Passage Two
Educating girls quite possibly yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world. Women’s education may be unusual territory for economists, but enhancing women’s contribution to development is actually as much an economic as a social issue. And economics, with its emphasis on incentives, provides guideposts that point to an explanation for why so many girls are deprived of an education. Parents in low-income countries fail to invest in their daughters because they do not expect them to make an economic contribution to the family: girls grow up only to marry into somebody else’s family and bear children. Girls are thus seen as less valuable than boys and kept at home to do housework while their brothers are sent to school- the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling, trapping women in a vicious circle of neglect. An educated mother, on the other hand, has greater earning abilities outside the home and faces an entirely different set of choices. She is likely to have fewer but healthier children and can insist on the development of all her children, ensuring that her daughters are given a fair chance. The education of her daughters then makes it much more likely that the next generation of girls, as well as of boys, will be educated and healthy. The vicious circle is thus transformed into a virtuous circle. Few will dispute that educating women has great social benefits. But it has enormous economic advantages as well. Most obviously, there is the direct effect of education on the wages of female workers. Wages rise by lo t0 20 percent for each additional year of schooling. Such big returns are impressive by the standard of other available investments, but they are just the beginning. Educating women also has a significant impact on health practices, including family planning.

The author argues that educating girls in developing countries is （）.

A:troublesome B:labor-saving C:rewarding D:expensive

Passage Four
The agricultural revolution in the nineteenth century involved two things: the invention of labor-saving machinery and the development of scientific agriculture. Labor-saving machinery naturally appeared first where labor was scarce. "In Europe", said Thomas Jefferson," the object is to make the most of their land, labor being abundant; here it is to make the most of our labor, land being abundant." It was in America, therefore, that the great advances in nineteenth-century agricultural machinery first came. At the opening of the century, with the exception of a crude plow, farmers could have carried practically all of the existing agricultural implements (具) on their backs; by 1860, most of the machinery in use today had been designed in an early form. The most important of the early inventions was the iron plow. As early as 1790 Charles Newbold of New Jersey had been working on the idea of a cast-iron plow and spent his entire fortune in introducing his invention. The farmers, however, would have none of it, claiming that the iron poisoned the soil and made the weeds grow. Nevertheless, many people devoted their attention to the plow, until in 1869 James Oliver of South Bend, Indiana, turned out the first chilled-steel (冷淬钢) plow.

What is the main topic of the passage（　）

A:The need for agricultural advances to help feed a growing population. B:The development of safer machines demanded by the labor movement. C:Machinery that contributed to the agricultural revolution. D:New Jersey as a leader in the agricultural revolution.

The agricultural revolution in the nineteenth century involved two things the invention of labor-saving machinery and the development of scientific agriculture. Labor-saving machinery naturally appeared first where labor was scarce. "In Europe", said Thomas Jefferson," the object is to make the most of their land, labor being abundant; here it is to make the most of our labor, land being abundant." It was in America, therefore, that the great advances in nine-teenth-century agricultural machinery first came. At the opening of the century, with the exception of a crude plow, farmers could have carded practically all of the existing agricultural implements (家具) on their backs; by 1860, most of the machinery in use today had been designed in an early form. The most important of the early inventions was the iron plow. As early as 1790 Charles Newbold of New Jersey had been working on the idea of a cast-iron plow and spent his entire fortune in introducing his invention. The farmers, however, would have none of it, claiming that the iron poisoned the soil and made the weeds grow. Nevertheless, many people devoted their attention to the plow, until in 1869 James Oliver of South Bend, Indiana, turned out the first chilled-steel (冷淬钢) plow.

What is the main topic of the passage（　）

A:The need for agricultural advances to help feed a growing population. B:The development of safer machines demanded by the labor movement. C:Machinery that contributed to the agricultural revolution. D:New Jersey as a leader in the agricultural revolution.

The agricultural revolution in the nineteenth century involved two things the invention of labor-saving machinery and the development of scientific agriculture. Labor-saving machinery naturally appeared first where labor was scarce. "In Europe", said Thomas Jefferson," the object is to make the most of their land, labor being abundant; here it is to make the most of our labor, land being abundant." It was in America, therefore, that the great advances in nine-teenth-century agricultural machinery first came. At the opening of the century, with the exception of a crude plow, farmers could have carded practically all of the existing agricultural implements (家具) on their backs; by 1860, most of the machinery in use today had been designed in an early form. The most important of the early inventions was the iron plow. As early as 1790 Charles Newbold of New Jersey had been working on the idea of a cast-iron plow and spent his entire fortune in introducing his invention. The farmers, however, would have none of it, claiming that the iron poisoned the soil and made the weeds grow. Nevertheless, many people devoted their attention to the plow, until in 1869 James Oliver of South Bend, Indiana, turned out the first chilled-steel (冷淬钢) plow.
What is the main topic of the passage

A:The need for agricultural advances to help feed a growing population. B:The development of safer machines demanded by the labor movement. C:Machinery that contributed to the agricultural revolution. D:New Jersey as a leader in the agricultural revolution.

