Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers? The American Society of Newspaper Editors is trying to answer this painful question. The organization is deep into a long self-analysis known as the journalism credibility project.
Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.
But the sources of distrust go way deeper. Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard templates (patterns) into which they plug each day's events. In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.
There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. In a recent survey, questionnaires were sent to reporters in five middle size cities around the country, plus one large metropolitan area. Then residents in these communities were phoned at random and asked the same questions.
Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedeses, and trade stocks, and they're less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community.
Reporters tend to be part of a broadly defined social and cultural elite, so their work tends to reflect the conventional values of this elite. The astonishing distrust of the news media isn't rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.
This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one. Here is a troubled business that keeps hiring employees whose attitudes vastly annoy the customers. Then it sponsors lots of symposiums and a credibility project dedicated to wondering why customers are annoyed and fleeing in large numbers. But it never seems to get around to noticing the cultural and class biases that so many former buyers are complaining about. If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.
59. What is the passage mainly about?
[A] Needs of the readers all over the world.
[B] Causes of the public disappointment about newspapers.
[C] Origins of the declining newspaper industry.
[D] Aims of a journalism credibility project.
60. The results of the journalism credibility project turned out to be ________.
[A] quite trustworthy
[B] somewhat contradictory
[C] very illuminating
[D] rather superficial
61. The basic problem of journalists as pointed out by the writer lies in their ________.
[A] working attitude
[B] conventional lifestyle
[C] world outlook
[D] educational background
62. Despite its efforts, the newspaper industry still cannot satisfy the readers owing to its ________.
[A] failure to realize its real problem
[B] tendency to hire annoying reporters
[C] likeliness to do inaccurate reporting
[D] prejudice in matters of race and gender
重點(diǎn)詞匯:
journalism /5dVE:nElizEm/(新聞;新聞業(yè))即journal+ism,journal(期刊;日志),-ism后綴。journalism—that with which you may fill the space between advertisements新聞-用以填充廣告與廣告之間的空隙的東西。
credibility /7kredi5biliti/(可信性)即cred+ibility,cred詞根相信(如credit→cred+it→信用),-ibility名詞后綴可……性(如ability←a+(i)bility)。credibility gap—what happens to the same news between the morning telecast and the evening paper信用差距-早間電視新聞與晚報(bào)之間同一條新聞發(fā)生的情況。
head-scratching(令人為難的)即head+scratch+ing,head頭,scratch抓,-ing形容詞后綴,急得直抓頭→為難的。
template /5templit/(模板)可看作templ(e)+ate,temple寺廟,ate吃,現(xiàn)在越來越多的人傾向于素食,而temple是ate素的模板(template)。
conventional /kEn5venFEnl/(傳統(tǒng)的,慣例的)←convention+al,參convention(大會(huì);慣例;公約),2002年Text 1.
newsroom /5nju:zrum/(編輯室;閱覽室)←news+room.
backbone /5bAkbEun/(主干)←back+bone.
survey /sE:5vei/(v.n.俯瞰;調(diào)查)即sur+vey,sur-前綴=super,vey詞根看,故從上面看→俯瞰→引申為調(diào)查。An informal survey shows that what most people wanted for Christmas was two more weeks to prepare for it.一項(xiàng)非正式調(diào)查顯示,大多數(shù)人圣誕節(jié)想要的東西是再給兩個(gè)星期準(zhǔn)備過節(jié)。
