考研英语真题精读 2010Text3

•These small local protests are just the tip of the iceberg.这些小规模的地方性抗议只是冰山一角。

Epidemic adjectiv e流行的；盛行的；肆虐的

•Poverty in this country has reached epidemic proportions.这个国家很多人处于贫困之中。

informed adjective 见多识广的；了解情况的

•an informedchoice/opinion有根据的选择／观点

•Elizabeth is remarkably well-informed.伊莉莎白见多识广。

Intuitive adjective 直觉的；凭直觉的

•an intuitiveapproach/judgment凭直觉的方法／判断

•Most people have an intuitivesense of right and wrong.大多数人具有基于直觉的是非感。

compelling adjective STRONG（理由、论证等）令人信服的，很有说服力的

•compellingevidence强而有力的证据

•It's a fairly compelling argument for going.去的理由很有说服力。

II①The supposed importance of influentials derives froma plausiblesounding but largely untested theorycalled the “two step flow ofcommunication”: Information flows from the media to the influentials and from them to everyone else. ②Marketers have embraced the two-step flow because it suggeststhat if they can just find and influence the influentials, those selecte dpeople will do most of the work for them. ③The theory also seems toexplain the sudden and unexpected popularity of certain looks, brands, or neighborhoods. ④In many such cases, acursory search for causes finds that some small group of people was wearing, promoting,or developing whatever it is before anyone else paid attention. ⑤Anecdotal evidence of this kind fits nicely with the idea that only certain special people candrive trends.

derive from sth来自于，源自

•The English word 'olive' is derived from the Latin word 'oliva'.英语的 olive 一词源自拉丁语中的 oliva。

stem from sth源自；由…造成

•Her problems stemfrom her difficult childhood.她的问题主要是由艰苦的童年生活造成。

plausible adjective 貌似真实（或可信）的

•a plausibleexplanation/excuse貌似有理的解释／借口

■disapproving花言巧语的，舌灿莲花的

•a plausiblesalesman能说会道的推销员

cursory adjective 仓促的；草草的；粗略的

•a cursoryglance/look匆匆一瞥

•a cursoryexamination粗略的检查

Anecdotal adjective 趣闻的，轶事的；传闻的

•anecdotalevidence趣闻轶事式的证据

III①In their recent work, however,some researchers have come up with the finding that influentials have far less impact on social epidemics than is generally supposed. ②In fact, they don’t seem to berequired of all.

IV①The researchers’ argument stems from a simple observing about social influence, with the exception of a few celebrities like Oprah Winfrey—whose outsize presence is primarily a function of media, not interpersonal,influence—even the most influential members of a population simply don’t interact with that many others. ②Yet it is precisely thesenon-celebrity influentials who, according tothe two-step-flow theory, are supposed to drive social epidemics by influencing their friends and colleagues directly. ③For a social epidemicto occur, however, each person so affected, must then influence his or her own acquaintances, who must in turn influence theirs, and so on; and just how many others pay attention to each of these people has little to do with the initial influential.④If people in the network just two degrees removed from the initial influential prove resistant, for example from the initial influential prove resistant, for example the cascade of change won’t propagatevery far or affect many people.

celebrity noun IMPROVER countable（尤指娱乐界的）名人，明星；名流

interpersonal adjective人际的

•The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills.成功的申请人应具有出色的人际交往技巧。

cascade noun countable小瀑布（常指瀑布群的分支）瀑布状物

•A cascadeofgolden hairfell down his back.金发如瀑布般披散在他的肩头。

propagate verb SPREAD 传播，散播；宣传

•The government have tried to propagate the belief that this is a just war.政府竭力宣扬这是一场正义之战。

V①Building on the basic truth about interpersonal influence, the researchers studied the dynamicsof populations manipulating a number of variables relating of populations, manipulatinga number of variables relating to people’s ability to influence others and their tendency to be influenced.②They found that the principal requirement for what we call “global cascades”– the widespread propagation of influence through networks – c

dynamics plural noun动力

•This software is used for modelling atmospheric dynamics.这个软体用于叙述空气的动力。

（团体或体系内部的）变革动力

•The fight for the leadership gave a fascinating insight into the group's dynamics.这场争夺领导权的斗争给了人们一个洞察该团体内部变革动力的良好时机。

manipulate verbtransitive NFLUENCE（常指以不正当手段）操纵，控制

•Throughout her career she has very successfully manipulatedthe media.她在整个职业生涯中非常成功地控制了媒体。

31.By citing the book The Tipping Point, theauthor intends to

[A]analyzethe consequences of social epidemics

[B]discuss influentials’ function in spreading ideas

[C]exemplify people’s intuitive response to social epidemics

[D]describe the essential characteristics of influentials.

定位：Malcolm Aladuell argues that social epidemics are driven in large part bythe acting of a tiny minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusuallyinformed, persuasive, or well-connected.

32.The author suggests that the “two-step-flow theory”

[A]serves as a solution to marketing problems

[B]has helped explain certain prevalent trends

[C]has won support from influentials

[D]requires solid evidence for its validity

定位：The supposed importance of influentialsderives from aplausible soundingbut largely untested theory called the “two step flow of communication”

Anecdotal evidenceof this kind fits nicely with the idea thatonly certain special people can drive trends.

33.what the researchers have observed recently shows that

[A] the power ofinfluence goes with social interactions

[B]interpersonal links can be enhanced through the media

[C]influentials have more channels to reach the public

[D]most celebrities enjoy wide media attention

定位：For a social epidemic to occur, however, eachperson so affected, must then influence his or her own acquaintances, who mustin turn influence theirs, and so on; and just how many others pay attentionto each of these people has little to dowith the initial influential.

34.The underlined phrase “these people” inparagraph 4 refers to the ones who

[A]stay outside the network of social influence

[B]have little contact with the source of influence

[C] are influencedand then influence others

[D]are influenced by the initial influential

定位：each person so affected, must then influence his or her ownacquaintances, who must in turn influence theirs, and so on

35.what is the essentialelement in the dynamics of social influence?

[A]The eagerness to be accepted

[B]The impulse to influence others

[C]The readiness tobe influenced

[D]Theinclination to rely on others

定位：manipulating a number of variables relating topeople’s ability to influence others and theirtendency to be influenced.

They found that the principalrequirement for what we call “global cascades” is the presence not of a fewinfluentials but, rather, of a critical mass of easily influenced people.