网络课堂总结(二十八)
Passage 9 新老观点对比型(卖方定价) Most(老观点,但往下浏览很难找到转折,只好从开头往下读) economists in the United States seem captivated迷恋 by the spell魅力 of the free market. Consequently(因此), nothing seems good or normal that does not accord with符合 the requirements of the free market. A price that is determined by the seller or, for that matter进一步说 , established by anyone other than the aggregate of consumers*4C seems pernicious*4有害的. Accordingly(因此), it requires a major act of will需要下很大决心 to think of price-fixing卖方定价(如果自己的理解和文章的定义有差异,以文章定义为准) as both “normal” and having a valuable economic function. In fact(转折,新观点出现), price-fixing is normal in all industrialized societies*1E*5 because the industrial system itself provides允许, as an effortless consequence of its own development, the price-fixing that it requires*5B.(新观点,主题句,以下是新观点论据) Modern industrial planning requires and rewards great size. Hence(因此), a comparatively small number of large firms will be competing for the same group of consumers. That(主语从句) each large firm will act with consideration of its own needs and thus avoid selling its products for more than its competitors charge is commonly recognized by advocates of free-market economic theories(老观点的论据). But(转折,讲新观点的论据) each large firm*8 will also act with full consideration of the needs that it has in common with the other large firms competing for the same customers. Each large firm will thus avoid significant price-cutting, because price-cutting would be prejudicial to the common interest in a stable demand for products. Most economists do not see price-fixing when it occurs because they expect*8A it to be brought about by a number of explicit agreements among large firms; it is not.第一个论据:企业在决策时要考虑到不能极大地减价——为了维持稳定的市场需求,需要卖方定价第二个论据:其他资本主义国家也搞卖方定价Moreover, those economists who argue that allowing the free market to operate without interference is the most efficient method of establishing prices have not considered the economies of non-socialist countries*6 other than the United states. (以下讲资本主义国家的共同特点)These economies employ intentional*6E有意识的,故意的 price-fixing, usually in an overt fashion*6E公开的方式. Formal price-fixing by cartel and informal price-fixing by agreements covering the members of an industry are commonplace. Were there(虚拟语气,=if there were不得不看) something peculiarly efficient about(=applicable to) the free market and inefficient about price-fixing, the countries that have avoided the first and used the second would have suffered drastically in their economic development. There is no indication that they have. (虚拟语气用了一种欲擒故纵的反证法,经常用于阅读和写作中)第三个论据:社会主义也有卖方定价Socialist industry also works within a framework of controlled prices. In the early 1970’s*7, the Soviet Union began to give firms and industries some of the flexibility*7D in adjusting prices that(定语从句,修饰flexibility) a more informal evolution has accorded(给,=given) the capitalist system. (把苏联和资本主义作类比)Economists in the United States have hailed the change as a return to the free market(老观点). But(转折,回归新观点,说明前一句还不能说明问题,下面的内容才是重要的) Soviet firms are no more subject to prices established by a free market over which they exercise little influence than两者都不 are capitalist firms; rather, Soviet firms have been given the power to fix prices.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to主题题
refute the theory that the free market plays a useful role in the development of industrialized societies
suggest methods by which economists and members of the government of the United States can recognize and combat price-fixing by large firms
show that in industrialized societies price-fixing and the operation of the free market are not only compatible but also mutually beneficial
explain the various ways in which industrialized societies can fix prices in order to stabilize the free market(E)
argue that price-fixing*1E, in one form or another, is an inevitable part of and benefit to the economy of any industrialized society*1E主题句同义变换
2. The passage provides information that would answer which of the following questions about price-fixing?题(有定位)
I. What are some of the ways in which prices can be fixed?Cartel,苏联政府给企业灵活性来定价,等等
II. For what products没提到过 is price-fixing likely to be more profitable that the operation of the free market?
III. Is price-fixing more common没比过 in socialist industrialized societies or in non-socialist industrialized societies?
I only
III only
I and II only
II and III only(A)
I, II, and III
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