1、考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷 305 及答案与解析Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. (40 points)0 When Liam McGee departed as president of Bank of America in August, his explanation was surprisingly straight up. Rather than cloaking his exit in the u
2、sual vague excuses, he came right out and said he was leaving “to pursue my goal of running a company.“ Broadcasting his ambition was “very much my decision,“ McGee says. Within two weeks, he was talking for the first time with the board of Hartford Financial Services Group, which named him CEO and
3、chairman on September 29.McGee says leaving without a position lined up gave him time to reflect on what kind of company he wanted to run. It also sent a clear message to the outside world about his aspirations. And McGee isnt alone. In recent weeks the No. 2 executives at Avon and American Express
4、quit with the explanation that they were looking for a CEO post. As boards scrutinize succession plans in response to shareholder pressure, executives who dont get the nod also may wish to move on. A turbulent business environment also has senior managers cautious of letting vague pronouncements clo
5、ud their reputations.As the first signs of recovery begin to take hold, deputy chiefs may be more willing to make the jump without a net. In the third quarter, CEO turnover was down 23% from a year ago as nervous boards stuck with the leaders they had, according to Liberum Research. As the economy p
6、icks up, opportunities will abound for aspiring leaders.The decision to quit a senior position to look for a better one is unconventional. For years executives and headhunters have adhered to the rule that the most attractive CEO candidates are the ones who must be poached. Says Korn / Ferry senior
7、partner Dennis Carey: “I cant think of a single search Ive done where a board has not instructed me to look at sitting CEOs first.“Those who jumped without a job havent always landed in top positions quickly. Ellen Marram quit as chief of Tropicana a decade age, saying she wanted to be a CEO. It was
8、 a year before she became head of a tiny Internet-based commodities exchange. Robert Willumstad left Citigroup in 2005 with ambitions to be a CEO. He finally took that post at a major financial institution three years later.Many recruiters say the old disgrace is fading for top performers. The finan
9、cial crisis has made it more acceptable to be between jobs or to leave a bad one. “The traditional rule was it s safer to stay where you are, but thats been fundamentally inverted,“ says one headhunter. “The people whove been hurt the worst are those who ve stayed too long.“1 When McGee announced hi
10、s departure, his manner can best be described as being（A）arrogant.（B） frank.（C） self-centered.（D）impulsive.2 According to Paragraph 2, senior executives quitting may be spurred by（A）their expectation of better financial status.（B） their need to reflect on their private life.（C） their strained relati
11、ons with the boards.（D）their pursuit of new career goals.3 The word “poached“(Para. 4)most probably means（A）approved of.（B） attended to.（C） hunted for.（D）guarded against.4 It can be inferred from the last paragraph that（A）top performers used to cling to their posts.（B） loyalty of top performers is g
12、etting out-dated.（C） top performers care more about reputations.（D）it s safer to stick to the traditional rules.5 Which of the following is the best title for the text?（A）CEOs: Where to Go?（B） CEOs: All the Way Up?（C） Top Managers Jump without a Net（D）The Only Way Out for Top Performers5 During the
13、past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to ne
14、wly poor in a few months.In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well
15、. Todays families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setbacka back-up earner(usually Mom)who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This “added-worker effect
16、“ could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.During the same period, families have been asked t
17、o absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the
18、past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share
19、 of it borne by families have risenand newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family,
20、as the odds of having a weak elderly parentand all the attendant need for physical and financial assistancehave jumped eightfold in just one generation.From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility
21、, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.6 Today s double-income families are at greater financial risk in that（A）the saf
22、ety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.（B） their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.（C） they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.（D）they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.7 As a result of President Bush s reform, retired people may have（A）a higher
23、sense of security.（B） less secured payments.（C） less chance to invest.（D）a guaranteed future.8 According to the author, health-savings plans will（A）help reduce the cost of healthcare.（B） popularize among the middle class.（C） compensate for the reduced pensions.（D）increase the families investment ris
24、k.9 It can be inferred from the last paragraph that（A）financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.（B） the middle class may face greater political challenges.（C） financial problems may bring about political problems.（D）financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.10 Which of the
25、following is the best title for this text?（A）The Middle Class on the Alert（B） The Middle Class on the Cliff（C） The Middle Class in Conflict（D）The Middle Class in Ruins10 Could the bad old days of economic decline be about to return? Since OPEC agreed to supply-cuts in March, the price of crude oil h
26、as jumped to almost $26 a barrel, up from less than $10 last December. This near-tripling of oil prices calls up scary memories of the 1973 oil shock, when prices quadrupled, and 1979-80, when they also almost tripled. Both previous shocks resulted in double-digit inflation and global economic decli
27、ne. So where are the headlines warning of gloom and doom this time?The oil price was given another push up this week when Iraq suspended oil exports. Strengthening economic growth, at the same time as winter grips the northern hemisphere, could push the price higher still in the short term.Yet there
28、 are good reasons to expect the economic consequences now to be less severe than in the 1970s. In most countries the cost of crude oil now accounts for a smaller share of the price of petrol than it did in the 1970s. In Europe, taxes account for up to four-fifths of the retail price, so even quite b
29、ig changes in the price of crude have a more muted effect on pump prices than in the past.Rich economies are also less dependent on oil than they were, and so less sensitive to swings in the oil price. Energy conservation, a shift to other fuels and a decline in the importance of heavy, energy-inten
30、sive industries have reduced oil consumption. Software, consultancy and mobile telephones use far less oil than steel or car production. For each dollar of GDP(in constant prices)rich economies now use nearly 50% less oil than in 1973. The OECD estimates in its latest Economic Outlook that, if oil p
31、rices averaged $22 a barrel for a full year, compared with $13 in 1998, this would increase the oil import bill in rich economies by only 0.25-0.5% of GDP. That is less than one-quarter of the income loss in 1974 or 1980. On the other hand, oil-importing emerging economiesto which heavy industry has
32、 shiftedhave become more energy-intensive, and so could be more seriously squeezed.One more reason not to lose sleep over the rise in oil prices is that, unlike the rises in the 1970s, it has not occurred against the background of general commodity-price inflation and global excess demand. A sizable
33、 portion of the world is only just emerging from economic decline. The Economists commodity price index is broadly unchanging from a year ago. In 1973 commodity prices jumped by 70%, and in 1979 by almost 30%.11 The main reason for the latest rise of oil price is（A）global inflation.（B） reduction in
34、supply.（C） fast growth in economy.（D）Iraq s suspension of exports.12 It can be inferred from the text that the retail price of petrol will go up dramatically if（A）price of crude rises.（B） commodity prices rise.（C） consumption rises.（D）oil taxes rise.13 The estimates in Economic Outlook show that in
35、rich countries（A）heavy industry becomes more energy-intensive.（B） income loss mainly results from fluctuating crude oil prices.（C） manufacturing industry has been seriously squeezed.（D）oil price changes have no significant impact on GDP.14 We can draw a conclusion from the text that（A）oil-price shoc
