考研英語范文閱讀(十五)

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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 numbers 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 form 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 for 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 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.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.
    63. 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
    64. 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”
    65. 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
    66. The word “demographers” (line 1, paragraph 7) 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
    答案及試題解析
    BCDC
    63.(B)意為:人口向西南部遷移。
    第二段指出,這一變化對美國未來幾年(in years ahead)的政治和經(jīng)濟都有很大影響,同時,在人口統(tǒng)計,美國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,美國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(見第五、九段);另外,本文所提到的人口增長速度較快的加利弗尼亞、亞利桑那、內華達等州都在美國西南部。
    A意為:是歷人口凈增長最低的十年。第二段指出,70年代,美國共增長了2320萬人,從增長數(shù)量上來看,該年代增長幅度居于有史以來第三高位;但這一數(shù)字僅為總人口的11.4%,除了大蕭條時代以外,這是美國有史最低的。
    C意為:是有史以來人口增長最快的十年。
    D意為:自第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來的遷移趨向告一段落。參閱第四段。
    64.(C)意為:它顯示了美國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)計學家還發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個相關的新現(xiàn)象:美國人遷移的目的不僅是尋找工作,而是越來越明顯地尋找人口稀少的地區(qū)居??;第八段指出,離開擁擠的地區(qū)同時也改變了過去美國人一味逃離寒帶、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)計最清楚地表明:美國人遷向最西部地區(qū),是因為他們想尋找寬闊的生存空間(spacious living)。
    A意為;它強調了氣候對人口分布的影響。參考第八段。第六段第一句也指出,統(tǒng)計官員們說:并非所有的遷移都是因為想脫離寒帶。
    B意為:它強調了不斷的移民熱對人口增長的影響。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,因為上一輪“出生高潮”(baby 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,但作者并未強調它的作用。
    D意為:它(詳細地)說明了上一輪“出生高潮”的后期效果。
    65.(D)意為:在所有州中,亞利桑那州的人口增長率名列第二。
    第七段第二句指出,在所有州中,內華達州和亞利桑那州人口增長最多,分別為63.5%和53.1%。
    A意為;加利弗尼亞州曾經(jīng)是美國人口最稀少的州。
    B意為:人口增長最快的十個州全在西部。第七段第二句指出,除了佛羅里達州(位于東南部)和得克薩斯州(位于中部)以外,人口增長速度最快的前十個州都在美國西部,人口750萬,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。
    66.(C)意為:研究人口的科學家。
    該詞意為:人口統(tǒng)計學家。
    A意為:支持民主運動的人。
    B意為:主張州際遷移的人。
    D意為:堅持舊生活模式的保守分子。
    翻譯句子
    1、Americans have been migrating south and west in larger numbers since World War II, and the pattern still prevails.
    [參考譯文]第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來,美國人大量向南部和西部遷移,而且這種趨勢如今仍很盛行。
    2、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.
    [參考譯文]他們常常選擇——現(xiàn)在依然這樣選擇——居住在那些氣候較為寒冷的地區(qū),比如俄勒岡、愛達荷,還有阿拉斯加,為的是逃避煙霧、犯罪,以及“金州”(加利福尼亞)城市化進程中的其他間題。
    補充難句翻譯
    ①Emerging 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.[參考譯文]1980的人口普查顯現(xiàn)的這樣一幅圖景:隨著東北和中西部地區(qū)的人口增長幾乎停滯不前,這個國家的地域間(人口方面的)競爭發(fā)展得越來越快。
    [結構剖析]這是主從復合句,逗號前面是主句,是個倒裝句,主干句其實是The picture is emerging from the 1988 census.倒裝的原因是這個句子的主語the picture后面有一個of引導的很長的修飾成分,其中nation后面跟隨的分詞短語表述了nation的某種狀態(tài);逗號后面是as引導的從句表示伴隨,基本結構是population growth reaches a standstill.
