单选题Much unfriendly feeling towards computers has been based on the fear of widespread unemployment resulting from their introduction.Computers are often used as part of automated (自动化的) production systems requiring a least possible number of operators, causing the loss of many jobs. This has happened, for example, in many steelworks. On the other hand, computers do create jobs. They are more skilled and better paid, though fewer in number than those they replace. Many activities could not continue in their present form without computers, no matter how many people are employed. Examples are the check clearing (交换) system of major banks and the weather forecasting system. When a firm introduces computers, a few people are usually employed in key posts (such as jobs of operations managers) while other staff are re-trained as operators, programmers, and data preparation staff. After the new system has settled down, people in non-computer jobs are not always replaced when they leave, resulting in a decrease in the number of employees. This decrease is sometimes balanced by a substantial increase in the activity of the firm, resulting from the introduction of computers. The attitudes of workers towards computers vary. There is fear of widespread unemployment and of the takeover of many jobs by computer-trained workers, making promotion for older workers not skilled in computers more difficult. On the other hand, many workers regard the trend toward wider use of computers inevitable. They realize that computers bring about greater efficiency and productivity, which will improve the condition of the whole economy, and lead to the creation of more jobs. This view was supported by the former British Prime Minister, James Callaghan in 1979, when he made the point that new technologies hold the key to increased productivity, which will benefit the economy in the long run.
单选题
The unfriendly feeling towards computers is developed from______. A.the possible widespread unemployment caused by their introduction B.their use as part of automated production systems C.the least possible number of operators D.the production system in steelworks
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对文章细节的理解。根据文章第一段“...based on the fear of widespread unemployment resulting from their introduction.”可知A项中的“caused”即为 “resulting from”的同义转述。
单选题
The underlined word “They” (Line 1, Para. 2) refers to______ A.computers B.jobs C.activities D.systems
单选题
According to Paragraph 2, without computers______ A.human activities could not continue B.there could not be weather forecasting systems C.many activities would have to change their present form D.banks would not be able to go on with check clearing
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对文章细节的理解。定位到第二段后两句话“Many activities could not continue in their present form without computers”。关键词是“present form”,只是不能以这种形式继续,因此C为同义转述。选项A、B、D都没有表达出这个意思。
单选题
According to the passage, what results from the introduction of computers? A.After re-training, all employees in the firm get new jobs. B.A considerable proportion of people are employed in key posts. C.The firm keeps all of its original staff members. D.The decrease in staff members may be balanced by the increase of firm activities.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对文章细节的理解。引进计算机会导致什么后果。A项再培训后,公司里所有的雇员会得到新的工作,由于有“all”,所以显得过于绝对。B项相当比例的人被雇用在关键岗位上。与第三段“a few people...”文意相反。C项公司保留所有的员工,与文意相反。
单选题
James Callaghan’s attitude towards computers can be best described as______. A.doubtful B.regretful C.unfriendly D.supportive
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生对文章中某个人态度的把握。根据人名定位到最后一段最后一句。根据句意可知,他是支持这个观点的:新技术会改善经济状况,提高生产力。 [长难句分析] 1.After the new system has settled down, people in non-computer jobs are not always replaced when they leave, resulting in a decrease in the number of employees.新系统建立以后,当非计算机工作的人们离开的时候,这些工作岗位经常不会被其他人取代,这使得工人人数减少。 前面的After引导时间状语从句,后面when引导了另一个时间状语从句,非谓语resulting in作结果状语。 2.They realize that computers bring about greater efficiency and productivity, which will improve the condition of the whole economy,and lead to the creation of more jobs.他们认识到计算机带来了更大的效率和生产力,这将改进整个经济条件,并带来工作职位的增加。 that引导realize的宾语从句。which引导非限定性定语从句,而且这个定语从句又由and连接的两个并列分句构成。