1、考研英语阅读理解-(一)及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、BSection Readi(总题数：4，分数：100.00)All men are created equal, or so reckoned Thomas Jefferson as he drafted Americas Declaration of Independence in 1776. Subsequent Americans have had reason to question the founding father. So too have people in the land from whi
2、ch the new nation gained its freedom. America and Britain are among the most unequal countries in the rich world and Britain, at any rate, is more unequal now than it was a generation ago. That is the conclusion of a study commissioned by Harriet Harman, the equalities minister.Class and money have
3、always strongly affected how people do in life in Britain, with well-heeled fan, lies breeding affluent children just as the offspring of the desperately poor tend to remain poor. All that was supposed to have ceased at the end of the Second World War, with the birth of a welfare state designed to m
4、eet basic needs and promote social mobility. But despite devoting much thought and more money to improving the lot of the poor, governments have failed to boost those at the bottom of the pile as much as those at the top have boosted themselves.The new study, led by John Hills of the London School o
5、f Economics, found, for example, that the richest tenth of households received income more than four tinges that of the poorest tenth; just a generation ago, it was three times as much. Internationally, only six of the 30 members of the OECD, a club of mainly rich countries, show greater inequality.
6、 Wealth is distributed far more unequally than income, with the richest tenth in Britain holding assets worth almost 100 times those of the poorest.Although the study found that some of the widest gaps between social groups have diminished over time, deep-seated differences between haves and have-no
7、ts persist, ruining the life chances of the less fortunate. Politicians of all stripes talk up equality of opportunity, arguing that it makes for a fairer and more mobile society, and a more prosperous one. The goal of greater equality of outcomes also has its boosters. In “The Spirit Level“, epidem
8、ic disease experts Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson claim that more equal societies are healthier than unequal ones, as well as happier. Not all agree, but in a country where the National Health Service accounts for almost a fifth of public spending, it is worth considering.The difficulty arises i
9、n putting these notions into practice, through severe tax increases for the middleclass and wealthy, or expanding government intervention. These have not recently been votewinning propositions, but the recession that Britain is now limping away from may have changed things.（分数：25.00）(1).According to
10、 Harriet Harman, in Britain, A. inequality has disappeared. B. the rich-poor gap has narrowed. C. various social inequalities spring up. D. the unequal situation has worsened.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(2).Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 2? A. Class and money determine everything in Brit
11、ain. B. Gap between poor and rich remains after World War . C. Basic needs are met in Britain thanks to the welfare policy. D. The British government makes few efforts to help the poor.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(3).John Hills study has found that A. the richest receive income four times more than the poorest
12、. B. Britain is an OECD member with the highest rate of inequality. C. wealth distribution is more unequal than income distribution. D. most gaps between social groups have disappeared over time.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(4).It is indicated in Paragraph 4 that British politicians A. only indulge in empty tal
13、ks. B. advocate fairer opportunities. C. boost the equality of outcomes, D. ignore the real need of the poor.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(5).Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson hold that fairer countries A. enjoy a higher level of well-being. B. are often more mobile and prosperous. C. feature stronger governme
14、nt intervention. D. can be realized by severe tax increases.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.On 26 March, the Italian Senate approved a bill that would give physicians in the country the right to Uoverride/U the living wills of people who are in a persistent vegetative state, and to try to keep the patients alive t
15、hrough artificial nutrition.The measure has caused intense controversy. Many countries have laws, or established codes of medical practice, that protect the expressed wishes of an individual to decline treatment if they become severely incapacitated and incapable of communicating. In most US states,
16、 for example, a doctor must negotiate with relatives via an ethics committee if he or she believes that a patient incapacitated in this way could benefit from additional treatment. The Italian bill, however, explicitly allows physicians to overrule such living wills. It also declares that artificial
