In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

1. 1.

   There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

   1. A.
      cause a shortage of apartments
   2. B.
      worry those who rent apartments as homes.
   3. C.
      increase the profits of landlords.
   4. D.
      encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.
2. 2.

   We can safely say that rent control_________.

   1. A.
      will always benefit those who rent apartments.
   2. B.
      is unnecessary.
   3. C.
      will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
   4. D.
      is necessary under all conditions
3. 3.

   There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.

   1. A.
      the minimum wage is set too high..
   2. B.
      the minimum wage is set too early.
   3. C.
      the workers are unskilled.
   4. D.
      the maximum wage is set for poor workers.
4. 4.

   The passage tells us about _______________.

   1. A.
      the relationship between supply and demand.
   2. B.
      the possible results of government controls.
   3. C.
      the necessity of government control.
   4. D.
      the urgency of getting rid of government control.
5. 5.

   Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   1. A.
      The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.
   2. B.
      Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.
   3. C.
      Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.
   4. D.
      Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.

In China, many people are leaving the countryside to find jobs in the cities, because the countryside is much poorer than the city, and often there isn't much work there. Services such as hospital and transport are usually much better in the city than in the countryside. They hope that their lives will improve when they move to the city.
But in the big cities of Europe like London or Paris, people are moving out of the city. These rich families want to live a quieter life. They are tired of the noise and the dirt of the city, and they are tired of the crowded streets, crowded trains and buses. They don't want to live in the cities any more. They want a house with a garden in the countryside, and breathe the fresh air there.
So they move out of the cities. Some don't go very far, just a little way out of the city, to the towns near the cities. Other people move to the real countryside with sheep, cows and green fields. There, they start new lives and try to make new friends.
Not all those who move from the city to the countryside are happy. After two or three years, many people who have done this feel that it was a big mistake. They don't make so much money and there isn't much work to do. People in the countryside are very different and aren't always very friendly.
As a result, quite a lot of people who have moved to the countryside move back to the city. "It's wonderful to see crowds in the streets and cinema lights," they say

1. 1.

   Which is NOT the reason for people moving to the cities in China?

   1. A.
      The countryside is much poorer than the city
   2. B.
      People in the countryside have nothing to eat
   3. C.
      People in the countryside don't have much work to do there
   4. D.
      Services in cities are usually much better than those in the countryside
2. 2.

   Why do some rich families in Europe move to the countryside?

   1. A.
      Because they will find good jobs
   2. B.
      Because they are tired of living in the city
   3. C.
      Because they can make more money there
   4. D.
      Because they like feeding sheep and cows in the green fields
3. 3.

   After moving to the countryside, some people in Europe feel unhappy because ___________

   1. A.
      they can't make much money
   2. B.
      there isn't much work for them to do in the countryside
   3. C.
      some people in the countryside aren't always very friendly to them
   4. D.
      A, B and C
4. 4.

   The underlined sentence in the last paragraph shows __________

   1. A.
      they are happy to move back to the city
   2. B.
      they miss their friends in the countryside
   3. C.
      they still want to move to the countryside
   4. D.
      they are tired of the noise and the crowded streets in the city
5. 5.

   The best title of this passage may be “__________”

   1. A.
      A happy life!
   2. B.
      Living in the city!
   3. C.
      Moving out or moving back ?
   4. D.
      Living in the countryside!

In recent years many countries of the world have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts say the ___1___ is to make jobs more varied(多样的). But do more varied jobs ___2___ greater productivity? There is evidence to suggest that ___3___variety certainly makes the worker’s life more enjoyable, it doesn’t ___4___ make him work harder. As far as increasing productivity is concerned, then, ___5___ is not an important factor.

Other experts feel that giving the worker___6___ to do his job in his own way is important, and there is no doubt that this is true. The ___7___ is that this kind of freedom can’t easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated(复杂的) machinery which must be used in a ___8___ way. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to ___9___ it.

Another important ___10___ is how much each worker ___11___ to the product he is making. In most factories the worker ___12___ only one small part of the product. Some car factories are now ___13___ with having many small production lines rather than one large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his___14___. It would seem that not only is degree of worker contribution an important factor ___15___ it is one we can do something about.

To what___16___ does more money lead to greater productivity? The workers themselves certainly think this is ___17___. But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is so boring. ___18___ just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A ___19___ argument may explain demands for shorter working hours. Perhaps if we ___20___ making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.

1. A. answer   B. course C. attempt      D. system

2. A. run across      B. lead to       C. result from D. pick up

3. A. because  B. as       C. while  D. as though

4. A. mentally B. physically   C. carefully    D. actually

5. A. variety   B. relaxation C. creativity    D. machinery

6. A. judgement     B. freedom     C. direction    D. comfort

7. A. secret     B. skill    C. problem     D. strength

8. A. amusing B. dull    C. changeable D. fixed

9. A. use  B. create  C. supply D. fear

10. A. measure       B. invention    C. consideration     D. work

11. A. lies       B. sticks  C. objects       D. contributes

12. A. likes     B. equips C. transports   D. sees

13. A. tired     B. pleased       C. worrying       D. experimenting

14. A. own     B. will    C. line     D. hand

15. A. but       B. and     C. so       D. however

16. A. extent   B. quality       C. store   D. difference

17. A. natural  B. important   C. worrying    D. unbelievable

18. A. Rest     B. Sports C. Money       D. Playing

19. A. complete      B. friendly      C. given  D. similar

20. A. advise   B. succeed in  C. object to     D. are tried of

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

   Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

   Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

   Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

cause a shortage of apartments

worry those who rent apartments as homes.

Increase the profits of landlords.

Encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.

We can safely say that rent control         .

A. will always benefit those who rent apartments.

B. is unnecessary.

C. will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.

D. is necessary under all conditions

There will be the problem of unemployment if          .

A. the minimum wage is set too high..     B. the minimum wage is set too early.

C. the workers are unskilled.  

D. the maximum wage is set for poor workers.

The passage tells us about           .

A. the relationship between supply and demand.

B. the possible results of government controls.

C. the necessity of government control.

D. the urgency of getting rid of government control.

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   A. The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.

   B. Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.

   C. Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.

   D. Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious (半清醒状态) and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them.

"Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium poisoning. (铊中毒)"

"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."

"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."

Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.

The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.

A. a doctor in Qatar               B. Nurse Maitlan

C. Dr. Brown                    D. Agatha Christie

The baby was sent to London because _____.

A. she was born there

B. the hospitals in Qatar were full at that time

C. she was the daughter of a doctor in London

D. the Qatar doctors were not sure whether they could cure her

As far as we can tell from the passage, Agatha Christie _____.

A. had never met this baby

B. had spent a long time studying the baby's case

C. visited the baby in the hospital at Hammersmith

D. gave Nurse Maitlan some advice on the phone

It seems likely from the passage that the baby's illness had something to do with _____.

A. a dangerous pair of glasses

B. the water in Qatar

C. a harmful substance used to kill insects

D. a dead writer

When the baby was sent to the hospital in London, her case was considered to be _____.

A. an urgent one               B. quite a simple one

C. a usual one                 D. the result of thallium poisoning