2004-2013历年考研英语真题阅读理解word打印版

PAGEPAGE42004ReadingText1Huntingforajoblatelastyear,lawyerGantRedmonstumbledacrossCareerBuilder,ajobdatabaseontheInternet.Hesearcheditwithnosuccessbutwasattractedbythesite’s“personalsearchagent”.It’saninteractivefeaturethatletsvisitorskeyinjobcriteriasuchaslocation,title,andsalary,thenE-mailsthemwhenamatchingpositionispostedinthedatabase.Redmonchosethekeywordslegal,intellectualproperty,andWashington,D.C.Threeweekslater,hegothisfirstnotificationofanopening.“Istruckgold,’saysRedmon,whoE-mailedhisresumetotheemployerandwonapositionasin-housecounselforacompany.Withthousandsofcareer-relatedsitesontheInternet,findingpromisingopeningscanbetime-consumingandinefficient.Searchagentsreducetheneedforrepeatedvisitstothedatabases.ButalthoughasearchagentworkedforRedmon,careerexpertsseedrawbacks.Narrowingyourcriteria,forexample,mayworkagainstyou:“Everytimeyouansweraquestionyoueliminateapossibility.”saysoneexpert.Foranyjobsearch,youshouldstartwithanarrowconcept–whatyouthinkyouwanttodo–thenbroadenit.“Noneoftheseprogramsdothat,”saysanotherexpert.“There’snocareercounselingimplicitinallofthis.”Instead,thebeststrategyistousetheagentasakindoftipservicetokeepabreastofjobsinaparticulardatabase;whenyougetE-mail,consideritaremindertocheckthedatabaseagain.“Iwouldnotrelyonagentsforfindingeverythingthatisaddedtoadatabasethatmightinterestme,”saystheauthorofajob-searchingguide.Somesitesdesigntheiragentstotemptjobhunterstoreturn.WhenCareerSite’sagentsendsoutmessagestothosewhohavesignedupforitsservice,forexample,itincludesonlythreepotentialjobs——thoseitconsidersthebestmatches.Theremaybemorematchesinthedatabase;jobhunterswillhavetovisitthesiteagaintofindthem——andtheydo.“Onthedayafterwesendourmessages,weseeasharpincreaseinourtraffic,”saysSethPeets,vicepresidentofmarketingforCareerSite.Eventhosewhoaren’thuntingforjobsmayfindsearchagentsworthwhile.Someusethemtokeepaclosewatchonthedemandfortheirlineofworkorgatherinformationoncompensationtoarmthemselveswhennegotiatingforaraise.Althoughhappilyemployed,RedmonmaintainshisagentatCareerBuilder.“Youalwayskeepyoureyesopen,”hesays.Workingwithapersonalsearchagentmeanshavinganothersetofeyeslookingoutforyou.41.HowdidRedmonfindhisjob?

[A]Bysearchingopeningsinajobdatabase.[B]Bypostingamatchingpositioninadatabase.

[C]Byusingaspecialserviceofadatabase.[D]ByE-mailinghisresumetoadatabase.42.Whichofthefollowingcanbeadisadvantageofsearchagents?

[A]Lackofcounseling.[B]Limitednumberofvisits.

[C]Lowerefficiency.[D]Fewersuccessfulmatches.43.Theexpression“tipservice”(Line4,Paragraph3)mostprobablymeans__________.

[A]advisory.[B]compensation.[C]interaction.[D]reminder.44.WhydoesCareerSite’sagentoffereachjobhunteronlythreejoboptions?

[A]Tofocusonbetterjobmatches.[B]Toattractmorereturningvisits.

[C]Toreservespaceformoremessages.[D]Toincreasetherateofsuccess.45.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtothetext?

[A]Personalsearchagentsareindispensabletojob-hunters.

[B]SomesiteskeepE-mailingjobseekerstotracetheirdemands.

[C]Personalsearchagentsarealsohelpfultothosealreadyemployed.

[D]Someagentsstopsendinginformationtopeopleoncetheyareemployed.

