2023年考研外語考前密押卷13

考研外語考前密押卷13

一、UseofEnglish

1、ThesearetoughtimesforWal-Mart,America'sbiggestretailer.Longaccusedof(1)_____small-townAmericamadcondemnedfortheselfishnessofitspay,thecompanyhaslatelycomeunder(2)_____foritsmeannessoveremployees'health-carebenefits.Thechargeisarguably(3)_____:thefirm'shealthcoverage,while(4)_____lessextensivethantheaverageforbigcompanies,isonequalterms(5)_____otherretailers'.Butbadpublicity,coupledwithrisingcosts,has(6)_____theBentonvillegianttoaction.WalMartismakingchangesthatshouldshiftthegroundinAmerica'shealthcaredebate.

One(7)_____istoreducethepricesofmanygeneric,orout-of-patent,prescriptiondrugs.Wal-Mart'scriticsdismissthemoveasapublicity(8)_____.Thelistofdrugsincludesonly143differentmedicinesandexcludesmanypopulargroup.True,butshort-sighted.Wal-Marthas(9)_____retailingbyusingitssizetosqueezesuppliersand(10)_____thegainsontoconsumers.Itcould(11)_____thesamewithdrugs.A"Wal-Marteffect"indrugswillnotsolveAmerica'shealth-costsproblem:groupaccountforonlyasmallshareofdrugcosts,whichinturnmake(12)_____only10%ofoverallhealthspending.Butitwould(13)_____.

Thefirm'sotherinitiativeismore(14)_____.Wal-Martisjoiningthesmallbutfast-growinggroupofemployers(15)_____arecontrollingcostsbyshiftingtohealthinsurancewithhighdeductibles.

Earlyevidence(16)_____theseplansdohelpfirmscontrolthecostofhealthinsurance.Butcriticssaythatthesavingsare(17)_____.Theyarguethattheplansshiftcoststosickerworkers,discouragepreventativecareandwillanywaydolittleto(18)_____overallhealthspending,(19)_____mostofthe$2trillionthatAmerica(20)_____healthcareeachyeargoestopeoplewithmultiplechronicdiseases.

A.wrecked

B.wrecks

C.wreck

D.wrecking

2、(2)

A.dismission

B.fire

C.force

D.agitation

3、(3)

A.illegal

B.unfair

C.unreasonable

D.incorrect

4、(4)

A.usually

B.admittedly

C.obviously

D.specially

5、(5)

A.with

B.to

C.of

D.by

6、(6)

A.caused

B.expelled

C.stirred

D.raised

7、(7)

A.problem

B.management

C.intrigue

D.strategy

8、(8)

A.demonstration

B.cheat

C.attention

D.stunt

9、(9)

A.transformed

B.translated

C.transported

D.transacted

10、(10)

A.passes

B.passed

C.passing

D.pass

11、(11)

A.make

B.do

C.get

D.form

12、(12)

A.for

B.into

C.out

D.up

13、(13)

A.receive

B.solve

C.fit

D.help

14、(14)

A.considerable

B.principal

C.controversial

D.available

15、(15)

A.who

B.which

C.what

D.where

16、(16)

A.suggests

B.proposes

C.reminds

D.explains

17、(17)

A.interesting

B.misleading

C.expressing

D.illustrating

18、(18)

A.organize

B.regulate

C.verify

D.control

19、(19)

A.since

B.then

C.when

D.becauseof

20、(20)

A.hangson

B.takeson

C.spendson

D.goeson

二、ReadingComprehension

1、PartA

Directions:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.(40points)

Whoeversaidthatvictoryhasmanyfathersanddefeatisanorphan,surelyhadneverheardoftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO).Inthecaseofthehaplessmultilateraltradebodyanditslongsufferingrepresentatives,thetotalfailureoftheopeningmeetingofthesocalledMillenniumtraderoundhaslotsofpeopleboastingoftheirrolesintheviolentphysicalstruggle.Well.That'sjustbrilliant.Theyareproudofbeingpartofamovementthatwantstowreckthemostimportantengineofeconomicgrowth,prosperityandoverallglobalrisinglivingstandardswehave—thefreedomoftradeandmovementofpeopleandgoodsbetweennations.

