1、 1 / 132010 年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题Section I Use of EnglishDirections: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points).In 1924 Americas National Research Council sent two engineers to supervise a series of industrial experiment
2、s at a large telephone-parts factory called the Hawthorne Plant near Chicago. It hoped they would learn how stop-floor lighting_1_ workers productivity. Instead, the studies ended _2_ giving their name to the “Hawthorne effect“, the extremely influential idea that the very to being experimented upon
3、 changed subjects behavior.The idea arose because of the _4_ behavior of the women in the Hawthorne plant. According to _5_ of the experiments, their hourly output rose when lighting was increased, but also when it was dimmed. It did not _6_ what was done in the experiment; _7_something was changed,
4、 productivity rose. A(n) _8_ that they were being experimented upon seemed to be _9_ to alter workers behavior _10_itself.After several decades, the same data were _11_ to econometric the analysis. Hawthorne experiments has another surprise store _12_the descriptions on record, no systematic _13_ wa
5、s found that levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting.It turns out that peculiar way of conducting the experiments may be have let to _14_ interpretation of what happed. _15_, lighting was always changed on a Sunday. When work started again on Monday, output _16_rose compared with
6、the previous Saturday and 17 to rise for the next couple of days. _18_, a comparison with data for weeks when there was no experimentation showed that output always went up on Monday, workers _19_ to be diligent for the first few days of the week in any case, before _20_ a plateau and then slackenin
7、g off. This suggests that the alleged “Hawthorne effect“ is hard to pin down.1. A affected B achieved C extracted D restored2. A at B up C with D off3. A truth B sight C act D proof4. A controversial B perplexing C mischievous D ambiguous5. A requirements B explanations C accounts D assessments6. A
8、conclude B matter C indicate D work7. A as far as B for fear that C in case that D so long as2 / 138. A awareness B expectation C sentiment D illusion9. A suitable B excessive C enough D abundant10. A about B for C on D by11. A compared B shown C subjected D conveyed12. A contrary to B consistent wi
9、th C parallel with D peculiar to13. A evidence B guidance C implication D source14. A disputable B enlightening C reliable D misleading15. A In contrast B For example C In consequence D As usual16. A duly B accidentally C unpredictably D suddenly17. A failed B ceased C started D continued20. A break
10、ing B climbing C surpassing D hittingSection II Reading ComprehensionPart ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)Text 1Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language news
11、papers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage. It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism co
12、uld be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for
13、 publication in general-circulation dailies.We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the pub
14、lications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Er
15、nest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. “So few authors have brains enough or literary gift 3 / 13enough to keep their own end up in journalism,” Newman wrote, “that I am tempted to
16、define journalism as a term of contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.”Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on t
17、he game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of Englands foremost classical-music critics, a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography (1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print,
18、and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists.Is there any chance that Carduss criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern readers have little use for the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose
19、in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in headlong retreat.21. It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 thatA arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers.B English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews.C high-quality newspapers ret
20、ain a large body of readers.D young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies.22. Newspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized byA free themes. B casual style. C elaborate layout. D radical viewpoints.23. Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably a
21、gree on?A It is writers duty to fulfill journalistic goalsB It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.C Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.D Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.24. What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?A His music
22、criticism may not appeal to readers today.B His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.C His style caters largely to modern specialists.D His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.25. What would be the best title for the text?A Newspapers of the Good Old Days B The Lost Horizo
23、n in NewspapersC Mournful Decline of Journalism D Prominent Critics in Memory4 / 13Text 2Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. A received one for its “one-click“ online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset alloca
24、tion strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.Now the nations top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers ab
25、uzz the U.S. court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In re Bilski, as the case is known , is “a very big deal“, says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law. It “has the potential to elimi
26、nate an entire class of patents.“Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That rulin
