考研英语冲刺讲义
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考研英语冲刺讲义
2012考研冲刺
沪江,收获的不只是外语!
2012年研究生英语入学考试考前冲刺讲义
第一部分——英语知识运用
Directions:
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)
In an ideal world, the nation’s elite schools would enroll the most qualified students. But that’s not how it _(1_). Applicants whose parents are alums get special treatment, as _(2)_ athletes and rich kids. Underrepresented minorities are also given_ (3)_. Thirty years of affirmative action have changed the character of _(4)_ white universities; now about 13 percent of all undergraduates are black or Latino. _(5)_ a recent study by the Century Foundation found that at the nation’s 146 most _(6)_schools, 74 percent of students came from upper- middle-class and wealthy families, while only about 5 percent came from families with an annual income of _(7)_$35,000 or less.
Many schools say diversity—racial, economic and geographic—is (8) to maintaining intellectually (9) campuses. But Richard Kahlenberg of the Century Foundation says that even though colleges (10) they want poor kids, “they don’t try very hard to find them.”(11) rural students, many colleges don’t try at all. “Unfortunately, we go where we can (12) a sizable number of potential applicants,”says Tulane admissions chief Richard Whiteside, who (13) aggressively—and in person—from metropolitan areas. Kids in rural areas get a glossy (14) in the mail.
Even when poor rural students have the (15) for top colleges, their high schools often don’t know how to get them there. Admissions officers (16) guidance counselors to direct them to promising prospects. In (17) high schools, guidance counselors often have personal (18) with both kids and admissions officers. In rural areas, a teacher, a counselor or (19) an alumnus “can help put a rural student on our radar screen,” says Wesleyan admissions dean Nancy Meislahn. But poor rural schools rarely have college (20) with those connections; without them, admission “can be a crapshoot,” says Carnegie Mellon’s Steidel.
1. [A] promises [B] tries [C] works [D] manages
2. [A] do [B] are [C] will [D] be
3. [A] preference [B] prejudice [C] preposition [D] preclusion
4. [A] strictly [B] mostly [C] generally [D] honestly
5. [A] And [B] But [C] So [D] Then
6. [A] excellent [B] wealthy [C] popular [D] competitive
7. [A] mainly [B] roughly [C] totally [D] exactly
8. [A] access [B] basis [C] key [D] solution
9. [A] vital [B] smart [C] interactive [D] functional
10.[A] claim [B] affirm [C] insist [D] declare
11.[B] Except for [B] As for [C] But for [D] Just for
12.[A] require [B] ensure [C] locate [D] generate
13.[A] admits [B] accepts [C] recalls [D] recruits
14.[A] bronze [B] broom [C] browser [D] brochure
15.[A] guts [B] grounds [C] grades [D] guarantees
16.[A] call on [B] rely on [C] try on [D] hold on
17.[A] affluent [B] affiliated [C] alternative [D] advanced
18.[A] innovations [B] judgments [C] relationships [D] suggestions
19.[A] else [B] so [C] even [D] if
20.[A] acquaintances [B] executives [C] tutors [D] advisers
第二部分——阅读A节
Text 1
Can you imagine Phil Jackson invoicing Kobe Bryant for his coaching services? How about Bill Belichick asking Tom Brady to sign his paycheck? Unlike the world of professional team sports, in professional tennis the players are directly responsible for hiring, firing and financially supporting their coach. So if you're a coach on the tennis circuit, think before you scream at your player, because in tennis, the player is the bank.
Tennis is a "no owner" business. For the professional coach, there's no safety net. You are 100% an individual contractor with no owner or general manager to separate you from the player. Long-term contracts don't exist unless you're related by blood, which can also suffer the occasional fallout. Usually agreements are made on monthly or yearly terms, subject to termination based on poor results, poor play or a plain old bad day at the office.
Coaching contracts are as individual as the players themselves, and they focus on where the player is and his or her potential. On the professional circuit, this can translate to anything from a handshake deal to a 30-page document. It's a gamble for the coaches. You can only guess the future, but the more information you have, the better you can guess. If you find a good player who you feel has potential and you get in on the ground floor, you're set. You can play it safe and conservative with base pay, or you can put your money on your player.
Players don't just pay their coach a salary. They also take on all responsibilities of travel expenses, incidentals and the occasional entourage. Traveling 30 to 35 weeks a year can put a hurt on the player's wallet. It's a burden on lower-ranked players or someone struggling for funds.
Success on the court usually attracts profitable endorsements for the player, but the coach rarely sees any of that cash. Coaches may, however, be able to piggyback a deal with their player. Just keep an eye out on the next telecast to see what the coach is wearing--it usually bears the
same logo as the player. Former players turned coaches may maintain endorsements from their days as a pro and make side deals as they transition into their new career. Other than that, it's very rare for the coach to receive outside endorsements.
