卷首语

感谢大家一直以来对金翅戏说英语系列的支持与厚爱，本篇也是这个系列的完结篇。从第一篇庖丁解牛戏说英语作文开始，没想到每一篇帖子都有那么多人关注，真的是受宠若惊了。大家的鼓励与支持，使得这个系列能走到今天，在此谢谢大家。在这个帖子里，我会分享一下在阅读理解方面的经验和教训，希望为这个系列画上一个圆满的句号。 先说点题外话。之前有很多同学站内信或者回帖跟我说，让我写一个阅读方面的东西，可是我一直迟迟没有动笔。首先，阅读不是一个帖子能说清楚的一件事情，阅读理解是英语底蕴与英语思维的积淀，关于考研阅读的书籍都很厚的一大本。如果要是寄希望能在一个帖子里能说清楚，那必定是顾此失彼。其次，关于阅读理解的做题方法，每个人都有每个人的模式了。还有20天的时间，如果突然改变习惯的模式去适应新的方法，其结果很可能是邯郸学步。最后，我觉得也是我一直没写的一个重要原因就是，得阅读者得英语，阅读所占分值之大，占比重之高是任何一个题型都没法比的。如果为了凑成一个完整的系列，而随便应付一个帖子，那么遭天谴是小，误了各位的前程那罪过可就大了。基于此，金翅看了很多经验贴、理论贴和技术贴，慎重的写下了这个帖子，希望对大家能有帮助。

如果有同学想知道，看不懂文章，单词一大片不认识的，单从看选项就能做对题的技巧，那么我先说您看错帖子了，赶紧ctrl+w一下，别浪费您宝贵的时间。本帖不会介绍任何此类的技巧，因为金翅就是这

类技巧的牺牲品，白白丢了很多分。而金翅的一个同学因为这些所谓的阅读技巧，11年英语差一分，结果调剂到另一个学校了，与母校失之交臂。不絮叨了，下边进入正文。

阅读概述

在我们经历的各种英语考试中，阅读理解一直是拿分的大户、也是失分的大户。阅读理解也是一直让我们说不清道不明的一个题型。得阅读者得英语，有这样的说法，考研的成败很大一部分取决于考研英语，而考研英语的成败很大程度上取决于英语阅读的发挥。这样我们就要把阅读提到一个不得不重视的位置。

本文摒弃传统的阅读讲解模式，力图用另一种思路、另一个角度对考研阅读理解有一个新的了解。通过定量化的视角来对阅读理解进行解析，让同学们了解阅读理解究竟要考我们什么，我们又该如何应对这个陷阱。我慢慢写，大家慢慢看。

很多辅导书把阅读题型分成十几种，这样太麻烦，我们也记不住。这里我就把它分为两类，一种是宏观题，包括态度题、最佳标题题、主旨题。其它的题型都是微观题。金翅对各种辅导机构的阅读讲解持保留意见。先贴一个辅导班的关于推断题的做题方法“立足主旨，忠于原文，只推一步”什么叫做只推一步？？多大算一步？如果不能把这种虚无缥缈的法则，用定量化的标准描述出来，那永远都是纸上谈兵。

阅读的行文逻辑

考研的阅读理解的文章一般都是从国外的期刊上摘抄下来的，像The Economist 《经济学家》、Newsweek 《新闻周刊》、Times《时代周刊》、Now York Times 《纽约时报》等。这类文章大多都是议论文、说明文的文体。

这样我们非常有必要了解一下，一般议论文的行文结构，这样让我们对文章有了一个整体的把握，才能高瞻远瞩。非常重要，建议大家认真看一下。议论文分为两大类，立论文和驳论文。考研阅读的议论文也逃不出这两大类。

立论文，就是作者提出一个观点，然后用他的实验和例子来论证他观点的正确性，这类文章主旨一般是在文章的开始就出现了，每一段的例子都是在为主旨所服务。所以就算你某一段读不懂的话，尽量往主旨上边靠。推荐大家看一下08年的第一篇《压力容易对女性健康造成消极影响》就是一篇典型的立论文。第一段作者提出自己的观点，然后第二段作者用实验来证明这个观点，3~5段作者进一步对这个观点进行了解释说明，最后一段作者对女性朋友提出一些建议。大家感没感觉这个结构我们很熟悉，是不是有点像我们大作文的三段式的经典结构？描述图片，解释图片，我们该怎么办。所以说英语是共通的，用老马的话说，要用联系发展的观点去复习英语。

驳论文，就是先提出一个前人的观点，之后对这个观点进行反驳。在反驳的过程中阐述自己的观点。比如07年的第二篇《智商的思考》

第一段引入一个例子，说这个人的智商测验成绩很高，但是对一个普通的问题却无力回答。第二段提出自己的观点，智商不应该只是体现在智商测验上。第三段讨论智商测试的种类标准等等。第四段说智商测验的一些弊端。这个是一篇典型的驳论文，反驳的是“我们通常认为的标准化的智商测验可以评价一个人的智商”这一个观点。并且由此一一进行反驳。也就是我们所说的破旧立新。

