70天攻克考研英语阅读（每日一篇）

123pk · 发表于 2006-10-12 13:28:56

70天攻克考研英语阅读 DAY1
　

　2004年全国硕士研究生入学考试英语试题（阅读部分）

　　Section IIIReading Comprehension

　　Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your mowers on ANSWER SNEET 1. (40 points)

　　Text 1

　　Hunting for a job late last year, lawyer Gant Redmon stumbled across Career Builder, a job database on the Internet. He searched it with no success but was attracted by the sites “personal search agent”. Its an interactive feature that lets visitors key in job criteria such as location, title, and salary, then Emails them when a matching position is posted in the database. Redmon chose the keywords legal, intellectual property, and Washington, D.C. Three weeks later, he got his first notification of an opening. “I struck gold,” says Redmon, who Emailed his resume to the employer and won a position as inhouse counsel for a company.

　　With thousands of careerrelated sites on the Internet, finding promising openings can be timeconsuming and inefficient. Search agents reduce the need for repeated visits to the databases. But although a search agent worked for Redmon, career experts see drawbacks. Narrowing your criteria, for example, may work against you: “Every time you answer a question you eliminate a possibility.” says one expert.

　　For any job search, you should start with a narrow concept — what you think you want to do — then broaden it. “None of these programs do that,” says another expert. “Theres no career counseling implicit in all of this.” Instead, the best strategy is to use the agent as a kind of tip service to keep abreast of jobs in a particular database; when you get Email, consider it a reminder to check the database again. “I would not rely on agents for finding everything that is added to a database that might interest me,” says the author of a jobsearching guide.

　　Some sites design their agents to tempt job hunters to return. When Career Sites agent sends out messages to those who have signed up for its service, for example, it includes only three potential jobs — those it considers the best matches. There may be more matches in the database; job hunters will have to visit the site again to find them — and they do. “On the day after we send our messages, we see a sharp increase in our traffic,” says Seth Peets, vice president of marketing for Career Site.

　　Even those who arent hunting for jobs may find search agents worthwhile. Some use them to keep a close watch on the demand for their line of work or gather information on compensation to arm themselves when negotiating for a raise. Although happily employed, Redmon maintains his agent at Career Builder. “You always keep your eyes open,” he says. Working with a personal search agent means having another set of eyes looking out for you.

　　41. How did Redmon find his job?

　　A. By searching openings in a job database.

　　B. By posting a matching position in a database.

　　C. By using a special service of a database.

　　D. By Emailing his resume to a database.

　　42. Which of the following can be a disadvantage of search agents?

　　A. Lack of counseling. B. Limited number of visits.

　　C. Lower efficiency. D. Fewer successful matches.

　　43. The expression “tip service” (Lines 3-4, Paragraph 3) most probably means

　　A. advisory. B. compensation.

　　C. interaction. D. reminder.

　　44. Why does Career Sites agent offer each job hunter only three job options?

　　A. To focus on better job matches.

　　B. To attract more returning visits.

　　C. To reserve space for more messages.

　　D. To increase the rate of success.

　　45. Which of the following is true according to the text?

　　A. Personal search agents are indispensable to jobhunters.

　　B. Some sites keep Emailing job seekers to trace their demands.

　　C. Personal search agents are also helpful to those already employed.

　　D. Some agents stop sending information to people once they are employed.

　　Text 2

　　Over the past century, all kinds of unfairness and discrimination have been condemned or made illegal. But one insidious form continues to thrive: alphabetism. This, for those as yet unaware of such a disadvantage, refers to discrimination against those whose surnames begin with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet.

　　It has long been known that a taxi firm called AAAA cars has a big advantage over Zodiac cars when customers thumb through their phone directories. Less well known is the advantage that Adam Abbott has in life over Zo Zysman. English names are fairly evenly spread between the halves of the alphabet. Yet a suspiciously large number of top people have surnames beginning with letters between A and K.

　　Thus the American president and vicepresident have surnames starting with B and C respectively; and 26 of George Bushs predecessors (including his father) had surnames in the first half of the alphabet against just 16 in the second half. Even more striking, six of the seven heads of government of the G7 rich countries are alphabetically advantaged (Berlusconi, Blair, Bush, Chirac, Chrétien and Koizumi). The worlds three top central bankers (Greenspan, Duisenberg and Hayami) are all close to the top of the alphabet, even if one of them really uses Japanese characters. As are the worlds five richest men (Gates, Buffett, Allen, Ellison and Albrecht).

　　Can this merely be coincidence? One theory, dreamt up in all the spare time enjoyed by the alphabetically disadvantaged, is that the rot sets in early. At the start of the first year in infant school, teachers seat pupils alphabetically from the front, to make it easier to remember their names. So shortsighted Zysman junior gets stuck in the back row, and is rarely asked the improving questions posed by those insensitive teachers. At the time the alphabetically disadvantaged may think they have had a lucky escape. Yet the result may be worse qualifications, because they get less individual attention, as well as less confidence in speaking publicly.

　　The humiliation continues. At university graduation ceremonies, the ABCs proudly get their awards first; by the time they reach the Zysmans most people are literally having a ZZZ. Shortlists for job interviews, election ballot papers, lists of conference speakers and attendees: all tend to be drawn up alphabetically, and their recipients lose interest as they plough through them.

　　46. What does the author intend to illustrate with AAAA cars and Zodiac cars?

　　A. A kind of overlooked inequality. B. A type of conspicuous bias.

　　C. A type of personal prejudice. D. A kind of brand discrimination.

　　47. What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?

　　A. In both East and West, names are essential to success.

　　B. The alphabet is to blame for the failure of Zo Zysman.

　　C. Customers often pay a lot of attention to companies names.

　　D. Some form of discrimination is too subtle to recognize.

　　48. The 4th paragraph suggests that

　　A. questions are often put to the more intelligent students.

　　B. alphabetically disadvantaged students often escape form class.

　　C. teachers should pay attention to all of their students.

　　D. students should be seated according to their eyesight.

　　49. What does the author mean by “most people are literally having a ZZZ” (Line 2, Paragraph 5)?

　　A. They are getting impatient. B. They are noisily dozing off.

　　C. They are feeling humiliated. D. They are busy with word puzzles.

　　50. Which of the following is true according to the text?

　　A. People with surnames beginning with N to Z are often illtreated.

　　B. VIPs in the Western world gain a great deal from alphabetism.

　　C. The campaign to eliminate alphabetism still has a long way to go.

　　D. Putting things alphabetically may lead to unintentional bias.

　　Text 3

　　When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isnt biting her nails just yet. But the 47yearold manicurist isnt cutting, filling or polishing as many nails as shed like to, either. Most of her clients spend $12 to $50 weekly, but last month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames the softening economy. “Im a good economic indicator,” she says. “I provide a service that people can do without when theyre concerned about saving some dollars.” So Spero is downscaling, shopping at middlebrow Dillards department store near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus. “I dont know if other clients are going to abandon me, too” she says.

　　Even before Alan Greenspans admission that Americas redhot economy is cooling, lots of working folks had already seen signs of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to Gap outlets, sales have been lagging for months as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers, who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday sales are off 7 percent from last years pace. But dont sound any alarms just yet. Consumers seem only concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economys longterm prospects, even as they do some modest belttightening.

