2000-2011年历年考研英语真题+答案完美打印版(2012考研英语)

201I年考研英语ー真题及答案SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:AncientGreekphilosopherAristotleviewedlaughteras“abodilyexerciseprecioustohealth.^^Butsomeclaimstothecontrary,laughingprobablyhaslittleinfluenceonphysicalfilnessLaughterdoesshort-termchangesinthefunctionoftheheartanditsbloodvessels,heartrateandoxygenconsumptionButbecausehardlaughterisdifficultto,agoodlaughisunlikelytohavebenefitstheway,say,walkingorjoggingdoes.,insteadofstrainingmusclestobuildthem,asexercisedoes,laughterapparentlyaccomplishesthe,studiesdatingbacktothe1930*8indicatethatlaughter,muscles,Suchbodilyreactionmightconceivablyhelptheeffectsofpsychologicalstress.Anyway,theactoflaughingprobablydoesproduceothertypesoffeedback,thatimproveanindividuaFsemotionalstate.oneclassicaltheoryofemotion,ourfeelingsarepartiallyrootedphysicalreactions.Itwasarguedattheendofthe19thcenturythathumansdonotcrytheyaresadbuttheybecomesadwhentetearsbegintoflow.Althoughsadnessalsotears,evidencesuggeststhatemotionscanflowmuscularresponses.!nanexperimentpublishedin1988,socialpsychologistFritz.[Alamong[B]except[C]despite[D]like[A]reflectfB]demand[C]indicate[DIproduce[A]stabilizing[B]boosting[C]impairing[D]determining[AJtransmit[B]sustain[CJevaluate[DJobserve[A]measurable[B]manageable[CJaffordable[DJrenewable[AJInturn[BJInfact[C]Inaddition[D]Inbrief[A]opposite[B]impossible[C]average[D]expected[A]hardens[B]weakens[C]tightens[Dlrelaxes[Alaggravate[B]generate[C]moderate[D]enhance[A]physical [BJmentl[CJsubconscious[D]internal[AJExceptfor[BJAccordingto[CJDueto[DJAsfor[A]with[BJon[C]in[D]at[A]unless[B]untilCJif[DJbecause[A]exhausts[BJfollows[CJprecedes[D]suppresses[A]into[B]from[C]towards[D]beyond[A]fetch[BJbite[C]pick[DJhold[Aldisappointed[Biexcited[Cljoyful[Dlindifferent[AJadapted[BJcatered[CJturned[DJreacted[A]suggesting[BJrequiring[C]mentioning[DJsupposing[AJEventually[BJConsequently[CJSimilarly[DJConverselySectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Text1ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast."Hooray!Atlast!”wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert'sappointmentintheTimes,callshim“anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabouthim."AsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledbymusicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,thatseemslikelytohavestruckatleastsomeTimesreadersasfaintpraise.Formypart,IhavenoideawhetherGilbertisagreatconductororevenagoodone.Tobesure,heperformsanimpressivevarietyofinterestingcompositions,butitisnotnecessaryformetovisitAveryFisherHall,oranywhereelse,tohearinterestingorchestralmusic.AllIhavetodoistogotomyCDshelf,orbootupmycomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfromiTunes.Devotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformancearemissingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classicalinstrumentalistsmustcompetenotonlywithoperahouses,dancetroupes,theatercompanies,andmuseums,butalsowiththerecordedperformancesofthegreatclassicalmusiciansofthe20thcentury.Thererecordingsarecheap,availableeverywhere,andveryoftenmuchhigherinartisticqualitythantoday'sliveperformances;moreover,theycanbe“consumed"atatimeandplaceofthelistener'schoosing.Thewidespreadavailabilityofsuchrecordingshasthusbroughtaboutacrisisintheinstitutionofthetraditionalclassicalconcert.Onepossibleresponseisforclassicalperformerstoprogramattractivenewmusicthatisnotyetavailableonrecord.Gilbert'sowninterestinnewmusichasbeenwidelynoted:AlexRoss,aclassical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonicinto“amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization."Butwhatwillbethenatureofthatdifference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra'srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthePhilharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica'soldestorchestraandthenewaudienceithopstoattract.WelearnfromPara.1thatGilbert'sappointmenthas[AJincurredcriticism. [BJraisedsuspicion.