考研英语阅读真题精讲2017 年英语一 · Text 4 ｜ 最高法院裁决与政治偏袒本篇是法律话题的经典套路文：最高法院推翻弗州前州长的腐败定罪（裁定其行为不构成犯罪）→ 但作者话锋一转：合法 ≠ 合理，民众和立法者要靠透明法律堵住"合法偏袒"。全文态度题是送分点。先翻译吃透，再按 STEP 四步法逐题击破。PART 1 · 全文翻译 + 长难句标注 + 生词短语标注说明：红色加粗 = 谓语动词蓝色加粗 = 连词黄色荧光 = 从句【第 1 段 · 原文】In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell. But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari Automobile from a company seeking access to government.【参考译文】在一次罕见的全体一致的裁决中，美国最高法院推翻了对弗吉尼亚州前州长罗伯特·麦克唐纳的腐败定罪。但最高法院是"捏着鼻子"这么做的——它对他的行为操守深恶痛绝：这些行为包括收受一家寻求接近政府的公司赠送的劳力士手表和法拉利汽车等礼物。
词汇 / 短语
释义
unanimous adj.
全体一致的；无异议的
overturn v.
推翻；撤销（裁决）
conviction n.
定罪；判罪
hold one's nose at...
捏着鼻子做（厌恶却不得不做）
conduct n.
行为；品行
access to government
接近（接触）政府的机会
【第 2-3 段 · 原文】The high court's decision said that the judge in Mr. McDonnell's trial failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his "official acts," or the former governor's decisions on "specific" and "unsettled" issues related to his duties. Merely helping a gift-giver gain access to other officials, unless done with clear intent to pressure those officials, is not corruption, the justices found.【参考译文】最高法院的裁决称，审理麦克唐纳案的法官未能告诉陪审团：陪审团只能审视他的"官方行为"，即这位前州长就其职责范围内的"具体的""未决的"问题所作的决定。大法官们认定：仅仅帮助送礼者接近其他官员——除非带有向这些官员施压的明确意图——并不构成腐败。
词汇 / 短语
释义
trial n.
审判；审理
jury n.
陪审团
official acts
官方行为；公职行为
unsettled adj.
未解决的；悬而未决的
intent n.
意图；目的
pressure v.
向……施压
justice n.
大法官
【第 4 段 · 原文】But the court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is "distasteful" and "nasty". But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation. Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an "official act."【参考译文】不过，法院确实指出：为人开门办事、收受好处的做法"令人反感"、"卑劣"。但依据反贿赂法，必须有切实好处的证据——比如批准某项合同或法规。而仅仅安排一次会面、打一个电话、举办一场活动，都不属于"官方行为"。
词汇 / 短语
释义
distasteful adj.
令人反感的；讨厌的
nasty adj.
卑劣的；恶劣的
anti-bribery laws
反贿赂法
concrete adj.
具体的；切实的
approval n.
批准；赞成
host v.
举办；主办
【第 5 段 · 原文】The court's ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal. Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution of bribery. "The basic compact underlying representative government," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court, "assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns."【参考译文】最高法院的裁决界定了一类不构成犯罪的偏袒，这在法律上是站得住脚的。民选领袖必须被允许帮助支持者处理官僚程序问题，而不必担心被以受贿罪起诉。首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨代表法院写道："代议制政府赖以建立的基本契约，预设了公职人员会倾听选民的声音，并就他们的关切采取行动。"
词汇 / 短语
释义
sound adj.
合理的；可靠的（熟词僻义）
favoritism n.
偏袒；徇私
bureaucratic adj.
官僚的；繁文缛节的
prosecution n.
起诉；检控
compact n.
契约；协议（熟词僻义）
constituent n.
