Section II Reading Comprehension

Part A

Directions:

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 1

Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the m ost 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 could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant c ollections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of new spaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.

We are even farther rem oved from the unfocused newspaper review spublished in England between the turn of t he 2 0th century and the eve of World War Ⅱ, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts crit icism was consi dered an ornament to the publications in which it appe ared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted tha t the cri tics of major papers woul dwri te 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 Bern ard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trus ted to know what they were a bout. 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 keep their own end up in journalism, ”Newman wrote, “ that I am tempted to define‘journalism’ as ‘a term of cont empt appl ied 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 ont he game of cricket. During his l ifetime, though, he was also one of England's foremost classical-music critics, and 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 ho nored. Yet on ly 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 Cardus’s criticism will enjoy a revi val? The prospect seems remote. Jour nalistic tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern reader shave little use for the ric hly 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-language 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 warⅡwere characterized by

[A] free themes.

[B] casual style.

[C] elaborate layout.

[D] 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 writing.

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. What 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 Memory.

Text 2

Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. Amazon.com received one for its “one-click” online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.

Now the nation’s 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 abuzz 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 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-called 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 pinhts 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 that 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, 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 court’s 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 Circuit’s action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supreme 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 “reacting to the anti_ patent trend at the supreme court” ,says Harole C.wegner, a partend attorney and professor at aeorge 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 authorization

27. 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, Paro 3) most probably means

[A] loss of good will

[B] increase of hostility

[C] change of attitude

[D] enhancement of dignity

29. 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 incidence of risks

30. 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 trend against business-method patents

Text 3

In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Aladuell argues that social epidemics are driven in large part by the acting 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 doesn’t explain how ideas actually 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 suggests 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 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 that influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed. In fact, they don’t seem to be required of all.

The researchers’ argument stems from a simple observing about social influence, with the exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfrey-whose outsize presence is primarily a function of media, not interpersonal, influence-even the most influential members of a population simply don’t 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 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, for example from the initial influential prove resistant, for example the cascade of change won’t 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 populations, manipulating a number of variables relating to people’s 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 influentials 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 propagate a chain reaction.

31.By citing the book The Tipping Point, the author intends to

[A]analyze the consequences of social epidemics

[B]discuss influentials’ function in spreading ideas

[C]exemplify people’s intuitive response to social epidemics

[D]describe the essential characteristics of influentials.

32.The author suggests that the “two-step-flow theory”

[A]serves as a solution to marketing problems

[B]has helped explain certain prevalent trends

[C]has won support from influentials

[D]requires solid evidence for its validity

33.what the researchers have observed recently shows that

[A] the power of influence goes with social interactions

[B] interpersonal links can be enhanced through the media

[C] influentials have more channels to reach the public

[D] most celebrities enjoy wide media attention

34.The underlined phrase “these people” in paragraph 4 refers to the ones who

[A] stay outside the network of social influence

[B] have little contact with the source of influence

[C] are influenced and then influence others

[D] are influenced by the initial influential

35.what is the essential element in the dynamics of social influence?

[A]The eagerness to be accepted

[B]The impulse to influence others

[C]The readiness to be influenced

[D]The inclination to rely on others

Text 4

Bankers have been blaming themselves for their troubles in public. Behind the scenes, they have been taking aim at someone else: the accounting standard-setters. Their rules, moan the banks, have forced them to report enormous losses, and it’s just not fair. These rules say they must value some assets at the price a third party would pay, not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch.

Unfortunately, banks’ lobbying now seems to be working. The details may be unknowable, but the independence of standard-setters, essential to the proper functioning of capital markets, is being compromised. And, unless banks carry toxic assets at prices that attract buyers, reviving the banking system will be difficult.

After a bruising encounter with Congress, America’s Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rushed through rule changes. These gave banks more freedom to use models to value illiquid assets and more flexibility in recognizing losses on long-term assets in their income statement. Bob Herz, the FASB’s chairman, cried out against those who “question our motives.” Yet bank shares rose and the changes enhance what one lobby group politely calls “the use of judgment by management.”

European ministers instantly demanded that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) do likewise. The IASB says it does not want to act without overall planning, but the pressure to fold when it completes it reconstruction of rules later this year is strong. Charlie McCreevy, a European commissioner, warned the IASB that it did “not live in a political vacuum” but “in the real word” and that Europe could yet develop different rules.

