2012高考英语：阅读理解课堂练学案（16）

2012高考英语：阅读理解课堂练学案（16）

‎2012高考英语：阅读理解课堂练学案（16） ‎ Passage Nine (The Program-Federal Government Helps Minority Business)‎ ‎     Federal efforts to aid minority businesses began in the ‎1960’‎s when the Small Business Administration (SBA) began making federally guaranteed loans and government-sponsored management and technical assistance available to minority business enterprises. While this program enabled many minority entrepreneurs to form new businesses, the results were disappointing, since managerial inexperience, unfavorable locations, and capital shortages led to high failure rates. Even 15 years after the program was implemented, minority business receipts were not quite two percent of the national economy’s total receipts.‎ ‎     Recently federal policymakers have adopted an approach intended to accelerate development of the minority business sector by moving away from directly aiding small minority enterprises and toward supporting large, growth-oriented minority firms through intermediary companies. In this approach, large corporations participate in the development of successful and stable minority businesses by making use of government-sponsored venture capital. The capital is used by a participating company to establish a Minority Enterprise Small Businesses that have potential to become future suppliers of customers of the sponsoring company.‎ ‎     MESBIC’s are the result of the belief that providing established firms with easier access to relevant management techniques and more job-specific experience, as well as substantial amounts of capital, gives those firms a greater opportunity to develop sound business foundations than does simply making general management experience and small amounts of capital available. Further, since potential markets for the minority businesses already exist through the sponsoring companies, the minority businesses face considerably less risk in terms of location and market fluctuation. Following early financial and operating problems, sponsoring corporations began to capitalize MESBIC’s far above the legal minimum of $‎500,000 in order to generate sufficient income and to sustain the quality of management needed. MESBIC’s are now emerging as increasingly important financing sources for minority enterprises.‎ ‎     Ironically, MESBIC staffs, which usually consist of Hispanic and Black professionals, tend to approach investments in minority firms more pragmatically than do many MESBIC directors, who are usually senior managers from sponsoring corporations. The latter often still think mainly in ‎ terms of the ‘social responsibility approach’ and thus seem to prefer deals that are riskier and less attractive than normal investment criteria would warrant. Such differences in viewpoint have produced uneasiness among many minority staff members, who feel that minority entrepreneurs and businesses should be judged by established business considerations. These staff members believe their point of view is closer to the original philosophy of MESBIC’s and they are concerned that, unless a more prudent course if followed, MESBIC directors may revert to policies likely to re-create the disappointing results of the original SBA approach.‎ ‎1.Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage?‎ ‎[A] The use of MESBIC’s for aiding minority entrepreneurs seems to have greater potential for success than does the original SBA approach.‎ There is a crucial difference in point of view between the staff and directors of some MESBIC’s.‎ ‎[C] After initial problems with management and marketing, minority businesses have begun to expand at a steady rate.‎ ‎[D] Minority entrepreneurs wishing to form new businesses now have several equally successful federal programs on which to rely.‎ ‎2.According to the passage, the MESBIC approach differ s from the SBA approach in that MESBIC’s ‎ ‎[A] seek federal contracts to provide market for minority businesses.‎ Encourage minority businesses to provide markets for other minority businesses.‎ ‎[C] Attempt to maintain a specified rate of growth in the minority business sector.‎ ‎[D] Rely on the participation of large corporations to finance minority businesses.‎ ‎3.Which of the following statements about the SBA program can be inferred from the passage?‎ ‎[A] The maximum term for loans made to recipient businesses was 15 years.‎ Business loans were considered to be more useful to recipient businesses than was management and technical assistance.‎ ‎[C] The anticipated failure rate for recipient businesses was significantly lower than the rate that actually resulted.‎ ‎[D] Recipient businesses were encouraged to relocate to areas more favorable for business development.‎ ‎4.The author refers to the ‘financial and operating problems’ encountered by MESBIC’s primarily in order to ‎[A] broaden the scope of the discussion to include the legal considerations of funding MESBIC’s through sponsoring companies.‎ call attention to the fact that MESBIC’s must receive adequate funding in order to function effectively.‎ ‎[C] show that sponsoring companies were willing to invest only $500,000 of government-sponsored venture capital in the original MESBIC’s.‎ ‎[D] Compare SBA and MESBIC limits on minimum funding.‎ ‎5.It can be inferred from the passage that the attitude of some MESBIC staff member toward the investments preferred by some MESBIC directors can be best described as ‎[A] disappointing.‎ Indifferent.‎ ‎[C] Shocked.‎ ‎[D] Defensive.‎ Vocabulary ‎1.implement                  执行，履行 ‎2.growth-oriented                  增长潜力的，有发展性的 ‎3.intermediary company            中介公司，中间公司 ‎4.venture capital                  风险资本 ‎5.entrepreneur                  企业家，创业者 ‎6.fluctuation                  波动，涨落，起伏 ‎7.pragmatically                  实用地 难句译注 ‎1.      Even 15 years after the program was implemented minority business receipts were not quite two percent of the national economy’s total receipts.‎ ‎【参考译文】甚至在这个计划执行后15年，少数民族工业的收入还不到全国总收入的2％。‎ ‎2.      Recently federal policy makers have adopted an approach intended to accelerate ‎ development of the supporting large, growth oriented minority firms through intermediary companies.‎ ‎【参考译文】最近，联邦决策者采取一项措施，旨在加速少数民族工商业的发展，他们不再直接帮助小型的少数民族企业，而是转向通过中间公司来支持规模较大、有发展潜力的少数民族公司。‎ ‎3.      By making use of government-sponsored venture capital.‎ 利用政府资助的风险资本。‎ ‎4.      The MESBIC then provides capital and guidance to minority businesses that have potential to become future suppliers or customers of the sponsoring company.‎ ‎【参考译文】然后再由MESBIC向那些少数民族企业提供资金、进行指导。这些企业是有成为赞助公司的未来供应商或客户的潜力的。‎ ‎5.      