I had applied for a very important program, and Rickover was interviewing me for the job．It was the first time I met him, and we sat in large room 36 ourselves for more than two hours, and he let me_37 any subjects I wished to discuss Very 38 I chose those about which I knew most at those time-current events, music, literature…，and then he began to ask me a series of questions of increasing_ 39 . In each case, he soon 40 　 that I knew 41 about the subjects I had chosen．

　 He always looked right 42 my eyes, and he never smiled．I was wet with cold_ 43 ．

　 Finally, he asked me question and I thought I could regain__ 44 He said, "How did you 45 in your class at Georgia Tech 46 entering our Annapolis as a freshman?" I had done very well, so I answered with__ 47 ,"Sir, I stand 8th in class of 60!"I sat back to wait for the 48 which never came．_49 , came the question: "Did you do your best?" I started to say, "Yes, Sir," but I suddenly realized who I faced and then 50 several of my times at Georgia Tech 51 I could have worked harder and learned more about our friends and so on．I was just an ordinary student. I__ 52 my throat and finally said, “No, Sir．I didn't always do my best．”

He looked at me for a long time, and then turned his chair around to end the 53 .He asked one final question, which I have never been able to forget 54 to answer． He said, "Why not?" I sat there for a while, 55 , and then slowly left the room．

36．A．beside　　　　　　　　　　 B．by 　　　　　　　　　　　 C．for　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．with

37．A．choose　　　　　　　　　 B．consider　　　　　　　　 C． elect　　　　　　　　　　 D．search

38．A．excitingly　　　　　　　 B． curiously　　　　　　　 C． patiently　　　　　　　 D．carefully

39．A．humor　　　　　　　　　 B． interest　　　　　　　　 C． difficulty　　　　　　　 D．ability

40．A．proved　　　　　　　　　 B． showed　　　　　　　　 C． meant　　　　　　　　　 D．imagined

41．A．much　　　　　　　　　　 B． little　　　　　　　　　　 C． anything　　　　　　　 D．everything

42．A．into　　　　　　　　　　　 B． for　　　　　　　　　　　 C． back　　　　　　　　　　 D．up

43．A．air　　　　　　　　　　　　 B． water　　　　　　　　　 C． sweat　　　　　　　　　 D．tears

44．A．consideration B． permission C． self-confidence　　 D．self-defense

45．A．stand　　　　　　　　　　 B． seat　　　　　　　　　　 C． do　　　　　　　　　　　 D．go

46．A．after　　　　　　　　　　　 B． before　　　　　　　　　 C． while　　　　　　　　　 D．since

47．A．delight　　　　　　　　　 B． satisfaction　　　　　 C． happiness　　　　　　 D．pride

48．A．celebrations B． expectations　　　　 C． explanations D．congratulations

49．A．Thus　　　　　　　　　　 B． However　　　　　　　 C． Instead　　　　　　　　 D．Therefore

50．A．recalled　　　　　　　　　 B． tried　　　　　　　　　　 C． reminded　　　　　　　 D．analyzed

51．A．what　　　　　　　　　　 B． that　　　　　　　　　　　 C． when　　　　　　　　　 D．which

52．A．examined　　　　　　　 B． cleaned　　　　　　　　 C． treated　　　　　　　　 D．cleared

53．A．meeting　　　　　　　　 B． lesson　　　　　　　　　 C． interview　　　　　　　 D．class

54．A．so　　　　　　　　　　　　 B． and　　　　　　　　　　　 C． or　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．but

55．A．moved　　　　　　　　　 B． shaken　　　　　　　　 C． delighted　　　　　　　 D．excited

I hadn’t really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. I knew in   36   that this trip was going to be unpleasant.

I’m talking about my annual Guilt Trip. I got tickers to fly there on WISH – I – HAD’ airlines. I   37   my baggage all the way, which was weighted down with a thousand   38   of ‘what might have been’. No one greeted me at the ‘Regret City’ International Airport.

As I   39   into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed to miss that great   41   occasion.

Many leading citizens went there. First, there was the ‘Should – Have - Done’ family.   42   came the ‘I – Wish’ family. Of course, the ‘Opportunities’ family, ‘Missed and Lost’, surely made an   43  . They each had a dad story to share. ‘It’s – Their - Fault’ treated us with stories about   44  things had failed in his life, and each story was applauded by ‘Don’t – Blame - Me’ and ‘I – Couldn’t – Help – It.’

