考研英語10年真題及答案

考研英語10年真題及答案

SectionIUseofEnglish

Directions:

Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmark[A],[B],[C]or

[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)

TheethicaljudgmentsoftheSupremeCourtjusticesbecameanimportantissuerecently.Thecourt

cannotitslegitimacyasguardianoftheruleoflawjusticesbehavelikepoliticians.Yet,inseveral

instances,justicesactedinwaysthatthecourt'sreputationforbeingindependentandimpartialo

JusticesAntoninScaliaandSamuelAlitoJr.,forexample,appearedatpoliticalevents.Thatkindof

activitymakesitlesslikelythatthecourtJsdecisionswillbeasimpartialjudgments.Partoftheproblem

isthatthejusticesarenotbyanethicscode.Attheveryleast,thecourtshouldmakeitselfto

thecodeofconductthattotherestofthefederaljudiciaryo

Thisandothercasesthequestionofwhetherthereisstillabetweenthecourtandpoliticso

TheframersoftheConstitutionenvisionedlawhavingauthorityapartfrompolitics.Theygave

justicespermanentpositionstheywouldbefreetothoseinpowerandhavenoneedto

politicalsupport.Ourlegalsystemwasdesignedtosetlawapartfrompoliticspreciselybecausetheyareso

closelyo

Constitutionallawispoliticalbecauseitresultsfromchoicesrootedinfundamentalsociallike

libertyandproperty.Whenthecourtdealswithsocialpolicydecisions,thelawitisinescapablypolitical

—whichiswhydecisionssplitalongideologicallinesaresoeasilyasunjusto

Thejusticesmustdoubtsaboutthecourt'slegitimacybymakingthemselvestothecodeof

conduct.Thatwouldmaketheirrulingsmorelikelytobeseenasseparatefrompoliticsand,,convincing

aslawo

1AemphasizeBmaintainCmodifyDrecognize2AwhenBbestCbeforeDunles

3ArenderedBweakenedCestablishedDeliminated

4AchailengedBcompromisedCsuspectedDaccepted5.AadvancedBcaughtCboundDfounded

6.AresistantBsubjectCimmuneDprone7.AresortsBsticksCleadsDapplies8.AevadeBraiseC

denyDsettle9.AlineBbarrierCsimilarityDconflict10.AbyBasCthroughDtowards11.

AsoBsinceCprovidedDthough12.AserveBsatisfyCupsetDreplace13.AconfirmBexpress

CcultivateDoffer14AguardedBfollowedCstudiedDtied

15.AconceptsBtheoriesCdivisionsDconvenience^.AexcludesBquestionsCshapes

Dcontrolsl7.AdismissedBreleasedCrankedDdistortedl8.AsuppressBexploitCaddressD

ignore19.AaccessibleB.amiableCagreeableDaccountable20.AbyallmeansBatallcostsC

inawordDasaresult

SectionIIReadingComprehension

PartADirections:

Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],

[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)

Text2Prettyinpink:adultwomendonotrememberbeingsoobsessedwiththecolour,

yetitispervasiveinouryounggirls'lives.Itisnotthatpinkintrinsicallybad,but

itisatinysliceoftherainbowand,thoughitmaycelebrategirlhoodinoneway,italso

repeatedlyandfirmlyfusedgirls'identitytoappearance.Thenitpresentsthatconnection,

evenamongtwo-year-olds,betweengirlsasnotonlyinnocentbutasevidenceofinnocence.

Lookingaround,despairedatthesingularlackofimaginationaboutgirls,livesandinterestso

Girls*attractiontopinkmayseemunavoidable,somehowencodedintheirDNA,butaccordingtoJo

Paoletti,anassociateprofessorofAmericanStudies,it'snot.Childrenwerenotcolour-codedatalluntilthe

early20thcentury:intheerabeforedomesticwashingmachinesallbabiesworewhiteasapracticalmatter,

sincetheonlywayofgettingclothescleanwastoboilthem.What'smore,bothboysandgirlsworewhat

werethoughtofasgender-neutraldresses.Whennurserycolourswereintroduced,pinkwas

actuallyconsideredthemoremasculinecolour,apastelversionofred,whichwasassociated

withstrength.Blue,withitsintimationsoftheVirginMary,constancyandfaithfulness,

symbolisedfemininity.Itwasnotuntilthemid-1980s,whenamplifyingageandsexdifferences

becameadominantchildren，smarketingstrategy,thatpinkfullycameintoitsown,whenit

begantoseeminnatelyattractivetogirls,partofwhatdefinedthemasfemale,atleastfor

thefirstfewcriticalyearso

Ihadnotrealisedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperceptionofwhatis

naturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychologicaldevelopment.Takethe

toddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexpertsdevelopedafteryearsofresearchinto

children'sbehaviour:wrong.Turnsout,accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchildhood

consumerism,itwaspopularisedasamarketinggimmickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930s。

