2005北京太奇培训学校考研英语讲座 (十八) 2005 – KY-- 18 - 英语学习方法

I. Reading Comprehension

Text　3
　　We sometimes think humans are uniquely vulnerable to anxiety, but stress seems to affect the immune defenses of lower animals too. In one experiment, for example, behavioral immunologist Mark Laudenslager, at the University of Denver, gave mild electric shocks to 24 rats. Half the animals could switch off the current by turning a wheel in their enclosure, while the other half could not. The rats in the two groups were paired so that each time one rat turned the wheel it protected both itself and its helpless partner from the shock. Laudenslager found that the immune response was depressed below normal in the helpless rats but not in those that could turn off the electricity. What he has demonstrated, he believes, is that lack of control over an event, not the experience itself, is what weakens the immune system.

　　Other researchers agree. Jay Weiss, a psychologist at Duke University School of Medicine, has shown that animals who are allowed to control unpleasant stimuli don’t develop sleep disturbances or changes in brain chemistry typical of stressed rats. But if the animals are confronted with situations they have no control over, they later behave passively when faced with experiences they can control. Such findings reinforce psychologists’ suspicions that the experience and perception of helplessness is one of the most harmful factors in depression.

　　One of the most startling examples of how the mind can alter the immune response was discovered by chance. In 1975 psychologist Robert Ader at the University of Rochester School of Medicine conditioned mice to avoid saccharin by simultaneously feeding them the sweetener and injecting them with a drug that while suppressing their immune systems caused stomach upsets. Associating the saccharin with the stomach pains, the mice quickly learned to avoid the sweetener. In order to extinguish this dislike for the sweetener, Ader re-exposed the animals to saccharin, this time without the drug, and was astonished to find that those mice that had received the highest amounts of sweetener during their earlier conditioning died. He could only speculate that he had so successfully conditioned the rats that saccharin alone now served to weaken their immune systems enough to kill them. (361 words)

注：vulnerable 易受伤的，脆弱的；immunologist 免疫学家；condition vt. 使 … 形成条件反射, 训练；saccharin 糖精。

1. Laudenslager’s experiment showed that the immune system of those rats who could turn off the electricity ___________.

　A. was strengthened　　　 B. was altered
　C. was not affected　　　 D. was weakened

2. According to the text, the experience of helplessness causes rats to ____________.

　A. try to control unpleasant stimuli
　B. turn off the electricity

　C. behave passively in controllable situations
　D. become abnormally suspicious

3. The reason why the mice in Ader’s experiment avoided saccharin was that ____________.

　A. they disliked its taste
　B. it affected their immune systems
　C. it led to stomach pains
　D. they associated it with stomachaches

4. The text tells us that the most probable reason for the death of the mice in Ader’s experiment was that ____________.

　A. they had been weakened psychologically by the saccharin

　B. the sweetener was poisonous to them

　C. their immune systems had been altered by the mind

　D. they had taken too much sweetener during earlier conditioning

5. It can be concluded from the text that the immune systems of animals ____________.

　A. can be weakened by conditioning
　B. can be suppressed by drug injections
　 C. can be affected by frequent doses of saccharin
　 D. can be altered by electric shocks

正确答案：C. C. D. C. A

文章解析

第一段：行为控制与免疫力的关系。
对应第1题：论据与论点之间的逻辑关系。
答案为：C

第二段；如果一个人无能为力，他的免疫力就会下降。
对应第2题：
答案为：C

第三段：心态对免疫系统的影响。
对应第3题：
答案为：D
对应第4题：
答案为：C
对应第5题：
答案为：A

Text　4

　　Air travel is such an everyday experience these days that we are not surprised when we read about a politician having talked with the Japanese Prime Minister one day, having to attend a conference in Australia the following morning and having to be off at midday to sign a trade agreement in Bangkok. But frequent long distance flying can be so tiring that the traveler begins to feel his brain is in one country, his digestion in another and his powers of concentration nowhere----in short, he hardly knows where he is.

　　The fatigue we normally experience after a long journey is accentuated when we fly from east to west or vice versa because we cross time zones. Air travel is so quick nowadays that we can leave London after breakfast and be in New York in eight hours. Yet what really disturbs us is that when we arrive it is only lunch time, but we have already had lunch on the plane and are expecting dinner.

　　Doctors say that since air travelers are in no condition to work after crossing a number of time zones, they should go straight to bed on arrival. Airline pilots, in fact, whose experience is so obviously relevant that it ought to serve as a guide, often live by their own watches, ignoring local time, and have breakfast at midnight if necessary. They have far less reason to worry about their health than executives because they are used to flying and are physically fit.