这样给我们的启示就是，我们在看到一篇文章开头提出一个观点，或者举出一个例子的时候，不要想当然的认为是作者的观点和例子。他们有可能是作者所要批判的观点或者反例。我们在之后读文章的时候要不断体会作者的意图，确定中心思想，也就是不要主观臆断。

论点 论据 论证

说到议论文，我们就要讲一下议论文的三要素——论点、论据、论证。

论点是什么？论点就是文章要阐述的观点。有可能是一枝独秀型，也可能是花开两朵型。不管有几个论点，他们都是对立统一的。而论点的位置可以在开头，也可以在中间，一般是在文章的开头。因为你写一个文章也会这么写，我们看到图片中有一个火锅，里边有bulabula，这个火锅表明了中西方文化的融合，多元文化的发展。然后你再进行论证是啵？

最为典型的就是06年的第一篇，开篇第一句话就是文章的论点，“美国社会是一个同化的机器”后面几段对这个论点层层的论证。

论据是什么？论据就是证明论点的依据，可以是具体的例子、统计数字，也可以是名人名言、俗语谚语。如08年第三篇，《美国人身高停止增长》通篇举了很多例子，列举了很多调查数字，而这些例子（不论是正例还是反例）和数字都是在为文章的主旨服务。 论证是什么？论证就是我们所说的立论与驳论。他的论证方法分为举例论证、对比论证、比喻论证等等。大家做了那么多真题，是否还记得？《海洋生物濒临灭绝》那篇文章，通过说史前陆地动物的灭绝，来说明海洋生物存在的危险。

在大家还有20天的时间里，可以这样分析几篇文章，按论点、论据、论证方法三个方面来分析，做到对文章的宏观把握。

三种错误原因

在说做题方法之前，先说一下我们的错误在哪。我们一般的错误原因有三种：主观臆断，以偏概全，偷换概念。

1、主观臆断：这是最常犯的错误，主要表现为用自己的常识、自己的理解去解题，不依照客观依据。咱们政治复习也有一段时间了，不知道大家还记不记的一句话。一切以时间、地点、条件为转移，具体问题具体分析，是马克思主义活的灵魂。

2、以偏概全：表现为断章取义，只见树木不见森林。

3、偷换概念：这是一个惯用的偷换逻辑的伎俩，混淆概念的修饰语、适用范围、所指对象。

大家最容易犯的就是主观臆断，总想当然的去做题。英语阅读，我觉得最重要的就是跟着作者的思路走。要让你的思路去顺应作者的思路，而不是让作者的思路顺着你的思路走。在分析错题的时候也要按照这三方面来分析，到底是因为什么错的，是主观臆断，还是以偏概全，还是偷换概念。分析出事哪种不是我们的根本目的，重要的是我们通过分析错误原因，来发现出题人习惯在哪里设计陷阱。让我们可以刻意的去避免这些。

英美文化思维

既然我们的文章是英美人写的，那么或多或少的会反映西方人的思维方法和观点。我觉得有意要说一下常见的几种文化，美国人的思维。这些常见的一种思维文化，都是在考研阅读中经常出现的。如果想了解更多的英美文化，可以看看张奎武老师的《英美概况》这本书，可以对英国和美国的思维体系有个全面的了解。

1、经济乐观：虽然经济有些下降，收入很低，but“every cloud has sliver line”我们会看到“银色线”我们有信心复苏经济。不管他说的多么悲观，结尾会说到积极一面。你想一个《经济学人》上的文章，一直说美国经

济下降的很多，很萧条，美国经济快完蛋了，我们快自谋生路吧。这个不可能的，消极的文章结尾一定要转化为积极的信息，给公众以信心。

2、教育平等：教育问题也是考研文章中的一个重要主题。

3、鼓励创新：美国人因为从小就开始培养独立意识，个体我是最重要的，这样也就形成美国人的个人主义，形成美国人各具不同的张扬的性格，形成不同于中国人的开放性的思维方式。中国人实事求是；美国人拥有创新精神。中国人有扎实的理论基础，尤其是数学能力；美国人擅长独立研究，而且想得远，做得深。中国人有很强的编程能力，有克服困难的毅力；美国人有热情，有主动性。中国人讲纪律，讲服从，但心里有想法不直说；美国人直接了当地沟通，甚至批评和争论。

4、美国梦：只要经过努力不懈的奋斗便能获得更好的生活，亦即人们必须通过自己的勤奋、勇气、创意和决心迈向繁荣，而非依赖于特定的社会阶级和他人的援助。两百年来，“美国梦”一直激励着世界各地的青年人来到这片土地创造自己的价值，美国也因此成为全球成功人士的摇篮。

