20XX年考研《英语一》阅读真题文字版第4页考研docWord文档格式.docx
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TheU.S.PostalService(USPS)continuestobleedredink.Itreportedanetlossof$5.6billionforfiscal2016,the10thstraightyearitsexpenseshaveexceededrevenue.Meanwhile,ithasmorethan$120billioninunfundedliabilities,mostlyforemployeehealthandretirementcosts.Therearemanybankruptcies.Fundamentally,theUSPSisinahistoricsqueezebetweentechnologicalchangethathaspermanentlydecreaseddemandforitsbread-and-butterproduct,first-classmail,andaregulatorystructurethatdeniesmanagementtheflexibilitytoadjustitsoperationstothenewreality
Andinterestgroupsrangingfrompostalunionstogreeting-cardmakersexertself-interestedpressureontheUSPS’sultimateoverseer-Congress-insistingthatwhateverelsehappenstothePostalService,aspectsofthestatusquotheydependongetprotected.Thisiswhyrepeatedattemptsatreformlegislationhavefailedinrecentyears,leavingthePostalServiceunabletopayitsbillsexceptbydeferringvitalmodernization.
Nowcomeswordthateveryoneinvolved---Democrats,Republicans,thePostalService,theunionsandthesystem’sheaviestusers—hasfinallyagreedonaplantofixthesystem.LegislationismovingthroughtheHousethatwouldsaveUSPSanestimated$28.6billionoverfiveyears,whichcouldhelppayfornewvehicles,amongothersurvivalmeasures.Mostofthemoneywouldcomefromapenny-per-letterpermanentrateincreaseandfromshiftingpostalretireesintoMedicare.Thelatterstepwouldlargelyoffsetthefinancialburdenofannuallypre-fundingretireehealthcare,thusaddressingalong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunion.
IfitclearstheHouse,thismeasurewouldstillhavetogetthroughtheSenate–wheresomeoneisboundtopointoutthatitamountstothebare,bareminimumnecessarytokeepthePostalServiceafloat,notcomprehensivereform.There’snochangetocollectivebargainingattheUSPS,amajoromissionconsideringthatpersonnelaccountsfor80percentoftheagency’scosts.AlsomissingisanydiscussionofeliminatingSaturdayletterdelivery.Thatcommon-sensechangeenjoyswidepublicsupportandwouldsavetheUSPS$2billionperyear.Butpostalspecial-interestgroupsseemtohavekilledit,atleastintheHouse.Theemergingconsensusaroundthebillisasignthatlegislatorsaregettingfrightenedaboutapoliticallyembarrassingshort-termcollapseattheUSPS.Itisnot,however,asignthatthey’regettingseriousabouttransformingthepostalsystemforthe21stcentury.
36.ThefinancialproblemwiththeUSPSiscausedpartlyby
[A].itsunbalancedbudget.
[B].itsrigidmanagement.
[C].thecostfortechnicalupgrading.
[D].thewithdrawalofbanksupport.
37.AccordingtoParagraph2,theUSPSfailstomodernizeitselfdueto
[A].theinterferencefrominterestgroups.
[B].theinadequatefundingfromCongress.
[C].theshrinkingdemandforpostalservice.
[D].theincompetenceofpostalunions.
38.Thelong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunionscanbeaddressedby
[A].removingitsburdenofretireehealthcare.
[B].makingmoreinvestmentinnewvehicles.
[C].adoptinganewrate-increasemechanism.
[D].attractingmorefirst-classmailusers.
39.Inthelastparagraph,theauthorseemstoviewlegislatorswith
[A]respect.
[B]tolerance.
[C]discontent.
[D]gratitude.
40.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?
[A].TheUSPSStartstoMissItsGoodOldDays
[B].ThePostalService:
KeepAwayfromMyCheese
[C].TheUSPS:
ChronicIllnessRequiresaQuickCure
[D].ThePostalServiceNeedsMorethanaBand-Aid