In spite of "endless talk of difference," American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. There is "the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of consumption" launched by the 19th--century department stores that offered "vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere. Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite." these were stores "anyone could enter, regardless of class or background. This turned shopping into a public and democratic act." The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization.
Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today's immigration is neither at unprecedented level nor resistant to assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of population; in 1900, 13.6 percent .In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation -language, home ownership and intermarriage.
The 1990 Census revealed that "a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English ‘well' or ‘very well' after ten years of residence." The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. "By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families." Hence the description of America as a "graveyard" for languages. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrived before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics "have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S -born whites and blacks." By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.
Rodriguez note that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet "some Americans fear that immigrant living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation's assimilative power."
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America's turbulent past, today's social induces suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
1.The word "homogenizing" (Line 2, Paragraph 1) most probably means
[A] identifying
[B] associating
[C] assimilating
[D] monopolizing
2. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century
[A] played a role in the spread of popular culture.
[B] became intimate shops for common consumers.
[C] satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite.
[D] owed its emergence to the culture of consumption
3.The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.
[A] are resistant to homogenization.
[B] exert a great influence on American culture.
[C] are hardly a threat to the common culture.
[D] constitute the majority of the population.
4. Why are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?
[A] To prove their popularity around the world.
[B] To reveal the public's fear of immigrants.
[C] To give examples of successful immigrants.
[D] To show the powerful influence of American culture.
5.In the author's opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is
[A] rewarding.
[B] successful.
[C] fruitless.
[D] harmful.
〔背景介紹〕
文章類型：人文科學，美國文化
本文主要涉及美國民主的社會氛圍。通過對移民本土化現(xiàn)象說明了美國文化的融合性。
〔結(jié)構(gòu)分析〕
第一段提到從三個方面會講到美國種族融合的具體表現(xiàn)，第一個是大眾傳媒、第二個是廣告、第三個是體育，這些是一些具體的力量，能夠促進一致化，人種變得一致的因素。
第二段主要是舉一些數(shù)字例子來講一下美國現(xiàn)在的外來人口移民融入美國社會和一百年前基本類似。最后提到要從三個方面考慮，第一個外來移民的語言問題，第二他們是否在美國擁有房子，第三種族之間的通婚。
在后面的幾段，又通過數(shù)字例子進行了論述?？傮w而言，還是提到美國人口的融入是一個普遍現(xiàn)象。
〔題目解析〕
1. [C] 詞義題
首先從詞的構(gòu)成來看，這個詞由兩個部分構(gòu)成，第一部分是"homo"，這表示"相同的"，后面有一個"genizing"，這個詞綴表示和它統(tǒng)一，表示基因上或者其他方面的一致，通過這個詞你可以大概知道這個詞的大概意思是表示"類似"或者"相同"的意思。其次即使考生不認識，通過上文的 in spite of （表征讓步，后面連接的詞肯定和它表述的意思相反），可得知本詞應(yīng)和difference是反義詞；我們還可以從下文的解釋中找到同義詞 "uniformity"。因此本題應(yīng)選擇答案C "assimilating"。
2. [A] 細節(jié)事實題
根據(jù)題干中的19世紀定位到第一段。B和C明顯與原文相反，而D選項又是我們命題專家慣用的一種誘惑手段---因果顛倒，乍一看都是文中講述過的，但是他把原因作結(jié)果講了，因此也是錯誤的，這需要考生仔細閱讀選項。因此該題選A。另外根據(jù)我們的解題思路無法確定就和文章或者段落的主題相聯(lián)系，哪個最接近，那個就是正確答案。以本題為例，首段是典型的總分總結(jié)構(gòu)，當中舉出商場這個例子，例子不重要，為了還是說明主題美國文化的特點--同化性。一看選項只有A相關(guān)，當然應(yīng)該毫不猶豫的選擇選項A。
3. [C] 推理題
題干中有明確的定位信息"immigrants now in the U.S."，這就降低了本題的難度，快速定位到第二段。選項A與二段第二句"nor resistant to assimilation"明顯相反；選項B與二段首句"not be altogether elevating"相反；文中只講述了三個同化的標志"language, home ownership and intermarriage."并沒有提及人口的問題，因此選項D是一個文中未提及的信息；選項C就是二段首句"but is hardly poisonous."的同義替換。
4. [D] 細節(jié)題
是一道細節(jié)事實題，但也可以把它看成是一道例證題，"children in remote villages around world are fans of superstars" 說明文化已經(jīng)影響到了全世界每一個偏僻的角落，當然D就是正確答案。A選項還是具有一定的誘惑性，但是由于他沒有出現(xiàn)文章的核心概念"文化"，因此把他排除。B&C明顯與原文相反。
5. [B] 作者態(tài)度題
就問美國社會對于移民的融入過程是成功還是失敗還是什么情況，它的過程應(yīng)該講是比較成功的。它從三個方面講到美國種族之間的通婚比例是比較高，美國移民到第三代的時候基本上完全忘掉了原來的語言，同時新移民的家庭一般高于50%的人都擁有自己的房子，說明他們在美國大陸已經(jīng)定居了，所以25題的正確答案應(yīng)該選擇B。它說作者的意見中移民進入美國社會的這樣一種融合是什么樣的，也就是說它現(xiàn)在讓你根據(jù)文章的意思看一下融合問題是什么樣的。A是有回報的或者值得的、值當?shù)?。B是成功的。原文中我們看到作者描述的是移民進入美國社會、融入美國社會的過程很成功，但是沒有講到這個融入過程對于美國社會或者對于移民本身有什么回報。這個題難就難在A和B兩個詞都是正面意思，很多同學在這兩個正面意思之間不知道如何取舍。但是要注意雖然是正面意思，但是不一定完全和題目講到的東西相關(guān)。整個題目是講融合的成功，而不是說融合成功后會有什么樣的回報的問題。
Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today's immigration is neither at unprecedented level nor resistant to assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of population; in 1900, 13.6 percent .In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation -language, home ownership and intermarriage.
