2023年六级新题型12月

2023年12月大学英语六级考试真题PartIIReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)SevenWaystoSavetheWorldForgettheoldideathatconservingenergyisaformofself-denial—ridingbicycles,dimmingthelights,andtakingfewershowers.Thesedaysconservationisallaboutefficiency:gettingthesame—orbetter—resultsfromjustafractionoftheenergy.WhenaslumpinbusinesstravelforcedUlrichRǒmertocutcostcostsathisfamily-ownedhotelinGermany,hereplacedhundredsofthehotel’swastefullightbulbs,gettingthesamelightfor80percentlesspower.Heboughtanewwaterboilerwithadigitallycontrolledpump,andwrappedinsulationaroundthepipes.Spendingabout€100,000ontheseandotherimprovements,heslashedhis€90,000fuelandpowerbillby€60,000.Asabonus,thehotel’slowerenergyneedshavereduceditsannualcarbonemissionsbymorethan200metrictons.“Forus,savingenergyhasbeenvery,veryprofitable,”hesays.“Andmostimportantly,we’renotgivingupasinglecomfortforourguests.”Efficiencyisalsoagreatwaytolowercarbonemissionsandhelpslowglobalwarming.Butthebestargumentforefficiencyisitscost—or,moreprecisely,itsprofitability.That’sbecausequicklygrowingenergydemandrequiresimmenseinvestmentinnewsupply,nottomentionthedrainofrisingenergyprices.Nowonderefficiencyhasmovedtothetopofthepoliticalagenda.OnJan.10,theEuropeanUnionunveiledaplantocutenergyuseacrossthecontinentby20percentby2023.LastMarch,Chinaimposeda20percentincreaseinenergyefficiencyby2023.EvenGeorgeW.Bush,theTexasoilman,isexpectedtotalkaboutenergyconversationinhisStateoftheUnionspeechthisweek.Thegoodnewsisthattheworldisfullofproven,cheapwaystosaveenergy.Herearetheseventhatcouldhavethebiggestimpact:InsulateSpaceheatingandcoolingeatsup36percentofalltheworld’senergy.There’svirtuallynolimittohowmuchofthatcanbesaved,asprototype“zero-energyhomes”inSwitzerlandandGermanyhaveshown.There’sbeenasurgeinnewwaysofkeepingheatinandcoldout(orviceversa).Themostadvancedinsulationfollowsthelawofincreasingreturns:ifyouaddenough,youcanscaledownoreveneliminateheatingandair-conditioningequipment,loweringcostsevenbeforeyoustartsavingonutilitybills.Studieshaveshownthatgreenworkplaces(onesthatdon’tconstantlyneedtohavetheheatorair-conditionerrunning)havehigherworkerproductivityandlowersickrates.ChangeBulbsLightingeatsup20percentoftheworld’selectricity,ortheequivalentofroughly600,000tonsofcoaladay.Fortypercentofthatpowersold-fashionedincandescentlightbulbs—a19th-centurytechnologythatwastesmostofthepoweritconsumesonunwantedheat.Compactfluorescentlamps,orCFLs,notonlyuse75to80percentlesselectricitythanincandescentbulbstogeneratethesameamountoflight,buttheyalsolast10timeslonger.Phasingoldbulbsoutby2030wouldsavetheoutputof650powerplantsandavoidthereleaseof700milliontonsofcarbonintotheatmosphereeachyear.ComfortZoneWaterboilers,spaceheatersandairconditionershavebeennotoriouslyinefficient.Theheatpumphasalteredthatequation.Itremovesheatfromtheairoutsideorthegroundbelowandusesittosupplyheattoabuildingoritswatersupply.Inthesummer,thesystemcanbereversedtocoolbuildingaswell.MostnewresidentialbuildingsinSwedenarealreadyheatedwithground-sourceheatpumps.Suchsystemsconsumealmostnoconventionalfuelatall.Severalcountrieshaveusedsubsidiestojump-startthemarket,includingJapan,wherealmost1millionheatpumpshavebeeninstalledinthepasttwoyearstoheatwaterforshowersandhottubs.

