2007 Postgraduate English Examination ​

🔷 Text 1 专家表现培养 ​

🔹 Text 1 翻译 ​

🚩 If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006's World Cup tournament, you would most likely find a noteworthy quirk elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the later months. If you then examined the European national youth teams that feed the World Cup and professional ranks, you would find this strange phenomenon to be even more pronounced.

如果你查一下参加2006年世界杯足球锦标赛的每位运动员的出生证明，就极可能发现一个值得注意的怪现象：出色的足球运动员往往出生在一年内的前几个月 而不是后几个月。如果你再查一下为世界杯和职业球队输送球员的欧洲国家青年队的出生证明，你就会发现这一现象更加明显。

🚩 What might account for this strange phenomenon ? Here are a few guesses: a ) certain astrological signs confer superior soccer skills; b) winter-born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina; c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime , at the annual peak of soccer mania; d) none of the above.

如果何解释这一怪现象呢？这里有几种猜测：1）某些星象迹象赋予这些人出色的球技；2）冬天出生的孩子氧容量高，因此踢足球的耐力好；3）对足球狂热的父母更可能在春天这个一年之中足球狂热的高峰期孕育子女；4）以上猜测都不成立。

🚩 Anders Ericsson, a 58-year-old psychology professor at Florida State University, says he believes strongly in "none of the above." Ericsson grew up in Sweden, and studied nuclear engineering until he realized he would have more opportunity to conduct his own research if he switched to psychology. His first experiment, nearly 30 years ago, involved memory training a person to hear and then repeat a random series of numbers."With the first subject, after about 20 hours of training, his digit span had risen from 7 to 20 , " Ericsson recalls . " He kept improving , and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers.

Anders Ericsson 是佛罗里达州立大学的心理学教授，他坚信前三种推测均不成立。Ericsson 在瑞典长大，开始时学习核工程，直到他意识到如果自己改学心理学，就会有更多的机会进行自己的研究。大约30年前他做了第一个实验，与记忆力相关：训练一个人听，然后复述一组随机的数字。他回忆到：“在经过大约20个小时的训练后，第一个受试者的数字记忆跨度从7个上升至20个，他不断地进步，在经过大约200个小时的训练后，他记忆的数字超过了80个。”

🚩 This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitive one. In other words, whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize, those differences are swamped by how well each person " encodes " the information . And the best way to learn how to encode information meaningfully, Ericsson determined, was a process known as deliberate practice. Deliberate practice entails more than simply repeating a task. Rather, it involves setting specific goals, obtaining immediate feedback and concentrating as much on technique as on outcome.

后来进行的实验表明了记忆力本身不是由基因决定的，这些结果与第一次实验的成功一起让 Ericsson 得出结论，记忆行为与其说是一种直觉行为，不如说是一种认知行为。换句话说，不管两个人的记忆能力方面表现出来的先天差异有多大，这些差异都会被每个人解码信息能力的强弱所掩盖。Ericsson 认为，学习有意义地解码信息的最好方式就是一个被称为“有意练习”的过程。“有意练习”需要的不仅仅是简单的重复一项任务，而是要确立特定目标，获得即时反馈，既关注结果又关注技巧。

🚩 Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers. Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers — whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming — are nearly always made,not born.

因而，Ericsson 和他的同事开始研究不同领域的技艺精湛的从业者，包括足球运动员。他们收集所有能够得到的数据，不仅是他们的表现数据，个人生活细节内容，还包括对于那些取得大成就的人的实验研究结果。他们的研究结论令人吃惊：我们对通常认为的天赋评价过高。换一种方式来说，那些专家级的从业者，无论记忆力超群者，还是专家级外科医生，无论是卓越的芭蕾舞演员还是出色的计算机程序员，他们几乎都是后天练就的，而非天生的。

🔹 Text 1 题目 ​

第一段：If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006's World Cup tournament, you would most likely find a noteworthy quirk: elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the later months. If you then examined the European national youth teams that feed the World Cup and professional ranks, you would find this strange phenomenon to be even more pronounced.

根据结构题方位论原则，找例子对应的论点句。整个第一段都是例子。例子后面相邻的段落，即第二段是对这种现象解释的猜想。因此，我们可以大胆得出结论，文章的结构可能是“分一总”结构，文章主题体现在文章的尾段中。尾段主题句为

Or, put another way, expert performers-whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming-are nearly always made, not born.

【换一种方式来说，那些专家级的从业者，无论是记忆力超群者，还是专家级外科医生，无论是卓越的芭蕾舞演员，还是出色的计算机程序员，他 们几乎都是后天练就的，而非天生。】

综上所述，正确答案为【C】引出如何造就专家表现的主题。（补充：文章首段/首句含义是什么？这种提问方式确定答案对应文章的中心思想。）

第二段：What might account for this strange phenomenon? Here are a few guesses: a) certain astrological signs confer superior soccer skills; b) winter-born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina; c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime, at the annual peak of soccer mania;d)none of the above.

