问题 单项选择题

No blueprint exists for transforming an economy from one with a great deal of government control to one based almost solely on free market principles. Yet the experience of the United Kingdom since 1979 clearly shows one approach that works: privatization, in which under-performing state-owned are sold to private companies.

By 1979, the total amount of debt, liabilities, and losses for state-controlled enterprises in the UK topped 3 billion annually. By selling off many of these companies, particularly those in the depressed industrial sector, the government decreased its debt burden and ceased pumping public funds into money losing enterprises. According to government spokesperson Alistair McBride, "Far from past practice of throwing good money after bad, the Queen’s government this year expects to take in 34 billion from the proceeds of the sale." That, say some analysts, may only be the beginning. Privatization has not only been credited with rescuing whole industries but the nation’s economy to boot.

Due to increased tax revenues from the newly privatized companies along with a rebound in the overall economy, economic forecasters predict that Britain will be able to repay nearly 12.5% of the net national debt within two years. That is good news indeed for the economy as a whole at a time when many sectors are desperate for any ray of sunshine. British Airways this week announced a 20% jump in overall ticket sales and profits over this quarter a year ago. British Gas announced its first profitable quarter in nine years. At Associated British Ports, a new labor contract was finalized, the first union contract signed at the port without a work stoppage in twelve years. Closer to home for most Britons, the nation’s phone service, British Telecom, no longer puts new subscribers on a waiting list. Prior to privatization, new customers would sometimes have to wait months before phone service could be installed in their home. Now, according to a company press release, British Telecom is promising 24-hour turnaround for all new customers.

Part of this improved productivity has to do with new efforts to allow employees to hold a stake in the company’s future. Companies now give their employees stock options that allow employees to share in the company’s success (and profits). The response has been enthusiastic to say the least. At British Aerospace; 89% of those eligible to buy company shares did so. At British Telecom nearly 92% of eligible employees took part. Finally, at Associated British Ports, long synonymous with union disagreements, walkouts, and labor strife, almost 90% of employees now can call themselves owners of the company.

"When people have a personal stake in something," said Henry Dundee of Associated British Ports, "they think about it, they care about, they work to make it prosper." At the National Freight Consortium, itself no stranger to labor problems, the new employee-owners actually voted down an employee pay-increase and, pressured union representatives to relax demands for increased wages and expanded benefits. "Privatization was only the start," says one market analyst, "what we may have here is a new industrial revolution.\

The best title for the text might be()

A.Privatization is a Double-edged Sword

B. Privatization is a Way out for UK’s Economy

C.Privatization Makes Government the Winner

D. Privatization Offers a Promising Future

答案

参考答案:B

解析:

主旨题。文章整个围绕私有化给英国经济带来的好处展开,所以主题是英国经济的出路。[D]只涵盖了末尾一句话的含义,文章没有太多对未来的展望。

阅读理解

根据短文内容,从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

                                                                     The First Americans

     There was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. The first settlers in

North America crossed this land bridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made this initial

crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.

     Eventually, the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared. The settlers, who I

shall call the "First Americans", could not return to their homeland 1_____

     For the next few thousand years, the First Americans migrated south and east throughout North and South

America. They made the journey all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, a distance of

more than 10 000 miles 2_____ In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans became hunters

of the ocean 3_____

     In the brief summer, they gathered berries and other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of

the time preparing for the next summer. It was a hard life, but they learned to survive in these harsh conditions.

     Farther south, in what is now Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the First Americans became

cliff dwellers (悬崖居民). They began by living in caves that already existed in the cliffs. 4_____ The dwellings

they constructed in many ways resembled today's apartment buildings. 

     5_____ They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and use water almost.any time of the

year. They were so successful that they could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturally in the

desert.

     In Mexico and South America, the First Americans founded civilizations that were among the greatest in

the world. They built huge pyramids, lived in fabulous cities, and made great advances in science and

mathematics long before the Europeans arrived.

A. They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.

B. Along the way, they established many different civilizations.

C. The First Americans of the Southwest learned to irrigate the desert.

D. They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.

E. They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.

F. People living near each other tended to share similar environments and customs.

G. They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures of wood and stone

填空题