III.阅读(共两节，满分40分)

第一节：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Asgoodsandservicesimprovedpeoplewerepersuadedtospendtheirmoneyonchangingfromoldtonewandfoundthechangeworththeexpense.Whenanairlineequippeditselfwithjetsforexampleitscosts(andthereforeairfare)wouldgoupbutthenewplanesmeantsuchanimprovementthatthehighercostwasjustified.Anewcar(orwirelesswashingmachineelectrickettle)madelifesomuchmorecomfortablethantheoldonethatthehighcostofreplacementwasfullyrepaid.Manufacturersstillcrytheirgoodsaspersuasivelyaseverbutaretheimprovementsreallyworthpayingfor?Inmanyfieldsthingshavenowreachedsuchahighstandardofperformancethatfurtherprogressisverylimitedandveryveryexpensive.Airlinesforexamplegotoenormousexpenseinbuyingthelatestprestigejetsinwhichvastresearchcostshavebeenspentonrelativelysmallimprovements.Ifweabandonthesevastcostswemightlosethechanceofcuttingminutesawayfromflyingtimes;butwouldn’titbebettertoseeairfaresdropdramaticallyascapitalcostsbecomerelativelyinsignificant?Againinthecontextofa70m.p.h.Limitwithlinesofcarstravelingsocloseastocontroleachother’sspeedsimprovementsinperformanceareactuallyirrelevant;improvementsinhandlingareunnecessaryasmostproductioncarsgrip（抓牢）theroadperfectlyandcomforthasnowreachedaveryhighlevel.Smallimprovementshereareunlikelytobeworththethousandsthatanybodyreplacinganordinaryfamilycareverytwoyearsmayhavespentonthem.Letusinsteadhavecars—orwirelesselectrickettleswashingmachinestelevisionsets—whicharemadetolastandnottobereplaced.Significantprogressisobviouslyagoodthingbuttheinsignificantprogressionfrommodel-changetomodel-changeisnot.

1.Theauthorisobviouslychallengingthesocialnorm(社会规范)that________________.

A.itisimportanttoimprovegoodsandservices

B.developmentoftechnologymakesourlifemorecomfortable

C.itisreasonablethatpricesaregoingupallthetime

D.slightlyimprovednewproductsareworthbuying

2.Accordingtothispassageairfaresmayrisebecaus