考研英語-試卷20

(總分：142.00,做題時間：90分鐘)

一、UseofEnglish(總題數：2,分數：80.00)

1.SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)for

eachnumberedblankandmarkA,B,CorD.(分數：40.00)

解析：

ThesearetoughtimesforWal-Mart,America'sbiggestretailer.Longaccusedof(1)

small-townAmericamadcondemnedfortheselfishnessofitspay,thecompanyhaslatelycome

under(2)foritsmeannessoveremployees*health-carebenefits.Thechargeisarguably

(3):thefirm'shealthcoverage,while(4)lessextensivethantheaverageforbig

companies,isonequalterms(5)otherretailers”.Butbadpublicity,coupledwith

risingcosts,has(6)_theBentonvillegianttoaction.WalMartismakingchangesthat

shouldshiftthegroundinAmericanshealthcaredebate.One(7)istoreducetheprices

ofmanygeneric,orout-of-patent,prescriptiondrugs.Wal-Martcriticsdismissthemove

asapublicity(8).The1istofdrugsincludesonly143differentmedicinesand

excludesmanypopulargroup.True,butshort-sighted.Wal-Marthas(9)retailingby

usingitssizetosqueezesuppliersand(10)thegainsontoconsumers.Itcould

(11)thesamewithdrugs.A"Wal-Marteffect"indrugswillnotsolveAmericanshealth-

costsproblem:groupaccountforonlyasmallshareofdrugcosts,whichinturnmake

(12)only10%ofoverallhealthspending.Butitwould(13).Thefiringsother

initiativeismore(14).Wal-Martisjoiningthesmallbutfast-growinggroupof

employers(15)arecontrollingcostsbyshiftingtohealthinsurancewithhigh

deductibles.Earlyevidence(16)theseplansdohelpfirmscontrolthecostofhealth

insurance.Butcriticssaythatthesavingsare(17).Theyarguethattheplansshift

coststosickerworkers,discouragepreventativecareandwillanywaydolittleto(18)

overallhealthspending,(19)mostofthe$2trillionthatAmerica(20)health

careeachyeargoestopeoplewithmultiplechronicdiseases.(分數：40.00)

