2007年考研英语真题及解析

2007

年全国硕士研究生招生考试 英语（一）试题

Section I Use of English

Directions:

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark [A], [B], [C] or [D] on

ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

By 1830, the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies had become independent nations. The roughly 20

million 1 of these nations looked 2 to the future. Born in the crisis of the old regime and Iberian colonialism,

many of the leaders of independence 3 the ideals of representative government, careers 4 to talent, freedom of

commerce and trade, the 5 to private property, and a belief in the individual as the basis of society. 6 there was a

belief that the new nations should be sovereign and independent states, large enough to be economically viable

and integrated by a 7 set of laws.

On the issue of 8 of religion and the position of the Church, 9 , there was less agreement 10the leadership.

Roman Catholicism had been the state religion and the only one11 by the Spanish crown. 12 most leaders sought

to maintain Catholicism 13 the official religion of the new states, some sought to end the 14 of other faiths. The

defense of the Church became a rallying15 for the conservative forces.

The ideals of the early leaders of independence were often egalitarian, valuing equality of everything.

Bolivar had received aid from Haiti and had16 in return to abolish slavery in the areas he liberated. By 1854

slavery had been abolished everywhere except Spain’s

17 colonies. Early promises to end Indian tribute and

taxes on people of mixed origin came much 18because the new nations still needed the revenue such policies 19 .

Egalitarian sentiments were often tempered by fears that the mass of the population was 20 self-rule and

democracy.

1.[A] natives

[B] inhabitants

[C] peoples

[D] individuals

2.[A] confusedly

[B] cheerfully

[C] worriedly

[D] hopefully

3.[A] shared

[B] forgot

[C] attained

[D] rejected

4.[A] related

[B] close

[C] open

[D] devoted

5.[A] access

[B] succession

[C] right

[D] return

6.[A] Presumably

[B] Incidentally

[C] Obviously

[D] Generally

7.[A] unique

[B] common

[C] particular

[D] typical

8.[A] freedom

[B] origin

[C] impact

[D] reform

9.[A] therefore

[B] however

[C] indeed

[D] moreover

10.[A] with

[B] about

[C] among

[D] by

11.[A] allowed

[B] preached

[C] granted

[D] funded

12.[A] Since

[B] If

[C] Unless

[D] While

13.[A] as

[B] for

[C] under

[D] against

14.[A] spread

[B] interference

[C] exclusion

[D] influence

15.[A] support

[B] cry

[C] plea

[D] wish

1

16.[A] urged

[B] intended

[C] expected

[D] promised

17.[A] controlling

[B] former

[C] remaining

[D] original

18.[A] slower

[B] faster

[C] easier

[D] tougher

19.[A] created

[B] produced

[C] contributed

[D] preferred

20.[A] puzzled by

[B] hostile to

[C]pessimistic about

[D] unprepared for

Section II Reading Comprehension

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 ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 points)

Text 1

If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer pl

ayer 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 late 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 ever more pronounced.

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 increasessoccer stamina;

c) soccer-mad parents are more likely to conceive children in springtime, at the annual peak of soccermania; d)

none of the above.

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

impr

oving, and after about 200 hours of training he had risen to over 80 numbers.”

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.

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

2

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.

21. The birthday phenomenon found among soccer players is mentioned to

[A] stress the importance of professional training.

[B] spotlight the soccer superstars at the World Cup.

[C] introduce the topic of what makes expert performance.

[D] explain why some soccer teams play better than others.

22. The word “mania” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) most probably means

[A] fun.

[B] craze.

[C] hysteria.

[D] excitement.

23. According to Ericsson, good memory

[A] depends on meaningful processing of information.

[B] results from intuitive rather than cognitive exercises.

[C] is determined by genetic rather than psychological factors.

[D] requires immediate feedback and a high degree of concentration.

24. Ericsson and his colleagues believe that

[A] talent is a dominating factor for professional success.

[B] biographical data provide the key to excellent performance.

[C] the role of talent tends to be overlooked.

[D] high achievers owe their success mostly to nurture.

25. Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?

[A] “Faith will move mountains.”

[B] “One reaps what one sows.”

[C] “Practice makes perfect.”

[D] “Like father, like son.”

Text 2

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

3

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 t

he difference between love and fondness? Or what is thenature 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.

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?

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 com

e 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 Test

(SAT) and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), capture the main aspects of IQ tests.

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 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 what questions to skip.

26. Which of the following may be required in an intelligence test?

[A] Answering philosophical questions.

[B] Folding or cutting paper into different shapes.

[C] Telling the differences between certain concepts.

[D] Choosing words or graphs similar to the given ones.

27. What can be inferred about intelligence testing from Paragraph3?

[A] People no longer use IQ scores as an indicator of intelligence.

[B] More versions of IQ tests are now available on the Internet.

[C] The test contents and formats for adults and children may be different.

