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】答案为D。细节题。根据题干的定位信息可以定位到第一段第一句，从该句中可以看出Kennedy对于GDP是持有否定态度的。从下文也可以看出作者也认为GDP有许多缺点，所以作者引用Kennedy 来使文章更具有说服力。故选项D为正确答案。

　　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】答案为B。本题是段落推断题，题干中指明了段落，需要进行推断得出答案，第二段中，作者首先表示英国的GDP被许多西方世界羡慕，然后作者反问如果英国现状真如英国的GDP反映的那么的好，为什么还会有多达1700万的民众都投票要脱欧呢。由此可见英国民众认为GDP好并不代表英国社会现状真的好。故选项B为答案。

　　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】答案为D。细节题。根据题干信息和关键词 annual study 可以定位到第三段第一句，其中选项D的enlightening 与sheds some light on that question同义替换。故选项D为正确选项。

　　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】答案为C。细节题。从最后一段可以看出GDP不再够用了，它没有包含重要的因素。选项C中it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP正好是该句的完美改写。因此选项C是正确答案。

　　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】答案为A。主旨题，需要通过全篇来选答案，这篇文章在开头引用了Kennedy对于GDP的负面评价，并通过英国脱欧这个案例来引出需要考虑GDP这个评价机制的好坏，中间各段在分析英国GDP表现好，但实际英国社会现状却不好，最后在倒数第二自然段指出This is a lesson that rich countries can learn. 故选项A是正确答案。

　　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】答案为C。根据第一段的划线句子联系文章第一句话：虽然最高法院没有判定Robert McDonnell受贿罪，但是在道德上却对他的行为嗤之以鼻。由此可以锁定选项C中的 was contemptuous of，也就是说法院其实非常轻视Robert McDonnell的行为。

　　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】答案为B。从第四段可以知道，对腐败的定义是:只有受贿者给予了行贿者实际的好处，例如 a contract or regulation, 如果提供的不是具体的好处，仅仅只是：arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event, 那么这种行为就不是受贿。由此可以得出答案为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】答案为C。从第五段可以知道，法院的裁定是建立听取其选民的意见，按照他们的利益行事。所以原文中的constituents对应选项C的supporters，支持者。所以答案选择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】答案为B。根据第六段第一句话：执法力度需要加强市民及其当选代表，而不是法院获得接近政府的平等的机会。equality与选项B的fair play相对应，因此选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】答案为D。本题考查的是态度题，从文中最后一句话：可以看出作者认为法院的裁定是进步的，因此可以看出作者对此的态度是：支持的。因此答案为选项D。

　　【试题点评】今年四篇文章难度一般。在我们整体的考研阅读当中，所需要具备的一个最重要的能力就是如何去看到题目之后，定准了位，并且找到那个我们真正应该找到的位置，在四个选项当中去找意思的原文最匹配的选项。具体相关知识点和解题思路在考研教育网强化阶段英语强化班阅读理解部分有重点讲解。