Section Ⅱ Reading Comprehension
1、Think of those fleeting moments when you look out of an aeroplane window and realise that you are flying, higher than a bird. Now think of your laptop, thinner than a brown-paper envelope, or your cellphone in the palm of your hand. Take a moment or two to wonder at those marvels. You are the lucky inheritor of a dream come true.The second half of the 20th century saw a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine that could function as a typewriter and printing press, studio and theatre, paintbrush and gallery, piano and radio, the mail as well as the mail carrier. (41)_______________________________The networked computer is an amazing device, the first media machine that serves as the mode of production, means of distribution, site of reception, and place of praise and critique. The computer is the 21st century’s culture machine.But for all the reasons there are to celebrate the computer, we must also act with caution. (42) _______________________________ I call it a secret war for two reasons. First, most people do not realise that there are strong commercial agendas at work to keep them in passive consumption mode. Second, the majority of people who use networked computers to upload are not even aware of the significance of what they are doing.All animals download, but only a few upload. Beavers build dams and birds make nests. Yet for the most part, the animal kingdom moves through the world downloading. Humans are unique in their capacity to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods—paintings, sculpture and architecture—and superfluous experiences—music, literature, religion and philosophy. (43) _______________________________For all the possibilities of our new culture machines, most people are still stuck in download mode. Even after the advent of widespread social media, a pyramid of production remains, with a small number of people uploading material, a slightly larger group commenting on or modifying that content, and a huge percentage remaining content to just consume. (44) _______________________________Television is a one-way tap flowing into our homes. The hardest task that television asks of anyone is to turn the power off after he has turned it on. (45) _______________________________What counts as meaningful uploading? My definition revolves around the concept of “stickiness”—creations and experiences to which others adhere.【A】Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.【B】Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.【C】Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.【D】This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.【E】The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the 【F】One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.【G】The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
正确答案：CDAFG
答案解析：
选项译文
[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.
译文：当然，正是这些额外的东西定义了人类文化，并最终定义了什么是人类。下载和吸收文化需要高超的技能，但如果不能超越下载模式，就会让人们失去人性的一个决定性要素。
[B] Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.
译文：tumblr.com可以让用户将图片、文字和其他媒体以新颖的方式整合到一起，然后进行分享，这类网络应用因为可以取悦、娱乐和启发他人而具备增加“黏性”的潜力。
[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.
译文：他们不仅发明了这个设备，还在世纪之交，成功将其植入每天有数亿用户访问的全球系统中。
[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.
译文：这是因为联网电脑已经引发了一场“上传”与“下载”——被动消费和积极创造之间的暗战，其结果将以我们无法想象的方式影响我们的未来。
[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.
译文：因此，电脑给电视带来威胁的方式不同于CD播放机取代录音机，这并非单纯的一种形式取代另一种形式。
[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.
译文：这种金字塔的创造模式长期存在的一个原因是，在过去的半个世纪里，世界上大部分媒体文化被电视这种单一媒体所支配，而电视所倡导的正是下载文化。
[G] The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
译文：五十年来，联网电脑给我们提供了首次可扭转这一模式的机会，鼓励有选择地下载，更重要的是，进行有意义的上传。
试题解析
答案精析：本题所在段落介绍了20世纪后半叶创造出的一种惊人的机器（a fabulous machine），而下一段则详细介绍了联网计算机（networked computer），因而空处应该是承上启下的内容。C选项是过渡句，Not only…but…表递进，其中Not only承接上文，such a device表明上文出现了其指代的设备，but引出下文，表明下文是对worldwide system的介绍，填入此处后，such a device与上文的a fabulous machine对应，worldwide system与下文的networked computer对应，故C项为正确答案。
答案精析：空后出现call it a secret war，it指代前文，说明空处出现了secret war，D选项中出现了a secret war，故为正确答案。
答案精析：空前的句子指出人类有能力创造额外的有形物质（superfluous material goods），本段介绍了动物与人和下载之间的关系，划线处应体现人与下载的关系。A选项出现明显的指代关系：these superfluous things，these指代上文，可知本句前面的句子出现了superfluous things。从define human culture，human和humanity可知，A选项涉及人性与下载模式的关系，故A选项为正确答案。
答案精析：本题所在段落依然在介绍大多数人依然深陷下载模式，金字塔产量结构依然存在（a pyramid of production remains）。后一段开头出现Television这一前文未提及的名词，可见空处应该涉及television。F选项出现的this pyramid of production和television既能对应本段，又可引出下文，故为正确答案。
错项排除：E选项也出现了television，但主要强调电脑对于电视的威胁，而本段主要在阐述人们深陷下载模式，不涉及电脑对电视的威胁，故E选项错误。
答案精析：本段提到电视是a one-way tap flowing into our homes（流向千家万户的媒介），而下一段一开头就提出新概念meaningful uploading（有意义的上传），因而划线处应该能引出下文的meaningful uploading。G选项reverse the flow可以对应flowing into our homes，meaningful uploading则可以引出下文，故G项为正确答案。
选项译文
[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.
