Part Ⅰ Writing Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay entitled Man and Computer by commenting on the saying, "The real danger is not that the computer will begin to think like man, but that man will begin to think like the computer." You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
1.
Man and Computer
The computer has become an indispensable part in man's life. While it has brought great convenience to us, its rapid development has also aroused much concern about whether it will one day think like man, or even worse, whether man will think like the computer. In my judgment, although the computer may have incredible intelligence and can take the place of human labor in many fields, it is unlikely that it will take the place of man someday. A computer has no independent thinking, and therefore it can never really think like man. However, with the frequent use of, and the increasing reliance on, the computer, there is indeed a danger that some people may think and act the same way as the computer which is programmed. They may lose the ability to think critically and reactively, and eventually develop some "programmed routine" in their behavior, neglecting the rich subtleties of human feelings and emotions. Therefore, while making good use of the computer, we should always bear in mind that it is only a useful tool for us, and that we can always think of better and more humane ways of coping with our needs or problems.
[解析] 这是典型的六级分析型习作。考生写作时应首先正确理解“真正的危险不在于计算机将开始像人类一样思考,而是人类将开始像计算机一样思考”这句话,围绕文章主题“人类与计算机”提出自己的观点并进行进一步的阐述,最后提出自己的建议或呼吁。根据题目要求,本文的结构可设计如下: 第一段:理解题目引言的真正内涵。 第二、三段:阐述自己对于引言的看法:首先,电脑没有独立思想,其取代人类的情形不可能发生;其次,使用计算机的人应保持自己独立的思维,否则会变得程序化。 第四段:总结自己的观点:在使用电脑时,要知道电脑只是我们的一个工具,人类总会有更好的方法来解决问题。 [写作模板] (某种事物) has become an indispensable part in man's life. While it has brought great convenience to us, its rapid development has also aroused much concern about (担心的问题). In my judgment, (表明自己的观点). (说出理由). However, (阐述另一种情况). (说出理由). Therefore, while making good use of (所述的事物), we should always bear in mind that (提出建议).
Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)
Rates are low, but consumers won't borrow
With heavy debt loads and high joblessness, Americans are cautious.
The U.S. Federal Reserve(Fed)'s announcement last week that it intended to keep credit cheap for at least two more years was a clear invitation to Americans: Go out and borrow. But many economists say it will take more than low interest rates to persuade consumers to take on more debt. There are already signs that the recent stock market fluctuations, turbulence in Europe and the U.S. deficit have scared consumers. On Friday, preliminary data showed that the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index had fallen this month to lower than it was in November 2008, when the United State was deep in recession. Under normal circumstances, the Fed's announcement might have attracted new home and car buyers and prompted credit card holders to rack up fresh charges. But with unemployment high and those with jobs worried about keeping them, consumers are more concerned about paying off the loans they already have than adding more debt. And by showing its hand for the next two years, the Fed may have thoughtlessly invited prospective borrowers to put off large purchases. Lenders, meanwhile, are still dealing with the effects of the boom-gone-bust and are forcing prospective borrowers to go to extraordinary lengths to prove their creditworthiness. "I don't think lenders are going to be interested in extending a lot of debt in this environment," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, a macroeconomic consulting firm. "Nor do I think households are going to be interested in taking on a lot of debt." In housing, consumers have already shown a slow response to low rates. Applications for new mortgages have decreased this year to a 10-year low, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Sales of furniture and furnishings remain 22% below their pre-recession peak, according to SpendingPulse, a research report by MasterCard Advisors. Credit card rates have actually gone up slightly in the past year. The one bright spot in lending is the number of auto loans, which is up from last year. But some economists say that confidence among car buyers is hitting new lows. For Xavier Walter, a former mortgage banker who with his wife, Danielle, accumulated $20,000 in Credit card debt, low rates will not change his spending habits. As the housing market topped out five years ago, he lost his six-figure income. He and his wife were able to modify the mortgage on their four-bedroom house in Medford, New Jersey, as well as negotiate lower credit card payments. Two years ago, Mr. Walter, a 34-year-old father of three, started an energy business. He has sworn off credit. "I'm not going to go back in debt ever again," he said. "If I can't pay for it in cash, I don't want it." Until now, one of the biggest restraints on consumer spending has been a debt aftereffect. Since August 2008, when household debt peaked at $12.41 trillion, it has declined by about $1.2 trillion, according to an analysis by Moody's Analytics of data from the Federal Reserve and Equifax, the credit agency. A large portion of that, though, was simply written off by lenders as borrowers defaulted on loans. By other measures, households have improved their position. The proportion of after-tax income that households spend to remain current on loan payments has fallen. Still, household debt remains high. That presents a paradox: many economists argue that the economy cannot achieve true health until debt levels decline. But credit, made attractive