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考研英语历年阅读理解真题精析--2006年

Part One

In spite of “endless talk of difference,” American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. This is “the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of consumption “launched by the 19th –century department stores that offered ‘vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere. Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite.” these were stores “anyone could enter, regardless of class or background. This turned shopping into a public and democratic act.” The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization.

Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today’s immigration is neither at unprecedented level nor resistant to

assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of population; in 1900, 13.6 percent. In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10 years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation------language, home ownership and intermarriage.

The 1990 Census revealed that “a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English “well” or “very well” after ten years of residence.” The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. “By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families.” Hence the description of America as a graveyard” for language. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrive before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.

Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics “have higher rates of

intermarriage than do U.S-born whites and blacks.” By the third

generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.

Rodriguez not that children in remote villages around world are fans of superstars like Amold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet “some Americans fear that immigrant living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation’s assimilative power.”

Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America’s turbulent past, today’s social induces suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.

1. The word “homogenizing” （Line 2, Paragraph 1）most probably means___ A. identifying B. associating C. assimilating D. monopolizing

2. According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century___ A. played a role in the spread of popular culture. B. became intimate shops for common consumers. C. satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite. D. owed its emergence to the culture of consumption. 3. The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.___ A. are resistant to homogenization.

B. exert a great influence on American culture. C. are hardly a threat to the common culture. D.constitute the majority of the population.

4. Why are Amold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?

A. To prove their popularity around the world. B. To reveal the public’s fear of immigrants. C. To give examples of successful immigrants.

D. To show the powerful influence of American culture.

5. In the author’s opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is

A. rewarding B. Successful C. fruitless D. harmful

Unit 13（2006）Part 1 重点词汇：

1. uniformity n. 一样，一致；统一性；（相关词）uniform a.相同的，统一标准的；be uniform with与……同一形式或外貌

2. casualness n. 偶然，意外；草率行事；漫不经心；平心静气

3. array ① n. 排列；一批，大量；显眼的一系列 ② vt. 排列，制定（计划等）：array oneself 装扮，打扮自己、搭配vast arrays of 大批的，大量的

4. knowledgeable a. 有知识的，学识渊博的，有见识的 5. amaze v. 使（某人）惊异或惊奇 6. intimate a. 密切的，亲密的

7. cater v. = provide food and service 提供饮食及服务; 搭配 cater for（或to）提供饮食及服务，迎合（某人） 8. elite n. 精英，尖子

9. elevate vt. 提升，抬起，振作精神；使（人）欢欣鼓舞；提高（思想、道德品质、文化素质等）。例：Good books may elevate the mind. 好书可以提高思想修养。搭配elevate to 提升为，提拔至。 10. unprecedented a. 前所未有的，空前的，无前例的

11. assimilation n. 吸收，（社会/民族的）同化；文化的吸收 （相关词）assimilate ...into 使同化；被同化；融合到……中去；assimilate ...to 使（某人）相似；使相同/一模一样；assimilate with 同化；与……融为一体；assimilative a. 同化的，引起同化作用的resistant （+to） 对…… 有抵抗力的；耐……的；抗……的；防……的

12. proficient （+in） ① a. 熟练的；精通的 ② n. 专家；能手 13. intermarriage n.异族通婚；近亲结婚 相关词 intermarry with 与……通婚graveyard n. 教堂墓地；公墓；垃圾场；政治上发展的终点 14. immune （+to） a. phr. 有免疫力的，不易感染的