2003 Text 1

  Wild Bill Donovan would have loved the Internet. The American spymaster who built the Office of Strategic Services in the World War II and later laid the roots for the CIA was fascinated with information. Donovan believed in using whatever tools came to hand in the "great game" of espionage — spying as a "profession". These days the Net, which has already re-made pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovan's vocation as well.

  The last revolution isn't simply a matter of gentlemen reading other gentlemen's e-mail. That kind of electronic spying has been going on for decades. In the past three or four years, the world wide web has given birth to a whole industry of point-and-click spying. The spooks call it "open source intelligence," and as the Net grows, it is becoming increasingly influential. In 1995 the CIA held a contest to see who could compile the most data about Burundi. The winner, by a large margin, was a tiny Virginia company called Open-Source Solutions, whose clear advantage was its mastery of the electronic world.

  Among the firms making the biggest splash in the new world is Straitford, Inc., a private intelligence-analysis firm based in Austin, Texas. Straitford makes money by selling the results of spying (covering nations from Chile to Russia) to corporations like energy-services firm McDermott International. Many of its predictions are available online at .

  Straiford president George Friedman says he sees the online world as a kind of mutually reinforcing tool for both information collection and distribution, a spymaster's dream. Last week his firm was busy vacuuming up data bits from the far corners of the world and predicting a crisis in Ukraine. "As soon as that report runs, we'll suddenly get 500 new internet sign-ups from Ukraine," says Friedman, a former political science professor. "And we'll hear back from some of them." Open-source spying does have its risks, of course, since it can be difficult to tell good information from bad. That's where Straitford earns its keep.

  Friedman relies on a lean staff in Austin. Several of his staff members have military-intelligence backgrounds. He sees the firm's outsider status as the key to its success. Straitford's briefs don't sound like the usual Washington back-and-forthing, whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations on the chance they might be wrong. Straitford, says Friedman, takes pride in its independent voice.

41. The emergence of the Net has ________.
  [A] received support from fans like Donovan
  [B] remolded the intelligence services
  [C] restored many common pastimes
  [D] revived spying as a profession

42. Donovan's story is mentioned in the text to ________.
  [A] introduce the topic of online spying
  [B] show how he fought for the US
  [C] give an episode of the information war
  [D] honor his unique services to the CIA

43. The phrase "making the biggest splash" (line 1, paragraph 3) most probably means ________.
  [A] causing the biggest trouble
  [B] exerting the greatest effort
  [C] achieving the greatest success
  [D] enjoying the widest popularity

44. It can be learned from paragraph 4 that ________.
  [A] Straitford's prediction about Ukraine has proved true
  [B] Straitford guarantees the truthfulness of its information
  [C] Straitford's business is characterized by unpredictability
  [D] Straitford is able to provide fairly reliable information

45. Straitford is most proud of its ________.
  [A] official status
  [B] nonconformist image
  [C] efficient staff
  [D] military background


重点词汇

spymaster /5spai7mB:stE/ spy+master,间谍大王、间谍组织首脑。

strategic /strE5ti:dVik/ (战略的;对全局起关键作用的)为strategy(战略,策略)的形容词形式,-ic为形容词后缀。strategy and tactics 战略与战术;a global strategy 全球战略。Worry more about implementation than strategy it's harder to do.更多地为贯彻落实而非战略本身操心——这样做更难。

lay the roots for 扎根于。

fascinate /5fAsineit/ (使着迷,强烈地吸引),去e加名词后缀-ion即为fascination(入迷;诱惑力),去e加形容词后缀-ing即为fascinating(迷人的),另可记fascism(法西斯主义),fascist(法西斯主义的;法西斯主义者)。He was fascinated with her beauty.他被她的美貌迷住了。Fascism is a religion; the twentieth century will be known in history as the century of Fascism.法西斯主义是一种宗教;二十世纪将作为法西斯主义世纪而载入史册。←据说这句话是墨索里尼说的。

espionage /5espiEnidV, 5espiEnB:V/ (间谍活动)即esp(i)+ion+ageespiespy(窥探←e-=ex-出来+spy窥探),-ion-age皆名词后缀,表“活动”。

revolution /7revE5lu:FEn/ (革命;旋转)是revolve(使旋转)的名词形式,“旋转”入“革命”的漩涡。revolvere+volvere-反复,volve词根“卷”,于是“反复卷”→旋转。The heart makes a revolution, the head a reformation.感情造就革命,理智形成改革。Folds used to be willing to wait patiently for a slow-moving stage coach, but now they kick like the dickens if they miss one revolution of a revolving door.过去人们一向乐于耐心等待慢吞吞的公共马车,可现在若错过旋转门的一次旋转,他们就乱踢一气。revolution an injustice that serves to replace as soon as possible the injustice of yesterday by the injustice of tomorrow the setting-up of a new order contradictory to the traditional one 革命——①能够促进尽快用明天的非正义取代昨天的非正义的一种非正义 ②建立一种与传统秩序相反的新秩序。Religions revolve madly round sexual questions.种种宗教都围绕着两性问题疯狂地打转。