by low rates, is a time-tested way to increase consumer spending. With new risks of another downturn, economists worry that it will take years for debt to return to manageable levels, ff the economy contracts again, said George Magnus, senior adviser at UBS, then "you could find a lot of households in a debt trap which they probably can never get out of." Mortgage lenders, meanwhile, burned by the housing crash, are extra careful about approving new loans. In June, for instance, Fannie Mae, the largest mortgage buyer in the United States, said that borrowers whose existing debt exceeded 45 to 50% of their income would be required to have stronger "compensating" factors, which might include higher savings. Even those borrowers in strong financial positions are asked to provide unusual amounts of paperwork. Bobby and Katie Smith have an extremely good credit record, tiny student debt and a combined six-figure income. For part of their down payment, they planned to use about $5,000 they had received as wedding gifts in February. But the lender would not accept that money unless the Smiths provided a certified letter from each of 14 guests, stating that the money was a gift, rather than a loan. "We laughed for a good 15 or 20 minutes," recalled Mr. Smith, 34. Mr. Smith, a program director for a radio station in Orlando, Florida, said they ended up using other savings for their down payment to buy a $300,000 four-bedroom house in April. For those not as creditworthy as the Smiths, low rates are irrelevant because they no longer qualify for mortgages. That leaves the eligible pool of loan applicants wealthier, "older and whiter," said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance. "It's creating much more of a divide," he said, "between the haves and the have-nots." Car shoppers with the highest credit ratings can also get loans more easily, and at lower rates, said Paul C.Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association. During the recession, inability to obtain credit severely cut auto buying as lenders rejected even those with good credit ratings. Now automakers are increasing their subprime(次级债的) lending again as well, but remain hesitant to approve large numbers of risky customers. The number of new auto loans was up by 16% in the second quarter compared with the previous year, said Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit at Experian, the information services company. But some economists warn that consumer confidence is falling. According to CNW Marketing Research, confidence among those who intend to buy a car this year is at its lowest since it began collecting data on this measure in 2000. On credit cards, rates have actually inched higher this year, largely because of new rules that curb the issuer's ability to charge fees or raise certain interest rates at will. At the end of the second quarter, rates averaged 14.01% on new card offers, up from 13.75% a year earlier, according to Mail Monitor, which tracks credit cards for Synovate, a market research firm. According to data from the Federal Reserve, total outstanding debt on revolving credit cards was down by 4.6% during the first half of the year compared with the same period a year earlier. Even if the Fed's announcement helps keep rates steady, or pushes them down, businesses do not expect customers to suddenly charge up a storm. "It's not like, 'Oh, credit is so cheap, let's go back to the heydays(鼎盛时期),'" said Elizabeth Crowell, who owns Sterling Place, two high-end home furnishing and gift stores in New York. "People still fear for their jobs. So I think where maybe after other recessions they might return to previous spending habits, the pendulum hasn't swung back the same way."
1. What is the purpose of the announcement issued by the U.S. Federal Reserve last week?
A.To help reduce the debt burden on consumers.
B.To force the banks to lower their interest rates.
C.To encourage consumers to get more bank loans.
D.To prevent further fluctuations in the stock market.
A B C D
C
[解析] 根据题干中的announcement和U.S. Federal Reserve定位到文章第1段。 [解析] 本题询问美联储上周发表声明的目的。题干中的purpose对应文章首段的intended。因此可判断其后内容是本题答案所在,即保持低息以鼓励美国人去借贷(Go out and borrow)。C表述与此义相符,故正确。
2. Why are people reluctant to take on more debt despite the low interest rates?
A.They are afraid of losing their good credit ratings.
B.They are pessimistic about employment prospects.
C.They have little faith in the Fed's financial policies.
D.They expect the Fed to further lower interest rates.
A B C D
B
[解析] 根据题干中的take on more debt和low interest rates定位到第2段第1句。 [解析] 本题询问人们不愿意贷更多款的原因。第2段首先说仅靠低利率一个因素仍不足以使消费者增加贷款。接着第3段第2句指出,由于高失业率,在职者又担心工作不保,相比起增加新的贷款,消费者更关注还贷的问题。可以看出,人们不愿意加大贷款是因为对就业前景悲观,故B正确。
3. What does the author say about lenders in the current credit market?
A.They are becoming more cautious.
B.They are eager to offer more loans.
C.They advise prospective borrowers to put off large purchases.
D.They are only concerned about how much they can get back.
7. According to Guy Cecala, the banks' policy on mortgage lending will result in ______.
A.a wider gap between the rich and the poor
B.a bigger down payment for house buyers
C.a higher debt level for the less wealthy
D.a greater pressure on senior buyers
A B C D
A
[解析] 根据题干中的Guy Cecala定位到第20段。 [解析] 该段最后两句中,Guy Cecala说银行的住房抵押贷款政策正在造成富人和穷人之间更大的差距。A中的gap和the rich and the poor分别对应原文的divide和haves and the have-nots,因此正确答案为A。
8. During the recession, the number of car buyers decreased because it was difficult to ______.
[解析] W: I'd like to go camping with you this weekend. but I don't have a sleeping bag. W: No problem. You can count on me to get one for you. My family has tons of camping gear. Q: What does the woman mean?
