2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（105）
发布时间：2012/11/6 14:21:12 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
Science and science funding have enjoyed a good run over the past 20 years or so.During the unusually long economic boom after the end of the cold war，governments of all political stripes have accepted the argument that it is in their interest to support“the best science”。Something like a global consensus has emerged OD the value of curiosity driven，basic research.The predominant argument behind this consensus has been the belief that excellent science of whatever discipline is likely to spur innovation，which will in turn foster economic growth.
At the same time，direct government sponsorship of technology development has fallen out of vogue. Considerable expenditure continues，of course，and if the military sphere is included，it still dwarfs the resources devoted to basic science.But the idea of explicit state support for the development of drugs or circuit boards or civilian airliners has been pretty well driven off the table.There has been a assumption even in #paratively centrist nations such as France and Japan--that governments aren't good at“picking winners”。
This particular era of science and technology policy may now be drawing to a close.Even before last week's j uddering stock markets sparked talk about a possible US，or even global，recession，policy makers in industrialized countries were watching the flight of much industrial production to China and India with intensifying alarm.
As a result，the word“#petitiveness”is back on the agenda，particularly in the United States. When political leaders look at research budgets in the light of #petitiveness，they are always prone to be more drawn to the direct support of innovation through technology programmes，than to its indirect support，through basic science.As a result，they may start asking questions that are inherently difficult for scientists to answer，such as，what will be the economic spin-off from this work?What are we getting for our money?
These questions are currently being posed most directly in the United Kingdom，where the research councils，which support most university science，seem to be undergoing a subtle change of direction. Some scientist groups are already nervous about a paper，“Increasing the economic impact of the research councils”，that was published in January by the councils'steering group.
There is a risk that this process could result in perceived economic relevance displacing scientific merit，to a significant extent，as the determining factor in the selection of research-council grants.Before that happens，it would be reassuring if the leaders of the research councils emphatically reiterated that their primary function is to promote scientific excellence and that they will best support Britain's national interests，economic and otherwise，by doing exactly that.[441 words]
1.Most governments believe that______.
A.the long economic prosperity is in their ultimate interests
B.the end of the cold war led to the rapid economic growth
C.the curiosity-driven，basic scientific research is invaluable
D.the research likely to spur innovation should be supported
2.The phrase“out of vogue”（Line 2，Paragraph 2）most probably means______.
A.obsolete
B.universal
C.unpopular
D.unwanted
3.The direct state support to develop technology lessens because______.
A.most resources are devoted to developing basic science
B.it is difficult to choose the technology worth supporting
C.there exist so many technologies needed to be supported
D.the resources available for developing technology are scarce
4.The major concern of policy-makers in developed countries has be#e______.
A.the decline of their ability to #pete in the world economy
B.the flight of much industrial production to China and India
C.the possibility that a global economic recession is to #e
D.the support of innovation through technology programmes
5.The author suggests that the research councils in the UK should______.
A.increase their impact on the economy
B.try their best to foster excellent science
C.displace scientific merit with economic one
D.emphasize their primary function repeatedly [NextPage] 难句透析
①The predominant argurilent behind this consensus has been the belief[that excellent science of whatever disci pline is likely to spur innovation，（which will in turn foster economic growth）].
【结构】此句的主语是“argument”，谓语动词是“has been”。方括号所标示的“that excellent science…is likely to spur innovatipn…”用做“belief”的同位语从句；圆括号所标示的“which will in turn foster economic growth”用做“innovation”的后置定语从句。
【释义】意见如此一致，主要基于一种重要信念。这种信念认为，无论什么学科，优秀的科学成果都有助于创新，进而会促进经济增长。
Considerable expenditure continues，of course，and[if the military sphere is included]，it still dwarfs the resources[devoted to basic science].
【结构】此句是由逗号和“and”连接的两个分句组成的并列句。在第二个分句中，方括号所标示的“if the military sphere is included”是条件状语从句；方括号所标示的过去分词短语“devoted to basic science”用做“resources”的后置定语。
【释义】当然，在技术创新方面仍在继续投入巨大财力。如果把军事领域包括在内，与这种巨额投入相比，用于基础研究方面的财力依然相形见绌。
③Even before last weeks juddering stock markets sparked talk about a possible US，or even global，recession] policy makers in industrialized countries were watching the flight of much industrial production to China and India with intensifying alarm.
【结构】方括号所标示的“Even before…stock markets sparked…”是时间状语从句。名词短语“the flight of…to…”用做谓语动词“were watchin9”的宾语。
【释义】上周股市动荡，人们纷纷议论，美国或者以至全球经济可能会衰退。甚至在此之前，发达工业国家的决策者们就在极其警觉地关注着大量工业生产向中国和印度的涌入。
④[When political leaders look at research budgets in the light of #petitiveness]，they are always prone to be more drawn to the direct support of innovation through technology programmes，than to its indirect support， through basic science.