选民；选区居民
act on
依照……行事
【第 6 段 · 原文】But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government. Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings simply because an individual or group provides a campaign donation or a personal gift. This type of integrity requires well-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader's source of wealth.【参考译文】但这一裁决也强化了一种必要性：确保民众接触政府的平等机会，责任在公民及其民选代表，而不在法院。绝不能允许官员仅仅因为某个人或团体提供了竞选捐款或私人礼物，就在提供信息或安排会面时偏袒对方。这种操守需要政府透明方面严格执行的法律来保障，例如官方会议记录、游说规则，以及每位民选领导人的财富来源信息。
词汇 / 短语
释义
reinforce v.
强化；加强
play favorites
偏袒；厚此薄彼
campaign donation
竞选捐款
integrity n.
正直；操守
well-enforced adj.
执行到位的
transparency n.
透明（度）
lobbying n.
游说
source of wealth
财富来源
【第 7-8 段 · 原文】Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption.But it is not always corruption. Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy.If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society –that all are equal in treatment by government–is undermined. Good government rests on an understanding of the inherent worth of each individual. The court's ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.【参考译文】在官方接触上的偏袒会煽动公众对腐败的印象，但这并不总是腐败。更确切地说，官员必须避免双重标准——即对普通人和富人提供不同档次的接触机会。如果人际关系可以花钱买到，民主社会的一条基本前提——政府在对待所有人时一律平等——就会被破坏。良好的政府建立在承认每个人固有价值的基础之上。最高法院的这项裁决，是在与腐败和官方偏袒的斗争中迈出的一步。
一句话抓主旨：最高法院推翻了前州长的腐败定罪——裁定"帮忙牵线"不等于犯罪；作者赞同裁决，但补了一句：合法不等于合理，要靠透明法律防止"合法的偏袒"。第 36 题 The underlined sentence (Para. 1) most probably shows that the court_______.（句意理解题）[A] avoided defining the extent of McDonnell's duties.[B] made no compromise in convicting McDonnell.[C] was contemptuous of McDonnell's conduct. ✓[D] refused to comment on McDonnell's ethics.STEP 1 · 找定位词题干明确指向第一段划线句："But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct"STEP 2 · 找定位句"But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari Automobile from a company seeking access to government."STEP 3 · 精读定位句核心是习语 holding its nose（捏着鼻子）：明明厌恶某物、却不得不接受。法院一边推翻定罪，一边对麦克唐纳收受劳力士、法拉利的行为深表嫌弃。转折词 But 后的让步语气就是本题钥匙。STEP 4 · 匹配选项[A] 回避界定其职责范围——张冠李戴，那是第二段法官的错误，不是法院的态度；[B] 定罪时毫不妥协——方向完全反了，法院是推翻了定罪；[C] 对麦克唐纳的行为表示鄙视（contemptuous）——正是"捏着鼻子"的含义，当选 C；[D] 拒绝对其操守发表评论——恰恰相反，法院评论得很不客气。第 37 题 According to Paragraph 4, an official act is deemed corruptive only if it involves_______.（细节题）[A] concrete returns for gift-givers. ✓[B] sizable gains in the form of gifts.[C] leaking secrets intentionally.[D] breaking contracts officially.STEP 1 · 找定位词Paragraph 4 + official act + corruptive（构成腐败的条件）。STEP 2 · 找定位句"But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation."STEP 3 · 精读定位句依据反贿赂法，要认定腐败必须拿出切实好处（concrete benefits）的证据——如批准合同或法规。也就是说：只有当官员的行为给送礼者带来了实实在在的回报，才算腐败； mere 牵线搭桥不算。题干 only if 对应原文的 proof must be made of。STEP 4 · 匹配选项[A] 给送礼者带来切实回报（concrete returns）——concrete benefits 的同义改写，当选 A；[B] 数额可观的礼物收益——原文强调"切实"不是"数额大"，且礼物本身不是判定标准；[C] 故意泄露秘密——无中生有；[D] 官方撕毁合同——原文 approval of a contract 是"批准合同"，不是"毁约"，偷换。