　　Consumers say theyre not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their own fortunes still feel pretty good. Home prices are holding steady in most regions. In Manhattan, “theres a new gold rush happening in the $4 million to $10 million range, predominantly fed by Wall Street bonuses,” says broker Barbara Corcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as frenzied overbidding quiets. “Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three,” says john Deadly, a Bay Area realestate broker. And most folks still feel pretty comfortable about their ability to find and keep a job.

　　Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldnt mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stockmarket swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting a table at Manhattans hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant need to be impossible. Not anymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting.

　　51. By “Ellen Spero isnt biting her nails just yet”(Line 1, Paragraph 1), the author means

　　A. Spero can hardly maintain her business.B. Spero is too much engaged in her work.

　　C. Spero has grown out of her bad habit.D. Spero is not in a desperate situation.

　　52. How do the public feel about the current economic situation?

　　A. Optimistic.B. Confused.

　　C. Carefree.D. Panicked.

　　53. When mentioning “the $4 million to $10 million range” (Line 3, Paragraph 3) the author is talking about.

　　A. gold market.B. real estate.

　　C. stock exchange.D. venture investment.

　　54. Why can many people see “silver linings” to the economic slowdown?

　　A. They would benefit in certain ways.

　　B. The stock market shows signs of recovery.

　　C. Such a slowdown usually precedes a boom.

　　D. The purchasing power would be enhanced.

　　55. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?

　　A. A now boom, on the horizon.B. Tighten the belt, the single remedy.

　　C. Caution all right, panic not.D. The more ventures, the more chances.

　　Text 4

　　Americans today dont place a very high value on intellect. Our heroes are athletes, entertainers, and entrepreneurs, not scholars. Even our schools are where we send our children to get a practical education — not to pursue knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Symptoms of pervasive antiintellectualism in our schools arent difficult to find.

　　“Schools have always been in a society where practical is more important than intellectual,” says education writer Diane Ravitch. “Schools could be a counterbalance.” Razitchs latest book, Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms, traces the roots of antiintellectualism in our schools, concluding they are anything but a counterbalance to the American distaste for intellectual pursuits.

　　But they could and should be. Encouraging kids to reject the life of the mind leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and control. Without the ability to think critically, to defend their ideas and understand the ideas of others, they cannot fully participate in our democracy. Continuing along this path, says writer Earl Shorris, “We will become a secondrate country. We will have a less civil society.”

　　“Intellect is resented as a form of power or privilege,” writes historian and professor Richard Hofstadter in AntiIntellectualism in American life, a Pulitzer Prize winning book on the roots of antiintellectualism in US politics, religion, and education. From the beginning of our history, says Hofstadter, our democratic and populist urges have driven us to reject anything that smells of elitism. Practicality, common sense, and native intelligence have been considered more noble qualities than anything you could learn from a book.

　　Ralph Waldo Emerson and other Transcendentalist philosophers thought schooling and rigorous book learning put unnatural restraints on children:“We are shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for 10 or 15 years and come out at last with a bellyful of words and do not know a thing.” Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn exemplified American antiintellectualism. Its hero avoids being civilized — going to school and learning to read — so he can preserve his innate goodness.

　　Intellect, according to Hofstadter, is different from native intelligence, a quality we reluctantly admire. Intellect is the critical, creative, and contemplative side of the mind. Intelligence seeks to grasp, manipulate, reorder, and adjust, while intellect examines, ponders, wonders, theorizes, criticizes and imagines.

　　School remains a place where intellect is mistrusted. Hofstadter says our countrys educational system is in the grips of people who “joyfully and militantly proclaim their hostility to intellect and their eagerness to identify with children who show the least intellectual promise.”

　　56. What do American parents expect their children to acquire in school?

　　A. The habit of thinking independently.B. Profound knowledge of the world.

　　C. Practical abilities for future career.D. The confidence in intellectual pursuits.

　　57. We can learn from the text that Americans have a history of

　　A. undervaluing intellect.B. favoring intellectualism.

　　C. supporting school reform.D. suppressing native intelligence.

　　58. The views of Ravish and Emerson on schooling are

　　A. identical.B. similar.

　　C. complementary.D. opposite.

　　59. Emerson, according to the text, is probably

　　A. a pioneer of education reform.B. an opponent of intellectualism.

　　C. a scholar in favor of intellect.D. an advocate of regular schooling.

　　60. What does the author think of intellect?

　　A. It is second to intelligence.B. It evolves from common sense.

　　C. It is to be pursued.D. It underlies power.41.

　　【C】问题是：Redmon是怎样找到工作的？

　　文章第一段便指出Redmon是在一个名叫Career Builder的网上工作数据库中试图寻找合适他的工作。第二段又提到就在他要放弃时他被一家中介所吸引。第一段后几句又接着说这是一颇有互动色彩的寻工网点。Redmon提供所需的个人资料后，果然得到了称心的工作。段中所提到的“personal search agent” 很显然是这个数据库提供的一项服务，即C项内容。

　　42. 【A】问题是：以下哪一项是搜索中介的弊端？

　　文章第二段最后一句作者引用专家关于搜索中介讲到， “当你每回答一个问题时，这也意味着一个可能会被排除。”言外之义便是搜索中介的弊端在于它缺乏询问辅助性，这也正是A项内容。

　　43. 【D】问题是：“tip service” (第三段第三四行) 的意思可能是

　　文章第三段前几句作者引用另外专家的话讲到，“所有的这些项目都不具询问辅助性。”（专家的话轻易地排除了A,B,C项内容）随后作者说道：最好的策略是把这些工作搜索中介当作 “tip service” 来掌握数据库中关于工作信息的最新动态。只有D项内容符合上下文。“reminder” 的意思是 “起提醒某事作用的东西”。

　　44. 【B】问题是：为什么 Career Site每次只给寻找工作的人三个工作选择？

　　文章第四段第一句作者便给出答案。“一些网点特意设计他们的中介以便吸引寻找工作的人再次登录他们的网点。”即B项内容。

　　45. 【C】问题是：根据文章内容，以下哪项是正确的？

　　文章第二段作者引用了一位专家关于中介弊端的一句话，由此可见 A项内容不是文中提到的。B 项和D项内容文章从未提到。惟有C项内容作者在最后一段有暗示。在最后一段里讲到Redman虽然很满意这份工作，但他还是和那中介保持联系。可见中介对于那些已经找到工作的人还是有用的。

　　去年下半年在寻职时，一位名叫Grant Redmon的律师步入了Career Builder —— 一个网上工作数据库。几经寻找都毫无结果，但他却被一个名叫“personal search agent”所吸引。这个网站颇带互动色彩，它允许访问者键入工作要求，比如地点、职位，及工薪要求，如在数据库中有合适的工作，此站将向访问者发送电子邮件。Redmon选择了像“法律”、“知识产权”和“华盛顿特区”这样的关键词。三星期后，他收到了他面试的第一份通知。“我挖到金矿了！”Redmon说道。他随即将他的个人简历寄给雇主，而且得到了为一家公司做inhouse顾问的这样一个职位。

