六级阅读真题精读2011年6月Passage1

学习导读：

移民问题始终是美国最具争议性的话题之一，虽然美国本身是移民国家。就好比香港本身是移民城市，但在香港也存在着复杂的身份认同问题。曼昆经济学十大原理之一就是人们会朝经济更为发达的地方迁徙；社会学的研究也不例外，人类社会是流动的。值得移民的国家和地区有着很多故乡所没有的优点，但面对着背井离乡，抛却所有本身的社会资本前往一个陌生的环境，也不是一件想当然的事情。相信每位移民都经过了很多的思考。那么左右移民的因素有哪些呢，这篇文章又是从什么角度来探讨移民问题的呢，快来读读看吧！

At the heart of the debate 1 over illegal 2 immigration lies (one key) question: are immigrants 3 good or bad [for the economy]? The American public [overwhelmingly 4] thinks they’re bad. [Yet] the consensus 5 (among most economists) is that immigration, ^both legal and illegal^, provides a small net boost [to the economy]. Immigrants provide cheap labor, lower the prices (of everything) [from farm produce to new homes], and leave consumers [with a little more money] [in their pockets]. So why is there such a discrepancy 6 [between the perception 7 (of immigrants’ impact on the economy) and the reality] 8?
对非法移民争论的焦点存在这样一个关键问题：移民对于经济发展来说是利是弊？绝大多数美国民众认为移民是弊。然而，多数经济学家的共识是，不管是合法还是非法移民，都为经济的发展带来了小的净增长。移民提供了廉价的劳动力，降低了包括农产品以及新住房在内的一切商品的价格，同时节省了消费者兜里的钱。那么为什么人们对移民给经济造成的看法与现实如此不符呢？
注：1. debate v. 争论，辩论。例：

The students debated on what the writer truly meant.
学生们就作者的真是意图展开了辩论。
n. 争论，辩论。文中作名词。例：

There’s a debate in the meeting room.
会议室内大家正在辩论。
She called for a public debate on assisting terminally ill people to end their lives.
她呼吁就协助末期疾病患者安乐死进行公众辩论。
[选自：BBC: Euthanasia: a continent divided]

2. illegal 不合法的，非法的。例：

the illegal imitation伪造

illegal earnings非法收入

It is illegal to carry a concealed weapon.
藏匿武器是范法的。
The California Shark Protection Act would make it illegal to possess, sell or trade shark fins.
《加利福尼亚洲鲨鱼保护法案》将使拥有、销售和交易鱼翅的行为不再合法。
[选自：cnn: Shark fin soup faces extinction in California]

【派】illegally（adv.不法地，非法地）

3. immigrant adj. （从国外）移来的，移民的。例：

Tom was ashamed of his immigrant origin.
汤姆为自己的移民出生感到羞耻。
n. [pl.]移民，侨民。例：

He is an immigrant.
他是移民者。
Many immigrant families, particularly Latinos, see Dora as a symbol of freedom, someone to relate to.
很多外来家庭，尤其是拉美人，把朵拉视作自由的象征，也是倾诉的对象。
[选自：MSN: Dora the Explorer: illegal immigrant?]

【参】immigration (n.移民；移进来)；emigrant(n.移民外国者，移出去)

4. overwhelmingly adv.势不可挡地，压倒地。例：

I believe the evidence overwhelmingly supports the latter.
我认为各项证据压倒性地支持后者。
5. consensus n.（意见等）一致，一致同意。例：

Their had found a broad consensus.
他们已取得广泛的一致。
In this way, we’ll convince ourselves that the scientific consensus is always on our side.
这样一来，我们确信科学界的共识与我们一致。
[选自：BBC: Go Figure: Would you believe a man with a beard or a suit?]

