Supporters of the new super systems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service. Any threat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from trucks. But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances, such as coal, chemicals, and grain, trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.

思考题：

According to those who support mergers, railway monopoly is unlikely because ________.

[A] cost reduction is based on competition

[B] services call for cross-trade coordination

[C] outside competitors will continue to exist

[D] shippers will have the railway by the throat

词汇突破：

have somebody by the thoat : 卡住某人的脖子

allow for 带来

cross-trade coordination 跨行业的协调

substantial 相当大的

今天题目的解析：

1.Supporters of the new super systems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service.

新的超 级系统的支持者认为这些合并将会带来(allow for)大幅的费用降低和更好的协调服务

2.Any threat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from

trucks.

他们认为任何由垄断所带来的威胁都被来自卡车的竞争给消除了。

3.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances, such as coal, chemicals, and grain, trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.

但是很多货主却抱怨道对于需要长途运输的大宗商品，比如煤炭，化学品和粮食;有卡车运输就太贵了。这样一来铁路就卡住了他们的脖子。(这里是个比喻，表示这些货主受制于铁路行业)

According to those who support mergers, railway monopoly is unlikely because ________.

那些支持合并的人认为，铁路行业的垄断是不可能的，因为_______.

精 确定位只能到第二句！句虽然也是支持合并的人的观点，但是没有谈到垄断啊！所以

[A] cost reduction is based on competition

(费用的降低是基于竞争的)

[B] services call for cross-trade coordination

(服务需要跨行业的协调)

A和B我真的不会选！

对D选项我更是要呵呵了！

[D] shippers will have the railway by the throat

(货主将会卡住铁路的脖子)

且不说谁卡谁的脖子，定位就错了啊！

问的是支持者的观点，第三句是货主的观点！

我肯定不会选！

但是我也知道大家在考场上还做不到步就能排除ABD，

那我就只希望你们在最后选择的时候问一问自己：我有没有精 确定位！我有没有尊重题干！

[C] outside competitors will continue to exist

直接对应第二句：competition from trucks= outside competitors

来积累个替换句吧：

原文：Any threat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from trucks.

选项：According to those who support mergers, railway monopoly is unlikely because outside competitors will continue to exist.