雅思阅读材料，希望对各位考生的备考有所帮助，祝每位烤鸭考试顺利，都能取得好成绩!
雅思阅读材料一：材料
In the earliest stages of man’s development he had no more need of money than animals have. He was content with very simple forms of shelter, made his own rough tools and weapons and could provide food and clothing for himself and his family from natural materials around him. As he became more civilized, however, he began to want better shelter, more efficient tools and weapons, and more comfortable and more lasting clothing than could be provided by his own neighborhood or by the work of his own unskilled hands. For these things he had to turn to the skilled people such as smiths, leather workers or carpenters. It was then that the question of payment arose.
At first he got what he wanted by a simple process of exchange. The smith who had not the time to look after land or cattle was glad to take meat or grain from the farmer in exchange for an axe or a plough. But as more and more goods which had no fixed exchange value came on the market, exchange became too complicated to be satisfactory. Another problem arose when those who made things wanted to get stocks of wood or leather, or iron, but had nothing to offer in exchange until their finished goods were ready.
Thus the difficulties of exchange led by degrees to the invention of money. In some countries easily handled things like seeds or shells were given a certain value and the farmer, instead of paying the smith for a new axe by giving him some meat or grain, gave him so many shells. If the smith had any shells left when he had bought his food, he could get stocks of the raw materials of his trade. In some countries quite large things such as cows or camels or even big flat stones were used for trade. Later, pieces of metal, bearing values according to the rarity of the metal and the size of the pieces, or coins were used. Money as we know it had arrived....#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料一：工业革命和茶
In 1947 at 6 years of age, Macfarlane, the son of a tea planter in Assam, came to England and the difference between Third World India and the homeland hit him hard. He remembers, "From the cosy, warm outpost, I arrived in the depths of one of the coldest winters. Britain was more efficient but seemed to have lost some of the emotion and warmth of the place I had come from. Ever since then, I have wanted to know how these two worlds could have diverged so". The difference he guessed was down to industrialisation, which brought him round to the question; how did the Industrial Revolution come about?
For historians there was one interesting factor around the mid-18th century that required explanation. Between about 1650-1740, the population was static, but then there was a burst in population. Macfarlane says "The infant mortality rate halved in the space of 20 years, and this happened in both rural areas and cities, and across all classes." Four possible causes have been suggested; was there a sudden change in the viruses and bacteria around? -unlikely. Was there a revolution in medical science?- this was a century before Listers revolution. Was there a change in environmental conditions? - there were improvements in agriculture that wiped out malaria, but these were small gains and sanitation did not become wide spreads until the 19th century. The only option left is food, however the height and weight statistics show a decline at this time, so food actually got worse and efforts to explain the sudden reduction in child deaths appeared to draw a blank....#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料三：蜜蜂与杀虫剂
IN THE winter of 2006 beekeepers in America noticed something odd—lots of their hives were dying for no obvious reason. As the months passed, reports of similar phenomena began coming in from their European counterparts. Mystified scientists coined the label “colony collapse disorder” (CCD) to describe what was happening. Since then, much brow-sweat has been expended trying to work out just what CCD really is.
2006年冬，美国养蜂人注意到奇怪的现象，他们的蜜蜂成批死掉，原因不明。几个月后，类似的现象也出现在欧洲同行的报告上。困惑的科学家们给这个现象贴上了“蜂群衰竭失调”(CCD)的标签。自那时起，为揭开CCD的面纱，人们不知道多少次抹去额头的汗水。
Dying bees are a problem, and not just for apiarists. Bees pollinate many of the world’s crops—a service estimated to be worth $15 billion a year in America alone. And there is no shortage of theories to explain the insects’ decline. Climate change, habitat destruction, a paralysing virus, fungal infection and even a plague of parasitic mites have all been proposed. But one of the leading ideas is that the bees are suffering from the effects of neonicotinoids, a class of commonly used pesticides, introduced in the 1990s, which are toxic to insects but much less so to mammals.
蜜蜂之死不仅令养蜂家头痛。蜜蜂给世界上的很多庄稼授粉，仅在美国，这种服务每年价值150亿美元。尽管对蜜蜂数量下降的原因提出了形形色色的理论，如气候变化、栖息地遭破坏、麻痹病毒、霉菌感染，甚至还有寄生虫肆虐。但其中一个主导观点是蜜蜂正在遭受新烟碱的侵害，二十世纪九十年代人们引入这种杀虫剂，它对昆虫有毒，但对哺乳动物的毒性较小，使用范围广泛。#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料四：拍照
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR TIPS TO LOOK SKINNY IN PICTURES. by Lyndsie
It’s not that I’m necessarily unhappy with my body, but if I’m going to be showing a picture to the world (or my world, at least) on Facebook or what have you, I want to look my best. I want to know how to pose, how to find my best angles, and all the things they try to teach you on America’s Next Top Model. I’m no Tyra Banks, but if you’re in the same boat, then I’ve got some excellent tips to look skinny in pictures you may be able to use!
