牛津上海版高二年级英语第一学期话题阅读(一)finance and trade(有答案)

话题阅读（一）Finance and Trade

（A）

Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn't buy as much as it used to, no matter where you want to spend it. This is certainly 1 of the paper money that passes so quickly through one's hands. Inflation(通货膨胀) eats away at its buying 2 with the steady appetite of waves chewing at sand cliffs. But what about coins that seem to do very little except clutter up ( 塞满) purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is 3 , especially if it is 4 where it won't get scratched or worn. Why is this7 One reason is that coins, being more durable, fall more readily into a category (范畴) for collectors. Naturally, the rare gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up.

But, 5 , one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1804, the United States mint (造币厂) struck 19,570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this 6 number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction (拍卖) market. So what happened to some 19,564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose7 One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the 7 to Napoleon for the American territory then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates. The 8 answer to the mystery is that they were melted down since the silver value was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself 9 rich.

1-5. B H A G C 6-9. DFEI

（B）

Several European countries are encouraging the 1 of high-tech companies as a way to 2 jobs and reduce the extremely high unemployment 3 in European Union. But that might not be the answer. Sauli Niinisto, Deputy Prime Minister for Finland, says that not all Europeans are equipped for the 4 in the Information Technology sector.

" What seems to be the problem is that those 5 in Europe are not people who could open the door of an IT company. But it seems that those people are more, the 6 to get a job for them are more in low sectors, especially on the service side. "Mr. Niinisto says that perhaps Europeans should 7 how the high-tech industry is spurring （激励) 8 growth in the United States. " It seems that we have to look at a 9 in Europe and ask ourselves what is the difference

between a European and American person because there are difference. And I believe that every 10 is going well or bad, depending on how its middle class is 11 .

In Europe, we see the middle class not actually being quite 12 with its circumstances. But, they have 13 a lot and you don't find so much, let's say 'fighting spirits' than in the USA." 14 , Finland' s Deputy Prime Minister says that Europeans should encourage 15 entrepreneurial (企业家）efforts.

1. A.expand B.developing C.growth D.progress

2. A.invent B.produce C.manufacture D.create

3. A.speed B.proportion C.rate D.percent

4. A.career B.fate C.position D.condition

5. A.employed B.unemployed C.unhired D.unrented

6. A.possibilities B.challenges C.probabilities D.chains

7. A.imitate B.invest C.investigate D.migrate

8. A.economy B.economic C.economical D.

economics

9. A.mirror B.reflection C.minority D.majority

10. A.society munity C.association D.province

11. A.working B.inhabiting C.behaving D.admiring

12. A.satisfied B.surprised C.thrilled D.suspected

13. A.achieved B.retained C.maintained D.possessed

14. A.In general B.In all C.In particular D.In brief

15. A.individual B.particular C.special D.especial