【结构】方括号所标示的“When political leaders look at…#petitiveness”是时间状语从句。主句中的“to be more drawn to…than to…”相当于“to be more drawn to…，than drawn to…”。
【释义】 当政治领导人从竞争角度看待研究预算时，他们往往更倾向于通过实施技术项目为创新提供直接支持，而不愿通过基础科学为创新提供间接支持。
There is a risk[that this process could result in perceived economic relevance displacing scientific merit，to a sig nificant extent，as the determining factor in the selection of research council grants].
【结构】方括号所标示的“that this process could result in perceived economic relevance…grants”用做“risk”的同位语从句。过去分词“perceived”用做“economic relevance”的定语。带逻辑主语“perceived economic relevance”的动名词短语“displacing…”用做“result in”的宾语。
【释义】这个过程存在风险，可能会使科学研究管委会在选择资助对象时，很大程度上，把可见的经济利益当做决定因素，而不考虑科学价值。
⑥[Before that happens]，it would be reassuring[if the leaders of the research councils emphatically reiterated1'fthat their primary function is to promote scientific excellence]--and （that they will best support Britain's national interests。economic and otherwise，by doing exactly that）].
【结构】方括号所标示的“Before that happens”是时间状语从句。此句的主句是“it would be reassuring”；方括号所标示的“if the leaders…reiterated…”是条件从句。“it would be…，if…reiterated…”是虚拟语气。动词“reiterated”后面跟有两个用圆括号所标示的，用“that”引导的并列的宾语从句
【释义】如果科学研究管委会的负责人能一再强调，他们的首要职责是促进科学发展，他们只有这样做，在经济以及其他方面，才最符合英国的国家利益，那样才会令人放心，才不至于发生这种现象。
答案注释
1.根据第一段中的it is in their interest to support the best science和“excellent science of whatever discipline is likely to spur innovation，which will in turn foster economic growth”可知，选项D应为答案。
2.根据上下文，第二段第一句中的“direct government sponsorship of technology development has fallen out of vogue”的意思是“政府直接资助发展技术已不多见”，所以，选项C应为答案。
3.根据第二段最后一句“There has been an assumption…that governments aren't good at picking winners”可 知，选项B应为答案。
4.根据第四段前两句中的“As a result，the word'#petitiveness'is back on the agenda，particularly in the United States.When political leaders look at research budgets in the light of #petitiveness…”可知，选项A应为 答案。
5.根据全文最后一句中的“Before that happens。it would be reassuring if the leaders of the research councils amphatically reiterated that their primary function is to promote scientific excellence…”可知，选项B应为答案[NextPage] 全文翻译
过去二十几年来，科学和科学资金的投入运行良好。冷战结束后，经济持续繁荣，各种政治色彩的政府普遍接受的看法认为，支持“最好的科学”符合他们的利益。对于好奇心驱动的基础科学研究，全球几乎达成一致的意见。意见如此一致，主要基于一种重要信念。这种信念认为，无论什么学科，优秀的科学成果都有助于创新，进而会促进经济增长。
同时，政府直接赞助技术发展也已不再被看做时尚。当然，在技术创新方面仍在继续投入巨大财力。如果把军事领域包括在内，与这种巨额投入相比，用于基础研究方面的财力依然相形见绌。但是，政府直接支持药物开发、电路板研制或者发展民航的想法已经相当落伍。有一种看法认为，即使在相对比较中立的国家，如法国和日本，政府也不善于“挑选潜在优胜者”。
科技政策的特殊时代现在也许已接近尾声。上周股市动荡，人们纷纷议论，美国或者以至全球经济可能会衰退。甚至在此之前，发达工业国家的决策者们就在极其警觉地关注着大量工业生产向中国和印度的涌入。
结果，“竞争力”这个说法重新提上了日程，尤其是在美国。当政治领导人从竞争角度看待研究预算时，他们往往更倾向于通过实施技术项目为创新提供直接支持，而不愿通过基础科学为创新提供间接支持。结果，他们提出的问题是一直以来科学家都很难回答的问题，例如，这项工作的经济产出会是什么？我们从投资中会得到什么？ 在英国，这些问题目前提出得很直接。在那里，由科学研究管理委员会负责资助大多数大学的科研，该委员会的方向似乎正在发生微妙的变化。对一篇题目为“增强研究委员会的经济影响力”的文章，一些科学家团体已经开始担心，这篇文章是委员会的管理层一月份发表的。
这个过程存在风险，可能会使科学研究管委会在选择资助对象时，很大程度上，把可见的经济利益当做决定因素，而不考虑科学价值。如果科学研究管委会的负责人能一再强调，他们的首要职责是促进科学发展，他们只有这样做，在经济以及其他方面，才最符合英国的国家利益，那样才会令人放心，才不至于发生这种现象。
超纲词汇
run n.运行，运转，运作
stripe n.条纹，类别
predominant adj.占主导地位的
vogue n.时髦，时兴，流行
dwarf 相形之下使矮小
explicit adj.明确的，显然的，清楚的
centrist 温和主义的，中间路线的
juddering 急剧变化的，不稳定的
spark 触发
prone 倾向于
spinoff n.派生作品，副产品
steering 操纵，掌舵，指导
reiterate vt.反复地说，重申
参考答案：1.D 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.B
