The United States is often considered a young nation, but in fact it is next to the oldest continuous government in the world, and the reason is that its people have always been willing to accommodate themselves to change. It should be realized, however, that sharing benefits of our achievements was the result of trial and error. Unprincipled businessmen had first to be restrained by government before they came to learn that they must serve the general good in pursuing their economic interests. Thus, although early statesmen strongly believed in private enterprise, they chose to make the post office a government monopoly and to give the schools to public ownership. Since then, government has broadened its activities in many ways including preventing monopolies from taking over the economy.
Increased growth by acquisition by our largest corporations has resulted in a situation where virtually independent economic giants will dominate the American economy. Growth of these vast corporate structures, even though accompanied by an increase in the number of much smaller and less powerful companies that operate under their control, foretells the creation of monopoly－like structures throughout American business. In general, the major acquisitions by the sample companies were corporate organizations that were profitable and successful before acquisition. The main effect of the merger or acquisition was to transfer control and management of an already successful enterprise to a new group. Profitability ratios indicate that, in most instances, the acquired companies operated less efficiently after acquisition.
Americans hold with Lincoln that "the legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot do so well for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities." Clearly merger restriction is one example of legitimate government intervention.
- It is implied that the main quality of the United States stressed is its_________.
- youth B. shared wealth C. trial and error D. flexibility
- The term "general good" (Line 5, Para. 1) refers to _________
- efficient practices B. ethical practices
- common well-being D. profitable decisions
- The creation of U.S. post office monopoly is cited as an example of a __________
- replacement of the existing economic order B. restraint of unprincipled businessmen
- flexible view of government D. system of shared profits
- From the text we learn that when mergers occurred, the added companies had_______
- low profitability ratios B. management difficulties
- poor productivity D. achieved success
- The author's view of mergers is________
- critical B. cautious C. qualified D. favorable
核心词汇注释
accommodate vt．供应，供给；使适应，调节；和解；向……提供，容纳：调和
vi．适应
unprincipled adj．不道德的，无原则的，不合人道的
restrained adj．受限制的，拘谨的，有限的
monopoly n．垄断，垄断者；专利权，专利事业
acquisition n．获得：获得物
dominate v．支配，占优势
foretell v．预言，预示，预测
merger n．合并，归并
ratio n．比，比率；[财政]复本位制中金银的法定比价
1esitimate adj．合法的；合理的；正统的
v．合法
长难句剖析
Increased growth by acquisition by our largest corporation has resulted in a situation where virtually independent economic giants will dominate the American economy.
[结构分析]本句主干是Increased growth．．．has resulted in a situation…。situation后面的where引导的是定语从句。两个by中，第一个by表示方式，第二个by表示施动者。
[参考译文]我们的最大型企业通过收购得以继续发展，这样导致的情况是，几个几乎独立的经济巨头将支配美国经济。
Growth Of these vast corporate structures，even though accompanied by an increase in the number of much smaller and less powerful companies that operate under their control, foretells the creation of monopoly － like structures throughout American business.
[结构分析]本句主干是Growth…foretells the creation…，even though弓／导的状语作插入语，that引导定语从句，修饰companies。their指代these vast corporate structures。
[参考译文]尽管与此同时规模小得多、实力弱得多、·在其控制下运作的公司数量也在增长，但是这些庞大企业结构的发展预示了美国商业界类似垄断的结构会产生。
全文参考译文
美国常常被认为是一个年轻的国度，但实际上，它差不多是世界上连续执政时间最长的政府，原因是美国人民总是愿意适应变化。然而，应意识到，能共享我们成就所带来的好处是反复尝试的结果。不讲道德的商人必须首先由政府加以约束才能逐渐认识到，在追求经济利益的同时，自己必须服务于公益。所以虽然早期政治家坚定地认为企业应该私有，但他们情愿让邮政为政府垄断，使学校为公共所有。自此以后，政府在诸多方面扩展了洗动范围，包括防止垄断控制经济。
我们的大型企业通过收购得到了发展，但是这样做的结果事实上将是这些独立的经济巨头控制美国经济。尽管与此同时规模小得多、实力弱得多、在其控制下运作的公司数量也在增长，但是这些庞大企业结构的发展预示了美国商业界类似垄断的结构会产生。通常来说，范例公司的主要收购是收购之前赢利的成功企业组织。合并或收购的主要影响在于，将一个业已成功企业的调控和管理转移到一个新的集团。赢利比率表明，在多数情况下，被收购的公司在收购后运作效率降低。
美国人赞成林肯的观点：“政府的合理目标是，为一个群体的民众去做他们需要做到的，但以各自的及个人之力不能做到，或者不能做好的事情。”很明显，限制合并是政府合理干预的一个例证。
题目答案与解析
1． 文中暗示了美国所强调的主要特征是它的_______。 [答案]D
A．年轻 B．财富共享 C．反复试验 D．灵活变通
[解析]从文章的首句可知，美国政府之所以几乎是世界上连续执政时间最长的政府，其原因在于美国人民总是愿意适应变化，据此可推知，D项为正确答案。
2． 词语“genera good” (第1段第5行)指的是________。 [答案]C
A．有效的实践 B．道德的实践 C．公共福利 D．有利的决定
[解析]本题的依据是原文的they must serve the general good in pursuing their economic interests，根据后续提示可知，general good的词义一定与their economic interests相反。因此C项为正确答案。
3． 引用美国邮政垄断这个例子是用来说明_________。 [答案]B
A．现有经济秩序的替代 B．对不道德商人的约束
C．政府的灵活政策 D．共享利润制度
[解析]本题考查逻辑关系。可以通过关联词语判定，该例前有thus，说明是承接上文。上文讲的是美国乐于适应变化。据此推断，举出该例是为了说明政府自由的观念。
4． 从文中我们了解到，公司之间进行合并时，新增加的公司_______。 [答案]D
A．利润低 B．管理困难 C．生产力低下 D．已获得成功
[解析]本题的依据是原文的In general，the major acquisitions by the sample companies were corporate organizations that were profitable and successful before acquisition，从中可知，被合并的公司在收购前是运作成功的。
5． 作者对合并所持的观点是_________。[答案]A
A．批评的 B．谨慎的 C．有资格的 D．赞成的
[解析]从本文的第2段可知，作者先后指出，最大型企业的收购带来的最终结果是经济巨头垄断美国经济，而且收购后的公司运作效率不如以前，可见作者对合并持批判态度。