西南科技大学外国语学院211翻译硕士英语专业硕士历年考研真题及详解

目录

2011年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（A卷）及详解

2011年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（B卷）及详解

2012年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（A卷）及详解

2012年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（B卷）及详解

2013年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（B卷）及详解

2014年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（A卷）及详解

2014年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（B卷）及详解

2015年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（A卷）及详解

2016年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语

考研真题（B卷）及详解

2011年西南科技大学211翻译硕士英语考研真题（A卷）及详解

I.VOCABULARYANDGRAMMAR(30’)

MultipleChoices

Directions:BeneatheachsentencetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,

B,CandD.Choosetheanswerthatbestcompletesthesentence.Markyour

answersonyouranswersheet.

1．Thenewcolleague_____tohaveworkedinseveralbigcorporations

beforehejoinedourcompany.

A.confesses

B.declares

C.claims

D.confirms

【答案】C

【解析】句意：新来的同事宣称自己之前在好几个大公司工作过。本题

考查的是词义辨析，claim要求；声称；需要，声称的意思符合题意，

故为正确答案。confess承认；坦白。declare宣布，声明。confirm确认；

确定。

2．Duringthereadinglesson,theteacheraskedstudentstoreadafew_____

fromthenovel.

A.pieces

B.essays

C.fragments

D.extracts

【答案】D

【解析】句意：阅读课上，老师让同学们读一下几篇从小说中摘下来的

材料。本题考查的是词语辨析。extract表示源自书本中的“摘录”、“选

段”、“引文”等，符合题意，故为正确答案。piece表示“作品”时一般指

完整的作品，可以是诗歌、乐曲等，但一般不是小说(除了用于

masterpiece中)。essay一般指文章、论文等。fragment表示“片断”，可指

文艺作品中的残存部分。

3．Theteacher_____expectshisstudentstopasstheuniversityentrance

examination.

A.confidentially

B.proudly

C.assuredly

D.confidently

【答案】D

【解析】句意：老师满怀信心地期待着学生们通过高考。本题考查的是

词义辨析，confidently“自信地，有信心地”，符合题意，故为正确答

案。confidentially“机密地，秘密地”。proudly“骄傲地，自豪地”。

assuredly“确实地，确信地”。

4．TheheadoftheMuseumwas_____andletusactuallyexaminethe

ancientmanuscript.

A.promising

B.agreeing

C.pleasing

D.obliging

【答案】D

【解析】句意：这个博物馆的馆主是非常亲切的，允许我们现场查看古

代手稿.本题考查的是词义辨析，obliging乐于助人的；有礼貌的；体贴

的，符合题意，故为正确答案。promising有希望的，有前途的。

agreeing同意。pleasing令人愉快的；讨人喜欢的。

5．Themultinationalcorporationwasmakingatake-over_____fora

propertycompany.

A.application

B.bid

C.solution

D.suggestion

【答案】B

【解析】句意：这家跨国公司正在为接管一家房地产公司而竞标。本题

考查的是词义辨析bid指在竞标、拍卖、竞选等中的“努力；企图；投

标；申办”等，符合题意，故为正确答案。application表示“(向组织、单

位)申请；请求”。solution解决方案；溶液；溶解。suggestion表示“建

议”。

6．Theparty’sreducedvotewas_____oflackofsupportforitspolicies.

A.indicative

B.positive

C.revealing

D.evident

【答案】A

【解析】句意：该党收到的选票数量减少，这显示了其政策并不受欢

迎。本题考查的是词义辨析，indicative象征的；指示的；表示……的。

isindicativeof…表明；说明……符合题意，故为正确答案。positive积极

的；正的。revealing透露真情的；有启迪作用的。evident明显的；明白

的。

7．Therehasbeena_____lackofcommunicationbetweentheunionand

themanagement.

A.regretful

B.regrettable

C.regretting

D.regretted

【答案】B

【解析】句意：令人遗憾的是，管理层与工会之间缺少足够的沟通。本

题考查的是词义辨析形近词辨析，regrettable令人遗憾的；可惜的，符

合题意，故为正确答案。regretful后悔的，遗憾的。regretting是regret的

现在分词形式。regretted是regret的过去分词形式。

8．Thepolicehaveofferedalarge_____forinformationleadingtothe

robber’sarrest.

