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(zhēng)摧毀了多數(shù)潛在的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
提問(wèn)中predominance意為“優(yōu)勢(shì)”。
第一段指出，第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以后，美國(guó)進(jìn)入一個(gè)欣欣向榮的（glowing）發(fā)展時(shí)期，它擁有八倍于其他任何一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)國(guó)家的市場(chǎng)，工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展到空前規(guī)模，它擁有世界上秀的科學(xué)家和技術(shù)的工人。美國(guó)的繁榮和美國(guó)人的富裕水平，是歐洲人和亞洲人做夢(mèng)也達(dá)不到的，因?yàn)閼?zhàn)爭(zhēng)摧毀了他們的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
A意為：它已經(jīng)為實(shí)現(xiàn)這一目標(biāo)付出了艱苦的努力。
B意為：其國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)比以前大八倍。
D意為：其勞動(dòng)力（數(shù)量）空前的規(guī)模促進(jìn)了經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。
52.（D）意為：汽車工業(yè)失去了部分國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。
第二段第六句提到，進(jìn)口車和紡織品涌進(jìn)（美國(guó)）國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。
A意為；電視工業(yè)萎縮回到了國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)（即：該工業(yè)失去了國(guó)際市場(chǎng)）。根據(jù)第二段，到80年代中期，面對(duì)其工業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力的日益衰退，美國(guó)人感到無(wú)計(jì)可施 （at a loss），美國(guó)某些大的行業(yè)——如電子消費(fèi)品——在園際競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的壓力下，面臨萎縮或消亡的威脅。到1987年為止，美國(guó)僅存的電視制造商只有Zenith 一家了（現(xiàn)在已蕩然無(wú)存：Zenith于7月份（指文章寫作年代的7月份）被韓國(guó)LG電子有限公司購(gòu)買）。這里并沒(méi)有直接提到美國(guó)電視失去國(guó)際市場(chǎng)，事實(shí)上，它連國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)也保不住了。
B意為：半導(dǎo)體行業(yè)被外國(guó)公司接管。第二段最后一句提到，在一段時(shí)間內(nèi)，半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)似乎要成為下一個(gè)受害者，雖然美國(guó)是半導(dǎo)體的發(fā)明者，而且半導(dǎo)體又處于新的計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代的核心位置（即：在新的時(shí)代中起著關(guān)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(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)，意為“即將完蛋”）相照應(yīng)。這里所說(shuō)的是半導(dǎo)體制造商似乎（as though）要失去國(guó)內(nèi)外市場(chǎng)。而不是被國(guó)外企業(yè)接管。
C意為：機(jī)床制造業(yè)自取滅亡。第二段提到了機(jī)床制造業(yè)“即將完蛋”（on the ropes）。這顯然也是說(shuō)它正在失去國(guó)內(nèi)外市場(chǎng)，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(jìng)爭(zhēng)可能促進(jìn)經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。
第三段提到，嚴(yán)峻的現(xiàn)實(shí)（this指上一段中提到的諸多現(xiàn)狀）使美國(guó)人失去了自信，他們不再認(rèn)為繁榮是自然而至的事，他們開始認(rèn)識(shí)到自己的經(jīng)營(yíng)方式存在嚴(yán)重問(wèn)題（failing）。在80年代中期，他們開始挖掘美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的原因，他們有時(shí)有些驚人的（sensational）發(fā)現(xiàn)，其中往往提示人們警惕外來(lái)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。第四段提到了90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇。其中的含義是：在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的壓力下，美國(guó)人在80年代進(jìn)行了自我反思和產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整，因此帶來(lái)了90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇。
A意為：在自我懷疑和盲目驕傲之間擺來(lái)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(jì)的復(fù)蘇取決于國(guó)際間的合作。
D意為：長(zhǎng)期的成功可以為進(jìn)一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
54.（A）意為：經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)。
在第四段，作者指出，截止到1995年，美國(guó)已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了五年的穩(wěn)定（經(jīng)濟(jì)）增長(zhǎng)，而日本卻在困境中掙扎，但是，美國(guó)人并不將這一增長(zhǎng)看做是美元貶值或經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)等明顯的因素直接帶來(lái)的，而是由自我懷疑變?yōu)槊つ康尿湴?。這里作者實(shí)際上對(duì)當(dāng)前美國(guó)人的盲目樂(lè)觀情緒進(jìn)行了批評(píng)，認(rèn)為，90年代的增長(zhǎng)是由美元貶值或經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)等因素造成的。
B意為：產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)的調(diào)整。根據(jù)Richard Cavanaugh的看法，美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)的持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)是由產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)的調(diào)整造成，他認(rèn)為美國(guó)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(diǎn)。參閱第四段。
