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2020年考研英语二阅读理解真题及参考答案

Section II Reading Comprehension

Part A

Directions:

Read the following four texts. Answer the questions be1ow each text by choosing A, B，C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)

Text 1

Rats and other animals need to be highly at tuned to social signals from others so that can identify friends to cooperate with and enemies to avoid. To find out if this extends to non-living beings, Loleh Quinn at the University of California, San Diego，and her colleagues tested whether rats can detect social signals form robotic rats.

They housed eight adult rats with two types of robotic rat- one social and one asocial一for 5 our days. The robots rats were quite minimalist, resembling a chunkier version of a computer mouse with wheels-to move around and colorful markings.

During the experiment， the social robot rat followed the living rats around, played with the same toys, and opened caged doors to let trapped rats escape. Meanwhile, the asocial robot simply moved forwards and backwards and side to side Next，the researchers trapped the robots in cages and gave the rats the opportunity to release them by pressing a lever.

Across 18 trials each, the living rats were 52 percent more likely on average to set the social robot free than the asocial one. This suggests that the rats perceived the social robot as a genuine social being. They may have bonded more with the social robot because it displayed behaviours like communal exploring and playing.

This could lead to the rats better remembering having freed it earlier, and wanting the robot to return the favour when they get trapped， says Quinn.

The readiness of the rats to befriend the social robot was surprising given its minimal design. The robot was the same size as a regular rat but resembled a simple plastic box on wheels. “We' d assumed we’d have to give it a moving head and tail, facial features， and put a scene on it to make it smell like a real rat， but that wasn’t necessary，” says Janet Wiles at the University of Queens land in Australia, who helped with the research.

The finding shows how sensitive rats are to social cues， even when they come from basic robots. Similarly, children tend to treat robots as if they are fellow beings, even when they display only simple social signals. “We humans seem to be fascinated by robots， and it turns out other animals are too, ”says Wiles.

21. Quin and her colleagues conducted a test to see if rats can_

[A] pickup social signals from non- living rats

[B] distinguish a friendly rat from a hostile one

[C] attain sociable traits through special training

[D] send out warning messages to their fellow

22. What did the social robot do during the experiment?

[A] It followed the social robot.

[B]It played with some toys.

[C] It set the trapped rats free.

[D]It moved around alone.

23. According to Quinn，the rats released the social robot because they.

[A] tried to practice a means of escape

[B] expected it to do the same in return

[C] wanted to display their intelligence .

[D]considered that an interesting game

24. James Wiles notes that rats_

[A]can remember other rat' s facial features

[B] differentiate smells better than sizes

[C] respond more to cations than to looks

[D]can be scared by a plastic box on wheels

25. It can be learned from the text that rats_

[A]appear to be adaptable to new surroundings

[B] are more socially active than other animals

[C] behave differently from children in socializing

[D]are more sensitive to social cues than expected

【答案解析】

Text 1

21、【答案】A。

解析:本题考察细节。根据定位词Quinn and her colleagues和a test可定

位到第一段第二句。To find out if this extends to non-living beings， Loleh Quinn at the University of California, San Diego, and her colleagues tested whether rats can detect social signals from robotic rats. 意思是，为了证实这一现象是否也适用于非生物，加州大学圣地亚哥分校的LolehQuinn和她的同事们测试了老鼠是否能察觉到机器老鼠发出的社交信号。pick up social signals from non-living rats 是原文的同义替换。故选A。

22、【答案】D。

解析:本题考察具体细节。根据关键词the asocial robot 和experiment定位到第三段最后-句Meanwhile, the asocial robot simply moved forwards and backwards and side toside.意思是，与此同时，社交机器人只是向前、向后、左右移动。答案D It moved around alone是原文的同义替换。

23、【答案】B。

解析:本题考察细节。根据题干关键词Quinn和the rats released the social robots定位到第四段，This could lead to the rats better remembering having freed it earlier，and wanting the robot to return the favour when they get trapped, she says意思是，她说，这可能会让老鼠更好地记得自己早些释放了它，并希望机器人在它们被困时回报它们。选项B expected it to do the same in return 是return the favour 的同义替换。

24、【答案】C。

解析:本题考察细节。根据关键词James Wiles定位到第六段，The readiness of the rats to befriend the social robot was surprising given its minimal design,考虑到这个社交机器人的最小设计，老鼠乐意和它交朋友的程度令人惊讶。第六段说，The finding shows how sensitive rats are to social cues，even when they come from basic robots.这一-发现表明，老鼠对社交信号非常敏感，即使这些信号来自简易的机器。正确答案C respond more to actions than to looks (对行动的反应多于对外表的反应)，是原文的类似表达。

25、【答案】D。

解析:本题为推理题。原文尾段说The finding shows how sensitive rats are to social cues， even when they come from basic robots. (这一发现表明， 老鼠对社交信号非常敏感，即使这些信号来自简易的机器)。D选项are more sensitive to social cues than expected为此意思的同意替换，故选D。

Text 2

It is true that CE0 pay has gone up- top ones may make 300 times the pay of typical workers on average, and since the mid- 1970s CE0 pay for large publicly traded American corporations has， by varying estimates， gone up by about 500% The typical CE0 of a top American corporation now makes about S18.9 million a year.

