15．The sharing economy，represented by companies like Airbnb or Uber，is the latest fashion craze．But many supporters have overlooked the reality that this new business model is largely based on escaping regulations and breaking the law．
Airbnb is an Internet-based service that allows people to rent out spare rooms to strangers for short stays．Uber is an Internet taxi service that allows thousands of people to answer ride requests with their own cars．There are hundreds of other such services．
The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources．Millions of people have houses or apartments with empty rooms，and Airbnb allows them to profit from these rooms while allowing guests a place to stay at prices that are often far less than those charged by hotels．Uber offers prices that are competitive with standard taxi prices and their drivers are often much quicker and more trustworthy．
But the downside of the sharing economy has gotten much less attention．Most cities and states both tax and regulate hotels，and the tourists who stay in hotels are usually an important source of tax income．But many of Airbnb's customers are not paying the taxes required under the law．
Airbnb can also raise issues of safety for its customers and trouble for hosts'neighbors．Hotels are regularly inspected to ensure that they are not fire traps and that they don't form other risks for visitors．Airbnb hosts face no such inspections．
Since Airbnb is allowing people to escape taxes and regulations，the company is simply promoting thefts．Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors．
The same story may apply with Uber．Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis．Also，if Uber and related services flood the market，they could harm all taxi drivers'ability to earn a minimum wage．
This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously，but that doesn't mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect．
32．What is the positive thing about the sharing economy？D
A．It is a global trend．
B．It is beyond regulations．
C．It brings in modest profits．
D．It takes advantage of spare resources．
33．What is the problem with Airbnb customers according to the passage？A
A．They can be noisy to hosts'neighbours．
B．They are likely to commit thefts．
C．They are allowed not to pay taxes．
D．They are not regularly inspected．
34．What is the argument over Uber according to the passage？B
A．Whether it provides reliable services．
B．Whether it guarantees customers'safety．
C．Whether it lowers customers'expenses．
D．Whether it can compete with standard taxis．
35．What will be talked about in the following paragraphs？D
A．Existing regulations and laws．
B．Further development of Airbnb and Uber．
C．Necessary improvements of current laws．
D．More downsides of Airbnb and Uber．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了Airbnb和Uber成为一种新的时尚，但他们有优点也有缺点，一定要注意．
解答 32．D．细节理解题．根据第三段The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources可知分享经济的积极因素是充分利用备用资源；故选D．
33．A．细节理解题．根据第五段Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors可知Airbnb的客户的问题是会邻居；故选A．
34．B．细节理解题．根据倒数第二段The same story may apply with Uber．Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis可知文章争论的是否能保证顾客的安全；故选B．
35．D．推理判断题．根据最后一段This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously，but that doesn't mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect可知接下来讨论的是他们的不利条件；故选D．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
