考研英語范文閱讀(三十一)

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Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers? The American Society of Newspaper Editors is trying to answer this painful question. The organization is deep into a long self-analysis known as the journalism credibility project.
    Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low- level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.
    But the sources of distrust go way deeper. Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard templates (patterns) into which they plug each day's events. In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.
    There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the “standard templates” of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. In a recent survey, questionnaires were sent to reporters in five middle size cities around the country, plus one large metropolitan area. Then residents in these communities were phoned at random and asked the same questions.
    Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedeses, and trade stocks, and they're less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community.
    Reporters tend to be part of a broadly defined social and cultural elite, so their work tends to reflect the conventional values of this elite. The astonishing distrust of the news media isn't rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.
    This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one. Here is a troubled business that keeps hiring employees whose attitudes vastly annoy the customers. Then it sponsors lots of symposiums and a credibility project dedicated to wondering why customers are annoyed and fleeing in large numbers. But it never seems to get around to noticing the cultural and class biases that so many former buyers are complaining about. If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.
    59. What is the passage mainly about?
    (A)Needs of the readers all over the world.
    (B)Causes of the public disappointment about newspapers.
    (C)Origins of the declining newspaper industry.
    (D)Aims of a journalism credibility project.
    60. The results of the journalism credibility project turned out to be ________.
    (A)quite trustworthy
    (B)somewhat contradictory
    (C)very illuminating
    (D)rather superficial
    61. The basic problem of journalists as pointed out by the writer lies in their ________.
    (A)working attitude
    (B)conventional lifestyle
    (C)world outlook
    (D)educational background
    62. Despite its efforts, the newspaper industry still cannot satisfy the readers owing to its ________.
    (A)failure to realize its real problem
    (B)tendency to hire annoying reporters
    (C)likeliness to do inaccurate reporting
    (D)prejudice in matters of race and gender
    答案及試題解析
    BDCA
    59.(B)意為:造成公眾對報紙失望的原因。
    文章的第一句開門見山地提出了本文旨在說明的問題:為什么那么多的美國人不相信自己在報紙上讀到的內容呢?第二段駁斥了一種解釋。第三段指出人們懷疑心理的產生有更深刻的原因。第三段以后具體分析了這個原因:記者和報紙的大多數(shù)讀者生活在兩個世界里,具有不同的社會價值觀。這造成了二者的分歧和沖突。
    C意為:造成報業(yè)衰敗的根源。該選擇項不如選擇項A表達的內容確切,注意選擇項A中的disappointment對應于原文的distrust(見第一段第一句和第三段第一句)。
    D意為:一個新聞界信譽項目的目的。作者僅在第二段提到了這個項目的內容和發(fā)現(xiàn),并駁斥了這些發(fā)現(xiàn)。
    60.(D)意為:相當表面。
    在第二段作者指出,遺憾的是,該項目最終所發(fā)現(xiàn)的原因大都是諸如報道失實、文章中有拼寫和語法錯誤,以及對讀者究競想讀什么的許多莫名其妙的困惑,在作者看來,這些發(fā)現(xiàn)大都是低級的(low-level),而真正的原因沒有這么表面(go way deeper,見第三段第一句)。
    C意為:很有啟發(fā)。
    61.(C)意為:世界觀。
    在第三段作者指出,多數(shù)記者通過一套標準的范式來看世界,將每天報道的消息嵌入這些范式,換言之,在新聞界存在著一個寫報道的傳統(tǒng)路數(shù),這一路數(shù)提供了一個框框和一種現(xiàn)成的敘事結構,將紛雜的事件順理成章。第四段又指出,由于在記者和讀者之間存在著一個社會和文化上的分歧,這就解釋了為什么新聞報道的“標準范式”似乎不為許多讀者所接受。第四、五段提到了一項調查,在解釋這項調查結果的第六段作者指出,從廣義的角度講,記者似乎居于社會和文化名流的一分子,所以他們的工作傾向反映這部分人的傳統(tǒng)價值現(xiàn),因此,公眾對新聞媒體的不信任,與其說根源于報道失實或報道技能的欠缺,不如說根源于記者和讀者之間世界觀的日常沖突。
    可見,A、B、D是不確切的。
    62.(A) 最后一段指出,這(指上一段提到的世界觀的沖突)對任何產業(yè)——特別是一個衰落的產業(yè)——來說都是一種危險的狀況,報業(yè)目前就是處于這樣一種麻煩的局面,但是,他們還在雇用那些自身態(tài)度與讀者大大相悖的雇員(當指記者)。爾后又舉辦許多研討會,搞什么信謄項目,企圖了解顧客(當指讀者)為什么對他們不滿意,他們?yōu)槭裁创罅渴プx者。但是,對于那么多原來的顧客所不滿的文化和階級偏見,他們似乎就是視而不見,置若罔聞。如果他們看到了這一方面的問題,他們就會深化自己的多樣化項目(diversity program本來指公司雇用不同種族、性別等的雇員以滿足不同群體的顧客的需要的做法),而不是像現(xiàn)在這樣將這一項目狹隘地局限于種族和性別:他們就會去雇用在世界觀、價值觀、教育背景、社會階層上迥異的記者。
    翻譯句子
    1、Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and gramma
    r mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.