give birth to 分娩;产生;造成。He gave birth to a brilliant idea.他想到一个绝妙的主意。

spook /spu:k/ (幽灵;间谍)可看作sp(y)+o(o)+ok→“幽灵”级的“间谍”窥探(spy)只用两只眼睛(oo)ok了。spook something everyone is afraid of and no one believes in 幽灵——人人害怕,却没人相信的东西。

intelligence /in5telidVEns/ (智力;情报)即intel+lig+enceintel-inter-(前缀,意为“在……之间”=between,因后接l,故r变形为l),lig词根意为“选择”=lectie元音可替换,ct=GG就是由一个大C与一个小T组成的),-ence名词后缀,故“从中挑选出所需之物的能力”→智力;“从中挑选出来的东西”→情报。intelligent(聪明的)←intel+lig+ent形容词后缀;intelligible(可理解的,易懂的)←intel+lig+ible形容词后缀。intelligence perhaps only an instinct that is mistaken 智力——也许仅仅是一种被弄错的本能。Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are.智慧就是迅速看出事物本来面目的能力。The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.检验一流智力的标准,就是在头脑中同时存在两种相反的想法但仍保持行动能力。

influential /7influ5enFEl/ (有影响的;有权势的)即in+flu+entialin-前缀意为“到里面”=intoflu词根意为“流”=flowflu作单词时意为“流感”,即“流行性感冒”),-ential形容词后缀,故“能流到心里面的”→有影响的。名词与动词形式都是influencein+flu+ence后缀。That man is admired above all men, who is not influenced by money.不为金钱所动的人是最受崇敬的。There is a boundary to men's passions when they act from feelings; but none when they are under the influence of imagination.当人们凭感觉行动时,与激情尚隔一条界线,而受想象力驱动时则无此界线。

compile /kEm5pail/ (编辑;搜集)即com+pilecom-前缀“一起”,pile堆,故“把文字堆在一起”→编辑;“把资料堆在一起”→搜集。compiler(编辑)←compil(e)+er表“人”;compilation(编纂)←compil(e)+ation名词后缀表“行为”。

splash /splAF/ n.v.溅)为拟声词。make a splash 炫耀财富;Diplomacy the art of jumping into trouble without making a splash.外交——纵身跃入麻烦而不溅起水花的艺术。

prediction /pri5dikFEn/ (预言,预测)即pre+dict+ionpre-前缀表“在前”,dict词根意为“说”,-ion名词后缀,故“在事情发生前就说的”→预言,动词为predictpre+dict

available /E5veilEbl/ (可用的,可得到的)。Opportunity is available for everyone, but many of them didn't know they had met with it.人人都能得到机会,但是许多人不知道自己遇到过它。

mutually /5mju:tFuEl, 5mju:tjuEl/ (相互地)可看作mut(e)+ual+lymute(哑的),-ual形容词后缀,-ly副词后缀,哑巴之间说话只能靠“相互地”交换手势,形容词为mutual(相互的)。The proper basis for marriage is a mutual misunderstandings.婚姻固有的基础是相互误解。

reinforce /7ri:in5fC:s/ (增援,加强)即re+inforcere-前缀“再”=againinforceenforce(加强),故“再次加强”→加强。reinforced concrete 钢筋混凝土。

distribution /7distri5bju:FEn/ (分发)即dis+tribut+iondis-前缀“分离”=aparttribut词根“给”,-ion名词后缀,故“给出去”→分发。Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution.巨大的财富除了散布,没有真正的用途。

dramatic /drE5mAtik/ (戏剧性的;引人注目的;剧烈的)即drama+ticdrama戏剧、剧本,-tic形容词后缀,表“具……性质”。Has anyone ever seen a dramatic critic in the daytime? Of course not. They come out after dark, up to no good.有谁在白天见过戏剧批评家吗?当然没有。他们天黑才露面,不做什么好事情。

take pride in 以……为骄傲。

emergence /i5mE:dVEns/ (显现)为emerge的名词形式,emergee+mergee-=ex-,表“出来”,merge意为“结合,兼并”,故“从兼并状态中出来”→显现。emergency(紧急情况,突然事件)←e+merg(e)+ency名词后缀。Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.在错误中比在混乱中更容易出真理。Coward is one who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs.懦夫就是在危急时刻用两条腿思考的人。

revive /ri5vaiv/ v.恢复;复苏)即re+vivere-前缀“回”,vive词根“活的”,故“回到活的状态”→复苏。Any great work of art is great because it creates a special world of its own. It revives and readapts time and space.任何伟大的艺术品之所以伟大,是由于它创造了自己特有的世界。它再现并重新改写了时空。

nonconformist /5nCnkEn5fCmist/ (不合传统规范的;不合传统规范的人)即non-(前缀,“不”)+conform(遵守)+ist(“……的”或“……的人”)。