译文：当然，正是这些额外的东西定义了人类文化，并最终定义了什么是人类。下载和吸收文化需要高超的技能，但如果不能超越下载模式，就会让人们失去人性的一个决定性要素。
[B] Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.
译文：tumblr.com可以让用户将图片、文字和其他媒体以新颖的方式整合到一起，然后进行分享，这类网络应用因为可以取悦、娱乐和启发他人而具备增加“黏性”的潜力。
[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.
译文：他们不仅发明了这个设备，还在世纪之交，成功将其植入每天有数亿用户访问的全球系统中。
[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.
译文：这是因为联网电脑已经引发了一场“上传”与“下载”——被动消费和积极创造之间的暗战，其结果将以我们无法想象的方式影响我们的未来。
[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.
译文：因此，电脑给电视带来威胁的方式不同于CD播放机取代录音机，这并非单纯的一种形式取代另一种形式。
[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.
译文：这种金字塔的创造模式长期存在的一个原因是，在过去的半个世纪里，世界上大部分媒体文化被电视这种单一媒体所支配，而电视所倡导的正是下载文化。
[G] The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
译文：五十年来，联网电脑给我们提供了首次可扭转这一模式的机会，鼓励有选择地下载，更重要的是，进行有意义的上传。
试题解析
答案精析：本题所在段落介绍了20世纪后半叶创造出的一种惊人的机器（a fabulous machine），而下一段则详细介绍了联网计算机（networked computer），因而空处应该是承上启下的内容。C选项是过渡句，Not only…but…表递进，其中Not only承接上文，such a device表明上文出现了其指代的设备，but引出下文，表明下文是对worldwide system的介绍，填入此处后，such a device与上文的a fabulous machine对应，worldwide system与下文的networked computer对应，故C项为正确答案。
答案精析：空后出现call it a secret war，it指代前文，说明空处出现了secret war，D选项中出现了a secret war，故为正确答案。
答案精析：空前的句子指出人类有能力创造额外的有形物质（superfluous material goods），本段介绍了动物与人和下载之间的关系，划线处应体现人与下载的关系。A选项出现明显的指代关系：these superfluous things，these指代上文，可知本句前面的句子出现了superfluous things。从define human culture，human和humanity可知，A选项涉及人性与下载模式的关系，故A选项为正确答案。
答案精析：本题所在段落依然在介绍大多数人依然深陷下载模式，金字塔产量结构依然存在（a pyramid of production remains）。后一段开头出现Television这一前文未提及的名词，可见空处应该涉及television。F选项出现的this pyramid of production和television既能对应本段，又可引出下文，故为正确答案。
错项排除：E选项也出现了television，但主要强调电脑对于电视的威胁，而本段主要在阐述人们深陷下载模式，不涉及电脑对电视的威胁，故E选项错误。
答案精析：本段提到电视是a one-way tap flowing into our homes（流向千家万户的媒介），而下一段一开头就提出新概念meaningful uploading（有意义的上传），因而划线处应该能引出下文的meaningful uploading。G选项reverse the flow可以对应flowing into our homes，meaningful uploading则可以引出下文，故G项为正确答案。
选项译文
[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.
译文：当然，正是这些额外的东西定义了人类文化，并最终定义了什么是人类。下载和吸收文化需要高超的技能，但如果不能超越下载模式，就会让人们失去人性的一个决定性要素。
[B] Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.
译文：tumblr.com可以让用户将图片、文字和其他媒体以新颖的方式整合到一起，然后进行分享，这类网络应用因为可以取悦、娱乐和启发他人而具备增加“黏性”的潜力。
[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.
译文：他们不仅发明了这个设备，还在世纪之交，成功将其植入每天有数亿用户访问的全球系统中。
[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.
译文：这是因为联网电脑已经引发了一场“上传”与“下载”——被动消费和积极创造之间的暗战，其结果将以我们无法想象的方式影响我们的未来。
[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.
译文：因此，电脑给电视带来威胁的方式不同于CD播放机取代录音机，这并非单纯的一种形式取代另一种形式。
[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.
