2012年6月研究生英语学位课统考真题

2012年考研英语真题及答案1Section 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 ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)The ethical judgments of the Supreme Court justices have become an important issue recently. The court cannot _1_ its legitimacy as guardian of the rule of law _2_ justices behave like politicians. Yet, in several instances, justices acted in ways that _3_ the court’s reputation for being independent and impartial.Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, appeared at political events. That kind of activity makes it less likely that the court’s decisions will be _4_ as impartial judgments. Part of the problem is that the justices are not _5_by an ethics code. At the very least, the court should make itself _6_to the code of conduct that _7_to the rest of the federal judiciary.This and other similar cases _8_thequestion of whether there is still a _9_between the court and politics.The framers of the Constitution envisioned law _10_having authority apart from politics. They gave justices permanent positions _11_they would be free to _12_ those in power and have no need to _13_ political support. Our legal system was designed to set law apart from politics precisely because they are so closely _14_.Constitutional law is political because it results from choices rooted in fundamental social _15_ like liberty and property. When the court deals with social policy decisions, the law it _16_ is inescapably political-which is why decisions split along ideological lines are so easily _17_ as unjust.The justices must _18_ doubts about the court’s legitimacy by making themselves _19_ to the code of conduct. That would make rulings more likely to be seen as separate from politics and, _20_, convincing as law.1. [A]emphasize [B]maintain [C]modify [D] recognize2. [A]when [B]lest [C]before [D] unless3. [A]restored [B]weakened [C]established[D] eliminated4. [A]challenged [B]compromised[C]suspected [D] accepted5. [A]advanced [B]caught [C]bound[D]founded6. [A]resistant [B]subject [C]immune[D]prone7. [A]resorts [B]sticks [C]loads [D]applies8. [A]evade [B]raise [C]deny [D]settle9. [A]line [B]barrier [C]similarity[D]conflict10. [A]by [B]as [C]though [D]towards11. [A]so [B]since [C]provided [D]though12. [A]serve [B]satisfy [C]upset [D]replace13. [A]confirm [B]express [C]cultivate[D]offer14. [A]guarded [B]followed [C]studied[D]tied15. [A]concepts [B]theories [C]divisions[D]conceptions16. [A]excludes [B]questions [C]shapes[D]controls17. [A]dismissed [B]released [C]ranked[D]distorted18. [A]suppress [B]exploit [C]address[D]ignore19. [A]accessible [B]amiable [C]agreeable[D]accountable20. [A]by all mesns [B]atall costs [C]in a word [D]as a resultSection II Reading ComprehensionPart ADirections:Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C orD. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.(40 points)Text 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 isspot-on: they fail to mobilize peer pressure for healthy habits, and they demonstrate a seriously flawed understanding of psyc hology.” 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 glari ng flaw of the social cure as it’s presented here is that it doesn’t work very well for very long. Rage Against 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 groupsexert 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 the problem with a social cure engineered from the outside: in the real world, as in school, we insist on choosing our own friends.21. According to the first paragraph, peer pressure often emerges as[A] a supplement to the social cure[B] a stimulus to group dynamics[C] an obstacle to school progress[D] a cause of undesirable behaviors22. Rosenberg holds that public advocates should[A] recruit professional advertisers[B] learn from advertisers’experience[C] stay away from commercial advertisers[D] recognize the limitations of advertisements23. In the author’s view, Rosenberg’s book fails to[A] adequately probe social and biological factors[B] effectively evade the flaws of the social cure[C] illustrate the functions of state funding[D]produce a long-lasting social effect24. Paragraph 5shows that our imitation of behaviors[A] is harmful to our networks of friends[B] will mislead behavioral studies[C] occurs without our realizing it[D] can produce negative health habits25. The author suggests in the last paragraph that the effect of peer pressure is[A] harmful[B] desirable[C] profound[D] questionableText 2A deal is a deal-except, apparently ,when Entergy is involved. The company, a major energy supplier in New England, provoked justified outrage in Vermont last week when it announced it was reneging on a longstanding commitment to abide by the strict nuclear regulations.Instead, the company has done precisely what it had long promised it would not challenge the constitutionality of Vermont’s rules in the federal court, as part of a desperate effort to keep its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant running. It’s a stunning move.The conflict has been surfacing since 2002,when the corporation bought Vermont’s only nuclear power plant, an aging reactor in Vernon. As a condition of receiving state approval for the sale, the company agreed to seek permission from state regulators to operate past 2012. In 2006, the state went a step further, requiring that any extension of the pla nt’s license be subject to Vermont legislature’s approval. Then, too, the company went along.Either Entergy never really intended to live by those commitments, or it simply didn’t foresee what would happen next. A string of accidents, including the partial collapse of a cooling tower in 207 and the discovery of an underground pipe system leakage, raised serious questions about both Vermont Yankee’s safety and Entergy’s management– especially after the company made misleading statements about the pipe. En raged by Entergy’s behavior, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 last year against allowing an extension.Now the company is suddenly claiming thatthe 2002 agreement is invalid because of the 2006 legislation, and that only the federal government has regulatory power over nuclear issues. The legal issues in the case are obscure: whereas the Supreme Court has ruled that states do have some regulatory authority over nuclear power, legal scholars say that Vermont case will offer a precedent-setting test of how far those powers extend. Certainly, there are valid concerns about the patchwork regulations that could result if every state sets its own rules. But had Entergy kept its word, that debate would be beside the point.The company seems to have concluded that its reputation in Vermont is already so damaged that it has noting left to lose by going to war with the state. But there should be consequences. Permission to run a nuclear plant is a poblic trust. Entergy runs 11 other reactors in the United States, including Pilgrim Nuclear station in Plymouth. Pledging to run Pilgrim safely, the company has applied for federal permission tokeep it open for another 20 years. But as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reviews the company’s application, it should keep it mind what promises from Entergy are worth.26. The phrase “reneging on”(Line3.para.1) is closest in meaning to[A] condemning.[B] reaffirming.[C] dishonoring.[D] securing.27. By entering into the 2002 agreement, Entergy intended to[A] obtain protection from Vermont regulators.[B] seek favor from the federal legislature.[C] acquire an extension of its business license .[D] get permission to purchase a power plant.28. According to Paragraph 4, Entergy seems to have problems with its[A] managerial practices.[B] technical innovativeness.[C] financial goals.[D] business vision29. In the author’s view, the Vermont case will test[A] Entergy’s capacity to fulfill all its promises.[B] the mature of states’patchwork regulations.[C] the federal authority over nuclear issues .[D] the limits of states’power over nuclear issues.30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that[A] Entergy’s business elsewhere might be affected.[B] the authority of the NRC will be defied.[C] Entergy will withdraw its Plymouth application.[D] Vermont’s reputation might be damaged.Part BDirections:In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET1.(10 points)Think of those fleeting moments when you look out of an aeroplane window and realise that you are flying, higher than a bird. Now think of your laptop, thinner than a brown-paper envelope, or your cellphone in the palm of your hand. Take a moment or two to wonder at those marvels. You are the lucky inheritor of a dream come true.The second half of the 20th century saw a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine that could function as a typewriter andprinting press, studio and theatre, paintbrush and gallery, piano and radio, the mail as well as the mail carrier. (41)The networked computer is an amazing device, the first media machine that serves as the mode of production, means of distribution, site of reception, and place of praise and critique. The computer is the 21st century's culture machine.But for all the reasons there are to celebrate the computer, we must also tread with caution.(42)I call it a secret war for two reasons. First, most people do not realise that there are strong commercial agendas at work to keep them in passive consumption mode. Second, the majority of people who use networked computers to upload are not even aware of the significance of what they are doing.All animals download, but only a few upload. Beavers build dams and birds make nests. Yet for the most part, the animal kingdom moves through the world downloading. Humansare unique in their capacity to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods - paintings, sculpture and architecture - and superfluous experiences - music, literature, religion and philosophy. (43)For all the possibilities of our new culture machines, most people are still stuck in download mode. Even after the advent of widespread social media, a pyramid of production remains, with a small number of people uploading material, a slightly larger group commenting on or modifying that content, and a huge percentage remaining content to just consume. (44)Television is a one-way tap flowing into our homes. The hardest task that television asks of anyone is to turn the power off after he has turned it on.(45)What counts as meaningful uploading? My definition revolves around the concept of"stickiness" - creations and experiences to which others adhere.[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.[B] Applications like , which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading - between passive consumption and active creation - whose outcome will shapeour collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world's media culture has been defined by a single medium - television - and television is defined by downloading.[G]The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.Part CDirections:Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)Since the days of Aristotle, a search for universal principles has characterized the scientific enterprise. In some ways, this quest for commonalities defines science. Newton’s laws of motion and Darwinian evolution each bind a host of different phenomena into a single explicatory frame work.(46)In physics, one approach takes this impulse for unification to its extreme, and seeks a theory of everything—a single generative equation for all we see.It is becoming less clear, however, that such a theory would be a simplification, given the dimensions and universes that it might entail, nonetheless, unification of sorts remains a major goal.This tendency in the natural sciences has long been evident in the social sciences too.(47)Here, Darwinism seems to offer justification for it all humans share common origins it seems reasonable to suppose that cultural diversity could also be traced to more constrainedbeginnings. Just as the bewildering variety of human courtship rituals might all be considered forms of sexual selection, perhaps the world’s languages, music, social and religious customs and even history are governed by universal features. (48)To filter out what is unique from what is shared might enable us to understand how complex cultural behavior arose and what guides it in evolutionary or cognitive terms.That, at least, is the hope. But a comparative study of linguistic traits published online today supplies a reality check. Russell Gray at the University of Auckland and his colleagues consider the evolution of grammars in the light of two previous attempts to find universality in language.The most famous of these efforts was initiated by Noam Chomsky, who suggested that humans are born with an innate language—acquisition capacity that dictates a universal grammar. A few generative rules are then sufficient to unfold the entire fundamentalstructure of a language, which is why children can learn it so quickly.(49)The second, by Joshua Greenberg, takes a more empirical approach to universality identifying traits (particularly in word order) shared by many language which are considered to represent biases that result from cognitive constraintsGray and his colleagues have put them to the test by examining four family trees that between them represent more than 2,000 languages.(50)Chomsky’s grammar should show patterns of language change that are independent of the family tree or the pathway tracked through it. Whereas Greenbergian universality predicts strong co-dependencies between particular types of word-order relations. Neither of these patterns is borne out by the analysis, suggesting that the structures of the languages are lire age-specific and not governed by universalsSection I: Use of English1.B2.A3.B4.D5.C6.B7.D8.B9.A10.B11.A 12.C 13.C 14.D15.A16.C 17.A 18.C 19.D 20.DSection II: Reading ComprehensionPart A21.D 22.B 23.A 24.C25.D26.C 27.D 28.A 29.D30.A31.A 32.B 33.B 34.D 35.C36.C 37.D 38.B 39.C 40.APart B41. C 42.D 43. A 44.F 45.GPart C46. 物理学中的一个理论把这种归一的冲动发挥到了极致，它探寻一种万有理论——一个关于我们能看到的一切的生成方程式。

