考研英語模擬試題二及答案解析

2008年考研英語模擬試題二及答案解析SectionⅠUseofEnglishDirections：Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword（s）foreachnumberedblankandmarkA，B，CorDonANSWERSHEET1.（10points）Thereisvirtuallynolimittohowonecanservecommunityinterests，fromspendingafewhoursaweekwithsomecharitableorganizationtopracticallyfull-timeworkforasocialagency.Justasthereareopportunitiesforvoluntaryservice1（VSO）foryoungpeoplebeforetheytakeupfull-timeemployment，2thereareopportunitiesforoverseasservicefor3techniciansindevelopingcountries.Somepeople，4thosewhoretireearly，5theirtechnicalandbusinessskillsincountries6thereisaspecialneed.Soinconsideringvoluntaryor7communityservice，therearemoreopportunitiesthanthere8werewhenonefirstbeganwork.Mostvoluntaryorganizationshaveonlyasmallfull-time9，anddependverymuchonvolunteersandpart-timers.Thismeansthatworkingrelationshipsaredifferentfromthoseincommercialorganizations，andvaluesmaybedifferent.10somewaystheymayseemmorecasualandlessefficient，butoneshouldnot11thembycommercialcriteria.Thepeoplewhoworkwiththemdosofordifferentreasonsandwithdifferent12，bothpersonaland13.Oneshouldnotjointhem14toarmthemwithprofessionalexperience；theymustbejoinedwithcommitmenttothe15，notbusinessefficiency.Becausesalariesare16ornon-existentmanyvoluntarybodiesoffermodestexpense.Butmanyretiredpeopletakepartincommunityservicefor17，simplybecausetheyenjoythework.Manycommunityactivitiespossible18retirementwerealsopossibleduringone'sworkinglifebuttheyaretobeundertaken19seriouslyforthat.Retiredpeoplewhoarejustlookingforsomethingdifferentorunusualtodoshouldnotconsider20communityservice.1.[A]oversea[B]oversea[C]overseas[D]overseas2.[A]as[B]so[C]then[D]that3.[A]quantity[B]qualifying[C]quality[D]qualified4.[A]partially[B]partly[C]particularly[D]passionately5.[A]order[B]operate[C]offer[D]occupy6.[A]which[B]where[C]as[D]that7.[A]paying[B]paid[C]tobepaid[D]pay8.[A]before[B]lately[C]never[D]ever9.[A]team[B]number[C]staff[D]crowd10.[A]In[B]By[C]With[D]Through11.[A]lookat[B]comment[C]enjoy[D]judge12.[A]subjective[B]subject[C]objectives[D]objects13.[A]organization[B]organizational[C]organized[D]organizing14.[A]expecting[B]toexpect[C]beingexpected[D]expected15.[A]course[B]cause[C]case[D]caution16.[A]little[B]small[C]large[D]big17.[A]free[B]freedom[C]money[D]something18.[A]before[B]on[C]in[D]at19.[A]much[B]verymuch[C]nomore[D]noless20.[A]tobetaken[B]totake[C]taking[D]beingtakenSectionⅡReadingComprehensionPartADirections：Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA，B，CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.（40points）Text1AclassactionlawsuithasbeenfiledagainstaprominentTorontodoctor，bypatientswhoallegeheinjectedabannedsubstanceintotheirfacesforcosmeticpurposes.Thedoctorhadalreadybeeninvestigatedmorethanthreeyearsagoforusingtheliquidsilicone，aproductnotauthorizedforuseinCanada.Somepatientssaytheyarenowsufferinghealthproblemsandthinktheliquidsiliconemaybetoblame.OneofthosepatientsisAnnaBarbiero.ShesaysherTorontodermatologisttoldherhewasusingliquidsiliconetosmoothoutwrinkles.Whatshesayshedidn'ttellheristhatitisn'tapprovedforuseinCanada.“Ididn'tknowwhatliquidsiliconewasandhejustcalledit‘liquidgold'.”Barbieroremembers.Afterherlasttreatment，AnnadiscoveredDr.SheldonPollackhadbeenorderedtostopusingthesiliconetwoyearsearlierbyHealthCanada.Expertssaysiliconecanmigratethroughthebody，andcauseinflammationanddeformities.“Myupperlipisalwaysnumbanditburns，”Barbierosays.Barbieroisspearheadingalawsuitagainstthedoctor，whoherlawyerthinksmightinvolveupto100patientsinjectedwiththesamematerial.“Thefact，aphysicianofhisstaturewoulduseanunauthorizedproductonapatientbecausehethoughtitwasokay，isreallyverydisturbing，”sayslawyerDouglasElliott.

