Passage 45 (45/63)Excess inventory, a massive (large in scope or degree “the feeling of frustration, of being ineffectual, is massive David Halberstam”)problem for many businesses, has several causes, some of which are unavoidable. Overstocks may accumulate through production overruns (a run in excess of the quantity ordered by a customer)or errors. Certain styles and colors prove unpopular. With some products—computers and software, toys, and books—last year’s models are difficult to move even at huge discounts. Occasionally the competition introduces a better product. But in many cases the public’s buying tastes simply change, leaving a manufacturer or distributor with thousands (or millions) of items that the fickle public no longer wants. One common way to dispose of (dispose of: v.处理) this merchandise is to sell it to a liquidator, who buys as cheaply as possible and then resells the merchandise through catalogs, discount stores, and other outlets (an agency (as a store or dealer) through which a product is marketed “retail outlets”). However, liquidators may pay less for the merchandise than it cost to make it. Another way to dispose of excess inventory is to dump it. The corporation takes a straight cost write-off on its taxes and hauls the merchandise to a landfill. Although it is hard to believe, there is a sort of convoluted logic to this approach. It is perfectly legal, requires little time or preparation on the company’s part, and solves the problem quickly. The drawback is the remote possibility of getting caught by the news media. Dumping perfectly useful products can turn into a public relations nightmare. Children living in poverty are freezing and XYZ Company has just sent 500 new snowsuits (snowsuit: n.孩童用防雪装) to the local dump. Parents of young children are barely getting by and QRS Company dumps 1,000 cases of disposable diapers because they have slight imperfections. The managers of these companies are not deliberately wasteful; they are simply unaware of all their alternatives. In 1976 the Internal Revenue Service provided a tangible incentive for businesses to contribute their products to charity. The new tax law allowed corporations to deduct the cost of the product donated plus half the difference between cost and fair market selling price, with the proviso that deductions cannot exceed twice cost. Thus, the federal government sanctions—indeed, encourages—an above-cost federal tax deduction for companies that donate inventory to charity.
5.By asserting that manufacturers “are simply unaware” (line 31), the author suggests which of the following? (A) Manufacturers might donate excess inventory to charity rather than dump it if they knew about the provision in the federal tax code. (B) The federal government has failed to provide sufficient encouragement to manufacturers to make use of advantageous tax policies. (C) Manufacturers who choose to dump excess inventory are not aware of the possible effects on their reputation of media coverage of such dumping. (D) The manufacturers of products disposed of by dumping are unaware of the needs of those people who would find the products useful.（A）
(E) The manufacturers who dump their excess inventory are not familiar with the employment of liquidators to dispose of overstock.
你这个比较新哈~回答下~我认为这个题目答案A是没有问题的。A和D的问题可以向这里定位：The drawback is the remote possibility of getting caught by the newsmedia. Dumping perfectly useful products can turn into a public relationsnightmare. 这句话暗示说公司不可能不知道有人需要他们扔的东西，不然他们也不需要怕被媒体发现（因为按照D的意思，公司根本没意识到有人要这些inventory，当然也就不该怕媒体曝光）。
我的理解同楼上~~~求教第3题呀~~3. The passage provides information that supports which of the following statements?
(A) Excess inventory results most often from insufficient market analysis by the manufacturer.
(B) Products with slight manufacturing defects may contribute to excess inventory.
(C) Few manufacturers have taken advantage of the changes in the federal tax laws.
(D) Manufacturers who dump their excess inventory are often caught and exposed by the news media.
(E) Most products available in discount stores have come from manufacturers’ excess-inventory stock.
哪里体现了B选项呢？我选的C，原因就是这句话：The managers of these companies are not deliberately wasteful; they are simply unaware of all their alternatives. 。 各位大虾来看看啊~~
京公网安备11010202008513号 京ICP证101109号 京ICP备12012021号
发表于 2010-10-5 23:15:47
收藏
收藏
发表于 2011-5-1 21:10:31