[CJreceivedacclaim.[DJarousedcuriosity.TommasiniregardsGilbertasanartistwhois[A]influential. [BJmodest. [CJrespectable.[DJtalented.TheauthorbelievesthatthedevotedconcertgoersIA]ignoretheexpensesofliveperformances.[BJrejectmostkindsofrecordedperformances.[CJexaggeratethevarietyofliveperformances.[DJoverestimatethevalueofliveperformances.Accordingtothetext,whichofthefollowingistrueofrecordings?[A]Theyareofteninferiortoliveconcertsinquality.fB]Theyareeasilyaccessibletothegeneralpublic.[CITheyhelpimprovethequalityofmusic.[D]Theyhaveonlycoveredmasterpieces.RegardingGilbert'sroleinrevitalizingthePhilharmonic,theauthorfeels[AJdoubtfuL[B]enthusiastic.[C]confident.[D]puzzled.Text2WhenLiamMcGeedepartedaspresidentofBankofAmericainAugust,hisexplanationwassurprisinglystraightup.Ratherthancloakinghisexitintheusualvagueexcuses,hecamerightoutandsaidhewasleaving“topursuemygoalofrunningacompany."Broadcastinghisambitionwas“verymuchmydecision,"McGeesays.Withintwoweeks,hewastalkingforthefirsttimewiththeboardofHartfordFinancialServicesGroup,whichnamedhimCEOandchairmanonSeptember29.McGeesaysleavingwithoutapositionlinedupgavehimtimetoreflectonwhatkindofcompanyhewantedtorun.Italsosentaclearmessagetotheoutsideworldabouthisaspirations.AndMcGeeisn'talone.InrecentweekstheNo.2executivesatAvonandAmericanExpressquitwiththeexplanationthattheywerelookingforaCEOpost.Asboardsscrutinizesuccessionplansinresponsetoshareholderpressure,executiveswhodon'tgetthenodalsomaywishtomoveon.Aturbulentbusinessenvironmentalsohasseniormanagerscautiousoflettingvaguepronouncementscloudtheirreputations.Asthefirstsignsofrecoverybegintotakehold,deputychiefsmaybemorewillingtomakethejumpwithoutanet.Inthethirdquarter,CEOturnoverwasdown23%fromayearagoasnervousboardsstuckwiththeleaderstheyhad,accordingtoLiberumResearch.Astheeconomypicksup,opportunitieswillaboundforaspiringleaders.Thedecisiontoquitaseniorpositiontolookforabetteroneisunconventional.ForyearsexecutivesandheadhuntershaveadheredtotherulethatthemostattractiveCEOcandidatesaretheoneswhomustbepoached.SaysKorn/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCarey:"Ican'tthinkofasinglesearchI'vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst."Thosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven'talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeage,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInternet-basedcommoditiesexchange.RobertWillumstadleftCitigroupin2005withambitionstobeaCEO.Hefinallytookthatpostatamajorfinancialinstitutionthreeyearslater.Manyrecruiterssaytheolddisgraceisfadingfortopperformers.Thefinancialcrisishasmadeitmoreacceptabletobebetweenjobsortoleaveabadone."Thetraditionalrulewasit'ssafertostaywhereyouare,butthat'sbeenfundamentallyinverted,"saysoneheadhunter."Thepeoplewho'vebeenhurttheworstarethosewho'vestayedtoolong."WhenMcGeeannouncedhisdeparture,hismannercanbestbedescribedasbeing[A]arrogant.[Blfrank.[C]self-centered.[D]impulsive.AccordingtoParagraph2,seniorexecutives'quittingmaybespurredby[A]theirexpectationofbetterfinancialstatus.[BJtheirneedtoreflectontheirprivatelife.[CJtheirstrainedrelationswiththeboards.[DJtheirpursuitofnewcareergoals.Theword"poached"(Line3,Paragraph4)mostprobablymeans[AJapprovedof.[BJattendedto.[CJhuntedfor. [D]guardedagainst.Itcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat[A]topperformersusedtoclingtotheirposts.