The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing billions of dollars a year. The government company that delivers "small mail" is losing out to email and other types of electronic communication. First-class mail amount fell from a high point of 104 million pieces in 2000 to just 64 million pieces by 2014.

Congress permits the 600.000-empIoyee USPS to hold a monopoly (垄断) over first-class and standard mail. The company pays no federal, state or local taxes; pays no vehicle fees; and is free from many regulations on other businesses. Despite these advantages, the USPS has lost $52 billion since 2007, and will continue losing money without major reforms.

The problem is that Congress is preventing the USPS from reducing costs as its sales decline, and is blocking efforts to end Saturday service and close unneeded post office locations. USPS also has a costly union-dominated workforce that slows the introduction of new ideas or methods down. USPS workers earn significantly higher payment than comparable private-sector workers. The answer is to privatize the USPS and open postal markets to competition. With the rise of the Internet, the argument that mail is a natural monopoly that needs government protection is weaker than ever.

Other countries facing declining letter amounts have made reforms Germany and the Netherlands privatized their national postal companies over a decade ago, and other European countries have followed suit. Britain floated shares of the Royal Mail on its stock exchange in 2013. Some countries, such us Sweden and New Zealand, have not privatized their national postal companies, but they have opened them up to competition.

These reforms have driven efficiency improvements in all of these countries. Additional number of workers have been reduced, productivity has risen and consumers have benefited. Also, note that cost-cutting measures—such as closing tone post offices—are good for both the economy and the environment.

Privatization and competition also encourage new changes. When the USPS monopoly over "extremely urgent" mail was stopped in 1979, we saw an explosion in efficient overnight private delivery by firms such as FedEx.

The government needs to wake up to changing technology, study postal reforms abroad and let businessmen reinvent our out-of-date postal system.

1.What do we know about the USPS?

A. Its great competitor is the delivery firm FedEx.

B. It is an old public service open to competitions.

C. Its employees don't pay federal, state or local taxes.

D. It has complete control of first-class and standard mail.

2.The author mentions some other countries in Paragraph 4 to __________.

A. explain the procedures of reform to the USPS

B. show the advantages of private postal services

C. set some examples for the government to learn from

D. prove the situation is very common around the world

3.The author probably that the USPS __________.

A. needs government’s protection as ever

B. can work together with other businesses

C. must be replaced by international companies

D. should be sold out and become a private service

4.Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?

A. B.

C. D.

I: Introduction CP: Central point P: Point

Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion

完形填空

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项, 并在答题卡将该选项的标号涂黑。

Hope in my arms

Last year, I was invited to participate in a carnival for Tuesday’s Child, an organization that helps children with AIDS.

All the children that had gathered at one particular room could ___________ a square on a piece of cloth. Later the squares would be sewn(缝) together to ___________ a quilt. The quilt would be ___________ to a man who had devoted his life to the ___________ and would soon be ___________ .

The kids were given paints in bright colors and asked to paint something that would make the quilt ___________ . As I looked around at all the squares, I saw pink hearts, blue clouds, orange sunrises and red flowers. The pictures were all bright and ___________ . All ___________ one.

One boy was painting a heart, but it was dark and lifeless. It ___________ the bright colors that his fellow artists had used. I asked why. He told me that he was very ___________ and so was his mom. He said that his sickness was not ever going to get better and neither was his mom’s. He looked ___________into my eyes and said, “There is no hope in my life.”

I told him I was sorry and I could understand why he had made his heart a dark color. I told him that ___________ we couldn’t make him better, we can give ___________ , which can really help when you are feeling sad. I told him that if he would like, I would be ___________ to give him one so he could see ___________ I meant. he instantly crawled into my lap. I thought my own heart would burst for this sweet little boy.

He sat there for a long time. Finally he ___________ down to finish his coloring. As I was getting ready to ___________ home, I felt a tug (猛拽) on my jacket. Standing there was the little boy, ___________ . He said, “My heart is changing ___________ . It is getting brighter. I think those hugs really do ___________ .”

On my way home I felt my own heart. It too had changed to a brighter color.