To make a long   45   short, I became very depressed at the party   46  .

But as I though about all the stories of failures   47  from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and ‘pity party’ could have been cancelled by ME!

I truly realized that I didn’t have to be there to be   48  . One thing kept going through my mind – I can’t change yesterday, but I   49   have the power to make today a wonderful day. Knowing this, I left ‘Regret City’ immediately. Am I sorry for   50  I’ve made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them.

So, if you’re planning a trip to ‘Regret City’, please cancel all your reservations now.   51  , take a trip to a placed called ‘Starting Again’, which I like so much that I’ve made it my   52   residence. My neighbors, the ‘I – Forgive - Myselfs’ and the ‘New - Starts’ are so very helpful.

By the way, you don’t have to carry   53   heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders   54   arrival. Surely you’ll find this great town – it’s in your own heart. Look me up if you’re ready for a (n)   55   changer in your life. I live on ‘I – CAN – DO – IT ’ Street.

36．A．person      B．time  C．advance    D．secret

37．A．grasped    B．held  C．lifted D．dragged

38．A．inspirations      B．prescriptions    C．memories  D．souvenirs

39．A．checked    B．prepared   C．reserved    D．accessed

40．A．creating    B．hosting     C．introducing      D．participating

41．A．political    B．social       C．historical  D．cultural

42．A．There       B．Thus  C．Finally     D．Then

43．A．achievement     B．appearance       C．appointment     D．announcement

44．A．where       B．whether    C．how  D．which

45．A．story B．event C．comedy    D．tragedy

46．A．after all    B．in public   C．ever since D．as usual

47．A．brought back    B．taken down      C．kept up     D．carried on

48．A．motivated B．depressed  C．refreshed  D．impressed

49．A．could       B．might       C．did    D．do

50．A．attempts   B．preparations     C．mistakes   D．efforts

51．A．Instead     B．Nevertheless     C．Therefore  D．However

52．A．independent     B．mature      C．permanent D．dynamic

53．A．away B．through    C．out    D．around

54．A．beyond     B．upon C．under       D．above

55．A．total  B．abrupt      C．punctual   D．severe

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

1. 1.

   There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

   1. A.
      cause a shortage of apartments
   2. B.
      worry those who rent apartments as homes.
   3. C.
      increase the profits of landlords.
   4. D.
      encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.
2. 2.

   We can safely say that rent control_________.

   1. A.
      will always benefit those who rent apartments.
   2. B.
      is unnecessary.
   3. C.
      will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
   4. D.
      is necessary under all conditions
3. 3.

   There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.

   1. A.
      the minimum wage is set too high..
   2. B.
      the minimum wage is set too early.
   3. C.
      the workers are unskilled.
   4. D.
      the maximum wage is set for poor workers.
4. 4.

   The passage tells us about _______________.

   1. A.
      the relationship between supply and demand.
   2. B.
      the possible results of government controls.
   3. C.
      the necessity of government control.
   4. D.
      the urgency of getting rid of government control.
5. 5.

   Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   1. A.
      The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.
   2. B.
      Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.
   3. C.
      Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.
   4. D.
      Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

   Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

   Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

   Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

cause a shortage of apartments

worry those who rent apartments as homes.

Increase the profits of landlords.

Encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.

We can safely say that rent control         .

A. will always benefit those who rent apartments.

B. is unnecessary.

C. will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.

D. is necessary under all conditions

There will be the problem of unemployment if          .

A. the minimum wage is set too high..     B. the minimum wage is set too early.

C. the workers are unskilled.  

D. the maximum wage is set for poor workers.

The passage tells us about           .

A. the relationship between supply and demand.

B. the possible results of government controls.

C. the necessity of government control.

D. the urgency of getting rid of government control.

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   A. The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.

   B. Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.

   C. Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.

   D. Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may      .

a. cause a shortage of apartments

b. worry those who rent apartments as homes

c. increase the profits of landlords

d. encourage landlords to invest in building apartment

According to the critics, rent control        .

a. will always benefit those who rent apartments

b. is unnecessary

c. will bring negative effects in the long run

d. is necessary under all circumstances

The problem of unemployment will arise        .

a. if the minimum wage is set too high

b. if the minimum wage is set too low

c. if the workers are unskilled

d. if the maximum wage is set

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

a. The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.

b. Minimum wage can not always protect employees.

c. Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.

d. Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.