华南理工大学外国语学院《211翻译硕士英语》专业硕士历年考研真题及详解

2011年华南理工大学外国语学院211翻译硕士英语考研真题及详解PartⅠ. VocabularyandGrammar(30points,1pointforeach)Directions:AftereachstatementtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,C,andD.Choosetheonlyonechoicethatbestcompletesthestatement.WriteyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.1.Pleaseexplainyourstatement.Ihaveno_____whatyouaretalkingabout.A.contemplationB.normC.notionD.imagination【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：请解释一下你的声明。我不明白你在说些什么。contemplation沉思。norm标准。notion概念。imagination想象。因此，本题的正确答案选C。2.OnAugust18ththepresidentannouncedageneral_____forpoliticalexiles.A.yogaB.adoC.quartetD.amnesty【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：8月18日，总统对政治流亡者颁布了一条特赦令。yoga瑜伽。ado忙乱。quartet四重唱。amnesty大赦。因此，本题的正确答案选D。3.Whentwostraightlinesmeet,_____anangle.A.formedB.itisformedC.theyformD.toform【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：两条直线相交，就形成了一个夹角。该句中主句缺少主语与谓语动词，由从句可知，主语是指twostraightlines，则主语用they，form用复数形式。因此，本题的正确答案选C。4.Itisnot_____muchthelanguageasthebackgroundthatmakesthenoveldifficulttounderstand.A.thatB.thatC.soD.very【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：与其说语言不通，不如说是背景造成这部小说难以理解。notsomuchAasB为固定短语，意为“与其说是A，不如说是B”。因此，本题的正确答案选C。5.Themachinegotsomewhateroded,butthisoilwill_____itwell.A.extinctB.decorateC.illuminateD.lubricate【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：这个机器有点劳损，但是这种油有很好的润滑效果。extinct灭绝的。decorate装饰。illuminate照亮。lubricate润滑。因此，本题的正确答案选D。6.Thedigestiveenzymepepsinbreaksdownproteinsintocomponents_____readilyabsorbedbythehumanbody.A.thatcanbeB.andareC.whichtheyD.aretobe【答案】A查看答案【解析】句意：胃蛋白消化酶能分解蛋白质，以便人体很快吸收。这里括号内的单词为先行词，引导的后面的句子为定语从句，用来修饰前面的components，又因为“被人体吸收”是被动语态，因此，本题的正确答案选A。7._____theprecisequalitiesoftheheroinliteraryworksmayvaryovertime,thebasicexemplaryfunctionoftheheroseemstoremainconstant.A.WhateverB.EventhoughC.InspiteofD.Regardless【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：尽管随着时间的推移，文学作品中的英雄本色有所改变，但是其所起的模范作用恒久不变。whatever无论怎样。eventhough即使。inspiteofsth.尽管。regardless(ofsth.)尽管。因此，本题的正确答案选B。8.Thebabymonkey_____toitsmotherallday.A.heldB.graspedC.clungD.stuck【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：这只小猴子整天紧偎在母亲身边。hold拿着。grasp抓着。clingto紧偎，挨着。stickto坚持，粘着。其中stick指一个人或一个物体依附于另一个，也指互相依存，而cling一般指依附另一个人或另一物体，暗示必须受到支持、支撑。因此，本题的正确答案选C。9._____atinthisway,thesituationdoesnotseemsodesperate.A.LookedB.LookingC.TolookD.Beinglooked【答案】A查看答案【解析】句意：这样看来，情况并没有那么让人绝望。句子主语是thesituation，则look与主语之间的关系是被动关系，又因为当过去分词作伴随状语时，前面的be动词可以省略，则D选项排除。因此，本题的正确答案选A。10.Becausecaricaturetendstoemphasizethepeculiaritiesofasubject,_____aneffectivevehicleforpictorialsatire.A.whichisoftenB.andoftenseenasC.itisoftenD.manyofwhichare【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：由于漫画着重强调一个物体的特点，因此它常常是用于图片讽刺的有效工具。because引导的是从句，后句是主句，因此只有C选项可以构成一个完整的句子。因此，本题的正确答案选C。11.ItisabsolutelyessentialthatMary_____herstudyinspiteofsomeleaningdifficulties.A.willcontinueB.continuedC.continueD.continues【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：尽管困难重重，但玛丽继续学习仍是非常重要的。Itisessentialthatsb.