MESBIC – minority enterprise small business investment company ‎ 少数民族小型企业投资公司。‎ ‎6.      MESBIC’s are the result of the belief that providing established firms with easier access to relevant management techniques and more job-specific experience, as well as substantial amounts of capital, gives those firms a greater opportunity to develop sound business foundations than does simply making general management experience and small amounts of capital available.‎ ‎【参考译文】MESBIC的建立基于这种信念：为已建公司提供方便，使它更容易获得相关的管理技术更具体的工作经验以及大笔资金要比简单地给予一般管理经验和小笔资金更能使它们获得机会去建立稳固的商业基础。‎ ‎7.      The latter often still think mainly in terms of the ‘social responsibility approach’ and thus seem to prefer deals that are riskier and less attractive than normal investment criteria would warrant.‎ ‎【参考译文】后者――高级经理们――在有大多数情况下，仍然常常从“社会责任的角度”来考虑问题，因此，他们似乎更倾向于选择那些比正常投资标准更具风险性，而不太引人注目的项目。‎ 写作方法与文章大意 ‎     文章主要采用因果以及对比的写作方法。先点出SBA计划――联邦政府对少数民族去也的赞助（）的失败及其原因。‎ ‎     为此，联邦决策者改变方法，通过中介公司，建立MESBIC。由它来帮助少数民族企业――使其获得相应的管理技术、具体工作经验和大量资金，甚至潜在的市场――取得了成功。‎ ‎     可内部存在问题，MESBIC的职工和领导者之间的意见分歧，职工的投资观点更切实际，而领导者仍从“社会责任的角度”来考虑问题，若不改变，有可能重蹈SBA之覆辙。‎ 答案详解 ‎1.      A 运用MESBIC来帮助少数民族企业似乎比原来SBA的方法更具成功的可能性。文章一开始就点名SBA（小型企业管理局）向少数民族企业提供联邦保证贷款，政府资助管理和技术方面的帮助，结果令人失望。组建成的少数民族新企业由于管理上缺乏经验、地点不佳、资金短缺而导致失败的情况很多。其他见难句译注1、2、3。总之在MESBIC支持下：为它的潜在市场提供大量资金等，使它们在地点和市场流通方面风险小的多，从而带来足够的收入和保持所需的管理质量。这一切都说明MESBIC比SBA的成功可能性大。‎ B.MESBIC中的领导者和职工方面在观点上有着至关重要的分歧。C.经历了早期管理和市场问题后，少数民族企业已开始稳步发展。D.希望组建新公司的少数民族企业家已有好几个成功的联邦计划可依靠。‎ ‎2.      D 依靠打工四向少数民族企业投资。见第二段第二句：大公司利用政府资助的风险资本参与成功而又稳固的少数民族企业的发展。参与的大公司用这笔资金建立了“少数民族小型企业投资公司”（MESBIC）‎ A.寻求为少数民族企业提供市场联邦合同。B.鼓励少数民族企业为其他少数民族企业提供市场。C.试图在少数民族部门保持特定的增长率。‎ ‎3.      C 预期加入SBA项目中的公司的失败率比实际失败率低得多。文内没有直接点出，而是从（见第一题注释）SBA帮助的企业失败率很高――令人失望，从而推断C项结论。‎ A.给企业贷款最高期限为15年。B.商业贷款对企业来说远笔管理和技术帮助重要。D.鼓励接受贷款企业重新寻找利于企业发展的地区。‎ ‎4.      B 为的是引人注意这一实际情况：MESBIC必须取得足够的资金才能有效地运转。这在第三段最后一句：在经历了早期财政和运行问题后，赞助公司给MESBIC注入的资金远远超过了50万美元的法定最低限额，以获得足够的收入并保持所需的管理质量。MESBIC现在正成为日益重要的少数民族企业的资金来源。这说明没有足够的资金是难以有效运转的。‎ A.扩大讨论范围以包括通过赞助公司投资MESBIC的合理性。C.表明赞助公司愿意在原来的MESBIC只投资50万政府资助的风险资本。D.对比SBA和MESBIC最低投资限额。‎ ‎5.      A 失望。文章最后一段MESBIC的职工――一般是拉美和黑人专业人员在少数民族公司的投资上比MEBSIC的领导者更切实际。这些高级经理从社会责任角度看问题，会选择更具风险性，不太吸引人的项目。观点分歧使许多少数民族职工感到不安，他们认为应以公司的业务爆出来评价少数民族企业家及其企业。者充分说明MEBSIC的职工对领导所青睐的投资项目不满意和失望。‎ B.漠不关心。C.震惊。D.持保留态度。‎ Passage Ten (The Importance of Independent Thinking)‎ No one can be a great thinker who does not realize that as a thinker it is her first duty to   follow her intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead. Truth gains more even by the errors of one who with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think. No that it is solely, of chiefly, to form great thinkers that freedom of thinking is required. One the contrary, it is as much or even more indispensable to enable average human beings to attain the mental stature which they are capable of. There have been and many again be great individual thinkers in a general atmosphere of mental slavery. But there never has been, nor ever will be, in that atmosphere an intellectually active people. Where any of heterodox speculation was for a time suspended, where there is a tacit convention that principles are not to be disputed: where the discussion of the greatest questions which can occupy humanity is considered to be closed, we cannot hope to find that generally high scale of mental activity which has made some periods of history so remarkable. Never when controversy avoided the subjects which are large and important enough to kindle enthusiasm was the mind of a people stirred up fro‎9m its foundation and the impulse given which raised even persons of the most ordinary intellect to something of the dignity of thinking beings.