博士英语考试阅读30篇

Unit1–ReadingDrunken-drivingsometimescalledAmerica'ssociallyacceptedformofmurder--hasbecomeanationalepidemic.EveryhourofeverydayaboutthreeAmericansonaveragearekilledbydrunkendrivers,addinguptoanincredible250,000overthepastdecade.Adrunkendriverisusuallydefinedasonewitha0.10bloodalcoholcontentorroughlythreebeers,glassesofwineorshotsofwhiskydrunkwithintwohours.HeavydrinkingusedtobeanacceptablepartoftheAmericanmachoimageandjudgeswerelenientinmostcourts,butthedrunkenslaughterhasrecentlycausedsomanywell-publicizedtragedies,especiallyinvolvingyoungchildren,thatpublicopinionisnolongersotolerant.Twentystateshaveraisedthelegaldrinkingageto21,reversingatrendinthe1960storeduceitto18.AfterNewJerseylowereditto18,thenumberofpeoplekilledby18-20-year-olddriversmorethandoubled,sothestaterecentlyuppeditbackto21.Reformers,however,fearraisingthedrinkingagewillhavelittleeffectunlessaccompaniedbyeducationalprogrammestohelpyoungpeopletodevelop"responsibleattitudes"aboutdrinkingandteachthemtoresistpeerpressuretodrink.Toughnewlawshaveledtoincreasedarrestsandtestsandinmanyareasalready,toamarkeddeclineinfatalities.Somestatesarealsopenalizingbarsforservingcustomerstoomanydrinks.AtaverninMassachusettswasfinedforservingsixormoredoublebrandiestoacustomerwhowas"obviouslyintoxicated"andlaterdroveofftheroad,killinganine-year-oldboy.Asthefatalitiescontinuetooccurdailyineverystate,someAmericansareevenbeginningtospeakwellofthe13yearsnationalprohibitionofalcoholthatbeganin1919,whichPresidentHoovercalledthe"nobleexperiment".Theyforgetthatlegalprohibitiondidn'tstopdrinking,butencouragedpoliticalcorruptionandorganizedcrime.Aswiththeboomingdrugtradegenerally,thereisnoeasysolution.1.DrunkendrivinghasbecomeamajorprobleminAmericabecause_____.A)mostAmericansareheavydrinkersB)AmericansarenowlessshockedbyroadaccidentsC)accidentsattractsomuchpublicityD)drinkingisasociallyacceptedhabitinAmericaAnswer：D2.Whyhaspublicopinionregardingdrunkendrivingchanged?A)Detailedstatisticsarenowavailable.B)Thenewsmediahavehighlightedtheproblem.C)Judgesaregivingmoreseveresentences.D)Driversaremoreconsciousoftheirimage.Answer：B3.StatisticsissuedinNewJerseysuggestedthat_____.A)manydriverswerenotoflegalageB)youngdriverswereoftenbaddriversC)thelevelofdrinkingincreasedinthe1960sD)thelegaldrinkingageshouldberaisedAnswer：D4.Lawsrecentlyintroducedinsomestateshave_____.A)reducedthenumberofconvictionsB)resultedinfewerseriousaccidentsC)preventedbarsfromservingdrunkencustomersD)specifiedtheamountdriverscandrinkAnswer：B5.Whyistheproblemofdrinkinganddrivingdifficulttosolve?A)Alcoholiseasilyobtained.B)Drinkingislinkedtoorganizedcrime.C)Legalprohibitionhasalreadyfailed.D)Legislationaloneisnotsufficient.Answer：DUnit2LosAngeles-BillJoyisnotaLuddite.Heisnotafraidofnewtechnology.AsfounderandchiefscientistoftheSiliconValleyCompany,hehasbeenonthevanguardofthehighttechrevolutionfor20years.ButrecentlyJoytookaglimpseintothefutureanditscaredhimtodeath.Whathesawwasaworldinwhichhumanshavebeeneffectivelysupplantedbymachines;aworldinwhichsuperpowerfulcomputerswithatleastsomeattributesofhumanintelligencemanagetoreplicatethemselvesanddeveloptheirownautonomyandpeoplebecomesuperfluousandriskbecomingextinct."Itmightbearguedthatthehumanracewouldneverbefoolishenoughtohandoverallthepowertothemachines.Butwhatwedosuggestisthatthehumanracemighteasilypermititselftodriftintoapositionofsuchdependenceonthemachinesthatitwouldhavenopracticalchoicebutacceptallofthemachines'decisions.Associetyandtheproblemsthatfaceitbecomemoreandmorecomplexandmachinesbecomemoreandmoreintelligent,peoplewillletmachinesmakemoreoftheirdecisionsforthem.Eventuallyastagemaybereachedatwhichthedecisionsnecessarytokeepthesystemrunningwillbesocomplexthathumanwillbeincapableofmakingthemintellifently.Atthatstagethemachineswillbeineffectivecontrol.Peoplewon'tbeabletojustturnthemachinesoff,becausetheywillbesodependentonthemthatturningthemwouldamounttosuicide.".Previously,Joyhaddismissedsuchscenariosassci-fifantasy,butthenhelistenedtofriendswhowereexpertsinroboticsandrealizedthatthisbravenewworldwasmuchcloserthananyofusmightimagine--ascloseas30yearsaway.ThefurtherthatJoydugintothecuttingedgeofresearchinthenewtechnologies--robotics,geneticengineeringandNantechnology--themorehorrifiedhebecame.Notonlydidheseescenariosinwhichrobotswouldliketotakeonalifeoftheirownandexterminatethehumanrace,butalsohebegantoseewaysinwhichotherstaplesofsci-fihorrormightcometopass.Specifically,robots,engineeredorganism,andNanbotsshareadangerousamplifyingfactor:theycanself-replicate.Abombisblownonlyonce--butonerobotcanbecomemany,andquicklygetoutofcontrol."Ithinkitisnoexaggerationtosayweareonthecuspofthefurtherperfectionofextremeevil,anevilwhosepossibilityspreadswellbeyondthatwhichweaponsofmassdestructionbequeathedtothenation-states,ontoasurprisingandterribleempowermentofextremeindividuals.Wearebeingpropelledintothisnewcenturywithnoplan,nocontrol,nobrakes."Joyconcludes."Havewealreadygonetoofardownthepathtoaltercourse?Idon'tbelieveso,butwearen'ttryingyet,andthelastchancetoassertcontrol--thefail-safepoint--israpidlyapproaching."1.Accordingtothepassage,theword"Luddite"(inparagraph1,line1)means?A)thenameofaplacewherescienceisunderdeveloped.B)thenameofacountry.C)thenameofanorganizationwhichaimstoadvocatedevelopingthenewtechnology.D)thenameofapartywhichprotestatdevelopingscience.Answer：D2.Fromthepassage,weknowthatitisthatscaredBillJoytodeath?A)robotshavebeenpracticallyrunningtheworld.B)humansareactuallyatthemercyofthemachines.C)humansarefacingafatalsituationthatthemachinesareoutofcontrolgraduallyandthemachineswilloverwhelmthewholeworld.D)humanswillbeexiledfromtheearthbythemachinesandtheyhavetoexploreanotherfixedstar.Answer：C3.Whatdoesthesentence"Idon'tbelieveso,butwearen'ttryingyet..."(inthelastparagraph,line5)indicate?A)Itishightimeforustogiveanendtothenewtechnologies.B)WeshouldceasetoexploretheperilousNantechnology.C)Humanshavetodevotethemselvestosavethewholeworldbycontainingandwreckingthemachines.D)Itisrighttimeforhumanstodominatethehighdevelopingtechnologyeffectivelyandhandleitskillfully.Answer：D4.BillJoyrealizedthesituationthat_____.A)thedaywhentheworldcontrolledbythemachinesisjustroundthecornerB)thehumanworldisontheedgeofanexceedingdangerC)themachinesinthefuturewillbeasperilousasthemassdestructionD)humansarenowontheirwit'sendAnswer：B5.Whichofthefollowingcanbestdescribetheauthor'sattitudetowardsthefuturerelationshipbetweenhumansandmachines?A)Optimistic.B)Pessimistic.C)Confident.D)Indifferent.Answer：BUnit3Thestudyofphilosophiesshouldmakeourownideasflexible.Weareallofusapttotakecertaingeneralideasforgranted,andcallthemcommonsense.Weshouldlearnthatotherpeoplehaveheldquitedifferentideas,andthatourownhavestartedasveryoriginalguessesofphilosophers.Ascientistisapttothinkthatalltheproblemsofphilosophywillultimatelybesolvedbyscience.Ithinkthisistrueforagreatmanyofthequestionsonwhichphilosophersstillargue.Forexample,Platothoughtthatwhenwesawsomething,onerayoflightcametoitfromthesun,andanotherfromoureyesandthatseeingwassomethinglikefeelingwithastick.Wenowknowthatthelightcomesfromthesun,andisreflectedintooureyes.Wedon'tknowinmuchdetailhowthechangesinoureyesgiverisetosensation.Butthereiseveryreasontothinkthataswelearnmoreaboutthephysiologyofthebrain,weshalldoso,andthatthegreatphilosophicalproblemsaboutknowledgearegoingtobeprettyfullyclearedup.Butifourdescendantsknowtheanswerstothesequestionsandothersthatperplexustoday,therewillstillbeonefieldofwhichtheydonotknow,namelythefuture.Howeverexactourscience,wecannotknowitasweknowthepast.Philosophymaybedescribedasargumentaboutthingsofwhichweareignorant.Andwheresciencegivesusahopeofknowledgeitisoftenreasonabletosuspendjudgment.ThatisonereasonwhyMarxandEngelsquiterightlywrotetomanyphilosophicalproblemsthatinterestedtheircontemporaries.Butwehavegottoprepareforthefuture,andwecannotdosorationallywithoutsomephilosophy.Somepeoplesaywehaveonlygottodothedutiesrevealedinthepastandlaiddownbyreligion,andgodwilllookafterthefuture.Othersaythattheworldisamachineandthecourseoffutureeventsiscertain,whatevereffortswemaymake,Marxistssaythatthefuturedependsonourselves,eventhoughwearepartofthehistoricalprocess.Thisphilosophicalviewcertainlydoesinspirepeopletoverygreatachiements.Whetheritistrueornot,itispowerfulguidetoaction.Weneedaphilosophy,then,tohelpustotacklethefuture.Agnosticismeasilybecomesanexcuseforlazinessandconservation.WhetherweadoptMarxismoranyotherphilosophy,wecannotunderstanditwithoutknowingsomethingofhowitdeveloped.ThatiswhyknowledgeofthehistoryofphilosophyisimportanttoMarxism,evenduringthepresentcriticaldays.1.Whatisthemainideaofthispassage?A)Themainideaofthispassageistheargumentwhetherphilosophywillultimatelybesolvedbyscienceornot.B)Theimportanceoflearningphilosophies,especiallythehistoryofphilosophy.C)Thedifferencebetweenphilosophyandscience.D)Adiscussabouthowtosetaproperattitudetowardsfuture.Answer：B2.TheexampleofwhatPlatothoughtinthepassageshowsthat__________.A)thedevelopmentofsciencereallycansolveagreatmanyoftheproblemsonwhichphilosophersstillargueB)PlatoknewnothingaboutPhysicsC)thescientistshaveachievedalotintermsoflighttheoryD)differentpeoplehavedifferentwaysofperceptionAnswer：A3.Whatfieldcanourdescendantsknow?A)Theoriginofhumanbeings.B)Somequestionsthatperplexustoday.C)ManyphilosophicalproblemswhichMarxandEngelswroteratherlittle.D)Thefuture.Answer：D4.Howmanykindsofideasarethereaboutthefuture?A)Two.B)Three.C)Four.D)Five.Answer：B5.Whatarethefunctionsofstudyingphilosophiesmentionedinthepassage?A)Thestudyofphilosophieswouldmakeourownideasflexible.B)Thestudyofphilosophieswouldhelpprepareusforthefutureandguideouractions.C)Thestudyofphilosophieswouldenableustounderstandhowthingsdevelopastobettertacklethefuture.D)Alloftheabove.Answer：DUnit4ThementalhealthmovementintheUnitedStatesbeganwithaperiodofconsiderableenglightenment.DorotheaDixwasshockedtofindthementallyillinjailsandalmshousesandcrusadedfortheestablishmentofasylumsinwhichpeoplecouldreceivehumanecareinhospital-likeenvironmentsandtreatmentwhichmighthelprestorethemtosanity.Bythemid1800s,20stateshadestablishedasylums,butduringthelate1800sandearly1900s,inthefaceofeconomicdepression,legislatureswereunabletoappropriatesufficientfundsfordecentcare.Asylumsbecameovercrowdedandprisonlike.Additionally,patientsweremoreresistanttotreatmentthanthepioneersinthementalhealthfieldhadanticipated,andsecurityandrestraintwereneededtoprotectpatientsandothers.Mentalinstitutionsbecamefrighteninganddepressingplacesinwhichtherightsofpatientswereallbutforgotten.TheseconditionscontinueduntilafterWorldWarII.Atthattime,newtreatmentswerediscoveredforsomemajormentalillnessestheretoforeconsidereduntreatable(pencillinforsyphilisofthebrainandinsulintreatmentforschizophreniaanddepressions),andasuccessionofbooks,motionpictures,andnewspaperexposescalledattentiontotheplightofthementallyill.ImprovementsweremadeandDr.DavidVail'sHumanePracticesProgramisabeaconfortoday.Butchangeswereslowincominguntiltheearly1960s.Atthattime,theCivilRightsmovementledlawyerstoinvestigateAmerica'sprisons,whichweredisproportionatelypopulatedbyblacks,andtheyinturnfollowedprisonersintotheonlyinstitutionsthatwereworsethantheprisons--thehospitalsforthecriminallyinsane.Theprisonswerefilledwithwithangryyoungmenwho,encouragedbylegalsupport,werequicktodemandtheirrights.Thehospitalsforthecriminallyinsane,bycontrast,werepopulatedwithpeoplewhowereconsidered"crazy"andwhowereoftenkeptobedientlyintheirplacethroughtheuseofseverebodilyrestraintsandlargedosesofmajortranquilizers.Theyoungcadreofpublicinterestlawyerslikedtheirroleinthementalhospitals.Thelawyersfoundapopulationthatwasbothpassiveandeasytochampion.Thesewere,afterall,peoplewho,unlikecriminals,haddonenothingwrong.Andinmanystates,theywerebeingkeptinhorrendousinstitutions,aninjustice,whichonceexposed,wasboundtoshockthepublicand,particularly,thejudicialconscience.Patients'rightsgroupssuccessfullyencouragedreformbylobbyinginstatelegislatures.Judicialinterventionhavehadsomedefinitepositiveeffect,butthereisgrowingawarenessthatcourtscannotprovidethestandardsandthereviewmechanismsthatassuregoodpatientcare.Thedetailsofprovidingday-to-daycaresimplycannotbemandatedbyacourt,soitistimetotakefromthecourtstheresponsibilityfordeliveryofmentalhealthcareandassuranceofpatientrightsandreturnittothestatementalhealthadministratorstowhomthemandatewasoriginallygiven.Thoughitisadifficulttask,administratorsmustundertaketowriterulesandstandardsandtoprovidethetrainingandsurveillancetoassurethattreatmentisgivenandpatientrightsarerespected.1.Themainpurposeofthepassageisto_________.A)provideanhistoricalperspectiveonproblemsofmentalhealthcareB)increasepublicawarenessoftheplightofthementallyillC)shockthereaderwithvividdescriptionsofasylumsD)describetheinventionofnewtreatmentsformentalillnessAnswer：A2.Theauthor'sattitudetowardpeoplewhoarepatientsinstateinstitutionscanbestbedescribedas__________.A)inflexibleandinsensitiveB)detachedandneutralC)understandingandsympatheticD)enthusiasticandsupportiveAnswer：C3.