5、生死由命：有些文章会美国医疗技术的发展，美国人的寿命是全世界最长的，他们可以决定自己什么时候死。这个美国人对自己的医疗技术太自信了。但是说这些医疗技术的根本目的是要说明，我们应该把生死看开一点，生死有命富贵在天，看淡生死的一种态度。

6、婴儿潮：历史上最著名的婴儿潮就是，第二次世界大战结束之后的婴儿潮，一般通称为战后婴儿潮。在二战结束后触发了婴儿潮，一是由于远赴战场的男人解甲返乡，二是由于战后重建，工厂招工青睐有工作

经验的中年女性，而年轻女性赋闲在家，可以安心育儿没有工作压力，在世界上大多数国家均有此现象。而二战结束是19xx年9月，那时出生的人，现在大约60~70岁之间，这就必然会引起养老问题，金融问题，老龄化问题，退休问题。你看考研中很多问题都会或多或少提到这次婴儿潮。

做题方法

我这里稍微分享一下我的做题方法，还是那句话，没有最好的方法，只有最适合自己的方法。

首先，我习惯是拿到一篇文章，先去看完第一段，因为第一段作者会引入主题或者就直接点明主旨了。就算是驳论文，也会给你一个文章的大方向，要说什么东西。

第二步是去看题目，不仅读题干而且还要读ABCD四个选项。我有这么一个感觉，就是只读题目，读完之后你也不知道他在说什么，读一下选项会获得更好的信息。

第三步是去看文章，看文章的过程中一定要把握住文章的主旨以及作者的态度。这个你要是抓不住，基本上5道题要错3道以上了。读文章的过程中要体会作者的态度变化，我觉得这个是最重要的，不要让你的思路牵着作者的思路走。很多同学都喜欢主观臆断。读文章的时候要缕清楚逻辑关系，尤其是because，but，however这类大的逻辑关系词，要仔细读之后的句子，这些是抓住作者思路的重要提示。

第四步就该做题了，这里有一点，不管主旨题（mian idea 或者 best title）是第一题还是第五题，我们都拿到最后做。因为你一旦把主旨题做了，你的思路就跟着你选择的主旨去走，太限制思路。如果不小心把主旨选错了，那这五道题悲剧的可能性就很大了。考研的题目和文章的顺序是一致的，可以跟句关键词（专有名词、数字之类的）来定位出处的位置，这些应该各种参考书上都有说明，这里就不多介绍了。

第二篇：英语阅读理解试题

passage One

In the course of my reading I had come across a case where, many years ago, some hunters on our Great Plains organized a buffalo hunt for the entertainment of an English earl and to provide some fresh meat for his use. They had charming sport. They killed seventy-two of those great animals and ate part of one of them and left the seventy-one to rot. In order to determine the difference between an anaconda and an earl, I had seven lambs turned into the anaconda’s cage. The grateful snake immediately crushed one of them and swallowed it, then lay back satisfied. It showed no further interest in the lambs, and no inclination to harm them. I tried this experiment with other anacondas; always with the same result. The fact stood proven that the difference between an earl and an anaconda is that the earl is cruel and the anaconda isn’t and the earl wantonly destroyed what he has no use for, but the anaconda doesn’t. This seemed to suggest that the anaconda was not descended from the earl. It also seemed to suggest that the earl was descended form the anaconda, and had lost a good deal in the transition. I was aware that many men who have accumulated more money than they can ever use have shown a hunger for more ,and have not hesitated to cheat the ignorant and the helpless out of their poor servings in order to partially satisfy that appetite. I furnished a hundred different kinds of wild and domestic animals the opportunity to accumulate vast stores of food but none of them would do it. The squirrels and bees and certain birds made accumulations, but stopped when they gathered a winter’s supply, and could not be persuaded to add to it either honestly or bytrickery. These experiments convinced me that there is this difference between man and the higher animals: he is greedy, they are not. In the course of my experiments I convinced myself that among the animals man is the only one that harbors insults and injuries broods over them, waits till a chance offers, then takes revenge. The passion of revenge is unknown to the higher animals. 1. By describing the buffalo hunting and his experiment with the anaconda, the author mainly wants to tell his readers that _______.

A). the anaconda is easily satisfied

B). the earl is capable of committing wanton cruelty

C). the earl’s ancestor turned out to be the anaconda

D). the anaconda does not harm other animals except when it is hungry

2. According to the author ,in human society, the rich _______.

A). tend to accumulate vast stores of food

B). are inclined to gather more riches

C) are ready to help the poor

D) are mostly cheaters

3. The author’s experiments with different kinds of animals seem to prove that _______.

A). man is the highest animal

B). man is superior to animals

C). man is the lowest animal

D). man is inferior to animals in certain respects

4. We learn from the last paragraph that ________.

A). love of revenge is a unique characteristic of man

B). man is the only animal capable of thinking

C). human beings are capable of insulting and injuring each other

D). man is better at taking chances than animals

5. In this passage the author writes in a(n) ________.

A). serious tone B). angry tone C). ironic tone D). matter-of-fact tone

Passage Two Like many other small boys, I was fascinated by cars, not least because my oldest brother was a bit of a car guy and subscribed to cool magazines like Car and Driver and Motor Trend. Every so often, one of those magazines would run an article on the "Car of the Future." They featured unconventional styling and things like small nuclear reactors as power sources. Yet, frankly, my car doesn't do anything that my brother's Studebaker didn't do. It goes, it stops, it burns gasoline, it plays music. I still have to steer it, and it still runs into things if I don't steer it carefully.