Text2Overthepastcentury,allkindsofunfairnessanddiscriminationhavebeencondemnedormadeillegal.Butoneinsidiousformcontinuestothrive:alphabetism.This,forthoseasyetunawareofsuchadisadvantage,referstodiscriminationagainstthosewhosesurnamesbeginwithaletterinthelowerhalfofthealphabet.IthaslongbeenknownthatataxifirmcalledAAAAcarshasabigadvantageoverZodiaccarswhencustomersthumbthroughtheirphonedirectories.LesswellknownistheadvantagethatAdamAbbotthasinlifeoverZoeZysman.Englishnamesarefairlyevenlyspreadbetweenthehalvesofthealphabet.YetasuspiciouslylargenumberoftoppeoplehavesurnamesbeginningwithlettersbetweenAandK.ThustheAmericanpresidentandvice-presidenthavesurnamesstartingwithBandCrespectively;and26ofGeorgeBush’spredecessors(includinghisfather)hadsurnamesinthefirsthalfofthealphabetagainstjust16inthesecondhalf.Evenmorestriking,sixofthesevenheadsofgovernmentoftheG7richcountriesarealphabeticallyadvantaged(Berlusconi,Blair,Bush,Chirac,ChrétienandKoizumi).Theworld’sthreetopcentralbankers(Greenspan,DuisenbergandHayami)areallclosetothetopofthealphabet,evenifoneofthemreallyusesJapanesecharacters.Asaretheworld’sfiverichestmen(Gates,Buffett,Allen,EllisonandAlbrecht).Canthismerelybecoincidence?Onetheory,dreamtupinallthesparetimeenjoyedbythealphabeticallydisadvantaged,isthattherotsetsinearly.Atthestartofthefirstyearininfantschool,teachersseatpupilsalphabeticallyfromthefront,tomakeiteasiertoremembertheirnames.Soshort-sightedZysmanjuniorgetsstuckinthebackrow,andisrarelyaskedtheimprovingquestionsposedbythoseinsensitiveteachers.Atthetimethealphabeticallydisadvantagedmaythinktheyhavehadaluckyescape.Yettheresultmaybeworsequalifications,becausetheygetlessindividualattention,aswellaslessconfidenceinspeakingpublicly.Thehumiliationcontinues.Atuniversitygraduationceremonies,theABCsproudlygettheirawardsfirst;bythetimetheyreachtheZysmansmostpeopleareliterallyhavingaZZZ.Shortlistsforjobinterviews,electionballotpapers,listsofconferencespeakersandattendees:alltendtobedrawnupalphabetically,andtheirrecipientsloseinterestastheyploughthroughthem.46.WhatdoestheauthorintendtoillustratewithAAAAcarsandZodiaccars?

[A]Akindofoverlookedinequality.[B]Atypeofconspicuousbias.

[C]Atypeofpersonalprejudice.[D]Akindofbranddiscrimination.asfrenziedoverbiddingquiets.“Insteadof20to30offers,nowmaybeyouonlygettwoorthree,”saysJohnDeadly,aBayAreareal-estatebroker.Andmostfolksstillfeelprettycomfortableabouttheirabilitytofindandkeepajob.Manyfolksseesilverliningstothisslowdown.Potentialhomebuyerswouldcheerforlowerinterestrates.Employerswouldn’tmindalittlefewerbubblesinthejobmarket.Manyconsumersseemtohavebeeninfluencedbystock-marketswings,whichinvestorsnowviewasanecessaryingredienttoasustainedboom.Dinersmightseeanupside,too.GettingatableatManhattan’shotnewAlainDucasserestaurantneedtobeimpossible.Notanymore.Forthat,Greenspan&Co.maystillbeworthtoasting.51.By“EllenSperoisn’tbitinghernailsjustyet”(Line1,Paragraph1),theauthormeans_____.

[A]Sperocanhardlymaintainherbusiness.[B]Speroistoomuchengagedinherwork.

[C]Sperohasgrownoutofherbadhabit.[D]Speroisnotinadesperatesituation.52.Howdothepublicfeelaboutthecurrenteconomicsituation?