    [閱讀重點]認識到第一個分句的倒裝構成,nation后面的分詞結構是對nation的表述;再者就是要搞清楚兩個分句之間并列轉折的關系。
    ②This 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.[參考譯文]這種發(fā)展——以及其對美國政治、經(jīng)濟在未來幾年的潛在的強有力的影響——使得南部在全國人口普查中有史以來首次成為美國人口最密集的地區(qū)。
    [結構剖析]首先不看破折號之間的內容,找出這個句子的主干:This development has enthroned the South as region.再看各個部分的修飾成分:主語后面的破折號之間是對主語的補充,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for the first time in the history(有史以來第一次)。
    [閱讀重點]注意破折號之間的插入部分在意義上是主語的補充部分;enthrone和head counting對這個句子的理解很關鍵。注意head counting是census通俗的說法。
    ③Nonstop 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.[參考譯文]不斷涌人的移民潮也起了一定作用——還有就是以前那次“嬰兒潮”出生的一代已經(jīng)到了生育年齡,他們生下的數(shù)量更為可觀的孩子也起了一定作用。
    [結構剖析]這是由兩個分句組成的并列句,只不過第二個分句簡化了一下。第一個分句很簡單,主干是immigrants played a role.主語immigrants前面是其修飾成分。第二個分句是個主從復合句,主句是倒裝形式,還原過來應該是Bigger crops of babies also played a role.因為前面已經(jīng)提到了played a role,為了簡潔,用so前導,后跟助動詞did加主語就可以了;as引導了一個原因狀語從句,指出這種情況發(fā)生的社會原因。
    [閱讀重點]關鍵是要理解破折號后面倒裝句的構成與意義,這樣就會明白這個句子要說明的就是影響人口增長的兩個原因:immigrants和bigger crops of babies,crop在這里是“大量,大批”的意思。
    ④Often 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.[參考譯文]他們常常選擇——現(xiàn)在依然這樣選擇——居住在那些氣候較為寒冷的地區(qū),比如俄勒岡、愛達荷,還有阿拉斯加,為的是逃避煙霧、犯罪,以及“金州”(加利福尼亞)城市化進程中的其他間題。
    [結構剖析]我們先來分析這個單句的主干結構:They choose and are still choosing colder climates in order to escape……。注意破折號之間是謂語動詞的補充,表示另一種時間狀態(tài)。在climates后面跟的是such as引導的三個州名,列舉的是較為寒冷的幾個州;后面是一個由in order to引導的表示目的的短語,其中escape的賓語有三個:smog,crime and other plagues,of短語修飾plagues,說明plagues發(fā)生的原因。
    [閱讀重點]在時態(tài)上注意同一個謂語動詞choose的兩種時態(tài),表示的兩個時間概念;短語the Golden State是美國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.[參考譯文]結果,加利福尼亞的人口增長率在20世紀70年代時下降到了18.5%——稍高于60年代增長率的三分之二,大大低于西部其他各州。
    [結構剖析]這個句子的結構是由數(shù)字的比較構成。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%;再一個是two thirds the 1960's growth figure,指的是60年代生長率的三分之二;below后面的that代替的是growth rate,目的是與其它西部各州相比較。
    [閱讀重點]對數(shù)字的理解是這個句子的關鍵,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率。
    語言點詳解
    1.census人口普查[大綱詞匯]census n.人口普查(調查)
    2.standstill停滯[擴充詞匯] standstill n.停止;停頓;停滯[經(jīng)典例句]If nobody tried a new thing, the world would come to a standstill.
    3.enthrone使…居于地位[擴充詞匯]enthrone v.使居于地位;使…登位;推崇[經(jīng)典例句]His academic achievements have enthroned him as the best student in his class.
    4.densely populated人口密集的[大綱詞匯]dense a.濃厚的,密集的,稠密的[擴充詞匯] populate v.構成…的人口;向…移民[經(jīng)典例句]The city is densely populated.
    5.head counting清點人數(shù)
    6.numerically數(shù)字地,數(shù)值地[大綱詞匯]numerical a.數(shù)字的,用數(shù)字表示的,數(shù)值的[經(jīng)典例句]The enemy has superiority over us numerically.
    7.record記錄[大綱詞匯」record v.記錄,登記;錄音n.記錄,記載;紀錄;成績;履歷,經(jīng)歷;唱片[經(jīng)典例句]The phenomenon was recorded in the history only once.
    8.migrate移居[大綱詞匯]migrate v.遷移,移居(國外)[衍生詞匯]migration n.移居,遷移[經(jīng)典例句]He is think of migrating to Taxes.
    9.prevail流行[大綱詞匯]prevail v.(over,against)取勝,占優(yōu)勢;流行,盛行[經(jīng)典例句]West wind prevails in Beijing in winter.
    10.sun-belt陽光地帶(指美國加利福尼亞起至北卡羅來納和南卡羅來納一帶)11.drop out of退出[大綱詞匯]drop out退出,離隊[經(jīng)典例句]He dropped out of school to be a waiter.
    12.shift轉變[大綱詞匯]shift v.替換,轉換;移動; n.轉換,轉變;(輪)班,(換)班[經(jīng)典例句] Their shift of opinions shocked all of us.
    13.attribute to把…歸于[大綱詞匯]attribute n.屬性,品質,特征;v.(to)把…歸于;認為…是…所為[經(jīng)典例句]His irresponsibility cannot be simple attributed to personality.
    14.snow-belt(美國北部)霜凍地帶
    15.play a role起作用[擴充詞匯]play a role起作用,發(fā)揮作用[經(jīng)典例句]Restructuring played an important role in reducing the cost.
    16.boby boom (二戰(zhàn)后1947——1961年間美國)生育高峰[大綱詞匯] boom v.迅速發(fā)展,興旺;發(fā)出隆隆聲
    17.demographer人口學家[擴充詞匯] demographer n.人口學家demography n.人口學;人口統(tǒng)計
    18.be composed of由…組成[大綱詞匯]compose v.組成,構成;(of)由…組成;創(chuàng)作(作曲、詩歌等)composition n.作品,作文,樂曲;寫作,作曲;結構,組成,成分[經(jīng)典例句]The rescue team was composed of 5 experts.
