上周没讲专题，我们这周补上，另外，我身体没什么事情，各位不用再问我问题前加句前言不搭后语的话：老师，听说你身体不好，一定要注意哦！天气太热了；我问你个问题。。。。，让我感觉前后内容完全脱节，还是直接问吧，别绕了，又绕不好！ Comparable worth, as a standard applied to eliminate inequities in pay, insists that the values of certain tasks performed in dissimilar jobs can be compared. In the last decade, this approach has become a critical social policy issue, as large numbers of private-sector firms and industries as well as federal, state, and local governmental entities have adopted comparable worth policies or begun to consider doing so. This widespread institutional awareness of comparable worth indicates increased public awareness that pay inequities--that is, situations in which pay is not "fair" because it does not reflect the true value of a job--exist in the labor market. However, the question still remains: have the gains already made in pay equity under comparable worth principles been of a precedent-setting nature or are they mostly transitory, a function of concessions made by employers to mislead female employees into believing that they have made long-term pay equity gains? Comparable worth pay adjustments are indeed precedent-setting. Because of the principles driving them, other mandates that can be applied to reduce or eliminate unjustified pay gaps between male and female workers have not remedied perceived pay inequities satisfactorily for the litigants in cases in which men and women hold different jobs. But whenever comparable worth principles are applied to pay schedules, perceived unjustified pay differences are eliminated. In this sense, then, comparable worth is more comprehensive than other mandates, such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Neither compares tasks in dissimilar jobs (that is, jobs across occupational categories) in an effort to determine whether or not what is necessary to perform these tasks--know-how, problem-solving, and accountability--can be quantified in terms of its dollar value to the employer. Comparable worth, on the other hand, takes as its premise that certain tasks in dissimilar jobs may require a similar amount of training, effort, and skill; may carry similar responsibility; may be carried on in an environment having a similar impact upon the worker; and may have a similar dollar value to the employer. Question #43. 281-01 (23269-!-item-!-188;#058&000281-01) Which of the following most accurately states the central purpose of the passage? (A) To criticize the implementation of a new procedure (B) To assess the significance of a change in policy (C) To illustrate how a new standard alters procedures (D) To explain how a new policy is applied in specific cases (E) To summarize the changes made to date as a result of social policy Many United States companies believe that the rising cost of employees' health care benefits has hurt the country's competitive position in the global market by raising production costs and thus increasing the prices of exported and domestically sold goods. As a result, these companies have shifted health care costs to employees in the form of wage deductions or high deductibles. This strategy, however, has actually hindered companies' competitiveness. For example, cost shifting threatens employees' health because many do not seek preventive screening. Also, labor relations have been damaged: the percentage of strikes in which health benefits were a major issue rose from 18 percent in 1986 to 78 percent in 1989. Health care costs can be managed more effectively if companies intervene in the supply side of health care delivery just as they do with other key suppliers: strategies used to procure components necessary for production would work in procuring health care. For example, the make/buy decision--the decision whether to produce or purchase parts used in making a product--can be applied to health care. At one company, for example, employees receive health care at an on-site clinic maintained by the company. The clinic fosters morale, resulting in a low rate of employees leaving the company. Additionally, the company has constrained the growth of health care costs while expanding medical services. Question #47. 323-01 (23463-!-item-!-188;#058&000323-01) The passage is primarily concerned with (A) providing support for a traditional theory (B) comparing several explanations for a problem (C) summarizing a well-known research study (D) recommending an alternative approach (E) criticizing the work of a researcher Dendrochronology, the study of tree-ring records to glean information about the past, is possible because each year a tree adds a new layer of wood between the existing wood and the bark. In temperate and subpolar climates, cells added at the growing season's start are large and thin-walled, but later the new cells that develop are smaller and thick-walled; the growing season is followed by a period of dormancy. When a tree trunk is viewed in cross section, a boundary line is normally visible between the small-celled wood added at the end of the growing season in the previous year and the large-celled spring wood of the following year's growing season. The annual growth pattern appears as a series of larger and larger rings. In wet years rings are broad; during drought years they are narrow, since the trees grow less. Often, ring patterns of dead trees of different, but overlapping, ages can be correlated to provide an extended index of past climate conditions. However, trees that grew in areas with a steady supply of groundwater show little variation in ring width from year to year; these "complacent" rings tell nothing about changes in climate. And trees in extremely dry regions may go a year or two without adding any rings, thereby introducing uncertainties into the count. Certain species sometimes add more than one ring in a single year, when growth halts