It was banks that were on the wrong planet, with accounts that vastly overvalued assets. Today they argue that market prices overstate losses, because they largely reflect the temporary illiquidity of markets, not the likely extent of bad debts. The truth will not be known for years. But bank’s shares trade below their book value, suggesting that investors are skeptical. And dead markets partly reflect the paralysis of banks which will not sell assets for fear of booking losses, yet are reluctant to buy all those supposed bargains.

To get the system working again, losses must be recognized and dealt with. America’s new plan to buy up toxic assets will not work unless banks mark assets to levels which buyers find attractive. Successful markets require independent and even combative standard-setters. The FASB and IASB have been exactly that, cleaning up rules on stock options and pensions, for example, against hostility form special interests. But by giving in to critics now they are inviting pressure to make more concessions.

36. Bankers complained that they were forced to

[A] follow unfavorable asset evaluation rules

[B]collect payments from third parties

[C]cooperate with the price managers

[D]reevaluate some of their assets.

37.According to the author , the rule changes of the FASB may result in

[A]the diminishing role of management

[B]the revival of the banking system

[C]the banks’ long-term asset losses

[D]the weakening of its independence

38.According to Paragraph 4, McCreevy objects to the IASB’s attempt to

[A]keep away from political influences.

[B]evade the pressure from their peers.

[C]act on their own in rule-setting.

[D]take gradual measures in reform.

39.The author thinks the banks were “on the wrong planet ”in that they

[A]misinterpreted market price indicators

[B]exaggerated the real value of their assets

[C]neglected the likely existence of bad debts.

[D]denied booking losses in their sale of assets.

40.The author’s attitude towards standard-setters is one of

[A]satisfaction.

[B]skepticism.

[C]objectiveness

[D]sympathy

Section II Reading Comprehension

Part A

Text 1

一、文章題材結構分析

本文屬于文化范疇，是一篇現象解釋型文章，摘自《大英在線百科全書》2007年11月由Terry Teachout寫的 The Amateur as Critic，是探討美國藝術、文化評論和新聞報道沒落的，是以 1917到1975年的《曼徹斯特衛報》為討論素材的，出題者對原文進行了刪減。文章結構分為三部分，第一、二段是第一部分，提出現象：在過去的報紙中有很多高質量的文藝評論，而如今的讀者會對這一事實感到驚訝；第三段為第二部分，介紹二戰前夕報紙的情況；第四、五段為第三部分，轉而介紹了報紙中評論的衰落。

二、試題解析

21. 文章第一、二段指出 。

[A]藝術批評已經從大城市的報紙中消失 [B]英語報紙過去常載有更多的藝術評論[C] 高質量的報紙未喪失大量的讀者 [D] 年輕的讀者懷疑報紙上的評論不合適

【 答案】B

【 考點】 推理引申

【 解析】本題測試考生文章前兩段內容的總結概括能力。第一段只有一句話，剔除枝節內容可以很快地判斷出文章的中心：the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage.第二段具體論證以前的報紙關于藝術評論數量很多，所以 B 項是正確的。A 選項說法過于絕對，第一段中的“decline”，原文只是說“下降”，沒有說“消失”（disappear）。C 項 “高質量的報紙未喪失大量的讀者”，文中并未提到。D“年輕的讀者懷疑報紙上的評論不合適”是強干擾項，原文 marvel 意思是“大為驚訝（常含贊嘆之意）”，表明其實讀者是贊同：這些評論可以在報紙上刊登的。這里的 doubt 表示懷疑，所以與 marvel意思相反。

【 補充】考生閱讀題干時，需要判斷出前兩段是一個整體，而且縱觀十年真題，不難發現出現這樣的提問方式時，都是第一段是論點，第二段是論據。

22. 二戰前英國新聞報紙的特點是 。

[A]主題自由 [B]風格隨意 [C]布局精心 [D]觀點激進

【 答案】 A

【 考點】事實細節

【 解析】根據題干中的時間提示詞：World War II 我們可以定位到文章的第三段第一句話。原文中“unfocused”意思是：不集中的，散漫的，選項 A 中“free”的解釋是unrestricted，所以兩個詞是同義詞，屬于同義替換。B項中“casual”的意思是：隨便的；臨時的；漠不關心的，這幾個意思都是和文中的 in detail and at length“詳細的”，serious“嚴肅的”，calling“對做某項工作的強烈欲望或責任感”，proud“驕傲”相矛盾的，所以不選。C 是強干擾項，“elaborate”可以替換原文中的“in detail”，但是“layout”(布局)無中生有，所以本題與原文不相符合。D 項中“radical”是“激進的”，無中生有。

