考研英语真题阅读理解试题与名师解析十二
If you intend using humor in your talk to make people smile, youmust know how to identify shared experiences and problems. Your humormust be relevant to the audience and should help to show ...If you intend using humor in your talk to make people smile, youmust know how to identify shared experiences and problems. Your humormust be relevant to the audience and should help to show them thatyou are one of them or that you understand their situation and are insympathy with their point of view. Depending on whom you areaddressing, the problems will be different. If you are talking to agroup of managers, you may refer to the disorganized methods of their secretaries; alternatively if you are addressing secretaries, you maywant to comment on their disorganized bosses。
Here is an example, which I heard at a nurses' convention, of astory which works well because the audience all shared the same viewof doctors. A man arrives in heaven and is being shown around by St.Peter. He sees wonderful accommodations, beautiful gardens, sunnyweather, and so on. Everyone is very peaceful, polite and friendlyuntil, waiting in a line for lunch, the new arrival is suddenlypushed aside by a man in a white coat, who rushes to the head of theline, grabs his food and stomps over to a table by himself. “Who isthat?” the new arrival asked St. Peter. “Oh, that's God,” came thereply, “but sometimes he thinks he's a doctor。
”If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will bein a position to know the experiences and problems which are commonto all of you and it'll be appropriate for you to make a passingremark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman's notoriousbad taste in ties. With other audiences you mustn't attempt to cut inwith humor as they will resent an outsider making disparaging remarksabout their canteen or their chairman. You will be on safer ground ifyou stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephonesystem。
If you feel awkward being humorous, you must practice so that itbecomes more natural, include a few casual and apparently off-the-cuff remarks which you can deliver in a relaxed and unforced manner.Often it's the delivery which causes the audience to smile, so speakslowly and remember that a raised eyebrow or an unbelieving look mayhelp to show that you are making a light-hearted remark。
Look for the humor. It often comes from the unexpected. A twist ona familiar quote “If at first you don't succeed, give up” or a playon words or on a situation. Search for exaggeration and understatements. Look at your talk and pick out a few words orsentences which you can turn about and inject with humor。
21. To make your humor work, you should[A]take advantage of different kinds of audience。
[B]make fun of the disorganized people。
[C]address different problems to different people。
[D]show sympathy for your listeners。
22. The joke about doctors implies that, in the eyes of nurses,they are[A]impolite to new arrivals。
[B]very conscious of their godlike role。
[C]entitled to some privileges。
[D]very busy even during lunch hours。
23. It can be inferred from the text that public services[A]have benefited many people。
[B]are the focus of public attention。
[C]are an inappropriate subject for humor。
[D]have often been the laughing stock。
24. To achieve the desired result, humorous stories should bedelivered[A]in well-worded language。
[B]as awkwardly as possible。
[C]in exaggerated statements。
[D]as casually as possible。
25. The best title for the text may be [A]Use Humor Effectively。
[B]Various Kinds of Humor。
[C]Add Humor to Speech。
[D]Different Humor Strategies。
名师解析21. To make your humor work, you should 要想让你的幽默奏效你应该[A]take advantage of different kinds of audience。
(充分)利用不同的观众。
[B]make fun of the disorganized people。
取笑那些做事混乱的人。
[C]address different problems to different people。
和不同的人谈不同的问题。
[D]show sympathy for your listeners。
同情你的听众。
【答案】 C【考点】段落主旨题。
【分析】根据题目知道本题考查的是“幽默须知”的内容定位到第一段。
文中说“要使你的听众发笑你就必须知道如何识别你和他人的共同的经历和问题”这个就是本题解答的关键。
加上第一段第三句话“Depending on whomyou are addressing, the problems will be different。
”(你的问题因人而异。
)[A]说利用不同的观众这个提法中的“利用”词义本身就有侵害客体的含义让人觉得是在利用别人的弱点而且和上文提到的“幽默须知”显然不符合。
[B]仅仅是作者例举的一个例子用来表示如何和别人分享经历。
[C]很好地表达了第一段的主题。
[D]错在其范围被缩小了。
22. The joke about doctors implies that, in the eyes of nurses,they are关于医生的这个笑话表明在护士眼里医生[A]impolite to new arrivals. 对新人不礼貌。
[B]very conscious of their godlike role. 对自己上帝般的作用非常在意。
[C]entitled to some privileges. 有权获得某些特权。
考研英语阅读理解部分试题解析
Could the bad old days of economic decline beabout to return? Since OPEC agreed tosupply-cuts in March, the price of crude oil has jumped to almost $26 a barrel,up from less than $10 last December. This near-tripling of oil prices calls upscary memories of the 1973 oil shock, when prices quadrupled, and 1979-80, whenthey also almost tripled. Both previous shocks resulted in double-digitinflation and global economic decline. So where are theheadlines warning of gloom and doom this time? The oil price was given another push up this week when Iraqsuspended oil exports. Strengthening economic growth, at the same time aswinter grips the northern hemisphere, could push the price higher still in theshort term. Yet there are good reasons to expect the economic consequences nowto be less severe than in the 1970s. In most countries the cost of crude oilnow accounts for a smaller share of the price of petrol than it did in the1970s. In Europe, taxes account for up to four-fifths of the retail price, so evenquite big changes in the price of crude have a more muted effect on pump pricesthan in the past. Rich economies are also less dependent on oil than they were, and soless sensitive to swings in the oil price. Energy conservation, a shift toother fuels and a decline in the importance of heavy, energy-intensiveindustries have reduced oil consumption. Software,consultancy and mobile telephones use far less oil than steel or carproduction. For each dollar of GDP (in constant prices) rich economies now usenearly 50% less oil than in 1973. The OECD estimates in its latest EconomicOutlook that, it oil prices averaged $22 a barrel for a full year, comparedwith $13 in 1998, this would increase the oil import bill in rich economies byonly 0.25-0.5% of GDP. That is less than one-quarter of the income loss in 1974or 1980. On the other hand, oil-importing emerging economies—to which heavy industry has shifted—have become more energy-intensive,and so could be more seriously squeezed. One more reason not to lose sleep over the rise in oil prices isthat, unlike the rises in the 1970s, it has not occurred against the backgroundof general commodity-price inflation and global excess demand. A sizableportion of the world is only just emerging from economic decline. TheEconomist's commodity price index is broadly unchanging from a year ago. In1973 commodity prices jumped by 70%, and in 1979 byalmost 30%. 51. The main reason for the latest rise of oil price is [A] global inflation. [B] reduction in supply. [C] fast growth in economy. [D] Iraq's suspension of exports. 52. It can be inferred from the text that the retail price of petrolwill go up dramatically if [A] price of crude rises. [B] commodity prices rise. [C] consumption rises. [D] oil taxes rise. 53. The estimates in Economic Outlook show that in rich countries. [A] heavy industry becomes more energy-intensive. [B] income loss mainly results from fluctuating crude oil prices. [C] manufacturing industry has been seriously squeezed. [D] oil price changes have no significant impact on GDP. 54. We can draw a conclusion from the text that. [A] oil-price shocks are less shocking now. [B] inflation seems irrelevant to oil-price shocks. [C] energy conservation can keep down the oil prices. [D] the price rise of crude leads to the shrinking of heavy industry. 55. From the text we can see that the writer seems [A] optimistic. [B] sensitive. [C] gloomy. [D] scared. ⼀、⽂章结构分析 ⽂章⼤意:最近这次⽯油价格的⼤幅上涨的影响不会像以前那样严重。
考研英语真题阅读理解试题及名师解析(十二)
If you intend using humor in your talk to make people smile, you must know how to identify shared experiences and problems. Your humor must be relevant to the audience and should help to show them that you are one of them or that you understand their situation and are in sympathy with their point of view. Depending on whom you are addressing, the problems will be different. If you are talking to a group of managers, you may refer to the disorganized methods of their secretaries; alternatively if you are addressing secretaries, you may want to comment on their disorganized bosses。
Here is an example, which I heard at a nurses' convention, of a story which works well because the audience all shared the same view of doctors. A man arrives in heaven and is being shown around by St. Peter. He sees wonderful accommodations, beautiful gardens, sunny weather, and so on. Everyone is very peaceful, polite and friendly until, waiting in a line for lunch, the new arrival is suddenly pushed aside by a man in a white coat, who rushes to the head of the line, grabs his food and stomps over to a table by himself. “Who is that?” the new arrival asked St. Peter. “Oh, that's God,” came the reply, “but sometimes he thinks he's a doctor。
