考研英語(yǔ)歷年閱讀理解真題精析--1998年part4

字號(hào):

Part Four
    Emerging from the 1980 census is the picture of a nation developing more and more regional competition, as population growth in the Northeast and Midwest reaches a near standstill.
    This development - and its strong implications for US politics and economy in years ahead - has enthroned the South as America's most densely populated region for the first time in the history of the nation's head counting.
    Altogether, the US population rose in the 1970s by 23.2 million people - numerically the third largest growth ever recorded in a single decade. Even so, that gain adds up to only 11.4 percent, lowest in American annual records except for the Depression years.
    Americans have been migrating south and west in larger number since World War II, and the pattern still prevails.
    Three sun belt states - Florida, Texas and California - together had nearly 10 million more people in 1980 than a decade earlier. Among large cities, San Diego moved from 14th to 8th and San Antonio from 15th to 10th - with Cleveland and Washington.DC,dropping out of the top 10.
    Not all that shift can be attributed to the movement out of the snow belt, census officials say, Nonstop waves of immigrants played a role, too - and so did bigger crops of babies as yesterday's “baby boom” generation reached its child bearing years.
    Moreover, demographers see the continuing shift south and west as joined by a related but newer phenomenon: More and more, Americans apparently are looking not just for places with more jobs but with fewer people, too. Some instances-
    Regionally, the Rocky Mountain states reported the most rapid growth rate - 37.1 percent since 1970 in a vast area with only 5 percent of the US population.
    Among states, Nevada and Arizona grew fastest of all: 63.5 and 53.1 percent respectively. Except fro Florida and Texas, the top 10 in rate of growth is composed of Western states with 7.5 million people - about 9 per square mile.
    The flight from overcrowdedness affects the migration from snow belt to more bearable climates.
    Nowhere do 1980 census statistics dramatize more the American search for spacious living than in the Far West. There, California added 3.7 million to its population in the 1970s, more than any other state.
    In that decade, however, large numbers also migrated from California, mostly to other parts of the West. Often they chose - and still are choosing - somewhat colder climates such as Oregon, Idaho and Alaska in order to escape smog, crime and other plagues of urbanization in the Golden State.
    As a result, California's growth rate dropped during the 1970s, to 18.5 percent - little more than two thirds the 1960s growth figure and considerably below that of other Western states.
    13. Discerned from the perplexing picture of population growth the 1980 census provided, America in 1970s _____ .
     A)enjoyed the lowest net growth of population in history
     B)witnessed a southwestern shift of population
     C)underwent an unparalleled period of population growth
     D)brought to a standstill its pattern of migration since World War II
    14.The census distinguished itself from previous studies on population movement in that _____ .
     A)it stresses the climatic influence on population distribution
     B)it highlights the contribution of continuous waves of immigrants
     C)it reveals the Americans' new pursuit of spacious living
     D)it elaborates the delayed effects of yesterday's “baby boom”
    15.We can see from the available statistics that _____ .
     A)California was once the most thinly populated area in the whole US
     B)the top 10 states in growth rate of population were all located in the West
     C)cities with better climates benefited unanimously from migration
     D)Arizona ranked second of all states in its growth rate of population
    16.The word “demographers” (Line 1, Paragraph 8)most probably means _____ .
     A)people in favor of the trend of democracy
     B)advocates of migration between states
     C)scientists engaged in the study of population
     D)conservatives clinging to old patterns of life
    Unit5 (1998) Part 4
    重點(diǎn)詞匯:
    1. standstill(n.停止;停頓的)←stand+still。
    2. enthrone(使登基;給予地位)即en+throne,en-前綴“使”,throne(寶座;王權(quán))。
    3. numerically (在數(shù)字上)即numer+ical+ly,numer=number(b脫落),-ical形容詞后綴,-ly副詞后綴。
    4. prevail (v.取勝;盛行)←pre+vail。I believe that man will not merely endure. He will prevail.我相信人不會(huì)僅僅是忍受,他終將勝利。Culture has one great passion — the passion for sweetness and light.
