1. 根据这篇文章，Robert Macfarlane到英国的偏远地方旅行是为了 _____。

[A] 绘制一幅和陆地测量部网格地图相似的故事图

[B] 把自然之旅和学术思考结合起来

[C] 勘探那些没有人类足迹的地方

[D] 释放那种已经被人类遗忘的对自然的迷恋

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。根据第一段和第二段：There is not an icy pool he will not plunge into or tree he would not climb. He picks up shards of roughened granite and smooth flints and turns them in his hand. He says: We have in many ways forgotten what the world feels like.和On the two occasions that the elements threaten him—on the summit of Scotland's northernmost mountain and at the foot of a remote Hebridean climb—he briskly retreats. 可见，Robert Macfarlane想要体验蛮荒的感觉才是他的主要目的，因此，答案为C。

2. The word “forsake” (Line 2, Paragraph 2) most probably means _____.

[A] dislike

[B] abandon

[C] detach

[D] disconnect

2. forsake这个词（第二段第二行）最有可能的意思是 _____。

[A] 讨厌

[B] 遗弃

[C] 分离

[D] 断开

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：猜词题。根据文章第二段：A Cambridge academic, who has previously written about men's fascination with mountains, Mr. Macfarlane does not forsake civilisation. 文章接下来谈到，虽然他迷恋自然，但是却用非常精细的语言（in scholarly fashion）描述它，可见，他也没有因为对自然的热爱而放弃文明，因此，正确答案为B。

3. According to the passage, the story of Schiehallion is _____.

[A] similar to those which are represented in Mr. Mac-farlane's book

[B] a fictitious one in the Ordnance Survey grid map

[C] a historical tale adopted into Mr. Macfarlane's book

[D] a story in the history book on 18th-century

3. 根据这篇文章，Schiehallion的故事是 _____。

[A] 和Macfarlane先生书中的故事相似

[B] 陆地测量部网格地图的一个虚拟部分

[C] Macfarlane先生写在他书中的一篇历史故事

[D] 历史书中关于18世纪的故事

答案：C　难度系数：☆

分析：推理题。根据第二段和第三段之间过渡的部分：Nonetheless, this is indeed a good book, replete with wonderful tales. 和Like that of Schiehallion: a Scottish mountain so resembling an isosceles triangle that an 18th-century mapmaker used its measurements to estimate the density of the Earth. 首先，第二段末尾说他的书中有许多奇妙的故事，接着第三段就举了这样的例子，因此，答案为C。

4. From the fact that Mr. Macfarlane described a hawthorn trunk as a “shaggy centaur's leg”, it can be inferred that _____.

[A] he is a good story teller

[B] he is a poet full of imagination

[C] he is always indulged in fantasy

[D] he is very romantic

4. 从Macfarlane先生将一棵布满青苔的山楂树的树干描写为“怪兽毛茸茸的腿”，可以推断出 _____。

[A] 他是一个讲故事的好手

[B] 他是充满想象的诗人

[C] 他总是沉浸在幻想中

[D] 他非常浪漫

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆

分析：推理题。根据第五段：Like many English poets, he comes to find “visions in ditches”. 也就是说，Macfarlane先生像诗人一样，而诗人总是充满幻想的，因此，选项C最为符合。选项B具有较大的干扰性，但是要注意，Macfarlane先生并不是一个诗人。

5. Towards the future of the nature, Mr. Macfarlane's attitude can be described as _____.

[A] pessimistic

[B] optimistic

[C] ambiguous

[D] unclear

5. 对于大自然的未来，Macfarlane先生的态度可以说是 _____。

[A] 悲观的

[B] 乐观的

[C] 模棱两可的

[D] 不清楚的

答案：A　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：态度题。根据最后一段：There may be no hope of arresting this change. Yet Mr. Macfarlane consoles himself with the thought that nature, endlessly changing, will not all die. 从这句话中可以看出，他的态度似乎还是有一点点乐观的。但是文章紧接着又指出：The beech woods, too, will move north. And when people are gone, nature will remain... The wild prefaced us, and it will outlive us. 以及It is a depressing hope. 可见，人类消失了自然仍旧存留，可见，他的态度还是相当悲观的，这从末尾的depressing这个词也可以看出。因此，答案为A。





参考译文


Robert Macfarlane像个生活在中世纪的神人，又像是现代嬉皮士，他投身于英国北部和西部岛屿最遥远的地方，海水冲刷着岛屿，陆地上是起伏的山脉和巨大的沼泽地。他想要体验蛮荒的感觉。遇到任何一个冰湖他都会跳进去，看到任何一棵树他也都会爬一爬。他会捡起粗糙的花岗岩碎片和平滑的碎石放在手里把玩。他说：“我们在很多方面都忘记了世界是什么样子的了。”

