考研网 发表于 2016-8-15 21:55:32

2009考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(5)

取自:


TEXT 3
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.
订阅收藏《2009考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记》系列文章
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 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.
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 worry 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.
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.
31. Today's double income families are at greater financial risk in that
[A] the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.
[B] their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.
[C] they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.
[D] they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.
32.As a result of President Bush's reform, retired people may have
[A] a higher sense of security.
[B] less secured payments.
[C] less chance to invest.
[D] a guaranteed future.
33. According to the author, health savings plans will
[A] help reduce the cost of healthcare.
[B] popularize among the middle class.
[C] compensate for the reduced pensions.
[D] increase the families' investment risk.
34. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that
[A] financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.
[B] the middle class may face greater political challenges.
[C] financial problems may bring about political problems.
[D] financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.
35. Which of the following is the best title for this text?
[A] The Middle Class on the Alert   
[B] The Middle Class on the Cliff
[C] The Middle Class in Conflict   
[D] The Middle Class in Ruins

kysix 发表于 2016-8-15 23:02:09

absolute2 a.绝对的,完全的
absorb3 v.①吸收;②吸引,使专心
account22 n.①账(目,户);②叙述,说明;③价值,地位;v.(for)①说明,解释;②占;③(take into)考虑;顾及
airline1 n.①航线;②航空公司
alert1 a.①警惕的;②机灵的
assistance2 n.帮助,援助
attendant1 n.①服务员,值班员;②护理人员
author69 n.①作者;②创始人
auto2 n.汽车
being9 n.①生物,人;②存在,生存
budget4 n.预算;v.做预算
campaign4 n.①战役;②运动;vi.从事活动
challenge10 n.①挑战(书);②艰巨任务,难题;v.向...挑战
cliff1 n.悬崖,峭壁
compensate5 v.(for)补偿,赔偿
conflict3 n.①战斗,斗争;②抵触,冲突;v.(with)抵触,冲突
critic7 n.批评家,评论家
debate8 v./n.争论,辩论
depend16 v.(on)取决于,依靠,信赖,相信
deprive2 v.夺去,使丧失
disappear4 v.不见,消失
dose2 n.剂量,一服,一剂;v.(给...)服药
economic23 a.经济(上)的,经济学的
economics5 n.经济学;经济情况
elderly1 a.过了中年的,稍老的
employee7 n.雇工,雇员
fair9 a.①公平的,合理的;②相当的,尚好的;③晴朗的;④金发的;n.集市,交易会,博览会
fashionable2 a.流行的,时髦的
fell1 v.砍倒,砍伐
financial11 a.财政的,金融的
guarantee5 n.保证,保证书;v.保证,担保
harsh3 a.①粗糙的,刺耳的;②残酷的,严厉的
implication6 n.含意,暗示
infer21 v.推论,推断
insurance6 n.保险,保险费,保险业
invest4 v.投资
investment11 n.投资,投资额
model8 n.①样式,型;②模范,典型;③模型;④原型,模特;v.(on,after)模仿,构造
odds1 n.①不平等,差异;②机会
opportunity11 n.机会
parachute1 n.降落伞;v.跳伞
paragraph66 n.①段,节;②小新闻,短评
partner3 n.①合作者,合伙人;②伙伴,舞伴
payment5 n.支付,付款额
pension2 n.养老金,年金
perspective3 n.①视角;②透视法;③(in ~)正确地
physical7 a.①物质的,有形的;②肉体的,身体的;③自然科学的,物理的
primary7 a.①最初的,初级的;②首要的,主要的,基本的
rate31 n.①比率,率;②等级;③价格,费用;v.①估价;②评级,评价

