Text 1

    [2006, RC Text 3]

    When prehistoric man arrived in new parts of the world, something strange happened to the large animals: they suddenly became extinct. Smaller species survived. The large, slow-growing animals were easy game, and were quickly hunted to extinction. Now something similar could be happening in the oceans.

    That the seas are being overfished has been known for years. What researchers such as Ransom Myers and Boris Worm have shown is just how fast things are changing. They have looked at half a century of data from fisheries around the world. Their methods do not attempt to estimate the actual biomass (the amount of living biological matter) of fish species in particular parts of the ocean, but rather changes in that biomass over time. According to their latest paper published in Nature, the biomass of large predators (animals that kill and eat other animals) in a new fishery is reduced on average by 80% within 15 years of the start of exploitation. In some long-fished areas, it has halved again since then.

    Dr. Worm acknowledges that these figures are conservative. One reason for this is that fishing technology has improved. Today’s vessels -- can find their prey using satellites and sonar, which were not available 50 years ago. That means a higher proportion of what is in the sea is being caught, so the real difference between present and past is likely to be worse than the one recorded by changes in catch sizes. In the early days, too, longlines would have been more saturated with fish. Some individuals would therefore not have been caught, since no baited hooks would have been available to trap them, leading to an underestimate of fish stocks in the past. Furthermore, in the early days of longline fishing, a lot of fish were lost to sharks after they had been hooked. That is no longer a problem, because there are fewer sharks around now.

    Dr. Myers and Dr. Worm argue that their work gives a correct baseline, which future management efforts must take into account. They believe the data support an idea current among marine biologists, that of the "shifting baseline". The notion is that people have failed to detect the massive changes which have happened in the ocean because they have been looking back only a relatively short time into the past. That matters because theory suggests that the maximum sustainable yield that can be cropped from a fishery comes when the biomass of a target species is about 50% of its original levels. Most fisheries are well below that, which is a bad way to do business. (431 words)

    Notes: game 獵物。vessel 輪船。sonar 聲納定位儀。longline 長線多鉤（捕魚工具）。take … into account 把…考慮進去。

    1. The extinction of large prehistoric animals is noted to suggest that

    [A] large animals were vulnerable to the changing environment.

    [B] small species survived as large animals disappeared.

    [C] large sea animals may face the same threat today.

    [D] slow-growing fish outlive fast-growing ones.

    2. We can infer from Dr. Myers and Dr. Worm’s paper that

    [A] the stock of large predators in some old fisheries has reduced by 90%.

    [B] there are only half as many fisheries as there were 15 years ago.

    [C] the catch sizes in new fisheries are only 20% of the original amount.

    [D] the number of large predators dropped faster in new fisheries than in the old.

    3. By saying "these figures are conservative" (Line 1, Paragraph 3), Dr. Worm means that

    [A] fishing technology has improved rapidly. [B] the catch-sizes are actually smaller than recorded.

    [C] the marine biomass has suffered a greater loss. [D] the data collected so far are out of date.

    4. Dr. Myers and other researchers hold that

    [A] people should look for a baseline that can work for a longer time.

    [B] fisheries should keep their yields below 50% of the biomass.

    [C] the ocean biomass should be restored to its original level.

    [D] people should adjust the fishing baseline to the changing situation.

    5. The author seems to be mainly concerned with most fisheries’

    [A] management efficiency. [B] biomass level. [C] catch-size limits. [D] technological application.

    Text 2

    [2004 RC Text 3]

    When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nails just yet. But the 47-year-old manicurist isn’t cutting, filing or polishing as many nails as she’d like to. Most of her clients spend $12 to $50 weekly, but last month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames the softening economy. “I’m a good economic indicator,” she says. “I provide a service that people can do without when they’re concerned about saving some dollars.” So Spero is downscaling, shopping at a middle-brow Dillard’s department store near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus. “I don’t know if other clients are going to abandon me, too.” she says.

    Even before Alan Greenspan’s admission that America’s red-hot economy is cooling, lots of working folks had already seen signs of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to Gap outlets, sales have been lagging for months as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers, who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday sales are off 7 percent from last year’s pace. But don’t sound any alarms just yet. Consumers seem only mildly concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-term prospects, even as they do some modest belt-tightening.

