英语考试网 > 考研英语 > 考研英语资料 > |
2009年考研英语阅读理解精读100篇（高分版）TEXT9 |
在经过半年多时间的痛苦创作之后，我也可以长长的松一口气，如期向我的学生们兑现6月份来我博客免费下载《2009考研英语阅读理解精读100篇（高分版）》的承诺了。本书共分为25个单元，每个单元有4篇文章，难度偏高。主要适合的考研人群为业已通过四级考试并希望能在考研英语考试中考取70分以上成绩的考生。希望考研的XDJM们再接再厉，每个人都能取得好成绩。
TEXT NINE
Scores of workers from MTV Networks walked off the job yesterday afternoon, filling the sidewalk outside the headquarters of its corporate parent, Viacom, to protest recent changes in benefits. The walkout highlighted the concerns of a category of workers who are sometimes called permalancers: permanent freelancers who work like full-time employees but do not receive the same benefits.
Waving signs that read ’’Shame on Viacom,’’ the workers, most of them in their 20s, demanded that MTV Networks reverse a plan to reduce health and dental benefits for freelancers beginning Jan. 1. In a statement, MTV Networks noted that its benefits program for full-time employees had also undergone changes, and it emphasized that the plan for freelancers was still highly competitive within the industry. Many freelancers receive no corporate benefits. But some of the protesters asserted that corporations were competing to see which could provide the most mediocre health care coverage. Matthew Yonda, who works at Nickelodeon, held a sign that labeled the network ’’Sick-elodeon.’’ ’’I’ve worked here every day for three years -- I’m not a freelancer,’’ Mr. Yonda said. ’’They just call us freelancers in order to bar us from getting the same benefits as employees.’’
The changes to the benefits package were announced last Tuesday. Freelancers were told that they would become eligible for benefits after 160 days of work, beginning in January. While that eased previous eligibility rules, which required freelancers to work for 52 weeks before becoming eligible, it would have required all freelancers not yet eligible for benefits to start the waiting period over again on Jan. 1. The 401(k) plan was also removed. On Thursday, acknowledging the complaints, MTV Networks reinstated the 401(k) plan and said freelancers who had worked consistently since March would be eligible.
Fueled by a series of blog posts on the media Web site Gawker -- the first post was headlined ’’The Viacom Permalance Slave System’’ -- a loose cohort of freelancers created protest stickers and distributed walkout fliers last week. Caroline O’Hare, a unit manager who has worked for MTV for more than two years, said the new health care plan -- with higher deductibles and a $2,000 cap on hospital expenses each year -- had provoked outrage. ’’They think they can treat us like children that don’t have families, mortgages or dreams of retirement,’’ she said.
Outside Viacom’s headquarters, several workers held posters with the words, ’’There’s too many of us to ignore.’’ It was unclear how many freelancers are on the company’s payroll; an MTV Networks spokeswoman said the figure was not known because it rises and falls throughout the year. The company has 5,500 full-time employees, excluding freelancers, around the world.
Two freelancers and one full-time employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, estimated that the percentage of freelancers in some departments exceeded 75 percent. Another labor action is expected to take place outside Viacom later this week. Members of the Writers Guild of America, who have been on strike for five weeks, are expected to picket there on Thursday.
1．Which one of the following statements is NOT true of MTV Networks’ new benefits plan for freelancers?
[A] Its benefits plan for freelancers is highly competitive in the industry.
[B] Its freelancers cannot receive the same benefits as the full-time employees.
[C] The freelancers who are not eligible for benefits should start the waiting period over again on Jan. 1.
[D] The freelancers are against the new plan which substantially but their benefit
2. According to the new benefits program of MTV Networks, the following freelancers are eligible for benefits except_____.
[A] those who have worked for 160 days
[B] those who have worked for 1 year.
[C] those who have worked since March.
[D] those who have worked since Jan. 1.
3.The word "reinstate" (Line 5, Paragraph 3) most probably means_____.
[A] redesign
[B] restore
[C] repair
[D] reset
4. The MTV Networks spokeswoman did not provide the number of freelancers on the payroll mostly probably because_____.
[A] the figure fluctuates throughout the year and it is impossible to calculate the precise number
[B] the company wants to keep it as a secret so as to better stand the protest
[C] the company has no record of the freelancers since there is no such necessity
[D] the company does not want to provide the freelancers with benefits enjoyed by the full-time employee.
5. Towards MTV Networks’ change on the benefits plan, the author’s attitude can be said to be_____.
[A] affirmative
[B] negative
[C] biased
[D] neutral
文章剖析：
这篇文章介绍了MTV网络公司修改其对于雇用的自由职员的福利待遇方案的调整以及引起的反响。文章第一段第二段介绍MTV网络公司的自由职员举行罢工游行的情况；第三段讲述福利方案调整的一些内容；第四段讲述其他的一些抗议形式；第五段第六段是关于MTV网络公司雇用的自由职员的数量的一些情况。
词汇注释：
freelancer n. 自由职业者
reverse v. 撤销或取消
mediocre adj. 普通的，劣等的
retribution n. 惩罚，报偿
reinstate n. 恢复
cohort n. 一群一群或一帮人
sticker n. 张贴物
flier n. 传单
deductible n. 扣除条款,保险单内的条款之一，免除保险人对被保险户承受的损失赔偿最初的规定的金额
picket v. 派出纠察员，在罢工或示威期间设置一个或几个纠察队
难句突破：
(1) Waving signs that read ’’Shame on Viacom,’’ the workers, most of them in their 20s, demanded that MTV Networks reverse a plan to reduce health and dental benefits for freelancers beginning Jan. 1.
[主体句式] The workers demanded that...来源：考试大
[结构分析] 这是一个复合句，前面的现在分词短语作为主语的伴随状语；most of them in their 20s是主语的同位语；谓语demand后是一个宾语从句，在该从句中，beginning Jan 1是一个现在分词短语作a plan的定语。
[句子译文] 这些工人大多数都是二十多岁，他们手中挥舞着写有"Viacom 无耻"的标语，要求MTV网络收回于1月1日开始实施的减少自由职业者健康和牙齿医疗方面福利的计划。
(2)While that eased previous eligibility rules, which required freelancers to work for 52 weeks before becoming eligible, it would have required all freelancers not yet eligible for benefits to start the waiting period over again on Jan. 1.
[主体句式] While that ... it would have...
[结构分析] 这是一个并列句，前半分句中有一个which 引导的非限定定于从句修饰previous eligibility rules,后半分句中not yet eligible for benefits 是后置定语用来修饰all freelancers。
[句子译文] 虽然这样一来放宽了以前的资格规定（该规定要求自由职业者在成为合格人员前必须工作52周），但却要求所有还未有资格享受福利的自由职业者从1月1日重新开始计算等待期。
 2009年考研英语阅读理解精读100篇（高分版）TEXT8
 2009年考研英语阅读理解精读100篇（高分版）TEXT10
| | 来源： 时间：2008-07-19 点击:16
[返回顶部↑] | | | |
| 赞助商链接 |
| |
|
英语四级考试 英语六级考试 考研英语 职称英语考试 金融英语考试 公共英语考试 商务英语考试 托福英语考试 雅思英语考试 英语专业四级 英语专业八级 GMAT