[A]Optimistic.[B]Confused.[C]Carefree.[D]Panicked.53.Whenmentioning“the$4millionto$10millionrange”(Lines3-4,Paragraph3)theauthoristalkingabout__________.

[A]goldmarket.[B]realestate.[C]stockexchange.[D]ventureinvestment.54.Whycanmanypeoplesee“silverlinings”totheeconomicshowdown?

[A]Theywouldbenefitincertainways.[B]Thestockmarketshowssignsofrecovery.

[C]Suchaslowdownusuallyprecedesaboom.[D]Thepurchasingpowerwouldbeenhanced.55.Towhichofthefollowingistheauthorlikelytoagree?

[A]Anowboom,onthehorizon.[B]Tightenthebelt,thesingleremedy.

[C]Cautionallright,panicnot.[D]Themoreventures,themorechances.Text4Americanstodaydon’tplaceaveryhighvalueonintellect.Ourheroesareathletes,entertainers,andentrepreneurs,notscholars.Evenourschoolsarewherewesendourchildrentogetapracticaleducation–nottopursueknowledgeforthesakeofknowledge.Symptomsofpervasiveanti-intellectualisminourschoolsaren’tdifficulttofind.“Schoolshavealwaysbeeninasocietywherepracticalismoreimportantthanintellectual,”sayseducationwriterDianeRavitch.“Schoolscouldbeacounterbalance.”Razitch’slatestbock,LeftBack:ACenturyofFailedSchoolReforms,tracestherootsofanti-intellectualisminourschools,concludingtheyareanythingbutacounterbalancetotheAmericandistasteforintellectualpursuits.Buttheycouldandshouldbe.Encouragingkidstorejectthelifeofthemindleavesthemvulnerabletoexploitationandcontrol.Withouttheabilitytothinkcritically,todefendtheirideasandunderstandtheideasofothers,theycannotfullyparticipateinourdemocracy.Continuingalongthispath,sayswriterEarlShorris,“Wewillbecomeasecond-ratecountry.Wewillhavealesscivilsociety.”“Intellectisresentedasaformofpowerorprivilege,”writeshistorianandprofessorRichardHofstadterinAnti-IntellectualisminAmericanlife,aPulitzerPrizewinningbookontherootsofanti-intellectualisminUSpolitics,religion,andeducation.Fromthebeginningofourhistory,saysHofstadter,ourdemocraticandpopulisturgeshavedrivenustorejectanythingthatsmellsofelitism.Practicality,commonsense,andnativeintelligencehavebeenconsideredmorenoblequalitiesthananythingyoucouldlearnfromabook.RalphWaldoEmersonandotherTranscendentalistphilosophersthoughtschoolingandrigorousbooklearningputunnaturalrestraintsonchildren:“Weareshutupinschoolsandcollegerecitationroomsfor10or15yearsandcomeoutatlastwithabellyfulofwordsanddonotknowathing.”MarkTwain’sHuckleberryFinnexemplifiedAmericananti-intellectualism.Itsheroavoidsbeingcivilized–goingtoschoolandlearningtoread–sohecanpreservehisinnategoodness.Intellect,accordingtoHofstadter,isdifferentfromnativeintelligence,aqualitywereluctantlyadmire.Intellectisthecritical,creative,andcontemplativesideofthemind.Intelligenceseekstograsp,manipulate,re-order,andadjust,whileintellectexamines,ponders,wonders,theorizes,criticizesandimagines.Schoolremainsaplacewhereintellectismistrusted.Hofstadtersaysourcountry’seducationalsystemisinthegripsofpeoplewho“joyfullyandmilitantlyproclaimtheirhostilitytointellectandtheireagernesstoidentifywithchildrenwhoshowtheleastintellectualpromise.”56.WhatdoAmericanparentsexpecttheirchildrentoacquireinschool?

[A]Thehabitofthinkingindependently.[B]Profoundknowledgeoftheworld.

[C]Practicalabilitiesforfuturecareer.[D]Theconfidenceinintellectualpursuits.57.WecanlearnfromthetextthatAmericanshaveahistoryof__________.

[A]undervaluingintellect.[B]favoringintellectualism.