‎ She who knows only her own side of the case knows little of that. Her reasons may be food, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if she s equally unable to refute the reasons of the opposite side; if she does not so much as know what they are, she has no ground for preferring either opinion. The rational position for her would be suspension of judgment, and unless she contents herself with that, she is either led by authority, or adopts, like the generality of the world the side to which she feels the most inclination. Nor is it enough that she should heat the arguments of adversaries from her own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied ‎ by what they offer as refutations, That is not the way to do justice to the arguments, or bring them into real contact with her own mind. She must be able to hear them form persons who actually believe them; who defend them in earnest, and do their very utmost for them. She must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form; she must feel the whole force of the difficulty which the true view of the subject has to encounter and dispose of; else she will never really possess herself of the portion of truth which meets and removes that difficulty. Ninety-nine in a hundred of what are called educated persons are in this condition; even of those who can argue fluently for their opinions. Their conclusion may be true, but it might be false for anything they know; they have never thrown themselves into the mental position of those who think differently form them and considered what such persons may have to say; and consequently they do not, in any proper sense of the word, know the doctrines which they themselves profess.‎ ‎     ‎ ‎1.The best title for this passage is ‎ ‎[A] The Age of Reason            The need for Independent Thinking ‎[C] The Value of Reason           [D] Stirring People’s Minds ‎2.According to the author, it is always advisable to ‎ ‎[A] have opinions which cannot be refuted.‎ adopt the point of view to which one feels the most inclination.‎ ‎[C] be acquainted with the arguments favoring the point of view with which one disagrees,‎ ‎[D] suspend heterodox speculation in favor of doctrinaire approaches.‎ ‎3.According to the author, in a great period such as the Renaissance we may expect to find ‎[A] acceptance of truth                controversy over principles  ‎ ‎[C] inordinate enthusiasm            [D]   a dread of heterodox speculation ‎ ‎4.According to the author, the person who holds orthodox beliefs without examination may be described in all of the following ways EXCEPT as ‎[A] enslaved by tradition                less than fully rational ‎[C] determinded on controversy        [D]   having a closed mind ‎5.It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements ‎[A] A truly great thinker makes no mistakes.‎ Periods of intellectual achievement are periods of unorthodox reflection,‎ ‎[C] The  refutation of accepted ideas can best be provided by one’s own teachers.