Businessmen who go on long-distance flights, however, are usually out for promotion and flattered to have been chosen because it adds to their status and prestige in the firm. They are lucky if the company is enlightened enough to insist on their taking the doctor's advice and resting for a day before working. Sometimes the managing director is such an energetic character that he expects everyone to be as fit as he is. As he has never felt any ill effects after flying himself, the schedule he lays down is so exacting that the employee is too exhausted to carry it out satisfactorily. He must either go straight to an important meeting as soon as his plane touches down or else return as soon as the meeting is over to report to his boss. Dynamic managers of this type often do not realize how disastrous this policy may be for the man's health and the company's reputation. (411 words)

1. According to the second paragraph, which of the following statements is true?

　A. We experience fatigue on flights only when we cross time zones.

　B. We experience fatigue on a long flight when we fly towards the west.

　C. Crossing time zones increases the fatigue we experience on a long flight.

　D. Air travel is so quick nowadays that we experience fatigue on a flight.

2. According to the text, after long-distance flights, pilots __________.

　A. always go straight to bed
　B. find it wisest to take no notice of local time
　C. have breakfast
　D. worry about their health

3. It can be learned from the text that if a managing director is energetic he frequently _________.

　A. expects too much of his employees
　B. makes his employees attend classes to keep fit
　C. refuses to allow his employees to lie down
　D. has an important meeting with his employees on a flight

4. In the last paragraph, it is implied but not directly said that the employees who go on long-distance flights __________.

　A. are obviously unkindly treated
　B. are not given time to make friends on meetings abroad
　C. may make serious mistakes because of tiredness
　D. may send in their resignations

5. The title which best expresses the main idea of the text would be ____________.

　A. Importance of Air Travel in Modern Society
　B. Crossing Time Zones – Main Reason for the Fatigue
　 C. Businessmen’s View on Long-distance Flights
　D. Air Travel and Its Effect on a Person’s Health

本文作为课外阅读

正确答案：C. B. A. C. B

　

II. Use of English (Cloze)

Why does the idea of progress seem so important in the modern world ? Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more ---1---. Although mankind has ---2--- no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress in the ---3--- of knowledge.

Knowledge began to increase ---4--- the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another by ---5--- of speech. With the invention of writing, a great ---6--- was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also ---7---. Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn ---8--- to libraries: the growth of knowledge ---9--- a kind of compound interest law, which was greatly---10--- by the invention of printing. All this was comparatively slow ---11--- ,with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised. Then knowledge began to be accumulated ---12--- a systematic plan. The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent. ---13---, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical ---14---.

What is called ‘modern civilization’ is not the ---15--- of a balanced development of all man’s nature, ---16--- of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life. The problem now facing humanity is: what is going to be done with all this knowledge? ---17--- is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used ---18--- for good or evil. It is now being used indifferently for both. We have to ask ourselves very ---19--- what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, ---20--- its ever-increasing power, continues.　 (293 words)

1. A. manifest　 B. plausible
　 C. prevalent　 D. inevitable

2. A. underestimated　 B. undertaken
　 C. undergone　　　　 D. underlined

3. A. communication　　B. accumulation
　 C. succession　　　　 D. transmission

4. A. quickly　　 B. promptly
　 C. swiftly　　　D. immediately

5. A. virtue B. means C. reason　D. courtesy

6. A. advance　　　　B. headway
　 C. contribution　　D. progress

7. A. deposited　　　B. accelerated
　 C. stored　　　　　D. linked

8. A. applied　 B. aided　C. attributed D. added

9. A. followed　　　B. complied
　 C. abided　　　 D. conformed

10. A. contributed　　　B. enhanced
　 C. multiplied　　　　 D. perplexed

11. A. since　B. when　C. until　D. unless

12. A. owing to　　　　 B. in relation to
　　C. in contrast to　　D. according to

13. A. However　　　 B. Moreover
　　C. Consequently　 D. Unfortunately

14. A. account　 B. hazard C. benefit D. danger

15. A. cause B. drive C. result D. motive

16. A. even　B. just　C. only D. but

17. A. As　 B. It　 C. What　D. That

18. A. literally　　　 B. equally
　　C. primarily　　　 D. unanimously

19. A. strictly　　　　B. severely
　　C. seriously　　　 D. sternly

20. A. at　　 B. for　 C. by　　D. with

正确答案：(1-5)A.C.B.D.B (6-10)A.C.D.A.B
　　　 (11-15)C.D.B.A.C (16-20)D.A.B.C.D

文章解析

1."manifest"——"一目了然的，越来越明显的"
　"plausible"——"似乎可信的"
　"prevalent"——"流行的、盛行的"
　"inevitable"——"不可避免的、必然的"

2."underestimated"——"估计不足" "undertaken"——"承担"
　"undergone"——"经历" "underlined "——"强调，划线"

3."accumulation"——"积累"

