A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap, but, if properly handled, it may become a driving force. When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War, it had a market eight times larger than any competitor, giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale. Its scientists were the world's best, its workers the most skilled. America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.
　　 It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably, the retreat from predominance proved painful. By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness. Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics, had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition. By 1987 there was only one American television maker left, Zenith. (Now there is none: Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July。) Foreign-made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market America's machine-tool industry was on the ropes. For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors, which America had which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty。
　　 All of this caused a crisis of confidence. Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted. They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing, and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well. The mid-1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline. Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas。
　　 How things have changed! In 1995 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling. Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle. Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride. “ American industry has changed its structure, has gone on a diet, has learnt to be more quick-witted,” according to Richard Cavanagh, executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,“It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity,” says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute, a think-tank in Washington, DC. And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as “a golden age of business management in the United States�！�
　　 11. The U.S. achieved its predominance after World War Ⅱbecause_____。
　　 [A]it had made painstaking efforts towards this goal
　　 [B]its domestic market was eight times larger than before
　　 [C]the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors
　　 [D]the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy
　　 12. The loss of U.S. predominance in the world economy in the 1980s is manifested in the fact that the American_____。
　　 [A]TV industry had withdrawn to its domestic market
　　 [B]semiconductor industry had been taken over by foreign enterprises
　　 [C]machine-tool industry had collapsed after suicidal actions
　　 [D]auto industry had lost part of its domestic market
　　 13. What can be inferred from the passage?
　　 [A]It is human nature to shift between self-doubt and blind pride。
　　 [B]Intense competition may contribute to economic progress。
　　 [C]The revival of the economy depends on international cooperation。
　　 [D]A long history of success may pave the way for further development。
　　 14. The author seems to believe the revival of the U.S. economy in the 1990s can be attributed to the____。
　　 [A]turning of the business cycle
　　 [B]restructuring of industry
　　 [C]improved business management
　　 [D]success in education

　名師解析
　　11. The U.S. achieved its predominance after World War Ⅱbecause_____。
　　美國(guó)在二戰(zhàn)后取得優(yōu)勢(shì)地位是因?yàn)開(kāi)____。
　　[A] it had made painstaking efforts towards this goal。
　　它為該目標(biāo)付出了艱巨的努力。
　　[B] its domestic market was eight times larger than before。
　　它的國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)比以前大八倍。
　　[C] the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors。
　　戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)摧毀了大多數(shù)潛在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
　　[D] the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy。
　　它無(wú)與倫比的勞動(dòng)力規(guī)模給了經(jīng)濟(jì)推動(dòng)力。
　　【答案】 C
　　【考點(diǎn)】 事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。
　　【分析】 第一段指出，“二戰(zhàn)后，美國(guó)就進(jìn)入了這樣的一個(gè)輝煌的歷史時(shí)期。它擁有比任何競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者大八倍的市場(chǎng)，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)規(guī)模前所未有。它的科學(xué)家是世上比較優(yōu)秀的，它的工人是技術(shù)比較好的。美國(guó)及其民眾的富庶是那些經(jīng)濟(jì)遭到戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)破壞的歐洲人和亞洲人連做夢(mèng)也不敢想的”。因此利用排除法，確定答案是[A]。
　　12. The loss of U.S. predominance in the world economy in the 1980s is manifested in the fact that the American_____。
　　上個(gè)世紀(jì)80年代美國(guó)優(yōu)勢(shì)地位的喪失可以從美國(guó)_______事實(shí)中看出來(lái)。
　　[A] TV industry had withdrawn to its domestic market
　　電視工業(yè)已經(jīng)退到國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)
　　[B] semiconductor industry had been taken over by foreign enterprises
　　半導(dǎo)體產(chǎn)業(yè)已經(jīng)被外國(guó)公司接管
　　[C] machine-tool industry had collapsed after suicidal actions
　　機(jī)床業(yè)已經(jīng)自取滅亡
　　[D] auto industry had lost part of its domestic market
　　汽車(chē)工業(yè)已經(jīng)喪失了部分國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)
　　【答案】 D
　　【考點(diǎn)】 事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。
　　【分析】 [A]選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤，因?yàn)榈诙�段中說(shuō)“到1987年，美國(guó)只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。(現(xiàn)在這一家也沒(méi)有了：Zenith于7月被韓國(guó)LG電器公司收購(gòu)。)”說(shuō)明它連國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)也保不住了。[B]選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤，文中第二段比較后一句提到，“在一段時(shí)間內(nèi)，半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)似乎要成為下一個(gè)受害者”，可是事實(shí)上沒(méi)有。[C]選項(xiàng)中談到的機(jī)床業(yè)已經(jīng)自取滅亡的說(shuō)法錯(cuò)誤，因?yàn)槲闹刑岬綑C(jī)床制造業(yè)“岌岌可�！�(on the ropes)，但是還沒(méi)有滅亡呢。[D]是合適的，因?yàn)榈诙�段第六句提��，“進(jìn)口車(chē)和紡織品橫掃國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)”。
　　13. What can be inferred from the passage?
　　從本文中可以推斷出哪個(gè)選項(xiàng)?
