The author asserts that scientists __
shouldn't replace "scientific method" with imaginative thought
shouldn't neglect to speculate on unpredictable things
should write more concise reports for technical journals
should be confident about their research findings
解析; 选择[ B]，段落的结尾的this要还原，意思是上文的unpredictable(不可预测性)，意思是科学家在写一成不变的报告时经常忘记不可预测性。不可预测性在重复，所以选科学家不应该忽视研究不可预测性。
4.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 percent 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.(2003年passage 3第3段)
It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that
. shippers will be charged less without a rival railroad.
. there will soon be only one railroad company nationwide.
. overcharged shippers are unlikely to appeal for rate relief.
. a government board ensures fair play in railway business.
解析：charge---overcharged-----C. overcharged，都是在说费用高，而B，D根本就没有这个词。段落的最后谈到了由于费用过高，所以上诉要求下调费用，但最终并未成功。A的意思是托运者将来只为一家铁路公司，而原文的意思是现在只有一家铁路公司，时态不一致。
5. I believe that the most important forces behind the massive M&A wave are the same that underlie the globalization process: falling transportation and communication costs, lower trade and investment barriers and enlarged markets that require enlarged operations capable of meeting customer's demands. All these are beneficial, not detrimental, to consumers. As productivity grows, the world's wealth increases. (01年passage 4)
According to the author, one of the driving forces behind M&A wave is _________.
［A］the greater customer demands
［B］a surplus supply for the market
［C］a growing productivity
［D］the increase of the world's wealth
解析：选择［B］，首句提出了在兼并背后最主要的推动力，后面分析的推动力很多，其中最重要的是满足顾客的需求，扩大和顾客这两个关键词单一重复。
6. Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be his with a round of huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening fortuning 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 .2 billion bids by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just 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. (03年passage 3)
According to the text, the cost increase in the rail industry is mainly caused by
. the continuing acquisition.
. the growing traffic.
. the cheering Wall Street.
