中考英语阅读理解：机器时代带来的经济危机

Most people want to work, but it has become more difficult in today’s world to find work for everyone. The economy (经济) of the world needs to grow by 4% each year just to keep the old number of jobs for people. Often this is not possible, and so more people are out of work. Some people have no jobs now because new machines can do the work of many people in short time. Also, machines do not ask for more money and longer holiday. In all of the countries of the world, machines are taking work from people, not only in factories but also on the farms. One machine can often do the work from forty people. About 75,000 people are moving to the cities a day to look for jobs, but only 70% of them can find jobs.

1. It was _______ for people to find work before than today.

A. not possible B. difficult C. more difficult D. easier

2. If the economy of the world grows by 4% each year, _______.

A. people will have no jobs B. people can still have jobs as before

C. 4% of the people will have jobs D. 97% of the people will have jobs

3. One machine can do as much work as _______.

A. 40% of the people B. 4% of the people in the world

C. 40 people D. 75,000 people

4. How many people outside cities go into to look for jobs each day?

A. 70% of the people. B. 4% of the people in the world.

C. More than 75,000. D. About 75,000 people.

5. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Machines are taking work instead of people.

B. Now more people are out of work.

C. Machines need more money and longer holidays.

D. Most people want to have jobs.

答案及解析：

1. 由短文的第一句话It has become more difficult in today’s world to find work for everyone. 可知现在找工作比以前更困难，即以前找工作比现在容易得多。所以答案选D。

2. 由短文的第二句话The economy of the world needs to grow by 4% each year just to keep the old number of jobs for the people. 准确地理解了这一句话的意思就能得出正确答案为B。

3. 由短文的倒数第二句话One machine can often do the work of forty people.可知此题的正确答案为C。

4. 此题根据原文的最后一句话可直接得出答案为D。

5. 此题在原文中都可找到答案，而C答案与作者的观点Machines do not ask for more money and longer holiday.不一致，所以选C。