历年考研英语一真题及答案详解(12年考研英语
2016 年全国硕士研究生招生考试英语(一)试题Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on the ANSWER SHEET.(10 points)In Cambodia, the choice of a spouse is a complex one for the young male. It may involve not only his parents and his friends, 1 those of the young woman, but also a matchmaker.A young man can 2 a likely spouse on his own and then ask his parents to 3 the marriage negotiations, or the young man’s parents may make the choice of a spouse, giving the child littleto say in the selection. 4 , a girl may veto the spouse her parents have chosen. 5 a spouse has been selected, each family investigates the other to make sure its child is marrying 6 a good family.The traditional wedding is a long and colorful affair. Formerly it lasted three days, 7 by the 1980s it more commonly lasted a day and a half. Buddhist priests offer a short sermon and 8 prayers of blessing. Parts of the ceremony involve ritual hair cutting, 9 cotton threads soaked in holy water around the bride’s and gro om’s wrists, and 10 a candle around a circleof happily married and respected couples to bless the 11 . Newlyweds traditionally move in with the wife’s parents and may 12 with them up to a year, 13 they can build a new house nearby.Divorce is legal and easy to 14 , but not common. Divorced persons are 15 with some disapproval. Each spouse retains 16 property he or she 17 into the marriage, and jointly-acquired property is 18 equally. Divorced persons may remarry, but a gender prejudice 19 up: the divorced male doesn’t have a waiting period before he can remarry20 the woman must wait ten months.1. [A] by way of [B] on behalf of [C] as well as [D] with regard to2. [A] adapt to [B] provide for [C] compete with [D] decided on3. [A] close [B] renew [C] arrange [D] postpone4. [A] Above all [B] In theory [C] In time [D] For example5. [A] Although [B] Lest [C] After [D] Unless6. [A] into [B] within [C] from [D] through7. [A] since [B] but [C] or [D] so8. [A] copy [B] test [C] recite [D] create9. [A] folding [B] piling [C] wrapping [D] tying10. [A] passing [B] lighting [C] hiding [D] serving11. [A] meeting [B] collection [C] association [D] union12. [A] grow [B] part [C] deal [D] live13. [A] whereas [B] until [C] if [D] for14. [A] obtain [B] follow [C] challenge [D] avoid15. [A] isolated [B] persuaded [C] viewed [D] exposed16. [A] whatever [B] however [C] whenever [D] wherever17. [A] changed [B] brought [C]shaped [D] pushed18. [A] withdrawn [B] invested [C] donated [D] divided19. [A] breaks [B] warns [C] shows [D] clears20. [A] so that [B] while [C] once [D] in thatSection II Reading ComprehensionPart ADirections:Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)T ext 1France, which prides itself as the global innovator of fashion, has decided its fashion industry has lost an absolute right to define physical beauty for women. Its lawmakers gave preliminary approval last week to a law that would make it a crime to employ ultra-thin models on runways. The parliament also agreed to ban websites that ―i nci t e excessive thinnes s‖ by promoting ext r em e dieting.Such measures have a couple of uplifting motives. They suggest beauty should not be defined by looks that end up impinging on health. That’s a start. And the ban on ul t ra-thin models seems to go beyond protecting models from starving themselves to death –as some have done. It tells the fashion industry that it must take responsibility for the signal it sends women, especially teenage girls, about the social tape-measure they must use to determine their individual worth.The bans, if fully enforced, would suggest to women (and many men) that they should not let others be arbiters of their beauty. And perhaps faintly, they hint that people should look to intangible qualities like character and intellect rather than dieting their way to size zero or wasp-waist physiques.The French measures, however, rely too much on severe punishment to change a culture that still regards beauty as skin-deep –and bone-showing. Under the law, using a fashion model that does not meet a government-defined index of body mass could result in a $85,000 fine and sixmonths in prison.The fashion industry knows it has an inherent problem in focusing on material adornment and idealized body types. In Denmark, the United States, and a few other countries, it is trying to set voluntary standards for models and fashion images that rely more on peer pressure for enforcement.I n contrast to France’s actions, Denmark’s fashion industry agreed last month on rules and sanctions regarding the age, health, and other characteristics of models. The newly revised Danish Fashion Ethical Charter clearly states: ―We are aware of and take responsibility for the im pact the fashion industry has on body ideals, especially on young peopl e.‖ The char t er’s main tool of enforcement is to deny access for designers and modeling agencies to Copenhagen FashionW eek(CFW), which is run by the Danish Fashion Institute. But in general it relies on a name-and-shame method of compliance.Relying on ethical persuasion rather than law to address the misuse of body ideals may be thebest step. Even better would be to help elevate notions of beauty beyond the material standards of a particular industry.21. According to the first paragraph, what would happen in France?[A] New runways would be constructed.[B] Physical beauty would be redefined.[C] W ebsites about dieting would thrive.[D] The fashion industry would decline.22. The phrase ―impinging on‖(Line 2, Para. 2) is closest in meaning to .[A] heightening the value of[B] indicating the state of[C] losing faith in[D] doing harm to23. Which of the following is true of the fashion industry?[A] New standards are being set in Denmark.[B] The French measures have already failed.[C] Models are no longer under peer pressure.[D] Its inherent problems are getting worse.24. A designer is most likely to be rejected by CFW for .[A] pursuing perfect physical conditions[B] caring too much about model’s character[C] showing little concern for health factors[D] setting a high age threshold for models25. Which of the following may be the best title of the text?[A] A Challenge to the Fashion Industry’s Body Ideals[B] A Dilemma for the Starving Models in France[C] Just Another Round of Struggle for Beauty[D] The Great Threats to the Fashion IndustryT ext 2For the first time in history more people live in towns than in the country. In Britain this has had a curious result. W hile polls show B r i t ons rate ―t he countrysi de‖alongside the royal f a m ily, Shakespeare and the National Health Service (NHS) as what makes them proudest of their country, this has limited political traction.A century ago Octavia Hill launched the National Trust not to rescue stylish houses but to save ―t he beauty of natural places for everyone forever‖.I t was specifically to provide ci t y dwellers with spaces for leisure where they could experience ―a refreshing air‖.H ill’s pr essur e later led to the creat ion of national parks and green belts. They don’t make countryside any m or e, and every year concrete consumes more of it. It needs constant guardianship.At the next election none of the big parties seem likely to endorse this sentiment. The Conservatives’planning reform explicitly gives rural development priority over conservation, even authorising ―o f f-pl an‖building where local people might object. The concept of sustainable development has been defined as profitable. Labour likewise wants to discontinue local planning where councils oppose development. The Liberal Democrats are silent. Only Ukip, sensing its chance, has sided with those pleading for a more considered approach to using green land. Nigel Farage’s speech this year to the Campaign to Protec t Rural Engandstruck terror into many local Conservative parties.The sensible place to build new houses, factories and offices is where people are, in cities and towns where infrastructure is in place. The London agents Stirling Ackroyd recently identified enough sites for half a million houses in the London area alone, with no intrusion on green belt. What is true of London is even truer of the provinces.The idea that ―h ousing crisi s‖ equals ―c oncreted meadow s‖ is pure lobby talk. The issue i s not the need for more houses but, as always, where to put them. Under lobby pressure, George Osborne favours rural new-build against urban renovation and renewal. He favours out-of-town shopping sites against high streets. This is not a free market but a biased one. Rural towns and villages have grown and will always grow. They do so best where building sticks to their edges and respects their character. W e do not ruin urban conservation areas in this way. Why ruin rural ones?Development should be planned, not let rip. After the Netherlands, B r i t ai n is Europe’s m ost crowded country. Half a century of town and country planning has enabled it to retain an enviable rural coherence, while still permitting low-density urban living. There is no doubt of the alternative –the corrupted landscapes of southern Portugal, Spain or Ireland. Avoiding this ratherthan promoting it should unite the left and right of the political spectrum.26. Britain’s public sentiment about the countryside _.