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat,hadtheCivilRightsmovementnorpromptedaninvestigationofprisonconditions_________.A)stateswouldneverhaveestablishedasylumsforthementallyillB)newtreatmentsformajormentalillnesswouldhavelikelyremaineduntestedC)theCivilRightsmovementinAmericawouldhavebeenpoliticallyineffectiveD)conditionsinmentalhospitalsmighthaveescapedjudicialscrutinyAnswer：D4.Thetoneofthefinalparagraphcanbestbedescribedas_________.A)overlyemotionalB)cleverlydeceptiveC)cautiouslyoptimisticD)fiercelyindependentAnswer：C5.Accordingtothepassage,mentalhospitalconditionswereradicallychangedbecauseof________.A)asgroupsofyoungangrymeninthe1900sB)activeyounglawyersinthe1960sC)innocentinsanepatients'protestD)powerfulcourtinterventionsAnswer：BU5Whatwillitmeantoknowthecompletehumangenome.EricLanderofMIT'sWhiteheadInsititutecomparesittothediscoveryoftheperiodictableoftheelementsinthelast1800s."Genomicsisnowprovidingbiology'speriodictable."saysLander."Scientistswillknowthateveryphenomenonmustbeexpalinableintermsofthismeanslylist"whichwillinonasingleCD-ROM.AlreadyresearchersareextractingDNAfrompatients,attachingfluorescentmoleculesandsprinklingthesampleonaglasschipwhosesurfaceisspeckledwith10,000knowngenes.Alaserreadsthefluorescence,whichindicateswhichoftheknowngenesonthechipareinthemysterysamplefromthepatient.Inonlythelastfewmonthssuch"gene-expressionmonitoring"hasdiagnosedamuscletumorinaboythoughttohaveleukemia,anddistinguishedbetweentwokindsofcancerthatrequireverydifferentchemotherapy.Butdecodingthebookoflifeposesdauntingmoraldilemmas.Withknowledgeofourgeneticcodewillcomethepowertore-engineerthehumanspecies.Biologistswillbeabletousethegenomeasapartslistmuchascustomersscouralistofchinatoreplacebrokenplatesandmaywellletprospectiveparentschoosetheirunbornchild'straits.Scientistshavesolidleadsongenesfordifferenttemperaments,bodybuilds,staturesandcognitiveabilities.AndifanyonestillbelievesthatparentswillrecoilatprayingGod,andleavetheirbaby'sfateinthehandsofnaturerecallthatcoupleshavealreadycreatedafrenziedmarketineggsfromIvyLeaguewomen.Beyondtheprofoundethicalissuesarepracticalconcerns.Theeasieritistochangeourselvesandourchildren,thelesssocietymaytoleratethosewhodonot;warnsLoriAndrewsofKentCollegeofLaw.Ifgenetictestsinuteruspredictmentaldullness,obesity,shortstatureorotherundesirabletraitsofthemomentwillsocietydisparagechildrenwhoseparentsletthembebornwiththosetraits?Already,Andrewsfinds,somenursesanddoctorsblameparentsforbringingintotheworldachildwhosebirthdefectwasdiagnosablebeforedelivery;howlongwillitbebeforethesamecondemnationappliestocosmeticimperfections?Anevengreaterconcernisthatwellintentionedchoicesbymillionsofindividualparents-to-becouldadduptounforseenconsequencesforallofhumankind.Itjustsohappensthatsomediseasegenesalsoconferresistencetodisease:carryingageneforsicklecellamenia,forinstance,bringsresistencetomalaria.Arewesmartenough,andwiseenough,toknowhowknockingout"bad"geneswillaffectourevolutionasaspecies?1.Themainsimilaritybetweenthebiology'speriodictableandtheperiodictableoftheelementsis_________.A)theyarebothlistsB)theycanbeusedtoexplaineveryphenomenonintheirownfieldsC)theycanbeusedtodiagnosediseasesD)theyarebothusedtocurediseasesAnswer：B2.Inthesecondparagraph,"thebookoflife"refersto__________