15.President Coolidge's statement,"The business of America is business",still points to an important truth today-that business institutions have more prestige(威望) in American society than any other kind of organization,including the government.Why do business institutions possess this great prestige?
One reason is that Americans view business as being more firmly based on the ideal of competition than other institutions in society.Since competition is seen as the major source of progress and prosperity by most Americans,competitive business institutions are respected.Competition is not only good in itself,it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom,equality of opportunity,and hard work are protected.
Competition protects the freedom of the individual by ensuring that there is no monopoly (壟斷)of power.In contrast to one,all-powerful government,many businesses compete against each other for profits.Theoretically,if one business tries to take unfair advantage of its customers,it will lose to competing business which treats its customers more fairly.Where many businsses compete for the customers'dollar,they cannot afford to treat them like inferiors or slaves.
A contrast is often made between business,which is competitive,and government,which is a monopoly.Because business is competitive,many Americans believe that it is more supportive of freedom than government,even though government leaders are elected by the people and business leaders are not.Many Americans believe,then,that competition is as important,or even more important,than democracy in preserving freedom.
Competition in business is also believed to strengthen the ideal of equality of opportunity.Competition is seen as an open and fair race where succes goes to the swiftest person regardless of his or her social class background.Competitive success is commonly seen as the American alternative to social rank based on family background.Business is therefore viewed as and expression of the idea of equality of opportunity rather than the aristocratic (貴族的)idea of inherited privilege.
32.The underlined statement"The business of America is business"in paragraph one probably means"B".
A.The business institutions in America are concerned with commerce.
B.Business is of primary concern to Americans.
C.Business problems are of great importance to the American government.
D.America is a great powerin world business.
33.Americans believe that they can realize their personal values onlyA.
A.by way of competition
B.through doing business
C.by protecting their individual freedom
D.when given equality of opportunity
34.Government is believed to differ strikingly from business in that government is characterized byD.
A.its democratic way of exercising leadership
B.its function in preserving personal freedom
C.its role in protecting basic American values.
D.its absolute control of power
35.Who can benefit from business competition?C
A.Honest businessmen.
B.People with ideas of equality and freedom.
C.Both businessmen and their customers.
D.Both business institution and government.
分析 本文介紹了在美國社會商業(yè)機構(gòu)比包括政府在內(nèi)的其他任何類型的組織,有更多的威望.美國人認為以競爭為基礎的商業(yè)比其他機構(gòu)更加堅定.美國人可以通過商業(yè)競爭實現(xiàn)他們的個人價值.競爭不僅保護顧客的利益,也會保護商業(yè)機構(gòu).競爭的工商業(yè)與壟斷的政府經(jīng)常形成鮮明對照.在這樣的社會體制下,美國人不依靠家庭背景決定社會地位.
解答 32:B 語義理解題.第一段的that business institutions have more prestige(威望)in American society than any other kind of organization,including the government.在美國社會商業(yè)機構(gòu)比包括政府在內(nèi)的其他任何類型的組織,有更多的威望.說明美國人很關注商業(yè).故選B.
33:A 細節(jié)理解題.第二段的Competition is not only good in itself,it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom,equality of opportunity,and hard work are protected競爭不僅本身是良好的,它還是保護手段,其他基本的美國價值觀如個人自由、機會均等和努力工作是受它的保護.可知美國人可以通過商業(yè)競爭實現(xiàn)他們的個人價值.故選C.
34:D 細節(jié)理解題.第四段的A contrast is often made between business,which is competitive,and government,which is a monopoly.競爭的工商業(yè)與壟斷的政府經(jīng)常形成鮮明對照.因為工商業(yè)是競爭的,政府是all-powerful全能的,壟斷的,他們的區(qū)別在于權利的操控上.故選B.
35:C 推理題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,Competition is not only good in itself,it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom,equality of opportunity,and hard work are protected.商業(yè)競爭不僅對自身有好處,它還給提供給顧客更多的機會等.由此可知,商人和顧客都會受到好處,結(jié)合選項,故選C
點評 題目涉及多道細節(jié)理解題,做題時結(jié)合原文和題目有針對性的找出相關語句進行仔細分析,結(jié)合選項選出正確答案.推理判斷題也是要在抓住關鍵句子的基礎上合理的分析才能得出正確答案,切忌胡亂猜測,一定要做到有理有據(jù).