A.wrecked

B.wrecks

C.wreck

D.wreckingV

解析：解析：accusedofaccusedof后面應該接現在分詞，故wrecking入選。wrecked>wreckswreck

均不符合題意，排除。

A.dismission

B.fireJ

C.force

D.agitation

解析：解析：accusedof,condemnedfor,under從整句話來看，沃爾瑪公司的策略受到公眾的指責，

underfire的意思是beingcriticizedseverely”受到指責"，如：Thegovernmentisunderfire

fromallsidesonitseconomicpolicy政府的經濟政策受到各方面的指責。dismission”解散〃具有迷

惑性。從整句話來看，沃爾瑪公司沒有面臨解散，而是遭到指責，所以不能入選。force〃力量〃和

agitation”煩亂，騷亂,動搖〃均不符合題意，排除。

A.illegal

B.unfairJ

C.unreasonable

D.incorrect

解析：解析：整句話的理解。空格處需要對上述指責做一個評價。冒號后面這句話中while表示讓步，且

從整句話來看，作者對沃爾瑪持正面態度，認為這種指責是不公正的；unfair〃不公平的〃符合題意。

inco門不正確的”也能表示作者的態度，但沒有unfair貼切。illegal”不合法的，違法的“和

unreasonable〃不合理的〃均不貼近題意，排除。

A.usually

B.admittedlyJ

C.obviously

D.specially

解析：解析：整句話的理解。這句話是作者對上述指責做出的評價。從句中可以看到，作者對沃爾瑪的態

度是客觀的，既說了它的做法不及大公司的平均水平，又說與其他零售商相比是相當的，所以此處應填入

表示〃客觀〃之意的詞，admittedly〃誠然，無可否認地〃符合題意。obviously的意思是〃顯然、明白地“，

意思太絕對，故排除。usually〃通常〃和specially〃特別地〃均不符合題意。

A.withJ

B.to

C.of

D.by

解析：解析：詞組的搭配。onequaltermswith意思是asequal,withnodifferenceinstatusor

rank”和…條件相同，與…平等相處〃，如：Nowthatshehasbeenpromotedsheisonequalterms

withherex-boss.她現在升職了，和以前的上司地位平等。故選with。to>of、by均不與前文搭配，

排除。

A.caused

B.expelled

C.stirredJ

D.raised

解析：解析：整句話的理解。這句話的前半部分提出了輿論宣傳不利、成本不斷增長，這些因素沃

爾瑪開始行動；stirred”激勵，鼓勵〃符合題意。caused”導致、引起“和raised”喚起、使出現〃具有一定

的迷惑性，但stirred的深層含義是〃在…刺激之下〃，正是由于輿論宣傳不利、成本不斷增長的刺激，才

使沃爾瑪開始行動，所以放在整個句子中比較恰當。expelled〃驅逐，排出〃不符合題意，排除。

A.problem

B.management

C.intrigue

D.strategyJ

解析：解析：上下文的理解。此處文意是面對各方面的指責，沃爾瑪公司必須拿出應對措施；strategy

的意思是（skillin）planningormanaginganyaffairwell”策略，計劃”，如：Bycarefully

strategyshenegotiatedasubstantialpayrise.她精心策劃后,談妥了大幅增加工資的事。

intrigue的意思是makingofsecretplanstodobad”密謀，詭計"，沃爾瑪公司采取的是積極透明的

措施，不是密謀，故排除。problem〃問題〃和management經營，管理〃均不符合題意，排除。

A.demonstration

B.cheat

C.attention

D.stuntJ

解析：解析：excludesmanypopulargroup,short-sighted下文提到許多常用的普通類藥品都不在降

價之列，由此有批評者認為沃爾瑪公司此舉只是為了引起關注，slunl的意思somethingthatisdone

toattractpeople'sattention,especiallyinadvertisingorpolitics”引起注意的舉動”,如：

Thisnewsisapublicitystunt.這條新聞是宣傳的噱頭。cheat〃欺騙〃，從下文可知普通類藥品都不

在降價之列.可見沃爾瑪的做法不僅僅是欺騙，而且應該是聰明的欺騙，也就是〃花招〃，故cheat不夠貼

切。demonstration”示范，實證〃和attention”注意,關心“均不符合題意，排除。

A.transformedJ

B.translated

C.transported

D.transacted

解析：解析：相似詞的辨析。整句話的含義是：沃爾瑪利用其規模逼迫供應商緊縮利潤空間。

transformed的意思是completelychangetheappearanceorcharacterofsth./sb.〃完全改變某事

物(某人)的外觀或特性“，符合題意。translated〃翻譯〃、transported〃運送"和transacted"辦理，處理

”均不符合題意，排除。

A.passes

B.passed

C.passingJ

D.pass

解析：解析：by,andby的意思是throughthemeansof(sth./doingsth.)〃通過…方式〃；且and連接

