Question

The word tycoon is relatively new to the English language. The term was brought to the United States, where it eventually was used to refer to magnates(富豪) who acquired immense fortunes from sugar and cattle, coal and oil. The early tycoons built successful businesses, often taking over smaller companies to eliminate(消除) competition. A single company that came to control an entire market was called a monopoly. Monopolies made a few families very wealthy, but they also placed a heavy financial burden on consumers and the economy at large.

      As the country expanded , local monopolies turned into national corporations called trusts. A trust is a group of companies that join together under the control of a board of trustees. Railroad trusts are an excellent example. Railroads were privately owned and operated and often monopolized various routes, setting rates as high as they desired. The financial burden was placed on passengers and businesses increased. Farmers, for example, had no choice but to pay, as railroads were the only means they could use to get their grain to buyers. Too high goods rates put some farmers out of business.

       There were even accusations that the trusts controlled government itself by buying votes and controlling elected officials. In 1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, legislation aimed at breaking the power of such trusts. The Sherman Antitrust Act focused on two main issues. First of all, it made illegal any effort to interfere with the normal conduct of interstate(州际的) trade. It also made it illegal to monopolize any part of business that operates across state lines. Over the next 60 years or so, Congress passed other antitrust laws in an effort to encourage competition and restrict the power of larger corporations.

64. The Sherman Antitrust Act_______________.

      A. affected only the companies doing business within state lines

     B. sought to eliminate monopolies in favor of competition in the market-place

     C. promoted trade with a large number of nations

     D. provides a financial advantage to the buyer

65. One might infer from this passage that lower prices _________.

      A. are more likely to exist in a competitive market economy

      B. usually can be found only in an economy based on monopolies

      C. matter only to people who are poor and living below the poverty level

      D. are regulated by the government

66. It seems likely that many Americans____________.

      A. believed that the trusts had little influence over government

      B. expected the wealthy magnates to share money with the poor

      C. did little to build up American business

      D. were worried that trusts might operate the government

Answer 1

 BAD