A group of Labor MPs, among them Yvette Cooper, are bringing in the new year with a call to institute a UK “town of culture” award. The proposal is that it should sit alongside the existing city of culture title, which was held by Hull in 2017, and has been awarded to Coventry for 2021. Cooper and her colleagues argue that the success of the crown for Hull, where it brought in £220m of investment and an avalanche of arts, ought not to be confined to cities. Britain’s towns, it is true, are not prevented from applying, but they generally lack the resources to put together a bid to beat their bigger competitors. A town of culture award could, it is argued, become an annual event, attracting funding and creating jobs.
Some might see the proposal as a booby prize for the fact that Britain is no longer able to apply for the much more prestigious title of European capital of culture, a sought-after award bagged by Glasgow in 1990 and Liverpool in 2008. A cynic might speculate that the UK is on the verge of disappearing into an endless fever of self-celebration in its desperation to reinvent itself for the post-Brexit world: after town of culture, who knows what will follow—village of culture? Suburb of culture? Hamlet of culture?
It is also wise to recall that such titles are not a cure-all. A badly run “year of culture” washes in and washes out of a place like the tide, bringing prominence for a spell but leaving no lasting benefits to the community. The really successful holders of such titles are those that do a great deal more than fill hotel bedrooms and bring in high-profile arts events and good press for a year. They transform the aspirations of the people who live there; they nudge the self-image of the city into a bolder and more optimistic light. It is hard to get right, and requires a remarkable degree of vision, as well as cooperation between city authorities, the private sector, community groups and cultural organizations. But it can be done: Glasgow’s year as European capital of culture can certainly be seen as one of a complex series of factors that have turned the city into the powerhouse of art, music and theatre that it remains today.
A “town of culture” could be not just about the arts but about honoring a town’s peculiarities—helping sustain its high street, supporting local facilities and above all celebrating its people. Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, should welcome this positive, hope-filled proposal, and turn it into action.
1. Cooper and her colleagues argue that a “town of culture” award could ________.
2. According to Paragraph 2, the proposal might be regarded by some as ________.
3. The author suggests that a title holder is successful only if it ________.
4. Glasgow is mentioned in Paragraph 3 to present ________.
5. What is the author’s attitude towards the proposal?
问题1选项
A.consolidate the town-city ties in Britain
B.promote cooperation-among Britain’s towns
C.increase the economic strength of Britain’s towns
D.focus Britain’s limited resources on cultural events
问题2选项
A.a sensible compromise
B.a self-deceiving attempt
C.an eye-catching bonus
D.an inaccessible target
问题3选项
A.endeavors to maintain its image
B.meets the aspirations of its people
C.brings its local arts to prominence
D.commits to its long-term growth
问题4选项
A.a contrasting case
B.a supporting example
C.a background story
D.a related topic
问题5选项
A.Skeptical.
B.Objective.
C.Favorable.
D.Critical.
第1题:C
第2题:B
第3题:D
第4题:B
第5题:C
第1题:
【整体分析】
来源:The Guardian《卫报》于2018年12月30日刊登的文章The Guardian view on Yvette Cooper’s ‘town of culture’ proposal: a fine idea(《卫报》对伊薇特·库珀的“文化小镇”提案的看法:一个好主意)。
主题:本文主要讨论了由工党议员提出的一项提案,即在英国设立一个“文化小镇”奖项。该提案认为,这一奖项可以带来投资和创造就业机会,同时也可以颂扬一个城镇的特色和它的人民。尽管这项提案引发了一些争议,并且需要非凡远见和不同团体之间的合作,但作者仍建议文化大臣应该支持这一提案。
