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微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台1 12010 年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题Section IUse of EnglishDirections:Read the following text.Choose the best word(s)for each numbered blank and mark A,B,C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.(10 points)In 1924 Americas National Research Council sent two engineers to supervise a series ofindustrial experiments at a large telephone-parts factory called the Hawthorne Plant near Chicago.Ithoped they would learn how stop-floor lighting大 1 家workers productivity.Instead,the studiesended大 2 家giving their name to the Hawthorne effect,the extremely influential idea that thevery大 3 家to being experimented upon changed subjects behavior.The idea arose because of the大 4 家behavior of the women in the Hawthorne plant.According to大 5 家of the experiments,their hourly output rose when lighting was increased,but also when it was dimmed.It did not大 6 家what was done in the experiment;大 7 家something was changed,productivity rose.A(n)大 8 家that they were being experimented uponseemed to be大 9 家to alter workers behavior大 10 家itself.After several decades,the same data were大 11 家to econometric the analysis.Hawthorneexperiments has another surprise store大 12 家the descriptions on record,no systematic大 13 家was found that levels of productivity were related to changes in lighting.It turns out that peculiar way of conducting the experiments may be have let to大 14 家interpretation of what happened.大 15 家,lighting was always changed on a Sunday.When workstarted again on Monday,output大 16 家rose compared with the previous Saturday and大 17 家to rise for the next couple of days.大 18 家,a comparison with data for weeks whenthere was no experimentation showed that output always went up on Monday,workers大 19 家微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台2 2to be diligent for the first few days of the week in any case,before大 20 家a plateau and thenslackening off.This suggests that the alleged Hawthorne effect is hard to pin down.1.A affectedB achievedC extractedD restored2.A atB upC withD off3.A truthB sightC actD proof4.A controversial B perplexingC mischievousD ambiguous5.A requirements B explanationsC accountsD assessments6.A concludeB matterC indicateD work7.A as far asB for fear thatC in case thatD so long so8.A awarenessB expectationC sentimentD illusion9.A suitableB excessiveC enoughD abundant10.A aboutB forC onD by11.A comparedB shownC subjectedD conveyed12.A Contrary toB Consistent withC Parallel with D Peculiar to13.A evidenceB guidanceC implicationD source14.A disputableB enlighteningC reliableD misleading15.A In contrastB For exampleC In consequenceD As usual16.A dulyB accidentallyC unpredictablyD suddenly17.A failedB ceasedC startedD continued18.A ThereforeB FurthermoreC HoweverD Meanwhile19.A attemptedB tendedC choseD intended20.A breakingB climbingC surpassingD hittingSection IIReading ComprehensionPartADirections:Read the following four texts.Answer the questions below each text by choosing A,B,C or D.Mark your answers onANSWER SHEET 1.(40 points)Text 1Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the pastquarter-century,perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope andseriousness of their arts coverage.It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty toimagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers.Yet aconsiderable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20thcenturyconsisted in large part of newspaper reviews.To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台3 3their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in Englandbetween the turn of the 20thcentury and the eve of World War II,at a time when newsprint wasdirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which itappeared.In those far-off days,it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would writein detail and at length about the events they covered.Theirs was a serious business,and even thosereviewers who wore their learning lightly,like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman,could betrusted to know what they were about.These men believed in journalism as a calling,and were proudto be published in the daily press.“So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keeptheir own end up in journalism,”Newman wrote,“that I am tempted to define journalismas a termof contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.”Unfortunately,these critics are virtually forgotten.Neville Cardus,who wrote for theManchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975,is now known solely as awriter of essays on the game of cricket.During his lifetime,though,he was also one of Englandsforemost classical-music critics,a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography(1947)became abest-seller.He was knighted in 1967,the first music critic to be so honored.Yet only one of hisbooks is now in print,and his vast body of writings on music is unknown save to specialists.Is there any chance that Carduss criticism will enjoy a revival?The prospect seems remote.Journalistic tastes had changed long before his death,and postmodern readers have little use for therichly upholstered Vicwardian prose in which he specialized.Moreover,the amateur tradition inmusic criticism has been in headlong retreat.21.It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that.A arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapersB English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviewsC high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readersD young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies22.Newspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized by.A free themesB casual styleC elaborate layoutD radical viewpoints23.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.微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台4 4D His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.25.What would be the best title for the text?A Newspapers of the Good Old DaysB The Lost Horizon in NewspapersC Mournful Decline of JournalismD Prominent Critics in MemoryText 2Over the past decade,thousands of patents have been granted for what are called businessmethods.A received one for its one-click online payment system.Merrill Lynch gotlegal protection for an asset allocation strategy.One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.Now the nations top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-methodpatents,which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago.In a movethat has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz the U.S.court of Appeals for the federal circuit said itwould use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents.In re Bilski,as thecase is known,is a very big deal,says Dennis D.Crouch of the University of Missouri School oflaw.