第 38 题 The court's ruling is based on the assumption that public officials are_______.（细节题）[A] allowed to focus on the concerns of their supporters.[B] qualified to deal independently with bureaucratic issues.[C] justified in addressing the needs of their constituents. ✓[D] exempt from conviction on the charge of favoritism.STEP 1 · 找定位词ruling + assumption（预设、前提）。assumption 是关键词，直接对应第五段罗伯茨大法官引语里的 assumes。STEP 2 · 找定位句"The basic compact underlying representative government, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court, "assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns.""STEP 3 · 精读定位句assumes that 后面就是"裁决赖以成立的预设"：公职人员应当倾听选民（constituents）的声音，并回应他们的关切。即：官员为选民办事是代议制的应有之义、天经地义。STEP 4 · 匹配选项[A] 被允许只关注"支持者"（supporters）的诉求——偷换概念，原文是 constituents（全体选民），supporters 容易滑向"金主"，是文章批评的对象；[B] 有资格独立处理官僚事务——原文说"帮助支持者处理"，且"独立"无据；[C] 有正当理由回应选民的需求（justified in addressing the needs of their constituents）——正是 assumes 从句的改写，当选 C；[D] 免于偏袒罪的定罪——文章说的是免于"贿赂罪"起诉，且"偏袒"恰恰是作者要约束的，偷换。第 39 题 Well-enforced laws in government transparency are needed to_______.（细节题）[A] awaken the conscience of officials.[B] guarantee fair play in official access. ✓[C] allow for certain kinds of lobbying.[D] inspire hopes in average people.STEP 1 · 找定位词well-enforced laws in government transparency（原词复现，第六段最好定位的一题）。STEP 2 · 找定位句"Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings... This type of integrity requires well-enforced laws in government transparency."STEP 3 · 精读定位句逻辑链：官员不得因捐款/送礼而在提供信息、安排会面上偏袒（play favorites）→ 要做到这种操守（This type of integrity）→ 就需要政府透明方面的严格法律。透明法律的目的是保证接触政府的机会人人平等。STEP 4 · 匹配选项[A] 唤醒官员的良知——法律靠强制执行，不靠唤醒，无据；[B] 保证官方接触上的公平（fair play in official access）——正是"反 play favorites、保 equality of access"的同义改写，当选 B；[C] 允许某种游说——原文只说 lobbying 需要规则，不是"允许游说"这一目的；[D] 激励普通人的希望——无中生有。第 40 题 The author's attitude toward the court's ruling is_______.（态度题）[A] sarcastic.[B] tolerant.[C] skeptical.[D] supportive. ✓STEP 1 · 找定位词author's attitude + the court's ruling。态度题：扫全文作者的评价性形容词。STEP 2 · 找定位句（全文态度线索）第五段："The court's ruling is legally sound..."（裁决在法律上站得住脚）；第七段："Good government rests on..."（正面立论）；第八段（末段，态度的最终落点）："The court's ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism."STEP 3 · 精读legally sound（法律上合理）+ a step forward（向前迈了一步）——作者对裁决的评价全是正面词；第六段"But the ruling reinforces the need..."只是"补充建议"，不是否定。注意区分：作者嫌弃的是麦克唐纳的行为（法院也嫌弃），而非裁决本身。STEP 4 · 匹配选项[A] 讽刺的——作者全程在讲道理，没有反讽；[B] 容忍的——"容忍"意味着勉强接受，与"step forward"的积极评价不符；[C] 怀疑的——作者认可裁决，只是补充了立法建议；[D] 支持的——legally sound + a step forward 双重正面定性，当选 D。文末答案速查
36
37
38
39
40
C
A
C
B
D
方法论复盘：① 习语题（holding its nose）靠画面感——"捏着鼻子做"= 厌恶但照做，四个选项里找"嫌弃"义；② assumption 题直接锁定原文 assumes/assume that 从句，从句内容就是答案；③ 态度题盯全文的评价性形容词（sound、step forward），末段往往是态度的最终落点。 本篇与 Text 3 一样，都出自 2017 英一——两个 Text 合起来看：Text 3 批"GDP 至上"，Text 4 议"合法偏袒"，都是"现象合理 → 追问背后问题"的议论结构。
