2023年考研外语押题预测卷6

考研外语押题预测卷6

一、UseofEnglish

1、Arewomenreallyadvancing?InAfrica,HIV/AIDShassetthemback,whileinIndia,pregnantwomen(1)_____preferboystheyaborthalfamillionfemalesayear.AndinBritain,whichsawa(2)_____femaleprimeministerduringthe1980s,areportbythenation'sEqualOpportunitiesCommissionsaysgenderequalityinpubliclifeis"decadesaway".(3)_____about10%ofseniorpositionsinlargecompaniesandlawenforcementareheldbywomen,whilethe(4)_____forwomeninParliamentissoslowthatequalitymay(5)_____acouplecenturies.

InBritain,asinAmerica,there'sa(6)_____thatdiscriminationplays(7)_____ofaroleinwomen'sprogressinpubliclifeasmorewomenstayinfavorofmotherhood(8)_____careersinwhat'scalled"choicefeminism".These"choices",however,areoften(9)_____.bythehighcostofdaycareoritsunavailability.

InJapan,(10)_____discriminationagainstwomenstillremainsstrong,(11)_____a1985lawagainstit.Butnowthatnation,withitslowbirthrate,facesalabor(12)_____asitagesrapidly,andthegovernmentis(13)_____newmeasurestoencouragemotherstoreturntoworkafterchildbirth.Thenewmeasures(14)_____moreworkflexibilityforsuchreturningworkers,(15)_____daycare,andsupportwomenentrepreneurs.

TheArabworldhasonlyrecentlybeguntorecognizetheuntappedpotentialofwomenasleaders.Iraq'snewConstitutionrequiredevery(16)_____candidateintherecentelectiontobeawomanandthatitsparliamentbe25percentfemale.(17)_____thecharteralsogivesa(18)_____roletoIslaminwritingnewlaws.

(19)_____manymeasures,frompoliticstopoverty,womenstillhavealongwaytogotowardequalityand(20)_____.

A.such

B.so

C.too

D.hardly

2、(2)

A.qualified

B.effective

C.powerful

D.potent

3、(3)

A.Only

B.Simply

C.Just

D.Merely

4、(4)

A.pace

B.step

C.path

D.course

5、(5)

A.spend

B.cost

C.take

D.consume

6、(6)

A.recognition

B.intelligence

C.rationality

D.commonsense

7、(7)

A.fewer

B.less

C.lower

D.smaller

8、(8)

A.than

B.for

C.over

D.against

9、(9)

A.indicated

B.predicted

C.depicted

D.dictated

10、(10)

A.working

B.workforce

C.workfare

D.workplace

11、(11)

A.though

B.despite

C.instead

D.except

12、(12)

A.shortage

B.absence

C.deficit

D.lack

13、(13)

A.putting

B.pushing

C.pulling

D.hauling

14、(14)

A.grant

B.permit

C.accord

D.award

15、(15)

A.advance

B.progress

C.develop

D.improve

16、(16)

A.triple

B.three

C.third

D.threefold

17、(17)

A.And

B.Even

C.Besides

D.But

18、(18)

A.primary

B.preliminary

C.direct

D.primitive

19、(19)

A.To

B.By

C.For

D.With

20、(20)

A.improvement

B.enlargement

C.enlightenment

D.enhancement

二、ReadingComprehension

1、PartA

Directions:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.(40points)

ImprovingthebalancebetweentheworkingpartofthedayandtherestofitisagoalofagrowingnumberofworkersinrichWesterncountries.Someareturningawayfromtheidealsoftheirparents,forwhomworkalwayscamefirst;otherswithscarceskillsaredemandingmorebecausetheyknowtheycangetit.Employers,Caughtbetweenafallingpopulationofworkersandtightcontrolsonimmigration,areeagertoidentifyextraperksthatwillluremore"talent"theirway.Justnowtheyarefocusingonbenefits(especiallyflexibleworking)thatofferemployeesmorethanjustpay.

Somecompaniessawthechangeofmoodsometimeago.IBMhasmorethan50differentprogrammespromotingwork-lifebalanceandBankofAmericaover30.Butplentyofotherfirmsremainunconvincedandmanylackthecapacitytocatertosuchideaseveniftheywantedto.HelenMuftis,withHayGroup,ahuman-resourcesconsultancy,seesawideninggapbetweenfirms"atthecreativeendofemployment"andthosethatarenot.

Thechiefcomponentofalmostallschemestopromotework-lifebalanceisflexibleworking.Thisallowspeopletoescaperigidnine-to-fiveschedulesandworkawayfromaformaloffice.IBMsaysthat40%ofitsemployeestodayworkoffthecompanypremises.Formanybusinesses,flexibleworkingisanecessity.Globalizationhasspreadthehoursinwhichworkersneedtocommunicatewitheachotherandincreasedthecallforflexibleshifts.

