2015理解强化练习及解析(11) In recent years,railroads have been combining with each other, merging into supersystems,causing heightened concerns about monopoly. As recently as 1995, the top fourrailroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton-miles moved by rails.Next year, after a series of mergers is completed, just four railroads willcontrol well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers。 Supporters of the new supersystems argue that these mergers willallow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service. Anythreat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from trucks.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances,such as coal, chemicals, and grain, trucking is too costly and the railroadstherefore have them by the throat。 The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that mostshippers are served by only one rail company. Railroads typically charge suchcaptiveshippers 20to 30 percent more than they do when another railroad is competing for thebusiness. Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appealto the federal government s Surface Transportation Board for rate relief, butthe process is expensive, time consuming, and will work only in truly extremecases。 Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers onthe grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone s cost. If railroadscharged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have theoption of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so,leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line. It s atheory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leavesrailroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish andwhich will fail. Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and wholoses in the marketplace? asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequentlyrepresents shippers。 Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a roundof huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite itsbrightening fortunes, still does not earn enough to cover the cost of thecapital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic. Yet railroadscontinue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheeringthem on. Consider the $10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquireConrail this year. Conrail s net railway operating income in 1996 was just $427million, less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction. Who s goingto pay for the rest of the bill? Many captive shippers fear that they will, asNorfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market。 31. According to those who support mergers, railway monopoly isunlikely because [A] cost reduction is based on competition。 [B] services call for cross-trade coordination。 [C] outside competitors will continue to exist。 [D] shippers will have the railway by the throat。 32. What is many captive shippers attitude towards theconsolidation in the rail industry? [A] Indifferent。 [B] Supportive。 [C] Indignant。 [D] Apprehensive。 33. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that [A] shippers will be charged less without a rival railroad。 [B] there will soon be only one railroad company nationwide。 [C] overcharged shippers are unlikely to appeal for rate relief。 [D] a government board ensures fair play in railway business。 34. The word arbiters most probably refers to those [A] who work as coordinators。 [B] who function as judges。 [C] who supervise transactions。 [D] who determine the price。 35. According to the text, the cost increase in the rail industryis mainly caused by [A] the continuing acquisition。 [B] the growing traffic。 [C] the cheering Wall Street。 [D] the shrinking market。
盖茨刊文《人民日报》:为穷人投资更有意义
7种运动塑造完美身形
为什么宝宝都爱躲猫猫
看看全球收入地图 亚洲的中国究竟有多富
舌尖上的中国之美味春卷制作方法
莎翁故里:值得一去的旅游胜地
央视将引进《生活大爆炸》 推“绿色”译制版
时间都去哪儿了?你在浪费生命的13件事
《生活大爆炸》谢耳朵教会我们的20件事
“凯特效应”:王室时尚叱咤澳洲
“岁月号”沉船打捞出遗体 学生曾试图逃生
选择伴侣的一些重要建议
爱担心VS.乐天派:忧虑来袭时,教你11招
求职必知:电话面试制胜七招
《生活大爆炸》等多部美剧下架 且看且珍惜
从8岁训练的准CEO 培养孩子的创业精神
私人定制的工作台:喵星人桌问世!
温馨视频:老人得知自己要当外公的瞬间
虚拟锻炼伙伴助你保持健身动力
打印美食:专为老年人研发的3D打印食物
世界上最快的电梯:上95层楼仅需43秒!
西班牙国会通过法律草案 孩子不做家务算违法
致拖延症患者:有10件事情拖延不得!
《时代》百位年度最具影响力人物榜单出炉
睡觉的时候,动物们都做什么梦?
感情问题会损害少女精神健康
九大事实为证:传统的性别角色?胡扯!
德国队世界杯正装出炉 男模军团太帅气!
美国蒙面男持土豆抢劫 抢得20元假钞
面试时五类问题不可问
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |