考研英语基础阶段的主要任务是攻克词汇和语法长难句。但是背单词是各位考生最为头疼的事情。与此同时，长难句由于缺乏语境也很难理解。在这个阶段，各位学子可以认真研读1994-2003年的真题，从真题中汲取营养，攻克词汇和语法长难句。7月份之前，如果各位考生能够将10年47篇文章做到精读，相信大家的词汇和语法长难句一定会有大的突破，并且为强化阶段的学习奠定坚实的基础。
2016考研英语阅读真题精选：1995年Text4
Personality is to a large extent inherent—A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents; it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children.
One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the “win at all costs” moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system , in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying: “Rejoice, we conquer!”
By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.
Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.
If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection for the caring professions, especially medicine, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy. It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors exclusively from A type stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged.
13. According to the passage, A-type individuals are usually _______.
[A] impatient [B] considerate [C] aggressive [D] agreeable
14. The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because
_______.
[A] the pressure is too great on the students
[B] some students are bound to fail
[C] failure rates are too high
[D] the results of exanimations are doubtful
15. The selection of medical professionals is currently based on _______.
[A] candidates’ sensitivity [B] academic achievements
[C] competitive spirit [D] surer values
16. From the passage we can draw the conclusion that _______.
[A] the personality of a child is well established at birth
[B] family influence dominates the shaping of one’s characteristics
[C] the development of one’s personality is due to multiple factors
[D] B-type characteristics can find no place in competitive society
一、快速浏览选项，把握文章主题
根据题干中“examination”, “school”,可知本文的主题一定与学校考试有关。
二、精读各段落，攻克词汇和语法长难句
词汇精解
(1) extent (n.)程度，广度，宽度，长度，限度，面积，范围;to a large ~ 在很大程度上，to some/what/such an/a certain~达到某种程度;
(2) inherent (a.)天生的，固有的，内在的，~ in sb./sth;inherently (adv.) ;
(3) sport (v.)炫耀，夸示， ~ achievements 夸耀成就;(n.)运动;(pl.)运动会
(4) be keen to do sth./on sth./on doing sth./ that渴望做某事，热衷于某事，对……有兴趣，喜欢。如：He is very keen to see his birthplace again.
(5) rejoice (v.)(使)欣喜，(使)高兴
(6) conquer (v.) 战胜，征服;克服，破除(坏习惯);conquest (n.)
(7) disproportionate (a.) 不成比例的;proportionate (a.) 成比例的，均衡的，相称的;
(8) fit (v.) 使适合，使配合，适应，装配，~sth. to sth.与……相称
(9) preoccupation (n.)主要关心的事，全神贯注，抢先占有;preoccupy (v.)
(10) stock (n.)某一类人;祖先，世系，家族;备料，库存，现货;股票，公债
长难句精解
①But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children.
该句的主干是environment must have a profound effect，后面是since引导的原因状语从句，其中又含有if引导的条件从句。分号后“it”指的是competition。
译文：但是环境也应该有深远的影响，因为如果竞争对父母来说很重要，那它也可能成为孩子生活中的一个重要因素。
②One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school , which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution.
此句中主干是one place is school，其中主语One place后是where引导的定语从句，宾语school后是which引导的非限定性定语从句修饰，by its very nature是这一从句中的插入成分，意思是“就其性质而言”。soak up原意是“吸收”，如：Blotting paper soaks up ink.吸墨纸吸收墨水，在此句中表示“培养”。
译文：学校是培养A型孩子的场所，从本质来讲，学校是一个高度竞争性的机构。
③The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A-types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows.
该句的主干是The current passion… produces a two-layer system。主语passion后是介词短语做后置定语，即for making sb. do against sb. or against sth.;宾语system后接的是in which引导的非限定性从句。
译文：目前热衷于让孩子与同学竞争或与时间赛跑造成了一种双重体制。在这种体制中，竞争性的A型学生在某些方面似乎比B型的学生要好。
④By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations.
by far与比较级或是最高级连用时相当于by a large amount or degree，表示“大大地，……得多”之意，如：She is the smartest by far.(她显然最聪明)。Proportionate意思是“成比例的，相称的”;dis-表示“不”，因此disproportionate就是“不合比例的”，考虑上下文disproportionate emphasis应是“过分重视”之意。
译文：学校最糟糕的竞争方式是对考试的过分重视。
⑤If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values.
