考研英语阅读理解模拟24.pdf

模［拟］考研英语阅读理解模拟24

Directions:Readthefollowingfourtets.Answerthe

questionsbeloweachtetbychoosingA,B,CorD.

Americanstodaydontplaceaveryhighvalueonintellect.Our

heroesareathletes,entertainers,andentrepreneurs,notscholars.Even

ourschoolsarewherewesendourchildrentogetapracticaleducation

一nottopursueknowledgeforthesakeofknowledge.Symptomsof

pervasiveantiintellectualisminourschoolsarentdifficultto

find.

uSchoolshavealwaysbeeninasocietywherepracticalismore

importantthanintellectual,“sayseducationwriterDianeRavitch.

“Schoolscouldbeacounterbalance.Razitchslatestbook,LeftBack:

ACenturyofFailedSchoolReforms,tracestherootsofanti

intellectualisminourschools,concludingtheyareanythingbuta

counterbalancetotheAmericandistasteforintellectualpursuits.

Buttheycouldandshouldbe.Encouragingkidstorejectthelifeof

themindleavesthemvulnerabletoexploitationandcontrol.Withoutthe

abilitytothinkcritically,todefendtheirideasandunderstandthe

ideasofothers,theycannotfullyparticipateinourdemocracy.

Continuingalongthispath,sayswriterEarlShorris,“Wewillbecome

asecondratecountry.Wewillhavealesscivilsociety.”

Intellectisresentedasaformofpowerorprivilege,“writes

historianandprofessorRichardHofstadterinAntiIntellectualismin

Americanlife,aPulitzerPrizewinningbookontherootsofanti

intellectualisminUSpolitics,religion,andeducation.Fromthe

beginningofourhistory,saysHofstadter,ourdemocraticandpopulist

urgeshavedrivenustorejectanythingthatsmellsofelitism.

Practicality,commonsense,andnativeintelligencehavebeenconsidered

morenoble