2023年考研外语考前密押卷13

考研外语考前密押卷13一、UseofEnglish1>ThesearetoughtimesforWal-Mart,America'sbiggestretailer.Longaccusedof(1)small-townAmericamadcondemnedfortheselfishnessofitspay,thecompanyhaslatelycomeunder(2)foritsmeannessoveremployees5health-carebenefits.Thechargeisarguably(3):thefirm'shealthcoverage,while(4)lessextensivethantheaverageforbigcompanies,isonequalterms(5)otherretailers’.Butbadpublicity,coupledwithrisingcosts,has(6)theBentonvillegianttoaction.WalMartismakingchangesthatshouldshiftthegroundinAmerica5shealthcaredebate.One(7)istoreducethepricesofmanygeneric,orout-of-patent,prescriptiondrugs.Wal-Mart'scriticsdismissthemoveasapublicity(8).Thelistofdrugsincludesonly143differentmedicinesandexcludesmanypopulargroup.True,butshort-sighted.Wal-Marthas(9)retailingbyusingitssizetosqueezesuppliersand(10)thegainsontoconsumers.Itcould(11)thesamewithdrugs.AC.misleadpoliticalmotivations.D.troubledtradeunions.Bysayingthat〃It'sanimagethatwillbogglethemindforyearstocome〃，(Paragraph3)theauthormeansthatthedebateinSeattleprovestobeA.dubiously-oriented.B.quitetransient.C.self-contradictory.D.fairlyconsequential.TheauthorisobviouslycriticalofPresidentClintonforhisfailuretomatchhiswordswithhisactions.hislackofhistoricalknowledgeabouttheWTO.C.hisputtingtheissueinawrongperspective.D.hisexaggerationofWTO'seconomicrole.FromthetextwecanseethatthewriterseemsA.ud.6>“Popularart〃hasanumberofmeanings,impossibletodefinewithanyprecision,whichrangefromfolkloretojunk.Thepolesareclearenough,butthemiddletendstoblur.TheHollywoodWesternofthe1930'sforexample,haselementsoffolklore,butisclosertojunkthantohighartorfolkart.Therecanbegreattrash,justasthereisbadhighart.ThemusicalsofGeorgeGershwinaregreatpopularart,neveraspiringtohighart.SchubertandBrahms,however,usedelementsofpopularmusic一folkthemes一inworksclearlyintendedashighart.ThecaseofVerdiisadifferentone,hetookapopulargenre-bourgeoismelodramasettomusic(anaccuratedefinitionofnineteenth-centuryopera)and,withoutalteringitsfundamentalnature,transmuteditintohighart.Thisremainsoneofthegreatestachievementsinmusic,andonethatcannotbefullyappreciatedwithoutrecognizingtheessentialtrashinessofthegenre.Asanexampleofsuchatransmutation,considerwhatVerdimadeofthetypicalpoliticalelementsofnineteenth-centuryopera.Generallyintheplotsoftheseoperas,aheroorheroine一usuallyportrayedonlyasanindividual,unfetteredbyclass一iscaughtbetweentheimmoralcorruptionofthearistocracyandthedoctrinairerigidityorsecretgreedoftheleadersoftheproletariat.Verditransformsthisnaiveandunlikelyformulationwithmusicofextraordinaryenergyandrhythmicvitality,musicmoresubtlethanitseemsatfirsthearing.Therearescenesandariasthatstillsoundlikecallstoarmsandwereclearlyunderstoodassuchwhentheywerefirstperformed.Suchpieceslendanimmediacytotheotherwiseveiledpoliticalmessageoftheseoperasandcallupfeelingsbeyondthoseoftheoperaitself.OrconsiderVerdi'streatmentofcharacter.BeforeVerdi,therewererarelyanycharactersatallinmusicaldrama,onlyaseriesofsituationswhichallowedthesingerstoexpressaseriesofemotionalstates.Anyattempttofindcoherentpsychologicalportrayalintheseoperasismisplacedingenuity.Theonlycoherencewasthesinger'svocaltechnique:whentheeastchanged,newariaswerealmostalwayssubstituted,generallyadaptedfromotheroperas.Verdi'scharacters,ontheotherhand,havegenuineconsistencyandintegrity.Evenif,inmanycases,theconsistencyisthatofpasteboardmelodrama,theintegrityofthecharacterisachievedthroughthemusic:oncehehadbecomeestablished.Verdididnotrewritehismusicfordifferentsingersorcountenancealterationsorsubstitutionsofsomebodyelse'sariasinoneofhisoperas,aseveryeighteenth-centurycomposerhaddone.Whenherevisedanopera,itwasonlyfordramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.Thispassageismainlyasurveyofdramamusic.abouttheelementsinpopularmusic.areviewofpopularart.D.aboutdramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.ThewriterassertsthatthedefinitionofpopularartisA.quiteaccurate.ratherelusive.fairlyclear.verydubious.ItcanbeinferredfromthetextthattheachievementsbyVerdiaretoosubtletorecognize.B.defyanyprecisedefinition.aretheenvyofhistimes.earnhimgreatreputation.Thewritermentionsthepoliticalelementsin19thcenturyoperatoillustrateA.thepoliticalmessagesexposed.B.theuniversalrecognitionofhighart.C.theintendedchangesinpopularart.D.heroes'andheroines'mentalstates.Accordingtothetext,Verdi'screativetreatmentofcharactersisperformedthroughA.hisfrequentre-writingofanopera.B.hiscoherentpsychologicalportrayal.C.hisconsistentaspirationtohighart.D.hiseffectivemaneuversofmusic.11、Biologically,thereisonlyonequalitywhichdistinguishesusfromanimals:theabilitytolaugh.Inauniversewhichappearstobeutterlydevoidofhumor,weenjoythissupremeluxury.Anditisaluxury,forunlikeanyotherbodilyprocess,laughterdoesnotseemserveabiologicallyusefulpurpose.Inadividedworld,alaughterisaunifyingforce.Humanbeingsopposeeachotheronagreatmanyissues.Nationsmaydisagreeaboutsystemsofgovernmentandhumanrelationsmaybeplaguedbyideologicalfactionsandpoliticalcamps,butweallsharetheabilitytolaugh.Andlaughter,inturn,dependsonthemostcomplexandsubtleofall-humanqualities:asenseofhumor.Certaincomicstereotypeshaveauniversalappeal.Thiscanbestbeseenfromtheworld-widepopularityofCharlieChaplain'searlyfilms.Thelittlemanatoddswithsocietyneverfailstoamusenomatterwhichcountrywecomefrom.Asthatgreatcommentatoronhumanaffairs,Dr.SamuelJohnson,onceremarked,“Menhavebeenwiseinverydifferentmodes;buttheyhavealwayslaughedinthesameway”.Asenseofhumormaytakevariousformsandlaughtermaybeanythingfromrefinedtinkletoanearthquakingroar,buttheeffectisalwaysthesame.Humorhelpsustomaintainacorrectsenseofvalues.Itistheonequalitywhichpoliticalfanaticsappeartolack.Ifwecanseethefunnyside,wenevermakethemistakeoftakingourselvestooseriously.Wearealwaysremindedthattragedyisnotreallyfarremovedfromcomedy,sowenevergetalopsidedviewofthings.Thisisoneofthechieffunctionsofsatireandirony.Humanpainandsufferingaresogrim;wehoversooftenonthebrinkofwar,politicalrealitiesareusuallyenoughtoplungeusintototaldespair.Insuchcircumstances,cartoonsandsatiricalaccountsofsomberpoliticaleventsredressthebalance.Theytakethewindoutofpompousandarrogantpoliticianswhohavelosttheirsenseofproportion.Theyenableustoseethatmanyofourmostprofoundactionsaremerelycomicorabsurd.WelaughwhenagreatsatiristlikeSwiftwritesaboutwarsinGulliver'sTravels.TheLilliputiansandtheirneighborsattackeachotherbecausetheycantagreewhichendtobreakanegg.Welaughbecausewearemeanttolaugh;hutwearemeanttoweeptoo.ItisnowonderthatintotalitarianregimesanysatireagainsttheEstablishmentiswhollybanned.Itistoopowerfulweapontobeallowedtoflourish.Thesenseofhumormustbesingledoutasman'smostimportantqualitybecauseitisassociatedwithlaughter.Andlaughter,inturn,isassociatedwithhappiness.Courage,determination,initiative一thesearequalitieswesharewithotherformsoflife.Butthesenseofhumorisanuniquehumanquality.Ifhappinessisoneofthegreatgoalsoflife,thenitisthesenseofhumorthatprovidesthekey.TheauthorquotesDr.SamuelJohnson'swordsto.A.spotlighttheunifyingforceofasenseofhumor.B.stresstheharmonybetweenindividualsandsociety.highlighttheincomparableluxuryofhumor.showthedistinctionbetweenhumansandanimals.Accordingtotheauthor,Apoliticalfanatics”(Para.2)moreoftenthannotfallvictimtoA.politicalrealities.B.wildillusions.C.adversecomments.D.noblequalities.Accordingtothe4thparagraph,whatintereststheauthoristhatsomepoliticiansfailtoA.perceivethevalueofhumor.gainacorrectsenseofvalues.C.distinguishcomedyfromtragedy.D.realizeclangersofhypocrisy.Towhichofthefollowingistheauthorlikelytoagree?Governmentagenciesareoftenaninappropriatesubjectforhumor.Asenseofhumorinevitablypromptsustotakeourselvesseriously.Manyissuesontrivialitiesmayariseforlackofasenseofhumor.Thepursuitforhappinessisoneofthegreatestgoalsinourlife.15、ThebesttitleforthetextmaybeA.Variousfunctionsofhumor.B.Developa11-humanqualities.Differentsolutionstoconflicts.Makeuseofhumorwisely.16、Thehousingmarkethasbeenfortwoyearsproppingupconsumers'spiritswhiletherestoftheeconomyliesexhaustedonthefloor,stilltryingtostruggletoitsfeet.AccordingtotheNationalAssociationofRealtors,thenationalmedianexisting-homepriceendedtheyearat$164,000,up7.1percentfrom2022.That'sthestrongestannualincreasesince1980.Althoughresidentialrealestateactivitymakesuplessthan8%oftotalU.S.GDP,ahousingmarketlikethisonecanmakethedifferencebetweenpositiveandnegativegrowth.Mostsignificantly,consumerspendingis66%ofGDP,andthepurchaseofanewhometendstohavean^umbrellaeffect"onthehomeowner'sspendingashehastostockitwithawasher/dryer,anewbig-screenTV,andmaybeaswingsetfortheyard.Themainfactorinhousing'scontinuedstrengthisaclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom:thepersistentweaknesseverywhereelse.Asthe2022recoverycontinuestobemore0°18forecastthanreality.FallingstockpricesraisedinvestorappealforU.S.TreasuryBonds,whichinturn,allowedmostinterestratestodriftevenlower.Buttherearenotmanysignsthatthere'sabubblereadytoburst.December'snewrecordinhousingstarts,forexample,wasnicelymatchedbythenewrecordinnewhomesales.Ifyoubuildit,theywillbuyandevenifaneconomicpickupstartstoreducehousing'srelativeattractiveness,there'snoreasonwhymodesteconomicgrowthandimprovedconsumermoodcan'thelpsustaininghousing'sstrength."Themomentumgainedfromlowmortgageinterestrateswillcarrystronghomesalesinto2022,withanimprovingeconomyoffsettingmodestlyhighermortgageinterestratesastheyearprogresses'",saidDavidLereah,chiefeconomistattheNationalAssociationofRealtors.Justashousinghastakenupmuchoftheeconomicslackforthepasttwoyears,bothasacomfortinginvestmentforfrettingconsumersandadriverofconsumerspendingitself,abigbumpelsewhereintheeconomyin2022couldbehousing'sdownfall.Ifstocksroarbackthisspring,capitalinflowscouldstealfromthebondmarket,pushinguplong-terminterestrates.OrAlanGreenspanandtheFedcoulddothesametoshort-termrates,asawaytohitthebrakesonarecoverythatisheatinguptoo19“Wal-Marteffect〃indrugswillnotsolveAmerica'shealth-costsproblem:groupaccountforonlyasmallshareofdrugcosts,whichinturnmake(12)only10%ofoverallhealthspending.Butitwould(13).Thefirmsotherinitiativeismore(14).Wal-Martisjoiningthesmallbutfast-growinggroupofemployers(15)arecontrollingcostsbyshiftingtohealthinsurancewithhighdeductibles.Earlyevidence(16)theseplansdohelpfirmscontrolthecostofhealthinsurance.Butcriticssaythatthesavingsare(17).Theyarguethattheplansshiftcoststosickerworkers,discouragepreventativecareandwillanywaydolittleto(18)overallhealthspending,(19)mostofthe$2trillionthatAmerica(20)healthcareeachyeargoestopeoplewithmultiplechronicdiseases.wreckedwreckswreckwrecking2、(2)dismissionfirefast.Inotherwords,ifeverythingpossiblegoeswrongforhousing,homeownersshouldhaveplentytocompensatethemintermsofjobsecurityandincomehikes.TheauthordrawsasharpcontrastbetweenthehousingmarketandtherestoftheeconomysoastoshowA.theboomofrealestateactivity.B.thestatisticsonhomeprices.C.theroleofhousingmarket.D.thedegreeofconsumerspirits.Howdotheconsumersfeelabouttheirinvestmentinthehousingmarket?A.Apprehensive.B.Reassured.C.Indignant.D.Annoyed.Aclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom(Paragraph3)connotesA.economicslack.B.continuedstrength.C.economicrecovery.D.jobsecurity.Whenmentioningthe〃umbrellaeffect”(Para.2),theauthoristalkingaboutA.bondmarket.B.stockexchange.C.housingmarket.D.electricappliances.Towhichofthefollowingistheauthormostlikelytoagree?Naturepassesnurture.Manproposes,Goddisposes.Faithmovesmountains.Factsspeaklouderthanwords.PartB(10points)Inthefollowingtext,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ChoosethemostsuitableonefromthelistA一Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblank.Therearetwoextrachoices,whichdonotfitinanyofthegaps.Thetragicimpactofthemoderncityonthehumanbeinghaskilledhissenseofaesthetics,thematerialbenefitsofanaffluentsocietyhavedivertedhisattentionfromhiscityanditsculturalpotentialstotheproductsofscienceandtechnology,washingmachines,centralheating,automaticcookers,televisionsets,computersandfittedcarpets.Heis,atthemoment,drunkwithdemocracy,well-to-do,acardriver,andhasneverhaditsogood.Heisreluctanttowalk.Statisticsrevealthatthedistanceheispreparedtowalkfromhisparkingplacetohisshoppingcenterisveryshort.(41).Congestionhasbecomethepredominantfactorinhisenvironment,andstatisticssuggestthattwocarsperhouseholdsystemmaysoonmakemattersworse.(42)."Puttinglandtoitshighestandbestuse〃becomestheprincipaleconomicstandardinurbangrowth.Thisspeculativeapproachandthepressureofincreasingpopulationleadstothe"vertical"growthofcitieswiththeresultthatpeopleareforcedtoadjustthemselvestocongestioninordertomaintaintheserelativelyartificiallandvalues.Paradoxicallytheremedyforremovingcongestionistocreatemoreofit.Partialdecentralization,orrather,pseudo-decentralization,intheform,oflargedevelopmentunitsawayfromthetraditionaltowncenters,only'shiftsthediseaseroundtheanatomyofthetown;ifitisnotcombinedwiththeremodelingofthetown'stransportationsystem,itdoesnotcureit.(43).Itiswithinourpowertobuildbettercitiesandrevivethecivicprideoftheircitizens,butweshallhavetostopoperatingonthefringeoftheproblem.Weshallhaveradicallytoreplanthemtoachievearationaldensityofpopulation.Weshallhavetoprovideinthemwhatcanbecalledminimum^psychologicalelbowroom〃・(44).Wemustcollect,inanorganizedmanner,allandcompleteinformationaboutthecityorthetown,ifwewanttoplaneffectively.Theprincipalunitinthisprocessis〃IM〃(oneman).Wemustnotforgetthatcitiesarebuiltbypeople,andthattheirform,andshapeshouldbesubjecttothewillofthepeople.(45).The"man-educate'man,thehuman,willhavetosetthetarget,andusingtheresultsobtainedbyscienceandhisownengineeringskill,takeuponhimselfthefinalshapingofhisenvironment.Hewillhavetousehishighmoralsenseofresponsibilitytothecommunityandtofuturegenerations.Newsystemsofcitymanagementmaybenecessarytocopewiththeneedsoftoday'surbanpopulations.Someplannersinsistthatadecentraliseddecision-makingprocessisfundamentaltoensuringthatcitiesworkforandnotagainstpeople.Astherearenoadequateoff-streetparkingfacilities,thecitiesarelitteredwithkerb-parkedcarsandparkingmetersrearthemselveseverywhere.Heretheengineeringsolutionsarestronglyaffectedbythenecessityforcomplicatedintersections,whichinturn,arefrustratedbytheextravagantcostofland.Scientificmethodsofdatacollectionandanalysiswillindicatetrends,buttheywillnotdirectaction.Scientificmethodsareonlyaninstrument.Theconvergenceofeconomicgrowth,populationgrowthandurbanexpansionoffersbothgreatchallengesandgreatpotentialsforrealizingmetropolitansustainability.Inthemeantime,insultisaddedtoinjuryby〃landvalue”.Thevalueoflandresultsfromitsuse;itsincomeisderivedfromtheserviceitprovides.Whenitsuseisintensified,itsincomeanditsvalueincrease.Oneoftheingredientsofthiswillbepropertransportat(42)(43)(44)(45)PartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.