[A] didn’t start till the Shakespearean age[B] has brought much benefit to the NHS[C] is fully backed by the royal family [D]is not well reflected in politics27. According to Paragraph 2, the achievements of the National Trust are now being .[A] gradually destroyed[B] effectively reinforced[C] largely overshadowed[D] properly protected28. which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 3?[A] Labour is under attack for opposing development.[B] The Conservatives may abandon ―off-plan‖building.[C] The Liberal Democrats are losing political influence. [D]Ukip may gain from its support for rural conservation.29. The author holds that George Osborne’sPreference .[A] highlights his firm stand against lobby pressure[B] shows his disregard for the character of rural areas[C] stresses the necessity of easing the housing crisis [D]reveals a strong prejudice against urban areas30. In the last paragraph, the author shows his appreciation of .[A] the size of population in Britain.[B] the political life in today’s Britain[C] the enviable urban lifestyle in Britain[D] the town-and-country planning in BritainT ext 3“There is one and only one social responsibility of busines s,‖ wrote Mi l t on Friedman, a Nobel prize-winning economist. ―That is, to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profit s.‖ B ut even if you accept F r i edman's premise and regard corporate soc i al responsibility (CSR) policies as a waste of shareholders' money, things may not be absolutely clear-cut. New research suggests that CSR may create monetary value for companies—at least when they are prosecuted for corruption.The largest firms in America and Britain together spend more than $15 billion a year on CSR, according to an estimate last year by EPG, a consulting firm. This could add value to their businesses in three ways. First, consumers may take CSR spending as a ―s i gnal‖that a company's products are of high quality. Second, customers may be willing to buy a company's products as an indirect way to donate to the go od causes it helps. And third, through a more diffuse ―ha lo ef f ect‖,whereby its good deeds earn it greater consideration from consumers and others.Previous studies on CSR have had trouble differentiating these effects because consumers can be affected by all three. A recent paper attempts to separate them by looking at bribery prosecutions under America's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCP A). It argues that since prosecutors do not consume a company's products as part of their investigations, they could be influenced only by the halo effect.The study found that, among prosecuted firms, those with the most comprehensive CSR programmes tended to get more lenient penalties. Their analysis ruled out the possibility that it was firms' political influence, rather than their CSR stance, that accounted for the leniency: companies that contributed more to political campaigns did not receive lower fines.In all, the authors conclude that whereas prosecutors should only evaluate a case based on its merits, they do se em to be influenced by a company's record in C S R.―We estimate that ei t her eliminating a substantial labour-rights concern, such as child labour, or increasing corporate giving by about 20% results in fines that generally are 40% lower than the typical punishment for bribing foreign official s,‖ says one researcher.Researchers admit that their study does not answer the question of how much businesses ought to spend on CSR. Nor does it reveal how much companies are banking on the halo effect, rather than the other possible benefits, when they decide their do -gooding policies. But at least they have demonstrated that when companies get into trouble with the law, evidence of good character can win them a less costly punishment.31. The author views Milton Friedman’s statement about CSR with _.[A ] tolerance [B] skepticism [C] uncertainty [D] approval32. According to Paragraph 2, CSR helps a company by_ .[A] winning trust from consumers[B] guarding it against malpractices[C] protecting it from being defamed[D] raising the quality of its products33. The expression ―more lenient‖(Line 2, Para. 4) is closest in meaning to .[A] more effective[B] less controversial[C] less severe[D] more lasting34. When prosecutors evaluate a case, a compa n y’s CSR record .[A] has an impact on their decision[B] comes across as reliable evidence[C] increases the chance of being penalized[D] constitutes part of the investigation35. Which of the following is true of CSR, according to the last paragraph?[A ] Its negative effects on businesses are often overlooked.[B] The necessary amount of companies’spending on it is unknown.[C] Companies’financial capacity for it has been overestimated.[D] It has brought much benefit to the banking industry.T ext 4There will eventually come a day when The New Y ork Times ceases to publish stories on newsprint. Exactly when that day will be is a matter of debate. "Sometime in the future," the paper's publisher said back in 2010.Nostalgia for ink on paper and the rustle of pages aside, there's plenty of incentive to ditch print. The infrastructure required to make a physical newspaper—printing presses, delivery trucks—isn't just expensive; it's excessive at a time when online-only competitors don't have the same set of financial constraints. Readers are migrating away from print anyway. And though printad sales still dwarf their online and mobile counterparts, revenue from print is still declining.Overhead may be high and circulation may be lower, but rushing to eliminate its print edition would be a mistake, says BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti.Peretti says the Times shouldn't waste time getting out of the print business, but only if they go about doing it the right way. "Figuring out a way to accelerate that transition would make sense for them," he said, "but if you discontinue it, you're going to have your most loyal customers really upset with you."Sometimes that's worth making a change anyway. Peretti gives the example of Netflix discontinuing its DVD-mailing service to focus on streaming.* "It was seen as a blunder," he said. The move turned out to be foresighted. And if Peretti were in charge at The New Y ork Times? "I wouldn’t pick a year to end print," he said. "I would raise prices and make it into more of a legacy product."The most loyal customers would still get the product they favor, the idea goes, and they'd feel like they were helping sustain the quality of something they believe in. "So if you're overpaying for print, you could feel like you were helping," Peretti said. "Then increase it as a higher rate each year and essentially try to generate additional revenue." In other words, if you're going to make a print product, make it for the people who are already obsessed with it. Which may be what the Times is doing already. Getting the print edition seven days a week costs nearly $500 a year—more than twice as much as a digital-only subscription."It's a really hard thing to do and it's a tremendous luxury that BuzzFeed doesn't have a legacy business," Peretti remarked. "But we're going to have questions like that where we have things we're doing that don't make sense when the market changes and the world changes. In those situations, it's better to be more aggressive than less aggressive."36. The New Y ork Times is considering ending its print edition partly due to .[A] the high cost of operation[B] the pressure from its investors[C] the complaints from its readers[D] the increasing online ad sales37. Peretti suggests that, in face of the present situation, the Times should _.[A] seek new sources of readership[B] end the print edition for good[C] aim for efficient management[D] make strategic adjustments38. It can be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6 that a ―l eg acy product‖.[A] helps restore the glory of former times[B] is meant for the most loyal customers[C] will have the cost of printing reduced[D] expands the popularity of the paper39. Peretti believes that, in a changing world _.[A] legacy businesses are becoming outdated[B] cautiousness facilitates problem-solving[C] aggressiveness better meets challenges[D] traditional luxuries can stay unaffected40.Which of the following would be the best title of the text?