NellaBarkley,anAmericanwhoadvisescompaniesonwork-lifebalance,saysthatlargefirmsalebeginningtounderstandthevalueofsuchschemes,"butonlyslowly".Formostofthem,theystillmeanlittlemorethanchildcare,healthcareandflexibleworking.

Tosomeextent,theproliferationofwork-life-balanceschemesisafunctionoftoday'slabourmarket.Companiesinknowledge,basedindustriesworryabouttheshortageofskillsandhowtheyaregoingtopersuadetalentedpeopletoworkforthem.Althoughwhite-collarworkersaremorelikelytobelaidoffnowadays,theyarealsolikelytogetrehired.UnemploymentamongcollegegraduatesinAmericaisjustover2%.Thesamecompetitionforscarce.talentisevidentinBritain.

Forsometimetocome,talentedpeopleintheWestwilldemandmorefromemployers,andcleveremployerswillcreatenewgewgawstoenticethemtojoin.Thoseemployersshouldnotethatforagrowingnumberoftheseworkersthemostappealinggewgawofallisthefreedomtoworkasandwhentheyplease.

Employeesaredemandingmorefromtheiremployersbecause

A.theyalwaysputtheirworkasthefirstthinginlife.

B.theyarepursuingamorebalancedlifestyle.

C.theyareequippedwithspecialskills.

D.theyarefocusingonbenefitsmorethantheirsalary.

2、

Thepresentsituationaboutthework-lifebalanceproblemisthat

A.manycompanieshavedifferentprogrammesforthisproblem.

B.manycompaniesarereadytotakeeffectivesolutions.

C.companiesareattwoextremesinsolvingthisproblem.

D.manycompaniesareindifferenttothisproblem.

3、

IBMismentionedinthethirdparagraphtoshowthat

A.IBMhasmanydifferentprgrammesenhancingwork-lifebalance.

B.flexibleworkingmeansflexibleworkingtime.

C.flexibleworkingincludesallowingemployeestoworkoutsideoffices.

D.flexibleworkingcanberealizedbyflexibleshifts.

4、

Accordingtothepassage,work-lifebalanceschemes

A.arenowadoptedbymanylargefirms.

B.mainlycontainchildcare,healthcareandflexibleworking.

C.arewelcomedbywhite-collarworkers.

D.arethenaturalresultoflabourforcecompetition.

5、

Theword"gewgaws"(Paragraph6)mostprobablymeans

A.jewelry.

B.positons.

C.policies.

D.payment.

6、Miserseverywhere:thatMediterraneancruisecouldbewithinreachatlast.There'llbenofreeridetotheport,andnofreefoodorentertainmentonboard.Thecabinwillmeasure30meterssquareandhousekeepingwillbeextra.Butthefiberglasssuiteiseasytoclean,andcostsaslittleas￡29anight.

Earlierthisyear,serialentrepreneurSteliosHaji-Ioannou,themanwhogaveEuropeitsfirstbudgetairline,cashedin￡14millionofhiseasyJetsharestofundwhathecallsa"littleshoppingspree."Boldlyexpandinghisno-frillsmodelintonewmarkets,Stelios(heinsistsonfirst-nameinformality)planstoopenthefirsteasyHotelinLondonthisyearwithpricesfrom￡5anight,aneasyBusfleetandeasyCruise,readytosailnextsummer.Alsoonthelist:easyPizzasandeasyTelecom,amobile-phoneservice.

Canhemakeitwork?ThesoaringsuccessofeasyJetanditsrivalswasEurope'sgreatbusinessstoryofthelate1990s,andyetmorecarriersareemergingtoservethe10nationsthatjoinedtheEuropeanUnionlastweek.Whilecopycattingtheideamaylooklikeano-brainer,though,someexpertsdoubtStelios'sexpansionplanshavemuchofafuture."Theno-frillsmodelisveryfragile."saysChrisVossofLondonBusinessSchool."Steliosisapplyingitratherindiscriminately."

Theentrepreneur'srecordismixed.HelaunchedeasyJetin1995,whenhewas28,anditnowhas70planesandrevenuesof￡932millionlastyear,upnearly70percentfrom2022.Buthisfirstattempttoclonetheno-frillsmodel,aEurope-widechainofInternetcafeslaunchedattheheightofthebubble,hassincestruggledtomakemoney.HisfirsteasyCinema-ticketsforjust50penceissufferingbecausebigdistributors,fearfulofundercuttingtheirotherbusiness,refusetoallowcheapscreeningsofnewblockbusters.

