A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap， but， if properly handled， it may become a driving force. When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War， it had a market eight times larger than any competitor， giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale. Its scientists were the world's best， its workers the most skilled. America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.
It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably， the retreat from predominance proved painful. By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness. Some huge American industries， such as consumer electronics， had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition. By 1987 there was only one American television maker left， Zenith. （Now there is none： Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July.） Foreign-made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market. America's machine-tool industry was on the ropes. For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors， which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age， was going to be the next casualty.
All of this caused a crisis of confidence. Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted. They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing， and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well. The mid-1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline. Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.How things have changed！ In 1995 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling. Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle. Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride. “American industry has changed its structure， has gone on a diet， has learnt to be more quick-witted，” according to Richard Cavanaugh， executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. “It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity，” says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute， a think-tank in Washington， D.C. And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as “a golden age of business management in the United States.”
51. The US achieved its predominance after World WarⅡbecause________.
（A）it had made painstaking efforts towards this goal
（B）its domestic market was eight times larger than before
（C）the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors
（D）the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy
52. The loss of US predominance in the world economy in the 1980s is manifested in the fact that the American________.
（A）TV industry had withdrawn to its domestic market
（B）semiconductor industry had been taken over by foreign enterprises
（C）machine-tool industry had collapsed after suicidal actions
（D）auto industry had lost part of its domestic market
53. What can be inferred from the passage？
（A）It is human nature to shift between self-doubt and blind pride.
（B）Intense competition may contribute to economic progress.
（C）The revival of the economy depends on international cooperation.
（D）A long history of success may pave the way for further development.
54. The author seems to believe the revival of the US economy in the 1990s can be attributed to the________.
（A）turning of the business cycle
（B）restructuring of industry
（C）improved business management
（D）success in education
答案及試題解析CDBA
51.（C）意為：戰(zhàn)爭摧毀了多數(shù)潛在的競爭國的經(jīng)濟。
提問中predominance意為“優(yōu)勢”。
第一段指出，第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以后，美國進入一個欣欣向榮的（glowing）發(fā)展時期，它擁有八倍于其他任何一個競爭國家的市場，工業(yè)經(jīng)濟發(fā)展到空前規(guī)模，它擁有世界上秀的科學家和技術的工人。美國的繁榮和美國人的富裕水平，是歐洲人和亞洲人做夢也達不到的，因為戰(zhàn)爭摧毀了他們的經(jīng)濟。
A意為：它已經(jīng)為實現(xiàn)這一目標付出了艱苦的努力。
B意為：其國內(nèi)市場比以前大八倍。