难句解析

The American spymaster who built the Office of Strategic Services in World War and later laid the roots for the CIA was fascinated with information.
▲本句的主干结构是The American spymaster was fascinated with informationspymaster的后边是一个定语从句,定语从句里包含由and连接的两个并列句。
本句一共出现了三个动词,分别是builtlaidwas fascinated。应该注意体会它们的逻辑关系。本句的谓语动词是was fascinated,应该首先把它找出来。builtlaid处于并列关系,它们的主语是spymaster

These days the Net, which has already re-made such everyday pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovan's vocation as well.
句子的主干是the Net is reshaping Donovan's vocation。两个逗号之间是一个非限定性定语从句,用来补充说明the Net
△本句应该重点体会逗号在阅读当中的一个用法。两个逗号之间是补充说明成分时,在阅读过程中可以先跳过不读。这样的话可以较迅速地把握出该句的主干结构。

The winner, by a large margin, was a tiny Virginia company called Open Source Solution, whose clear advantage was its mastery of the electronic world.
本句的主干结构是The winner was a tiny Virginia companycompany的后边有一个过去分词短语和一个定语从句共同修饰它。
应该重点体会company后边的修饰成分,紧随company之后的是一个过去分词短语作它的后置定语,同时还有一个whose引导的定语从句,也用来限定修饰company

Straitford's briefs don't sound like the usual Washington back-and-forthing, whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations on the chance they might be wrong.
▲此处的whereby相当于by whichby what,即“凭什么”。所以本句的主干部分是逗号前边的部分,逗号的后边进一步补充说明。on the chance的意思是也许能够(做到某事)、希望能够(做到某事),后边经常接that引导的从句。
本句应该重点体会whereby以及on the chance的用法。back-and-forthing在此处应译为“往来公文”。

试题解析

  这是一篇说明性的文章,介绍了互联网技术对情报行业的影响。文章第一段便指出,互联网在改变情报行业。第二段进一步说明互联网促使了一种新的情报行业的诞生,运用互联网技术可以获取更多的情报。接下来,作者以Straitford公司为例,介绍该公司如何将网络技术运用于情报工作以及该公司的一些经营理念。整篇文章通俗易懂,虽存在个别生词,但考生可以通过上下文猜测出词义。
  基于这篇文章的5道小题考查的范围覆盖了全文,既考查了考生理解具体信息的能力,也考查了考生推测词义、推理引申的能力。5道小题难度适中。

41. [B]
  该小题考查的是考生是否理解了第一段内容,特别是最后一句话。
  那句话是:“These days the Net, which has re-made such everyday pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovan's vocation as well.”。其中,“Donovan's vocation”指的就是“spying”,也就是“intelligence services”(情报行业)。关键在于对“reshape”一词的理解,它的含义是“改造”。
  理解了以上这两点就能选出正确答案B。其实B选项就是原文的另一种表述方式。但是,此题只有28.7%的考生选出了正确案,答对率不高。
  更多的考生选择的是D。选错的原因可能在于考生对“reshape”与“revive”的词义差别区分不清。“revive”一词的含义是“to come or bring back into use or existence”(<使>复兴,<使>复活),暗含的意思是某事物已不存在或已丧失作用。第一段并没有提到间谍行业曾经消失的信息,从第二段中我们了解到互联网推动了情报行业的发展,也没有找到任何关于情报行业曾经中断的内容,所以D选项的说法是不正确的。
  C选项也不正确,关键也在于“re-make”与“restore”的差别。“restore”的含义有:(1)“bring back into existence or use”(该义项与“revive”相近);(2)“bring back to an original condition”(恢复到原来的状态)。原文说的是,互联网改变了人们日常生活的方式,如:买书,发邮件等。人们现在可以足不出户,通过网络购书或发电子邮件。因此,无论“restore”在此取哪一种义项都与原文意思不符。
  A选项也是错误的。选择A的考生对第一句话没有理解。第一句话用“would have loved”虚拟语气说,若Wild Bill Donovan还在世的话,他会爱上互联网的。可见Donovan在世的时候并没有互联网,从后面的几句话中我们也能证实这一点。所以A选项将Donovan说成是互联网的爱好者的说法是错误的。

