C) Zealous advocates only care about the political fight against Microsoft's commercial operating systems.

D) Zealous advocates are not aware of the open-source merits in terms of everyday use.

5. Which of the following is NOT the characteristic of the Ubuntu software?

A) It is free to download from Internet and is updated regularly.

B) It is user-oriented and can therefore be used with ease.

C) It tends to replace the current commericial software.

D) It can be used by anyone who has access to Internet.





篇章剖析


本文是一篇说明文，主要讲述了南非富商马克·沙特尔沃思在普及开源软件的努力。第一段简要介绍了沙特尔沃思希望普及开源软件的想法和他的Ubuntu项目；第二段笔锋一转，讨论了对于开源软件的两种截然不同的观点；第三段中沙特尔沃思辨析和阐述了他坚持自己信念和项目的理由；第四段简要介绍了沙特尔沃思产生支持开源软件想法的原因。





词汇注释


advocate /ˈædvəkɪt/ n. 提倡者，鼓吹者

bond /bɒnd/ n. 结合，联结

polarise /ˈpəuləraɪz/ v. 使两极分化

zealous /ˈzeləs/ adj. 热心的，狂热的

triumph /ˈtraɪəmf/ v. 获得胜利

clash /klæʃ/ n. 冲突

conceited /kɒnˈsiːtɪd/ adj. 自以为是的，傲慢的

chunk /tʃʌŋk/ n. 相当大的数量

bundle /ˈbʌndl/ n. 捆，束，包

adoption /əˈdɒpʃən/ n. 采用

bold /bəʊld/ adj. 大胆的

scheme /skiːm/ n. 安排，配置，计划

cutting-edge /ˈkʌtiŋˌedʒ/ adj. 前沿的

bandwidth /ˈbændwɪdθ/ n. 精力





难句突破


Since 2004, he has been using his fortune to fund the Ubuntu project, which makes a user-friendly version of Linux, the open-source operating system.

主体句式：He has been using his fortune to fund the Ubuntu project.

结构分析：本句中which 引导的定语从句，用来修饰前面提到的Ubuntu project。最后的短语是一个同位语，用来解释说明什么是Linux。

句子译文：自从2004年以来，他一直以个人财产资助Ubuntu项目，该项目致力于为开源操作系统Linux开发一个更加便于用户使用的版本。





题目分析


1. D 语义题。这篇文章与宗教无关，所以此处的religion是一种引申义和比喻义，即有一些开源软件的支持者们对于开源软件有一种宗教般地疯狂崇拜，而他们并不关心怎么样把开源软件简单化，从而使得大众都能够使用。因此答案为D。

2. A 情感态度题。作者在本文中的分析态度是相当客观的，既阐述了反对者的想法，也摆出了支持者沙特尔沃思的辩解，而作者本人并没有发表个人见解。

3. B 语义题。从上下文来看，尽管Ubuntu项目的整体计划看上去非常大胆，但是显然沙特尔沃思是信心十足的，他并不是那种轻易认输的人，也就是说他是非常雄心勃勃的。

4. A 细节题。文章全篇的重点都在谈论的一个重要话题就是，开源软件的支持者们痴迷的是这种软件本身以及与商用软件的斗争，而沙特尔沃思的关注点则是在于如何让更多的大众方便地使用这款软件。

5. C 细节题。文章第三段谈到了Ubuntu软件包的一些特点，它可以免费下载、面向公众，而且每六个月更新一次。更重要的是，它不像Linux一样只是在服务器上非常流行，而是把目标放在广大普通用户上，因而A、B和D选项是正确的。C错误的原因在于沙特尔沃思从来不打算要用Ubuntu替代商业软件。





参考译文


当展望开源软件的未来时，马克·沙特尔沃思热情十足，但是他看起来非常疲惫。他最近正在为另一桩生意谈判，这也是他立志要把开源带给更多人的使命的一部分。作为一名在信息时代成功的南非企业家，他希望开源倡导者们能放弃他们的盲目崇拜，而把精力集中到如何使开源软件更加方便地为人们使用上来。他自己也把钱都投在他说的这些事情上。自从2004年以来，他一直以个人财产资助Ubuntu项目，该项目致力于为开源操作系统Linux开发一个更加便于用户使用的版本。Ubuntu是一个祖鲁语和科萨语的术语，大意就是“在人类之间分享的广泛联系”。Ubuntu项目的口号是“为全人类服务的Linux”，其目标人群是主流电脑使用者。这是因为尽管Linux在服务器上非常流行，但到目前为止却很少为台式机所使用。