作为识词题，按照“方位论原则”：在识别词汇后面找表示“解释说明，逻辑关系”的表达，或者向前面找平行结构。在词汇后面没有任何解释说明或逻辑关系的表达。因此，向前面找平行结构 soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime,【对足球狂热的父母可能在春天这个一年之 中足球狂热的高峰期孕育子女】。因此答案应选【B】狂燥，狂热。

第三段：Anders Ericsson,a 58-year-old psychology professor at Florida State University, says he believes strongly in "none of the above". Ericsson grew up in Sweden, and studied nuc lear engineering until he realized he would have more opportunity to conduct his own research if he switched to psychology . His first experiment, nearly 30 years ago, involved memory: training a person to hear and then repeat a random series of numbers." With the first subject, after about 20 hours of training, his digit span had risen from 7 to 20 , " Ericsson recalls." He kept improving, and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers."

但是整个段落中没有出现定位词【good memory】。继续定位到文章第四段：

This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitive one.

【后来进行的实验表明了记忆力本身不是由基因决定的，这些结果与第一次实验的成功一起让Ericsson得出结论，记忆行为与其说是一种直觉行为不如说是一种认知行为。】

• 选项【A、B、C、D】与定位的语句动作【实验表明了记忆力本身不是由基因决定的，Ericsson得出结论记忆行为与其说是一种直觉行为不如说是一种认知行为】没有任何关联。该句子与四个选项没有直接联系，作为细节题，定位词所在的句子不能确定答案时，向下继续找信息。下面相邻的句子：

In other words, whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in the ir abilities to memorize , those differences are swamped by how well each person "encodes" the information.

【换句话说，不管两个人在记忆能力方面表现出来的先天差异有多大，这种差异都会被每个人解码信息能力的强弱所掩盖。】

• 选项【A】依靠有意义的信息处理过程，与相关信息句动作【记忆能力的差异会被人的解码信息能力的强弱所掩盖】相关联，动作【依靠信息处理过程】对应于【被解码信息能力所掩盖】，体现“主动被动替换”的关系。

尾段：Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiment with high achievers. Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers-whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming-are nearly always made, not born.

题目明确提问他们得出的结论是什么？因此段落中，段尾句：

Or, put another way,expert performers — whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming-are nearly always made, not born.

【换一种方式来说，那些专家级的从业者，无论是记忆力超群者，还是专家级外科医生，无论是卓越的芭蕾舞演员，还是出色的计算机程序员，他们几乎都是后天练就的，而非天生。】

• 选项【D】卓越的成功者将其成功归谷与后天的培育，与相关信息句动作【专家级从业者几乎都是后天练就的，而非天生的】完全对应。

作为主旨题要明确找到文章每个段落的主题句。通过前面四道题目的定位和分析理解不难发现文章的结构为“分—总”，文章的主题体现在尾段的主题句中。因此，相关信息句仍然是段尾句

Or, put another way, expert performers — whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming-are nearly always made, not born.

【换一种方式来说，那些专家级的从业者，无论是记忆力超群者，还是专家级外科医生，无论是卓越的芭蕾舞演员，还是出色的计算机程序员，他们几乎都是后天练就的，而非天生。】

因此，正确答案为【C】熟能生巧。（补充：本题目作为主旨题也可以用中心统一原则提炼的确定各段内容方向的语句来确定答案。）

🔹 Text 1 词汇 ​

1. tournament n. 锦标赛，联赛
2. quirk n. 怪癖
3. pronounced adj. 明显的，显著的
4. elite soccer-player 优秀的足球运动员
5. astrological adj. 占星的
6. stamina n. 耐力，持久力，毅力
7. conceive v. 构思，设想；使受孕，怀孕
8. mania n. 狂热，热衷；躁狂症
9. hysteria n. 歇斯底里
10. account for 解释；说明
11. astrological sign 星座
12. entail v. 使必要，需要
13. coupled with ··· 与 ··· 相结合
14. swamp n. 湿地，沼泽地；v. 浸没，吞没
15. deliberate practice 刻意练习
16. biographical adj. 传记的，生平的
17. startling adj. 令人吃惊的，不寻常的；极鲜亮的
18. overrate v. 高估
19. expert performer / high achiever 专家 / 高成就者
20. put another way 换句话说

🔹 Text 1 长难句 ​

`` - This success, coupled with later research showing that memory itself is not genetically determined, led Ericsson to conclude that the act of memorizing is more of a cognitive exercise than an intuitive one.

这次成功，加上后续的表明记忆力本身并非由基因决定的研究使得艾利克森得出结论：记忆行为与其说是一种直觉活动，不如说是一种认知活动。

🔷 Text 2 测试智商和智商数 ​

🔹 Text 2 翻译 ​

🚩 For the past several years, the Sunday newspaper supplement Parade has featured a column called " Ask Marilyn " People are invited to query Marilyn vos Savant , who at age 10 had tested at a mental level of someone about 23 years old ; that gave her an IQ of 228 - the highest score ever recorded . IQ tests ask you to complete verbal and visual analogies, to envision paper after it has been folded and cut, and to deduce numerical sequences, among other similar tasks. So it is a bit confusing when vos Savant fields such queries from the average Joe ( whose IQ is 100 ) as , What's the difference between love and fondness? Or what is the nature of luck and coincidence? It's not obvious how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns suits one to answer questions that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers.