C意為：經(jīng)營(yíng)管理的改善。根據(jù)Stephen Moore的看法，美國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)正在提高其生產(chǎn)率。但這也不是作者的觀點(diǎn)。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(guó)人那些有時(shí)聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)充滿了對(duì)來(lái)自其他國(guó)家的不斷增長(zhǎng)的繹濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]英語(yǔ)的句式詞匯一般都比較簡(jiǎn)練，如果將本句用中國(guó)人習(xí)慣的語(yǔ)式講出應(yīng)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(diǎn)]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(méi)有一個(gè)美國(guó)人將這五年間的經(jīng)濟(jì)持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)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(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]attribute…… to……將……歸功或歸咎于……。solely作狀語(yǔ)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(yǔ)such obvious causes的補(bǔ)語(yǔ)。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]yield to是“向……屈服”，即“被取代”。此處使用了現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)，證明這種狀態(tài)到現(xiàn)在已成型。
補(bǔ)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(zhǎng)時(shí)間并且不費(fèi)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(dāng)，這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為積極的推動(dòng)力量。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個(gè)并列句，由前后兩個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系的分句組成，其間的連詞為but.but與后一個(gè)分句之間又插入一個(gè)由if 引導(dǎo)的條件狀語(yǔ)if properly handled，該狀語(yǔ)原來(lái)是一個(gè)if引導(dǎo)的條件狀語(yǔ)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(yǔ)一致而被省略掉了。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]本句結(jié)構(gòu)比較簡(jiǎn)明，只需注意but與it may become a driving force之間的if結(jié)構(gòu)是一個(gè)插入語(yǔ)，并且是一個(gè)省略了主語(yǔ)和系動(dòng)詞的被動(dòng)語(yǔ)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(xué)家是世界上的，它的工人是最富于技巧的。美國(guó)和美國(guó)公民們的繁榮是歐亞兩大洲人民做夢(mèng)都想象不出的，因?yàn)槎?zhàn)摧毀了這些國(guó)家的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]前一句中its workers the most skilled是一個(gè)伴隨狀語(yǔ)，省略了其中的being，補(bǔ)齊成分后應(yīng)為its workers being the most skilled.后一句中beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians作prosperous的狀語(yǔ)，beyond為介詞，是“超越，超出”的意思。而whose economies the war had destroyed作定語(yǔ)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(diǎn)]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?cè)?jīng)一度感覺(jué)下一個(gè)在海外品牌面前全軍畏沒(méi)的似乎該輪到美國(guó)的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了，而半導(dǎo)體，這嶄新的計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代的核心，其發(fā)明者卻正是美國(guó)人。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句帶有一個(gè)表語(yǔ)從句，其表語(yǔ)從句中又套有兩個(gè)并列的定語(yǔ)從句。全句主句部分的主謂結(jié)構(gòu)是it looked……，as though（即as if好像）引導(dǎo)的從句是looked（看上去）的表語(yǔ)。表語(yǔ)從句中主語(yǔ)為the making of semiconductors，謂語(yǔ)為was going to be，而逗號(hào)之間的兩個(gè)which從句是the making of semiconductors的非限定性定語(yǔ)，同時(shí)又是插入語(yǔ)。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]注意理解the next casualty的含義，casualty本意為“傷亡”，此處是“被國(guó)外產(chǎn)品擊敗的美國(guó)本土產(chǎn)業(yè)”。
語(yǔ)言點(diǎn)詳解
1.effortless毫不費(fèi)力的[大綱詞匯]effort n.努力，艱難的嘗試[衍生詞匯]effortless a.毫不費(fèi)力的，不需要努力的，容易的[構(gòu)詞方法]-less后綴，表示“無(wú)”，“沒(méi)有”，“不”〔聯(lián)想記憶〕hopeless a.無(wú)望的doubtless a.無(wú)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(dān)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(dòng)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(kuò)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(dǎo)地位[大綱詞匯]predominant a.（over）占優(yōu)勢(shì)的；主要的；突出的[衍生詞匯] predominance n.優(yōu)勢(shì)；主導(dǎo)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(guò)，掠過(guò)[經(jīng)典例句] The news swept through the town.
