2006年考研英语真题及解析
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America?Indeed.It is big enough to have a bit of everything.But particularly when viewed against America’s turbulent past,today’s social indices hardly suggest
a dark and deteriorating social environment.
21.The word“homogenizing”(Line2,Paragraph1)most probably means________.
[A]identifying
[B]associating
[C]assimilating
[D]monopolizing
22.According to the author,the department stores of the19th century________.
[A]played a role in the spread of popular culture
[B]became intimate shops for common consumers
[C]satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite
[D]owed its emergence to the culture of consumption
23.The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.________.
[A]are resistant to homogenization
[B]exert a great influence on American culture
[C]are hardly a threat to the common culture
[D]constitute the majority of the population
24.Why are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph5?
[A]To prove their popularity around the world.
[B]To reveal the public’s fear of immigrants.
[C]To give examples of successful immigrants.
[D]To show the powerful influence of American culture.
25.In the author’s opinion,the absorption of immigrants into American society is_______.
[A]rewarding
[B]successful
[C]fruitless
[D]harmful
Text2
Stratford-on-Avon,as we all know,has only one industry—William Shakespeare—but there are two distinctly separate and increasingly hostile branches.There is the Royal Shakespeare Company(RSC),which presents superb productions of the plays at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre on the Avon.And there are the townsfolk who largely live off the tourists who come,not to see the plays,but to look at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the other sights.
The worthy residents of Stratford doubt that the theatre adds a penny totheir revenue.They frankly dislike the RSC’s actors,them with their long hair and beards and sandals and noisiness.It’s all deliciously ironic when you
consider that Shakespeare,who earns their living,was himself an actor(with a beard)and did his share of noise-making.
The tourist streams are not entirely separate.The sightseers who come by bus—and often take in Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace on the side—don’t usually see the plays,and some of them are even surprised to find a theatre in Stratford.However,the playgoers do manage a little sight-seeing along with their playgoing.It is the playgoers,the RSC contends,who bring in much of the town’s revenue because they spend the night(some of them four or five nights)pouring cash into the hotels and restaurants.The sightseers can take in everything and get out of town by nightfall.
The townsfolk don’t see it this way and the local council does not contribute directly to the subsidy of the Royal Shakespeare Company.Stratford cries poor traditionally.Nevertheless every hotel in town seems to be adding a new wing or cocktail lounge.Hilton is building its own hotel there,which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars,the Lear Lounge,the Banquo Banqueting Room,and so forth,and will be very expensive.
Anyway,the townsfolk can’t understand why the Royal Shakespeare Company needs a subsidy.(The theatre has broken attendance records for three years in a https://www.wendangku.net/doc/5316165683.html,st year its1,431seats were94per cent occupied all year long and this year they’ll do better.)The reason,of course,is that costs have rocketed and ticket prices have stayed low.
It would be a shame to raise prices too much because it would drive away the young people who are Stratford’s most attractive clientele.They come entirely for the plays,not the sights.They all seem to look alike(though they come from all over)—lean,pointed,dedicated faces,wearing jeans and sandals,eating their buns and bedding down for the night on the flagstones outside the theatre to buy the20seats and80standing-room tickets held for the sleepers and sold to them when the box office opens at10:30a.m.
26.From the first two paragraphs,we learn that________.
[A]the townsfolk deny the RSC’s contribution to the town’s revenue
[B]the actors of the RSC imitate Shakespeare on and off stage
[C]the two branches of the RSC are not on good terms
[D]the townsfolk earn little from tourism
27.It can be inferred from Paragraph3that________.
[A]the sightseers cannot visit the Castle and the Palace separately
[B]the playgoers spend more money than the sightseers
[C]the sightseers do more shopping than the playgoers
[D]the playgoers go to no other places in town than the theater
28.By saying“Stratford cries poor traditionally”(Line2,Paragraph4),the author implies that______.
[A]Stratford cannot afford the expansion projects
[B]Stratford has long been in financial difficulties
[C]the town is not really short of money
[D]the townsfolk used to be poorly paid
29.According to the townsfolk,the RSC deserves no subsidy because________.