‎ ‎[D] excessive controversy prevents clear thinking,‎ Vocabulary ‎1.  stature               高度，境界，状况 ‎2.  heterodox            不合乎公认的标准的，异端的，异教的 ‎3.  tacit                 心照不宣 ‎4.  refute                反驳 ‎5.  adversary             对立面，对手，敌人 ‎6.  plausible             善于花言巧语的/辞令的，似乎有理的/有可能的 ‎7.  doctrine              教义，学说 ‎8.  profess               表示，明言，承认，自称，信奉 难句译注 ‎1.      True gains more even by the errors of one who with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, then by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think.‎ ‎[参考译文]  真理甚至从一个经过恰当研究和准备进行独立思考的人的错误中获得更多的东西，而从那些只是因为不予思考却持有正确的观点中获得的少（一种经过恰当的研究和准备进行独立思考的人犯的错误，另一种人是不予思考的却持有正确的观点，真理从前者错误中获得的东西比从后者的正确观点中获得的要多）。‎ ‎2.   mental slavery     思想禁锢，精神受奴役状态 ‎3.       Never when controversy avoided the subjects which are large and important enough to     kindle enthusiasm was the mind of a people stirred up from its foundation and the impulse given which raised even persons of the most ordinary intellect to something of the dignity of thinking beings.‎ ‎[结构简析]  这是一句以Never否定词开头的倒装句，正常的句序应把never放在句中，形成：the mind of people was never stirred up from its foundations ‎ ‎[参考译文]‎ ‎  当辩论比开重大课题，重大到足以燃起/激起人们激/热情的课题时，那么一个民族的思想绝不会从天赋的情感和原始的基础上升华，甚至使最普通智力的人上升到优点庄严的思想家水平上。‎ ‎4.      The rational position for her would be suspension of judgement, and unless she contents herself with that, she is either led by authority, or adopts, like the generality of the world, the side to which she feels the most inclination.‎ ‎[参考译文]  对她来说理智的立场是停止判断，而且除非她满足于这一点，否则，她不是为权威人物的观点所左右，后者就像世界上芸芸众生一样，倒向她感觉最倾向的一边。‎ ‎5.      That is not the way to do justice to the arguments, or bring them into teal contact with her own mind.‎ ‎[结构简析]  do justice to 公平对待，适当处理。 Bring……into contact with 　使和……接触／联系。‎ ‎[参考译文]   这不是对正确观点评价的方法，也不能使自己的思想真正接触到论点的实质。‎ ‎6.      She must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form; she must feel the whole force of the difficulty which the true view of the subject has to encounter and dispose of; else she will never really possess herself of the portion of truth which meets and removes that difficulty.‎ ‎[结构简析]   most plausible and persuasive form 很善于辞令和有说服力形式。　　possess oneself of  获得，据有，把……占为己有。　　them=arguments。　else　　否则的话。‎ ‎7.      Their conclusion may be true, but it might be false for anything they know; they have never thrown themselves into the mental position of those who think differently form them and considered what such persons may have to say; and consequently they do not, in any proper sense of the word, know the doctrines which they themselves profess.‎ ‎[结构简析]    throw oneself into…position   设身处地，使自己处于……位置／地点。‎ 写作方法与文章大意 这是一篇由一般到具体，重要采用正反对比，推理的写作方法的文章，逻辑性强，正反论证，句子结构复杂冗长，分两段给出内容，第一段重点在：伟大的思想家的首要责任是奠定遵循自己智力所得出的结论。由此引起思想家和思想活跃的人民同时代环境的关系。只有思想后月的时期，才有伟大的思想家和活跃的人民，因为他们可以讨论重大主题，而在思想禁锢时期，只能产生个别伟大思想家。第二段具体的论证了独立思考涉及两方面，既如自己一方种种，也得知对手的一方种种（内容，推理，论点），才能真正获得真理。‎ 答案详解 ‎１.      B 独立思考的必要性。见难句译注１。这里说明进行独立思考的人即使犯错误，真理也能从中获得东西，而那些懒于思考人，即使持有正确的观点，真理也难以获得东西。第一段还点明思想禁锢时期，即不能进行独立思考时期，难以讨论重大议题，产生不了活跃的人民，绝不会出现像辉煌的文艺复兴那种时期（见第二题注）。第二段也是围绕独立思考而写，只是从具体点着眼：人只知自己，不知对方无法获得真理，只有独立思考两方，才能不为权威所左右，不会跟着自己感觉走，最终知道自己的真正主张。‎ A. 理性时代。　　C.　驳斥的价值。　　D.  激发人民的思想。‎ ‎２.      C 熟悉有利于自己不同意／反对观点的论点。这是作者在第二段讲述的重要论点。他认为一个人只知自己一方，推理极好，无人能反驳，却不知对方的推理，也不能够予以反驳的话，他就无权选择两方的任一论点，其理智位置是停止判断。