1、考研英语-317 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、BSection Use o(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Directions:Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and. “In the long run,“ as John Maynard Keynes observed, “we are all dead. “ True. But can theU (1) /Urun be elongated in a way that makes the long
2、runU (2) /U? And if so, how, and at what cost? People have dreamt ofU (3) /Usince time immemorial. They have sought it since the first alchemist put an elixir ofU (4) /Uon the same shopping list as a way to turn lead into gold. They haveU (5) /Uabout it in fiction, from Rider Haggards “She“ to Frank
3、 Herberts “Dune“. And now, with the growth ofU (6) /Uknowledge that has marked the past few decades, a few researchers believe it might be withinU (7) /U. To think about the question, it is important to understand why organisms-people U(8) /U-age in the first place. People are like machines: theyU (
4、9) /UThat much is obvious. However, a machine can always beU (10) /UA good mechanic with a stock of spare parts can keep it goingU (11) /U. Eventually, no part of theU (12) /Umay remain, but it still carries on, like Lincolns famous axe that had three new handles and two new blade. The question, of
5、course, is whether the machine is worthU (13) /U. It is here that people and natureU (14) /U. Or, to put it slightlyU (15) /U, two bits of nature disagree with each other. From the individuals point of view, U(16) /Uis an imperative. You cannot reproduce unless you are alive. A fear of death is a se
6、nsible evolved response and, sinceU (17) /Uis a sure way of dying, it is no surprise that people want to stop it in its tracks. Moreover, even the appearance of ageing can beU (18) /U. ItU (19) /Uthe range of potential sexual partners who find you attractive-since it is a sign that you are not going
7、 to beU (20) /Uall that long to help bring up baby-and thus, again, curbs your reproduction. （分数：10.00）A.shortB.longC.shorterD.longerA.shorterB.longerC.fasterD.slowerA.mortalityB.immortalityC.no diseaseD.no disasterA.goldB.fameC.lifeD.powerA.recordedB.imaginedC.readD.writtenA.physicalB.chemicalC.sci
8、entificD.biologicalA.reachB.knowledgeC.researchesD.planA.excludedB.includedC.apartD.withoutA.wear downB.wear awayC.wear outD.wear onA.disposedB.repairedC.boughtD.replacedA.definitelyB.temporarilyC.effectivelyD.indefinitelyA.spareB.originalC.newD.advancedA.replacingB.repairingC.buyingD.upgradingA.com
9、promiseB.agreeC.disagreeD.consentA.differentlyB.consistentlyC.similarlyD.identicallyA.livingB.survivalC.deathD.reproductionA.ageingB.fearingC.diseaseD.disasterA.usefulB.cheerfulC.harmfulD.doubtfulA.settlesB.closesC.reducesD.extendsA.aroundB.helpfulC.withD.together二、BSection Readi(总题数：4，分数：40.00)BPar
10、t A/BDirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D BText 1/BBefore the economy fell apart, it was Britains society that was supposed to be in terminal decline, especially in the eyes of the Tories. David Cameron, the Conservative Party leade
11、r, was wont to bemoan “broken Britain“, mired in moral degeneracy, with high rates of teenage pregnancy, low rates of marriage and other less quantifiable breakdowns in the civilised scheme of things. Such antediluvian worries were raked over again on July 13th when Iain Duncan Smith, a former Tory
12、leader, called for an official endorsement of marriage. Mr Duncan Smith cites several reasons to encourage wedlock, including family stability (married couples are much less likely to split than cohabiting ones ) and healthier children who do better in later life. There was talk of state-run counsel
13、ling, pro-marriage propaganda in schools and mandatory “cooling-off“ periods before divorces. Mr Duncan Smith favours tax breaks for married couples, something that Labour has long refused to endorse. It is true that marriage is a declining institution. Marriage rates are at their lowest since 1895B
14、ut, curiously, those who do marry now stay together for longer. Divorce rates are falling, not rising, and have been for several years. In 2007 11.9 married couples per thousand untied the knot, down from 12.2 the year before and the lowest since 1981The time that divorcing couples endure each other
15、 before flinging back the rings has lengthened too., from 10.1 years in 1981 to 11.7 in 2007Indifference towards the sacrament of marriage appears strongest among the elderly, not the feckless young. Since 2004, when the overall divorce rate peaked at 14.1 per thousand, over-60s have been the only p
16、art of the population whose rates have continued to rise. There are plenty of competing explanations for the diminishing appeal of divorce, and no easy way to discover which are true. Immigration may have helped, since immigrant families often have more conservative attitudes than the degenerate nat
17、ives. Accountants and divorce lawyers reckon a string of recent big settlements may have acted as a deterrent (although it could equally have encouraged the poorer partners in financially unequal marriages). Falling marriage rates and falling divorce rates could be two sides of the same coin, says K