D意為：其勞動力（數(shù)量）空前的規(guī)模促進了經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展。
52.（D）意為：汽車工業(yè)失去了部分國內(nèi)市場。
第二段第六句提到，進口車和紡織品涌進（美國）國內(nèi)市場。
A意為；電視工業(yè)萎縮回到了國內(nèi)市場（即：該工業(yè)失去了國際市場）。根據(jù)第二段，到80年代中期，面對其工業(yè)競爭力的日益衰退，美國人感到無計可施 （at a loss），美國某些大的行業(yè)——如電子消費品——在園際競爭的壓力下，面臨萎縮或消亡的威脅。到1987年為止，美國僅存的電視制造商只有Zenith 一家了（現(xiàn)在已蕩然無存：Zenith于7月份（指文章寫作年代的7月份）被韓國LG電子有限公司購買）。這里并沒有直接提到美國電視失去國際市場，事實上，它連國內(nèi)市場也保不住了。
B意為：半導體行業(yè)被外國公司接管。第二段最后一句提到，在一段時間內(nèi)，半導體制造業(yè)似乎要成為下一個受害者，雖然美國是半導體的發(fā)明者，而且半導體又處于新的計算機時代的核心位置（即：在新的時代中起著關鍵作用）。本句中casualty意為“傷亡”、 “受害者”，與上一句中be on the ropes（美語俚語，意為“即將完蛋”）相照應。這里所說的是半導體制造商似乎（as though）要失去國內(nèi)外市場。而不是被國外企業(yè)接管。
C意為：機床制造業(yè)自取滅亡。第二段提到了機床制造業(yè)“即將完蛋”（on the ropes）。這顯然也是說它正在失去國內(nèi)外市場，并未提到它的滅亡是由其自身原因造成的。
53.（B）意為：激烈的競爭可能促進經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展。
第三段提到，嚴峻的現(xiàn)實（this指上一段中提到的諸多現(xiàn)狀）使美國人失去了自信，他們不再認為繁榮是自然而至的事，他們開始認識到自己的經(jīng)營方式存在嚴重問題（failing）。在80年代中期，他們開始挖掘美國經(jīng)濟衰退的原因，他們有時有些驚人的（sensational）發(fā)現(xiàn)，其中往往提示人們警惕外來競爭。第四段提到了90年代的經(jīng)濟復蘇。其中的含義是：在競爭的壓力下，美國人在80年代進行了自我反思和產(chǎn)業(yè)結構調(diào)整，因此帶來了90年代的經(jīng)濟復蘇。
A意為：在自我懷疑和盲目驕傲之間擺來擺去是人的本性。（即：人傾向于在這兩種心態(tài)之間搖擺）。
C意為：經(jīng)濟的復蘇取決于國際間的合作。
D意為：長期的成功可以為進一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
54.（A）意為：經(jīng)濟周期的轉機。
在第四段，作者指出，截止到1995年，美國已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了五年的穩(wěn)定（經(jīng)濟）增長，而日本卻在困境中掙扎，但是，美國人并不將這一增長看做是美元貶值或經(jīng)濟周期的轉機等明顯的因素直接帶來的，而是由自我懷疑變?yōu)槊つ康尿湴?。這里作者實際上對當前美國人的盲目樂觀情緒進行了批評，認為，90年代的增長是由美元貶值或經(jīng)濟周期的轉機等因素造成的。
B意為：產(chǎn)業(yè)結構的調(diào)整。根據(jù)Richard Cavanaugh的看法，美國經(jīng)濟的持續(xù)增長是由產(chǎn)業(yè)結構的調(diào)整造成，他認為美國的產(chǎn)業(yè)正在“節(jié)食”（go on a diet），正在變得更加理智。但這并不是作者的觀點。參閱第四段。
C意為：經(jīng)營管理的改善。根據(jù)Stephen Moore的看法，美國的經(jīng)濟正在提高其生產(chǎn)率。但這也不是作者的觀點。參閱第四段。
D意為：教育上的成功。
翻譯句子
1、Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.
[參考譯文]美國人那些有時聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)充滿了對來自其他國家的不斷增長的繹濟競爭的警告。
[結構剖析]英語的句式詞匯一般都比較簡練，如果將本句用中國人習慣的語式講出應該如下：Their sometimes surprising findings about the causes of American's industrial decline are full of the warnings about the growing competition from overseas nations.[閱讀重點]sensational即surprising.另外注意本句的中心意思在句末的the growing competition from overseas.
2、Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle. Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride.
[參考譯文]幾乎沒有一個美國人將這五年間的經(jīng)濟持續(xù)增長單純歸功于類似美元貶值或商業(yè)周期輪回這些顯而易見的原因。到如今，對自身的懷疑已被盲目樂觀所取代。
[結構剖析]attribute…… to……將……歸功或歸咎于……。solely作狀語修飾attribute，this指代上一句中的five years of solid growth，此外as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle作賓語such obvious causes的補語。
[閱讀重點]yield to是“向……屈服”，即“被取代”。此處使用了現(xiàn)在完成時，證明這種狀態(tài)到現(xiàn)在已成型。
補充難句
①A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap， but， if properly handled， it may become a driving force.[參考譯文]一段長時間并且不費力便贏取的成功歷史有可能是一種可怕的不利因素；但是，如果處理得當，這種不利因素也有可能轉化為積極的推動力量。
[結構剖析]該句是一個并列句，由前后兩個轉折關系的分句組成，其間的連詞為but.but與后一個分句之間又插入一個由if 引導的條件狀語if properly handled，該狀語原來是一個if引導的條件狀語從句，即if it（a history of long and effortless success） is properly handled，其中的it is由于和該分句的主句部分主謂語一致而被省略掉了。
[閱讀重點]本句結構比較簡明，只需注意but與it may become a driving force之間的if結構是一個插入語，并且是一個省略了主語和系動詞的被動語態(tài)。此外handicap意為“不利條件”。
②Its scientists were the world's best， its workers the most skilled. America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.[參考譯文]它的科學家是世界上的，它的工人是最富于技巧的。美國和美國公民們的繁榮是歐亞兩大洲人民做夢都想象不出的，因為二戰(zhàn)摧毀了這些國家的經(jīng)濟。
[結構剖析]前一句中its workers the most skilled是一個伴隨狀語，省略了其中的being，補齊成分后應為its workers being the most skilled.后一句中beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians作prosperous的狀語，beyond為介詞，是“超越，超出”的意思。而whose economies the war had destroyed作定語從句修飾the Europeans and Asians，原形是the war had destroyed the economies of the Europeans and Asians.