RemakeFactoriesFromsteelmillstopaperfactories,industryeatsupaboutathirdoftheworld’senergy.Theopportunitiestosavearevast.InLudwigshafen,GermanchemicalsgiantBASFrunsaninterconnectedcomplexofmorethan200chemicalfactories,whereheatproducedbyonechemicalprocessisusedtopowerthenext.AttheLudwigshafensitealone,suchrecyclingofheatandenergysavesthecompany€200millionayearandalmosthalfitsCO2emissions.NowBASFisdoingthesamefornewplantsinChina.“Optimizing(优化)energyefficiencyisadecisivecompetitiveadvantage,”saysBASFCEOJǔrgenHambrecht.

GreenDrivingAquarteroftheworld’senergy—includingtwothirdsoftheannualproductionofoil—isusedfortransportation.Somesavingscomefreeofcharge:youcanboostfuelefficiencyby6percentsimplybykeepingyourcar’stiresproperlyinflated(充气).Gasoline-electrichybrid(混合型)modelsliketheToyotaPriusimprovemileagebyafurther20percentoverconventionalmodels.ABetterFridgeMorethanhalfofallresidentialpowergoesintorunninghouseholdappliances，producingafifthoftheworld’scarbonemissions.Andthat’strueeventhoughmanufacturershavealreadyhikedtheefficiencyofrefrigeratorsandotherwhitegoodsbyasmuchas70percentsincethe1980s.AccordingtoanInternationalEnergyAgencystudy,ifconsumerschosethosemodelsthatwouldsavethemthemostmoneyoverthelifeoftheappliance,they’dcutglobalresidentialpowerconsumptionandtheirutilitybillsby43percent.FlexiblePaymentWhosaysyouhavetopayforallyourconservationinvestment？“Energyservicecontractors”willpayforretrofitting(翻折改造)inreturnforashareoftheclient’sannualutility-billsavings.InBeijing,ShenwuThermalEnergyTechnologyCo.specializesinretrofittingChina’ssteelfurnaces.Shenwuputsuptheinitialinvestmenttoinstallaheatexchangerthatpreheatstheairgoingintothefurnace，slashingtheclient’sfuelcosts.Shenwupocketsacutofthosesavings,sobothShenwuandtheclientprofit.Ifsavingenergyissoeasyandprofitable,whyisn’teveryonedoingit?Ithastodowithpsychologyandalackofinformation.Mostofustendtolookattoday’spricetagmorethantomorrow’spotentialsavings.Thatholdsdoubleforthelandlordordeveloper,whowon’tactuallyseeapennyofthesavingshisinvestmentinbetterinsulationorabetterheatingsystemmightgenerate.Inmanypeople’sminds,conservationisstillassociatedwithself-denial.Manyenvironmentalistsstillpushthatview.Smartgovernmentscanhelppushthemarketintherightdirection.TheEU’s1994lawonlabelingwassuchasuccessthatitextendedthesameideatoentirebuildingslastyear.Toboostthemarketvalueofefficiency,allnewbuildingsarerequiredtohavean“energypass”detailingpowerandheatingconsumption.CountrieslikeJapanandGermanyhavesuccessivelytightenedbuildingcodes,requiringanincreaseininsulationlevelsbutleavingituptobuilderstodecidehowtomeetthem.Themostpowerfulincentives,ofcourse,willcomefromthemarketitself.Overthepastyear,sky-highfuelpriceshavefocusedmindsonefficiencylikeneverbefore.Ever-increasingpressuretocutcostshasfinallyforcedmorecompaniestodosomemathontheirenergyuse.Willitbeenough?Withglobaldemandandemissionsrisingsofast,wemaynothaveanychoicebuttotry.Efficienttechnologyisherenow,provenandcheap.Comparedwithallotheroptions,it’sthebiggest,easiestandmostprofitablebangforthebuck.1.Whatissaidtobethebestwaytoconserveenergynowadays?[A]Raisingefficiently.[B]Cuttingunnecessarycosts.[C]Findingalternativeresources[D]Sacrificingsomepersonalcomforts.2.WhatdoestheEuropeanUnionplantodo?[A]Diversifyenergysupply.[B]Cutenergyconsumption.[C]Reducecarbonemissions.[D]Raiseproductionefficiency.3.Ifyouaddenoughinsulationtoyourhouse,youmaybeableto_______.[A]improveyourworkenvironment[B]cutyourutilitybillsbyhalf.