　　在网上有着数以千计的和工作有关的站点，要找到有保证的良机有时既花时间也无效率。搜索网站便降低了在数据库的重复访问。但即使像这样一个对Redmon有用的搜索网站，专家还是看到了它的弊处。比如说，缩小你的要求，可能会对你带来不利。一位专家讲到：“每当你回答一个问题，那将意味着你也排除了一个可能性。”

　　寻找任何工作，你应当以小的概念开始——你认为你想做的——然后再对此扩展。“没有一个程序做到了这一点，”另外一位专家提到，“也没有一家求职询问对此给予暗示。”事实上，最好的办法是把这类站点当作一种信息服务来随时掌握数据库所提供的工作信息。当你收到邮件时，把它当作提醒你再查数据库的东西。“我可不愿依赖这些网点来寻找那些新加到数据库使我感兴趣的东西，”一位寻找工作指南的作者说到。

　　一些网站则特意设计他们的中介以便吸引寻找工作的人再次登录他们的站点。例如，当Career Site向那些登录用户发送信息时，它只发送三个潜在的工作——那些它认为是最好的选择。在数据库中可能有更多的选择；寻找工作的人也不得不重新访问这些网点——而且他们也是确实这样做的。“在我们发出信息的第二天，我们也注意到了访问有明显的增加。”Career Site市场部附理，Seth Peets说道。

　　即使对于那些不找工作的人搜索中介同样有用。部分人用它来关注他们同行业的需求，或用它来搜索有关补偿金的信息以便用来在加薪谈判中保护自己。虽然工作得很开心，Redmon仍保持着与Career Builder的联系。“你应当睁大眼，时常留心。”他说。当然与个人搜索中介同步也就意味着有一双眼为你留心。

　　46. 【A】问题是：作者借用AAAA cars和Zodiac cars想要阐明什么？

　　在第一段作者引出了“字母歧视”这个概念后，接着便举出AAAA cars和Zodiac cars的例子用来阐明到底什么是“字母歧视”。记住，作者认为这个所谓的“字母歧视”实属不平等和歧视的一种（all kinds of unfairness and discrimination）。即，A项内容。

　　47. 【D】问题是：从前三段我们可以推断出什么？

　　文章第一段作者引出了“字母歧视”这个概念。第二段和第三段全部是作者从不同的角度和方面对这种歧视做进一步的阐明。选项 B和C的内容在这三段中作者是直接给出的。A项内容文章既没提及也与文章主题毫无关联。D项意为：一些歧视如此微妙以至无法察觉。这正是这三段暗示而没有直接提出的。选D。

　　48. 【C】问题是：文中第四段告诉我们什么？

　　文章的第四段作者提出了对“字母歧视”这一现象理论上的解释。即，学校的老师们倾向于按学生姓名的开头字母顺序来排列学生座位的前后。这一做法的结果是一些名字出现在字母表后半部的学生没有得到足够和应有的在学习上的关注。在这里作者实际上告诉读者老师应该注意他所有的学生，而不是名字靠前的一部分。即，C项内容。

　　49. 【B】问题是：作者写到 “most people are literally having a ZZZ” (第五段2行)是什么意思？

　　文章第五段仍是对“字母歧视”进一步的阐明。在这里，学生们都大学毕业了。但这种歧视仍然存在。 ABC们自豪地上台领取他们的毕业书，轮到Zysmans 时（指受“字母歧视”的学生），大家都真的开始有ZZZ了。在这里作者运用了一点小幽默。“ZZZ” 是人们打瞌睡时发出声音的符号。即，B项内容。

　　50. 【D】问题是：根据文章内容，以下哪一项是正确的？

　　A项的内容是：姓名以N到Z开头的人经常受到虐待。作者虽然谈到了“字母歧视”可以给某些人带来不利，但文章没有一处提到姓名以N到Z开头的人经常受到虐待。B项内容文中也不曾提到。作者谈过“字母歧视”问题后并未号召大家更改自己的姓名，而是呼吁老师们在早期教育不要忽视受“字母歧视”的学生。因为无心的忽视很有可能会导致无心的 “歧视”。即，D项内容。

　　在过去的几世纪里，所有的不平等和歧视都会受到谴责或视为触犯法律。但有一种暗中为害的形式仍然繁荣：字母顺序化。这个，对于那些还没有意识到它危险的人，就是所提到的对于那些名字的开头一个字母出现在字母表的后半部分的人的歧视。

　　众所周知，当顾客翻开他们的电话簿时，一个名叫AAAA的出租车公司会比一个名为Zodiac的公司更具优势。但是，更少的人才会注意到一个叫Adam Abbott（男人名）的人在生活中要比一个叫Zo(女人名)的人更为优势。英文名平均分布在字母表的两半。但有相当一部分大人物，他们的名字开头一个字母都在A到K之间。

　　因此美国总统和副总统的名字各以B和C开头；而且26位乔治·布什的前辈（包括他的父亲），他们名字的开头字母都出现在字母表前半部，但只有16位总统的名字在后一半可以找到。更惊人的是，七位G7政府首脑中的六位要员在这点上名字都占有优势（Berlusconi ， Blair，Bush，Chirac，Chrtien和Koizumi）。世界三位首席中央银行家的名字（Greenspan，Duisenberg和Hayami），全出现在字母表前部，即使他们中的一位用的还是日本名。还有世界前五位首富也是如此（Gates，Buffett，Allen，Ellison和Albrecht）。

　　这一切仅仅是巧合吗？一种理论在空闲时间做梦的字母劣势者们认为这样的劣势在早期就已形成了。在学前班第一年的开始，老师便按照字母表顺序从前到后给学生排座，以便记住学生姓名。这样一来戴近视的小Zysman在最后一排被卡住了，从此也极少被麻木不仁老师提问。在那时，字母劣势者可能觉得自己幸运的解脱了（老师的关注）。但结果可能是更差的学习质量，因为他们得到的注意会越来越少，在公众表现的自信也会越来越弱。

　　这样的羞辱还在继续。在大学毕业典礼上，ABC们自豪地领取他们的毕业证书，当点到Zysmans时大多数人也开始有ZZZ了。面试人员名单，选举投票，国会发言者和参加者名单：这些都是按字母顺序排列，到人们深入查看时，他们早已丧失兴趣。

　　51. 【D】问题是：“Ellen Spero isnt biting her nails just yet” (第一段第一行)，作者是什么意思？

　　文章第一段第一句作者说道，当经济疲软时，Ellen Spero还没有到啃自己指头的地步。我们从第二句得知Ellen Spero所从事的职业是帮人修指甲。“biting ones nails” 是一个双关语。除了“啃自己指头”，它还有“身处绝境”的意思。在这里是指虽然经济疲软，但Ellen Spero还没有到绝望的地步。此题选D。

　　52. 【A】问题是：公众如何看待现今的经济状况？

　　文章第二段最后一句，作者讲到，消费者似乎只是关注而并无惊慌，而且许多人还说他们对现今经济状况的展望是乐观的。即，A项内容。

　　53. 【B】问题是：当提到 “the $4 million to $10 million range”（第三段3行），作者在谈什么？

　　文章的第三段主要讲的是公众乐观态度的具体表现。这主要体现在买卖住房上。作者提到，曼哈顿，在四百万到一千万这个价位的住房上出现了“淘金热”。在这里作者谈到的是房地产买卖。即， B项内容。

