2014 高考英语阅读理解基础训练二轮精品题（23）及答案<br />阅读理解<br />There are various ways in which individual economic units can interact with one <br />another. Three basic ways may be described as the market system, the administered <br />system, and the traditional system. <br /> In a market system individual economic units are free to interact among each <br />other in the marketplace. It is possible to buy commodities from other economic units <br />or sell commodities to them. In a market, transactions may take place via barter <br />or money exchange. In a barter economy, real goods such as automobiles, shoes, and <br />pizzas are traded against each other. Obviously, finding somebody who wants to trade <br />my old car in exchange for a sailboat may not always be an easy task. Hence, the <br />introduction of money as a medium of exchange eases transactions considerably. In <br />the modern market economy, goods and services are bought or sold for money.<br /> An alternative to the market system is administrative control by some agency <br />over all transactions. This agency will issue commands as to how much of each good <br />and service should be produced, exchanged, and consumed by each economic unit. <br />Central planning may be one way of administering such an economy. The central plan, <br />drawn up by the government, shows the amounts of each commodity produced by the <br />various firms and allocated to different households for consumption. This is an <br />example of complete planning of production, consumption, and exchange for the whole <br />economy.<br /> In a traditional society, production and consumption patterns are governed by <br />tradition; every person’s place within the economic system is fixed by parentage, <br />religion, and custom. Transactions take place on the basis of tradition, too. People <br />belonging to a certain group or caste（阶级） may have an obligation to care for <br />other persons, provide them with food and shelter, care for their health, and provide <br />for their education. Clearly, in a system where every decision is made on the basis <br />of tradition alone, progress may be difficult to achieve. An inactive society may <br /> <br />result.<br />16. What is the main purpose of the passage?<br /> A. To outline contrasting types of economic systems.<br /> B. To explain the science of economics.<br /> C. To argue for the superiority of one economic system.<br /> D. To compare barter and money-exchange markets.<br />17. In the second paragraph, the underlined word “real” could best be replaced <br />by _______.<br /> A. valuable B. concrete C. absolute D. <br />reliable<br />18. According to the passage, a barter economy can generate ______.<br /> A. rapid speed of transactions B. misunderstandings<br /> C. inflation D. difficulties for the traders<br />19. According to the passage, who has the greatest degree of control in the <br />administered system?<br /> A. Individual households. B. Small businesses.<br /> C. Major corporations. D. The government...
