精选例文详解

精选例文详解

以下提供的十篇短文是从历年的TEM8阅读理解考题中精选出来的，以使读者更加清晰地掌握八级阅读的解题思路。

Passage 1

①Talk to those people who first saw films when they were silent，and they will tell you the experience was magic.The silent film had extraordinary powers to draw members of an audience into the story，and an equally potent capacity to make their imaginations work.It required the audience to become engaged—to supply voices and sound effects.The audience was the final，creative contributor to the process of making a film.

②The finest films of the silent era depended on two elements that we can seldom provide today a large and receptive audience and a well-orchestrated score.For the audience，the fusion of picture and live music added up to more than the sum of the respective parts.

③The one word that sums up the attitude of the silent filmmakers is enthusiasm，conveyed most strongly before formulas took shape and when there was more room for experimentation.This enthusiastic uncertainty often resulted in such accidental discoveries as new camera or editing techniques.Some films experimented with players；the 1915film Regeneration，for example，by using real gangsters and streetwalkers，provided startling local color.Other films，particularly those of Thomas Ince，provided tragic endings as often as films by other companies supplied happy ones.

④Unfortunately，the vast majority of silent films survive today in inferior prints that no longer reflect the care that the original technicians put into them.The modern versions of silent films may appear jerky and flickery，but the vast picture palaces did not attract four to six thousand people a night by giving them eyestrain.A silent film depended on its visuals；as soon as you degrade those，you lose elements that go far beyond the image on the surface.The acting in silence was often very subtle，very restrained，despite legends to the contrary.

1.The passage is primarily concerned with the subj ect of______.

A.shocking special effects

B.varied dramatic styles

C.visual elements in dramatic performances

D.audience resistance to theatrical performances

【题解】 本题需推论文章的主题。本文讨论的是无声电影那个时代观众观看电影的效果，以及无声电影作为一种娱乐方式如何来影响观众。答案C是正确的，因为它指的是视听表演艺术。选项A中的shocking special effects不是文章的主题；选项B是错误的，尽管提到了varied dramatic styles，但这也不是文章的主题；D项中提到的audience resistance to theatrical performances内容太具体化了，作者所要说的是观众的总体感受。

2.The author uses the phrase“enthusiastic uncertainty”in paragraph 3to suggest that the filmmakers were______.

A.excited to be experimenting in a new field

B.delighted at the opportunity to study new technology

C.optimistic in spite of the obstacles that faced them

D.eager to challenge existing conventions

【题解】 本题为推理题。注意第3段的开头，电影工作者对他们能实践一种新的艺术形式非常enthusiastic，此后文章又提及到accidental discoveries，间接地表明了uncertainly的意思，因此选项A是正确的。选项B是错误的，因为当时的电影工作者是使用这种新的技术，而不是加以研究；选项C应予以排除，因为文中没有提到the obstacles that faced them；D项的内容与文中第3段的before formulas took shape矛盾，单词formula在此文中的含义就是conventions。

3.In the last part of paragraph 3，Regeneration and the films of Thomas Ince are presented as examp les of______.

A.profitable successes of a flourishing industry

B.suspenseful action films drawing large audiences

C.daring applications of an artistic philosophy

D.unusual products of a readiness to experiment

【题解】 作者在第3段中提到当时的无声电影行业有许多room for experimentation。电影Regeneration和Ince的影片作为特别的例证来说明D项中的a readiness to experiment，所以，它是正确的。选项A、B、C都是错误的，因为作者没有提到过这些电影profitable、suspenseful或者applications of an artistic philosophy，他所表明的是当时人们十分乐意用文中所提到的例子去experiment。

4.In the middle of the last paragraph，the reference to“eyestrain”convey s a sense of______.

A.irony regarding the incompetence of silent film technicians

B.regret that modern viewers are unable to see high quality prints of silent films

C.resentment that the popularity of picture palaces has waned in recent years

D.pleasure in remembering agrandeur that has passed

【题解】 在文章中，作者将现代人观看无声电影得出jerky and flickery（in paragraph 4）与当时人们欣赏无声电影的感觉加以对照，暗示：如果当时人们对无声电影感到eyestrain，那就不会有thousands of people到影院去了。作者认为现代人对无声电影的看法是很不幸的，所以这种情感可以用regret来表示，B项应该是正确的答案。选项A是错的，因为文中没有提到当时的电影技术人员incompetent，作者甚至在第4段的开头表扬当时的技术人员，说他们对无声电影投入和关爱（care）。选项C和D是答非所问。该问题的中心是eyestrain，指电影的质量问题，而不是popularity of picture palaces或grandeur that has passed。

5.In the last sentence，the word“legends”most nearly means______.

A.ancient folklore　　　　　　　B.history lessons

C.famous people　　　　　　　　 D.common misconceptions

【题解】 这是词义理解题。单词legend的原意为从前传承下来的idea或story，另一种含义为不以事实为根据，随便意造出来的东西。在文章的最后一段，作者强调现代人对无声电影的视觉效果看法是错误的，在最后一句作者说，表演是often very subtle，very restrained，又加上despite legends to the contrary。作者认为，无声电影在当今好像被看作unsubtle和unrestrained，这是错误的，是不以事实为依据的，所以它是legend。选项D应是最好的答案。选项A的内容是legend的含义，但在此文中不符文义，文中没有提到过ancient folklore；B项的内容也是错的，因为文中指的是人们对无声电影艺术的误解，而不是history lessons；C项是错的，文中指的是表演，而不是人。

Passage 2

①But if language habits do not represent classes，a social stratification into something as bygone as“aristocracy”and“commons”，they do still of course serve to identify social groups.This is something that seems fundamental in the use of language.As we see in relation to political and national movements，language is used as a badge or a barrier depending on which way we look at it.The new boy at school feels out of it at first because he does not know the fight words for things，and awe-inspiring pundits of six or seven look down on him for not being aware that racksy means“dilapidated”，or hairy“out first ball”.The miner takes a certain pride in being“one up on the visitor or novice who calls the cage a“lift”or who thinks that men working in a warm seam are in their“underpants”when anyone ought to know that the garments are called hoggers.The“insider”is seldom displeased that his language distinguishes him from the“outsider”.

②Quite apart from specialized terms of this kind in groups，trades and professions，there are all kinds of standards of correctness at which most of us feel more or less obliged to aim，because we know that certain kinds of English invite irritation or downright condemnation.On the other hand，we know that other kinds convey some kind of prestige and bear a welcome cachet.

③In relation to the social aspects of language，it may well be suggested that English speakers fall into three categories：the assured，the anxious and the indifferent.At one end of this scale，we have the people who have“position”and“status”，and who therefore do not feel they need worry much about their use of English.Theireducation and occupation make them confident of speaking an unimpeachable form of English：no fear of being criticized or corrected is likely to cross their minds，and this gives their speech that characteristically unselfconscious and easy flow which is often envied.