The135-memberWTOiscomposedofsovereigngovernmentswishingtofurtherthisgoalandeasethesettlementofinternationaltradedisputes.FromthesoundsemanatingfromSeattle,though,itwouldnowseemtheWTOhasnowreplacedtheTrilateralCommissionandtheFreemasonsascandidateNo.1totakeovertheWorld.

EverybodyhashisfavoriteSeattlestory.Thecity'spolicechiefwillhaveplentyoftimetothinkabouthis,havingnowresignedindisgraceoverthelossofcontrolofdowntownSeattle.TheSeattlebusinesscommunitymaybemoreinclinedtobroodovertheirs—thepoorfoolsinvested$9milliontoattractthemeetingtotheirfinecity.Whatstandsoutmore?Iwouldnominatetheunionofsteelworkerswhoweremarchinginprotest.It'sanimagethatwillbogglethemindforyearstocome.

Thedebatenowisoverjusthoweffectivethisanti-globalistcoalitionwillturnouttobe.Intheheatofthemoment,italwayslooksasthoughtheworldasweknowitiscomingtoanend.ButtheoverwhelminglikelihoodisthatwehavenotactuallyseenareplayoftheantiVietnamWarmovement,whichhadmuchclearerfocus,obviously,thoughitsconsequenceswerefar-reaching.Howlong,afterall,canyouprotestagainstcheapimportswhenthosesameimportsarealloveryourhouse?

No,therealreasonforthedisasterinSeattleispolitical,andreportscomingoutofthemeetingpointtoPresidentClintonasamajorculprit,whichmaybebothgoodandbad.Takingthelongview,othertraderoundshavehaddifficultbeginnings,too.IttookyearstogettheUruguayRoundunderway,whichfinallyhappenedin1986.Thankfully,wewillsoonbeelectinganotherpresident,anditshouldbesomeonewhoseactionsmatchhisrhetoric.

Still,itisadisgracethattheworld'sgreatesttradingnation,i.e.theUnitedStates,iscurrentlyledbyamanwhosemotivationsaresonarrowlypoliticalandegocentricthathehasnowwreckedanychanceofenteringthehistorybooksasachampionoffreetrade.

Thestatement"victoryhasmanyfathersanddefeatisanorphan"(Para.1)isusedtointroduce______.

A.thevictoryofsufferingrepresentatives.

B.thefailureofWTO'sopeningmeeting.

C.theroleofinternationalfreetrade.

D.thedynamicsofeconomicgrowth.

2、

ItisimpliedinthefirstsentencethatthefailureofMillenniumtraderoundcouldbeattributedto

A.factorsotherthanamovement.

B.violentlabordisputes.

C.misleadpoliticalmotivations.

D.troubledtradeunions.

3、

Bysayingthat"It'sanimagethatwillbogglethemindforyearstocome",(Paragraph3)theauthormeansthatthedebateinSeattleprovestobe

A.dubiously-oriented.

B.quitetransient.

C.self-contradictory.

D.fairlyconsequential.

4、

TheauthorisobviouslycriticalofPresidentClintonfor

A.hisfailuretomatchhiswordswithhisactions.

B.hislackofhistoricalknowledgeabouttheWTO.

C.hisputtingtheissueinawrongperspective.

D.hisexaggerationofWTO'seconomicrole.

5、

Fromthetextwecanseethatthewriterseems

A.optimistic.

B.gloomy.

C.disgraced.

D.proud.

