歷年考研閱讀真題

PAGE2000Passage1Ahistoryoflongandeffortlesssuccesscanbeadreadfulhandicap,but,ifproperlyhandled,itmaybecomeadrivingforce.WhentheUnitedStatesenteredjustsuchaglowingperiodaftertheendoftheSecondWorldWar,ithadamarketeighttimeslargerthananycompetitor,givingitsindustriesunparalleledeconomiesofscale.Itsscientistsweretheworld'sbest,itsworkersthemostskilled.AmericaandAmericanswereprosperousbeyondthedreamsoftheEuropeansandAsianswhoseeconomiesthewarhaddestroyed.Itwasinevitablethatthisprimacyshouldhavenarrowedasothercountriesgrewricher.Justasinevitably,theretreatfrompredominanceprovedpainful.Bythemid1980sAmericanshadfoundthemselvesatalossovertheirfadingindustrialcompetitiveness.SomehugeAmericanindustries,suchasconsumerelectronics,hadshrunkorvanishedinthefaceofforeigncompetition.By1987therewasonlyoneAmericantelevisionmakerleft,Zenith.(Nowthereisnone:ZenithwasboughtbySouthKorea'sLGElectronicsinJuly.)Foreignmadecarsandtextilesweresweepingintothedomesticmarket.America'smachine-toolindustrywasontheropes.Forawhileitlookedasthoughthemakingofsemiconductors,whichAmericahadinventedandwhichsatattheheartofthenewcomputerage,wasgoingtobethenextcasualty.Allofthiscausedacrisisofconfidence.Americansstoppedtakingprosperityforgranted.Theybegantobelievethattheirwayofdoingbusinesswasfailing,andthattheirincomeswouldthereforeshortlybegintofallaswell.Themid-1980sbroughtoneinquiryafteranotherintothecausesofAmerica'sindustrialdecline.Theirsometimessensationalfindingswerefilledwithwarningsaboutthegrowingcompetitionfromoverseas.Howthingshavechanged!In1995theUnitedStatescanlookbackonfiveyearsofsolidgrowthwhileJapanhasbeenstruggling.FewAmericansattributethissolelytosuchobviouscausesasadevalueddollarortheturningofthebusinesscycle.Selfdoubthasyieldedtoblindpride."Americanindustryhaschangeditsstructure,hasgoneonadiet,haslearnttobemorequickwitted,"accordingtoRichardCavanagh,executivedeanofHarvard'sKennedySchoolofGovernment."ItmakesmeproudtobeanAmericanjusttoseehowourbusinessesareimprovingtheirproductivity,"saysStephenMooreoftheCatoInstitute,athinktankinWashington,DC.AndWilliamSahlmanoftheHarvardBusinessSchoolbelievesthatpeoplewilllookbackonthisperiodas"agoldenageofbusinessmanagementintheUnitedStates."1.TheU.S.achieveditspredominanceafterWorldWarIIbecause________.[A]ithadmadepainstakingeffortstowardsthisgoal[B]itsdomesticmarketwaseighttimeslargerthanbefore[C]thewarhaddestroyedtheeconomiesofmostpotentialcompetitors[D]theunparalleledsizeofitsworkforcehadgivenanimpetustoitseconomy2.ThelossofU.S.predominanceintheworldeconomyinthe1980sismanifestedinthefactthattheAmerican________.[A]TVindustryhadwithdrawntoitsdomesticmarket[B]semiconductorindustryhadbeentakenoverbyforeignenterprises[C]machine-toolindustryhadcollapsedaftersuicidalactions[D]autoindustryhadlostpartofitsdomesticmarket3.Whatcanbeinferredfromthepassage?[A]Itishumannaturetoshiftbetweenself-doubtandblindpride.[B]Intensecompetitionmaycontributetoeconomicprogress.[C]Therevivaloftheeconomydependsoninternationalcooperation.[D]Alonghistoryofsuccessmaypavethewayforfurtherdevelopment.4.TheauthorseemstobelievetherevivaloftheU.S.economyinthe1990scanbeattributedtothe________.