[C]getridofair-conditioners[D]enjoymuchbetterhealth4.Howmuchofthepowerconsumedbyincandescentbulbsisconvertedintolight?[A]Asmallportion.[B]Some40percent[C]Almosthalf.[D]75to80percent.5.Somecountrieshavetiredtojump-startthemarketofheatpumpsby_________.[A]upgradingtheequipment[B]encouraginginvestments[C]implementinghigh-tech[D]providingsubsidies6.GermanchemicalsgiantBASFsaves€200millionayearby_________.[A]recyclingheatandenergy[B]settingupfactoriesinChina[C]usingthenewesttechnology[D]reducingtheCO2emissionsofitsplants7.Globalresidentialpowerconsumptioncanbecutby43percentif________.[A]weincreasetheinsulationofwallsandwaterpipes[B]wechoosesimplermodelsofelectricalappliances[C]wecutdownontheuseofrefrigeratorsandotherwhitegoods[D]wechoosethemostefficientmodelsofrefrigeratorsandotherwhitegoods8.Energyservicecontractorsprofitbytakingapartofclients’__________.9.Manyenvironmentalistsmaintaintheviewthatconservationhasmuchtodowith___________.10.Thestrongestincentiveenergyconservationwilldrivefrom_____________.PartIIIListeningComprehension(35minutes)SectionA11.[A]Proceedinhisownway.[B]Sticktotheoriginalplan.[C]Compromisewithhiscolleague.[D]Trytochangehiscolleague’smind.12.[A]Manyhasakeeneyeforstyle.[B]Nancyregretsbuyingthedress.[C]NancyandMarywentshoppingtogetherinRome.[D]NancyandMaryliketofollowthelatestfashion.13.[A]Washthedishes.[B]Gotothetheatre.[C]PickupGeorgeandMartha.[D]Takeherdaughtertohospital.14.[A]Sheenjoysmakingupstoriesaboutotherpeople.[B]Shecanneverkeepanythingtoherselfforlong.[C]Sheiseagertosharenewswiththewoman.[D]Sheisthebestinformedwomanintown.15.[A]Acardealer.[B]Amechanic.[C]Adrivingexaminer.[D]Atechnicalconsultant.16.[A]Theshoppingmallhasbeendesertedrecently.[B]Shopperscanonlyfindgoodstoresinthemall.[C]Lotsofpeoplemovedoutofthedowntownarea.[D]Thereisn’tmuchbusinessdowntownnowadays.17.[A]Hewillhelpthewomanwithherreading.[B]Theloungeisnotaplaceforhimtostudyin.[C]Hefeelssleepywheneverhetriestostudy.[D]Acozyplaceisratherhardtofindoncampus.18.[A]Toprotectherfromgettingscratches.[B]Tohelprelieveherofthepain.[C]Topreventmosquitobites.[D]Toavoidgettingsunburnt.Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.19.[A]Inastudio.[B]Inaclothingstore.[C]Atabeachresort.[D]Atafashionshow.20.[A]Tolivetherepermanently.[B]Tostaythereforhalfayear.[C]Tofindabetterjobtosupportherself.[D]TosellleathergoodsforaBritishcompany.21.[A]Designingfashionitemsforseveralcompanies.[B]Modelingforaworld-famousItaliancompany.[C]WorkingasanemployeeforFerragamo.[D]ServingasasalesagentforBurberrys.22.[A]Ithasseenasteadydeclineinitsprofits.[B]Ithasbecomemuchmorecompetitive.[C]Ithaslostmanycustomerstoforeigncompanies.[D]Ithasattractedalotmoredesignersfromabroad.Questions23to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.23.[A]Ithelpshertoattractmorepublicattention.[B]Itimprovesherchanceofgettingpromoted.[C]Itstrengthensherrelationshipwithstudents.[D]Itenableshertounderstandpeoplebetter.24.[A]Passively.[B]Positively.[C]Skeptically.[D]Sensitively.25.[A]Itkeepshauntingherdayandnight.[B]Herteachingwassomewhataffectedbyit.[C]Itvanishesthemomentshestepsintoherrole.[D]Hermindgoesblankonceshegetsonthestage.SectionBPassageOneQuestions26to29arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.26.[A]Towinoverthemajorityofpassengersfromairlinesintwentyyears.[B]ToreformrailroadmanagementinwesternEuropeancountries.[C]ToelectrifytherailwaylinesbetweenmajorEuropeancities.[D]TosetupanexpresstrainnetworkthroughoutEur27.[A]MajorEuropeanairlineswillgobankrupt.[B]Europeanswillpaymuchlessfortraveling.