But guess what? All of these things are subject to change in the not-so-distant future. It will still go and stop, but it may not burn gasoline, I may not have to steer it, and it may be a lot better at not running into things. Airbags aren't the be-all and end-all in safety. In fact, considering the recent news about people occasionally being killed by their airbags in low-speed collisions (碰撞), they obviously still need some development. But they aren't going away, and in fact, you can expect to see cars appearing with additional, side-impact airbags, something some European car manufacturers already offer.

Better than systems to minimize (使减少到最低限度) injury in the event of an accident, however, are systems that minimize the likelihood of an accident happening in the first place. Future cars may be able to eliminate many of the major causes of accidents, including drunk-driving, tailgating and sleepiness. Cars could be equipped with sensors that can detect alcohol in a driver's system and prevent the car from being started, for example. Many accidents

are caused by people following the car in front too closely. As early as next year, you'll be able to buy cars with radar-equipped control systems. If the radar determines you're closing too quickly with the car in front, it will ease up on the throttle. For city streets, expect other radar devices that will give advance warning that the car in front of you has slowed abruptly (突然地) and you should step on the brakes — or that may even brake for you.

Will cars eventually be able to drive themselves? There's no reason to think it won't be technically possible, and Mercedes is working on a system that can brake, accelerate and steer a vehicle down a highway on its own. Nobody really expects people to give up all control to their cars, but such systems could be used as failsafe systems to keep cars on the road and bring them safely to a stop even if the driver suddenly became disabled.

1. The author was fascinated by cars because

A)other small boys liked to own a car of their own, too

B)he read exotic things about cars in his brother's magazines

C)his oldest brother loved to take him to places in his car D)he subscribed to cool car magazines 2. By saying "my car doesn't do anything that my brother's Studebaker didn't do", the author means that

A)my car is far better than my brother's was

B)my car is not as good as my brother's was

C)not much has changed in the performance of cars so far

D)much improvement has been made in the design of cars recently

3. Which of the following statements is true of airbags?

A)They are in need of further improvement.

B)They are going to disappear gradually.

C)They kill people instead of protecting them in low-speed collisions.

D)They are a standard feature of European cars.

4. What will future cars do if the sensors detect alcohol in the driver's system?

A)They will give a warning in advance.

B)They will brake automatically.

C)They will ease up on the throttle.

D)They will not start. 5.Which of the following statements is true according the last paragraph? A) People will give up all control to their cars B) Cars will be able to drive themselves.

C) No cars will ever break down on the roads.

D) Cars will all be equipped with failsafe systems.

Passage Three

The interview is an important event in the job-hunting process, because the 20 or 30 minutes you spend with the interviewer may determine whether or not you get the particular job you want. Therefore, it is important to remember that your objective during the interview may differ from the objective of the potential employer. You want to make yourself stand out as a whole person who has personal strengths, is well qualified, and should be considered the right person for the job. It is encouraging to know that the interviewer's task is not to embarrass you or to trip you up, but to hire the right person for the job.

Remember, job hunting is very competitive. Anything you can do to enhance your interview techniques will be to your advantage. The following suggestions may help you land the most important job.

Your goal in this interview is to make sure your good points get across. The interviewer won't know them unless you point them out, so try to do this in a factual and sincere manner.

Do not make slighting references to former employers or professors. If you have been fired from a job and the interviewer asks about it, be frank in your answer. Show the interviewer that you are interested in the company by asking relevant questions. Ask about responsibilities, working conditions, promotion opportunities and fringe benefits (附加福利) of the job you are interviewing for.

If at some point you decide the interview is not going well, do not let your discouragement show. You have nothing to lose by continuing a show of confidence, and you may have much to gain. It may be real, or it may be a test to see how you react to adverse conditions. Some interviewers may bring up salary early in the interview. At this time, you may indicate that you are more interested in a job where you can prove yourself than a specific salary. This politely passes the question back to the interviewer. If the interviewer continues to press, give him a range or suggest the going rate for a particular job. If possible, you should negotiate for salary after you have been offered a job and when you are ready to complete the paperwork.

