单选题
The nation"s preeminent seniors group, the American Association of Retired Persons, has put the weight of its 40 million members behind health-care reform, saying many of the proposals will lower costs and increase the quality of care for older Americans. But not advertised in this lobbying campaign have been the group"s substantial earnings from insurance royalties and the potential benefits that could come its way from many of the reform proposals. The group and its subsidiaries collected more than $650 million in royalties and other fees last year from the sale of insurance policies credit cards and other products that carry the AARP name, accounting for the majority of its $1. 14 billion in revenue, according to federal tax records. It does not directly sell insurance policies but lends its name to plans in exchange for a tax-exempt cut of the premiums. The organization also heavily markets the policies on its Web site, in mailings to its members and through ubiquitous advertising targeted at seniors. GOP lawmakers point to AARP"s thriving business in marketing branded Medigap policies, which provide supplemental coverage for standard Medicare plans available to the elderly. Democratic proposals to slash reimbursements for another program, called Medicare Advantage, are widely expected to drive up demand for private Medigap policies like the ones offered by AARP, according to health-care experts, legislative aides and documents. " We are witnessing a disturbing trend of handouts to special interests like AARP, " said House Republican spokesman Matt Lloyd, referring to Democratic negotiations over health reform. " In return, AARP is lobbying for a government-run health-care bill that will pad their own executives" pockets at the expense of its own members and other vulnerable seniors. " AARP officials strongly dispute such allegations, arguing that the group"s heavy reliance on brand royalties allows it to offer members a wide range of benefits—from lobbying for seniors in Washington to discount travel packages and financial advice. Dean A . Zerbe, a former Grassley senior counsel who is now national managing director at the corporate tax firm Alliant Group, argues that AARP"s involvement in the sale of insurance plans"really hurts their credibility. " " Either you"re a voice for the elderly or you"re an insurance company; choose one, "Zerbe said. Republicans renewed their attacks on AARP this year after the group emerged as a vigorous defender of many of the reforms under consideration by the Democrat-controlled Congress. Nancy LeaMond, an AARP executive vice president, appeared at a press conference Friday alongside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.)to announce a new proposal for plugging gaps in coverage of Medicare prescription benefits.
单选题
AARP has made its money primarily through______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：由题干定位到原文第三段“…AARP name，accounting for the majority of its $1．14 billion in revenue…”可知，集团及其下属子公司以AARP的名字获得了650 million美元的版税收人，这也在AARP集团总收入中占了绝大部分。接下来的内容“It does not directly sell insurance policies but lends its name toplans”可排除其他选项，故该题答案为B。
单选题
GOP lawmakers lash out at the organization"s practices, showing the AARP"s thriving business will have something to do with______.
单选题
House Republican spokesman says" We are witnessing a disturbing trend of handouts to special interests like AARP" , in which "interests "may help describe AARP as______.
单选题
Republicans renew their attacks on the organization this year because AARP______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：由题干定位到原文最后一段，C选项是对原文的“the group emerged as a vigorous defender of many ofthe reforms”的同义转述，为正确答案。
单选题
When finishing reading the passage, one may draw the conclusion that the American Association of Retired Persons is an organization______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：纵观全文，文章对于AARP的身份和角色提出了批评，其中的“Either you’re a voice for the elderly oryou’re an insurance company，choose one”很有代表性，AARP不但是医保政策改革的推动者，本身也是保险公司，可以从医保改革中获利，这一点被大家质疑，所以C选项是正确的。