考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解节选

1、考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解2010年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解Text 1Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarteicentury, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage.It is difficult to the point of impossibili

2、ty for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To re

3、ad such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general circulation dailies.We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at

4、 a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serio

5、us business, and even those reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. 4tSo few authors have brains enough or l

6、iterary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism,Newman wrote, “thal I am tempted to define journalism as a tenn of contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.”Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian f

7、rom 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England s foremost classical music critics, and a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was kn

8、ighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists.Is there any chance that Carduss criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long b

9、efore his death, and postmodern readers have little use fbr the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that.arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspap

10、ersEnglish-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviewshigh-quality newspapers retain a large body of readersyoung readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailiesNewspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized by.A free themesB casual styleC elaborate layoutD radical

11、 viewpointsWhich of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?It is writers duty to fulfill journalistic goals.B It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.What can be learned

12、about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.His style caters largely to modern specialists.His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.What would be the best title for the text?N

13、ewspapers of the Good Old DaysThe Lost Horizon in NewspapersMournful Decline of JournalismProminent Critics in MemoryText 2Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. A received one for its “one-click“ online payment system. Merrill Lynch got le

14、gal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.Now the nation, s top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that

15、has intellectual property lawyers abuzz, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In the Bilski, as the case is known, is “ a very big deal,“ says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of

16、 Law. It “has the potential to eliminate an entire class of patents7*Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about face, because it was the Federal Circuit itself that introduced such patents with its 1998 decision in the so-called State Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of p

17、ooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging Internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, more established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only

18、as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents, despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment firms armed themselv

19、es with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal Circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the cour

20、ts judges, rather than a typical panel of three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should “reconsider“ its State Street Bank ruling.The Federal Circuits action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for pa

21、tent holders. Last April, for example, the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for “inventions“ that are obvious. The judges on the Federal Circuit are ureacting to the anti patent trend at the Supreme Court,“ says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Was

22、hington University Law School. 26.Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because of .their limited value to businesstheir connection with asset allocationthe possible restriction on their grantingD the controversy over authorization27,Which of the following is TRUE of the Bilski case?

23、A Its ruling complies with the court decisions.B It involves a very big business transaction.It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit.It may change the legal practices in the US.The word wabout face” （Line 1, Para. 3） most probably means.A loss of good will B increase of hostilityC change of att

24、itude D enhancement of dignity.We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents.are immune to legal challengesare often unnecessarily issuedlower the esteem for patent holdersincrease the incidence of risks.Which of the following would be the subject of the text?A looming threat to

25、 the business-method patents.B Protection for business-method patent holders.A legal case regarding business-method patents.A prevailing trend against business-method patents.Text 3 （略）Text 4 （略）2009年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解Text 1Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on au

26、to pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. a Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting herd,“ William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word “ habit“ carries a negative implication.So it seems paradoxical to talk about ha

27、bits in the same context as creativity and innovation. But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.Rather than dismissing ourse

28、lves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we trythe more we step outside our comfort zonethe more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives.But dont bother tryi

29、ng to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, theyre there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.“The first thing needed for innovation is a fascination with wonder/* says Dawn

30、a Markova, author of The Open Mind. But we are taught instead to 4decide/ just as our president calls himself the Decider/ She adds, however, that k*to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.All of us work through

31、 problems in ways of which were unaware, she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are bom with the capacity to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, relationally (or collaboratively) and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain

32、 shuts down half of that capacity, preserving only those modes of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us inherently use our innovative and collaborative modes

33、of thought. t4This breaks the major rule in the American belief system-that anyone can do anything/5 explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will. and Ms. Markovas business partner. Thats a lie that we have perpetuated, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what youre good at and doing

34、 even more of it creates excellence. This is where developing new habits comes in.In Wordsworth * s view, “habits“ is characterized by beingA casual. B familiar. C mechanical. D changeable.Brain researchers have discovered that the formation of new habits can beA predicted. B regulated. C traced. D

