighersharethaninBritainorAmerica.Thereisagrowingvarietyofgenres.Picturebooksforunder-fiveshavebeentakingoff;fictionforolderteenagersisthriving.11.OnApril29ththeSupremeCourtorderedthenextgovernmenttocomeupwithaplanbytheendoftheyeartoreducetheamountofnitrogendioxide(NO-2)intheatmosphere.Thejudgmentcouldhavebigimplicationsforseverallargeinfrastructureprojects.Italsosuggestshowdirtyairisfinallybecomingapoliticalissue.

ThehealtheffectsofNO-2havenotyetbeencalculatedforBritain,butarethoughttobeaspotentiallydamagingasfineman-madeparticulatematter,saysGaryFuller.Areportfromagovernmentadvisorygroupin2010estimatedthat,ifallfineparticulatematterwereremovedfromtheatmosphere,itwouldincreasetheaveragelifeexpectancyofthosebornin2008bysixmonths.

Despitethemountingevidenceoftheharmfuleffectofdirtyair,therehasbeenlittlepoliticaldesiretogetitsorted.PoliticianscouldoftenskirttheissuebypointingoutthatitwasaEurope-wideproblem.12.Directions:Supposeyouwonatranslationcontestandyourfriend,Jack,wroteane-mailtocongratulateyouandaskforadviceontranslation.Writehimareplyto

1)thankhim,and

2)giveyouradvice.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.13.Directions:SupposeyouhavejustlostyouriPadoncampus.Writeanoticetitled"Lost"withthefollowingitemsincluded:

1)thetimeandplaceyoupossiblylostit;

2)somedetailedinformationaboutit;

3)yourcontactinformation.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.14.Whowouldhavethoughtthat,globally,theITindustryproducesaboutthesamevolumeofgreenhousegasesastheworld'sairlinesdo—roughly2percentofallCO2emissions?

Manyeverydaytaskstakeasurprisingtollontheenvironment.AGooglesearchcanleakbetween0.2and7.0gramsofCO2,dependingonhowmanyattemptsareneededtogetthe"right"answer.Todeliverresultstoitsusersquickly,then,Googlehastomaintainvastdatacentresaroundtheworld,packedwithpowerfulcomputers.WhileproducinglargequantitiesofCO2,thesecomputersemitagreatdealofheat,sothecentresneedtobewellair-conditioned,whichusesevenmoreenergy.

However,Googleandotherbigtechprovidersmonitortheirefficiencycloselyandmakeimprovements.Monitoringisthefirststepontheroadtoreduction,butthereismuchmoretobedone,andnotjustbybigcompanies.15.Supposeyougotawrongproductfromaonlineshoppingcenter.Writealettertofileacomplaint.Youshould

1)tellthemanageraboutthefact,and

2)askforcompensation.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.16.Directions:

SupposeyouareworkingintheStudentUnionofyouruniversityandyouwillholdanorientationpartyforthefreshmenthisFridayevening.Writealettertoallfreshmento,

1)introducetheStudentUnionandthepartytothem,and

2)invitethemtotheparty.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.17.Directions:

OneofyourclassmateswantstovisitBeihaiParktomorrowandyourteacherasksyoutogowithher.Butyouareunfamiliarwiththispark.YouwillaskforhelpfromyourfriendEmma,askinghertobeyourtourguide.Inyourletter,youshould

1)listthespecificreasonsforrequest,

2)statethewaytosolvetheproblem,and

3)showyourgratitude.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter,Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.18.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthechartbelow.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

19.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

当代大学生的消费方式(consumptionmanner)20.1)stateyourqualification(s)fortheposition

2)andaskforaninterview.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.21.ApoacherintheUnitedStateshasbeenorderedtowatchtheDisneyclassicBambiaspartofhissentenceforillegallykillinghundredsofdeer.DavidBerry,29,wasorderedbyacourtinMissouritowatchthefilmatleastonceamonthduringhisyearlongjailsentenceinwhatconservationagentshavecalledoneofthelargestdeerpoachingcasesinstatehistory.Theclassic1942animatedmovieisaboutababydeernamedBambiwhosemotherisshotandkilledbyhunters.Itisnotthefirst"bizarre"sentence.In2003,twoteenagersfromChicagoweresentencedto45daysinjailandorderedtomarchthroughthecenteroftheirhometownwithadonkey.TheywerefoundguiltyofstealinganddefacingastatueofthebabyJesus.22.KaraokeisaverypopularformofentertainmentinAsia.KaraokewasfirstmadepopularbyDaisukeInoueinKobe,Japan,in1971.Bythe1980s,therewasavastarrayofkaraokeproductsonthemarketinAsia.Thevideogame,KaraokeRevolution,wasreleasedintheyearof2003.Inthisgame,playerscouldreceiveascorebasedontheirsingingperformance.Karaokeservicesthenbecameavailablethroughmobilephones,anduserscouldalsoplaykaraokesongsusingsoftwareontheirpersonalcomputers.WebsitesstartedpoppingupallovertheInternet,creatingaglobalkaraokecommunity.Onthesesites,singerscanrecordandevenvideothemselvesperforming.Evensomecarmanufacturersjumpedonthekaraokebandwagonandhadkaraokeplayersinstalledaspartofacar'sDVDplayer.ThereareevenVCDsavailablenowforChineseoperakaraoke,sothattheelderlycanhavefunsingingsongsofthepast.23.WhenIwasyoungandfreeandmyimaginationhadnolimits,Idreamedofchangingtheworld.AsIgrewolderandwiser,Idiscoveredtheworldwouldnotchange,soIshortenedmysightssomewhatanddecidedtochangeonlymycountry.Butit,too,seemedimmovable.AsIgrewintomytwilightyears,inonelastdesperateattempt,Isettledforchangingonlymyfamily,thoseclosesttome,butalas,theywouldhavenoneofit.