    Consumers say they’re not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their own fortunes still feel pretty good. Home prices are holding steady in most regions. In Manhattan, “there’s a new gold rush happening in the $4 million to $10 million range, predominantly fed by Wall Street bonuses,” says broker Barbara Corcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as frenzied overbidding quiets. “Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three,” says John Deadly, a Bay Area real-estate broker. And most folks still feel pretty comfortable about their ability to find and keep a job.

    Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn’t mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting a table at Manhattan’s hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant used to be impossible. Not anymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting. (402 words)

    Notes：when it comes to … 當談到…時。manicurist指甲修剪師。Gap outlets Gap休閑裝直銷店。 temper n. 脾氣，情緒；vt. 緩和，減少。real-estate broker 房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀人。frenzied 狂亂的。overbidding 拍賣時出高價壓倒別人。gold rush 淘金熱。lining （衣服）襯里，里子。toast vt. 向…祝酒。

    1. By “Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nails just yet” (Line 1, Paragraph 1), the author means

    A. Spero can hardly maintain her business. B. Spero is too much engaged in her work.

    C. Spero has grown out of her bad habit. D. Spero is not in a desperate situation.

    2. How do the public feel about the current economic situation?

    A. Optimistic. B. Confused. C. Carefree. D. Panicked.

    3. When mentioning “the $4 million to $10 million range” (Paragraph 3) the author is talking about

    A. gold market. B. real estate. C. stock exchange. D. venture investment.

    4. Why can many people see “silver linings” to the economic slowdown?

    A. They would benefit in certain ways. B. The stock market shows signs of recover.

    C. Such a slowdown usually precedes a boom. D. The purchasing power would be enhanced

    5. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?

    A. A new boom, on the horizon. B. Tighten the belt, the single remedy.

    C. Caution all right, panic not. D. The more ventures, the more chances.

    Text 3

    Historians have only recently begun to note the increase in demand for luxury goods and services that took place in eighteenth-century England. McKendrick has explored the Wedgwood firm’s remarkable success in marketing luxury pottery; Plumb has written about the rapid increase of provincial theaters, musical festivals, and children’s toys and books. While the fact of this consumer revolution is hardly in doubt, three key questions remain: Who were the consumers? What were their motives? And what were the effects of the new demand for luxuries?

    An answer to the first of these has been difficult to obtain. Although it has been possible to infer from the goods and services actually produced what manufacturers and servicing trades thought their customers wanted, only a study of relevant personal documents written by actual consumers will provide a precise picture of who wanted what. We still need to know how large this consumer market was and how far down the social scale the consumer demand for luxury goods penetrated. With regard to this last question, we might note in passing that Thompson, while rightly restoring laboring people to the stage of eighteenth-century English history, has probably exaggerated the opposition of these people to the sudden attacks of capitalist consumerism in general. For example, laboring people in eighteenth-century England readily shifted from home-brewed beer to standardized beer produced by huge, heavily capitalized urban breweries.

    To answer the question of why consumers became so eager to buy, some historians have pointed to the ability of manufacturers to advertise in a relatively uncensored press. This, however, hardly seems a sufficient answer. Mckendrick favors a Veblen model of conspicuous consumption stimulated by competition for status. The “middling sort” bought goods and services because they wanted to follow fashions set by the rich. Again, we may wonder whether this explanation is sufficient. Do not people enjoy buying things as a form of self-gratification? If so, consumerism could be seen as a product of the rise of new concepts of individualism and materialism, but not necessarily of the frenzy for conspicuous competition.

