词汇注释


rapport /ræˈpɔː(r)/ n. 友好；和睦；友好关系

sky-high /ˈskaɪˈhaɪ/ adv./adj. 极高地（的）

sky diving 尽量延缓张伞的跳伞运动；天空蹦极

white-water rafting急流漂筏；滑水

caving /ˈkeɪvɪŋ/ n. 洞穴探险

cubicle /ˈkjuːbɪk(ə)l/ n. 隔间，小卧室

hard times 市况萧条，不景气

purse string 系钱袋口上的细绳；金钱

loosen the purse strings 放松对钱的控制

hold (control，tighten) the purse strings 控制（节省）开支

working circle林区（按照特别经营计划建立的森林区域）

let off steam散发多余的精力；发泄郁积的情感

shake-up /ˈʃeɪkˈʌp/ n. 〈俚〉机构大改组；人员大变动

regatta/rɪˈɡætə/ n. 赛船大会，划船比赛，赛舟会

landlubber /ˈlændlʌbə(r)/ n.“旱鸭子”（指新水手，不习惯航海、乘船的人）

set loose 释放；把…放出来；（使）开始（做某事）

skipper /ˈskɪpə/ n. 【海】 船长；运动队队长

take (run) risks 冒险

topple /ˈtɒpl/ vt. 推翻；颠覆 vi. 倒塌

camaraderie /kɑːməˈrɑːdəriː/ n. 〈法〉同志间的友谊；友爱

off-site /ˌɒfˈsaɪt/ adj. 不在现场的，离开事发地点的

light /laɪt/ n. 见解，见识，眼光

savvy /ˈsævi/ n.〈俚〉见识；智慧 adj. 精明的；能干的；有见识的





背景注释


Visa U.S.A （维萨美国）：Visa U.S.A是一家业界领先的支付公司，拥有美国最大的支付系统，在发展新的支付手段和技术方面起着至关重要的作用。它为14,000家成员金融机构和持卡人提供服务，并为电子商务提供安全的在线处理方式。





难句突破


After a reorganization last fall，DMR，a New Jersey-based telecommunications consulting firm，flew more than 100 employees of various ages to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia for a four-and-a-half-day program run by the Outdoor Wilderness Leadership School.

主体句式：DMR flew...employees...

结构分析：DMR是本句的主语，a New Jersey-based telecommunications consulting firm是DMR的同位语；flew是句子的谓语，需要注意的是flew在句子里用作及物动词，意思是“用飞机或飞行器运载、运输、运送”；run之前省去了which is。

句子译文：总部设在新泽西州的电信咨询公司——DMR在去年秋天重组以后，安排一百多名不同年龄的员工乘飞机到弗吉尼亚兰岭山参加由野外领导能力培训学校开办的为期四天半的培训课程。





题目分析


1．C 细节题。作者在文章开头就提出Tanna Oldfield's software company needed to establish rapport between some new hires and the firm's old guard.，正是出于想要融洽新、老员工关系的原因，奥德菲尔德才做出这件与众不同的事情。至于员工们感到exhilarated and more confident，那是这次旅行所带来的意想不到的收获。

2．A 细节题。选项B对应的信息在第三段：People need to let off steam in harder times；选项C对应的信息在第四段：...staged a regatta to help employees learn how to work together in a new environment；选项D对应的信息在倒数第一段：That's because rugged outdoor challenges can topple rigid office hierarchies and encourage the sort of camaraderie...文章末尾提到在野外训练中CEO在某些方面还不如普通员工的现象是客观结果，但不是培训项目的主旨，所以选A。

3．D 语义题。本题主要是考查对习语let off steam的掌握。时世艰难，市况萧条，人们进行singing trail rides是要来“发泄他们郁积的情感”。

4．B 细节题。原文对应信息在倒数第一段：Nothing has been the same since.

5．C 推理题。文章第二段末提到这种野外活动even risky，接下来用实例证明了团队成员从中受益匪浅，故选C。





参考译文



塔纳·奥德菲尔德的软件公司坐落在得克萨斯州奥斯汀。该公司有意促进新员工和老员工之间和睦融洽关系的形成，按照她的说法，就是想要在此方面做些与众不同的事情——“走出小隔间”。于是在她的要求下，她的员工走出了飞机。奥德菲尔德说，在14,000英尺的高度进行这种高空蹦极，只需一天时间就能使员工“精神振奋”、“倍感自信”。她说：“如果他们能征服高空跳伞的恐惧，那么，他们也就能够克服工作中的难题。”

即使在公司费用削减的大环境下，奥德菲尔德的公司（她希望不透漏公司名称）和其他许多新经济的幸存者还继续在培训课程上投资。不过这些培训课程不使用黑板、计算机或会议室，而是一场精心安排的、有时甚至具有危险性的“团队建设”旅行。从急流漂筏到洞穴探险、攀岩，公司培训人员正在给这些在小隔间工作的人逐渐增加训练难度。