4."immediately"——"既可以当adv又可以当连接词用，引导时间状语从句，=as soon as"
　既可以当adv又可以当连接词的三个词："immediately, directly, instantly"

5."by virtue of"——"由于" "by reason of"——"...原因"
　"by courtesy of"——"由于什么原因；承蒙某人的好意"

6."progress"——"前不能加 a "

7."deposite"——"存放，只能是存钱" "accelerated"""
　"store"——"知识的储存"

8."apply to"——"应用" "aid to"——"帮助"
　"attribute to"——"归因于" "add to"="increase"——"增加"

9.词意相近看搭配"follow"——"及物动词" "comply　with"；
　"abide by" ；"conform to"

10."contribute to sth"——"加剧了(褒、贬)" "enhance"——"用在褒义"
　"multiply"——"乘" "perplex"——"使得什么复杂化，使某人痛苦"

14."turn sth account to"——"使得什么得到应用"

19."strictly"——"严格的" "severely"——"严厉的"
　seriously"——"严肃的" "sternly"——"庄重的"

　

　

III. Writing (规定情景式作文)

Directions: Wealth brings happiness. (财富带来幸福). In this part, you are to write within 40 minutes a composition of about 200 words entitled “The Relationship between Wealth and Happiness”. You can agree or disagree, completely or partially to the above statement. But whatever position you take, you should give sound supporting reasons. At the end of your composition you are required to draw your own conclusion.

　　财富一直是有些人所渴望的对象。确实，大多数人努力通过诚实的劳动来获取财富。他们的努力对造福社会有好处，同时也促进了他们财富的积累，因此也使他们更幸福。

　　毫无疑问，尤其是在现代社会里，财富带来幸福。各种现代化的家用电器、时装和娱乐层出不穹、日新月异。这一切使我们的生活更为舒适、丰富多彩。因此, 没有金钱，我们就无法把羡慕变成现实。

但是，如果我们不能正确对待财富，那财富也会导致灾难。财富可以促使意志薄弱者养成恶习，如吸毒或赌博，并导致他们自身的毁灭。此外，如果一个人一心追求财富并沉溺于奢侈的生活，他就会失去理智、误入岐途。例如, 甚至还有一些政府官员利用他们的职位向求助者索贿。显然，如果我们不能正确对待财富的话，它也可能给我们带来灾难。

依我看, 无论如何我们也不能把财富和幸福等同起来。我还认为人们永远也不应该只依仗财富去获得幸福。
　　　Wealth has always been what some people long for. It is true that most of them try to acquire wealth by means of honest labour. Their efforts contribute to the welfare of the society and at the same time to the accumulation of their wealth, and hence to their happiness.

There is no doubt that wealth brings happiness, especially in the modern society. Various kinds of up-to-date household appliances, latest fashions and recreations make their appearance with each passing day. All this makes our life more comfortable and colourful. Therefore, without money we cannot turn admiration into reality.

Wealth, however, can also lead to disasters, if we have an inappropriate approach to it. Wealth may tempt weak-willed persons to be addicted to(对什么养成嗜好) harmful habits, such as drug-taking and gambling, and result in their own ruin. Besides, a person may lose his reason and go astray if he intends only to seek(寻觅) wealth and indulges himself in leading a luxurious life. For example, there are some government officials who take advantage of their positions to take bribes from the people turning to them for help. Obviously, wealth may bring us disasters if we don’t take a proper attitude to it.

In my opinion, on no account can we identify happiness with wealth. I also believe that one should never reckon only on wealth to achieve happiness. (225 words)　

　

作业：1. 复习本单元内容，总结各测试项目的解题方法。

　　　2. 辅导班结束后应把讲义与“复习指导”一书结合起来复习，互为补充，以便取得良好的效果。

赠言：道路是曲折的，前途是光明的，胜利就在你的脚下。

　

阅读欣赏　经济英语 (对话)

n　　　On the other side, the Chinese are saying that it’s very difficult to get into other markets in the developed countries, for example. The MFA (多国纤维协定) is only being phased out (逐步取消). Once the Chinese textile industry comes onto the world market in strength (大量地), China will be trying to get across to the markets of the developed countries. Do you see any complications there?

There are clear complications as regards the whole textile area for everybody in the world and the phaseout of the MultipleFibre Agreement as you know is one which is over a period of ten years under the Uruguay Round. Clearly, one of the areas of particular concern in the negotiations is the impact of China on the textile and clothing market generally, so I think it is a specific issue. Also, the other contracting parties(缔约各方) will be seeking adequate safeguard mechanisms to ensure that if China becomes a member of the WTO there are mechanisms which allow them to protect their own interests in the event of (万一) severe damage being caused to their economy by exports from China or whatever (或诸如此类的事). All of these issues are being discussed.