英语一阅读2018-1 Text 4

Itreportedanetlossof$5.6billionforfiscal2016,the10thstraightyearitsexpenseshaveexceededrevenue.

Meanwhile,ithasmorethan$120billioninunfundedliabilities,mostlyforemployeehealthandretirementcosts.

Therearemanyreasonsthisformerlystablefederalinstitutionfindsitselfatthebrinkofbankruptcy.

Fundamentally,theUSPSisinahistoricsqueezebetweentechnologicalchangethathaspermanentlydecreaseddemandforitsbread-and-butterproduct,first-classmail,andaregulatorystructurethatdeniesmanagementtheflexibilitytoadjustitsoperationstothenewreality.

2-Andinterestgroupsrangingfrompostalunionstogreeting-cardmakersexertself-interestedpressureontheUSPS’sultimateoverseer-Congress-insistingthatwhateverelsehappenstothePostalService,aspectsofthestatusquotheydependongetprotected.

Thisiswhyrepeatedattemptsatreformlegislationhavefailedinrecentyears,leavingthePostalServiceunabletopayitsbillsexceptbydeferringvitalmodernization.

3-Nowcomeswordthateveryoneinvolved—Democrats,Republicans,thePostalService,theunionsandthesystem’sheaviestusers—hasfinallyagreedonaplantofixthesystem.

LegislationismovingthroughtheHousethatwouldsaveUSPSanestimated$28.6billionoverfiveyears,whichcouldhelppayfornewvehicles,amongothersurvivalmeasures.

Mostofthemoneywouldcomefromapenny-per-letterpermanentrateincreaseandfromshiftingpostalretireesintoMedicare.

Thelatterstepwouldlargelyoffsetthefinancialburdenofannuallypre-fundingretireehealthcare,thusaddressingalong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunions.

4-IfitclearstheHouse,thismeasurewouldstillhavetogetthroughtheSenate–wheresomeoneisboundtopointoutthatitamountstothebare,bareminimumnecessarytokeepthePostalServiceafloat,notcomprehensivereform.

There’snochangetocollectivebargainingattheUSPS,amajoromissionconsideringthatpersonnelaccountsfor80percentoftheagency’scosts.

AlsomissingisanydiscussionofeliminatingSaturdayletterdelivery.

Thatcommon-sensechangeenjoyswidepublicsupportandwouldsavetheUSPS$2billionperyear.

Butpostalspecial-interestgroupsseemtohavekilledit,atleastintheHouse.

Theemergingconsensusaroundthebillisasignthatlegislatorsaregettingfrightenedaboutapoliticallyembarrassingshort-termcollapseattheUSPS.

Itisnot,however,asignthatthey’regettingseriousabouttransformingthepostalsystemforthe21stcentury.

36.ThefinancialproblemwiththeUSPSiscausedpartlyby_____.[A]itsunbalancedbudget.[B]itsrigidmanagement.

[C]thecostfortechnicalupgrading.[D]thewithdrawalofbanksupport.

37.AccordingtoParagraph2,theUSPSfailstomodernizeitselfdueto_____.[A]theinterferencefrominterestgroups.[B]theinadequatefundingfromCongress.[C]theshrinkingdemandforpostalservice.[D]theincompetenceofpostalunions.

38.Thelong-standingcomplaintbytheUSPSanditsunionscanbeaddressedby_____.[A]removingitsburdenofretireehealthcare.[B]makingmoreinvestmentinnewvehicles.[C]adoptinganewrate-increasemechanism.[D]attractingmorefirst-classmailusers.

39.Inthelastparagraph,theauthorseemstoviewlegislatorswith_____.[A]respect.[B]tolerance.[C]discontent.[D]gratitude.

40.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?[A]TheUSPSStartstoMissItsGoodOldDays[B]ThePostalService:KeepAwayfromMyCheese[C]TheUSPS:ChronicIllnessRequiresaQuickCure[D]ThePostalServiceNeedsMorethanaBand-Aid