35、guided.The word ruts” (line 1, paragraph 4) is closest in meaning toA tracks. B series. C characteristics. D connections.Dawna Markova would most probably agree thatA ideas are born of a relaxing mind. B innovativeness could be taught.C decisiveness derives from fantastic ideas. D curiosity activate

36、s creative minds.Ryans comments suggest that the practice of standard testingA prevents new habits from being formed.B no longer emphasizes commonness.C maintains the inherent American thinking mode.Dj complies with the American belief system.核心词汇analytically ad.分析地；分解地bypassvt.绕过；n.(by+pass)旁道 coll

37、aboratively ad.合作地fascination n.魔力，入迷，魅力，迷恋，强烈爱好foster vt.养育;收养;怀抱;鼓励a.收养的n.养育者herd n.群，兽群，牛群v.放牧，群集highlight v.使显著，使突出;强调n.最精彩的部分implication n.含意，暗示，暗指：牵连（im进入+plic+ate+ion名词后缀）ingrainv.使根深蒂固；把深深地印在头脑中inherent a.固有的，内在的,天生的（in里面+her+ent形容词后缀一天生连着一天赋的） innovation n.革新；新方法，新技术（in进入+nov+ale动词后缀一进入新的状态

38、+ion名词 后缀一革新） paradoxical a.矛盾的parallel &平行的，相同的,类似的n.平行线，类似perpetuate v.使永久（per全部，永久+pet+uate-追求永久）preserve v.保护潍持;保存，保藏（pre预先+servef预先保留f保存）procedure n.程序；办事程序；手续；步骤（pro在前+ced行走，前进+ure名词后缀一在前 面走完的程序）synaptic a.突触的，染色体结合的track n.跑道，小路;轨迹，轮迹v.跟踪，追踪unconscious a. un-不、非、未+conscious意识到的，自觉的;神志清醒的（un+c

39、on+sci+ous 形容词后缀一未知道的一没有意识的）unreflecting a.缺乏思考的，不反省的（un 不、非、未+reflecting ）； reflectv.反射；（常 与that, how连用）表达：反映；（常与on, upon连用）仔细考虑（re反+flect弯曲返回反 射）难句剖析难句 1 But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brai

40、n cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.分析此句的主干是brain researchers have discovered that,discovered之后的引导的宾 语从句是个复合句：开始是when引导的状语从句，接着是主句we create parallelnew brain cells ,之后的that引导的从句that can jumponto是一个定语从句，修饰先行词parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cel

41、lSo译文但是，大脑研究人员已经发现：当我们有意识地培养新习惯时，我们也创建了平行 的突触路径，甚至还会形成全新的脑细胞这些能把我们的思绪引入到不同于过去的创新 的轨道上。难句 21 n fact, the more new things we try一the more we step outside our comfort zone一the more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives.分析此句包含the morethe more.the more句型结构。注意第一个th

42、e more后谓语和 宾语的倒装，第三个the more后表语和系动词倒装。译文事实上，我们对新事物尝试的越多，我们就越能够跨出令自己倍感舒适的范围，我 们就会变得越有创造力，不管是在职场还是个人生活中。难句 3 But we are taught instead to decide, just as our president calls himself 4the Decider., She adds, however, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker

43、is always exploring the many other possibilities/)分析此句由三个句子:第一个句子是复合句,主句在前,as引导的从句在后;第二个 句子的主干是She adds.that，在that引导的宾语从句中,不定式to decide作主语,不定 式to kill off all possibilities作表语，but的意思是除了 ；第三个句子的结果比较简单。译文“相反，我们被教导要做各种决策，就像我们的总裁称自己为决策者一样 但是她补充说：“做决策就意味摒弃其他，把所有可能性扼杀到只有一种可能。一位优秀的 创新型的思想家总是考虑很多其他的可能性。难句 4