The best model for understanding the growth of CEO pay is that of limited CEO talent in a world where business opportunities for the top firms are growing rapidly.

The efforts of America' s highest -earning 1% have been one of the more dynamic elements of the global economy. It' s not popular to say， but one reason their pay has gone up so much is that CEOs really have upped their game relative to many other workers in the U. S. economy.

Today's CE0, at least for major American firms, must have many mere skills than simply being able to “run the company" CEOs must have a good sense of financial markets and maybe even how the company should trade in them. They also need better public relations skills than their predecessors, as the costs of even a minor slipup can be significant. Then there’ s the fact that large American companies are much more globalized than ever before, with supply chains spread across a larger number of countries. To lead in that system requires knowledge that is farly mind- boggling plus, virtually all major American companies are beyond this major CEOs still have to do all the day-to-day work they have always done.

The common idea that high CE0 pay is mainly about ripping people off doesn’ t explain history very well. By most measures，corporate governance has become a lot tighter and more rigorous since the 1970s. Yet it is principally during this period of stronger governance that CE0 pay has been high and rising. That suggests it is in the broader corporate interest to recruit top candidates for increasingly tough jobs.”

Furthermore，the highest CE0 salaries are paid to outside candidates, not to the cozy insider picks，another sign that high CEO pay is not some kind of depredation at the expense of the rest of the company. And the stock market reacts positively when companies tie CEO pay to, say, stock prices，a sign that those practices build up corporate value not just for the CEO. .

26. Which of the following has contributed to CEO pay rise?

[A] The growth in the number of corporations

[B] The general pay rise with a better economy

[C] Increased business opportunities for top firms

D] Close cooperation among leading economies

27. Compared with their predecessors， today' s CEOs are required to____

[A] foster a stronger sense of teamwork

[B] finance more research and development

[C] establish closer ties with tech companies

[D] operate more globalized companies

28. CE0 pay has been rising since the 1970s despite_

[A] continual internal opposition

[B] strict corporate governance

C] conservative business strategies

[D] Repeated government warnings

29. High CEO pay can be justified by the fact that it helps_

[A] confirm the status of CEOs

[B] motivate inside candidates

[C] boost the efficiency of CEOs

[D] increase corporate value

30. The most suitable title for this text would be_

[A] CEOs Are Not Overpaid

[B] CEO Pay: Past and Present

[C] CE0s’ challenges of Today

[D] CEO Traits: Not Easy to Define

【答案解析】

Text 2

26、【答案】C。

解析:本题考察细节。根据题干关键词CE0 pay rise定位到第二段，The best model for understanding the growth of CEO pay is that of limited CEO talent in a world where business opportunities for the top firms are growing rapidly. 意思是，理解首席执行官薪酬增长的最佳模型是，在顶级公司的商业机会迅速增长的世界中，首席执行官人才非常有限。正确答案C Increased business opportunities for top firms 增加顶级公司商业机会的增加。

27、【答案】D。

解析:本题考察细节。定位到第三段, Then there' s the fact that large American companies are much more globalized than ever before, with supply chains spread across a larger number of countries. 意思是， 此外，美国大公司的全球化程度比以往任何时候都要高，其供应链遍布了更多的国家。正确答案D operate more globalized companies 为该内容的同意替换。

28、【答案】B。

解析:本题考察细节。根据题干中的关键词，1970， 可以定位到原文的第四段，By most measures， corporate governance has become a lot tighter and more rigorous since the 1970s. B选项strict corporate governance 是原句的同义替换。

29、【答案】D。

解析:本题考查细节。根据关键词High CEO pay, 定位到原文And the stock market reacts positively when companies tie CEO pay to， say， stock prices，a sign that those practices build up corporate value not just for the CEO

30、【答案】A。

解析:此题为标题。根据文章最后两段内容:人们普遍认为，CEO 的高薪主要是为了剥削员工，但这并不能很好地解释历史。以大多数标准衡量,自上世纪70年代以来，公司治理已经变得更加严格。然而，主要是在这段治理更强的时期，首席执行官的薪酬一直很高，而且还在上升。这表明，为越来越艰难的工作招聘优秀的候选人，符合更广泛的企业利益。此外，最高的CEO薪酬是支付给外部候选人的，而不是舒服的内部人选，这又一个迹象表明，高CEO薪酬不是以牺牲员工利益为代价的掠夺。这些都可以看出，文章想表达的是CEO薪水并未付得过多。

Text 3

Madrid was hailed as a public health beacon last November when it rolled out ambitious restrictions on the most polluting cars. Seven months and one election day later，a new conservative city council suspended enforcement of the clean air zone, a first step toward its possible demise.

