We’ve considered several ways of paying to cut in line: hiring line standers, buying tickets from scalpers (票贩子), or purchasing line-cutting privileges directly from, say, an airline or an amusement park. Each of these deals replaces the morals of the queue (waiting your turn) with the morals of the market (paying a price for faster service).
Markets and queues — paying and waiting — are two different ways of allocating things, and each is appropriate to different activities. The morals of the queue, “First come, first served, have an egalitarian (平等主义的) appeal. They tell us to ignore privilege, power, and deep pockets.
The principle seems right on playgrounds and at bus stops. But the morals of the queue do not govern all occasions. If I put my house up for sale, I have no duty to accept the first offer that comes along, simply because it’s the first. Selling my house and waiting for a bus are different activities, properly governed by different standards.
Sometimes standards change, and it is unclear which principle should apply. Think of the recorded message you hear, played over and over, as you wait on hold when calling your bank: “Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.” This is essential for the morals of the queue. It’s as if the company is trying to ease our impatience with fairness.
But don’t take the recorded message too seriously. Today, some people’s calls are answered faster than others. Call center technology enables companies to “score” incoming calls and to give faster service to those that come from rich places. You might call this telephonic queue jumping.
Of course, markets and queues are not the only ways of allocating things. Some goods we distribute by merit, others by need, still others by chance. However, the tendency of markets to replace queues, and other non-market ways of allocating goods is so common in modern life that we scarcely notice it anymore. It is striking that most of the paid queue-jumping schemes we’ve considered — at airports and amusement parks, in call centers, doctors’ offices, and national parks — are recent developments, scarcely imaginable three decades ago. The disappearance of the queues in these places may seem an unusual concern, but these are not the only places that markets have entered.
【小题1】63.According to the author, which of the following seems governed by the principle “First come, first served”?
A.Flying with an airline | B.Buying houses |
C.Taking buses | D.Visiting amusement parks |
A.the necessity of patience in queuing |
B.the advantage of modern technology |
C.the uncertainty of allocation principle |
D.the fairness of telephonic services |
A.discuss the morals of allocating things |
B.justify paying for faster services |
C.analyze the reason for standing in line |
D.criticize the behavior of queue jumping |
【小题1】C
【小题2】C
【小题3】A
解析试题分析:
【小题1】C考查细节理解。根据文章第三段中的The principle seems right on playgrounds and at bus stops可知,在运动场上和公共汽车站,捷足先得的规则似乎是正确的。故选C。
【小题2】C考查推理判断。根据文章第五段中的Call center technology enables companies to “score” incoming calls and to give faster service to those that come from rich places. You might call this telephonic queue jumping.可知,公司会给那些来自富裕地方的人们提供更快捷的方法,你可能会称之为电话插对。所以这就表明了“分配原则的不确定性”。故选C。
【小题3】A考查文章的主旨大意。文章通篇都在讨论分配的道德原则问题。所以A正确。
考点:考查议论文的阅读理解。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow passage, people say "sorry". When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles, and here are some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people in UK.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customers and retail assistants in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted.
【小题1】What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?
A.He thinks it is artificial. | B.He thinks little of it. |
C.He appreciates it very much. | D.He thinks it goes too far. |
A.The author think it's unnecessary to say "thank you" to the bus driver. |
B.In Germany, employers often say "thank you" to employees for their job. |
C.German men never treat a woman to dinner. |
D.Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough. |
A.are more likely to be involved in a fighting |
B.are as generous as English men |
C.treat women in a polite way |
D.are unwilling to spend money for women |
A.English drivers often say "thank you" to passengers when they get off the bus. |
B.In Germany, passengers sometimes say "thank you" to bus drivers. |
C.English people try to avoid criticizing others in the daily life. |
D.Germans are more considerate and polite than Englishmen. |
A.making comparisons | B.telling stories |
C.giving comments | D.giving reasons/examples |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Below is a discussion on a website.