The combined sales of the 100 largest foreign investing companies in the U. S. increased by a 40% in the two years between 1977 and 1979, and the number has continued to increase steadily. In 1980 South Africa proved to be the largest financial investor in the U. S. controlling about $19. 2 billion in sales. The Netherlands and the U. K. follow as second largest investors--and Germany next. New to the list of the top 100 foreign investors are 12 banking and finance and insurance companies--the largest, the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. , from Hong Kong. The number of Latin American companies engaged in business here is growing steadily, often through third country holding companies.
Why are so many firms coming to the U. S. There are many reasons. One of the greatest attractions, of course, is a market of over 200 million consumers with a high average per capital income. In addition, with the devalued dollar the cost of American labor has declined significantly, relative to many foreign labor costs. Some firms seeking to avoid economic and/or political pressures at home find the U. S. a politically stable environment in which to work.
Many hope to be able to continue selling to the American market even if the U. S. government restricts imports further, or if major price changes occur due to currency fluctuations (波动). Many foreigners are attracted by U.S. technology, its modem management methods, its labor saving and mass production techniques.

Which of the following reasons for many firms coming to the U.S. is not mentioned in the passage（）

A:Skillful labor force in the U.S. B:Advanced management method. C:Rich consumers. D:Mass production techniques.

The combined sales of the 100 largest foreign investing companies in the U. S. increased by a 40% in the two years between 1977 and 1979, and the number has continued to increase steadily. In 1980 South Africa proved to be the largest financial investor in the U. S. controlling about $19. 2 billion in sales. The Netherlands and the U. K. follow as second largest investors--and Germany next. New to the list of the top 100 foreign investors are 12 banking and finance and insurance companies--the largest, the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. , from Hong Kong. The number of Latin American companies engaged in business here is growing steadily, often through third country holding companies.
Why are so many firms coming to the U. S. There are many reasons. One of the greatest attractions, of course, is a market of over 200 million consumers with a high average per capital income. In addition, with the devalued dollar the cost of American labor has declined significantly, relative to many foreign labor costs. Some firms seeking to avoid economic and/or political pressures at home find the U. S. a politically stable environment in which to work.
Many hope to be able to continue selling to the American market even if the U. S. government restricts imports further, or if major price changes occur due to currency fluctuations (波动). Many foreigners are attracted by U.S. technology, its modem management methods, its labor saving and mass production techniques.

The most important reason why so many companies have come to the U. S. is that （）

A:the environment is politically stable B:the market in the U.S. is very attractive C:the labor cost there has been reduced D:the U. S. technology is advanced

Passage Five
The agricultural revolution in the nineteenth century involved two things: the invention of labor-saving machinery and the development of scientific agriculture. Labor-saving machinery naturally appeared first where labor was scarce. "In Europe", said Thomas Jefferson," the object is to make the most of their land, labor being abundant; here it is to make the most of our labor, land being abundant." It was in America, therefore, that the great advances in nineteenth-century agricultural machinery first came. At the opening of the century, with the exception of a crude plow, farmers could have carried practically all of the existing agricultural implements (农具) on their backs; by 1860,most of the machinery in use today had been designed in an early form. The most important of the early inventions was the iron plow. As early as 1790 Charles New-bold of New Jersey had been working on the idea of a cast-iron plow and spent his entire fortune in introducing his invention. The farmers, however, would have none of it, claiming that the iron poisoned the soil and made the weeds grow. Nevertheless, many people devoted their attention to the plow, until in 1869 James Oliver of South Bend, Indiana, turned out the first chilled-steel (冷淬钢) plow.

What is the main topic of the passage （）

A:The need for agricultural advances to help feed a growing population. B:The development of safer machines demanded by the labor movement. C:Machinery that contributed to the agricultural revolution. D:New Jersey as a leader in the agricultural revolution.

The combined sales of the 100 largest foreign investing companies in the U. S. increased by a 40% in the two years between 1977 and 1979, and the number has continued to increase steadily. In 1980 South Africa proved to be the largest financial investor in the U. S. controlling about $19. 2 billion in sales. The Netherlands and the U. K. follow as second largest investors--and Germany next. New to the list of the top 100 foreign investors are 12 banking and finance and insurance companies--the largest, the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. , from Hong Kong. The number of Latin American companies engaged in business here is growing steadily, often through third country holding companies.
Why are so many firms coming to the U. S. There are many reasons. One of the greatest attractions, of course, is a market of over 200 million consumers with a high average per capital income. In addition, with the devalued dollar the cost of American labor has declined significantly, relative to many foreign labor costs. Some firms seeking to avoid economic and/or political pressures at home find the U. S. a politically stable environment in which to work.
Many hope to be able to continue selling to the American market even if the U. S. government restricts imports further, or if major price changes occur due to currency fluctuations (波动). Many foreigners are attracted by U.S. technology, its modem management methods, its labor saving and mass production techniques.

Which of the following reasons for many firms coming to the U.S. is not mentioned in the passage（　）

A:Skillful labor force in the U.S. B:Advanced management method. C:Rich consumers. D:Mass production techniques.

Passage Five

What is the main topic of the passage

A:The need for agricultural advances to help feed a growing population. B:The development of safer machines demanded by the labor movement. C:Machinery that contributed to the agricultural revolution. D:New Jersey as a leader in the agricultural revolution.