1.A.convey B.draw C.adapt D.paint

2.A.fold B.make C.spread D.annoy

3.A.attempt B.sold C.presented D.conduct

4.A.organization B.country C.education D.neighborhood

5.A.retiring B.abolish C.predict D.dying

6.A.ambitious B.suitable C.beautiful D.comfortable

7.A.ridiculous B.inspiring C.confusing D.puzzling

8.A.without B.besides C.beside D.except

9.A.lacked B.appeal C.contained D.favour

10.A.curious B.disappointed C.sick D.adequate

11.A.straight B.flexible C.forward D.even

12.A.so that B.even though C.as long as D.as though

13.A.prizes B.smiles C.hugs D.necklace

14.A.grand B.relaxed C.eager D.happy

15.A.which B.where C. what D.that

16.A.witnessed B.jumped C.dragged D.fell

17.A.leave B.stay C.head D.arrive

18.A.smiling B.crying C.glaring D.declaring

19.A.shape B.color C.weight D.form

20.A.approve B.desire C.fail D.work

There’s no doubt that our character has a profound effect on our future. What we must remember, however, is not merely how powerful character is in influencing our fate (命运), but how powerful we are in shaping our own character and, therefore, our own fate. Character may determine our fate, but character is not determined by fate.

It’s a common mistake to think of character as something that is fully formed and fixed very early in life. It calls to mind old proverbs like “A leopard can’t change its spots” and “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

This perspective that our character is “etched in stone” is supported by a great deal of modern psychology emphasizing self-acceptance. As Popeye says, “I am what I am.” The hidden message is:Don’t expect me to be more, better, or different.

Ultimately, these views of humanity totally undervalue the lifelong potential for growth that comes with the power of reflection and choice.

How depressing it would be to believe that we can’t choose to be better, more honest, more respectful, more responsible, and more caring. None of us should give up the personal seeking to improve our character. Not because we’re bad, we don’t have to be sick to get better , but because we’re not as good as we could be.

There are so many things in life we can’t control, whether we’re beautiful or smart, whether we had good parents or bad, whether we grew up with affirmation or negation. It’s inspiring to remember that nothing but moral will power is needed to make us better.

No, it isn’t easy. But if we make a great effort to become more aware of the habits of heart and mind that drive our behavior, we can begin to place new emphasis on our higher values so that we become what we want our children to think we are.

1.What is the best title of the passage?

A. We shape our own character.

B. Character determines our fate.

C. Character is fully formed and fixed.

D. We must meet what our children need.

2.The author agrees that _____________.

A. a leopard can't change its spots

B. in life we must attach importance to self-acceptance

C. we shouldn’t expect us to be more different

D. character is not fully formed and fixed very early

3.In the author’s opinion, which of the following is TRUE?

A. We can’t choose to be better.

B. We should seek to improve our character for we’re bad enough.

C. We should value our lifelong potential for growth.

D. We should make choices constantly.

4.What do we need to improve ourselves according to the author?

A. Our smartness. B. Our will power.

C. Our fate. D. Our character.

5.What can we infer from the passage?

A. It is not difficult to improve ourselves.

B. We must try our best to be as good as possible.

C. Our children should copy our behavior.

D. We should control as many things as possible in life.

根据短文内容,从短文后的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。

Some people describe American society as a salad bowl while others think of it as a melting pot.

In a bowl of salad,all the ingredients are mixed together. 1.____ Together, however, the ingredients make up a unity. All the ingredients of a salad contribute to the finished product. They may be covered with the same dressing (调味酱),but the green vegetables, tomatoes and cooked corn can all be seen for what they are.

From this point of view, America is very much like a salad bowl where individual ethnic groups mix together, yet maintain their cultural uniqueness. People may work together during the day at similar jobs and in the same companies, but at night they may return to their ethnic groups where their own individual culture directs their way of life.

2.____ Each ethnic group has its own special customs, language, food and traditions to protect and defend. This idea of the salad bowl is referred to as cultural diversity; that is, American society is a collection of various cultures living together in harmony within one country.

3.____Here, society is like one large pot of soup. All cultural aspects are mixed together, sacrificing their original identity and keeping a bit of what they were to become a new reality. The Some people describe American society as a saladlonger the soup is cooked, the better the taste and the more likely it will be for the mixture to dissolve. In this sense, America can surely be seen as a melting pot where people from all over the world come to live and work together forming one nation. There are dozens of shared symbols. 4.____In such a culture, symbols like the flag and the nation’s official song serve to break down the walls which separate ethnic groups.

Whether a salad bowl or a melting pot, America can be best described as a mixture of both. 5.____

A. Both are correct depending on one-s point of view.

B. They never lose their shapes, colors or tastes.

C. This is why there is so much diversity within America.

D, In other words, America is a nation where there is unity in diversity.

E. Thus, one needs to abandon one's culture to be considered "American".

F. They serve to develop the various ethnic groups to create a new American culture.

G. The other theory, which is also used to describe American society, is the melting pot.

Despite the anxiety that Jones’ Host—said by some to be the first digital novel—caused in 1993, publishers weren’t too concerned that e-books would one day replace printed books. However, that attitude was changed suddenly in 2007 when Amazon’s Kindle came onto the market, which led to e-book sales jumping up to 1,260%. Since then, e-books’ popularity has continued to steadily rise. The publishing industry seemed to have lost all possible ability to regain its position. Will printed books eventually become a thing of the past?

