考研英语10年真题及答案

考研英语10年真题及答案SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmark[A],[B],[C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)TheethicaljudgmentsoftheSupremeCourtjusticesbecameanimportantissuerecently.Thecourtcannotitslegitimacyasguardianoftheruleoflawjusticesbehavelikepoliticians.Yet,inseveralinstances,justicesactedinwaysthatthecourt1sreputationforbeingindependentandimpartialoJusticesAntoninScaliaandSamuelAlitoJr.,forexample,appearedatpoliticalevents.Thatkindofactivitymakesitlesslikelythatthecourt'sdecisionswillbeasimpartialjudgments.Partoftheproblemisthatthejusticesarenotbyanethicscode.Attheveryleast,thecourtshouldmakeitselftothecodeofconductthattotherestofthefederaljudiciaryoThisandothercasesthequestionofwhetherthereisstillabetweenthecourtandpoliticsoTheframersoftheConstitutionenvisionedlawhavingauthorityapartfrompolitics.Theygavejusticespermanentpositionstheywouldbefreetothoseinpowerandhavenoneedtopoliticalsupport.OurlegalsystemwasdesignedtosetlawapartfrompoliticspreciselybecausetheyaresocloselyoConstitutionallawispoliticalbecauseitresultsfromchoicesrootedinfundamentalsociallikelibertyandproperty.Whenthecourtdealswithsocialpolicydecisions,thelawitisinescapablypolitical—whichiswhydecisionssplitalongideologicallinesaresoeasilyasunjustoThejusticesmustdoubtsaboutthecourt'slegitimacybymakingthemselvestothecodeofconduct.Thatwouldmaketheirrulingsmorelikelytobeseenasseparatefrompoliticsand,,convincingaslawo1AemphasizeBmaintainCmodifyDrecognize2AwhenBbestCbeforeDunles3ArenderedBweakenedCestablishedDeliminated4AchallengedBcompromisedCsuspectedDaccepted5.AadvancedBcaughtCboundDfounded6.AresistantBsubjectCimmuneDprone7.AresortsBsticksCleadsDapplies8.AevadeBraiseCdenyDsettle9.AlineBbarrierCsimilarityDconflict10.AbyBasCthroughDtowards11.AsoBsinceCprovidedDthough12.AserveBsatisfyCupsetDreplace13.AconfirmBexpressCcultivateDoffer14AguardedBfollowedCstudiedDtied15.AconceptsBtheoriesCdivisionsDconveniencel6.AexcludesBquestionsCshapesDcontrolsl7.AdismissedBreleasedCrankedDdistortedl8.AsuppressBexploitCaddressDignore19.AaccessibleB.amiableCagreeableDaccountable20.AbyallmeansBatallcostsCinawordDasaresultSectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text2Prettyinpink:adultwomendonotrememberbeingsoobsessedwiththecolour,yetitispervasiveinouryounggirls'lives.Itisnotthatpinkintrinsicallybad,butitisatinysliceoftherainbowand,thoughitmaycelebrategirlhoodinoneway,italsorepeated]yandfirmlyfusedgirls*identitytoappearance.Thenitpresentsthatconnection,evenamongtwo-year-olds,betweengirlsasnotonlyinnocentbutasevidenceofinnocence.Lookingaround,despairedatthesingularlackofimaginationaboutgirls*livesandinterestsoGirls*attractiontopinkmayseemunavoidable,somehowencodedintheirDNA,butaccordingtoJoPaoletti,anassociateprofessorofAmericanStudies,il'snot.Childrenwerenotcolour-codedatalluntiltheearly20thcentury:intheerabeforedomesticwashingmachinesallbabiesworewhiteasapracticalmatter,sincetheonlywayofgettingclothescleanwastoboilthem.What'smore,bothboysandgirlsworewhatwerethoughtofasgender-neutraldresses.Whennurserycolourswereintroduced,pinkwasactuallyconsideredthemoremasculinecolour,apastelversionofred,whichwasassociatedwithstrength.Blue,withitsintimationsoftheVirginMary,constancyandfaithfulness,symbolisedfemininity.Itwasnotuntilthemid-1980s,whenamplifyingageandsexdifferencesbecameadominantchiIdren,smarketingstrategy,thatpinkfullycameintoitsown,whenitbegantoseeminnatelyattractivetogirls,partofwhatdefinedthemasfemale,atleastforthefirstfewcriticalyearsoIhadnotrealisedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperceptionofwhatisnaturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychologicaldevelopment.Takethetoddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexpertsdevelopedafteryearsofresearchintochildren,sbehaviour:wrong.Turnsout,accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchiIdhoodconsumerism,itwaspopularisedasamarketinggimmickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930soTradepublicationscounselleddepartmentstoresthat,inordertoincreasesales,theyshouldcreatea/zthirdsteppingstone"betweeninfantwearandolderkids'clothes.Itwasonlyafter“toddler"becamecommonshoppers*termthatitevolvedintoabroadlyaccepteddevelopmentalstage.Splittingkids,oradults,intoever-tiniercategorieshasprovedasure-firewaytoboostprofits.Andoneoftheeasiestwaystosegmentamarketistomagnifygenderdifferences-orinventthemwheretheydidnotpreviouslyexistoBysaying"itis...Therainbow*(line3,Para1),theauthormeanspink。AshouldnotbethesolerepresentationofgirlhoodBshouldnotbeassociatedwithgirls*innocenceCcannotexplaingirls，lackofimaginationDcannotinfluencegirls'1ivesandinterestsAccordingtoParagraph2,whichofthefollowingistrueofcolours?AColorsareencodedingirls，DNABBlueusedtoberegardedasthecolorforgirlsCPinkusedtobeaneutralcolorinsymbolizinggendersDWhiteispreferredbybabiesTheauthorsuggeststhatourperceptionofchildren，spsychologicaldevotementwasmuchinfluencedby。[A]themarketingofproductsforchildren[B]theobservationofchildren'snature[C]researchesintochiIdren*sbehavior[D]studiesofchiIdhoodconsumption29.WemaylearnfromParagraph4thatdepartmentstoreswereadvised。Afocusesoninfantwearandolderkids'clothesBattachequalimportancetodifferentgendersCclassifyconsumersintosmallergroupsDcreatesomecommonshoppers*terms30.itcanbeconcludedthatgirl'sattractiontopinkseemstobeoAclearlyexplainedbytheirinborntendencyBfullyunderstoodbyclothingmanufacturersCmainlyimposedbyprofit-drivenbusinessmenDwellinterpretedbypsychologicalexpertsPartBDirections:Forquestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA-Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphEhasbeencorrectlyplaced.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinwiththetext.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)PartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.(10points)SectionIIIWritingPartA51.Directions:Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use'Postgraduates'Association^instead.(10points)PartBDirections:Writeanessayof160-200wordsbasedonthefollowingdrawing.Inyouressay,youshoulddescribethepicturebriefly,explainitsintendedmeaning,andgiveyourcommentsoYoushouldwriteneatlyonanswersheet2.2012年全国硕士研究生入学考试英语试题NationalEntranceTestofEnglishforMA/MSCandidates(NETEM)跨考英语教研室一杨凤芝SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmark[A],[B],[C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)TheethicaljudgmentsoftheSupremeCourtjusticesbecameanimportantissuerecently.Thecourtcannotitslegitimacyasguardianoftheruleoflawjusticesbehavelikepoliticians.Yet,inseveralinstances,justicesactedinwaysthatthecourt*sreputationforbeingindependentandimpartialoJusticesAntoninSealiaandSamuelAlitoJr.,forexample,appearedatpoliticalevents.Thatkindofactivitymakesitlesslikelythatthecourt*sdecisionswillbe asimpartialjudgments.Partoftheprob1emisthatthejusticesarenotbyanethicscode.Attheveryleast,thecourtshouldmakeitselftothecodeofconductthattotherestofthefederaljudiciary。