2021年考研英语二真题及答案
Section ⅠUse of English
Directions:
Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C
or D on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)
It's not difficult to set targets for staff . It is much harder, 1 ,to understand their negative
consequences. Most work-related behaviors have multiple components. 2 one and the others
become distorted. Travel on a London bus and you'll 3 see how this works with drivers. Watch people get on and show their tickets. Are they carefully inspected? Never. Do people get on without paying? Of course ! Are there inspectors to 4 that people have paid? Possibly, but very few. And people who run for the bus? They are 5 . How about jumping lights? Buses do so almost as frequently as cyclists. Why? Because the target is 6 . People complained that buses were late and infrequent. 7 , the number of buses and bus lanes were increased, and drivers were 8 or punished according to the time they took. And drivers hit these targets. But they 9 hit cyclists. If the target was changed to 10 , you would have more inspectors and more sensitive pricing. If the criterion changed to safety, you would get more 11 drivers who obeyed traffic laws. But both these criteria would be at the expense of time. There is another 12 : people became immensely inventive in hitting targets. Have you 13 that you can leave on a flight an hour late but still arrive on time? Tailwinds? Of course not! Airlines have simply changed the time a 14 is meant to take. A one-hour fight is now ballad as a two-hour flight. The 15 of the story is simple. Most jobs are multidimensional, with multiple criteria. Choose one criterion and you may well 16 others. Everything Can be done faster and made cheaper, but there is a 17 . Setting targets can and does have unforeseen negativeconsequences. This is not an argument against target-setting. But it is an argument for exploring consequences first. All good targets should have multiple criteria 18 critical factors such as time, money, quality and customer feedback. The trick is not only to 19 just one or even two dimensions of the objective, but also to understand how to help people better 20 the objective.
1. [A] therefore
[B] however
[C] again
[D] moreover
2 .[A] Emphasizes
[B] Identify
[C] Asses
[D] Explain
3. [A] nearly
[B] curiously
[C] eagerly
[D] quickly
4. [A] claim
[B] prove
[C] check
[D] recall
5. [A] threatened
[B] ignored
[C] mocked
[D] blamed
6. [A] punctuality
[B] hospitality
[C] competition
[D] innovation
7. [A] Yes
[B] So
[C] Besides
[D] Still
8. [A] hired
[B] trained
[C] rewarded
[D] grouped
9. [A] only
[B] rather
[C] once
[D] also
10. [A] comfort
[B]revenue
[C] efficiency
[D] security
11. [A] friendly
[B] quiet
[C] cautious
[D] diligent
12. [A] purpose
[B] problem
[C] prejudice
[D] policy
13. [A] reported
[B] revealed
[C] admitted
[D] noticed
14. [A] break
[B] trip
[C] departure
[D] transfer
15. [A] moral
[B] background
[C] style
[D] form
16. [A] interpret
[B] criticize
[C] sacrifice
[D] tolerate
17. [A] task
[B]secret
[C] product
[D] cast
18. [A] leading to
[B] calling for
[C] relating to
[D] accounting for
19. [A] specify
[B] predict
[C] restore
[D] create
20. [A] modify
[B]review
[C] present
[D]achieve
参考答案:
1.[B] however
2.[A] Emphasize
3. [D] quickly
4. [C] check
5. [B] ignored
6. [A] punctuality
7. [B]So
8. [C] rewarded
9. [D] also
10.[B] revenue
11.[C] cautious
12.[B] problem
13.[D] noticed
14. [B] trip
15.[B] background
16.[C] sacrifice
17.[D] cost
18. [C] relating to
19.[A]specify
20. [D] achieve
Section II Reading Comprehension
Part A
Directions:
Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D.
Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)
Text 1
‘Reskilling’ is something that sounds like a buzzword but is actually a requirement if we plan
to have a future where a lot of would-be workers do not get left behind.