④At the other end of the scale，we have an equally imperturbable band，speaking with a similar degree of careless ease，because even if they are aware that their English is condemned by others，they are supremely indifferent to the fact.The Mrs.Mops of this world have active and efficient tongues in their heads，and if we happened not to like their ways of saying things，well，we“can lump it”.That is their attitude.Curiously enough，writers are inclined to represent the speech of both these extreme parties with-in’for ing.On the one hand，“we’re goin’huntin’，my dear sir”；on the other，“we’re goin’racin’，mate.”

⑤In between，according to this view，we have a far less fortunate group，the anxious.These actively try to suppress what they believe to be bad English and assiduously cultivate what they hope to be good English.They live their lives in some degree of nervousness over their grammar，their pronunciation，and their choice of words：sensitive，and fearful of betraying themselves.Keeping up with the Joneses is measured not only in houses，furniture，refrigerators，cars，and clothes，but also in speech.

⑥And the misfortune of the“anxious”does not end with their inner anxiety.Their lot is also the open or veiled contempt of the“assured”on one side of them and of the“indifferent”on the other.

⑦It is all too easy to raise an unworthy laugh at the anxious.The people thus uncomfortably stilted on linguistic high heels so often form part of what is，in many ways，the most admirable section of any society：the ambitious，tense，inner-driven people，who arebent on“going places and doing things”.The greater the pity，then，if a disproportionate amount of their energy goes into what Mr.Sharpless called“this shabby obsession”with variant forms of English especially if the net result is（as so often）merely to sound affected and ridiculous.“Here，”according to Bacon，“is the first distemper of learning，when men study words and not matter....It seems to me that Pygmalion’s frenzy is a good emblem...of this vanity：for words are but the images of matter；and except they have life of reason and invention，to fall in love with them is to fall in love with a picture.”

1.The attitude held by the assured towards languag e is______.

A.critical　　　　　　　　　　B.anxious

C.self-conscious　　　　　　　D.nonchalant

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干的意思是：自信的人对语言的态度如何？短文第3段作者根据语言的社会特能，把英语使用者分成三类，即the assured，the anxious and the indifferent，在谈到the assured的人时说：“...who therefore do not feel they need worry much about their use of English.Their education and occupation make them confident of speaking an unimpeachable form of English：no fear of being criticized or corrected is likely to cross their minds，and this gives their speech that characteristically unselfconscious and easy flow which is often envied.”他们根本不必为他们对英语的使用而担心，他们的教育和职业使他们在使用英语时非常自信，这样他们的演说自然很流畅，常受到人们的羡慕，由此可知，自信的人总是泰然自若、无所畏惧的样子，故答案选D。

2.The anxious are considered a less fortunate group because______.

A.they feel they are socially looked down upon

B.they suffer from internal anxiety and external attack

C.they are inherently nervous and anxious people

D.they are unable to meet standards of correctness

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干可以理解为“为何焦虑的人被认为是不幸的？”短文第5段第3句说：“They live their lives in some degree of nervousness over their grammar，...（他们在一定程度上对他们的英语语法、英语发音和他们对词语的使用上存在焦虑，他们对词语的选择非常敏感，害怕词不达意）”，而第6段第2句说：“Their lot is also the open or veiled contempt of the‘assured’on one side of them and of the‘indifferent’on the other.（他们的焦虑还有来自于自信者和漠然者的不屑）”，由此可知，内外受困使得焦虑类的人成为不幸者，故答案选B。

3.The author thinks that the efforts made by the anxious to cultivatewhat they believe is good Eng lish are______.

A.worthwhile　　　　　　　　　B.meaningless

C.praiseworthy　　　　　　　　D.irrational

【题解】 本题是细节理解题。文章最后一段第一句说明了作者对焦虑者的态度：It is all too easy to raise an unworthy laugh at the anxious.作者对焦虑者的连嘲笑都不值得的态度表明作者认为焦虑者的做法是不合理的（irrational）。

Passage 3

①Campaigning on the Indian frontier is an experience by itself.Neither the landscape nor the people find their counterparts in any other portion of the globe.Valley walls rise steeply five or six thousand feet on every side.The columns crawl through a maze of giant corridors down which fierce snow-fed torrents foam under skies of brass.Amid these scenes of savage brilliancy there dwells a race whose qualities seem to harmonize with their environment.Except at harvest time，when self-preservation requires a temporary truce，the Pathan tribes are always engaged in private or public war.Every manis a warrior，apolitician and a theologian.Every large house is a real feudal fortress made，it is true，only of sun-baked clay，but with battlements，turrets，loopholes，drawbridges，etc.complete.Every village has its defence.Every family cultivates its vendetta；every clan，its feud.The numerous tribes and combinations of tribes all have their accounts to settle with one another.Nothing is ever forgotten，and very few debts are left unpaid.For the purposes of social life，in addition to the convention about harvest-time，a most elaborate code of honour has been established and is on the whole faithfully observed.A man who knew it and observed it faultlessly might pass unarmed from one end of the frontier to another.The slightest technical slip would，however，be fatal.The life of the Pathan is thus full of interest；and his valleys，nourished alike by endless sunshine and abundant water，are fertile enough to yield with little labour the modest material requirements of a sparse population.

②Into this happy world the nineteenth century brought two new facts：the rifle and the British Government.The first was an enormous luxury and blessing；the second，an unmitigated nuisance.The convenience of the rifle was nowhere more appreciated than in the Indian highlands.A weapon which would kill with accuracy at fifteen hundred yards opened a whole new vista of delights to every family or clan which could acquire it.One could actually remain in one’s own house and fire at one’s neighbour nearly a mile away.One could lie in wait on some high crag，and at hitherto unheard of ranges hit a horseman far below.Even villages could fire at each other without the trouble of going far from home.Fabulous prices were therefore offered for these glorious products of science.Rifle-thieves scoured all India to reinforce the efforts of the honest smuggler.A steady flow of the coveted weapons spread its genial influence throughout the frontier，and the respect which the Pathan tribesmenentertained for Christian civilization was vastly enhanced.

③The action of the British Government on the other hand was entirely unsatisfactory.The great organizing，advancing，absorbing power to the southward seemed to be little better than a monstrous spoil-sport.If the Pathan made forays into the plains，not only were they driven back（which after all was no more than fair），but a whole series of subsequent interferences took place，followed at intervals by expeditions which toiled laboriously through the valleys，scolding the tribesmen and exacting fines for any damage which they had done.No one would have minded these expeditions if they had simply come，had a fight and then gone away again.In many cases this was their practice under what was called the“butcher and bolt policy”to which the Government of India long adhered.But towards the end of the nineteenth century these intruders began to make roads through many of the valleys，and in particular the great road to Chitral.They sought to ensure the safety of these roads by threats，by forts and by subsidies.There was no objection to the last method so far as it went.But the whole of this tendency to road-making was regarded by the Pathans with profound distaste.All along the road people were expected to keep quiet，not to shoot one another，and above all not to shoot at travellers along the road.It was too much to ask，and a whole series of quarrels took their origin from this source.