6、"Popularart"hasanumberofmeanings,impossibletodefinewithanyprecision,whichrangefromfolkloretojunk.Thepolesareclearenough,butthemiddletendstoblur.TheHollywoodWesternofthe1930'sforexample,haselementsoffolklore,butisclosertojunkthantohighartorfolkart.Therecanbegreattrash,justasthereisbadhighart.ThemusicalsofGeorgeGershwinaregreatpopularart,neveraspiringtohighart.SchubertandBrahms,however,usedelementsofpopularmusic—folkthemes—inworksclearlyintendedashighart.ThecaseofVerdiisadifferentone,hetookapopulargenre-bourgeoismelodramasettomusic(anaccuratedefinitionofnineteenth-centuryopera)and,withoutalteringitsfundamentalnature,transmuteditintohighart.Thisremainsoneofthegreatestachievementsinmusic,andonethatcannotbefullyappreciatedwithoutrecognizingtheessentialtrashinessofthegenre.

Asanexampleofsuchatransmutation,considerwhatVerdimadeofthetypicalpoliticalelementsofnineteenth-centuryopera.Generallyintheplotsoftheseoperas,aheroorheroine—usuallyportrayedonlyasanindividual,unfetteredbyclass—iscaughtbetweentheimmoralcorruptionofthearistocracyandthedoctrinairerigidityorsecretgreedoftheleadersoftheproletariat.Verditransformsthisnaiveandunlikelyformulationwithmusicofextraordinaryenergyandrhythmicvitality,musicmoresubtlethanitseemsatfirsthearing.Therearescenesandariasthatstillsoundlikecallstoarmsandwereclearlyunderstoodassuchwhentheywerefirstperformed.Suchpieceslendanimmediacytotheotherwiseveiledpoliticalmessageoftheseoperasandcallupfeelingsbeyondthoseoftheoperaitself.

OrconsiderVerdi'streatmentofcharacter.BeforeVerdi,therewererarelyanycharactersatallinmusicaldrama,onlyaseriesofsituationswhichallowedthesingerstoexpressaseriesofemotionalstates.Anyattempttofindcoherentpsychologicalportrayalintheseoperasismisplacedingenuity.Theonlycoherencewasthesinger'svocaltechnique:whentheeastchanged,newariaswerealmostalwayssubstituted,generallyadaptedfromotheroperas.Verdi'scharacters,ontheotherhand,havegenuineconsistencyandintegrity.Evenif,inmanycases,theconsistencyisthatofpasteboardmelodrama,theintegrityofthecharacterisachievedthroughthemusic:oncehehadbecomeestablished.Verdididnotrewritehismusicfordifferentsingersorcountenancealterationsorsubstitutionsofsomebodyelse'sariasinoneofhisoperas,aseveryeighteenth-centurycomposerhaddone.Whenherevisedanopera,itwasonlyfordramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.

Thispassageismainly

A.asurveyofdramamusic.

B.abouttheelementsinpopularmusic.

C.areviewofpopularart.

D.aboutdramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.

7、

Thewriterassertsthatthedefinitionofpopularartis

A.quiteaccurate.

B.ratherelusive.

C.fairlyclear.

D.verydubious.

8、

ItcanbeinferredfromthetextthattheachievementsbyVerdi

A.aretoosubtletorecognize.

B.defyanyprecisedefinition.

C.aretheenvyofhistimes.

D.earnhimgreatreputation.

9、

Thewritermentionsthepoliticalelementsin19thcenturyoperatoillustrate

A.thepoliticalmessagesexposed.

B.theuniversalrecognitionofhighart.

C.theintendedchangesinpopularart.

D.heroes'andheroines'mentalstates.

10、

Accordingtothetext,Verdi'screativetreatmentofcharactersisperformedthrough

A.hisfrequentre-writingofanopera.

B.hiscoherentpsychologicalportrayal.

C.hisconsistentaspirationtohighart.

D.hiseffectivemaneuversofmusic.