ThisandothercasesthequestionofwhetherthereisstillabetweenthecourtandpoliticsoTheframersoftheConstitutionenvisionedlawhavingauthorityapartfrompolitics.Theygavejusticespermanentpositionstheywou1dbefreeto thoseinpowerandhavenoneedtopoliticalsupport.Ourlegalsystemwasdesignedtosetlawapartfrompoliticspreciselybecausetheyaresoclosely。Constitutionallawispoliticalbecauseitresultsfromchoicesrootedinfundamentalsociallike1ibertyandproperty.Whenthecourtdealswithsocialpolicydecisions,thelawitisinescapablypolitical—whichiswhydecisionssplitalongideologicallinesaresoeasilyasunjust。Thejusticesmustdoubtsaboutthecourt*slegitimacybymaking

themselvestothecodeofconduct.Thatwouldmaketheirrulingsmorelikelytobeseenasseparatefrompoliticsand,,convincingaslaw。AemphasizeBmaintainCmodifyDrecognize2AwhenBbestCbeforeDunless3ArenderedBweakenedCestablishedDeliminatedAchailengedBcompromisedCsuspectedDaccepted5.AadvancedBcaughtCboundDfounded6.AresistantBsubjectCimmuneDprone7.AresortsBsticksCleadsDapplies8.AevadeBraiseCdenyDsettle9.AlineBbarrierCsimilarityDconflict10.AbyBasCthroughDtowards11.AsoBsinceCprovidedDthough12.AserveBsatisfyCupsetDreplace13.AconfirmBexpressCcultivateDoffer14AguardedBfollowedCstudiedDtied.AconceptsBtheoriesCdivisionsDconveniencel6.AexcludesBquestionsCshapesDcontrolsl7.AdismissedBreleasedCrankedDdistortedl8.AsuppressBexploitCaddressDignore19.AaccessibleB.amiableCagreeableDaccountable20.AbyallmeansBatal1costsCinawordDasaresultSectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text2identitytoappearance.Thenitpresentsthatconnection,evenamongtwo-year-olds,betweengirlsasnotonlyinnocentbutasevidenceofinnocenceoPrettyinpink:adultwomendocolour,yetitispervasiveinintrinsicallybad,butitisacelebrategirlhoodinoneway,notrememberbeingsoobsessedouryounggirls'lives.Itistinysliceoftherainbowand,withthenotthatpinkthoughitmayitalsorepeatedlyandfirmlyfusedgirls'Prettyinpink:adultwomendocolour,yetitispervasiveinintrinsicallybad,butitisacelebrategirlhoodinoneway,notrememberbeingsoobsessedouryounggirls'lives.Itistinysliceoftherainbowand,withthenotthatpinkthoughitmayitalsorepeatedlyandfirmlyfusedgirls'Lookingaround,despairedatthesingularlackofimaginationaboutgirls'livesandinterestsoGirls'attractiontopinkmayseemunavoidable,somehowencodedintheirDNA,butaccordingtoJoPaoletti,anassociateprofessorofAmericanStudies,it'snot.Childrenwerenotcolour-codedatalluntiltheearly20thcentury:intheerabeforedomesticwashingmachinesallbabiesworewhiteasapracticalmatter,sincetheonlywayofgettingclothescleanwastoboi1them.What'smore,bothboysandgirlsworewhatwerethoughtofasgender-neutraldresses.Whennurserycolourswereintroduced,pinkwasactuallyconsideredthemoremasculinecolour,apastelversionofred,whichwasassociatedwithstrength.Blue,withitsintimationsoftheVirginMary,constancyandfaithfulness,symbolisedfemininity.Itwasnotuntilthemid-1980s,whenamplifyingageandsexdifferencesbecameadominantchiIdren*smarketingstrategy,thatpinkfullycameintoitsown,whenitbegantoseeminnatelyattractivetogirls,partofwhatdefinedthemasfemale,atleastforthefirstfewcriticalyearsoIhadnotrealisedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperceptionofwhatisnaturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychologicaldevelopment.Takethetoddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexpertsdevelopedafteryearsofresearchintochildren，sbehaviour:wrong.Turnsout,accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchildhoodconsumerism,itwaspopularisedasamarketinggimmickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930s。Tradepublicationscounselleddepartmentstoresthat,inordertoincreasesales,theyshouldcreatea"thirdsteppingstone'betweeninfantwearandolderkids'clothes.Itwasonlyafter"toddler"becamecommonshoppers,termthatitevolvedintoabroadlyaccepteddevelopmentalstage.Splittingkids,oradults,intoever-tiniercategorieshasprovedasure-firewaytoboostprofits.Andoneoftheeasiestwaystosegmentamarketistomagnifygenderdifferences-orinventthemwheretheydidnotpreviouslyexisto26Bysaying"itis...Therainbow*(line3,Para1),theauthormeanspink 。AshouldnotbethesolerepresentationofgirlhoodBshouldnotbeassociatedwithgirls'innocenceCcannotexplaingirls'lackofimaginationDcannotinfluencegirls'livesandinterests27AccordingtoParagraph2,whichofthefollowingistrueofcolours?AColorsareencodedingirls'DNABBlueusedtoberegardedasthecolorforgirlsCPinkusedtobeaneutralcolorinsymbolizinggendersDWhiteispreferredbybabies28TheauthorsuggeststhatourperceptionofchiIdren*spsychologicaldevotementwasmuchinfluencedby0[A]themarketingofproductsforchildren[B]theobservationofchiIdren,snature[C]researchesintochildren，sbehavior[D]studiesofchiIdhoodconsumption29.WemaylearnfromParagraph4thatdepartmentstoreswereadvised。Afocusesoninfantwearandolderkids'clothesBattachequalimportancetodifferentgendersCclassifyconsumersintosmallergroupsDcreatesomecommonshoppers,terms30.itcanbeconcludedthatgirl'sattractiontopinkseemstobe0AclearlyexplainedbytheirinborntendencyBfullyunderstoodbyclothingmanufacturersCmainlyimposedbyprofit-drivenbusinessmenDwellinterpretedbypsychologicalexpertsPartBDirections:Forquestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA-Gandfi11themintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphEhasbeencorrectlyplaced.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinwiththetext.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)PartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.(10points)SectionIIIWritingPartA51.Directions:Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use"Postgraduates'Association''instead.(10points)PartB52.Directions:Writeanessayof160-200wordsbasedonthefollowingdrawing.Inyouressay,youshould1)describethepicturebriefly,2)explainitsintendedmeaning,and3)giveyourcommentsoYoushouldwriteneatlyonanswersheet2.l.B2.A3.B4.D5.C6.B7.D8.B9.A10.B11.A12.C13.C14.D15.A16.C17.A18.C19.D20.D21.D22.D23.A24.C25.D26.C27.A28.A29.B30.B31.A32.D33.B34.D35.D36.C37.D38.B39.A40.A41.C42.D43.A44.F45.G.在物理学上，一种方法是将这种冲动完美发挥到极点并且导找到一种万能的理论一一条我们都可以看的见，明白的普遍公式。.在这里，达尔文主义似乎提供了一个准则，如果所有的人类都有共同的起源，那么文化差异能够追寻到更早的可控的起源也是合理的。.从我们的共同特征中过滤独特性能够使我们明白文化行为的复杂性起源以及是什么在进化方面和认知方面指导我们人类。