2009年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解（四）

中华硕博网 WWW.CHINA-B.C0M 2009年02月13日来源：中国教育在线

中华硕博网核心提示: 2001年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解Text4Theworldisgoingthroughthebiggestwaveofmergersandacquisitionseverwitnessed。Theprocesssweepsfromhyperac

2001年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解

Text4

Theworldisgoingthroughthebiggestwaveofmergersandacquisitionseverwitnessed。TheprocesssweepsfromhyperactiveAmericatoEuropeandreachestheemergingcountrieswithunsurpassedmight。Manyinthesecountriesarelookingatthisprocessandworrying：“Won’tthewaveofbusinessconcentrationturnintoanuncontrollableanticompetitiveforce？”

There’snoquestionthatthebigaregettingbiggerandmorepowerful。Multinationalcorporationsaccountedforlessthan20%ofinternationaltradein1982。Todaythefigureismorethan25%andgrowingrapidly。Internationalaffiliatesaccountforafastgrowingsegmentofproductionineconomiesthatopenupandwelcomeforeigninvestment。InArgentina，forinstance，afterthereformsoftheearly1990s，multinationalswentfrom43%toalmost70%oftheindustrialproductionofthe200largestfirms。Thisphenomenonhascreatedseriousconcernsovertheroleofsmallereconomicfirms，ofnationalbusinessmenandovertheultimatestabilityoftheworldeconomy。

IbelievethatthemostimportantforcesbehindthemassiveM&Awavearethesamethatunderlietheglobalizationprocess：fallingtransportationandcommunicationcosts，lowertradeandinvestmentbarriersandenlargedmarketsthatrequireenlargedoperationscapableofmeetingcustomer’sdemands。Allthesearebeneficial，notdetrimental，toconsumers。Asproductivitygrows，theworld’swealthincreases。

Examplesofbenefitsorcostsofthecurrentconcentrationwavearescanty。YetitishardtoimaginethatthemergerofafewoilfirmstodaycouldrecreatethesamethreatstocompetitionthatwerefearednearlyacenturyagointheU。S。，whentheStandardOiltrustwasbrokenup。Themergersoftelecomcompanies，suchasWorldCom，hardlyseemtobringhigherpricesforconsumersorareductioninthepaceoftechnicalprogress。Onthecontrary，thepriceofcommunicationsiscomingdownfast。Incars，too，concentrationisincreasing—witnessDaimlerandChrysler，RenaultandNissan—butitdoesnotappearthatconsumersarebeinghurt。

Yetthefactremainsthatthemergermovementmustbewatched。Afewweeksago，AlanGreenspanwarnedagainstthemegamergersinthebankingindustry。Whoisgoingtosupervise，regulateandoperateaslenderoflastresortwiththegiganticbanksthatarebeingcreated？Won’tmultinationalsshiftproductionfromoneplacetoanotherwhenanationgetstoostrictaboutinfringementstofaircompetition？Andshouldonecountrytakeuponitselftheroleof“defendingcompetition”onissuesthataffectmanyothernations，asintheU。S。vs。Microsoftcase？

63．Whatisthetypicaltrendofbusinessestoday？

［A］totakeinmoreforeignfunds［B］toinvestmoreabroad

［C］tocombineandbecomebigger［D］totradewithmorecountries

64．Accordingtotheauthor，oneofthedrivingforcesbehindM&Awaveis。

［A］thegreatercustomerdemands［B］asurplussupplyforthemarket

［C］agrowingproductivity［D］theincreaseoftheworld’swealth

65．Fromparagraph4wecaninferthat。

［A］theincreasingconcentrationiscertaintohurtconsumers

［B］WorldComservesasagoodexampleofbothbenefitsandcosts

［C］thecostsoftheglobalizationprocessareenormous

［D］theStandardOiltrustmighthavethreatenedcompetition

66．Towardthenewbusinesswave，thewriter’sattitudecanbesaidtobe。