11、Biologically,thereisonlyonequalitywhichdistinguishesusfromanimals:theabilitytolaugh.Inauniversewhichappearstobeutterlydevoidofhumor,weenjoythissupremeluxury.Anditisaluxury,forunlikeanyotherbodilyprocess,laughterdoesnotseemserveabiologicallyusefulpurpose.Inadividedworld,alaughterisaunifyingforce.Humanbeingsopposeeachotheronagreatmanyissues.Nationsmaydisagreeaboutsystemsofgovernmentandhumanrelationsmaybeplaguedbyideologicalfactionsandpoliticalcamps,butweallsharetheabilitytolaugh.Andlaughter,inturn,dependsonthemostcomplexandsubtleofall-humanqualities:asenseofhumor.Certaincomicstereotypeshaveauniversalappeal.Thiscanbestbeseenfromtheworld-widepopularityofCharlieChaplain'searlyfilms.Thelittlemanatoddswithsocietyneverfailstoamusenomatterwhichcountrywecomefrom.Asthatgreatcommentatoronhumanaffairs,Dr.SamuelJohnson,onceremarked,"Menhavebeenwiseinverydifferentmodes;buttheyhavealwayslaughedinthesameway".

Asenseofhumormaytakevariousformsandlaughtermaybeanythingfromrefinedtinkletoanearthquakingroar,buttheeffectisalwaysthesame.Humorhelpsustomaintainacorrectsenseofvalues.Itistheonequalitywhichpoliticalfanaticsappeartolack.Ifwecanseethefunnyside,wenevermakethemistakeoftakingourselvestooseriously.Wearealwaysremindedthattragedyisnotreallyfarremovedfromcomedy,sowenevergetalopsidedviewofthings.

Thisisoneofthechieffunctionsofsatireandirony.Humanpainandsufferingaresogrim;wehoversooftenonthebrinkofwar,politicalrealitiesareusuallyenoughtoplungeusintototaldespair.Insuchcircumstances,cartoonsandsatiricalaccountsofsomberpoliticaleventsredressthebalance.Theytakethewindoutofpompousandarrogantpoliticianswhohavelosttheirsenseofproportion.Theyenableustoseethatmanyofourmostprofoundactionsaremerelycomicorabsurd.WelaughwhenagreatsatiristlikeSwiftwritesaboutwarsinGulliver'sTravels.TheLilliputiansandtheirneighborsattackeachotherbecausetheycan'tagreewhichendtobreakanegg.Welaughbecausewearemeanttolaugh;hutwearemeanttoweeptoo.ItisnowonderthatintotalitarianregimesanysatireagainsttheEstablishmentiswhollybanned.Itistoopowerfulweapontobeallowedtoflourish.

Thesenseofhumormustbesingledoutasman'smostimportantqualitybecauseitisassociatedwithlaughter.Andlaughter,inturn,isassociatedwithhappiness.Courage,determination,initiative—thesearequalitieswesharewithotherformsoflife.Butthesenseofhumorisanuniquehumanquality.Ifhappinessisoneofthegreatgoalsoflife,thenitisthesenseofhumorthatprovidesthekey.

TheauthorquotesDr.SamuelJohnson'swordsto______.

A.spotlighttheunifyingforceofasenseofhumor.

B.stresstheharmonybetweenindividualsandsociety.

C.highlighttheincomparableluxuryofhumor.

D.showthedistinctionbetweenhumansandanimals.

12、

Accordingtotheauthor,"politicalfanatics"(Para.2)moreoftenthannotfallvictimto

A.politicalrealities.

B.wildillusions.

C.adversecomments.

D.noblequalities.

13、

Accordingtothe4thparagraph,whatintereststheauthoristhatsomepoliticiansfailto

A.perceivethevalueofhumor.

B.gainacorrectsenseofvalues.

C.distinguishcomedyfromtragedy.

D.realizedangersofhypocrisy.

14、

Towhichofthefollowingistheauthorlikelytoagree?

A.Governmentagenciesareoftenaninappropriatesubjectforhumor.

B.Asenseofhumorinevitablypromptsustotakeourselvesseriously.

C.Manyissuesontrivialitiesmayariseforlackofasenseofhumor.

D.Thepursuitforhappinessisoneofthegreatestgoalsinourlife.

15、

Thebesttitleforthetextmaybe

A.Variousfunctionsofhumor.

B.Developall-humanqualities.

C.Differentsolutionstoconflicts.

D.Makeuseofhumorwisely.