We know we are moving into a period where the jobs in demand will change rapidly, as will
the requirements of the jobs that remain Research by the WEF detailed in the Harvard Business
Review, finds that on average 42 percent of the “core skills " within job roles will change by 2022.
That is a very short timeline, so we can only imagine what the changes will be further in the
future.
The question of who should pay for reskilling is a thorny one. For individual companies, the
temptation is always to let go of workers whose skills are no longer in demand and replace them
with those whose skills are. That does not always happen. AT&T is often given as the gold
standard of a company who decided to do a massive reskilling program rather than go with a
fire-and-hire strategy. Other companies had also pledged to create their own plans. When the skills
mismatch is in the broader economy. Though, the focus usually tums to government to handle.
Efforts in Canada and elsewhere have been arguably languid at best. And have given us a situation
where we frequently hear of employers begging for workers. Even at times and in regions where
unemployment is high.
With the pandemic, unemployment is very high indeed. In February at 3.5 per cent and 5.5
P.C. respectively, unemployment rates in Canada and the United States were at generational lows
and worker shortages were everywhere. As of May, those rates had spiked up to 13.3 per cent
and 13.7 per cent, and although many worker shortages had disappeared, not all had done so. In
the medical field, to take an obvious example, the pandemic meant that there were still clean
shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel.
Of course, it is not like you can take an unemployed waiter and train him to be a doctor in a
few weeks, no matter who pays for it. But even if you cannot close the gap, maybe you can close
others and doing so would be to the benefit of all concern. That seems to be the case in Sweden:
when forced to furlough 90 PC. of their cabin staff. Scandinavian Airline decided to start up a
short retaining program that reskilled the laid-off workers to support hospital staff. The effort was
a collective one and involved other companies as well as a Swedish university.
21. Research by the World Economic Forum suggests
.
[A] an increase in full time employment
[B]an urgent demand for new job sills
[C]a steady growth of job opportunities
[D]a controversy re about the“ core skills”
22. AT&T is cited to show .
[A] an alternative to the fire-and-hire strategy
[B] an immediate need for government support
[C] the importance of staff appraisal standards
[D]the characteristics of res- killing programs
23. Eflor1s to resolve the skills mismatch in Canada
[A] have driven up labour costs
[B] have proved to be inconsistent
[C] have met with fierce opposition
[D] have appeared to be insufficient
24. We can learn from Paragraph 3 that there was
[A] a call for policy adjustment
[B] a change in hiring practices
[C] a lack of medical workers
[D]a sign of economic recovery
25. Scandinavian Airlines decided to .
[A] create job vacancies for the unemployed
[B] prepare their laid of workers for other jobs
[C] retrain their cabin staff for better services
[D] finance their staff" s college education
参考答案:
21、[B] an urgent demand for new job skills
22、[A]an alternative to the fire and hire strategy
23、[D ]have appeared to be insufficient
24、[C]a lack of medical workers
25、[B] prepare their laid-off workers for other jobs
Text2
With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 billion by 2050, and forecasts that
agricultural production in some regions will need to nearly double to keep pace, food security is
increasingly making headlines. In the UK, it has become a big talking point recently too, for a
rather particular reason: Brexit.
Brexit is seen by some as an opportunity to reverse a recent trend towards the UK importing
food. The country produces only about 60 per cent of the food it eats, down from almost
three-quarters in the late 1980s. A move back to self-sufficiency, the argument goes, would boost
the farming industry, political sovereignty and even the nation's health. Sounds great 一 but how
feasible is this vision?
According to a report on UK food production from the University of Leeds, UK, 85 per cent
of the country's total land area is associated with meat and dairy production. That supplies 80 per
cent of what is consumed, so even covering the whole country in livestock farms wouldn't allow
us to cover all our meat and dairy needs.
There are many caveats to those figures, but they are still grave. To become much more
self-sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods, and
probably also farm more intensively 一 meaning fewer green fields, and more factory-style
production.
