ARTICLE · 1342498
2021 年英语二· Text 3 真题精讲
2021 考研英语（二）· Text 3 · 阅读精讲
大科技公司的收购与扼杀
Big Tech Acquisitions · 答案：C D A A A
长难句标注说明：谓语动词红色加粗 ／ 连词蓝色加粗 ／ 定语从句黄色荧光 ／ 宾语从句绿色荧光 ／ 状语从句橙色荧光 ／ 同位语从句紫色荧光
PART 1 · 全文翻译与长难句精析 |
第一段 |
【原文】
WhenMicrosoft bought task management app Wunderlist and mobile calendar Sunrise in 2015, it picked two newcomers thatwere attracting considerable buzz in Silicon Valley.
Microsoft's own Office dominates the market for "productivity" software, but the start-ups represented a new wave of technology designed from the ground up for the smartphone world.
【译文】
2015年微软收购任务管理应用Wunderlist和移动日历Sunrise时，它挑选了两个在硅谷引起相当大轰动的新秀。微软自己的Office主导着"生产力"软件市场，但这些初创公司代表了一股从底层专为智能手机世界设计的新技术浪潮。
【长难句精析】
长难句① WhenMicrosoft bought task management app Wunderlist and mobile calendar Sunrise in 2015, it picked two newcomers thatwere attracting considerable buzz in Silicon Valley. 结构：When 引导时间状语从句（橙色）；主句 it picked two newcomers；that 引导定语从句（黄色）修饰 newcomers。 译文：2015年微软收购任务管理应用Wunderlist和移动日历Sunrise时，它挑选了两个在硅谷引起相当大轰动的新秀。 |
【生词短语】
task management app 任务管理应用mobile calendar 移动日历newcomer 新秀，新来者attract buzz 引起轰动Silicon Valley 硅谷dominate 主导，统治productivity software 生产力软件start-up 初创公司from the ground up 从底层，从头开始
第二段 |
【原文】
Both apps, however, were later scrappedafterMicrosoft saidit had used their best features in its own products.
Their teams of engineers stayed on, making them two of the many "acqui-hires" that the biggest companies have used to feed their great hunger for tech talent.
【译文】
然而，这两个应用后来都被废弃了，此前微软表示已经将它们的最佳功能用在了自己的产品中。它们的工程师团队留了下来，使它们成为众多"收购式招聘"中的两个，大公司利用这种手段来满足其对技术人才的巨大渴望。
【长难句精析】
长难句② Their teams of engineers stayed on, making them two of the many "acqui-hires" that the biggest companies have used to feed their great hunger for tech talent. 结构：主句 Their teams of engineers stayed on；making them... 现在分词短语作结果状语；that 引导定语从句（黄色）修饰 acqui-hires，to feed... 不定式作目的状语。 译文：它们的工程师团队留了下来，使它们成为众多"收购式招聘"中的两个，大公司利用这种手段来满足其对技术人才的巨大渴望。 |
【生词短语】
scrap 废弃，淘汰acqui-hire 收购式招聘（为获人才而收购）feed hunger for 满足对…的渴望tech talent 技术人才
第三段 |
【原文】
To Microsoft's critics, the fates of Wunderlist and Sunrise are examples of a remorseless drive by Big Tech to chew up any innovative companies thatlie in their path.
"They bought the seedlings and closed them down," complained Paul Arnold, a partner at San Francisco-based Switch Ventures, putting an end to businesses thatmight one day turn into competitors.
Microsoft declined to comment.
【译文】
对微软的批评者来说，Wunderlist和Sunrise的命运是大科技公司无情地吞噬任何挡在它们道路上的创新公司的例证。"他们买下幼苗然后把它们关闭，"总部位于旧金山的Switch Ventures合伙人Paul Arnold抱怨道，终结了那些有朝一日可能成为竞争对手的业务。微软拒绝置评。
【长难句精析】
长难句③ To Microsoft's critics, the fates of Wunderlist and Sunrise are examples of a remorseless drive by Big Tech to chew up any innovative companies thatlie in their path. 结构：主句 the fates... are examples of a remorseless drive；to chew up... 不定式作定语修饰 drive；that 引导定语从句（黄色）修饰 companies。 译文：对微软的批评者来说，Wunderlist和Sunrise的命运是大科技公司无情地吞噬任何挡在它们道路上的创新公司的例证。 |
【生词短语】
critic 批评者fate 命运remorseless 无情的，不屈不挠的Big Tech 大型科技公司chew up 吞噬，嚼碎innovative 创新的seedling 幼苗（喻初创公司）put an end to 终结，结束competitor 竞争对手decline to comment 拒绝置评
第四段 |
【原文】
Like other start-up investors, Mr. Arnold's own business often dependson selling start-ups to larger tech companies,thoughhe admitsto mixed feelings about the result: "Ithinkthese thingsaregood for me,ifI putmy selfish hat on.Butarethey good for the American economy? Idon't know."