[C]TravelingtimebytrainbetweenmajorEuropeancitieswillbecutbyhalf.[D]TrainswillbecomethesafestandmostefficientmeansoftravelinEurope.28.[A]Traintravelwillprovemuchmorecomfortablethanairtravel.[B]Passengerswillfeelmuchsaferonboardatrainthanonaplane.[C]Railtransportwillbeenvironmentallyfriendlierthanairtransport.[D]Travelingbytrainmaybeasquickas,orevenquickerthan,byair.29.[A]In1981.[B]In1989.[C]In1990.[D]In2023.PassageTwoQuestions30to32arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.30.[A]Therecanbenospeedyrecoveryformentalpatients.[B]Approachestohealingpatientsareessentiallythesame.[C]Themindandbodyshouldbetakenasanintegralwhole.[D]Thereisnocleardivisionoflaborinthemedicalprofession.31.[A]Adoctor’sfamestrengthensthepatients’faithinthem.[B]Abuseofmedicinesiswidespreadinmanyurbanhospitals.[C]Onethirdofthepatientsdependonharmlesssubstancesforcure.[D]Apatient’sexpectationsofadrughaveaneffectontheirrecovery.32.[A]Expensivedrugsmaynotprovethemosteffective.[B]Theworkingsofthemindmayhelppatientsrecover.[C]Doctorsoftenexaggeratetheeffectoftheirremedies.[D]Mostillnessescanbecuredwithoutmedication.PassageThreeQuestions33to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.33.[A]Enjoyingstrongfeelingsandemotions.[B]Defyingalldangerswhentheyhaveto.[C]Beingfondofmakingsensationalnews.[D]Dreamingofbecomingfamousoneday.34.[A]Workinginanemergencyroom.[B]Listeningtorockmusic.[C]Watchinghorrormovies.[D]Doingdailyroutines.35.[A]Arockclimber.[B]Apsychologist.[C]Aresidentdoctor.[D]Acareerconsultant.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Ifyou’relikemostpeople,you’veindulgedinfakelisteningmanytimes.Yougotohistoryclass,sitinthethirdrow,andlook(36)________attheinstructorasshespeaks.Butyourmindisfaraway,(37)_________inthecloudsofpleasantdaydreams.(38)__________youcomebacktoearth:Theinstructorwritesanimportanttermonthechalkboard,andyou(39)___________copyitinyounotebook.Everyonceinawhiletheinstructormakesa(40)_________remark,causingothersintheclasstolaugh.Yousmilepolitely,pretendingthatyou’veheardtheremarkandfounditmildly(41)__________.Youhaveavaguesenseof(42)________thatyouaren’tpayingcloseattention.Butyoutellyourselfthatany(43)__________youmisscanbepickedupfromafriend’snotes.Besides,(44)____________________.Sobackyougointoyourprivatelittleworld,onlylaterdoyourealizeyou’vemissedimportantinformationforatest.Fakelisteningmaybeeasilyexposed,sincemanyspeakersaresensitivetofacialcuesandcantellifyou’remerelypretendingtolisten.(45)___________________.Evenifyouarenotexposedthere’sanotherreasontoavoidfakery.It’seasyforthisbehaviortobecomeahabit.Forsomepeople,thehabitissodeeplyrootedthat(46)__________________________.Asaresult,theymisslotsofvaluableinformation.PartIVReadingComprehension（ReadinginDepth）（25minutes）SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswersheet2.Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Men,thesedays,areembracingfatherhoodwiththeround-the-clockinvolvementtheirpartnershavealwaysdreamedof—handlingnightfeedings,packinglunchesandbandagingknees.Butunlikewomen,manyfindthey’renegotiatingtheirnewroleswithlittlesupportorinformation.