本句为if引导的虚拟语气，表示与事实相反的情况。句中的preoccupation with sth.意思是“对……专心致志”，如：preoccupation with one’s career对于自己事业的专心致志。
译文：如果学校对学业少强调一些，也许就有更多的时间向孩子传授更重要的价值观念。
三、作答题目，理解文章含义
13.【答案】C
【解析】词义句意题。本题考查A型性格的特征。此题的解题关键是找出出现描述A型性格的词的句子。在第二段首句，出现“one place where children soak up A characteristics is school… which is a highly competitive institution”。本段第三句再次提到“competitive A types”，这表明A型儿童的特征是“competitive”。 因此只要在选项中找到与“competitive”意义相近之词便可以了。competitive意为“好竞争的”，而C选项与之意思很接近，为正确答案。“aggressive”既含褒义，也有贬义，可理解为“进攻性的”、“好斗的”、“积极进取的”。A、B和D选项均与这一含义无关，故排除。
14.【答案】B
【解析】事实细节题。在第三段首句“学校最糟糕的竞争方式是对考试的过分重视”中，作者表示了对考试的否定态度;接着末句直接指出否定它的原因：“在明知有人考试会通不过的情况下(certain knowledge of failure)还要进行竞争，则肯定是有害的”。B选项恰合此意，为正确答案。be bound to 意思是：一定，必定。
而A选项和C选项在文中均未涉及，故排除。D选项与该段第三句的内容不一致。原文并非说考试成绩是否真正反映学生的真实水平或能力值得怀疑，而是说考试这种形式作为一个促使学生竞争的手段是否合适值得进一步探讨。
注意：“certain knowledge of failure”中的“knowledge”并不是知识之意，而是“know”的名词形式，“了解，知道”。
15.【答案】B
【解析】推理判断题。文章末段第二句作者提到… selection for… medicine could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy(选择医疗护理人员时，应该多关注他们是否细心、是否有同情心，而少参照他们的化学成绩)。这里grades有“成绩，分数”的意思。言下之意是当前考虑学业成绩过多。因此，B选项是正确答案。
而A选项正是作者希望受到重视的一个方面，不是现况。C选项是A型学生的特点，但是文中并未说选择医疗工作以此为标准。D选项也是作者希望多加关注的标准。
16.【答案】C
【解析】推理判断题。在文章第一段，作者指出：人的个性在很大程度上是先天决定的;继而用but一词，引出后天环境的影响;在随后的段落中，作者着重分析学校教育环境对个性发展的影响，主张学校不要过分看重竞争，要鼓励孩子多种个性的发展。由此可以推出C选项概括了文章的要点，为正确答案。
A选项与首段第二句谈到的环境对个性的形成也有深刻影响的观点矛盾。B选项中“dominate”一词过于绝对。文中的观点是儿童性格的形成既由先天决定，又有环境影响，未分轻重。D选项无从推知，作者在末段以医务工作为例，只是强调B型性格的人应该被重视，而未指出B型性格的人在社会中无立足之地。
四、 翻译全文，再次巩固复习词汇和语法长难句
人的个性很大程度上取决于遗传—A型父母通常生养出A型子女。但是环境也应该有深远的影响，因为如果竞争对父母来说很重要，那它也可能成为孩子生活中的一个重要因素。
学校是培养A型孩子的场所，从本质来讲，学校是一个高度竞争性的机构。太多的学校遵从“不惜一切代价求胜”的道德标准并以运动成绩来衡量其成功。目前热衷于让孩子与同学竞争或与时间赛跑造成了一种双重体制。在这种体制中，竞争性的A型学生在某些方面似乎比B型的学生要好。对胜利过于执着也会带来危险的后果。请记住，第一位马拉松运动员菲底庇德斯在说完“欢庆吧，我们征服了!”之后几秒钟便倒地丧生。
学校最糟糕的竞争方式是对考试的过分重视。能允许学生专注于所擅长之事的学校实为罕见。通过考试竞争这种做法的好处本身有点值得怀疑，但在明确知晓有人会在考试中失败的前提下仍进行竞争是肯定有害的。
显然，让所有A型儿童都转变为B型既不现实也并不必要。世界需要不同的类型，学校的重要职责就是要努力使儿童的个性适合于他将来的职业。这是最高水平的教育经营。
如果学校少强调一下学业，也许就有更多的时间向孩子传授更重要的价值观念。也许对照料性职业的人员选择，尤其是医务工作，可以少参照他们的化学成绩，而要更多地考虑他们的敏感性和同情心。完全从A型人中挑选医生肯定是错误的。B型人也很重要，应该受到鼓励。