But switching to a mainly plant-based diet wouldn't help. There is a good reason why the UK
is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn't have the right soil or climate to grow
crops on a commercial basis. Just 25 per cent of the country's land is suitable for crop-growing,
most of which is already occupied by arable fields. Even if we converted all the suitable land to
fields of fruit and veg - which would involve taking out all the nature reserves and removing
thousands of people from their homes - we would achieve only a 30 per cent boost in crop
production.
Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown, so
even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs.
That is before we look for the space to grow the grains, sugars, seeds and oils that provide us with
the vast bulk of our current calorie intake.
26. Some people argue that food self-sufficiency in the UK would_______.
A. be hindered by its population growth
B. contribute to the nation's well-being
C. become a priority of the government
D. pose a challenge to its farming industry
27. The report by the University of Leeds shows that in the UK_______.
A. farmland has been inefficiently utilized
B. factory-style production needs reforming
C. most land is used for meat and dairy production
D. more green fields will be converted for farming
28. Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to_______.
A. its farming technology
B. its dietary tradition
C. its natural conditions
D. its commercial interests
29. It can be learned from the last paragraph that British people_______.
A. rely largely on imports for fresh produce
B. enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption
C. are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake
D. are trying to grow new varieties of grains
30. The author's attitude to food self-sufficiency in the UK is_______.
A. defensive
B. doubtful
C. tolerant
D. Optimistic
参考答案
26.[B] contribute to the nation's well. being
27.[C] most land is used for meat and dairy production
28. [C] its natural conditions
29. [A] rely largely on imports for fresh produce
30. [B] doubtful
Text 3
When Microsoft bought task management app Wunderlist and mobile calendar Sunrise in
2015, it picked two newcomers that were attracting considerable buzz in Silicon Valley.
Microsoft's own Office dominates the market for "productivity” software, but the start-ups
represented a new wave of technology designed from the ground up for the smartphone world.
Both apps, however, were later scrapped after Microsoft said it had used their best features in
its own products. Their teams of engineers stayed on, making them two of the many“acqui-hires"
that the biggest companies have used to feed their great hunger for tech talent
To Microsoft's critics, the fates of Wunderlist and Sunrise are examples of a remorseless
drive by Big Tech to chew up any innovative companies that lie in their path. "They bought the
seedlings and closed them down," complained Paul Arnold, a partner at San Francisco-based
Switch Ventures, putting an end to businesses that might one day turn into competitors. Microsoft
declined to comment.
Like other start-up investors, Mr Arnold's own business often depends on selling start: ups to
larger tech companies, though he admits to mixed feelings about the result:“I think these things
are good for me, if I put my selfish hat on. But are they good for the American economy? I don't
know."
The US Federal Trade Commission says it wants to find the answer to that question. This
week, it asked the five most valuable US tech companies for information about their many small
acquisitions over the past decade. Although only a rescarch project at this stage, the request has
raised the prospect of regulators wading into early-stage tech markets that until now have been
beyond their reach.
Given their combined market value of more than $5.5 trillion, rifling through such small
Deals - many of them much less prominent than Wunderlist and Sunrise- might seem beside
the point. Between them, the five biggest tech companies have spent an average of only $3.4
billion a year on sub-$1 billion acquisitions over the past five years- a drop in the ocean
compared with their massive financial reserves, and the more than $ 130 billion of venture
capital that was invested in the Us last year.
However, critics say the big companies use such deals to buy their most threatening potential
competitors before their businesses have a chance to gain momentum, in some cases as part of a
"buy and kill tactic to simply close them down.
31. What is true about Wunderlist and Sunrise after their acquisitions?
A. Their engineers were retained.
B. Their market values declined.
C. Their tech features improved.
D. Their products were re priced.
32. Microsoft's critics believe that the big tech companies tend to
_
A exaggerate their product quality
B. eliminate their potential competitors
C. treat new tech talent unfairly
D. ignore public opinions
33. Paul Arnold is concerned that small acquisitions might
.
A. weaken big tech companies
B. worsen market competition
C. harm the national economy
D. discourage start-up investors
34. The US Federal Trade Commission intends to
_.