这部分是因为开源软件会使人们的观点分为两个极端。许多批评家怀疑这种由理想主义者设计、任何人都可以下载使用的软件一定是一种共产主义的阴谋。同时，那些开源软件的狂热支持者却渴盼开源能够最终战胜商业软件的邪恶帝国。人们经常把这一冲突描绘成Linux和微软拥有版权的视窗操作系统之间史诗般的斗争。但是事实上，大部分电脑使用者都不知道或者不关心关于开源软件的政治斗争。沙特尔沃思说，大部分人在电脑上想做的事情只不过是收发电子邮件、浏览网页等等。

“我们很容易就可以宣布胜利，”沙特尔沃思先生在谈及一些开源支持者的偏见时说道，“软件世界的很大一部分都取决于免费软件。”但是Ubuntu项目的目的不是征服已有的软件世界并以其他产品取而代之。Ubuntu并不把开源软件看成是两种计算机理念的一种，也不关注其中的斗争，Ubuntu只是在为客户考虑。沙特尔沃思先生介绍道，Ubuntu是一组完整的软件包，包括操作系统和各种应用及编程工具，每六个月更新一次，而且永远都是免费的。让开源远离斗争，让开源不仅仅是一些有政治目的的狂热者的话题，而把重点放在鼓励大众都充分利用这种软件的价值。

这是一个大胆的计划，但是我们不可以小看沙特尔沃思先生。他成长于开普敦的郊区，那是一个并不像是能够参与到互联网革命的地方。但是从他使用网页浏览器的第一天开始，他就给自己立了这个目标。当他看到原先基于文本的互联网向图像媒体转移的时候，“我感到事情将要开始变化了，”他说。在那种情形下，他花了几年的时间寻找如何介入这一领域的最佳方式。“我想找一些最前沿的东西来做，而不用花很多的精力或投机资本，”他说道。他成功地成立了一家名为Thawte的公司，致力于制作数码证书和安全软件，从而支持网络商务。1999年，信息泡沫时代发展接近高峰的时期，他以5亿美元的价格将该公司卖给了VeriSign。





Unit 42


Music fans have often viewed Microsoft as something like a bad cover band, one that pumped out uninviting facsimiles of Apple's iPod and iTunes with its Zune music players and service. Now that the Zune brand is dead, Microsoft is once again in search of a hit in digital music. But this time, to improve its odds of success, it is marshaling some of its most powerful brands as never before: Windows and the Xbox.

On Monday, the company plans to announce a service called Xbox Music that will offer access to a global catalog of about 30 million songs. The service will let consumers listen free to any song on computers and tablets running the latest version of its Windows software, as well as on the Xbox console. Microsoft will not initially limit how much music can be streamed, though that could change over time. The service is part of a broad set of bets Microsoft is making this fall to help regain ground it has lost to competitors, especially Apple and Google. In addition to Windows 8, a major new version of its flagship operating system that will start shipping on Oct. 26, the company is close to releasing a new version of its Windows Phone operating system for mobile phones and its first Microsoft-designed computer, a tablet device called Surface.

In an aggressive push to persuade lots of people to use the service, Microsoft will package the software for Xbox Music with Windows 8. The arrangement could awaken antitrust concerns about Microsoft's use of Windows to gain toeholds in new markets. Microsoft's do-over in the market is a sign of how a strong music service has come to be seen as a prerequisite for any serious player in the gadget business. Apple first showed the way with that strategy by making it simple to buy songs from the iTunes Store, helping it sell more iPods. Google and Amazon have also gotten in on the act, adding music stores to their Android and Kindle devices. In addition to competing with those big companies, Xbox Music is entering a landscape thick with independent music services that offer their own variations on the listening experience. Spotify, for example, provides on-demand listening to a large library of music, while Pandora programs radio stations tailored to its listeners' individual tastes.

Scott Porter, principal program manager for Xbox Music, said many music fans today relied on a variety of services like those, along with more traditional sellers of songs like iTunes, to satisfy all their musical needs. This approach, though, can be tedious. “The dilemma is that music has become work,”he said. “Our vision for Xbox Music is that it shouldn't have to be work.”Xbox Music incorporates elements of all of those services. There is an option to buy songs, so a music fan can own them permanently with minimal restrictions. There are Pandora-like radio stations built around songs and similar-sounding music.

注（1）：本文选自The New York Times；

注（2）：本文习题模仿对象：习题第1、2、3、4题模仿2010年真题Text 2 的第4、2、3、5题，第5题模仿2011年真题Text 1 的第5题。

1. From the first paragraph, we can learn that______.

A) music fans do not like Microsoft any longer

B) Zune was substituted by other services

C) Windows and the Xbox are Microsoft's only powerful brands

D) Microsoft plans to regain success in digital music with its powerful brands

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

A) The service provides consumers with songs on computers, tablets and Xbox console with no charge.

B) Microsoft won't restrict the amount of the music download as time goes by.