[A]turningofthebusinesscycle[B]restructuringofindustry[C]improvedbusinessmanagement[D]successineducationPassage2Beingamanhasalwaysbeendangerous.Thereareabout105malesbornforevery100females,butthisratiodropstonearbalanceattheageofmaturity,andamong70-year-oldstherearetwiceasmanywomenasmen.Butthegreatuniversalofmalemortalityisbeingchanged.Now,boybabiessurvivealmostaswellasgirlsdo.Thismeansthat,forthefirsttime,therewillbeanexcessofboysinthosecrucialyearswhentheyaresearchingforamate.Moreimportant,anotherchancefornaturalselectionhasbeenremoved.Fiftyyearsago,thechanceofababy(particularlyaboybaby)survivingdependedonitsweight.Akilogramtoolightortooheavymeantalmostcertaindeath.Todayitmakesalmostnodifference.Sincemuchofthevariationisduetogenes,onemoreagentofevolutionhasgone.Thereisanotherwaytocommitevolutionarysuicide:stayalive,buthavefewerchildren.Fewpeopleareasfertileasinthepast.Exceptinsomereligiouscommunities,veryfewwomenhave15children.Nowadaysthenumberofbirths,liketheageofdeath,hasbecomeaverage.Mostofushaveroughlythesamenumberofoffspring.Again,differencesbetweenpeopleandtheopportunityfornaturalselectiontotakeadvantageofithavediminished.Indiashowswhatishappening.Thecountryofferswealthforafewinthegreatcitiesandpovertyfortheremainingtribalpeoples.Thegrandmediocrityoftoday—everyonebeingthesameinsurvivalandnumberofoffspring—meansthatnaturalselectionhaslost81%ofitspowerinuper-middle-classIndiacomparedtothetribes.Forus,thismeansthatevolutionisover;thebiologicalUtopiahasarrived.Strangely,ithasinvolvedlittlephysicalchange.Nootherspeciesfillssomanyplacesinnature.Butinthepast100,000year—eventhepast100years—ourliveshavebeentransformedbutourbodieshavenot.Wedidnotevolve,becausemachinesandsocietydiditforus.Darwinhadaphrasetodescribethoseignorantofevolution:they"lookatanorganicbeingasasavagelooksataship,asatsomethingwhollybeyondhiscomprehension."Nodoubtwewillremembera20thcenturywayoflifebeyondcomprehensionforitsugliness.ButhoweveramazedourdescendantsmaybeathowfarfromUtopiawewere,theywilllookjustlikeus.5.Whatusedtobethedangerinbeingamanaccordingtothefirstparagraph?[A]Alackofmates.[B]Afiercecompetition.[C]Alowersurvivalrate.[D]Adefectivegene.6.WhatdoestheexampleofIndiaillustrate?[A]Wealthypeopletendtohavefewerchildrenthanpoorpeople.[B]Naturalselectionhardlyworksamongtherichandthepoor.[C]Themiddleclasspopulationis80%smallerthanthatofthetribes.[D]Indiaisoneofthecountrieswithaveryhighbirthrate.7.Theauthorarguesthatourbodieshavestoppedevolvingbecause________.[A]lifehasbeenimprovedbytechnologicaladvance[B]thenumberoffemalebabieshasbeendeclining[C]ourspecieshasreachedthehigheststageofevolution[D]thedifferencebetweenwealthandpovertyisdisappearing8.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleforthepassage?[A]SexRatioChangesinHumanEvolution[B]WaysofContinuingMan'sEvolution[C]theEvolutionaryFutureofNature[D]HumanEvolutionGoingNowhere

