考研英语阅读基础讲义

考研英语阅读基础讲义主讲：朱伟朱伟：新东方教育科技集团首批“集团演讲师”，南昌新东方国内考试培训部主管，民商法学硕士研究生，博士在读。新东方教育科技集团优秀教师，新东方在线首席主讲老师，考研英语阅读、写作及英语词汇学习专家，四六级名师。新浪博客、微博推荐认证教育培训人物，全国唯一一位连续四年命中考研英语大小作文的英语培训师。1997 text 1It was 3:45 in the morning when the vote was finally taken. After six months of arguing and final16 hours of hotparliamentary debates, Australia's Northern Territory became the first legal authority in the world to allow doctors to takethe lives of incurably ill patients who wish to die. The measure passed by the convincing vote of 15 to 10. Almostimmediately word flashed on the Internet and was picked up, half a world away, by John Hofsess, executive director ofthe Right to Die Society of Canada. He sent it on via the group*s on-line service, Death NET. Says Hofsess:"We postedbulletins all day long, because of course this isn't just something that happened in Australia. It's world history/1The full import may take a while to sink in. The NT Rights of the Terminally III law has left physicians and citizens aliketrying to deal with its moral and practical implications. Some have breathed sighs of relief, others, including churches,right-to-life groups and the Australian Medical Association, bitterly attacked the bill and the haste of its passage. But thetide is unlikely to turn back. In Australia where an aging population, life-extending technology and changingcommunity attitudes have all played their part other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal witheuthanasia. In the US and Canada, where the right-to-die movement is gathering strength, observers are waiting for thedominoes to start falling.Under the new Northern Territory law, an adult patient can request death probably by a deadly injection or pill to put an end to suffering. The patient must be diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors. After a 'cooling off” period ofseven days, the patient can sign a certificate of request. After 48 hours the wish for death can be met. For Lloyd Nickson,a 54-year-old Darwin resident suffering from lung cancer, the NT Rights of Terminally Ill law means he can get on withliving without the haunting fear of his suffering: a terrifying death from his breathing condition."I'm not afraid of dyingfrom a spiritual point of view, but what I was afraid of was how I'd go, because I've watched people die in the hospitalfighting for oxygen and clawing at their masks," he says.51. From the second paragraph we learn that.A the objection to euthanasia is slow to come in other countriesB physicians and citizens share the same view on euthanasiaC changing technology is chiefly responsible for the hasty passage of the law|D it takes time to realize the significance of the law's passage52. When the author says that observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling, he meansA observers are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the future of euthanasia B | similar bills are likely to be passed in the US, Canada and other countriesC observers are waiting to see the result of the game of dominoesD the effect-taking process of the passed bill may finally come to a stop53. When Lloyd Nickson dies, he will.A face his death with calm characteristic of euthanasiaB experience the suffering of a lung cancer patientC have an intense fear of terrible suffering|D undergo a cooling off period of seven days54. The author's attitude towards euthanasia seems to be that of.A opposition|B| suspicionC叩provalD indifference【重点词汇】parliamentary.incurablybulletinturn backeuthanasiadominodiagnosecertificateobjectionsink incool off【难句分析】1. After six months of arguing and final 16hours of hot parliamentary debates, Australia's Northern Territory became thefirst legal authority in the world to allow doctors to take the lives of incurably ill patients who wish to die.2. Some have breathed sighs of relief, others, including churches, right-to-life groups and the Australian MedicalAssociation, bitterly attacked the bill and the haste of its passage. But the tide is unlikely to turn back.3. In Australia where an aging population, life-extending technology and changing community attitudes have allplayed their part other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia.4. After a "cooling off1' period of seven days, the patient can sign a certificate of request. After 48 hours the wish for deathcan be met.1997 Text 2A report consistently brought back by visitors to the US is how friendly, courteous, and helpful most Americans wereto them. To be fair, this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians, and should best be consideredNorth American. There are, of course, exceptions. Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxi drivers arehardly unknown in the US. Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment.For a long period of time and in many parts of the country, a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dullexistence. Dullness and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from one another.Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion, and brought news of the outside world.The harsh realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured, or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler ormerely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers. It reflected the harshness of daily life: if you didn't take in thestranger and take care of him, there was no one else who would. And someday, remember, you might be in the same situation.Today there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the weary traveler. Yet, the old tradition ofhospitality to strangers is still very strong in the US, especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy touristtrails.*'I was just traveling through, got talking with this American, and pretty soon he invited me home for dinner 一amazing.