1998考研英语真题及解析

1998年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题SectionIClozeTestUntilrecentlymosthistoriansspokeverycriticallyoftheIndustrialRevolution.They1thatinthelongrunindustrializationgreatlyraisedthestandardoflivingforthe2man.Buttheyinsistedthatits3resultsduringtheperiodfrom1750to1850werewidespreadpovertyandmiseryforthe4oftheEnglishpopulation.5contrast,theysawintheprecedinghundredyearsfrom1650to1750,whenEnglandwasstilla6agriculturalcountry,aperiodofgreatabundanceandprosperity.Thisview,7,isgenerallythoughttobewrong.Specialists8historyandeconomics,have9twothings:thattheperiodfrom1650to1750was10bygreatpoverty,andthatindustrializationcertainlydidnotworsenandmayhaveactuallyimprovedtheconditionsforthemajorityofthepopulace.1.［A］admitted［B］believed［C］claimed［D］predicted2.［A］plain［B］average［C］mean［D］normal3.［A］momentary［B］prompt［C］instant［D］immediate4.［A］bulk［B］host［C］gross［D］magnitude5.［A］On［B］With［C］For［D］By6.［A］broadly［B］thoroughly［C］generally［D］completely7.［A］however［B］meanwhile［C］therefore［D］moreover8.［A］at［B］in［C］about［D］for9.［A］manifested［B］approved［C］shown［D］speculated10.［A］noted［B］impressed［C］labeled［D］markedSectionⅡReadingComprehensionText1Fewcreationsofbigtechnologycapturetheimaginationlikegiantdams.Perhapsitishumankind’slongsufferingatthemercyoffloodanddroughtthatmakestheideaofforcingthewaterstodoourbiddingsofascinating.Buttobefascinatedisalso,sometimes,tobeblind.Severalgiantdamprojectsthreatentodomoreharmthangood.Thelessonfromdamsisthatbigisnotalwaysbeautiful.Itdoesn’thelpthatbuildingabig,powerfuldamhasbecomeasymbolofachievementfornationsandpeoplestrivingtoassertthemselves.Egypt’sleadershipintheArabworldwascementedbytheAswanHighDam.Turkey’sbidforFirstWorldstatusincludesthegiantAtaturkDam.Butbigdamstendnottoworkasintended.TheAswanDam,forexample,stoppedtheNilefloodingbutdeprivedEgyptofthefertilesiltthatfloodsleft--allinreturnforagiantreservoirofdiseasewhichisnowsofullofsiltthatitbarelygenerateselectricity.Andyet,themythofcontrollingthewaterspersists.Thisweek,intheheartofcivilizedEurope,SlovaksandHungariansstoppedjustshortofsendinginthetroopsintheircontentionoveradamontheDanube.Thehugecomplexwillprobablyhavealltheusualproblemsofbigdams.ButSlovakiaisbiddingforindependencefromtheCzechs,andnowneedsadamtoproveitself.Meanwhile,inIndia,theWorldBankhasgiventhego-aheadtotheevenmorewrong-headedNarmadaDam.Andthebankhasdonethiseventhoughitsadvisorssaythedamwillcausehardshipforthepowerlessandenvironmentaldestruction.Thebenefitsareforthepowerful,buttheyarefarfromguaranteed.Proper,scientificstudyoftheimpactsofdamsandofthecostandbenefitsofcontrollingwatercanhelptoresolvetheseconflicts.Hydroelectricpowerandfloodcontrolandirrigationarepossiblewithoutbuildingmonsterdams.Butwhenyouaredealingwithmyths,itishardtobeeitherproper,orscientific.ItistimethattheworldlearnedthelessonsofAswan.Youdon’tneedadamtobesaved.11.ThethirdsentenceofParagraph1impliesthat________.[A]peoplewouldbehappyiftheyshuttheireyestoreality[B]theblindcouldbehappierthanthesighted[C]over-excitedpeopletendtoneglectvitalthings[D]fascinationmakespeoplelosetheireyesight12.InParagraph5,“thepowerless”probablyrefersto________.[A]areasshortofelectricity[B]damswithoutpowerstations[C]poorcountriesaroundIndia[D]commonpeopleintheNarmadaDamarea13.Whatisthemythconcerninggiantdams?[A]Theybringinmorefertilesoil.[B]Theyhelpdefendthecountry.[C]Theystrengtheninternationalties.[D]Theyhaveuniversalcontrolofthewaters.14.Whattheauthortriestosuggestmaybestbeinterpretedas________.[A]“It’snousecryingoverspiltmilk”[B]“Morehaste,lessspeed”[C]“Lookbeforeyouleap”[D]“Hewholaughslastlaughsbest”Text2Well,nogainwithoutpain,theysay.Butwhataboutpainwithoutgain?EverywhereyougoinAmerica,youheartalesofcorporaterevival.Whatishardertoestablishiswhethertheproductivityrevolutionthatbusinessmenassumetheyarepresidingoverisforreal.Theofficialstatisticsaremildlydiscouraging.Theyshowthat,ifyoulumpmanufacturingandservicestogether,productivityhasgrownonaverageby1.2%since1987.Thatissomewhatfasterthantheaverageduringthepreviousdecade.Andsince1991,productivityhasincreasedbyabout2%ayear,whichismorethantwicethe1978-87average.Thetroubleisthatpartoftherecentaccelerationisduetotheusualreboundthatoccursatthispointinabusinesscycle,andsoisnotconclusiveevidenceofarevivalintheunderlyingtrend.Thereis,asRobertRubin,thetreasurysecretary,says,a“disjunction”betweenthemassofbusinessanecdotethatpointstoaleapinproductivityandthepicturereflectedbythestatistics.Someofthiscanbeeasilyexplained.Newwaysoforganizingtheworkplace--allthatre-engineeringanddownsizing--areonlyonecontributiontotheoverallproductivityofaneconomy,whichisdrivenbymanyotherfactorssuchasjointinvestmentinequipmentandmachinery,newtechnology,andinvestmentineducationandtraining.Moreover,mostofthechangesthatcompaniesmakeareintendedtokeepthemprofitable,andthisneednotalwaysmeanincreasingproductivity:switchingtonewmarketsorimprovingqualitycanmatterjustasmuch.Twootherexplanationsaremorespeculative.First,someofthebusinessrestructuringofrecentyearsmayhavebeenineptlydone.Second,evenifitwaswelldone,itmayhavesprea