[閱讀重點]注意beyond一詞的意思，它表示“在……之外”。
③For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors， which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age， was going to be the next casualty.[參考譯文]人們曾經(jīng)一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍畏沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導體制造業(yè)了，而半導體，這嶄新的計算機時代的核心，其發(fā)明者卻正是美國人。
[結構剖析]該句帶有一個表語從句，其表語從句中又套有兩個并列的定語從句。全句主句部分的主謂結構是it looked……，as though（即as if好像）引導的從句是looked（看上去）的表語。表語從句中主語為the making of semiconductors，謂語為was going to be，而逗號之間的兩個which從句是the making of semiconductors的非限定性定語，同時又是插入語。
[閱讀重點]注意理解the next casualty的含義，casualty本意為“傷亡”，此處是“被國外產(chǎn)品擊敗的美國本土產(chǎn)業(yè)”。
語言點詳解
1.effortless毫不費力的[大綱詞匯]effort n.努力，艱難的嘗試[衍生詞匯]effortless a.毫不費力的，不需要努力的，容易的[構詞方法]-less后綴，表示“無”，“沒有”，“不”〔聯(lián)想記憶〕hopeless a.無望的doubtless a.無疑的[經(jīng)典例句]The effortless assignment didn't take them much time to complete.
2.dreadful極大的[大綱詞匯] dread v./n.恐俱，擔心[衍生詞匯]dreadful a.令人敬畏的，可怕的；極端的，極大的[經(jīng)典例句]The tornado has done a dreadful damage to the town.
3.handicap缺陷[大綱詞匯] handicap v.妨礙，使不利； n.（身體或智力方面的）缺陷；障礙，不利條件[經(jīng)典例句]The expert found a great handicap of the machine.
4.driving force推動力[經(jīng)典例句]The anger of the common people became a driving force of the revolution.
5.glowing光明的[大綱詞匯] glow v.發(fā)熱，發(fā)光，發(fā)紅；n.白熱[衍生詞匯]glowing a.發(fā)紅光的，白熱的；熱情洋溢的；光明的[經(jīng)典例句]They are enthusiastic at the glowing prospect of their future.
6.primacy首位[擴充詞匯] primacy n.第一位，首位；卓越[經(jīng)典例句]The house of Commons claimed the primacy of political power.
7.predominance主導地位[大綱詞匯]predominant a.（over）占優(yōu)勢的；主要的；突出的[衍生詞匯] predominance n.優(yōu)勢；主導地位，支配地位[經(jīng)典例句]We now have total predominance in the European market.
8.at a loss不知所措[大綱詞匯]lose n.丟失，遺失，喪失；損失，虧損at a loss困惑，不知所措[經(jīng)典例句]I was at a loss to understand what he alluded to.
9.vanish消失[大綱詞匯]vanish v.消失，消散[經(jīng)典例句] The smoke vanished with the wind.
10.textile紡織品[大綱詞匯] textile n.紡織品
11.sweep席卷[大綱詞匯] sweep v.掃，打掃；席卷，沖光；掃過，掠過[經(jīng)典例句] The news swept through the town.
12.machine-tool industry機床工業(yè)
13.on the ropes岌岌可危[擴充詞匯]on the ropes即將消亡，處于困境[經(jīng)典例句]our enemy are on the ropes.
14.semiconductor半導體[大綱詞匯] semiconductor n.半導體
15.casualty受害人[大綱詞匯]casualty n.傷亡人數(shù)；受害人[經(jīng)典例句]The factory was a casualty of the recession.
16.take for granted想當然[大綱詞匯]take for granted想當然，認為理所當然[經(jīng)典例句]Children always takes their parent's love for granted.
17.prosperity繁榮[大綱詞匯]prosperity n.繁榮，興旺prosperous a.繁榮的，興旺的prosper v.繁榮，使繁榮，使成功[經(jīng)典例句]Many people were blinded by the false prosperity.