作为剑桥大学的一位学者，Macfarlane之前描写过人们对于山的迷恋，他并不抛弃文明。他曾经受到过两次生命威胁，一次是在苏格兰最北面的山峰上，还有一次是在遥远的赫布里底群岛的山脚下，但是他都迅速地脱离了险境。他以学术派的风格来勘查、分类和命名。他将自己的旅行描述为“故事图”（陆地测量部网格地图的中世纪鼻祖），由历史和偶发性事件串联起来。作为一种叙述技法，这好像有点过于装腔作势。实际上，Macfarlane那精美但有时有些单调的文字也存在这样的问题。不过，这实际上是一本充满了奇思妙想的好书。

比如Schiehallion的故事，这座苏格兰山脉太像等腰三角形了，一位18世纪的地图绘制者曾用它的尺寸来估测地球的密度。W. H. Murray的故事也很有意思，他是一位苏格兰山丘的年代记编者，被关在纳粹集中营时，他在草纸上描绘这些山丘，以此来保持自己的心智清醒。最奇怪的或许是，Macfarlane将Dorset路——即一种深陷在黄色砂岩中的小路——与16世纪不服权威躲藏在乡村里的天主教徒做了一种隐喻性的联系。

Macfarlane先生后来意识到，英国人居住的每个群岛都有人类的历史。因为西爱尔兰在19世纪末的饥荒和迁徙，以及北苏格兰在19世纪末的迁徙和驱逐，空旷的边远地区人口繁盛的迹象已经被抹去了。他由此改变了对于蛮荒的看法，认为蛮荒不是没有被玷污过的自然，而是自然本身：“使有机存在持续下去的那种有力而混乱的绝对力量。”

像许多英国诗人一样，他发现了“沟壑中的幻想”。一棵布满青苔的山楂树的树干看起来就好像是“怪兽毛茸茸的腿”。但是英国的自然界到处都呈现出衰败的状态。6,000英亩（2,400公顷）石灰石地面中，只有200英亩的外观没有被损坏。二战后，100万英里的灌木树篱中，有1/4（约40万公里）被清除掉了，之后每年消失2,000英里。

随着气候变暖，我们受到更多可怕变化的威胁。苏格兰海鸟群已经在面临饥荒，因为它们的猎物都到北方去追寻更冰冷的水了。每年都有将近1英亩艾塞克斯的咸水沼泽地因为海平面升高而消失，而那是珍贵的洪水防堤。Macfarlane先生担心，英国最后的大毛榉树森林可能会在他的有生之年消失殆尽：仅有50年树龄的树木竟出现了本来三倍于该年龄的树上才会有的衰退迹象。

也许没有希望阻止这种变化了。但是Macfarlane先生安慰自己说，大自然在永无休止地变化着，不会全都死亡的。而毛榉树林也会向北移动。当人都消失的时候，大自然还会存留。“荒野揭开了我们的序幕，也会比我们存在的时间更长。”这是多么让人压抑的希望啊。





TEXT THREE


The past few years have not been kind to Wall Street's equity analysts. Accused of helping to inflate the Internet bubble, new regulations were imposed upon them after it popped. Research budgets subsequently tumbled. Fund managers are increasingly bypassing the widely distributed wares of traditional research providers, turning to specialist firms instead. Less than six months ago, Merrill Lynch's head of research complained that Wall Street analysis was being “Napsterised”, or pirated. Some big financial firms, such as Prudential, have closed their research arms. Others are pondering their future in the business. To cap it all, a recent study suggested that it was all too easy for companies to buy the loyalty of those who cover their stock. The analyst's heyday would seem to be long gone.

But times are changing again. As markets sputter, analysts are regaining some clout. American shares plummeted on August 28th partly because Merrill Lynch's Guy Moszkowski cut his rating on several banks. Another Merrill analyst had earlier caused an even bigger quake by downgrading Countrywide, a big mortgage lender. And shares in Bear Stearns leapt when Dick Bove, an analyst with Punk Ziegel, merely pondered the possibility that the broker might receive a cash infusion from a foreign investor.

One explanation for this revival of influence is that, with markets so febrile, any shift in opinion is bound to have an exaggerated effect. But there may be more to it than that. As uncertainty grows, investors seem to be placing a higher value on research than they did only months ago. There is nothing new in this, reckons Mr. Bove, a 40-year veteran of the industry. He asserts that nobody cares what analysts think in the good times, when what matters is deploying your money as quickly as possible. But the tables quickly turn when markets fall, as investors seek to steady their portfolios. Mr. Bove argues that the golden age for equity analysts was the long bear market of the 1960s and 1970s, when advice on how to avoid losing money was highly treasured.