    19.flight逃離[大綱詞匯] flight n.飛翔,飛行;航班;航程;逃離,潰退;樓梯的一段[經(jīng)典例句]The criminals took flight for the borders.
    20.overcrowdedness過于擁擠
    21.dramatize使引人注目[擴充詞匯] dramatize .使引人注目;戲劇化的表現(xiàn);把(小說)改編成劇本[經(jīng)典例句]It will dramatize his attention to the gas crisis.
    22. spacious寬敞的[大綱詞匯]space n.間隔,距離;空地,余地;空間;太空[衍生詞匯]spacious a.空曠的,寬闊的[經(jīng)典例句]There is a spacious lawn in front of the house.
    23.plague令人煩惱的事[大綱詞匯]plague n.瘟疫,災害;令人煩惱的事物[經(jīng)典例句]London's fogs used to be a plague to its residents.
    24.urbanization城市化[大綱詞匯]urban a.城市的[衍生詞匯]urbanize v.使城市化urbanization n.城市化25.discern from從…看出[大綱詞匯]discern v.認出,發(fā)現(xiàn);辨別,識別[經(jīng)典例句]We discerned from his appearance that he was upset.
    26.perplexing令人困惑的[大綱詞匯] perplex v.使困惑,使費解,使復雜化[衍生詞匯]perplexing a.令人困惑的,令人費解的[經(jīng)典例句]We could hardly tell his intention from his perplexing behavior.
    27.unparalleled前所未有的[擴充詞匯]unparalleled a.無比的,無雙的;獨一無二的,獨特的[經(jīng)典例句]We are confident of our success in spite of the unparalleled difficulty.
    28.distinguish from區(qū)別[大綱詞匯]distinguish v.(from)區(qū)別,辨別;辨認出;使杰出[經(jīng)典例句]Her intelligence distinguished the girl from others.
    29.elaborate詳細說明[大綱詞匯]elaborate v.精心制作,詳細說明;a.詳盡的,精心的[經(jīng)典例句]The teacher asked the student to elaborate his idea in his thesis.
    30.unanimously全體地[大綱詞匯]unanimous a.全體一致的,一致同意的[經(jīng)典例句]The directors on the board agreed upon the proposal unanimously.
    31.in favor of支持[大綱詞匯]in favor of有利于,便于,贊成,支持[經(jīng)典例句] He divided his property in favor of his youngest son.
    32.cling to堅持[大綱詞匯]cling v.(to)粘住;依附;堅持[經(jīng)典例句]Many recent immigrants to the city often cling to their small-town values.
    全文翻譯
    1980年美國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近乎停止,地區(qū)間的競爭越來越激烈了。
    這一發(fā)展——以及它對今后幾年美國政治和經(jīng)濟的強大影響——使南部在美國人口普查第一次成為人口最密集的地區(qū)。
    20世紀70年代,美國人口總共增長了2320萬——從數(shù)字上看,這是有紀錄以來10年期人口增長的第三高峰。即使如此,人口總數(shù)也只增加了11.4%,除了大蕭條時期,這是美國年度記錄最低的增長率。
    第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以來,美國人大量向南部和西部遷移,而且這種趨勢如今仍很盛行。
    佛羅里達、得克薩斯和加利福尼亞這三個陽光充沛的地區(qū),1980年的人口比前10年增加了近1000萬。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,并非所有這些人口遷移都是為了離開寒冷地帶。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卻又較新的現(xiàn)象:越來越多的美國人顯然不再僅僅尋找有更多工作機會的地方,也在尋找人口稀少的地方。例證如下:
    從區(qū)域上看,洛基山脈各州上報了自1970年以來的人口增長率——37.1%,而以前這片廣闊的土地上的人口僅占美國總人口的5%。
    從各州情況看,內華達和亞利桑那是增長最快的兩個州:其增長率分別為63.5%和53.1%。除了佛羅里達州和得克薩斯州外,處于人口增長率前10位的都是西部各州,共有750萬人——每平方英里約9個人。
    離開人口過度稠密區(qū)的做法影響了以前那種離開寒冷地帶去氣候宜人之地的趨勢。
    沒有哪次調查比1980年美國人口普查更能突出顯示美國人遷往最西部是為了找到更廣闊的生存空間。正因為如此,加利福尼亞州在70年代人口增加了370萬,比其他任何州都多。
    70年代也有大量的人離開加利福尼亞,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、愛達荷和阿拉斯加,為的是躲開“金州”加利福尼亞)的煙霧、犯罪和其他城市化進程中的問題。
    結果,加利福尼亞的人口增長率在70年代降到了18.5%——略高于60年代增長率的2/3,但大大低于西部其他各州。