49、其实，由约书亚格林伯说，将更多的经验主义用在了普遍性上，验证许多语言所共有的特点，这些特点被认为是代表了由认知限制造成的偏见。50.乔姆斯基的语法应该表现了语言更改的模式，是通过独立的家谱或由它所跟踪的路径，而通过性预测的特定类型间的合作关系。PartADirections：Supposeyouhavefoundsomethingwrongwiththeelectronicdictionarythatyouboughtfromanonlinestoretheotherday.Writeandemailtothecustomerservicecenterto1)makeacomplaint,and2)demandapromptsolution.Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use“ZhangWei,?instead.参考范文：DearMr./Miss：ThisletterisacomplaintconcerningtheelectronicdictionaryIboughtfromyouronlinestoretheotherday.TwoweeksagoImailedthemoneythatorderedandsoonreceivedtheelectronicdictionary.Ifollowedtheinstructionsattachedwithit.InsteadIcannotgetitstartedanyway.Afterchangedthebatteryinsideseveraltimesinvain,Itotallygaveitup.Iwrotetoyourcompanyexpectingapromptsolutiontothisproblem.Iwouldhopethatyoucoulddosomethingtogivemeasatisfactoryfeedback.AndIwillappreciateitverymuchifyouputastricttestontheseelectronicdictionaries,thusstopthecontinuingcomplaintsandsuffersofothercomtomers.SincerelyYours,ZhangWei2012年考研英语真题：作文题目及范文作文一些外国留学生将要来你的大学，以学生会的名义给他们写一封email..表示你的欢迎2.为他们在这里的校园生活提供一些建议

请写100个字左右，请不要在信的末尾写你的名字，用笔名代替，不要写地址。范文亲爱的同学们，苜先请允许我代表我校的各位领导老师及同学们对你们的到来表示热烈的欢迎，欢迎来到我校学习和生活。不同国家的校园生活有所不同，为了使你们的生活更加舒适，下面我将介绍一些在我校生活的一些建议。首先，在中国不可以宜呼老师的名字，因为中国是一个礼仪之邦，中国人用称呼表达对老师的尊重。其次，希望你们珍惜在中国学习的时间，主动增加与中国人交流的机会，这样既能提高你们的汉语水平，也能了解中国的文化。最后，如果你们在生活和学习上遇到困难，及时与我们沟通。祝你们在中国的留学生活愉快！学生会Dearstudents,Firstofall,allowme,onbehalfoftheleadersofourschoolteachersandstudentsarewarmlywelcometocometoyou,welcometoourschoolandlife.Campuslifeisdifferentindifferentcountries,inordertomakeyourlifemorecomfortable,thefoilowingIwilldescribesomeoftheproposalsinmyschoollife.Firstofall,cannotcalltheteacher'snameinChina,becauseChinaisaritualofceremony,Chineseusedtocalltheexpressionofrespectforteachers.Secondly,IhopeyoucherishthetimestudyinginChina,taketheinitiativetoincreaseopportunitiesforinteractionwithChinesepeople,sothatbothcanimproveyourChineselanguagelevel,canunderstandChineseculture.Finally,ifyouencounterdifficultyinlivingandlearning,tocommunicatewithusinatimelymanner.WishesyoutostudyabroadinChinaliveininterestingtimes!StudentUnion作文StudentUnion作文2：这幅漫画象征性的描述了一个倒在地上的瓶子，一些牛奶洒了出来。在这个瓶子的旁边站着两个人,一个垂头丧气的说‘‘全完了!”，而另一个则说“幸好还剩点儿!”。这幅画所表达的内容既意义深远又发人深省。这幅漫画的目的是告诉我们在生活、工作和学习中遇到挫折时，不同的人持有不同的态度。积极乐观的人总是能够发掘事情好的一面，而消极悲观的人总是为他失去的东西伤心抱怨。总之，•个人的态度能够决定他的成败。在我看来，我们应该向那个积极乐观的人学习。在生活中无论遇到什么样的困难，我们都应该用积极乐观的态度来面对。只有这样，我们才能取得成功。Thiscartoontokendescribesabottlethatfelltotheground,somemilkspilledout.Thebottlestandsnexttotwopeople,adejectedsaying"isallover!"Whileanothersaid"Fortunatelyhaveleft!Thecontentsexpressedinthepaintingisbothmeaningfulandthought-provoking.Thiscartoonisdesignedtotellustolive,workandlearningaredown,you,differentpeopleholddifferentattitudes.Optimisticpeoplecanalwaysdiscoverwhat'sgoodside,andnegativeandpessimisticpeoplealwayslosingthingssadforhimtocomplain.Inshort,aperson'sattitudescanmakeorbreakhim.Inmyopinion,weshouldlearnfromthepositiveandoptimisticman.Nomatterwhatdifficultiesshemetinlife,weshoulduseapositiveandoptimisticattitudetoface.Onlyinthisway,wecanbesuccessful.2011年考研英语一真题及答案SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:AncientGreekphilosopherAristotleviewedlaughteras“abodilyexerciseprecioustohealth.