Airlines are often chosen by consumers based on criteria such as on-time performance, lost baggage rates, and other service metrics. The government provides data on these metrics for major airlines. However, if the government were to provide data on all airlines, consumers' choices might be different. This is because data on many smaller regional airlines are not included in the government's reports, and these smaller airlines tend to have much worse service quality.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
(A) The service quality of major airlines, as reported by the government, would change significantly if data on smaller regional airlines were included.
(B) Consumers would be less likely to choose major airlines if they had access to data on the service quality of all airlines.
(C) The government intentionally excludes data on smaller regional airlines from its reports to protect the interests of major airlines.
(D) Smaller regional airlines have little incentive to improve their service quality because their data is not reported by the government.
(E) The service metrics reported by the government are the only factors that consumers consider when choosing an airline.
A company has a policy of rewarding its most productive employees with monetary bonuses. However, a recent study found that non-monetary incentives are more effective than monetary incentives in motivating employees. As a result, the company decided to eliminate its monetary bonus policy and replace it with a non-monetary reward: the most productive employees will have the opportunity to have dinner with senior executives.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument for replacing the monetary bonus policy with the dinner incentive?
(A) The study did not specifically examine the motivational effects of dinner incentives.
(B) Senior executives who attend the dinner often receive a thank-you note from the employees afterward.
(C) The company in the study did not have any monetary reward policies in place before the research was conducted.
(D) Non-monetary incentives are generally more cost-effective for companies than monetary incentives.
(E) Employees who have received monetary bonuses in the past may resent the change to the dinner incentive.
BA
Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many cultures in the ways men and women speak, and on the ways that men and women exercise power through control of example of such exercise of power appears in the culture of the Warao, an indigenous people of Venezuela. Through the custom of ritual mourning, in which lamentations are composed and sung exclusively by women, Warao women command an important and highly public forum for commenting on and affecting social processes.
The ritual inversion of ordinary discourse and social patterns that characterizes mourning provides women, who do not hold formal positions of authority in Warao culture, with a public forum parallel to that of community officials. Death moves all survivors except the singers of the laments to the margins of life, and normal activities are suspended. Food is neither procured nor eaten, and the house in which the mourning takes place become a spatial representation of such inversion, as the cooking fire is extinguished and the area becomes a funeral parlor. With normal activities suspended, the full attention of the community is directed to the lamentations.
Warao women, who otherwise are seldom involved in public discourse, use this forum to powerful effect. Because reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a large part of the laments, the singers are able to reformulate and characterize the speech of others, as well as present their own views of events. In one lament, for example, the singer offers her own positive interpretation of her deceased son's behavior while characterizing community officials' discussions of that behavior not as the authoritative discourse of leaders but as “idle talk,” Warao mourners also use irony as an effective verbal strategy: they may, for example, use mocking epithets in reference to high-ranking figures. They undermine points of view with which they disagree by presenting them in a highly exaggerated fashion. Frequently, the laments explicitly lead to particular courses of action—one lament blaming youths from a neighboring township for the death of a local boy resulted in the banning of those youths from the mourners' community.
The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) explain how Warao women use ritual mourning to influence social processes and exercise power
(B) compare the social roles of men and women in Warao culture
(C) describe the process of ritual mourning in Warao culture
(D) analyze the linguistic differences between men and women in Warao culture
(E) illustrate how Warao women use irony to undermine authority figures
Question 2:
According to the passage, which of the following is true about Warao women's role in public discourse?
(A) They hold formal positions of authority in Warao culture.
(B) They are frequently involved in public discourse outside of ritual mourning.
(C) They use ritual mourning as a forum to comment on and affect social processes.
(D) They are prohibited from composing and singing lamentations during ritual mourning.
(E) Their role in public discourse is limited to reformulating the speech of others.
Question 3:
The author mentions "idle talk" (see highlighted text) primarily in order to
(A) explain one way in which Warao authorities comment on social processes
(B) describe a common type of discourse among certain segments of Warao society
(C) demonstrate the effectiveness of irony as a verbal strategy in Warao mourning lamentations
(D) illustrate one way in which the speech of others is characterized in Warao mourning lamentations
(E) define a key speech genre among many societies
Question 4:
Which of the following best describes the relationship between ritual mourning and normal activities in Warao culture?
(A) Ritual mourning is a continuation of normal activities.
(B) Ritual mourning is a suspension of normal activities.
(C) Ritual mourning and normal activities occur simultaneously.
(D) Ritual mourning is a gradual transition from normal activities.
(E) Ritual mourning is unrelated to normal activities.
