考研英語歷年真題閱讀理解精讀筆記(二十一)

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A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap, but, if properly handled, it may become a driving force.When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War, it had a market eight times larger than any competitor, giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale.Its scientists were the world's best, its workers the most skilled.America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.
    It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer.Just as inevitably, the retreat from predominance proved painful.By the mid 1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness.Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics, had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition.By 1987 there was only one American television maker left, Zenith.(Now there is none: Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July.)Foreign made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market.America's machine tool industry was on the ropes.For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors, which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty.
    All of this caused a crisis of confidence.Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted.They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing, and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well.The mid 1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline.Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.
    How things have changed! In 199  5 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling.Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle.Self doubt has yielded to blind pride."American industry has changed its structure, has gone on a diet, has learnt to be more quickwitted," according to Richard Cavanaugh, executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government."It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity,"says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C.And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as "a golden age of business management in the United States."
    51. The US achieved its predominance after World War Ⅱ because.
    [A] it had made painstaking efforts towards this goal
    [B] its domestic market was eight times larger than before
    [C] the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors
    [D] the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy
    52. The loss of US predominance in the world economy in the 1980s is manifested in the fact that the American.
    [A] TV industry had withdrawn to its domestic market
    [B] semiconductor industry had been taken over by foreign enterprises
    [C] machine tool industry had collapsed after suicidal actions
    [D] auto industry had lost part of its domestic market
    53. What can be inferred from the passage
    [A] It is human nature to shift between self doubt and blind pride.
    [B] Intense competition may contribute to economic progress.
    [C] The revival of the economy depends on international cooperation.
    [D] A long history of success may pave the way for further development.
    54. The author seems to believe the revival of the US economy in the 1990s can be attributed to the.
    [A] turning of the business cycle
    [B] restructuring of industry
    [C] improved business management
    [D] success in education
    achieve12v.①完成,實現(xiàn);②達(dá)到,達(dá)成,獲得
    action11n.①行動,行為;②動作,活動;③(on)作用
