接下来的几天给大家整理了历届gre考试阅读真题及解析，下面这篇是1998年4月gre考试阅读真题SECTION B部分。复习gre考试阅读的时候，gre考生应该以往年的真题为复习材料，从真题中总结阅读规律和特点才是制胜法宝。

　　The origin of the theory that major geologic events may occur at regular intervals can be traced back not to a study of volcanism or plate tectonics but to an investigation of marine extinctions. In the early 1980’s, scientists began to look closely at the question of how these extinctions occur. Two paleontologists, Raup and Sepkoski, compiled a master list of marine species that died out during the past 268 million years and noted that there were bri periods during which many species disappeared at once. These mass extinctions occurred at surprisingly regular intervals.

　　Later studies revealed that extinctions of terrestrial reptiles and mammals also occurred periodically. These findings, combined with the research of Raup and Sepkoski, led scientists to hypothesize the existence of some kind of cyclically recurring force powerful enough to affect living things profoundly. Speculation that so powerful a force might affect geologic events as well led geologists to search for evidence of periodicity in episodes of volcanism, seafloor spreading, and plate movement.

　　17. According to the passage, Raup and Sepkoski’s research was concerned with

　　(A) learning more about the habitats of marine species

　　(B) studying plate tectonics and the occurrence of volcanism over the past 268 million years

　　(C) examining extinctions of marine species over the past 268 million years

　　(D) finding out whether a rhythmically recurring geologic force exists

　　(E) confirming previous evidence suggesting that extinction of terrestrial species occurred regularly

　　18. The author of the passage would most likely describe the findings of Raup and Sepkoski as

　　(A) plausible, because the findings supported the theories of previous researchers

　　(B) significant, because the findings were an impetus for subsequent research

　　(C) controversial, because the findings contradicted the theories of previous researchers

　　(D) questionable, because the authors were not working in their field of expertise

　　(E) dinitive, because the findings confirmed the existence of a rhythmically recurring force

　　19. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

　　(A) determining the dates of various geologic events

　　(B) dending the conclusions reached by Raup and Sepkoski

　　(C) establishing a link between the disciplines of paleontology and geology

　　(D) proving that mass extinctions of marine animals occur periodically

　　(E) explaining how a theory concerning geologic events was formulated

　　20. The passage suggests which of the following about the “force” mentioned in lines 16 and 18?

　　(A) It is responsible for most of the major geologic events that have occurred.

　　(B) It is responsible for most of the marine extinctions that have occurred.

　　(C) Its recurrence is unlikely to be able to be predicted by scientists.

　　(D) Its existence was not seriously considered by scientists bore Raup and Sepkoski did their research.

　　(E) Its existence was confirmed by the research of Raup and Sepkoski.

　　A recent history of the Chicago meat-packing industry and its workers examines how the industry grew from its appearance in the 1830’s through the early 1890’s. Meat-packers, the author argues, had good wages, working conditions, and prospects for advancement within the packinghouses, and did not cooperate with labor agitators since labor relations were so harmonious. Because the history maintains that conditions were above standard for the era, the frequency of labor disputes, especially in the mid-1880’s, is not accounted for. The work ignores the fact that the 1880’s were crucial years in American labor history, and that the packinghouse workers’ forts were part of the national movement for labor rorm.

　　In fact, other historical sources for the late nineteenth century record deteriorating housing and high disease and infant mortality rates in the industrial community, due to low wages and unhealthy working conditions. Additional data from the University of Chicago suggest that the packinghouses were dangerous places to work. The government investigation commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt which eventually led to the adoption of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act found the packinghouses unsanitary, while social workers observed that most of the workers were poorly paid and overworked. The history may be too optimistic because most of its data date from the 1880’s at the latest (at the latest: adv.最迟), and the information provided from that decade is insufficiently analyzed. Conditions actually declined in the 1880’s, and continued to decline after the 1880’s, due to a reorganization of the packing process and a massive influx of unskilled workers. The deterioration in worker status, partly a result of the new availability of unskilled and hence cheap labor, is not discussed. Though a detailed account of work in the packing-houses is attempted, the author fails to distinguish between the wages and conditions for skilled workers and for those unskilled laborers who comprised the majority of the industry’s workers from the 1880’s on. While conditions for the former were arguably tolerable due to the strategic importance of skilled workers in the complicated slaughtering, cutting, and packing process (though worker complaints about the rate and conditions of work were frequent), pay and conditions for the latter were wretched.