[C]supportingschoolreform.[D]suppressingnativeintelligence.58.TheviewsofRavishandEmersononschoolingare__________.

[A]identical.[B]similar.[C]complementary.[D]opposite.59.Emerson,accordingtothetext,isprobably__________.

[A]apioneerofeducationreform.[B]anopponentofintellectualism.

[C]ascholarinfavorofintellect.[D]anadvocateofregularschooling.60.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofintellect?

[A]Itissecondtointelligence.[B]Itevolvesfromcommonsense.

[C]Itistobepursued.[D]Itunderliespower.2005ReadingText1Everybodylovesafatpayrise.Yetpleasureatyourowncanvanishifyoulearnthatacolleaguehasbeengivenabiggerone.Indeed,ifhehasareputationforslacking,youmightevenbeoutraged.Suchbehaviourisregardedas“alltoohuman”,withtheunderlyingassumptionthatotheranimalswouldnotbecapableofthisfinelydevelopedsenseofgrievance.ButastudybySarahBrosnanandFransdeWaalofEmoryUniversityinAtlanta,Georgia,whichhasjustbeenpublishedinNature,suggeststhatitalltoomonkey,aswell.Theresearchersstudiedthebehaviouroffemalebrowncapuchinmonkeys.Theylookcute.Theyaregood-natured,co-operativecreatures,andtheysharetheirfoodtardily.Aboveall,liketheirfemalehumancounterparts,theytendtopaymuchcloserattentiontothevalueof“goodsandservices”thanmales.SuchcharacteristicsmakethemperfectcandidatesforDr.Brosnan’sandDr.deWaal’sstudy.Theresearchersspenttwoyearsteachingtheirmonkeystoexchangetokensforfood.Normally,themonkeyswerehappyenoughtoexchangepiecesofrockforslicesofcucumber.However,whentwomonkeyswereplacedinseparatebutadjoiningchambers,sothateachcouldobservewhattheotherwasgettinginreturnforitsrock,theirbecamemarkedlydifferent.Intheworldofcapuchinsgrapesareluxurygoods(andmuchpreferabletocucumbers)Sowhenonemonkeywashandedagrapeinexchangeforhertoken,thesecondwasreluctanttohandhersoverforamerepieceofcucumber.Andifonereceivedagrapewithouthavingtoprovidehertokeninexchangeatall,theothereithertossedherowntokenattheresearcheroroutofthechamber,orrefusedto;acceptthesliceofcucumberIndeed,themerepresenceofagrapeintheotherchamber(withoutanactualmonkeytoeatit)wasenoughtoreduceresentmentinafemalecapuchin.Theresearchessuggestthatcapuchinmonkeys,likehumans,areguidedbysocialemotions,inthewild,theyareaco-operative,grouplivingspecies,Suchco-operationislikelytobestableonlywheneachanimalfeelsitisnotbeingcheated.Feelingsofrighteousindignation,itseems,arenotthepreserveofpeoplealone,Refusingalesserrewardcompletelymakesthesefeelingsabundantlycleartoothermembersofthegroup.However,whethersuchasenseoffairnessevolvedindependentlyincapuchinsandhumans,orwhetheritstemsformthecommonancestorthatthespecieshad35millionyearsago,is,asyet,anunansweredquestion.21.Intheopeningparagraph,theauthorintroduceshistopicby__________.A.posingacontrast.B.justifyinganassumption.C.makingacomparison.D.explainingaphenomenon.22.Thestatement“itisalltoomonkey”(Lastline,paragraphl)impliesthat__________.A.monkeysarealsooutragedbyslackrivals.B.resentingunfairnessisalsomonkeys’nature.C.monkeys,likehumans,tendtobejealousofeachother.D.noanimalsotherthanmonkeyscandevelopsuchemotions.23.Femalecapuchinmonkeyswerechosenfortheresearchmostprobablybecausetheyare____.A.moreinclinedtoweighwhattheyget.B.attentivetoresearchers’instructions.C.niceinbothappearanceandtemperament.D.moregenerousthantheirmalecompanions24.Dr.BrosnanandDr.deWaalhaveeventuallyfoundintheirstudythatthemonkeys_______.A.prefergrapestocucumbers.B.canbetaughttoexchangethings.C.willnotbeco-operativeiffeelingcheated.D.areunhappywhenseparatedfromothers.25.Whatcanweinferfromthelastparagraph?A.Monkeyscanbetrainedtodevelopsocialemotions.B.Humanindignationevolvedfromanuncertainsource.C.Animalsusuallyshowtheirfeelingsopenlyashumansdo.D.Cooperationamongmonkeysremainsstableonlyinthewild.Text2Doyourememberallthoseyearswhenscientistsarguedthatsmokingwouldkillusbutthedoubtersinsistedthatwedidn’tknowforsure?Thattheevidencewasinconclusive,thescienceuncertain?Thattheantismokinglobbywasouttodestroyourwayoflifeandthegovernmentshouldstayoutoftheway?LotsofAmericansboughtthatnonsense,andoverthreedecades,some10millionsmokerswenttoearlygraves.Thereareupsettingparallelstoday,asscientistsinonewaveafteranothertrytoawakenustothegrowingthreatofglobalwarming.ThelatestwasapanelfromtheNationalAcademyofSciences,enlistedbytheWhiteHouse,totellusthattheEarth’satmosphereisdefinitelywarmingandthattheproblemislargelyman-made.Theclearmessageisthatweshouldgetmovingtoprotectourselves.ThepresidentoftheNationalAcademy,BruceAlberts,addedthiskeypointintheprefacetothepanel’sreport“ScienceneverhasalltheanswersButsciencedoesprovideuswiththebestavailableguidetothefuture,anditiscriticalthatoutnationandtheworldbaseimportantpoliciesonthebestjudgmentsthatsciencecanprovideconcerningthefutureconsequencesofpresentactions.”Justasonsmokingvoicesnowcomefrommanyquartersinsistingthatthescienceaboutglobalwarmingisincomplete,thatit’sOktokeeppouringfumesintotheairuntilweknowforsure.thisisadangerousgame:bythe100percentoftheevidenceisin,itmaybetoolate.Withtherisksobviousandgrowing,aprudentpeoplewouldtakeoutaninsurancepolicynow.Fortunately,theWhiteHouseisstartingtopayattention.Butit’sobviousthatamajorityofthepresident’sadvisersstilldon’ttakeglobalwarmingseriously.Insteadofaplanofaction,theycontinuetopressformoreresearch-aclassiccaseof“paralysisbyanalysis”.Toserveasresponsiblestewardsoftheplanet,wemustpressforwardondeeperatmosphericandoceanicresearchButresearchaloneisinadequate.IftheAdministrationwon’ttakethelegislativeinitiative,CongressshouldhelptobeginfashioningconservationmeasuresAbillbyDemocraticSenatorRobertByrdofWestVirginia,whichwouldofferfinancialincentivesforprivateindustryisapromisingstartManyseethatthecountryisgettingreadytobuildlotsofnewpowerplantstomeetourenergyneeds.Ifweareevergoingtoprotecttheatmosphere,itiscrucialthatthosenewplantsbeenvironmentallysound.26.Anargumentmadebysupportersofsmokingwasthat__________.A.therewasnoscientificevidenceofthecorrelationbetweensmokinganddeath.B.thenumberofearlydeathsofsmokersinthepastdecadeswasinsignificant.C.peoplehadthefreedomtochoosetheirownwayoflife.D.antismokingpeoplewereusuallytalkingnonsense.27.AccordingtoBruceAlberts,sciencecanserveas__________.A.aprotector.B.ajudge.C.acritic.D.aguide.28.Whatdoestheauthormeanby“paralysisbyanalysis”(Lastline,paragraph4)?A.Endlessstudieskillaction.B.Carefulinvestigationrevealstruth.C.prudentplanninghinders.D.Extensiveresearchhelpsdecision-making.29.Accordingtotheauthor,whatshouldtheAdministrationdoabout__________?A.Offeraidtobuildcleanerpowerplants.B.Raisepublicawarenessofconservation.C.Pressforfurtherscientificresearch.D.Takesomelegislativemeasures.30.Theauthorassociatestheissueofglobalwarmingwiththatofsmokingbecause_________.A.theybothsufferedfromthegovernment’snegligence.B.alessonfromthelatterisapplicabletotheformer.C.theoutcomeofthelatteraggravatestheformer.D.bothofthemhaveturnedfrombadtoworse.Text3Ofallthecomponentsofagoodnight’ssleep,dreamsseemtobeleastwithinourcontrol.Indreams,awindowopensintoaworldwherelogicissuspendedanddeadpeoplespeak.Acenturyago,Freudformulatedhisrevolutionarytheorythatdreamswerethedisguisedshadowsofourunconsciousdesiresandfears;bythelate1970s,neurologistshadswitchedtothinkingofthemasjust“mentalnoise”therandombyproductsoftheneural-repairworkthatgoesonduringsleep.Nowresearcherssuspectthatdreamsarepartofthemind’semotionalthermostat,regulatingmoodswhilethebrainis“off-line”Andoneleadingauthoritysaysthattheseintenselypowerfulmentaleventscanbenotonlyharnessedbutactuallybroughtunderconsciouscontrol,tohelpussleepandfeelbetter,“It’syourdream”saysRosalindCartwright,chairofpsychologyatChicago’sMedicalCenter.“Ifyoudon’tlikeit,changeit.”Evidencefrombrainimagingsupportsthisview.ThebrainisasactiveduringREM(rapideyemovement)sleep-whenmostvividdreamsoccur-asitiswhenfullyawake,saysDr,EricNofzingerattheUniversityofPittsburgh.Butnotallpartsofthebrainareequallyinvolved;thelimbicsystem(the“emotionalbrain”)isespeciallyactive,whiletheprefrontalcortex(thecenterofintellectandreasoning)isrelativelyquiet.“Wewakeupfromdreamshappyofdepressed,andthosefeelingscanstaywithusallday”saysStanfordsleepresearcherDr,WilliamDement.Andthisprocessneednotbelefttotheunconscious.Cartwrightbelievesonecanexerciseconsciouscontroloverrecurringbaddreams.Assoonasyouawaken,identifywhatisupsettingaboutthedream.Visualizehowyouwouldlikeittoendinstead,thenexttimeisoccurs,trytowakeupjustenoughtocontrolitscourse.Withmuchpracticepeoplecanlearnto,literally,doitintheirsleep.Attheendoftheday,there’sprobablylittlereasontopayattentiontoourdreamsatallunlesstheykeepusfromsleepingof“wewakeuinapanic,”CartwrightsaysTerrorism,economicuncertaintiesandgeneralfeelingsofinsecurityhaveincreasedpeople’sanxiety.ThosesufferingfrompersistentnightmaresshouldseekhelpfromatherapistFortherestofus,thebrainhasitswaysofworkingthroughbadfeelings.Sleep-orratherdream-onitandyou’llfeelbetterinthemorning.31.Researchershavecometobelievethatdreams__________.A.canbemodifiedintheircourses.B.aresusceptibletoemotionalchanges.C.reflectourinnermostdesiresandfears.D.arearandomoutcomeofneuralrepairs.32.Byreferringtothelimbicsystem,theauthorintendstoshow__________.A.itsfunctioninourdreams.B.themechanismofREMsleep.C.therelationofdreamstoemotionsD.itsdifferencefromtheprefrontalcortex.33.Thenegativefeelingsgeneratedduringthedaytendto__________.A.aggravateinourunconsciousmind.B.developintohappydreams.C.persisttillthetimewefallasleep.D.showupindreamsearlyatnight.34.Cartwrightseemstosuggestthat__________.A.wakingupintimeisessentialtotheriddingofbaddreams.B.visualizingbaddreamshelpsbringthemundercontroll.C.dreamsshouldbelefttotheirnaturalprogression.D.dreamingmaynotentirelybelongtotheunconscious.35.WhatadvicemightCartwrightgivetothosewhosometimeshavehaddreams?A.leadyourlifeasusual.B.Seekprofessionalhelp.C.Exerciseconsciouscontrol.D.Avoidanxietyinthedaytime.Text4Americannolongerexpectpublicfigures,whetherinspeechorinwriting,tocommandtheEnglishlanguagewithskillandgift.Nordotheyaspiretosuchcommandthemselves.Inhislatestbook,DoingOurOwnThing.TheDegradationoflanguageandMusicandwhyweshouldlike,care,JohnMcWhorter,alinguistandcontroversialistofmixedliberalandconservativeviews,seesthetriumphof1960scounter-cultureasresponsibleforthedeclineofformalEnglish.Butthecultoftheauthenticandthepersonal,“doingourownthing”,hasspeltthedeathofformalspeech,writing,poetryandmusic.Whileeventhemodestlyeducatedsoughtanelevatedtonewhentheyputpentopaperbeforethe1960s,eventhemostwellregardedwritingsincethenhassoughttocapturespokenEnglishonthepage.Equally,inpoetry,thehighlypersonal,performativegenreistheonlyformthatcouldclaimrealliveliness.InbothoralandwrittenEnglish,talkingistriumphingoverspeaking,spontaneityovercraft.Illustratedwithanentertainingarrayofexamplesfrombothhighandlowculture,thetrendthatMr.McWhorterdocumentsisunmistakable.Butitislessclear,totakethequestionofhissubtitle,whyweshould,likecare.Asalinguist,heacknowledgesthatallvarietiesofhumanlanguage,includingnon-standardoneslikeBlackEnglish,canbepowerfullyexpressive-thereexistsnolanguageordialectintheworldthatcannotconveycomplexideasHeisnotarguing,asmanydo,thatwecannolongerthinkstraightbecausewedonottalkproper.Russianshaveadeeplovefortheirownlanguageandcarrylargechunksofmemorizedpoetryintheirheads,whileItalianpoliticianstendtoelaboratespeechthatwouldseemold-fashionedtomostEnglish-speakers.Mr.McWhorteracknowledgesthatformallanguageisnotstrictlynecessary,andproposesnoradicaleducationreforms-heisreallygrievingoverthelossofsomethingbeautifulmorethanuseful.WenowtakeourEnglish“onpaperplatesinsteadofchina”.Ashame,perhaps,butprobablyaninevitableone.36.AccordingtoMcWhorter,thedeclineofformalEnglish__________.A.isinevitableinradicaleducationreforms.B.isbutalltoonaturalinlanguagedevelopment.C.hascausedthecontroversyoverthecounter-culture.D.broughtaboutchangesinpublicattitudesinthe1960s.37.Theword“talking”(Linge6,paragraph3)denotes__________.A.modesty.B.personality.C.liveliness.D.informality.38.TowhichofthefollowingstatementswouldMcWhortermostlikelyagree?A.Logicalthinkingisnotnecessarilyrelatedtothewaywetalk.B.BlackEnglishcanbemoreexpressivethanstandardEnglish.C.Non-standardvarietiesofhumanlanguagearejustasentertaining.D.Ofallthevarieties,standardEnglishCanbestconveycomplexideas.39.ThedescriptionofRussians’loveofmemorizingpoetryshowstheauthor’s__________.A.interestintheirlanguage.B.appreciationoftheirefforts.C.admirationfortheirmemory.D.contemptfortheirold-fashionedness.40.Accordingtothelastparagraph,“paperplates”isto“china”as__________.A.“temporary”isto“permanent”.B.“radical”isto“conservative”.C.“functional”isto“artistic”.D.“humble”isto“noble”.2006ReadingText1Inspiteof“endlesstalkofdifference,”Americansocietyisanamazingmachineforhomogenizingpeople.Thereis“thedemocratizinguniformityofdressanddiscourse,andthecasualnessandabsenceofdeference”characteristicofpopularculture.Peopleareabsorbedinto“acultureofconsumption”launchedbythe19th-centurydepartmentstoresthatoffered“vastarraysofgoodsinanelegantatmosphere.Insteadofintimateshopscateringtoaknowledgeableelite,”thesewerestores“anyonecoulden