单选题
Business institutions have more prestige in American
society than any other kind of organization, including the government. Most
Americans believe, for example, that businesses are more efficient and
better-run than the federal government. Why do business institutions possess
this great prestige? One reason is that Americans view business
as being more firmly based on the ideal of competition than other institutions
in society. Since competition is seen as the major source of progress and
prosperity by most Americans, competitive business institutions are respected.
Competition is not only good in itself; it is the means by which other basic
American values such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity, and hard
work are protected. Competition protects the freedom of the
individual by ensuring that there is no monopoly power. In contrast to one,
all-powerful government, many businesses compete against each other for profits.
Theoretically, if one business tries to take unfair advantage of its customers,
it wilt lose to a competing business that treats its customers more fairly.
Where businesses compete for the customers' dollar, they cannot afford to give
them inferior products or poor services. Competition in
business is also believed to strengthen the ideal of equality of opportunity.
Americans compare business competition to a race open to all, where success and
status go to the swiftest person, regardless of social class
background. Business competition is also seen by most Americans
as encouraging hard work. If two business people are competing against each
other, the one who works harder is likely to win. The one who spends less time
and effort is likely to lose. Because business people must continually compete
against each other, they must develop the habit of hard work in order not to
fail. Americans are aware that business institutions often do
not live up to the ideals of competition and the support of freedom, equality of
opportunity, and hard work. Americans sometimes distrust the motives of business
people, believing that they are capable of putting profit before product safety,
or a cleaner environment. Therefore, most Americans believe businesses need some
government regulation, although they may disagree on how much. Even with these
flaws, however, most Americans believe that business comes closer than other
institutions to carrying out competition and other basic values in daily
practice.
单选题
In the United States, business has great prestige because ______.
A. Americans think it is the only way for a person to become rich
B. Americans believe it supports ideals and values that are important to the
country
C. Americans feel they benefit more from business institutions than from
other institutions in society
D. Americans think it is more difficult to succeed in business than in other
fields