[D] Scientists have defined the important elements of human intelligence.

28. People nowadays can no longer achieve IQ scores as high as vos Savant’s because

[A] the scores are obtained through different computational procedures.

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[B] creativity rather than analytical skills is emphasized now.

[C] vos Savant’s case is

an extreme one that will not repeat.

[D] the defining characteristic of IQ tests has changed.

29. We can conclude from the last paragraph that

[A] test scores may not be reliable indicators of one’s ability.

[B] IQ scores and SAT results are highly correlated.

[C] testing involves a lot of guesswork.

[D] traditional tests are out of date.

30. What is the author’s attitude towards IQ tests?

[A] Supportive.

[B] Skeptical.

[C] Impartial.

[D] Biased.

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 realties. 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.

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 t

he side effect: family risk has risen as well. Today’s families have budgeted to the limits of theirs

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

5

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

6

Text 4

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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 17

th

, 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.

36. The statement “It never rains but it pours” is used to introduce

[A] the fierce business competition.

[B] the feeble boss-board relations.

[C] the threat from news reports.

[D] the severity of data leakage.

37. According to Paragraph 2, some organizations check their systems to find out

[A] whether there is any weak point.

7

[B] what sort of data has been stolen.

[C] who is responsible for the leakage.

[D] how the potential spies can be located.

38. In bringing up the concept of GASP the author is making the point that

[A] shareholders’ interests should be properly attended to.

[B] information protection should be given due attention.

[C] businesses should enhance their level of accounting security.

[D] the market value of customer data should be emphasized.

39. According to Paragraph 4, what puzzles the author is that some bosses fail to

[A] see the link between trust and data protection.

[B] perceive the sensitivity of personal data.

[C] realize the high cost of data restoration.

[D] appreciate the economic value of trust.

40. It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that

[A] data leakage is more severe in Europe.

[B] FTC’s decision is essential to data security.

[C] California takes the lead in security legislation.

[D] legal penalty is a major solution to data leakage.

Part B

Directions:

You are going to read a list of headings and a text about what parents are supposed to do to guide their

children into adulthood. Choose a heading from the list A-G that best fits the meaning of each numbered part of

the text (41-45). The first and last paragraphs of the text are not numbered. There are two extra headings that you

do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

[A] Set a Good Example for Your Kids

[B] Build Your Kids’ Work Skills

[C] Place Time Limits on Leisure Activities

[D] Talk about the Future on a Regular Basis

[E] Help Kids Develop Coping Strategies

[F] Help Your Kids Figure Out Who They Are

[G] Build Your Kids’ Sense of Responsibility

How Can a Parent Help?

Mothers and fathers

can do a lot to ensure a safe landing in early adulthood for their kids. Even if a job’s

starting salary seems too small to satisfy an emerging adult’s need for rapid content, the transition from school to

8

work can be less of a setback if the start-up adult is ready for the move. Here are a few measures, drawn from my

book

Ready or Not, Here Life Comes

, that parents can take to prevent what I call “work

-

life unreadiness”:

You can start this process when they are 11 or 12. Periodically review their emerging strengths and weaknesses

with them and work together on any shortcomings, like difficulty in communicating well or collaborating. Also,

identify the kinds of interests they keep coming back to, as these offer clues to the careers that will fit them best.

Kids need a range of authentic role models

—

as opposed to members of their clique, pop stars and vaunted

athletes. Have regular dinner- table discussions about people the family knows and how they got where they are.

Discuss the joys and downsides of your own career and encourage your kids to form some ideas about their own

future. When asked what they want to do, they should be discouraged from saying “I have no idea.” They can

change their minds 200 times, but having only a foggy view of the future is of little good.

Teachers are responsible for teaching kids how to learn; parents should be responsible for teaching them how to

work. Assign responsibilities around the house and make sure homework deadlines are met. Encourage teenagers

to take a part-time job. Kids need plenty of practice delaying gratification and deploying effective organizational

skills, such as managing time and setting priorities.

Playing video games encourages immediate content. And hours of watching TV shows with canned laughter only

teaches kids to processinformation in a passive way. At the same time, listening through earphones to the same

monotonous beats for long stretches encourages kids to stay inside their bubble instead of pursuing other

endeavors. All these activities can prevent the growth of important communication and thinking skills and make

it difficult for kids to develop the kind of sustained concentration they will need for most jobs.

They should know how to deal with setbacks, stress and feelings of inadequacy. They should also learn how to

solve problems and resolve conflicts, ways to brainstorm and think critically. Discussions at home can help kids

practice doing these things and help them apply these skills to everyday life situations.

What about the son or daughter who is grown but seems to be struggling and wandering aimlessly through early

adulthood? Parents still have a major role to play, but now it is more delicate. They have to be careful not to come

across as disappointed in their child. They should exhibit strong interest and respect for whatever currently interests

their fledging adult (as naive or ill conceived as it may seem) while becoming a partner in exploring options for the

future. Most of all, these new adults must feel that they are respected and supported by a family that appreciates

them.

