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标题: 2001考研英语阅读真题解析(3) [打印本页]

作者: 幽幽草    时间: 2007-4-27 17:16     标题: 2001考研英语阅读真题解析(3)

Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers? The American Society of Newspaper Editors is trying to answer this painful question. The organization is deep into a long self-analysis known as the journalism credibility project.
  
  Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.
  
  But the sources of distrust go way deeper. Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard templates (patterns) into which they plug each day's events. In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.
  
  There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. In a recent survey, questionnaires were sent to reporters in five middle size cities around the country, plus one large metropolitan area. Then residents in these communities were phoned at random and asked the same questions.
  
  Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedeses, and trade stocks, and they're less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community.
  
  Reporters tend to be part of a broadly defined social and cultural elite, so their work tends to reflect the conventional values of this elite. The astonishing distrust of the news media isn't rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.
  
  This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one. Here is a troubled business that keeps hiring employees whose attitudes vastly annoy the customers. Then it sponsors lots of symposiums and a credibility project dedicated to wondering why customers are annoyed and fleeing in large numbers. But it never seems to get around to noticing the cultural and class biases that so many former buyers are complaining about. If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.
  
  59. What is the passage mainly about?
  
  [A] Needs of the readers all over the world.
  
  [B] Causes of the public disappointment about newspapers.
  
  [C] Origins of the declining newspaper industry.
  
  [D] Aims of a journalism credibility project.
  
  60. The results of the journalism credibility project turned out to be ________.
  
  [A] quite trustworthy
  
  [B] somewhat contradictory
  
  [C] very illuminating
  
  [D] rather superficial
  
  61. The basic problem of journalists as pointed out by the writer lies in their ________.
  
  [A] working attitude
  
  [B] conventional lifestyle
  
  [C] world outlook
  
  [D] educational background
  
  62. Despite its efforts, the newspaper industry still cannot satisfy the readers owing to its ________.
  
  [A] failure to realize its real problem
  
  [B] tendency to hire annoying reporters
  
  [C] likeliness to do inaccurate reporting
  
  [D] prejudice in matters of race and gender
  
  重点词汇:
  
  journalism /5dVE:nElizEm/(新闻;新闻业)即journal+ism,journal(期刊;日志),-ism后缀。journalism—that with which you may fill the space between advertisements新闻-用以填充广告与广告之间的空隙的东西。
  
  credibility /7kredi5biliti/(可信性)即cred+ibility,cred词根相信(如credit→cred+it→信用),-ibility名词后缀可……性(如ability←a+(i)bility)。credibility gap—what happens to the same news between the morning telecast and the evening paper信用差距-早间电视新闻与晚报之间同一条新闻发生的情况。
  
  head-scratching(令人为难的)即head+scratch+ing,head头,scratch抓,-ing形容词后缀,急得直抓头→为难的。
  
  template /5templit/(模板)可看作templ(e)+ate,temple寺庙,ate吃,现在越来越多的人倾向于素食,而temple是ate素的模板(template)。
  
  conventional /kEn5venFEnl/(传统的,惯例的)←convention+al,参convention(大会;惯例;公约),2002年Text 1.
  
  newsroom /5nju:zrum/(编辑室;阅览室)←news+room.
  
  backbone /5bAkbEun/(主干)←back+bone.
  
  survey /sE:5vei/(v.n.俯瞰;调查)即sur+vey,sur-前缀=super,vey词根看,故从上面看→俯瞰→引申为调查。An informal survey shows that what most people wanted for Christmas was two more weeks to prepare for it.一项非正式调查显示,大多数人圣诞节想要的东西是再给两个星期准备过节。
  
  questionnaire /7kwestFE5nZE/(调查表)←question+naire名词后缀表物。
  
  metropolitan /metrE5pRlit(E)n/(大都市的;大都市的人)即metro+polit+an,metro-前缀母体,大,同matri-,《黑客帝国》里的电脑母体就叫Matrix(即母体这东东太复杂,对任何人来说都是个大的未知数X),polit词根城市,-an后缀表……的或……的人;也可把polit看作polite(有礼貌的),于是懂礼貌的大地方→大都市的。
  
  upscale /5Qpskeil/(高消费阶层的;质优价高的)←up向上+scale等级。
  
  volunteer /vRlEn5tiE/(志愿的;志愿者v.志愿)←volunt意愿+eer;voluntary(自愿的)←volunt+ary形容词后缀。Maintain outside interests—
  
  volunteer in not-for-profits and stay physically fit.保持业余爱好-自愿做无利可图的事情而保持身体健康。
  
  sponsor /5spCnsE/(v.发起;赞助n.主办者)←spons(e)词根+or后缀;参response,2001年Passage 1.The longest word in the English language is the one following the phrase: And now a word from our sponsor.英语中最长的单词是由此引发的:现在请赞助者×××。←此处×××不好译,因为显然不能译为说一个词,而译为说几句话则失去了原句的一语双关。
  
