考研英语(一)真题和答案解析

1997年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题

SectionIStructureandVocabulary

PartA

Directions:

Beneatheachofthefollowingsentences,therearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]

and[D].Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.Markyouransweronthe

ANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebrackets.(5

points)

1.TheSocialSecurityRetirementProgramismadeupoftwotrustfunds,

couldgopennilessbynextyear.

[A]thelargerone

[B]thelargerofwhich

[C]thelargestone

[D]thelargestofwhich

2.Nowhereinnatureisaluminumfoundfree,owingtoitsalwayswith

otherelements,mostcommonlywithoxygen.

[A]combined

[B]havingcombined

[C]combine

[D]beingcombined

3.Andrew,myfather'syoungerbrother,willnotbeatthepicnic,tothe

family'sdisappointment.

[A]much

[B]more

[C]toomuch

[D]muchmore

4.Iwouldhavegonetovisithiminthehospitalhaditbeenatallpossible,butI

fullyoccupiedthewholeoflastweek.

[A]were

[B]hadbeen

[C]havebeen

[D]was

5.HelpwillcomefromtheUN,buttheaidwillbenearwhafsneeded.

[A]everywhere

[B]somewhere

[C]nowhere

[D]anywhere

6.Thechiefreasonforthepopulationgrowthisn'tsomuchariseinbirthrates

afallindeathratesasaresultofimprovementsinmedicalcare.

[A]and

[B]as

[C]but

[D]or

7.Heclaimstobeanexpertinastronomy,butinactualfactheisquiteignoranton

thesubject.heknowsaboutitisoutofdateandinaccurate.

[A]Whatlittle

[B]Somuch

[C]Howmuch

[D]Solittle

8.Althoughwefeeldissatisfiedwiththeelectionresults,wehavetobecome

reconciledthedecisionmadebyourfellowcountrymen.

[A]for

[Blon

[C]to

[D]in

9.Justasthevalueofatelephonenetworkincreaseswitheachnewphone

tothesystem,sodoesthevalueofacomputersystemincreasewith

eachprogramthatturnsout.

[A]adding

[B]tohaveadded

[C]toadd

[D]added

10.ThevocabularyandgrammaticaldifferencesbetweenBritishandAmerican

Englisharesotrivialandfewashardly.

[A]noticed

[B]tobenoticed

[C]beingnoticed

[D]tonotice

PartB

Directions:

Eachofthefollowingsentenceshasfourunderlinedpartsmarked[A],[B],[C]and

[D].Identifythepartofthesentencethatisincorrectandmarkyouransweronthe

ANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebrackets.(5

points)

Example:

Anumberofforeignvisitorsweretakentotheindustrialexhibitionwhich

BC

theysawmanynewproducts.

-D~

Part[C]iswrong.Thesentenceshouldread,"Anumberofforeignvisitorswere

takentotheindustrialexhibitionwheretheysawmanynewproducts.，zSoyou

shouldchoose[C].

11.AlthoughProfessorGreen'slecturesusuallyranoverthefifty-minuteperiod,

"A-B

butnoneofhisstudentsevenobjectedastheyfoundhislecturesboth

"c""""D~

informativeandinteresting.

12.WhenEdisondied,itwasproposedthattheAmericanpeopleturnedoff

AB

allpowerintheirhomes,streets,andfactoriesforseveralminutesinhonorof

CD

thisgreatman.

13.Theypointedoutthedamagewhichtheysupposedthathadbeendoneby

B-c"

lastnight'sstorm.

D

14.Becauseoftherecentaccidents,ourparentsforbidmybrotherandme

A

fromswimmingintheriverunlesssomeoneagreestowatchoverus.

BCD

15.AgreatmanyteachersfirmlybelievethatEnglishisoneofthe

A--B

poorest-taughtsubjectsinhighschoolsatpresent.

CD

16.Inthiswaytheseinsectsshowanefficientuseoftheirsound-producedability,

A

organizingtwosoundsdeliveredatahighrateasonecall.

BCD

17.Ithoughtthetechnicianwastoblamefortheblowingofthefuse,butIsee

"""""B

nowhowIwasmistaken.

~C~D

18.Forhimtobere-electedwhatisessentialisnotthathispolicyworks,butthat

AB-C~

thepublicbelievethatit迄

D

19.AsfarasIamconcerned,hispoliticsareratherconservativecomparedwith

C

otherpoliticians.