temporarily and then starts again. The passage is primarily concerned with (A) evaluating the effect of climate on the growth of trees of different species (B) questioning the validity of a method used to study tree-ring records (C) explaining how climatic conditions can be deduced from tree-ring patterns (D) outlining the relation between tree size and cell structure within the tree (E) tracing the development of a scientific method of analyzing tree-ring patterns What kinds of property rights apply to Algonquian family hunting territories, and how did they come to be? The dominant view in recent decades has been that family hunting territories, like other forms of private landownership, were not found among Algonquians (a group of North American Indian tribes) before contact with Europeans but are the result of changes in Algonquian society brought about by the European-Algonquian fur trade, in combination with other factors such as ecological changes and consequent shifts in wildlife harvesting patterns. Another view claims that Algonquian family hunting territories predate contact with Europeans and are forms of private landownership by individuals and families. More recent fieldwork, however, has shown that individual and family rights to hunting territories form part of a larger land-use system of multifamilial hunting groups, that rights to hunting territories at this larger community level take precedence over those at the individual or family level, and that this system reflects a concept of spiritual and social reciprocity that conflicts with European concepts of private property. In short, there are now strong reasons to think that it was erroneous to claim that Algonquian family hunting territories ever were, or were becoming, a kind of private property system. Question #53. 351-01 (23751-!-item-!-188;#058&000351-01) The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) provide an explanation for an unexpected phenomenon (B) suggest that a particular question has yet to be answered (C) present a new perspective on an issue (D) defend a traditional view from attack (E) reconcile opposing sides of an argument Many people believe that because wages are lower in developing countries than in developed countries, competition from developing countries in goods traded internationally will soon eliminate large numbers of jobs in developed countries. Currently, developed countries' advanced technology results in higher productivity, which accounts for their higher wages. Advanced technology is being transferred ever more speedily across borders, but even with the latest technology, productivity and wages in developing countries will remain lower than in developed countries for many years because developed countries have better infrastructure and better-educated workers. When productivity in a developing country does catch up, experience suggests that wages there will rise. Some individual firms in developing countries have raised their productivity but kept their wages (which are influenced by average productivity in the country's economy) low. However, in a developing country's economy as a whole, productivity improvements in goods traded internationally are likely to cause an increase in wages. Furthermore, if wages are not allowed to rise, the value of the country's currency will appreciate, which (from the developed countries' point of view) is the equivalent of increased wages in the developing country. And although in the past a few countries have deliberately kept their currencies undervalued, that is now much harder to do in a world where capital moves more freely. Question #56. 549-01 (23894-!-item-!-188;#058&000549-01) The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) identify the origin of a common misconception (B) discuss the implications of a generally accepted principle (C) present information relevant in evaluating a commonly held belief (D) defend a controversial assertion against a variety of counterarguments (E) explain under what circumstances a well-known phenomenon occurs A recent study has provided clues to predator-prey dynamics in the late Pleistocene era. Researchers compared the number of tooth fractures in present-day carnivores with tooth fractures in carnivores that lived 36,000 to 10,000 years ago and that were preserved in the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. The breakage frequencies in the extinct species were strikingly higher than those in the present-day species. In considering possible explanations for this finding, the researchers dismissed demographic bias because older individuals were not overrepresented in the fossil samples. They rejected preservational bias because a total absence of breakage in two extinct species demonstrated that the fractures were not the result of abrasion within the pits. They ruled out local bias because breakage data obtained from other Pleistocene sites were similar to the La Brea data. The explanation they consider most plausible is behavioral differences between extinct and present-day carnivores--in particular, more contact between the teeth of predators and the bones of prey due to more thorough consumption of carcasses by the extinct species. Such thorough carcass consumption implies to the researchers either that prey availability was low, at least seasonally, or that there was intense competition over kills and a high rate of carcass theft due to relatively high predator densities. Question #59. 560-01 (24039-!-item-!-188;#058&000560-01) The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) present several explanations for a well-known fact (B) suggest alternative methods for resolving a debate (C) argue in favor of a controversial theory (D) question the methodology used in a study (E) discuss the implications of a research finding