18.Sensational轟動的[大綱詞匯]sensation n.感覺，知覺；激動，轟動，轟動一時的事情[衍生詞匯]sensational a.激起強烈感情的，令人興奮的，轟動性的[經(jīng)典例句]Scientist have made a sensational discovery in biology.
19.solely僅僅[大綱詞匯]sole a.單獨的，惟一的； n.腳墊，鞋底[衍生詞匯]solely ad.單獨地，惟一地；僅僅，只[經(jīng)典例句]He was absent solely on account of ill-health.
20.devalue .降低…的價值[擴充詞匯]devalue v.降低…的價值；貶值[衍生詞匯]devaluation n.（地位等）降低；貨幣貶值[經(jīng)典例句]The government devalued its currency to stimulate export.
21.yield to順從[大綱詞匯]yield v.（to）屈服，順從[經(jīng)典例句] The president yield to the plea.
22.go on a diet縮減[大綱詞匯]diet n.飲食，食物be（go）on a diet節(jié)食[經(jīng)典例句]The doctor suggested she go on a diet.
23.quick-witted機敏的[擴充詞匯]quick-witted a.機敏的，富于機智的
24.dean（大學）系主任[擴充詞匯] dean n.（大學）系主任
25.think-tank智囊團[擴充詞匯]think-tank n.智囊團，思想庫
26.painstaking煞費苦心的[大綱詞匯]painstaking n./a.苦干（的）；煞費苦心（的）[經(jīng)典例句]She is not clever but she is painstaking.
27.workforce職工總數(shù)[擴充詞匯]workforce n.職工總數(shù)；勞動力，勞動人口[經(jīng)典例句] The company has reduced it workforce.
28.impetus推動力[大綱詞匯]impetus n.推動（力），促進[經(jīng)典例句]His enthusiasm is an impetus to the team.
29.take over接管[大綱詞匯]take over接管，接辦[經(jīng)典例句]A new manage took over the company.
30.suicidal自殺性的[大綱詞匯]suicide n.自殺，自取滅亡[衍生詞匯] suicidal a.自殺性的，自殺的[經(jīng)典例句]His decision to take the adventure is suicidal.
全文翻譯
一段長時間并且不費力而成功的歷史可能成為一種可怕的不利因素，但若處理得當，這種不利因素也有可能轉化為一種積極的推動力。二戰(zhàn)結束后，美國恰好進入了這樣的一個輝煌時期，當時，它擁有比任何競爭者大8倍的市場，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟具有前所未有的規(guī)模經(jīng)濟。美國的科學家是世上秀的，它的工人是最富于技術的。美國的國富民強是那些經(jīng)濟遭到戰(zhàn)爭破壞的歐亞諸國做夢也無法達不到的。
隨著其他國家日益強盛，美國的這一優(yōu)勢地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。從優(yōu)勢地位上退出的痛苦也同樣是不可避免的。到了80年代中期，面對其日益衰退的工業(yè)競爭力，美國人感到不知所措。面對國外競爭，一些大型的美國工業(yè)，如消費電子產(chǎn)業(yè)，已經(jīng)萎縮或漸漸消失。到1987年，美國只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。（現(xiàn)在一家也沒有了：Zenith于當年7月被韓國LG電器公司收購。）外國制造的汽車和紡織品正在大舉進入國內(nèi)市場。美國的機床工業(yè)也即將滅亡。人們曾一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導體制造業(yè)了，而在新計算機時代有著核心作用的半導體正是美國人發(fā)明的。
所有這一切導致了信任危機。美國不再視繁榮為理所當然之事。他們開始相信自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營方式不靈了，也相信不久他們的收入也會因此而下降。80年代中期，人們對美國工業(yè)衰退的成因作了一次又一次的探尋。在美國人那些有時聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)中充滿著對其他國家日益增長的經(jīng)濟競爭的警告之詞。
情況的變化真快！1995年，當日本還在奮力拼搏的時候，美國卻可以對5年的穩(wěn)固發(fā)展作一回顧了。沒幾個美國人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見的原因。到如今，對自身的懷疑已被盲目樂觀所取代?！懊绹墓I(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結構，消除了滯脹，學會了明智”，這是哈佛大學肯尼迪管理學院行政院長理查德·卡佛納的看法。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團 ——卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾說，“看到我們的企業(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率，作為一個美國人，我感到自豪?！惫鹕虒W院的威廉？薩爾曼相信人們將會把這一時期視為“美國企業(yè)管理的黃金時代”。
It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably， the retreat from predominance proved painful. By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness. Some huge American industries， such as consumer electronics， had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition. By 1987 there was only one American television maker left， Zenith. （Now there is none： Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July.） Foreign-made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market. America's machine-tool industry was on the ropes. For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors， which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age， was going to be the next casualty.
