单项选择题
By "the tables have turned" (Lines 3～4, Para.2) the author implies that ______.
| "The word ’protection’ is no longer
taboo (禁忌语)" This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy
late last month, may have launched a new era in economic history. Why For
decades, Western leaders have believed that lowering trade barriers and tariffs
was a natural good. Doing so, they reasoned, would lead to greater economic
efficiency and productivity, which in turn would improve human welfare.
Championing free trade thus became a moral, not just an economic,
cause. These leaders, of course, weren’t acting out of unselfishness. They knew their economies were the most competitive, so they’d profit most from liberalization. And developing countries feared that their economies would be swamped by superior Western productivity. Today, however, the tables have turned—though few acknowledge it. The West continues to preach free trade, but practices it less and less. Asia, meanwhile, continues to plead for special protection but practices more and more free trade. That’s why Sarkozy’s words were so important: he finally injected some honesty into the trade debate. The truth is that large parts of the West are losing faith in free trade, though few leaders admit it. Some economists are more honest. Paul Krugman is one of the few willing to acknowledge that protectionist arguments are returning. In the short run, there will be winners and losers under free trade. This, of course, is what capitalism is all about. But more and more of these losers will be in the West. Economists in the developed world used to love quoting Joseph Schumpeter, who said that "creative destruction" was an essential part of capitalist growth. But they always assumed that destruction would happen over there. When Western workers began losing jobs, suddenly their leaders began to lose faith in their principles. Things have yet to reverse completely. But there’s clearly a negative trend in Western theory and practice. A little hypocrisy (虚伪) is not in itself a serious problem. The real problem is that Western governments continue to insist that they retain control of the key global economic and financial institutions while drifting away from global liberalization. Look at what’s happening at the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The Europeans have demanded that they keep the post of managing director. But all too often, Western officials put their own interests above everyone else’s when they dominate these global institutions. The time has therefore come for the Asians—who are clearly the new winners in today’s global economy—to provide more intellectual leadership in supporting free trade. Sadly, they have yet to do so. Unless Asians speak out, however, there’s a real danger that Adam Smith’s principles, which have brought so much good to the world, could gradually die. And that would leave all of us worse off, in one way or another. |
A．the Western leaders have turned self-centered
B．the Asian leaders have become advocates of free trade
C．the developed economies have turned less competitive
D．the developing economies have become more independent
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你可能感兴趣的试题
1.单项选择题
| Olympic Games are held every four years
at a different site, in which athletes (21) different
nations compete against each other in a (22) of sports.
There are two types of Olympics, the Summer Olympics and the Winter
Olympics. In order to (23) the Olympics, a city must submit a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After all proposals have been (24) , the IOC votes. If no city is successful in gaining a majority in the first vote, the city with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voting continues, with (25) rounds, until a majority winner is determined. Typically the Games are awarded several years in advance, (26) the winning city time to prepare for the Games. In selecting the (27) of the Olympic Games, the IOC considers a number of factors, chief among them which city has, or promises to build, the best facilities, and which organizing committee seems most likely to (28) the Games effectively. The IOC also (29) which parts of the world have not yet hosted the Games. (30) , Tokyo, Japan, the host of the 1964 Summer Games, and Mexico City, Mexico, the host of the 1968 Summer Games, were chosen (31) to popularize the Olympic movement in Asia and in Latin America. (32) the growing importance of television worldwide, the IOC in recent years has also taken into (33) the host city’s time zone. (34) the Games take place in the United States or Canada, for example, American television networks are willing to pay (35) higher amounts for television rights because they can broadcast popular events (36) , in prime viewing hours. (37) the Games have been awarded, it is the responsibility of the local organizing committee to finance them. This is often done with a portion of the Olympic television (38) and with corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, and other smaller revenue sources. In many (39) there is also direct government support. Although many cities have achieved a financial profit by hosting the Games, the Olympics can be financially (40) . When the revenues from the Games were less than expected, the city was left with large debts. |
A．suggestive
B．successful
C．successive
D．succeeding
2.单项选择题
We learn from the passage that Newark has all the following problems EXCEPT ______.