42. [A]
  该小题问作者提起Donovan的目的。
  答这类题的时候,考生应从整段或全文的角度去考虑。作者在写文章时举出某个例子时,这个例子一定是围绕着作者想表达的观点。读懂了细节,弄清了篇章结构能有助于把握文章主旨,反过来,了解了文章的大致主题和观点也可帮助我们吃透细节。其实,在篇首对Donovan的介绍只是一个引子,导出的是作者要谈的主题,即第一段的最后一句话。在后面的几段中,作者介绍了互联网对情报工作的影响。所以答案是A
  有部分考生选择了C,原因在于没有理解文章的主题。
  这道题属于中等难度偏易的题目,区分度较好。

43. [C]
  该小题考查的是考生对词组词义的猜测能力。
  “make a splash”的含义是“to create a forceful, favorable, and noticeable effect”。即使不知道这个词组的含义,也可以从下文中推测出:Straitford公司是这个新领域的佼佼者,所以答案是C
  其他三个选项在文章中找不到依据。
  这道题属于中等难度偏易的题目,区分度较好。

44. [D]
  该小题考查的是考生的推理、引申能力。
  第四段主要讲的是:Friedman将互联网作为一个双向的工具,既用来收集信息,又用来发布信息。然后以乌克兰(Ukraine)的例子说明网络互动的实际作用。
  A选项的说法没有根据,因为文中只说了Stfaitford公司作出了关于乌克兰局势的预测,并没有信息说明预言是否成真。
  B选项的说法“Straitford公司确保情报的真实性”与原文意思有些不符。第四段最后一句说,利用互联网收集情报是有风险的,因为情报的真伪难辨。Straitford公司就是靠辨别真伪情报吃饭的。从这两句话中可以知道,Straitford公司能提供相当可靠的情报,但没有保证情报百分之百准确,从常理上说也是不可能的。所以B的说法太绝对。
  C选项说的是Straitford公司生意的特点是不可预测性,这种说法在文中也找不到根据。
  这道小题属于中等难度的题目。

45. [B]
  该小题考查的是考生对最后一段内容的理解。
  答案可以在最后一句话中找出:“Straitfordsays Friedman, takes pride in its independent voice.”。Straitford公司引以为豪的是其独立的立场。与其他公司不同,Straitford公司避免外界的左右。B选项其实就是“independent voice”的另一种说法。
  其他三个选项或没有说到点子上或缺乏依据,都是错误的。
  该题属于中等难度题,区分度较好。

全文翻译

  比尔·多诺汶肯定会喜欢网络。这位美国间谍大王对情报着迷,他曾经在第二次世界大战时建立了战略事务办公室,后来又为中央情报局的成立打下了基础。多诺汶相信,在谍报职业这个“大游戏”中可以使用任何手段。如今,互联网已经改变了买书和寄信这样的日常活动,也正在改变多诺汶曾经从事的这个职业。
  最近的这次革命性的改变不仅仅是一个人偷看别人的电子邮件的问题,这样的电子间谍活动已经存在了数十年。在过去的三四年中,国际互联网已经派生出一个可称为点击谍报的完整的产业。间谍们把它称为“公开来源情报”。随着互联网的增长,这样的情报变得越来越有影响力。1995年中央情报局举办了一个竞赛,看谁能够收集到关于“布隆迪”的最多信息。胜者胜出了一大截,却是弗吉尼亚的一家小公司,名为“公开来源解决方案”,它的明显优势是它对电子世界的把握。
  在这个新的电子世界中最引起轰动的是一个叫司特雷福的公司,它是得克萨斯州奥斯汀市的一个私营的情报分析公司。该公司的业务是将覆盖全球各个国家的情报销售给“麦克德莫国际”这样的能源公司。它的许多预测在网上都可以查阅,网址
  该公司的总裁乔治·弗莱德曼说,他把网络世界视为情报收集和情报发布两方面相互增强的工具,是间谍们的梦想。上周,他的公司正在从远在世界的另一角落收集零散的信息,并预测在乌克兰将发生一场危机。“一旦这个报道发布,我们将从乌克兰突然新增500个浏览用户,”弗莱德曼,一位前政治科学教授说,“我们将听到其中一些人的回应。”当然公开来源的谍报活动的确有它的风险,因为很难区分正确与错误的信息。这正是司特雷福公司挣饭吃的地方。
  弗莱德曼只在奥斯汀市雇用了为数不多的雇员。其中的一些有军事情报工作背景。他把公司的“局外人”地位视为它成功的关键。司特雷福公司的简报听上去不像华盛顿当局常常提供的躲闪的言辞,政府机构往往避免发布引人注目的言论,因为这些言论可能出错。弗莱德曼说,司特雷福公司为其独立的声音而感到自豪。