Andnow,asIlieonmydeathbed,Isuddenlyrealize:IfIhadonlychangedmyselffirst,thenbyexampleIwouldhavechangedmyfamily.Fromtheirinspirationandencouragement,Iwouldthenhavebeenabletobettermycountry,andwhoknows,Imayhaveevenchangedtheworld.24.Intelligencequotients(IQs)testingiscontroversialandregardedbysomeasacrudeindicatorofabilityorpotential.Whencomparingnations,measuredaverageIQtendstobeaffectedbyclass,nutrition,andculturalfactorsincludingeducation.Thereisalsodisagreementovertheinfluencesofnatureandnurture.

IQshaverisenindevelopednationsforalmostacentury.ButinBritain,researchhasfoundareversalofthistrend.Theaveragehaddeclinedbytwopointsonaverage,butbyasmuchassixpointsamongteenagersinthetophalfoftheIQscale,afallthatwipedouttheprevioustwodecadesofgainsinthatgroup.

NocauseforthisfallinIQshasbeenestablished:theinternet,thedumbingdownofeducation,andanobsessionwithexamresultshavebeensuggested.Flynnhasarguedthatyouthculturehasmadeacontribution.25.Itisawell-knownfactthatthereareconstantconflictsamongdifferentgroupsofpeople,andthatpeopletendtoblametheirmisfortunesonsomeoutsideothergroupsfortheirmisfortunes.Whatarethecausesofgroupprejudice?Thereseemstobelittledoubtthatoneoftheprincipalcausesofprejudiceisfear:inparticularthefearthattheinterestsofourowngrouparegoingtobeendangeredbytheactionsofanother.Thisislesslikelytobethecaseinastable,relativelyunchangingsocietyinwhichthemembersofdifferentsocialandoccupationalgroupsknowwhattoexpectofeachother,andknowwhattoexpectforthemselves.Intimesofrapidsocialandeconomicchange,however,newoccupationsandnewsocialrolesappear,andpeoplestartlookingjealouslyateachothertoseewhethertheirowngroupisbeingleftbehind.26.Asearlyasthe19thcentury,shoppershaveviewedThanksgivingDayasthetraditionalstarttotheholidayshoppingseason,anoccasionmarkedbycelebrationsandsales.Departmentstoresinparticularlockedontothismarketingnotion,hostingparadestolaunchthestartofthefirstwaveofChristmasadvertisements,chiefamongthem,theMacy'sThanksgivingDayParade,runninginNewYorkCitysince1924.TheholidayshoppingcrazebecamesoimportanttoretailersthatduringtheGreatDepression,theyappealedtoPresidentFranklinD.Rooseveltin1939tomoveThanksgivingDayupinordertostretchouttheholidayshoppingseason.Rooseveltobliged,movingThanksgivingDayoneweekearlier,butdidn'tannouncethechangeuntilOctober.Asaresult,AmericanshadtwoThanksgivingsDaythatyear—Roosevelt's,jokinglydubbed"Franksgiving,"

andtheoriginal.Becausetheswitchoverwashandledsopoorly,fewobservedit,andthechangeresultedinlittleeconomicboost.27.Businessisguardingagainsthardertimes.Thebiggestproblemistheeurocrisis,whichiscausingdamagetoGermany'stradingpartners.Industrialordersfromtheeurozonesharplydeclinedby12.1%inSeptember.DemandwillalsobereducedfromAsiaandeasternEurope,whichhavebeenGermany'sfastest-growingmarkets.OnNovember9ththegovernment'sadvisorycouncilofeconomic"wisemen"predictedthatgrowthwouldshrinkfrom3%thisyearto0.9%in2012.