12.machine-tool industry機(jī)床工業(yè)
13.on the ropes岌岌可危[擴(kuò)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(dǎo)體[大綱詞匯] semiconductor n.半導(dǎo)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(dāng)然[大綱詞匯]take for granted想當(dāng)然，認(rèn)為理所當(dāng)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(dòng)的[大綱詞匯]sensation n.感覺(jué)，知覺(jué)；激動(dòng)，轟動(dòng)，轟動(dòng)一時(shí)的事情[衍生詞匯]sensational a.激起強(qiáng)烈感情的，令人興奮的，轟動(dòng)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(dú)的，惟一的； n.腳墊，鞋底[衍生詞匯]solely ad.單獨(dú)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(jià)值[擴(kuò)充詞匯]devalue v.降低…的價(jià)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(jī)敏的[擴(kuò)充詞匯]quick-witted a.機(jī)敏的，富于機(jī)智的
24.dean（大學(xué)）系主任[擴(kuò)充詞匯] dean n.（大學(xué)）系主任
25.think-tank智囊團(tuán)[擴(kuò)充詞匯]think-tank n.智囊團(tuán)，思想庫(kù)
26.painstaking煞費(fèi)苦心的[大綱詞匯]painstaking n./a.苦干（的）；煞費(fèi)苦心（的）[經(jīng)典例句]She is not clever but she is painstaking.
27.workforce職工總數(shù)[擴(kuò)充詞匯]workforce n.職工總數(shù)；勞動(dòng)力，勞動(dòng)人口[經(jīng)典例句] The company has reduced it workforce.
28.impetus推動(dòng)力[大綱詞匯]impetus n.推動(dòng)（力），促進(jìn)[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(zhǎng)時(shí)間并且不費(fèi)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(dāng)，這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為一種積極的推動(dòng)力。二戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后，美國(guó)恰好進(jìn)入了這樣的一個(gè)輝煌時(shí)期，當(dāng)時(shí)，它擁有比任何競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者大8倍的市場(chǎng)，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)具有前所未有的規(guī)模經(jīng)濟(jì)。美國(guó)的科學(xué)家是世上秀的，它的工人是最富于技術(shù)的。美國(guó)的國(guó)富民強(qiáng)是那些經(jīng)濟(jì)遭到戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)破壞的歐亞諸國(guó)做夢(mèng)也無(wú)法達(dá)不到的。
隨著其他國(guó)家日益強(qiáng)盛，美國(guó)的這一優(yōu)勢(shì)地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。從優(yōu)勢(shì)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(duì)其日益衰退的工業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力，美國(guó)人感到不知所措。面對(duì)國(guó)外競(jìng)爭(zhēng)，一些大型的美國(guó)工業(yè)，如消費(fèi)電子產(chǎn)業(yè)，已經(jīng)萎縮或漸漸消失。到1987年，美國(guó)只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。（現(xiàn)在一家也沒(méi)有了：Zenith于當(dāng)年7月被韓國(guó)LG電器公司收購(gòu)。）外國(guó)制造的汽車和紡織品正在大舉進(jìn)入國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。美國(guó)的機(jī)床工業(yè)也即將滅亡。人們?cè)欢雀杏X(jué)下一個(gè)在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒(méi)的似乎該輪到美國(guó)的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了，而在新計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代有著核心作用的半導(dǎo)體正是美國(guó)人發(fā)明的。
所有這一切導(dǎo)致了信任危機(jī)。美國(guó)不再視繁榮為理所當(dāng)然之事。他們開始相信自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營(yíng)方式不靈了，也相信不久他們的收入也會(huì)因此而下降。80年代中期，人們對(duì)美國(guó)工業(yè)衰退的成因作了一次又一次的探尋。在美國(guó)人那些有時(shí)聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)中充滿著對(duì)其他國(guó)家日益增長(zhǎng)的經(jīng)濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告之詞。