[A] Shift to Online Newspapers All at Once[B] Cherish the Newspaper Still in Y our Hand[C] Make Y our Print Newspaper a Luxury Good[D] Keep Y our Newspapers Forever in FashionPart BDirections:Read the following texts and answer the questions by choosing the most suitable subheading from the list A-G for each of the numbered paragraphs (41-45). There are two extra subheadings. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)[A] Create a new image of yourself[B] Have confidence in yourself[C] Decide if the time is right [D]Understand the context[E] W ork with professionals[F] Make it efficient[G] Know your goalsNo matter how formal or informal the work environment, the way you present yourself has an impact. This is especially true in first impressions. According to research from Princeton University, people assess your competence, trustworthiness, and likeability in just a tenth of a second, solely based on the way you look.The difference between t oda y’s workplace and the ―d ress for succes s‖ era is that the range of options is so much broader. Norms have evolved and fragmented. In some settings, red sneakers or dress t-shirts can convey status; in others not so much. Plus, whatever image we present is magnified by social-media services like LinkedIn. Chances are, your headshots are seen much more often now than a decade or two ago. Millennials, it seems, face the paradox of being the least formal generation yet the most conscious of style and personal branding. It can be confusing.So how do we navigate this? How do we know when to inves t in an upgrade?And what’s the bes t way to pull off one that enhances our goals? Here are some tips:41.A s an executive coach, I’ve seen image upgrades be particularly helpful during t r ans i t i ons—when looking for a new job, stepping into a new or more public role, or changing work environments. If you’r e in a period of change or just feeling stuck and in a rut, now may be a good time. If you’re not sure, ask for honest feedback from trusted friends, colleagues and pr of es sional s.Look for cues about how others perceive you. Maybe there’s no need for an upgrade and t hat’s OK.42.Get clear on what impact you’r e hoping to have. Are you looking to refresh your image or pivot it? For one person, the goal may be to be taken more seriously and enhance their professional image. For another, it may be to be perceived as more approachable, or more modern and stylish. For someone moving from finance to advertising, maybe they want to look more―S o H o.‖(I t’s OK to use characterizations like t hat.)43.Look at your work environment like an anthropologist. What are the norms of yourenvironment? What conveys status? Who are your most important audiences? How do the people you respect and look up to present themselves? The better you understand the cultural context, the more control you can have over your impact.44.Enlist the support of professionals and share with them your goals and context. Hire a personal stylist, or use the free styling service of a store like J·Crew·Try a hair stylist instead of a barber. Work with a professional photographer instead of your spouse or friend. I t’s not asexpensive as you might think.45.The point of a style upgrade isn’t to become more vain or to spend more time fuss ing over what to wear. Instead, use it as an opportunity to reduce decision fatigue. Pick a standard work uniform or a few go-to options. Buy all your clothes at once with a stylist instead of shopping alone, one article of clothing at a time.Part CDirections:Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Y our translation should be written neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)Mental health is our birthright. (46) W e don’t have to learn how to be mentally healthy; it is built into us in the same way that our bodies know how to heal a cut or mend a broken bone. Mental health can’t be learned, only reawakened. I t is like the immune system of the body, which under stress or through lack of nutrition or exercise can be weakened, but which never leaves us. When we don’t understand the value of mental health a nd we don’t know how to gai n ac cess to it, mental health will remain hidden from us. (47) Our ment al health doesn’t really go anywhere; like the sun behind a cloud, it can be temporarily hidden from view, but it is fully capable of being restored in an instant.Mental health is the seed that contains self-esteem—confidence in ourselves and an ability to trust in our common sense. It allows us to have perspective on our lives—the ability to not take ourselves too seriously, to laugh at ourselves, to see the bigger picture, and to see that things will work out. I t’s a form of innate or un learned optimism. (48) Mental health allows us to view others with sympathy if they are having troubles, with kindness if they are in pain, and withunconditional love no matter who they are. Mental health is the source of creativity for solving problems, resolving conflict, making our surroundings more beautiful, managing our home life, or coming up with a creative business idea or invention to make our lives easier. It gives us patience for ourselves and toward others as well as patience while driving, catching a fish, working on our car, orraising a child. It allows us to see the beauty that surrounds us each moment in nature, inculture, in the flow of our daily lives.(49) Although mental health is the cure-all for living our lives, it is perfectly ordinary as you will see that it has been there to direct you through all your difficult decisions. It has been available even in the most mundane of life situations to show you right from wrong, good from bad, friend from foe. Mental health has commonly been called conscience, instinct, wisdom, common sense, or the inner voice. W e think of it simply as a healthy and helpful flow of intelligent thought. (50) As you will come to see, knowing that mental health is always available and knowing to trust it allow us to slow down to the moment and live life happily.Section III WritingPart A51. Directions:Suppose you are a librarian in your university. Write a notice of about 100 words, providing the newly-enrolled international students with relevant information about the library.Y ou should write neatly on the ANSWER SHEET.Do not sign your own name at the end of the e ―L i Mi ng‖ i nst ead.Do not write the address. (10 points)Part A52. Directions:Write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following pictures. In your essay, you should1) describe the pictures briefly,2) interpret the meaning, and3) give your comments.Y ou should write neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)2016 年考研英语一真题参考答案Use of English1. [C] as well as2. [D] decided on3. [C] arrange4. [B] In theory5. [C] After6. [A] into7. [B] but8. [C] recite9. [D] tying10. [A] passing11. [D] union12. [D] live13. [B] until14. [A] obtain15. [C] viewed16. [A] whatever17. [B] brought18. [D] divided19. [C] shows20. [B] whileReading ComprehensionPart AT ext 121. [B] Physical beauty would be redefined.22. [D] doing harm to23. [A] New standards are being set in Denmark.24. [C] showing little concern for health factors25. [A] A Challenge to the Fashion Industry’s Body IdealsT ext 226. [D] is not well reflected in politics27. [A] gradually destroyed28. [D] Ukip may gain from its support for rural conservation.29. [D] reveals a strong prejudice against urban areas30. [D] the town-and-country planning in BritainT ext 331. [B] skepticism32. [A] winning trust from consumers33. [C] less severe34. [A] has an impact on their decision35. [B] The necessary amount of companies’spending on it is unknown.T ext 436. [A] the high cost of operation37. [D] make strategic adjustments38. [B] is meant for the most loyal customers39. [C] aggressiveness better meets challenges40. [C] Make Y our Print Newspaper a Luxury GoodPart B41. [C] Decide if the time is right42. [G] Know your goals43. [D] Understand the context44. [E] W ork with professionals45. [F] Make it efficientPart C46. 我们并不必学习如何保持心理健康;它与生俱来,正如我们的身体知道如何愈合伤口和修复骨折一样。
研究生英语阅读教程基础级第二版lesson12课后习题答案
Practice of Reading Techniques Read the following paragraphs, broadening your eye span as much as possible while reading. 1. Since the second war, and particularly during the last few years, a rapidly growing amount of effort has been devoted to the use of high-power rockets to carry instruments up to great heights above the earth, to launch artificial satellites and deep space probes. 2. Without written language, we would be completely shut off from the great minds of the past, and it would be quite impossible for us to undertake such a study, since we would have no means of knowing anything about the language of the people who lived in this country five hundred or a thousand years ago, and still less should we be in a position to relate that language to the tongues spoken in other countries.