23. 紐曼最有可能同意下面哪種觀點？

[A]實現新聞業的目標是作家的職責。 [B]作家成為記者是值得鄙視的。[C] 作家容易被新聞業吸引。 [D]并不是所有的作家都能承擔新聞寫作。

【 答案】D

【 考點】 觀點態度

【 解析】首先，我們根據題干中的人名 Shaw and Newman 定位到第三段結尾處。第三段末句引用了 Newman的觀點“So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism, that I am tempted to define‘journalism’as‘a term of contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.’”他認為擁有足夠的才智可以在新聞事業上有所成就的人是如此的少，所以我們可以把答案確定為 D。A 項中“journalistic goals”(新聞業的目標)，無中生有。B 項中“作家成為記者是值得鄙視的”與原文中的 proud（自豪的）相反。C 項中“作者容易被新聞業吸引”，是不對的，因為原文說的是被 define “journalism” as… 所吸引，而不是被journalism 所吸引。【 補充】需要注意的是 D 選項中 not all 屬于部分否定，語氣委婉，在選項中出現往往正確。

24. 從最后兩段，有關卡達斯我們得知什么？

[A] 他的音樂評論也許不能吸引當今的讀者。

[B]作為一位音樂評論家，他的名譽一直有爭議。

[C] 他的風格符合現在的希賽網。

[D]他的作品跟不上業余愛好者的品味。

【 答案】A

【 考點】 推理判斷

【 解析】根據題干定位到文章最后兩段。文章第四段提到“他寫的書只有一本還在版，大部分作品都不為人所知”；第五段又提到“在他去世之前，新聞業的口味就變了，后現代的讀者對他的作品沒有興趣”。所以 A 選項“他的音樂評論可能對現在的讀者并沒有吸引力”為正確答案。注意 have little use for 相當于 not appeal to，同時本選項還有 may，這個語氣委婉的詞，因為正確答案語氣委婉。干擾選項 B，原文沒有提到他的名聲有爭議，所以無中生有。C 項，“他的風格符合現在的希賽網”與本段最后一句相矛盾。D 項移花接木，是利用最后一句話編造的選項。

25. 以下哪一項是本文的最佳題目？

[A] 報紙行業過去的黃金歲月 [B] 報紙行業的消失的視野

[C] 令人惋惜的新聞業的墮落 [D] 記憶中的杰出的評論家

【 答案】B

【 考點】主旨大意

【 解析】第一段說：過去這些年英語報紙上所發生的最有影響力的變化可能是藝術評論在報道范圍和嚴肅性上的墮落（decline），符合考研閱讀在第一段提出文章中心的特點。所以 B 項“報紙行業的消失的視野”符合答案。A 項“報紙行業過去的黃金歲月”，沒有點出作者對現在的報紙的惋惜之情。C 項“令人惋惜的新聞業的墮落”，本選項的錯誤類型和 A 項一樣。D 項“記憶中的杰出的評論家”，本文的中心不是懷戀過去，所以也是不正確的。

【 補充】考研閱讀的文章中心通常在文章首段提出，最遲在第二段首句出現。

Text 2

26．營業方法專利最近引起了關注是因為________。

[A] 它們有限的商業價值 [B] 它們與資產分配的關系

[C] 它們的授權可能受到限制 [D] 對授權的爭議

【 答案】C

【 考點】  事實細節

【 解析】 文章首段指出“在過去的 10 年，數以千計的被稱為營業方法的專利獲得批準。”而二段首句講到了針對過去 10 年，目前的變化是較高專利法庭準備對營業方法專利進行縮減，由此可知，目前的變化肯定是營業方法專利最近引起關注的原因，因此，二段首句給出題目問及的原因，比對四個選項 restriction 和 sale back的意思接近，而 C 項的表達正是對二段首句的同義置換，故為正確答案。A 項是文中沒有提到的，屬無中生有選項；B 項利用三段首句出現的 asset allocation 設置干擾選項，既然本題是道因果細節題，依據題干的關鍵信息解答本題應定位到二段首句并結合一段給出的背景，所以 C 項是和題目毫不相干的信息；D 項“對授權的爭議”是從十年前獲得批準以來就一直受到了爭議，而不是最近受關注的原因。