*1 Such observations reported by visitors to the US are not uncommon, but are not always understood properly.The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result ofa historically developed cultural tradition.As is true of any developed society, in America a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions, and conventionsunderlies all social interrelationships. And, of course, speaking a language does not necessarily mean that someoneunderstands social and cultural patterns. Visitors who fail to "translate" cultural meanings properly often draw wrongconclusions. For example, when an American uses the word "friend”, the cultural implications of the word may be quitedifferent from those it has in the visitor's language and culture. It takes more than a brief encounter on a bus to distinguishbetween courteous convention and individual interest. Yet, being friendly is a virtue that many Americans value highlyand expect from both neighbors and strangers.55. In the eyes of visitors from the outside world,.A rude taxi drivers are rarely seen in the USB small-minded officials deserve a serious commentC Canadians are not so friendly as their neighbors|D most Americans are ready to offer help56. It could be inferred from the last paragraph that.A culture exercises an influence over social interrelationshipB| courteous convention and individual interest are interrelatedC various virtues manifest themselves exclusively among friendsD social interrelationships equal the complex set of cultural conventions57. Families in frontier settlements used to entertain strangers.A to improve their hard lifeB in view of their long-distance travelC to add some flavor to their own daily lifeD out of a charitable impulse58. The tradition of hospitality to strangers.A tends to be superficial and artificial|B| is generally well kept up in the United StatesC is always understood properlyD has something to do with the busy tourist trails【重点词汇】courteousobservationdeservecharitableassumptioninterrelationshipencounterindividualexclusivelyentertain【难句分析】1. There are, of course, exceptions. Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxi drivers are hardlyunknown in the US. Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment.2. Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion, and brought news of the outside world.3. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured, or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin orsettlement.4. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers.5. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as theresult of a historically developed cultural tradition.6. As is true of any developed society, in America a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions, and conventionsunderlies all social interrelationships.1997 Text 3Technically, any substance other than food that alters our bodily or mental functioning is a drug. Many peoplemistakenly believe the tenn drug refers only to some sort of medicine or an illegal chemical taken by drug addicts. Theydon*t realize that familiar substances such as alcohol and tobacco are also drugs. This is why the more neutral termsubstance is now used by many physicians and psychologists. The phrase "substance abuse'1 is often used instead of"drug abuse'* to make clear that substances such as alcohol and tobacco can be just as harmfully misused as heroin andcocaine.We live in a society in which the medicinal and social use of substances (drugs) is pervasive: an aspirin to quiet aheadache, some wine to be sociable, coffee to get going in the morning, a cigarette for the nerves. When do these sociallyacceptable and apparently constructive uses of a substance become misuses? First of all, most substances taken inexcess will produce negative effects such as poisoning or intense perceptual distortions. Repeated use of a substance canalso lead to physical addiction or substance dependence. Dependence is marked first by an increased tolerance, withmore and more of the substance required to produce the desired effect, and then by the appearance of unpleasantwithdrawal symptoms when the substance is discontinued.Drugs (substances) that affect the central nervous system and alter perception, mood, and behavior are known aspsychoactive substances. Psychoactive substances are commonly grouped according to whether they are stimulants,depressants, or hallucinogens. Stimulants initially speed up or activate the central nervous system, whereas depressantsslow it down. Hallucinogens have their primary effect on perception, distorting and altering it in a variety of ways includingproducing hallucinations. These are the substances often called psychedelic (from the Greek word meaningmind-manifiestation") because they seemed to radically alter one's state of consciousness.59. "Substances abuse1'(line 4, paragraph 1) is preferable to "drug abuse" in that.A substances can alter our bodily or mental functioning if illegally usedB |"drug abuse1' is only related to a limited number of drugtakersC alcohol and tobacco are as fatal as heroin and cocaine|D many substances other than heroin or cocaine can also be poisonous60. The word ''pervasive*'(line 1, paragraph 2) might mean.A widespreadB overwhelmingC piercing|D fashionable61. Physical dependence on certain substances results from.A uncontrolled consumption of them over long periods of timeB exclusive use of them for social purposesC quantitative application of them to the treatment of diseasesD careless employment of them for unpleasant symptoms62. From the last paragraph we can infer that.A stimulants function positively on the mindB hallucinogens are in themselves harmful to healthC depressants are the worst type of psychoactive substancesD the three types of psychoactive substances are commonly used in groups【重点词汇】substancepsychologistcocainepervasivesociablenegativepoisoningpoisonousdistortiontolerancesymptompsychoactive stimulant depressanthallucinogen hallucination psychedelic【难句分析】1. The phrase "substance abuseM is often used instead of "drug abuse*' to make clear that substances such as alcoholand tobacco can be just as harmfully misused as heroin and cocaine.2. We live in a society in which the medicinal and social use of substances(drugs) is pervasive: an aspirin to quiet aheadache, some wine to be sociable, coffee to get going in the morning, a cigarette for the nerves.3. Dependence is marked first by an increased tolerance, with more and more of the substance required to produce thedesired effect, and then by the appearance of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the substance is discontinued.4. Psychoactive substances are commonly grouped according to whether they are stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens.1997 text 4No company likes to be told it is contributing to