http://www.TalkingPoints.com/ | |
Stuck on a desert island? | |
Started on 23rd April by Steve Posts 1 – 7 of 42 | |
Post 1 Steve USA | Hi, everyone. What would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island? For me, it would be the changing seasons in New England. I guess this will sound stupid but I’d probably miss the rain, too. I wouldn’t miss getting up at six every day to go to work, though! What about you? |
Post 2 Tomas Germany | Good question. Steve, I think I’d miss different types of bread, and shopping at the supermarket. I’d miss the food most. What would I miss least? My mobile phone---I’d like to be completely quiet --- at least for a little while |
Post 3 Paola Italy | I would miss the company of people because I know I’d like to have someone to share experiences with. I’d go mad on my own. And I sure wouldn’t miss junk mail(垃圾邮件) --- I hate coming home every evening and a pile of junk mail in my post box. |
Post 4 Miko Japan | Hi, I would miss Manga cartoon, the Internet and Japanese food, like sushi. I’d also miss TV shows and shopping for clothes… |
Post 5 Roger UK | I would miss my daily newspaper and listening to the news on TV and radio. I’d feel very cut off if I didn’t know what was happening in the world. What I’d miss least would be traffic jams in the city, particularly my journey to work. |
Past 6 Jayne | Why hasn’t anyone mentioned their family? I’d be lost without my husband and two kids. They’re the most important for me. And I can’t get started in the morning without a cup of black coffee. I wouldn’t miss doing the housework! |
Post 7 Jaime Mexico | It would have to be music. I couldn’t live without my music. I wouldn’t miss going to school at all or doing homework! |
A.Jaime | B.Jayne | C.Miko | D.Paola. |
A.Steve. | B.Jaime | C.Roger. | D.Tomas |
A.One | B.Two | C.Three | D.Four |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Why Doesn’t Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been spectacularly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple crystallizes a product, everyone knows how to compete. This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple’s products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it’s not successful; secondly, Apple’s success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first hypothesis. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P(标准普尔)500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, it’s not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation and then that innovation becomes commoditized(商品化)very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful,the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical.The climax of this hypothesis is the “chief-sorcerer”theory of success which places one magician,like Steve Jobs,in charge of casting all the right spells(符咒)
What about Apple’s own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It’s a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no “move the Earth” panic to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it’s not a formula. It’s complex, it’s subtle, but it’s not magic. It’s a process that requires a degree of faith and courage.
【小题1】When a new product of Apple comes out, often it ______.
A.starts a revolution of an industry |
B.ruins an industry dramatically |
C.puts itself in an unbeatable position |
D.is soon overtaken by imitated products |
A.Apple is not a successful company |
B.they have no access to relevant resources |
C.it’s hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs |
D.being Apple takes more than time and efforts |
A.other companies are dedicated to integration |
B.Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages |
C.Apple will hold the leading position in this industry |
D.other companies don’t have a great team as Apple does |
A.Doubtful | B.Acceptable |
C.Unbelievable | D.Disappointing |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
“When I grow up, I want to be...”
Almost all of us have thought about, or been asked to think about, our future careers. Our answers may differ greatly. Even now your aspirations may have changed from when you were in primary school.
However, it seems career options aren’t only based on personal taste. In a survey carried out by Teens, doctors, lawyers, and bankers were some of most popular careers that people said they hoped to follow. This is in line with a similar survey carried out in the UK in May 2011 by job website monster. Co.uk, in which medicine was the top choice among UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17.
Medicine and law are two of the oldest and best known professions. Their prestige (威望) may come from the fact that doctors and lawyers are some of the most esteemed members of society, and they make good money. Joining these high-profile professions is often seen as a sign of upward social mobility.
It is equally unsurprising that banking is now one of the most common career choices. Youngsters worldwide think of banking and see the money rolling in. Wealth is increasingly becoming one of the most important indicators of a successful career. British young men list the UK tycoon Alan Sugar, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg as their top role models “for their wealth”. Just as Chinese teenagers see being a banker as a good and fun pathway to “wealth”.