A. limit Big Tech's expansion
B. encourage research collaboration
C. examine small acquisitions
D. supervise start-ups operations
35. For the five biggest tech companies, their small acquisitions have
.
A. brought little financial pressure
B. raised few management challenges
C. set a example for future deals
D. generated considerable profits
参考答案:
31. [A] Their engineers were retained.
32.[B] eliminate their potential competitors
33.[C] harm the national economy
34.[C] examine small acquisitions
35.[A]brought little financial pressure
Text 4
We're fairly good at judging people based on first impressions, thin slices of experience
ranging from a glimpse of a photo to a five minute interaction, and deliberation can be not only
extraneous but intrusive. In one study of the ability she called“thin slicing." the late psychologist
Nalini Ambady asked participants to watch silent 10-second video clips of professors and to rate
the instructor's overall effectiveness. Their ratings correlated strongly. with students'
end-of-semester ratings. Another set of participants had to count backward from 1,000 by nines as
they watched the clips, occupying their conscious working memory. Their ratings were just as
accurate, demonstrating the intuitive nature of the social processing .
Critically, another group was asked to spend a minute writing down reasons for their
judgment, before giving the rating. Accuracy, dropped dramatically. Ambady suspected that
deliberation focused them on vivid but misleading cues, such as certain gestures or utterances,
rather than letting the complex interplay of subtle signals form a holistic impression. She found
similar interference when participants watched 15- second clips of pairs of people and judged
whether they were strangers, friends, or dating partners.
Other research shows we 're better at detecting deception from thin slices when we rely on
intuition instead of reflection. "It's as if you're driving a stick shit," says Judith Hall, a
psychologist at Northeastern University, “and if you start thinking about it too much, you can't
remember what you' re doing. But if you go on automatic pilot, you' re fine. Much of our social
life is like that."
Thinking too much can also harm our ability to form preferences. College students' ratings of
strawberry jams and college courses aligned better with experts' opinions when the students
weren't asked to analyze their rationale. And people made car-buying decisions that were both
objectively better and more personally satisfying when asked to focus on their feelings rather than
on details, but only if the decision was complex- -when they had a lot of information to process.
Intuition's special powers are unleashed only in certain circumstances. In one study,
participants completed a battery of eight tasks, including four that tapped relctive thinking
(discerning nules, comprehending vocabulary) and four that tapped intuition and creativity
(generating new products or figures of speech). Then they rated the degree to which they had used
intuition (" gut feelings." "hunches,"“my heart"). Use of their gut hurt their performance on the
first four tasks, as expected, and helped them on the rest. Sometimes the heart is smarter than the
head.
36. Nalini Ambady's study deals with
[A] the power of people S memory
[B] the reliability of first impressions
[C] instructor- student interaction
[D] people' s ability to influence others
37. In Ambady's study, rating accuracy dropped when participants.
[A] focused on specific details
[B] gave the rating in limited time
[C] watched shorter video clips
[D] discussed with one another
38. Judith Hall mentions driving to show that
[A] reflection can be distracting
[B] memory may be selective
[C] social skills must be cultivated
[D] deception is difficult to detect
39. When you are making complex decisions, it is advisable to_
[A] collect enough data
[B] list your preferences
[C] seek expert advice
[D] follow your feelings
40. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
[A] Generating new products takes time
[B] Intuition may affect reflective tasks
[C] Vocabulary comprehension needs creativity
[D]Objective thinking may boost intuitiveness.
参考答案
36. [B] the reliability of first impression
37.[A] focused on specific details
38. [A] reflection cam be distracting
39.[D] follow your feelings
40. [B] intuition may affect reflective tasks
Part B
Directions:
The following paragraphs are given in a wrong order. For Questions 41-45, you are required
to reorganize these paragraphs into a coherent article by choosing from the list A-G and
filling them into the numbered boxes. Paragraphs C and F have been correctly placed. Mark
your answers on ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)
A.Stay calm.