Part C

Directions:

Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation

should be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)

The study of law has been recognized for centuries as a basic intellectual discipline in European universities.

However, only in recent years has it become a feature of undergraduate programs in Canadian universities.

9

(46)Traditionally, legal learning has been viewed in such institutions as the special preserve of lawyers, rather

than a necessary part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person. Happily, the older and more

continental view of legal education is establishing itself in a number of Canadian universities and some have

even begun to offer undergraduate degrees in law.

If the study of law is beginning to establish itself as part and parcel of a general education, its aims and

methods should appeal directly to journalism educators. Law is a discipline which encourages responsible

judgment. On the one hand, it provides opportunities to analyze such ideas as justice, democracy and freedom.

(47) On the other, it links theseconcepts to everyday realities in a manner which is parallel to the links journalists

forge on a daily basis as they cover and comment on the example, notions of evidence and fact, of

basic rights and public interest are at work in the process of journalistic judgment and production just as in courts

of law. Sharpening judgment by absorbing

and reflecting on law is a desirable component of a journalist’s

intellectual preparation for his or her career.

(48) But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests

on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news cs or,

more broadly, the functioning of the state, is a major subject for journalists. The better informed they are about

the way the state works, the better their reporting will be. (49) In fact, it is difficult to see how journalists who do

not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution can do a competent job on political

stories.

Furthermore, the legal system and the events which occur within it are primary subjects for journalists. While

the quality of legal journalism varies greatly, there is an undue reliance amongst many journalists on interpretations

supplied to them by lawyers. (50) While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable

for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own

can only come from a well- grounded understanding of the legal system.

Section III Writing

Part A

51. Directions

Write a letter to your university library, making suggestions for improving its service.

You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET 2.

Do not

sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use “Li Ming” instead.

Do not

write the address. (10 points)

Part B

52. Directions:

Write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following drawing. In your essay, you should

1) describe the drawing briefly,

2) explain its intended meaning, and then

3) support your view with an example/examples.

You should write neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (20 points)

10

11

2007

年全国硕士研究生招生考试英语（一）答案详解

Section I Use of English

一、文章结构分析

本文主要论述了西 班牙和葡萄牙的前殖民地在独立以后面临的各种问题。第一段指出独立运动领导人

对于新 国家理念的共同之处。第二段指出领导人存在分歧的方面。第三段是总结，指出平等主义在新

国家的实现比较缓慢。

二、试题具体解析

1.

[A] natives

本地人

[B] inhabitants

居民

[C] peoples

民族

[D] individuals

个人

【答案】

B

【考点】

词汇辨析

【难度系数】

0.422

【解析】

空的前句指出西班牙和葡萄 牙殖民地成为了独立的国家。空所在的语境为：大约

200

万这 些

国家的

看到未来。

显然这里填的词应该表示这些国家的居民。

四个选项中

B

项最能准确表达此项含义，

故答案为

B

。

2.

[A] confusedly

困惑地

[B] cheerfully

快乐地

[C] worriedly

焦虑地

[D] hopefully

有希望地

【答案】

D

【考点】

逻辑搭配

【难度系数】

0.569

【解析】

显然这里填的一个词是形容 民众是如何看待未来的状况的。文章首句已经说明这些前殖民地相继

独立，对于刚脱离殖 民统治的民众来说，这是应该一个令人欣喜的事件，因此，后文的论述也应与此一致。

D

项最能反映这一情形，故答案为

D

。< /p>

3

.

[A] shared

分享

[B] forgot

忘记

12

[C] attained

获得

[D] rejected

拒绝

【答案】

A

【考点】

词汇搭配

【难度系数】

0.418

【解析】

空所在的语意为：许多独立国家的领导者

典型的政府理念，??，以及把个体的信仰作为社会的

基础。显然典型政府、职业、 和自由贸易等都是对这一理念的具体说明，应该是这些领导人共同持有的。

能表现一个群 体拥有共同想法的动词只有

A

，故答案为

A

。

4.

[A] related

与??有联系

[B] close

接近

[C] open

开放的

[D] devoted

专心致志于做??

【答案】

C

【考点】

词汇辨析

【难度系数】

0.273

【解析】

我们已经判断出文章对这些 领导人行为描述都是正面的，那么职业对有才能的人开放应该符合这

种态度，故答案为< /p>

C

。

5

.

[A] access

通道

[B] succession

接替，继任

[C] right

权利

[D] return

偿还，归还

【答案】

C

【考点】

词汇辨析

【难度系数】

0.536

【解析】

从空后谈到把个体信仰作为社会的基础我们可以判断出，这里应该是对个体权力的尊重，而这又