否则她就会（像世界上芸芸众生那样）不是为权威所“引导”，就是跟着感觉（的倾向）走。其二，作者提出：光听自己的老师讲述对立面的论点，以及他们所提出的反驳论点。只是不够的，必须倾听那些人（他们真正相信对立的观点）的论点，并为此积极热情，竭尽全力辩护，才能使自己的思想和独立论点接触，公正的作出公正的判断。‎ A. 具有不能驳斥的观点。　　B. 采取个人感觉最倾向的观点。 D. 停止有利于教条主义研究的异端思考。‎ ‎３.      B 辩论原则问题。答案在第一段：在思想禁锢的气氛中，过去，现在可能会产生个别的思想家，但绝不会有思想活跃的人民，在那里有一种心照不宣的惯律：原则决不能讨论——认为占据人类心灵的最重大问题的讨论应封闭，我们不能期望看到一般高级的思想活动。这种思想活动曾使历史上某些时期光辉灿烂。而文艺复兴就是思想活动的顶峰时期，必然会讨论原则问题，所以选B 。 ‎ A.      接受真理，周经过讨论才能接受真理。　C. 过度的热情。  D. 害怕异端思考。‎ ‎４.      C.　在辩论上，坚定不移。这是一道推断题，一般讲：持有未经检验的正统信仰的人不会独立思考，更不会怀疑他所信仰的东西。‎ A.      为传统所奴役。　B. 不怎么理智。　D. 头脑闭塞。这种人必然受传统思想控制，不理智更不愿接受外界新鲜事物。‎ ‎５.      B. 在思想方面取得成就的时期就是进行非正统反思的时期。见３题注释。‎ A.  一个真正的思想家不犯错误。　C.‎ ‎ 一个人的老师最能提供所接受思想观点的反驳。　D. 过度的辩论会制止清晰的思考。‎ Passage Eleven (The Affect of Electricity on Cancer)‎ ‎  Can electricity cause cancer? In a society that literally runs on electric power, the very idea seems preposterous. But for more than a decade, a growing band of scientists and journalists has pointed to studies that seem to link exposure to electromagnetic fields with increased risk of leukemia and other malignancies. The implications are unsettling, to say the least, since everyone comes into contact with such fields, which are generated by everything electrical, from power lines and antennas to personal computers and micro-wave ovens. Because evidence on the subject is inconclusive and often contradictory, it has been hard to decide whether concern about the health effects of electricity is legitimate—or the worst kind of paranoia. ‎ ‎   Now the alarmists have gained some qualified support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the executive summary of a new scientific review, released in draft form late last week, the EPA has put forward what amounts to the most serious government warning to date. The agency tentatively concludes that scientific evidence “suggests a casual link” between extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields—those having very longwave-lengths—and leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancer, While the report falls short of classifying ELF fields as probable carcinogens, it does identify the common 60-hertz magnetic field as “a possible, but not proven, cause of cancer in humans.”‎ ‎   The report is no reason to panic—or even to lost sleep. If there is a cancer risk, it is a small one. The evidence is still so controversial that the draft stirred a great deal of debate within the Bush Administration, and the EPA released it over strong objections from the Pentagon and the Whit House. But now no one can deny that the issue must be taken seriously and that much more research is needed.‎ At the heart of the debate is a simple and well-understood physical phenomenon: When an electric current passes through a wire, tit generates an electromagnetic field that exerts forces on surrounding objects, For many years, scientists dismissed any suggestion that such forces might be harmful, primarily because they are so extraordinarily weak. The ELF magnetic field generated by a video terminal measures only a few milligauss, or about one-hundredth the strength of the earth’s own magnetic field, The electric fields surrounding a power line can be as high as 10‎ ‎ kilovolts per meter, but the corresponding field induced in human cells will be only about 1 millivolt per meter. This is far less than the electric fields that the cells themselves generate.