6. discrepancy n.矛盾，不同。例：

Some children have a discrepancy with their parents.
有些孩子和父母之间有种矛盾。
“There was such a discrepancy between what we had expected and what they had performed,” she added.
她补充说道：“我们所期待的和我们实际做到的总有所不同。”
[选自：BBC: Taiwan blast Senegal for no-show]

7. perception n.知觉，观念，看法。例：

Changing public perception may take some time.
改变大众的看法需要时间。
In books as in fashion ,perception is all.
图书产业与时尚产业一样，观念就意味着全部。
We really have to maintain the perception that outdoor learning is a safe thing.
户外学习很安全的这种看法是我们确实需要维护的。
[选自：BBC: Outdoor activity voluntary code plan criticized]

【参】percept n. 感知，认知。

8. between…and在这里是比较状语，between后面的内容与and后面的内容比较，按道理该状语无需细分，但perception后面of所带的定语成分比较长，也就一并用括号标注，在该定语的修饰下，我们得以理解，这个perception是一个怎样的看法。

There are a number (of familiar theories). Some argue that people are anxious and feel threatened [by an inflow 1 of new workers]. Others highlight 2 the strain 3(that undocumented 4 immigrants place on public services, {like schools, hospitals, and jails}.) [Still] others emphasize the role (of race), [arguing that foreigners add to the nation’s fears and insecurities 5.] There’s some truth [to all these explanations 6], but they aren’t [quite] sufficient 7.
还有一些熟知的观点。一些人认为对于一些新工人的流入会感到紧张和受到威胁。另一些人则强调非法移民给公共服务带来的压力，如学校、医院和监狱。还有一些人强调种族的作用，认为外国人增加了民族的恐惧和不安全感。所有这些解释都有对的方面，但很不充分。
注：1. inflow n. 流入，注入，涌入。例：

The swiss wanted to discourage an inflow of foreign money.
瑞士人想要阻止外资流入。
The cash inflow could show a new appetite for higher interest bonds.
现金流对高息债券表现出新的需求。
[选自：BBC: John Lewis store]

2. highlight vt. 使显著，使突出，强调。文中此义。例：

The manager highlighted the importance of customer service.
经理强调了客服的重要性。
We also want to highlight the efforts of local noNPRofits in communities across the country.
我们也想强调全国各社区当地的非盈利机构所做的努力。
[选自：WHITEHOUSE: Welcome to the White House Partnerships Blog]

n. 最精彩的部分，最重要的事件。例：

You just missed the highlight of his legend.
你正好漏掉了他传奇故事中最精彩的部分。
3. strain n. 过度疲劳的，紧张；张力；应变。原文为名词。例：

mental strain精神紧张

The rope broke easily under strain.
绳子在张力的作用下很容易断。
The engineers calculate the strains and stresses on a bridge.
工程师们计算了桥梁的应变和应力。
Unemployment stands at 9.1%, and markets gyrate on worries of continued global financial strain.
失业率保持在9.1%，持续的全球性金融压力所带来的困扰使得市场震荡不安。
[选自：FORBES: No Longer Simply 'Chic,' Cheap Is Now a Badge of Honor]

vt. 扭伤，拉伤；拉紧，扯紧。例：

The football player strained a tendon in his leg during the game.
那名足球运动员在比赛使扭伤了肌腱。
strain every nerve竭尽全力。例：

Mother strained the lost boy to her breast after finding him.
母亲找到走失的儿子后把他紧紧地搂在怀里。
vi. 紧张，尽力。例：

I strained to understand what my professor was talking about.
我尽力去理解教授所讲的内容。
4. undocumented adj. 无正式文件的，无事实证明的

He is an undocumented immigrant.
他是一名无正式文件的孩子。
【反】documented（n.备有证明文件的）

5. insecurity n. 不安全，不牢靠，促局不安。例：

His behavior is an attempt to cover up his insecurities.
他的行为是想掩饰自己的不自信。
It seems that the boys may be compensating in the face of teasing and insecurity about their names.
看来男生们可能在面对关于名字的捉弄和不安全感中获得弥补。
[选自：MSN: 'Peter' and 'Deborah' Are Top CEO Names]

【反】security（n.安全；adj.安全的）

6. explanation n. 解释，说明。例：

Do you have any explanation?
你还有什么解释？
7. sufficient adj. 足够的，充足的。例：

There was not sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
没有足够的证据来定罪。
The government still has sufficient instruments and still some time to move on this question.
政府仍有足够的方法和一定的时间来解决此问题。
[选自：cnn: “The Outlook Is Good”]