A.award

B.compensation

C.prize

D.reward

【答案】D

【解析】句意：警察悬赏一大笔奖金求有关抢劫者的消息。本题考查的

是词义辨析，reward报酬；报答，符合题意，故为正确答案。award奖

品；判决。compensation补偿；报酬。prize奖赏；战利品。

9．Thepopularityofthefilmshowsthatthereviewers’fearswere

completely_____.

A.unjustified

B.unjust

C.misguided

D.unaccepted

【答案】A

【解析】句意：电影大受欢迎，这表明影评家的恐惧是毫无道理的。本

题考查的是词义辨析，unjustified不正当的；未被证明其正确的，符合

题意，故为正确答案。unjust不公平的，不公正的。misguided被误导

的。unaccepted未被接纳的；被拒绝的。

10．Wehavebeenhearing_____accountsofyourwork.

A.favored

B.favorable

C.favorite

D.favoring

【答案】B

【解析】句意：我们听到有人夸赞你的工作。本题考查的是词义辨析，

favorable有利的；良好的，符合题意，故为正确答案。favored有利的；

受到优待的。favorite最喜爱的；中意的。favoring顺利的；有帮助的。

11．Ifthetemperatureofthereactor_____500degreeshigher,meltdown

wouldhaveoccurred.

A.was

B.hadbeen

C.wasbeing

D.had

【答案】B

【解析】句意：如果反应堆的温度再高500度的话，物质就可能会融

化。本题考查的是虚拟语气，由主句wouldhaveoccurred可知，该题考

查的是与过去相反的虚拟语气，从句用haddone。

12．Themoreacidyouaddtothesolution,_____itbecomes.

A.cloudier

B.thecloudier

C.morecloudy

D.thecloudier

【答案】D

【解析】句意：你往溶液中加的酸越多，它就越浑浊。本题考查的是

越……就越……的用法，themore…themore…。

13．Thelecturersaid“It’stimeyou_____theliteraturereview.”

A.began

B.hadbegun

C.begin

D.arebeginning

【答案】A

【解析】句意：老师说“你们该开始写文献综述了。”本题考查的是虚拟

语气的用法，Itistimethat...从句中的谓语动词有两种形式，或者用动词

的过去式(be用were)；或者用should+动词原形（should不能省略)。此

句型为虚拟语气句型，表示“现在某人该做某事了”。

14．After_____yourresults,youshouldmakeanappointmentwithyour

tutor.

A.youreceiving

B.youhavereceived

C.youwouldhavereceived

D.youreceived

【答案】B

【解析】句意：收到结果后，你就应该与你的导师约好时间。本题考查

的是时态。收到应该是在约时间之前。故答案为B。

15．You_____theexperimenttwice,notonce.

A.haven’tcarriedout

B.shouldn’thavecarriedout

C.shouldhavecarriedout

D.mighthavecarriedout

【答案】C

【解析】句意：你应该做两次实验，而不是一次。本题考查的是虚拟语

气的用法，shouldhavedone…表示与过去事实相反的情形，意思是“本

来应该做了某事但实际没有做”。故答案为C。

16．Itlooks_____you’vemadeaseriousmistake.

A.as

B.if

C.though

D.asthough

【答案】D

【解析】句意：你看上去好像犯了一个很严重的错误。本题考查的是短

语的用法，asthough好像，与asif意思相同。符合题意，故为正确答

案。

17．_____therightanswerIwouldhavegotfullmarksintheexam.

A.IfIwouldhaveknown

B.IfI’llknow

C.HadIknown

D.IfIwasknowing

【答案】C

【解析】句意：如果我知道正确答案，我考试就会得满分了。本题考查

的是虚拟语气的用法，由主句的wouldhavedone可知，该题考查的是与

过去相反的事实，故从句要用haddone，但是从句省略了if，就得把had

提前，故答案为C。

18．_____wayyoudoit,theanswerisalwaysthesame.

A.However

B.Whichever

C.Whoever

D.Whyever

【答案】B

【解析】句意：无论你选择哪种方法，答案都是一样的。本题考查的是

词义辨析，whichever任何一个；无论哪个，符合题意，故为正确答案。

however无论如何；不管怎样。whoever无论谁；任何人。whyever无论

什么原因。

19．IwishI_____youyesterday.