B. Stay humble.
C. Decide whether to wait.
D. Be realistic about the risks.
E. Don't make judgements.
F. Identify a shared goal.
G. Ask permission to disagree
How to disagree with someone more powerful than you
Your boss proposes a new initiative you think won't work. Your senior colleague outlines a
project timeline you believe is unrealistic. What do you see when you disagree with someone who
has more power than you do? How do you decide whether it's worth speaking up? And if you do,
what exactly should you say? Here's how to disagree with someone more powerful than you.
41._______________________
You may decide it's best to hold off on voicing your opinion. Maybe you haven't finished
thinking the problem through, or you want to get a clearer sense of what the group thinks. If you
think other people are going to disagree, too, you might want to gather your army first. People can
contribute experience or information to your thinking 一 all the things that would make the
disagreement stronger or more valid. It's also a good idea to delay the conversation if you are in a
meeting or other public space. Discussing the issue in private will make the powerful person feel
less threatened.
42._________________________
Before you share your thoughts, think about what the powerful person cares about 一 it may
be the credibility of their team or getting a project done on time. You're more likely to be heard if
you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose. State it overtly, contextualizing your
statements so that you' re seen not as a disagreeable subordinate but as a colleague who's trying to
advance a common objective. The discussion will then become more like a chess game than a
boxing match.
43._______________________
This step may sound overly deferential, but it's a smart way to give the powerful person
psychological safety and control. You can see something like, “I know we seem to be moving
toward a first quarter commitment here. I have reasons to think that won't work. I'd like to layout
my reasoning- Would that be OK?" This gives the person a choice, allowing him to verbally opt
in.And, assuming he says yes, it will make you feel more confident about voicing your
disagreement.
44._________________________
You might feel your heart racing or your face turning red, but do whatever you can to remain
natural in both your words and actions. When your body language communicates reluctance or
anxiety, it undercuts the message. It sends a mixed message, and your counterpart gels to choose
what signals to read. Deep breaths can help, a can speaking more slowly and deliberately. When
we feel panicky, we tend to talk louder and faster. Simply slowing the pace and talking in an even
tone helps the other person cool down and does the same for you. It also makes you seem
confident, even if you aren't.
45.__________________________
Emphasize that you're only offering your opinion, not gospel truth. It may be a well-informed,
well-researched opinion, but it's still an opinion, so talk tentatively and slightly understate your
confidence. Instead of saying,“If we set an end of quarter deadline, we will never make it" say,
"This is just my opinion, but I don't see how we will make that deadline." Having asserted your
opinion (as a position, not as a fact), demonstrate equal curiosity about other views. Remind the
person that this is your point of view, and then invite critique. Be open to hearing
other opinions.
参考答案:
41. [C]Decide whether to wait
42.[F] Identify a shared goal
43.[G]Ask permission to disagree
44.[A] Stay calm
45.[B] Stay humble
Part C
46. Directions:
Translate the following text from English into Chinese. Write your translation on ANSIWER
SHIEET.(15 points)
We tend to think that friends and family members are our biggest sources of connection,
laughter, and warmth. While that may well be true, researchers have also recently found that
interacting with strangers actually brings a boost in mood and feelings of belonging that we didn't
expect.
In one series of studies, researchers instructed Chicago -area commuters using public
transportation to strike up a conversation with someone near them. On average, participants who
followed this instruction felt better than those who had been told to stand or sit in silence. The
researchers also argued that when we shy away from casual interactions with strangers, it is often
due to a misplaced anxiety that they might not want to talk to us. Much of the time, however, this
belief is false. As it tums out, many people are actually perfectly willing to talk and may even be
flattered to receive your attention.
