2019年上半年公共英语三级阅读理解考前冲刺题
第一题
Students of United States history, seeking to identify the circumstances that encouraged the emergence of feminist movements, have thoroughly investigated the mid-nineteenth-century American economic and social condition that affected the status of women. These historians, however, have analyzed less fully the development of specifically feminist ideas and activities during the same period. Furthermore, the ideological origins of feminism in the United State have been obscured because, even when historians did take into account those feminist ideas and activities occurring within the United States, they failed to recognize that feminism was then a truly international movement actually centered in Europe. American feminist activists who have been described as “solitary” and “individual theorists” were in reality connected to a movement — utopian socialism — which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in the first women’s rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Thus, a complete understanding of the origins and development of nineteenth-century feminism in the United States requires that the geographical focus be widened to include Europe and that the detailed study already made of social conditions be expanded to include the ideological development of feminism.
The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the Saint-Simonians. The specifically feminist part of Saint-Simonianism has, however, been less studied than the group’s contribution to early socialism. This is regrettable on two counts. By 1832 feminism was the central concern of Saint-Simonianism and entirely absorbed its adherents’ energy; hence, by ignoring its feminism, European historians have misunderstood Saint-Simonianism. Moreover, since many feminist ideas can be traced to saint-simonianism European historians’ appreciation of later feminism in France and the United States remained limited.
Saint-Simon’s followers, many of whom were women, based their feminism on an interpretation of his project to reorganize the globe by replacing brute force with the rule of spiritual powers. The new world order would be ruled together by a male, to represent reflection, and a female, to represent sentiment. This complementarity reflects the fact that, while the Saint-Simonians did not reject the belief that there were innate differences between men and women, they nevertheless foresaw an equally important social and political role for both sexes in their utopia.
Only a few Saint-Simonians opposed a definition of sexual equality based on gender distinction. This minority believe that individuals of both sexes were born similar in capacity and character, and they ascribed male-female differences to socialization and education. The envisioned result of both currents of thought, however, was that women would enter public life in the new age and that sexual equality would reward men as well as women with an improved way of life.
1. It can be inferred that the author consider those historians who describe early feminists in the United States as “solitary” to be
[A] insufficiently familiar with the international origins of nineteenth-century American feminist thought.
[B] overly concerned with the regional diversity of feminist ideas in the period before 1848.
[C] not focused narrowly enough in their geographical scope.
[D] insufficiently aware of the ideological consequences of the Seneca Falls conference.
2. The author’s attitude toward European historians who have studied the Saint-Simonians is primarily one of
[A] approval of the specific focus of their research.
[B] disapproval of their lack of attention to the issue that absorbed most of the Saint-Simonians’ energy after 1832.
[C] approval of their general focus on social conditions.
[D] disapproval of their lack of attention to links between the Saint-Simonians and their American counterparts.
3. The author mentions all of the following as characteristic of the Saint-Simonians EXCEPT
[A] The group included many women among its members.
[B] The group believed in a world that would be characterized by sexual equality.
[C] The group was among the earliest European socialist groups.
[D] Most members believed that women and men were inherently similar in ability and character.
4. It can be inferred from the text that the Saint-Simonians envisioned a utopian society having which of the following characteristics?
[A] It would be worldwide.
[B] It would emphasize dogmatic religious principles.
[C] It would most influence the United States.
[D] It would have armies composed of women rather than of men.
5. According to the text, which of the following would be the most accurate description of the society envisioned by most Saint-Simonians?
[A] A society in which women were highly regarded for their extensive education.
[B] A society in which the two genders played complementary roles and had equal status.
[C] A society in which women did not enter public life.
[D] A social order in which a body of men and women would rule together on the basis of their spiritual power.
参考答案及解析
1. 【答案】A
【考点解析】本题是一道标点符号题。通过本题题干中的“solitary”一词可将本题的答案信息中心确定在第一段第十行即第一段第四句话，通过仔细阅读和理解本句话以及本句前后的两句话，可以得出本题的正确选项A。其实美国的女权主义运动者并不“孤单”(solitary)，因为她们的思想和行动是和欧洲大陆的女权主义者有着千丝万缕的联系，是国际女权运动的一部分。考生在解题时要善于理解标点符号，更要善于对原文的细节进行推导。
2. 【答案】B
【考点解析】本题是一道细节推导题。根据本题题干中的“European historians”可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在第二段第四句，通过阅读本句分号前后的内容，可以推导出作者的态度是否定的，其否定原因是第二段第四句分号前半部分所表达的内容。本题的正确答案应该是B。考生在解题时一定要注意原文细节的推导，尤其是分句之间存在因果关系的时候。
3. 【答案】D
【考点解析】这是一道归纳推导题。但是本题的题干确没有明确给出本题在原文中的准确信息来源。这时考生就会迷失答题思路。请同学们一定要记住：每当自己迷失答题思路时，一定要多想一想全文的中心主旨句和每段的主题句，这会帮助考生寻找到解题的思路。本题的正确答案应该是D，因为选项D所表达的内容和本文尾段第一、二句所表达的内容相反。选项A、B、C的内容分别在第三段第一句、第三段第二句以及第二段首句涉及。考生在解题时一定要牢记段落主题句。
4. 【答案】A
【考点解析】这是一道审题定位题。从本题题干中的“envisioned”(设想，预想)一词可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在倒数第二段第一句和第二句，因为倒数第二段第一句含有“project”(计划，规划)一词，倒数第二段第二句含有表示未来的“would”一词。通过仔细阅读倒数第二段的第一、二句话，发现这两句话都包含“globe”或“world”，可见本题的正确选项应该是A。考生在解题时一定要善于利用题干中的词语迅速而准确地进行审题定位。
5. 【答案】B
【考点解析】这是一道反推题。通过本题题干中的“most Saint-Simonians”可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在尾段的第一句。根据尾段第一句进行反推即逆向思维，可得出本题的正确答案是B。考生在解题时一定要时时牢记反推题型，并且经常利用自己的逆向思维能力
第二题
The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical maneuvers, these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed “intuition” to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.
Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.
Isenberg’s recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers’ intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an “Aha!” experience. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns.
One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is inextricably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.
Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of thinking/acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.
1. According to the text, senior managers use intuition in all of the following ways EXCEPT to
[A] speed up of the creation of a solution to a problem.
[B] identify a problem.
[C] bring together disparate facts.
[D] stipulate clear goals.
2. The text suggests which of the following about the “writers on management” mentioned in line 1, paragraph 2?
[A] They have criticized managers for not following the classical rational model of decision analysis.
[B] They have not based their analyses on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.
[C] They have relied in drawing their conclusions on what managers say rather than on what managers do.
[D] They have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.
3. It can be inferred from the text that which of the following would most probably be one major difference in behavior between Manager X, who uses intuition to reach decisions, and Manager Y, who uses only formal decision analysis?
[A] Manager X analyzes first and then acts; Manager Y does not.
[B] Manager X checks possible solutions to a problem by systematic analysis; Manager Y does not.
[C] Manager X takes action in order to arrive at the solution to a problem; Manager Y does not.
[D] Manager Y draws on years of hands-on experience in creating a solution to a problem; Manager X does not.
4. The text provides support for which of the following statements?
[A] Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
[B] Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
[C] Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
[D] Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.
5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the text?
[A] An assertion is made and a specific supporting example is given.
[B] A conventional model is dismissed and an alternative introduced.
[C] The results of recent research are introduced and summarized.
[D] Two opposing points of view are presented and evaluated.
参考答案及解析
1. 【答案】D
【考点解析】这是一道归纳推导题。本题题干中的“senior managers”暗示本题的答案信息在第三段，因为第三段首句包含题干中的“senior managers”。通过仔细阅读和理解本段中所谈到的五点，我们可推导出本题的正确选项是选项D。本题选项A、B、C所涉及的内容分别在本段的第五点、第一点和第三点提到。考生在解题时一定要学会认真归纳和总结原文所表达的每一层含义。
2. 【答案】D
【考点解析】这是一道句间关系题。题干已将本题的答案信息圈定在第二段。本段中的第二句是本题答案信息的最主要来源，通过阅读和理解此句，我们可推导出本题的正确选项是D。考生在解题时一定要适当理解上下句之间的关系。
3. 【答案】C
【考点解析】本题是一道审题定位题。题干中的“who uses intuition to reach decisions”暗示本题的答案信息在第四段，因为第四段首句含有和题干中“who uses intuition to reach decisions”大致相同的“the intuitive style of executive management”。通过仔细阅读和理解第四段的每一句话，我们可发现第四段的第一句话都在强调“act”(行动)，可见本题的正确选项应该是强调行动的选项C。本题的答案信息来源是第四段的第二句话。考生在解题时一定要首先准确地审题定位，然后要善于归纳和理解原文中的中心主旨信息。
4. 【答案】D
【考点解析】本题是一道审题定位题。题干中并没有明确指出本题答案信息在原文的准确位置。在这种情况下，考生往往迷失解题思路。在考生迷失解题思路时一定要牢记全文中心主旨，并且抓住各段的核心句。本文的中心主旨句在第一段的尾句。如果考生能够抓住第一段的尾句，并结合第三段的第四、五句，就可以推导出本题的正确选项应该是D。考生在解题时，尤其是在迷失解题思路时，一定要首先抓全文的中心主旨句，同时还要抓一些明确表示启承转合关系的句子结构。
5. 【答案】B
【考点解析】本题是一道段落结构题。第一句话中的“do not”和第二句句首的“rather”是破解本题的关键。抓住这两个关键就可以推导出本题的正确选项应该是B。考生在解题时一定要注意表示否定的词语以及表示启承转合的词语，更要注意句子之间的相互关系。