该题测试的是对词义细f [区别的把握，同时涉及一些有关公司的知识，对考 生来说有一定难度。录音第一句话出现了两个和公司有关的名词，即 SoftBank和 Ola。前者是conglomerate,在中国也常被理解为“集团公司” （而不是“公司集团”）， 后者明确说出是company。答题时不要受conglomerate的干扰，只选指明是company 的选项。

[重点难点]
理解conglomerate和 company的意义区别。

[录音原文]
Passage Two
Japanese telecom and Internet conglomerate SoftBank claimed that its portfolio company Ola enjoyed a commanding 85 percent share in India’s cab-hailing market. It implied that all other taxi-hailing apps including Uber， Meru and Easycabs， captured only a minor share of the market. Uber responded that it was as big as Ola with a 50 percent market share in terms of trips.
Uber, the privately held company now valued at US$70 billion, is aggressive in its investments in India. The investments will go mainly toward increasing the number of drivers on its platform, adding product features and strengthening its technology team in India. The company will focus on growth for the foreseeable future rather than looking for profitability.
Yet many troubles have cast a shadow over the plans. Throughout the country, the roads tend to be terrible; clogged with traffic, potholes and pedestrians, marked by ever-shifting routes and a freewheeling interpretation of automotive rules equal to lawlessness. A 35-kilometer Uber ride lasts nearly an hour.
India's cellular networks can be spotty and slow. Cash is king here because credit cards and other digital payment systems aren’t widely used. It was an issue for Uber’s just-get-out-of-the-car-when-you're-done payment method. So in 2015, Uber began accepting cash payments for the first time in the city of Hyderabad, then across India.
Recruiting drivers is also complicated. Lots of people need work in India, but relatively few have cars. Uber has spent a lot of money setting up leasing deals with banks and car manufacturers to get special terms for drivers in need of vehicles. Drivers do not want to pay for a commercial driver's license and special registration, or just do not speak the same language as riders do.

该题难点在于录音中没有与考题选项完全对应的内容。唯一接近问题答案的 是选项B，真把录音中的product features变为product functions，这就需要听者理解 features与 functions的语义关联。解答此题时，结合排除法的使用更容易做出正确选择。

[重点难点]
排除与问题无关的选项，选择最接近原话的选项。

根据常识，一般驾车困难的原因不是单方面的，因此看到前三个选项每一项都只给出一个原因时就应该准备排除。在此基础上再听录音应该能够选出正确答案 D。考生虽然对录音中的 freewheeling interpretation of automotive rules 不一定熟悉， 但根据紧接着的equal to lawlessness来判断就很容易。

[重点难点]
利用常识与理性做出初步判断，在听录音时对判断予以证实。

录音中说的印度的cellular networks can be spotty and slow在考题正确选项B 中变为简单的unstable network coverage，需要理解这是一种对spotty and slow的意 义的综合概括，即问题多而速度慢必然导致不稳定的网络。选项A 在文中没有提及。 根据 cash is king here可以排除选项C。录音没有提及信用卡欺诈（ credit card fraudulence)，所以排除选项D。

[重点难点]
理解network在当今时代如果没有特别限定，则默认为指电脑和手机使用的网络系统。

该题有明显难度，考题的四个选项都用了 The person has to...,但录音中说的 是招募便车司机的复杂性，而没有直接说出便车司机必须具备的具体条件是什么。 所以，正确答题必须经过自己的思考与推理。车可以由租车公司租赁，租车合同也 由公司负责，这一点录音已经说明（ Uber has spent a lot of money setting up leasing deals with banks and car manufacturers) ，所以可以排除选项A 和选项B。录音中没有提及语言测试，所以排除选项D。

[重点难点]
抓住录音中 Uber has spent a lot of money setting up leasing deals with banks and car manufacturers这句话，由此排除前两项。