questionnaire /7kwestFE5nZE/(調(diào)查表)←question+naire名詞后綴表物。
metropolitan /metrE5pRlit(E)n/(大都市的;大都市的人)即metro+polit+an,metro-前綴母體,大,同matri-,《黑客帝國》里的電腦母體就叫Matrix(即母體這東東太復(fù)雜,對(duì)任何人來說都是個(gè)大的未知數(shù)X),polit詞根城市,-an后綴表……的或……的人;也可把polit看作polite(有禮貌的),于是懂禮貌的大地方→大都市的。
upscale /5Qpskeil/(高消費(fèi)階層的;質(zhì)優(yōu)價(jià)高的)←up向上+scale等級(jí)。
volunteer /vRlEn5tiE/(志愿的;志愿者v.志愿)←volunt意愿+eer;voluntary(自愿的)←volunt+ary形容詞后綴。Maintain outside interests—
volunteer in not-for-profits and stay physically fit.保持業(yè)余愛好-自愿做無利可圖的事情而保持身體健康。
sponsor /5spCnsE/(v.發(fā)起;贊助n.主辦者)←spons(e)詞根+or后綴;參response,2001年P(guān)assage 1.The longest word in the English language is the one following the phrase: And now a word from our sponsor.英語中比較長的單詞是由此引發(fā)的:現(xiàn)在請(qǐng)贊助者×××�!颂帯痢痢敛缓米g,因?yàn)轱@然不能譯為說一個(gè)詞,而譯為說幾句話則失去了原句的一語雙關(guān)。
symposium /sim5pEuziEm/(專題討論會(huì);專題論文集)即sym+pos+ium,sym-前綴共同,pos詞根放,-ium后綴表地方,把共同的問題放在一起討論→專題討論會(huì),把共同討論好的問題放在一起→專題論文集。
bias /5baiEs/(v.n.偏見)諧音白餓死,古人有骨氣者不吃嗟來之食而餓死,后來某些人對(duì)此不以為然,認(rèn)為這是古人的偏見,所以是白餓死(bias)←白白餓死。
gender /5dVendE/(性別)可看作gen(e)+der,gene即單詞基因,der諧音的,故基因的→由基因決定的→性別。
contradictory /7kCntrE5diktEri/(反駁的;矛盾的;對(duì)立物)即contra+dict+ory,contra-前綴相反,dict詞根說(如dictate→dict+ate動(dòng)詞后綴→口述;命令),-ory后綴;contradict(v.反駁;矛盾)←contra+dict.Assertion is not argument, to contradict the statement of an opponent is not proof that you are correct.堅(jiān)定的看法不是論據(jù),反駁對(duì)手的說法不能證明你是正確的。
illuminating /i5lju:mi7neitiN/(照明的;啟發(fā)的)即illuminat(e)+ing形容詞后綴,illuminate(照明;啟發(fā))可看作illumin+ate,illumin諧音一路明,-ate動(dòng)詞后綴,使一路明→照明→引申為啟發(fā)。The man of science, like the artist, may easily have more facts than he can use. Both seek the one fact out of a million that will illuminate their idea. Both find that it is rarely to be had without research.與藝術(shù)家一樣,科學(xué)家可以輕易得到用不盡的事實(shí)。他們都在上百萬的事實(shí)中尋求能說明自己想法的那一個(gè),都發(fā)現(xiàn)未經(jīng)調(diào)查研究而得到它幾乎是不可能的。
superficial /sju:pE5fiFEl/(表面的;膚淺的)即super+fici+al,super-前綴上面的,fici看作face表面,-al形容詞后綴,表面上的→膚淺的。To know things well, we must know them in detail; but as that is almost endless, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.為了充分認(rèn)識(shí)事物,我們必須詳細(xì)了解它們,然而那幾乎是沒有窮盡的,所以我們的知識(shí)總是膚淺和不完善的。
be known as稱為;alien to為……所不熟悉;put down roots in定居;get around to抽時(shí)間做。
難句解析:
①Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.▲本句主語是this project,謂語是has turned out to be,findings為賓語,mostly low-level是賓語的定語修飾成分,about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes是賓語的補(bǔ)語成分。combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want是過去分詞引導(dǎo)的伴隨狀語,其中about what in the world those readers really want是puzzlement的補(bǔ)語。
△要正確理解本句,一定要注意lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want這一部分并不包含在findings里面,而應(yīng)該是與findings屬于同一層次上的東西,換言之,可以把turned out to be后面的表語看成是由兩個(gè)并列的意思構(gòu)成的。
�、贗n other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.▲本句的主干是there is a conventional story line……,后面的that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news是定語從句修飾conventional story line.
△本句的理解重點(diǎn)在單詞意思:a story line一種寫新聞報(bào)道的故事主線;newsroom culture報(bào)社文化;backbone本義為脊柱,此處是主干;otherwise否則
�、跿here exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers.▲此句的結(jié)構(gòu)和上句非常類似,主句也是一個(gè)there加系動(dòng)詞的用法。而表語后都有一個(gè)定語從句。本句的定語從句是which helps explain why the standard templates of the newsroom seem alien to many readers.