[A]ticket prices can be raised to cover the spending
[B]the company is financially ill-managed
[C]the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptable
[D]the theatre attendance is on the rise
30.From the text we can conclude that the author________.
[A]is supportive of both sides
[B]favors the townsfolk’s view
[C]takes a detached attitude
[D]is sympathetic to the RSC
Text3
When prehistoric man arrived in new parts of the world,something strange happened to the large animals:they suddenly became extinct.Smaller species survived.The large,slow-growing animals were easy game,and were quickly hunted to extinction.Now something similar could be happening in the oceans.
That the seas are being overfished has been known for years.Whatresearchers such as Ransom Myers and Boris Worm have shown is just how fast things are changing.They have looked at half a century of data from fisheries around the world.Their methods do not attempt to estimate the actual biomass(the amount of living biological matter)of fish species in particular parts of the ocean,but rather changes in that biomass over time.According to their latest paper published in Nature,the biomass of large predators(animals that kill and eat other animals)in a new fishery is reduced on average by80%within15years of the start of exploitation.In some long-fished areas, it has halved again since then.
Dr.Worm acknowledges that these figures are conservative.One reason for this is that fishing technology has improved.Today’s vessels can find their prey using satellites and sonar,which were not available50years ago. That means a higher proportion of what is in the sea is being caught,so the real difference between present and past is likely to be worse than the one recorded by changes in catch sizes.In the early days,too,longlines would have been more saturated with fish.Some individuals would therefore not have been caught,since no baited hooks would have been available to trap them,leading to an underestimate of fish stocks in the past.Furthermore, in the early days of longline fishing,a lot of fish were lost to sharks after they had been hooked.That is no longer a problem,because there are fewer sharks around now.
Dr.Myers and Dr.Worm argue that their work gives a correct baseline,which future management efforts must take into account.They believe the data support an idea current among marine biologists,that of the“shifting baseline”.The notion is that people have failed to detect the massive changes which have happened in the ocean because they have been looking back only a relatively short time into the past.That matters because theory suggests that the maximum sustainable yield that can be cropped from a fishery comes when the biomass of a target species is about50%of its original levels.Most fisheries are well below that,which is a bad way to do business.
31.The extinction of large prehistoric animals is noted to suggest that________.
[A]large animals were vulnerable to the changing environment
[B]small species survived as large animals disappeared
[C]large sea animals may face the same threat today
[D]slow-growing fish outlive fast-growing ones
32.We can infer from Dr.Myers and Dr.Worm’s paper that________.
[A]the stock of large predators in some old fisheries has reduced by90%
[B]there are only half as many fisheries as there were15years ago
[C]the catch sizes in new fisheries are only20%of the original amount
[D]the number of large predators dropped faster in new fisheries than in the old
33.By saying“these figures are conservative”(Line1,paragraph3),Dr.Worm means that________.
[A]fishing technology has improved rapidly
[B]then catch-sizes are actually smaller than recorded
[C]the marine biomass has suffered a greater loss
[D]the data collected so far are out of date
34.Dr.Myers and other researchers hold that________.
[A]people should look for a baseline that can work for a longer time
[B]fisheries should keep their yields below50%of the biomass
[C]the ocean biomass should be restored to its original level
[D]people should adjust the fishing baseline to the changing situation
35.The author seems to be mainly concerned with most fisheries’________.
[A]management efficiency
[B]biomass level
[C]catch-size limits
[D]technological application
Text4
Many things make people think artists are weird.But the weirdest may be this:artists’only job is to explore emotions,and yet they choose to focus on the ones that feel bad.
This wasn’t always so.The earliest forms of art,like painting and music,are those best suited for expressing joy. But somewhere from the19th century onward,more artists began seeing happiness as meaningless,phony or, worst of all,boring,as we went from Wordsworth’sdaffodils to Baudelaire’s flowers of evil.
You could argue that art became more skeptical of happiness because modern times have seen so much misery. But it’s not as if earlier times didn’t know perpetual war,disaster and the massacre of innocents.The reason,in fact,may be just the opposite:there is too much damn happiness in the world today.
