大學英語六級閱讀標準練習與答案

　　下面是小編整理的，希望對大家有幫助。

　　The promise of finding long-term technological solutions to the problem of world food shortages seems difficult to fulfill. Many innovations that were once heavily supported and publicized have since fallen by the wayside. The proposals themselves were technically feasible, but they proved to be economically unviable and to yield food products culturally unacceptable to their consumers.

　　One characteristic common to unsuccessful food innovations has been that, even with extensive government support, they often have not been technologically adapted or culturally acceptable to the people for whom they had been developed. A successful new technology, therefore, must fit the entire social cultural system in which it is to find a place. Security of crop yield, practicality of storage, and costs are much more significant than previously been realized by the advocates of new technologies.

　　The adoption of new food technologies depends on more than these technical and cultural considerations; economic factors and governmental policies also strongly influence the ultimate success of any innovation. Economists in the Anglo-American tradition have taken the lead in investigating the economics of technological innovation. Although they exaggerate in claiming that profitability is the key factor guiding technical change—they completely disregard the substantial effects of culture—they are correct in stressing the importance of profits. Most technological innovations in agriculture can be fully used only by large landowners and are only adopted if these profit-oriented business people believe that the innovation will increase their incomes. Thus, innovations that carry high rewards for big agribusiness groups will be adopted even if they harm segments of the population and reduce the availability of food in a country. Further, should a new technology promise to alter substantially the profits and losses associated with any production system, those with economic power will strive to maintain and improve their own positions. Therefore, although technical advances in food production and processing will perhaps be needed to ensure food availability, meeting food needs will depend much more on equalizing economic power among the various segments of the populations within the developing countries themselves.

　　1.The passage mentions all of the following as factors important to the success of a new food crop except the ___.

　　A.practicality of storage of the crop.

　　B.security of the crop yield.

　　C.quality of the crop’s protein.

　　D.cultural acceptability of the crop.

　　2.The author suggests that, in most emerging countries, extensive government intervention accompanying the introduction of a food innovation will ___.

　　A.usually be sufficient to guarantee the financial success of the innovation.

　　B.be necessary to ensure that the benefits of the innovation will be spread throughout the society.

　　C.normally occur only when the innovation favors large landowners.

　　D.generally cost the country more than will be earned by the innovation.

　　3.The first paragraph of the passage best supports which of the following statements?

　　A.Too much publicity can harm the chances for the success of a new food innovation.

　　B.Innovations that produce culturally acceptable crops will generally be successful.

　　C.A food-product innovation can be technically feasible and still not be economically viable.

　　D.It is difficult to decide whether a food-product innovation has actually been a success.

　　4.The author provides a sustained argument to uphold which of the following assertions?

　　A.Profitability is neither necessary nor sufficient for a new technology to be adopted.

　　B.Profitability is the key factor guiding technological change.

　　C.Economic factors and governmental policies strongly influence the ultimate success of any innovation.

　　D.Innovations carrying high rewards for big agribusiness groups harm the poor.

　　5.The primary purpose of the passage is to discuss the ___.

　　A.means of assessing the extent of the world food shortage.

　　B.difficulties of applying technological solutions to the problem of food shortages.

　　C.costs of introducing a new food technology into a developing country.

　　D.nature of the new technological innovations in the area of food production.

 

　　答案：CBCCB


 

　　What most people don’t realize is that wealth isn’t the same as income. If you make $ 1 million a year and spend $ 1 million, you’re not getting wealthier, you’re just living high. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend.

　　The most successful accumulators of wealth spend far less than they can afford on houses, cars, vacations and entertainment. Why? Because these things offer little or no return. The wealthy would rather put their money into investments or their businesses. It’s an attitude.

　　Millionaires understand that when you buy a luxury house, you buy a luxury life –style too. Your property taxes skyrocket, along with the cost of utilities and insurance, and the prices of nearby services, such as grocery stores, tend to be higher.

　　The rich man’s attitude can also be seen in his car. Many drive old unpretentious sedans. Sam Walton, billionaire founder of the Wal – Mart Store, Inc., drove a pickup truck.

　　Most millionaires measure success by net worth, not income. Instead of taking their money home, they plow as much as they can into their businesses, stock portfolios and other assets. Why? Because the government doesn’t tax wealth; it taxes income you bring home for consumption, the more the government taxes.

　　The person who piles up net worth fastest tends to put every dollar he can into investments, not consumption. All the while, of course, he’s reinvesting his earnings from investments and watching his net worth soar. That’s the attitude as well.

　　The best wealth-builders pay careful attention to their money and seek professional advice. Those who spend heavily on cars, boats and buses, I’ve found, tend to skimp on investment advice. Those who skimp on the luxuries are usually more willing to pay top dollar for good legal and financial advice.

　　The self-made rich develop clear goals for their money. They may wish to retire early, or they may want to leave an estate to their children. The goals vary, but two things are consistent: they have a dollar figure in mind-the amount they want to save by age 50, perhaps – and they work unceasingly toward that goal.

　　One thing may surprise you. If you make wealth – not just income – your goal, the luxury house you’ve been dreaming about won’t seem so alluring. You’ll have the attitude.

　　1.Which of the following statements is true?

　　A.Wealth is judged according to the life style one has.

　　B.Inheritance builds an important part in one’s wealth.

　　C.High income may make one live high and get rich t the same time.

　　D.Wealth is more of what one has made than anything else.

　　2.By the author’s opinion, those who spend money on luxury houses and cars_____.

　　A.will not be taxed by the government

　　B.have accumulated wealth in another sense

　　C.live high and have little saved

　　D.can show that they are among the rich

　　3.The rich put their money into business because_____.

　　A.they can get much in return to build their wealth

　　B.they are not interested in luxury houses and cars

　　C.their goal is to develop their company

　　D.that is the only way to spend money yet not to be taxed by the government

　　4.The U.S. government doesn’t tax what you spend money on _____.

　　A.cars Bhouses C.stock D.boats

　　5.To become wealthy, one should______.

　　A.seek as much income as he can

　　B.work hard unceasingly

　　C.stick to the way he lives

　　D.save up his earnings

 

　　答案：DCACB