　　54. 【A】问题是：为什么还有许多人看到经济萧条发光的一面？

　　文章最后一段的第一句是本段的中心句。作者指出，还有许多人看到经济萧条发光的一面。以下几句全是萧条给老百姓所带来的好处。即，A项内容。

　　55. 【C】问题是：以下哪一项作者可能同意？

　　参阅第52题答案。

　　当经济萧条时，Ellen Spero还不至于到咬自己指甲的地步。但这位47岁的修指工也没有足够多的指甲给她修、添、磨。她的大多数顾客每星期总会花上12到50美元，但上个月两位常客却没露面。Spero把这些怪罪于萧条的经济。“我是经济的晴雨表，”她说，“我所提供的服务是人们在考虑省钱时所不需要的。”所以Spero也缩减了工作比例，在靠她郊外家附近的一个百货商场逛街。Neiman Marcus却不像她，“我不知道其他的顾客会不会也同样离开我。”她说。

　　即使在Alan Greenspan承认美国热火朝天的经济正在降温之前，许多人就看到了萧条的迹象。从汽车交易到Gapoutlets，因为购物者缓和花费的缘故，销售这几月来一直落后。对于零售商们，他们去年在感恩节和圣诞节之间就获得了24%的利润，他们也需在关键时刻有所措施。专家讲节假日的销售与去年相比已经降了7%，但还够不上拉警报。消费者似乎只是关心而不至于惊慌，而且许多还说他们对经济未来的长期展望持乐观态度，即使他们还是勒紧裤带。

　　尽管报纸的头版头条是如此的可怕，消费者们说他们还不绝望，这是因为他们对自己的前景感觉不错。房屋价格在大多地区还很坚硬。曼哈顿，“在400万和1000万的价位上有一股新的淘金热，主要来自于华尔街。”经纪人Barbara Corcoran讲道。在旧金山市，价格仍在上扬，即使有的出价已经过高。“现在你可能只有2到3次出价机会，而不是20到30次了。”一位Bay地区的房地产经纪人Joho Deadly说。而且仍有许多人对自己找到并保住工作的能力大有信心。

　　许多人都看到了萧条闪光的一面。潜在的房屋购买者为低价而欢呼。雇主们也不在意市场上的几个气泡。许多消费者也似乎被股市的波动所影响，这也被投资者们视为迅速增长的重要因素。就连吃饭的也可受益。要在地处曼哈顿生意兴隆的Alan Ducasse 餐厅订到位子已经不是不可能的事了。光凭那个，Greenspan 还是值得庆祝的。

　　56. 【C】问题是：美国的父母亲期望他们的孩子在学校中获得什么？

　　文章第一段第一、二句作者提到，如今的美国人倒不是很重视才智的培养。我们崇拜的是运动员、演员和企业家们，而不是学者。本题答案在第三句：即使我们的学校也是如此，我们将我们的孩子送去学校不是为了知识本身去求知，而是为了获得有实用性的教育。这与选项C是同一个意思。选C。

　　57. 【A】问题是：我们可以从文中得知美国有一个的历史。

　　文章的第二段，作者引用教育作家Diane Ravitch书中的一句话后，简短地对那本书的主题进行了一番扼要的描述。即，此书主要是对美国人的反才智主义的追溯。第四段中，作者又提及另外一本关于类似题材的书，书中说到美国人的反才智主义其实是个历史遗留问题。准确来说第四段主要讲述的就是这个主题，即不重视才智——C项内容。

　　58. 【D】问题是：Ravitch和 Emerson对学校所持的观点是。

　　文章第二段Ravitch在他所著书中提到，“面临这个问题时（反才智主义）学校应当起一个平衡的作用。”这表明Ravitch对于美国人反才智主义是不给予支持的。而超越主义哲学家Emerson却认为学习和教育会给孩子们加上不自然的枷锁。这表明Emerson在这一点上与Ravitch所持观点恰恰相反。即，D项内容。

　　59. 【B】问题是：根据文章内容，Emerson有可能是

　　参阅第58题答案。

　　60. 【C】问题是：对于才智作者是怎样认为的？

　　文章倒数第二段，作者直截了当地列出了自己对于才智的看法（详见下面译文）。C项内容符合作者本意。

　　当今的美国人不够重视才智。我们的英雄全是运动员、演员和企业家，而不是学者。就连我们的学校都成了我们送孩子接受应用教育的地方——不是为知识而去求知。大面积反才智主义的症状并非难以找到。

　　“学校总是处于一个实用比才智更重要的社会里，”教育作家Diane Ravitch 说，“其实面临这个问题时学校可以起一个平衡的作用。”《左后卫：一个学校改革失败的世纪》，Ravitch 最新的一本书，追溯了在我们学校中反才智主义的根源，结论是这些改革都没有把学校当作美国人对知识才智厌恶的平衡力。

　　但他们可以并且应当这样。鼓励孩子们厌弃理性的生活只会使他们暴露于剥削和控制的伤害。没有严密的思维能力来维护，懂得自己和别人的思想，他们根本不能完全参与我们的民主。像这样继续下去，作家Earl Shorris 说，“我们将会成为一个次等国家。我们社会的文明也会倒退。”

　　“才智被憎恨视为力量与特权的象征，”历史学家，教授Richard Hofstadter 在《美国人生活中的反才智主义》一书中写道。这本关于美国在政治、宗教和教育上反才智主义根源的书获得了Pulitzer 的奖项。从我们历史的开始，Hofstadter 讲道，我们的民主便鼓励我们离弃一切带有精英论的东西。实用性、常识和本土的智慧则被视为比任何书本上读来的东西更加高尚。

　　Ralh Waldo Emerson 及其他的超越主义哲学家们认为思维教育和艰辛的书本学习给孩子们上了不自然的枷锁：“我们被关进学校和大学的背阅室10年或15年，出校门时满腹文字却什么也不知道。”Mark Twain 所著的Huckleberry Finn 充分代表了美国人的反才智主义。书本中的主人公避免被教化——上学读书——以便保留他与生俱来的善良。

　　根据Hofstadter的理论,才智不同于本土智慧，是一种我们极少赞赏的特质。才智是我们大脑具评判力、创造力和竞争力的一面。智慧试图去理解、操纵、重组织和适应，而才智是去仔细考虑、深思、疑惑、理论、批判和幻想。

　　学校仍然是才智不受信任的地方。Hofstadter说我们国家的教育系统仍受掌于一些人，他们“愉快地激进地宣扬他们对才智的敌意，同时也不忘向那些对才智没有诚诺的孩子们表示他们的殷勤。”

123pk · 发表于 2006-10-23 00:50:25

70天攻克考研英语阅读 DAY2

　　2003年全国硕士研究生入学考试英语试题（阅读部分）

　　Section IIIReading Comprehension

　　Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A,B,C or D. Mark your answers on ANAWER SHEET 1（40 points）

　　Text 1

　　Wild Bill Donovan would have loved the Internet. The American spymaster who built the Office of Strategic Services in the World War II and later laid the roots for the CIA was fascinated with information. Donovan believed in using whatever tools came to hand in the “great game” of espionage — spying as a “profession”. These days the Net, which has already remade pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovans vocation as well.

