专题1 政治经济6篇-备战2022年高考英语阅读理解话题提分

2022高考英语阅读提高

一、政治经济

1

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 — At 26, many people haven’t even decided on a career. Luke Ravenstahl, cashing in on his family’s political tradition, is already the mayor of Pittsburgh, the youngest mayor of any major city in the country. Although mayors elsewhere have been younger, Jeff Dunkel was 18 in 2001 when he was elected mayor of Mount Carbon, small towns in New York, and elsewhere have also elected teenagers as mayors. But, Tallahassee, is the only other city with a population over 100,000 that has had a mayor as young as Mr. Ravenstahl. A supporter of Mr. Ravenstahl said concerns about Mr. Ravenstahl’s age would dissipate once the city saw his work ethic.

 But now comes the hard part. As he strives to be taken seriously and take charge of a city only recently back from the edge of bankruptcy (破产), the baby-faced mayor said that even the smallest decisions felt weighty, even what to wear in the Steelers game matters.

And another pressing issue is to strengthen the city’s economy. Pittsburgh has lost all its mills, nearly half its population and much of its downtown commercial district in the last several decades. “But Pittsburgh has 50,000 college students, and our challenge is to figure out how to retain them and to increase downtown development.” He said.

But one of the biggest uncertainties is how long he will remain in office. According to the city charter, Mayor Ravenstahl’s term will not expire until November 2009. Some city lawyers, however, have argued that he must face the electorate next year. And residents in Pittsburgh are still keeping judgment on him. Deli, Jimmy Cvetic, a sandwich shop owner, said “I call him Cool Hand Luke. He’ll be all right, but he’s going to need a cool hand to get through this.”

Mayor Ravenstahl said he was still trying to deal with the challenge he faced.

1. About Luke Ravenstahl, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. He is the youngest mayor in the U.S.A.

B. His family background has contributed to his successful political career.

C. His young age has won support from media and young voters.

D. He will be mayor of Pittsburgh at least until 2009.

2. The underlined word “dissipate” in the first paragraph probably means _________.

A. disappear   B. appear   C. spread   D. reduce

3. What can you infer from the article about Pittsburgh?

A. It is a small town in New York famous for steel mills.

B. It has always enjoyed prosperous economic success.

C. Many young college students there are the new hope of the district.

D. It is a major city in the U.S.A with a population slightly smaller than 100,000.

4. Where can you find this article?

A. A magazine      B. A brochure about politicians

C. A newspaper      D. An advertisement about some mayor candidates

5. What kind of Challenges will not Luke Ravenstahl cope with?

A. Distrust from his citizens          B. pressure from other outstanding young mayors

C. economical standstill of his city  D. decreasing population in his city

2

    In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

    Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

    Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

    Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

1. cause a shortage of apartments
2. worry those who rent apartments as homes.
3. Increase the profits of landlords.
4. Encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.

2.We can safely say that rent control_________.

1. will always benefit those who rent apartments.
2. is unnecessary.
3. will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
4. is necessary under all conditions

3.There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.

1. the minimum wage is set too high..
2. the minimum wage is set too early.
3. the workers are unskilled.
4. the maximum wage is set for poor workers.

4.The passage tells us about _______________.

5. the relationship between supply and demand.
6. the possible results of government controls.
7. the necessity of government control.
8. the urgency of getting rid of government control.

5. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   A. The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.

   B. Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.

   C. Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.

   D. Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.

3

Many banks are still not lending. They worry that they will not have enough capital to cover losses, but the situation does not allow many businesses to have the money they need to operate, and further slows a struggling economy. In the United States, the government has so far provided almost 150 billion dollars to banks, mainly through buying shares. Yet this may not be enough to save some major banks. By some estimates, banks have at least one trillion dollars in losses that they have not yet reported.

    The new administration of President Barack Obama is considering ways to save banks.

    One possibility is to expand federal guarantees against losses on some troubled financial assets(资产). The government has already offered guarantees to Bank of America and Citigroup. But the cost of this kind of insurance could be huge.