(should)dosth.从句中应该用虚拟语气。因此，本题的正确答案选C。12.Please_____thestaffthattheinspectorswillbehereonMondayandletthemmakegoodpreparations.A.modifyB.ratifyC.rectifyD.notify【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：检察人员将于周一到达，请通知全体员工做好准备。modify修改。ratify批准。rectify改正。notify通知。因此，本题的正确答案选D。13.Themeetingtookonadifferent_____afterhismovingspeech.A.presageB.postureC.travestyD.trauma【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：在他激动人心的演讲之后，会议上出现了不同的立场。presage预示。posture立场。travesty歪曲，曲解。trauma心灵创伤。因此，本题的正确答案选B。14.Inthenineteenthcentury,SamuelGridleyHowefoundedthePerkinsSchoolfortheblind,_____forchildreninBoston,Massachusetts.A.thatinstitutesB.whileinstitutedC.wasaninstitutionD.aninstitute【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：19世纪，塞穆尔·格里德利·豪尔建立了帕金斯盲童学校。这所学校位于马萨诸塞州的波士顿。括号内引导的句子是thePerkinsSchoolfortheblind的同位语从句，用于对其作进一步的解释说明，不作主句中的成分。因此，本题的正确答案选D。15.Peopleinprehistorictimescreatedpaintsbygrindingmaterialssuchasplantsandclayintopowder_____.A.watertobeaddedB.foraddingwaterthenC.andwateraddedD.andthenaddingwater【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：史前人类将植物、粘土等磨成粉末并添加水制成颜料。addingwater与grindingmaterials是by后面的并列动词。andthen于是，然后。因此，本题的正确答案选D。16.Whileshehadthefever,she______forhours.A.ravedB.sniggeredC.perforatedD.tittered【答案】A查看答案【解析】句意：她发烧时，胡言乱语了好几个小时。rave胡言乱语。snigger窃笑。perforate穿孔于……。titter傻笑。因此，本题的正确答案选A。17.SeeingtheGeneralcominghisway,thesoldierstoppedandgavehimasmart_____.A.toastB.saluteC.tributeD.solution【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：看见将军朝他走过来，士兵停下来敬了一个漂亮的军礼。toast敬酒。salute敬礼。tribute哀悼。solution解决方法。因此，本题的正确答案选B。18.Oftenveryannoyingweeds,_____andactashoststomanyinsectpests.A.thatcrowdoutlesshardyplantsthangoldenrodsB.crowdingoutlesshardyplantsbygoldenrodsC.thegoldenrodscrowdingoutoflesshardyplantsD.goldenrodscrowdoutlesshardyplants【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：麒麟草会排挤其他植物并给害虫提供生长环境，通常十分惹人讨厌。划线处所在句子为主句，主句缺少主语。因此，本题的正确答案选D。19.Ifyouspillhotliquidonyourskinitwill_____you.A.scaleB.scaldC.shunD.shunt【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：热水撒到皮肤上会烫伤。scale衡量。scald烫伤。shun避开。shunt使分流。因此，本题的正确答案选B。20.Startingaround7000B.C.,andforthenextfourthousandyears,muchoftheNorthernHemisphere_____temperatureswarmerthanatpresent.A.withexperienceofB.experiencedC.experiencingD.experience【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：从公元前7000年开始，在接下来的四千年中，北半球大部分地区经历的温度比现在要高。从语境上分析可知，括号内所填单词为主句谓语动词，且时态是过去时。因此本题的正确答案选B。21.Didyougetany_____whenyouaredismissedfromyourjob?A.fundB.loanC.bonusD.compensation【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：你失业时有没有拿到补偿金？fund基金。loan贷款。bonus奖金。compensation补偿金。因此，本题的正确答案选D。22.Whenyouaresufferingfrom_____youhaveredspotsonyourskinandyoufeelasifyouhaveacold.A.apathyB.schizophreniaC.impotenceD.measles【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：得了麻疹的感觉跟感冒一样，而且皮肤上会长小红点。apathy漠然，冷淡。schizophrenia精神分裂症。impotence阳痿。measles麻疹。因此，本题的正确答案选D。23.Hewas_____onthetelephonesoIaskedhimtospeakmoreclearly.A.mutteringB.grumblingC.gropingD.shuddering【答案】A查看答案【解析】句意：他在电话里轻声低语，所以我让他说清楚一点。