在过去的几年里，周日增刊Parade报纸有一个名为“向玛里琳提问”的特写专栏。人们被邀请向 Marilyn vos Aavant 提问，她在10岁时就参加了大约23岁人的智力测试，得出智商为228,那是有记录以来的最高分。智商测试让你完成语言和视觉类推，想象纸在折叠之后和剪裁之后的样子，推论数字顺序以及其他一些类似的任务。因此当 Savant 即时回复来自普通人的一些问题时有点儿令人困惑，这些问题诸如：爱和喜欢之间的区别是什么？运气和巧合的本质是什么？而那种想象物体和计算数字模式的能力如何让人能够回答连一些最好的诗人和哲学家都避之惟恐不及的问题，这还不够明朗。

🚩 Clearly, intelligence encompasses more than a score on a test. Just what does it mean to be smart ? How much of intelligence can be specified , and how much can we learn about it from neurology, genetics, computer science and other fields?

显然，智力所包含的远不只是测试中的分数。那么聪明意味着什么呢？智力中有多大比例能够详细进行解释呢？我们又能够从神经学、遗传学、计算机科学和其他领域对智力了解多少呢？

🚩 The defining term of intelligence in humans still seems to be the IQ score, even though IQ tests are not given as often as they used to be . The test comes primarily in two forms : the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (both come in adult and children's version). Generally costing several hundred dollars they are usually given only by psychologists, although variations of them populate bookstores and the World Wide Web. Superhigh scores like vos Savant's are no longer possible, because scoring is now based on a statistical population distribution among age peers , rather than simply dividing the mental age by the chronological age and multiplying by 100. Other standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Assessment Tes (SAT) and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), capture the main aspects of IQ tests.

虽然智商测试不像过去用的那样多了，对人类智力进行定义的仍然是智商数。测试主要采用两种形式：一种是斯坦福一比奈智力量表，一种是温切斯勒智力量表（两个量表均有成人和儿童两个版本）。尽管这两种测试的改编版在书店和互联网上占有一席之地，它们通常只由心理学家进行测试，花费为几百美元。像 Vos Savant 那样的超高分数不再可能出现，这是因为现在的计分建立在同龄人的人口分布统计数学的基础上，而不仅仅是用智力年龄除以胜利年龄再乘以100。其他一些标准化考试，如 SAT 和 GRE，借鉴了智商测试的主要方面。

🚩 Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school and in life, argues Robert J. Stemberg. In his article"How Intelligent Is Intelligence Testing ?", Sternberg notes that traditional tests best assess analytical and verbal skills but fail to measure creativity and practical knowledge components also critical to problem solving and life success . Moreover , IQ tests do not necessarily predict so well once populations or situations change. Research has found that IQ predicted leadership skills when the tests were given under low-stress conditions, but under high-stress conditions, IQ was negatively correlated with leadership - that is , it predicted the opposite . Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test-taking skill also matters, whether it's knowing when to guess or wha questions to skip.

Robert J.Sternberg 认为，这些标准化考试可能不会评估对在学校和生活中取得成功必要的所有重要因素。在他的“智商测试有多明智”一文中，Sternberg 指出传统的考试很好地评价了分析和语言能力，而没有评估创造力和实践知识，而后者对解决问题和在生活中取得成功至关重要。此外，一旦人口或环境发生改变，智商测试就测得不准确了。研究表明当智商测试在压力小的环境下进行时，它能预测领导能力。当智商测试在压力大的环境下进行时，智商与领导力负相关，即它预测的内容正好相反。任何一个考过 SAT 的人都可以证实，考试技巧也是有关系的，要知道何时猜测，要跳过什么问题。

🔹 Text 2 题目 ​

第一段：IQtests ask you to complete verbal and visual analogies, to envision paper after it has been folded and cut, and to deduce numerical sequences.among other similar tasks.

智商测试要求你完成语言和视觉类推，想象纸在折叠之后和剪裁之后的形状，推断数字顺序以及其他的一些类似的任务。

第三段 The defining term of intelligence in humans still seems to be the IQ score, even though IQ tests are not given as often as they used to be. The test comes primarily in two forms: the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (both come in adult and children's version). Generally costing several hundred dollars, they are usually given only by psychologists, although variations of them populate bookstores and the Wide Web. Superhigh scores like Vos Savant's are no longer possible, because scoring is now based on a statistical population distribution among age peers, rather than simply dividing the mental age by the chronological age and multiplying by 100. Other standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), capture the main aspects of IQ tests.

段落中前两句提到了定位词“intelligence testing”。

第一句

The defining term of intelligence in humans still seems to be the IQ score, even though IQ tests are not given as often as they used to be.

虽然智商测试不像过去用的那样多了，但是对人类智力定义的仍然是智商数。

• 选项【D】科学家已经定义了人类智力的重要因素，与该句的动作“虽然智商测试不像过去用的那样多了，但是对人类智力定义的仍然是智商数”似乎有关联，但是句子叙述到“定义智商的是智商数”，而该选项叙述到“定义人类智力的重要因素”显然完全没有联系。该句与四个选项没有直接关系作为细节题向下继续判断相关信息句。

第二句

The test comes primarily in two forms: the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (both come in adult and children's version).

测试主要有两种形式：一种是 Stanford Binet 智力量表，一种是 Wechsler 智力量表（两个量表均有成人和儿童两个版本）。

• 选项【C】成人和儿童的测试内容和公式可能是不同的，与相关信息句动作相关联，动作【成人和儿童的测试内容和公式可能是不同的】对应于【两个量表均有成人和儿童两个版本】；

第三段：Super high scores like Vos Savant's are no longer possible, because scoring is now based on a statistical population distribution among age peers, rather than simply dividing the mental age by the chronological age and multiplying by 100.

