Unit 7


TEXT ONE


Michelle Obama is not a Barbie doll, a shape-shifting Hollywood starlet, a chameleon model or the female equivalent of Justin Bieber. And so, I have reached a saturation point on the small talk about her clothes. Fashion fatigue has set in. I cannot countenance any more breathless, fanzine-style chronicling of her attire. Surely, I cannot be alone.

To be clear, there is still plenty to be written about the first lady and her wardrobe choices. Clothes are part of the historic record Mrs. Obama will leave behind—regardless of whether her husband is reelected. Whoever occupies the East Wing plays an important role in supporting this country's fashion industry. And without question, the inaugural gown remains a cultural touchstone.

Sometimes, Mrs. Obama's clothes convey significant messages about economics, female power, and the potency of the creative spirit. Upon occasion, she has used fashion as silent support of women and minorities, and as a nonverbal rebuke to those who would see the design world as only frivolity and nothing serious. But more often, her clothes are simply lovely frocks, worth admiring in slideshows and picture books, but not worth discussing.

It has been over four years since Mrs. Obama stepped into the role of first lady, but she had already been in the public spotlight on the campaign trail long before that. During that time, she captured the eye of fashion aficionados with her eclectic approach to style, her willingness to indulge in trends and the skill with which she used fashion to help shape her public image.

Here was a first lady who not only took apparent pleasure in clothes, but—with her tall, fit physique—also wore them well. In 2009, when she stood alongside her husband as he took the oath of office, she wore a lemongrass-yellow dress and matching coat by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. Hers was a savvy fashion choice, one that spoke of the importance of small businesses, female entrepreneurs, and the immigrant experience. Her inaugural gown was equally filled with subtext. Designed by Jason Wu, who was born in Taipei, Taiwan, it celebrated the next generation of American designers. For a campaign that had been based on hope and change, the dress announced a shifting of the guard within the fashion industry's elite.

Mrs. Obama's lean and sculpted arms were admired, not simply from an aesthetic perspective but because they acknowledged that she was from a generation of post-Title IX women who played sports, lifted weights, and were proud of their athleticism. Whose strong arms also served as emblems of her “Let's Move” campaign to get the country's children exercising and eating more healthily.

For a lot of women in their 30s and beyond, who often felt estranged from the fashion industry, Mrs. Obama provided encouragement and reassurance. They, too, could participate. Fashion, from high end to low, had something to offer them.

All of this was good for fashion and it was good for the American woman's psyche. And indeed, there were times throughout the last four years when Mrs. Obama's clothes seemed to deliver a particularly important message.

1. The fact that fashion fatigue has set in implies that _____.

[A] Michelle Obama isn't a person that follows the crowd

[B] famous stars have overused fashion

[C] Michelle Obama has her unique wisdom towards fashion

[D] many agree to chronicle Michelle Obama's attire as breathless, fanzine-style

2. The wisdom of Mrs. Obama's clothes is embodied in the following ones except _____.

[A] reflection of economics, female power, and the potency of the creative spirit

[B] her rebuke to those who would see the design world as insignificant

[C] her eclectic approach to style

[D] her tall, fit physique

3. The inaugural gown as a cultural touchstone implies that _____.

[A] the inaugural gown is important to the country's fashion industry

[B] the inaugural gown reflects and directs the nation's fashion taste

[C] the inaugural gown is worth admiring

[D] people should follow the taste of the inaugural gown

4. What did Mrs. Obama bring to fashion?

[A] She was always smartly dressed at any occasion.

[B] Her dress announced a shifting of the guard within the fashion industry's elite.

[C] She brought novel and healthy concept to fashion.

[D] She brought real aesthetic perspective to fashion.

5. The best title for this passage is _____.

[A] Mrs. Obama is Leading New Fashion

[B] Mrs. Obama Can Be Said as a Cultural Touchstone

[C] Mrs. Obama: A Novel and Healthy Perspective to Fashion

[D] Mrs. Obama: Where the Fashion Trend is Going?





