Passage Three

 

（31）Throughout the nation's more than 15,000 school districts, widely differing approaches to teaching science and math have emerged. Though there can be strength in diversity, a new international analysis suggests that this variability has instead contributed to lackluster (平淡的) achievement scores by U.S. children relative to their peers in other developed countries. （注意本段的differing / diversity / variability 几个同义替换，表明本段强调了美国的科学和数学教育各个地区差异很大（多样性，多元化）的事实。文章第二句话，作者话锋一转，尽管多样化有好处，但是有分析表明这导致了美国的孩子与其它发达国家的同龄人相比，学习成绩比较平淡。这句话提出了美国教育存在的问题，预测后文可能会详细阐述或者提出解决问题的办法，注意这都是有可能的考点。请考生注意平时复习时一定要培养自己归纳,预测原文的能力！）

31. According to the passage, the teaching of science and math in America is

[定位与替换] 本题问美国的科学和数学教学的状况。根据关键词teaching of science and math 定位到原文第一段。B) characterized by its diversity 以多样性为特点。解题的重点在准确判断第一段所强调的内容。

[干扰项分析]A) focused on tapping students' potential  集中开发学生的潜力，文中无信息支持；       C) losing its vitality gradually 逐步失去活力；D) going downhill in recent years 最近几年走下坡路；文章虽然说美国的教育体系有缺陷，但并没有说失去活力或走下坡路，所以C）,D）都不对，属于无中生有。

   Indeed, concludes William H. Schmidt of Michigan State University, who led the new analysis, "no single intellectually coherent vision dominates U.S. educational practice in math or science.'' The reason, he said, "is because the system is deeply and fundamentally flawed." （Indeed, 在这里是加强语气，“确实”的意思，经常在文章中引出作者或者专家重要观点。专家William作了结论 美国数学和科学的教育实践缺乏连贯一致的知识观念。原因是这个体系具有深刻和根本的缺陷。到底是什么缺陷呢？这里专家只是作了一个抽象的概括，可能下文中会详细阐述。注意coherent和第一段diversity 是反义词。）

   The new analysis, released this week by the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Va., is based on data collected from about 50 nations as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.（本段话不是很重要，主要是讲这个分析是基于50个国家的数据。）

   Not only do approaches to teaching science and math vary among individual U.S. communities, the report finds(=the new analysis) , but there appears to be little strategic focus within a school district’s curricula, its textbooks, or its teachers' activities.（Not only… but倒装强调句，并且作者的语义重心放在but后面的内容 美国的各个学区在课程等方面缺乏战略重点，考生要重点阅读。the report finds是插入语） （32）This contrasts sharply with the coordinated national programs of most other countries. （这与大部分其它国家的协调的国家计划形成鲜明对比。这句话是作者的结论句。This 指代上面一句话的意思，也就是美国人的做法。这里也是一个重要的对比考点。）

32.  The fundamental flaw of American school education is that ________.

[定位与替换]本题问美国学校教育的根本缺陷是什么。根据关键词fundamental flaw 定位到原文第二段，但答案并不在这一段，而是在第四段。从对文章的分析， 可以看出应该选A) it lacks a coordinated national program 美国的学校教育缺乏一个协调一致的全国性计划。答案是从 This contrasts sharply with the coordinated national programs of most other countries.这句话反推。本题解题的关键是需要学生跨段整合内容。

[干扰项分析] B) it sets a very low academic standard for students 它对学生设定了非常低的学术标准， 文中无内容支持， 文章只是说美国学生学的多而不精；C) it relies heavily on the initiative of individual teachers 它非常依赖各个教师的主动性， 文中无信息支持；D) it attaches too much importance to intensive study of school subjects 它太重视学校课程的深入学习，与文章内容相反， 如果选项是attach too much importance to extensive, but not intensive, study of school subjects 就符合原文了。

 

   (33)On average, U.S. students study more topics within science and math than their international counterparts do. This creates an educational environment that "is a mile wide and an inch deep," Schmidt notes. （出现比较级的时候要高度关注。第二句话This 指代第一句话所陈述的事实 平均来说，与国际同龄人相比，美国的学生在科学与数学方面要学习更多的科目。A mile wide and an inch deep也属于形象用法、比喻考点。）

For instance, eighth graders in the United States cover about 33 topics in math versus just 19 in Japan. Among science courses, the international gap is even wider. （作者接着举例说明美国的教育环境是a mile wide and an inch deep。）U.S. curricula for this age level resemble those of a small group of countries including Australia, Thailand, Iceland, and Bulgaria. Schmidt asks whether the United States wants to be classed with these nations, whose educational systems "share our pattern of splintered (支离破碎的) visions" but which are not economic leaders.