【译文】
像其他初创公司投资者一样，Arnold先生自己的业务常常依赖于将初创公司卖给更大的科技公司，尽管他承认对结果心情复杂："我认为这些事情对我有利，如果我戴上自私的帽子的话。但它们对美国经济有利吗？我不知道。"
【生词短语】
investor 投资者depend on 依赖于admit to 承认mixed feelings 心情复杂put one's selfish hat on 从自私角度考虑economy 经济
第五段 |
【原文】
The US Federal Trade Commission saysit wants to find the answer to that question.
This week, it asked the five most valuable US tech companies for information about their many small acquisitions over the past decade.
Althoughonly a research project at this stage, the request has raised the prospect of regulators wading into early-stage tech markets that until now have been beyond their reach.
【译文】
美国联邦贸易委员会表示想找到这个问题的答案。本周，它要求美国最有价值的五家科技公司提供关于它们过去十年中许多小收购的信息。虽然目前只是一个研究项目，但这一要求提高了监管机构涉足早期科技市场的前景，而这些市场到目前为止一直超出了它们的触及范围。
【长难句精析】
长难句④ Althoughonly a research project at this stage, the request has raised the prospect of regulators wading into early-stage tech markets that until now have been beyond their reach. 结构：Although 引导让步状语从句（橙色），省略了 it is（Although [it is] only a research project...）；主句 the request has raised the prospect；of regulators wading into... 为介词+动名词短语作定语；that 引导定语从句（黄色）修饰 markets。 译文：虽然目前只是一个研究项目，但这一要求提高了监管机构涉足早期科技市场的前景，而这些市场到目前为止一直超出了它们的触及范围。 |
【生词短语】
Federal Trade Commission 联邦贸易委员会acquisition 收购decade 十年research project 研究项目raise the prospect of 提高…的前景regulator 监管机构wade into 涉足，介入early-stage 早期的beyond one's reach 超出…触及范围
第六段 |
【原文】
Given their combined market value of more than $5.5 trillion, rifling through such small deals—many of whichmuch less prominent than Wunderlist and Sunrise—might seem beside the point.
Between them, the five biggest tech companies have spent an average of only $3.4 billion a year on sub-$1 billion acquisitions over the past five years—a drop in the ocean compared with their massive financial reserves, and the more than $130 billion of venture capital thatwas invested in the US last year.
【译文】
鉴于它们合计超过5.5万亿美元的市值，翻阅这样小的交易——其中许多比Wunderlist和Sunrise还不起眼——似乎无关紧要。五大科技公司之间在过去五年中每年在10亿美元以下的收购上平均只花费34亿美元——与它们庞大的财务储备以及去年在美国投资的超过1300亿美元的风险资本相比，这只是沧海一粟。
【生词短语】
combined market value 合计市值trillion 万亿rifle through 翻阅，搜寻prominent 显著的，引人注目的beside the point 无关紧要，离题on average 平均a drop in the ocean 沧海一粟financial reserve 财务储备venture capital 风险资本
第七段 |
【原文】
However, critics saythe big companies use such deals to buy their most threatening potential competitors beforetheir businesses have a chance to gain momentum, in some cases as part of a "buy and kill" tactic to simply close them down.
【译文】
然而，批评者说，大公司利用此类交易在潜在竞争对手的业务有机会获得发展势头之前买下它们，在某些情况下作为"收购并扼杀"策略的一部分，直接将它们关闭。
【长难句精析】
长难句⑤ However, critics saythe big companies use such deals to buy their most threatening potential competitors beforetheir businesses have a chance to gain momentum, in some cases as part of a "buy and kill" tactic to simply close them down. 结构：主句 critics say 后接省略 that 的宾语从句（绿色）；宾语从句中 before 引导时间状语从句（橙色）；as part of... 介词短语作方式状语；to simply close them down 不定式作定语修饰 tactic。 译文：然而，批评者说，大公司利用此类交易在潜在竞争对手的业务有机会获得发展势头之前买下它们，在某些情况下作为"收购并扼杀"策略的一部分，直接将它们关闭。 |
【生词短语】
threatening 有威胁的potential competitor 潜在竞争对手gain momentum 获得发展势头tactic 策略，战术buy and kill 收购并扼杀close down 关闭
PART 2 · 阅读做题精讲（STEP 四步法） |
答案速览：C D A A A |
第 31 题 |
What is true about Wunderlist and Sunrise after their acquisitions?
A. Their market values declined.B. Their tech features improved.C. Their engineers were retained.D. Their products were re-priced.
STEP 1 · 找定位词 定位词：Wunderlist and Sunrise / after their acquisitions（第二段） |
STEP 2 · 找定位句 "Both apps, however, were later scrapped after Microsoft said it had used their best features in its own products. Their teams of engineers stayed on..." |
STEP 3 · 精读定位句 收购后两个 app 被 scrapped（废弃），但其"工程师团队留了下来"（Their teams of engineers stayed on）。stayed on = retained（留用）。 |
STEP 4 · 匹配选项 ✓ C Their engineers were retained.（他们的工程师被留用）——stayed on = retained✗ A 市值下降——文章未提及市值变化✗ B 技术特征改进——文章说功能被微软"使用"在自己的产品中，不是改进原产品✗ D 产品重新定价——文章未提及定价 |
第 32 题 |
Microsoft's critics believe that the big tech companies tend to _____.
