Text 1
The United States is said to have a mixed economy becau privately owned business and government both play important roles. Indeed, some of the most enduring debates of American economic history focus on the relative roles of the public and private ctors.
The American free enterpri system emphasizes private ownership. Private business produce most goods and rvices, and almost two-thirds of the nation's total economic output goes to individuals for personal u (the remaining one-third is bought by government and business). The consumer role is so great, in fact, that the nation is sometimes characterized as having a “consumer economy.”
This emphasis on private ownership aris, in part, from American beliefs about personal freedom. From the time the nation was created, Americans have feared excessive government power, and they have sought to limit government's authority over individuals —including its role in the economic realm. In addition, Americans generally believe that an economy characterized by private ownership is 不会作诗也会吟likely to operate more efficiently than one w
ith substantial government ownership.
When economic forces are unfettered, Americans believe, supply and demand determine the prices of goods and rvices. Prices, in turn, tell business what to produce; if people want more of a particular goods than the economy is producing, the price of the goods ris. That catches the attention 高中地理学习方法of new or other companies that, nsing 焦虑的原因an opportunity to earn profits, start producing more of that goods. On the other hand, if people want less of the goods, prices fall and less competitive producers either go out of business or start producing different goods.
There are limits to free enterpri, however. Americans have always believed that some rvices are better performed by public rather than private enterpri. For instance, in the United States, government is primarily responsible for the administration of justice, education, the road system, and national defen.
In this mixed economy, individuals can help guide the economy not only through the choices they make as consumers but through the votes they cast for officials who sh
ape economic policy. In recent years, consumers have voiced concerns about product safety, environmental threats pod by certain industrial practices, and potential health risks citizens may face; government has responded by creating agencies to protect consumer interests and promote the general public welfare.
1. In Line 1, Para. 4, the龙虎山旅游 expression “economic forces are unfettered” means .
[A] prices are determined by consumers [B] supply and demand are allowed to operate freely
[C] economic regulations are not enforced [D] the economy is growing
2. The last paragraph tells us that .
[A] a mixed economy is guided by both individual citizens and the government
[B] the role of the government in a mixed economy is more important than that of the consumer [C] individual Americans can influence the economy in multiple ways
[D] the government does not regard the concerns of individual citizens
3. According to the text, the U.S. is sometimes called a “consumer economy” becau .
[A] most goods and rvices are produced by consumers
[B] privately owned business plays a major role in the economy
[C] individual consumption plays a major role in the economy
[D] consumers' rights are very important in the U.S.
4. This text is mainly洛城闻笛 about .
[A] how average Americans view their economic system
[B] the role of the government in the American economy
[C] how supply and demand determine prices in the American economy
[D] the roles of the public and private ctors in the American economy
5. From the first ntence of the third paragraph, we learn that .
[A] American political beliefs晋中市见证取样工作网 have influenced its economic system
[B] Americans fear excessive governmental control of the economy
[C] private ownership is important becau of American beliefs in personal freedom [D] personal freedom is the basis for private ownership in the吞没形态 U.S.
Text 2
The Internet began in the 1960s as a small network of academic and government computers primarily involved in rearch for the U.S. military. Originally limited to rearchers at a handful of universities and government facilities, the Internet has quickly become a 新疆旅行worldwide network providing urs with information on a range of subjects and allowing them to purcha goods directly from companies via computer. B
y 1999, 84 million U.S. citizens had access to the Internet at home or work. More and more Americans are paying bills, shopping, ordering airline tickets, and purchasing stocks via computer over the Internet.