| The lives of very few Newark residents
are untouched by violence: New Jersey’s biggest city has seen it all Yet the
murder of three young people, who were forced to kneel before being shot in the
back of the head in a school playground on August 4th, has shaken the city. A
fourth, who survived, was stabbed and shot in the face. The four victims were by
all accounts good kids, all enrolled in college, all with a future. But the
cruel murder, it seems, has at last forced Newarkers to say they have had
enough. Grassroots organizations, like Stop Shootin’, have been flooded with offers of help and support since the killings. Yusef Ismail, its co-founder, says the group has been going door-to-door asking people to sign a pledge of non-violence. They hope to get 50000 to promise to "stop shootin’, start thinkin’, and keep livin’." The Newark Community Foundation, which was launched last month, announced on August 14th that it will help pay for Community Eye, a surveillance (监视) system tailored towards gun crime. Cory Booker, who became mayor 13 months ago with a mission to revitalize the city, believes the surveillance program will be the largest camera and audio network in any American city. More than 30 cameras were installed earlier this summer and a further 50 will be installed soon in a seven-square-mile area where 80% of the city’s recent shootings have occurred. And more cameras are planned. When a gunshot is detected, the surveillance camera zooms in on that spot. Similar technology in Chicago has increased arrests and decreased shootings. Mr. Booker plans to announce a comprehensive gun strategy later this week. Mr. Booker, as well as church leaders and others, believes (or hopes) that after the murder the city will no longer stand by in coldness. For generations, Newark has been paralyzed by poverty— almost one in three people lives below the poverty line—and growing indifference to crime. Some are skeptical. Steve Malanga of the conservative Manhattan Institute notes that Newark has deep social problems: over 60% of children are in homes without fathers. The school system, taken over by the state in 1995, is a mess. But there is also some cause for hope. Since Mr Booker was elected, there has been a rise in investment and re-zoning for development. Only around 7% of nearby Newark airport workers used to come from Newark; now, a year later, the figure is 30%. Mr Booker has’ launched a New York-style war on crime. So far this year, crime has fallen 11% and shootings are down 30% (though the murder rate looks likely to match last year’s high). |
A．violence
B．flood
C．poverty
D．indifference
3.单项选择题
Which inference can we make about Margaret
| According to a recent survey on money
and relationships, 36 per cent of people are keeping a bank account from their
partner. While this financial unfaithfulness may appear as distrust in a
relationship, in truth it may just be a form of financial protection. With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, men and women are realizing they need to be financially savvy, regardless of whether they are in a relationship. The financial hardship on individuals after a divorce can be extremely difficult, even more so when children are involved. The lack of permanency in relationships, jobs and family life may be the cause of a growing trend to keep a secret bank account hidden from a partner; in other words, an "escape fund" . Margaret’s story is far from unique. She is a representative of a growing number of women in long-term relationships who are becoming protective of their own earnings. Every month on pay day, she banks hundreds of dollars into a savings account she keeps from her husband. She has been doing this throughout their six-year marriage and has built a nest egg worth an incredible $100000 on top of her pension. Margaret says if her husband found out about her secret savings he’d hurt and would interpret this as a sign she wasn’t sure of the marriage. "He’d think it was my escape fund so that financially I could afford to get out of the relationship if it went wrong. I know you should approach marriage as being forever and I hope ours is, but you can never be sure." Like many of her fellow secret savers, Margaret was stung in a former relationship and has since been very guarded about her own money. Coming clean to your partner about being a secret saver may not be all that bad. Take Colleen, for example, who had been saving secretly for a few years before she confessed to her partner. “I decided to open a savings account and start building a nest egg of my own. I wanted to prove to myself that I could put money in the bank and leave it there for a rainy day.” "When John found out about my secret savings, he was a little suspicious of my motives. I reassured him that this was certainly not an escape fund and that I feel very secure in our relationship. I have to admit that it does feel good to have my own money on reserve if ever there are rainy days in the future. It’s sensible to build and protect your personal financial security." |
A．She is a unique woman.