结构:
【选项释义】
Cooper and her colleagues argue that a “town of culture” award could ________. 库珀和她的同事认为,“文化小镇”奖可以________。
A. consolidate the town-city ties in Britain A. 巩固英国城镇之间的联系
B. promote cooperation-among Britain’s towns B. 促进英国城镇间的合作
C. increase the economic strength of Britain’s towns C. 增加英国城镇的经济实力
D. focus Britain’s limited resources on cultural events D. 将英国有限的资源集中在文化活动上
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Cooper and her colleagues argue可以定位到文章第一段最后一句“他们认为,文化小镇奖可以成为一项年度盛事,吸引资金并创造就业机会(attracting funding and creating jobs)”,吸引资金和创造就业机会有利于经济的发展,所以库珀和她的同事认为“文化小镇”奖可以提高经济实力。因此C选项“增加英国城镇的经济实力”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“巩固英国城镇之间的联系”和B选项“促进英国城镇间的合作”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
D选项“将英国有限的资源集中在文化活动上”,由Britain’s towns, it is true, are not prevented from applying, but they generally lack the resources to put together a bid to beat their bigger competitors.(的确,英国的城镇并没有被限制申请,但它们普遍缺乏资源来争取奖项,难以击败更强的竞争对手。)可知,此处limited resources是指英国城镇缺乏争取奖项的资源,而不是英国将有限的资源集中在文化活动上,属于偷换概念。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to Paragraph 2, the proposal might be regarded by some as ________. 根据第2段,该提案可能被一些人认为是________。
A. a sensible compromise A. 一个明智的妥协
B. a self-deceiving attempt B. 一个自欺欺人的尝试
C. an eye-catching bonus C. 吸引眼球的奖金
D. an inaccessible target D. 一个不可触及的目标
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词the proposal might be regarded可以定位到文章第二段第一句“有些人可能会认为这个提案是一个安慰奖(booby prize)”,接着提到“怀疑者可能会猜测,英国正处于消失在无休止的自我庆祝(self-celebration)狂热之中的边缘”,说明一些人认为该提案只是英国的自娱自乐,给自己颁的安慰奖,实际上是徒劳的。因此B选项“一个自欺欺人的尝试”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“一个明智的妥协”,C选项“吸引眼球的奖金”和D选项“一个不可触及的目标”在文中均没有提及,属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
The author suggests that a title holder is successful only if it ________. 作者提出,称号获得者只有________才算成功。
A. endeavors to maintain its image A. 努力维持自己的形象
B. meets the aspirations of its people B. 满足其人民的愿望
C. brings its local arts to prominence C. 使当地的艺术更加突出
D. commits to its long-term growth D. 致力于其长期发展
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词a title holder is successful可以定位到文章第三段第三句“真正成功的这类头衔的获得者做了更多的事情(do a great deal more),而不仅仅是在一年中填补酒店客房,带来备受瞩目的艺术活动和良好的媒体报道。它们改变了当地人的愿景(transform the aspirations);将这座城市的自我形象推向了更自信、更乐观的方向(a bolder and more optimistic light)”,上一句提到这类称号的问题是“但没有给社区留下持久的利益(lasting benefits)”,所以成功的称号获得者不满足于一时的名声和利益,而是追求长期持久的发展,改变当地人的愿景和城市的自我形象。因此D选项“致力于其长期发展”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“努力维持自己的形象”,由nudge the self-image of the city into a bolder and more optimistic light(将这座城市的自我形象推向了更自信、更乐观的方向)可知,文章说的是将自我形象变得更自信乐观,而不是维持原来的形象,属于曲解原文;
B选项“满足其人民的愿望”,由They transform the aspirations of the people who live there(它们改变了当地人的愿景)可知,是改变人们的愿望而不是满足,属于曲解原文;
C选项“使当地的艺术更加突出”,由more than fill hotel bedrooms and bring in high-profile arts events and good press for a year(而不仅仅是在一年中填补酒店客房,带来备受瞩目的艺术活动和良好的媒体报道)可知,突出艺术是追求短期利益的做法,属于张冠李戴。
第4题:
【选项释义】
Glasgow is mentioned in Paragraph 3 to present ________. 第三段中提到格拉斯哥是为了介绍________。
A. a contrasting case A. 一个相反的例子
B. a supporting example B. 一个支持性的例子
C. a background story C. 一个背景故事
D. a related topic D. 一个相关的话题
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Glasgow可以定位到文章第三段最后一句“格拉斯哥被评为欧洲文化之都的那一年,当然可以被视为一系列复杂因素的结果,这些因素使这座城市成为了艺术、音乐和戏剧的重地(have turned the city into the powerhouse of art, music and theatre),至今仍然如此(remains today)”,格拉斯哥获奖后的积极影响这一例子是为了论证上一句的观点“但这是可以做到的(it can be done)”。因此B选项“一个支持性的例子”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“一个相反的例子”,格拉斯哥的例子证明了上文的观点,而不是提出反例,属于反向干扰;
C选项“一个背景故事”,文章举例是为了论证上文的观点,而不是给出背景,属于曲解原文;
D选项“一个相关的话题”描述过于笼统,不能准确说明例子的作用,属于曲解原文。
第5题:
【选项释义】
What is the author’s attitude towards the proposal? 作者对该提案的态度是什么?