33. By saying that the U.S. educational environment is "a mile wide and an inch deep" (Line 2, Para. 5), the author means U.S. educational practice ________.

[定位与替换] 本题问作者表达了对美国教育实践的什么看法。根据上面两段This所指代的内容和For instance对a mile wide and an inch deep的进一步解释说明可以看出，美国教育注重所开科目的广度而不重视深度，所以选D) scratches the surface of a wide range of topics 只触及了许多科目的表面。另外education environment = educational practice。解题的关键是要跨段整合内容，并准确地识别指代和例证的作用。

[干扰项分析]A) lays stress on quality at the expense of quantity 牺牲数量来强调质量，正好和原文内容相反，属于颠倒事实；B) offers an environment for comprehensive education 为全面综合的教育提供了环境，文章只提到科学和数学教育，没有出现全面综合教育的概念； C) encourages learning both in depth and in scope 鼓励既深入又广泛地学习，这与原文内容不一致，只是美国教育改革的方向，答非所问。

 

   The new report "couldn't come at a better time," says Gerald Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association in Arlington. （本句话是某个专家对the new report所作的评价，文章中出现的概括性评价之后一般都会进一步的解释说明，分析原因等， 这是命题者比较喜欢的考点。）（34）"The new National Science Education Standards provide that focused vision," including the call "to do less, but in greater depth." （The new National Education Standards和The new report属于同义概念。）

34. The new National Science Education Standards are good news in that they will

      

[定位与替换]根据关键词The new National Education Standards和good news, 定位到原文第七段，本题所问的原因在第二句，注意but引起的强调，所以选A) provide depth to school science education

使学校的科学教育具有深度。解题的关键在于识别句子之间的关系。

[干扰项分析] B) solve most of the problems in school teaching 解决学校教学的大部分问题，歪曲并夸张了原文；C) be able to meet the demands of the community 能够满足社会的需求，与本文无关，因为新的全国科学标准是为了弥补教育体制的缺陷而制定的；D) quickly dominate U.S. educational practice 迅速在美国的教育实践中处于支配地位，原文未提到， 而且下文也讲到实现这个新标准将面临挑战。

 

   （35）Implementing the new science standards and their math counterparts will be the challenge, he and Schmidt agree, because the decentralized responsibility for education in the United States requires that any reforms be tailored and instituted one community at a time. （…因为美国的教育责任分散在各个社区，要求任何改革必须适应每个社区并根据每一个社区的情况制定,也就是说不能推而广之。 he and Schmidt agree是插入语，而且是专家观点标志词，紧接着专家又阐述了Implementing the new standards… will be the challenge的原因，考点设置和34题如出一辙，但相对简单，因为because是明显的因果关系考点标志词。）

35. Putting the new science and math standards into practice will prove difficult because ________.

        

[定位与替换]put sth. Into practice = implement, will prove difficult = will be the challenge, 所以本题可以准确定位到原文倒数第二段， 答案在because后，所以选C) school districts are responsible for making their own decisions各个学区对自己的决定负责的。也就是说责任分散了。（decentralized ）

[干扰项分析] A) there is always controversy in educational circles 在教育界一直存在争论，文中无信息支持；B) not enough educators have realized the necessity for doing so 没有足够的教育者意识到这样做的重要性，文中无信息支持； D) many schoolteachers challenge the acceptability of these standards  许多学校老师质疑这些标准的可接受性，文中无信息支持。

 

   In fact, Schmidt argues, reforms such as these proposed national standards "face an almost impossible task, because even though they are intellectually coherent, each becomes only one more voice in the babble ( 嘈杂声)."

 

【重点单词】

emerge  vi.①浮现，出现(from)②(问题等)发生，显露, (事实等)暴露

strength  n.①力, 力气②实力，力量③强度，浓度④强点，长处

variability  n.可变性，易变性

peer  n.①同龄人，同等地位的人②贵族 vi.仔细看，凝视(at)

[真题]Being somewhat short-sighted, she had the habit of ______ at people.