文章剖析


本文主要褒奖了奥巴马夫人的着装风格和着装智慧。第一段从总体上对奥巴马夫人进行了概述，进而切入她的着装的话题；第二段讲述米歇尔作为第一夫人的着装的重要性；第三、四段讲述她在时尚、经济、女权以及精神创新的影响力方面的着装智慧；第五、六段进一步赞美奥巴马夫人在政治领域的着装智慧，以及她健康的体形对其政治理念的影响；第七、八段讲述奥巴马夫人对美国民众的积极影响。





词汇注释


chameleon n. 善变的人；变色龙

saturation n. 饱和；饱和度

countenance v. 支持，赞同

attire n. 服装；衣服

inaugural adj. 就职的；开幕的；成立的

potency n. 影响力；支配力；效力

rebuke n. 指责；批评

frivolity n. 轻浮的举止；愚蠢的行为；可笑的表现

aficionado n. ……迷；狂热爱好者

eclectic adj. 不拘一格的；兼收并蓄的

savvy adj. 有见识的；聪慧的；通情达理的

subtext n. 潜台词

emblem n. 象征；徽章

estrange v. 使疏远；离间





难句突破


① During that time, she captured the eye of fashion aficionados with her eclectic approach to style, her willingness to indulge in trends and the skill with which she used fashion to help shape her public image.

主体句式：...she captured the eye of fashion aficionados with...

结构分析：本句句型相对简单，但修饰成分较多，容易引起混淆。该句的主干是...she captured the eye of fashion aficionados with...。with后跟三个名词短语，表方法、手段。其中第三个名词短语又用定语从句修饰，which指代the skill。

句子译文：那时，她以不拘一格的穿衣风格，对流行趋势的钻研，以及运用时尚来塑造自己公众形象的技巧博取了时尚爱好者的注意力。

②Mrs. Obama's lean and sculpted arms were admired, not simply from an aesthetic perspective but because they acknowledged that she was from a generation of post-Title IX women who played sports, lifted weights, and were proud of their athleticism.

主体句式：Mrs. Obama's lean and sculpted arms were admired, not simply from...but because...

结构分析：这是一个复合句，后面的状语分句由not simply from...but because...的并列结构连接。but because... 分句中，post-Title IX women由who引导的定语从句修饰。

句子译文：人们敬慕奥巴马夫人那刚毅如刻的手臂，不仅仅是从审美的角度觉得它美，更重要的是因为她是出生于后现代的女性。这一代的女性可以参加体育项目，可以举重，并且以崇尚运动为荣。





题目分析


1. The fact that fashion fatigue has set in implies that _____.

[A] Michelle Obama isn't a person that follows the crowd

[B] famous stars have overused fashion

[C] Michelle Obama has her unique wisdom towards fashion

[D] many agree to chronicle Michelle Obama's attire as breathless, fanzine-style

1. 时尚元素已泛滥成灾，这一事实暗示了 _____。

[A] 米歇尔·奥巴马不是一个爱从众的人

[B] 明星们已经滥用时尚

[C] 米歇尔·奥巴马对时尚有自己的独特智慧

[D] 很多人同意用例如惊艳或长期受时尚发烧友杂志钟爱的风格等词语来描述米歇尔·奥巴马的装束

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。文章第一段就指出米歇尔·奥巴马不像芭比娃娃那样徒有其表等，说明奥巴马夫人并不爱从众，而是个对时尚有自己独特看法的人。第一段第三句提到，时尚元素已泛滥成灾，作者不能再用例如惊艳或长期受时尚发烧友杂志钟爱的风格等词语来称赞她的装束了，进一步说明奥巴马夫人对时尚的独特见解。D选项表述错误，A和B选项描述的只是表面现象，只有C选项挖掘到了深层含义，最符合题意，故为答案。

2. The wisdom of Mrs. Obama's clothes is embodied in the following ones except _____.

[A] reflection of economics, female power, and the potency of the creative spirit

[B] her rebuke to those who would see the design world as insignificant

[C] her eclectic approach to style

[D] her tall, fit physique

2. 以下方面，除_____外，均体现了奥巴马夫人的着装智慧。

[A] 传递出了经济、女权以及创新精神的影响力方面的信息

[B] 她谴责那些认为设计领域无关紧要的人

[C] 她不拘一格的穿衣风格

[D] 她高挑、健康的体型

答案：D　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：细节题。文章第三、四、五段都在讲述奥巴马夫人着装的独特风格：奥巴马夫人的着装时常传递出有关经济、女权以及创新精神的影响力方面的重要信息，她谴责那些把设计领域仅仅看成是浮夸且无关紧要的人，她以不拘一格的穿衣风格博取了时尚爱好者的注意力。因此，A、B和C选项都是奥巴马夫人穿衣风格的体现。只有D选项讲的是奥巴马夫人的体型，与题意无关，故D选项为答案。

