The most exciting of these is the plan for a radio telescope that could be placed on the far side of the moon. Such a device would look back at the early universe to the time when large-scale structures such as galaxies and stars formed. A lunar-based radio telescope would be able to detect long wavelengths that cannot be sensed on Earth because they are absorbed by the outermost layers of the planet’s atmosphere. Moreover by pointing the telescope away from the din of shorter-wavelength radio waves that are used for communication on Earth, astrophysicists would be able to see the early universe in unprecedented detail.

Finding alien life might also be possible with such a telescope. It would be able to map the magnetic fields of stars and exoplanets（planets that circle stars outside the solar system）. It is the magnetic field of the Earth that protects its inhabitants from being bombarded by high-energy particles from space that would otherwise leave the planet sterile. Detecting a magnetic field surrounding an Earth-like exoplanet would prove a promising sign for finding extraterrestrial life. The proposal, led by Joseph Lazio, of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. D.C., is to create an array of three arms arranged in a Y-shape, each of which would be 500 metres long and contain 16 antennae. Each arm would be made of a plastic film that could be rolled out onto the surface of the moon, either by robots or by astronauts.

A second project, headed by Michael Collier, of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, would examine how the solar wind—a stream of charged particles ejected from the sun—interacts with the tenuous lunar atmosphere close to the moon’s surface. Such bombardment produces low-energy X-rays that would be detected on the surface of the moon. The third and fourth projects are similar both to each other and to earlier ventures dropped on the moon by the Apollo and the Soviet Luna missions in the late 1960s and 1970s. Some 35 years on, reflectors placed on the lunar surface are still used by scientists interested in geophysics and geodesy（for example, how the moon’s gravitational field shifts over time）. Most of the reflectors are clustered close to the lunar equator. The proposals, led by Stephen Merkowitz, also of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, and Douglas Currie, of the University of Maryland, are to sprinkle some more sophisticated versions over more of the moon’s surface.

Such efforts may attract little attention compared with the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour this week. Nevertheless, when NASA argues that putting people into space inspires young people to study science, it is precisely these endeavours that it wishes to encourage.

注（1）：本文选自Economist；

注（2）：本文习题命题模仿对象为2004年真题Text 3（题目顺序稍微调整）。



1. By saying “Launching people into space may make headlines but it does little useful science” （Line 1, Paragraph 1）, the author means that _______.

A) launching people into space is very important in terms of the future development of science

B) newspaper only cares about eyecatching news such as whether humans can travel into space

C) human’s travel to outside space is against scientific rules, and the effort will be wasting and futile

D) launching people into space is of little scientific value but would arouse great public enthusiasm

2. The most distinctive feature of a lunar-based radio telescope mentioned in the second paragraph is that _______.

A) it is able to capture long wavelengths

B) it possesses better functions than those telescopes on Earth

C) it can escape from the magnetic field of the Earth

D) it can avoid the influence of the short-wavelength radio waves

3. How does the author feel about the four new moon plans?

A) Objective.

B) Affirmative.

C) Carefree.

D) Panicked.

4. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the last two projects discussed in the fourth paragraph?

A) The two projects are of less importance than the other two.

B) The two plans are of similar nature with each other.

C) The purpose of the plans is to add some equipment on the moon.

D) These plans are a continuance of previous studies carried out decades ago.

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

A) The radio telescope will be able to find extraterrestrial life.

B) The second project focuses on the interaction between solar wind and Earth atmosphere.

C) Joseph Lazio’s proposal is part of the radio telescope project.

D) The four projects are closely related to the recently launched space shuttle Endeavour.





篇章剖析


本文主要介绍了美国宇航局的四项新的月球计划的主要内容。文章开头首先指出了载人登月在科研的价值上不如其他科研项目，从而引出话题。第二、三段介绍了第一个月球计划的详细内容；第四段简要介绍了另外三项计划的内容及其负责人；第五段总结全文，并指出了实施月球计划所包含的一种精神所在。





词汇注释


morsel /ˈmɔːsəl/ n. 小量；一点

lunar /ˈljuːnə/ adj. 月的，月亮的

galaxy /ˈɡæləksi/ n. 星系，银河

wavelength /ˈweɪvleŋθ/ n. 【物】波长

bombard /bɒmˈbɑːd/ vt. 炮轰；轰击

sterile /ˈsteraɪl/ adj. 贫脊的，不育的

extraterrestrial /ˌekstrətəˈrestrɪəl/ adj. 地球外的

array /əˈrei/ n. 天线阵

antenna /ænˈtenə/ n. 天线

eject /ɪˈdʒekt/ v. 驱逐；喷射

tenuous /ˈtenjʊəs/ adj. 纤细的

geophysics /ˌdʒɪəʊˈfɪzɪks/ n. 地球物理学

geodesy /dʒiːˈɒdɪsi/ n. 测地学

gravitational /ˌɡrævɪˈteɪʃənəl/ adj. 重力的

sprinkle /ˈsprɪŋkl/ v. 洒，喷洒





难句突破


The proposal, led by Joseph Lazio, of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. D.C., is to create an array of three arms arranged in a Y-shape, each of which would be 500 metres long and contain 16 antennae.