A) glancing  B) peering  C) gazing  D) scanning

[B][CET-6:1997,1]

[译文]她有点近视，有迷着眼看人的习惯。

coherent  a.①条理清楚的，连贯的②一致的，协调的

dominate  vt.①在…中占首要地位②支配，统治，控制③高于，俯视 vi.处于支配地位，拥有优势

[真题]This book expected to _______ the best-seller lists.

A) exemplify  B) promote  C) prevail  D) dominate

[D][CET-6:2000,1]

[译文]预期这本书将占销售排行榜首位。

flawed  a.有裂纹的，有瑕疵的，有缺陷的

release  vt./n.①释放，排放②解除，解脱③放开，松开④发布，发行

[真题]The energy _______ by the chain reaction is transformed into heat.

A) transferred  B) released  C) delivered  D) conveyed

[B][CET-4:2002,6]

[译文]链式反应释放的能量已转换为热能。

strategic  a.战略的，战略上的

curriculum  n.课程（复数形式：curriculums或curricula）

coordinate  vt.调节，协调 n.[pl]坐标 a.同等的，并列的

cover  vt.①覆盖，掩盖②范围为③包括，涉及，适用于④报道，采访⑤掩护 n.盖子，封面，掩蔽(物)

gap  n.①缺口，裂口②间隔，间隙③差距，不足，缺陷

class  n.班级，阶级，等级，种类 vt.把...分类(或分等级)

implement  vt.使生效，履行，实施 n.工具，器具，用具

decentralize  vt.疏散，分散

tailor  n.裁缝 vt.①裁剪，缝制②使适应(特定需要)

institute v. 制定，创立，开始

【必背搭配】

动词与名词搭配：

collect data  搜集资料

implement the standards  实施标准

动词与介词搭配：

contrast with  使…与…对比，与…对比

形容词与名词搭配：

coordinated programs  协调好的计划

decentralized responsibility  分散的责任(权限)

形容词与名词搭配：

wide gap  大的差距

focused vision  明确的观点

名词与名词搭配：

age level  年龄段

名词与介词搭配：

approaches to  做…的方法(途径)

形容词与介词搭配：

relative to  相对于…的

介词与名词搭配：

on average  平均起来

in great depth  在深度上

副词与动词搭配：

widely differ  千差万别，与…大不相同

contrast sharply  鲜明对比

副词与形容词搭配：

deeply and fundamentally flawed  有深层次的根本缺陷的

 

Passage Four

 

 

（36）"I've never met a human worth cloning," says cloning expert Mark Westhusin from his lab at Texas A&M University. "It's a stupid endeavor." (本句中it 指human cloning，注意指代处很容易成为考点，考生平时一定要培养自己准确识别指代的能力 ) That's an interesting choice of adjective, coming from a man who has spent millions of dollars trying to clone a 13-year-old dog named Missy. (本句中That 指stupid ) （37）So far, he and his team have not succeeded（注意本句与上句的衔接，这里是指在克隆狗方面还未成功）, though they have cloned two cows and expect to clone a cat soon. They just might succeed in cloning Missy this spring - or perhaps not for another 5 years. It seems the reproductive system of man's best friend is one of the mysteries of modern science. （man’s best friend = dog； might / perhaps / It seems几个词所表达了不确定的语气，考生注意要培养识别作者语气的能力。）

36. By "stupid endeavor" (Line 2, Para. 1), Westhusin means to say that ________.

[定位与替换] 本题只要考生能够准确识别出It的指代，就能选出正确选项D)  human cloning is a foolish undertaking  克隆人类是一个愚蠢的举动。Stupid = foolish

[干扰项分析] A) animal cloning is not worth the effort at all 完全不值得为克隆动物花费努力； B) animal cloning is absolutely impractical 动物克隆是完全不切实际的；A）,B）两个选项很容易排除， 主语错误；C) human cloning should be done selectively 人类克隆应该有选择地进行，问中无信息支持selectively。  

 

37. What does the first paragraph tell us about Westhusin's dog cloning project?

  A) Its success is already in sight.

   

  C) It is doomed to utter failure.

  D) It is progressing smoothly.