kyfive 发表于 2016-8-15 23:44:38

reality10 n.①现实,实际;②真实
reform8 v./n.改革,改造,改良
responsibility7 n.①责任,责任心;②职责,任务
result37 n.结果,成果,成绩;v.①(in)导致,结果是;②(from)起因于,因...而造成
retire2 v.①退休,引退;②退却,撤退;③就寝
risk14 v.冒...的危险;n.风险,危险
saving3 n.①储蓄;②[pl.]储蓄金,存款
scholar5 n.学者
secure4 a.(from,against)安全的,可靠的,放心的;v.①得到,获得;②防护,保卫
security8 n.安全
sense16 n.①感官,官能;②感觉;③判断力;④见识;⑤意义,意思;v.感觉到,意识到
setback3 n.退步,后退
shift12 v.①替换,转移;②移动;n.①转换,转变;②(轮)班,(换)班
shoulder2 n.肩,肩部;v.肩负,承担
slip3 v.①滑,滑倒;②滑落,滑掉;③溜走;n.疏忽,小错,口误,笔误
social38 a.①社会的;②社交的,交际的;n.社交活动
spouse1 n.配偶(指夫或妻)保证人,主办人;vt.发起,主办;v.赞助
status5 n.①地位,身份;②情形,状况
stock9 n.①备料,库存,现货;②股票,公债;③无生命之物;④群,家庭,家系;v.储存
stripe1 n.条纹
tend26 v.①趋向,往往是;②照料,看护
title6 n.①书名,标题;②头衔,称号
transform5 v.①改变,变换;②变压;③转化;④改造
unemployment4 n.失业,失业人数
vulnerable3 a.易受攻击的,易受...的攻击
acceleration2 n.加速度
according47 ad.依照,根据
deductible1 a.可扣除的
demographic1 a.人口统计学的
diagnosis1 n.诊断
disability2 n.无能力,无资格
disruption1 n.中断,分裂, 瓦解,破坏
eightfold1 a.八倍的,八层的;ad.八倍地,八层地
fallout1 n.降落,滑落
financially2 ad.财政上,金融上
fluctuation1 n.波动,起伏
healthcare2 n.卫生保健
indicator4 n.指示器
legislative2 a.立法的,立法机关的;n.立法机关
outlive2 vt.比...长寿
outweigh1 v.超过
overburden1 vt.不堪重负
paycheck1 n.薪水
policymaker1 n.决策人
popularize1 v.普及
solidly1 ad.坚硬地, 稳固地
steelworker1 n.钢铁工人
understandably1 ad.可理解地
wholesale1 n.批发,趸售;a.批发的,(喻)大规模的

kysix 发表于 2016-8-16 00:09:02

难句1

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.
[语法分析]本句主干结构为:the American middleclass family...has been transformed by...,family后面是一个定语从句修饰family;
[本句难点]整句较长,主要是其中定语从句比较复杂;
[方法对策]首先找出主句的主干,然后再分析从句结构,就可以把握本句了;
[例句精译]在过去一代人中,美国中产阶级家庭已经被经济危机和新的现实所改变。过去他们曾经还能指望依靠艰苦工作和公平竞争来使自己在经济生活中获得安全保障。
难句2

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.
[语法分析]本句主干为: ...they have lost the parachute...,其后是一个定语从句,破折号后面是一个同位语从句,其中又包含一个定语从句;
[本句难点]句子结构比较复杂,需要仔细分析;
[方法对策]首先分析出主句的主干,然后再依次分析其他从句,本句就不再难了;
[例句精译]其结果是,他们失去一个他们过去在财政困难时可以依赖的保险伞--或者说是一个后备的挣钱者(通常指妻子):因为她可以出来参加工作,如果主要的挣钱者下了岗或生了病。
难句3

Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money.
[语法分析]本句的主干结构为:Steelworks,...are joining millions of families...,families后面是一个who引导的定语从句。定语从句中,主语是who,谓语是worry about,宾语是三个并列短语,其后是that引导的定语从句修饰the harsh reality。
[本句难点]从句中结构稍复杂;
[方法对策]只要抓住句子主干就可以掌握大意,然后再分析其他成分即可;
[例句精译]钢铁工人、空勤人员以及汽车工业的工作者都与数百万家庭一样,他们都在担心着银行的存款利息变化、股票市场的波动、以及他们的退休金可能不够使用这一残酷现实。
难句4

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.
[语法分析]本句是由第二个and连接的两个并列句组成,句首的both和第一个and形成的both...and...结构是第一个分句的主干;第二个and后是第二个分句,包含:spread from...to...结构,其后with引导的成分说明newly fashionable healthsavings plans的内容;
[本句难点]整句比较长,且有两个and容易让考生迷惑;
[方法对策]首先抓住第二个and这个连接词,明白这是两个并列分句,然后确定两个分句各自的主干,即可理解本句内容。
[例句精译]医疗保健费用的绝对数目和各个家庭所分担的数目也都在上升,而一种新近流行起来的医疗费用节约计划也正在从上层立法大厅到底层沃尔玛的工人之间广泛铺开,这对千家万户未来的医疗保健意味着更大的风险。
难句5
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.
[语法分析]本句的主干结构是:...much of this looks...like...an opportunity...and...a frightening acceleration...;
[本句难点]整句比较长,句子结构复杂;
[方法对策]通读全句,抓住主句主干,然后再分析其他成分;
[例句精译]从中产阶级家庭的角度出发,可以理解的是,这与其说是一个承担更多经济责任的机会,倒还不如说更像把经济危险的整个转变以惊人的速度加在他们早已不堪重负的双肩上。
31.[答案]C
[解析]本文提到了美国中产阶级家庭,因国家经济衰落而要面临的巨大风险。本题目问:"今日这种夫妻双收入家庭会面临更大的财务风险是因为什么原因?"我们从前两段中可以看出:由于经济原因现在的夫妻双方都要出去找工作。这样,原来妻子在家里操持家务,同时万一丈夫生了病或者失业了也可以出去找工作以帮助家庭渡过难关的这把保险伞就没有了。所以选C。
32.[答案]B
[解析]众所周知,钱存在银行比较保险可以稳定拿利息,但是把钱投入股市或者用于创业风险要大很多,但一旦获益也比存银行要强很多。在去年的大多数时间里,布什总统一直致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式--要求退休人员将其大多数或全部有保障的收入变成必须依靠投资收益的收入。对于略为年轻的家庭来说,情况也好不到哪去。医疗的绝对费用和家庭必须承担的份额都在上升。这说明,退休人员的可靠收入可能更少。因此[B]为正确选项。
33.[答案]D
[解析]本题仍应从第三段中找,因为34题问"从末段中可以看出:?"因此,本题应在末段前的这一段内,本段提到了:healthsaving plan are...of investment risk for families' future healthcare .据此,我们判断可以选D。选项A、C原文均未提及。至于B(医疗费用节约计划将在)中产阶级中间得以推广与原文不符。原文谈到:医疗费用节约计划正在从上层立法院大厅到底层沃尔玛超市的员工之间广泛的铺开。
34.[答案]C
[解析]本题问"从末段可以看出什么?"我们仅从末段末句的总结中可看出作者想说的是:(美国)经济滑落已经开始了,那政治上的跌落可能不是很远了吧。
35.[答案]B
[解析]本题考查考生对全文内容的理解。文章第一段指出,中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实改变了,如今,一个家庭可能在几个月之内从稳定的中产阶层家庭降格成一个新贫困家庭,随后的段落介绍了造成这种现状的原因。这说明,本文主要是介绍中产阶层面临穷困问题的现象。因此选择[B]项。

