Passage One In the 1962 movie Lawrence of Arabia, one scene shows an American newspaper reporter eagerly snapping photos of men looting a sabotaged train. One of the looters, Chief Auda abu Tayi of the Howeitat clan, suddenly notices the camera and snatches it. "Am I in this?" he asks, before smashing it open. To the dismayed reporter, Lawrence explains, "He thinks these things will steal his virtue. He thinks you're a kind of thief." As soon as colonizers and explorers began taking cameras into distant lands, stories began circulating about how indigenous peoples saw them as tools for black magic. The "ignorant natives" may have had a point. When photography first became available, scientists welcomed it as a more objective way of recording faraway societies than early travelers' exaggerated accounts. But in some ways, anthropological photographs reveal more about the culture that holds the camera than the one that stares back. Up into the 1950s and 1960s, many ethnographers sought "pure" pictures of "primitive" cultures, routinely deleting modern accoutrements such as clocks and Western dress. They paid men and women to re-enact rituals or to pose as members of war or hunting parties, often with little regard for veracity. Edward Curtis, the legendary photographer of North American Indians, for example, got one Makah man to pose as a whaler with a spear in 1915—even though the Makah had not hunted whales in a generation. These photographs reinforced widely accepted stereotypes that indigenous cultures were isolated, primitive, and unchanging. For instance, National Geographic magazine's photographs have taught millions of Americans about other cultures. As Catherine Lutz and Jane Collins point out in their 1993 book Reading National Geographic, the magazine since its founding in 1888 has kept a tradition of presenting beautiful photos that don't challenge white, middle-class American conventions. While dark-skinned women can be shown without tops, for example, white women's breasts are taboo. Photos that could unsettle or disturb, such as areas of the world torn asunder by war or famine, are discarded in favor of those that reassure to conform with the society's stated pledge to present only "kindly" visions of foreign societies. The result, Lutz and Collins say, is the depiction of "an idealized and exotic world relatively free of pain or class conflict." Lutz actually likes National Geographic a lot. She read the magazine as a child, and its lush imagery influenced her eventual choice off anthropology as a career. She just thinks that as people look at the photographs of other cultures, they should be alert to the choice of composition and images.
1. What's the main idea of the passage?
A.Photographs taken by Western explorers reflect more Westerners' perception of the indigenous cultures and the Western values.
B.There is a complicated relationship between the Western explorers and the primitive peoples.
C.Popular magazines such as National Geographic should show pictures of the exotic and idealized worlds to maintain high sales.
D.Anthropologists ask the natives to pose for their pictures, compromising the truthfulness of their pictures.
2. We can infer from the passage that early travelers to the native lands often ______.
A.took pictures with the natives
B.gave exaggerated accounts of the native lands
C.ask for pictures from the natives
D.gave the natives clocks and Western dresses
A B C D
B
[解析] 文章第二段第二句说:“When photography first became available, scientists welcomed it as a more objective way of recording faraway societies than early travelers exaggerated accounts. ”意思是:当照相术开始成为可能的时候,科学家们欢迎它,相对于早期旅游者夸大其辞的描述,科学家把摄影术当做是对遥远社会的一种更客观的记录。
3. The author mentions the movie Lawrence of Arabia to ______.
A.show how people in the indigenous societies are portrayed by Westerners.
B.illustrate how people from primitive societies see cameras as tools of black magic that steal their virtues.
C.show how anthropologists portray untruthful pictures of native people.
D.show the cruel and barbarian side of the native people.
4. "But in some ways, anthropological photographs reveal more about the culture that holds the camera than the one that stares back." In this sentence, the "one culture that stares back" refers to ______.
5. With which of the following statements would Catherine Lutz most probably agree?
A.Reporters from the Western societies should routinely delete modern elements in pictures taken of the indigenous societies.
B.The primitive cultures are inferior to the more advanced Western culture.
C.The western media are not presenting a realistic picture of the faraway societies.
D.People in the Western news business should try not to challenge the well-established white middle-class values.