    attribute2n.屬性,品質(zhì),特征;v.①(to)把...歸于;②認(rèn)為...是...所為
    author69n.①作者;②創(chuàng)始人
    auto2n.汽車
    business36n.①商業(yè),生意;②事務(wù),業(yè)務(wù),職責(zé);③企業(yè);④貿(mào)易量;⑤行業(yè),業(yè)務(wù)
    casualty1n.①傷亡人員;②受害人(物)
    cause28n.①原因,理由;②事業(yè),事件,奮斗目標(biāo);v.使產(chǎn)生,引起
    collapse1v./n.倒坍,崩潰,垮臺
    competition16n.①比賽;②競爭
    confidence6n.①(in)信任;②信心,自信;③秘密,機(jī)密
    contribute6v.①(to)貢獻(xiàn),捐助,捐獻(xiàn);②投稿
    crisis3n.([pl.]crises)危機(jī),緊要關(guān)頭
    cycle4n.①自行車;②周期,循環(huán);v.①騎自行車;②循環(huán)
    dean1n.(大學(xué))院長,主持牧師,(基督教)教長
    decline14v./n.①下傾,下降,下垂,衰落;②斜面,傾斜;v.拒絕,謝絕
    depend16v.(on)取決于,依靠,信賴,相信
    diet4n.飲食,食物
    domestic1a.①家里的;②本國的;③馴養(yǎng)的
    doubt8n./v.懷疑,疑慮
    economic23a.經(jīng)濟(jì)(上)的,經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)的
    economy29n.①節(jié)約;②經(jīng)濟(jì)
    enterprise5n.①事業(yè),企(事)業(yè)單位;②事業(yè)心,進(jìn)取心
    executive6n.總經(jīng)理,董事,行政負(fù)責(zé)人;a.執(zhí)行的,實施的
    fade3v.①褪色;②衰減,消失
    finding6n.①發(fā)現(xiàn),發(fā)現(xiàn)物;②[常pl.]調(diào)查(研究)結(jié)果
    glow1v.發(fā)熱,發(fā)光,發(fā)紅;n.白熱
    growth22n.生長,增長,發(fā)展
    gandicap1v.妨礙,使不利;n.①(身體或智力方面的)缺陷;②障礙,不利條件
    gandle4n.柄,把手,拉手;v.①處理,對待,操縱;②觸,摸,撫養(yǎng)
    impetus1n.推動(力),促進(jìn)
    industrial12a.工業(yè)的,產(chǎn)業(yè)的
    inevitable5a.不可避免的,必然發(fā)生的
    infer21v.推論,推斷
    inquiry4n.詢問,打聽,調(diào)查
    institute4n.①學(xué)會,研究所;②學(xué)院;v.設(shè)立,設(shè)置,制定
    intense4a.①強(qiáng)烈的,劇烈的;②熱烈的,熱情的
    invent2v.①發(fā)明,創(chuàng)造;②捏造,虛構(gòu)
    management11n.①經(jīng)營,管理;②管理部門
    manifest4v.表明,證明,顯示;a.明白的,明了的
    narrow5a.狹窄的,狹隘的;v.①限制,限定;②變窄,收縮
    nature14n.①自然界,大自然;②性質(zhì),本性,天性
    obvious13a.明顯的,顯而易見的
    overseas2a.外國的,海外的;ad.在海外
    painful5a.疼痛的,使痛苦的
    pave1v.鋪砌,鋪(路)
    potential13a.①潛在的,可能的;②勢的,位的;n.潛能,潛力
    productivity10n.生產(chǎn)力
    prosperity2n.繁榮,興旺
    prosperous1a.繁榮的,興旺的
    retreat2v./n.撤退,退卻
    rope1n.繩,索
    scale3n.①刻度,標(biāo)度;②天平,磅秤;③比例尺;④規(guī)模;⑤音階;⑥魚鱗
    school44n.①學(xué)校;②(大學(xué)里的)學(xué)院,系;③學(xué)派,流派
    semiconductor1n.半導(dǎo)體
    shift12v.①替換,轉(zhuǎn)移;②移動;n.①轉(zhuǎn)換,轉(zhuǎn)變;②(輪)班,(換)班
    shrink3v.①起皺,收縮;②退縮,畏縮
    skilled4a.①熟練的;②技術(shù)性的
    structure13n.①結(jié)構(gòu),構(gòu)造;②建筑物;v.構(gòu)造,建造
    tank1n.①罐,槽,箱;②坦克;③(智囊)團(tuán)
    textile1n.紡織品;a.紡織的
    vanish3v.消失,消散
    withdraw2v.①收回,撤消;②縮回,退出;③提款
    yield3v.①出產(chǎn),生長;②(to)屈服,服從;n.產(chǎn)量,收獲
    according47ad.依照,根據(jù)
    competitiveness1n.競爭
    competitor2n.競爭者
    consumer20n.消費者
    cooperation3n.合作,協(xié)作
    dreadful2a.可怕的
    electronics3n.電子學(xué)
    inevitably3ad.不可避免
    painstaking1n.苦干,辛苦;a.辛苦的,艱苦的
    predominance1n.優(yōu)勢
    primacy3n.首位
    restructure3vt.更改結(jié)構(gòu),重建構(gòu)造,調(diào)整,改組
    revival5n.蘇醒,復(fù)興,復(fù)活,再生效,復(fù)蘇
    sensational1a.聳人聽聞的
    solely1ad.獨自地,單獨地
    suicidal1a.自殺的,自取滅亡的
    unparalleled2a.無與倫比的,空前的
    warning6n.警告,通知,預(yù)兆
    witted1a.機(jī)智的,智力的
    zenith1n.頂點,頂峰
    難句1
    A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap, but, if properly handled, it may become a driving force.
    [結(jié)構(gòu)分析]
    1. 本句是一個用轉(zhuǎn)折連詞but連接的并列句;
    2. but和第二個分句之間又插入了一個if引導(dǎo)省略了主語和謂語的條件狀語從句 if(a history of long and effortless success is)properly handled;
    [本句難點]本句主要考轉(zhuǎn)折連詞;其中:effortless:毫不費力的;handicap:障礙,不利因素;
    [方法對策]看清楚本句是轉(zhuǎn)折連詞but連接的兩個并列句;
    [例句精譯]一段長時間并且不費力而成功的歷史可能成為一種可怕的不利因素,但若處理得當(dāng),這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為一種積極的推動力。
    難句2
    For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors, which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty.