mutter轻声低语，喃喃自语。grumble抱怨，嘟囔。grope摸索，探索。shudder发抖，战栗。因此，本文的正确答案选A。24.Now,withthe_____andpopularityofthehomecomputer,itsadvantagesanddisadvantageshavebeenasubjectofdiscussion.A.adventureB.advanceC.adventD.adult【答案】C查看答案【解析】句意：如今，随着家庭电脑的出现和普及，它的利弊已成为了人们讨论的主题。adventure冒险。advance发展。advent出现。adult成年人。因此，本题的正确答案选C。25.They_____evidenceandthreatenedwitnessesnottotellthetruthtoanyoneelse.A.producedB.fabricatedC.createdD.manipulated【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：他们伪造了证据，并恐吓目击者，不许他向任何人讲实话。produce生产。fabricate伪造。create创造。manipulate操纵。因此，本题的正确答案选B。26.Isthereanypossible_____explanationforhisbadhealthsinceheseemstohavenoobviousdisease?A.psychiatricB.psychologicalC.surgicalD.physical【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：因为他看起来没有明显的疾病，能否从心理学的角度解释他的健康问题？psychiatric精神病学的。psychological心理学的。surgical外科的。physical身体的。因此，本题的正确答案选B。27.Manyanimalsdisplay_____instinctsonlywhiletheiroffspringareyoungandhelpless.A.cerebralB.imperiousC.ruefulD.maternal【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：许多动物只会在他们孩子年幼无助时才会显现出他们的母性。cerebral重理智的。imperious专横的。rueful悲伤的。maternal母性的。因此，本题的正确答案选D。28._____thebadweatherhasdelayedtheflight,soitwouldbeseveralhoursbeforetheycouldarrive.A.PresumablyB.RespectivelyC.ImaginablyD.Plausibly【答案】A查看答案【解析】句意：大概因为恶劣的天气致使飞机晚点，因此还有几个小时他们才能抵达。presumably大概。respectively分别地。imaginably可想象地。plausibly似真地。因此，本题的正确答案选A。29.Theysendinformationeveryweek,_____whetheritisusefulornot.A.inconsiderationofB.irrespectiveofC.withtheexceptionofD.withregardto【答案】B查看答案【解析】句意：他们每星期都发来信息，不管那些信息有没有用。inconsiderationof考虑到。irrespectiveof不管。withtheexceptionof除了……以外。withregardto关于。因此，本题的正确答案选B。30.Childrenofpoorhealtharevery_____tocoldsinwinterandshouldbetakencareofparticularly.A.willingB.readyC.reluctantD.prone【答案】D查看答案【解析】句意：身体差的孩子在冬天很容易就感冒，他们需要得到特别的关照。bewillingto乐意做……。bereadyto准备做……。bereluctantto不情愿做……。beproneto易于……。因此，本题的正确答案选D。PartⅡ. ReadingComprehension(50points)Section1 Multiplechoicequestions(30points,3pointsforeach)Directions:Inthissectionthereare2readingpassagesfollowedbymultiple-choicequestions.ReadthepassagesandthenwriteyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.Passage1Giventhelackoffitbetweengiftedstudentsandtheirschools,itisnotsurprisingthatsuchstudentsoftenhavelittlegoodtosayabouttheirschoolexperience.Inonestudyof400adultswhohadachieveddistinctioninallareasoflife,researchersfoundthatthree-fifthsoftheseindividualseitherdidbadlyinschoolorwereunhappyinschool.FewMacArthurPrizefellows,winnersoftheMacArthurAwardforcreativeaccomplishment,hadgoodthingstosayabouttheirpre-collegiateschoolingiftheyhadnotbeenplacedinadvancedprograms.Anecdotalreportssupportthis.PabloPicasso,CharlesDarwin,MarkTwain,OliverGoldsmith,andWilliamButlerYeatsalldislikedschool.SodidWinstonChurchill,whoalmostfailedoutofHarrow,aneliteBritishschool.AboutOliverGoldsmith,oneofhisteachersremarked,“Neverwassodullaboy.”Oftenthesechildrenrealizethattheyknowmorethantheirteachers,andtheirteachersoftenfeelthatthesechildrenarearrogant,inattentive,orunmotivated.Someofthesegiftedpeoplemayhavedonepoorlyinschoolbecausetheirgiftswerenotscholastic.MaybewecanaccountforPicassointhisway.Butmostfaredpoorlyinschoolnotbecausetheylackedabilitybutbecausetheyfoundschoolunchallengingandconsequentlylostinterest.Yeatsdescribedthelackoffitbetweenhismindandschool:“BecauseIhadfounditdifficulttoattendtoanythinglessinterestingthanmyownthoughts,Iwasdifficulttoteach.”Asnotedearlier,giftedchildrenofallkindstendtobestrong-willednonconformists.Nonconformityandstubbornness(andYeatslevelofarroganceandself-absorption)arelikelytoleadtoConflictswithteachers.Whenhighlygiftedstudentsinanydomaintalkaboutwhatwasimportanttothedevelopmentoftheirabilities,theyarefarmorelikelytomentiontheirfamiliesthantheirschoolsorteachers.AwritingprodigystudiedbyDavidFeldmanandLynnGoldsmithwastaughtfarmoreaboutwritingbyhisjournalistfatherthanhisEnglishteacher.High-IQchildren,inAustraliastudiedbyMiracaGrosshadmuchmorepositivefeelingsabouttheirfamiliesthantheirschools.AbouthalfofthemathematiciansstudiedbyBenjaminBloomhadlittlegoodtosayaboutschool.Theyalldidwellinschoolandtookhonorsclasseswhenavailable,andsomeskippedgrades.31.Themainpointtheauthorismakingaboutschoolsisthat_____.A.theyshouldsatisfytheneedsofstudentsfromdifferentfamilybackgroundsB.theyareoftenincapableofcateringtotheneedsoftalentedstudentsC.theyshouldorganizetheirclassesaccordingtothestudentsabilityD.theyshouldenrollasmanygiftedstudentsaspossible32.TheauthorquotestheremarksofoneofOliverGoldsmithsteachers_____.A.toprovidesupportforhisargumentB.toillustratethestrongwillofsomegiftedchildrenC.toexplainhowdullstudentscanalsobesuccessfulD.toshowhowpoorOliver’s’performancewasatschool33.PabloPicassoislistedamongthemanygiftedchildrenwho_____.A.paidnoattentiontotheirteachersinclassB.contradictedtheirteachersmuchtoooftenC.couldnotcopewiththeirstudiesatschoolsuccessfullyD.behavedarrogantlyandstubbornlyinthepresenceoftheirteachers34.Accordingtothepassageauthor,thedevelopmentofhighlygiftedstudentsisattributed_____.A.mainlytoparentalhelpandtheireducationathomeB.bothtoschoolinstructionandtotheirparentscoachingC.moretotheirparents’encouragementthantoschooltrainingD.lesstotheirsystematiceducationthantotheirtalent35.Therootcauseofmanygiftedstudentshavingbadmemoriesoftheirschoolyearsisthat_____.A.theirnonconformitybroughtthemalotoftroubleB.theywereseldompraisedbytheirteachersC.schoolcoursesfailedtoinspireormotivatethemD.teacherswereusuallyfarstricterthantheirparents【答案与解析】31.B 作者在文中表达的观点是，天才学生经常觉得他们比老师知道的多，以及学校的功课没有挑战性。他们不循规蹈矩，而且很容易与老师发生冲突。由此推测，学校通常不能满足天才学生的需要。故选B。32.A 推断题。由第一段以及第二段的第一句可知，作者引用名人轶事证明许多有成就的人对学校经历评价不高。因此，作者在文中第二段提及OliverGoldsmiths的名言是为了证明自己的观点。故选A。33.C 事实细节题。由第三段的第一、二句话可知，毕加索属于第一句话中所提到的，在学校里表现不好、天赋不是学术方面的天才。也就是说，毕加索不能很好地适应学校的学习。故选C。34.A 事实细节题。由第四段的第一句话可知，天才学生认为相较于学校教育而言，他们在家所受到的教育对他们能力的发展更加重要。故选A。35.C 全文主旨题。结合语篇分析和前面几道题可知，天才学生与学校之间锚段的焦点不在老师，而在于学校没能满足天才学生的需求，不能引起他们的兴趣。也就是说，学校不能给他们灵感，不能激励他们。故选C。Passage2ItcameassomethingofasurprisewhenDiana,PrincessofWales,madeatriptoAngolain1997,tosupporttheRedCross’scampaignforatotalbanonallanti-personnellandmines.WithinhoursofarrivinginAngola,televisionscreensaroundtheworldwerefilledwithimagesofhercomfortingvictimsinjuredinexplosionscausedbylandmines.