Ontario'sCollegeofPhysiciansandSurgeons（OCPS）isalsoinvestigatingDr.Pollacktoseeif，infact，hecontinuedtousethesiliconeafteragreeingtostopandwhetherhewroteinpatientrecordsthatheusedanotherlegalproductwhenhehadusedsilicone.However，inalettertotheCollege，Dr.PollackwrotethathehadalwaystoldpatientsthatthesiliconewasnotapprovedforsaleinCanada，andhadwarnedthemoftherisks.AndinBarbiero'scase，“……atthetimeofherfirstvisit，priortohereverreceivingIGLStreatment，IspecificallyinformedherthatthematerialwasnotapprovedforsaleinCanadabytheHealthProtectionBranchandthatIdidreceivethematerialfromoutsidethecountry……Iwouldliketoemphasizethat，asisevidentonMs.Barbiero'schart，IdrewaspecificdiagramonthechartwhichIcarefullydiscussedwithandexplainedtoMs.BarbieroasIdowitheveryotherpatienttoexplainthenatureandlikelihoodofpossiblecomplicationsandthereasonsandconsequencesofthosepossiblecomplications.”Dr.PollackdeclinedtospeaktoCTVNews，ortohavehislawyerdiscussthecase.Noneoftheallegationshavebeenprovenincourt.Butthecaseraisesquestionsabouttheabilityofgoverningbodiestomonitordoctors.“There'salargermessageandthatis：buyerbeware，”saysNancyNeilsenofCosmeticSurgeryCanada.“It'sincumbentonconsumerstodotheirresearch.”21.DoctorSheldonPollackwaschargedthat［A］hehadprescribedwrongmedicineforpatientsbymistake［B］hehadtreatedhispatientswithsomethingillegal，causingbadresult［C］hehadpretendedtobeaprominentsurgeon［D］hehadsoldanunauthorizedproductinlargeamount22.Itcanbelearnedfromthesecondparagraphthat“dermatologist”mustbeadoctordealingwith.［A］heartdisease［B］eyedisease［C］breathingdisorder［D］disorderanddiseaseoftheskin23.TheinvestigationofOCPSistofind［A］whetherhestillhasillegaltreatmentonhispatients［B］howmanypatientshavebeenabused［C］ifhetoldhispatientsabouttherisk［D］howmuchmoneyhegotfromhisillegaltreatment24.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtothepassage？［A］Barbierotookthetreatmentafterbeingtoldtherisk.［B］Dr.SheldonPollackstartedhisworkwiththepatients'agreementtoacceptthepotentialrisk.［C］Afamousdoctorshouldbeauthorizedtousesomethinghethinksokayonpatients.［D］Barbieroissufferingalot.25.Fromtheendingpartofthepassage，wecanconcludethat［A］Barbierowillwinthelawsuit［B］Dr.SheldonPollackwillwinthelawsuit［C］thecaseshavebeendismissed［D］governingbodiestomonitordoctorwillbechargedText2Whatoursocietysuffersfrommosttodayistheabsenceofconsensusaboutwhatitandlifeinitoughttobe；suchconsensuscannotbegainedfromsociety'spresentstage，orfromfantasiesaboutwhatitoughttobe.Forthatthepresentistoocloseandtoodiversified，andthefuturetoouncertain，tomakebelievableclaimsaboutit.Aconsensusinthepresenthencecanbeachievedonlythroughasharedunderstandingofthepast，asHomer'sepicsinformedthosewholivedcenturieslaterwhatitmeanttobeGreek，andbywhatimagesandidealstheyweretolivetheirlivesandorganizetheirsocieties.Mostsocietiesderiveconsensusfromalonghistory，alanguagealltheirown，acommonreligion，commonancestry.Themythsbywhichtheylivearebasedonallofthese.ButtheUnitedStatesisacountryofimmigrants，comingfromagreatvarietyofnations.Lately，ithasbeenemphasizedthatanasocial，narcissisticpersonalityhasbecomecharacteristicofAmericans，andthatitisthistypeofpersonalitythatmakesforthelackofwell-being，becauseitpreventsusfromachievingconsensusthatwouldcounteractatendencytowithdrawintoprivateworlds.Inthisstudyofnarcissism，ChristopherLashsaysthatmodernman，“torturedbyself-consciousness，turnstonewtherapiesnottofreehimselfofhispersonalworriesbuttofindmeaningandpurposeinlife，tofindsomethingtolivefor”。Thereiswidespreaddistressbecausenationalmoralehasdeclined，andwehavelostanearliersenseofnationalvisionandpurpose.