All of this caused a crisis of confidence. Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted. They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing， and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well. The mid-1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline. Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.How things have changed！ In 1995 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling. Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle. Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride. “American industry has changed its structure， has gone on a diet， has learnt to be more quick-witted，” according to Richard Cavanaugh， executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. “It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity，” says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute， a think-tank in Washington， D.C. And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as “a golden age of business management in the United States.”
51. The US achieved its predominance after World WarⅡbecause________.
（A）it had made painstaking efforts towards this goal
（B）its domestic market was eight times larger than before
（C）the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors
（D）the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy
52. The loss of US predominance in the world economy in the 1980s is manifested in the fact that the American________.
（A）TV industry had withdrawn to its domestic market
（B）semiconductor industry had been taken over by foreign enterprises
（C）machine-tool industry had collapsed after suicidal actions
（D）auto industry had lost part of its domestic market
53. What can be inferred from the passage？
（A）It is human nature to shift between self-doubt and blind pride.
（B）Intense competition may contribute to economic progress.
（C）The revival of the economy depends on international cooperation.
（D）A long history of success may pave the way for further development.
54. The author seems to believe the revival of the US economy in the 1990s can be attributed to the________.
（A）turning of the business cycle
（B）restructuring of industry
（C）improved business management
（D）success in education
答案及試題解析CDBA
51.（C）意為：戰(zhàn)爭摧毀了多數(shù)潛在的競爭國的經(jīng)濟。
提問中predominance意為“優(yōu)勢”。
第一段指出，第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以后，美國進入一個欣欣向榮的（glowing）發(fā)展時期，它擁有八倍于其他任何一個競爭國家的市場，工業(yè)經(jīng)濟發(fā)展到空前規(guī)模，它擁有世界上秀的科學家和技術的工人。美國的繁榮和美國人的富裕水平，是歐洲人和亞洲人做夢也達不到的，因為戰(zhàn)爭摧毀了他們的經(jīng)濟。
A意為：它已經(jīng)為實現(xiàn)這一目標付出了艱苦的努力。
B意為：其國內(nèi)市場比以前大八倍。
D意為：其勞動力（數(shù)量）空前的規(guī)模促進了經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展。
52.（D）意為：汽車工業(yè)失去了部分國內(nèi)市場。
第二段第六句提到，進口車和紡織品涌進（美國）國內(nèi)市場。
A意為；電視工業(yè)萎縮回到了國內(nèi)市場（即：該工業(yè)失去了國際市場）。根據(jù)第二段，到80年代中期，面對其工業(yè)競爭力的日益衰退，美國人感到無計可施 （at a loss），美國某些大的行業(yè)——如電子消費品——在園際競爭的壓力下，面臨萎縮或消亡的威脅。到1987年為止，美國僅存的電視制造商只有Zenith 一家了（現(xiàn)在已蕩然無存：Zenith于7月份（指文章寫作年代的7月份）被韓國LG電子有限公司購買）。這里并沒有直接提到美國電視失去國際市場，事實上，它連國內(nèi)市場也保不住了。
B意為：半導體行業(yè)被外國公司接管。第二段最后一句提到，在一段時間內(nèi)，半導體制造業(yè)似乎要成為下一個受害者，雖然美國是半導體的發(fā)明者，而且半導體又處于新的計算機時代的核心位置（即：在新的時代中起著關鍵作用）。本句中casualty意為“傷亡”、 “受害者”，與上一句中be on the ropes（美語俚語，意為“即將完蛋”）相照應。這里所說的是半導體制造商似乎（as though）要失去國內(nèi)外市場。而不是被國外企業(yè)接管。
