Third, divorce rates vary according to the family cycle itself. Many studies have pointed to the fact that the longer a couple has been married, the more likely it is to remain so. Divorce rates are highest among the young, and, if a marriage survives its first few years, there is an increased likelihood that it will continue. Another factor often cited is the presence of children as a deterrent (威懾力量) to divorce. Empirical studies have shown, however, that this factor is much less significant than commonly believed. All things considered, people have little reason to continue an unhappy marriage.

31. After World War Ⅱ, what is the general trend of people’s attitudes toward divorce?

A. negative                         B. indifferent              C. tolerant          D. supported
32. Divorce rates are expected to be higher ______.

A. in Western societies

   B. in times of economic depression

   C. in groups that tend to scold divorced people

   D. in marriages of white husbands and black wives

33. The word “stigma” in the third paragraph most probably means ______.
   A. apprehension

   B. appreciation

   C. dishonor  

D. token

34. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

   A. there is little likelihood for a newly married couple to get divorced

   B. divorce rates vary little with the length of a marriage

   C. the shorter a couple has been married, the more likely they divorce

   D. the presence of children is an impassable obstacle to divorce

35. According to the passage, which of the following factors does not affect divorce rates?

   A. The economic condition of a country.

   B. Historical studies on World War Ⅱ.

   C. People’s attitudes towards divorce.

   D. The religion people believe in.

36. The proper title for this passage should be ______.

   A. The Frequency of Divorce

   B. Attitudes Toward Divorce

   C. The Change of Attitude Toward Divorce

   D. Empirical Studies on Divorce Rates

Passage Two

　　In recent years, Israeli consumers have grown more demanding as they’ve become wealthier and more worldly-wise. Foreign travel is a national passion－this summer alone, one in 10 citizens will go abroad. Exposed to higher standards of service elsewhere, Israelis are returning home expecting the same. American firms have also begun arriving in large numbers. Chains such as KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut are setting a new standard of customer service, using strict employer training and constant monitoring to ensure the friendliness of frontline staff. Even the American habit of telling departing customers to “Have a nice day” has caught on all over Israel. “Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Let’s be nicer,’” says Itsik Cohen, director of a consulting firm. “Nothing happens without competition.”

    　Privatization, or the threat of it, is a motivation as well. Monopolies that until recently have been free to take their customers for granted now fear what Michael Perry, a marketing professor, calls “the revengeful consumer.” When the government opened up competition with Bezaq, the phone company, its international branch lost 40％of its market share, even while offering competitive rates. Says Perry, “People wanted revenge for all the years of bad service.” The electric company, whose monopoly may be short-lived, has suddenly stopped requiring users to wait half a day for a repairman. Now, appointments are scheduled to the half-hour. The graceless EI AI Airlines, which is already at auction (拍賣), has retrained its employees to emphasize service and is boasting about the results in an ad campaign with the slogan, “You can feel the change in the air, ”For the first time, praise outnumbers complaints on customer survey sheets.

37. It may be inferred from the passage that _____.

　A. customer service in Israel is now improving

   B. wealthy Israeli customers are hard to please

   C. the tourist industry has brought chain stores to Israel

   D. Israeli customers prefer foreign products to domestic ones

38. In the author’s view, good service is out of the question _____.

   A. if customer complaints go unnoticed by the management

   B. unless foreign companies are introduced in greater numbers

   C. if there’s 110 competition among companies

　D. without strict routine training of employees

39. If someone in Israel today needs a repairman in case of a power failure, _____.

   A. he/she can have it fixed in no time

   B. it’s no longer necessary to make an appointment

   C. the appointment takes only half a day to make

   D. he/she only has to wait half an hour at most

40. The example of EI AI Airlines shows that _____.

   A. revengeful customers are a threat to the monopoly of enterprises

   B. an ad campaign is a way out for enterprises in financial difficulty

   C. a good slogan has great potential for improving service

   D. staff retraining is essential for better service

41. Why did Bezaq’s international branch lose 40％of its market share?

   A. Because the rates it offered were not competitive enough.

   B. Because customers were dissatisfied with its past service.

   C. Because the service offered by its competitors was far better.

　D. Because it no longer received any support from the government.

42. Which of the following statements is not true?

   A. Israeli consumers have increased their requirements of the service quality.

   B. And Privatization become a motivation of improving service quality.

   C. The electric company’s monopoly may be long-lived.

   D. A lot of American company entered isrel.