1. Get the Camera above You 将镜头置于头顶
A lot of tips to look skinny in pictures are actually subtle little tricks that any photographer can use. One such trick is to make sure that the camera above you. You don’t have to place it incredibly high; you can just hold it above your head or place it on a shelf that’s taller than you. Because of the angle, you’ll need to look up, which elongates your neck and makes you look wonderfully slim。
2. Watch Your Head 看着你的头部
The position of your head actually makes a huge difference about how you look in a picture. You shouldn’t pull your head back at an angle, for instance. That can make your chin look longer, so even if you’re thin, your face will look much bigger. Instead, position your head forward; even if you have a double chin, that will minimize it and create the illusion of slimness。
3. Twist It 扭动身体
Positioning your body correctly is another great tip to look skinny in pictures. You don’t want to face the camera full on, because no matter what, that’s going to make you look larger. Keep your spine straight and your shoulders squared, and twist yourself away from the lens. You can instead turn halfway to the side, put one foot in front of your other one, and keep that toe pointing toward the camera, while your weight rests on your other foot。#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料五：苹果致歉信
Dear Chinese consumers:
致尊敬的中国消费者：
Over the past two weeks we have been receiving lot of feedback about Apple’s repair and warranty policy in China. We have thought deeply about those points of view and together with the relevant government departments carefully studied our “Three Guarantees” policy. We have also reviewed how we communicate about our maintenance policy and checked our management of our Apple authorized service providers. We are aware that a lack of communication during this process has led to the perception that Apple is arrogant and doesn’t care or attach enough importance to consumer feedback. We express our sincere apologies for any concerns or misunderstandings this gave consumers.
在过去的两周里，我们收到了许多关于Apple在中国维修和保修政策的反馈。我们不仅对这些意见进行了深刻的反思，与相关部门一起仔细研究了 “三包” 规定，还审视了我们维修政策的沟通方式，并梳理了我们对Apple授权服务提供商的管理规范。我们意识到，由于在此过程中对外沟通不足而导致外界认为Apple态度傲慢，不在意或不重视消费者的反馈。对于由此给消费者带来的任何顾虑或误会，我们表示诚挚的歉意。
In order to further improve our level of service, we are implementing the following four major adjustments:
为了进一步提高服务水平，我们正在实施以下四项重大调整：
[We will] improve the repair policy for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.
改进iPhone 4和iPhone 4S维修政策
[We will] provide a concise and clear repair and warranty policy statement on Apple’s official website.
在Apple官方网站上提供简洁清晰的维修和保修政策说明
[We will] increase the supervision and training given to Apple’s authorized service providers.
加大力度监督和培训Apple授权服务提供商
[We will] make sure that consumers can easily contact Apple for feedback on our service and other related issues.
确保消费者能够便捷地联系Apple以反馈服务的相关问题#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料六：美国侦探小说大师的阅读清单
The author of the V. I. Warshawski novels, most recently "Critical Mass," was hugely influenced by "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man": "I felt as though I'd fallen into words and wanted to drown in them."
“女侦探沃莎斯基"系列小说的作者深受《一个青年艺术家的画像》的影响：“我感觉自己好像掉进了文字里，想一直沉浸在其中。"她最近出版了《临界物质》一书。
What books are currently on your night stand?
你的床头柜上现在放着什么书?
I'm trying hard to read Thomas Piketty's "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" but keep returning to fiction. Right now: John Williams's "Stoner," Claude Izner's "Strangled in Paris."
我努力想读托马斯·皮克迪的《二十一世纪资本论》，但总想转去看小说。现在正在看的是约翰·威廉姆斯的《斯托纳》和克劳德·艾兹内的《巴黎扼杀案》。
Who is your favorite novelist of all time? And your favorite novelist writing today?
有史以来你最喜欢的小说家是谁?现在仍在写作的小说家中你最喜欢的是谁?
I don't have an all-time favorite. There are books I reread or wish I'd written. I love the Victorians: Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, in that order. I loved "Gilead" and "Wolf Hall," which is a staggering achievement. I reread Barbara Pym and Jane Austen and my old detective favorites when I'm stressed out.
