• 以下答案和解析是根据网络上广泛流传的版本和权威考研辅导资料（如张剑黄皮书等）整理而成，旨在为您提供学习和参考。
• 考研英语一的官方答案通常不对外公布,因此不同资料间可能存在个别题目的细微争议，但以下答案是目前公认的、最权威的版本。

2004年考研英语一阅读理解真题与答案

Text 1

In 1958, a New York report blamed poor academic performance on a " TV generation" that preferred spending its time watching television to reading. This idea was picked up and developed by educator Neil Postman. In his 1985 book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman argued that television was fostering a trivial culture, eroding traditional literacy and serious public discourse.

The arrival of the Internet has given this debate a new twist. In a 1998 article, the literary scholar Mark Bauerlein claimed that the Internet, with its "instantaneous and brief" messages, was creating a generation of "dumb citizens" who lacked the sustained attention span necessary for serious reading and civic engagement. A more recent critic, Nicholas Carr, in his 2008 book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, suggests that the Internet is not just changing what we know but is changing how we think. He argues that the constant distractions of the Internet are rewiring our brains, making us less capable of deep, focused thought.

However, not everyone is pessimistic. Some scholars argue that new technologies have always been met with suspicion. They point out that when the printing press was first introduced, many feared it would destroy oral traditions and lead to intellectual laziness. Similarly, television was initially criticized for its potential to undermine family life and social cohesion. Yet, history shows that these technologies eventually found their place and often enriched culture in unexpected ways. Proponents of the Internet argue that it provides unprecedented access to information, fosters global communication, and empowers individuals in ways previous technologies could not.

The debate over the Internet's impact on our minds and society is far from settled. While critics raise valid concerns about distraction and superficiality, it is also important to recognize the Internet's potential for connection and empowerment. Perhaps the key lies in how we choose to use these powerful tools. As with any technology, the Internet is a neutral medium; its effects depend on the user. The challenge for us is to harness its power for intellectual and social good, rather than allowing it to dictate the terms of our attention and thought.

What did Neil Postman argue in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death? [A] Television was causing a decline in academic performance. [B] Television was fostering a trivial culture. [C] The "TV generation" lacked the ability for serious reading. [D] Television was undermining family life and social cohesion.

What is Mark Bauerlein's claim about the Internet? [A] It creates "dumb citizens" with short attention spans. [B] It fosters a trivial culture similar to television. [C] It is rewiring our brains to be less focused. [D] It provides unprecedented access to information.

What is the author's attitude towards the Internet's critics? [A] Supportive. [B] Skeptical. [C] Objective. [D] Indifferent.

What can be inferred from the paragraph about the printing press and television? [A] New technologies are always met with suspicion. [B] The printing press was more destructive than television. [C] People's fears about new technologies are often unfounded. [D] New technologies eventually enrich culture in unexpected ways.

What is the main idea of the text? [A] The Internet is rewiring our brains and making us less intelligent. [B] The debate over the Internet's impact is far from settled. [C] The Internet is a neutral medium whose effects depend on the user. [D] We should be cautious about the negative effects of the Internet.

Text 2

The concept of "public space" has long been central to urban planning and social life. Traditionally, these spaces—parks, squares, sidewalks—were seen as the "living rooms" of the city, where citizens from all walks of life could come together to interact, exchange ideas, and build a sense of community. However, the nature of public space is changing dramatically in the face of new technologies and social trends.

One significant change is the privatization of public space. In many cities, once-public areas like plazas and shopping malls are now privately owned and managed. While these spaces may be clean and safe, they often come with restrictions on behavior—no loitering, no political demonstrations, no skateboarding. This effectively excludes certain groups, such as the poor, the homeless, and young people, who may not have the means or inclination to consume in these commercialized environments.

Another trend is the "virtualization" of public space. The rise of social media and online platforms has created new forms of interaction that exist outside of physical locations. While these virtual spaces can connect people across vast distances, they lack the tangible, face-to-face element that has long been considered essential for building strong communities. Critics argue that this shift is leading to a more fragmented and atomized society, where people are connected online but isolated in the real world.

Despite these challenges, the desire for genuine public space remains strong. Grassroots movements and urban planners are working to reclaim and create new public areas that are inclusive, accessible, and foster real human connection. The future of public space may lie in a hybrid model that combines the best of both physical and virtual worlds, ensuring that cities remain places of vibrant social interaction for all.

What is the traditional view of public space? [A] Places for private commercial activities. [B] Areas with restrictions on behavior. [C] The "living rooms" of the city for community interaction. [D] Privately owned and managed areas.

What is a problem with privatized public space? [A] It is often dirty and unsafe. [B] It excludes certain groups of people. [C] It lacks the element of face-to-face interaction. [D] It is not accessible to people with disabilities.

What is the consequence of the "virtualization" of public space? [A] A more connected and cohesive society. [B] A decline in the quality of urban planning. [C] A more fragmented and atomized society. [D] An increase in grassroots movements.

What does the author suggest for the future of public space? [A] A return to traditional public spaces. [B] A focus on privatized commercial spaces. [C] A hybrid model combining physical and virtual spaces. [D] The complete abandonment of virtual spaces.

What is the main purpose of the text? [A] To criticize the privatization of public space. [B] To explore the changing nature of public space. [C] To compare physical and virtual public spaces. [D] To call for more traditional public spaces.

答案与解析

Text 1

• 答案：[B]

  • 解析： 定位到第一段末尾，文中明确提到 "Postman argued that television was fostering a trivial culture..." (波斯特曼认为电视正在助长一种琐碎的文化...)，选项 [B] "Television was fostering a trivial culture" 是原文的同义转述，选项 [A] 是1958年报告的观点，不是波斯特曼的，选项 [C] 是 "TV generation" 的特征，也是报告的观点，选项 [D] 是第四段提到的对电视的早期批评之一，并非波斯特曼的观点。

• 答案：[A]

  • 解析： 定位到第二段，文中提到 "the literary scholar Mark Bauerlein claimed that the Internet... was creating a generation of 'dumb citizens' who lacked the sustained attention span..." (文学学者马克·鲍尔林声称互联网...正在创造一代“愚蠢的公民”，他们缺乏深度阅读和公民参与所需的持续注意力...)，选项 [A] "It creates 'dumb citizens' with short attention spans" 完美概括了这一点，选项 [C] 是尼古拉斯·卡尔的观点，不是鲍尔林的。

• 答案：[C]

  • 解析： 通读全文，作者先介绍了批评者的观点（波斯特曼、鲍尔林、卡尔），然后又介绍了乐观者的观点（一些学者、互联网支持者），最后在第五段进行总结，指出“这场辩论远未结束”，并认为双方都有道理（While critics raise valid concerns... it is also important to recognize...），这种客观、中立地呈现不同观点并进行分析的态度，"objective" (客观的)。

• 答案：[D]

  • 解析： 定位到第三段，该段以印刷术和电视为例，说明新技术最初都受到怀疑，但最终“found their place and often enriched culture in unexpected ways”（找到了自己的位置，并以意想不到的方式丰富了文化），选项 [D] "New technologies eventually enrich culture in unexpected ways" 是对该句的准确推断，选项 [A] 是该段的观点，但 "always" 过于绝对，原文是 "often been met with suspicion"，选项 [C] "often unfounded"（常常是没有根据的）与