考博英语100篇精读荟萃（基础篇）

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The past ages of man have all been carefully labeled by anthropologists. Descriptions like ‘ Palaeolithic
Man’, ‘Neolithic Man’, etc., neatly sum up whole periods. When the time comes for anthropologists to turn
their attention to the twentieth century, they will surely choose the label ‘Legless Man’. Histories of the time
will go something like this: ‘in the twentieth century, people forgot how to use their legs. Men and women
moved about in cars, buses and trains from a very early age. There were lifts and escalators in all large
buildings to prevent people from walking. This situation was forced upon earth dwellers of that time because
of miles each day. But the surprising thing is that they didn’t use their legs even when they went on holiday.
They built cable railways, ski-lifts and roads to the top of every huge mountain. All the beauty spots on earth
were marred by the presence of large car parks. ’
The future history books might also record that we were deprived of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to
get from one place to another, we failed to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird’s-eye view of
the world – or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to get in your way. When you travel by car or train a
blurred image of the countryside constantly smears the windows. Car drivers, in particular, are forever
obsessed with the urge to go on and on: they never want to stop. Is it the lure of the great motorways, or what?
And as for sea travel, it hardly deserves mention. It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song: ‘I
joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.’ The typical twentieth-century traveler is
the man who always says ‘I’ve been there. ’ You mention the remotest, most evocative place-names in the
world like El Dorado, Kabul, Irkutsk and someone is bound to say ‘I’ve been there’ – meaning, ‘I drove
through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else. ’
When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you
spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place. But actual arrival, when it is achieved,
is meaningless. You want to move on again. By traveling like this, you suspend all experience; the present
ceases to be a reality: you might just as well be dead. The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly
in the present. For him traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step
he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of
his journey he feels a delicious physical weariness. He knows that sound. Satisfying sleep will be his: the just
reward of all true travellers.
1、Anthorpologists label nowaday’s men ‘Legless’ because
A people forget how to use his legs.
B people prefer cars, buses and trains.
C lifts and escalators prevent people from walking.
D there are a lot of transportation devices.
2、Travelling at high speed means
A people’s focus on the future.
B a pleasure.
C satisfying drivers’ great thrill.
D a necessity of life.
3、Why does the author say ‘we are deprived of the use of our eyes’ ?
A People won’t use their eyes.
B In traveling at high speed, eyes become useless.
C People can’t see anything on his way of travel.
D People want to sleep during travelling.
4、What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?
A Legs become weaker.
B Modern means of transportation make the world a small place.
C There is no need to use eyes.
D The best way to travel is on foot.
5. What does ‘a bird’s-eye view’ mean?
A See view with bird’s eyes.
B A bird looks at a beautiful view.
C It is a general view from a high position looking down.
D A scenic place.
VOCABULARY
1. Palaeolithic 旧石器时代的
2. Neolithic 新石器时代的
3. escalator 自动电梯，自动扶梯
4. ski-lift 载送滑雪者上坡的装置