△alien本義為異國的,此處是相差甚遠(yuǎn),背道而馳。如果考生不了解standard templates的意思,可以從上下文中找與其有相同作用和功能的詞組,如上句中的a story line和backbone,那么就應(yīng)該知道它們指的都是記者們?cè)趯懶侣労驮u(píng)論時(shí)固定的套路和思維。
�、躎he astonishing distrust of the news media isn‘t rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.▲本句的主干是一個(gè)not…… but結(jié)構(gòu)。注意這個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)引導(dǎo)的是兩個(gè)方式狀語。其核心詞分別是inaccuracy和the daily clash.
△to be rooted in……根源在于……;另外注意not…… but結(jié)構(gòu)中,but后面的部分總是閱讀的重點(diǎn)。
�、軮f it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.▲it代表上文提到的a troubled business,即問題重重的新聞界。now focused narrowly on race and gender是插入語,也是修飾program的定語。本句在would后面有兩個(gè)并列賓語open up和look for.
△此句中含有一個(gè)虛擬語氣:If it did, it would open up……。另外注意前兩個(gè)逗號(hào)之間是對(duì)diversity program(多樣化項(xiàng)目)的修飾成分。
試題解析:
59. [B]意為:造成公眾對(duì)報(bào)紙失望的原因。
文章的第一句開門見山地提出了本文旨在說明的問題:為什么那么多的美國人不相信自己在報(bào)紙上讀到的內(nèi)容呢?第二段駁斥了一種解釋。第三段指出人們懷疑心理的產(chǎn)生有更深刻的原因。第三段以后具體分析了這個(gè)原因:記者和報(bào)紙的大多數(shù)讀者生活在兩個(gè)世界里,具有不同的社會(huì)價(jià)值觀。這造成了二者的分歧和沖突。
C意為:造成報(bào)業(yè)衰敗的根源。該選擇項(xiàng)不如選擇項(xiàng)A表達(dá)的內(nèi)容確切,注意選擇項(xiàng)A中的disappointment對(duì)應(yīng)于原文的distrust(見第一段第一句和第三段第一句)。
D意為:一個(gè)新聞界信譽(yù)項(xiàng)目的目的。作者僅在第二段提到了這個(gè)項(xiàng)目的內(nèi)容和發(fā)現(xiàn),并駁斥了這些發(fā)現(xiàn)。
60. [D]意為:相當(dāng)表面。
在第二段作者指出,遺憾的是,該項(xiàng)目比較終所發(fā)現(xiàn)的原因大都是諸如報(bào)道失實(shí)、文章中有拼寫和語法錯(cuò)誤,以及對(duì)讀者究競想讀什么的許多莫名其妙的困惑,在作者看來,這些發(fā)現(xiàn)大都是低級(jí)的(low-level),而真正的原因沒有這么表面(go way deeper,見第三段第一句)。
C意為:很有啟發(fā)。
61. [C]意為:世界觀。
在第三段作者指出,多數(shù)記者通過一套標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的范式來看世界,將每天報(bào)道的消息嵌入這些范式,換言之,在新聞界存在著一個(gè)寫報(bào)道的傳統(tǒng)路數(shù),這一路數(shù)提供了一個(gè)框框和一種現(xiàn)成的敘事結(jié)構(gòu),將紛雜的事件順理成章。第四段又指出,由于在記者和讀者之間存在著一個(gè)社會(huì)和文化上的分歧,這就解釋了為什么新聞報(bào)道的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)范式似乎不為許多讀者所接受。第四、五段提到了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查,在解釋這項(xiàng)調(diào)查結(jié)果的第六段作者指出,從廣義的角度講,記者似乎居于社會(huì)和文化名流的一分子,所以他們的工作傾向反映這部分人的傳統(tǒng)價(jià)值現(xiàn),因此,公眾對(duì)新聞媒體的不信任,與其說根源于報(bào)道失實(shí)或報(bào)道技能的欠缺,不如說根源于記者和讀者之間世界觀的日常沖突。