考研英语阅读真题及详细解析2012
2012Text 1Come on –Everybody’s doing it. That whispered message, half invitation and half forcing, is what most of us think of when we hear the words peer pressure. It usually leads to no good-drinking, drugs and casual sex. But in her new book Join the Club, Tina Rosenberg contends that peer pressure can also be a positive force through what she calls the social cure, in which organizations and officials use the power of group dynamics to help individuals improve their lives and possibly the word.Rosenberg, the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize, offers a host of example of the social cure in action: In South Carolina, a state-sponsored antismoking program called Rage Against the Haze sets out to make cigarettes uncool. In South Africa, an HIV-prevention initiative known as LoveLife recruits young people to promote safe sex among their peers.The idea seems promising,and Rosenberg is a perceptive observer. Her critique of the lameness of many pubic-health campaigns is spot-on: they fail to mobilize peer pressure for healthy habits, and they demonstrate a seriously flawed understanding of psychology.” Dare to be different, please don’t smoke!” pleads one billboard campaign aimed at reducing smoking among teenagers-teenagers, who desire nothing more than fitting in. Rosenberg argues convincingly that public-health advocates ought to take a page from advertisers, so skilled at applying peer pressure.But on the general effectiveness of the social cure, Rosenberg is less persuasive. Join the Club is filled with too much irrelevant detail and not enough exploration of the social and biological factors that make peer pressure so powerful. The most glaring flaw of the social cure as it’s presented here is that it doesn’t work very well for very long. Rage Agains t the Haze failed once state funding was cut. Evidence that the LoveLife program produces lasting changes is limited and mixed.There’s no doubt that our peer groups exert enormous influence on our behavior. An emerging body of research shows that positive health habits-as well as negative ones-spread through networks of friends via social communication. This is a subtle form of peer pressure: we unconsciously imitate the behavior we see every day.Far less certain, however, is how successfully experts and bureaucrats can select our peer groups and steer their activities in virtuous directions. It’s like the teacher who breaks up the troublemakers in the back row by pairing them with better-behaved classmates. The tactic never really works. And that’s th e problem with a social cure engineered from the outside: in the real world, as in school, we insist on choosing our own friends.文章出处:/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2061234,00.htmlherd mentality21. According to the first paragraph, peer pressure often emerges as根据第一段,同龄人的压力通常以什么样的状态出现:[A] a supplement to the social cure对于社会治疗的补充[B] a stimulus to group dynamics对于团队活力的刺激[C] an obstacle to school progress学校进步的阻碍[D] a cause of undesirable behaviors一些不良行为的原因解析:这是一个细节题:对应文中It usually leads to no good-drinking, drugs and casual sex.题干中的often对应原文中的usually;选项中undesirable behaviors对应no good-drinking, drugs and casual sex. lead对于cause.完美替换,四级难度,出题人很仁慈。
2002年考研英语真题答案及解析
2002年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题答案与解析第一部分英语知识应用试题解析一、文章总体分析本文主要介绍了计算机的发展对通信革命及人们的生存方式产生的影响。
文章第一段从早期的通信革命入手,指出在15、16世纪和20世纪之间发生了很多事情,特别是通信革命加快了步伐。
第二段接着提到20世纪计算机的出现极大地改变了这一进程。
第三段指出随着计算机的发展,我们步入了一个信息社会。
在计算机影响下,通信革命改变了我们的工作和休闲方式,也影响了我们的思考和感知方式。
在结尾部分,文章提到,当然,关于这种通信革命在经济、政治、社会和文化各方面的影响是利大于弊还是弊大于利,还存在争议。
二、试题具体解析1.[A]between在…当中,在空间、位置或时间的中间[B]before在此之前早些时候,在…前面[C]since自从…以后,以前[D]later后来,稍后,随后[答案]A[解析]本题考核的知识点是:时间副词的用法辨析。
解此题关键看两个方面,一是理解文章第一句话的含义:人们曾对20世纪电视的发展以及15世纪和16世纪印刷术的传播进行了比较。
二是注意转折连词yet的用法,yet一般标志着接下来的内容与前面的内容出现了较大的不同,如:She said she would be late,yet she arrived on time.(她说她会迟到,但她却准时到达了)。
文中第二句话结构非常简单,主语和谓语都无法体现与第一句话的强烈对照,这时只能通过空格里填入的时间状语来体现了,因此这个时间副词应与第一句话中的时间状语in the20th century和in the15th and16th centuries相呼应并对照。
接下来关键看这个时间副词表示的是哪个时间段,15、16世纪之前,20世纪之后还是两者之间。
其实我们从下文中的the19th century也可以推断出正确答案是between,即“然而,在这两个时段之间却发生了很多事情”。
考研英语阅读理解试题及名师解析
考研英语阅读理解试题及名师解析英语阅读理解课教学反思推举度:高考阅读理解高频单词推举度:雨的阅读理解答案推举度:高考作文解析及推举度:考研英语阅读理解试题及名师解析A great deal ofattention is being paid today to the so-called digital dividethe divisionof the world into the info rich and the info poor. And that dividedoes exist today. My wife and I lectured about this looming danger twenty yearsago. What was less visible then, however, were the new, positive forces thatwork against the digital divide. There are reasons to be optimistic。
There are technological reasons to hope the digital divide willnarrow. As the Internet becomes more and more commercialized, it is in theinterest of business to universalize accessafter all, the morepeople online, the more potential customers there are. More and moregovernments, afraid their countries will be left behind, want to spreadInternet access.Within the next decade or two,one to two billionpeople onthe planet will be netted together. As a result, I now believe the digitaldivide will narrow rather than widen in the years ahead. And that is very goodnews because the Internet may well be the most powerful tool for combatingworld poverty that we ve ever had。
研究生英语阅读Unit12课后答案
Unit 12Film and DramaLearning ObjectivesAt the end of the unit, students will be able to:1.Have a general knowledge about film and drama;2.know about the well-known figures in films such as Charlie Chaplin, Tomhanks, etc:3.talk about their favorite film genre;4.master the words and expressions concerning film and drama.Part I Warm-up ActivitiesA Directions: Below are three famous film stars and their works of art. Match the film stars and their films.1.Charlie Chaplin2. Vivien Leigh3. Tom HanksA.Forrest GumpB. Modern TimesC. Gone with the WindB Directions: The following are the posters of three famous plays. Read theintroductions and fill in the missing information with the words given in the chart.A B CFrench American British a dventure fantasy musical1. The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(2001) and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). It is the highest-grossing film series of all-time in inflation unadjusted dollars, with $7.7 billion in worldwide receipts. Each film is in the list of fifty highest-grossing films of all-time in inflation unadjusted dollars and is a critical success.2. The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. It is considered by many to be the most successful musical of all time and is also the longest running show in Broadway history.3. Ice Age is a 2002 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film created by Blue Sky Studios and released by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge from a story by Michael J. Wilson. The film was nominated at the 75th Academy Awards for best animated feature. The film was met with mostly positive reviews and was a box office success, starting a series with three sequels, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Ice Age: Continental Drift.Useful Words and Expressionsmotion picture 电影trailer 预告片visual effect 视觉效果film studio 电影制片厂dubbing 配音subtitles 字幕Broadway 百老汇props 道具medium 媒体protagonist 主角costumes 戏装antagonist 反面主角score 配乐tragic hero 悲剧英雄a reel of film 一卷胶片chorus 合唱团film adaptation 电影改编(a play) in three acts and five scenes 三幕五场(剧)scenario 剧本climax 戏剧高潮soundtrack 电影原声音乐musical 音乐剧box office 票房playwright 剧作家premier 电影首映式stuntman 特技演员blockbuster 商业大片stand-in 替身talent scout 星探sorcerer 巫师Part II Listening1. BFM International Film FestivalDirections:L isten to a dialogue between Yvonne and William and then answer the following questions.1) What does the BFM Festival stand for?I t’s the Black Film Makers’ International