Contrarytorigidreligionsorpoliticalbeliefs，asarefoundintotalitariansocieties，ourcultureisoneofthegreatindividualdifferences，atleastinprincipleandintheory；butthisleadstodisunity，evenchaos.Americansbelieveinthevalueofdiversity，butjustbecauseourisasocietybasedonindividualdiversity，itneedsconsensusaboutsomedominatingideasmorethansocietiesbasedonuniformoriginoftheircitizens.Hence，ifwearetohaveconsensus，itmustbebasedonamyth—avisionaboutacommonexperience，aconquestthatmadeusAmericans，asthemythabouttheconquestofTroyformedtheGreeks.Onlyacommonmythcanofferrelieffromthefearthatlifeiswithoutmeaningorpurpose.Mythspermitustoexamineourplaceintheworldbycomparingittoasharedidea.Mythsaresharedfantasiesthatformthetiethatbindstheindividualtoothermembersofhisgroup.Suchmythshelptowardofffeelingsofisolations，guilt，anxiety，andpurposelessness—inshort，theycombatisolationandthebreakdownofsocialstandardsandvalues.26.Intheeyesoftheauthor，thegreatesttroublewiththeUSsocietymayliein[A]thenon-existenceofconsensusontheformsofthesocietyshouldtake[B]thelackofdivergenceoverthecommonorganizationsofsociallife[C]thenon-acceptanceofasocietybasedonindividualdiversity[D]thepervasivedistresscausedbynationalmoraledecline27.TheasocialpersonalityofAmericansmaystemfrom[A]theabsenceofacommonreligionandancestry[B]themultiracialconstituentsoftheUSsociety[C]thewantofasharedmythstheypossessinlife[D]thecounterbalancetonarcissisticpersonality28.Homer'sepicsismentionedinParagraph1inorderto[A]exemplifythecontributionsmadebyancientpoets[B]illustratetheroleofsharedfantasiesaboutsociety[C]showanidealstageofeternalsocialprogress[D]makeknownmythsofwhatasocietyoughttobe29.TheauthorconcludesthatonlysharedmythscanhelpAmericans[A]tobringabouttheuniformityoftheirculture[B]toregaintheirconsensusaboutacommonexperience[C]tostayawayfromnegativefeelingsintheirlife[D]tocounteracttheeffectsofconsensusaboutsociety30.ItcanbeinferredfromParagraph2thatChristopherLashismostprobably[A]areformadvocate[B]aseniorpsychologist[C]areputedpoet[D]asocialhistorianText3Earthquakesurvivorstrappedinrubblecouldonedaybesavedbyanunlikelyrescuer：aroboticcaterpillarthatburrowsitswaythroughdebris.Justafewcentimeterswide，therobotreliesonmagneticfieldstopropelitthroughthekindoftinycrevicesthatwouldfoilthewheeledortrackedsearchrobotscurrentlyusedtolocatepeopletrappedincollapsedbuildings.Thecaterpillar'sinventor，NorihikoSagaofAkitaPrefecturalUniversityinJapan，willdemonstratehisnewmethodoflocomotionataconferenceonmagneticmaterialsinSeattle.Inadditiontolightsandcameras，asearchcaterpillarcouldbeequippedwithanarrayofsensorstomeasureotherfactors—suchasradioactivityoroxygenlevels—thatcouldtellhumanrescuersifanareaissafetoenter.

