Part II. Reading Comprehension
I. Read the passage. Decide whether the following statements are True, False or Not Given.
In economics, competition is not the opposite of cooperation; rather, it is one of its highest and most beneficial forms. Competition in the marketplace means nothing less than striving for excellence in the service of others for self-benefit. In other words, sellers cooperate with consumers by catering to their needs and preferences.
Moreover, market share is a slippery notion. Almost any market can be defined narrowly enough to make someone look like a monopolist (垄断者) instead of a competitor. Not so long ago, XM and Sirius were the only two satellite-radio providers in the United States. For a year and a half the federal government prevented the two from merging, fearing that a harmful monopoly would result. Economists argued that XM and Sirius were competing not only with each other but as two of many companies in a huge media marketplace that includes free radio, iPods and other MP3 players, Internet radio stations, cable radio services, and even cell phones — all of which, along with likely new technologies, would continue to compete even after the merger (并购). Ultimately, economic reasoning prevailed and the merger was allowed.
Theoretically, there are two kinds of monopoly: coercive (强制的) and efficiency. A coercive monopoly results from a government grant of exclusive privilege. Government, in effect, must take sides in the market to give birth to a coercive monopoly. It must make it difficult, costly or impossible for anyone but the favored firm to do business. The US Postal Service is an example. By law no one else can deliver first-class mail. A firm that enjoys a coercive monopoly is in a position to harm consumers and get away with it.
An efficiency monopoly, by contrast, earns a high share of a market because it does the best job. It receives no special favors from the law. Others are free to compete and, if consumers so will it, to grow as big as the "monopoly". Indeed, an efficiency monopoly is not much of a monopoly at all in the traditional sense. It doesn't restrict output, raise prices or stifle (扼杀) innovation; it actually sells more and more by pleasing customers and attracting new ones while improving both product and service.
An efficiency monopoly has no legal power to compel people to deal with it or to protect itself from the consequences of its unethical (不道德的) practices. An efficiency monopoly that turns its back on the very performance that produced its success would be, in effect, posting a sign that reads, "COMPETITORS WANTED".
1. Competition is actually a very important kind of cooperation: It prompts people to serve others in the best ways they know.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
2. Theoretically, market share can be defined in terms of monopoly rather than competition.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
3. The merger of XM and Sirius is used as an example to show the harmful effects of monopolist in the market place.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
4. Economists were in favor of the merger of XM and Sirius because the merger would promote the development of new technologies.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
5. The US Postal Service is an example to show the government involvement in the coercive monopoly.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
6. An efficiency monopoly that exists independent of government support is more acceptable than a coercive monopoly that enjoys exclusive privilege granted by the government.
| a) True |
| b) False |
| c) Not Given |
题目内容
（请给出正确答案）
参考答案
十点题库官方参考答案
（由十点题库聘请的专业题库老师提供的解答）
