单选题
Matching Prices to Demand—in Real Time

Can an ice cream shop charge more for a cone on a hot day? Should a parking space get (21) as the garage fills up?
Boston Consulting Group senior adviser George Stalk believes business can—and should—charge according to (22) The idea builds on a longtime strategy most (23) the airline industry, called yield management, in which carriers (24) prices as planes fill up. The consultant, who in the late 1980s coined the term" time-based competition", the notion that (25) is a strategic weapon, thinks far more companies could take similar steps to match prices to real-time customer demand. Such moves are especially (26) following a year when oil and commodities prices swung wildly, he notes, "companies couldn't change prices as fast as they needed to. "
Stalk says existing technologies such as radio-frequency identification, GPS, and wireless networks could someday make what he calls dynamic pricing a reality. He points to Ohio auto insurer Progressive, which is expanding its MyRate program that offers discounts in return (27) demonstrably safe driving habits. Customers who (28) to the program can plug a device into their cars' diagnostic ports, often situated beneath the steering wheel. The devices then wirelessly (29) data to Progressive on how many miles customers travel, how fast they drive, and other factors. Progressive uses the information to offer policyholders discounts every six months for safe behaviour and, in states where it's allowed by laws, to tack (30) surcharges for risky driving.

【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,需求越大,价格越高。此处应填“贵”的比较级。D选项costlier为costly的比较级形式,意为“更贵的”,符合此处的文意;选项A意为“便宜的”;选项B意为“昂贵的”;选项C意为“贵的”,皆不符合。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,价格随需求大小而变动。此处应填“需求”。C选项demand意为“需求,需要”,符合此处的文意;选项A意为“价格”;选项B意为“产品”;选项D意为“消费”,皆不符合文意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,这一观念最初来自航空公司,即和航空公司关系紧密。A选项associated with意为“与……相联系,与……相符”,符合此处的文意;选项B意为“依靠,依赖”;选项C意为“属于”;选项D意为“由……协助”,皆不符合此处文意。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,在舱位越来越少的时候,机票价格会越来越高,即价格会发生变动。B选项shift意为“转换,改变”,符合此处的文意;选项A意为“职位提升,促进”;选项C意为“开关转换,交换”;选项D意为“减少”,皆不符合文意。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上文的“time-based competition”,时间是价格定位的战略武器。C选项time意为“时间”,与此处文意相符;选项A意为“竞争”;选项B意为“价格”;选项D意为“事实”,皆不符合文意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,在石油和其他商品价格动荡时期,这一举措尤为重要。A选项critical意为“至关重要的”,符合此处的文意;选项B意为“明显的”;选项C意为“尴尬的”;选项D意为“可见的”,皆与此处的文意不符。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[答案精解] 本题考查in return for…的用法,意为“作为对……的报答;作为对……的交换”,因此选项B为正确答案。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,此处意为“参加这一活动的人”。B选项opt in意为“决定参与,决定做”,符合此处的文意;选项A意为“在……中选择”;选项C没有此种搭配;选项D意为“选出来”,皆不符合此处的文意。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[答案精解] 根据上下文,该设备可以无线上传客户的各种驾驶信息。B选项upload意为“上传”,符合此处的文意;选项A意为“下载”;选项C意为“传递”;选项D意为“运输”,意义皆不符合此处文意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[答案精解] 本题考查固定搭配tack on的用法,意为“增补,添加”。此处意为“对危险驾驶者增收费用”,tack on符合此处的文意。