2012年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语(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 ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)The ethical judgments of the Supreme Court justices have become an important issue recently. The court cannot _1_ its legitimacy as guardian of the rule of law _2_ justices behave like politicians. Yet, in several instances, justices acted in ways that _3_ the court’s reputation for being independent and impartial.Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, appeared at political events. That kind of activity makes it less likely that the court’s decisions will be _4_ as impartial judgments. Part of the problem is that the justices are not _5_by an ethics code. At the very least, the court should make itself _6_to the code of conduct that _7_to the rest of the federal judiciary.This and other similar cases _8_the question of whether there is still a _9_between the court and politics.The framers of the Constitution envisioned law _10_having authority apart from politics. They gave justices permanent positions _11_they would be free to _12_ those in power and have no need to _13_ political support. Our legal system was designed to set law apart from politics precisely because they are so closely _14_.Constitutional law is political because it results from choices rooted in fundamental social _15_ like liberty and property. When the court deals with social policy decisions, the law it _16_ is inescapably political-which is why decisions split along ideological lines are so easily _17_ as unjust.The justices must _18_ doubts about the court’s legitimacy by making themselves _19_ to the code of conduct. That would make rulings more likely to be seen as separate from politics and, _20_, convincing as law.1. [A]emphasize [B]maintain [C]modify [D] recognize2. [A]when [B]lest [C]before [D] unless3. [A]restored [B]weakened [C]established [D] eliminated4. [A]challenged [B]compromised [C]suspected [D] accepted5. [A]advanced [B]caught [C]bound [D]founded6. [A]resistant [B]subject [C]immune [D]prone7. [A]resorts [B]sticks [C]loads [D]applies8. [A]evade [B]raise [C]deny [D]settle9. [A]line [B]barrier [C]similarity [D]conflict10. [A]by [B]as [C]though [D]towards11. [A]so [B]since [C]provided [D]though12. [A]serve [B]satisfy [C]upset [D]replace13. [A]confirm [B]express [C]cultivate [D]offer14. [A]guarded [B]followed [C]studied [D]tied15. [A]concepts [B]theories [C]divisions [D]conceptions16. [A]excludes [B]questions [C]shapes [D]controls17. [A]dismissed [B]released [C]ranked [D]distorted18. [A]suppress [B]exploit [C]address [D]ignore19. [A]accessible [B]amiable [C]agreeable [D]accountable20. [A]by all mesns [B]atall costs [C]in a word [D]as a resultSection 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 ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)Text 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 groupdynamics 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 psycho logy.” 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 socialand 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 Against 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 t eacher who breaks up the troublemakers in the back row by pairing them with better-behaved classmates. The tactic never really works. And that’s the problem with a social cure engineered from the outside: in the real world, as in school, we insist on choosing our own friends.21. According to the first paragraph, peer pressure often emerges as[A] a supplement to the social cure[B] a stimulus to group dynamics[C] an obstacle to school progress[D] a cause of undesirable behaviors22. Rosenberg holds that public advocates should[A] recruit professional advertisers[B] learn from advertisers’ experience[C] stay away from commercial advertisers[D] recognize the limitations of advertisements23. In the author’s view, Rosenberg’s book fails to[A] adequately probe social and biological factors[B] effectively evade the flaws of the social cure[C] illustrate the functions of state funding[D]produce a long-lasting social effect24. Paragraph 5shows that our imitation of behaviors[A] is harmful to our networks of friends[B] will mislead behavioral studies[C] occurs without our realizing it[D] can produce negative health habits25. The author suggests in the last paragraph that the effect of peer pressure is[A] harmful[B] desirable[C] profound[D] questionableText 2A deal is a deal-except, apparently ,when Entergy is involved. The company, a major energy supplier in New England, provoked justified outrage in Vermont last week when it announced it was reneging on a longstanding commitment to abide by the strict nuclear regulations.Instead, the company has done precisely what it had long promised it would not challenge the constitutionality of Vermont’s rules in the federal court, as part of a desperate effort to keep its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant running. It’s a stunning move.The conflict has been surfacing since 2002, when the corporation bought Vermont’s only nuclear power plant, an aging reactor in Vernon. As a condition of receiving state approval for the sale, the company agreed to seek permission from state regulators to operate past 2012. In 2006, the state went a step further, requiring that any extension of the plant’s license be subject to Vermont legislature’s approval. Then, too, the company went along.Either Entergy never really intended to live by those commitments, or it simply didn’t foresee what would happen next. A string of accidents, including the partial collapse of a cooling tower in 207 and the discovery of an underground pipe system leakage, raised serious questions about both Vermont Yankee’s safety and Entergy’s management–especially after the company made misleading statements about the pipe. Enragedby Entergy’s behavior, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 last year against allowing an extension.Now the company is suddenly claiming that the 2002 agreement is invalid because of the 2006 legislation, and that only the federal government has regulatory power over nuclear issues. The legal issues in the case are obscure: whereas the Supreme Court has ruled that states do have some regulatory authority over nuclear power, legal scholars say that Vermont case will offer a precedent-setting test of how far those powers extend. Certainly, there are valid concerns about the patchwork regulations that could result if every state sets its own rules. But had Entergy kept its word, that debate would be beside the point.The company seems to have concluded that its reputation in Vermont is already so damaged that it has noting left to lose by going to war with the state. But there should be consequences. Permission to run a nuclear plant is a poblic trust. Entergy runs 11 other reactors in the United States, including Pilgrim Nuclear station in Plymouth. Pledging to run Pilgrim safely, the company has applied for federal permission to keep it open for another 20 years. But as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) reviews the company’s application, it should keep it mind what promises from Entergy are worth.26. The phrase “reneging on”(Line 3.para.1) is closest in meaning to[A] condemning.[B] reaffirming.[C] dishonoring.[D] securing.27. By entering into the 2002 agreement, Entergy intended to[A] obtain protection from Vermont regulators.[B] seek favor from the federal legislature.[C] acquire an extension of its business license .[D] get permission to purchase a power plant.28. According to Paragraph 4, Entergy seems to have problems with its[A] managerial practices.[B] technical innovativeness.[C] financial goals.[D] business vision29. In the author’s view, the Vermon t case will test[A] Entergy’s capacity to fulfill all its promises.[B] the mature of states’ patchwork regulations.[C] the federal authority over nuclear issues .[D] the limits of states’ power over nuclear issues.30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that[A] Entergy’s business elsewhere might be affected.[B] the authority of the NRC will be defied.[C] Entergy will withdraw its Plymouth application.[D] Vermont’s reputation might be damaged.Text 3In the idealized version of how science is done, facts about the world are waiting to be observed and collected by objectiveresearchers who use the scientific method to carry out their work. But in the everyday practice of science, discovery frequently follows an ambiguous and complicated route. We aim to be objective, but we cannot escape the context of our unique life experience. Prior knowledge and interest influence what we experience, what we think our experiences mean, and the subsequent actions we take. Opportunities for misinterpretation, error, and self-deception abound.Consequently, discovery claims should be thought of as protoscience. Similar to newly staked mining claims, they are full of potential. But it takes collective scrutiny and acceptance to transform a discovery claim into a mature discovery. This is the credibility process, through which the individual researcher’s me, here, now becomes the community’s anyone, anywhere, anytime. Objective knowledge is the goal, not the starting point.Once a discovery claim becomes public, the discoverer receives intellectual credit. But, unlike with mining claims, the community takes control of what happens next. Within the complex social structure of the scientific community, researchers make discoveries; editors and reviewers act asgatekeepers by controlling the publication process; other scientists use the new finding to suit their own purposes; and finally, the public (including other scientists) receives the new discovery and possibly accompanying technology. As a discovery claim works it through the community, the interaction and confrontation between shared and competing beliefs about the science and the technology involved transforms an individual’s discovery claim into the community’s credible discovery.Two paradoxes exist throughout this credibility process. First, scientific work tends to focus on some aspect of prevailing Knowledge that is viewed as incomplete or incorrect. Little reward accompanies duplication and confirmation of what is already known and believed. The goal is new-search, not re-search. Not surprisingly, newly published discovery claims and credible discoveries that appear to be important and convincing will always be open to challenge and potential modification or refutation by future researchers. Second, novelty itself frequently provokes disbelief. Nobel Laureate and physiologist Albert Azent-Gyorgyi once described discovery as “seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” But thinking what nobody else has thought andtelling others what they have missed may not change their views. Sometimes years are required for truly novel discovery claims to be accepted and appreciated.In the end, credibility “happens” to a discovery claim –a process that corresponds to what philosopher Annette Baier has described as the commons of the mind. “We reason together, challenge, revise, and complete each other’s reasoning and each other’s conceptions of reason.”31. According to the first paragraph, the process of discovery is characterized by its[A] uncertainty and complexity.[B] misconception and deceptiveness.[C] logicality and objectivity.[D] systematicness and regularity.32. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that credibility process requires[A] strict inspection.[B]shared efforts.[C] individual wisdom.[D]persistent innovation.33.Paragraph 3 shows that a discovery claim becomes credible after it[A] has attracted the attention of the general public.[B]has been examined by the scientific community.[C] has received recognition from editors and reviewers.[D]has been frequently quoted by peer scientists.34. Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi would most likely agree that[A] scientific claims will survive challenges.[B]discoveries today inspire future research.[C] efforts to make discoveries are justified.[D]scientific work calls for a critical mind.35.Which of the following would be the best title of the test?[A] Novelty as an Engine of Scientific Development.[B]Collective Scrutiny in Scientific Discovery.[C] Evolution of Credibility in Doing Science.[D]Challenge to Credibility at the Gate to Science.Text 4If the trade unionist Jimmy Hoffa were alive today, he would probably represent civil servant. When Hoffa’s Teamsters were in their prime in 1960, only one in ten American government workers belonged to a union; now 36% do. In 2009 the number of unionists in America’s public sector passed that of their fellow members in the private sector. In Britain, more than half of public-sector workers but only about 15% of private-sector ones are unionized.There are three reasons for the public-sector unions’ thriving. First, they can shut things down without suffering much in the way of consequences. Second, they are mostly bright and well-educated. A quarter of America’s public-sector workers have a university degree. Third, they now dominate left-of-centre politics. Some of their ties go back a long way. Britain’s Labor Party, as its name implies, has long beenassociated with trade unionism. Its current leader, Ed Miliband, owes his position to votes from public-sector unions.At the state level their influence can be even more fearsome. Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California points out that much of the state’s budget is patrolled by unions. The teachers’ unions keep an eye on school s, the CCPOA on prisons and a variety of labor groups on health care.In many rich countries average wages in the state sector are higher than in the private one. But the real gains come in benefits and work practices. Politicians have repeatedly “backloaded” public-sector pay deals, keeping the pay increases modest but adding to holidays and especially pensions that are already generous.Reform has been vigorously opposed, perhaps most egregiously in education, where charter schools, academies and merit pay all faced drawn-out battles. Even though there is plenty of evidence that the quality of the teachers is the most important variable, teachers’ unions have fought against getting rid of bad ones and promoting good ones.As the cost to everyone else has become clearer, politicians have begun to clamp down. In Wisconsin the unions have rallied thousands of supporters against Scott Walker, the hardline Republican governor. But many within the public sector suffer under the current system, too.John Donahue at Harvard’s Kennedy School points out that the norms of culture in Western civil services suit those who want to stay put but is bad for high achievers. The only American public-sector workers who earn well above $250,000 a year are university sports coaches and the president of the United States. Bankers’ fat pay packets have attracted much criticism, but a public-sector system that does not reward high achievers may be a much bigger problem for America.36. It can be learned from the first paragraph that[A] Teamsters still have a large body of members.[B] Jimmy Hoffa used to work as a civil servant.[C] unions have enlarged their public-sector membership.[D]the government has improved its relationship with unionists.37. Which of the following is true of Paragraph 2?[A] Public-sector unions are prudent in taking actions.[B] Education is required for public-sector union membership.[C] Labor Party has long been fighting against public-sector unions.[D]Public-sector unions seldom get in trouble for their actions.38. It can be learned from Paragraph 4 that the income in the state sector is[A] illegally secured.[B] indirectly augmented.[C] excessively increased.[D]fairly adjusted.39. The example of the unions in Wisconsin shows that unions[A]often run against the current political system.[B]can change people’s political attitudes.[C]may be a barrier to public-sector reforms.[D]are dominant in the government.40. John Donahue’s attitude towards the public-sector system is one of[A]disapproval.[B]appreciation.[C]tolerance.[D]indifference.Part BDirections:In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET1.