A.didtelephone

B.telephoned

C.hadtelephoned

D.weretotelephone

【答案】C

【解析】句意：我希望我昨儿给你打电话了。本题考查的是虚拟语气的

用法。由yesterday可知本题考查的是与过去事实相反，故用haddone，

答案是C。

20．Heappears_____someminorproblems.

A.tohavehad

B.having

C.washaving

D.had

【答案】A

【解析】句意：他似乎遇到了些小问题。本题考查的是appear的用法，

appear常和to连用，表示似乎，故A为正确答案。

II.READINGCOMPREHENSION(40’)

Section1MultipleChoices(20’)

Directions:Inthissectiontherearereadingpassagesfollowedbymultiple-

choicequestions.Readthepassagesandthenmarkyouranswersonyour

answersheet.

PassageA

Thefoxreallyexasperatedthemboth.Assoonastheyhadletthefowlsout,

intheearlysummermornings,theyhadtotaketheirgunsandkeepguard;

andthenagainassoonaseveningbegantomellow,theymustgooncemore.

Andhewassosly.Heslidalonginthedeepgrass;hewasdifficultasa

serpenttosee.Andheseemedtocircumventthegirlsdeliberately.Onceor

twiceMarchhadcaughtsightofthewhitetipofhisbrush,ortheruddy

shadowofhiminthedeepgrass,andshehadletfireathim.Buthemadeno

accountofthis.

Thetreesonthewoodedgewereadarkish,brownishgreeninthefulllight-

foritwastheendofAugust.Beyond,thenaked,copperlikeshaftsandlimbs

ofthepinetreesshoneintheair.Nearertheroughgrass,withitslong,

brownishstalksallagleam,wasfulloflight.Thefowlswereroundabout—

theduckswerestillswimmingonthepondunderthepinetrees.March

lookedatitall,sawitall,anddidnotseeit.SheheardBanfordspeakingto

thefowlsinthedistance—andshedidnothear.Whatwasshethinking

about?Heavenknows.Herconsciousnesswas,asitwere,heldback.

Sheloweredhereyes,andsuddenlysawthefox.Hewaslookingupather.

Hischinwaspresseddown,andhiseyeswerelookingup.Theymethereyes.

Andheknewher.Shewasspellbound—sheknewheknewher.Sohelooked

intohereyes,andhersoulfailedher.Heknewher,hehasnotdaunted.

Shestruggled,confusedlyshecametoherself,andsawhimmakingoff,with

slowleapsoversomefallenboughs,slow,impudentjumps.Thenheglanced

overhisshoulder,andransmoothlyaway.Shesawhisbrushheldsmooth

likeafeather,shesawhiswhitebuttockstwinkle.Andhewasgone,softly,

softasthewind.

Sheputherguntohershoulder,buteventhenpursedhermouth,knowingit

wasnonsensetopretendtofire.Soshebegantowalkslowlyafterhim,inthe

directionhehadgone,slowly,pertinaciously.Sheexpectedtofindhim.In

herheartshewasdeterminedtofindhim.Whatshewoulddowhenshesaw

himagainshedidnotconsider.Butshewasdeterminedtofindhim.Soshe

walkedabstractedlyaboutontheedgeofthewood,withwide,vividdark

eyes,andafaintflushinhercheeks.Shedidnotthink.Instrange

mindlessnessshewalkedhitherandthither.

Assoonassupperwasover,sheroseagaintogoout,withoutsayingwhy.

Shetookhergunagainandwenttolookforthefox.Forhehadliftedhis

eyesuponher,andhisknowinglookseemedtohaveenteredherbrain.She

didnotsomuchthinkofhim:shewaspossessedbyhim.Shesawhisdark,

shrewd,unabashedeyelookingintoher,knowingher.Shefelthiminvisibly

masterherspirit.Sheknewthewayheloweredhischinashelookedup,she

knewhismuzzle,thegoldenbrown,andthegrayishwhite.Andagainshe

sawhimglanceoverhisshoulderather,halfinviting,halfcontemptuousand

cunning.Soshewent,withhergreatstartledeyesglowing,hergununderher

arm,alongthewoodedge.Meanwhilethenightfell,andagreatmoonrose

abovethepinetrees.