The coach is also at the mercy of the player's level of ability and health. Injuries translate to zero play, which means no salary. This is obviously not good for the player, much less the coach. It's all about prevention and preparation. Having a good coach can make the difference on and off the court, so it's a solid asset to have the right guy in your corner.
21. By referring to Phil Jackson and others, the author intends to
A. show a tradition in professional team sports.
B. reveal a convention in professional tennis.
C. contrast two different coaching services.
D. caution the coach in professional sports.
22. Coaching contracts are risky for the coaches in that
A. improper emphasis is placed on player’s potential
B. they are uncertain of the future of their players
C. good players may get the coaches set
D. contracts are subject to frequent change
23. The expression “piggyback a deal” (para. 5) most probably means
A. making a side deal by allying himself with the player.
B. being offered a fair deal for good coaching service..
C. being rewarded with extra payments from the player.
D. getting outside endorsements with the help of the player
24. What is the author’s advice to a professional tennis player?
A. Signing a big contract.
B. Paying a right salary.
C. Wining a good fund.
D. Finding a right coach.
25. The best title for the text may be
A. Tennis players: all responsibilities.
B. Players and coaches: equal partners.
C. Coaching in tennis: rough business.
D. Professional sports: new challenges.
Text 2
It is always the way with Airbuses: you wait for years, and then three come along at once. In January, the European aircraft manufacturer will roll out the first of its A380 super-jumbos, in preparation for its first test flight by the end of March. Before that, however, it is set to unveil
plans for two versions of a smaller, wide-bodied plane, aimed at the mid-sized market.
The rivalry between Boeing and Airbus, the big commercial-aircraft duopoly, has never been more intense. While Boeing struggles to persuade mainstream airlines to buy its latest offering, the 250-seater 7E7, Airbus will soon announce two versions of a new plane, dubbed the A350, to attack it head on. Boeing has high hopes for the 7E7, its first new model in over ten years—after the flop of two earlier proposed products, a near-sonic widebody and a radical upgrade of the venerable 747, which did not find favour with airlines. Adding to its misfortunes, the cancellation this week of a US Air Force order for refuelling tankers means Boeing will soon have to shut the production line making its 767 ageing widebody jet.
On November 29th, the board of the parent company of Airbus, European Aeronautic Defence and Space company (EADS), meets to rubber-stamp a decision to launch two souped-up versions of its A330, fitted with new wings and engines to increase the range and carrying capacity and so compete with Boeing’s plane. (33)Boeing’s new design claims to offer savings of 15-20% on fuel by making extensive use of lightweight composite materials instead of the usual aluminium.
Anticipating Airbus’s response, last month Boeing persuaded the American government to complain to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the subsidies Airbus receives from European governments. Refundable launch aid from Germany, France, Britain and Spain could cover one-third of the over €3 billion cost of developing the A350. (34)Crucially, this aid does not have to be repaid if a plane fails, giving Airbus an unfair advantage in product development, which it has ruthlessly exploited in the past decade.
Boeing is spending almost $6 billion to develop the 7E7, with further contributions from its partners in Japan and Italy. The European Union is counter-protesting to the WTO that Boeing gets all sorts of indirect aid from the American government.
The likeliest result is that both sides are found guilty of breaking the rules but that subsidy continues to flow. That is what happened in a similar dispute at the WTO between Canada and Brazil, whose two manufacturers share the market for smaller (up to 100 seats) jet aircraft.
26. Which of the following is closest to “duopoly” (Para. 2) in meaning ?
A. two suppliers dominating a market
B. severe competition between competitors
C. different versions of a new model
D. cooperation between two manufacturers
27. Boeing’s new design’s superiority in fuel economy can be attributed to its
A. use of a new type of fuel
B. refinement of aluminum
C. development of new engines
D. reduction of plane weight
28. Boeing’s complaint against Airbus emphasized that
A. it could not obtain as much aid from its own government as the latter.
B. WHO should intervene with the unfair competition immediately.
C. the latter may not have to repay the financial aid from governments.
D. it would lose the competition because of lack of development aid.
29. The text implies that WTO’s judgment of the case of Canada vs. Brazil was ?
A. futile
B. tolerant
C. effective
D. unfair
30. The author’s attitude towards the dispute between Boeing and Airbus is
A. subjective.
B. disinterested.
C. prejudiced.
D. sympathetic.
Text 3
There is a good but sobering reason why "ending world hunger" has been a perennial hope of beauty-pageant contestants at least since Miss America contestants began naming that as their greatest wish: we haven't come close to doing it. This year some 900 million people—including 178 million children under 5—are suffering from malnutrition, estimates the United Nations; every day 50,000 starve to death. As the world community scans the horizon for solutions to world hunger, it is seeing visions of amber fields of genetically modified grain.