　　The last revolution isnt simply a matter of gentlemen reading other gentlemens email. That kind of electronic spying has been going on for decades. In the past three or four years, the world wide web has given birth to a whole industry of pointandclick spying. The spooks call it “open source intelligence”, and as the Net grows, it is becoming increasingly influential. In 1995 the CIA held a contest to see who could compile the most data about Burundi. The winner, by a large margin, was a tiny Virginia company called OpenSource Solutions，whose clear advantage was its mastery of the electronic world.

　　Among the firms making the biggest splash in the new world is Straitford, Inc., a private intelligenceanalysis firm based in Austin, Texas. Straitford makes money by selling the results of spying（covering nations from Chile to Russia）to corporations like energyservices firm McDermott International. Many of its predictions are available online at www.straitford.com.

　　Straifford president George Friedman says he sees the online world as a kind of mutually reinforcing tool for both information collection and distribution, a spymasters dream. Last week his firm was busy vacuuming up data bits from the far corners of the world and predicting a crisis in Ukraine.“As soon as that report runs, well suddenly get 500 new internet signups from Ukraine,” says Friedman, a former political science professor. “And well hear back from some of them.” Opensource spying does have its risks, of course, since it can be difficult to tell good information from bad. That s where Straitford earns its keep.

　　Friedman relies on a lean staff in Austin. Several of his staff members have militaryintelligence backgrounds. He sees the firms outsider status as the key to its success. Straitfords briefs dont sound like the usual Washington back and forthing, whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations on the chance they might be wrong. Straitford, says Friedman, takes pride in its independent voice.

　　41. The emergence of the Net has

　　A. received support from fans like Donovan. B. remolded the intelligence services.

　　C. restored many common pastimes. D. revived spying as a profession.

　　42. Donovans story is mentioned in the text to

　　A. introduce the topic of online spying.B. show how he fought for the U.S.

　　C. give an episode of the information war. 　D. honor his unique services to the CIA.

　　43. The phrase “making the biggest splash”（line 1,paragraph 3）most probably means

　　A. causing the biggest trouble. B. exerting the greatest effort.

　　C. achieving the greatest success. 　 D. enjoying the widest popularity.

　　44. It can be learned from paragraph 4 that

　　A. Straitfords prediction about Ukraine has proved true.

　　B. Straitford guarantees the truthfulness of its information.

　　C. Straitfords business is characterized by unpredictability.

　　D. Straitford is able to provide fairly reliable information.

　　45. Straitford is most proud of its

　　A. official status. 　　B. nonconformist image.

　　C. efficient staff. D. military background.

　　Text 2

　　To paraphrase 18thcentury statesman Edmund Burke,“all that is needed for the triumph of a misguided cause is that good people do nothing.” One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use in research. Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care. Leaders of the animal rights movement target biomedical research because it depends on public funding, and few people understand the process of health care research. Hearing allegations of cruelty to animals in research settings, many are perplexed that anyone would deliberately harm an animal.

　　For example, a grandmotherly woman staffing an animal rights booth at a recent street fair was distributing a brochure that encouraged readers not to use anything that opposed immunizations, she wanted to know if vaccines come from animal research. When assured that they do, she replied,“Then I would have to say yes.” Asked what will happen when epidemics return, she said,“Dont worry, scientists will find some way of using computers.” Such wellmeaning people just dons understand.

　　Scientists must communicate their message to the public in a compassionate, understandable wayin human terms, not in the language of molecular biology. We need to make clear the connection between animal research and a grandmothers hip replacement, a fathers bypass operation, a babys vaccinations, and even a pets shots. To those who are unaware that animal research was needed to produce these treatments, as well as new treatments and vaccines, animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst.

　　Much can be done. Scientists could “adopt” middle school classes and present their own research. They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor, lest animal rights misinformation go unchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth. Research institutions could be opened to tours, to show that laboratory animals receive humane care. Finally, because the ultimate stakeholders are patients, the health research community should actively recruit to its cause not only wellknown personalities such as Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research, but all who receive medical treatment. If good people do nothing there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress.

　　46. The author begins his article with Edmund Burkes words to

　　A. call on scientists to take some actions.

　　B. criticize the misguided cause of animal rights.

　　C. warn of the doom of biomedical research.

　　D. show the triumph of the animal rights movement.

　　47. Misled people tend to think that using an animal in research is

　　A. cruel but natural. B. inhuman and unacceptable.

　　C. inevitable but vicious. 　　D. pointless and wasteful.

　　48. The example of the grandmotherly woman is used to show the publics

　　A. discontent with animal research. 　B. ignorance about medical science.

　　C. indifference to epidemics. 　D. anxiety about animal rights.

　　49. The author believes that, in face of the challenge from animal rights advocates, scientists should

　　A. communicate more with the public. 　B. employ hitech means in research.

　　C. feel no shame for their cause. D. strive to develop new cures.

　　50. From the text we learn that Stephen Cooper is

　　A. a wellknown humanist. 　B. a medical practitioner.

　　C. an enthusiast in animal rights. D. a supporter of animal research.

　　Text 3

　　In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other, merging into super systems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly. As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total tonmiles moved by rails. Next year, after a series of mergers is completed, just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.

　　Supporters of the new super systems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service. Any threat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from trucks. But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances, such as coal, chemicals, and grain, trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.

　　The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company. Railroads typically charge such “captive” shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they do when another railroad is competing for the business. Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal governments Surface Transportation Board for rate relief, but the process is expensive, time consuming, and will work only in truly extreme cases.

　　Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyones cost. If railroads charged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line. Its theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail. “Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?” asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shipper.

　　Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening fortuning fortunes, still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic. Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheering them on. Consider the 10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrails net railway operating income in 1996 was just 427 million, less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction. Whos going to pay for the rest of the bill? Many captive shippers fear that they will, as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.

　　51. According to those who support mergers railway monopoly is unlikely because

　　A. cost reduction is based on competition.

　　B. services call for crosstrade coordination.

　　C. outside competitors will continue to exist.

　　D. shippers will have the railway by the throat.

　　52. What is many captive shippers attitude towards the consolidation in the rail industry?

　　A. Indifferent. 　　B. Supportive.

　　C. Indignant. D. Apprehensive.

　　53. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that

　　A. shippers will be charged less without a rival railroad.

　　B. there will soon be only one railroad company nationwide.

　　C. overcharged shippers are unlikely to appeal for rate relief.

　　D. a government board ensures fair play in railway business.

　　54. The word “arbiters”（line 7,paragraph 4）most probably refers to those

　　A. who work as coordinators. 　　B. who function as judges.

　　C. who supervise transactions. D. who determine the price.

　　55. According to the text, the cost increase in the rail industry is mainly caused by

　　A. the continuing acquisition. B. the growing traffic.

　　C. the cheering Wall Street. D. the shrinking market.

　　Text 4

　　It is said that in England death is pressing, in Canada inevitable and in California optional small wonder. Americans life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past century. Failing hips can be replaced, clinical depression controlled, cataracts removed in a 30minuts surgical procedure. Such advances offer the aging population a quality of life that was unimaginable when I entered medicine 50 years ago. But not even a great healthcare system can cure death — and our failure to confront that reality now threatens this greatness of ours.