Thelargerproblem:reducingpricesisnotenoughtomakeno-frillswork.Stelios,forexample,likestoselldirecttothecustomer,preferablyonline,andavoidscorporateaccountsonthetheorythatonlyindividualscareenoughaboutpricetobeloyalno-killscustomers.Hechoosesonlysectorsinwhichthevolumeofbusinesswillclearlyriseaspricesfall.There'snopoint,say,inofferingacut-rateburialservice.SaysStelios:"Thedemandforfuneralsisn'tgoingtogoup—regardlessoftheprice."

IfonetravelsontheMediterraneancruiseinthefuture,

A.he/shewillbecomeacheapskate.

B.itwillcosthim/hermoremoney.

C.itwillbecomemoreeconomical.

D.therewillbenofreeservices.

7、

Steliosexpandshisbusinessfollowingthekeyprinciplethat

A.itisallabouttransportation.

B.itprovidesnofirst-classservice.

C.itlowerstheamountofexpenditure.

D.ithasmanychainstores.

8、

Someexperts,likeChrisVoss,thinkthat

A.theno-killsmodelisverysuccessful.

B.Stelios'sexpansionplanshavegreatfuture.

C.StelioscanhardlyrepeathissoaringsuccessineasyJet.

D.Steliosisverycarefulinapplyinghismodel.

9、

Stelios'recordislistedinordertoshowthat

A.HisisverysuccessfulinrunningeasyJet.

B.HisInternetcafesfailedatlast.

C.HiseasyCinema-ticketsendedupnowhere.

D.Hisattempttoexpandtheno-frillsmodelisimmature.

10、

WhatdoesSteliosmeanbytalkingaboutfunerals?

A.Heonlychoosestherightandsuitablesectors.

B.Hedoesn'tliketodealwithcorporatecustomers.

C.Thelowerpriceisthekeytosuccess.

D.Hewillnotofferapoor-qualityservice.

11、ScientistsJohanFeenstraandRobHayesthinkthey'vefiguredouthowaprocesscalledelectrowettingcanmakepaperthatcandoanythingavideoscreendoes.Sofar,though,allthey'vegottoshowfortheireffortsisatinypieceofe-paperonecentimetersquare—only225pixels,orpictureelements.Thatwon'tbenearlyenoughforheadlinesandnewsvideos.Theonlyhintofthetechnology'spotentialisalaptoppresentationtheinventorshavesetup.ItfeaturesProfessorShape,HarryPotter'steacher,holdinganelectronicnewspaperwithanembeddedvideoclip."That'swhatwewant,"saysHayes.

They'relikelytogetit.LatelastmonthinTokyo,SonytookanimportantleapinthisdirectionbyintroducingLibrie,ane-bookreader.Althoughit'savailableonlyinblackandwhite,Libriehasthemostimportantcharacteristicofpaper:itreflectsnaturallight.Thatmeansitcanbereadonsunnydaysorviewedfromanyangle.Youcanevenchooseyourownfontsize.Isthisfinallythebeginningoftheendofpaper?

Theansweriscloserto"yes"thanyoumaythink.Theholdupsofarhasbeenuser-unfriendlyscreens,butnowe-papernolongerreliesonback-litdisplays.Areflectivedisplayiseasyontheeyes,withtwicethecontrastofcomputerscreensanduptosixtimesthebrightness.Itusespoweronlywhenchangingthepage,soabatterycanlast300hours.Severalfirmsarecompetingforleadership.ThePhilip'sdisplayonLibrieusestechnologyfromMassachusetts-basedE-InkCorp.Anelectricchargemoveseitherblackorwhitecapsulestothesurfaceofthepageinpatternsthatform.images.GyriconMediausesrotatingballswithoneblacksideandonewhitesideforsignsandbillboards.Othercompaniesarefocusingonimprovementsinliquid-crystaldisplays.

Thenextchallengeistoaddcolor.Oneoptionforbookswouldbeasimplecolorfilter,butthatwouldblocktwothirdsofthelight.GuofuZhou,whorunstheE-InkprojectforPhilips,thinksproductswithcoloredinkcanbereadyforthemarketwithinsevenyears.He'snowfocusingone-paperthatcandisplay16ormoregradationsofgray,whichwouldcomeinhandyinmedicalimagingortodisplayblack-and-whitephotographsathome.

Labsaroundtheworldarealsoracingtodesignarobustyetflexiblebacking.PhilipsresearchersareworkingonatechnologyforlaminatingE-Inkonaplasticlayerinsteadofglass,whichwouldthenrollintoapen-sizedtube.Aflexibleproductformobilephonesanddigitalcamerascanbereadyinthreetofiveyears.

