Section C: Reading Comprehension

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

It may sound surprising, but you don't have to be interested in fashion, or even in history, to enjoy Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History. I happen to be interested in both, and ended up enjoying the book for completely different reasons.

Richard Thompson Ford is a law professor, and you probably won't forget that for even one page. His carefully reasoned arguments, packed with examples, sound almost like reading a court opinion, only maybe wordier. You will probably never think of fashion as a trifle again.

Ford's thesis is that the best way to understand what particular fashions meant in any given era is to look at the restrictions placed on them. Through this lens, he shows us that the first laws passed in the 1200s to ensure that only the nobility were allowed to wear certain fabrics, colors and ornaments reflected the rise of the middle class, who were now able to imitate some of these fashions. The status of the upper classes was threatened: fashion was a tool to preserve it.

Ford takes the reader through the evolution of fashion while examining the underlying motivations of status: sex, power, and personality, which, he assumes, influenced all innovations in fashion in the past and which continue to influence us today.

His writing is more than a little dense — dense with research, clauses, and precise adjectives and nouns. But there's also humor and enough interesting episodes to make the writing appealing. No one is spared his sharp analysis: not the easy targets of 19th century women's crippling fashions nor the modern uniforms of Silicon Valley T-shirts.

But the greatest strength of this book (on fashion!) is its intellectual profoundness. Ford asks us to question unconscious beliefs, to realize that we almost never do so, to understand that the simplest choices are charged with meaning, and yet that meaning can and does change all the time. Consider the fact that a 1918 catalog insisted that boys and girls be dressed in the appropriate color. We believe our thinking today is evolved. Ford shows us it's not.

46. What does the author think of the book Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History?

A) It is read by people for entirely different reasons.

B) It is meant for those interested in fashion history.

C) It makes enjoyable as well as informative reading.

D) It converts fashion into something for deliberation.

47. How can people best understand a particular fashion in an era, according to Ford?

A) By examining the restraints imposed on it.

B) By looking at what the nobility were wearing.

C) By glancing at its fabrics, colors, and ornaments.

D) By doing a survey of the upper and middle classes.

48. What was the aim of the first laws passed regarding fashion in the 1200s?

A) To facilitate the rise of the middle class.

B) To loosen restrictions on dress codes.

C) To help initiate some novel fashions.

D) To preserve the status of the nobles.

49. What does the author think of Ford's writing?

A) It uses comparison and contrast in describing fashions of different eras.

B) It makes heavy reading but is not lacking in humor or appeal.

C) It is filled with interesting episodes to spare readers intolerable boredom.

D) It is characteristic of academics in presenting arguments.

50. What does the author say is the greatest strength of Ford's book?

A) Plentiful information.

B) Meaningful choices.

C) Evolved thinking.

D) Intellectual depth.

Passage Two

The art of persuasion means convincing others to agree with your point of view or to follow your course of action. For some of us, persuasion is an instinctive quality and the power of influencing comes naturally. For the rest of us, persuasion skills can be learned and developed over time.

Employers place a great value on employees with persuasion skills because they can impact several aspects of job performance. Besides, teamwork and leadership rely heavily on the power of persuasion to get things done. Without persuasion skills, employees may not be as committed to or convinced of the importance of an organization's vision and long-term mission. Effective use of persuasion skills will not only help get your coworkers excited about your ideas, it'll also help you motivate them to achieve a common goal.

In order to learn the art of persuasion at the workplace, you need to understand how to handle conflicts and reach agreements. Good communication is the first step in effective persuasion, but logic and reasoning are just as important. Before you can get somebody on-board with your goal, you should help them understand why they should pursue it. Using visual aids to back up your ideas can help communicate your ideas better and make compelling arguments so your listeners will come to a logical choice and become fully committed to your ideas and plans.

Successful persuasion skills are based on your ability to have positive interactions and maintain meaningful relationships with people. In order to sustain those relationships, you must be able to work in their best interests as well. Your coworkers are more likely to agree with you when they succeed alongside you. The more they achieve and the greater progress they make, the more they trust your judgement and strength.

We persuade and get persuaded every day — we're either convincing or being convinced. A vast majority of people prefer collaboration and teamwork over traditional organizational structures, no one likes to be told what to do or to be pushed around. Therefore, organizations and leaders should adopt powerful persuasion skills to bring about necessary changes.

51. What does the author say about the ability to be persuasive in the first paragraph?

A) People may either be born with it or be able to cultivate it.

B) It proves crucial in making others follow one's course of action.

C) It refers to the natural and instinctive power of influencing one's coworkers.

D) People may view it as both a means to convince others and an art of communication.

52. Why are persuasion skills greatly valued in the workplace?

A) They enable employees to be convinced of their long-term gains.

B) They enable employees to trust their leaders unconditionally.

C) They help motivate coworkers to strive for a common goal.

D) They help an organization to broaden its vision effectively.

53. What should people do to learn the art of persuasion at the workplace?

A) Acquire effective communication skills.

B) Avoid getting involved in conflicts with others.

C) Understand the reason for pursuing their goals.

D) Commit themselves fully to their ideas and plans.

54. When are you more likely to succeed in persuading your coworkers?

A) When they are convinced you work in their interests while sacrificing your own.

B) When they become aware of the potential strength of the judgements you make.

C) When they become aware of the meaningful relationships you keep with them.

D) When they are convinced they will make achievements together with you.

55. Why are organizations and leaders advised to adopt powerful persuasion skills to bring about necessary changes?

A) To convince employees of the value of collaboration.

B) To allow for the preferences of most people of today.

C) To improve on traditional organizational structures.