　　Death is normal; we are genetically programmed to disintegrate and perish, even under ideal conditions. We all understand that at some level, yet as medical consumers we treat death as a problem to be solved. Shielded by thirdparty payers from the cost of our care, we demand everything that can possibly be done for us, even if its useless. The most obvious example is latestage cancer care. Physicians — frustrated by their inability to cure the disease and fearing loss of hope in the patient — too often offer aggressive treatment far beyond what is scientifically justified.

　　In1950, the U.S. spent 1.27 billion on health care. In 2002, the cost will be 154 billion. Anyone can see this trend is unsustainable. Yet few seem willing to try to reverse it. Some scholars conclude that a government with finite resources should simply stop paying for medical care that sustains life beyond a certain age — say 83 or so. Former Colorado governor Richard Lamm has been quoted as saying that the old and infirm “have a duty to die and get out of the way”, so that younger, healthier people can realize their potential.

　　I would not go that far. Energetic people now routinely work through their 60s and beyond, and remain dazzlingly productive. At 78,Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone jokingly claims to be 53.Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor is in her 70s,and former surgeon general C. Everett Koop chairs an Internet startup in his 80s.These leaders are living proof that prevention works and that we can manage the health problems that come naturally with age. As a mere 68yearold,I wish to age as productively as they have.

　　Yet there are limits to what a society can spend in this pursuit. As a physician, I know the most costly and dramatic measures may be ineffective and painful. I also know that people in Japan and Sweden countries that spend far less on medical care, have achieved longer, healthier lives than we have. As a nation, we may be over funding the quest for unlikely cures while under funding research on humbler therapies that could improve peoples lives.

　　56. What is implied in the first sentence?

　　A. Americans are better prepared for death than other people.

　　B. Americans enjoy a higher life quality than ever before.

　　C. Americans are overconfident of their medical technology.

　　D. Americans take a vain pride in their long life expectancy.

　　57. The author uses the example of caner patients to show that

　　A. medical resources are often wasted.

　　　B. doctors are helpless against fatal diseases.

　　C. some treatments are too aggressive.

　　　D. medical costs are becoming unaffordable.

　　58. The authors attitude to ward Richard Lamms remark is one of

　　A. strong disapproval. B. reserved consent.

　　C. slight contempt. 　　D. enthusiastic support.

　　59. In contrast to the U.S., Japan and Sweden are funding their medical care

　　A. more flexibly. B. more extravagantly.

　　C. more cautiously. D. more reasonably.

　　60. The text intends to express the idea that

　　A. medicine will further prolong peoples lives.

　　B. life beyond a certain limit is not worth living.

　　C. death should be accepted as a fact of life.

　　D. excessive demands increase the cost of health care.

　　41. 【B】问题是：网络的出现

　　文章第一段最后一句，简化后便是 “Net is reshaping Donovans vocation.” 句中 “reshape” 和B项中的 “remold” 属同义词，在句中意思是翻新。 “Donovans vocation”在上下文中指的也正是前句所提到的 “spying as a profession” 和 “great game of espionage” 这又与B项中的 “intelligent service”是一个意思，故选B。文章第一段第一句用的是虚拟语气, 这表明Bill Donovan 在Internet 问世前就已经去世了,故不能选A; C项内容只是对Net 附带的描绘，不是作者要讲关于它出现的主要意图; D 项中用了 “revive” 这个词, 但常识告诉我们,间*这一行从问世以来,一直就没有中停过,又何谈 “revive”？

　　42. 【A】问题是：在文中Donovan 故事的提起,是用来

　　Donovan这个名字在作者展开文章后,就从此消失。很显然作者提到他的目的是引导读者接触到本文的主要话题,即on line spying。C、B项文章没有提到；D项内容不是文章重点。

　　43. 【C】问题是：文章第三段第一行中 “making the biggest splash” 的意思有可能是

　　文章在谈过“net spying” 这一行业在美国欣欣向荣后，第三段第一句作者讲到 “Among the firms making the biggest splash in the new world is Straitford.”。这句话到底是什么意思？下一句——“Straitford makes money by selling the results of spying”。可见，“making the biggest splash” 和 “making money” 在上下文中指的是同一个意思。这也正是C项内容（achieving the greatest success）。

　　44. 【D】问题是：文中第四段我们可以推断出

　　文章第四段最后两句中提到 “opensource spying” 也有它的风险，因为判断信息的真假往往十分困难。这也正是Straitford 在这种情况下还能赚到钱的原因所在。换句话说，Straitford 可以提供来源可靠的信息，即D项内容。 “earn ones keep” 意思是赚钱。

　　45. 【B】问题是：Straitford 最以为自豪。

　　文章最后一段讲到Straitford以他独立的声音而自豪。而这 “independent voice” 是与前句中 “usual Washington back and forth”形成对比，来显示Straitford 的 “unusual”。这与B项内容相符。Nonconformist的意思是“不遵守常规者”。

　　Wild Bill Donovan应该会爱上网络。这位在二战期间建立了战略业务部，并且随后为中央情报局打下根基的美国间*头子总是为信息所神往。Donovan坚信在谍报（间*作为职业）活动中，应当运用任何可利用的（来进行谍报活动）。如今的网络，不仅再造了像买书和发邮件这样的消遣，也正在翻新Donovan的老本行。

　　这一次的革命已不仅仅是一位绅士窃读另一位绅士的邮件那么简单了。像那样的电子特5都问世好几十年了。在过去约三四年中，从环球网（万维网）产生了一个完善的“点击”式间*产业。间*们称之为“开放资源情报业”，而随着网络的发展，它变得越来越有影响。1995年间，中央情报局举行了一个看谁能收集到最多关于Burundi情报的这样一个竞赛。一个来自弗吉尼亚的名叫OpenSource Solutions 的小小情报公司以大比分优势最终成为赢家，而这家公司的显著优势便是它对网络世界的精通。

　　Straitford，一个在得克萨斯Austin的情报分析公司,是在这个新兴行业中取得巨大成功的公司之一。Straitford通过将获得的情报（覆盖面从Chile到Russia）卖给像McDermott International 这样的能源服务公司来赚钱。它的许多预报都可以从www.straitford.com 上得到。

　　Straitford 总裁George Friedman 讲到他把网络世界视为信息获取和散发的工具，这也正是一个间*头子的梦。上周，他的公司从世界各地收集来情报，并预告了Ukraine的一次危机。“报告一发出，我们便收到了500名来自Ukraine的网民登录我们的网站。”Fredman, 一位前政治学教授讲道，“他们还将会与我们联系。”当然，由于很难辨别真假情报，开放资源间*业具有它的冒险性。但这正是Straitford 维持其生计之处。

　　Friedman 在Austin 仅依靠几个雇员而已。其中有几位还有军事情报背景。他认为公司的外在形象是它成功的关键。Straitford 的理念却不像华府那样扭扭捏捏；在对外公开情报时，他们总会担心出错。 “Straitford 以它独立的声音而骄傲。”Friedman 说道。