Tradepublicationscounselleddepartmentstoresthat,inordertoincreasesales,they

shouldcreatea〃thirdsteppingstone"betweeninfantwearandolderkids'clothes.Itwas

onlyafter"toddler"becamecommonshoppers'termthatitevolvedintoabroadlyaccepted

developmentalstage.Splittingkids,oradults,intoever-tiniercategorieshasproveda

sure-firewaytoboostprofits.Andoneoftheeasiestwaystosegmentamarketistomagnify

genderdifferences-orinventthemwheretheydidnotpreviouslyexist。

26Bysaying"itis...Therainbow”(line3,Para1),theauthormeanspink。

Ashouldnotbethesolerepresentationofgirlhood

Bshouldnotbeassociatedwithgirls'innocence

Ccannotexplaingirls，lackofimagination

Dcannotinfluencegirls'livesandinterests

27AccordingtoParagraph2,whichofthefollowingistrueofcolours?

AColorsareencodedingirls，DNABBlueusedtoberegardedasthecolorforgirls

CPinkusedtobeaneutralcolorinsymbolizinggenders

DWhiteispreferredbybabies

28Theauthorsuggeststhatourperceptionofchildren，spsychologicaldevotementwasmuch

influencedby_________。

[A]themarketingofproductsforchildren[B]theobservationofchildren，snature

[C]researchesintochildren'sbehavior[D]studiesofchiIdhoodconsumption

29.WemaylearnfromParagraph4thatdepartmentstoreswereadvised。

Afocusesoninfantwearandolderkids'clothes

Battachequalimportancetodifferentgenders

CclassifyconsumersintosmallergroupsDcreatesomecommonshoppers，terms

30.itcanbeconcludedthatgirl'sattractiontopinkseemstobe。

AclearlyexplainedbytheirinborntendencyBful1yunderstoodbyclothingmanufacturers

Cmainlyimposedbyprofit-drivenbusinessmenDwellinterpretedbypsychologicalexperts

PartBDirections:

Forquestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA-Gandfillthem

intothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphEhasbeencorrectlyplaced.There

isoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinwiththetext.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

(10points)

PartCDirections:

ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.

YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.(10points)

SectionIIIWritingPartA51.Directions:

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use"Postgraduates'Association7/instead.

(10points)

PartB

52.Directions:

Writeanessayof160-200wordsbasedonthefollowingdrawing.Inyouressay,youshould

describethepicturebriefly,explainitsintendedmeaning,andgiveyourcommentso

Youshouldwriteneatlyonanswersheet2.

2012年全國碩士研究生入學考試英語試題NationalEntranceTestofEnglishfor

MA/MSCandidates(NETEM)跨考英語教研室一楊鳳芝SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:

Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblank

andmark[A],[B],[C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.(10points)