【像 Vos Savant 那样的超高分数不可能再出现了，这是因为现在的计分是建立在同龄人的人口分布统计数字的基础之上的，而不仅仅是用智力年龄除以生理年龄再乘以100得出的数值。】

• 选项【A】分数值是通过不同的计算程序获得的，与相关信息句动作【现在的计分是建立在同龄人的人口分布统计数字的基础之上的，而不仅仅是用智力年龄除以生理年龄再乘以100得出的数值】相关联，动作【分数值是通过不同的计算程序获得的】对应于【现在的计分是建立在同龄人的人口分布统计数字的基础之上的】，体现“同意替换”的关系；

该题目作为推断题，要明确找到指定的最后一段的主题句。根据“主题句 —— 细节句原则”，

文章尾段：Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school and in life. argues Robert J. Sternberg. In his article"How Intelligent Is Intelligence Testing?", Sternberg notes that traditional tests best assess analytical and verbal skills but fail to measure creativity and practical know ledge, components also critical to problem solving and life success. Moreover, IQ tests do not necessarily predict so well once populations or situations change. Research has found that IQ predicted leadership skills when the tests were given under low stress conditions, but under high stress conditions, IQ was negatively correlated with leadership-that is, it predicted the opposite.Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test taking skill also matters, whether it's knowing when to guess or what questions to skip.

段落中间没有转折词，段落尾句

Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test taking skill also matters, whether it's knowing when to guess or what questions to skip.

【任何一个考过SAT的人都可以证实，考试技巧也是有关系的，要知道何时猜测，要跳过什么问题。】

明确是细节。因此，段落的主题句为段首句：

Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school and in life. argues Robert J. Sternberg.

【Robert J. Sternberg认为，这些标准化考试可能不会评估对在学校和生活中取得成功必要的所有重要因素。】

• 选项【A】测试值不能可靠的反映一个人的能力，与相关信息句动作【这些标准化考试可能不会评估对在学校和生活中取得成功必要的所有重要因素】相关联，动作【测试值不能可靠的反映一个人的能力】对应于【不会评估对在学校和生活中取得成功必要的所有重要因素】，体现“同意替换”的关系；

该题作为主旨题表示作者观点态度的题目，要明确找到文章尾段的主题句或者倒数第二段的主题句。文章尾段主题句：

Such standardized tests may not assess all the important elements necessary to succeed in school and in life argues Robert J.Sternberg.

【Robert J.Sternberg 认为，这些标准化考试可能不会评估对在学校和生活中取得成功必要的所有重要因素。】

可见，作者的态度是不确定的。

🔹 Text 2 词汇 ​

1. envision v. 想象，预想
2. deduce v. 推断，演绎
3. coincidence n. 巧合，同时发生；相符，一致；符合
4. elude v.（尤指机智地，巧妙地）避开，逃避
5. feature a column 开设 ··· 特色专栏
6. the highest score ever recorded 有史以来的最高分
7. figure out 弄清楚，理解
8. encompass v. 包含，包括
9. neurology n. 神经病学；神经学
10. specify v. 明确指出；具体说明
11. come in two forms 有两种形式
12. divide ··· by ··· 除以
13. chronological age 生理年龄
14. standardized test 标准化测试
15. verbal adj. 口头的，非书面的
16. guesswork n. 猜测；臆测
17. impartial adj. 公正的，不偏不倚的
18. fail to do sth 未能做某事
19. practical knowledge 实践知识
20. negatively/positively correlated with ··· 与 ··· 负/正相关
21. toil through 艰难跋涉、历尽困苦做某事

🔹 Text 2 长难句 ​

P1S5 - So it is a bit confusing when vos Savant fields such queries from the average Joe (whose IQ is 100) as, What's the difference between love and fondness? Or what is the nature of luck and coincidence?

因此莎凡能巧妙应对（智商为100）的普通人提出的诸如“爱与喜爱有何区别”或“运气和巧合的本质是什么”这类问题时，有点令人费解。

P1S7 - It's not obvious how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns suits one to answer questions that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers.

想象物体（形状）和破解数值模式的能力如何能使人解答那些曾难倒一些最优秀诗人和哲学家的问题这一点难以理解。

P4S5 - Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test-taking skill also matters, whether it's knowing when to guess or what questions to skip.

任何熬过“学术能力评估测试”的人都可以证明应试技巧也很重要，无论是知道何时应该猜测或是（知道）何题应该跳过。

🔷 Text 3 中产阶级面临风险 ⭐ ​

🔹 Text 3 翻译 ​

🚩 During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.

在上一代人中，曾经仰仗勤奋工作、公平竞争保持家庭经济安全的美国中产阶级家庭由于经济风险和新的现实而发生了变化。现在一纸解雇通知书、一份病 中诊断或夫妻离异都可能让一个稳定的中产家庭在几个月内变成新的贫困户。

🚩 In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect family risk has risen as well. Today's families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status . As a result , they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback - a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary eamer got laid off or fell sick. This "added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.

仅仅大约一代的时间，成百上千万的母亲出去工作，改变了基本的家庭经济模式。各行各业的学者、政策制定者和批评家们就这些变化的社会意义展开辩论，但是很少有人看到其副作用：家庭风险也提高了。现在的家庭预算达到了新的双薪家庭的极限。结果，他们就失去了在经济困顿时期具有的保护伞—作为后备力量的赚钱者（通常是妈妈）。如果家庭主要经济支柱失业了或者生病了，这个后备军可以进入劳动力市场。这个“附加的劳动力效果”会对由失业保险和伤残保险组成的安全网构成支持，帮助家庭渡过难关。但现在，家庭财富的中断不能再得到弥补，过去，这种弥补通过是由一个在正常情况下赋闲在家的伴侣出去工作获得的。

🚩 During the same period , families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must wony about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better . Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen - and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families' future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent-and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance - have jumped eightfold in just one generation.