17、 nutrition is not a clinical intervention.Curiously, the proposed law applies only to patients in the type of prolonged, deep coma known as a persistent vegetative state, and not to those with other, similarly incapacitating illnesses. This is because the bill has been prompted by the recent and muc
18、h-publicized death of Eluana Englaro, who spent 17 years in a vegetative state after a car accident at the age of 21. Her father, argtfing that his daughter had voiced a desire to be allowed to die if incapacitated, had pressed her reluctant doctors to cease artificial feeding. He eventually took le
19、gal action, winning in one court after the next in fighting off all the doctors appeals. In February, he finally had her moved to a hospital that was prepared to remove the feeding tube. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi issued an emergency decree to block the process, but the Italian president refus
20、ed to sign it. The constitutional crisis was averted when Englaro died on 9 February.Surveys have indicated that a large majority of Italians do not support the idea that living wills could be ignored But most relevant scientific societies have been quiet. The Federation of Italian Physicians publis
21、hed only a mild statement, after the Senate vote, suggesting that it should have been consulted.As tragic as Englaros situation was, media-fuelled emotion is not a good basis for lawmaking. The Italian constitution says that no one can be forced to undergo medical treatment without his or her approv
22、al. The Italian parliament must now ensure that the bill is imbued with a suitable level of scientific and legal sophistication, and that it meets this constitutional provision. Discussion needs to embrace the requested wider consultation with the medical community and provisions should be made for
23、care-givers conscientious objection. But a physician whose conscience precludes his or her personally removing a feeding tube should not have the last say in the life or death of a patient whose wishes are clearly stated.（分数：25.00）(1).The word “override“ (Line 2, Paragraph 1) most probably means A.
24、protect. B. scorn. C. ignore. D. respect.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(2).In Paragraph 2, US states are cited as an example to show that A. the expressed wishes of an individual are protected by laws or codes of medical practice. B. a doctor must discuss with relatives of the patient when providing additional t
25、reatment. C. a doctor has the right to let the patient who declines treatment continue to be treated medically. D. intense controversy about the living will of the patient has been caused.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(3).It can be inferred from the third paragraph that A. Eluana Englaro died because a hospital
26、removed her feeding tube. B. the bill could be applied to patients with all kinds of incapacitating illnesses. C. the Senate passed the bill in honor of Eluana Englaro. D. the bill could be applied to patients suffering deep coma.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(4).A physician does not have the right to decide the
27、 life or death of a patient if A. there is no suitable level of scientific and legal sophistication. B. the patient expresses his own living will in a clear way. C. the physician does not have clear conscience. D. there is no wider consultation with the medical community.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(5).Which o
28、f the following is the best title for this text? A. The Living Will of Patients B. The Death of Eluana Englaro C. A Bill against Rights D. The Intense Controversy（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.When it comes to jealousy, men and women arent always on the same page. Previous studies have shown that, while men are m
29、ore likely to see red over a partners sexual infidelity, women are more upset by emotional cheating. Evolutionary psychologists theorize that the difference is rooted in the sexes historical roles-men wanted to guarantee that their partners were carrying their children, while women needed to feel se
30、cure that they and their children would be cared for by a committed partner. Yet, that evolutionary explanation doesnt account for a large group of men who say that emotional disloyalty is more upsetting than sexual infidelity, and women who are more upset by sexual betrayal.To gain a more thorough
31、understanding of gender and jealousy, researchers from Pennsylvania State University (PSU) approached the issue with some modern psychology. In a study published in the journal Psychological Science, researchers found that, while generally speaking, the evolutionary explanation of gender and jealous
32、y held up, when viewed through the lens of attachment theory-broadly, the psychological theory about our tendency to foster intimate relationships with other people-both men and women with secure emotional histories were more likely to experience jealousy over emotional infidelity, and those who wer
33、e insecure or dismissing, were more likely to be Uvexed/U by sexual cheating.To tackle the issue, researchers recruited 416 college students from New York City, whose attachment styles were assessed through questionnaires containing a series of vignettes (short descriptions or pictures)-each reflect