译文：这种金字塔的创造模式长期存在的一个原因是，在过去的半个世纪里，世界上大部分媒体文化被电视这种单一媒体所支配，而电视所倡导的正是下载文化。
[G] The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
译文：五十年来，联网电脑给我们提供了首次可扭转这一模式的机会，鼓励有选择地下载，更重要的是，进行有意义的上传。
试题解析
答案精析：本题所在段落介绍了20世纪后半叶创造出的一种惊人的机器（a fabulous machine），而下一段则详细介绍了联网计算机（networked computer），因而空处应该是承上启下的内容。C选项是过渡句，Not only…but…表递进，其中Not only承接上文，such a device表明上文出现了其指代的设备，but引出下文，表明下文是对worldwide system的介绍，填入此处后，such a device与上文的a fabulous machine对应，worldwide system与下文的networked computer对应，故C项为正确答案。
答案精析：空后出现call it a secret war，it指代前文，说明空处出现了secret war，D选项中出现了a secret war，故为正确答案。
答案精析：空前的句子指出人类有能力创造额外的有形物质（superfluous material goods），本段介绍了动物与人和下载之间的关系，划线处应体现人与下载的关系。A选项出现明显的指代关系：these superfluous things，these指代上文，可知本句前面的句子出现了superfluous things。从define human culture，human和humanity可知，A选项涉及人性与下载模式的关系，故A选项为正确答案。
答案精析：本题所在段落依然在介绍大多数人依然深陷下载模式，金字塔产量结构依然存在（a pyramid of production remains）。后一段开头出现Television这一前文未提及的名词，可见空处应该涉及television。F选项出现的this pyramid of production和television既能对应本段，又可引出下文，故为正确答案。
错项排除：E选项也出现了television，但主要强调电脑对于电视的威胁，而本段主要在阐述人们深陷下载模式，不涉及电脑对电视的威胁，故E选项错误。
答案精析：本段提到电视是a one-way tap flowing into our homes（流向千家万户的媒介），而下一段一开头就提出新概念meaningful uploading（有意义的上传），因而划线处应该能引出下文的meaningful uploading。G选项reverse the flow可以对应flowing into our homes，meaningful uploading则可以引出下文，故G项为正确答案。
选项译文
[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.
译文：当然，正是这些额外的东西定义了人类文化，并最终定义了什么是人类。下载和吸收文化需要高超的技能，但如果不能超越下载模式，就会让人们失去人性的一个决定性要素。
[B] Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.
译文：tumblr.com可以让用户将图片、文字和其他媒体以新颖的方式整合到一起，然后进行分享，这类网络应用因为可以取悦、娱乐和启发他人而具备增加“黏性”的潜力。
[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.
译文：他们不仅发明了这个设备，还在世纪之交，成功将其植入每天有数亿用户访问的全球系统中。
[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.
译文：这是因为联网电脑已经引发了一场“上传”与“下载”——被动消费和积极创造之间的暗战，其结果将以我们无法想象的方式影响我们的未来。
[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.
译文：因此，电脑给电视带来威胁的方式不同于CD播放机取代录音机，这并非单纯的一种形式取代另一种形式。
[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.
译文：这种金字塔的创造模式长期存在的一个原因是，在过去的半个世纪里，世界上大部分媒体文化被电视这种单一媒体所支配，而电视所倡导的正是下载文化。
[G] The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
译文：五十年来，联网电脑给我们提供了首次可扭转这一模式的机会，鼓励有选择地下载，更重要的是，进行有意义的上传。
试题解析
答案精析：本题所在段落介绍了20世纪后半叶创造出的一种惊人的机器（a fabulous machine），而下一段则详细介绍了联网计算机（networked computer），因而空处应该是承上启下的内容。C选项是过渡句，Not only…but…表递进，其中Not only承接上文，such a device表明上文出现了其指代的设备，but引出下文，表明下文是对worldwide system的介绍，填入此处后，such a device与上文的a fabulous machine对应，worldwide system与下文的networked computer对应，故C项为正确答案。
答案精析：空后出现call it a secret war，it指代前文，说明空处出现了secret war，D选项中出现了a secret war，故为正确答案。
答案精析：空前的句子指出人类有能力创造额外的有形物质（superfluous material goods），本段介绍了动物与人和下载之间的关系，划线处应体现人与下载的关系。A选项出现明显的指代关系：these superfluous things，these指代上文，可知本句前面的句子出现了superfluous things。从define human culture，human和humanity可知，A选项涉及人性与下载模式的关系，故A选项为正确答案。
答案精析：本题所在段落依然在介绍大多数人依然深陷下载模式，金字塔产量结构依然存在（a pyramid of production remains）。后一段开头出现Television这一前文未提及的名词，可见空处应该涉及television。F选项出现的this pyramid of production和television既能对应本段，又可引出下文，故为正确答案。
错项排除：E选项也出现了television，但主要强调电脑对于电视的威胁，而本段主要在阐述人们深陷下载模式，不涉及电脑对电视的威胁，故E选项错误。
答案精析：本段提到电视是a one-way tap flowing into our homes（流向千家万户的媒介），而下一段一开头就提出新概念meaningful uploading（有意义的上传），因而划线处应该能引出下文的meaningful uploading。G选项reverse the flow可以对应flowing into our homes，meaningful uploading则可以引出下文，故G项为正确答案。
选项译文
[A] Of course, it is precisely these superfluous things that define human culture and ultimately what it is to be human. Downloading and consuming culture requires great skills, but failing to move beyond downloading is to strip oneself of a defining constituent of humanity.
