海天在线2013年考研英语基础阅读讲义(张培)

北京海天2013年考研基础阅读讲义主讲人：张培北京海天2013年考研英语高分基础阅读内部讲义基础阅读精讲课程目标：1、掌握阅读理解不同题材常考词汇和短语2、熟悉阅读理解必考命题点3、熟悉阅读理解不同题型的解题思路和解题原则4、规范阅读理解的基本复习思路基本学会研读外刊的基本要求和基本步骤，达到真题和外刊的完美结合基础阶段阅读理解复习的三个误区：1）机械背诵大量词汇2）大量做模拟阅读——搞“题海战术”3）一味追求考试技巧，忽视阅读基本功的培养和训练4）一味追求泛读，而不采取精读的策略和方法基础阶段阅读理解复习的四大任务：1）至少完成20篇左右的考研阅读题源外刊的超精读任务2）在阅读题源外刊和研究早年真题（9303年）的过程中积累和扩大词汇量，特别注意固定搭配和题材中的词汇积累3）加强破解长难句的能力并对常考长难句类型进行总结和归纳4）基本了解考研阅读理解的选材、命题规律和解题方法

考研英语阅读精读五步法：宏观中观微观StepOne:文章中的语境词汇、固定搭配必须全部掌握，背会；StepTwo:文章中出现的句子必须全部会翻译，并做好句子成分分析StepThree:段落中的句子之间的逻辑关系、段落之间的衔接与逻辑关系必须搞清楚StepFour：总结归纳文章中观点的表达方式以及重点信息处（常考点与必考点）StepFive:总结归纳文章中对写作部分有帮助的亮点词汇、短语与句型（阅读与作文互相促进，共同提高，一体化教学）。阅读基本功训练：外刊典型句子理解外刊典型例句剖析：词汇精确理解——词汇灵活运用1、(Reuters)-NokiaandMicrosofthaveteameduptotakeonGoogleandAppleinthefast-growingsmartphonemarketastheFinnishcellphonemakerattemptstoregainitsleadingpositioninthesector.2、AstheYearoftheRabbitKicksoff,nearly250milliontravelerswillbecomingandgoingfromChina'sbigcitiestotheirhometowns,strainingnervesandthenation'smightytransportsystem.3、MosttravelersarethemigrantworkerswhoconstitutethebackboneofChina'sproductionmight.Comingfromimpoverishedwesternregionsofthecountry,theystartedtoflocktorichercoastaltownsinsearchofworkaftertheeconomicreformsofthelate1970s,oftenleavingfamiliesandchildrenbehind.4、Chinawillfighttocontrolinflationandcrackdownonpropertyspeculatorsintheyearsahead,statemediaonWednesdayquotedPremierWenJiabaoassaying,asthecountryreadiedtowelcometheYearoftheRabbit

5、Acer,basedinTaiwan,isonapacetoovertakeDellasthesecond-biggestPCmaker,propelledbyitslow-costlaptopsandnetbooks6.SinaWeibohastemporarilybanneditsusersfrompostingcommentstocurbthespreadofrumourscirculatingonthenation'sleadingmicroblogsite.

7.Inflationisfarlessofathreatthanadeepeningrecession,notleastbecausetheweakesteuro-zoneeconomiesarealsotheonesmostdependentonimportedenergy.

8.FoodsafetyisaheatedissueinChina,wherescandalsinvolvingtoxicfoodadditivesfrequentlymakethepagesofthedailynewspaperandhavesparkedoutrageandconcernamongthegeneralpopulation.

9.ThecommentsattributedtoJobsareperhapsnogreatsurprise,notleastbecauseAppleiscurrentlypursuinganumberoflawsuitsagainstSmartphonemarkerswhohaveoptedtouseAndroid.10.ThisweekPresidentObamainkedabillthatrestoreshisadministration'spowertoimposetariffsonnationslikeChinaandVietnam,whentheirgoodsarereckonedtobesubsidizedordumpedonAmericanmarkets.

11.Biddingtodifferentiateitselfintheincreasinglycompetitivetablet-computermarket,SamsungElectronicsplansthisyeartolaunchanAndroid-basedtabletrunningonfourth-generationnetworktechnology.