[解析] 男士说他想和女士一起去露营,就是没有睡袋。女士说她可以帮男士弄到一个,她家里有一大堆露营装备,因此选C,选项中的lend the mail a sleeping bag与对话中get one for you对应。 [点睛] ①根据选项关键词help,sleeping bag,camping gear等推测对话内容涉及露营装备。四个选项都与女士相关,听音时注意抓听女士说的话。②A张冠李戴,应该是男士可以指望(count on)女士帮忙;对话中没有提到other plan的事情,B错误;D错在for rent(出租)。
2.
A.The man should keep his words.
B.She regrets asking the man for help.
C.Karen always supports her at work.
D.Karen can take her to the airport.
A B C D
D
[解析] M: I know I promise to drive you to the airport next Thursday. but I'm afraid something has come up. They've called a special meeting at work. W: No big deal. Karen said she was available as a back-up. Q: What does the woman mean?
[解析] 男士说他原本答应下星期四开车送女士到机场,但临时有事,有个特别工作会议要参加。女士说没关系,有Karen做后备(available as a back-up),即Karen可以送她去机场,选D。 [点睛] ①根据A、B选项关键词keep one's words, ask...for help推测对话可能与请某人帮忙有关;C、D选项涉及Karen,听音时注意匹配与其相关的内容。②由女士说的No big deal可同时排除A、B;C“Karen一直支持她的工作”是借back-up制造干扰。
3.
A.He can't afford to go traveling yet.
B.His trip to Hawaii was not enjoyable.
C.He usually checks his brakes before a trip.
D.His trip to Hawaii has used up all his money.
A B C D
A
[解析] W: Have you saved enough money for a trip to Hawaii? M: Not even close. My uncle must put the brakes on my traveling plans. Q: What does the man mean?
[解析] 女士问男士是否攒够钱去夏威夷旅游了,男士说Not even close(还差一大截),他的叔叔一定会阻止他的旅行计划(put the brakes on),可知A“他还负担不起旅游费用”正确。 [点睛] ①根据选项关键词can't afford,trip,money等推测对话与旅游和费用相关。②B“他的夏威夷之旅不愉快”,他还不够钱去夏威夷:C“他旅游前通常会检查刹车闸”曲解put the brakes on的意思;D“他的夏威夷之旅花光了所有的钱”与对话中的Not even close不符。
4.
A.There was nothing left except some pie.
B.The man has to find something else to eat.
C.The woman is going to prepare the dinner.
D.Julie has been invited for dinner.
A B C D
B
[解析] M: I'm starving. Do we still have any pie left from dinner yesterday? W: Oh, Julie invited her friends over in the afternoon and they ate it all. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
[解析] 男士饿了,问昨天晚餐有没有吃剩的馅饼。女士说Julie下午邀请了朋友来,他们把剩的饼都吃光了,由此可知男士得找别的东西吃,选B。 [点睛] ①根据选项关键词pie,find something else to eat,dinner等推测对话可能与晚餐或点心相关。②A“除了馅饼就没有其他的了”,对话没有提及“其他的”食物;C“女士将要准备晚餐”是用dinner进行干扰;D张冠李戴,是Julie邀请朋友,而不是Julie被邀请。
5.
A.Submit no more than three letters.
B.Present a new letter of reference.
C.Apply to three graduate schools.
D.Send Professor Smith a letter.
A B C D
B
[解析] W: Three letters of recommendation are required to apply to graduate schools. I was wondering if the one professor Smith wrote for me last year could still be used. M: It's a bit dated. You'd better submit a recent one. Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?
[解析] 女士说申请入读研究生院需要3份推荐信,不知道去年Smith教授帮她写的推荐信还能不能用。男士认为有点过时(a bit dated),建议提交新近的推荐信(a recent one),选B。letter of reference即letter of recommendation“推荐信”。 [点睛] ①四个选项都是动词原形开头,预测题目询问建议或打算。②对话虽然提到申请入读研究生院需要3份推荐信,但这不是男士的建议,排除A;C、D利用原文出现的个别字眼three、Smith、letter拼凑而成。本题只要抓住关键词dated和recent,就不难找出正确答案。③表示建议的句型You'd better...为听音重点。
C.He prefers to keep his gardening skills to himself.
D.He wishes to receive formal training in gardening.
A B C D
A
[解析] W: I've noticed that you spend a lot of time tending your garden. Would you like to join our gardening club? We meet every other Wednesday. M: Oh, thanks for the invitation, but this is how I relax. I'd rather not make it something formal and structured. Q: What can we infer about the man?
B.Modern art cannot express people's true feelings.
C.The recent sculpture exhibit was not well organized.
D.Many people do not appreciate modem art.
A B C D
D
[解析] M: I heard the recent sculpture exhibit was kind of disappointing. W: That's right. I guess a lot of other people feel the way I do about modern art. Q: What does the woman mean?
[解析] M: Bob is running for chairman of the student union. Would you vote for him? W: Oh, I can't decide right now because I have to find out more about the other candidates. Q: What does the woman mean?