TheethicaljudgmentsoftheSupremeCourtjusticesbecameanimportantissue

recently.Thecourtcannot_____itslegitimacyasguardianoftheruleof

law______justicesbehavelikepoliticians.Yet,inseveralinstances,

justicesactedinwaysthat_____thecourtJsreputationforbeingindependent

andimpartialo

JusticesAntoninScaliaandSamuelAlitoJr.,forexample,appearedat

politicalevents.Thatkindofactivitymakesitlesslikelythatthecourt?s

decisionswillbe_asimpartialjudgments.Partoftheproblemisthat

thejusticesarenotbyanethicscode.Attheveryleast,thecourt

shouldmakeitselftothecodeofconductthattotherestofthe

federaljudiciary。

Thisandothercasesthequestionofwhetherthereisstilla

betweenthecourtandpoliticso

TheframersoftheConstitutionenvisionedlawhavingauthorityapart

frompolitics.Theygavejusticespermanentpositions_theywouldbefree

to____thoseinpowerandhavenoneedto_____politicalsupport.Ourlegal

systemwasdesignedtosetlawapartfrompoliticspreciselybecausetheyare

soclosely_____。

Constitutionallawispoliticalbecauseitresultsfromchoicesrootedin

fundamentalsociallikelibertyandproperty.Whenthecourtdealswith

socialpolicydecisions,thelawitisinescapablypolitical一which

iswhydecisionssplitalongideologicallinesaresoeasilyasunjust。

Thejusticesmustdoubtsaboutthecourt*slegitimacybymaking

themselvestothecodeofconduct.Thatwouldmaketheirrulingsmore

likelytobeseenasseparatefrompoliticsand,,convincingaslaw。

1AemphasizeBmaintainCmodifyDrecognize2AwhenBbestCbeforeDunless

3ArenderedBweakenedCestablishedDeliminated

4AchallengedBcompromisedCsuspectedDaccepted5.AadvancedBcaughtCboundDfounded

6.AresistantBsubjectCimmuneDprone7.AresortsBsticksCleadsDapplies8.Aevade

BraiseCdenyDsettle9.AlineBbarrierCsimilarityI)conflict10.AbyBasCthrough

Dtowards11.AsoBsinceCprovidedDthough12.AserveBsatisfyCupsetDreplace13.

AconfirmBexpressCcultivateDoffer14AguardedBfollowedCstudiedDtied

15.AconceptsBtheoriesCdivisionsDconveniencel6.AexcludesBquestionsCshapes

Dcontrolsl7.AdismissedBreleasedCrankedDdistortedl8.AsuppressBexploitCaddress

Dignore19.AaccessibleB.amiableCagreeableDaccountable20.AbyallmeansBatal1costs

CinawordDasaresult

SectionIIReadingComprehensionPartA

Directions:

Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextby

choosing[A],[B],[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)

Text2

Prettyinpink:adultwomendonotrememberbeingsoobsessedwiththe

colour,yetitispervasiveinouryounggirls'lives.Itisnotthatpink

intrinsicallybad,butitisatinysliceoftherainbowand,thoughitmay

celebrategirlhoodinoneway,italsorepeatedlyandfirmlyfusedgirls,

identitytoappearance.Thenitpresentsthatconnection,evenamongtwo-year-olds,

betweengirlsasnotonlyinnocentbutasevidenceofinnocenceo

Lookingaround,despairedatthesingularlackofimaginationaboutgirls'

livesandinterestso

Girls'attractiontopinkmayseemunavoidable,somehowencodedintheirDNA,

butaccordingtoJoPaoletti,anassociateprofessorofAmericanStudies,

it'snot.Childrenwerenotcolour-codedatalluntiltheearly20th

century:intheerabeforedomesticwashingmachinesallbabiesworewhiteasa

practicalmatter,sincetheonlywayofgettingclothescleanwastoboi1

them.What'smore,bothboysandgirlsworewhatwerethoughtofasgender-neutraldresses.

Whennurserycolourswereintroduced,pinkwasactually

consideredthemoremasculinecolour,apastelversionofred,whichwas

associatedwithstrength.Blue,withitsintimationsoftheVirginMary,

constancyandfaithfulness,symbolisedfemininity.Itwasnotuntilthe

mid-1980s,whenamplifyingageandsexdifferencesbecameadominant

children,smarketingstrategy,thatpinkfullycameintoitsown,whenit

begantoseeminnatelyattractivetogirls,partofwhatdefinedthemasfemale,

atleastforthefirstfewcriticalyearso

Ihadnotrealisedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperception

ofwhatisnaturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychological

development.Takethetoddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexperts

developedafteryearsofresearchintochildren,sbehaviour:wrong.Turnsout,

accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchildhoodconsumerism,itwas

popularisedasamarketinggimmickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930s。

Tradepublicationscounselleddepartmentstoresthat,inordertoincrease

sales,theyshouldcreatea〃thirdsteppingstone"betweeninfantwearand

olderkids,clothes.Itwasonlyafter"toddler"becamecommonshoppers'

termthatitevolvedintoabroadlyaccepteddevelopmentalstage.Splitting

kids,oradults,intoever-tiniercategorieshasprovedasure-firewayto

boostprofits.Andoneoftheeasiestwaystosegmentamarketisto

magnifygenderdifferences-orinventthemwheretheydidnotpreviouslyexisto

7

26Bysaying〃itis...Therainbow"(line3,Para1),theauthormeanspink_o

Ashouldnotbethesolerepresentationofgirlhood

Bshouldnotbeassociatedwithgirls*innocence

Ccannotexplaingirls'lackofimagination

Dcannotinfluencegirls，livesandinterests

27AccordingtoParagraph2,whichofthefollowingistrueofcolours?

