《2013考研英语历年真题精析-命题剖析与复习指导(2003年-2012年)》节选

2012年全国硕士研究生入学考试英语试题NationalEntranceTestofEnglishforMA/MS

Candidates(NETEM)SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmark[A],[B],[C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)TheethicaljudgmentsoftheSupremeCourtjusticesbecameanimportantissuerecently.Thecourtcannot 1 itslegitimacyasguardianoftheruleoflaw 2 justicesbehave1ikepoliticians.Yet,inseveralinstances,justicesactedinwaysthat_3thecourt'sreputationforbeingindependentandimpartial.JusticesAntoninSealiaandSamuelAlitoJr.,forexample,appearedatpoliticalevents.Thatkindofactivitymakesitless1ikelythatthecourt'sdecisionswillbe_4_asimpartialjudgments.Partoftheproblemisthatthejusticesarenot5byanethicscode.Attheveryleast,thecourtshouldmakeitself6tothecodeofconductthat_7 totherestofthefederaljudiciary.Thisandothercases 8 thequestionofwhetherthereissti11a 9 betweenthecourtandpolitics.TheframersoftheConstitutionenvisionedlaw_10—havingauthorityapartfrompolitics.Theygavejusticespermanentpositions_11_theywouldbefreeto12_thoseinpowerandhavenoneedto_13 politicalsupport.Ourlegalsystemwasdesignedtosetlawapartfrompoliticspreciselybecausetheyaresoclosely_14_.Constitutionallawispoliticalbecauseitresultsfromchoicesrootedinfundamentalsocial 15 likelibertyandproperty.Whenthecourtdealswithsocialpolicydecisions,thelawit_16 isinescapablypolitical-whichiswhydecisionssplitalongideological1inesaresoeasily 17asunjust.Thejusticesmust_18doubtsaboutthecourt'slegitimacybymakingthemselves_19tothecodeofconduct.Thatwouldmaketheirrulingsmorelikelytobeseenasseparatefrompoliticsand,_20,convincingaslaw.[A]emphasize[B]maintainLし]modify[D]recognize[A]when[B]lest[C]before[D]unless[A]restored[B]weakened[C]established[D]eliminated[A]challenged[B]compromised[C]suspected[D]accepted[A]advanced[B]caught[C]bound[D]founded[A]resistant[B]subject[C]immune[D]prone[A]resorts[B]sticks[C]loads[D]applies[A]evade[B]raise[C]deny[D]settle[A]line[B]barrier[C]similarity[D]conflict[A]by[B]as[C]though[D]towards[A]so[B]since[C]provided[D]though[A]serve[B]satisfy[C]upset[D]replace[A]confirm[B]express[C]cultivate[D]offer[A]guarded[B]followed[C]studied[D]tied[A]concepts[B]theories[C]divisions[D]conceptions[A]excludes[B]questions[C]shapes[D]controls[A]dismissed[B]released[C]ranked[D]distorted[A]suppress[B]exploit[C]address[D]ignore[A]accessibleLB]amiable[C]agreeable[D]accountable[A]byallmeans[B]atallcosts[C]inaword[D]asaresultSection11ReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1Comeon-Everybodyysdoingit.Thatwhisperedmessage,halfinvitationandhalfforcing,iswhatmostofusthinkofwhenwehearthewordspeerpressure.Itusuallyleadstonogood—drinking,drugsandcasualsex.ButinhernewbookJointheClub,TinaRosenbergcontendsthatpeerpressurecanalsobeapositiveforcethroughwhatshecallsthesocialcure,inwhichorganizationsandofficialsusethepowerofgroupdynamicstohelpindividualsimprovetheirlivesandpossiblytheworld.Rosenberg,therecipientofaPulitzerPrize,offersahostofexamplesofthesocialcureinaction:InSouthCarolina,astate-sponsoredantismokingprogramcalledRageAgainsttheHazesetsouttomakecigarettesuncool.InSouthAfrica,anHIV-preventioninitiativeknownasLoveLiferecruitsyoungpeopletopromotesafesexamongtheirpeers.Theideaseemspromising,andRosenbergisaperceptiveobserver.Hercritiqueofthelamenessofmanypubic-healthcampaignsisspot-on:theyfai1tomobilizepeerpressureforhealthyhabits,andtheydemonstrateaseriouslyflawedunderstandingofpsychology."Daretobedifferent,pleasedon'tsmoke!"pleadsonebillboardcampaignaimedatreducingsmokingamongteenagers-teenagers,whodesirenothingmorethanfittingin.Rosenbergarguesconvincinglythatpublic-healthadvocatesoughttotakeapagefromadvertisers,soskilledatapplyingpeerpressure.Butonthegeneraleffectivenessofthesocialcure,Rosenbergislesspersuasive.JointheClubisfilledwithtoomuchirrelevantdetai1andnotenoughexplorationofthesocialandbiologicalfactorsthatmakepeerpressuresopowerful.Themostglaringflawofthesocialcureasitspresentedhereisthatitdoesn'tworkverywellforverylong.RageAgainsttheHazefailedoncestatefundingwascut.EvidencethattheLoveLifeprogramproduceslastingchangesis1imitedandmixed.There'snodoubtthatourpeergroupsexertenormousinfluenceonourbehavior.Anemergingbodyofresearchshowsthatpositivehealthhabits-aswel1asnegativeones—spreadthroughnetworksoffriendsviasocialcommunication.Thisisasubtleformofpeerpressure:weunconsciouslyimitatethebehaviorweseeeveryday.Farlesscertain,however,ishowsuccessfullyexpertsandbureaucratscanselectourpeergroupsandsteertheiractivitiesinvirtuousdirections.It's1iketheteacherwhobreaksupthetroublemakersinthebackrowbypairingthemwithbetter-behavedclassmates.Thetacticneverreallyworks.Andthat'stheproblemwithasocialcureengineeredfromtheoutside:intherealworld,asinschool,weinsistonchoosingourownfriends.Accordingtothefirstparagraph,peerpressureoftenemergesas.[A]asupplementtothesocialcure[B]astimulustogroupdynamics[C]anobstacletoschoolprogress[D]acauseofundesirablebehaviors22.Rosenbergholdsthatpublicadvocatesshould.[A]recruitprofessionaladvertisers[B]learnfromadvertisers'experience[C]stayawayfromcommercialadvertisers[D]recognizethelimitationsofadvertisements23.Intheauthor'sview,Rosenberg'sbookfailsto.adequatelyprobesocialandbiologicalfactorseffectivelyevadetheflawsofthesocialcureillustratethefunctionsofstatefundingproducealonglastingsocialeffect24.Paragraph5showsthatourimitationofbehaviors.[A]isharmfultoournetworksoffriends[B]willmisleadbehavioralstudies[C]occurswithoutourrealizingit[D]canproducenegativehealthhabits25.Theauthorsuggestsinthelastparagraphthattheeffectofpeerpressureis.[A]harmful[B]desirable[C]profound[D]questionableText2Adealisadeal—except,apparently,whenEntergyisinvolved.Thecompany,amajorenergysupplierinNewEngland,provokedjustifiedoutrageinVermontlastweekwhenitannounceditwasrenegingonalongstandingcommitmenttoabidebythestrictnuclearregulations.Instead,thecompanyhasdonepreciselywhatithadlongpromiseditwouldnot:challengetheconstitutionalityofVermont'srulesinthefederalcourt,aspartofadesperateefforttokeepitsVermontYankeenuclearpowerplantrunning.It'sastunningmove.Theconflicthasbeensurfacingsince2002,whenthecorporationboughtVermont'sonlynuclearpowerplant,anagingreactorinVernon.Asaconditionofreceivingstateapprovalforthesale,thecompanyagreedtoseekpermissionfromstateregulatorstooperatepast2012.In2006,thestatewentastepfurther,requiringthatanyextensionoftheplant's1icensebesubjecttoVermontlegislature'sapproval.Then,too,thecompanywentalong.EitherEntergyneverreallyintendedtolivebythosecommitments,oritsimplydidn'tforeseewhatwouldhappennext.Astringofaccidents,includingthepartialcollapseofacoolingtowerin207andthediscoveryofanundergroundpipesystemleakage,raisedseriousquestionsaboutbothVermontYankee'ssafetyandEntergy'smanagement—especiallyafterthecompanymademisleadingstatementsaboutthepipe.EnragedbyEntergy'sbehavior,theVermontSenatevoted26to4lastyearagainstallowinganextension.Nowthecompanyissuddenlyclaimingthatthe2002agreementisinvalidbecauseofthe2006legislation,andthatonlythefederalgovernmenthasregulatorypowerovernuclearissues.Thelegalissuesinthecaseareobscure:whereastheSupremeCourthasruledthatstatesdohavesomeregulatoryauthorityovernuclearpower,legalscholarssaythatVermontcasewillofferaprecedent-settingtestofhowfarthosepowersextend.Certainly,therearevalidconcernsaboutthepatchworkregulationsthatcouldresultifeverystatesetsitsownrules.ButhadEntergykeptitsword,thatdebatewouldbebesidethepoint.ThecompanyseemstohaveconcludedthatitsreputationinVermontisalreadysodamagedthatithasnotinglefttolosebygoingtowarwiththestate.Butthereshouldbeconsequences.Permissiontorunanuclearplantisapublictrust.Entergyruns11otherreactorsintheUnitedStates,includingPilgrimNuclearstationinPlymouth.PledgingtorunPiIgrimsafely,thecompanyhasappliedforfederalpermissiontokeepitopenforanother20years.ButastheNuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC)reviewsthecompany'sapplication,itshouldkeepitmindwhatpromisesfromEntergyareworth..Thephrase“renegingon"(Line3,Para.1)isclosestinmeaningto.[A]condemning[B]reaffirming[C]dishonoring[D]securing.Byenteringintothe2002agreement,Entergyintendedto.obtainprotectionfromVermontregulatorsseekfavorfromthefederallegislatureacquireanextensionofitsbusinesslicensegetpermissiontopurchaseapowerplant.AccordingtoParagraph4,Entergyseemstohaveproblemswithits.[A]managerialpractices[B]technicalinnovativeness[C]financialgoals[D]businessvisionntheauthor'sview,theVermontcasewilltest.Entergy'scapacitytofulfillal1itspromisesthematureofstates'patchworkregulationsthefederalauthorityovernuclearissuesthelimitsofstates'powerovernuclearissuesItcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat.Entergy'sbusinesselsewheremightbeaffectedtheauthorityoftheNRCwillbedefiedEntergywillwithdrawitsPlymouthapplicationVermont'sreputationmightbedamagedText3Intheidealizedversionofhowscienceisdone,factsabouttheworldarewaitingtobeobservedandcollectedbyobjectiveresearcherswhousethescientificmethodtocarryouttheirwork.Butintheeverydaypracticeofscience,discoveryfrequentlyfollowsanambiguousandcomplicatedroute.Weaimtobeobjective,butwecannotescapethecontextofouruniquelifeexperience.Priorknowledgeandinterestinfluencewhatweexperience,whatwethinkourexperiencesmean,andthesubsequentactionswetake.Opportunitiesformisinterpretation,error,andself-deceptionabound.Consequently,discoveryclaimsshouldbethoughtofasprotoscience.Similartonewlystakedminingclaims,theyareful1ofpotential.Butittakescollectivescrutinyandacceptancetotransformadiscoveryclaimintoamaturediscovery.Thisisthecredibilityprocess,throughwhichtheindividualresearcher*sme,here,nowbecomesthecommunity*sanyone,anywhere,anytime.Objectiveknowledgeisthegoal,notthestartingpoint.Onceadiscoveryclaimbecomespublic,thediscovererreceivesintellectualcredit.But,unlikewithminingclaims,thecommunitytakescontrolofwhathappensnext.Withinthecomplexsocialstructureofthescientificcommunity,researchersmakediscoveries;editorsandreviewersactasgatekeepersbycontrollingthepublicationprocess;otherscientistsusethenewfindingtosuittheirownpurposes;andfinally,thepublic(includingotherscientists)receivesthenewdiscoveryandpossiblyaccompanyingtechnology.Asadiscoveryclaimworksitthroughthecommunity,theinteractionandconfrontationbetweensharedandcompetingbeliefsaboutthescienceandthetechnologyinvolvedtransformsanindividual*sdiscoveryclaimintothecommunity*scrediblediscovery.Twoparadoxesexistthroughoutthiscredibilityprocess.First,scientificworktendstofocusonsomeaspectofprevailingknowledgethatisviewedasincompleteorincorrect.Littlerewardaccompaniesduplicationandconfirmationofwhatisalreadyknownandbelieved.Thegoalisnew-search,notre-search.Notsurprisingly,newlypublisheddiscoveryclaimsandcrediblediscoveriesthatappeartobeimportantandconvincingwillalwaysbeopentochallengeandpotentialmodificationorrefutationbyfutureresearchers.Second,noveltyitselffrequentlyprovokesdisbelief.NobelLaureateandphysiologistAlbertAzent-Gyorgyioncedescribeddiscoveryasuseeingwhateverybodyhasseenandthinkingwhatnobodyhasthought.**Butthinkingwhatnobodyelsehasthoughtandtel1ingotherswhattheyhavemissedmaynotchangetheirviews.Sometimesyearsarerequiredfortrulynoveldiscoveryclaimstobeacceptedandappreciated.Intheend,credibilityahappens**toadiscoveryclaim—aprocessthatcorrespondstowhatphilosopherAnnetteBaierhasdescribedasthecommonsofthemind.aWereasontogether,challenge,revise,andcompleteeachother,sreasoningandeachother*sconceptionsofreason.**Accordingtothefirstparagraph,theprocessofdiscoveryischaracterizedbyits.[A]uncertaintyandcomplexity[_B]misconceptionanddeceptiveness[C]logicalityandobjectivity[D]systematicnessandregularityItcanbeinferredfromParagraph2thatcredibilityprocessrequires.[A]strictinspection[B]sharedefforts[C]individualwisdom[D]persistentinnovationParagraph3showsthatadiscoveryclaimbecomescredibleafterit.hasattractedtheattentionofthegeneralpublichasbeenexaminedbythescientificcommunityhasreceivedrecognitionfromeditorsandreviewershasbeenfrequentlyquotedbypeerscientistsAlbertAzent-Gyorgyiwouldmostlikelyagreethat.[A]scientificclaimswillsurvivechallenges[B]discoveriestodayinspirefutureresearch[C]effortstomakediscoveriesarejustified[D]scientificworkcallsforacriticalmindWhichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleofthetest?NoveltyasanEngineofScientificDevelopmentCollectiveScrutinyinScientificDiscoveryEvolutionofCredibilityinDoingScienceChailengetoCredibilityattheGatetoScienceText4IfthetradeunionistJimmyHoffawerealivetoday,hewouldprobablyrepresentcivilservant.WhenHoffa'sTeamsterswereintheirprimein1960,onlyoneintenAmericangovernmentworkersbelongedtoaunion;now36%do.In2009thenumberofunionistsinAmerica'spublicsectorpassedthatoftheirfellowmembersintheprivatesector.InBritain,morethanhalfofpublic-sectorworkersbutonlyabout15%ofprivate-sectoronesareunionized.Therearethreereasonsforthepublic-sectorunions'thriving.First,theycanshutthingsdownwithoutsufferingmuchinthewayofconsequences.Second,theyaremostlybrightandwell-educated.AquarterofAmerica'spublic-sectorworkershaveauniversitydegree.Third,theynowdominateleft-of-centrepolitics.Someoftheirtiesgobackalongway.Britain'sLaborParty,asitsnameimplies,haslongbeenassociatedwithtradeunionism.Itscurrentleader,EdMiliband,oweshispositiontovotesfrompublic-sectorunions.Atthestateleveltheirinfluencecanbeevenmorefearsome.MarkBaldassareofthePublicPolicyInstituteofCaliforniapointsoutthatmuchofthestate'sbudgetispatrolledbyunions.Theteachers'unionskeepaneyeonschools,theCCPOAonprisonsandavarietyoflaborgroupsonhealthcare.Inmanyrichcountriesaveragewagesinthestatesectorarehigherthanintheprivateone.Buttherealgainscomeinbenefitsandworkpractices.Politicianshaverepeatedlyabackloaded"public-sectorpaydeals,keepingthepayincreasesmodestbutaddingtohoiidaysandespeciallypensionsthatarealreadygenerous.Reformhasbeenvigorouslyopposed,perhapsmostegregiouslyineducation,wherecharterschools,academiesandmeritpayallfaceddrawn-outbattles.Eventhoughthereisplentyofevidencethatthequalityoftheteachersisthemostimportantvariable,teachers'unionshavefoughtagainstgettingridofbadonesandpromotinggoodones.Asthecosttoeveryoneelsehasbecomeclearer,politicianshavebeguntoclampdown.InWisconsintheunionshaveralliedthousandsofsupportersagainstScottWalker,thehardlineRepublicangovernor.Butmanywithinthepublicsectorsufferunderthecurrentsystem,too.JohnDonahueatHarvard*sKennedySchoolpointsoutthatthenormsofcultureinWesterncivilservicessuitthosewhowanttostayputbutisbadforhighachievers.TheonlyAmericanpublic-sectorworkerswhoearnwellabove$250,000ayearareuniversitysportscoachesandthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.Bankers*fatpaypacketshaveattractedmuchcriticism,butapublic-sectorsystemthatdoesnotrewardhighachieversmaybeamuchbiggerproblemforAmerica.Itcanbelearnedfromthefirstparagraphthat.TeamstersstillhavealargebodyofmembersJimmyHoffausedtoworkasacivilservantunionshaveenlargedtheirpublic-sectormembershipthegovernmenthasimproveditsrelationshipwithunionistsWhichofthefollowingistrueofParagraph2?Public-sectorunionsareprudentintakingactionsEducationisrequiredforpublic-sectorunionmembershipLaborPartyhaslongbeenfightingagainstpublic-sectorunionsPublic-sectorunionsseldomgetintroublefortheiractionsItcanbelearnedfromParagraph4thattheincomeinthestatesectoris.[A]illegallysecured[B]indirectlyaugmented[C]excessivelyincreased[D]fairlyadjustedTheexampleoftheunionsinWisconsinshowsthatunions.[A]oftenrunagainstthecurrentpoliticalsystem[B]canchangepeoplespoliticalattitudes[C]maybeabarriertopublic-sectorreforms[D]aredominantinthegovernment40.JohnDonahuesattitudetowardsthepublic-sectorsystemisoneof.[A]disapproval[B]appreciation[C]tolerance[D]indifferencePartBDirections:Thefollowingparagrapharegiveninawrongorder.ForQuestions41-45,youarerequiredtoreorganizetheseparagraphsintoacoherenttextbychoosingfromthelistA-Gtofillingthemintothenumberedboxes.ParagraphsEandGhavebeencorrectlyplaced.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)Thinkofthosefleetingmomentswhenyoulookoutofanaeroplanewindowandrealisethatyouareflying,higherthanabird.Nowthinkofyourlaptop,thinnerthanabrown-paperenvelope,oryourcelIphoneinthepalmofyourhand.Takeamomentortwotowonderatthosemarvels.Youaretheluckyinheritorofadreamcometrue.Thesecondhalfofthe20thcenturysawacollectionofgeniuses,warriors,entrepreneursandvisionarieslabourtocreateafabulousmachinethatcouldfunctionasatypewriterandprintingpress,studioandtheatre,paintbrushandgallery,pianoandradio,themailaswellasthemailcarrier.(41)Thenetworkedcomputerisanamazingdevice,thefirstmediamachinethatservesasthemodeofproduction,meansofdistribution,siteofreception,andplaceofpraiseandcritique.Thecomputeristhe21stcentury*sculturemachine.Butforallthereasonstherearetocelebratethecomputer,wemustalsotreadwithcaution.