21．Atthebeginningofthestory,thefoxseemstotheallEXCEPT_____.

A.cunning

B.fierce

C.defiant

D.annoying

22．Asthestoryproceeds,Marchbeginstofeelunderthespellof_____.

A.thelight

B.thetrees

C.thenight

D.thefox

23．GraduallyMarchseemstobeinastateof_____.

A.blankness

B.imagination

C.sadness

D.excitement

24．Attheendofthestory,thereseemstobeasenseof_____between

Marchandthefox.

A.detachment

B.anger

C.intimacy

D.conflict

25．Thepassagecreatesanoverallimpressionof_____.

A.mystery

B.horror

C.liveliness

D.contempt

【答案与解析】

21．B短文第一段第一句话“Thefoxreallyexasperatedthemboth.”说明

狐狸激怒了他们——捕猎女孩，故而狐狸是让人恼火的

(annoying)；“Andhewassosly”意指狐狸狡猾（cunning）；当March用

枪射他时，狐狸却毫不在意：“Buthemadenoaccountofthis”，而且狐

狸“…seemedtocircumventthegirlsdeliberately”似乎故意包围着捕猎女

孩们，这些都暗示狐狸带有挑衅性（defiant）。从文中不能判断狐狸是

凶猛的(fierce)，故选B。

22．D根据第三段倒数第三句话“Shewasspellbound—sheknewheknew

her.”告诉我们：当狐狸的眼睛遇到March的眼睛时，March一下子像

被“符咒镇住”（spellbound）了，她知道狐狸认识她。

23．A根据第五段倒数后两句话“Shedidnotthink.Instrange

mindlessnessshewalkedhitherandhither.”说明March心神不宁、心不在

焉，与blankness相似。

24．C最后一段告诉我们，March一不心被fox所占领，她很执拗地想找

到fox，句子如：“Shewaspossessedbyhim,shefelthiminvisiblymaster

herspirit”等告诉我们March和fox似乎很了解对方，这与答案C项

intimacy（亲密）相近。

25．A本文以细腻的笔调将故事娓娓道来，一个活生生的狐狸形象及

感情丰富且固执的女猎手跃然纸上，这些都是通过描述猎手的心理活

动、狐狸的表情行为及对周围环境的渲染所造成的。通篇文章充满了一

种神秘的气氛。

PassageB

DavidLandes,authorofTheWealthandPovertyofNations:WhySomeAre

SoRichandSomeSoPoor,creditstheworld’seconomicandsocialprogress

overthelastthousandyearsto“Westerncivilizationanditsdissemination.”

Thereason,hebelieves,isthatEuropeansinventedsystematiceconomic

growth.First,sciencedevelopedasanautonomousmethodofintellectual

inquirythatsuccessfullydisengageditselffromthesocialconstraintsof

organizedreligionandfromthepoliticalconstraintsofcentralizedauthority.

ThoughEuropeanlackedapoliticalcenter,itsscholarsbenefitedfromtheuse

ofsinglevehicleofcommunication:Latin.Thiscommontonguefacilitated

anadversarialdiscourseinwhichnewideasaboutthephysicalworldcould

betested,demonstrated,andthenacceptedacrossthecontinentand

eventuallyacrosstheworld.Second,Landesespousesageneralizedformof

MaxWeber’sthesisthatthevaluesofwork,initiative,andinvestmentmade

thedifferenceforEurope.Despitehisemphasisonscience,Landesdoesnot

stressthenationofrationalityassuch.

Inhisviews,“whatcountsiswork,thrift,honesty,patience,[and]tenacity.”

Theonlyroutetoeconomicsuccessforindividualsorstatesisworkinghard,

spendinglessthanyouearn,andinvestingtherestinproductivecapacity.