[定位与替换] 本题针对Westhusin克隆狗的项目提问，要求考生对第一段内容进行概括。根据前面的文章分析，应该选B) B) Its outcome remains uncertain 该项目的结果还不确定。解题关键是概括原文和识别语气。

[干扰项分析] A) Its success is already in sight. 成功已经在望，与第一段内容不符；  C) It is doomed to utter failure. 注定会完全失败，文章讲还是有可能成功的；D) It is progressing smoothly. 正在平稳进步，文中无信息支持。

Westhusin's experience with cloning animals leaves him upset by all this talk of human cloning. In three years of work on the Missy project, using hundreds upon hundreds of dog's eggs, the A&M team has produced only a dozen or so embryos (胚胎) carrying Missy's DNA. None have survived the transfer to a surrogate (代孕的) mother. The wastage of eggs and the many spontaneously aborted fetuses (胎) may be acceptable when you're dealing with cats or bulls, he argues, but not with humans. "Cloning is incredibly inefficient, and also dangerous," he says.（专家观点）

Even so, dog cloning is a commercial opportunity, with a nice research payoff. Ever since Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1997, Westhusin's phone has been ringing with people calling in hopes of duplicating their cats and dogs, cattle and horses. "A lot of people want to clone pets, especially if the price is right," says Westhusin. Cost is no obstacle for Missy's mysterious billionaire owner; he's put up $3.7 million so far to fund A&M's research.

Contrary to some media reports, Missy is not dead. The owner wants a twin to carry on Missy's fine qualities after she does die. The prototype is, by all accounts, athletic, good-natured and supersmart. Missy's master does not expect an exact copy of her. He knows her clone may not have her temperament. （38）In a statement of purpose, Missy's owner and the A&M team say they are "both looking forward to studying the ways that her clones differ from Missy."（请考生注意，在六级考试中，试验的结果和目的是重要考点。 2-4段的内容大多为细节，考生在考试时可以不必仔细研读。）

38. By cloning Missy, Mark Westhusin hopes to ________.

  

[定位与替换] 本题问Westhusin克隆Missy 的目的是什么，也就是试验目的，可以迅速定位到原文第四段。purpose是关键词,  the A&M team实际上等于Mark Westhusin, 因为这个team是他领导的。 D) find out the differences between Missy and its clones  找出Missy和她的克隆之间的区别， 替换原文studying the ways that her clones differ from Missy.

[干扰项分析] A) study the possibility of cloning humans 研究克隆人类的可能性，与考点信息不一致； B) search for ways to modify its temperament 寻找方法来改善它的性情，利用原文中的temperament一词来干扰考生，与考点信息不一致； C) examine the reproductive system of the dog species 研究狗的生殖系统，利用原文第一段最后一句话的词汇reproductive system来干扰考生， 与考点信息不一致。

 

Besides cloning a great dog, the project may contribute insight into the old question of nature vs. nurture. It could also lead to the cloning of special rescue dogs and many endangered animals.（It = the project, 本段讲了克隆狗的项目有可能的意义。）

However, Westhusin is cautious about his work. （However引出的内容要高度关注，本句是本段的主题句。Westhusin对自己的工作持谨慎态度。注意cautious about 表达的意思比较抽象，后文肯定要进行详细阐述，解释他为什么要谨慎。注意可能有考题出现。）He knows that even if he gets a dog pregnant, the offspring, should they survive, will face the problems shown at birth by other cloned animals （本句主干He knows that …the offspring ..will face the problems.., even if ..从句，should they survive 插入语，shown at…过去分词短语修饰the problems， 试验所可能产生的问题也是重要考点）: (39) abnormalities like immature lungs and heart and weight problems. （举例说明the problems）"Why would you ever want to clone humans," Westhusin asks, "when we're not even close to getting it worked out in animals yet?"