典型基础阅读例精讲ExampleOneWhataccountsforthegreatoutburstofmajorinventionsinearlyAmerica—breakthroughssuchasthetelegraph,thesteamboatandtheweavingmachine?Amongthemanyshapingfactors,Iwouldsingleoutthecountry’sexcellentelementaryschools:alaborforcethatwelcomedthenewtechnology;thepracticeofgivingpremiumstoinventors;andabovealltheAmericangeniusfornonverbal,“spatial”thinkingaboutthingstechnological.1.Accordingtotheauthor,thegreatoutburstofmajorinventionsinearlyAmericawasinalargepartdueto________.[A]elementaryschools[B]enthusiasticworkers[C]theattractivepremiumsystem[D]aspecialwayofthinking

ExampleTwoWhymentiontheelementaryschools?Becausethankstotheseschoolsourearlymechanics,especiallyintheNewEnglandandMiddleAtlanticstates,weregenerallyliterateandathomeinarithmeticandinsomeaspectsofgeometryandtrigonometry.AcuteforeignobserversrelatedAmericanadaptivenessandinventivenesstothiseducationaladvantage.AsamemberofaBritishcommissionvisitingherein1853reported,“Withamindpreparedbythoroughschooldiscipline,theAmericanboydevelopsrapidlyintotheskilledworkman.”2.ItisimpliedthatadaptivenessandinventivenessoftheearlyAmericanmechanics________.[A]benefitedalotfromtheirmathematicalknowledge[B]shedlightondisciplinedschoolmanagement[C]wasbroughtaboutbyprivilegedhometraining[D]owedalottothetechnologicaldevelopmentExampleThreeTechnically,anysubstanceotherthanfoodthataltersourbodilyormentalfunctioningisadrug.Manypeoplemistakenlybelievethetermdrugrefersonlytosomesortofmedicineoranillegalchemicaltakenbydrugaddicts.Theydon’trealizethatfamiliarsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccoarealsodrugs.Thisiswhythemoreneutraltermsubstanceisnowusedbymanyphysiciansandpsychologists.Thephrase“substanceabuse”isoftenusedinsteadof“drugabuse”tomakeclearthatsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccocanbejustasharmfullymisusedasheroinandcocaine.1.“Substanceabuse”(Line5,Paragraph1)ispreferableto“drugabuse”inthat________.[A]substancescanalterourbodilyormentalfunctioningifillegallyused[B]“drugabuse”isonlyrelatedtoalimitednumberofdrugtakers[C]alcoholandtobaccoareasfatalasheroinandcocaine[D]manysubstancesotherthanheroinorcocainecanalsobepoisonous

ExampleFourWeliveinasocietyinwhichthemedicinalandsocialuseofsubstances(drugs)ispervasive:anaspirintoquietaheadache,somewinetobesociable,coffeetogetgoinginthemorning,acigaretteforthenerves.Whendothesesociallyacceptableandapparentlyconstructiveusesofasubstancebecomemisuses?Firstofall,mostsubstancestakeninexcesswillproducenegativeeffectssuchaspoisoningorintenseperceptualdistortions.Repeateduseofasubstancecanalsoleadtophysicaladdictionorsubstancedependence.Dependenceismarkedfirstbyanincreasedtolerance,withmoreandmoreofthesubstancerequiredtoproducethedesiredeffect,andthenbytheappearanceofunpleasantwithdrawalsymptomswhenthesubstanceisdiscontinued.2.Theword“pervasive”(Line1,Paragraph2)mightmean________.[A]widespread[B]overwhelming[C]piercing[D]fashionable3.Physicaldependenceoncertainsubstancesresultsfrom________.[A]uncontrolledconsumptionofthemoverlongperiodsoftime[B]exclusiveuseofthemforsocialpurposes[C]quantitativeapplicationofthemtothetreatmentofdiseases[D]carelessemploymentofthemforunpleasantsymptoms