WhatscientistsJohanFeenstraandRobHayesdidwasthat

A.theymadeanelectronicnewspaper.

B.theycreatedapieceofvideoscreen-likepaper.

C.theymadeatinypieceofprimitivee-paper.

D.theyinventedtheelectrowettingtechnology.

12、

ThegreatestadvancethatLibriehasisthat

A.itisaboutthesizeofapaperback.

B.itwillbeagreatsuccessinmarket.

C.itworksjustlikearealbook.

D.itequalsmanybooksincontent.

13、

Theansweriscloserto'yes'(Line1,Paragraph3)because

A.theback-litdisplaysisalreadysophisticated.

B.thePhilip'sdisplayhasthelatestE-Inktechnology.

C.GyriconMediahasrotatingballstechnology.

D.thetechnologybarrierisabouttoberemoved.

14、

GuofuZhouwouldprobablyagreethat

A.addingacolorfilterwillbeasimplesolution.

B.coloredinkremainsatoughproblem.

C.e-paperwillbeadoptedbothintheofficeandathome.

D.theobstaclenowistheuser-unfriendlyscreens.

15、

Accordingtothepassage,itispossiblethate-paper

A.willsoonbecommercializedandwithinreach.

B.willbeprintedonpaperwithE-Ink.

C.willreplacethetraditionalpaper.

D.willbemadeofplasticlayerinsteadofglass.

16、"Myveryeducatedmotherjustservedusninepizzas".ManyAmericanschoolchildrenaretaughtthissentencetohelpthemremembertheorderoftheplanetsofthesolarsystem.Soonthough,thismaychangebecause,onJuly29th,ateamofastronomersannouncedthediscoveryofaverydistantcelestialbodylargerthanPluto.Theresearchersclaimthatthenewbody—whichtheyareinformallycallingXena—shouldbeclassifiedasaplanet.

Thenewbody—temporarilynamed2022UB313—orbitstheSunonceevery560years.Itiscurrentlyover14billionkilometresaway,aboutthreetimesfartheroutthanPluto,makingitthemostdistantobjecteverdiscoveredinthesolarsystem.TheresearchersthinkitispartoftheKuiperbelt,aringofrockyobjectsthatextendsbeyondNeptune.

MikeBrownoftheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology,ChadTrujillooftheGeminiObservatoryandDavidRabinowitzofYaleUniversitydiscoveredtheobjectindatarecordedatthePalomarObservatoryinSanDiegoinOctober2022,butitsmotiondidnotbecomeapparentuntiltheyreanalysedthedatainJanuary2022.

Thequestionofwhetherornotthenewbodyshouldbeconsideredaplanethasrekindledthedebateoverwhatexactlycountsasaplanet.Ahandfulofobjectsofsimilarsizeto,butsmallerthan,PlutohavebeendiscoveredintheKuiperbeltoverthepastfewyears.Thesehavenotbeenconsideredplanets,mainlybecausetheyweresmallerthanPluto.But2022UB313islargerthanPluto.IfPlutoisaplanet,shouldn'titbeaswell?

Thecaseisnotsoclearcut.ManyastronomersarguethatPlutoshouldnotbeconsideredaplanet.Itismorelikealargeasteroid,theyhold.Meanwhile,Dr.BrownassertsthatasPlutohashistoricallybeenconsideredaplanet,anythinglargershouldalsobeconsideredone.

Ultimately,theInternationalAstronomicalUnion,agroupofprofessionalastronomers,willendthisexistentialanxiety.Dr.Brownexpectstheprocesstotakemonths,andtheteamisnotallowedtorevealitssuggestednameuntilthen.SincemostGreekandRomannameshavealreadybeenused,heandhiscolleagueshavepreviouslydrawnuponNativeAmericanandInuitmythologyfornames.Hewillonlyhintthatthenewnamecomesfromadifferenttraditionaltogether.

Timewilltellwhethermotherwillbeserving"ninepolishedxylophones","ninepizzas"orjust"noodles".

ThefirstsentenceinParagraph1isusedbyAmericanschoolchildrenbecause

A.itrepresentstypicalAmericanculture.

B.itrepresentsnineplanetsinthesolarsystem.

C.itisoftenusedinteachingastronomy.

D.itisagoodexampleofmnemonics.

17、

Accordingtothepassage,whenwasthenewplanetfirstdetected?

A.OnJuly29th,2022.

B.InOctober2022.

C.InJanuary2022.

D.OnMarch13th,2022.