3. The inaugural gown as a cultural touchstone implies that _____.

[A] the inaugural gown is important to the country's fashion industry

[B] the inaugural gown reflects and directs the nation's fashion taste

[C] the inaugural gown is worth admiring

[D] people should follow the taste of the inaugural gown

3. 就职演说时的着装是文化的试金石暗示了_____。

[A] 就职演说时的着装对整个国家的时尚产业非常重要

[B] 就职演说时的着装反映并引领整个国家的时尚品位

[C] 就职演说时的着装值得赞赏

[D] 人们应当追随就职演说时的着装品位

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。文中第二段提到，无论谁入主“东翼”（成为第一夫人），都将对国家时尚产业的发展起到重要的支持作用。毫无疑问，就职演说时的着装仍旧是检验文化的试金石。根据上下文可以推出，就职演说时的着装会传递出关于经济和政治方面的态度，反映出领导人的时尚品位，进而也可能引领整个国家的时尚品位。据此可知，只有B选项的说法最符合题意，故为答案。

4. What did Mrs. Obama bring to fashion industry?

[A] She was always smartly dressed at any occasion.

[B] Her dress announced a shifting of the guard within the fashion industry's elite.

[C] She brought novel and healthy concept to fashion.

[D] She brought real aesthetic perspective to fashion.

4. 奥巴马夫人给时尚产业带来了什么？

[A] 她在任何场合下总是着装得体。

[B] 她的着装向时尚界精英宣告时尚风向标开始转向了。

[C] 她为时尚产业带来了新颖和健康的观念。

[D] 她为时尚产业带来了真正的美学视角。

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆☆

分析：推理题。文章第四、五、六段提到，奥巴马夫人独特得体的穿衣风格受到了赞扬。她不仅对服装很感兴趣，而且还能以自己高挑、健康的体型把它们穿得非常得体。而且，她是出生于后现代的女性。这一代的女性可以参加体育项目，可以举重，并且以崇尚运动为荣。因此，她为时尚产业带来了新颖和健康的观念。A和B选项与题意无关，D选项说法太笼统，只有C选项最符合题意，故为答案。

5. The best title for this passage is _____.

[A] Mrs. Obama is Leading New Fashion

[B] Mrs. Obama Can Be Said as a Cultural Touchstone

[C] Mrs. Obama: A Novel and Healthy Perspective to Fashion

[D] Mrs. Obama: Where the Fashion Trend is Going?

5. 最适合这篇文章的题目为_____。

[A] 奥巴马夫人正在引领新时尚

[B] 奥巴马夫人堪称文化试金石

[C] 奥巴马夫人：一种新颖健康的时尚视角

[D] 奥巴马夫人：时尚潮流将去往何处？

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆

分析：主旨题。本文主要讲述奥巴马夫人独特得体的穿衣风格给时尚产业带来了新颖和健康的视角。选项C最符合此主题，故为答案。





参考译文


米歇尔·奥巴马不像芭比娃娃那样徒有其表，也不像刚出道的好莱坞明星那样身材百变，更不像着装打扮风格多变的模特或贾斯汀·比伯那样的闪闪新星。但是对于她的着装，却绝对有话可谈。时尚元素已泛滥成灾，我不能再用例如惊艳或长期受时尚发烧友杂志钟爱的风格等词语来称赞她的装束了。当然，这样想的也不止我一人。

很显然，关于第一夫人和她的着装品位确有很多可谈。无论她的丈夫能否连任，奥巴马夫人的着装都将被载入史册。其实无论谁入主“东翼”（成为第一夫人），都将对国家时尚产业的发展起到重要的支持作用。毫无疑问，就职演说时的着装仍然是检验文化的试金石。

奥巴马夫人的着装时常传递出有关经济、女权以及创新精神的影响力方面的重要信息。比如，在某些场合，她会用时尚默默支持着女性和少数人群体，同时又无声地谴责了那些把设计领域仅仅看成是浮夸且无关紧要的人。但是更多的时候，我们看到，她不过身着简单又得体的连衣裙，这些裙装值得我们在幻灯片或图集中慢慢欣赏，但并不具有讨论价值。

奥巴马夫人成为美国第一夫人已有四年多，但她在公众视野下进行竞选游说可远不止四年。那时，她以不拘一格的穿衣风格，对流行趋势的钻研，以及运用时尚来塑造自己公众形象的技巧博取了时尚爱好者的注意力。

