Passage Two
Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.
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.
62.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
63.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
64.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
65.The passage tells us .
［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 controls
66.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.
Part ⅤCloze（15 minutes）
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked ［A］, ［B］, ［C］ and ［D］on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
For many people today, reading is no longer relaxation. To keep up their work they must read letters, reports, trade publications, interoffice communications, not to mention newspapers and magazines: a never-ending flood of words. In 67 a job or advancing in one, the ability to read and comprehend 68 can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us are 69 readers. Most of us develop poor reading 70 at an early age, and never get over them. The main deficiency 71 in the actual stuff of language itself-words. Taken individually, words have 72 meaning until they are strung together into phrased, sentences and paragraphs. 73 , however, the untrained reader does not read groups of words. He laboriously reads one word at a time, often regressing to 74 words or passages. Regression, the tendency to look back over 75 you have just read, is a common bad habit in reading. Another habit which 76 down the speed of reading is vocalization-sounding each word either orally or mentally as 77 reads.
To overcome these bad habits, some reading clinics use a device called an 78 , which moves a bar (or curtain) down the page at a predetermined speed. The bar is set at a slightly faster rate 79 the reader finds comfortable, in order to ”stretch“ him. The accelerator forces the reader to read fast, 80 word-by-word reading, regression and sub vocalization, practically impossible. At first 81 is sacrificed for speed. But when you learn to read ideas and concepts, you will not only read faster, 82 your comprehension will improve. Many people have found 83 reading skill drastically improved after some training. 84 Charlce Au, a business manager, for instance, his reading rate was a reasonably good 172 words a minute 85 the training, now it is an excellent 1,378 words a minute. He is delighted that how he can 86 a lot more reading material in a short period of time.
67.［A］applying ［B］doing ［C］offering ［D］getting
68.［A］quickly ［B］easily ［C］roughly ［D］decidedly
69.［A］good ［B］curious ［C］poor ［D］urgent
70.［A］training ［B］habits ［C］situations ［D］custom
71.［A］lies ［B］combines ［C］touches ［D］involves
72.［A］some ［B］A lot ［C］little ［D］dull
73.［A］Fortunately ［B］In fact ［C］Logically ［D］Unfortunately
74.［A］reuse ［B］reread ［C］rewrite ［D］recite
75.［A］what ［B］which ［C］that ［D］if
76.［A］scales ［B］cuts ［C］slows ［D］measures
77.［A］some one ［B］one ［C］he ［D］reader
78.［A］accelerator ［B］actor ［C］amplifier ［D］observer
79.［A］then ［B］as ［C］beyond ［D］than
80.［A］enabling ［B］leading ［C］making ［D］indicating
81.［A］meaning ［B］comprehension ［C］gist ［D］regression
82.［A］but ［B］nor ［C］or ［D］for
83.［A］our ［B］your ［C］their ［D］such a
84.［A］Look at ［B］Take ［C］Make ［D］Consider
85.［A］for ［B］in ［C］after ［D］before
86.［A］master ［B］go over ［C］present ［D］get through
Part Ⅵ Translation（5 minutes）
Direction: Complete the sentences on Answer Sheet 2 by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.
87.But for his help, I (我不可能这么早完成).
88.I don’t mind your(延期做出决定) the decision as long as it is not too late.
89.Over a third of the population was estimated(无法获得) to the health service.
90.It is no good waiting for the bus,（我们不妨走回家吧）.
91.Last week, Tom and his friends celebrated his twentieth birthday, (尽情地唱歌跳舞).
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