D) To adapt to employees' ever-changing working styles.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: Review of Dress Codes

46. D。解析：题干问作者觉得《着装规范》这本书怎么样。定位第一段和第二段：作者在第一段提到读这本书的理由不同，第二段指出作者 Ford 的写作风格像法庭意见书，使得读者“以后绝不会再把时尚看作一件小事 (trifle)”。这意味着作者把时尚变成了需要深思熟虑的事物。对应选项 D (It converts fashion into something for deliberation 它把时尚转化为需要深思熟虑的事物)。

47. A。解析：题干问根据 Ford 的观点，人们如何最好地理解某个时代的特定时尚。定位第三段第一句：Ford's thesis is that the best way to understand... is to look at the restrictions placed on them.（Ford的论点是...最好的方法是看施加在它们上的限制）。restrictions 对应 restraints，placed on 对应 imposed on。对应选项 A (By examining the restraints imposed on it 通过检查施加在它上面的限制)。

48. D。解析：题干问1200年代通过的第一部法律的目的是什么。定位第三段最后两句：1200年代的法律规定只有贵族才能穿某些衣服...The status of the upper classes was threatened: fashion was a tool to preserve it.（上层阶级的地位受到威胁：时尚是维护其地位的工具）。the upper classes 即 the nobles。对应选项 D (To preserve the status of the nobles 为了维护贵族的地位)。

49. B。解析：题干问作者对 Ford 写作手法的看法。定位第五段：His writing is more than a little dense... But there's also humor and enough interesting episodes to make the writing appealing.（他的文字不只是一点点难懂/沉重... 但也有幽默和有趣的插曲让文章有吸引力）。dense 对应 heavy reading，appealing 对应 appeal。对应选项 B (It makes heavy reading but is not lacking in humor or appeal 这本书读起来很沉重，但不乏幽默感或吸引力)。

50. D。解析：题干问这本书最大的优势是什么。定位最后一段首句：But the greatest strength of this book... is its intellectual profoundness.（但这本书最大的优势是其思想的深刻性）。profoundness 对应 depth。对应选项 D (Intellectual depth 思想深度)。

Passage Two: The Art of Persuasion

51. A。解析：题干问第一段中关于说服力的能力作者说了什么。定位第一段第二/三句：For some of us, persuasion is an instinctive quality... For the rest of us, persuasion skills can be learned and developed...（对于我们中的一些人来说，说服力是一种本能/天生的素质... 对于我们其余的人来说，说服技巧可以通过学习和培养...）。instinctive 对应 born with it，learned and developed 对应 cultivate it。对应选项 A (People may either be born with it or be able to cultivate it 人们可能天生具备这种能力，也可能后天培养这种能力)。

52. C。解析：题干问为什么职场中说服力受到高度重视。定位第二段最后一句：Effective use of persuasion skills will not only help get your coworkers excited about your ideas, it'll also help you motivate them to achieve a common goal.（不仅帮助同事对你的想法感到兴奋，还会帮助你激励他们实现共同目标）。对应选项 C (They help motivate coworkers to strive for a common goal 它们帮助激励同事为共同目标奋斗)。

53. A。解析：题干问人们应该做什么来学习职场上的说服力。定位第三段第二句：Good communication is the first step in effective persuasion...（良好的沟通是有效说服的第一步）。Good communication 对应 effective communication skills。对应选项 A (Acquire effective communication skills 获得有效的沟通技巧)。

54. D。解析：题干问你何时更有可能成功说服同事。定位第四段第三句：Your coworkers are more likely to agree with you when they succeed alongside you.（当同事与你一起成功时，他们更可能同意你的观点）。succeed alongside you 对应 make achievements together with you。对应选项 D (When they are convinced they will make achievements together with you 当他们确信他们会和你一起取得成就时)。

55. B。解析：题干问为什么建议组织和领导者采用强大的说服技巧来带来必要的改变。定位最后一段：A vast majority of people prefer collaboration and teamwork... no one likes to be told what to do or to be pushed around. Therefore, organizations and leaders should adopt...（绝大多数人更喜欢合作和团队合作...没人喜欢被命令或被摆布。因此，组织和领导者应该采用...）。这意味着采用说服技巧是为了迎合当今大多数人的偏好（更喜欢合作，不喜欢被命令）。对应选项 B (To allow for the preferences of most people of today 为了考虑到当今大多数人的偏好)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• happen to do：碰巧做...（I happen to be interested in both）
• end up doing：最终成为，以...告终（ended up enjoying the book）
• place restrictions on：对...施加限制（look at the restrictions placed on them）
• more than a little：极其，非常（表示强调）（His writing is more than a little dense）
• be charged with：充满（某种情感或意义），被赋予（simplest choices are charged with meaning）
• get somebody on-board：让某人参与，让某人赞同并支持（get somebody on-board with your goal）
• back up：支持，证实（Using visual aids to back up your ideas）
• alongside somebody：在某人旁边，与某人一起（when they succeed alongside you）
• push around：摆布，欺负（to be told what to do or to be pushed around）

【亮点句型解析】

• The more... the more... (越...就越...)：
  "The more they achieve and the greater progress they make, the more they trust your judgement and strength."
  （他们取得的成就越多，进步越大，就越信任你的判断和实力。）四六级作文万能提分句型，逻辑极其严密，展示了两个平行维度的正向相关性。
• No one is spared... not... nor... (双重否定与排比强调)：
  "No one is spared his sharp analysis: not the easy targets of 19th century women's crippling fashions nor the modern uniforms of Silicon Valley T-shirts."
  （没有人能逃脱他尖锐的分析：无论是作为容易攻击目标的19世纪女性那致残的时尚，还是现代硅谷T恤的制服，都不例外。）`No one is spared` 定下基调，冒号后使用 `not... nor...` 举出从古至今两个极端的例子，句式极具张力和节奏感，非常适合用于议论文中罗列证据。