After all,what is the one modern form of expression almost completely dedicated to depicting happiness? Advertising.The rise of anti-happy art almost exactly tracks the emergence of mass media,and with it,a commercial culture in which happiness is not just an ideal but an ideology.
[D]Mass media are inclined to cover disasters and deaths.
Part B
Directions:
In the following article,some sentences have been removed.For Questions41-45,choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of numbered gaps.There are two extra choices,which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET1.(10points)On the north bank of the Ohio river sits Evansville,Ind., home of David Williams,52,and of a riverboat casino(a place where gambling games are played).During several years of gambling in that casino,Williams,a state auditor earning$35,000a year,lost approximately $175,000.He had never gambled before the casino sent him a coupon for$20worth of gambling.
He visited the casino,lost the$20and left.On his second visit he lost$800.The casino issued to him,as a good customer,a“Fun Card”,which when used in the casino earns points for meals and drinks,and enables the casino to track the user’s gambling activities.For Williams,these activities become what he calls“electronic heroin”.
(41)________.In1997he lost$21,000to one slot machine in two days.In March1997he lost$72,186.He sometimes played two slot machines at a time,all night,until the boat docked at5a.m.,then went back aboard when the casino opened at9a.m.Now he is suing the casino,charging that it should have refused his patronage because it knew he was addicted.It did know he had a problem.
In March1998a friend of Williams’s got him involuntarily confined to a treatment center for addictions,and wrote to inform the casino of Williams’s gambling problem.The casino included a photo of Williams among those of banned gamblers,and wrote to him a“cease admissions”letter.Noting the“medical/psychological”nature of problem gambling behavior,the letter said that before being readmitted to the casino he would have to present medical/psychological information demonstrating that patronizing the casino would pose no threat to his safety or well-being.
(42)________.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the casino has24signs warning:“Enjoy the fun...and always bet with your head,not over it.”Every entrance ticket lists a toll-free number for counseling from the Indiana Department of Mental Health.Nevertheless,Williams’s suit charges that the casino,knowing he was“helplessly addicted to gambling,”intentionally worked to“lure”him to“engage in conduct against his will.”Well.
(43)________.
The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders says“pathological gambling”involves persistent,recurring and uncontrollable pursuit less of money than of the thrill of taking risks in quest of
a windfall.
(44)________.Pushed by science,or what claims to be science,society is reclassifying what once were considered character flaws or moral failings as personality disorders akin to physical disabilities.
(45)________.
Forty-four states have lotteries,29have casinos,and most of these states are to varying degrees dependent on—you might say addicted to—revenues from wagering.And since the first Internet gambling site was created in 1995,competition for gamblers’dollars has become intense.The Oct.28issue of Newsweek reported that2
160-200words neatly on ANSWER SHEET2.(20points)
2006年全国硕士研究生招生考试英语（一）答案详解
Section I Use of English
一、文章结构分析
本文介绍了美国无家可归者日益增多这个社会问题。第一、二段分析问题的严重性，指出在美国无家可归者的数量不断增长，已经到了联邦政府必须采取措施给他们提供帮助的地步。第三段指出帮助无家可归者的任务相当艰巨，需要通过全面规划，协调运行来解决他们的各种需求。
二、试题具体解析
1.
[A]Indeed实际上(表肯定和强调)
[B]Likewise同样地(表类比)
[C]Therefore因此(表因果)
[D]Furthermore而且(表递进)
【答案】A
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.365
【解析】空前后是两个独立的句子，显然填入空的词应该表示这两个句子之间逻辑关系的内容，空前谈到“无家可归者在美国人口中的比例越来越大”，空后“无家可归者达到如此高的比例，以至于到了当地政府无法……”。从两句的内容看，空前内容是两句中的论点，空后是对该论点的具体事实说明，能表征此类关系的只有选项A。故答案为A。
2.
[A]stand容忍，经受
[B]cope应付，处理
[C]approve同意，赞成
[D]retain保留，保持
【答案】B
【考点】词义辨析
【难度系数】0.243
【解析】空所在的句意为：无家可归问题已经达到了如此的规模，以至于地方政府都不能。从句意可以看出这里应该表示问题的严重性，以至于政府都难以应对了，能表示“处理、应对”的只有cope。故本题答案为B。
3.