“Iknewthestatistics,”shesaid.“Butputtingafacetothosefiguresbroughttherealityhometome;likewhenImetSandra,a13-year-oldgirlwhohadlostherleg,andpeoplelikeher.”ThePrincessconcludedwithasimplemessage:“Wemuststoplandmines”.Andsheusedeveryopportunityduringhervisittorepeatthismessage.But,backinLondon,herviewswerenotsharedbysomemembersoftheBritishgovernment,whichrefusedtosupportabanontheseweapons.AngrypoliticianslaunchedanattackonthePrincessinthepress.Theydescribedheras“veryill-informed”anda“loosecannon”.ThePrincessrespondedbybrushingasidetheCriticisms:“Thisisadistractionwedonotneed.AllI’mtryingtodoishelp.”Oppositionparties,themediaandthepublicimmediatelyvoicedtheirsupportforthePrincess.Tomakemattersworseforthegovernment,itsoonemergedthatthePrincess’striphadbeenapprovedbytheForeignOffice,andthatshewasinfactverywell-informedaboutboththesituationinAngolaandtheBritishgovernment’spolicyregardinglandmines.Theresultwasasevereembarrassmentforthegovernment.Totryandlimitthedamage,theForeignSecretary,MalcolmRifkidnd,claimedthatthePrincess’sviewsonlandmineswerenotverydifferentfromgovernmentpolicy,andthatitwas“workingtowards”aworldwideban.TheDefenceSecretary,MichaelPortillo,claimedthematterwas“amisinterpretationormisunderstanding.”—ForthePrincess,thetriptothiswar-torncountrywasanexcellentopportunitytouseherpopularitytoshowtheworldhowmuchdestructionandsufferinglandminescancause.Shesaidthattheexperiencehadalsogivenherthechancetogetclosertopeopleandtheirproblems.36.PrincessDianapaidavisittoAngolain1997_____.A.toclarifytheBritishgovernment’sstandonlandminesB.toestablishherimageasafriendoflandminevictimsC.toinvestigatethesufferingsoflandminevictimsthereD.tovoicehersupportforatotalbanoflandmines37.WhatdidDianameanwhenshesaid“...puttingafacetothosefiguresbroughttherealityhometome”(Paragraph1)?A.Meetingthelandminevictimsinpersonmadeherbelievethestatistics.B.Shejustcouldn’tbeartomeetthelandminevictimsfacetoface.C.TheactualsituationinAngolamadeherfeellikegoingbackhome.D.Seeingthepainofthevictimsmadeherrealizetheseriousnessofthesituation.38.SomemembersoftheBritishgovernmentcriticizedDianabecause_____.A.shehadnotconsultedthegovernmentbeforethevisitB.shewasill-informedofthegovernment’spolicyC.theywereactuallyopposedtobanninglandminesD.theybelievedthatshehadmisinterpretedthesituationinAngola39.HowdidDianarespondtothecriticisms?A.Shemademore:appearancesonTV.B.Shepaidnoattentiontothem.C.Sherosetoarguewithheropponents.D.Shemetthe13-year-oldgirlasplanned.40.WhatdidPrincessDianathinkofhervisittoAngola?A.IthadcausedembarrassmenttotheBritishgovernment.B.Ithadgreatlypromotedherpopularity.C.Ithadbroughtherclosertotheordinarypeople.D.IthadaffectedherrelationswiththeBritishgovernment.【答案与解析】36.D 事实细节题。由第一段第一句话可知，戴安娜王妃是去支持禁止地雷的运动的。故选D。37.D 语义理解题。由第一段最后一句话可知，尽管戴安娜王妃早就从数据上知道了因地雷伤亡的人数，但是当她亲眼见到了人们的情况后，她才真正地感受到了现实的残酷。故选D。38.C 语义推断题。由文章的第二段的第三句话可知，戴安娜王妃的言论被议会一些成员所反对，也因此他们指责戴安娜王妃“veryill-formed”。故选C。39.B 语义推断题。根据关键词“criticism”，可以定位到文章的第二段的中间部分“ThePrincessrespondedbybrushingasidetheCriticisms”，其中“brushingaside”意为“漠视、忽视”。