1、专业英语四级（经济类阅读理解）模拟试卷 1及答案与解析 0 An extreme cold spell might be unwelcome to much of the Northern Hemisphere, but it is warmly welcomed by one group the oil exporters. They have enjoyed a steady rise in the price of a barrel of crude and their satisfaction at the state of affairs is evidenced by the la
2、ck of any comment from Opec nations in recent weeks. Demand for heating oil, a lead indicator from December to February, is high in Europe, in Americas eastern states and in China. In response to the cold weather, Brent Crude futures have risen by $10 per barrel since the middle of December, to $81
3、per barrel. The oil futures market is in sharp contango a term used to describe a market where oil is more expensive for delivery at future dates. In other words, market players are betting that the price will rise. Expectations of economic recovery are an explanation for the rising price contango,
4、but some analysts worry that the underlying market fundamentals are not that bullish for oil. The Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES) points to the huge stocks of oil, as much as 100 millon barrels, put in storage when demand collapsed at the end of 2008. The CGES reckons that such a harsh winte
5、r warrants a much higher oil price. Because underlying demand is weak in a slow economic recovery, the price response has been weak. The oil price collapsed a year ago to $36 per barrel, a level at which most Opec nations were facing hardship as the economic rent from exporting crude fell below budg
6、eted government expenditure. For green energy technologies, such as biofuels made from plant waste, high prices are critical. In the absence of punishing carbon taxes or a very high carbon price in Europes emissions trading system, investors in green technology need an oil price signal that compels
7、the switch to alternatives. The signal was very loud in July 2008, when Brent reached $147 per barrel, but it was also unsustainable as the soaring price of oil was destroying demand and undermining economic growth. World demand for oil is still very weak. It fell throughout 2008 and began to recove
8、r only in the third quarter of last year. Global demand is 1.8 million barrels a day below its level two years ago. Opec is more or less maintaining its cartel discipline in the face of rising prices, but non-Opec producers are raising their output, adding 570,000 daily barrels to the market last ye
9、ar. 1 Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “spell“ in Paragraph 1? （ A） charm （ B） period （ C） wind （ D） snow 2 How did Opec nations feel about the price of petrol in recent weeks? （ A） They are disappointed. （ B） They are hopeless. （ C） They are contented. （ D） They have no comments. 3 I
10、nvestors in green technology would like to see_. （ A） a steady oil price. （ B） a falling oil price. （ C） a fluctuating oil price. （ D） a rising oil price. 4 Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? （ A） Opec did not increase its production of crude. （ B） Opec is satisfied with th
11、e crude price. （ C） Green energy technologies are expensive. （ D） The price of oil in 2008 was not stable. 5 It can be inferred from the passage that_. （ A） world demand for oil will continue to be weak （ B） opec nations will not increase their output recently （ C） green energy technologies will rep
12、lace traditional fuel soon （ D） oil exporters wont welcome another harsh winter 5 Over the past decade, there has been a sea change in Chinas economic policies. Like other developing countries which are attempting to become more export- orientated, China has started to set up free trade zones. These
13、 zones are called “Special Economic Zones“ (SEZs) and feature various incentives designed to encourage foreign investment. What is the significance of these zones? Have they really played an important role in the development of the economy of China? I will discuss these questions below. Historically
14、, China has adopted an inward-looking strategy to its economic development. Successive Chinese governments thought that the economy could grow purely through self-reliance (Jao & Leung 1996). However, there are always limitations to what a country can do by itself, for example, limitations in raw-ma
15、terials, natural resources, technology, etc. These can hold back the growth of an economy and certainly Chinas economic growth lagged far behind much of the rest of the world up to the 1970s. By contrast, countries like the USA were achieving significant economic growth in this period because they w
16、ere practicing foreign trade policies which facilitated free trade (Crane 1990). Any shortages in the domestic economy, for example, oil in the USA or Japan, wheat in the Soviet Union or cars in India could be compensated for by imports. Foreign trade, then, could help to aid economic growth. The ex
17、port trade is also vital. Not only can exports be a means of paying for imports, but they also help to earn foreign exchange. Since 1979, the Chinese government has recognized the importance of exports as a means of fostering economic growth. Economic policies and special incentive programmes have b
18、een introduced to increase exports. One measure taken was the opening of the five special economic zones. They were Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou in Guangdong province, Xiamen in Fujian province and Hainan Island. In order to attract foreign investors and develop foreign trade, the five SEZs offer simil
19、ar packages of favourable incentives to foreign firms. One of the most attractive points of these packages is that income tax is fixed at the rate of 15 per cent, lower than that in other parts of China. Other advantages such as tax exemptions, land use rights, and banking and finance privileges are
20、 not available to firms operating outside the SEZs. Many other non-financial advantages are provided inside the SEZs. Firms are provided relatively free-market environments with minimal government intervention. This means that private and joint-venture enterprises are free to hire their own workers.