    5. nonstop? (不斷的;不停地)←non+stop。
    6. demographer(人口統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)家)即demo+graph+er,demo詞根“人”,graph詞根“寫”,-er表“人”;
    7. overcrowdedness(過(guò)于擁擠)←over+crowd+ed+ness。Ant says, nothing can beat the crowd.螞蟻說(shuō),群體是不可戰(zhàn)勝的。
    8. plague瘟疫;災(zāi)害)諧音:怕累咯←怕“瘟疫”累及自身。Bad habits are as infectious by example as the plague itself is by contact.惡習(xí)易于由實(shí)例傳播,就像瘟疫的傳播借助于接觸。urbanization(都市化)即urban+iz(e)+ation,urban都市的,-ize“使……”,-ation名詞后綴。
    9. discern (v.認(rèn)出;辨別)←dis+cern。The beginning of all war may be discerned not only by the first act of hostility, but by the counsels and preparations foregoing.一切戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的開(kāi)端不僅可由首次敵對(duì)行動(dòng)區(qū)分,也可由事前的策劃和準(zhǔn)備識(shí)別。
    10. distinguish(v.區(qū)別);indistinguishable(a.不能區(qū)別的)←in+distinguish+able。We drink without thirst, and we make love any time, madame. Only this distinguishes us from the other animals.我們不渴而飲,隨時(shí)示愛(ài),夫人。使我們與其它動(dòng)物相區(qū)別的只有這一點(diǎn)。unanimously(無(wú)異議地)即un(i)+anim+ous+ly,uni-“一”,anim詞根“生命;精神”(如animal→anim+al→動(dòng)物),-ous形容詞后綴,-ly副詞后綴,“在精神上一致地”→無(wú)異議地。
    難句解析:
    ① Emerging from the 1980 census is the picture of a nation developing more and more regional competition, as population growth in the Northeast and Midwest reaches a near standstill.
    這是主從復(fù)合句,逗號(hào)前面是主句,是個(gè)倒裝句,主干句其實(shí)是The picture is emerging from the 1988 census。倒裝的原因是這個(gè)句子的主語(yǔ)the picture后面有一個(gè)of引導(dǎo)的很長(zhǎng)的修飾成分,其中nation后面跟隨的分詞短語(yǔ)表述了nation的某種狀態(tài);逗號(hào)后面是as引導(dǎo)的從句表示伴隨,基本結(jié)構(gòu)是population growth reaches a standstill。
    認(rèn)識(shí)到第一個(gè)分句的倒裝構(gòu)成,nation后面的分詞結(jié)構(gòu)是對(duì)nation的表述;再者就是要搞清楚兩個(gè)分句之間并列轉(zhuǎn)折的關(guān)系。
    ② This development — and its strong implication for US politics and economy in years ahead — has enthroned the South as America's most densely populated region for the first time in the history of the nation's head counting.
    首先不看破折號(hào)之間的內(nèi)容,找出這個(gè)句子的主干:This development has enthroned the South as region。再看各個(gè)部分的修飾成分:主語(yǔ)后面的破折號(hào)之間是對(duì)主語(yǔ)的補(bǔ)充,即this development產(chǎn)生的另一種暗示,注意其中介詞for和in的用法;然后看region后面的狀語(yǔ)for the first time in the history(有史以來(lái)第一次)。
    注意破折號(hào)之間的插入部分在意義上是主語(yǔ)的補(bǔ)充部分;enthrone和head counting對(duì)這個(gè)句子的理解很關(guān)鍵。注意head counting是census通俗的說(shuō)法。
    ③ Nonstop waves of immigrants played a role, too — and so did bigger crops of babies as yesterday's "baby boom" generation reached its child-bearing years.
    這是由兩個(gè)分句組成的并列句,只不過(guò)第二個(gè)分句簡(jiǎn)化了一下。第一個(gè)分句很簡(jiǎn)單,主干是immigrants played a role。主語(yǔ)immigrants前面是其修飾成分。第二個(gè)分句是個(gè)主從復(fù)合句,主句是倒裝形式,還原過(guò)來(lái)應(yīng)該是Bigger crops of babies also played a role。因?yàn)榍懊嬉呀?jīng)提到了played a role,為了簡(jiǎn)潔,用so前導(dǎo),后跟助動(dòng)詞did加主語(yǔ)就可以了;as引導(dǎo)了一個(gè)原因狀語(yǔ)從句,指出這種情況發(fā)生的社會(huì)原因。
    關(guān)鍵是要理解破折號(hào)后面倒裝句的構(gòu)成與意義,這樣就會(huì)明白這個(gè)句子要說(shuō)明的就是影響人口增長(zhǎng)的兩個(gè)原因:immigrants和bigger crops of babies,crop在這里是“大量,大批”的意思。
    ④ Often they choose — and still are choosing — somewhat colder climates such as Oregon, Idaho and Alaska in order to escape smog, crime and other plagues of urbanization in the Golden State.