（10 points）Think of those fleeting moments when you look out of an aeroplane window and realise that you are flying, higher than a bird. Now think of your laptop, thinner than a brown-paper envelope, or your cellphone in the palm of your hand. Take a moment or two to wonder at those marvels. You are the lucky inheritor of a dream come true.The second half of the 20th century saw a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine that could function as a typewriter and printing press, studio and theatre, paintbrush and gallery, piano and radio, the mail as well as the mail carrier. (41) The networked computer is an amazing device, the first media machine that serves as the mode of production, means of distribution, site of reception, and place of praise and critique. The computer is the 21st century's culture machine.But for all the reasons there are to celebrate the computer, we must also tread with caution. (42)I call it a secret war for two reasons. First, most people do not realise that there are strong commercial agendas at work to keep them in passive consumption mode. Second, the majority of people who usenetworked computers to upload are not even aware of the significance of what they are doing.All animals download, but only a few upload. Beavers build dams and birds make nests. Yet for the most part, the animal kingdom moves through the world downloading. Humans are unique in their capacity to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods - paintings, sculpture and architecture - and superfluous experiences - music, literature, religion and philosophy. (43)For all the possibilities of our new culture machines, most people are still stuck in download mode. Even after the advent of widespread social media, a pyramid of production remains, with a small number of people uploading material, a slightly larger group commenting on or modifying that content, and a huge percentage remaining content to just consume. (44) Television is a one-way tap flowing into our homes. The hardest task that television asks of anyone is to turn the power off after he has turned it on.(45)What counts as meaningful uploading? My definition revolves around the concept of "stickiness" - creations and experiences to which others adhere.[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.[B] Applications like , which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading - between passive consumption and active creation - whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world's media culture has been defined by a single medium - television - and television is defined by downloading.[G]The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.Part CDirections:Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)Since the days of Aristotle, a search for universal principles has characterized the scientific enterprise. In some ways, this quest for commonalities defines science. Newton’s laws of motion and Darwinian evolution each bind ahost of different phenomena into a single explicatory frame work.(46)In physics, one approach takes this impulse for unification to its extreme, and seeks a theory of everything—a single generative equation for all we see.It is becoming less clear, however, that such a theory would be a simplification, given the dimensions and universes that it might entail, nonetheless, unification of sorts remains a major goal.This tendency in the natural sciences has long been evident in the social sciences too. (47)Here, Darwinism seems to offer justification for it all humans share common origins it seems reasonable to suppose that cultural diversity could also be traced to more constrained beginnings. Just as the bewildering variety of human courtship rituals might all be considered forms of sexual selection, perhaps the world’s languages, music, social and religious customs and even history are governed by universal features. (48)To filter out what is unique from what is shared might enable us to understand how complex cultural behavior arose and what guides it in evolutionary or cognitive terms.That, at least, is the hope. But a comparative study of linguistic traits published online today supplies a reality check. Russell Gray at the University of Auckland and his colleagues consider the evolution of grammars in the light of two previous attempts to find universality in language.The most famous of these efforts was initiated by Noam Chomsky, who suggested that humans are born with an innate language—acquisition capacity that dictates a universal grammar. A few generative rules are then sufficient to unfold the entire fundamental structure of a language, which is why children can learn it so quickly.(49)The second, by Joshua Greenberg, takes a more empirical approach to universality identifying traits (particularly in word order) shared by many language which are considered to represent biases that result from cognitive constraints Gray and his colleagues have put them to the test by examining four family trees that between them represent more than 2,000 languages.(50)Chomsky’s grammar should show patterns of language change that are independent of the family tree or the pathway tracked through it. Whereas Greenbergian universality predicts strong co-dependencies betweenparticular types of word-order relations. Neither of these patterns is borne out by the analysis, suggesting that the structures of the languages are lire age-specific and not governed by universalsSection III WritingPart A51. Directions:Some internationals students are coming to your university. Write them an email in the name of the Students’ Union to1) extend your welcome and2) provide some suggestions for their campus life here.You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET2.Do not sign your name a t the end of the letter. Use “Li Ming” instead.Do not write the address(10 points)Part B52. Directions: write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following drawing. In your essay you should1) describe the drawing briefly2) explain its intended meaning, and give your commentsYou should write neatly on ANSWER SHEET2.（20 points）。

北京科技大学2012年硕士学位研究生入学考试试题============================================================================================================= 试题编号： 618 试题名称：基础英语（共 10 页）适用专业：外国语言文学（包括外国语言学及应用语言学和英语语言文学）说明：所有答案必须写在答题纸上，做在试题或草稿纸上无效;请用蓝色或黑色钢笔或签字笔答题。

=============================================================================================================Part Ⅰ Vocabulary (30 minutes, 30 points, 1 point each)Section ADirections:There are fifteen incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence.1. No one appreciated his work during his lifetime, but it is clear that he was a great artist.A. in the aftermathB. by the timeC. in retrospectD. in this eventuality2. He was facing charges on forgery in a court of law but he hired a good attorney to .A. get offB. get throughC. get byD. get away3. The campers their tent in a sheltered valley.A. establishedB. installedC. pitchedD. fixed4. This is work. It calls for a good eye and a steady hand.A. preciseB. precisionC. exactD. exactness5. I’m rather concerned how he will take his school.A. onB. upC. offD. to6. I don’t doubt the plan will be well received.A. thatB. whichC. ifD. whether7. Over a very large number of trials, the probability of an event is equal to the probability that it will not occur.A. occurringB. occurredC. occursD. occur8. We will not be held responsible for any damage which results rough handling.A. fromB. offC. inD. to9. Now a single cell phone is able to store a large of information about an individual life.A. dealB. numberC. amountD. account10. The long service of decades of the to-be-retired with the company was a present each from the President.A. confirmed byB. recorded inC. acknowledged withD. appreciated for11. Buildings in the southeast of the UK are going to have to be constructed those in Scotland if the report findings are correct.A. asB. likeC. likelyD. are like12. We cannot see any possibility of business your price is on the high side of theprevailing market trend.A. whichB. sinceC. thatD. though13. If out successfully, the plan will completely change the traffic conditions in the city.A. carriedB. is carriedC. having been carriedD. to carry14. We are conscious of the extent work provides the psychological satisfaction that can make the difference between a full and empty life.A. to whichB. in whichC. at whichD. by which15. This book is about how these basic beliefs and values affect important of American life.A. fashionsB. frontiersC. facetsD. formatsSection BDirections:There are ten sentences in this section with one word or phrase underlined in each sentence. From the four choices given, choose one that best explains or defines the underlined part in each sentence.16. So engrossed in his efforts would Gaugin become that he barely noticed the passing of time.A. delighted inB. frustrated byC. expanded byD. involved in17. Rain abates in the fall throughout most of the Appalachian Mountain region.A. poursB. accumulatesC. lessensD. evaporates18. When a hurricane is about to occur, the National Weather Bureau issues a warning.A. adjacentB. giganticC. perilousD. imminent19. Relaxation therapy teaches one not to fret over small problems.A. worry aboutB. get involved inC. get angry aboutD. look for20. Mark Anthony’s eulogy of Caesar at his funeral is memorably recorded in a play by Shakespeare.A. prayerB. praiseC. biographyD. denunciation21. We regret being unable to entertain your request for providing free boarding to 15 sportsmen for two weeks.A. receiveB. complyC. coincideD. consider22. The ancient Jewish people regarded themselves as the salt of the earth, the chosen few by God to rule the world.A. outcastB. eliteC. nomadD. disciple23. Soon comics were so prevalent as to attract the attention of serious critics.A. successfulB. prosperousC. widespreadD. persuasive24. The progress of civilization itself can be measured by its range of mathematics.A. consideredB. decidedC. assessedD. found out25. The artist spent years on his monumental painting, which covered the whole roof of the church, the biggest in the country.A. archaicB. sentimentalC. outstandingD. entireSection CDirections:Each of the following five sentences below has two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are four lettered sets of words. Choose the setof words for the blanks that best fit the meaning of the sentence.26. To list Reilly’s achievements in a fragmentary way is , for it distracts our attention from the themes of her work.A. unproductive … disparateB. misleading … integratingC. pragmatic … comprehensiveD. logical … important27. That many of the important laws of science were discovered during experiments designedto other phenomena suggests that experimental results are the of inevitable natural forces rather than of planning.A. analyze … foundationsB. disprove … predecessorsC. alter … adjunctsD. illuminate … consequence28. The availability of oxygen is an essential for animal life, while carbon dioxide is equally for plant life.A. choice … optionalB. duplication … selectiveC. conversion … exchangeableD. condition … necessary29. Old beliefs die hard: even when jobs became , the long-standing fear that unemployment could return at a moment’s notice .A. vacant … perishedB. easier … changedC. plentiful … persistedD. protected … subsided30. Politeness is not a attribute of human behavior, but rather a central virtue, one whose very existence is increasingly being by the faddish requirement to ―speak one’s mind.‖A. superficial … threatenedB. pervasive … undercutC. worthless … forestalledD. precious … affectedPart ⅡProofreading and error correction (20 minutes, 20 points, 2 points each) Directions: The following passage contains TEN errors. Each indicated line contains a maximum of ONE error. In each case, only ONE word is involved. You should proof-read the passage and correct it in the following way.For a wrong word, underline the wrong word and write the correct one in the blankprovided at the end of the line.For a missing word, mark the position of the missing word with a “∧‖ sign and writethe word you believe to be missing in the blank provided at theend of the line.For an unnecessary word, cross out the unnecessary word with a slash ―/‖ and put the wordin the blank provided at the end of the line.ExampleWhen∧art museum wants a new exhibit, 1. anit never buys things in finished form and hangs 2. neverthem on the wall. When a natural history museumwants an exhibition, it must often build it. 3. exhibitThe Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the averagechange over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a marketbasket of consumer good and services. The CPI affects nearly all 1.Americans because of the many ways which it is used. Its three major 2.uses are: Firstly, as an economic indicator, the CPI is the most widelyused measurement of inflation and is sometimes viewed as an indicator 3.of the effectiveness of government economic policy. It providesinformations about price changes in the nation’s economy to 4.government, business, labor, and other private citizens, and is used bythem as a guide to make economic decisions. Secondly, as a deflator 5.of other economic series. The CPI and its components are used toadjusting other economic series for price changes and to translate 6.these series into inflation-free dollars. An interesting example ofthese is the use of the CPI as a deflator of the value of the consumer’s 7.dollar to find its purchasing power. The purchasing power ofthe consumer’s dollar measures the change in the value to the consumerof goods and services that a dollar will buy at different dates.By other words, as prices increase, the purchasing power of the 8.consumer’s dollar declines. Third, as a means of adjusting dollar 9.values. The CPI is often used to adjust consumer’s income payments; 10.to adjust income eligibility levels for government assistance;and to automatically provide cost-of-living wage adjustments tomillions of American workers.Part III Reading Comprehension (50 minutes, 40 points, 2 points each)Directions:There are four passages in this part. Read each passage carefully and answer the questions following each passage as you are required.Passage One―What does the middleman do but add to the price of goods in the shops?