　　46. 【A】问题是：作者引用Edmund Burke 的话展开全文，其目的是

　　Edmaund 的这句话意思是 “一个造就愚蠢的事业胜利所需的，正是人们对它的开始无动于衷。”紧接着，下一句作者便指出 “one such cause”正在试图结束生物医学的研究。很明显，作者在文章开头引用名言，一是为了吸引读者注意，更重要的是呼吁科学家们对现今的这个 “one such cause”马上采取行动，即A项内容

　　47. 【B】问题是：受误导的民众倾向于认为在研究中使用动物这种行为是

　　文章第一段的最后两句作者讲到动物权利运动的领导人将目标锁定在生物医学研究上，原因是研究主要经费来自于民众，而且很少人了解研究的过程（这表明攻击生物医学研究是蓄意的）。在下一句里，作者指出这样攻击的结果便是流传研究所内虐待动物。许多人（指民众）大为疑惑，为什么研究人员要故意伤害动物。可见，受误导的民众认为研究人员的行为（指在研究中使用动物）是野蛮、无法接受的，即B项内容。

　　48. 【B】问题是：老奶奶的例子在文中是用来表明公众

　　文章第二段作者举老奶奶的例子来说明上段中提到很多人受了误导是因为“few people understand the process of health care research”(第一段第六～七行)。这个例子非常有趣，讲的是一个老奶奶发传单，鼓励人们不要接受任何和动物研究有关的免疫注射。当问到如果流行病又开始蔓延怎么办，她回答说：“不用担心，科学家们会通过电脑找到办法的。”对于这个例子，作者感叹道：“such wellmeaning people just dont understand.”。这个例子充分说明了大众对医学研究还缺乏认识，即B项内容。

　　49. 【A】问题是：作者认为在面临来自动物权利创导者的挑战中，科学家们应该

　　在讲完外因后，作者从文章第三段起开始指出科学家们也有责任向公众宣传科学研究这方面的知识。而且宣传的方式一定要让人觉得他们同样富有同情心，表达方式简单易懂（因为前面提到造成公众误解的原因是他们根本不知道研究过程）。这表明科研工作者对动物研究和人类医学之间关系的宣传力度本来就不够，他们与大众接触也不多，即A项内容。

　　50. 【D】问题是：从文中我们可以得出Stephen Cooper 是

　　文章最后一段六到七行作者提到像Stephen cooper这样的名人也对动物研究的价值作了勇敢声明。可见，不管Stephen是做什么出名的，他一定是动物研究的支持者，即D项内容。

　　引用18世纪演说家Edmund Burke 的话：“一个造就愚蠢的事业胜利所需的，正是人们对它的开始无动于衷。” 一个像这样的事业现在正试图结束生物医学上的研究，原因是动物具有的权利可中止它在研究中的使用。科学家们需要给动物权利鼓吹者以猛烈的还击，他们的诡辩正使公众困惑，从而危及了我们在健康知识和护理上的进步。动物权利运动的领导者将目标锁定在生物医学研究上，因为它依赖于公众的拨款，而且很少有人了解健康保健研究的过程。听到动物在研究所中受到残忍待遇的宣传，许多人怀疑动物被故意伤害。

　　比如说，一位老大娘在动物权利者的小亭子里散发鼓励人们不要用疫苗。她想搞清楚疫苗是否来源于动物研究。当问到她是否也反对免疫治疗法时，她的回答是肯定的。她又被问到：如果流行病又开始蔓延怎么办？她回答说：“不用担心，科学家们会通过电脑想出办法来的。”像这样出于好心的人们，根本就搞不懂。

　　科学家们必须以富有同情心和可以理解的方式与公众交流信息，使用具有人情味的言语而不是分子生物学的术语。我们必须向公众清楚地表明奶奶臀部替换，爸爸的分流手术，一个男孩的疫苗，甚至一个宠物的预防针，它们与动物研究之间的关系。对于那些不了解动物研究是这些治疗和新的治疗与疫苗的必需，动物研究似乎是轻则浪费，重则残忍。

　　有很多可以做。科学家们可以借用中学课堂来展示他们的研究。他们应当及时回复报编的来信，以免动物权利保护者的使人受误导的信息，逃脱人们的视线，从而披上“真理”的外衣。研究所也可以为游人开放，证明实验室的动物是受到人道的对待。最后，因为事情最终关系到病人，健康研究应当主动积极地吸收到Stephen Cooper 这样的名人，他就动物研究的价值发表了鼓舞人心的声明。如果我们还是无动于衷，那么不了解情况的大众将很有可能扑灭医学进步上宝贵的余烬。

　　51. 【C】问题是：根据那些支持铁路货运产业合并的人，垄断可能性不大因为

　　文章第一段讲述了铁路货运近几年来发生的重大变化，即众多铁路货运公司合为一个超级系统。第二段提到对于这种新型超级系统（铁道货运产业的合并）支持者，他们的理由是这样可以大量削减成本，提供更加协调的服务。至于任何垄断的危险，他们说，都会被来自公路货运的激烈竞争所排除，即C项内容。

　　52. 【C】问题是：对于铁路货运合并，多数被动托运人的态度是

　　文章第二段在合并支持者给出他们合并理由后，作者指出但许多托运人还在抱怨。可见，他们对于合并的态既不 “indifferent” 也不 “support”。因为像运 “coal，chemicals, grain” 这样的大件时，他们到头来还是成为铁路货运的盘中餐（have them by the throat）。这也是为什么文章后面称这样的被动托运人为 “captive” ，即俘虏。所以C项中的 “indignant” （愤怒）要比D项中 “apprehensive”（理解）更好形容托运人在面对这种情况时的心情。

　　53. 【C】问题是：文章第三段我们可以推断出

　　文章第三段主要讲的是铁路货运后所产生的对于托运人利益的侵犯。受害者是可以寻求政府帮助的。但费用昂贵而且耗时，只有在非常特殊的情况下才会有作用。这说明托运人是不太可能上诉的，即C项内容。

　　54. 【B】问题是：文中第四段第七行中的 “arbiters” 有可能指的是那些

　　文章第四段第六行也就是 “arbiters” 出现的那行的前一行，作者讲到在实际操作中，铁路货运所处的地位决定了哪个公司的兴或亡（in the position of determining）。对于这种局势，Martin Berocovici 问了这样一个问题：“我们真的希望他们成为决定市场上谁胜谁负的arbiters吗？” 很显然，无论 “arbiter”是什么样的人，他一定是 “in the position of determining”, 即与B项内容相同。

　　55. 【A】问题是：根据文章铁路货运投资成本的提高是由于

　　文章最后一段2至3行作者指出铁路货运产业总体上来说，虽然有着他光辉的业绩，但他的盈利仍跟不上收购和合并所需的成本投资。第三行中的 “keep up with its surging traffic” 在上下文中指的正是下句中提到的铁道货运不断地 “acquire one another”。很明显，投资成本的提高，是由 “continues acquisition” 直接造成的，即A项内容。