C意為：機床制造業(yè)自取滅亡。第二段提到了機床制造業(yè)“即將完蛋”（on the ropes）。這顯然也是說它正在失去國內(nèi)外市場，并未提到它的滅亡是由其自身原因造成的。
53.（B）意為：激烈的競爭可能促進經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展。
第三段提到，嚴峻的現(xiàn)實（this指上一段中提到的諸多現(xiàn)狀）使美國人失去了自信，他們不再認為繁榮是自然而至的事，他們開始認識到自己的經(jīng)營方式存在嚴重問題（failing）。在80年代中期，他們開始挖掘美國經(jīng)濟衰退的原因，他們有時有些驚人的（sensational）發(fā)現(xiàn)，其中往往提示人們警惕外來競爭。第四段提到了90年代的經(jīng)濟復蘇。其中的含義是：在競爭的壓力下，美國人在80年代進行了自我反思和產(chǎn)業(yè)結構調(diào)整，因此帶來了90年代的經(jīng)濟復蘇。
A意為：在自我懷疑和盲目驕傲之間擺來擺去是人的本性。（即：人傾向于在這兩種心態(tài)之間搖擺）。
C意為：經(jīng)濟的復蘇取決于國際間的合作。
D意為：長期的成功可以為進一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
54.（A）意為：經(jīng)濟周期的轉機。
在第四段，作者指出，截止到1995年，美國已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了五年的穩(wěn)定（經(jīng)濟）增長，而日本卻在困境中掙扎，但是，美國人并不將這一增長看做是美元貶值或經(jīng)濟周期的轉機等明顯的因素直接帶來的，而是由自我懷疑變?yōu)槊つ康尿湴?。這里作者實際上對當前美國人的盲目樂觀情緒進行了批評，認為，90年代的增長是由美元貶值或經(jīng)濟周期的轉機等因素造成的。
B意為：產(chǎn)業(yè)結構的調(diào)整。根據(jù)Richard Cavanaugh的看法，美國經(jīng)濟的持續(xù)增長是由產(chǎn)業(yè)結構的調(diào)整造成，他認為美國的產(chǎn)業(yè)正在“節(jié)食”（go on a diet），正在變得更加理智。但這并不是作者的觀點。參閱第四段。
C意為：經(jīng)營管理的改善。根據(jù)Stephen Moore的看法，美國的經(jīng)濟正在提高其生產(chǎn)率。但這也不是作者的觀點。參閱第四段。
D意為：教育上的成功。
翻譯句子
1、Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.
[參考譯文]美國人那些有時聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)充滿了對來自其他國家的不斷增長的繹濟競爭的警告。
[結構剖析]英語的句式詞匯一般都比較簡練，如果將本句用中國人習慣的語式講出應該如下：Their sometimes surprising findings about the causes of American's industrial decline are full of the warnings about the growing competition from overseas nations.[閱讀重點]sensational即surprising.另外注意本句的中心意思在句末的the growing competition from overseas.
2、Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle. Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride.
[參考譯文]幾乎沒有一個美國人將這五年間的經(jīng)濟持續(xù)增長單純歸功于類似美元貶值或商業(yè)周期輪回這些顯而易見的原因。到如今，對自身的懷疑已被盲目樂觀所取代。
[結構剖析]attribute…… to……將……歸功或歸咎于……。solely作狀語修飾attribute，this指代上一句中的five years of solid growth，此外as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle作賓語such obvious causes的補語。
[閱讀重點]yield to是“向……屈服”，即“被取代”。此處使用了現(xiàn)在完成時，證明這種狀態(tài)到現(xiàn)在已成型。
補充難句
①A history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap， but， if properly handled， it may become a driving force.[參考譯文]一段長時間并且不費力便贏取的成功歷史有可能是一種可怕的不利因素；但是，如果處理得當，這種不利因素也有可能轉化為積極的推動力量。
[結構剖析]該句是一個并列句，由前后兩個轉折關系的分句組成，其間的連詞為but.but與后一個分句之間又插入一個由if 引導的條件狀語if properly handled，該狀語原來是一個if引導的條件狀語從句，即if it（a history of long and effortless success） is properly handled，其中的it is由于和該分句的主句部分主謂語一致而被省略掉了。
[閱讀重點]本句結構比較簡明，只需注意but與it may become a driving force之間的if結構是一個插入語，并且是一個省略了主語和系動詞的被動語態(tài)。此外handicap意為“不利條件”。
②Its scientists were the world's best， its workers the most skilled. America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.[參考譯文]它的科學家是世界上的，它的工人是最富于技巧的。美國和美國公民們的繁榮是歐亞兩大洲人民做夢都想象不出的，因為二戰(zhàn)摧毀了這些國家的經(jīng)濟。
[結構剖析]前一句中its workers the most skilled是一個伴隨狀語，省略了其中的being，補齊成分后應為its workers being the most skilled.后一句中beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians作prosperous的狀語，beyond為介詞，是“超越，超出”的意思。而whose economies the war had destroyed作定語從句修飾the Europeans and Asians，原形是the war had destroyed the economies of the Europeans and Asians.