  symposium /sim5pEuziEm/(专题讨论会;专题论文集)即sym+pos+ium,sym-前缀共同,pos词根放,-ium后缀表地方,把共同的问题放在一起讨论→专题讨论会,把共同讨论好的问题放在一起→专题论文集。
  
  bias /5baiEs/(v.n.偏见)谐音白饿死,古人有骨气者不吃嗟来之食而饿死,后来某些人对此不以为然,认为这是古人的偏见,所以是白饿死(bias)←白白饿死。
  
  gender /5dVendE/(性别)可看作gen(e)+der,gene即单词基因,der谐音的,故基因的→由基因决定的→性别。
  
  contradictory /7kCntrE5diktEri/(反驳的;矛盾的;对立物)即contra+dict+ory,contra-前缀相反,dict词根说(如dictate→dict+ate动词后缀→口述;命令),-ory后缀;contradict(v.反驳;矛盾)←contra+dict.Assertion is not argument, to contradict the statement of an opponent is not proof that you are correct.坚定的看法不是论据,反驳对手的说法不能证明你是正确的。
  
  illuminating /i5lju:mi7neitiN/(照明的;启发的)即illuminat(e)+ing形容词后缀,illuminate(照明;启发)可看作illumin+ate,illumin谐音一路明,-ate动词后缀,使一路明→照明→引申为启发。The man of science, like the artist, may easily have more facts than he can use. Both seek the one fact out of a million that will illuminate their idea. Both find that it is rarely to be had without research.与艺术家一样,科学家可以轻易得到用不尽的事实。他们都在上百万的事实中寻求能说明自己想法的那一个,都发现未经调查研究而得到它几乎是不可能的。
  
  superficial /sju:pE5fiFEl/(表面的;肤浅的)即super+fici+al,super-前缀上面的,fici看作face表面,-al形容词后缀,表面上的→肤浅的。To know things well, we must know them in detail; but as that is almost endless, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.为了充分认识事物,我们必须详细了解它们,然而那几乎是没有穷尽的,所以我们的知识总是肤浅和不完善的。
  
  be known as称为;alien to为……所不熟悉;put down roots in定居;get around to抽时间做。
  
  难句解析:
  
  ①Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.▲本句主语是this project,谓语是has turned out to be,findings为宾语,mostly low-level是宾语的定语修饰成分,about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes是宾语的补语成分。combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want是过去分词引导的伴随状语,其中about what in the world those readers really want是puzzlement的补语。
  
  △要正确理解本句,一定要注意lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want这一部分并不包含在findings里面,而应该是与findings属于同一层次上的东西,换言之,可以把turned out to be后面的表语看成是由两个并列的意思构成的。
  
  ②In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.▲本句的主干是there is a conventional story line……,后面的that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news是定语从句修饰conventional story line.
  
  △本句的理解重点在单词意思:a story line一种写新闻报道的故事主线;newsroom culture报社文化;backbone本义为脊柱,此处是主干;otherwise否则
  
  ③There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers.▲此句的结构和上句非常类似,主句也是一个there加系动词的用法。而表语后都有一个定语从句。本句的定语从句是which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers.
  
  △alien本义为异国的,此处是相差甚远,背道而驰。如果考生不了解standard templates的意思,可以从上下文中找与其有相同作用和功能的词组,如上句中的a story line和backbone,那么就应该知道它们指的都是记者们在写新闻和评论时固定的套路和思维。
  
  ④The astonishing distrust of the news media isn‘t rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.▲本句的主干是一个not…… but结构。注意这个结构引导的是两个方式状语。其核心词分别是inaccuracy和the daily clash.
  
  △to be rooted in……根源在于……;另外注意not…… but结构中,but后面的部分总是阅读的重点。
  
  ⑤If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.▲it代表上文提到的a troubled business,即问题重重的新闻界。now focused narrowly on race and gender是插入语,也是修饰program的定语。本句在would后面有两个并列宾语open up和look for.
  
  △此句中含有一个虚拟语气:If it did, it would open up……。另外注意前两个逗号之间是对diversity program(多样化项目)的修饰成分。
  
  试题解析:
  
  59. [B]意为:造成公众对报纸失望的原因。
  
  文章的第一句开门见山地提出了本文旨在说明的问题:为什么那么多的美国人不相信自己在报纸上读到的内容呢?第二段驳斥了一种解释。第三段指出人们怀疑心理的产生有更深刻的原因。第三段以后具体分析了这个原因:记者和报纸的大多数读者生活在两个世界里,具有不同的社会价值观。这造成了二者的分歧和冲突。
  
  C意为:造成报业衰败的根源。该选择项不如选择项A表达的内容确切,注意选择项A中的disappointment对应于原文的distrust(见第一段第一句和第三段第一句)。
  