[To get a better understanding of what’s going on], consider the way (immigration’s impact is felt.) [Though its overall 1 effect may be positive,] its costs and benefits are distributed 2 [unevenly 3]. David Card, {an economist at UC Berkeley}, notes that the ones (who profit [most] [directly] [from immigrants’ low-cost labor]) are businesses and employers – {meatpacking plants in Nebraska, ^for instance 4^, or agricultural businesses in California}. Granted, these producers’ savings [probably] translate into 5 lower prices [at the grocery 6 store], but how many consumers make that mental connection [at the checkout counter] 7? [As for the drawbacks 8 of illegal immigration], these, ^too^, are concentrated 9. Native low-skilled workers suffer [most] [from the competition of foreign labor]. [According to a study by George Borjas], {a Harvard economist}, immigration reduced the wages (of American high-school dropouts) [by 9%] [between 1980-2000].
为了更好地了解事实的真相，我们假设移民产生影响的方式是可以感知的。虽然它的影响可能是积极的，但实际上它付出的代价和带来的好处却是不均衡的。来自加州大学伯克利分校的经济学家大卫·卡德指出，从移民提供的劳动力中直接受益的是那些商人和雇主，例如内布拉斯加的肉类加工厂，或是加州的农产业。假设，这些生产者节省的劳动力消费很可能转化成百货店里的低价位，但是又有多少消费者会在收银台前把他们联系起来？至于非法移民所带来的不利之处也备受关注。技能水平低的当地人遭受到来自国外劳动力的竞争。根据哈佛经济学家George Borjas的研究来看，移民使美国本地高中辍学生的工资在1980至2000年间降低了9%。
注：1. overall adj. 全面的，综合的。例：

The overall situation of economy this year is encouraging.
今年总的经济形势令人鼓舞。
Members have also reported that their overall health has either held steady or improved since joining.
村民们也汇报说，在他们加入之后，其整体健康水平保持稳定或有提升。
[选自：NPR: Aging Americans Stay Home With Aid Of 'Villages']

n. [pl.] (套头)工作服，工装裤。例：

Will you help me off my overalls? I am too tired.
你能帮我脱掉工作服吗？我太累了。
2. distribute vt. 分配；分布；配电；（over）散布。例：

distribute sth equally 平均分配

distribute expenses 分配经费

The farmers were distributing seeds over the field.
农民们正在田间播种。
vi. 分配；散布

【派】distribution（n.分配，分布）

3. unevenly adv. 不规则地，不稳定地。例：

The steaks were unevenly cooked.
这份牛排烤的不均匀。
Her explanation on Thursday only convinced critics that, in fact, justice was being unevenly applied.
她在周四的解释只不过让批评者确信，实际上，司法并不平衡。
[选自：cnn: ASIANOW - TIME Asia]

4. for instance 例如，比如，一般可作插入语分析，在理解句意的时候可以略去不看。例：

Energy intensity, for instance, is going up
比如说，能耗强度正在攀升。
像这个例句，完全可以在理解的时候把中间的for instance遮住不看。

5. translate into 把...译成；把...转化成。例：

I try to translate Chinese to share.
我试图将其译为中文来分享。
If you can do big things well then that could translate into influence abroad.
如果你能干成大事，那就可以转化为境外的影响力了。
[选自：WSJ: China Makes Giant Leap With Space Docking]

6. grocery n. 食品杂货店；[pl.]食品杂货业。例：

I’m going grocery shopping.
我要去杂货店买点东西。
Our grocery spending goes through the big five supermarket groups.
我们的食品杂货支出是物价大超市集团消费的。
7. counter n. 柜台，计数器，计算器。例：

I work at the check-out counter.
我在收银台工作。
Students are not allowed to use counters in this exam.
这次考试中，学生不允许使用计算器。
Behind the counter, Sandra Campos pulls out her small digital scale and weighs the raw nugget.
在柜台后面，Sandra Campos拿出她的微型电子称，称了一下粗金块。
[选自：cnn: Exploring Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula]

adj.相反的。例：

The small ship was slowed down by counter tides.
小船因逆流速度慢了下来。
v. 抵制，反对，反击。例：

We must work together to counter this threat.
我们必须通过合作来抵制威胁。
adv.相反。例：

It appear to run counter to your study.
这看起来与你的研究相反。
【参】counteract(vt.抵消，中和)

