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考研英語閱讀材料（通用5篇）
如何做好考研英語閱讀理解試題，考研英語閱讀理解作為考研英語的重中之重,然而如何能夠掌握一定的閱讀和解題技巧,是很多考生感到困惑的。下面小編跟大家分享考研的英語閱讀材料，有興趣的朋友就可以看看哦!
考研英語閱讀材料 1
THE last time she was recruiting for her export-sales team, Sarah Grain hired a Lithuanian who speaks Russian, Polish and German. Her two previous hires for Eriez Magnetics, which makes industrial equipment in South Wales, were an Italian who also speaks French, and a Venezuelan who speaks Spanish and Portuguese. All of them speak fluent English. “There were no British applicants who had the requisite language skills,” she says.
Ms Grains conclusion is not unusual for a British company. In 2012 a European Commission survey tested the foreign-language proficiency of 54,000 students aged 14 and 15, in 14 nations. Sweden came top, with 82% of pupils reaching an “independent” or “advanced independent” standard. The average for all 14 states was 42%. England came bottom, with just 9%.
Part of the explanation is that many peoples second language is English, while many Britons continue to believe that, as native speakers of the lingua mundi, they do not need to bother with foreign languages. They may be right—in terms of communication. But it means that, not only are they missing out on much cultural interaction, they may also be harming their own job prospects.
They have not been helped by the educational policies of successive governments. In 2004 Tony Blairs Labour government abolished the requirement to learn a language after the age of 14, causing the numbers taking a language GCSE exam at 16 to fall by half in state schools over the next seven years.
Concerned about this rapid decline, the coalition government brought in a new performance indicator called the English Baccalaureate, or EBacc, in 2011. A modern language was one of its five core disciplines. Language teachers—an embattled breed—rejoiced. The number of students entering a GCSE language exam in 2013, the first year the changes took effect, rose by 20% (see chart).
Now, however, those gains could be lost, as the government has seemingly loosened the requirement. From 2016, under a new initiative called Progress 8, it has extended the number of core subjects to eight, appearing to make learning a language voluntary. This has pleased some teachers, who felt the EBacc was too narrow, but linguists are aghast.
The decline of languages at GCSE has inevitably had an effect higher up the academic food chain. Though the number of those studying languages to A Level—the exams taken at 18—will increase thanks to the GCSE cohort of 2013-14, it is likely to fall back again. French and German are half as popular as they were 20 years ago. The number of universities offering language degrees has fallen, too: by 50% for German and 40% for French since 1998. The number offering Spanish has also fallen. Degrees in other languages, such as Chinese and Arabic, are becoming more popular, but they are still rare.
The economy and the labour market bear the consequences. In 2012 the British Chambers of Commerce found, in a survey of 8,000 British companies, that 96% had no foreign-language speakers. First-time exporters cited language as a barrier to entering international markets.
Though Britain makes up 12% of the population of the EU, less than 5% of EU civil servants in Brussels are British. Not enough Britons can fulfil the language requirement of being able to work in French or German. And even if monoglot Brits can get jobs at multinationals, claims Richard Hardie, non-executive chairman of the British arm of UBS, a bank, “the chances of getting to the top if you only have English are much lower than before”.
This lack of language skills also lowers growth. By exactly how much is hard to say, but one estimate, by James Foreman-Peck of Cardiff University, puts the “gross language effect” (the income foregone because language barriers alter and reduce international trade) in 2012 as high as ￡59 billion ($90 billion), or 3.5% of GDP.
In the linguistic gloom, there are a few bright spots. Some British universities are moving away from literature-based degrees towards joint degrees linked to practical subjects such as law or business studies. Some scientists are learning languages outside their course requirements to make themselves more employable.
Meanwhile, in September 2014 the government mandated that all primary schools must teach a language. Getting children started at a young age is admirable. But, with so few language graduates coming out of universities, who is going to teach them ?