    [結(jié)構(gòu)分析]
    1. 本句主干結(jié)構(gòu)為:... it looked + 表語從句;
    2. 表語從句中主語是the making of semiconductors,謂語是was going to be,賓語是the next casulty;
    3. 表語從句中又包含兩個并列的which引導(dǎo)的定語從句,這兩個定語從句位于兩個逗號之間,可以看作插入成分;
    [本句難點]難度主要體現(xiàn)在從句的嵌套;
    [方法對策]首先分清主從句關(guān)系,然后分析各自的主干成分,兩個逗號之間的插入語第一遍閱讀可以忽略;
    [例句精譯]人們曾一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了,而在新計算機(jī)時代有著核心作用的半導(dǎo)體正是美國人發(fā)明的。
    難句3
    Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle.
    [結(jié)構(gòu)分析]
    1. 本句主干結(jié)構(gòu)是:Few Americans attribute this ... to ...;
    2. 注意后面的舉例:such ... as ... or ... ,or 表示后面所舉的兩個例子是并列關(guān)系,as所引導(dǎo)的部分是such obvious causes的賓語補(bǔ)足語;
    [本句難點]本句主要是作者闡述的一個自己的觀點,沒有幾個人這樣認(rèn)為,實際上作者這樣認(rèn)為;
    [方法對策]本句是作者態(tài)度的暗示,即作者認(rèn)為five years of solid growth的原因就在于此;
    [例句精譯]沒幾個美國人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見的原因。
    本文談了美國經(jīng)濟(jì)的興衰。
    51.[答案] C
    [解析]本題問:二戰(zhàn)后,美國取得了霸主地位是因為A:它為此付出了艱苦努力嗎?否。因為首段(記住:看完一段要馬上做題,如果全文看完再來做選項,內(nèi)容太多記不住!)談到:"凡事太順利沒有磨難未必就好",接著就說"二戰(zhàn)后的美國就是如此。"(美國是利用一戰(zhàn)、二戰(zhàn)的機(jī)會生產(chǎn)軍火而發(fā)財?shù)?。別人被打趴下了,它除夏威夷的珍珠港外,本土基本沒受戰(zhàn)火蹂躪,乘機(jī)崛起。)可見美國并未付出艱苦努力。B.市場比戰(zhàn)前大八倍。錯。原文為比任何對手大八倍。至于D."勞工規(guī)模大"更不對。原文只講科學(xué)家"優(yōu)秀",工人"有技術(shù)",并未講"size"大小。而選C是根據(jù)首段末句戰(zhàn)爭已摧毀了歐亞的經(jīng)濟(jì)。問題中把歐亞的經(jīng)濟(jì)改為潛在對手的經(jīng)濟(jì)(如日、俄、德等),可見正是答案。
    52.[答案] D
    [解析]A.電視工業(yè)不是退回國內(nèi)市場,而是已經(jīng)沒有了。B.半導(dǎo)體工業(yè)只是"似乎"要死,但實際是還沒死。C.機(jī)床工業(yè)已"倒閉"了!尚未,只是on the ropes(吃緊了,危險了),所以選D。原文的"Foreignmade cars"換成同義詞"auto"又一次驗證我們的理論:越是真答案,越少照抄原文。
    53.[答案] B
    [解析]這是一道推理題。原文談到外國造的汽車、紡織品、電視機(jī)等等使美國人緊張,激烈的競爭促使美國人反思,(見倒數(shù)第二段末句),后來美國人進(jìn)步了,因此可推論出B。而D則錯在與文章首句對不上號。首句說:長期成功是一種"可怕的不利因素",至于A、C文章中沒提及。
    54.[答案] A
    [解析]這題很狡猾,問作者對美國在90年代的復(fù)蘇持什么態(tài)度?我們知道,原文中作者似乎并未表態(tài),但D沒提到;B和C就算有人提到那也是哈佛大學(xué)的理查德和華盛頓智囊團(tuán)史蒂芬的看法,反正不是作者的。其實,作者的看法藏在"Few Americans ..."一句中,而且認(rèn)為這是"obvious causes",所以選A。
     一段長時間并且不費力而成功的歷史可能成為一種可怕的不利因素,但若處理得當(dāng),這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為一種積極的推動力。二戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后,美國恰好進(jìn)入了這樣的一個輝煌時期,當(dāng)時,它擁有比任何競爭對手大8倍的市場,這使其工業(yè)具有無與倫比的規(guī)模經(jīng)濟(jì)狀態(tài)。美國的科學(xué)家是世上秀的,它的工人是最富于技術(shù)的。美國的國富民強(qiáng)是那些經(jīng)濟(jì)遭到戰(zhàn)爭破壞的歐亞諸國做夢也無法想到的。
