1、考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷 48 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 A But work is underway to get computers to capture human life and remember it as people dorecalling bits of experience that are linked by a common time o
2、r place or person. Experts of Microsoft Recearch show deep interest in this challenging subject.B Microsoft plans to weave the computer-based portions of the My Life Bits project into a software product, possibly as early as 2008. It will be in the operating system, gathering data as you work.C Your
3、e at a black-tie party where you spot an acquaintance whose name and business are right on the tip of your tonguebut not tripping off it. Who is he? When did you last speak with him? Hes headed your way. Luckily, your memory prosthesisa computer that monitors and remembers everything you do or exper
4、ienceis ready to whisper his name in your ear.D But after three years of digitizing Bells life, the research team realized they were creating an unwieldy “ wrie-once-read-never“ database. So they began writing software to mimic the way the human mind recalls things. People recall information in part
5、 by remembering where they were, what else was happening, and whom they were with. Now the system can play back a phone conversation while simultaneously displaying any Web pages Bell was viewing at that time plus E-mails and documents relevant to the conversation.E Eventually, people will use this
6、“add-on personal memory“ during their daily lives. Such a database could be used to refresh a failing memory, or educate future generations about what todays lives were like.F Compute expert Gordon Bell of Microsoft Research stockpiled all the printed and digital detritus of his 68 years of life. Wi
7、th the help of his partner Jim Gemmell, Bell scanned old papers and photographs as well as books he had read. They also wrote software to capture a copy of every message and document that crossed his computer screen and every voice mail he received, and they recently began recording all of Bells pho
8、ne calls and any television he watches. Now hes developing tools to turn this computerized shoebox into a memory aid.G And the Pentagons Lifelog project would pick up from Bells research. Scientists want to combine sensors, cameras, bugging devices, and wearable computers to capture a comprehensive,
9、 searchable database of an individual human life. The project is aiming for portable sensors that would record daily life in exhaustive details and data processors that would search for patterns and sift for information likely to prove useful later on. A practical, powerful, consumer version could b
10、e decades off.Order:5 A The Hindu ceremony takes place under a canopy of brocade or some other richly decorated material, festooned with flowers. The bride, wearing a red silk sari, is the first to arrive, but she hides out of sight until the bridegroom, robed in white, has been brought in by his fr
11、iends and relations. As he enters, lights are waved over his head and grains of rice are thrown, a ceremonial act symbolizing riches and fertility.B White wedding dresses have been in the forefront of bridal fashion since Queen Victoria broke with the royal tradition of a silver dress and opted for
12、white for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.C In the Buddhist ceremony the bride and groom sip three times from each of three bowls of increasing size to symbolize how their lives will grow together.In past times it was customary to shower the bride and groom with petals as they left the church,
13、and for them to walk along a path strewn with flowers. This charming idea gave way in the era of mass production to paper confeti. In some countries, rice is thrown, to symbolize fertility and plenty. Beware, it could hurt if thrown with great vigor!D The going-away car is often decorated by high-sp
14、irited friends with messages in lipstick and shaving foam, and tied about with balloons, tin cans, and old boots. The “old boot“ tradition is an ancient one and stems from the time when the father, on giving away his daughter to the groom, presented him also with one of her slippers. This gave the n
15、ew husband, symbolically speaking, the upper hand, for he was supposed to thrash her with it should she displease him. The slipper was put at the bed head on his side of the bed to remind his wife who was boss. However, if she became the dominant partner, neighbors transferred the power of the slipp
16、er to her, and christened her “the old boot“.E The idea of having bridesmaids, pages, a best man and ushers originated with the belief that evil spirits, envious of the couples happiness, would be out to harm them, but would be confused by so many similarly dressed people. The custom of the best man
17、 probably goes back to the days when the groom took a friend with him when he went to kidnap the bride from her home. Bells were originally rung at weddings to frighten away the evil spirits, and noisy celebrations were held beforehand to try and drive them from the community.F These were the ancest