    [參考譯文]遺憾地講,這次新聞機構可信度調查計劃結果只獲得了一些十分低層次的發(fā)現(xiàn),比如新聞報道中的事實錯誤,拼寫或語法錯誤;(和這些低層次發(fā)現(xiàn))交織在一起的還有許多令人撓頭的困惑,譬如讀者到底想讀些什么。
    [結構剖析]本句主語是this project,謂語是has turned out to be,findings為賓語, mostly low-level是賓語的定語修飾成分, about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes是賓語的補語成分。 combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want 是過去分詞引導的伴隨狀語,其中about what in the world those readers really want是 puzzlement的補語。
    [閱讀重點]要正確理解本句,一定要注意lots of head- scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want這一部分并不包含在findings里面,而應該是與findings屬于同一層次上的東西,換言之,可以把turned out to be后面的表語看成是由兩個并列的意思構成的。
    2、 The astonishing distrust of the news media isn't rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.
    [參考譯文]讀者對新聞媒介令人震驚的不信任的根源并非報道失實或整腳的報道水平,而在于記者與讀者的世界觀天天都會發(fā)生沖撞。
    [結構剖析]本句的主干是一個not…… but結構。注意這個結構引導的是兩個方式狀語。其核心詞分別是inaccuracy和the daily clash.
    [閱讀重點]to be rooted in……根源在于……;另外注意not…… but結構中,but后面的部分總是閱讀的重點。
    補充難句翻譯
    1、In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.[參考譯文]換句話說,在媒介機構的新聞采編室文化中存在著一套約定俗成的寫作模式,為新聞報道提供了主干框架以及可直接套用的敘述結構。若沒有這些,新聞內容就會一團混亂,讓人摸不著頭腦。
    [結構剖析]本句的主干是there is a conventional story line……,后面的 that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news 是定語從句修飾conventional story line.
    [閱讀重點]本句的理解重點在單詞的意思:a story line一種寫新聞報道的故事主線;newsroom culture報社文化;backbone本義為“脊柱”,此處是“主干”;otherwise否則。
    2、 There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the “standard templates” of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. [參考譯文]在新聞從業(yè)人員與讀者之間存在著社會與文化方面的隔閡,這或許正是為什么新聞編播室中的“標準模板”與眾多讀者的意趣相差甚遠,甚而背道而馳的原因。
    [結構剖析]此句的結構和上句非常類似,主句也是一個there加系動詞的用法。而表語后都有一個定語從句。本句的定語從句是 which helps explain why the “standard templates” of the newsroom seem alien to many readers.
    [閱讀重點]alien本義為“異國的”,此處是“相差甚遠,背道而馳”。如果考生不了解standard templates的意思,可以從上下文中找與其有相同作用和功能的詞組,如上句中的a story line和backbone,那么就應該知道它們指的都是記者們在寫新聞和評論時固定的套路和思維。
    3、If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.[參考譯文]如果新聞界真的注意到了問題的關鍵,它就應該進一步開放其多樣化項目,這個項目現(xiàn)在還只單純考慮招收不同種族和性別的員工,而進一步尋找那些世界觀、價值觀、教育水平和社會階層大相徑庭的各種記者。
    [結構剖析]it代表上文提到的a troubled business,即“問題重重的新聞界”。now focused narrowly on race and gender是插入語,也是修飾program的定語。本句在would后面有兩個并列賓語open up和look for.
    [閱讀重點]此句中含有一個虛擬語氣:If it did, it would open up……。另外注意前兩個逗號之間是對diversity program(多樣化項目)的修飾成分。
    語言點詳解
    1 .distrust不信任[大綱詞匯] trust v.信任;依賴;盼望,希望;委托[衍生詞匯]distrust v.不信任[構詞方法]dis-前綴,表示“否定”,“相反”[聯(lián)想記憶]disbelieve v.不相信disconnect v.切斷[經典例句] We distrusted that man.