[閱讀重點]注意beyond一詞的意思，它表示“在……之外”。
③For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors， which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age， was going to be the next casualty.[參考譯文]人們曾經(jīng)一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍畏沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導體制造業(yè)了，而半導體，這嶄新的計算機時代的核心，其發(fā)明者卻正是美國人。
[結構剖析]該句帶有一個表語從句，其表語從句中又套有兩個并列的定語從句。全句主句部分的主謂結構是it looked……，as though（即as if好像）引導的從句是looked（看上去）的表語。表語從句中主語為the making of semiconductors，謂語為was going to be，而逗號之間的兩個which從句是the making of semiconductors的非限定性定語，同時又是插入語。
[閱讀重點]注意理解the next casualty的含義，casualty本意為“傷亡”，此處是“被國外產(chǎn)品擊敗的美國本土產(chǎn)業(yè)”。
語言點詳解
1.effortless毫不費力的[大綱詞匯]effort n.努力，艱難的嘗試[衍生詞匯]effortless a.毫不費力的，不需要努力的，容易的[構詞方法]-less后綴，表示“無”，“沒有”，“不”〔聯(lián)想記憶〕hopeless a.無望的doubtless a.無疑的[經(jīng)典例句]The effortless assignment didn't take them much time to complete.
2.dreadful極大的[大綱詞匯] dread v./n.恐俱，擔心[衍生詞匯]dreadful a.令人敬畏的，可怕的；極端的，極大的[經(jīng)典例句]The tornado has done a dreadful damage to the town.
3.handicap缺陷[大綱詞匯] handicap v.妨礙，使不利； n.（身體或智力方面的）缺陷；障礙，不利條件[經(jīng)典例句]The expert found a great handicap of the machine.
4.driving force推動力[經(jīng)典例句]The anger of the common people became a driving force of the revolution.
5.glowing光明的[大綱詞匯] glow v.發(fā)熱，發(fā)光，發(fā)紅；n.白熱[衍生詞匯]glowing a.發(fā)紅光的，白熱的；熱情洋溢的；光明的[經(jīng)典例句]They are enthusiastic at the glowing prospect of their future.
6.primacy首位[擴充詞匯] primacy n.第一位，首位；卓越[經(jīng)典例句]The house of Commons claimed the primacy of political power.
7.predominance主導地位[大綱詞匯]predominant a.（over）占優(yōu)勢的；主要的；突出的[衍生詞匯] predominance n.優(yōu)勢；主導地位，支配地位[經(jīng)典例句]We now have total predominance in the European market.
8.at a loss不知所措[大綱詞匯]lose n.丟失，遺失，喪失；損失，虧損at a loss困惑，不知所措[經(jīng)典例句]I was at a loss to understand what he alluded to.
9.vanish消失[大綱詞匯]vanish v.消失，消散[經(jīng)典例句] The smoke vanished with the wind.
10.textile紡織品[大綱詞匯] textile n.紡織品
11.sweep席卷[大綱詞匯] sweep v.掃，打掃；席卷，沖光；掃過，掠過[經(jīng)典例句] The news swept through the town.
12.machine-tool industry機床工業(yè)
13.on the ropes岌岌可危[擴充詞匯]on the ropes即將消亡，處于困境[經(jīng)典例句]our enemy are on the ropes.
14.semiconductor半導體[大綱詞匯] semiconductor n.半導體
15.casualty受害人[大綱詞匯]casualty n.傷亡人數(shù)；受害人[經(jīng)典例句]The factory was a casualty of the recession.
16.take for granted想當然[大綱詞匯]take for granted想當然，認為理所當然[經(jīng)典例句]Children always takes their parent's love for granted.
17.prosperity繁榮[大綱詞匯]prosperity n.繁榮，興旺prosperous a.繁榮的，興旺的prosper v.繁榮，使繁榮，使成功[經(jīng)典例句]Many people were blinded by the false prosperity.
18.Sensational轟動的[大綱詞匯]sensation n.感覺，知覺；激動，轟動，轟動一時的事情[衍生詞匯]sensational a.激起強烈感情的，令人興奮的，轟動性的[經(jīng)典例句]Scientist have made a sensational discovery in biology.