1.The word“debts”in“very few debts are left unpaid”in the first paragraph means______.

A.loans　　　　　　　　　　　B.accounts

C.killings　　　　　　　　　 D.bargains

【题解】 本题是一道语义理解题。从第1段中的“Every family cultivates its vendetta；every clan，its feud.The numerous tribes and combinations of tribes all have their accounts to settle with oneanother.Nothing is ever forgotten，and very few debts are left unpaid.”可以看出，各部落和家族之间都存在世仇宿怨，并且冤家难解，因此必然会形成冤冤相报的恶性循环局面，故答案为C。

2.Which of the following is NOT one of the geographical facts about the Indian frontier？

A.Melting snows.B.Large population.

C.Steep hillsides.D.Fertile valleys.

【题解】 本题为细节题。本文介绍了印度边境上的帕坦人的一些历史。这个民族生活在崇山峻岭的地区，由于世仇宿怨，各部落之间战争纷乱。关于印度边境的地理特征，文章在第1段进行描述时使用了valley walls rise steeply、snow fed torrents和his valley...are fertile等词句，分别对应选项C、A和D，故排除。第1段出现了a sparse population，可知B项不符合文意，故为答案。

3.According to the passage，the Pathans welcomed______.

A.the introduction of the rifle　　　B.the spread of British rule

C.the extension of luxuries　　　　　D.the spread of trade

【题解】 本题为细节题。19世纪，两件事情对这个民族的生活产生了很大的影响。一是来复枪的传入，这受到当地人的欢迎，因为来复枪可以帮助他们更容易地杀死仇人，基于这一点，当地人对西方文化更加崇拜；二是英国殖民者的入侵。文章第2段开头提到：Into this happy world the nineteenth century brought two new facts：the rifle and the British Government.The first was an enormous luxury and blessing；the second，an unmitigated nuisance.可见帕坦人对来复枪的引入持欢迎态度，而对英国的殖民侵略则持相反态度，故A为答案。

4.Building roads by the British______.

A.put an end to a whole series of quarrels

B.prevented the Pathans from earning on feuds

C.lessened the subsidies paid to the Pathans

D.gave the Pathans a much quieter life

【题解】 本题是一道推断题。在第3段谈到英国人筑路带来的后果末句指出：a whole series of quarrels took their origin from this source.可见筑路不但没能阻止争吵的发生，反而成为矛盾产生的原因，排除A；第7句指出：They sought to ensure the safety of these roads by threats，by forts and by subsidies.可知英国人采用包括提供补助津贴在内的形式来确保公路的安全，但并不是减少补助，排除C；倒数第2句：All along the road people were expected to keep quiet，not to shoot one another，and above all not to shoot at travelers along the road.可知英国人筑路使得当地部落不能随意穿越公路攻打自己的敌人，客观上对于消除部落之间的世仇宿怨起了推动作用，故B为答案，D项属于对此句的字面理解，应排除。

5.A suitable title for the passage would be______.

A.Campaigning on the Indian frontier

B.Why the Pathans resented the British rule

C.The popularity of rifles among the Pathans

D.The Pathans at war

【题解】 这道主要考查文章的主旨。文章开篇对印度边境的地理状况进行了描写，接着描述了边境上的帕坦人的生活，除了收获季节，他们终年处于战争中，每个人都是一个战士，每个大房子都是名副其实的战争堡垒；第2段介绍了这里的人们对英国人引入的来复枪的欢迎；最后一段写到殖民者修路对这里的影响。可见全文都是针对帕坦人的战争生活展开的，故答案为D。A没有抓住中心思想；B和C都只是19世纪影响帕坦人生活的因素之一，不全面。

Passage 4

①How is communication actually achieved？It depends，of course，either on a common language or on known conventions，or at least on the beginnings of these.If the common language and the conventions exist，the contributor，for example，the creative artist，the performer，or the reporter，tries to use them as well as he can.But often，especially with original artists and thinkers，the problem isin one way that of creating a language，or creating a convention，or at least of developing the language and conventions to the point where they are capable of bearing his precise meaning.In literature，in music，in the visual arts，in the sciences，in social thinking，in philosophy，this kind of development has occurred again and again.It often takes a long time to get through，and for many people it will remain difficult.But we need never think that it is impossible；creative energy is much more powerful than we sometimes suppose.While a man is engaged in this struggle to say new things in new ways，he is usually more than ever concentrated on the actual work，and not on its possible audience.Many artists and scientists share this fundamental unconcern about the ways in which their work will be received.They may be glad if it is understood and appreciated，hurt if it is not，but while the work is being done there can be no argument.The thing has to come out as the man himself sees it.

②In this sense it is true that it is the duty of society to create conditions in which such men can live.For whatever the value of any individual contribution，the general body of work is of immense value to everyone.But of course things are not so formal，in reality.There is not society on the one hand and these individuals on the other.In ordinary living，and in his work，the contributor shares in the life of his society，which often affects him both in minor ways and in ways sometimes so deep that he is not even aware of them.His ability to make his work public depends on the actual communication system：the language itself，or certain visual or musical or scientific conventions，and the institutions through which the communication will be passed.The effect of these on his actual work can be almost infinitely variable.For it is not only a communication system outside him；it is also，however original he may be，a communication system which is in fact part of himself.Many contributors make active use ofthis kind of internal communication system.It is to themselves，in a way，that they first show their conceptions，play their music，present their arguments.Not only as a way of getting these clear，in the process of almost endless testing that active composition involves.But also，whether consciously or not，as a way of putting the experience into a communicable form.If one mind has grasped it，then it may be open to other minds.

（3）In this deep sense，the society is in some ways already present in the act of composition.This is always very difficult to understand，but often，when we have the advantage of looking back at a period，we can see，even if we cannot explain，how this was so.We can see how much even highly original individuals had in common，in their actual work，and in what is called their“structure of feeling”，with other individual workers of the time，and with the society of that time to which they belonged.The historian is also continually struck by the fact that men of this kind felt isolated at the very time when in reality they were beginning to get through.This can also be noticed in our own time，when some of the most deeply influential men feel isolated and even rejected.The society and the communication are there，but it is difficult to recognize them，difficult to be sure.

1.Creative artists and thinkers achieve communication by______.

A.depending on shared conventions

B.fashioning their own conventions

C.adjusting their personal feelings

D.elaborating a common language

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干为“富有创造力的艺术家与思想家是如何进行交流的？”短文第1段第三句指出，富有创造力的艺术家与思想家是“...in one way that of creating a language，or creating aconvention，or at least of developing the language and conventions to the point where they are capable of bearing his precise meaning.（通过一种语言或者创造一种惯例，或者至少发展语言和惯例以用来精确地表达他们的意思）”，选项B与此意一致，故为正确答案。

2.A common characteristic of artists and scientists involved in creative work is that______.