A B C D
C
[解析] Catherine Lutz是1993年出版的Reading National Geographic的作者之一。她们在书中写道,《国家地理》杂志自从1888年创刊以来,就一直保持一种习惯,即只刊登那些不和美国中产阶级白人的价值观发生冲突的优美照片。因此答案:C The western media ate not presenting a realistic picture of the faraway societies(西方媒体并没有展现落后地区的真实画面)最能表现该作者的观点。
Passage Two Scientists used to believe adult brains did not grow any new neurons, but it has emerged that new neurons can sprout in the brains of adult rats, birds and even humans. Understanding the process could be important, for finding ways to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's in which neurons are destroyed. Most neurons sprouting in adulthood seem to be in the hippocampus, a structure involved in learning and memory. But they rarely survive more than a few weeks. "We thought they were possibly dying because they were deprived of some sort of input," says Elizabeth Gould, a neuroscientist at Princeton. Because of the location, Gould and her colleagues suspect that learning itself might bolster the new neurons' survival, and that only tasks involving the hippocampus would do the trick. To test this, they injected adult male rats with a substance that labeled newborn neurons so that they could be tracked. Later, they gave some of the rats standard tasks. One involved using visual and spatial cues, such as posters on a well, to learn to find a platform hidden under murky water. In another, the rats learnt to associate a noise with a tiny shock half a second later. Both these tasks use the hippocampus—if this structure is damaged, rats can't do them. Meanwhile, the researchers gave other rats similar tasks that did not require the hippocampus finding a platform that was easily visible in water, for instance. Other members of the control group simply paddled in a tub of water or listened to noises. The team reported in Nature Neuroscience that the animals given the tasks that activate the hippocampus kept twice as many of their new neurons alive as the others. "Learning opportunities increase the number of neurons," says Gould. But Fred Gage and his colleagues at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, dispute this. In the same issue of Nature Neuroscience, they reported that similar water maze experiments on mice did not help new neurons survive. Gould thinks the difference arose because the groups labeled new neurons at different times. She gave the animals tasks two weeks after the neurons were labeled. When the new cells would normally be dying, she thinks the Salk group put their mice to work too early for new neurons to benefit. "By the time the cells were degenerating, the animals were not learning anything," she says.
1. Not until recently did scientists find out that ______.
Passage Three If a mother pushes her small son in a swing, giving only a light force each time he returns, eventually he will be swinging quite high. The child can do this for himself by using his legs to increase the motion, but both the mother's push and the child's leg movements must occur at the proper moment, or the extent of the swing will not increase. In physics, increasing the swing is increasing the amplitude; the length of the rope on the swing determines its natural oscillation period. This ability of an object to move periodically or to vibrate when stimulated by a force operating in its natural period is called resonance. Resonance is observed many times without consciously thinking about it; for example, one may find an annoying vibration or shimmy in an automobile, caused by a loose engine mount vibrating with increasing amplitude because of an out-of-round tire. The bulge on the tire slaps the pavement with each revolution; at the natural resonance point of the engine mount, it will begin to vibrate. Such vibrations can result in considerable damage if allowed to persist. Another destructive example of resonance is the shattering of a crystal goblet by the production of a musical tone at the natural resonant point of goblet. The energy of the sound waves causes vibration in the glass; as its amplitude increases, the motion in the glass exceeds the elasticity of the goblet, and it shatters. An instrument called a tachometer makes use of the principle of resonance. It consists of many tiny bars, loosely fastened together and arranged so that each bar can slide independently of the others. Movement of the bars causes changes in a dial. When placed next to a rotating motor or engine, the tachometer picks up slight vibrations which are transferred to the resonant bars. These bars begin to move, and the resulting dial may be read to find the revolutions per minute of the motor very quickly.
1. An object, if moving rhythmically when stimulated in a natural period, is said to ______.
A.vibrate
B.resonate
C.swing
D.oscillate
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节题。答案在第一段最后一句话:“This ability of an object to move periodically or to vibrate when stimulated by a force operating in its natural period is called resonance. ”意思是:当一个物体受到一个自然周期内力的刺激时进行的有规律的运动和震动被称做共振。
2. The distance a swing moves from its resting position is called its ______.
A.revolution
B.movement
C.frequency
D.amplitude
A B C D
D
[解析] 细节题。第一段的第三句:“In physics, increasing the swing is increasing the amplitude; the length of the rope on the swing determines its natural oscillation period. ”意思是:在物理学中,增加摆动就是增加振幅,摆上的绳索长度决定着摆的摆动周期。所以D为答案。