16、Thehousingmarkethasbeenfortwoyearsproppingupconsumers'spiritswhiletherestoftheeconomyliesexhaustedonthefloor,stilltryingtostruggletoitsfeet.AccordingtotheNationalAssociationofRealtors,thenationalmedianexisting-homepriceendedtheyearat$164,000,up7.1percentfrom2022.That'sthestrongestannualincreasesince1980.

Althoughresidentialrealestateactivitymakesuplessthan8%oftotalU.S.GDP,ahousingmarketlikethisonecanmakethedifferencebetweenpositiveandnegativegrowth.Mostsignificantly,consumerspendingis66%ofGDP,andthepurchaseofanewhometendstohavean"umbrellaeffect"onthehomeowner'sspendingashehastostockitwithawasher/dryer,anewbig-screenTV,andmaybeaswingsetfortheyard.

Themainfactorinhousing'scontinuedstrengthisaclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom:thepersistentweaknesseverywhereelse.Asthe2022recoverycontinuestobemoreforecastthanreality.FallingstockpricesraisedinvestorappealforU.S.TreasuryBonds,whichinturn,allowedmostinterestratestodriftevenlower.Buttherearenotmanysignsthatthere'sabubblereadytoburst.

December'snewrecordinhousingstarts,forexample,wasnicelymatchedbythenewrecordinnewhomesales.Ifyoubuildit,theywillbuyandevenifaneconomicpickupstartstoreducehousing'srelativeattractiveness,there'snoreasonwhymodesteconomicgrowthandimprovedconsumermoodcan'thelpsustaininghousing'sstrength."Themomentumgainedfromlowmortgageinterestrateswillcarrystronghomesalesinto2022,withanimprovingeconomyoffsettingmodestlyhighermortgageinterestratesastheyearprogresses",saidDavidLereah,chiefeconomistattheNationalAssociationofRealtors.

Justashousinghastakenupmuchoftheeconomicslackforthepasttwoyears,bothasacomfortinginvestmentforfrettingconsumersandadriverofconsumerspendingitself,abigbumpelsewhereintheeconomyin2022couldbehousing'sdownfall.Ifstocksroarbackthisspring,capitalinflowscouldstealfromthebondmarket,pushinguplong-terminterestrates.OrAlanGreenspanandtheFedcoulddothesametoshort-termrates,asawaytohitthebrakesonarecoverythatisheatinguptoofast.Inotherwords,ifeverythingpossiblegoeswrongforhousing,homeownersshouldhaveplentytocompensatethemintermsofjobsecurityandincomehikes.

Theauthordrawsasharpcontrastbetweenthehousingmarketandtherestoftheeconomysoastoshow

A.theboomofrealestateactivity.

B.thestatisticsonhomeprices.

C.theroleofhousingmarket.

D.thedegreeofconsumerspirits.

17、

Howdotheconsumersfeelabouttheirinvestmentinthehousingmarket?

A.Apprehensive.

B.Reassured.

C.Indignant.

D.Annoyed.

18、

Aclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom(Paragraph3)connotes

A.economicslack.

B.continuedstrength.

C.economicrecovery.

D.jobsecurity.

19、

Whenmentioningthe"umbrellaeffect"(Para.2),theauthoristalkingabout

A.bondmarket.

B.stockexchange.

C.housingmarket.

D.electricappliances.

20、

Towhichofthefollowingistheauthormostlikelytoagree?

A.Naturepassesnurture.

B.Manproposes,Goddisposes.

C.Faithmovesmountains.

D.Factsspeaklouderthanwords.

21、PartB(10points)

Inthefollowingtext,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ChoosethemostsuitableonefromthelistA—Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblank.Therearetwoextrachoices,whichdonotfitinanyofthegaps.

Thetragicimpactofthemoderncityonthehumanbeinghaskilledhissenseofaesthetics,thematerialbenefitsofanaffluentsocietyhavedivertedhisattentionfromhiscityanditsculturalpotentialstotheproductsofscienceandtechnology,washingmachines,centralheating,automaticcookers,televisionsets,computersandfittedcarpets.Heis,atthemoment,drunkwithdemocracy,well-to-do,acardriver,andhasneverhaditsogood.