( Monitoring heart patients' exercise as well as athletes excersing, is now done by small transmitters broadcasting physiological measurements to nearby recording machines. ) A. Monitoring heart patients' exercise as well as athletes excersing, is now done by small transmitters broadcasting physiological measurements to nearby recording machines. B. Monitoring the exercise of heart patients, as well as athletes excersing, is now done by small transmitters broadcasting physiological measurements to nearby recording machines. C. Small transmitters broadcasting physiological measurement to nearby recording machines are now used to monitor the exercise of both heart patients and athletes. D. Broadcasting physiological measurements to nearby recording machines, small transmitters are now used to monitor heart patients' exercise, as well as athletes exercising. E. Both athletes exercising and heart patients' exercise are now monitored by small transmitters broadcasting physiological measurements to nearby recording machines. 答案是C，错选了E。排除C的原因是感觉主语很长，头重脚轻。第一遍看原文的时候感觉exercise和exercising不平行，但是每个选项读下来发现都是这个形式，（当时没有注意到C的形式）于是就认为这个可能不是考点。E的错误是exercise和exercising吗？麻烦老师讲解。

( Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during ) two decades, stringent rationing and planned distribution have allowed the People’s Republic of China to ensure nutritional levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population. (A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during (B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in (C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over (D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during (E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for 错选了E，答案是B。排除ABCD是因为代词its，前半句说了its，后半句没有第一时间解释its是指谁。尽管觉得E也有不妥之处，E的any increase应该是名词吧？副词hardly修饰名词也不对吧？麻烦老师讲解。

During the recession of 1973, home mortgage foreclosures resulted in tens of thousands of Americans being evicted from homes ( that they can ) no longer afford monthly payment. A. that they can B. that they could C. on which they can D. because they can E. for which they could 错选了B，答案是E。不明白that和for which的区别，麻烦老师讲解。

In three centuries -from 1050 to 1350-several million tons of stone were quarried in France ( for the building of eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some ) tens of thourands of parish churches. A. for the building of eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some B. in order that they might build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some C. so as they might build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some D. so that there could be built eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and E. such that they could build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and 把句意理解错了，选了D，答案是A。当时想的是一些石头被挖掘了在法国，后面应该是：导致在法国建立了多少教堂。排除BCE是感觉they指代有问题。没选A是不知道原文说的是这些石头用来建立教堂，而且后面有个some，不能理解some tens of throusands of。麻烦老师讲解。

While larger banks can afford to maintain their own data-processing operations, many smaller regional and community banks are finding that the ( cost associated with ) upgrading data-processing equipment and with the development and maintenance of new products and technical staff are prohibitive. A. cost associated with B. costs associated with C. costs arising from D. cost of E. costs of 这道题选了A，答案是B。上次答疑英老师说cost是不可数名词，不明白为什么选B。做题时感觉应该不是根据后面的谓语are来判断，因为谓语动词前面and连接了几个并列成分。现在review时不确定这些并列成分全都是修饰cost的，还是cost的并列。麻烦老师讲解。

Pensions are now viewed as a deferred payment of salary, money ( a worker is compelled to put away to take care of one's ) later years. A. a worker is compelled to put away to take care of one's B. that a worker is compelled to put away to take care of oneself in C. a worker is compelled to put away to take care of oneself in D. workers are compelled to put away to take care of them in E. workers are compelled to put away to take care of themselves in 这道题做对了，选E。但是做题过程不对，take care of后面应该是反身代词，所以A D排除，B C E的区别是单复数，不知道突破口在哪，只是感觉如果B对，C肯定也对，that应该可有可无，不足以影响对错，所以选了E。其实这道题不太明白，麻烦老师讲解。

Many investors base their choice ( between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to ) the dividends available on common stocks. A. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to B. among bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields to C. between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with D. among bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields and E. between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with 选项明显的差距就是between and以及compare with，所以选了E，答案是C。麻烦老师讲解一下comparing和comparisons of的区别。

( The rising of costs ) of data-processing operations at many financial insititutions has created a growing opportunity for independent companies to provide these services more efficiently and at lower cost. A. The rising of costs B. Rising costs C. The rising cost D. Because the rising cost E. Because of rising cost D E 没有主语，排除。谓语是单数，B 排除。A是成本的上升，C是上升的成本，句意是创造了更多的机会去提供服务。感觉意思都说的过去，纠结好久。答案是C。做题时没有关注到后面的 at lower cost，不知道这里和前面的cost有没有关系，是否可以根据这里把A排除？麻烦老师讲解。

In December of 1987 an automobile manufacturer pleaded no contest to criminal charges of odometer tampering and agreed to pay more than $16 million in civil damages for ( cars that were test-driven with their odometers disconnected ). A. Cars that were test-driven with their odometers disconnected B. Cars that it had test-driven with disconnected odometers C. Its cars having been test-driven with disconnected odometers D. Having test-driven cars with their odometers disconnected E. Having cars that were test-driven with disconnected odometers 一遍下来读的不太懂，大致是汽车公司对O T的违法赔偿不作辩护并且同意支付多少钱关于被测试过O D 的车。 B C的代词不对，排除。看到D E直接就排除了，不懂想要表达什么，选了A。答案是D。麻烦老师讲解。

看不懂正确b选项中，“one arm is lost it is quickly replaced”里it 指代什么。