3. A tachometer is an instrument that uses resonance to determine ______.
A.the speed of a motor in revolutions
B.the frequency at which a motor vibrates
C.the amplitude of an engine that oscillates
D.the changes in a dial within a car engine
A B C D
A
[解析] 细节题。最后一段最后一句“These bars begin to move, and the resulting dial may be read to find the revolutions per minute of the motor very quickly. ”意思是:这些针开始运动,可以读刻度盘迅速找出电动机每分钟所转的数。
4. An annoying vibration can be caused at the natural resonance of the car's engine mount ______.
A.if the engine moves too fast
B.if the engine's amplitude increases
C.if a tire gets out of balance
D.if a damage occurs in the engine
A B C D
C
[解析] 细节题。第二段第一句话:“...one may find an annoying vibration or shimmy in an automobile, caused by a loose engine mount vibrating with increasing amplitude because of an out-of-round tire. ”意思是:人们发现,汽车内由于松动了的发动机悬置随着增加的振幅的振动而产生的恼人的振动或摇晃是因为不圆的车胎造成的。out-of-round tire=tire out of balance.
5. In which of the following cases is it useful to consider the relationship between the length of an oscillating object and its natural period?
A.Adjusting the speed of a car.
B.Adjusting a clock pendulum.
C.Adjusting tire balance.
D.Adjusting engine mounts.
A B C D
B
Passage Four Infertility is normally seen as a private matter. If a couple are infertile and wish they are not, that is sad. But there is understandable resistance in many countries to the idea that treatments intended to deal with this sadness—known collectively as assisted reproductive technologies, or ARTs—should be paid for out of public funds. Such funds are scarce, and infertility is not a life-threatening condition. However, two papers presented to the "State of the ART" conference held earlier this month in Lyon argue that in Europe, at least, there may be a public interest in promoting ARTs after all. The low fertility rate in many of that continent's more developed countries means their populations are ageing and shrinking. If governments want to change this, ARTs—most significantly in-vitro fertilization (IVF)—could offer at least part of a way to do so. As the conference heard, IVF does seem to be keeping up the numbers in at least one country. Tina Jensen of the University of Southern Denmark has just finished a study of more than 700000 Danish women. She found that young women in Denmark have a significantly lower natural conception rate than in past decades. That is partly, but not entirely, because they are having their children later in life. The rest of the cause is unknown, though reduced sperm quality in men may be a factor. Whatever the cause, she also found that the effect has been almost completely compensated for by an increasing use of ARTs. Denmark's native population is more or less stable but some 3.9% of babies born there in 2003 were the result of IVF The comparable figure for another northern European country, Britain, was 1.5%. Without IVF, then, the number of Danes would be shrinking fast. That it is not may have something to do with the fact that in Denmark the taxpayer will cover up to six cycles of IVF treatment. In Britain, by contrast, couples are supposed to be entitled to three cycles. In practice, many of the local trusts that dish the money out do not pay for any cycles at all. Jonathan Grant, the head of the Cambridge branch of the Rand Corporation (an American think-tank), believes this is shortsighted. His paper showed that if Britain supported IVF at the Danish level then its birth rate would probably increase by about 10000 a year. The cost of offering six cycles to couples (and doing so in practice, rather than just in theory) would be an extra £250 m-430 m a year. That is not trivial, but Dr. Grant reckons it is cheaper than other ways of boosting the birth rate. Some countries, for example, have tried to bribe women into having more children by increasing child benefits. According to this calculations, raising such benefits costs between £50000 and £100000 a year for each additional birth procured. Ten thousand extra births each year would thus cost between £500 m and £1 billion. There are, of course, some disadvantages to promoting IVF In particular, women who use it tend to be older than those who conceive naturally, and that can lead to congenital problems in their children. But if the countries of Europe do wish to keep their populations up, making IVF more widely available might be a good way of doing so.
