BEC商务英语中级阅读精品讲议

　　试题1

　　PART TWO

　　Questions 8-12

　　 Readthis letter to the editor of The Economist.

　　 Choose the best sentence from the list A-I to fill each of the blanks.

　　 For each bland(8-12) mark one letter (A-I) on your Answer Sheet.

　　 Do not mar4 any letter twice.

　　 One answer has been given as an example.

　　Sir,

　　You state on February 13th that New Mexicohas “few natural resources”, ____ example____ In 1991 New Mexicorankedfourth in the UnitedStatesin production of natural gas, seventh in oil andtenth in non-fuel minerals ____8____ Non-fuel minerals contributedabout $ 1 billion andcoal $ 509 million.

　　Taxes from production of fuels andminerals, andlease payments on state lands have been set aside by legislative acts to endow two permanent funds worth about $ 5.65 billion, ____9____ In addition, during fiscal year 1991 , payments to New Mexico from taxes on federal lands were S 108 million, all earmarkedfor public education.

　　____10____ About $566 million came from taxes andpermanent-fundearnings attributable to oil andgas production. ____11____ Tourism is an important industry in Mew Mexico, yet its economic impact on the public sector is dwarfedby that of mineral production.

　　New Mexicocame through the recent recession in much better shape than most other states. It does not have a deficit. ____12____ States that rely primarily on a sales tax or on an income tax have big problems during economic downturns. Income growth per headin New Mexicoaveraged6.1/00 inthe year to October 1992-one if the fastest growth rates in the UnitedStates.

　　Charles Chapin

　　Example: C

　　A. That it has a broadly basedtax structure is an important point.
　　B. In 1992 it producedmore oil than ColoradoandKansascombined.
　　C. However, the extractive mineral industry in New Mexicois one of the state’s strongest economic forces.
　　D. During fiscal year 1992 New Mexicoraisedpermanent funds worth about $6.1 billion.
　　E. The combinedvalue of oil andgas production was $ 2.8 billion.
　　F. Some 16,000 employees work in the extractive industries andtheir wages are among the highest of any major industry.
G. The $39 million earned by these funds in 1991 was used to finance education and other public services.
H. Only S 25 million came from agricultural taxes.
I. New Mexico’s extractive mineral industries contribute about a third of the state’s $ 1.9 billion general-fund income in fiscal year 1991.

答案：8. E 9. G 10.I 11. F 12. A