Passage3Whenanewmovementinartattainsacertainfashion,itisadvisabletofindoutwhatitsadvocatesareaimingat,for,howeverfarfetchedandunreasonabletheirprinciplesmayseemtoday,itispossiblethatinyearstocometheymayberegardedasnormal.WithregardtoFuturistpoetry,however,thecaseisratherdifficult,forwhateverfuturistpoetrymaybe—evenadmittingthatthetheoryonwhichitisbasedmayberight—itcanhardlybeclassedasLiterature.This,inbrief,iswhattheFuturistsays:foracentury,pastconditionsoflifehavebeenconditionallyspeedingup,tillnowweliveinaworldofnoiseandviolenceandspeed.Consequently,ourfeelings,thoughtsandemotionshaveundergoneacorrespondingchange.Thisspeedingupoflife,saystheFuturist,requiresanewformofexpression.Wemustspeedupourliteraturetoo,ifwewanttointerpretmodernstress.Wemustpouroutalargestreamofessentialwords,unhamperedbystops,orqualifyingadjectives,orfiniteverbs.Insteadofdescribingsoundswemustmakeupwordsthatimitatethem;wemustusemanysizesoftypeanddifferentcoloredinksonthesamepage,andshortenorlengthenwordsatwill.Certainlytheirdescriptionsofbattlesareconfused.ButitisalittleupsettingtoreadintheexplanatorynotesthatacertainlinedescribesafightbetweenaTurkishandaBulgarianofficeronabridgeoffwhichtheybothfallintotheriver—andthentofindthatthelineconsistsofthenoiseoftheirfallingandtheweightsoftheofficers:'Pluff!Pluff!Ahundredandeighty-fivekilograms.'This,thoughitfulfillsthelawsandrequirementsofFuturistpoetry,canhardlybeclassedasLiterature.Allthesame,nothinkingmancanrefusetoaccepttheirfirstproposition:thatagreatchangeinouremotionallifecallsforachangeofexpression.Thewholequestionisreallythis:haveweessentiallychanged?9.Thispassageismainly_________.[A]asurveyofnewapproachestoart[B]areviewofFuturistpoetry[C]aboutmeritsoftheFuturistmovement[D]aboutlawsandrequirementsofliterature10.Whenanovelliteraryideaappears,peopleshouldtryto________.[A]determineitspurposes[B]ignoreitsflaws[C]followthenewfashions[D]accepttheprinciples11.Futuristsclaimthatwemust________.[A]increasetheproductionofliterature[B]usepoetrytorelievemodernstress[C]developnewmodesofexpression[D]avoidusingadjectivesandverbs12.TheauthorbelievesthatFuturistpoetryis________.[A]basedonreasonableprinciples[B]newandacceptabletoordinarypeople[C]indicativeofabasicchangeinhumannature[D]moreofatransientphenomenonthanliterature

Passage4AimlessnesshashardlybeentypicalofthepostwarJapanwhoseproductivityandsocialharmonyaretheenvyoftheUnitedStatesandEurope.ButincreasinglytheJapaneseareseeingadeclineofthetraditionalwork-moralvalues.Tenyearsagoyoungpeoplewerehardworkingandsawtheirjobsastheirprimaryreasonforbeing,butnowJapanhaslargelyfulfilleditseconomicneeds,andyoungpeopledon'tknowwheretheyshouldgonext.ThecomingofageofthepostwarbabyboomandanentryofwomenintothemaledominatedjobmarkethavelimitedtheopportunitiesofteenagerswhoarealreadyquestioningtheheavypersonalsacrificesinvolvedinclimbingJapan'srigidsocialladdertogoodschoolsandjobs.Inarecentsurvey,itwasfoundthatonly24.5percentofJapanesestudentswerefullysatisfiedwithschoollife,comparedwith67.2percentofstudentsintheUnitedStates.Inaddition,farmoreJapaneseworkersexpresseddissatisfactionwiththeirjobsthandidtheircounterpartsinthe10othercountriessurveyed.Whileoftenpraisedbyforeignersforitsemphasisonthebasics,Japaneseeducationtendstostresstesttakingandmechanicallearningovercreativityandself-expression."Thosethingsthatdonotshowupinthetestscores—personality,ability,courageorhumanity—arecompletelyignored,"saysToshikiKaifu,chairmanoftherulingLiberalDemocraticParty'seducationcommittee."Frustrationagainstthiskindofthingleadskidstodropoutandrunwild."LastyearJapanexperienced2,125incidentsofschoolviolence,including929assaultsonteachers.Amidtheoutcry,manyconservativeleadersareseekingareturntotheprewaremphasisonmoraleducation.LastyearMitsuoSetoyama,whowastheneducationminister,raisedeyebrowswhenhearguedthatliberalreformsintroducedbytheAmericanoccupationauthoritiesafterWorldWarIIhadweakenedthe"Japanesemoralityofrespectforparents."ButthatmayhavemoretodowithJapaneselife-styles."InJapan,"sayseducatorYokoMuro,"it'sneveraquestionofwhetheryouenjoyyourjobandyourlife,butonlyhowmuchyoucanendure."Witheconomicgrowthhascomecentralization;fully76percentofJapan's119millioncitizensliveincitieswherecommunityandtheextendedfamilyhavebeenabandonedinfavorofisolated,two-generationhouseholds.UrbanJapanesehavelongenduredlengthycommutes(travelstoandfromwork)andcrowdedlivingconditions,butastheoldgroupandfamilyvaluesweaken,thediscomfortisbeginningtotell.Inthepastdecade,theJapanesedivorcerate,whilestillwellbelowthatoftheUnitedStates,hasincreasedbymorethan50percent,andsuicideshaveincreasedbynearlyone-quarter.13.IntheWesterners'eyes,thepostwarJapanwas________.[A]underaimlessdevelopment[B]apositiveexample[C]arivaltotheWest[D]onthedecline14.Accordingtotheauthor,whatmaychieflyberesponsibleforthemoraldeclineofJapanesesociety?[A]Women'sparticipationinsocialactivitiesislimited.[B]Moreworkersaredissatisfiedwiththeirjobs.[C]Excessiveemphasishasbeenplacedonthebasics.[D]Thelife-stylehasbeeninfluencedbyWesternvalues.15.Whichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtotheauthor?[A]Japaneseeducationispraisedforhelpingtheyoungclimbthesocialladder.[B]Japaneseeducationischaracterizedbymechanicallearningaswellascreativity.[C]Morestressshouldbeplacedonthecultivationofcreativity.[D]Droppingoutleadstofrustrationagainsttesttaking.16.ThechangeinJapaneselife-styleisrevealedinthefactthat________.[A]theyoungarelesstolerantofdiscomfortsinlife[B]thedivorcerateinJapanexceedsthatintheU.S.[C]theJapaneseenduremorethaneverbefore[D]theJapaneseappreciatetheirpresentlifePassage5Ifambitionistobewellregarded,therewardsofambition—wealth,distinction,controloverone'sdestiny—mustbedeemedworthyofthesacrificesmadeonambition'sbehalf.Ifthetraditionofambitionistohavevitality,itmustbewidelyshared;anditespeciallymustbehighlyregardedbypeoplewhoarethemselvesadmired,theeducatednotleastamongthem.Inanoddway,however,itistheeducatedwhohaveclaimedtohavegivenuponambitionasanideal.Whatisoddisthattheyhaveperhapsmostbenefitedfromambition—ifnotalwaystheirownthenthatoftheirparentsandgrandparents.Thereisaheavynoteofhypocrisyinthis,acaseofclosingthebarndoorafterthehorseshaveescaped—withtheeducatedthemselvesridingonthem.Certainlypeopledonotseemlessinterestedinsuccessanditssignsnowthanformerly.Summerhomes,Europeantravel,BMWs—thelocations,placenamesandnamebrandsmaychange,butsuchitemsdonotseemlessindemandtodaythanadecadeortwoyearsago.Whathashappenedisthatpeoplecannotconfessfullytotheirdreams,aseasilyandopenlyasoncetheycould,lesttheybethoughtpushing,acquisitiveandvulgar.Instead,wearetreatedtofinehypocriticalspectacles,whichnowmorethaneverseeminamplesupply:thecriticofAmericanmaterialismwithaSouthamptonsummerhome;thepublisherofradicalbookswhotakeshismealsinthree-starrestaurants;thejournalistadvocatingparticipatorydemocracyinallphasesoflife,whoseownchildrenareenrolledinprivateschools.Forsuchpeopleandmanymoreperhapsnotsoexceptional,theproperformulationis,"Succeedatallcostsbutavoidappearingambitious."Theattacksonambitionaremanyandcomefromvariousangels;itspublicdefendersarefewandunimpressive,wheretheyarenotextremelyunattractive.Asaresult,thesupportforambitionasahealthyimpulse,aqualitytobeadmiredandfixedinthemindoftheyoung,isprobablylowerthanithaseverbeenintheUnitedStates.Thisdoesnotmeanthatambitionisatanend,thatpeoplenolongerfeelitsstirringsandpromptings,butonlythat,nolongeropenlyhonored,itislessopenlyprofessed.Consequencesfollowfromthis,ofcourse,someofwhicharethatambitionisdrivenunderground,ormadesly.Such,then,isthewaythingsstand:ontheleftangrycritics,ontherightstupidsupporters,andinthemiddle,asusual,themajorityofearnestpeopletryingtogetoninlife.17.Itisgenerallybelievedthatambitionmaybewellregardedif________.[A]itsreturnswellcompensateforthesacrifices[B]itisrewardedwithmoney,fameandpower[C]itsgoalsarespiritualratherthanmaterial[D]itissharedbytherichandthefamous18.Thelastsentenceofthefirstparagraphmostprobablyimpliesthatitis________.[A]customaryoftheeducatedtodiscardambitioninwords[B]toolatetocheckambitiononceithasbeenletout[C]dishonesttodenyambitionafterthefulfillmentofthegoal[D]impracticalfortheeducatedtoenjoybenefitsfromambition19.Somepeopledonotopenlyadmittheyhaveambitionbecause________.[A]theythinkofitasimmoral[B]theirpursuitsarenotfameorwealth[C]ambitionisnotcloselyrelatedtomaterialbenefits[D]theydonotwanttoappeargreedyandcontemptible20.Fromthelastparagraphtheconclusioncanbedrawnthatambitionshouldbemaintained________.[A]secretlyandvigorously[B]openlyandenthusiastically[C]easilyandmomentarily[D]verballyandspiritually2001Passage1Specialisationcanbeseenasaresponsetotheproblemofanincreasingaccumulationofscientificknowledge.Bysplittingupthesubjectmatterintosmallerunits,onemancouldcontinuetohandletheinformationanduseitasthebasisforfurtherresearch.Butspecialisationwasonlyoneofaseriesofrelateddevelopmentsinscienceaffectingtheprocessofcommunication.Anotherwasthegrowingprofessionalisationofscientificactivity.Noclear-cutdistinctioncanbedrawnbetweenprofessionalsandamateursinscience:exceptionscanbefoundtoanyrule.Nevertheless,theword'amateur'doescarryaconnotationthatthepersonconcernedisnotfullyintegratedintothescientificcommunityand,inparticular,maynotfullyshareitsvalues.Thegrowthofspecialisationinthenineteenthcentury,withitsconsequentrequirementofalonger,morecomplextraining,impliedgreaterproblemsforamateurparticipationinscience.Thetrendwasnaturallymostobviousinthoseareasofsciencebasedespeciallyonamathematicalorlaboratorytraining,andcanbeillustratedintermsofthedevelopmentofgeologyintheUnitedKingdom.AcomparisonofBritishgeologicalpublicationsoverthelastcenturyandahalfrevealsnotsimplyanincreasingemphasisontheprimacyofresearch,butalsoachangingdefinitionofwhatconstitutesanacceptableresearchpaper.Thus,inthenineteenthcentury,localgeologicalstudiesrepresentedworthwhileresearchintheirownright;but,inthetwentiethcentury,localstudieshaveincreasinglybecomeacceptabletoprofessionalsonlyiftheyincorporate,andreflecton,thewidergeologicalpicture.Amateurs,ontheotherhand,havecontinuedtopursuelocalstudiesintheoldway.Theoverallresulthasbeentomakeentrancetoprofessionalgeologicaljournalsharderforamateurs,aresultthathasbeenreinforcedbythewidespreadintroductionofrefereeing,firstbynationaljournalsinthenineteenthcenturyandthenbyseverallocalgeologicaljournalsinthetwentiethcentury.Asalogicalconsequenceofthisdevelopment,separatejournalshavenowappearedaimedmainlytowardseitherprofessionaloramateurreadership.Arathersimilarprocessofdifferentiationhasledtoprofessionalgeologistscomingtogethernationallywithinoneortwospecificsocieties,whereastheamateurshavetendedeithertoremaininlocalsocietiesortocometogethernationallyinadifferentway.AlthoughtheprocessofprofessionalisationandspecialisationwasalreadywellunderwayinBritishgeologyduringthenineteenthcentury,itsfullconsequenceswerethusdelayeduntilthetwentiethcentury.Insciencegenerally,however,thenineteenthcenturymustbereckonedasthecrucialperiodforthischangeinthestructureofscience.51.Thegrowthofspecialisationinthe19thcenturymightbemoreclearlyseeninsciencessuchas________.[A]sociologyandchemistry[B]physicsandpsychology[C]sociologyandpsychology[D]physicsandchemistry52.Wecaninferfromthepassagethat________.[A]thereislittledistinctionbetweenspecialisationandprofessionalisation[B]amateurscancompetewithprofessionalsinsomeareasofscience[C]professionalstendtowelcomeamateursintothescientificcommunity[D]amateurshavenationalacademicsocietiesbutnolocalones53.Theauthorwritesofthedevelopmentofgeologytodemonstrate________.[A]theprocessofspecialisationandprofessionalisation[B]thehardshipofamateursinscientificstudy[C]thechangeofpoliciesinscientificpublications[D]thediscriminationofprofessionalsagainstamateurs54.Thedirectreasonforspecialisationis________.[A]thedevelopmentincommunication[B]thegrowthofprofessionalisation[C]theexpansionofscientificknowledge[D]thesplittingupofacademicsocietiesPassage2Agreatdealofattentionisbeingpaidtodaytotheso-calleddigitaldivide—thedivisionoftheworldintotheinfo(information)richandtheinfopoor.Andthatdividedoesexisttoday.MywifeandIlecturedaboutthisloomingdangertwentyyearsago.Whatwaslessvisiblethen,however,werethenew,positiveforcesthatworkagainstthedigitaldivide.Therearereasonstobeoptimistic.Therearetechnologicalreasonstohopethedigitaldividewillnarrow.AstheInternetbecomesmoreandmorecommercialized,itisintheinterestofbusinesstouniversalizeaccess—afterall,themorepeopleonline,themorepotentialcustomersthereare.Moreandmoregovernments,afraidtheircountrieswillbeleftbehind,wanttospreadInternetaccess.Withinthenextdecadeortwo,onetotwobillionpeopleontheplanetwillbenettedtogether.Asaresult,Inowbelievethedigitaldividewillnarrowratherthanwidenintheyearsahead.AndthatisverygoodnewsbecausetheInternetmaywellbethemostpowerfultoolforcombatingworldpovertythatwe'veeverhad.Ofcourse,theuseoftheInternetisn'ttheonlywaytodefeatpoverty.AndtheInternetisnottheonlytoolwehave.Butithasenormouspotential.Totakeadvantageofthistool,someimpoverishedcountrieswillhavetogetovertheiroutdatedanti-colonialprejudiceswithrespecttoforeigninvestment.Countriesthatstillthinkforeigninvestmentisaninvasionoftheirsovereigntymightwellstudythehistoryofinfrastructure(thebasicstructuralfoundationsofasociety)intheUnitedStates.WhentheUnitedStatesbuiltitsindustrialinfrastructure,itdidn'thavethecapitaltodoso.AndthatiswhyAmerica'sSecondWaveinfrastructure—includingroads,harbors,highways,portsandsoon—werebuiltwithforeigninvestment.TheEnglish,theGermans,theDutchandtheFrenchwereinvestinginBritain'sformercolony.Theyfinancedthem.ImmigrantAmericansbuiltthem.Guesswhoownsthemnow?TheAmericans.IbelievethesamethingwouldbetrueinplaceslikeBraziloranywhereelseforthatmatter.ThemoreforeigncapitalyouhavehelpingyoubuildyourThirdWaveinfrastructure,whichtodayisanelectronicinfrastructure,thebetteroffyou'regoingtobe.Thatdoesn'tmeanlyingdownandbecomingfooled,orlettingforeigncorporationsrununcontrolled.ButitdoesmeanrecognizinghowimportanttheycanbeinbuildingtheenergyandtelecominfrastructuresneededtotakefulladvantageoftheInternet.55.Digitaldivideissomething________.[A]gettingworsebecauseoftheInternet[B]therichcountriesareresponsiblefor[C]theworldmustguardagainst[D]consideredpositivetoday56.GovernmentsattachimportancetotheInternetbecauseit________.[A]offerseconomicpotentials[B]canbringforeignfunds[C]cansoonwipeoutworldpoverty[D]connectspeopleallovertheworld57.ThewritermentionedthecaseoftheUnitedStatestojustifythepolicyof________.[A]providingfinancialsupportoverseas[B]preventingforeigncapital'scontrol[C]buildingindustrialinfrastructure[D]acceptingforeigninvestment58.Itseemsthatnowacountry'seconomydependsmuchon________.[A]howwell-developeditiselectronically[B]whetheritisprejudicedagainstimmigrants[C]whetheritadoptsAmerica'sindustrialpattern[D]howmuchcontrolithasoverforeigncorporations

Passage3WhydosomanyAmericansdistrustwhattheyreadintheirnewspapers?TheAmericanSocietyofNewspaperEditorsistryingtoanswerthispainfulquestion.Theorganizationisdeepintoalongself-analysisknownasthejournalismcredibilityproject.Sadtosay,thisprojecthasturnedouttobemostlylow-levelfindingsaboutfactualerrorsandspellingandgrammarmistakes,combinedwithlotsofhead-scratchingpuzzlementaboutwhatintheworldthosereadersreallywant.Butthesourcesofdistrustgowaydeeper.Mostjournalistslearntoseetheworldthroughasetofstandardtemplates(patterns)intowhichtheyplugeachday'sevents.Inotherwords,thereisaconventionalstorylineinthenewsroomculturethatprovidesabackboneandaready-madenarrativestructureforotherwiseconfusingnews.Thereexistsasocialandculturaldisconnectbetweenjournalistsandtheirreaders,whichhelpsexplainwhythe"standardtemplates"ofthenewsroomseemalientomanyreaders.Inarecentsurvey,questionnairesweresenttoreportersinfivemiddle-sizecitiesaroundthecountry,plusonelargemetropolitanarea.Thenresidentsinthesecommunitieswerephonedatrandomandaskedthesamequestions.RepliesshowthatcomparedwithotherAmericans,journalistsaremorelikelytoliveinupscaleneighborhoods,havemaids,ownMercedeses,andtradestocks,andthey'relesslikelytogotochurch,dovolunteerwork,orputdownrootsinacommunity.Reporterstendtobepartofabroadlydefinedsocialandculturalelite,sotheirworktendstoreflecttheconventionalvaluesofthiselite.Theastonishingdistrustofthenewsmediaisn'trootedininaccuracyorpoorreportorialskillsbutinthedailyclashofworldviewsbetweenreportersandtheirreaders.Thisisanexplosivesituationforanyindustry,particularlyadecliningo