1. According to the text, the public's opinion on the infertility treatments is that ______.
A.the treatments should be paid for out of public funds
B.the treatments are not so compulsory as they consume the limited public funds
C.the treatments are not necessarily only paid for out of public funds
D.the public is not obliged to pay for such treatments of no urgent nature
Passage Five Since the first brain scanner was constructed several years ago, computed tomography or computed medical imagery, has become fairly widely used. Its rapid acceptance is due to the fact that it has overcome several of the drawbacks of conventional X-ray technology. To begin with, conventional two-dimensional X-ray pictures cannot show all of the information contained in a three-dimensional object. Things at different depths are super imposed, causing confusion to the viewer. Computed tomography can give three-dimensional information. The computer is able to reconstruct pictures of the body's interior by measuring the varying intensities of X-ray beams passing through sections of the body from hundreds of different angles. Such pictures are based on series of thin "slices". In addition, conventional X-ray generally differentiates only between bone and air, as in the chest and lungs. They cannot distinguish soft tissues or variations in tissues. The liver and pancreas are not discernible at all, and certain other organs max only be rendered visible through the use of radio paque dye. Since computed tomography is much more sensitive, the soft tissues of the kidneys or the liver can be seen and clearly differentiated. This technique can also accurately measure different degrees of X-ray absorption, facilitating the study of the nature of tissue. A third problem with conventional X-my methods is their inability to measure quantitatively the separate densities of the individual substances through which the X-ray has passed. Only the mean absorption of all the tissues is recorded. This is not a problem with computed tomography. It can accurately locate a tumor and subsequently monitor the progress of radiation treatment, so that in addition to its diagnostic capabilities, it can play a significant role in therapy.
1. Conventional X-rays mainly show the difference between ______.
A.bone and air
B.liver and pancreas
C.muscle and other body tissues
D.heart and lungs
A B C D
A
[解析] 细节题。答案源自于文章第三段第一句话“conventional X-ray generally differentiates only between bone and air”即传统的X光线通常只能显示出骨骼与气体之间的不同。故答案为A。
2. What kind of view is made possible by contiguous cross sections of the body?
A.Two-dimensional.
B.Three-dimensional.
C.Animated.
D.Intensified.
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节题。根据文章第二段中“Things at different depths are super imposed, causing confusion to the viewer. Computed tomography can give three-dimensional information. ”可知,正是身体中相邻的横截面证实了三维立体这种视觉效果,使其成为可能。故答案为B。
3. It can be inferred from the passage that compared to conventional X-ray techniques, computed tomography is more ______.
Passage Six "I got cancer in my prostate." Detective Andy Sipowicz of the fictional 15th Precinct, a stoic, big bear of a man, is clearly in a world of pain in a 1998 episode of NYPD Blue. The story line deals not only with cancer but also with medical screw-ups, hospital indignities and physician arrogance. The malapropism (Andy, of course, meant "prostate") is about the only medical detail the show got wrong—and it was deliberate, in keeping with Sipowicz's coarse but tenderhearted character. Television, which can still depict death as an event akin to fainting, is beginning to try harder to get its health information right. And a handful of foundations and consultants are working to get the attention of writers, producers and assorted Hollywood moguls, trying to convince them that, in the area of medicine, the truth is as compelling as fiction. The stakes are high. Surveys show a surprising number of Americans get much of their basic health information not from their doctors, not even from newspapers or news magazines, but from entertainment television. A survey by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that among people who watch soap operas at least twice a week—more than 38 million people—about half learned something about disease and its prevention from the daytime serials. Some 7 percent actually visited a doctor because of something they viewed. Certain television shows are naturals for health education. The Clinton administration has been quick to recognize the potency of the entertainment media as a health promoter. Secretary Donna Shalala, whose Department of Health and Human Services educates the public through traditional brochures and public service announcements, has offered TV writers the sources of her department to help them ensure accuracy. "Entertainment television reaches the hearts and minds of millions of Americans," she told U.S. News. "In recent years, I have challenged television talk-show hosts, writers, and producers—as professionals, parents, and citizen—to use this incredible power to help Americans get accurate public health information."
1. The story line "I got cancer in my prostate" is intended to achieve a(n) ______ effect.
A.amusing
B.serious
C.puzzling
D.saddening
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节题。从文章首段第二句可以看出这些话题都很严肃,由此可知这句话是要造成一种严肃的效果。
2. The word "malapropism" in the first paragraph can be defined as ______.
A.an improper scene in a show
B.a significant detail of a story
C.a wrong use of a word
D.an interesting plot
A B C D
C
[解析] 词汇题。malapropism这个词的意思是“词语误用”。
3. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A.TV shows must take into consideration the public health consequences
B.viewers of TV shows can distinguish between fiction and truth
C.the TV staff are conscientiously responsible for the quality of their shows
D.entertainment can be pursued at the cost of accuracy