‖ Such remarks are aimed at the intermediate operations between manufactures and final customers. This practice usually attracts a lot of attention from the public and the press and the operation most talked about is what is often called wholesaling.The wholesaler buys goods in large quantities from the manufacturers and sells them in smaller parcels to retailers, and for this service his selling price to the retailer is raised several percent higher. But his job is made more difficult by retail demand not necessarily running level with manufacturers’production. Because he adjusts or regulates the flow of goods by holding stock until required, he frees the manufacturer, to some extent, from the effect on production of changing demand and having to bear the whole risk.The manufacturer can then keep up a steady production flow, and the retailer has no need to hold heavy stocks, who can call on the wholesaler for supplies any time. This wholesale function is like that of a valve in a water pipe. The middleman also bears part of the risk that would otherwise fall on the manufacturer and also the retailer.The wholesaler provides a purely commercial service, for which he is too well rewarded. But the point that is missed by many people is that the wholesaler is not just someone adding to the cost of goods. It is true one could eliminate the wholesaler but one would still be left with hisfunction: that of making sure that goods find their way to the people who want them.1. ―Middleman‖ in the passage almost equals to all the following in meaning except .A. go-betweenB. intermediaryC. manufacturerD. wholesaler2. The wholesaler obtains higher selling prices for .A. small parcels he sellsB. goods he buys in bulkC. the service he providesD. the information he offers3. A middleman’s work may become difficult because .A. manufactures run their production on a much higher levelB. market demand may not be the same as industrial productionC. retailers are not necessary in running their retailing businessD. retailers demand lower levels than those demanded by manufacturers4. What function of the wholesaler is compared to a valve?A. Controlling the flow of goods.B. Pushing up demand from retailers.C. Bearing part of the risk for manufacturers.D. Selling goods to retailers.5. The author quite possibly believes that the function of the wholesaler is .A. good but too costlyB. necessary but harmfulC. removable but necessaryD. acceptable but unnecessaryPassage TwoEvery group has a culture, however uncivilized it may seem to us. To the professional anthropologist, there is no intrinsic superiority of one culture over another, just as to the professional linguist, there is no intrinsic hierarchy among languages.People once thought of the languages of backward groups as undeveloped. While it is possible that language in general began as a series of grunts and groans, it is a fact established by the study of ―backward‖languages that no spoken tongue answers that description today. Most languages of uncivilized groups are, by our most severe standards, extremely complex. They differ from Western languages not in their sound patterns or grammatical structures, which usually are fully adequate for all language needs, but only in their vocabularies, which reflect the objects and activities known to their speakers. Even in this aspect, two things are to be noted. First, all languages seem to possess the machinery for vocabulary expansion, either by putting together words already in existence or by borrowing them from other languages and adapting them to their own system. Second, the objects and activities requiring names and distinctions in ―backward‖languages, while different from the West, are often surprisingly numerous and complicated. A Western language distinguishes merely between two degrees of remoteness (―this‖ and ―that‖ ) . But some languages of the American Indians distinguish between what is close to the speaker, or to the person addressed, or removed from both, or out of sight, or in the past, or in the future.6. Every group of human beings has .A. its own set of ideas, beliefs and ways of lifeB. an extremely complex and delicate languageC. its own elegant music, literature, and other artsD. the process of growing crops or raising animals7. To the professional linguists, .A. there is no intrinsic superiority of culturesB. there is no intrinsic hierarchy of languagesC. all languages came from grunts and groansD. all languages are most severe and standard8. According to this passage, to learn a foreign language would require one to .A. do more activitiesB. learn about a new cultureC. meet more peopleD. need more names9. The author’s attitude shown in this passage toward ―backward‖ languages is .A. restrainedB. subjectiveC. objectiveD. resolute10. This passage is on the whole .A. narrativeB. instructiveC. prescriptiveD. argumentativePassage ThreeIs test anxiety destructive? Can we make test anxiety work for us? The answer to both of these questions is yes. Test anxiety often interferes with student performance but this same test anxiety, if channeled correctly, can help improve performance.In order to lessen the destructive elements of test anxiety, the approach should be to develop improved confidence and knowledge. As your knowledge of the course material increases, your confidence in your ability to succeed will increase. As your confidence increases, your anxiety will go down, allowing your knowledge to come through more efficiently. The way you prepare for a test can reduce anxiety during the test.You will be surprised how confident you will feel if you know the material. Studies of memory show if you want to be able to recall information from text or lecture you have to review that material several times. It is important to know your own abilities and operate accordingly. If you know that you learn best by listening, prepare a tape of significant material and listen to the tape.Study partners or study groups are often useful for self-testing. Experience in stressful situations tends to lessen anxiety in those situations. One way to help yourself retrieve material is through the use of mnemonic codes. Learn a code that lets you remember complex material. Developing an outline for an essay question that you know will be on the test or memorizing a formula are forms of code development.Students are often frustrated by the sheer volume of material that has to be studied in college. Many instructors conduct reviews, give hints, identify what is important to study, use handouts or overhead transparency outlines. These materials should be at the top of your study list. If the instructor took the time to identify them, you should assume that they will play an important part of the test. While knowledge acquired during test preparation can help reduce anxiety, it is another thing to take the test itself. Following are a few suggestions to help reduce anxiety during the test.When I arrive at a test, I often find students flipping test pages at the last minute trying to cram it all in at the end. You would be better off trying to relax, meditating a little, and clearing your mind to allow yourself the ability to concentrate on the question that are coming.As soon as the instructor gives you the signal to start, dump out formulas, codes, outlines from your memory onto the test answer sheets so that you will not have to worry about whether you will remember the codes long enough until you get to the appropriate test question.You can build your confidence if you go through the test and answer all of the questions that you know first. Go back and work on those questions that need greater analysis, or that need to be worked out or need to be guessed at and your anxiety will not kick in until later in the test.For those of you whose anxiety increases as study and preparation increase, your goal should be to start concentrating on things that take your mind off the test, i.e., television, books, hobbies, movies, etc. Meditation and aerobic exercise have proven to be very useful methods for reducing undesirable effects of stress.The solution to reducing the destructive influences of stress is to plan to study. Map out a schedule of when you will study each day. Identify the specific topics that you will study each day. Identify the areas of the material that you have had problems with and study those. Your plan should include reading the text material, reviewing notes and homework assignments, identifying the material that needs further explanation, developing codes for memory material and testing yourself. Once you have studied adequately, your confidence will be fairly high, your knowledge will be satisfactory to do well on the test and the stomach butterflies will help you focus on the task at hand.I’d wish you good luck on finals, but you and I both know that the more effectively you study, the luckier you will get.11. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned as a good side of the test anxiety?A. It can help improve performance if channeled correctly.B. It motivates us to study and prepare for exam.C. It can help us to concentrate.D. It can always ensure a good score in the test.12. Which of the following test preparation ways cannot help one reduce anxiety during the test?A. You should know your own abilities and operate accordingly and learn as much as you can.B. Study partners or study groups are useful for self-testing.C. You can retrieve materials by using mnemonic codes.D. You should pay more attention to the materials identified by the teacher.13. What should be at the top of your study list when you prepare a test?A. The most complex materials.B. The questions asked by students.C. The materials reviewed and hints given by the teacher.D. The materials mastered by most students.14. The suggestions to help reduce anxiety during the test are .A. relaxing, mnemonic codes and easy questions firstB. relaxing, dumping and easy questions firstC. relaxing, easy questions first and extreme anxietyD. aerobic exercise, relax and dumping15. According to the passage, useful means for reducing undesirable effects of stress are .A. knowledge and confidenceB. learning ability and instructor’s hintsC. meditation and aerobic exerciseD. rest and meditationPassage FourNo revolutions in technology have as visibly marked the human condition as those in transport. Moving goods and people, they have opened continents, transformed living standards, spread diseases, fashions and folk around the world. Yet technologies to transport ideas and information across long distances have arguably achieved even more: they have spread knowledge, the basis of economic growth.The most basic of all these, the written word, was already ancient by 1000. By then China had, in basic form, the printing press, using carved woodblocks. But the key to its future, movable metal type, was four centuries away. The Chinese were hampered by their thousands of ideograms. Even so, they quite soon invented the primitive movable type, made of clay, and by the 13th century they had the movable wooden type. But the real secret was the use of an easily cast metal.When it came, Europe –aided by simple Western alphabets –leapt forward with it. One reason why Asia’s civilizations, in 1000 far ahead of Europe’s, then fell behind was that they lacked the technology to reproduce and diffuse ideas. On Johannes Gutenberg’s invention in the 1440s were built not just the Reformation and the Enlightenment, but Europe’s agricultural and industrial revolutions too.Yet information technology on its own would not have got far. Literally: better transport technology too was needed. That was not lacking, but there the big change came much later: it was railways and steamships that first allowed the speedy, widespread dissemination of news and ideas over long distances. And both technologies in turn required people and organizations to develop their use. They got them: for individual communication. The postal service: for wider publics, the publishing industry.Throughout the 19th century, the postal service formed the bedrock of national and international communications. Crucial to its growth had been the introduction of the stamp, combined with a low price, and payment by the sender. Britain put all three of these ideas into effect in 1840.By then, the world’s mail was taking off. It changed the world. Merchants in America’s eastern cities used it to gather information, enraging far-off cotton growers and farmers, who found that the New Yorkers knew more about crop prices than they did. In the American debate about slavery, it offered abolitionists a low-cost way to spread their views, just as later technologies have cut the cost and widened the scope of political lobbying. The post helped too to integrate the American nation, tying the newly opened west to the settled east.Everywhere, its development drove and was driven by those of transport. In Britain, travelers rode by mail coach to posting inns. In America, the post subsidized road-building. Indeed, argues Dan Schiller, a professor of communications at the University of California, it was the connection between the post, transport and national integration that ensured that the mail remained a public enterprise even in the United States, its first and only government-run communications medium, and until at least the 1870s, the biggest organization in the land.The change has not only been one of speed and distance, though, but of audience. About 200 years ago, a man’s words could reach no further than his voice, not just in range but in whom they reached. But, for some purposes, efficient communication is mass communication, regular, cheap,quick and reliable. When it became possible, it transformed the world.16. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?A. Transporting goods and people is the most important technology in the history of mankind.B. Technology in transporting goods and people has changed human conditions more than anything else.C. Technology in spreading information has changed human conditions more than transportation technology.D. Technology in spreading information can’t change the ec onomic development of society.17. Johannes Gutenberg’s invention probably refers to .A. printing technologyB. transportation technologyC. the Reformation and the EnlightenmentD. industrial revolution18. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the postal service?A. American abortionists were not happy about it.B. The stamp was invented in Britain.C. It helped the independence of America.D. In the 1840s it was the major means of national communications in Britain.19. In the United States, the postal service belongs to .A. a private companyB. the governmentC. road-building enterprisesD. national integration20. Which of the following statements is NOT true about mass communication?A. It can reach no further than human voice.B. It can reach a large audience.C. It is rapid and efficient.D. It can be trusted.Part ⅣTranslation (40 minutes, 30 points, 15 points each)Directions: There are two passages here. Put the underlined part in the first one into Chinese and the underlined part in the second one into English.[1] It may seem an exaggeration to say that ambition is something that can hold many of the society’s disparate elements together, but it is not an exaggeration by much. Remove ambition and the essential elements of society seem to fly apart. Ambition, as opposed to mere fantasizing about desires, implies work and discipline to achieve goals, personal and social, which society cannot survive without. Ambition is intimately connected with family, for men and women not only work for themselves, but partly for their families; husbands and wives are often ambitious for each other, but harbor some of their most ardent ambitions for their children. Yet to have a family nowadays —with birth control readily available, and inflation a good economic argument against having children — is nearly an expression of ambition in itself. Finally, though ambition was once the domain chiefly of monarchs and aristocrats, it has, in more recent times, increasingly become the domain of the middle class. Ambition and futurity —a sense of building for tomorrow —are inextricable. Working, saving, planning —these, the daily aspects of ambition —have alwaysbeen the distinguishing marks of a rising middle class. The attack against ambition is not incidentally an attack on the middle class and what it stands for.[2] 世界是千变万化的，疑问是层出不穷的，答案是丰富多彩的，对问题评述的标准不同，答案就不同。

2012硕士生入学考试英语试题答案Section ⅠUse of English1-5 BABDC 6-10 BDBAB 11-15 ACCDA 16-20 CACDDSection ⅡReading Comprehension21.D 22.B 23.A 24.C 25.D 26.C 27.D 28.A 29.D 30.A 31.A 32.B 33.B 34.B 35.C 36.C 37.D 38.B 39.C 40.APart BThis was all a bit bourgeois for Thomas Carlyle, who focused his biographies on the truly heroic lives of Martin Luther, Oliver Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte. These epochal figures represented lives hard to imitate, but to be acknowledged as possessing higher authority than mere morals.Communist Manifesto. For them, history did nothing, it possessed no immense wealth nor waged battles:“It is man, real, living man who does all that.”And history should be the story of the masses and their record of struggle. As such, it needed to appreciate the economic realities, the social contexts and power relations in which each epoch stood. For:“Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly found, given and transmitted from the past.”This was the tradition which revolutionized our appreciation of the past. In place of Thomas Carlyle, Britain nurtured Christopher Hill, EP Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm. History from below stood alongside biographies of great men. Whole new realms of understanding - from gender to race to cultural studies - were opened up as scholars unpicked the multiplicity of lost41. Petrarch出现在文章第二段第二行“In 1337, Petrarch began work on his rambling writing De Viris Illustribus - On Famous Men, highlighting the virtus （or virtue）of classical heroes.”根据此句的提示，Petrarch强调英雄美德。