ExampleFiveDrugs(substances)thataffectthecentralnervoussystemandalterperception,mood,andbehaviorareknownaspsychoactivesubstances.Psychoactivesubstancesarecommonlygroupedaccordingtowhethertheyarestimulants,depressants,orhallucinogens.Stimulantsinitiallyspeeduporactivatethecentralnervoussystem,whereasdepressantsslowitdown.Hallucinogenshavetheirprimaryeffectonperception,distortingandalteringitinavarietyofwaysincludingproducinghallucinations.Thesearethesubstancesoftencalledpsychedelic(fromtheGreekwordmeaning“mind-manifesting”)becausetheyseemedtoradicallyalterone’sstateofconsciousness.(97text3)4.Fromthisparagraphwecaninferthat________.[A]stimulantsfunctionpositivelyonthemind[B]hallucinogensareinthemselvesharmfultohealth[C]depressantsaretheworsttypeofpsychoactivesubstances[D]thethreetypesofpsychoactivesubstancesarecommonlyusedingroupsExampleSixInrecentyears,railroadshavebeencombiningwitheachother,mergingintosupersystems,causingheightenedconcernsaboutmonopoly.Asrecentlyas1995,thetopfourrailroadsaccountedforunder70percentofthetotalton-milesmovedbyrails.Nextyear,afteraseriesofmergersiscompleted,justfourrailroadswillcontrolwellover90percentofallthefreightmovedbymajorrailcarriers.Supportersofthenewsupersystemsarguethatthesemergerswillallowforsubstantialcostreductionsandbettercoordinatedservice.Anythreatofmonopoly,theyargue,isremovedbyfiercecompetitionfromtrucks.Butmanyshipperscomplainthatforheavybulkcommoditiestravelinglongdistances,suchascoal,chemicals,andgrain,truckingistoocostlyandtherailroadsthereforehavethembythethroat.31. Accordingtothosewhosupportmergers,railwaymonopolyisunlikelybecause________.[A]costreductionisbasedoncompetition[B]outsidecompetitorswillcontinuetoexist[C]servicescallforcross-tradecoordination[D]shipperswillhavetherailwaybythethroatExampleSevenThevastconsolidationwithintherailindustrymeansthatmostshippersareservedbyonlyonerailcompany.Railroadstypicallychargesuch“captive”shippers20to30percentmorethantheydowhenanotherrailroadiscompetingforthebusiness.Shipperswhofeeltheyarebeingoverchargedhavetherighttoappealtothefederalgovernment’sSurfaceTransportationBoardforraterelief,buttheprocessisexpensive,timeconsuming,andwillworkonlyintrulyextremecases.33. Itcanbeinferredfromthisparagraphthat________.[A]shipperswillbechargedlesswithoutarivalrailroad[B]therewillsoonbeonlyonerailroadcompanynationwide[C]overchargedshippersareunlikelytoappealforraterelief[D]agovernmentboardensuresfairplayinrailwaybusinessExampleEight

Railroadsjustifyratediscriminationagainstcaptiveshippersonthegroundsthatinthelongrunitreduceseveryone’scost.Ifrailroadschargedallcustomersthesameaveragerate,theyargue,shipperswhohavetheoptionofswitchingtotrucksorotherformsoftransportationwoulddoso,leavingremainingcustomerstoshoulderthecostofkeepinguptheline.It’satheorytowhichmanyeconomistssubscribe,butinpracticeitoftenleavesrailroadsinthepositionofdeterminingwhichcompanieswillflourishandwhichwillfail.“Dowereallywantrailroadstobethearbitersofwhowinsandwholosesinthemarketplace?”asksMartinBercovici,aWashingtonlawyerwhofrequentlyrepresentsshipper.34. Theword“arbiters”(line7,paragraph4)mostprobablyreferstothose________.[A]whoworkascoordinators[B]whofunctionasjudges[C]whosupervisetransactions[D]whodeterminetheprice