    Finally, what were the consequences of this consumer demand for luxuries? McKendrick claims that it goes a long way toward explaining the coming of the Industrial Revolution. But does it? What, for example, does the production of high-quality pottery and toys have to do with the development of iron manufacture or textile mills? It is perfectly possible to have the psychology and reality of a consumer society without a heavy industrial sector. (414 words)

    Notes：in passing 順便。frenzy狂熱。brewery 啤酒廠。uncensored 未經(jīng)新聞檢查的。self-gratification 自我喜悅和滿足。go a long way towards 對…大有幫助。frivolous瑣碎的。foreshadow vt. 預示…的來臨。

    1. In the first paragraph, the author mentions Mckendrick and Plumb most probably in order to _______.

    A. contrast their views on luxury consumerism in 18th-century England

    B. confirm key questions about 18th-century England consumerism

    C. exemplify historians who have proved the growing consumerism in 18th-century England

    D. compare one historian’s interest in luxury goods to another historian’s interest in luxury services

    2. Which of the following items, if preserved from eighteenth-century England, would provide an example of the kind of documents mentioned in paragraph 2?

    A. A bargain stricken between a manufacturer and a consumer

    B. A diary that mentions luxury goods and services purchased by its author.

    C. A theater ticket stamped with the date and name of a particular play.

    D. A newspaper advertisement describing luxury goods and services available.

    3. In the third paragraph, the author is primarily concerned with _______.

    A. contrasting two theses and offering a compromise

    B. questioning two explanations and proposing a possible alternative to them

    C. examining two theories and supporting one over the other

    D. raising several questions but implying that they cannot be answered

    4. The author would most probably agree that the Industrial Revolution _______.

    A. resulted from the growing demand for luxury goods and services

    B. exploited the already existing demand for luxury goods and services

    C. was closely bound up with the demands for luxury goods and services

    D. was not directly driven by a growing demand for luxury goods and services

    5. The title which best expresses the main idea of the text is ________.

    A. A Comment on Historians’ Study on Rising Demand for Luxuries in 18th-century England

    B. The Impacts of Consumer Demand for Luxury Goods and Services in the 18th Century

    C. Consumers’ Demand for Luxuries in the 18th Century and Their Motives

    D. The Ever-increasing Demand for Luxuries in Eighteenth-century England

    Text 4 (課外閱讀)

    The term "leadership" is one of the most difficult in educational administration. To some, a leader is simply one who is followed. Presumably by that definition, a good leader is one who is followed consistently and reliably by large numbers of people. But that leads to the difficulty of Hitler being a "good leader". So, some will argue either that leadership itself involves both followers and a good sense of direction or that, at least, good leadership involves an approved direction. The latter distinction leaves one with the ambiguity of the "bad leader" being either one who is not followed or, very different, one who is followed but in a disapproved direction.

    In addition to those definitional problems, some people believe they know what "good leadership style" is. It may be decisive but whatever it is its supporters know it is "good". Such people are likely to substitute the criterion of style for the criteria of having followers and having an appropriate direction. Some people go even further. They assume that good leadership style is an important end in itself. They give their favored style an attractive name like "democratic leadership". In that way, principals who have a "democratic" style are automatically deemed good, even though they may be ineffective and unpopular. The ineffectiveness and unpopularity are explained away; the principal is not "really a democratic leader, because, if she were, she would be effective and popular!"

    As the concept of leadership is so obscure, leadership is a term that should be used with great care and only in circumstances where it is carefully defined. Our typology of types of style may be seen as a typology of leadership only if one limits the term leadership to the exercise of power, authority and influence.

    We distinguish an effective leader, who gets results, from a good leader, who achieves good things. But does a good leader always get plentiful, good results? Some principals appear to be effective in some circumstances but not in others. Do they then suddenly change from being effective and, perhaps, good leaders one year to being ineffective leaders the next? The answer is probably yes. Thus leadership can be seen to be as much an outcome of the internal and external working environment as it is a quality of the leader. Thus Winston Churchill was a good and effective war time leader but not a very effective leader in peace time. The reverse might be said of Franklin Roosevelt. (412 words)

    1. According to the first paragraph, whether a person is a good leader or not should be judged by __________.

    A. his/her effectiveness B. his democratic style in work

    C. his/her popularity D. the number of his/her followers and the correctness of direction

    2. According to the author, if the term leadership is defined as the exercise of power, authority and influence, what is typical of a qualified leader?

