考研英語(yǔ)閱讀理解部分1997Passage1Itwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsofarguingandfinal16hoursofhotparliamentarydebates,AustraliasNorthernTerritorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworldtoallowdoctorstotakethelivesofincurablyillpatientswhowishtodie.Themeasurepassedbytheconvincingvoteof15to10.AlmostimmediatelywordflashedontheInternetandwaspickedup,halfaworldaway,byJohnHofsess,executivedirectoroftheRighttoDieSocietyofCanada.Hesentitonviathegroupson-lineservice,DeathNET.SaysHofsess:Wepostedbulletinsalldaylong,becauseofcoursethisisntjustsomethingthathappenedinAustralia.Itsworldhistory.Thefullimportmaytakeawhiletosinkin.TheNTRightsoftheTerminallyIlllawhasleftphysiciansandcitizensaliketryingtodealwithitsmoralandpracticalimplications.Somehavebreathedsighsofrelief,others,includingchurches,right-to-lifegroupsandtheAustralianMedicalAssociation,bitterlyattackedthebillandthehasteofitspassage.Butthetideisunlikelytoturnback.InAustraliawhereanagingpopulation,life-extendingtechnologyandchangingcommunityattitudeshaveallplayedtheirpartotherstatesaregoingtoconsidermakingasimilarlawtodealwitheuthanasia.IntheUSandCanada,wheretheright-to-diemovementisgatheringstrength,observersarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling.UnderthenewNorthernTerritorylaw,andadultpatientcanrequestdeathprobablybyadeadlyinjectionorpilltoputanendtosuffering.Thepatientmustbediagnosedasterminallyillbytwodoctors.Afteracoolingoffperiodofsevendays,thepatientcansignacertificateofrequest.After48hoursthewishfordeathcanbemet.ForLloydNickson,a54-year-oldDarwinresidentsufferingfromlungcancer,theNTRightsofTerminallyIlllawmeanshecangetonwithlivingwithoutthehauntingfearofhissuffering:aterrifyingdeathfromhisbreathingcondition.Imnotafraidofdyingfromaspiritualpointofview,butwhatIwasafraidofwashowIdgo,becauseIvewatchedpeopledieinthehospitalfightingforoxygenandclawingattheirmasks,hesays.1.Fromthesecondparagraphwelearnthat_.AtheobjectiontoeuthanasiaisslowtocomeinothercountriesBphysiciansandcitizenssharethesameviewoneuthanasiaCchangingtechnologyischieflyresponsibleforthehastypassageofthelawDittakestimetorealizethesignificanceofthelawspassage2.Whentheauthorsaysthatobserversarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling,hemeans_.Aobserversaretakingawait-and-seeattitudetowardsthefutureofeuthanasiaBsimilarbillsarelikelytobepassedintheUS,CanadaandothercountriesCobserversarewaitingtoseetheresultofthegameofdominoesDtheeffect-takingprocessofthepassedbillmayfinallycometoastop3.WhenLloydNicksondies,hewill_.AfacehisdeathwithcalmcharacteristicofeuthanasiaBexperiencethesufferingofalungcancerpatientChaveanintensefearofterriblesufferingDundergoacoolingoffperiodofsevendays4.Theauthorsattitudetowardseuthanasiaseemstobethatof_.AoppositionBsuspicionCapprovalDindifference1997Passage2AreportconsistentlybroughtbackbyvisitorstotheUSishowfriendly,courteous,andhelpfulmostAmericansweretothem.Tobefair,thisobservationisalsofrequentlymadeofCanadaandCanadians,andshouldbestbeconsideredNorthAmerican.Thereare,ofcourse,exceptions.Small-mindedofficials,rudewaiters,andill-manneredtaxidriversarehardlyunknownintheUS.Yetitisanobservationmadesofrequentlythatitdeservescomment.Foralongperiodoftimeandinmanypartsofthecountry