未知题型 In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other, merging into super systems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly. As recently as 1995, the top four railroads accounted for under 70% of the total ton-miles moved by rails. Next year, after a series of mergers is completed, just four railroads will control well over 90% of all the freight moved by major rail carders.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.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one Rail Company/Railroads typically charge such 'captive' shippers 20% to 30% more than they do when another railroad is competing for the business. Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief, but the process is expensive, time-consuming, and will work only in truly extreme cases.Railroads justify rate discrimination against 'captive' shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost. If railroads charged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the linE.It's a theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail.' Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?' asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shippers.Many 'captive' shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening fortunes, still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffiC.Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheering them on. Consider the $10.2 billion hid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just $427 million, less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction. Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill? Many 'captive' shippers fear that they will, as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.According to those who support mergers, railway monopoly is unlikely because______.A.cost reduction is based on competitionB.services call for cross-trade coordinationC.outside competitors will continue to existD.shippers will have the railway by the throat
单项选择题 目前开展跨境电商支付的不包括易极付、快钱。
单项选择题 我国农村快递网点新增近5.9万个，乡镇网点覆盖率提高到50%以上
未知题型 Why are the pieces of information provided by the Mall of America referred to as 'fun facts'?A.They are largely imagineD.B.They are surprising figures.C.They give exact descriptions.D.They make people feel uneasy.
问答题 Listen to ten short conversations and choose the best answer to each question you hear. A、The man always gets poor grades for his term papers. B、The woman should seek help from the writing center. C、The man had his paper rejected for the third time. D、The woman does not really care about her language problems.