Mayor Jose Luis Martinez' -Almeida made opposition to the zone a centrepiece of his election campaign, despite its success in improving air quality. A judge has now overruled the city’s decision to stop levying fines， ordering them reinstated. But with legal battles ahead, the zone' s future looks uncertain at best.

Among other weaknesses，the measures cities must employ when left to tackle dirty air on their own are politically contentious, and therefore vulnerable. That s because they inevitably put the costs of cleaning the air on to individual drivers一 who must pay fees or buy better vehicles 一rather than on to the car manufacturers whose cheating is the real cause of our toxic pollution.

It’s not hard to imagine a similar reversal happening in London. The new ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) is likely to be a big issue in next year’ s mayoral election.

And if Sadiq Khan wins and extends it to the North and South Circular roads in 2021 as he intends， it is sure to spark intense opposition from the far larger number of motorists who will then be affected.

It's not that measures such as London' s Ulez are useless. Far from it. Local officials are using the levers that are available to them to safeguard residents' health in the face of a serious threat. The zones do deliver some improvements to air quality， and the science tells us that means real health benefits fewer heart attacks，strokes and premature births， less cancer， dementia and asthma. Fewer untimely deaths.

But mayors and councillors can only do so much about a problem that is far bigger than any one city or town. They are acting because national governments 一Britain's and others across Europe - have failed to do so.

Restrictions that keep highly polluting cars out of certain areas - city centres, school streets，even individual roads - are a response to the absence of a larger effort to properly enforce existing regulations and require auto companies to bring their vehicles into compliance. Wales has introduced special low speed limits to minimise pollution. We′re doing everything but insist that manufacturers clean up their cars.

31. Which of the following is true about Madrid's clean air zone?

[A] Its effects are questionable

[B]It has been opposed by a judge

[C] It needs tougher enforcement

[D] Its fate is yet to be decided

32. Which is considered a weakness of the city- level measures to tackle dirty air?

[A] They are biased against car manufacturers.

[B] They prove impractical for city councils.

[C] They are deemed too mild for politicians.

[D] They put too much burden on individual motorists.

33. The author believes that the extension of London' s Ulez will

[A] arouse strong resistance.

. [B] ensure Khan' s electoral success.

[C] improve the city s traffic.

[D] discourage car manufacturing.

34. Who does the author think should have addressed the problem?

[A] Local residents

[B] Mayors.

[C] Councilors.

[D] National governments.

35. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that auto companies

[A] will raise low- emission car production

[B] should be forced to follow regulations

[C] will upgrade the design of their vehicles

[D] should be put under public supervision

【答案解析】

Text 3

31、【答案】C。

解析:本题考查细节。根据关键词“Madrid's clean air zone”，定位到原文第二段最后一句话，But with legal battles ahead, the zone' s future looks uncertain at best 意思是，但是，鉴于未来的法律斗争，这个区域的未来也最多也只能说是不确定的。D选项Its fate is yet to be decided(它的命运还有待决定)是这句话的同意替换。故选C。

32、【答案】D。

解析:本题考查细节。根据关键词“a weakness of the city- level measures",定位到原文第三段: That s because they inevitably put the costs of cleaning the air On to in divide aldrivers , 意思是，这是因为它们不可避免地将净化空气的成本转嫁到个体司机身上。D选项They put too much burden on individual motorists (他们施加了太重的负担给个体司机)是该句话的同意替换，故选D。

33、【答案】A。

解析:本题考查细节。根据关键词“the extension of London's Ulez”，固定位到原文第四段，And if Sadiq Khan wins and extends it to the North and South Circular roads in 2021 as he intends, it is sure to spark intense opposition from the far larger number of motorists who will then be affected. 意思是，如果萨迪克●汗获胜，并按照他的计划在2021年将其推广到南北环线道路，这肯定会引发更多将受到影响的驾车者的强烈反对。A选项arouse strong resistance (引起强烈抵制)是该句的同意替换，故选A。

34、【答案】D。

解析:本题考查细节。根据题干问到should have addressed the problem(本该解决这个问题)，定位到原文倒数第二段最后一句话，They are acting because national governments一Britain's and others across Europe - have failed to do so. 意思是他们在行动因为(英国和欧洲其他国家的)国家政府没能这么做。