kyfive 发表于 2016-8-16 00:17:41

在过去一代人中,美国中产阶级家庭已经被经济危机和新的现实所改变。过去他们曾经还能指望依靠艰苦工作和公平竞争来使自己在经济生活中获得安全保障。如今,一份解雇通知书,一个错误的判断或失去配偶都有可能在几个月之内使他们从稳固的中产阶级滑向新生的贫民阶层。
就在他们这代人中,成百万的女性参加了工作,改变了基本家庭经济结构。各种各样的学者们、政客们和批评家们还在辩论这件事的社会含义。但很少有人看待它的副作用:家庭的风险也随之上升。今日的家庭已经把两份收入这种预算状况推到了极致,毫无保留余地。其结果是,他们失去一个他们过去在财政困难时所可以依赖的保险伞--或者说是一个后备的挣钱者(通常指妻子):因为她可以出来参加工作,如果主要的挣钱者下了岗或生了病。这种"后备人员效应"可以支援"家庭安全网",再加上失业保险或残疾保险使家庭得以渡过难关。但是,今天一旦家中有了不测,再也无法从本应待在家中的那位后备者可以挣得的额外收入中得到补充。
与此同时,家庭现在要承担退休收入方面的更多的风险。钢铁工人、空勤人员以及汽车工业的工作者等也加入了成百万的家庭,他们都在担心着银行的存款利息变化、股票市场的波动、以及他们的退休金可能不够使用这一残酷现实。去年,布什总统发起一场运动把人们固定的社保基金转为银行存款这种类型,由此,退休者们正在把他们有保障的收入变成取决于投资回报的钱财类型。对于年轻人组成的家庭来说,情况也好不到哪里去。医疗保健费用的绝对数目和各个家庭所分担的数目也都在上升,而一种新近流行起来的医疗费用节约计划也正在从上层立法大厅到底层沃尔玛的工人之间广泛铺开,这对千家万户未来的医疗保健意味着更大的风险。甚至人口学也正在对中产阶级家庭造成不利影响。家中有一个衰弱的老年父母,医疗看护费用在过去一代人的时间内上涨了八倍。
从中产阶级家庭的角度出发,可以理解的是,这与其说是一个承担更多经济责任的机会,倒还不如说更像把经济危险的整个转变以吓人的速度加在他们早已过于不堪重负的双肩上。经济滑落己经开始了,政治上的跌落可能也不会很远了吧。
31今日这种夫妻双份收入家庭会面临更大的财务风险是因为:
[A]他们所曾经享有的那种安全网应经不复存在了。
[B]他们两人下岗的机会增大了。
[C]他们对家庭经济转变的抵抗力变得更加脆弱了。
[D]他们被剥夺了失业保险或残疾保险。
32作为布什总统改革的结果,退休人员可能有
[A]更高的安全感。
[B]更没有保障的收入。
[C]更少的投资机会。
[D]一个更加得到保障的未来。
33按照作者看法,医疗费用节约计划将
[A]有助于减少医疗开支的费用。
[B]在中产阶级中间得以推广。
[C]对减少的退休金是一个补偿。
[D]增加了家庭的投资风险。
34从末段中可推论出:
[A]财经风险可能超过政治风险。
[B]中产阶级可能面临更大的政治挑战。
[C]财经问题可能带来政治问题。
[D]财经责任是一个人的政治地位标志。
35下列哪个是本文最佳的标题:
[A]警觉的中产阶级
[B]处于悬崖的中产阶级
[C]冲突中的中产阶级
[D]毁掉了的中产阶级
页: [1]
查看完整版本: 2009考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(5)