Another possibility is to create a so-called bad bank. It would take questionable securities held by other banks. The idea would be similar to the Resolution Trust Corporation set up by the government in 1989. It was formed to sell assets from failed savings and loan banks.

But it is difficult to put a price on trouble securities. Taxpayers would lose money if the government pays too much. And if it pays too little, banks could still fail.

Some people see nationalization(国有化) as the answer. That is when a government takes ownership of a private business, often with the idea of selling it back to investors later. Existing shares become worthless.

In the early 1990s, Sweden nationalized some banks and later sold their troubled assets, recovering some costs. But a similar effort in the United States, the world’s biggest economy, could take years. And experts warn that lending and politics do not mix.

Coming up with a plan to fix the banks and the financial system is now the job for Tim Geithner. The Senate confirmed his this week to replace Henry Paulson as Treasury Secretary. Tim Geithner’s last job was head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Supporters said he is the best person to deal with the financial crisis. But one-third of the Senate, mostly Republicans, voted against him.

He face rebuke for his failure to pay 34,000 dollars in taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He owed it to “careless mistakes”. As Treasury Secretary he is the nation’s chief tax collector.

51. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The financial crisis in the United States.

B. Possible ways to save US banks.

C. President Barack Obama’s financial policy.

D. The problems US banks are facing now.

52. We can learn from the passage that _________.

A. all the banks in the US have stopped lending money now.

B. American banks have lost less than one trillion dollars

C. the US government has taken some measures to save the banks

D. the American economic situation is getting much better

53. Which of the following is NOT a possibility to help the banks out of trouble?

A. Expanding federal guarantees against losses on some troubled financial assets.

B. Creating a bad band to take questionable securities held by other banks.

C. Nationalizing the banks and selling them back to investors later.

D. Confirming Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary to replace Henry Paulson.

54. The underlined word “rebuke” in the last paragraph most probably means “_________”.

A. judgment          B. sympathy         C. assessment        D. blame

55. It can be concluded from the passage that _________.

A. Barack Obama’s government has taken effectively measures to save their banks.

B. Tim Geithner is the best person to deal with the financial crisis

C. each possible way mentioned in the passage has its disadvantage

D. nationalization may be the best way to save US banks

4

In “Relax, We’ll Be Fine”, columnist David Brooks writes, “the fact is, despite all the problems, America’s future is extremly bright.”

Mr. Brooks acknowledges that “According to recent survey, 60 percent of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction. The same percentage believe that the U.S. is in long-term decline. The political system is not functional. A financial crisis looks unavoidable. There are plenty of reasons to be sad.”

But, he writes:

“Demographers(人口学家) predict that over the next 40 years, the U.S. population will increase by an additional 100 million people, to 400 million over all. The population will be determined, hardworking and relatively young. In 2050, only a quarter will be over 60, compared with 31 percent in China and 41 percent in Japan.”

As the rising generation leads an economic recovery, it will also participate in a communal

(of community) one. We are living in a global age of social entrepreneurship(创业精神).

In sum, the U.S. is on the edge of a demographic, economic and social recovery, built on its historic strengths. The U.S. has always been good at destructive change. And it’s always been good at decentralized community-building, too. Surely a country with this much going for it is not going to wait around passively and let a rotten political culture drag it down.

51．In his article Relax, We’ll Be Fine, David Brooks intends to        .

A．encourage Americans to be optimistic about their future

B．give Americans courage to face their financial crisis

C．persuade Americans to live happily and generously

D．inspire Americans to lead an economic recovery

52．There are all the reasons for Americans to be unhappy except        .

A．the function-failed political system

B．the increasing population

C．the declining economy

D．the wrong direction and financial crisis

53．Over the next 40 years, according to David Brooks, Americans will be        .

A．more optimistic and humorous

B．more pessimistic and stronger

C．more energetic and promising

D．more considerate and aggressive

54．In the author’s opinion, America        .

A．has always benefited from wars

B．has done well by its political system

C．has contributed a lot to human progress

D．has contributed to world’s economy

55．We can learn from the passage that        .