Themagneticcaterpillarisamazinglysimple.Itmovesbyaprocesssimilartoperistalsis，therhythmiccontractionthatmovesfooddownyourintestine.Sagamadethecaterpillarfromaseriesofrubbercapsulesfilledwithamagneticfluidconsistingofironparticles，water，andadetergent-likesurfactant，whichreducesthesurfacetensionofthefluid.Eachcapsuleislinkedtothenextbyapairofrubberrods.Thecaterpillar'sgutsarewrappedinaclear，flexiblepolymertubethatprotectsitfromtheenvironment.Tomakethecaterpillarmoveforwards，Sagamovesamagneticfieldbackwardsalongthecaterpillar.Insidethecaterpillar's“head”capsule，magneticfluidsurgestowardstheattractivemagneticfield，causingthecapsuletobulgeouttothesidesanddrawitsfrontandrearportionsup.Asthemagneticfieldpassestothenextcapsule，thefirstbreaksfreeandspringsforwardandthenextcapsulebunchesup.Inthisway，thecaterpillarcanreachspeedsof4centimeterspersecondasitcrawlsalong.Movingthemagneticfieldfastercanmakeittraversethecaterpillarbeforeallthecapsuleshavesprungbacktotheiroriginalshapes.Thesegmentsthenallspringback，almostbutnotquitesimultaneously.Sagaplanstoautomatethemovementofthecaterpillarbyplacingelectromagnetsatregularintervalsalongtheinsideofitspolymertube.Byphasingthecurrentflowtotheelectromagnets，he'llbeabletocontrolitwirelesslyviaremotecontrol.Healsoneedstofindanewtypeofrubberforthemagneticcapsules，becausetheonehe'susingattheminuteeventuallybeginstoleak.Butcrawlingisnotthemostefficientformoflocomotionforrobots，saysRobertFulloftheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley，anexpertinanimalmotionwhooccasionallyadvisesroboticsdesigners.“Ifyoulookattheenergeticcostofcrawling，comparedtowalking，swimmingorflying，crawlingisveryexpensive，”hesays.Walking，ontheothereverystep，energyisconservedinthefootandthenreleasedtohelpthefootspringup.Sagaacknowledgesthisinefficiencybutsayshiscaterpillarisfarmorestablethanonethatwalks，rollsonwheelsorflies.Ithasnomovingpartssaveforafewfluid-filledrubbercapsules.Bipedrobotsandwheeledrobotsrequireasmoothsurfaceandaredifficulttominiaturize，andflyingrobotshavetoomanymovingparts.“Myperistalticcrawlingrobotissimple—anditworks，”hesays.31.Fromthispassage，wecanlearnthat[A]Aroboticcaterpillarcancrawlbyapairofrubberrods[B]Whenacaterpillarmoves，themagneticfieldmovesbackwardsalongit[C]Theenvironmentcouldn'tinfluencearoboticcaterpillar'sguts，whicharewrappedinacapsule[D]Crawlingisverystableandefficient，andwhenitmoves，onlyafewelementsareneeded32.Accordingtothispassage，whichisnotTRUEabouttheconstructionoftheroboticcaterpillar？[A]Aroboticcaterpillarismadefromaseriesofrubbercapsulesfilledwithamagneticfluid.[B]Ironparticles，water，andadetergent-likesurfactantformamagneticfluid.[C]Eachcapsulefilledwithamagneticfluidislinkedtoapairofrubberrods.[D]Inordertokeepstablecondition，thecaterpillar'sgutsarewrappedinaclear，flexiblepolymertube.33.Themeaningoftheword“peristalsis”inparagraphthreeissimilarto.[A]swimming[B]flying[C]crawling[D]walking34.Comparingtheroboticcaterpillarandtheotherrobots，whichofthefollowingisnottrue？