[A]in
[B]for
[C]with
[D]toward
【答案】D
【考点】词法搭配
【难度系数】0.208
【解析】从空所在的位置可以判断出本题考查的是help后面的介词搭配的用法。help sb.in doing sth.，表示“帮助某人做什么事”，in后面接动名词（固定用法）。help sb.with sth.意为“通过做某件事帮助别人完成这件事”，两者代入文中，语意上讲不通。for表示目的，帮助某人，前面不定式已经表示了目的，“为了帮助无家可归的人为了独立”语意也不通。toward表示“趋向，接近”，后面常接抽象名词，符合文意。故正确答案为D。
4.
[A]raise提高
[B]add增加，添加
[C]take拿走
[D]keep保持
【答案】A
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.573
【解析】从句中内容可以看出空所在的句子表示为了帮助无家可归的人走向自立，联邦政府需要采取的措施，而这种措施必然是改进措施，对于工资来说，改善的条件自然是提高工资，表示涨工资只有A项。
5.
[A]generally一般，通常
[B]almost几乎，差不多
[C]hardly刚刚，几乎不
[D]not不
【答案】D
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.448
【解析】空所在的句子显然是表达人们对无家可归者的数量看法，后面谈到人们的看法从600,000到3 million不等，这说明人们在这一数量上没有达成一致，因此这个空只能填入一个否定词，C和D比较，显然D代入句中句意更加通顺，故答案为D。
6.
[A]cover覆盖
[B]change改变，交换
[C]range范围
[D]differ不同
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.582
【解析】从该句中“from600,000to3million”判断出，这里应该表示对数字的估计范围。四个选项，可以表示范围的词只有C，range常与from…to搭配表示“从……到……范围”。故正确答案为C。7.
[A]Now that既然，由于
[B]Although虽然，尽管
[C]Provided倘若
[D]Except that除……外
【答案】B
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.636
【解析】空所在的整个句子前面谈到不一致，后面谈到人们在另外一件事情上保持一致，显然这是一种转折关系，能表示这一关系的词只有B，故答案为B。
8.
[A]inflating膨胀，鼓气，涨价
[B]expanding扩大，增加，增强
[C]increasing增加
[D]extending扩充，延伸
【答案】C
【考点】词义辨析
【难度系数】0.802
【解析】从文章前面的内容可以看出，虽然人们在无家可归者的具体数量上有分歧，但在增加的趋势方面是一致的，因此空填入的词应该是表示无家可归者数量的增加，而能表示数量的增加只有increasing，故答案为C。
9.
[A]predicts预测
[B]displays陈列，展示
[C]proves证明
[D]discovers发现
【答案】A
【考点】词义辨析
【难度系数】0.718
【解析】空后说无家可归的数字在这个10年的后半期会达到10million，显然这是表示将来的数据，对于将来的数据只能用预测，故答案为A。
10.
[A]assist帮助
[C]sustain维持
[D]dismiss解散
【答案】A
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.33
【解析】从本句后面的内容我们可以看出，这里应该指的是找到能帮助无家可归者的方法变得困难了，表示这一含义的词为A，故答案为A。
11.
[A]Hence因此
[B]But但是
[C]Even甚至，连
[D]Only只有
【答案】C
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.524
【解析】空前谈到无家可归者最终能够找到一个可以给他们提供一日三餐和夜里睡觉的庇护所，空后说他们中的大部分人仍然在大街上流浪。这两句显然构成让步关系，C符合语境，故答案为C。
12.
[A]lodging寄宿处
[B]shelter庇护处
[C]dwelling住所，公寓
[D]house房屋，住宅
【答案】B
【考点】词义辨析
【难度系数】0.479
【解析】对于人数众多的无家可归者，其身份类似于难民，对于这种身份的人，显然庇护所对他们来说是最贴切的词，故答案为B。
13.
