2015-2019年考研英語一二真題合集

目錄TOC\o"1-5"\h\z\o"CurrentDocument"2015年全國碩士研究生入學統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）真題 1\o"CurrentDocument"2016年全國碩士研究生入學統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）真題 11\o"CurrentDocument"2017年全國碩士研究生入學統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）真題 20\o"CurrentDocument"2018年全國碩士研究生入學統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）真題 29\o"CurrentDocument"2019年全國碩士研究生入學統(tǒng)一考試英語（一）真題 382015年全國碩士研究生入學考試英語(一)真題UseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmarkA,B,CorDonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)Thoughnotbiologicallyrelated,friendsareas"related1'asfourthcousins,sharingabout1%ofgenes.Thatis]_astudy,publishedfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaandYaleUniversityintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,has2.Thestudyisagenome-wideanalysisconducted31932uniquesubjectswhich4pairsofunrelatedfriendsandunrelatedstrangers.Thesamepeoplewereusedinboth5.While1%mayseem6_,itisnotsotoageneticist.Asco-authorofthestudyJamesFowler,professorofmedicalgeneticsatUCSanDiego,says,*'Mostpeopledonoteven7theirfourthcousinsbutsomehowmanagetoselectasfriendsthepeoplewho8_ourKm.”Thestudy9_foundthatthegenesforsmellweresomethingsharedinfriendsbutnotgenesforimmunity.Whythissimilarityexistsinsmellgenesisdifficulttoexplain,fornow.U),astheteamsuggests,itdrawsustosimilarenvironmentsbutthereismore11it.Therecouldbemanymechanismsworkingtogetherthat12usinchoosinggeneticallysimilarfriends13"functionalkinship"ofbeingfriendswith14!Oneoftheremarkablefindingsofthestudywasthatthesimilargenesseemtobeevolving15thanothergenes.Studyingthiscouldhelp16whyhumanevolutionpickedpaceinthelast30,000years,withsocialenvironmentbeingamajor17factor.Thefindingsdonotsimplyexplainpeople's18tobefriendthoseofsimilar19backgrounds,saytheresearchers.ThoughallthesubjectsweredrawnfromapopulationofEuropeanextraction,carewastakento20thatallsubjects,friendsandstrangersweretakenfromthesamepopulation.l.[A]when[B]why[C]how[D]what2.[A]defended[B]concluded[C]withdrawn[D]advised3.[A]for[B]with[C]onID]by4.[A]compared[B]sought[C]separated[D]connected5.[A]tests[B]objects[C]samples[D]examples6.[A]insignificant|B]unexpected[C]unreliable[D]incredible7.[A]visit[B]miss[C]seek[D]know8.[A]resemble|B]influence[C]favor[D]surpass9.[A]again[B]also[C]instead[D]thus10.[A]Meanwhile|B]Furthermore[C]Likewise[D]PerImps1l.[A]about[B]to[C]from[D]like12.[A]drive|B]observe|C]confuse[D]limit13.[A]accordingto[B]ratherthan[C]regardlessof[D]alongwith14.[A]chances|B]responses[C]missions[D]benefits15.[A]later[B]slower[C]faster[D]earlier16.[A]forecast|B]remember|C]understand1[D]express17.[A]unpredictable[B]contributory[C]controllable[D]disruptive18.[A]endeavor|B]decision|C]arrangement[D]tendency19.[A]political[B]religious[C]ethnic[D]economic2O.[A]see|B]show[C]prove|D]tellReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1KingJuanCarlosofSpainonceinsisted“kingsdon'tabdicate,theydieintheirsleep."ButembarrassingscandalsandthepopularityoftherepublicanleftintherecentEuro-electionshaveforcedhimtoeathiswordsandstanddown.So,doestheSpanishcrisissuggestthatmonarchyisseeingitslastdays?DoesthatmeanthewritingisonthewallforallEuropeanroyals,withtheirmagnificentuniformsandmajesticlifestyles?TheSpanishcaseprovidesargumentsbothforandagainstmonarchy.Whenpublicopinionisparticularlypolarised,asitwasfollowingtheendoftheFrancoregime,monarchscanriseabove“mere”politicsand“embody“aspiritofnationalunity.Itisthisapparenttranscendenceofpoliticsthatexplainsmonarchs'continuingpopularityasheadsofstate.Andso,theMiddleEastexcepted,Europeisthemostmonarch-infestedregionintheworld,with10kingdoms(notcountingVaticanCityandAndorra).ButunliketheirabsolutistcounterpartsintheGulfandAsia,mostroyalfamilieshavesurvivedbecausetheyallowvoterstoavoidthedifficultsearchforanon-controversialbutrespectedpublicfigure.Evenso,kingsandqueensundoubtedlyhaveadownside.Symbolicofnationalunityastheyclaimtobe,theirveryhistory一andsometimesthewaytheybehavetoday