单选题 Nowadays, a standard for measuring power has changed. These changes foretell a new standard for measuring power. No longer will a nation's political influence be based solely on the strength of its military forces. Of course, military effectiveness will remain a primary measure of power. But political influence is also closely tied to industrial competitiveness. It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation. The new standard of power and influence that is evolving now places more emphasis on the ability of a country to compete effectively in the economic markets of the world.
America must recognize this new course of events. Our success in shaping world events over the past 40 years has been the direct result of our ability to adapt technology and to take advantage of the capabilities of our people for the purpose of maintaining peace. Our industrial prowess (威力) over most of this period was unchallenged. It is ironic (有讽刺性的) that it is just this prowess that has enabled other countries to prosper and in turn to threaten our industrial leadership.
The competitiveness of America's industrial base is an issue bigger than the department of defense and is going to require the efforts of the major institutional forces in our society, government, industry, and education. That is not to say that the defense department will not be a strong force in the process. But we simply cannot be, nor should we be, looked upon by others as the savior (救星) of American industry.
单选题 Now a nation's political influence depends on ______.
  • A. the strength of its military forces
  • B. its ability to compete in industry
  • C. economic markets
  • D. both A and B
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。本题答案从文章第一段第三句和最后一句可以看出一国政治力量不仅依靠军事力量,也与经济实力有紧密的联系。
单选题 The Soviet Union was not being listed as a third-world nation just because of ______.
  • A. its powerful military forces
  • B. its vast land
  • C. its industrial competitiveness
  • D. its contributions to world peace
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。第一段倒数第二句说“It's often said that without its military the Soviet Union would really be a third-world nation.”,可知由于军事力量,苏联才没被列入第三世界国家。
单选题 The author indicates that ______ is threatening American political power.
  • A. other countries
  • B. the declining U.S. industrial base
  • C. a new standard for measuring power
  • D. less advanced technology
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 推理题。由第三段第一句和第二段最后一句可知美国的工业基础出了问题。且其他国家对美国的工业领先地位造成威胁。故B正确。
单选题 America succeeded in shaping world events over the past 40 years probably because of ______.
  • A. its ability to adapt technology
  • B. its ability to take advantage of the capabilities of its people
  • C. its ability to compete in the world markets
  • D. both A and B
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。从第二段第二句话看出A和B涉及的两个因素都起了作用。故D正确。
单选题 The purpose of writing this article is ______.
  • A. to draw the readers' attention to a new standard for measuring power
  • B. to demonstrate America political influence in the world
  • C. to emphasize that effort must be made to strengthen the declining U.S. industrial base
  • D. to show American industrial prowess
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 主旨题。本题可以根据整篇文章的结构判断。作者先讲到新标准的两个内容:military和economic competitiveness,然后谈到过去40年美国工业威力使美国成功的例子,最后指出美国潜在威胁在于工业基础。故C正确。