　　The author’s misinterpretation of the origins of the feelings the meat-packers had for their industrial neighborhood may account for the history’s faulty generalizations. The pride and contentment the author remarks upon were, arguably, less the products of the industrial world of the packers—the giant yards and the intricate plants—than of the unity and vibrance of the ethnic cultures that formed a viable community on Chicago’s South Side. Indeed, the strength of this community succeeded in generating a social movement that fectively confronted the problems of the industry that provided its livelihood.

　　21. The passage is primarily concerned with discussing

　　(A) how historians ought to explain the origins of the conditions in the Chicago meat-packing industry

　　(B) why it is difficult to determine the actual nature of the conditions in the Chicago meat-packing industry

　　(C) why a particular account of the conditions in the Chicago meat-packing industry is inaccurate

　　(D) what ought to be included in any account of the Chicago meat-packers’ role in the national labor movement

　　(E) what data are most relevant for an accurate account of the relations between Chicago meat-packers and local labor agitators

　　22. The author of the passage mentions all of the following as describing negative conditions in the meat-packing industry EXCEPT:

　　(A) data from the University of Chicago

　　(B) a recent history of the meat-packing industry

　　(C) social workers

　　(D) historical sources for the late nineteenth century

　　(E) government records

　　23. The author of the passage mentions the “social movement” (line 57) generated by Chicago’s South Side community primarily in order to

　　(A) inform the reader of events that occurred in the meat-packing industry after the period of time covered by the history

　　(B) suggest the history’s limitations by pointing out a situation that the history failed to explain adequately

　　(C) salvage the history’s point of view by suggesting that there were positive developments in the meat-packing industry due to worker unity

　　(D) introduce a new issue designed to elaborate on the good relationship between the meat-packers and Chicago’s ethnic communities

　　(E) suggest that the history should have focused more on the general issue of the relationship between labor movements and healthy industrial communities

　　24. According to the passage, the working conditions of skilled workers in the meat-packing industry during the 1880’s were influenced by

　　(A) the workers’ determined complaints about the rate and conditions of their work

　　(B) the forts of social workers to improve sanitation in the packinghouses

　　(C) the workers’ ability to perform the industry’s complex tasks

　　(D) improvements in the industry’s packing process that occurred in the 1880’s

　　(E) opportunities for job advancement due to the filling of less desirable positions by increasing numbers of unskilled workers

　　25. The author of the passage uses the second paragraph to

　　(A) summarize the main point of the history discussed in the passage

　　(B) explain why the history discussed in the passage has been disparaged by critics

　　(C) evaluate the findings of recent studies that undermine the premises of the history discussed in the passage

　　(D) introduce a hypothesis that will be discussed in detail later in the passage

　　(E) present evidence that is intended to rute the argument of the history discussed in the passage

　　26. The tone of the author of the passage in discussing the meat-packer community on Chicago’s South Side can best be described as one of

　　(A) appreciation of the community’s ability to cope with difficult conditions

　　(B) admiration for the community’s rusal to cooperate with labor agitators

　　(C) indignation at the kinds of social conditions the community faced

　　(D) annoyance at the community’s inability to abolish discrimination in the meat-packing industry

　　(E) concern that the meat-packers’ feelings for their community have not been documented

　　27. The information in the passage suggests that the author of the history discussed in the passage made which of the following errors?

　　(A) Failing to recognize the fect of the diversity of the South Side community on the meat-packers’ forts to rorm the industry

　　(B) Attributing good working conditions in the meat-packing industry to the forts of labor agitators

　　(C) Overemphasizing the importance of the availability of unskilled labor as an influence on conditions in the meat packing industry

　　(D) Interpreting the meat-packers’ feelings for their community as appreciation of their industry

　　(E) Failing to observe the pride and contentment felt by the meat-packers

答案：17-27：CBEDCBBCEAD

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