的兩個部分的動詞的形式應該相同，前面是using,此處應該也用動名詞形式，故passing入選。

passespassed、pass均不符合題意。

A.make

B.doV

C.get

D.form

解析：解析：詞組的搭配。dowithsth.的意思是(usedwithcanandcould)toexpressaneedor

desireforsth.〃需要或希望得到某事物〃，如：Youlookasifyoucoulddowithogoodnight's

sleep.你看來似乎需要好好睡上一夜。整句話的含義就是：它在藥品銷售上同樣也能做到這一點；故do

符合題意。dothesamewithsth.是慣用用法。

A.for

B.into

C.out

D.upV

解析：解析：詞組的辨析。整句話的含義是：藥費也僅占全部醫療費用的10%。makeup〃形成，構成或

組成某物"符合題意。makeinto”制成，做成〃，強調制作的過程，不符合題意，排除。makefor〃走向，

駛向〃和makeout〃開出，寫出，辨認出〃均不符合題意，排除。

A.receive

B.solve

C.fit

D.helpJ

解析：解析：上文的意思。這句話中的it指的是Wal-Marteffect.上句說作者認為藥品方面的〃沃爾瑪

效應〃并不會解決美國的醫療費用問題，but表轉折，我們應該馬上聯想到〃沃爾瑪效應”可能會有一點兒

作用；help符合題意。從上下文的意思看，這句話是要闡述〃沃爾瑪效應〃可能會有一點兒作用，如選fit

只是說明〃合適“，卻不符合題意，排除。solve〃解決〃、receive〃收到〃都是及物動詞，后面必須有賓語，

而此處空格后沒有其他成分，故不入選。

A.considerable

B.principal

C.controversialV

D.available

解析：解析：上下文的理解。上一段闡述了沃爾瑪公司的一個策略遭到了各方面的指責；這一段則是另外

一個策略，即通過轉為高減免額醫療保險模式來對成本加以控制，從上文可以聯想到這個策略一定也是爭

議頗大；controversial”引起或可能引起爭論的〃符合題意。considerable〃值得考慮的“沒有

controversial所表達的意思貼切。principal”首要的〃和available〃可利用的〃均不符合題意。

A.whoV

B.which

C.what

D.where

解析：解析：employers本題需要填，一個關系代詞或關系副詞引導的定語從句修飾employers,修飾人

的關系代詞是who,符合題意，所以入選。which修飾物，不能入選。what和where均不符合題意，排

除。

A.suggestsJ

B.proposes

C.reminds

D.explains

解析：解析：整句話的理解。這類方案的好處需要證據證明，而suggests的意思是tomakeevident

indirectly；intimateorimply〃間接地表明，暗示“，符合題意。explains意思是〃解釋”，此處并不是

去解釋現象，而是證明結論，所以不入選。proposes〃建議〃和reminds〃提醒〃均不符合題意，排除。

A.interesting

B.misleadingV

C.expressing

D.illustrating

解析：解析：butcriticssay從文中可知批評人士對保健儲蓄是持負面評價的;選項中misleading的

意思是givingwrongideas,deceptive”使人誤解的,欺騙的”，符合題意。illustrating”解釋的、說

明的”,interesting”有趣的",expressing"明確的"均不符合題意,排除。

A.organize

B.regulate

C.verify

D.controlJ

解析：解析：整句話的理解。control”控制，操縱，管理，支配（某人或某物）〃，填入空格后，句子的意

思是：無益于控制整體醫療費用，這就是批評人士的觀點，符合題意。regulate具有迷惑性，其意思是

direct（sth.）bymeansofrulesandrestrictions,adjust”依照制度、規則或法律控制或指導〃：

但此處文意是用這個方案來控制整體醫療費用，而不是管理，沒有control意思貼切，故不入選。

organize”組織〃和verify”檢驗，查證〃均不符合題意。

A.sinceV

B.then

C.when

D.becauseof

解析：解析：整句話的理解。批評人士對于方案持否定態度，并給出了原因，這里需要填一個連詞，

since有〃因為，由于，既然〃之意，符合題意。becauseof后只能接名詞性成分，所以不入選。then和

when都是連接表時間的成分的，均不符合題意。

A.hangson

B.takeson

C.spendsonJ

D.goeson

解析：解析：詞組含義的辨析。spendson〃花費〃填入空格后，句子的意思是：美國人每年2兆美元的醫

療開支大都用在了患有慢性疾病的人身上，符合題意。hangson的意思是dependson”依賴，依靠“，但

句子中出現了表示錢數的$2trillion,故不如spendson合適。takeson”呈現，具有，雇傭"，goes

on〃繼續〃均不符合題意，排除。

二、ReadingComprehension（總題數：10,分數：58.00）

2.SectionIIReadingComprehension

解析：

3.PartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextby

choosingA,B,CorD.