8. drawback n. 欠缺，缺点。例：

You only drawback to your plan is the expense.
不计划的唯一缺点就是费用问题。
9. concentrate v. (on)集中，专心。例：

Concentrate on those things one does well.
集中精力做自己擅长的事。
All that other stuff is not for us to concentrate on and will look after itself.
其他事情不需要我们关注，其自有安排。
[选自：BBC: Captain Andrew Strauss calls for England focus]

vt. 浓缩。例：

The workers concentrated sugar solution into syrup.
工人们将糖溶液浓缩成糖浆。
n. 浓缩物。例：

Mother sent Tom to buy the orange juice concentrate.
妈妈让汤姆去买那种浓缩橘子汁。
【派】concentration(n.集中；浓缩；集合)

dropout n. 辍学者，退学者。例：

He is a high-school dropout.
他从高中就退学了。
[Among high-skilled, better-educated employees], [however], opposition was strongest [in states] [with both high numbers of immigrants and relatively 1 generous social services]. What worried them [most], ^in other words^, was the fiscal burden 2 (of immigration). That conclusion 3 was reinforced [by another finding]: that their opposition appeared to soften 4 [when that fiscal 5 burden decreased,] [as occurred with welfare 6 reform in the 1990s], (which curbed 7 immigrants’ access [to certain benefits].)
然而，在一些移民数量较多且社会服务较优越的州，技术高超、受过良好教育的雇员持较为强烈的反对意见。换句话说，他们最担心的就是移民所带来的财政负担。另一个结果也证实了这样的结论：当财政负担较小时，他们的反对声就相对较弱，如上世纪九十年代的福利改革，移民获得某些福利受到限制。
注：1. relatively adv. 相关地，相对低。例：

It would be relatively easy.
这个相对而言比较容易。
2. burden n. 担子，负担，重担。例：

I want to stay here with you to be a burden.
我不愿意在你身边当包袱。
Everyone now agrees that the burden of debt must be lifted from the poorest countries.
每个人如今都认同对于压在最穷国家的债务必须减免。
[选自：UN: The Independent]

【派】burdened (adj.有负担的)；burdensome (adj.繁重的)

conclusion n. 结束，终结；结论，推论。例：

at the conclusion of 当...结束时

I had still some days to visit my confident before the conclusion of my holiday.
在假期结束之前，我还有几天的时间去拜访我的好友。
3. in conclusion最后，总之

The panel informally accepted several general conclusions.
专家组在这几个结论上基本达成一致。
draw a conclusion得出结论

4. soften vt. 使温和，使柔和。例：

Soften the butter mixture in a small saucepan.
在小平底锅里将黄油混合物化软。
With China facing a leadership change next year, the government feels it cannot soften its stance.
随着中国领导人下一年的换届，政府认为这不会削弱其立场。
[选自：BBC: China's internet users targeted in online rumour probes]

vi. 变温和，变软。例：

Her voice did not soften.
她的声音没有变温和。
5. fiscal adj. （美）财政上的，会计的。例：

The government tightened fiscal policy.
政府缩减了财政政策。
The number of pending cases swelled from 800 in fiscal year 2006 to 1, 200 in 2007.
搁置案件的数量由2006财年的800例升至2007财年的1200例。
[选自：cnn: FBI investigating 14 companies for mortgage fraud]

6. welfare n. 福利；安宁。例：

welfare work福利事业

welfare state福利国家

welfare benefits福利待遇

seek the people’s welfare为人民谋福利

The parents looked out their children’s welfare.
父母期待他们的孩子能够幸福平安。
7. curb vt. 控制。例：