C) Microsoft is sure that the service can beat Apple and Google.

D) Windows 8 and its Windows Phone and its first Microsoft-designed computer will release simultaneously.

3. The word “toehold”（Line 3, Paragraph 3) most probably means______.

A) insistence

B) support

C) success

D) patience

4. Which of the following would be the topic of the text?

A) Microsoft introduces its powerful service: Windows and Xbox.

B) Microsoft turns to Windows and Xbox instead of its traditional style.

C) Microsoft's Zune service was obsolete.

D) With the help of Windows and Xbox, Microsoft attempts to win victory in the field of music.

5. From the text we can see that the writer seems______.

A) positive

B) negative

C) doubtful

D) objective





篇章剖析


本文是一篇说明文，主要讲述了微软想利用Windows和Xbox在数字音乐领域重振雄风。第一段主要讲微软原有品牌Zune已不复存在，为了在数字音乐领域增加胜算，微软集结了Windows和Xbox；第二段详细介绍Xbox Music的特点和上市时间；第三段接着指出，微软试图在数字音乐领域立足表明拥有强大的音乐服务对小型应用程序领域的商家十分重要；第四段通过与传统听歌模式的对比，突出了Xbox Music的高端性，强调它做得更加面面俱到。





词汇注释


facsimile /fækˈsɪməli/ n. 复制品；传真机

marshal /ˈmɑːʃl/ v. 整顿；集合

console /kənˈsəʊl/ n. 控制台，操纵台

flagship /ˈflægʃɪp/ n. 王牌产品；旗舰；佼佼者

antitrust /ˌæntiˈtrʌst/ adj. 反垄断的

toehold /ˈtəʊhəʊld/ n. 立足点

prerequisite /ˌpriːˈrekwəzɪt/ n. 先决条件，前提

gadget /ˈgædʒɪt/ n. 小型应用程序；小配件

incorporate /ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪt/ v. 包含；合并





难句突破


In addition to Windows 8, a major new version of its flagship operating system that will start shipping on Oct. 26, the company is close to releasing a new version of its Windows Phone operating system for mobile phones and its first Microsoft-designed computer, a tablet device called Surface.

主体句式：The company is close to releasing a new version of…and its first…computer…

结构分析：这个长句看上去结构复杂，主要是因为其中有很多的修饰成分（前置定语和后置定语）。a major new version of…作Windows 8的同位语，起补充说明的作用，其中包含一个that引导的定语从句，进一步补充说明Windows 8的发售时间，而后面由and连接的两个并列短语作releasing的宾语，介绍Windows移动电话操作系统和平板电脑也即将发售。

句子译文：除了即将在10月26号发售的新一代王牌操作系统Windows 8，一款专门为手机用户研发的Windows移动电话操作系统和微软首次自主设计的平板电脑Surface，也即将推出。





题目分析


1. D 推理题。文章中提到：Now that the Zune brand is dead, Microsoft is once again in search of a hit in digital music. But this time, to improve its odds of success, it is marshaling some of its most powerful brands as never before: Windows and the Xbox.由此可见，微软是想重振雄风。A、B和C选项表述都不准确，只有D选项是基于第一段内容可以推出的结论，故为答案。

2. A 细节题。原文对应信息是The service will let consumers listen free to any song on computers and tablets running the latest version of its Windows software, as well as on the Xbox console. 由此可知，这项服务能让用户免费听任何歌曲，故A选项正确。B、C、D选项与原文意思不符。

3. C 语义题。toehold本身拆开来是toe和hold，字面意思是“用脚趾头站立”，意译是“站得住脚”。由The arrangement could awaken antitrust concerns about Microsoft's use of Windows to gain toeholds in new markets.可知，微软利用Windows操作系统试图在新市场中赢得toeholds。根据常识可知，赢得的一般都是积极的、好的东西，而且全文一直说的都是微软想赢得新的胜利。因此，toehold在这里有“成功”的意思。

4. D 推断题。纵观全文，本文主要是介绍微软为了在数字音乐领域重振雄风，决定用自身强有力的品牌Windows和Xbox来增加其胜算的筹码。A、B和C选项皆是文章中的部分内容，不能以偏概全作为文章的主题。

5. D 情感态度题。本文作者自始至终都从非常客观的角度介绍微软的计划——希望在数字音乐领域重振雄风。作者没有加入任何个人观点，即使是对该计划取得的一些成果的表述也不是作者自己的看法，而是引用的事实或他人的评价。





参考译文


音乐迷们通常会把微软看做是一个糟透了的翻唱乐队，其音乐播放器和音乐服务Zune一直都在模仿苹果系统里的iPod和iTunes软件。如今，Zune品牌已不复存在，但是微软还想在数字音乐领域大出风头。但是这次，为了增加胜算，它前所未有地集结了几个自身最具影响力的品牌：Windows和Xbox。