译文：当然，正是这些额外的东西定义了人类文化，并最终定义了什么是人类。下载和吸收文化需要高超的技能，但如果不能超越下载模式，就会让人们失去人性的一个决定性要素。
[B] Applications like tumblr.com, which allow users to combine pictures, words and other media in creative ways and then share them, have the potential to add stickiness by amusing, entertaining and enlightening others.
译文：tumblr.com可以让用户将图片、文字和其他媒体以新颖的方式整合到一起，然后进行分享，这类网络应用因为可以取悦、娱乐和启发他人而具备增加“黏性”的潜力。
[C] Not only did they develop such a device but by the turn of the millennium they had also managed to embed it in a worldwide system accessed by billions of people every day.
译文：他们不仅发明了这个设备，还在世纪之交，成功将其植入每天有数亿用户访问的全球系统中。
[D] This is because the networked computer has sparked a secret war between downloading and uploading—between passive consumption and active creation—whose outcome will shape our collective future in ways we can only begin to imagine.
译文：这是因为联网电脑已经引发了一场“上传”与“下载”——被动消费和积极创造之间的暗战，其结果将以我们无法想象的方式影响我们的未来。
[E] The challenge the computer mounts to television thus bears little similarity to one format being replaced by another in the manner of record players being replaced by CD players.
译文：因此，电脑给电视带来威胁的方式不同于CD播放机取代录音机，这并非单纯的一种形式取代另一种形式。
[F] One reason for the persistence of this pyramid of production is that for the past half-century, much of the world’s media culture has been defined by a single medium—television—and television is defined by downloading.
译文：这种金字塔的创造模式长期存在的一个原因是，在过去的半个世纪里，世界上大部分媒体文化被电视这种单一媒体所支配，而电视所倡导的正是下载文化。
[G] The networked computer offers the first chance in 50 years to reverse the flow, to encourage thoughtful downloading and, even more importantly, meaningful uploading.
译文：五十年来，联网电脑给我们提供了首次可扭转这一模式的机会，鼓励有选择地下载，更重要的是，进行有意义的上传。
试题解析
答案精析：本题所在段落介绍了20世纪后半叶创造出的一种惊人的机器（a fabulous machine），而下一段则详细介绍了联网计算机（networked computer），因而空处应该是承上启下的内容。C选项是过渡句，Not only…but…表递进，其中Not only承接上文，such a device表明上文出现了其指代的设备，but引出下文，表明下文是对worldwide system的介绍，填入此处后，such a device与上文的a fabulous machine对应，worldwide system与下文的networked computer对应，故C项为正确答案。
答案精析：空后出现call it a secret war，it指代前文，说明空处出现了secret war，D选项中出现了a secret war，故为正确答案。
答案精析：空前的句子指出人类有能力创造额外的有形物质（superfluous material goods），本段介绍了动物与人和下载之间的关系，划线处应体现人与下载的关系。A选项出现明显的指代关系：these superfluous things，these指代上文，可知本句前面的句子出现了superfluous things。从define human culture，human和humanity可知，A选项涉及人性与下载模式的关系，故A选项为正确答案。
答案精析：本题所在段落依然在介绍大多数人依然深陷下载模式，金字塔产量结构依然存在（a pyramid of production remains）。后一段开头出现Television这一前文未提及的名词，可见空处应该涉及television。F选项出现的this pyramid of production和television既能对应本段，又可引出下文，故为正确答案。
错项排除：E选项也出现了television，但主要强调电脑对于电视的威胁，而本段主要在阐述人们深陷下载模式，不涉及电脑对电视的威胁，故E选项错误。
答案精析：本段提到电视是a one-way tap flowing into our homes（流向千家万户的媒介），而下一段一开头就提出新概念meaningful uploading（有意义的上传），因而划线处应该能引出下文的meaningful uploading。G选项reverse the flow可以对应flowing into our homes，meaningful uploading则可以引出下文，故G项为正确答案。
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