Question

【題目】 Over the next decade, technology will decimate more jobs in many professions.

Some robots already cost less to operate than the salaries of the humans they replace, and they are getting cheaper. Boston Consulting Group predicts that, by 2025, the operating cost of a robot that does welding (焊接) will be less than $2 per hour, for example. That’s more affordable than the $25 per hour that a human welder earns today in America.

Uber and many other companies are working on developing cars and trucks that don’t need a driver in the driver’s seat. According to the American Trucking Associations, approximately 3 million truck drivers were employed in the United States in 2010, and 6. 8 million others were employed in other jobs relating to trucking activity. So roughly one of every 15 workers in the country is employed in the trucking business. We could be talking about millions of jobs disappearing in the early 2020s.

And then there is the “Gig Economy (零工經(jīng)濟)” that has some businesses moving toward part-time, on-demand employment. Uber has already done this to taxi drivers, and other technology companies are doing it to a wide range of jobs. A study by Intuit predicted that, by 2020, 40% of American workers will be self-employed, and that full-time jobs will be harder to find. We are talking about 60 million people in this category. The problem is that not only do such part-time workers lack reliable full-time jobs and sick pay, but they can’t enjoy health insurance and longer-term benefits.

The measures to be taken are to raise trade barriers. But closing the doors to foreign trade won’t bring jobs back. It will only slow the global economy and hurt American exports, shrinking the U. S. economy and accelerating job loss.

【1】The underlined word “decimate” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by “______”.

A. make someone interested inB. equip someone for

C. wipe outD. bring back

【2】What will happen with technologies developing according to the text?

A. Robots will become smarter and smarter.

B. Uber’s labor cost will be lower and lower.

C. More and more truck drivers will be needed.

D. Taxi drivers can enjoy more health insurance.

【3】Which of the following is an advantage of a full-time job?

A. It may be flexible.

B. It may offer sick pay.

C. It is full of adventure.

D. It is always well-paid.

【4】Which of the following does the writer agree on?

A. Welcoming foreign trade.

B. Offering more part-time jobs.

C. Using fewer robots to stop job loss.

D. Developing more new technologies.

【5】What’s the writer’s main purpose in writing the text?

A. To show technology advances in our daily life.

B. To prove technologies cause low incomes.

C. To introduce what the Gig Economy is.

D. To warn the Gig Economy is coming.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】B

【4】A

【5】D

【解析】

本文是一篇說明文，隨著技術(shù)進步，很多公司使用更多的機器人，不再需要很多全職工人。零工經(jīng)濟時代很快就會到來。

【1】詞義猜測題。根據(jù)第二段第一句“Some robots already cost less to operate than the salaries of the humans they replace, and they are getting cheaper.”可知機器人的成本比人力更便宜，未來很多公司會更多使用機器人。也就是說機器人會奪走很多人的工作。故C項正確。

【2】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第三段第一句“Uber and many other companies are working on developing cars and trucks that don’t need a driver in the driver’s seat.”可知Uber公司開發(fā)了無人駕駛技術(shù)，會大大地減少雇傭司機的工資付出，公司的運營成本會越來越低。故B項正確。

【3】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第四段最后一句“The problem is that not only do such part-time workers lack reliable full-time jobs and sick pay, but they can’t enjoy health insurance and longer-term benefits.”可知兼職工作的人無法享受生病工資，也就是說全職工作的人可以享受sick pay，這也是sick pay的優(yōu)勢。故B項正確。

【4】推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章最后一句“But closing the doors to foreign trade won’t bring jobs back. It will only slow the global economy and hurt American exports, shrinking the U. S. economy and accelerating job loss.”可知作者認為關(guān)閉對外貿(mào)易并不能讓工作機會回歸，只會減緩全球經(jīng)濟發(fā)展并傷害美國的出口。由此可見作者支持對外貿(mào)易。故A項正確。

【5】推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章前兩段可知技術(shù)進步讓公司使用更多的機器人，不再需要很多全職工人。再根據(jù)第四段第一句“And then there is the “Gig Economy (零工經(jīng)濟)” that has some businesses moving toward part-time, on-demand employment.”可知零工經(jīng)濟時代很快就會到來。故D項正確。