情況的變化真快！1995年，當(dāng)日本還在奮力拼搏的時(shí)候，美國(guó)卻可以對(duì)5年的穩(wěn)固發(fā)展作一回顧了。沒(méi)幾個(gè)美國(guó)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(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代?！懊绹?guó)的工業(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結(jié)構(gòu)，消除了滯脹，學(xué)會(huì)了明智”，這是哈佛大學(xué)肯尼迪管理學(xué)院行政院長(zhǎng)理查德·卡佛納的看法。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團(tuán) ——卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾說(shuō)，“看到我們的企業(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率，作為一個(gè)美國(guó)人，我感到自豪。”哈佛商學(xué)院的威廉？薩爾曼相信人們將會(huì)把這一時(shí)期視為“美國(guó)企業(yè)管理的黃金時(shí)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(zhēng)摧毀了多數(shù)潛在的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
提問(wèn)中predominance意為“優(yōu)勢(shì)”。
第一段指出，第二次世界大戰(zhàn)以后，美國(guó)進(jìn)入一個(gè)欣欣向榮的（glowing）發(fā)展時(shí)期，它擁有八倍于其他任何一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)國(guó)家的市場(chǎng)，工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展到空前規(guī)模，它擁有世界上秀的科學(xué)家和技術(shù)的工人。美國(guó)的繁榮和美國(guó)人的富裕水平，是歐洲人和亞洲人做夢(mèng)也達(dá)不到的，因?yàn)閼?zhàn)爭(zhēng)摧毀了他們的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
A意為：它已經(jīng)為實(shí)現(xiàn)這一目標(biāo)付出了艱苦的努力。
B意為：其國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)比以前大八倍。
D意為：其勞動(dòng)力（數(shù)量）空前的規(guī)模促進(jìn)了經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。
52.（D）意為：汽車工業(yè)失去了部分國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。
第二段第六句提到，進(jìn)口車和紡織品涌進(jìn)（美國(guó)）國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。
A意為；電視工業(yè)萎縮回到了國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)（即：該工業(yè)失去了國(guó)際市場(chǎng)）。根據(jù)第二段，到80年代中期，面對(duì)其工業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力的日益衰退，美國(guó)人感到無(wú)計(jì)可施 （at a loss），美國(guó)某些大的行業(yè)——如電子消費(fèi)品——在園際競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的壓力下，面臨萎縮或消亡的威脅。到1987年為止，美國(guó)僅存的電視制造商只有Zenith 一家了（現(xiàn)在已蕩然無(wú)存：Zenith于7月份（指文章寫作年代的7月份）被韓國(guó)LG電子有限公司購(gòu)買）。這里并沒(méi)有直接提到美國(guó)電視失去國(guó)際市場(chǎng)，事實(shí)上，它連國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)也保不住了。
B意為：半導(dǎo)體行業(yè)被外國(guó)公司接管。第二段最后一句提到，在一段時(shí)間內(nèi)，半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)似乎要成為下一個(gè)受害者，雖然美國(guó)是半導(dǎo)體的發(fā)明者，而且半導(dǎo)體又處于新的計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代的核心位置（即：在新的時(shí)代中起著關(guān)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(yǔ)俚語(yǔ)，意為“即將完蛋”）相照應(yīng)。這里所說(shuō)的是半導(dǎo)體制造商似乎（as though）要失去國(guó)內(nèi)外市場(chǎng)。而不是被國(guó)外企業(yè)接管。
C意為：機(jī)床制造業(yè)自取滅亡。第二段提到了機(jī)床制造業(yè)“即將完蛋”（on the ropes）。這顯然也是說(shuō)它正在失去國(guó)內(nèi)外市場(chǎng)，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(jìng)爭(zhēng)可能促進(jìn)經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展。