44、At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that capacity, preserving only those modes of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.分析此句是复合句。句子的主干是the brain shuts down half of that capacity (现在分词 preserving.作状语，其中包含that引导的定语从句，修饰those modes of

45、thought。译文然而，在青春期末期，大脑就关闭掉了其中一半的能力，只保留了那些人生的前十 年左右看起来有价值的思维模式。文章类型：社会科学社会心理学培养习惯本文谈论的是习惯(habits)带给人们的好处以及可能存在的积极意义创造 和创新(creativity and innovation),指出人们应该多使用创新和合作的思维方式，在自己擅 长的领域多做一些，争取卓越。文章主要使用引证和说理两种手段分析了现实中它们是如何 被扼杀的。文章是总分结构，但是段落较多，分割了意群，理解上有一定困难。试题解析根据华兹华斯的观点，“习惯”具有的特点是A随意的。B熟悉的。C机械的。D多变的。细节事实题正确

46、答案C第一段第三句提到威廉华兹华斯的讲话，他的语言显然是对前一句We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routineM进行解释，这说明他认为人们在日常做事情时，通常不用思考，自然而然 地就做了，因此可以得出他认为习惯是机械性的，无需选择和创新。B是第二句中提到 的习惯的特点，不是William Wordsworth的观点，D与William Wordsworth的观点相悖，A在文中并未提及，排除。大脑

47、研究人员发现新习惯的形成能够被A预测。B调整。C追踪。D引导。细节事实题正确答案D第二段第二句提到了研究人员的发现when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.,其中develop, create, jump”这几个关键诃说明了新习惯的形成模式。 只有guided可以对develop, create, jump这个

48、过程进行归纳，说明新习惯的形成是可以培 养的，故D为正确选项。A和B未提及；C为强干扰项，虽然在第四段提及了 don t bother trying to kill off old habits,但在描述新习惯的形成过程中没有提到旧习惯对新 习惯的影响，自然无需对旧习惯进行追踪，排除C。与第四段第一行出现的“ruts”的含义最接近的意识是A途径。B系列。C特点。D联系。词汇题正确答案A根据第四段首句的内容”But don t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the

49、brain, they re there to stay.可以得知 those ruts 指 old habitso 第 二段末句提到 new habits 的时候指出jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks 而第四段末句提至! 了 the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads；显然作者用 new tracks 指 new habits； old roads

50、 指 old habits, 故A为正确选项。DawnaMarkova最可能同意的观点是A思想源自放松的思维。B创新是可以传授的。C决定来自新奇的想法。D好奇心可以激发创造力。细节事实题正确答案D根据第五段首句 Dawna Markova 的观点The first thing needed for innovation is a fascination with wonder, 可以得知D是对该部分内容的归纳总结，故为正确选项。文中没有提到 是否能够由学习得到的问题，AB和C无依据。Ryan的评论表明标准化测试的做法A阻碍了新习惯的形成。B不再强调平庸。C保留了美国人固有的思维方式。D与美国人

51、的信念体系一致。推理题正确答案A通过最后一段首句的内容“The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us inherently use our innovative and collaborative modes of thought.结合前文及后面的引证可以看出Ryan认为标准化测试使人们的思维模式单一，这 不利于人们的创新，自然也无法形成新的习惯，故A为正确选项。全文精译习惯是一种有趣的现象。我们无意中养成了习惯，把我们的大脑如同自动驾

52、驶仪般设定 为自动操作，然后放松地进入到熟悉的常规的无意识舒服状态。威廉华兹华斯在19世纪 说：“是习惯而非选择常常支配那些没有思想的人如今，到了瞬息万变的21世 纪，甚至“习惯”这个词本身也带有负面涵义。因此，在创造和创新的背景下我们谈论习惯， 这似乎显得有些矛盾。但是，大脑研究人员已经发现：当我们有意识地培养新习惯时，我们 也创建了平行的突触路径,甚至还会形成全新的脑细胞这些能把我们的思绪引入到不同 于过去的创新的轨道上的脑细胞。我们可以通过有意识地培养新的习惯来指导改变自己，而 非把自己当作一成不变的拥有习惯的动物来否定。事实上，我们对新事物尝试的越多，我们 就越能够跨出令自己倍感舒适的