1. To get the job you want, during the interview you should________

A) avoid the interviewer's questions that are designed to trip you up

B)remember that you are the best qualified candidate

C)make yourself stand out as the right person for the job

D)keep in mind that it determines whether or not you get the particular job you want

2. If you did not get along with your former employer, you _____

A)should tell the interviewer frankly

B)should not speak ill of him

C)should refer to him in a factual manner

D)should never mention it

3. When you find the interview is not going well you should .

A)keep up your confidence

B)bring it to an end as soon as possible

C)tell you interviewer how you react to adverse conditions

D)tell yourself you have much to gain and nothing to lose

4. The best time to discuss your salary is .

A)when you have been offered the job

B)at the end of the interview

C)after you have completed the paperwork

D)when the interviewer brings this matter up

5. The most important thing to do during an interview is .

A)to make your strengths understood

B)to show your intense interest in the job you are applying for

C)to be frank and sincere

D) to be natural and confident

Passage Four

In The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society, Revised and Enlarged Edition (W. W. Norton) Schlesinger provides deep insights into the crises of nationhood in America. A new chapter assesses the impact both of radical (激进的) multiculturalism and

radical monoculturalism on the Bill of Rights. Written with his usual clarity and force, the book brings a noted historian's wisdom and perspective to bear on America's "culture wars." Schlesinger addresses the questions: What holds a nation together? And what does it mean to be an American? Describing the emerging cult(狂热崇拜) of ethnicity, Schlesinger praises its healthy effect on a nation long shamed by a history of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. But he warns against the campaign of multicultural advocates to divide the nation into separate ethnic and racial communities. From the start, he observes, the United States has been a multicultural nation, rich in its diversity but held together by a shared commitment to the democratic process and by the freedom of intermarriage. It was this national talent for assimilation (同化) that impressed foreign visitors like Alexis de Tocqueville and James Bryce, and it is this historic goal that Schlesinger champions as the best hope for the future. Schlesinger analyzes what he sees as grim consequences of identity politics: the widening of differences. Attacks on the First Amendment, he argues, threaten intellectual freedom and, ultimately, the future of the ethnic groups. His criticisms are not limited to the left. As a former target of McCarthyism, he understands that the radical right is even more willing than the radical left to restrict and weaken the Bill of Rights.

The author does not minimize the injustices concealed by the "melting pot" dream. The Disuniting Of America is both academic and personal, forceful in argument, balanced in judgment. It is a book that will no doubt anger some readers, but it will surely make all of them think again. The winner of Pulitzer Prizes for history and for biography, an authoritative voice of American liberalism, Schlesinger is uniquely positioned to bring bold answers and healing wisdom to this passionate debate over who we are and what we should become.

1. According to Schlesinger, the United States is .

A)a melting pot

B)a nation with diverse cultures held together by the democratic process

C)a federation of ethnic and racial communities

D)a nation with one culture despite its various ethnic and racial groups

2. We can infer from the passage that Schlesinger .

A)advocates the assimilation of different cultures into one nationhood

B)holds that each racial group should keep its distinct identity

C)gives full support to the emerging cult of ethnicity

D)prefers multiculturalism to monoculturalism

3. We can infer from this passage that America___________.

A) is experiencing a crisis of nationhood

B)has ended its history of racial prejudice

C)is trying to restrict the Bill of Rights

D)has tried to obstruct intellectual freedom

4. According to the author, Schlesinger's book will_________.

A)put an end to the culture wars in America

B)cause anger among the radical right

C)cause anger among the radical left

D)provoke thinking among all readers

5. This passage is most probably taken from__________.

A)a history book

B)a news report

C)a book review

D) a journal of literary criticism

Passage Five

In the early 1600’s, a group known as the Separatists lived in England. They were people who wanted to worship God, study the Bible and pray, but the English laws did not allow them to worship as they desired. They were hunted down, beaten, and locked up.

Eventually, they heard about freedom of religion in Holland, and planned to escape. After much hardship, they were allowed to leave England. Now called Pilgrims, they lived in Holland for 12 years, but left because they couldn’t stand the hard life, and couldn’t work their own trades. They wanted to find a Kingdom of God for their posterity(后代)to practice religion freely. So they hired the Speedwell and Mayflower to carry them across the Atlantic to a new land in America. The Speedwell had many leaks and had to turn back. The Mayflower took in their passengers, making a total of over 100. They sailed two months and three days, cramped and hungry. On November11,1620, the Mayflower spotted land. They landed in Province town, Massachusetts. For over a month, they sent men to find the perfect place for them to build their colony. When they finally found a place, they called Plymouth.

Right away they started building homes, knowing winter was near.

Unfortunately, a violent storm hit when the houses were not yet finished. The Pilgrims were forced to stay on the cramped(狭窄的)Mayflower for their first winter in the new world. When this winter was over, over half of them had died. The Pilgrims eventually made a good friend who helped them. His name was Squanto. He showed them where fish swam, how to hunt deer, and how to plant corn.

Squanto was a Native American who was kidnapped(绑架)earlier in his life and taken to England. This is why he was able to communicate with the Pilgrims. With the help of the Native Americans, there was plenty for everyone to eat that first summer, and also plenty to last for the next winter.