AColorsareencodedingirls，DNABBlueusedtoberegardedasthecolorforgirls

CPinkusedtobeaneutralcolorinsymbolizinggendersDWhiteispreferredbybabies

28Theauthorsuggeststhatourperceptionofchildren'spsychological

devotementwasmuchinfluencedby0

[A]themarketingofproductsforchildren[B]theobservationofchildren，snature

[C]researchesintochildren，sbehavior[D]studiesofchildhoodconsumption

29.WemaylearnfromParagraph4thatdepartmentstoreswereadvised。

Afocusesoninfantwearandolderkids'clothesBattachequalimportancetodifferent

genders

CclassifyconsumersintosmallergroupsDcreatesomecommonshoppers，terms

30.itcanbeconcludedthatgirl'sattractiontopinkseemstobe。

AclearlyexplainedbytheirinborntendencyBfullyunderstoodbyclothingmanufacturers

Cmainlyimposedbyprofit-drivenbusinessmenDwellinterpretedbypsychologicalexperts

PartB

Directions:

Forquestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelist

A-Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.Paragraph

Ehasbeencorrectlyplaced.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinwith

thetext.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)

PartC

Directions:

Readthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegments

intoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.

(10points)

SectionIIIWritingPartA

51.Directions:

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use"Postgraduates'

Association"instead.(10points)

PartB

52.Directions:

Writeanessayof160-200wordsbasedonthefollowingdrawing.Inyour

essay,youshould

1)describethepicturebriefly,2)explainitsintendedmeaning,and

3)giveyourcommentsoYoushouldwriteneatlyonanswersheet2.

1.B2.A3.B4.D5.C6.B7.D8.B9.A10.B

11.A12.C13.C14.D15.A16.C17.A18.C19.D20.D

21.D22.D23.A24.C25.D26.C27.A28.A29.B30.B

31.A32.D33.B34.D35.D36.C37.D38.B39.A40.A

41.C42.D43.A44.F45.G

46.在物理學上，一種方法是將這種沖動完美發(fā)揮到極點并且導找到一種萬能的理論—一條我們都可以

看的見，明白的普遍公式。

47.在這里，達爾文主義似乎提供了一個準則，如果所有的人類都有共同的起源，那么文化差異能夠追

尋到更早的可控的起源也是合理的。

48.從我們的共同特征中過濾獨特性能夠使我們明白文化行為的復(fù)雜性起源以及是什么在進化方面和認

知方面指導我們?nèi)祟悺?/p>

49、其實，由約書亞格林伯說，將更多的經(jīng)驗主義用在了普遍性上，驗證許多語言所共有的特點，這些

特點被認為是代表了由認知限制造成的偏見。

50.喬姆斯基的語法應(yīng)該表現(xiàn)了語言更改的模式，是通過獨立的家譜或由它所跟蹤的路徑，而通過性預(yù)

測的特定類型間的合作關(guān)系。

PartA

47.Directions：

Supposeyouhavefoundsomethingwrongwiththeelectronicdictionarythatyouboughtfromanonlinestore

theotherday.Writeandemailtothecustomerservicecenterto

1)makeacomplaint,and

2)demandapromptsolution.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use“ZhangWei,?instead.

參考范文：

DearMr./Miss：

ThisletterisacomplaintconcerningtheelectronicdictionaryIboughtfromyouronlinestoretheotherday.

TwoweeksagoImailedthemoneythatorderedandsoonreceivedtheelectronicdictionary.Ifollowedthe

instructionsattachedwithit.InsteadIcannotgetitstartedanyway.Afterchangedthebatteryinsideseveral

timesinvain,Itotallygaveitup.

