考研阅读真题——栋哥出品
commonly gradual process of forgetting survived natural selection.
In thinking about the evolution of memory together with all its possible aspects, it is helpful to consider what would happen if memories failed to fade. Forgetting clearly aids orientation in time, since old memories weaken and the new tend to stand out, providing clues for inferring duration. Without forgetting, adaptive ability would suffer, for example, learned behaviour that might have been correct a decade ago may no longer be. Cases are recorded of people who (by ordinary standards) forgot so little that their everyday activities were full of confusion. This forgetting seems to serve that survival of the individual and the species.
Another line of thought assumes a memory storage system of limited capacity that provides adaptive flexibility specifically through forgetting. In this view, continual adjustments are made between learning or memory storage (input) and forgetting (output). Indeed, there is evidence that the rate at which individuals forget is directly related to how much they have learned. Such data offers gross support of contemporary models of memory that assume an input-output balance.
67. From the evolutionary point of view, ________.
[A] forgetting for lack of practice tends to be obviously inadaptive [B] if a person gets very forgetful all of a sudden he must be very adaptive [C] the gradual process of forgetting is an indication of an individual's adaptability [D] sudden forgetting may bring about adaptive consequences 68. According to the passage, if a person never forgets, ________. [A] he would survive best [B] he would have a lot of trouble [C] his ability to learn would be enhanced [D] the evolution of memory would stop 69. From the last paragraph we know that ________. [A] forgetfulness is a response to learning.
[B] the memory storage system is an exactly balanced input-output system [C] memory is a compensation for forgetting
[D] the capacity of a memory storage system is limited because forgetting occurs 70. In this article, the author tries to interpret the function of [A] remembering [B] forgetting [C] adapting [D] experiencing
15
考研阅读真题——栋哥出品
Unit 3（1996）
Passage 1
Tight-lipped elders used to say, \
Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things.
You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living. If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served.
Likewise, if you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself. In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services.
This account of yourself is actually a sketch of your working life and should include education, experience and references. Such an account is valuable. It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews. While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your \must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.
When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something tangible to sell. Then you are ready to hunt for a job. Get all the possible information about your could-be job. Make inquiries as to the details regarding the job and the firm. Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgement. Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the employment you wish for, and keep in mind: Securing a job is your job now.
1. What do the elders mean when they say, \ (A) You'll certainly get what you want. (B) It's no use dreaming.
(C) You should be dissatified with what you have.
16
考研阅读真题——栋哥出品
(D) It's essential to set a goal for yourself.
2. A blueprint made before inviting a friend to dinner is used in this passage as ________. (A) an illustration of how to write an application for a job (B) an indication of how to secure a good job (C) a guideline for job description (D) a principle for job evaluation
3. According to the passage, one must write an account of himself before starting to find a job because ________.
(A) that is the first step to please the employer (B) that is the requirement of the employer (C) it enables him to know when to sell his services (D) it forces him to become clearly aware of himself
4. When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something (A) definite to offer (B) imaginary to provide (C) practical to supply (D) desirable to present
Passage 2
With the start of BBC World Service Television, millions of viewers in Asia and America can now watch the Corporation's news coverage, as well as listen to it. And of course in Britain listeners and viewers can tune into two BBC television channels, five BBC national radio services and dozens of local radio station. They are brought sport, comedy, drama, music, news and current affairs, education, religion, parliamentary coverage, children's programmes and films for an annual licence fee of ￡83 per household.
It is a remarkable record, stretching back over 70 years — yet the BBC's future is now in doubt. The Corporation will survive as a publicly-funded broadcasting organisation, at least for the time being, but its role, its size and its programmes are now the subject of a nation-wide debate in Britain.
The debate was launched by the Government, which invited anyone with an opinion of the BBC —— including ordinary listeners and viewers — to say what was good or bad about the Corporation, and even whether they thought it was worth keeping. The reason for its inquiry is that the BBCs royal charter runs out in 1996 and it must decide whether to keep the organisation as it is, or to make changes. Defenders of the Corporation — of whom there are many — are fond of quoting the American
17
考研阅读真题——栋哥出品
slogan \it ain't broke, don't fix it.\The BBC \broke\they say, by which they mean it is not broken (as distinct from the word 'broke', meaning having no money), so why bother to change it? Yet the BBC will have to change, because the broadcasting world around it is changing. The commercial TV channels — ITV and Channel 4 — were required by the Thatcher Government's Broadcasting Act to become more commercial, competing with each other for advertisers, and cutting costs and jobs. But it is the arrival of new satellite channels — funded partly by advertising and partly by viewers' subscriptions — which will bring about the biggest changes in the long term.
5. The world famous BBC now faces ________.
(A) the problem of news coverage (B) an uncertain prospect (C) inquiries by the general public (D) shrinkage of audience
6. In the passage, which of the following about the BBC is not mentioned as the key issue? (A) Extension of its TV service to Far East.
(B) Programmes as the subject of a nation-wide debate. (C) Potentials for further international co-operations. (D) Its existence as a broadcasting organisation
7. The BBC's \ (A) the financial support from the royal family (B) the privileges granted by the Queen (C) a contract with the Queen
(D) a unique relationship with the royal family
8. The foremost reason why the BBC has to readjust itself is no other than ________. (A) the emergence of commercial TV channels
(B) the enforcement of Broadcasting Act by the government (C) the urgent necessity to reduce costs and jobs (D) the challenge of new satellite channels
Passage 3
In the last half of the nineteenth century \rival organisations on modern lines. Many an old firm was replaced by a limited liability company with a bureaucracy of salaried managers. The change met the technical requirements of the new age by engaging a large professional element and prevented the decline in efficiency that so commonly spoiled
18
考研阅读真题——栋哥出品
the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders. It was moreover a step away from individual initiative, towards collectivism and municipal and state-owned business. The railway companies, though still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders, were very unlike old family business. At the same time the great municipalities went into business to supply lighting, trams and other services to the taxpayers.
The growth of the limited liability company and municipal business had important consequences. Such large, impersonal manipulation of capital and industry greatly increased the numbers and importance of shareholders as a class, an element in national life representing irresponsible wealth detached from the land and the duties of the landowners; and almost equally detached from the responsible management of business. All through the nineteenth century, America, Africa, India, Australia and parts of Europe were being developed by British capital, and British shareholders were thus enriched by the world's movement towards industrialisation. Towns like Bournemouth and Eastbourne sprang up to house large \had no relation to the rest of the community except that of drawing dividends and occasionally attending a shareholders' meeting to dictate their orders to the management. On the other hand \meant leisure and freedom which was used by many of the Victorians for the highest purpose of a great civilisation.
The \as such had no knowledge of the lives, thoughts or needs of the workmen employed by the company in which he held shares, and his influence on the relations of capital and labour was not good. The paid manager acting for the company was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen which the employer had often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business now passing away. Indeed the mere size of operations and the numbers of workmen involved rendered such personal relations impossible. Fortunately, however, the increasing power and organisation of the trade unions, at least in all skilled trades, enabled the workmen to meet on equal terms the managers of the companies who employed them. The cruel discipline of the strike and lockout taught the two parties to respect each other's strength and understand the value of fair negotiation.
9. It's true of the old family firms that ________. (A) they were spoiled by the younger generations (B) they failed for lack of individual initiative
(C) they lacked efficiency compared with modern companies (D) they could supply adequate services to the taxpayers
19