The Pilgrims had so much to be thankful for. They gave thanks for friends, new homes, freedom of religion, and plenty of food in a three-day celebration with their Native American friends.

Today we continue the celebration of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans, and called it Thanksgiving.

1. The Separatists left England in pursuit of ___ .

A) wealth B) adventure C) an easier life D) religious freedom

2. The Pilgrims spend their first winter________ .

A) in their newly finished houses

B) on the ship that carried them across the Atlantic

C) celebrating their newly-won freedom

D) making friends with the native people

3. The Pilgrims learnt to adapt to the new environment______。

A) with the help of the natives

B) by imitating the Native Americans

C) by trial and error

D) by learning from their earlier experience in Holland

4. How did the Pilgrims get along with the Native Americans?

A) They were hostile to each other

B) They kept a distance from each other

C) They were very friendly to each other

D) They learned from each other

5. What is the central idea of this passage?

A) The origin of Thanksgiving.

B) Religious Freedom

C) Early English settlements in America

D) Hardships experienced by the Pilgrims

Passage Six For Roy Johnson, a senior magazine editor, the latest indignity came after a recent dinner at a fancy restaurant in the wealthy New York City suburb where he and his family live. First the parking valet handed him the keys to his Jaguar instead of fetching the car. Then an elderly white couple came out and handed him the keys to their black Mercedes-Benz. "It took them a while to realize that I was not a valet," says Johnson. "It didn't matter that I was dressed for dinner and had paid a handsome price for the meal, just as he had. What mattered was that I didn't fit his idea of someone who could be equal to him."

Such incidents, which are depressingly familiar to African-Americans of all ages, incomes and social classes, help explain why black and white attitudes often differ so completely. A recent survey found that 68 percent of blacks believe racism is still a major problem in America. Only 38 percent of whites agreed. Many Americans find the gulf between blacks and whites bewildering. After all, official segregation is a bad memory and 40 years of laws, policies and court decisions have helped African-Americans make significant progress toward equal opportunity. Indeed, a black man born in Harlem could be the nation's next president.

But racism persists, unmistakable to every black but largely invisible to many whites. It is evident in the everyday encounters African-Americans have with racial prejudice and discrimination, like the valet parking incident. Such encounters often strike whites as trivial misunderstandings. But they remind blacks that they are often dismissed as less intelligent, less industrious, less honest and less likely to succeed. Some insults are patently racist; others may be evidence of insensitivity or bad manners rather than racial prejudice. But the accumulation of insults feeds anger. "What is amazing to me is the number of whites who express surprise that any of this happens," observes Mary Frances Berry, chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, who says she has been watched at shopping malls.

1. The word "valet" in the first paragraph most probably means .

A)a restaurant owner

B)a driver of expensive cars

C)a wealthy-looking gentleman

D)a restaurant employee taking care of the cars of the diners

2. Roy Johnson was unfairly treated because .

A)his car was inferior in quality

B)he forgot to wear proper clothes

C)he failed to express himself clearly

D)he is black

3. From the passage we can learn that .

A)both blacks and whites are bewildered by racism

B)examples of racism are common in the US

C)some government officials have very bad memories

D)a black man born in Harlem will be the next US president

4. It is implied in the passage that many white people deny the presence of racism in the US because______

A) they tend to regard instances of racism as trivial misunderstandings

B)they have never seen any instance of racism in their country

C)they believe that black people are inherently less intelligent and less industrious

D)they have always treated black people as their equals 5. Judging from the context, the most possible explanation for Mary Frances Berry's being watched at shopping malls is that .

A)she was a national celebrity

B)she didn't fit people's idea of an Afro-American woman

C)many people nowadays are insensitive and rude

D) she is black

Passage Seven

Add Littleton, Colorado, to the list of cities dazed with grief after a school slaughter. Two students shot and killed 12 other students and a teacher before taking their own lives. The massacre was the largest in the history of this nation. This type of crime didn't exist 10 years ago. Americans should stop acting surprised that these shootings happen in "nicer" neighborhoods. That's the only place they happen. None of the recent school massacres took place at an inner-city campus; they all occurred in smaller towns or suburbs. These killers haven't been from im-poverished or extremely violent families. They don't appear to have been picked on (挨骂受罚 ) any worse than kids have been for generations. They chose alienation and destruction, and they found the tools to carry out their hate-filled plan. Do not blame schools for these massacres. Schools simply take what they are sent. Question the killers' parents. The parents are supposed to teach their children respect and empathy for others' lives. Parents should help their offspring learn to handle taunt or conflict without resorting to violence.

All concerned adults should take a youth's threat to shoot someone as seriously as airport security guards take jokes about bombs. Students must be encouraged to tell teachers if a classmate threatens or jokes about violence. Administrators at schools around the country need to emphasize they will take such reports seriously, and that they will not identify any student who comes forward with such a report.