D

20.rdsaywheneveryouaregoingaftersomethingthatisbelongingtoyou,

AB

anyonewhoisdeprivingyouoftherighttohaveitiscriminal.

CD

PartC

Directions:

Beneatheachofthefollowingsentences,thereai'efourchoicesmarked[A],

and[D].Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.Markyouransweronthe

ANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebrackets.(10

points)

Example:

ThelostcaroftheLeeswasfoundinthewoodsoffthehighway.

[A]vanished

[B]scattered

[C]abandoned

[D]rejected

Thesentenceshouldread,“ThelostcaroftheLeeswasfoundabandonedinthe

woodsoffthehighway/7Therefore,youshouldchoose[C].

21.Whenworkersareorganizedintradeunions,employersfindithardtolaythem

[A]off

[B]aside

[C]out

[D]down

22.Thewealthofacountryshouldbemeasuredthehealthandhappiness

ofitspeopleaswellasthematerialgoodsitcanproduce.

[A]inlinewith

[B]intermsof

[C]inregardwith

[D]bymeansof

23.HehasfailedmesomanytimesthatInolongerplaceanyonwhathe

promises.

[A]faith

[B]belief

[C]credit

[D]reliance

24.Mystudentsfoundthebook:itprovidedthemwithanabundanceof

informationonthesubject.

[A]enlightening

[B]confusing

fC]distracting

[D]amusing

25.Nobodyyetknowshowlongandhowseriouslytheshakinessinthefinancial

systemwilldowntheeconomy.

[A]put

[B]settle

[C]drag

[D]knock

26.Inthisfactorythemachinesarenotregulatedbutarejointly

controlledbyacentralcomputersystem.

[A]independently

[B]individually

fC]irrespectively

[D]irregularly

27.Everychemicalchangeeitherresultsfromenergybeingusedtoproducethe

change,orcausesenergytobeinsomeform.

[A]givenoff

[B]putout

[C]setoff

[D]usedup

28.Ifbusinessmenaretaxedtoomuch,theywillnolongerbemotivatedtowork

hard,withtheresultthatincomesfromtaxationmightactually.

[A]shrink

[B]delay

fC]disperse

[D]sink

29.Americancompaniesareevolvingfrommass-productionmanufacturingto

enterprises.

[A]moveable

[B]changing

[C]flexible

[D]varying

30.Ifyouknowwhatthetroubleis,whydon'tyouhelpthemtothe

situation?

[A]simplify

[B]modify

[C]verify

[D]rectify

31.Ican'twhathashappenedtothevegetables,fortheywerefreshly

pickedthismorning.

[A]figureout

[B]drawout

[C]lookout

[D]workout

32.ItriedveryhardtopersuadehimtojoinourgroupbutImetwithaflat

[A]disapproval

[B]rejection

[C]refusal

[D]decline

33.Fromthismaterialwecanhundredsofwhatyoumaycalldirect

products.

[A]derive

[B]discern

[C]diminish

[D]displace

34.Shehadclearlynoofdoinganywork,althoughshewasverywell

paid.

[A]tendency

[B]ambition

[C]intention

[D]willingness

35.Whatseemsconfusingorfragmentedatfirstmightwellbecomea

thirdtime.

[A]cleanandmeasurable

[B]notableandsystematic

[C]pureandwholesome

[D]clearandorganic

36.Thepublicopinionwasthatthetimewasnotfortheelectionofsuch

aradicalcandidateasMr.Jones.

[A]reasonable

[B]ripe

[C]ready

[D]practical

37.Hudsonsaidhecouldnotkillalivingthingexceptfortheofhunger.

[A]sensation

[B]cause

[C]purpose

[D]motive

38.Forthenewcountrytosurvive,foritspeopletoenjoyprosperity,

neweconomicpolicieswillberequired.

[A]tonameafew

[B]letalone

[C]nottospeak

[D]let'ssay

39.ForeigndisinvestmentandtheofSouthAfricafromworldcapital

marketsafter1985furtherweakeneditseconomy.

[A]displacement

[B]elimination

[C]exclusion

[D]exception

40.Whenanumberofpeopletogetherinaconversationalknot,each

individualexpresseshispositioninthegroupbywherehestands.