(10points)SiliconValleyisamagnettowhichnumeroustalentedengineers,scientistsandentrepreneursfromoverseasflockinsearchoffame,fastmoneyandtoparticipateinatechnologicalrevolutionwhoseimpactonmankindwillsurelysurpasstheepoch-makingEuropeanRenaissanceandIndustrialRevolutionofthebygoneage.WiththerapidspreadoftheInternetsincetheearly1990s,andtherelentlesstechnologicalinnovationsgeneratedthroughit,theinformationeraistrulyuponus,profoundlyinfluencingandchangingnotonlyourlifestyle,butalsothewaywework,dobusiness,thinkandcommunicatewithothers.(47)Theunprecedentedsuccessofthe-Valleyisatestimonytotheconcertedinternationalendeavorsandcontributionsbypeoplefromdiverseculturalandracialbackgrounds,madepossiblebythefavorablepolitical,economicandintellectualclimateprevailing,aswellasthefarsightedpoliciesoftheUSgovernment.Manycountrieshave,orareintheprocessofcreating,theirown“SiliconValley”.Sofar,nonehasasyetthreatenedthepreeminenceoftheUSprototype.WhatmakesSiliconValleysuchauniqueentity?Thereareseveralcrucialfactors.(48)Firstandforemost,ithasthelargestconcentrationofbrilliantcomputerprofessionalsandthebestsupportingservicesintheworld,andeasyaccesstoworld-classresearchinstitutions,likeStanfordUniversity,whichcontinuallynurtureswould-bethattheindustryneedsinordertomoveforward.Withouttheseadvantages,theValleywouldbeadifferentplace.Secondly,itactivelyencourages,orevenexalts,risktaking.Hence,failureholdsnoterrorandthereisnoshameattachedtoafailedeffort.Onthecontrary,theywilltryevenhardernexttimeround.Suchnever—say—dieapproachisthesinequanonfortheultimatetriumphinentrepreneurshipandtechnologicalbreakthrough.(49)Athirddecisivefactoristhevitalroleofventurecapitalistswhowillinglysupportpromisingstart-upswithurgentlyneededinitialcapitaltogetthemstarted.Somewouldevengivefailedentrepreneursasecondchanceifconvincedthatafreshconceptmightleadtoultimatesuccess.(50)Ofequalimportance,brightyoungpeopleandmiddlelevelprofessionalsarekeentoworkforanewventureatsubstantiallyreducedremuneration,asitoffersmorescopeforentrepreneurshipandjobsatisfactionthantheestablishedcompanies.Thereisalsoaprideofachievementiftheireffortscontributetoitsfruition.Intellectualchallengesaside,itisacommonpracticeforstart-upstooffergenerousshareoptionstoemployeesinordertoattracttherighttalentintotheirfolds.Thisisapowerfulincentivetomotivatethestafftodotheirutmostandtoshareinthecompany'sprosperityifitreachesitsgoal.Manyregardthisasthefoundationofasuccessfulenterprise.(47)(48)(49)(50)参考答案：【一、UseofEnglish]1〜5DBBBA6〜10CDDACl「20点击下载查看答案【二、ReadingComprehension]「5BADCB6〜10CBACD11〜30点击下载查看答案forceagitation3、⑶A.illegalB.unfairC.unreasonableD.incorrect4、⑷A.usuallyB.admittedlyC.obviouslyD.specially5、⑸withtoofby6、(6)causedexpelledstirredraised7、(7)problemmanagementintriguestrategy8、(8)demonstrationcheatattentionstunt9、(9)transformedtranslatedtransportedtransacted10、(10)A.passesB.passedC.passingD.passIK(11)makedogetform(12)forintooutup(13)A.receivesolvefithelp(14)considerableprincipalcontroversialavailable(15)whowhichwhatD.where(16)A.suggestsB.proposesC.remindsD.explains(17)interestingmisleadingexpressingillustrating(18)organizeregulateverifycontrol(19)sincethenwhenbecauseof(20)A.hangsonB.takesonspendsongoeson二、ReadingComprehension1>PartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.(40points)Whoeversaidthatvictoryhasmanyfathersanddefeatisanorphan,surelyhadneverheardoftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO).Inthecaseofthehaplessmultilateraltradebodyanditslongsufferingrepresentatives,thetotalfailureoftheopeningmeetingofthesocalledMillenniumtraderoundhaslotsofpeopleboastingoftheirrolesintheviolentphysicalstruggle.Well.That'sjustbrilliant.Theyareproudofbeingpartofamovementthatwantstowreckthemostimportantengineofeconomicgrowth,prosperityandoverallglobalrisinglivingstandardswehave一thefreedomoftradeandmovementofpeopleandgoodsbetweennations.The135-memberWTOiscomposed