第三段提到，嚴(yán)峻的現(xiàn)實(shí)（this指上一段中提到的諸多現(xiàn)狀）使美國(guó)人失去了自信，他們不再認(rèn)為繁榮是自然而至的事，他們開始認(rèn)識(shí)到自己的經(jīng)營(yíng)方式存在嚴(yán)重問(wèn)題（failing）。在80年代中期，他們開始挖掘美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退的原因，他們有時(shí)有些驚人的（sensational）發(fā)現(xiàn)，其中往往提示人們警惕外來(lái)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。第四段提到了90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇。其中的含義是：在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的壓力下，美國(guó)人在80年代進(jìn)行了自我反思和產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整，因此帶來(lái)了90年代的經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇。
A意為：在自我懷疑和盲目驕傲之間擺來(lái)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(jì)的復(fù)蘇取決于國(guó)際間的合作。
D意為：長(zhǎng)期的成功可以為進(jìn)一步的發(fā)展鋪平道路。
54.（A）意為：經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)。
在第四段，作者指出，截止到1995年，美國(guó)已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了五年的穩(wěn)定（經(jīng)濟(jì)）增長(zhǎng)，而日本卻在困境中掙扎，但是，美國(guó)人并不將這一增長(zhǎng)看做是美元貶值或經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)等明顯的因素直接帶來(lái)的，而是由自我懷疑變?yōu)槊つ康尿湴?。這里作者實(shí)際上對(duì)當(dāng)前美國(guó)人的盲目樂(lè)觀情緒進(jìn)行了批評(píng)，認(rèn)為，90年代的增長(zhǎng)是由美元貶值或經(jīng)濟(jì)周期的轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)等因素造成的。
B意為：產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)的調(diào)整。根據(jù)Richard Cavanaugh的看法，美國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)的持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)是由產(chǎn)業(yè)結(jié)構(gòu)的調(diào)整造成，他認(rèn)為美國(guó)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(diǎn)。參閱第四段。
C意為：經(jīng)營(yíng)管理的改善。根據(jù)Stephen Moore的看法，美國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)正在提高其生產(chǎn)率。但這也不是作者的觀點(diǎn)。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(guó)人那些有時(shí)聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)充滿了對(duì)來(lái)自其他國(guó)家的不斷增長(zhǎng)的繹濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]英語(yǔ)的句式詞匯一般都比較簡(jiǎn)練，如果將本句用中國(guó)人習(xí)慣的語(yǔ)式講出應(yīng)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(diǎn)]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(méi)有一個(gè)美國(guó)人將這五年間的經(jīng)濟(jì)持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)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(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]attribute…… to……將……歸功或歸咎于……。solely作狀語(yǔ)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(yǔ)such obvious causes的補(bǔ)語(yǔ)。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]yield to是“向……屈服”，即“被取代”。此處使用了現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)，證明這種狀態(tài)到現(xiàn)在已成型。
補(bǔ)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(zhǎng)時(shí)間并且不費(fèi)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(dāng)，這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為積極的推動(dòng)力量。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句是一個(gè)并列句，由前后兩個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系的分句組成，其間的連詞為but.but與后一個(gè)分句之間又插入一個(gè)由if 引導(dǎo)的條件狀語(yǔ)if properly handled，該狀語(yǔ)原來(lái)是一個(gè)if引導(dǎo)的條件狀語(yǔ)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(yǔ)一致而被省略掉了。