市况萧条甚至会使一些公司对财政的控制有所松动。持有平息冲突专业方向博士学位的黛安·卡茨说，她的“林区”团队建设训练项目设在亚利桑那州，至今已运行了一年时间。在她的客户当中，有一半的人来这儿参加培训是因为他们的老板以此作为对他们出色工作的奖赏。“在市况萧条时期，人们需要发泄郁积的情感。”卡茨如是说。在培训中，她利用马语者——这些人宣称能同动物交流，随着罗伯特·里德福德的电影《马语者》得到广为流传——来推动索诺兰沙漠骑马游歌活动的进行（当然是人唱，不是马唱）。

维萨美国（Visa U.S.A.）公司加州福斯特城项目协调员伊丽莎白·伯格在大规模重组办公室人员以后，发起了一次赛舟会以帮助公司员工学会如何在一个新环境里合作共事。一家培训公司——设在加州埃尔塞里托的冒险联合公司——对伯格和另外20名“旱鸭子”同事进行了划船的基本训练，然后让他们分别乘34英尺长的帆船（每艘船上配一名专业船长，以防万一）参加在旧金山海湾举行的赛艇比赛。“作为成年人，我们一般不习惯在我们不懂行的领域里玩”，伯格说，“每个人的合作和反应也都不一样。”

总部设在新泽西州的电信咨询公司——DMR在去年秋天重组以后，安排一百多名不同年龄的员工乘飞机到弗吉尼亚兰岭山参加由野外领导能力培训学校开办的为期四天半的培训课程。“我当时以为这绝对是一场灾难。”年逾半百的销售经理约翰·特戴斯克回忆道，但自从有了被岩壁上的绳索吊在离地面90英尺高的半空中晃来晃去的经历后，特戴斯克学会了如何依靠年轻的同事。“突然间，你遇到了你从未经历过的风险，而恰在此时，你的同事及时来帮你。”他回忆说，“打那以后一切都改变了。这是因为艰难的野外挑战可以消除严格的办公室等级制度，鼓励那种在办公室以外的传统活动中常缺乏的同事友情。特戴斯克说：“通常你都是以不同的眼光看待别人。”而当得知大多数低职位员工原来比首席执行官更精于野外生存时，每个人——可能除了首席执行官以外——都感到轻松了许多。





Unit 30


At the end of last week，Bodega Aurrerá，a Mexican subsidiary of the world's biggest retailer，Wal-Mart，opened a new store in the village of San Juan Teotihuacán，just north of Mexico City．Normally，such an event would cause little stir．Wal-Mart is already Mexico's biggest retailer too．And its shops seem to go down very well with its millions of bargain-hungry customers．① But this particular opening was，in fact，the culmination of months of protests，legal actions，hunger strikes and hyperbole by those determined to stop it.

The reason is the location．Just 2.5km（1.6 miles）away is the ancient city of Teotihuacán，probably Mexico's most famous archaeological site．Amongst other attractions，it boasts the third-largest（by volume）pyramid in the world.② For many Mexicans，the ancient site，abandoned by its mysterious inhabitants centuries before the Spanish conquerors arrived，remains the ultimate symbol of Mexican identity and nationhood. Thousands troop up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun to celebrate the summer solstice．

To them，the idea of having a Wal-Mart next door is abhorrent．In the words of Homero Aridjis，a writer and one of the leading opponents，“it is like driving the stake of globalisation into the heart of old Mexico.” The controversy is only the latest in a string of protesters’ attempts to save Mexican culture from what they see as a creeping menace．They won a famous victory by blocking a McDonalds restaurant from opening in the main square of the pretty southern colonial town of Oaxaca.

But this time they were on much thinner ground．For a start，Wal-Mart went through all the appropriate regulatory hoops，even getting permission from the Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites，which judged that the store would cause no harm to the nearby ruins．A small stone platform was indeed found during construction of the new car park，but was preserved.

Just as importantly，the claim that the new store spoils the famous view from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun is clearly bogus，as anyone who cares to get to the top can testify．The problem is not so much that you can see the Wal-Mart，but one of trying to distinguish it from the 30-odd other ugly，squat buildings that litter the surrounding countryside—to say nothing of the car parks，the electricity pylons and the large power station．Sadly，unrestricted building long ago ruined this particular view，as well as many others in Mexico.

To the diehards，the issue counts more than the view．But neither mattered much to the hundreds of locals who queued up for the opening，delighted to be freed of the small and expensive local shops．Despite a legal case pending against Wal-Mart and local officials，brought by an irate local left-wing politician，this is one battle that the American retailer has probably won.