The 1990 Census revealed that "a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English ‘well' or ‘very well' after ten years of residence." The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. "By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families." Hence the description of America as a "graveyard" for languages. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrived before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics "have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S -born whites and blacks." By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.
Rodriguez note that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet "some Americans fear that immigrant living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation's assimilative power."
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America's turbulent past, today's social induces suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
1.The word "homogenizing" (Line 2, Paragraph 1) most probably means
[A] identifying
[B] associating
[C] assimilating
[D] monopolizing
2. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century
[A] played a role in the spread of popular culture.
[B] became intimate shops for common consumers.
[C] satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite.
[D] owed its emergence to the culture of consumption
3.The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.
[A] are resistant to homogenization.
[B] exert a great influence on American culture.
[C] are hardly a threat to the common culture.
[D] constitute the majority of the population.
4. Why are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?
[A] To prove their popularity around the world.
[B] To reveal the public's fear of immigrants.
[C] To give examples of successful immigrants.
[D] To show the powerful influence of American culture.
5.In the author's opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is
[A] rewarding.
[B] successful.
[C] fruitless.
[D] harmful.
〔背景介紹〕
文章類型：人文科學，美國文化
本文主要涉及美國民主的社會氛圍。通過對移民本土化現(xiàn)象說明了美國文化的融合性。
〔結(jié)構(gòu)分析〕
第一段提到從三個方面會講到美國種族融合的具體表現(xiàn)，第一個是大眾傳媒、第二個是廣告、第三個是體育，這些是一些具體的力量，能夠促進一致化，人種變得一致的因素。
第二段主要是舉一些數(shù)字例子來講一下美國現(xiàn)在的外來人口移民融入美國社會和一百年前基本類似。最后提到要從三個方面考慮，第一個外來移民的語言問題，第二他們是否在美國擁有房子，第三種族之間的通婚。
在后面的幾段，又通過數(shù)字例子進行了論述?？傮w而言，還是提到美國人口的融入是一個普遍現(xiàn)象。
〔題目解析〕
1. [C] 詞義題
首先從詞的構(gòu)成來看，這個詞由兩個部分構(gòu)成，第一部分是"homo"，這表示"相同的"，后面有一個"genizing"，這個詞綴表示和它統(tǒng)一，表示基因上或者其他方面的一致，通過這個詞你可以大概知道這個詞的大概意思是表示"類似"或者"相同"的意思。其次即使考生不認識，通過上文的 in spite of （表征讓步，后面連接的詞肯定和它表述的意思相反），可得知本詞應(yīng)和difference是反義詞；我們還可以從下文的解釋中找到同義詞 "uniformity"。因此本題應(yīng)選擇答案C "assimilating"。
2. [A] 細節(jié)事實題
根據(jù)題干中的19世紀定位到第一段。B和C明顯與原文相反，而D選項又是我們命題專家慣用的一種誘惑手段---因果顛倒，乍一看都是文中講述過的，但是他把原因作結(jié)果講了，因此也是錯誤的，這需要考生仔細閱讀選項。因此該題選A。另外根據(jù)我們的解題思路無法確定就和文章或者段落的主題相聯(lián)系，哪個最接近，那個就是正確答案。以本題為例，首段是典型的總分總結(jié)構(gòu)，當中舉出商場這個例子，例子不重要，為了還是說明主題美國文化的特點--同化性。一看選項只有A相關(guān)，當然應(yīng)該毫不猶豫的選擇選項A。
3. [C] 推理題
題干中有明確的定位信息"immigrants now in the U.S."，這就降低了本題的難度，快速定位到第二段。選項A與二段第二句"nor resistant to assimilation"明顯相反；選項B與二段首句"not be altogether elevating"相反；文中只講述了三個同化的標志"language, home ownership and intermarriage."并沒有提及人口的問題，因此選項D是一個文中未提及的信息；選項C就是二段首句"but is hardly poisonous."的同義替換。
4. [D] 細節(jié)題
是一道細節(jié)事實題，但也可以把它看成是一道例證題，"children in remote villages around world are fans of superstars" 說明文化已經(jīng)影響到了全世界每一個偏僻的角落，當然D就是正確答案。A選項還是具有一定的誘惑性，但是由于他沒有出現(xiàn)文章的核心概念"文化"，因此把他排除。B&C明顯與原文相反。
5. [B] 作者態(tài)度題
就問美國社會對于移民的融入過程是成功還是失敗還是什么情況，它的過程應(yīng)該講是比較成功的。它從三個方面講到美國種族之間的通婚比例是比較高，美國移民到第三代的時候基本上完全忘掉了原來的語言，同時新移民的家庭一般高于50%的人都擁有自己的房子，說明他們在美國大陸已經(jīng)定居了，所以25題的正確答案應(yīng)該選擇B。它說作者的意見中移民進入美國社會的這樣一種融合是什么樣的，也就是說它現(xiàn)在讓你根據(jù)文章的意思看一下融合問題是什么樣的。A是有回報的或者值得的、值當?shù)?。B是成功的。原文中我們看到作者描述的是移民進入美國社會、融入美國社會的過程很成功，但是沒有講到這個融入過程對于美國社會或者對于移民本身有什么回報。這個題難就難在A和B兩個詞都是正面意思，很多同學在這兩個正面意思之間不知道如何取舍。但是要注意雖然是正面意思，但是不一定完全和題目講到的東西相關(guān)。整個題目是講融合的成功，而不是說融合成功后會有什么樣的回報的問題。