53、范围，我们就会变得越有创造力，不管是在职场还是个人生 活中。但是，不要白费力气试图戒除一切旧习惯。因为，一旦这些惯有程序融进大脑，将会 永远留在其中。相反，那些被我们有意养成的根深蒂固的新习惯会创建绕过那些旧路线的平 行路径。“创新需要的第一样东西就是带有好奇的着迷开放性思维一书的作者达瓦纳吗 克瓦说到，“相反，我们被教导要做各种决策，就像我们的总裁称自己为决策者一样。” 但是她补充说：“做决策就意味摒弃其他，把所有可能性扼杀到只留下一个答案。位优秀 的创新型的思想家总是考虑很多其他的可能性她还说，我们所有人都是在用我们自己并 没有觉察到的方式解决这样或那样的问题的。研究人员在二十世纪六十年代

54、发现，人类天生 就具有用四种基本方法应对挑战的能力：分析法、程序法、联系法（或合作法）和创新法。 然而，在青春期末期，大脑就关闭掉了其中一半的能力，只保留了那些人生的前十年左右看 起来有价值的思维模式。目前对于标准化测试主要强调分析和程序这两种思维模式，也就意 味着我们中很少有人自觉地运用创新和合作的思维模式。M.J.瑞恩，2006年出版了今年我 将一书的作者，同时也是马克瓦女士的商业合作伙伴，解糅道：“这违背了美国信仰 体系中任何人都可以做任何事这条主要规则。这是我们延续的一个谎言，它助长了共性。 其实，了解你擅长什么，再多做一些就能成就卓越。”而这恰恰就是我们培养的新习惯如何 形成的。第一

55、段：讲述习惯如何影响人们，以及它的负面涵义。前两句为引子，引出威廉华兹 华斯的观点，末句对该观点进行总结。第二段：通过一个过度句，引出研究人员的发现，提出全文论点：开发新习惯具有积极 意义，有助于培养创新性和创造力。第三段：指出发展新习惯的好处。第四段：通过说理法说明培养新习惯无需戒除旧习惯的原因。第五段：通过举例说明人们的创新性受到抑制的原因。 第六段：讲述了现实当中创新性、创造性习惯的缺失。 第七段：通过引证法提及如何成就卓越。Text 2It is a wise father that knows his own child, but today a man can boost his

56、paternal (fatherly) wisdom一or at least confirm that he s the kid, s dad. All he needs to do is shell out $30 for a paternity testing kit (PTK) at his local drugstoreand another $120 to get the results.More than 60,000 people have purchased the PTKs since they first became available without prescript

57、ions last years, according to Doug Fogg, chief operating officer of Identigene, which makes the over-the-counter kits. More than two dozen companies sell DNA tests directly to the public, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to more than $2500.Among the most popular : paternity and kinship te

58、sting , which adopted children can use to find their biological relatives and families can use to track down kids put up for adoption. DNA testing is also the latest rage among passionate genealogistsand supports businesses that offer to search for a familys geographic roots.Most tests require colle

59、cting cells by swabbing saliva in the mouth and sending it to the company for testing. All tests require a potential candidate with whom to compare DNA.But some observers are skeptical, *There is a kind of false precision being hawked by people claiming they are doing ancestry testing/ says Trey Dus

60、ter, a New York University sociologist. He notes that each individual has many ancestorsnumbering in the hundreds just a few centuries back. Yet most ancestry testing only considers a single lineage, either the Y chromosome inherited through men in a fathers line or mitochondrial DNA, which is passe