What can we do to curb abuses of intellectual property?
我们怎样才能控制滥用知识产权的情况呢？
Try as you might to curb demand for America’s promise, it just won’t work.
尽管你可能尝试过抑制美国预期需求，但毫无效果。
[选自：cnn: Commentary: Keep America’s 'store' open to immigrants]

n. 路缘，（街道的）镶边石；马勒。例：

The workers repair the curbs of the city once a year.
工人们每年都对该市的路缘进行一次修整。
Jim bought a new curb for her father.
吉姆给他父亲买了一条新马勒。
The irony 1is that [for all the overexcited debate], the net effect (of immigration) is minimal 2. [Even for those most acutely 3 affected – say, low-skilled workers, or California residents] – the impact isn’t [all that] dramatic 4. “The unpleasant voices have tended to 5 dominate 6 our perceptions,” says Daniel Tichenor, {a political science professor at the University of Oregon}. “But [when all those factors are put together and the economists calculate the numbers,] it ends up 7being a net positive, but a small one.” [Too bad] most people don’t realize it.
具有讽刺性的是：就所有关于移民问题的热烈争论来看，移民对于美国的净效益却很小。即便对那些颇受影响的方面也是如此——比如说，对那些技术能力差的工人，或者加州居民——这些影响其实并没有那么强烈。俄勒冈州大学政治科学教授Daniel Tichenor说：“这些不友好的声音已经主导了我们的看法。但是所有的这些因素都被放在一起并由经济学家计算了一系列数字之后，以一个总的说来积极但却微不足道的影响收尾。”不幸的是，多数人并没有意识到这一点。
注：1. irony n. 反话，讽刺，嘲弄；出乎意料的事情或情况，具有讽刺一味的事。例：

Did you mean to say that you liked the rainy weather,or were you attempting irony?
你是真的喜欢雨天还是在说反话？
The irony was that it rained the whole time when we were on vacation.
出人意料的是，我们度假的整个期间都在下雨。
“The irony is that we were trying to make our special effects invisible,” said Wyatt.
怀亚特说：“讽刺的是，我们本想让我们特殊的效果可视化的。”
[选自：BBC: Rise of the Planet of the Apes director keen on sequel]

【派】ironically(adv.说出反话地，讽刺地)

2. minimal adj. 最小的，极少的。例：

I was paid, but it is minimal.
我拿到了工资，但是少得可怜。
So far the impact of this powerful evidence on medical care has been minimal.
直到现在，关于医疗服务效果的强有力证据少得可怜。
[选自：MSN: Conveyor-belt cardiology puts profits first]

另外，该句是that引导的表语从句中含一个主系表结构。

3. acutely adv. 尖锐地，剧烈地，极其。例：

It was an acutely uncomfortable journey back to London.
那是一次极其痛苦的返回伦敦的旅行。
The mood of union members is likely to be felt more acutely at Ford Motor Co.
协会的会员们在福特公司时，心情可能感觉得更为强烈。
[选自：WSJ: UAW Head Faces Dissent in Contract Talks]
4. dramatic adj. 戏剧化的，戏剧性的；引人注目的，突然的。例：

The earth’s climate may go through dramatic changes in the future.
将来，全球的气候会发生戏剧化的变化。
The football player fell in a very dramatic death during the game.
那位足球运动员在比赛中猝死了。
【派】dramatically(adv.戏剧化地；显著地)

5. tend to 倾向于，趋向。例：

We tend to go back to our normal levels of happiness.
我们趋向于回到自己的正常幸福水平线上。
So the front-runners in the polls tend to be the front-runners in the money.
所以，在投票中领先的人更可能是财富上领先的人。
[选自：cnn: Schneider: Show us the money]

6. dominate vt. 控制；占优势。例：

Women are on longer dominated by the men in their relationship.
在两性关系中女性不再受制于男性。
Don’t want to use your power to dominate all others.
别想利用你的权利来支配其他所有人。
man-dominate男性主导的

The idea dominated the discussion.
这个观点在讨论中占了优势。
【参】dominant(adj.支配的，占优势的) 

7. end up <非正式>（以)...结束；最终。例：

I knew this would end up in hospital.
我这一切会在医院结束的。
In addition, officials have said that the government could end up with an ownership stake.
另外，官员们说了，政府最后可能以所有权权益比率结束（计划的讨论……）。
[选自：WSJ: Tepco Rescue Plan Could Hit Investors, Banks]