2021年高二上學(xué)期開學(xué)摸底考試英語試卷含答案（滿分：120分考試時(shí)間：100分鐘）I.Listeningprehension24%xx.08SectionAshortconversations10’1.A.Athome.B.Onabus.C.Inataxi.D.Onaplane.D.Acashier.2.A.Ajournalist.3.A.15minutes.B.Anofficial.C.Anengineer.B.90minutes.C.120minutes.D.105minutes.4.A.Policemananddriver.C.Bossandclerk.B.Teacherandstudent.D.Doctorandnurse.5.A.Themanisn’tsurewhetherhe’llgototheparty.B.ThemanjustreturnedfromavisittotheAndersons.C.Themanmaynotbeabletogivethewomanaride.D.ThemanwillgethiscarbackonFriday.6.A.Hehasn’thadachancetomeetKathyyet.B.Kathyhadalreadytoldhimthenews.C.Hedidn’tknowthatKathywasbeingmoved.D.HisnewofficewillbelocatedinNewYork.7.A.Thestyleismoreimportantthanthecolor.B.Thegreendressdoesn’tfitaswellastheblueone.C.Thewomanshouldbuyadressinsteadofasuit.D.Thewomanlooksbetterinblue.8.A.FewstudentsmeetProfessorJohnson’srequirementsB.FewstudentsunderstandProfessorJohnson’slecture.C.ManystudentshavedroppedProfessorJohnson’sclass.D.ManystudentsfindProfessorJohnson’slectureboring.9.A.Themanwilltakethecameratoberepaired.B.Thewomanwilltakeapictureoftheman.C.Thewomanwillshowthemanhowtousethecamera.D.Thewomanwillborrowtheman’scamera.10.A.Hecan’tgetaroomatthehotel.B.Hedidn’tgetthetypeofroomhewanted.C.Heexpectedtheroomtobemoreexpensive.D.Hethoughthehadalreadymadeareservation.SectionB6%Questions11through13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.11.A.Manycarswereturnedupsidedownasaresultoftheflood.B.Peter’shometownwaslocatedinthemountains.C.Thereweremanylargestonesontheroadsaftertheflood.D.Tractorsandlorrieswerebusycarryingfoodtothefloodedarea.12.A.Howpeoplefoughtagainstanaturaldisaster.B.Helpwasrushedtotheflood-strickencity.C.AbigfloodstruckPeter’shometown.D.Manypeoplediedinaseriousflood.13.A.ThebigfloodoccurredinJuly.B.Over2500peoplelosttheirhomes.C.Morethan100peoplediedintheflood.D.Thevictimsofthefloodedareawerecarriedtosafetybyhelicopters.Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingpassage.14.A.Becauseshewassotiredthatshecollapsed.B.Becauseshelikedsnackssomuchthatshetookitalmosteveryday.C.Becausethefastfoodsheoftentookcausedhertobeeweakerandweaker.D.Becauseshewantedtobegivenbloodtransfusions.15.A.Whenpeoplearesobusy,theywillskiptheirmeals.Theyusuallyhavetakeawaysorsnacksinstead.B.Thespeakerregretstohavetakentoomuchfastfood,sheadvisesothersnottofollowherexample.C.Thespeakerprefersquicksnackstohome-cookedmeals.D.Thespeakerhadintendedtocooksomethingnourishing.16.A.Haveawonderfultime!C.Haveasatisfyingmeal!B.Enjoyyourgoodhealth!D.Thankyouforyourmeal!SectionC(8%)Blanks17through20arebasedonthefollowingconversation.pletetheform.WriteNOmorethanONEwordforeachanswer.AdvantagesoftheHouseDisadvantagesoftheHouseBeawayfromoldfriends.Itistoobig.Inthebeautiful17area.Ithas18bedrooms.Thereisoilcentralheatinginit.Itismuchmoreexpensivethan19.Thecouplecan20suchahouse.Theydon’tneedthiskindofhouse.Blanks21through24arebasedonthefollowingconversation.pletetheform.WriteNOmorethanTHREEwordsforeachanswer.Whateventisthewoman_______21__________.participatingin?Whydoesthemanattendmanymeetings?Becausehebelongsto22.Whatwilltakeplacetomorrow?BothJack’spartyandtheman’s23.WhatdoesthewomanadvisetheTo24.mantodo?II.GrammarSectionADirections:Afterreadingthepassagebelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagescoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.Fortheblankswithagivenword,fillineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useonewordthatbestfitseachblank.Areyouonadiet?Thenmaybeyoushouldconsider(25)______(sit)bythewindowthenexttimeyoueatout.Anewbookclaimsthat(26)______yousitinarestaurantcanaffecthowmanycaloriesyouconsume.ANewresearchfoundthatpeoplesittingfarthestfromthefrontdooratethefewestsaladsandwere73percentmorelikelytoorderdessert.Thoseseatedatadarktableateheavierfoodandorderedmoreofit(27)______dinersseatedatbrightbartablesorderedmoresaladsandfewerdesserts.Accordingtotheresearchers,thedarkeritis,themoreinvisibleyoumayfeel,the(28)______(easy)itistoseehowmuchyou'reeatingandthelessguiltyyouarewhenyoueatmore.Incontrast,seeingthesunlight,peopleortreesoutsidemightmakeyoumoreconsciousof(29)______youlook,mightmakeyouthinkaboutwalkingormightmakeyouwantagreensalad.Theresearchersalsonotedthatslimdinerschewedaround15timespermouthful,threechewsmorethanheavierdiners.Byeatingmoreslowly,thedinerconsumeslessinthetime(30)______takesforthebraintoregistersatisfaction.SectionBChoices31.JohnNash,amathematicalgenius,recentlypassed_____attheageof86.Hislifestorywasadapted______themovieABeautifulMindinxx.A.by;toB.away;intoC.away;toD.over;from32.Denmarkhasmovedonestepcloser_______theworld’sfirstcashlesssociety,TheIndependentreported.Asofnextyear,businessessuchasclothingretailers,restaurantsandpetrolstationscanrefuse_______cashpayments.A.tobeing;takingB.tobee;totakeC.tobee;takingD.tobeing;totake33.Asmallchangeintheaveragefamilycanhaveabigimpactonsociety.That’s_____thegovernmentkeepstrackofchangesinChinesefamilies.A.whatB.howC.whyD.because34.__________ontheundergraduatecoursesoftheUniversityofNewSouthWalesinAustralia,Chinesestudents_________toearn600to660outof750onthegaokao.A.Tobeaccepted;requireB.Beingaccepted;arerequiredD.Accepted;haverequiredC.Tobeaccepted;arerequired35.Beijing’sannoyingsmogseems______thecity’sappealtotourists.It’salsomoredifficulttoattracthigh-endemployeestoworkinBeijing,especially____withchildren.A.tohurt;theonesB.tohavehurt;thoseC.tohavehurt;thatD.tobehurting;one36.AreviewinxxbyCostasKarageorghis,asportpsychologistatBrunelUniversityinLondonfoundtherewas“evidencetosuggestthatcarefullyselectedmusic______givephysicalandpsychologicalbenefitsduringhigh-intensity(高強(qiáng)度的)exercise”.A.shouldB.mustC.canD.shall37.AfterhisgraduationfromtheeliteschoolofEton,_____hebecamePrinceWilliam’sclassmate,Redmaynewenton_____HistoryofArtattheUniversityofCambridge.A.where;studyingB.where;tostudyC.which;tostudyD.which;studying38.Asacitywithalonghistory,Londonhasgonethroughmanychanges.Thedaysaregone_______horse-drawncarriageswereamonsightinthestreet.A.whenB.thatC.becauseD.while39.In1993,agroupofgraduatestudentsintheUSAcreatedMosaic---a“browser”programme.Mosaicwaspleasingto_______eyeandeasy_________.A.the;touseB.an;tobeusedC.the;tobeusedD.an;touse40.Theboyhasspentawholeday_____inhisroom.________knowswhatheisdoing.A.locked;NoneB.locking;NooneC.beinglocked;NobodyD.locked;NooneIII.VocabularyDirections:pletethefollowingsentencesandpassagesbyusingthewordsintheboxes.