    2.self-analysis自我分析[大綱詞匯]analysis n.分析,分解
    3.journalism新聞報道[大綱詞匯]journalist n.記者[衍生詞匯]journalism n.新聞業(yè);新聞報道[經典例句]The young lady decided to take up journalism.
    4.credibility可靠性[大綱詞匯] credit v./n.信用,信任[衍生詞匯]credible a.可信的,可靠的 credibility n.可靠性,可信性[經典例句] He began to lose credibility when he kept changing mind.
    5.turn out結果是[大綱詞匯] turn out制造,生產;結果是;驅逐,使離開[經典例句] The stranger turned out to be his sister who was sent away in her childhood.
    6.low-level低水平的[擴充詞匯]low-level a.低水平的;含量低的;地位低的[聯(lián)想記憶]low-key a.調子低的low-paid a.工資低的[經典例句] It was a low-level performance.
    7.combine with結合[大綱詞匯]combine v.(with)(使)結合,聯(lián)合漢使)化合[經典例句] Hardworking combined with intelligence will surely lead to success.
    8.head-scratching令人撓頭的,困惑的[大綱詞匯]scratch v.抓,搔,扒;抓,搔,抓痕;起跑線[聯(lián)想記憶] head-hunting n.獵頭,物色人才9.puzzlement迷惑[大綱詞匯]puzzle n.難題,謎,迷惑;v.(使)迷惑,(使)為難[衍生詞匯]puzzlement n.迷惑puzzling a.令人迷惑的[經典例句] The lawmaker expressed their puzzlement to her opposition to these bills.
    10.template模式,樣板[擴充詞匯]template n.模式,樣板[經典例句]You may save this article as a template in Microsoft Word.
    11 .plug插人[大綱詞匯]plug v.堵塞; n.塞子,插頭[擴充詞義]plug v.將…插人[經典例句]All the passengers are plugged into a sterephonic system.
    12.backbone骨干[擴充詞匯] backbone n.脊柱;骨干,支柱[經典例句]Such men are backbone of the country.
    13.ready-made現(xiàn)成的[擴充詞匯] ready-made a.現(xiàn)成的[經典例句]She never purchase ready-made clothes.
    14.disconnect隔斷[大綱詞匯] connect v.(with)連接,連結[衍生詞匯] disconnect v./n.切斷,斷開[經典例句]He got a disconnect in his phone call.
    15.alien to不相容的[大綱詞匯]alien n.外僑;外星人;a.(form)相異的;(協(xié))不相容的[經典例句]Luxury is allen to his nature.
    16.questionnaire調查表[擴充詞匯]questionnaire n.調查表,問題單[經典例句]The school devised a questionnaire on children‘s reading habits.
    17.metropolitan大城市的[擴充詞匯]metropolitan a.大城市的;宗主國的metropolis n.首要城市;大都市[經典例句]Washington Post is a metropolitan newspaper.
    18.at random任意的[大綱詞匯]random a.隨機的,隨意的; n.隨機,隨意at random隨機地,任意地[經典例句] He opened the letters he got at random.
    19.upscale.高消費階層的[大綱詞匯]upscale a.高消費階層的;迎合高層消費者的[經典例句] The products are oriented to upscale consumers.
    20 .trade stock商業(yè)股票21.volunteer志愿者[大綱詞匯] volunteer n./v.自愿(者,兵);自愿 (提供)voluntary a.自愿的,志愿的[經典例句] The Red Cross is taking in volunteers in the neighborhood.
    22.put down roots(離開舊地后)定居下來開始新的生活
    23.elite精英[大綱詞匯]elite n.[總稱]上層人士,掌權人物,實力集團;出類拔萃的人(集團),精英[經典例句]He is one of scientific elite of the country.
    24.astonishing令人驚訝的[大綱詞匯]astonish v.使驚訝,使吃驚[衍生詞匯]astonishing a.令人驚訝的[經典例句]Her reaction to the decision was astonishing.
    25.inaccuracy不準確[大綱詞匯]accuracy n.準確,精確度accurate a.準確的,精確的[衍生詞匯] inaccuracy n.不準確,不精確inaccurate a.不準確的,不精確的[經典例句] The experiment doesn‘t allow the slightest inaccuracy.
    26. reportorial新聞報道的[大綱詞匯]report v.報告,匯報;報道; n.報告,匯報;傳說,傳聞 reporter n.報告,匯報,報道[衍生詞匯] reportorial a.記者的;新聞報道的[經典例句] His lecture was more reportorial than analytical.
