《JEFF资料库》大学英语读写译-新题型练习三.ppt

Exercise3forNewReadingPattern,JeffCheung,AmazonsHiringSpreeShowsDifficultiesforAmericanMiddleClass,A.PresidentObamaonTuesdaytraveledtoChattanooga,Tenn.,tooneofAmazonsbrand-newfulfillmentcenters,partofthee-commercegiantsmassiveexpansioneffortthatwillenablefasterdeliveryofgoodsandadd5,000full-timejobsacrossthecountry.,B.ThetopicofthePresidentsspeechwascreatingjobsforthemiddleclass,butthechoiceofanAmazonfulfillmentcenterasasettingforsuchaspeechwascuriousgivenhowlittlethefirmpaysitsworkers.,C.Amazonsaysthemedianpayforjobsinsideitsfulfillmentcentersis“30%higherthanthatofpeoplewhoworkintraditionalretailstores,”thoughthecompanydoesntsharethearithmetic（算法）thatleadsittothisconclusion.,D.Amazonhaspreviouslysaiditpaysworkersinitsfulfillmentcentersroughly$11perhour,andaccordingtotheBureauofLaborStatistics,themedianretailworkermakes$10.15perhour,whilethemediancashiermakes$9.12perhour.,E.Inotherwords,whileAmazonispayingabovetheindustryaverage,itsnotpayingitsworkersa30%premium.(Amazondidnotreturnrequestsforcomment.)Furthermore,at40hoursperweek,an$11-per-hoursalarycomestojust$22,880peryear,whichisbelowthefederalpovertylevelforafamilyoffour.,F.NoneofthisiscriticismofAmazon.Thecompanydeservespraiseforheavilyinvestinginitsbusinessandhiringfull-timeworkersatatimewhenmanyotherfirmsareplayingitsafe.Evenanextremelyhealthyeconomyisgoingtoincludejobsthatdontpayverywell.,G.ButthefactthatPresidentObamahaschosenanAmazonfulfillmentcenterasthebackdropforaspeechonhowtobringbackstrong,middle-classjobsillustratesthedifficultpositionthegovernmentfindsitselfinasittriestoencourageamorerobustrecovery.,H.Infact,newjobslikethosefoundinAmazonfulfillmentcentersarentanantidote（解药）totheweakrecovery;theyareasymptomofit.Thoughweveaddedmorethan7millionnewjobssincethebeginningoftherecovery,thosepositionshavebeenconcentratedinthelow-wageservicesector:exactlythekindofjobsAmazonwillbelookingtofillduringitsexpansion.,I.AndthoughthePresidenthasmadeitaprioritytorefocushisattentiononthetepidrecovery,thesolutionshesoutlinedinrecentweeksarenothingnew.OnTuesdayheproposedacombinationofcorporatetaxreformandinfrastructureinvestmentinarepackagingofpastproposalsthathefeelshasabetterchanceofgainingRepublicansupport.ButasmycolleagueZekeMillernoted,Republicansarealreadyfallingoverthemselvestorejectthenewplan.,J.Whatgetslostinthefogofpoliticalwaristhefactthatevenifonepartyortheotherhadtheabilitytounilaterallyimposeitseconomicvisiononthecountry,theresnotmuchreasontobelieveourillscanbecuredbyWashingtonpolicies.Macrotrendslikeglobalizationandautomationarehollowingoutthemiddleclass,andforagenerationjobslosseshavebeenconcentratedatthemiddleoftheincomespectrumwhilejobgainshavegonetotheupperandlowerclasses.,K.Andwhiletheresreasontobelievethedeclineinunionmembershiphasinpartledtothedeclineofthemiddleclass,evencountrieswithheavyunionmembershiplikeCanadaandGermanyareexperiencingvariationsoftheproblemswehaveintheU.S.,L.Oureconomicproblemsaremuchbiggerthanthecomplexityofthetaxcodeorthelevelofinvestmentininfrastructure.Theyaretheresultoflargerforcesintheglobaleconomysomewhatbeyondthereachofanyparticularnationalgovernment.Standardeconomictheoryarguesthatinthelongrunwewillallbebetteroffoncetheconvulsionsofglobalizationandrapidtechnologicalchangeworkthemselvesout.Butinthemeantime,thoseofuslivingthroughsuchchangescanexpectabumpyride.,Exercise1,1.Themedianretailworksmakeshigherpaidthanthemediancashier.2.TherecoveryofAmericawillbeabumpyrideoverquitealongperiodoftime.3.Americahassuppliedmorethansevenmillionnewjobswiththemajorityoflow-wageservicesector.,Exercise2,4.ThePresidentvisitedoneofAmazonsfulfillmentcenterforencouragingmorejobchances.5.Lossesofjobshavebeenconcentratedatthemiddle-class.6.ThePresidentchoseAmazonasabackdroptoillustratehowtopusheconomybacktorecovery.7.Amazonpaidlittletoitsworkers.,Exercise3,8.Amazonmentionedthatsa