[A]pad

[B]pack

[C]squeeze

[D]cluster

SectionIIClozeTest

Directions:

Foreachnumberedblankinthefollowingpassage,therearefourchoicesmarked

[A],[B],[C],and[D].ChoosethebestoneandmarkyouranswerontheANSWER

SHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebrackets.(10points)

ManpowerInc.,with560,000workers,istheworld'slargesttemporary

employmentagency.Everymorning,itspeople41intotheofficesand

factoriesofAmerica,seekingaday'sworkforaday'spay.Onedayata

time.42industrialgiantslikeGeneralMotorsandIBMstruggletosurvive

43reducingthenumberofemployees,Manpower,basedinMilwaukee,

Wisconsin,isbooming.

44itseconomycontinuestorecover,theUSisincreasinglybecominga

nationofpart-timersandtemporaryworkers.This"45"workforceisthe

mostimportant46inAmericanbusinesstoday,anditis47changing

therelationshipbetweenpeopleandtheirjobs.Thephenomenonprovidesawayfor

companiestoremaingloballycompetitive48avoidingmarketcyclesandthe

growingburdens49byemploymentrules,healthcarecostsandpension

plans.Forworkersitcanmeananendtothesecurity,benefitsandsenseof50

thatcamefrombeingaloyalemployee.

41.[A]swarm

[B]stride

[C]separate

[D]slip

42.[A]For

[B]Because

[C]As

[D]Since

43.[A]from

[B]in

[C]on

[D]by

44.[A]Eventhough

[B]Nowthat

[C]Ifonly

[D]Providedthat

45.[A]durable

[B]disposable

[C]available

[D]transferable

46.[A]approach

[B]flow

[C]fashion

[D]trend

47.[A]instantly

[B]reversely

[C]fundamentally

[D]sufficiently

48.[A]but

[B]while

[C]and

[D]whereas

49.[A]imposed

[B]restricted

[C]illustrated

[D]confined

50.[A]excitement

[B]conviction

[C]enthusiasm

[D]importance

SectionIIIReadingComprehension

Directions:

Eachofthepassagesbelowisfollowedbysomequestions.Foreachquestionthere

arefouranswersmarked[A],and[D].Readthepassagescarefullyand

choosethebestanswertoeachofthequestions.Thenmarkyouransweronthe

ANSWERSHEETbyblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebrackets.(40

points)

Text1

Itwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsof

arguingandfinal16hoursofhotparliamentarydebates,Australia'sNorthern

Territorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworldtoallowdoctorstotakethe

livesofincurablyillpatientswhowishtodie.Themeasurepassedbytheconvincing

voteof15to10.AlmostimmediatelywordflashedontheInternetandwaspicked

up,halfaworldaway,byJohnHofsess,executivedirectoroftheRighttoDie

SocietyofCanada.Hesentitonviathegroup'son-lineservice,DeathNET.Says

Hofsess:“Wepostedbulletinsalldaylong,becauseofcoursethisisn'tjust

somethingthathappenedinAustralia.It9sworldhistory.〃

Thefullimportmaytakeawhiletosinkin.TheNTRightsoftheTerminallyIll

lawhasleftphysiciansandcitizensaliketryingtodealwithitsmoralandpractical

implications.Somehavebreathedsighsofrelief,others,includingchurches,

right-to-lifegroupsandtheAustralianMedicalAssociation,bitterlyattackedthebill

andthehasteofitspassage.Butthetideisunlikelytoturnback.InAustralia—

whereanagingpopulation,life-extendingtechnologyandchangingcommunity

attitudeshaveallplayedtheirpart—otherstatesaregoingtoconsidermakinga

similarlawtodealwitheuthanasia.IntheUSandCanada,wheretheright-to-die

movementisgatheringstrength,observersarewaitingforthedominoestostart

falling.

UnderthenewNorthernTerritorylaw,anadultpatientcanrequestdeath—

probablybyadeadlyinjectionorpill-toputanendtosuffering.Thepatientmust

bediagnosedasterminallyillbytwodoctors.Aftera“coolingofFperiodofseven

days,thepatientcansignacertificateofrequest.After48hoursthewishfordeath

canbemet.ForLloydNickson,a54-year-oldDarwinresidentsufferingfromlung

cancer,theNTRightsofTerminallyIlllawmeanshecangetonwithlivingwithout

thehauntingfearofhissuffering:aterrifyingdeathfromhisbreathingcondition.

'Tmnotafraidofdyingfromaspiritualpointofview,butwhatIwasafraidofwas

howrdgo,becauseI'vewatchedpeopledieinthehospitalfightingforoxygenand

clawingattheirmasks/'hesays.