A.they care about the possible reaction to their work

B.public response is one of the primary conceits

C.they are keenly aware of public interest in their work

D.they are indifferent toward response to their work

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干的意思：从事创造性工作的艺术家和科学家们共同的特征是什么？短文第1段最后几句说“Many artists and scientists share this fundamental unconcern about the ways in which their work will be received.（很多画家和科学家同样也不关心他们实际工作是否被人们所接受）”，由此可知，他们只看重作品本身，而不在意人们对他们创作的反应，故答案选D。而后面“They may be glad if it is understood and appreciated，hurt if it is not，but while the work is being done there can be no argument.”意思是说他们可能对被接受有感受，其实际上他们不会很在意。

3.According to the passage，which of the following statements is INCORRECT？

A.Individual contributions combined possess great significance to the public.

B.Good contributors don’t neglect the use of internal communication system.

C.Everyone except those original people comes under the influence of society.

D.Knowing how to communicate is universal among human beings.

【题解】 本题为细节排除题。根据该短文，下列哪一种说法是不正确的？从短文第2段中可找出选项A、B和D的意思。由“For it is not only a communication system outside him；it is also，however original he may be，a communication system which is in fact part of himself.”可知，无论任何人在创作过程中都必将会受到社会的影响，故答案选C。

4.It is implied at the end of the passage that highly original individuals feel isolated because they______.

A.fail to acknowledge and use an acceptable form of communication

B.actually differ from other individuals in the same period

C.have little in common with the society of the time

D.refuse to admit parallels between themselves and the society

【题解】 本题为推理题。文章结尾处暗示了那些具有创造力的人们感到孤独，短文最后一句话“The society and the communication are there，but it is difficult to recognize them，difficult to be sure.”这里是说，他们其实与当时的社会以及同时代其他人之间都存在着许多共同点，但他们自己不承认。因此他们感到孤独的真正原因是没有找到合适的表达方式。故答案选A。

Passage 5

①Oscar Wilde said that work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do.If so，Americans are now among the world’s saddest refugees.Factory workers in the United States are working longer hours than at any time in the past half century.America once led the rich world in cutting the average working week—from 70 hours in 1850to less than 40hours by the 1950s.It seemed natural that as people grew richer they would trade extra earnings for more leisure.Since the 1970s，however，the hours clocked up by American workers have risen，to an average of 42this year in manufacturing.

②Several studies suggest that something similar is happeningoutside manufacturing：Americans are spending more time at work than they did 20years ago.Executives and lawyers boast of 80hour weeks.On holiday，they seek out fax machines and phones as eagerly as Germans bag the best sun loungers.Yet working time in Europe and Japan continues to fall.In Germany’s engineering industry the working week is to be trimmed from 36to 35hours next year.Most Germans get six weeks’paid annual holiday；even the Japanese now take three weeks.Americans still make do with just two.

③Germany responds to this contrast with its usual concern about whether people’s aversion to work is damaging its competitiveness.Yet German workers，like the Japanese，seem to be acting sensibly：as their incomes rise，they can achieve a better standard of living with fewer hours of work.The puzzle is why America，the world’s richest country，sees things differently.It is a puzzle with sinister social implications.Parents spend less time with their children，who may be left alone at home for longer.Is it just a coincidence that juvenile crime is on the rise？Some explanations for America’s time at work fail to stand up to scrutiny.One blames weak trade unions that leave workers open to exploitation.Are workers being forced by cost cutting firms to toil harder just to keep their jobs？A recent study by two American economists，Richard Freeman and Linda Bell，suggests not：when asked，Americans actually want to work longer hours.Most German workers，in contrast，would rather work less.

④Then，why do Americans want to work harder？One reason may be that the real earnings of many Americans have been stagnant or falling during the past two decades.People work longer merely to maintain their living standards.Yet many higher skilled workers，who have enjoyed big increases in their real pay，have been working harder too.Also，one reason for the slow growth of wages has beenthe rapid growth in employment—which is more or less where the argument began.Taxes may have something to do with it.People who work an extra hour in America are allowed to keep more of their money than those who do the same in Germany.Falls in marginal tax rates in America since the 1970s，have made it all the more profitable to work longer.None of these answers really explains why the century long decline in working hours has gone into reverse in America but not elsewhere（though Britain shows signs of following America’s lead）.Perhaps cultural differences—the last refuge of the defeated economist—are at play.Economists used to believe that once workers earned enough to provide for their basic needs and allow for a few luxuries，their incentive to work would be eroded，like lions relaxing after a kill.But humans are more susceptible to advertising than lions.Perhaps clever marketing has ensured that“basic needs”—for a shower with built in TV，for a rocket propelled car—expand continuously.Shopping is already one of America’s most popular pastimes.But it requires money—hence more work and less leisure.Or try this：the television is not very good，and baseball and hockey keep being wiped out by strikes.Perhaps Wilde was right.Maybe Americans have nothing better to do.

1.In the United States，working long er hours is______.

A.confined to the manufacturing industry

B.a traditional practice in some sectors

C.prevalent in all sectors of society

D.favored by the economists

【题解】 本文为细节题。本文第1段末指出：Since the 1970s，however，the hours clocked up by American workers have risen，to an average of 42this year in manufacturing.意思是美国工人记录的工作时间在制造业部门提高到平均42小时（每周）；短文第3段又说：Several studies suggest that something similar is happening outside manufacturing.这说明相似的情况也出现在制造业之外，后文举例说明经理和律师（executives and lawyers）的工作时间也延长了。因此可判断在美国各界都出现了工作时间延长的现象，选项C正确。

2.According to the third paragraph，which might be one of the consequences of working longer hours？

A.Rise in employees’working efficiency.

B.Rise in the number of young offenders.

C.Rise in people’s living standards.

D.Rise in competitiveness.

【题解】 本题属于判断推理题。问的是工作时间延长的后果可能是什么？第3段告诉我们：在德国，随着工人收入的增加，他们可以减少工作而提高生活标准，而美国并不这样认为。句子“Parents spend less time with their children，who may be left alone at home for longer.Is it just a coincidence that juvenile crime is on the rise？”告诉我们：美国青少年犯罪现象上升与父母在家时间少有关联，因而它可能是人们工作时间延长的一种后果。所以答案选择B。

3.Which of the following is the cause of working longer hours stated by the writer？

A.Expansion of basic needs.　　　　B.Cultural differences.

C.Increase in real earnings.　　　 D.Advertising.

【题解】 本题属于推断题。问的是工作时间延长的原因。从短文倒数第2段可判断出答案。该段第一句告诉我们：上述答案均不能解释保持了几个世纪缩短的工作时间为何又反弹了。句子“Perhaps cultural differences—the last refuge of the defeated economist—are at play”说明Cultural differences是经济学家们所认为的原因。接下来作者在文中分析：Perhaps clever marketing has ensured that basic needs...expand continuously，加上购物也成了人们的消遣之一，因而人们日常需求的扩大是人们要求工作时间延长的原因。

Passage 6

①The University in transformation，edited by Australian futurists Sohail Inayatullah and Jennifer Gidley，presents some 20 highly varied outlooks on tomorrow’s universities by writers representing both Western and non-Western perspectives.Their essays raise a broad range of issues，questioning nearly every key assumption we have about higher education today.

