Passage Two

　　Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.

　　In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rentcontrolled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

　　Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, lowpaying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

　　Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

　　Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

　　62. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may .

　　A)cause a shortage of apartments

　　B)worry those who rent apartments as homes

　　C)increase the profits of landlords

　　D)encourage landlords to invest in building apartments

　　63. According to the critics, rent control .

　　A)will always benefit those who rent apartments

　　B)is unnecessary

　　C)will bring negative effects in the long run

　　D)is necessary under all circumstances

　　64. The problem of unemployment will arise .

　　A)if the minimum wage is set too highB)if the minimum wage is set too low

　　C)if the workers are unskilledD)if the maximum wage is set

　　65. The passage tells us .

　　A)the relationship between supply and demand

　　B)the possible results of government controls

　　C)the necessity of government control

　　D)the urgency of getting rid of government controls

　　66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

　　A)The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.

　　B)Minimum wage can not always protect employees.

　　C)Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.

　　D)Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.

　　Passage Two

　　原文精译

　　在实行房租管制的城市中，市政府设定了房东出租公寓所收取的最高租金。支持房租管制的人认为，这种措施保护了公寓居住者。房租不增加，他们就不存在没有住房的危险。然而，批评家们认为，长期的房租管制可能会产生负面的影响。房东知道自己不能靠增加房租而赢利，所以他们就转向投资于其他能够赢利的行业，而不会投资建设同样受房租管制的新公寓。结果，新公寓就不会增加，许多需要公寓的人也找不到公寓。批评家们认为，房租管制最终会造成城市公寓的缺乏。

　　有些理论家认为，最低工资法也以同样的方式造成了一些问题。联邦政府规定了雇主必须支付给工人的最低工资额。最低工资为寻找不熟练劳动和低额工资的人提供了帮助。然而，如果最低工资额增长，雇主可能会雇用较少的工人。它们会用机器来代替工人。由于雇主必须支付给工人的工资增加，在其他条件不变的情况下，雇主雇用工人的数量就会减少。因此，批评家们认为，提高最低工资标准可能会导致失业。有些穷人会失业而不是在最低工资水平处就业。

　　支持最低工资的人认为，最低工资有助于人保持自己的尊严。由于受法律限制，工人不能以低于最低工资额的价格出售他们的服务。另外，用人单位也不能强迫工人接受不公平的工资而工作。

　　经济理论预测了经济决策的结果，比如关于农产品、房租管制和最低工资的决定;但是，这些预测仅仅在“其他条件不变的情况下”是正确的。经济学家们在某些预测方面并未取得一致意见。在不同决定的价值方面，他们也存在不同意见。有些经济学家支持某个特别的决定，但另外一些人则对它提出批评。但是，经济学家们都同意，经济问题没有简单的答案。

　　62. 【答案】A)

　　【解析】 细节题。本文讨论了限制最高租房金额以及最低工资等问题，以及相应引起的经济现象。本题问规定最高租金可能会导致什么结果。文章第一段明确指出，landlords(房东)收取租户的租金有了最高限额，他们的利润会受到影响，也可能导致他们投资其他行业，鉴于此，C)、D)两项都是错误的。B)项“使租房为家的人担忧”文中没有涉及，也不对。依据第一段最后一句话“..., the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.”可知A)项为唯一选项。

　　63. 【答案】C)

　　【解析】细节题。依据第一段第四句“However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects.”可断定C)项正确。A)、B)、D)诸项都含绝对意味，都不符合文中意思。

　　64. 【答案】A)

　　【解析】 细节题。解答该题只要准确理解第二段的含义，尤其从第三行开始“However, if the minimum is high,...Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment.”此题较简单。

　　65. 【答案】B)

　　【解析】 主旨题。本文从rent control和最低工资控制两方面讨论了政府控制可能造成的后果。进一步说，许多政府行为可能保护某些利益，但从长远看，也会带来许多问题。B)项正确。A)项说(文章叙述了)供需关系;C)项说(文章叙述了)政府控制的必要性;D)项说(文章叙述了)摆脱政府控制的紧迫性。文章并没有深入谈及这三项内容，显然不能成为文章主旨。

　　66. 【答案】D)

　　【解析】推断题。依据第四段第二行“The predictions may be correct only if ‘other things are equal’.”可得知A)项是对的。从第二段可得知规定最低工资会使得雇主雇佣更少的工人，会考虑用机器替代工人，也就会导致更多的人失业，所以B)项应该是可以成立的说法。C)项的内容实际上就是A)项的另一种说法，也可成立。依据第四段内容，可得知D)项不正确。经济理论应该有相当的参考价值，只是还需考虑方方面面的因素。