同时，家庭在退休收入方面的风险也提高了。钢铁工人、航空公司职员，现在还有汽车企业员工都在担心利率，股票市场的波动以及自己会在有生之年花光退休金的严酷现实，这样的家庭有成百上千万个。在过去的大部分时间里，布什总统致力于将社会保障推广成储蓄账户模式，让退休人员将他们的大部分或全部有保障的退休金变成依赖于回报率的投资回报。对于较年轻的家庭，情况没有好转。医疗的绝对支出和家庭需要承担的部分都在提高——新的时髦的健康储蓄计划从立法大厅流传到沃尔玛职员那里，减免的部分增加了，会出现一些新的大的家庭未来的医疗投资风险。甚至人口统计学的结果也对中产阶级家庭不利，因为如果有一个年老力衰的父母亲，随之而来的照料所需要的精力和财力在一代的时间内也增加了八倍。

🚩 From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

从中产阶级家庭的角度来看，可以理解，前面提到的多数情况看起来不像是一个承担更多经济责任的机会，而更像是一个将经济风险大规模转移到他们已经不堪重负的肩膀上的加速过程。经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了。

🔹 Text 3 题目 ​

第二段：In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics.Scholars,policymakers,and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Today's families have budgeted to the limits of their new two. paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back. up earner(usually Morn)who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This "added worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather.bad times.But today,a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.

段落第一句

In just one generation,millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics.

【仅仅大约一代的时间，成百上千万的母亲出去工作，改变了基本的家庭经济模式。】

说明双职工家庭的出现。随后，下面第二句

Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications Of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well.

【各行各业的学者、政策制定者和批评家们就这些变化的社会意义展开了辩论，但是很少有人看到其副作用：家 庭风险也提高了。】

提到了“家庭风险”，但是该句子没有提到风险发生的原因。作为细节题，定位词所在句如果没有足够信息，继续向下找答案。下面

As a result,they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback---a back-up earner (usually Morn) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick.

【现在的家庭预算达到了新的双薪家庭的极限。结果，他们就失去了在经济困顿时期的保护伞 — 作为后备力量的赚钱者（通常是妈妈）。如果家庭主要经济支柱事业了或者生病了，这个后备军可以进入劳动力市场。】

• 选项【C】他们更易受到家庭经济变化的影响，与相关信息句动作【家庭预算达到新的双薪家庭的极限，失去了在经济困难时期的保护伞，妈妈作为后备力量的赚钱者在必要时可以进入劳动力市场】相关联，动作【更易受到家庭经济变化的影响】对应于【失去了在经济困难时期的保护伞】，体现“同意替换”的关系；

第三段：······ For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a Savings account model, with retirees trading much or all of the ir guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns

······ 【在过去的大部分时间里，布什总统致力于将社会保障推广成储蓄账户模式，让退休人员将他们的大部分或者全部有保障的退休金变成依赖于回报率的投资回报。】

• 选项【A】更高的安全感，与相关信息句动作“致力于将社会保障推广成储蓄账户模式，让退休人员将他们的大部分或者全部有保障的退休金变成依赖于回报率的投资回报”相悖，将退休金转变成依赖于回报率的投资无疑是一种存在风险的福利形式；

• 选项【B】更少的有保障的收入，与相关信息句动作“致力于将社会保障推广成储蓄账户模式，让退休人员将他们的大部分或者全部有保障的退休金变成依赖于回报率的投资回报”相符合，将退休金转变成依赖于回报率的投资无疑是一种存在风险的福利形式；

• 选项【C】与相关信息句动作没有任何关联；

• 选项【D】有保障的未来，与相关信息句动作相悖，将退休金转变成依赖于回报率的投资无疑是一种没有保障的福利形式。

第三段：······ Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families' future healthcare

······【医疗的绝对支出和家庭需要承担的部分都在提高--新的时笔的健康储蓄计划从立法大厅流传到沃尔玛职员那里，减免的部分增加了，会出现一些新的大的家庭未来的医疗投资风险。】

• 选项【D】增加了家庭投资的风险，与相关信息句动作“医疗的绝对支出和家庭需要承担的部分都在提高，新的时髦的健康储蓄计划从立法大厅流传到沃尔玛职员那里，减免的部分增加了，会出现一些新的大的家庭未来的医疗投资风险”相关联，动作【增加了家庭投资的风险】对应于【出现一些新的大的家庭未来的医疗投资风险】体现“同意替换”的关系。

该题目作为推断题，要明确找到指定的最后一段的主题句。根据“主题句--细节句原则”，

文章尾段：From the middle class family perspective,much of this,understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial respons ibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto the ir already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

段落只有段首和段尾两个句子。段落首句

From the middle class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto the ir already overburdened shoulders.

【从中产阶级家庭的角度来看，可以理解，前面提到的多数情况看起来并不像是一个承担更多经济责任的机会，而更像是一个将经济风险大规模转移到他们已经不堪重负的肩膀上的加速过程。】

明确是细节。因此，段落的主题句为段尾句

The financial fallout has begun,and the political fallout may not be far behind.

