考研英语中的阅读理解题是考验学生阅读理解能力的主要部分，本栏目为大家整理了考研英语2016阅读题精选的内容，希望帮助大家提升阅读理解能力。

PART 1

From the earliest days of the Renaissance, the writing of history meant recounting the exemplary lives of great men. In 1337, Petrarch began work on his rambling writing De Viris Illustribus - On Famous Men, highlighting the virtus (or virtue) of classical heroes. Petrarch celebrated their greatness in conquering fortune and rising to the top. This was the biographical tradition which Niccolo Machiavelli turned on its head. In The Prince, the championed cunning, ruthlessness, and boldness, rather than virtue, mercy and justice, as the skills of successful leaders.

▲闪光词组

描述伟人的典型生活：recount the exemplary lives of great men

强调古典英雄的美德：highlight the virtue of classical heroes

征服命运、奋斗到社会顶层：conquer fortune and rise to the top

宣扬狡诈、无情和无耻：champion cunning , ruthlessness , and boldness

正直、仁慈和公正：virtue , mercy and justice

▲长难句翻译

In 1337, Petrarch began work on his rambling writing De Viris Illustribus - On Famous Men, highlighting the virtus (or virtue) of classical heroes.

1337年，Petrarch 开始撰写杂文《名人传》，强调古典英雄的美德。

PART 2

"Universal history ， the history of what man has accomplished in this world , is at bottom the History of the Great Men who have worked here ,"wrote the Victorian sage Thomas Carlyle. Well , not any more it is not . Suddenly , Britain looks to have fallen out with its favorte historical form.This could be no more than a passing literary craze , but it also points to a broader truth about how we now approach the past : less concerned with learning from forefathers and more interested in feeling their pain . Today , we want empathy , not inspiration.

▲闪光词组

实质上：be at bottom

可能只是：could be no more than X

一时的文学热潮：a passing literary craze

了解过去：approach the past

需要共鸣，而不是启示：want empathy , not inspiration

▲长难句翻译

This could be no more than a passing literary craze , but it also points to a broader truth about how we now approach the past : less concerned with learning from forefathers and more interested in feeling their pain .

这可能只是一时的文学热潮，但同时也揭示了一个更为广泛的真理，指导我们现在应该如何了解过去：不那么着重与向前人学习，对感受他们的痛苦更感兴趣。

编辑老师为大家整理的考研英语2016阅读题精选到此结束，希望对大家有所帮助!更多相关内容关注精品学习网英语辅导栏目。

相关推荐：

2016考研英语试卷题型与分值辅导

考研英语2016年冲刺周计划安排

2016年考研英语与英语六级区别是什么