Appearance
原文
In spite of “endless talk of difference,” American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. There is “the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of deference” characteristic of popular culture. People are absorbed into “a culture of consumption” launched by the 19th-century department stores that offered “vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere.” Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite these were stores “anyone could enter, regardless of class or background. This turned shopping into a public and democratic act.” The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization.
Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous. Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today’s immigration is neither at unprecedented levels nor resistant to assimilation. In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of the population; in 1900, 13.6 percent. In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10 years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000. Now, consider three indices of assimilation – language, home ownership and intermarriage.
The 1990 Census revealed that “a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English ‘well’ or ‘very well’ after ten years of residence.” The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English. “By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families.” Hence the description of America as a “graveyard” for languages. By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrived before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics “have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S.-born whites and blacks.” By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.
Rodriguez notes that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet “some Americans fear that immigrants living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation’s assimilative power.”
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America? Indeed. It is big enough to have a bit of everything. But particularly when viewed against America’s turbulent past, today’s social indices hardly suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
题目
1- The word “homogenizing” (Line 2, Paragraph 1) most probably means
[A] identifying.
[B] associating.
[C] assimilating.
[D] monopolizing.
2- According to the author, the department stores of the 19th century
[A] played a role in the spread of popular culture.
[B] became intimate shops for common consumers.
[C] satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite.
[D] owed its emergence to the culture of consumption.
3- The text suggests that immigrants now in the U.S.
[A] are resistant to homogenization.
[B] exert a great influence on American culture.
[C] are hardly a threat to the common culture.
[D] constitute the majority of the population.
4- Why are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks mentioned in Paragraph 5?
[A] To prove their popularity around the world.
[B] To reveal the public’s fear of immigrants.
[C] To give examples of successful immigrants.
[D] To show the powerful influence of American culture.
5- In the author’s opinion, the absorption of immigrants into American society is
[A] rewarding.
[B] successful.
[C] fruitless.
[D] harmful.原文翻译
The first paragraph：
In spite of "endless talk of difference," American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people.
尽管"无休止地谈论差异"，美国社会仍是一个令人惊叹的同化机器。 生词： homogenizing：
v.使同化，使均匀（homogenize 的现在分词）adj.均质的短语： in spite of：尽管endless talk of：无休止的谈论
There is "the democratizing uniformity of dress and discourse, and the casualness and absence of deference" characteristic of popular culture.
流行文化的特征是"着装和言谈的民主化统一，以及随意性和缺乏恭敬"。 生词： uniformity：
n.统一性，一致性；制服discourse：n.谈话，论述；演讲v.论述，交谈deference：n.尊重，敬重；顺从短语： absence of：缺乏，没有characteristic of：是…的特征
People are absorbed into "a culture of consumption" launched by the 19th-century department stores that offered "vast arrays of goods in an elegant atmosphere."
人们被吸收进"消费文化"中，这种文化由19世纪的百货商店发起，它们"在优雅的氛围中提供琳琅满目的商品"。 生词： consumption：
n.消费，消耗；肺病elegant：adj.优雅的，高雅的；精美的短语： be absorbed into：被吸收进a culture of consumption：消费文化vast arrays of：大量的，琳琅满目的
Instead of intimate shops catering to a knowledgeable elite these were stores "anyone could enter, regardless of class or background."
这些商店不同于那些迎合知识精英的私密店铺，而是"任何人都可以进入，无论阶级或背景如何"。 生词： intimate：
adj.亲密的；私密的；精通的n.知己elite：n.精英，上层人士adj.精英的短语： instead of：而不是cater to：迎合，满足…的需求regardless of：不管，不顾
This turned shopping into a public and democratic act.
这使得购物变成了一种公共且民主的行为。 生词： democratic：
adj.民主的，民主党的短语： turn...into...：把…变成…
The mass media, advertising and sports are other forces for homogenization.
大众媒体、广告和体育是同化的其他力量。 生词： homogenization：
n.同化，均匀化
The second paragraph：
Immigrants are quickly fitting into this common culture, which may not be altogether elevating but is hardly poisonous.
移民正在快速融入这种共同文化，这或许不完全是有提升作用的，但几乎没有什么害处。 生词： immigrant：
n.移民，侨民adj.移民的elevating：adj.提升的，令人振奋的v.提升（elevate 的现在分词）poisonous：adj.有毒的，恶毒的短语： fit into：融入，适应common culture：共同文化
Writing for the National Immigration Forum, Gregory Rodriguez reports that today's immigration is neither at unprecedented levels nor resistant to assimilation.
为"国家移民论坛"撰稿的格雷戈里·罗德里格斯报道说，如今的移民既未达到前所未有的水平，也不抵制同化。 生词： unprecedented：
adj.前所未有的，史无前例的assimilation：n.同化，吸收短语： neither...nor...：既不…也不…be resistant to：抵制，抗拒
In 1998 immigrants were 9.8 percent of the population; in 1900, 13.6 percent.