21、 They are also free to set wages to reflect market conditions. Bonuses can be awarded to workers for outstanding performance. After thirty years, it has been clear that the favourable impact of the SEZs on the economy of China is fivefold: They attract foreign investment, they help the growth of the
22、 export industry, they earn foreign exchange, they provide employment opportunities and lastly they help the indigenous economy improve to level of technology. 6 In Paragraph 1 incentives is closest in meaning to_. （ A） benefits （ B） payments （ C） schemes （ D） inputs 7 Why is the USA mentioned in Pa
23、ragraph 3? （ A） To set up an example for China to learn from （ B） To contrast with the policies used in SEZ in China （ C） To illustrate how successful the USA is （ D） To illustrate that free trade can benefit economy 8 Which of the following is NOT the incentive for companies in the SEZs? （ A） Freed
24、om to distribute bonuses among workers. （ B） Land use rights. （ C） No tax. （ D） Own banks. 9 In the last sentence of Paragraph 6, “its“ refers to_. （ A） Chinese （ B） Japanese （ C） American （ D） Indian 10 According to the passage, what is the authors evaluation of the SEZs? （ A） Successful. （ B） A qu
25、alified success. （ C） A potential success for the future. （ D） Less successful than had been initially expected. 专业英语四级（经济类阅读理解）模拟试卷 1答案与解析 1 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 词汇题。回答此题的关键是不要依赖对 “spell”常见意义的了解，应该根据原文进行判断。 2 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 细节题、态度题。此题并非询问作者的态度，而是文中涉及的Opec团体对石油价格的态度，所以首先可以定位这一信息出现在第一段， “They have enjoye
26、d a steady rise in the price of a barrel of crude and their satisfaction at the state of affairs is evidenced by the lack of any comment from Opec nations in recent weeks ”可见， Opec团体最近几周都没有对原油价格上涨做出回应，显示出他们对于现状的满意 (satisfaction)，选项 C中的 contented即是满意的意思。选项 D具有较大迷惑性，虽然事 实上 Opec团体的确没有发表意见，但是他们的态度并非是不置可
27、否，这在原文中已经明确写出，所以 C是最佳答案。 3 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 细节题。 “investors in green technology”绿色技术的投资者是定位关键词，信息可以在第六段找到。 “In the absence of punishing carbon taxes or a very high carbon price in Europes emissions trading system， investors in green technology need an oil price signal that compels the switch to alter
28、natives ”此处需要搞清楚油价和绿色能源之间的逻辑关系：绿色能源不能大量投放市场的主要原因是其高昂的费用，所以如果油价一旦高过绿色能源的使用成本，就可能会导致消费者的转向，更多地使用绿色能源，那么投资者也就可以从中获益了。 4 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 细节题。使用排除法，对第一题的作答已经说明 Opec成员国对原油价格是满意的，所以 B符 合原文，不选。从上一题已经可以看出 C选项是符合原文主旨的。根据 2008关键词找到文中对应段落，发现当年的原油价格以下跌为主，但是第三季度开始又上涨，很不稳定，符合原文。根据 “but non-Opec producers are raisi
29、ng their output”非 Opec国家提高了原油的产量，转折词引出对比关系，说明 Opec国家的做法并非如此 (或多或少地保持现状，没有提高产量 )，所以 A选项不符合原文。 5 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 推理题。通读全文可以发现一些基本的经济关系，寒冷冬天 对取暖用油量需求的大幅上升一原油价格上涨，石油出口商对此是满意的，而绿色能源投资商也希望持续的上涨价格可以促使人们转而使用另类能源，但是这样的转变并非很快就能实现。 6 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 词汇题。将选项代人原文，符合全文主旨的只有 benefits，即经济特区为了鼓励国外投资，提供了许多利好政策。 7 【正确
30、答案】 D 【试题解析】 推理题。此处提到美国，旨在对比并说明自由贸易政策对经济发展的积极影响。 8 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 细节题。 “incentive for companies in the SEZs”是定位关键词，且可以预测到信息应该是以列举的方式给出的。第四段中 “favourable incentives to foreign firms”预示了相关信息的位置，后面陆续给出了相关的利好政策， “income tax is fixed at the rate of 15 per cent lower than that in other parts of China Oth
31、er advantages such as tax exemptions， land use rights， and banking and finance privileges are not available to firms operating outside the SEZs” (包括固定的收入税税率 (比中国其他地区都要低 )，免税政策，土地使用权，银行金融方面的优先权等 )。 9 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 指代题。此处考查的是对 it前面 “indigenous”一词含义的理解， “本土的 ”自然指的是全文的中心议题 “中国的 ”而非其他国家。 10 【正确 答案】 A 【试题解析】 态度题。具体信息在文中最后一段给出，作者列举了经济特区对中国经济产生的五大影响，全部是正面的，由此可见作者对经济特区的总体评价是“完全成功的 ”。