ExampleNineItissaidthatinEnglanddeathispressing,inCanadainevitableandinCaliforniaoptional.Smallwonder.Americans’lifeexpectancyhasnearlydoubledoverthepastcentury.Failinghipscanbereplaced,clinicaldepressioncontrolled,cataractsremovedina30-minutessurgicalprocedure.SuchadvancesoffertheagingpopulationaqualityoflifethatwasunimaginablewhenIenteredmedicine50yearsago.Butnotevenagreathealth-caresystemcancuredeath--andourfailuretoconfrontthatrealitynowthreatensthisgreatnessofours.36. Whatisimpliedinthefirstsentence?[A]Americansarebetterpreparedfordeaththanotherpeople.[B]Americansenjoyahigherlifequalitythaneverbefore.[C]Americansareover-confidentoftheirmedicaltechnology.[D]Americanstakeavainprideintheirlonglifeexpectancy.ExampleTenDeathisnormal;wearegeneticallyprogrammedtodisintegrateandperish,evenunderidealconditions.Weallunderstandthatatsomelevel,yetasmedicalconsumerswetreatdeathasaproblemtobesolved.Shieldedbythird-partypayersfromthecostofourcare,wedemandeverythingthatcanpossiblybedoneforus,evenifit’suseless.Themostobviousexampleislate-stagecancercare.Physicians--frustratedbytheirinabilitytocurethediseaseandfearinglossofhopeinthepatient--toooftenofferaggressivetreatmentfarbeyondwhatisscientificallyjustified.37. Theauthorusestheexampleofcancerpatientstoshowthat________.[A]medicalresourcesareoftenwasted[B]doctorsarehelplessagainstfataldiseases[C]sometreatmentsaretooaggressive[D]medicalcostsarebecomingunaffordableExampleElevenYettherearelimitstowhatasocietycanspendinthispursuit.Asaphysician,Iknowthemostcostlyanddramaticmeasuresmaybeineffectiveandpainful.IalsoknowthatpeopleinJapanandSweden,countriesthatspendfarlessonmedicalcare,haveachievedlonger,healthierlivesthanwehave.Asanation,wemaybeoverfundingthequestforunlikelycureswhileunderfundingresearchonhumblertherapiesthatcouldimprovepeople’slives.39. IncontrastotheU.S.,JapanandSwedenarefundingtheirmedicalcare________.[A]moreflexibly[B]moreextravagantly[C]morecautiously[D]morereasonably

ExampleTwelve精讲Ahistoryoflongandeffortlesssuccesscanbeadreadfulhandicap,but,ifproperlyhandled,itmaybecomeadrivingforce.WhentheUnitedStatesenteredjustsuchaglowingperiodaftertheendoftheSecondWorldWar,ithadamarketeighttimeslargerthananycompetitor,givingitsindustriesunparalleledeconomiesofscale.Itsscientistsweretheworld’sbest,itsworkersthemostskilled.AmericaandAmericanswereprosperousbeyondthedreamsoftheEuropeansandAsianswhoseeconomiesthewarhaddestroyed.Itwasinevitablethatthisprimacyshouldhavenarrowedasothercountriesgrewricher.Justasinevitably,theretreatfrompredominanceprovedpainful.Bythemid-1980sAmericanshadfoundthemselvesatalossovertheirfadingindustrialcompetitiveness.SomehugeAmericanindustries,suchasconsumerelectronics,hadshrunkorvanishedinthefaceofforeigncompetition.By1987therewasonlyoneAmericantelevisionmakerleft,Zenith.(Nowthereisnone:ZenithwasboughtbySouthKorea’sLGElectronicsinJuly.)Foreign-madecarsandtextilesweresweepingintothedomesticmarket.America’smachine-toolindustrywasontheropes.Forawhileitlookedasthoughthemakingofsemiconductors,whichAmericahadinventedandwhichsatattheheartofthenewcomputerage,wasgoingtobethenextcasualty.Allofthiscausedacrisisofconfidence.Americansstoppedtakingprosperityforgranted.Theybegantobelievethattheirwayofdoingbusinesswasfailing,andthattheirincomeswouldthereforeshortlybegintofallaswell.Themid-1980sbroughtoneinquiryafteranotherintothecausesofAmerica’sindustrialdecline.Theirsometimessensationalfindingswerefilledwithwarningsaboutthegrowingcompetitionfromoverseas.Howthingshavechanged!In1995theUnitedStatescanlookbackonfiveyearsofsolidgrowthwhileJapanhasbeenstruggling.FewAmericansattributethissolelytosuchobviouscausesasadevalueddollarortheturningofthebusinesscycle.Self-doubthasyieldedtoblindpride.“Americanindustryhaschangeditsstructure,hasgoneonadiet,haslearnttobemorequick-witted,”accordingtoRichardCavanagh,executivedeanofHarvard’sKennedySchoolofGovernment.“ItmakesmeproudtobeanAmericanjusttoseehowourbusinessesareimprovingtheirproductivity,”saysStephenMooreoftheCatoInstitute,athink-tankinWashington,DC.AndWilliamSahlmanoftheHarvardBusinessSchoolbelievesthatpeoplewilllookbackonthisperiodas“agoldenageofbusinessmanagementintheUnitedStates.”1.TheU.S.achieveditspredominanceafterWorldWarIIbecause________.