Thisishisfundamentalexplanationoftheproblemposedbyhisbook’s

subtitle:“WhySomeAreSoRichandSomeSoPoor.”Forhistoricalreasons

—anemphasisonprivateproperty,anexperienceofpoliticalpluralism,a

temperateclimate,andanurbanstyle—Europeanshave,onbalance,followed

thosepracticesandthereforehaveprospered.Third,andperhapsmost

important,Europeanswerelearners.They“learnedrathergreedily,”asJoel

MokyrputitinareviewofLande’sbook.EvenifEuropeanspossessed

indigenoustechnologiesthatgavethemanadvantage(spectacles,for

example),asLandesbelievestheydid,theirmostvitalassetwastheabilityto

assimilateknowledgefromaroundtheworldandputittouse—asin

borrowingtheconceptofzeroandrediscoveringAristotle’sLogicfromthe

ArabsandtakingpaperandgunpowderfromtheChineseviatheMuslim

world.Lnadesarguesthatasystematicresistancetolearningfromother

cultureshadbecomethegreatesthandicapoftheChinesebythe18thCentury

andremainsthegreatesthandicapofArabcountriestoday.

AlthoughhisanalysisofEuropeanexpansionisalmostnonexistent,Landes

doesn’targuethatEuropeanswerebeneficentbearersofcivilizationto

benightedworld.Rather,hereliesonhisowncommonsenselaw:“Whenone

groupisstrongenoughtopushanotheraroundandstandstogainbyit,itwill

doso.”Incontrasttothenewschoolofworldhistorians,Landesbelievesthat

specificculturalvaluesenabledtechnologicaladvancesthatinturnmade

someEuropeansstrongenoughtodominatepeopleinotherpartsofthe

world.Europeansthereforeproceededtodosowithgreatviciousnessand

cruelty.Byfocusingontheirvictimizationinthisprocess,Landesholds,

somepostcolonialstateshavewastedenergythatcouldhavebeenputinto

productiveworkandinvestment.IfonecouldsumupLandes’sadviceto

thesestatesinonesentence,itmightbe“Stopwhiningandgettowork.”This

isparticularlyimportant,indeedhopeful,advice,hewouldargue,because

successisnotpermanent.Advantagesarenotfixed,gainsfromtradeare

unequal,anddifferentsocietiesreactdifferentlytomarketsignals.Therefore,

notonlyistherehopeforundevelopedcountries,butdevelopedcountries

havelittlecausetobecomplacent,becausethecurrentsituation“willpress

hard”onthem.

ThethrustofstudieslikeLandes’sistoidentifythosedistinctivefeaturesof

Europeancivilizationthatliebehind.

Europe’srisetopowerandthecreationofmodernitymoregenerally.Other

historianshaveplacedagreateremphasisonsuchfeaturesasliberty,

individualism,andChristianity.Inareviewessay,thearthistorianCraig

Clunaslistedsomeofthelesswell-knownlinkagesthathavebeenproposed

betweenWesterncultureandmodernity,includingthepropensitiestothink

thequantitatively,enjoyspornography,andconsumessugar.Allsuch

proposalsassumethefundamentalaptnessofthequestion:Whatelementsof

EuropeancivilizationledtoEuropeansuccess?Itisashortleapfromthis

assumptiontooutrighttriumphalism.Theparadigmaticbookofthisschoolis,

ofcourse,TheEndofHistoryandtheLastMan,inwhichFrancisFukuyama

arguesthatafterthecollapseoftheNazismandcommunisminthe20th

Century,theonlyremainingmodelforhumanorganizationintheindustrial

andcommunicationsagesisacombinationofmarketeconomicsandlimited,

pluralist,democraticgovernment.

26．AccordingtoLandes,themainreasonthatsomecountriesaresopooris

that_____.

A.theylackworkethic

B.Theyarescientificallybackward

C.Theylackrationality

D.Theyarevictimizedbycolonists

27．Landesbelievesthat_____.

A.Europeanssetouttobringcivilizationtoanunfortunateworld

B.theEuropeansdominatedothercountriessimplybecausetheywerestrong

C.thedesireofEuropeanstocolonizeothercountriesstemmedfromspecific

culturalvalues

D.thecolonizedcountriesthemselvesweretoblameforbeingvictimizedby

Europeans

28．TheculturalelementsidentifiedbyLandes_____thoseidentifiedby

otherhistorians.

A.subsume

B.contradict

C.glorify

D.complicate

29．“Thisschool”(para.5)referstopeoplewho_____.

A.believeintheabsolutesuperiorityofwesternculture

B.holddrasticallydifferentviewsfromLandes

C.areverycautiousinlinkingWesterncultureandmodernity

D.followinthefootstepsofNazismandcommunism

30．IndiscussingLandes’swork,theauthor’stoneis_____.