主体句式：The proposal is to creat an array.

结构分析：这个句子可以以is为界分为前后两个部分。其中前一个部分的主体内容是主语the proposal，led by Joseph Lazio是用来形容主语的分词结构，而of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. D.C.是补充说明Joseph Lazio这个人的身份。后一部分包含了一个以each of which引导的定语从句。

句子译文：该计划由美国华盛顿特区海军研究实验室的约瑟夫·拉齐奥领导，目标是创造出一个以三臂状构成Y字形的天线阵，其中每只臂长500米，含16根天线。





题目分析


1. D 语义题。文章第一句话的意思是，把人送入太空也许能成为头条新闻，引发大众的热切关注，但是对科学研究却没有多大帮助和价值。headline这里是指报纸的头条新闻。

2. A 细节题。文章第二段提到，该无线电天文望远镜的最大特点在于能够探测到那些在地球表面无法检测到的长波。D选项的错误在于文章第二段最后一句话提到的“shorter-wavelength radio wave”与选项中的“short-wavelength radio wave”并不是同义词，前者指比长波短的无线电波，如中波或者短波等。

3. B 情感态度题。文章第二段作者用“the most exciting”来形容其中的一项月球计划，说明了作者的支持态度。同样，最后一段中作者对这些月球计划所代表的“奋进”精神大加赞赏，同样表达了一种支持的态度。

4. A 细节题。文章中没有特别说明各个项目的重要性有大小之分，相反，纵观全文，我们可以看出这几个项目具有同等的重要性，只是作者在描述的时候有的较为具体，有的则比较简单而已。

5. C 推理题。A选项的错误原因在于寻找外星人只是一种可能性，结果是不确定的。B选项的错误原因在于该研究定位于太阳风和月球稀薄的大气层之间的关系，而不是和地球大气层的关系。D选项的错误原因在于这四项研究与“奋进”号航天飞机并没有很大的关系。





参考译文


把人送入太空也许能成为头条新闻，但是对科学研究却没有多大帮助。因此，当乔治·布什在2004年要求美国宇航局将重点从科学研究转移到载人回归月球时，很多科学家都备感失望。现在，美国宇航局为回归月球计划增加了四项科研项目，总算给大家带来了些许安慰。

这些项目中最激动人心的是一种可以安装在月球背面的无线电天文望远镜。通过这种望远镜，人们可以了解到从宇宙早期直到大规模天体结构如星云和恒星形成的时期。安装在月球上的无线电天文望远镜可以探测到那些无法在地球表面被检测到的长波，因为这些长波都被地球大气层的最外层吸收了。此外，天体物理学家们使该望远镜远离在地球上频繁地用于通信的较短波长的无线电波，从而能够史无前例地细致观察早期的宇宙。

使用这台望远镜也许还可以寻找外星生物。因为它能够描绘出恒星和太阳系外行星（太阳系之外围绕恒星运动的行星）的磁场图。正是由于地球磁场的保护，地球上居住着的生物才能幸免于来自太空中高能量粒子的袭击，否则这个星球就会变成一片不毛之地。如果能够检测到某个太阳系外行星也像地球一样被磁场包围，就有希望找到地球以外的生命。该计划由美国华盛顿特区海军研究实验室的约瑟夫·拉齐奥领导，目标是创造出一个以三臂状构成Y字形的天线阵，其中每只臂长500米，含16根天线，用塑料薄膜制成，以便由机器人或宇航员平铺在月球表面。

第二项计划的负责人是美国宇航局戈达德太空飞行中心的迈克尔·克里尔，该计划将研究太阳风——太阳喷发出的一束带电粒子流——如何与月球表面附近稀薄的大气相互作用。这种作用产生的低能量X射线可以在月球表面探测到。第三和第四项计划相似，并与早前于20世纪60年代末和70年代进行的阿波罗计划和前苏联的登月计划大同小异。现在那些放置于月球表面的反射器已差不多工作了35年，且仍然为那些对地球物理学和测地学（如研究月球引力场如何随时间而变化）感兴趣的科学家们服务着。大多数反射器都安装在靠近月球赤道的地方。这两项计划的主管人是美国宇航局戈达德太空飞行中心的史蒂芬·默克维茨以及马里兰大学的道格拉斯·奎瑞，其目标是在月球上更大范围地布置一些更加尖端的反射器。

