2023-考研英語閱讀理解真題-完美編輯打印版

1、 PAGE 5Text1Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. “Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting herd, William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even

2、 the word “habit carries a negative connotation.So it seems antithetical to talk about habits in the same context as creativity and innovation. But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, tha

3、t can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks. But dont bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the hippocampus, theyre there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately ingrain into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those

4、 old roads.“The first thing needed for innovation is a fascination with wonder, says Dawna Markova, author of “The Open Mind and an executive change consultant for Professional Thinking Partners. “But we are taught instead to decide, just as our president calls himself the Decider. She adds, however

5、, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.All of us work through problems in ways of which were unaware, she says. Researchers in the late 1960 covered that humans are born with the capacity to approach ch

6、allenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, relationally (or collaboratively) and innovatively. At puberty, however, the brain shuts down half of that capacity, preserving only those modes of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.The current emph

7、asis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us inherently use our innovative and collaborative modes of thought. “This breaks the major rule in the American belief system that anyone can do anything, explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book “This Year I Wi

8、ll. and Ms. Markovas business partner. “Thats a lie that we have perpetuated, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what youre good at and doing even more of it creates excellence. This is where developing new habits comes in.21. The view of Wordsworth habit is claimed by being A. casual B. familiar C.

9、 mechanical D. changeable. 22. The researchers have discovered that the formation of habit can be A. predicted B. regulated C. traced D. guided 23. ruts(in line one, paragraph 3) has closest meaning to A. tracks B. series C. characteristics D. connections24. Ms. Markovas comments suggest that the pr

10、actice of standard testing ?A, prevents new habits form being formedB, no longer emphasizes commonnessC, maintains the inherent American thinking modelD, complies with the American belief system25. Ryan most probably agree that A. ideas are born of a relaxing mindB. innovativeness could be taught C.

11、 decisiveness derives from fantastic ideasD. curiosity activates creative minds Text 2Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. Amazon received one for its one-click online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset alloca

12、tion strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.Now the nations top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers ab

13、uzz, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In re Bilski, as the case is known, is a very big deal, says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of Law. It has the potential to eliminat

14、e an entire class of patents.Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the Federal Circuit itself that introduced such patents with its 1998 decision in the so-called State Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling p

15、roduced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging Internet companies trying to stake out exclusive fights to specific types of online transactions. Later, more established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that

16、might beat them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents, despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment farms armed themselves with patents for financial products,

17、even as they took positions in court 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 the courts judges, rather than a typical panel o

18、f three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should reconsider its State Street Bank ruling.The Federal Circuits action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example, the

19、 justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld forinventions that are obvious. The judges on the Federal Circuit are reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court, says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.26. Business-meth

20、od patents have recently aroused concern because of A their limited value to businesses. B their connection with asset allocation. C the possible restriction on their granting. D the controversy over their authorization.27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case? A Its ruling complies wit

21、h the court decisions. B It involves a very big business transaction. C It has been dismissed by the FederalCircuit. 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 goodwill. B increase of hostility. C change of attitude. D enhan

22、cement of dignity.29. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents A are immune to legal challenges. B are often unnecessarily issued. C lower the esteem for patent holders. D increase the incidence of risks.30. Which of the following would be the subject of the text? A A loomi

23、ng threat to business-method patents. B Protection for business-method patent holders. C A legal case regarding business-method patents. D A prevailing trend against business-method patents.Text 3The relationship between formal education and economic growth in poor countries is widely misunderstood

24、by economists and politicians alike progress in both area is undoubtedly necessary for the social, political and intellectual development of these and all other societies; however, the conventional view that education should be one of the very highest priorities for promoting rapid economic developm

25、ent in poor countries is wrong. We are fortunate that is it, because new educational systems there and putting enough people through them to improve economic performance would require two or three generations. The findings of a research institution have consistently shown that workers in all countri

26、es can be trained on the job to achieve radical higher productivity and, as a result, radically higher standards of living.Ironically, the first evidence for this idea appeared in the United States. Not long ago, with the country entering a recessing and Japan at its pre-bubble peak. The U.S. workfo