注（1）：本文选自Economist；

注（2）：本文习题命题模仿对象为2001年真题Text 4（由于此部分真题只有4个题目，所以本文第4题模仿对象为2003年真题Text 1的第4题）。



1．Why did the opening of Wal-Mart cause stir?

A) Wal-Mart would have severe competition with the local stores.

B) War-Mart would provide customers with a larger choice and more benefits.

C) It was said to have ruined the scene of the ancient site.

D) There shouldn’t be a store near the ancient site.

2．From Paragraph 2 we can infer that ______.

A) the ancient city means a lot to the Mexicans

B) a store will be too noisy for the ancient city

C) the ancient city is very mysterious

D) the pyramid is a good place for holding a big ceremony

3．According to Wal-Mart，it has a good reason to build a store there because ______.

A) it proves no harm to the nearby ruins

B) the scene of the ancient sites has been damaged

C) customers want to buy some cheap products

D) it has been widely accepted by the customers there

4．It can be learned from Paragraph 5 that ______.

A) the famous view is not as good as it used to be

B) the city lacks planning in building

C) the ancient site is littered with ugly buildings

D) Wal-Mart shouldn’t be fully responsible for the ruined view

5．Toward the fate of Wal-Mart，the writer's attitude can be said to be ______.

A) objective

B) optimistic

C) pessimistic

D) biased





篇章剖析


本文采用提出问题——分析问题的模式，指出世界上最大的零售商沃尔玛在墨西哥开设分店时所遇到的麻烦、问题产生的原因以及最终的结果。第一段指出沃尔玛设在墨西哥的子公司Bodega Aurrerá在墨西哥城北部的圣胡安特奥帝瓦坎村开了一家新店所引起的强烈反对；第二段指出事件产生的原因；第三段指出反对者的看法及举动；第四段指出沃尔玛充分的前期工作；第五段指出这座古城的实际情况；第六段指出这个事件最有可能的结果是什么。





词汇注释


subsidiary /səbˈsɪdɪəri/ n. 子公司

retailer /ˈriːtɪlə(r)/ n. 零售商人

go down with 为…所接受，为…相信

culmination /kʌlmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 顶点；结果

hyperbole /haɪˈpɜːbəli/ n. （修辞学中的）夸张法

summer solstice 夏至

creeping /ˈkriːpɪŋ/ adj. 爬行的；在一段时间内逐步发展的

bogus /ˈbəʊɡəs/ adj. 〈美〉假的，伪造的

diehard /ˈdaɪhɑːd/ n. 顽固分子

irate /aɪˈreɪt/ adj. 发怒的；生气的





难句突破


① But this particular opening was，in fact，the culmination of months of protests，legal actions，hunger strikes and hyperbole by those determined to stop it.

主体句式：This opening was the culmination.

结构分析：本句是一个简单句。months of protests，legal actions，hunger strikes and hyperbole跟在介词of后面来修饰culmination；by的意思是“由…”；determined之前省去了who are。

句子译文：这次开张实际上是那些决心阻止它成立的人数月以来进行抗议、动用法律手段、绝食抗议和其他一些偏激行为无效而落得的最终结果。

② For many Mexicans，the ancient site，abandoned by its mysterious inhabitants centuries before the Spanish conquerors arrived，remains the ultimate symbol of Mexican identity and nationhood.

主体句式：The ancient site remains the symbol of...

结构分析：本句是一个简单句。abandoned之前省去了which was。

句子译文：在西班牙征服者到来之前，这座古城被这里的神秘居民遗弃了数百年，但对很多墨西哥人来说它依然是墨西哥民族和国家身份的根本象征。





题目分析


1．C 细节题。从句子Normally，such an event would cause little stir.，我们可以看出沃尔玛开业这样的事情一般不会引起什么反对的。但是作者笔锋一转，用but表明实际有人反对，原因在于the location和倒数第二段提到的the claim that the new store spoils the famous view from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun。

2．A 推理题。原文对应信息在第二段：For many Mexicans，the ancient site，abandoned by its mysterious inhabitants centuries before the Spanish conquerors arrived，remains the ultimate symbol of Mexican identity and nationhood.

3．D 细节题。原文对应信息在第一段：Wal-Mart is already Mexico's biggest retailer too．And its shops seem to go down very well with its millions of bargain-hungry customers.