Heisreluctanttowalk.Statisticsrevealthatthedistanceheispreparedtowalkfromhisparkingplacetohisshoppingcenterisveryshort.(41)______.Congestionhasbecomethepredominantfactorinhisenvironment,andstatisticssuggestthattwocarsperhouseholdsystemmaysoonmakemattersworse.

(42)______."Puttinglandtoitshighestandbestuse"becomestheprincipaleconomicstandardinurbangrowth.Thisspeculativeapproachandthepressureofincreasingpopulationleadstothe"vertical"growthofcitieswiththeresultthatpeopleareforcedtoadjustthemselvestocongestioninordertomaintaintheserelativelyartificiallandvalues.Paradoxicallytheremedyforremovingcongestionistocreatemoreofit.

Partialdecentralization,orrather,pseudo-decentralization,intheform.oflargedevelopmentunitsawayfromthetraditionaltowncenters,only'shiftsthediseaseroundtheanatomyofthetown;ifitisnotcombinedwiththeremodelingofthetown'stransportationsystem,itdoesnotcureit.(43)______.

Itiswithinourpowertobuildbettercitiesandrevivethecivicprideoftheircitizens,butweshallhavetostopoperatingonthefringeoftheproblem.Weshallhaveradicallytoreplanthemtoachievearationaldensityofpopulation.Weshallhavetoprovideinthemwhatcanbecalledminimum"psychologicalelbowroom".(44)______.Wemustcollect,inanorganizedmanner,allandcompleteinformationaboutthecityorthetown,ifwewanttoplaneffectively.

Theprincipalunitinthisprocessis"IM"(oneman).Wemustnotforgetthatcitiesarebuiltbypeople,andthattheirform.andshapeshouldbesubjecttothewillofthepeople.(45)______.The"man-educate'man,thehuman,willhavetosetthetarget,andusingtheresultsobtainedbyscienceandhisownengineeringskill,takeuponhimselfthefinalshapingofhisenvironment.Hewillhavetousehishighmoralsenseofresponsibilitytothecommunityandtofuturegenerations.

A.Newsystemsofcitymanagementmaybenecessarytocopewiththeneedsoftoday'surbanpopulations.Someplannersinsistthatadecentraliseddecision-makingprocessisfundamentaltoensuringthatcitiesworkforandnotagainstpeople.

B.Astherearenoadequateoff-streetparkingfacilities,thecitiesarelitteredwithkerb-parkedcarsandparkingmetersrearthemselveseverywhere.

C.Heretheengineeringsolutionsarestronglyaffectedbythenecessityforcomplicatedintersections,whichinturn,arefrustratedbytheextravagantcostofland.

D.Scientificmethodsofdatacollectionandanalysiswillindicatetrends,buttheywillnotdirectaction.Scientificmethodsareonlyaninstrument.

E.Theconvergenceofeconomicgrowth,populationgrowthandurbanexpansionoffersbothgreatchallengesandgreatpotentialsforrealizingmetropolitansustainability.

F.Inthemeantime,insultisaddedtoinjuryby"landvalue".Thevalueoflandresultsfromitsuse;itsincomeisderivedfromtheserviceitprovides.Whenitsuseisintensified,itsincomeanditsvalueincrease.

G.Oneoftheingredientsofthiswillbepropertransportat

22、(42)

23、(43)

24、(44)

25、(45)

26、PartC

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.(10points)

SiliconValleyisamagnettowhichnumeroustalentedengineers,scientistsandentrepreneursfromoverseasflockinsearchoffame,fastmoneyandtoparticipateinatechnologicalrevolutionwhoseimpactonmankindwillsurelysurpasstheepoch-makingEuropeanRenaissanceandIndustrialRevolutionofthebygoneage.

(46)WiththerapidspreadoftheInternetsincetheearly1990s,andtherelentlesstechnologicalinnovationsgeneratedthroughit,theinformationeraistrulyuponus,profoundlyinflu