embodiesoutdatedandindefensibleprivilegesandinequalities.AtatimewhenThomasPikettyandothereconomistsarewarningofrisinginequalityandtheincreasingpowerofinheritedwealth,itisbizarrethatwealthyaristocraticfamiliesshouldstillbethesymbolicheartofmodemdemocraticstates.Themostsuccessfulmonarchiesstrivetoabandonorhidetheiroldaristocraticways.Princesandprincesseshaveday-jobsandridebicycles,nothorses(orhelicopters).Evenso,thesearewealthyfamilieswhopartywiththeinternational1%,andmediaintrusivenessmakesitincreasinglydifficulttomaintaintherightimage.WhileEurope'smonarchieswillnodoubtbesmartenoughtosurviveforsometimetocome,itistheBritishroyalswhohavemosttofearfromtheSpanishexample.ItisonlytheQueenwhohaspreservedthemonarchy'sreputationwithherratherordinary(ifwell-heeled)grannystyle.ThedangerwillcomewithCharles,whohasbothanexpensivetasteoflifestyleandaprettyhierarchicalviewoftheworld.Hehasfailedtounderstandthatmonarchieshavelargelysurvivedbecausetheyprovideaservice asnon-controversialandnon-politicalheadsofstate.CharlesoughttoknowthatasEnglishhistoryshows,itiskings,notrepublicans,whoarethemonarchy\worstenemies.AccordingtothefirsttwoParagraphs,KingJuanCarlosofSpain?[A]usedtoenjoyhighpublicsupport [B]wasunpopularamongEuropeanroyals[C]easedhisrelationshipwithhisrivals [D]endedhisreigninembarrassmentMonarchsarekeptasheadsofstateinEuropemostly.owingtotheirundoubtedandrespectablestatustoachieveabalancebetweentraditionandrealitytogivevotersmorepublicfigurestolookuptoduetotheireverlastingpoliticalembodimentWhichofthefollowingisshowntobeodd,accordingtoParagraph4?Aristocrats'excessiverelianceoninheritedwealth.Theroleofthenobilityinmodemdemocracies.Thesimplelifestyleofthearistocraticfamilies.Thenobility'sadherencetotheirprivileges.TheBritishroyalsfcfchavemosttofear"becauseCharles.[A]takesaroughlineonpoliticalissues [B] failstochangehislifestyleasadvised|C]takesrepublicansashispotentialallies [D]failstoadapthimselftohisfutureroleWhichofthefollowingisthebesttitleofthetext?[A]Carlos,GloryandDisgraceCombined [B]Charles,AnxioustoSucceedtotheThrone[C]Carlos,aLessonforAllEuropeanMonarchs[D]Charles,SlowtoReacttotheComingThreatsText2JusthowmuchdoestheConstitutionprotectyourdigitaldata?TheSupremeCourtwillnowconsiderwhetherpolicecansearchthecontentsofamobilephonewithoutawarrantifthephoneisonoraroundapersonduringanarrest.Californiahasaskedthejusticestorefrainfromasweepingruling,particularlyonethatupsetstheoldassumptionthatauthoritiesmaysearchthroughthepossessionsofsuspectsatthetimeoftheirarrest.Itishard,thestateargues,forjudgestoassesstheimplicationsofnewandrapidlychangingtechnologies.ThecourtwouldberecklesslymodestifitfollowedCalifornia'sadvice.Enoughoftheimplicationsarediscernable,evenobvious,sothatthejusticescanandshouldprovideupdatedguidelinestopolice,lawyersanddefendants.TheyshouldstartbydiscardingCalifornia'slameargumentthatexploringthecontentsofasmartphone—avaststorehouseofdigitalinformation一issimilarto,say,goingthroughasuspect'spurse.Thecourthasruledthatpolicedon'tviolatetheFourthAmendmentwhentheygothroughthewalletorpocketbookofanarresteewithoutawarrant.Butexploringone'ssmartphoneismorelikeenteringhisorherhome.Asmartphonemaycontainanarrestee's………………correspondence.Thedevelopmentof“eloudcomputing,meanwhile,hasmadethatexplorationsomuchtheeasier.Americansshouldtakestepstoprotecttheirdigitalprivacy.Butkeepingsensitiveinformationonthesedevicesisincreasinglyarequirementofnormallife.CitizensstillhavearighttoexpectprivatedocumentstoremainprivateandprotectedbytheConstitution'sprohibitiononunreasonablesearches.Assooftenisthecase,statingthatprincipledoesn'teasethechallengeofline-drawing.Inmanycases,itwouldnotbeoverlyburdensomeforauthoritiestoobtainawarranttosearchthroughphonecontents.TheycouldstillinvalidateFourthAmendmentprotectionswhenfacingsevere,urgentcircumstances,andtheycouldtakereasonablemeasurestoensurethatphonedataarenoterasedoralteredwhilewaitingforawarrant.Thecourt,though,maywanttoallowroomforpolicetocitesituationswheretheyareentitledtomorefreedom.ButthejusticesshouldnotswallowCalifornia'sargumentwhole.New,disruptivetechnologysometimesdemandsnovelapplicationsoftheConstitution'sprotections.OrinKerr,alawprofessor,comparestheexplosionandaccessibilityofdigitalinformationinthe21stcenturywiththeestablishmentofautomobileuseasavirtualnecessityoflifeinthe20th:Thejusticeshadtospecifynovelrulesforthenewpersonaldomainofthepassengercarthen;theymustsortouthowtheFourthAmendmentappliestodigitalinformationnow.TheSupremeCourtwillworkoutwhether,duringanarrest,itislegitimateto?[A]preventsuspectsfromdeletingtheirphonecontentssearchforsuspects'mobilephoneswithoutawarrantchecksuspects'phonecontentswithoutbeingauthorizedprohibitsuspectsfromusingtheirmobilephonesTheauthor'sattitudetowardCalifornia'sargumentisoneof.[A]disapproval[B]indifference[C]tolerance[D]cautiousnessTheauthorbelievesthatexploringone'sphonecontentsiscomparableto?gettingintoone'sresidencehandlingone'shistoricalrecordsscanningone'scorrespondencesgoingthroughone'swalletInParagraph5and6,theauthorshowshisconcernthat,principlesarehardtobeclearlyexpressedthecourtisgivingpolicelessroomforactioncitizens'privacyisnoteffectivelyprotectedphonesareusedtostoresensitiveinformationOrinKerr'scomparisonisquotedtoindicatethat.theConstitutionshouldbeimplementedflexiblynewtechnologyrequiresreinterpretationoftheConstitutionCalifornia'sargumentviolatesprinciplesoftheConstitution………Text3ThejournalScienceisaddinganextraroundofstatisticalcheckstoitspeer-reviewprocess,editor-in-chiefMarciaMcNuttannouncedtoday.Thepolicyfollowssimilareffortsfromotherjournals,afterwidespreadconcernthatbasicmistakesindataanalysisarecontributingtotheirreproducibilityofmanypublishedresearchfindings."Readersmusthaveconfidenceintheconclusionspublishedinourjournal,writesMcNuttinaneditorial.WorkingwiththeAmericanStatisticalAssociation,thejournalhasappointedsevenexpertstoastatisticboardofreviewingeditors(SBoRE).Manuscriptwillbeflaggedupforadditionalscrutinybythejoumafsinternaleditors,orbyitsexistingBoardofReviewingEditorsorbyoutsidepeerreviewers.TheSBoREpanelwillthenfindexternalstatisticianstoreviewthesemanuscripts.Askedwhetheranyparticularpapershadimpelledthechange,McNuttsaid:"Thecreationofthe'statisticsboard'wasmotivatedbyconcernsbroadlywiththeapplicationofstatisticsanddataanalysisinscientificresearchandispartofScience'soveralldrivetoincreasereproducibilityintheresearchwepublish."GiovanniParmigiani,abiostatisticianattheHarvardSchoolofPublicHealth,amemberoftheSBoREgroup,saysheexpectstheboardto"playprimarilyanadvisoryrole."Heagreedtojoinbecausehe"foundtheforesightbehindtheestablishmentoftheSBoREtobenovel,uniqueandlikelytohavealastingimpact.ThisimpactwillnotonlybethroughthepublicationsinScienceitself,buthopefullythroughalargergroupofpublishingplacesthatmaywanttomodeltheirapproachafterScience."Johnloannidis,aphysicianwhostudiesresearchmethodology,saysthatthepolicyis"amostwelcomestepforward"and"longoverdue.""Mostjournalsareweakinstatisticalreview,andthisdamagesthequalityofwhattheypublish.Ithinkthat,forthemajorityofscientificpapersnowadays,statisticalreviewismoreessentialthanexpertreview,"hesays.ButhenotedthatbiomedicaljournalssuchasAnnalsofInternalMedicine,theJournaloftheAmericanMedicalAssociationandTheLancetpaystrongattentiontostatisticalreview.Professionalscientistsareexpectedtoknowhowtoanalyzedata,butstatisticalerrorsarealarminglycommoninpublishedresearch,accordingtoDavidVaux,acellbiologist.Researchersshouldimprovetheirstandards,hewrotein2012,butjournalsshouldalsotakeatougherline,"engagingreviewerswhoarestatisticallyliterateandeditorswhocanverifytheprocess."VauxsaysthatScience'sideatopasssomepaperstostatisticians"hassomemerit,butaweaknessisthatitreliesontheboardofreviewingeditorstoidentify'thepapersthatneedscrutiny'inthefirstplace".ItcanbelearnedfromParagraph1that <Scienceintendstosimplifyitspeer-reviewprocessjournalsarestrengtheningtheirstatisticalchecksfewjournalsareblamedformistakesindataanalysislackofdataanalysisiscommoninresearchprojectsThephrase"flaggedup"(Para.2)istheclosestinmeaningto.………5—GiovanniParmigianibelievesthattheestablishmentoftheSBoREmay.|A]poseathreattoallitspeers [B]meetwithstrongopposition[C]increaseScience'scirculation [D]setanexampleforotherjournalsDavidVauxholdsthatwhatScienceisdoingnow.[A]addstoresearchers9workload [B]diminishestheroleofreviewers[C]hasroomforfurtherimprovement [D]istofailintheforeseeablefutureWhichofthefollowingisthebesttitleofthetext?ScienceJoinsPushtoScreenStatisticsinPapers[B|ProfessionalStatisticiansDeserveMoreRespectDataAnalysisFindsItsWayontoEditors'DesksStatisticiansAreComingBackwithScienceText4Twoyearsago,RupertMurdoch'sdaughter,Elisabeth,spokeofthe"unsettlingdearthofintegrityacrosssomanyofourinstitutions."Integrityhadcollapsed,sheargued,becauseofacollectiveacceptancethattheonly"sortingmechanism"insocietyshouldbeprofitandthemarket.But"it'sus,humanbeings,wethepeoplewhocreatethesocietywewant,notprofit."Drivingherpointhome,shecontinued:"It'sincreasinglyapparentthattheabsenceofpurpose,ofamorallanguagewithingovernment,mediaorbusinesscouldbecomeoneofthemostdangerousgoalsforcapitalismandfreedom."ThissameabsenceofmoralpurposewaswoundingcompaniessuchasNewsInternational,shethought,makingitmorelikelythatitwouldloseitswayasithadwithwidespreadillegaltelephonehacking.Asthehackingtrialconcludes findingguiltyoneex-editoroftheNewsoftheWorld,AndyCoulson,forconspiringtohackphones,andfindinghispredecessor,RebekahBrooks,innocentofthesamecharge-thewiderissueofdearthofintegritystillstands.Journalistsareknowntohavehackedthephonesofupto5,500people.Thisishackingonanindustrialscale,aswasacknowledgedbyGlennMulcaire,themanhiredbytheNewsoftheWorldin2001tobethepointpersonforphonehacking.Othersawaittrial.Thislongstorystillunfolds.Inmanyrespects,thedearthofmoralpurposeframesnotonlythefactofsuchwidespreadphonehackingbutthetermsonwhichthetrialtookplace.OneoftheastonishingrevelationswashowlittleRebekahBrooksknewofwhatwentoninhernewsroom,howlittleshethoughttoaskandthefactthatsheneverinquiredhowthestoriesarrived.Thecoreofhersuccessfuldefencewasthatsheknewnothing.Intoday'sworld,ithasbecomenormalthatwell-paidexecutivesshouldnotbeaccountableforwhathappensintheorganizationsthattheyrun.Perhapsweshouldnotbesosurprised.Forageneration,thecollectivedoctrinehasbeenthatthesortingmechanismofsocietyshouldbeprofit.Thewordsthathavematteredareefficiency,flexibility,shareholdervalue,business-friendly,wealthgeneration,sales,impactand,innewspapers,circulation.Wordsdegradedtothemarginhavebeenjustice,fairness,tolerance,proportionalityandaccountability.ThepurposeofeditingtheNewsoftheWorldwasnottopromotereaderunderstanding,tobeforcirculationandimpact.MsBrooksmayormaynothavehadsuspicionsabouthowherjournalistsgottheirstories,butsheaskednoquestions,gavenoinstructions一norreceivedtraceable,recordedanswers.Accordingtothefirsttwoparagraphs,Elisabethwasupsetby.theconsequencesofthecurrentsortingmechanismcompanies,financiallossduetoimmoralpracticesgovernmentalineffectivenessonmoralissuesthewidemisuseofintegrityamonginstitutionsItcanbeinferredfromParagraph3that.GlemMulcairemaydenyphonehackingasacrimemorejournalistsmaybefoundguiltyofphonehackingAndyCoulsonshouldbeheldinnocentofthechargephonehackingwillbeacceptedoncertainoccasionsTheauthorbelievestheRebekahBooks飛defence.[A]revealedacunningpersonality[B]centeredontrivialissues[C]washardlyconvincing [D]waspartofaconspiracyTheauthorholdsthatthecurrentcollectivedoctrineshows?[A]generallydistortedvalues [B]unfairwealthdistribution[C]amarginalizedlifestyle [DJarigidmoralcodeWhichofthefollowingissuggestedinthelastparagraph?Thequalityofwritingisofprimaryimportance.Commonhumanityiscentraltonewsreporting.Moralawarenessmattersineditinganewspaper.Journalistsneedstricterindustrialregulations.PartBDirections:Inthefollowingtext,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableonefromthefistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblanks.Therearetwoextrachoices,whichdonotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET.(10points)Howdoesyourreadingproceed?Clearlyyoutrytocomprehend,inthesenseofidentifyingmeaningsforindividualwordsandworkingoutrelationshipsbetweenthem,drawingonyourimplicitknowledgeofEnglishgrammar.(41).Youbegintoinferacontextforthetext,forinstance,bymakingdecisionsaboutwhatkindofspeecheventisinvolved.Whoismakingtheutterance,towhom,whenandwhere.Thewaysofreadingindicatedherearewithoutdoubtkindsofcomprehension.Buttheyshowcomprehensiontoconsistnotjustofpassiveassimilationbutofactiveengagementininferenceandproblem-solving.YouinferinformationyoufeelthewriterhasinvitedyoutograspConceivedinthisway,comprehensionwillnotfollowexactlythesametrackforeachreader.Whatisinquestionisnottheretrievalofanabsolute,fixedor"true"meaningthatcanbereadoffandcheckedforaccuracy,orsometimelessrelationofthetexttotheworld.(43)Suchbackgroundmaterialinevitablyreflectswhoweare.(44).Thisdoesn't,however,makeinterpretationmerelyrelativeorevenpointless.Preciselybecausereadersfromdifferenthistoricalperiods,placesandsocialexperiencesproducedifferentbutoverlappingreadingsofthesamewordsonthepage-includingfortextsthatengagewithfundamentalhumanconcerns-debatesabouttextscanplayanimportantroleinsocialdiscussionofbeliefsandvalues.Howwereadagiventextalsodependstosomeextentonourparticularinterestinreadingit.(45).Suchdimensionsofreadingsuggest-asothersintroducedlaterinthebookwillalsodo-thatwebringanimplicit(oftenunacknowledged)agendatoanyactofreading.Itdoesn'tthennecessarilyfollowthatonekindofreadingisfuller,moreadvancedormoreworthwhilethananother.Ideally,differentkindsofreadinginformeachother,andactasusefulreferencepointsforandcounterbalancestooneanother.Together,theymakeupthereadingcomponentofyouroverallliteracy,orrelationshiptoyoursurroundingtextualenvironment.