题目内容
A. from where B. from here C. where D. there
Made In The USA: An Export Boom
In his State of the Union address two years ago, President Obama argued that in order to recover from the economic recession, one of the few things the U.S. needed to do was to export more goods around the world. That night, the president unveiled a new goal: to double U.S. exports over the next five years. It would be an increase that the president said would “support two million jobs in America.”
Most economists dismissed the promise at the time as something unrealistic, but two years later, the U.S. is on pace to meet that goal. American exports are up 34 percent since the president gave that speech, and the number continues to rise.
Competitive In A Global Market
Marlin Steel, a metal working business in Baltimore, makes parts that ship all across the world. “We export to 36 countries,” owner Drew Greenblatt tells All Things Considered Host Guy Raz. “We're working around the clock, and we're growing.”
It's not just advanced manufacturing exports on the rise, but pork, cattle and all kinds of agricultural exports are up as well. Even American craft beer has found an export market.
Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso says that increasingly, people all over the world are trying the beer from the Maryland-based brewery. Caruso says,“Even in those top beer-producing countries, a competitive American product is finding a market.”
Services Are Exports, Too
Another place exports are coming from is New York City—in particular, the 30th floor of a Manhattan skyscraper on 5th Avenue and 52nd Street. That's where the consulting firm Kurt Solomon lies. It doesn't actually produce a product for export; it provides management advice and strategy.
“Four out of every five Americans is now employed in the service industry,” the nation's top trade official, Ron Kirk says, “Services are a significant part of our exports, and make up about a quarter of our exported goods.” These services can include everything from legal consulting, finance, information technology and even engineering.
And There Are Other Factors
So why has there been an increase of more than 30 percent for exports in almost everything? Part of the increase, at least for the manufacturing side, is due to better technology, says Tyler Cowen, an economist. “A lot of it is being driven by smart machines,” he tells Raz,“The U.S. has high wage rates, which is a disadvantage, but if machines are doing a lot of the work, that doesn't matter.”
China factors a lot in America's export economy, too. “Wages in China have been going up as the country becomes more productive. Thus China is losing the cheap labor advantage it has held for some time.” Cowen says.
Will Jobs Grow, too?
“Companies have become more productive by dismissing workers and lowering costs.” Cowen says. “So I don't view exporting as a way of creating a very large number of jobs, but it will create more profits.”
So not every business or worker is necessarily benefiting from the export boom in the U.S., and Cowen says that could ultimately lead to a polarization (两极) of economic outcomes.
Made In the USA: An Export Boom
Outline |
Details |
|
The purpose of increasing exports |
*To help America make a (1)______ from the economic recession. *To help increase the nation's (2)______ . |
|
The current situation |
*American exports have risen (3)______ thirty-four percent up to now. *There has been an increase in exports in everything. *The export boom does not necessarily (4)______ every business or worker. |
|
(5)______ contributing to the export boom |
(6)______products |
Even in those top beer-producing countries, people try craft beer from Flying Dog, a brewery (7)______ in Maryland. |
Various products |
A variety of products are provided around the world,services (8)______ for 25%. |
|
Lower costs |
*(9)______ take the place of labor, helping companies reduce wages. *China, who used to take (10)______ of cheap labor, has given way to America in exports to some extent because of its increasing production. |
任务型阅读(每小题1分,满分10分)
请认真阅读下面短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。
注意:每空格1个单词。
请认真阅读下面短文,并根据所读内容在文章后图表中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。
Third-generation mobile phones, known as 3G, are the next big step for the telecom industry. Data speed in 3G networks is much quicker than that in present technology. This means users can have high-speed Internet access and enjoy video and CD-quality music on their phones.
“Mobile data is not a dream; it’s not an option(可选择) but a requirement,” said Len Lauer, head of a US communications company, Sprint PCS, at a 3G conference in Bangkok(曼谷) earlier this month.
With 3G, you can forget about text messages telling you yesterday’s news; a 3G phone can receive video news programs, updated four times a day. Internet access will also be much quicker, making it easier to surf the Web on your phone than on your computer at home.
Face-to-face video calls
Don’t worry about getting lost. 3G phones offer map services so you can find a new restaurant just by pressing a few keys on your handset.