.A)abookwrittenbyaprophetB)abookwrittenbyabiologistC)theperiodictableoftheelementsD)thehumangenomeAnswer：D3.WecaninferthatsomecouplesareeagertogeteggsfromIvyLeaguewomenbecause_________.A)theycan'tgivebirthtochildrenB)theywanttohaveagood-lookingchildC)theywanttohaveacleverchildD)curiositydrivesthemtodothatAnswer：C4.Itcanbelearnedfromthepassagethat_________.A)"gene-expressionmonitoring"ishelpfulincuringdiseasesB)allofthediseasegenesareharmfultohumanbeingsC)shortpeoplemayalsobelookeddownuponinfutureD)scientistsareencouragedtodoresearchonhumangenomeAnswer：C5.Theauthor'sattitudetowardsknowingthecompletehumangenomecanbedescribedas________.A)criticalB)objectiveC)positiveD)indifferentAnswer：BU6WesternnationsinitiallyignoredRussia'sruthlessmilitarycampaigninChechnyatogainMoscow'ssupportforthewaronterrorism.Now,asreportsofhumanrightsabusesintheregionstreamin,EuropeandAmericaRecentAmnestyInternationalreportsdescribeingruesomedetailtheRussianmilitary'sroleintherapeandtraffickingofChechenwomen.A2001U.S.StateDepartmentreportontraffickinginpersonsdescribedRussiaas"asourcecountryforwomentraffickedforprostitution."Manyofthosewomencomefromwar-tornChechnya.TherearealsoreportsofRussiansoldiersusingChechenciviliansashumanshieldstostormhideoutsofChechenmilitias.ThesedreadfulwarcrimesspeakvolumestothemoralbankruptcyoftheRussianmilitaryestablishment,andcontinuetofueltheChechenyearningforindependence.ShortlyafterSept.11,PresidentPutinmayhaveconvincedtheWesttolooktheotherway.Butthetideisbeginningtoturn.AtaJanuarymeetingoftheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope(PACE)inStrasbourg,Germany,aspecialsessionwasincludedtoaddressthecrisisinChechnya,muctothechagrinoftheRussiandelegation.RussiandelegatesmockedChechenrepresentativeAhmedZakaevv,callinghimarepresentativeofOsamabinLaden.Duringthesameperiod,ameetingtookplacebetweenChechendiplomatIlyasAhmadovandrepresentativesoftheU.S.StateDepartment.Thesehigh-profilemeetingsbetweendelegatesoftheChechenresistanceleadershipandWesternleadersseemtosignaltheendofshort-livedWesternsilence.TheRussiangovernment'sdiplomaticfailuretowinlegitimacyforitswarinChechnyaandtoequateitwiththewarinAfghanistanwasalsomatchedbyaseriesofmilitaryblunderscommittedbyitsforcesontheground.Recently,theRussianmilitaryannouncedtheconclusionofasweepingcrackdownon"terrorists",andclaimedtohavekilledover90Chechenrevels.Shortlyaftertheannouncement,TheIndependent,aLondon-basedpaper,accusedtheRussiangovernmentoffabricatingthenewsofthemilitarycrackdowntocoverupthedeathsof15Russiansoldierskilledbyfriendlyfire.Soonafter,14seniorRussianofficials,includingadeputyinteriorminister,werekilledwhentheirmilitaryhelicoptercrashedduringaflightoverChechnya.ThedeathtollincludedGeneralMikhailRudhenko,whoisinchargeofsecurityinsouthernRussia.ItmayseemasiftheplightoftheChechenpeoplehasnoendinsight.Buttheirdeterminationtobefreeisunmistakable.Russia'satrocitiesinChechnyagobacktothe19thcentury,whenthediminutivebutoil-richregionwasannexedtotheCzaristEmpireafterabloodycampaignofcolonization.Sincethen,theChechenshaveenduredmassdeportationsandmassacres,andhavestaredgenocideintheface.1.EuropeandAmericadidn'tblameRussiaforitsdeedsinChechnyamainlybecause_________.A)RussiadidnothingwronginChechnyabeforeB)theywantedtogainRussia'ssupportforthewaronterrorismC)theydidn'twanttointerveneintoothercountries'affairsD)theywerenotblamedbyadvocatesofhumanrightsAnswer：B2.Theunderlinedword"fabricating"(Paragraph4)mostprobablymean__________.A)concealingB)reportingC)inventingD)postponingAnswer：C3.Whichofthefollowingisincorrectaccordingtothepassage?A)PresidentPutinhasn'tconvincedthewesttobelievethatitswaronChechnyaisproper.B)Inthewesternnation'sopinion,thewarinChechnyaissimilartothatinAfghanistan.C)Chechnyadidn'tbelongtoRussiatwocenturiesago.D)TheChechenshavesufferedalotundertheruleofRussia.Answer：B4.Wecaninferthat_________.A)WesternnationswillblameRussiaforitsruthlessnessinChechnyaB)RussiawillstopmilitarycrackdowninChechnyaC)ChechnyawillbeliberatedafewyearslaterD)ChechnyamaybecomeanallyofwesternstatesinfutureAnswer：A5.Theauthor'sattitudestowardstheChechensis________.A)neutralB)indifferentC)sympatheticD)criticalAnswer：CU7BankofAmerica,holdingcompanyfortheSanFrancisco--basedBankofAmerica,wasonceunchallengedasthenation'sbiggestbankingorganization.Atitspeak,ithadmorebranchesinCalifornia--1,100--thantheU.S.PostalService.Itwasalsoahighlyprofitableenterprise.Butsince1980,BankofAmerica'searningshavebeendownorflat.FromMarch1985toMarch1986,forexample,earningspersharedropped50.8percent.SamuelH.Armacost,presidentandCEO,hasconfessedthathedoesn'texpectaturnaroundsoon.SomeofBankofAmerica'soldmagicseemstohaverubbedoffonNewYork'sCitibank,perennialrivalfortopbankinghonors.Thankstoaggressivegrowthpolicies,Citicorp'sassetstoppedBankofAmerica'sforthefirsttimein1983--andbyahealthymargin.Citibankhasalsobeengeneratingprofitsatafastclip,enablingittospendlavishlyoncampaignstoenternewmarkets--notablyBankofAmerica'sturfinCalifornia.ThebadtimesBankofAmericaiscurrentlyfacingarepartlytheresultofthegoodtimesthebankenjoyedearlier.Basedinalargeandpopulousstateandoperatinginaregulatedenvironment,BankofAmericathrived.Beforederegulation,bankscouldnotcompetebyofferingsaversahigherreturn,sotheycompetedwithconvinience.Withabranchateverycrossroads,BankofAmericawasabletoattract40percentoftheCaliforniadepositmarket--asourceofhighearningswhenthelegalmaximumpayabletodepositorswasmuchlowerthantheinterestonloans.TheprogressivederegulationofbankingforcedBankofAmericatofightforitscustomersbyofferingthemcompetitiverates.Buthowcouldthismammothbureaucracy,withitsexpensiveoverhead,offerratesasattractiveasitsloanercompetitors?PruningtheestablishmentwasforemostinthemindsofBankofAmericapolicymakers.Butcutbackshaveproceededslowly.Althoughthebankisplanningtoconsolidatebyofferingfullservicesonlyinkeybranches,sofaronlyabout40brancheshavebeenclosed.Cutbacksthroughattritionhavereducedtheworkforcefrom83,000tofewerthan73,000;wholesalelayoffs,itseems,wouldnotfitthetraditionoftheorganization.Andtheywouldintensifythemoraleproblemsthatalreadythreatentheinstitution.1.Accordingtothepassage,NewYork'sCitibank_________.A)isadarkhorseinthefieldofbankingB)hasbeengrowinginamoderatewayC)hasbeenmakingeffortstoconquerthemarketsofBankofAmericaD)hasmorebranchesthanBankofAmericanowAnswer：C2.WhichofthefollowingisNOTthereasonforwhichBankofAmericathrived?A)It'sturf--Californiawasastatewithalargenumberofpopulation.B)Theeconomicenvironmentthatwascontrolledbythegovernment.C)Itsdeposit