34、ing either secure, fearful, preoccupied, or dismissing attachment styles. Participants were instructed to select the story that most accurately reflected their own attitude about romantic relationships, and were categorized accordingly. In a subsequent questionnaire, participants were asked whether
35、they would be more upset by their partner “having passionate sexual intercourse with another person,“ or “forming a deep emotional attachment to another person.“They found that, regardless of gender, 77.3% of securely attached participants viewed emotional infidelity as more upsetting, while 64.8% o
36、f insecure or dismissing participants thought sexual cheating was worse. These findings, the authors say, shed light on the intricate psychological nature of jealousy, and may help to develop techniques to determine the underlying dynamics of sexual jealousy-a welldocumented cause of spousal abuse,
37、beating and even murder. The authors suggest that, gaining a better understanding of not only the broad differences in jealousy between the sexes, but of the differences in jealousy within genders, may help to identify methods for interrupting abuse by fostering stable, secure attachments.（分数：25.00）
38、(1).The theory put forward by evolutionary psychologists A. maintains that men and women are different when it comes to jealousy. B. asserts that the gender difference in jealousy shaped the sexes historical roles. C. fails to obtain a thorough understanding of gender and jealousy. D. is by and larg
39、e influenced by Darwins evolutionary theory.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(2).The study conducted by researchers from PSU has shown that A. the evolutionary theory of gender and jealousy is valid and true. B. more participants (77.3% to 64.8%) viewed emotional infidelity as more upsetting. C. the evolutionary ex
40、planation is untrue when viewed from the angle of attachment theory D. aside from gender, attachment styles contribute to the difference in terms of jealousy.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(3).The word “vexed“ (Line 7, Para. 2) most probably means A. bewildered. B. haunted. C. irritated. D. troubled.（分数：5.00）A.B.
41、C.D.(4).What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A. Jealousy has nothing to do with gender, but with attachment styles. B. The findings help to explain the nature of jealousy, especially sexual jealousy. C. Records have shown that sexual jealousy is a cause of marital violence. D. A better know
42、ledge of jealousy can avoid spousal abuse and domestic violence.（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.(5).Which of the following would be the best title for this text? A. Emotional Disloyalty vs. Sexual Infidelity B. Gender and Jealousy C. Attachment Styles and Jealousy D. Dynamics of Jealousy（分数：5.00）A.B.C.D.Here you a
43、re. Every morning, you reluctantly return to the same 66 cube. You grab a coffee, surf a news site, and chitchat with a peer. Then its onto that attack of calls and e-malls coming your way. But the workload doesnt bother you. Staying busy saves you from something worse. And that something worse happ
44、ens each month when the promotion announcements come out. You read what your peers have accomplished, here and elsewhere. Reflecting on what you did during that same time, you realize how far youve fallen behind. Sometimes you whisper, “That shouldve been me.“Years ago, you marched into this cube dr
45、eaming of being a big shot. You didnt plan to stay here long; it was a place to learn the ropes and build your reputation. Early on, the higher-ups raved about your natural talent and upside. But those qualities only take you so far. Now, you hold a ceremonial “Senior“ title. Your place is secure an
46、d you make a decent living. Still, you feel trapped and restless. You follow the same tired routines. And you wonder ff youve settled, if this is all there is and all youll ever be. You once rived like you had all the time in the world. Then you lost track of it as years passed. Now, you feel its we
47、ight and passing more intimately, knowing how much youve wasted.We want to believe our careers will unfold logically. We see ourselves as special, possessing a manifest destiny to someday create, change, and lead. So we put our lives on hold and sacrifice for the greater good at work, certain our ef
48、forts will eventually be rewarded. We imagine climbing the proverbial ladder, not wandering through a maze.So what happened? Youd like to believe it was one moment-a major oversight or missed opportunity-that led you here. Deep inside, you know the truth. You wrote fists and plans, knowing youd neve
49、r put them into motion. You waited for something to happen to you, and got left behind. Despite the grueling hours, you went through the motions, subconsciously knowing your path was welcome scenery and exercise. But led nowhere.In our personal narratives, we naturally make ourselves the heroes. We seek out villains and scapegoats to justify why our lives havent panned out. Unfortunately, the truth is far less melodramatic. It is
