How can planned economics protect their natural environments while meeting growing economic expectations? Price reform, a (1) to market mechanisms and energy-efficiency laws and standards will (2) crucial roles. Price reform is a (3) way to promote energy-saving behavior. (4) the U. S. decontrolled the price of energy at the (5) of the t970’s, it sent an unmistakable signal (6) consumers that saving energy was important. As (7) result, the U.S. increased economic growth (8) 40 percent between 1973 and 1988 while essentially (9) energy demand constant. Up to two (10) of that achievement was caused by consumer response to (11) prices. Prices in the Soviet Union must be (12) by a factor of almost three. Yet it is not simply (13) to get the prices right: prices (14) also matter. Making prices matter means not (15) enterprises to pass the energy waste on to consumers. This change (16) shifting to market mechanisms to promote efficiency through competition. Market mechanisms (17) , however, will not complete the energy revolution in the planned economics. (18) market economies still struggle with energy inefficiency (19) by market imperfections such as lack of information, monopoly control of electric-power production (20) shortage of financing--not to mention the extravagances of wealth. For these reasons, some market economics impose minimum performance standards for energy-consuming equipment such as automobiles and furnaces.
1. A. shift B. alteration C. switch D. move
2. A. render B. act C. play D. behave
3. A. demonstrated B. proven C. revealed D. described
4. A. Once B. Whenever C. No sooner D. When
5. A. conclusion B. limit C. end D. boundary
6. A. for B. against C. from D. to
7. A. the B. a C. for D. if
8. A. up B. upward C. by D. in
9. A. holding B. checking C. bearing D. restraining
10. A. third B. thirdly C. parts D. thirds
11. A. highly B. higher C. more high D. less high
12. A. enlarged B. expanded C. extended D. increased
13. A. everything B. enough C. all D. altogether
14. A. would B. can C. must D. could
15. A. permitting B. enabling C. equipping D. supplying
16. A. advises B. determines C. demonstrates D. means
17. A. alone B. apart C. aside D. independently
18. A. Entire B. All C. Complete D. Comprehensive
19. A. effected B. Achieved C. executed D. caused
20. A. or B. and C. either D. or else