Another factor is the loss of faith in “quant” funds, which trade using complex computer models. Their recent problems have pushed investors back towards “more bottom-up, fundamental analysis”, says Lara Warner, head of American research at Credit Suisse. “People suddenly want to understand what they're holding.”

Recent structural changes also play a part. Since the “Global Settlement” of 2003, which severed the links between investment banks' dealmakers and their research departments, the banks have begun to tie analysts' pay more closely to performance. Bold calls earn bigger bonuses, if they prove correct. Ideas that stand out, and are thus valuable to hedge funds seeking “alpha” (above-market) returns, are also rewarded.

The audacity of some analysts stands in contrast to the spinelessness of Moody's and Standard&Poor's, which showered complex structured products with top-notch ratings and then twiddled their thumbs until they could no longer avoid downgrading them. By growing too cosy with their paymasters in structured products—the banks that package them—the rating agencies have ended up hopelessly in knots. A bit like equity analysts during the dotcom boom, in fact.

1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following statements is TRUE about the Wall Street's equity analysts?

[A] Their value were severely doubted and criticized by all.

[B] They were accused of exaggerating the values of the Internet stocks.

[C] They were facing the reverse trend of their business popularity.

[D] Big firms were beginning to abandon them.

2. The result of the study mentioned in the first paragraph implies that _____.

[A] the company need not Wall Street's equity analysis any more

[B] the stock holders are less dependent on the equity analysts

[C] suggestions by the Wall Street equity analysts are worthless

[D] shareholders are more sophisticated after the Internet bubble popped

3. The analysts are regaining their influence recently because of the following reasons except _____.

[A] the investors need more suggestions on their portfolios

[B] the market is now turning to be more tolerant of analysts' exaggeration

[C] the analysts are separated with the banks

[D] the quant funds have some problems in trading

4. Who are more likely getting high pays from the banks after the “Global Settlement”?

[A] Analysts who provide bold calls on the equity.

[B] Analysts who could bring good returns for the funds.

[C] Analysts who could provide correct evaluations.

[D] Analysts who could hedge funds.

5. The rating agencies are a bit like equity analysts during the dotcom boom in that _____.

[A] they tend to inflate the value of Internet stocks

[B] they have too close association with their clients

[C] they have not evaluated the structured products properly

[D] they were reluctant to downgrade their products





文章剖析


这篇文章讲述了华尔街的股票分析师面临的一些情况。第一段讲述了人们对股票分析师的批评；第二段讲述目前大家对股票分析师的态度又有了改变；第三、第四和第五段讲述发生新变化的原因；第六段讲述分析师目前的特点。





词汇注释


heyday n. 全盛期

sputter v. 发出劈啪声

clout n. 影响

febrile adj. 发热的

portfolio n. 资金组合

quant n. 运用数学和相关学科的专家





难句突破


① And shares in Bear Stearns leapt when Dick Bove, an analyst with Punk Ziegel, merely pondered the possibility that the broker might receive a cash infusion from a foreign investor.

主体句式：And shares in Bear Sterns leapt...

结构分析：这是一个复合句，when引导的是句子的时间状语；在该时间状语中，that引导的是possibility的同位语从句。

句子译文：而Punk Ziegel的分析师Dick Bove仅仅考虑了股票经纪人有可能会接受外国投资者的融资，这就使得Bear Stearn的股票出现了震荡。

② Mr. Bove argues that the golden age for equity analysts was the long bear market of the 1960s and 1970s, when advice on how to avoid losing money was highly treasured.

主体句式：Mr. Bove argues that...

结构分析：这是一个复合句，that引导的是宾语从句；在该从句中，when引导的是时间状语从句。

句子译文：Bove先生认为，股票分析师的黄金时期是上世纪60年代到70年代的长期熊市，当时那些有关如何避免资金损失的建议得到了高度重视。





题目分析


1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following statements is TRUE about the Wall Street's equity analysts?

[A] Their value were severely doubted and criticized by all.

[B] They were accused of exaggerating the values of the Internet stocks.

[C] They were facing the reverse trend of their business popularity.

[D] Big firms were beginning to abandon them.