1998年移民占人口的9.8%；而1900年为13.6%。
In the 10 years prior to 1990, 3.1 immigrants arrived for every 1,000 residents; in the 10 years prior to 1890, 9.2 for every 1,000.
在1990年之前的10年里，每1000名居民中有3.1名移民到来；而在1890年之前的10年里，每1000名居民中有9.2名。 生词： prior：
adj.先前的，优先的adv.在前resident：n.居民，住户adj.居住的短语： prior to：在…之前
Now, consider three indices of assimilation – language, home ownership and intermarriage.
现在，考虑同化的三个指标——语言、住房拥有率和通婚。 生词： indices：
n.指数；指标（index 的复数）intermarriage：n.通婚，异族结婚短语： home ownership：住房拥有率
The third paragraph：
The 1990 Census revealed that "a majority of immigrants from each of the fifteen most common countries of origin spoke English 'well' or 'very well' after ten years of residence."
1990年的人口普查显示，"来自15个最主要来源国的大多数移民在居住十年后英语说得'好'或'非常好'"。 生词： census：
n.人口普查，统计residence：n.居住，住所；居住资格短语： a majority of：大多数countries of origin：原籍国，来源国
The children of immigrants tend to be bilingual and proficient in English.
移民的子女往往能使用双语，并且精通英语。 生词： bilingual：
adj.双语的，能说两种语言的n.通两种语言的人proficient：adj.熟练的，精通的n.专家，能手短语： tend to：倾向于，往往
"By the third generation, the original language is lost in the majority of immigrant families."
"到了第三代，大多数移民家庭中原本的语言已经消失。" 生词： original：
adj.最初的，原始的；独创的n.原作短语： the majority of：大多数
Hence the description of America as a "graveyard" for languages.
因此有人把美国描述为语言的"墓地"。 生词： graveyard：
n.墓地，坟场短语： description of...as...：把…描述为…
By 1996 foreign-born immigrants who had arrived before 1970 had a home ownership rate of 75.6 percent, higher than the 69.8 percent rate among native-born Americans.
到1996年，1970年之前到达的外国出生移民的住房拥有率为75.6%，高于美国本土出生居民的69.8%。 生词： native-born：
adj.本地出生的，土生土长的短语： home ownership rate：住房拥有率
The fourth paragraph：
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics "have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S.-born whites and blacks."
外国出生的亚裔和拉美裔"通婚率高于美国出生的白人和黑人"。 生词： Hispanic：
n.拉美裔人adj.西班牙的，拉美裔的短语： higher rates of：更高的…率
By the third generation, one third of Hispanic women are married to non-Hispanics, and 41 percent of Asian-American women are married to non-Asians.
到了第三代，三分之一的拉美裔女性嫁给了非拉美裔，41%的亚裔美国女性嫁给了非亚裔。 短语： be married to：
与…结婚one third of：三分之一的
The fifth paragraph：
Rodriguez notes that children in remote villages around the world are fans of superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Garth Brooks, yet "some Americans fear that immigrants living within the United States remain somehow immune to the nation's assimilative power."
罗德里格斯指出，世界各地偏远村庄的孩子们都是阿诺德·施瓦辛格和加斯·布鲁克斯等超级巨星的粉丝，然而"一些美国人担心，生活在美国境内的移民在某种程度上对这个国家的同化力量免疫"。 生词： remote：
adj.遥远的，偏远的；疏远的superstar：n.超级巨星，超级明星immune：adj.免疫的，不受影响的；豁免的assimilative：adj.同化的，吸收的短语： remote villages：偏远村庄be immune to：对…免疫；不受…影响
The sixth paragraph：
Are there divisive issues and pockets of seething anger in America? Indeed.
美国是否存在分裂问题和暗流涌动的愤怒？确实存在。 生词： divisive：
adj.分裂的，造成不和的seething：adj.沸腾的，内心充满（愤怒等）的v.沸腾（seethe 的现在分词）短语： pockets of：零星的，小范围的
It is big enough to have a bit of everything.
这个国家足够大，什么情况都有一点。
But particularly when viewed against America's turbulent past, today's social indices hardly suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment.