Film Festival.2) What is the meaning of “stereotype” according to William?It means a very strong, fixed idea about how people will behave.3) What is the purpose of the BFM Festival?It is to showcase the stories of groups and communities which otherwise would go unnoticed.4) How long is the shortest film ever made?One second.Tapescript:Yvonne: Hello, I’m Yvonne Archer - and thanks to William Kremer for joining me today.William: Hello – it's a pleasure!Yvonne: For fifty-two years, the Times BFI - British Film Institute’s London Film Festival has shown the best new films from around the world. And for thefirst time, the BFM International Film Festival has also been based at the BFI.William, do you know about the BFM Festival?William: Umm – I know that it's the Black Film Makers’ International Film Festival. Yvonne: That's right and to celebrate its tenth anniversary, the emphasis of the 2008 BFM has been on films made by Black people - who are based here inBritain. Well, I was lucky enough to get an invitation to the BFM ShortsAwards - but before we find out which short film won the award and aboutthe idea behind this festival –I've a question for you. Yes, are you readyWilliam?William: Yes.Yvonne: How long is the shortest film that was ever made? Was ita) one secondb) one minute ORc) five minutesWilliam: I’m gonna go for a) – one second because even though that sounds too short, sounds very silly, I think the silly answers are usually correct. That's mytactic so I'm gonna go for one second.Yvonne: And we’ll find out whether William was right or wrong later on. Now in today’s interview we’ll come across the word ‘stereotyped’. William, whatdoes it mean?William: Well if someone is ‘stereotyped’, other people who don't know them have a very strong, fixed idea about how they will behave. They’re ‘stereotyped’perhaps because of the country they come from, or (from) the colour of theirskin or their religion, for example.Yvonne: And what are ‘platforms for expression’?William: ‘Platforms for expression’ in this case, refers to ways and places that artistic people can use to share their work and messages. So for example, a cinemascreen or a novel are ‘platforms for expression’.Yvonne: Great! Now as we hear from Nadia Denton, the Director of the BFM International Film Festival, try to catch the verb she uses to mean ‘highlight’or ‘to draw attention to’. I asked Nadia: why is there a separate section forBlack film makers within the London Film Festival each year?NADIA DENTONBecause it’s important for us to showcase the stories of groups andcommunities which otherwise would go unnoticed, which don't get thecorrect representation in the mainstream, who perhaps are stereotyped, whoperhaps don't have many other platforms for expression.Yvonne: William, which verb did Nadia use to mean ‘to highlight’or ‘to draw attention to’?William: ‘To showcase’– Nadia explained that it's important ‘to showcase’ the stories of communities and groups which we don't usually see or hear.Yvonne: So the BFM Festival is a chance for people who are often stereotyped and not considered or noticed by mainstream cinema to have their work seen.Now at the BFM Shorts Awards, we saw five new films and voted for thebest one. And the winner was “Win, Lose or Draw”directed by LawrenceCoke. It was a wonderful blend of story-telling and interviews withCaribbean people who’d arrived in Britain from the 1950s, like my ownfather. And after the awards, Lawrence explained just how important makingthe film had been to him...LAWRENCE COKEThe whole thing was a very cathartic experience on one level because, Ialways say that the young people of today don't understand that they'restanding on the shoulders of giants.Yvonne: Making “Win, Lose or Draw” was very cathartic for Lawrence – it allowed him to express some really deep emotions. But it was cathartic for many ofus in the audience too – and educational.William: And hopefully lots of young people will see the film because Lawrence sees it as a way to help them understand that they and their parents are animportant part of Britain's history.Yvonne: Yes – and Lawrence describes our grandparents and parents as 'giants'. Their lives were really difficult but they still tried to help England and make thingseasy for us and their families back in the Caribbean.LAWRENCE COKEThey were children themselves and they came over to help the mothercountry because they felt it was the right thing to do –leaving childrenbehind, wives, and… I just…I'm in awe of that.William: Yes, they were an awesome- amazing group of young people.Yvonne: They certainly were. My father travelled to England – at the time, known by Caribbean people as 'the mother country' – and he came here at the age oftwenty-one. And like many others from the Caribbean, my father simplywanted to work hard and earn money. He wanted his parents to have whatthey needed and he especially wanted his younger brothers and sisters to goto school.William: So education was really important to them.Yvonne: Definitely because most of them left school and started work when they were fourteen years old. But now, it's time for you to educate us, William! William: Surely not!Yvonne: Yes! What was your answer to today's question: how long is the shortest film that was ever made?William: I went for the silly one which was one second.Yvonne: And you were correct to be silly because you were absolutely right!2. "The Back-Up Plan"A Directions:In this section you will hear a news report about the 2010 film TheBack-Up Plan. Listen and answer the following questions.1)What does a “back-up plan” mean for Zoe?It means to become a single mother with the help of modern science.2)Why did Jennifer Lopez say that “We used a lot of the stuff from real life”?Because she gave birth to twins a couple of years ago.3) According to the director Alan Poul, what was his challenge in making this movie? His challenge was to balance the expectations audiences have for this film genre.B Directions: Listen to the report again and decide whether the following descriptions are true for Zoe or Stan. Write Z for Zoe, S for Stan and N for Neither if the description describes neither of them.1) Z running a pet store 2) Z having an extended family3) S a dairy farmer 4) N scared by the coming parenthood5) N giving birth to twins 6) Z having insatiable hunger7) S strong and muscular 8) N a single parentTapescript:New Yorker Zoe is successful in business running her thriving pet store. She also has good friends and a loving extended family; but she has not had the best of luck in the romance department and, with her biological clock ticking away, she has decided the "right guy" may never show up. So "The Back-Up Plan" is to become a single mother with the help of modern science. Naturally, the very day she undergoes the in-vitro fertilization procedure, she meets the "right guy."His name is Stan and he, too, is a successful entrepreneur: a farmer who makes cheese that he sells at farmer's markets around New York. At about the same time she realizes she is pregnant with twins, Zoe also figures out that she's falling in love with Stan. Will he be scared away by the impending parenthood if she tells him? How long can she keep it a secret, anyway?Jennifer Lopez gave birth to twins a couple of years ago and drew on her own experiences to play Zoe."So many of the things in this movie were art imitating life for me," she said. "Because I had just gone through the pregnancy it was really fresh in my mind. We used a lot of the stuff from real life."That insight into the funnier side of pregnancy includes the sudden and insatiable hunger that, in the film, strikes Zoe when she spies a pot of stew bubbling on the stove in Stan's kitchen. With no utensils in sight, she resorts to scooping it up (and