RisingunemploymentwouldjeopardiseMrsMerkel'schancesforre-electioninSeptember2013.Perhapsforthatreason,mosteconomistsarebettingthatGermanywilleventuallydowhateverisnecessarytoendthecrisis.ThesurestwayisfortheEuropeanCentralBanktobuythedebtoffragilecountrieslikeItaly,anotionthatterrifiesGermans,stillimpressedbytheirgrandparents'memoriesofhyperinflation.Ifthatiswhatthebank'snewpresidentdecidestodo,MrsMerkelmaynotstandintheway.28.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthechartbelow.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

29.Arolemodelisapersonwhoisagoodexampletoothers,intermsofdoingnobleorcharitableactsorrepresentinggoodvaluesorwaysofthinkingandacting.Relatedtorolemodelsareheroesandicons.Aheroisapersonwhohasamazingabilitiesortraits,andhasperformedextraordinaryacts.Aniconissomeonewhoisanimageorsymbolofimportance.

TIMEmagazinepublishedalistofheroesandiconsfromthelast100years(1900to2000).Thelistoftwentypeoplewho"articulatethelongingsofthelast100years,exemplifyingcourage,selflessness,exuberance,superhumanabilityandamazinggrace"includes:MotherTeresa,PrincessDiana,Pele,CheGuevara,SirEdmundHillaryandTenzingNorgan,HelenKeller,BruceLee,CharlesLindberghandAndreiSakharov.Doyouknowwhoallofthesepeopleare?Whowouldyouaddtoyourpersonallistofheroesandicons?

SomefamousrolemodelshavebeenrecipientsofaNobelPrize.TheNobelPrizeisahighly-respectedinternationalawardgiventopeople(andorganizations)whohaveconductedexceptionalresearch,createdground-breakinginventionsormadeoutstandingcontributionstosociety.Therearefivecategories:NobelPrizeinPhysics,NobelPrizeinChemistry,NobelPrizeinMedicine,NobelPrizeinLiteratureandNobelPrizeinPeace.30.Realityisusuallyonestepaheadofthelanguagewepossesstodescribeit.PeoplebegantakingpicturesofthemselveslongbeforetheOxfordEnglishDictionaryselected"selfie"asits2013WordoftheYear.Friendse-mailedeachotherpicturesofcatslongingforcheezburgerswithoutknowingtheyweresharinga"meme".Thislanguagelagtimemakesitdifficulttounderstandthepresentasitunfurls.Or,asphilosopherLudwigWittgensteinmightsay,"Thelimitsofmylanguagemeanthelimitsofmyworld."

Ournewbook,TheAgeofEarthquakes:AGuidetotheExtremePresent,triestofillthatgap.Partpoeticmanifesto,partpostmoderndictionary,thetextexploreshowtechnologyisreinventingsuchfundamentalthingsastime,individualityandclass.Whichoftoday'suniversalexperiences,weasked,wouldseemutterlyalientoaversionofusfromtwodecadesago?

Co-authorsDouglasCoupland,HansUlrichObristandIturnedouranswersintonewwordsthatdescribetheeffectsofdigitaltechnologyandtheInternetoneverythingfromourbrainstotheplanet.You'veallfeltthesethingshappeningtoyou.Butyoudidn'thavenamesforthemyet.Well,nowyoudo.31.Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart,inwhichyoushould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

32.Directions:

YouaresupposedtowriteforthePostgraduates'Associationanoticetorecruitvolunteersforaninternationalconferenceon"theBeltandRoad."Thenoticeshouldincludethebasicqualificationsforapplicantsandotherinformationwhichyouthinkisrelevant.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use"Postgraduates'Association"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.33.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyouwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechartand

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayonANSWERSHEET2.

34.Directions:

Supposeyouruniversityisgoingtohostasummercampforhighschoolstudents.Writeanoticeto

1)brieflyintroducethecampactivities,and

2)callforvolunteers.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyournameorthenameofyouruniversity.

Donotwriteyouraddress.35.Directions:

SupposeyourAmericanfriendBillhasbeenillforafewdaysinBeijing,writehimaletterto

1)extendyourregards,and

2)offerhimsomeadviceonhowtomaintaingoodhealth

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.36.ItiseasytounderestimateEnglishwriterJamesHerriot.Hehadsuchapleasant,readablestylethatonemightthinkthatanyonecouldimitateit.HowmanytimeshaveIheardpeoplesay,"Icouldwriteabook.Ijusthaven'tthetime,"Easilysaid.Notsoeasilydone.JamesHerriot,contrarytopopularopinion,didnotfinditeasyinhisearlydaysof,asheputit,"havingagoatthewritinggame".Whileheobviouslyhadanabundanceofnaturaltalent,thefinal,polishedworkthathegavetotheworldwastheresultofyearsofpractising,re-writingandreading.Likethemajorityofauthors,hehadtosuffermanydisappointmentsandrejectionsalongtheway,butthesemadehimallthemoredeterminedtosucceed.Everythingheachievedinlifewasearnedthehardwayandhissuccessintheliteraryfieldwasnoexception.37.Directions:

Inthissection,youareaskedtowriteanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechartand

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayonANSWERSHEET2.