    A. A good style in work B. A talent for direction

    C. A large number of followers D. Getting brilliant results

    3. From the text we may learn that __________.

    A. a democratic style is the sole criterion to judge the quality of a school leader

    B. a qualified leader has not so much followers as an approved direction

    C. one’s personal and external conditions can finally decide the quality of leadership

    D. the personal character is the exclusive factor to become an efficient leader

    4. The text seems to mainly discuss the leadership of __________.

    A. an educational board B. a headmaster or president

    C. government heads D. a teachers’ association

    5. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

    A. The Main Qualities of a School Leader

    B. The Great Importance of School Leadership

    C. Educational Administration in the United States

    D. The Dispute over the Concept of Leadership Mainly in Schools

    Text 2 Word Study

    1. when (偶用if) it comes to … 當談到…時：1) When it comes to mathematics, I’m completely at sea. (當談到數(shù)學時，我就茫然了。) 2) The school has very good teachers, but when it comes to buildings, the school is poor. 3) If it comes to building, Austin is the firm you should consult.（如果談到建筑業(yè)，那奧斯丁是你應該咨詢的公司。）

    2. show up 露面，出場；變得更醒目：1) Why didn’t you show up at the meeting yesterday? （你為什么不出席昨天的會？） 2) At times like these the true character of the man shows up. (在這樣的時期，這個人的真實品格才更容易看出來了。)

    3. in despair 絕望(作表語或作狀語)：1) I found him in despair. 2) He gave up in despair.

    4. 注意新的合成詞：slowdown 減慢；downsize 縮小規(guī)模；downscale 每況愈下。

    Text 3 Word Study

    1. intend vt. 打算，有…的意圖：1) I intend to clean out the spare room sooner or later. (我打算遲早把這間富裕的房間打掃干凈。) 2) I intended to have called you up, but I forgot to. (我本來打算給你打電話，但我忘了。) 3) He explained to her at length what he intended doing the week following. (他向她詳細地解釋了他下一周打算做的事情。) 4) Did you intend us to share the cost of the dinner? (你是否打算讓我們來分擔飯費？) 5) He intended that his son should inherit the business. (他打算他的兒子來繼承這筆產(chǎn)業(yè)。) 用于成語：intend for （原）打算給（某人），準備讓…干…：1) I intended these flowers for your mother, but as she is away I’d be glad if you would accept them. 2) The parcel of explosive did not reach the man for whom it was intended. 同根詞：intention n. 意圖，本來的想法：1) I have no intention of defending myself to you. 2) His original intention was to become a doctor. 3) A person with truly good intentions must take effect into account. (一個真正好心的人必須把影響考慮進去。) intentional adj. 有心的，有意的： I assure you that it was not intentional. (我向你保證，這并不是故意的。) intentionally adv. 有意地：I did not do it intentionally.

    2. identify vt. /vi. 認出（身份，物件），證明是（誰的），說明（其身份）：1) I identified the coat at once; it was my brother’s. (我立刻認出這件外套；那是我兄弟的。) 2) I can identify the watch as mine by the scratches on the back. (通過表背后的劃痕我能認出這塊表是我的。)用于成語：identify … with …把…與…聯(lián)系起來；把…與…等同起來：1) He identifies her happiness with his own. (他把她的幸福和他自己的幸福等同起來。) 2) Wealth cannot be identified with happiness. (不能把財富和幸福等同起來。) identify oneself with … 與…有聯(lián)系，支持：1) He refused to identify himself with the new political party. 2) The politician is too closely identified with the former government to become a minister in ours. (這位政界人士與上一屆政府關(guān)系太密切以至不能成為我們政府中的一名部長。) 同根詞：identification n. 認出，確定身份：1) Identification of the jewels was made by the owner. 2) A driving license is adequate identification. (一張駕駛執(zhí)照足以確定身份。) identity n. 身份；相同：1) The traveler’s passport established his identity. (旅行者的護照確定了他的身份。) 2) The identity of crimes led the police to think that the same person committed them. (罪行的相同使警察認為，是同一個人犯了這些罪行。) identical adj. 同一的，完全相同的：1) This is the identical pen I lost yesterday. 2) The fingerprints of no two persons are identical. 3) This copy is identical with the one you bought last week. identifiable adj. 可看作是相同的，可證明是同一的，可辨認的：Other identifiable causes of offensive acts include frustration or failure in school, the increased availability of drugs and alcohol, and the growing incidence of child abuse and child neglect. [2004年試題37, 38,39] （其他可看作犯罪行動產(chǎn)生的相同原因是在學校里的挫折和失敗，毒品和酒精隨處可得，虐待兒童和兒童無人管理的發(fā)生率越來越高。） identifier 鑒定人。

    II. Writing

    (I)

    Directions: Study the following picture carefully and write a letter of 160—200 words to the newspaper based on the following outline:

    1) Describe the picture to illustrate the present situation,

    2) Suggest possible measures to be taken, and

    3) Predict future prospect.

