Questions 20-30
1 \) H8 a( Q8 h' L2 M- A# }1 G7 PA survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire, that provides7 s' p0 ~5 E3 O' `. [
information concerning how people think and act. In the United States, the best-known% S! a. x; ]. o; n1 _
surveys are the Gallup poll and the Harris poll. As anyone who watches the news during Line $ Q/ w, ^# N4 r- M m
campaigns presidential knows, these polls have become an important part of political life in
0 i# x5 e7 b# a(5) the United States.
4 p5 ?8 l6 x; O: ^) h0 R* c- H2 }1 JNorth Americans are familiar with the many "person on the street? interviews on local/ Y5 C- \" f& v* e
television news shows. While such interviews can be highly entertaining, they are not2 f+ C+ k2 L6 v
necessarily an accurate indication of public opinion. First, they reflect the opinions of only9 G" `" J3 S; O4 _
those people who appear at a certain location. Thus, such samples can be biased in favor$ K. }+ R+ [, h5 e( G
(10) of commuters, middle-class shoppers, or factory workers, depending On which area the
" {3 b1 t) p/ Bnewspeople select. Second, television interviews tend to attract outgoing people who are) p7 ]. x5 c: d- ~( r- u+ j
willing to appear on the air, while they frighten away others who may feel intimidated by% k4 V% P& V9 U% D, ?# j$ T
a camera. A survey must be based on a precise, representative sampling if it is to genuinely* Y% _& X" m" _+ c4 v3 F
reflect a broad range of the population.: j8 u4 }: [8 }- t# k6 s$ V
(15) In preparing to conduct a survey, sociologists must exercise great care in the wording
3 P4 T2 C O- D- _# Gof questions. An effective survey question must be simple and clear enough for people to
% I5 Q" O1 A* F6 C v* L; d2 Q5 Aunderstand it. It must also be specific enough so that there are no problems in interpreting
9 L- U+ _0 \! ^! {- O5 ?' r, Vthe results. Even questions that are less structured must be carefully phrased in order to elicit" z! [! x# Y I# P# E q+ E
the type of information desired. Surveys can be indispensable sources of information, but
- A, \6 F! D$ v% I/ _" a" u4 h(20) only if the sampling is done properly and the questions are worded accurately.& F& I6 t9 d2 v
There are two main forms of surveys: the interview and the questionnaire. Each of these, N2 z+ |- M2 i1 s
forms of survey research has its advantages. An interviewer can obtain a high response rate
& \9 G8 q# T6 @+ F; fbecause people find it more difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than+ y# V/ C! S/ \# ]% N+ j
to throw away a written questionnaire. In addition, an interviewer can go beyond written1 q" e! m; K9 R; Z! G8 ]1 i$ z4 u
(25) questions and probe for a subject's underlying feelings and reasons. However, questionnaires
% K! u; J: n5 j( g+ g4 qhave the advantage of being cheaper and more consistent.
& J& K) a$ g$ U, s% l 4 n5 w3 X4 \0 L& l" ]4 s
$ }4 y9 i3 o" Q
' j6 N0 h) i! F& e0 B4 ~
6 e3 q5 f% G5 N& Z& Z" S6 @$ h20. What does the passage mainly discuss?" W3 J1 t- ~, P d
(A) The history of surveys in North America% V0 f# z; N3 z% |' D- e( T. S
(B) The principles of conducting surveys, a4 K* s8 T& D5 R
(C) Problems associated with interpreting surveys
: M8 n8 k% y9 q(D) The importance of polls in American political life
" Y0 M9 j# Q$ X7 Q ; G ?& n: l- L5 @
21. The word "they" in line 8 refers to
& e0 Q# ^; G& k: W(A) North Americans: e0 |* i) p2 |/ T6 M* f' P3 O1 z
(B) news shows
4 r1 i' d H/ k(C) interviews9 P7 ^- ~. D: U* F9 k
(D) opinions |
发表于 2012-8-14 22:34:35
楼主