[解析] 男士问女士是否会投票给Bob。女士说她现在没法决定选谁,因为她要看看其他候选人的资料,由此推断C“Bob不能指望她的投票”正确。 [点睛] ①根据选项关键词chance to win,vote,candidate,position可推测对话与选举相关。②由I can't decide可同时排除A“Bob胜出的机会不高”、B“她会把票投给另一位候选人”;女士还要看其他候选人的资料,因此D“她清楚该职位的合适人选”也不对。
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
[解析] 19-22 W: I don't know what to do. I can't seem to get anyone in the hospital to listen to my complaints and this outdated equipment is dangerous. Just look at it. M: Hmm, uh, [19]are you trying to say that it presents a health hazard? W: [19]Yes, I am. The head technician in the lab tried to persuade the hospital administration to replace it, but they are trying to cut costs. M: You're pregnant, aren't you? W: Yes, I am. [20]I made an effort to get my supervisor to transfer me to another department, but he urged me not to complain too loudly, because the administration is more likely to replace me than that x-ray equipment. I'm afraid to refuse to work, but I'm more afraid to expose my unborn child to the radiation. M: I see what you mean. Well, as your union representative, I have to warn you that it would take quite a while to force management to replace the old machines and attempts to get you transferred may or may not be successful. W: Oh, what am I supposed to do then? M: Workers have the legal right to refuse certain unsafe work assignments under two federal laws, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the National Labor Relations Act. [21]But the requirements of either of the Acts may be difficult to meet. W: Do you think I have a good case? M: [22]If you do lose your job, the union will fight to get it back for you along with back pay, your lost income. But you have to be prepared for a long wait, maybe after two years. 19.What does the woman complain about?
[解析] 23-25 W: Mr. Green, is it fair to say that negotiation is an art? M: Well, I think it's both an art and a science. [23]You can prepare for a negotiation quite scientifically, but the execution of the negotiation has quite a lot to do with one's artistic quality. The scientific part of a negotiation is in determining your strategy. What do you want out of it? What can you give? Then of course there are tactics. How do you go about it? Do you take an opening position in a negotiation which differs from the eventual goal you are heading for? And then of course there are the behavioral aspects. W: What do you mean by the behavioral aspects? M: Well, that's I think where the art comes in. [24]In your behavior, you can either be an actor. You can pretend that you don't like things which you are actually quite pleased about. Or you can pretend to like things which you are quite happy to do without. Or you can be the honest type negotiator who's known to his partners in negotiation and always plays everything straight. But the artistic part of negotiation I think has to do with responding immediately to cues one gets in the process of negotiation. These can be verbal cues or even body language. This is where the artistic quality comes in. W: So really, you see two types of negotiator then, the actor or the honest one. M: That' right. [25]And both can work. I would say the honest negotiator can be quite effective in some circumstances. In other circumstances you need an actor. 23. When is a scientific approach best embodied in a negotiation according to the man?
D.The weight of the boxes moving across the stage.
A B C D
B
[解析] 26-29 A scientific team is studying the thinking ability of eleven-and-a-half-month-old children. The test is a simple one. The baby watches a sort of show on a small stage. In Act Ⅰ of the show, a yellow cube is lifted from a blue box and moved across the stage. Then it is returned to the box. This is repeated six times. [26]Act Ⅱ is similar, except that the yellow cube is smaller. Baby boys do not react at all to the difference in the size of the cube, but girls immediately become excited. [27]The scientists interpret the girls' excitement as meaning they are trying to understand what they have just seen. They are wondering why Act Ⅱ is odd and how it differs from Act Ⅰ. [27]In other words, the little girls are reasoning. This experiment certainly does not definitely prove that girls start to reason before boys. [28]But it provides a clue that scientists would like to study more carefully. Already it is known that bones, muscles, and nerves develop faster in baby girls. Perhaps it is early nerve development that makes some infant girls show more intelligence than infant boys. [29]Scientists have also found that nature seems to give another boost to girls. Baby girls usually talk at an earlier age than boys do. Scientists think that there is a physical reason for this. They believe that the nerve endings in the left side of the brain develop faster in girls than in boys. And it is this side of the brain that strongly influences an individual's ability to use language and remember things. 26.What is the difference between Act Ⅰ and Act Ⅱ in the test?
A.It is a breakthrough in the study of the nerve system.
B.It may stimulate scientists to make further studies.
C.Its result helps understand babies' language ability.
D.Its findings are quite contrary to previous research.
A B C D
B
[解析] What does the speaker say about the experiment?
[解析] 录音提到,实验提供了一个线索,使科学家们想进行更为仔细的研究,B“它可能会激励科学家们做进一步研究”与此相符。 [点睛] ①根据选项关键词breakthrough,further studies,result,findings可知,It指代的是实验结果。②A、C是利用录音中的nerve development和talk at an earlier age等信息设置无关干扰,文中并未提及“这是神经系统研究中的一个突破”和“实验结果有助于理解婴儿的语言能力”。D“实验的发现与之前的研究相反”,录音中没有提及之前的研究。③语义“转折处”常考,需要重点留意。
4.
A.The two sides of their brain develop simultaneously.
