Economics (經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)) is the study of how societies with limited resources decide what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce. What, how, and for whom to produce are problems all over the world because human needs are practically unlimited, but all societies have only limited quantities of resources that can be used to produce goods or services.

A knowledge of basic economics is important for understanding both the problems and opportunities that will face the world economy in the 21st century. As a student of economics, one will have the chance to discover how commerce(商業(yè)), government policies, and day-to-day decisions made by consumers affect his living standards. The study of economics can help him understand the influence of such events as the move to free markets in Poland and Russia, or of ups and downs in interest rate and the foreign exchange rate. Economics is influenced by developments in the many different areas of business, politics, science, nature, religion and history. And whether or not one is aware of it, economics is an important part of his life.

From a practical point of view, one's study of economics will help improve his decision-making skills. He learns a logical way to compare different courses of action. As he studies the concept (概念) of opportunity cost, for instance, he will discover that every choice he makes has both a benefit and a cost. Suppose someone decides to get a part-time job so he can earn enough money to buy a car. He will have the benefit of owning the car, but he will pay a cost in terms of the leisure hours he gives up for working so as to pay for the car and keep it in good condition. After weighing his choice in cost-benefit terms, he may decide he does not need a car any more.

68. According to the passage, economics is studied to______.

  A. get more resources for human beings

  B. put human needs under some control

  C. satisfy the unlimited human needs with the limited resources

  D. produce better goods and services for all human beings

69. Economics can help one make better decisions because he learns______.

A. how to weigh the cost and the benefit   B. all the practical economic theories

C. something useful about business          D. a logical way of thinking

70. Why does the person have to give up leisure hours in the example of buying a car?

  A. Because he has to spend some time in the car.

  B. Because he has to work extra hours to get the money.

  C. Because he is busy working for his boss.

  D. Because keeping a car in good condition takes much time.

71. What is the central topic of the second paragraph?

   A. Influences of economics.              B. Importance of knowing economics.

   C. Uses of economics.                      D. Scope (范圍) of economic studies.

Finland (芬蘭) is perhaps the most beautiful and mysterious (神秘) of the countries of northern Europe. Two-thirds of its surface is covered with thick forests and among them lie lakes, connected with rivers and canals. The northern part of this country is inside the Arctic Circle（北極圈）, where almost no trees can grow because of its cold weather and the people use their deer for transport, clothing and food.

       Then Finish history began in the Middle Ages. In about 1155, Finland was conquered by its western neighbouring Sweden. After a period of rule by Denmark in the 14^th century, the Swedes won back independence and power in 1523 under their brave king. During the Napoleonic Wars (1814-1818) Finland was passed finally from Sweden to Russia. The opportunity came in 1917, when the Russian Revolution brought foreign rule of Finland to an end. Shortly after Soviet Russia made peace with Germany, 1919 saw the founding of the Finnish Republic.

       The years between the First and Second World War were years of progress and growing development. Finland has no coal or oil, and the nation’s wealth lies in the timber (木材) from its forests, which supplies material for paper and furniture making, and in the electric power from its water.  

63. From the passage, we learn that Finland ______.

A. lies inside the Arctic Circle     B. is next to the countries of northern Europe

C. lies east of Sweden               D. is entirely covered with forests and lakes

64. In the history, Finland was sequentially (相繼的) ruled by______.

A. Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Russia

B. Sweden, Denmark, Sweden and Russia

C. Sweden, Germany, Russia and Germany

D. Sweden, Russia, Denmark and Russia

65. Finland must have been under the control of ______ for as long as one hundred years or so.

A. Russia                 B. Denmark              C. Sweden             D. foreign countries

66. Finland won its complete independence in ______.

A. 1523                   B.1917                     C.1155                   D.1919

67. Among natural resources, the Finnish people benefit（獲利） mainly from______.

A. coal and oil                                         B. forests and water   

C. paper and furniture                              D. timber and power industry   

A traveler once visited a city where everyone wore blue. Puzzled, he went to a dyer (染匠) and said, “ Please dye（染） the handkerchief red.”

“I don’t know how to dye red.”

“Then dye it green.”

“I can’t dye it green. There are forty master dyers in this city, and every one of us can dye only blue.” “I can dye all colors,” said the traveler, “Hire me and I’ll teach you my art.”

“We never allow a stranger to enter our craft (行業(yè))”, said the dyer.

The traveler made the same offer to the other master dyers, but none would hire him. So he began his own dye shop. Folks soon crowded around asking, “What are all these beautiful colors called?”

He answered, “This is red and that is yellow,” and so on. Everyone began bringing him cloth to dye. When the master dyers saw this, they quickly apologized for their past insults (侮辱), begging him to hire them and teach them his art.

56. To the traveler, the strangest thing about the city was that _______.

A. it was a nice and old city                B. there were forty master dyers

C. everyone wore the same color        D. the dyers didn’t use machines

57. The traveler visited the first dyer in order to ______.

A. have his handkerchief dyed yellow       

B. have all his clothes dyed blue

C. see if the dyer could dye different colors  

D. sell the dyer some new materials for dyeing

58. None of the dyers would hire the traveler because he ______.

A. made fun of them                          B. wanted too much money

C. knew nothing about dyeing             D. was a stranger

59. This story could be taken as a warning against _______.

A. wearing only blue clothes               B. refusing to learn new ways

C. hiring a stranger                            D. visiting strange cities

Mr. Duff had several farms in the village. He 　36　 some workers and made them work more than twelve hours a 　37　. He didn’t supply them enough food and paid them less. So he became 　38  man there. Nobody liked him except his little son Eldon. The young man 　39  to be at school. He was often late for class and 　40  his classmates inside the school. He was weak at his 　41  and often made some excuses to stay at home.

　　One day the young man stole 　42　 in a shop. But at the gate he was caught. He brought out a 　43　 and hurt the gatekeeper while he was being sent to the 　44　. His father gave him a lot of 　45　 and helped him to leave for a city. About ten years later the young man 　46  a bandit chieftain (匪首). He often told his bandits to steal in the 　47　 and markets or rob（搶劫）in the villages. He got a lot of money and asked his father to 　48　 it for him.

　　Once the police station 　49　 that Eldon and his bandits were robbing in a small town. Plenty of policemen and soldiers 　50　 there. He shot a few policemen and soldiers and 　51　. He was hurt in the fight and found it was 　52　 for him to stay in the city and he had to hide in the 　53　 which were not far from his village. Several policemen went to Mr. Duff’s house and told him not to hide his son.

　　One of his workers knew about it and asked, “I hear your son has become a successful man. Is that right?”

　　“I think it’s 　54　,” answered Mr. Duff, “The police will award（懸賞）two hundred thousand dollars to the person who 　55　 him!”

______，I have to put it away and focus my attention on study this week.

A. However the story is amusing     B. No matter amusing the story is

C. However amusing the story is     D. No matter how the story is amusing

Pearl’s bright clothes always maker her ______in a crowd.

A. light up                     B. call up                C. send out              D. stand out

Pearl’s bright clothes always maker her ______in a crowd.

A. light up                     B. call up                C. send out              D. stand out

Are you going to change the colour of the wall?

Yes, we're going to have them ______ yellow.

A. paint                         B. to paint               C. painting              D. painted

______ their country has plenty of oil, ours has none.

   A. While                  B. When                  C. Before                D. Where

The performance of the host, ______ to please the audience and draw their attention, was greeted with a cold silence,however.

A. had intended             B. intended              C. intending             D. to intend