18、athleen Kiernan, a professor of social policy at York University. The unpopularity of marriage and the relative ease of divorce has left only a hard core of stable couples bound in wedlock. And the rise in the average age at which people get married (now 36 for men and 33 for women) is helping too,
19、since older brides and grooms tend to stay together longer in any case. If so, politicians should be cautious about handing out tax breaks. Even if they work (and Ms Kiernan thinks they would have to be enormous to have much effect), chivvying unmarried couples into wedlock is likely to mean more di
20、vorces in the future. （分数：10.00）(1).What does “broken Britain“ refer to according to the text?（分数：2.00）A.Britain is falling apart with several territories becoming independent.B.The image of Britain is deteriorated in the world.C.Britain now is suffering from moral degeneracy.D.Britain is broken awa
21、y from European Union.(2).Why did Iain Duncan Smith call for an official endorsement of marriage?（分数：2.00）A.It would improve family stability and facilitate the upbringing of children as well as peoples future development.B.Low birth rate has threatened the population of the country.C.British govern
22、ment did little in the marital affairs of people.D.Various measures should be adopted by the government to encourage marriages.(3).Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?（分数：2.00）A.Marriage rates now are the lowest since 18th century.B.Divorce rates in 2007 were lower than that of last
23、 year.C.Young people are more inclined to divorce than old people did.D.Marriage and divorce rates have been both increasing these years.(4).According to the text, which of the following is NOT the reason why people do not incline to divorce?（分数：2.00）A.immigrant families are more conservative on fam
24、ily.B.Big settlements in divorce cases have influenced peoples decision.C.The average age at which people get married is on the rise.D.People now pay more attention to maintaining their families.(5).What is Kathleen Kiernans attitude towards the policy of handing out tax breaks?（分数：2.00）A.Negative.B
25、.Positive.C.Cautious.D.Zealous.BText 2/BMany will know that the word “muscle“ comes from the Latin for “mouse“ (rippling under the skin, so to speak ). But what about “chagrin“, derived from the Turkish for roughened leather, or scaly sharkskin. Or “lens“ which comes from the Latin “lentil“ or “wind
26、ow“ meaning “eye of wind“ in old Norse? Looked at closely, the language comes apart in images, like those strange paintings by Giuseppe Arcimboldo where heads are made of fruit and vegetables. Not that Henry Hitchingss book is about verbal surrealism. That is an extra pleasure in a book which is rea
27、lly about the way the English language has roamed the world helping itself liberally to words, absorbing them, forgetting where they came from, and moving on with an ever-growing load of exotics, crossbreeds and subtly shaded near-synonyms. It is also about migrations within the languages own border
28、s, about upward and downward mobility, about words losing their roots, turning up in new surroundings, or lying in wait, like “duvet“ which was mentioned by Samuel Johnson, for their moment. All this is another way of writing history. The Arab etymologies of “ saffron “, “crimson“ and “sugar“ speak
29、of Englands medieval trade with the Arab world. We have “cheque“ and “tariff“ from this source too, plus “arithmetic“ and “algorithm“-just as we have “etch“ and “sketch“ from the Dutch, musical terms from the Italians and philosophical ones from the Germans. French nuance and finesse are everywhere.
30、 At every stage, the book is about people and ideas on the move, about invasion, refugees, immigrants, traders, colonists and explorers. This is a huge subject and one that is almost bound to provoke question-marks and explosions in the margins-soon forgotten in the books sheer sweep and scale. A ba
31、lance between straight history and word history is sometimes difficult to strike, though. There is a feeling, occasionally, of being bundled too fast through complex linguistic developments and usages, or of being given interesting slices of history for the sake, after all, of not much more than a “
32、gong“ or a “moccasin“. But it is churlish to carp. The authors zest and grasp are wonderful. He makes you want to check out everything-“ carp“ and “zest“ included. Whatever is hybrid, fluid and unpoliced about English delights him. English has never had its Acad mie Francaise, but over the centuries
33、 it has not lacked furious defenders against foreign “corruption“. There have been rearguard actions to preserve its “manly“ pre-Norman origins, even to reconstruct it along Anglo-Saxon lines: “wheel- saddle“ for bicycle, “painlore“ for pathology. But the omnivorous beast is rampant still. More peop
34、le speak it as their second language than as their first. Forget the language of Shakespeare. Its “Globish“ now, the language of aspiration. No one owns it, a cause for despair to some. Mr. Hitchings admits to wincing occasionally, but almost on principle he is more cheerful than not. （分数：10.00）(1).