51.Fromthesecondparagraphwelearnthat.

[A]theobjectiontoeuthanasiaisslowtocomeinothercountries

[B]physiciansandcitizenssharethesameviewoneuthanasia

[C]changingtechnologyischieflyresponsibleforthehastypassageofthelaw

[D]ittakestimetorealizethesignificanceofthelaw'spassage

52.Whentheauthorsaysthatobserversarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling,

hemeans.

[A]observersaretakingawait-and-seeattitudetowardsthefutureofeuthanasia

[B]similarbillsarelikelytobepassedintheUS,Canadaandothercountries

[C]observersarewaitingtoseetheresultofthegameofdominoes

[D]theeffect-takingprocessofthepassedbillmayfinallycometoastop

53.WhenLloydNicksondies,hewill.

[A]facehisdeathwithcalmcharacteristicofeuthanasia

[B]experiencethesufferingofalungcancerpatient

[C]haveanintensefearofterriblesuffering

[D]undergoacoolingoffperiodofsevendays

54.Theauthor'sattitudetowardseuthanasiaseemstobethatof.

[A]opposition

[B]suspicion

[C]approval

[D]indifference

Text2

AreportconsistentlybroughtbackbyvisitorstotheUSishowfriendly,

courteous,andhelpfulmostAmericansweretothem.Tobefair,thisobservationis

alsofrequentlymadeofCanadaandCanadians,andshouldbestbeconsideredNorth

American.Thereare,ofcourse,exceptions.Small-mindedofficials,rudewaiters,

andill-manneredtaxidriversarehardlyunknownintheUS.Yetitisanobservation

madesofrequentlythatitdeservescomment.

Foralongperiodoftimeandinmanypartsofthecountry,atravelerwasa

welcomebreakinanotherwisedullexistence.Dullnessandlonelinesswerecommon

problemsofthefamilieswhogenerallyliveddistantfromoneanother.Strangersand

travelerswerewelcomesourcesofdiversion,andbroughtnewsoftheoutsideworld.

Theharshrealitiesofthefrontieralsoshapedthistraditionofhospitality.

Someonetravelingalone,ifhungry,injured,orill,oftenhadnowheretoturnexcept

tothenearestcabinorsettlement.Itwasnotamatterofchoiceforthetraveleror

merelyacharitableimpulseonthepartofthesettlers.Itreflectedtheharshnessof

dailylife:ifyoudidn'ttakeinthestrangerandtakecareofhim,therewasnoone

elsewhowould.Andsomeday,remember,youmightbeinthesamesituation.

Todaytherearemanycharitableorganizationswhichspecializeinhelpingthe

wearytraveler.Yet,theoldtraditionofhospitalitytostrangersisstillverystrongin

theUS,especiallyinthesmallercitiesandtownsawayfromthebusytouristtrails.

“Iwasjusttravelingthrough,gottalkingwiththisAmerican,andprettysoonhe

invitedmehomefordinner-amazing/'Suchobservationsreportedbyvisitorsto

theUSarenotuncommon,butarenotalwaysunderstoodproperly.Thecasual

friendlinessofmanyAmericansshouldbeinterpretedneitherassuperficialnoras

artificial,butastheresultofahistoricallydevelopedculturaltradition.

Asistrueofanydevelopedsociety,inAmericaacomplexsetofculturalsignals,

assumptions,andconventionsunderliesallsocialinteiTelationships.And,ofcourse,

speakingalanguagedoesnotnecessarilymeanthatsomeoneunderstandssocialand

culturalpatterns.Visitorswhofailto“translate“culturalmeaningsproperlyoften

drawwrongconclusions.Forexample,whenanAmericanusestheword"friend,

theculturalimplicationsofthewordmaybequitedifferentfromthoseithasinthe

visitor'slanguageandculture.Ittakesmorethanabriefencounteronabusto

distinguishbetweencourteousconventionandindividualinterest.Yet,beingfriendly

isavirtuethatmanyAmericansvaluehighlyandexpectfrombothneighborsand

strangers.

55.Intheeyesofvisitorsfromtheoutsideworld,.

[A]rudetaxidriversarerarelyseenintheUS

[B]small-mindedofficialsdeserveaseriouscomment

[C]Canadiansarenotsofriendlyastheirneighbors

[D]mostAmericansarereadytoofferhelp

56.Itcouldbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat.

