2010考研英语二阅读答案是什么？-科普教育网

2010年全国硕士研究生招生考试英语（二）阅读理解

Part A Directions: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)

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Text 1

Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage.

It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies.

We are even farther from the old situation, where Americans of culture sought intellectual guidance from Great Britain. We are now even more unadventurous than we were a decade ago. We have given up going to concerts to hear what the composer is up to. We no longer want to read about purely personal matters in the lives of great artists. We are bored by the familiar names and conventional plots. If Goethe and Schubert are not forgotten, it is because we scarcely read them, not because we read them too much.

The question we must face is: Why has America's interest in the arts fallen off so sharply? The answer, I think, lies in the fact that the arts have lost their prestige. The arts have become something to be dealt with by professionals in their separate, non-communicating worlds. We have turned away from the old, unified public where the artist and the public were brought together. We have turned away from the old, unified public where the artist and the public were brought together by the critic. We have turned away from the old, unified public where the artist and the public were brought together by the critic.

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The arts criticism that once flourished in the popular press is now in a state of decline. It is time for a re-evaluation of the arts criticism of the past and a re-thinking of its role in the future.

What is the text mainly about? A. The decline of arts criticism in popular newspapers. B. The change of public taste in arts. C. The factors leading to the decline of arts. D. A re-evaluation of 20th-century arts criticism.

What was the role of the critic mentioned in the text? A. To maintain the high standards of the arts. B. To bridge the gap between the art and the public. C. To protect the artist from personal criticism. D. To provide guidance for intellectuals.

What does the author think of the current situation of arts criticism? A. It is a sign of a cultural decline. B. It is a sign of improved professionalism. C. have lost their prestige. D. It is a result of the public's loss of interest.

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**24. The author uses the phrase "marvel at the fact" (Line 3, Para. 2) to show that ____. A. he is surprised by the high quality of the criticism B. he is doubtful about the suitability of the criticism for newspapers C. he is puzzled by the decline of arts criticism D. he is impressed by the learned nature of the criticism

What can be inferred from the text? A. Americans are now less interested in European arts. B. The decline of arts criticism is an inevitable trend. C. The popular press is no longer interested in the arts. D. Arts criticism should be brought back to its former glory.

Text 2

Over the past three decades, the number of people living in the United States has grown by 78 percent, while the consumption of energy has increased by only 36 percent. This improvement in energy efficiency has been driven by a number of factors, including a shift to a more service-based economy, higher energy prices, and a growing environmental consciousness.

The single most important factor, however, has been the development of new technologies that allow us to use energy more efficiently. For example, the widespread adoption of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) has significantly reduced electricity consumption for lighting. Similarly, improvements in the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks have reduced gasoline consumption. The development of smart grids, which can manage electricity distribution more effectively, promises further gains in energy efficiency.

Despite these successes, there is still much room for improvement. The United States still consumes more energy per capita than any other developed country. Furthermore, much of the energy consumed is from fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Therefore, continued investment in energy efficiency technologies is crucial for both economic and environmental reasons.

The challenge now is to accelerate the adoption of these technologies. This will require a combination of government policies, such as stricter fuel efficiency standards and incentives for energy-efficient products, as well as greater public awareness and private sector investment. By doing so, the United States can continue to reduce its energy consumption while maintaining economic growth.

What is the main idea of the text? A. The reasons for the United States' high energy consumption. B. The factors contributing to the improvement of energy efficiency in the U.S. C. The measures to be taken to further improve energy efficiency. D. The relationship between economic growth and energy consumption.

According to the text, what is the single most important factor for the improvement in energy efficiency? A. The shift to a service-based economy. B. Higher energy prices. C. The development of new technologies. D. Growing environmental consciousness.

What can be inferred from the text about the United States' energy consumption? A. It has decreased significantly over the past three decades. B. It is still the highest among developed countries. C. It is mainly from renewable energy sources. D. It is no longer a threat to the environment.

What is the author's attitude towards the future of energy efficiency in the U.S.? A. Optimistic. B. Pessimistic. C. Indifferent. D. Uncertain.

What does the author suggest to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient technologies? A. Raising energy prices. B. Increasing government investment. C. Implementing stricter standards and raising public awareness. D. Shifting to a more service-based economy.

Text 3

When prehistoric man arrived in new parts of the world, something strange happened to the large animals: they suddenly became extinct. Smaller species survived. The large animals were all slow-moving, thick-skinned creatures. Not one of them had learned to run away.

This is an astonishing event. Scientists have been arguing about it for decades. What really happened? One theory is that the first Americans, who crossed from Asia to Alaska 12,000 years ago, were expert hunters. They may have hunted these large animals to extinction. Another theory is that a change in climate killed them off. But when you think about it, neither of these theories seems very likely.

A third theory, which is now gaining acceptance among scientists, is that a disease wiped out the large animals. The disease was introduced by the first Americans. It was a disease to which the large animals had no immunity, but to which the smaller animals were resistant. The smaller animals survived because they were not affected by the disease.

The disease theory is more plausible than the hunting or climate theories. The first Americans were not that many in number, and they did not have sophisticated weapons. It is hard to believe that they could have hunted so effectively as to wipe out entire species. As for the climate change theory, there is no evidence of a sudden, dramatic change in climate at that time. The disease theory, on the other hand, can explain why only the large animals died out and the smaller ones survived. It also explains why the extinctions happened so quickly.

What is the main topic of the text? A. The migration of prehistoric man. B. The extinction of large prehistoric animals. C. The debate among scientists about prehistoric extinctions. D. The reasons for the survival of smaller animals.

What can be inferred about the large prehistoric animals? A. They were all killed by the first Americans. B. They were unable to adapt to new environments. C. They had no natural enemies. D. They were not immune to certain diseases.

According to the text, why did the smaller animals survive? A. They were better hunters. B. They were not affected by the disease. C. They could adapt to climate change. D. They were more numerous.

What is the author's attitude towards the hunting theory? A. Supportive. B. Skeptical. C. Indifferent. D. Enthusiastic.

Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? A. The first Americans arrived in the Americas 12,000 years ago. B. The climate change theory is the most widely accepted theory. C. The large animals became extinct because they were slow-moving. D. The disease theory explains why the extinctions happened quickly.