2010考研英语一阅读及答案.doc

1、Text 1（2010）Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers 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

2、 under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could 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

3、 marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for 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 w

4、as dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications 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 th

5、ose reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest 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 enough to ke

6、ep their own end up in journalism,” Newman wrote, “that I am tempted to 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

7、before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the 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 mu

8、sic critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, 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 postmod

9、ern readers have little use for the richly upholstered Vicwardian prose 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 that _. A arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers. B English-lang

10、uage newspapers used to carry more arts reviews. C high-quality newspapers retain 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 by _. A free themes. B casual style. C elaborate layout. D

11、radical viewpoints.23. Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on? A It is writers duty to fulfill journalistic goals. B 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 writin

12、g.24. What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs? A His music 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. W

13、hat would be the best title for the text? A Newspapers of the Good Old Days B The Lost Horizon in Newspapers C Mournful Decline of Journalism D Prominent Critics in MemoryText 2（2010）Over the past decade, thousands of patents have seen granted for what are called business methods. Amazon com receive

14、d one for its “one-click” online payment system Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lying a box.Now the nations top patent court appears completely ready to scale hack on business-method patents, which have been controversial eve

15、r since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz the U.S court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In re Bilski, as the case is known, is “a very big deal,” s

16、ays Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law. It “has the potential to eliminate 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-calle

17、d state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive pints to specific types of online transactions. Later, move established com

18、panies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might bent 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. Sim

19、ilarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, 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 st

20、ating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the courts judges, rather than a typical panel 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

21、. Count that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for “inventions” that are obvious. The judges on the Federal circuit are “reaction to the anti-patent trend at the supreme court” says Harold C

22、. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at Washington University Law School.26. Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because of _. A their limited value to business B their connection with asset allocation C the possible restriction on their granting D the controversy over authori

23、zation27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case? A Its ruling complies with the court decisions B It involves a very big business transaction C 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 prob

24、ably means _. A loss of good will B increase of hostility C change of attitude D enhancement of disunity29. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents _. A are immune to legal challenges B are often unnecessarily issued C lower the esteem for patent holders D increase the inc

25、idence of risks30. Which of the following would be the subject of the text? A A looming threat to business-method patents B Protection for business-method patent holders C A legal case regarding business-method patents D A prevailing tread against business-method patentsText 3（2010）In his book The T

26、ipping Point Malcolm Aladuell argues that “social epidemics” are driven in large part by the actions of a tiny 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 ac

27、tually spread.The supposed importance of influentials derives from a plausible-sounding but largely untested theory 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 su

28、ggests that if they can just find and influence the influentials, those selected people will do most of the work 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

29、 small group of people was wearing, promoting, or developing whatever it is before anyone else paid attention. Anecdotal evidence of this kind fits nicely with the idea that only certain special people can drive trends.In their recent work, however, some researchers have come up with the finding tha

30、t influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed. In fact, they dont seem to be required at all.The researchers argument stems from a simple observation about social influence: With the exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfrey whose outsize presence is prim

31、arily a function of media, not interpersonal, influence even the most influential members of a population simply 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 must 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