“Meninmygeneration(aged25-40)haveafearofbecomingdadsbecausewehavenorolemodels,”saysJonSmith,awriter.Theyoftenfindthemselvesexcludedfrommothers’supportnetworks,andareeyedwarily(警惕地)ontheplayground.Thechallengeisparticularlyevidentinthework-place.There,menarestillexpectedtobebreadwinnersclimbingthecorporateladder:traditionally-mindedbossesareoftenunsympathetictofamilyneeds.InDenmarkmostnewfathersonlytaketwoweeksofpaternityleave(父亲的陪产假)—eventhoughtheyareallowed34days.Asmuchasifnotmoresothanwomen,fathersstruggletobetakenseriouslywhentheyrequestflexiblearrangements.ThoughWilfried-FritzMaring,54,adata-bankandInternetspecialistwithGermanfirmFIZKarlsruhe,feelsthatthetimehespendswithhisdaughteroutweighsanydisadvantages,headmits,“WithmydecisiontoworkfromhomeIdismissedanyopportunityforpromotion.”Mind-sets(思维定势)arechanginggradually.WhenMaringhadadaughter,thecompanyequippedhimwithahomeofficeandallowedhimtochooseajobthatcouldbeperformedfromthere.DanishtelecomcompanyTDCinitiatedaninternalcampaignlastyeartoencouragedadstotakepaternityleave:97percentnowdo.“Whenanemployeegoesonpaternityleaveandiswithhiskids,hegetsanewkindoftraining:inhowtokeepcoolunderstress.”saysspokespersonChristineElbergHolm.Foranewgenerationofdads,kidsmaycomebeforethecompany－butit’sashiftthatbenefitsboth.47.Unlikewomen,menoftengetlittlesupportorinformationfrom.48.Besidessupportingthefamily,menwerealsoexpectedto.49.Likewomen,menhopethattheirdesireforaflexibleschedulewillbe.50.WhenMaringwasonpaternityleave,hewasallowedbyhiscompanytowork.51.ChristineHolmbelievespaternityleaveprovidesanewkindoftrainingformeninthatitcanhelpthemcopewith.SectionBDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.Foreachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Likemostpeople,I’velongunderstoodthatIwillbejudgedbymyoccupation,thatmyprofessionisagaugepeopleusetoseehowsmartortalentedIam.Recently,however,IwasdisappointedtoseethatitalsodecideshowI’mtreatedasaperson.LastyearIleftaprofessionalpositionasasmall-townreporterandtookajobwaitingtables.Assomeonepaidtoservefoodtopeople.IhadcustomerssayanddothingstomeIsuspectthey’dneversayordototheirmostcasualacquaintances.Onenightamantalkingonhiscellphonewavedmeaway,thenbeckoned(示意)mebackwithhisfingerminutelater,complaininghewasreadytoorderandaskingwhereI’dbeen.Ihadwaitedtablesduringsummersincollegeandwastreatedlikeapeon(勤杂工)plentyofpeople.Butat19yearsold,IbelievedIdeservedinferiortreatmentfromprofessionaladults.Besides,peoplerespondedtomedifferentlyafterItoldthemIwasincollege.CustomerswouldjokethatonedayI’dbesittingattheirtable,waitingtobeserved.OnceIgraduatedItookajobatacommunitynewspaper.Frommyfirstday,Iheardarespectfultonefromeveryonewhocalledme.Iassumedthiswasthewaytheprofessionalworldworked—cordially.Isoonfoundoutdifferently.Isatseveralfeetawayfromanadvertisingsalesrepresentativewithasimilarname.OurcallswouldoftengetmixedupandsomeoneaskingforKristenwouldbetransferredtoChristie.Themistakewasimmediatelyevident.Perhapsitwasbecausemoneywasinvolved,butpeopleusedatonewithKristenthattheyneverusedwithme.Myjobtitlemadepeopletreatmewithcourtesy.Soitwasashocktoreturntotherestaurantindustry.It’snosecretthatthere’salottoputupwithwhenwaitingtables,andfortunately,muchofitcanbeeasilyforgottenwhenyoupocketthetips.Theserviceindustry,bydefinition,existstocatertoothers’needs.Still,itseemedthatmanyofmycustomersdidn’tgetthedifferencebetweenserverandservant.I’mnowapplyingtograduatedschool,whichmeanssomedayI’llreturntoaprofessionwherepeopleneedtobenicetomeinordertogetwhattheywant,IthinkI’lltakethemtodinnerfirst,andseehowtheytreatsomeonewhoseonlyjobistoservethem.52.Theauthorwasdisappointedtofindthat_______.[A]one’spositionisusedasagaugetomeasureone’sintelligence[B]talentedpeoplelikehershouldfailtogetarespectablejob[C]one’soccupationaffectsthewayoneistreatedasaperson[D]professionalstendtolookdownuponmanualworkers53.Whatdoestheauthorintendtosaybytheexampleinthesecondparagraph?