考博英语阅读每日一练1.6

嘎嘣脆

Well, for a fortnight it was a splendid party. Now for the Olympic bills—and that hangover will last for years. The Greek Olympic committee reckons it can break even: half of its $2.3 billion budget for running the games will come, via the International Olympic Committee, from broadcasters, most of the rest from commercial sponsors, ticket sales and merchandising. But what about the taxpayer? Overall, Greek and (modestly) other European Union taxpayers have spent $300m helping to run the games, nearly $1.5 billion keeping them secure, and some $7 billion preparing facilities for them. In all, that means near 5% of 2003 Greek GDP, roughly $800 for every single inhabitant, pensioner or babe, taxpayer or not. Top-level sport is a business, albeit not, in the Olympic version, one aiming for profit—nor answerable to outside shareholders. Should it be subsidized to this extent?

　　Most Greeks think so. They were told the games would be costly. Few can have doubted the costs would go wildly over budget; in the event, by about 50%. That figure of $800 per head was not put flatly to them, but if the opinion polls are any guide, four Greeks in five welcomed the games—and probably still do: their country rebutted the sneers that nothing would be ready, it ran the show well, it has had a terrific time and weeks of exposure to the world’s cameras, and it is left with some durable improvements to its infrastructure. Anyway, these Greeks can say, an elected government, backed by public opinion, is entitled to do what it likes: others send men into space, we run the Olympics—as we should have been allowed to do in 1996, centenary of their first modern celebration。

　　That is true. But democratic governments can do damn-fool things; sending men into space, for example. Was the Greeks’ spending wise? Prestige, publicity and proud memories are not to be ignored. But what else is left? A magnificent stadium and its accompanying public park in Athens, plus various other venues in the city or nearby; four big provincial stadiums; some cheap housing in the capital; better roads there, a bigger and better metro system, a new suburban rail line and a new tramway to the southern beaches. As one Athenian version puts it, 20 years’ infrastructure improvements in five。

　　Actually, that is not what they got. Less than $1.5 billion of the money spent has gone into the EU-subsidised transport improvements, sensible as they may be. Two weeks of security apart, most of the rest has gone into the new sports facilities. Some of these will be useful in the future, some less so. It is a fair bet that all will lose money, unless Greece can somehow achieve that rich and sports-mad Australia, with its inheritance from the Sydney games of 2000, has not. That seems unlikely. Granted, sports facilities can be a public good, and one that most voters approve of. But are world-class sports facilities really the public good on which the hugely indebted government of a small and not very rich country such as Greece should rush to spend over $5.5 billion? What about schools and hospitals, or the roads and other bits of infrastructure that might generate business investment, and so produce genuine economic growth, rather than mere prestige?

　　In this context, the Greek government’s claim that “oh, we’ll cut spending in other ways” is hardly persuasive or even to the point. If public spending ought to be or can readily be cut, cut it anyway. If you need better public infrastructure, invest in what you need, not in what suits the International Olympic Committee。

　　31.The majority of Greeks, according to the text, are supportive_____。

　　[A] preparing a splendid of horticultural party

　　[B] abiding by the Olympic chapter

　　[C] manufacturing commercial facilities for world expo

　　[D] overfunding the 2003 Olympic Games


　　32.It is implied in the second paragraph that Greeks still doubt_____。

　　[A] the comment made IOC members

　　[B] centenary of their first national anniversary

　　[C] the hosting right of 1996 Olympic Games

　　[D] the 2003 failure of the International Olympic Committee

　　33.“Sending men into space” is quoted to_____。

　　[A] exemplify absurd conducts

　　[B] prove the strength of an average nation

　　[C] report the rapid development of aeronautical science

　　[D] survey the current exploitation of the extraterritorial conditions

　　34.The author’s attitude toward the official assertion is_____。

　　[A] approval          [B] ambivalence           [C] denial             [D] confusion

　　35.Which of the following could be the best title of text?

　　[A] Great sport, great feat.                        [B] Greek Sport Events。

　　[C] Pity about the misspent billions.    [D] Money can make the mare go。

    31. D　32. C　33. A　34. C 35. C