我没有最喜欢的小说家。有些小说我会反复读，希望是自己写的。我很喜欢维多利亚时代的小说家：依次是伊丽莎白·盖斯凯尔、查尔斯·狄更斯和乔治·艾略特。我很喜欢《基列家书》和《狼厅》，后者是了不起的成就。压力大的时候，我会重读芭芭拉·皮姆和简·奥斯汀的小说以及我最喜欢的老侦探小说。
Who are your favorite writers of detective fiction?
你最喜欢的侦探小说作家是谁?
Margery Allingham among the classics. Peter Dickinson, Dorothy Salisbury Davis, Dorothy Hughes.
玛格丽·阿林厄姆是其中一位经典作家。还有彼得·迪金森、多萝西·索尔兹伯里·戴维斯和多萝西·休斯。
Which do you consider the best detective stories of all time, and why?
你认为有史以来最好的侦探故事是哪些?为什么?
Anna Katharine Green, for defining the consulting detective for the 19th century; Wilkie Collins, for playing with the form and transforming it; Dashiell Hammett, for reinventing the form for the 20th century; the Holmes oeuvre, for making detective fiction popular in both Great Britain and America; Amanda Cross and Lillian O'Donnell, for opening the door that enabled Marcia Muller, Linda Barnes, Sue Grafton and me to challenge the form in new ways.
安娜·凯瑟琳·格林描绘了19世纪的顾问侦探;威尔基·科林斯尝试并改造了这个题材;达希尔·哈米特在20世纪重新创作了该题材;福尔摩斯系列让侦探小说在英国和美国都很流行;阿曼达·克罗斯和莉莲·奥唐奈打开了一扇门，让马西娅·马勒、琳达·巴尔内斯、苏·格拉夫顿和我能够用新的方式挑战这种题材。
What makes a good detective novel?
怎样才能写出一部好看的侦探小说?
Believable characters first, a good story, an understanding of how to pace dramatic action. I like commitment by a writer, to the form, to the story — there are lots of slick writers of crime fiction who aren't writing out of passion, but for the market. They write good English sentences, but for me, the lack of commitment makes them uninteresting.
首先要有可信的人物，然后得有个好故事，而且要知道如何推动情节发展。我喜欢作家的投入，对这种题材和这个故事的投入——有很多圆滑的犯罪小说作家不是出于热爱而是为了市场写作。他们写出了很好的英文句子，但是在我看来，他们不够投入，所以写出的小说没有趣味。
Of the books you've written, which is your favorite?
你最喜欢自己写的哪本小说?
My books all have different strengths and weaknesses, but if I had to choose, I'd pick "Hardball." It's very personal because the back story is in the civil rights movement in Chicago in the 1960s. That's when I first came here, working as a volunteer on the city's extremely turbulent South Side.
我的书各有优缺点，但是如果我必须选一本的话，我会选《强硬手段》。它非常有个人色彩，因为它是以20世纪60年代芝加哥的民权运动为背景的。那时候我刚到这里，在极度混乱的南区做志愿者。
You earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. Do you still enjoy reading history? Who are your favorite historians to read?
你在芝加哥大学获得了历史学博士学位。现在你还喜欢读历史学方面的书吗?你最喜欢读哪些史学家的作品?
Richard Hofstadter was a great stylist; 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of his "Paranoid Style in American Politics," which is as insightful a dissection of our country today as it was when he first published it. My dissertation dealt with the 19th-century roots of fundamentalism in America. I read a fair amount of natural history as background — Darwin, some of the early geologists, a lot of the moral philosophers. I still like to read natural history — Neil Shubin's "Your Inner Fish" is also on my night stand.
理查德·霍夫施塔特有独特的风格。。这本书是对我们国家的深刻剖析，和它刚出版时一样意义重大。我的学位论文与19世纪美国基要主义的根源有关。为此我读了大量自然历史方面的书——达尔文的书、一些早期地质学家的书和很多道德哲学家的书。现在我仍然喜欢读自然历史方面的书，尼尔·舒宾的《你是怎么来的》也在我的床头柜上。
What do you like to read when you travel?
你旅行的时候喜欢读什么书?
Partway through "Wolf Hall" I went to England on tour. I carried that big, fat book across the Atlantic, couldn't wait to finish my events so I could go back to it — I'd read until I couldn't keep my eyes open.
《狼厅》读到一半时，我去英国旅行。我带着那本厚重的书越过大西洋，往往是活动还没结束我就迫不及待地想回去读它，一直读到眼睛睁不开才停下来。
What do you like reading right before bed?
你喜欢在入睡前读什么书?