  D意为:一个新闻界信誉项目的目的。作者仅在第二段提到了这个项目的内容和发现,并驳斥了这些发现。
  
  60. [D]意为:相当表面。
  
  在第二段作者指出,遗憾的是,该项目最终所发现的原因大都是诸如报道失实、文章中有拼写和语法错误,以及对读者究竞想读什么的许多莫名其妙的困惑,在作者看来,这些发现大都是低级的(low-level),而真正的原因没有这么表面(go way deeper,见第三段第一句)。
  
  C意为:很有启发。
  
  61. [C]意为:世界观。
  
  在第三段作者指出,多数记者通过一套标准的范式来看世界,将每天报道的消息嵌入这些范式,换言之,在新闻界存在着一个写报道的传统路数,这一路数提供了一个框框和一种现成的叙事结构,将纷杂的事件顺理成章。第四段又指出,由于在记者和读者之间存在着一个社会和文化上的分歧,这就解释了为什么新闻报道的标准范式似乎不为许多读者所接受。第四、五段提到了一项调查,在解释这项调查结果的第六段作者指出,从广义的角度讲,记者似乎居于社会和文化名流的一分子,所以他们的工作倾向反映这部分人的传统价值现,因此,公众对新闻媒体的不信任,与其说根源于报道失实或报道技能的欠缺,不如说根源于记者和读者之间世界观的日常冲突。
  
  可见,A、B、D是不确切的。
  
  62. [A]
  
  最后一段指出,这(指上一段提到的世界观的冲突)对任何产业-特别是一个衰落的产业-来说都是一种危险的状况,报业目前就是处于这样一种麻烦的局面,但是,他们还在雇用那些自身态度与读者大大相悖的雇员(当指记者)。尔后又举办许多研讨会,搞什么信誊项目,企图了解顾客(当指读者)为什么对他们不满意,他们为什么大量失去读者。但是,对于那么多原来的顾客所不满的文化和阶级偏见,他们似乎就是视而不见,置若罔闻。如果他们看到了这一方面的问题,他们就会深化自己的多样化项目(diversity program本来指公司雇用不同种族、性别等的雇员以满足不同群体的顾客的需要的做法),而不是像现在这样将这一项目狭隘地局限于种族和性别:他们就会去雇用在世界观、价值观、教育背景、社会阶层上迥异的记者。
  
  可见,在这段中,作者对报界进行了批评,认为他们还没有找到问题的根源,无法对症下药解决问题。另请参阅对以上三题的题解。
  
  全文翻译:
  
  为什么那么多美国人不相信自己在报纸上看到的东西?美国新闻编辑协会正试图回答这个痛苦的问题。该组织正深深陷入一个长期的自我剖析过程,即新闻可信度调查项目。
  
  遗憾的是,这次新闻机构可信度调查计划结果只获得了一些肤浅的发现,诸如新闻报道中的事实错误,拼写或语法错误,和这些低层次发现交织在一起的还有许多令人挠头的困惑,譬如读者到底想读些什么。
  
  但这种对媒体的不信任有更深刻的根源。多数新闻记者都学着用一套标准的模式去看待世界,并把每天发生的事件纳入这种模式。换言之,在媒介机构的新闻采编室文化中存在着一套约定俗成的写作模式,为纷繁复杂的新闻报道提供了一个主干框架和一个现成的故事叙述结构。
  
  新闻记者和读者之间存在着社会和文化方面的脱节,这就是为什么新闻编辑室的标准模式与众多读者的意趣相差甚远的原因。在最近一次调查中,问卷被送到了全国五座中等城市及一座大都市的记者手中,然后随机地给这些城市的居民打电话,问他们同样的问题。
  
  结果表明,与其他美国人相比,新闻记者更有可能居住在富人区,有女佣,有奔驰车,炒股,而他们去教堂,参加支援服务,扎根社区的可能性却很小。
  
  记者们往往属于广义的社会文化精英的一个部分,因此他们的工作往往反映了这些精英传统的价值观。读者对新闻媒介令人震惊的不信任的根源并非是报道失实或低下的报道技巧,而是记者与读者的世界观每天都发生着碰撞。
  
  这对任何一个工业产业来说都算是爆炸性的形势,对于一个正在衰落的行业来说尤其如此。这是一个棘手的行业,却不断地雇用观点总体上使客户恼怒的雇员。然后它又出资组织研讨会和可信度调查项目,去探究为什么顾客们恼火了,为什么会有那么多人逃避新闻。但它似乎从来就没回过头来去注意那么多以前的顾客所抱怨的文化和阶级偏见。如果它能注意这个问题的话,它就应该进一步开放其多样化项目(这个项目现在还只单纯考虑招收不同种族和性别的员工),进一步寻找那些世界观、价值观、教育水平和社会阶层各不相同的各种记者。




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