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatineachboxthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.PartAsentencesA.leafB.justiceC.createdD.strokeAB.roundBC.foodAC.trackAD.coined41.Wehaven’tfoundthesolutiontotheproblemyet,butI’msurewe’reontheright_______.42.InNewYorkCity’sTimesSquare,thousandsgatheronDecember31tocountdownthelastsecondsoftheyear.Agiantsilverballisloweredatthe______ofmidnight.43.OntheeveningofChristmas,thefamilysitdowntoabiggoosedinner.They____offthemealwithpudding,aChristmasspecialty.44.Thethiefwasdeterminedtoturnoveranew_______oncehewasreleasedfromprison.45.Readersmayalsofindsome_______forthoughtinicstripsinadditiontobeingamused.46.“TheGlobalVillage”was_______todescribehowradioandtelevisionhadchangedtheworldinthe20thcentury.Inthe21stcentury,itseemstheInternetissuretohaveanevengreaterinfluence.47.Today,thecharactersincartoonsrangefrompetstofancyanimals,andordinarypeopletosuperheroes.MickyMouseandGarfieldtheCatmakechildrenthinkandimagineactively.SupermanandBatmanbringvillainsofallsortsto_________.41---47ACDABABCADBPartBPassagesAA.lineB.practicesC.levelD.plaintAB.makeupAC.accountFairHarvardhasbeenthesongoftheprestigious(著名的)universityeversince1836,whenitcelebratedits200thanniversary.However,arecentdebatehasputitslong-celebrated“fairness”intothespotlight.InMay,agroupofmorethan60Asian-Americanorganizationsfileda_____48_____withthefederalgovernmentclaimingthatHarvardusesracialquotas(種族配額)tocontrolthenumberofAsian-Americansoncampus.“TogetintoHarvard,Asian-AmericanshavetoscoremuchhigherontheSATandparticipateinmoreextracurricularandvolunteeractivitiesthanwhite,African-AmericanandHispanicstudents,”SwannLee,aChinese-Americanwriter,toldNPR.AndnomatterifyouareIndian,ChineseorFilipino,Harvard’sadmissionsprocessalwaysputsyouintoasingle,high-performingstereotype(偏見),sheadded.However,Harvardhasdeniedthis.GeneralCounselRobertIulianotoldUSATodaythattheuniversity’sadmissionsarein_____49______withthelaw.Infact,thepercentageofAsian-Americanstudentsadmittedhasgoneup–from17percentadecadeagoto21percent,whileAsian-Americans____50_____forjust6percentoftheUS’population.“Thenandnow,thecollegeconsiderseachapplicantthroughareview,withthegoalofcreatingauniversitythatexposesstudentstoawide-rangeofdifferences:background,ideas,experiences,talents,andhopes,”saidIuliano.Anothergroupof135organizationscameoutinsupportofHarvard’s_____51_____andsaidthattakingraceintoconsiderationbenefitsnotonlystudents,butthecountry.“Ithelpsto____52_____theplayingfieldandcreatediverseuniversitylearningenvironments,”theysaidinastatement.BA.opposedB.buysC.hostD.surveyAB.enduringAC.journalIfyouhadalotofmoney,whatwouldyouspenditon?ThinktwiceaboutthatnewiPhone,assciencenowsaysthatyou’dbebetteroffpayingforanexperiencethatlastsalittlewhileratherthananobjectthatlastslonger.TheideathatbuyingexperiencesismoresatisfyingthanbuyingmaterialthingshasbeenexpressedforalongtimebyCornellpsychologyprofessorThomasGilovich.Inarecent_____53_____ofPsychologicalScience,GilovichandpsychologistMatthewKillingsworth,alongwithCornelldoctoralcandidate(博士研究生)AmitKumar,supportedthecurrentunderstandingthatspendingmoneyonexperiences“providesmore______54______happiness”,bothbeforeandafterthepurchaseismade.