More gun regulations probably won't stop these shootings, but gun owners and sellers must take more responsibility for keeping weapons away from young people. Gun owners should keep their guns unloaded, locked up and hidden away. Most car owners don't leave their keys in the car even when they park in their own garage; gun owners should be at least as careful with weapons.

The federal government can't solve this problem. Schools alone can't solve it. More guns won't solve it. Americans must consciously create a culture that makes violence unacceptable. Parents need to stop allowing their children's minds to be polluted with violence. News media need to show more restraint and thought about how and what they report. The Colorado massacre is a national tragedy. More's the pity if Americans do not stop, reflect and vow to make it the last school massacre.

1. One common feature of all the recent school massacres is that .

A)they have all been carefully planned by hateful youngsters

B)the killers have all failed to passed their exams

C)they all occur in places that appear to be all right

D)the killers are all from disadvantaged families

2. Children are less likely to become killers if .

A)their parents succeed in teaching them respect and empathy for others' lives

B)they study hard in school and get high scores

C)teachers stop telling meaningless jokes in class

D)they follow the rules set by administrators at schools around the country

3. Who does the author think should take the main responsibility for campus shootings?

A)School authorities.

B)The federal government.

C)News media.

D)The killers' parents.

4. What is the most effective way to prevent school massacre from happening again?

A)Reinforcing stricter laws and regulations.

B)Introducing security guards onto campus.

C)Creating a culture that makes violence unacceptable.

D)Keeping weapons away from young people.

5. From the passage we can infer that .

A)there were a lot of school massacres in inner-cities 10 years ago

B)many people turn a blind eye to school massacre

E)a youth's joke about violence is often ignored by other people

D) most gun owners like to leave their guns in their cars

Passage Eight A new look at an asteroid orbiting the sun shows it could possibly smash into the Earth with tremendous force. But experts say the potential impact is still 872 years away, time enough for the speeding space rock to alter its course. Named 1950 DA, the asteroid—1 kilometer wide — is the most threatening to the Earth of all of the known large asteroids, but the odds are only about one in 300 that it would impact the planet, researchers said.

"One in 300 is pretty long odds," said Jon D. Giorgini, a scientist in California. "I'm not personally going to worry about it. It is so far in the future that lots of things could change."

There are approximately 1,000 asteroids bigger than a kilometer that can pass near the Earth in their orbit of the sun. About 580 have been found and their orbits plotted. Of these, only 1950 DA represents a possible threat. Scientists continue an effort to identify all the other large

asteroids that pass near the Earth, and it is their great hope that they don't find any that are greater threats. If 1950 DA did hit the Earth, said Giorgini, it would have planetwide effects, setting off fires, changing the weather and perhaps creating immense tidal waves. But it would not be a planet killer like the asteroid thought to have snuffed out the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. Asteroid 1950 DA was first discovered in 1950, but then not noted in astronomy logs again for decades. It was rediscovered in the year 2000 and in March 2001 whizzed within about 77 million miles of Earth, giving astronomers an opportunity to gather visual and radar readings. From that, the astronomers projected the orbital path 1950 DA would take on its next 15 near passes of the Earth — over a period covering nearly nine centuries. For the 15th near pass, on March 16,2880, the analysis showed it was mathematically possible, though unlikely, that the asteroid could hit the Earth.

He said the highest probability is that the asteroid in 2880 will miss the Earth by about 290,000 kilometers — a distance closer than the 370,000-kilometer orbit of the Moon around the Earth.

1. Talking about asteroids, the writer tells us that .

A)nothing can alter the course of an asteroid in its orbit of the sun

B)it usually takes 300 years for scientists to discover an asteroid

C) scientists have managed to identify all the asteroids orbiting the sun

D) there is no immediate threat to the Earth from an asteroid right now

2. We can infer from the passage that .

A)larger asteroids are more likely to smash into the Earth

B)an asteroid will probably just miss the Earth in 2880

C)asteroids will eventually destroy everything on Earth

D)no asteroid was noted in astronomy logs before 1950

3. Judging from the context, the word "whizzed" (in Paragraph 6) most probably means_______.

A)kept turning around

B)went into and out of its orbit quickly

C)moved very fast

D)exploded all the while

4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A)Scientists have managed to know everything about asteroid 1950 DA.

B)Many people seem to be worried about the predicted asteroid smash.

C)Scientists are still quite optimistic about man's future.

D)The Earth is faced with frequent threats from space.