27．關于 Bilski 訟案下面哪個選項是正確的？

[A] 它的裁決遵循法庭的決議。 [B] 它涉及一項很大的營業交易。

[C] 它已經被聯邦巡回法院駁回了。 [D] 它可能會改變美國的立法慣例。

【 答案】 D

【 考點】  推理判斷

【 解析】依據題干中的關鍵詞 Bilski case 解答本題應定位到二段末句并結合四段的相關信息。二段末句講到了Bilski case 產生的影響“它有可能取消整個系列的專利”，而依據二段首句可知專利的授予是法庭的行為，由此可以推知，這會帶來美國立法慣例的改變，再者四段二句指出了就 Bilski case 在法庭上聽證形式的改變，再次驗證了 D 項符合文意，為正確答案。A 項在文中沒有提及，B 項是就二段倒數二句出現的 big deal 設置的干擾選項，但文中的意思是 Bilski case 是一個大案件，而沒有說和 transaction 相關的信息；C 項是就二段二句中的信息設置的干擾選項，此處只說對business-method patents 進行 broad review，并不能說其被駁回，因此 C 項屬推理過度。28．三段一行的“about-face”最可能的意思是________.[A] 失去善意 [B] 增加敵意 [C] 改變態度 [D] 增強尊嚴

【 答案】 C

【 考點】  詞義句意

【 解析】解答本題的關鍵是依據短語所在句意與前后句意銜接的邏輯關系來推知該短語的意思。三段首句起到了承上啟下的作用，二段主要講對營業方法專利權開始進行限制，三段首句繼續講這一限制帶來的影響，三段首句是一個原因狀語從句，依據 because 后的句意“因為聯邦巡回法院在 1998 年推出了這項專利”，而上面講到現在對該專利又開始進行限制，由此可知，這正是種態度的改變，故 C 項符合文意為正確答案。而將 A，B，D 代入原文，均無法與上下文的語境銜接。

29．由最后兩個自然段我們可以得知營業方式專利________.

[A] 不受法律挑戰的影響 [B] 經常是沒必要地發布

[C] 降低了對專利持有者的尊重 [D] 增加了風險的幾率

【 答案】 B

【 考點】  推理判斷

【 解析】本題考查對后兩段中關于 business-method patents 相關信息的理解。在末段二句的例證中指出“法官們傳遞出太多的專利被授予了那些明顯的發明”，可見 B 項是對此句的同義置換，為正確答案。A項是就四段二句設置的干擾選項，屬篡改文意；C 項是對末段首句設置的干擾項，用esteem 偷換了原文中的protection；D 項是就四段首句中的 risk 編撰的無中生有選項。

30．下面哪項是文章的主題？

[A] 營業方法受到隱約的威脅 [B] 對營業方法專利持有者的保護

[C] 一項關于營業方法的法律訟案 [D] 反營業方法的流行趨勢

【 答案】 A

【 考點】  主旨大意

【 解析】此題考查對全文主旨大意的準確歸納。從整個文章脈絡來看，文章一段指出在過去的 10年，大量的營業方法專利獲得批準；二段指出目前較高專利法庭準備對該專利權進行限制；緊接著三至五段都圍繞二段的話題展開論說，三段介紹了對營業方法專利權進行限制產生重大影響的原因，自聯邦巡回法院批準商業方法以來引起了對營業方法專利申請的熱潮，四段、五段繼續指出各方對營業方法專利的立場轉變。由此可知，A 項能統領文意，為正確答案。D 項的干擾性較強，解答本題也應注意作者在引述 business-method patents 時的感情色彩，比如在二段末句中的 potential 及四段末句的 is whether 都是與 looming 相近的感情色彩，而 D 項prevailing 與該感情色彩不符且文中始終沒提對 Bilski case 的判決結果，故 A 為答案，D為干擾項。B 項是就末段首句中的細節信息設置的選項，自然不能概括文意；文中用有關的 legal case 來烘托主題，因此，不能將此作為文章的主題。

Text 3

一、文章題材結構分析

本文選自Harvard Business Review（《哈佛商業評論》）2007 年2 月份的一篇題為The Accidental Influentials的文章。這篇文章討論了社會潮流得以傳播的影響因素，批駁了基于“兩步傳播”理論的“潮人主宰潮流”論調，提出“容易受影響的大眾推動潮流傳播”的觀點。文章第一段引用 The Tipping Point 一書中關于社會流行的觀點，并加以評論。第二段介紹該書的社會流行的理論依據。第三段至第五段通過觀察日常生活人際間的相互影響，指出“兩步傳播”的不合理性，并提出大眾推動潮流傳播的觀點。