解析:

Whoeversaidthatvictoryhasmanyfathersanddefeatisanorphan,surelyhadneverheard

oftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO).Inthecaseofthehaplessmultilateraltradebody

anditslongsufferingrepresentatives,thetotalfailureoftheopeningmeetingoftheso

calledMillenniumtraderoundhaslotsofpeopleboastingoftheirrolesintheviolent

physicalstruggle.Well.That“sjustbrilliant.Theyareproudofbeingpartofamovement

thatwantstowreckthemostimportantengineofeconomicgrowth,prosperityandoverall

globalrisinglivingstandardswehave-thefreedomoftradeandmovementofpeopleand

goodsbetweennations.The135-memberWTOiscomposedofsovereigngovernmentswishingto

furtherthisgoalandeasethesettlementofinternationaltradedisputes.Fromthesounds

emanatingfromSeattle,though,itwou1dnowseemtheWTOhasnowreplacedtheTrilateral

CommissionandtheFreemasonsascandidateNo.1totakeovertheWorld.Everybodyhashis

favoriteSeattlestory.Thecity'spolicechiefwillhaveplentyoftimetothinkabouthis,

havingnowresignedindisgraceoverthelossofcontrolofdowntownSeattle.TheSeattle

businesscommunitymaybemoreinclinedtobroodovertheirs—thepoorfoolsinvested$9

milliontoattractthemeetingtotheirfinecity.Whatstandsoutmore?Iwouldnominate

theunionofsteelworkerswhoweremarchinginprotest.It〃sanimagethatwi11bogglethe

mindforyearstocome.Thedebatenowisoverjusthoweffectivethisanti-globalist

coalitionwillturnouttobe.Intheheatofthemoment,italwayslooksasthoughthe

worldasweknowitiscomingtoanend.But.theoverwhelminglikelihoodisthatwehavenot

actuallyseenareplayoftheantiVietnamWarmovement,whichhadmuchclearerfocus,

obviously,thoughitsconsequenceswerefar-reaching.How1ong,afterall,canyouprotest

againstcheapimportswhenthosesameimportsareal1overyourhouse?No,therealreason

forthedisasterinSeattleispolitical,andreportscomingoutofthemeetingpointto

PresidentClintonasamajorculprit,whichmaybebothgoodandbad.Takingthelongview,

othertraderoundshavehaddifficultbeginnings,too.IttookyearstogettheUruguay

Roundunderway,whichfinallyhappenedin1986.Thankfully,wewillsoonbeelecting

anotherpresident,anditshouldbesomeonewhoseactionsmatchhisrhetoric.Still,itisa

disgracethattheworld'sgreatesttradingnation,i.e.theUnitedStates,iscurrentlyled

byamanwhosemotivationsaresonarrowlypoliticalandegocentricthathehasnowwrecked

anychanceofenteringthehistorybooksasachampionoffreetrade.(分數：10.00)

(1).Thestatement"victoryhasmanyfathersanddefeatisanorphan*(Para.1)isusedto

introduce.(分數：2.00)

A.thevictoryofsufferingrepresentatives.

B.thefailureofWT0〃sopeningmeeting.J

C.theroleofinternationalfreetrade.

D.thedynamicsofeconomicgrowth.

解析：

(2).ItisimpliedinthefirstsentencethatthefailureofMi1lenniumtraderoundcouldbe

attributedto______.(分數：2.00)

A.factorsotherthanamovement.J

B.violentlabordisputes.

C.misleadpoliticalmotivations.

D.troubledtradeunions.

解析：

(3).Bysayingthatanimagethatwillbogglethemindforyearstocome”,(Paragraph

3)theauthormeansthatthedebateinSeattleprovestobe.(分數：2.00)

A.dubiously-oriented.

B.quitetransient.

C.self-contradictory.