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]本句結(jié)構(gòu)比較簡(jiǎn)明，只需注意but與it may become a driving force之間的if結(jié)構(gòu)是一個(gè)插入語(yǔ)，并且是一個(gè)省略了主語(yǔ)和系動(dòng)詞的被動(dòng)語(yǔ)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(xué)家是世界上的，它的工人是最富于技巧的。美國(guó)和美國(guó)公民們的繁榮是歐亞兩大洲人民做夢(mèng)都想象不出的，因?yàn)槎?zhàn)摧毀了這些國(guó)家的經(jīng)濟(jì)。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]前一句中its workers the most skilled是一個(gè)伴隨狀語(yǔ)，省略了其中的being，補(bǔ)齊成分后應(yīng)為its workers being the most skilled.后一句中beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians作prosperous的狀語(yǔ)，beyond為介詞，是“超越，超出”的意思。而whose economies the war had destroyed作定語(yǔ)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(diǎn)]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?cè)?jīng)一度感覺(jué)下一個(gè)在海外品牌面前全軍畏沒(méi)的似乎該輪到美國(guó)的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了，而半導(dǎo)體，這嶄新的計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代的核心，其發(fā)明者卻正是美國(guó)人。
[結(jié)構(gòu)剖析]該句帶有一個(gè)表語(yǔ)從句，其表語(yǔ)從句中又套有兩個(gè)并列的定語(yǔ)從句。全句主句部分的主謂結(jié)構(gòu)是it looked……，as though（即as if好像）引導(dǎo)的從句是looked（看上去）的表語(yǔ)。表語(yǔ)從句中主語(yǔ)為the making of semiconductors，謂語(yǔ)為was going to be，而逗號(hào)之間的兩個(gè)which從句是the making of semiconductors的非限定性定語(yǔ)，同時(shí)又是插入語(yǔ)。
[閱讀重點(diǎn)]注意理解the next casualty的含義，casualty本意為“傷亡”，此處是“被國(guó)外產(chǎn)品擊敗的美國(guó)本土產(chǎn)業(yè)”。
語(yǔ)言點(diǎn)詳解
1.effortless毫不費(fèi)力的[大綱詞匯]effort n.努力，艱難的嘗試[衍生詞匯]effortless a.毫不費(fèi)力的，不需要努力的，容易的[構(gòu)詞方法]-less后綴，表示“無(wú)”，“沒(méi)有”，“不”〔聯(lián)想記憶〕hopeless a.無(wú)望的doubtless a.無(wú)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(dān)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(dòng)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(kuò)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(dǎo)地位[大綱詞匯]predominant a.（over）占優(yōu)勢(shì)的；主要的；突出的[衍生詞匯] predominance n.優(yōu)勢(shì)；主導(dǎo)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(guò)，掠過(guò)[經(jīng)典例句] The news swept through the town.
12.machine-tool industry機(jī)床工業(yè)
13.on the ropes岌岌可危[擴(kuò)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(dǎo)體[大綱詞匯] semiconductor n.半導(dǎo)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(dāng)然[大綱詞匯]take for granted想當(dāng)然，認(rèn)為理所當(dāng)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(dòng)的[大綱詞匯]sensation n.感覺(jué)，知覺(jué)；激動(dòng)，轟動(dòng)，轟動(dòng)一時(shí)的事情[衍生詞匯]sensational a.激起強(qiáng)烈感情的，令人興奮的，轟動(dòng)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(dú)的，惟一的； n.腳墊，鞋底[衍生詞匯]solely ad.單獨(dú)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(jià)值[擴(kuò)充詞匯]devalue v.降低…的價(jià)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(jī)敏的[擴(kuò)充詞匯]quick-witted a.機(jī)敏的，富于機(jī)智的
24.dean（大學(xué)）系主任[擴(kuò)充詞匯] dean n.（大學(xué)）系主任
25.think-tank智囊團(tuán)[擴(kuò)充詞匯]think-tank n.智囊團(tuán)，思想庫(kù)
26.painstaking煞費(fèi)苦心的[大綱詞匯]painstaking n./a.苦干（的）；煞費(fèi)苦心（的）[經(jīng)典例句]She is not clever but she is painstaking.