B.They are better able to adapt to the surroundings.
C.Their bones mature earlier.
D.They talk at an earlier age.
A B C D
D
[解析] According to scientists. what is another advantage given to girls by nature?
A.The new security plan for the municipal building.
B.The blueprint for the development of the city.
C.The controversy over the new office regulations.
D.The city's general budget for the coming year.
A B C D
A
[解析] 30-32 [30]A super attendant of the city's municipal building, Delia Sadorno, was responsible for presenting its new security plan to the public. City employees, citizens and reporters gathered in the hall to hear her describe the plan. After outlining the main points she would cover, she assured the audience that she would be happy to answer questions at the end of her presentation. Delia realized the plan was expensive and potentially controversial. So she was not surprised to see a number of hands go up as soon as she finished speaking. An employee asked, [31]"Would the new system create long lines to get into the building like the lines at airport security checks?" Delia had anticipated this question and had an answer ready. After repeating the question, she explained that the sufficient number of security guards would be working at peak hours to speed things along. [32]The next question was more confrontational. "Where will the money come from to pay for all of this?" The journalists who asked the question seemed hostile. But Delia was careful not to adopt a defensive tone. She stated that the money would come from the city's general budget. "I know these are tight times", she added, "but everyone agrees on the importance of safeguarding our employees and members of the public who come into the building." Near the end of the 25 minutes she had said, Delia said she would take two more questions. When those were finished, she concluded the session with a brief restatement of how the new system would improve security and peace of mind in the municipal building. 30.What is the focus of Delia Sadorno's presentation?
[解析] 33-35 Despite unemployment and the loss of her home, Andrea Clark considers herself a blessed and happy woman. Why the cheerful attitude? Her troubles have brought her closer to her family. [33]Last year, Andrea's husband, Rick, a miner in Nevada was laid off. Though Andrea kept her job as a school bus driver, [34]she knew they couldn't pay their bills and support their youngest of five children, Zac, age nine, on one income. At first their church helped out. "But you can't keep that up forever", Andrea says. [34]Then Michael, the eldest of her four adult children, suggested they move in with his family. For almost three months, seven Clarks lived under one roof. Andrea, Rick and Zac stayed in the basement apartment, sharing laundry and a single .bathroom with Michael, his wife and their two children. [34]The change cut their expenditures in halt, but the new living arrangement proved too challenging. When Andrea found a job with a school district closer to her mother's home in west Jordan, Utah, the family decided to move on. Packing up again was no picnic. Zac had to switch schools for the second time and space is even tighter. Andrea says that the moves themselves are exhausting and Rick is still looking for a job. [35]The recession has certainly come with more problems than Andrea anticipated, but she remains unfailingly optimistic. She is excited to spend more time with her mother. Another plus, rents are lower in Utah than in Nevada. So Andrea thinks they'll be able to save up and move out in less than 6 months. 33.What do we learn about Andrea's husband?
Section C Mountain climbing is becoming a popular sport, but it is also a 1 dangerous one. People can fall; they may also become ill. One of the most common dangers to climbers is altitude sickness, which can affect even very 2 climbers. Altitude sickness usually begins when a climber goes above 8,000 or 9,000 feet. The higher one climbs, the less oxygen there is in the air. When people don't get enough oxygen, they often begin to 3 for air. They may also feel 4 and light-headed. Besides these symptoms of altitude sickness, others such as headache and 5 may also occur. At heights of over 18,000 feet, people may be climbing in a 6 daze(恍惚). This state of mind can have an 7 effect on their judgment. A few 8 can help most climbers avoid altitude sickness. The first is not to go too high too fast. If you climb to 10,000 feet, stay at that height for a day or two. 9 . Or if you do climb higher sooner, come back down to a lower height when you sleep. Also, drink plenty of liquids and avoid tobacco and alcohol. 10 . You breathe less when you sleep, so you get less oxygen. The most important warning is this: if you have severe symptoms and they don't go away, go down! 11 .