參考譯文:
最后一次為自己的海外銷售團(tuán)隊(duì)招聘，Sarah Grain聘用了一位可講俄語、波蘭語和德語的立陶宛人。她為藝?yán)盆F—位于南威爾士的一家制造工業(yè)設(shè)備的公司—先前兩次聘用的人分別是會(huì)講法語的意大利人和會(huì)講西班牙語與葡萄牙語的委內(nèi)瑞拉人。而他們都能說流利的英文。Sarah表示，“沒有符合必備語言技能的英國求職者。”
Grain女士對(duì)一家英國公司的此般結(jié)論已經(jīng)讓人見怪不怪了。早在2012年，歐盟委員會(huì)就針對(duì)來自14個(gè)國家、14到15歲年齡不等的54000名學(xué)生進(jìn)行了外語熟練程度的測(cè)試。瑞典學(xué)生以其中82%的人可達(dá)到“靈活使用”和“駕輕就熟”的程度而位居榜首。所有14個(gè)國家的平均人數(shù)為42%。英國墊底，僅僅有9%。
部分原因是許多人的第二外語就是英語，這也是大部分英國人始終堅(jiān)信的事，而作為以lingua mundi為母語的人，他們著實(shí)無需為外語而煩心。他們可能是對(duì)的——從溝通方面來說。但這卻意味著他們不僅會(huì)錯(cuò)失多文化交流機(jī)會(huì)，也會(huì)危及到他們的工作前景。
歷屆政府的教育政策并未使他們獲益。2004年，托尼布萊爾的工黨政府廢除了年滿14歲就要學(xué)習(xí)一門語言的要求，此舉直接導(dǎo)致之后的.七年，公立學(xué)校的學(xué)生在語言方面GCSE(普通中等教育證書)考試的通過率直降一半。
考慮到人數(shù)驟降，聯(lián)合政府在2011年頒布了一項(xiàng)名為英國文憑的證書(EBacc)的技能指標(biāo)�，F(xiàn)代語言是5個(gè)核心學(xué)科之一。語言老師——隨時(shí)嚴(yán)陣以待的一群人—都欣喜若狂。新指標(biāo)頒布后第一年就見成效，2013年參加GCSE語言考試的學(xué)生人數(shù)增長(zhǎng)了20%。
但是現(xiàn)在，隨著政府對(duì)此項(xiàng)要求的逐漸放松，這些成績(jī)可能會(huì)慢慢丟失。自2016年起，在一項(xiàng)名為Progress 8(8步走)的新倡議下，核心學(xué)科擴(kuò)展至8門，這一舉措使得語言學(xué)習(xí)更自主化。這讓部分老師十分欣喜，他們認(rèn)為Ebacc范圍狹窄，而語言學(xué)家卻對(duì)此舉大為震驚。
GCSE中語言的減少，不可避免的會(huì)對(duì)提高學(xué)術(shù)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)有所影響。盡管隨著2013-14年GCSE的人氣回溫，那些語言學(xué)習(xí)高達(dá)A級(jí)—18歲方可參與的考試—的人數(shù)將會(huì)增加，但它仍可能再次降低。相較于20年前，法國和德國的人數(shù)已降了一半。提供語言學(xué)位的大學(xué)數(shù)量也已減少：自1998年起，德國減少了50%，法國減少了40%。提供西班牙語學(xué)習(xí)的學(xué)校也已減少。其他語種學(xué)位，比如漢語和阿拉伯語，正變得越來越多，但它們依然很稀缺。
經(jīng)濟(jì)和勞工市場(chǎng)直接承擔(dān)此般后果。在2012年，英國商會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)，在一份涉及8000家英國公司的調(diào)查中，有96%的公司都沒有會(huì)外語的人。首次試水的出口商將外語定為打入國際市場(chǎng)的一大障礙。
雖然英國占?xì)W盟總?cè)丝诘?2%，但在布魯塞爾擔(dān)任歐盟公務(wù)員的英國人卻少于總?cè)藬?shù)的5%。沒有完全合格的英國人能夠滿足可在法國或德國工作的要求。而且即使只會(huì)單一語言的英國人在跨國公司工作，來自瑞銀集團(tuán)—一家銀行—英國分公司的理查德·哈迪表示，“若你只會(huì)講英語，那么你能高升的機(jī)會(huì)相比于以前已經(jīng)大大降低了�！�
語言技能的缺乏也降低了增長(zhǎng)。很難精確到用多少來說明，但是據(jù)卡迪夫大學(xué)James Foreman-Peck估計(jì)， “惡劣的語言效應(yīng)”(由于語言障礙改變和減少了國際貿(mào)易)給2012年帶來高達(dá)590億英鎊(合900美元)，或是3.5%的國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值的損失。
在幽暗的語言世界，有些許明亮之處。部分英國大學(xué)正在從以文學(xué)導(dǎo)向的學(xué)位轉(zhuǎn)變至與類似法律和商業(yè)學(xué)習(xí)的實(shí)踐學(xué)科關(guān)聯(lián)的聯(lián)合學(xué)位。一些科學(xué)家正在學(xué)習(xí)他們學(xué)科需求之外的語言，這會(huì)使他們更加稱職。
與此同時(shí)，政府在 2014年9月要求所有的小學(xué)都要教授語言。讓孩子們?cè)谟g時(shí)期接受語言教育是極好的。但是，從大學(xué)走出的語言學(xué)畢業(yè)生幾近為零，誰又能來教他們呢?
考研英語閱讀材料 2
The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work, has seen a meteoric rise in recent years. Platforms like Uber, Airbnb, and Upwork have connected millions of workers with clients, offering flexibility and the promise of higher earnings. However, beneath the surface, a complex web of issues is emerging.
One of the primary concerns is the lack of job security. Gig workers often find themselves without a stable income stream, as projects come and go. A study by the Freelancers Union found that nearly 70% of gig workers experienced income volatility in the past year. This instability not only affects their day-to-day lives but also their long-term financial planning, such as saving for retirement or buying a home.
Moreover, the classification of gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees has significant implications. Without the protections and benefits that come with traditional employment, like health insurance and paid leave, gig workers are left to fend for themselves. In some cases, they may be exposed to greater risks on the job, with no safety net in place.