    我們先來(lái)分析這個(gè)單句的主干結(jié)構(gòu):They choose and are still choosing colder climates in order to escape...。注意破折號(hào)之間是謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的補(bǔ)充,表示另一種時(shí)間狀態(tài)。在climates后面跟的是such as引導(dǎo)的三個(gè)州名,列舉的是較為寒冷的幾個(gè)州;后面是一個(gè)由in order to引導(dǎo)的表示目的的短語(yǔ),其中escape的賓語(yǔ)有三個(gè):smog,crime and other plagues,of短語(yǔ)修飾plagues,說(shuō)明plagues發(fā)生的原因。
    在時(shí)態(tài)上注意同一個(gè)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞choose的兩種時(shí)態(tài),表示的兩個(gè)時(shí)間概念;短語(yǔ)the Golden State是美國(guó)加利福尼亞州的別稱。
    ⑤As a result, California's growth rate dropped during the 1970's, to 18.5 percent — little more than two thirds the 1960's growth figure and considerably below that of other Western states.
    這個(gè)句子的結(jié)構(gòu)是由數(shù)字的比較構(gòu)成。第一處在于dropped to 18.5%(下降到了18.5%),不要理解成下降了18.5%;再一個(gè)是two thirds the 1960's growth figure,指的是60年代生長(zhǎng)率的三分之二;below后面的that代替的是growth rate,目的是與其它西部各州相比較。
    對(duì)數(shù)字的理解是這個(gè)句子的關(guān)鍵,注意其中比較的是70年代與60年代、加州與西部其它各州的生長(zhǎng)率。
    試題解析:
    13. 【正確答案】[B]
    意為:人口向西南部遷移。第二段指出,這一變化對(duì)美國(guó)未來(lái)幾年(in years ahead)的政治和經(jīng)濟(jì)都有很大影響,同時(shí),在人口統(tǒng)計(jì),美國(guó)南部第一次成為人口最稠密的地區(qū);第四段指出,自第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來(lái),美國(guó)人一直有南遷和西遷的趨向,現(xiàn)在還是如此(and the pattern prevails),所謂西遷,主要是指向位于西南部的加利弗尼亞州遷移(見(jiàn)第五、九段);另外,本文所提到的人口增長(zhǎng)速度較快的加利弗尼亞、亞利桑那、內(nèi)華達(dá)等州都在美國(guó)西南部。
    A意為:是歷人口凈增長(zhǎng)最低的十年。第二段指出,70年代,美國(guó)共增長(zhǎng)了2320萬(wàn)人,從增長(zhǎng)數(shù)量上來(lái)看,該年代增長(zhǎng)幅度居于有史以來(lái)第三高位;但這一數(shù)字僅為總?cè)丝诘?1.4%,除了大蕭條時(shí)代以外,這是美國(guó)有史最低的。C意為:是有史以來(lái)人口增長(zhǎng)最快的十年。D意為:自第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來(lái)的遷移趨向告一段落。參閱第四段。
    14. 【正確答案】[C]
    意為:它顯示了美國(guó)人尋求寬闊的生活空間的新傾向。第七段指出,除了繼續(xù)的南遷和西遷趨向外,人口統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)家還發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個(gè)相關(guān)的新現(xiàn)象:美國(guó)人遷移的目的不僅是尋找工作,而是越來(lái)越明顯地尋找人口稀少的地區(qū)居?。坏诎硕沃赋?,離開(kāi)擁擠的地區(qū)同時(shí)也改變了過(guò)去美國(guó)人一味逃離寒帶、遷向氣候溫和地帶(more-bearable climates)的做法;第九段也指出,1980年的統(tǒng)計(jì)最清楚地表明:美國(guó)人遷向最西部地區(qū),是因?yàn)樗麄兿雽ふ覍掗煹纳婵臻g(spacious living)。