Section A For many families, figuring out how many after-school activities are too many is a struggle. For parents who fear they're "over-scheduling" their children, a new study carries a comforting message. The paper, published last week by the Society for Research in Child Development, is the first to take a data-driven look at the issue—and whether being so busy is really a bad thing. The study suggests the phenomenon is more isolated than media reports suggest: in fact, 40% of children (ages 5-18) are engaged in no activities, typical kids spend just five hours a week in structured activities, and very few children—3-6%—spend 20 hours a week. On average, most kids spend far more time watching TV and playing games. And for kids who're extremely busy, there's also good news: the more activities they do, the better kids perform on measures of educational achievement and psychological adjustment. "This popular concern [about over-scheduling] has been generated by a couple of parenting books and the media," says Yale professor and lead author Joseph Mahoney. But looking at the data, "it's hard to argue that kids are over-scheduled." That news will be welcome in households like the Oviedos', in Highland Park, Ill. Nine-year-old Bianca spends six hours a week in rhythmic-gymnastics classes and three hours a week at ballet, plus a half-hour piano lesson. "The alternative would be playing on the computer or watching TV," says her mother, Anca, who believes Bianca benefits by learning to focus, making new friends and acquiring new skills. The new paper doesn't sway some experts who've advocated against activity-creep. They say kids are far busier—and overstressed by it all—than the numbers suggest. "This is an example of researchers using big data sets to dispute the lived experience of many, many parents and families," says William Doherty, a University of Minnesota family-studies professor. Some skeptics question whether the self-reported time-dimly data are really accurate; others say they don't account for all the time spent getting between activities. Alvin Rosenfeld, co-author of The Over-Scheduled Child, says: "If people follow this advice and do more activities, I think it'll be pretty damaging." Despite the doubters, the new data are a small step toward a better understanding of what's best for kids. And no matter what the numbers show, there's no disputing that every child is different—and some will absolutely do better with less. Lisa Dilg of South Lyon, Mich., feels as though her 6-year-old twins are the only kids in town who don't take skiing and ice-skating lessons. "There is nothing wrong with cuddling up(依偎) on the couch with Morn and Dad," says Lisa. And for families who prefer to bond on the sidelines of soccer fields, the latest research can provide a different kind of comfort.
1. The question in dispute in the passage is whether or not children are ______.
over-scheduled
[解析] 根据题目中的the question in dispute查找到第1段第1~2句。 [解析] 第1段第1句提出论题,指出让家长头疼的问题:课外活动(after-school activities)怎样才算过多? 第2句中的定语从句进一步说明,家长担心为孩子安排了过量活动(“over-scheduling” their children),即争论的问题。题目whether从句的主语是children,因此应把over-scheduling变为过去分词形式over-scheduled。该段最后一句的argue与题目the question in dispute对应,答案也可以在本句找。
2. It can be inferred that a good way to keep children away from TV and video games is to engage them in ______.
3. According to the new study, children will ______ academically and psychologically if they involve themselves in more after-school activities.
perform better
[解析] 根据题目中的academically and psychologically查找到第1段第6句。 [解析] 解题关键句包含the more...the better...句型,题干if they involve...activities对应句中the more activities they do;因此答案在the better...中找。题干中的academically和psychologically与该句中的educational achievement和psychological adjustment分别对应,因此空白处填入perform better。
4. There are skeptics who raise doubts about the new study, saying that its data may be ______.
5. In spite of the controversy, the new study may help people see more clearly ______.
what's best for kids
[解析] 根据题目中的in spite of the controversy查找到最后一段第1句。 [解析] 原文中的despite the doubters和a better understanding分别对应题干的in spite of controversy和see more clearly,因此understanding of后面的内容便是此题答案。
Section B
Passage One Who's poor in America? That's a question hard to answer. Hard because there's no conclusive definition of poverty. Low income matters, though how low is unclear. Poverty is also a state of mind that fosters self-defeating behavior—bad work habits, family breakdowns, and addictions. Finally, poverty results from bad luck: accidents, job losses, disability. Despite poverty's messiness, we've measured progress against it by a single statistic: the federal poverty line. By this measure, we haven't made much progress. But the apparent lack of progress is misleading for two reasons. First, it ignores immigration. Many immigrants are poor and low-skilled. They add to the poor. From 1989 to 2007, about three quarters of the increase in the poverty population occurred among Hispanics (西班牙裔美国人)—mostly immigrants and their children. Second, the poor's material well-being has improved. The official poverty measure obscures this by counting only pre-tax cash income and ignoring other sources of support, including food stamps and housing subsidies. Although many poor live from hand to mouth, they've participated in rising living standards. In 2005, 91% had microwaves, 79% air-conditioning, and 48% cell phones. The existing poverty line could be improved by adding some income sources and subtracting some expenses. Unfortunately, the administration's proposal for a "supplemental poverty measure" in 2011 goes beyond that. The new poverty number would compound public confusion. It also raises questions about whether the statistic is tailored to favor a political agenda. The "supplemental measure" ties the poverty threshold to what the poorest third of Americans spend on food, housing, clothing, and utilities. The actual threshold will probably be higher than today's poverty line. Many Americans would find this weird: people get richer, but "poverty" stays stuck. What produces this outcome is a different view of poverty. The present concept is an absolute one: the poverty threshold reflects the amount estimated to meet basic needs. By contrast, the new measure embraces a relative notion of poverty: people are automatically poor if they're a given distance from the top, even if their incomes are increasing. The new indicator is a "propaganda device" to promote income redistribution by showing that poverty is stubborn or increasing. The Census Bureau has estimated statistics similar to the administration's proposal. In 2008, the traditional poverty rate was 13.2%; estimates of the new statistic range up to 17%. The new poverty statistic exceeds the old, and the gap grows larger over time. As senator Daniel Moynihan said, the administration is defining poverty up. It's legitimate to debate how much we should aid the poor or reduce economic inequality. But the debate should not be swayed by misleading statistics that few Americans could possibly understand. Government statistics should strive for political neutrality(中立). This one fails.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A.Poverty is very often defined as a state of mind.
B.Poverty is a problem hard to tackle in America.