故选B。40.C 事实细节题。由最后一段的最后一句话可知，戴安娜王妃认为这次安哥拉之行使她能够有机会接近人们以及了解他们的困难。故选C。Section2 Answeringquestions(20points,4pointsforeach)Directions:ReadthefollowingpassagesandtheanswerINCOMPLETESENTENCESthequestionsfollowingeachpassage.UseonlyinformationfromthepassageyouhavereadandwriteyouranswerinthecorrespondingspaceinyourANSWERSHEET.Passage3AttheUniversityofVirginiainCharlottesville,psychologyprofessorBellaDePaulogot77studentsand70townspeopletovolunteerforanunusualproject.Allkeptdiariesforaweek,recordingthenumbersanddetailsoftheliestheytold.OnestudentandsixCharlottesvilleresidentsprofessedtohavetoldnofalsehoods.Theother140participantstold1,535.Theliesweremostoftennotwhatmostofuswouldcallearth-shattering.Someonewouldpretendtobemorepositiveorsupportiveofaspouseorfriendthanheorshereallywas,orfeignagreementwitharelative’sopinion.AccordingtoDePaulo,womenintheirinteractionswithotherwomenliedmostlytosparetheother’sfeelings.Menliedtoothermengenerallyforself-promotingreasons.Moststrikingly,thesetellers-of-a-thousand-liesreportedthattheirdeceptionscausedthem“littlepreoccupationorregret”.Mightthat,too,bealie?Perhaps.Butthereisevidencethatthisattitudetowardcasualuseofprevaricationiscommon.Forexample,20,000middle-and-high-schoolersweresurveyedbytheJosephsonInstituteofEthics—anonprofitorganizationinMarinadeRey,Calif.,devotedtocharactereducation.Ninety-twopercentoftheteenagersadmittedhavingliedtotheirparentsinthepreviousyear,and73percentcharacterizedthemselvesas“serialliars”,meaningtheytoldliesweekly.Despitetheseadmissions,91percentofallrespondentssaidtheywere“satisfiedwithmyownethicsandcharacter”.Thinkhowoftenweheartheexpression“I’llcallyou”or“Thecheckisinthemail”or“I’msorry,buthesteppedout”.Andthenthereareprofessions—lawyers,pundits,PRconsultants—whosemembersseemtospecializeinshapingorspinningthetruthtosuitclients’needs.Littlewhitelieshavebecomeubiquitous,andthereasonwegiveeachotherfortellingfibsarefamiliar.Consider,forexample,aSouthernCaliforniacorporateexecutivewhomI’llcallTom.Hegoeswithhiswifeandsontohismother-in-law’shomeforThanksgivingdinnereveryyear.Tomdislikesher“special”pumpkinpieintensely.Invariablyhetellsherhowwonderfulitis,toavoidhurtingherfeelings.“What’swrongwiththat?”TomaskedMichaelJosephson,presidentoftheJosephsonInstitute.It’saquestionwemightallask.JosephsonrepliedbyaskingTomtoconsidertheliefromhismother-in-law’spointofview.SupposethatonedayTom’schildblurtsoutthetruth,andshediscoversthedeceit.Willshetellherson-in-law,“Thankyouforcaringsomuch?”Orisshemorelikelytofeelhurtandsay,“Howcouldyouhavemisledmealltheseyears?”AndwhatmightTom’smother-in-lawnowsuspectaboutherowndaughter?AndwillTom’sboylietohisparentsandyetbesatisfiedwithhisowncharacter?Howoftendowecomplimentpeopleonhowwelltheylook,orexpressourappreciationforgifts,whenwedon’treallymeanit?Surely,these“nicelies”areharmlessandwellintended,anecessarysociallubricant.But,likeTom,weshouldrememberthewordsofEnglishnovelistSirWalterScot,whowrote,“Whatatangledwebweweave,whenfirstwepracticetodeceive.”Evenseeminglyharmlessfalsehoodscanhaveunforeseenconsequences.PhilosopherSisselaBokwarnsusthattheycanputusonaslipperyslope.