However, not every child has the makings of doctor, lawyer, or banker. They are those who see fulfillment and happiness in other areas, and many teenagers dare to ink more individuality into their career options. As the Teens’ survey discovered, a variety of unconventional jobs---coffee shop owner, gourmet(美食家),waiter at a fast food restaurant---are among teenagers’ career choices. They can be equally interesting and rewarding jobs.
With every choice comes responsibility and challenge, and all career paths require specific education and training, you have to learn to balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?
A.Careers in teenagers’ mind. |
B.Choosing a good job is very important. |
C.Teenagers in the UK like doctors. |
D.The choice of career needs challenge. |
A.Medicine | B.Law | C.Bank | D.Education |
A.respect from others | B.the oldest profession |
C.high pay | D.upward social mobility. |
A.Prestige | B.Fulfillment | C.Happiness | D.Wealth |
A.According to your particular talents and skills, you can choose your favorite career. |
B.Specific education and training can help get a good job. |
C.Whatever career you choose, you should balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills. |
D.Responsibility is the most important when you choose a good job. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
As you are probably aware, the latest job markets news isn’t good: Unemployment is still more than 9 percent, and new job growth has fallen close to zero. That’s bad for the economy, of course. And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now. But it actually shouldn’t matter to you nearly as much as you think.
That’s because job growth numbers don’t matter to job hunters as much as job turnover data. After all, existing jobs open up every day due to promotions, resignations, terminations, and retirements. (Yes, people are retiring even in this economy.) In both good times and bad, turnover creates more openings than economic growth does. Even in June of 2007, when the economy was still humming along, job growth was only 132,000, while turnover was 4.7 million!
And as it turns out, even today — with job growth near zero — over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.
I don’t mean to imply that overall job growth doesn’t have an impact on one’s ability to land a job. It’s true that if total employment were higher, it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from (and compete for). And it’s true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening, regardless of whether it’s a new one or not.
But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don’t is their ability to stay motivated. They’re willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills; be creative about where and how to look; learn how to present themselves to potential employers; and keep going, even after repeated rejections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn’t looked within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.
So don’t let the headlines fool you into giving up. Four million people get hired every month in the U.S. You can be one of them.
【小题1】The author tends to believe that high unemployment rate ______?
A.deprives many people of job opportunities. |
B.prevents many people from changing careers. |
C.should not stop people from looking for a job. |
D.does not mean the U.S. economy is worsening. |
A.Job growth |
B.Job turnover |
C.Improved economy |
D.Business expansion |
A.It doesn’t have much effect on individual job seekers. |
B.It increases people’s confidence in the economy. |
C.It gives a ray of hope to the unemployed. |
D.It doesn’t mean greater job security for the employed. |
A.Education |
B.Intelligence |
C.Persistence |
D.Experience |
A.They clearly indicate how healthy the economy is. |
B.They provide the public with the latest information. |
C.They warn of the structural problems in the economy. |
D.They exclude those who have stopped looking for a job. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It often happens that a number of applicants with almost the same qualifications and experience all apply for the same position. In their educational background, special skills and work experience, there is little, if anything, to choose between half a dozen candidates. How then does the employer make a choice? Usually on the basis of an interview.
There are many arguments for and against the interview as a way of selection. The main argument against it is that it results in a wholly subjective decision. As often as not, employers do not choose the best candidate. They choose the candidate who makes a good first impression on them. Some employers, of course, reply to this argument by saying that they have become so experienced in interviewing staff that they are able to make a good assessment of each candidate’s likely performance. The main argument in favor of the interview is that an employer is concerned not only with a candidate’s ability, but with his or her suitable personality for the particular work situation. Many employers, for example, will overlook occasional mistakes from their secretary if she has a pleasant personality.
