英銘國考英文周刊-No.69-閱讀測驗篇 @ 國考應援團(原公職王網路書局)

閱讀測驗是很多考生畏懼的英文題型之一，其實閱讀測驗的解題並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，只要看第一段即可知道文章大概在講什麼內容。此篇文章的第一段中，有提到“four-star general Walter Kerwin” (四星上將Walter Kerwin)、“all-volunteer force” (全募兵)，所以文章一定跟Walter Kerwin與募兵有關喔！跟著英銘老師一步一步來攻略這題閱讀測驗吧！

Four-star general Walter (Dutch) Kerwin, who helped pioneer the

US military’s historic shift to an all-volunteer force in the 1970s, had

seen firsthand the problems that could plague a conscripted army

fighting a modern war. Kerwin was the Army’s personnel chief during

the Vietnam War, grappling with draftees deserting, abusing drugs

and even murdering unpopular commanders. With draftees’ tours

limited to 12 months, military units lost their vital cohesion. In order to

help “bring this level of indiscipline down,” as he told Congress at the

time, Kerwin drafted plans for what became the all-volunteer force

that celebrated its 35th birthday on July 1, 2008.

Kerwin famously spoke of the line that he felt must be drawn

between those in uniform and those they protect. “The values

necessary to defend the society are often at odds with the values of

the society itself,” he said. “The Army must concentrate not on the

values of our liberal society but on the hard values of the battlefield.”

The volunteer Army isn’t without problems—conflicts in Iraq and

Afghanistan have forced it to lower recruiting standards and increase

bonuses to attract and retain soldiers—but with a conscripted force,

the US probably couldn’t have waged the two wars now under way.

Compared with morale during Vietnam, the spirit among US troops

serving in war zones is relatively high—a fact that will no doubt be

Kerwin’s legacy.

( ) 1. When did the United States military begin its all-volunteer force?

( ) 2. How long did American draftees have to serve during the Vietnam War period?

(A) One year. (B) A year and a half. (C) Two years. (D) Three years.

( ) 3. According to the passage, which of the following crimes was not committed by the draftees General Kerwin dealt with?

(A) Deserting. (B) Drug abuse. (C) Murder. (D) Sexual abuse.

( ) 4. Which of the following consequences comes with the all-volunteer forces?

(A) Lower morale. (B) Loss of vital cohesion.

英銘解析

英銘老師：閱讀測驗是很多考生畏懼的英文題型之一，其實閱題測驗的的解題並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，只要看第一段即可知道文章大概在講什麼內容。例如在此篇文章的第一段中，有提到“four-star general Walter Kerwin” (四星上將Walter Kerwin)、“all-volunteer force” (全募兵)，所以文章一定跟Walter Kerwin與募兵有關。

第1題：美軍何時開始全募兵制？根據文章的第10行，可得知在2008年，慶祝35週年慶，2008-35=1973。因此答案是(D)。

完整解析請參考國考專門店英銘國考英文周刊-No.69-閱讀測驗篇