2022年考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(十).docx

2022年考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(十)In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other, merging into super 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 hit with a round of huge rate increases.The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening 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 ＄10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year.Conrail”s net railway operating income in 1996 was just ＄427 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.　　51. 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　　52. What is many captive shippers attitude towards the consolidation in the rail industry?　　［A］ Indifferent.　　［B］ Supportive.　　［C］ Indignant.　　　［D］ Apprehensive.　　53. 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　　54. 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　　55. 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 account22 n.①账（目，户）；②表达，说明；③价值，地位；v.（for）①说明，解释；②占；③（take into）考虑；顾及 　　acquire7 v.①取得，获得，占有；②学到　　acquisition3 n.获得，获得物　　allow9 v.①允许，准许；②成认；③让...得到，使...得以发生　　appeal5 v./n.①（to）呼吁，要求；②对...有吸引力；③申述，上诉　　argue19 v.①争辩，辩论；②认为，主见，论证；③说服　　attitude14 n.①（to，towards）态度，看法；②姿态　　average17 n.平均（数）；a.①平均的；②一般的，一般的；v.平均，均分　　bid3 v.①出价；②投标；③努力争取；n.①买方的出价；②投标；③努力争取　　billion11 num./n.［美］十亿，［英］万亿　　board5 n.①板，纸板；②全体委员，委员会，部门；③伙食；船舷；v.上船（车，飞机）　　bulk3 n.①体积，容积；②主体，大批，大量　　business36 n.①商业，生意；②事务，业务，职责；③企业；④贸易量；⑤行业，业务　　capital7 n.①首都，首府；②大写字母；③资本，资金；④资产阶级；a.首位的，最重要的，根本的　　captive4 n.俘虏；a.①被俘虏的，被监禁的；②受约束的，受掌握的　　carrier1 n.①搬运人；②载体　　cause28 n.①缘由，理由；②事业，大事，奋斗目标；v.使产生，引起　　charge5 v.①索（价），要（人）支付，收费；②控告，指控；③充电；④担当；n.①［pl.］费用，代价；②电荷，负荷　　chemical3 a.化学的；n.［pl.］化学制品，化学药品　　combine5 v.①（with）（使）结合，联合；②（使）化合　　commodity6 n.商品，物品　　compete5 v.①竞赛；②竞争　　competition16 n.①竞赛；②竞争　　complain3 v.①（about，of）埋怨；②申诉　　concern20 v.①涉及，关系到；②（常与with，about，i。