Text 3

　　Robert F. Kennedy once said that a country’s GDP measures “everything except that which makes life worthwhile.” With Britain voting to leave the European Union, and GDP already predicted to slow as a result, it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to.

　　The question of GDP and its usefulness has annoyed policymakers for over half a century. Many argue that it is a flawed concept. It measures things that do not matter and misses things that do. By most recent measures, the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western world, with record low unemployment and high growth figures. If everything was going so well, then why did over 17 million people vote for Brexit, despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?

　　A recent annual study of countries and their ability to convert growth into well-being sheds some light on that question. Across the 163 countries measured, the UK is one of the poorest performers in ensuring that economic growth is translated into meaningful improvements for its citizens. Rather than just focusing on GDP, over 40 different sets of criteria from health, education and civil society engagement have been measured to get a more rounded assessment of how countries are performing.

　　While all of these countries face their own challenges , there are a number of consistent themes . Yes , there has been a budding economic recovery since the 2008 global crash , but in key indicators in areas such as health and education , major economies have continued to decline . Yet this isn’t the case with all countries . Some relatively poor European countries have seen huge improvements across measures including civil society , income equality and the environment.

　　This is a lesson that rich countries can learn : When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success, the world looks very different .

　　So, what Kennedy was referring to was that while GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations , as a measure , it is no longer enough . It does not include important factors such as environmental quality or education outcomes – all things that contribute to a person’s sense of well-being.

　　The sharp hit to growth predicted around the world and in the UK could lead to a decline in the everyday services we depend on for our well-being and for growth . But policymakers who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress .

　　31.Robert F. Kennedy is cited because he ______.

　　[A]praised the UK for its GDP.

　　[B]identified GDP with happiness .

　　[C]misinterpreted the role of GDP .

　　[D]had a low opinion of GDP .

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】答案為D。細節題。根據題干的定位信息可以定位到第一段第一句，從該句中可以看出Kennedy對于GDP是持有否定態度的。從下文也可以看出作者也認為GDP有許多缺點，所以作者引用Kennedy 來使文章更具有說服力。故選項D為正確答案。

　　32.It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that ______.

　　[A]the UK is reluctant to remold its economic pattern .

　　[B]GDP as the measure of success is widely defied in the UK .

　　[C]the UK will contribute less to the world economy .

　　[D]policymakers in the UK are paying less attention to GDP .

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】答案為B。本題是段落推斷題，題干中指明了段落，需要進行推斷得出答案，第二段中，作者首先表示英國的GDP被許多西方世界羨慕，然后作者反問如果英國現狀真如英國的GDP反映的那么的好，為什么還會有多達1700萬的民眾都投票要脫歐呢。由此可見英國民眾認為GDP好并不代表英國社會現狀真的好。故選項B為答案。

　　33.Which of the following is true about the recent annual study ?

　　[A]It is sponsored by 163 countries .

　　[B]It excludes GDP as an indicator.

　　[C]Its criteria are questionable .

　　[D]Its results are enlightening .

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】答案為D。細節題。根據題干信息和關鍵詞 annual study 可以定位到第三段第一句，其中選項D的enlightening 與sheds some light on that question同義替換。故選項D為正確選項。

　　34.In the last two paragraphs , the author suggests that ______.

　　[A]the UK is preparing for an economic boom .

　　[B]high GDP foreshadows an economic decline .

　　[C]it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP .

　　[D]it requires caution to handle economic issues .

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】答案為C。細節題。從最后一段可以看出GDP不再夠用了，它沒有包含重要的因素。選項C中it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP正好是該句的完美改寫。因此選項C是正確答案。

　　35.Which of the following is the best title for the text ?