scarfing it down) directly from the pot with hunks of bread."You feel so hungry, it's crazy; and you feel so sleepy in a way that you never have before," Lopez said. "Because I had just gone through it, I knew how that was going to ring true for so many women."The pregnancy humor may be drawn from real life, but the romantic storyline is pure Hollywood. For instance, Stan is shirtless and ripples with muscles as he tends the goats on his dairy farm. As the love interest, Alex O'Loughlin joins a growing legion of hunky stars from Australia making it big on American screens."Look, I don't know mate … maybe it's something in the water back home; but I did get kind of fit for the film because every cheese farmer is ripped and buff … and I wanted to be true to character because I'm [a] 'method' [actor]," he said."The Back-Up Plan" marks the feature film directing debut of Alan Poul, an award -winning television producer and director on shows including "Six Feet Under," "Rome" and "Big Love." Poul says his challenge was to balance the expectations audiences have for this film genre."Because it is a romantic comedy and you know how it is going to end up, so on a certain level the story has to be predictable because you know they are going to end up together," he said. "So it is within that general framework of a romantic comedy that is going to end happily, we create the little moments that catch people by surprise."3. Drive-in Theaters in USAand answer the following questions.1) When did the first drive-in theater open in USA?On June 6, 1933.2) Why did the teenagers like drive-in theaters at that time?They adored the romantic privacy of a dark automobile3) What kept people home despite the attraction of drive-in theaters?The advent of color television and video rentals.Directions: Listen to the passage again and try to summarize the whole report in no more than 5 sentences.The first drive-in movie theater was opened On June 6, 1933 I new York. By 1950, there were 4,000 of these “movies under the stars” across the country. people could bring your cranky baby along without disrupting anyone and teenagers adored the romantic privacy of a dark automobile. The spread of daylight saving time cut into drive-in attendance. The advent of color television and video rentals kept people home as well. It brings people a nostalgic feeling.TapescriptNext Monday would mark a nostalgic anniversary. On June 6, 1933, the world’s first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey.By 1950, there were 4,000 of these “movies under the stars” across the country. Only a couple hundred survive.At the drive-in - or what some of us called “the drive-in picture show” to distinguish it from drive-in restaurants - instead of wedging yourself into a theater seat next to talkative strangers, crying babies and large people blocking your view, you watched a movie on a huge screen from the comfort of your car, side by side with dozens of other autos in a sprawling parking lot.You could bring your cranky baby along without disrupting anyone. Teenagers adored the romantic privacy of a dark automobile, to the point that some media referred to drive-ins as “passion pits.”The movies themselves mostly ranged from family fare to second-rate monster science-fiction, and action thrillers. The sound that squawked out of the little speaker that you attached to your car window was tinny at best.But the concession stand at the “Starlite” or “Hi-Way” or “Sunset” Drive-In did offer a full and fattening menu of fried food, popcorn and sodas. A lot of people smuggled in stronger drinks as well, and it wasn’t unheard of to sneak in a person or two in the trunk, to avoid paying for more tickets.The spread of daylight saving time cut into drive-in attendance, since dusk came late on balmy summer nights and the movie couldn’t start until 9 p.m. or later. The advent of color television and video rentals kept people home as well.When some drive-in owners sought to boost revenue by showing risquémovies, neighbors, parents and police drove them out of business. Other owners sold out to housing and shopping-center developers.Many U.S. cities have tried to recapture the nostalgic feeling of outdoor movies by showing films in parks and pedestrian malls. But patrons sit on blankets, not in their ’54 Chevys.And no one’s writing tunes like the Beach Boys’ "Drive-In" song, which goes, in part: Every time I have a date there's only one place to goThat's to the drive-inIt's such a groovy place to talk and maybe watch a show4. Award-Winning Film Explores Meaning of LifeA Directions: You will hear a report about an award-winning movie. While listeningto it for the first time, write down some key words in the notes column.B Directions: Listen to the report again and decide whether the following statementsare true or false.1) The filmmaker of The Tree of Life, the award-winning film at Cannes, is a formerprofessor of history. ( F ) 2) The father in the movie was proud and oppressive since he has not succeeded in theworld. ( T )3) Jack, the boy in the family, admires his father and loves him. ( F )4) The mother in the film, played by Jessica Chastain, embodies many virtues likegrace, kindness, and altruism. ( T ) 5) In searching the meaning of life, this movie is like all the other movies TerrenceMalick made before. ( F ) Tapescript:The Tree of Life is about the quest to find balance between one's spiritual self and human nature.Filmmaker Terrence Malick, a former professor of philosophy, presents this innate struggle through characters in a suburban American household of the 1950s. The father is proud and oppressive. He struggles inwardly because he has not succeeded in the world. Because of his feelings of inadequacy, he tries to mold his sons to his ideal.Jack is still a boy, but he carries the world on his shoulders. He admires his father but also resents him.For Terrence Malick, the struggle between father and son reflects both the cruelty and beauty of nature. In a twenty minute sequence, the director offers shots of the universe at work, an awesome struggle among natural forces.But there is also grace, kindness and altruism. The mother in the story, played by Jessica Chastain, embodies them.The boy grows up to be a successful, but also conflicted man played by Sean Penn. He struggles as he deals with the loss of his younger brother and the loss of innocence.Brad Pitt's performance is a tour de force. At the Cannes Film Festival, he spoke of the film's spiritual message."And then there is the bigger questions of the impermanence of life that I think we all go through," said Pitt. "I grew up being told that God's going to take care of everything and it doesn't always work out that way, and when it doesn't work out that way then we're told it's God's will. "Religion aside, the film is a treatise on the meaning of life. Its extraordinary visuals, minimal dialogue and meditative music have a subliminal impact on the viewer and allow the audience to search and come to its own conclusion.Some critics have spoken against the film's drawn-out sequences on the evolution of the universe. But Tree of Life won the Palme D'Or at Cannes for good reason. It offers daring cinematography and an excellent cast. And although it carries Terrence Malick's signature, it's unlike anything we've seen before.Part III WatchingDirection: The extract is taken from the 1997 movie Titanic. Watch the video clip and answer the questions.1) Why did Mr. Andrews refuse to make a try to leave the sinking Titanic?Because he felt sorry for he didn’t build a stronger ship.2) Why did Mr. Guggenheim refuse to take the life jacket?Because he was determined to go down as gentlemen clothed in full dress.3) What can you say about the orchestra who played music while others passengers struggled for their lives?The orchestra members played music, intending to calm the passengers, for as long as they possibly could until all went down with the ship. They should be memorized for their heroism.Videoscript—Wait, wait, wait. Mr. Andrews...