[A]Asmoothsurfaceisindispensabletobipedrobotsandwheeledrobots.[B]Flyingrobotsareveryinconvenientwhenmoving，becausetheyhavetoomanymovingparts.[C]Theroboticcaterpillaronlyhasrubbercapsulesfilledwithamagneticfluid.[D]It'sincapableforwheeledrobotstolocatetrappedpeoplebecausetheyareimpossibletominiaturize.35.Thepassageismainlyabout[A]whyaroboticcaterpillarcanfindtrappedpeople[B]howaroboticcaterpillarwork[C]theinstructionofthemagneticcaterpillar[D]howaroboticcaterpillarperistalsisText4Whenadiseaseofepidemicproportionsripsintothepopulace，scientistsimmediatelygettowork，tryingtolocatethesourceoftheafflictionandfindwaystocombatit.Oftentimes，successisachieved，asmedicalscienceisabletoisolatetheparasite，germorcellthatcausestheproblemandfindswaystoeffectivelykillorcontainit.Inthemostseriousofcases，inwhichtheentirepopulationofaregionorcountrymaybeatgraverisk，itisdeemednecessarytoprotecttheentirepopulationthroughvaccination，soastosafeguardlivesandensurethatthediseasewillnotspread.Theprocessofvaccinationallowsthepatient'sbodytodevelopimmunitytothevirusordiseasesothat，ifitisencountered，onecanwarditoffnaturally.Toaccomplishthis，asmallweakordeadstrainofthediseaseisactuallyinjectedintothepatientinacontrolledenvironment，sothathisbody'simmunesystemcanlearntofighttheinvaderproperly.Informationonhowtopenetratethedisease'sdefensesistransmittedtoallelementsofthepatient'simmunesysteminaprocessthatoccursnaturally，inwhichgeneticinformationispassedfromcelltocell.Thismakessurethat，shouldthepatientlatercomeintocontactwiththerealproblem，hisbodyiswellequippedandtrainedtodealwithit，havingalreadydonesobefore.Therearedangersinherentintheprocess，however.Onoccasion，eventheweakenedversionofthediseasecontainedinthevaccineprovestoomuchforthebodytohandle，resultingintheimmunesystemsuccumbing，and，therefore，thepatient'sdeath.Suchisthecaseofthesmallpoxvaccine，designedtoeradicatethesmallpoxepidemicthatnearlywipedouttheentireNativeAmericanpopulationandkilledmassivenumbersofsettlers.Approximately1in10，000peoplewhoreceivesthevaccinecontractthesmallpoxdiseasefromthevaccineitselfanddiesfromit.Thus，iftheentirepopulationoftheUnitedStatesweretoreceivetheSmallpoxVaccinetoday，3000Americanswouldbeleftdead.Fortunately，thesmallpoxviruswasconsiderederadicatedintheearly1970s，endingthemandatoryvaccinationofallbabiesinAmerica.Intheeventofare-introductionofthedisease，however，mandatoryvaccinationsmayresume，resultinginmoreunexpecteddeathsfromvaccination.Theprocess，whichistrulyamixedblessing，mayindeedhidesomehiddencurses.36.Thebesttitleforthetextmaybe[A]“Vaccinations：ABlessingorACurse”[B]“PrinciplesofVaccinations”[C]“Vaccines：MethodsandImplications”[D]“AMiracleCureUnderAttack”37.WhatdoestheexampleoftheSmallpoxVaccineillustrate？[A]Thepossiblenegativeoutcomeofadministeringvaccines.[B]Thepracticaluseofavaccinetocontrolanepidemicdisease.[C]Theeffectivenessofvaccinesineradicatingcertaindisease.[D]Themethodbywhichvaccinesareemployedagainstthedisease.38.Thephrase“warditoffnaturally”（Paragraph2）mostprobablymeans[A]disposeofitnaturally[B]fightitoffwithease[C]seetoitreluctantly[D]splititupproperly39.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtothetext？[A]Savingthemajoritywouldnecessarilyjustifythedeathoftheminority.[B]Theimmunesystemcanbetrainedtofightweakerversionsofadisease.[C]Mandatoryvaccinationsareindispensabletothesurvivalofthepopulace.[D]Theprocessofvaccinationremainsamysterytobefurtherresolved.40.Thepurposeoftheauthorinwritingthispassageis[A]tocommentandcriticize[B]todemonstrateandargue[C]tointerestandentertain[D]toexplainandinformPartB