    尊敬的先生/女士：

    我給您寫信是想陳述我對水的污染問題的看法。普遍認為，水的污染是當今嚴重的公害。世界各國的河流正在受到工廠排放的垃圾及有害化學物質(zhì)所污染。船舶加劇了污染，因為它們依靠河流排放廢物。油和其它化學物質(zhì)會殺死魚類并使水不能飲用�？傊�，污染了的水對人人都是個大問題。

    正如你所知道的，人們靠水生活。他們應該參與找到解決污染問題的方法。我認為，需要盡快采取某些應對措施。首先，各國政府理應制訂處理污染問題的規(guī)章制度。此外，在全面處理和凈化廢液以前，必須禁止城鄉(xiāng)工廠把廢液排入河流。我覺得，如果這些工廠違反有關(guān)的法規(guī)或法律，則應加重罰款。當然還會有一些其它的治理方法值得采取。但是如果我們采取上述提到的措施，我們就不會有水枯竭的危險。

    至于未來的前景，我相信，在這一方面會取得良好的成果。過去一度被工業(yè)廢料污染的河流將會得到清理，幾年以前魚類不能生長的河流將又會重見魚群�？傊�，似乎很明顯，只要人人各盡其責并努力去尋找控制污染的方法，明天將會變得更美好、更光明。

    如果需要對這個問題做進一步評論，請不吝賜函。謝謝！

    順致敬意

    李明

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I’m writing to you to state my view on the water pollution problem. It is generally accepted that water pollution is a serious public hazard today. Rivers all over the world are becoming polluted with garbage and dangerous chemicals discharged by factories. Ships contribute to the problem because they rely on rivers for disposing of wastes. Oil and other chemicals can kill fish and make water unsafe for drinking. In a word, polluted water is a big problem to everyone.

    As you know, people depend on water to live on. They should be involved in finding a solution to this problem. I think, certain counter measures need to be taken as soon as possible. To begin with, the governments of all countries are supposed to lay down rules and regulations to deal with the pollution problem. In addition, factories in towns and cities must be prohibited from draining waste liquids into rivers before they are totally treated and purified. I feel if they violate relevant rules or laws, they deserve to be fined heavily. Certainly, there are some other cures, which are worth adopting. But if we take the measures outlined above, we will be in no danger of drying up.

    As far as future prospect is concerned, I’m sure that good results will be achieved in this respect. Rivers which used to be contaminated by industrial wastes will be cleaned and fish which could not live there a few years ago will be seen again. To conclude, it seems obvious that tomorrow will be better and brighter only if everyone does his part and tries hard to seek solutions for its control.

    If any further comment on the issue is required, please don’t hesitate to write to me.

    Thanks.

    Yours sincerely

    Li Ming (295 words)

    背記重點詞語漢英對照：

    1. 被…所污染：be polluted with, be contaminated with …；用…來污染… ：contaminate sth. with …。 2. 參與： take part in …; be involved in…; participate in …。 3. 制訂規(guī)章、法律：lay down(=make) riles and regulations, laws。 4. 違反規(guī)章、法律：violate (=break) riles and regulations, laws。 5. 禁止某人做某事：prohibit sb. from doing sth.; forbid sb. to do sth.; ban sb. from doing sth. 6. 理應受到：deserve to do … or to be done。 7. 采取措施：take (=adopt, resort to) measures。 8. 至于談到…：As far as … is concerned。 9. 比較后，似乎很清楚…：To conclude, it seems obvious that …。 10. 盡到自己的責任：do one’s part。

