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题型:阅读理解 题类:常考题 难易度:普通

牛津译林版高中英语高三上册模块9 Unit 1 Other countries, other cultures 同步练习

阅读理解

    The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing billions of dollars a year. The government company that delivers "small mail" is losing out to email and other types of electronic communication. First-class mail amount fell from a high point of 104 million pieces in 2000 to just 64 million pieces by 2014.

    Congress permits the 600.000-empIoyee USPS to hold a monopoly (垄断) over first-class and standard mail. The company pays no federal, state or local taxes; pays no vehicle fees; and is free from many regulations on other businesses. Despite these advantages, the USPS has lost $52 billion since 2007, and will continue losing money without major reforms.

    The problem is that Congress is preventing the USPS from reducing costs as its sales decline, and is blocking efforts to end Saturday service and close unneeded post office locations. USPS also has a costly union-dominated workforce that slows the introduction of new ideas or methods down. USPS workers earn significantly higher payment than comparable private-sector workers. The answer is to privatize the USPS and open postal markets to competition. With the rise of the Internet, the argument that mail is a natural monopoly that needs government protection is weaker than ever.

    Other countries facing declining letter amounts have made reforms Germany and the Netherlands privatized their national postal companies over a decade ago, and other European countries have followed suit. Britain floated shares of the Royal Mail on its stock exchange in 2013. Some countries, such us Sweden and New Zealand, have not privatized their national postal companies, but they have opened them up to competition.

    These reforms have driven efficiency improvements in all of these countries. Additional number of workers have been reduced, productivity has risen and consumers have benefited. Also, note that cost-cutting measures—such as closing tone post offices—are good for both the economy and the environment.

    Privatization and competition also encourage new changes. When the USPS monopoly over "extremely urgent" mail was stopped in 1979, we saw an explosion in efficient overnight private delivery by firms such as FedEx.

    The government needs to wake up to changing technology, study postal reforms abroad and let businessmen reinvent our out-of-date postal system.

(1)、What do we know about the USPS?

A、Its great competitor is the delivery firm FedEx. B、It is an old public service open to competitions. C、Its employees don't pay federal, state or local taxes. D、It has complete control of first-class and standard mail.
(2)、The author mentions some other countries in Paragraph 4 to __________.

A、explain the procedures of reform to the USPS B、show the advantages of private postal services C、set some examples for the government to learn from D、prove the situation is very common around the world
(3)、The author probably that the USPS __________.

A、needs government's protection as ever B、can work together with other businesses C、must be replaced by international companies D、should be sold out and become a private service
(4)、Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?

(I: Introduction     CP: Central point P: Point     Sp: Sub-point (次要点)    C: Conclusion)

A、 B、 C、 D、
举一反三
阅读理解

Wanted, Someone for a Kiss

    We' re looking for producers to join us on the sound of London Kiss 100 FM. You' ll work on the station's music programmes. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply(申请)in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.

Father Christmas

    We're looking for a very special person, preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.

    Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sundays, l0:30 —16:00.

Excellent pay.

    Please contact (联系) the Enterprise Shopping Centre, Station Parade, Eastbourne.

Accountants Assistant

    When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience.

Wealden District Council

Software Trainer

    If you are aged 24 -45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make your own decisions ,and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of £15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs. R.. Oglivie, Palmlaee Limited.

阅读理解

    Copenhagen Destination Guide

    The modern city of Copenhagen combines the best of European cafe culture and Scandinavian architecture. It's charming and compact with lots of local history to dive into. Although spending time in Copenhagen can become expensive, there are many ways to experience the city on a budget as well.

    Attractions

    Copenhagen is one of the world's best cycling cities. To see the city with ease, rent a bike or take a small group tour to see the sights, including the Little Mermaid, the island of Amager and the community of Christiania. You can also take a canal boat tour to see the city from a unique view. The Tivoli Gardens offer a sense of love in the evenings. There are some excellent museums to explore. Be sure to add the Museum of Art and Design to your travel plan.

    Transportation

    Kastrup Airport is the first destination for most visitors. It typically takes less than 15 minutes to get from the airport to the city center by train, so all the visitors prefer this way to travel between the two places. Canal boat tours are the easiest way to see the city's attractions. Cycling is the fastest and most flexible way to get around, and it's a refreshingly pedestrian-friendly city as well.

    Tips

    Find local sandwich shops to eat like the locals do and give your wallet a break.

    Museum lovers should have a Copenhagen Card, which provides free entrance to about 60 museums and many other attractions too.

    Consider visiting Copenhagen in the autumn, when it's a little cold but accommodations become much cheaper than those in the summer.

    Check at www.Save70.com to view price comparisons for flights and hotels before you book.

阅读理解

    You may not have heard of it before, but solid rain (固体雨)has been helping Mexican farmers fight droughts(干旱) for over ten years. The magic solid rain looks like sugar and it can take in water up to 500 times as its own size and keep it in the ground for up to a year.

    The story of solid rain began in 1970, when American scientists developed a product used to take in water and help keep babies' bottoms dry. However, a Mexican chemical engineer saw this magic product as an opportunity to fight the drought. He developed a different kind of the product, which could be mixed with soil and slowly feed water to crops over a long period of time. His company, Solid Rain, has been quietly selling the product to Mexican farmers for over 10 years.

    Solid rain seems to be working wonders in Mexico. However, it has not come into use around the world. Well, that's mainly because a lot of people still don't know about it. The Mexican company has invested (投资) almost nothing into marketing, relying instead on word of mouth between Mexican farmers. However, recently, they have gotten requests from other dry countries like India and Australia.

    Solid rain has received the Ecology and Environment Award, but it has also received some negative views. Dr. Linda Scott says that the product is hardly new and that there is no scientific evidence that it can hold water for a year or last in the ground for ten years. Besides, solid rain can cause more harm than good in certain conditions.

    However, real-life use seems to show that solid rain is actually of great use to their farms. Frank Torres, a former green bean farmer used to rely on it even though drought wasn't such a big issue. He said that the production had increased by 50%.

阅读短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中选出最佳选项。

    One of the hardest parts of planning a trip to Hawaii is deciding which of the major Hawaiian Islands you should visit. Each has its own personality and offers unique adventures and activities.

    Oahu

    Oahu has a bit of everything, packed in 597 square miles. You can hike into thick rainforests, and when you need a break, relax on powdery white sand beaches and stay at luxury resorts.

    Oahu has become a great destination for families. The urban core (核心) of Honolulu and Waikiki has historic sites, museums and bustling (熙熙攘攘的) and nightlife scenes. The island lives up to its nickname of the Gathering Place.

    Maui

    Maui is a great island for honeymooners. The Valley Isle has top-class resorts and golf courses, adjacent (毗邻) to some of the state's best beaches. A large dormant (休眠) volcano in east Maui at sunrise or sunset is a serene experience, as well as driving the Road to Hana, famed for its thundering waterfalls.

    Kauai

    Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. The island gets a lot of rain, but that's what makes it so lively, you'll come across flowers and plants you've never seen before. For some of the best views on the island, visit Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the Na Pali coast, boasting some of the world's highest sea cliffs.

    Big Island

    The Big Island is the only Hawaiian island still growing. Witness the power of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, wind, lightning and volcanoes with a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It's one of the few spots in the world where you can see lava flow. In fact, the Big Island has 10 of the world's sub-climate zones, from the snow-covered mountain of Mauna Kea, green forests of Waipio Valley to stretches of barren desert.

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