1. 根据第一段，下列关于华尔街的股票分析家的陈述中哪一项是正确的？

[A] 人们严重怀疑和批评他们的价值。

[B] 人们指责他们夸大了网络股票的价值。

[C] 他们面临着事业下滑的趋势。

[D] 大公司开始抛弃他们。

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆☆

分析：细节题。关键是要理解 helping to inflate the Internet bubble的意思，即“帮助吹大了网络泡沫”，也就是将网络股票的价值高估了，因此，答案为B。选项A和D的表述都过于绝对，不符合原文。选项C有一定的干扰性，但是要注意，文章第一段最后一句指出：The analyst's heyday would seem to be long gone. 从would seem to可以看出，这是一个虚拟语气的句子，表示假设的状况，因此该选项错误。

2. The result of the study mentioned in the first paragraph implies that _____.

[A] the company need not Wall Street's equity analysis any more

[B] the stock holders are less dependent on the equity analysts

[C] suggestions by the Wall Street equity analysts are worthless

[D] shareholders are more sophisticated after the Internet bubble popped

2. 第一段提到的研究结果暗示了 _____。

[A] 公司不再需要华尔街的股票分析了

[B] 股票持有人不再那么依靠股票分析了

[C] 华尔街股票分析家的建议是毫无价值的

[D] 股票持有人在互联网泡沫破灭后更加成熟了

答案：D　难度系数：☆

分析：推理题。第一段提到：To cap it all, a recent study suggested that it was all too easy for companies to buy the loyalty of those who cover their stock. 即研究表明，公司们以前想要买到股民们的忠诚真是太容易了，那么也就是说，现在股民们就不是这样了。因此，选项D符合题意。

3. The analysts are regaining their influence recently because of the following reasons except _____.

[A] the investors need more suggestions on their portfolios

[B] the market is now turning to be more tolerant of analysts' exaggeration

[C] the analysts are separated with the banks

[D] the quant funds have some problems in trading

3. 近来分析师们的影响又恢复了，这是因为以下除了 _____ 外的原因。

[A] 投资者需要关于他们的投资组合更多的建议

[B] 市场现在能够更加容忍这些分析师的夸张描述了

[C] 分析家和银行分离了

[D] 理学基金在交易方面存在一些问题

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：细节题。选项A，文章第三段中提到了这点。选项D，第四段提到了这点。选项C，第五段提到了这点。而B对应于第三段的One explanation for this revival of influence is that, with markets so febrile, any shift in opinion is bound to have an exaggerated effect. 即“这种影响重新恢复的原因在于，市场处于高热状态，任何观点的变化都会产生夸大的效果”，这与选项B的表述相左。因此，答案为B。

4. Who are more likely getting high pays from the banks after the “Global Settlement”?

[A] Analysts who provide bold calls on the equity.

[B] Analysts who could bring good returns for the funds.

[C] Analysts who could provide correct evaluations.

[D] Analysts who could hedge funds.

4. “全球调整”后，谁有可能从银行获得高工资？

[A] 那些声音很大的分析师。

[B] 可以为基金取得较好收益的分析师。

[C] 可以提供正确估值的分析师。

[D] 可以套期保值基金的分析师。

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：细节题。根据第五段，那些观点正确且声音很大的分析师收益高，而A只提到了一个方面。对套期保值基金有价值的分析师的意见也可以获得高回报，因此，选项B是正确的。

5. The rating agencies are a bit like equity analysts during the dotcom boom in that _____.

[A] they tend to inflate the value of Internet stocks

[B] they have too close association with their clients

[C] they have not evaluated the structured products properly

[D] they were reluctant to downgrade their products

5. 评级机构和网络繁荣时代的分析师的相同之处在于 _____。

[A] 他们倾向于夸大网络股票的价值

[B] 他们和客户有过于亲密的关系

[C] 他们没有正确地评估产品的价值

[D] 他们不愿意降低自己产品的级别

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。根据最后一段：By growing too cosy with their paymasters in structured products—the banks that package them—the rating agencies have ended up hopelessly in knots. A bit like equity analysts during the dotcom boom, in fact. 即评级机构和结构产品的发薪者过于勾结，最终不能给予产品正确的评级，这就和网络时代的分析师过高地评估股票一样，因此，答案为C。





参考译文


过去的几年对于华尔街的股票分析师们来说可不好过。他们被人指责为加剧网络泡沫推波助澜，因此在泡沫破灭后，就出台了限制他们的法规。研究预算减少了，基金经理不再关心传统研究提供者的那种到处都有的服务了，而是转向了专业公司。不到六个月前，美林公司研发主任抱怨说，华尔街的分析是“孤注一掷的”，或者说是剽窃来的。一些大的金融公司（如Prudential）已经关闭了其研究部门，其他的也正在考虑该行业未来的发展。近期的一项研究表明，公司们想要买到股民们的忠诚真是太简单了。分析师的全盛时期已经不复存在了。