‎ How could such minuscule forces pose a health danger? The consensus used to be that they could not, and for decades scientists concentrated on more powerful kinds of radiation, like X-rays, that pack sufficient wallop to knock electrons out of the molecules that make up the human body. Such “ionizing” radiations have been clearly linked to increased cancer risks and there are regulations to control emissions.‎ But epidemiological studies, which find statistical associations between sets of data, do not prove cause and effect. Though there is a body of laboratory work showing that exposure to ELF fields can have biological effects on animal tissues, a mechanism by which those effects could lead to cancerous growths has never been found.‎ The Pentagon is for from persuaded. In a blistering 33-page critique of the EPA report, Air Force scientists charge its authors with having “biased the entire document” toward proving a link. “Our reviewers are convinced that there is no suggestion that (electromagnetic fields) present in the environment induce or promote cancer,” the Air Force concludes. “It is astonishing that the EPA would lend its imprimatur on this report.” Then Pentagon’s concern is understandable. There is hardly a unit of the modern military that does not depend on the heavy use of some kind of electronic equipment, from huge ground-based radar towers to the defense systems built into every warship and plane.‎ ‎1.The main idea of this passage is ‎ ‎[A]. studies on the cause of cancer      ‎ ‎. controversial view-points in the cause of cancer ‎[C]. the relationship between electricity and cancer.‎ ‎[D]. different ideas about the effect of electricity on caner.‎ ‎2.The view-point of the EPA is ‎ ‎[A]. there is casual link between electricity and cancer.‎ ‎. electricity really affects cancer.‎ ‎[C]. controversial.‎ ‎[D].low frequency electromagnetic field is a possible cause of cancer ‎3.Why did the Pentagon and Whit House object to the release of the report? Because ‎[A]. it may stir a great deal of debate among the Bush Administration.‎ ‎. every unit of the modern military has depended on the heavy use of some kind of electronic equipment.‎ ‎[C]. the Pentagon’s concern was understandable.‎ ‎[D]. they had different arguments.‎ ‎4.It can be inferred from physical phenomenon ‎[A]. the force of the electromagnetic field is too weak to be harmful.‎ ‎. the force of the electromagnetic field is weaker than the electric field that the cells generate.‎ ‎[C]. electromagnetic field may affect health.‎ ‎[D]. only more powerful radiation can knock electron out of human body.‎ ‎5.What do you think ordinary citizens may do after reading the different arguments?‎ ‎[A].They are indifferent.          . They are worried very much.‎ ‎[C]. The may exercise prudent avoidance.       [C]. They are shocked.‎ Vocabulary ‎1.  preposterous         反常的，十分荒谬的，乖戾的 ‎2.  leukemia            白血病 ‎3.  malignancy          恶性肿瘤 ‎4.  legitimate           合法的，合理的 ‎5.  paranoia            偏执狂，妄想狂。这里指：无根据的担心。‎ ‎6.  lymphoma           淋巴瘤 ‎7.  carcinogen           致癌物 ‎8.  minuscule            很小的，很不重要 ‎9.  consensus            舆论 ‎10.  wallop              乱窜，猛冲，冲击力 ‎11.  