【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了。】

• 选项【A】经济风险趋向于大于政治风险，与相关信息句动作【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了】相关联，但是相关信息句中没有将二者做比较；
• 选项【B】中产阶级可能面对更大的政治挑战，与相关信息句动作【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了】没有任何关联；
• 选项【C】经济问题可能会导致政治问题，与相关信息句动作【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了】相关联，动作【经济问题可能会导致政治问题】对应于【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了】，体现“同意替换”的关系；
• 选项【D】经济责任反映政治地位，与相关信息句动作【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了】似乎有关联，但是相关信息句中叙述的是【政治和经济风险】而不是【政治和经济责任】。

作为主旨题要明确找到文章每个段落的主题句。

第一段：During the past generation, the American middle-class family ... has been transformed by economic risk ···

【在上一代人中，曾经依靠勤奋工作、公平竞争保持家庭经济安全的美国中产阶级家庭由于经济风险和新的现实而发生了变化。】

第二段：In just one generation,millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics.

【仅仅大约一代的时间，成百上千万的母亲出去工作，改变了基本的家庭经济模式。】

第三段：During the same period.families have been asked to absorb much more risk in the ir retirement income.

【同时，家庭在退休收入方面的风险也提高了。】

第四段：The financial fallout has begun,and the political fallout may not be far behind.

【经济的不良后果已经开始显现，政治影响可能也不远了。】

因此，正确答案为【B】岌岌可危的中产阶级。

🔹 Text 3 词汇 ​

1. spouse n. 配偶
2. count on 依靠，指望
3. fair play 公平竞争
4. pink slip 解雇通知书
5. budget n. 预算
6. parachute n. 降落伞
7. disruption n. 扰乱，中断
8. deprive v. 剥夺，使丧失；免去 ··· 的职务（尤指圣职）
9. basic family economics 家庭经济的基本模式
10. of all stripes 形形色色的
11. social implication 社会含义
12. side effect 副作用
13. in times of financial setback 在经济困难时期
14. back-up / primary earner 后备 / 主要挣钱者
15. lay off / get laid off 下岗 / 被解雇
16. unemployment / disability insurance 失业保险 / 残疾保险
17. outlive v. 比 ··· 活得长，比 ··· 活得久
18. deductible adj. 可扣除的，可减免的
19. demographics n. 人口统计资料
20. odds n. 几率；胜算；不平等；差别
21. attendant n. 服务人员；侍从，随从；护理者；随员，助手
22. eightfold adj. 八倍的
23. popularize v. 宣传，推广
24. compensate v. 赔偿，偿付
25. absorb the risk 承担风险
26. retirement income 退休收入
27. interest rate 利率
28. stock market fluctuation 股市波动
29. Social Security 社会保险，社会保障
30. investment return 投资回报
31. health-savings plan 健康储蓄计划
32. a large new dose of 大量新增的 ···
33. wholesale n. 批发
34. fallout n. 后果
35. overburdened shoulder 不堪重负的肩膀

🔹 Text 3 长难句 ​

PS - During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities.

在过去一代人的时间里，原本依靠努力工作和公平竞争便能保持自身经济安稳的美国中产阶级家庭已被经济风险和新的现实彻底改变。

PS - As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback—a back-up earner （usually Mom） who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick.

结果他们失去了经济受挫时期曾拥有的“降落伞” — 一个家庭 济支柱失业或生病时可以走进职场候补赚钱者（通常是母亲）。

PS - Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates 9 stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money.

钢铁工人、航空公司雇员以及现在汽车行业的员工正在加入数百万必须担忧利率、股市波动以及退休金不足以养老这一严酷现实的家庭。

PS - From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders.

可以理解，从中产阶级家庭的角度看，上述许多现象看起来远不像是履行更多经济责任的机会，而更像是以骇人的增速将金融风险大规模转嫁到他们已经不堪重负的肩膀上。

🔷 Text 4 数据信息泄露 ​

🔹 Text 4 翻译 ​

🚩 It never rains but it pours. Just as bosses and boards have finally sorted out their worst accounting and compliance troubles, and improved their feeble corporation governance, a new problem threatens to earn them - especially in America - the sort of nasty headlines that inevitably lead to heads rolling in the executive suite: data insecurity. Left, until now, to odd, low-level IT staff to put right, and seen as a concern only of data-rich industries such as banking, telecoms and air travel, information protection is now high on the boss's agenda in businesses of every variety.

不雨则已，一雨倾盆。当老板和董事们刚刚整顿好最糟糕的财务和规章问题，加强了薄弱的公司机制之后，新的“数据不安全”问题可能让他们特别是在美国成为报纸恶毒的头版头条，毫无疑问，这会导致执行官们走马换任。直到现在，信息保护还只是临时的，低级IT员工的工作，只是在数据量大的行业诸如银行业，电信业，航空公司受到重视，而现在却高高列在各行各业老板们的日程表上。

🚩 Several massive leakages of customer and employee data this year-from organizations as diverse as Time Wamer, the American defense contractor Science Applications International Corp and even the University of California, Berkeley - have left managers hurriedly peering into their intricate IT systems and business processes in search of potential vulnerabilities.