“Youcanthinkaboutwaitingforadeliciousmealatanicerestaurantorlookingforwardtoavacation,”Kumarsaid.“Andhowdifferentthatfeelsfromwaitingfor,say,yourpre-orderediPhonetoarrive.”Youmightalsoparethebadbehaviorofpeoplewhoarewaitinginlinetobuymaterialitemsandthebetterbehaviorofthosewhoarewaitingforaconcert.Peoplemighttalktoeachotheraboutwhatsongsthebandisgoingtoplay,forexample,sothereisopportunitytoconnectwithotherpeople.“Weknowthatsocialinteractionisimportantinhumanhappiness,soit’sgoingtobeamuchbetterexperience,”saidKumar.Researchhasalsofoundthatpeopletendtobemoregeneroustootherswhenthey’vejustthoughtaboutthepurchaseofanexperienceas______55______toamaterialpurchase.They’realsomorelikelytotakepartinsocialactivities.Whatisitaboutimaginingexperiencesthat’sdifferentfromthinkingaboutfuturematerialpurchases?Well,oneinterestingideasaysthatyoucanimagineallsortsofpossibilitiesforwhatanexperienceisgoingtobe.“That’swhat’sfun,”Kumarsaid.“Itcouldturnoutawhole_____56_____ofways.”Withamaterialpurchase,youknowwhatyou’regoingtoget.Peoplejustthink:“Giveittomenow.”Agoodplanforgettingthemostoutofpurchasinganexperiencemaybetoplanitfarinadvance.Thinkingaboutitfordays,weeksorevenyearsonlymakestheexperiencemorevaluable.Soitmayalsobetimetostopthoseimpulse(沖動(dòng))_____57______ifyouwanttobehappy.IV.ReadingprehensionSectionADirections:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.AThispastNationalDayholidaysawupwardsofhalfabillionChinesecitizenstravelling.Whilesomeflewofftointernationaldestinations,the____58____majorityenjoyedthemanytouristsitesthatChinahastooffer.IfyouwereoneofthosepeoplewhodecidedtoexploreChina’sscenicspots,youprobablyrealizedthatitisn’tjustthemountainstepsthataresteep—theentrancefeesare,too!Theaveragecostofthehighestranked5Aattractionsis109yuan.Thiscouldprovetobealittletoosteepforsomefamilies,whofindthemselvesspendingtoolargeaportionoftheirholiday_____59_____onadmissiontickets.The325Alocationsthatuppedtheirpricesinthepastfiveyearsexperiencedanaverageincreaseofover40percent.Thebadnewsisthatthesepricesareexpectedtocontinuetorise.SohowdoesChina’ssituationparetootherpartsoftheworld?Theaveragefeesforculturalandhistoricalsitesseemtobeonparwith(與…同價(jià))international____60____.It’squiteanother_____61_____,however,whenyouparenaturalwonders.Forexample,thecostofatickettoZhangjiajieNationalForestPark(張家界國家森林公園)hoversaround245yuanforathree-daytour.Thisseemsparativelyhighwhenyouconsiderthataweeklong____62____toAmerica’sYellowstoneNationalPark(黃石國家公園)isamere74yuan.Thereareundeniablebenefitstoincreasedrevenue(收益)fromticketsales,whichsupportnecessary______63____,maintenanceandoperationcosts.Thisisespeciallyimportantforsitesthatmustkeepvisitornumbersdowninordertoprotectthenaturalenvironment.However,itmustalsobeacknowledgedthatmanyofChina’stouristattractionsareoperatedbyprivatepanieswhoareultimatelyprotectingtheirbottomline(盈虧底線).Whilethegovernmenthasputsomeregulations_____64____,suchasonlyallowingentrancefeestoberaisedonceeverythreeyears,theyhavenot_____65_____theupperlimitofticketpricesandincreases.Furthermeasurestosettlethedisputearebeingconsidered.Inthemeantime,somefamiliesareforcedtore-thinkifsomeattractionsarereallyworththecosts.58.A.vastB.mostC.mainD.increasing59.A.salary60.A.affairs61.A.example62.A.entrance63.A.