2012研究生考试英语一Section I Use of EnglishDirections:Read the following text. Choose the best words for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. 10 pointsRead the following text. Choose the best words for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. 10 pointsThe ethical judgments of the Supreme Court justices have become an important issue recently. The court cannot _1_ its legitimacy as guardian of the rule of law _2_ justices behave like politicians. Yet, in several instances, justices acted in ways that _3_ the court’s reputation for being independent and impartial.Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, appeared at political events. That kind of activity makes it less likely that the court’s decisions will be _4_ as impartial judgments. Part of the problem is that the justices are not _5_by an ethics code. At the very least, the court should make itself _6_to the code of conduct that _7_to the rest of the federal judiciary.This and other similar cases _8_the question of whether there is still a _9_between the court and politics.The framers of the Constitution envisioned law _10_having authority apart from politics. They gave justices permanent positions _11_they would be free to _12_ those in power and have no need to _13_ political support. Our legal system was designed to set law apart from politics precisely because they are so closely _14_.Constitutional law is political because it results from choices rooted in fundamental social _15_ like liberty and property. When the court deals with social policy decisions, the law it _16_ is inescapably political-which is why decisions split along ideological lines are so easily _17_ as unjust.The justices must _18_ doubts about the court’s legitimacy by making themselves _19_ to the code of conduct. That would make rulings more likely to be seen as separate from politics and, _20_, convincing as law.1. Aemphasize Bmaintain Cmodify D recognize2. Awhen Blest Cbefore D unless3. Arestored Bweakened Cestablished D eliminated4. Achallenged Bcompromised Csuspected D accepted5. Aadvanced Bcaught Cbound Dfounded6. Aresistant Bsubject Cimmune Dprone7. Aresorts Bsticks Cloads Dapplies8. Aevade Braise Cdeny Dsettle9. Aline Bbarrier Csimilarity Dconflict10. Aby Bas Cthough Dtowards11. Aso Bsince Cprovided Dthough12. Aserve Bsatisfy Cupset Dreplace13. Aconfirm Bexpress Ccultivate Doffer14. Aguarded Bfollowed Cstudied Dtied15. Aconcepts Btheories Cdivisions Dconceptions16. Aexcludes Bquestions Cshapes Dcontrols17. Adismissed Breleased Cranked Ddistorted18. Asuppress Bexploit Caddress Dignore19. Aaccessible Bamiable Cagreeable Daccountable20. Aby all mesns Batall costs Cin a word Das a resultSection 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 ANSWER SHEET 1. 40 pointsText 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 theHaze 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 Against 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 a nd 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 the problem with a social cure engineered from the outside: in the real world, as in school, we insist on choosing our own friends.21. According to the first paragraph, peer pressure often emerges asA a supplement to the social cureB a stimulus to group dynamicsC an obstacle to school progressD a cause of undesirable behaviors22. Rosenberg holds that public advocates shouldA recruit professional advertisersB learn from advertisers’ experienceC stay away from commercial advertisersD recognize the limitations of advertisements23. In the au thor’s view, Rosenberg’s book fails toA adequately probe social and biological factorsB effectively evade the flaws of the social cureC illustrate the functions of state fundingDproduce a long-lasting social effect24. Paragraph 5shows that our imitation of behaviorsA is harmful to our networks of friendsB will mislead behavioral studiesC occurs without our realizing itD can produce negative health habits25. The author suggests in the last paragraph that the effect of peer pressure isA harmfulB desirableC profoundD questionableText 2A deal is a deal-except, apparently ,when Entergy is involved. The company, a major energy supplier in New England, provoked justified outrage in Vermont last week when it announced it was reneging on a longstanding commitment to abide by the strict nuclear regulations.Instead, the company has done precisely what it had long promised it would not challenge the constitutionality of Vermont’s rules in the federal court, as part of a desperate effort to kee p its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant running. It’s a stunning move.The conflict has been surfacing since 2002, when the corporation bought Vermont’s only nuclear power plant, an aging reactor in Vernon. As a condition of receiving state approval for the sale, the company agreed to seek permission from state regulators to operate past 2012. In 2006, the state went a step further, requiring that any extension of the plant’s license be subject to Vermont legislature’s approval. Then, too, the company went along.Either Entergy never really intended to live by those commitments, or it simply didn’t foresee what would happen next. A string of accidents, including the partial collapse of a cooling tower in 207 and the discovery of an underground pipe system leakage, raised serious questions about both Vermont Yankee’s safety and Entergy’s management–especially after the company made misleading statements about the pipe. Enraged by Entergy’s behavior, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 last year against allowing an extension.Now the company is suddenly claiming that the 2002 agreement is invalid because of the 2006 legislation, and that only the federal government has regulatory power over nuclear issues. The legal issues in the case are obscure: whereas the Supreme Court has ruled that states do have some regulatory authority over nuclear power, legal scholars say that Vermontcase will offer a precedent-setting test of how far those powers extend. Certainly, there are valid concerns about the patchwork regulations that could result if every state sets its own rules. But had Entergy kept its word, that debate would be beside the point.The company seems to have concluded that its reputation in Vermont is already so damaged that it has noting left to lose by going to war with the state. But there should be consequences. Permission to run a nuclear plant is a poblic trust. Entergy runs 11 other reactors in the United States, including Pilgrim Nuclear station in Plymouth. Pledging to run Pilgrim safely, the company has applied for federal permission to keep it open for another 20 years. But as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC reviews the company’s application, it should keep it mind what promises from Entergy are worth.26. The phrase “reneging on”Line is clos est in meaning toA condemning.B reaffirming.C dishonoring.D securing.27. By entering into the 2002 agreement, Entergy intended toA obtain protection from Vermont regulators.B seek favor from the federal legislature.C acquire an extension of its business license .D get permission to purchase a power plant.28. According to Paragraph 4, Entergy seems to have problems with itsA managerial practices.B technical innovativeness.C financial goals.D business vision29. In the author’s view, the V ermont case will testA Entergy’s capacity to fulfill all its promises.B the mature of states’ patchwork regulations.C the federal authority over nuclear issues .D the limits of states’ power over nuclear issues.30. It can be inferred from the last paragraph thatA Entergy’s business elsewhere might be affected.B the authority of the NRC will be defied.C Entergy will withdraw its Plymouth application.D Vermont’s reputation might be damaged.Text 3In the idealized version of how science is done, facts about the world are waiting to be observed and collected by objective researchers who use the scientific method to carry out their work. But in the everyday practice of science, discovery frequently follows an ambiguous and complicated route. We aim to be objective, but we cannot escape the context of our unique life experience. Prior knowledge and interest influence what we experience, what we think our experiences mean, and the subsequent actions we take. Opportunities for misinterpretation, error, and self-deception abound.Consequently, discovery claims should be thought of as protoscience. Similar to newly staked mining claims, they are full of potential. But it takes collective scrutiny and acceptance to transform a discovery claim into a mature discovery. This is the credibility process, through which the individual researcher’s me, here, now becomes the community’s anyone, anywhere, anytime. Objective knowledge is the goal, not the starting point.Once a discovery claim becomes public, the discoverer receives intellectual credit. But, unlike with mining claims, the community takes control of what happens next. Within the complex social structure of the scientific community, researchers make discoveries; editors and reviewers act as gatekeepers by controlling the publication process; other scientists use the new finding to suit their own purposes; and finally, the public including other scientists receives the new discovery and possibly accompanying technology. As a discovery claim works it through the community, the interaction and confrontation between shared and competing beliefs about the science and the technology involved transforms an individual’s discovery claim into the community’s credible discovery.Two paradoxes exist throughout this credibility process. First, scientific work tends to focus on some aspect of prevailing Knowledge that is viewed as incomplete or incorrect. Little reward accompanies duplication and confirmation of what is already known and believed. The goal is new-search, not re-search. Not surprisingly, newly published discovery claims and credible discoveries that appear to be important and convincing will always be open to challenge and potential modification or refutation by future researchers. Second, novelty itself frequently provokes disbelief. Nobel Laureate and physiologist AlbertAzent-Gyorgyi once described discovery as “seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” But thinking what nobody else has thought and telling others what they have missed may not change their views. Sometimes years are required for truly novel discovery claims to be accepted and appreciated.In the end, credibility “happens” to a discovery claim – a process that corresponds to what philosopher Annette Baier has described as the commons of the mind. “We reason together, challenge, revise, and complete each other’s reasoning and each other’s conceptions of reason.”31. According to the first paragraph, the process of discovery is characterized by itsA uncertainty and complexity.B misconception and deceptiveness.C logicality and objectivity.D systematicness and regularity.32. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that credibility process requiresA strict inspection.Bshared efforts.C individual wisdom.Dpersistent innovation.3 shows that a discovery claim becomes credible after itA has attracted the attention of the general public.Bhas been examined by the scientific community.C has received recognition from editors and reviewers.Dhas been frequently quoted by peer scientists.34. Albert Szent-Györgyi would most likely agree thatA scientific claims will survive challenges.Bdiscoveries today inspire future research.C efforts to make discoveries are justified.Dscientific work calls for a critical mind.of the following would be the best title of the testA Novelty as an Engine of Scientific Development.BCollective Scrutiny in Scientific Discovery.C Evolution of Credibility in Doing Science.DChallenge to Credibility at the Gate to Science.Text 4If the trade unionist Jimmy Hoffa were alive today, he would probably represent civil servant. When Hoffa’s Teamsters were in their prime in 1960, only one in ten American government workers belonged to a union; now 36% do. In 2009 the number of unionists in America’s public sector passed that of their fellow members in the private sector. In Britain, more than half of public-sector workers but only about 15% of private-sector ones are unionized.There are three reasons for the public-sector unions’ thr iving. First, they can shut things down without suffering much in the way of consequences. Second, they are mostly brightand well-educated. A quarter of America’s public-sector workers have a university degree. Third, they now dominate left-of-centre politics. Some of their ties go back a long way. Britain’s Labor Party, as its name implies, has long been associated with trade unionism. Its current leader, Ed Miliband, owes his position to votes from public-sector unions.At the state level their influence can be even more fearsome. Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California points out that much of the state’s budget is patrolled by unions. The teachers’ unions keep an eye on schools, the CCPOA on prisons and a variety of labor groups on health care.In many rich countries average wages in the state sector are higher than in the private one. But the real gains come in benefits and work practices. Politicians have repeatedly “backloaded” public-sector pay deals, keeping the pay increases modest but adding to holidays and especially pensions that are already generous.Reform has been vigorously opposed, perhaps most egregiously in education, where charter schools, academies and merit pay all faced drawn-out battles. Even though there is plent y of evidence that the quality of the teachers is the most important variable, teachers’ unions have fought against getting rid of bad ones and promoting good ones.As the cost to everyone else has become clearer, politicians have begun to clamp down. In Wisconsin the unions have rallied thousands of supporters against Scott Walker, the hardline Republican governor. But many within the public sector suffer under the current system, too.John Donahue at Harvard’s Kennedy School points out that the norms of culture in Western civil services suit those who want to stay put but is bad for high achievers. The only American public-sector workers who earn well above $250,000 a year are university sports coaches and the president of the United States. Bankers’ fat pay packets have attracted much criticism, but a public-sector system that does not reward high achievers may be a much bigger problem for America.36. It can be learned from the first paragraph thatA Teamsters still have a large body of members.B Jimmy Hoffa used to work as a civil servant.C unions have enlarged their public-sector membership.Dthe government has improved its relationship with unionists.37. Which of the following is true of Paragraph 2A Public-sector unions are prudent in taking actions.B Education is required for public-sector union membership.C Labor Party has long been fighting against public-sector unions.DPublic-sector unions seldom get in trouble for their actions.38. It can be learned from Paragraph 4 that the income in the state sector isA illegally secured.B indirectly augmented.C excessively increased.Dfairly adjusted.39. The example of the unions in Wisconsin shows that unionsAoften run against the current political system.Bcan change people’s political a ttitudes.Cmay be a barrier to public-sector reforms.Dare dominant in the government.40. John Donahue’s attitude towards the public-sector system is one ofAdisapproval.Bappreciation.Ctolerance.Dindifference.Part BDirections:In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET1.10 pointsThink of those fleeting moments when you look out of an aeroplane window and realise that you are flying, higher than a bird. Now think of your laptop, thinner than a brown-paper envelope, or your cellphone in the palm of your hand. Take a moment or two to wonder at those marvels. You are the lucky inheritor of a dream come true.The second half of the 20th century saw a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine that could function as a typewriter and printing press, studio and theatre, paintbrush and gallery, piano and radio, the mail as well as the mail carrier. 