the moral decline of a nation. MIs this what you intended to accomplishwith your careers?0 Senator Robert Dole asked Time Warner executives last week. nYou have sold your souls, but mustyou corrupt our nation and threaten our children as well?1' At Time Warner, however, such questions are simply the latestmanifestation of the soul-searching that has involved the company ever since the company was bom in 1990. It*s aself-examination that has, at various times, involved issues of responsibility, creative freedom and the corporate bottomline.At the core of this debate is chairman Gerald Levin,56, who took over for the late Steve Ross in 1992. On the financialfront, Levin is under pressure to raise the stock price and reduce the company's mountainous debt, which will increase to$17.3 billion after two new cable deals close. He has promised to sell off some of the property and restructure thecompany, but investors are waiting impatiently.The flap over rap is not making life any easier for him. Levin has consistently defended the company's rap music onthe grounds of expression. In 1992, when Time Warner was under fire for releasing Ice-T's violent rap song Cop Killer,Levin described rap as lawful expression of street culture, which deserves an outlet.'The test of any democratic society/1he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column, Mlies not in how well it can control expression but in whether it gives freedom ofthought and expression the widest possible latitude, however disputable or irritating the results may sometimes be. Wewon't retreat in the face of any threats.uLevin would not comment on the debate last week, but there were signs that the chairman was backing off hishard-line stand, at least to some extent. During the discussion of rock singing verses at last month's stockholders'meeting. Levin asserted that "music is not the cause of society's ills" and even cited his son, a teacher in the Bronx, NewYork, who uses rap to communicate with students. But he talked as well about the "balanced struggle" between creativefreedom and social responsibility, and he announced that the company would launch a drive to develop standards fordistribution and labeling of potentially objectionable music.The 15-member Time Warner board is generally supportive of Levin and his corporate strategy. But insiders sayseveral of them have shown their concerns in this matter."Some of us have known for many, many years that thefreedoms under the First Amendment are not totally unlimited," says Luce."I think it is perhaps the case that somepeople associated with the company have only recently come to realize this.1'63. Senator Robert Dole criticized Time Warner for.A its raising of the corporate stock priceB its self-examination of soulC its neglect of social responsibilityD its emphasis on creative freedom64. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?A Luce is a spokesman of Time Warner.B Gerald Levin is liable to compromise.C Time Warner is united as one in the face of the debate.D Steve Ross is no longer alive.65. In face of the recent attacks on the company, the chairman.A stuck to a strong stand to defend freedom of expressionB softened his tone and adopted some new policyC changed his attitude and yielded to objectionD received more support from the 15-member board66. The best title for this passage could be.A A Company under FireB A Debate on Moral DeclineC A Lawful Outlet of Street CultureD A Form of Creative Freedom【重点词汇】corrupt responsibility.property impatientlylatitude irritate.compromise【难句分析】1. HIs this what you intended to accomplish with your careers?" Senator Robert Dole asked Time Warner executives lastweek."You have sold your souls, but must you corrupt our nation and threaten our children as well?1'2. It's a self-examination that has, at various times, involved issues of responsibility, creative freedom and thecorporate bottom line.3. The flap over rap is not making life any easier for him. Levin has consistently defended the company's rap music onthe grounds of expression.4. "The test of any democratic society,H he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column,'lies not in how well it can controlexpression but in whether it gives freedom of thought and expression the widest possible latitude, howeverdisputable or irritating the results may sometimes be.”5. During the discussion of rock singing verses at last month's stockholders' meeting, Levin asserted that °music is notthe cause of society's ills" and even cited his son, a teacher in the Bronx, New York, who uses rap to communicatewith students.6. HI think it is perhaps the case that some people associated with the company have only recently come to realize this.*'1997 Text 5Much of the language used to describe monetary policy, such as "steering the economy to a soft landing" or "a touchon the brakes*', makes it sound like a precise science. Nothing could be further from the truth. The link between interestrates and inflation is uncertain. And there are long, variable lags before policy changes have any effect on the economy.Hence the analogy that likens the conduct of monetary policy to driving a car with a blackened windscreen, a crackedrearview mirror and a faulty steering wheel.Given all these disadvantages, central bankers seem to have had much to boast about of late. Average inflation in thebig seven industrial economies fell to a mere 2.3% last year, close to its lowest level in 30 years, before rising slightly to2.5% this July. This is a long way below the double-digit rates which many countries experienced in the 1970s and early 1980s.It is also less than most forecasters had predicted. In late 1994 the panel of economists which The Economist pollseach month said that America's inflation rate would average 3.5% in 1995. In fact, it fell to 2.6% in August, and isexpected to average only about 3% for the year as a whole. In Britain and Japan inflation is running half a percentagepoint below the rate predicted at the end of last year. This is no flash in the pan; over the past couple of years, inflation hasbeen consistently lower than expected in Britain and America.Economists have been particularly surprised by favorable inflation figures in Britain and the United States, sinceconventional measures suggest that both economies, and especially America's,