A.matter-of-fact

B.skeptical

C.reproachful

D.enthusiastic

【答案与解析】

26．A根据第2段第二句话“Theonlyroutetoeconomicsuccessfor

individualsorstatesisworkinghard,spendinglessthanyouearn,and

investingtherestinproductivecapacity”，Landes认为不论是一个国家还

是个人，获得财富的秘诀就是勤奋工作，花的比赚的少，将剩下的钱投

资到回报率高的东西上。所以，有的国家贫困的原因就是缺乏工作准

则，也就是不努力工作。

27．B根据第三段第三句话“Landesbelievesthatspecificculturalvalues

enabledtechnologicaladvancesthatinturnmadesomeEuropeansstrong

enoughtodominatepeopleinotherpartsoftheworld.”Landes认为欧洲文

化价值观很独特，因而欧洲的科技很先进，这让欧洲强大起来去征服全

世界。所以欧洲能征服全世界是因为强大。

28．A根据最后一段第一二句话“Europe’srisetopowerandthecreation

ofmodernitymoregenerally.Otherhistorianshaveplacedagreateremphasis

onsuchfeaturesasliberty,individualism,andChristianity.”Landes的研究是

要确定欧洲文明中的哪些普遍性因素使欧洲得以强大,而其他学者所列

举的是一些更具体的因素，润自由，个人主义以及基督教。

29．C根据最后一段最后一句话“Theparadigmaticbookofthisschoolis,

ofcourse,TheEndofHistoryandtheLastMan,inwhichFrancisFukuyama

arguesthatafterthecollapseoftheNazismandcommunisminthe20th

Century,theonlyremainingmodelforhumanorganizationintheindustrial

andcommunicationsagesisacombinationofmarketeconomicsandlimited,

pluralist,democraticgovernment.”说明该学派的代表有FrancisFukuyama,

他认为，在纳粹主义和共产主义消亡后，人类组织模式将是西文的市场

经济和有限的，多元的和民主政府的组合。

30．A根据全文，作者多用Landesargues,believes,holds等引述结构，

说明作者只是客观地陈述Landes的观点。

Section2AnsweringQuestions(20’)

Questions31~33

Inthefollowingarticle,someparagraphshavebeenremoved.Forquestions

16-20,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA~Ftofitintoeach

ofthenumberedgaps.ThereisONEparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyof

thegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Grow-ups,asanychildwilltellyou,aremonstroushypocrites,especially

whenitcomestotelevision.Itistotaketheirmindsofftheirowntelly-

addictionthatadultsaresokeentohearandtalkaboutthelatestreportonthe

effectsofprogramsonchildren.Surelyallthatnonsensetheywatchmustbe

desensitizingthem,makingthemvicious,shallow,acquisitive,less

responsibleandgenerallysloppyaboutlifeanddeath.Butno,notascrapof

convincingevidencefromthesociologistsandexpertsinthepsychesof

children.

Formanyyearsnowparents,teachersandnewspapereditorshavebeen

disappointedbythevariousstudies,andsociologistsarebeginningtofailinto

disreputeforfailingtocomeattunedtothedesiredresults.Thelatestreport,

“PopularTVandSchoolchildren”,perhapsmoreattunedtotheauthoritarian

timesinwhichwelive,assumesgreatermoralleadershipandhandsout

laurelsandwoodenspoonstoTVshowsandasserts,aseducatorsshould,the

importanceofhavingvalues.

Thekids,ontheotherhand,willnotbeswitchingoffKennyEverettnow

theyhavebeentoldhowsexistandtrivialheis.(Asiftheydidn’tknow!)

Nor,Isuspect,willtheyhavebecomemoresexistandtrivialthemselvesfrom

watchinghim.

Thenationhaslivedwiththeboxformorethan30yearsnowandhaspassed

fromtotalinfatuation—revivedtemporarilybytheadventofcolor—tothe

presentcasualobsessionwhichisnotunlikethatofthewell-adjusted

alcoholic.Andnowtheimportantandpleasanttruthisbreaking,tothehorror

ofprogrammakersandtheirdetractorsalike,thattelevisionreallydoesnot

affectmuchatall.