A. Skeptical. A. 怀疑的。
B. Objective. B. 客观的。
C. Favorable. C. 支持的。
D. Critical. D. 批判的。
【考查点】观点态度题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词the author’s attitude可以定位到文章最后一段最后一句“文化大臣杰里米·赖特应该欢迎这一积极的、充满希望的提案(welcome this positive, hope-filled proposal),并将其付诸行动(turn it into action)”,说明作者认为该提案是积极有利的,对其持支持态度。因此C选项“支持的。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“怀疑的。”和D选项“批判的。”,作者对提案的态度是积极正面的,而不是负面的,属于反向干扰;
B选项“客观的。”,文章中提到对该提案的争议是别人的看法,而不是作者的态度,作者只做出了正面的评价,属于曲解原文。
【重点词汇】
proposal /prəˈpəʊzl/ n. 提议;建议;动议
avalanche /ˈævəlɑːnʃ/ n. 雪崩;山崩
booby /ˈbuːbi/ n. 笨蛋;傻瓜
prestigious /preˈstɪdʒəs/ adj. 有威望的;声誉高的
cynic /ˈsɪnɪk/ n. 悲观者;怀疑者
hamlet /ˈhæmlət/ n. 小村庄
nudge /nʌdʒ/ v. 轻推;推动
powerhouse /ˈpaʊəhaʊs/ n. 强大的集团(或组织)
peculiarity /pɪˌkjuːliˈærəti/ n. 特色;特点
sought-after 受青睐的
on the verge of 濒临于;接近于
cure-all 万灵药;灵丹妙药
【长难句分析】
1. Cooper and her colleagues argue that the success of the crown for Hull, where it brought in £220m of investment and an avalanche of arts, ought not to be confined to cities.
【结构分析】
【补充分析】
① where引导非限制性定语从句修饰the crown for Hull,用来补充说明赫尔市获奖的信息,表示它为赫尔带来了2.2亿英镑的投资和纷至沓来的艺术作品。
【参考译文】库珀和她的同事们认为,赫尔市获奖的成功带来了2.2亿英镑的投资和纷至沓来的艺术作品,不应该局限于城市。
2. A cynic might speculate that the UK is on the verge of disappearing into an endless fever of self-celebration in its desperation to reinvent itself for the post-Brexit world: after town of culture, who knows what will follow—village of culture? Suburb of culture? Hamlet of culture?
【结构分析】
【补充分析】
① in its desperation to reinvent itself for the post-Brexit world作状语,解释了英国自我庆祝行为背后的动机,以及为什么怀疑者可能会猜测英国正消失在自我庆祝中;
② village of culture? Suburb of culture? Hamlet of culture?是插入语,用来补充说明在文化小镇之后可能会出现哪些奖项,这些更小的地区代表着奖项重要性的下降,体现了怀疑者认为奖项是没有意义的观点。
【参考译文】怀疑者可能会猜测,英国正处于消失在无休止的自我庆祝狂热之中的边缘,它绝望地为脱欧后的世界重塑自己的形象:在文化小镇之后,谁知道接下来会是什么——文化乡村?文化郊区?文化小村庄?
【全文翻译】
包括伊薇特•库珀在内的一群工党议员在新年到来之际呼吁设立一个英国“文化小镇”奖。该提案认为,它应该与现有的文化之城称号并列,赫尔市于2017年获得该称号,考文垂市将于2021年被授予。库珀和她的同事们认为,赫尔市获奖的成功带来了2.2亿英镑的投资和纷至沓来的艺术作品,不应该局限于城市。的确,英国的城镇并没有被限制申请,但它们普遍缺乏资源来争取奖项,难以击败更强的竞争对手。他们认为,文化小镇奖可以成为一项年度盛事,吸引资金并创造就业机会。
有些人可能会认为这个提案是一个安慰奖,因为英国再也不能申请更有声望的欧洲文化之都的称号,这一备受追捧的奖项由格拉斯哥于1990年和利物浦于2008年获得。怀疑者可能会猜测,英国正处于消失在无休止的自我庆祝狂热之中的边缘,它绝望地为脱欧后的世界重塑自己的形象:在文化小镇之后,谁知道接下来会是什么——文化乡村?文化郊区?文化小村庄?
同样明智的是记住,这类称号并非包治百病。一个经营不善的“文化年”活动就像潮水一样涌进涌出,带来一时的名声,但没有给社区留下持久的利益。真正成功的这类头衔的获得者做了更多的事情,而不仅仅是在一年中填补酒店客房,带来备受瞩目的艺术活动和良好的媒体报道。它们改变了当地人的愿景;将这座城市的自我形象推向了更自信、更乐观的方向。这很难做到,需要非凡的远见,以及城市当局、私营部门、社区团体和文化组织之间的合作。但这是可以做到的:格拉斯哥被评为欧洲文化之都的那一年,当然可以被视为一系列复杂因素的结果,这些因素使这座城市成为了艺术、音乐和戏剧的重地,至今仍然如此。
一个“文化小镇”不仅仅是关乎艺术,还关乎颂扬一个小镇的独特性——帮助维持它的商业街,支持当地的设施,最重要的是赞美它的人民。文化大臣杰里米•赖特应该欢迎这一积极的、充满希望的提案,并将其付诸行动。