“Afterthefirstlies,otherscancomemoreeasily,”shewroteinherbookLying:MoralChoiceinPublicandPrivateLife.“Psychologicalbarriersweardown;theabilitytomakemoredistinctionscancoarsen;theliar’sperceptionofhischancesofbeingcaughtmaywarp.”Takethepumpkin-pielies.Inthefirstplace,itwasn’tjustthathewantedhismother-in-lawtofeelgood.Whetherherealizeditornot,hereallywantedhertothinkhighlyofhim.Andaftertheinitialdeceitheneededtotellmoreliestocoverupthefirstone.Whobelievesitanymorewhenthey’retoldthatthepersontheywanttoreachbyphoneis“inameeting”?Byitself,thatkindoflieisofnogreatconsequence.Still,theendlessproliferationoftheselittleprevaricationsdoesmatter.Oncethey’vebecomecommonenough,eventhesmalluntruththatarenotmeanttohurtencourageacertaincynicismandlossoftrust.“when(trust)isdamaged,”warnsBok,“thecommunityasawholesuffers;andwhenitisdestroyed,societiesfalterandcollapse.”Areallwhiteliestobeavoidedatallcosts?Notnecessarily.Themostunderstandableandforgivableliesareanexchangeofwhatethicistsrefertoastheprincipleofcaring,“liketellingchildrenaboutthetoothfairy,ordeceivingsomeonetosetthemupforasurpriseparty,”Josephsonsays.“Still,wemustaskourselvesifwearewillingtogiveourfriendsandassociatestheauthoritytolietouswhenevertheythinkitisforourowngood.”Josephsonsuggestsasimpletest.Ifsomeoneyoulietofindsoutthetruth,willhethankyouforcaring?Orwillhefeelhislong-termtrustinyouhasbeenundermined?Andifyou’renotsure,MarkTwainhasgivenusagoodruleofthumb.“Whenindoubt,tellthetruth.Itwillconfoundyourenemiesandastoundyourfriends.”41.Identifyother4correspondingsynonymsornear-synonymsfortheword“lie”inthepassage.42.PleasecommentonMarkTwain’sruleofthumb:“Whenindoubt,tellthetruth.Itwillconfoundyourenemiesandastoundyourfriends.”【答案与解析】41.Thefourcorrespondingsynonymsornear-synonymsarefalsehood,prevarications,fibanduntruth.（falsehood“说谎，假话”；prevarication“搪塞，撒谎”；fib撒小谎”；untruth“虚假，谎言”。）42.Inmypart,thesayingfromMarkTwainreallymakessenseinthereallife.Throughthepassage,tellingthelies,evenharmlessfalsehoods,couldcausesomeunforeseenconsequences,whilelittlewhiteliescouldmaketherelationshipsmoreharmonious.Thus,whenwe’renotsure,weshouldrememberthattheharmoniouscombinationofthesedifferentideasmaybethebestchoice.Undersuchcondition,tellingthetruthwouldbeabetterwaytogetacloserrelationship.（MarkTwain这句话的意思是“拿不定主意时，就实话实说。这样会让你的敌人不知所措，让你的朋友惊叹不已”。）Passage4Onthewhole,booksarelesslimitedthanourselves.Oftentheysitontheshelvesabsorbingdustlongafterthewriterhasturnedintoahandfulofdust—anditispreciselytheappetiteforthisposthumousdimensionthatsetsone’speninmotion.Soaswetossandturntheserectangularobjectsinourhandswewon’tbeterriblyamissifwesurmisethatwefondle,asitwere,theurnswithourreturningashes.Afterall,whatgoesintowritingabookis,ultimately,aman’sonlylife.Whoeversaidthattophilosophizeisanexerciseindyingwasrightinmorewaysthanone,forbywritingabooknobodygetsyounger.Nordoesonebecomeanyyoungerbyreadingone.Sincethisisso,ournaturalpreferenceshouldbeforgoodbooks.Theparadox,however,