[BJloyaltyoftopperformersisgettingout-dated.[CJtopperformerscaremoreaboutreputations.[DJit'ssafertosticktothetraditionalrules.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthetext?[A]CEOs:WheretoGo? [B]CEOs:AlltheWayUp?[C]TopManagersJumpwithoutaNet [D]TheOnlyWayOutforTopPerformersText3Theroughguidetomarketingsuccessusedtobethatyougotwhatyoupaidfor.Nolonger.Whiletraditional"paid"media-suchastelevisioncommercialsandprintadvertisements-stillplayamajorrole,companiestodaycanexploitmanyalternativeformsofmedia.Consumerspassionateaboutaproductmaycreate"owned"mediabysendinge-mailalertsaboutproductsandsalestocustomersregisteredwithitsWebsite.Thewayconsumersnowapproachthebroadrangeoffactorsbeyondconventionalpaidmedia.Paidandownedmediaarecontrolledbymarketerspromotingtheirownproducts.Forearnedmedia,suchmarketersactastheinitiatorforusers'responses.Butinsomecases,onemarketer'sownedmediabecomeanothermarketer'spaidmedia—forinstance,whenane-commerceretailersellsadspaceonitsWebsite.Wedefinesuchsoldmediaasownedmediawhosetrafficissostrongthatotherorganizationsplacetheircontentore-commerceengineswithinthatenvironment.Thistrend,whichwebelieveisstillinitsinfancy,effectivelybeganwithretailersandtravelproviderssuchasairlinesandhotelsandwillnodoubtgofurther.Johnson&Johnson,forexample,hascreatedBabyCenter,astand-alonemediapropertythatpromotescomplementaryandevencompetitiveproducts.Besidesgeneratingincome,thepresenceofothermarketersmakesthesiteseemobjective,givescompaniesopportunitiestolearnvaluableinformationabouttheappealofothercompanies,marketing,andmayhelpexpandusertrafficforallcompaniesconcerned.Thesamedramatictechnologicalchangesthathaveprovidedmarketerswithmore(andmorediverse)communicationschoiceshavealsoincreasedtheriskthatpassionateconsumerswillvoicetheiropinionsinquicker,morevisible,andmuchmoredamagingways.Suchhijackedmediaaretheoppositeofearnedmedia:anassetorcampaignbecomeshostagetoconsumers,otherstakeholders,oractivistswhomakenegativeallegationsaboutabrandorproduct.Membersofsocialnetworks,forinstance,arelearningthattheycanhijackmediatoapplypressureonthebusinessesthatoriginallycreatedthem.Ifthathappens,passionateconsumerswouldtrytopersuadeotherstoboycottproducts,puttingthereputationofthetargetcompanyatrisk.Insuchacase,thecompany'sresponsemaynotbesufficientlyquickorthoughtful,andthelearningcurvehasbeensteep.ToyotaMotor,forexample,alleviatedsomeofthedamagefromitsrecallcrisisearlierthisyearwitharelativelyquickandwell-orchestratedsocial-mediaresponsecampaign,whichincludedeffortstoengagewithconsumersdirectlyonsitessuchasTwitterandthesocial-newssiteDigg.Consumersmaycreate“earned”mediawhentheyare[AJobsessedwithonlineshoppingatcertainWebsites.inspiredbyproduct-promotinge-mailssenttothem.eagertohelptheirfriendspromotequalityproducts.enthusiasticaboutrecommendingtheirfavoriteproducts.AccordingtoParagraph2,soldmediafeature[A]asafebusinessenvironment. [BJrandomcompetition.[C]strongusertraffic. [D]flexibilityinorganization.TheauthorindicatesinParagraph3thatearnedmedia[AJinviteconstantconflictswithpassionateconsumers.canbeusedtoproducenegativeeffectsinmarketing.mayberesponsibleforfiercercompetition.[DJdeserveallthenegativecommentsaboutthem.ToyotaMotor'sexperienceiscitedasanexampleof[AJrespondingeffectivelytohijackedmedia.[BJpersuadingcustomersintoboycottingproducts.[CJcooperatingwithsupportiveconsumers.[DJtakingadvantageofhijackedmedia.Whichofthefollowingisthetextmainlyabout?[AJAlternativestoconventionalpaidmedia.fBJConflictbetweenhijackedandearnedmedia.