Despite these challenges, the gig economy also presents opportunities. It allows individuals to pursue their passions, develop new skills, and work on projects they truly care about. For example, a graphic designer might be able to take on a diverse range of clients, from local startups to international brands, expanding their portfolio and professional network.
As the gig economy continues to grow, policymakers are grappling with how to regulate it. Some countries have introduced legislation to provide gig workers with certain rights, such as minimum wage protections and access to benefits. However, finding the right balance between flexibility and worker protection remains a delicate task.
In conclusion, the gig economy is a double-edged sword. While it offers flexibility and new economic opportunities, it also brings to light issues that need to be addressed. As we move forward, it will be crucial to ensure that the benefits of this new economic model are shared equitably, without sacrificing the well-being of workers.
考研英語閱讀材料 3
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary force in the healthcare industry, with the potential to transform every aspect of patient care. From diagnosing diseases to developing personalized treatment plans, AI is making waves.
One of the most significant applications of AI in healthcare is in medical imaging. Machine learning algorithms can analyze X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans with remarkable accuracy, detecting signs of diseases such as cancer, pneumonia, and heart disease at an early stage. A recent study published in the Lancet found that an AI system was able to identify lung cancer in chest X-rays with a sensitivity rate of over 90%, outperforming human radiologists in some cases.
AI is also being used to develop precision medicine. By analyzing vast amounts of patient data, including genetic information, lifestyle factors, and medical history, AI algorithms can predict how a patient will respond to a particular treatment. This allows doctors to tailor treatments to an individuals specific needs, improving the effectiveness of therapies and reducing the risk of adverse reactions.
However, the widespread adoption of AI in healthcare is not without its challenges. One major concern is the issue of data privacy. With so much patient data being collected and analyzed, there is a risk of data breaches and misuse. Ensuring the security and confidentiality of patient information is of utmost importance.
Another challenge is the lack of transparency in some AI algorithms. Known as "black box" algorithms, these systems make decisions based on complex mathematical models that are difficult to interpret. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for doctors and patients to trust the results, especially when it comes to critical medical decisions.
Despite these challenges, the future of AI in healthcare looks promising. As technology continues to advance and regulatory frameworks are put in place, AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, improving patient outcomes and saving lives. But it is essential that we approach its implementation with caution, addressing the ethical and practical concerns along the way.
考研英語閱讀材料 4
In todays interconnected world, pop culture has become a global phenomenon. From Hollywood blockbusters to K-pop music, Western fashion trends to Japanese anime, pop culture is spreading like wildfire across borders. This globalization of pop culture has both positive and negative implications.
On the positive side, the spread of pop culture has increased cultural exchange and understanding. For example, through the popularity of Korean dramas on streaming platforms like Netflix, viewers around the world have been introduced to Korean culture, including its traditions, food, and values. This has led to a greater appreciation for diversity and has helped to break down cultural barriers.
Pop culture also has the power to inspire and empower individuals. For instance, the body positivity movement, which has been popularized through social media and the music industry, has encouraged people to embrace their bodies and challenge traditional beauty standards. It has given a voice to those who have long been marginalized in the mainstream media.
However, the globalization of pop culture is not without its drawbacks. One concern is the homogenization of culture. As Western pop culture dominates the global market, there is a risk that local cultures and traditions will be overshadowed. This can lead to a loss of cultural identity, especially in developing countries.
Another issue is the commercialization of pop culture. Many pop culture products are driven by profit, and this can result in the production of content that is shallow and lacks substance. For example, some reality TV shows are criticized for promoting a culture of consumerism and materialism.
In conclusion, the globalization of pop culture is a complex phenomenon with both benefits and challenges. While it has the potential to bring people together and promote cultural understanding, we must also be mindful of the risks of cultural homogenization and commercialization. By finding a balance, we can ensure that the globalization of pop culture enriches our lives without eroding our cultural heritage.
考研英語閱讀材料 5
Social media has become an integral part of our lives, connecting us with friends, family, and the world at large. However, in recent years, concerns have been raised about its impact on mental health.
One of the main ways social media affects mental health is through the phenomenon of social comparison. On platforms likeFacebook, people often present carefully curated versions of their lives, highlighting the positive aspects and hiding the negative. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem in viewers, as they compare their own lives to the seemingly perfect lives of others. A study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 60% of social media users reported feeling worse about their lives after comparing themselves to others on social media.
Social media can also contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. The constant stream of notifications, likes, and comments can create a sense of pressure to be constantly engaged and validated. Moreover, the spread of misinformation and cyberbullying on social media can have a significant impact on mental well-being, especially among young people.
On the other hand, social media also has the potential to have a positive impact on mental health. It can provide a platform for support and connection, especially for those who may be isolated or marginalized. Online communities focused on mental health issues, for example, can offer a safe space for people to share their experiences and seek advice.
To mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health, it is important for individuals to practice digital self-care. This includes setting limits on social media use, being mindful of the content we consume, and using social media in a way that promotes positive interactions.
In conclusion, social media has a complex relationship with mental health. While it offers many benefits, it also poses significant risks. By being aware of these risks and taking steps to protect our mental well-being, we can make the most of social media while minimizing its negative impact.
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