31．作者引用 The Tipping Point 是為了 。

[A] 分析社會潮流的結果 [B]討論“潮人”在傳播社會潮流的作用

[C]舉例論證人們對社會潮流本能的反應 [D]討論“潮人”的基本特征

【答案】B

【 考點】 主旨大意

【 解析】文章提到 Tipping Point 這本書描述社會流行風潮是由一小部分名人引起的，然而，筆鋒一轉在首段末又說“it doesn’t explain how ideas actually spread.”進而引出作者對名人傳播想法功能的討論。由此 B 選項正確。而 A 項錯在 consequences，文中并沒有討論社會潮流的后果問題，而是談到社會潮流的原因（driven）。C 項利用第一段最后一句中的 intuitively 設置的干擾，但文中并沒有提到人類對社會流行的直覺反應；潮人的特征屬于書中的具體內容，屬于就事論事，排除 D 項。

【補充】報刊雜志文章的首段通常引人入勝，目的是引出本文主題。

32．作者認為“兩步傳播理論”

[A]可以解決市場營銷的問題。 [B]有助于解釋某些流行趨勢。

[C]贏得了潮人的支持。 [D]需要確鑿的證據證實其可靠性。

【答案】 D

【 考點】 事實細節

【 解析】文章第二段首句“the supposed…plausible sounding but largely untested theory…”以及末句“…only certain special people can drive trends”充分說明這種理論證據不夠充足。而 D 選項正確的反應了文中的內容。A 選項，原文只是提到市場營銷人員接受這種“兩步傳播理論”，未進一步提到對它的態度，該選項屬于過度推理。B選項說法過于肯定，而原文使用的是一個模糊的說法。C 選項屬于無中生有。

33．研究人員最近的研究發現表明 。

[A]影響力來源于社會互動 [B]人際關系可以通過媒體加強

[C]有影響力的人有更多接觸公眾的渠道 [D]大多數名人受到媒體廣告的關注

【答案】 A

【 考點】 推理引申

【 解析】根據題干，線索大致定位到第三四段，但是第三段并沒有清晰的找到題解，而接下來的第四段，由該段最后一句清晰推理出了影響范圍與社會互動的密切關系，影響能否傳播下去，關鍵在于社會大眾是否愿意互動，積極參與其中。A 選項充分的表明了這一點。B、C、D 三個選項的說法按照常識判斷都可能正確，但是不是文章要闡述的內容，所以排除。

【 補充】本文并不是簡單的考查研究人員觀察到的事實，而是考查從事實中推出的結論，因此正確答案不容易直接選出，用排除法做題。

34．第四段劃橫線的詞組“these people”是指那些 。

[A]在社會影響網絡以外的人 [B]與影響來源幾乎無關聯的人

[C]受到影響又影響他人的人 [D]受到最初影響者影響的人

【答案】 C

【 考點】 詞義句意

【 解析】解析：根據題干，線索定位到第四段。同過分析這個短語所在的句子，“For a social epidemic…; just howmany others pay attention to each of these people has little to do with…”此句主要表明人們是如何被別人影響進而又去影響別人的。而 C 選項恰是對這一點的正確表述。

【 補充】本題考查的是指代。指代屬于考研英語中一個很容易被忽視的考點，最近是在 2005 年第一篇文章的第23題。

35．社會影響的首要動力要素是什么？

[A]被人接受的渴望 [B]影響他人的沖動 [C]受人影響的準備 [D]依靠他人的傾向

【答案】 C

【 考點】 事實細節

【 解析】根據題干，線索定位到最后一段，“那些被稱為風靡全球的影響的現象的主要條件不是一小部分‘潮人’，而是一大部分容易受影響的人”，the presence not of a few influentials but, rather, of a critical mass of easily influenced people。這是作者批駁了 The Tipping Point 中的老觀點后提出的新觀點。A 選項未談及渴望被人接受的問題；B 選項 impulse，屬于對第四段第一句的曲解；D 選項在文章中找不到反應 rely on的依據