According to Mike Shatzkin, founder and CEO of the Idea Logical Company, printed books just for plain old reading will, in 10 years from now, be unusual. “Not so unusual that a kid will say, ‘Mommy, what’s that?’ but unusual enough that on the train you’ll see one or two people reading something printed, while everyone else is reading off of a tablet.” And Shatzkin believes that the demise of print is sure to happen, though such a day won’t arrive for perhaps 50 to 100 or more years.

Robert Stein, founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book, however, believes that books won’t disappear entirely, at least not anytime soon. “Print will exist, but it will be in a different field and will appeal to a very limited audience, as poetry does today. Like woodblock printing, hand-processed film and folk weaving (编织), printed pages may assume an artistic value,” he says. He imagines that future forms of books might be developed not by conventional publishers but by the gaming industry. He also predicts that the distinction between writer and reader will be made less obvious by a social reading experience in which authors and consumers can digitally interact with each other to discuss any passage, sentence or line.

Is there anything we risk sacrificing, should print really disappear entirely? According to Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, electronic reading can negatively affect the way the brain responds to text, including reading comprehension, focus and the ability to maintain attention to details like plot and order of events. “My worry is that we’ll have a short-circuited reading brain, excellent for gathering information but not necessarily for forming critical, analytical deep reading skills,” Wolf says.

The field, however, is in an early stage, and findings about the negative effects of e-reading are far from certain. In light of this, Wolf hopes that we continue to maintain a “bi-literate” society—one that values both the digital and printed word. “A full reading brain circuit is a huge contribution to the intellectual development of our species. Anything that threatens that deserves our attention.”

1.How did publishers feel about the rising e-book sales inspired by the Kindle?

A. Worried. B. Excited. C. Curious. D. Skeptical.

2.The underlined word “demise” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.

A. rise B. death C. growth D. decline

3.According to Robert Stein, paper books will exist because of ______.

A. the artistic value

B. the digital interaction

C. the growing popularity

D.the conventional design

4.It can be concluded from the last two paragraphs that Wolf holds that _______.

A. e-reading will weaken the power of our brain

B. digital books and paper books should not co-exist

C. e-reading will make us more critical and thoughtful

D. we should not risk losing a full reading brain circuit

完形填空,阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Footracing(竞走) is a popular activity in the United States. It is not only seen as a compe- titive sport, but also as a _________ to exercise. Though_________ runners may spend months training to compete, other runners and walkers_________ not train at all. _________not competing to win might run in an effort to beat their own time, or _________to enjoy the fun and exercise. People of all _________ , from those less than one year old to those in their 80s, _________ into this sport. The races are held on city streets, on college campuses, _________ parks, and in suburban areas, and commonly 5 to 10 kilometers in _________ .

The largest footrace in the world is the 12-kilometer Bay to Breakers_________ that is held in San Francisco every spring. This race_________ on the east side of the city near San Francisco Bay and ends on the _________ side at the Pacific Ocean. In 1993 there were 80,000 people _________ in this race through the streets and hills of San Francisco. In the _________ are the serious runners who compete to win, and_________ might finish in as little as 34 minutes. Behind them _________ the thousands who take several hours to finish. In the back of the race are those who wear various clothing just for_________. There was a group of firefighters who were all _________in a long line and were carrying a fire—hose(消防水龙带). One year there was a wedding _________ , in which the bride dressed in a long white gown and the groom wore a tuxedo(晚礼服). They _________ flowers to by-standers, and were actually married at some point along the route.

1.A. plan B. design C. way D. approach

2.A. serious B. amateur C. famous D. ordinary

3.A. must B. might C. could D. should

4.A. Others B. These C. Those D. Ones

5.A. simply B. finally C. partly D. certainly

6.A. walks B. ages C. sorts D. nations

7.A. turn B. enter C. break D. look

8.A. across B. over C. through D. on

9.A. size B. length C. depth D. height

10.A. ground B. city C. race D. ceremony

11.A. holds B. goes C. begins D. carries

12.A. north B. west C. east D. south

13.A. singing B. helping C. watching D. running

14.A. beginning B. course C. front D. process

15.A. who B. what C. which D. as

16.A. stay B. are C. fall D. is

17.A. medal B. fun C. win D. prize

18.A. wrapped B. followed C. separated D. tied

19.A. party B. dinner C. day D. invitation

20.A. threw B. presented C. sold D. donated

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网