liesinthefactthatinliterature“good”isdefinedbyitsdistinctionfrom“bad”.What’smore,towriteagoodbook,awritermustreadagreatdealofpulp—otherwisehewon’tbeabletodevelopthenecessarycriteria.That’swhatmayconstitutebadliterature’sbestdefenseattheLastJudgment.Sinceweareallmoribund,andsincereadingbooksistime-consuming,wemustdeviseasystemthatallowsusasemblanceofeconomy.Ofcourse,thereisnodenyingthepleasureofholdingupwithafat,slow-moving,mediocrenovel;butintheend,wereadnotforreading’ssakebuttolearn.Hencetheneedfortheworksthatbringthehumanpredicamentintoitssharpestpossiblefocus.Hence,too,theneedforsomecompassintheoceanofavailableprintedmatter.Theroleofthatcompass,ofcourse,isplayedbyliterarycriticism,byreviewers.Alas,itsneedleoscillateswildly.Whatisnorthforsomeissouthforothers.Thetroublewitharevieweristhreefold:(a)hecanbeahack,andasignorantasourselves;(b)hecanhavestrongpredilectionsforacertainkindofwritingorsimplybeonthetakewiththepublishingindustry;and(c)ifheisawriteroftalent,hewillturnhisreviewwritingintoanindependentartform—GeorgeLuisBorgesisacaseinpoint—andyoumayendupreadingreviewsratherthanthebooks.Inanycase,youfindyourselvesadriftintheocean,clingingtoaraftwhoseabilitytostayafloatyouarenotsosureof.Thealternative,therefore,wouldbetodevelopyourowntaste,tobuildyourowncompass,tofamiliarizeyourself,asitwere,withparticularstarsandconstellations—dimorbrightbutalwaysremote.This,however,takesahellofalotoftimeandyoumayeasilyfindyourselfoldandgrey,headingfortheexitwithalousyvolumeunderyourarm.Sowhereisone’sterrafirma,eventhoughitmaybebutanuninhabitableisland?WhereisourgoodmanFriday?BeforeIcomeupwithmysuggestion,I’dliketosayafewwordsaboutmyhumbleself—notbecauseofmypersonalvanity,butbecauseIbelievethatthevalueofanideaisrelatedtothecontextinwhichitemerges.Indeed,hadIbeenapublisher,I’dbeputtingonmybooks’coversnotonlytheirauthor’snamesbutalsotheexactageatwhichtheycomposedthisorthatwork,toenabletheirreaderstodecidewhethertheycaretoreckonwiththeviewscontainedinabookwrittenbyapersonsomuchyounger—orsomucholder—thanthemselves.Thesourceofthesuggestiontocomebelongstothecategoryofpeopleforwhomliteraturehasalwaysbeenamatterofsomehundrednames;tothepeoplewhofeelawkwardatlargegatherings,donotdanceatparties,tendtofindmetaphysicalexcusesforadultery,andarefinickyaboutdiscussingpolitics;thepeoplewhodislikethemselvesfarmorethantheirdetractorsdo;whostillpreferalcoholandtobaccotoheroinormarijuana—thosewho,inW.H.Auden’swords,“onewillnotfindonthebarricadesandwhonevershootthemselvesortheirlovers”.Ifsuchpeopleoccasionallyfindthemselvesswimmingintheirbloodonthefloorofprisoncellsorspeakingformaplatform,itisbecausetheyobjectnottosomeparticularinjusticebuttheorderoftheworldasawhole.Theyhavenoillusionabouttheobjectivityoftheirviews;onthecontrary,theyinsistontheirunpardonablesubjectivity.Theyactinthisfashion,however,notforthepurposeofshieldingthemselvesformpossibleattack.TakingthestanceoppositetoDarwinian—theyconsidervulnerabilitytheprimarytraitoflivingmatter.Thishaslesstodowithmasochistictendenciesthanwiththeirinstinctiveknowledgethatextremesubjectiv