Thisistoughonthosediligentprofessionalswhoproduceexcellentwork;but

since—aseveryoneagrees—awfulprogramsfaroutnumberthegood,itisa

relieftoknowtheformercannotdomuchharm.Televisioncannotevenmake

impressionablechildrenlesspleasant.

AndifTVimpartslittlebad,thereisnoreasontothinkitdoesmuchgood

either.Ithasfailedspectacularlytomakeourchildrenmorecallousand

violent,andithasfailedbywayof“Jackanory”or“BluePeter”toforgea

youngnationoforigamiadepts,ordoghandlersorbuildersoflawnmower

outofcoathangersandwirecorks.

Televisionturnsouttobenogreattransformerofmindsorsociety.Weare

not,enmasse(全体地),asitwasoncepredictedwewouldbe,fantastically

well-informedaboutothercultureorabouttheoriginsoflifeonearth.People

donotremembermuchfromtelevisiondocumentarybeyondhowgoodit

was.Onlythosewhoknowsomethingaboutthesubjectinthefirstplace

retaintheinformation.

Documentariesarenotwhatmostpeoplewanttowatchanyway.Television

isatitsmostpopularwhenitcelebratesitsownpresent.Itsidealsubjectsare

thosethatneednotberememberedandcanbeinstantlyreplaced,wherewhat

mattersmostishappeningnowandwhatisgoingtohappennext.Sport,

news,panelgames,copshows,long-runningsoapopera,situationcomedies

—theseoccupyusonlyforaslongastheyareon.

Howevergoodisorbaditis,anight’sviewingiswonderfullyforgettable.

It’salittlesleep,it’sentertainment;ourmoralsandforthatmatter,our

brutality,remainintact.Theboxisfurtherneutralizedbythesheerquantity

peoplewatch.Themoreofityousee,thelessanysinglebitofitmatter.Of

course,someprogramsareinfinitelybetterthanother.Therearegifted

peopleworkingintelevision.Butseenfromaremoterperspective—say,four

hoursanightviewingforthreemonths—thequalityofindividualprograms

meansasmuchasthequalityofeachcarintherush-hourtraffic.Forthe

heavyviewer,TVhasonlytwomeaningfulstates—onandoff.Whatarethe

kidsdoing?WatchingTV.Noneedtotalkwhat,theanswerissufficient.

Soon,I’llgoupthereandturnitoff.Likealightbulbitwillgooutandthe

childrenwilldosomethingelse.

Itappearsthenation’schildrenspendmoretimeinfrontoftheirTVsthanin

theclassroom.TheirheadsarefullofTV—butthat’sall,justTV.TheKojak

violencetheywitnessisTVviolence,sufficienttoitself.Itdosenotbrutalize

themtothepointwheretheycannotgrievethelossofapet,orbeshockedat

someminorplaygroundviolence.Children,likeeveryoneelse,knowthe

differencebetweenTVandlife.TVknowsitsplace.Itimpartsnothingbut

itself;ithasitsownrules,itsownlanguage,itsownpriorities.

Itisbecausethislittleglowing,chatteringscreenbarelyresembleslifeatall

thatitremainssousefullyineffectual.Tostareabrickwallwouldwastetime.

WhatevertheTV/videoindustrymightnowsay,televisionwillneverhave

theimpactoncivilizationthattheinventionofthewrittenwordhashad.The

book—hislittlehingedthing—ischeap,portable,virtuallyunbreakable,

endlesslyreusable,hasinstantreplayfacilitiesandinslowmotionifyou

wantit,needsnopowerlines,batteriesoraerials,workinpanesandtrain

tunnels,canbestoredindefinitelywithoutmuchdeterioration.

Questions:

31．Whatdidparentsandteachersthinkoftheeffectsofprogramson

children?Isthereanyprofoundevidence?

32．Whatdoesthephrase“benogreattransformerofmindsorsociety”

mean?

33．Whydoestheauthorsaythatthe“theboxisneutralizedbythequantity

peoplewatch”?

【答案与解析】

31．Theythoughtthatthoseeffectsarebad.Thereisnoprofoundevidence.