C.Bad work habits and bad luck lead to poverty.
D.There is no consensus on the concept of poverty.
Passage Two Eleven summers ago I was sent to a management program at the Wharton School to be prepared for bigger things. Along with lectures on finance and entrepreneurship and the like, the program included a delightfully out-of-place session with A1 Filreis, an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania, on poetry. For three hours he talked us through "The Red Wheelbarrow" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." The experience—especially when contrasted with the horrible prose of our other assigned reading—sent me fleeing to the campus bookstore, where I resumed a long-interrupted romance with meter and rhyme(韵). Professor Filreis says that he is "a little shocked" at how intensely his Wharton students respond to this unexpected deviation from the businesslike, not just as a relief but as a kind of stimulus. Many write afterward asking him to recommend books of poetry. Especially now. "The grim economy seems to make the participants keener than ever to think out of the box' in the way poetry encourages," he told me. Which brings me to Congress, an institution stuck deeper inside the box than just about any other these days. You have probably heard that up on Capitol Hill(美国国会山), they're very big on prayer breakfasts, where members gather over scrambled eggs and ask God for wisdom. You can judge from the agonizing debt spectacle we've watched this summer how well that's working. Well, maybe it's time to add some poetry readings to the agenda. I'm not suggesting that poetry will guide our legislators to wisdom any more than prayer has. Just that it might make them a little more human. Poetry is no substitute for courage or competence, but properly applied, it is a challenge to self-certainty, which we currently have in excess. Poetry serves as a spur to creative thinking, a reproach to dogma and habit, a remedy to the current fashion for pledge signing. The poet Shelley, in defense of poetry nearly two centuries ago, wrote, "A man, to be greatly good, must imagine intensely and comprehensively; he must put himself in the place of another and of many others; the pains and pleasures of his species must become his own." Shelley concludes that essay by calling poets "the unacknowledged legislators of the world," because they bring imagination to the realm of "reasoners and mechanists." The relevance of poetry was declared more concisely in five lines from the love poem "Asphodel, That Greeny Flower," by William Carlos Williams: It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.
1. Why did the author participate in the Wharton School management program?
A.He was a passionate lover of classical poetry.
B.He was being trained for an important position.
C.He had just been promoted to top management.
D.He was interested in finance and entrepreneurship.
A B C D
B
[解析] 根据题干中的Wharton School定位至第1段第1句。 [解析] 题目询问作者为什么参加沃顿商学院的管理课程。开头第1句的不定式成分to be prepared for bigger things表明了目的,即准备更重要的事情,B项是其同义替换,故正确。 [点睛] A项“非常热爱古典诗歌”是后文提到的事实,但不是作者学习管理的目的。C项“他刚刚被提升为高管”用了过去完成时,与prepared for不符。由该段第2句可知金融和企业管理是要学习的内容,并没有提及D项“他对金融和企业管理感兴趣”。
2. What did the author think of Professor Filreis's poetry session?
A.It diverted students' attention from the assigned reading.
B.It made the management program appear romantic.
C.It was extremely appealing to the students.
D.It pulled students out of prose reading sessions.
3. What was the impact of the poetry session on the program participants according to Professor Filreis?
A.It inspired them to view things from broader perspectives.
B.It led them to think poetry indispensable to management.
C.It helped them develop a keener interest in literature.
D.It encouraged them to embark on a political career.
A B C D
A
[解析] 根据题干中的participants定位至第4段。 [解析] 题目询问Filreis教授认为诗歌课对学员的影响是什么。第4段Filreis教授说,严峻的经济似乎让学员比以往任何时候都更加渴望用诗歌所激发的“打破常规”的方式思考。out of the box原指“开箱即用”,这里引申为“具有创造性的,打破常规”的意思。故A项“启发他们从更广的角度看待事物”正确。 [点睛] think “out of the box”后面的in the way poetry encourages表明这种思考方式是诗歌所鼓励的,是思考方式有助于管理,而不是诗歌本身,故B项“导致他们认为诗歌是管理不可缺少的”不对。开设诗歌课的目的是引导学生用创造性的方式思考,不是C项“帮助他们培养对文学更浓厚的兴趣”,也不是D项“鼓励他们从政”。
4. What does the author think of Capitol Hill's prayer over breakfast?
A.It is a ritual that has lost its original meaning.
B.It doesn't really help solve the economic problems.
C.It provides inspiration as poetry reading does.
D.It helps people turn away from the debt spectacle.
A B C D
B
[解析] 根据题干中大写的Capitol Hill定位至第5段第2句。 [解析] 题目询问作者对美国国会山祈祷早餐会的看法。第5段第2句提到议员聚集在国会山上进行祈祷早餐会,第3句对此进行评价,其中judge from the agonizing debt spectacle“从令人痛苦的债务状况判断”表明作者对此持否定态度,debt说明祈祷早餐没有真正解决经济问题,故选B项。 [点睛] 原文只提到议员聚在一起吃炒鸡蛋并向上帝祈求智慧,没有提到A项所说的原始意义(original meaning),故无法推断早餐会是否失去了原本意义。C项“像诗歌读物一样提供灵感”和D项“帮助人们脱离债务”都是肯定的看法,与作者对早餐会的看法相反。
5. What do we learn from Shelley's essay?
A.Poetry can relieve people of pains and sufferings.