5. The best title for the passage is .

A)Possible Asteroid Smash in 2880

B)New Discoveries about 1950 DA

C)Asteroids in the Solar System

D)Earth — an Unsafe Place for Life

Passage Nine

Ever since Stephanie’s 13th birthday we have been receiving comments from other adults expressing their sympathies because our daughter is now a teenager. We’ve heard everything from, “ Sure she’s a good kid, but just wait, now that she’s a teenager ...” to the ever inspiring, “Well, all kids are rotten when they are teenagers, just try to go through it the best way you can.” What’s more upsetting is that many of these insensitive adults feel the need to share their negative predictions well within the hearing of both our daughters. I know that teenagers can be moody and difficult at times, but I’m 32 and I can also be difficult and moody. We worry about the future and want today’s kids to know that we care for them and that there are opportunities that await them. However, at the very point they set out on that journey toward adulthood we stand there watching them disapprovingly, just waiting for them to make a mistake, “just like we knew they would.” We tell them to respect themselves and to say no to drugs, yet we fail to set a positive example by treating them with kindness and consideration, demonstrating our respect for them.

I have, at times, been guilty of this behavior but am now realizing that the more I see each person as a person, the more I am pleasantly surprised in some way or another. For example, a few weeks ago my husband and I were having dinner at our favorite restaurant and two teenage boys came in and sat down right beside us. I must admit that my first thought was, “Perfect, there goes our quiet, peaceful dinner.” I was so wrong! These young men were well behaved, quiet, and left a nice tip for the waitress. Once I looked beyond the jeans so loose they were practically falling off and the multi-colored hair, I saw what fine people these kids were.

Many of the people who, perhaps unknowingly, treat teens with disrespect are unhappy about the fact that pop singers and sports stars are our children’s heroes. I feel that unless we give them something better to go after, we really shouldn’t complain.

1. When their children reach their teens, parents usually expect ______.

A). trouble B). sympathy C). congratulations D). inspiring comments 2. In the author’s opinion, the trouble with parents is that ______.

A). they are too watchful of their teenage children

B). they are too concerned about their children’s future

C). they fail to treat teenagers with sufficient kindness and respect

D). they speak ill of their children within their hearing 3. When two teenagers came into the restaurant and sat beside the author, her first thought was ______.

A). her quiet dinner with her husband would be ruined

B). something interesting was going to happen over dinner

C). they were wrong to have chosen this restaurant for dinner

D). she and her husband were going to have a pleasant surprise

4. What does the author think of the two teenage boys?

A). They are typical of teenagers who wear ill-fitting clothes and dye their hair.

B). They may become nice people if they are willing to change their lifestyle.

C). They are fine young men despite their loose jeans and multi-colored hair.

D). They will respect you if you respect them.

5. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A). There is nothing wrong with teenagers admiring pop singers and sport stars.

B). Pop singers and sport stars should not be heroes of our children.

C). If our children admire pop singers and sports stars, it is the parents who are to blame.

D). Parents should set a good example for their children to follow.

Passage Ten

Cindy Hess began her automotive career as a Design and Development Engineer with Chrysler, in the fall of 1977. Today, she is Vice-President of Daimler Chrysler, and head of the Small Car Platform Engineering Department which is directly responsible for the design and development of the Neon, Doge Viper, and all future small cars.

"Many different departments are involved in bringing a product to market," said Hess, referring to the 2000 Neon. "A company looks into renewing a particular vehicle when its marketplace demand is good, and the profits increase our shareholder's value," explained Hess. "We look to our market research in determining which options we'll keep the same or delete, and which ones we want to add to improve our appeal."

Now that the Neon 2000 is on the market, her team will use survey and research results to determine which option packages work best for the consumer, and what improvements, if any, need to be made. And the beat goes on.

Hess supervises 1200 engineers while managing a successful life as wife and mother. Her secret, she said, is to "always try to give 150 percent in everything I do. The only way I can really balance my work and family is by 'cheating at both ends.' For example," Hess said, "I always take my boys to school on the first day of the year—so I come in a little late. A few times a year I leave work for a couple of hours to see my son in a play or to attend his swim meet."

Like most other successful women in the auto industry, Hess's day begins early and ends late. In her case, coaching her son's basketball game ends some of Hess's days. "Occasionally," she adds, "I come in to work on the weekends to catch up on paperwork and mail and have also been known to be called to work while I am on vacation."

1.What is Cindy's chief responsibility now? A) Renewing promising car models B)Supervising production. C)Doing market research. D)Developing small cars.

2. When will a company renew an existing model?

A)When it sells well and brings in a good profit.

B)When it needs improvement to meet the needs of users.

C)When some of its features have to be deleted.

D)When certain options have to be added.

3. What does Cindy mean by "cheating at both ends"?

A)Do things for her family when she is supposed to be at work.

B)Work for the company while she is supposed to stay at home.

C)Meet the demands of both family and work with a flexible schedule.

D)Balance the needs of her family against the demands of her work.

4. What is Cindy's secret of success both as a business executive and a woman?

A)Hard work.

B)Loyalty.

C)Enthusiasm.

D)Creativity.

5. Which of the following statements is true of Cindy?

A)She always makes sure to attend the big events in the life of her sons.

B)She comes to office on most weekends to catch up on her work.

C)She always gives priority to work rather than to her family.

D)She seldom has time to take a holiday.