单选题 Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups such as first-time or reentering workers, who supposedly prefer such arrangements. However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers. Instead, these analyses suggest that factors affecting employers account for the rise in temporary employment. One factor is product demand: temporary employment is favored by employers who are adapting to fluctuating demand for products while at the same time seeking to reduce overall labor costs. Another factor is labor's reduced bargaining strength, which allows employers more control over the terms of employment. Given the analyses, which reveal that growth in temporary employment now far exceeds the level explainable by recent workforce entry rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs, firms should be discouraged from creating excessive numbers of temporary positions. Government policymakers should consider mandating benefit coverage for temporary employee, promoting pay equity between temporary and permanent workers, assisting labor unions in organizing temporary workers, and encouraging firms to assign temporary jobs primarily to employees who explicitly indicate that preference.
单选题 The primary purpose of the passage is to ______.
  • A. present the results of statistical analyses and propose further studies
  • B. explain a recent development and predict its eventual consequences
  • C. identify the reasons for a trend and recommend measures to address it
  • D. outline several theories about a phenomenon and advocate one of them
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 以下哪一句最恰当地指出了短文的大意?尽管鲍勃·迪伦歌唱的方式不同寻常，但他还是获得了巨大的成功。后三段说他获得了巨大的成功，第四段附带地指出了他的弱点：嗓音未经过训练。
单选题 The passage suggests which of the following about the use of temporary employment by firms during the 1980s?
  • A. It enabled firms to deal with fluctuating product demand far more efficiently than they did before the 1980s.
  • B. It increased as a result of increased participation in the workforce by certain demographic groups.
  • C. It was discouraged by government-mandated policies.
  • D. It increased partly as a result of workers' reduced ability to control the terms of their employment.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 短文最有力地证实了琼·贝兹的哪种情况?她注定会成为音乐方面的传奇人物。文章主要讲述鲍勃·迪伦的成功。琼·贝兹曾演唱过迪伦的许多早期歌曲。她举行音乐会时，邀请迪伦登上舞台，对迪伦渐人佳境的演艺有更大促进，所以，她注定会成为音乐方面的传奇人物。
单选题 According to the passage, which of the following is true of the "factors affecting employers" that are mentioned in the third sentence of the passage?
  • A. Most experts cite them as having initiated the growth in temporary employment that occurred during the 1980s.
  • B. They may account for the increase in the total number of temporary workers during the 1980s.
  • C. They were less important than demographic change in accounting for the increase of temporary employment during the 1980s.
  • D. They included a sharp increase in the cost of labor during the 1980s.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 第四段离开头很近的短语king of songs指迪伦是一位多产的歌唱家或作曲家。第四段第一句告诉我们，迪伦创作了500首歌曲并制作了40多个专辑。
单选题 The passage mentions which of the following as an appropriate kind of governmental action EXCEPT ______.
  • A. getting firms to offer temporary employment primarily to a certain group of people
  • B. encouraging equitable pay for temporary and permanent employee
  • C. facilitating the organization of temporary workers by labor union
  • D. establishing guidelines on the proportion of temporary workers that firms should employ
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 短文最恰当地证实了以下哪种观点?一些人认为歌曲《像滚石》是有史以来最出色的歌曲。从第四段可以看出歌曲《像滚石》名列榜首(which tops the 1ist)。