B.It takes poetic imagination to become a legislator.
C.Legislators should win public acknowledgement.
D.It is important to be imaginative and sympathetic.
A B C D
D
[解析] 根据题干中的人名Shelley定位至倒数第2段。 [解析] 题目询问从雪莱的散文可了解到什么。倒数第2段引用了雪莱为诗歌辩护所作的散文中的语句。imagine“想象”和put himself in the place of another“换位思考”都表明想象力和同情心很重要,即选D项。 [点睛] A项中的pains在雪莱引文中的最后一句提到,原文是说痛苦和快乐都要感同身受,并不是说诗歌可减轻人们的痛苦和苦难。该段最后一句提到雪莱把诗人称作“世上没有被明确承认的立法者”,原因是诗人把想象带入理智者和机械主义者的领域,意思是诗歌富有想象力,与立法者无关,故B项“成为立法者需要有诗意的想象”和C项“立法者应该赢得大众的承认”不对。
Part Ⅴ Cloze "My job is killing me." Who among us hasn't issued that complaint at least once? Now a new study suggests that your dramatic complaint may 1 some scientific truth. The 20-year study, by researchers at Tel Aviv University, 2 to examine the relationship between the workplace and a person's risk of death. Researchers 3 820 adults who had undergone a 4 physical exam at a health clinic in 1988, and then interviewed them 5 detail about their workplace conditions—asking how nice their colleagues were, whether their boss was supportive and how much 6 they had in their position. The participants 7 in age from 25 to 65 at the start of the study and worked in a variety of 8 , including finance, health care, manufacturing and insurance. The researchers 9 the participants through their medical records: by the study's conclusion in 2008, 53 people had died—and they were significantly more likely than those who survived to report having a 10 work environment. People who reported having little or no 11 support from their co-workers were 2.4 times more likely to die 12 the course of the study than those who said they had close, supportive 13 with their workmates. Interestingly, the risk of death was 14 only to people's perceptions of their coworkers, not their bosses. People who reported negative relationships with their supervisors were 15 likely to die than others. The study was observational, 16 it could not determine whether toxic workplace environments caused death, only that it was 17 with the risk. But the findings add to the evidence 18 having a supportive social network decreases stress and helps 19 good health. On the other hand, being exposed 20 chronic stress contributes to depression, ill health and death.
考查近义动词辨义。chase意为“追赶”,pursue“追踪”一般是指为了抓住某人而追踪。trail和track都有“跟踪”之意,即沿着某物留下的印迹、信息判断出某物曾到过哪些地方。track具有follow the progress or development of sth之意,trail则没有这一引申义。原文说的是“跟踪”参与者20年的医疗记录,故只能用track。
1. ______(不管中国变得多么强大), it will constitute no threat to any other country.
No matter how strong China becomes//However strong China becomes
[解析] 考查让步状语从句的表达。“不管……多么……”可用“no matter + how + a./ad. +主语+谓语”翻译。 [点睛] “no matter+疑问词”和“疑问词-ever”都可引导让步状语从句,上面的no matter how可转化为however。值得注意的是,“no matter+疑问词”不能引导名词性从句,“疑问词-ever”可以,如:whoever breaks the law should be punished.(whoever引导主语从句)。
2. Success in life does not depend so much on one's school records ______(而是靠其勤奋和坚持).
as on one's diligence/bard work and persistence/perseverance
[解析] 考查固定结构not so much...as...“与其说……,不如说……”:全句可缩写为Success in life does not depend so much on...as on...。“勤奋”可以用diligence或者hard work表达,“坚持”可译为 persistence或者perseverance。 [点睛] 注意as后面的on和one's不要漏译。
3. ______(他们要是此刻在这儿就好了), we would be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
If only they were here now/at this moment
[解析] 考查虚拟语气的用法。“要是……就好了”暗示需要用虚拟语气,此句表示与现在事实相反的假设,所以从句时态用一般过去时。 [点睛] if only常用来表达强烈的愿望或遗憾,主要用在虚拟语气中,用法相当于I wish。if only后面的谓语动词用一般过去时表示目前的愿望,用过去完成时表示过去的愿望。
4. In recent years, with his business booming, he ______(给慈善事业捐了大笔的钱).
he has donated a large/big sum of money to charity
5. Without the atmosphere, we ______(将被迫寻找躲避太阳的藏身处), as there would be nothing to protect us from its deadly rays.
would be forced to seek/look for shelter from the sun
[解析] 考查语气和语态。Without the atmosphere“要是没有大气”暗示句子要用虚拟语气,对现在的假设,主句用过去将来时。“将被迫”提示要用被动语态。“寻找躲避太阳的藏身处”表达为seek shelter from the sun。 [点睛] 虚拟语气有时通过某些介词短语来表达,如:but for,but that,without等。