27、rce was derided as poorly educated and one of primary cause of the poor U.S. economic performance. Japan was, and remains, the global leader in automotive-assembly productivity. Yet the research revealed that the U.S. factories of Honda Nissan, and Toyota achieved about 95 percent of the productivit

28、y of their Japanese countere pants a result of the training that U.S. workers received on the job.More recently, while examing housing construction, the researchers discovered that illiterate, non-English- speaking Mexican workers in Houston, Texas, consistently met best-practice labor productivity

29、standards despite the complexity of the building industrys work.What is the real relationship between education and economic development? We have to suspect that continuing economic growth promotes the development of education even when governments dont force it. After all, thats how education got s

30、tarted. When our ancestors were hunters and gatherers 10,000 years ago, they didnt have time to wonder much about anything besides finding food. Only when humanity began to get its food in a more productive way was there time for other things.As education improved, humanitys productivity potential,

31、they could in turn afford more education. This increasingly high level of education is probably a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for the complex political systems required by advanced economic performance. Thus poor countries might not be able to escape their poverty traps without politi

32、cal changes that may be possible only with broader formal education. A lack of formal education, however, doesnt constrain the ability of the developing worlds workforce to substantially improve productivity for the forested future. On the contrary, constraints on improving productivity explain why

33、education isnt developing more quickly there than it is.31. The author holds in paragraph 1 that the important of education in poor countries _.A is subject groundless doubts B has fallen victim of bias C is conventional downgradedD has been overestimated 32. It is stated in paragraph 1 that constru

34、ction of a new education system _.Achallenges economists and politicians Btakes efforts of generations C demands priority from the government D requires sufficient labor force 33.A major difference between the Japanese and U.S workforces is that _.A the Japanese workforce is better disciplined B the

35、 Japanese workforce is more productive Cthe U.S workforce has a better education D the U.S workforce is more organize 34. The author quotes the example of our ancestors to show that education emerged _.A when people had enough time B prior to better ways of finding food C when people on longer went

36、hung D as a result of pressure on government 35. According to the last paragraph , development of education _.A results directly from competitive environments B does not depend on economic performance C follows improved productivity D cannot afford political changesText 4Bankers have been blaming th

37、emselves for their troubles in public. Behind the scenes, they have been taking aim at someone else: the accounting standard-setters. Their rules, moan the banks, have forced them to report enormous losses, and its just not fair. These rules say they must value some assets at the price a third party

38、 would pay, not the price managers and regulators would like them to fetch.Unfortunately, banks lobbying now seems to be working. The details may be unknowable, but the independence of standard-setters, essential to the proper functioning of capitaI markets, is being compromised. And, unless banks c

39、arry toxic assets at prices that attract buyers, reviving the banking system will be difficult.After a bruising encounter with Congress, Americas Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rushed through rule changes. These gave banks more freedom to use models to value illiquid assets and more fle

40、xibility in recognizing losses on long-term assets in their income statements. Bob Herz, the FASBs chairman, cried out against those who question our motives. Yet bank shares rose and the changes enhance what one lobbying group politely calls the use of judgment by management.European ministers inst

41、antly demanded that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) do likewise. The IASB says it does not want to act without overall planning, but the pressure to fold when it completes its reconstruction of rules later this year is strong. Charlie McCreevy, a European commissioner, warned the

42、 IASB that it did not live in a political vacuum but in the real world and that Europe could yet develop different rules.It was banks that were on the wrong planet, with accounts that vastly overvalued assets. Today they argue that market prices overstate losses, because they largely reflect the tem

43、porary illiquidity of markets, not the likely extent of bad debts. The truth will not be known for years. But banks shares trade below their book value, suggesting that investors are skeptical. And dead markets partly reflect the paralysis of banks which will not sell assets for fear of booking losses, yet are reluctant to buy all those supposed bargains.To get the system working again, losses must be recognized and deal