十月联考MBA英语阅读练习及答案:super systems In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other, mergingintosuper systems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly. As recently as 1995, the top four railroads 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 will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers. Supporters of the new super systems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service. Any threat 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 railroads therefore have them by the throat. The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company. Railroads typically charge such "captive" shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they do when another railroad is competing for the business. Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief, but the process is expensive, time consuming, and will work only in truly extreme cases. Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost. If railroads charged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have the option 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 theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail. "Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?" asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shipper. Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be his with a round of huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening fortuning fortunes, still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic. Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheering them on. Consider the 2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just million, less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction. Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill? Many captive shippers fear that they will, as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market. 1. According to those who support mergers railway monopoly is unlikely 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 2、What is many captive shippers' attitude towards the consolidation in the rail industry? A. A.Indifferent. B. Supportive. C. Indignant. D. Apprehensive. 3、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 4. The word "arbiters" (line 6, paragraph 4)most probably refers to those . A. who work as coordinators B. who function as judges C. who supervise transactions D. who determine the price 5. According to the text, the cost increase in the rail industry is mainly caused by . A. the continuing acquisition B. the growing traffic C. the cheering Wall Street D. the shrinking market 参考答案：C D C B A 十月联考MBA英语阅读练习及答案:super systems的延伸阅读——MBA复习如何高效利用时间 1.复习要有计划性。 除了一张学校安排的课表外，还应有一份自己安排的课余的时间表，结合实际情况，制定每周课余时间的学习课表，做到什么时间该做什么心中有数，才不会造成顾此失彼。这种计划性的安排应与相关科目的教学保持一致性，但千万不能被相关科目的频繁考试打乱阵脚。被动的应付平时的小测验，也就无计划性可言。 2.复习要有的放矢。 这里的"矢"一指考试说明规定的相关知识点，二指自己的薄弱科目或某科目的薄弱环节。复习时可先进行系统的单元练习，第一轮结束后就应着重整套题，整份试卷的练习。训练后注重错误的搜集和分析。 3.复习要有系统性。 应理清本学科的基本知识体系，并努力构建相应的解题思路和技巧的网络。回过头来重新系统复习具有典型意义的例题，易错题，抓住这些题目的切入点，归纳这些题目的命题立意和命题手段，概括解题的基本思路，是行之有效的复习方法。 |