[A]Somecustomerssimplyshownorespecttothosewhoservethem.[B]Peopleabsorbedinaphoneconversationtendtobeabsent-minded.[C]Waitressesareoftentreatedbycustomersascasualacquaintances.[D]Somecustomersliketomakeloudcomplaintsfornoreasonatall.54.Howdidtheauthorfeelwhenwaitingtablesattheageof19?[A]Shefeltitunfairtobetreatedasamereservantbyprofessional.[B]Shefeltbadlyhurtwhenhercustomersregardedherasapeon.[C]Shewasembarrassedeachtimehercustomersjokedwithher.[D]Shefounditnaturalforprofessionalstotreatherasinferior.55.Whatdoestheauthorimplybysaying“…manyofmycustomersdidn’tgetthedifferencebetweenserverandservant”(Lines3-4,Para.7)?[A]Thosewhocatertoothers’needsaredestinedtobelookeddownupon.[B]Thoseworkingintheserviceindustryshouldn’tbetreatedasservants.[C]Thoseservingothershavetoputupwithroughtreatmenttoearnaliving.[D]Themajorityofcustomerstendtolookonaservantasservernowadays.56.Theauthorsaysshe’llonedaytakeherclientstodinnerinorderto________.[A]seewhatkindofpersontheyare[B]experiencethefeelingofbeingserved[C]showhergenerositytowardspeopleinferiortoher[D]arousetheirsympathyforpeoplelivingahumblelifePassageTwoQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.What’shotfor2023amongtheveryrich?A$7.3milliondiamondring.AtriptoTanzaniatohuntwildanimals.Oh,andincomeinequality.Sure,someleftishbillionaireslikeGeorgeSoroshavebeenrailingagainstincomeinequalityforyears.Butincreasingly,centristandright-wingbillionairesarestaringtoworryaboutincomeinequalityandthefateofthemiddleclass.InDecember,MortimerZuckermanwroteacolumninU.S.News&WorldReport,whichheowns.“ournation’scorebargainwiththemiddleclassisdisintegrating,”lamented(哀叹)the117th-richestmaninAmerica.“Mostofoureconomicgainshavegonetopeopleattheverytopoftheincomeladder.Averageincomeforahouseholdofpeopleofworkingage,bycontrast,hasfallenfiveyearsinaraw.”Henotedthat“TensofmillionsofAmericansliveinfearthatamajorhealthproblemcanreducethemtobankruptcy.”WilburRossJr.hasechoedZuckerman’sangeroverthebitterstrugglesfacedbymiddle-classAmericans.“It’sanoutragethatanyAmerican’slifeexpectancyshouldbeshortenedsimplybecausethecompanytheyworkedforwentbankruptandendedhealth-carecoverage,”saidtheformerchairmanoftheInternationalSteelGroup.What’shappening?TheveryricharejustastrendyasyouandI,andcanbesowhenitcomestopoliticsandpolicy.GiventherecentchangeofcontrolinCongress,thepopularityofmeasureslikeincreasingtheminimumwage,andeffortsbyCalifornia’sgovernortoofferuniversalhealthcare,theseguysdon’tneedtheirownpersonalweathermentoknowwhichwaythewindblows.It’spossiblethatplutocrats(有钱有势的人)areexpressingsolidaritywiththestrugglingmiddleclassaspartofanefforttoinsulatethemselvesfromconfiscatory(没收性的)taxpolicies.Buttheprospectthatincomeinequalitywillleadtohighertaxesonthewealthydoesn’tkeepplutocratsupatnight.Theycanlivewiththat.No,whattheyfearwasthatthepoliticalchallengesofsustainingsupportforglobaleconomicintegrationwillbemoredifficultintheUnitedStatesbecauseofwhathashappenedtothedistributionofincomeandeconomicinsecurity.Inotherwords,ifmiddle-classAmericanscontinuetostrugglefinanciallyastheultrawealthygroweverwealthier,itwillbeincreasinglydifficulttomaintainpoliticalsupportforthefreeflowofgoods,services,andcapitalacrossborders.AndwhentheUnitedStatesplacesobstaclesinthewayofforeigninvestorsandforeigngoods,it’slikelytoencouragereciprocalactionabroad.Forpeoplewhobuyandsellcompanies,orwhoallocatecapitaltomarketsallaroundtheworld,that’stherealnightmare.57.WhatisthecurrenttopicofcommoninterestamongtheveryrichinAmerica?[A]Thefateoftheultrawealthypeople