41The networked computer is an amazing device, the first media machine that serves as the mode of production, means of distribution, site of reception, and place of praise and critique. The computer is the 21st century's culture machine.But for all the reasons there are to celebrate the computer, we must also tread with caution. 42I call it a secret war for two reasons. First, most people do not realise that there are strong commercial agendas at work to keep them in passive consumption mode. Second,the majority of people who use networked computers to upload are not even aware of the significance of what they are doing.All animals download, but only a few upload. Beavers build dams and birds make nests. Yet for the most part, the animal kingdom moves through the world downloading. Humans are unique in their capacity to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods - paintings, sculpture and architecture - and superfluous experiences - music, literature, religion and philosophy. 43For all the possibilities of our new culture machines, most people are still stuck in download mode. Even after the advent of widespread social media, a pyramid of production remains, with a small number of people uploading material, a slightly larger group commenting on or modifying that content, and a huge percentage remaining content to just consume. 44Television is a one-way tap flowing into our homes. The hardest task that television asks of anyone is to turn the power off after he has turned it on.45What counts as meaningful uploading My definition revolves around the concept of "stickiness" - creations and experiences to which others adhere.A Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.B Applications like , which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.C Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.D This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading - between passive consumption and active creation - whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.E The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.F One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the pasthalf-century, much of the world's media culture has been defined by a single medium - television - and television is defined by downloading.GThe networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.Part CDirections:Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. 10 pointsSince the days of Aristotle, a search for universal principles has characterized the scientific enterpr ise. In some ways, this quest for commonalities defines science. Newton’s laws of motion and Darwinian evolution each bind a host of different phenomena into a single explicatory frame work.46In physics, one approach takes this impulse for unification to its extreme, and seeks a theory of everything—a single generative equation for all we is becoming less clear,however, that such a theory would be a simplification, given the dimensions and universes that it might entail, nonetheless, unification of sorts remains a major goal.This tendency in the natural sciences has long been evident in the social sciences too.47Here, Darwinism seems to offer justification for it all humans share common origins it seems reasonable to suppose that cultural diversity could also be traced to more constrained beginnings. Just as the bewildering variety of human courtship rituals might all be considered forms of sexual selection, perhaps the world’s languages, music, social and religious customs and even history are governed by universal features. 48To filter out what is unique from what is shared might enable us to understand how complex cultural behavior arose and what guides it in evolutionary or cognitive terms.That, at least, is the hope. But a comparative study of linguistic traits published online today supplies a reality check. Russell Gray at the University of Auckland and his colleagues consider the evolution of grammars in the light of two previous attempts to find universality in language.The most famous of these efforts was initiated by Noam Chomsky, who suggested that humans are born with an innate language—acquisition capacity that dictates a universalgrammar. A few generative rules are then sufficient to unfold the entire fundamental structure of a language, which is why children can learn it so quickly.49The second, by Joshua Greenberg, takes a more empirical approach to universality identifying traits particularly in word order shared by many language which are considered to represent biases that result from cognitive constraintsGray and his colleagues have put them to the test by examining four family trees that between them represent more than 2,000 languages.50Chomsky’s grammar should show patterns of language change that are independent of the family tree or the pathway tracked through it. Whereas Greenbergian universality predicts strong co-dependencies betweenparticular types of word-order relations. Neither of these patterns is borne out by the analysis, suggesting that the structures of the languages are lire age-specific and not governed byuniversalsSection III WritingPart A51. Directions:Some internationals students are coming to your university. Write them an email in the name of the Students’ Union to1 extend your welcome and2 provide some suggestions for their campus life here.You should write about 100 words on ANSWER not sign your name at the end of the letter. Use “Li Ming” instead.Do not write the address10 pointsPart B52. Directions: write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following drawing. In your essay you should1 describe the drawing briefly2 explain its intended meaning, and3 give your commentsYou should write neatly on ANSWER SHEET2.20 points\Section I Use of English1．答案B解析从空后信息可以看出,这句表达的是“_ _法官表现得像政治家”的情况下,法庭就不能保持其作为法律法规的合法卫士的形象,所以应该选C, maintain“维持,保持”,其他显然语义不通;2．答案A解析从第三段可以看出,文章认为法院和政治之间应该是有界限的;所以这里应该是当法官像政治家一样行事,模糊了二者之间的区别时,就失去了其作为法律卫士的合法性;只有B,when表示这个意思;3．答案B解析第二段给的具体事例说明,法官出现在政治活动中会使法官形象受损,影响他们独立、公正的名声;只有B,weaken能表示这个意思;4．答案D解析空前信息显示,法官出席政治活动会让法院的审判收到影响,人们就会认为其审判不公正,所以选D,be accepted as...“被认为是”;5．答案C解析空所在的语境为：产生这样的问题,部分原因在于“法官没有_ _道德规范”;后一句话说,至少法院应该遵守行为规范,这显然是进一步说明上一句话;所以上一句是说法官没有受到道德规范的约束,选C,bound;6．答案B解析根据解析5可以看出,这里应该是说遵守行为规范,subject与to连用,表示“服从某物,受…支配”;故本题选B;7．答案D解析分析句子结构可知,这里是由that引导的定语从句修饰说明前面的行为规范,是说法院也应当遵守适用于其他联邦司法部的行为规范;apply to “适用于”符合题意;resort to “求助于”；stick to “坚持原则等”语意不通;8．答案B解析空所在的语境为,类似这样的案例提出了这样一个问题：法院和政治之间是否还存在着界限;提出问题,产生问题用只能选raise;解析根据第8题可知,空内应填line,“界限”; barrier “障碍”,similarity“相似性”,conflict“冲突”都不合题意;10．答案B解析根据句意,宪法的起草者们预想的是将司法从政治中分出来,让其享有独立的权力;envision as “将…想象成…”;所以选B;11．答案A解析本题考察逻辑搭配;本选项答案的确定需结合前句意思,制宪者旨在使法律不受政治的任何影响,这样一来,法官就可以免受掌权者的影响了;此空就是考察由此所带来的结果,故选A;12．答案C解析此题承接上题,可知法律不受政治的影响,从而法官也不用担心掌权者those in power;;hose in powerin Scalia a13．答案C解析此题承接上题, 结合句意, 可知该半句主要表达“法官也无需政治支持了;” 选项C最符题意;14．答案D解析此题考察词意辨析;原句表达“我们的法律体系是法律完全不受政治的影响,是因为这两者是紧密;;;”;结合句意思,D最合题意.15．答案A解析此题考察词意辨析;文中说“宪法具有政治性,是因其的选择都是植根于诸如自由, 财产之类的基本社会;;;中;”自由,财产是西方社会的一些基本社会理念或概念, 故选A;16．答案C解析此题考察词意辨析;首先分析该句,可知空白处添加上一动词可构成一定语从句,限定“the law”;其次,文中语境表达“当法律处理社会政策决策问题时,;;;的法律不可避免的具有政治性; 四个选项中,C为最佳答案;17．答案A解析此题考察词意辨析;可由文中语境得知,该半句主要表达“ 这也就解释了为何背离思想路线的决策被看作是不公正的, 从而被轻易的….”;结合语境, 以及四个选项的意思,可知A最佳;。

北京科技大学2012年硕士学位研究生入学考试试题============================================================================================================= 试题编号： 211 试题名称：翻译硕士英语（共 11 页）适用专业：翻译（专业英语）说明：所有答案必须写在答题纸上，做在试题或草稿纸上无效。

============================================================================================================= I.Vocabulary and Structure (30 points, 1 point each. 60 minutes) Directions: Beneath each sentence there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Write your answers on your answer sheet.1.He was frustrated because, although he was adept at making lies sound _______,when telling the truth, he lacked the power to make himself believed.A.convincingB. plausibleC. trueD. logical2.The corporation expects only ______ increases in sales next year despite a yearlong effort to revive its retailing business.A.modestB. sequentialC. unquestionableD. exaggerated3.The mother said she would ______ her son washing the dishes if he could finishhis assignment before supper.A.let downB. let aloneC. let offD. let out4.My favorite radio song is the one I first heard on a 1923 Edison disc I ______ at agarage sale.A.trifled withB. scraped throughC. stumbled uponD. thirsted for5.While not ______ with the colorfully obvious forms of life that are found in atropical rain forest, the desert is host to a surprisingly large number of species.A.endowedB. teemingC. confrontedD. imbued6.Although I had been invited to the opening ceremony, I was unable to attend______ such short notice.A.toB. inC. withD. on7.The journalist deprecated the efforts of environmental protection to stopdeforestation, claiming that they had actually ______ the problem.A.initiatedB. indictedC. acceleratedD. alleviated8.I think your sister is old enough to know ______ to spend all her money on fancyclothes.A.other thanB. more thanC. rather thanD. better than9.The emotional outburst was quite unusual for him; he is typically one of the most______ individuals you could ever meet.A.stoicB. demonstrativeC. extrovertedD. inimical10.Despite her gregariousness, she seems to have been a woman who cherished her______ highly.A.integrityB. privacyC. friendshipsD. humility11.To those consumers who are more influenced by style than by performance, the______ value of the sports car outweighs its functional flaws.A.pragmaticB. utilitarianC. inexplicableD. aesthetic12.The defendant’s contrite behavior was not an act; he truly felt great ______ for thecrime of which he was accused.A.apprehensionB. indigenceC. remorseD. bliss13.The fact that even the most traditional European language has ______ such wordsas “e-mail” seems to indicate that no language is impervious to foreign influences.A.originatedB. prohibitedC. incorporatedD. recounted14.Despite the attempts to depict the stock market as driven by predictable financialprinciples, many investors believe that the price of any security is ______.A.valuableB. responsiveC. obscureD. capricious15.A student becomes a thinker only when he or she realizes that most so-called factsare merely ______ claims, each serving its purpose only temporarily.A.provisionalB. authoritativeC. dramaticD. pedantic16.She approached her homework assignments in such a (an) ______ way that it isdifficult to believe that she is at the top of her class.A.diligentB. laggardC. adeptD. fanatical17.Because the team had been eliminated from the playoffs, they played with ______in their final games, losing by an average of forty points per game.A.fortitudeB. resolutionC. vigorD. apathy18.Those who fear the influence of television deliberately ______ its persuasivepower, hoping that they might keep knowledge of its potential to effect socialchange from being widely disseminated.A.underplayB. promoteC. excuseD. laud19.As the employee’s motives were found to be ______, no disciplinary action willbe taken against him for the mistake.A.absurdB. benignC. gratuitousD. improvised20.To ______ people’s hunger for adventures, they came up with many high-techvideo games.A.harmonizeB. enhanceC. nullifyD. appease21.Theories ______ on the individual suggest that children engage in criminalbehavior because they were not sufficiently penalized for previous misdeeds.A.actingB. centeringC. relyingD. commenting22.Once accepted as an incontrovertible truth, the theory that nine planets revolvearound our sun is now regarded by astronomers as ______.A.dubiousB. irrefutableC. universalD. conclusive23.Although based on an actual event, the film lacks verisimilitude: the directorshuffles events and ______ documentary truth for dramatic power.A.embracesB. exaggeratesC. substitutesD. sacrifices24.The ______ of the neighborhood is revealed by subtle practices, like the fact thatso many people in the community use the same hand gestures when speaking.A.adaptabilityB. diversityC. cohesivenessD. creativity25.Only if the number of applicants continues to ______ can the admissioncommittee justify offering more scholarships in order to increase the number of applicants.A.expandB. plummetC. mushroomD. burgeon26.She writes across generational lines, making the past so ______ that our belief thatthe present is the true focus of experience is undermined.plexB. vividC. mysteriousD. distant27.A common argument claims that in folk art, the artist’s subordination of technicalmastery to intense feeling ______ the direct communication of emotion to the viewer.A.facilitatesB. neutralizesC. impliesD. represses28.I don’t understand what you’re getting so ______ about. It’s really not a problem.A. worked outB. worked overC. worked upD. worked against29.The smile on the Monalisa has been the source of much ______ among arthistorians, who continue to interpret her expression in many different ways.A.assentB. deliberationC. concurrenceD. reconciliation30.The Prime Minister had vetoed the proposal in the past; thus, it came as a surpriseto the public when he ______ the same law in his most recent speech.A.denouncedB. initiatedC. articulatedD. sanctionedII.Reading Comprehension (40 points, 2 points each. 60 minutes)Section IDirections: In this section there are three reading passages followed by multiple-choice questions. Read the passages and then write your answers on your answer sheet.Passage OneLast week, The Washington Post ran a front-page story that said most stay-at-home moms aren’t S.U.V. —driving, daily yoga-doing, latte-drinking, upper-middle-class women who choose to leave their high-power careers to answer the call to motherhood. Instead, they are disproportionately low-income, non-college educated, young and Hispanic or foreign-born; in other words, they are women whose horizons are greatly limited and for whom the cost of child care, very often, makes work not a workable choice at all.These findings, drawn from a new report by the Census Bureau, really ought to lead us to reframe our public conversations about who mothers are and why they do what they do. It should lead us away from all the moralistic bombast about mothers’ “choices” and “priorities”. It should get us thinking less about choice, in f act, and make us focus more on contingencies —the objective conditions that drive women’s lives. And they should propel us to think about the choices that we as a society must make to guarantee that the best possible opportunities are available for all families.The basic finding of this latest report — that the more choices mothers have, the more likely they are to work —has been known, to anyone who’s taken the time to seriously look into the issue. Ever since 2003, when Lisa Belkin’s article in The Times magazine about highly privileged and ultra-high-achieving moms —“The Opt-Out Revolution” — was generalized by the news media to claim that mothers overall were choosing to leave the work force in droves, researchers have been revisiting the state of mothers’ employment and reaching very similar conclusions.In 2007, the sociologists David Cotter, Paula England and Joan Hermsen looked carefully at four decades of employment data and found that women with choices —those with college educations — were overwhelmingly choosing to stay in the work force. The only women “opting out” in any significant numbers were the very richest — those with husbands earning more than $125,000 a year — and the very poorest —those with husbands earning less than $23, 4000 a year. You might say that the movement of the richest women out of the workforce proves that women will, in the best of all possible worlds, go home. But these women often have husbands who, in order to earn those top salaries, work 70 or 80 hours a week and travel extensively; someone had to be home. Many left high-powered careers that made similar demands on their time.The alternative narrative — of constricted horizons, not choice — that might have emerged from recent research has never really made it into the mainstream. It just can’t, it seems, find a foothold.