However, the most impressive(印象深刻的) part of 3G technology is video calling. With live two-way video communication, you can have face-to-face talks with friends and family on your mobile phone.
Many European countries have already launched the service. In May 2000 the US Government issued(发放) five license(执照) to run 3G wireless services, while the first 3G phones arrived in Italy in March this year.
International telecom companies can’t wait to sell 3G in China, the world’s largest mobile telecommunications market. But they will have to be patient. At the moment, China is busy testing its 3G-based technologies, networks and services. This will be followed by a trial period before the phones can finally hit the shops.
“We need to create a pool of 3G customers before the large-scale commercial launch of the service,” said Fan Yunjun, marketing manager for Beijing Mobile. “We expect that the 3G licenses will be issued late next year.”
Third-generation mobile phones (3G mobile phones) |
|
(1) ______________ |
a. Data speed: (2) ______________ than present technology b. Video and (3) _____ music c. Video news programs: (4) ________ four times a day d. Internet access: quicker and (5) __________ |
Impressive functions |
a. Offer (6) __________ services, helping you find your way b. Provide two-way video (7) ____________ |
3G phones in China |
a. China is busy (8) ________ its 3G-based technologies, networks and services. b. 3G phones should go through a (9) _______ period before being put into market. c. 3G phones are expected to be seen (10) _______ next year. |
Tokyo - Drivers in China are no longer in a hurry to own Toyota Motor Corp's cars.
Neil Hu, a sales manager at a Toyota dealership in Beijing, said he has stopped charging a 5,000 yuan ($732) premium to customers who want to skip the waiting list for RAV4 sport- utility vehicles. He took the initiative after the Japanese carmaker recalled 75,552 of the SUVs in China last month to fix gas pedals that may stick.
"I heard the situation in the US is pretty bad for Toyota," Hu said. "The recall has impacted us as well."
Toyota, which grew more slowly than competitors in China in 2009, will likely lose more market share and see a decline in local profit margin this year, analysts say. The carmaker has relied on a reputation for quality and safety to sell high margin, mid- to large-size models even as the world's biggest auto market shifts to cheaper, smaller cars, encouraged by government incentives.
With Toyota's brand damaged by global recalls of millions of vehicles, profit margins for its SUVs and Camry and Crown sedans may shrink, said Ashvin Chotai, London-based managing director of Intelligence Automotive Asia Ltd, an industry consultant.
"With this recall saga, Toyota's premium pricing power in China is gone," Chotai said. "Toyota's cars don't have enough good value for money."
Toyota has lost $24.5 billion in market capitalization this year as it recalled over 8 million cars globally to fix defects linked to unintended acceleration. The company faces at least 118 class actions in the US and at least 36 individual lawsuits claiming deaths and injuries caused by sudden acceleration of Toyota or Lexus vehicles.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda flew directly to Beijing on March 2 to apologize for the vehicle defects, after attending US Congressional hearings about the recalls in Washington. He skipped Europe's Geneva auto show, underscoring the growing importance of the Chinese market.
Toyota rose for a fifth straight day in Tokyo, advancing 0.9 percent to 3,580 yen as of 9:44 am local time. The carmaker's shares have fallen 7.7 percent this year.
The company's February China sales rose 30 percent to 45,400 vehicles, underperforming the overall passenger-car.
1.According to the passage, why did Toyota carmaker recall their cars in China last month? _____________
A.Because it faced law suits in the US |
B.Because there were problems with the cars. |
C.Because of the importance of the Chinese market |
D.Because the customers are not satisfied with the charging of a 5,000 Yuan premium. |
2.What does the underlined phrase“take the initiative” mean?
A.took the advice |
B.changed his mind |
C.took the action |
D.made the decision |
3.Why did Toyota president Akio Toyota skip Europe’s Geneva auto show?
A.Because he did not think it important |
B.Because he was not satisfied with the hearing in the US |
C.Because he attached importance to the Chinese Market |
D.Because he needed to make an apology to Chinese |
4.After the global recalls of millions vehicles, Toyota will be impacted in the following aspects, EXCEPT_________.
A.Its brand will be damaged |
B.Its profit margins will shrink |
C.It will have to face law suits |
D.The president will be fired |
5.Where can read the passage? __________
A.newspaper |
B.magazine |
C.encyclopedia |
D.a school book |