周一，微软公司计划公布一种新的音乐服务，名为Xbox Music，它能为用户提供全球约3000万首歌曲。只要用户的电脑或平板电脑上安装了Windows软件的最新版本，在电脑或者在Xbox的操控面板上该服务允许用户免费收听任何歌曲。微软在最初将不限制音乐流量，但将来说不定。今年秋季，微软重拳出击，志在收复输给竞争对手尤其是苹果和谷歌的失地，这项服务的推出是微软一系列反击举措的一部分。除了即将在10月26号发售的新一代王牌操作系统Windows 8，一款专门为手机用户研发的Windows移动电话操作系统和微软首次自主设计的平板电脑Surface，也即将推出。

为了积极吸引更多的用户来使用这项服务，微软将把Xbox Music软件预装到Windows 8系统里。针对微软利用Windows操作系统试图在新市场立足这一事态，可能会引起新一轮的反垄断担忧。微软在这一市场的卷土重来说明，对于小型应用程序商业领域的任何一位严肃的商家来说，拥有一项强大的音乐服务是何等的重要。苹果公司最先演示了如何实现这一策略，它利用从iTunes Store里购买歌曲的便利性卖掉了更多的iPod。谷歌和亚马逊也有同样的举措，分别在它们的安卓和Kindle设备里安装了音乐商店软件。除了与这些大公司相抗衡，Xbox Music踏入了充斥着各种独立音乐服务的战场，这些服务带给用户不同的听觉体验。比如，Spotify为用户提供海量音乐点播，而潘多拉音乐电台则专门为满足用户的个人品位而设。

Xbox Music的项目经理斯科特·波特说，如今的音乐迷都依赖诸如Spotify和潘多拉音乐电台，以及像iTunes这种较传统的出售音乐的平台来满足他们所有听歌的需求。这些方式迟早会令人乏味。斯科特说：“这些方式的窘境在于只着重于音乐本身，而我们对Xbox Music的理解则是它是一个音乐播放平台。”Xbox音乐包含了以上所有的服务项目。你可以在Xbox里购买歌曲，这样你就能最大自由地永久收藏它们。Xbox Music也有类似于潘多拉的基于歌曲和类似音乐的广播电台。





Unit 43


DOTCOMS may be moribund, but inside companies, the Internet is still finding cost-saving new uses. “B2E——business-to-employee——didn't have a crash,”says Bipin Patel, in charge of developing the potential of the corporate intranet at the Ford Motor Company. “It's still growing.”

Ford has gone further than most companies to get its employees online: it offered its American employees personal computers, and 90% of them accepted. Ford hopes that the free PCs will save its own and its employees' time by moving services online. General Motors, Ford's great rival, considered a similar scheme but found that most employees willing to use PCs already had them. It is helping staff to pay for high-bandwidth connections instead.

At Ford, the human-resources department has pioneered a scheme to provide up-to-the-minute information to employees about pay and benefits. In the past, employees sometimes found that it took weeks to get a copy of the pay information they needed to do their tax returns, and the department's staff spent mind-numbing hours answering the same questions from hundreds of different employees. Now employees can look at a password-protected site that displays their payslips over the previous 18 months. They can see all deductions, and the hours they worked. All this information was on the human-resources database: displaying it to employees has saved staff time.

“People want more and more of this self-service information, which they can manage themselves,”observes Mr Patel. “There is no such thing as information overload here, because it's their information.”Even training seems to work better online: Ford employees can now download a range of courses, including one on “Listening and Handling Tough Situations”, all designed for digestion in 10-or 15-minute gobbets. The company claims to have cut training costs by $2m during the past six months, as fewer people leave their desks to learn.

The company also uses its intranet to communicate with its staff around the world. Jacques Nasser, Ford's boss, sends out “Let's chat”notes once a week. In fact, Mr Nasser does most of the chatting. He gets hundreds of e-mails in reply, but the communication is basically a one-way flow. The company also runs chatrooms, in which employees can question various inhouse experts and outside analysts live on the corporate intranet.

In time, thinks Mr Patel, communications technology will reshape corporate behaviour. It will encourage collaboration and team-working. Already, the Internet is causing disintermediation within companies, he argues, just as it did in e-commerce: the human-resources department does much less administration once the benefits system is more self-service, but rather more advising and consulting. One day, working in human resources might even be fun.

注（1）：本文选自Economist；

注（2）：本文习题命题模仿对象：2004年真题Text 1。（其中个别题目顺序做了部分调整。）

1. How does the author introduce his topic?

A) Posing a contrast.

B) Justifying an assumption.

C) Explaining a phenomenon.