epidemiological       流行病学的 ‎12.  blistering            罗嗦的，胡扯的 ‎13.  critique             评论，批评 ‎14.  imprimatur           出版许可（官方审查后的），批准 难句译注 ‎1.      Because evidence on the subject is inconclusive and often contradictory, it has been hard to decide whether concern about the health effects of electricity is legitimate—or the worst kind of paranoia.‎ ‎[参考译文]  由于这问题的证据还不是结论性的，而且常常是矛盾的，所以就难以断定有关电力对身体的影响的顾虑是合乎情理，还是毫无根据的怀疑。‎ ‎2.  EPA——U.S. Environmental Protection Agency   美国环境保护署 ‎3．      While the report falls short (缺乏，不够) of classifying ELF fields as probable carcinogens, it does identify the common 60-hertz magnetic field as “a possible, but not proven, cause of cancer in humans.”‎ ‎[参考译文]   虽然报告没有把极低频磁场归类为可能致癌物，但它确实指出通常60赫兹的磁场是“一种虽尚未证实，但可能导致人患癌症的因素。”   ‎ ‎4．      The evidence is still so controversial that the draft stirred a                             great deal of debate within the Bush Administration, and the EPA released it over strong objections from the Pentagon and the Whit House ‎[参考译文]  证据争议性仍然很大，所以报告草案在布什政府内引起巨大的争辩，而环保署无视无角大楼和白宫的强烈反对，公布了这份报告。‎ ‎5.      This is far less than the electric fields that the cells themselves generate.‎ ‎[参考译文]  这远比细胞所产生的电磁场低的多。‎ ‎6.      …and for decades scientists concentrated on more powerful kinds of radiation, like X-rays, that pack sufficient wallop to knock electrons out of the molecules that make up the human body.‎ ‎[参考译文]　而且几十年来，科学家专注于更为强大的辐射类别，如Ｘ光射线，其聚合的冲击力足以把电子从组成人体的分子中撞出来。‎ ‎7.      But epidemiological studies, which find statistical associations between sets of data, do not prove cause and effect.‎ ‎[参考译文]  可是流行病学的研究发现，几组资料在数据方面有所关联，却没有证实其因果关系。‎ ‎8.  a body of laboratory work     一批研究成果。‎ ‎9.      In a blistering 33-page critique of the EPA report, Air Force scientists charge its authors with having “biased the entire document” toward proving a link.‎ ‎[参考译文]  在长达33页的对环保署文件的十分尖锐的批评中，空军方面的科学家指责，作者歪曲整个文件以证明癌症和电磁场之间的关联。‎ ‎10.      It is astonishing that the EPA would lend its imprimatur on this report.‎ ‎[参考译文]  令人惊讶的是环保署竟然批准许可这份报告的出笼。‎ 写作方法与文章大意 文章以问答的方式，对比的写作方法，写出了围绕电力是否影响健康——是否致癌因素的两种观点，及其观点的依据。一种是美国环境保护署为代表的：极低频磁场是一种可能但还未被证实的致癌因素，而且无视白宫和五角大楼反对，公布了这份报告。理由是科学证据提出了两者之间的关联偶然性。另一种以空军中科学家为主的观点：电磁场不会诱发或触发癌症，而且以歪曲整个文件来证明两者之关系，批评了环保署。其理由人人皆知。因军队中任一单位都有点——从地面雷达到舰艇飞机防卫系统。‎ 答案祥解 ‎1.      D 电力对癌症影响的不同观点。文章一开始就提出了“电会致癌吗？”这个问题。十多年来，一大批科学家和新闻界人士都指出：研究结果似乎表示：接触电磁场可能会增加患白血病和其他恶性肿瘤的危险性。所以说到目前为止还难以确定电力对健康的影响究竟是理性的，还是杞人忧天。见难句注释1。第二段公布了环保署的报告，见难句注释3。第三段说明：即使有致癌危险也是极微的。但应予以认真对待，进行更多的研究。而第七段中空军方面的科学家还没有被说服（见难句注释9），明确提出，我们的评论员认为没有迹象说明环境中存在的电力会诱发或促发癌症。‎ A. 对致癌因素的研究。   B. 致癌原因方面有争议的观点，这两项根本部队，和文内电力毫无关系。   C. 电力和癌症的关系，文中涉及的是电力究竟会不会致癌的两种观点，而不是两者之关系。‎ ‎2.      A. 电和致癌有一定难以确定的关系。答案在第二段第三句，环保署目前的结论是据科学证据指出极低频电磁场——具有长波的电磁场——和白血病，淋巴瘤及脑癌之间有着难以确定的联系，见难句注释3。‎ A. 电确实致癌，不对。   C. 有争议的。说的不够清楚，争议什么。   D.‎ ‎ 低频磁场是一个可能致癌因素。这只是论点的一面。‎ ‎3.      B. 现代军事的任何部门都一直依赖于应用大量应用电子设备。五角大楼和白宫所以反对环保署公布报告之理由就在此。空军方面的专家所以说环保署方面的报告“歪曲了整个文件以证明两者之间的关系”也在此。见难句注释4。所以文内说“角大楼的关注是可以理解的。”‎ A. 报告会在布什政府内引起大规模的辩论，这是结果。   C. 五角大楼的关注是可以理解的，这不是原因。   D. 他们有不同的观点。‎ ‎4.      A.磁场力太弱不会产生有害作用。答案在第四段第二，三句，当电流通过电缆，产生磁场，对周围物体产生（影响）力。许多年来，科学家把任何有关“这些力可能有害的想法”置于一边（不予考虑），主要是因为它们（所产生的力）非常弱。‎ B. 磁场力比细胞产生的电磁场弱。只是明确指出的事实。   C. 磁场力对人的健康有害。不对。   D. 只有更强的辐射才能把人体中的电子击出来。不对。‎ ‎5.      C. 他们会采取谨慎小心避开电器的途径。因为他们不可能象A项那样漠不关心。这种问题直接影响人的生命。‎ B. 他们非常担忧。   D. 他们感到震惊，这两项都不可能，因为还在争议中，唯一的途径是尽量避开和电器接触。‎