D.fairlyconsequential.J

解析：

(4).TheauthorisobviouslycriticalofPresidentClintonfor.(分數：2.00)

A.hisfailuretomatchhiswordswithhisactions.

B.hislackofhistoricalknowledgeabouttheWTO.

C.hisputtingtheissueinawrongperspective.J

D.hisexaggerationofWT0〃seconomicrole.

解析：

(5).Fromthetextwecanseethatthewriterseems.(分數：2.00)

A.optimiStic.

B.gloomy.J

C.disgraced.

D.proud.

解析：

z/Popularart"hasanumberofmeanings,impossibletodefinewithanyprecision,whichrange

fromfolkloretojunk.Thepolesareclearenough,butthemiddletendstoblur.The

HollywoodWesternofthe1930"sforexample,haselementsoffolklore,butisclosertojunk

thantohighartorfolkart.Therecanbegreattrash,justasthereisbadhighart.The

musicalsofGeorgeGershwinaregreatpopularart,neveraspiringtohighart.Schubertand

Brahms,however,usedelementsofpopularmusic—folkthemes—inworksclearlyintendedas

highart.ThecaseofVerdiisadifferentone:hetookapopulargenre-bourgeoismelodrama

settomusic(anaccuratedefinitionofnineteenth-centuryopera)and,withoutalteringits

fundamentalnature,transmuteditintohighart.Thisremainsoneofthegreatest

achievementsinmusic,andonethatcannotbefullyappreciatedwithoutrecognizingthe

essentialtrashinessofthegenre.Asanexampleofsuchatransmutation,considerwhat

Verdimadeofthetypicalpoliticalelementsofnineteenth-centuryopera.Generallyinthe

plotsoftheseoperas,aheroorheroine一usuallyportrayedonlyasanindividual,

unfetteredbyclass-iscaughtbetweentheimmoralcorruptionofthearistocracyandthe

doctrinairerigidityorsecretgreedoftheleadersoftheproletariat.Verditransforms

thisnaiveandunlikelyformulationwithmusicofextraordinaryenergyandrhythmic

vitality,musicmoresubtlethanitseemsatfirsthearing.Therearescenesandariasthat

sti11sound1ikecallstoarmsandwereclearlyunderstoodassuchwhentheywerefirst

performed.Suchpieceslendanimmediacytotheotherwiseveiledpoliticalmessageofthese

operasandcallupfeelingsbeyondthoseoftheoperaitself.OrconsiderVerdinstreatment

ofcharacter.BeforeVerdi,therewererarelyanycharactersatallinmusicaldrama,onlya

seriesofsituationswhichallowedthesingerstoexpressaseriesofemotionalstates.Any

attempttofindcoherentpsychologicalportrayalintheseoperasismisplacedingenuity.The

onlycoherencewasthesinger*svocaltechnique:whenthecastchanged,newariaswere

almostalwayssubstituted,generallyadaptedfromotheroperas.Verdi'scharacters,onthe

otherhand,havegenuineconsistencyandintegrity.Evenif,inmanycases,theconsistency

isthatofpasteboardmelodrama,theintegrityofthecharacterisachievedthroughthe

music:oncehehadbecomeestablished.Verdididnotrewritehismusicfordifferentsingers

orcountenancealterationsorsubstitutionsofsomebodyelse〃sariasinoneofhisoperas,

aseveryeighteenth-centurycomposerhaddone.Whenherevisedanopera,itwasonlyfor

dramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.(分數：10.00)

(1).Thispassageismainly.(分數：2.00)

A.asurveyofdramamusic.

B.abouttheelementsinpopularmusic.

C.areviewofpopularart.J

D.aboutdramaticeconomyandeffectiveness.

解析：

(2).Thewriterassertsthatthedefinitionofpopularartis.(分數：2.00)

A.quiteaccurate.

B.ratherelusive.J

C.fairlyclear.

D.verydubious.

解析：

(3).itcanbeinferredfromthetextthattheachievementsbyVerdi.(分數：2.00)

A.aretoosubtletorecognize.V

B.defyanyprecisedefinition.