与本周发射的奋进号航天飞机相比，这些月球计划可能不会引起多大关注，但是，当美国宇航局极力主张载人航天可以激励年轻人学习科学时，为月球计划而“奋进”的精神也正是它所要鼓舞的。





第5章 法律类


Unit 62


The website of Telenor, a state-controlled Norwegian telecoms firm, has a special section dedicated to its investments in Russia and its dispute with Alfa Group, its Russian partner. It is a long and unhappy saga filled with headings such as “Geneva arbitration”, “Court abuses” and “Black PR campaigns”. Telenor and Altima, the telecoms arm of Alfa, are shareholders in both VimpelCom of Russia and Kyivstar of Ukraine. In 2004 Altima, which wanted to expand its business in Ukraine further, suggested that VimpelCom buy another Ukrainian telecoms firm. Telenor resisted, saying that the price was too high. Altima accused Telenor of sabotaging its growth.

For several years the dispute rambled on, with several attempts at arbitration and suits and countersuits in various courts around the world. Then a company called Farimex entered the fray. It is registered in the British Virgin Islands and owns a 0.002% stake in VimpelCom. It complained to a court in Siberia that Telenor（which has no business in Siberia）had obstructed VimpelCom’s entry into the Ukrainian market. The Siberian court ordered Telenor to pay compensation of $2.8 billion, a sum that was reduced to $1.7 billion on appeal. When Telenor refused to pay, arguing that it had not exhausted its appeals, another court seized most of Telenor’s 30% stake in VimpelCom. On June 19th Russia’s bailiffs ordered the auction of the stake to raise the $1.7 billion. In most countries this would be called expropriation.

Telenor says it believes the Farimex case is connected to its dispute with Alfa Group. It believes that it could reach an agreement with Alfa, provided its troubles with Farimex come to an end. But Mikhail Fridman, the boss of Alfa Group, says it is not affiliated with Farimex in any way, although he supports its complaint. Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s prime minister, has raised the subject of Telenor’s dispute with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, who said the government was impartial. But as Telenor points out, Mr Putin himself has admitted that Russia’s courts are unpredictable and are in urgent need of reform.

The clearest indictment of Russia’s investment climate came a few days ago from IKEA, a Swedish retail chain, whose local operation has grown quickly since it opened its first store near Moscow in 2000. On June 23rd IKEA said it was suspending its investment in Russia because of the “unpredictable character of administrative procedures”, a euphemism for graft.

Among 181 countries surveyed by the World Bank for ease of doing business, Russia occupies 120th place, below Nigeria. Transparency International gives Russia barely two points out of ten—its worst performance in ten years, which puts it on a par with Kenya. Until recently the Kremlin had no need to worry about things like property rights and the rule of law. Its oil wealth ensured an economic boom, no matter how it treated investors. Most of the money that flowed into the country came in the form of loans rather than foreign direct investment. Now the loans have dried up. The Russian economy is forecast to contract by 8.5% this year, and it still blames the global economic crisis for its misfortunes. A closer look at IKEA and Telenor, as well as many of Russia’s own companies, suggests the truth is more complicated.

注（1）：本文选自Economist；

注（2）：本文习题命题模仿对象：第1、2、3、5、4题分别模仿1997年真题Text 1第1、2、3、5题和Text 3第2题。



1. From the first two paragraphs we can learn that ______.

A) this article will focus on how Telenor fights against Alfa Group

B) this article will describe how Telenor finishes the saga on its website

C) the dispute between Telenor and Alfa causes severe legal problems

D) the story of Telenor and Alfa is used to introduce the main topic

2. The author added “which has no business in Siberia”（Line 4, Paragraph 2）to indicate that ______.

A) Telenor was not interested in developing business in Siberia

B) it was ridiculous for Farimex to sue Telenor in Siberia

C) the Siberian court failed to make an impartial judgment

D) Telenor went to the appeal court because it was not satisfied with the Siberian court

3. Telenor and IKEA will probably agree that ______.

A) Russia should adjust its attitude toward cooperating with foreign companies

B) the Russian legal system is in need of much improvement

C) administrative procedures should be simplified in Russia

D) Russia should emphasize more on property rights

4. The word “euphemism”（Line 4, Paragraph 4）most probably means ______.

A) indirect expression

B) substitution

C) secret word

D) password

5. The author’s attitude towards Russia’s investment climate seems to be ______.

A) positive

B) suspicious

C) negative

D) indifferent





篇章剖析


本文由外国公司与俄罗斯公司的商业和法律争端引出了俄罗斯的投资环境问题。第一段首先提出问题，介绍了挪威电信公司Telenor与其俄罗斯合作伙伴Alfa集团之间的争端及缘起；第二、三段则较为详细地描述了二者之间的争端以及Farimex的介入带来的进一步影响；第四、五段则指出，各方对俄罗斯投资环境的评价都很低，这会影响俄罗斯经济的发展，但目前该国依然把问题归咎于经济危机这个外在因素。