“The reason we keep getting this narrative is that there is this deep cultural ambivalence about mothers’ employment,” England told me this week. “On the one hand, people believe women should have equal opportunities, but on the other hand, we don’t envision men taking on more child care and housework and, unlike Europe, we don’t seem to be able to envision family-friendly work policies.”Why this matters — and why opening this topic up for discussion is important —is very clear: because our public policy continues to rest upon a fictitious idea, eternally recycled in the media, of mothers’ free choices, and not upon the constraints that truly drive their behavior. “If journalism repeate dly frames the wrong problem, then the folks who make public policy may very well deliver the wrong solution,” is how E. J. Graff, the associate director and senior researcher at Brandeis University’s Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism once put it in the Columbia Journalism Review, “If women are happily choosing to stay home with their babies, that’s private decision. But it’s a public policy issue if schools, jobs and other American institutions are structured in ways that make it frustratingly difficult, and sometimes impossible, for parents to manage both their jobs and family responsibilities.”1.What is the significance of the report run by the Census Bureau?A.It changes the images of what mothers are.B.The society should notice the importance of mothers’ choices.C.We need talk about what mothers should do rather than the choices they have.D.More attention should be paid to opportunities offered to change women’scurrent lives.2.The phrase “in droves” in Paragraph 3 means ______.A.under stimulationB.in groupsC.driven by conditionsD.none of the above3.The fourth paragraph claims that ______.A.the very richest prefer to opt out for the wealth they ownB.demands on time are the only reason for the poorest at homeC.financial affluence leads to the women’s “opting out”D.family responsibility forces women to stay at home4.According to the passage, ______ is the root cause of women staying at home.A.the mediaB. their own choiceC. the public policyD. school structure5.What is the best title for the passage?A.The Choice of Non-Working WomenB.The Opt-Out Revolution of WomenC.The Objective Condition of WomenD.Women in Employment MarketPassage TwoYou don’t have to be Julian Assange, the man behind WikiLeaks, to think that governments have a nasty habit of abusing their powers of secrecy. Or that, whether governments are corrupt and malign or merely negligent and incompetent, then sunlight is often the best disinfectant. One of the jobs of journalism is to make a grubby nuisance of itself by ferreting out the establishment’s half-truths and embarrassments. And one of the jobs of the courts is to police the press by protecting whistle-blowers while also punishing libel and treachery.But the most recent WikiLeaks dump of diplomatic cables has overturned that order in two ways. First by its sheer volume. When you have not just a handful of documents to release, but more than 250,000 emails seemingly touching on every file in the State Department, however dusty, you discredit not just one government official or one policy, but an entire way of going about diplomacy.It is too soon to know what effect the leak’s revelations will have. The newspapers have so far published the e-mails piecemeal, and a lot more are to come. Foreign-policy experts are right when they say they have learned little that is radically new. Revelations about the tireless nightlife of Italy’s aging prime minister will surprise no one. Given that hundreds of thousands of people had access to the cables, the sensitive stuff will already be in the hands of many a spy service.But the experts also miss a larger point: they themselves are part of the elite inner-circle that WikiLeaks wants to break open so that Everyman can judge for himself. Perhaps shattering all those taboos might do some good. The public airing of Arab leaders’ fears of an Iranian bomb might shake others’ complacency about the issue.But any gains will come at a high cost. In a world of WikiLeaks, diplomacy would no longer be possible. The secrecy that WikiLeaks despises is vital to all organizations, including government --- and especially in the realm of international relations. Those who pass information to American diplomats, out of self-interest, conviction or goodwill, will be less open now. Some of them, like the Iranian businessman fingered as a friend of America, could face reprisals.In the past, the rights and wrongs of all this could have been determined by public debate, the passage of some legislation and the courts. Not any longer. The second way in which WikiLeaks has overturned the old order is by being beyond jurisdiction.America can and will try to use its laws to protect its secrets. But even if it locks up Bradley Manning, the 23-year-old serviceman thought to be behind the leaks, and even if it captures Mr. Assange, the information is out, on a network of computers somewhere in cyberspace.In any case, there will be the other Mannings and other Assanges. You cannot uninvent the technology for copying a State Department’s worth of cables and carti ng them pretty much anywhere. The only remedy is to manage secrets better. The damage that America’s diplomatic service has suffered is partly the result of sloppy practices. It has now tightened access to the e-mails and the scope to copy them. Sensitive information will have to receive a higher classification.On reading diplomats’ dissembling, people may be tempted to sneer. In fact diplomacy’s never-ending private conversation ultimately helps see off war and strife. That conversation will continue. Too many people have too much to gain for it to stop. But it will be less rich, less clear and therefore probably less useful. WikiLeaks claims to want to make the world a better place. It will probably do the reverse.6.Which of the following statements can NOT be learned from the first paragraph?A.Few people think governments tend to abuse their powers of secrecy.B.Ordinary people generally approve of the transparency in the media.C.The journalism has the responsibility to make known the hidden truth.D.The judicature has the duty to maintain the security of the press.7.According to the passage, which is NOT the viewpoint of the author?A.WikiLeaks has released much more information than imagined.B.WikiLeaks has overstepped jurisdiction.C.WikiLeaks has changed the practice of diplomacy in the world.D.WikiLeaks has ushered in a new era in the press.8.Why did the author say in Paragraph 3 that “Italy’s aging prime minister willsurprise no one”?A.No one is interested in leaders’ affairs.B.There have been too many such revelations.C.People have already known the stuff.D.No one believes in the truth of this revelation.9.What is the way to prevent the leak of top secrets?A.To ban WikiLeaks.B.To raise the safety of secrets.C.To change the working environment and practice.D.To remind governments of the threat from WikiLeaks.10.What is the author’s attitude towards WikiLeaks?A.PositiveB. DisapprovalC. ObjectiveD. CynicalPassage ThreeTo many developers of technologies that affect public health or the environment, “risk communication” means persuading the public that the potential risks of such technologies are small and should be ignored. Those who communicate risks in this way seem to believe that lay people do not understand the actual nature of technological risk, and they can cite studies asserting that although people apparently ignore mundane hazards that pose significant danger, they get upset about exotic hazards that pose little chance of death or injury. Because some risk communicators take this pe rsuasive stance, many lay people see “risk communication” as a euphemism for brainwashing done by experts.Since, however, the goal of risk communication should be to enable people to make informed decisions about technological risks, a clear understanding about how the public perceives risk is needed. Lay people’s definitions of “risk” are more likely to reflect subjective ethical concerns than are experts’ definitions. Lay people, for example, tend to perceive a small risk to children as more significant than a large risk to consenting adults who benefit from the risk-cheating technology. However, if asked to rank hazards by the number of annual fatalities, without reference to ethical judgments, lay people provide quite reasonable estimates, demonstrating that they have substantial knowledge about many risks. Although some studies claim to demonstrate that lay people have inappropriate concerns about exotic hazards, these studies often use questionable methods, such as asking lay people to rank risks that are hard to compare. In contrast, a recent study showed that when lay people were given the necessary facts and time, they understood the specific risks of electromagnetic fields produced by high-voltage power transmission well enough to make informed decisions.Risk communication should therefore be based on the principle that people process new information in the context of their existing beliefs. If people know nothing about a topic, they will find messages about that topic incomprehensible. If they have erroneous beliefs, they are likely to misconstrue the messages. Thus, communicators need to know the nature and extent of recipients’ knowledge and beliefs in order to design messages that will not be dismissed or misinterpreted. This need was demonstr ated in a research project concerning the public’s level of knowledge about risks posed by the presence of radon in the home. Researchers used open-ended interviews and questionnaires to determine what information should be included in their brochure on ra don. Subjects who read the researchers’ brochure performed significantly better in understanding radon risks than did a control group who read a brochure that was written using a different approach by a government agency. Thus, careful preparation can help risk communicators to produce balanced material that tells people what they need to know to make decisions about technological risks.11.Which of the following best expresses the main point of the passage?A.Risk communicators are addressing the proliferation of complex technologiesthat have increasing impact on public health and safety.B.Risk communicators should assess lay people’s understanding of technologiesto give them the information they need to make reasonable decisions.C.Experts who want to communicate to the public about the possible risks ofcomplex technologies must simplify the message to make it understandable.y people can be unduly influenced by subjective concerns when makingdecisions about technological risks.12.The author of the passage would be most likely to agree that the primary purposeof risk communication should be to ______.A.explain rather than to persuadeB.promote rather than to justifyC.influence experts rather than to influence lay peopleD.allay people’s fears about mundane hazards rather than exotic hazards13.According to the passage, when risk communicators attempt to communicate withlay people who have mistaken ideas about a particular technology, the latter probably ______.A.only partially revise their ideas on the basis of the new informationB.ignore any communication about a technology they consider potentiallydangerousC.interpret the communication differently that the risk communicator hadintendedD.misunderstand the new information and distort it when communicating toother lay people14.It can be inferred that the author of the passage would be more likely than the riskcommunicators discussed in the first paragraph to emphasize ______.y people’s tendency to become alarmed about technologies they find strangey people’s tendency to compare risks experts would not think comparableC.the need for lay people to adopt scientists’ advice about technological riskD.the impact of lay people’s value systems on their perceptions of risk15.According to the passage, which one of the following about risk communicationdo many lay people believe?A.It focuses excessively on mundane hazards.B.It is a tool used to manipulate the public.C.It is a major cause of inaccuracies in public knowledge about science.D.It most often functions to help people make informed decisions.Section IIDirections: Read the following passage and then answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES the questions which follow the passage. Write your answers in thecorresponding space in your answer sheet.Passage FourIf you want to see what it takes to set up an entirely new financial center (and what is best avoided), head for Dubai. This tiny, sun-baked patch of sand in the midst of a war-torn and isolated region started with few advantages other than a long tradition as a hub for Middle Eastern trade routes.But over the past few years Dubai had built a new financial center from nothing. Dozens of the world’s leading financial institutions have opened offices in its new financial district, hoping to grab a portion of the $2 trillion-plus investment from the Gulf. Some say there is more hype than business, but few big firms are willing to risk missing out.Dealmaking in Dubai centers around The Gate, a cube-shaped structure at the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). A brainchild of the ruling al-Maktoum family, the DIFC is a tax-free zone for wholesale financial services. Firms licensed for it are not approved to serve the local financial market. The DIFC aims to become the leading wholesale financial centre in the Gulf, offering one-stop shopping for everything from stocks to sukuk bonds, investment banking and insurance. In August the Dubai bourse made a bid for a big stake in OMX, a Scandinavian exchange operator that also sells