C.aretheenvyofhistimes.

D.earnhimgreatreputation.

解析：

(4).Thewritermentionsthepoliticalelementsin19thcenturyoperatoillustrate.

(分數:2.00)

A.thepoliticalmessagesexposed.

B.theuniversalrecognitionofhighart.

C.theintendedchangesinpopularart.J

D.heroes/zandheroines*mentalstates.

解析：

(5).Accordingtothetext,Verdinscreativetreatmentofcharactersisperformedthrough

.(分數：2.00)

A.hisfrequentre-writingofanopera.

B.hiscoherentpsychologicalportrayal.

C.hisconsistentaspirationtohighart.

D.hiseffectivemaneuversofmusic.J

解析：

Biologically,thereisonlyonequalitywhichdistinguishesusfromanimals:theabilityto

laugh.Inauniversewhichappearstobeutterlydevoidofhumor,weenjoythissupreme

luxury.Anditisaluxury,foruniikeanyotherbodilyprocess,laughterdoesnotseem

serveabiologicallyusefulpurpose.Inadividedworld,alaughterisaunifyingforce.

Humanbeingsopposeeachotheronagreatmanyissues.Nationsmaydisagreeaboutsystemsof

governmentandhumanrelationsmaybeplaguedbyideologicalfactionsandpoliticalcamps,

butweallsharetheabilitytolaugh.Andlaughter,inturn,dependsonthemostcomplex

andsubtleofall-humanqualities:asenseofhumor.Certaincomicstereotypeshavea

universalappeal.Thiscanbestbeseenfromtheworld-widepopularityofCharlieChaplain's

earlyfilms.Thelittlemanatoddswithsocietyneverfailstoamusenomatterwhich

countrywecomefrom.Asthatgreatcommentatoronhumanaffairs,Dr.SamuelJohnson,once

remarked,“Menhavebeenwiseinverydifferentmodes;buttheyhavealwayslaughedinthe

sameway”.Asenseofhumormaytakevariousformsandlaughtermaybeanythingfromrefined

tinkletoanearthquakingroar,buttheeffectisalwaysthesame.Humorhelpsusto

maintainacorrectsenseofvalues.Itistheonequalitywhichpoliticalfanaticsappearto

lack.Ifwecanseethefunnyside,wenevermakethemistakeoftakingoux'selvestoo

seriously.Wearealwaysremindedthattragedyisnotreallyfarremovedfromcomedy,sowe

nevergetalopsidedviewofthings.Thisisoneofthechieffunctionsofsatireandirony.

Humanpainandsufferingaresogrim;wehoversooftenonthebrinkofwar,political

realitiesareusuallyenoughtoplungeusintototaldespair.Insuchcircumstances,

cartoonsandsatiricalaccountsofsomberpoliticaleventsredressthebalance.Theytake

thewindoutofpompousandarrogantpoliticianswhohavelosttheirsenseofproportion.

Theyenableustoseethatmanyofourmostprofoundactionsaremerelycomicorabsurd.We

laughwhenagreatsatiristlikeSwiftwritesaboutwarsinGulliver'sTravels.The

Lilliputiansandtheirneighborsattackeachotherbecausetheycan“tagreewhichendto

breakanegg.Welaughbecausewearemeanttolaugh;hutwearemeanttoweeptoo.Itisno

wonderthatintotalitarianregimesanysatireagainsttheEstablishmentiswhollybanned.

Itistoopowerfulweapontobeallowedtoflourish.Thesenseofhumormustbesingledout

asman'smostimportantqualitybecauseitisassociatedwithlaughter.Andlaughter,in

turn,isassociatedwithhappiness.Courage,determination,initiative—thesearequalities

wesharewithotherformsof1ife.Butthesenseofhumorisanuniquehumanqua!ity.If

happinessisoneofthegreatgoalsoflife,thenitisthesenseofhumorthatprovidesthe

key.(分數：10.00)

(1).TheauthorquotesDr.SamuelJohnson'swordsto.(分數：2.00)

A.spotlighttheunifyingforceofasenseofhumor.