今年几宗大的客户和雇员数据的泄露事件，包括时代华纳，美国国防承包商国际科学应用公司，甚至加州大学伯克利分校等差异如此大的机构，让经理们赶紧盯着他们复杂的IT系统和商业流程，以搜索可能存在的安全缺陷。

🚩 "Data is becoming an asset which needs to be guarded as much as any other asset," says Haim Mendelson of Stanford University's business school. "The ability to guard customer data is the key to market value, which the board is responsible for on behalf of shareholders". Indeed, just as there is the concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), perhaps it is time for GASP, Generally Accepted Security Practices, suggested Eli Noam of New York's Columbia Business School. "Setting the proper investment level for security, redundancy, and recovery is a management issue, not a technical one," he says.

斯坦福大学商业院的 HaimMedelson 说，“数据正成为一种财产，需要像保护其他财产一样保护它。保护客户数据的能力对于市场价值至关重要，而市场价值是董事会应该对股民负责的。”确实，正如有公认的财会准则（GAAP）一样，到了有公认安全惯例（GASP）的时候了。纽约哥伦比亚大学商学院的 EliNoam 建议，“为数据安全，备份，恢复设立适当的投资标准是一个管理问题，不是技术问题。”

🚩 The mystery is that this should come as a surprise to any boss. Surely it should be obvious to the dimmest executive that trust, that most valuable of economic assets, is easily destroyed and hugely expensive to restore - and that few things are more likely to destroy trust than a company letting sensitive personal data get into the wrong hands.

令人费解的是这一问题似乎让老板们大吃一惊。想必最迟钝的老板来也明白，信任是最有价值的经济资产，他能容易被毁掉，而修复信任需要花费巨资。没有什么能比一家公司让敏感的个人数据流到别有用心的人手里更能毁掉信任的了。

🚩 The current state of affairs may have been encouraged - though not justified - by the lack of legal penalty (in America, but not Europe) for data leakage. Until California recently passed a law, American firms did not have to tell anyone, even the victim, when data went astray. That may change fast: lots of proposed data-security legislation is now doing the rounds in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the theft of information about some 40 million credit-card accounts in America, disclosed on June 17th, overshadowed a hugely important decision a day earlier by America's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that puts corporate America on notice that regulators will act if firms fail to provide adequate data security.

现在这种情况，虽然不合理，可能还由于缺乏对数据泄露的法律制裁而加剧。（是美国缺乏法律制裁，而不是欧洲）。最近加州通过一项法令，在这之前，当数据泄露时，美国公司都不必告诉任何人，甚至是受害者本人。这种情况很快就会改变：许多有关数据安全的立法提案正在华盛顿特区进行讨论。同时6月17日公布的美国大约4千万信用卡账户信息失窃事件让一天前美国联邦贸易委员会公布的一个重要决定黯然失色，该决定通知美国公司如果不能提供充分的数据安全保障，就会按章惩罚。

🔹 Text 4 题目 ​

注意：“文章首段借用某人的话目的是什么？”这种提问方式是一种特殊题型，答案对应的相关信息句为文章的中心思想。

第一段主题句：Just as bosses and boards have finally sorted out their worst accounting and compliance troubles, and improved their feeble corporation governance, a new problem threatens to earn them--especially in America — the sort of nasty headlines that inevitably lead to heads rolling in the executive suite: data insecurity.

【当老板和董事们刚刚整顿好糟糕的财务和规章问题，加强了薄弱的公司机制后，新的“数据不安全”问题可能让他们特别是在美国成为报纸恶毒的头版头条，毫无疑问，这会导致执行官们走马换任。】

第二段主题句：Several massive leakages of customer and employee data this year have left managers hurriedly peering into the ir intricate IT systems and business processes in search of potential vulnerabilities.

【今年几宗大的客户和雇员数据的泄露事件让经理们赶紧盯着他们复杂的IT系统和商业流程，以搜索可能的安全缺陷。】

第三段主题句：Indeed, just as there is the concept of Generally AcceptedAccounting Principles(GAAP), perhaps it is time for GASP, Generally Accepted Security Practices, suggested Eli Noam of New York's Columbia Business School.

【确实，正如有公认的财会准则一样，到了有公共安全惯例的时候了。纽约哥伦比亚大学商学院的Eli Noam提出如是建议。】

第四段主题句：The mystery is that this should come as a surprise to any boss.

【令人费解的是这一问题似乎让老板们大吃一惊。】

第五段主题句：The current state of affairs may have been encouraged-though not justified-by the lack of legal penalty ( in America, but not Europe ) for data leakage.

【现在这种状况，虽然不合理，可能会由于缺乏对数据泄露的法律制裁而加剧（是美国缺乏法律制裁，而不是欧洲）。】

可见，这篇文章谈到数据泄露的问题。因此，正确答案为【D】数据泄露的严重性。

第二段：Several massive leakages of customer and employee data this year-from organizations as diverse as Time Warner, the American defense contractor Science Applications International Corp and even the University of California, Berkeley-have left managers hurriedly peering into their intricate IT systems and business processes in search of potential vulnerabilities.

