Over the next decade, technology will decimate more jobs in many professions.
Some robots already cost less to operate than the salaries of the humans they replace, and they are getting cheaper.Boston Consulting Group predicts that, by 2025, the operating cost of a robot that does welding (焊接) will be less than $2 per hour, for example.That’s more affordable than the $25 per hour that a human welder earns today in America.
Uber and many other companies are working on developing cars and trucks that don’t need a driver in the driver’s seat.According to the American Trucking Associations, approximately 3 million truck drivers were employed in the United States in 2010, and 6.8 million others were employed in other jobs relating to trucking activity.So roughly one of every 15 workers in the country is employed in the trucking business.We could be talking about millions of jobs disappearing in the early 2020s.
And then there is the “Gig Economy (零工经济)” that has some businesses moving toward part-time, on-demand employment.Uber has already done this to taxi drivers, and other technology companies are doing it to a wide range of jobs.A study by INTUIT predicted that, by 2020, 40% of American workers will be self-employed, and that full-time jobs will be harder to find.We are talking about 60 million people in this category.The problem is that not only do such part-time workers lack reliable full-time jobs and sick pay, but they can’t enjoy health insurance and longer-term benefits.
The measures to be taken are to raise trade barriers.But closing the doors to foreign trade won’t bring jobs back.It will only slow the global economy and hurt American exports, shrinking the U.S.economy and accelerating job loss.
1.The underlined word “decimate” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by “ ”.
A.make someone interested in B.equip someone for
C.wipe out D.bring back
2.What will happen with technologies developing according to the text?
A.Robots will become smarter and smarter.
B.Uber’s labor cost will be lower and lower.
C.More and more truck drivers will be needed.
D.Taxi drivers can enjoy more health insurance.
3.Which of the following does the writer agree on?
A.Welcoming foreign trade.
B.Offering more part-time jobs.
C.Using fewer robots to stop job loss.
D.Developing more new technologies.
4.What’s the writer’s main purpose in writing the text?
A.To show technology advances in our daily life.
B.To prove technologies cause low incomes.
C.To introduce what the Gig Economy is.
D.To warn the Gig Economy is coming.
语篇解读:本文为一篇议论文。作者认为,在未来十年里,新科技的运用会缩减大量工作岗位,零工经济将会出现。
答案及剖析:
1.C 猜测词义题。 根据第三段最后一句We could be talking about millions of jobs disappearing in the early 2020s.可以推断出,随着新科技的运用,许多工作会消失,由此可以推测出与C项wipe out(消灭,摧毁)同义。
2.B 推理判断题。根据第三段中Uber and many other companies are working on developing cars and trucks that don’t need a driver in the driver’s seat.可知,Uber公司将大幅减少劳动力成本。故B项正确。
3.A 推理判断题。根据最后一段中But closing the doors to foreign trade won’t bring jobs back.It will only slow the global economy and hurt American exports,shrinking the U.S.economy and accelerating job loss.可知,作者认为关闭外贸之门不会带来就业,它只会使全球经济变缓,使美国出口受损,从而收缩了美国经济,加剧了失业,因此作者应该是赞同对外贸易的。故A项正确。
4.D 推理判断题。本文论述科技对社会的影响,并告诫人们科技的发展使得工作岗位大量减少,零工经济将会出现。故选D项。