B．She was once divorced.
C．She is going to retire.
D．She has many children.
4.单项选择题
| Olympic Games are held every four years
at a different site, in which athletes (21) different
nations compete against each other in a (22) of sports.
There are two types of Olympics, the Summer Olympics and the Winter
Olympics. In order to (23) the Olympics, a city must submit a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After all proposals have been (24) , the IOC votes. If no city is successful in gaining a majority in the first vote, the city with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voting continues, with (25) rounds, until a majority winner is determined. Typically the Games are awarded several years in advance, (26) the winning city time to prepare for the Games. In selecting the (27) of the Olympic Games, the IOC considers a number of factors, chief among them which city has, or promises to build, the best facilities, and which organizing committee seems most likely to (28) the Games effectively. The IOC also (29) which parts of the world have not yet hosted the Games. (30) , Tokyo, Japan, the host of the 1964 Summer Games, and Mexico City, Mexico, the host of the 1968 Summer Games, were chosen (31) to popularize the Olympic movement in Asia and in Latin America. (32) the growing importance of television worldwide, the IOC in recent years has also taken into (33) the host city’s time zone. (34) the Games take place in the United States or Canada, for example, American television networks are willing to pay (35) higher amounts for television rights because they can broadcast popular events (36) , in prime viewing hours. (37) the Games have been awarded, it is the responsibility of the local organizing committee to finance them. This is often done with a portion of the Olympic television (38) and with corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, and other smaller revenue sources. In many (39) there is also direct government support. Although many cities have achieved a financial profit by hosting the Games, the Olympics can be financially (40) . When the revenues from the Games were less than expected, the city was left with large debts. |
A．supported
B．submitted
C．substituted
D．subordinated
5.单项选择题
Judging from the context, the "Community Eye" (Line 5, Para.2) is ______.
| The lives of very few Newark residents
are untouched by violence: New Jersey’s biggest city has seen it all Yet the
murder of three young people, who were forced to kneel before being shot in the
back of the head in a school playground on August 4th, has shaken the city. A
fourth, who survived, was stabbed and shot in the face. The four victims were by
all accounts good kids, all enrolled in college, all with a future. But the
cruel murder, it seems, has at last forced Newarkers to say they have had
enough. Grassroots organizations, like Stop Shootin’, have been flooded with offers of help and support since the killings. Yusef Ismail, its co-founder, says the group has been going door-to-door asking people to sign a pledge of non-violence. They hope to get 50000 to promise to "stop shootin’, start thinkin’, and keep livin’." The Newark Community Foundation, which was launched last month, announced on August 14th that it will help pay for Community Eye, a surveillance (监视) system tailored towards gun crime. Cory Booker, who became mayor 13 months ago with a mission to revitalize the city, believes the surveillance program will be the largest camera and audio network in any American city. More than 30 cameras were installed earlier this summer and a further 50 will be installed soon in a seven-square-mile area where 80% of the city’s recent shootings have occurred. And more cameras are planned. When a gunshot is detected, the surveillance camera zooms in on that spot. Similar technology in Chicago has increased arrests and decreased shootings. Mr. Booker plans to announce a comprehensive gun strategy later this week. Mr. Booker, as well as church leaders and others, believes (or hopes) that after the murder the city will no longer stand by in coldness. For generations, Newark has been paralyzed by poverty— almost one in three people lives below the poverty line—and growing indifference to crime. Some are skeptical. Steve Malanga of the conservative Manhattan Institute notes that Newark has deep social problems: over 60% of children are in homes without fathers. The school system, taken over by the state in 1995, is a mess. But there is also some cause for hope. Since Mr Booker was elected, there has been a rise in investment and re-zoning for development. Only around 7% of nearby Newark airport workers used to come from Newark; now, a year later, the figure is 30%. Mr Booker has’ launched a New York-style war on crime. So far this year, crime has fallen 11% and shootings are down 30% (though the murder rate looks likely to match last year’s high). |
A．a watching system for gun crime
B．a neighborhood protection organization
C．an unprofitable community business
D．a grassroots organization
6.单项选择题
The Western leaders preach free trade because ______.
| "The word ’protection’ is no longer
taboo (禁忌语)" This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy
late last month, may have launched a new era in economic history. Why For
decades, Western leaders have believed that lowering trade barriers and tariffs
was a natural good. Doing so, they reasoned, would lead to greater economic
efficiency and productivity, which in turn would improve human welfare.