[A]ithadmadepainstakingeffortstowardsthisgoal

[B]itsdomesticmarketwaseighttimeslargerthanbefore

[C]thewarhaddestroyedtheeconomiesofmostpotentialcompetitors

[D]theunparalleledsizeofitsworkforcehadgivenanimpetustoitseconomy2.ThelossofU.S.predominanceintheworldeconomyinthe1980sismanifestedinthefactthattheAmerican________.

[A]TVindustryhadwithdrawntoitsdomesticmarket

[B]semiconductorindustryhadbeentakenoverbyforeignenterprises

[C]machine-toolindustryhadcollapsedaftersuicidalactions

[D]autoindustryhadlostpartofitsdomesticmarket3.Whatcanbeinferredfromthepassage?

[A]Itishumannaturetoshiftbetweenself-doubtandblindpride.

[B]Intensecompetitionmaycontributetoeconomicprogress.

[C]Therevivaloftheeconomydependsoninternationalcooperation.

[D]Alonghistoryofsuccessmaypavethewayforfurtherdevelopment.

4.TheauthorseemstobelievetherevivaloftheU.S.economyinthe1990scanbeattributedtothe________.[A]turningofthebusinesscycle

[B]restructuringofindustry[C]improvedbusinessmanagement

[D]successineducationExampleThirteenAimlessnesshashardlybeentypicalofthepostwarJapanwhoseproductivityandsocialharmonyaretheenvyoftheUnitedStatesandEurope.ButincreasinglytheJapaneseareseeingadeclineofthetraditionalwork-moralvalues.Tenyearsagoyoungpeoplewerehardworkingandsawtheirjobsastheirprimaryreasonforbeing,butnowJapanhaslargelyfulfilleditseconomicneeds,andyoungpeopledon’tknowwheretheyshouldgonext.1.IntheWesterner’seyes,thepostwarJapanwas________.[A]underaimlessdevelopment

[B]apositiveexample[C]arivaltotheWest

[D]onthedecline

ExampleFourteenThecomingofageofthepostwarbabyboomandanentryofwomenintothemale-dominatedjobmarkethavelimitedtheopportunitiesofteenagerswhoarealreadyquestioningtheheavypersonalsacrificesinvolvedinclimbingJapan’srigidsocialladdertogoodschoolsandjobs.Inarecentsurvey,itwasfoundthatonly24.5percentofJapanesestudentswerefullysatisfiedwithschoollife,comparedwith67.2percentofstudentsintheUnitedStates.Inaddition,farmoreJapaneseworkersexpresseddissatisfactionwiththeirjobsthandidtheircounterpartsinthe10othercountriessurveyed.Whileoftenpraisedbyforeignersforitsemphasisonthebasics,Japaneseeducationtendstostresstesttakingandmechanicallearningovercreativityandself-expression.“Thosethingsthatdonotshowupinthetestscores—personality,ability,courageorhumanity—arecompletelyignored,”saysToshikiKaifu,chairmanoftherulingLiberalDemocraticParty’seducationcommittee.“Frustrationagainstthiskindofthingleadskidstodropoutandrunwild.”LastyearJapanexperienced2,125incidentsofschoolviolence,including929assaultsonteachers.Amidtheoutcry,manyconservativeleadersareseekingareturntotheprewaremphasisonmoraleducation.LastyearMitsuoSetoyama,whowastheneducationminister,raisedeyebrowswhenhearguedthatliberalreformsintroducedbytheAmericanoccupationauthoritiesafterWorldWarIIhadweakenedthe“Japanesemoralityofrespectforparents.”3.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtothetwoparagraphs?