27.workforce職工總數(shù)[擴(kuò)充詞匯]workforce n.職工總數(shù)；勞動(dòng)力，勞動(dòng)人口[經(jīng)典例句] The company has reduced it workforce.
28.impetus推動(dòng)力[大綱詞匯]impetus n.推動(dòng)（力），促進(jìn)[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(zhǎng)時(shí)間并且不費(fèi)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(dāng)，這種不利因素也有可能轉(zhuǎn)化為一種積極的推動(dòng)力。二戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后，美國(guó)恰好進(jìn)入了這樣的一個(gè)輝煌時(shí)期，當(dāng)時(shí)，它擁有比任何競(jìng)爭(zhēng)者大8倍的市場(chǎng)，這使其工業(yè)經(jīng)濟(jì)具有前所未有的規(guī)模經(jīng)濟(jì)。美國(guó)的科學(xué)家是世上秀的，它的工人是最富于技術(shù)的。美國(guó)的國(guó)富民強(qiáng)是那些經(jīng)濟(jì)遭到戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)破壞的歐亞諸國(guó)做夢(mèng)也無(wú)法達(dá)不到的。
隨著其他國(guó)家日益強(qiáng)盛，美國(guó)的這一優(yōu)勢(shì)地位逐漸下降是不可避免的。從優(yōu)勢(shì)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(duì)其日益衰退的工業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力，美國(guó)人感到不知所措。面對(duì)國(guó)外競(jìng)爭(zhēng)，一些大型的美國(guó)工業(yè)，如消費(fèi)電子產(chǎn)業(yè)，已經(jīng)萎縮或漸漸消失。到1987年，美國(guó)只剩下Zenith這一家電視生產(chǎn)商。（現(xiàn)在一家也沒(méi)有了：Zenith于當(dāng)年7月被韓國(guó)LG電器公司收購(gòu)。）外國(guó)制造的汽車和紡織品正在大舉進(jìn)入國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)。美國(guó)的機(jī)床工業(yè)也即將滅亡。人們?cè)欢雀杏X(jué)下一個(gè)在海外品牌面前全軍覆沒(méi)的似乎該輪到美國(guó)的半導(dǎo)體制造業(yè)了，而在新計(jì)算機(jī)時(shí)代有著核心作用的半導(dǎo)體正是美國(guó)人發(fā)明的。
所有這一切導(dǎo)致了信任危機(jī)。美國(guó)不再視繁榮為理所當(dāng)然之事。他們開始相信自己的商業(yè)經(jīng)營(yíng)方式不靈了，也相信不久他們的收入也會(huì)因此而下降。80年代中期，人們對(duì)美國(guó)工業(yè)衰退的成因作了一次又一次的探尋。在美國(guó)人那些有時(shí)聳人聽聞的發(fā)現(xiàn)中充滿著對(duì)其他國(guó)家日益增長(zhǎng)的經(jīng)濟(jì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的警告之詞。
情況的變化真快！1995年，當(dāng)日本還在奮力拼搏的時(shí)候，美國(guó)卻可以對(duì)5年的穩(wěn)固發(fā)展作一回顧了。沒(méi)幾個(gè)美國(guó)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(duì)自身的懷疑已被盲目樂(lè)觀所取代?！懊绹?guó)的工業(yè)已經(jīng)改變了結(jié)構(gòu)，消除了滯脹，學(xué)會(huì)了明智”，這是哈佛大學(xué)肯尼迪管理學(xué)院行政院長(zhǎng)理查德·卡佛納的看法。華盛頓特區(qū)的智囊團(tuán) ——卡托研究院的史蒂芬·莫爾說(shuō)，“看到我們的企業(yè)正在提高自身的生產(chǎn)率，作為一個(gè)美國(guó)人，我感到自豪。”哈佛商學(xué)院的威廉？薩爾曼相信人們將會(huì)把這一時(shí)期視為“美國(guó)企業(yè)管理的黃金時(shí)代”。