词汇注释


saga /ˈsɑːgə/ n. 英雄传说，长篇故事

sabotage /ˈsæbətɑːʒ/ v. 蓄意破坏；妨害

ramble /ˈræmbl/ v. 闲逛；蔓延

arbitration /ˌɑːbɪˈtreɪʃn/ n. 仲裁，调定；公断

fray /freɪ/ n. 吵架；争论

bailiff /ˈbeɪlɪf/ n. 法警；地方长官

expropriation /ˌeksˌprəʊpriˈeɪʃən/ n. 没收；征用

affiliate /əˈfɪlieɪt/ v. 发生联系；参加

impartial /ɪmˈpɑːʃəl/ adj. 不偏不倚的，公正的，无偏见的

suspend /səˈspend/ v. 使中止

euphemism /ˈjuːfəmɪzəm/ n. 婉转的说法；委婉语

graft /grɑːft/ n. 贿赂；行贿；行贿得到的利益





难句突破


The clearest indictment of Russia’s investment climate came a few days ago from IKEA, a Swedish retail chain, whose local operation has grown quickly since it opened its first store near Moscow in 2000.

主体句式：The clearest indictment came from IKEA.

结构分析：这个句子的主体句式比较容易理解，of Russia’s investment climate用来修饰indictment，给出控诉的内容，这里的“climate”指的并不是气候，而是环境。IKEA后面首先跟了一个同位语，对其进行简单的解释，同位语后面又用了一个由whose引导的定语从句进一步说明宜家在俄罗斯的经营情况，该定语从句里面还包含了一个由since引导的时间状语从句。

句子译文：几天前宜家对俄罗斯投资环境的投诉是相关控诉中最明确的一次。这家瑞典连锁企业自2000年在莫斯科附近开设第一家店以来，在当地的经营发展速度很快。





题目分析


1. D 推理题。本题虽然题干要求关注前两段，但也不能忽视这两段与全文的联系，不能只见树木不见森林。从后文看，前两段讲到两家公司的矛盾主要是为后面揭露俄罗斯的投资环境问题做铺垫，因此D是最佳答案。前三个选项都过于关注这两段中的细节，没有很好地把握这两段在整篇文章中的作用。

2. B 语义题。题干所指部分在文中第二段的括号里面，很显然这是作者对前面内容的补充说明，而且这句话也表达了作者自己的观点。此处表明，作者认为Farimex在一个Telenor没有业务的地方起诉它很荒谬，所以答案是B。其他三个选项都没有表达出这个意思。

3. A 细节题。本题可以使用排除法。首先B项的表述仅适用于Telenor，C项的表述仅适用于宜家，D项提到的产权与两者都没有关系。从全文来看，这两家公司都不满俄罗斯对待外国企业的态度，因此A是最佳答案。

4. A 语义题。从上下文看，宜家想强调的是俄罗斯官员的graft（以权谋私），但是公司用了一个比较好听的说法“行政程序的不可预测性”，也就是一个比较间接的表达方式，因此A项在意义上最符合。

5. C 情感态度题。本文主要说明的是俄罗斯没有给外国企业创造良好的投资环境，最后一段指出“俄罗斯仍然将它的不幸归咎于全球经济危机。仔细了解一下宜家或者Telenor，还有许多俄罗斯的本土公司，你会发现实际情况要复杂得多”，也就是说俄罗斯依旧没有认识到自身的问题，而简单归咎于外因。整体看来，作者对该国投资环境的态度是负面的，所以答案为C。





参考译文


挪威国有电信公司Telenor的网站上有一个专栏，专门讨论该公司在俄罗斯的投资情况以及与俄罗斯合作伙伴Alfa集团之间的争端。这就像是一个没完没了且不愉快的长篇故事，充满了诸如“日内瓦仲裁”、“法庭滥用权力”、“黑色公关活动”等文章标题。Telenor和Alfa的电信子公司Altima都拥有俄罗斯VimpelCom公司和乌克兰Kyivstar公司的股份。2004年，Altima希望在乌克兰进一步拓展业务，因而建议VimpelCom公司收购乌克兰的另一家电信公司。但Telenor却反对这次收购，原因是收购价格太高。于是Altima就控告Telenor蓄意阻挠其发展。