The United States became a rich industrial nation toward the end of 1800s. There were more goods, more services, more jobs, and a higher standard of living. There was more of everything, including problems. One problem was monopoly, that is, to be the only seller of a certain line of products or a service. In some cases, several companies that manufactured the same product would agree not to compete with one another. They would all agree to charge the same price. These arrangements made it impossible for customers to shop around for lower prices for certain products.

Some people decided that huge corporations had too much power and controlled too many markets. Because of their wealth and power, they could see to it that governments passed laws favorable to them. Many people believed that monopoly and price fixing were bad for customers and bad for the country so that they should be broken up.

Finally the national government and some states passed laws that placed limits on corporations and big companies. These laws made it illegal for companies to make agreements to charge only a certain price. Later on the national government forced monopoly to be broken up.

Such laws and government action didn’t entirely do away with monopolies. Nor did they stop the growth of huge corporations. But they did show that American people had decided that some of the changes that had occurred were harmful. (from www.nmet168.com)

1. The underlined word “monopoly” in the first paragraph most probably means ________.

A. the production of certain kinds of goods  B. complete control and possession of trade

C. a big corporation of company             D. an agreement on prices

2. Because of the agreements between big companies ________.

A. people had to buy things at certain shops  B. the prices of their goods were much lower

C. customers had no choice but to buy      D. there were fewer markets in some states

3. According to the laws, companies ________.

A. were not allowed to control the markets

B. could not force the customers to buy their products

C. should have fixed prices for their products

D. must produce the same kind of goods for the same markets

4. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Big companies could not influence the government.

B. A large number of markets were controlled by big companies.

C. Many Americans were worried about the changes in their country.

D. Some of the laws were in favor of customers.

COUPONS

Supermarkets and large drugstores often run ads in newspapers.

Many supermarkets also have product coupons printed in the newspaper.A coupon is a promise to take money off the price of a certain product.Coupons are often printed on small pieces of paper.

Coupons have product names on them.If you buy the product,you give the cashier your coupon along with everything you buy.The cashier will subtract the amount printed on the coupon from the full price of the product.

Coupons are small and have lots of information printed on them.You should read them carefully.

One thing you will find on the coupon is an expiration date.An expiration date is the date that tells when something can not be used any more.

You may also find conditions for using the coupon.Conditions tell you the rules of the coupon.They tell you how the coupon may be used.For example,a coupon may be good for only the smallest size of an item.

We can find all of the following on coupons EXCEPT _________.

A.product names                                              B.expiration dates

C.full prices of the products                              D.conditions for using them

According to the passage,a coupon holder can _________.

A.save some money                                          B.get products for free

C.pay less for everything                                   D.use them at any time

How much will you pay for two Yogurts and four Tastees with the coupons?

A.$8.00.                       B.$9.00.                       C.$13.00.                            D.$15.00.

The hottest show this summer---"the Voice" just finished on Sunday at the Shanghai Stadium. But the show that had a good start didn’t end to everyone’s satisfaction. The two and a half hour show dragged on for more than four hours because of the huge amount of advertising, which the audience and residents living nearby could hardly bear.

This summer, something hotter than the weather came to Shanghai. That is the Voice of China. The show soon became a cash cow for the organizer as the advertisement prices reached 1.16 million yuan for 15 seconds. And the show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now in ad income only,

But the organizers’ bliss was audiences’ melancholy.

In the final live show on Sunday, about 14 rounds of advertisements were aired, each of which came at a crucial result-announcing moment.

Frequently interrupted by advertisements, some live audience members complained that the show wasn’t worth its ticket prices of 180 to 1680 yuan.

The planned two and a half hour show went two hours overtime because of the advertising. This annoyed audience members, and touched the nerves of residents living near the site.

Someone called the police, and the show is now facing punishment for going over-time and disturbing residents late at night.

1. Why didn’t “the Voice” make audience satisfied?

A．Because it had a good start but it failed to attract audience’ attention in the end.

B．Because it had a good start but it failed to make audience satisfied.

C．Because it increased by one and a half hour and audience couldbear it.

D．Because it was full of so many advisements that audience can’t tolerate it.

2. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The show lasted for over four hours.

B．The show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now totally.

C．The show wasn’t worth its ticket prices because of many advertisements.

D．Someone called the police because he can’t bear the noises late at night.

3. What does the underlined word “melancholy” in the third paragraph mean?

A．enthusiasm        B．craziness          C．sorrow           D．romance

4. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A．The Voice of China---the most popular TV show of last summer.

B．The Voice of China---hard to say I love you.

C．The Voice of China---I want you.

D．The Voice of China---the noises of China.

I needed to get some money during my winter holidays.So after Christmas I took a job in the clothes department at Graham’s for the first fortnight of the January sale.I can’t say that I enjoyed it,but it was an experience I’ll never forget.

I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales;where did they all come from?Now I know the secret! Firstly,there is the special winter stock(货物)and the stock that people buy all the year round;some of these things are slightly reduced.Secondly,there are the summer clothes they couldn’t sell last year,these are heavily reduced to clear them.Thirdly,there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales;these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale.Clever! Later,they buy in “seconds” (clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.

When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale,there was already a queue around three sides of the building.This made me very nervous.

When the big moment arrived to open the doors,the security guards,looking less confident than usual,came up to them,keys in hand.The moment they had unlocked the doors,they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in.I couldn’t believe my eyes;this wasn’t shopping,it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn’t keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.

Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes,colors and styles they wanted.Quarrels broke out.Mothers were using their small children to crawl through people’s legs and get hold of things they couldn’t get near themselves.

Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose,each wanting to be the first served.Where had the famous English Queue gone?The whole day continued like that,but I kept my temper (脾气)！I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why,twice a year,Graham’s were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.

In the sale fever,people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying.As long as it was a bargain it was OK.

You won’t believe this but as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours.Then I had dinner and went back to bed,fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.

1.What kind of clothes is likely to be sold 5% cheaper?

A.Last summer’s clothes.

B.Clothes not in perfect condition.

C.Clothes bought in specially for the sales.

D.Clothes for winter.

2.Which of the following statements is true?

A.The customers gave up the queuing,for which the English are famous.

B.The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted.

C.Small children enjoyed crawling through people’s legs.

D.The security guards were fearless of the crowd.

3.In the author’s opinion,why were Graham’s happy to make their expensive store into a “battlefield”?

A.There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales.

B.They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business.

C.They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes.

D.They wanted to make more money by having sales.

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A.The Best Bargain

B.Hunting for a Job

C.Sale Fever

D.A Pleasant Fortnight

He focused his effort ____the house ___sale for fear that the prices of them would go up suddenly.