GM crops, however, are likely to feed about as many people as Miss America. A new report by agriculture experts from 60 nations foresees "a limited role for biotech crops" in reducing world hunger. The problems ? Yields for GM varieties are unpredictable and often lower than high-yield varieties bred without genetic engineering. GM seeds, which are patent-protected, cost more than the poor can afford. The know-how and conditions required to cultivate GM crops hardly exist in Africa or South Asia, the world's hunger hot spots, where farmers can't even eke out subsistence yields of ordinary crops.
Low-tech aid, not cutting-edge science, therefore has the best chance of both feeding the malnourished today and setting farmers on a path to growing enough to eat (and perhaps sell) tomorrow. The adage says giving a man a fish lets him eat today but giving him a fishing rod lets him eat every day; the 900 million need both fish and rods. The most beneficial and cost-effective immediate aid? Providing micronutrients—vitamins and minerals such as iodine, zinc and iron—to kids. Experts suggested that providing vitamin A and zinc supplements to malnourished infants and toddlers under 2 would cost $60 million annually. That would bring a return in lives saved, diseases averted and cognitive benefits gained of just over $1 billion.
And for the fishing rod? In Africa, just 5 percent of the land that could grow high-yielding rice from the green revolution—a decades-old technology—is doing so. A big reason is soils so exhausted they cannot sustain the high-yielding varieties. Fertilizer, which has soared in price in tandem with oil, is beyond the means of most subsistence farmers in Africa today. But here, too, there are low-tech answers. Planting nitrogen-fixing trees, a technique developed by the Earth Institute at Columbia University, supplies soils with that crucial nutrient. But to make it work, says Oxfam's Offenheiser, "you need institutions that provide agricultural extension services," agents who advise farmers on when and how to plant new high-yield seed varieties, and what kind of soil and how much fertilizer they require.
31. We learn from the first paragraph that
A. beauty-pageant contestants’ help is appreciated.
B. world hunger needs to be handled seriously.
C. the world is at a loss how to end hunger.
D. genetically modified crops are a solution.
32. One reason contributing to “a limited role” of GM crops is their
A. unpredictable varieties.
B. lack of genetic engineering
C. demand for technical knowledge.
D. potentials of harmful effects.
33. The author implies in the text that
A. low-tech aid provides a final solution to world hunger.
B. cutting-edge science can help eliminate world hunger.
C. genetically modified grain will prove to be a failure.
D. hunger problem should be solved once and for all.
34. High-yielding rice is not widely grown because
A. African soils are cultivated for other varieties more easily.
B. this decades-old technology has lost its value with time.
C. its cultivation depends too much on the use of fertilizers.
D. African soils can not provide sufficient nutrition for it .
35. According to Offenheiser, agriculture in Africa requires
A. counseling service
B. green revolution
C. improved technology
D. cheap fertilizer
Text 4
It's almost a point of pride with climatologists. Whenever someplace is hit with a heat wave, drought, killer storm or other extreme weather, scientists trip over themselves to absolve global warming. No particular weather event, they say, can be blamed on something so general. Extreme weather occurred before humans began loading up the atmosphere with heat-trapping
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. So this storm or that heat wave could be the result of the same natural forces that prevailed 100 years ago rather than global warming.
This pretense has worn thin. The frequency of downpours and heat waves, as well as the power of hurricanes, has increased so dramatically that "100-year storms" are striking some areas once every 15 years, and other once rare events keep returning like a bad penny. As a result, some climatologists now say global warming is to blame. Rising temperatures boost the probability of extreme weather, says Tom Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center; that can "lead to the type of events we are seeing in the Midwest." There, three weeks of downpours have caused rivers to treat their banks as no more than mild suggestions.
It's been easier to connect global warming to rising temperatures than to extreme weather events—and even the former hasn't been easy. Only in this decade have "attribution" studies managed to finger greenhouse gases as the chief cause of the rising mercury, rather than a hotter sun or cyclical changes. Now the same "whatdunit?" techniques are being applied to droughts, downpours, heat waves and powerful hurricanes. "We can look at climate-model simulations and likely attribute [specific extreme weather] to human activity," says Gerry Meehl of the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Global warming has left its clearest fingerprint on heat waves. Since the record scorcher of 1998, the average annual temperatures in the United States in six of the past 10 years have been among the hottest 10 percent on record. Scientists also discern a greenhouse fingerprint in downpours, which in the continental United States have increased 20 percent over the past century. In a warmer world, air holds more water vapor, so when cloud conditions are right for that vapor to form droplets, more precipitation falls. Get used to it, and don't blame Mother Nature.
36. Which of the following statements is true about the climatologists?
A. They are unpredictable in their descriptions of natural events.
B. They are not interested in the general explanations of extreme weather.
C. They pride themselves in respecting the truth more than anything else.
D. They reject other scientists’ views of weather as self-contradictory.
37. By saying “This pretense has worn thin” (Line 1, Para. 2), the author means that
A. weather pattern has changed dramatically over the century.
B. climatologists disagree on the causes of violent weather.
C. global warming is to blame for the extreme weather.
D. once rare weather events are happening more frequently.
38. It may be inferred from the text that
A. it was easy to link global warming to rising temperatures.
B. rising temperatures were once regarded as cyclical.
C. recent studies have neglected the role of greenhouse gases.
D. climate-models were not adequately emphasized in research.
39. The record scorcher of 1998 is mentioned to show that
A. heat waves come up more frequently than downpours.
B. effect of global warming is most clearly shown in the US.
C. global warming is something that man has to get used to.
D. human activities are the real cause of extreme weather.
40. Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?
[A] “Facts speak louder than words.”
[B] “Man proposes, God disposes.”
[C] “Take things as they come.”
[D] “Prevention is better than cure.”
第三部分——阅读B节
一.段落题
1. Directions:
You are going to read a text about the tips on the use of Wikipedia, followed by a list of explanations (or examples). Choose the best explanation/example from the list A-F for each numbered subheading/generalization(41-45). There is one extra example which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)
Wikipedia was founded as an offshoot of Nupedia, a now-abandoned project to produce a free encyclopedia. Nupedia had an elaborate system of peer review and required highly qualified contributors, but the writing of articles was slow. During 2000, Jimmy Wales, founder of Nupedia, and Larry Sanger, whom Wales had employed to work on the project, discussed ways of supplementing Nupedia with a more open, complementary project. Multiple sources suggested that a wiki might allow members of the public to contribute material, and Nupedia's first wiki went online on January 10, 2001.
There was considerable resistance on the part of Nupedia's editors and reviewers to the idea of associating Nupedia with a website in the wiki format, so the new project was given the name "Wikipedia" and launched on its own domain, , on January 15 (now called "Wikipedia Day" by some users).
What follows are some tips on how to make the best use of Wikipedia.
41)Exploring Wikipedia
Many visitors come to Wikipedia to acquire knowledge, others to share knowledge. At this very instant, dozens of articles are being improved, and new articles are also being created.____________________________________.
42)Basic navigation in Wikipedia
Wikipedia articles are all linked, or cross-referenced.________________________________.
43)Using Wikipedia as a research tool
As wiki documents, articles are never considered complete and may be continually edited and improved. Over time, this generally results in an upward trend of quality and a growing consensus over a neutral representation of information.
Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start: they may contain false or debatable information. Indeed, many articles start their lives as displaying a single viewpoint; and, after a long process of discussion, debate, and argument, they gradually take on a neutral point of view reached through consensus. _____________________________.
44)Wikipedia vs. paper encyclopedias
Wikipedia has advantages over traditional paper encyclopedias._______________________.
45)Strengths and weaknesses in Wikipedia
Wikipedia is open to a large contributor base, drawing a large number of editors from diverse backgrounds._____________________________________.
The MediaWiki software that runs Wikipedia retains a history of all edits and changes, thus information added to Wikipedia never "vanishes". Discussion pages are an important resource on contentious topics. Therefore, serious researchers can often find a wide range of vigorously or thoughtfully advocated viewpoints not present in the consensus article. As with any source, information should be checked. A 2005 editorial by a BBC technology writer comments that these debates are probably symptomatic of cultural changes that are happening across all sources of information (including search engines and the media), and may lead to "a better sense of how to evaluate information sources.”
[A] Anyone can contribute to Wikipedia by clicking on the Edit this page tab in an article. Before beginning to contribute, however, read some handy helping tools such as the tutorial and the policies and guidelines, as well as our welcome page. It is important to realize that in contributing to Wikipedia, users are expected to be civil and neutral, respecting all points of view, and only add verifiable and factual information rather than personal views and opinions. "The five pillars of Wikipedia" cover this approach and are recommended reading before editing.
[B] When highlighted text like this is seen, it means there is a link to some relevant article or Wikipedia page with further in-depth information elsewhere. Holding the mouse over the link will often show to where the link will lead. The reader is always one click away from more information on any point that has a link attached. There are other links towards the ends of most articles, for other articles of interest, relevant external websites and pages, reference material, and organized categories of knowledge which can be searched and traversed in a loose hierarchy for more information. Some articles may also have links to dictionary definitions, audio-book readings, quotations, the same article in other languages, and further information available on our sister projects. Further links can be added if a relevant link is missing, and this is one way to
contribute.
[C] Wikipedia has a very low "publishing" cost for adding or expanding entries and a low environmental impact in some respects, since it never needs to be printed, although computers have their own environmental cost. In addition, Wikipedia has wikilinks instead of in-line explanations and it incorporates overview summaries (article introductions) with the extensive detail of full articles. Additionally, the editorial cycle is short. A paper encyclopedia stays the same until the next edition, whereas editors can update Wikipedia at any instant, around the clock, to help ensure that articles stay abreast of the most recent events and scholarship.
[D] This allows Wikipedia to significantly reduce regional and cultural bias found in many other publications, and makes it very difficult for any group to censor and impose bias. A large, diverse editor base also provides access and breadth on subject matter that is otherwise inaccessible or little documented. It also means that like any publication, Wikipedia may reflect the cultural, age, sex, socio-economic, and other biases of its contributors. There is no systematic process to make sure that "obviously important" topics are written about, so Wikipedia may contain unexpected oversights and omissions. While most articles may be altered by anyone, in practice editing will be performed by a certain demographic and may, therefore, show some bias. Some topics may not be covered well, while others may be covered in great depth.
[E] Changes can be viewed at the Recent changes page and a random page at random articles. Over 3,000 articles have been designated by the Wikipedia community as featured articles, exemplifying the best articles in the encyclopedia. Another 12,000 articles are designated as good articles. Some information on Wikipedia is organized into lists; the best of these are designated as featured lists. Wikipedia also has portals, which organize content around topic areas; our best portals are selected as featured portals. Articles can be found using the search box on the top-right side of the screen.
[F] Others may, for a while, become caught up in a heavily unbalanced viewpoint which can take some time—months perhaps—to achieve better balanced coverage of their subject. In part, this is because editors often contribute content in which they have a particular interest and do not attempt to make each article that they edit comprehensive. However, eventually, additional editors expand and contribute to articles and strive to achieve balance and comprehensive coverage. In addition, Wikipedia operates a number of internal resolution processes that can assist when editors disagree on content and approach. Usually, editors eventually reach a consensus on ways to improve the article.
2. Directions:
You are going to read a list of headings and a text about how to select a fund. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-F for each numbered paragraph (41-45). The first and last paragraphs of the text are not numbered. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.
[A]Watching related expenses and making wise choice
[B] Paying attention to details
[C]Weighing your financial goals and expectations first
[D]Maintaining realistic expectations
[E]Narrowing the search
[F]Not too special
Eating better. Exercising. Investing. There are a lot of things you know should be doing. The problem is that getting started always seems to be the hardest part. For many investors, mutual funds are a good way to go, but trying to sort through the number of available choices —now more than 10,000 — makes this important task appear overwhelming. Let’s look at some ways to cut that number down to a reasonable size, as well as other factors to consider when selecting your first fund.
41.
Before you begin examining potential investments, it’s important to take some time to assess your own goals and risk tolerance. If you start with a clear objective in mind, as well as an understanding as to how you might react if your investment loses money, you’ll be less likely to purchase a fund that doesn’t fit your needs. And that’s what often leads to disappointment. It is important to look for funds that are appropriate for both your goals and your investment temperament.
42.
One way to begin your search for a good fund is to use the Morningstar star rating. The rating is a useful tool for narrowing the field to funds that have done a good job of balancing return and risk in the past. To assign ratings, Morningstar uses a formula that compares a fund’s risk-adjusted historical performance with that of other funds within four rating groups —domestic stock funds, international stock funds, taxable bond funds, and municipal bond funds.
43.
Funds that invest solely in a single market sectors, called specialty funds, often have impressive returns and may be great additions to a diversified portfolio. However, the success of such funds depends largely on the fortunes of a particular market sector. Hence, specialty funds probably aren’t the best way to start. For your first fund, look for a diversified stock fund that has exposure to different types of stocks.
44.
There’s no free lunch in fund investing: in addition to the sales fees that some fund companies charge, fund investors must also pay management fees and trading costs. Unfortunately, you don’t necessarily get what you pay for — no one has ever shown that more expensive funds provide greater returns. Look for funds with reasonable costs. The expense ratio, which expresses annual costs as a percentage amount, is probably the best number to use when。