[A]Japaneseeducationispraisedforhelpingtheyoungclimbthesocialladder.

[B]Japaneseeducationischaracterizedbymechanicallearningaswellascreativity.

[C]Morestressshouldbeplacedonthecultivationofcreativity.

[D]Droppingoutleadstofrustrationagainsttesttaking.

经典阅读理解题源外刊精讲PassageOneGermanyPlansLimitsonFacebookUseinHiring（NYTimes）Aspartofthedraftofalawgoverningworkplaceprivacy,theGermangovernmentonWednesdayproposedplacingrestrictionsonemployerswhowanttouseFacebookprofileswhenrecruiting.

ThebillwouldallowmanagerstosearchforpubliclyaccessibleinformationaboutprospectiveemployeesontheWebandtoviewtheirpagesonjobnetworkingsites,likeLinkedInorXing.ButitwoulddrawthelineatpurelysocialnetworkingsiteslikeFacebook,saidPhilippSpauschus,aspokesmanfortheInteriorMinister,ThomasdeMaizière.ChancellorAngelaMerkel’scabinetonWednesdaygaveitsbackingtotheproposedlaw.ThebillwillnowgotoParliamentfordiscussion,andcouldbepassedasearlyasthisyear,Mr.Spauschussaid.Thelawalsowouldprohibitcompaniesfromsecretlyvideotapingemployees,thoughtheycouldstillvideotapeincertainareasaslongastheydisclosedthefact.Itwouldalsoallowemployerstoholdsecretinvestigationswhentheysuspectedacrimehadbeencommitted.Germany’sNazi-erahistoryhasmadethecountryextremelycautiousonmattersofindividualprivacy.Concernshavebeenheightenedinrecentyearsbyscandalsinvolvingcompanies’secretvideotapingofemployees,aswellasinterceptingtheire-mailandbankdata.TheexplosionofWeb-basedinformationtoolshasaddedtotheunease.TheGermanauthoritiesareinvestigatingGoogleforhavingcollectedprivateInternetinformationwhiledoingresearchforitsStreetViewmappingservice,andtheyhaveaskedAppletoexplainitsdata-collectionpoliciesfortheiPhone.Facebook,whichsaysithasmorethan500millionusersworldwide,withabout10millioninGermany,hascomeunderfireforwhatsomeconsiderprivacyshortcomings,aswhenthesitechangeditsdefaultsettingstorevealmoreofindividuals’personaldata.TheGermanproposal,however,isaimedsquarelyatemployers.PeterSchaar,theGermancommissionerfordataprotectionandfreedomofinformation,toldTheAssociatedPressthattheproposalwas“asubstantialimprovementonthestatusquoindealingwithemployees’data.”TherearecurrentlynorulesgoverninghowcompaniesuseFacebookdata,Mr.Spauschussaid.Theproposalismeanttocreateguidelinesforthecourtsinhandlingthecasesthatwillinevitablyariseassocialnetworkingpenetratesfurtherintoeverydaylife,hesaid,andcompanieswouldalsobenefitfromclearrules.SarahRoy,aspokeswomaninParisforFacebook,saidthecompanygenerallydidnotcommentonlegislationasamatterofpolicy.ButshesaidthattheWebsite’sprivacysettingsalloweduserstoshareinformationasbroadlyorasnarrowlyastheyliked,eitherwithentirenetworksorwithalimitednumberofparticipants.PassageTwoAftertheMassacreDespitetheshootingsinVirginia,Americansdon'tseemtowantmoreguncontrolITISsurelyanAmericanodditythat,aftertheworstmassshootinginthecountry’shistory,somearealreadysayingthatsuchhorrorswouldbelesslikelyifonlygunswereeasiertoownandcarry.Americanslovefirearms.Theseconditemintheconstitution’sbillofrights,justafterfreedomofspeech,religion,assemblyandthepress,istherighttobeararms.Itispartofthenationalreligion.Masskillingsremainrareevents,whateveroutsidersmightthink,andtheyalsohappeninothercountries,includingthosewithtightrulesongunownership.ButlifeinmodernAmericaispunctuatedfrighteninglyoftenbysuchattacks.Makinganysortofaccurateinternationalcomparisonistricky,butsomeattemptshavebeentried.TheInternationalActionNetworkonSmallArms(IANSA),anactivistgroup,counts41schoolshootingsinAmericasince1996,whichhaveclaimed110lives,includingthoseinVirginiathisweek.IANSAalsolooksatschoolshootingsin80othercountries.Cullingfrommediareports,theycountonly14schoolgunkillingsoutsideAmericainthesameperiod.PuttingasidetheBeslanmassacreinRussia—committedbyanorganisedterroristgroup—schoolshootingsinallthosecountriesclaimedjust59victims.AsstrikingaretheoverallratesofviolentdeathbyhandgunsinAmerica.Thecountryisfilledwith200mguns,halftheworld’sprivately-ownedtotal.Residentsofothercountriesmayfretthatcriminals,gang-membersandinsaneindividualsareincreasinglylikelytousegunsandknives.ButincomparisonwithAmerica,fewotherdevelopedcountrieshavemuchtoworryabout.Thegun-murderrateinAmericaismorethan30timesthatofEnglandandWalesforexample.Canada—likeAmerica,a“frontier”countrywithhighratesofgunownership—seesfarfewervictimsshotdown:thefirearmmurder-ratesouthoftheCanadianborderisvastlyhigherthantheratenorthofit.Americamaynotquiteleadtheworldingunmurders(SouthAfricaprobablyholdsthatdubioustitle)butithasadismallyprominentposition.WhatmightbedonetoimprovemattersinAmerica?Theintuitiveanswer,atleastforEuropeansandthosewholiveincountrieswheregunsarelesseasilyavailable,isthatlawsmustbetightenedtomakeithardertoobtainandusesuchweapons.Notonlymightthatreducethefrequencyofcriminalacts,goestheargument,butitmayalsocutthenumberofaccidentaldeathsandsuicides.YetsomeinAmericaarereachingtheoppositeconclusion.WithinhoursoftheshootingsinVirginiaonMondayApril16th,aconservativebloggerwasquotingaRomanmilitaryhistorian,suggestingthat“ifyouwantpeace,prepareforwar”(“sivispacem,parabellum”).Othersputitmorebluntly:“anarmedsocietyisapolitesociety”.Virginia’sgunlawsaregenerallypermissive.Anyadultcanbuyahandgunafterabriefbackgroundcheck(asrequiredbyfederallaw),andanyonewholegallyownsahandgunandwhoasksforapermittocarryaconcealedweaponmustbegrantedsuchapermit.YetVirginiaTech,likemanyschoolsanduniversities,isagun-freezone.GunadvocatesaredaringtosaythatifVirginiaTechallowedconcealedweapons,someonemighthavestoppedtherampagingkiller.Togun-controladvocates,thisisself-evidentmadness.TheissueremainsoneofAmerica’smanyculturewars,dominatedbyanuncompromisingdialoguebetweentwoextremecamps.Westernandsouthernstates,libertariansandAmericanexceptionalistsbelievethatgunsarepartofthenationalfabric.Theysaythesecondamendmentisplain:“therightofthePeopletokeepandbeararmsshallnotbeinfringed.”Gun-controladvocatesnotetheintroductoryclausetothatamendment,“AwellregulatedmilitiabeingnecessarytothesecurityofafreeState”,andsaythattheframersoftheconstitutionneverintendedAmericatobepackedwithcitizensbearingprivateweapons.Inrecentyearstheright-to-armscamphavebeengettingstronger.EvenDemocratsareshiftinginfavour.TheDemocraticpresidentialcandidatescarriedonlyonestateinthesouthormountainWestin2000and2004,sothepartyhasdecidedthat,towinatthenationallevelagain,itmustdropsupportforguncontrol.Thatstrategyseemedtoworkinthecongressionalelectionsof2006,whenpro-gunDemocratsdidwell.ThelikesofJonTester,anewsenatorinMontana,andHeathShuler,aNorthCarolinacongressionalfreshman,didmuchbraggingabouttheirlifelonggunownershipandsupportforthesecondamendment.Thissuggeststhat,thoughgunlawsmaybetweakedaftertheVir