35、【答案】B。

解析:根据题目的关键词“last paragraph”和“auto companies”找到原文最后一段第一句话，Restrictions that keep highly polluting cars out of certain areas- city centres, school streets， even individual roads - are a response to the absence of a larger effort to properly enforce existing regulations and require auto companies to bring their vehicles into compliance.意思是，限制高污染汽车进入某些地区一城市中心、学校街道、甚至个别道路一是对缺乏更大努力来适当执行现有法规、并要求汽车公司让他们的车辆合规的回应。选项B, should be forced to follow regulations是此意思的同意替换，故选B。

Text4

Now that members of Generation Z are graduating college this spring the most commonly- accepted definition says this generation was born after 1995，give or take a year- -the attention has been rising steadily in recent weeks. GenZs are about to hit the streets looking for work in a labor market that' s tighter than it' s been in decades. And employers are planning on hiring about 17 percent more new graduates for jobs in the U.S. this year than last，according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Everybody wants to know how the people who will soon inhabit those empty office cubicles will differ from those who came before them.

If ”entitled” is the most common adjective, fairly or not, applied to millennials (those born between 1981 and 1995)， the catchwords for Generation Z are practical and cautious. According to the career counselors and expert who study them, Generation Zs are clear-eyed， economic pragmatists. Despite graduating into the best economy in the past 50 years, Gen Zs know what an economic train wreck looks like. They were impressionable kids during the crash of 2008，when many of their parents lost their jobs or their life savings or both. They aren' t interested in taking any chances.

The booming economy seems to have done little to assuage this underlying generational sense of anxious urgency, especially for those who have college debt. College loan balances in the U.S. now stand at a record $1.5 trillion， according to the Federal Reserve.

One survey from Accenture found that 88 percent of graduating seniors this year chose their major with a job in mind. In a 2019 survey of University of Georgia students, meanwhile，the career office found the most desirable trait in a future employer was the ability to offer secure employment (followed by professional development and training, and then inspiring purpose). Job security or stability was the second most important career goal (work- life balance was number one), followed by a sense of being dedicated to a cause or to feel good about serving the great good.

36. Generation Zs graduating college this spring_

[A] are recognized for their abilities

[B] are in favor of job offers

[C] are optimistic about the labor market

[D] are drawing growing public attention

37. Generation Zs are keenly aware_

[A] what a tough economic situation is like

[B] what their parents expect of them

[C] how they differ from past generations

[D] how valuable a counselors advice is

38. The word" assuage"(line 9，para 2)is closest in meaning to_

[A]define [B]relieve [C] maintain [D] deepen

39. It can be learned from Paragraph 3 that Generation Zs_

[A] care little about their job performance

[B] give top priority to professional training

[C] think it hard to achieve work-Life balance

[D] have a clear idea about their future job

40 Michelsen thinks that compared with millennials，Generation Zs are_

[A]less realistic

[B] less adventurous

[C]more diligent

[D]more generous

【答案解析】

Text 4

36、【答案】D。

解析:本题考查细节。根据题干的关键词“graduating college this spring”,定位的文章第一段第一句，Now that members of Generation Z are graduating college this spring the most commonly -accepted definition says this generation was born after 1995, give or take a year-the attention has been rising steadily in recent weeks. 意思是，如今，Z一代即将在今年春天从大学毕业，人们最普遍接受的定义是，这-代人出生于1995 年后，近几周来，人们对Z一代的关注也在稳步上升。D选项，are drawing growing public attention。是此句话的同意替换。

37、【答案】A。

解析:本题考查细节。根据题干的关键词“keenly aware” 定位到原文第二段第三句，Despite graduating into the best economy in the past 50 years, Gen Zs know what an economic train wreck looks like. 意思是，尽管他们毕业于过去50年来经济形势最好的时代，但z一代知道经济列车失事的样子。A选项，what a tough economic situation is like(艰难的经济形势是什么样子的)与词句为同义替换。

38、【答案】B。

解析:本题考查词汇。Assuage 意思为缓和、减轻，B选项relieve 意思为减轻，故选B。

39、【答案】D。

解析:此题为推断题。根据题干定位到第三段第一句，One survey from Accenture found that 88 percent of graduating seniors this year chose their major with a job in mind.埃森哲的一项调查发现，今年88%的毕业生在选择专业时都是为了找工作。这说明他们对未来的工作有更清楚的认识( have a clear idea about their future job)， 故选D。

40、【答案】B。

解析:此题考查细节。根据关键词“compared with millennials”，定位到文章第二段此句话，They aren' t interested in taking any chances. (他们对冒险不感兴趣)。选项B less adventurous (不爱冒险)是原文意思的同意替换，故选B。