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 federalcircuit 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 inbusiness-method patent filings,initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusiverights to specific types of online transactions.Later,move established companies raced to add suchpatents to their files,if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to the punch.In2005,IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patentsdespite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them.Similarly,some Wall Streetinvestment films armed themselves with patents for financial products,even as they took positions incourt 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 thecourts judges,rather than a typical panel of three,and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether itshould reconsider its state street Bank ruling.The Federal Circuits action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supremeCourt that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders.Last April,for example thejustices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for inventions that are obvious.Thejudges on the Federal circuit are reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court,says HaroldC.Wegner,a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.26.Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because of.A their limited value to businessB their connection with asset allocationC the possible restriction on their granting微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台5 5D the controversy over authorization27.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,Para 3)most probably means.A loss of good willB increase of hostilityC change of attitudeD enhancement of dignity29.We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents.A are immune to legal challengesB are often unnecessarily issuedC lower the esteem for patent holdersD increase the incidence of risks30.Which of the following would be the subject of the text?A A looming threat to business-method patentsB Protection for business-method patent holdersC A legal case regarding business-method patentsD A prevailing trend against business-method patentsText 3In his book The Tipping Point,Malcolm Gladwell argues that social epidemics are driven inlarge part by the acting of a tiny minority of special individuals,often called influentials,who areunusually informed,persuasive,or well-connected.The idea is intuitively compelling,but it doesntexplain how ideas actually spread.The supposed importance of influentials derives from a plausible sounding but largely untestedtheory called the two step flow of communication:Information flows from the media to theinfluentials and from them to everyone else.Marketers have embraced the two-step flow because itsuggests that if they can just find and influence the influentials,those selected people will do most ofthe work for them.The theory also seems to explain the sudden and unexpected popularity of certainlooks,brands,or neighborhoods.In many such cases,a cursory search for causes finds that somesmall group of people was wearing,promoting,or developing whatever it is before anyone else paidattention.Anecdotal evidence of this kind fits nicely with the idea that only certain special peoplecan drive trendsIn their recent work,however,some researchers have come up with the finding that influentialshave far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed.In fact,they dont seem to berequired of all.微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台6 6The researchers argument stems from a simple observing about social influence,with theexception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfreywhose outsize presence is primarily a function ofmedia,not interpersonal,influenceeven the most influential members of a population simply dontinteract with that many others.Yet it is precisely these non-celebrity influentials who,according tothe two-step-flow theory,are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends andcolleagues directly.For a social epidemic to occur,however,each person so affected,must theninfluence his or her own acquaintances,who must in turn influence theirs,and so on;and just howmany others pay attention to each of these people has little to do with the initial influential.If peoplein the network just two degrees removed from the initial influential prove resistant,for example fromthe initial influential prove resistant,for example the cascade of change wont propagate very far oraffect many people.Building on the basic truth about interpersonal influence,the researchers studied the dynamics ofpopulations by conducting thousands of computer simulations of populations,manipulating a number ofvariables relating to peoples ability to influence others and their tendency to be influenced.They found thatthe principal requirement for what is called“global cascades”the widespread propagation of influencethrough networksis the presence not of a few influentials but,rather,of a critical mass of easily influencedpeople.31.By citing the book The Tipping Point,the author intends to.Aanalyze the consequences of social epidemicsBdiscuss influentials function in spreading ideasCexemplify peoples intuitive response to social epidemicsDdescribe the essential characteristics of influentials32.The author suggests that the“two-step-flow theory”.Aserves as a solution to marketing problemsBhas helped explain certain prevalent trendsChas won support from influentialsDrequires solid evidence for its validity33.What the researchers have observed recently shows that.A the power of influence goes with social interactionsB interpersonal links can be enhanced through the mediaC influentials have more channels to reach the publicD most celebrities enjoy wide media attention34.The underlined phrase“these people”in Paragraph 4 refers to the ones who.A stay outside the network of social influenceB have little contact with the source of influenceC are influenced and then influence othersD are influenced by the initial influential35.What is the essential element in the dynamics of social influence?AThe eagerness to be accepted.微信公众号考研路上的幸福哥，考研干货最多的公众平台7 7BThe impulse to influence others.CThe readiness to be influenced.DThe inclination to rely on others.Text 4Bankers have been blaming themselves for their troubles in public.Behind the scenes,they havebeen taking aim at someone else:the accounting standard-setters.Their rules,moan the banks,haveforced them to report enormous losses,and its just not fair.These rules say they must value someassets at the price a third party would pay,not the price managers and regulators would like them tofetch.Unfortunately,banks lobbying now seems to be working.The details may be unknowable,butthe independence of standard-setters,essential to the proper functioning of capital markets,is beingcompromised.An