(42)Icallitasecretwarfortworeasons.First,mostpeopledonotrealizethattherearestrongcommercialagendasatworktokeeptheminpassiveconsumptionmode.Second,themajorityofpeoplewhousenetworkedcomputerstouploadarenotevenawareofthesignificanceofwhattheyaredoing.Allanimalsdownload,butonlyafewupload.BeaversbuiIddamsandbirdsmakenests.Yetforthemostpart,theanimalkingdommovesthroughtheworlddownloading.Humansareuniqueintheircapacitytonotonlymaketoolsbutthenturnaroundandusethemtocreatesuperfluousmaterialgoods—paintings,sculptureandarchitecture—andsuperfluousexperiences一music,literature,religionandphilosophy.(43)Forallthepossibi1itiesofournewculturemachines,mostpeoplearestillstuckindownloadmode.Evenaftertheadventofwidespreadsocialmedia,apyramidofproductionremains,withasmallnumberofpeopleuploadingmaterial,aslightlylargergroupcommentingonormodifyingthatcontent,andahugepercentageremainingcontenttojustconsume.(44)Televisionisaone-waytapflowingintoourhomes.Thehardesttaskthattelevisionasksofanyoneistoturnthepoweroffafterhehasturnediton.(45)Whatcountsasmeaningfuluploading?Mydefinitionrevolvesaroundtheconceptof“stickiness”—creationsandexperiencestowhichothersadhere.Ofcourse,itispreciselythesesuperfluousthingsthatdefinehumancultureandultimatelywhatitistobehuman.Downloadingandconsumingculturerequiresgreatskills,butfailingtomovebeyonddownloadingistostriponeselfofadefiningconstituentofhumanity.A,whichallowuserstocombinepictures,wordsandothermediaincreativewaysandthensharethem,havethepotentialtoaddstickinessbyamusing,entertainingandenlighteningothers.Notonlydidtheydevelopsuchadevicebutbytheturnofthemillenniumtheyhadalsomanagedtoembeditinaworldwidesystemaccessedbybillionsofpeopleeveryday.Thisisbecausethenetworkedcomputerhassparkedasecretwarbetweendownloadinganduploading-betweenpassiveconsumptionandactivecreation-whoseoutcomewillshapeourcollectivefutureinwayswecanonlybegintoimagine.ThechallengethecomputermountstotelevisionthusbearslittlesimilaritytooneformatbeingreplacedbyanotherinthemannerofrecordplayersbeingreplacedbyCDplayers.Onereasonforthepersistenceofthispyramidofproductionisthatforthepasthalfcentury,muchoftheworldsmediaculturehasbeendefinedbyasinglemedium—television-andtelevisionisdefinedbydownloading.Thenetworkedcomputeroffersthefirstchancein50yearstoreversetheflow,toencouragethoughtfuldownloadingand,evenmoreimportantly,meaningfuluploading.PartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.(10points)SincethedaysofAristotle,asearchforuniversalprincipleshascharacterizedthescientificenterprise.Insomeways,thisquestforcommonalitiesdefinesscience.Newton'slawsofmotionandDarwinianevolutioneachbindahostofdifferentphenomenaintoasingleexplicatoryframework.(46)Inphysics,oneapproachtakesthisimpulseforunificationtoitsextreme,andseeksatheoryofeverything-asinglegenerativeequationforal1wesee.Itisbecominglessclear,however,thatsuchatheorywouldbeasimplification,giventhedimensionsanduniversesthatitmightentai1,nonetheless,unificationofsortsremainsamajorgoal.Thistendencyinthenaturalscienceshaslongbeenevidentinthesocialsciencestoo.(47)Here,Darwinismseemstoofferjustification,forifal1humanssharecommonorigins,itseemsreasonabletosupposethatcu