    Put the following sentences from Chinese into English:

    1. 他們用這些敗壞道德的（poisonous）思想來污染年輕人的頭腦。[ALD]

    2. 我并不想再參與學校的事務。（=我并不想再被扯到學校的事務中去。）

    3. 他們非常想?yún)⑴c這次討論。

    4. 如果他們違反相關(guān)的交通規(guī)則，他們就理應受到嚴厲懲處。

    5. 如果需要對這個問題做進一步評論，請不吝賜函。

    (II) （課外背誦篇）

    Directions: Write an essay entitled “On Keeping a Diary in English” and based on the following outline:

    1. Benefits brought by keeping a diary In English

    2. Difficulties involved

    3. My suggestions

    用英語記日記是提高英語寫作技能的有效方法之一。 與其他寫作形式相比, 它短小, 省時。它能幫助我們培養(yǎng)用英語思考的習慣。如果我們堅持這樣做, 漸漸地我們就學會了用英語來表達我們的思想。

    在用英語記日記的過程中, 我們不可避免地要遇到許多困難。首先, 經(jīng)常發(fā)生這樣的事, 我們很難找到恰如其分的詞或短語來表達我們的思想。其次, 在漢語中有許多習慣說法, 我們很難把它們準確地譯成英語。 當然, 還有一些其他的困難, 我們可能在用英語記日記中遇到。

    至于我, 我的建議是, 我們應該在手頭隨時準備好一個筆記本和一本漢英詞典。每當有困難的東西難住我們時, 我們可以先在筆記本記下來, 然后查詞典。如有必要, 我們也可以向英語老師請教。 總之, 我認為, 用英語記日記對提高寫作能力是十分有用的。

    Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability. Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes less time. It can help us to cultivate the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we’ll learn how to express ourselves in English.

    In keeping a diary in English, we inevitably run up against a lot of difficulties. In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble finding appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there are many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English properly. Certainly, there are some other roadblocks we may come across in our keeping a diary in English.

    As far as I’m concerned, my suggestion is that we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats(難住) us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also turn to our English teacher for help, if necessary. In short, it is of great use to keep a diary in English for the development of our writing skills. (209 words)

    作業(yè)：1. 按照提綱要求改寫本篇作文, 適當擴展、充實段落內(nèi)容。遣詞造句時要注意句子的主謂結(jié)構(gòu)和謂語動詞的搭配關(guān)系, 要盡量使用學過的句型。

    2. 把“復習指導”一書中的詞匯練習與完形填空練習結(jié)合起來復習, 然后逐漸把重點轉(zhuǎn)移到閱讀理解。

    贈言：凡事預則立，不預則廢。把握考研方向，提高復習效率。要認真思考和總結(jié)每個測試項目的具體要求和命題思路，結(jié)合自身的情況，制訂有效的復習對策。

    Text 1 參考譯文

    當史前人類來到世界的新地區(qū)時(=當?shù)厍蛏铣霈F(xiàn)史前人類時)，大型動物發(fā)生了一些奇怪的事情：它們突然滅絕了。較小的物種生存下來了。大型的、生長緩慢的動物容易獵取，并很快因捕獵而絕跡�，F(xiàn)在類似的事情也可能正在海洋中發(fā)生。

    多年來人們知道，海洋的魚類正受到過量的捕撈。諸如Ransom Myers 和Boris Worm這樣的研究人員已經(jīng)指出，事態(tài)正在迅速地變化。他們察看了來自世界各地漁場的半個世紀的資料。他們的研究方法并不是試圖去估計海洋中某些特定區(qū)域的魚類生物的實際數(shù)量，而是去估計隨著時間的推移魚類生物數(shù)量的變化。根據(jù)他們發(fā)表在《自然》雜志上的比較新論文，一個新的漁場中大型食肉魚類的數(shù)量在開始開發(fā)的15年內(nèi)平均減少80%。在一些長久捕撈的地區(qū)，這15年來，大型食肉魚類的數(shù)量又下降了一半。

