The standard of living of any country means the average persons share of the goods and services which the country produces. A countrys standard of living, therefore, depends first and foremost on its capacity to produce wealth. Wealth in this sense is not money, for we do not live on money but on things that money can buy: goods such as food and clothing, and services such as transport and entertainment.
A countrys capacity to produce wealth depends upon many factors, most of which have an effect on one another. Wealth depends to a great extent upon a countrys natural resources, such as coal, gold, and other minerals, water supply and so on. Some regions of the world are well supplied with coal and minerals, and have a fertile soil and a favorable climate; other regions possess perhaps only one of these things, and some regions possess none of them. The U. S. A is one of the wealthiest regions of the world because she has vast natural resources within her borders, her soil is fertile, and her climate is varied. The Sahara Desert, on the other hand, is one of the least wealthy.
Next to natural resources comes the ability to turn them to use. China is perhaps as well off as the U. S. A. in natural resources, but suffered for many years from civil and external wars, and for this and other reasons was. unable to develop her resources. Sound and stable political conditions, and freedom from foreign invasion, enable a country to develop its natural resources peacefully and steadily, and to produce more wealth than another country equally well served by nature but less well ordered. Another important factor is the technical efficiency of a countrys people. Old countries that have, through many centuries, trained up numerous skilled craftsmen and technicians are better placed to produce wealth than countries whose workers are largely unskilled. Wealth also produces wealth. As a country becomes wealthier, its people have a large margin for saving, and can put their savings into factories and machines which will help workers to turn out more goods in their working day.
1. A countrys wealth depends upon______. ,
A. its standard of living
B. its money
C. its ability to provide goods and services
D. its ability to provide transport and entertainment
2. The word foremost means______.
A. most importantly B. firstly
C. largely D. for the most part
3. The main idea of the second paragraph is that______.
A. a countrys wealth depends on many factors
B. the U. S. A. is one of the wealthiest countries in the world
C. the Sahara Desert is a very poor region
D. natural resources are an important factor in the wealth or poverty of a country
4. The third paragraph mentions some of the advantages which one country may have over another in making use of its resources. How many such advantages are mentioned in this paragraph?
A. 2 B. 3
C. 4 D. 5
参考答案:1. C 2. A 3. A 4. B
上一篇: 2015年6月英语六级阅读理解预测题2
下一篇: 2015年6月英语六级阅读理解预测题4
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修4 unit1《women of achievement》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修6 unit4《global warming》
3月资讯热词汇总
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修5 unit3《life in the future》
出轨到底有多普遍?
2015届高考英语一轮基础语法专项训练:专题五 《定语从句》(人教版)
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修6 unit5《the power of nature》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修2 unit4《wildlife protection》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修4 unit4《body language》
为什么睡觉前要洗澡?
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修3 unit5《canada — the true north》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修6 unit2《poems》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修4 unit3《a taste of english humour》
2015届高考英语一轮基础语法专项训练:专题一 《动词的时态和语态》(人教版)
2015届高考英语一轮基础语法专项训练:专题五 《代词》(1)(人教版)
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修1 unit4《earthquakes》
2015届高考英语一轮复习教案:Module 6《FilmsandTVProgrammes》(外研版必修二)
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修1 unit5《nelson mandela — a modern hero》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修8 unit3《inventors and inventions》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修4 unit5《theme parks》
人类起源于外星?数字37或是外星人留下的证据
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修2 unit5《music》
带你探寻“习特会”举行地海湖庄园的有趣历史
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修3 unit3《the million pound bank note》
2015届高考英语一轮基础语法专项训练:专题一 《名词》(1)(人教版)
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:必修3 unit4《astronomy the science of the stars》
外媒看中国:中国女人开网店,厉害到飞起!
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修7 unit2《robots》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修6 unit3《a healthy life》
2015届高考英语一轮跟踪训练:选修6 unit1《art》