Championing free trade thus became a moral, not just an economic,
cause. These leaders, of course, weren’t acting out of unselfishness. They knew their economies were the most competitive, so they’d profit most from liberalization. And developing countries feared that their economies would be swamped by superior Western productivity. Today, however, the tables have turned—though few acknowledge it. The West continues to preach free trade, but practices it less and less. Asia, meanwhile, continues to plead for special protection but practices more and more free trade. That’s why Sarkozy’s words were so important: he finally injected some honesty into the trade debate. The truth is that large parts of the West are losing faith in free trade, though few leaders admit it. Some economists are more honest. Paul Krugman is one of the few willing to acknowledge that protectionist arguments are returning. In the short run, there will be winners and losers under free trade. This, of course, is what capitalism is all about. But more and more of these losers will be in the West. Economists in the developed world used to love quoting Joseph Schumpeter, who said that "creative destruction" was an essential part of capitalist growth. But they always assumed that destruction would happen over there. When Western workers began losing jobs, suddenly their leaders began to lose faith in their principles. Things have yet to reverse completely. But there’s clearly a negative trend in Western theory and practice. A little hypocrisy (虚伪) is not in itself a serious problem. The real problem is that Western governments continue to insist that they retain control of the key global economic and financial institutions while drifting away from global liberalization. Look at what’s happening at the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The Europeans have demanded that they keep the post of managing director. But all too often, Western officials put their own interests above everyone else’s when they dominate these global institutions. The time has therefore come for the Asians—who are clearly the new winners in today’s global economy—to provide more intellectual leadership in supporting free trade. Sadly, they have yet to do so. Unless Asians speak out, however, there’s a real danger that Adam Smith’s principles, which have brought so much good to the world, could gradually die. And that would leave all of us worse off, in one way or another. |
A．it is beneficial to their economies
B．it is supported by developing countries
C．it makes them keep faith in their principles
D．it is advocated by Joseph Schumpeter and Adam Smith
7.单项选择题
Many people may have deliberately helped Kyle because they ______.
| Last weekend Kyle MacDonald in Montreal
threw a party to celebrate the fact that he got his new home in exchange for a
red paper clip. Starting a year ago, MacDonald bartered the clip for
increasingly valuable stuff, including a camp stove and free rent in a Phoenix
flat. Having announced his aim (the house) in advance, MacDonald likely got a
boost from techies eager to see the Internet pass this daring test of its
networking power. "My whole motto (座右铭) was ’Start small, think big, and have
fun’, "says MacDonald, 26, "I really kept my effort on the creative side rather
than the business side." Yet as odd as the MacDonald exchange was, barter is now big business on the Net. This year more than 400000 companies worldwide will exchange some $10 billion worth of goods and services on a growing number of barter sites. These Web sites allow companies to trade products for a virtual currency, which they can use to buy goods from other members. In Iceland, garment- maker Kapusalan sells a third of its output on the booming Vidskiptanetid exchange, earning virtual money that it uses to buy machinery and pay part of employee salaries. The Troc-Services exchange in France offers more than 4600 services, from math lessons to ironing. This is not a primitive barter system. By creating currencies, the Internet removes a major barrier—what Bob Meyer, publisher of BarterNews, calls "the double coincidence of wants." That is, two parties once not only had to find each other, but also an exchange of goods that both desired. Now, they can price the deal in virtual currency. Barter also helps firms make use of idle capacity. For example, advertising is "hugely bartered" because many media, particularly on the Web, can supply new ad space at little cost. Moreover, Internet ads don’t register in industry-growth statistics, because many exchanges are arranged outside the formal exchanges. Like eBay, most barter sites allow members to "grade" trading partners for honesty, quality and so on. Barter exchanges can allow firms in countries with hyperinflation or nontradable currencies to enter global trades. Next year, a nonprofit exchange called Quick Lift Two (QL2) plans to open in Nairobi, offering barter deals to 38000 Kenyan farmers in remote areas. Two small planes will deliver the goods. QL2 director Gacii Waciuma says the farmers are excited to be "liberated from corrupt middlemen." For them, barter evokes a bright future, not a precapitalist past. |
A．were impressed by his creativity
B．were eager to identify with his motto
C．liked his goal announced in advance
D．hoped to prove the power of the Internet
8.单项选择题
The word "savvy" (Line 2, Para.2) probably means ______.