A．American political system and culture are backward

B．Americans are not a nation to give in to difficulties

C．Americans are very destructive and aggressive

D．America has been in an economic and social recovery

5

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase, therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent –controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low – paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

46. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may _________.

   A. cause a shortage of apartments

   B. worry those who rent apartments as homes

   C. increase the profits of landlords

   D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartment

47. According to the critics, rent control _________.

   A. will always benefit those who rent apartments

   B. is unnecessary

   C. will bring negative effects in the long run

   D. is necessary under all circumstances

48. The problem of unemployment will arise _________.

   A. if the minimum wage is set too high       B. if the minimum wage is set too low

   C. if the workers are unskilled         D. if the maximum wage is set

49. The passage tells us _________.

   A. the relationship between supply and demand

   B. the possible results of government controls

   C. the necessity of government control

   D. the urgency of getting rid of government controls

50. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   A. The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.

   B. Minimum wage can not always protect employees.

   C. Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.

   D. Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.

6

   Making an apology is not the same as making amends. Sometimes we apologize just because it’s the easiest thing to do. What’s actually important is to identify where we go wrong, take full responsibility for our mistakes and , if possible, try to make up for them.

A recent case involving Hewlett-Packed, the US computer giant, shows the importance of presenting a sincere apology. The Chinese consumers who had bought notebook computers of certain models, which have been put on Chinese market since 2007, suffered a massive flash screen failures and overheating problems. Through investigation, Chinese AQSIQ(国家质检总局) identified these HP computers had quality problems and HP admitted this. HP made a proposal that they would extend the warranty period of such computers, but this could not satisfied the consumers. What they needed was a thorough description of the truth. HP has “sincerely” apologized. But the consumers remain angry, and say that only a product recall—as HP has done in the past—will prove that the apology is sincere.

Another apology that fell flat on its face was that of Thierry Henry, the famous French footballer. His deliberate handball in November 2009 created the goal which knocked Ireland out of the 2010 World Cup. The incident caused great anger in the football world, and eventually Henry issued and apology. Two days later, he wrote, “I’m not the referee…but if I hurt someone I’m sorry.” Better late than never, perhaps, but even then he passed the blame onto the referee!

Such high-profile cases, which attract a lot of publicity often under the spotlight, but similar incidents occur in our everyday lives. Stress caused by schoolwork and tiredness can sometimes result in outbursts of anger against friends and family. Have you ever lost your temper for minor reasons? After calming down, most people are quick to realize their mistake and apologize. But it’s just as important to identify what caused the error in the first place and take action to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

No one should hold a negative attitude to making a sincere apology. Empty words are easy to say, but they are as useless as they sound. A real show of remorse demands hard work and commitment to put error right. 

46. What does the author intend to tell us in the case of HP?

  A. A true apology needs sincere actions.

  B. HP should recall all the faulty computers.

  C. Good quality makes a good company.

  D. A company should apologize and pay for their mistakes.

47. According to the author, when we do anything wrong we firstly __________ .

  A. make an apology face to face honestly

  B. admit we were wrong and try to make the wrong right

  C. take the responsibility for apologizing to others

  D. choose the easiest thing to do

48. We can infer from the case of Thierry Henry that ______________ .

  A. It’s never too late to say “I’m sorry.”

  B. Writing an apology is not a good idea.

  C. Henry didn’t identify his fault.

  D. The football fans were mad with Henry.

49. Which of the following can best explain the word “commitment” in the last paragraph?

  A. decision   B. promise      C. agreement    D. responsibility

50. What’s the best title of this passage?

  A. What really puts things right    

B. Don’t apologize easily

  C. Making an apology—no one is out of exception

  D. How to judge an apology—sincere enough?

答案：

1篇：1-5 BACCB      

2篇 1---5 ACABD

3篇51-55 B C D D C 

4篇是一篇论说文，意图是鼓励美国人去乐观地面对国家的未来。51-55：ABCAD

5篇46-50 ACABD      

6篇46-50 ABCDA