Question 5:
The passage suggests that the use of irony in Warao mourning lamentations serves to
(A) underscore the authority of high-ranking figures
(B) present a balanced view of events
(C) undermine points of view with which the mourners disagree
(D) express the mourners' grief and sorrow
(E) create a somber atmosphere during the ritual
Question 6:
According to the passage, which of the following is an outcome of a Warao mourning lamentation?
(A) The cooking fire in the mourning house is extinguished.
(B) Youths from a neighboring township were banned from the mourners' community.
(C) Community officials' discussions were reformulated as authoritative discourse.
(D) The singer's deceased son's behavior was criticized by the community.
(E) The singer presented her own views of events without characterizing the speech of others.
Question 7:
The passage suggests that the inversion of ordinary discourse and social patterns during Warao ritual mourning serves to
(A) reinforce the formal positions of authority held by Warao women
(B) emphasize the importance of procuring and eating food during mourning
(C) highlight the significance of the lamentations sung by Warao women
(D) downplay the role of community officials in Warao social processes
(E) encourage normal activities to continue during the mourning period
Question 8:
Which of the following can be inferred about the role of reported or invented conversations in Warao mourning lamentations?
(A) They are used to present a balanced view of events.
(B) They are a means for mourners to express their own views and characterize the speech of others.
(C) They are considered a form of authoritative discourse by community officials.
(D) They are used to reinforce the formal positions of authority held by Warao women.
(E) They are a way for mourners to express their grief and sorrow.
问题1:正确答案是(A)。
本文的主要目的是解释瓦劳族妇女如何利用哀悼仪式来影响社会进程和行使权力。
问题2:正确答案是(C)。
根据文章,瓦劳族妇女在哀悼仪式中用哀悼词评论和影响社会进程。
问题3:正确答案是(D)。
作者提到"闲聊"主要是为了说明在瓦劳哀悼词中他人的言论是如何被描述的。
问题4:正确答案是(B)。
在瓦劳文化中,哀悼仪式是对日常活动的暂停。
问题5:正确答案是(C)。
文章表明,在瓦劳哀悼词中使用讽刺的目的是削弱哀悼者不同意的观点。
问题6:正确答案是(B)。
根据文章,瓦劳哀悼词的一个结果是,来自邻近乡镇的年轻人被禁止进入哀悼者的社区。
问题7:正确答案是(C)。
文章表明,在瓦劳哀悼仪式中,日常话语和社会模式的颠倒突出了瓦劳妇女所唱哀悼词的重要性。
问题8:正确答案是(B)。
从文章中可以推断,在瓦劳哀悼词中,转述或虚构的对话是哀悼者表达自己观点和描述他人言论的一种方式。
In the 5th century CE, the Western Roman Empire faced an existential threat from the Huns, a nomadic people from Central Asia led by their charismatic leader, Attila. Attila, born around 406 CE, became the sole ruler of the Huns in 434 CE after murdering his brother Bleda. Under Attila's leadership, the Huns conquered vast territories in Eastern Europe and launched devastating raids into the Balkans and Gaul, threatening the very heart of the Roman Empire.
At its peak, the Hunnic Empire under Attila controlled an estimated 1 million square kilometers of land, with a population of roughly 1.5 million people, including subjugated Germanic and Slavic tribes. The Huns' military success was due in part to their mastery of horseback riding and archery, as well as their ability to rapidly mobilize large armies for surprise attacks.
In 452 CE, Attila launched his most ambitious campaign yet, invading Italy with an army estimated at 200,000 men. The Huns sacked several cities, including Aquileia, before advancing on Rome itself. According to legend, Pope Leo I met with Attila outside the city gates and convinced him to spare Rome, although modern historians believe that a combination of disease, logistical challenges, and political instability within the Hunnic Empire likely played a larger role in Attila's decision to withdraw.
Despite this setback, Attila remained a major threat to the Western Roman Empire until his sudden death in 453 CE, which sparked a succession crisis and civil war among the Huns. Without Attila's unifying leadership, the Hunnic Empire quickly fragmented and collapsed, with many of its subject peoples rising up in rebellion. By the end of the 5th century, the Huns had largely disappeared from history, although their impact on the Roman Empire and the course of European history would be felt for centuries to come.
Questions:
1. According to the passage, which of the following best describes Attila's role in the Hunnic Empire? (A) He was a minor chieftain who played a limited role in Hunnic conquests. (B) He shared power equally with his brother Bleda throughout his reign. (C) He became the sole ruler of the Huns after murdering his brother. (D) He was a legendary figure whose existence is disputed by modern historians. (E) He ruled the Huns jointly with a council of elders and military leaders.