②The most widely discussed alternative to the traditional campus is the Internet University—a voluntary community to scholars/teachers physically scattered throughout a country or around the world but all linked in cyberspace.A computerized university could have many advantages，such as easy scheduling，efficient delivery of lectures to thousands or even millions of students at once，and ready access for students everywhere to the resources of all the world’s great libraries.

③Yet the Internet University poses dangers，too.For example，a line of franchised courseware，produced by a few superstar teachers，marketed under the brand name of a famous institution，and heavily advertised，might eventually come to dominate the global education market，warns sociology professor Peter Manicas of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.Besides enforcing a rigidly standardized curriculum，such a“college education in a box”could undersell the offerings of many traditional brick and mortar institutions，effectively driving then out of business and throwing thousands of career academics out of work，note Australian communications professors David Rooney and Greg Hearn.

④On the other hand，while global connectivity seems highly likely to play some significant role in future higher education，that does not mean greater uniformity in course content—or otherdangers—will necessarily follow.Counter-movements are also at work.

⑤Many in academia，including scholars contributing to this volume，are questioning the fundamental mission of university education.What if，for instance，instead of receiving primarily technical training and building their individual careers，university students and professors could focus their learning and research efforts on existing problems in their local communities and the world？Feminist scholar Ivana Milojevic dares to dream what a university might become“if we believed that child-care workers and teachers in early childhood education should be one of the highest（rather than lowest）paid professionals？”

⑥Co-editor Jennifer Gidley shows how tomorrow’s university faculty，instead of giving lectures and conducting independent research，may take on three new roles.Some would act as brokers，assembling customized degree-credit programmes for individual students by mixing and matching the best course offerings available from institutions all around the world.A second group，mentors，would function much like today’s faculty advisers，but are likely to be working with many more students outside their own academic specialty.This would require them to constantly be learning from their students as well as instructing them.

⑦A third new role for faculty，and in Gidley’s view the most challenging and rewarding of all，would be as meaning-makers：charismatic sages and practitioners leading groups of students/colleagues in collaborative efforts to find spiritual as well as rational and technological solutions to specific real-world problems.

⑧Moreover，there seems little reason to suppose that any one form of university must necessarily drive out all other options.Students may be“enrolled”in courses offered at virtual campuses onthe Internet，between—or even during—sessions at a real world problem focused institution.

⑨As co-editor Sohail Inayatullah points out in his introduction，no future is inevitable，and the very act of imagining and thinking through alternative possibilities can directly affect how thoughtfully，creatively and urgently even a dominant technology is adapted and applied.Even in academic，the future belongs to those who care enough to work their visions into practical，sustainable realities.

1.When the book reviewer discusses the Internet University，______.

A.he is in favor of it　　　　　　　　B.his view is balanced

C.he is slightly critical of it　　　 D.he is strongly critical of it

【题解】 这是一道细节态度题。针对Internet University，本文第2段提出了许多的advantages，随后的第3段则指出其存在的dangers，可见文中对网络大学的利弊均进行了客观的陈述，观点上不存在倾向性，故答案为B。

2.Which of the following is NOT seen as a potential danger of the Internet University？

A.Internet-based courses may be less costly than traditional ones.

B.Teachers in traditional institutions may lose their jobs.

C.Internet-based courseware may lack variety in course content

D.The Internet University may produce teachers with a lot of publicity.

【题解】 这是一道细节题。文中关于网络大学潜在弊端的介绍主要在第3段中。通过throwing thousands of career academics out of work可知B项符合文义；C项可由enforcing a rigidly standardized curriculum得出；D项也可以从a few superstar teachers得出；A项谈到网络课程比传统课程节省费用，这是件好事，不是其潜在的危险，故为答案。

3.According to the review，what is the fundamental mission of traditional university education？

A.Knowledge learning and career building.

B.Learning how to solve existing social problems.

C.Researching into solutions to current world problems.

D.Combining research efforts of teachers and students in learning.

【题解】 本题是推断题。第5段首句提到大学教育的根本任务，第2句进一步提到instead of receiving primarily technical training and building their individual careers，即不是接受基本的技术训练和构建学生个人的职业生涯，可知传统大学的基本功能是knowledge learning and career building。

4.Judging from the three new roles envisioned for tomorrow’s university faculty，university teachers______.

A.are required to conduct more independent research

B.are required to offer more course to their students

C.are supposed to assume more demanding duties

D.are supposed to supervise more students in their specialty

【题解】 本题是推断题。第6段首句指出：instead of giving lectures and conducting independent research，即不是授课和进行独立的研究，排除A；第二句指出：assembling customized degree credit programmes for individual students by mixing and matching the best course offerings available from institutions all around the world，可以看出将来对大学教员的要求越来越高，要将世界各地大学的优秀课程进行整合之后再传授给学生，故C为答案，排除B；末句指出：...are likely to be working with many more students outside their own academic specialty，可知大学教员将来不是“管理更多的自己专业的学生”，而是要“和更多其他专业的学生接触”，排除D。

5.Which category of writing does the review belong to？

A.Narration.　　　　　　　B.Description.

C.Persuasion.　　　　　　 D.Exposition.

【题解】 这是有关文章体裁的一个推断题。全文主要是对一本书的主要内容进行说明介绍，很显然应该归为exposition（说明文）之列。

Passage 7

①Pundits who want to sound judicious are fond of warning against generalizing.Each country is different，they say，and no one story fits all of Asia.This is，of course，silly：all of these economies plunged into economic crisis within a few months of each other，so they must have had something in common.

②In fact，the logic of catastrophe was pretty much the same in Thailand，Malaysia，Indonesia and South Korea.（Japan is a very different story.）In each case investors—mainly，but not entirely，foreign banks who had made short-term loans—all tried to pull their money out at the same time.The result was a combined banking and currency crisis：a banking crisis because no bank can convert all its assets into cash on short notice；a currency crisis because panicked investors were trying not only to convert long-term assets into cash，but to convert baht or rupiah into dollars.In the face of the stampede，governments had no good options.If they let their currencies plunge inflation would soar and companies that had borrowed in dollars would go bankrupt；if they tried to support their currencies by pushing up interest rates，the same firms would probably go bust from the combination of debt burden and recession.In practice，countries’split the difference—and paid a heavy price regardless.

③Was the crisis a punishment for bad economic management？Like most cliches，the catchphrase“crony capitalism”has prospered because it gets at something real：excessively cozy relationships between government and business really did lead to a lot of badinvestments.The still primitive financial structure of Asian business also made the economies peculiarly vulnerable to a loss of confidence.But the punishment was surely disproportionate to the crime，and many investments that look foolish in retrospect seemed sensible at the time.