    A意為;它強(qiáng)調(diào)了氣候?qū)θ丝诜植嫉挠绊憽⒖嫉诎硕?。第六段第一句也指出,統(tǒng)計(jì)官員們說(shuō):并非所有的遷移都是因?yàn)橄朊撾x寒帶。B意為:它強(qiáng)調(diào)了不斷的移民熱對(duì)人口增長(zhǎng)的影響。第六段第二句指出,不斷的移民熱潮(nonstop waves of immigrants)也起了一定作用,另外還有出生率的增長(zhǎng),因?yàn)樯弦惠啞俺錾叱薄保╞aby boom)出生的一代已經(jīng)到了生育期。這里雖然提到了移民因素的影響,但作者并未強(qiáng)調(diào)它的作用。D意為:它(詳細(xì)地)說(shuō)明了上一輪“出生高潮”的后期效果。
    15. 【正確答案】[D]
    意為:在所有州中,亞利桑那州的人口增長(zhǎng)率名列第二。第七段第二句指出,在所有州中,內(nèi)華達(dá)州和亞利桑那州人口增長(zhǎng)最多,分別為63.5%和53.1%。
    A意為;加利弗尼亞州曾經(jīng)是美國(guó)人口最稀少的州。B意為:人口增長(zhǎng)最快的十個(gè)州全在西部。第七段第二句指出,除了佛羅里達(dá)州(位于東南部)和得克薩斯州(位于中部)以外,人口增長(zhǎng)速度最快的前十個(gè)州都在美國(guó)西部,人口750萬(wàn),每平方英里約9人。C意為:氣候好的城市普遍受益于人口的遷移。
    16. 【正確答案】[C]
    意為:研究人口的科學(xué)家。該詞意為:人口統(tǒng)計(jì)學(xué)家。
    A意為:支持民主運(yùn)動(dòng)的人。B意為:主張州際遷移的人。D意為:堅(jiān)持舊生活模式的保守分子。
    全文翻譯:
    1980年美國(guó)人口普查顯示出這樣一幅圖像:隨著東北部和中西部人口增長(zhǎng)近乎停止,地區(qū)間的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)越來(lái)越激烈了。
    這一發(fā)展——以及它對(duì)今后幾年美國(guó)政治和經(jīng)濟(jì)的強(qiáng)大影響——使南部在美國(guó)人口普查第一次成為人口最密集的地區(qū)。
    20世紀(jì)70年代,美國(guó)人口總共增長(zhǎng)了2320萬(wàn)——從數(shù)字上看,這是有紀(jì)錄以來(lái)10年期人口增長(zhǎng)的第三高峰。即使如此,人口總數(shù)也只增加了11.4%,除了大蕭條時(shí)期,這是美國(guó)年度記錄最低的增長(zhǎng)率。
    第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來(lái),美國(guó)人大量向南部和西部遷移,而且這種趨勢(shì)如今仍很盛行。
    佛羅里達(dá)、得克薩斯和加利福尼亞這三個(gè)陽(yáng)光充沛的地區(qū),1980年的人口比前10年增加了近1000萬(wàn)。在大城市排行榜上,圣地亞哥從第14位上升到第8位,圣安東尼奧從第15位升到第10位,而克利夫蘭和華盛頓特區(qū)卻被擠出了前10位。
    普查官員說(shuō),并非所有這些人口遷移都是為了離開(kāi)寒冷地帶。不斷涌入的移民潮,還有以前“生育高峰”出生的那些孩子也已到了生育年齡,這些都發(fā)揮著作用。
    而且,人口學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn),向南部和向西部的不斷遷移還伴隨著一種相關(guān)卻又較新的現(xiàn)象:越來(lái)越多的美國(guó)人顯然不再僅僅尋找有更多工作機(jī)會(huì)的地方,也在尋找人口稀少的地方。例證如下:
    從區(qū)域上看,洛基山脈各州上報(bào)了自1970年以來(lái)的人口增長(zhǎng)率——37.1%,而以前這片廣闊的土地上的人口僅占美國(guó)總?cè)丝诘?%。
    從各州情況看,內(nèi)華達(dá)和亞利桑那是增長(zhǎng)最快的兩個(gè)州:其增長(zhǎng)率分別為63.5%和53.1%。除了佛羅里達(dá)州和得克薩斯州外,處于人口增長(zhǎng)率前10位的都是西部各州,共有750萬(wàn)人——每平方英里約9個(gè)人。
    離開(kāi)人口過(guò)度稠密區(qū)的做法影響了以前那種離開(kāi)寒冷地帶去氣候宜人之地的趨勢(shì)。
    沒(méi)有哪次調(diào)查比1980年美國(guó)人口普查更能突出顯示美國(guó)人遷往最西部是為了找到更廣闊的生存空間。正因?yàn)槿绱耍永D醽喼菰?0年代人口增加了370萬(wàn),比其他任何州都多。
    70年代也有大量的人離開(kāi)加利福尼亞,大多數(shù)去了西部其他的地方。他們常常選擇——現(xiàn)在依然這樣選擇——一些氣候較冷的地區(qū),如俄勒岡、愛(ài)達(dá)荷和阿拉斯加,為的是躲開(kāi)“金州”加利福尼亞)的煙霧、犯罪和其他城市化進(jìn)程中的問(wèn)題。
    結(jié)果,加利福尼亞的人口增長(zhǎng)率在70年代降到了18.5%——略高于60年代增長(zhǎng)率的2/3,但大大低于西部其他各州。