專業(yè)英語八級真題1998年+附答案詳解

專業(yè)英語八級真題1998年+附答案詳解TESTFORENGLISHMAJORS(1998)—GRADEEIGHTPAPERONEPARTⅠLISTENINGCOMPREHENSION(40MIN.)InSectionsA,BandCyouwillheareverythingonceonly.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.SECTIONATALKQuestions1to5refertothetalkinthissection.Attheendofthetalkyouwillbegiven15secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentothetalk.1.Accordingtothetalk,compulsivegamblingandalcoholicaddictionsharesimilaritiesbecauseA.noactualfigureofaddictshasbeenreported.B.noscientificstudieshaveyieldedeffectivesolutions.C.bothaffectallsectorsofsociety.D.bothcauseseriousmentalhealthproblems.2.ThedevelopmentofthegamblingcompulsioncanbedescribedasbeingA.gradual.B.slow.C.periodic.D.radical.robberisherA.manners.B.talkativeness.C.height.D.jewelry.8.TheintervieweeisbelievedtobeabankA.receptionist.B.manager.C.customer.D.cashier.9.WhichofthefollowingaboutthetworobbersisNOTtrue?A.Bothwerewearingdarksweaters.B.Neitherwaswearingglasses.C.Bothwereaboutthesameage.D.Oneofthemwasmarkedbyascar.10.AftertheincidenttheintervieweesoundedA.calmandquiet.B.nervousandnumb.C.timidandconfused.D.shockedandangry.SECTIONCNEWSBROADCASTQuestions11and12arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.11.Accordingtothenews,theenormousfoodshortageinIraqhasthemostdamagingeffectonitsA.nationaleconomy.B.adultpopulation.C.youngchildren.D.nationalcurrency.12.TheWFPisappealingtodonornationstoA.doublelastyear'sfood-aid.B.raise$122millionforIraqipeople.C.provideeachIraqifamilywith$26amonth.D.helpIraq's12millionpopulation.Question13isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestion.Nowlistentothenews.13.Asaresultoftheagreement,thetwocountries'arsenalsaretobeA.upgradedinreliabilityandsafety.B.reducedinsizeandnumber.C.dismantledpartlylaterthisyear.D.maintainedintheirpresentconditions.Questions14and15arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthetwoquestions.Nowlistentothenews.14.Wecaninferfromthenewsthat____________ofteenagersundersurveyin1993weredrugusers.A.28%B.22%C.25%D.21%15.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECT?A.Parentsareaskedtojoinintheanti-drugefforts.B.TheuseofbothcocaineandLSDareontheincrease.C.Teenagersholdadifferentviewofdrugstoday.D.Marijuanaisaspowerfulasitusedtobe.SECTIONDNOTE-TAKINGANDGAP-FILLINGInthissectionyouwillhearamini-lecture.Youwillhearthelectureonceonly.Whilelisteningtothelecture,takenotesontheimportantpoints.Yournoteswillnotbemarked,butyouwillneedthemtocompletea15-minutegap-fillingtaskonANSWERSHEETafterthemini-lecture.Usetheblankpaperfornote-taking.ANSWERSHEETTheRiseofRPHistoricalreasonsReceivedpronunciationwasoriginallyassociatedwitha(1)spokenintheregionbetweencentralEnglandandLondon,includingOxfordandCambridge.Itssurvivalwasduetoitsusebythe(2)inthe14thcenturyandbyuniversitystudentsinthe(3)Ages.Itsriseinimportanceresultedfromitsapplicationingovernmentandofficialdocuments.Theprestigeofits(4)patternofpronunciationcameaboutwithitsusein(5)schoolsinthe19thcentury.Asaresult,its(6)isacceptedbytelevisionandtheradio,theprofessionsandteachingEnglishasaforeignlanguage.ThreecharacteristicsofRP1)itsspeakersdon'tregardthemselvesasconnectedwithanygeographicalregion;2)RPislargelyusedinEngland;3)RPisa"class"accent,associatedwith(7)socialclasses.ItspresentstatusDeclineintheprestigeofRPistheresultofa)lossofmonopolyofeducationbytheprivileged;b)(8)ofhigheducationinthepost-warperiod.However,itstillretainsitseminenceamongcertainprofessionalpeople.Thereisariseinthestatusofall(9)accents.Wearemovingtowardsthe(10)position:generalacceptanceofallregionalaccentsandabsenceofaclassaccentthattranscendsallregions.PARTⅡPROOFREADINGANDERRORCORRECTION(15MIN.)ProofreadthegivenpassageonANSWERSHEETasinstructed.ThefollowingpassagecontainsTENerrors.Eachlinecontainsamaximumofoneerror.Ineachcase,onlyonewordisinvolved.Youshouldproofreadthepassageandcorrectit.Whenahumaninfantisbornintoanycommunityinanypartoftheworldithastwothingsincommonwithanyinfant,providedneitherofthem(1)________havebeendamagedinanywayeitherbeforeorduringbirth.Firstly,and(2)________mostobviously,newbornchildrenarecompletelyhelpless.Apartfromapowerfulcapacitytopayattentiontotheirhelplessnessbyusingsound,there(3)________isnothingthenewbornchildcandotoensurehisownsurvival.Withoutcarefromsomeotherhumanbeingorbeings,beitmother,grandmother,orhumangroup,achildisveryunlikelytosurvive.Thishelplessnessofhumaninfantsisinmarkedcontrastwiththecapacityofmanynewbornanimalstogetontheirfeetwithinminutesofbirthandrunwithherdwithinafew(4)________hours.Althoughyounganimalsarecertainlyinrisk,sometimesforweeks(5)________orevenmonthsafterbirth,comparedwiththehumaninfanttheyveryquicklygrowthecapacitytofendforthem.(6)________Itisduringthisverylongperiodinwhichthehumaninfantistotallydependentontheothersthatitrevealsthesecondfeaturewhichitshares(7)________withallotherundamagedhumaninfants,acapacitytolearnlanguage.Forthisreason,biologistsnowsuggestthatlanguagebe"speciesspecific"tothe(8)________humanrace,thatistosay,theyconsiderthehumaninfanttobegenetic(9)________programmedinsuchwaythatitcanacquirelanguage.(10)________Thissuggestionimpliesthatjustashumanbeingsaredesignedtoseethree-dimentionallyandincolour,andjustastheyaredesignedtostanduprightratherthantomoveonallfours,sotheyaredesignedtolearnanduselanguageaspartoftheirnormaldevelopmentsaswell-formedhumanbeings.PARTⅢREADINGCOMPREHENSION(40MIN.)SECTIONAREADINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN.)Inthissectiontherearefivereadingpassagesfollowedbyatotaloffifteenmultiplechoicequestions.Readthepassagesandthenanswerthequestions.TEXTAOnSociety1Lowself-esteempopsupregularlyinacademicreportsasanexplanationforallsortsofviolence,fromhatecrimesandstreetcrimestoterrorism.Butdespitethepopularityoftheexplanation,notmuchevidencebacksitup.InarecentissueofPsychologicalReview,threeresearchersexaminethisliteratureatlengthandconcludethatamuchstrongerlinkconnectshighself-esteemtoviolence."Itisdifficulttomaintainbeliefinthelowself-esteemviewafterseeingthatthemoreviolentgroupsaregenerallytheoneswithhigherself-esteem,"writeRoyBaumeisterofCaseWesternReserveUniversityandLauraSmartandJosephBodenoftheUniversityof2Theconventionalviewisthatpeoplewithoutself-esteemtrytogainitbyhurtingothers.Theresearchersfindthatviolenceismuchmoreoftentheworkofpeoplewithunrealisticallyhighself-esteemattackingotherswhochallengetheirself-image.Underthisumbrellacomebullies,rapists,racists,psychopathsandmembersofstreetgangsandorganizedcrime.3Thestudyconcludes,"Certainformsofhighself-esteemseemtoincreaseone'spronenesstoviolence.Anuncriticalendorsementoftheculturalvalueofself-esteemmaythereforebecounterproductiveandevendangerous...Thesocietalpursuitofhighself-esteemforeveryonemayliterallyendupdoingconsiderableharm."4Asforprisonprogramsintendedtomakeviolentconvictsfeelbetteraboutthemselves,"perhapsitwouldbebettertotryinstillingmodestyandhumility,"theresearcherswrite.5InaninterviewwiththeBostonGlobe,Baumeistersaidhebelievesthe"self'-promotingestablishmentisstartingtocrumble."Whatwouldworkbetterforthecountryistoforgetaboutself-esteemandconcentrateonself-control,'hesaid.6Intheschools,thiswouldmeanturningawayfrompsychicboosterismandemphasizingself-esteemasaby-productofrealachievement,notasanendinitself.Theself-esteemmovement,stillentrenchedinschoolsofeducation,isdeeplyimplicatedinthedumbingdownofourschools,andinthespuriousequalitybehindtheideathatitisaterriblepsychicblowifonestudentdoesanybetteroranyworsethananother.Let'shopeitisindeedcrumbling.16.TheresearchersfindthattherearestrongerconnectionsbetweenA.lowself-esteemandviolence.B.lowself-cotrolandviolence.C.highself-imageandviolence.D.highself-controlandviolence.17.TheresearcherswouldmostprobablyagreewiththefollowingEXCEPTA.self-esteemshouldbepromotedandencouraged.B.schoolsshouldchangetheirconceptofself-esteem.C.thetraditionalviewisbeginningtoloseground.D.prisonsshouldchangetheirpresentpractice.TEXTB1Socialchangeismorelikelytooccurinheterogeneoussocietiesthaninhomogeneousones,simplybecausetherearemorediversepointsofviewavailableintheformer.Therearemoreideas,moreconflictsofinterest,andmoregroupsandorganizationsofdifferentpersuasions.Inaddition,thereisusuallyagreaterworldlyinterestandtoleranceinheterogeneoussocieties.Allthesefactorstendtopromotesocialchangebyopeningmoreareasoflifetodecisionratherthansubjectingthemtoauthority.Inaquitehomogeneoussociety,therearefeweroccasionsforpeopletoperceivetheneedortheopportunityforchange,becauseeverythingseemstobethesameand,ifnotsatisfactory,atleastcustomaryandundisputed.2Withinasociety,socialchangeisalsolikelytooccurmorefrequentlyandmorereadily(1)inthematerialaspectsoftheculturethaninthenon-material,forexample,intechnologyratherthaninvalues;(2)inwhathasbeenlearnedlaterinliferatherthanwhatwaslearnedearly;(3)inthelessbasic,lessemotional,orlesssacredaspectsofsocietythanintheiropposites,likereligionorasystemofprestige;(4)inthesimpleelementsratherthaninthecomplexones;(5)informratherthaninsubstance;and(6)inelementscongenialtothecultureratherthaninstrangeelements.3Furthermore,socialchangeiseasierifitisgradual.Forexample,itcomesmorereadilyinhumanrelationsonacontinuousscaleratherthanonewithsharpdichotomies.ThisisonereasonwhychangehasnotcomemorequicklytoBlackAmericansascomparedtootherAmericanminorities,becauseofthesharpdifferenceinappearancebetweenthemandtheirwhitecounterparts.18.Accordingtothepassage,themaindifferencebetweenahomogeneoussocietyandaheterogeneousoneliesinA.thenumberofopportunitiesoffered.B.thenatureofconflictsofinterest.C.theawarenessoftheneedforchange.D.theroleofsocialorganizations.19.TheauthorwouldmostprobablyagreethatchangesaremorelikelytobesuccessfulinA.productionmethods.B.ideologicalconcepts.C.religiousbeliefs.D.socialbehaviour.TEXTC1Oneargumentusedtosupporttheideathatemploymentwillcontinuetobethedominantformofwork,andthatemploymentwilleventuallybecomeavailableforallwhowantit,isthatworkingtimewillcontinuetofall.Peopleinjobswillworkfewerhoursintheday,fewerdaysintheweek,fewerweeksintheyear,andfeweryearsinalifetime,thantheydonow.Thiswillmeanthatmorejobswillbeavailableformorepeople.This,itissaid,isthewayweshouldsetaboutrestoringfullemployment.2Thereisnodoubtthatsomethingofthiskindwillhappen.Theshorterworkingweek,longerholidays,earlierretirement,job-sharing—theseandotherwaysofreducingtheamountoftimepeoplespendontheirjobs—arecertainlylikelytospread.Amixofparttimepaidworkandpart-timeunpaidworkislikelytobecomeamuchmorecommonworkpatternthantoday,andaflexi-lifepatternofwork—involvingpaidemploymentatcertainstagesoflife,butnotatothers—willbecomewidespread.Butitissurelyunrealistictoassumethatthiswillmakeitpossibletorestorefullemploymentasthedominantformofwork.3Inthefirstplace,solongasemploymentremainstheoverwhelminglyimportantformofworkandsourceofincomeformostpeople,itisverydifficulttoseehowreductionsinemployees'workingtimecantakeplaceonascalesufficientlylargeandatapacesufficientlyfasttomakeitpossibletoshareouttheavailablepaidemploymenttoeveryonewhowantsit.Suchnegotiationsastherehaverecentlybeen,forexampleinBritainandGermany,aboutthepossibilityofintroducinga35-hourworkingweek,havehighlightedsomeofthedifficulties.But,secondly,ifchangesofthiskindweretotakeplaceatapaceandonascalesufficienttomakeitpossibletoshareemploymentamongallwhowantedit,theresultingsituation—inwhichmostpeoplewouldnotbeworkingintheirjobsformorethantwoorthreeshortdaysaweek—couldhardlycontinuetobeoneinwhichemploymentwasstillregardedastheonlytrulyvalidformofwork.Therewouldbesomanypeoplespendingsomuchoftheirtimeonotheractivities,includingotherformsofusefulwork,thattheprimacyofemploymentwouldbeboundtobecalledintoquestion,atleasttosomeextent.20.TheauthorusesthenegotiationsinBritainandGermanyasanexampletoA.supportreductionsinemployees'workingtime.B.indicateemployeesareunwillingtosharejobs.C.provethepossibilityofsharingpaidemployment.D.howthatemploymentwillloseitsdominance.21.AttheendofthepassagetheauthorseemstoimplythatasaresultofshorterworkingtimeA.employmentmaynotretainitsusualimportance.B.employmentmaynotberegardedasvalidwork.C.peoplecanbeengagedinfarlessunpaidwork.D.peoplecanbeengagedinfarmoreunpaidwork.22.Theauthor'sattitudetowardsfuturefullemploymentisgenerallyA.supportive.B.wavering.C.skeptical.D.unclear.TEXTD1DuringtheearlystagesoftheIndustrialRevolution,advertisingwasarelativelystraightforwardmeansofannouncementandcommunicationandwasusedmainlytopromotenoveltiesandfringeproducts.Butwhenfactoryproductiongotintofullswingandnewproducts,cessedfoods,cameontothemarket,nationaladvertisingcampaignsandbrandnamingofproductsbecamenecessary.Beforelarge-scalefactoryproduction,thetypicalmanufacturingunithadbeensmallandadaptableandthetaskofdistributingandsellinggoodshadlargelybeenundertakenbywholesalers.Thesmallnon-specializedfactorywhichdidnotrelyonmassiveinvestmentinmachineryhadbeenflexibleenoughtoadaptitsproductionaccordingtochangesinpublicdemands.2Buttheeconomicdepressionwhichlastedfrom1873to1894markedaturningpointbetweentheoldmethodofindustrialorganizationanddistributionandthenew.Fromthebeginningofthenineteenthcenturyuntilthe1870s,productionhadsteadilyexpandedandtherehadbeenacorrespondinggrowthinretailoutlets.Butthedepressionbroughtonacrisisofover-productionandunder-consumption—manufacturedgoodspiledupunsoldandpricesandprofitsfell.Towardstheendofthecenturymanyofthesmallindustrialfirmsrealizedthattheywouldbeinabetterpositiontoweathereconomicdepressionsandslumpsiftheycombinedwithothersmallbusinessesandwidenedtherangeofgoodstheyproducedsothatalltheireggswerenotinonebasket.Theyalsorealizedthattheywouldhavetotakestepstoensurethatoncetheirgoodshadbeenproducedtherewasamarketforthem.Thisperiodusheredinthefirstphaseofwhateconomistsnowcall"monopolycapitalism",which,roughlyspeaking,referstothecontrolofthemarketbyasmallnumberofgiant,conglomerateenterprises.Whereaspreviouslycompetitivetradinghadbeenconductedbysmallrivalfirms,afterthedepressionthelargermanufacturingunitsandcombinesreliedmoreandmoreonmassadvertisingtopromotetheirnewrangeofproducts.3Agoodexampleofthechangesthatoccurredinmanufactureanddistributionattheturnofthecenturycanbefoundinthesoaptrade.Fromaboutthe1850sthemarkethadbeenfloodedwithanonymousbarsofsoap,producedbyhundredsofsmallmanufacturersanddistributedbywholesalersanddoor-to-doorsellers.Competitiongrewsteadilythroughoutthelatterhalfofthecenturyandeventuallytheleadingcompaniesembarkedonmoreaggressivesellingmethodsinordertotakecustomersawayfromtheirrivals.Forinstance,thefutureLordLeverhulmedecidedto"brand"hissoapbysellingitindistinctivepackagesinordertofacilitaterecognitionandencouragecustomerloyalty.4LordLeverhulmewasoneofthefirstindustrialiststorealizethatadvertisementsshouldcontain"logicalandconsidered"argumentsaswellaseye-catchingandwittyslogans.Manyadvertisersfollowedhisleadandstartedtoinclude"reason-why"copyintheirads.Forexample,onecontemporaryPearssoapadwentintogreatdetailabouthowtheproductcouldenhancemaritalblissbycuttingdownthetimethewifehadtospendwithherarmsinabowloffrothysuds.AndanadforCadbury'scocoanotonlyproclaimeditspuritybutalsodetailedotherbenefits."fortheinfantitisadelightandasupportsfortheyounggirl,asourceofhealthyvigour;fortheyoungMissinherteensavaluableaidtodevelopment..."andsoon.AsthewriterE.S.Turnerrightlypointsout,theadvertisingofthisperiodhadreachedthe"stageofpersuasionasdistinctfromproclamation".Indeedadvertiseorbustseemedtobetheruleofthedayasbiggerandmoreexpensivecampaignsweremountedandsmallerfirmswhodidnot,orcouldnot,advertise,weresqueezedorboughtoutbythelargercompanies.23.AnexampleofaproductwhichmightwellhavebeenadvertisedduringtheearlystagesoftheIndustrialRevolutionisA.acookingutensil.B.newchild'stoy.C.tinnedfruit.D.householdsoap.24.OneofthemoreaggressivesellingmethodsinthesoaptradebytheleadingcompanieswastoA.buyoutsmallfirms.B.takeoverdistribution.C.resorttoproductdesigning.D.keepcontactwiththeircustomers.25.Inadditiontodistinctivepackaging,contemporaryproductsshouldalsoA.drawcustomers'attentiontotheirbenefits.B.makecustomersawareoftheirattractiveness.C.displaydetailsofthemainingredients.D.focusonproclamationandpromotion.TEXTEPardonme:howareyourmanners?1Thedeclineofcivilityandgoodmannersmaybeworryingpeoplemorethancrime,accordingtoGentilityRecalled,editedbyDigbyAnderson,whichlamentsthebreakdownoftraditionalcodesthatonceregulatedsocialconduct.Itcriticizesthefactthat"manners"arescornedasrepressiveandoutdated.2Theresult,accordingtoMr.Anderson—directoroftheSocialAffairsUnit,anindependentthink-tank—isasocietycharacterizedbyrudeness,loutishbehavioronthestreets,jostlingincrowds,impoliteshopassistantsandbad-tempereddrivers.3Mr.Andersonsaysthecumulativeeffectofthese—apparentlytrivial,butoftenoffensive-istomakeeverydaylifeuneasy,unpredictableandunpleasant.Astheyareencounteredfarmoreoftenthancrime,theycancausemoreanxietythancrime.4Whenpeoplelamentthedisintegrationoflawandorder,heargues,whattheygenerallymeanisorder,asmanifestedbycourteousformsofsocialcontact.Meanwhile,attemptstore-establishrestraintandself-controlthrough"politicallycorrect"rulesareartificial.5Thebookhascontributionsfrom12academicsindisciplinesrangingfrommedicinetosociologyandchartswhatitcallsthe"coarsening"ofBritain.Old-fashionedtermssuchas"gentleman"and"lady"havelostallmeaningfulresonanceandneedtobere-evaluated,itsays.RachelTrickett,honoraryfellowandformerprincipalofStHugh'sCollege,Oxford,saysthatthenotionofa"lady"protectswomenratherthandemeaningthem.6Feminismanddemandsforequalityhaveblurredthedistinctionsbetweenthesexes,creatingsituationswheremenareabletodominatewomenbecauseoftheirmoreaggressiveandforcefulnatures,shesays,"Women,withoutsomecodeofdeferenceorrespect,becomeincreasinglyvictims."7CarolineMoore,thefirstwomanfellowofPeterhouse,Cambridge,pointsoutthat"gentleman"isnowusedonlywithironyorderision.8"Thepopularviewofagentlemanispoisedsomewherebetweentheimbecileparasiteandthevillainousone:betweenWoosteresquechinlesswonders,andthoseheartlesscapitalisttoffswhoare...thestock-in-tradeoftelevision."9Shearguesthattheconceptisneitherclass-boundnorrigidconventionsofgentlemanlybehaviorenableamantoactnaturallyasanindividualwithinsharedassumptionswhiletakinghisplaceinsociety.10"Politenessisnoconstraint,preciselybecausethemanners..,areno'code'butalanguage,rich,flexible,restrainedandinfinitelysubtle."11ForAnthonyO'Hear,professorofphilosophyattheUniversityof12Egalitarianism,hesays,hasledtopeoplefailingtoacttheirage."Wehavevice-chancellorswithearrings,aristocratsashippies...thetrendyvicaronhismotorbike."13Dr.AthenaLeoussi,sociologylectureratReading14Dress,shesays,istheoutwardexpressionofattitudesandaspirations.Theubiquitousnessofjeans"displaysautilitarianattitude"thathas"ledtotheculturalimpoverishmentofeverydaylife".15Dr.Leoussisaysthatwhileclothesusedtobeseenasameansofconcealingtabooforcesofsexualityandviolence,certainfashions—suchasleatherjackets—havetheoppositeeffect.16Dr.BruceCharlton,alecturerinpublichealthmedicineinNewcastleuponTyne,takesissuewiththeexcessiveinformalityofrelationsbetweenprofessionalssuchasdoctorsandbankmanagers,andtheirclients.Hesaysthishaserodedthedistanceandrespectnecessaryinsuchrelationships.ForTristamEngelhardt,professorofmedicineinHouston,17"Mannersexpressaparticularsetofvalues,"hesays,"Goodmannersinterpretandtransformsocialreality.Theyprovidesocialorientation."26.Accordingtothepassage,thedeclineofgoodmannersismoreworryingbecauseA.itleadstomorecrimeinsociety.B.peopleviewmannersasold-fashioned.C.rudenessonthestreetcannotbestemmedout.D.itcanseriouslyaffectourdailylife.27.RachelTrickettseemstoindicatetheterm"lady"A.hasacquiredadifferentmeaning.B.istooold-fashionedtouse.C.ispreferredbyfeminists.D.victimizeswomeninsociety.28.AccordingtoCarolineMoore,themediahasprojecteda__________imageofthegentleman.A.humorousB.favorableC.negativeD.traditional29.InAnthonyO'Hear'sview,awellmanneredpersonA.actsrashlywhenheisyoung.B.tendstobebad-temperedinoldage.C.behaveswithasenseofappropriacy.D.attachesimportancetohisstatus.30.Dr.BruceCharltonwouldprobablyprefertoseeamorefomalrelationshipA.amongdoctors.B.amongmanagers.C.betweendoctorsandmanagers.D.betweendoctorsandpatients.SECTIONBSKIMMINGANDSCANNING(10MIN.)Inthissectiontherearesevenpassagesfollowedbytenmultiple-choicequestions.Skimorscanthemasrequiredandthenanswerthequestions.TEXTFFirstreadthefollowingquestion.31.ThePresidentofAssociationofAmericanrailroadswrotethelettertoA.complainaboutpublicignoranceofitseffortstoimprovetheservice.B.criticizeU.S.Newsfornotreportingitseffortstoimprovethesafetyrecord.C.informthepublicofwhatithasachievedoverthepastdecade.D.thankU.S.Newsforinformingthepublicofitseffortstoreduceaccidentrate.NowgothroughTEXTFquicklyandanswerquestion31.December20th199_DearEditor,TheAmericanrailroadindustry'scommitmenttosafetyisdemonstratedbyasteadilydecliningaccidentrateoverthepastdecade.Theaccidentratepermilliontrainmileshasbeenreducedby55percentsince1981and21percentsince1990.In11ofthepast16years,therailpassengerfatalityratewaslowerthanorthesameastheairlinerate.Inaddition,railemployeeshadhalfthenumberoflostworkdayinjuriesper100full-timeemployeesasdidairlineworkers.NowheredoesU.S.NewsmentionthatAmerica'srailroadshavespentmorethanUS$90billionjustsince1990tomaintainandimprovetracksandequipment.Nowheredoyoumentionthatrailroads—ontheirowninitiativeandattheirownexpense—developedandinstalledanewtypeofwheelthatismuchlesslikelytofractureandcauseaccidents.Nowheredoyoumentionhowrailroadsarenowtestinganewtypeofelectronicallyassistedbrakethatcanreducestoppingdistanceby40percent.Nowheredoyouexplainthatmorethan90percentofrail-relatedfatalitiesinvolvehighway-railgradecrossingaccidentsortrespassers—accidentsoverwhichrailroadshavealmostnocontrol."Factsarestubbornthings",wroteJohnAdamsmorethan200yearsago.Stubborn,thatis,unlessyouchoosetoignorethem.ThatiswhatU.S.Newshaschosentodo.EdwinL.HarperPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerAssociationofAmericanRailroadsTEXTGFirstreadthefollowingquestion.32.Theauthorofthepassageis___________Johannesbur