    Worm博士承認，這些數(shù)字是保守的。原因之一是捕魚技術(shù)改進了。如今的漁船可以使用衛(wèi)星和聲納定位儀來發(fā)現(xiàn)獵物，這些技術(shù)在50年以前是做不到的。這就意味著更多的海洋魚類被捕撈，因此現(xiàn)在和過去的真實差別可能比記錄下來的捕撈量的變化更大。還有，在早些時候，多鉤長線上本來可能會掛滿魚；但是由于沒有掛魚餌的魚鉤來誘惑它們，因而有些魚就沒有被釣到，這就導致了過去低估了海洋中的魚類數(shù)量。此外，在多鉤長線捕魚的早期，許多魚上鉤后被鯊魚吃掉了。在今天這就不成問題了，因為現(xiàn)在各處海洋里的鯊魚少多了。

    Myers 博士和 Worm博士論證說，他們的研究工作設(shè)定了一條正確的底線，未來的海洋管理必須考慮到這條底線。他們認為，這些數(shù)據(jù)支持了海洋生物學家中流行的一種觀點，即“改變底線”。這一觀點是，人們沒有覺察海洋中發(fā)生的巨大變化是因為他們對過去的研究時間還比較短。那很有關(guān)系，因為理論表明，只有當某一目標物種的存活量是原來數(shù)量的大約50%時，才能從某一漁場獲得比較大限度的可持續(xù)的產(chǎn)量。大多數(shù)漁場的魚類數(shù)量遠低于這個標準，因此這種生意不是那么好做的。

    Text 2 參考譯文

    當談到經(jīng)濟減速時，Ellen Spero還沒有到絕望的境地。但是這位47歲的指甲修剪師也沒有她希望的那么多顧客來修剪、銼磨或打光指甲了。她的許多顧客每周花上$12到$50，但是上月她的兩位�？屯蝗徊辉俟忸櫫�。Spero怪罪于疲軟的經(jīng)濟�！拔沂且恢缓芎玫慕�(jīng)濟晴雨表，”她說�！拔姨峁┑氖侨藗兿氲揭�省幾元錢時沒有也行的服務�！边@樣，Spero的生意漸漸蕭凋，她就到Cleveland郊區(qū)她家附近的中等人士購物的Dillard百貨商店去買東西，而不到高檔的Neiman Marcus去。她說，“我不知道是不是其他的顧客也會不上我的門了。”

    甚至在Alan Greenspan承認美國經(jīng)濟過熱正在降溫以前，許多工薪人士已經(jīng)看到經(jīng)濟放慢的跡象。幾個月來，從汽車經(jīng)銷店到Gap休閑服裝零售店，銷售額一直不景氣，因為消費者減少開支了。對零售商來說，他們?nèi)ツ陱母卸鞴?jié)到圣誕節(jié)進賬了全年收入的24%，今年對這一關(guān)鍵年節(jié)的生意持審慎的態(tài)度。專家們已經(jīng)說，節(jié)日銷售額與去年同期相比減少7%。但是還不必拉響經(jīng)濟警報。消費者看來只是關(guān)注，而沒有驚恐；許多消費者說，他們對經(jīng)濟的長遠前景還是持樂觀態(tài)度，即使現(xiàn)在他們適度地勒緊褲帶。

    消費者說，他們并沒有感到絕望，因為，盡管報紙上的大字標題駭人聽聞，但是他們自已的境況仍然很好。在許多地區(qū)住房價格保持穩(wěn)定。在曼哈頓，“有一股新的購房淘金熱，價位在$400萬至$1,000萬的范圍內(nèi)，主要由華爾街的紅利提供的，”經(jīng)紀人Barbara Corcoran說。在舊金山，房價仍然在上揚，盡管狂熱的競出高價現(xiàn)象已在平息。一位美國海灣地區(qū)房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀人John Deadly說，“不是20至30個出價，現(xiàn)在你可能只有2或3個出價�！辈⑶掖蠖鄶�(shù)老百姓覺得他們能夠找到并保住一份工作，因此感覺良好。