[A]cultureexercisesaninfluenceoversocialinterrelationship

[B]courteousconventionandindividualinterestareinterrelated

[C]variousvirtuesmanifestthemselvesexclusivelyamongfriends

[D]socialinterrelationshipsequalthecomplexsetofculturalconventions

57.Familiesinfrontiersettlementsusedtoentertainstrangers.

[A]toimprovetheirhardlife

[B]inviewoftheirlong-distancetravel

[C]toaddsomeflavortotheirowndailylife

[D]outofacharitableimpulse

58.Thetraditionofhospitalitytostrangers.

[A]tendstobesuperficialandartificial

[B]isgenerallywellkeptupintheUnitedStates

[C]isalwaysunderstoodproperly

[D]hassomethingtodowiththebusytouristtrails

Text3

Technically,anysubstanceotherthanfoodthataltersourbodilyormental

functioningisadrug.Manypeoplemistakenlybelievethetermdrugrefersonlyto

somesortofmedicineoranillegalchemicaltakenbydrugaddicts.Theydon't

realizethatfamiliarsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccoarealsodrugs.Thisis

whythemoreneutraltermsubstanceisnowusedbymanyphysiciansand

psychologists.Thephrase"substanceabuse，zisoftenusedinsteadof“drug

abuse"tomakeclearthatsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccocanbejustas

harmfullymisusedasheroinandcocaine.

Weliveinasocietyinwhichthemedicinalandsocialuseofsubstances(drugs)

ispervasive:anaspirintoquietaheadache,somewinetobesociable,coffeetoget

goinginthemorning,acigaretteforthenerves.Whendothesesociallyacceptable

andapparentlyconstructiveusesofasubstancebecomemisuses?Firstofall,most

substancestakeninexcesswillproducenegativeeffectssuchaspoisoningorintense

perceptualdistortions.Repeateduseofasubstancecanalsoleadtophysical

addictionorsubstancedependence.Dependenceismarkedfirstbyanincreased

tolerance,withmoreandmoreofthesubstancerequiredtoproducethedesired

effect,andthenbytheappearanceofunpleasantwithdrawalsymptomswhenthe

substanceisdiscontinued.

Drugs(substances)thataffectthecentralnervoussystemandalterperception,

mood,andbehaviorareknownaspsychoactivesubstances.Psychoactivesubstances

arecommonlygroupedaccordingtowhethertheyarestimulants,depressants,or

hallucinogens.Stimulantsinitiallyspeeduporactivatethecentralnervoussystem,

whereasdepressantsslowitdown.Hallucinogenshavetheirprimaryeffecton

perception,distortingandalteringitinavarietyofwaysincludingproducing

hallucinations.Thesearethesubstancesoftencalledpsychedelic(fromtheGreek

wordmeaning"mind-manifesting")becausetheyseemedtoradicallyalterone's

stateofconsciousness.

59."Substanceabuse"(Line5,Paragraph1)ispreferableto“drugabuse，zin

that.

[A]substancescanalterourbodilyormentalfunctioningifillegallyused

[B]"drugabuse“isonlyrelatedtoalimitednumberofdrugtakers

[C]alcoholandtobaccoareasfatalasheroinandcocaine

[D]manysubstancesotherthanheroinorcocainecanalsobepoisonous

60.Theword“pervasive"(Line1,Paragraph2)mightmean.

[A]widespread

[B]overwhelming

[C]piercing

[D]fashionable

61.Physicaldependenceoncertainsubstancesresultsfrom.

[A]uncontrolledconsumptionofthemoverlongperiodsoftime

[B]exclusiveuseofthemforsocialpurposes

[C]quantitativeapplicationofthemtothetreatmentofdiseases

[D]carelessemploymentofthemfbrunpleasantsymptoms

62.Fromthelastparagraphwecaninferthat.

[A]stimulantsfunctionpositivelyonthemind

[B]hallucinogensareinthemselvesharmfultohealth

[C]depressantsaretheworsttypeofpsychoactivesubstances

[D]thethreetypesofpsychoactivesubstancesarecommonlyusedingroups

Text4

Nocompanylikestobetolditiscontributingtothemoraldeclineofanation.