19.solely僅僅[大綱詞匯]sole a.單獨的，惟一的； n.腳墊，鞋底[衍生詞匯]solely ad.單獨地，惟一地；僅僅，只[經(jīng)典例句]He was absent solely on account of ill-health.
20.devalue .降低…的價值[擴充詞匯]devalue v.降低…的價值；貶值[衍生詞匯]devaluation n.（地位等）降低；貨幣貶值[經(jīng)典例句]The government devalued its currency to stimulate export.
21.yield to順從[大綱詞匯]yield v.（to）屈服，順從[經(jīng)典例句] The president yield to the plea.
22.go on a diet縮減[大綱詞匯]diet n.飲食，食物be（go）on a diet節(jié)食[經(jīng)典例句]The doctor suggested she go on a diet.
23.quick-witted機敏的[擴充詞匯]quick-witted a.機敏的，富于機智的
24.dean（大學）系主任[擴充詞匯] dean n.（大學）系主任
25.think-tank智囊團[擴充詞匯]think-tank n.智囊團，思想庫
26.painstaking煞費苦心的[大綱詞匯]painstaking n./a.苦干（的）；煞費苦心（的）[經(jīng)典例句]She is not clever but she is painstaking.
27.workforce職工總數(shù)[擴充詞匯]workforce n.職工總數(shù)；勞動力，勞動人口[經(jīng)典例句] The company has reduced it workforce.
28.impetus推動力[大綱詞匯]impetus n.推動（力），促進[經(jīng)典例句]His enthusiasm is an impetus to the team.
29.take over接管[大綱詞匯]take over接管，接辦[經(jīng)典例句]A new manage took over the company.
30.suicidal自殺性的[大綱詞匯]suicide n.自殺，自取滅亡[衍生詞匯] suicidal a.自殺性的，自殺的[經(jīng)典例句]His decision to take the adventure is suicidal.
全文翻譯
一段長時間并且不費力而成功的歷史可能成為一種可怕的不利因素，但若處理得當，這種不利因素也有可能轉化為一種積極的推動力。二戰(zhàn)結束后，美國恰好進入了這樣的一個輝煌時期，當時，它擁有比任何競爭者大8倍的市場，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟具有前所未有的規(guī)模經(jīng)濟。美國的科學家是世上秀的，它的工人是最富于技術的。美國的國富民強是那些經(jīng)濟遭到戰(zhàn)爭破壞的歐亞諸國做夢也無法達不到的。
隨著其他國家日益強盛，美國的這一優(yōu)勢地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。從優(yōu)勢地位上退出的痛苦也同樣是不可避免的。到了80年代中期，面對其日益衰退的工業(yè)競爭力，美國人感到不知所措。面對國外競爭，一些大型的美國工業(yè)，如消費電子產(chǎn)業(yè)，已經(jīng)萎縮或漸漸消失。到1987年，美國只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。（現(xiàn)在一家也沒有了：Zenith于當年7月被韓國LG電器公司收購。）外國制造的汽車和紡織品正在大舉進入國內(nèi)市場。美國的機床工業(yè)也即將滅亡。人們曾一度感覺下一個在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒的似乎該輪到美國的半導體制造業(yè)了，而在新計算機時代有著核心作用的半導體正是美國人發(fā)明的。
所有這一切導致了信任危機。美國不再視繁榮為理所當然之事。他們開始相信自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營方式不靈了，也相信不久他們的收入也會因此而下降。80年代中期，人們對美國工業(yè)衰退的成因作了一次又一次的探尋。在美國人那些有時聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)中充滿著對其他國家日益增長的經(jīng)濟競爭的警告之詞。
情況的變化真快！1995年，當日本還在奮力拼搏的時候，美國卻可以對5年的穩(wěn)固發(fā)展作一回顧了。沒幾個美國人將這一巨變單純歸因于美元貶值或商業(yè)周期循環(huán)這些顯而易見的原因。到如今，對自身的懷疑已被盲目樂觀所取代?！懊绹墓I(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結構，消除了滯脹，學會了明智”，這是哈佛大學肯尼迪管理學院行政院長理查德·卡佛納的看法。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團 ——卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾說，“看到我們的企業(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率，作為一個美國人，我感到自豪?！惫鹕虒W院的威廉？薩爾曼相信人們將會把這一時期視為“美國企業(yè)管理的黃金時代”。