It is perhaps true to say, therefore, that the real purpose of an interview is not to assess the assessable aspects of each candidate but to make a guess at the things that are hard to measure, such as personality, character and social ability. Unfortunately, both for the employers and applicants for jobs, there are many people of great ability who simply do not interview well. There are also, of course, people who interview extremely well, but are later found to be very unsatisfactory employees. Candidates who interview well tend to be quietly confident, but never boastful(自夸的), direct and straightforward in their questions and answers; cheerful and friendly, but never over-familiar; and sincerely enthusiastic and optimistic. Candidates who interview badly tend to be either very shy or over-confident. They either talk too little or never stop talking. They are either over polite or a bit rude.
【小题1】People argue over the interview mainly because they have .
A.different purposes in the interview |
B.different experiences in interviews |
C.different standards of selection |
D.different ways of selection |
A.personality | B.character | C.opinion | D.ability |
A.a link between success in interview and personality |
B.connections between work abilities and personality |
C.differences in interview experience |
D.differences in personal behavior |
A.He thinks it is a good way of selection |
B.He doesn’t quite agree with it |
C.He is neither for nor against it |
D.It is not clear |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Big Ben, the landmark of London, a clock famous for its accuracy and chimes(和谐的钟声), stopped working for 90 minutes, an engineer said Saturday.
People do not know why the 147-year-old clock on the banks of the River Thames stopped at 10:07 p.m. Friday. It continued keeping time, but stopped again at 10:20 p.m. and remained silent for about 90 minutes before starting up again, a spokeswoman for the House of Commons said.
There has been speculation(推测) that a recent period of hot weather may have been to blame(责备). Temperatures in London reached 90 ℉on Saturday, and forecasters called it England’s hottest day in May since 1953.
The clock has experienced occasional problems. In 1962, snow caused the clock to stop before the New Year. In 1976, the clock stopped when a piece of its machinery broke. Big Ben also stopped on April 30, 1997, and once more three weeks later.
【小题1】How many times has Big Ben stopped up to now?
A.Three | B.Five | C.Six | D.Eight |
A.high temperature | B.low temperature |
C.broken machine | D.heavy snow |
A.Big Ben’s history |
B.the solution to Big Ben’s problem. |
C.the landmark of London |
D.Big Ben’s silence |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Cao Min couldn’t believe she was experiencing exactly what she had seen years ago in the film “Titanic”.
Cao and her two children from Anhui Province were traveling on board the “Liaoludu 7” on February 22. They were among the first people on the ship who were rescued by lifeboats. Cao’s one-year-old son was the youngest passenger on board.
The “Liaoludu 7” was traveling in the Bohai Straits from Lvshun in Liaoning Province to the port city of Longkou in Shandong Province. It suddenly lost its power at 2:30 pm and tilted(倾斜) on its side. With 81 people on board, the ferry began to sink.
“I was so scared that my legs couldn’t move forward. They kept shaking even when I was asked to jump onto a lifeboat,” Cao recalled.
Upon receiving the mayday appeal (紧急呼救), China Marine Search and Rescue Centre immediately informed the State Council. The center sent eight lifeboats to the fishing boats.
After more than four hours of fighting strong winds and freezing ocean water, the passengers were recovered. All but four survived. These four died after spending too long time in the freezing waters, according to a spokesperson for the Beijing-based center.
【小题1】According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.The film “Titanic” had been on show again in Shanghai. |
B.Cao Min and her children experienced the terrible accident. |
C.“Liaoludu 7” with all passengers on board were saved. |
D.The ferry began to sink on the way to the port of Liaoning. |
A.China Marine Search and Rescue Centre quickly carried out the rescue task |
B.the center sent eight lifeboats and asked for help from the United Nations |
C.the passengers were fighting strong winds and freezing ocean water for one hour |
D.the ferry sank into the sea immediately it tilted on its side at 2:30 pm |
A.four | B.seventy-seven | C.eight | D.eighty-one |
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