2014考研英语：阅读理解实例解析（五）_跨考网

　　面对一篇阅读理解，我们究竟应该如何下手?下面，我们通过具体的实例，来和小编分享一下考研英语阅读理解的剖析方法以及答题技巧。>>>考研英语复习备考手册

　　Scoresof workers from MTV Networks walked off the job yesterday afternoon, fillingthe sidewalk outside the headquarters of its corporate parent, Viacom, toprotest recent changes in benefits. The walkout highlighted the concerns of acategory of workers who are sometimes called permalancers: permanentfreelancers who work like full-time employees but do not receive the samebenefits.

　　Wavingsigns that read ’’Shame on Viacom,’’the workers, most of them in their 20s, demanded that MTV Networks reverse aplan to reduce health and dental benefits for freelancers beginning Jan. 1. Ina statement, MTV Networks noted that its benefits program for full-timeemployees had also undergone changes, and it emphasized that the plan forfreelancers was still highly competitive within the industry. Many freelancersreceive no corporate benefits. But some of the protesters asserted thatcorporations were competing to see which could provide the most mediocre healthcare coverage. Matthew Yonda, who works at Nickelodeon, held a sign thatlabeled the network ’’Sick-elodeon.’’’’I’veworked here every day for three years -- I’m not afreelancer,’’ Mr. Yonda said. ’’Theyjust call us freelancers in order to bar us from getting the same benefits asemployees.’’

　　Thechanges to the benefits package were announced last Tuesday. Freelancers weretold that they would become eligible for benefits after 160 days of work,beginning in January. While that eased previous eligibility rules, whichrequired freelancers to work for 52 weeks before becoming eligible, it wouldhave required all freelancers not yet eligible for benefits to start thewaiting period over again on Jan. 1. The 401(k) plan was also removed. OnThursday, acknowledging the complaints, MTV Networks reinstated the 401(k) planand said freelancers who had worked consistently since March would be eligible.

　　Fueledby a series of blog posts on the media Web site Gawker -- the first post washeadlined ’’The Viacom Permalance Slave System’’-- a loose cohort of freelancers created protest stickers and distributedwalkout fliers last week. Caroline O’Hare, a unitmanager who has worked for MTV for more than two years, said the new healthcare plan -- with higher deductibles and a $2,000 cap on hospital expenses eachyear -- had provoked outrage. ’’They think theycan treat us like children that don’t have families,mortgages or dreams of retirement,’’ she said.

　　OutsideViacom’sheadquarters, several workers held posters with the words, ’’There’stoo many of us to ignore.’’ It was unclearhow many freelancers are on the company’s payroll; an MTVNetworks spokeswoman said the figure was not known because it rises and fallsthroughout the year. The company has 5,500 full-time employees, excludingfreelancers, around the world.

　　Twofreelancers and one full-time employee, who asked not to be identified for fearof retribution, estimated that the percentage of freelancers in somedepartments exceeded 75 percent. Another labor action is expected to take placeoutside Viacom later this week. Members of the Writers Guild of America, whohave been on strike for five weeks, are expected to picket there on Thursday.

　　1.Whichone of the following statements is NOT true of MTV Networks’new benefits plan for freelancers?

　　[A]Its benefits plan for freelancers is highly competitive in the industry.

　　[B]Its freelancers cannot receive the same benefits as the full-time employees.

　　[C]The freelancers who are not eligible for benefits should start the waitingperiod over again on Jan. 1.

　　[D]The freelancers are against the new plan which substantially but their benefit

　　2.According to the new benefits program of MTV Networks, the followingfreelancers are eligible for benefits except_____.

　　[A]those who have worked for 160 days

　　[B]those who have worked for 1 year.

　　[C]those who have worked since March.

　　[D]those who have worked since Jan. 1.

　　3.Theword "reinstate" (Line 5, Paragraph 3) most probably means_____.

　　[A]redesign

　　[B]restore

　　[C]repair

　　[D]reset

　　4.The MTV Networks spokeswoman did not provide the number of freelancers on thepayroll mostly probably because_____.

　　[A]the figure fluctuates throughout the year and it is impossible to calculate theprecise number

　　[B]the company wants to keep it as a secret so as to better stand the protest

　　[C]the company has no record of the freelancers since there is no such necessity

　　[D]the company does not want to provide the freelancers with benefits enjoyed bythe full-time employee.

　　5.Towards MTV Networks’ change on the benefits plan, the author’sattitude can be said to be_____.

　　[A]affirmative

　　[B]negative

　　[C]biased

　　[D]neutral

　　文章剖析：

　　这篇文章介绍了MTV网络公司修改其对于雇用的自由职员的福利待遇方案的调整以及引起的反响。文章第一段第二段介绍MTV网络公司的自由职员举行罢工游行的情况;第三段讲述福利方案调整的一些内容;第四段讲述其他的一些抗议形式;第五段第六段是关于MTV网络公司雇用的自由职员的数量的一些情况。

　　词汇注释：

　　freelancern. 自由职业者

　　reversev. 撤销或取消

　　mediocreadj. 普通的，劣等的

　　retributionn. 惩罚，报偿

　　reinstaten. 恢复

　　cohortn. 一群一群或一帮人

　　stickern. 张贴物

　　fliern. 传单

　　deductiblen. 扣除条款,保险单内的条款之一，免除保险人对被保险户承受的损失赔偿最初的规定的金额

　　picketv. 派出纠察员，在罢工或示威期间设置一个或几个纠察队

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