38.SupposeyouarethepresidentoftheStudents'Union.WriteanoticeaboutrecruitingnewmembersfortheUnion.Thenoticeshould

1)specifythequalifications,and

2)tellthearrangementofinterview.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.39.Bytheyear2100,globaltemperaturesareexpectedtorisebybetween0.8and3.5degreeCelsius.Thatmaynotseemlikemuch,butsuchanincreaseintemperaturewouldcauseariseinsealevelslargeenoughtoputthelivesofupto100millionpeopleatrisk.

Forthefirsttimeinthescientificcommunity,thereistotalagreementthattheactivityofhumansisatleastpartlyresponsiblefortheproblem—specificallytheemissionofgreenhousegaseslikecarbondioxide,whichisreleasedbytheburningofwood,coalandpetroleumproducts.ReducingharmfulemissionisjustoneareainwhichtheUnitedNationsIntergovernmentalPanelisdecidedlyoptimistic.Intheshorttermitmightnotprovethatdifficult.Efficiencyimprovementsalonecouldcutenergyneedsbyasmuchas30percentatvirtuallynoextracostand,indevelopedcountries,emissionreductionsofupto60percent"aretechnicallyfeasible".Inthelongerterm,harmfulemissionswillbereducedastheworldchangesovertocheaper,lessenvironmentallydamagingenergysources.40.Americansofa"certainage"aboundattheupperlevelsofAmericangovernance.PresidentTrumpisthemostobviousexample.JustoverhalfofUSsenatorswillbe65orolderbytheendofthisyear.OntheSupremeCourt,fiveofninejusticesareover65.These"seniorcitizens"makecrucialdecisionsforthemajorityofAmericansyoungerthanthem.Justeightdecadesago,whentheSocialSecuritysystembegan,65wascodifiedasthestartof"oldage."Nowmanypeopleofthatyearmayfeelintheprimeoflife.

Measuredbyyearsalone,Americansareonaveragegettingolder.Apopularnotionisthatawarisbrewingbetweengenerations—youngworkingAmericansresentingthattheymustpaymoreintoSocialSecurityandMedicaretosupportanexpandingpackofolderAmericans.There'struthinthatsentiment.41.WillnewspapersbecomeathingofthepastinthisInternetage?Itiscurrentlyestimatedthatmorethan1billionpeopleusetheInternetworldwide.Thenumber-oneonlineactivityise-mail,followedbyreadingnewsontheInternet.TheInternetisanincreasinglyeffectiveandefficientwaytoreachthelargestpossibleaudienceworldwide.HarrisInteractive,aU.S.-basedcompany,reportedthatthemajorityofpeoplewentonlinebecausetheycouldobtaininformationattimessuitabletothem;orothersdidsobecausemoredetailednewscouldbefoundonline;ormoreup-to-dateinformationwasavailableonline;orbecausetheycouldaccessnewswhileatwork.

Thoughmostmediareportersandnetworkstrytoreportobjectively,biasexists.Biasmeanstofavor.Biascanoccurinthemedia'schoiceofstoriesandcoverageofastory.Throughthechoiceofwordsandselectionofinterviews,interviewersandinterviewees,themediamightreportfavorablyorunfavorablyonanewsissue.Asviewersofnewsstories,audiencesneedtoobjectivelyjudgethenewscoveragethattheyhearandread,andseekoutmoreinformationfromothersources,ifnecessary.42.OnApril29ththeSupremeCourtorderedthenextgovernmenttocomeupwithaplanbytheendoftheyeartoreducetheamountofnitrogendioxide(NO-2)intheatmosphere.Thejudgmentcouldhavebigimplicationsforseverallargeinfrastructureprojects.Italsosuggestshowdirtyairisfinallybecomingapoliticalissue.

ThehealtheffectsofNO-2havenotyetbeencalculatedforBritain,butarethoughttobeaspotentiallydamagingasfineman-madeparticulatematter,saysGaryFuller.Areportfromagovernmentadvisorygroupin2010estimatedthat,ifallfineparticulatematterwereremovedfromtheatmosphere,itwouldincreasetheaveragelifeexpectancyofthosebornin2008bysixmonths.

Despitethemountingevidenceoftheharmfuleffectofdirtyair,therehasbeenlittlepoliticaldesiretogetitsorted.Pol