    27.explosive爆炸性的[大綱詞匯]explosive a.爆炸(性)的,爆發(fā)(性)的; n.爆炸物,炸藥 explode v.(使)爆炸,(使)爆發(fā)explosion n.爆發(fā),爆炸[經典例句] The topic is too explosive to touch.
    28.sponsor主辦[大綱詞匯]sponsor n.發(fā)起人,主辦者,保證人; v.發(fā)起,主辦[經典例句]The organization will sponsor the next cultural festival.
    29.symposium討論會[大綱詞匯]symposium n.討論會,專題報告會;專題論文集[經典例句]The university hosted a symposium on sociolinguistics.
    30.flee逃避[大綱詞匯]flee v.逃走;逃避[經典例句] He should not flee from responsibility.
    31 .in large numbers大量地[擴充詞匯]in large numbers大量地[經典例句]The wild animals emigrate to the South in large numbers in autumn.
    32.get around to開始考慮[大綱詞匯]get around/round to找時間做,開始考慮[經典例句]They are too busy to get around to having a baby.
    33.diversity多樣性[擴充詞匯] diversity n.差異;差異性;不同點;多樣性[經典例句]He has a great diversity of interest.
    34.gender性別[擴充詞匯]gender n.性別
    35.trustworthy值得信任的[擴充詞匯]trustworthy a.值得信任的[構詞方法] worthy表示“值得的”[聯(lián)想記憶]praiseworthy a.值得稱贊的[經典例句] The accountant doesn‘t seem to be trustworthy.
    36.illuminating富于啟發(fā)性的[大綱詞匯]illuminate v.照亮,照明[衍生詞匯] illuminating a.照明的,照亮的;富于啟發(fā)性的[經典例句] He had an illuminating talk with the scientist.
    37.owing to由于[大綱詞匯] owing a.欠的,未付的owing to由于[經典例句]He was late to the meeting owing to heavy traffic.
    全文翻譯
    為什么那么多美國人不相信自己在報紙上看到的東西?美國新聞編輯協(xié)會正試圖回答這個痛苦的問題。該組織正深深陷入一個長期的自我剖析過程,即新聞可信度調查項目。
    遺憾的是,這次新聞機構可信度調查計劃結果只獲得了一些膚淺的發(fā)現(xiàn),諸如新聞報道中的事實錯誤,拼寫或語法錯誤,和這些低層次發(fā)現(xiàn)交織在一起的還有許多令人撓頭的困惑,譬如讀者到底想讀些什么。
    但這種對媒體的不信任有更深刻的根源。多數(shù)新聞記者都學著用一套標準的模式去看待世界,并把每天發(fā)生的事件納入這種模式。換言之,在媒介機構的新聞采編室文化中存在著一套約定俗成的寫作模式,為紛繁復雜的新聞報道提供了一個主干框架和一個現(xiàn)成的故事敘述結構。
    新聞記者和讀者之間存在著社會和文化方面的脫節(jié),這就是為什么新聞編輯室的“標準模式”與眾多讀者的意趣相差甚遠的原因。在最近一次調查中,問卷被送到了全國五座中等城市及一座大都市的記者手中,然后隨機地給這些城市的居民打電話,問他們同樣的問題。
    結果表明,與其他美國人相比,新聞記者更有可能居住在富人區(qū),有女傭,有奔馳車,炒股,而他們去教堂,參加支援服務,扎根社區(qū)的可能性卻很小。
    記者們往往屬于廣義的社會文化精英的一個部分,因此他們的工作往往反映了這些精英傳統(tǒng)的價值觀。讀者對新聞媒介令人震驚的不信任的根源并非是報道失實或低下的報道技巧,而是記者與讀者的世界觀每天都發(fā)生著碰撞。
    這對任何一個工業(yè)產業(yè)來說都算是爆炸性的形勢,對于一個正在衰落的行業(yè)來說尤其如此。這是一個棘手的行業(yè),卻不斷地雇用觀點總體上使客戶惱怒的雇員。然后它又出資組織研討會和可信度調查項目,去探究為什么顧客們惱火了,為什么會有那么多人逃避新聞。但它似乎從來就沒回過頭來去注意那么多以前的顧客所抱怨的文化和階級偏見。如果它能注意這個問題的話,它就應該進一步開放其多樣化項目(這個項目現(xiàn)在還只單純考慮招收不同種族和性別的員工),進一步尋找那些世界觀、價值觀、教育水平和社會階層各不相同的各種記者。