考研英语一阅读及答案

Text 1

（

2010

）

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 inexorable 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 removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the

turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts

criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was

taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they

covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviewers who wore their learning lightly, like George

Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in

journalism as a calling, and were proud to be published in the daily press. “So few authors have brains enough

or literary gift enough to keep their ow

n end up in journalism,” Newman wrote, “that I am tempted to define

‘journalism’ as ‘a term of contempt applied by writers who are not read to writers who are.’”

Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the

Manchester

Guardian

from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the

game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England’s foremost classical

-music critics, a

stylist so widely admired that his

Autobiography

(1947) became a best-seller. He was knighted in 1967, the

first music critic to be so honored. Yet only one of his books is now in print, and his vast body of writings on

music is unknown save to specialists.

Is there any chance that Cardu

s’s criticism will enjoy a revival? The prospect seems remote. Journalistic

tastes had changed long before his death, and postmodern readers have little use for the richly upholstered

Vicwardian prose in which he specialized. Moreover, the amateur tradition in music criticism has been in

headlong retreat.

21. It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that __________.

[A] arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers.

[B] English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews.

[C] high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers.

[D] young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies.

22. Newspaper reviews in England before World War II were characterized by __________.

[A] free themes.

[B] casual style.

[C] elaborate layout.

[D] radical viewpoints.

23. Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on?

[A] It is writers' duty to fulfill journalistic goals.

[B] It is contemptible for writers to be journalists.

[C] Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism.

[D] Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing.

24. What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs?

[A] His music criticism may not appeal to readers today.

[B] His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute.

[C] His style caters largely to modern specialists.

[D] His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition.

25. What would be the best title for the text?

[A] Newspapers of the Good Old Days

[B] The Lost Horizon in Newspapers

[C] Mournful Decline of Journalism

[D] Prominent Critics in Memory

Text 2

2010

）

Over the past decade, thousands of patents have seen granted for what are called business methods.

Amazon com received one for its

“one

-

click”

online payment system Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an

asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lying a box.

Now the nation’s top patent court appears completely ready to scale hack on

business-method patents,

which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has

intellectual-property lawyers abuzz the U.S court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use particular

case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents.

In re Bilski

, as the case is known, is “a very big

deal,

”

says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law.

It “has the potential to eliminate an

entire class of patents.

”

Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face because it was the federal circuit itself

that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on

a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings,

initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive pints to specific types of online

transactions. Later, move established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive

move against rivals that might bent them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been

issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting

them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even

as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.

The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal

circu

it issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court’s judges, rather than a

typical panel of three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should “reconsider” its state street

Bank ruling.

The Federal Circu

it’s action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the supreme. Count that

has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example the justices signaled that too

many patents were being upheld for “inventions” that a

re obvious. The judges on the Federal circuit are

“reaction to the anti

-

patent trend at the supreme court” says Harol

d C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor

at Washington University Law School.

26. Business-method patents have recently aroused concern because of __________.

[A] their limited value to business

[B] their connection with asset allocation

[C] the possible restriction on their granting

[D] the controversy over authorization

27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?

[A] Its ruling complies with the court decisions

[B] It involves a very big business transaction

[C] It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit

[D] It may change the legal practices in the U.S.