18、ors of our stag and hen parties. The Ancient Egyptians were probably the first to use weeding rings; in hieroglyphics, the circle was the symbol of eternity. The ring can also symbolize the bonds of a captive.G In the Jewish wedding ceremony the couple are married under a chuppah, a canopy of silk o
19、r velvet held up by four posts. This is a relic of the time when the children of Israel lived in tents. It symbolizes the bridal chamber. To some it signifies the home the couple will make together; its fragility reminds the couple of their own weakness and the need to nurture their union in order t
20、o ensure its survival. During the ceremony the bride and groom drink wine from the same glass, symbolizing that they will share all things. The bridegroom then dashes the glass to the floor and grinds it under his foot. Some say that this is a reminder of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem,
21、others that it frightens off the evil spirits; friends call out muzel tov (good luck) at this point.Order:10 A On the other hand are two compelling arguments against placing a duty on humans to protect endangered species. The first is essentially the Darwinian argument that extinction results from t
22、he inexorable process of so-called “natural selection“ in which stronger species survive while weaker ones do not. Moreover, we humans are not exempt from the process. Accordingly, if we see fit to eradicate other species in order to facilitate our survival, then to be it. We are only behaving as an
23、imals must, Darwin would no doubt assert.B As I see it, there are three fundamental arguments for imposing on ourselves at least some responsibility to preserve endangered species, The first has to do culpability. According to this argument, to the extent that endangerment is the result of anthropog
24、enic evenis such as clear-cutting of forests or polluting of lakes and streams, we humans have a duty to take affirmative measures to protect the species whose survival weve placed in jeopardy.C The second argument, and the one that I find most compelling, is an appeal to logic over emotion. It is a
25、 scientific fact that thousands of animal species become extinct every year. Many such extinctions are due to natural forces, while others are due to anthropogenic factors. In any event it is far beyond our ability to save them all. By what standard, then, should we decide which species are worth sa
26、ving and which ones are out? In my observation, we tend to favor animals with human-like physical characteristics and behaviors. This preference is understandablei after all, dolphins are far more endearing than bugs. But there is no logical justification for such a standard. Accordingly, what makes
27、 more sense is to decide based on our own economic self-interest. In other words, the more money and jobs it would cost to save a certain species, the lower priority we should place on doing so.D What are the limits of our duty to save endangered species from extinction? The statement raises a varie
28、ty of issues about morality, conscience, self-preservation and economics. On balance, however, I fundamentally agree with the notion that humans need not make “extraordinary“ effortsat the expense of money and job to ensure the preservation of any endangered species.E We should appeal to self-preser
29、vation. The animal kingdom is an intricate matrix of interdependent relationships, in which each species depends on many others for its survival. Severing certain relationships, such as that between a predator and its natural prey, can set into motion a series of extinctions that ultimately might en
30、danger our own survival as a species. While this claim might sound far-fetched to some, environmental experts assure us that in the long run it is a very real possibility.F The issue of endangered-species protection is a complex one, requiring subjective judgments about moral duty and the comparativ
31、e value of various life-forms. Thus, there are no easy or certain answers. Yet it is for this very reason I agree that economic self-interest should take precedence over vague notions about moral duty when it comes to saving endangered species. In the final analysis, at a point when it becomes criti
32、cal for our own survival as a species to save certain others, then we humans will do so if we are fitin accordance with Darwins observed process of natural selection.G The second argument has to do with capability. This argument disregards the extent to which we humans might have contributed to the
33、endangerment of a species. Instead, the argument goes, if we are aware of the danger, know what steps are needed to prevent extinction, and can take those steps, then we are morally obligated to help prevent extinction. This argument would place a very high affirmative duty on humans to protect enda
34、ngered species.Order:15 A Enduring problems such as war, poverty, and violence ultimately spring from human nature, which no technological innovation short of genetic engineering can alter. Thus, the statement is correct in this respect. However, if we define “progress“ more narrowlyin terms of econ
35、omic standard of living and comfort levelrecent technological innovations have indeed brought about clear progress for humanity.B Have technological innovations of the last century failed to bring about true progress for humanity, as the statement contends? Although I agree that technology cannot ul
36、timately prevent us from harming one another, the statement falls to account for the significant positive impact that the modern industrial and computer revolutions have had on the quality of lifeat least in the developed world.C Yet, for every technological innovation helping to reduce human suffer
37、ing is another that has served primarily to add to it. For example, while some might argue that nuclear weapons serve as invaluable peace-keepers , this argument flies in the face of the hundreds of thousands of innocent people murdered and maimed by atomic blasts. More recently, the increasing use
38、of chemical weapons for human slaughter points out that so-called “advances“ in biochemistry can amount to net losses for humanity.D Not withstanding technologys limitations in preventing war, poverty, and violence, twentieth century technological innovation has enhanced the overall standard of livi
39、ng and comfort level of developed nations. The advent of steel production and assembly-line manufacturing created countless jobs, stimulated economic growth, and supplied a plethora of innovative conveniences. More recently, computers have helped free up our time by performing repetitive tasks; have
40、 aided in the design of safer and more attractive bridges, buildings, and vehicles;and have made possible universal access to information.E I agree with the statement in so far as there is no technological solution to the enduring problems of war, poverty, and violence, for the reason that they stem
41、 from certain aspects of human naturesuch as aggression and greed. Although future advances in biochemistry might enable us to “ engineer away“ those undesirable aspects, in the meantime it is up to our economists, diplomats, social reformers, and juristsnot our scientists and engineersto mitigate t
42、hese problems.F Of course, such progress has not come without costs. One harmful byproduct of industrial progress is environmental pollution and its threat to public health. Another is the alienation of assembly-line workers from their work. And, the Internet breeds information overload and steals o
43、ur time and attention away from family, community, and coworkers. Nevertheless, on balance both the modern-industrial and computer revolutions have improved our standard of living and comfort level; and both constitute progress by any measure.G Admittedly, many technological developments during the
44、last century have helped reduce human suffering. Consider, for instance, technology that enables computers to map Earths geographical features from outer space. This technology allows us to locate lands that can be cultivated for feeding malnourished people in third-world countries. And, few would d
45、isagree that humanity is the beneficiary of the myriad of twentieth-century innovations in medicine and medical technologyfrom prostheses and organ transplants to vaccines and lasers.Order:20 Bend It Like Beckham is welcome. It is the story of a British girl named Jess who must choose between the tr
46、aditions of her family or her desire to become a soccer sensation like her idol, David Beckham.The movies title comes from Beckhams amazing ability to bend the ball into the goal with just a simple kick, something Jess aspires to do just as well.41.But, it is amazing that an entire movie has sprung
47、up around the personality of one man, David Beckham, and the team he plays for.Mind, he is one of the worlds most recognized athletes, and his team, Englands Manchester United (Man U) is the most valuable sports franchise in the world worth more than the NY Yankees, the LA Lakers, the Dallas Cowboys
48、 or any other team you can conjure up. Their fan base is said to be over 53 million worldwide.But make no mistake, their star player Beckham and the team itself is more than a sports club, it is worldwide marketing machine.42.Under the Man U family brand they offer financial planning services, elect
49、ricity, life insurance, mortgages, credit cards, bed linens, jewelry, ketchup (!), wallpaper, lunchboxes, luggage, cell phones, boxer shorts, magazines, their own TV channel .and all this from a football team.Imagine the brand loyalty you must have from your fans in order to make them think they would like to get their car loan from you. Can you see yourself getting a mortgage from the Yankees? So how did they do this?The answer is by leveraging their brand personality, working their fans sense of belongi