[C]Dominanceofhijackedmedia. [DJPopularityofownedmedia.Text4It'snosurprisethatJenniferSenior'sinsightful,provocativemagazinecoverstory,"IloveMyChildren,IHateMyLife,"isarousingmuchchatter—nothinggetspeopletalkinglikethesuggestionthatchildrearingisanythinglessthanacompletelyfulfilling,life-enrichingexperience.Ratherthanconcludingthatchildrenmakeparentseitherhappyormiserable,Seniorsuggestsweneedtoredefinehappiness:insteadofthinkingofitassomethingthatcanbemeasuredbymoment-to-momentjoy,weshouldconsiderbeinghappyasapast-tensecondition.Eventhoughtheday-to-dayexperienceofraisingkidscanbesoul-crushinglyhard,Seniorwritesthat"theverythingsthatinthemomentdampenourmoodscanlaterbesourcesofintensegratificationanddelight."ThemagazinecovershowinganattractivemotherholdingacutebabyishardlytheonlyMadonna-and-childimageonnewsstandsthisweek.Therearealsostoriesaboutnewlyadoptive—andnewlysingle-momSandraBullock,aswellastheusual"JenniferAnistonispregnant"news.Practicallyeveryweekfeaturesatleastonecelebritymom,ormom-to-be,smilingonthenewsstands.Inasocietythatsopersistentlycelebratesprocreation,isitanywonderthatadmittingyouregrethavingchildrenisequivalenttoadmittingyousupportkitten-killing?Itdoesn'tseemquitefoir,then,tocomparetheregretsofparentstotheregretsofthechildren.Unhappyparentsrarelyareprovokedtowonderiftheyshouldn'thavehadkids,butunhappychildlessfolksarebotheredwiththemessagethatchildrenarethesinglemostimportantthingintheworld:obviouslytheirmiserymustbeadirectresultofthegapingbaby-sizeholesintheirlives.Ofcourse,theimageofparenthoodthatcelebritymagazineslikeUsWeeklyandPeoplepresentishugelyunrealistic,especiallywhentheparentsaresinglemotherslikeBullock.Accordingtoseveralstudiesconcludingthatparentsarelesshappythanchildlesscouples,singleparentsaretheleasthappyofall.Noshockthere,consideringhowmuchworkitistoraiseakidwithoutapartnertoleanon;yettohearSandraandBritneytellit,raisingakidontheir"own"(read:withround-the-clockhelp)isapieceofcake.It'shardtoimaginethatmanypeoplearedumbenoughtowantchildrenjustbecauseReeseandAngelinamakeitlooksoglamorous:mostadultsunderstandthatababyisnotahaircut.Butit'sinterestingtowonderiftheimagesweseeeveryweekofstress-free,happiness-enhancingparenthoodaren'tinsomesmall,subconsciouswaycontributingtoourowndissatisfactionswiththeactualexperience,inthesamewaythatasmallpartofushopedgetting"theRachel"mightmakeuslookjustalittlebitlikeJenniferAniston.JenniferSeniorsuggestsinherarticlethatraisingachildcanbring[A]temporarydelight [Blenjoymentinprogress[CJhappinessinretrospect [DJlastingrewardWelearnfromParagraph2that[A]celebritymomsareapermanentsourceforgossip.[BJsinglemotherswithbabiesdeservegreaterattention.[C]newsaboutpregnantcelebritiesisentertaining.LDJhavingchildrenishighlyvaluedbythepublic.ItissuggestedinParagraph3thatchildlessfolks[A]areconstantlyexposedtocriticism. [BJarelargelyignoredbythemedia.[CJfailtofulfilltheirsocialresponsibilities. [DJarelesslikelytobesatisfiedwiththeirlife..AccordingtoParagraph4,themessageconveyedbycelebritymagazinesis[A]soothing .[B]ambiguous.[Clcompensatory.[D]misleading..Whichofthefollowingcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?[A]Havingchildrencontributeslittletotheglamourofcelebritymoms.[BJCelebritymomshaveinfluencedourattitudetowardschildrearing.[C]Havingchildrenintensifiesourdissatisfactionwithlife.[D]Wesometimesneglectthehappinessfromchildrearing.PartBDirections:Thefollowingparagrapharegiveninawrongorder.ForQuestions41-45,youarerequiredtoreorganizetheseparagraphsintoacoherenttextbychoosingfromthelistA-Gtofillingthemintothenumberedboxes.ParagraphsEandGhavebeencorrectlyplaced.