Question

    Wal-Mart is not just the world’s largest retailer(零售商). It’s the world’s largest company, which sells in three months what number-two retailer Home Depot sells in a year.

Wal-Mart exercises its power for just one purpose: to bring the lowest possible prices to its customers. At Wal-Mart, that goal is never reached. The retailer has a clear policy for suppliers: On basic products that don’t change, the price Wal-Mart will pay, and will charge shoppers, must drop year after year. But what almost no one outside the world of Wal-Mart and none of its 21,000 suppliers know is the high cost of those low prices. To survive in the face of its pricing demands, makers of everything from bikes to jeans have had to close US plants in favor of obtaining products from abroad.

Indeed, the real story of Wal-Mart, the story that never gets told, is the story of the pressure the biggest retailer constantly applies to its suppliers in the name of bringing us “every day low prices”.

The giant retailer’s low prices often come with a high cost. Wal-Mart’s pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line? Of course, US companies have been moving jobs offshore for decades; long before Wal-Mart was a retailing power. But there is no question that the chain is helping accelerate the loss of American jobs to low-wage countries such as Thailand.

People ask, “How can it be bad for things to come into the US cheaply?” Sure, it’s great to have bargains. But you can’t buy anything if you’ re not employed.

There is no question that Wal-Mart’s drive to squeeze out cost has benefited consumers. By now, it is accepted wisdom that Wal-Mart makes the companies it does business with more efficient and focused. Wal-Mart itself is known for continuous improvement in its ability to handle, move, and track goods. It is legendary for forcing its suppliers to redesign everything from their packaging to their computer systems. It is also legendary for quite straightforwardly telling them what it will pay for their goods.

1.Wal-Mart’s low-price policy results in            .

A.more high-paying jobs B.worse designed packages

C.bigger profit of its partners D.more jobless American workers

2.What does the underline word “offshore” in the passage mean?

A.In abroad. B.In the Ocean.

C.On the beach. D.On an island not far from shore.

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A.Still more quality goods will be provided. B.The food you get at Wal-Mart costs least.

C.The value of Mal-Mart is over assessed. D.Wal-Mart is a very demanding company.

4.What’s the best title for the passage?

A.The Fortune Wal-Mart Makes B.The Wal-Mart you don’t Know

C.The Biggest Retailer—Wal-Mart D.The Money Saving Tip in Wal-Mart

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。这篇文章告诉读者在沃尔玛提供消费者低价商品的背后，却是要付出代价的，为了使价格降低，很多供应商把工厂开到海外，导致很多美国的工人会因此失业。

1.

细节理解题。根据第四段中Wal-Mart’s pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line?可知沃尔玛的压力会压垮与它有业务往来的公司，迫使它们将工作岗位转移到海外。我们是在直奔失业线而去购物吗？由此可知，沃尔玛的低价政策导致了更多的美国工人失业。故选D。

2.

词义猜测题。根据上文Wal-Mart’s pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas.可知沃尔玛的压力会压垮与它有业务往来的公司，迫使它们将工作岗位转移到海外。以及划线单词上文Of course, US companies have been moving jobs可知当然，几十年来，早在沃尔玛成为零售巨头之前，美国企业一直在将工作岗位转移到海外。故划线单词意思为“海外”。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段中Wal-Mart itself is known for continuous improvement in its ability to handle, move, and track goods. It is legendary for forcing its suppliers to redesign everything from their packaging to their computer systems.可知沃尔玛本身就以不断提高其处理、移动和跟踪货物的能力而闻名。它迫使供应商重新设计从包装到电脑系统的一切，这是一个传奇。由此可推知，沃尔玛是一家要求非常高的企业，故选D。

4.

主旨大意题。根据第三段Indeed, the real story of Wal-Mart, the story that never gets told, is the story of the pressure the biggest retailer constantly applies to its suppliers in the name of bringing us “every day low prices”.可知事实上，沃尔玛真正的故事——一个从未被人提起的故事——是这家最大的零售商以“每日低价”为名，不断向供应商施加压力的故事。结合这篇文章告诉读者在沃尔玛提供消费者低价商品的背后，却是要付出代价的，就是美国的工人会因此失业。这是很多人不知道的事情，故B选项“你不知道的沃尔玛”最符合文章标题。故选B。