20．The issue of media ownership is important because __________.

　　　　 A．it affects the amount of money the stockholder will make

　　　　 B．it decides whether we can have different aspects of the media

　　　　 C．it affects the channels through which to express opinions

　　　　 D．it means that more and more people will hold onto only a few stations.

19．What is the FCC’s new policy regarding media alliances (　　　　 )?

　　　　 A．It allows companies to sell their stocks publicly.

　　　　 B．It doesn’t allow companies to sell their stock publicly.

　　　　 C．It permits one company to own more media businesses at the same time.

　　　　 D．It has got rid of all post-1980 companies.

18．According to the passage, what makes acquisitions easier?

　　　　 A．The changing technology employed by the media.

　　　　 B．The media’s increasing profits in the marketplace.

　　　　 C．The ever tougher regulations of the FCC on the media since 1980.

　　　　 D．The availability of the media’s stocks on stock exchanges.

17．Which of the following is true of the media?

　　　　 A．They used to sell and buy each other in great numbers.

　　　　 B．They are trading each other in great numbers today.

　　　　 C．They used to be controlled by two networks ABC and NBC.

　　　　 D．They have stopped the trend of acquisitions in the 1990s.

16．From the passage we may safely conclude that compulsive spenders or compulsive bargain hunters __________.

　　　　 A．are really unreasonable　　　　　　　 B．need special treatment

　　　　 C．can’t be cured　　　 D．can never get any help to solve their problems with money

E

The most noticeable trend among today’s media companies is vertical integration(融合), an attempt to control several related aspects of the media business at once, each part helping the other. Besides publishing magazines and books, Time Warner, for example, owns Home Box Office (HBO), Warner movie studios, various cable TV systems throughout the United States and CNN as well. The Japanese company Matsushita own MCA Records and Universal Studios and manufactures broadcast production equipment.

To describe the financial status of today’s media is also to talk about acquisitions(获得). The media are buying and selling each other in unprecedented(史无前例的) numbers and forming media groups to position themselves in the market place to maintain and increase their profits. In 1986, the first time a broadcast network had been sold, two networks were sold that year, ABC and NBC.

Media acquisitions have increased sharply since 1980 for two reasons. The first is that most big corporations today are publicly traded companies, which means that their stock is traded on one of the nation’s stock exchanges. This makes acquisitions relatively easy.

A media company that wants to buy a publicly owned company can buy that company’s stock when the stock becomes available. The open availability of stock in these companies means that anybody with enough money can invest in the American media industries, which is exactly how Rupert Murdoch joined the media business.

The second reason for the increase in media alliances is that beginning in 1980, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gradually removed the regulations from the broadcast media. Before 1980, for example, the FCC allowed one company to own only five TV stations, five AM radio stations, and five FM radio stations; companies also were required to hold onto a station for three years before the station could be sold. The post-1980 FCC got rid of the three-year rule and raised the number of broadcast holdings allowed for one owner. This trend of media acquisitions is continuing throughout the 1990s, as changing technology expands the market for media products.

The issue of media ownership is important. If only a few corporations direct the media industries in this country, the outlets for differing political viewpoints and creative ideas could be limited.

15．The passage is mainly talking about 　　　　　　.

　　　　 A．the psychology of money-spending habits

　　　　 B．the purchasing habits of compulsive spenders

　　　　 C．a special psychology of bargain hunting

　　　　 D．the use of the psychology of spending habits in business

14．According to the writer , compulsive bargain hunters are often in search of the lowest possible prices 　　　　　　.

　　　　 A．because they want to save money to help their budgets

　　　　 B．because they can openly boast of their victory over others in getting things for less money

　　　　 C．and will not have money problems if they can keep to their budget

　　　　 D．but they seldom admit they feel satisfied if they can’t get things for less money than others

13．According to psychologists , a compulsive spender is one who spends large amounts of money 　　　　　　.

　　　　 A．and takes great pleasure from what he or she buys

　　　　 B．in order to satisfy his or her basic needs in life

　　　　 C．just to meet his or her strong psychological need

　　　　 D．entirely with an irrational eagerness

12．When a person discovers a fire , what is the first thing he should do ?

　　　　 A．attempt to put it out 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．telephone switchboard operator .

　　　　 C．start the alarm bells 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．contact(取得联系)the fire brigade

D

People can be addicted to different things , e . g., alcohol , drugs , certain foods , or even television. People who have such an addiction are compulsive (难以抑制的); i . e. , they have a very powerful psychological need that they feel they must satisfy . According to psychologists , many people are compulsive spenders : they feel that they must spend money . This compulsion , like most others , is irrational-impossible to explain reasonably . For compulsive spenders who buy on credit , charge accounts (按月付款)are even more exciting than money . In other words , compulsive spenders feel that with credit , they can do anything . Their pleasure in spending enormous amounts is actually greater than the pleasure that they get from the things they buy .

There is even a special psychology of bargain hunting . To save money , of course , most people look for sales , low prices , and discounts . Compulsive bargain hunters , however , often buy things that they don’t need just because they are cheap . They want to believe that they are helping their budgets ，(预算), but they feel that they are winning . Most people, experts claim , have two reasons for their behavior : a good reason for the things that they do and the real reason .

It is not only scientists , of course , who understand the psychology of spending habits , but also business-people . Stores , companies and advertisers use psychology to increase business: they consider people’s need for love , power , or influence , their basic values , their beliefs and opinions , and so on in their advertising and sales methods .

Psychologists often use a method called “behavior therapy” to help individuals solve their personality problems . In the same way , they can help people who feel that they have problems with money .

11．Imagine that you are a teacher , what is your first duty in case of a fire ?

　　　　 A．to check the names of your students from the list

　　　　 B．to lead your students out of the building

　　　　 C．to get detailed(细节的)instructions from your Head of Department

　　　　 D．to patrol (巡查)the stairways and landings