参考译文:
我们倾向于认为朋友和家人是我们关系、欢乐和温暖的最大来源。尽管这一说法很大程
度上是对的,但是研究者们最近也发现,与陌生人交流实际上也会带来我们意料之外的情绪
高涨和归属感。
在一系列的研究中,研究者们通知芝加哥地区乘用公共交通的通勤者开始一段和周围人
的交流。一般来讲,得到通知的参加者们比要求安静站着或坐着的人们感觉更好。同时,研
究者们也认为我们羞于和陌生人随意交流时,经常是因为一种错位的恐慌,即他们可能并不
像和我们聊天。但是,很多时候,这种观念是错误的。正如结果证实,很多人实际上非常愿
意去开始一段谈话,甚至可能很开心得到你的注意。
Section III Writing
Part A
47. Directions:
Write an email to all international experts on campus inviting them to attend the graduation
ceremony. In your email you should include time, place and other relevant information
about the ceremony.
You should write about 100 words neatly on the ANSEWER SHEET
Do not use your own name at the end of the email. Use “Li Ming” instead. (10 points)
Suppose you are organizing an online meeting,write an email to Jack,an international student to
1. invite him to participate
2. Tell him about the details
解析:
英语二小作文考查的是电子邮件,属于书信类型,要求考生写一封邀请信。对于邀请信,
考生应该在审题的时候弄清楚写信对象是机构还是个人,很明显要求给杰克写信,因此称
呼上就可以直接写Dear Jack。邀请书信的第一段可以写两句话:第一句写出即将召开一次
会议这个背景即可;第二句要求写出写信目的,写信目的是第一段最重要的。
第二段大概写4句话:第一句写个主题句。第二句至第四句写关于这次会议的具体内容,
这部分具体内容没有硬性要求,可以自己编写,比如会议的主题、会议的议程和会议的参加
者等等。
第三段大概写三句:第一句是再次表明写信目的,即希望对方能出席会议,第二句表
示感谢,第三句写期待回复。正文最后写结束语和签名,切记不能写自己的名字,用李明
来落款。日期可以写也可以不写,建议大家不写日期,如果写日期的话要写在正文的右上
角。
参考范文:
Dear Jack,
On behalf of the council of the meeting, I am honorable to inform you there is going to an online
meeting next week. I am writing to ask if you are available to participate in this meeting at 10:00
a.m. on next Sunday.
Some detailed information concerning this meeting can be listed as below. The subject of the
meeting, initially, is regarding how to improve students’ study efficiency. To continue, the
meeting will last approximately 2 hours, including participants’ speeches, discussion and our
president’s summary. More importantly, the meeting will be held via the Internet, so it is
necessary for all the participants to prepare for a P.C. or a mobile phone.
I sincerely hope that you could give me honor to attend this meeting. Your prompt attention to my
email would be highly appreciated. I am looking forward to your response.
Yours truly,
Li Ming
Part B
48. Directions:
Write an essay based on the chart below. In your writing. you should
1) interpret the chart, and
2) give your comments.
You should write about 150 words on the ANSWER SHEET. (15 points)
参考范文:
As is apparently reflected in the column above, we are informed a survey in terms of various
approaches in which residents take sports exercise in a certain city. To be more specific, those
taking exercise by themselves or with friends take a lion’s share, accounting for over 90%. By
contrast, those who choose to be engaged in physical sports with family members or participate in
group activities occupy a minor proportion, making up 23.9% and 13.8% respectively.
It is not a difficult job to find out the reasons behind this phenomenon. There is no denying
that, to begin with, along with a growing amount of pressure, people increasingly recognize the
significance of sports, as a result of which, it is no surprise to see a sports wave in our society.
Simultaneously, it is the differentiation of individuals that gives rise to various preferences and
inclination towards sports approaches, to the extent that someone would like to take physical
exercise alone, others are willing to do sports with friends or family.
Based on what has been analyzed above, a conclusion can be drawn safely that taking
physical exercise will undoubtedly be good for people’s health no matter whom you do it with
together. As a proverb goes, “Go outside and keep moving, you will be much healthier.”
Considering the discussion above, it is predicted that there will be more residents participating in
sports activities in the forthcoming years.