2. The passage suggests that the Huns' military success was primarily due to: (A) Their superior weapons technology, including advanced siege engines. (B) Their ability to mobilize large armies quickly and use cavalry effectively. (C) Their diplomatic skills in forming alliances with Germanic and Slavic tribes. (D) Their control of key trade routes and economic resources in Eastern Europe. (E) Their adoption of Roman military tactics and organizational structures.
3. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following statements about the size of the Hunnic Empire at its peak is most accurate? (A) The Hunnic Empire controlled approximately 500,000 square kilometers of land. (B) The Hunnic Empire had a population of roughly 3 million people. (C) The Hunnic Empire was larger in terms of land area than population size. (D) The Hunnic Empire was smaller than the Western Roman Empire in both land area and population. (E) The passage does not provide enough information to determine the relative size of the Hunnic Empire.
4. The passage indicates that Attila's invasion of Italy in 452 CE was: (A) A complete success, resulting in the sack of Rome and the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. (B) A major defeat for the Huns, who were unable to capture any significant cities or territories. (C) A strategic withdrawal by Attila, who realized that the Huns were overextended and vulnerable to counterattack. (D) A turning point in Attila's reign, after which he focused on consolidating his rule within the Hunnic Empire. (E) A campaign that ended inconclusively, with Attila withdrawing before capturing Rome itself.
5. According to the passage, which of the following best explains Attila's decision to spare Rome in 452 CE? (A) Attila was convinced to withdraw by the persuasive arguments of Pope Leo I. (B) Attila realized that the Huns lacked the necessary siege equipment to capture the city. (C) Attila was bribed by Roman officials to spare the city in exchange for a large tribute payment. (D) Attila's army was depleted by disease and logistical challenges, making a prolonged siege impossible. (E) Attila had a secret alliance with the Eastern Roman Empire and withdrew to avoid a two-front war.
6. The passage suggests that Attila's death in 453 CE had which of the following consequences for the Hunnic Empire? (A) The Hunnic Empire continued to expand and consolidate its power under Attila's designated successor. (B) The Hunnic Empire fragmented and collapsed due to a succession crisis and civil war among the Huns. (C) The Hunnic Empire was absorbed into the Eastern Roman Empire through a series of diplomatic alliances. (D) The Hunnic Empire was divided among Attila's sons, who ruled as co-emperors for several decades. (E) The Hunnic Empire was conquered by a coalition of Germanic and Slavic tribes seeking to overthrow Hunnic rule.
7. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following statements about the long-term impact of the Huns on European history is most accurate? (A) The Huns had little lasting impact on European history, as they quickly disappeared after Attila's death. (B) The Huns played a crucial role in the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Europe. (C) The Huns established a long-lasting empire in Eastern Europe that would dominate the region for centuries. (D) The Huns were responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout Europe due to their interactions with the Roman Catholic Church. (E) The Huns' greatest legacy was their cultural influence on the art, music, and literature of medieval Europe.
8. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements about the reliability of legendary accounts of Attila's meeting with Pope Leo I? (A) The legendary account is fully accurate and supported by contemporary historical evidence. (B) The legendary account is largely fictitious and should be dismissed entirely by modern historians. (C) The legendary account likely contains some elements of truth but should be treated with caution by historians. (D) The legendary account is the only reliable source of information about Attila's invasion of Italy in 452 CE. (E) The passage does not provide enough information to determine the author's view on the reliability of the legendary account.
9. The passage indicates that the Huns' empire was characterized by all of the following EXCEPT: (A) A large land area encompassing territories in Eastern Europe. (B) A significant population that included subjugated Germanic and Slavic peoples. (C) A centralized bureaucracy and administrative structure modeled on the Roman Empire. (D) A formidable military force that relied on cavalry and rapid mobilization. (E) A relatively short-lived period of dominance in the 5th century CE.
10. The passage suggests that which of the following factors contributed to the Huns' downfall after Attila's death? (A) The Huns' over-reliance on cavalry warfare, which became obsolete with the advent of new military technologies. (B) The Huns' failure to establish a stable system of succession and the resulting power struggles among Attila's potential heirs. (C) The Huns' alienation of their subject peoples, who rose up in rebellion against Hunnic rule after Attila's death. (D) The Huns' inability to maintain control over their vast empire due to logistical and communicational challenges. (E) The passage mentions all of these factors as contributing to the Huns' downfall after Attila's death.