^^Butsomeclaimstothecontrary,laughingprobablyhaslittleinfluenceonphysicalfilnessLaughterdoesshort-termchangesinthefunctionoftheheartanditsbloodvessels,heartrateandoxygenconsumptionButbecausehardlaughterisdifficultto,agoodlaughisunlikelytohavebenefitstheway,say,walkingorjoggingdoes.,insteadofstrainingmusclestobuildthem,asexercisedoes,laughterapparentlyaccomplishesthe,studiesdatingbacktothe1930'sindicatethatlaughter,muscles,Suchbodilyreactionmightconceivablyhelptheeffectsofpsychologicalstress.Anyway,theactoflaughingprobablydoesproduceothertypesoffeedback,thatimproveanindividuafsemotionalstate.oneclassicaltheoryofemotion,ourfeelingsarepartiallyrootedphysicalreactions.Itwasarguedattheendofthe19thcenturythathumansdonotcrytheyaresadbuttheybecomesadwhentetearsbegintoflow.Althoughsadnessalsotears,evidencesuggeststhatemotionscanflowmuscularresponses.Inanexperimentpublishedin1988,socialpsychologistFritz.[AJamong[BJexcept[CJdespite[DJlike[A]reflect[B]demand[C]indicate[D]produce[A]stabilizing[B]boosting[Ciimpairing[D]determining[A]transmit[B]sustain[C]evaluate[Dlobserve[A]measurable[BJmanageable[CJaffordable[DJrenewable[A]InturnlB]Infact[C]Inaddition[D]Inbrief[AJopposite[B]impossible[C]average[DJexpected[AJhardens[B]weakens[CJtightens[DJrelaxes[A]aggravate[Blgenerate[C]moderate[D]enhance[A]physical[B]mentl[Cisubconscious[DIinternal[A]Exceptfor[BJAccordingto[CJDueto[DJAsfor[AJwith[BJon[CJin[DJat[AJunless[BJuntilC]if[DJbecause[A]exhausts[BJfollows[C]precedes[DJsuppresses[A]intofB]from[C]towards[D]beyond[Alfetch[Blbite[C]pickfD]hold[Aldisappointed[B]excited[C]joyftil[D]indifferent[AJadapted[BJcatered[C]tumed[DJreacted[A]suggesting[Bjrequiring[CJmentioning[DJsupposing[A]Eventually[BJConsequently[C]Similarly[DJConverselySectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[Al,[B],[C]orID].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast.“Hooray!Atlast!”wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert'sappointmentintheTimes,callshim“anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductoraboutAsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledbymusicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,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.lthatGilbert'sappointmenthas[AJincurredcriticism.[BJraisedsuspicion.[C]receivedacclaim.[DJarousedcuriosity.TommasiniregardsGilbertasanartistwhois[Alinfluential. fB]modest.[C]respectable. [DItalented.Theauthorbelievesthatthedevotedconcertgoers[A]ignoretheexpensesofliveperformances.[BJrejectmostkindsofrecordedperformances.[CJexaggeratethevarietyofliveperformances.[DJoverestimatethevalueofliveperformances.24.Accordingtothetext,whichofthefollowingistrueofrecordings?[AlTheyareofteninferiortoliveconcertsinquality.fB]Theyareeasilyaccessibletothegeneralpublic.[CITheyhelpimprovethequalityofmusic.[D]Theyhaveonlycoveredmasterpieces.RegardingGilbert'sroleinrevitalizingthePhilharmonic,theauthorfeels[AJdoubtful.[BJenthusiastic.[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/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCareycan'tthinkofasinglesearchI'vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst.”Thosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven'talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeage,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInt