2010年考研英語一真題及答案

1、2010年全國碩士研究生入學(xué)統(tǒng)一考試英語試題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).In 1924 America's National Research Council sent two engineers to supervise a series of industrial experiments a

2、t a large telephone-parts factory called the Hawthorne Plant near Chicago. It hoped they would learn how stop-floor lighting_1_ workers' productivity. Instead, the studies ended _2_ giving their name to the "Hawthorne effect", the extremely influential idea that the very to being exper

3、imented upon changed subjects' behavior.The idea arose because of the _4_ behavior of the women in the Hawthorne plant. According to _5_ of the experiments, their hourly output rose when lighting was increased, but also when it was dimmed. It did not _6_ what was done in the experiment; _7_somet

4、hing was changed, productivity rose. A(n) _8_ that they were being experimented upon seemed to be _9_ to alter workers' behavior _10_itself.After several decades, the same data were _11_ to econometric the analysis. Hawthorne experiments has another surprise store _12_the descriptions on record,

5、 no systematic _13_ was found that levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting.It turns out that peculiar way of conducting the experiments may be have let to _14_ interpretation of what happed. _15_, lighting was always changed on a Sunday. When work started again on Monday, output _

6、16_rose compared with the previous Saturday and 17 to rise for the next couple of days. _18_, a comparison with data for weeks when there was no experimentation showed that output always went up on Monday, workers _19_ to be diligent for the first few days of the week in any case, before _20_ a plat

7、eau and then slackening off. This suggests that the alleged "Hawthorne effect" is hard to pin down.1.A affectedB achievedC extractedD restored2.A atB upC withD off3.A truthB sightC actD proof4.A controversialB perplexingC mischievousD ambiguous5.A requirementsB explanationsC accountsD asse

8、ssments6.A concludeB matterC indicateD work7.A as far asB for fear thatC in case thatD so long as8.A awarenessB expectationC sentimentD illusion9.A suitableB excessiveC enoughD abundant10.A aboutB forC onD by11.A comparedB shownC subjectedD conveyed12.A contrary toB consistent withC parallel withD p

9、eculiar to13.A evidenceB guidanceC implicationD source14.A disputableB enlighteningC reliableD misleading15.A In contrastB For exampleC In consequenceD As usual16.A dulyB accidentallyC unpredictablyD suddenly17.A failedB ceasedC startedD continued20.A breakingB climbingC surpassingD hittingSection I

10、IReading 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 1Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps

11、 the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage. It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a

12、 considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.We

13、are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-of

14、f days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they

15、 were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. “So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism,” Newman wrote, “that I am tempted to define journalism as a term of contempt applied by wr

16、iters who are not read to writers who are.”Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he w

17、as also one of Englands foremost classical-music critics, a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on music is unknown sav

18、e to specialists.Is there any chance that Carduss criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern readers have little use for the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradit

19、ion in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.21.It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 thatA arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers.B English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews.C high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers.D young readers doubt the

20、suitability of criticism on dailies.22.Newspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized byA free themes. B casual style. C elaborate layout. D radical viewpoints.23.Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?A It is writers' duty to fulfill journalisti

21、c goalsB It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.C Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.D Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.24.What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?A His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.B His repu

22、tation as a music critic has long been in dispute.C His style caters largely to modern specialists.D His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.25.What would be the best title for the text?A Newspapers of the Good Old Days B The Lost Horizon in NewspapersC Mournful Decline of Journalism D Pro

23、minent Critics in MemoryText 2Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. A received one for its "one-click" online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique

24、for lifting a box.Now the nation's top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz the U.S. court of Appeals for the federa

25、l circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In re Bilski, as the case is known , is "a very big deal", says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law. It "has the potential to eliminate an entire class of paten

26、ts."Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion

27、in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, move established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to th

28、e punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took posi

29、tions in court cases opposing the practice.The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court's judges, rather than a typical panel of three, and that

30、 one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should "reconsider" its state street Bank ruling.The Federal Circuit's action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example the

31、justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for "inventions" that are obvious. The judges on the Federal circuit are "reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court", says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law

32、School.26.Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because ofA their limited value to business B their connection with asset allocationC the possible restriction on their granting D the controversy over authorization27.Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?A Its ruling compl

33、ies with the court decisions B It involves a very big business transactionC It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit D It may change the legal practices in the U.S.28.The word "about-face" (Line 1, Para 3) most probably meansA loss of good will B increase of hostilityC change of attitu

34、de D enhancement of dignity29.We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patentsA are immune to legal challenges B are often unnecessarily issuedC lower the esteem for patent holders D increase the incidence of risks30.Which of the following would be the subject of the text?A A loomi

35、ng threat to business-method patentsB Protection for business-method patent holdersC A legal case regarding business-method patentsD A prevailing trend against business-method patentsText 3In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell argues that social epidemics are driven in large part by the ac

36、ting of a tiny minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusually informed, persuasive, or well-connected. The idea is intuitively compelling, but it doesn't explain how ideas actually spread.The supposed importance of influentials derives from a plausible sounding but

37、 largely untested theory called the "two step flow of communication": Information flows from the media to the influentials and from them to everyone else. Marketers have embraced the two-step flow because it suggests that if they can just find and influence the influentials, those selected

38、 people will do most of the work for them. The theory also seems to explain the sudden and unexpected popularity of certain looks, brands, or neighborhoods. In many such cases, a cursory search for causes finds that some small group of people was wearing, promoting, or developing whatever it is befo

39、re anyone else paid attention. Anecdotal evidence of this kind fits nicely with the idea that only certain special people can drive trendsIn their recent work, however, some researchers have come up with the finding that influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally suppose

40、d. In fact, they don't seem to be required of all.The researchers' argument stems from a simple observing about social influence, with the exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfreywhose outsize presence is primarily a function of media, not interpersonal, influenceeven the most influ

41、ential members of a population simply don't interact with that many others. Yet it is precisely these non-celebrity influentials who, according to the two-step-flow theory, are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends and colleagues directly. For a social epidemic to occur

42、, however, each person so affected, must then influence his or her own acquaintances, who must in turn influence theirs, and so on; and just how many others pay attention to each of these people has little to do with the initial influential. If people in the network just two degrees removed from the

43、 initial influential prove resistant, for example from the initial influential prove resistant, for example the cascade of change won't propagate very far or affect many people.Building on the basic truth about interpersonal influence, the researchers studied the dynamics of populations manipula

44、ting a number of variables relating of populations, manipulating a number of variables relating to people's ability to influence others and their tendency to be influenced. Our work shows that the principal requirement for what we call "global cascades" the widespread propagation of in

45、fluence through networks is the presence not of a few influentials but, rather, of a critical mass of easily influenced people, each of whom adopts, say, a look or a brand after being exposed to a single adopting neighbor. Regardless of how influential an individual is locally, he or she can exert g

46、lobal influence only if this critical mass is available to propagate a chain reaction.31.By citing the book The Tipping Point, the author intends toA analyze the consequences of social epidemicsB discuss influentials' function in spreading ideasC exemplify people's intuitive response to soci

47、al epidemicsD describe the essential characteristics of influentials.32.The author suggests that the "two-step-flow theory"A serves as a solution to marketing problemsB has helped explain certain prevalent trendsC has won support from influentialsD requires solid evidence for its validity3

48、3.What the researchers have observed recently shows thatA the power of influence goes with social interactionsB interpersonal links can be enhanced through the mediaC influentials have more channels to reach the publicD most celebrities enjoy wide media attention34.The underlined phrase "these

49、people" in paragraph 4 refers to the ones whoA stay outside the network of social influenceB have little contact with the source of influenceC are influenced and then influence others D are influenced by the initial influential35.what is the essential element in the dynamics of social influence

50、?A The eagerness to be accepted B The impulse to influence othersC The readiness to be influenced D The inclination to rely on othersText 4Bankers have been blaming themselves for their troubles in public. Behind the scenes, they have been taking aim at someone else: the accounting standard-setters.

51、 Their rules, moan the banks, have forced them to report enormous losses, and it's just not fair. These rules say they must value some assets at the price a third party would pay, not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch.Unfortunately, banks' lobbying now seems to be wo

52、rking. The details may be unknowable, but the independence of standard-setters, essential to the proper functioning of capital markets, is being compromised. And, unless banks carry toxic assets at prices that attract buyers, reviving the banking system will be difficult.After a bruising encounter w

53、ith Congress, America's Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rushed through rule changes. These gave banks more freedom to use models to value illiquid assets and more flexibility in recognizing losses on long-term assets in their income statement. Bob Herz, the FASB's chairman, cried

54、 out against those who "question our motives." Yet bank shares rose and the changes enhance what one lobby group politely calls "the use of judgment by management."European ministers instantly demanded that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) do likewise. The IASB

55、 says it does not want to act without overall planning, but the pressure to fold when it completes it reconstruction of rules later this year is strong. Charlie McCreevy, a European commissioner, warned the IASB that it did "not live in a political vacuum" but "in the real word"

56、and that Europe could yet develop different rules.It was banks that were on the wrong planet, with accounts that vastly overvalued assets. Today they argue that market prices overstate losses, because they largely reflect the temporary illiquidity of markets, not the likely extent of bad debts. The

57、truth will not be known for years. But bank's shares trade below their book value, suggesting that investors are skeptical. And dead markets partly reflect the paralysis of banks which will not sell assets for fear of booking losses, yet are reluctant to buy all those supposed bargains.To get the system working again, losses must be recognized and dealt with. America's new plan to buy up toxic assets will not work unless banks mark assets to levels which buyers find attractive. Successful markets require independent and even combative standard-setters. Th