这就是第一夫人。显然，她不仅对服装很感兴趣，而且还能以自己高挑、健康的体型把它们穿得非常得体。还记得2009年，当她身着由古巴裔美国设计师伊莎贝尔·托莱多设计的柠檬草黄色的连衣裙和与之相配的外套，站在进行就职宣誓的丈夫旁边时，她明智的着装无不阐述着小企业、女企业家以及具有移民背景的重要性。她就职演说的着装也同样暗含着潜台词。出生于台北的华裔设计师吴季刚为她设计的这套演说服装标志着新一代美国设计师的诞生。对于一场意味着希望和改变的竞选来说，她的着装向时尚界精英宣告：时尚界的风向标开始转向了。

人们敬慕奥巴马夫人那刚毅如刻的手臂，不仅仅是从审美的角度觉得它美，更重要的是因为她是出生于后现代的女性。这一代的女性可以参加体育项目，可以举重，并且以崇尚运动为荣。也正是这双强健的手臂成就了她的竞选口号“行动起来”，让美国的孩子多锻炼，健康饮食。

对于许多三十岁及以上，常常感觉自己与时尚脱节的女性来说，奥巴马夫人为她们树立了勇气和信心。她们同样可以参与其中。时尚，无论高端还是低端，总有一款适合她们。

所有这些都有益于时尚，也有益于美国女性健康心智的培养。事实上，在过去的四年中，奥巴马夫人的着装似乎多次传达了特别重要的信息。





TEXT TWO


The company that revolutionized the delivery of information now aims to do the same with electricity. Technology powerhouse Google today announced it would spend “tens of millions” of dollars next year in research and development and investments in an effort to drive down the cost of large-scale renewable energy to make it cheaper than coal. Not only will Google be hiring engineers and energy experts for its new initiative, known as RE<C (renewable energy at less cost than coal), but it also will make investments in fledgling companies—starting with those that focus on solar-thermal technology, enhanced geothermal, and high-altitude wind power. “Cheap renewable energy is not only critical for the environment but also vital for economic development in many places where there is limited affordable energy of any kind,” said Sergey Brin, Google cofounder and president of technology, in a prepared statement.

Coal supplies 40 percent of the world's electricity and more than half of U.S. power, and if current trends continue, it is expected to grab an ever increasing share because it is a plentiful and cheap fuel for big consumers like China and the United States. But coal is also the worst fuel in its production of the global warming gas carbon dioxide. Google cofounder Larry Page said the company's goal is to produce one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal within “years, not decades”. Google says that's enough electricity to power a city the size of San Francisco (about 330,000 households).

Google, located in Mountain View, Calif., said it was initially working with two other California companies. They are eSolar, of Pasadena, which is specializing in solar-thermal power, using large fields of mirrors to concentrate sunlight and generate steam to run utility-scale electric turbines, and Makani of Alameda, which is developing wind energy technology that takes advantage of the much stronger and more reliable currents available at high altitudes.

Google did not specify how much money it was putting into its projects with these companies but said they both had “promising scalable energy technologies”. This portion of the initiative will be funded through the company's philanthropic arm, Google.org, which is not a traditional charity but can make equity investments in companies. Brin and Page have pledged 1 percent of Google's equity and profits toward efforts including climate change and global poverty.

The RE<C program is the latest of a series of steps Google has taken on climate change. The company says it is on track in its goal to be carbon neutral in 2007. It installed one of the largest corporate solar panel installations anywhere, a 1.6-megawatt rooftop system on its Mountain View campus.

The company also has a project to accelerate development and adoption of ultrahigh-efficiency plug-in hybrid cars. Google has been lobbying for inclusion of a nationwide renewable energy portfolio goal in the energy legislation currently under negotiation on Capitol Hill. And the company is working on an energy-efficient computing initiative with other Silicon Valley companies.

1. The word “fledgling” (Line 5, Paragraph 1) most probably means _____.

[A] inexperienced

[B] promising

[C] new

[D] initiative

2. Which one of the following statements is TRUE of the coal?

[A] It is a kind of controversial fuel given its large quantity and its harm to the environment.

[B] It is a plentiful and cheap fuel that will surely earn more market share.

[C] It will be totally replaced by the renewable energy in years because it produces the worst gas—carbon dioxide.

[D] It is supported by enthusiastic countries like China and the U. S.

3. Google.org is a(n) _____.

[A] charity organization

[B] equity investor in companies

[C] branch website of Google.com that focuses on charity activities

[D] environmental organization that specializes in promoting green fuel

4. Which one of the following is NOT TRUE of RE<C program?

[A] It will be realized through investments in solar and wind energy companies.

[B] It is a program of environmental protection.

[C] It is one of the measures taken to neutralize carbon.

[D] It can come into true in a few years.

5. The best title of this passage is _____.