Iwrotetoyourcompanyexpectingapromptsolutiontothisproblem.Iwouldhopethatyoucoulddo

somethingtogivemeasatisfactoryfeedback.AndIwillappreciateitverymuchifyouputastricttestonthese

electronicdictionaries,thusstopthecontinuingcomplaintsandsuffersofothercomtomers.

SincerelyYours,

ZhangWei

2012年考研英語真題：作文題目及范文

作文一些外國留學生將要來你的大學，以學生會的名義給他們寫一封email,

1.表示你的歡迎2.為他們在這里的校園生活提供一些建議

請寫100個字左右，請不要在信的末尾寫你的名字，用筆名代替，不要寫地址。

范文

親愛的同學們，

首先請允許我代表我校的各位領(lǐng)導老師及同學們對你們的到來表示熱烈的歡迎，歡迎來到我校學習

和生活。

不同國家的校園生活有所不同，為了使你們的生活更加舒適，下面我將介紹一些在我校生活的一些建議。

首先，在中國不可以直呼老師的名字，因為中國是一個禮儀之邦，中國人用稱呼表達對老師的尊重。

其次，希望你們珍惜在中國學習的時間，主動增加與中國人交流的機會，這樣既能提高你們的漢語

水平，也能了解中國的文化。

最后，如果你們在生活和學習上遇到困難，及時與我們溝通。祝你們在中國的留學生活愉快！

學生會

Dearstudents,

Firstofall,allowme,onbehalfoftheleadersofourschoolteachersandstudentsarewarmly

welcometocometoyou,welcometoourschoolandlife.

Campuslifeisdifferentindifferentcountries,inordertomakeyourlifemorecomfortable,thef

oilowingIwilldescribesomeoftheproposalsinmyschoollife.

Firstofall,cannotcalltheteacher^nameinChina,becauseChinaisaritualofceremony,Chin

eseusedtocalltheexpressionofrespectforteachers.

Secondly,IhopeyoucherishthetimestudyinginChina,taketheinitiativetoincreaseopportunitiesfor

interactionwithChinesepeople,sothatbothcanimproveyourChineselanguagelevel,canunderstand

Chineseculture.

Finally,ifyouencounterdifficultyinlivingandlearning,tocommunicatewithusinatimely

manner.WishesyoutostudyabroadinChinaliveininterestingtimes!

StudentUnion

作文2：

這幅漫畫象征性的描述了，個倒在地上的瓶子，一些牛奶灑了出來。在這個瓶子的旁邊站著兩個人,

一個垂頭喪氣的說“全完了!”，而另一個則說“幸好還剩點兒!”。這幅畫所表達的內(nèi)容既意義深遠又發(fā)人

深省。

這幅漫畫的目的是告訴我們在生活、工作和學習中遇到挫折時，不同的人持有不同的態(tài)度。積極樂

觀的人總是能夠發(fā)掘事情好的一面，而消極悲觀的人總是為他失去的東西傷心抱怨。總之，?個人的態(tài)

度能夠決定他的成敗。

在我看來，我們應(yīng)該向那個積極樂觀的人學習。在生活中無論遇到什么樣的困難，我們都應(yīng)該用積

極樂觀的態(tài)度來面對。只有這樣，我們才能取得成功。

Thiscartoontokendescribesabottlethatfelltotheground,somemilkspilledout.Thebottlestandsnext

totwopeople,adejectedsaying"isallover!”Whileanothersaid'*Fortunatelyhaveleft!Thecontents

expressedinthepaintingisbothmeaningfulandthought-provoking.

Thiscartoonisdesignedtotellustolive,workandlearningaredown,you,differentpeopleholddifferent

attitudes.Optimisticpeoplecanalwaysdiscoverwhat'sgoodside,andnegativeandpessimisticpeoplealways

losingthingssadforhimtocomplain.Inshort,aperson'sattitudescanmakeorbreakhim.

Inmyopinion,weshouldlearnfromthepositiveandoptimisticman.Nomatterwhatdifficultiesshemet

inlife,weshoulduseapositiveandoptimisticattitudetoface.Onlyinthisway,wecanbesuccessful.

