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American hopes that pressure from the US will force Japan to suddenly dismantle its trade barriers are almost certain to evaporate in disappointment①. The fact is that Washington faces an obstacle far more formidable than a few power brokers in Tokyo's government offices. It's not in line with the centuries-old, deep-ingrained Japanese customs. To move the Japanese government, Washington government must move an entire nation. So far the US has had only limited success despite congressional threats to retaliate. In an April 9 nationwide broadcast, Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone urged the Japanese to buy more imported goods and unveiled a long-awaited three-year plan to ease import restrictions. But this program was far short of what Washington hoped to see. White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan said the Japanese offered "few new or immediate measures." While the plan did promise fewer shackles on imports of telecommunications gear, medicine and medical equipment, it offered no relief for American forest products—which are among the most contentious trade issues.
Nakasone gives every sign of being secure in his desire to reduce a Japanese surplus in trade with the US that hit 36.8 billion dollars in 1984 and could soon top billion. Yet to rely on any Japanese political leader, no matter how popular he is at home, to reverse trade policies is to underestimate the culture and traditions that weigh heavily against a breakthrough②. Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan's top elected leaders. "The whole concept that we can turn this around right now is obviously ridiculous," says an American trader who has lived and worked here since 1952. "The vested interests are being shaken and slowly moved, but at a pace too slow for the eye to follow." That view is echoed by a US diplomat closely involved in the efforts to open the Japanese market to American goods, Washington's main solution to the ballooning trade ambulance. "Japan is a relationship society rather than a transactional one," he says. "You cannot alter that kind of a system with a television speech or a few general proposals, no matter how well-intended they are."
Beyond specific tariffs or other official barriers to imports, experts here say that the US faces these obstacles. Nearly total domination of the Japanese market by a few dozen giant conglomerates that strongly op pose even token competition—be it from abroad or emerging domestic firms. An elite, thickly layered bureaucracy that historically has drafted laws and regulations as well as enforced them, and both of these powers would be threatened by trade reforms. A longtime relationship between business and government that critics say fosters collusion and hinders foreign entry into domestic markets③.

单选题 Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】主旨题。文章第一段讲述美同的希望很难实现。第二段专注于分析日本贸易壁垒产生的原因：文化传统。第三段给出具体的障碍，最后重申日本的决心。所以文章主要阐述日本不向美国压力低头的原因，故选[D]。
单选题 The word "shackles" in the last sentence of the first paragraph most probably means ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】词义理解题。本段第六句话中说日本首相敦促日本人多购买进口产品，并公布了一个期待已久的三年计划，来缓解对进口的限制。下面一句说这远未达到美国的期望。根据第一段最后一句话：尽管这个计划确实承诺减少电讯产品、医疗设备方面的限制，但是并没有放宽对美森林产品的进口限制。从while引导的让步转折从句关系来看，shackles应该跟后面的relief意思相反，而和第六句的restriction同义，所以选择[A]。其他选项不合题意。
单选题 It can be inferred from the text, the Japanese Prime Minister's plan to relieve import restrictions would ______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】推理判断题。根据第一段第七句话“But this program was far short of what Washington hoped to see”和第八句话“it offered no relief for American forest products'’，以及第二段第四句中一位美国商人的话"The whole concept that we can turn this around right now is obviously ridiculous"可以看出日本首相试图减轻进口限制的努力很难达到美国的期望。
单选题 According to the text, the main factor working against any immediate entry into Japanese market is ______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】推理判断题。根据文章第一段第三句话：这与日本几百年来根深蒂固的传统相违背，第二段第二句话：扭转这种贸易政策也就是低估了阻碍贸易取得突破的传统和文化的力量，第二段第三句话：一些商人和不具名的官僚主义者和当选的高层一样具有影响力。我们可以推知阻止美国产品进入日本的主要原因是日本的传统和文化，也有官僚作风，选[B]。干扰项[D]也是原因，但不是根本原因，只是选项[刚产生的一个结果。
单选题 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the trade obstacles in the text?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】事实细节题。在第三段可以看出，选项[A]、[B]和[D]都提到了，由第二句话“...giant conglomerates strongly oppose even token competition”，日本市场被大联合企业财团把持，他们反对竞争；第三句话“An elite，bureaucracy has drafted laws and regulations...and these powers would be threatened by trade reforms”，精英政治和官僚体系制定法规反对贸易，因为这会影响他们的统治；第四句话“A longtime relationship...fosters collusion and hinders foreign entry into domestic markets”。所以可以确定选项[C]为正确答案。