但尤其是与美国动荡的过去相比，今天的社会指标几乎不能表明存在一个黑暗且恶化的社会环境。 生词： turbulent：
adj.动荡的，骚乱的；湍流的deteriorating：adj.恶化的v.恶化（deteriorate 的现在分词）短语： view against：与…对比来看social indices：社会指标
背诵
一、核心生词
| 单词 | 释义 | 考点提示 |
|---|---|---|
| homogenize | v.使同化，使均匀 | homogenizing 为现在分词作定语 |
| uniformity | n.统一性，一致性 | ≠ unity（团结） |
| discourse | n.谈话，论述；演讲 | academic discourse 学术论述 |
| consumption | n.消费，消耗 | a culture of consumption 消费文化 |
| elite | n.精英，上层人士 | a knowledgeable elite 知识精英 |
| immigrant | n.移民，侨民 | ≠ emigrant（移出者） |
| unprecedented | adj.前所未有的 | un- + precedent（先例） |
| assimilation | n.同化，吸收 | be resistant to assimilation 抵制同化 |
| census | n.人口普查 | The 1990 Census 1990年人口普查 |
| bilingual | adj.双语的 | bi-（双）+ lingual（语言的） |
| proficient | adj.熟练的，精通的 | be proficient in 精通… |
| intermarriage | n.通婚，异族结婚 | inter-（之间）+ marriage |
| Hispanic | n./adj.拉美裔（的） | 指西班牙语裔 |
| immune | adj.免疫的，不受影响的 | be immune to 对…免疫 |
| divisive | adj.分裂的，造成不和的 | divisive issues 分裂性问题 |
| turbulent | adj.动荡的，骚乱的 | turbulent past 动荡的过去 |
| deteriorating | adj.恶化的 | ≠ improving（改善的） |
二、选项辨析
1. 词义辨析（第1题）
| 选项 | 释义 | 区别 |
|---|---|---|
| homogenizing | 使同化 | ✅ 正确答案，与后文 assimilation 呼应 |
| identifying | 识别，确认 | ≠ 同化 |
| associating | 联系，联合 | ≠ 同化 |
| monopolizing | 垄断 | ≠ 同化 |
2. 事实判断（第2题）
| 选项 | 释义 | 判断 |
|---|---|---|
| played a role in the spread of popular culture | 在传播流行文化中发挥作用 | ✅ 正确，百货商店推动了消费文化 |
| became intimate shops | 成为私密店铺 | ❌ 恰恰相反，百货商店面向大众 |
| satisfied the needs of a knowledgeable elite | 满足知识精英的需求 | ❌ 这是 intimate shops 的特点 |
| owed its emergence to the culture of consumption | 因消费文化而出现 | ❌ 因果颠倒，是百货商店发起了消费文化 |
3. 推理判断（第3、4、5题）
| 题号 | 关键推理 | 答案 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | "hardly poisonous" → 移民不构成威胁 | [C] are hardly a threat to the common culture |
| 4 | 提到施瓦辛格等人是为了说明美国文化的全球影响力 | [D] To show the powerful influence of American culture |
| 5 | 作者整体态度积极，认为同化是成功的 | [B] successful |
三、必备短语
| 短语 | 释义 |
|---|---|
| in spite of | 尽管 |
| be absorbed into | 被吸收进 |
| vast arrays of | 大量的，琳琅满目的 |
| cater to | 迎合，满足…的需求 |
| regardless of | 不管，不顾 |
| fit into | 融入，适应 |
| neither...nor... | 既不…也不… |
| be resistant to | 抵制，抗拒 |
| prior to | 在…之前 |
| a majority of | 大多数 |
| be immune to | 对…免疫；不受…影响 |
| pockets of | 零星的，小范围的 |
| view against | 与…对比来看 |
四、必备句型
in spite of 让步介词短语
In spite of "endless talk of difference," American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people. 尽管"无休止地谈论差异"，美国社会仍是一个令人惊叹的同化机器。
neither...nor... 双重否定
today's immigration is neither at unprecedented levels nor resistant to assimilation. 如今的移民既未达到前所未有的水平，也不抵制同化。
Hence + 名词短语（倒装省略结构）
Hence the description of America as a "graveyard" for languages. 因此有人把美国描述为语言的"墓地"。
比较级 + than do + 主语（倒装）
Foreign-born Asians and Hispanics have higher rates of intermarriage than do U.S.-born whites and blacks. 外国出生的亚裔和拉美裔通婚率高于美国出生的白人和黑人。
hardly suggest...（否定推断）
today's social indices hardly suggest a dark and deteriorating social environment. 今天的社会指标几乎不能表明存在一个黑暗且恶化的社会环境。
五、主题写作素材（移民同化话题）
可用表达：
- an amazing machine for homogenizing people 令人惊叹的同化机器
- fit into this common culture 融入这种共同文化
- at unprecedented levels 达到前所未有的水平
- be resistant to assimilation 抵制同化
- three indices of assimilation 同化的三个指标
- a "graveyard" for languages 语言的"墓地"
- higher rates of intermarriage 更高的通婚率
- immune to the nation's assimilative power 对国家同化力量免疫
- a dark and deteriorating social environment 黑暗且恶化的社会环境