[A]Arewestudyingthattextandtryingtorespondinawaythatfulfilstherequirementofagivencourse?Readingitsimplyforpleasure?Skimmingitforinformation?Waysofreadingonatrainorinbedarelikelytodifferconsiderablyfromreadinginaseminarroom.|B]Factorssuchastheplaceandperiodinwhichwearereading,ourgender,ethnicity,ageandsocialclasswillencourageustowardscertaininterpretationsbutatthesametimeobscureorevencloseoffothers.[C]Ifyouareunfamiliarwithwordsoridioms,youguessattheirmeaning,usingcluespresentedinthecontext.Ontheassumptionthattheywillbecomerelevantlater,youmakeamentalnoteofdiscourseentitiesaswellaspossiblelinksbetweenthem.[D]Ineffect,youtrytoreconstructthelikelymeaningsoreffectsthatanygivensentence,imageorreferencemighthavehad:Thesemightbetheonestheauthorintended.[E]Youmakefurtherinferences,forinstance,abouthowthetextmaybesignificanttoyou,oraboutitsvalidity—inferencesthatformthebasisofapersonalresponseforwhichtheauthorwillinevitablybefarlessresponsible.|F]Inplays,novelsandnarrativepoems,charactersspeakasconstructscreatedbytheauthor,notnecessarilyasmouthpiecesfortheauthor'sownthoughts.[G]Rather,weascribemeaningstotextsonthebasisofinteractionbetweenwhatwemightcalltextualandcontextualmaterial:betweenkindsoforganizationorpatterningweperceiveinatextsformalstructures(soespeciallyitslanguagestructures)andvariouskindsofbackground,socialknowledge,beliefandattitudethatwebringtothetext.PartC一ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldhewrittenneatlyontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Withinthespanofahundredyears,intheseventeenthandearlyeighteenthcenturies,atideofemigration一oneofthegreatfolkwanderingsofhistory一sweptfromEuropetoAmerica.Thismovement,d門venbypowerfulanddiversemotivations,builtanationoutofawildernessand,byitsnature,shapedthecharacteranddestinyofanunchartedcontinent.TheUnitedStatesistheproductoftwoprincipalforces—theimmigrationofEuropeanpeopleswiththeirvariedideas,customs,andnationalcharacteristicsandtheimpactofanewcountrywhichmodifiedthesetraits.Ofnecessity,colonialAmericawasaprojectionofEurope.AcrosstheAtlanticcamesuccessivegroupsofEnglishmen,Frenchmen,Germans,Scots,Irishmen,Dutchmen,Swedes,andmanyotherswhoattemptedtotransplanttheirhabitsandtraditionstothenewworld.(48)But,theforceofgeographicconditionspeculiartoAmerica,theinterplayofthevariednationalgroupsupononeanother,andthesheerdifficultyofmaintainingold-worldwaysinaraw,newcontinentcausedsignificantchanges.Thesechangesweregradualandatfirstscarcelyvisible.Buttheresultwasanewsocialpatternwhich,althoughitresembledEuropeansocietyinmanyways,hadacharacterthatwasdistinctlyAmerican.ThefirstshiploadsofimmigrantsboundfortheterritorywhichisnowtheUnitedStatescrossedtheAtlanticmorethanahundredyearsafterthe15th?and?16th-centuryexplorationsofNorthAmerica.Inthemeantime,thrivingSpanishcolonieshadbeenestablishedinMexico,theWestIndies,andSouthAmerica.ThesetravelerstoNorthAmericacameinsmall,unmercifullyovercrowdedcraft.Duringtheirsix-totwelve-weekvoyage,theysurvivedonbarelyenoughfoodallottedtothem.Manyoftheshipswerelostinstorms,manypassengersdiedofdisease,andinfantsrarelysurvivedthejourney.Sometimesstormsblewthevesselsfarofftheircourse,andoftencalmbroughtunbearablylongdelay.TotheanxioustravelersthesightoftheAmericanshorebroughtalmostinexpressiblerelief.Saidonerecorderofevents,"Theairattwelveleagues,distancesmeltassweetasanew-blowngarden.^^Thecolonists'firstglimpseofthenewlandwasasightofdensewoods.50)Thevirginforestwithitsrichnessandvarietyoftreeswasarealtreasure-housewhichextendedfromMaineallthewaydowntoGeorgia.Herewasabundantfuelandlumber.Herewastherawm