④Given that there were no good policy options，was the policy response mainly on the fight track？There was frantic blame-shifting when everything in Asia seemed to be going wrong：now there is a race to claim credit when some things have started to go right.The international Monetary Fund points to Korea’s recovery—and more generally to the fact that the sky didn’t fall after all—as proof that its policy recommendations were right.Never mind that other IMF clients have done far worse，and that the economy of Malaysia—which refused IMF help，and horrified respectable opinion by imposing capital controls—also seems to be on the mend.Malaysia’s prime Minister，by contrast，claims full credit for any good news—even though neighboring economies also seem to have bottomed out.

⑤The truth is that an observer without any ax to grind would probably conclude that none of the policies adopted either on or in defiance of the IMF’s advice made much difference either way.Budget policies，interest rate policies，banking reform—whatever countries tried，just about all the capital that could flee，did.And when there was no mere money to run，the natural recuperative powers of the economies finally began to prevail.At best，the money doctors who purported to offer cures provided a helpful bedside manner；at worst，they were like medieval physicians who prescribed bleeding as a remedy for all ills.

⑥Will the patients stage a full recovery？It depends on exactly what you mean by“full”.South Korea’s industrial production is already above its pre-crisis level；but in the spring of 1997anyonewho had predicted zero growth in Korean industry over the next two years would have been regarded as a reckless doomsayer.So if by recovery you mean not just a return to growth，but one that brings the region’s performance back to something like what people used to regard as the Asian norm，they have a long way to go.

1.According to the passage，which of the following is NOT the writer’s opinion？

A.Countries paid a heavy price for whichever measure taken.

B.Countries all found themselves in an economic dilemma.

C.Withdrawal of foreign capital resulted in the crisis.

D.Most governments chose one of the two options.

【题解】 本题为细节排除题。就作者的观点进行提问。短文第2段最后几句说：In the face of the stampede，governments had no good options.If they let their currencies plunge inflation would soar and companies that had borrowed in dollars would go bankrupt；if they tried to support their currencies by pushing up interest rates，the same firms would probably go bust from the combination of debt burden and recession.In practice，countries’split the difference—and paid a heavy price regardless.由此可知，亚洲经济危机时期各国均陷入经济两难境地，既不能任由本国货币猛跌，也不能提高存款利率。选项D与该说法相矛盾，故不是作者的观点。

2.The writer thinks that those Asian countries______.

A.well deserved the punishment

B.invested in a senseless way at the time

C.were unduly punished in the crisis

D.had bad relationships between the government and business

【题解】 本题为细节推理题。短文第3段最后一句说“But the punishment was surely disproportionate to the crime...，”由此可知，作者认为那些亚洲国家遭受的惩罚过度了，故答案选C。

3.It can be inferred from the passage that IMF policy recommendations______.

A.were far from a panacea in all cases

B.were feasible in their recipient countries

C.failed to work in their recipient countries

D.were rejected unanimously by Asian countries

【题解】 本题为推理题。从该短文可以推知IMF的经济复苏政策在执行时能起到什么作用？文章第4段提到了国际货币基金组织的作用。在韩国IMF对经济复苏起了一定作用，它的政策性的建议就是正确的，文中提到its policy recommendation were right，而在其他国家，并没有被接受。短文第4段说“Never mind that other IMF clients have done far worse...”，接着以马来西亚为例，the economy of Malaysia which refused IMF help，说明IMF的政策不是万能的，故答案选A。

4.At the end of the passage，the writer seems to think that a full recovery of the Asian economy is______.

A.due　　　　　　　　　　B.remote

C.imaginative　　　　　　D.unpredictable

【题解】 本题为推理题。在短文的末尾，作者认为亚洲国家经济全面复苏将会面临怎样的情况？短文最后一段的最后一句说“...they have a long way to go”，即这些国家的经济全面复苏有很长的路要走。故选项B“遥远的”为正确答案。

Passage 8

①Every street had a story，every building a memory，Those blessed with wonderful childhoods can drive the streets of their hometowns and happily roll back the years.The rest are pulled home by duty and leave as soon as possible.After Ray Atlee had been in Clanton（his hometown）for fifteen minutes he was anxious to get out.

②The town had changed，but then it hadn’t.On the highways leading in，the cheap metal buildings and mobile homes were gathering as tightly as possible next to the roads for maximum visibility.This town had no zoning whatsoever.A landowner could build anything with no permit no inspection，no notice to adjoining landowners.Nothing.Only hog farms and nuclear reactors required approvals and paperwork.The result was a slash-and-build clutter that got uglier by the year.

③But in the older sections，nearer the square，the town had not changed at all.The long shaded streets were as clean and neat as when Kay roamed them on his bike.Most of the houses were still owned by people he knew，or if those folks had passed on the new owners kept the lawns clipped and the shutters painted.Only a few were being neglected.A handful had been abandoned.

④This deep in Bible country，it was still an unwritten rule in the town that little was done on Sundays except go to church，sit on porches，visit neighbours，rest and relax the way God intended.

⑤It was cloudy，quite cool for May，and as he toured his old turf，killing time until the appointed hour for the family meeting，he tried to dwell on the good memories from Clanton.There was Dizzy Dean Park where he had played little League for the Pirates，and there was the public pool he’d swum in every summer except 1969 when the city closed it rather than admit black children.There were the churches—Baptist，Methodist，and Presbyterian—facing each other at the intersection of Second and Elm like wary sentries，their steeples competing for height.They were empty now，but in an hour or so the more faithful would gather for evening services.

⑥The square was as lifeless as the streets leading to it.With eight thousand people，Clanton was just large enough to have attracted the discount stores that had wiped out so many smalltowns.But here the people had been faithful to their downtown merchants，and there wasn’t a single empty or boarded up building around the square—no small miracle.The retail shops were mixed in with the banks and law offices and cafes，all closed for the Sabbath.

⑦He inched through the cemetery and surveyed the Atlee section in the old part，where the tombstones were grander.Some of his ancestors had built monuments for their dead.Ray had always assumed that the family money he’d never seen must have been buried in those graves.He parked and walked to his mother’s grave，something he hadn’t done in years.She was buried among the Atlees，at the far edge of the family plot because she had barely belonged.

⑧Soon，in less than an hour，he would be sitting in his father’s study，sipping bad instant tea and receiving instructions on exactly how his father would be laid to rest.Many orders were about to be given，many decrees and directions，because his father（who used to be a judge）was a great man and cared deeply about how he was to be remembered.

⑨Moving again，Ray passed the water tower he’d climbed twice，the second time with the police waiting below.He grimaced at his old high school，aplace he’d never visited since he’d left it.Behind it was the football field where his brother Forrest had romped over opponents and almost became famous before getting bounced off the team.

⑩It was twenty minutes before five，Sunday，May 7.Time for the family meeting.

1.From the first paragraph，we get the imp ression that______.