35、According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?（分数：2.00）A.“Muscle“ derives from Italian.B.“Chagrin“ derives from Turkish.C.“Crimson“ derives from Persian.D.“Sketch“ derives from German.(2).What is the trend in the English language that this book emphasizes?（分数：2.00）A.The English language is b
36、ecoming assimilated with other languages.B.Differences between languages are more and more obvious.C.The English language is always absorbing words from other languages and turning them into its own.D.The English language is gradually losing its linguistic vitality.(3).Why does the author quote the
37、paintings by Giuseppe Arcimboldo?（分数：2.00）A.Language is like vegetables and fruits.B.Language is composed of various colourful elements.C.Language can be seen as various pictures.D.Most words in languages have their origins in vegetables or fruits.(4).Which of the following may NOT be the reason of
38、language integration according to the text?（分数：2.00）A.Cultural communication.B.International trades.C.Colonism, emigration and immigration.D.Internal motivation of languages.(5).According to the text, what does “Acad mie Francaise“ refer to?（分数：2.00）A.An institute that aims at protecting the purity
39、of language.B.An institute established by France to promote French education in the world.C.An institute of France that have all the renowned scholars in France.D.An institute of higher education in France, especially famous for its authentic language education.BText 3/BYamato, the ancient name of J
40、apan, essentially means “big harmony“. To achieve such balance, Japanese society has refined a plethora of cultural traits: humility, loyalty, respect and consensus. In the field of business, however, this often results in a lack of leaders who are willing to stand out from the crowd, promote themse
41、lves and act decisively. “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down“ is a common Japanese refrain; “the hawk with talent hides his talons“ is another. Whereas American and European bosses like to appear on the covers of global business magazines, their Japanese counterparts are comfortable in their
42、 obscurity. Business in Japan is generally run as a group endeavor. Such democratic virtues served the country well in the post-war period. But today they hold too many Japanese firms back. Japan boasts some of the best companies in the world: Toyota, Canon and Nintendo are the envy of their industr
43、ies. But they operate on a global scale and have tentatively embraced some unconsensual American methods. In much of the Japanese economy-especially its huge domestic services sector-managers are in something of a funk. Firms do not give promising youngsters responsibility early on, but allocate job
44、s by age. Unnecessarily long working hours are the norm, sapping productivity. And there are few women and foreigners in senior roles, which narrows the talent pool. So how pleasing it is to be able to report the success of a business leader who breaks the mould. Young, dynamic and clever, he is not
45、 afraid to push aside old, conservative know- nothings. He disdains corporate politics and promotes people based on merit rather than seniority. He can make mistakes (he got involved in a questionable takeover-defence scheme), but he is wildly popular with salarymen: his every move is chronicled wee
46、kly. In June he was given the top job at one of Japans biggest firms. Kosaku Shima of Hatsushiba Goyo Holdings has only one serious shortcoming: he is not a real person, but a manga, or cartoon, character. For many critics of Japan, that says it all: Mr. Shima could exist only in fiction. In fact th
47、ere is room for the countrys managers and even its politicians to learn from him. Most of the lessons are for Japans managers. At present, bosses rarely say what they think because it might disrupt the harmony, or be seen as immodest. Their subordinates are reluctant to challenge ideas because that
48、would cause the boss to lose face. So daft strategies fester rather than getting culled quickly. There is little risk-taking or initiative. The crux of the problem is Japanese companies culture of consensus-based decision-making. Called nemawashi ( literally, “going around the roots“ ) or ringi ( bo
49、ttom-up decisions), it helped to establish an egalitarian workplace. In the 1980s Western management consultants cooed that it was the source of Japans competitive strength. Sometimes it can be, as in periods of crisis when an entire firm needs to accept new marching orders quickly. But most of the time it strangles a company. Relying on consensus means that decisions ar