2011年考研英語一真題及答案

SectionIUseofEnglish

Directions:

AncientGreekphilosopherAristotleviewedlaughteras“abodilyexerciseprecioustohealth.^^

But---someclaimstothecontrary,laughingprobablyhaslittleinfluenceonphysical

filnessLaughterdoesshort-termchangesinthefunctionoftheheartanditsbloodvessels,

heartrateandoxygenconsumptionButbecausehardlaughterisdifficultto,agood

laughisunlikelytohavebenefitstheway,say,walkingorjoggingdoes.

,insteadofstrainingmusclestobuildthem,asexercisedoes,laughterapparently

accomplishesthe,studiesdatingbacktothe1930'sindicatethatlaughter,muscles,

Suchbodilyreactionmightconceivablyhelptheeffectsofpsychologicalstress.Anyway,the

actoflaughingprobablydoesproduceothertypesoffeedback,thatimprovean

individual'semotionalstate.oneclassicaltheoryofemotion,ourfeelingsarepartially

rootedphysicalreactions.Itwasarguedattheendofthe19thcenturythathumansdo

notcry________theyaresadbuttheybecomesadwhentetearsbegintoflow.

Althoughsadnessalsotears,evidencesuggeststhatemotionscanflowmuscular

responses.Inanexperimentpublishedin1988,socialpsychologistFritz.

1.[Ajamong[BJexcept[CJdespite[Djlike

2.[A]reflect[B]demandfC]indicate[D]produce

3.[A]stabilizing[B]boosting[C]impairing[D]determining

4.[A]transmitfB]sustain[C]evaluate[D]observe

5.[AJmeasurable[BJmanageable[CJaffordable[D]renewable

6.[AJInturn[BJInfact[Cjlnaddition[DJInbrief

7.[AJopposite[Bjimpossible[C]average[DJexpected

8.[AJhardens[BJweakens[CJtightens[DJrelaxes

9.[A]aggravatefB]generate[C]moderate[D]enhance

10.[A]physical[B]mentl[C]subconscious[D]internal

11.[AJExceptfor[BJAccordingto[CJDueto[DJAsfor

12.[AJwith[BJon[CJin[DJat

13.[AJunless[BJuntilC]if[DJbecause

14.[AJexhausts[BJfollows[C]precedes[DJsuppresses

15.[A]into[B]from[C]towards[D]beyond

16.[Alfetch[B]bite[C]pick[D]hold

17.[A]disappointed[B]excited[C]joyful[D]indilferent

18.[AJadapted[BJcatered[C]turned[DJreacted

19.[AJsuggesting[B]requiring[CJmentioning[DJsupposing

20.[AJEventually[BJConsequently[CJSimilarly[DJConversely

SectionIIReadingComprehension

PartA

Directions:

Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],

LC]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)

Text1

ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirector

hasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhis

appointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast.

"Hooray!Atlast!”wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.

Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertis

comparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert'sappointmentinthe

Times,callshim“anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabout

Asadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledby

musicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,thatseemslikelytohavestruckatleastsome

Timesreadersasfaintpraise.

Formypart,IhavenoideawhetherGilbertisagreatconductororevenagoodone.Tobe

sure,heperformsanimpressivevarietyofinterestingcompositions,butitisnotnecessaryforme

tovisitAveryFisherHall,oranywhereelse,tohearinterestingorchestralmusic.AllIhavetodo

istogotomyCDshelf,orbootupmycomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfrom

iTunes.

Devotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformanceare

missingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classical

instrumentalistsmustcompetenotonlywithoperahouses,dancetroupes,theatercompanies,and

museums,butalsowiththerecordedperformancesofthegreatclassicalmusiciansofthe20th

century.Thererecordingsarecheap,availableeverywhere,andveryoftenmuchhigherinartistic

qualitythantoday'sliveperformances;moreover,theycanbe“consumed''atatimeandplaceof

thelistener'schoosing.Thewidespreadavailabilityofsuchrecordingshasthusbroughtabouta

crisisintheinstitutionofthetraditionalclassicalconcert.

Onepossibleresponseisforclassicalperformerstoprogramattractivenewmusicthatisnot

yetavailableonrecord.Gilbert'sowninterestinnewmusichasbeenwidelynoted:AlexRoss,a

classical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonic

into“amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization.^^Butwhatwillbethenatureofthat

difference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra'srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthe

Philharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica'soldest

orchestraandthenewaudienceithopstoattract.

21.Welearnfro