B.stresstheharmonybetweenindividualsandsociety.

C.highlighttheincomparableluxuryofhumor.J

D.showthedistinctionbetweenhumansandanimals.

解析：

(2).Accordingtotheauthor,“politicalfanatics”(Para.2)moreoftenthannotfallvictim

to.(分數：2.00)

A.politicalrealities.

B.wi1dillusions.J

C.adversecomments.

D.noblequalities.

解析：

(3).Accordingtothe4thparagraph,whatintereststheauthoristhatsomepoliticiansfai1

to.(分數：2.00)

A.perceivethevalueofhumor.J

B.gainacorrectsenseofvalues.

C.distinguishcomedyfromtragedy.

D.realizedangersofhypocrisy.

解析：

(4).Towhichofthefollowingistheauthor1ikelytoagree?(分數：2.00)

A.Governmentagenciesareoftenaninappropriatesubjectforhumor.

B.Asenseofhumorinevitablypromptsustotakeourselvesseriously.

C.Manyissuesontrivialitiesmayariseforlackofasenseofhumor.

D.Thepursuitforhappinessisoneofthegreatestgoalsinourlife.

解析：

(5).Thebesttitleforthetextmaybe____.(分數：2.00)

A.Variousfunctionsofhumor.

B.Developall-humanqualities.

C.Differentsolutionstoconflicts.

D.Makeuseofhumorwisely.

解析：

ThehousingmarkethasbeenfortwoyearsproppingupconsumersZ'spiritswhiletherestof

theeconomyliesexhaustedonthefloor,stilltryingtostruggletoitsfeet.Accordingto

theNationalAssociationofRealtors,thenationalmedianexisting-homepriceendedtheyear

at$164,000,up7.1percentfrom2001.That'sthestrongestannualincreasesince1980.

Althoughresidentialrealestateactivitymakesuplessthan8%oftotalU.S.GDP,ahousing

marketlikethisonecanmakethedifferencebetweenpositiveandnegativegrowth.Most

significantly,consumerspendingis66%ofGDP,andthepurchaseofanewhometendstohave

an'/umbrellaeffect"onthehomeowner'sspendingashehastostockitwithawasher/dryer,

anewbig-screenTV,andmaybeaswingsetfortheyard.Themainfactorinhousing's

continuedstrengthisaclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom:thepersistentweakness

everywhereelse.Asthe2003recoverycontinuestobemoreforecastthanreality.Falling

stockpricesraisedinvestorappealforU.S.TreasuryBonds,whichinturn,allowedmost

interestratestodriftevenlower.Buttherearenotmanysignsthatthere“sabubbleready

toburst.December'snewrecordinhousingstarts,forexample,wasnicelymatchedbythe

newrecordinnewhomesales.Ifyoubuildit,theywi11buyandevenifaneconomicpickup

startstoreducehousing'srelativeattractiveness,there'snoreasonwhymodesteconomic

growthandimprovedconsumermoodcan"thelpsustaininghousing'sstrength."Themomentum

gainedfromlowmortgageinterestrateswillcarrystronghomesalesinto2003,withan

improvingeconomyoffsettingmodestlyhighermortgageinterestratesastheyear

progresses^,saidDavidLereah,chiefeconomistattheNationalAssociationofRealtors.

Justashousinghastakenupmuchoftheeconomicslackforthepasttwoyears,bothasa

comfortinginvestmentforfrettingconsumersandadriverofconsumerspendingitself,abig

bumpelsewhereintheeconomyin2003couldbehousing'sdownfall.Ifstocksroarbackthis

spring,capitalinflowscouldstealfromthebondmarket,pushinguplong-terminterest

rates.OrAlanGreenspanandtheFedcoulddothesametoshort-termrates,asawaytohit

thebrakesonarecoverythatisheatinguptoofast.Inotherwords,ifeverythingpossible

goeswrongforhousing,homeownersshouIdhaveplentytocompensatethemintermsbfjob

securityandincomehikes.(分數：10.00)

(1).Theauthordrawsasharpcontrastbetweenthehousingmarketandtherestoftheeconomy

soastoshow.(分數：2.00)

A.theboomofrealestateactivity.