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)Nodisciplineshaveseizedonprofessionalismwithasmuchenthusiasmasthehumanities.Youcan,MrMenandpointsout,becamealawyerinthreeyearsandamedicaldoctorinfour.Buttheregulartimeittakestogetadoctoraldegreeinthehumanitiesisnineyears.Notsurprisingly,uptohalfofalldoctoralstudentsinEnglishdropoutbeforegettingtheirdegrees.Hisconcernismainlywiththehumanities:Literature,languages,philosophyandsoon.Thesearedisciplinesthataregoingoutofstyle:22%ofAmericancollegegraduatesnowmajorinbusinesscomparedwithonly2%inhistoryand4%inEnglish.However,manyleadingAmericanuniversitieswanttheirundergraduatestohaveagroundinginthebasiccanonofideasthateveryeducatedpersonshouldposses.Butmostfinditdifficulttoagreeonwhata"generaleducation”shouldlooklike.AtHarvard,MrMenandnotes,"thegreatbooksarereadbecausetheyhavebeenread”・theyformasortofsocialglue.Equallyunsurprisingly,onlyabouthalfendupwithprofessorshipsforwhichtheyenteredgraduateschool.Therearesimplytoofewposts.ThisispartlybecauseuniversitiescontinuetoproduceevermorePhDs.Butfewerstudentswanttostudyhumanitiessubjects:Englishdepartmentsawardedmorebachelor'sdegreesin1970-71thantheydid20yearslater.Fewerstudentsrequiresfewerteachers.So,attheendofadecadeoftheses-writing,manyhumanitiesstudentsleavetheprofessiontodosomethingforwhichtheyhavenotbeentrained.OnereasonwhyitishardtodesignandteachsuchcoursesisthattheycancutacrosstheinsistencebytopAmericanuniversitiesthatliberal-artseducationsandprofessionaleducationshouldbekeptseparate,taughtindifferentschools.Manystudentsexperiencebothvarieties.AlthoughmorethanhalfofHarvardundergraduatesendupinlaw,medicineorbusiness,futuredoctorsandlawyersmuststudyanon-specialistliberal-artsdegreebeforeembarkingonaprofessionalqualification.Besidesprofessionalizingtheprofessionsbythisseparation,topAmericanuniversitieshaveprofessionalisedtheprofessor.Thegrowthinpublicmoneyforacademicresearchhasspeededtheprocess:federalresearchgrantsrosefourfoldbetween1960and1990,butfacultyteachinghoursfellbyhalfasresearchtookitstoll.Professionalismhasturnedtheacquisitionofadoctoraldegreeintoaprerequisiteforasuccessfulacademiccareer:aslateas1969athirdofAmericanprofessorsdidnotpossessone.Butthekeyideabehindprofessionalisation,arguesMrMenand,isthat"theknowledgeandskillsneededforaparticularspecializationaretransmissiblebutnottransferable/'Sodisciplinesacquireamonopolynotjustovertheproductionofknowledge,butalsoovertheproductionoftheproducersofknowledge.Thekeytoreforminghighereducation,concludesMrMenand,istoalterthewayinwhich"theproducersofknowledgeareproduced.MOtherwise,academicswillcontinuetothinkdangerouslyalike,increasinglydetachedfromthesocietieswhichtheystudy,investigateandcriticize.^^Academicinquiry,atleastinsomefields,mayneedtobecomelessexclusionaryandmoreholisticJYetquitehowthathappens,MrMenanddosenotsay.ThesubtleandintelligentlittlebookTheMarketplaceofIdeas:ReformandResistanceintheAmericanUniversityshouldbereadbyeverystudentthinkingofapplyingtotakeadoctoraldegree.Theymaythendecidetogoelsewhere.ForsomethingcurioushasbeenhappeninginAmericanUniversities,andLouisMenand,aprofessorofEnglishatHarvardUniversity,captureditskillfully.G-41.-42.-E-43.-44.-45.2010年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题In1924America'sNationalResearchCouncilsenttwoengineerstosuperviseaseriesofindustrialexperimentsatalargetelephone-partsfactorycalledtheHawthornePlantnearChicago.Ithopedtheywouldlearnhowstop-floorlighting1workers'productivity.Instead,thestudiesended2givingtheirnametothe"Hawthorneeffect'1,theextremelyinfluentialideathatthevery3tobeingexperimenteduponchangedsubjects'behavior.Theideaarosebecauseofthe4behaviorofthewomenintheHawthorneplant.Accordingto5oftheexperiments,theirhourlyoutputrosewhenlightingwasincreased,butalsowhenitwasdimmed.Itdidnot6whatwasdoneintheexperiment;7somethingwaschanged,productivityrose.A(n)8thattheywerebeingexperimenteduponseemedtobe9toalterworkers'behavior10itself.Afterseveraldecades,thesamedatawere11toeconometrictheanalysis.Hawthorneexperimentshasanothersurprisestore12thedescriptionsonrecord,nosystematic13wasfoundthatlevelsofproductivitywererelatedtochangesinlighting.Itturnsoutthatpeculiarwayofconductingtheexperimentsmaybehaveletto14interpretationofwhathapped.L5,lightingwasalwayschangedonaSunday.WhenworkstartedagainonMonday,output16rosecomparedwiththepreviousSaturdayand17toriseforthenextcoupleofdays.18 ,acomparisonwithdataforweekswhentherewasnoexperimentationshowedthatoutputalwayswentuponMonday,workers19tobediligentforthefirstfewdaysoftheweekinanycase,before20aplateauandthenslackeningoff.Thissuggeststhatthealleged"Hawthorneeffect"ishardtopindown.[AJaffected[BJachieved[C]extracted[D]restored[A]at[B]up[C]with[D]off[A]truth[B]sight[C]act[D]proof[A]controversial[B]perplexing[Clmischievous[D]ambiguous[A]requirements[B]explanations[C]accounts[DJassessments[A]concludefB]matter[C]indicate[D]work[AJasfaras[BJforfearthat[CJincasethat[DJsolongas[AJawareness[BJexpectation[C]sentiment[DJillusion[A]suitable[B]excessive[C]enough[DIabundant[AJabout[BJfor[CJon[D]by[AJcompared[BJshown[CJsubjected[DJconveyed[AJcontraryto[BJconsistentwith[CJparallelwith[DJpeculiarto[AJevidence[BJguidance[CJimplication[DJsource[AJdisputable[BJenlightening[CJreliable[DJmisleading[AJIncontrast[BJForexample[CJInconsequence[DJAsusual[AJdulyfBJaccidentally[CJunpredictably[DJsuddenly[AJfailed[BJceased[CJstarted[D]continued[AJbreaking[BJclimbing[CJsurpassing[DJhittingSectionIIReadingComprehensionPartAText1OfallthechangesthathavetakenplaceinEnglish-languagenewspapersduringthepastquarter-century,perhapsthemostfar-reachinghasbeentheinexorabledeclineinthescopeandseriousnessoftheirartscoverage.Itisdifficulttothepointofimpossibilityfortheaveragereaderundertheageoffortytoimagineatimewhenhigh-qualityartscriticismcouldbefoundinmostbig-citynewspapers.Yetaconsiderablenumberofthemostsignificantcollectionsofcriticismpublishedinthe20thcenturyconsistedinlargepartofnewspaperreviews.Toreadsuchbookstodayistomarvelatthefactthattheirlearnedcontentswereoncedeemedsuitableforpublicationingeneral-circulationdailies.WeareevenfartherremovedfromtheunfocusednewspaperreviewspublishedinEnglandbetweentheturnofthe20thcenturyandtheeveofWorldWarII,atatimewhennewsprintwasdirt-cheapandstylishartscriticismwasconsideredanornamenttothepublicationsinwhichitappeared.Inthosefar-offdays,itwastakenforgrantedthatthecriticsofmajorpaperswouldwriteindetailandatlengthabouttheeventstheycovered.Theirswasaseriousbusiness,andeventhosereviewerswhoworetheirlearninglightly,likeGeorgeBernardShawandErnestNewman,couldbetrustedtoknowwhattheywereabout.Thesemenbelievedinjournalismasacalling,andwereproudtobepublishedinthedailypress."Sofewauthorshavebrainsenoughorliterarygiftenoughtokeeptheirownendupinjournalism,Newmanwrote,"thatIamtemptedtodefine'journalism'as'atermofcontemptappliedbywriterswhoarenotreadtowriterswhoare.'"Unfortunately,thesecriticsarevirtuallyforgotten.NevilleCardus,whowrotefortheManchesterGuardianfrom1917untilshortlybeforehisdeathin1975,isnowknownsolelyasawriterofessaysonthegameofcricket.Duringhislifetime,though,hewasalsooneofEngland'sforemostclassical-musiccritics,astylistsowidelyadmiredthathisAutobiography(1947)becameabest-seller.Hewasknightedin1967,thefirstmusiccritictobesohonored.Yetonlyoneofhisbooksisnowinprint,andhisvastbodyofwritingsonmusicisunknownsavetospecialists.IsthereanychancethatCardus'scriticismwillenjoyarevival?Theprospectseemsremote.Journalistictasteshadchangedlongbeforehisdeath,andpostmodernreadershavelittleusefortherichlyupholsteredVicwardianproseinwhichhes