[A]searching搜索，探求
[B]strolling闲逛
[C]crowding拥挤，群集
[D]wandering徘徊，乱逛
【答案】D
【考点】词义辨析
【难度系数】0.46
【解析】四个选项中，B和D比较接近，但stroll指很闲适的散步，显然无家可归者不可能还能很闲
适地在大街上散步，而wandering表示一种漫无目的的游荡，很适合形容这些无家可归者，因此答案为D。
14.
[A]when当……的时候
[B]once一旦
[C]while然而，虽然
[D]whereas然而
【答案】C
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.473
【解析】从空所在句子的内容可以看出这句应该是对另外一种，由于无生活技能而无家可归的人，前面谈到无家可归者是由于精神方面的疾病，这里谈到精神正常的人也有无家可归者，两者形成对比，故本空选择C合适，表示对比关系。
15.
[A]life生命，生活
[B]existence存在，生活
[C]survival幸存，生存
[D]maintenance维持，保养
【答案】C
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.543
【解析】从该句的内容容易判断出这里填入的一个词应该是指谋生的技能，而对于这些无家可归的流浪者，他们生活在社会的最底层，所缺乏的当然是谋求生存的技能，C符合这一状况，故答案为C。
16.
[A](turn)around使转身，使好转
[B](turn)over使翻转，仔细考虑，移交
[C](turn)on打开开关
[D](turn)up调高，开大，出现
【答案】A
【考点】习惯搭配
【难度系数】0.185
【解析】结合句意，这里表达的应该是使他们生活变好，四个词组中，只有A表达这个意思，故答案为A。
17.
[A]complex复杂的
[B]comprehensive综合的
[C]complementary补充的
[D]compensating补偿的
【答案】B
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.342
【解析】从句子结构可以看出，填入的是修饰program的，这是怎么样的一个program呢？后面的定语从句有说明，这个program可以解决无家可归者许多需求，那么四个选项当中能满足这一要求的只有B 项，故答案为B。
18.
[A]So因此
[B]Since自从；因为，既然
[C]As正如
[D]Thus因而
【答案】C
【考点】逻辑搭配
【难度系数】0.604
【解析】这个空要结合其后面的内容，上句谈到是comprehensive program，后面一句谈到的是a package deal，两者显然是指差不多的内容，两者相当的内容，只能是并列结构，只有C是表示这种关系的连词，故答案为C。如果考生平时应注意积累一些常用的固定短语的话，本题可以与19题连起来考虑，as…put it是一个固定表达，意为“正如……所说的那样”。同样可以得出答案为C。
19.
[A]puts提出；说，表达
[B]interprets解释
[C]assumes假定
[D]makes做
【答案】A
【考点】习惯搭配
【难度系数】0.131
【解析】本题解析参见第18题。
20.
[A]supervision监督
[B]manipulation操纵
[C]regulation调节
[D]coordination协调
【答案】D
【考点】词汇搭配
【难度系数】0.32
【解析】前面谈到是一个综合的方案，后面又说到是一个一揽子计划，对于这种计划，最重要的当然是要能调和各方利益，故答案为D。
三、全文翻译
无家可归者占美国人口的比例越来越大。实际上，无家可归者的问题已经达到如此规模，连地方政府都无法应对了。为了帮助无家可归者走向独立，联邦政府必须支持就业培训项目、提高最低工资并资助建设更多低价住房。
大家对于美国到底有多少无家可归者的意见并不一致，估计数量在60万到300万之间。尽管人们估计的数字可能各不相同，但是分析家们在一件事上的确达成了共识，即无家可归者的数量正在增长。联邦政府的一项研究预测，在这个十年结束之前，无家可归者的数量将接近1900万。