　　近几年来，铁路货运公司相互合并形成超级货运系统从而导致了人们对垄断的关注。早在1995年，最大的四家货运公司只占吨级铁路货运总量的不到70%。到明年，经过一系列的合并后，4个货运公司便可以控制超过90%的市场。

　　新超级系统的支持者们认为，这些兼并将使成本发生实质性的降低，并提供更协调的服务。他们认为，任何垄断的威胁都将被来自卡车的激烈竞争所解除。但许多托运人都抱怨说如长途运输像炭、化学物品和粮食这样的大件时，卡车显然成本太高，最后还是铁路获利。

　　铁路系统内部广泛的合并意味着大多数托运者将只能由一家铁路公司服务。在没有另外公司竞争的情况下，这样的铁路公司通常从高出平常收费的20%到30%来对托运者收费。发现被高收费的托运者有权上诉到联邦政府的地面运输委员会，请求降低收费，但上诉费用昂贵，同时耗时，只有在非常特殊的情况下才会有作用。

　　铁路公司认为他们收取托运人的收费标准是合理的，理由是从长久来看，所有方的成本将会降低。他们认为，如铁路还是按照前标准收费，那么一部分托运人将会选择像卡车或其他的货运方式，从而让剩下的托运人承担这个费用。许多经济学家都支持这个理论，但事实上，这使铁路公司处于决定其他公司兴或亡的地位。一位名叫Martin Bercovici 来自华盛顿专为托运公司打官司的律师问道：“难道我们真正想要铁路来裁决谁在市场中赢或输吗？”

　　许多受束缚的托运者同样担心他们不久将遭受一系列的收费提价。铁路工业总的来说，尽管有着光明的前景，但它所赚的还是不够用来持平它在兼并中所花的成本。然而，铁路继续借款几十亿美元来收购其他公司，华尔街也大肆吹捧。想一想今年南方Norfolk公司和CSX公司出价102亿购买Conraid吧。而Conraid公司1996年的纯经营收入才4.27亿美元，不到交易运输成本的一半。谁来付剩下的账单？随着南方Norfolk和CSX 对市场控制的增加，许多受束缚的托运者都变得不安起来。

　　56. 【D】问题是：文章的第一句暗示了什么？

　　文章第一段开头作者讲到：“人们都说死亡在英国视为迫切的；在加拿大视为不可避免的；而在加州（即美国）却被视为一个小小而随意的惊奇。”由此可见，美国人对于死亡乐观洒脱的态度是众所周知的。但在本段最后两句作者却指出，再好的健康医疗体制都不能治愈死亡。而且美国人在面临这个现实（指死亡）的失败时，也正威胁着我们的建树（即美国人对死亡乐观的态度），这与D项内容一致。

　　57. 【A】问题是：作者用癌症病人的这个例子来说明

　　文章第二段第四行作者讲到 “its useless”。而 “it” 所指的正是同句中的 “everything that can possibly done”( 一切可行的办法)。而对这 “everything”的支持，又是来自于美国健康医疗体制。可见，作者举这个晚期癌症病人的意图是用来说明事实上一部分的医疗开销是 “useless”，这与A项中的 “wasted” 在上下文中同义。

　　58. 【B】问题是：作者对于Richard Lamm所说的态度是

　　文章第三段是第二段的延伸，作者继续举例说明政府在健康医疗上的开销过于庞大。随后，在本段末，作者引用了前科罗拉多州州长Richard Lamm 对于这个问题的看法。他说， “老弱病残的应该有死的责任，不要挡在路上，这样更年轻更健康的才可以实现他们的潜力。” 对于Richard 粗糙的发言，作者讲道: “I would not go that far.”。接着列出许多高龄并且对社会做出巨大贡献的人。表明作者不完全同意州长所说的。B项 “reserved consent”,带保留性的同意，符合作者本意。

　　59. 【D】问题是：和美国不同, 日本和瑞典医护拨款

　　文章最后一段作者指出，任何社会中，在这方面（指health and care）所花销的应该有个节制。作为一个医护人员，作者深知昂贵和戏剧性医疗措施的后果有时是无效甚至痛苦的。日本和瑞典作为正面的例子，证明了要使一个国家的人民过得更长、更健康生活的关键，不在于这个国家在医护方面开销的大小。这也暗示了日本和瑞典在 “medical care”上的拨款是科学合理的, 即D项内容。

　　60. 【C】问题是：文章试图表达的观点是

　　文章第一段作者便暗示了美国在健康医疗体制上巨大花费的原因还是“our failure to confront that reality(death)”。接着作者陈述了自己的（也就是文章要表达的）观点—— “death is normal”，死亡是正常的，他也是生命的一部分，即C项内容。A项与文章呈现观点相反，B项不是作者观点，D项是现象，而问题问的是本质。

　　据说，死亡在英国是急迫之事，在加拿大是不可避免之事，而在加利福尼亚它却是一个小小而随意的惊奇。美国人在过去的一个世纪以来寿命延长了几乎一倍。脱节的臂部可被替换，住院的沮丧感得到了控制，30分钟的手术便可清楚白内障。这些先进的医疗为老年人口提供了一个我50年前进入医疗界时不敢想象的高质量生活。但是再优秀的保健系统还是不可以治愈死亡，而我们对于面临这个现实的失败也正在威胁着我们的建树。

　　死亡是正常的，即使是在最理想的条件下，我们基因还是注定被瓦解和消亡。这在不同程度上，我们都可以理解；但作为医药消费者，我们却试图把死亡当作问题来解决。用第三方作为我们医护经费的支持，我们要求可能为我们做到的每一件事，即使它毫无作用。最明显的例子是晚期癌症治疗。医生为他们无法治疗这样的疾病而感到苦恼，同时又害怕病人会失去希望，他们常常提供远远超出医学允许范围的过度治疗方案。

　　1950年内美国在保健护理上的花费就高达12.7亿美元，2002年里，这个数目将上升到1540亿。任何人都可以看出这种趋势是令人无法支撑的。但似乎没人愿意改变这种趋势。一些专家们认为一个有限资源的政府应当停止负担超过一定岁数国民的医护费用——比如说83岁。前科罗拉多州长Richard Lamm的话被引用，他说，老年和病弱者“有义务死去并让出路来”，这样年轻人、健康者才能发挥出自己的潜力。

　　我不会到这个地步。即使超过60岁的具有活力的老人还是可以保持他们工作的效率：78岁高龄的Summer Redstone 主席Viacom 开玩笑说他自己只有53岁；高级法院院长Sandra Day OConnor 也是古稀之人；前外科专家C. Everett Koop 在他80多岁时还主持Internet。这些领袖们都是活生生的例子，证明了预防有效而且我们可以自然地处理老龄问题。作为一名68岁的老人，我但愿我和他们一样老得有益处。

　　一个社会在这方面的花费是有限度的。作为一个医生，我深知昂贵而带戏剧性的医疗措施往往是无效甚至是痛苦的。我也同样了解日本和瑞典人，这些国家在医疗保健上的花费少得多，但却享有此我们更长的寿命和更健康的生活。作为一个国家，我们也许对几乎没有可能的疗法过于花费，而忽视了在可以提高人民健康更简单疗法上的研究。

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70天攻克考研英语阅读（每日一篇）

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