—Rose.—Won't you even make a try for it?—I’m sorry that l didn't build you a stronger ship, young Rose.—Lt’s going fast. We have to move.—Wait. Good luck to you, Rose.—And to you.—Mr. Guggenheim...These are for you, Mr. Guggenheim.—No, thank you. We are dressed in our best and are prepared to go down as gentlemen. But we would like a brandy.—Capitan. Capitan, where should l go? Please...—(Crewman) Captain!—Captain... Sir.(Orchestra still playing)—Right... That's it, then.—Goodbye, Wally. Good luck.—So long, old chap.(Starts playing “Nearer My God to Thee”)—And so they lived happily together for 300 years in the land of Tir Na Nog. Land of eternal youth and beauty.—There's no t ime! Cut those falls! Cut ’em! Cut ’em if you have to!—I need a knife! I need a knife!—Cut her loose!—Cut those bloody falls!—Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight.Part IV Oral PracticePair workDirections: What kind of movie would you expect to watch in your spare time? What do you want to get from watching such a movie? Work with your partner to talk about your favorite type of movie and offer some examples to illustrate your point. You may follow the dialogue given below or you may just make your own dialogue.Film GenresAction adventure comedy crime historical documentary horror thriller musical sci-fiWar western romance disaster sportsA: Did you watch Saw last night? It was just awesome! I couldn’t help walking into the cinema when I first saw its poster.B: You mean you like that trash? I hate thrillers. They make my hair stand on end all the time. I like romantic movies, especially those with beautiful girls and handsome boys.A: Romances are just silly. I can’t stand those stock love stories…Enrichment readingHollywoodIf a single place-name encapsulates theLA dream of glamour, money andovernight success, it's Hollywood.Millions of tourists arrive on pilgrimages;millions more flock here in pursuit ofriches and glory. Hollywood is a weirdcombination of insatiable optimism andtotal despair. It really does blur the edgesof fact and fiction, simply because somuch seems possible - and yet so little, for most people, actually is. Those who do strike it rich here get out as soon as they can, just as they always have; the big film companies, too, long ago relocated well away, leaving Hollywood in isolation, with prostitution, drug dealing and seedy bookstores as the reality behind the fantasy.The myths, magic, fable and fantasy splattered throughout the few short blocks of Central Hollywood would put a medieval fairytale to shame. A rich sense of nostalgia pervades the area, giving it an appeal no measure of tourists or souvenir postcard stands can diminish. Although you're much more likely to find a porno theater than spot a real star, the decline which blighted Hollywood from the early 1960s is fast receding. Nevertheless the place still gets hairy after dark, withadolescents cruising Hollywood Boulevard in customized cars and occasional petty criminals on the prowl for the odd pocketbook.The natural place to begin exploring Hollywood Boulevard is the junction of Hollywood and Vine - the classic location for budding stars to be “spotted” by big-shot directors and whisked off to fame and fortune. At 6608 Hollywood Blvd., the purple and pink Frederick's of Hollywood has been (under-) clothing Hollywood's sex goddesses since 1947, as well as mortal bodies all over the world via mail order. Inside, the lingerie museum (free) displays some of the company's best corsets, bras and panties, donated by happy big-name wearers ranging from Lana Turner to Cher.A little further on, the Egyptian Theater at No. 6708 was financed by impresario Sid Grauman, in a modest attempt to re-create the Temple of Thebes. The very first Hollywood premiere (Robin Hood) took place here in 1922. Now owned by the city, Grauman's Thebes is currently closed for renovations as part of a three-year plan to restore the fake mummies and hieroglyphics of this temple of cinema to their former glory and remake the theater into a center for film study. No Hollywood visitor will want to miss the mundane yet magical foot and hand prints in the concrete concourse of the 1927 Chinese Theatre at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. Actress Norma Talmadge (supposedly by accident) trod in wet cement while visiting the construction site, and the practice has continued ever since, starting with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Sr., at the opening of King of Kings, and recently involving stars such as Al Pacino. Through the halcyon decades, this was the spot for movie first-nights. As for the building, it's an odd western version of a classical Chinese temple, replete with dodgy Chinese motifs and upturned dragon tail flanks.The Roosevelt Hotel opposite was movieland's first luxury hotel, its Cinegrill restaurant hosting the likes of W. C. Fields and F. Scott Fitzgerald, not to mention hangers-on like Ronald Reagan. In 1929 the first Oscars were presented here, beginning the long tradition of Hollywood rewarding itself in the absence of honors from elsewhere.。
考研英语真题阅读理解试题及答案分析
考研英语真题阅读理解试题及答案分析考研英语真题阅读理解试题及答案分析Being a man hasalways been dangerous. There are about 105 males born for every 100 females,but this ratio drops to near balance at the age of maturity, and among70-year-olds there are twice as many women as men. But the great universal ofmale mortality is being changed. Now, boy babies survive almost as well as girlsdo. This means that, for the first time, there will be an excess of boys inthose crucial years when they are searching for a mate. More important, anotherchance for natural selection has been removed. Fifty years ago, the chance of ababy surviving depended on its weight. A kilogram toolight or too heavy meant almost certain death. Today it makes almost nodifference. Since much of the variation is due to genes, one more agent ofevolution has gone。
There is another way to commit evolutionary : stay alive,but have fewer children. Few people are as fertile as in the past. Except insome religious communities, very few women have 15 children. Nowadays thenumber of births, like the age of death, has become average. Most of us haveroughly the same number of offspring. Again, differences between people and theopportunity for natural selection to take advantage of it have diminished.India shows what is happening. The country offers wealth for a few in the greatcities and poverty for the remaining tribal peoples. The grand mediocrity oftoday―everyone being the same in survival and number of offspring meansthat natural selection has lost 80% of its power in upper-middle-class Indiacompared to the tribes。
历年考研英语真题阅读理解试题及名师解析汇总共10套
历年考研英语真题阅读理解试题及名师解析(1-10)汇总A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap, but, if properly handled, it may become a driving force. When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War, it had a market eight times larger than any competitor, giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale. Its scientists were the world's best, its workers the most skilled. America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably, the retreat from predominance proved painful. By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness. Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics, had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition. By 1987 there was only one American television maker left, Zenith. (Now there is none: Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July。