SampleoneDirections：Inthefollowingtext，somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions41-45，choosethemostsuitableonefromthelistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblanks.Therearetwoextrachoices，whichdonotfitinanyoftheblanks.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.（10points）Weareseeingaseriesofparadoxesattheturnofthemillennium.Ontheonehand，globalizationmeansthatnationalfrontiersarebecomingincreasinglymeaningless，butontheother，wearebeingsweptbyawaveofparochialism，withcountriesclingingtothenotionofsovereignty.41）Buttherearesomanyfactorsintheworldthatmakethispositionincreasinglymeaningless.Governmentsnolongerhavecompletecontrolovertheireconomicandmonetarypolicies，andmanymultinationalsnowhavegreaterprofitsthanindividualcountry'sGDP.Theendofthecoldwarhasbroughtitsowndangersandweneedtofindanewbalanceofpowerintheworld.Ithasalsospawnedmanyconflicts.Governmentsmustbepreparedtosurrendersomeauthoritytoglobalandregionalinstitutionsorweriskworlddisorder.Itistragicthat，justwhenweneedastronginternationalorganization，theUnitedNationsisstarvedoffundsandoftensidelinedbyitsownmemberstates.WhathappenedinEastTimorwasunforgivablebecauseitwasforeseeable.Angolahasbeenanothersadinstanceofinternationalvacillation.42）Idothinkworldwarislesslikelyforthepresent，althoughIworryabouttheproliferationofnuclearweaponsatoneendandlethalsmallarmsattheother.43）Anotherworrystemsfromthehugeeconomicimbalancesinaworldwheretherichest20percenthave86percentofglobalGDP，andthe20poorestcountriesonlyonepercent.Humanitarianaidisnomorethanapalliative.44）Theinternationalimplicationsof，forexample，thecollapseofAfricaareunthinkable.Theremustbeanewconceptofsecuritybasednotjustonmilitaryanddefensemattersbutoneconomicandsocialconcernstoo.45）Theglobalpendulumhasswungtoofartowardsatotaldependenceonmarketforces，butfindingsomepointofbalanceinthemiddleisextremelydifficult.Iambynatureoptimistic，butinmygloomiermomentsIsometimesthinktheonlysolutionwillbeaninvasionfromouterspace-thenatlasteveryonewouldunite?。跘］Aslongasmorethanamillionpeoplecontinuetoliveindirectpovertywecanneverhopetoachievenationalorinternationalstability.［B］Weneedaninnternaationaalboddywitthteeeth-moorallyyandinacction..PerhhapsttheUNNshouuldbeegiveenitssownforcee.［C］MaanymeemberssofttheUNNhaveeonlyybecoomenaationstateesinthellastffewdeecadess，soIIcanunderrstanddwhytheyaressokeeentohangontootheiirinddependdence..［D］Itisteerrifyyingtthewaaythaatpowwerissincrreasinnglyddissemminateedtosmalll，comppletellyrutthlesssgrouupsliiketeerroriists，druggtrafffickeersanndloccalwaarlordds.Thhegreeatimmpondeerableeistthatssomennutcoouldccreateeanuuclearrexpllosionn.Orthatsomeessenntialllyloccalcoonflicctcouuldesscalatteouttofccontrool.Yooucannnotiisolatteinsstabillity：itggetseexportted.［E］TheemainnlypuurposeeofffoundiingthheUniitedNNationnsispreveentinggaggrressioonsanndwarrs.IttishhardttoatttributtetheesucccessttotheeUnittedNaationssalthhoughnoneewworrldwaarbrookeouutsinnceittsesttablisshmentt.TheeUnittedNaationssisaalwaysshelpplessofprreventtingtthereegionaalwarrs.［F］TheenotiionoffsoveereignntyissmoreeandmorestronngwhiilethheinffluencceoftheUUniteddNatiionsiisweaakeraandweeaker..［G］Wessterncounttriesmustincreeasettheirdevellopmenntaiddproggrammees，notoutoofchaaritybutfforreeasonssofsself-iintereest.SampleTTwoDirectioons：Thefolllowinggparaagraphhsareegiveeninawroongorrder.ForQQuestiions441-45，youarerrequirredtooreorrganizzetheesepaaragraaphsiintoaacoheerenttextbychhoosinngfroomtheelisttA-Gtofiillinneachhnumbberedbox.TheffirstandtthelaastpaaragraaphshhavebbeenpplaceddforyouiinBoxxes.MMarkyyouraanswerrsonANSWEERSHEEET1..（10pooints）[A]Butthellatesttbigrevissionttotheestattisticcs，publlisheddbyttheCoommercceDeppartmeentatttheendoofJully，tolddadiiffereentsttory.Itshhowedthatpersoonalssavinggsrattesarrestiillonnadoownwarrdtreend，andhavefalleenparrticullarlysharpplyinnthepast18moonths..