    許多人從經(jīng)濟發(fā)展減速中看到了有利的一面。想要購房的人對較低的利率欣喜若狂。雇主也并不介意勞務市場上少了一點泡沫。許多消費者似乎已經(jīng)受到股票市場的波動的影響。可投資商把這種波動視為對持續(xù)高速增長的必要組成成分。就餐者可能也看到一種人數(shù)上升的勢頭。在曼哈頓鬧市區(qū)的新Alain Ducasse 飯館要找一張餐桌過去常常是不可能的。今后再也不會了。對此，格林斯潘公司可能仍然值得祝賀一番。

    Text 3 參考譯文

    歷史學家只是到比較近才開始注意到發(fā)生在18世紀英國對豪華商品和服務需求量的增加。McKendrick探索了Wedgwood公司在銷售豪華陶器方面所取得的顯著成績。Plumb寫到省城戲院、音樂節(jié)和兒童玩具與書本的迅速增長。雖然這場消費革命的事實幾乎無可置疑，但是仍有三個問題：誰是消費者？他們的消費動機是什么？對豪華產(chǎn)品新需求的影響是什么？

    對第一個問題的答案一直很難得到。雖然可以從實際生產(chǎn)的商品和服務中推理，制造商和服務業(yè)認為他們的顧客想要什么，但是只要研究一下實際消費者所寫的相關(guān)材料就會使我們了解，誰想要什么。我們?nèi)匀槐仨毩私膺@個消費市場有多大？消費者對豪華商品的需要沿著社會等級往下滲透到多遠？至于這后一個問題，我們可以順便注意到Thompson，他雖然正確地恢復了勞動人民在18世紀英國歷史舞臺上的地位，卻也許夸大了這些人總的反對資本主義消費主義思想侵蝕的程度。例如，18世紀英國勞動人民很快地從飲用家釀啤酒轉(zhuǎn)變到飲用大型投資的城區(qū)啤酒廠所生產(chǎn)的標準化啤酒。

    要回答為什么消費者變得如此渴望購物的問題，有些歷史學家指出，制造商有能力在新聞檢查較差的報章雜志上做廣告。然而，這似乎不是一個充分的答案。McKendrick贊成Veblen的解釋模式，即明顯的消費是由攀比地位激發(fā)起來的�！爸虚g一類人”購買商品和服務是因為他們想要效仿有錢人樹立的風尚。同樣，我們可能要問，這個解釋是否充分。是否人們欣賞購物是把它看作一種自我滿足呢？假如是這樣，消費主義可以被看作是個性主義和實利主義觀念興起的一種產(chǎn)物，而未必是狂熱進行明顯競爭的產(chǎn)物。

    比較后，消費者對豪華商品的需求其社會后果是什么？McKendrick聲稱，這種需求對解釋工業(yè)革命的來臨大有幫助。但果真如此嗎？

    例如，生產(chǎn)高質(zhì)量的陶器和玩具與制鐵業(yè)或紡織廠有什么關(guān)系呢？沒有重工業(yè)部門也完全有可能存在消費社會的心理和現(xiàn)實。

    閱讀欣賞 時尚英語 精品譯文

    Blooming Beauty If you’re looking to see Japan at its picturesque best, then make sure to catch the annual plum blossom viewing festival, or hanami. This year, the plum blossom is expected to sweep across the country starting with the southern island of Kyushu in early February, reaching Tokyo by mid-March.

    The traditional cultural center of Kyoto, a short train ride from the bustling metropolis of Osaka, is possibly one of the best places to enjoy plum blossoms, with its multitude of temples and ancient streets. Office workers and families take to the parks and gardens, fiercely defending precious spaces beneath the trees, where they sit, drink, and sing their way through the first warm evenings of the year.

    櫻花盛開的美麗 如果您想領(lǐng)略日本如畫的景致，一定要趕上今年的櫻花觀賞節(jié)（或稱為hanami）。櫻花開的花期從南部九州島的二月初到東京的三月中旬，在全國競相綻放。

    從繁鬧的大都市大阪乘坐短途列車即可到達傳統(tǒng)文化的中心京都，這里擁有無數(shù)的廟宇和古老的街道，是欣賞櫻花盛開的比較佳去處。邀約親朋好友一道來到櫻花怒放的公園和花園，在櫻花樹下開辟一邊空間，圍坐飲酒、唱歌，度過一年中的第一個暖夜。