A.Ray cherished his childhood memories

B.Ray had something urgent to take care of

C.Ray may not have a happy childhood

D.Ray cannot remember his childhood days

【题解】 本题是推断题。文章第1段主要讲故乡和童年给许多人带来美好的回忆和想像，但是Ray Atlee回到家乡之后却恨不得立刻离开，可以推断他可能有一段不愉快的童年经历，故C为答案，可排除A；文中第5段提到killing time until the appointed hour for the family meeting，可见Ray一直消磨时间等待约好的家庭聚会，并无急事，可排除B；D项“无法记起童年”的内容明显错误，也应排除。

2.Which of the following adjectives does NOT describe Ray’s hometown？

A.Lifeless.　　　　　　　B.Religious.

C.Traditional.　　　　　 D.Quiet.

【题解】 本题是一道细节题。用排除法来解题。从第6段首句“The square was as lifeless as the streets leading to it”，可知A是特点之一；从第4段的“This deep in Bible country，it was still an unwritten rule in the town that little was done on Sundays except go to church”和第5段的“There were the churches—Baptist，Methodist，and Presbyterian”，可见小镇里有各式各样的教堂，人们周末去教堂做礼拜是不成文的规定，故B符合文义；据第6段所述，小镇人口不少，却没有像样的店铺，人们还是到城里购物，可见这个小镇很传统、很古老，C符合文义；只有D项在文中没有提到，故为答案。

3.From the passage we can infer that the relationship between Ray and his p arents was______.

A.close　　　　　　　　B.remote

C.tense　　　　　　　　D.impossible to tell

【题解】 这题是一道推断题。第7段第4句指出：He parked and walked to his mother’s grave，something he hadn’t done in years.子女不常来母亲墓地祭拜，说明母子感情不深；第8段中对父亲的回忆“receiving instructions on exactly how his father would be laid to rest...Many orders were about to be given，many decrees and directions”，可见父亲对他要求很苛刻，至今还记恨在心，父子关系不好。综合可知，Ray和父母的关系很疏远，而不仅仅是紧张，故B为答案，排除C；A和D不符合语境，应予以排除。

4.It can be inferred from the passage that Ray’s father was all EXCEPT______.

A.considerate　　　　　　B.punctual

C.thrifty　　　　　　　　D.dominant

【题解】 本题是一道推断题。采用排除法。对父亲的回忆和描述主要在第8段。从文中第5段提到“killing time until the appointed hour for the family meeting”以及文章最后一段“It was twenty minutes before five，Sunday，May 7.Time for the family meeting”可知全文都在反复提到家庭聚会的时间，可以推断父亲对时间要求严格，B符合文义；由sipping bad instant tea可知父亲生活节俭，C符合文义；由Many orders were about to be given，many decrees and directions可知父亲对子女要求严格，D符合文义；只有A项“考虑周到的，体贴的”内容在文中没有相关描述，故为答案。

Passage 9

①“Museum”is a slippery word.It first meant（in Greek）anything consecrated to the Muses：a hill，a shrine，agarden，a festival or even a textbook.Both Plato Academy and Aristotle Lyceum had a mouseion，a muses shrine.Although the Greeks already collected detached works of art，many temples—notably that of Hera at Olympia（before which the Olympic flame is still lit）—had collections of objects，some of which were works of art by well-known masters，while paintings and sculptures in the Alexandrian Museum were incidental to its main purpose.

②The Romans also collected and exhibited art from disbanded temples，as well as mineral specimens，exotic plants，animals；andthey plundered sculptures and paintings（mostly Greek）for exhibition.Meanwhile，the Greek word had slipped into Latin by transliteration（though not to signify picture galleries，which were called pinacothecae）and museum still more or less meant“Muses-shrine”.

③The inspirational collections of precious and semi-precious objects were kept in larger churches and monasteries—which focused on the gold-enshrined，bejeweled relics of saints and martyrs.Princes，and later merchants，had similar collections，which became the deposits of natural curiosities：large lumps of amber or coral，irregular pearls，unicorn horns，ostrich eggs，fossil bones and so on.They also included coins and gems—often antique engraved ones—as well as，increasingly，paintings and sculptures.As they multiplied and expanded，to supplement them，the skill of the fakers grew increasingly refined.

④At the same time，visitors could admire the very grandest paintings and sculptures in the churches，palaces and castles；they were not“collected”either，but“site-specific，”and were considered an integral part both of the fabric of the buildings and of the way of life which went on inside them—and most of the buildings were public ones.However，during the revival of antiquity in the fifteenth century，fragments of antique sculpture were given higher status than the work of any contemporary，so that displays of antiquities would inspire artists to imitation，or even better，to emulation；and so could be considered Muses-shrines in the former sense.The Medici garden near San Marco in Florence，the Belvedere and the Capitol in Rome were the most famous of such early“inspirational”collections.Soon they multiplied，and，gradually，exemplary“modern”works were also added to such galleries.

⑤In the seventeenth century，scientific and prestige collectingbecame so widespread that three or four collectors independently published directories to museums all over the known world But it was the age of revolutions and industry which produced the next sharp shift in the way the institution was perceived：the fury against royal and church monuments prompted antiquarians to shelter them in asylum-galleries，of which the Musee des Monuments Francais was the most famous.Then，in the first half of the nineteenth century，museum funding took off，allied to the rise of new wealth：London acquired the National Gallery and the British Museum，the Louvre was organized，the Museum-Insel was begun in Berlin，and the Munich galleries were built.In Vienna，the huge Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches Museums took over much of the imperial treasure.Meanwhile，the decline of craftsmanship（and of public taste with it）inspired the creation of“improving”collections.The Victoria and Albert Museum in London was the most famous，as well as perhaps the largest of them.

1.The sentence“Museum is a slippery word”in the first paragraph means that______.

A.the meaning of the word didn’t change until after the 15th century

B.the meaning of the word had changed over the years

C.the Greeks held different concepts from the Romans

D.princes and merchants added paintings to their collections

【题解】 这是一道语义题。museum本是希腊词，指任何尊崇缪斯的场所和事物。后来随着希腊艺术品流入罗马，museum一词也随之传入拉丁语，但意义上没有发生多大变化。到15世纪时，欧洲出现“复古”潮流，艺术家们纷纷仿制古代艺术品，museum仍和“缪斯的圣地”有着千丝万缕的联系。17世纪人们开始仇视古代艺术品，多亏古文物收藏家们转移保护，才免遭浩劫。19世纪早期，人们开始修建博物馆

收藏保护古代艺术品，形成了museum一词的现代意义。本文主要介绍了museum一词随着岁月的变迁，词义发生改变的过程。根据下文可知，全文主旨在于介绍museum一词在历史过程中的变化，句子“Museum is a slippery word”指museum一词的意义随着岁月的流逝发生了改变，答案为B。

2.The idea that museum could mean a mountain or an object orig inates from______.

A.the Romans　　　　　　B.Florence

C.Olympia　　　　　　　 D.Greek

【题解】 本题是一道细节题。从首段第二句“It first meant（in Greek）anything consecrated to the Muses：a hill，a shrine，agarden，a festival or even a textbook.”可以看出museum可以用来指代山脉或事物，起源于Greek，D为答案。

3.“...the skill of the fakers grew increasingly refined”in the third paragrap h means that______.