设法帮助日益增多的无家可归者变得越来越艰巨。即使无家可归者找到了庇护所，白天有三餐，晚上能安眠，仍然还有很多人每天大部分时间流落街头。部分问题是，许多无家可归的成年人都是酒鬼或者瘾君子；并且相当多的无家可归者患有严重的精神疾病；还有许多人虽然不喝酒吸毒，精神也正常，但就是没有改善生活现状的基本生存技能。《波士顿环球日报》记者克里斯·雷迪认为只有通过全面规划解决无家可归者的各种需求，这种局面才有可能得到改善。用马萨诸塞州本特里学院社区服务部主任爱德华·兹罗特科瓦斯克的话来说就是：“各种规划必须协调运行，我们需要的是一揽子计划。”
Section II Reading Comprehension
Part A
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一、文章结构与内容分析
本文是一篇议论文。文章中心讨论了美国的文化对移民的强大同化能力。第一段介绍了美国大众文化的特点、起源和背后的推动力；第二、三、四段采用事实论证了移民能快速融入美国社会，对大众文化构不成威胁；第五段则说明融合会有些不快的过程，但这种不快无需民众担忧，美国社会的发展依然是光明的。
二、试题具体分析
21．第一段第二行的单词“homogenizing”最可能的含义是_____。
[A]识别，确定
[B]联系，联合
[C]吸收，同化
[D]独占，垄断
【答案】C
【考点】词义句意
【难度系数】0.713
【解析】词汇所在的语境是：不管我们如何喋喋不休地谈论了差别，美国社会实际上是一台
homogenizing机器，前句和后句形成让步关系，前句谈到差别，作为让步结构，下句必然谈到相似或一致的内容，选项中只有C项assimilating符合题意，故答案为C。
22．根据作者的观点，19世纪的百货商店___。
[A]在传播大众文化方面发挥了作用
[B]成为接待普通消费者的人情味十足的小商店
[C]满足了知识精英阶层的需求
[D]出现的原因是消费文化
【答案】A
【考点】事实细节
【难度系数】0.436
【解析】文章首句就指出，虽然美国人喋喋不休的谈论社会差异，但美国社会是一个惊人的各民族融合的机器。显然民族的融合是指文化的融合，而由这句可以判断出文章的中心是关于美国文化融合方面的内容，而百货商店作为一个事例也是为了服务这一中心，故答案为A。
23．这篇文章暗示了现在美国的移民______。
[A]排斥同化
[B]对美国文化施加着很大的影响
[C]对大众文化几乎不构成威胁
[D]构成人口的大多数
【答案】C
【考点】推理判断
【难度系数】0.48
【解析】文章从第二段开始正式开始讨论美国的移民文化问题，文章对移民的到来是这样描述的“may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous(可能没有起到提升美国的作用，但也并非有害社会)”，而且移民进入美国“is neither at unprecedented levels nor resistant to assimilation(速度并不是很快，同时他们也不排斥社会化的同化作用)”。由此我们可以推断出答案为C。
【补充】第二段首句含有特殊结构not…but…，作者常强调but之后的部分，且含有hardly这样的否定结构，转折处常考，否定结构常考。
24．第五段为什么提到阿诺·施瓦辛格和葛斯·布鲁克斯?
[A]为了证明他们在全世界很受欢迎。
[B]为了表明公众对移民的恐惧。
[C]为了举出成功移民的范例。
[D]为了说明美国文化的强大影响力。
【答案】D
【考点】例证
【难度系数】0.522
【解析】第五段在给出这两个人的例子之后说，“然而，‘一些美国人担心，居住在美国的移民对美国民族的同化作用仍会置之不理’”。有这个转折关系我们应该可以判断出两者是用来例证美国文化的同化力量难以受到抵制，也展现了美国文化的强大影响力，因此选D。
25．按照作者的观点，美国社会对移民的吸收是______。
[A]有价值的，有回报的
[B]成功的
[C]毫无成果的
[D]有害的
【答案】B
【考点】观点态度
【难度系数】0.467
【解析】本文中心探讨的是国外移民融入美国社会的问题。从文章作者对这一事件评论的语句“may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous”可以看出作者对这一事件是持正面态度的，故排除CD两项。从文章讨论的中心分析，移民在进入美国后能很快的融入美国文化，说明融入是成功的，故答案为B。
三、文章长难句分析
1.There is“the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse,and the casualness and absence of deference”characteristic of popular culture.
