In today's world, insurance plays a vital role in the economic and social welfare of the entire population. The wish to guard against dangers to life and property is basic to human nature. By using various kinds of insurance, society has been able to reduce the effects of such hazards.
    Nowhere is insurance more important than in the management of a business. In many instances, losses in a small firm can mean the difference between growth and failure, vitality and stagnation (停滞).Very few small businesses have even a portion of the financial resources available to larger enterprises. Frequently, they must operate on a very slight margin if they hope to stay in business. And thus, they are particularly sensitive to unexpected losses.
    Without enough insurance, what happens to such a firm when the owner dies or is suddenly disabled? When a fire breaks out and destroys the firm's building or stock? When an employee is found to have stolen company funds? When a customer is awarded a liability judgment for an accident? Too often, the business isforced to the wall, its future operations drasticallycurbed; sometimes, it is damaged beyond repair, its ability to continue completely crushed.
    Almost always, a small businessman would find it impossible to handle the full burden of his potential risk. The amount of money he would have to set aside to cover possible losses would leave him nothing, or almost nothing, to run his business with. If loss were to occur which he could repair by using his reserve fund, what assurance would he have that another loss—the same kind or different—might not occur next week, next month? But then he would have no reserve fund and little likelihood of staying in business at all.
单选题     This selection deals mainly with ______.
 
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】 主旨题。原文第一段第一句中提到了保险对经济和社会福利的重要性,下面一段具体分述商业保险的重要性。故答案为D。
单选题     In Paragraph Three, the phrase 'forced to the wall' means ______.
 
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】 词义题。该词语出现在原文第三段。前面提了一系列问题,都代表企业可能出现的意外状况,所以该词的意思应当为消极方面。只有A符合题意。故答案为A。
单选题     The author thinks that ______.
 
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】 推断题。原文第三段和最后一段都叙述了公司可能会遇到的各种意外情况,而如果没有足够的保险,公司就有可能会陷入绝境。所以,这从反面可以说明投保的必要性。故答案为C。
单选题     Adequate insurance will do all of the following EXCEPT that it will ______.
 
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】 细节题。原文第二段中提到And thus, they are particularly sensitive to unexpected losses.,证明一旦投保,公司可以避免不测。另外,最后一段的最后一句以否定形式反面证明投保的重要性。故答案为B,投保并不能为员工增加任何福利。
单选题     The word 'curbed' in Paragraph Three is nearest in meaning to '______'.
 
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】 词义题。curb前面的句子中提到如果公司不参与投保,一旦出现意外,其未来的运转就会被大幅抑制。,故可以推断出curb的意思为“制止”。这里需要找到语气意思相近的词语。check的其中一个意思为“制止”,符合题意。