【 補充】本題考查細節，考查考生的細節辨別能力，注意選項與原文的同義替換。

Text 4

36．銀行家抱怨，他們被迫 。

[A] 遵循不利的資產評估規則 [B] 從第三方獲得付款

[C] 與制定價格的經理合作 [D] 重新評估他們的一些資產

【答案】 A

【 考點】 事實細節

【 解析】由題干關鍵詞 complained 和 were forced 將信息定位于第一段最后兩句，“銀行抱怨會計準則設立者設立的規則迫使銀行不得不報道大量的損失……”，也就是 A 選項的內容，選項的表達是對原文的同義替換。B項把首段尾句中的 value 改為 collect 進行了偷梁換柱。C 選項干擾選項的設置來源于首段末句：Theserules …, not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch。其中 managers and regulators would like them to fetch 是price 的定語從句，命題人在 C 選項中玩了一個文字游戲，考查考生的斷句能力。D 選項reevaluate 未提到，無中生有。

【補充】該題的干擾選項設置出現了一點新意：以往命題人從未這么直接地考查過考生的斷句能力。

37．根據作者，FASB 規則的改變可能會引起 。

[A] 管理職能削弱 [B] 銀行系統的復蘇 [C] 銀行長期的資產損失 [D] 其獨立性的減弱

【答案】 D

【 考點】 事實細節

【 解析】該題難度很大，文章前三段談到在銀行家的壓力下，標準的制定者開始出現妥協，對銀行不利的規則有所調整，這意味著其獨立性的削弱。所以 D 選項為正確答案。A 選項中的 diminish 與第三段尾句中的 enhance相矛盾。第二段末句提到銀行的復蘇將會非常困難，所以 B 不對。C 文章未提到。

【補充】該題屬于在否定處、轉折處命題，二者屬于考研閱讀的高頻考點。

38．根據第四段，McCreevy 反對 IASB 企圖 。[A] 遠離政治影響 [B] 逃避來自同行的壓力 [C] 按照自己的意愿制定規則 [D] 實行漸進的改革措施

【答案】 C

【 考點】 觀點態度

【 解析】答案意為“獨立自主的制定法規”。根據題干中的“McCreevy objects to”定位到第四段。第四段提到歐洲的部長們要求 IASB 立即根據美國的變化做出一樣的反應，而IASB 不想采取行McCreevy 警告 IASB“不是處在政治真空中”而是在“現實世界里”，綜上可以判斷出 IASB 想自己獨立制定規則，但是政客們反對。A 選項干擾性非常強，屬于對 not live in a political vacuum 的曲解；B、D 選項屬于無中生有，文中未提到來自同行的壓力和漸進的改革。

39．作者認為銀行“on the wrong planet”的原因是 。

[A] 曲解了市場價格指標 [B] 夸大了他們資產的真實價值

[C] 忽視了壞賬存在的可能性 [D] 否定了他們資產出售中的市面損失

【答案】B

【 考點】 事實細節

【 解析】根據題干信息我們可以定位到第五段首句。這是一個強調結構，with…解釋 banks were “on the wrong planet”的原因，也就是本題的答案。所以 B 為正確答案。干擾選項中 C 選項干擾性最大，但是，我們回原文定位，Today they argue that market prices overstate losses, because they largely reflect the temporary illiquidity of markets, not the likely extent of bad debts.不難發現 neglect 與原文的 reflect 是偷換概念。D 選項，原文未提到銀行是否出售了不良資產，更未提到銀行否認了這一點。

【 補充】本段充滿了金融學專業術語，晦澀難懂。但是本題的命制是圍繞該段的首句，即該段主題句命制的，從這個角度來說降低了對整段語言的理解的要求。

40．作者對準則設立者的態度是 。

[A] 滿意 [B] 懷疑 [C] 客觀 [D] 同情

【答案】 D

【 考點】 觀點態度

【 解析】文章討論了銀行針對“standard-setters”的咄咄逼人的行為，在銀行的游說下 standard-setters 開始妥協，調整標準的制定，使其符合銀行的口味，特別是文章最后一段更是明確的表明了作者對“standard-setters”的同情。A 選項，“滿意”。原文并沒有提到 standard-setters 完成了作者對他們的期待，反而是對 FASB 做出了妥協，修改了規定，所以作者對他們談不上滿意。B 項“懷疑”屬于對正確答案的反義干擾。C 項，文章談到了作者對 standard-setters 的同情，已經和“客觀”相悖了。

【 補充】本題考查的是考生對全文的把握能力，題目的答案不能根據文中某句話得出，必須在把握全文基礎上，抓住其中的關鍵詞句進行綜合分析。