18、

Thestandardsofplanetareopentoquestionbecause

A.Plutoisnowoneofthenineplanets.

B.Plutoisahistoricalmistake.

C.objectsofsizesimilartoPlutoarenotrecognized.

D.2022UB313islargerthanPluto.

19、

Wecanlearnfromthepassagethatthenameofthe2022UB313

A.mightbegivenbytheInternationalAstronomicalUnion.

B.mightberevealedbytheresearchteamsoon.

C.mightbechosenfromlistofGreekandRomannames.

D.mightbechosenfromNativeAmericanandInuitmyth.

20、

Inwhichcasewillmotherbeserving"noodles"?

A.Thenewplanetisnamedafternoodles.

B.Thenewobjectisnotcountedasaplanet.

C.BothPlutoandthenewobjectarenotcountedasplanet.

D.BothPlutoandthenewobjectarecountedasplanet.

21、PartB(10points)

Thefollowingparagraphsaregiveninawrongorder.ForQuestions41-45,youarerequiredtoreorganizetheseparagraphsintoacoherentarticlebychoosingfromthelistA-G.Someoftheparagraphshavebeenplacedforyou.(10points)

A.Productivitygrowthjudderedtoahaltin2000astheeconomyturnedsharplydown.Therecessionin2022wasthemildestonrecord,buttheslowdownwassuddenandsharpaftertherapideconomicexpansionofthelate1990s.WhathasgotMr.Greenspanandhiscolleaguesscratchingtheirheadsistherapidpickupinproductivityinthelast12months.

B.Tryingtounderstandwhythenumbersaresobigcouldhelpdeterminewhetherproductivitywillcontinuetogrowatthispace.Willthemiraclebesustained?Orisitamirageinwhichthegainswillbereversed?

C.AstheFedchairmanpointedout,thismightnotbeallthatunexpectediftheeconomyhadbeenrecoveringrapidly.Economiesoftengrowquitequicklyafterrecessions,andoutputperhouralsogrowsrapidly.Butafterabriefspurtinthefirstquarterofthisyear,America'seconomyhasbeenexpandingsluggishly—sosluggishlythatsomeeconomistsstillworryaboutadouble-diprecession.

D.Theargumentwillnotbesettleduntil,asMr.Greenspanputit,"thebooksareclosed".ItisSimplytoosoontobesurewhichgainswererealandsustainableandwhichweretransitoryorillusory.Thegovernmentfiguresforproductivityinthelate1990shavealreadybeenreviseddown.Theynowlooklessimpressivethantheydidatfirst,buttheystillshowaclearimprovementcomparedwithearlierAmericanproductivitygrowthrates—morethan2.5%ayearsince1995,comparedwithabout1.5%inthepreceding20years.

E.Mr.Greenspan,asmosteconomistsknow,hasmorethananacademicinterestintheanswer.Inrecentyears,hehasstakedagooddealofhisreputationontheexistenceoftheproductivitymiraclewhichappearedtoaccompanythehigh-techboomofthelate1990s.Theprickingofthedotcombubbleinearly2000ledmanytoconcludethattheimpressiveproductivitygainsintheAmericaneconomyfrom1995wouldturnouttobetemporary,evenifthefiguresweren'tsubsequentlyreviseddownwards.Asaconsequence,Mr.Greenspan'scredibilitywouldbetarnished.Somesayitalreadyis:thatheisjustanothereconomistwhobelievedallthehype.

F.So,whyisproductivitygrowingsofast?Thereareseveralpossibleexplanations,noneofthemmutuallyexclusive.Oneissimplythedrivetocutcostsascompaniesstruggletomakeaprofit;gettingridofthe"fat"acquiredduringtheboomyearswillalsocontributetothat.Someoftheimprovementmightbeare-allocationofresourcesintheeconomy.Somebusinesseshavebeenbuyingupcomputersandotherhigh-techequipmentfromfaileddotcomcompanieswhoprobablydidn'tusesuchresourcesveryefficiently.Then,too,hard-pressedbusinessestrytodomorewiththesamestaff,ratherthantakingonextraworkers.Andalowinflationenvironmentmakesitmoredifficultforcompaniestoputuppricesandmoreimportantforthemtoimproveproductivityasfarastheycan.

G.ItisnotoftenthatAlanGreenspanadmitstobeingpuzzledbyeconomicdata.YetonOctober23rd,Mr.GreenspanconfessedthatheandtheFedwerestrugglingtoaccountfortherecentsurgeinAmericanproductivity.Hewastalkingaboutthespectaculargrowthinproductivity-outputperhourworked-overthepastyear.Itwaslikely,hesaid,tobeoneofth