    隨著其他國家日益強(qiáng)盛,美國從這一優(yōu)勢地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。從優(yōu)勢地位上退出的痛苦也同樣是不可避免的。到了80年代中期,面對其日益衰退的工業(yè)競爭力,美國人感到了迷茫。面對國外競爭,一些大型的美國工業(yè),如消費電子產(chǎn)業(yè),已經(jīng)萎縮或漸漸消失。到1987年,美國只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。(現(xiàn)在一家也沒有了:Zenith于當(dāng)年7月被韓國LG電器公司收購。)外國制造的汽車和紡織品正在橫掃美國市場。美國的機(jī)床工業(yè)也舉步維艱。人們曾一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了,而在新計算機(jī)時代有著核心作用的半導(dǎo)體正是美國人發(fā)明的。
    所有這一切引發(fā)了信任危機(jī)。美國不再視繁榮為理所當(dāng)然之事。他們開始相信自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營方式落伍了,也相信不久他們的收入也會因此而下降。80年代中期,人們對美國工業(yè)衰退的原因作了一次又一次的調(diào)查。在美國人那些有時聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)中充滿著對其他國家日益增長的經(jīng)濟(jì)競爭的警告之詞。
    情況的變化真快!199  5年,美國可以回顧一下五年的穩(wěn)固發(fā)展,日本卻在掙扎了。沒幾個美國人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見的原因。到如今,美國人對自身的懷疑已讓位于盲目的樂觀自大。"美國的工業(yè)已經(jīng)改變了產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu),精簡了機(jī)構(gòu),變得更敏捷了",這是哈佛大學(xué)肯尼迪管理學(xué)院行政院長理查德·卡佛納的看法。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團(tuán)--卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾則說:"看到我們的企業(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率,作為一個美國人,我感到自豪。"哈佛商學(xué)院的威廉·薩爾曼相信人們將來回顧這一時期時,會把它視為"美國企業(yè)管理的黃金時代"。
    51.第二次世界大戰(zhàn)之后,美國取得了霸主地位,因為。
    [A]美國為實現(xiàn)這個目標(biāo)付出了艱苦努力
    [B]美國的國內(nèi)市場比戰(zhàn)前市場大了八倍
    [C]第二次世界大戰(zhàn)摧毀了大多數(shù)潛在競爭對手的經(jīng)濟(jì)
    [D]美國勞動大軍的無與倫比的規(guī)模促進(jìn)了經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展
    52.20世紀(jì)80年代,美國失去了在世界經(jīng)濟(jì)中的優(yōu)勢,美國的事實證實了這一狀況。
    [A]電視產(chǎn)業(yè)已經(jīng)退回到國內(nèi)市場
    [B]半導(dǎo)體產(chǎn)業(yè)已被外國公司所取代
    [C]機(jī)床產(chǎn)業(yè)在自我毀滅后倒閉
    [D]汽車制造業(yè)失去了部分國內(nèi)市場
    53.從本文我們可推知什么?
    [A]在缺乏信心和盲目驕傲之間來回轉(zhuǎn)變是人的本性。
    [B]激烈的競爭可能促進(jìn)經(jīng)濟(jì)的進(jìn)一步發(fā)展。
    [C]經(jīng)濟(jì)的復(fù)蘇依賴于國際間的合作。
    [D]長期成功的歷史可能為進(jìn)一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
    54.作者似乎認(rèn)為:20世紀(jì)九十年代美國經(jīng)濟(jì)的復(fù)興可能歸因于。
    [A]商業(yè)循環(huán)的轉(zhuǎn)變
    [B]產(chǎn)業(yè)重組
    [C]企業(yè)管理的改善
    [D]教育方面的成功