27、g produced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, move established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals th
28、at might beat them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products
29、, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the courts judges, rather than a typical panel
30、 of three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should “reconsider“ its state street Bank ruling.The Federal Circuits action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example
31、the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for “inventions“ that are obvious. The judges on the Federal circuit are “reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court“, says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.26. Busin
32、ess-method patents have recently aroused concern because ofA their limited value to business B their connection with asset allocationC the possible restriction on their granting D the controversy over authorization27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?A Its ruling complies with the c
33、ourt decisions 5 / 13B It involves a very big business transactionC It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit D It may change the legal practices in the U.S.28. The word “about-face“ (Line 1, Para 3) most probably meansA loss of good will B increase of hostilityC change of attitude D enhancement
34、of dignity29. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patentsA are immune to legal challenges B are often unnecessarily issuedC lower the esteem for patent holders D increase the incidence of risks30. Which of the following would be the subject of the text?A A looming threat to bu
35、siness-method patentsB Protection for business-method patent holdersC A legal case regarding business-method patentsD A prevailing trend against business-method patentsText 3In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell argues that social epidemics are driven in large part by the acting of a tiny
36、minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusually informed, persuasive, or well-connected. The idea is intuitively compelling, but it doesnt explain how ideas actually spread.The supposed importance of influentials derives from a plausible sounding but largely untested th
37、eory called the “two step flow of communication“: Information flows from the media to the influentials and from them to everyone else. Marketers have embraced the two-step flow because it suggests that if they can just find and influence the influentials, those selected people will do most of the wo
38、rk for them. The theory also seems to explain the sudden and unexpected popularity of certain looks, brands, or neighborhoods. In many such cases, a cursory search for causes finds that some small group of people was wearing, promoting, or developing whatever it is before anyone else paid attention.
39、 Anecdotal evidence of this kind fits nicely with the idea that only certain special people can drive trendsIn their recent work, however, some researchers have come up with the finding that influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed. In fact, they dont seem to
40、be required of all.The researchers argument stems from a simple observing about social influence, with the 6 / 13exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfreywhose outsize presence is primarily a function of media, not interpersonal, influenceeven the most influential members of a population sim
41、ply dont interact with that many others. Yet it is precisely these non-celebrity influentials who, according to the two-step-flow theory, are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends and colleagues directly. For a social epidemic to occur, however, each person so affected, mus
42、t then influence his or her own acquaintances, who must in turn influence theirs, and so on; and just how many others pay attention to each of these people has little to do with the initial influential. If people in the network just two degrees removed from the initial influential prove resistant, f
43、or example from the initial influential prove resistant, for example the cascade of change wont propagate very far or affect many people.Building on the basic truth about interpersonal influence, the researchers studied the dynamics of populations manipulating a number of variables relating of popul
44、ations, manipulating a number of variables relating to peoples ability to influence others and their tendency to be influenced. Our work shows that the principal requirement for what we call “global cascades“ the widespread propagation of influence through networks is the presence not of a few influ
45、entials but, rather, of a critical mass of easily influenced people, each of whom adopts, say, a look or a brand after being exposed to a single adopting neighbor. Regardless of how influential an individual is locally, he or she can exert global influence only if this critical mass is available to
46、propagate a chain reaction.31. By citing the book The Tipping Point, the author intends toA analyze the consequences of social epidemicsB discuss influentials function in spreading ideasC exemplify peoples intuitive response to social epidemicsD describe the essential characteristics of influentials
47、.32. The author suggests that the “two-step-flow theory“A serves as a solution to marketing problemsB has helped explain certain prevalent trendsC has won support from influentialsD requires solid evidence for its validity33. What the researchers have observed recently shows thatA the power of influ
48、ence goes with social interactionsB interpersonal links can be enhanced through the mediaC influentials have more channels to reach the publicD most celebrities enjoy wide media attention34. The underlined phrase “these people“ in paragraph 4 refers to the ones who7 / 13A stay outside the network of social influenceB have little contact with the source of influenceC are influenced and then influence others D are influenced by the initial influential35. what is t