1、TheU.S.PostalService(USPS)continuestobleedredink.Itreportedanetlossof$5.6billionforfiscal2016,the10thstraightyearitsexpenseshaveexceededrevenue.Meanwhile,ithasmorethan$120billioninunfundedliabilities,mostlyforemployeehealthandretirementcosts.Therearemanybankruptcies.Fundamentally,theUSPSisinahistori
2、csqueezebetweentechnologicalchangethathaspermanentlydecreaseddemandforitsbread-and-butterproduct,first-classmail,andaregulatorystructurethatdeniesmanagementtheflexibilitytoadjustitsoperationstothenewrealityAndinterestgroupsrangingfrompostalunionstogreeting-cardmakersexertself-interestedpressureonthe
3、USPSsultimateoverseer-Congress-insistingthatwhateverelsehappenstothePostalService,aspectsofthestatusquotheydependongetprotected.Thisiswhyrepeatedattemptsatreformlegislationhavefailedinrecentyears,leavingthePostalServiceunabletopayitsbillsexceptbydeferringvitalmodernization.Nowcomeswordthateveryonein
4、volved-Democrats,Republicans,thePostalService,theunionsandthesystemsheaviestusershasfinallyagreedonaplantofixthesystem.LegislationismovingthroughtheHousethatwouldsaveUSPSanestimated$28.6billionoverfiveyears,whichcouldhelppayfornewvehicles,amongothersurvivalmeasures.Mostofthemoneywouldcomefromapenny-
5、per-letterpermanentrateincreaseandfromshiftingpostalretireesintoMedicare.Thelatterstepwouldlargelyoffsetthefinancialburdenofannuallypre-fundingretireehealthcare,thusaddressingalong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunion.IfitclearstheHouse,thismeasurewouldstillhavetogetthroughtheSenatewheresomeoneisbo
6、undtopointoutthatitamountstothebare,bareminimumnecessarytokeepthePostalServiceafloat,notcomprehensivereform.TheresnochangetocollectivebargainingattheUSPS,amajoromissionconsideringthatpersonnelaccountsfor80percentoftheagencyscosts.AlsomissingisanydiscussionofeliminatingSaturdayletterdelivery.Thatcomm
7、on-sensechangeenjoyswidepublicsupportandwouldsavetheUSPS$2billionperyear.Butpostalspecial-interestgroupsseemtohavekilledit,atleastintheHouse.Theemergingconsensusaroundthebillisasignthatlegislatorsaregettingfrightenedaboutapoliticallyembarrassingshort-termcollapseattheUSPS.Itisnot,however,asignthatth
8、eyregettingseriousabouttransformingthepostalsystemforthe21stcentury.36.ThefinancialproblemwiththeUSPSiscausedpartlybyA.itsunbalancedbudget.B.itsrigidmanagement.C.thecostfortechnicalupgrading.D.thewithdrawalofbanksupport.37.AccordingtoParagraph2,theUSPSfailstomodernizeitselfduetoA.theinterferencefrom
9、interestgroups.B.theinadequatefundingfromCongress.C.theshrinkingdemandforpostalservice.D.theincompetenceofpostalunions.38.Thelong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunionscanbeaddressedbyA.removingitsburdenofretireehealthcare.B.makingmoreinvestmentinnewvehicles.C.adoptinganewrate-increasemechanism.D.at
10、tractingmorefirst-classmailusers.39.Inthelastparagraph,theauthorseemstoviewlegislatorswithArespect.Btolerance.Cdiscontent.Dgratitude.40.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?A.TheUSPSStartstoMissItsGoodOldDaysB.ThePostalService:KeepAwayfromMyCheeseC.TheUSPS:ChronicIllnessRequiresaQuickCureD.ThePostalServiceNeedsMorethanaBand-Aid
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