　　[A] It is human nature to shift between self-doubt and blind pride。
　　在自我懷疑和盲目驕傲之間搖擺是人的本性。
　　[B] Intense competition may contribute to economic progress。
　　激烈的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)會(huì)導(dǎo)致經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。
　　[C] The revival of the economy depends on international cooperation。
　　經(jīng)濟(jì)的復(fù)蘇依靠國(guó)際的合作。
　　[D] A long history of success may pave the way for further development。
　　一個(gè)長(zhǎng)期成功的經(jīng)歷會(huì)為進(jìn)一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
　　【答案】 B
　　【考點(diǎn)】 推斷題。
　　【分析】 第三段提到，“所有這一切導(dǎo)致了信心危機(jī)。美國(guó)人不再視繁榮為理所當(dāng)然之事。他們開(kāi)始懷疑自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營(yíng)方式出了問(wèn)題，也懷疑不久他們的收入就會(huì)下降。20世紀(jì)80年代中期對(duì)美國(guó)工業(yè)衰退的原因作了一次又一次的調(diào)查。那些有時(shí)聳人聽(tīng)聞的結(jié)果中充滿(mǎn)著對(duì)來(lái)自國(guó)外的加劇的經(jīng)濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告”。第四段提到了“90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇。其中的含義是：在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的壓力下，美國(guó)人在80年代產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整，美國(guó)的工業(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結(jié)構(gòu)，消除了滯脹，學(xué)會(huì)了急智，因此帶來(lái)了90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇”。因此可以得出激烈的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)會(huì)導(dǎo)致經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。另外三個(gè)選項(xiàng)都不合適。
　　 14. The author seems to believe the revival of the U.S. economy in the 1990s can be attributed to the____。
　　作者似乎相信美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)在上個(gè)世紀(jì)90年代的復(fù)蘇可以歸結(jié)于____。
　　[A]turning of the business cycle 經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)折
　　[B]restructuring of industry 行業(yè)重組
　　[C]improved business management 改善了的工商管理
　　[D]success in education 教育的成功
　　【答案】 A
　　【考點(diǎn)】 作者觀點(diǎn)題。
　　【分析】 在第四段，作者指出，“1995年，美國(guó)可以對(duì)過(guò)去5年的穩(wěn)步發(fā)展作一回顧，而日本還在奮力掙扎。很少有美國(guó)人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見(jiàn)的原因。如今，對(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代”。這里作者實(shí)際上對(duì)當(dāng)前美國(guó)人的盲目樂(lè)觀情緒進(jìn)行了批評(píng)，認(rèn)為90年代的增長(zhǎng)是由美元貶值或經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)等因素造成的。[B]是“Richard Cavanaugh”的看法。[C]是“Stephen Moore”的看法。[D]選項(xiàng)文中沒(méi)有提及。

　　難句解析：
　　For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors, which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty。
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】 本句的主句是：“it looked as though the making of semiconductors was going to be the next casualty”。有兩個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句，分別是：“which America had invented”和“which sat at the heart of the new computer age”。
　　全文翻譯：
　　長(zhǎng)時(shí)間不費(fèi)力而成功的歷史可能成為一種可怕的障礙，但若處理得當(dāng)，它也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為一種積極動(dòng)力。二戰(zhàn)后，美國(guó)就進(jìn)入了這樣的一個(gè)輝煌的歷史時(shí)期。它擁有比任何競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者大八倍的市場(chǎng)，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)規(guī)模前所未有。它的科學(xué)家是世上比較優(yōu)秀的，它的工人是技術(shù)比較好的。美國(guó)及其民眾的富庶是那些經(jīng)濟(jì)遭到戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)破壞的歐洲人和亞洲人連做夢(mèng)也不敢想的。
　　當(dāng)其他國(guó)家逐漸富有，美國(guó)從這一領(lǐng)先地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。同樣不可避免的是其從領(lǐng)先地位上退出的痛苦。到了20世紀(jì)80年代中期，日益衰退的工業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力讓美國(guó)人感到茫然不知所措。一些大型的美國(guó)工業(yè)，如消費(fèi)電子產(chǎn)業(yè)，在國(guó)外競(jìng)爭(zhēng)面前，已經(jīng)萎縮或消失。到1987年，美國(guó)只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。(現(xiàn)在這一家也沒(méi)有了：Zenith于當(dāng)年7月被韓國(guó)LG電器公司收購(gòu)。)外國(guó)制造的汽車(chē)和紡織品正橫掃國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。美國(guó)的機(jī)床工業(yè)也岌岌可危。有一段時(shí)間，好像下一個(gè)在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒(méi)的似乎該輪到美國(guó)的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了，而在新計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代有著核心作用的半導(dǎo)體正是美國(guó)人發(fā)明的。
　　所有這一切導(dǎo)致了信心危機(jī)。美國(guó)人不再視繁榮為理所當(dāng)然之事。他們開(kāi)始懷疑自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營(yíng)方式出了問(wèn)題，也懷疑不久他們的收入就會(huì)下降。20世紀(jì)80年代中期對(duì)美國(guó)工業(yè)衰退的原因作了一次又一次的調(diào)查。那些有時(shí)聳人聽(tīng)聞的結(jié)果中充滿(mǎn)著對(duì)來(lái)自國(guó)外的加劇的經(jīng)濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告。
　　情況的變化可真快啊!1995年，美國(guó)可以對(duì)過(guò)去5年的穩(wěn)步發(fā)展作一回顧，而日本還在奮力掙扎。很少有美國(guó)人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見(jiàn)的原因。如今，對(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代�！懊绹�(guó)的工業(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結(jié)構(gòu)，消除了滯脹，學(xué)會(huì)了急智”，哈佛大學(xué)肯尼迪管理學(xué)院行政院長(zhǎng)理查德·卡佛納如是說(shuō)。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團(tuán)——卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾說(shuō)：“作為一個(gè)美國(guó)人我感到自豪，因?yàn)榭吹轿覀兊钠髽I(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率�！� 哈佛商學(xué)院的威廉·薩爾曼相信人們將會(huì)把這一時(shí)期視為“美國(guó)企業(yè)管理的黃金時(shí)代”。