4．D 推理题。原文对应信息在倒数第二段：Just as importantly，the claim that the new store spoils the famous view from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun is clearly bogus，as anyone who cares to get to the top can testify.文中倒数第二段末句提到破坏景致的是unrestricted building long ago，排除A。同时，这只能推出过去缺乏城市规划，而非现在，排除B。文中说的是Wal-Mart被丑陋建筑包围，排除C。

5．B 情感态度题。原文对应信息在文章末句：this is one battle that the American retailer has probably won。





参考译文



上周末，世界最大的零售商沃尔玛设在墨西哥的子公司Bodega Aurrerá在墨西哥城北部的圣胡安特奥帝瓦坎（San Juan Teotihuacán）村开了一家新店。通常情况下，这样的事情是不会引起什么反对的。沃尔玛已经是墨西哥最大的零售商了。新开的商店应该备受那些想买廉价货的上百万顾客的欢迎。这次开张实际上是那些决心阻止它成立的人数月以来进行抗议、动用法律手段、绝食抗议和其他一些偏激行为无效而落得的最终结果。

事件的原因在于地段的选择问题。商店地址选在了离特奥蒂瓦坎古城仅2.5公里（1.6英里）的地方。该古城可能是墨西哥最为出名的古文化遗址，除了别的景观之外，它还拥有世界上第三大金字塔（从体积上来判断的话）。在西班牙征服者到来之前，这座古城被这里的神秘居民抛弃了数百年，但对很多墨西哥人来说它依然是墨西哥民族和国家身份的根本象征。每逢夏至都有上千人一起登上太阳金字塔的顶部以示庆祝。

对于这些人来说，在古城附近建沃尔玛超市这样的主意简直太可恶了。奥梅罗·阿里迪斯是一位作家，也是主要的反对者之一，用他的话来说：“这好比是把全球化的树桩子插到了古老的墨西哥的心脏上。”在反对者看来，这是一种潜在的危险。为了使墨西哥文化免受危险，他们已做出了一系列努力，这场争端只是其中最近的一次。他们曾赢过一场令人满意的胜利，成功阻止了麦当劳餐厅在美丽的南部殖民城镇瓦哈卡（OaxacA）的主要广场上开店。

但是这次他们的底气就没那么足了。因为从一开始，沃尔玛就通过了所有相关管理部门的审核，甚至还得到了驻巴黎的国际古迹遗址理事会的认可，他们判定在那里设店对周边遗迹是不会造成任何损害的。在新停车场施工过程中确实发现了一个小的石头平台，这已被保存起来了。

同样重要的是，声称新店破坏了从太阳金字塔塔顶往下瞭望的良好的视觉效果，这显然是不对的，任何人只要登上塔顶就可以证实这一点。问题并不在于你能看到沃尔玛，而是你得从三十多个凌乱地散布在郊区的丑陋、低矮的建筑中努力去辨认沃尔玛——更不用提那里还有停车场、电缆塔和大型发电站了。令人遗憾的是，那些随意建成的建筑很早以前不但破坏了此处的独特风景，也毁了墨西哥的其他景观。

对于顽固分子来说，事件本身要比风景问题重要。但是对于许许多多排队等候它开业的当地居民来说，这些都不重要了，因为他们再不用受又小又贵的当地商店的限制而开心不已。虽然当地一名愤怒的左翼政客对沃尔玛和当地官员提起的诉讼案件还悬而未决，但是在这场战斗中，美国零售商差不多已胜券在握了。





第3章　信息技术类



Unit 31


In a lab in Princeton University's ultra-sleek chemistry building，researchers toil in a modern-day hunt for an elusive power: alchemy.

Throughout the centuries，alchemists tried in vain to transform common metals like iron and lead into precious ones like gold or platinum．Today，Paul Chirik，a professor of chemistry at Princeton，has managed a new twist on the timeworn pursuit.

Dr．Chirik，39，has learned how to make iron function like platinum，in chemical reactions that are crucial to manufacturing scores of basic materials．While he can’t，sadly，transmute a lump of iron ore into a pile of valuable jewelry，his version of alchemy is far more practical，and the implications are wide-ranging.

The process could herald a new era of flexible manufacturing technologies，while enabling companies to steer clear of scarce elements as prices rise or obtaining them becomes environmentally or geopolitically risky.

“No chemist would think lithium was in short supply,” Dr．Chirik said，“but what happens if you put a lithium battery in every car? This is why chemistry needs to be ahead of the curve．We need to have adaptable solutions.”

Despite the cost and relative scarcity of precious metals—iridium，platinum，rhodium—we rely on them to manufacture products from denim to beer，pharmaceuticals to fuel cells．The elements are used as catalysts，substances that kick off or enable chemical reactions.

Dr．Chirik's work involves dissolved catalysts，which are mixed into the end product．The molecules of the catalyst dissipate during the reaction．For instance，a solution containing platinum is used to make silicone emulsifiers，compounds that in turn feed products like makeup，cookware and glue．Tiny amounts of the expensive metal are scattered in all these things; your jeans，for instance，contain unrecoverable particles of platinum.


注（1）：本文选自The New York Times;

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



1．We can learn from the first two paragraphs that alchemy ______.

A) incurs suspicion