Read the following passage and mark the letter A B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions
Very few people, groups, or governments oppose globalization in its entirety. Instead, critics of globalization believe aspects of the way globalization operates should be changed. The debate over globalization is about what the best rules are for governing the global economy so that its advantages can grow while its problems can be solved.
On one side of this debate are those who stress the benefits of removing barriers to international trade and investment, allowing capital to be allocated more efficiently and giving consumers greater freedom of choice. With free-market globalization, investment funds can move unimpeded from the rich countries to the developing countries. Consumers can benefit from cheaper products because reduced taxes make goods produced at low cost from faraway places cheaper to buy. Producers of goods gain by selling to a wider market. More competition keeps sellers on their toes and allows ideas and new technology to spread and benefit others.
On the other side of the debate are critics who see neo-liberal policies as producing greater poverty, inequality, social conflict, cultural destruction, and environmental damage. They say that the most developed nations – the United States, Germany, and Japan – succeeded not because of free trade but because of protectionism and subsidies. They argue that the more recently successful economies of South Korea, Taiwan, and China all had strong state-led development strategies that did not follow neo-liberalism. These critics think that government encouragement of “infant industries” – that is, industries that are just beginning to develop – enables a country to become internationally competitive.
Furthermore, those who criticize the Washington Consensus suggest that the inflow and outflow of money from speculative investors must be limited to prevent bubbles. These bubbles are characterized by the rapid inflow of foreign funds that bid up domestic stock markets and property values. When the economy cannot sustain such expectation, the bubbles burst as investors panic and pull their money out of the country.
Protests by what is called the anti-globalization movement are seldom directed against globalization itself but rather against abuses that harm the rights of workers and the environment. The question raised by nongovernmental organizations and protesters at WTO and IMF gatherings is whether globalization will result in a rise of living standards or a race to the bottom as competition takes the form of lowering living standards and undermining environmental regulations.
One of the key problems of the 21st century will be determining to what extent markets should be regulated to promote fair competition, honest dealing, and fair distribution of public goods on a global scale.
The phrase “keeps sellers on their toes” in the passage mostly means
A. prevents sellers from selling new products
B. forces sellers to go bare-footed
C. makes sellers responsive to any changes
D. allows sellers to stand on their own feet
Giải bởi qa.haylamdo.com
Đáp án C
Kiến thức: Đọc hiểu
Giải thích:
Cụm từ “keeps sellers on their toes” trong đoạn văn có nghĩa là
A. ngăn cản người bán bán sản phẩm mới
B. buộc người bán phải đi chân trần
C. làm cho người bán đáp ứng nhanh nhạy với mọi thay đổi
D. cho phép người bán đứng vững trên đôi chân của mình
“keeps sellers on their toes”: làm cho người bán đáp ứng nhanh nhạy với mọi thay đổi
More competition keeps sellers on their toes and allows ideas and new technology to spread and benefit others.
Nhiều cạnh tranh hơn khiến người bán phản ứng nhanh nhạy với những thay đổi và cho phép những ý tưởng và công nghệ mới lan rộng và mang lại lợi ích.
Đáp án: C
You should take out insurance for your house from any possible damage. Earthquakes sometimes occur here.
The two cars for sale were in poor condition, so I didn't buy ______.
- John: “Oh, I forgot my girlfriend's birthday last week.” - Anne: “______.”
My friend is good at mimicking people. He ______ a great impression of Charlie Chaplin.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
Relations between the two countries have improved considerably in the last few years.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions
The last time I saw Peter was when I ran into him at the station on my way to Glasgow.
It’s not fair to put all the blame on him. He’s not the only one at fault.
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 22 to 26.
The invention of the mobile phone has undoubtedly revolutionized the way people communicate and influenced every aspect of our lives. The issue is whether this technological innovation has done more harm than good.
In order to (22)______ the question, we must first turn to the type of consumer. Presumably, most parents buy mobile phones for their teenagers to track their whereabouts and ensure their safety. We can also assume that most teenagers want mobile phones to avoid missing out (23)______ social contact. In this context, the advantages are clear. However, we cannot deny the fact that text messages have been used by bullies to intimidate fellow students. There is also (24)______ evidence that texting has affected literacy skills.
The ubiquitous use of the mobile phone has, (25)______ question, affected adult consumers, too. What employee, on the way home from work, would be reluctant to answer a call from their boss? Apparently, only 18% of us, according to a recent survey, are willing to switch off our mobile phones once we’ve left the office.
Admittedly, mobile phones can be intrusive but there are obvious benefits to possessing one. Personally speaking, they are invaluable when it comes to making social or business arrangements at short (26)______. According to a recent survey, they also provide their owners with a sense of security in emergency situations.
In conclusion, mobile phones do have their drawbacks, but these are outweighed by the benefits. I would argue that it is not the tool that chooses its purpose, but the user.
Điền vào ô 22
- Porter: “I didn’t do too well on my final exams.” - Mary: “______.”
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions
In a famous experiment conducted at University of Chicago in 1983, rats kept from sleeping died after two and a half weeks.
You will have to tell him about it in the end. The longer you put off doing so, the harder it’s going to be.
We had about ten people helping us carry our belongings to a van parking outside when there was a sudden crash which made us turn round to find the big mirror lying in pieces on the ground.