“Isthiswhatyouintendedtoaccomplishwithyourcareers?"SenatorRobertDole

askedTimeWarnerexecutiveslastweek."Youhavesoldyoursouls,butmustyou

corruptournationandthreatenourchildrenaswell?"AtTimeWarner,however,

suchquestionsaresimplythelatestmanifestationofthesoul-searchingthathas

involvedthecompanyeversincethecompanywasbornin1990.It'sa

self-examinationthathas,atvarioustimes,involvedissuesofresponsibility,creative

freedomandthecorporatebottomline.

AtthecoreofthisdebateischairmanGeraldLevin,56,whotookoverforthe

lateSteveRossin1992.Onthefinancialfront,Levinisunderpressuretoraisethe

stockpriceandreducethecompany'smountainousdebt,whichwillincreaseto

$17.3billionaftertwonewcabledealsclose.Hehaspromisedtoselloffsomeofthe

propertyandrestructurethecompany,butinvestorsarewaitingimpatiently.

Theflapoverrapisnotmakinglifeanyeasierforhim.Levinhasconsistently

defendedthecompany9srapmusiconthegroundsofexpression.In1992,when

TimeWarnerwasunderfireforreleasingIce-T'sviolentrapsongCopKiller.Levin

describedrapasalawfulexpressionofstreetculture,whichdeservesanoutlet.66The

testofanydemocraticsociety,“hewroteinaWallStreetJournalcolumn,"liesnot

inhowwellitcancontrolexpressionbutinwhetheritgivesfreedomofthoughtand

expressionthewidestpossiblelatitude,howeverdisputableorimtatingtheresults

maysometimesbe.Wewon'tretreatinthefaceofanythreats//

Levinwouldnotcommentonthedebatelastweek,butthereweresignsthatthe

chairmanwasbackingoffhishard-linestand,atleasttosomeextent.Duringthe

discussionofrocksingingversesatlastmonth'sstockholders5meeting,Levin

assertedthat“musicisnotthecauseofsociety'sills"andevencitedhisson,a

teacherintheBronx,NewYork,whousesraptocommunicatewithstudents.Buthe

talkedaswellaboutthe"balancedstruggle"betweencreativefreedomandsocial

responsibility,andheannouncedthatthecompanywouldlaunchadrivetodevelop

standardsfordistributionandlabelingofpotentiallyobjectionablemusic.

The15-memberTimeWarnerboardisgenerallysupportiveofLevinandhis

corporatestrategy.Butinsiderssayseveralofthemhaveshowntheirconcernsinthis

matter."Someofushaveknownformany,manyyearsthatthefreedomsunderthe

FirstAmendmentarenottotallyunlimited,“saysLuce."Ithinkitisperhapsthe

casethatsomepeopleassociatedwiththecompanyhaveonlyrecentlycometo

realizethis.”

63.SenatorRobertDolecriticizedTimeWarnerfor.

[A]itsraisingofthecorporatestockprice

[B]itsself-examinationofsoul

[C]itsneglectofsocialresponsibility

[D]itsemphasisoncreativefreedom

64.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisTRUE?

[A]LuceisaspokesmanofTimeWarner.

[B]GeraldLevinisliabletocompromise.

fC]TimeWarnerisunitedasoneinthefaceofthedebate.

[D]SteveRossisnolongeralive.

65.Infaceoftherecentattacksonthecompany,thechairman.

[A]stucktoastrongstandtodefendfreedomofexpression

[B]softenedhistoneandadoptedsomenewpolicy

[C]changedhisattitudeandyieldedtoobjection

[D]receivedmoresupportfromthe15-memberboard

66.Thebesttitleforthispassagecouldbe.

[A]ACompanyunderFire

[B]ADebateonMoralDecline

[C]ALawfulOutletofStreetCulture

[D]AFormofCreativeFreedom

Text5

Muchofthelanguageusedtodescribemonetarypolicy,suchas"steeringthe

economytoasoftlanding"or“atouchonthebrakes,“makesitsoundlikea

precisescience.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Thelinkbetweeninterest

ratesandinflationisuncertain.Andtherearelong,variablelagsbeforepolicy

changeshaveanyeffectontheeconomy.Hencetheanalogythatlikenstheconduct

ofmonetarypolicytodrivingacarwithablackenedwindscreen,acracked

rear-viewmirrorandafaultysteeringwheel.

Givenallthesedisadvantages,centralbankersseemtohavehadmuchtoboast

aboutoflate.Averageinflationinthebigsevenindustrialeconomiesfelltoamere

2.3%lastyear,cl