trading technology to many of the world’s exchanges.Dubai may have generated the biggest splash thus far, but much of the Gulf region has seen a surge of activity in recent years. Record flows of petrodollars have enabled governments in the area to spend billions on infrastructure projects and development. Personal wealth too is growing rapidly.Qatar, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi also have big aspirations for their financial hubs, though they keep a lower profile than Dubai. They, too, are trying to learn from more established financial centers what they must do to achieve the magic mix of transparent regulation, good infrastructure and low or no taxes. Some of the fiercest competition between them is for talent. Most English-speaking professionals have to be imported.Each of the Gulf hubs, though, has its own distinct characteristics. Abu Dhabi is trying to present itself as a more cultured, less congested alternative to neighboring Dubai, and is building a huge Guggenheim museum. Energy-rich Qatar is an important hub for infrastructure finance, with ambitions to develop further business in wealth management, private equity, retail banking and insurance. Bahrain is well established in Islamic banking, but it is facing new competition from London, Kuala Lumpur and other hubs that have caught on to Islamic finance. “If you’ve got one string to your bow and suddenly someone takes it away, you’re in trouble,” says Stuart Pearce of the Qatar Financial Center about Bahrain.Saudi Arabia, by far the biggest economy in the Gulf, is creating a cluster of its own economic zones, including King Abdullah City, which is aimed at foreign investors seeking a presence in the country. Trying to cut down on the number of“Suitcase bankers” who fly in from nearby centers rather than live in th e country, the Saudis now require firms working with them to have local business licences. Yet the bulk of the region’s money is still flowing to established financial centre in Europe, America and other parts of Asia.The financial hubs there offer lessons for aspiring centers in other parts of the developing world. Building the confidence of financial markets takes more than new skyscrapers, tax breaks and incentives. The DIFC, for instance, initially suffered from suspicions of government meddling and from a high turnover among senior executives. Trading on its stockmarket remains thin, and the government seems unwilling to float its most successful companies there. Making the desert bloom was never easy.Questions:16.What does the “surge of activity in the Gulf region” in Paragraph 4 refer to?17.What is the purpose of discussing countries as Qatar and Bahrain in Paragraph 5and 6?18.What is the implication of Stuart Pearce’s comment in Paragraph 6?19.Whom does “suitcase bankers” in Paragraph 7 refer to?20.What is the main idea of the passage and what is the author’s attitude towards theissue under discussion?III.Writing ( 30 points. 60 minutes)Weibo, micro-blog or the Chinese Twitter, ranking as the most powerful media outlet in China, has experienced its boom in the last few years, with a dramatic increase of its registration and popularity. Millions of Chinese people, from governmental officials to celebrities, rush to launch their Weibo, sharing their lives with other people online.Write a composition of about 400 words about this phenomenon and your opinion about it.11。

2012年真题考研英语In recent years, taking the postgraduate entrance examination (PGEE) has become a popular choice for many Chinese students in pursuit of higher education. With the increasing competition and the desire to pursue better career prospects, more and more students are opting to take the PGEE. In this article, we will analyze the 2012 PGEE English exam, its format, and the topics covered.The 2012 PGEE English exam consisted of two parts: Reading Comprehension and Writing. The Reading Comprehension section tested the candidates' ability to understand and analyze written passages. There were a total of five passages, each followed by several multiple-choice questions. The passages covered a wide range of topics, including history, science, literature, and social issues. Candidates were required to carefully read the passages and choose the correct answers based on their understanding of the content and the context.The second part of the exam was the Writing section. In this section, candidates were asked to write an essay on a given topic. The topics for the 2012 exam varied and ranged from social issues to personal experiences. Candidates were given approximately 60 minutes to complete their essay. The purpose of this section was to assess the candidates' writing skills, coherence, and ability to express their thoughts clearly and effectively.The 2012 PGEE English exam aimed to test the candidates' overall English language proficiency. The examiners carefully selected passages and topics that required a deep understanding of the English language and strong analytical and writing skills. It was not enough for the candidates to simplyunderstand the passages or the topics; they were also expected to analyze and critically evaluate the information presented.To excel in the 2012 PGEE English exam, candidates needed to develop a systematic approach to tackle each section. For the Reading Comprehension section, it was important to first read the questions before reading the passage. This would give the candidates a clearer focus on what to look for while reading the passage. When answering the questions, candidates should carefully read each answer option to identify the most appropriate one based on their understanding of the passage.In the Writing section, candidates should spend a few minutes planning their essay and organizing their thoughts. It was crucial to have a clear thesis statement and well-structured paragraphs to ensure a logical flow of ideas. Candidates were also advised to use a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures to demonstrate their language proficiency.Overall, the 2012 PGEE English exam was a comprehensive test of the candidates' English language skills, including reading comprehension and writing. It required not only a good command of the English language but also critical thinking and analytical abilities. By developing effective strategies and practicing regularly, candidates could enhance their chances of success in the exam and pursue their dreams of further education.In conclusion, the 2012 PGEE English exam provided a platform for candidates to showcase their English language abilities. By carefully preparing for the exam and utilizing effective strategies, candidates could overcome the challenges and achieve their desired scores. The exam servedas a stepping stone for many students on their path to higher education and a brighter future.。

2012考研真题英语The year 2012 marked an important milestone for students in China, as it witnessed the release of the Graduate Entrance Exam (also known as the "gaokao") for that year. Among the various subjects tested, English plays a significant role in gauging the English proficiency of candidates. In this article, we will explore the 2012 exam questions for the English section, analyze the difficulties encountered by students, and provide strategies to improve English skills for future exam takers.1. Reading ComprehensionThe reading comprehension section is designed to evaluate the candidates' ability to understand and analyze English texts. In the 2012 exam, there were four passages, each followed by several questions. These passages covered a wide range of topics, including science, culture, and social issues.One of the passages focused on the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems. This passage challenged candidates' knowledge of environmental issues and required them to comprehend scientific terms and concepts. The questions asked about the main idea, author's tone, and specific details mentioned in the passage.2. Cloze TestThe cloze test evaluates candidates' mastery of English grammar and vocabulary. In the 2012 exam, candidates were presented with a passage with blanks, and they had to choose the most appropriate words from thegiven options to fill in the blanks. The passage tested different aspects of English, such as prepositions, verb tenses, and idiomatic expressions.One challenging aspect of the cloze test was the inclusion of idiomatic expressions. Candidates needed to have a good understanding of these expressions and their appropriate usage in context. Moreover, the test also assessed candidates' ability to understand the meaning of words and phrases in various contexts.3. Error CorrectionThe error correction section aimed to assess candidates' knowledge of English grammar rules and their ability to spot errors in sentence structures. In this part of the exam, candidates were provided with a passage containing errors, and they had to identify and correct them.One common difficulty in this section was identifying errors related to verb agreement, verb forms, and preposition usage. Candidates needed to have a solid foundation in English grammar to accurately identify and correct these errors.4. TranslationThe translation section tested candidates' ability to accurately translate English sentences into Chinese and vice versa. In the 2012 exam, candidates were required to translate sentences that covered a wide range of topics, including technology, economics, and social issues.One challenge in this section was ensuring the accuracy and fluency of the translation. Candidates had to accurately convey the meaning of theoriginal sentence while maintaining proper grammar and sentence structure in the translated version.Strategies for Improving English Skills1. Build Vocabulary: Enhance your English vocabulary by reading widely and regularly. Make a habit of learning new words and understanding their meanings in different contexts.2. Practice Reading Comprehension: Improve your reading comprehension skills by reading English texts from various sources. Focus on understanding the main idea, identifying supporting details, and recognizing the author's tone and purpose.3. Master Grammar and Idioms: Strengthen your grammar skills by studying English grammar rules and practicing their application. Additionally, familiarize yourself with idiomatic expressions commonly used in English.4. Engage in Translation Exercises: Regularly practice translating English sentences into Chinese and vice versa to improve your translation skills. Pay attention to accuracy, fluency, and proper sentence structure.In conclusion, the 2012 Graduate Entrance Exam English section tested various aspects of English proficiency, including reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and translation. By understanding the difficulties faced by candidates and implementing effective strategies, students can enhance their English skills and perform better in future exams.。

2012年考研英语真题一、阅读理解Passage 1In ancient times, before the advent of the industrial revolution, man’s every action was in harmony with nature. Food, clothing and shelter, the basic needs of man, were available in plenty from nature itself. But with the progress of civilization and the building of mighty cities, man’s greed for knowledge and comfort grew and he started exploiting nature for his selfish needs. The consequences of this exploitation are plain to see today. Nature, the bountiful provider, is now on the verge of being an exhausted tiring woman who has to supply an ever-increasing demand for goods and services.The presence of pollutants and waste products in the atmosphere, soil and water is steadily increasing. The air we breathe is contaminated with dust particles which cause several respiratory diseases. Unplanned industrialization has led to large-scale dumping of untreated waste into rivers and lakes, making them unfit for drinking and irrigation purposes. Toxic chemicals have entered the food chain, posing serious health risks to both animals and humans.Global warming is a direct result of the reckless burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere when these fuels are burnt. This leads to the greenhouse effect, causing a rise in temperatures and resulting in climate change. The Arctic andAntarctic regions are melting at an alarming rate, leading to rising sea levels and endangering coastal areas.It is high time we recognized the need to protect and preserve our environment for future generations. The first step towards this goal is creating awareness among the masses about the importance of conservation. Educational programs and campaigns should be launched to teach people about sustainable practices, waste management, and the importance of green spaces. Governments should enforce strict regulations on industries to prevent pollution and promote the use of renewable energy sources. Individuals also have a role to play by adopting eco-friendly habits like recycling, reducing energy consumption, and using public transportation.In conclusion, the exploitation of nature for man’s selfish needs has led to the degradation of our environment. It is our responsibility to take immediate action to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.Passage 2In recent years, there has been a growing interest in organic farming as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional farming methods. Organic farming is a holistic approach that aims to produce food in harmony with nature, using environmentally friendly practices and avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).One of the main advantages of organic farming is that it promotes soil health and fertility. Organic farmers focus on building healthy, nutrient-rich soils by using natural fertilizerslike compost and animal manure. This enhances the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients, resulting in healthier and more productive plants.Another benefit of organic farming is the reduction of chemical pollution. Conventional farming relies heavily on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can contaminate soil, water, and air. Organic farmers, on the other hand, use natural methods like crop rotation, intercropping, and biological pest control to manage pests and diseases. This reduces the risk of chemical residues in food and helps to protect biodiversity.Organic farming also plays a key role in mitigating climate change. Conventional farming contributes to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases from synthetic fertilizers and machinery use. Organic farming, on the other hand, promotes carbon sequestration by increasing soil organic matter and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Studies have shown that organic farms have higher levels of soil carbon and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional farms.Despite its many benefits, organic farming is not without its challenges. Organic farmers often face higher production costs and lower yields compared to conventional farmers. There is also a lack of organic farming infrastructure and market demand in some regions. However, with increasing consumer awareness and government support, the organic farming sector is expected to grow in the coming years.In conclusion, organic farming offers numerous environmental benefits such as soil health, reduced pollution, and climate change mitigation. It is a sustainable and sociallyresponsible way of producing food that aligns with the principles of nature and biodiversity.二、翻译题希腊拥有丰富的文化遗产和自然景观，因此成为了欧洲旅游的热门目的地之一。