【解析】本句是一个存在句，主干是there is...,and...(存在……与……)，表示存在两种现象：一种是“衣着和话语民主统一”(the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse)，另一种是“人们随意而不拘礼节”(and the casualness and absence of deference)，它们都是大众文化的特征(characteristic of popular culture)。注意：引号中的内容是作者引用他人的话。
【译文】在美国，大众文化的特点就是“在服饰和谈吐方面大众化的一致性、漫不经心和不拘礼节”。2.Rodriguez notes that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks,yet“some Americans fear that immigrants living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation’s assimilative power.”
【解析】本句的主干是Rodriguez notes that...，that引导的宾语从句中又含有一个由yet连接的并列句，前面一句的主干是：children...are fans of...，后面一句的主干是：“some Americans fear that…”，that引导宾语从句immigrants...remain somehow immune to...作fear的宾语。
【译文】罗德里格兹指出，全世界偏远乡村的儿童是阿若·施瓦辛格和葛司·布鲁克这样超级明星的影迷或歌迷，然而“一些美国人害怕，居住在美国境内的移民在某种程度上对这个国家的同化作用免疫”。
四、核心词汇回顾
1.homogenize vt.均质化，使均匀
2.assimilation n.同化，同化作用，消化
3.democratize vt.使民主化
https://www.wendangku.net/doc/5316165683.html,unch n.发起；使运动
5.intimate a.亲密的，私人的
6.cater v.备办食物或服务；迎合
7.fit in/into可容纳，装进
8.indices n.index的复数形式，标志，指标
9.census n.人口调(普)查v.调查人口数字
10.bilingual adj.(能说)两种语言的
11.graveyard n.墓地，坟场
12.divisive adj.区分的，不和的
13.pocket n.口袋；小组织
14.seethe v.非常气愤、激动；充满
15.remote adj.遥远的，偏僻的
16.immune adj.免疫的
17.deteriorate v.(使)恶化
五、全文翻译
尽管人们喋喋不休地谈论美国社会的差异，美国社会仍然是一部惊人的民族融合的机器。在美国，大众文化的特点就是“在服饰和谈吐方面大众化的一致性、漫不经心和不拘礼节”。人们沉迷于一种由19世纪的百货商店掀起的“消费文化”中。这些商店“在幽雅的环境中供应琳琅满目的商品。与那些迎合知识精英人士的人情味十足的小商店不同”，这些商店是“任何阶段和背景的人都可以进入的”。这使得购物转变为一种公认和大众的行为。大众媒介、广告和体育赛事也促进了民族同化。
移民正在快速成为大众文化的一部分，这种情况也许不能从总体上提升美国，但也几乎没有什么害处。在为“美国移民论坛”撰稿时，格瑞·罗德里格兹报道说，如今的移民既未达到历史最高峰但也不排斥同化。1998年移民占人口总数的9.8%，1900年占13.6%。在1990年前的10年中，每1000个居民中就有3.1个移民；在1890年前的10年中，这一数字为9.2。现在，考虑一下三个同化的标志——语言、房产所有权和异族通婚。
1990年的人口普查结果显示，“来自十五个最主要移民国的移民大多数在居住十年后英语讲得‘不错’或‘非常好’。”移民的孩子往往能说两种语言并精通英语。“到了第三代，原来的语言在大部分移民家庭中丧失”。因此美国也被描述为语言的“墓地”。到了1996年，1970年之前到达的境外移民拥有房产的比例达到75.6%，高于本土美国人69.8%的比例。亚裔和西班牙裔居民的“异族通婚率比美国本土黑人和白人之间的比例要高”。到了第三代，三分之一的西班牙裔美国妇女嫁给了非西班牙裔美国人，41%的亚裔美国妇女嫁给了非亚裔美国人。
罗德里格兹指出，全世界偏远乡村的儿童是阿若·施瓦辛格和葛司·布鲁克这样超级明星的影迷或歌迷，然而“一些美国人害怕，居住在美国境内的移民在某种程度上对这个国家的同化作用免疫”。
在美国存在分歧的问题和小范围激荡的怒火吗？确实如此。因为美国大到可以和任何事情都沾点边。但是如今几乎没有出现社会环境黑暗和恶化的迹象，尤其当与美国动荡的过去相比时更是如此。
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