A.there was a great demand for fakers

B.fakers grew rapidly in number

C.fakers became more skillful

D.fakers became more polite

【题解】 这是一道语义理解题。文中第3段谈到先是王公大臣，然后是商人掀起了古代文物收藏热，古代艺术品供不应求，刺激了赝品制造者提高仿制古代艺术品的技艺水平，达到以假乱真的目的，故C为答案。

4.Painting and sculptures on display in churches in the 15th century were______.

A.collected from elsewhere

B.made part of the buildings

C.donated by people

D.bought by churches

【题解】 这是一道推断题。由第四段开头提到的they were not“collected”either，but“site specific，”and were considered an integral part both of the fabric of the buildings可知油画和雕塑并不是独立存在的，而是和建筑物联为一体，不可分割的，故B为答案。

5.Modern museums came into existence in order to______.

A.protect royal and church treasures

B.improve existing collections

C.stimulate public interest

D.raise more funds

【题解】 本题是细节题。末段指出，17世纪时欧洲人仇视皇室和教堂的纪念物，幸亏博古家们的转移保护，才使得大量的古代艺术品免遭浩劫。19世纪早期，欧洲各国更是纷纷兴建博物馆来收藏和保护古代文物，故答案为A。

6.Which is the main idea of the passage？

A.Collection and collectors.

B.The evolution of museums.

C.Modern museums and their functions.

D.The birth of museums.

【题解】 本题是主旨题。全文介绍了museum一词意义的变化过程以及museum一词现代意义的由来，故答案为B，其他三项都只是介绍museum一词的意义变化时提到的例子，不能作为全文标题。

Passage 10

①Farmers in the developing world hate price fluctuations.It makes it hard to plan ahead.But most of them have little choice：they sell at the price the market sets.Farmers in Europe，the U.S.and Japan are luckier：they receive massive government subsidies in the form of guaranteed prices or direct handouts.Last month U.S.President Bush signed a new farm bill that gives American farmers＄190billion over the next 10years，or＄83billion more than they had been scheduled to get，and pushes U.S.agricultural supportclose to crazy European levels.Bush said the step was necessary to“promote farmer independence and preserve the farm way of life for generations”.It is also designed to help the Republican Party win control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.

②Agricultural production in most poor countries accounts for up to 50%of GDP，compared to only 3%in rich countries.But most farmers in poor countries grow just enough for themselves and their families.Those who try exporting to the West find their goods whacked with huge tariffs or competing against cheaper subsidized goods.In 1999the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development concluded that for each dollar developing countries receive in aid they lose up to＄14just because of trade barriers imposed on the export of their manufactured goods.It’s not as if the developing world wants any favors，says Gerald Ssendwula，Uganda’s Minister of Finance.“What we want is for the rich countries to let us compete.”

③Agriculture is one of the few areas in which the Third World can compete.Land and labor are cheap，and as farming methods develop，new technologies should improve output.This is no pie in the sky speculation.The biggest success in Kenya’s economy over the past decade has been the boom in exports of cut flowers and vegetables to Europe.But that may all change in 2008，when Kenya will be slightly too rich to qualify for the“least developed country”status that allows African producers to avoid paying stiff European import duties on selected agricultural products.With trade barriers in place，the horticulture industry in Kenya will shrivel as quickly as a discarded rose.And while agriculture exports remain the great hope for poor countries，reducing trade barriers in other sectors also works：Americas African Growth and Opportunity Act，which cuts duties on exports of everything from handicrafts to shoes，has proveda boon to Africa’s manufacturers.The lesson：the Third World can prosper if the rich world gives it a fair go.

④This is what makes Bush’s decision to increase farm subsidies last month all the more depressing.Poor countries have long suspected that the rich world urges trade liberalization only so it can wangle its way into new markets.Such suspicions caused the Seattle trade talks to break down three years ago.But last November members of the World Trade Organization，meeting in Doha，Qatar，finally agreed to a new round of talks designed to open up global trade in agriculture and textiles.Rich countries assured poor countries，that their concerns were finally being addressed.Bush’s handout last month makes a lie of America’s commitment to those talks and his personal devotion to free trade.

1.By comparison，farmers______receive more government subsidies than others.

A.in the developing world　　　　　B.in Japan

C.in Europe　　　　　　　　　　　　D.in America

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干的意思是：相比之下，哪里的农民接受政府补贴多？短文第1段中说：Farmers in Europe，the U.S.and Japan are luckier：they receive massive government subsidies in the form of guaranteed prices or direct handouts.其意思是说欧洲、美国及日本的农民更幸运些，他们接受了大量的政府补贴，如有保障的价格或者直接的救济，可见欧洲位于首位。第4、5句又有“...pushes U.S.agricultural support close to crazy European levels”，指的是美国总统布什签署的新农业议案使得美国的农业资助接近于欧洲“疯狂”的水平，说明欧洲的农民接受政府补贴最多。所以答案应该是C。

2.In addition to the economic considerations，there is a motive behind Bush’s signing of the new farm bill______.

A.partisan　　　　　　　　B.social

C.financial　　　　　　　 D.cultural

【题解】 本题为细节题。题干的意思：除了经济上的考虑之外，布什签的新农业议案背后还有什么动机？短文第1段末尾说：It’s also designed to help the Republican Party win control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.原来，议案还旨在帮助布什所在的共和党赢得即将在11月举行的参议院中期选举，取得对参议院的控制权，因而它有“党派（partisan）利益的动机”，所以答案应选A。

3.The message the writer attempts to convey throughout the passage is that______.

A.poor countries should be given equal opportunities in trade

B.“the least developed country”status benefits agricultural countries

C.poor countries should remove their suspicions about trade liberalization

D.farmers in poor countries should also receive the benefit of subsidies

【题解】 本题为主旨题。题干的意思：作者在文中试图表达什么意思？文中第2段引用乌干达财政部长的话：What we want is for the rich countries to let us compete.即希望富国能让他们竞争；第3段讲了肯尼亚园艺工业曾经的发展及如今所面临的贸易障碍，从此得出一个教训：...the third world can prosper if the rich world gives it a fair go，意思是富国若给一个公平的机会，第三世界就会繁荣起来，这与选项A相符。

4.The writer’s attitude towards new farm subsidies in the U.S.is______.

A.favourable　　　　　　B.ambiguous

C.critical　　　　　　　D.reserved

【题解】 本题为判断推理题。题干的意思：作者对美国新的农业补贴的态度如何？可从最后一段中的几句话得出答案：This is what makes Bush’s decision to increase farm subsidies last month all the moredepressing.说明布什的决定让人沮丧；另外，最后一句：Bush’s handout last month makes a lie of America’s commitment to those talks and his personal devotion to free trade.实质上是批评了布什违背了其在多哈（Doha）会谈上所作的承诺，也违背了布什本人原来对自由贸易所作出的努力。因此作者的态度是“批判性的”，答案应选C。