　　[A]High GDP But Inadequate Well-being , a UK Lesson

　　[B]GDP Figures , a Window on Global Economic Health

　　[C]Rebort F. Kennedy , a Terminator of GDP

　　[D]Brexit, the UK’s Gateway to Well-being

　　【答案】A

　　【解析】答案為A。主旨題，需要通過全篇來選答案，這篇文章在開頭引用了Kennedy對于GDP的負面評價，并通過英國脫歐這個案例來引出需要考慮GDP這個評價機制的好壞，中間各段在分析英國GDP表現好，但實際英國社會現狀卻不好，最后在倒數第二自然段指出This is a lesson that rich countries can learn. 故選項A是正確答案。

　　Text 4

　　In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell. But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari automobile from a company seeking access to government.

　　The high court’s decision said the judge in Mr. McDonnell’s trial failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his “official acts,” or the former governor’s decisions on “specific” and “unsettled” issues related to his duties.

　　Merely helping a gift-giver gain access to other officials, unless done with clear intent to pressure those officials, is not corruption, the justices found.

　　The court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is “distasteful” and “nasty.” But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation. Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an “official act”.

　　The court’s ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal. Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution for bribery.” The basic compact underlying representative government,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court,” assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns.”

　　But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government. Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings simply because an individual or group provides a campaign donation or a personal gift. This type of integrity requires well-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader’s source of wealth.

　　Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption. But it is not always corruption. Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy. If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society—that all are equal in treatment by government—is undermined. Good governance rests on an understanding of the inherent worth of each individual.

　　The court’s ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.

　　36. The undermined sentence (Para.1) most probably shows that the court _______.

　　[A] avoided defining the extent of McDonnell’s duties.

　　[B] made no compromise in convicting McDonnell.

　　[C] was contemptuous of McDonnell’s conduct.

　　[D] refused to comment on McDonnell’s ethics.

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】答案為C。根據第一段的劃線句子聯系文章第一句話：雖然最高法院沒有判定Robert McDonnell受賄罪，但是在道德上卻對他的行為嗤之以鼻。由此可以鎖定選項C中的 was contemptuous of，也就是說法院其實非常輕視Robert McDonnell的行為。

　　37. According to Paragraph 4, an official act is deemed corruptive only if it involves _______.

　　[A] leaking secrets intentionally.

　　[B] sizable gains in the form of gifts.

　　[C] concrete returns for gift-givers.

　　[D] breaking contracts officially.

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】答案為B。從第四段可以知道，對腐敗的定義是:只有受賄者給予了行賄者實際的好處，例如 a contract or regulation, 如果提供的不是具體的好處，僅僅只是：arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event, 那么這種行為就不是受賄。由此可以得出答案為B。

　　38. The court’s ruling is based on the assumption that public officials are _______.

　　[A] justified in addressing the needs of their constituents.

　　[B] qualified to deal independently with bureaucratic issues.

　　[C] allowed to focus on the concerns of their supporters.

　　[D] exempt from conviction on the charge of favoritism.

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】答案為C。從第五段可以知道，法院的裁定是建立聽取其選民的意見，按照他們的利益行事。所以原文中的constituents對應選項C的supporters，支持者。所以答案選擇C。

　　39. Well-enforced laws in government transparency are needed to _______.

　　[A] awaken the conscience of officials.

　　[B] guarantee fair play in official access.

　　[C] allow for certain kinds of lobbying.

　　[D] inspire hopes in average people.

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】答案為B。根據第六段第一句話：執法力度需要加強市民及其當選代表，而不是法院獲得接近政府的平等的機會。equality與選項B的fair play相對應，因此選B。

　　40. The author’s attitude toward the court’s ruling is _______.

　　[A] sarcastic.

　　[B] tolerant.

　　[C] skeptical.

　　[D] supportive

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】答案為D。本題考查的是態度題，從文中最后一句話：可以看出作者認為法院的裁定是進步的，因此可以看出作者對此的態度是：支持的。因此答案為選項D。

　　【試題點評】今年四篇文章難度一般。在我們整體的考研閱讀當中，所需要具備的一個最重要的能力就是如何去看到題目之后，定準了位，并且找到那個我們真正應該找到的位置，在四個選項當中去找意思的原文最匹配的選項。具體相關知識點和解題思路在考研教育網強化階段英語強化班閱讀理解部分有重點講解。