（根据第一段最后两句话“Surelyallthatnonsensetheywatchmustbe

desensitizingthem,makingthemvicious,shallow,acquisitive,less

responsibleandgenerallysloppyaboutlifeanddeath.Butno,notascrapof

convincingevidencefromthesociologistsandexpertsinthepsychesof

children.”孩子们在电视上看到的东西一定会让他们变得麻木，变得邪

恶，肤浅，贪婪，不负责任，对生与死持消极的态度。但是社会学家和

儿童心理学家却没有发现任何证据来证明这种说法。）

32．TVcan’tchangeourmindsandthesocietybecausewehardlyremember

theinformationtheyprovide.

（根据第七段话“Wearenot,enmasse(全体地，一同地),asitwasonce

predictedwewouldbe,fantasticallywell-informedaboutothercultureor

abouttheoriginsoflifeonearth.Peopledonotremembermuchfrom

televisiondocumentarybeyondhowgooditwas.Onlythosewhoknow

somethingaboutthesubjectinthefirstplaceretaintheinformation.”我们跟

以前设想的人都不一样，我们本以为电视可以让我们了解到别的文化或

是地球的起源.但实际上人们记不住纪录片的内容，只记得纪录片很好

这一点，只有那些本来就知道这些知识的人才能记住。）

33．TVmeansnothingoncepeopleturnoffit.

（根据倒数第三段的第四句话“Themoreofityousee,thelessanysingle

bitofitmatter.”我们看电视得时间越长，电视中内容的分量就会变

少。）

Questions34~35

Periodicallyinhistory,therecomeperiodsofgreattransitioninwhichwork

changesitsmeaning.Therewasatime,perhaps10,000yearsago,when

humanbeingsstoppedfeedingthemselvesbyhuntinggameandgathering

plants,andincreasinglyturnedtoagriculture.Inaway,thatrepresentedthe

inventionof“work”.

Then,inthelaterdecadesof18thcentury,astheIndustrialRevolutionbegan

inGreatBritain,therewasanothertransition.Inwhichthesymbolsofwork

werenolongerthehoeandtheplow;theyreplacedbythemillandthe

assemblyline.

Andnowwestandatthebrinkofachangethatwillbethegreatestofall,for

workinitsoldsensewilldisappearaltogether.Tomostpeople,workhas

alwaysbeenaneffortfulexercisingofmindorbody—compelledbythebitter

necessaryofearningthenecessitiesoflife—plusanoccasionalperiodof

leisureinwhichtorestorhavefun.

WiththeIndustrialRevolution,machinery—poweredfirstbysteam,thenby

electricityandinternalcombustionengines—tookoverthehardphysical

tasksandrelievedthestrainonhumanandanimalmuscles.

Thereremained,however,the“easier”labor—thelaborthatrequiredthe

humaneyes,ears,judgmentandmindbutnosweating.Itneverthelesshadits

miseries,forittendedtobedull,repetitions,andboring.Andthereisalways

thesoursenseofendlesslydoingsomethingunpleasantundercompulsion.

Andyet,suchjobshavebeencharacteristicofthehumanconditioninthe

firstthreequartersofthe20thcentury.Theymadetoolittledemandonthe

humanmindandspirittokeepthemfreshandalive,madetoomuchdemand

foranymachinetoservethepurpose—untilnow.

Theelectroniccomputer,inventedinthe1940’sandimproveatthe

breakneckspeed,wasamachinethat,forthefirsttime,seemedcompact

enough,versatileenoughand(mostimportantofall)cheapenoughtoserveas

thebrainsofaffordablemachinesthattheirplaceontheassemblylineandin

theoffice.

Thismeansthatthedull,theboring,therepetitious,themind-stultifyingwork

willbegintodisappearfromthejobmarket—isalreadybeginningto

disappear.This,ofcourse,willintroducetwovitalsetsofproblem—is

alreadyintroducingthem.

First,whatwillhappenedtothehumanbeingswhohavebeingworkingat

thesedisappearingjobs?

Second,whatwillhappentothehumanbeingsthatwilldothenewsthatwill

appear—jobsaredemanding,interestingandmind-exercising,butthat

requireahigh-techlevelofthoughtandeducation?

Clearlytherewillbeapainfulperiodoftransition,onethatisstartingalready,

andonethatwillbeinfullswingasthe21st