Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa? History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and all adequate methods for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the IMF, the World Bank and the US Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin's regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the IMF formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring IMF advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also Success stories: despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to IMF prescriptions.
1. Japan has a long trading tradition.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
2. Russia was wrongly guided by the IMF.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
3. All African countries followed the IMF formula.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
4. The Soviet Union was a capitalist country.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
5. Australia is one of the biggest winners from globalization.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
6. China did not take IMF advice.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
7. Many high officials in Russia have much benefited from privatization.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
[答案解析]
1.A。[解析]题干大意:日本具有悠久的贸易历史。这道题的依据是第一段中的一句话:East Asia has a long trading tradition. 日本是东亚国家,因而具有悠久的贸易历史。
2.A。[解析]题干大意:俄罗斯被国际货币基金组织误导了。本题的依据可以在第二段的开头找到:In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia... 有些国家在国际货币基金组织(IMF)的强制下而采取了错误的政策,因而深受其害,俄罗斯就是这些国家中的一个。题干大意与原文是一致的,故答案选A。
3.B。[解析]题干大意:所有非洲国家都采纳了国际货币基金组织的方案。在文章最后一段最后一句提到:Botswana and Uganda are also success stories: despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to IMF prescriptions. 一些国家因为没有采纳IMF的方案而获得成功,其中提到两个非洲国家Botswana和Uganda,因而说所有非洲国家都采纳了IMF的方案是不对的,故答案为B。
4.B。[解析]题干大意:苏联是个资本主义国家。原文第一段里有句话:The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. 70多年不搞市场经济的国家自然不会是资本主义国家。根据常识也知道苏联是社会主义国家。故答案为B。
5.C。[解析]题干大意:澳大利亚是从全球化中受益最多的国家之一。原文中没有提到任何有关澳大利亚的信息。故答案为C。
6.A。[解析]题干大意:中国没有采纳国际货币基金组织的建议。本题的依据是文章最后一段的第一句话:...China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the IMF formula. 故答案为A。
7.C。[解析]题干大意:俄罗斯高官从私有化中受益颇多。在第二段的末尾提到:Encouraged by the IMF, the World Bank and the U. S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin's regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home. 提到了苏联搞私有化的事,但没有说有高官在私有化过程中受益,故答案为C。