[B]BBillCClintoonlikkestooboasstthaatAmeerica''secoonomyisinnitsbestshapeefor30yeears.Inmaanywaaysheeisrright：theexpannsionhashhummeddalonngforrmoreethannsixyearss，infllationnisllow，andunempploymeenthaastummbledto4..8%，aleevelnnotseeensiincetthe19960s.Yettthereisonneglaaringdiffeerenceebetwweenttoday''secoonomyandttheglloryddaysoofaggeneraationago：saviing，orrratherrthelackofitt.[C]PerssonalsavinngisonlyoneffactorrinAAmericca'sooveralllratteofthrifft.Fiirmsmmakeaaconttributtiontthrougghcorrporattesavving（infaact，manyyeconnomisttsrecckontthediistincctionbetweeenhoousehooldanndcorrporattesavvingiisarratherrarbiitraryyone），andtheggovernnment，too，playysabbigroole.TThebiiggertheddeficiit，themoreitdrragsddownooveralllsavvingsratess.[D]Atooneleevel，thissreviisionclearreduppabiitofamysstery..Econnomisttshaddbeennsurppriseddattthelaackoffa“wealtthefffect”：peopplediidnottseemmtobbespeendinggmuchhmoree，desppitehhugeaapprecciatiooninthevvalueofthheirsstockmarkeetasssets.Thennewsttatistticssshowmmuchhhigherrconssumptiion.[E]Thepictuureissnotprettty.Siincetthemiid-19770sthhelonng-treendinnhousseholddsaviinghaasbeeendowwnwardds.Reecentllyitappeaaredtthattthisppicturremigghtbeechannging：perssonalsavinngrattesinnthemid-11990sappeaaredfflat，oreevenoonasslighttlyuppwardtrendd.[F]LasttyearrAmerricanssputonly4.3%ofthheirddispossableincommeintheppiggybank，justtabouuthallfasmuchasthheirpparenttssalltedaawayiin19667.Unnlessthistrenddtowaardspprofliigacyissttemmedd，andprefeerablyyreveersed，Amerrica'ss“miraccleecconomyy”willlresttonsshakyfounddationns.Leessobbviouss，howeever，ishhowtoodoiit.[G]Adeecadeago，Amerrica'ssabyssmalssavinggsrattescoouldbbeexpplaineedtoalarrgeexxtentbygoovernmmentpprofliigacy..Butnowtthattthebiigandddefiicithhasbeeentaamed，andwhichhtheprosppectoofabbalanccedbuudgetby20002，itiistimmetoturnattenntiontoAmmericaansthhemsellves.Order：B→41→42→43→44→45→DSampleTThreeDirectioons：Youaregoinggtorreadaatexttabouutstuupidittyforrdummmies，folllowedbyalistofexxamplees.ChhoosethebbesteexampllefroomtheelisttAFforreachhnumbberedsubheeadingg（4145）。Therreisoneeextraexampplewhhichyyoudoonotneedtousse.MaarkyoourannswerssonAANSWERRSHEEET1.（1