39. We learn from the passage that animal clones are likely to have ________.

  

[定位与替换] 本题要求对动物克隆进行推断，根据题干定位比较困难。考生遇到这种情况，应当迅速扫视四个选项，根据选项内容来进行定位。根据选项可以判断这都是动物克隆产生的问题，所以可以定位到最后一段。C) defective organs 有缺陷的器官，替换原文abnormalities like immature lungs and heart, 属于概括性替换。

[干扰项分析] A) a bad temper 坏脾气，文中无信息支持；B) immune deficiency  免疫缺陷，文中无信息支持；D) an abnormal shape 畸形，命题者用原文词汇abnormalities 干扰考生。

 

40. It can be seen that present cloning techniques ________.

 [定位与替换] 本题问克隆技术的现状。从第一段内容，第二段最后一句"Cloning is incredibly inefficient, and also dangerous," he says， 最后一段所提到的问题，还有最后一段最后一句的内容，我们可以判断克隆技术比较危险 尚存在许多问题。所以选A) still have a long way to go before reaching maturity在达到成熟之前，还有很长的路要走。解题的关键是整合全文内容，进行概括推理。

[干扰项分析] B) have been widely used in saving endangered species 已经在拯救濒危动物时被广泛使用，文中无信息支持，endangered species出现在文章倒数第二段，属于词汇干扰；C) provide insight into the question of nature vs. nurture 有助于了解本性和教养这个古老的问题，倒数第二段It could also lead to the cloning of special rescue dogs and many endangered animals.（It = the project，而本选项的主语是present cloning techniques, 此选项具有强烈的干扰性，关键还在于正确识别指代）；D) have proved quite adequate for the cloning of humans 已经被证明非常适合克隆人类，与文章信息不符合。

 

【重点单词】

endeavor  n./vt.努力，尽力

[真题]Our reporter has just called to say that rescue teams will ______ to bring out the trapped miners.

A) effect  B) affect  C) conceive  D) endeavor

[D][CET-6:2004,1]

[译文]我们的记者刚才打电话来说救援队将努力救出受困矿工。

clone  n.①无性繁殖，克隆②复制品，翻版 v.(使)无性繁殖，克隆

transfer  vt.①搬，转移②调动，转学③转让，过户vi.①迁移，转移②调动，转学③转车，换乘

n.①转移，调动②转车，换乘

[真题]He hoped the firm would _______ him to the Paris branch.

A) exchange  B) transmit  C) transfer  D) remove

[C][CET-4:1998,1]

[译文]他希望公司将他调至巴黎分部。

wastage  n.浪费，损耗，废物

spontaneously  adv.自然地，自发地，本能地

[真题]Although most dreams apparently happen _______, dream activity may be provoked by external influences.

A) spontaneously  B) simultaneously  C) homogeneously  D) instantaneously

[A][CET-6:1997,1]

[译文]尽管大多数梦显然是自然地发生的，但做梦这种活动可能是由外界影响所引起。

aborted  a.流产的，失败的

payoff  n.回报，支付，偿还，发工资，成果，收效

obstacle  n.障碍(物)，妨碍

[真题]Not having a good command of English can be a serious ________ preventing you from achieving your goals.

A) obstacle  B) fault  C) offense  D) distress

[A][CET-4:2004,1]

[译文]英语不好可能会严重妨碍你实现自己的目标。

fund  n.①基金②[pl]资金，存款，现金 vt.为…提供资金，给…拨款

twin  n.孪生儿之一，双胞胎之一 a.孪生的，成对的

prototype  n.原型

temperament  n.气质，性情，脾气

[真题]The culture of China and Japan shared many features, but each has used them according to its national ______.

A) engagement  B) destiny  C) capacity  D) temperament

[D][CET-6:1999,6]

[译文]中、日两国文化有许多共同特征，但各自都是根据其国民气质来应用它们。

endangered  a.濒危的，

cautious  a.谨慎的，小心的

[真题]They are ______ investors who always make thorough investigations both on local and international markets before making an investment.

A) indecisive  B) implicit  C) cautious  D) conscious

[C][CET-6:2003,6]

[译文]他们是谨慎的投资者，在投资之前对国内外市场都做了彻底的调查研究。

pregnant  a.怀孕的，妊娠的

offspring  n.子女，子孙，后代

immature  a.不成熟的，未完全发育的

【必背搭配】

动词与名词搭配：

fund the research  为研究提供资金

形容词与名词搭配：

reproductive system  生殖系统，繁殖机制

commercial opportunity  商机

nice payoff  令人满意的成果

exact copy  精确的复制(品)

动词与介词搭配：

carry on  继续，延续

differ from 与…不同

形容词与介词搭配：

cautious about  对…谨慎的

close to  接近…的

副词与介词搭配：

contrary to  与…相反