B.thestatisticsonhomeprices.

C.theroleofhousingmarket.J

D.thedegreeofconsumerspirits.

解析：

(2).Howdotheconsumersfeelabouttheirinvestmentinthehousingmarket?(分數：2.00)

A.Apprehensive.

B.Reassured.J

C.Indignant.

D.Annoyed.

解析：

(3).Aclassiceconomicexampleofzero-sumboom(Paragraph3)connotes.(分數：2.00)

A.economicslack.J

B.continuedstrength.

C.economicrecovery.

D.jobsecurity.

解析：

(4).Whenmentioningthe"/umbrellaeffect*(Para.2),theauthoristalkingabout.(分

數:2.00)

A.bondmarket.

B.stockexchange.

C.housingmarket.J

D.electricappliances.

解析:

(5).Towhichofthefollowingistheauthormostlikelytoagree?(分數：2.00)

A.Naturepassesnurture.

B.Manproposes,Goddisposes.

C.Faithmovesmountains.

D.Factsspeaklouderthanwords.J

解析：

4.PartB

解析：

Inthefollowingtext,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.Choosethemostsuitableonefrom

thelistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblank.Therearetwoextrachoices,whichdo

notfitinanyofthegaps.Thetragicimpactofthemoderncityonthehumanbeinghas

killedhissenseofaesthetics,thematerialbenefitsofanaffluentsocietyhavediverted

hisattentionfromhiscityanditsculturalpotentialstotheproductsofscienceand

technology,washingmachines,centralheating,automaticcookers,televisionsets,computers

andfittedcarpets.Heis,atthemoment,drunkwithdemocracy,well-to-do,acardriver,

andhasneverhaditsogood.Heisreluctanttowalk.Statisticsrevealthatthedistance

heispreparedtowalkfromhisparkingplacetohisshoppingcenterisveryshort.(41)1.

Congestionhasbecomethepredominantfactorinhisenvironment,andstatisticssuggestthat

twocarsperhouseholdsystemmaysoonmakemattersworse.(42)2.''Puttinglandtoits

highestandbestuse"becomestheprincipaleconomicstandardinurbangrowth.This

speculativeapproachandthepressureofincreasingpopulationleadstothe"vertical”

growthofcitieswiththeresultthatpeopleareforcedtoadjustthemselvestocongestion

inordertomaintaintheserelativelyartificiallandvalues.Paradoxicallytheremedyfor

removingcongestionistocreatemoreofit.Partialdecentralization,orrather,pseudo-

decentralization,intheformoflargedevelopmentunitsawayfromthetraditionaltown

centers,only*shiftsthediseaseroundtheanatomyofthetown;ifitisnotcombinedwith

theremodelingofthetown^stransportationsystem,itdoesnotcureit.(43)3.Itis

withinourpowertobuildbettercitiesandrevivethecivicprideoftheircitizens,butwe

shallhavetostopoperatingonthefringeoftheproblem.Weshallhaveradicallytoreplan

themtoachievearationaldensityofpopulation.Weshallhavetoprovideinthemwhatcan

becalledminimum^psychologicalelbowroom”.(44)4.Wemustcollect,inanorganized

manner,al1andcompleteinformationaboutthecityorthetown,ifwewanttoplan

effectively.Theprincipalunitinthisprocessis"IM〃(oneman).Wemustnotforgetthat

citiesarebuiltbypeople,andthattheirformandshapeshouldbesubjecttothewillof

thepeople.(45)5.The^man-educate*man,thehuman,willhavetosetthetarget,andusing

theresultsobtainedby