A. ignore public opinionsB. treat new tech talent unfairlyC. exaggerate their product qualityD. eliminate their potential competitors
STEP 1 · 找定位词 定位词：Microsoft's critics / big tech companies tend to（第三段） |
STEP 2 · 找定位句 "the fates of Wunderlist and Sunrise are examples of a remorseless drive by Big Tech to chew up any innovative companies that lie in their path... putting an end to businesses that might one day turn into competitors." |
STEP 3 · 精读定位句 批评者观点：Big Tech"chew up"（吞噬）创新公司 + "putting an end to businesses that might one day turn into competitors"（终结可能成为竞争对手的业务）。核心 = 消灭潜在竞争对手。 |
STEP 4 · 匹配选项 ✓ D eliminate their potential competitors（消除潜在竞争对手）——chew up + put an end to businesses that might turn into competitors = eliminate potential competitors✗ A 忽视公众意见——文章未提及公众意见✗ B 不公平对待新技术人才——文章讲的是消灭竞争对手，不是对待人才✗ C 夸大产品质量——文章未提及产品质量 |
第 33 题 |
Paul Arnold is concerned that small acquisitions might _____.
A. harm the national economyB. worsen market competitionC. discourage start-up investorsD. weaken big tech companies
STEP 1 · 找定位词 定位词：Paul Arnold / concerned / small acquisitions（第四段） |
STEP 2 · 找定位句 "I think these things are good for me, if I put my selfish hat on. But are they good for the American economy? I don't know." |
STEP 3 · 精读定位句 Arnold 的逻辑：从自私角度（selfish hat）看对自己有利（good for me）→ 但反问"are they good for the American economy? I don't know"（对美国经济有利吗？我不知道）。"I don't know"的迟疑 = 对国民经济可能有害的担忧。 |
STEP 4 · 匹配选项 ✓ A harm the national economy（损害国民经济）——"are they good for the American economy? I don't know" = 担忧可能损害经济✗ B 恶化市场竞争——Arnold 说的是 economy（经济），不是 competition（竞争）✗ C 打击初创投资者——Arnold 自己是投资者，说"good for me"，不是被打击✗ D 削弱大科技公司——文章未提及大科技公司被削弱 |
第 34 题 |
The US Federal Trade Commission intends to _____.
A. examine small acquisitionsB. limit Big Tech's expansionC. supervise start-ups' operationsD. encourage research collaboration
STEP 1 · 找定位词 定位词：US Federal Trade Commission / intends to（第五段） |
STEP 2 · 找定位句 "This week, it asked the five most valuable US tech companies for information about their many small acquisitions over the past decade." |
STEP 3 · 精读定位句 FTC 的行动：要求五大科技公司提供过去十年"many small acquisitions"（许多小收购）的信息。要求提供信息 = 审查/调查这些小收购。虽然目前是 research project（研究项目），但目的就是 examine（审查）。 |
STEP 4 · 匹配选项 ✓ A examine small acquisitions（审查小收购）——asked for information about small acquisitions = examine✗ B 限制大科技公司扩张——这是潜在后果，当前只是 research project，尚未限制✗ C 监督初创企业运营——FTC 调查的是大公司的收购行为，不是初创企业运营✗ D 鼓励研究合作——"research project"指FTC自己的研究，不是鼓励合作 |
第 35 题 |
For the five biggest tech companies, their small acquisitions have _____.
A. brought little financial pressureB. raised few management challengesC. set an example for future dealsD. generated considerable profits
STEP 1 · 找定位词 定位词：five biggest tech companies / small acquisitions（第六段） |
STEP 2 · 找定位句 "Between them, the five biggest tech companies have spent an average of only $3.4 billion a year on sub-$1 billion acquisitions over the past five years—a drop in the ocean compared with their massive financial reserves, and the more than $130 billion of venture capital that was invested in the US last year." |
STEP 3 · 精读定位句 关键数据：每年平均仅花 34 亿美元在小收购上；与"massive financial reserves"（庞大财务储备）相比只是"a drop in the ocean"（沧海一粟）。花费极少 + 储备庞大 = 几乎没有财务压力。 |
STEP 4 · 匹配选项 ✓ A brought little financial pressure（几乎没有带来财务压力）——a drop in the ocean compared with massive financial reserves = little financial pressure✗ B 很少带来管理挑战——文章讲的是财务规模，不是管理挑战✗ C 为未来交易树立榜样——文章未提及榜样作用✗ D 产生可观利润——文章说"花费少"，不是说"利润高" |
文末答案速查 C — D — A — A — A |