36、ks are less shocking now.（B） inflation seems irrelevant to oil-price shocks.（C） energy conservation can keep down the oil prices.（D）the price rise of crude leads to the shrinking of heavy industry.15 From the text we can see that the writer seems（A）optimistic.（B） sensitive.（C） gloomy.（D）scared.15 Wh
37、atever happened to the death of newspapers? A year ago the end seemed near. The recession threatened to remove the advertising and readers that had not already fled to the internet. Newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle were chronicling their own doom. Americas Federal Trade commission launche
38、d a round of talks about how to save newspapers. Should they become charitable corporations? Should the state subsidize them? It will hold another meeting soon. But the discussions now seem out of date.In much of the world there is little sign of crisis. German and Brazilian papers have shrugged off
39、 the recession. Even American newspapers, which inhabit the most troubled corner of the global industry, have not only survived but often returned to profit. Not the 20% profit margins that were routine a few years ago, but profit all the same.It has not been much fun. Many papers stayed afloat by p
40、ushing journalists overboard. The American Society of News Editors reckons that 13,500 newsroom jobs have gone since 2007. Readers are paying more for slimmer products. Some papers even had the nerve to refuse delivery to distant suburbs. Yet these desperate measures have proved the right ones and,
41、sadly for many journalists, they can be pushed further.Newspapers are becoming more balanced businesses, with a healthier mix of revenues from readers and advertisers. American papers have long been highly unusual in their reliance on ads. Fully 87% of their revenues came from advertising in 2008, a
42、ccording to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development(OECD). In Japan the proportion is 35%. Not surprisingly, Japanese newspapers are much more stable.The whirlwind that swept through newsrooms harmed everybody, but much of the damage has been concentrated in areas where newspaper are
43、 least distinctive. Car and film reviewers have gone. So have science and general business reporters. Foreign bureaus have been savagely cut off. Newspapers are less complete as a result. But completeness is no longer a virtue in the newspaper business.16 By saying “Newspapers like . their own doom“
44、(Para. 1), the author indicates that news-papers（A）neglected the sign of crisis.（B） failed to get state subsidies.（C） were not charitable corporations.（D）were in a desperate situation.17 Some newspapers refused delivery to distant suburbs probably because（A）readers threatened to pay less.（B） newspap
45、ers wanted to reduce costs.（C） journalists reported little about these areas.（D）subscribers complained about slimmer products.18 Compared with their American counterparts, Japanese newspapers are much more stable because they（A）have more sources of revenue.（B） have more balanced newsrooms.（C） are le
46、ss dependent on advertising.（D）are less affected by readership.19 What can be inferred from the last paragraph about the current newspaper business?（A）Distinctiveness is an essential feature of newspapers.（B） Completeness is to blame for the failure of newspapers.（C） Foreign bureaus play a crucial r
47、ole in the newspaper business.（D）Readers have lost their interest in car and film reviews.20 The most appropriate title for this text would be（A）American Newspapers: A Hopeless Story（B） American Newspapers: Gone with the Wind（C） American Newspapers: A Thriving Business（D）American Newspapers: Struggl
48、ing for Survival考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷 305 答案与解析Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. (40 points)【知识模块】 阅读1 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 细节题。根据题干定位在文章第一段：Liam McGee 以美国银行总裁的身份离职，谈及离职原因时非常直白，并没有含糊其辞。原文中使用了固定短语“straight up” ，意为“直率的，真实的”，还有固定短语“right ou
49、t”，意为“明白地，坦率地”。由此可判断，McGee 的态度非常明确，B 项中的形容词“frank“和原文同义。A、C、D 项均属贬义形容词，故排除。【知识模块】 阅读2 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 细节题。根据题干定位在文章第二段，首先讲述了 McGee 这么做的原因：有时间反思一下自己到底想管理什么样的公司；随后文中举了其他几个例子，Avon 和 American Express 的高层管理人员，他们致力于 CEO 的职位。由此可知，D 项是促使这些高管们辞职的原因。A 项中的“financial status”在本段范围内未提及；B 项中的“reflect on their private life”是对文中“reflect onwhat kind of company he wanted to run”的严重曲解；C 项是根据第二段倒数第二句编造的选项，选项内容与原文不符且不能回答本题提问，故排除。【知识模块】 阅读3 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 含义题。根据题干定位在文章第四段，该段主要讲述离开现在的职位去寻找更好的这并不是传统的做法；猎头遵循一个原则：最具魅力的 CEO 是那些需要“poached” 的人。此处原文使用了 “headhunter“这个词，hunter 原意是“猎手，猎人”，而此处意为