可見,A、B、D是不確切的。
62. [A]
比較后一段指出,這(指上一段提到的世界觀的沖突)對(duì)任何產(chǎn)業(yè)-特別是一個(gè)衰落的產(chǎn)業(yè)-來說都是一種危險(xiǎn)的狀況,報(bào)業(yè)目前就是處于這樣一種麻煩的局面,但是,他們還在雇用那些自身態(tài)度與讀者大大相悖的雇員(當(dāng)指記者)。爾后又舉辦許多研討會(huì),搞什么信謄項(xiàng)目,企圖了解顧客(當(dāng)指讀者)為什么對(duì)他們不滿意,他們?yōu)槭裁创罅渴プx者。但是,對(duì)于那么多原來的顧客所不滿的文化和階級(jí)偏見,他們似乎就是視而不見,置若罔聞。如果他們看到了這一方面的問題,他們就會(huì)深化自己的多樣化項(xiàng)目(diversity program本來指公司雇用不同種族、性別等的雇員以滿足不同群體的顧客的需要的做法),而不是像現(xiàn)在這樣將這一項(xiàng)目狹隘地局限于種族和性別:他們就會(huì)去雇用在世界觀、價(jià)值觀、教育背景、社會(huì)階層上迥異的記者。
可見,在這段中,作者對(duì)報(bào)界進(jìn)行了批評(píng),認(rèn)為他們還沒有找到問題的根源,無法對(duì)癥下藥解決問題。另請(qǐng)參閱對(duì)以上三題的題解。
全文翻譯:
為什么那么多美國人不相信自己在報(bào)紙上看到的東西?美國新聞編輯協(xié)會(huì)正試圖回答這個(gè)痛苦的問題。該組織正深深陷入一個(gè)長期的自我剖析過程,即新聞可信度調(diào)查項(xiàng)目。
遺憾的是,這次新聞機(jī)構(gòu)可信度調(diào)查計(jì)劃結(jié)果只獲得了一些膚淺的發(fā)現(xiàn),諸如新聞報(bào)道中的事實(shí)錯(cuò)誤,拼寫或語法錯(cuò)誤,和這些低層次發(fā)現(xiàn)交織在一起的還有許多令人撓頭的困惑,譬如讀者到底想讀些什么。
但這種對(duì)媒體的不信任有更深刻的根源。多數(shù)新聞?dòng)浾叨紝W(xué)著用一套標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的模式去看待世界,并把每天發(fā)生的事件納入這種模式。換言之,在媒介機(jī)構(gòu)的新聞采編室文化中存在著一套約定俗成的寫作模式,為紛繁復(fù)雜的新聞報(bào)道提供了一個(gè)主干框架和一個(gè)現(xiàn)成的故事敘述結(jié)構(gòu)。
新聞?dòng)浾吆妥x者之間存在著社會(huì)和文化方面的脫節(jié),這就是為什么新聞編輯室的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)模式與眾多讀者的意趣相差甚遠(yuǎn)的原因。在比較近一次調(diào)查中,問卷被送到了全國五座中等城市及一座大都市的記者手中,然后隨機(jī)地給這些城市的居民打電話,問他們同樣的問題。
結(jié)果表明,與其他美國人相比,新聞?dòng)浾吒锌赡芫幼≡诟蝗藚^(qū),有女傭,有奔馳車,炒股,而他們?nèi)ソ烫�,參加支援服�?wù),扎根社區(qū)的可能性卻很小。
記者們往往屬于廣義的社會(huì)文化精英的一個(gè)部分,因此他們的工作往往反映了這些精英傳統(tǒng)的價(jià)值觀。讀者對(duì)新聞媒介令人震驚的不信任的根源并非是報(bào)道失實(shí)或低下的報(bào)道技巧,而是記者與讀者的世界觀每天都發(fā)生著碰撞。
這對(duì)任何一個(gè)工業(yè)產(chǎn)業(yè)來說都算是爆炸性的形勢(shì),對(duì)于一個(gè)正在衰落的行業(yè)來說尤其如此。這是一個(gè)棘手的行業(yè),卻不斷地雇用觀點(diǎn)總體上使客戶惱怒的雇員。然后它又出資組織研討會(huì)和可信度調(diào)查項(xiàng)目,去探究為什么顧客們惱火了,為什么會(huì)有那么多人逃避新聞。但它似乎從來就沒回過頭來去注意那么多以前的顧客所抱怨的文化和階級(jí)偏見。如果它能注意這個(gè)問題的話,它就應(yīng)該進(jìn)一步開放其多樣化項(xiàng)目(這個(gè)項(xiàng)目現(xiàn)在還只單純考慮招收不同種族和性別的員工),進(jìn)一步尋找那些世界觀、價(jià)值觀、教育水平和社會(huì)階層各不相同的各種記者。
結(jié)束
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