,atravelerwasawelcomebreakinanotherwisedullexistence.Dullnessandlonelinesswerecommonproblemsofthefamilieswhogenerallyliveddistantfromoneanother.Strangersandtravelerswerewelcomesourcesofdiversion,andbroughtnewsoftheoutsideworld.Theharshrealitiesofthefrontieralsoshapedthistraditionofhospitality.Someonetravelingalone,ifhungry,injured,orill,oftenhadnowheretoturnexcepttothenearestcabinorsettlement.Itwasnotamatterofchoiceforthetravelerormerelyacharitableimpulseonthepartofthesettlers.Itreflectedtheharshnessofdailylife:ifyoudidnttakeinthestrangerandtakecareofhim,therewasnooneelsewhowould.Andsomeday,remember,youmightbeinthesamesituation.Todaytherearemanycharitableorganizationswhichspecializeinhelpingthewearytraveler.Yet,theoldtraditionofhospitalitytostrangersisstillverystrongintheUS,especiallyinthesmallercitiesandtownsawayfromthebusytouristtrails.Iwasjusttravelingthrough,gottalkingwiththisAmerican,andprettysoonheinvitedmehomefordinneramazing.SuchobservationsreportedbyvisitorstotheUSarenotuncommon,butarenotalwaysunderstoodproperly.ThecasualfriendlinessofmanyAmericansshouldbeinterpretedneitherassuperficialnorasartificial,butastheresultofahistoricallydevelopedculturaltradition.Asistrueofanydevelopedsociety,inAmericaacomplexsetofculturalsignals,assumptions,andconventionsunderliesallsocialinterrelationships.And,ofcourse,speakingalanguagedoesnotnecessarilymeanthatsomeoneunderstandssocialandculturalpatterns.Visitorswhofailtotranslateculturalmeaningsproperlyoftendrawwrongconclusions.Forexample,whenanAmericanusesthewordfriend,theculturalimplicationsofthewordmaybequitedifferentfromthoseithasinthevisitorslanguageandculture.Ittakesmorethanabriefencounteronabustodistinguishbetweencourteousconventionandindividualinterest.Yet,beingfriendlyisavirtuethatmanyAmericansvaluehighlyandexpectfrombothneighborsandstrangers.5.Intheeyesofvisitorsfromtheoutsideworld_.ArudetaxidriversarerarelyseenintheUSBsmall-mindedofficialsdeserveaseriouscommentCCanadiansarenotsofriendlyastheirneighborsDmostAmericansarereadytoofferhelp6.Itcouldbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat_.AcultureexercisesaninfluenceoversocialinterrelationshipBcourteousconventionandindividualinterestareinterrelatedCvariousvirtuesmanifestthemselvesexclusivelyamongfriendsDsocialinterrelationshipsequalthecomplexsetofculturalconventions7.Familiesinfrontiersettlementsusedtoentertainstrangers_.AtoimprovetheirhardlifeBinviewoftheirlong-distancetravelCtoaddsomeflavortotheirowndailylifeDoutofacharitableimpulse8.Thetraditionofhospitalitytostrangers_.AtendstobesuperficialandartificialBisgenerallywellkeptupintheUnitedStatesCisalwaysunderstoodproperlyDhassomethingtodowiththebusytouristtrails1997Passage3Technically,anysubstanceotherthanfoodthataltersourbodilyormentalfunctioningisadrug.Manypeoplemistakenlybelievethetermdrugrefersonlytosomesortofmedicineoranillegalchemicaltakenbydrugaddicts.Theydontrealizethatfamiliarsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccoarealsodrugs.Thisiswhythemoreneutraltermsubstanceisnowusedbymanyphysiciansandpsychologists.Thephrasesubstanceabuseisoftenusedinsteadofdrugabusetomakeclearthatsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccocanbejustasharmfullymisusedasheroinandcocaine.Weliveinasocietyinwhichthemedicinalandsocialuseofsubstances(drugs)ispervasive:anaspirintoquietaheadache,somewinetobesociable,coffeetogetgoinginthemorning,acigaretteforthenerves.Whendothesesociallyacceptableandapparentlyconstructiveusesofasubstancebecomemisuses?Firstofall,mostsubstancestakeninexcesswillproducenegativeeffectssuchaspoisoningorintenseperceptualdistortions.Repeateduseofasubstancecanalsoleadtophysicaladdictionorsubstancedependence.Dependenceismarkedfirstbyanincreasedtolerance,withmoreandmoreofthesubstancerequiredtoproducethedesiredeffect,andthenbytheappearanceofunpleasantwithdrawalsymptomswhenthesubstanceisdiscontinued.Drugs(substances)thataffectthecentralnervoussystemandalterperception,mood,andbehaviorareknownaspsychoactivesubstances.Psychoactivesubstancesarecommonlygroupedaccordingtowhethertheyarestimulants,depressants,orhallucinogens.Stimulantsinitiallyspeeduporactivatethecentralnervoussystem,whereasdepressantsslowitdown.Hallucinogenshavetheirprimaryeffectonperception,distortingandalteringitinavarietyofwaysincludingproducing,hallucinations.Thesearethesubstancesoftencalledpsychedelic(fromtheGreekwordmeaningmind-manifesting)becausetheyseemedtoradicallyalteronesstateofconsciousness.9.Substancesabuse(Line4,Paragraph1)ispreferabletodrugabuseinthat_.AsubstancescanalterourbodilyormentalfunctioningifillegallyusedBdrugabuseisonlyrelatedtoalimitednumberofdrugtakersCalcoholandtobaccoareasfatalasheroinandcocaineDmanysubstancesotherthanheroinorcocainecanalsobepoisonous10.Thewordpervasive(Line1,Paragraph2)mightmean_.AwidespreadBoverwhelmingCpiercingDfashionable11.Physicaldependenceoncertainsubstancesresultsfrom_.Auncontrolledconsumptionofthemoverlongperiodsoftime.BexclusiveuseofthemforsocialpurposesCquantitativeapplicationofthemtothetreatmentofdiseasesDcarelessemploymentofthemforunpleasantsymptoms12.Fromthelastparagraphwecaninferthat_.AstimulantsfunctionpositivelyonthemindBhallucinogensareinthemselvesharmfultohealthCdepressantsaretheworsttypeofpsychoactivesubstancesDthethreetypesofpsychoactivesubstancesarecommonlyusedingroups1997Passage4Nocompanylikestobetolditiscontributingtothemoraldeclineofnation.Isthiswhatyouintendedtoaccomplishwithyourcareers?SenatorRobertDoleaskedTimeWarnerexecutiveslastweek.Youhavesoldyoursouls,butmustyoucorruptournationandthreatenourchildrenaswell?AtTimeWarner,however,suchquestionsaresimplythelatestmanifestationofthesoul-searchingthathasinvolvedthecompanyeversincethecompanywasbornin1990.Itsaself-examinationthathas,atvarioustimes,involvedissuesofresponsibility,creativefreedomandthecorporatebottomline.AtthecoreofthisdebateischairmanGeraldLevin,56,whotookoverforthelateSteveRossin1992.Onthefinancialfront,Levinisunderpressuretoraisethestockpriceandreducethecompanysmountainousdebt,whichwillincreaseto$17.3billionaftertwonewcabledealsclose.Hehaspromisedtoselloffsomeofthepropertyandrestructurethecompany,butinvestorsarewaitingimpatiently.Theflapoverrapisnotmakinglifeanyeasierforhim.Levinhasconsistentlydefendedthecompanysrapmusiconthegroundsofexpression.In1992,whenTimeWarnerwasunderfireforreleasingIce-TsviolentrapsongCopKiller,Levindescribedrapasalawfulexpressionofstreetculture,whichdeservesanoutlet.Thetestofanydemocraticsociety,hewroteinaWallStreetJournalcolumn,liesnotinhowwellitcancontrolexpressionbutinwhetheritgivesfreedomofthoughtandexpressionthewidestpossiblelatitude,howeverdisputableorirritatingtheresultsmaysometimesbe.Wewontretreatinthefaceofanythreats.Levinwouldnotcommentonthedebatelastweek,butthereweresignsthatthechairmanwasbackingoffhishard-linestand,atleasttosomeextent.Duringthediscussionofrocksingingversesatlastmonthsstockholdersmeeting,Levinassertedthatmusicisnotthecauseofsocietysillsandevencitedhisson,ateacherintheBronx,NewYork,whousesraptocommunicatewithstudents.Buthetalkedaswellaboutthebalancedstrugglebetweencreativefreedomandsocialresponsibility,andheannouncedthatthecompanywouldlaunchadrivetodevelopstandardsfordistributionandlabelingofpotentiallyobjectionablemusic.The15-memberTimeWarnerboardisgenerallysupportiveofLevinandhiscorporatestrategy.Butinsiderssayseveralofthemhaveshowntheirconcernsinthismatter.Someofushaveknownformany,manyyearsthatthefreedomsundertheFirstAmendmentarenottotallyunlimited,saysLuce.Ithinkitisperhapsthecasethatsomepeopleassociatedwiththecompanyhaveonlyrecentlycometorealizethis.13.SenatorRobertDolecriticizedTimeWarnerfor_.AitsrisingofthecorporatestockpriceBitsself-examinationofsoulCitsneglectofsocialresponsibilityDitsemphasisoncreativefreedom14.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisTRUE?ALuceisaspokesmanofTimeWarner.BGeraldLevinisliabletocompromise.CTimeWarnerisunitedasoneinthefaceofthedebate.DSteveRossisnolongeralive.15.Infaceoftherecentattacksonthecompany,thechairman_.AstucktoastrongstandtodefendfreedomofexpressionBsoftenedhistoneandadoptedsomenewpolicyCchangedhisattitudeandyieldedtoobjectionDreceivedmoresupportfromthe15-memberboard16.Thebesttitleforthispassagecouldbe_.AACompanyunderFireBADebateonMoralDeclineCALawfulOutletofStreetCultureDAFormofCreativeFreedom1997Passage5Muchofthelanguageusedtodescribemonetarypolicy,suchassteeringtheeconomytoasoftlandingoratouchonthebrakes,makesitsoundlikeaprecisescience.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Thelinkbetweeninterestratesandinflationisuncertain.Andtherearelong,variablelagsbeforepolicychangeshaveanyeffectontheeconomy.Hencetheanalogythatlikenstheconductofmonetarypolicytodrivingacarwithablackenedwindscreen,acrackedrearviewmirrorandafaultysteeringwheel.Givenallthesedisadvantages,centralbankersseemtohavehadmuchtoboastaboutoflate.Averageinflationinthebigsevenindustrialeconomiesfelltoamere2.3%lastyear,closetoitslowestlevelin30years,beforerisingslightlyto2.5%thisJuly.Thisisalongwaybelowthedouble-digitrateswhichmanycountriesexperiencedinthe1970sandearly1980s.Itisalsolessthanmostforecastershadpredicted.Inlate1994thepanelofeconomistswhichTheEconomistpollseachmonthsaidthatAmericasinflationratewouldaverage3.5%in1995.Infact,itfellto2.6%inAugust,andisexpectedtoaverageonlyabout3%fortheyearasawhole.InBritainandJapaninflationisrunninghalfapercentagepointbelowtheratepredictedattheendoflastyear.Thisisnoflashinthepan；overthepastcoupleofyears,inflationhasbeenconsistentlylowerthanexpectedinBritainandAmerica.EconomistshavebeenparticularlysurprisedbyfavorableinflationfiguresinBritainandtheUnitedState,sinceconventionalmeasuressuggestthatbotheconomies,andespeciallyAmericas,havelittleproductiveslack.Americascapacityutilization,forexample,hithistoricallyhighlevelsearlierthisyear,anditsjoblessrate(5.6%inAugust)hasfallenbelowmostestimatesofthenaturalrateofunemploymenttheratebelowwhichinflationhastakenoffinthepast.Whyhasinflationprovedsomild?Themostthrillingexplanationis,unfortunately,alittledefective,Someeconomistsarguethatpowerfulstructuralchangesintheworldhaveupendedtheoldeconomicmodelsthatwerebaseduponthehistoricallinkbetweengrowthandinflation.17.Fromthepassagewelearnthat_.AthereisadefiniterelationshipbetweeninflationandinterestratesBeconomywillalwaysfollowcertainmodelsCtheeconomicsituationisbetterthanexpectedDeconomistshadforeseenthepresenteconomicsituation18.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisTRUE?AMakingmonetarypoliciesiscomparabletodrivingacar.BAnextremelylowjoblessratewillleadtoinflation.CAhighunemploymentratewillresultfrominflation.DInterestrateshaveanimmediateeffectontheeconomy.19.ThesentenceThisisnoflashinthepan(Line5,Paragraph3)meansthat_.AthelowinflationratewilllastforsometimeBtheinflationratewillsoonriseCtheinflationwilldisappearquicklyDthereisnoinflationatpresent20.Thepassageshowsthattheauthoristhepresentsituation.AcriticalofBpuzzledbyCdisappointedatDamazedat1998Passage1Fewcreationsofbigtechnologycapturetheimaginationlikegiantdams.Perhapsitishumankindslongsufferingatthemercyoffloodanddroughtthatmakestheideaofforcingthewaterstodoourbiddingsofascinating.Buttobefascinatedisalso,sometimes,tobeblind.Severalgiantdamprojectsthreatentodomoreharmthangood.Thelessonfromdamsisthatbigisnotalwaysbeautiful.Itdoesnthelpthatbuildingabig,powerfuldamhasbecomeasymbolofachievementfornationsandpeoplestrivingtoassertthemselves.EgyptsleadershipintheArabworldwascementedbytheAswanHighDam.TurkeysbidforFirstWorldstatusincludesthegiantAtaturkDam.Butbigdamstendnottoworkasintended.TheAswanDam,forexample,stoppedtheNilefloodingbutdeprivedEgyptofthefertilesiltthatfloodsleftallinreturnforagiantreservoirofdiseasewhichisnowsofullofsiltthatitbarelygenerateselectricity.Andyet,themythofcontrollingthewaterspersists.Thisweek,intheheartofcivilizedEurope,SlovaksandHungariansstoppedjustshortofsendinginthetroopsintheircontentionoveradamontheDanube.Thehugecomplexwillprobablyhavealltheusualproblemsofbigdams.ButSlovakiaisbiddingforindependencefromtheCzechs,andnowneedsadamtoproveitself.Meanwhile,inIndia,theWorldBankhasgiventhego-aheadtotheevenmorewrong-headedNarmadaDam.Andthebankhasdonethiseventhoughitsadvisorssaythedamwillcausehardshipforthepowerlessandenvironmentaldestruction.Thebenefitsareforthepowerful,buttheyarefarfromguaranteed.Proper,scientificstudyoftheimpactsofdamsandofthecostandbenefitsofcontrollingwatercanhelptoresolvetheseconflicts.Hydroelectricpowerandfloodcontrolandirrigationarepossiblewithoutbuildingmonsterdams.Butwhenyouaredealingwithmyths,itishardtobeeitherproper,orscientific.ItistimethattheworldlearnedthelessonsofAswan.Youdontneedadamtobesaved.1.Thethirdsentenceofparagraph1impliesthat_.ApeoplewouldbehappyiftheyshuttheireyestorealityBtheblindcouldbehappierthanthesightedCover-excitedpeopletendtoneglectvitalthingsDfascinationmakespeoplelosetheireyesight2.Inparagraph5,thepowerlessprobablyrefersto_.AareasshortofelectricityBdamswithoutpowerstationsCpoorcountriesaroundIndiaDcommonpeopleintheNarmadaDamarea3.Whatisthemythconcerning