| According to a recent survey on money
and relationships, 36 per cent of people are keeping a bank account from their
partner. While this financial unfaithfulness may appear as distrust in a
relationship, in truth it may just be a form of financial protection. With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, men and women are realizing they need to be financially savvy, regardless of whether they are in a relationship. The financial hardship on individuals after a divorce can be extremely difficult, even more so when children are involved. The lack of permanency in relationships, jobs and family life may be the cause of a growing trend to keep a secret bank account hidden from a partner; in other words, an "escape fund" . Margaret’s story is far from unique. She is a representative of a growing number of women in long-term relationships who are becoming protective of their own earnings. Every month on pay day, she banks hundreds of dollars into a savings account she keeps from her husband. She has been doing this throughout their six-year marriage and has built a nest egg worth an incredible $100000 on top of her pension. Margaret says if her husband found out about her secret savings he’d hurt and would interpret this as a sign she wasn’t sure of the marriage. "He’d think it was my escape fund so that financially I could afford to get out of the relationship if it went wrong. I know you should approach marriage as being forever and I hope ours is, but you can never be sure." Like many of her fellow secret savers, Margaret was stung in a former relationship and has since been very guarded about her own money. Coming clean to your partner about being a secret saver may not be all that bad. Take Colleen, for example, who had been saving secretly for a few years before she confessed to her partner. “I decided to open a savings account and start building a nest egg of my own. I wanted to prove to myself that I could put money in the bank and leave it there for a rainy day.” "When John found out about my secret savings, he was a little suspicious of my motives. I reassured him that this was certainly not an escape fund and that I feel very secure in our relationship. I have to admit that it does feel good to have my own money on reserve if ever there are rainy days in the future. It’s sensible to build and protect your personal financial security." |
A．suspicious
B．secure
C．shrewd
D．simple
9.单项选择题
| Olympic Games are held every four years
at a different site, in which athletes (21) different
nations compete against each other in a (22) of sports.
There are two types of Olympics, the Summer Olympics and the Winter
Olympics. In order to (23) the Olympics, a city must submit a proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After all proposals have been (24) , the IOC votes. If no city is successful in gaining a majority in the first vote, the city with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voting continues, with (25) rounds, until a majority winner is determined. Typically the Games are awarded several years in advance, (26) the winning city time to prepare for the Games. In selecting the (27) of the Olympic Games, the IOC considers a number of factors, chief among them which city has, or promises to build, the best facilities, and which organizing committee seems most likely to (28) the Games effectively. The IOC also (29) which parts of the world have not yet hosted the Games. (30) , Tokyo, Japan, the host of the 1964 Summer Games, and Mexico City, Mexico, the host of the 1968 Summer Games, were chosen (31) to popularize the Olympic movement in Asia and in Latin America. (32) the growing importance of television worldwide, the IOC in recent years has also taken into (33) the host city’s time zone. (34) the Games take place in the United States or Canada, for example, American television networks are willing to pay (35) higher amounts for television rights because they can broadcast popular events (36) , in prime viewing hours. (37) the Games have been awarded, it is the responsibility of the local organizing committee to finance them. This is often done with a portion of the Olympic television (38) and with corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, and other smaller revenue sources. In many (39) there is also direct government support. Although many cities have achieved a financial profit by hosting the Games, the Olympics can be financially (40) . When the revenues from the Games were less than expected, the city was left with large debts. |
A．host
B．take
C．run
D．organize
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