evaluation64.A.inplace65.A.coveredBB.budgetB.facilitiesB.sceneB.passC.energyD.earningsD.touristsD.storyC.equivalentsC.occasionC.accessD.referenceB.demonstrationB.intimeC.restorationD.foundationC.inorderD.inturnD.cappedB.bannedC.forbiddenAfterallourcoldandsnowydaystrappedathome,everyonefelttheneedtospendsometimewithnature.OnanAprilafternoon,thesunwasshiningalmostlikeitwassummer.MyhostfamilyandIpackedthetrunkofthecarwithtents,blankets,foodandclothesandsetoffonatriptoHawnStatePark.The50-minutecarridefeltmuchshorterbecauseofalltheexcitementofgoingcampingforthefirsttime.Wefoundthattheparkhadspecialareasforcampinganda___66___inthemountainsforhiking.Wepickedaflatpitchwithtreessurroundingitandsetupourtent.Thecreeknearbyhadapleasanthikingroutealongsideit.Wewalked___67___,feelingthesoftgroundcoveredwithbrownleavesandlisteningtothe____68___ofbirdchirpsandwatergurgles.Weevenputourfeetintherefreshinglyclearstreamwater,whichstill____69____aslightcoldnessfromwinter.Afteratiringhikingtripandagreatsupperoftoastedhotdogs,weeach___70____achairandsataroundthecozycampfire.Theskywasturningdarkandthetemperaturedroppedlittlebylittle.Ireachedoutmyhandsandthecozyfirewarmedmeup___71_____.Whenthesunwasnolongerinsight,IlookedupintheskyandwasastoundedbywhatIsaw:Thedeep,darkblueskywas___72____withstarsjustlikeavelvet(天鵝絨的)curtaindecoratedwithdiamonds.Wewentouttoanopenspaceandlaydownonthegroundtowatchthestars,receivingtheirgreetingsfrommanylightyearsawaywhilemyhostfathertaughtushowto____73____differentconstellations(星座).Undertheblanketofastarrynightwithabreezegentlyblowing,IhopedIcouldstaythereandthenforever,countingthestars,imaginingtheirstories,andenjoyingthetimespentwithfamilymembers.Thiswasnature’sbestgift.66.A.areaB.routineC.truckD.footpath67.A.sidebyside68.A.symptom69.A.boreB.handinhandC.barefootD.shouldertoshoulderB.symphonyC.sympathyD.voiceB.tookC.enduredD.carried70.A.madeB.grabbedC.putD.seated71.A.bynomeans72.A.jeweledB.innowayC.atnotimeD.innotimeB.linedC.dyedD.designed73.A.countB.calculateC.identifyD.matchSectionBDirections:Readthefollowingthreepassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatfitsbestaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.(A)Asyoumovearoundyourhome,takeagoodlookatthethingsyouhave.Itislikelythatyourlivingroomwillhaveatelevisionsetandavideo,andyourkitchenawashingmachineandamicrowaveoven.Yourbedroomdrawerswillbefilledwithalmostthreetimesasmanyclothesasyonneed.Youalmostcertainlyownacarandpossiblyahomeputer,holidayabroadatleastonceayearandeatoutatleastonceaweek.Now,perhaps,morethaneverbefore,peoplearewonderingwhatlifeisallabout,andwhatitisfor.Seekingmaterialsuccessisbeginningtotroublelargenumbersofpeoplearoundtheworld.Theyfeelthatthelong-hoursworkculturetomakemoremoneytobuymorethingsiseatinguptheirlives,leavingthemverylittletimeorenergyforfamilyorpastimes.Manyareturningtootherwaysoflivinganddownshiftingisoneofthem.SixpercentofworkersinBritaintookthedecisiontodownshiftlastyear.OnecouplewhodownshiftedisDanielandLiz.TheyusedtoworkincentralLondon.Hewasanewspaperreporterandsheusedtoworkforaninternationalbank.Theywouldgotoworkbytraineverydayfromtheirlargehouseinthesuburbs,leavingtheirtwochildrenwithananny(保姆).MosteveningsDanielwouldn'tgethomeuntileightornineo'clockandnearlytwiceamonthhewouldhavetoflytoNewYorkformeetings.Theybothearnedalargeamountofmoneybutbegantofeelthatlifewaspassingthemby.Nowadays,theyrunafarminthemountainsofWales."Ialwayswantedtohaveafarmhen,"saysDaniel,"andwetookalmostayeartomakethedecisiontodownshift.It'stakensomegettingusedto,butit'sbeenworthit.Wehavetothinktwicenowaboutspendingmoneyoncarrepairsandwenolongerhaveanyholidays.However,Ithinkit'smadeusstrongerasafamily,andthechildrenarealothappier.Liz,however,isnotquitesure."Iusedtoenjoymyjob,eventhoughitwashardworkandlonghours.I'mnotreallyacountrygirl,butIsupposeI'mgraduallygettingusedtolookingaftertheanimals.OnethingIdolike,though,isbeingabletoseemoreofmychildren.Myadviceforotherpeoplewantingtodothesameisnottothinkaboutittoomuchoryoumightnotdoitatall."74.Whatdothefirsttwoparagraphstellus?A.Peopleseldomworklonghourstomakemoney.B.Peoplehardlybuymorethingsthannecessary.C.Peoplearesureeverythingtheyownisintherightplace.D.Peoplerealizethereismoretolifethanjustmakingmoney.75.WhenDanielwasareporterhe_________________.A.livedincentralLondonC.missedhischildrenB.dislikedhisjobD.waswellpaid76.Whatdoestheunderlined"it"inthelastparagraphreferto?A.Child-caring.B.Liz'sadvice.C.Downshifting.D.Liz'sjob.77.Theunderlinedword"downshifting"inthesecondparagraphmeans_________.A.repairingyourcarbyyourselfB.spendingmoneycarefullyC.movingouttothecountrysidetoliveasimplerandbetterlifeD.livinginabighouseinthesuburbsanddiningoutonceaweek.(B)MiniBookExcerpts（節(jié)選）BiographyWhenSalingerlearnedthatacarparkwastobebuiltontheland,themiddle-agedwriterwasshockedandquicklyboughttheneighboringareatoprotectit…Thetownspeopleneverforgottherescueandcametohelptheirmostfamousneighbor.J.D.Salinger：ALifebyKennethSlawenski（RandomHouse,$27）Mystery（疑案小說）“You’reasmartboy.Benny’sdeathwasnoaccident,andyou’retheonlyonewhosawithappen.Doyouthinkthemurderershouldgetawaywithit?”Theboywasstaringstubbornlyathislapagain.AthoughtsuddenlyoccurredtoAnnika,“Didyou…Yourecognizedthemaninthecar,didn’tyou?”Theboyhesitated,twistinghisfingers,“Maybe,”hesaidquietly.RedWolfbyLizaMarklund（AtriaBooks,$25.99）ShortStoriesShewantstosaytohimwhatshehaslearned,noneofitinclass:Somewomenarebornstupid,andsomewomenaretoosmartfortheirowngood.Somewomenareborntogive,andsomewomenonlyknowhowtotake.Somewomenlearnwhotheywanttobefromtheirmothers,somewhotheydon’twanttobe.Somemotherssuffersotheirdaughterswon’t.Somemotherslovesotheirdaughterswon’t.YouAreFreebyDanzySenna（RiverheadBooks,$15）HumorDoyourkidsliketohavefun?etoFunTimes!Doyouliketowatchyourkidshavingfun?BringthemtoFunTimes!FunTimes!’s“amusementcycling”isthemostfunyoucanhave,legally,intheUnitedStatesrightnow.WhyspendthousandsofdollarsflyingtoDisneyWorldwhenyoucanspendlessthanhalfofthatwithinaday’sdriveofmostcities?Happy:AndOtherBadThoughtsbyLarryDoyle（Ecco,$14.99）78.IfthereaderswanttoknowaboutthelifeofSalinger,theyshouldbuythebookpublishedby.A.EccoB.RandomHouseC.RiverheadBooksD.AtriaBooks79.ThebookHappy:AndOtherBadThoughtsisintendedfor.A.youngchildrenB.DisneyWorldworkersC.middleschoolteachersD.parentswithyoungchildren80.Whichbookdescribeswomenwithcharactersoftheirown?A.YouAreFreeB.J.D.Salinger:ALifeC.Happy:AndOtherBadThoughtsD.RedWolf81.AfterfinishingthebookRedWolf,thereaderswouldlearnthatA.themurderergotawaywiththecrimeB.Bennydiedofanaccident.C.theboyhelpedarrestthemurdererD.Annikacarriedoutthecrime(C)Today,home-ownershiphasreachedextremelyhighlevels.Moderngenerationstendtobelievethereissomethingwrongwiththemiftheyrent.However,ishighhome-ownershipreallyasrosyaspeopleimagine?Staringatdatafirst,werealizethatthemostsuccessful,stable,attractivecountryintheWesternworldisSwitzerland.Ithastinyunemployment;wealth;highhappinessandmental-healthscores.Doesithavehighhome-ownershiprates?Absolutelynot.InSwitzerland,aboutsevenintenofthepopulationarerenters.Yet,withEurope'slowesthome-ownershiprate,thenationthrives.Nowgototheotherendofthemiserydistribution.Spainhasapproximatelythehighesthome-ownershiprateinEurope(atmorethan80%).Butone-quarterofitspopulationareunemployed.Alikelyreasonisthathighlevelsofhome-ownershipmessupthelabourmarket.Inasensiblyfunctioningeconomyitiseasyforpeopletomovearoundtodropintothevibrantjobslotsthrownupbytechnologicalchange.Withahighdegreeofowner-occupation,everythingslows.Folkgetstuck.Renterscangotonewjobs.Inthatwaytheydotheeconomyafavour.AsFriedmansaid,therateofunemploymentdependsontheflexibilityofthehousingmarket.Nextweetoeconomicbreakdown.Mostanalystsacceptthatatheartitwasthehousingmarket—obsessivepursuitofhomes,theengenderedmortgage(房貸)lendingandanunavoidablehouse-pricecrash—thatsanktheWesternworld.Germany,say,withitsmoreefficientrentalmarket,hadafarsmootherridethroughtrouble.Asforthemonetarysystem,inthepastfewdecades,inthehopeofgettinguntaxedcapitalgainswayabovetheirtruelabourearnings,manypeoplethrewtheirsparecashintobuyinglargerhousesorbuildingextrabedrooms.TVprogrammesabouthowtomakeeasymoney,beautifulrisinghouseprices,andmostimportantly,ourfalultytaxsystemencouragedthat.Whenatsomepointmarketbrokedown,everyonesuffered.Ourcountriesought,instead,todesigntaxsystemsthatencouragepeopletoinvestinproductiverealactivitiesandininnovation.Rentingleavesmoneyfreeforbetterpurposes.Thatalsopointstotheroleofsensiblebudgetingoveraperson'slifetime.Whyshouldwethinkthatwhenwedieitisnecessarytohavepaidoffanentirehouse?Ourchildrendonotdeserveit.Letthempayforthemselves.Weshouldrent—andenjoyourliveswiththemoneysaved.Finally,moderationusuallypaysoff.Ourscientificunderstandingofhoweconomiesfunctionishorriblylimited.Thissuggeststhatthegoldenruleshouldbetoavoidextremes.A50-50mixofhome-ownershipandrenting,notthe70-30splitthatisnowobservedinsomanyWesternnations,makessense.82.ThecasesofSwitzerlandandSpainprovethat______.A.lowhome-ownershiprateatabout30%ismostfavourableforeconomyB.home-ownershipmainlydecidesacountry’scitizens’mentalhealth.C.home-ownershiphasalottodowithacountry’stechnologicaldevelopmentD.lowhome-ownershipincreasesthemobilityofjobmarketandeconomy.83.Themainreasontomakepeopleinvestinhousingmarketis______.A.theproblematictaxingapproachfavouringhousebuyingB.people’sdesiretoavoidtheirmoneyfromdevaluingC.easychannelstoobtainmethodstomakeeasymoneyD.people’swishestoliveinlargerandmorefortablehouses84.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?A.SwitzerlandsufferstheworseunemploymentinEurope.B.Rentingallowsmoremoneyintomorecreativeeconomicactivities.C.Germany’seffectivemortgagesystemsawitthrou