Short stories, mostly. Joan Wickersham's "The News From Spain" and Jaan Kross's "The Conspiracy" are two that I've just finished. I have insomnia, and sometimes at 3 in the morning, I read from "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon," a journal kept by a woman at the 11th-century Japanese imperial court, and then write in my own journal in her style: Seven Things That Bring Me Pleasure; Eight Things Over Which I Have No Control.
大多是短篇小说。我刚读完的两本——琼·威克沙姆的《来自西班牙的消息》和扬·克罗斯的《阴谋》。我经常失眠，有时会在凌晨3点读清少纳言的《枕草子》，它是11世纪日本宫廷的一个女子写的日记，然后我也用她的风格写日记：给我带来快乐的七件事;我完全无法控制的八件事。
What kind of reader were you as a child?#p#副标题#e#
雅思阅读材料七：西方酝酿抵制2018年俄罗斯世界杯
Could the 2018 World Cup prove more effective at persuading Russian president Vladimir Putin than an increasingly long list of economic sanctions? For the first time since the Ukraine crisis began nine months ago, EU diplomats are actively considering the idea.
要说服俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔普京，抵制2018年世界杯足球赛会不会比越来越长的经济制裁清单更有效?自乌克兰危机在9个月前爆发以来，欧盟外交官第一次积极考虑这个想法。
According to an options paper circulated in European capitals yesterday, the EU is considering whether to recommend suspending Russia from “high-profile international cultural, economic or sporting events” including Formula One races, European football competitions and the next World Cup, awarded in 2010 to Russia.
根据在欧洲各国首都传阅的一份选项文件，欧盟正在考虑是否推荐暂停俄罗斯参与或者举办“引人注目的国际文化、经济或者体育活动”，包括F1赛车、欧洲的足球比赛以及俄罗斯在2010年赢得主办权的下一届世界杯。
Diplomats said a of the World Cup would not be among new sanctions to be agreed by the end of the week. But during a meeting of EU ambassadors on Monday,
外交官们表示，本周即将商定的新制裁措施不会包含抵制世界杯。不过，在周一举行的欧盟大使会议上，有几个成员国的代表团(尤其是爱沙尼亚和立陶宛)。
several delegations, particularly Estonia and Lithuania, showed great enthusiasm for the idea. According to the options paper, “thought could also be given to taking co-ordinated action” on a sporting ban once new sanctions are decided.
对这个想法表现出极大热情。根据上述选项文件，一旦决定新的制裁，“也可以考虑采取协同行动”实施体育禁赛。
“This kind of discussion is timely, as we do not see goodwill from the Russian side,” said a Latvian diplomat.
“这种讨论是适时的，因为我们没有看到俄方的善意，”一名拉脱维亚外交官说。
After the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US led a of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, setting a precedent for using international sporting events as a proxy for geopolitical brinkmanship. Four years later, the Soviets retaliated, leading an Eastern bloc of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
1979年苏联入侵阿富汗后，美国带头抵制1980年莫斯科奥运会，。4年后，苏联采取了报复行动，带领东欧国家对1984年洛杉矶奥运会进行了联合抵制。
“Boycotting a prestigious international sports event has a distinctively Cold War feel to it,” said Mujtaba Rahman, head of European analysis at the Eurasia Group risk consultancy. “This will sting the Russians far more than anything the EU will do on finance this round.”
“抵制一项富有声望的国际体育赛事明显带有一种冷战的意味，”风险咨询公司欧亚集团欧洲分析主管穆杰塔巴拉赫曼说，“这对俄罗斯人造成的刺激将远远超过欧盟这一轮制裁的金融打击力度。”
Fifa said it stood by a statement made in response to the downing of flight MH17 in July that hosting the World Cup “can be a powerful catalyst for constructive dialogue between people and governments”.
国际足联表示，依然支持7月份马航MH17航班被击落后其做出的声明，即举办世界杯“可以作为促使各国人民和政府开展建设性对话的强大催化剂”。
The recommended economic sanctions to be debated by the European Commission today before being sent to national capitals for approval by the end of the week would expand the ban on Russian companies accessing European capital markets, currently limited to Russia’s large state-owned banks, to the country’s defence and government-owned energy groups.
今天欧盟委员会将围绕推荐的经济制裁措施展开辩论，本周晚些时候这些制裁措施将提交给各国首都审批。这次的经济制裁措施将扩大针对俄罗斯企业进入欧洲资本市场的禁令范围，目前这项禁令仅限于俄罗斯的大型国有银行、该国军工集团和国有控股的能源集团。