1　 In today's knowledge economy, nations survive on the things they do best. Japanese design electronics while Germens export engineering techniques. The French serve the best food     and Americans make computers.

2   Britain specializes in the gift of talking. The nation doesn't manufacture much of anything. But it has lawyers, stylists and business consultants who earn their living from talk, talk and more talk. The World Foundation think tank¹ says the UK's four iconic jobs today are not scientists, engineers, teachers and nurses. Instead, they're hairdressers, celebrities, management consultants and managers. But can all this talking keep the British economy going? The British government thinks it can.

3   Although the country's trade deficit was more than ￡ 60 billion in 2006, UK's largest in the postwar period, officials say the country has nothing to worry about. In fact, Britain does have a world-class pharmaceutical industry, and it still makes a small sum from selling arms abroad. It also trades services - accountancy, insurance, banking and advertising. The government believes Britain is on the cutting edge of the knowledge economy. After all, the country of Shakespeare and Wordsworth has a literary tradition of which to be proud. Rock‘n' roll² is an English language medium, and there are billions to be made by their cutting-edge bands. In other words, the creative economy has plenty of strength to carry the British economy.

4   However, creative industries account for only about 4 percent of UK's exports of goods and services. The industries are finding it hard to make a profit, according to a report of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts³. The report shows only 38 percent of British companies were engaged in "innovation activities", 3 percentage points below the EU average and well below Germany (61 percent) and Sweden (47 percent).

5   In fact, it might be better to call Britain a "servant" economy - there are at least 4 million people "in service". The majority of the population are employed by the rich to cook, clean, and take care of their children. Many graduates are even doing menial jobs for which they do not need a degree. Most employment growth has been, and will continue to be, at the low-skill end of the service sector - in shops, bars, hotels, domestic service and in nursing and care homes.

 

iconic adj.偶像的

pharmaceutical adj.制药的

menial adj.仆人的

 

1. think tank 思想库；智囊团

2. cutting edge 尖端的

3. Rock 'n' roll 摇滚乐

4. National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts 国家科学、技术和艺术捐赠委员会

 

1. Paragraph 2                 

2. Paragraph 3                 

3. Paragraph 4                 

4. Paragraph 5                 

F　Export of Talking Machines

A　Growth of Economy

B　"Servant" Economy

C　Strength of the Creative Economy

D　Weakness of the Creative Economy

E　Gift of Talking

 

5. Every country has its own way                    

6. The British government doesn't seem               

7. The creative industries find it difficult            

8. Many graduates are employed                  

A　to find jobs

B　to do low-skill jobs

C　to feed its people

D　to handle disputes

E　to make a profit

F　to worry about the British economy

 

1. E　第二段的主题句是第一个句子，是这么说的：Britain specializes in the gift of      talking.英国的特长是有说话的天赋，接下来就是具体说明说话天赋在经济中的表现方面。当然，作者最后对这些说话行业能否保持英国经济的运转提出了疑句。但是其主题思想仍然是在讲说话天赋。

2. C　英国是著名作家Shakespeare 和Wordsworth 的故乡，他们以及英国的摇滚乐团创造了大量的精神财富，也为英国赚得了大量的钱，显示了创造性经济的力量。因此C是对的。

3. D　第四段的第一个句子是这么说的: However, creative industries account for only    about 4 percent of UK's exports of goods and services. 然而，创造性行业的货物和服务出口只占真个英国的出口的百分之四左右。可见创造性经济还是很薄弱的。主意：这是主题句。

4. B　第四段的第一个句子是这么说的: In fact, it might be better to call Britain a"servant" economy- there are at least 4 million people "in service". 实际上，把英国的经济叫做服务经济更恰当一些——因为至少有四百万人在做服务性工作。这也是主题句。因此选B。

5. C　第一段讲到了在今天的知识经济时代，各个国家生存于自己的强项。因此选：to feed its people 养活自己的人民。

6. F　第二段的最后两句话是这么说的: But can all this talking keep the British economy going? The British government thinks it can. 但是，所有这么说话能让英国的经济运转吗？英国政府认为是可以的。可见，英国政府好像并不担心英国的经济。所以F是对的。

7. E　这个问题参考了第四段中的一个句子，该句子是这么说的: The industries are    finding it hard to make a profit, according to a report of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. 根据国家科学、技术和艺术捐赠委员会的一份报告，这些创造性行业在获得利润上很困难。

8. B　问题问的是：许多毕业生被雇佣去做什么活？第五段有这么一个句子：Many graduates are even doing menial jobs for which they do not need a degree.许多毕业生甚至在做不需要学位的仆人的话。仆人的话是属于低技术的活，因此B是正确的。