【今年几宗大的客户和雇员数据的泄露事件，包括时代华纳，美国国防承包商国际科学应用公司，甚至加州大学伯克利分校等差异如此之大的机构，让经理们赶紧盯着他们复杂的IT系统和商业流程，以搜索可能的安全缺陷。】

• 选项【A】是否存在任何弱点，与相关信息句动作【让经理们赶紧盯着他们复杂的IT系统和商业流程，以搜索可能的安全缺陷】相关联，动作【是否存在弱点】对应于【搜索可能的安全缺陷】，体现“同意替换”的关系。

第三段：Indeed, just as there is the concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( GAAP ), perhaps it is time for GASP, Generally Accepted Security Practices, suggested Eli Noam of New York's Columbia Business School

【确实，正如有公认的财会准则一样，到了有公共安全惯例的时候了，纽约哥伦比亚大学商学院的 EliNoam 提出如是建议。】

• 选项【B】应当全力注意保护信息，与相关信息句动作【正如有公认的财会准则一样，到了有公共安全惯例的时候了】相关联，动作【注意保护信息】对应于【应该有公共安全惯例】。

第四段：The mystery is that this should come as a surprise to any boss. Surely it should be obvious to the dimmest executive that trust , that most valuable of economic assets, is easily destroyed and hugely expensive to restore — and that few things are more likely to destroy trust than a company letting sensitive personal data get into the wrong hands.

【吃一惊。想必最迟钝的老板也明白，信任是最有价值的资产，它很容易被毁掉，而修复信任需要花费巨资。没有什么能比一家公司让敏感的个人数据流到别有用心的人手里更能毁掉信任了。”

• 选项【A】看到信任和数据保护的联系，与相关信息句动作【信任是最有价值的资产，它很容易被毁掉，而修复信任需要花费巨资。没有什么能比一家公司让敏感的个人数据流到别有用心的人手里更能毁掉信任了】相关联，体现“同意替换”的关系。

该题目作为推断题，要明确找到指定的最后一段的主题句。根据“主题句--细节句原则”，

文章尾段：The current state of affairs may have been encouraged-though not justified-by the lack of legal penalty ( in America, but not Europe ) for data leakage. Until California recently passed a law, American firms did not have to tell anyone, even the victim, when data went astray. That may change fast: lots of proposed data-security legis lation is now doing the rounds in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the theft of information about some 40 million credit. card accounts in America. disclosed on June 17th, overshadowed a hugely important decision a day earlier by America's Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) that puts corporate America on notice that regulators will act if firms fail to provide adequate data security.

段落中间没有转折词，段落尾句

Meanwhile,the theft of information about some 40 million credit. card accounts in America. disclosed on June 17th, overshadowed a hugely important decision a day earlier by America's Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) that puts corporate America on notice that regulators will act if firms fail to provide adequate data security.

【同时，6月17日公布的美国大约4千万信用卡帐户信息失窃事件让一天前美国联邦贸易委员会公布的一个重要决定籍然失色，该决定通知美国公司如果不能提供充分的数据保障，就会按章惩罚。】

明确是细节。因此，段落的主题句为段首句

The current state of affairs may have been encouraged-though not justified-by the lack of legal penalty ( in America,but not Europe ) for data leakage.

【现在这种状况，虽然不合理，可能会由于缺乏对数据泄露的法律制裁而加剧（是美国缺乏法律制裁，而不是欧洲）。】

• 选项【D】法律惩罚是解决数据泄露的主要方法，与相关信息句动作【可能会由于缺乏对数据泄露的法律制裁而加剧（是美国缺乏法律制裁，而不是欧洲）】相关联，体现“肯定与否定替换”的关系。

🔹 Text 4 词汇 ​

1. compliance n. 顺从，服从；承诺
2. feeble adj. 微弱的，无力的
3. suite n. 套房，套间
4. severity n. 严重，严重性
5. It never rains but it pours 不鸣则已，一鸣惊人；祸不单行
6. corporation governance 公司治理
7. put right 使恢复正常；校正
8. be high on one's agenda 在某人的日程上占据重要位置
9. leakage n.（机密或秘密的）泄露，透露
10. peer into 窥视
11. intricate adj. 错综复杂的
12. business process 业务流程
13. redundancy n.<英> （因劳动力过剩而造成的）裁员，解雇
14. market value 市场价值
15. investment level 投资水平
16. economic asset 经济资产
17. come as a surprise ( to sb ) （使某人）感到意外
18. get into the wrong hands 落入恶人之手
19. justify *v.*是 ··· 的正当理由；对 ··· 作出解释
20. legal penalty 律处罚
21. disclose v. 透露，公开
22. pass a law 通过法律
23. overshadow v. 使黯然失色，使相形见绌
24. go astray 走失
25. do the rounds 巡视
26. state of affairs 事态
27. sb on notice 警示某人、警告某人

🔹 Text 4 长难句 ​

P1S3 - Left, until now, to odd, low-level IT staff to put right, and seen as a concern only of data-rich industries such as banking, telecoms and air travel, information protection is now high on the boss's agenda in businesses of every variety.

此前，信息保护一直是由古怪而又低级的信息技术员工来负责并且被看作只是诸如银行、电信、航空旅行这类拥有大量数据的行业才关注的问题，而现在却居各行业老板的议程表之中 。

P5S5 - Meanwhile, the theft of information about some 40 million credit-card accounts in America, disclosed on June 17th, overshadowed a hugely important decision a day earlier by America's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that puts corporate America on notice that regulators will act if firms fail to provide adequate data security.

与此同时美国6月17日披露的一起涉及大约4000万信用卡账户的信息失窃案，又使得美国联邦贸易委员会头一天（16日）做出的一项极为重大的决议 — 决议警告美国商界如果公司不能充分保证数据的安全，那么监管机构就会采取措施 — 颜面尽失。

语法结构分析：