高考英语阅读材料精选

外语下载中心(ClintonIsRight)PresidentClinton’sdecisiononApr.8tosendChinesePremierZhuRongjipackingwithoutanagreementonChina’sentryintotheWorldTradeOrganizationseemedtobeamassivemiscalculation.ThePresidenttookadrubbingfrommuchofthepress,whichhadbreathlesslyreportedthatadealwasinthebag.TheCabinetandWhitHousestillappeareddivided,andbusinessleaderswerecharacterizedasfuriousoverthelostopportunity.ZhuchargedthatClintonlacked“thecourage”toreachanaccord.AndwhenClintonlatertelephonedtheangryZhutopledgearenewedeffortatnegotiations,thegesturewaswidelyportrayedasaflip-flop.Infact,ClintonmadetherightdecisioninholdingoutforabetterWTOdeal.Alotmorehorsetradingisneededbeforeafinalagreementcanbereached.AndwithouttheAdministration’sgoalofa“bullet-proofagreement”thatbusinesslobbyistscanenthusiasticallyselltoaRepublicanCongress,thewholeprocesswillendupinpartisanacrimonythatcouldharmrelationswithChinaforyears.THEHARDPART.Manybusinesslobbyists,whiledisappointedthatthedealwasnotclosed,agreethatbettertermscanstillbehad.AndTreasurySecretaryRobertE.Rubin,NationalEconomicCouncilDirectorGeneB.Sperling,CommerceSecretaryWilliamM.Daley,andtoptradenegotiatorCharleneBarshefskyalladvisedClintonthatwhiletheChinesehadmadearemarkablenumberofconcessions,“we’renotthereyet,”accordingtoseniorofficials.NegotiatingwithZhuovertheremainingissuesmaybetheeasypart.AlthoughClintoncansignalU.S.approvalforChina’sentryintotheWTOhimself,heneedsCongresstograntBeijingpermanentmost-favored-nationstatusaspartofabroadtradeaccord.AndthetemptationformeddlingonCapitalHillmayproveover-whelming.ZhuhadbarelylandedbeforeSenateMajorityLeaderTrentLott(R-Miss)declaredhimselfskepticalthatChinadeservedentryintotheWTO.AndSenatorsJesseA.Helms(R-N.C.)andEmestF.Hollings(D-S.C.)promisedtointroduceabillrequiringcongressionalapprovalofanydeal.Thehiddenmessagefromthesethreetextile-stateSoutherners:GetmoreprotectionfortheU.S.clothingindustry.Hopingtosmooththeway,theAdministrationtried,butfailed,tobudgeZhuontextiles.Alsoleftinthelurch:WallStreet,Hollywood,andDetroit.ZhurefusedtoopenupmuchofthelucrativeChinesesecuritiesmarketandinsistedon“cultural”restrictionsonAmericanmoviesandmusic.HealsoblockedeffortstoallowU.S.automakerstoprovidefleetfinancing.BIGJOB.Already,businesslobbyistsareblanketingCapitolHilltopresaleanyeventualagreement,butwhatthey’veheardsofarisn’tencouraging.Republicans,includingLott,saythat“thetimejustisn’tright”forthedeal.Translation:We’redeterminedtomakeitlookasifClintonhascapitulatedtotheChineseandisignoringhuman,religious,andlaborrightsviolations;thetheftofnuclear-weaponstechnology;andthesaleofmissilepartstoAmerica’senemies.Beijing’sfiercecriticswithintheDemocraticParty,suchasSenatorPaulD.WellstoneofMinnesotaandHouseMinorityleaderRichardA.GephardtofMissouri,won’thelp,either.JusthowtoughthelobbyingjobonCapitolHillwillbebecomeclearonApr.20,whenRubinlectured19chiefexecutivesontheneedtodisciplinetheirRepublicanallies.WithbusinessandtheWhiteHousestilltradingchargesoverwhoisresponsibleforthedefeatoffast-tracktradenegotiatinglegislationin1997,workingtogetherwon’tbeeasy.AndRepublicans—withawink—saythatthey’lleventuallyembraceChina’sentryintotheWTOasafavortoCorporateAmerica.ThoughnotlongbeforetheytortureClinton.ButZhuisoutonalimb,andifCongress外语下载中心:Thishistoricdealistooimportanttorisklosingtoanymorepartisansquabbling1.Themainideaofthispassageis[A].TheContradictionbetweentheDemocraticPartyandtheRepublicanParty.[B].OnChina’sentryintoWTO.[C].Clintonwasright.[D].BusinessLobbyistsControlCapitolHill.2.Whatdoesthesentence“Alsoleftinthelurch:WallStreet,Hollywood,Detroit”convey?[A].PremierZhurejectedtheirrequirements.[B].Thethreeplacesoverdidcriticism.[C].Theywantedmoreprotection.[D].Theyareintrouble.3.WhatwastheattitudeoftheRepublicanPartytowardChina’sentryintotheWTO?[A].Contradictory.[B].Appreciative.[C].Disapproving.[D].Detestful.4.WhoplaystheleadingpartinthedealinAmerica?[A].WhiteHouse.[B].Republicans.[C].TheDemocraticParty.[D].Businessmen.5.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat[A].Americawillmakeconcessions.[B].AmericawillholdoutforabetterWTO[C].ClintonhastherighttosignalU.S.approvalforChina’sentry.[D].DemocraticpartyapproveChina’sentryintotheWTO.Vocabulary1.drubbing痛打get/takeadrabbing遭人痛打2.flip-flop=greatchangesuddenly游说，突然改变，突然反方向。人字拖鞋，趾拖鞋3.holdout维持，保持holdoutforsth.故意拖延达成协议以谋求……4.horse–trading精明的讨价还价5.bullet-proof防弹的6.lobby收买，暗中活动7.lobbyist院外活动集团成员8.partisan党人，帮派，是党派强硬支持者9.acrimony语言/态度的刻薄10.sellto说服（某人）接受或采用11.meddle干预12.CapitolHill美国国会13.budge使稍微移动，改变14.lucrative有利可图的，赚钱的15.block制止外语下载中心舰队，船队，车队，机队17.blanket覆盖，妨碍扫兴，扑灭18.Capitulate投降，停止抵抗19.fasttrack快速行程（轻车熟路）20.withawink眼睛一眨，很快的21.outonalimb孤立无援（尤指争论和意见上）22.renege违约23.squabble争吵难句译注1.PresidentClinton’sdecisiononApr.8tosendChinesePremierZhuRongjipackingwithoutanagreement…[结构分析]sendonepacking打发人走。[参考译文]克林顿于4月8日决定不达成中国加入世贸组织的协议便打